How I Style My Naturally Curly Hair!

For ages I couldn't figure out what to do with my hair, so for all my curly girls out there: this one's for you!

This is what my natural hair looks like after styling it. I say "natural" because this is my hair with zero curl enhancers / perms. I use these hair products solely to reduce frizz and keep my hair in place, not to add any more curls than I naturally have.

 These are the products I use on a daily basis regardless of how I'm wearing my hair:

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe spray

Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves curl cream

Salon Grafix super hold hairspray

large paddle brush

After I get out of the shower, I obviously brush through my hair entirely. I know a 'curly girl' who literally never brushes her hair, and I can't stress how bad this is for your hair. Brushing it through every night eliminates the tangles in your hair and helps to remove any lost hair through the day (the cause of most of the tangles). Then, I gently brush through my hair with my fingers, so my hair isn't suction-cupped to my head (does that make sense?)

Using the Beach Babe spray, I spray the product all throughout my hair as evenly as possible, paying special attention to the ends as that's where my hair dries the fastest and this helps to re-wet it, in a way. 

Finally, I use about a quarter amount of the Kinky Moves curl cream and run my fingers through my hair from root to tip, gently scrunching only the ends. (I find that scrunching the product through my entire head essentially does nothing.)

This is done the night before any event usually, so after this routine I throw my hair up in a messy bun before bed. 

In the morning, I take out my hair, style it how it naturally falls, and let it air dry a tad before spraying it with the Salon Grafix hairspray and voila! That's all there is too it!

I really do hope this helped any of you out there - be it curly girl or not! Best of luck to you all!

xx Jenna

Get the Look: Lorde on Rolling Stone!

Hi beauties! 

I said a few posts back that one thing you all should know about me is that I'm a huge MAC fanatic, which is still 100% true. Well, MAC is to makeup as Lorde is to music. 

Okay, that was a horrific analogy. Basically, I'm obsessed with anything and everything to do with Ella Yellich O'Connor at the moment, or better know by her stage name Lorde. Recently on the cover of Rolling Stone, Lorde is a 17 year old girl from New Zealand with 2 Grammys and a #1 hit 'Royals' (I'm sure all of you know that, but I figured it was important to include.)

I could literally go on for days with a Lorde Appreciation post, but that's not what this is (does anyone want one, though? I'd be more than willing! hint hint). I'm completely obsessed with her style and her make for her shoot was completely on pointe. In fact, I loved it so much that I wanted to recreate it here for you guys so you all could get this stunning look as well. It's fairly simple, but I've included step-by-step directions on what to do. Let's begin:

Sephora Bronzer (Bora Bora)

Maybelline Great Lash Lots-of-Lashes

Benefit Gimme Brow (light/medium)

Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick (Black Cherry)

MAC eyeshadows (Espresso / Blanc Type/ Antiqued)

Stila Stay All Day liquid liner

MAC lip pencil (Nightmoth)

Step 1: Start by applying your favorite foundation, concealer, and powder. Her foundation here is quite matte, so be sure to pick a foundation with a fuller coverage and powder-away any shinyness. 

Step 2 (where the fun begins): Lorde is always rocking a big, bold brow and I'm obsessed (question: how many times will I use the word 'obsessed' in this post?) Start by filling in the shape of your brow with a heavy hand using MAC's Espresso eyeshadow (or any shadow that matches your natural hair color.) Feel free to fake a killer arch if you have to. Define and darken your brows further by setting them with Benefit's Gimme Brow. 

Step 3: Prime your eyes and start by swiping a neutral shade of eyeshadow that matches your skin color all over your lids and up to your brown bone. Here, I'm using MAC's Blanc Type. This shouldn't add much of an effect to the overall look - we're only providing a basis for the rest of the eyeshadow and adding a matte highlight. 

Step 4: With MAC's Antiqued and a MAC 217 brush, start by lightly outlining where you want to place the shadow. To achieve Lorde's look, apply the shadow in a dramatic winged shape out towards the end of your brow using a light hand. Using windshield wiper motions, slowly work this color lightly into your crease. Blend, blend, blend. 

Step 5: Apply a thin layer of liquid eyeliner on the top lash line. In this look, Lorde has no wing, but feel free to add one if you feel it adds to the look!

Step 6: Curl and apply your mascara! Lorde's bottom lashes are interestingly more prominent than her upper lashes, so focus the mascara there. Apply only a thin coat to the upper lashes so they don't look like falsies. 

Step 7: This may sound odd, but contour using a color that matches the color of your eyeshadow you applied. (Sephora's Bora Bora bronzer is awfully similar to MAC's Antiqued eyeshadow.) Suck in your cheeks, make a fishy face, and contour till you're blue in the face! This is applied with a heavy hand, so go wild with it. We don't want to look muddy, though! (There's a fine line between 'chiseled' and 'dirty-looking.')

Step 8: Last, but not least, line and fill in your lips with a purple-red lip liner. Apply some matching lipstick (this color is perfect - not too purple and not too red) and you're all set!

Congrats! You just mastered the art of Ella Yellich O'Connor and I'm sure you all look fabulous.

Do you guys want to see any other celebrity-inspired looks? Let me know!

xx Jenna

Completed Look: Makeup for Traveling!

Hi lovelies, happy Saturday / almost Superbowl Sunday!

I know I'm just barely getting this post up in the schedule that I set for myself, but time somehow got away from me this week. Anyywayyyyy.....

I'm so excited to say that I'm leaving for Disney pretty soon, and it's time to start deciding on what to bring and what to wear. To gear up for my upcoming trip, don't be surprised to see an excessive amount of travel-related posts (such as this one.) Today, I wanted to show you guys a quick and easy, "travel-proof" face of makeup that I will more than likely be sporting on my nearing plane ride. So let's begin!

Covergirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation

Benefit Gimme Brow

Maybelline Great Lash Lots-of-Lashes

Maybelline Color Tattoo (Barely Branded)

E.O.S. lip balm

Face: Yes, I know. I just blogged about this foundation, but that's how much I love it! This foundation is perfect for travel because it's long wearing and primer, powder, and even concealer isn't needed with this. Slap some on, and you're good to go - wherever you're going!

Eyes: No primer or brush needed! Cream eyeshadows are ideal for long days spent in the car or on a plane/train - they won't budge and touch-ups are rarely needed! This color specifically helps brighten your eyes and tie together a look. Swipe on a few coats of this Maybelline mascara, and your lashes will look amazing without smudging or flaking throughout the day! Top it off with a bold brow (that takes literally seconds to achieve) and you're ready to conquer your day of traveling.

Lips: When I'm traveling, the last thing I want to be worried about is my lipstick smudging or wearing off, so applying just a lip balm is the only way to go! Obviously any kind will do, but this one happens to be one of my favorites. 

The best part about this whole look is that it can be achieved using absolutely zero brushes. Too tired to get ready before you leave the house? Take a small makeup bag and get ready at the airport!

What's your beauty essential when you're traveling? Let me know! 

I hope you guys enjoyed this post, and keep a lookout for future travel posts, too!

xx Jenna