Living in Lustre

a life and style blog

Amazon’s Best Seller List: Full Face Edition

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Happy Thursday, friends!  Just one more day until the weekend, y’all…clearly I’m excited lol.

I get a ton of questions about beauty products and am always happy to guide anyone in the right direction for their questions and/or concerns based on my personal experiences.  Since moving to a more remote area, I don’t have immediate access to the large brick and mortar stores to purchase my favorite beauty items so I have begun turning to Amazon for just about everything.  I am not above trying new products and have done tons of research on beauty products to include reading reviews online and checking out what Amazon has listed as their best sellers.

I have compiled some items that range from basic makeup tools, to all over face products.  You will notice that I left out foundation because I truly believe that not all foundation is created equal.  Everyone has different skin types, coverage needs, and price points so it’s important enough to have a dedicated post all on its own so stay tuned for that!

The “best seller” title is legit – definitely read the reviews for each item.  I have personally used all but 3 (3, 4, and 10) of these items and will vouch for them over and over again.  I can tell you that although I haven’t used Essence mascara, I have used their eyeshadows before and for the inexpensive price, they’re pretty decent!  I’ve heard incredible things about the Wunderbrow products and the review are pretty amazing so this may have to be an item I give a test run in the near future.  When it comes to makeup brushes I personally believe that there are absolutely some companies that offer very high end brushes that really are like rubbing a kitten on your skin because the bristles are so dang soft.  These brushes on this list are all synthetic which mean you will get more bang for your buck with makeup application because your brush won’t soak up any of the liquid products you use them in conjunction with…little tip for those that didn’t know that already!  These brushes have awesome reviews, and the price can’t be beat so they’re definitely worth giving a try!

What products do you think should be a part of the “best seller” list?

Little Black Boots

Sweater (similar) | Shirt Dress | Tights | Boots

Happy Tuesday, friends!  I can’t believe we only have another week and a half before February (aka my birthday month).  I swear as we get older, time goes so much faster, doesn’t it?

I feel like I’ve been wearing this dress on repeat and I am super excited to share that it is on serious SALE!!  We are talking $13 on sale so you need to run and grab one before all of the sizes are gone!  I love the dress paired with this cardigan – burnt orange has been a favorite of mine this Winter season and it totally reminds me of a sweater that Mr. Rogers would have worn…remember those?  It appears that this specific color is sold out at the moment, but, I have linked a similar one that is legit the exact same, and you can never go wrong with a black or gray!  I have been loving patterned fishnet tights lately and this pair actually came in a set of 4 that have different designs.  I get tons of compliments when I wear them, and I feel like it makes outfits a little more fun without being inappropriate (work wear can be tricky sometimes).

Let’s take a moment to chat about these boots – we’re all here to see what the hype is, right?  I will always be the first to say when you purchase shoes, you should always be willing to make an investment for pairs that you know you will either wear often, or keep for a long time.  When you buy up, you buy less, and quality supersedes quantity…unless puppies/kittens are involved because we all need multiples of those in our lives.  All joking aside, these boots legit bring me joy so I say that’s $149 well spent!  These boots are such great quality, are super comfortable, and flatter any body size/type because they also come in a wide calf option!   The leather is supple and molds well to the shape of your calf and is so versatile that you can wear them with literally just about anything…I kind of want to get the brown pair.

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On a side note…for those of you that enjoy bloopers and outtakes, here is the perfect one from this photo session with my husband (he’s a good Instagram husband lol).  I work very hard to not take myself too seriously which is not easy for me – generally my silliness will come out during photo sessions because it’s just weird for me to have photos taken of me, especially when I’m used to being behind the camera, or, people are watching.  So here’s a little gem of me trying to not take the moment so seriously…mid sentence…and a little blurry.  Enjoy!

 

My Everyday Makeup Routine

Happy Friday Eve, friends!  I hope this week has been treating you well.  I have been getting some questions about my makeup routine (and quite a few compliments which is incredibly flattering) and wanted to share what I have been doing on the daily lately.

Over the years I have changed up my makeup routine on a regular basis.  Believe it or not, I didn’t really wear much makeup at all until I hit my 20’s.  After I got married and started blogging (my first go ’round) it was almost like my house began exploding with makeup.  I had to have every new palette that came out, try all the foundations…you name it, I have probably tried it at some point or another.  Thankfully I have begun the process of “needs vs. wants” and if the makeup no longer serves a purpose in my life and doesn’t function as I need it to then it ultimately exits my life in some way.

