Wait, a review?! It seems like I haven't sat down to write a review in ages, but when I received the Flawless VoxBox from Influenster in the mail last week... Well, you know the rest. This year has been all about aligning who I am with who I want to be, which means living in a way that is more grounded in spirituality, health, and eco-consciousness. This VoxBox, I think, matches up with that flawlessly.

First off, it came in this gorgeous turquoise box that can be recycled or reused very easily. I am currently in the middle renovating my bedroom so I will probably use it to store some of my smaller items while I move things around. But the real star of this box isn't the box itself, of course. It's what is inside! And, let me tell you, this is probably my favorite of all the VoxBoxes I've received. The first thing I saw when I opened the box was a full-sized bag of Dr. Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution with Eucalyptus and Spearmint. I'm more of a shower girl, but I may have to light some candles and take a bath to try this stuff out. It promises to not only relax the mind but sooth aches and pains, which I totally need both of right now.

The box also contained a travel-sized package of Simple's Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes. I usually use Clinique's Take the Day Off cleansing balm to remove my makeup––I'll be switching to coconut oil soon––but when I'm feeling lazy I would grab the Equate (Wal-Mart) brand wipes to quickly clean my face. The fragrance is strong in those wipes, though, and would trigger my rosacea. Not good. Simple's wipes didn't irritate my skin at all. It removed makeup better than the cheap wipes and maybe even removed it better than my cleansing balm, all without harsh fragrances or redness. They also threw in a sample of their micellar water and, if it is as good as their wipes, I'm sure I'll love it.

The next goody in the box was a SinfulColors Trend Matters nail polish in Miss Klaws. As if the Klaws didn't give it away, this was from the Kylie Kollection. But if you don't like the Kardashian-Jenner bunch, don't let that deter you from buying! This matte polish was opaque after only one layer and it lasted for days, even longer than some of my high-end polishes. And it's only $2.99! SinfulColors has definitely stepped up their game.

The other makeup item in the box was the CoverGirl So Lashy! by blastPRO mascara. CoverGirl tests on animals so I did not use this mascara. I did open it up to look at the wand and it is definitely unique. It is flattened out, with short bristles along the flat plane, longer bristles on the outer edges, and a spiked ball at the tip. While the wand is unique, it looks a little difficult to use––almost like it is trying to be new and trendy more than good quality.

On the food end of things, I was sent some Yogi tea and Harvest Snaps green pea crisps. I haven't tried the Harvest Snaps yet, but I have already gone out and bought a box of the Yogi tea on my own. Yes, it was that good. Each blend has different benefits, such as stress-reducing, skin-clearing, or detoxifying. It tastes fantastic and every bag is tagged with a piece of advice or wise saying. No matter what blend you get, it will certainly help you relax. And you can compost the tea bags!

All of these products were sent to me for free by Influenster for reviewing purposes. If you're interested in becoming an Influenster––and I totally recommend it––it would be super cool if you signed up using my referral link right here.

Until next time!
SaveSave

The first time I used NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation––which, by the way, is a mouthful––was when it first came out a couple of years ago. At the time, I had incredibly dry skin that no amount of moisturizer could fix. I went through foundation after foundation, trying to find a formula that wouldn't emphasize my dry patches and would cover my rosacea.

At that time, this foundation was a hard pass. It not only emphasized my dry skin, it also left me looking like I had a ton of product on my face. It just sat on my skin, didn't blend well, and didn't cover my redness as well as I had hoped. One of the claims about this foundation was that you only needed one drop––or pump––to cover your entire face. That wasn't true for me then and it still isn't true for me now.

My skin is currently more on the combination or oily end of the spectrum. My go-to foundation is the Too Faced Born This Way formula, but because I've been breaking out so much lately I decided to try out some new formulas to see if my favorite foundation had betrayed me. I picked up the NARS foundation again and gave it a go. I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

It still took three pumps to cover my face, but it did mask the redness from both my rosacea and my breakouts. It looked a little too matte on my skin, despite claiming a natural finish, and made my cheeks––where is covered my redness––look a little ashy. It also emphasized texture on my skin. For instance, an allergic reaction had caused tiny little bumps to appear all over my face. While my Too Faced foundation made them appear smoother, the NARS foundation made them obvious. Same for my breakouts.

I will admit that other people I asked couldn't really tell a different in the appearance of my skin when I wore this foundation. But I could, and it left me feeling really self-conscious and uncomfortable. f you do try it out, make sure to apply it with a damp Beauty Blender as this foundation is prone to streak marks.

Bottom line, I'm still not a fan of this foundation––especially not for $48.

