Weekend Ramblings: May Lindstrom Skin

      Those of you that know me personally and/or just through my blog would not be surprised to know that despite being in the midst of a friend's twenty-first birthday celebration last night, I still managed to sneak in a few minutes with the beauty section of Marie Claire.  One product in particular struck me as quite different and exciting.  This product is May Lindstrom Skin's The Clean Dirt.  Who wouldn't be intrigued by such a contradictory name?  The Clean Dirt is described on maylindstrom.com as  "An energizing blend of cleansing clays, warming spices and healing salts lifts impurities while a surge of H20-activated Vitamin C encourages cellular rejuvenation and increased blood flow." 

Photo Credit: maylindstrom.com

        Clay is one of the few cosmetic ingredients that has never led me astray.  It's naturally purifying and comes in various forms for different skin types.  I love that May Lindstrom's entire line is centered around natural ingredients, such as clay, and a mantra of "Honor the earth while you honor yourself."   However, do not be fooled by Lindstrom's by earthy product descriptions.  The sleek and sexy packaging leaves nothing to be desired in the luxury department, which is something many natural brands do neglect.  As soon as my budget allows, you better believe a bottle of this will be finding its way into my hands.  Until then, I will be reading reviews and lusting over it via the internet.  

Quick Thoughts: Rose Gold and Robyn

I haven't worn nail polish in over two weeks, which is definitely a record for me.  The color is called Steal the Show by Victoria's Secret.  I don't typically go for the metallics, but this one was calling my name from the beauty shelves in VS.  I would call it "glittery rose gold", but that's why I'm not a nail polish name consultant.  Here's some iPhone photography action:

Also, I love this music video by Robyn.  It's an older one, but she's just cool.  Don't you agree?

Shower Novels

       I am a really busy person.  Not that I'm always busy in the homework/work sense, but a busy body. I always feel like there's something I should be doing and as of late, I have developed this habit of not sleeping as much in fear of missing out on something.  Is that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?  Well, I think it is.  This busy tendency has even translated itself into the habit of reading in the shower, hence the title of this post.  And no, I do not take actual books in the shower, I just read and re-read shampoo bottles and other product instructions.  Typically it's just the average wash-rinse-repeat spiel, but I've recently been gifted a bottle of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap and it has opened up an entirely new realm of shower literature to me.

Hooray for cellphone pics!  Be kind, I need to get a new camera battery.

       Each and every bottle of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is inscribed with his philosophical thoughts promoting unity and peace.  To be honest, it's a lot of religious rambling and I don't understand all of it, but it makes for a very interesting read.  If you would like some background info, checkout a timeline of Dr. Bronner's life here.  And not only is the bottle interesting, but its contents are pretty impressive as well.  You only need a couple drops of this liquid soap to produce a decent lather and its not overly drying.  Eight different scents are available in various forms, including bar soap, lotion, shaving gel, lip balm, and body balm.  The scents available are peppermint, eucalyptus, almond, citrus, rose, baby mild, lavender, and tea tree.  I'm pretty sure I'll be buying this one again, probably in the almond scented version the next time around.  If you aren't interested in the 32 ounce bottle, Dr. Bronner's website offers multiple different sizes, from two ounces to one whole gallon!

Have you tried Dr. Bronner's soaps?  Are there any other products you buy simply because of their wordy packaging? I can't be the only shower reader in here!

 

Makeup Crush Monday: Power Brows

   One thing the genetic lottery blessed me with, much to the dismay of my younger self, is strong eyebrows.  I remember begging my mom to let me tweeze them when I was somewhere in the fourth grade age bracket.  While I did not always like them, I have really grown to appreciate them in recent years!  And by "appreciate" I'm not saying I let them completely go wild and grow wherever they please.  Definitely not.  I just have stopped waxing and tweezing them to the high heavens.  I've actually done a complete 180 and purchased my first eyebrow pencil, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in Dark Brown. Big eyebrows are finally in again and I am in total support of the movement!

