Q&A: Jurlique’s Purely Age-Defying Refining Treatment

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Posted on May 11, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

This question could not have come to me at a better time! In my last package from Jurlique was this AMAZING Purely Age-Defying Refining Treatment I have now started using every other day. Since I also do a mild organic chemical peel every other day as well, the exfoliater has helped to slough away the dead skin. I use it on the day off from the peel. I first wash my face really well with my Cetaphil face cleanser, then massage about a dime size amount of this Refining Treatment all over my face and neck (for about a minute) then rinse it off. My face is left feeling exceptionally clean, super soft and glowing with radiance! I absolutely LOVE this exfoliant. I typically don’t exfoliate but once a month, however this is so gentle, yet effective that I will continue to use it on an every other day basis. My reasoning behind not exfoliating often in the past was because it use to make me breakout, but this has not caused a single blemish…if anything it’s preventing breakout! Maybe due to the organic, gentle ingredients? Probably. If you are looking for an everyday exfoliant, this is your bff right here.

Purley Age-Defying Refining Treatment is fairly priced at $35 through Beauty.com and the tube will last you quite a while since you don’t need much to get the job done! This is definitely YBJ “Splurge” worthy! XO

YBJ Hair Guru Chelsey Mares on 2013′s Hot Hair Trends!

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Posted on May 10, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

Before I share Chelsey’s post, I want to give the newbies who aren’t familiar with her a quick rundown. Chelsey Mares of Teze Salon in Puyallup (and now Tacoma) Washington, has been my personal hair stylist for the past six years. I seriously can’t imagine my life without her. I have NEVER met another hairdresser who can work the magic that she can on my hair. I honestly never even had someone I could call “my hairdresser” until I met her. My hair isn’t easy to manage thanks to my Middle Eastern, Spanish and black Irish roots, but from jump Chelsey handled it like a true pro and has consistently given me cuts and color I leave the salon drooling over. This girl is going places – MARK MY WORDS.

Those of you who have followed YBJ from the beginning remember last year’s post where Chelsey gave us a run down on the hot “it” trends of 2012 including ombre and balayage (before they even blew up in popularity). Well that post is still one of my highest viewed posts to this day, and now she’s BACK – not only to tell us about this year’s hot hair trends, but she will be back more frequently as YBJ’s Resident Hair Guru! YAY US!

CHELSEY MARES: BANGS! They are smoking hot right now! Straight bangs, textured bangs, side bangs, long bangs, any bangs! It’s all in and everyone wants them. They give you immediate change and the best part of all?! Everyone looks good in them! The key is to have your stylist figure out what “type” of bang looks cute with your face shape, hair style, and also what your colic’s are telling us. We can’t change colic’s so it’s easier to just go with them, not against them. I encourage you to take the leap and cut some bangs!

I don’t think a certain “length” is in for summer per say, BUT everyone wants airy, moveable, light, textured hair (see the latest cut I gave Jamie to the left)! Whether it means adding layers, or maybe it’s changing your nice straight perfect line premier to a controlled but softer jagged edge, texture is IN!

As far as color goes….LIGHTER! Blonde, blonde and some more blonde!! Whether its adding a few highlights around your face for a nice soft, bright look, or maybe its being a little more on the daredevil side and going all blonde!! As far as my “already blonde clients” going all the way to a bleach and tone – I’ve done more lately then ever! It gives those blonde clients a little bit of change without having to add dark. Talk to your stylist about this service before you take the plunge. Unfortunately not everyone can pull of this look, but adding blonde is one of my favorite things to do. Not only does it give you a brighter look it changes the texture of your hair. Ever feel like your hair is lifeless? Well add a few highlights and BAM – instant volume!

With that being said deep conditions are a must!! I can’t stress that enough. Going lighter with your hair will obviously be harder on it, but don’t be scared if you really want it. There is always a healthy way to get you blonde (example: I am naturally really dark and go platinum regularly – see the photo of me to the right). My best advice would be getting a deep condition the day of the service and also taking a mask home. My color clients won’t leave the salon without a mask. It is SO very important!

For style, 2013 is all about BRAIDS! Especially right now being that it’s prom/wedding season. They are super fun to add to your updo to make it unique and stand out. They are also hot right now as an everyday look! It only takes five minutes to do a braid and the best part of all? Flyways are in right now. Again, texture is in, so it really doesn’t have to be perfect. The messier the better! I’m borderline obsessed with braids! I’ll be sitting poolside all summer long with a messy braid in my hair, and you can count on that! Peep my braids here:

Last but not least, I just want to add that I strongly believe PERMS are coming back!!! I know it sounds crazy, and please don’t disregard what I have already told you because you now think I’m nuts! It’s not the typical perm you guys are thinking. Not super tight 80′s curls…LOL! They (the hair God’s) have just come up with a square rod, that gives soft, gorgeous waves and it doesn’t start at your roots! Cool right? Jamie and I will be showing you guys results very soon. YBJ is going to be my new generation perm guinea pig. You better believe we will keep you guys in the loop. Until then! ;) XO

Chelsey has been doing hair for six years at Teze Salon in Puyallup, Washington. She is currently working to also add Lóreal educator to her resume (by September of this year!) Her passion is cutting but she also enjoys teaching her clients simple tricks they can do with their hair. Chelsey loves making her clients feel beautiful and holds them all close to her heart. She is currently raising her nine year old son in Puyallup, Washington and in her words, “He is the coolest little dude ever!”

