November Favorites - Product Edition

Below are the products that I was loving for the month of November. I have divided them into categories so that you can skip reviews that aren't of interest to you.

Personal Care:

Nivea Hand cream - I love this product! This month was my first time trying it, after passing it at Target several times. I have since bought several, as they are only 92cents. I keep these in my handbag, as they allow for discreetly applying lotion in a public setting if necessary. I can keep the container in my purse and scoop out a bit and rub my hands together and go unnoticed. There is nothing worse than being in church or in a professional setting and seeing/hearing someone squeeze lotion from a tube, or having the lotion squirt somewhere that it doesn't belong, or worse having the tube squeeze open in your purse. These little containers are both convenient and they work to keep my hands super soft during this harsh cold weather, or after I wash my hands in public with a drying soap product.

Nivea Lip butter - this lip butter smells so good and it helps to keep my lips hydrated. I apply this at night or when I am going somewhere and I am not wearing makeup. I have bought other scents that I have not used yet. The only con is that you apply this product with your fingers so you do have to make sure that you are applying with freshly washed/sanitized hands.

Vaseline Spray & go Moisturizer - I am embarrassed to say that I bought this product because I saw an advertisement where the lady got dressed so fast thanks to the spray n go lotion! I struggle with getting dressed quickly so I totally fell for that ad! I studied marketing in undergrad (my minor) so I knew that Vaseline was appealing to my flaws (procrastination) but my interest was peaked, nonetheless. I purchased the product with a coupon. It sprays a light application, which I quickly rub in and go on about my business. It does eliminate the time that I would usually spend sitting on my bed daydreaming while applying lotion, as I stand and spray this product away from my bed, so as not to risk ruining my linens. (Or my sheets, I can be so country at times). If you have ever used Off bug repellent spray, then that is similar to the consistency in which the product sprays. It helps to keep my skin moisturized and the product has lasted longer than I anticipated, so it is worth the price (about $6).

Aubrey Organics Herbal Complexion Mist - I have had this product forever, but during the month of November, I started to use it more frequently after experiencing skin irritation on my face from a primer. I spritz this to moisturize my face before applying my makeup or to refresh my skin after using a facial cleanser. It contains natural ingredients such as mineral water, aloe vera, and vitamins, A, C, and E. It reminds me of a toner, and I also compare it to MAC's Fix Plus. It smells really good...well it smells pleasant....and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. I once used it to soothe my irritated freshly shaved skin after I could not find my aloe vera gel, and it worked! I purchased this product at Vitamin Shoppe for about $7 and it has lasted me a while.

Cosmetics:

Urban Decay Ocho Loco 2 - these liners were an impulse buy at Sephora. I went to the store to purchase the UD Vice palette and the associate talked me into these. I love them and I am so glad that I purchased them. This is my first time trying UD liners and they are everything! They are very pigmented, and they glide on easily - hence you are able to use them on your eyelids for a smooth look. (It is difficult to use the average eye pencil on your lids in order to create a winged line). This set is limited edition, so I recommend grabbing it before they are gone forever. I love the colors! I created a look last month using the liners, for which I will post details in another post.

 

ELF Cosmetics Lip exfoliator - I use this at night just before bedtime. It helps to keep my lips smooth and to erase color deposits that I may not have been able to remove with eye makeup remover pads. This product was only $3 and definitely worth a try.

 Mac studio tech - Prior to using this product on a client last month, I had tried every single MAC foundation except this one! I am not sure why I slept on this formula, but I love this product for everyday makeup wear. It offers light to medium coverage (buildable coverage) and results in a more natural application (if applied correctly). I use the shade NW43.


MAC MSF (Perfectly Poised and Scene to be scene) - These can be worn as both blush, highlighters, or all over to provide a luminous glow (results vary pending your complexion and desired outcome). I love these. They are limited edition and sold out in most places.

 

MUFE lipstick no. 15 - this is a very beautiful and unique purple. I have a more detailed post coming up comparing it to other purple lip colors in my collection. The product has a creamy texture, a bit of sheen, it is highly pigmented and iridescence in appearance.

 

Elf Cosmetics Bronzer (Turks and Caicos) - I love this! I am going to add it to my MUA kit. It is an awesome contour shade. I have not used the highlight shade yet. I like this better than my Cover Girl Queen Ebony bronzer, and this product was only $3, whereas CG is around $6.

 

Fashion:

Jeffrey Campbell flats - I purchased these flats during the Nordstrom half-yearly sale. I am not sure of the regular price but I snagged these for $65. They are comfy and I have worn them once with jeans, yet they are fancy enough to wear with a dress or skirt. I will feature these in an upcoming blog post.

