It's been 2 years!!!

Wow, just wow!  What can I say other than "do you miss me?"  The past two years have been filled with growth in all areas for me.  In that process this beauty blog took a backseat but was always something that I wanted to get back to.  I'm at the point where I think I can recommit to this and dedicate myself to giving quality content on a consistent basis.  At some point I do plan to switch up the name and also have a domain so it can be official.  But for right now we'll ease back into this relationship the best way I know how.

I hope someone is reading this and is actually looking forward to my return lol

In the meantime just hang tight because 2017 is going to be LIT over here!

I'm still on Instagram at JOTHISORTHAT, follow me there fam! 

NYX Honey Dew Me Up Review--Serum for Angel Skin

Greetings!

I hope you all are well!  Today I have a review of a product that I have been loving for the past four months.  It's a face serum called Honey Dew Me Up from NYX cosmetics that is used to aid in providing moisture and elasticity in the skin, the cool thing about this particular serum is that there are actual gold flakes in the product...I'M NOT JOKING!  When I read the description online I was definitely skeptical but once I had the jar in my hand I knew that this product would be gold...literally.  

Clearly, I have been using this product daily as it has done wonders for my skin in keeping it radiant and moisturized.  I use it in the morning under my moisturizer and on occasion I'll use it at night.  The product is a gel like consistency and you barely feel the golden flakes that are inside.  It is a mixture of honey, gold, and collagen, all three which are beneficial in promoting healthy and radiant looking skin.  There is a scent but it is not overbearing, it reminds me of fresh roses, a scent that doesn't linger.

The top is attached to the applicator of the product which is a spatula, not my favorite type of applicator as this can be prone to product going everywhere if you're messy or apply your skincare in front of a fan.  It's not a deal breaker for me but I would much rather a dropper like the one found in the bareMinerals face serum.  This product is reasonable in price as well at $17 found at Ulta as well as on the NYX website.

You may run into to some trouble as I had in finding this jar of goodness at my local Ulta which resulted in me purchasing online just to save the hassle.  Overall, I think NYX has a home run in this product and I will continue to purchase...until the next great serum comes along.  LOL

Have you tried this product?  What did you think?  Let me know in the comments!

Beauty Wishlist 2014

Hey y'all!

The holiday season is in full swing and I am all about beauty and skincare products to give to your loved ones! Below you will find a collage of all the items that I think are hot this season.  Some of these items I already own so look forward to a few blog posts in the future with reviews!  :)  In the meantime, take a look at what I created for you all!

Beauty Wishlist by j-goodness featuring a chanel perfume

Chanel perfume
$130 - boots.ie

Tom Ford fragrance
$115 - johnlewis.com

GlamGlow moisturizing mask
sephora.com

Boscia black skin care
sephora.com

Becca paraben free makeup
sephora.com

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics eye shimmer makeup
$55 - johnlewis.com

Tarte makeup brush
sephora.com

Bobbi brown cosmetic
neimanmarcus.com

MAC Cosmetics synthetic makeup brush
$28 - debenhams.com

Mac cosmetic
$24 - johnlewis.com

Glitter makeup
makeupforever.com

Black Friday Sales 2014 (UPDATED)

Hey y'all!

I know, I know, it's been too long but thankfully I am back as my life should be dwindling down as I have had a lot of changes happen since the last post which was in July!  WHEW!  We'll get to all these changes in another post but in the meantime I wanted to share with you all the beauty Black Friday sales that will be taking place this upcoming Friday.  Take a look and don't forget to let me in on what  you're planning on getting this Friday after the turkey has settled, LOL!