Ugh, Cara... you're too perfect! (*Photo Credit: Tumblr)

     Years of eyebrow abuse and over-grooming has unfortunately caused some areas of my eyebrows to grow back thinner than others.  My main area of concern is right at the inner edges of my eyebrows.  The two main mistakes made by young girls, like my former self, are: 1) making brows too thin and 2) making them too short, either from the inner or outer corners.  I was primarily guilty of the latter.  When I use The Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in the thinner areas of my eyebrows you can't even tell I was once a tweezer-happy teenager. 

       The finish is described as "applies like a pencil, sets like a powder" and this description is totally accurate.  Once applied and brushed throughout the eyebrows using the mascara wand-like end of the pencil, the product completely disappears into your brows.  As far as color options go, all of those offered are perfectly natural and you should have no problem finding the perfect shade for you.  At $23 a pencil, this little number is quite pricey, but worth every penny!    

What are your opinions on eyebrow pencils?  Do you use them, love them, hate them?  Let me know!

Makeup Crush Monday: Hazel-crazed

      I know you all missed Makeup Crush Monday this past week (maybe), so I'm bringing it back this week.  Today's product is not fancy nor groundbreaking, but it is time-tested and celebrities claim to like it on their own, meaning no paid endorsements here.  It is *drumroll*.... witch hazel or hamamelis virginiana for you ingredient snobs.

    I discovered witch hazel a couple years ago in my search for a new toner option.  I was just exiting my Clean & Clear and Sea Breeze harsh/drying/colored/scented astringent phase and I had finally learned that skin shouldn't feel tight and tingly all the time.  In my best efforts to be kind to my skin, I suppose I ended up equating gentleness with a simple bottle and natural ingredients.  Luckily, I was spot on when I chose Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner.  Dickinson's toner boasts a natural, no frills formula that comes in equally unexciting packaging.  The ingredients, as written on the bottle, are: All Natural Witch Hazel, containing Natural Grain Alcohol 14% and Witch Hazel Extract.
      Many of you are probably thinking "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Alcohol? No ma'am!", and you are right to be concerned, but I have extremely sensitive, breakout prone skin and I have never experienced adverse effects when using this toner.  However,  if you would like to read some articles on the pros and cons of witch hazel use, you can find them here and here.  I support the school of thought that suggests the pros outweigh the cons (Truth in Aging), but Paula Begoun does present her points well.  I just figure that with all of the highly regarded and fairly new products that contain alcohol out there, such as Caudalie's Beauty Elixir, an ingredient that has been used for centuries as a disinfectant and anti-inflammatory should be the least of our concerns.

    
     BUT, if you are interested in a witch hazel toner that is alcohol-free, I was recently introduced to the Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera Formula.  This impressive product not only contains witch hazel, but it also has aloe, glycerin, and vitamin E, and smells amazing to boot!  It's ideal for those of you with drier skin types.  Those of you with fragrance sensitivities may want to skip out on this one, but that's fine because Thayer's also has an unscented formula in their line of toners!

*Photo Credit: Walgreens

        Dickinson's also makes witch hazel towelettes which I normally stockpile for vacations.  They are perfect for a quick cleanse when there isn't a sink nearby.  Even Drew Barrymore claimed to like these during an interview she did with Into the Gloss, calling them "facials on-the-go". 

Let's Get Professional

      If you all are like me, then this year (aka 1.5 years away from entering the Real World) has been very hectic for you.  Amidst all of the studying and social activity, you also have to find time for the dreaded "Job/Internship Hunt".  I've always been busy, but this year takes the cake for sure.  So, what am I doing today?  Well I am watching "The September Issue" and then "The City" reruns all the while browsing through various websites with job interview tips.  I keep reminding myself that no matter how intimidating an interviewer may be, I am at least not being interviewed by Anna Wintour.  "The September Issue" showed her in her administrative role, which she plays extremely well, but she has a face of stone.

