Fashion Trend: Leather Jackets

I love the look of leather jackets. They add a little edge to any outfit and I always feel like a rock star when I wear mine. I have a fake leather one from Forever 21 and it's held up for several years (shocking I know). I don't think I could splurge for a real leather jacket but there are several imitation ones out there that look and feel like the real deal. Here are some of my favorite ways I've seen this look pulled off.

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So what do you think? Do you like this look? 

I'm thinking light caramel and blush colored leather jackets are on my list this year for spring!

Clinique Product Review: Part Two

If you didn’t get a chance to check out part one of my Clinique products review, click here. For this post, I’ll be reviewing two different concealers and a lip gloss. 

Clinique Airbrush Concealer

In my first review, I wrote about Clinique’s All About Eyes Rich eye cream. Part of the reason I bought the eye cream was to help treat fine lines, puffiness and dark circles around my eyes. Since I’ve always had a problem with dark circles and it’s too soon to see results from the eye cream, I decided to purchase Clinique’s Airbrush Concealer.

The concealer comes in a tube with a brush affixed on the end for easy application. The product itself is a liquid intended to provide sheer coverage and soften lines and wrinkles and brighten any discoloration or shadows under the eyes. It comes in three shades—fair, medium and neutral fair. I purchased mine in shade neutral fair. 

To use the concealer, all you have to do is twist the bottom of the applicator until the product appears at the tip. Then, just brush it on underneath under the eyes. Since it’s an illuminator, it can also be used on other areas on the face that you want to brighten, like the sides of the nose. After applying, gently pat the product on the skin with your finger to blend. I use the product after applying my foundation and eye makeup.

So far, I’ve been happy with the results. It’s not a miracle product that completely erases all of my undereye darkness, but it does do a good job of brightening the area and providing some coverage. I look more awake when wearing the concealer. It also matches my skin perfectly. The liquid consistency is excellent and easy to blend, unlike some heavier cream concealers. 

One tube of product costs $19.50. Definitely worth it if you are looking for a sheer liquid undereye concealer. If you suffer from extreme dark circles or discoloration under your eyes, you might want to skip this one in favor of something that offers more coverage. 

Clinique Even Better Concealer

Yes, another concealer! I purchased this one to cover up blemishes and dark spots on my skin. I’ve been using Benefit’s Erase Paste for the past year or two and I’ve been pretty happy with the results, but I’ve noticed that the areas where I apply it look dry and/or flaky after hours of wear. So, I was looking for something to provide full coverage and work on my dry skin.

The concealer comes in 12 shades and can be purchased for $19.50. That may seem a little steep, but a little of the product goes a long way and it will last you a very long time.

To apply, you can either use a concealer brush to pat the product on the skin or your finger to dab it on. (I prefer using my finger—the warmth helps blend out the product.)

So far I’m on the fence with this one. The color I purchased, Buttermilk, is the perfect match for me and it does cover. However, the product is thick and a little difficult to blend. Clinique also claims that the concealer has a brightening effect, but I’ve not noticed this. 

Some of the customers who posted reviews about the product on Clinique’s site say that they use the product for undereye circles. I can’t image using this concealer for that purpose! I assume because of the consistency that it would accentuate any fine lines. And, because I found it hard to blend I wouldn’t want to use it on the delicate skin under my eyes.

The bottom line is that the concealer does work in terms of covering blemishes—you may just have to spend some extra time blending.

Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Air Kiss

I discovered Clinique’s Long Last Glosswear through a sample from Sephora. When my sample ran out, I knew I had to get my hands on the full-size product. The gloss comes in 18 shades; three are non-shimmery. It’s $15 for one tube—not too bad considering how long it will last. 

I purchased the color Air Kiss, which Clinique describes as a midtone pink with gold shimmer. I would actually classify it as more of a very faint peach. The color is very neutral and provides a subtle hint of color and high shine to the lips. I really think it’s one of those rare universal colors that will look good on anyone with any kind of skin tone. It looks good with any type of makeup I choose to wear. And, you don’t have to wear the gloss alone. It can be layered over a lipstick or lip liner to add a layer of shine. 

