My Monthly Favorites | July Favorites

In July, I tried tons of products but I really haven’t been able to say whether or not a lot were my favorites yet so I have been relying on some oldies but goodies.

L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte in Shell Beige – This is one of my all time favorite foundations and ultimately when my skin is acting up I turn to this as I find it doesn’t clog my pours, gives me full coverage with a matte finish, and I always know I can count on it to look fabulous. You can find it at your local drug store or Ulta. Retail cost $12.99

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Natural – I haven’t been doing a lot of contouring lately but have wanted to bronze up my face for summer and this wonderful bronzing powder has been really working with my skin tone. You can do additional contouring with it as well since it doesn’t have shimmer as well. Retail cost $42

Ardency Inn Modster Smooth Ride Supercharged Liner in Black – This is the BEST and only eye pencil I have found that stays on my water line. I like to tight line daily and this is the only pencil that holds for an extended period of time.  Retail cost $20

Estee Lauder Estee Edit Pore Vanishing Stick – I have never found a primer or pore minimizer that not only works well but also works with my skin.  Most pore minimizers tend to clog my pores and break me out.  This wonderful “wonder stick” has been the best thing I have ever found.  It doesn’t break me out and actually reduces the size of my pores.  It does not help with mattifying, smoothing, or longevity of my foundation but because my foundation works well in those aspects, this stick works so well for me. Retail cost $28

Bath & Body Works 3 Wick Candle in Mango Coconut Cooler – I am a candle junkie. I buy them from everywhere and anywhere as long as they smell good.  I find the Bath & Body Works 3-Wick candles are the best.  They burn evenly and continually give off scent without over powering you.  My favorite scent right now is the Mango Coconut Cooler.  Perfect for summer and keeps me refreshed all day.  Retail cost $22.50 but they have sales all the time so wait until a sale pops up.

What have been your monthly favorites that I can try?

#FridayFavorites GIVEAWAY – National Lipstick Day

In honor on National Lipstick Day, I am starting #FridayFavorites #Giveaway with some lippies.

Here are the rules:

  1. Follow me on IG at @MyPenNamedJane
  2. Like this photo
  3. Repost this photo on IG using #WeLoveLippies
  4. Comment on the IG photo and tag 2 friends.
EXTRA: For my #BlogLoves only, if you comment on this post, you will be entered a 2nd time doubling your chances to win.

Giveaway ends Saturday July 30 at 5pm CT. Giveaway is for US Only.

All products are brand new, purchased by me, not sponsored. Winners will be DM’d directly on IG. Make sure your IG is public.

No giveaway accounts/fake accounts will be counted.

Products to be given: Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in 01 My Pink, NYX Cosmetics Lip Liner in Mauve, Urban Decay Lipstick in Liar, Buxom Full On Lip Cream in Dolly, and Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit in Dolce K.

My FAVORITE Morphe Brushes – Specifically For The Face

Welcome, to my current favorite Morphe face brushes.  During our normal makeup routine we use so many different types of brushes depending upon products, I have decided to split this into multiple post so that you don’t get bored reading over and over about every brush I love and use regularly.  If you want to find out my TOP FIVE brushes for the face, keep reading.

M439 – Deluxe Buffer which I use for Liquid Foundation
 
The M439 is a synthetic bristle brush densely packed and perfect for liquid foundation.  No matter if it’s a light weight or heavy coverage consistency, this brush evenly distributes product without soaking the foundation into the brush.
Retail cost $13.99

 

G5 – Pointed Powder which I use for Powder
The G5 is from the Gunmetal series and is perfect for any kind of powder application.  I love it the most for powdering under my eyes or around my face with a pressed powder.
Retail cost $17.99

E1 – Deluxe Powder Brush which I use for Bronzer

The E1 is the best bronzer brush I have found.  The new Elite series is even better than before.  This brush gives a light dusting of bronzer all over without clumping it up in one area.  Easy to blend out and with such a large brush head it makes it fast and easy.

Retail cost $22.99

E4 – Angled Contour which I use for Blush

Synthetic angled bristles make it easy to sweep a light dusting of blush on the apples of your checks up through your check bones. Before I found the E4, I had been using the same ELF brush for years as nothing compared….this brush completely replaced my ELF brush.
Retail cost $13.99

M529 – Precision Pointed Contour which I use for Highlight

This is a goat hair brush with soft bristles perfect for a light sweep of highlight on my check bones at the top of the cupids bow.