Is it hot where you are? It's been pretty warm here all summer, with temperatures staying in the 90º range since mid-July. And the West Virginia humidity has always been the stuff of nightmares. Just walking outside for a minute can make a person start to sweat, and don't even get me started on my outdoor workouts.

One good thing has come out of this uncomfortable weather: I have perfected my sweat-proof makeup routine. And I didn't even do it on purpose. I'm pretty insecure about my skin–rosacea and acne will do that to you–and I always wear face makeup when I work out. I'm also an avid Snapchatter and selfie-taker, so of course I take the occasional snapshot of myself post-workout.

Last month, after a particularly grueling workout in 93º weather, I took a couple of pictures and realized my makeup had not budged. Not a bit. Underneath my makeup, I was sure I looked like a human tomato, but no one would have been able to tell that. My mom, who was my workout partner that day, even noticed. I was amazed.

So I'm sharing my routine with you.

I start out by applying the elf Face Primer with my fingers, patting it into place where my pores are particularly noticeable. Then I take one pump of the Too Faced Born This Way foundation and apply it with a Real Techniques buffing brush, pressing the product onto areas that need a bit more coverage. If I need a little extra coverage, like when my acne is flaring up, I will use another half of a pump on the areas that need it. I finish with MAC Studio Fix powder foundation, using a fluffy brush to press the powder on.

When I'm going somewhere after my workout, I will add some contour using the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette and line my eyes with the Flower Forever Wear eyeliner. Sometimes I will use MAC Fix+ to set the look, but it does just as well without it.

You want proof? Take a look.


This picture was taken at 1:29 PM on a 90º day. I had applied my makeup that morning at 7 AM. That is six and a half hours of wear during which I worked out, went shopping, and worked out again.

I also have a cheaper version of this look that I will be talking about soon, so stay tuned.

How do you make your makeup last all day in the heat? Let me know in the comments!

If you've been following this blog for a while, you probably know a little bit about my skincare journey. For any new readers, here is a quick rundown on the history of my skin:

I had acne once when I was in high school and cleared it up pretty quickly with ProActive. Beyond that, I never had any problems with my skin (aside from my hereditary rosacea), despite not taking very good care of it. When I went on birth control as a teenager, my skin dried out horribly. And now that I've moved away from hormonal birth control, my skin has gone crazy, leaving me with oily skin and the worst acne of my life.

Since last October, I have been trying anything and everything to keep my skin clear. Literally nothing was working and I was starting to think I would just have to deal with bad skin for the rest of my life. Dramatic, I know. At the same time, I was making a move towards minimalism: eating simple, clean foods and being careful about what I put in and on my body. So when I spotted S.W. Basics on the shelves of my local Target, I was thrilled.

S.W. Basics is a Brooklyn-based skincare company that lives by the motto less is more. They believe that "using fewer ingredients means more potent skincare." I would have to agree. I bought the cleanser and toner from this line a few months ago and, when I take the time to use it regularly, I see a massive improvement in my skin.

The cleanser has only three ingredients: organic rosewater, organic vegetable glycerin, and organic tea tree oil. I use it after I remove all of my makeup by putting some onto a cotton pad and rubbing it in circular motions on my face. It gets rid of any traces of makeup left behind and leaves my skin feeling clean, but not dry or stiff. You know the feeling I'm talking about.

I rinse the cleanser off and do the same thing with the toner, which has five ingredients: water, organic raw apple cider vinegar, organize witch hazel, and organic essential oils of clary sage and sandalwood. This product might scare some people; it has a slightly browny-yellow color from the apple cider vinegar, as well as a film that is from the 'mother' part of the vinegar (the most useful part) and a slight odor. But it honestly feels amazing on the skin and you get used to the smell.

In the few months I have been using this-- again, when I remember to use it regularly-- it has diminished my hormonal, cystic acne, faded old acne scars, and even lessened the appearance of my rosacea. I even notice a little bit of a glow to my skin when I use these products, plus I feel better knowing exactly what I am putting on my skin. These two products are $22 dollars each. It sounds a little pricey, but they do last a while and they come in reusable glass bottles. When I have finally finished using up the product, I plan on using them as little vases on my desk.

If you're interested in learning more about these products or S.W. Basics, visit their website here. And, by the way, this was not a sponsored post... But if they see this post and like it, I wouldn't mind a coupon or something. I got student loans to pay, y'all.

Not all makeup brands are created equal. And I'm not just talking about the quality of their products.

