january beauty

it's been a while since i've done one of these collages! rounded up some new and old products for this month. more details after the jump! 

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01 | TATCHA luminous overnight memory serum concentrate -- the latest addition to the luminous collection, this is a hydrating gel-like serum that uses red algae for more luminous skin. the deep hydration eye firming serum is also new to this line with a unique ceramic applicator to reduce puffiness and fine lines. i have been using both of these for the past few days and loving it! review coming soon.
02 | Hourglass ambient strobe lighting powder -- Hourglass makes some amazing powders, like my beloved blush in luminous flush. strobing is all the rage right now, and here we have four colors: iridescent, incandescent, euphoric, and brilliant. these powders use micro-fine pearls to create #thatglo. amazing swatches and comparisons by Sabrina @thebeautylookbook. her picks are euphoric and brilliant. 
03 | surratt beauty artistique blush in rougeur -- i've heard some good things about this brand and i think the first item i would try is a blush. i only have three blushes (gasp!) and this would be such a unique one to own! described as "classic rouge." 
04 | OPI avoplex cuticle oil (to go) -- during the wintertime, my cuticles get really dry. i've done nothing about it and probably should starting with this. also comes in a full size version.
05 | CHANEL sunkiss ribbon blush (spring 2016, L.A. sunrise collection, limited edition) -- an interlaced ribbon design with all blush colors, great for those who can't decide!! pink, beige, coral, orange, magenta! it is so stunning to look at. swatches on Christine @temptalia
06 | Sephora formula X Aimee Song collection in nude for you -- when @songofstyle collaborates with any brand, you check it out. she's such an inspo to so many women, but here is her formula X #colorcurators release in three shades: a girls best friend (pink), mintfluencer (mint), and nude for you (nude). from what i've seen, the nude seems to be a universal flattering shade.
07 | INM out the door top coat -- introduced to me by my BFF who is a nail polish guru. WOW this thing drys so fast and stays so shiny for days!! love her and this introduction! a must have!! also sold at Sally Beauty supply. 
08 | invisibobble hair ties -- i discovered this at last my hair cut with my amazing stylist @cystalvainatx. yep, it looks like a telephone cord. it's not really invisible. but it's supposed to put uneven pressure around the circumference of your ponytail meaning no hair marks/kinks. this also means no tugging/pulled hair and the most important part is no hair breakage or split ends. works well for everyday use, but it doesn't have a super strong hold so i use two for work outs one to put my hair in a ponytail and then the second to secure it into a bun. comes in a variety of colors!

sephora VIB rouge and VIB sale event -- fall 2015

get your shopping carts ready for the Sephora VIB sale event! 

this is a great way to stock up on items you know you already love and use often, AND, it's also a chance to try those new products that you have been eyeing (or perhaps they are already in your shopping cart?! -- no judgement here!!). instead of repeating any skincare products i can't live without, see these posts here on my skincare routine must haves: 3 makeup items for an everyday look // AM // PM.

who | Sephora
what | 20% off all purchases!
when | VIB rouge (spends $1000 per calendar year): 11/06/15 - 11/09/15; VIB (spends $350 per calendar year):  11/13/15 - 11/16/15
where | sephora.com or in store
use promo code at checkout | VIB Rouge: ROUGE20; VIB: VIB20

sharing a few of my picks with you! some items have sold out already but hopefully it'll come back in stock again or you can search for it using the store locator option. 

