Your Girl Jess | Style + Beauty

Happy Friday Eve, friends! In today's blog post, I'm working with SHEIN to bring you 10 winter outfit ideas featuring affordable items from the SHEIN site. Additionally, you guys can get an extra 15% off with my discount code Q3YGJESS

Let's get into it!

Ribbed Funnel Neck Bodysuit - I'm wearing this bodysuit in a size Medium and it fits true to size. This bodysuit has the most incredible stretch making it very comfortable. The fabric is thin but opaque and can be styled in so many ways. This bodysuit is definitely a must-have basic.

Chain Detail Corduroy Skirt - I'm wearing this skirt in a size Medium and it fits true to size. When I tell you that this skirt has the most perfect and flattering fit, believe me! It's so cute and I love the chain detail and side slit. The length of this skirt is spot on, not too long or short.

Faux Leather Square Toe Ankle Booties - I'm wearing these boots in a size 8.5 and they fit true to size. These boots are so sleek and chic. I love the height of them and the square toe.

Teddy Pullover and Sweatpants Set - I'm wearing this set in a size Medium and it fits true to size. This set is the softest set I've ever felt, it's like walking around with the fuzziest blanket wrapped around your body. I like that the top has a large pocket and O-ring zipper detail. The bottoms don't have pockets, but they have an elastic waistband so they're very comfy.

Drop Shoulder Super Crop Hoodie with Tank - I'm wearing this top in a size Medium and it fits true to size. This top is actually two separate pieces which I love because I can style each piece individually or together. The fit of this top is more relaxed as opposed to form-fitting.

Sherpa-Lined Moto Jacket - I'm wearing this jacket in a size Large and the arms fit tight. This jacket is so cute, it's a shame the fit was just not right. When I looked at the reviews it said to size up because the sleeves on this jacket were tight, so I ordered a Large and the jacket was still too tight around the arms. The style of it is still super cute!

Side Zip Point Toe Boots - I'm wearing these boots in a size EUR40 and they fit true to size. These boots are a faux suede material and they have a chunky heel so they're easy to walk in. They also go up quite high and they have a side zipper.

Raglan Sleeve Chunky Knit Sweater - I'm wearing this sweater in a size Medium and it fits true to size. This sweater is so soft and cozy, and I love the relaxed and loose fit. It's a piece that can be dressed up or down. Here I dressed it up a bit with a pair of heeled knee-high boots.

Plaid Mini Wool-Mix Fabric Skirt - I'm wearing this skirt in a size Medium and it fits true to size. The texture of this skirt is thick and fuzzy, I also adore the print. This skirt has a zipper and button closure in the back and it falls at a good length.

Notch Collar Faux Leather Blazer - I'm wearing this blazer in a size Small and it runs big; I recommend going down a size. The fit of this blazer is nice and oversized, it has a front-button closure and faux pockets. It's so chic and super trendy.

Turtleneck Drop Shoulder Oversized Sweater - I'm wearing this sweater in a size Medium and it fits true to size. I love the oversized fit of this sweater. It's long enough to cover the bum when worn with a pair of leggings, but can also be tucked into a pair of jeans, a skirt, or a sports bra for a cropped look. The material is also ultra-soft and cozy.

Paneled Faux Leather Skirt - I'm wearing this skirt in a size Medium and it fits big around the waist. A simple leather skirt is another staple I think everyone needs in their closet. This piece can be worn all year round and it's very stylish.

Zip-Up Puffer Jacket - I'm wearing this jacket in a size Medium and it fits true to size. I'm obsessed with this jacket! It has zipper pockets, the prettiest beige color, and it's good quality. It's thick enough to keep me warm in the winter, it's definitely a winter essential.

Mock Neck Cut-Out Rib-Knit Top - I'm wearing this top in a size Medium and it fits true to size. I love the cutout detail on this top and the fit is very flattering. The fabric has some stretch to it and it's also available in several colors.

Lace-Up Combat Boots - I'm wearing these boots in a size EUR40 and they fit true to size. These boots have a plush fur inner lining and are super cute for the wintertime.

Drop Shoulder Drawstring Hoodie Sweatpants Set - I'm wearing this set in a size Medium and it fits a little oversized. The bottoms have an elastic waistband and pockets, and the top has a pouch pocket and drawstring hoodie.

