On The Daily, Part 1

Hi guys, thanks for coming back.

So I have been struggling as I have said in previous posts with just having enough room to move around.  I’m sure a lot of you know if you are unorganized and there is a lot of clutter around it’s very hard to think.  Your mind is in the same shape as your surroundings.  So even though I have things as well organized as possible it’s still pretty bad.  I have put all of my plans for this blog, future YouTube channel and most importantly my nonprofit on hold until we move.  The problem is we haven’t, I thought we would have found something and I would have been completely unpacked and half way to normal long before now.  I believe everything happens for a reason and my grandmother has really needed someone here for the first time ever.  She is very independent and has never had any health issues until lately.  I have touched briefly on her pinched nerve and if everything goes as planned after Monday, and a 2nd steroid injection, she will be back to doing everything she has always done for herself.  For 86 years old she is defiantly an exception to the rule and I admire her very, very much.  (BTW The injection went very well!)

I was watching my YouTube subscription videos this morning, as usual, and everyone has been doing a summer essentials video.  I decided I would do a daily essentials because I have never done a GRWM or anything similar so this is it.  I have found some true holy grail products in the last couple of months.  Since I am struggling to get everything else off the ground I figured this would be easy since everything in this blog post is kept very close and it’s not packed in a box, stacked in a closet or way back in the back of a large storage building.  I’ve gone back and cut this into a 2 part series because it was getting so long I don’t want to bore you guys so lets get started…

Skin Prep

Tea Tree Soap: I have talked extensively about my skin care routine on this blog.  I am still using the Theraderm once a day in the evening.  In the morning I wash my face with an organic Tea Tree soap.  Since I am using so much at night and I believe it is possible to over exfoliate and take away natural oils your skin needs I keep it simple in the morning.  This just keeps my face free of bacteria and preventing any bacterial breakouts.  Be careful not to get Tea Tree oil in your eyes, it is very irritating and it burns badly.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster: Since I got the 3 little wonders from Sephora I have used them all up with the exception of this serum.  I use it after I wash my face and it seems to brighten my skin.  It claims to have many benefits like supporting natural cell turnover, repairing cell damage as well as providing natural vitamin C.  It smells good too.  A little bit goes a long way and I believe I will repurchase this when it’s empty.

Ole Henriksen Protect the Truth SPF 50+: This was one of the products that came in the Sephora Favorites Sun Safety Kit that I included in my Birthday Haul post.  I firmly believe in wearing SPF everyday no matter what the season is, I believe my lack of sun exposure and tanning bed ban has directly kept my skin looking very youthful and healthy.  This is a great one that has vitamin C in it and gives you the extra protection from the sun with the high SPF.  It doesn’t smell like SPF and has the wonderful vitamin C and great orange aroma.  It blends in easily and is sheer enough to wear under your favorite moisturizer.

Theraderm Facial Moisturizer: Thick, oil free moisturizer that is included in my skin care system.  I use it twice a day both as my moisturizer under my makeup in the morning as well as my nighttime moisturizer after my nightly skin care routine using my Theraderm system.  I’ve done a few posts about the Theraderm you can go back and read if you are interested in this system by Therapon, the above link is for the entire 12 posts that include Theraderm.

Hourglass N° 28 Primer Serum: I love this primer!  It is expensive so I don’t use it daily but I would if it was more reasonably priced.  This does however come in 2 sizes 0.33 for $22.00 or 1.0 FL oz for $65.00 on Sephora.com.  My foundation goes on effortlessly and stays put all day even in this heat and humidity.  The serum is so silky and I love the feel of it on my skin.  It is oil based and my dry skin drinks it in but it doesn’t have a greasy feel to it at all.  I just really love Hourglass products I wish they weren’t so expensive but the ones I’ve tried so far are worth every penny.

