FAVORITO FRIDAY: NARS HIGHLIGHTING BLUSH

Every girl needs a darn good highlighter in their makeup routine. No ifs, ands, or buts about it! I've tried  numerous ones from drugstore steals to high end must-haves, but there's no comparing to NARS Highlighting Blush in Albatross. It gives a luminous glow that can be paired with your favorite blush or with nothing at all for that I woke up like this look. I never leave my house without a swipe on each check of this magical highlighter. 

Highlighting Blush in Albatross ($30.00) - NARS

Highlighting Blush in Albatross ($30.00) - NARS

Highlighting Blush in Albatross ($30.00) - NARS

What highlighter do you love?

Jess

FAVORITO FRIDAY: OLIVIA PALERMO X CIATÉ LONDON

While doing our post on fall beauty, I came across the Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London collection - a Sephora exclusive. Mrs. Palermo has always been a fashion and beauty inspiration (really, how does she get her hair to look cute while "messy"?!), so it's no surprise I'm stoked to see beautiful, classic, and timeless makeup. This collection includes lipsticks, nail polishes, kohl liners, and bronzer/blush duos. I'm definitely planning a trip to Sephora tomorrow! 

And then I saw the promo photo of the collection... I knew I finally found my beauty inspiration for my wedding. I can't wait to show my makeup artist at my trial next week!

Nail Collection ($24.00)

The Cheekbone Cheat Blusher Bronzer Duo ($32.00) - Sephora

Satin Kiss Lipstick ($25.00) - Sephora

Smoked Out Gel Kohl Liner ($20.00) - Sephora

What are your favorite beauty collaborations?

Jess

FALL LIPS AND NAILS

Do you hear that sound? It's fall, knocking at your door. 

It's hard to believe that you'll finally have to pick up your fall jackets from the dry cleaners, and start wearing socks again. Crisp, chilly air is right around the corner, but instead of focusing on the negative, we're looking forward to our favorite season for fashion! 

Trade in your bright pops of color and get into the fall spirit with some makeup to match the upcoming season.

Top to bottom, left to right: 1. Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Impressive ($20.00) - MAC, 2. Le Vernis Nail Color in Vert Obscur ($27.00) - Chanel, 3. Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London Satin Kiss Lipstick in Praline ($25.00) - Sephora, 4. Frock 'N Roll ($8.50) - Essie, 5. Creamy Matte Lip Color in Soft Nude ($27.00) - Bobbi Brown, 6. She Wolf ($18.00) - Deborah Lippmann, 7. Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned ($26.00) - Nars, 8. Vamp ($16.00) - LVX, 9. Urban Decay 'Matte Revolution' Lipstick in Bad Blood ($22.00) - Nordstrom.

What are your favorite shades for this upcoming fall?

Jess & Jill

ESTÉE LAUDER DAYWEAR

When I find a beauty product I like, I latch on like a stage five clinger. I instantly go into survival mode and stock up on the product, just in case the apocalypse happens and I won't be able to get to the store (it can happen, okay?!). And the next thing I do after that, is share it on the blog.

When I told one of my besties I was looking for a product that had a little sun protection and a little coverup, she directed me towards Estée Lauder's DayWear. I really like the product and how it doesn't feel like sunscreen or like foundation, but like a moisturizer with a slight tint. It goes on easily and doesn't dry me out, which is a huge plus. It's one of my favorite products this summer!

What do you wear during the day?

x Jill

FAVORITO FRIDAY: NYX MATTE LINERS

I look at all these talented self-taught makeup artists with their fancy top liner and I think to myself, "I can totes do that."

Yeah, right. Liquid eyeliner, gel liner - I just couldn't get the hang of it.

Until I met NYX matte brown and black liners (there's glossy ones too), that is! They're fool-proof and rub-proof (anything on my lash line or eyelid always ends up on my brow bone). For an everyday look, I reach for the brown first - even when I'm wearing almost all black, it sometimes look too harsh with my brown eyes and hair. If chic is the word of the day, then it's all black everything. They last all day and night, never need sharpening, and rich in color - I seriously have no complaints about these liners! And at only six bucks a pop and available pretty much everywhere - you'd be silly to not pick it up.

NYX Collection Chocolat

NYX Collection Noir

If you're feeling saucy, you can also get them in a variety of bright colors.

Do you have a favorite liner?

Jess

URBAN OUTFITTERS BEAUTY

I've done some major shopping online this week (hellooo spring), and one of the things I'm most excited about is yesterday's arrival of my Urban Outfitters beauty products!