I hope this blog post gave you guys some fashion inspiration for the winter season!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post, I appreciate you all so much! And thank you to SHEIN for the beautiful pieces mentioned here today. Be sure to check out the SHEIN website for affordable and fashionable items and don't forget to use my discount code Q3YGJESS for an additional 15% off your purchase.

Until next time friends, take care!

xo, Your Girl Jess

Over the Christmas holiday, my family and I traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, and today I'm telling you guys all about it.

As a Type-A person, planning and prepping happened weeks before the trip, and the packing happened days before the flight. Is anyone else this way?

I made sure my mind and body were right because pre-flight anxiety is a very real thing and it's something I struggle with. Click here for my tips on pre-flight anxiety. I also made sure to have all of our belongings and information organized and ready, to make the traveling process easier and less chaotic.

We took off the morning of Christmas Eve from my hometown, Houston, Texas, and arrived in Denver Colorado within a few hours. There we waited for about an hour for our connecting flight to SLC. We safely landed in Salt Lake City around 1PM and were picked up by a family friend.

Our first stop upon landing was In-N-Out, not my first pick when it comes to food but, I wanted to see what all the hype was about. After waiting in the drive-thru line for what felt like an hour, we drove to the house where we were staying and ate there. I'm sad to say that I was a bit disappointed by their food. Now, I'm not saying I'm biased but, I think Whataburger is way better. Haha!

I don't know about you guys, but after a long day of traveling I'm exhausted and this time around I had the company of a bad headache. So naturally, all I wanted to do once arriving was to settle in and relax. My family on the other hand had other plans and they went on a hike while my little sister and I stayed home to rest.

On Christmas Day my husband and I woke up and got ready to go out and get some photos for an Instagram collaboration I had due the next day. We decided to make a mini-hiking trip out of it so we drove to Mueller Park and it was the most peaceful place I'd been to in quite a long time. It reminded me of Narnia. Snow covered the ground and tree branches. We saw a woodpecker pecking away at a tree looking for food, and a frozen creek whose running water you could still hear.

After our mini-hike and photo session, we came home for a quick lunch break then drove to the Bonneville Shoreline Trails for some more hiking. This place was just as beautiful as the first place we hiked but completely different. There was no snow, instead, it had beautiful fields of dried grass that in the sun gave the hills a golden appearance.

My husband, being the adventurer that he is, hiked up a steep hill while I stayed back to watch, and took photos. I must say that I was very impressed when he made it up the steep hill in less than 10 minutes. After he made it to the top, I hiked up a little to find a good spot to sit, soak up the sun, and enjoy the gorgeous views of the valley and mountains that surrounded me.

The day after Christmas we took a drive out to Park City, a ski-resort town high up in the Rocky Mountains. The drive there was absolutely unreal. We were surrounded by gigantic mountains that I captured on film, however, the camera does the beauty of their nature no justice. There we went to Woodward Park which I highly recommend if you're new to skiing or snowboarding. It's less expensive than the nearby ski-resorts and it's less crowded too.

It was my second time skiing and let me tell you, it was not any easier. I fell at least half a dozen times and a few of those falls were really painful. There did come a moment where I gave up in frustration and cried mid-way down. But I did manage to make it down to the bottom of the mountain, in one piece, no broken bones, and that's what's important! Will you find me skiing in the future? My answer is, not by choice. Haha!

Our last full day in Utah was pretty chill, we didn't do a whole lot. My husband went on a sunrise hike while I slept in, then got ready. When he got back we went to a nearby shopping center to take Instagram photos for a collaboration. After that, we spent the day with family and packed up for our flight the following day.

All in all, Utah was great! We experienced a lot of firsts on this trip as a family and I wouldn't trade that for anything. Most of our time spent here was out in nature and far away from the city. Which I think is exactly what we needed. I would definitely love to come back!

Here's hoping 2021 is filled with more travel and adventure.

Until next time friends, take care!

xo, Your Girl Jess

Over the last few months, I've learned ways to cope with my anxiety with the help of my therapist. And along the way, I've figured out what helps so I want to share the tips I've been taught with you. I hope this helps you feel a little less anxious when flying or anytime at all.

TIP #1 - SLOW DOWN YOUR BREATHING

This right here is by far what I've found to be the most effective. The way I like to slow down my breathing is by taking a deep breath in and holding it in for a count of 4 then slowly releasing and repeating this until I feel my breathing pattern has come to a slow, calm, and steady pace. As I do this breathing exercise I try my absolute best to put all of my focus and attention on my breath. I like to do this by closing my eyes, putting one hand over my chest, and feeling how my chest slowly moves up and down, as I breathe in and out.

