SEPHORA SUMMER BONUS

I’m a big fan of make-up and skincare (and frequent Sephora more than I should as you can probably tell from all my beauty posts), so when Sephora holds a sale I tend to jump on it and stock up on my current favorites as well as try anything new I’ve been eyeing. The sale is going on this week, for 8 days total so I’ve rounded up everything I swear by - split into three categories (make-up, skincare, and everything else miscellaneous like haircare, wellness and fragrance).

Summer Bonus dates are as follows with code SUMMERSAVE:

Rouge gets 20% off August 19-27

VIB gets 20% off August 20-27

click through the lookbooks below to shop

Clockwise from top:

1. Laura Mercier Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation: The color I wear this in is 2W1.5 Bisque - light with warm undertones. I recently switched to this foundation because it has full coverage but feels light and nice on your face throughout the day.

2. Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick Liquid Eyeliner: This is the perfect eyeliner for a cat-eye. Love how it’s liquid and doesn’t dry out either!

3. Too-Faced Damn Girl! 24-Hour Mascara: The mascara on this wand is huge, and gives off the effect of wearing falsies. I recently switched to this after wearing the Diorshow mascara religiously.

4. Too-Faced Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer: The perfect bronzer for natural, tanned look. It’s not too shimmery either like most bronzers are.

5. Too-Faced Plump Lips That Last: I actually haven’t tried this one yet, but it’s on my list! I’ve heard rave reviews about it plumping your lips - a good alternative for people like me who want the look of fuller lips but don’t want to touch lip fillers.

6. Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer: This has been my go-to concealer forever. Most days I wear nothing but this when I’m running out the door. The color I wear is 3N - medium with neutral undertone.

7. NARS NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette: I don’t own this either but have sampled the colors at the store and want to try it! I love the pretty pinks and peaches in it.

8. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15: This is the best crossover between a lip color and a chapstick. I love the color Spice - spiced rose nude tint, which has a satin finish.

Clockwise from top:

1. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer- Blemish-less: I get really oily skin, so I love applying this all over my face before make-up to keep my skin from looking gross throughout the day.

2. GLAMGLOW SUPERTONER ™ Exfoliating Acid Solution Toner: I still get adult acne sometimes (eye-roll), so I love this toner for keeping blemishes at bay.

3. Summer Fridays R + R Mask: This mask smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling fresh. I love how after I wash it off, there’s oils left over to massage into my face. A splurge but worth it.

4. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%: This stuff is amazing for blemishes and pores and literally SO INEXPENSIVE! You actually can’t use the discount on The Ordinary products because they’re already priced so low, but this is such a good product I had to include it.

5. GLAMGLOW GRAVITYMUD™ Firming Treatment Mask: First off, this mask is really fun to paint on and peel off. But more importantly, leaves my skin feeling really firm and tight.

6. Kopari Coconut Rose Toner: This stuff smells absolutely amazing. I use it first thing in the morning, before bed, and as a make-up primer. Seriously so good, just spritz it everywhere, all the time.

7. Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy: Another Kopari product that smells AH-MAZING. I’m obsessed. And leaves. your lips feeling nice and hydrated. That's all.

8. Murad Outsmart Acne Clarifying Treatment: I put this gel serum on blemishes after washing and moisturizing my face, before bed. When I wake up, the pimples are usually coming to the surface if they weren’t before or gone. It’s so good!

9. Drunk Elephant C-Tango™ Multivitamin Eye Cream: My current favorite eye cream. I haven’t seen a huge difference in the brightening under my eyes (Sephora’s website claims this works as a brightening cream) BUT I’ve noticed my under-eyes have definitely become more firm after consistent use.

10. Herbivore Emerald CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil: I love this as a moisturizer a couple of nights a week to help with redness and unevenness I get sometimes.

11. Drunk Elephant B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum: This is my favorite skincare product on this list! I actually carry this in my purse everywhere I go. It can be used mixed with other oils too, or used on its own. It’s improved my skin so much since I started using it back in March.