MAC
Smoky Black Eye Shadow Palette (click here)

Too Faced Cosmetics
3 Deluxe Samples (Melted Peony, Better Than Sex Mascara, and Clamshell Chocolate Soleil) with $70 Purchase 

NARS
20% from Black Friday through December 2nd, by submitting your information.  (click here)

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
20% off entire website (click here)

Magnolia Makeup
50% off entire website (click here)

Saucebox Cosmetics
Etude & Creme de la Creme eyeshadow palettes $75 Combo (click here)

Obia Natural Hair Care
40% off sitewide, starts NOW! (click here)

Sleek Makeup
20% off sitewide (click here)

The Lip Bar
50% off select lip colors (click here)

Beautie Brownie
$10.00 lipsticks (click here)

Oyin Handmade
25% off PLUS free shipping (click here)

Melt Cosmetics
Buy 2, Get 1 Free (click here)

Anastasia Beverly Hills
25% off brow products (click here)

I will be updating this as I get wind of more Black Friday deals so if you know of any, feel free to divulge in the comments!  :)

Instagram Lip Color Challenge with The Style and Beauty Doctor #TSABDLips

Hey Everyone!

If you're on Instagram then you already know about some of the month long challenges that go around, some happen to be fun and some happen to die down around mid month.  I still haven't found one that I could commit to everyday but that was until I came across Danielle from The Style and Beauty Doctor's post on her #TSABDLips challenge that I knew I had to participate.  Each day you have to upload a pic of you in a lip color and use the hashtag #TSABDLips.  At the end of the month if you've participated in each day then you have the chance to win a bag full of summer time beauty products.  I have every intention on participating and I thought it would be something fun for us all to do.  I'll be posting my picture later on in the day and I look forward to seeing some of your pictures! 

Here's the link to Danielle's blog post about her #TSABDLips challenge for July.  If you're not on Instagram she also has fun month long challenge for her Facebook family as well! 

Also, if you're not already, follow me on Instagram @jothisorthat  =)

June 2014 Hit List (Favorites)

Hey Everyone!

This month's favorites consist of skincare, lips, and a hair product that I've been looking for my entire life!  These items were in heavy rotation each day of June and I hope that you're able to find at least one that will work just as well for you as it did for me.  There are five products in total so let's begin.

First up we have MAC's Prep & Prime transparent finishing powder, PERFECT for setting undereye concealer and priming the face, yup, you read it right, PRIMING YOUR FACE!  I came across this technique while watching one Wayne Goss' beauty videos on how to make one's foundation last longer and stay matte.  The link to that video is found here, trust me, it'll save your life. You can find it for $25 at your local MAC store or on their website.

Next up we have an edge control that was first introduced to me via CurlBox founder, Myleik Teele, if you don't follow her on Instagram then you seriously need to, not only is she an entrepreneur but she's a well read woman, fashionable, and she knows what products just work for natural hair.  It is the Design Essentials sleek edge control, this happens to be one of the products she mentioned in one of her past posts and since then I knew I had to get my hands on it.  I've been using this product to tame my edges for about three months now and it is one of my favorites, not the best, but a favorite because my edges stay flat and it leaves no residue.  This comes in to a close second to my number one, Hick's edge control. The price ranges from $7.99 to $12, I purchased mine from the salon inside of a JCPenney.

Then there's the Target brand, Up & Up's eye makeup remover. Seriously, one of the best that I've tried and I have tried plenty.  Just dab a little of this product on a cotton pad and like magic all of your mascara, eyeshadaow, and eyeliner will glide off with ease.  Not tugging, no pulling, because we do not have time for it! It's only $5 at your local Target store.

Up next we have a night time facial moisturizer, you should know by now that I'm always on the hunt for a great facial moisturizer.  I remember trying this out last summer and then because I couldn't find it in stores anymore I stopped using it.  I finished the entire product and was definitely upset when I couldn't find it.  Fast forward one year and I found it online and here we are today.  I typically use this at night and in the morning I wake up with smooth skin.  This formulation is for oily/combo skin but there is also one available for dry/extra skin as well.  You can find this at your local drugstore for approximately $15.

And  finally, we have the famous Ruby Woo lipstick, I wore this nonstop last month because it's a quick and easy way to look put together without doing too much, even on days when I would relax.  It's easy, it's matte, and easy to find.  The only bad thing about this is the formula, IT'S SO DRY!  Exfoliating is a must, balm is a must, and a watchful eye is also a must so that your lips don't look cracked and chapped because you were too busy gnawing on that burger to realize your lips are now carrying remnants of that lunch.  LOL
You can find this at your local MAC store, counter or online for $16.