If I know I'm traveling someplace I like to do this exercise days, even weeks, before my trip. I've found that practicing this makes it a little easier for me to focus on my breathing when I'm feeling anxious. Think of this exercise as mindfulness, solely focusing on your breathing.

TIP #2 - WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR?

Stop anxious thoughts in their tracks with thoughts of gratitude. I like to start with myself. For example, I'll say things like "I'm grateful for my feet because they help me feel the ground beneath me (then I wiggle my toes). I'm grateful for my legs because they help me move around and get from point A to point B (then I stretch my legs out)." And I move up my body, expressing gratitude for what I have. Then I start to focus on more things I'm grateful for outside of myself.

Smile as you express gratitude, when you smile your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides which help to fight off stress. I know it sounds silly to smile while you're feeling anxious, but trust me, it helps.

TIP #3 - SELF REASSURANCE

Anxiety has the tendency of lying to us with irrational thoughts. The way I like to combat these thoughts are by reassuring myself. When I find myself with a thought or thoughts that are not necessarily true, I like to tell myself things like "I am safe at this moment in time. This feeling will pass and I will be okay." When I tell myself these things I must believe in them otherwise they don't have any power.

I'm not sure what higher power you believe in, but I find that telling myself things like "I am putting my trust into the universe as I know the universe has my back. I am a part of the universe and the universe is a part of me. I am safe." Essentially putting faith over fear.

TIP #4 - DISTRACT THE MIND

I use to think that distracting my mind with things that brought me a sense of relaxation was bad, but I've learned it's not a bad thing at all, so long as it's not the only technique I'm using to cope with my anxiety. So I like to bring a journal so I can write or draw in and I like to download music playlists, podcasts, and TV shows/movies on to my phone. I sometimes bring a book to read and games to play. Basically, any on-the-go activity that makes you feel good, do that.

I hope you find these tips helpful. Sending you lots of love and peace.

Until next time friends, take care!

xo, Your Girl Jess

"Mindset, habits, and routines are the building blocks for success towards your wellness goals."

With the new year being less than a month away, I've been intentionally implementing habits that I'd like to take with me into 2021. The habits that I've started, I hope to keep not only in the new year but for many years to come.

Today I'm sharing these three very achievable habits with you guys so that we can grow in the right direction together in 2021!

HABIT #1 - MAKE YOUR HEALTH A PRIORITY

Eat healthier foods. This can be as simple as making sure there are greens on your plate for every meal. If you don't like eating veggies, veggie smoothies and juices are a great alternative.
Move your body. Doing as little as 15 minutes of cardio, dancing, weight-lifting, yoga, or anything else that gets your body moving is enough for positive changes to happen in the brain.
Unplug from technology. This allows us to reconnect with ourselves, to be present, and it gives us the ability to recharge and reset. I personally like to unplug from socials on the weekends.

HABIT # 2 - TREAT YOURSELF WITH KINDNESS

Less negative-self talk. Bringing awareness to your thoughts is a great way to decrease negative-self talk. When you catching yourself thinking negative things about yourself, stop those thoughts, and replace them with kind words. Start talking to yourself the way you'd talk to a loved one you really care about.
More self-love. Practicing self-love is scientifically proven to produce positive feelings, boost your confidence and self-esteem, and it can decrease mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. (Check out this article to learn 10 ways to practice self-love.)

HABIT #3 - HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Express what you're thankful for each day. Take a minute and make a mental note, or write an actual note, of 3 things you are grateful for in that moment. Taking notice of what you are grateful for will increase your appreciation for the things you have. Research shows that by developing an Attitude of Gratitude we can feel more fulfilled and joyful each day.

I strongly believe that these three achievable habits can make a world of a difference to our overall well-being if we stick to them. This is why I encourage you guys to practice these habits for yourself and experience the positive changes that come from implementing this routine.

Here's to getting better together in 2021. Until next time friends, take care!

xo, Your Girl Jess

On Cyber Monday I did a little makeup shopping on Ulta Beauty and my order finally arrived in the mail. Here is what I got!

I purchased a total of six products, all of which are concealers. Well, technically, four are concealers and two are color correctors.

What is concealer? Concealer is used to conceal (hide) discoloration or imperfections on the skin. Concealer is typically flesh-toned and can be used anywhere on the face or body.

