My Makeup Essentials

Just a few of my favorite things! I have two makeup bags, anyone else? And the smaller of the two gets toted around with me everywhere, tossed into whatever bag I’m using for the day. Here’s the bare essentials, things I MUST have at all times, ya know, just in case!


Since there are so many brands and ‘favorites’ that I love, and in the interest of not calling everything I own my favorite-because they are, I’ll just share my HAVE TO HAVE ITs:

  • Chanel Vitalumiere in 40- Beige: my all time favorite foundation, it’s light, dewy, has buildable coverage, and is natural looking. There is also an Aqua option for lighter coverage

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Get That Summer Glow!

Shine bright like a diamond … like a disco ball … you disco queen <3

Combine the Dew Drops with your favorite foundation/ tinted moisturizer

Bronze away baby with the Tantric bronzer

Blush it up

Add some shimmer. I used my fingertip instead of a brush, perfection

Pout time, this One Mauve Time is a pinky/purple and it creates an ultra shimmer

For your sun kissed glow, shine from within, mega radiant summer look! Marc Jacobs Glow Maintenance Set <3

 

 

Get your glow on this summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Quick And Easy Hairstyles

These hairstyles are so quick and so easy that I’m not sure they’d even qualify as ‘hair do’s”. They’re the easiest thing for me to do with clean or dirty hair, most often dirty lets be real! But I love it when I can look pulled together with as little effort and time invested as possible. More time to change my outfit a few five times and still be on time!

With a little texturizing spray, a scarf, or a hat, I think adding in an accessory really elevates your hair style and reduces the time you spend on your hair by eliminated extra styling tools like a curling iron.

So here are my go-to, top 3, easiest, and fastest hair styles that will trick everyone into believing that 1) your hair is clean 2) you spent actual time styling it and 3) that you’re one savvy babe with a neck scarf 😉

I’m no hair stylist and these are definitely a level one if we’re ranking difficulty, but I’d rather spend time lotion-ing up my elbow’s than perfecting a buttoned up hairstyle. Hbu?

Would you rather spend time on your hair? Your makeup? Picking out an outfit? 

 

 

 

 

My No-Makeup Makeup Look

The ‘no makeup’ makeup look… it’s all the rage! That “I just woke up and rolled outta my down comforter bed, in my cashmere robe, my perfectly fluffed hair, and did NOTHING to my mug” look, is what the aim is here. For me that just means bold brows, youthful hydrated skin, and that glow from within.

To be clear though, I did not wake up like this. This no makeup, makeup look took me a quick minute to perfect and now I love this all mostly natural look.

Here’s my step by step and the products I used are listed in order below:

YSL Blur Primer

Kevyn Aucoin Foundation Brush

Urban Decay Naked Concealer

Beauty Blender

MAC Prep + Prime

Ardell Stroke A Brow

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel

NYX Royal Blue Felt Liner

Tapered Crease Eyeshadow Brush

Huda Eyeshadow Palette

Nars Dolce Vita Blush

Morphe Blush Brush

Anastasia Ashton Liquid Lipstick

In natural daylight vs outside under the sun, still fresh with a lil somethin somethin 😉

What’s your easy no-makeup makeup look? Do you love that au naturale appeal or you a full face kinda person?

 

 

 

The Perfect Nudey Pink Lippie

I live for a good nudey-pink lip and you’d see that with one glance into my lip balm bag … evidence below. An entire bag dedicated to lip hydration! For the longest time I only wore lip balm or lip glosses because my lips have so many lines in them that I just didn’t think that lip sticks were flattering on me. Don’t get me wrong, I love their fullness but with fullness comes the lines which made wearing lip sticks (especially matte ones) look dry like the Sahara desert. Recently though I’ve found some really beautiful formulas that are hydrating and smooth just as they are rich in color and luxurious in texture.

