Mexico Bound

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!   New Years is great, but I think it's pretty depressing as well.  Up until today, people have allowed leftover candies and old Christmas decorations to linger.  Tomorrow is when the real cleanup begins.  By January 5th, it will be as though Christmas never happened.  On the bright side, I am leaving for Mexico tomorrow morning!  I've got my nails painted a bright color, sunscreen has been stockpiled, and my little three ounce bottles are stored in a plastic baggy, ready for my carry on.  I stopped by Walmart earlier to stock up on a few travel essentials.  Here's the mini haul!

Olay Clean & Mild Make-up Remover Cloths:  I always keep some type of cleansing cloths with me when I'm traveling, especially if I will be going to the beach.  I don't like to spend a lot of money on these, because I use them a lot and sometimes sand gets into the packaging.  I love these cloths because the top ingredients are water, aloe, and glycerin.  Perfect for sensitive skin!

Revlon Nail Enamel in Fearless:  Enter the wildly winter-inappropriate nail color.  Half the fun of going on a beach vacation in the winter is being able to bust out all of your summer colors again.  This vibrant, almost neon coral-red polish is perfect for warm weather!

Revlon ColorStay Under Eye Concealer:  I try to wear as little makeup as possible in humid, beach climates.  One thing I hardly ever go without is under eye concealer.  I don't mind wearing it over heavy sunscreens, whereas foundation at the beach just makes me feel dirty.  This one has SPF 15 as well.  Hooray for crow's feet prevention!

What are your favorite travel essentials?  What can you not travel without?

Suave's Keratin Infusion and DailyGrace

    I'm not one to typically enjoy YouTube comediennes, but I will occasionally indulge in some profane, pointless humor.  Recently, I've discovered DailyGrace and she has got to be one of the funniest women I've watched in quite a while.  I've even included one of her videos for your entertainment before I proceed to review a fairly boring product:

    Now that I've lured you in with Grace's humor, I want to do a quick review on a new leave-in conditioner that I love.  Hair product reviews are extremely rare for me.  I love splurging on face makeup and skincare, but when it comes to haircare, I've always been a bit lazier/cheaper.  I've recently made the discovery of Suave's Keratin Infusion Heat Defense  Leave-In Conditioner... what a mouthful!  I found it in my mom's bathroom.  I believe it runs at about $3.50 at Target.  I use a dime-sized amount, running it through my towel-dried hair, focusing on the ends, right before I blow dry my hair.  I've found myself wearing my hair down a lot more these days, as this product reduces frizz and makes it much easier to style, if that's what I'm in the mood to do.  It's a very lightweight product and it smells great.  With such a wonderful product at an equally wonderful price, it's worth picking up a bottle!  

Another Day, Another Sunscreen Disappointment

    It wasn't too long ago that I was writing my "Sunscreen Journey" post, hopeful that my latest Vichy purchase would be the answer to all of my daily sunscreen woes.  Unfortunately, it has proved to be just like the Ghosts of Sunscreens Past, breakouts and all.  I am so disappointed, as the texture of Vichy's Aqualia Thermal SPF 30 is perfectly lightweight and smooth.  I'm not sure what the ingredient(s) is that every sunscreen seems to have in common that my skin hates, but I am done trying to figure it out.  It looks like it's only going to be sunscreen at the beach for me from here on out.  Enough of this expensive, fruitless search for the perfect daily sunscreen.

I apologize for the rant.  Hopefully I am not the only Sunscreen Grinch out there!  What do you think about all of this daily sunscreen discussion?

Weekend Ramblings: December Eye Makeup Discoveries

    Up until this year, I have never been one to swoon over eye makeup.  Sure, I might do it up for a special occasion such as a sorority formal or a nice date with my boyfriend, but other than that, I've always felt that it was a tad unnecessary for everyday life.  However, when I purchased Urban Decay Naked, it was game over.  It's been a few months since then and my eyeshadow reservoir is growing almost weekly.  I have three new products that I find myself reaching for quite frequently:  Merle Norman's Pro Pen Eyeliner in Sharp Black, NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cashmere,  and Stila's Kitten.

From top to bottom:  Merle Norman, NYX, Stila

Merle Norman Pro Pen Eyeliner in Sharp Black:  This eyeliner applies like a dream.  The applicator tip is pen-like, making winged liner much easier for ladies like me, with unsteady hands.  It also lasts for hours, which is quite a feat for a liquid eyeliner.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cashmere:   Everyone loves a good bargain.  NYX products always deliver great quality at an even better price.  I love using this color on the inner corners of my eyes and the lower lash line.  It's a glowing cream color that brightens your entire eye area.  If I were a betting woman, I'd also bet that this would look amazing right beneath your brows, as well as on top of your cheek bones.