Clockwise from top:

1. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides: I’ve been taking this since 2017 and I stand by this product. I put a scoop of this in my smoothie after working out (collagen helps muscle recovery after you work out and tear your muscles), and in my coffee (collagen is good for your hair and skin)! It’s also flavorless, so it’s easy to consume.

2. Ouai Wave Spray: I use this in place of hair spray or texture spray, and it works so well without feeling stiff.

3. MAISON MARGIELA ‘REPLICA’ Beach Walk: This fragrance is so good. I don’t like scents that are overly sweet or fragrant. This one smells nice without being overwhelming. And it’s super luxurious too!

4. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream: I use this firming lotion all over my butt and thighs. It feels nice and smells even better. I just began using it so I’m curious to see what results I get over time.

5. Slip Sleep Mist: I have the hardest time falling asleep, so spraying this on my pillow helps to get me to relax and is almost like a reminder for me to get ready for bedtime so I’m not tempted to put off my bedtime routine.

6. IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo: Holy grail of all dry shampoos, this one is a staple for me as I tend to wash my hair every 2 or 3 days to not dry it out.

7. Moon Juice SuperYou® Daily Stress Management: I’ve had a hell of a year, and with that comes an immense amount of stress. I’ll take anything I can to downplay that stress! These capsules are a daily supplement which include Ashwagandha to help your body with stress, Rhodiola to reduce fatigue, and Shatavari which supports healthy hormonal balance.

Let me know which items you guys are going to buy from the sale!

2018 SEPHORA BEAUTY INSIDER SALE

My favorite time of year is here! When Sephora rolls out all their holiday beauty goodies (and I try not to spend all of my money). Luckily this weekend and next weekend you can a discount if you’re signed up for their beauty insider program:

SALE DATES:

• Friday, Nov. 9 through Monday, Nov. 12 for those holding VIB status with code "VIBBONUS" (20% off)

• Friday, Nov. 16 through Monday, Nov. 19 for those holding Beauty Insider (BI) status with code "BIBONUS" (15% off) Btw, this is their base-level membership if you’re not a Sephora addict like I am. Recommend signing up if you’re not a member to use the sale code!

I’ve picked out all my favorite products below - from fun eyeshadow and face palettes you can gift for the upcoming holidays to products I buy in bulk because they’re staples I use all the time. Just hover over each item and click for a direct shopping link!

Products Top Left to Right (Clockwise):

Too-Faced Gingerbread Spice Eyeshadow Palette: I don’t own this palette but I have a ton of others by Too-Faced and am always happy with the quality and how long the color stays. Plus this one smells like gingerbread so it would make a perfect holiday gift (even to yourself).

Moroccanoil Body Soufflé: I’ve probably gone through three jars of this stuff by now — this is my far my favorite all over body lotion. Not only does it actually make my super dry skin feel silky but it smells SO good.

Beautyblender: It just makes your foundation go on and look a million times better, this one’s a staple I stock up on during the sale

Too-Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation: Speaking of foundation, this one I’ve been using for almost a year now and it’s definitely become a favorite. It doesn’t look ‘oily’ or ‘greasy’ on your skin which is nice. I wear color ‘Warm Beige’

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 4: This is my favorite face palette ever for a bronzer, blush and highlighter all in one! Better yet — it lasts you all year and is compact for travel. I got the Volume 3 last year and shattered it by dropping it on a hotel floor in Santa Barbara back in April (insert crying emoji). These palettes only come out during the holidays so I am SO happy to finally be able to replace mine! (Just be careful with it, LOL)

Milk Make-Up Cooling Water: A caffeinated gel-stick that’s perfect for combating puffiness. I keep mine in my purse at all times (especially if I’m traveling on a plane!)

