Make up

Makeup Geek Suggestions

September 24, 2016October 8, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Hello everyone!

I have heard so many awesome things about Makeup Geek products. I have been wanting to try them for a while now, but it can be so overwhelming to choose which ones to get! There are so many beautiful things to choose from! Where do I even start? Do I go for eyeshadow? blushes? both? Duo chrome, foiled, matte, pressed, loose? Do I need a z palette?

Makeup Geek DUOCHROME EYESHADOW COMPLETE SET | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com — Look at all that duo chrome beautifulness!

I need your help and suggestions! If you have a Makeup Geek product that you cannot live without please let me know! I am compiling a list of things to order when I decide to end my “no buy” (not sure when that will be, but all good things must come to an end eventually right 😉 ) Any tips you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three. I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

Love and Life

Big and Little Things

September 23, 2016September 18, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

I believe that God is sovereign. I believe in His complete and total independent control over every circumstance, event, person, and creature at every moment in time through history.

God is in control of the big things and the little things. Sometimes it is easier to trust Him in the big things because there is nothing else to do but lean on Him. Sometimes in life things happen that are so out of our control that all we can do it turn to God and ask for his help and strength.

It can be easy to say to other people, “Just pray about it.” or “God is in control” or “Trust God to take care of you.” But when it comes time for the testing and the trials in my own life, sometime it is hard to see what God is doing.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

A while ago a friend of mine got a diagnosis of Leukemia. She was a single mom with a young son the same age as my daughter. She had so much faith that God was in control. She would even say that if she ended up dying from the cancer that she knew that there was a reason for it and that God had a plan. Last year she lost her battle with cancer and went to Heaven. I think about her all the time. She was such a great example of trusting that even if God didn’t choose to heal her from the cancer He was going to help her through the cancer.

Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

I pray all the time. I pray for big things and little things. No problem is too big or little to bring to God. God has answered my prayers! I have not always appreciated the answers, but despite that I have seen Him work through these hard times in my life.

I often pray for things such as:

“I don’t know where I am going and I am already running late! Please help me to not get lost or stuck in traffic.”

“Give me strength and patience to be the mother that my children deserve.”

“Help me to be kind and have a sweet spirit today.”

“Please help me to find a good parking spot”.

“Keep me safe as I drive my kids to and from school.”

“Guide my hands to get this IV on the first try.”

“Please give me an opportunity to be an encouragement to someone today.”

“Give me strength to not eat a Klondike bar because I know that there are still 3 in the freezer and I love them so much.”

“Please uncloud my judgment so that I will not compare myself to others.”

Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Life is unpredictable. Bad things happen to good people. Friends and family members get sick, get cancer, and sometimes die. Knowing that I can leave all my worries and my fears with God, I don’t have to carry them alone, I don’t always have to be in control, give me such comfort. Knowing that God is sovereign gives me peace.

Psalm 61:1-3
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Review

How ’bout Them Samples?! Review #3.1

September 22, 2016September 22, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

You may remember that as part of my “strict no buy” I had decided to try to use up a bunch of the neglected samples that I have already received from various places and sample boxes. I have so many samples that I don’t even remember where I got all of them from originally. I know some are from ipsy bags, or Target boxes and others from Walmart beauty boxes, this time around one is even from Influenster*.

I posted a few weeks ago that I would let you know what I think of each thing and if I would purchase these items based on my thoughts from these samples. Some products were awesome and I used them up right away, others have taken me longer to use. This post was getting very long, so I am going to break it into two parts. (Check out yesterday’s post to read the first half.)

Here’s my review of the second half of the samples from the third group of what I have been trying out…

Loreal Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Shampoo
Loreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Shampoo
Olay Active Botanicals
Ren Ever Calm Day Cream
Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo and Creme Rinse

Loreal Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Shampoo
Loreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Shampoo

While I have used the Loreal Advanced Haircare conditioners for a while now, and really enjoy them, I have never tried the shampoos. These two may be in similar packaging, but they are quite different from each other. I did not enjoy the Smooth Intense Shampoo (pink top). While overall I don’t mind the scent, I couldn’t ever get a really good lather from it. It is a clear shampoo which always makes me think clarifying, but my hair never really felt fully clean after I washed it with this shampoo. I don’t have frizzy unmanagable hair, so maybe that is why I didn’t enjoy this shampoo. Based on the samples no, I would not buy the Loreal Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Shampoo (pink top).
The Total Repair Shampoo (golden top) has a strange scent that I don’t really enjoy. It made my hair feel clean and smooth, so I can forgive it for the scent, especially since I condition my hair everyday after shampooing. A 12.6 ounce bottle of these shampoos costs around $3.99 Based on the samples yes, I would purchase the Loreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Shampoo (golden top) These shampoos seem to always be on sale with great coupons available as well.