If you live in Western Washington and want Chelsey to also be your hairdresser too, then contact Teze Salon at (253) 864-8393 and ask for an appointment with her. They are located in Puyallup and their brand new Tacoma salon (in the same parking lot as the Tacoma mall) will be opening any day now as well! They are currently taking appointments for either salon.

Also, in case anyone is interested, Chelsey is teaching a class on Friday June 7th. She will be teaching clients how to do beachy curls and fun braids! Teze’s makeup artist will be there as well teaching you guys how to do “a five minute face”! $20 to reserve a spot and there are currently only seven spots left! Call now to book.

YBJ’s Workout Program

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Posted on May 10, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

First of all – NO! I am not naked in this photo. I’m wearing yoga pants and a sports bra. I just love it because it shows the change in my body from working hard. Just a cool photo of my sillouette. :) After sharing my recent weight loss on Facebook (I went from 140 to 133 in almost 3 weeks), a reader’s question inspired me to do another post. I shared that 19 days ago, I weighed myself and for the first time in my life I had crossed the 140 barrier and I refused to go another pound higher. I never felt worse; depressed, lazy, clothes weren’t fitting, was tired of the crash dieting program rollercoasters. I was ready for serious change. Don’t get me wrong – I by NO MEANS think 140 lbs is “fat”. I just wasn’t happy in my own skin for more reasons than one. I have a severe anxiety disorder and when I don’t exercise and eat right it takes over my life. People say it all the time but exercise TRULY is the best medicine! I haven’t had to take my medication in WEEKS! I’m genuinely happy and feeling great. It takes 21 days to form a habit, but at 19 days in – I am 100% positive that I’m NOT turning back. Also, with my wedding in 3+ months and the goal to start trying for a baby immediately after, I want to achieve my ideal weight of 120 lbs beforehand. I want to feel amazing in my dress, and have a clean healthy oven to grow my baby in. And yes, I plan to workout and eat right my entire pregnancy. I know I may feel differently when the time comes, but I believe you can do anything you put your mind to. Basketball belly filled with a healthy little one and nothing more is my goal!

I eat fairly clean; generally organic fruit, kale and protein smoothies for breakfast and a Starbucks protein plate for lunch (or something along those lines), then I eat whatever I want for dinner (for the most part – still no white flour carbs, processed foods or empty calories) but I eat it in moderation and am careful not to exceed my calorie allotment for the day. I only drink water and green tea.

I work out every single morning for an hour, 7 days a week. To keep it from getting too monotonous, I change the workout up every morning. I rotate between the following:

Elle Magazine’s Cardio Body with Brooklyn Decker. It’s a 50 minute long High Intensity Interval Training workout and it’s NOT your fluffy run of the mill celebrity workout video. It seriously kicks my butt and leaves me on the floor in a pile of sweat!

Plyometrics. This is an hour-long and is probably THE most challenging cardio workout I’ve ever done in my life. Ask anyone who’s done it and they will agree with me. It’s serious. I love it because it tones your body at the same time as giving you the best cardio workout of your life. Whenever I wrap up this workout for the day, I feel proud of myself like I accomplished something – and what better way to start your day than that?

Legs & Back. This is an hour-long intense workout focussing on your legs, butt and chest. There is an entire P90X regimen to stick by, but I pick and choose my workouts from it because really all of the workouts I’m discussing work every muscle in your body. The reason I love this one is because I L-O-V-E what it does to my legs and butt! In only two weeks it took my slowly drooping bubble butt and put it right back where it belongs while at the same time smoothing out the cellulite that was starting to form. It works FAST because it’s HARD. LOL. Not gonna sugar coat it. There are also a ton of back exercises too that also works your arms and chest! Full body baby!

Treadmill at max incline. We are very blessed to have our own “gym” in our home so I take advantage of our treadmill as my cardio a few days a week. I put it on max incline and walk at 3.5 mph speed for 50 minutes. Prepare to have wobbly legs and be drenched in sweat when you finish this one! Holy moly. I love this workout because it’s mindless. I turn on the news or a movie and just go and before I know it, it’s been 50 minutes! Treadmill days (even though they are an insanely good workout) feel like a break!

So there you have it! I know people say you should give your body a day of rest, but I’m sorry; when you sit on your rear-end at a desk all day like me, I think it’s extremely important to get your blood flowing and sweat dripping seven days a week. My new mantra is #nodaysoff! If you need any motivation or inspiration, check out my healthy recipes HERE and follow me on the MyFitnessPal app. You can find me under MissSerat.

A YBJ FAVORITE: Jurlique’s Calendula Cream

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Posted on May 9, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

Jurlique Calendula Cream has been a big favorite of mine for quite some time. I ran out of it a while back and was just reminded of it’s amazingness yesterday when Jurlique so kindly gifted me with an allotment of their fabulous skincare products (BIG thank you!) and this was hiding inside.

A big part of my love affair with Jurlique products overall, is the fact that they’re organic, which is HUGE for me when it comes to skincare. As I’ve said before – your skin is your body’s largest organ and I don’t know about you but I’d much prefer organic products soaking into my skin as opposed to chemicals. I don’t only use organic skincare obviously (there are a lot of non-organic brands I’m in love with and blog about) but it’s nice to give your skin a break once in a while and baby it with high quality, organic goodness.

