I'm having a love affair with liquid lipsticks at the moment. I love their long-wear, full coverage, glide on like a gloss, but dry matte appeal. They've definitely been having their moment in the spotlight lately being all over blogs, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, etc. in recent months. For me, it all started with the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks and the love really spread like wildfire guys. Almost like how Insta-famous beauty brand ColourPop Cosmetics burst out on the beauty scene about two years ago. How genius was it to target the millennial audience by marketing the brand specifically via social media and through beauty influencers. Looks like their master plan worked out because ColourPop now has 2.5 million followers on Instagram including myself.
I first heard about ColourPop originally through Instagram (obviously) as I saw many makeup artists and bloggers I followed were wearing and raving about their products. The beauty addict in me had to have a peek at their website straight away and things got a little spendy. Surprise, surprise. Naturally, I was drawn to the unique pigments of their liquid lipsticks, especially the nudes. In the nude family, I ultimately decided to purchase Midi, Trap and Beeper, but I think a second purchase must be made soon because Bianca, I haven't forgotten about you girl. I decided I needed to set a limit for myself otherwise things could get out of control. Surely six liquid lipsticks and four lip liners are enough, but it's not easy to make decisions when there are SO many amazing shades to choose from at a price you really can't beat.
I picked up four lip liners that go hand-in-hand with the liquid lipstick selections I made. I paired Tulle with Lady Pencil, Chi with Chi Pencil, Kae with Kae Pencil and Midi, Trap and Beeper with BFF Pencil 2. Wearing a lip pencil underneath your lipstick really does make a difference, whether you're team matte or team glossy. Your lipstick will last a lot longer and I find that a lip pencil can really intensify the color. If you're just lining your lips, try filling in your entire lips with the lip pencil and then applying your lipstick afterward. That little trick makes my liquid lipstick last hours on end even after meals. Overall, I was very impressed by the quality of these products especially because of the fact that you can get them at a drugstore price. The only downfall is that the liquid lipsticks are pretty drying on the lips, but you kind of have to expect that. A good lip scrub and balm will work wonders to prep your lips before application. Also, make sure you take your liquid lipstick with you because the color wears off awkwardly and you'll need to re-apply.
Fun fact: ColourPop's parent company Seed Beauty also produces Kylie Cosmetics. No wonder why ColourPop offers pigments uniquely similar to the Kylie Lip Kits. Hey, I'll take it.
xx JG
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When it comes to fragrances, I would say that I prefer floral and musky scents best. I've never been a fan of sweet smelling perfumes, but I don't mind sweet scents in the form of bath products, scrubs and moisturizers. And of course I love to eat sweet treats! I'm also a fan of clean, fresh scents especially during the summer months when the heat doesn't really do us any favors. I have a few perfumes that I rotate between including a couple of fragrances I mentioned in a previous post. I've been loving the likes of Jo Malone for the past year or so and am currently enjoying alternating between four different scents: Wood Sage & Sea Salt, Blue Agava & Cacao, Blackberry & Bay and Pomegranate Noir.
Luckily, I received Jimmy Choo Illicit Flower as a gift after coordinating an event at work. It's become one of my favorite perfumes in my current collection as I find it to be the perfect scent for this time of year. Part of my job entails coordinating events for luxury brands like Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Tory Burch and Jimmy Choo to showcase new product launches to editors' from different publications like Vogue, W, Allure, Glamour, GQ, etc. I work directly with the PR folks from the brands to make sure they have a conference room set up with catering, AV, decor and all that jazz. Essentially, it's my job to make sure the day runs smoothly for all parties involved.
Receiving gifts as a "thank you" for coordinating these meetings is definitely a work perk. It's even better when the products I receive are often items I would purchase myself. And if that's the case, I want to share these products with you whether they're fragrances, skincare or beauty bits in the hope that you may see something you like. Alternatively, I also receive gifts that I may not completely love and therefore don't feel the need to share here. Jimmy Choo Illicit Flower is a new 2016 launch as a follow up to the original Jimmy Choo Illicit scent that you may be familiar with. It's both a musky and floral scent with top notes of apricot and mandarin orange. It contains middle notes of grapefruit blossom, jasmine and rose with base notes of sandalwood, cashmere wood and musk. You won't be able to find it in your local Sephora or Ulta just yet, but it might just be on your wish list if you like what you've heard! Hope you've had a great weekend.
xx JG
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Ah, organizational skills. Maybe she's born with it, maybe she's not...