Sharing with you here my go-to, mostest-favoritest, nudey-pinky lippies … from lip gloss to lip sticks, and even lip balms. Because you can never have too many lip balms 😉

Truffle bag

Fenty Gloss Bomb

Anastasia Kristen and Vintage lip glosses

Anastasia Dead Roses lipstick

Pat McGrath Sunset Rose lip gloss

Becca Truffle Lipstick

Bite Beauty Praline lipstick

Surratt Beauty Nu De Soleil

Yves Saint Laurent Dream Me Nude tint-in-balm

Indie Lee Lip Treat

Kopari lip glossy

Hanalei Lip Treatment

If you’re a lip gloss lover like yours truly than give these a try and let me know what you think. My favorite is when a lip stick can double as a gloss and even better when a lip balm can double as a lip gloss!

Which are you, a lip gloss or lip stick kind of person? Is there a brand or formula that you can’t live without that we should all try? Share below!

 

 

 

 

 

How To Blow Dry Your Hair – Add The Volume Minus The Frizz!

This post is sponsored by Revlon Hair Tools as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

You may be surprised to know that someone like me who’s had fine, pin straight hair her entire life exclusively styles with a blow dryer. Yes, even on my ‘pageant queen’ hair days when locks are large and in charge, I first give myself a blow out and then add in the curls. So I wanted to share with you my go-to, 3-step, straighten-style-volumize routine, featuring the Revlon Pro Collection Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizing Styler.

Creating a quick, easy, and low maintenance routine was important to me as this style is the base style I launch with each and every day. I knew when I chose a one-step dryer that I wanted it to 1) save me time … hello hair dryer + oval brush in ONE 2) improve my haircare routine aka save me time and 3) be easy enough for me to do all on my own but still have those salon results. I mean, am I the only one that can deadlift 110 lbs but still believes that holding a round brush over my head while blow drying my hair seems unreasonable? How does that become so heavy!

Luckily for me this Revlon hair tool does all 3 things in 1 easy step, so let me explain what I use the three different heat settings for and then I’ll walk you through each step of my hair drying and styling routine. I utilize the cool setting for drying my hair after a workout, on days I don’t want to wash my hair and just need to mach 5 to make it through the day.

For drying my hair after washing it, for events, and for special occasions I dry my hair with the two heat settings, switching between the low and high settings. Here’s why: this Revlon hair tool has an easy grip with its ergonomic design, maximum drying power as the air is distributed evenly through its airflow vents in every direction, and you get high shine and fewer frizzes with the tufted bristles with boar technology. Now that’s a lot of technology! And here’s what I do:


Step one: Your hair’s wet, now what?

Begin with damp hair, allow your hair to air dry 60% and then use this Revlon Hair Tool to achieve that salon look, this will ensure that the least amount of damage is being done to your hair. I usually do my makeup, allowing my hair to air dry for ten minutes and then blow dry and style it.

 

Step two: Just flipping your head over and blow drying your hair isn’t going to cut it.

Section out your hair, this makes it easier to style pieces more a more manageable way and keeps tangles at bay.  

 

Step three: You got this!

Blow dry and style! I start with the hair at the nape of my neck, on the high setting grabbing a section of hair, allow the brush to sit in your hair for an extra moment, just long enough for heat to be evenly distributed, and then slow drag the oval brush down and through your hair. I always flick my wrist on the ends of my hair, giving that piece a nice polished, curled look and just continue to twist and comb the hair through the brush until each section is dry.

Moving on to each section, the last section I do is on my bangs where I blow dry them forwards and then push them back for a nice voluminous, polished look.

Lastly, I give my entire head one more pass with the Revlon Pro Collection Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizing Styler to eliminate an extra moisture left behind, and then BOOM! Just like that, your hair is dry, it’s shiny, and ready for the day!


Here’s how: the Revlon Pro Collection One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer is now available at Ulta.com in an exclusive holiday color and retails at $59.99 so snag yours before the time is up!

I hope you enjoy this video I created, sharing with you the visual step by step process to achieve this look.

 

What is your daily go-to hairstyle? Have you ever used a Revlon Hair Tool before?

