Coconut Oil

This post is all about coconut oil and let me tell you why it's my Holy Grail and so..... FANTASTIC!

What is this product?
Biona Organic Coconut Virgin Oil.   Virgin coconut oil is extracted from well matured and fresh coconut through specialised processes without damaging its natural nutrition.  No other ingredients like artificial stuff, chemicals etc.  Hence why they can use the word 'Organic'
(remember a lot of products like to state they are natural however they would say 'organic' and if you look at that long ingredients list at the back.. They will al say some sort of chemical even brands like 'simple' have sulfate/acid etc..

What do you use it for?
Where do i start... Every area of my body basically.  I use this just as people use their body lotion.  Legs, Arms, Chest, Neck, Face.  You can even use it on your hair.

Hair
If you leave it on your hair for 3-4 hours minimum and then wash out it will help to repair and keep your hair looking shiney/healthy.  If you wash it out just the same as your normal shampoo/conditioner routine it will not feel greasy though I promise!, obviously you don't want to apply it as high as your roots/scalp area).  

To give you a idea of my hair- I have naturally straight, fine, thin hair that has reasonably damaged areas, it doesn't make my hair greasy or way it down.  I suggest girls with frizzy,thick or curly hair to try this it may help keep it smoothed and soothed.

Body

I apply this every night after a shower before I go to bed.  Legs, heels, arms, chest, face.  I use this as my face cream/moisturiser also at nightime  (I do use an eye cream as well)

Daytime I tend to mix it about depending on how my skin is feeling.  I will either apply the coconut oil or my body lotion (less chemicals the better) depending on my day/skin feels.  I never use coconut oil as my moisturiser in the morning.

How does it work?

You get it in this glass tub, you can scoop it out with your fingers and rub it into your hands.  Your body heat will quickly warm it into a clear oil.  You can also put in the microwave to turn it into oil(I only tend to do this when I am using for my hair).  

How does it feel on your skin?

Its an oil, so ofcourse it feels like oil.  It does not have that greasy feel though like olive oil has for example.  When I put it on my skin it feel light,silky smooth, if you were to rub your legs afterwards for example though you will get a little residue on your hands from touching it.  It's very light weight and I honestly forget I have it on.

It doesn't looks shiney on my skin, it gives me a healthy glowy look.  

Results?

My Skin  - sensitive and dry/normal

Mostly my skin looks normal however time to time I get dry patches on my face very slightly and my legs tend to feel itchy alot!  When I put this oil, the itchiness goes away and it helps hydrate my skin.

Recently I have had bad skin issues from breakouts to mild exzema is what it looks like on my neck/eye.  I have tried from Eucerin eye cream, Garnier Moist Match, Aqueous Cream(for dry skin with little chemicals) and everything stings on those sensitive areas EXCEPT COCONUT OIL!!! Yes its that freeking fantastic!  I am not even exagerating like us women tend to do.  I have even noticed since I put the coconut oil on my eye it has soothed it out where it actually looks back to normal almost.  

Keep in mind even when you have oily skin, you still don't want to remove oils from your body.  

Where do you buy it?
I got mines off amazon, click here to buy.

I swear by this product it is natural, gives great results, healthy glowing skin, lasts for months as a little goes a longggg way!

Just try it and I honestly don't think you will regret it!, I have tried my fair share of creams from L'occtaine, Liz Earl, Eucerin, Garnier, Nivea, Soap & Glory.... and nothing ever compares from the results I get with this oil.
Just show's you don't have to go to the Clinique, Lancome, Chanel counter to get your skin fresh.
HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT!


Any questions comment below or on my facebook page.
www.facebook.com/beautywithjennn

xoxo

Highlight & Contour

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I personally love highlighting & contour.  It's perfect for round faces which I have.  Highlighting and contouring brings more definition to your face and can create the illusion of cheekbones there/stronger jawline/smaller noise etc.

There are different ways to great this look using powders or cream products. Whether you use powders, concealers, highlighting sticks, foundation sticks, foundation liquid...

Using cream products you can create a more natural look more than powders.  I always use the same highlighting products however I switch it up from cream and powder contour just depending in what I am in the mood for.
I have listed below the types of products I find best for my skin tone/type and just generally liked(mix of low and high end).  If you click on the link next to the product it will take you to the site to buy.

Remember: Go a few shades up from your foundation colour for your highlight and few darker than your foundation for your contouring.