LAURA MERCIER Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer: This is my go-to concealer as of late, I use it so much I’ll probably get this one in bulk too! I wear color: 3C

OUAI Wave Spray: Another one of my holy grail items, I use this in place of hairspray after I curl my hair to get that loose curl/beachy wave look you see in all my pictures.

Dior Diorshow Mascara: I’ve literally been using this mascara since I was a sophomore in high school. I’ve tried so many mascaras but this one never fails (also this is the ONLY item I had on my Sephora Insider sale guide from last year’s blog post so you know it’s legit!)

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo: I love Drybar products, and definitely love their dry shampoo to use in-between washes. Just remember to hold the bottle away from your head about the same distance as the length of the bottle to avoid white powdery blotches!

KEVYN AUCOIN Molten Liquid Lipstick: I just recently discovered this brand but it has been my favorite matte lip product I’ve used so far! Color glides on smooth, stays put and the shape of the applicator makes it 10 times easier to apply than other lipsticks I’ve used. I wear color: Matte - Janet daily

LAURA MERCIER Secret Blurring Powder: I apply this over my concealer with an eyeshadow brush to make my concealer stay put without creasing. You can also use over your lids as well!

SHISEIDO Benefiance Eye Bundle: Shiseido is one of my favorite skincare brands and this bundle is too good of a deal to pass up as it comes with a full size under eye cream plus three under-eye treatment sheets.

SMASHBOX Holidaze: Always On Liquid Lip Mini Set: Smashbox always makes such great products - this one would be fun to give away as a holiday gift as an entire set or break it up and give the individual colors away to your girlfriends, coworkers, etc.

Happy shopping! Let me know what you guys are planning to get or any favorites I need to try in the comments!

SEPHORA INSIDER SALE: MY TOP PICKS

It's the most wonderful time of the year - the annual Sephora Beauty Insider/VIB sale! If you go to Sephora and sign up for their Beauty Insider program (details here), you can get a 15-20% off code for your purchase in-store and online November 10-15, depending on your status of how much you spend at the store. And if you're anything like me and beauty obsessed - this sale is the best time to stock up on all your make-up must haves that you use year round, not to mention the perfect time to score a deal on holiday gifts for any fellow beauty lovers on your list.

Scroll down to see my picks! I've included every day essentials I know I'm going to buy anyways (so might as well buy them now when you get your discount code), great holiday gift ideas, and splurge-worthy items that the discount code is going to give you major savings on. 

1. Bobbi Brown Bronzer: This is a great everyday bronzer to give you that sun-kissed glow. For my olive complexion, I like to use the Natural - Medium Soft Tan color.

2. Diorshow Mascara: I've been using this mascara for years and am obsessed with it. It really does give you that full, dramatic look and it doesn't clump or anything which is nice for protecting your lashes!

3. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer: This concealer is heaven-sent for me. I get really bad dark circles under my eyes like ALL the time. I try eye masks, cucumbers, you name it - but my darker skin tone just tends to give me darker under eyes and this stuff is one of the only concealers that will get rid of that. And all you need is a tiny amount. Definitely a good item to stock up on! I use color: Medium

4. Too Faced Boss Lady Beauty Agenda: This would make a wonderful gift set to give to your best friend, sister (or even yourself)! The Too Faced Holiday collections are always a winner for me. The quality of the eyeshadow is nice where it will stay on throughout the day when worn with primer, and the colors are gorgeous! Plus this gift set comes with a bonus Melted Matte Lipstick and Better Than Sex Mascara which I've sure you've heard me rave about before on my Instagram stories. This one's a no brainer for me to order!

5. Fresh Rose Face Mask: As I've gotten into the second half of my twenties, I've become more interested in skin care and this face mask is one product that I've started to love using these last couple of months. It's a great moisturizing gel mask to help shrink poles, reduce redness and eliminate dryness. Plus it smells like roses!

6. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick: You guys, I'm so obsessed with these lipsticks that I've started to collect them in every color. But really - they have great color payoff, really stay put throughout eating and drinking and don't make your lips look dry and cracked after a while like other matte lipsticks. This is a good essential to stock up on if you wear lipstick daily like me. My favorite color at the moment is Carmello - a good everyday nude.

7. Ouai Hair Oil: I naturally have pretty wavy hair that can frizz easily. This is a great everyday hair oil to use on damp hair before styling to eliminate frizz and moisturize your hair! Another good essential to stock up on.

8. Dyson Supersonic Hair Dyer: Ok, this is probably the number one splurge-worthy item on my list that would be great to use your coupon code for! I used this hairdryer at my friend's house before and it did not disappoint. Usually when I blow-dry my hair, it gets so poufy and dry that I have to straighten it afterwards. This hair dryer makes your hair so sleek, smooth and shiny I was in disbelief I didn't need to follow up with a straightening iron! Definitely good to use with the Ouai hair oil mentioned above. 

9. Anastasia Brow Definer Pencil: I've mentioned this brow pencil before on my blog - and for good reason. It's like a fool proof way to ensure you've got great brows because of the angled pencil and brow brush included on the other end. I'm stocking up on this item that I'm indefinitely going to buy throughout the year. I use color: Chocolate.

10. Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate: This is a splurge-worthy skin-care item that is good to buy with your coupon code. I call this stuff my facial in a bottle. I use it every morning and every night before bed to eliminate dryness, dullness and prevent aging. Like I said, in the second half of my twenties skincare has been a bigger and bigger concern for me so I'm so happy to have found this great anti-aging product!

11. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream: I like to use this BB Cream in place of foundation most days when I don't want to have a heavy or full face of make-up but want to be presentable to the outside world. (I once came to the office with a completely bare face and had three separate people come up and ask me what was wrong and if I was sick LOL.) This stuff is a great product to not only avoid comments like that but get some coverage and it also protects your skin as it has SPF 35 in it! Again good for people like me that are worried about aging and wrinkles. I use color: Light/Neutral.

12. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Vol. 3: This is a great all in one palette for blush, highlighter and bronzer. It has a bit of a higher price tag but you get so many products all in one palette and mine has lasted me for over a year now! It's also travel-friendly and would make a great Holiday gift for that beauty lover on your list.

The Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks in Biscotti, Dolce and Rubino (told you I'm obsessed and collect them)

Happy shopping ladies! Let me know your Sephora must-haves below and any products you recommend or have bought from the sale yourself!

XO,

Jasmin

HOW I HANDLE MY HAIR 101: ALL THE ESSENTIALS

My hair is something I'm always struggling to tame and maintain, so it's important for me to have a solid lineup of products to do so. I have experimented with my hair in every way possible - dyed it black, brown, blonde, even a purplish-red color when I was having a rebellious teenage phase, grown it out super long, cut it into a bob, gotten extensions...you name it, I've pretty much tried it all when it comes to hair.

Currently, I'm loving having it cut all the same length with just the tiniest bit of face framing layers. I like to keep my hair long but always ask for a trim every two to three months of about an inch or so to keep dead ends away. I used to be so bad about getting my ends trimmed cause I so desperately wanted to keep my hair as long as possible, but I've realized over time that a good trim not only keeps your hair looking WAY better and healthier; it actually supports steadier hair growth. So word to the wise -- if you want to grow out your hair, keep having those dead ends trimmed every couple of months!

As far as color goes, I get a balayage with lots of random pieces of blonde. I want the color to be as natural looking as possible, so I ask to keep my base color my real hair color (dark brown), and then have blonde naturally blended in my hair beginning at various starting points on my head. I also extremely stress getting ashy tones in my hair. I hate having that fake yellow or brassy looking color so the more silver-y, ashy tones are my preference.

I get my cut/color done every three months and then once a month go in for just a toner to keep the blonde looking ashy, as it's just inevitable it will start to go that brassy tone tone after washing it so many times.

