For the Love of Beauty

GlamST.com!

2014-08-27T20:13:00.000-04:00

We've all done it. If you're a beauty junkie like me, I know you've done it a time or two..or ten in my case. So, summer is ending and fall is upon us and you're in need of a new, fresh fall lip color. You immediately find yourself searching online for the most talked about deep plum or a simple, nude that beauty bloggers just can't get enough of as of late. There are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming when it comes to buying makeup online. You're looking through all the little bubbles of color swatches thinking to yourself, "Will this even look good on me in real life?" "I can't even tell what color that is!" Before making the ultimate decision to splurge on a 45 dollar lipstick in your shopping cart, you don't hit checkout, you crosscheck your references. You sit and question yourself if you actually want this lipstick or if there is another option out there that might be better for you. Then you face the real dilemma; getting out of your comfortable bed in your VS PJ's and leaving your flat to venture out into Sephoraland just to actually try on said lipstick(s). Well, what if I told you that you could try on that lipstick without having to put your big girl pants on? Without having to put on makeup, drive to Sephora and subject yourself to trying on 20 different tester lipsticks in order to find that "one" new lipstick you've been dying to have.

It's true, now you can! GlamST is a virtual makeover site that actually lets you try on tons of popular makeup items from foundation to lipstick, eyeliner, mascara and blush. You're probably thinking, "How? And will it even look realistic?" Yes, to some extent. Obviously the best way to try on lipstick would be by going to your local makeup counter or cosmetic store. But let's be honest, that's not always ideal. Or for many ladies who don't live in an area with a Sephora or Ulta near you then GlamST can only HELP you when making those online purchases.

On to your next question I am sure, "How does it work?"

First, log in with Facebook or Google+ and create your profile. From there you will want to upload a photo of yourself with a fresh face in order to clearly see how the makeup will look on you.

If you don't want to post a picture of yourself, then you can always use one of the site models with similar skin tone and features to you. Just choose from the options of eye color, skin tone, and hair color and skin type.

Once you have done that, then you will need to adjust the dots to frame your face, as seen below.

Next, you will want to start adding makeup! There are three categories: Face, Eyes and Lips. Select products in each category and choose your favorite shade until you come up with a new look you're happy with!

The end result:

Now share with your friends on your favorite social media forum and browse other girl's looks on the GlamST site!

Have fun!

Check out GlamST here at http://www.glamst.com

and visit their Facebook page at

http://facebook.com/glamstapp!

#Throwback Thursday

2014-08-27T20:12:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I'm back following up on a series I wanted to start a while ago, which is #Throwback Thursday. I hope you enjoy the flashbacks into my little life!

This week's throwback is from 2011, Reese's first year into the Navy. We had just gotten engaged and were spending Memorial Day weekend with his family. Pictured is us with a retired Navy couple from Reese's church. They are so sweet and inspiring to us. I can't believe this picture was taken over three years ago.

This week's throwback is extremely special because just this week Reese re-enlisted in the Navy and committed 5 more years to our Country. I am so very proud of him! I cannot wait to see what the next 5 years has in store for us. Hopefully bringing more special memories and building on to our little family in this next chapter!

Here's a couple pictures from his re-enlistment ceremony.

August 18, 2014

Thanks for stopping by!

Stay tuned for more #Throwback Thursdays!

XoXo,

Jess

Makeup of the Day

2014-08-23T21:35:00.000-04:00

Thursday's makeup look was very simple with a pop of color on the lips. I didn't do much that day and I had the day off from work so I like to keep my makeup routine simplistic, yet still look like I put a lot of time and effort into my makeup.

1)The eyes were kept bare, just a little Doublewear High Cover Concealer in Medium to cover the lid and conceal any dark circles underneath, with a few coats of Too Faced Lash Injections mascara on the lashes. I also use the concealer to clean up around my eyebrows after filling them in with a dark brown, matte eyeshadow. Add a highlight to the brow bone and inner corners of the eyes; I used Estee Lauder's satin eyeshadow in Sugar Cube. Voila! Your eyes now look bright and refreshed!

2) Foundation is Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation in 2N1 Desert Beige and the same concealer mentioned above to add a little extra coverage where I may need it. This is my holy grail foundation for sure! It has build able coverage for those times you want that completely airbrushed and flawless finish.

3) Cheeks: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess bronzer in Light with a light pink blush on the cheeks. Finished off with Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze to add a natural highlight on the cheekbones and down the center of the nose.

4) Lips: Butter London Lippy in Wine Gums to add the perfect pop of color to finish off the look. I am now obsessed with these lip glosses! They are extremely smooth and buttery, but they go on so opaque. I love it because there's no need to layer up with lipstick and lipgloss in order to get true, bold color.

That's it! Hope you enjoyed this #MOTD!

