Jouer Champagne and Macarons Collection Swatches!

Hi guysss I am back! And today with a seriously gorgeous collection. If you guys even KNOW MEEEE -- you know I'm a complete natural, neutral kinda girl.. so this collection is a no brainer I LOVE THEM kinda collection. This collection features 2 face palettes and 4 lip products and it is just divine! And check down below for a coupon code from Jouer!

Here are the swatches below:

For the lip shades Top to Bottom:
Sheer Lip Gloss in Parisienne $17 (Sheer Warm Pink)
Sheer Lip Gloss in Feministe $17 (Sheer Cool Pink)
Shimmer Lip Gloss in Pearl $17 (Opal with Pink Iridescence)
Shine Balm in Champagne Kiss $18 (Shimmering Champagne)

I honestly have always loved their sheer lip gloss formula and these do not disappoint. They have a slight vanilla fragrance and is packed with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin e, and coconut oil. The pigment is obviously sheer, but it gives the perfect kiss of color for those that need just a little boost. The shine balms are also some of my favorite formulas if you want some nourishing color without the extra gloss. I'm not a huge fan of shimmer or glitter, but if you are, definitely check these out! I adore their lip products because my lips feel AMAZING after I put them on (and my lips are legit like the desert)

The two face palettes from Top to Bottom:
Sweet Cheeks Palette $34 (Citrine, shimmering gold // romance me, matte nude peach // delight me, shimmering pink // suntan bronzer, neutral tan)

Sweet Crush Palette $34 (Skinny Dip, shimmering golden peach // Charm Me, Matte coral // Tempt me, shimmering burgundy // Sungaze Bronzer, rich cocoa)

Both of these palettes are STUNNING and honestly a one stop shop. I naturally gravitate toward the sweet cheeks as its a gorgeous natural palette with options! They are extremely pigmented and blendable -- so although the sweet crush palette is much deeper, it can still be wearable for all skintones. The formula of these palettes are just like their blush and bronzers - super easy to use and wear. Buttery, blendable, and buildable -- the perfect trio!

Overall this collection is stunning. Honestly, it doesn't have anything new or groundbreaking, but it's one of those collections where you think -- OH that's pretty and now it's all in one place. I need it! I would definitely recommend the palettes and the sheer lip glosses (my particular favorite is parisienne!)

You can purchase these products at the Jouer website or sephora -- but I recommend getting it from the Jouer website and using the COUPON CODE: CM-JESSICA4 for 20% off! You cannot beat the price!!!! I think I may pick up some more glosses! :P

Thank you Jouer for sending over this collection to me! All are always my honest opinions. :)

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New!! Drunk Elephant Hair + Body Line!

I've been WAITING for these products to come into my life-- and I was so excited when Drunk Elephant sent these my way. I've been trying these products (except the deodorant) for over 2 weeks and I'm ready to give you my thoughts! :D I have sensitive but oily scalp (that flakes like crazyy) and my hair is thick, dry and frizzy. lol. It's the weirdest and worst mix!

Here is a breakdown of each product!

--Before I go into the breakdown-- I should let you know that the whole line of products has a sweet almond smell. It's one of those smells that's nostalgic for me so I'm obsessed with it -- but wanted to put that out there incase any one is sensitive to smells!

T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub $36 for 6 fl oz: This is one of the best scalp scrubs I've tried before. This has an AHA/BHA acid blend to break down and dissolve dead skin and buildup while also using plant cellulose exfoliating beads. (Perfect blend of chemical and physical exoliation!) You use this by putting this directly on your scalp before you shower and leave in for 10 minutes.. then wash hair.

Usually scalp scrubs are very difficult to get into my scalp because I have a lot of hair, so it ends up usually in my hair and never reaches my scalp. I love that this has a little nozzle to get right into your scalp. They recommend parting your hair, putting the product, rub - the repeat all over your head. It was a bit time consuming to put it on my scalp, but completely worth it. 1 minute in, I can feel all the AHA/BHA working in my scalp to break down all the gunk with a slight tingly sensation (so be careful sensitive scalp folks!). It felt SO good. 10 minutes later, I shampooed and showered and my scalp felt GREAT. I highly highly recommend this -- I already picked up a back up from the Sephora sale!

