Etsy Finds: Anya's Herbals

             My skin has been freakishly clear for the past two weeks, but like an idiot, I've stopped drinking coffee and started using a new cleanser all in that 14 day period so I can't tell you what's responsible for this sudden clarity.  All I want to know is can I start drinking coffee again, because it's this fab new cleanser working its magic, or do I need to quit coffee forever? What to do, what to do...  I'm hoping the new cleanser is responsible for my clear skin because I've been faithfully drinking green tea every morning for the past two weeks, and let me tell ya, I am so over it.  Plus, a study was recently done that suggests green tea leaves absorb an abnormally high amount of lead from the soil. Yay!  Lead poisoning!

           
                 However, you probably are less interested in lead poisoning and more interested in the cleanser I previously mentioned.  It's called the Raw Honey and Turmeric Cleanser and it was created by a woman named Anya Messina of Anya's Herbals on Etsy.  Not only is Anya super kind and helpful, she truly knows her stuff.  The package in which I received my cleanser contained a printout of her company's philosophy and information on her "8 Botanicals Blend", which is described as a "proprietary blend of 8 locally grown and gently extracted healing agents, this remarkable formula is at the heart of all our products".  These ingredients are: bearberry, cinquefoil, common mallow, cranberry, ground ivy, lavender, soapwort, usnea lichen and wild rose.  Each of these ingredients has something special to offer, such as blemish healing or moisturizing properties.  This cleanser also contains raw honey that is gathered locally, which makes it better than most other cleansers, in my opinion.  Plus, I am sort of addicted the smell and the way it gently cleanses without stripping my skin.  Anya hit the nail on the head with this one. 
            In addition to receiving this cleanser, I also got a sample of Blossom soap* from Anya's Herbals.  This soap not only has a gorgeous floral scent, but it also has a beautiful, marbled look to it.  It cleanses beautifully, and like the cleanser, leaves your skin feeling clean, not stripped.  I am just completely thrilled with every I received in this Etsy order.  If you are looking for a natural cleanser, soap, body lotion, mask or other skincare item, I highly recommend checking out Anya's Herbals. You won't be disappointed!

 The * denotes a product which I was sent free of cost.  Reviews will remain objective, regardless of how the product came to me.

Surviving "Blue Monday"

    Let me just start this post off with a quick congrats!  If you are reading this, you have survived "Blue Monday".  Apparently Blue Monday is a yearly phenomenon that occurs in January when everyone is coming down from their Holiday High.  Pants are a little tighter and wallets are a little slimmer.  Combine these factors with the dreary weather and you've got yourself the most depressing day of the year!  Read about it here on Wikipedia for a more in depth explanation.  While it would be easy to sit here and discuss all of the bummer days I've had over the past year or so, I would much rather share a list of things that make me thankful for this post-Christmas, should-be-depressing time period.

 

Books

 I am currently in the middle of reading both Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James and The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant.  I know we've all heard of Christian Grey and his kinkiness, and though I am not absolutely enamored with this book as most people seem to be, I feel like I've got to finish it to see what all of the fuss is about!  The Wettest County in the World is a historical novel based on a true story about moon shining in Franklin County, Virginia.  Actually, Shia LaBeouf's recent "Lawless" was based on this novel (and he looked daaaang FINE in it, if I do say so myself).  I'm not too far into the book yet, but if it's anything like the movie I'm going to love it!  

 

Cozy Socks 

The picture above shows only a tiny sampling of my sock collection.  Admittedly, I am a sock junkie.  This cold weather gives me an excuse to bring out the dorkiest, wooliest, thickest socks I own!

 Tea and Coffee

What more can I say?  Ever since I had my first cup of Earl Grey and my sister bought me a French press, my coffee cup has been constantly filled with one hot beverage or another. I prefer black or white teas and bold coffees, but I can be persuaded to drink a sugary Starbucks drink every now and then!  I've got a couple different tea diffusers which I left behind at my house, but I'm sure they will be making an appearance here soon as well.  

What are some things you used to stave off the Blue Monday blues (or just the plain ol' winter blues)?

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!

The Best Lipgloss Ever and a French Press

French press...is that supposed to be one word?  Well, regardless of how you spell it, mine is broken.  I am a caffeine addict and caffeine addicts need good, strong coffee.  While the coffee in the sorority house is strong, it is often burnt, simply because it is made early in the morning then left on the burner for hours.  After one too many cups of burnt coffee, I caved and brought my French press back from home... or at least tried to.  As soon as I got back to Lexington, I was unloading my weekend bags from the backseat and out tumbled my little coffee press, and the glass shattered everywhere.  I suppose this means back to burnt coffee, or selling my soul to Starbucks, until I can find some replacement glass.  I'm fine with it, but ugh, what luck!

  Anyways, enough coffee talk, let's get to the lipgloss.  I almost always opt for a more natural lip, as I usually find bright colors to be overwhelming on my small lips;  however, during this particular trip to Sephora, I decided to step outside of the box.  I am so glad I did!  This is a Sephora brand gloss in The Red- Shiny.  I bought this right before a trip to Ohio with some girlfriends and this lipgloss got some serious mileage.  Everyone loved the color and I let everyone borrow it , which may gross some people out, but at least I know these people.  One girl affectionately referred to it as "The Senator's Wife Red".  She has a thing for politicians, and her own tube of this lipgloss, now.  With one application, this goes on as a sheer hot pink, but layered, it becomes a gorgeous bright red.  The staying power is not better or worse than your average lipgloss, but with the curvy, lip-contour shaped wand, re-applying is no problem at all.  I hardly rave about lipgloss, but this particular product deserves it.  As an added bonus, it only set me back about $14.  Everyone should have this lipgloss, in my opinion!

The Things That Make the World Go Round

Coffee... The thing that makes the world go round. I am stressed out beyond belief this week. 2 things that will undoubtedly help me make it through: $1 coffee at good ol' McD's and my MAC concealer. The stuff could cover anything and what a blessing that is because my undereye circles make it look like the last time I slept was last week... Oh wait... That was the last time I really slept. I'll stop being melodramatic, I just had to briefly share my thoughts amidst this Spanish studying fiesta! (See what I did there?)