XoXo,

Jess

#Throwback Thursday!

2014-03-21T00:07:00.000-04:00

In honor of #tbt, I thought I would share some old photos from 2010!

Reese and I at my friend's going away dinner.

Savannah, GA for my bday weekend. July 2010.

Me and my best friend of all time, Hali. Savannah, GA 2010.

Birthday Dinner, July 19, 2010.

XOXO,

Jess

Stay Sexy and Comfortable with Soxxy!

2014-03-19T12:56:00.000-04:00

Happy Hump Day bloggies!

As most of you know, I'm a makeup artist for Estee Lauder when I'm not working on my blog or YouTube channel. Many people think that all aspects of the job are as glamorous as lipstick and metallic shadows. I mean, after all, it requires you to look perfectly done up all day long so how could it possibly be that hard of a job? Well I'm here to share with you the not-so-glamorous side of working as a makeup artist in the beauty industry. Often times, a day of work typically involves 8+ hours of constant standing on your feet, maybe 30 minutes for lunch and a 5 minute bathroom/coffee break. By the end of the day, your feet are killing you, legs are aching, and you're practically running barefoot to your car as fast as possible with heels in hand.

But there's an even uglier side to working these long days.

After years of putting yourself through long days like this, spider veins and cellulite start to roar their ugly heads. It can actually be a health risk waiting to happen! Yes, it comes with the territory of the trade, but what you need is compression tights or socks to help increase circulation in your legs and feet in order to prevent these unwelcome friends from suddenly showing up on your doorstep 5-10 years from now. But, those ugly compression socks your Grandma wears, just won't do.

Fashion is also a huge role in looking the part of a makeup artist. Our makeup is always trendy, so our style in clothes must also be on trend and cutting edge, while comfortable and conducive to our long work days.

SoxxyAir is a line of compression socks that increases circulation, reduces jet lag, swelling, muscle soreness, and helps decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

I love how trendy these socks are, perfect for work or even everyday.

Whether you're looking for thigh high, knee high, ankle socks, or compression tights, SoxxyAir has them!

One of my favorites right now are the "Ashley" style ankle socks. Click here to check them out!

http://soxxy.com/shop-soxxy/socks/ankle-socks/ashley.html

For you, Soxxy is offering 20% OFF your entire order! Just enter the code: SOXXYAIRS at checkout! I can't wait to share more with you guys about these amazing socks.

Check out www.soxxy.com to see more cute styles and check out their Indigogo page to see how Soxxy Air got started and why it is the only stylish compression sock that gives back! http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/soxxyair-stylish-travel-compression-socks-that-give-back

"Support a Cause, Support your Legs"

Note: Soxxy Charity Socks won't be available until April.

Watch this video to learn more about Soxxy!

http://vimeo.com/87884831

Follow Soxxy on social media!

Instagram: http://instagram.com/soxxysocks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SoxxySocks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Soxxysocks

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/soxxysocks/

Thanks Soxxy!

XOXO,

Jess

February Favorites and 200 Subscriber GIVEAWAY!!!

2014-02-28T19:14:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday!

March begins tomorrow and boy, did February fly by fast!

Now you know I don't do monthly favorites unless I have some really good products to share, so you must check out my favs this month! I share the perfect products to transition from these harsh Winter months into Spring!

The BEST part is that I will be doing a giveaway when I reach 200 subscribers on my YouTube channel!!!

YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!

So check out the video for details and to see which brand new products I will be giving away!

XOXO,

Jess

LAUNCHING MY NEW JEWELRY BOUTIQUE- JessicaMorgan.KitsyLane.com!

2014-02-27T13:58:00.000-05:00

I just opened a jewelry boutique called Jessica Morgan with Kitsy Lane! I've hand-picked each item in my store, bringing you some of the hottest trends of the season. With Spring just around the corner, you must add some of these gorgeous pieces to your collection!

These are two of my favorite statement necklaces that will be perfect for Spring. I love the mix of gold and silver metals, along with the bright pop of color. And the prices are unbeatable!

Each week I will be sharing with you my favorite picks and new updates to Jessica Morgan Boutique!

I also have a special code just for you!

But HURRY, it ends tomorrow!

JessicaMorgan.KitsyLane.com

XOXO,

Jess

Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Grocery Haul!

2014-02-01T14:50:00.002-05:00

What I Bought at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods This Week!

I love seeing what other bloggers buy when they take their weekly trip to TJ's and Whole Foods Market. It inspires me to try new things and keeps me from being a creature of habit and only leaving with the same foods that I know are good over and over.

Sometimes it's a matter of cost. Because these types of grocery stores are a little more expensive than your average grocery store, it makes taking the risk on the pricier items that you've never tried a little bit harder to do.

