Current Weekday Makeup Look

My schedule has been a bit crazy these past few weeks as things have been ramping up at work as we plan for 2017. Not to mention I recently moved to a new apartment in Jersey City and although I'm pretty much settled with all of the main furniture, there's still a lot of decorating left to do. October was a pretty eventful month to say the least. And it's all very exciting thankfully! With that being said, I've been paying a little less attention to putting makeup on my face lately and have been keeping things super simple during the week. I typically leave the weekends for experimenting with makeup looks and having some fun playing around with my stash, but I can't say there's been much of that going on either. My time has been consumed with shopping at IKEA, HomeGoods, Target and West Elm. And hey, I don't mind that at all. 

If you keep things fairly simple for work or school during the week, these eight products will last throughout the day and get the job done just fine in my opinion! Some of you may think that eight products are way too many for a simple weekday makeup look and I realize that you are probably right. What can I say? I did try my best to narrow it down ;) However, I definitely am in the market for a one stop shop palette, so please feel free to throw any recommendations my way!

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

This one is new to my collection as I've been on the hunt for the right primer for my skin type. This primer is definitely loved among beauty bloggers and is recommended for dehydrated combination skin (my skin type). It's infused with coconut water and a probiotic based ingredient, which work together to give you a radiant, dewy base.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
This product has the best formula I've EVER used. It's going to be tricky to get me to try something new during the winter. I apply a light to medium coverage every morning and the product is barely detectable on my skin. This stuff is practically skin in a bottle (that sounds gross, but you know what I mean.)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer

I've been using this concealer for the past few months and don't plan on switching things up anytime soon. Before this, I was hooked on NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer, which is also great. I just find this one creases less, which makes it the winner in my book. 

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer
Benefit Hoola gives the perfect natural looking tan that flatters any skin tone. I use it all year around and find that it looks just as good on my skin in the winter as it does in the summer.

Hourglass Ethereal Glow Ambient Lighting Blush
This blush gives a subtle, soft color to the skin, which I actually prefer on an everyday basis. This one is a cool-toned pink that shows up well on fair skin types, but I like it on myself and I'm a bit darker than fair. It gives me a healthy flush on the cheeks and that's all I really need.

Benefit ka-Brow! Cream-Gel Eyebrow Color with Brush

I currently have a sample of this product and have been really enjoying using it. It seems that some areas of my brows have become rather sparse, so I've been relying on this highly pigmented gel cream to shape, fill and define my brows.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Leave it to my favorite drugstore mascara to thicken, curl and define my lashes unlike most high-end mascaras I've tried. This one is the best, I promise.

Charlotte Tilbury Very Victoria Matte Revolution Lipstick
Ah, Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks. I'd been eyeing this one down for the longest and finally took the plunge. I wore this one to a wedding recently and it's the perfect shade for the occasion as well as an 'everyday shade'. Very Victoria is a soft medium rosy brown with neutral undertones and a semi-matte finish. 

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Farm Market Pumpkin Pickin' & ASOS Outfit Lovin'

Recently, my boyfriend and I took a trip to Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, New Jersey. We went last year around this time and ultimately decided we'd make it into an annual fall tradition. Because who wouldn't want to pick pumpkins at a local farm market with fresh vegetables, a petting zoo and the yummiest apple cider doughnuts EVER - especially the ones covered in cinnamon sugar, ah. I made the very poor decision of only buying four doughnuts last year, but it's safe to say I was definitely better prepared this time around. I took home a dozen in my ASOS Leather Embossed Backpack because you gotta' stock up when you can only enjoy something that good only once a year. Ya feel me? ;)

We got lucky with the weather as it was the definition of a perfect autumn day. The sun was shining bright and the air crisp and cool, but not too chilly. I've been a bit spendy on ASOS lately, so I paired my favorite good ole Topshop Ripped Jamie Jeans with my new ASOS J.D.Y Peplum Shirt and ASOS Warehouse Leather Look Biker Jacket. I've always been more of a comfort gal than anything else and well, I was feeling just that in this outfit. We peered around the crowded market and my mouth watered at the sight of crisp gala apples, homemade jams and fresh local produce. 

Outside, I took the opportunity to people watch as there was loads to see! I'm sure you can imagine how many families with young children were there enjoying some quality time together. We went over to the petting zoo and watched a little boy feed the cutest little goat, who seemed to never be satisfied with the amount of food it was being fed. More please. I'm looking forward to carving the pumpkin I picked up as I have to redeem myself from last year. Let's just say my cat pumpkin didn't come out as I had planned...

