Quit Battling Your Skin

one // two // three (evening)

three (morning) // 4 (evening) // 4 (morning)

It's no secret that my skin has been... temperamental lately. I've been trying everything under the sun to get my hormonal acne to clear up but, as I should have known, my hormones can't be beat ;) So, I've found a solution that at least clears up the redness & shrinks the blemishes. That's enough for me! As I'm sure many people struggle with similar skin issues, I figured I'd share what works right now. 

Before I get started, my ultimate, #1, do. not. break. this. rule. rule is don't touch it.

It's hard for me too, but that alone will help it clear up. Okay now on to what I've been using!

At night, I start by taking off my makeup, which I just use Sephora brand makeup remover. From there I tie up my hair and head to the sink. Obviously, I wash my face with warm water and pat it dry. I then use a toner/ clarifying lotion to clean out my pores even better! I rinse with cold water to close my pores and lock in all the good, cleanness. I use an Ultra Repair Cream all over my face and neck. I put on enough that it doesn't all soak in... just to keep my skin hydrated through the night. If needed, I'll use my trusty EradiKate on any blemishes that I'm dying to pop. My mom says that this dries her out so she has to be careful with it... I'm not that way so I can use it pretty liberally. Regardless, it'll clear up your blemishes. You just might have some dry or flaky spots if you're like my mom. Then I go to sleep and wake up with (usually) clear(er) skin! Magic!

Now my routine in the morning is a little different. I work out before class, so I have to get all the sweat and grime out of my pores pronto! I use St. Ives Apricot Exfoliator (not pictured) on my face and body at the end of my shower. When I get out, all I really need is a moisturizer, so I use the Clinique Moisture Surge- side note, this stuff is amazing. It's texture is similar to a makeup primer. It just glides on and makes your skin so. soft. A little bit goes a long long long way!- and brightening eye cream around/under my eyes. I let that all sit and apply my makeup on top!

Disclaimer: this routine has miraculously worked for me. It took some time and lots of failing, but I've kept my skin in-check for now. I have never had "bad" skin so this was all new to me. I have yet to set foot in a dermatologist's office... but that's coming up! This may work for you, it may not. But if you're at a loss when it comes to products, I highly recommend these and I know you can walk into any Sephora and ask for samples!

Also, let me know what works for you or what your skin Holy Grail items are... I'm open to any suggestions!

A Little R&R

It's always nice to come back to school and immediately have a 3-day weekend.

This year it seemed like most of my friends went home or on retreats for the long weekend, leaving me to my Netflix and own agenda. I won't lie, being alone for much of the weekend was a little lonely even for this introvert. But I managed to just relax, get some schoolwork done, and pamper myself a little bit :)

Saturday night I had nothing to do and remembered that I had some very ripe avocados. On a whim, I looked up avocado face/ hair masks just for fun. It just happened that I had all the ingredients in my dorm and most of the ingredients overlapped for face and hair. So, I went ahead and covered myself neck-up in Avocado! I was so happy with the results that I figured I'd share what I did! 

Ingredients:

- 1 avocado

- 2 capfuls of vegetable oil

- a tablespoon of honey

I just mixed these all together in a bowl until it had a sort of baby-food looking consistency. From there, I took off my makeup, and rinsed my face and hair. I didn't really have a method other than to use handfuls to apply to my hair and face. With the hair, I'd advise not getting too close the the roots of your hair... unless you like the greasy look. I then let it sit for 45 minutes (approximately two episodes of Friends), then hopped in the shower and rinsed it all out. I then let my hair air dry.

I didn't really know what to expect when I did this, but I figured my hair and skin couldn't get much worse- I've had horrible acne in my chin area and the ends of my hair are so lifeless. But WOW. I don't know if it's just in my head of what but I swear my split ends are un-split not and my face? Still not flawless but It was less red and much easier to cover even with the light coverage foundation I've been using to try to let that area breathe. Back to my hair, it still definitely needs a salon day, but it's so shiny and soft- so easy to brush through! 

And the biggest change? Well the little piece of hair at the nape of my neck is just always gross. I don't know why, but it's been this ratty little mess for as long as I can remember. It doesn't hold a curl or anything. Anyways, It's smooth and cooperative now! 

I think avocados are the fruit of the body gods because I have yet to see something negative from these little guys. 

Raspberry Bite

There was one beauty item that was on the tip- top of my list this season:

raspberry lipstick.

So many of my favorite fashion bloggers had posted pictures with varying shades of raspberry and I just thought "I need it". So I started hunting and I never ever would have expected that it be as hard to find a good shade as it was. 