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01 | Kevyn Aucoin the sculpting powder in medium -- i'm surprised i haven't wrote about this yet! but it is my FAVORITE contouring powder. there are a dozen out there and for a while i was using a bronzer to do this #whatwasithinking. this is a universal color, not at all muddy, or orange and helps to give you that sculpted effect. think of Adele in her latest video 'Hello.' if you want perfectly chiseled cheekbones, you need this. (in conjunction with the celestial powder). i've had mine for almost two years now and finally seeing a peek of the pan show through! #thefeelingofhittingpan
02 | NARS Steven Klein collaboration one shocking moment cheek palette -- NARS is known for their blushes and they are great blushes to start out with. this palette features four blushes (robotic, blaspemy, luster, and dolce vita), a contour and highlighter duo, and their famous bronzer in laguna. great palette for traveling. 
03 | Burberry wet & dry silk eyeshadow -- this is a great time to pick up ANYTHING Burberry. so let's go with the Burberry eyeshadows. my friend introduced these to me and these are like butter (BUTTAH) in makeup form. i only own three of the old formulation (they were re-formulated them earlier this year) in trench, midnight brown, and pale barley. pale barley is my favorite, what a beautiful neutral brown. the packaging on these are quite exquisite, metal casing and comes with a velvet pouch. now if i only knew how to apply these like the pros. PS -- i've read that people start using these eyeshadows in the top left hand corner. :) 
04 | Koh Gen Do aqua foundation SPF 15 -- a cult favorite in terms of mineral foundation. though it comes in limited shades (use to only be like three!!) these always look amazing on the makeup artists i see wearing them. if i had time for foundation, this is what i would be getting. formulated w/o parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. 
05 | Caolion premium hot & cool pore pack duo -- this is apart of the korean beauty feature at Sephora. i like the concept of this duo mask, "... a steaming mask that opens and deeply cleanses pores, then a cooling mask to tighten and minimize the appearance of pores." so far it has pretty good reviews, i definitely want to pick this up to try it. another k-beauty item i'd like to try is the Too Cool for School egg cream sheet mask, described as "a sheet mask infused with egg white and egg yolk extract to instantly hydrate for a bright and radiant complexion." both are formulated w/o parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. 
06 | Kiesque liquid palisade easy peel polish barrier -- when i saw this i was like WHOA! genius. (for people who can't paint nails... like me.) it's basically a "nail tape" that protects the cuticles from stains during application!! #easilyamused
07 | Anastasia dipbrow pomade (i use this in ebony) -- while i don't draw in my brows (i actually should because one is lighter than the other! #browsnotcreatedequal) all you need is the tiniest amount. the two or three times i've used this i lightly dip it into the pot and have to take some off onto a kleenex (basically wasting product) because it is EXTREMELY pigmented. but talk about #browsonfleek! color and holding power all-in-one. when this came out, it was all the craze. for those who don't want to mess with a separate brush for application, try her bestselling brow wiz in pencil form
08 | belif the true cream aqua bomb -- another line from the Korean beauty feature on Sephora. i've seen this on instagram a lot and it seems to do really well. it is described as, "gel-cream that 'floods' the skin with a rush of refreshing hydration and minimizes the appearance of pores for soft, smooth, supple skin for normal to combination skin types, including oily skin, and dry skin types looking for a lightweight moisturizer." it also comes in a smaller size and formulated w/o parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. 

what did you HAUL?! 

current lemmings -- september lips & accessories

01 | Yves Saint Laurent rouge pur couture kiss & love collector's edition in le neu (limited edition) -- these have the cutest lip imprints on the side of the lipstick, it's seriously sooo cute and a complete marketing ploy that i am falling for. but i did try this on, for a non-nude lip person it actually looked good! it also has a very fruity scent to it, the sales rep mentioned that the scent was due to the mango ingredient in it. the collection consists of four colors total ranging from: red, red-orange, fuchsia, and nude. however, Sephora has their own limited edition in a black-red color which also looks very interesting and perfect for fall. 

