Get this face.

Want this face? Well, unfortunately I'm not physically able to give you my whole face, because, well...thats just gross. So, you can't have it. However, I CAN give you all the makeup resources in order to achieve this low key, super flattering, classic look!

First, we'll cover the base makeup:

1) I first applied the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream with a foundation brush evenly around my entire face.

2) I apply my favorite Maybelline New York Age Instant Rewind Treatment Concealer. I love this stuff. I put it under my eyes, nose, and on any blemish. The reason its nice for under the eye is because of its EXTREMELY soft brush applicator. This way you aren't putting anything too harsh under the eye -- always want to be careful because it can loosen the skin if you're too rough. Yes, I'm doing everything in my power to prolong getting my wrinkles.

3) Next! Blush! I used City Colors Be Matte blush in Dragon Fruit! I got this in my IPSY bag last month and I love it! Its so soft and pigmented. You barely have to swipe your brush to pick up color! Love it. Gives you just enough pink on your cheeks for that healthy glow.

4) Finally, I applied my all time favorite highlighting powder just above my cheekbones, as well as underneath my blush line. I do this to create a more defined look for my cheeks.. a simple shortcut to contouring. Just didn't have the time this a.m! The highlighter I used is theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer.

 Now, onto the eyes!

1) Because I applied my BB Cream all over my face, I didn't put primer on my eyelids. So I started right away with my base color of Urban Decays Naked2 palette with "Bootycall." Then in my outer corner lid, I applied a bit of "Halfbaked," and blended that into my above crease, which I applied "Chopper." (Note all three swatches I've used are in the photo)

2) I applied my favorite black liquid eyeliner from Jordana Cosmetics. You already know how much I love this liner! If you haven't seen the post about it, check on the right side of this blog and click the link to "My All Time Favorite Eyeliner!"

3) Afterwards, I applied my sample mascara, pictured above :) Got this as a birthday gift last year from Sephora! Its the Badgal Lash Benefit Mascara. I really like the soft brush! Plus because the stick is so short, you can really work the brush in different angles to get every last eyelash looking perfect!

4) For my waterline I applied my Cliniques Purple Crush cream eyeliner. I received in my makeup set from Clinque that was gifted to me by a co-worker. Its a set of shadows, two liners, and two brushes. Love it. Unfortunately I can't find a link!

Finally! The lips!

1) Loreals Lipstick in Fairest Nude. This is an all time favorite lipstick of mine, as you can see from the tip! I use this quite often. Its creamy, smells good, and its a great nude/pink! 

2) Same pic!

3) I covered the nude/pink with a soft plum lipgloss. I'm not attaching the link to this because I kind of dont recommend it! Haha, I'm sorry but it really doesnt taste good and it dries very quickly. The reason I always like gloss is because it normally keeps my lips moist..this lipgloss doesn't cut it. I do however, love the colors! Both the soft plum and the pearly pink look great for any over coat of a liner or lipstick :) 

There you have it! My face! 

Have a great rest of your day!

Stick with me <3 

xo

Kara

O.O.T.D. (sorta)

Outfit of the day! (Sorta) All back is super trendy at the moment! Not the "goth" all black, but the slightly sophisticated and more classic all black look. This is what I wore last Saturday, so its not technically the outfit of my day today, per se -- its more of the outfit of the Saturday ;) Either way, here's the break down of this look:

( Please dont mind the dirty mirror! I've learned my lesson! )

And of course we can't forget accessories!!

Not all of the exact clothing/accessories are still in stock for certain stores, but I will provide you with as many as I can find!

Shirt: Carrie Cami from J.Crew

Sweater: This isn't the exact one from H & M, as mine have pockets, but this is the closest I could get..and it doesnt come in black! Sorry! Sweater look-a-like.

Leggings: Again, these aren't the exact ones, but the ones I will link you to are pretty similar. These leggings have a thicker leather line along the outside of the leg, my pair is much thinner. And you'll see my sweater thats not listed for sale anymore in this pic as well! Leggings look-a-like. 

Boots: Steve Maddens Lambi Ankle boots in Taupe.

Well, thats it for today!

