TRENDABL…..

I had to share my new favorite app on my iPhone its basically Instagram but strictly fashion and beauty focused.   Follow me there at Goddessbeautynj for makeup tips, products and more. Here’s a little more info on this app.

Trendabl is a fashion focused photo-sharing iPhone app. Members are able take pictures of anything fashion related, add a filter and tag the photos with info such as brands, store, color and price. Users are able to share these posts with their friends or whoever follows them. Users are also able to follow their favorite fashion icons, celebrities, designers, stylists, magazines, bloggers and websites.

Chanel poudre signee de chanel illuminating powder

 The Chanel Spring 2013 collection has a few products that will make your head turn twice and one of them is the “Poudre Signée de Chanel.” It is a gorgeous all over highlighter.

First of all, the texture alone is amazing…soft, buttery and blends very well.  It has that feeling of a powder that has been triple milled without any coarseness or grainy feel (my huge pet peeve of highlighters) and that alone sold me.  Another benefit was it was not your standard “too pink or too yellow/gold” undertones,which tend to make you look “made up or shiny” and that leads to having the product become ‘seasonal” or a ‘one time only ” product that you put in the drawer and never take out again.

This product is a definite yes if you are looking for a high end, versatile highlighting powder that isn’t your “standard, limited edition product” then this is for you.  Again, you will be pleasantly surprised at what and how the product looks once applied on so at least take a look and see if the undertones work for you.  I suspect most people will like it but it is a matter of if you feel you need to spend $68 on something you might rarely reach out for.  It’s definitely on the pricier side but a little goes a long way and if you use a highlighter everyday like I do I think its worth it.

On a side note…I write this blog because I love everything about makeup, beauty products and fashion. They have always been a passion of mine and I like to share my thoughts on products and things I love with my clients, my friends and my family. Some may think it’s frivolous especially with the way the world is today, but I believe we need a happy, fun diversion once in a while. I hope you find my blog to be just that: fun and sometimes informative. Obviously, if it’s not something that interests you then find something that does there are PLENTY of other blogs about everything and anything….. Have a beautiful day!!! xoxox

My January Favorites…..

I am finally back! After a crazy holiday season I am FINALLY posting so I wanted to start the New year with some of my favorites this month there are sooo many new and amazing products I have been trying lately and I also worked on a photo shoot for Hot Sox and I will be posting photos from the shoot later on this week. But first things first here is my favorites this month! Happy New Year xoxo!!!

1.  St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin moisturizer ($5.99 for a 10 oz. tub) So this is my absolute FAVORITE this month!! I saw something about this product on Dr. Oz so I was curious then when I saw the price I was even more surprised!! This moisturizer is perfect for winter its thick and creamy and also reduces fine lines and wrinkles. I have sensitive skin and it doesn’t bother me at all. I load this on my face day and night and my skin hasn’t felt or looked this great in a while. If you are looking for the perfect moisturizer for winter look no further!

2. Makeup Forever Mat Velvet + Mattifying foundation ($36.00 Sephora) I have seen many beauty bloggers rave about this on their sites so I decided to try it . This foundation is great it hides imperfections, evens out skintone, and mattifies with a non-oily, perfectly powdered finish. The result is flawless and lasts for hours. I apply it with my beauty blender and my skin is flawless all day.

3. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle ($29.00 Mac) I am officially obsessed with this product and I use it everyday even when I don’t leave the house! This is by far my favorite highlighter ever it gives the perfect amount of glow and radiance to your skin.  I apply it right above my cheekbones and sweep some across my forehead, nose and chin and it give the perfect glowy finish to your skin! I just started using it as an eyeshadow too and a highlighter for my inner eye. It looks  great on eyes alone or with a neutral brown in the crease for a perfect everyday look.

4. MAC Sheertone Blush in Gingerly ($20.00 MAC) I love this blush for everyday its a nice peachy bronzy blush that gives me just the right amount of color as soon as i put it on my skin comes to life i cant live without it!