What better way to share the foods you love, and get ideas on new foods to try, than to share a Grocery Haul! My husband, Reese makes a few cameos in this vlog, so I hope you enjoy that. He has a passion for health and food, and HEALTHY FOOD, which he will share a little bit with you all. This video may be a bit extensive, but we like to give our opinions on each item for you guys. I hope you enjoy this video and share your grocery hauls with us so we can see what foods you guys love and inspire us to try!

Oh, and Happy February!

XOXO,

Jessica

Influenster Violet VoxBox Haul!

2014-01-09T11:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks Influenster for sending me another VoxBox to review!

1. Goody® Althlétique Headband

Goody's new "Ouchless Headwrap" is designed to be comfortable and stylish while providing the hold you need from your headband while you're working out or just wearing it throughout the day. I'm anxious to try this out. I always have a problem with my headbands slipping and sliding on my head while I'm working out. It can get to be really frustrating and can sometimes keep me from being totally focused. It claims to be adjustable and quick drying, so if you are like me and you have a larger head where some headbands can be too tight, this could definitely work for us since you can adjust the size. It's also great for those who really sweat during a workout, allowing you to wear a headband without it getting drenched. This headband retails for $6.00.

2. Sally Hansen New Triple™Shine Nail Color

The color I received was this very bright pink polish in Blow Bubbles. These new nail colors are designed to have a daily defense against water and wear, while taking shiny nails to the next level! Influenster says that they are available in a total of 30 SHADES and at the awesome price of just $4.99. My first impression of this polish is that it doesn't seem to be very opaque, and I would actually prefer a different shade after looking at the available shades online. I'm more of a red or coral type of girl. I did paint my nails with this polish and posted a photo on Instagram if you would like a sneak peak. Stay tuned for a full review!

3. SOYJOY

Okay, first thing's first, I can't believe these bars are only $0.99! It's all-natural and gluten free made with non-GMO soybeans and real fruit! I received the banana flavor with only 130 calories in the entire snack bar; Net Wt. 1.05 oz. I'm not really a fan of soy, but I will admit that this bar looks pretty delicious. These types of bars are great for those of us on the go. I love throwing these kinds of snacks in my bag before I head out the door, but they also recommend warming it up for 8-10 seconds in the microwave for a "fresh-baked" experience with coffee or tea. Sounds like the perfect coffee break snack, which I will definitely be trying ON CAMERA for you guys to see my full reaction. Can't wait, my mouth is definitely watering!

4. Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spas

Inside of my Voxbox, I received the Red Earth Clay Spa Mask made with real clay, pomegranate, and cinnamon. This is a product I am not familiar with at all, so I'm very interested to see how it will work. It consists of one packet with what is said to be "clay infused fabric" made from natural bamboo. Apply after cleansing your skin for the ultimate cleansing experience. It retails for $2.49 per packet. Step 1: Cleanse, Step 2: Apply Mask, Step 3: Relax 10-15 minutes, Step 4: Massage, and Step 5: Rinse. I'll be vlogging my experience for you guys!

5. Not Your Mother's Clean Freak™Refreshing Dry Shampoo

This has got to be the best thing in the Violet VoxBox, in my opinion. I love Not Your Mother's products and happen to be in need of a new dry shampoo, so this is perfect to try. The info listed does not really describe much about the product itself, except for the fact that it retails full size for $5.99. So you will just have to wait for my review to tell you guys if this product really lives up to it's expectations.

All in all, I wish this VoxBox had a little bit more to offer. The product I am most excited for is the dry shampoo. If the nail polish was in a different shade, then I might be a little more satisfied with the Violet VoxBox as a whole, based off of first impressions. The true test is trying each product out individually, so stay updated with my social media accounts to see what I think about each one as I try them all out! Visit the contact tab of my blog for all listed social media accounts and info.

Thanks again Influenster for sending me these awesome new products to try out!

XOXO,

Jessica

DISCLAIMER: I received these products complimentary from VoxBox for testing purposes.

Happy 2014!

2014-01-09T09:50:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Wow, I cannot believe it's been almost 2 years since I started For The Love Of Beauty. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with loved ones and are excited for your future endeavors in 2014. This year my husband and I spent Christmas just the two of us, with our two little pup children here in Virginia and we most definitely missed our family back home in Florida. I, quite frankly, was ready for Christmas to be over long before it even got here. I'm happy for a new, fresh start in 2014. I'm anticipating a great year ahead. Just like the last year, my resolution is to start blogging more frequently. I know I didn't follow through with it last year, but it's time to try again!

Coming up I have a new Influenster VoxBox to review for you guys; the Violet VoxBox edition.

First, a haul of all the goodies I received and then a full review to follow.

Don't forget to check out my YouTube channel, For The Love Of Beauty, here! Subscribe for product reviews, makeup tutorials, and vlogs featuring my family!