Very "The Devil Wears Prada", no? (*Photo credit: thejanedough.com)

      For you readers, I've found the most interesting website that has some great articles on what to do and what not to do during interviews, what to wear, what to bring, etc.  The website is by a business called Levo League which is a collaboration of young business professionals.  All of the articles go beyond the basics and spare you the boring, redundant advice (i.e. sell yourself, shake their hand, smile, blah blah blah).  I highly recommend browsing through it for some helpful tricks and tips!
      As far as figuring out what to wear for a job interview goes, Forbes has composed a list of 20 of the best fashion blogs for business women, which can be found here.  Each of these blogs has something different to offer in the way of wardrobe suggestions and we all need that from time to time.  One of my favorites is The Style Sample, a super chic and creative blog that talks about everything from accessories to productivity software.  Click on the link and have a read.  You won't be disappointed.

      Last, but never, ever least, is the makeup.  Unless you are looking to get hired by the Ringling Brothers, DO NOT OVER DO IT.  What I mean by this is that you should choose colors that make you look business-ready, and not like you're about to hit the town with your girlfriends.  The Naked Palettes by Urban Decay are such a great go-to for neutral looks.  Depending on the job you are being interviewed for, a bold lip may or may not work in your favor.  To be on the safe side, I would stick with a neutral lip, making a light berry or dusted rose the boldest color you choose.

Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Vintage Pink

YSL Volupté Sheer Candy in Mouthwatering Berry

      I hope my little compilation of websites and makeup pictures (all courtesy of Sephora.com, btw) offers some assistance during your job search.  I am always open to website and tip suggestions, so comment below if any come to mind.  Thanks for reading!

Flower Power

      Let me start this post off by saying celebrity-endorsed products can be a huge turnoff to me.  Being a communications major with a focus in public relations, I do understand the importance of such a promotional tactic every now and then, but for the most part I find the celebrity endorsement a little pointless.  As much as I would like to believe that Beyonce is flawless simply as a result of using L'Oréal's True Match foundation, we all know that woman has enough money to inject her face with pure liquid gold if she wants, and probably does.  It's just not realistic to base your purchase decisions on what celebrities claim to love, because let's face it, they are getting paid biiiiiiig bucks for their "approval".

*Photo Credit: thebudgetbabe.com

    
       However, having had my little rant, I must say that I was intrigued when Drew Barrymore's Flower cosmetics recently came into the drugstore makeup spotlight.  The majority of her products don't contain parabens or fragrance, but what they do contain is skin-loving ingredients such as vitamin C and E.  Also, the retro, elegant, rose gold-accented packaging was too much to handle!  Having read a few decent reviews on Makeup Alley, I decided I wanted to give the About Face Foundation a try.  I bought mine at Walmart for $14 in shade LF3, which is a decent price in my opinion.  But enough with all of the technicalities.  Let's review, shall we?

How cute is that bottle?

A little swatch action

       This product is what you might call a "good skin day" product.  To me, a "good skin day" is when your face is looking pretty clear and even toned.  You're not looking to go completely bare-faced, but you don't want too much coverage either.  This product provides light to moderate coverage, but builds well.  The finish isn't too matte or dull.  Sometimes my Revlon Colorstay is just a bit too harsh for winter days, so the dewy, moisturizing formula was very enticing.  However, if your skin is even slightly oily, you best be purchasing some powder to set this with.  I didn't set it with powder because I wanted to see how the formula performed on its own and I was shiny by the third hour of wear.  The color range is decent, however I think women with darker skin tones may find the selection leaves a little to be desired.  As always,  I am a bit concerned that this could break me out, but I love the finish so much that I will probably keep wearing it.  As usual, if breakouts occur, I will be updating this post.
      Update:  Unfortunately, I do think that this product is responsible for a few new blemishes that have been popping up.  However, if you check the ingredient list and nothing looks troublesome to you, I still encourage you to give it a try.  The finish is too pretty!
       All in all, I think Drew Barrymore hit the nail on the head with this formulation.  In a world where matte, full coverage foundations rule, the new About Face Foundation is a welcome addition for beauty gurus in search of something different.  I look forward to testing out new products from the Flower line in the future.  What do you all think?  Have you given Drew's products a try? 