5.Urban Decay Naked BASICS palette ($27.00 Sephora) Every girl who knows about makeup knows about Urban Decay naked palettes and you need this one for your collection! If you’re a fan of neutrals, OR you know someone who loves neutrals, this is a must-have palette. The texture of these eyeshadows is phenomenal; silky, smooth, finely-milled, but not even a smidgen powdery. They’re densely pigmented with true-to-pan color payoff.  This is a great everyday palette for a quick natural look in no time at all!

6. Cover Girl lipperfection jumbo gloss balm in Shade 255 ($6.99 Harmon)I came across these on my weekly Harmons run and  love it! It a cross between a gloss and a lip balm it feels great on and delivers tons of saturated color! The shade I got is a pretty pink plum color i usually stay away from richer colors and go for more of a nude lip but I love this and i layer it with a Revlon lip butter ( item #7  on this list) and it lasts pretty long  and doesn’t dry my lips out at all.

7. Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Plum ($7.99 Harmon) I talked about these lip butters in a previous post and I’m still obsessed with them! This shade is a pretty muted plum shade and it pairs perfect with the Cover Girl lipperfection gloss balm I mentioned above.

Ok guys thats my favorites so far this month hope you try some of them out and remember beauty starts from the inside out……

Holiday Look….

I wanted to share my holiday look that I did this past weekend on my sister. She looked AMAZING!!! I will list all of the makeup that I used for this look underneath the photos. I love this look for the holidays especially because of the red lip and the shimmery gold eyes its great for any holiday party or events you may have this month.  I hope everyone has a great holiday season in the next week I will be posting a really really fun New Years Eve post so don’t miss it!!!

OK so that is her before with just moisturizer and now the after photos…..

She looked amazing!! Now here is the list of products I used to create this look

Primer: Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

Foundation: Laure Mercier Oil Free Supreme Foundation

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Bronzer

Nars: Orgasm Blush

Eyes

Primer: MAC Paint Pots in Painterly

Base Shadow: Too Faced Heavenly

Crease: Urban Decay Hustle

Lid: Loreal Infallible 24hr Shadow in Eternal Sunshine

Brow Bone: Urban Decay Virgin

Highlight: Anastasia Eye Lights Matte Highlighter

Brow Pencil: Anastasia

Lashes: Khroma by Kardashians Gaze

Mascara: Maybelline Volum Express The Colossal Cat Eyes in Black

Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet

My Favorite Holiday Gifts…..

Ok so in my last post I mentioned I was going to do a top ten luxe gift list for the holidays buttt I changed my mind. These days people want to save money NOT spend money so I decided to come up with a list of gifts that everyone can afford.   I do have some pricier items but overall everything is very reasonable.

1.  Jimmy Choo Parfum ($150.00 Nordstrom) This is by far my favorite perfume of all time! I have been wearing it for about two years now and I still get stopped by women and men all the time asking what perfume I’m wearing.  It a very spicy sexy scent that lasts all day without reapplying.  It’s a little more pricey than normal perfume but its more concentrated so a little goes a long way.

2. Urban Decay Naked Matte Palette ($27.00 Sephora) This is the new naked palette from Urban Decay and its amazing!! Perfect shades for everyday looks and night-time looks.  Naked palettes are my go to for every look I do on myself as well as clients.  All of these colors are matte so they are great crease colors or all over eye neutral colors.

3.  Laura Mercier Mini Gloss Set ( $38.00 Nordstrom) I bought a lip gloss kit from Sephora and it included a Laura Mercier gloss in the color Baby Doll and its my new go to gloss and its included in this set.  These glosses are not sticky or tacky and give just the right amount of color and shine.

4. Philosophy Amazing Grace Layering Gift Set ($49.50 Sephora) Amazing Grace is a feminine blend of soft, floral blossoms accented by a hint of light musk. Layer the clean floral scent of Amazing Grace during and after your shower or bath to feel amazingly clean and beautifully feminine from head to toe. This has been my go to everyday scent for years its amazing! The set comes with body wash, perfume and lotion.  The body wash is so great and lathers up really nice and gives you a fresh clean scent that isn’t too overpowering.  I just love how pretty and fresh these products make you feel and their packaging is always so pretty!