Calendula Cream is one of my favorite everyday moisturizers because it seriously evens out my combination skin. I have an incredibly oily t-zone and dry cheeks and this keeps my dry patches well hydrated and my oily patches matte…like magic! This soothing, non-greasy cream is rich in calendula and witch hazel, which makes it perfect for sensitive skin too and great as an after-sun moisturizer. This is PERFECT to use everyday under makeup (some of you have asked me recently what the best under-makeup moisturizer is – well, here is a wonderful option!) I have officially gone back to using this as my morning/daytime moisturizer.

White it is an expensive product (the 4.3 oz tube they sent me runs $93), it’s well worth every last cent. Every girl that has taken my recommendation on this and tried it, has reported back that they fell head over heels in love! I turned one of my best friends onto it about 6 months ago and still to this day when we hang out she reminds me of how much she loves it…lol. It makes me happy when people take my advice on beauty products and end up loving the products as much as I do!

Can’t afford $93? Don’t fret! They also sell this in a 1.4 oz tube for $37! Click here for the large tube: Jurlique Calendula Cream, 4.3 fl oz and click here for the smaller, more cost-friendly tube: Jurlique Calendula Cream, 1.4 fl oz. Can’t wait to hear back on whether or not I’ve turned anyone else onto this!

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH & GIVEAWAY: I’m Fabulous Bio Gorgeous Peel

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Posted on May 5, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

I did not plan to write this post today, nor did I take a before photo of my skin. Why? Because I truly did not expect results so spectacular that I thought I needed to. I received the products in the mail from a company in Europe called “I’m Fabulous” with seemingly homemade labels and packaging so I didn’t think much of it. Once again, NEVER judge a book by it’s cover! The products are so amazing (particularly the full sized Bio Gorgeous Peel) they could write with a sharpie on them and it wouldn’t matter.

Upon receipt of my package, I did some research online. Being that it’s a peel I wanted to be very, very careful of how I proceeded as directions were limited. I’ve had professional chemical peels done before and it took me two weeks to heal, so I wanted to be sure of what I was getting myself into. Luckily the BIO Gorgeous Peel is mild in comparison to their Gorgeous Peel product (that one is heavy duty like the one’s you’d go do a doctor’s office.) The reviews I read through online sold me before I even tried it. Particularly one where the lady said she’s given up her regular Botox treatments in exchange for using this every other day, and another that said they wished they could buy this product by the gallon! Here’s a before and after photo of a customer from their site:

From first go, I was impressed! I followed the one sentence instruction that stated to “Leave on clean face for three minutes then rinse.” I was happy but wanted more. The next day after doing more research, I saw that it’s perfectly fine not to rinse it off at all so I put it back on and left it (I think they tell you to rinse it for people that have extremely sensitive skin and I do not.)

This product is like an INSTANT fountain of youth! My forehead instantly became smooth and shiny, my face looks like it’s lifted and tighter and it feels baby butt soft! I seriously am not a fan of going makeup-free due to wrinkles, sun spots and just overall tired looking skin, but this gave me a completely newfound confidence! This photo of me is COMPLETELY makeup-free and unfiltered:

The Bio Peel will NOT make your skin flake off, crack or bleed…there is literally NO down time. It will give results so incredible people will ask you what you’re doing differently. My fiance Aaron even wants me to start giving him this treatment today! If you try this out my main two pieces of advice are: 1) Apply by squeezing a full dropper full onto a cotton pad and smoothing it over your face, avoiding eye area and 2) As I stated above, do not rinse after applying unless you have sensitive skin; it will burn, tighten and tingle a bit but will not get worse than that. Your results will be much greater and quicker if you do not rinse. I also suggest doing this before bedtime since you’re suppose to avoid the sun (can cause serious sunburn) and do not use ANY lotions or moisturizers after applying for at least 24 hours. I plan to do this 3 times per week until my wedding! I am so thrilled with this product that I would do a backflip if I knew how. LOL. I LOVE I’M FABULOUS!

They also sent me two sample’s I’ve yet to try. Their DMAE Supreme Serum and their Ultra Lift Cream, both supposedly give you face lift type results (click the links to read up on them) so stay tuned for future reviews on these products. I have JUST found my new favorite skincare line and I am SO excited about it! They are based in Europe so if you purchase any of the items, give time for shipping.

They were so kind to offer this peel to one of you lovelies as well! I’m telling you, you do NOT want to pass up the chance to win this. You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States to enter. This giveaway begins now and ends June 1st at midnight. Good luck!

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GIVEAWAY: Happy Birthday to YBJ ~ 1st Anniversary Giveaway!

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Posted on May 1, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

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May 1, 2013 – My little beauty blog that could turned one year old! I cannot believe it’s already been a year since I started this ridiculously fun journey, but it has and it’s been life changing for me to say the least!

Since everyday for me is like a birthday running this blog (thanks to the countless gifts and review items from so many gracious beauty companies), I don’t need any birthday presents. Instead I wanted to celebrate this milestone by showering one of YOU lovely fans with a plethora of beauty goodies.