A photo posted by Jess & Jill (@jessandjill) on Mar 24, 2015 at 12:24pm PDT

I actually wrote this with a TonyMoly I'm Real mask sheet on (and hopefully didn't creep out my fiancé that much), to make the best use out of my 30 minutes! The seaweed version made my skin silky smooth. Not sure if there's any longterm skin-altering effects when used consistently, but it's great for an instant skin boost and for the night before a special day.

Along with my sheet masks, I also keep hearing about this cleansing conditioner craziness, so I decided to grab Grow Gorgeous Cleansing Conditioner in Brunette. It says it's a 12-in-1 conditioner (12?!) and has "prismatic technology", so it's got a lot to live up to! This will definitely be a post soon!

I didn't know that Urban Outfitters had so many beauty goodies, and I can't wait to try more. From known brands like Anastasia, Not Your Mother's, and bliss - to the lesser known and from overseas (like my Korean mask sheets), there's everything you can imagine. Here's what I'm currently adding to my cart!

Anastasia Contour Kit ($40.00)

Caolion Blackhead O2 Bubble Pore Pack ($26.00)

Fig + Yarrow Clay Mask ($16.00)

Aquarian Soul + Earth Oils Coconut Rose Milk Bath ($36.00)

A Beautiful Life Honey Do Shampoo ($16.00)

Uslu Airlines Nail Polish ($16.00)

Nudestix Matte Lip Gloss Pen ($24.00)

Have you gotten anything from Urban Outfitters's beauty section?

Jess

FAVORITO FRIDAY: CLE DE PEAU MAKEUP WIPES

One of the reasons why I don't go camping is because I never sleep anywhere I can't use my Clarisonic. I'm addicted. There's nothing better than scrubbing off a day wearing makeup, sunscreen, and moisturizer before going to sleep. But on the days I wear foundation, I always feel like I need a little more care to remove it all. This is where my dilemma starts - I can never find makeup wipes that are gentle enough on my sensitive skin, but actually work. Until one of my besties passed along her love of Cle de Peau Makeup Remover Towelettes and now I'm hooked!

They feel luxurious on your skin and are so smooth. They're super gentle, so there's no irritation when using them on your eye makeup, and one towelette goes a long way. They're a bit pricey, but they're worth the splurge, especially when you don't wear foundation every day like  me. Plus this is your face we're talking about, after all.

Towelettes - $38.00

What are your favorite makeup remover wipes?

x Jill

MAKING A FACE WITH MAKE

There are certain odd habits I have, specifically in my "getting ready" routine, and one of them is where I like to do my makeup. My loft condo has huge windows that fill my living room with so much natural light in the morning, making it the perfect place to do my magic. Oddly enough, I usually opt to do it on my floor, with the television on, while my dogs run around trying to get me to play. Ideal? No. But it's my favorite spot!

I love to play around with makeup, and this past weekend I was introduced to MAKE beauty products. MAKE is a cruelty-free line (Titan and Olive love that part), and can be purchased online or in-store at Barneys. Clearly I just had to have a play date with my new makeup, and take some pictures along the way.

Here I am wearing their Matte Lipstick in Fire, Super Matte Cake Liner Duo, and Skin Illuminator in Llos. All of their makeup feels super luxurious, and I love that their lipstick kept my lips hydrated. I can't wait to pull this color out for spring. Their illuminator is also great to add a little color to your skin when you don't feel like putting on too much makeup, and instantly brightens the skin. I also opted to dip my liner brush in water when applying the duo, to create a liquid liner look. I would definitely recommend checking out the line!

And as usual, my dogs crashed my photoshoot. But they make pretty cute photobombs, don't they?

Who else uses their front facing camera to do their makeup?

Next on my list is to try their Matte Dew and Corrective Duo.

x Jill

FAVORITO FRIDAY: NARS LIP PENCILS AT SEPHORA

One of the best birthday perks is all the free gifts and discounts you at your favorite stores the month of! I heard about the birthday gift from Sephora last year and I was stoked. Two free lipsticks? Count me in. 

Since my birthday was in January, I was quick to swing by and grab my freebie. Inside the adorable NARS box is a mini Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella and a mini Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. I've always loved lip pencils since I've found them easier to use (I can't seem to figure out where my lip line actually is). The gifted colors are completely on point. Cruella is a vibrant, sultry red and Rikugien is the perfect nude color for my skin tone. The Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is still moisturizing, but packs one heck of a punch, and the Satin Lip Pencil is long-lasting and a great every day lip pencil. I've got my perfect day to night combination!