5.  Fresh Sugar Kisses Trio ($28.00 Sephora) Ok for some reason I JUST found out about these amazing lip treatments that have been around for a while.  I am so addicted to them! They keep your lips moisturized and fresh all day long. They have a great citrus flavor to them and the perfect amount of color ! Try them you won’t be disappointed!

6. MAC All for Glamour Gorgeous Bronze Face Kit ($49.50 Nordstrom) As always MAC has great holiday gift ideas. Every year I wait for the new MAC Holiday Collection the packaging is always so pretty and fun and the deals are amazing! This kit is perfect for creating a pretty bronze look it has everything you need from bronzer to lip gloss all in a one pretty little kit.

7. The Art of Shaving Four Elements of the Perfect Shave ($115.00 Sephora) Ok so I couldn’t leave all the guys in everyone’s life out of this list so I decided to include a great gift for them this being my favorite! The Art of Shaving is a great product line with gifts for every guy in your life from your father to your brother to your boyfriend or husband.  This kit comes with all the essentials for a perfect shave including a pre shave oil, shaving cream and after shave balm.  It comes in  four scents: unscented, sandalwood, lavender and ocean kelp. My personal favorite scent is Sandalwood.  This company also has barber shops that you can get the guys in your life an old fashion shave which is also a great gift!!

8. OK so for my last gift idea its my Ultimate over the top gift idea!!! Makeup Forever Ultimate Artist ($950.00 Sephora) This is by far is the Ultimate gift for any beauty addict in your life! It comes complete with a vanity lights and a full kit of Makeup Forever products. I hope Santa brings me one this year!!!

So there is my list guys I hope you try some of my ideas you wont be disappointed! My next blog will feature a holiday party look that I am working on for my beautiful sister. So I will be posting pictures of her all done up!!!!

Remember beauty starts from the inside out……..

Cleaning your makeup brushes….

This by far is the BEST brush cleanser I have ever purchased! I try to clean my brushes at least once a week it really makes a difference when applying makeup to have clean, sanitized brushes.  The solution very effortlessly removes the product from my brushes and smells of citrus (odor is not overwhelming as long as the area is well ventilated). My brushes dried much quicker than the soap and water method as well. The bristles are not only cleansed but conditioned too. I will definitely repurchase, however, you must be careful not to soak the entire length of the bristles or else it may dissolve the glue holding them and take the time to wipe ALL of the product off your bristles before drying.  I also once a month use Johnson’s Baby Soap and warm water for a deeper cleaning but this is great for daily use.  AND it makes a great stocking stuffer!!!

Remember beauty starts from the inside out……

My Secret Weapon……

Just like apples, apple cider vinegar is full of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and minerals such as potassium ,chlorine, copper, sodium and iron. It is a great source of potassium which is vital for our body to repair and replace dead cells and tissues. Pure organic apple cider vinegar is very rich in potassium. There is no other better source of potassium.

Most of us have heard about its benefits but don’t know how to use it properly. It has many health benefits and cure for allergies, sinus, high cholesterol, flu, sore throat, arthritis, indigestion, asthma, osteoporosis, kidney stones and acid reflux. Apple cider vinegar is also known for curing chronic skin conditions such as acne, rosacea  when taken internally or applied externally.

The best way to get its benefits is to drink it with water which works like a detox. It will make you feel energetic, boost immune system, reduce allergies and improve digestion which will ultimately lead to better skin and hair. We often spend a lot of money on topical medications for acne which are a total waste most of the time. Instead, keeping yourself healthy from the inside can reduce many ailments such as acne.

I have been drinking two tablespoons straight, followed by water for the past two weeks and I can already tell a difference in my skin and hair as well as my digestion.  At first I have to admit its kinda rough getting it down sorta like drinking salad dressing LOL!! But you get used to it and it’s totally worth it.  I recommend using Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar its available at health food stores and all major supermarkets.  Try it out you wont be disappointed!

 

Remember beauty starts from the inside out…..

Winter Hair Repair Mask

Ok so as I sit here at work on a gross rainy/snowy cold day in Jersey I thought I would share a great hair mask recipe that will keep your hair shiny and moisturized during these upcoming cold months.  I do this once a week and my hair has never been shinier!!! Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think!! And the best part its all natural and easy to make and costs pennies to make! Remember beauty starts from the inside out…..