Asos Clutch - this was my very first accessory from Asos. I see bloggers post about shoes and other accessories that they picked up from the UK retailer, but I go straight to the clothing and promptly check out. I decided to browse the accessories section and found this clutch on sale. It goes with tons of items and it is great quality for the price. It is a faux leather material. I believe it was $24.

 

 

 

 I love monthly favorite posts on blogs and YouTube so this post was fun to create. What are some of the products that you are currently loving? Questions and comments/responses are welcomed below.

Monochromatic November - Part 2

I focused on black/white during the month of November. Here is what I wore during the last half of the month:

 

 

 I was headed out on a Saturday night in this look:

 

Dress: Asos

Clutch: Asos

Heels: Jessica Simpson

In the look below I was headed out on a Friday night to celebrate my cousin (Natia) moving to New York. Natia is one of the best public speakers that I have ever known, so I know that she will do exceptionally well in a new city! For this look it was a mere coincidence that the dress (which I purchased a year ago) matched the clutch that I purchased more recently. That's the best way to shop, just buy things you like and everything will come together. It is hard when you "force" an outfit by scrambling at the last minute to find something that goes with a new dress. Thus when you see an accessory that you love, buy it! I will make another post regarding shopping for accessories. In this post, I am wearing hosiery tights so it is impossible to see my shoes, thus I will post a picture of them (blue suede Vince Camuto booties).

Dress: Asos

Clutch: Asos

Necklace: Local jewelry store (Harwin area in Houston)

Tights: Control top at Avenue

Shoes: Vince Camuto

 

If Santa is good to me, I will have better quality pictures in 2014! Thank you to everyone who is patient with me and my iphonetography lol. If you have questions or comments please feel free to post them below. Also, you guys know that I love fashion challenges, so if you are participating in any or would like to suggest challenges for me to consider please feel free to post below.

November Favorites - Client Edition

Hello JFOG Readers! I have been so busy with studying that I have not been able to post my regular blog content. I am on a study break for now, so I plan to update all of the posts that I should have published last week. Thank you all for checking regularly for updates. I really appreciate all of my readers!

Here are a couple of my favorite makeup clients from the month of November.

She requested a "natural smokey eye" for a party. We used MAC's Studio Tech foundation for her gorgeous complexion.

She also requested a natural yet glam look to wear as a guest at a wedding. We used MAC Studio Sculpt for her foundation.


Please feel free to post questions or comments below. For inquiries regarding makeup services, please email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com.

FOTD - Fall look 2

Today's fall look featured shades of gold and cranberry.

Here is what I used to achieve this look:
Benefit Porefessional Primer
MAC pro longwear concealer NW40 (brows and highlight)
MAC penultimate brow pencil
MAC Indianwood as eyeshadow base
MAC Texture and cross cultural (matte brown) to contour eyes
MAC Ever elegant pigment and silk stocking pigment on lid and on bottom lash line
NYX Jumbo eye pencil in rust and MAC passionately tempted (blush) in the outer corner
Urban decay blackout in crease
Sephora hollywood's calling in inner corner and along bottom lash line
Mac black ice pro longwear eyeliner in waterline
MAC Zoom lash mascara
Elf natural lashes
Avon liquid eyeliner to create wing
MAC Studiofix fluid in NW43
MAC studio stick in NW45 as contour
MAC woodwinked eyeshadow as highlight
MUFE Uplight No. 23 as illuminator
MAC Vino lip liner
MAC Violetta lipstick


The pic at the top is filtered for dramatics, the pictures below show the true colors of this look as they appeared in person:

Feel free to share questions/comments below. 

Adventures in Couponing

I have always admired those people who have a super-organized binder full of coupons that hold up the checkout line at Target. Annoying but admirable! I like the idea of couponing but I have never actually taken my coupons to the store and in the past if I did take them to the store I would forget to use them. No more passive couponing! I am learning the game and I enjoy it. I do not buy processed foods for my home and there won't ever be a coupon for fresh produce, so I scour the Sunday paper for savings on cosmetics and healthy/beauty/household items.

My first couponing adventure was a trip to Target.

 

Here are my savings:
Saved $1 on Spray and go moisturizer (I used a 50cent manufacturers coupon and a 50cent Target coupon that I printed from Target's website.) - paid $4.99
Saved $2 on Almay eye makeup remover - paid $2.99
Saved $1 on Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara - paid $3.99
Saved $4 on L'Oreal Excess mascara (I had a mfg coupon for $2 off and a Target coupon for $2 off) - paid $3.99
Total savings: $8.00


My next couponing adventure was at Ulta.