Next weekend, I'm heading to Bates Motel in Pennsylvania with my family and I couldn't be more excited about it. I've always wanted to go to a proper haunted house and hayride and Bates Motel is ranked as one of the best haunted attractions in the country. As a lover of all things horror (I'm always down to watch a scary movie), I've been looking forward to this trip for SO long. I'll definitely have to report back, so stay tuned! Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

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The Autumn Nail Polish Edit

I aim to polish my nails every Sunday afternoon or evening with a fresh coat in preparation for the upcoming week, but I have to admit that I rarely stick to this routine. I've never liked the way my nails look bare and therefore always try to have them done, but don't care much for the actual process of polishing my nails. I find it to be a tedious task as opposed to a relaxing one because I feel like there are other things I'd rather be doing with my time. You'd think I'd love this part of my beauty routine seeing as I do a pretty good job of not getting nail polish all over my cuticles. Recently I put away all of my pastel summer shades in exchange for my favorite autumnal shades- think deep burgundy, mauve and dark gray. You can certainly wear whatever color you want anytime of year, but I'm the kind of gal who coordinates her nail colors with the seasons. What can I say? 

My two favorite salon brand nail polishes that are sold in drugstores are Essie and OPI. I just find that they offer the best range of color options and my manicures usually last a full week and sometimes longer when I use either of the two. OPI polishes have a wide, thick brush which can be easier or harder to apply depending on your nail shape. I quite like a full, thick brush as I find it takes less effort to get your nail covered with just the right amount of polish. Essie polishes have a shorter and smaller brush, which works for all types of nails. When comparing the two brands, I'd say Essie offers even more unique seasonal shades for an affordable price than its counterpart. 

( L-R : Ulta Salon Formula Nail Lacquer Hot Spot, Ulta Salon Formula Nail Lacquer Aubergine, Essie Angora Cardi, Essie Wicked, Kiko Milano Power Pro Nail Lacquer 51 Blue, Kiko Milano Power Pro Nail Lacquer 53 Graphite )

Two other nail polish brands I love are Kiko Milano Power Pro Nail Lacquer and Ulta Salon Formula Nail Lacquer. The quality of these two brands really surprised me when I used them for the first time given how affordable they are. Definitely give them a go, I promise you won't be disappointed! You can pick up Kiko Milano nail polish at Garden State Plaza if you live in the tri-state area or shop them online. Don't forget that the secret to a long-lasting, salon-quality manicure is a good base and top coat. Whether you're using a Revlon or Deborah Lippmann nail polish, this important step is always necessary. For my base coat, I swear by Butter London Nail Foundation Priming Basecoat and top coat, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. You can't go wrong ;)

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Hello October :: Fall Fun Activities

Autumn is not just one of my favorite times of year, it's my only favorite time of year. There's something so calming about the leaves changing color, the chill in the air and the promise of cozy evenings inside with cups of hot cocoa and pumpkin spice candles. Bomber jackets, sweaters and socks are slowly making a comeback into my wardrobe and I couldn't be happier about it. This season calls for some of my favorite activities, which involve binge watching my current favorite Netflix show (Bates Motel), indulging in comfort food like grilled cheese and tomato soup and going on long walks for fresh air. I also find that there's a spike in my productivity during the fall. It's likely a combination of the fact that there's three more months left in 2016 to achieve goals and also because cracking down on work is a lot easier when you don't have the option of spending the day by the pool or beach. Ya know...

October kicks off the holiday season, which really is the most magical time of the year for obvious reasons! From Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas, we all have amazing memories to make and good times with friends and family to look forward to. But before we begin our holiday trifecta, let's make the most of this month because it's such a fun one to participate in all the fall activities you possibly can. I have a few really exciting weekends planned including a wedding and a trip to a haunted house in Pennsylvania in late October. I've rounded up ten weekend activity ideas you can put into your calendar now because this month will fly by and you'll be disappointed when November rolls around!