Post Turkey Day Detox Salad

 

Are you feeling a little guilty about all the Thanksgiving Day carbs you just had?  How about a little detox before you start baking those cookies!
This fresh, raw, spicy, sweet salad is the perfect remedy!  Dump handfuls of chopped kale, shaved brussel sprouts, shredded carrots, dried cherries, celery, parsley, basil and toasted almonds into a large bowl.
For the dressing, whisk together some olive oil, fresh lemon juice, 1 smashed garlic clove, a good drizzle of honey and some red pepper flakes.
Toss everything together along with freshly grated parmesan.

Sweet, Spicy, Crunchy, Cleansing!

Kale is great for your skin it protects against sun damage and carrots contain Vitamin A which promotes healthy, glowing skin!!! This salad is so good I had it at Whole Foods and decided to duplicate it and I am addicted its delicious!

Remember beauty starts from the inside out……

 

November Needs….

Hey guys! So I want to do my favorites for this month and share with you my latest finds and favorites! Enjoy!!!!

Ok in no specific order here are my favorites for this month……

1.  Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($39.00 at Sephora)- This to me is the absolute BEST BB cream I have tried it truly makes your skin camera ready! I wear this alone pretty much every day its creamy and light but gives phenomenal coverage its a little on the pricey side but so worth it and a dime size is all you need.

2. Too Faced Natural Eye Palette ($36.00 at Sephora)- Ok if you want  the perfect natural palette this is it! It has three different looks in one palette, a day look and two night-time looks one more dramatic than the other.  It comes with three instruction cards to show you how to apply different looks and its my total go to palette lately.  I LOVE the day look I think it’s the perfect colors for anyone and it just looks amazing and polished and at the same time very very natural.

3.  Maybelline Colossal Volum Express Cat Eyes Masacara ($6.29 at Harmon)- SO I know there seems to be a new mascara out every other week that claims to be the best out there but this one is awesome!! I havent found a mascara lately that I love as much as this one. It has this rounded wand that gives your outer lashes that cat eye look and isn’t clumpy at all it goes on so smoothly and flawlessly.

4.  Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Under Eye Concealer ( $6.94 Harmon)- This is by far my favorite under eye concealer it really covers dark under eyes and reduces puffiness because it has Goji Berry and Haloxyl in it to help with puffiness.  It doesn’t dry out at all and stays on all day.

5. Wet N Wild Silent Treatment Eye Shadow Trio ( $2.99 Harmons)- I know what your thinking Wet N Wild isnt that makeup for teenagers?! Well I was happily surprised by how great these eye shadows are! I Think they are comparable to MAC and sooo reasonably priced.  This trio of colors is my favorite going out look.  It’s a really pretty plum smoky look that isn’t too too smoky.  I love it the colors stay on all night and I hate to admit but the next morning too LOL!!!

6.  Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters ($6.49)- First off I love, the packaging for Revlon. They look like something high end. I have two shades the first one is Creme Brulee which is such a nice nude, neutral color and the other one is Sweet Tart which is a pretty peachy pink color. They are really nice because they moisturize like a chapstick and look like a lipstick with a gloss over it.  They come in 10 different colors and I plan on getting ALL of them. Trust me you will LOVE these try them out!

7.  Physicians Formula Happy Booster Bronzer ( $13.49)- I know I previously said MAC was my favorite bronzer but I had a slight bronzer emergency and this is what I picked up in a pinch and I ended up LOVING it! Its kind of like a mosaic bronzer so it has a bunch of different shades in one and a pink highlighter also. I just rotate my bronzer brush around the whole compact and use it all over my face I absolutely love it!

8. L’oreal Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black ($9.99)-   The color is a highly pigmented black that gives a much better appearance that MAC’s fluid line in black    It comes with a brush that gives you a flawless fluid line that lasts all day.  Hands down the best drugstore eyeliner!!!

So there it is my must haves for the month hope you guys try some out and let me know what you think!! Happy Holidays to all of you and remember beauty starts from the inside out…..