My day generally starts at 5am which means I’m usually cranky and groggy (#notamorningperson) and just want to get the things I need to do done as quickly as possible without it having an adverse affect on other things I need to accomplish before starting my work day.  I am happy to say that I have pretty much mastered a 10 minute makeup look on most days (unless I’m feeling extra special and want to do a fun eye look) so that it was I’m going to share with you today!  All of these products are tried and true…hence my highlighter has already hit pan!

IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara $24 – This is an incredible high end mascara!  I don’t feel the need to put on more than maybe 2 coats of this mascara because it gets the job done from the get go.  I do use Lash Boost which helps my lashes stay longer and fuller looking so this mascara really amplifies that each day.

MAC Lipglass $17.50 – I have been using this lipglass for years (the same color, not the same tube…that would be gross lol).  I wore this shade on my wedding day, and love the color and texture of it!  I always have it in my purse for emergencies.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer $24 – No matter how many concealers I have tried over the years, I always come back to this gem!  It is high coverage so a little goes a long way.  I love that I can use it under my eyes without drying that delicate skin out, and works well on blemishes as well!  It has long lasting stay power and is pretty much amazing!

Younique Beachfront Bronzer $32 – Although this bronzer is on the more expensive side, I can honestly say the quality and texture is pretty awesome.  I (like most others) had my reservations about this product since it was new to me and came from a direct sales company, but, I have been obsessed with it for over a year.  It does have a slight shimmer to it which pretty much comes off more as a “lit from within” glow as opposed to glitter which we all know is the bane of our existence.

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer $29 – I love that although this foundation is considered full coverage, you can control the amount that goes onto your skin easily, and it’s buildable coverage.  If I’m being honest, it’s not unlike me to only use this for coverage all over my face to include under the eyes.  I totally get that there are individuals that were born with dark circles and need a little extra help in that area, but, this does provide great coverage for those that are looking to even out their skin tone as well.

Senegence Shadowsense in Mullberry $22 – I am a big fan of multipurpose items and this product does exactly that for me!  If I want a simply wash of color on my lids, this will do just that.  If I want to use this as a blush, this will do that too!  I love that the color is a beautiful mauve shade, has staying power, and can be used for many things in your makeup routine.  Again, this is a direct sales product, however, you can order directly from their site too if you don’t have a Senegence gal in your life.

Benefit Precisely, My Brow Ultra Fine Shape and Define $24 – This is another quick and effective way to turn those brows from whoa to wow!  I have love Benefit’s brow products for years now and this pencil gets the job done quickly, it looks natural, and travels well!

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter $38 – If you don’t have this, you need it in your life!  This is the Champagne Pop (Jaclyn Hill’s baby) shade and even with my pale skin, it looks so incredibly natural that I use it on the daily.  I pretty much can’t live without it at this point and firmly believe you should run out and grab one for yourself.  Be warned…it is potent and highly addictive!

 

What are some of your go-to makeup products?

 

All About My Hair

I have received an outpouring of questions/requests about my hair cut and color since I had it touched up recently.  Thankfully, my hair stylist is amazing and gave me the details regarding the color I now have…let me start from ground zero before I get into that though.  Let me preface this with the fact that I am not a stylist in any way.  I always research hair styles and colors before I approach my stylist and we always discuss options before moving forward.  My stylist and I have a great working relationship where she listens to my hair whims, and I listen to her tell me whether or not my ideas are good or bad lol.  I will always recommend having an open line of communication with your stylist so that both of you are on the same page, and you will hopefully always be happy with your results!

So!  Ground zero.  My natural base color is between a level 6 and a level 7.  I am naturally ashy toned and more of a dirty blonde.  The texture of my hair is what I refer to as “ribbon-like.”  I say that because although it can be styled, it often falls out of that style unless I use the correct combination of products to achieve the look I’m going for.  My hair is also naturally wavy/frizzy so I do dry and style my hair on a regular basis which does cause damage (especially since I have highlighted my hair for many many years).  Protection and great products is key for my hair so I rely heavily on products that I have personally tried and know to work for my specific hair type.

