Bliss Balm: Salve for the Soul

Blissful Polish Combo: OPI "Princesses Rule!" & OPI "Suzi and the Lifeguard"

2013-08-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

I remember, years ago, when I became obsessed with makeup products and nail polish, I saw a swatch of OPI's "Princesses Rule!" and became determined to purchase my own bottle. It is a light, sheer pink full of wonderfully sparkly glass flecks that reflect light in the most gorgeous, mesmerizing way.

I set out to find it, scouring shelves at every establishment near me that sold OPI. Despite my determination, I could not find the polish anywhere. I gave up my search about a year ago and resolved to be content with the various sparkly light pink polishes I could find.

I was very delighted and surprised this afternoon when I found a bottle of this coveted polish at Target! It was a cool, unexpected discovery that I am really pleased with.

I applied the polish as soon as I got home. I found it to be a little sheer, so I applied OPI's "Suzi and the Lifeguard", a pale frosty pink that is far more opaque, underneath "Princesses Rule!" to achieve the color I wanted.

The effect is, if I do say so myself, magical. Something about it is so ethereal, so unique. Colors like this make me feel delighted every time I peek at my hands. The beauty and feeling the color gives me seeps into my psyche and unleashes my imagination and creativity. This color is a definite mood enhancer!

What nail polish colors enhance your life? What colors are really good at conveying and expressing moods?

Let me know!

21 Day Yoga/Run Challlenge! A Mile a Day Keeps the Doctor Away...

2013-08-23T23:14:00.001-07:00

Today I started my mile-a-day challenge. I first heard about this challenge via a blog post from Lululemon, and it really inspired me. I think a main point of this challenge is to practice consistency, one of the most integral qualities of a successful workout plan. It is amazing how our minds work against us, how it can convince us that getting out of bed takes superhuman effort one day and how it can encourage us to run a marathon the next. The most important aspect of this challenge is that you are moving every single day with no opportunities to talk yourself out of it, and no opportunities for burn out since it's such a reasonable daily goal.

I am going to run at least a mile every day from today (Aug 23rd) until September 12th. I am also participating in Yoga Journal's 21 day yoga challenge concurrently. You can sign up for the free challenge here! This is a challenging (yet achievable) goal that, I hope, will encourage me to dedicate a portion of every day to improving my cardiovascular health, flexibility, and mental clarity and happiness. While I know a mile isn't a terribly long distance, I hope that I will run more on days I feel up for it and at least a mile on the days I don't want to move at all.

I encourage anyone reading to also participate in this month-long challenge towards building exercise habits into ones' life. Regardless of how busy one is, it is incredibly important to make time for movement. It connects you to yourself and your body in a way that has the potential to alter your life for the better. I will update this blog on how I am doing and what I face along the way, and that will hopefully make it an even more rewarding experience.

What are you waiting for? Lace up your running shoes and hit the pavement with me. :)

Tea Tree Oil: Impressive Acne Treatment!

2013-08-23T18:14:00.002-07:00

I have had this stubborn acne on the side of my face that would not respond to any typical acne treatment. I used benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and clindamycin gel on it to no avail. Finally, my friend gave me the idea to use tea tree oil as a spot treatment, so I began applying it before bed two days ago. Much to my surprise, my acne began to heal immediately. I can't get over how well this worked out for me, so I thought I should share it with the world. I know I am not the first to discover the healing, acne-fighting benefits of tea tree oil, but I can certainly act as another proponent of its effectiveness!

This has sparked a desire within me to learn about all of the beneficial health effects that essential oils offer. I am planning on researching on what oils I can use to help manage a variety of ailments that western medicine doesn't seem to have a helpful answer for. Anxiety, muscle cramps, headaches, and depression all come to mind. I am prepared to dive into the world of alternative medicine! Let me know what your suggestions are. :)

Current Personal Trend: Minimalistic Makeup

2013-08-22T22:31:00.001-07:00

I love glamorous makeup. For a period of time, I wouldn't feel like "myself" if I didn't have liquid liner on. I still love makeup that is somewhat dramatic and noticeable, but lately I've begun to form an appreciation for makeup that is so minimal it is almost invisible -- but not quite.

There's just enough color to accentuate, just enough pigment here and there to bring out the shape of one's eyes, one's lips, the fullness of one's cheeks -- but not enough to look powdery, chalky, or flaky. The goal here is to allow the makeup to melt into one's skin, to effectively allow it to work with it instead of against it.

I achieve this by using very few products. My makeup routine consists of the following:

0. Moisturizer (very important!) I am using Garnier's moisturizer for dry skin, which is not anything special. Any other moisturizer will probably work just as well.