Stila Eye Shadow Pan in Kitten:  Out of these three eye products, I'd say Kitten has been my biggest surprise.  I hardly ever wear eyeshadows lighter than my natural skin color.  I can't explain why, but light pinks and creams make me feel slightly juvenile, like a five year old at a ballet recital.  This shimmery, creamy-pink is very flattering.  I didn't even realize what a large following this product had until I did some post-purchase research.  It's quite popular, and I can see why!


Do you have any new eye product discoveries this month?  What are your favorite liners and shadows of the winter season?

Drinking the Clarisonic Kool-Aid

Isn't it beautiful?

    As the title of this post suggests, I have indeed purchased a Clarisonic.  The Clarisonic Mia to be more specific.  I debated whether or not I should just go ahead and buy the Clarisonic Plus in a "Go Big or Go Home" mindset; but in my opinion, two extra speed settings and a body brush head just aren't worth the extra $105.  I am a little curious about the body brush head, though.  Are there really people out there who take the time to wash their entire body with such a small contraption?  Hmmm... life's little mysteries.  Another bonus of buying the Mia is the smaller profile which I much prefer to the clunkier Clarisonic Plus.  Not to mention, mine is pink and if you know me, this should not come as a shock.  I'm pretty girly in all of my actions and I don't think washing my face should be any different.



















       When I got home this evening, I rushed to my bathroom and plugged the Clarisonic in to charge for a few hours.  To keep myself entertained, I sifted through the six samples I had picked up at Sephora earlier today when looking for my Mia.  The brands included Murad, Fresh, Origins, and Philosophy.  All of these brands have great reputations in the beauty world, but I wanted to stick with what I knew while trying out my new big ticket item.  I grabbed my Johnson & Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash and went to work.  I took off my eye makeup first then covered my face in the cleanser.  I hit the power button on my Mia and spent about ten seconds on each area of my face  (left, right, and t-zone).  All I could say after rinsing my face was "Wow!".  My skin GLOWED!  I also used a sample of the Origins Clear Improvement mask afterwards to combat some breakouts on my chin.  After all is said and done, and the mask has been rinsed off, I've got to say I am extremely pleased with the results. I think it may be love!  I purchased my Clarisonic Mia for about $30 after using all of my Sephora gift cards, but I would totally buy this full price.  If possible, go buy one and try it out.  Sephora is usually very generous with returns.  I don't see why it would be any different with the purchase of a Clarisonic.

Origins Clear Improvement

Origins Clear Improvement

My slew of samples

So, what is the general opinion on the Clarisonic?  What cleansers do you like to use with your Clarisonic?  Do you believe in its deep cleansing powers or do you think it's just another skincare gimmick? 

Lipgloss and Lunch Break

   This holiday season has been wonderful and it ended spectacularly with the birth of my boyfriend's beautiful baby niece yesterday.  He's sent me a few pictures and she is just the cutest thing!  I could talk about babies for much longer, but they aren't beauty products, which is what you came here for, so let's cut to the chase!

    I work at a lighting showroom (I'm actually on lunch break right now), and while it is decently interesting, I can't go crazy with face makeup.  Apparently people don't like taking home decor suggestions from a lady who looks like she spent a little too much time at the MAC counter.  I like to stick to muted pinks and taupy-browns for lips and eyes.  The lipgloss I am wearing today is Ladylike by Merle Norman, a Christmas gift from my grandma.  I believe it's a holiday limited edition lip polish.  It's a really pretty dusted rose that has incredible staying power for a gloss.  Plus, the fact that it contains no shimmer makes me feel extra sophisticated and business-woman like.  Adding a layer of Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm underneath also gives extra moisture that is so necessary during the winter months.

     Another office-friendly product I've been pretty pleased with is the J.R. Watkins Lemon Hand & Cuticle Salve.  This little tin came in my first ever Birchbox!  After every handwash I like to apply this to my cuticles.  It's very similar to the Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream I blogged about here.  The main difference is the texture.  While you have to work with the Burt's Bees cream a little more to get the full amount of product necessary for all your nails, J.R. Watkins' salve is easily extracted from the container. It's awesome on rough cuticles.

Oh, and here is a light fixture I'll use for inspiration when decorating my future house.  So gorgeous and sparkly!