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+: If you haven’t seen or read anything about this product from It Cosmetics you are living under a rock.  This is one of those products people are passionate about, they either love it so much or really just hate it.  Most, including myself love it.  I have some really uneven skin tone and most CC creams just do not have the coverage I need to feel comfortable.  This is the first one I’ve tried that is absolutely full coverage with options.  You can sheer this out to cover like a traditional CC cream or you can build it up for the full coverage you would only expect out of a liquid or cream foundation.  The “+” is it is good for your skin and it has an SPF of 50 without all of the usual unwanted effects of wearing a heavy SPF.  The only thing I dislike about this product is the price.  It is comparable to any mid range price of foundation but I love it so much I use it every day and that can get expensive.  You get 1.08 FL oz. for $38.00.  I did find it on QVC for $34.68 plus $4.47 S&H so you really aren’t saving anything unless you can find it on flex pay and you can spread the cost across a couple of months.  QVC also offers this on auto delivery every 60 days and if you can catch it on TSV you can lock in the price offered that day.

I went ahead a chopped this post down as well.  I talk a lot in my day to day life so I guess it directly translates to my blogging, sorry if it's to long.  Thanks again and I will follow with the rest of my daily favorites here in a day or so.  

Much Love and God Bless,

KelleyJo

Twitter @kelleyjo3334
Instagram @kelleyjojo333
Facebook @Kelley.lively
Pintrest @Kelleyjo333
LinkedIn Kelley Lively

Birthday Haul Pt. 2 & May Favorites

Hi guys, thanks for coming back to my blog.

I want to continue my birthday haul post now and my May favorites, they kinda go along with the haul because there are so many products I got for my birthday that have become quick favorites.  So instead of making separate posts I decided to just combine them somehow, I’m just winging it as I go along so bare with me. 

Birthday Haul Pt. 2

Sephora Continued

TARTE Brazilliance™ Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Face And Body Self Tanner

So I have tried a couple of different self tanners since spring begun, St. Tropez, Lorac and this is my definite favorite.  I posted about the Xen-Tan for the face and I really do like that one but I hadn’t found anything for the body that I liked until I used the Tarte self-tanner.  If you are someone who really requires a guide color you will not like this because there really isn’t one.  It comes out of the tube a gel like consistency and it is a very dark tan color, however once you rub it in the color disappears completely and you just have to go on faith that you have hit all the right spots.  It comes with the mit and it works very well to distribute the product evenly.  I have been wearing  it for 2 weeks and I haven’t experienced any streaking or uneven color.  I use a thick balm on my heels and elbows before I use the tanner so it doesn't absorb heavily around those dry areas.  I have sort of fell into a schedule for application.  I shave and exfoliate my legs with a body sugar scrub every other day prior to application.  I know most people like to apply self-tanners at night before bed but I have found I like to apply it in the morning after my shower and prior to applying my makeup.  The only complaint I really have is it stays sticky longer than I would like it to and in the bend of your elbows  it can rub off as you bend your arms if you do not spend enough time with your arms straight until it dry's.  I’m not sure how long it lasts because I reapply it every other day.  The one bottle has lasted me for 2 weeks and I still have approximately 1/2 of a bottle and I apply it to arms, legs, shoulders and decollete.  I’m really not sensitive as some people can be to the smell of self-tanners but I don’t believe this one is strong at all.  *This is a May favorite*

 

CIATÉ Very Colourfoil Manicure™

(Kiss Chase #101)

So I have been seeing this nail art kit on the Sephora’s sale page.  I had never tried the CIATÉ brand nail polish so I thought with the kit being on sale and all, well why not.  I am so glad I did.  Apparently this brand is the leader in transforming top coats and all kinds of weird effects in the world of nail art.  I really like this polish.  It doesn't drag or streak and it goes on very opaque after just one coat.  I will be the first person to tell you I am not artistic at all, so most any nail art that requires that ability is out for me.  The foils that came with this kit are beautiful and they come in a wide range of colors.  You only need one square to do all 10 finger nails although I did mix 2 colors for my first go.  This kit also comes with the glue needed to apply the foil.  It’s so simple, paint, dry, glue, foil, top coat and go.  I liked this brand of polish so much I went back to Sephora and grabbed the 3 for $18 deal.  I couldn’t find this option on the web page but I did purchase it in store.