Have an awesome Thursday!

XOXO,

Jessica

My Favorite Makeup Looks From The VMA's 2013

2013-08-29T01:57:00.002-04:00

Now that the aftershock of the train wreck Miley Cyrus displayed at the 2013 VMA's has finally died down a bit, let's talk about some of our favorite celebrity makeup looks of the night. And to your surprise, Taylor Swift is not at the top of my list. Although she was beautiful, she didn't stand out to me as a red carpet beauty like these gorgeous gals.

Holland Roden

I'm loving this Hollywood Classic look, slick back up-do with a cat eye, voluminous lashes and a bold, bright orangey red lip. So sophisticated and sexy.

Allison Williams

This is by far my favorite look of them all. I just love everything about it; the bright inner corner, smokey lash line, full, false lashes with a fresh complexion and soft, orange/nude lip color. It's just the right amount of lip to compliment the eyes.

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer's fierce smokey cat eye and perfectly sculpted cheeks make this a perfect night time look. I love the pairing of the pale, nude lip, it really makes her bronze cheeks pop.

Selena Gomez

Selena looks so grown up in this sexy evening dress and her smoldering smokey eye and berry red lip. Fresh dewey skin with deep pops of color is the perfect look for the upcoming fall season.

Which look was your favorite? I know I'll be inspired to recreate these looks this fall.

XoXo,

Jessica

Photo Credit: Google

The Search For The Perfect Foundation and What To Do When Your Holy Grail Products Have Been Discontinued

2013-08-08T00:46:00.004-04:00

I've tried, tested, and traveled near and far in search of the perfect foundation for my skin. Oily/Combo, acne prone, fair, hyper-pigmentation, sensitive with visible redness, and did I say FAIR? Because girl I'm as pale as they come! NOT an easy combination to try and find liquid foundation for. Many times I thought I was happy, but there would always be that one drawback, for example, longevity, lack of coverage in problem areas, or oxidation. About 2 months ago, I had reached a point of frustration and just pure desperation. Since beginning my career as a Beauty Advisor with Estee Lauder, of course I wanted to wear the line I'm representing on a daily basis. But, when I tried the infamous Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation it absolutely, without a doubt, did NOT work for my skin. Yes, it looked great for about 2 hours after application, but then it just melted away and literally oxidized on me and turned ORANGE. Even with a setting powder on top and primer underneath! My manager recommended I try the Estee Lauder Double Matte foundation. She matched me and sent me home with a 10-day supply to sample. The next day after applying to a fresh face I was impressed, but not enough to say I fell in love at first stroke or anything. I think it's because I was constantly in the back of my mind preparing for disappointment like I faced with so many other foundations that I tried. After a few hours I checked back in the mirror, got a second opinion from my manager and I thought, "It's not bad. But I don't think it's for me." I made myself try it out for the rest of the week and I realized I began to like it more and more. After 2 weeks of trying it out, I fell IN LOVE. That's not an exaggeration. On an off I've tried switching up my foundations with the Double Matte to compare and there literally is NO comparison for me. I've never received so many compliments on my complexion. I love that the Double Matte controls my oil production and never makes me look greasy, but I do have a nice glow to my complexion by the end of the day. I really don't find it pertinent to touch up every single day. It honestly just depends on how hot or humid the weather is and how my skin is behaving. I believe I found my perfect foundation, and just when I thought all was right with the world... well, I think you know where this is headed. But first, check out the swatches and photos below and stay tuned.

Now, after I've hyped you all up about this amazing foundation, I'm now facing the dilemma of my holy grail foundation being discontinued. I work at an Estee Lauder counter, as I mentioned before, and we still have this foundation available for purchase. Up until this past month I had heard no word of Double Matte being discontinued, while it has just been a "by request only" foundation that we no longer advertise/display. Much like Estee Lauder Lucidy foundation. Recently I've heard a little hearsay here and there, and then I came across this:

Did I read that correctly? This product is no longer available. NOOOOOOO!!!!!

I immediately went to Twitter to confirm with Estee Lauder. Here's what they said...

So there is the unfortunate news, it has been discontinued. I'm so sad, but my advice for those who love this foundation, STOCK UP while/if you can!

I know I will be!

Can't find this foundation at your Estée Lauder counter?

Contact Estée Lauder's, Gone But Not Forgotten program that helps customers locate products that have been discontinued within the last three years. By contacting them at 800-216-7173, Customer Care Reps will search for the discontinued item you are looking for, and if available you will be contacted! Be warned, this can take up to 4 weeks to hear back, but customers can purchase up to 6 pieces of each product if available! Woop woop! Credit cards only!

Hope this helps those facing the dilemma of their favorite products being discontinued.

If you have any questions, feel free to email them to me.

XOXO!