What is color corrector? Color corrector is used to correct or cancel out discoloration or hyperpigmentation on the skin or body. Color correctors can be found in various colors to correct a wide range of imperfections such as redness, under eye circles, dark spots, and more.

As I was unboxing my package I was reminded that I purchased each concealer/corrector in pairs. I remember doing this because I wanted to make sure I got the right color match. Does anyone else do this?

Here's an overview of my order:

Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape Concealer in 20S Light Sand • Available here

Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape Concealer Set in 22N Light Neutral • Available here

elf Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer in Light Sand • Available here

elf Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer in Light Beige • Available here

LA Girl Pro Concealer in Cool Pink Corrector • Available here
LA Girl Pro Concealer in Light Yellow Corrector • Available here

CLICK THE PRODUCT TO SHOP

LA GIRL PRO CONCEALER

Did you know that my first ever blog post was a review on the LA Girl Pro Concealers? (Read that blog post here) Yup! That was way back in 2014. Gosh, I feel old. Hahaha!

My opinions on this concealer haven't changed, I still think it's great. Although, these days I find myself reaching for their color correctors more rather than their actual concealers.

I picked up the Cool Pink Corrector to help cancel out the blue tones from my under eye circles and the Light Yellow Corrector to help cancel out the red and purplish-gray tones from acne and acne scars.

Now, you're probably wondering (or not). Why do you need a color corrector? Doesn't concealer hide all of that? Well in some instances, yes. However, I've come to find that when I don't color correct I can sometimes still see redness from my acne showing through the concealer or the blue tones from my under eye circles will show gray under my concealer. Color correcting essentially prevents that from happening because the issue is being corrected as opposed to being hidden or concealed.

TARTE COSMETICS SHAPE TAPE CONCEALER

This concealer seems to rank pretty high amongst many makeup lovers. Can you believe I'm just now trying this for the first time? Let me tell you that I took FULL advantage of the sale this baby had on Cyber Monday! Because if I'm keeping it 100, I hesitated to buy this concealer for a while due to its high price tag. But here I am, in the year 2020, getting on the Shape Tape bandwagon, and I'm not mad about it.

Here is more information about this concealer straight from the Tarte Cosmetics website:

- Has a full-coverage formula for 16 hours of flawless wear

- Has a 12 hour crease-proof formula that won't cake or settle

- Its formula technology helps to smooth + blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

- It is vegan, non-comedogenic, and waterproof

- The formula is free of parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, triclosan, sodium laurly sulfate, and gluten

- This concealer retails for $27 and contains 0.33 fl oz of product

My first impressions and thoughts on this concealer were:

- A little goes a long way with this one. It's very pigmented and full coverage which is perfect for concealing all of my acne scars and active blemishes.

- The finish is a flat matte which is ideal for not emphasizing the spots I'm trying to conceal.

- The texture of this concealer is on the thick side but it thins out as I blend without loosing it's coverage.

- It blends effortlessly onto the skin.

- I noticed that the formula has a subtle, barley-there, floral scent to it which I don't mind it.

- I saw very minimal creasing under the eyes with this concealer, I was very impressed.

Overall, I give this concealer an 8 out of 10. The price point is a little high for my personal preference, but the formula itself was outstanding. It barley creased under the eyes and it wore beautifully on the face. The packaging is sleek, the cap has a pretty design, and the doe foot applicator was nice and big.

ELF COSMETICS 16HR CAMO CONCEALER MATTE FINISH

As I was doing my research to find a good drugstore concealer I came across this one which was actually being compared to the Tarte Shape Tape quite a lot. I purchased this one with the intention to see how it's comparable to Shape Tape.

Here is more information about this concealer straight from the elf Cosmetics website:

- It's a full-coverage, 16 hours wear concealer

- The highly pigmented formula is lightweight

- It dries down to a matte finish

- It won't settle into fine lines or creases
- It is vegan, cruelty-free, and non-comedogenic

- This concealer retails for $6 and contains 0.2 fl oz of product

My first impressions and thoughts on this concealer were:

- A little goes a long way with this one. It's very pigmented and full coverage which is perfect for concealing all of my acne scars and active blemishes.

- The finish is a flat matte which is ideal for not emphasizing the spots I'm trying to conceal.

- The texture of this concealer is on the thick side and it dries fast so you have to work quick.

- It blends pretty easily onto the skin.

- I didn't notice a scent on this concealer, it just smells like makeup.

