Thursday, July 31, 2014

My Makeup Essentials Mini Series: Part 1


Hi everyone! This is my first EVER blog post! (I really hope you can’t tell) I decided for my first post I’d write about something that I love: Makeup! I’m going to tell you about the products I just can’t live without. Originally I had planned all my makeup essentials to be just one post but then I realized that I had way too much to say about these amazing products. Soooo, I decided to make a mini series devoted to my favorite makeup products that I think all of you lovely ladies should have. I hope you enjoy it!

  

I know this seems a little pricey but it is a godsend. Not to be overdramatic but I don’t think I could last a single day without it. There are 16 different shades to choose from so you can definitely find a shade that perfectly matches your skin. 16 shades can seem a little daunting so I would suggest going to a store that sells MAC products, like Macy’s or a MAC outlet, and talking to one of the makeup counter geniuses. Usually they can at least help you find a good starting point and then you can test shades from there. But if you would really rather do it by yourself, here are some tips to help you figure it out:

1. The shades are separated in to two main categories: NC and NW. NC stands for Neutral Cool and is meant for people with yellowish undertones and NW, Neutral warm, works for those with pinkish undertones. They are both pretty similar but using one with the correct undertone could be the difference between an average match and the perfect match.


Pro Tip: The shade is written on the bottom of the bottle.
2. Don’t be afraid to try a bunch of different shades. You may think that you are the perfect NW candidate but it never hurts to give NC a try too! You never know which is going to look best on you.


3. 15 is going to be the lightest shade and it gets darker from there. I’m pretty light skinned so I use NC 15 and I love it.


These are both 15s but the one on the bottom is NC and the top is NW. As you can see, they are fairly similar but definitely different so make sure you find the one that looks the best on you.

4. Usually people’s first instinct is to try it out on their hand or their arm, which is good to narrow it down to shades that look like they will work but before you buy make sure to try it on your face. The best places to test it tend to be your jaw line and underneath your eyes. This way you can see how it looks on your face because your face will be a little different color then the rest of your body. As you can see in the picture above, neither NC nor NW looks great on my arm. That’s partially because its not rubbed in but mostly because the inside of my arm is a different color then my face. So be sure to rub some on your face before buying.

This is getting a little long but I have one more tip to help you out. This is going to sound a little weird but trust me; this will change your life. Here it is:
USE THIS LIKE A FOUNDATION. I honestly just smear this all over my face (I don’t even use a brush. Oops.) After you do that, you can add a little extra over problem spots. I would suggest getting an itty-bitty dollop (you really only need to push the button down about half way) and putting it right on the problem. Then use your finger and lightly tap it in to your skin. The wonderful thing about this concealer is that it doesn’t get cakey so use as many layers as you need. You can’t even tell that it’s layered; you just see beautiful, spot free skin. I told you this was a godsend.

Snatch this up at your local MAC Store or a supplier like Macy’s! Or if you already know your shade, order it here: MAC Pro Longwear Concealer


Please remember to check back soon for the next installment of My Makeup Essentials mini series!  Thanks for reading!

xoxo Morgan 

***Disclaimer***I just wanted to let you guys know that I don’t work for any of these companies so I’m not getting paid to praise them. I’m just a huge fan and love to talk about them and how they’ve changed my makeup experience.



Simply Healthy: Breakfast Smoothie that Tastes like Ice Cream! (NO DAIRY!)

I am going to be honest here and admit that for years I skipped out on "the most important meal of the day." I just never liked stereotypical breakfast items, and was often rushed in the mornings to catch the bus or make it to first period on time. However, once I discovered this EXTREMELY simple and healthy smoothie (that shockingly tastes similar to ice cream), my mornings have been forever changed and my tummy has been forever grateful. 

Just a warning, these smoothies are ADDICTING and HEALTHY :)

THE BREAKDOWN: 
Prepare time: Less than 5 minutes

Ingredients: 1 Cup of Silk Original light Almond milk
 1 Frozen Banana

Calories: 150

Delicious scale: 10/10



Alright, I know what you are thinking. "How can something with so few ingredients and so few calories be a 10 on the deliciousness scale?" The answer? I have NO idea. But I do know that when you put these two ingredients together, MAGIC HAPPENS! (Haha alright, maybe I am being slightly dramatic...) But this recipe is honestly my #1 motivation to get out of bed in the mornings and it keeps me feeling full until lunchtime. It is also packed with calcium, potassium, antioxidants, and is dairy-free! YAY!! :)

Alright, let's get to it! 

Step 1 and 2: The night before your morning smoothie, cut one ripe banana into 1 inch chunks. Place chunks in a Ziploc bag and let freeze overnight. (The frozen banana is essential to this smoothie, a fresh banana will not work!) QUICK TIP: The more ripe the banana is, the sweeter your smoothie will taste!


Step 3: Measure out one cup of almond milk and pour into your blender QUICK TIP: For an extra punch of protein, try adding 1/4 C of whole almonds!

Step 4: Toss in bananas and blend away! Blend until you get a nice smooth consistency. 

Step 5: Enjoy your healthy and delicious breakfast smoothie! 

If you would rather have this smoothie as a desert (or even if you just have a morning sweet tooth,) you can use Silk dark chocolate almond milk instead of the original. It will have 60 more calories, but is still a low calorie treat that will most definitely satisfy your ice cream/chocolate craving! 

So what are you waiting for?! Go freeze some bananas! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do :) Let me know if you try it!

Toodles!  Jess