FOTN: Smokin' Orange

i recently went a birthday party at a club and couldn't decide what to do with my makeup. i knew i wanted a bold lip and ulimately decided on a smokey eye with lashes! i liked it so much that i made it my banner...hope you enjoy!

**i didn't keep track of everything-some products may be missing...sorry**

Face:

MAC - Mineralized Satinfinish Foundation - NC42

MAC - Mineralized Skinfinish Natural - Medium Deep

MAC - Mineralized Skinfinish - Warmed

Eyes:

UDPP

ELF - 36 Palette

Wet n Wild - Black Creme Liner

Salon Sassy Lashes - Demi Wispies

essence - Clear Mascara

Lips:

Prestige - Tomango Liner

MAC - Utterly Frivolous Lipstick

Get to know Jae!

its time for another addition of Get to know Jae! although i've come out of my shell A LOT I'm still very shy and reserved...most of the time! my mother actually does not think i'm shy, but i beg to differ. growing up i was more likely to sit quiet and wait for others to speak to me rather than jumping up and getting in the mix. i warm up to people fast, which could be the reason most think i'm outgoing. working in corporate America has helped me be a lot more outgoing-you can't be shy on the upward climb-said with feet and hands holding on to the climbing wall! i still notice that side of me when the need for serious conversations arise, i think its more about not liking confrontation than being shy. i've definitely noticed a change for the better, but i still need a little work. whelp...that's it for this weeks addition, i'll think of something for next week.

love and hugs,
Jae

Got Brows!

I didn't have any plans last night which normally results in playing in makeup and watching a little TV. Since practice can make close to perfect, I figured I'd keep at one of the things I'm trying to perfect. I've been trying different things on my brows lately and trying to make them look like sisters that like each other instead of sisters that hate each other! Basically, I know they won't look perfect, but I want to make them look as close to perfect as I can.

I have so many items for my brows and a couple of eyeliners that I used for my brows and after I ran out of my trusty Maybelline Line Stylist in Espresso I knew it was time to try other products. I also have the Maybelline Define-A-Brow in medium brown for days when I want a lighter color to my brows as well as the NYX and NYC brow kits. As you can see, I have lots of product already and it was definitely time to start using them! 

I've also started trying new techniques lately like using a brush to make sure the product is distributed evenly (which I've noticed uses a lot less product as well) and I'm sure that has been the difference in the way they look. I also started using 2 different colors which really made them look really natural with the darker color toward the tail and the lighter toward the front. The arch in my left brow is a little higher which always shows when I clean them up with concealer. That particular night it clicked to me to put a little more powder or use the pencil to draw a little under the arch to bring it down a little bit and much to my surprise it really worked. I had an ah-ha moment and was so happy that I did. I am now even happier with my brows right now and can't wait to play around with them more. I was so excited I took picture for you. Let me know what you think. The pictures below are from different days, but I decided to share both!

How do you do your brows? Let me in on your tricks and tips.

Love and hugs,
Jae

Maybelline Fit Me Review

i was instantly draw to the display of Maybelline Fit Me when i saw it at my local Target. i've been on the hunt for an inexpensive foundation and the price point was on particular one was great. my Target didn't have the testers out so it took me a while to decide on the shade that i thought was best. i decided to go with 315 because my undertone is more yellow and pink/red and 325 looked to have too much pink in it. it matched, but i felt like i needed a shade slightly darker. i then went back and picked up 355 (which is way too dark of course) to mix with 315 in hopes of making my idea shade. i played around and finally mixed up a shade that i was comfortable with, but still felt like i was searching for something. much to my surprise my local Wegmans had a display with a color that was missing at Target (320) and i decided to pick it up. i played with it again and came to the conclusion this was not my inexpensive foundation. i ended up returning them continuing my quest for a cheaper alternative.

my pros:
nice color range - although there is not an exact match for everyone
price
ease of use and blending
buildable coverage

my cons:
the smell was a bit much for me
the finish was too matte for my liking
lack of shades for pigmented skintones

overall, this foundation did not work for me and left a little to be desired. i've read a couple of reviews in which the product worked, so i wouldn't count it out until you try it. if you have tried it, let me know how it worked for you.

happy reading,
Jae

Get to know Jae!

so...in this post i'm actually sharing something i'm working on changing as its not one of my qualities that i embrace. i can be very indecisive at times, i would actually say more than not when making a purchase it comes down to the last minute and much thought before i make up my mind. i can normally walk into a clothing store and make up my mind, unless i have a budget set aside and multiple things are calling my name, but i always seem to struggle when making decisions when ordering out. most people can make up their minds rather quickly, but i've often had to flip a coin to decide what to order and it seems to be a growing concern now. i often hold everyone else up from ordering and always has to go last, unless i'm at my favorite place-On the Border!  i've even changed my mind after the coin flip and that often ends ugly. i'm really working hard on this side of me that just can't let go and make a decision. i will continue to wok on it and let you know how things go, but until then, i'm sure i'll be somewhere flipping a coin!

please feel free to comment or share advice if you have/had this issue. 

love and hugs,
Jae

I am not my hair!

many of you know that i've joined the kinky, curly, coily movement and decided to go natural. yes, i am indeed growing my relaxer out and haven't made any plans to color my hair, although i might end up doing a little color at some point...sorry, i guess you can say i'm going back to my natural texture.

my decision to transition was for no other than wanting to experience my natural texture as an adult. i was natural until i was around 12 or 13, i believe, and my mother decided to relax my hair since i became a teen who wanted to do my own thing with my hair. i don't have any bad memories of my natural hair, i wasn't tender-headed and never remember it being "unmanageable". i remember it being soft and not too thick, which i'm sure helped in the tender-headed area. i can't remember what my curl pattern was, although i'm sure it was tight as most of my new growth seems to be that way. whatever it is, i'm ready to experience it!

this plan was so spontaneous that i can't remember the date of my last relaxer. i do remember looking for a new hair style and a lot of them being extremely short and then it popped into my mind to consider going natural like much of my family has. i was actually set to do the BC because at the time i thought i had to, but after scouring blogs and reaching out to one of my cousins ( thanks Shaye) for inspiration, i realized that i could simply transition and decide later if i wanted to cut all of my hair off to speed up the process. i do know my last relaxer was around september since my mother got one in november around the time i would have gotten my touch up. the funny thing i've noticed so far, is how tolerant i am of my new growth now. i used to be one of those girls that got a perm as soon as my edges started to get puffy which was around every 2 months and far too often. its been roughly 4.5 months and yes my edges are puffy, but it doesn't bother me at all. i guess i've hit that stage of being appreciative of what i have or might have since i really don't know what is it yet! i'm excited to see my waves a little bit and the texture of my new growth. i'm excited to try new products and experiment with style, i'm just excited! 

so far, i don't have a set plan for this and since i'm not anit-relaxer i could find myself with one in the future, but not before giving this a good go. i know that i'll learn a lot as i go and i'm fine with that. so far, i've had braids for a couple of months and plan to keep my hair in protective styles during this transition. i will continue to wear my hair out, most likely in roller sets in between styles. i will make sure to document the progress along the way as a facet of my life and hopefully to gain tips from many of you that have already succeeded at this challenge. i'm definitely excited and can't wait to see what my hair future has to offer.

please share any tips below that has helped you along the way.

love and hugs,
Jae