This is the most massive giveaway I’ve done yet (worth well over $500) and my goal was to cover all areas of what makes a women feel beautiful and confident on the outside (the inside is up to you)! I can’t wait to randomly choose one of your names at the end and tell you that you’ve WON the following items:

From Sponsor Gelish Mini: New as of May 2013′s ’All About the Glow’ gel polish colors (from left to right: I’m Brighter Than You, Make You Blink Pink, Radiance Is My Middle Name, Sometimes A Girl’s Gotta Glow, You Glare; I Glow, and Brights Have More Fun), a Mini Pro:45 LED Light, & a BASIX kit (this includes phBonder, base coat, top coat and cuticle oil!) I too will be receiving this package in the coming week, so I will review the colors and do a review for you! Can’t wait! This is by far my favorite at home gel nail polish system!

From Sponsor Keranique Five piece volumizing hair system including shampoo, conditioner, mousse, serum and volumizing spray. Most of you know by now that this is hands down my favorite hair product line (click here to read my review of it)…this part of the giveaway alone is valued at $140! I am telling you guys, no woman should live their entire life without trying this! Thank you Keranique for letting me include this in yet another giveaway!

From Sponsor Smile Brilliant Custom Teeth Whitening Trays.This is MASSIVE! Most of you know how I feel about their LED teeth whitening system, but this package steps it up a notch to bring you dentist quality whitening at home! By dentist quality I mean 22% dentist grade bleaching gel. This is slightly more expensive then the LED system I recently blogged about (and obsessed over), but it covers EVERY SINGLE TOOTH in a tray that will custom fit your teeth (bottom and top) to a “T”. My custom trays are on their way to me as we speak. I cannot WAIT to try them out and do the review for you guys. As usual Smile Brilliant is blowing my mind with their kindness and generosity and have so kindly knocked down the price of this system from $169 to $79.95 and for you guys ONLY, ANOTHER 20% can be knocked off of that by entering in BEAUTYJ at checkout, bringing the final total to $63.96! SO awesome! CLICK HERE or on the photo above if you want to take advantage of this deal and don’t want to wait to see if you win the giveaway! OR, do both and if you win you’ll have an extra system for your spouse!

From Sponsor Lollipops n Lipsticks my ALL TIME favorite perfume, Jimmy Choo 1.3 oz Eau de Parfume spray. This is hands down my all time favorite scent, close only to Flowerbomb. Whoever wins this giveaway will be beyond in love with this and that I guarantee. Many thanks to my doll Christine of Lollipops n Lipsticks for sponsoring this! Please follow her if you haven’t yet.

From Sponsor Makeup Minutes The Urban Decay Mariposa Palette! I’ve yet to meet a person who isn’t an Urban Decay fan. The palettes are vibrant, the shadows are beyond pigmented and they make for a glam-o-riffic gorgeous face! Big thanks to Brianna of Makeup Minutes for this wonderful giveaway item. She is probably one of the BEST makeup artists I’ve ever seen by the way, so please follow her for inspiration!

This giveaway begins now and ends May 31st at midnight. You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States to enter. The entry requirements below are mandatory, and if you complete them all you will unlock a TON more entries! GOOK LUCK! The winner’s name will be drawn on June 1st and will be announced via my Facebook page.

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WANTED: MUA Tutorials, Fashion Posts & Guest Bloggers!

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Posted on April 30, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

Hey Beauties!

SO, as you all know I have been insanely busy keeping up with my life these past few months. From starting my more than full-time day job, to planning my wedding this coming August, to remodeling our home I haven’t have as much time as I’d like to have for YBJ. My posts are so ridiculously sporadic…some weeks I post ten times and other weeks I don’t post at all. This bothers me because being unorganized is just not like me, therefore I am making a commitment to start posting at the very least once a week (but will shoot for three times per week) going forward.

In an attempt to keep my site more active on my off days I’d like to reach out to my fellow beauty bloggers, makeup artists and fashionistas to see who would be interested in doing guest posts for me. If you are in the industry and interested in doing either a fashion post, a beauty review, a makeup tutorial, an interview of someone in the industry or anything along these lines please comment below and let me know! I will make a schedule for all interested parties and give each person a time-slot so at least one guest post will be posted each week in addition to my posts. This will keep YBJ more active and will also help you out since in return for your post, I will promote your business (and/or your beauty blog/site) within the post! Hope to hear back!

Love you all,

Jamie “YBJ”

YBJ’s April Birchbox Unveiled!

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Posted on April 17, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

It has been quite some time since my last Birchbox post and my April box was way too wonderful to not share, so here it is! As most of you Birchbox-fanatics such as myself know, they teamed up with Women’s Health Magazine this month. Included in every subscriber’s box is a one year FREE no-strings attached, no-bill-down-the-road subscription to the magazine. That alone made the box wonderful in my eyes! What woman doesn’t want a year’s subscription to a magazine that motivates and inspires you to make smarter decisions everyday? Not any women I know! To make matters better my box also included the following goodies:

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Anti-Shine Mattifier

I have yet to try this myself but have heard RAVE reviews from other’s about it, so I’m almost positive I will be posting a follow-up review to this product within a few days. It supposedly takes a shiny t-zone away (and most importantly keeps it away) all day when worn under makeup. I will report back as soon as I try it! I have a feeling I will be earning some Birchbox points toward free product when I decide to buy this one!

Skin&Co Sicilian Body Gel

YUM. First word that comes to mind. This scent is intoxicating and this body wash is so completely luxurious! I can pretty much guarantee that NOBODY who tries this will be disappointed. This sample I received in my Birchbox is a nice size too! I may just keep it on my counter as a hand wash since I’m out.

StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles

This. Every woman must try StriVectin in their lifetime! I haven’t used this particular Eye Cream but I’ve used their all over face cream and had seriously noticeable results after 8 weeks of using it daily. I had deep wrinkles between my brows and around my mouth which StiVectin helped to alleviate. I’m super excited to try this eye cream every night. I’m already using a fabulous eye cream by Mario Badescu, but I’m going to trade it up for StriVectin for a while to see if it speeds up the wrinkle and darkness relief program I’ve started for my face. If it does, it looks like I’ll be shelling out some big bucks to buy the full-size! LOL. Luckily this sample is fairly large and little goes a long way so I should see results before it’s gone. Expect a future review on this! I’ll take a before photo tomorrow.

Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir

The description: “It’s not just your skin that needs antiaging help. This new shine-boosting serum cures dry strands and reduces the odds of age related breakage.” Intriguing. The thing is though, I haven’t needed a serum for my hair since using my Keranique system. Those products make my hair so incredibly shiny, youthful and dead-end free that I’ve had no use for a serum! I will purposely use a different shampoo and conditioner the next time I wash though so I can try this product out and report back. It gets really good reviews online!

Also included in my box were some sample packets of Weleda Body Lotions. I’ve used these before actually! I got them at Super Supplements and they are wonderful lotions – not my favorite by any means, but really nice if you’re looking for a natural body lotion. All in all I’d say this was yet another SLAM DUNK for Birchbox! I’ve been a subscriber for two years now and have yet to be disappointed. It’s the best $10 a month I spend. If you’ve yet to experience Birchbox, click here to learn more and subscribe!: Birchbox

Use Naturally Fresh Deodorant and lower your breast cancer risk!

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Posted on April 17, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

I’m sure most of you know by now that aluminum-based deodorants (which are most all well known brands) can increase breast cancer risk. If you aren’t aware or don’t know why here is an excerpt from the cancer.gov website:

“What do scientists know about the ingredients in antiperspirants and deodorants?

Aluminum-based compounds are used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants. These compounds form a temporary plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat to the skin’s surface. Some research suggests that aluminum-based compounds, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen-like (hormonal) effects (3). Because estrogen has the ability to promote the growth of breast cancer cells, some scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer (3).”

I’ve known this unsettling news for quite some time, yet it hasn’t prevented me from using my good ol’ Degree Antiperspirant. I’ve tried many different “natural” or “organic” deodorants and have been SEVERELY disappointed every time. I won’t name names because you all know I don’t bash or bad mouth companies, but I will say I’ve tried just about every alternative deodorant under the sun and was left every time with either wet underarms after only a few hours, or body odor lightly masked with a perfumey scent…blegh! Body odor and beauty junkie DO NOT coexist.

Needless to say, I was pretty leery to try the Naturally Fresh Crystal Deodorant because I assumed it would be just like “the others” (I mean, why wouldn’t I?) Thankfully, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I am SO glad this was brought to my attention because I would have never sought out another “natural” deodorant again on my own, and would have continued along through life upping my breast cancer risk! This was sent to my doorstep to try and to review if I liked it, so I gave it a go.

No lie, I literally put this on in the morning (I double up – roll on first, then the spray over that for double coverage) and by the end of the day my underarms are still dry and stink free! These products are unscented but they make a lavender scent too which I’ll try when I run out of this. The best part of all is that these are under $5 each! You can’t beat that! Why pay more and increase your risk of breast cancer? Right? I have to say, I haven’t tried this deodorant and exercised, so I’m not sure if it’s still as effective then, but I will test it out and report back! What I can say for certain is that it works wonderfully for me through a normal 16 hour day.

In case you’re curious, here is more information on Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal from their website. And click on the photo of the deodorant if you want to purchase:

So long foundation brushes! Hello Winstonia sponges & the stippling technique for flawless foundation!

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Posted on April 14, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

The people of Winstonia so kindly sent me one of each of the above pictured makeup sponges recently and I’m so glad they did! I had been applying my concealer and foundation with makeup brushes which worked great, but the outcome wasn’t even remotely as flawless as the makeup application achieved when using these sponges…major difference!

Foundation applied with a Winstonia sponge is the next best thing to using an airbrush machine, regardless of the brand of foundation you’re using (yes, even if you’re using a cheap $2 foundation)! I personally tried the sponge with two different foundations on the opposite end of the spectrum from each other price-wise to see what the difference would be (I used Dior Airflash and Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse) and the outcome was exactly the same finish…which was as close to the outcome I achieve when using my $400 Temptu airbrush machine as you can get. It’s flawlessly amazing!

I was shocked that these little $4 reusable sponges could make such a difference. My favorite is probably the blue sponge as the shape makes for super easy makeup application. I first wet the sponge and squeeze all the water out. Next, I use the fat, bottom side of the sponge to apply my foundation then flip it over to the pointy side for concealer application. Rather than dragging the makeup on, I bounce and roll it until the makeup is blended (this technique for makeup application is called stippling). After applying my makeup I wash the sponge with my favorite face cleanser and rinse until the water runs clear, then I set it aside to dry until I need it the next day. It’s so easy! I LOVE THIS THING!!