That's all for now, folks!  What were some of your favorites for the month of June?  Tell me in the comments!

Maybelline Dare To Go Nude Limited Edition Collection (Spring 2014)

Hey everyone!

In case you haven't noticed I am a huge fan of the Maybelline color tattoos, lately I haven't been into purchasing too many eye products because I have enough eyeshadow to supply a small island and I would like to use what I have before going out to buy more.  However, in the event that I come across something that I think is absolutely needed in my collection I'll pick it up.  That's where these two limited edition color tattoos come in.  I decided to purchase Caramel Cool and Stroke of Midnight.

Caramel Cool is a warm bronze shade that is different to the other gold eyeshadows and primers that I own because it is a happy medium between being extremely bold and not being bold enough.  It's one of those colors that will be awesome for a sweep of color on the lids for those days when you don't feel like being "extra".  The other one I picked up was Stroke of Midnight, it is a shimmery black color, more sheer than I expected it to be but still nice nonetheless.  It can also be used as a wash of color for an easy smokey eye look.  I always said that I would pick up a matte black color tattoo if they ever have one but since that has yet to come I will settle on this one.  Take a look for yourself...

Since these are limited edition products I would advise that you scurry your way to the beauty aisles in your community to pick one up, I found mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $5 each plus a 20% discount, SCORE!  I would advise checking there before anywhere else for the discounted price.  I love these because they last long and come in a variety of colors, their limited availability?  Not so much.

Have you tried these before?  What did you pick up from the Maybelline Dare to Go Nude collection?  Tell me in the comments!

April 2014 Hit List (Favorites)

Hey everyone!

This month I'm back to share my favorites for this past month!  In gathering the products for this post I realized that the packaging is all pink, I swear that was not intentional but it does make for some cute pictures, lol.  These five products aren't necessarily beauty related but more so focused on skincare and smelling nice, so take a gander at what products I enjoyed this past month.

First up we have rosewater which is used primarily as a refresher for my face.  It also can be used in the place of a gentle toner that serves to help even the skintone and provide a nice base to the application of makeup.  I find that ordinary toners at beauty stores break me out but rosewater does not do that and for that I'll continue to use it.  It smells lovely and can also be used as a body splash, in a bath, and as a spritzer on hotter days.  With summer coming up I will definitely be using this more and more.  You can find this at your local health food stores or on Amazon at reasonable prices that range from $5 to $9 a bottle.

Next up is a Bath & Body Works triple moisture cream lotion in Paris Amour.  Normally I don't gravitate to sweeter scents but for whatever reason this has become the exception.  It smells appropriate for the hotter temperatures and is super feminine.  It's sweet without being overpowering and it leaves your skin feeling moisturized.  I just wish these lotions had sunscreen.  These retail for $12.50 but you can always find them on a sale for much less.

Lately I have been in love with this Ed Hardy-Hearts & Daggers perfume, it's another sweet fragrance and pairs nicely with Paris Amour.  I like to combine the two to increase the longevity of the scents.  Alone it lasts all day and the sillage is amazing, I literally still get compliments when I walk past someone at 8pm, long after my day has started. I can't recall how much this costs in stores and I 'm not even sure if it's still available but in the event that you can find it, get you one! :)

One of my favorite things to do at the end of the day is remove my makeup, seriously, it's just something about taking off the hours of the day and relaxing knowing that after your makeup has lasted throughout the day you can finally take it all off, is that weird?  LOL  This Flash Clean makeup remover is a lotion consistency but still light enough to not feel heavy, I simply apply it to my face and use a baby wipe to remove the makeup.  Super easy, super cheap at $5 a bottle which can be found at your local Target, CVS, or Walgreens.

Finally there is this super cute miniature lip butter from Palmer's.  I squealed at the sight of this and immediately purchased because it's so cute and it works!  I use it before applying my lip colors and my lips feel great even with the mattest of matte lipsticks on (I'm talking to you retro matte formula!).  The only thing I don't like about it is that you have to dip your fingers into it for application, that's why I only use it when I'm home and not in public to prevent germs from entering this little container.  It was only $3 from Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

So those were my favorites for this past month!  What were you digging for the month of April?  Let me know in the comments section!