I'm the type of person who loves the idea of being extremely organized. However, I can't seem to get to a place where I'm 100% happy with the state of my room and the general life to-do's that float around in my head and never get done. I know some people who are naturally so on top of their game all the damn time. It just so happens they are also partly neurotic. Fortunately, I can say that I've strived for good organizational habits since I was a little lady in elementary school. And that in turn has helped me become the semi productive person I am today. Because who am I kidding...I could definitely be more productive.
When I was younger, I had a small chalkboard near my bedroom where I'd write down all of my to-do's. I'd put a nice fat check mark after I was done completing anything on my list. And the satisfaction I got from doing that was all too real. On my list, you'd probably find items like do homework, shower, eat dinner and buy new skirt from Limited Too. Thrilling. I have to be honest though, my chalkboard to-do list was a big part of my childhood and I oftentimes miss it. Now that I'm getting older, the balancing act that is life seems to be rearing its ugly head. Here are some tips that make staying organized a little bit easier because it doesn't hurt to be reminded every now and then.
To-do lists will help you get stuff done. Period.
I think part of the reason for this is because you physically see everything you need to do written down on a piece of paper or maybe on a chalkboard, ha. Your to-do's are not just fleeting ideas in your mind that you can save for a rainy day. Get your act together. I promise you'll feel satisfied with every ✔.
Trello.
You may haven't heard of Trello and if that's the case, I suggest you check it out. Trello is a web-based project management application. I love using its built-in calendar to set deadlines for myself. The best part is that it's free and also a great solution if you're not the pen to paper type.
Sacrifice your precious date with Netflix.
If Netflix and chill is a consistent routine of yours, you should consider the fact that your date with Netflix would probably feel more special if it didn't happen after work every night. Maybe take some time during the week to work on any side projects or even tidy up your apartment or bedroom. It will free up your weekend time, which is meant to be more fun anyway!
Plan ahead.
I like to take 10 minutes from my Sunday morning or evening because that's usually when I'm feeling the most relaxed during the week. Planning ahead may take the form of lists, reminders or even mental notes in your head. Since I've launched my blog, I've had to learn how to plan ahead better. Making sure I have new content to share on a weekly basis takes some pre-planning when there's a full-time job, after work activities and weekend plans involved.
Tidy your space.
Tidy room, tidy mind. It's probably all in our heads, but I think that saying really rings true. I'm at least a good 50% more organized and productive in life when my room is somewhat organized. It's never spotless, though. I like to think someday I'll get there.
Take a break from social media.
Put your phone down for an hour without reaching for it. You might be surprised at how much you can accomplish when you're 100% invested in whatever it is you're doing. I know our phones are practically third arms nowadays, but it's nice to be away from Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest etc. every now and then.
iPhone notes.
Any off-the-cuff ideas or to-do's that pop into your head should go straight into your iPhone notes. I really do appreciate all of the random notes I have in there that help me to stop procrastinating.
xx JG
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I'm sure all of the beauty obsessed ladies out there can relate to the thrilling feeling of going shopping for beauty products in different countries. I follow quite a few UK beauty bloggers and it's always fun to see what high-end and drugstore products they're loving. Many of the high-end products that get a lot of love across the pond are similar to the US with of course a few exceptions. For example, I got really into the By Terry Ombre Blackstar "Color Fix" Cream Eyeshadows thanks to all of the UK bloggers who rave about them regularly. I don't hear much about them here in the US, so that's why it's always interesting to see what products are popular in different parts of the world. I find the entire By Terry Ombre Blackstar range to be really unique in the pigmentation they offer and well, that's not even including the fact that they glide on like butter. There's also the added benefit that they are eyeshadow crayons, which make them super easy to apply. Check them out here.
Anyway during my travels, I popped into a Superdrug, which is the equivalent to a CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade or any drugstore where you can buy affordable beauty products. I loved shopping at Superdrug because the selections are quite different from what I'd find in the Rite Aid around the corner from my house. A few brands that I wouldn't be able to find here are Barry M, Bourjois, Collection, Max Factor and Makeup Revolution to name a few. Although I didn't buy very many products, I thought I'd share my little mini haul should any of you be interested in picking up a few UK drugstore beauty products at Superdrug or Boots during your travels. I really love everything I picked up and I think you will too.