Thanks to Sephora, I am hooked on NARS. I've already got my orders for more colors on their way now!

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella ($26.00) - Sephora

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned ($26.00) - Sephora

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien ($26.00) - Sephora

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Yu ($26.00) - Sephora

Become a part of Sephora Beauty Insider and get your free gift this year!

Jess

SELFIE WORTHY MASCARA: URBAN DECAY PERVERSION

Of the many perks of being Italian, I was gifted with extremely long and thick eyelashes (thanks Mom and Dad!). That’s why no matter how much of an "ugly day" I’m having, I can always make myself feel more confident by throwing on some mascara. Especially since I was born with dark circles (no thanks, Mom and Dad!), it helps to brighten up my tired eyes and help me look like I got sleep. I’ve tried almost every mascara that there is, but recently have fallen in love with Urban Decay’s Perversion mascara. I usually opt for drugstore brands, but this product is worth the little extra splurge. I’ve also been using it everyday for some time now, and it hasn’t dried out a bit.

Can you say best selfie mascara ever?

By @jillbadlotto on Oct 10, 2014 at 12:35pm PDT

By @jessandjill on Oct 10, 2014 at 7:41pm PDT

What's your favorite mascara?

x Jill

URBAN DECAY AT NORDSTROM

Starting October 18th, Urban Decay will be available at Nordstrom! (Available online now.) We attended the launch party this week, where we learned all about their top items (our favorites like Naked2 Palette and Naked Skin), and a preview of their amazing holiday line.

With our favorite blogger ladies! Jill, Kaitlyn of Hunter Style, Jess, Lauren of Lake Shore Lady, Laurie of 312 Beauty, and Jess of The Golden Girl Blog.

Photo via Urban Decay/Nordstrom.

We're loving all the colors their Ten 24-7 Glide-On Eye Pencil comes in, which lasts all through the day and night (and back into the day, if it's one of those nights). And we're so excited to try their new eyeshadows, which we got to take home!

We've always been huge fans of shopping at Nordstrom, especially for their customer service, so it's great that they've added one of our favorite brands, Urban Decay, to their list.

After a live makeup demonstration, it was time to raffle off a Shadow Vault. And guess who won? Jess! Don't worry, she'll share with Jill (or else...)

I can't believe I won!
Photo via Urban Decay/Nordstrom.

What is your favorite Urban Decay product?

Jess & Jill

GITA BASS BEAUTY TIPS

Ever since we had the chance to chat with her, we've been a fan of Gita Bass. From her skincare knowledge and Simple product suggestions, to her tips on transitioning runway makeup to everyday looks, Gita is all-knowing when it comes to the beauty world. Think of her as the best friend who always has the best makeup tricks (now only if we could be best friends with her in real life!).

But don't take our word for it. Check out the below interview with Gita Bass, as she lets viewers in on some of the best beauty advice.

P.S. How amazing is her hair?

Jess & Jill

HOW TO SPARKLE WITH ACCESSORIES #INEEDSPARKLE

As you may know by now, our outfits are almost always black from head to toe. How do we add a little oomph to spice up our outfit? Sparkles, of course!

We're a part of the #INeedSparkle campaign (who doesn't?) and we're sharing our favorite pieces and beauty products to do just that! Whether it's sparkly eyeshadow, heels, and clutch for a night out, or delicate pavé jewelry pieces for everyday, sparkle is just what you need to spruce up that all black outfit. And we can't get enough of that Essie glitter nail polish!

1. Michael Kors Pavé Bar Pendant Necklace ($95.00) - Nordstrom, 2. Shadow House "Tasia" Earrings ($18.00) - Moorea Seal, 3. Make Up For Ever Glitters Eyeshadow ($15.00) - Sephora, 4. Smokin' Hot ($35.00) - Lola James, 5. Nali Multicolour Glitter Clutch Bag ($54.17 - On Sale!) - ASOS, 6. Bland Mónros Gómez Dainty Stacking Pavé Ring in Rose Gold ($410.00) - Catbird, 7. Jimmy Choo 'Kayak' Sandal ($895.00) - Nordstrom , 8. A Cut Above ($8.50) - Essie, 9. Lucite Stacked Stone Cuff ($88.00) - J.Crew

What is your favorite item that sparkles?