(PPM188 Pucker Up, PPM007 Members Only, PPM185 Mineral Love)

Of course the bottles are only .17 fl. Oz compared to the large bottle that came inside this kit which was 0.46 fl.Oz.  Apparently you can’t order directly from the company here in the states because they do not ship to North America but there are plenty of places you can find this brand including Sephora, Nordstrom and Amazon just to name a few.  You can usually find one of the nail art kits like this one on Sephora’s sale page as well.

Bite Beauty Vivid Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo

(Violet / Palomino)

So if you are taking air into your lungs you have heard of or experienced Bite Beauty lip products.  Bite Beauty is an exclusive brand just for lips.  I know a lot of women have a special place in their heart for lipstick and lip products in general but this takes it to a whole new level.  The lip products that Bite Beauty makes are an exception to every rule, they smell good, taste good, feel good and wear on the lip so very long it’s not natural.  I just didn’t understand all the hype attached to these lip products so I grabbed one of the lipstick duos that Sephora has at the register.  The duo’s come in two different color options, a bright option, pictured above in Violet and Palomino and a nude option in Lychee and Musk.  So the first duo I bought was the nude option and I would love to include a picture and swatch but, what can I say, I used it up.  It is a small amount in each end only .05 Oz per side and the product is so soft and creamy that it just melts onto your lips.  I will defiantly be getting one of the Deconstructed Rose colors or the Deconstructed Rose Lip Gloss Library, you have to check it out in person.  It is a limited edition part of the line and a must have.  The Agave Lip Mask is apparently a wonderful item as well and permanent to the line so grab it when you can, you have time on this one but don’t pass out when you see the price, it has huge sticker shock with the $26.00 price tag for a lip balm.

Amazon

Makeup Geek Brushes: Foundation Stippling Brush, Cheek Highlighter Brush, Small Crease Brush

 

 

 

 

 

So if you have been a regular reader of my blog then you already know just how much I love Makeup Geek brushes.  These are the new and improved Makeup Geek brushes and holy cow, my new, never leave home without them, always in my bag, use every time I put makeup on my face, holy grail brushes.  I only ordered 3 and it wasn’t because I wasn’t sure about them it was simply a money issue.  Lets just say I ran out of birthday funds a couple of items back and my husband rocks.   He was ordering a hard drive for his computer off of Amazon and I said well let me see what they carry in the beauty department.  I was able to grab these brushes for a dollar less per brush than you can get them for on the Makeup Geek site.  I have used all 3 brushes since I got them and they are wonderful.  As you know I have owed the original brushes from Makeup Geek for a couple of years and they are still my go to brushes.  As with the original brushes I haven’t experienced any shedding and they have been washed a couple of times as well as keeping their shape.  I plan to order the rest of the new brushes within the next 2 weeks with the exception of the ones that have already sold out.  The link above for the stippling brush goes to the Makeup Geek site because I can no longer find this one on Amazon, my advice is to hurry they are going quick and I think I seen September listed as the month they would be back.

Sigma Pencil Brush E-30

So I didn’t have this Sigma brush until 5 days after I received my other brushes so I don’t have a picture of this one but I know everyone reading this post probably knows what it looks like, if not you can follow the link above.  That will take you to the Amazon page for this brush and this one will take you to Sigmabeauty.com.  This is my first Sigma brush and I think I love it.  It is so soft and my whole look for my bottom lash line as well as inside corner is drastically different and so much better.  I believe I will order the essential kit next, it is recommended as a great place to start.  Although I was able to order the Sigma brush from Amazon unlike Makeup Geek I didn’t get as big a saving, it was only a penny.  All of the Sigma products are exactly the same price pretty mush, as they are on Sigma’s web page.  I’m unsure of the difference in shipping because I have never ordered from Sigma and I’m not a Amazon Prime customer.  This brush is out of stock on Sigma’s page.