After moving a few years ago it took me a few months to find the perfect stylist that I not only trusted with my hair, but, is also not afraid to tell me when she feels like what I’m thinking in my head will potentially look like garbage lol.  I tend to get bored with my hair and usually change it up often so she keeps me in line which I love!  I had my hair touched up a few weeks ago and requested that she write down what her color combinations are for my hair…I received a panicked expression as result.  Basically at this point she creates cocktails of hair color and has a specific way that she uses foils so that I not only have framing around my face, but, some peekaboo highlights underneath so that when I do pull my hair up I don’t look like skunk…that’s not cute!

According to my stylist, what I am about to type out for you is what product lines she uses, and the shades as well.  Frankly, it’s all gibberish to me so I would highly recommend that you not only show a photo of your “dream hair” to your stylist, but, if you like my color combination to also show the mixtures that she puts together so they know what direction to go with your hair.

Igora Schwarzkopf –  5-0 6-65 10V, 5-89 5-68 10V, b1 30V
Viviance Toner – 9.5-1

Basically that’s a foreign language to me lol.  I’m sure that your stylist will have a better understanding to know what mixtures are needed.  To touch on what she does for foiling…as I said, she does framing around my face to lighten and brighten, then splices a few underneath to provide some peekaboo highlights that are seen better when my hair is pulled back.  She also places the foils specific to the shape of my crown, and based on where I normally part my hair so that as my hair grows out I do not have a harsh line of demarcation.  I generally get my hair touched up every 8-10 weeks (if possible) and am really loving the reddish/chocolate brown undertones.  My stylist is really great about making sure that the colors she uses are not only great quality, but, work well with your skin tone.

As far as the cut goes, I chopped about 12″ off over a year ago and rocked an inverted bob for a while.  I am still growing my hair out and am loving the length it is right now.  I can tell you that my stylist will do a straight cut in the back then adds in layers to break up the bulkiness I tend to get at the ends.  She also does a small amount of framing around my face since I am also growing out my bangs at the moment as well.  Ultimately I do want to get to the point when I have a “lob” with a single length around my face and minor layers in the back so that curls lay better on me.  Again, what works for me may not work for your type of hair so consulting with your stylist is key!

I hope this helps those of you that have asked for more information about my hair!  Please drop any questions below and if I can’t answer them based on what I already know, I will reach out to my stylist for an official response from her!

10 Things You Should Know About Me

I have been getting quite a few new visitors to the blog, as well as, new followers on Instagram so I wanted to take an opportunity to tell you a bit more about me!  I have compiled a short list of 10 things that you most likely don’t know about me…some potentially quirky.  I always love reading things like this about people because it’s a great way to get to know people better so I hope this helps you learn a little bit more about me!

  1. I have 5 tattoos.  3 out of the 5 are butterflies (all different designs) because I had them done during major turning points in my life which was a representation of personal growth and transformation.
  2. My biggest pet peeve is being on a mission and getting stuck behind either a slow driver, or, slow walker.
  3. I only run if I’m being chased…thankfully this has not been a regular occurrence since childhood on the playground lol.  I have aspirations to be a runner, but, I don’t foresee that happening anytime soon.
  4. I have a condition called Spondylolisthesis.  For those of you that don’t know what that is, essentially it is a condition where one of your vertebrae (spinal bones) slips forward onto another vertebrae ultimately (in my case) causing lower back pain that I live with daily and will eventually need to be surgically corrected.  This does have some downstream effects that include my inability to do any “compression” exercises (i.e. running and heavy weight lifting) because it will make the condition worse.  It is something that I have now lived with for 13 years and honestly have no idea when/where this happened.  The only relief I have had during these 13 years was during pregnancy…obviously I can’t be pregnant all the time lol.
  5. I secretly enjoy it when my kids go back to school each year because it gives me a chance to live vicariously through them and organize their school supplies and backpack.  That was always my favorite part growing up and this has never changed for me.
  6. I worked at Starbucks during my college career which helped change my perception of great customer service and I believe gave me the foundation to build upon which helped me get into management by having a “just say yes” attitude and outlook.  Those of you that don’t know, one of the “motto’s” that Starbucks has is a what they term a “just say yes” policy.  Customer service is instilled in each “partner” and is their number one priority.  Because I continue to work in a customer service oriented field (medical field) having this foundation has helped me grown into the leader I am today.
  7. My husband and I were engaged exactly 1 month after we start dating…that will have to be another post all together I’d imagine because our story is not typical, but, perfect for us.
  8. I am a type A personality and often deal with anxiety when things do not go as planned.
  9. Until I met my husband, I had not traveled anywhere outside of Washington, Oregon, or California.  I can happily say that together we have been to multiple locations on the East Coast, and to Japan together!
  10.  I am a big believer in change and this absolutely flows over into my personal and home life – which really irritates my husband.  I am always on the hunt to become more efficient, create less chaos in our lives, and have a home for everything necessary…even if that means buying and selling multiple furniture pieces over the years to help facilitate that (much to my husbands dismay lol).