- I saw a lot of creasing under the eyes with this concealer, I was a little dissapointed.

Overall I give this concealer a 6 out of 10. The under eyes creased pretty bad, and I think this is because of it's thick formula. On the face the formula performed very well. It concealed everything nicely and it stayed in place all day. The price point is excellent and the packaging is sleek and minimal.

Here are all the concealers swatched:

I noticed that all of these concealers do oxidize, meaning the initial color application is a little lighter and when the product fully dries it darkens a little. The photo above represents what the concealers look like when they are about 90% dry.

Here you can see the under-eye creasing between both concealers:

As you can see the Tarte Shape Tape had very minimal creasing in comparison to the Elf Camo Concealer. I did my best to apply around the same amount of product to both eyes and I used the same finger-patting blending technique for both.

In conclusion, I can see how these two concealrs have similarities and why so many beauty enthusiasts compare the two. Now having had the opportunity to play with both I do think they're quite similar the only major difference I noticed between them was the under-eye creasing which can be a big deal breaker for some. I'd personally reach for the elf concealer when looking to concealer everywhere except the under-eye, and I'd reach for the Tarte concealer when looking for a concealer that can do it all.

With that being said, that wraps up my review on all of the products I purchased from the Ulta Beauty Cyber Monday Sale. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to read my blog post, I appreciate you so much. I truly hope you enjoyed reading this.

Wishing you all an amazing weekend ahead. Until next time friends, take care!

xo, Your Girl Jess

In today's blog post I'm going to be sharing all the pieces I picked from the SHEIN Cyber Monday Sale.

Are you taking advantage of all the SHEIN sales? Well, you should be! Right now SHEIN is having its Cyber Monday Sale from 11/28 to 12/2. Use my code Q3YGJESS for an additional 15% off the SHEIN site!

Shawl Collar Rolled Cuff Solid Blazer - I'm wearing this blazer in a size Large for an oversized fit. This blazer is so classic and a must-have in everyone's closet. I like the length of it, as it allows me to pair it with dresses, as seen in the photo above.

Turtle Neck Rib-Knit Bodycon Dress - I'm wearing this dress in a size Medium and it fits true to size. The fabric of this dress has an incredible stretch to it, so it's super comfortable, and the fabric is also nice and soft.

Rolled Neck Raglan Sleeve Split Side Sweater Dress - I'm wearing this dress in a size Medium and it fits true to size. The color of this sweater dress is beautiful. The fabric is stretchy and soft. This dress has slide slits on both sides and in my opinion they're a bit too high. I styled this dress with a belt to cinch the waist because without it, it doesn't have much shape.

Single Breasted Flap Pocket Houndstooth Coat - I'm wearing this coat in a size Large. I sized up to get an oversized fit. This coat is thick and warm so it's perfect for colder weather. The cream and brown houndstooth print is beautiful. It has front button closures and two large pockets in the front.

Mock Neck Zebra Striped Bodysuit - I'm wearing this bodysuit in a size Medium and it fits true to size. This bodysuit is so chic with the zebra print and shoulder pads. The fabric has a slight stretch and it has regular underwear bottoms.

Zipper Fly Patch Pocket PU Pants - I'm wearing these pants in a size Medium and they fit true to size. These pants are my latest obsession. They fit perfect around the waist and they have an amazing stretch to them. All of the pockets on these pants are functional. I highly recommend these pants!

Lettuce Edge Cable Knit Crop Top - I'm wearing this top in a size Medium and it fits true to size. I love the neutral color of this top. The lettuce edge adds a nice touch to this top. The fabric has a slight stretch to it and I also like the squared neckline.

Drop Shoulder Color-Block Polo Shirt - I'm wearing this shirt in a size Medium and it fits true to size. I love the loose and relaxed fit of this top. It's nice and baggy so it's super comfortable. The neutral color-block is fun but still very wearable.

Solid Flap Pocket Front Wide Leg Cargo Pants - I'm wearing a size Medium and it fits true to size. These pants fit perfectly around the waist. They have a nice wide leg so they're very comfortable. The fabric is lightweight. It has two front pockets and no pockets in the back.

Chunky Frame Sunglasses - These sunglasses give me major 90's vibes and I love it! They're very sturdy and they come in a high-quality case to keep them nice and protected.

That wraps up this blog post. Let me know which outfit was your favorite!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post, I appreciate you all so much. Until next time friends, take care!

xo, Your Girl Jess

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