May Favorites

So with all of these new items it has been a hard list to make.  So lets go back to the Haul Pt. 1.  My Clarisonic Pro is definitely on my favorites list.  I have wanted one for so long and it works like everyone said it would.  Love it for so many reasons but the first reason is it will help save my face from looking any older than it is.  My next favorite from the 1st post would have to be my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette.  Like I said in the haul I just can’t put my finger on why it just makes everything glow.  The Hourglass N° 28 Primer Serum is the same way.  My skin stays hydrated and I have cut way back on the amount of coverage I’m wearing.  I have cut out my foundation completely.  I simply use my Hourglass N° 28 Primer Serum and then the 3rd May favorite my It Cosmetics Anti-Aging Full Coverage Physical SPF50 CC Cream.  I have been applying this with the Makeup Geek stippling brush and it gives me all the coverage I need.  I really need to go back and give credit where credit is due and that is my skin care.  I have continued with my Theraderm system, I’m on the 3rd travel size because it is so cheap $10 compared to shelling out the $140 for the full size.  Of course lets go ahead and add the OLE HENRIKSEN3 Little Wonders to the favorites list for May.  I really believe this is what it took to give the my skin the little push I was looking for.  It really seems to glow without any makeup, not that I would go without anything in public, but I have took it way down as I said before.

So I have covered everything I believe.  I have included skin care, Clarisonic and Ole Henriksen.  I have talked about makeup with the  It Cosmetics, Hourglass products, Bite Beauty and the tools to put it on with, the amazing Makeup Geek brushes as well as the Sigma pencil brush.  I have included a couple of nail products, even a self-tanner.  The one thing I am missing, something for the inside….

Plus White 5 Minute Premier Whitening System

This $7.00 teeth whitening system really works, I am blown away.  I have been using it for about 2 weeks and I believe my teeth are probably at least 5 shades whiter than they were.  You can pick this up at Wal-Mart and it contains everything you need plus a coupon. 

 

Julep Maven Box Free

lf you get any subscription boxes you know how awesome they can be.  I have gotten Starbox, Ipsy Bag and a Zamplebox for vapors, they kindly sent me a free box after my husband lost his job, but I haven’t gotten any of the first boxes free.  With a coupon code, I’ve seen several versions, you can get your first Julep Maven box free.  It usually costs $19.99 plus $3.99 shipping and handling.  So I used the code FREEBOX and it worked.  I paid the $3.99 shipping and handling and I had my box within 3 days.  I got to choose from a few different boxes so I chose the one with 2 polishes and a blush, a very nice blush that I will have pictures of very soon.

So I think that is all guys.  Once again thank you so very much for stopping by and catching up with me.  I am so sorry it is so long but I guess that’s what happens when you get as far behind as I did.

Much Love and God Bless,

KelleJo

Twitter @kelleyjo3334

Instagram @kelleyjojo333

Facebook @Kelley.lively

Pintrest @Kelleyjo333

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Birthday Brow Miracle and Some Theraderm Too

Hi guys, thanks for coming back.

I don’t think I have written about my horrible brow experience as well as my daily brow misery.  I have been getting my brows done at the closest nail shop, you know the one on every corner, for years.  I have never been good at tweezing, waxing, filling in and shaping my brows, ever.  So after years of frustration I decided a couple of months ago I would pay the $20.00 fee charged at the Ulta brow bar.  I assumed that this would be what I had been missing in my brow routine and I would come out looking like a normal women with really great brows.  Assumptions are dangerous and this one was as well.  The young lady didn’t have anyone in her chair and I hadn’t made an appointment so I asked if she had time.  She said sure and sat me down.  Not 1 minute later a lady approaches and says “Hey I’m here!”  Apparently I had been worked in during the 3 minute break between clients.  Whirlwind wax and pluck and out the door.  I wasn’t asked if I wanted any specific shape or if I needed any help with what I was using at home, nothing.  I had even brought my Urban Decay Brow Box along with every brow pencil I owned just to get some education.  The education came from the look of my brows afterwards.  I had a huge gap in the arch of my right brow along with no real shape to the other parts of my brows. 

