July Favorites

Related Posts:

• August 2013 Favorites      

I'm finally getting around to making a favorites post! I've wanted to make one of these forever, but I never actually followed through, and now that I have some downtime, I decided to make one! 

**CLICK THE TITLE OF EACH PRODUCT TO SEE IT ON THEIR WEBSITE**

MAKEUP

Lorac Front Of the Line Pro Eyeliner ($23)

            I've had this eyeliner since the end of October and I just now ran out (It's now the end of July!) It's a little pricier, but it is SO worth it! It glides on and doesn't get stuck on your eyelashes (Which I've found my current Smashbox eyeliner does (They're both felt tip eyeliners))

Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner (Pencil) ($19)

           I just recently started using this eyeliner, and it doesn't work too well on my waterline (Despite it's claims to be "waterproof") however, it works very well on my top lash line. It is just your typical pencil look, but its nice if you want to just add a little extra something to your eye look!

Urban Decay Lush Lash Mascara ($20)

          (This link is to Sephora's website because I couldn't find this specific mascara on Urban Decay's website.) This is my all time favorite mascara! I've re-purchased this mascara 3 times now because I can't find anything I like as much! It lengthens my eyelashes more than any other mascara ever has, and yet it still manages to add volume without clumping! I cannot get over this mascara. Some of my friends even went out and bought it because they've heard me rave about it so much!

BEAUTY

Essie: Cocktails and Coconuts ($8.50)

            This color is the perfect nude nail color! It's great for summer because it makes you look more tan! I love this color and it's been my most used this summer! It has a subtle shimmer, which is nice and adds a little extra glam.

China Glaze: Shocking Pink ($7.50)

           Another must-have for summer, this color will make your tan pop! It's nice and bright which screams summer! You will need a topcoat however, because it has a matte finish.

Nicole By OPI: 3-in-1 Base Coat/Top Coat/Nail Strengthener ($5.99)

           You simply can't have the perfect manicure without this! Instead of lugging along your base coat, top coat and nail strengthener, you can just bring this, its all of those... IN ONE!! It's amazing! It really does do everything that it claims and I'm amazed. I love this! 

Nicole By OPI: Quick Dry Top Coat ($5.99)

           I've bought top coats that claim to be "quick drying" in the past, and I haven't been impressed... Until now. This was the only top coat they had at Target when I needed one, so I bought it, but I'm so impressed by this! I put this on over many, many layers of nail polish and it dries SOLID in 15 minutes! I'm always amazed by this and I will never buy any other top coat from now on!

xoxo

Ways To Keep Your Face Clear For Summer!

July 23rd, 2014

SIMILAR POSTS:

•   Tips For Getting Clear Skin

Summer is great, its a little break and time to relax. But, our skin might start breaking out more from oils in sunscreens, or sweating from laying out all day at the beach/pool. Today I have a couple little tricks to keep your skin clear, or at least make it appear you have clear skin. 

• EXFOLIATE!!!

             I cannot stress this enough! Dead skin can end up falling into pores, which will clog them, and create a breakout, dead skin also prevents your foundation from going on smoothly, it'll look rough or uneven, and it may wear off easier in those spots. I love the Clinique Exfoliating Scrub, I use this usually weekly (On Sundays) and it makes such a difference! You don't have to leave it on for any amount of time! You can just put it on, then wipe it right off! You can instantly see (and feel) a difference! I swear by this stuff!

• Avoid touching your face

            Your hands produce lots of oils and they contain the most germs on all your body! Touching your face transfers those oils and germs and can clog pores. When washing your face, try to use a sponge designed for use on sensitive skin (This will be the most gentle) or a wash cloth.

• Wash your face every night (Not in the morning!!)

            Never wash your face in the morning as washing your face too often will make your face produce more oils, leading to breakouts. Also, if you wash your face with hot water, it will open your pores, then while applying makeup, it will sink right into your pores, creating breakouts or pimples. Instead of washing your face, just put some cold water on your face, this will close your pores, and wake you up!

• Avoid thick, heavy foundations

          Swap out heavy foundations for a simple BB Cream! Thick, heavy foundations will make your face feel like its suffocating. Save those for the winter or fall. BB Creams are much lighter and most of them have SPF! (No need for oily sunscreens!) 

xoxo

Healthy Summer Recipes And Food Choices!

Past Posts

• Review: Pixi Primer   
• Review: Urban Decay Mascara  

Summer is a time for fun in the sun... But we also lose some motivation to stay fit because its finally our "time off" of school and college and life basically.. This summer, I've been getting way into cooking and making simple, but healthy snacks and meals, so I decided I'd share them with you!