Clinique claims that the gloss will last for eight hours. Though I haven’t experienced wear that long, the gloss does stay on quite a while. It will come off when eating or drinking or after a few hours, but overall I’m happy with the results. It’s a little bit sticky, but that stickiness helps the gloss stay on. I’ve found with other sticky glosses that they tend to dry out my lips, but this gloss does nothing of the sort. It’s also very thick. Some people may not like that, but I do like a thick coat of gloss on my lips. 

As you can probably tell, I’m hooked on this gloss and am really looking forward to trying it in a few other colors!

Are you a Clinique fan? What are your favorite products?

Beauty: Favorite Golden Globe Red Carpet Hair & Makeup Looks

I absolutely love awards season. Watching the celebrities get all done up with their hair, makeup and outfit choices that they get to pick out is so fun to watch. It's been inspiring me with some ideas for my upcoming wedding and even my everyday hair and makeup. On my personal blog I went over my top 5 overall outfit looks. I wanted to share my favorite choices for hair and makeup too! 

Giuliana Rancic

I love Giuliana's cat eye and burgundy lip. The lashes complete the look to give her a little pop without being too much.

Rachel Weisz

Rachel has a similar look to Giuliana but her eyes are scaled back a little bit. This complements her hairstyle very well. I love the soft romantic curls on her! 

Jennifer Lopez

I didn't love Jennifer's dress (at all) but I thought her hair and makeup looked beautiful. Her skin looked radiant and I loved the smokey eye and nude lip. The hair looks great swept to the side and curled. 

Kerry Washington

I thought her bold eye and nude lips looked great on her. The purple really stood out and made her eyes the focal point. I love her sleek bob and bangs on her too. 

Zooey Deschanel

I think Zooey's hair and makeup looked amazing on her. She brought out her beautiful blue eyes without looking overdone. The bold lip doesn't overpower the look and the color is perfect on her. I love her curled ponytail and the way her bangs frame her face. She's making me want to cut mine again!

Jessica Alba

Jessica's red carpet look from head to toe was my favorite of the evening. She looked amazing in that pretty coral dress and her hair and makeup complemented the look very well. I love the bold coral lip and neutral eye. I definitely will try to recreate this look for a night out!

Amanda Seyfried

Amanda's eyes are hauntingly beautiful. The natural makeup really played them up without going overboard and I love the soft pink lip on her. Her hair looked natural, soft and romantic. 

Kate Hudson

Kate's overall look was another favorite of mine. I think her toned down hair and makeup looked great with her dramatic dress. Kate's hair is polished and I really like all of her layers and her makeup is so subtle yet so beautiful on her.

What did you think of the Golden Globes beauty and fashion this year? What celebrity was your favorite of the night?

Review: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

I’ve never been a huge fan of liquid eye liners. Sometimes the formulas are not the right consistency or the brush/felt tip frays and ruins the application. I just haven’t had much luck finding a liquid liner that I truly love at a reasonable price point. But, I’ve always kept my eyes open because I really like the precise look that only a liquid liner can give.

I decided to splurge and get Stila’s All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner from Ulta. At $20, it’s not the cheapest liquid liner out there. But, I heard really great things about the product and had to try it for myself.

The product comes in six different shades. I opted for the black liner, but the product also comes in blue, brown, charcoal gray, forest green and white. 

The best thing about the liner is that it comes in a marker. All you need to do is shake it up and it’s ready to go. This is so much better than products that require you to dip a brush into the product. The pen allows for the same amount of product to be dispensed as you apply it. The marker tip also allows you to create a thin or thick line depending on how you hold the pen. By holding the tip flatter to your lashline, you’ll be able to create a thicker line without having to draw it on multiple times.

The formula is perfect—not too thick or thin. It goes on very smooth and the color is very intense. The liner is waterproof and it really does last all day. Once you apply it, the product absolutely won’t budge. I noticed that I did have to spend extra time at the end of the day removing the eye liner—a small price to pay for a product that stays on the entire day.

If you’re looking for a great liquid liner, definitely check this one out.

What’s your favorite liquid liner?

Fitness: HIIT Treadmill Workout

I tried this high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout on the treadmill last Friday and was sweating buckets when I was finished. It was so effective and since the speed, intervals and incline kept changing it kept my body guessing the entire workout. HIIT is the best way to get a high fat burning workout in that will really challenge your body in the least amount of time. 

Make sure you properly warm up and cool down to get the best results. Listen to your body -- if it doesn't feel right don't push yourself! Scale the speed or incline down a bit if you need to and work your way up.

