Happy Friday y’all! We are midway through the month of August- holy wow! Can you believe it? For this week’s drop of the Beauty Behind The Blog,I have managed to bring you another one of my favorite bloggers Justina. Justina is the beauty behind the Lifestyle and Beauty Blog Justina’s Gems. She is a full time mommy to a 19 month old baby girl , the co-founder of the Lifestyle Blogging Network, and a solid beauty blogging makeup junkie {of whom I read daily}and did I mention she does all that while being pregnant with her second baby girl? Super woman, right! So without further ado, I bring you this week’s Beauty Behind The Blog: Justina’s Gems…
I’m so excited to be featured today on Jamie’s blog! I really love following her because girl has a great taste in makeup and I love her photography style! She asked me to share with you what’s in my makeup bag today, so I thought I’d share a bunch of products that I use constantly! I’m a pretty low key, non-fancy girl 95% of the time. I stay at home with my daughter (soon to be two daughters!) right now and don’t get too dolled up on a regular basis, although I’m always looking for an excuse to wear red lipstick. I tend to go through lots of products and rotate things in and out of my makeup bag, but these products are ones that stick with me all the time.
I am obsessed with skincare, and am always trying new things in that realm. Ever since having my daughter two years ago, I have been obsessed with Clinique’s Even Better Dark Circle Corrector. It goes on like a serum under your eyes and you apply it day and night with your eye cream. I notice a drastic difference when I do and don’t use it! The bummer is you have to go through at least a tube or two before you see much difference. Totally worth it though! Another skincare staple of mine is Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2. Nothing feels as good as this does on my skin and I’ve been using this for at least 10-15 years. It’s a godsend for me! I don’t have favorites listed for moisturizers, but I am always using an SPF during the day. I always tell my husband he’ll thank me for my beauty hoarding when I’m 60 and look 40!
I am completely addicted to foundation, and am always trying a new one. The only consistency I have with my foundation is I have to use a beauty blender to apply it! I tried MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural for the first time about a year ago and completely fell in love. Between that and Lancome’s Dual Finish powder I am set for life. They are the two best powders I have ever found! MAC’s gives my skin a little bit of a glow and Lancome’s is totally matte. While we’re talking about covering things up, Smashbox’s BB Cream for Eyes is a new-ish product in the last year and I keep coming back to it. I have an entire makeup drawer full of concealers, and this is the one I love for my under eye area. You can read my review here.
I don’t do full eye makeup looks every single day, although I wish I had that kind of time! I am a huge fan of taking a cream shadow and applying it the the whole lid, and finishing off with liquid liner. Over the years, I’ve had many cream eyeshadow loves but for the last couple years, Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Cream Shadows have been stealing my heart. I have several shades, but tend to gravitate towards the nude sparkly shades (#13, #16) or the silver shades (#2, #3). My eyebrows have been thinning out majorly so a good eyebrow product is a must. I have many favorites, but ever since the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade came out, I haven’t used anything else! Liquid liner is my jam, and Lancome’s Artliner for Eyes in Noir has graced my makeup bag since I discovered it five years ago. I’ve tried to replace it with something cheaper many times, but I keep coming back to it. I am blessed with long and thick eyelashes and love to wear a dramatic lash daily. I cycle through mascaras like nobody’s business, but when I want to feel really special, I reach for a Diorshow Mascara. I am a sucker for that big wand and huge lashes!
Lippies are another weakness of mine. Let’s face it- pretty much all beauty products are my weakness! But a good lipstick or gloss can totally make you look polished with very little effort. I have SO many favorites but I’ve found that carrying around both a tinted shade that doesn’t require a mirror, and a bold shade I am loving will make me happy no matter the occasion. I am a HUGE fan of Bite Beauty, and love their BB Lip Creams so that would be my sheer choice lately, and for bold I love Maybelline’s Color Elixirs. I wanted to represent the drug store here, so I threw in a Maybelline lippie that I love, but really, I could probably only own Bite Beauty lippies ever again and that would be just fine with me. I want to go to their Lip Lab someday and create my own color!
For finishing touches, I always use a makeup spray. I keep one in my purse at all times, and lately, it’s Make Up For Ever’s Mist & Fix. I love body butters, and The Body Shop is hands down my favorite for those. Honeymania and Vineyard Peach are two of my all time favorite scents. Go sniff the peach next time you are at the mall- I promise that even if you don’t like peaches, you will adore this scent. For fragrance, I am obsessed with L’Occitane. I’ve been rotating between their Lemon Verbena scent and their Roses et Reines scent all summer. If you’ve never tried L’Occitane, you’re missing out!
I know that’s a lot of products for someone who is really low key, but I’m a total girlie girl and if I had the time, I would probably spent two hours getting ready every morning. I love makeup and have worked at a makeup counter on two separate occasions before. I wouldn’t consider myself a makeup artist because I’ve never had any formal training in it, but I am definitely a fanatic of all things makeup, beauty, hair, etc. I went to school to be a music teacher, and am a creative person by nature. I recently took up photography as a side hobby and have loved incorporating that in the blog (and getting rid of my horrific cell phone camera pictures of the past!) and I am so excited to see where that goes.
My blog, Justina’s Gems is a combination of my first and last names and kind of a play on words- I love to write about the little “gems” in life and things that I think are special, whether it be the latest eyeshadow palette, lipstick, or lifestyle product. Since I’ve had kids I’ve expanded my blog’s focus from only beauty to encompassing the occasional recipe, baby product, and anything else that might strike me. We are in the process of buying our first home right now, so I’m sure as life settles down a bit there will be even more to write about- decorating, first time home buyer tips, etc! I am just the average consumer who loves to see what’s new and exciting on the market and share it with you on my blog. It is so fun for me to have a creative outlet with which to connect with other like minded people on the internet! I hope you swing by my blog, and thanks so much for reading today!