Mahal Kita,

Jessica

Welcome to For The Love Of Beauty

2013-04-05T21:22:00.004-04:00

For those of you who enjoy watching tutorials in conjunction with reading blog posts, check out my YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/jessicamr91

Welcome to For The Love of Beauty!

Mahal Kita!

XOXO,

Jessica

The Perfect Summer Eyeshadow Palette

2013-03-27T18:11:00.005-04:00

If you're like me, you're always looking for the perfect neutral eyeshadow palette. But in the summer, it needs to have just enough shimmer to make you look like a Bronze Goddess, without an overpowering amount of glitter. Something easy to transition day to night is always a plus and of course the perfect golden browns for a summer glowing look. Since I am oily prone in the warmer weather, lasting power is EVERYTHING! I like to be able to create a look in the morning when I get ready for work and still be able to wear the same look out with minor touch ups at night.

Look no further, BA Star Pro Makeup has the perfect palette for girls like us!

Recently, I was sent this bronzy gold palette from BA Star Makeup. It's a Day to Night Smokey Eye Palette with neutral, shimmery golds and bronze shadows. And here is the best part; It also includes two glitter gel shadows in gold and an almost iridescent shade, which are perfect to use as a glitter liner to really amp up any makeup look.

My first impression of these shadows are that they are super soft and silky. Color payoff is true to how it looks in the pot and they glide on easily without fall out, making them very blend-able. You don't have to pack on a lot of shadow in order to create whatever makeup look you are going for. The gel shadows do not stay wet or creamy for long, they dry fairly quickly to keep your look in place. This is a MAJOR PLUS, you guys!

So far I am loving what I see and feel with these shadows. In my tutorial I will touch base on the lasting power of these shadows. Below you will find some detail photos and swatches of the colors.

Here's a little bit about BA Star Makeup:

BA Star is a pro makeup company, #1 with Cheerleaders, Dancers, Competitors and Trend Setters.

They offer so many great deals on their site. Whether you are purchasing for yourself, for a team, or a studio, they offer great palettes and kits for anyone and any occasion! Check out their Daily Deals!

Now for the BEST best part!

If you visit their website today, you can earn 50% off your purchase!

Just visit BASTAR.com and at the checkout enter the coupon code: BBSMOKY for half off of your entire purchase! The more you buy, the more you save!

Thanks BASTAR!

Stay tuned for a makeup tutorial that is perfect for a summer bronze look using these shadows!

XOXO

Jessica

FTC: Powered by BrandBacker

Help Me Win The Wedding Of My Dreams!

2013-03-19T13:26:00.003-04:00

I know this is not a beauty post or tutorial, but I love my friends here so much that I'm asking for your support in a personal venture. My husband and I have been selected as 1 of 3 couples competing to win the wedding of our dreams in a giveaway from a local radio station called Hot 102.7 FM. We entered our love story and to our surprise we got picked! Now we are enlisting all of the help of our family, friends, and of course social media to vote for our love story and ultimately help us achieve this amazing dream!! All you have to do is follow the link provided and read our love story, then vote once a day starting from now until the 29th. If you have more than one email address, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE and vote multiple times. One vote per day/ per email address. Then Tweet or Instagram the link with the hashtag #dreamwedding4thejohnsons so we can see your posts and share your support!

Reese and I cannot do this by ourselves, so we are asking for all of the support we can get! We are just so excited to even be finalists in this amazing giveaway, but if we win we are promising to do a special giveaway for all of our friends and followers!!

Here is the link to follow,

http://myhot1027.com/dream-wedding-voting-page/

Couple #2 needs your help to achieve the wedding of our dreams!!!

XoXo!

Jessica and Reese

Vamp Up Your Valentine's

2013-02-09T01:51:00.001-05:00

With February already among us, the only exciting thing about this month has got to be Valentine's Day. I mean, why else would we be excited about a month with less days? Other than pay day comes sooner than the average month, I'm pretty sure February usually sucks for most people, aside from Valentine's Day (for some...the day's not usually all it's cracked up to be for everyone). Now whether you would like to openly admit it or not, most (and yes, I did say MOST for you girls who are "He-Man-Woman-Haters") of us ladies still look forward to celebrating with a Valentine whether we have a significant other or not. Of course movies have influenced us to imagine a romantic date night of some sort, where we get all dressed up and well...as the night progresses I'm sure you can figure out what most women expect from their Valentine's Day.

Whether you have a V-Day date or not, I'm here to share some tips on how to vamp up your V-day by making sure you look and feel amazing no matter the occasion.