**= alternative option

THE PERFECT PANINI/SANDWICH

What you need:

• Deli meat of choice
• Basil
• Mozzarella cheese
• Bread
• Sandwich maker

How to make it:

1. Put 2 pieces of bread on a plate, and lay a piece of mozzarella cheese on top of both sides (This will prevent  your sandwich from falling or slipping apart)
2. Place 1-3 pieces of your meat of choice on top (I went with turkey as its a healthier option)
3. Lay 1 large leaf of fresh, organic basil on top, then stick the 2 sides together
4. Place in sandwich maker until it turns a golden color
5. Slice apart and enjoy!

FROZEN STRAWBERRY LEMONADE

What you need:

• Lemonade (Powder, frozen/concentrate or pre-made) (Make sure this is just the original lemon flavor)
• Fresh Strawberries
• Ice or frozen strawberries
• Blender

How to make it:

1. Make the lemonade, or pour some into a blender
2. Slice up strawberries and add to the lemonade (Use as many as you would like, depending on how much of a strawberry flavor you want)
3. Add ice or frozen strawberries (Frozen strawberries will add more flavor, whereas ice might make it taste watered down, and you'll want to add sugar for flavor)
4. Blend until there are no ice chunks and it is the consistency of an icee
5. Pour in glass(es) and enjoy!

STRAWBERRY BANANA** SMOOTHIE/GREEN JUICE

What you need:

• Fresh strawberries
• Fresh banana(s)
• Frozen strawberries (Alternative for ice)
• Vanilla Yogurt
• Spinach (Optional)
• Blender

How to make it:

1. Cut up strawberries and bananas and put into a blender
2. Add vanilla yogurt and frozen strawberries (Again, frozen strawberries add flavor and a frozen consistency)
3. Add spinach if you're making this a green juice (Spinach does not add any flavor, it just makes it healthier and it'll change the color) 
4. Blend until its at the consistency you like
5. Pour in glass(es) and enjoy!

**Substitute strawberries and/or bananas with any other fruit to switch things up and create a new flavor!

            INSTEAD OF                                                TRY

       -Salted/Buttered popcorn                    -Kettle Corn

       -Normal yogurt (Full of sugar)           -Greek Yogurt

       -Canned fruit                                        -Fresh Fruit

       -Chocolate cake                                   -Dark Chocolate                   dipped Strawberries

       -Original oatmeal                                 -Steel-Cut Oatmeal

       -Potatoes                                              -Sweet Potatoes/Yams

       -Red meat                                             -Chicken

xoxo

REVIEW: Pixi by Petra- Flawless & Poreless Primer

June 26th, 2014

Past Posts:

• Summer 2014: Hunt For the Perfect Mascara
• Hunt For the Perfect Mascara: Urban Decay Mascara Review

Price: $22.00
Color: Translucent ONLY
Rating: 1/5
Pros: -
Cons: oily, doesn't do what it claims, expensive, poor quality
Claims: lightweight, velvety base, flawless makeup application, minimizes pores, reduces shine, great for all skin types

          So recently I was at Target picking up a few basic things I needed in the make up section, and my Target has the beauty consultant in stores, I believe they have one of these in every re modeled Target, if not all Targets now. She gave a friend and I some samples, and the Pixi by Petra Flawless & Poreless Primer was one of the samples. I, personally have never heard of this brand, but I've always wanted to try out a primer, as I've never used one before! The first day I used this with my normal foundation (Which has a primer in it, so I really didn't need to use it) and I put it on, and it went on super oily, the only thing I can compare this feeling to, is if you were to pour oil in a bucket, and stick your hand in it, then rub your hand all over your face. It was awful especially since I do not have oily skin. I let it set for 15 minutes thinking maybe it needed to set then it would be "matte" as it claims. It did not reduce my pores, it made them bigger if anything, as my pores are very, very small to start with, it feels very heavy and as if my face was suffocating, my makeup didn't go on flawlessly, I looked like a grease ball, and I had to put on so much mattifying/setting powder to keep from looking like an oily mess. And it wasn't just that foundation, I tried it again a few days ago with a different foundation and it did the same thing. So I would not recommend this even if it were the last primer on earth. Save your money, and your face.

xoxo

Hunt for the Perfect Mascara 2014: My Current Mascara

June 22nd, 2014

PAST POSTS:

• The Hunt For the Perfect Mascara
• Get Clear Skin Quick For Summer!