Pink Lips are my New Thing...*Enter Iman Lipstick in Flirtatious*

Greetings!

I know, I know, it's been awhile, what's new?  The point is I'm here and I want to share a new lipstick I've come across that I'm convinced every woman in America should own.  The lipstick I speak of is the latest from the Iman Cosmetics line, these new lipsticks have been reformulated with jojoba oil and shea butter to provide comfort to the lips while still giving high impact pigment.  At first, I was skeptical and then I saw swatches on some of my favorite beauty bloggers and I was sold!  I went ahead and purchased all five from DooBop and they arrived in approximately seven days.  They retail at 10 bucks a pop and it's totally worth it.  The shade I'm showing here is in Flirtatious, a super pretty pink that pops against my skin tone and I love it!

Forgive the quality of the last photo, it was taken with my cell phone and the same pic can be found with better quality on Instagram, by the way, are you following me?  JOTHISORTHAT is the name, go ahead and follow me!  :) 

The Beauty Blender Just May Be the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Greetings!

If you've been living underneath a rock for the past two years then you probably have no clue what a Beauty Blender is, if you haven't then I'm sure you already know what it is I'm about to present to you.  I've always understood the Beauty Blender to be a rounded cone shaped sponge that one could use to apply foundation either wet or dry, nothing special, right?  Wrong!  I tried it and fell in love instantly because of its ability to blend seamlessly into my skin, leaving me looking flawless!

The Beauty Blender on the left is dry and is smaller and has been used to apply my foundation, when the Beauty Blender is wet the sponge expands like the one seen on the right.  When I apply my foundation I like to mist my sponge so that the foundation can spread easier leaving me to use less so that I'm not caked up, although there are days when I leave it dry because there are days when I don't mind being caked up. :) 

This picture shows the bottom of the sponge, this is the side I like to use to apply my foundation, it covers a decent amount of my face at a time and feels smooth, I've heard that the knockoffs feel hard during application, not the case with the original.  

This side shows the rounded tip, the side I use to blend in my concealer underneath my eyes, it gets in there easily and I don't have a problem with it getting into the crevices of my undereye area.  

 
Here I wanted to show you all how pliable it is, the material does not feel like it will tear but I'll be sure to keep you updated on whether it does but I doubt that it will unless I let my nails grow out, lol.  If you are new to makeup I would totally recommend this product as it makes applying foundation that much easier, as long as you pat the Beauty Blender gently your makeup will come out looking polished, perfect for achieving that blended canvas.  I purchased a double pack from Amazon for a decent price of $21.99 but I'm told that it's more expensive if you get it from Sephora.  There are three color options to choose from, pink, black, and white. 

It's a great product and ever since I've been using it my makeup looks much more refined, like I did more than I actually did, just apply your foundation, concealer, and BLEND FOR YOUR LIFE! 

Maybelline Does It Again! Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Color Swatches

Hey Y'all!

Recently Maybelline surprised us with another addition to their amazing lip color line, the Color Elixir Lip Colors.  When I first saw these in store I did not know what to expect from them being that the case looked like it housed a lipstick instead of a lip gloss, I passed.  After weeks of seeing a particular color pop up on the blogosphere I decided to mosey on down to the nearest drugstore and get it for myself, problem was, I couldn't find it, yup, purples are always the hardest to find.  Long story short, I eventually stumbled across it yesterday and decided to pick it up along with another color.  Here's what I picked up!

Left to Right: Fuchsia Flourish & Vision in Violet

Top: Vision in Violet Bottom: Fuchsia Flourish (FLASH)

No Flash

Indoor Lighting

These colors went on very smoothly and reminded me of a luxury brand consistency, well done Maybelline!  There is a scent that reminds me of cherry bubblegum but isn't noticeable once applied to the lips.  The gloss wand is a doe foot applicator and allows for smooth application.  The price is $7.49 at your local drugstore which is a decent price for the quality.  I can't wait to wear these!  Have you tried them yet?  Tell me in the comments!