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02 | Sephora Collection cream lip stain in 03 strawberry kissed -- i've seen a few youtube videos of Alix of @icovetthee and she is obsessed with these lip stains from Sephora. although the formulation is creamy, it seems to dry to a beautiful finish. strawberry kissed is described as a matte bright pinky red. Alix has also wears the color 01 always red (matte bold classic red) and that looks stunning on her as well!
03 | Christian Louboutin Beaute velvet matte lip color in louboutin rouge -- yes, i know this is $90 and that is an insane amount to spend on a lipstick. since it's release on 09/01, i have been seeing tons pictures on instagram, and wow... this color is beautiful. the rouge is like a blue-based red which is very flattering for my skintone. it comes in three different finishes: sheer voile, silky satin, and velvet matte. i've really come to like matte lipsticks and i am curious about this one. another color i'd also get (if i had a money tree) is bengali in the silky satin finish. see the rouge swatches in all three finishes on @thebeautylookbook and a youtube video of different colors and finishes by @raeview.
04 | BaubleBar pearl pin up drop earrings -- really liking these new earrings from BaubleBar. i am a huge pearl girl and love how they mixed a classic pearl into a fringe-y edgy earring. ok, i confess these are in my shopping cart right now. love the way @esther_bbswat be rockin' them! 
05 | Daniel Wellington dapper st. mawes leather strap watch 38mm -- when the first wave of DW watches came surfacing on instagram, i liked the minimal design, but didn't think it was a stand out watch. however, this new design got me like WHOA. if you read this blog, you know i am obsessed with roman numerals and blue dials. this watch is perfect for me and would be a change from my normal metal chainlink watches. this has been added to my wish list... someday one day DW you'll be mine! the best thing is that these are uni-sex, so you and your man/sister/BFF can get a pair and be all matchy matchy!
06 | Forever21 frayed two stripe scarf in charcoal/grey -- officially, yes it is technically fall. but not here in TEXAS. it is still hot as heck. but when it gets a tad bit cool (probably won't be until the end of October, boo.) i will be rocking this. love the fact that it is almost a square shape, so perfect for those days you want that handkerchief scarf look. 
07 | Stuart Weitzman nudistsong ankle strap sandal in sapphire suede -- the original nudist strap sandals are extremely minimal and classy. the only downside for me was the height (4 1/2"), i actually ordered and returned them once because they were so high, i have no idea how women walk in them without toppling over. not. for. me. however, i'm really glad to see the nudistsong in a shorter length,  3 3/4" and available in a variety of pretty colors, and widths. 
08 | Topshop noodle mid-sandals in black suede -- i LOVE block heel anything, mainly because of comfort, they make wearing heels less painful not to mention my feet are completely untrained. this block heel is 2.5" and i love the minimal sandal strap design. a great casual alternative to ankle strap stilettos. 

the striped midi skirt & basketweave clutch

a little striped obsessed at the moment. 

this Topshop striped midi skirt is everythanggg y'all! when it came in, i was in love. (there is such thing as love at first sight). i like all midi skirts, but this one was perfect due to the thick stripes, pleats, and... POCKETS. while it is a little on the expensive side, it looks just like the Tibi escalante striped skirt ($690 USD)!! #purchasejustified. i love the way it flares out perfectly and the material is excellent quality with a bit of texture to it. this skirt is so beautiful, all it needed was a simple dressy cami. 

i chose to add more texture to this outfit by pairing it with my first Clare Vivier clutch in basketweave leather. this clutch came out back in 2014 and i was late on snagging one. in the 2014 design, the basketweave was woven in a straight fashion, in the latest (as seen in this post), it is in a diagonal fashion and in my honest opinion, it looks sooo much better. i'm glad i missed out on the first release. any bag or clutch that is woven in a basketweave fashion is super classy, just think Bottega Veneta.

PS--this week i was featured in the @MariaBonitaMexico online magazine! what?!? what?! check it out! life is crazy and i'm truly blessed to be among some great talent. #sogratefulbeyondwords

y'all have an awesome weekend now! i'm off to NYC!! (to eat!). 

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top | H&M woven camisole top in black (on sale for $20!) / similar from Topshop
skirt | Topshop striped midi skirtNordstrom Topshop striped midi skirt / similar from LuLu's
shoes | LuLu's elsi single strap heels in black suede / similar by Steve Madden
bag | Clare V. basketweave foldover clutch in black leather / similar from SoleSociety
sunglasses | Prada round oversized sunglasses in black
earrings | ASOS big faux pearl and stone swing earrings (old) / similar in silver metal
necklace | BaubleBar ice scallop pendant
bracelet | BaubleBar athena grid cuff
rings | BaubleBar tri bar ring (sold out) similar / BaubleBar gemini pearl ring / etsy stacking & midi rings
lips | MAC lipstick in brick-o-la
nails | Sephora formula X in thrilling (can't get enough of this color!)