Number One- Pamper yourself. Whether you have plans or not, giving yourself an at-home spa treatment can really change the way you look and feel on Valentine's Day. I suggest if you have plans to go out with a friend or your lover on the 14th, do this pampering sesh the night or day before your date. This will ensure that your skin has time to relax before you apply a full face of makeup. And a little bonus tip for all you girlies that are habitually late to everything like me, this ensures all you have to do the day of is get yourself glammed up. Pre-pampering the day before allows you to actually relax and to not be in any sort of time crunch. Give yourself a mini facial, and if you don't have the time or just want to save a little bit of money prepping for your V-day plans, an at home mani/pedi will be the perfect way to still ensure your digits look up to par for the evening events, but that you don't break the bank doing it. Besides, artificial nails are long gone and out of style. All natural baby! That's the way to go. And trust me, your man will surely agree. Yes, he may find long nails sexy and seductive in the bedroom, but that's probably about the only place. Of course you want your man to think you take care of yourself by having your nails and hair done regularly, eyebrows, lip and bikini waxes are a no brainer; but you also don't want to make him think that you spend a tremendous amount of money on these things. Now as women, we know the truth. But what he doesn't know won't hurt him. :) Enhance your natural features. You want to look like YOU! Crazy right?

Number Two- This tip kind of goes in hand with number one. Whiten your teeth AHEAD of time to give you a more confident smile. This tip is great if you spend from now until the 14th preparing for V-day because then you will see whiter results the longer you have been whitening them. I think this tip is so important because who doesn't plan to be locking lips on Valentine's night? Also, it just makes rocking a red lip on Valentine's that much sexier when your teeth are supppaaa white! :)

Now for Number Three- Send yourself flowers. No matter who you expect to surprise you on V-day, there's nothing better than a little gift from you to yourself to show your appreciation and love for all that YOU do! And if you've waited too late to send yourself a bouquet, then pick up a fresh one at your local Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. They have beautiful spring bouquets and roses right now for as little as $3.99!!

Number Four- Buy yourself a new outfit for V-day that will coordinate with whatever your plans are for the day or night. Staying in with girlfriends? Buy a new set of cute PJ's for your Girl's Night In! Going on a romantic date to a nice, intimate restaurant you've been dying to try? Go for a sexy, but sophisticated dress. You can't go wrong with black, red, or even a baby, blush pink. Keep it classy, Ladies. Going out with the girls? You can go for this same cute cocktail dress look! Let's not forget the lingerie and heels. You definitely can't go wrong with purchasing either. I recommend all three to really pull your look together!

Number Five- GO SIMPLE, yet sultry with your makeup. Stick with the "natural beauty" look as opposed to going all out for an evening smokey and bold lip. I can't stress enough that you DON'T, and I mean absolutely don't by any means, need to cake on the makeup! KEEP IT SIMPLE! BB creams, tinted moisturizers, or just a light weight foundation with build-able coverage are perfect options. You want to still be able to see your skin peeking through. If you need full coverage, use a concealer to build up coverage, but ONLY in areas where you need it. Using soft shimmery pinks and vanilla's paired with a matte taupe or soft brown to smoke out the crease are perfect shadows for a Valentine's Day makeup look. With the lips there is a little more room to play. If you really are itching to wear a red lip on your date, be sure to use a lip stain or matte lip stick that won't wear off quickly. And if you're looking to go a little bit softer or more natural, I suggest going for a soft pink or natural lip liner close to your natural lip color paired with a true nude or pinky nude lip and topped off with a soft pink gloss. Don't over do the lips though. Or else that could really be a V-day disaster and put a bit of a roadblock between you and your date and that Valentine's Day kiss.

If you have more tips of your own. Share them below!

XOXO,

Jessica

JANUARY FAVORITES!

2013-02-03T23:02:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the products I've been LOVING for the month of January!

Thanks for being amazing and beautiful friends!!!

XOXO,

Jessica

BUN-101 My easy, everyday sock bun tutorial!

2013-02-03T19:37:00.003-05:00

Okay, I know I haven't committed A LOT of time blogging since the beginning of January like I said I would for 2013. But I have been filming more videos for my YouTube Channel. So maybe that can count for something right? I know I have some followers who are bloggers only, but I hope you'll check this video out too! This is my 'go-to' hairstyle for my everyday routine. Whether it be work, running errands, or lunch with my girlfriends, you'll usually always catch me with a bun on the top of this head of mine. I think what I love most is the chic, but effortless look it gives and can literally pull ANY ole outfit into a more sophisticated look. SO many of the girls I work with in the cosmetic industry are wearing their hair like this now too. I would get so many questions on how I style my bun, that I decided to make a video so I could have something to refer them to, rather than just try to explain what I do to every single person. With that, you guys get to see this tutorial as well! Let me know what you think of this look, and send me any pictures on Twitter or Instagram, comments here, or video responses of your sock buns! I'd love to see what you came up with or what works for you!

Thanks for being amazing friends!