Recently I watched Amanda Faye's updated makeup routine video, where she talked about making the transition to cruelty-free beauty items. I'm currently trying to be more conscious about what I consume, both internally and externally, and her video made me realize that I have no idea what goes into the making of the products I use. It has inspired me to slowly transition my own beauty routine to be more animal-friendly, as well, and it's really not as difficult as you might think!

My first step was going through the beauty products I use on a daily basis. I use a mixture of drugstore and high-end products and I found that most of my high-end makeup was cruelty-free... I wasn't so lucky with my drugstore favorites, however. Rimmel, whose eyeliners and mascaras are always in my favorites posts, unfortunately had to go. So does my Maybelline Brow Drama kit but, full disclosure, I am using these products until they run out so that I am not being wasteful.

Luckily, my must haves such as the Too Faced Born This Way foundation and Urban Decay Naked concealer get to stay in my routine, as do my Real Techniques and ELF brushes. But my favorite powders, both by MAC, will eventually have to go.

While it would seem that the easiest way to go cruelty-free would be to buy high-end, it's not foolproof. According to CrueltyFreeKitty.com, brands such as Benefit, Bobbi Brown and Make Up For Ever do test on animals. And, surprisingly, there are a number of drugstore brands that do not test on animals, such as Milani, ELF and Wet N Wild. Some brands are cruelty-free such but are owned by companies who are not, such as NYX. This is where doing your research and using your own judgement are important.

Sometimes, though, we're ready to start making the switch but don't have time to do a lot of hardcore research. That's why I created this little cheat sheet for you, with some of my favorite cruelty-free brands from high-end to drugstore.

I have dry skin, so I am always looking for a way to make my skin look healthy and glowy by any means necessary. I've highlighted, I've strobed, I've all-over glowed and I've contoured to make those glowier bits stand out even more. But now a new trend has emerged and, boy, is it a doozy. It's called chroming and it basically requires you to use a metallic or frosted lipstick in place of a highlighter.

No, really. That's pretty much it.

If you read Pixiwoo's post on the subject, you'll realize that even though the chroming trend is interesting... It is also a bit silly. I mean, it's so rare to wear these shades as an actual lipstick anymore so it is genius of cosmetics companies like MAC to market those shades in a new way. One of the main selling points of chroming is that the product will do double duty as a lipstick and a highlighter. But, because it is so rare to wear these shades as a lipstick, will it really pull double duty in your handbag? (Answer: hopefully not.)

If you do wear these shades on your lips, I can see how this trend would be useful. Alternatively, if you are trying to save space in your makeup bag, this may be something for you to try as well. My main concern lies in the fact that this is a product make for your lips and not your skin. And while higher end products may be able to perform well on the cheeks without doing any harm to your skin, some lipsticks may clog your pores and lead to breakouts-- or worse. Also, in doing research for this post, I've found that many people have trouble blending the product and getting rid of harsh lines. There are multiple woes, here.

If you already have some of these shades, test them out. Literally, test them before applying to a large area of your face to make sure they won't cause a reaction. You may find a new use for some of your least used shades. But if you don't already own a shade like that-- a light frosty or metallic color-- I wouldn't rush out to buy one. Highlighting with a cream highlighter will give you similar, if not identical, results.

I, personally, will be giving the chroming trend a pass. What about you?

Sometimes drugstores come out with amazing and affordable dupes for pricier high-end products. I've had my eye on the Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil for quite some time, but it's not very easy to get in my area and as a rule I don't buy just one product online-- unless it's at Sephora where I get free two-day shipping as a VIB Rouge member. (Yes, I spent that much money in a year. Judge me all you want.) So you can imagine my excitement when I heard about the new Milani Moisture Lock Lip Treatments, which seemed to be a pretty convincing dupe at first glance.

Besides the packaging differences-- the Clarins tube is square where this one is round-- the most obvious difference between the two products is the selection. Clarins has two options: Honey and Raspberry. Milani has eight different lip oils to choose from, each with a different blend of oils to help treat specific problems.

You can choose from Moisturizing Almond Coco, Healing Lemon Honey, Rejuvenating Peach Mango, Conditioning Grapeseed, Repairing Primrose, Revitalizing Grapefruit, Protecting Pomegranate, and Nourishing Raspberry.

I picked up the lemon honey shade, hoping it would be the closest match to the Clarins product. The first thing I noticed about it was how big the applicator is; it's size definitely diminishes the amount of product that is actually in the tube and, in my opinion, it picks up too much product.


I have seen reviews of other shades-- such as Bailey B.'s YouTube review-- and the consensus seems to be that these lip oils don't really have shades, only different oil combinations. There may be a slight difference in color when applied to the lips, but not enough that you would need to buy multiple shades. Many of the reviews I've seen also say that the different shades also seem to work similarly; again, I don't think you would need to buy multiple shades depending on the state of your lips.