current lemmings -- summer beauty

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01 | Hourglass ambient bronzer -- huge product release this summer and a great addition to the Hourglass powder family (which, by the way are amazing). these are going to give you a luminous sun-kissed glow. it comes in two shades: luminous bronze light (for fair/light complexions) and radiant bronze light (for medium/deep complexions). great reviews and swatches on @Temptalia / @thebeautylookbook / and @TheBeautyProfessor.
02 | Lipstick Queen lipstick in jungle queen -- (try saying i 3x fast). ever since seeing this on the utterly beautiful @ICovetThee (who by the way, has the sexiest accent ever! her youtube videos are amazing) last year, it's been on my list. i might have to cave sometime... it's the perfect summer coral-ly red orange... purchase this tax-free from spaceNK.com or bloomingdales.com.
03 | Sephora formula X nailpolish in thrilling -- tried this on in store, it's such a beautiful neutral taupe-ish color. the formula is supposed to enhance color and overall shine while providing a long lasting finish. on the website it is described as a "cloud gray." hrmmm....
04 | Kevyn Aucoin matte bronzing veil -- this a good alternative for those who do not like shimmery bronzers. available in two shades: desert days (fair/light complexions) and desert nights (medium/dark complexions). 
05 | Cle de Peau Beaute the lip serum -- i've been looking for a good lip treatment for use at night. this might be a good option, but it is very new so i haven't seen any reviews yet. yes, this is a very $$$$. but i've read many good things about the CDP skincare line so i don't think this will disappoint. 
06 | Becca x Jaclyn Hill shimmering skin perfector in champagne pop -- a blogger's/youtuber's dream is usually to partner with a brand and create their own exclusive item. talented girl Jaclyn Hill does it with this beautiful highlighter. #champagnepop seriously, just look up that hashtag and you'll see the CRAZE about this product. great review and swatches on the hilarious and friendly neighborhood beauty addict @TheMakeupAndBeautyBlog. this won't last long, so snag it while you can.

stay tuned for more summer beauty faves,
JD

sephora VIB rouge and VIB sale event -- fall 2014

it is that time of the year again when Sephora hosts their VIB Rouge and VIB sale event. a few years ago this used to be a friends & family affair, but now it is only available to those who are beauty insiders (their loyalty program, free sign up) who hold a VIB Rouge status (spend $1000 per calendar year) or VIB status (spend $350 per calendar year). know anyone with that kind of status? ....take them to lunch, then casually stop by Sephora..... 

who | Sephora
what | 20% off all purchases online and in-store. 
when | 11/06/14 - 11/10/14 (online & in-store)
where | Sephora.com and in-stores 
use promo code at checkout | GIFTVIB

if you are a friend of a VIB Rouge or VIB member, you can... 1) ask to piggyback on their online order, or 2) accompany them in-store. both member types should have received a coupon voucher to use in store as well. 

this is a GREAT time to buy gifts! that's right. START EARLY. Sephora has released a ton of gift sets to jump start the season so check them out! gift sets are always a good way to try a few bestsellers from a particular brand. in addition, there is a gift set for any beauty product lover--nails, hair, lips, eyes, fragrances etc... again, if there is something you can buy off Beauty.com's F&F do that first since you can get it tax-free. 

i tried to order this morning and the site actually crashed a few times due to the amount of traffic! 

here are my picks: 

01 | Bobbi Brown mini long wear cream shadow stick trio in  smokey topaz (brown heather mauve), espresso bean (rich black chocolate shimmer), pink sparkle (light pink sparkle) -- great for the quick and easy eyeshadow application, or even liner! 
02 | Formula X the X look: holiday edition in obsessed (opaque classic merlot), impassioned (purple pearl), thrilling (opaque heather grey), temptation (iridescent gold pearl) -- gorgeous holiday colors!

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03 | NARS digital world lip pencil coffret in two velvet matte lip pencils in Cruella (passionate scarlet red), Iberico (intense coral), and three satin lip pencils in peach coral, shocking pink, yu (shocking pink) -- haven't tried these but love the range of colors.
04 | Hourglass opaque rouge liquid lipstick -- i picked this up in the travel size tube in icon, a blue red. haven't tried it but i'm sure it won't disappoint considering it is by Hourglass
05 | Radical skincare skin perfecting screen SPF 30 -- this is a new brand to Sephora, i've read a lot about it and picked it up to try. SPF is ALWAYS A MUST.