1. Go pumpkin or apple picking

2. Rent a cabin by the mountains or a lake to getaway for a weekend

3. Visit a haunted house or go for a hayride

4. Tailgate at a football game 

5. Bake your favorite kind of pie (pumpkin for me!)

6. Drink hot cider and eat apple cider doughnuts 

7. Spend a relaxing night in carving pumpkins (YouTube will help with ideas)

8.  Enjoy a pumpkin ale with cinnamon sugar on the rim at your local bar

9. Watch your favorite horror movie on or before Halloween

10. Make s'mores by the campfire 

Hope you're all having a great weekend and planning some fun activities this month!

xx JG

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Five Minute Makeup Essentials

I could easily spend about 20 minutes or more doing my makeup in the morning if I had the time. In reality, I spend about 10 minutes on an average weekday morning and always use the same couple of products. On the rare occasion, I leave myself with only five minutes to spare for makeup after hitting the snooze button on my phone far too many times. We've all had those mornings and I can't say they're any bit of fun. It's a nauseating feeling when you get up realizing you only have time to brush your teeth, put clothes on, slap product on your face and comb your hair if you're lucky. My perfect morning would allow time for me to read in bed for at least a good half hour before going about my day. But who honestly has time for that? I've rounded up seven of my go-to products for a super speedy five minute makeup face. Let's get started.

FACE: Pop one pump of the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream 50+ on the back of your hand and use a foundation brush to blend it all in. You can even just use your hands if you prefer doing it that way. Follow up with the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer, which is a weightless, full coverage concealer that hides any imperfections underneath the eyes. Apply Benefit Hoola Bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks and high points of the face followed by the Benefit Dandelion Blush for a sheer ballerina-pink flush of color on the cheeks.

EYES/BROWS: Work Benefit Hoola Bronzer into the crease to give your eyes some added definition. Follow up with the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara to lengthen, curl, volumize and condition the lashes all in one. Fill in your brows with the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil to darken any sparse areas. 

LIPS: Use a nude, natural shade that is quick and easy to apply. I love wearing MAC Velvet Teddy, which is a deep-tone beige color that looks great with any makeup look.

And that's all, folks! Some of you may think that using seven products is far too much for a five minute makeup routine, but that's as little as it gets for me! Because I'm always testing and discovering new products, I would say that I definitely tend to put more on my face than most people. I do want to note though that makeup should be used to enhance your features, not cover them up! I've never been a fan of looks that use heavy contouring, full coverage foundation and bold lips and eyes. When there's too much going on, makeup can disguise what you really look like. And I think it's important to have confidence in yourself with or without makeup. Not to be cheesy, but you're beautiful the way you are and makeup should be fun, not something you rely on to feel good.

Hope you're having a nice weekend guys! 

xx JG

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Good Reads To Check Out

I'm back on the book reading grind guys. I feel almost ashamed with myself for completely failing at one of my goals for 2016. Back in January, I aimed to read one book a month for the rest of the year. Yup, just one. That's not a lot to ask of myself seeing as my morning commute is the perfect time to fit in some good quality reading time. Let's just say I did everything, but read. And trust me, I love to read books mainly because of the place they take my imagination and because I'm generally a lover of language, grammar and great writing. I just found that reading blogs, writing for this blog, watching my favorite YouTube channels and getting my Netflix fix were all in constant competition with reading a good old-fashioned book. I left it to the summer season to turn things around because there's nothing better than reading a book you're really into while catching some rays on the beach or by the pool. It's the definition of relaxation in my book- ha, no pun intended. 

With just a little over three months to spare, we'll soon be saying goodbye to 2016. Weird, I know. But it's better late than never to get back into a hobby you love or work on a personal goal you've been pushing aside. With that being said, I've been excited about getting my hands on a few books that have been hyped in the blogging community and social media. Lately, I've been reading the likes of Gillian Flynn to get excited for my favorite time of year- Autumn/Halloween. You may know Gillian Flynn as the writer of Gone Girl, a #1 New York Times Bestseller that was turned into a psychological thriller film starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. I recently finished her debut novel, Sharp Objects, which is about a newspaper journalist who returns to her hometown in Wind Gap, Missouri to report on a series of brutal murders. Her writing style is incredibly unique and just kind of sticks with you in a very unsettling way. It's brilliant the way she manages to reveal that "a-ha" moment when you didn't even see it coming.

In keeping with the thriller/murder/mystery theme, I'm currently reading Dark Places, which is also by Gillian Flynn. The story already has all of my undivided attention and I'm not even that far in. Dark Places is about a woman who confronts the childhood memory of the murder of her mother and sisters as she investigates the possibility that her brother, who was convicted of the crime, may in fact be innocent. If thrillers aren't really your cup of tea, a few other lighter suggestions may be better options to consider. For example, Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic has been talked up recently and I took an interest in reading after learning that it was essentially a self-help book for creatives or people who aspire to live their lives creatively. You may know Elizabeth Gilbert from her novel Eat, Pray, Love, which was a 2006 memoir that was adapted into a film starring Julia Robert and Javier Bardem.

