Product Review: Recent Beauty Product Purchases (Summer 2013)

I love to experiment with different makeup. Same general "face" that I put on, but I like to experiment with different products. I'm just a highschool girl who doesn't have a real job, so naturally I'm on a budget. Meaning I generally stick with drugstore brands. There are a few exceptions, but as a general rule of thumb, what I get can be purchased at Walgreens or whatever your local drugstore/grocery store may be.

I have fair skin of combination/oily type, prone to breakouts and excess oil, and of course, lovely acne scars [Did I seriously just admit all of that...publically!?!? Apparently so. But only because it makes a difference in makeup choices. I wish it didn't.] that just won't go away no matter how hard I try (and I do!). I also do a lot of things outside and a lot of the time forget to take my makeup off before I work out. So I have to be really picky with what products I use - meaning I prefer products that are long-wearing/waterproof, non-comedogenic, and offer good coverage/color.

 This past week I ran out of almost all of the basics (foundation, powder, eyeliner, mascara, lip balm, self tanner AND lotion). I will review the products I chose in that order. As you can tell, I was in a Maybelline state of mind and for drugstore makeup, their products really are pretty good.

Face.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Skin Perfector. 

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Non-greasy
• light-medium coverage, can be worn alone or with foundation
• long wearing

Cons:

• Will not cover big breakouts without help of concealer (then again that's not what its designed for)
• Color has a very pink undertone

Due to the pink undertone, this BB cream does not work well for me personally. It makes it look like I used bubble gum pink blush as a primer, even if I use a  more yellow toned powder on top. 

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse.

 Pros:

• Lightweight
• Really does smooth and soften skin
• Non-greasy
• Great coverage
• Airbrush looking effect without the hassle
• Good color selection

Cons:

• I believe the applicator sponge that's included with it contains latex (not positive, but it smells like it) and since I'm allergic to latex, to be on the safe side I use a latex free sponge or a foundation brush

I really like this foundation! It makes my skin look soft and smooth, without being too matte or shiny. I set it with Maybelline Shine Free Pressed Powder (translucent). The color works well for me, as it doesn't have a pink undertone.

Eyes

Maybelline Color Tattoo and Maybelline Color Tattoo Metal

Pros:

• Highly pigmented
• Waterproof/smear proof (therefore long wearing, but easy to remove)
• Can be used as shadow or liner

Cons:

• For some reason the dark blue one is already drying out and flaking off the brush before I even put it on?

So far I've only used this as an eyeliner, and I apply it with an angled shadow brush/ eyeliner brush. I like it alot. Another plus is that it comes in uncommon, yet awesome colors!

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara in Waterproof

Pros:

• Obvious lengthening
• Clump free
• Decent amount of volume
• Very waterproof

Cons:

• Flaky when trying to apply more than one coat with drying in between 

I have shorter lashes so I always am looking for a good lengthening mascara, and this product definitely does the trick! Works even better if you curl your lashes before applying.

Lips.

Maybelline Baby Lips 

Pros:

• Moisturizing
• Natural looking color
•  chapstick, lipstick and lipgloss ALL IN ONE

As you can tell by my reasons why I like it above, I'm a minimalist when it comes to lips. I prefer my eyes to be "the most memorable feature".  

Body.

Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer (buildable self tan)

Pros:

• Natural looking color (at least I think so, someone please tell me if it looks obviously fake!!)
• Non-streaking
• Dries quickly
• Odorless

Cons:

• Not exactly moisturizing

Overall I really like this product. Probably because I'm super fair skinned and burn rather than tan when I try and am too busy and penniless to go to a salon and have spray tans that turn out orange. :) 

Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer
Pros:

• Non- greasy
• Doesn't make me break out
• Gives a nice glow

Cons:

• Really thick so its harder to spread so you end up having to put a lot more on than you need but I guess that's OK

More posts like this to come! But this isn't going to turn into a total beauty blog. Ew. Just no. No one would want to read that! 

My Recipe: Double Chocolate Rocky Road Cookies

My Recipe: Double Chocolate Rocky Road Cookies 

I love chocolate. If you love chocolate, you will also love these cookies. Made them for my brother and his friends very late last night/this morning and they are 100% dude approved (meaning they devoured them - as did I). 

Recipe:

Heat oven to 375. Place parchment paper on cookie sheets (2)

You Will Need:

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups flour 
• 2 oz (half of package/stick) cream cheese, softened 
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, 1/4 stick butter, melted 
• 2 packets of hot chocolate drink mix with marshmallows 
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup ground nuts of choice

In separate bowl, melt butter. In mixing bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, and butter. Add egg. Gradually mix in the dry mixture (salt, baking soda, corn starch, and flour). Stir until dough forms.  Soften cream cheese and completely mix with dough. In a liquid measuring cup, combine the milk choco chips, dark choco chips, and butter, and melt completely. Stir in the hot chocolate powder packets into the chocolate and butter mixture. Add to the dough and mix thoroughly. After cooled to room temperature, add dark chocolate chips and ground nuts.