I had a coupon for $3.50 off of a $10 purchase. I have wanted to try the Real Technique brushes and I saw that they were on sale (BOGO 50% OFF). I purchased the set for $17.99 and a single brush was 50% off of $8.99, plus I received $3.50 off. If I did not purchase anything else my total spent would have been less than $20 for 5 quality brushes!
Total savings: $8.00


The best haul this month came from Elf cosmetics.

 

I love ELF brushes! Especially for my client makeup kit. I was bored one night and decided to log on to ELF's site and I saw that they were having a 36% off sale that was ending in 45 minutes from the time that I logged on. I quickly filled up my cart but decided to edit it to ensure that I received free shipping on my order of $35 or more. I ran out of time during editing and the coupon code expired. My spirit was broken! But let me tell you how God works! I googled ELF coupon codes and found a 50% off code! Won't He do it?! My total was $35 for 23 items including brushes, lip exfoliators, brush cleaner, sealant, primer, setting mist, and a blush/bronzer duo. Most of these products are not easy to find in stores and I have seen positive reviews for these items. I was too excited. I got free shipping! Shipping would have been about $12 for these items as ELF was not offering flat rate shipping.
Total Savings: Approximately $47

 

 

 

Couponing Tips:
Get organized - Try sites like krazycouponlady.com to show you which coupons you should use at which stores in order to get the greatest savings. I print the list of items that I plan to buy and use binder clips to clip my coupons to the print-out.

Check store coupon policies - some stores double/triple manufacturer coupons so be sure to check each store's policy. Stores like Target also offer store coupons on their site so look out for those, as you can use store coupons in addition to a manufacturers coupon on individual items to score greater savings.

Check Expiration Dates - I am not going to embarrass myself by telling you guys that I had a coupon for $3 off of two or more Nivea lip butters and went to CVS to use it on their deal of 3/$10, thinking that I was going to get three butters for $7 and got up to the counter and my coupon was expired! I walked out empty-handed because the butters are $1 less at Ulta and if the coupon were valid I would have saved more at Ulta by getting three butters for $6. In real life, what is $1? But in couponing, you really don't NEED most of this stuff so $1 is all of the difference in the world!

Only buy items that you really want to try or that you actually use - I am experimenting with drug strore mascaras so I am benefitting from cosmetic coupons and I always look for coupons pertaining to my preferred brand of toilet paper/contact lens solution/household cleaners. You have to buy these items anyway so you may as well save on them!

Do any of you coupon? Do you have any advice or tips for couponing? Feedback is welcomed in the  comments section. Additionally feel free to leave questions below.

Monochromatic November - Part 1

My personal style challenge for this month was to feature monochromatic pieces (black and white) at least once per week. Here are the looks for the first two weeks of the month:

 

Week 1:
The first Friday of this month was alumni weekend for my undergrad alma mater and it was also Coleman Love weekend for members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. I met up with a few of my line sisters at Bambou Lounge to kick off the weekend. I opted for a completely monochromatic look with the only pop of color being from my clutch and earrings. I added a faux leather peplum belt to give it a little more fancy. I will be featuring that belt a lot this month. If you are interested in this season's faux leather trend but afraid to commit, I suggest a faux leather peplum belt which you can add to tons of outfits to up the ante as well as to wear an outfit that you have already worn in a different way. (Look out for my upcoming cumulative post suggesting ways to stretch your wardrobe).

Top: Asos

Belt: Simply Be

Skirt: Asos

Heels: Jessica Simpson

On Saturday night, I met a few of my line sisters and sorority sisters at Hudson Lounge to celebrate the end of the weekend. I wore a crop top with a high-waist pencil skirt and a peplum belt.

Crop Top: Forever 21

Skirt: Asos

Heels: Jessica Simpson

 

 

Week 2:

During the second weekend in November, I went to an all-white engagement party. It was freezing cold (below 59 degrees is freezing cold in the South) and the only white ensemble that I had was a sleeveless peplum fit and a peplum doesn't look so great under a blazer so I wore the next best thing, black and white. I wanted to keep my accessories simple since I was "out of dress code" and I wore the most comfortable shoes that I own because my feet were sore from the week's workout. I will wear this dress again under better conditions and add my own personal style to them!