Firstly, I wanted to find something that wasn't too dark on my skin, but also not to pink... and not red either. You see my dilemma? So I actually took multiple trips to Sephora after doing sufficient research. 

Trip 1: Marc Jacobs... a bit more pink than I had wanted, and they didn't have the colors I had looked at online. So I made the return.

Trip 2: NARS and Dior

*Winners* so I had looked at NARS Lip Gloss in 'Quito' for a while and loved loved loved the formula, so I knew that I wanted to get that instead of the Marc Jacobs lipstick I had before. Of course, I made the mistake (but not really) of asking a salesperson what kind of berry-ish lipstick they would recommend for my skin tone. She gave me about 20 different shades, which was so helpful, but I fell in love with about 5 of them... then it came down to how they actually felt on my lip & that's where the Dior won it all. 

So, I came away with 2 great fall colors. Unnecessary? yes. Still fun? yes. 

I haven't had an opportunity to wear the more dramatic Dior color, but I wear 'Quito' at least once a week and I am in love with the NARS lip gloss so I'm sure I'll be finding reasons to get more colors. 

What's top on your fall fashion/beauty wishlist? 

Those Pearly Whites

If there's one compliment that I consistently get it's 

"You have the whitest teeth! How do you keep them so white?"

In high school, I could honestly say that I credited it to my lack of drinking dark, staining liquids like coffee or soda. That's definitely changed though, and I've still managed to counter the staining for the most part. I don't spend a ridiculous amount of money on teeth whitening, but I do take protective measures to keep my teeth nice and white.

then again, maybe my teeth are just really
big so they look whiter? 

Of course, I keep up a hygienic regimen of brushing my teeth regularly, and flossing as regularly as possible. But, any time I drink or eat anything that might stain my teeth I brush soon after. I use Crest whitening toothpaste as well as the White Strips (although I haven't used the strips in a while and have maintained the whiteness). I'm not a huge user of mouthwash and I don't really believe in the "straw" method... you know, always drinking out of a straw. It's just not something that I really worry about.

I really credit the whiteness to making sure no staining substances stay on my teeth. If I don't have a toothbrush, etc. with me, just swishing with water to "flush" anything away is helpful... I think. I'm no dentist and I don't have any backup besides my own experience, but I have had only 2 small cavities in my life, so I like to think I know how to take care of my teeth by brushing at least twice daily- usually more like 3 or 4 times though- using a whitening toothpaste, as well as removing staining substances before they have the chance to really stain the teeth is really what I rely on.

As with everything else in life, I find what works and go with it. I can't guarantee that just brushing with great toothpaste, etc. works for everyone... but I'd say it's a good start! 

Summer Clear Skin Routine

My skin has been horrible lately.

I don't know about y'all, but I've never really had bad skin. I have pretty normal skin and have never had to do anything more than washing makeup off at the end of the day to keep pimples away (hey... that rhymed). That was, until the last month of school when my face decided to go berzerk, probably due to the stress of finals and prepping my summer plans. Regardless, breaking out all over caused me even more stress which led to more breakouts.

I figured it'd all clear up after finals. Summer would eliminate a huge amount of stress, and I'd be all set to go... until I decided to use a new lotion on my face which caused even more breakouts. Cue more stress and a repeat in the vicious cycle. I'm midway through week 3 of summer, and my face is just now starting to clear up. I'm back to my normal skincare routine, but this whole ordeal has definitely introduced me to a few new skincare favorites that are 100% going to be implemented into my permanent routine.

If you're struggling with crazy breakouts, or just looking to freshen up your skincare routine I have a few products that I am crazy about. Some are old, and some are new but it's all worked wonders for me lately. I want to preface this with one thing: I use the basic Clinique face wash once or twice daily, which I use in the morning before I apply makeup and at night to strip everything away. Whenever I shower, I use St. Ives Green Tea Scrub to get rid of any dead skin (this also works wonders on "backne" or shoulder pimples that I get from sunscreen and sweat in the summer). Normally I wouldn't use much else on my skin, since I was always told that over-washing strips the skin and can be just as bad as not washing at all. Anyways, here's what I've added lately:

 Clinique Clarifying Lotion

This is essentially a "toner" which I use after washing my face. It pulls out anything that may still be in my skin while also shrinking my pores. Not something super new to me, but it's become a regular addition to my routine and really, really works. I feel so refreshed after using this. 