XOXO,

Jess

Get to Know Jessica, 1-On-1! A letter from the face of 4TLOB!

2013-01-11T17:22:00.000-05:00

What is For The Love of Beauty 101?

To love what you do, is to love what you love. I love being able to submerse myself in beauty every day of my life. You will never fully know what being happy with your job is, until your job involves doing something you love everyday. For me, I'm happiest when I'm surrounded by all things involving beauty. Makeup, skincare, hair, nails, fashion; some may say these are superficial things to love, but those people have never experienced being a part of a deeper kind of beauty. Never underestimate the impact that a tube of lipstick or mascara may have on the heart and the life of not only the person wearing it, but the person applying it. The "beauty" of being in the beauty industry is this: Change can be seen instantly. There is no waiting on life's indefinite timeline in order to see results. Therefore, something as small as an eyeshadow or lipstick can change another's life in just the same instance. The gratification you get from bringing to light a person's inner beauty to the exterior is a feeling that you cannot ever get tired of experiencing. This is why I named this blog, For The Love of Beauty, because beauty is what I am passionate about and I want to share my passion with all of you through these tutorials and posts, therefore adding the "101." Makeup is a skill that can be taught and learned by anyone.

Remember these two things; "Beauty is being the best possible version of yourself on the inside and out." & "A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear."

XOXO,

Jessica Johnson

Hello, 2013! The Year of the CC Cream!

2013-01-06T23:20:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome to 2013! A new year means, new resolutions, new experiences, new love, new changes, and new opportunities to be amazing! I hope this year brings you all success, happiness, love and joy! I'm so excited about what's in store for 2013!

2012 was the year we said "Tata for now" to our full coverage foundations and joined in on the trend of BB creams (Beauty Balms/Blemish Balms) here in the U.S. If you don't already know, BB creams originated in Germany and then years later became extremely popular in Asia (specifically in Korea) as an all-in-one multi-functioning skin cream. These creams were a mixture of SPF, a blemish fighting primer, and a "tint" or coverage similar to a tinted moisturizer that evens out and lightens the skin tone. Korean BB creams are formulated in much lighter shades; they almost contain a white cast on the skin, which is ideal for Asian women because they're main concern is to have very light, even skin. This is where U.S. BB creams differ from Korean BB creams for starters. Many BB creams released from cosmetics companies here have almost a yellowish undertone and can even appear to orange against many skin tones, making it difficult to find your matching shade, especially if you have a more fair complexion. In my experiences, it is hard to find a neutral BB cream. I am a fair/olive complexion. I need a neutral foundation or else my face either looks too pink or too orange and does not match my neck and decollate. There's absolutely nothing worse than having an orange face on a different colored body. But anyways, this post isn't actually supposed to be a review on BB creams, so let me stop myself before I spoil an upcoming post. What I am actually blogging about today is a new product launching out on the market early this year called the CC Cream. CC creams, or Color Control Creams, are the new version of the BB. Again, it was developed in Asia, just like the BB, where it originated in Japan and then took off in Korea. The CC was developed to have a higher SPF, more coverage (hence the name "Color Control") and a lighter consistency making it easier to blend, along with more oil control properties than the BB cream. I'm assuming that in the U.S., the CC will actually treat the skin as a corrective property, just as the BB was intended to, which most of them were not formulated to do like the Asian BB's.

Olay has beat the rest of the cosmetics world in the U.S. to the punch and released the first CC Cream this past October, making it also an affordable and easy to access, drugstore cream. It ranges around 20-25 dollars and focuses on hyper pigmentation, lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and supposedly helps with the diminishment of dark spots over time. You'll find that it has more of a mousse-like consistency.

Keep you're eyes peeled the next coming months for more high-end brands to release their CC creams. Clinique has released an estimated time-frame of February for the release of their CC cream. Personally, I am excited for this one, being that the Clinique BB cream is one of my top picks for U.S. BB creams, so I can't wait to see what the CC has in store. I'm hoping for a collaboration of their BB cream with the Clinique Even Better skin tone correcting line..Maybe?? I'm just making guesses, but that would be fantastic!

There's also the Wei East Wei CC cream, which I'm not very familiar with but I do believe you can purchase online for about 30 dollars.

Of course if you plan on making any trips to Asia there are more options. Chanel and Rachel K are the leading CC creams on the Asian Market right now. No word on if or when Chanel will bring their CC to the U.S., but check out E-bay to see if you can get your hands on one!

Mahal Kita!

XOXO

Jessica

Happy Holidays from The Johnsons!

2012-12-10T10:28:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas!!

I hope that everyone is enjoying these times of celebration during the Holiday season. Remember that family and friends are so important and cherishing the moments we have with them, not only during the holidays, but at all times, is what this season is all about! Wishing all of you beautiful friends a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to come. 2013 is a new beginning, a new start, a new chance to make whatever you want in life happen. Work hard and good things will come!

