ZOOtopia?

A trip to the zoo was
just what the doctor ordered.

A few weekends ago we decided
to go to the zoo - SO WE COULD FEED
THE GIRAFFES - but we also checked out all of the
other animals too.

Jaclyn Hill BECCA Palette

I was so psyched to hear

that Jaclyn Hill (JH) was collaborating

with BECCA again.

When she announced her new palette,

I put it on my makeup shopping list as a MUST.

I waited in anticipation (for about a month)

for the drop date. It was set to drop

5/25/16 at noon.

Thank GOODNESS I was on

the Sephora site much earlier than

noon. THANK GOODNESS

I happened to refresh the page

around 11:30 because that

palette dropped early!

The palette was sold out
two hours later.

I waited through the long weekend for
my package to arrive.
When it did I screamed with joy -
and did a little snapchatting :D

I can not explain to you how beautiful this palette is.
So, I will just have to settle for a photo shoot!

Here are a few looks I created using this palette.

I will be doing a video on this palette soon!
Keep an eye out on my Youtube channel:
My Youtube Channel

If you missed out on the first drop date, no worries
it hits Sephora stores June 16th, but I'd imagine
it will sell out fast, and Jaclyn Hill has already stated
that this is not a permanent item. SO STOCK UP!

BECCA Backlight Priming Filter Primer Review

I finally bought it - the 

BECCA Backlight Priming Filter

Primer.

Do I love it?

At first I did!

And I still do really like it.

I love that it makes my face look

extremely luminous.

As you can see here - So luminous!

I love the smell.

I love that it feels moisturizing.

I love that there is a lottttt of it, and one pump goes

a long way.

The thing I don't love about it is that it doesn't seem

to keep my blush and bronzer on while at work for 8 hours like

the Smashbox primer did.

Or did it?

Now that I think about it, I can't remember if my 

bronzer and blush stayed on throughout the full work

day a week ago (before I bought the BECCA primer).

Am I being overly picky?

I MUST PUT IT TO THE TEST.

Channeling my inner science class 5th grader:

I devise up a question, hypothesis, a list of products used, a detailed summary

of the experiement, and the results.

Question:

Does the Smashbox Primer help hold the makeup on my face longer than

the BECCA Primer?

Hypothesis:

After putting Primer 1 on the right side of my face, and Primer 2 on the left side

of my face, I will work a full day. I believe the bronzer and blush will stay

better on the side of my face that Primer 2 was used on.

Products used:

BECCA Primer: Primer 1
Smashbox Primer: Primer 2

Bronzer

Blush

Experiment

Yes... The video quality is shitty but
to upload it to blogger without uploading it
to Youtube first - it had to be a much smaller
file. Quality was the sacrifice I had to make.

BUT - primer goes on somewhat clear,
so you aren't missing much.

Conclusion

After 8 hours of wear, I found
that the Makeup on the left side of my face
(Primer 2: SMASHBOX) seemed to stay on better.
They both seemed to be about the same with
oil control.

End of the day pics with Daisy!

She often tries to steal the show.
JUST LIKE MAMMA TAUGHT HER!

You can tell more in this pic that the makeup on the left side is slightly more
intact. 

5 Spring Beauty Essentials for Florida Living

Being a girl living in Orlando Florida

is very difficult.

75-80% of the year I live

in a tropical paradise.

I know, I know... Everyone who does not

live in Florida is hating me right now.

But you don't understand!!!

Having perfect hair and makeup in a 

tropical paradise is next to impossible!

Think Monica Geller in Barbados...

The humidity RUINS everything!

Whether the humidity makes your hair blow up like a balloon (like Monica) or fall

flat like a noodle (like me) - whether it melts your makeup off you face one hour 

into the day....

Fear not!

I have a few Spring/Summer beauty essentials

for the humidified lifestyle!

1. Primer (face and eye)

Because Florida has such a humid climate,
no matter what type of skin you have, you
face will normally have an oil sheen by the end of the day and
your makeup will normally melt off a few hours into
the work day. Primer really helps the makeup stick to
your face throughout the day.

A few of my favorites are:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance - To keep the eye makeup intact
BECCA Priming Filter - Luminous face primer
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 

2. Setting Powder

Another way to keep your makeup lasting longer is to
brush a little setting powder over it. Setting powder is good
for use all over the face or only in specific areas. Many will
even use setting powder for "baking".
I often find that setting powder, not only contributes to
my makeup longevity, but it also gives me a little extra
oil control.

My favorite setting powder is the
Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder.

3. Push powder

Living in a humid climate not only effects makeup,
it also effects hair!

Most people have the problem of humidity making
their hair bigger - I have the opposite problem.
For a southern girl, there is nothing worse than flat
hair.