Tea Tree Oil

This was purchased out of pure desperation. My face had reached an all time low in forms of quality, and I was at my breaking point. I did some research and heard about tea tree oil. I also saw that it is available at drugstores for around $10 so it was definitely worth the try. I credit the clearing of my skin to this magical potion. I don't know what's in it, but I saw a difference in redness within 24 hours and less than a week later, my face is almost completely blemish free.. which I haven't seen in over a month! It does dry out my skin a little bit, so I'm only using it in the evenings now. But for bad breakouts, this stuff a couple times a day can work miracles! 

Moisturizer

Lotions really depend on what works for your particular skin type. I found this Yves Rocher "Hydra Vegetal" lotion almost two years ago in Paris and haven't used anything since! Especially with the drying quality of the tea tree oil, this has been instrumental in fixing my face :) Because it's so humid, I try not to use this a lot... only at night after the oil has soaked in or after showers. If needed, I may spot-treat any dry spots before applying makeup, but I don't really use any moisturizer in the morning. 

Cleansing Towelettes

I've never been a believer in makeup removing wipes or that sort of thing, but these have changed the game. The key is to use them in addition to other skin care products, not as a substitute. I don't even use these with my regular routine, but instead I use them after the gym or being out in the sun. They're cool and refreshing, and keep my face clear of sweat and sunscreen (after I'm out of the sun). I'm not sure how necessary they are, but it's got to be better than leaving all that stuff to be held in my pores!

Like I said, I don't have an extensive skin care regimen at all! I just make sure to keep my pores free and clear as often as possible, and I'm hoping that the new products continue to work and keep everything clean. If you're struggling with clear skin, I'm definitely not an expert to consult, but I'm happy to help! Additionally, if you have any products that you swear by, please let me know! I'm always looking to learn more :)

Healthy Hair

If the polar vortex has been good for anything, it's that my hair stays pretty much exactly how I want it to. 

That's one of the best parts of winter, in my opinion. Pretty hair! Okay so there's more to the season than pretty hair, and honestly all the heat I use on it is so damaging! It's either got to blow dried or curled every other day, and between that I use hairspray and volumizer to keep it pretty. But, my hair still seems to lack split ends and continues to look good months after I get it professionally done (I go about once every 3-4 months). 

This is no easy.. or low maintenance... task. Now, I'm no professional when it comes to hair. I just continue to do what works for the most part. That doesn't mean I don't get asked how I keep my hair so "perfect", and so here are a few things I do to keep my hair looking strong and healthy even in the bitter winter months. 

#1. My most important tip is: do not wash your hair every day!!! Okay this doesn't mean to not shower every day... because that's gross. But your hair has it's own natural oils and blah blah all that you've heard over and over again. Seriously, though. I am the queen of second and third day hair; I flaunt my skills! I can go to the gym every day and still only use dry shampoo to freshen up. This is 100% what I credit the majority of my healthy hair to. If it's not getting stripped down and then blow dried/ curled every day, you're doing double to good. And it allows for a natural looking shine- just make sure that shine doesn't quite hit that "grease" point.

for days when I'm starting to hit that point, I toss on a ball cap and all is hidden :)

#2. Let hair air dry as much as possible. And, while it's still wet, be sure to put in some kind of leave-in conditioner or strengthening serum to soak in. I use Aveda Dry Remedy oil on the ends of my hair and Aveda Volumizing Tonic on the roots. Now, please please remember that your hair is at its most vulnerable while it's wet. Be extra careful, and use a wide tooth comb to get any tangles out, set your part, etc. And always comb from the tips to the roots. This is not backcombing, but it just means to get the tangles out at the ends before you go to your crown and roots. 

If you plan to blow dry...

use the high heat setting as little as possible. I blow out most of my hair in the "warm" setting. When it's mostly dry, I use Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam on the crown and middle of my hair, which just helps my hair to get some body and volume through the middle. I typically use a ceramic round brush to make sure the ends aren't "straggly" and to get volume all over.

Once it's all dried, I go back over with the blow drier on the "cool" setting, while also holding down the cold blast. Pointing the nozzle down my hair, this seals the hair follicles to lock in shine. I finish up with the tiniest dollop of DryBar the Chaser Shine Cream on the ends and around any flyaways. Some backcombing and hairspray, and wah-lah! Shiny, straight hair that won't frizz up because there isn't any humidity.

Because I haven't gotten my hair cut since December, the ends are starting to thin out and my layers are more of a hassle than they need to be. The face-framing pieces just end up tucked behind my ears more often than not and it almost always goes into a pony tail when I get back to my dorm. But, I have provided you with a picture of my blow-dried straight hair.

Or if you're looking to curl...

