PROM 2014: HAIR, MAKEUP, OUTFIT

It's officially Prom season!

I got my hair done at my favorite salon....

I straightened my hair on my own (to save time) and then I had my hair curled with two braids along the frame of my face. Then, both braids were bobby pinned around the crown of my head, and some of my hair was looped through that braid to create a waterfall effect. Confusing, I know. 

Then, I had my makeup done at MAC. Let me just say, they did a fantabulous job. I showed the super nice woman a picture of my dress, told her I didn't want anything too crazy, and she worked her magic. 

I don't know specifically every product that I'm wearing, but I do know a few:

MAC angel lipstick

MAC viva glam rihanna lip gloss

MAC harmony blush (as bronzer)

MAC plum foolery blush (as blush)

MAC matchmaster foundation in 1.0

MAC mineralize skinfinish natual in medium

MAC blacktrack fluidline

Okay, so I know basically everything but the eyes and eyebrows. Haha. Anyway, I think it came out really, really, nice.

And finallyyyyyyyyyy....... the dress!

I absolutely loved my dress! It was a champagne-beige-gold color with black lace overlay and rhinestones along the neckline. The back had a corset and was slightly longer than the front, so there was a little train. It had a sweetheart neckline and a drop waist skirt. (I'm not sure of the brand unfortunately.) For shoes, I ended up wearing some black flats that I already owned (even though I showed two different heels in my haul post.)

Hope your prom was as great as mine!

xx Jenna

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

2013 Superlatives: Best Beauty Products

Hey everyone!

One of my favorite types of blog posts to read, or YouTube videos to watch, are "favorites"lists - more specifically, end-of-the-year "favorites" lists. If you're unfamiliar with this type of material, it's basically where bloggers/gurus gather together their top products of that year and describe in detail why those products have stuck out above all the others.

To be quite honest, I hesitated on doing this type of blog post because I find it quite difficult to find products that I absolutely adore. I wouldn't want to show you all products that were just okay. But have no fear! After thoroughly looking through the beauty products in my collection, I found twelve products that I fell in love with throughout 2013. Surprising, I know, but I can completely say that these products have all earned their spot on my "favorites" list. Okay, enough rambling. Let's begin:

1. Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes

Oh my goodness. This mascara. Enough said. Buuuttttttt, I can't stop raving about this product. Imagine Benefit They're Real, but for only $5!!! Definitely a holy grail product. Curls, volumizes, lengthens, and defines lashes all at the same time.

2. Essie Butler Please

Funny story about this product. I had my eye on this color for months. Every time I walked into a store, this polish immediately caught my eye. When I finally decided to take a closer look at it, I read the name as Butter Please and thought "Wow, I need this product just because the name is hysterical." I found out a month later that I completely misread it. Either way, it's a beautiful color that I continue to reach for again and again, which I rarely do, so I have to include it in my favorites, right? Right. 

3. Revlon Black Cherry

Safe to say that this color sparked my love affair with dark berry colors. I did an entire post on this lip color. Check that out. 

4. E.O.S. lip balms

I have chapped lips all the time and nothing has ever worked for me. Besides this lip balm. It comes in great scents (flavors?) with corresponding colors and in a cute little egg shaped package. How could you resist?

5. NYX Mauve blush

Okay, sadly this color isn't quite showing up on camera, but trust me: it's worth it to go to your local store and check it out. I honestly can't even correctly describe this color. I guess mauve would suffice *more sarcasm* but seriously. It has purple-pink-brown undertones. Gorgeous for a natural blush. Buildable for a dramatic blush. Or make a statement and wear it as a bronzer *gasp.*

6. Sephora Airbrush Concealer brush #57

I included this brush in my favorites when I realized that I literally use this brush for everything. I bought this brush a little over a year ago, but just fell in love with it recently. It's perfect for precise contouring along the cheekbone, swiping a color all over the lid, blending eyeshadow, and of course, blending concealer. It does exactly what the name says it does. Give it a try. 

7. Urban Decay Naked3

Okay, I literally had to include this palette. I'm sure you have all seen it by now, but if not? Please take a look. It's stunning. But honestly, any Naked palette belongs on this list. Sooooo, yeah. There's that. 

8. Simple Facial Cleansing wipes

I have very pale, sensitive, acne prone skin, so skin care products make me very nervous. The Simple brand, however, is light on the skin while still leaving it clean and refreshed. I use this facial cleansing wipes to remove makeup, oils, and dirt from my pores before completing my night time routine, or after I wake up for a pick-me-up for my skin.

9. Clinique 3 Step System

This is the night time routine I just previously mentioned. Any acne system that I've tried before has either burned my skin or caused me to breakout even more. Not this one. I've noticed less redness, hyper pigmentation, oil, shine, and blemishes since using this product, which is literally a miracle. If you have a skin type like me, please please please try this routine. 

10. Salon Graffix Shaping Hair Spray

An odorless hairspray that doesn't leave little white flakes in your hair? Or leave it crunchy? Or knot your hair? Sign me up.

11. / 12. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe texturizing spray / Kinky Moves curl creme

I included these two products together because this is my everyday hair routine. I've probably repurchased these two products at least a dozen times, which is a record setting number for me. I've never been happier with my hair than when I use these two products together. The first separates the curls and adds life back to them, while the second locks them in place and defines each one. If you have kinky-curly hair like I do, I highly recommend these products together. 

Phew! Well that's everything! My first ever Yearly Favorites blog post! Did you like it? Let me know! And be sure to leave a comment telling me if you want a further, more in-depth review on any of these products.

Until next time beauties!

xx Jenna