Redbook Magazine's Best Makeup Ideas Ever

Hey guys!

A couple weeks ago, the latest issue of Redbook magazine was sent to me and I actually had time to flip through. An article that caught my eye was called "The Best Makeup Ideas Ever". I thought that I would share these with you guys, along with my own personal commentary.

They included pictures of celebrities over the past century displaying each makeup idea and then comments and suggested products.

I generally do agree with what they came up with, but I also wanted to contribute my opinion. I thought you, my followers, might find this as an interesting kind of post. I will warn you - this may be a long post.

1. Full Brows

If you do follow my blog, you have seen that I do have full and dark brows. I thank my ethnic background for my eyebrows. Although they are full without filling them in, I do not like to go out without brow powder.

The first brow powder I used and fell in love with was the NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder (I use the color Brown/Dark Brown). It includes two powders (which are like eye shadows, but more tightly packed) and a clear wax to set the brows. I don't usually use the wax just because I hit pan on the wax way before the powders. I have had the same powders for two years now and yes, I have hit pan, but I won't run out for a long time. For only $6, who can say no to that?

My mom, on the other hand, has much lighter hair and brows. She is fair with freckles and a much more rosy-toned complexion than me. I turned her on to using a brow powder and a defined brow really just does wonders to the face.

So I definitely agree with Redbook on this one. I have embraced a full brow. I do think tamed brows are an important part of the face. If you haven't tried filling in your brows, I do recommend the NYX powder, or any product along those lines because I don't think it could ever disappoint.

2. Mega Lashes

Thinking back on this, where I do agree with Redbook as this is one of the best makeup ideas, it can go a little overboard. I think most of you would say that mascara is a definite must. Among beauty bloggers, I think the consensus is that if there's one makeup product we couldn't go without, it would be mascara.

I love having the appearance of thick, black lashes. My favorite mascaras at this point are Covergirl Lashblast and L'Oréal Carbon Black Voluminous mascara. I have used Diorshow in the past, and it is a love of mine, but I just can't justify spending that much money on a mascara.

Having expressed my love of mascara-given mega lashes, I have a love/hate relationship with false lashes. I have used them before. Although I like the appearance that some lashes have given me, they irritate my contact lenses and make my eyes feel heavy. On other people, I love them and hate them. If I see a woman in public who is wearing ridiculous lashes doing day-to-day activities (and I mean like working, riding the subway with her daughter, NOT attending a special event), yes I do hate them.

A look without mascara would be missing something, in my opinion. But I don't think false lashes are as necessary - just a personal preference.

3. Winged Liner

LOVE LOVE LOVE winged liner! I would feel weird if I did a look with eyeliner that didn't have even the tiniest little bit of wing. It's cute, classy, polished, and just pretty to look at.

I am not an advocate for extreme Amy Winehouse winged liner. I think most people would have a hard time pulling that off.

I do love my ELF liquid liner. It's not perfect. But it's $1 and does what I need it to do. I also love the WetnWild Megalast liquid liner.

What else can I say? I think this world would be missing out on a  lot without winged liner in existence.

4. Rosy Cheeks

As I typed the words "rosy cheeks", a picture of some Renaissance painting displaying an attractive woman with rosy cheeks came to my mind. What does this tell us? Rosy cheeks are timeless. They have always been seen as attractive. I don't think it will ever go out of style.

What I love to give me just a little rosy glow are the Clinique Beyond Blusher in Peaches, NYX blush in Pinched, and Sleek blush in Rose Gold.

I think a rosy cheek just gives balance to the face and brings out the youthful appearance of the skin.

I can't think of any kind of sexy makeup look without the little glow on the cheeks of a rosy, if not coral  color added to the cheek area.

5. Pink Lips

I can just remember my first little tube of lipstick. It was a bright, frosty magenta. I loved it because it was almost exactly the same color that my 4 year old preschool teacher wore. Yes, I had an eye for makeup even back then. Since then, I have had my share of pink lipsticks in all different shades.

Just a little tidbit of knowledge for you makeup geeks out there - in my Theory of Knowledge course last year, we watched a documentary of the science behind beauty and the Golden Ratio. Lipstick was originally used to darken the lips to a rosy tone, similar to the tone it looks like during orgasm. But it was also used to give the appearance of the color of a certain monkey's anus. Now, don't quote me on this. I'm simply recounting what this BBC documentary said.