The thing that surprised me about this product was that it didn't really feel like an oil. It had more of a gel-like consistency, a little thick and goopy. And I think that consistency sort of kept it from sinking into my lips. It felt like it just sat on top of my lips. That may be why I felt like it did nothing for my lips-- it basically acted as a gloss for me. But it didn't make my lips worse, either, which I have heard some reviews say.

Overall, it's not a bad buy if you're looking for a gloss that may nourish your lips at the same time. But, because I've heard so many good things about the Clarins lip oil, I don't think this qualifies as a dupe.

Have you tried the Milani Moisture Lock Lip Treatment? What did you think?

In last month's Target Beauty Box I received a sample of Laneige's BB Cushion Foundation. While cushion foundations have been a big hit overseas for quite some time, they have only recently started to hit the shelves here in America-- especially in the drugstores. Laneige was among the first to bring the trend to the drugstore (though the prices are anything but) and I was pretty excited to give this one a try.


The samples were small but provided enough product for one good application-- in fact, there may have been enough product for multiple applications, but the packaging of the samples only allowed for one as there was no way to close it up and prevent the cushion from drying out. There are four shades: light, medium, medium dark and dark, but only the first three were provided in the sample. I tried out the lightest shade because I'm hella pale and white enough that I use words like hella unironically. A mini version of their antimicrobial puff was also provided:


But, seriously, it was just a little bigger than a quarter. A perfect fit for the samples, but not such a great fit for an entire face. I did try using it but it made applying very difficult so I switched to my Beauty Blender real fast. The regular size of this puff would work well enough, I suppose, but it wouldn't be my preferred method of application.

And here is my before, during and after:


As you can see from the before picture, not only do I have rosacea to contend with, but I've also been dealing with some massive breakouts. Yeah, for nearly the first time in my life, at 26. Fun.

One layer did do a surprisingly good job of evening out my skin tone and reducing the redness of my blemishes. I would say it falls between a light and a medium coverage, but it didn't build very well. I tried a second layer and it looked exactly the same as before. Also, the foundation has a very strong scent. It isn't a bad scent but it aggravated my rosacea-- definitely not the calming effect the foundation claims to have on skin. So it made my skin even more red, which also made it harder to cover. The final photo is my full face of makeup-- finished off with some Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer ad the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette.

I would give this foundation an average C. If you don't have sensitive skin or blemishes, this will do a great job of evening out your skin tone. But if you do suffer from redness or acne, this will not cover it. And if you are not a fan of scented foundation, you will probably want to skip this one. At a $34 price point, it's certainly not cheap, so keep that in mind as well.

Have you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts? Do you like the cushion foundation trend?

Whew! After a week of being snowed in, I've finally been out of the house. You would think that being snowed in would give me that push to get shit done. What it actually made me do was sleep and eat more than any human being should.

But it also gave me the time to get some reading done, which was great since I have recently joined a bookclub. For January we read The Screwtape Letters, which is a Christian satire by C.S. Lewis. It was very well-written (of course) and I would recommend it to anyone, whether they are a Christian or not, because the writing was so good and it is near genius that Lewis created such an interesting world through only the letters of one character. Also, it has some bits in it that are relatable to humanity as a whole. It will make you think, and that is what a good book should do from time to time. There is also an audiobook version narrated by John Cleese-- if you find it hard to read, he will help.

It's 60 degrees today, but we still have half a foot of snow on the ground.

Like I was saying, I've finally made it out of the house. On Friday, Candice and I had a meeting with a potential client and spent the afternoon getting things ready for our bookclub meeting. Our friend Rose made the most delicious brownies I've ever eaten. Saturday was a shopping day. I picked up a Bowie album and the new Rolling Stone magazine with him on the cover and bought a few things from Ulta.

I went in to pick up the new cushion foundations from Physician's Formula and L'Oreal. They didn't have them... So naturally I bought things I didn't need anyway. To be fair, I've been eyeing the two Maybelline lipsticks since I saw them in a HeyClaire video.

This week is shaping up to be a busy one. I'm going to have to find that motivation from deep within, but with weather currently in the 60s, I might be able to manage.

How has your week been? East Coasters, have you dug out from the snowstorm yet?

Drugstore makeup tends to get a bad rap. While we are all usually excited for the spring and fall product releases, they don't often make our favorites list. But drugstore makeup has come a long way since I first started wearing it all the way back in 7th grade. Some drugstore finds are even staples of my everyday makeup routine-- and I'm always on the search for the perfect drugstore foundation. Don't get me wrong, I still love my high end beauty products, but here are a few from the drugstore that have reached Holy Grail status in my life.