Stick with me <3

xo

Kara

Simple Nude Lip

Hello! Following suit with yesterdays nude/sheer nail tutorial, I thought I would introduce you to a lovely nude/pink undertoned lip shade!

Today's post is pretty simple, but this makeup blog is all about sharing what you know! So even though I'm basically telling you to buy a liner & lipstick, and then to put it on your lips, I still think its worth sharing :) So! Lets get started! First you'll need to apply Prestige Lip Liner in L-206- Silk .  The link I have provided you with again is from Amazon -- I'm not a spokesperson for Amazon but I really do believe in getting the biggest bang for your buck. So rather than direct you to a page that may take more money from you, I try to find a link where you can easily buy the product with the least amount of damage to your wallet. That being said, in the next minute, I will be attaching a link to the Yves Saint Laurent website for some expensive lipstick. (But thats for you to go browse around and look at their other glorious shades..)  HAHA! 

The two products below will be the only makeup needed for this look!

Step 1: Line your lips!

Step 2: After filling your lips and creating a boundary for the lipstick; apply the YSL Rouge Volupte in Sensual Silk. This lipstick is EXTREMELY creamy. You do not need to load this lipstick on! Thats why I'm perfectly alright with spending $35 a tube. This stuff lasts forever and it feels like a cloud is sitting on your lips. Thats how I can only describe it. Seriously, so soft! 

Here is the final look! 

Nude and light pink lips are certainly the trend at the moment, but I honestly think its always been timeless and completely classic. I love this simple look and I believe its necessary for women to find a good brand that works for us, in order to create that glowing and classic look we all strive for! 

Have you already tried this lipstick? Do you have any other current nude/soft pink lip color faves? Share them with me, I'd love to hear from you! 

Thats it for today -- more tomorrow! (Hint: it *MIGHT* be how to get the over all look from the first picture on todays blog! ;) )

Stick with me <3 

xo

Kara

Follow me on Instagram: KaraEllie  & Twitter: KaraEllie

Nails Galore!

Happy Sunday, friends!

Today is all about nails! I've noticed that nudes/sheers are very trendy at the moment, so I came across this perfect shade of polish recently, and wanted to share with you! I have also listed the best base coat and top coat polish that you should use when trying to create this perfect over-all nude/sheer look!

Let's get started! First, apply your REVLON Colorstay Base Coat. Which you can find at your local Duane Reade (City peeps) Drugstore, or even online at Amazon! The link I have provided you with is from Amazon. The trick with this base coat is NOT to shake it! I know it can be an instinct to shake the polish before application, but in this case dont! Reason being, you do not want to create a "bubbling" effect after the base coat has dried. I apply ONE coat of this because thats really all you need! You will notice that it almost feels like you're putting gel onto your nails, as this coat is thick! That's one of the reasons why I love this product so much! You come away with your nails feeling slightly thicker/stronger and it looks like a gel manicure..except way cheaper! :)

Next! After the base coat has dried, apply your color! The color I have chosen is REVLON Colorstay in Pale Cashmere. This is a very pale pink, and I absolutely adore it! Perfect for spring! I apply 1 coat of this for the more sheer/nude look, and apply about 2 coats if I would like a more pink color. It's up to you! 

Finally, after your color coat has dried, apply REVLON Colorstay Top Coat! Again, do not shake the top coat! This will create the "bubbling" effect I noted before. You want to be sure that the gel of the top coat is smooth and not full of air bubbles :) I apply one coat.

Now, my top coat looks like its tinted pink, but thats because I got a little impatient one night when applying red nailpolish and didn't wait for the color to completely dry! So, when I went and applied my top coat, the brush collected traces of red and put it in my bottle. WOOPS! So that is a perfect example of what NOT to do! :) 

 Here is the final look! 

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you do pick up this product, let me know how it goes for you! Revlon Colorstay has a plethora of other colors that are just beautiful! I can't wait to pick up my next bottle! 

Stick with me <3

xo

Kara

Follow me! Instagram: KaraEllie & Twitter: KaraEllie

My All Time Favorite Eyeliner

Folks! You've heard it from me first! I'm telling you, this eyeliner is going to be a hot commodity soon!