Unfortunately I can't have my hair stylist with me 24/7 (I wish), so below I've rounded up my top hair care essentials to keep my hair looking mostly presentable. Scroll down to see the product list.

1. Ouai Rose Hair and Body Oil: I love this oil to maintain any frizz after I shower. I run a couple of drops through damp hair and let it air dry. Plus it smells heavenly.

2. Sedu Revolution 1½" Styling Iron: I use this iron to not only straighten but curl my hair as well. I hold down the clamp halfway through a piece of hair and then twist away from my face, pulling the iron down as I do so. I do this with random thickness of sections of hair to get a more beachy, boho look so it doesn't look like "prom hair". I also keep the very bottom layer of my hair straightened and just curl the top layers so my hair doesn't look too overdone.

3. Shu Umera Art of Hair Straightforward Time-Saving Blow Dry Oil Spray: I actually hate blow-drying my hair and will always have it air dry, but for those rare occasions where I need to have it blow-dried, this spray is actually a life saver. It really cuts my styling time in half as I have really long and thick hair that takes forever to dry. You just spray a little in the palm of your hands, rub your hands together and run it through damp hair prior to blow-drying. Also it's one of my favorite smells.

4. L'Oreal Professional Serie Expert Liss Unlimited Keratinoil Complex Serum: I use this smoothing serum as a heat protectant on the ends of my hair when my hair is dry and I am styling it with my straightening or curling iron. I'm so adamant about using a heat protectant as I try to avoid getting any kind of split or damaged ends on my hair.

5. Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo: I use this purple shampoo once a week as a substitute for regular shampoo to keep the blonde in my hair from going brassy which often happens when you wash blonde color-treated hair. I rub the colored parts of my hair with this shampoo and let it sit for a minute or two before washing out.

6. Redken Blonde Idol Custom-Tone Adjustable Color-Depositing Daily Treatment: This is a cool treatment I use in my hair post shampoo in addition to the purple shampoo because you can adjust a dial on it based on the number of weeks since you've been to the salon (so it knows how much of a purple treatment to give you along with a conditioning treatment). It's like two products in one!

7. Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream: I use this styling cream when my hair is damp or dry, before I'm about to blow dry or style my hair. I always get frizzy hair and have tried so many products where I can honestly say this one actually works and keeps my hair looking smooth.

8. Batiste Dry Shampoo: This is honestly my favorite dry shampoo there is, and I've tried all the salon/luxury and drug store versions. I wash my hair every two-three days depending on the day and if I worked out that day or what not as I try to keep my washes as limited as possible. This dry shampoo is a life-saver in between washes and comes in so many great scents. The trick I learned is to hold the can as far from your head as the can is long when you spray, and then rub in completely before your brush it out and style it.

I'm constantly switching up my arsenal of hair care products but these are my definite must haves I use all the time. Let me know if there's any other products out there you guys swear by!

XO,

Jasmin

PHOTOSHOOT LOOK: MY FAVORITE BEAUTY PRODUCTS

SO I'm really excited to be starting the beauty category on my blog with this first post! Just like styling outfits, I think playing around with make-up and beauty products is a fun way to easily change up your look from day to day, depending on your mood.

I've always considered myself a bit of a beauty guru (and by beauty guru, I mean I frequent the aisles of Sephora and Ulta a LOT), and love discovering/trying new make-up trends and products. After years of experimenting with different brands, types of make-up, and styles, (aka spending way too much money I don't even want to think about LOL), I've narrowed down my favorite products that I love and want to share with you guys because they both last throughout the day and give me good payoff where I'm getting my desired look/color/etc.

I had a photoshoot today, so I thought I'd kick off my beauty category with my "photoshoot" look aka a full face of make-up that would be ideal to wear to special events, dinners, or when you just feel like getting a little dolled up.

Scroll down to see all the products I use to achieve this look!