I wanted to share some Christmas photos of my family with you. Hope you all enjoy!

Merry Christmas from my little family to yours!

XoXo!

Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012!

2012-12-10T10:19:00.000-05:00

A while back I was contacted by Influenster to do another review of a beauty voxbox on my YouTube Channel and Blog. I realized recently that I hadn't posted anything about it here on my blog for all of my wonderful beauty bloggers to see. This is the Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012. Here I'll share my first impressions of the box for you all! I'll be back shortly for a full review and photos of each product.

XOXO!

It's a Lovely Day for a White Wedding!

2012-12-04T00:26:00.001-05:00

Here are some photos of bridal makeup I did a while back. I did the whole bridal party of bridesmaids and the mom too! Ashley, the gorgeous bride shared some of these pictures with me recently so I thought I'd post them here for you all to see! Xoxo!

Introducing Hebony & Jamar! A lifestyle blog that I'm co-creater of!

2012-09-06T21:25:00.001-04:00

I hope September is being good to you all so far! Fall is near and it is so exciting! I've been busy and thankfully so, but miss you all so very much. I'm excited to announce a new journey I am embarking on with one of my dearest and closest friends of all time. As you know, I love blogging about all things beauty (hence the title of my blog), but there are so many other topics that I have been eager to share with you all, I just haven't had the venue to do so until now! I would like to introduce to you a new lifestyle blog that I have created along with my best friend, Hali. It is called, Hebony & Jamar after a name Hali and I came up with years ago; a name that is very significant to our friendship. We decided to create this blog to share all of the knowledge we have on a variety of topics as a guide for the average girl or woman living life on a budget, who enjoys cooking, do-it-yourself's, and still loves keeping up with the latest trends in beauty and fashion. You will find many beauty tips and tricks, as well as tutorials on this blog, but do not worry, I will mainly be posting beauty blogs here on For the Love of Beauty. Hebony & Jamar will be a venue for Hali to share many of her beauty tips and hair tutorials, so look out for those! She also has her own jewelry line, so we have planned many tutorials and jewelry DIY's! I however, will be contributing to this new blog by doing mainly posts on recipes and home decor in addition to the fashion and beauty blogs. If you follow my Instagram and Twitter you may know that I love cooking and frequently post pictures of the recipes I cook. I have received many requests to share my recipes and create cooking vlogs, so I am excited to finally be able to do so for you all on this new blog! We are in the very beginning stages of creating the blog, but I would love for you to head on over and subscribe! Be on the look out for our first post, introducing ourselves and sharing a little background on our friendship. Hali is amazing and funny, so I know you all will love her. She's my best friend of all time and I hope you all welcome her to the blogging community with open arms. She has a passion for many of the same things that I do and she's also an amazing cook! I appreciate all of your support and cannot wait to share this all with you so very soon! Hope you are having an amazing week and I will leave the link to Hebony & Jamar down below!

XoXo!

http://hebonyandjamar.blogspot.com

Meet Hali!

UPDATE! Where have I been??!!

2012-08-22T00:43:00.000-04:00

I know what you're thinking, "It's about time she write a blog post!" I don't blame you. I have been inconsistent with my blog lately due to being extremely busy! Just to kind of pick up where I left off, about 2-3 weeks ago I had a job interview and it went great! Now I'm just waiting for the official job offer. I was contacted and told that I was still under consideration for the position and to just be patient with them during this hiring process. While waiting, I've been keeping myself pretty busy. I just started babysitting a sweet little baby boy, almost two month's old, as a favor for a sweet couple that my husband and I are friends with. It's been fun and kept my hands full. The days I usually take time to film a video or blog were the days I started babysitting, so I put you guys on hold for a little bit. Also, we are finally receiving all of our furniture and belongings that we had stored in a storage unit in Florida when we moved to Virginia delivered this week! Yes, we've been living without A LOT while awaiting this move to be scheduled through the military, but it's FINALLY been picked up and on it's way to us! I can't explain how excited I am to have our bed, all of our clothes, shoes, and my giant collection of makeup and beauty products that I left behind! One thing I've learned through this is that I definitely don't NEED all of the clothes, shoes, and makeup that I have. I used to think I couldn't live without it all, now I'm wondering where in the world am I going to fit it all! So I will be spending this entire weekend cleaning, organizing, washing, and putting things together in our new home. :) I have some exciting ideas and projects in store and I can't wait to get back on schedule to share them all with you!!! My review on Julep Maven Subscription Box from Julep.com should be up Monday or Tuesday so definitely look out for that! You know how much I love my nail polishes. I'm happy to be blogging again, I missed you guys so so much! Love you and talk to you soon!

XoXo,
Jessica