Bake for 13 minutes, cool completely. 

Why I Think Ballet is Awesome & Disproving the Common Stereotype(s)

I was a ballerina (by the way, I define ballerina as a ballet dancer who is en pointe)  for approx. 7 years. So I was a ballerina? Why is that past tense? Because, due to the nature of ballet, I've gradually developed a serious injury, FAI Hip Impingement, and [no] thanks to that, I can't dance anymore because it will cause further damage and inflammation (thus resulting in even more pain than I'm in while being off of dance). As the title to this post suggests, you can probably see that I still love it even if I'm no longer physically able to do it.

I'm totally aware that most people aren't exactly enthusiasts of ballet...and honestly I don't understand why we get so much disrespect as athletes/artists. Unless you've tried ballet yourself, you probably think that ballerinas must be super weak to be that graceful and that ballet must be super easy and super girly and glamorous. Actually....it's quite the opposite...and as a dancer I wish to tell the world that...

So this post is a collection of pictures and videos that really show off this beautiful,powerful,glamourous and gritty sport of an art and why I love it and think its so awesome.

I hope y'all enjoy this and possibly develop more respect for dancers and recognize them as legit athletes :)

 Read all the way to the bottom - cool stuff awaits! First is pictures of the stereotype, the next section is of reality :)

Sterotype(s): 

• "All ballerinas do is twirl around in pretty pink tutus holding a teddy bear above their heads." 
• Stick-thin/no figure
• Weak 
• Rich
• Snobby
• Girly/prim/proper

Reality:

^-- Ballet is a team sport, it takes the entire company to pull together and put on a performance

^--- Misty Copeland. Amazing.

^-- Pretty...and Not so pretty... Dancers never claimed to have pretty feet! 

^--We have a tolerance to getting dizzy

^-- So why exactly are we stereotyped as weaklings???? 

^-- Some of the most amazing ballerinas are trained in Russia

^-- Strength and Power and Grace

^--We're light on our feet

^--- Basically.

^-- Yeah buddy.

^--- Svetlana Zakharova. Need I say more!?!? (she's absolutely fabulous)

^--Dance for two

^--Dancers don't get paid very much, it's passion that motivates us

^-- Even our feet are flexible

^-- Interview/Demonstration with Aria Alekzander 

^--Backstage Beauty

^-- Theres a ton of physics behind ballet (duh.) (article about that coming soon!)

^-- Not only are we strong, we're extremely flexible

^-- Anaheim Ballet Festival Mixer Vid (short)

^--We can fly

^-- Strength is key for balance and precision

^-- Ballet is absolutely exhausting

^-- Ballerinas have extremely strong legs

^-- Perfect.

^-- Beautiful Variation

^-- Making lines with your body is the key concept

^-- We're just awesome this way.

 ^-- Probably one of the toughest things

^-- We wouldn't be flexible if we didn't work at it

 ^-- But thats just cause we work so hard :)

Thanks for watching!

My Recipe: Ultra Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies!

My Recipe: Ultra Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Don't you hate it when cookies are hard and crumbly and make a huge mess and hurt your teeth? I sure do! So I came up with this recipe. They are ultra chewy fluffy (and stay that way for up to 3 days - maybe longer, but thats the maximum time a plate of cookies lasts 'round here!), non-crumbly, and absolutely delicious!

Recipe:

Heat oven to 375. Put parchment paper on cookie sheets.

You Will Need:

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 2oz (half a package) cream cheese, softened 
• 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips 

In separate bowl, melt butter. In mixing bowl, mix sugar, brown sugar, and melted butter. Add egg and chosen flavoring. Gradually mix in the dry mixture (salt, baking soda, flour, and corn starch). Mix until dough forms. Soften cream cheese. Completely mix it in with dough. Add chocolate chips. Place teaspoon size balls of dough on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 13 minutes. Cool completely, then enjoy!

Movie Review: The Lone Ranger

High Yo-Silver!!! Dun dund dun dun dudn dun DUN duh.

I've been waiting anxiously to see this after repeatedly watching the trailers and behind the scenes videos. Finally, today, I had the opportunity to see it!
Yes, I'm aware that most of the online reviews aren't very good, and the box offices aren't making very much money off of this thus far (then again it's only been 3 days, maybe it'll catch on?)
But I thought the movie was really good. Excellent videography (I'm a sort of a photographer, so I'm  "that geek" that pays attention to that stuff). Very good acting. Good storyline. Hilarious and action packed.
Even someone who isn't into westerns would like it. I mean JOHNNY DEPP is in it. Thats at least one reason to like it. Everything he's in turns out to be good-humored and audience engaging because of how well he gets into his role!

I'm not going to give the story away to you!So go out and see it! See what you think!

Happy Independance Day!

No time to write cause' its time for bbq! But here's my Independence day message in a collection of pictures and songs :)

4th of July playlist

Happy Independence Day! In the next few days I'll post the pictures I'll take of tonight's fireworks :)

~Proud supporter of The United States of America~