1. ELF Eyeshadow Palettes. A few years ago, ELF eyeshadows would not have made my list. They were chalky and barely pigmented and definitely not worth even the few dollars they cost. But that has changed big time. The last few palettes I have bought from ELF have been creamy, pigmented, and blendable. Plus the color selection is great, with a nice mix of neutrals and jewel toned shades as well as a few bright pops of color. And you can't beat the price: most of their larger palettes run between $5-$15.

2. Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer & Stay Matte Foundation. Having dry skin, I don't usually reach for the Stay Matte foundation. But when I look back at pictures from when I do wear it, I think damn! It makes my skin look so smooth and flawless, I could cry tears of joy. The Wake Me Up concealer is part of my everyday routine. I use it under my eyes and on blemishes and dark spots. It brightens and highlights the under eye area but covers my spots without bringing unwanted attention to them. It's really disappointing Rimmel never released the Wake Me Up foundation in the States, because then I might have found my perfectly priced foundation match.

3. Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Pencil. This is one of those trends that hit high-end stores first and was then duped in the drugstores. And these Rimmel pencils are right up there with the ones by Urban Decay and Sephora, for a much cheaper cost. There isn't as wide of a color selection, but they do have a variety of shades from bold blue to a neutral taupe to a glimmering gold.

4. NYX Lip Products. Well, NYX anything if I'm being honest. NYX is pretty much the MAC of the drugstore makeup world. They do a little bit of everything and they do it well. From eyeshadows to face primers to blushes to (especially) their lip products, you could buy every makeup staple from this line and look flawless. (In fact, I need to try out more of their face products and soon.) See swatches from NYX's High Voltage lipstick range here.

5. Maybelline Brow Drama Pro Palette. Again, this is one of those trends that hit stores like Sephora before appearing in the drugstores. But I would actually say this product is better than some of the higher-end alternatives. The packaging is cute and sleek, and the product itself is fantastic. It's another one of my daily staples-- and you can read my full review of it here.

What are some of your favorite drugstore finds? Any dupes you want to share?

Origins had a great deal on Cyber Monday-- yes, ages ago-- where you could purchase a set of their most popular skincare products in deluxe sample sizes for only $15 with free shipping and handling. I was in the car on my way back from visiting family when I learned of the deal and I rushed to make sure I bought it. I had used a couple of products from the brand before, such as the Clear Improvement and Drink Up masks, but had never really used their products in my regular routine. My skin has been acting up for the past few months and I have been dealing with acne-- something I never really experienced as a teen or young adult. My current skincare routine just hasn't been working for me anymore and I saw that as a great opportunity to try these new products out.

All of the products pictured were included in the set, as well as the Make a Difference hand treatment and Modern Friction dermabrasion scrub, and the set came with a small tote bag that I am currently using to house all of my sample and deluxe sample sized products. But what initially piqued my interest about the brand a few year ago was that they were touted as a simple and natural brand. I'll admit that I don't do all that I could for the environment, but I do like to make changes where I can. Origins says they use the 'power of plants' in their skincare and have a commitment to nature and the environment, and they use renewable sources from sustainable regions.

I love that about the brand. It makes me confident in purchasing from them. Something else I love about their products-- and this is completely superficial-- are the smells. The Ginzing line and the Night-A-Mins cream have a citrusy orange smell which is really refreshing and calming. I'm not usually a fan of that scent, especially in my skincare, but for some reason it just seems perfect as I'm applying the products. The Checks and Balances face wash has a peppermint scent and, just like the description says, it does foam up as you use it. A little definitely goes a long way.

I think all of these products are great for a multitude of skin types. I have combination skins-- some spots get oily, some get dry, and some are relatively normal-- and all parts of my face feel great after using them. The face wash takes care of the oil without drying out what is already dry and the moisturizers leave my dry areas feeling plump and moisturized without leaving the rest of my face feeling greasy.

I can't say that the products have diminished my acne any; however, I think that my acne is being caused by some changes my body is going through and not by any products I am using. I think that if you have acne that is caused by an over production of oil, this will definitely help. The moisturizers are great and I don't think they are irritating my acne. And the products don't irritate my rosacea-- in fact, my skin seems less red and angry after I've used them.

If strong smells-- especially citrus scents-- aren't your thing, then I would say to stay away.  Otherwise, I would recommend Origins to just about anyone.

Have you tried Origins? Do you have a favorite product?

Forgive the quality of these images... And my eyebrows. Eek.