Cocomino Glossing Shampoo and Marula Cream Conditioner $25 each for 8 fl oz each: These two are a match made in heaven -- but you must.. i repeat you MUST purchase them together!! When I first used the shampoo, it made my hair feel so darn clean -- so clean that you DO NOT need to repeat your shampoo process (so you don't need as much as standard shampoos) - but also to the point where it almost felt squeaky and knotty. THEN.. you put in that conditioner and your hair TRANSFORMS into SILK. I couldn't believe it - no combination of products have ever made my hair feel so silky before. Using this for over 6 times, I can tell you, my hair feels so clean, healthy and strong after using these in conjunction with the scalp scrub. I would not use either product on its own (as i feel the shampoo makes my hair feel too squeaky and the conditioner makes my hair too glossy), but together it makes the perfect balance for one another.

Wild Marula Tangle Spray $25 for 4 fl oz: I was most surprised about this product because I don't tend to use any sort of tangle spray or smoothing sprays but I was surprised that I loved this product so much. This is a heat protectant/detangler/smoother/antistatic product all in one. When I used it, it did make my hair shinier and smoother - but my favorite part of it all was that it didn't feel heavy like my hair usually does when I put on antifrizz products!

Kamili Cream Body Cleanser $20 for 8 fl oz: Don't get me wrong - I liked this. I liked that it is a super mild gentle cleanser with plant oils and amino acids to replenish and sooth my skin. It worked beautifully on my skin and felt amazing and moisturizing without feeling like my skin was stripped clean. I would say if you have the money - definitely go for it. However, if you don't - I do feel like they have similar gentle, amazing items on the market for a fraction of the cost. I will use this product and use it well, but I probably will not repurchase this.

Sili Body Lotion $20 for 8 fl oz: This was another product that surprised me because I tend to like thick luxurious lotions where I have to sit and let the product sink in. This was completely opposite of that - this was a lightweight moisturizer that literally sinks RIGHT into your skin. No greasy residue, no trace of lotion on your skin except extremely hydrated skin. It's packed with nourishing plant oils, and butters, squalane, strengthening amino acids, a reparative 5 ceramide blend and barrier supportive sodium PCA. Whoa, that's a lot of stuff - but I can definitely see this being one of my summer staples for sure. I love how it feels on my skin - and my skin loves how it feels after I use it!

Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream $16 for 2 fl oz: Sorry, but being in quarantine I haven't even THOUGHT to put on deodorant even though I've been working out every day lol! This is a cream deodorant formulated to sooth and moisturize underarms and I cannot wait to try this out!!

Overall, I think this was a great step for Drunk Elephant to branch out to these fun hair and body lines. Products I will definitely be repurchasing are the scrub (which I already did!) and when I'm feeling luxurious - I may pick up the shampoo/conditioner and spray. While I love most of the products, some products I just feel like aren't worth the heavy price tag for what it is.. although if you've got the money to purchase it, it's definitely worth a try!

You can purchase these items at drunkelephant or at sephora. :) Happy Shopping!

**Thank you so much to Drunk Elephant for sending me over these goodies! I have been so excited using all these products!!!

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It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Leave-On Solution Toner Review

haiii friends!

Long time no post -- I apologize! it's been pretty crazy with the start of a new school year and a new set of students! However, I've still been trying a TON of skincare and fun things.

I recently tried the new It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Leave-On Solution Pore Refining Toner (that is a mouthful) and I SEE IT COMING THROUGH!

If you haven't heard of this product, it is one of their new toners that works to mattify and smooth skin as well as minimizing the look of pores. Some stand out ingredients that it contains are kaolin clay, silk and coconut water. This is a toner that is meant for my more oily skinned friends!!!

I purchased this back in September when my skin was hella oily and it was still very warm. I naturally already have clogged and kinda gross pores (not proud of it) and my skin looks so greasy by the end of the day you might be able to fry an egg on it.