Products
Highlighting 
Mac Prolongwear Concealer (NC15) Link
Revlon Colourstay Concealer (Fair 01)Link
Mac Prep + Prime  (Light Boost) Link

Contour

BH Cosmetics camourflage concealer palette  (Cream) Link

BH Cosmetics Glamorous Blush Palette (Top left)  (Powder) Link

Mac Matte Bronze Bronzer  (Powder) Link

Further Details & Tips/Secrets

Mac Prep + Prime Details
I recommend for you to get this instead of a concealer if you don't want the coverage of concealer has on your skin if you prefer a softer look as this just brightens up the face but without giving you much coverage/product sitting on your face.
Light Boost - Sallow/light skin (Cameron Diaz/Kim Kardashian
Bright Forecast - Medium skin (Lilly Ghalichi/Alesha Dixon)
Peach Lustre - Dark Skin (Gabrielle Union/Kelly Rowland)
Radiant Rose - Light/Medium skin tones - This shade helps to cover dark circles as its a peachy tone.


Covering dark circles
You may find highlighting your under eye doesn't help cover your dark cirlces.  What I recommend doing is place a concealer there under your eyes that does cover the dark circles(Peachy tones cancel these out) then underneath that put your highlighter making sure you blend it in up with the product at your eye.


Applcaition

Areas to Highlight
Middle of forehead
Under eye - Draw a line from your inner corner of your eye to the bottom corner of your nose then diagonal line from the corner of your nose to the top of your eat (The area inside this you want to all highlight)
Bridge or your nose
Cupids bow
Middle of chin
Smile lines




Area's to Contour
Side of your nose
Temples
Top of your forehead
Just under/on the edge of your cheekbone
Jawline



Blending
There is various ways you can do this, but this is my preferences

Damp Beauty Blender- (V.Important that its damp) Depending on the consistancy of the product I would use this. (mostly on he highlighted areas I like this)

Foundation Brush-I like to use as its thin so it keeps all the product from moving and spreading into different area's of the face you don't want it to go.  This is great for less liquid products when its the contour area's your blending I find this works best.








I hope this helps, It does go into depth but it just depends in how fierce your preference is.



Flash Photography**

Peace & Love
J

Brush cleaning

Cleaning your brushes!  - ahhh I know right!

To this day I have still to find someone that actually likes washing their makeup brushes.  It's always a chore but always worth it when they are dry and clean.

Ever since I purchased the Brush cleaning mit from Sigma it's made me not hate washing my brushes.  It makes it 10x easier,quicker and does clean them thoroughly...  to me it's a great investment as by the time you pay for shipping it can be quite pricey if you live outside the USA.  Especially as I got some custom charges on mine also when it arrived which has never happened before.
Remember you don't need to purchase a mit to clean your brushes but I do highly reccomend it and you won't regret it.  It gets right into the hairs and will save you alot of time!

Click  HERE for the Sigma brush cleaning mit.

It has 1 side for your smaller brushes (eyes)

The 2nd side is for your larger brushes (face) 

How to use:
Wash - This part is on the middle of the glove.  Add the soap/shampoo to this area and move in circular motions with some warm water, repeat untill it runs clear.

Rinse - This is at the top of the glove.  Move your brush up and down on this until the water has came out of your brush.

Shape -Use the thumb part of the glove to them shape your brush back into the shape it originally was.

Dry - NEVER ever ever dry your brushes standing up the way you normally would store them!! This will make the water go into the glue, then the brush hairs will start to come out and ruin your brush.
You could leave them face down the opposite way but i tend to find this de-shapes your brush.
Personally I like to lay them down flat on a towel to dry.

Frequency - I tend to wash mines every 2 weeks.  Of course I would wash more regularly if i have break outs/spots or have used more intense products.  The longer you leave your brushes unclean the more likely you are to get spots as the bacteria is building up on those brushes.  It also will make them harder to clean.

What I use to clean them?
Johnsons baby shampoo is what I have been using for years to clean my brushes and personally liked how its washed them.  Sometimes on occasions I like to mix it with Argan/Morrocan oil also.

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I hope this helps.  If you have any other product suggestions you find works well for cleaning you brushes be sure to let me know, It's always interesting to hear other people's techniques.


Peace! 

Make Up Removal

SKINCARE

I love putting on my makeup, but it's also enjoyable taking it off and having a fresh moisturised face.

I'm taking you through my routine at the end of the day when I want to remove my makeup.