If you have issues with flat hair - fear not...
Push Powder will become your new best friend.
Push Powder is a powder that adds texture
and lift to your hair when applied at the
root.
My favorite push powder is
Redken Powder Grip.

4. Redkin Windblown

I don't care who you are, we all want Beyonce's
wind blown hair!

Windblown is an extremely light hairspray that not only holds
but it really does give you an airy windblown look - and it lasts
forever!
I've had 1 bottle last for a full year.
Redken Windblown.
If you are afraid to take the plunge and buy the full version,
they have travel sizes!
Travel Windblown.

5. Setting Spray

If you aren't using a setting spray - you should be.
Putting your makeup on should be like building a sandwich.
The primer should be the bottom piece of bread, the
foundation, bronzer, eye makeup, blush, etc. should be the
ham - cheese - lettuce - tomato
and the setting spray should be the top piece of bread.
It is the finishing touch to you look.
It keeps your makeup on longer and depending on the
type of spray you get, it can oil control or add moisture to your
face.

I bet we can all guess which one I use!
I love Urban Decay's De-Slick.
If you have tried De-Slick and aren't
crazy about it, my second choice would be
Kat Von D Setting Mist.

If you are curious about how to use these products,
hop over to my youtube channel to see
me in action!

Leigh's Birthday Bonanza

A few weeks ago

this girl:

turned 26!!!

Soo of course we had to celebrate with

a ladies weekend!!!

I drove down to Tampa early Saturday morning.

Let me tell you, driving to Tampa at 6AM is the 

way to do it. 

There is, like, no one on the road!

I got to Leigh's in an hour and 15, when it

normally takes me a little over 2 hours.

When I arrived, I was welcomed with a 

workout lol.

Those of you who don't know Leigh, 

you should know she takes her workouts

VERY seriously. She's basically

a personal trainer...

Soooo, she kicked my ass early Saturday

morning with a Welcome Workout :D

After the workout and a shower

we went birthday shopping all day long.

That evening we had reservations at Ulele.

The service, drinks, and atmosphere were phenomenal!

Leigh and I had salads, which were just meh, but 

that was probably our fault.

You don't go to a seafood restaurant to get salads.

Here we are having too much fun

with Boomerang.

After dinner we headed home for a quiet evening - for we had

day drinking in the morning.

But it is never a quiet evening when you get us together...

The next morning we awoke feeling refreshed and

ready to party!

But first...

BIRTHDAY PHOTO SHOOT

Birthday Cake that Deb made!

After the photo shoot we headed to brunch at 

Timpanos.

This place was amazing.

All the girls got the

Unlimited mimosa bar...

Let the pictures begin...

After brunch, we headed to South Howard for 

some more day drinking and more friends!!

It was a great Sunday Funday Birthday!

Cheers to another year Lee Lee!

XOXO

Setting Sprays Hooray!

What do I look for in a setting spray?

Honestly the main thing I want from a setting
spray is longevity - see? I'm not high maintenance!

The second biggest thing I am looking for
is a matte finish - because I have super oily skin.

I don't need fancy smells or dewy finishes.

Like I did with primers, I also feel like I've come into the
setting spray game a little late.

I've only tried two different setting sprays so
far:

Kat Von D Lock 'N Load Makeup Setting Mist

and

Urban Decay Deslick Makeup Setting Spray.

Travel Size

Though Kat Von D smells like
a cucumber dream spa -
I'm not as impressed with it as
I am with Urban Decay's De-slick.

The De-slick spray keeps my makeup
in place all day and keeps my
oily face matte and in check.

The Kat Von D setting spray
keeps my makeup in place, but
does not help with oil control.

So I would suggest, if you have
oily skin + you live in a hot
and humid climate - go with
Urban Decay De-Slick.

If you like fantastic smelling setting sprays
that do the job of keeping  your makeup in place
but nothing else - go for Kat Von D!

Said the Queen. #longliveJaclynHill

Anniversary Weekend in Miami: Day 2

Saturday morning, we woke up well rested and 

left the room in search of a gym.

Boy, did we find one. This 

hotel gym, (which I was assuming would only have

a few machines and a couple free weights) was CRAZY.

This is what I expected:

And this is what we got!

Andddddd other people were working out in it!

It was the craziest thing I have ever seen.

Once I finished my workout - in the fully loaded

gym - we ran out in search of coffee and breakfast.

I loaded myself up with 4 shots of espresso and we

headed out to Villa Vizcaya.

After visiting - I dubbed this place the

Biltmore of Miami. 

Though much smaller, Vizcaya is no less impressive.

I couldn't get a great pic of the whole place so I found one
for you online!

The following were taken by yours truly!

After a long day of exploring, we headed into the

city for dinner :)

A coworker of Ricky's told us about this great

place called STK.

It was, maybe, the best food we have ever eaten and 

the service was great!

View from the table

It was such a fun restaurant and a great end to 

a great day!