How is everyone's day?  What products do you use in the office and/or hoard in your desk drawer?

NARS: The Multiple

    I'm sitting here, in a cozy bed, watching snowflakes the size of cotton balls fall from the sky, and I all I can think about is getting that wintery flush without actually having to go out into the snow.  I truly romanticize winter too much.  I love the thought of it, but when it comes to cold weather, all I want to do is hide away inside my house.  Thus far, I have successfully achieved minimal outdoor time, besides my walk to and from my car when heading to work.  But what's a girl to do when she at least wants to fake a winter goddess look?

  
    NARS has the answer with The Multiple, in Orgasm.  This cult classic colour, a shimmery pinky-coral, is universally flattering and the creamy, stick formula is perfect for skin that gets drier in the winter.  I was expecting it to feel a bit too dewy, but the finish is lovely, almost powder like.  The only downside to this particular product is your little sister asking you what an "orgasm" is when everyone giggles at the shade name.  Whoops!  Maybe I didn't need to open this Christmas gift in front of the fam.  Oh, and NARS' matte packaging!  It's so gorgeous straight out of the box, but it attracts dirt and makeup smudges like no other. 

This picture doesn't do much justice to gorgeous colour.

Have you tried The Multiple before, maybe in different shades?  Which one is your favorite?    

Quick Thoughts: NOTD

    Before I slip away into my Christmas Coma, I thought I would do a quick "Nail of the Day" or
NOTD.  I was a bit hesitant to get into the whole nail polish posts thing, as I don't think they are really considered makeup or skincare.  However, they do make us ladies feel pretty, so why not?  The color is Wicked by Essie.  It is a gorgeous deep red, that could almost pass as brown in dimmer lighting.  It's the perfect subdued, holiday nail color.

Merry Christmas and Happy Haul-idays!, Part 1

    As I am writing on this lovely Christmas afternoon, I am reminiscent of my childhood.  Possibly due to the quart of hot cocoa and tin of buckeyes I ate this morning; or maybe it's the now-empty stockings still dangling from the mantle above the lit fireplace.  Regardless of the cause, I always welcome thoughts of warm Christmas memories.  Earlier, I was contemplating whether or not I should blog about all of my beauty loot at once, or spread out the posts.  I've decided that since Christmas only comes around once a year, I should make my series of Christmas Gift Posts last as long as possible!

  

    Following the theme of childhood memories it is only appropriate that I first discuss some beauty books I received.  Though I am not a makeup artist by any means, I like to think that I do a pretty good job with my own makeup.  When I was younger, it was a totally different story.  Thank goodness for books that taught things like makeup application and skincare, or I could have been a real cosmetic nightmare.  This Christmas, I received InStyle Ultimate Beauty Secrets and the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual.  These books are basically the grown up versions of those cheesy American Girl makeup manuals we all had.  They're great for picking up random tricks and tips.  The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is especially helpful, but I am biased as she is one of my all time favorite makeup artists.

    Next in line is the Laura Mercier Colour-To-Go Warm Neutrals palette.  I am so in love with this.  It contains three gorgeous eyeshadows in Ballerina Pink, Cocoa Brown, and Rosy Taupe, a cake liner in Ground Espresso, blush in Lotus Pink, bronzer in Soft Bronze, and a lip glacé in Baby Doll.  The product sizes are generous and yet they all fit perfectly into a petite compact, perfect for throwing into any handbag!

   I hope everyone is having a Christmas as lovely as mine.  Now, you'll have to excuse me as I go read and experiment with my new products!

So Fraîche, So Clean

    Yesterday I had the privilege of spending a little time with two of my wonderful grandparents.  First my grandma and I spent a little time at the makeup counters, then my grandma, grandpa, and I had lunch at Dewey's pizza.  While, I'm sure you'd love to hear about our lunch in full detail, I suppose you're probably most interested in what I found while shopping around with my grandma!

I'm at my boyfriend's house, camera-less, so we are back to iPhone
 pics for a while.

    It's been a few years since micellar cleansing waters have joined the American beauty market, and I think it's about time I jumped on the bandwagon.  I've heard wonderful things of Bioderma's Crealine, but it's not readily available here in Kentucky.  Lancôme's Eau Fraîche Douceur, however, is available at almost every Lancôme counter throughout local malls and department stores.  It costs about $37 at Sephora, so it is not cheap by any means, but it sure does its job!  Last night I came home and cleansed my face using only five pumps of this and some cotton balls.  Not a trace of makeup was left on my face, which is quite impressive for any makeup remover, let alone one so light and fresh.  Another bonus is how clean your skin feels afterwords.  Makeup removers often leave a greasy residue behind, but not this one.  I suppose you can now call me a micellar water convert! 