Tell me something about you!

Inspiration Wednesday: Loungewear

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Happy Inspiration Wednesday, friends!  Clearly you can see a trend here…I freakin’ love the color green and I’m definitely not sorry about it!

I am a big fan of loungewear and am always excited to get out of my work clothes at the end of the day and be comfy.  I am not above wearing baggy sweats, but, sometimes I want to look a little more polished – especially if there’s a chance that company may come over.  I love that this whole combination is cute, comfortable, functional, AND most of this is on SALE!  Pretty much my all time favorite combinations for an outfit.

Aside from the outfit itself, can we talk about scrunchies for a minute?  I love how fashion seems to always come full circle and the 90’s are legit back in full force with these babies.  As much as I love that they’ve made a comeback, I can’t help but think of Carrie’s response to Berger in Sex and the City about how no New York woman would be caught in a hip restaurant wearing a scrunchie…makes me giggle.  That won’t stop me from wearing them again though!

What are some of your favorite loungewear pieces?

 

Vanilla Sugar Scones

Happy Tuesday, friends!  As promised, I am sharing my Vanilla Sugar Scone recipe I showed a sneak peak photo of on Instagram last week.

Sundays have always been family breakfast day.  It’s always a slow morning, followed by a day of rest (99% of the time).  I use this day as a great time to refresh and reset before a new week begins and my whole family really enjoys that special time together.  I love creating recipes that are perfect on the go, and for little hands to hold easily!

One of the gifts I received from my parents for Christmas was this cute little scone baking dish and it gives me all the heart eyes!  I love how easy it makes baking scones because they always come out perfectly and sweet little wedges that my kids love to refer to as their “sweet pizza bread.”  Also, it’s dishwasher safe which is a huge bonus for me!

Without further adieu, I introduce to you our new family favorite – Vanilla Sugar Scones!

Look at that golden, fluffy, deliciousness!  I may need to bake up a few batches now…

My personal favorite way to enjoy these is with a small pat of butter, and homemade blackberry preserves.  Just makes my mouth water looking at this!  I will tell you that the dough base is originally from King Arthur Flour that I then made some minor changes to, to fit the needs of my family and our preferences.

Print Recipe

Vanilla Sugar Scones

This is your everyday, basic scone recipe that is just itching for add-ins.  My family loves these plain, with dried fruits, and even slathered with fresh preserves.  Make these your new family favorite!
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: breakfast, easy, scone, simple
Author: Jenn

Ingredients

Dough

  • 2 3/4 Cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 3/4 TSP Salt
  • 1 TBSP Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Cup Cold Butter
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 2 TSP Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2-3/4 Cup Milk I used Lactose free for the sensitive tummies in my family

Glaze

  • 2 TSP Milk I used Lactose free for the sensitive tummies in my family
  • 2 TBSP Sugar in the Raw You can substitute with any sugar, but, this makes for a pretty presentation.

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
  • Work in the butter just until the mixture is unevenly crumbly; it's OK for some larger chunks of butter to remain unincorporated.
  • In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla or other flavor, and half and half or milk.
  • Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until all is moistened and holds together.
  • If you do not have a scone baking dish, line a baking sheet with parchment; if you don't have parchment, just use it without greasing it. Sprinkle a bit of flour atop the parchment or pan.
  • Scrape the dough onto the floured parchment or pan, and divide it in half. Round each half into a 5" circle (if you haven't incorporated any add-ins); or a 6" circle (if you've added fruit, nuts, etc.). The scones should be about 3/4" thick.
  • Brush each scone with milk, and sprinkle with Sugar in the Raw.
  • Carefully pull the wedges away from the center to separate them just a bit; there should be about 1/2" space between them, at their outer edges.  At this point you can place each wedge into the baking dish if you have one.
  • For best texture and highest rise, place the pan of scones in the freezer for 30 minutes, uncovered. Chilling the scones relaxes the gluten in the flour, which makes the scones more tender and allows them to rise higher. It also chills the fat, which will make the scones a bit flakier. While the scones are chilling, preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • Bake the scones for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they're golden brown. When you pull one away from the others, it should look baked all the way through; the edge shouldn't look wet or unbaked.
  • Remove the scones from the oven, and cool briefly on the pan. Serve warm. They're delicious as is, but add butter and/or jam, if you like.