Pink lips are classic. I actually don't like nudes that much. The nude lip colors I do have and wear typically have a pink tint to them. I actually want to go in search of a similar color to what Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I adore the "my lips but better" kind of look. Having said that, I long to have a collection of beautiful YSL pink lipsticks some day when I have my hefty paycheck :)

For a pinky nude, I gravitate towards Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Ginger Rose or NYX Round Lipstick in Thalia. Other pinks include Clinique lipstick in Think Bronze and Raspberry Glacé and NYX Round Lipsticks in Paris and Louisiana.

6. Purple eyeshadow

Purple eyeshadow looks good on everyone. Whether it's bright, toned down, light, or dark, I think there is a purple eyeshadow for everyone. If someone is afraid of wearing color on their eyes, yet wants to branch out, purple is the color to try first.

Every time I wear my NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Purple, I get compliments. I do have a review of it here. It is the most gorgeous color. Also, if you want to see what purple eyeshadow does to brown eyes, mine pop like crazy in this look.

I also enjoy NYX eyeshadow in Purple - whether it's just the single eyeshadow or the shimmer pigment, they're basically the same color and universally flattering.

If you haven't tried purple eyeshadow before, do it. Redbook was spot on with including this as one of the best makeup ideas ever.

7. Red lips

If Redbook had left this off the list, I probably would have cried. One of my personal philosophies is that every woman should own at least one tube of red lipstick. I own probably ten different shades...

Red lips are classy, beautiful, simple, yet sophisticated. Anytime I want to look put together or just want to add a little oomph to a look and/or outfit, I will add some red lipstick.

There's a reason why lipstick sales, both drugstore and high end, go up during a recession. Women want to feel good. The feeling of putting on red lipstick and seeing how good it makes me look is one of life's best simple pleasures.

My go-to red lipsticks are Dior Rouge in Rouge Favori and NYX Round Lipstick in Electra OR Snow White.

This look says it all...

8. Smoky eyes

This is another one of those makeup looks where if Redbook had left this off the list, I would have cried. With very little experience, one can create a simple smoky look that can transform the face and overall appearance. A smoky is my go-to look. All you need is two colors and sufficient blending and you can create this.

Smoky eyes can be adapted for the day and school/work. Smoky eyes can be worn at night. Smoky eyes just make sense.

My favorite classic gray/black smoky is with the ELF quad in Drama. My favorite smoky that literally makes me look like a Kardashian is with the ELF quad in Day2Night. I would highly recommend these - review and swatches here.



If you've read to this point, congratulations. You must enjoy my writing skills.

I would love to hear your opinion. Feel free to debate me. Let me know what you think are the best makeup ideas ever.

Also, if you enjoy posts like these, let me know below in the comment section please! Or you can always tweet me @jessiefrancaise

Birthday Makeup!

I realize that I have finally been legal for almost two weeks now.

Here's a recap of my past two weeks: I turned 18, I moved into my dorm, my grandfather died, I flew alone for the first time, and I officially started college.

This might explain the lack of posts lately.

But I did want to share everything about my big day :)

I spent the first part of the day with my dad. He went to take me to get my hair cut. Then we had lunch and went to visit his dad (the one who just passed away). Then we went to the mall for a bit of shopping and a fancy Italian dinner. My best friend from high school joined us. OH, and how could I forget dessert and coffee at my favorite Parisian café in town?

Without further ado, on to the makeup...

I like this look as a basic neutral look that can be played up in the cheek and lip category. Later after taking these pictures, I added Lorac liquid lipstick in Trendsetter and a little more highlighter. 

At night, I wore MUFE red lipstick and added some Dior kohl eyeliner to my waterline.

Products Used:

MUFE HD Microperfecting Primer

Diorskin Forever Teint Haute Perfection Tenue Extrême foundation

Revlon Colorstay foundation in Buff

MUFE Lift Concealer in shade 3

Chanel Double Perfection Natural Matte Powder Makeup in Ivory Beige 

Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen

ELF eyeshadow quad in Brownstone

Lorac Front of the Line Pro liquid eyeliner

Revlon Eyeglide shimmer shadow in Pearl

L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara

Revlon Eyeglide shimmer shadow in Pearl

Shiseido The Makeup Accentuating Color Stuck in Champagne Flush

NYC bronzer in Sunny

Clinique Beyond Blusher in Peaches

Revlon Super Lustrous  lipstick in Ginger Rose

Lancôme Color Design lipstick in B-List

And since I've never shown an OOTD... I bought this for college a while back when I was at H&M but decided to wear this for the first time on my birthday. I think it was only $13 or around that price, so it was an amazing deal. It's soft and hugs me in all the right places.

Stay tuned for a birthday haul post :)

Again, thank you guys for reading and a special thank you to my newest followers!

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @jessiefrancaise

Prom Pictures...a little late

Hey guys!