 

 

Dress: Asos

Clutch: Aldo

Heels: Nine West

 

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog. Please leave questions and comments below. Follow me on Instagram @chaneldior1913. Check out my closet sale if you have not already, I have reduced the price of items and everything is brand new, never worn, with tags attached.
http://jarfullofglam.storeenvy.com

FOTD: Fall Makeup

I decided to create a look using products that I either had never used before, or that I rarely use. It is time for me to use up some of my makeup. I am such a product hoarder! It takes me forever to use everything! I plan to provide a more in depth review of the products in a separate post.

Here is what I used:
1. I primed my face with Benefit Porefessional. This product helped to minimize pores especially since I was suffering from a monthly breakout.
2. I primed my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I usually use MAC's paint pots, so I do not need this product, I am just trying to use it up.
3. I defined my brows using MAC's penultimate brow marker. I have naturally thick, shapely brows so I usually just extend the tail of my brow and conceal my extra hairs. I do not recommend this product for filling in sparse brows. You will be sorely disappointed!
4. I concealed my brow area with Cover Girl Queen Natural Hue Concealer - This was my first time using this product and it does not work for me in any shape, form, or fashion.
5. I contoured my eyes with MAC texture, MAC brownscript, and MAC cross cultural shadows
6. I used Maybelline Color tattoo in pomegranate punk as a base on my lid.
7. On my lid, I also applied Estee Lauder berry ice and MAC plum dressing shadows
8. In my crease I used MAC Beautymarked and Urban Decay blackout, and I highlighted my brow with MAC seedy pearl
9. In my inner corner, I used Sephora's Hollywoods Calling (a sample that I received during my last trip to Sephora)
10. I lined my waterline with MAC Black Ice pro longwear eyeliner (one of my faves)
11. Under my bottom lash line, I used Sephora's Hollywoods calling, MAC taupless, and MAC spell caster
12. I used Avon liquid eyeliner to create my wing. I am trying to use up this product as well. I do not have another liquid eyeliner that I love so if you guys have any recommendations feel free to leave them below.
13. I used ELF natural lashes.
14. I used MAC Zoomlash to blend my lashes with the extensions, and on my bottom lashes
15. Foundation = Lamik full coverage in M26 set with Lamik mineral powder in light caramel.
16. Concealer = Cover Girl Queen Natural Hue in Light set with Ben Nye banana powder
17. Highlighted and Contoured with MAC Shape The Future MSF (love this product and wish it was permanent)
18. Blush = MAC Passionately Tempted (from Taste Temptations collection)
19. To create my lip color, I filled in my entire lip with MAC Nightmoth liner, I topped it with MAC Boyfriend stealer (from Archie's Girls collection), and to add a little shine and iridescence I added Makeup Forever lipstick in No. 15 to the center of my lips. The true color is in the unedited pics shown below.


Seems like a lot when you number things! But it was quick!

 

 

Questions/product suggestions/comments are welcomed below.
To book an appointment with me, email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com and don't forget to follow me on Instagram @chaneldior1913.

Breast Cancer awareness month

During the month of October I tried to incorporate pink into my look at least once per week in support of breast cancer awareness. I have loved ones who are breast cancer survivors as well as loved ones who have lost the battle. The older I get, I become more conscious and educated about my personal health, so I am trying to do what I can in terms of diet and exercise in order to prevent the diseases that are considered preventable. There is not enough scientific evidence about breast cancer to label it as a preventable disease, however, an overall healthy lifestyle is recommended to reduce the risk of developing cancer of all types. Unfortunately breast cancer effects African American women at a disproportionate rate and research places the blame on our hair care products filled with synthetic additives, harsh chemicals, and other questionable ingredients. Since 2010 I have switched to an all-natural hair and skin care regimen, however, what good is natural haircare/skincare if I continue to eat foods with questionable ingredients? I generally do not purchase processed foods at the grocery store but that does not stop me from stopping at Chick-Fil-A once per week for their processed fare. All things are okay in moderation, however, moderation is far less than once per week (which is about how often I eat fast food these days). This post is not completely about health and wellness but it is definitely worth mentioning.

I only consider one of my pink outfits from the month of October to be blogworthy and I am featuring it below.

I wore a pink peplum dress to my sister's birthday party during the first weekend in October. We had drinks and appetizers at one of the finest restaurants/lounges in downtown Houston - Mister Peeples. The place was very posh, the atmosphere was perfect, and I can not wait to return!

 

 

Dress: Simply Be

Bag: @legacythedesigner on Instagram

Necklace: @bleujones on Instagram

Heels: Nine West