Thursday, May 29, 2014

New York City Day 3

 The Met
 
One of the highlights of my trip was getting to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we were only able to visit a portion of this magnificent museum but it was well worth the time we spent there.
 

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Roaming Through Central Park

Central Park

I had the opportunity to explore Central Park two different days, the first day was for a short time and on a gloomy day but the second trip was the most beautiful day to explore. Central Park is one of the most beautiful places I have been able to visit. If I lived in New York City I would spend all my spare time here.


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

New York City Day 2

New York City Day 2


Our second trip into the big city was on a dim and gloomy day. We had a large group (about 12 of us) and a lot we all wanted to see so we hopped on an early morning train and set out to see the city. Some of my favorite memories from our trip were from our train rides! Our conductors seemed to be comedians and kept us laughing for most of our commute.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Around the Web

Around the Web
Happy friday all! This is going to be a long weekend wih the memorial holiday on monday. We plan on celebrating poolside with family and friends. How will you be celebrating all our fallen soldiers have done for us?



Kim K has been extra stylish this year, is this do to Kanye… maybe its all her trips to Paris? Either way you should check out this article on Kim Kardashian styling tips.

Is your wardrobe summer ready? If you are like me and could use a little help then check out these celebrity summer styling tips.

Jimmy Fallon continues to entertain the pants off of America and this recent look – a – like drum off between Chad Smith and Will Ferrel is no different.

I’ll be hanging poolside this weekend and plan on making these orange creamsicle cupcakes to celebrate pool season!

Memorial weekend brings lots of sales. Kendra Scott has up to 70% off her sale items. . Nordstrom is having their half yearly sale where you can save 40%.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

New York Day 1

My first venture in NYC was spent roaming through Chelsea and the West Village with a couple girlfriends Ashley and Macale. Ashley has a blog over at Suburban Chic and will be posting about our trip too! We decided ahead of time that this day would be our opportunity to do some things we knew the boys wouldn't be interested in. This basically translates to a day of shopping and other girly adventures.


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs New York

A Relaxing Vacation



As you may or may not know I recently went on vacation, we headed up to New York for our friends Cody and Corey’s Wedding. The boyfriend and I decided to make it a long trip and arrived in Ballston spa NY for the first half of our vacation. I was eager to see all that the area had to offer (you can check out my list of things to see and do I posted about before we left). Most of my days were spent checking out the parks and around Ballston spa and Saratoga while the boys played golf at Saratoga National. The area was seriously beautiful filled with tons of trees and greenery and adorable shops and restaurants around town. Keep reading if you want to see more of the first half of my trip.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Bobbi Brown Nude Basics

Bobbi Brown Nude Basics


Right before I left for vacation this special edition set of beauty basics from Bobbi Brown came up on QVC for a today’s special value. Bobbi Brown only has 1 TSV a year on QVC so I was pretty happy that I saw it! I have always wanted to try out some Bobbi Brown products but just haven’t yet. I figured what better way than a value set that has a range of her products for a great price!

Bobbi Brown started out as a freelance makeup artist and hit it big in the early 90’s with her line of lipsticks. Her brand has grown through the years and I really love her company’s philosophy that “women want to look and feel like themselves, only prettier and more confident." She has become synonymous with natural beautiful make up and several of her products are cult beauty classics.

I haven’t had a chance to play with this set yet as It came in right when I went on vacation, but I wanted to share all the goodies that came with it and let you know that it is still available at special price right now ( $87.96 to be exact) if any of you might be interested. This is an exclusive to QVC kit so you can only get it HERE.

This kit includes the following

Palette with one 0.29-oz eye shadow each in Ivory, a creamy white shade; Hot Stone, a medium ashy brown shade; Graphite Sparkle, a cool beige sparkle shade; Naked, a warm nude shade; Opal Sparkle, a pale silver sparkle shade; and Rich Caviar, a rich brown black shade
Dual-ended brush
0.15-oz Face Touch-Up Palette in Porcelain, Sand, Beige, Natural, Honey, or Warm Almond
0.24-oz High Shimmer Lip Gloss in Pink Sparkle, a shimmering mid-tone pink shade
0.045-oz Long-Wear Eye Pencil in Black Chocolate, a dark brown shade
0.13-oz Pot Rouge in Katie, a soft pinky rose

Monday, May 19, 2014

John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss

Colour Refreshing Gloss

I am finally home from vacation, I will be returning to my regular schedule of posting Monday – Friday! I will be editing and uploading pictures for the next couple of days and will be writing several posts over the next week or so with all the details from the trip so make sure to look for those.