My Skin: I have normal skin, not oily but tends to feel dry also but not in a visable way, it just feels tight if that makes sense. These products personally work for me, doesn't mean they will for you if you have different skin.  I don't have bad visable pores or breakouts, I do get breakouts now and then, afterall it's normal.  That might be my blessing or it could just be the way I treat my skin.  


SIMPLE: Kind to skin cleansing facial wipes
I use these to get my mascara/eyeliner off and also some of the face product. I have tried a lot of facial wipes and I always go back to 'simple' the other ones I have tried it feels the wipes are dried out & doesn't remove product as well as it should.
Cost £3-6 (deal depending).

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LANCOME  Bi Facial Eye makeup remover
I put this on cotton wool to take my eye makeup off.  It's important to hold & dab don't rub or you'll get wrinkles!  I feel this comes off super quick and leaves a silky coating on your skin to rinse off.
Cost - £21

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BOTANICS: Cleansing Cream

*Alternative - Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish(This is more pricey)
I like to use this with a hot damp cloth, again not pulling(Use soft circular motions).  This removes all the makeup left on the rest of my face.  White cloths are ideal so you know when your face is clean.  Don't forget your neck!           -Paraben Free!
  Cost - £5  (Boots)

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NEUTROGENA: Visibly clear Pore & Shire Daily Scrub
This product I don't tend to use on a daily basis, I use about every 2-3 days or when my skin isn't looking on the most clear side.  I also use even if I just feel I have worn more makeup than usual.

This is a scrub that will exfoliate and get into those pores to keep them clear and unclogged.  

Again I use with a hot damp cloth to remove.   Paraben Free!

Cost - £5-7 (approx)

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MASK (LUSH): Mask of magnaminty
This one I obviouslly do not use every day.  I use this once or twice a week depending if my skin has breakouts I use it more.
It's a mint mask that helps to reduce your breakouts.  I leave it on for 10 mins and it hardens up on the face.  I guess thats what it must feel like to have bo-tox lol.
I then again... remove it with a hot damp cloth.
Cost - £5.95 (125g) or  £9.25 for 315g.

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GARNIER: Moisture match

For moisturiser I actually use the same as I do in the morning instead of a night cream.  

I use the 'normal to dry skin' and the 'dry to very dry'.  I just go back and forward depending on how my skin is feeling.  

I reccomend these as they are paraben free and very afforable! They do them for all skin tones from very dry, dry, normal, oily, very oily, dull..

Cost - £3 Asda (Boots £5-6 deal depending). 

All that's left now is to put on some EOS & chill in fresh soft skin. 

You need fresh skin for your makeup to look flawless! 

Peace!

Nude Lip: Must Have

So just like a girl's shoe closet, you also always need a nude lipstick!

When doing a dramatic eye i highly highly am not a fan of a bright lip.  It just adds too much and looks clown-ish.  Kind of like a camera loosing a focus point if too many people are in the shot.
If you want to wear a bright pink/red lip for example, do a very suttle defined eye with maybe a little winged liner.

When you like to do dramatic eyes more often like me, then thats when you want a nude lip handy!  You want your eyes to stand out so a little nude lip tones it down and keeps it natural looking.  Well as natural as you can get with all that makeup HA

My Favourite's
Mac Myth - (Left) This is a Satin finish so in my opinion you need a little gloss or something over it otherwise its like matte feeling.  Don't know about you but if I have dry lips it makes my face feel dry.  I like to mix a MAC Lustre or Creamsheen lipstick over this as the Satin finish is just too dry for my liking.  Myth is kind of like a great base for the Lustre's and creamsheens it makes the colours more visable.

Mac Japanese Maple -(Centre) This is Creamsheen finish.  It's a very silky feel but thicker than the lustre's so you could wear this on it's own however I love to mix with myth.

Mac Creme D'Nude - (Right)This is a Cremesheen finish also.  Again very silky, i love this one if you are in a rush and my go to one as you don't need to mix this its very pigmented.  To tell the truth I actually have 1 in my vanity and 1 in my bag as a emergency that way if i ever forget to put one in my bag, that is always there.

These shades are my favourite that doesn't mean they will be yours, I have small lips so I do not suit dark shades in the first place.  I also have a very pale skin tone so those of you with a darker complexion could go more darker toned nudes such as the following:
Rimmel - Nude Delight
Mac - Blankety (Amplified finish)

Any questions, just ask.

Peace!