  

Quick Thoughts: Holy Biscotti!

    Tonight's post does not have anything to do with makeup, but I embarked on my first ever Pinterest baking endeavor and that itself is a blog-worthy event.  I thought homemade biscotti would add something to the coffee I got for my boyfriend's parent's for Christmas!  The chocolate almond biscotti recipe I chose comes to you from "Baking, From my home to yours", by Dorie Greenspan via Daisylanecakes.blogspot.com.  This blog has so many awesome recipes, including multiple biscotti recipes.  I highly recommend browsing through them!  I suppose you could say I am a little "camera happy" now that I finally have a decent camera to take pictures with, so sorry if I get a little carried away with the photos.  I am so pleased with the results of this cooking adventure.  The biscotti tastes delicious and since I  can't pass out samples through the computer screen, I've included some pictures for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!

The biscotti dough, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

After the first round of baking, before being sliced up.

The finished product!

Rise and Shine, Sleepyheads!

   In order to successfully write this morning-themed post, I decided that I would have to wake up bright and early to make it feel genuine.  As I sit here squinting lazily at my computer screen, the only thing keeping me awake is my cup of coffee.  And while this post will focus on coffee, it won't be focused so much on drinking it, but rather on using it as a facial scrub!

    I discovered this whole coffee-as-skincare thing when I found two girls at my sorority house creating a mask out of honey and coffee grounds in order to reduce puffiness after a night of partying.  I haven't been doing much partying this break, but I haven't been doing much sleeping either, so I figured a caffeinated scrub would work wonders on my tired skin.  Thankfully, I was right!

What to do:

1.  For the sake of recycling, it is best to use coffee grounds that have already been brewed.  I also believe that the caffeine maybe be activated more so in previously brewed grounds than in dry grounds.  However, if you aren't much of a coffee drinker, or don't feel like brewing a pot, then dry grounds will do just fine.

2. Take the grounds to your sink and apply them to your skin, as you would any other
facial scrub.  Use a lighter hand if your skin is sensitive, as usual.

3.  Rinse your face and pat dry!


    As you can see, this is a super simple DIY facial scrub.  Coffee can also be used as a body scrub by mixing it with olive oil, or you can turn it in to a facial mask.  Add organic Greek yogurt and lemon juice if you are looking to lighten scars or honey to moisturize and cleanse.  This is probably my favorite DIY so far.  Give it a try!

YSL's Mascara is "Shocking"-ly Gorgeous

Notice anything different?

    Today's post is going to be the first of many that will include a photo(s) using an actual camera, and not just some shoddy iPhone camera.  My sister has been sweet enough to lend me her Sony NEX-3 and I am thrilled!  As a celebration, it is only fitting that I blog about a product that is equally thrilling.  That product is Yves Saint Laurent's Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking in Deep Black.  This was given to me by one of my best friends as an early Christmas present.  When I opened the black and white Sephora box and saw the familiar gold packaging my heart jumped.  It could only have meant one thing: Yves Saint Laurent!
    I've been wearing this mascara for the past few days, and I adore it!  I personally am a black-mascara-or-no-mascara kind of girl, so this color is perfect for me.  However, they do offer this in a few other colors such as Sea Black, Black Bronze, and Cherry Black.  This formula lasts for hours without flaking or smudging, yet comes off very easily with a gentle cleanser and warm water.  The brush is very similar to that of the ever popular Lancome Hypnose, which I've reviewed in my "Presidential Perfection" post.
    I have never thought to give people mascara for Christmas, but what a great idea!  People can be quite particular when it comes to foundations, concealers, and blushes, etc., but mascara is something fun to experiment with!  Plus, most higher end mascaras have such beautiful packaging that they only need a little red bow around them and you're good to go.  Yay for holiday beauty gifts!

Quick Thoughts: Seeking Products For The End of The World

    Hey, everyone!  So I hope you liked my not-so-clever nod to "Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World" starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley.  To be honest, I haven't even seen the movie.  I just figured the title was appropriate seeing as we only have about five more days to live, according to the Mayan Calendar.  What's a girl to do when the world's supposed to end and their is so much beauty terrain left unexplored?