Manuka Honey and Cinnamon Facial

    
      Recently, I've become more and more interested in natural beauty products.  Of course I still love my synthetic chemicals and my parabens, but I figure that I have nothing to lose by going au natural every now and then.  I think part of my new natural product obsession comes from me thinking: "If I am ever stranded in some natural environment (i.e. a desert island) I could still find some of these products and be able to wash my face (and yes, I'm looking at you, Coconut Oil)".  But until I find the single, natural cure-all, I am going to continue on with my mixture of faux and natural ingredients.

  
       Neverthelesss, Manuka honey has been on my beauty radar as of late with its enticing antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.  My friend, Amy, just picked up a jar of Wedderspoon Manuka Honey for us to split at Whole Foods for about $32, but you can buy yours on DrugStore.com.  I know $32 it's a lot for a jar of honey, but do your research and you will find the uses for this stuff extend far beyond facials. Find an informative website here.
        One day I may decide to explore different uses for Manuka honey, but for now I am mostly interested in it as an acne remedy.  I'm not breaking out anything crazy, but I do have a couple spots that need to go away.  I chose to mix the Manuka honey with cinnamon, because cinnamon also has antibacterial properties.  Hopefully all of this antibacterial-ness will destroy and prevent spots!  All you need is half a tablespoon of manuka honey, a mixing bowl, and a few dashes of cinnamon.  I'd say the mixture should be about three parts honey and one part cinnamon. 

I just used good ol' Kroger cinnamon, nothing special

Approximately half a tablespoon

A couple dashes of cinnamon

      Now that you've made this delicious mixture (and I'm sure you will be tempted to taste it), apply a thin layer all over your face.  Let the mask sit for about 10 to 15 minutes then take a warm, wet washcloth and remove everything from your face.  I washed my face afterwards, but that step is not necessary.
      This mask made my face feel extremely clean and refreshed.  It is not meant to drastically and suddenly improve the condition of blemishes, but  I think that using it every once in a while could help prevent future spots.  I think I'll be keeping the Manuka honey around for a while.

Have you tried Manuka honey?  What are your opinions on all-natural products?

Bb Texture Hair (Un)dressing Creme

       Happy official Day #1 of Spring Break week!  Even after two days at home I've gotten more rest than I have in the past two weeks.  I'm rejuvenated.  Even my hair is seemingly more perky... or am I imagining that? Probably.  But hey, that brings me to my newest product review:  Bumble and bumble's Texture Hair (Un)Dressing Creme.  I am really never quick to write a rave on a hair product.  My hair is so fine, frizzy, and occasionally oily that it presents quite a challenge for the average hair product.  Thankfully, Bumble and bumble doesn't do average, only excellent or better.  Bumble and bumble is the annoyingly clever/perfect valedictorian of Hair Products Class of 2013.

      Ever since SemiSumo has come out, Bumble and bumble has been all over the beauty blogger radar, taking the lightweight pomade to a whole new level.  I did try SemiSumo (and loved it), but the shine was a little too much for me.  As a girl who gets greasy strands after about 8 hours, I decided I needed something sans shine and luckily, I've stumbled across Bb's Texture Hair (Un)Dressing Creme.  I've honestly been using it incorrectly, as it clearly states on the back of the bottle to "work through damp hair".  But it just looks so good in dry hair!   I rub a dime-sized amount in my palms and spread it throughout my hair, twisting pieces to get a bit of a tousled look.  It also smells amazing, a little like laundry detergent.  I bought the travel sized bottle at Sephora, which contains 2 ounces, for only $14.  If that's even a bit too much commitment for you, have one of the Sephora sales associates get you a sample!  As far as hair products go, this one's a winner.