I decided to let my brows grow out.  I had been reading in a ton of beauty blogs that it was the thing to do, start fresh.  Over the last 3 months that is just what I’ve done, I couldn’t take it anymore and decided it was time.  My question was where do I go?  There is the nail places, Ulta (different location than last time), random beauty shop or the girl in the mall who does the threading.  As you already know I served time in prison and I have a deep understanding of threading, it hurts!  So I asked around at Sephora, they recommended the girl who does the threading, I asked at the Mac counter in Belk, Jackpot!  The two girls who work there knew a girl who used to work there.  So I said sounds good, best idea I had heard all day.

I was given the cell phone number of an aesthetician who had worked at Mac a few years ago and was currently working in a local beauty studio.  I made my appointment for the next day and off I went.  Sarah Crisp is a slender built, young lady with big beautiful eyes and a glow that just lets you know its all ok.  This was going to be perfect.  She had a great little room, dimmed light and a table to lay down on.  I laid down, shut my eyes and we just talked.  She asked me what I wanted in regards to my brows and I told her all about my journey that brought me to her.

Sarah put me at ease and the conversation was very pleasant.  She told me she had tinted my brows because they were so light and it would last a week or so.  She waxed and plucked for over 30 minutes.  She told me to sit up so she could see them while I was upright.  She plucked one here and one there.  She was finished, she handed me the mirror. 

I’m not sure why I am so emotional about eye brows, I cried.  Tears streamed down my face as I looked in the little mirror, these were tears of joy.  They are beautiful, absolutely perfect!  Brushing my brows out is now my favorite part of my makeup routine.  I will visit her monthly to keep them looking perfect and the bonus is that she wants to help with the nonprofit. 

Just like most, Sarah has been touched by addiction, her best friend has almost a year clean as well as an ex-boyfriend.  She offered her services as well as gift certificates we can auction off or sell for profit.  I believe God puts people in your path for a reason.  Sometimes we are unsure of the reason but this one is so clear.
If you are in my area and you would like to have Sarah’s contact information you may contact me and I will be very happy to pass it on to you.  She is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is a licensed aesthetician preforming facials as well.  I can’t wait to go back for my hour of pampering.  The brow service was $15.00 and worth so much more.

I finished my travel size Theraderm products and I bought another travel size so I could continue using it, I’m still not sure enough to jump in for the entire $150.00 full size system.  This time instead of the regular moisturizer I got the peptide hydrator to see if that might make a difference.  I’m not sure I am very happy with the results from use of the Theraderm system.  I have been using it every day for 7 weeks.  In the last 2 weeks I have begun using it twice a day.  Because it is a fruit acid exfoliate I have decided to go back to only once a day.  I picked up the Ole Henriksen 3 little wonders from Sephora on Friday.  I decided to add something hoping it will boast my results.  I also will have medical insurance in the next 30 days and look forward to seeing a dermatologist.

I believe I will give the Theraderm only until I finish this travel size.  I only got the small size of the Ole Henriksen 3 little wonders so I will also give it until I finish them as well.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  The nonprofit is really coming together.  Everyone I speak to about it really believes it is a great idea and offers to help where they can.  I hope to post a poll as to the name here soon.

Much Love and God Bless,

KelleyJo

Twitter @kelleyjo3334
Instagram @kelleyjojo333
Facebook @Kelley.lively
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