See y’all why I adore this girl. She is obsessed with skincare, has wonderful taste in makeup and is a girlie girl who likes to keep it casual 95% of the time. If you aren’t obsessed with Justina after this, then head over to her Pinterest for some amazing inspiration. Ask her millions of questions or just say hi to her over on Twitter. Or for a daily dose of beauty enabling and a glimpse of what happens over at Justina’s Gems follow her on Instagram . Happy Weekend everyone!!
SHOP JUSTINA’S BEAUTY BAG:
Christine C. says
Love it when you do these types of posts! Always great to meet other bloggers!
Allison @neversaydiebeauty says
Great series! Justina, glad to know that you’re a cream shadow lover like me. I’ve gotta try the MUFE cream shadows one of these days
Chelsea says
I love Justina’s blog! I am honestly surprised that she uses cream shadow everyday, because anytime I’ve tried cream shadows I’ve had them crease like crazy! I think I need to try her recommendations :)
Phyrra says
I love the name of her blog. Great post!
Caitlyn @ ChemGradBoom says
I love Clinque products! And the collage with all the products is a gorgeous way to display everything!
Jessica says
I love BITE lipsticks! I need to try the BB lip creams – the one you posted looks so pigmented! Clinique’s Dark Spot Corrector for face is actually AMAZING, so I may try the one for eyes!
erikatheicyone says
I enjoy her blog and this post is a fun get to know you.
Brittany says
I LOVE MAC products! But recently I have been hooked on Philosophy skin care and their make up line is incredible. Their “No reason to hide” CC cream is amazing!
Lavende L. says
I LOVE the Occitane products…their Almond Oil is a dream, all natural and perfect for the baby bump.
Christen says
So many goodies. I love Honeymania!
Erica SillySocks says
Oh wow, this post has a lot of good info with products I need to check out myself. Bookmarking! I’ve always loved Clinique and can you believe I have yet to try MAC? I know.. I know…
Anne says
What a great list of products!
Aleya Bamdad says
What a great way to learn about these products and a talented blogger.
Mommy by the Sea says
Love this! I need to find a good powder before we get back to fall weather. I’ll be losing my tan before I know it!
Tanya Coffman says
What a great round up of girly products! (sorry, I live in a house full of little boys plus hubby – so I cherish my blog sister time!) :D
Stefany @ ToBeThode says
Thank you so much for this! i love to hear about products that others like. I am not a product junkie much so I never know what to buy.
No Minivan Mom says
I don’t wear makeup but if I decide to start I know who I am looking up for help!
cindyprimebeauty says
Great list !
Justina says
Thanks so much for featuring me! What a great post :-) Love it and love your blog!!
Cat says
I love Clinique products and have been hearing great things about their under-eye corrector! I agree, most of their products can take a while to “kick in” and are thus quite expensive (like their dark spot corrector, which I’ve used), but they usually pay off in the end.
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
Sheila Arkee says
I love Justina!
Nidia Doherty says
Justina does some great photography, and I like her honest reviews. Great interview!
FabZilla_Kath says
Great to see you here Justina. Looking fabulous as usual.
Cosmetic Sanctuary says
Love Justina’s blog and photos! Great interview!
Brooke @ Blushing Noir says
Gorgeous! I love Justina!
BeautyJudy says
Yay, Justina is awesome! I really want to try the Bite Beauty BB Cream for lips!
beautybymissl says
I love Justina´s blog! She is great blogger!
Stephanie Louise Telford says
I love Justina…but then again I’m a bit bias!!!
Rebekah says
Gorgeous! I’m always looking for new makeup blogs to read!
Kimmi @ The Plastic Diaries says
I loved seeing what was in Justina’s bag. I follow her too!
Laura says
Love your series girl! It is fun to get a peek inside
Betzy Carmona says
I deff love seeing this !
Honeygirlk says
I love it. :D The honeymania body butter is one of my favs. Have you tried the lip butter…? So yummy.
Katie says
Great pics! I especially love The Body Shop’s Body Butter – it smells good enough to eat!
Katie <3
songbirdsandbuttons says
That body shop butter is so nice! I’ve got a container in my bathroom right now!
esther julee says
I love the diorshow mascara. I probably don’t use it as often as I should when I have it. I’m probably 95% also a non-fancy girl. haha So whenever I put make up on.. I seriously take all my pictures for a weeks worth of blog posts. :P
Camesha says
I have heard such great things about the Dior Show mascara. I have to try it.
Deidre Emme says
The Dior mascara got rave reviews on my beauty poll! It comes out this week. You will have to let me know if you agree with the votes.
Melody Robinson Wright says
Love this series!
Nikki Rae says
I keep telling myself I’m going to try Clinique’s skin care line but I can’t commit. I need to try out a sample first.
Jessica at Team Wiking says
I love DiorShow, I wonder if the Iconic is as good or better? Love her skin !
Citizens of Beauty says
I love this series! keep em coming! So cute!
Jemma Andrew says
I love Mac products, especially for concealer and foundations.
Lindsay says
Love it!! I am only buying cruelty free products from now on so I would absolutely love to maybe see a organic or natural beauty behind the blog post :)
Jordan says
This series is super fun! I don’t do much make up, literally mascara and lip color, but this is quite inspiring. I love seeing what other babes wear!