1. BB Cream/ Moisturizing skin tone corrector. Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream -- Great because of its moisturizing properties and its superior sun protection.

2. Light, brightening concealer. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser- This is a very light concealer, very moisturizing, too!

3. Bronzer. I'm using Dior bronzer in "Honey Tan". It is really great because it is matte, but other than that it is a little more orange than I would prefer. I am trying to use it up, however, so it's doing the trick at the moment! I only use bronzer because it works to shape and add color to my face. Blushes that are anything but the color you turn when you naturally blush tend to look artificial (as much as I love them!) so I prefer to just use bronzer to subtly contour my face.

4. Powder to set and de-shine. Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder- This powder is very finely milled and invisible on the skin. Of course, one must apply it with a light hand in order to ensure it doesn't take away from the natural nature of the makeup.

5. L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes- This stuff is my absolute favorite mascara. It fans out your lashes, applies just the right amount of product EVENLY to them, and is easy to layer coats to attain the level of drama you desire.

6. (Optional) Black/Brown pencil liner. Sometimes I will apply the tiniest bit of black pencil liner to the outer third of my lower lash line and blend it until it looks like its a part of my skin in order to accentuate my eyes. This is a little more dramatic than my super minimalistic look, so I'm marking this step as optional.

6. Lip Balm. Fresh's Sugar Rose lip balm - This stuff is really great because it gives your lips a very subtle hint of color while also moisturizing them for hours. Tinted lip balms are the best, in my opinion, for a no-fuss, casual yet polished effect.

The key to getting the makeup to "melt" properly into your skin is to blend it out as much as possible. I use my fingers to apply the BB cream, and this works really well because the natural heat from my hands heats up the product to my skin temperature and therefore allows it to immediately blend into my skin. I also use my ring finger to blend the under eye concealer. If I use black liner, I spend more time blending the liner under and into my lash line than I spend actually applying it. Again, when I apply the bronzer, I use a small amount and blend it very consciously. When it comes to mascara, I make sure that I don't leave any clumps, and I take extra care to ensure that every lash is separated as much as possible. Nothing is more obvious than spidery lashes!

While the minimal look does take more time than one might expect due to the blending, it still takes considerably less time than it does to apply a normal full face of makeup!

What are your go-to makeup products that give you that polished yet natural look? Let me know. :)

Mini Drugstore Haul!

2013-08-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have become a little obsessed with couponing as of late, and much to my surprise. I am determined
to eventually be one of those people who are really good at it, but I realize that it takes a little time.

I haven't been spending much lately since I am on a strict budget, but I clipped some coupons for
some makeup/beauty items and I decided I should probably use them. I also signed up for CVS's beauty rewards program, which offers a 10% coupon on your entire beauty related purchase.

So, with coupons in hand I went to CVS and purchased some items. I ended up saving 36% of my total purchase, which is great considering this was my first time using coupons!

* I am only showing the beauty products that I bought since this is a beauty blog, but let me know if you want to see the whole purchase next time!

Haul:
1) Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Ivory
2) Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Ivory
3) Almay Liquid Lip Balm in "Blooming Balm"- I already know that I love this!
4) Covergirl Outlast Nail Polish in "Pink-finity"
5) Pantene Smooth Shampoo
6) Pantene Smooth Conditioner

February Favorites

2013-03-06T17:25:00.001-08:00

I love this period of time right before spring, where the weather is mild and changeable from day to day. The storms and cloudiness are punctuated by moments or days full of radiant sunlight that fills the dark void winter created within me. The fact that it isn't officially spring yet makes every blossom, every ray of sunlight that much more enjoyable and precious. I feel excited for what's to come.

This past month has been overwhelmingly positive for me. I've rediscovered some old favorites, and have even "shopped" my makeup collection and found that I have some underused (and even never-before-used) gems.

So, without further ado, here are my favorites for the month of February!

Hair

1. Herbal Essences "Smooth Collection"shampoo with rose hips, Vitamin E, and Jojoba extracts

Remember the "old school" Herbal Essences shampoos? I loved them, so I was really pleased to see that they made a few scents from their old line available again. This is my second bottle and, let me tell you, I hope they don't discontinue it!

2. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

I tried this based on missglamorazzi's and thebusybeebuzz's recommendations, and I am SO glad I did. I use the rich, creamy masque once a week to restore lustre, shine, and much needed moisture to my frazzled locks. It imparts the most wonderful, ethereal sort of glow to my hair, making it soft, manageable, and much nicer. I will cry when I run out. :P

Skin

1. Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

I bought this face wash to replace my holy grail L'oreal youth code cleanser. The main thing I look for in a cleanser is its ability to remove eye makeup. Since this cleanser is pH balanced, it does not irritate the eye area. I think it might even work better than my beloved youth code, and at around $4 a bottle -- I am very impressed!