Olay Active Botanicals Moisturizing Toner

This product smells lovely. I feel like it got the job done and didn’t make my face feel over dry and tight like some toners tend to do. I love to use a toner at night after I remove my makeup and before I moisturize. It always amazes me (and grosses me out) how much stuff is still left behind even after I scrub my face. A 5 ounce bottle of this toner costs around $14.99. Based on the sample yes, I would buy this Olay Active Botanicals Moisturizing Toner.

Ren Ever Calm Day Cream

I have enjoyed using this day cream. I feel like for what it is 1 oz is a decent sized sample. I got several weeks use out of this sample and still have some left. It has a nice fresh scent and I really like the way this cream makes my skin feel. My foundation applies over it well. Supposedly it protects against free radicals and environmental aggression while combating the signs of premature aging. Trains skin to be less sensitive. That is a lot of claims for one product, but hey I am all for protection against “environmental aggression.” At Sephora and other online sites this cream is $45 for 1.7 oz. Based on the sample yes, I would buy this Ren Ever Calm Day Cream. (Although, while I do like it, I personally wouldn’t pay $45 for it.)

Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo and Creme Rinse

Once again, I am talking about the scent of one of the products…these products smell wonderful! I think it can be described as a strawberry tropical fruity scent with a light hint of coconut. Later in the days when I used these two products together I always noticed that my hair felt so super extra soft! I also want to add that the sample size was perfectly proportioned. The shampoo was 15 ml and the creme rinse was 30 ml. How awesome that they gave extra creme rinse since every one knows that the conditioner always runs out way before the shampoo. A 10.3 fluid ounce tube of Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo costs $8.99, and a 13 fl oz bottle of Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Creme Rinse costs $10.99. Based on the sample yes, I would definitely buy this Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo and Creme Rinse.

Overall this was a great group of samples! For the most part, they all smelled pretty great. I have been enjoying using up my samples and have already started on a new bunch.

What about you? Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

If you would like to see which samples I have already tried out and what I think about them you can read more by clicking HERE.

*Side note: I got this Shea Moisture sample in a VoxBox from Influenster*. If you have never heard about Influenster before, check out my post all about it by clicking HERE. It is such a great way to try out new products for free as well as getting truthful reviews from consumers like you. If you would like to check it out for yourself, here is my referral link to use for Influenster: www.influenster.com/r/1049268

Review

How ’bout Them Samples?! Review #3.0

September 21, 2016August 31, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood1 Comment

Here’s my review of the first half of the samples from the third group of what I have been trying out…

Beauty For Real Eyeliner
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream
Jelly Pong Pong Neapolitan Palette
Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

Beauty For Real Eyeliner

I just got this in my ipsy bag in August, but I have gotten so many black liners from ipsy recently that I thought it was time to start using some of them. I really like this liner. It is super black and glides on smoothly and easily. It dries down quickly and doesn’t smudge. Most days I wear my makeup for around 10-12 hours. This liner is still exactly where I put it at the end of the day. I would buy this Beauty For Real Eyeliner based on the sample.

Jelly Pong Pong Neapolitan Palette

When I got these in my ipsy bag I wasn’t overly impressed. Once I actually used them I realized that I was wrong. These shadows are so super pigmented! Only on swipe across my lid and I have beautiful pigmented. I would buy this Neapolitan Palette based on the sample.

Look at how beautiful those jelly pong pong eyeshadow swatches are! That is only one swipe of my finger. Awesome! I love how black the Beauty For Real Eyeliner is.

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

I am a big fan ofCeraVe Moisturizing Cream. I have used several CeraVe products and have usually been impressed with them. This eye repair cream is no exception. While I don’t have too many eye wrinkles yet I am a huge believer in prevention. This sample is super small, only .08oz, but since the cream is thick and the eye area is so small only a tiny bit of cream is needed. I would buy this CeraVe Eye Repair Cream based on the sample.