What did you think of this workout? Do you have any other HIIT workouts you love?

Clinique Product Review: Part One

I recently got my hands on a few Clinique products that I’ve been really anxious to try. Since I bought five different products, I’ll be breaking my review up into two parts. I got a good assortment of products that I’m very excited to share!

Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel

My skin has been going through a rough patch lately. It’s been extremely dry and parched, but it’s completely broken out. Very frustrating. So even though I haven’t been looking for a product to help me get rid of breakouts, the way my skin has been looking prompted this buy.

The product is a thin clear gel that dries on the skin very quickly. All you need to do is apply the gel to your blemishes in the morning and at night. I’ve been following my normal skincare routine and applying the gel when I’m finished. One of the best parts about the gel is that you can use it underneath makeup without any problems. I’ve tried various spot treatments in the past and they tend to flake when makeup is applied over them or even after a while of wearing the treatment.

So far I’ve been loving this product. In just two days, it’s reduced the size of all of my breakouts and cleared up a lot of the redness. Though I don’t think it’s a miracle product, it’s certainly been helping clear up my breakouts more quickly. My skin isn’t so bad that I need to switch to a full acne clearing regimen, so this spot healing gel is the perfect addition to my current skincare routine.

Another great thing about the gel is that I’ve felt no irritation when applying or wearing it. Most acne spot treatments caution that they may dry or irritate the skin because of the salicylic acid content. I’ve experienced this before, but not with Clinique’s gel. 

The price tag isn’t too shabby: 0.5 ounces for $16.00. From what I can tell so far, it’s going to last quite a while. 

Clinique All About Eyes Rich 

Oh, the joys of getting older. I’ve been noticing more fine lines around my eyes. In addition to that, I’ve got dark circles that never seem to go away no matter how much sleep I get or water I drink. I’ve been looking for an undereye cream to help with all of these problems and I have definitely found something promising.

Clinique’s All About Eyes Rich is a moisturizing undereye treatment intended to help with dark circles, shadows and fine lines. If that isn’t enough, it calms the skin and helps de-puff the eye area.

I LOVE this cream!

The product can be used morning and night. I’m always a little skeptical to use an eye treatment in the morning before applying my makeup, but this cream won’t affect the way your makeup looks or feels—aside from making your eye area appear more moisturized. It’s not like many other creams that make your makeup slide or run. 

As soon as I apply the cream, I notice that my skin looks extremely hydrated. My fine lines are less noticeable and it’s helped calm some puffiness I’ve been experiencing. My skin feels soft and smooth after using. I’ve only been using it a few days, so I haven’t been able to tell whether it’s helping my dark circles yet.  

The biggest downside of this product is the price: $30 for 0.5 ounces and $50 for 1.0 ounce. But, it’s definitely worth it if you’re looking for a solid eye treatment. If you’re going to spend money, I think skincare is the area to do it. 

Stay tuned for part two of my Clinique review… have a great weekend!

Recipe: Clean Eating 3 Bean Chili

One of my favorite things about winter is the food. Warm, hearty dishes take over and one of my favorites is chili. Nothing beats a hot bowl on a cold night. I love to serve it with a side of cornbread for an extra delicious and filling meal. It's a great way to get a bunch of protein while still eating clean. Here's one of my favorite recipes that I've found. 

Clean Eating 3 Bean Chili

(adapted from the Gracious Pantry) 

What you'll need: 

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3/4 cup carrots, chopped

1 (15 oz) can died tomatoes, no salt added

1 (15 oz) can fire roasted tomatoes 

1 (15 oz) can black beans

1 (15 oz) can pinto beans

1 (15 oz) can kidney beans 

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tbsp. taco seasoning

3 cups vegetable broth 

What do to:

1. Saute the carrots, onions, cumin and taco seasoning in the olive oil using a medium sized soup pot for about 5 minutes 

2. Add all other ingredients and stir to combine 

3. At medium heat, bring to a boil

4. Allow to boil for approximately 10-15 minutes and turn heat to low 

5. Let simmer for 30-45 minutes stirring occasionally (the longer you let it cook the more flavorful it will be)

6. Allow to cool and serve with a little bit of cheese, sour cream, tortilla strips or anything else you'd like to garnish it with.

Do you love warm comfort foods in the winter? Let us know if you try this recipe out!