For a long time I had been researching trying to find the best liquid eyeliner, and for the most part I became happy with Maybelines Eye Studio Precise in black. Dont get me wrong, this eyeliner totally does the job and its user friendly.. but it dries out incredibly quick! So I ventured out into the big bad world of black eyeliner and stumbled upon THIS BABY:

Jordana FabuLiner Bold in 01 Black

I love it! This particular liner is beyond easy to apply -- mainly because of its thick tip and marker-like shape! Almost feels like I'm using a sharpie. :)

Here is what the actual tip looks like: 

See how adorably chunky the felt tip is? Obsessed. I've been telling everyone I know about this product and I REALLY hope you try it! Like I said, extremely user friendly, lasts all day, and does not dry out easily. You can get a lot of use out of this liner.  It is recommended that you store the liner horizontally for optimum length of use. 

See that perfect tiny little wing?

This is "the perfect bold felt-tip liquid eyeliner for creating a variety of dramatic winged looks in one stroke!" -Jordana Cosmetics.

Let me know if you try this liner! I'd love to know your experience with it. I bought mine off of Amazon for $5.99, which is WAY cheaper than the price I've paid for other eyeliners, even at the drugstore!

Well, thats it for today, and I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! Please don't forget to subscribe and comment!

Stick with me <3 

xo 

Kara

Follow me on Instagram: KaraEllie & Twitter: KaraEllie

Current Favorites!

Hello! I thought today we could review some of my current favorites! I've labeled each item with a number :]

Number 1 on my current Favorites list is: Trader Joes  Inner Peas snack. If you're into salty goodies, this is a fine snack for you. I can normally have a small handful of these aside my lunch and be completely content. They are fluffy, obviously taste like peas, slightly salted, and guilt-free. Yes, you can always have a handful of raw snowpeas too, but these obviously feel more like a "healthy chip," for me just to satisfy a naughty craving. I also like that they are $1.29 at Trader Joes.

Number 2: Giorgio Armani's Acqua di Gioia perfume. Conveniently a Make-Up Artist/Hair Genius and fabulously chic pal of mine** gave me a sample tube of this perfume back in May, and I instantly fell in love with it! Its a beautiful fragrance. Normally I either wear Michael Kors original perfume or Dolce & Gabbanas "The One," and this fragrance seems to fall in line with these. It is not musty or super floral. This smells very clean, fresh, and feminine. I also gravitated towards this perfume more recently because I found that it was a part of the Unicef Tap Project. The company donates $5 for each Acqua di Giò and Acqua di Gioia fragrance purchased in the U.S. from March 1-31 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. 

Number 3: Skull Candy's Brown/Gold w/mic Aviator Headphones. As you can tell, I like things that are a bit more fashion forward, so when looking to purchase quality headphones, I really wanted something that stood out and didn't look massive on my girly head. These headphones are AMAZING. I can't tell you how many compliments I get from wearing these. They are not massive, the headband is soft, the ear muffs are adjustable, the wire doesn't tangle, there is a mic included, and not to mention the sound quality is top notch. Now, if you're looking for headphones with a TON of base, dont go for these. These are more of an equalizer, making the sounds extremely crisp. Definitely a great purchase, as I will be using these headphones for a long time! 

Number 4: My awesome sunnies from H&M! I was in desperate need of a laid back black pair of sunglasses. These are cheap, fashionable, and totally do their job! Love 'em.

Number 5: Ray Bans glasses. These are NOT prescription glasses, although you could take them in and get lenses put in them. I use these for all of my "hipster-y" outfits. :] I will say though, that I AM getting Warby Parker glasses soon so eventually these Faux Glasses will not be used as much. Haha. Also, I dont have a link for these because my mom got them at the super secret flea market she goes to with her sisters before Christmas.

Number 6:  Tresemme Dry Shampoo! I love this stuff! I don't wash my hair every day because my hair will get extremely oily if I do. So on the days that I feel like my hair needs a bit more texture, or if I feel like my hair is becoming slightly more oily than I would like, I spritz some of this magic into my roots and gently rub my fingers through the product. I swear by this stuff! 