**this post is not sponsored in any way by World Market, or, King Arthur Flour…although that would be awesome!**

Field of Graves – a Book Review

Back at it with another book review for you on this beautiful Thursday!  Remember when I posted about this book written by J.T Ellison?  Well I went and read Field of Graves written by her and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Synopsis per Amazon:

All of Nashville is on edge with a serial killer on the loose. A madman is trying to create his own end-of-days apocalypse and the cops trying to catch him are almost as damaged as the killer. Field of Graves reveals the origins of some of J.T. Ellison’s most famous creations: the haunted Lieutenant Taylor Jackson; her blunt, exceptional best friend, medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens; and troubled FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin. Together, they race the clock and their own demons to find the killer before he claims yet another victim. This dark, thrilling and utterly compelling novel will have readers on the edge of their seats, and Ellison’s fans will be delighted with the revelations about their favorite characters.

My review:

As I am a fan of J.T. Ellison, I definitely enjoyed reading the first novel in a series of murder mystery, bone-esque type story line.  For those of you that are fans of Bones, NCIS, and really any other murder mystery/police procedure shows and story lines, then this series is for you!

I appreciated the details about the characters written into the plot.  When it comes to a series, in my mine it is especially important to really get a “relationship” with the main character…I hope that made sense haha.   There is quite a bit of violence (obviously…it’s about a serial killer) so if that’s not your cup of tea then I recommend not giving a go.

I would definitely give this book a 4/5 rating.  I love the plot, and the characters are likable.  The only con for me was that the ending was a tad bit predictable for me.  Ultimately, we all knew that they’d catch the killer, I figured out who the killer was about half way through before they were announced…don’t worry, I won’t spoil the ending for you.  Despite the predictable aspect for me, I am moving forward with reading the rest of the series and I am excited to start the next one!

What have you been reading lately?

Cozy Chic and a Health Journey Update

 

Jacket | Shirt | Capri’s | Shoes

2019 is officially upon us and I have yet to stop on my health journey.  I filled you in on my journey in this post, and have no plans to stop there.

Since July 6, 2018 I have shed 35 lbs., and an all over total of 22 inches!  It has never been easy for me to lose weight (junk food is a weakness of mine) so this almost 6 month journey has been pretty amazing to watch unfold.  I look back on older photos of myself and am in awe of how far I’ve come in such a short period of time.  I feel great – especially when I never realized that I felt badly to begin with.

The other day I tried on the pair of capri’s you see above that I bought at the beginning of this journey knowing that I’d “fit into them someday.”  Well, today was that day!  I had to take a picture to commemorate this moment, of course.  I am loving this outfit so much!  It is comfortable, and affordable – two of my favorite words when it comes to my wardrobe.  You have seen this jacket before in this post.  I loved it so much that I bought it again in a smaller size when the other one got too baggy on me…a great problem to have, am I right?  Pair these comfy capri’s with a simple tee, faux leather jacket, and some budget friendly hidden wedge sneakers, and you’ve got yourself an outfit that I would happily wear on the daily (if my job would allow, of course).

All of this to say, I am far from where I truly want to be.  Not just a number on a scale, but, how I look and feel in clothing.  Also…looking at the side photo, I definitely need to work on some booty gains lol.

What are some of your go-to loungewear pieces?

Christmas Vacation Recap

From traveling over the mountain to visit family, to a few inches of snow, to eating WAY too much food, to a quiet Christmas morning, we have had a great few weeks with the kids and family.  I was fortunate to take almost 2 weeks off to spend some quality time with my family and honestly did not pull my phone out to take as many photos/videos as I wish I had…that means we were far too busy having fun!

With 2019 knocking on our door, I want to wish you and your family a beautiful year ahead.  I hope that you have made some incredible goals for yourself, and will continue to live your best life!  Cheers to a new year!

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