Retail cost $9.99

I am not an affiliate of Morphe Brushes but if you want a discount code to purchase just google and you can easily find one from a beauty youtube guru.  While I use many brands and types of brushes, Morphe is by far my favorite.

Stay tuned for my favorite eye brushes…

My Everyday Eye Shadow Pallet

Everyone has those few eye shadows they reach for on a day to day basis. Well I finally created my go to pallet.  This is the one I travel with and stays on the top of my makeup table since I use it in some way everyday.  I gravitate to Makeup Geek and Morphe with some Anastasia and my go to crease color from Urban Decay.  I use to have tons of Mac shadows and have slowly replaced them with other cheaper and better quality brands.  I suggest anyone who loves makeup to check out Makeup Geek and Morphe for all their needs.

Top Row L-R: Morphe 02 Crystal, MUG Peach Smoothie, MUG Unexpected, Morphe 61 Nuts For You, MUG Gold Digger, Morphe 76, Morphe 23 Gravity.

2nd Row L-R: Urban Decay Laced, MUG Creme Burlee, MUG Vintage, Morphe 63 Creme Brule, Anastasia Custom, MUG Grandstand, Anastasia Sangria.

3rd Row L-R: MUG Barcelona Beach, MUG Latte, MUG Cherry Cola, MUG Americana, MUG Roulette, Morphe 74 Burlesque, Morphe 48 Midnight Kiss.

Last Row L-R: MUG Frappe, MUG Cocoa Bear, Morphe 71, MUG Bitten, Anastasia China Rose, MUG Burlesque, Morphe 53 Radiance.

15 Concerts in 2015

I have a goal to attend 15 concerts in 2015.  Concerts and music in general make me happy.  I love all kinds of music but I find I do gravitate to pop and country more than others.  I am lucky to have wonderful friends that also enjoy concerts as much as I do so this year should be exciting.

Already booked:

March 21 – Dan + Shay (Las Vegas)
May 1 – NKOTB with TLC and Nelly (Las Vegas)
May 29 – NKOTB with TLC and Nelly (Detroit)

May 30 – Stephen Neal Band with Jason Michael Carroll (He cancelled) (Joliet, IL)
August 6 – Craig Wayne Boyd and Stephen Neal Band (Georgetown, IL)
August 7 – Stephen Neal Band (Champaign, IL)
Oct 3 – Chris Young, Stephen Neal Band, Jana Krammer, and Michael Ray (Joliet, IL)
Nov 6 – Maddie & Tae (Detroit, MI)

I can’t wait for the summer announcements of all the fall tour dates to add more to my list.  Keep checking back as I update this list and see if you are attending any of the same concerts as I am.

Who do you recommend I see this year?

UPDATE: Although I didn’t get to 15 in total, it was a great year for live music. My love for live music lives on.

Challenge Accepted

T – Taylor Swift
A – Avril Lavigne
M – Maroon 5
A – Alabama
R – Rascal Flatts
A – Abba
A – Ariana Grande
B – Blake Shelton
E – Ellie Goulding
R – Rihanna
N – New Kids On The Block
A – Adele
T – Tim McGraw
H – Heart
Y – Ying Yang Twins

Can I please have a Coke??

You know when you first place your beverage order at a restaurant and ask for a Coke and the server says “Is Pepsi ok?”…  I am the one to respond, “No, ma’am, it isn’t. They are not the same thing”.  Does anyone else have that knee jerk reaction because they feel so strongly over the world famous Coca-Cola.

Here is my outlook on the differences between Coke and Pepsi.


Coke:

Courtesy of Coca-Cola


Fountain Coke is always the best.  The mixture of the syrup and carbonation brings the “classic Coke” feel home for me.

Canned Coke is the next best thing but still not the favorite. The mixture of the metal from the can over time can turn the taste of the sugar from the soda.
Bottle Coke, just not worth it.  Order an Ice Tea instead. (unless you are in Mexico then stick with Coke in a bottle and save the bottle as a souvenir)



      Coutesy of Pepsi Inc.

      Pepsi:

      Fountain Pepsi is not as good as fountain coke. It has a extra sweet taste, something to do with the mixture.
      Canned Pepsi is just ok depending upon how cold it is. The colder the better because the sugar seems to settle in the can. The same issue as with canned Coke with the metal taste as well especially when its not as cold.
      Bottle pepsi, never in a million years. Order an Ice Tea instead. 

        As you can see, Coke is an overall winner in my book.  So whether you call it Coke, Soda, or Pop, remember you always wanna order a good old fashion Coca-Cola.

        (This blog post was not sponsored. I am just an avid Coca-Cola drinker.)