Number 7:  Activate! These drinks are beyond amazing. I am obsessed. Obsessed! I actually ordered a crate of them off of Amazon because I'm that in love. I prefer the Lemon Lime flavor. These drinks look like water, until you turn the knob on top where all of the vitamins fall out and dissolve into the water! Tons of vitamins, ZERO calories, tastes good, and NO aspartame! Can't lose.  

Number 8: Yep! Told ya! This is literally my all time fav. and could potentially be on every single favorite list I make. Haha! This is the EOS lip balm in Sweet Mint. I can't say enough about this product. Ever since I can remember, I have searched for a lip balm that doesn't counter-act my lips. I like my lips to always feel hydrated and soft (like everyone) so whenever I would apply any chapstick, after a few hours my lips would start peeling! No lie. I was like.. isn't this supposed to do the opposite? Eventually I gave up and became an extreme lipglosser. (Doesn't that sound cool? Almost like a sport of some sort. haha.) But after all these gosh darn years, my mom gave me an Eos lip balm in my stocking for Christmas..and since then, I have not looked back. I apply morning, afternoon, and night. The mint leaves your lips feeling tingly and smooth. LOVE. 

Number 9: Nourish Organic lightweight face lotion with Argan & Rosewater. I received a sample tube of this magic from IPSY. The scent is a mixture of light florals and citrus. As soon as you apply a small bit of this lotion to your face, you will feel like you didn't put ANYTHING on it. Thats how light it feels! Absolutely ZERO oily or grimy feelings after application. I put this on after my shower, and only apply once. Honestly, its all you really need! Especially with this weather being as temperamental as it is, you really want something that will continue to hydrate and make your face feel fresh and smooth all day. Try it out! 

Thats all I have for you today! I feel silly that I did a list of only 9 items and not an even number! Its really bugging me. But next time, I will make it a solid 10! Promise. 

If you have any questions or a topic you would like me to cover, please comment below! Well -- either way, leave a comment... Make me feel loved :]


Stick with me <3

xo

Kara

**The fabulously chic and extremely talented make-up artist/hair stylist pal of mine is Destiny Elmore, based out of Seattle. She has her own website and Facebook Page! Check her out!

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This is really happening!

Hello! As you can probably tell by now, my name is K A R A and this is my Style & Beauty blog!

Here's what to expect from my blog!

• Daily Posts! (Once I find a groove I'll most likely create a schedule; i.e. Selfie Sunday, Make-Up Tip Monday, etc.)
• Q & A's!
• Subjects from Styling, Make-Up Favorites, Tips, Video & Photo tutorials, look-books,  and a TON of super rad girly topics will be talked about on the daily.

Now that you know what to expect from this blog, maybe I should tell you a bit more about...me!

  I'm 25. (Almost!)

  I'm a lady.

 I live in Brooklyn, Ny and commute into Midtown Manhattan every day for work.

 I grew up in a teeny tiny town in Upstate, New York and graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a degree in...drum roll please....THEATRE. Yep! I'm a creative junkie. Love art in every form.

I love Carol Burnett, wine, antiques, and flowers.

I'm the oldest of four.

I don't eat the ends of my french fries.

I am obsessed with EOS lip balm. Carry two of those puppies with me at all times.

I am a Gemini to the nth degree.

The name of this blog: Joli Visage, actually comes from two French words; Joli: ( can also be spelled Jolie; soft "j" - oh- lee) meaning "pretty," and Visage: (Vee-sah-zh) meaning "face." I thought it sounded classy and eclectic. So, yep, thats how I created the name of this blog! I want you all to come away from this blog feeling pretty and loving your face! (And whole self too!)

I had a stage name at the age of 4, and my family members would have to present me into a room as follows: "Presenting....MS. DIANE FAUSEL." (Diane Fausel is a realtor in the town that I grew up in. Somehow, at four, I found that name extremely appealing.)
              

WELL. I think that's really all I should divulge at this time.. 


For now? Welcome! I am SO GOSH DARNED EXCITED that you are here. Every single reader, every single comment, subscriber, YOU mean so much to me and I already love ya to pieces. Thanks for supporting me on this journey.

More to come..stick with me <3

xo

KARA


P.S. Feel free to follow me!  Instagram: KaraEllie & Twitter: KaraEllie