The first time I tried it, it is a nice thin milky liquid. I shook up the product and put it on a cotton pad. And seriously --

INSTANT mattification stuff going on. It kept my skin from becoming too oily throughout the day as well. From that alone, it was pretty impressive to me. Within a couple days, my pores started to shrink. With the addition of a good exfoliator, my pores started to look real decent! So impressed with this!

The downside is that this is a product for a very specific demographic -- oily girls. As the weather is beginning to change, my skin is also changing with it. It is becoming more sensitive with dry patches, and isn't as oily anymore.. and I find that it does give a little sting to my face. Although the product still works fine, I think that using a more hydrating toner would be more beneficial for my skin at this time.

I would say, if you fit the bill -- definitely pick this up. If you are combo/oily or oily, have big pores, have a greasy face, you will LOVE this product and definitely give it a try! At $34 for 6.8oz, it's a great product!!!

Are you a fellow oily girl and gonna try this?! You can pick this up at Sephora + ItCosmetics

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Jouer Lip Enhancer Shine Balm Review + Swatches

I've been dying to try these since I was away this summer and I finally got to get my hands on these and boy, did these not disappoint! These are glossy and shiny and I'm loving this easy, on the go product!

The Jouer Lip Enhancer Shine Balm comes in 6 different shades at $18 per balm. If you order off of Jouer's website, there is always a 15% off code (CZoff I believe) that Christina (founder of Jouer) always offers. That means each lip balm ends up being $15.30.

In this six shade range, it ranges from a clear shade to a deep berry shade. Many of the shades lie in the neutral, wearable, every day shades. Personally, I love this mix - one clear, 3 neutrals, a red and a berry. I think the only thing that might have been missing is a brighter pink (but I don't care for those, so I"m happy with these shades! lol)

Below are the swatches and the shades on my lips:

L-R: Naturel (Translucent Light Pink), Peony (Tinted Peachy Pink), Amaryllis (Tinted Warm Brown Nude), Rose (Tinted Warm Pink), Poppy (Tinted Warm Red), Dahlia (Tinted Deep Berry)  

Naturel

Peony

Rose 

Amaryllis

Poppy

Dahlia

 Here are my thoughts on these balms:

Packaging: Its a beautiful, weighty packaging with a standard twist up product. Each package has a different (and beautiful) floral gold design. So far I've have no problems with it -- and it definitely feels more luxurious than that price point.

Moisturization: This is a definite YASSS! These are super hydrating and balmy despite the fact that they are tinted. It helps my lips reduce flakes and they do feel plumper after I use it.

Texture: The texture is more slippery than I thought it would be. It is a shine balm, so it adds LOTS of shine which I think can attribute to the slip. It's not thick or heavy, but leaves your lips feelings really nice and moisturized.

Pigmentation: I was pretty pleasantly surprised by how buildable the pigmentation is. Usually for tinted balms its either you get moisture or you get color, and this you definitely get both! Although it's not like full on the color of the tube, it gives you the perfect tint.

Lasting ability: Like most balms, this lasted 1-2 hours before it faded, however it's easy to reapply and keep in your bag. Some of the darker shades left a bit of a stain and left my lips hydrated even after the lip product was gone.

Overall, I'm loving these! I think that these are perfect for every day wear and that dahlia shade is going to be my go to shade for the fall and winter!!! For the price, I think it was worth every penny! I happen to pick them up at a bundle price which actually made them $13 and some change. I'm SO happy I picked them all up because I seriously am in love with every shade!

You can purchase yours on the jouer website or at sephora!
Which shade is your favorite?

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Hourglass Unreal Volumizing Lip Gloss Swatches and Review

WHY AREN'T THESE ALL OVER THE INTERNET!!?? 

I guess the idea of lip glosses isn't something brand new or trending, and in all honesty, this type of product isn't something so incredibly new... but it's basically all the things you love about a lip gloss in one. 