     The Wish List is not grammatically correct, nor is it organized in any specific manner.  When I think of a product I would like to try, I'm often in my car or hurrying to class, so I don't usually take the time to write down the full name.  What does your Makeup/ Skincare Wish List look like?

Weekend Ramblings: Black, Gold, and Gorgeous!

Tonight before I went out, I thought I might share my color scheme of the night. If you couldn't guess based on the title of this post, it's black and gold! I did a smokey eye with Urban Decay's Creep and Half Baked as well as a color by Merle Norman called Gold Dust. As for my nails I used Rimmel's Lasting Finish Pro in Black Satin and a Vince Camuto polish I received for free from a sorority sister called Gold Foil. This is my first ever manicure that I tried to design myself, so go easy on me! Black and gold seem like such an effortlessly elegant combo, and perfect for the holidays! Enjoy!

Weekend Ramblings: "Goo Hoarding"

    With all of my newly found, post-finals free time, I've been indulging in my newest guilty YouTube pleasure which is Jenna Marbles' videos.  She is a bit too much for me sometimes, but every now and then I find an absolute gem amongst her videos that is worth sharing.  The video that I am referring to in this particular post is "Things I Don't Understand About Girls" , in which Jenna describes an inexplicable female phenomenon known as "goo hoarding".  Goo hoarding refers to the multiple bottles of half-used shampoo, cleansers, shave creams, and lotions that women keep lying around their bathrooms and makeup tables.
    Who honestly needs multiple, half-used products lying around? I'm sure you don't know the answer to this question, and neither do I, hence the "inexplicable phenomenon".  Maybe it's a comfort thing, because women need to feel prepared.  However, I still have yet to be in the midst of a disaster where I needed a full can of shave cream and Mario Badescu's Silver Powder.  Let's just take a quick look through my goo's and talk about how unnecessary they are.

    First up, we have our cleansers and toners.  Looking through these products is similar to looking through your high school yearbook.  You've got the popular kid with the Clean & Clear Morning Burst cleanser.  I believe everyone I know owned this product, or some other wildly scented cleanser, at one point.  Then you've got the quiet, studious girl with the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.  It's hardworking, but the packaging is so simple.  Also, let's not forget the foreign exchange student, aka the Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel.  This brand just arrived in the States a year or two ago and has become quite popular amongst the sensitive skin crowd, which includes myself.  Finally, the astringents are synonymous with the tougher crowd.  They aren't terrible when used sparingly, but can be rather harsh if used too often.

    Next up, we have the hair products and the shave creams.  I realize that these products fall on two completely different sides of the beauty product spectrum, but this post is already a tad lengthy, so I figured I would combine them.  I hardly ever use shave cream (I prefer Dove body wash when shaving), but my Mom is always buying them and leaving them in my bathroom.  Even if the Apocalypse were to occur on the twenty-first of December I'd still be able to shave for another three years.  As for the hair products, I don't often use these besides when my hair is being extra rebellious or laying too flat on my head.

    

     Last but not least are the random goo's.  From left to right, we have True Religion shower gel, which came with a fragrance set, L'Oréal Sublime Bronze, Boscia Makeup Breakup Cooling Cleansing Oil, a sample sized Josie Maran Argan Oil, Johnson's Baby Oil Gel, Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream behind that, and finally, Mario Badescu Silver Powder.  I don't use any of these products regularly, but I choose to keep them around.  I actually am not even a fan of the Boscia cleansing oil or Mario Badescu's Silver Powder, but they do look nice in my medicine cabinet, right?  Clearly I have a problem.

    Hopefully I haven't bored you with my beauty ramblings today, but I thought the term "goo hoarding" was so hilariously accurate that it deserved a post of its own.  What about you all? Are you guilty of goo hoarding as well?

If You Can't Buy 'Em, Sample 'Em!, Part 2

    I am finally done with finals and as a celebration I HAD to stop at Sephora today on my way back home!  Unfortunately, I did break my Spending Ban, but only by $6.36! I bought the Sephora Face Complexion Brush and picked up samples of two new cleansers!  I've been using Johnson & Johnson's Head-to-Toe baby wash on my face for the past year, and while it does its job, I think it may be time to start taking my skincare more seriously.

PTR is the clear cleanser on the left, while Origins is the pearlescent, white cleanser
on the right!  