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

This cream is awesome! I love the way my skin feels after I use it! I love the scent of it. It is clean and beautiful. I wish I had a perfume that smelled like this cream does. My skin feels super moisturized the morning after I apply this cream A 1.6 ounce jar of this cream costs around $32. Based on the sample I would buy this Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream.

Overall this was a great group of samples! I have been enjoying using up my samples and have already started on a new bunch. Tomorrow will be the second half of the samples.

What about you? Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

If you would like to see which samples I have already tried out and what I think about them you can read more by clicking HERE.

*If you would like to check it out for yourself, here is a referral link to use for Influenster: www.influenster.com/r/1049268

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #31

September 20, 2016September 14, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

If you want to make the whites of your eyes look extra bright and pop, instead of lining your eyes with black or brown, use a navy blue or deep plum eyeliner. Just as a blue toned lipsticks will make you teeth look whiter, a navy or blue toned eyeliner will have the same effect on the whites of your eyes.

Two of my favorites are Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Mulberry or Indigo for $12 each or the INFALLIBLE Silkissime Eyeliner in plum $8.99.

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #37

September 19, 2016January 7, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

If you are someone that gets bored easily while working out this is a great workout for you. Although, if you are a person that needs music to workout with, you will need to add your own soundtrack because this workout doesn’t have any background music with it. Get ready to squat and sweat! (and of course burpees, because what is a HIIT workout withough burpees, right?!)

Daniel and Kelli at FitnessBlender have a great YouTub Channel with lots of great free workouts.

Do you have 25 minutes to improve your health and wellness? Yes, You Do! No Excuses, Just do it! Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on FacebookLooking Joli Good

Beauty Subscription · Make up

Ipsy Glam Bag September 2016

September 18, 2016September 18, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Another month has flown by! It is ipsy glam bag time again! I don’t know about you, but I always loving seeing what everyone else received in their bags every month.

(If you don’t know what ipsy is you can check out my previous post all about it by clicking HERE)

I have to admit it, I looked at the sneak peak this month. I don’t always, but I did this month. When I saw what I was going to be getting I was very underwhelmed. On the bright side, I did not receive another nail polish, so that is a plus. Now that I have received the actual samples I am a tiny bit more impressed with them, but just a tiny bit.

This month’s theme is Glamazon: “Real Talk: We’re Through With Lazy Beauty. Full-on glamour is back. Put away your sweatpants, let down your ponytail and get glammed up just for the heck of it. Woke up like this? As if.”

Notice anything about the girls on this bag? Besides that they look like they have lamp shades on their heads… Look a little closer at them…Do you see it? Did you notice that they are spelling out the word ipsy. I didn’t notice at first until I was taking this picture.

It is made out of a material that is like a plastic rain coat yet faux leatherish at the same time. It has a grooved texture to it. I like the plain black side without the golden girls on it. The zipper is across the top, a feature that I prefer best, and the size and shape is good. While it is a really cute idea, overall I am not a fan of this month’s design. You can’t win them all ipsy, once again this month the bag is going to be part of my daughter’s collection.

Here is what I got in my bag:

Dirty Little Secret Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Teaser
It is a perfect matte transition shade for the crease. I have been using this every day since I got it. I really like the packaging. It is nice and sturdy doesn’t feel cheap at all.

In the sneak peak the shade looked so much more warm and orange than the actual shadow is. I am really happy that it is more neutral taupe and less of an orange bronze. I think that ipsy refers to it as a “chestnut shade” The actual name of the shadow is “Teaser”

avene-hydrance | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Eau Thermale Avène Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum
Zen relaxation for the face. Incredibly soothing, it keeps skin hydrated for a full 24 hours (for reals)—all the way through shavasana.

High concentration of Avène Thermal Spring Water softens skin
Silky-smooth formula feels like a primer
Time to relax. Relieves tightness and irritation in the skin

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme
“Incredibly effective formula that glides on clear and leaves lips plump and pink.

Immediate satisfaction. Fullness you can see in seconds.
Shine on. Reflects the light so there’s no need for color on top.
Avocado and jojoba oil condition for a smooth finish”

As a brand on the whole, I love Too Faced, this Lip Injection gloss not so much! While the gloss itself is nice and smooth and not sticky, it burned my lips like crazy!!! The box does have a warning that the gloss may cause you to experience a slight tingling for 5-10 minutes.

hot-lips | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I wore twice it for about 7 minutes each time and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I had to wipe it off. I think my lips are just too sensitive. My sister in law also got this in her ipsy bag and she said that it didn’t really bother her too much. As you tell from the swatch picture it even started to irritate the back of my hand and turn it red.