To purchase either sponge, click on the photo above of the one you’d want to try. I will be doing a video tutorial soon for the proper way to use, clean and store these. Have you tried makeup sponges like these? If so, what are your thoughts?

SMILE BRILLIANT LED TEETH WHITENING: Review & Purchase Information!

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Posted on April 12, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

Yet another product SUCCESS! I received this teeth whitening kit from the amazing people over at Smile Brilliant today. I had heard such rave reviews about LED teeth whitening but my expectations were exceeded by leaps and bounds! This system is meant to be used for 20 (or more) minutes once per day until desired whitening results are achieved. I did just one session so far though and my teeth are as white as if I had done five straight days of Crest White Strips! I can only imagine how they will look in another week. Looks like my dress will not be the only white at my wedding!

Here is a photo of me trying out the system as well as a photo of my teeth after my first session. I’m an idiot and forgot to take a before photo (sorry). They weren’t yellow to begin with by any means, but they weren’t even CLOSE to this white! I’m totally blown away. And FYI the second photo is completely unfiltered!

Here is a review of this same system from a YBJ fan who purchased it after reading this post! Thanks Trisha!

Smile Brilliant is one of the friendliest companies I’ve come in contact with since starting my beauty blogging journey and I’m so excited to be working with them. Communicating with them is like talking with old friends. Such a great experience. If you want to just purchase this NOW is the time because they are discounting it from $129.95 to $39.95! I’m about to sound like an infomercial, but IS THAT ALL? NO! LOL. If you enter BEAUTYJ at checkout, you’ll get ANOTHER 20% off that! Say whaaat?! I’m even going to purchase a few more kits myself (one for Aaron, and a few extras as future gifts for people)! If you want to purchase, click any of the photos above, or this link here to be directed to their website.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! Congrats to the winner Jasmin R Wilson! She has been notified via email.

And now the fun portion! This giveaway begins NOW and ends Tuesday, April 30th at midnight. You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States to enter. As usual, be sure to complete the first three tasks to unlock a ton more! ~~a Rafflecopter giveaway~~

CLOSED: GIVEAWAY – KERANIQUE SYSTEM ($140 VALUE!)

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Posted on April 10, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

This giveaway has ended! Congrats to the winner Deirdre Olsen Lloyd! She has been notified via email

I~~s this music to your ears, or what?! When I said these were the BEST hair products I’ve ever used in my life I wasn’t lying (CLICK HERE TO READ MY REVIEW OF THESE PRODUCTS~~)! My hair has never looked, felt or smelled better and I am head over heels for Keranique. They were so kind to not only give me my system, but they are also offering an entire system to one of you lucky YBJ readers! SO amazing.

This giveaway begins now and ends April 30th at midnight. You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States to enter. Be sure to complete the first three tasks to unlock a ton more! ~~a Rafflecopter giveaway~~

MUST HAVE: Caldrea Body Créme – Aloe Water Apricot

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Posted on April 9, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

I received a couple of sample packets of this in a recent Birchbox and I couldn’t believe how much I loved it! Particularly this scent (Aloe Water Apricot). I want to wrap myself in a blanket of it…seriously. It’s probably the most pleasantly scented body lotion I’ve used; not too sweet and not too perfumey…it’s juuust right! To make matters better this thick mousse-like cream moisturized my body from neck to toe wonderfully, and without leaving a greasy residue like other body creams/butters do. It’s pretty much perfect. If you’re looking for a new body moisturizer, this is it! You will LOVE it and I can guarantee that!

I was extra excited when I went to Birchbox to buy the full size product and realized I had accumulated enough Birchbox points to pick it up for close to FREE (it runs $28 in the Birchbox shop). It’s well worth what they are asking though! I would pay $50 for this if that’s how much it was…it’s that good. I’m so glad I’ve finally found this as I’ve been looking for an everyday body cream for my uber dry skin for quite some time. I’ve found some okay ones, but nothing quite as luxurious as this. Click the photo of it above if you are interested in picking it up for yourself.

Have you tried this? If so, what did you think?

My First Bridal Adventure

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Posted on April 7, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

Yesterday was a GLORIOUS day…one of the most perfect days in my life thus far. The day started out at breakfast with my beautiful mother, bridesmaids and wedding planner. We fueled up our tummies with mimosas and a yummy spread then were off to my wedding dress appointment!

Now, I’ve never been wedding dress shopping for anyone before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I can say it was the easiest shopping experience EVER! Even my bridesmaids were shocked. I tried on the first dress and it was kind of “eh”, then I slipped into the second one, looked into the mirror and gasped! It was MADE for me. It zipped right up and fit my body like a glove. It was the dress I’ve been dreaming of. It fell to the floor at the perfect length too so I don’t even have to deal with getting it altered! I just have to get a bustle added it. It is simply stunning and I can’t wait for Aaron to see me on August 30th…along with my GOOOOORGEOUS Cinderella shoes and my veil which were both, also, the first that I even looked at. Easy as pie! Many thanks to The Wedding Bell in Tacoma, Washington for such a wonderful experience. I was told by family and friends that I can’t share the dress with anyone and have to keep it a secret until the wedding, and that’s fine…but I hope the sneak peek above does a little something for inquiring minds!

Between dress shopping for me and our bridesmaid dress appointment we had a little time to spare. It was nasty outside so we found ourselves running into the nearest boutique to escape the rain and keep dry and I was so glad we did. Not only did I make a new friend (the shop owner), I also fell in love with everything she was selling.