2. L'Occitane Toning Face Mist

This mist actually hydrates my skin. It really helps to lessen the appearance of fine lines caused by cakey foundation.

3. Origins GinZing eye cream

This eye cream is kind of a two in one. Not only does it moisturize, it has some pinkish pigments in it that serve to correct purple tones underneath the eye. It is great for brightening and de-puffing.

Makeup

1. Maybelline Color Whisper in "Who Wore it Redder"

This color is a bright, fuchsia based red. I think it will be great for the warmer months. I love the formula of these lipsticks. They rival that of much pricier brands!

2. Maybelline Baby Lips in "Cherry Me"

Maybelline must be doing something right, because nearly all of my favorites from this month are their products! This chapstick is lovely -- just the right amount of pigment and moisture. I love that I can apply this without looking in a mirror and know I wont look like a clown.

*Swatches below: Color Whisper on top and Baby Lips on bottom *

3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Treatment/Concealer

This concealer has been my favorite for the past few months. I love its' light consistency, its' brightening power, and the way it melts into my skin -- it really does feel more like a treatment than a concealer! Apparently it has Goji berry extracts in it, too. That's always a plus.

4. Elf Blush in "Pink Whisper"

I like this bright, cheery pink blush more than MAC's Well Dressed. There, I said it. This lovely little makeup gem had been collecting dust in my blush container until I fished it out a few months ago. I am in love. It is pigmented and works as well as any high end blush. The best part: it's only $3.

Nails

1. American Apparel Nail Polish in "Coney Island Cotton Candy"

This polish doesn't need a swatch because two coats will give you the exact color pictured here, in all it's cotton candy glory. I love bright, white based pinks -- my other favorites being Essie's Fiji and Ballet Slippers. The opacity and vividness of this color actually surpasses Fiji, so I suggest running to grab yourself a bottle if you're a fan of this kind of color!

Jewelry/Fragrance

1. Ysatis perfume by Givenchy

Yes, I dab this fancy perfume on before going to class. I know that's ridiculous, but what's the point of living if you don't ever wear your best perfume? This fragrance is very incense- based, while still being light (somehow?) at the same time. It's timeless and classic.

2. Blue topaz sterling silver earrings

These gorgeous, mouthwateringly vibrant studs were a very thoughtful and generous christmas present this year. I wear them all the time and feel so happy when I see them glinting through my hair. I love gemstones, so these are very precious to me.

Household

1. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Honeysuckle Dish Soap

This soap smells so good, I can't even express it in words. It makes me want to do dishes, and that's saying something.

Exercise/Health

1. Jade Travel Yoga Mat

If you read my last post, you know I'm pretty obsessed with yoga. This mat is great because it's made of real, natural rubber. This means it's biodegradable and therefore eco friendly. What I love most about this mat, however, is how sticky it is. No longer does my yoga mat transform into a dangerous slip n' slide in the middle of class. That's something I'm incredibly grateful for.

2. Lululemon glass water bottle

This water bottle is nice because it's made of glass rather than crummy BPA infused plastic. It also has a lovely little rubberized sleeve that adds aesthetic appeal as well as grip and protection. I think its simple, yet elegant design is a plus as well. I know I enjoy drinking water from it!

Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed reading about all my favorite things from the month of February. Comment and let me know what your favorites are/ what you think of the products I mentioned down below!

love,

Glowing Inside and Out: The Countless Benefits of Yoga

2013-03-04T19:57:00.001-08:00

I love yoga. It, to me, is the most rewarding form of exercise. Although I just began practicing again recently, I can already feel the positive effects it has on my body, mind, and soul. The physical benefits are unbelievable. I feel stronger, more limber, and more energetic in my day to day life. The mental and emotional effects are so powerful and important as well. I tend to take things less seriously, I am more patient, kind, markedly less anxious, angry, and sad. Spiritually, I feel more connected to nature, the universe, and life. Finally, since this blog does center around beauty, I can add that the practice has done wonders for my skin. Additionally, I know that the effects of yoga will begin to show in the composition of my body over time.

While all of these positive changes are huge motivators, I want to say that the most empowering aspect of Yoga, to me, is the fact that it encourages one to accept oneself as he or she is now, in the present moment -- flaws and all. I am not in shape, nor am I at an advanced level in the practice -- and that's okay.