Finally, I picked up a few other must-reads that I should have read awhile ago- yes, I know I'm a little late to the book party. Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is finally part of my growing book collection. I figured this cult favorite will give me the motivation and inspo I need to keep my bedroom tidy - a daily struggle I can't seem to conquer. And of course I have to read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child because why not? Harry Potter was a big part of my childhood as it was for countless others. I get far too excited when any of the Harry Potter films are on Freeform (ABC Family channel). Who else can relate?! And because I can't get enough of thrillers, I couldn't leave The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware behind. It's a story about a travel journalist who goes on a cruise for an assignment and believes she witnessed a woman being thrown overboard - talk about a twisted plot. Well, it looks like I have A LOT of reading to do. I'm curious to know which of the above interests you most - let me know!

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August Beauty Favorites

How is it time for August Favorites already?! I knew summer would fly by, but geez this was definitely a quick one. This summer has been filled with some great memories, but I can't say getting badly sunburned on Memorial Day weekend was one of them. Although I'm sad to see summer come and go so quickly, I'm way too excited for the fall season. There are a few things in life that I like better than fall, so let's just say I won't be sobbing too hard about the weather getting cooler and nights shorter. As I've mentioned before on here, I've been all about minimal makeup this summer as I tend to not put too much on during the summer months. I've been sticking to using the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream as my base and following up with concealer and powder foundation to set everything in place. Then onto bronzer, blush, minimal eyeshadow, mascara and my nude color of choice. Yup, that's pretty much it. I've added one new product into my everyday routine, which is featured below. Speaking of fall, I'm excited to use a few heavier products as it gets cooler and am especially looking forward to wearing a berry-toned lip! But until then, I've been enjoying having a fairly easy get-ready situation in the morning because who doesn't love to sleep more? Anyways, let's get to it...

Starting with skincare, first up is the Fresh Rose Face Mask, which is actually a sample I received from Sephora. I will definitely be repurchasing the full size because this has to be one of the best masks I've ever used. I hate when masks dry on your face making your skin feel super tight and uncomfortable. Ugh, it's the worst! Because this mask is a hydrating and toning gel mask, it's unlike a clay mask, which can feel a bit icky. One of my favorite scents is rose- whether that's in fragrance, soap, lotion or candle form. So the fact that this mask is infused with real rose petals, rosewater and algae packed with moisture is just the icing on top of the cake. Another skincare favorite is the Tacha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, which is basically a miracle potion in a bottle. Guys, this stuff does everything it claims to do. It's a pretty luxurious spray-on moisturizer for it's price point, there's no denying that. However, the bottle will probably last a long, long time. That's the reasoning I gave myself when I was trying to decide whether it was worth purchasing anyway. I have combination skin with certain areas that are extremely dry especially during cooler months, so I have no doubts I'll be getting a lot of use out of this gem in the months to come. Recently, I picked up a drugstore moisturizer on a whim because I had left my moisturizer at a friends house. The Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Moisturizer ended up being a pleasant surprise. It moisturizes my skin really well without being too greasy and the scent is amazingly citrusy and fresh. So far no breakouts or skin reactions and I've been really enjoying using it everyday this month. It's also not too heavy, which I prefer when it comes to face moisturizers.

Now onto the product I've introduced into my everyday routine. I'm no stranger to using MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter, which I've been faithful to for about a year I'd say. I convinced myself that I needed to get Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat because I heard so many great things about it. One thing I always try to minimize is my uneven skin tone, especially the skin underneath my eyes as it can be a dark bluish color. This highlighting pen instantly brightens the skin under my eyes and really gives me more radiant-looking skin. It's especially great for those days when I'm lacking in the sleep department and need a little pick-me-up. I do use it everyday for the most part though because it definitely makes a difference in my overall makeup look. It's on the pricier side, so I'd recommend giving MAC's a try first if you're looking to invest in a highlighter pen. If you're a highlighter pen maven and can't go a day without it, definitely consider YSL's. And lastly, my nude of choice this month has been the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick Nude 43, which I picked up in the UK during April. Rimmel is a great drugstore brand for lipsticks as I find they last a decent amount of time, have great pigmentation and a nice, creamy formula.

Are there any products you've been wearing consistently throughout the summer?

xx JG

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