the best top coat ever

okay y'all let me tell you about my newest discovery...

Seche Vite Top Coat 

I can't even believe how amazing this top coat is. seriously, my nails are dry almost immediately after painting them.

I do normally do my nails probably twice a week, mostly because I am OCD and I can't stand looking at even the slightest chipped nail while I am typing all day at work. But this keeps my nails looking fresh longer than any other top coat. 

You can pick this up at Sally Beauty or Ulta. It was significantly cheaper at Sally Beauty, especially when you are a member of their beauty club. 

Here is this weeks manicure:

I am so in love with this color from OPI. it's called Suzi's Hungary Again and when i saw it i knew it was going to be my go to color this summer!

What's y'alls favorite summer nail color? Have you tried this top coat? Are there any other top coats that are worth trying? 

I feel like I can safely say that this product is WORTH THE HYPE!

hearts&stars
LJ

get ready with me

Good Morning!

i tossed and turned and tossed and turned last night so the obvious thing to do was take the extra time in the morning and make a get ready with me blog. keep reading to find out what products I used, how i did my make up, my hair, and what i wore...

Shower time:
Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo 
Matrix Total Results Color Care So Silver Shampoo 
L'Oreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 - Damage Erasing Balm  
Lush Snow Fairy Body Wash

Washing maaa face:
Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam 
Clarisonic Mia 2   
Glam Glow Super Mud Clearing Treatment 
Ole Henriksen Grease Relief Tonic
Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel  
La Roche-Posay EffacLar Duo 
Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub 

I use too many hair products:
Before Styling:
It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Conditioner 
Ojon Super Sleek Restorative Blowout Perfector
Argon Oil
Rusk Leave In Conditioner

Seriously, entirely too many hair products...

To Style/After Styling:
Tresemme Heat Protectant
Remington Blow Dryer
Chi Hair Straightener
BioSilk Silk Therapy 
Garnier Anti-Humidity Hairspray 

Face Make-Up:
Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer
L'oreal Magic BB Cream 
Laura Mercier Concealer
NYX Waterproof Concealer
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter
Tarte Blush (came in a gift set)
Ben Nye Final Seal Setting Spray

Eye Make-Up:
NARS Eyeshadow Primer
MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch - Lid
MAC Eyeshadow in Cork - Crease
MAC Eyeshadow in Mystery - Outer Corner
MAC Eyeshadow in Nylon - Inner Corner and Brow Highlight
Eyeko Eyeliner
Maybelline the Falsies Mascara 

here is what i looked like after all of that primping! Ready for work!

What are your favorite products to pamper yourself with?

Let me know in the comments below if you would like a review on any of the products mentioned! 

hearts&stars
LJ

makeup removing redefined

Okay y'all, if there is one thing I have learned over the past couple of years it is this: STOP WASTING MONEY ON MAKE UP REMOVER! Seriously, STOP!!! I am about to tell you something that literally changed my life. Oils will remove your make up better than those pricey make up removers and instead of stripping your face of oils they act as an additional moisturizer. You can also use them for more than one thing. I am all about multi-tasking products and this is one of my absolute favorite tricks! 

There are many oils that you can use for this but my personal favorite is Coconut Oil. Olive Oil and Castor Oil are two other options but coconut oil is my favorite. I buy my coconut oil from Whole Foods, it costs less than $7 and lasts me about a year, but you can get it at any natural food store. I literally just rub the oil all over my face and then wash it off with my cleanser (or whichever one I happen to be using this month). It works amazing and since it is all natural I don't feel bad about using it on my eyes or my face.

Other things I use coconut oil for include, my hair, as a body moisturizer, cooking…the list goes on and on. This stuff is amazing! About once every two weeks I use it instead of my overnight moisturizer. But more about that later...

hearts&stars

LJ

Beauty Blogging Day 1

Hello Internet World!

My name is Erin (aka LJ) and after years of reading blogs and watching vlogs I have decided to join this crazy world of beauty bloggers. I am a long time beauty lover, (my mom said that I could put on her lipstick perfectly in the car without a mirror at age 5) and would like to share my findings, opinions and looks with others. This is a little bit scary for me and I am extremely nervous but here goes nothing!

Before I begin I wanted to share some things about myself:

Things I love:

the color red

New York City

the snow

antebellum houses

peonies

lipstick

big hair

live music

white sheets

the ballet

Here we go y’all!

hearts&stars

LJ