     And so the hunt begins! Currently, I use Urban Decay's Lush Lash Mascara (Picture below)

When I purchased this, I was looking for a mascara that would give me length, which it did, but it lacked volume. I thought volume didn't matter to me, because more times than not, mascaras that claimed to "add volume" instead, added clumps, which is a big no-no when it comes to mascara. The brush is very neat, it has an hour glass shape, and the bristles are tiny, but there's never any clumping even on the brush for me.

This mascara was well worth the $20, if you want it solely for added length. It definitely gives that natural or fake eyelash look if that's what you're going for. But, it's not enough for me. And so the hunt begins.. Leave requests or some of your favorite mascaras below!

xoxo

The Hunt For the Perfect Mascara: Summer 2014

June 2nd, 2014

Past Posts:

•   Get Clear Skin for Summer
•   Spring Break 2014: Travel Tips and Tricks

       Summer is finally here, which means much more free time for blogging! I have so much in the works and I'm beyond excited to announce everything! For my first challenge this summer, I'm going to be hunting down the perfect mascara! Personally, the makeup product I'm willing to splurge on, is more times than not, mascara. Mascaras and eyeliners are the key to the perfect eye look! And I love highlighting and accenting my eyes! I'll be trying out drugstore mascaras, high end mascaras, and anything and everything in between. I currently use Urban Decay's Lush Lash Mascara, and I love it, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's perfect. I'm so excited to try out all types of new mascaras and I'm looking forward to trying out Benefit's Push Up eyeliner when Sephora releases it! I hope you'll join me on my quest for the perfect mascara! If you have any suggestions or mascaras you'd like to see a review on, let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Tips for Getting Clear Skin

4/23/2014
    Past Posts

• Spring Break 2014: Travel Tips
• Spring Break 2014: Getting Bikini Ready

      Recently, I've been experimenting and I've found a couple great ways to clear up your skin quick! Some are quicker, others take time.

• Aloe Vera

   I have a couple Aloe Vera plants that I use, but the gel that you can get from Target or Walgreens will work too. The gel from stores won't work as well because of all the other chemicals in it, so if you can get an Aloe Vera plant, that works best. For the plant, cut off a BOTTOM leaf, then cut it open, and either apply it to your problem areas straight from the leaf, or you can get some on your fingers. The plant doesn't smell the greatest, but it works wonders! Put this on before bed and (DO NOT WASH THIS OFF!! LEAVE IT ON, IT'LL SOAK INTO YOUR SKIN!) This will help reduce swelling, and decrease the redness. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to the plant, so I can't do this that often, but if you can, then go for it! You'll see a difference overnight and over time, your skin will clear significantly. 

• Tooth Paste

  Using a whitening toothpaste (Crest 3D White, or Colgate Optic White) put a dab of this on a breakout, leave it on overnight, and it'll decrease the redness. This is not to be used every day, but if you need to get rid of a blemish overnight, it'll do the trick. This will dry it up and clear it up.

• Face Wash

  This is mostly common sense, but using different face washes will make a difference! Switch between 2 different brands or between cream and gel. This one will take time, but it'll clear your skin.

• Exfoliate!

  Exfoliating your skin every week will clear skin quick! Dead skin can clog pores and cause breakouts. And getting rid of that, will make an easier foundation application because there will be no dead skin for your foundation to catch on to.

Until next time, 

xoxo

Spring Break 2014: Tips and Advice for the First Time Traveler

March 13th, 2014

             I just arrived home from my Spring Break trip today, and I have seen some pretty interesting things on my flights to and from my destination. At the end, I'll add in a couple odd or funny things I saw. And since I had a relatively early Spring Break this year, I will continue posting my Spring Break posts. KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS FOR THOSE FLYING ONLY!

•  Do not bring your meal onto the plane!!

          Please do not sit down to your McDonald's feast or your leftovers from the diner in the terminal, if you want to eat your meal at the airport, ARRIVE EARLY! Most of us do not want to be stuck on a plane for hours smelling whatever it is you ate. Keep in mind, some people DO get motion sick, and smells do NOT help with nausea. A simple food that doesn't bring undesirable scents with it (A brownie, some fruit, a muffin/cupcake) if fine, but unless food is served on the plane, leave your food off.

• Check your bag!

          The airline I fly with, offers a free first checked bag. So if you have your roller bag that you refuse to check at check-in, at least check it at the gate. More times than not, the overhead storage gets full, just save us all the hassle and check your bag.

• Board with the correct zone!

          The boarding area is for those who are called up to board. My airline calls you up in "zones" So it goes first class, sky priority, zone 1, zone 2 and so on. If you are supposed to board in zone 4, WHAT ARE YOU DOING STANDING IN LINE FOR FIRST CLASS BOARDING?! Please just wait for your zone to be called, THEN go up

NOW ON TO THE STORIES!!
       When I was leaving to go to my destination, there was an announcement on overhead when we were boarding. They announced "Do not put children in the overhead compartment. I know it may look comfy, but please keep them with you!" I'm so surprised they even have to make an announcement for that! It must have happened otherwise they wouldn't announce it!