Lizzy Mayz Furniture Boutique is not only filled to the brim with beautiful shabby chic furniture, but also lovely accessories for women. I picked up a gorgeous scarf for myself and a beautiful necklace I fell crazy in love with. Little did I know this necklace would tie into my wedding (you will see how at the end of this post.) Here are a few photos from this darling boutique:

My beautiful bridesmaids shopping…

I NEED to own this mirror!!!

Our next stop was bridesmaid dress shopping! It wasn’t as easy of an experience as wedding dress shopping, but it wasn’t hard either. They tried on about 7 dresses before we made our final selection. I went into the shop thinking I wanted them in peach colored dresses (our wedding colors are peach and gray) but left with them in a gray dress. A lovely peuter gray color. My wedding planner and myself decided we would make gray the main color and peach the accent color, so they will be wearing gray dresses with peach colored bouquets. The handsome men will be in gray tuxes with peach pocket squares and ties. Here is a photo of one of my lovely bridesmaids Mrs. Katie Hira (yes this is the Katie Hira who is my original YBJ partner Yoga Pants & High Heels) in the winning bridesmaid dress. Next to it is the necklace I purchased from Lizzy Mayz Furniture Boutique.

The necklace looked GORGEOUS on with the dress! So much so that I went back to the boutique after we were done getting the dresses to purchase six more necklaces…one for each of my bridesmaids to wear on my wedding day! I found out they were handmade by a local jeweler, Stephanie Kim (808) 385-8280. Since they only had the one necklace that I purchased, the store owner put me in contact with Stephanie who I talked to and was so incredibly helpful! She’s going to hand make six more necklaces just like this for me and we will be meeting up within the next couple of weeks so I can get them. I love how things work out sometimes. It just goes to show me even more how this is all meant to be.

The day ended with even more joy at our engagement party. I realized last night just how loved by friends and family Aaron and I both are. Over 50 people showed up (far more than I expected) and flooded us with cards, flowers, gifts and well wishes. The night was filled with love and laughter and I got to see people I haven’t seen in ages. I was actually a tad bit overwhelmed because I didn’t get to spend as much time as I wanted to with each of my guests, but it was definitely a perfect, happy night in all. Here are two thoughtful gifts from last night. An amazing cake with our Save the Date on it, and personalized mugs “Mr. & Mrs. Thomas”

I will share tons of photos from the night when I get them later, but I couldn’t wait to share my day with all of you! THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. Congrats to the winner Ashley Spaustat, she has been notified via email. As an end to this post, I would love to announce a giveaway sponsored by my new lovely friend Jennifer, owner of Lizzy Mayz. She is offering one of her Boho Candles (scent of choice) to one of my readers! You would be able to choose one of these scents if you win; Desert Tulip or Tangerine Teakwood. They are a $34 value and both smell AMAZING! This giveaway begins now and ends April 30th at midnight. You must be 18 or older and live in the United States to enter. I will draw the winner’s name on May 1st, email them for their shipping information then send it on to Jennifer of Lizzie Mayz so she can ship to the winner. Click here to enter the giveaway and be sure to complete the first three tasks to unlock a ton more!: ~~a Rafflecopter giveaway~~

Meet Peach & Lily!

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Posted on March 27, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

WHERE do I begin with Peach & Lily? I am not only obsessing over the products I’ve received from this company, but also the concept behind them. Peach and Lily was founded by mutual friends Alicia Yoon and Cindy Kim who realized that women in the U.S. weren’t getting access to incredible (and incomparable) Asian beauty products – aside from the very few that have been released the U.S. like bb creams for example. Here’s a little more about Peach & Lily from their site.

These lovely ladies reached out to me to not only review some of their favorite products, but also to sponsor a giveaway of the same package to one of you! Here are my mini reviews of the items they’ve sent me that a lucky one of you will also be winning! The first photo is the entire package!

These items are CRAZY amazing! I was going to rate them from most favorite to least favorite, but they’re all most favorite so let’s just start with the first ones…lol!

These skincare products are legit! The Sea Daffodil Cleansing Mousse by Aromatica is a facial cleanser that comes out in mousse form. I used about five pumps washed my face and rinsed, then repeated. It smells AMAZING and left my face super clean, makeup-free and refreshed without drying out my skin! The Mela Defense White Capsule Essence is a brightening essence that fights hyperpigmentation, including dark spots, discoloration from acne, etc. It contains sakura and white flower to brighten and revitalize skin for a healthier, more even skin tone. After I washed my face, I applied this after my toner, and prior to my moisturizer and my face was left feeling silky smooth and looking radiant. Really excited to see what it will do long term. I’m definitely loving these products!

The next item I love in this package is the Friday Glow Liquid Shadow. O.M.G. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! It’s an eyeshadow that comes packaged like a lip gloss with an applicator. It goes on silky smooth, super pigmented and sparkly! The description for this shadow on their site calls it “striking” and I really can’t think of a better word for it myself. One of the prettiest eyeshadows I’ve ever used. Don’t take my word for it though – see for yourself in this photo. It’s the top swatch:

The bottom two swatches in the above photo are eyeliners! The purple one is simply spectacular as you can see and glides on with ease. I’ve yet to use it on my eyes but will definitely share photos on my Facebook page once I do. The bottom black liner I have been using everyday since I received the package and am in love with it. Most precise liquid liner I’ve used to date and it came with a mascara that curls as you go! No need for an eyelash curler with this!