Here's the Hourglass Unreal Volumizing Lip Gloss! Just a bit about the product: It has .2oz of product for $30, so it is considered a luxury item. Hourglass also says: 

An innovative formula infused with powerful active ingredients for rich hydration and a long-lasting look of volume. With supernatural volume and ethereal shine, lips appear fuller without the sting of traditional lip plumpers. Light-reflecting shimmer and brilliant luster give multidimensional shine that’s unreal. Unreal Volumizing High Shine Lip Gloss is available in 18 high-shine shades.

It also has: *Volulip™ and Hyaluronic Acid: Delivers rich moisture to enhance the look of lips’ natural shape for long-lasting volume. *Shea Butter and Avocado Oil: Hydrates lips.

Below are the swatches of the shades I have: 

L-R: Halo, Provoke, Solar, Canvas, Icon

Halo - clear with gold shimmer

Solar - coral with gold pearl

Provoke - mauve nude

Canvas - true rose

Icon - blue red 

Here are my thoughts: 

Packaging: The packaging is in any standard lip gloss package. It does feel weighty and luxurious with a golden cap. I love the round but flat doe foot applicator that really allows to carry a lot of gloss in one go. It almost looks like a paddle, so it's able to conform to my cupids bow as well! 

Formula: is SO SMOOTH! It's NOT sticky at all and feels thick enough to feel hydrating and luxurious, but not too thick that it feels overwhelming. It has a bit of a minty flavor to it to help "plump" your lips, but it's not overwhelming or stinging. It's incredibly comfortable on the lips! 

Moisture: This is SO moisturizing! I got a sunburn on my lips the other day and didn't have anything else but this gloss in my bag, so I used it, and it really did hydrate my lips so nicely! With shea butter, avoid oil and hyaluronic acid, there's no doubt this product hydrates ur lips nicely! 

Pigmentation: I mean - LOOK AT THEM! They give just the right amount of pigmentation for a gloss. The neutral colors are not fully opaque, but you can still SEE the colors for a while. Then you have the bold colors that are -- well, as you can see in Icon ... bold! 

Lasting ability: I would say they last as any standard lip gloss. It was about 2-3 hours before I had to reapply. 

Overall: LOVE. If you have an extra $30 lying around, I definitely recommend trying this product out. Although it's not a super new type of product, they really perfected the lip gloss formula to give you everything you've ever needed! Like.... I'm waiting for the 20% off sales so I can pick up more!!! :P 

Thank you Hourglass for sending me some of these! :)

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Drunk Elephant Reformulated LALA Retro with Ceramides!

GOSH -- guys, when I heard they were reformulating LaLa Retro, I was a bit freaked out! I (along with so many people) loveee this cult favorite product. It's a great staple moisturizer for me during the winter month when my skin needs a bit more moisture and love.

The original LaLa Retro is a whipped moisturizer that is a blend of six African oils and locks in intense moisture. It also has plantain extract (to brighten skin), sodium hyaluronate cross polymer to release long lasting hydration and antioxidant rich fermented green tea and omega acids to combat aging. Personally for me, I lived off of this moisturizer during the winter months. It kept my eczema from flaring up because the texture was lightweight but extremely hydrating.

Now insert my freak out when I heard they were reformulating it. WHY!? I asked. lol. According to Allure, Tiffany Masterson, the brand founder said:

"I believe there is always room for improvement," the brand's founder, Tiffany Masterson, tells Allure. "When it occurred to me that ceramides needed a more prominent place in my line, I decided to add them to a product that was already great instead of making a whole new product. I didn’t know I could like it [Lala Whipped Retro Cream] more, but I do."

Here is the new formulation of the LaLa Retro (with Ceramides) that I received from the Drunk Elephant Pop Up Shop!

So this product apparently is the SAME formula as the original LaLa Retro, but now has added ceramides. According to Drunk Elephant's instagram, they said the new formula has the power of plant ceramides AP, EOP and NP. (I honestly have no clue what that means lol and had to look it up) They further explained:

Derived from plant sources, ceramides are identical to the moisturizing lipids and fats that occur naturally in skin. In [the new Lala Retro], they help sooth and maintain the moisture balance of skin while protecting against water loss. 

