My Favorites from Sephora, Part 1

As I mentioned in previous posts, I've been working as a Product Consultant at Sephora inside J.C. Penney!  It is a fantastic job, and it is so much fun to experience all the different brands and their products.  Here are a few favorites I've purchased so far.  I have a feeling there are going to be many installments of this...

Triple Action Cleansing Water from Sephora Skincare Collection

Is it half empty or half full?

Sephora has created their own in-house collection of both color and skincare.  This cleanser from their skincare line might just be one of my favorite facial cleansers that I have ever used.  This is PERFECT for nights when you get home exhausted and are too lazy to take off your make-up wash your face.  Triple Action Cleansing Water is a make-up remover, face wash, and skin treatment all in one!  The best part?  You don't even have to rinse it off!  It does feel a bit sticky right after you use it, but that goes away as it dries, and your skin feels super soft.  Pump a little onto a cotton ball or cotton round and swirl all over face in circular motions.   I tend to use both sides of two cotton balls on a heavy make-up day.  I still use my regular face wash in the shower, and I usually shower at night, especially if I work an early shift the next day.  I refresh again in the morning with a little T.A.C.W. and the dirt on the cotton ball is all the proof I need that this stuff is working.  My face feels cleaner than just using face wash, and my skin is more radiant.

Price: $12 <-- a veritable steal!

Baked Sculpting Trio in "Sweet" (#01) from Sephora Color Collection

Good things come in 3's.

I'm obviously a huge fan of the Sephora Collection in both color and skincare.  It's good make-up and skincare at a more affordable price than some other luxury brands.  I especially like Sephora Collection's blushes and bronzers.  They have great color pay-off, and they have a ton of colors to choose from.  I got one of the trios because I'm running low on blush, my bronzer had almost no color pay-off, and I didn't have a good highlighter.  I didn't realize it before, but my blush didn't have great color pay-off either.  I use this to contour, of course; but if I'm having a low-key day, I'll swirl all 3 together and brush it all over my cheeks for a nice summery glow.  Then I just add a little extra highlighter to the usual spots (orbital bone, Cupid's bow, and under my bottom lip).

Price: $21 <-- pricier than your drugstore options, yes, but definitely well worth it.

High Definition Finishing Powder from Make Up For Ever

You can't go wrong with black and white.

The concept of HD make-up is a little hard to explain... but gosh darn it, I'll try!  Basically it does what the Photoshop airbrush or softening tool does, but in real life.  It comes out of the pot white, but it goes on translucent.  It doesn't provide the amount of coverage that a tinted finishing powder does, but it does soften any fine lines, while providing a velvety finish.  I typically put in on top of my blush/bronzer so the lines are not as harsh, and it makes the countouring look a bit more natural.  I imagine that you could use it on top of your finishing powder, since you need such a tiny amount.  I can't describe the amount to use except in cooking terms... a "pinch" or a "dash" should pretty much cover it. (Get it? Cover?) Some days, I wear just this over my primer if I don't want to wear a lot of make-up.  Just a note: this powder is not applied in the same way as a typical finishing powder.  Roll the side of your powder brush in the powder, and gently roll it onto your face.

Price: $19 for .14 oz mini size
           $34 for .3 oz full size

The full size is a better value per ounce, but I have the mini size and I have barely used ANY of it even though I use it almost every single day.  I imagine the mini size will last me at least a year.

100% Pure Argan Oil from Josie Maran

The quest is over.

As much as I never thought I would say this, this might just be my Holy Grail product.  There are tons of different types of essential oils, and argan oil might not be the best for everyone's skin type.  I noticed an immediate difference in my skin when I started using argan oil.  Admittedly, after noticing the initial improvement, I started to break out.  After about a week, the breakouts went away, my pores are noticeably smaller, and my skin is less oily and more radiant.  I'll attribute the breakout to the old saying "things get worse before they get better."  Essential oils are good for your skin because they mimic the natural oils your body produces.  Oily skin is actually caused by excessive dryness, and your skin then overproduces oil.  That's why it is important to hydrate, even if you think your skin is already hydrated with excess oil... it's not!  I wear this under my moisturizer every day, and I put it on each night before bed.  I got lazy for a couple weeks and stopped wearing the argan oil to bed... and my skin broke out.  After starting to use it again for just one or two nights, the breakout went away!  This is SUCH an important part of my skincare routine.  You need just a drop or two for your entire face and neck.  Warm the drops between your fingertips and gently dab it onto your skin.  Josie Maran also has a 100% Pure Argan Oil Light formulation.  I honestly don't know what the difference is chemically since it's still pure argan oil, but I've been told it feels a bit lighter under make-up and such.
Price: $16 for .5 oz mini size
           $48 for 1.7 oz full size
Again, the larger size is a better value per ounce.  I, again, have the mini size.  I have had it for almost 2 months, spilled half of it (sad day), and still have enough for at least another couple of months.