They also sent another mascara I’ve yet to use, but I already know I’m bound to love it! I adore Peach & Lily and they have officially been bookmarked for future beauty product needs. :-)

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! Congrats to the winner Jennifer Frank-Lopez! She has been notified of her winnings via email!

Want to enter to win this package for yourself? This giveaway is different than any of my others in the sense that it’s open INTERNATIONALLY! It will be shipped from Peach & Lily directly, but you still must be 18 years of age or older to enter. This giveaway begins now and ends Tuesday, April 30th at midnight. Good luck my favorite beauties! ~~Click here to enter and be sure to complete the first three mandatory tasks to unlock a TON more:~~ ~~a Rafflecopter giveaway~~

YBJ’S 3K Giveaway!

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Posted on March 16, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

Hello ladies! Those of you who have been following me from the beginning know that whenever I hit a 1K milestone on one of my sites (this blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) I do a bigger than usual giveaway…and each time I try to top the last! Well, here I am around 2,800 Facebook likes which means it’s time to announce my 3K GIVEAWAY! So what do you think?

This giveaway is to say THANK YOU for helping this little blog that could grow by leaps and bounds and for sticking around. When I created this blog and all of it’s accompanying social media pages, I never expected for it to grow this quickly…YBJ doesn’t even turn 1 until the end of May!

The products in this giveaway are either items I’m currently IN LOVE with, or are items I’m very excited to try and will reviewing soon. I am beyond thankful to my amazing sponsors for without them this giveaway would not be possible. The products in this giveaway are as follows…

From Miracle Skin Transformer (an amazing sponsor of YBJ from the beginning and creator of truly miraculous products): 1) Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 1) Miracle Skin Transformer ‘Vanish’ Instant Imperfection Corrector & 1) Miracle Skin Transformer Lip Rewind

From Birchbox (another Team YBJ company from the beginning and an all time favorite beauty company who without I would not know about half of the products I’m in love with): 1) Birchbox

From Fashion Lab LA (most fashionable online boutique with the hottest trends whose owners happen to be two beautiful friends of mine): 1) “Be Bold” ring

From Lollipops ‘n Lipsticks (one of my favorite beauty blogs and new dear friend of mine): 1) Dior ‘Diorskin’ Ultra Shimmering Allover Face Powder & 1) Dior ‘Diorshow Extase’ Mascara

From Belina (most gorgeous, trendy and hip online accessories boutique – OBSESSED): 1) “Carlie” Love Bracelet

From NeoCell (one of my favorite supplement companies – if you know me, you know I believe that beauty comes from within – take care of your insides to make your outsides gorgeous): 1) NeoCell Collagen Beauty Builder, Tablets & 1) NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer, Tablets

From me “YBJ” (this couldn’t be from me if I didn’t contribute to it! LOL): 1) Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette & 1) Oscar Blandi Texture & Volume Spray 4 oz (this product has changed my hair WORLD – can’t live without it)

THE DETAILS:

There will be ONE winner who will win ALL of the above items. The items will be shipped to the winner from the companies directly (except for the two items I’m contributing which will obviously come from me.) You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States to enter. This giveaway begins NOW and ends when I reach 3,000 Facebook LIKES or on April 30th 2013, whichever comes first.

YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL 8 OF THE MANDATORY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO UNLOCK THE REST! GOOD LUCK! CLICK HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway :-D

Shop Belina ~ My favorite online accessories boutique!

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Posted on February 19, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

Many thanks to Belina for this absolutely GORGEOUS necklace! These photos do it no justice. If you aren’t already familiar with this boutique, click on one of the photos above to get acquainted. CLASSY & CURRENT are the first two words that come to mind when I think of Belina. It’s one of those online boutiques that I actually get frustrated shopping on because I want it all and have to talk myself out of things as not to overspend. LOL. Luckily they are extremely affordable (the “Alexa Gold Chain Necklace” above is only $32!) and the jewelry quality is similar to what you would find at a place like Nordstrom.

THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! CONGRATS TO THE WINNER AMBER SHAFER!

Belina is also so generously offering a giveaway to one of you. The most exciting part is that I’m not sure what it is so it will be a surprise from their website to whomever wins! Believe me, whatever the winner ends up getting will be drop dead FABULOUS and will make all of your friends green with envy!

You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States to enter. This giveaway begins now and ends March 15th at midnight. Remember to complete the first three entry tasks to unlock a TON more and up your chances of winning. Click this link to enter and GOOD LUCK MY LOVELIES! ~~a Rafflecopter giveaway~~

Protein French Toast with Apples & Cinnamon

Posted on May 18, 2013 by yourbeautyjunkie

THIS. Was soooo good! And is a healthier, fit-friendly alternative to standard French toast.

INGREDIENTS:

4 slices Dave’s Killer Bread, 2 eggs, 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder, 1/4 cup organic almond milk, 1 tsp vanilla, cinnamon, organic coconut oil, diced apple.

DIRECTIONS:

Beat eggs together with protein powder, almond milk, vanilla, and a few dashes of cinnamon. Coat each slice of bread with this mixture and cook in coconut oil until browned on both sides. Top with cooked apples and cinnamon ..AMAZING!!!

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