Before I left for New York I did some last minute shopping at Ulta. One of the main things I wanted to pick up was a hair gloss. You see it has been forever (8 months to be exact) since I have taken a seat in my hairdressers chair. I usually go two to three times a year since I have been growing my hair out. For some reason I have been so crazy busy and haven’t had the time to get a proper cut and color. My hair has definitely suffered the consequences and will be getting the much needed attention fairly soon.


I wanted to have shiny locks by vacation but just didn’t have the time to get into the salon. I decided that a quick fix would be picking up an at home hair gloss. I originally wanted a clear gloss just to boost the softness and shine of my hair but quickly realized that I didn’t have many options while I was at the store. I settled on this bottle of John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss in cool Brunette. The directions say to apply this after shampoo and conditioner in the shower. You are to let it set for at least 3 minutes then wash out with water. This is a once a week treatment to help boost color and shine in-between salon visits as opposed to the one time use variety.


I really wasn’t sure how this was going to work for me I was just praying it wouldn’t make my hair worse. After using I was pleasantly surprised to find my hair had a little boost of color and shine. My hair was left feeling silky smooth and I was a happy camper. I decided not to take the bottle with me while traveling and was really able to test out the longevity of this product. The effects of the gloss lasted me nearly a week but sadly dulled part way through my trip. I was really hoping this would have lasted longer but considering the directions was to use once a week I should have expected this.


This is definitely a nice product to use in-between coloring to boost your hairs shine but remember you will need to use it at least once a week to keep up the results. It's pretty affordable aswell priced at 12.99.If you are looking for more permanent shine you are better off looking into other hair gloss formulas whether from the grocery store or at your favorite salon.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Around the Web

Around the Web

Today I fly out to New York for a friend’s wedding. We will be staying for several days so that means lots of sightseeing (you can see my last post about planning this trip here). Since I will be on vacation I won’t be posting next week but have no fear I will return the following Monday with tons of fun NYC related content. I hope you all have a great weekend and I will see you back here in a week!

{Photo Credit Life Magazine} 

I will be reading this book on my flight today.

Funny maps that teach you about your state.

A look at all the best beauty from the Met Gala.

The cast of Clueless reunited for a special screening of the cult classic.

These blackberry margaritas look absolutely sinful. Ill take two!

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm, Lacquer Balm, and Balm Stain

ColorBurst Balms: Matte, Lacquer, and Stain

The original line of Balm stains from Revlon has been around for a while. I remember trying out their just bitten line when they first came out and really hating it. The color payoff was terrible and they were not moisturizing in the least. Which In a balm I would think moisture would be a key factor. Years later (present day) Revlon released these ColorBurst Matte Balms and Lacquer Balms that have been receiving so much hype all over the beauty blogosphere.

On my most recent trip to Ulta I caved and decided to give these new pretties a go (I even picked one up in the original balm stain). I picked up the Balm Stain in Crush, the Matte Balm in Unapologetic, and the Lacquer Balm in coquette.


Something that I noticed with all of these was the amazingly rich texture and high pigmentation. They also all have a hint of mint in them that adds a nice refreshing feel to the lips. These are a far cry from the original balms released years ago (in the best way possible of course).

{Stain:Crush, Lacquer:Coquette, Matte:Unapologetic}

Balm Stain: I decided to go for a deeper berry color when choosing the shade Crush. I really like this type of crayon style lip color it makes for super easy application (this goes for all 3 in the ColorBurst line)! The style definitely has longer staying power since these actually stain the skin when the balm wears away you are still left with tinted lips. I like the idea of this as it makes for touch ups less frequently.

Lacquer Balms: These are the super high shine which I really love for a fun night out. The only thing that isn’t my favorite about the Lacquer line is the glitter in them. I instantly fell in love with the color Coquette. A beautiful bright Barbie pink is perfect to compliment tanned skin in the summer.

Matte Balms: The matte balms have received most of the fanfare among beauty gurus. Matte lips have been a popular trend for a while now and it is quite hard to find a formula that isn’t drying on the lips (nothing is worse than cracked lips with matte lipstick on top). I have to say these are my favorite out of the bunch. They are so moisturizing and glide so effortlessly over the lips leaving them with the perfect velvety matte finish. I picked this one up in the color unapologetic and it such a fun bold color I can’t wait to wear this all the time.

{Im wearing ColorBurst Matte in shade Unapologetic.}

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

My Most Repurchased Makeup Products


Most Repurchased Products

The real proof of how much someone loves a product is if they re-purchase it over and over again. I thought I would dig out my most repurchased products and share them with you. These are my staples that I always have in my make up bin ready to be used at a moments notice! What are your most repurchased products? Leave me a comment!



1. Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation – I have been using the whipped formula for a couple years now but had been using the original formula for oily skin for as long as I can remember. This is such a great foundation and is extremely affordable and accessible. I always have a bottle of this because I know it won’t fail me no matter what I will be doing. This gives a flawless full coverage face that lasts FOREVER.

2. NYX Set It Don't Fret It Matte Finishing Powder -  I always have to set my foundation. I tend to go back and forth with using a pressed powder and a loose powder. When I am using a loose powder this one from NYX is my favorite. It keeps my foundation set all day and has the perfect matte finish.

3. ELF Shine Eraser –being an oily skinned girl means I have several tricks up my sleeve to help battle that extra shiny t-zone. These are my secret weapon; I always have a few packs of these lying around my purse/home/car. A quick dab of these across my t-zone and I am back to my shine-free face.

4. Too-faced Shadow Insurance - I am just going to go ahead and say it, this is the best eye primer out there. I know… I know… there are several other contenders but in my eyes this is the best. I have been using this as my eye primer for the last 6+ years. I have strayed a few times but this one keeps me coming back. This primer keeps my shadow locked in place for ages (I’m talking sleep in my eye make-up and not need to touch it up staying power).

5. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer – A little over a year ago I was in a pinch at the grocery store, needing a concealer to get me through until I could go out and get my normal one. I decided this would be as good an option as any. Boy am I glad I discovered this gem! An affordable option that covers and blends so beautifully. This has been a staple ever since!

6. Tarte BB Tinted Primer Treatment – I just did a full review of this product last week so you can check that out here. I am in love with this primer and have been using it for almost a year now!

7. Studio Gear Prime Objective– a long time ago I had been on the hunt for the perfect primer that would keep my makeup lasting all day but wasn’t so slippery that I felt my makeup would slide right off. Naturally I went to my local Ulta store to check out my avaliable selection, and one of the sales ladies recommended this product. I had never heard a whole lot about studio gear (and still don’t to be honest) but this is such a great primer. This is the perfect non tinted primer that keeps my makeup in place all day. I used this religiously before I picked of the tarte BB primer above. I still use this on occasion when I want a lighter coverage look.

8. Lorac Tantalizer – This is the best product for an instant bronze. Using this makes me feel ok with whipping out my summer shorts again. You can check out my full review I did a while back here. I literally just picked up a new bottle of this yesterday (a girl has to be ready for vacation right?).

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Jouer Age-Repairing Brightener

Jouer Age-Repairing Brightener

A couple of weeks ago Gilt had a special sale on Luxury beauty products. Naturally I had to take the chance to get some higher end products at a fraction of the price. Jouer had a whole slew of products in the sale but the Age Repairing Brightener really peaked my interest. I have only tried one other product from Jouer, a lip-gloss that came inside a birchbox I received years ago. I really loved the lip-gloss so I had confidence in the brand and buying a product without seeing it in person first.


This brightener is packed with vitamins to moisturize the delicate under eye skin. The formula is meant to help increase skins immunity from everyday environments while helping to reduce the appearance of dark circles.
This is definitely a luxurious feeling product from the packaging to the formulation. The packaging is heavy and made of metal that is easy to wipe clean when needed. The formulation is a very creamy texture that glides easily under the eyes and blends like a dream. My skin is left feeling very hydrated. This gives a brightening effect under the eye with tiny light reflecting particles.

I feel like the coverage isn’t bad but I have definitely used higher coverage products but none that gave off such a brightening effect like this one. Paired with a correcting product I find this works wonders and really brightens the under eye area. Lately I have been sleep deprived and as a result have had majorly dull and dark looking under eyes. Using this gives me that just woke up from an amazing night’s sleep look.

This retails for 32 dollars but I got it for 20 dollars during Gilts sale. I honestly don’t think I would have picked this up for full price but at discount this was a great purchase. Have you ever tried anything from Jouer before?

Monday, May 5, 2014

Planning a Trip to New York

Visiting Upstate New York and NYC


Today’s post isn’t beauty related but I have been so crazy busy this past weekend I really didn’t have time to take pictures and prepare a proper beauty post. I am however leaving for New York on Friday and thought this would be the perfect time to share some of my travel plans with you all! If you are interested then keep reading!


A bit of background on this trip, I am going along with the boy and several friends to attend a close friend’s wedding in Summit New Jersey. We decided to make a full vacation out of it and will be there for 9 days!

I will be in upstate New York near Saratoga Springs for the first portion of my vacation. I’m not sure all that we have planned but I will be staying with some friends at their house while we are there. I am hoping to visit some of the wineries near them along with visiting the race track (Saratoga Springs is known for their horse racing!). I am really excited to explore the town and possibly visit a few parks.