Rimmel Kate Lipstick 43: Rimmel Kate Lipsticks are some of the best drugstore lipsticks around! They give high-end lipsticks a run for their money due to their soft, creamy formula and staying power. Rimmel London introduced a Nude Collection by Kate Moss and the entire range is a nude lovers dream. If you're into reds, I'd suggest picking up Rimmel Kate Lipstick 107, which is one of my all-time favorite shades.
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color (Seduction): Liquid lipsticks have definitely been having a moment lately especially with the recent launch of the Kylie Lip Kits and the popularity of the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. Revlon definitely got it right to release a great quality range of drugstore liquid lipsticks. The formula is lightweight and not drying in the slightest. I found the formula to be very comfortable on my lips and the color lasted for a few good hours before having to touch-up.
Barry M Dazzle Dust 105 Athena: I definitely wish we had Barry M in the states! The Barry M Dazzle Dust range is a collection of loose, highly pigmented pearlised powders that apply easily to the lid and give the most beautiful sheen and sparkle. Athena is a lovely everyday pale shimmery shade that looks lovely on its own or with a slightly darker, natural taupe shade worked into the outer third of your eyelid.
Barry M Dazzle Dust 104 Venus: Venus is a beautiful bronze shade with flecks of gold sparkling throughout. It's a perfect color to wear on a night out or to a dinner date with a special someone. I absolutely love bronze colors as I find they look really nice on my dark brown eyes, so Venus was probably my favorite purchase from this haul.
Tanya Burr Fairy Godmother Nail Polish: Tanya Burr is a UK beauty Youtuber that I watch frequently for makeup tutorials and general lifestyle videos. She launched her own cosmetics line that includes nail polishes, lip glosses, eyeshadow palettes and an eyebrow palette. Fairy Godmother is a very pretty periwinkle/purple shade that is the perfect color for spring. It reminds me of the shade You're Such a Budapest by OPI.
Tanya Burr Duvet Day Nail Polish: Duvet Day is a gorgeous light grey shade with blue tones. It's a very elegant take on the usual light blue pastel shades that most people love to wear during the spring and summer months. Blue and grey are my two favorite colors, so this nail polish was a winner in my eyes!
Eyelure Love It, Layer It 117: Unfortunately, I don't still have these lashes because I wore them out a few times until they became battered. However, I wanted to give them a shout out because I loved wearing them. The full lash strip looked incredibly natural on my eyelid because it added just the right amount of thickness and volume. However, since trying out these lashes, I've become such a fan of adding in a corner accent lash instead of a full lash strip. They're easier to apply and they're a great alternative when you're not up for going all out with the falsies.
xx JG
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Chia seed pudding has become one of my favorite foods to eat for breakfast. One of the best things about it is that you can make it the night before in just a few minutes. Trust me, you'll be happy you did. Chia seeds need a few hours to thicken and gel, which is why it's best to make your pudding the night before. While I enjoy eating chia pudding primarily for breakfast, this recipe also makes a great afternoon snack as well.
Chia seeds have been having quite the moment for the past few years. And it definitely makes sense as to why that is. These tiny black seeds are among one of the healthiest foods on our planet. One reason chia seeds are a great option for weight loss is because they deliver an exorbitant amount of nutrients for the brain and body with very few calories. They're loaded with antioxidants, packed with fiber and high in quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids. They definitely take the term "superfood" to a new level and are well-deserving of that term.
If you're currently eating cereal, toast or a breakfast bar in the morning, I suggest you give this option a try! I don't know about you, but I get really bored of eating the same foods and need to switch things up frequently. You can take the jar of your pudding with you to work, school, the gym or wherever you're off to in the morning. You can also easily substitute any of the ingredients below if you prefer coconut or dairy milk to almond milk for example. Hope you enjoy!
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons of chia seeds
1 tablespoon of blue agave syrup
2 tablespoons of vanilla greek yogurt
1 cup of almond milk
pomegranate seeds
blackberries
raspberries
Method:
1. Mix chia seeds, blue agave syrup, vanilla yogurt and almond milk in a bowl or glass mason jar until all ingredients are mixed together well. Let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Remove it from the fridge in the morning and make sure your chia pudding is thick and the chia seeds have gelled. Top your bowl or jar with pomegranate seeds, blackberries and raspberries.
xx JG
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