Jess & Jill

This post was sponsored by Heaven Hill Distilleries.
Heaven Hill Family of Brands. Bardstown, KY © 2014

URBAN DECAY NAKED FOUNDATION

When it comes to foundation, for me it's a luxury not a necessity. It's not something I wear every single day, but when I do wear it, I don't want people to see a huge difference in my skin. I've always believed that foundation should enhance your skin's radiance and this exactly what I've found in Urban Decay's Naked Skin Foundation.

It's the perfect balance of coverage and luminosity. It's build-able, for those days when my skin is acting up, but lightweight enough that I don't feel like I have makeup on. The best part? It balances out my oily and dry patches, so I don't have to worry about either showing through. It's my new go-to foundation!

via Urban Decay.

What's your favorite foundation?

x Jill

FAVORITO FRIDAY: FLOWER BEAUTY

I've been dying to get my hands on Drew Barrymore's cosmetics line, FLOWER Beauty, and I finally ended up at Walmart on my recent trip to Florida and grabbed the Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby in Berry-more and Kiss Me Twice Lip & Cheek Chubby in Think Pink. Everything everyone is saying about FLOWER Beauty is absolutely dead on! Overall, the products are inexpensive, easy to use, and long-lasting. I'm kicking myself that I took so long to try them out - I'm obsessed!

Kiss Me Twice Lip & Cheek Chubby in Think Pink ($9.98)

Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby in Berry-more ($7.98)

The Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby in Berry-more is my newest must-have. I normally never wear anything on my lips for work because since I'm not the most savvy with lipliners and lipsticks, doing it so earlier in the morning would be a hot mess. This chubby glides on really easily and is thick enough to do it quickly, but still the perfect size to apply it perfectly. The matte finish is great for an every day look and lasted through eating and a whole lot of talking. I'm definitely going back to get this in more colors (okay, all the colors) and can't wait to try the Sheer Up Lip Tint.

I love the Kiss Me Twice Lip & Cheek Chubby in Think Pink for my cheeks, but not so much for my lips. It has almost a chalky feel to it, and for a non-frequent lipstick wearer, it was too uncomfortable. But when it comes to cheeks, it's such an easy and great product to use. I just drew a line on each cheekbone, and either spread it out with my fingers or a cream blush brush (it comes out super bright, but blends out light). The end result is a natural and highlighting blush that I'm all for!

Also wearing LVX in Roux nail lacquer.

Have you tried FLOWER Beauty?

Jess

FAVORITO FRIDAY: MAC COSMETICS STUDIO SCULPT FOUNDATION

We all know it, this winter has been rough. And unfortunately, my skin would have to agree. It's not a pretty sight with dry skin, redness, and breakouts, but I have to keep telling myself - winter will be over soon enough! Right?! 

Only thing saving me right now (besides a good moisturizer), is MAC Cosmetics Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation. It's got an insane amount of buildable coverage and is hydrating enough for all this wind damage to my skin. Yeah, that's a real thing. When the sun finally does come out, you're set with SPF 15. All that is topped off with a satin finish!

There's nothing better than finding a new favorite foundation! What's yours?

Jess

GOLDPLAITED

Step inside goldplaited - a finishing salon with both the blowout bar and makeup lounge. It's nestled in between Lincoln Park and Lakeview, and is the perfect spot for all your hair and beauty needs. Whether you need a retro cat eye or smokey eyes, a perfect blowout or a fun drystyle, the ladies at goldplaited have you covered!

The salon has hints of gold throughout, obviously, but their urban chic decor is what sets this place apart from the rest. You can find everything from gold furniture to cups and walls to framed gold-themed sayings. (I want to make "gold blooded" a part of my gallery wall!)

Their services include makeup applications starting at $45, blowouts (shampoo, condition, blowdry, hot tools) starting at $38, and drystyles start at $30. They do everything from braids to buns! You can check out all their add-ons here. Products used and sold are from goldplaited (everything of theirs is under $30!), Moroccan Oil, Kevin Murphy, and Verso. 

Check out the adorable salon below and how my hair and makeup c/o goldplaited came out! In love already? Go ahead, book an appointment now.

Inside goldplaited.

Hair stations!

All the tools you need!

goldplaited foundations!

Get your blowout started right!

Still can't get over these!

If you and the girls need a night of pampering, step into goldplaited's perfect room for private party needs.

Lynnea created this braid and crazy bun full of curls that is so me. Kristy gave me the smokey eye I could never managed to do myself and love the bold eyebrows she did! I feel like I photoshopped my photo below, but nope, all Kristy!

Lynnea working her magic.

Huge thanks to Lynnea (hair) and Kristy (makeup)!

Hair by Lynnea!

True that!

Have you been to goldplaited yet?

Jess