 

 

 

Amour Holiday Palette

I’m feeling like a big ol’ shiny cranberry with this look so I’ll call it the ‘Cranberry Crush’! I’ve been loving all the Beauty Brand x Influencer collaborations happening with palettes and lipsticks and this one did not disappoint. This Amour Amour eyeshadow palette by Estee Lauder x Violette La Dangereuse is gorgeous! I used five of the eight colors to create this holiday look when I headed out to Joe’s company holiday party and it’s pigmented and not chalky at all. It has sparkle to it but not like you’ve dumped glitter onto your eyelids … which by the way I’m totally not opposed to, I think that’ll be my next tutorial! Quick tip ≈ it’s way more colorful if you add a few layers, the camera really picked up on the color but in person I could’ve gone for another layer 😉

Scroll down for a quick video of the full look, would you like a break down of it? Step by step?

 

Tell me what your favorite collaborations have been so I can try them out and play in color! Oh and also if you’d like a step by step of this <3 Get out there and shine baby, this is a sparkly one! xx

 

 

My Morning Routine

Morning routines: we all have one, or SEVEN depending on the day. Days that I’m not doing a work out or going for a run (ha, a run!) I consider my rest days because I’m in this stage of my life where I’m either working out or resting…say hello to my 30’s, work vs rest. So on this particular day of ‘resting’ where I’m editing videos and blogging from my couch in my pj’s from the night before, I wanted to share with you what this kind of morning routine looks like.

I picked up my camera, just moments after putting in contacts, brushing my teeth, and tidying up the place to showcase all of the different things I’ve been implementing into my daily morning routine. And when I say I casually picked up the camera to film a candid ‘morning routine’ with you, I mean c-a-n-d-i-d, girl is looking rough! Honestly, it’s fine, some sleep in the eye and makeup from the night before isn’t new to anyone so love me tender.

Here it is in all its glory <3

As you’ll see, I’ve been intermittent fasting lately and 14 hours is my breaking point before I go all out hangry on a stranger so it ends there. And the first thing I try and break my fast with is a collagen drink or bulletproof coffee, depending on the day, then I do a workout or work, have my supplements, and go about my day. Here’e the goods I talked about in the video:

                 

 

 

I’ll save this whole intermittent fasting topic and meal prep subject for another day. In the mean time, check these goodies out and if you’re looking for an awesome daily vitamin that you won’t have to fuss over, give Ritual Vitamins a try <3

What’s something that’s a part of our morning routine that has been a game changer? It’s vitamins for me! 

 

 

 

Find Your Skincare Routine

If you asked my husband to assess the product situation happening on my vanity he’d tell you I’m borderline a hoarder LOL Between makeup and beauty products, I’m not ashamed to admit that my life’s become a Netflix series episode.  Honestly, I think we all have, I mean there’s just SO many options out there!
I started this blog 4 years ago to share with you any tips, tricks, and advice that I myself would love to hear about.  So today I’m sharing with you a brand I’ve been using for the past month, Beauty By Design, what makes them unique, and how their service will help you to slash the stash!
The way their service works is you send them a selfie and skin survey, then they connect you to a Licensed Esthetician (!) via text.  She diagnoses your skin and sends you a ‘skinscription’ where listed is all of the ‘game-changer’ products that she suggests just for YOU- and you can choose what to purchase.
I purchased four products that I’ve implemented into my daily skincare routine and have genuinely noticed a difference in my skin’s texture and hydration level.  The best part… I can now text her anytime for advice… pssst hey Hilary, I promise not to call you at 3am and heavy breathe lol

Enjoy this Get Ready With Me video featuring the 4 Beauty By Design products that I purchased <3

Try their service for yourself, I’d love to get your feedback, and PS they offer free shipping on all orders! Click HERE to shop the site and use my code JESSICALIZAMA20 to receive 20% off your order because friends don’t let friends product hoard. #slashthestash <—- I’m coining this term lol
What’s your skincare routine look like? Wouldn’t you love to just eliminate the guestimating of it all and have a professional help you out? Do ittttt <3