Since I know I'll be busy very soon, I am scheduling this. So as you read this, I am probably moving in to my dorm at college! Finally! My school is actually 9 hours away from where I was born and raised, but I am so excited for this change. I may talk more about this, show pictures, etc.

So while looking through personal pictures the other night, I just remembered: I FORGOT TO POST MY PROM PICTURES! Even though it's 3 months afterwards, I really wanted to share the look I created.

Okay, I know I didn't do a whole "party look" - I'm different. I wanted to look like a 1920's French actress because that's what I like.

No, I did not go with a date. I went with a group of friends. My best friend was basically my date. Actually, my guest of honor was my love, but for personal reasons he couldn't be there, so he was there in heart <3

We did take group pictures and I have super gorgeous pictures with my parents, but obviously for personal reasons I am not posting these.

My dad took these on his super fancy schmancy camera.

My mommy brought gardenias from our garden in the backyard to put in my hair :)

Actually, my hair was a last minute thing. My best friend helped me with it even though she's not beauty-oriented. I watched some Youtube videos on cute retro hair and the pin-curl look intrigued me. I think it looked beautiful and after dancing my ass off, an hour before prom ended, they fell out and I still had gorgeous hair :)

My dress was from Group USA. I actually bought it for my junior prom last year, but I didn't end up going to that. I wore it for the first time to a formal dinner in Paris last summer, which worked out fabulous. I saved it to wear to my senior prom this year. 

We took these pictures at the biggest, most beautiful park in my city. And of course, there were several other prom groups taking their pictures. Some random ladies (moms of other girls taking prom pictures) saw me and said something along the lines of, "I don't know why, but you just look so French!"

My best friend looked at me and laughed - because she knows my grandparents are super Parisian.

Now on to the makeup look...

If you didn't think I use high end products, you're wrong ;)

I started off with MUFE HD Primer. Then I used my Diorskin Forever foundation, and concealed with my MUFE concealer (I don't remember which kind it is). I set all of this with my Chanel pressed powder.

For the eyes, I used Laura Mercier Eye Basics primer in Linen. While that was drying, I did my eyebrows with my holy grail NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder. Then using my Dior Deux Couleurs (so sad they discontinued this!) eyeshadow duo in Purple Look. I put the shimmery champagne pink all over the lid, with the matte eggplant purple in the crease. I used the pink under the brow as well and lined my lower lash line with the purple.

I used my Lorac Front of the Line Pro liner to make a winged liner. I don't remember which lashes I used but I think they were Ardell? And then I used my Lorac mascara.

I used a Chanel blush - I don't remember the color. 

Then on the lips I used my Dior Rouge lipstick in Rouge Favori and topped it with NYX Round Lipstick in Snow White. 

This is basically my favorite formal, fancy, special occasion look. 

I'm wearing basically the same thing at the Military Ball:

And out and about in Paris:

I hope you guys enjoyed this little post! You can leave your feedback in the comment box below or tweet me @jessiefrancaise

Stay tuned for collegey posts :)

And as this look calls for, I leave you with this beautiful song sung by my favorite French singer, Charles Aznavour ;)

Dior-inspired look (avec lunettes!)

Hey guys!

I wish I was rich enough to truly call myself a Dior girl. I have several Dior products and I adore them all. Everything Dior just reeks of glamour and luxury, more so than any other brand, in my opinion. When I wear Dior, I feel just like my super glamourous Parisian grandmother, who is just so classy and beautiful.

Here's a picture of us at Tiffany this past June:

Isn't she gorgeous?? Je l'aime <3

Here was the inspiration for the look:

I wish I was rich enough to afford all the Dior Addict lipsticks!

Products used: (Project Pan items in italics)

• Revlon Colorstay in Nude
• Palladio Rice Powder in Natural
• NYX Concealer in a Jar in Fair
• Ulta Professional Concealer in Fair
• Ulta Bronzer
• ELF Natural Radiance Blusher in Bronzed
• Clinique Beyond Blusher in Peaches
• Shiseido Accentuating Color Stick in Champagne Flush
• Rimmel eyebrow pencil in Black
• ELF Essentials eyelid primer
• Dior Eye Show eyeshadow in Undressed Beige
• Lorac Ooh La Lace palette (the light champagne color all over the lid)
• Lorac Front of the Line Pro (this wasn't dark enough)
• ELF Essentials liquid liner (had to layer this over to make it darker)
• NYX Round Lipstick in Louisiana 
• Some Mentha Lipshine lipgloss

How do you guys like this look? I like it for the first time trying this out. The liner isn't exactly the same as the picture, but it's decent. I also really liked the way this looked with the glasses. This would be a nice, quick cute look for going to classes once school starts in August!