For the second portion of the trip we will be heading to Summit New Jersey (A town that is not too far away from the big city). Obviously this means that I will be taking several day trips into the city. I made a list of things I really want to see and thought I would share it. I have never been to NYC before so any tips and suggestions are heavily requested! I came up with this list after searching all over the internet for things to do and see in NYC.

1. Visit Central Park: Friedsam memorial carousel, Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, Shake Shack.
2. Visit Grand Central Station: Whispering Gallery, Oyster Bar, Market.


3. Walk through Time Square.
4. See Carrie Bradshaw’s house from Sex and the City.
5. Have a drink at McSorleys Bar the oldest bar in NYC.
6. Visit Century 21 for some discount designer shopping.
7. Eat at Serendipity.

8. Visit the NYC Public Library.
9. Walk the Highline.
10. Visit Rockefeller Center.
11. See the Museum of Natural History.
12. Visit the Met.

 
13. Visit the Guggenheim.
14. Visit the Lincoln Center.
15. See a show on Broadway. (suggestions on shows are welcome!)

 
16. See the Museum of Modern Art.
17. Visit China Town.
18. Visit Little Italy.
19. Eat at the Little Owl Restaurant- The coffee house from Friends.
20. See the Love Sign.
21. The Bull on Wallstreet.


22. Walk on the Brooklyn Bridge.
23. Visit Prospect Park.
24. Have afternoon tea at The Plaza.

25. Shopping in SoHo.
26. Shopping on Madison Avenue.
27. Visit the Ghost Busters Ladder 8 station.


Photo credits from Pinterest.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Around the Web

Around the Web

This weekend is the Kentucky Derby… will you be participating in any way? I wish I was throwing a stylish derby party with mint juleps and hats galore. Enjoy this weeks links and have a great weekend!

How stylish is Princess Diana at the 1986 Kentucky Derby? Check out 50 years of fashion at the Derby here.

Have you seen this super cool pool that is being built in the middle of the Hudson River (Here)?! I sure wish it was already built for my trip next week. Look at the company’s website here.

If you are looking for a new shade of lipstick to try out check out this list of the 50 best cult classic lip shades (here).

I was watching wheel of fortune the other day (like I do everyday) and this contestant completely stole my heart I was really hoping he would win big! Check him out here.

The Kentucky Derby is this weekend so if you plan on placing a bet be sure check out this hand betting guide (here). I seriously want to hold a party one year and everyone will have to wear their best hats. Wouldn’t that be fun?

This list of things only 90’s teenagers know brings me back to my childhood. Do you remember any of these things? Check it out here.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

April Favorites

April Favorites


Spring was finally in full effect during April, obviously this warmer weather called for tanner skin, lots of bronzer and brighter blushes. I found a lot of great new products and rediscovered some oldies too! Keep reading to find out what products I used most in April.


Tarte Colored Clay Liquid Foundation - I picked this up in march and it insantly became my everyday foundation. This gives the perfect amount of coverage and leaves your skin with a beautifull satin finish. You can see me full review here


Tarte airblush maracuja blush in Shimmering Pink- This has been stashed away for some time now, I picked it up about a year ago and used it non-stop for an entire summer. It's highly pigmented blue undertoned bright pink. The formulation although a crème blends out easily and doesn't feel heavy. The one down side that you can obviously see in this picture is that little brush hairs get stuck all in it.


The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer - I have had this highlighter for a few years and pretty much use it everyday as my inner eye highlight shade. This product has a huge following because it the most beautifull shade! If you are interested on a full review of this product let me know in the comments!


Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri Wheat Leave In Conditioner : My favorite leave in conditioner around, It leaves my hair moustirzed but not weighed down. I am almost out of this and need to pick up a new bottle before I go on vacation! I previously mention this product here.


Million Dollar Tan Cabana Tan- Warmer weather means bare legs so with that I have been hitting up this amazing self-tanner more regularly. Check out my full review here.


Michael Todd Charcoal Cleanser & Organic Lemon Toner -  I decided to try out the Michael Todd skin care line a little over a month ago and I am so glad I did because his products are truly amazing. These two are my favorites and they have really helped clear my skin up. You can check out my current skincare routine featuring his products here and here.


Glow Blush in Peach Bellini: A Beautiful peach toned blush that I have been wearing non-stop. This came in my April Julep Maven box so you can check out the full review here.


Julep polish in Elisa - This is the perfect shade for spring and I have been wearing it constantly. I even mentioned this in my March favorites! This came in my March Julep Maven Box which you can check out here. 


bareMinerals READY Bronzer - I was in desperate need of a new bronzer and this one was a great purchase. A little darker than my normal bronzer but with my self-tanning use in high gear this has been working amazing. You can check out my full review here.

Pages

© In The Land of JenThe Basic Page