       I saw a lady boarding at the gate next to mine, and she was wearing a purple jacket, purple pants, purple shoes, pulling a purple suitcase, and she had purple highlights in her hair. All were the same -or close to the same- shade of purple. I'm guessing she likes purple!

       The lady in front of me getting off the plane today got her suitcase caught on a seat belt while trying to exit the plane. She turned around and asked if "anyone has a scissors or knife or something" that she could cut the seat belt with. Yes, because TSA would definitely let us through security with a scissors or knife.. (Keep in mind I'm from the US, so I don't know if other countries have as strict rules as far as security goes.)

       

Have a safe and fun Spring Break!

xoxo

SPRING BREAK 2014: Getting Bikini Ready

February 27th, 2014
        
         With Spring Break fast approaching, I (as well as many others) have put off getting in shape until the last minute. I'm naturally skinny to start with, so I (personally) see results very quick, but for others, it could take months. So I decided to put together a couple quick and easy workouts to get in shape and get the bikini body you've always wanted. I'll be dividing this up into parts, meaning what part of the body the exercise focuses on.

** THE ONE MINUTE RULE: When you start feeling like you can't hold it anymore or you feel a burn and your legs/arms feel like jell-o, go for one more minute to really make the exercise work.**

ARMS:

• Planks

               This can actually work your arms and core. The key is to be COMPLETELY flat. Have a spotter if that helps you, otherwise look in a mirror or in anything that you can see your reflection. To start out, I like to hold it for 30 seconds, then build up the time as you feel more and more comfortable. Just know if you aren't pushing yourself, its not doing anything for you. 

• Push Ups

              Pretty self explanatory. Start with 20 and build that up. Add on 5-10 each day to push yourself. If you're sore, you're doing it right.

• Side Planks

              Lay on your side, now use your legs and arms to push yourself up, your entire right/left side should be in a straight line. Now extend your arm that is NOT supporting you straight up so you are making a 't' shape. Hold for 30 seconds and build on 10-15 seconds each day.

CORE:

• Planks and Side Planks

             (See 'Arms' section above)

• 'L' sit ups

             I'm not quite sure what the correct name for these are, but basically you lay on your back, and put your legs straight up in the air. MAKE SURE YOUR KNEES ARE NOT BENT. Also, make sure you are not resting your legs on a wall or door. To get the full affect, you have to be holding your legs up on your own. Now, do sit ups, as you normally would. Start for 30 seconds and build up the time as you feel more comfortable. Try to use the One Minute rule for these too. If 1 minute feels too long, keep going for an additional 30-45 seconds.

LEGS:

• Wall Sits

            Find a wall with nothing on it, now leaning against the wall, bend your legs so they are at a 90 degree angle, you'll notice this is the position you would be in if you were actually sitting in a chair. Hold for 30 seconds and build up the time. The One Minute rule should be rather easy to apply here.

• Bicycles

           Lay on the ground on your back, bend your legs and lift your feet off the ground. Now move your (flexed) feet and legs in the motion you would as if you're peddling a bike. Start with however many you can do, then when you feel tired out, apply the One Minute Rule. (I'm not 100% sure what is normal to start at for this, the first time I tried to do these, I did 500 effortlessly, so either they're easy, or I have strong legs, which wouldn't be a surprise considering the sport I play involves a lot of leg work.)

BUTT:

• Squats

           Pretty self explanatory, this is the most common butt exercise. Try spreading your feet farther apart and closer together after each set, you'll feel the difference. Make sure you go down where are knees are at a 90 degree angle, going all the way down does nothing for you. Hold 1-2 seconds when your knees are at a 90 degree angle. To make this harder, add weights.

• Kardashian Butt Exercise

            I saw this in a magazine awhile ago about how Kim and Khloe get their butts. Go down on all fours, (use one leg at a time for this, do NOT switch.) Extend one leg straight back, then swing it around to the side, then fold it back in. Continue doing this WITHOUT LETTING YOUR FEET/LEGS TOUCH THE GROUND!! Start at 30 seconds or 1 minute and build on 15-30 seconds each day.

• Wall Sits

         (See the above 'Legs'section.) 

I hope you all have a fabulous Spring Break!

xoxo
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a fitness specialist, this is what I do, I'm not saying you have to do this or that this will work for you. This is just what has worked for you. Do not push yourself farther than what you can handle.