1. Smashbox Iconic Photo Finish Foundation Primer: Whenever I wear foundation, I like to use a pea-size amount of this foundation primer to ensure my make-up stays put and doesn't melt off throughout the day (or a photoshoot for that matter)

2. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer: This is one of those holy grail products I use daily to cover up my dark circles and any bags under my eyes. It helps with little blemishes here and there as well. Definitely an item I stock up on. (I use color: Light Neutral)

3. Stila Aqua Glow™ Serum Foundation: I don't wear a liquid foundation everyday but I really love this one when I wear a full face of make-up. It's water-based so it doesn't give you that heavy, caked on look that a lot of foundations tend to do, and it goes on really smoothly and gives you a dewey, glowing look. (I use color: Tan)

4. Tarte Confidence Creamy Powder Foundation: This is a nice and light powder foundation I use daily. I like to layer this on top of the Stila liquid foundation when I go full glam as it sets the foundation and gives a flawless looking finish. (I use color: Light-Medium Neutral) 

5. Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer: Just like the face primer, I always use this eyeshadow primer when I'm wearing eyeshadow. This stuff does exactly what its name says it does! No color fall out or that annoying crease on your eyelid an hour after applying eyeshadow which is amazing for all day wear. (I use color: Light/Medium)

6. Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Collection Palette: This is the fun part! I love trying on different eyeshadows and all the colors/looks you can experiment with. This palette is also twice the fun cause it literally smells SO good -- just like peaches! I like the array of nudes, peaches, pinks and browns in the palette too to give a nice glowy, sun-kissed look. (I used colors: Nectar on my inner corners and brow bone, Caramelized on my crease and outer edges, and Bellini as the base on my entire eyelid).

7. Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kôhl Liner: This is a great basic daily liner that you can use to create thick or thin lines. It's also self-sharpening so you get that perfect point every time! (I use color: Raven - black)

8. Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara: I've probably experimented with every designer and drug store brand of mascara there is so it seems I always have a new favorite. I'm currently using and loving this one by Bobbi Brown. It elongates and gives volume to your lashes so you can get that look of falsies - perfect for a more glam style.

9. Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick: This is probably my favorite matte lip color. It goes on wet, dries instantly in a nice silky, matte finish and doesn't crack at all! It also lasts all day - even through my (multiple) iced lattes. I have it in three different colors but I used color: Sell Out for this particular look.

10. Elizabeth Mott Whatup Beaches Matte Bronzer: I love this bronzer and use it everyday - even when I wear no foundation. I am paranoid about getting wrinkles so I apply a daily moisturizer with SPF 30 in it, which sometimes leaves my body looking a little tanner than my face. This bronzer is great to use all over to give a natural tanned look for such circumstances. I also used it to contour my cheek bones a bit for this particular look!

11. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer: I always say brows make or break your look. I could leave the house with absolutely no make-up on but I'd still want my brows done and this is the one and only product I'd need! This pencil is great as one side brushes and grooms your brows, and the other side fills in with natural looking color. I particularly focus on the beginning of my brows and my arch as those areas I like more defined and have less brow hair there. (I use color chocolate).

12. IBY Beauty Highlighter, Bubbly: I discovered this brand through my IPSY make-up subscription and I totally love it! It gives such a nice, dewey glow. The peach color also compliments that sun-kissed look I like to achieve. I put it on top of my cheek bone and brow bone.

13. Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray: When I'm entirely done with my look, I like to spray this setting spray all over so I don't melt or smudge my make-up once I leave the house. I spray 4 times in an 'X' motion across my face.

14. Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner: This is a great last step I like to layer on top of the Too Faced Melted Matte lip color to make my lips look a bit more fuller for a photoshoot. I don't use this daily but it definitely helps me achieve a more glam look when I want it. (I use color Nude Medium).

Let me know if there's any other products you guys swear by and think I should try!

XO,

Jasmin