Ok. SO.. luckily, I was able to stop by the Drunk Elephant Pop Up Shop  where they were giving out samples of the new LaLa Retro and I was able to try the product out. I tried it for a week. Of course, the last time I used lala was in the winter time, but this formulation seems very similar... maybe, just maybe I would say it's a bit creamier, but even a bit more lightweight than the original formula. Below you can see the left is the new Lala, and the right is the old Lala. I honestly, can hardly tell a difference!

For me, the original product doesn't work for me in the summer time because my skin gets HELLA oily. Last year when I was still trying to finish up Lala, I had to stop because it was too much moisture and made me have to wash my face more often because it was getting too greasy (I was scared to break out!). When I tried it out last week (for a week), although it was still more moisturizing than I need, it didn't cause me to want to wash my face off. I would still save the rest of this product for the winter time when I really need it for my dry skin days, but at least I know that it has an extra added boost to help maintain my moisture balance. Below you can see it leaves a slight sheen but melts right into your skin.

I think for me the best part is that even with the added ceramides, this product is still $60. To me that is SUCH A WIN because they are adding even more great benefits to your skin without any added costs, so THANK YOU DRUNK ELEPHANT! lol!

I noticed that the original Lala Retro is now S/O on the Drunk Elephant website, so I believe this product comes out very soon in early July... keep your eyes peeled! ;) I will update when I get confirmation of the launch date!

Will you be picking this up?! :D

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Drunk Elephant House of Drunk Pop Up Shop Experience!

Recently, Drunk Elephant opened up a Pop Up Shop in NYC -- and I wish I got this post up sooner, but life has gotten in the way, and the pop up is gone already :( However, I wanted to show you how COOL and fun it was! The pop up was in the heart of soho from June 14-23. It was a relatively small space, but inside were so many fun, instagrammable spots and of course the best part - free samples!

The pop up shop had an "acid trip" type of theme with their big smiley faces and 'psychedelic' walls. You definitely can't miss the place (I came in torrential downpour and saw the cute little flag and neon signs lol!)

Upon walking in, you immediately see the check out to the left (with fun charms) and to the right, was an amazing lit up wall that looked like a kaleidoscope. WHEN YOU TOUCHED IT, THAT SH*T MOVED! I didn't get a picture, but I had to capture this video for you to see it! :P

When you continued on, there was just a fun room where you could sit that had cool blow up furniture. And to the left, were all there products displayed. There were such sweet people on the floor to help you with all your skincare questions -- however, I literally had all of the products already...... so I really didn't need anything. :P

To the left of that, there was an interactive machine where you can type in the type of skin you would like, and they printed you a ticket so you receive some free samples. You didn't need to purchase anything to get this sample -- and you got three great sized samples! I got the night time one which I received a glycolic night serum, protein peptide cream, and the marula oil (three of my FAVORITES!).

As you continued, there was the perfect little instagram shot of a mouth. I of course made my husband pose for me, even though he was reluctant LOL

Then came the "star" of the show, because they will be launching the new LALA RETRO soon -- with CERAMIDES! -- Now... I feel hesitant because I do love the original LALA, but the lady mentioned that it'll be the same formula, but with added ceramides, which made me feel a bit better. Unfortunately, you couldn't buy it early from there (which I was hoping!!!), butttttt - they gave you a sample on your way out, which was AWESOME!

Before you pay, they also had their DE gear that you could purchase, such as a sweatshirt, a bag, and other logo-ed items that you would otherwise have to purchase online. I of course picked up another Dopp Kit because it's literally the best bag (its like a traveling cube) but cooler, neon and is the perfect size to fit ALL your travel needs -- plus it's only $18 which I find to be a HUGE steal.

When you pay, you are able to receive your sample, they threw in a new lala retro sample as well as a charm of your choice!

What a seriously fun experience! I'm just sad I wasn't able to post this sooner for you to all go if you were able to! However, if you follow me on IG, you would've seen all the good stuff on there! Not sure if they are planning any new pop ups in the future, but I'm sure if they do, they would announce it on their website!

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