Eva NYC Forget Me Knot Dry Conditioner
I have never heard of dry conditioner. I haven’t used this yet, but I sprayed it and it does smell great.
“#2ndDayHair just got even better. This lightweight spray conditions and detangles— leaving tresses soft, shiny and frizz-free.

Send flyaways packing. Smooths down strands with no white residue left behind.
Totally touchable. Vitamin B5 seals and softens cuticles.
A real head-turner. Smells ah-mazing.”

tre’StiQue Mini Highlight Stick in Maldives Luminescent
I have received several tre’StiQue products in my ipsy bags. So far I have really enjoyed them all. I have been using this as a highlight in my inner corner and on my lid. So far I really like it!
“Glow and go. This soft cream-gel formula glides on gently—brightening with what we call “adult shimmer,” perfect for any age or time of day.

Smooth, rich formula won’t mess up your makeup if you apply it on top
Blendable and buildable, so you can shine on as much as you please
A perfect base for powder highlighters”

Even in this swatch the DLS shadow kinda looks a little orange, but it doesn’t look so warm in person.

Did you get a glam bag this month? Does your bag smell funny? My bag smells a little stinky…kinda like a weird funny plastic scent. What did you get in yours? Were you happy with your samples? Do you get any other monthly subscription bags/boxes that are worth trying out? Let me know in the comments below.

Don’t forget, if you don’t already subscribe and would like to try out ipsy you can use my referral link by clicking HERE! Also, if you are interested in seeing my other recent posts about ipsy click HERE.

Quote

Happiness Even In Darkness

September 16, 2016September 24, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

I saw this quote and thought that it was just too good not too share with all of you.

Happiness Can Be Found Even In The Darkest Of Times If One Only Remembers To Turn On The Light.

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #30

September 13, 2016August 9, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

Here is another tip to help you to get what you want out of your trip to the hair stylist…

Last week’s tip: Be realistic about what you are asking for and how it is going to look on you. Take into consideration your hair’s type, tone, and texture, as well as your face’s shape.

During in Nursing School when I was living in the dorms to make extra money I gave a lot of hair cuts. Over those years I got a lot of practice figuring out what type of style they wanted and what would look good on them.

This weeks tip…

Bring a lot of pictures with you! You can never bring too many pictures. Bring pictures of both what you do want, as well as what you DON’T want. Sometimes the pictures of what you don’t want are more helpful that the ones of what you do want.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so start looking for both what you do and don’t want and bring them along with you!

I totally wish that Pinterest had been around back when I used to do all those hair cuts!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think.

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Looking Joli Good!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #36

September 12, 2016January 7, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

When is a good time to start exercising? Right NOW! If you are new to cardio this workout is for you! It is a 15 minute routine that will get you sweating right from the privacy of your own home.

Simple moves like jogging in place, modified push ups, and marching with kicks can get your heart rate up without having to do a lot of confusing or crazy moves.

Do you have 15 minutes to improve your health and wellness? Yes, You Do! No Excuses, Just do it! Remember to keep good proper form, warm up before, and stretch after you exercise!

Are you enjoying these “No Gym? No Problem!” posts? If so, you can check out the rest by clicking HERE!

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on FacebookLooking Joli Good

Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: beautyblog

Makeup Geek Suggestions

Hello everyone!

Big and Little Things

How ’bout Them Samples?! Review #3.1

Loreal Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Shampoo
Loreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Shampoo

Olay Active Botanicals Moisturizing Toner

Ren Ever Calm Day Cream

Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo and Creme Rinse

How ’bout Them Samples?! Review #3.0

Beauty For Real Eyeliner

Jelly Pong Pong Neapolitan Palette

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

Tip Tuesday #31

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

No Gym? No Problem! #37

Ipsy Glam Bag September 2016

Here is what I got in my bag:

Happiness Even In Darkness

Tip Tuesday #30

Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

No Gym? No Problem! #36

Hello everyone!

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Loreal Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Shampoo Loreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Shampoo

Olay Active Botanicals Moisturizing Toner

Ren Ever Calm Day Cream

Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo and Creme Rinse

Share this:

Beauty For Real Eyeliner

Jelly Pong Pong Neapolitan Palette

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

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Here is what I got in my bag:

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Here is another tip for Tip Tuesday!

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Loreal Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Shampoo
Loreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Shampoo