I have a very weird way of getting my curls. I typically do them the night before and this is usually because I've showered that afternoon and I can't sleep on straight hair without it looking a mess when I wake up... but somehow my pre-curled locks look even better when I wake up! I use the DryBar 3-Day Bender and am so in love. I can section off and curl my hair in 20 minutes, hop in bed, and wake up with nice relaxed curls. But, if you can't pull off the overnight curls, just curl it in the morning. 

For everyday wear, relaxed, natural curls is best. You don't want to look too done up and if the curls aren't perfect in the morning it won't matter that they might fall throughout the day! Whatever curling iron you use, start from up at the crown and roll down. Never curl from bottom to top. The curls will be weighed down, rather than looking weightless. Continue to section off and curl, always away from your face! 

Once all the hair is curled, let it cool and spray a little bit of hair spray. Then, and trust me on this, brush it out. Yes, take a brush to your perfect curls, and brush them out!! Not so that they're gone, but just that they curl together. Flip your head upside-down, shake it out, and then use your fingers to pull pieces together. I don't put any product or anything in it at this point; it's just au naturale. 

So, run down: shower every other day, use as little heat, use hydrating products. You know this stuff, I know it's been said before. It will be said again. At some point we should all probably listen. 

Summer Beauty Must-Haves

The best part about summer is flaunting your natural beauty!

For an already low-maintenance type of girl when it comes to makeup and hair, summer is a wonderful time for me! I get to spend even less time primping, meaning more time in the sun! Don't get me wrong though, I still make sure that I feel confident about how I look and I do still wear makeup. The thing is, the heat and the sun already gives me a tan and my skin isn't as dry so I don't have to use as many moisturizing products. Most days, I spend 10 minutes on my hair and face and am out the door! 

Here's how I do it:

I start off with 1. BB Cream. Each person has their own preference on how they want themselves to look, so your choice of BB Cream may be different than mine. But, I have been a fan of Maybelline's since day 1! It's good on my wallet as well as my face and having that extra SPF 30 in there is awesome! BB Cream is my go-to and then if I want to look a little more done-up I'll add some blush and bronzer. 

My eyes come second. I typically don't have to do a lot with my eyes- they're blue so I like the way they look as-is. Since I'm fair skinned and light haired, I have the world's lightest eyelashes! I wear mascara every single day whether I'm going to the gym or to a party. I love Clinique's WaterProof and Smudge- Proof Volume Mascara. It won't budge all day, but comes of easily with makeup remover. It gives my eyes enough oomph to stand out but not so much that I look like Barbie. If I were going out to dinner or to an event I'd probably add liner to my waterlines and gold eyeshadow. Otherwise, I stay simple with just the mascara.

Since I stay pretty simple with my face and eye makeup, I like to play up my lips. I really like my lips, so I like to make them stand out. Lately I've been using Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb. It's the perfect summery red/ pink that doesn't look too dramatic. I like to wear lip moisturizers like this during the day to keep my lips soft and protected from the sun. At night or if I had specific plans, I'd probably opt for some sort of lip stick. 

Lastly, nails! I'm a huge fan of Essie and am currently wearing Essie Fifth Avenue. It's an awesome bright red that looks good with everything. Summer time is the best time to pull out colors ranging from red and pink to orange and coral. 

How do you embrace your natural beauty in the summer?

Beautiful

As a female, it's no secret that we struggle with body image and expectations that society puts on us. These high expectations have diminished the elf confidence of women all over the world. We aren't tall enough, skinny enough, or "pretty" enough. 

I struggle with this. Without a doubt. When I'm getting ready. When I'm around all of my friends and their cute relationships. When I want an ice cream cone but eat yogurt instead. 

It's so hard to be happy and motivated when you're always concerned with your self image and how others are perceiving you. What I've come to realize is that others' perceptions of me are so far from my perception of myself. The past few years, I've spent every chance I've been given with a friendship or relationship pushing that person away. I think to myself that they don't really want to be around me. Or they don't really want to talk to me. I'm an annoyance. 

This warped self image of myself has ruined chances for fantastic friendships... only recently have I been able to gain my self confidence and open up to people. And guess what? It's not that bad! :) I love all of the great friends I've made and the experiences I've had with them. I want nothing else than to continue these habits in college and beyond, because I've truly come to love who I am.

Watch this video. You'll walk away loving who you are.

My cousin posted this video on her Facebook and I cried. I seriously cried. Because it's so true! We are so critical of ourselves- our most beautiful and unique features are the ones that we critique the most. I don't know how I would describe myself, but I hope and pray that I would describe myself to who I really am versus the "ugly" features. And, I wonder what someone else would say when they described me.