Sorry for the long post, but I am just crazy about these products!  Stay tuned for more installments of "Sephora Favorites!"  I'm sure I'll find many more obsessions before long.

Stay beautiful,
~ VeeLynn

Face It

Ah, at long last!  A fashion post!  I've had this one in the archives - or at least had the photos saved on my phone - for a longggg time.  That being said, this is more of an early fall look rather than a summer look. (Yes, it's been that long.)  This outfit, though, could definitely work for something like a breezy summer night on the boardwalk.  Alrighty, without further ado:

Look at that layout!  La-dee-da, gettin' fancy!

Your first thought may be, "Hey!  There's a face on your torso!"  Well, you're darn tootin' there is.  I love to be a little bold with my fashion choices.  I used to be a tad over the top (please see the About Me section), but I think I've found a good balance.  I can use fashion to express who I am and stand-out in a crowd without looking like I'm crying out for attention.  Truthfully, I believe that anyone can wear something bold and a little eccentric as long as they own it and wear it with confidence.

This outfit cracks me up because not one, but TWO items that I'm wearing are from the children's department - the shirt and the shoes!  The shirt caught my eye because... well, I just think it's cool.  I love the structured sleeves, and the sketch of the woman's face is super unique.  The shirt is also a hi-lo, but you can't really tell from this picture.  Originally, the shirt had a piece of lace with a bow at the neckline of the woman in the graphic.  I used a seam ripper to take it off because I thought it made the shirt just a bit too childish.  The shoes are just simple ballet flats, so no harm there.  Hey, I'm tiny and kids' clothes are cheaper... why not?

The pink jeans brighten up an otherwise totally neutral look.  The only other splash of color is in the blush on the shirt's graphic.  I also chose earrings with a purplish-pink hue to further bring out the color in the shirt.  I have since lost these earrings, and I'm quite sad about it.  The silver ballet flats are a simple shoe that go with most any outfit (unless you're wearing gold!).  I felt like I had a lot going on with the graphic shirt and pink pants, so I opted for something easy and non attention-grabbing.

This picture makes it look like the woman on the shirt opened her eyes, and that truly terrifies me.

So, it was a tad chilly the day I wore this (I think it was early September), so I threw on my [p]leather jacket.  When choosing a "leather" jacket, I purposely went for a cognac color because I think it goes with black, brown, white, pink, chartreuse... you get the point.  So pairing this jacket with the bright pants and the black and white top was a no-brainer.  The coolest thing about the jacket?  Bargain find at TJ Maxx!  Frankly, I think this look is pretty bad ass... especially with the jacket and sunglasses.

X's & O's
~VeeLynn

In This Outfit:
Graphic Tee ~ Beautees (Macy's), Spring 2013
Jeans ~ Ann Taylor Loft, Pre-Fall 2012
Jacket ~ Ci Sono by Cavalini (purchased at TJ Maxx), Fall 2012
Earrings ~ Betsey Johnson (Macy's), Fall / Winter 2012-ish? (pretty sure they were a Christmas gift)
Sunglasses ~ Ann Taylor Loft, Summer 2012
Shoes ~ Smart Fit (Payless), Pre-Fall 2013?

Sidenote: I know Ann Taylor Loft is a tad pricey and sort-of goes against my stance on bargain shopping.  I( used to work there... don't hate.

I'm Baaackkk!

Well, well, well.  Thought I forgot about the old blog, didn't you?  Yeah, I guess I did.  But my long-term memory is better than my short-term, so here I am!  Let me tell you where I've been... I know it's no excuse, but at least allow me an explanation.

I got a new job!  And I love it!  I still do some merchandising at American Eagle, but I am now also a product consultant at Sephora!  My local mall is opening a Sephora inside JC Penney (SiJCP).  The other consultants and I have spent countless hours learning, merchandising, cleaning, you name it... we had our soft opening this past Saturday, and the reception has already been overwhelmingly positive.  Grand opening is Friday; it's going to be nuts, and I can't wait!

I have a new-found love of skincare, and as much as I always loved make-up and beauty products, I have learned that investing in a bit more expensive product is well worth it. (That sounds so "not me," doesn't it??) Needless to say, expect some beauty product reviews and tutorials on here in addition to fashion posts.

Let's see, what else have I been up to?  I was in the cast of a musical as well as working on costumes for it.  The show closed the first weekend in May, and that Monday was my first day at Sephora.  I have also been volunteering in the theatre's office to learn a little more about the business end of theatre.  As much as I love the art, there is always a bottom line, and business acumen is always a marketable skill.  At a marketing committee meeting, I pointed out that our theatre doesn't have a great social media presence.  I will soon be starting a blog for the theatre! (Which, admittedly is what inspired me to start blogging here again.)  I'm sure I'll link to that as soon as it's up and running.

So I've been keeping pretty busy, but the good news is that I rarely have time to be bored.  It's good to be back, fashionistas!  Until next time (and I promise it will be sooner rather than later)!

X's and O's
~VeeLynn