What are some of your HG hair products?  

Fake It 'Til You Make It: Spring Break Edition

      At one point in our lives some of us have to face a cold, harsh reality:  we are not venturing off to some exotic locale for college spring break, but rather, we are reporting back to our hometowns to work and sleep.  It's not a bad thing, but there are certain things about a spring break in Ft. Lauderdale or Mexico that you just don't often come across during a low key spring break in Kentucky.  It's the smell of the beach, the feel of the sand between your toes, the taste of fresh chips and salsa on a beach chair...ugh, am I sounding too cliche yet? 

      

       Unfortunately, I cannot give you any remedies for missing the whole sand-between-your-toes bit (aside from finding a sandbox), but I sure can make you smell like spring break.  For my birthday I was given this amaaaazing body lotion from Pacifica's Body Butter line called Indian Coconut Nectar.  It's very coconutty and warm, which I prefer to coconutty and fruity.  Have I lost you yet?  I hope not!  But basically this stuff is like a warm day on the beach in a tube, plus the moisture lasts all day and isn't greasy at all.  I honestly prefer the texture of this lotion to my everyday Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion.  You can find this body butter at Target for about $13.  It's not your cheapest option, but I swear, it's amazing.  Totally worth every penny!

       

   
      Capriclear... where do I begin with this product?  I'd never even heard of it until my recent visit to Ulta last week.  Honestly, it doesn't smell like much, but if you haven't noticed from the label it only contains 100% fractionated coconut oil.  This means no parabens, no fragrance, and no mineral oil.  I use this mostly on my body as an occasional replacement for body lotion, but I've also used it on my face.  I can't provide a testament to whether or not it would break my face out because I've only used it once in that way, but it did provide a nice glow under my makeup.  After a couple hours, it was a little too much glow (aka shiny), but for dry skinned ladies, I think it would be a nice addition to your makeup routine.  I bought the miniature bottle of this at Ulta for about $7.  The spray applicator is perfect for lazy days when even regular lotion application seems too strenuous.
      To top off this whole article, I think it's only appropriate that I include a recipe for a nice tropical snack!  How do piña colada cupcakes sound?  I found a recipe on SkinnyTaste.com that looks amazing and fairly foolproof!  Go check it out!

What are your Spring Break 2013 plans?  Are you opting for a spring break at home or are you heading out of town?  I love hearing from you!

Makeup Crush Monday

First of all, let's all start off by saying Happy Early Birthday to me! Hehe. I am so excited. I will finally be 20 on Tuesday, March 5th. That's a whole new decade, folks! I celebrated with my lovely fam by having brunch brunch at a little homestyle restaurant called Ramsey's here in Lexington. It was as delicious as always and of course, it was made even better by having my parents and sisters with me! I have a rather exciting little gift to blog about today, though, and that is my new Mox Botanicals Coconut Almondine Lip Butter! I was introduced to this brand through Birchbox and I adore it. They use all natural, premium ingredients to create their lip butters such as moisturizing coconut and avocado oils. They cost $16.50 per pot, but get this: once you've used yours up you can send them back the container and they will refill it for half-price. What a clever way to get people to recycle! The sample I received was actually Pomegranate Fig and it smelled lovely, but I wasn't truly sold until I discovered the Coconut Almondine flavor on their web page. I am happy to report that this fragrance is totally true to it's name. It's a lovely almond-coconut blend. One of the best things about these lip butters is that the fragrance does not last too long on your lips. I love fragranced balms at first but having them on your lips, right under your nose can be quite headache-inducing after a few hours. The moisturizing aspect, however, is a different story as it does last for hours! The clear balm goes on smooth, not sticky, and the moisture is light, but effective. The black glass jar is just so sleek, too. Seriously, what's not to like?! I highly recommend a little browse through their site which can be found at moxbotanicals.com. As always, let me know what you all think!