    First, let me just say, Sephora Sales Associates are very friendly, but sometimes a little too pushy!  Let me search for a cleanser in peace, people!  Anyways, the SA recommended the Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Cleanser with White Tea and I chose Peter Thomas Roth's Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash.  I'm honestly skeptical about the white tea cleanser, as it contains many oils.  Against my better judgment, I am going to give it a try anyways, because it smells divine.  I chose PTR's BHA acne wash because I think it could help keep some of these little random breakouts away that have been popping up on my face.  Plus, it's alcohol and oil free, which is truly a rare find when it comes to acne-preventing cleansers.  I'm very excited to give these cleansers a try, but even more so to try my new facial brush!  You know you're a makeup freak when you get this excited about a complexion brush.  I'll report back my findings on these cleansers later this week.  I think the PTR cleanser is first up tonight and it looks pretty promising!

*Update:  Loved my sample of the PTR cleanser, but it may be a tad harsh for the winter months.  Also, the facial brush really adds to my cleansing routine; however, when using this I would recommend using a light hand.  As for the Origins Cleanser, I am going to wait a bit until these random breakouts on my face subside to sample it.  
  

Quick Thoughts: For The Lazy Fellas

I was shopping for body wash today and came across this new product for men...

It's a body wash that foams as soon as it gets out of the bottle, so that you don't have to take all that time  to make it lather yourself!  I want to know if any men honestly feel that sudsing up your own body wash is a hassle?  Heaven help us if there's more than five of you out there.  Any thoughts on this one?

The Sunscreen Journey

    If I had a dollar for every time I read or heard something along the lines of "daily use of sunscreen is recommended", I would be able to buy everything on my forever-long product wishlist, and I've probably got about $500 worth of products on that thing.  But what about those of us who are still on the journey to finding their perfect sunscreen?  I've tried so many different sunscreens, from Olay to Kate Somerville.  Somehow my Sunscreen Soulmate still eludes me.
    I've been blessed with a skin type that doesn't tolerate much.  You can forget mineral sunscreen, because titanium dioxide and zinc oxide clog my pores.  As far as chemical sunscreens go, I'll be lucky to ever find one that doesn't contain some weird silicone or thickening agent that will either break me out or sting. I'm coming so close to just giving up on the search, as I do not think breakouts are worth a little SPF when I spend maybe two hours maximum outside everyday.  Don't get me wrong, I slather sunscreen on during any vacations to the beach, but I can take a week of breakouts to avoid looking like a lobster.  At the risk of being struck down by the dermatology gods, I am going to say that maybe "the daily use of sunscreen" isn't for me.

It looks pretty promising, right?

    My latest victim of the Sunscreen Journey is Doctor T's Supergoop! Save Face Serum which is now known as the City Sunscreen Serum.  This product had a lovely texture and looked great under makeup, but, alas, it broke me out.  I would actually recommend this one to those of you who aren't acne-prone.

My last hope!

    Now, just a few hours ago I ordered Vichy's Aqualia Thermal Sunscren SPF 30 off of Amazon.  The ingredients in this formula look pretty promising, but I am not going to hold my breath.  I'll update this post once I've tried it.

    I refuse to believe that I'm the only one out there struggling to find the perfect everyday sunscreen.  All I want is something non-greasy, that doesn't break me out.  Is that too much to ask?  What do you all think?  Do you have a Holy Grail sunscreen, or are you on the treacherous Sunscreen Journey as well?

*Photo Credit to Skinstore.com for the pic of Vichy's Aqualia Thermal

Weekend Ramblings: How to Procrastinate Like a Pro

Step 1: Go to Walgreens to get a flu shot.

Step 2:  Browse Walgreens' makeup and shampoo section.

Step 3:  Discover Ren Cleansing Conditioner...a hilarious knock off of Wen Cleansing Conditioner.

Step 4:  Purchase new shampoo (not Ren, in case you were wondering), foundation, and two new nail polishes.

Step 5: Come home, paint nails.  The colors I purchased are by Maybelline Color Show.  One is called Wine & Dined and the other is Twilight Rays (the one I'm wearing in the picture below).  Wine & Dined is a pearlescent burgundy.  Twilight Rays is black with gold sparkles.  These two colors seemed perfectly festive without being the basic red and green.

Strategically showing off my new polishes and manicure simultaneously

Step 6: Look at every website, app, and social network available to you.  Did you know people these days are suggesting that a concealer palette would be a good gift for the men in your life?  I'm sure my father and boyfriend would love that...

Step 7:  Wallow in self pity because you have three Spanish papers to write and two exams to study for.  

That's it!  Now you know how to procrastinate like a pro!  Happy studying, everyone!