While other forms of exercise encourage you to push yourself to your physical limits, yoga invites you to put the health and well being of your body first. The mentality behind yoga asserts that one must move with one's body -- not against it. You have to treat yourself lovingly, to be gentle and understanding of what you are capable of. There are no set goals. I am the type of person who pushes myself to the brink of physical exhaustion when I work out, so it is actually challenging for me to listen to my body and understand when I can and can't keep pushing. Thanks to the body-positive mentality of yoga, I am learning to connect to my body in a radically positive and harmonious way. That, along with many other factors, is why yoga is so enriching.

In addition to frequenting my local studio, I picked up a yoga DVD to supplement my practice on the days I don't have time to go to a class. I have enjoyed it so far. The more I do yoga, the more I crave it, so I want to have the ability to practice at any given moment.

Do you have a favorite form of exercise? Sound off in the comments about your experiences with yoga or any other regular fitness routine.

Namaste,

M

Current Wish List Items...

2011-06-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I must apologize for having neglected my blog for so long. I truly regret having to do so.

I stopped feeling motivated to blog and make videos when things got really stressful at school. I had no time to watch youtube videos and am literally just now catching up with all of my favorite gurus.

I've also been quite enamored with the blog "Into the Gloss". It is a wonderful beauty blog. Check it out if you haven't.

Anyway -- the process of getting my feet wet in the blog/youtube world again has led me to form quite an extensive wish list. I've managed to narrow it down to the items that have garnered the best reviews from my most trusted sources.

Christiana from cosmeticjunkie17, one of my best friends on youtube, tagged me to do a wishlist video a LONG time ago and ( though this sounds crazy) it actually did take me this long to formulate a list of items that I genuinely think would be worth the money!

Here it goes:

1. Embryolisse

This product supposedly is great for dry, parched skin like mine. It's constantly mentioned as a must-have by the pixiwoo sisters and some other fabulous women featured on ITTG. Embryolisse is one hyped up face cream that I really want to try out.

2. Bioderma makeup remover

This product comes recommended by pixi2woo. What more can I say? She could honestly probably sell me an empty gum wrapper if that was her goal. Jokes aside, this makeup remover has glowing reviews all over the internet. My biggest pet peeve is not getting all of my makeup off -- especially mascara! I really hate having to scrub my eyes to get rid of it. It feels terrible and causes eyelashes to fall out prematurely. This is a lovely french makeup remover that promises to thoroughly remove all of your makeup -- what more could you ask for?

3. Liz Earle Hot Cloth cleanser

This gorgeous sounding cleanser has eucalyptus, rosemary, and chamomile essential oils in it -- along with plenty of cocoa butter (great skin conditioner), plant-derived glycerin (for retaining moisture), and beeswax. According to Tanya, it "melts" away all traces of makeup and exfoliates beautifully with the accompanying muslin cloth. *Swoon* I have a problem, haha.

4. Moroccan Oil.

I'm obsessed with hair care all of a sudden and I've heard a lot of hype about this oil. I remain a bit skeptical of its magical conditioning properties, though I would really like to try it anyway!

5. Molton Brown Warming Eucalyptus bath and shower therapy

I love the smell of Eucalyptus and I love the unnatural green color of this beautiful shower gel. Though I am pretty sure I wont shell out nearly $30 for it anytime soon. ;) Sometimes it's more fun to want something than it is to actually get it anyway.

6. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

So one of my favorite foundations of all time, Chanel Pro Lumiere, recently got discontinued and I am at a loss. I plan on buying this someday when my Pro runs out (it's getting used up way too quickly) and I'm crossing my fingers that it will deliver similar results.

7. Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco shampoo & conditioner
I used the Creme de Coco shampoo and conditioner before and really loved them. They do a great job conditioning my dry hair. They also smell delicious!

8. Boots No. 7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 wipes
I seriously need some new makeup wipes. I've been staying overnight at other people's houses lately and it's really frustrating to not have a pack of these in my purse. I've heard wonderful things about the boots makeup wipes and seriously need some ASAP.

Well, that's all for this post! I hope you all are enjoying yourselves.
:)

Face of the Day April 13

2011-04-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

*Click photos to enlarge *

Yesterday I felt like wearing some natural makeup with an emphasis on creating glowing cheeks and semi-glossy, rosy toned lips. In these pictures, you can see that I recently lightened my hair a few shades as well.

Here is what I used:

Face: I used my beloved Nars Sheer Glow. It is the only foundation I own that matches my skin color 100%. I then used my trusty MAC studio sculpt concealer in NW20 under my eyes. I piled on heaps of MAC's "Warm Soul" blush (I honestly think that it's the color VS models wear on their cheeks all the time). I topped it off with Dior shimmer powder in "Amber Diamond". I'll show you guys close ups of the blush and highlighter (click on them to enlarge!):

Dior "Amber Diamond"

MAC mineralize blush, "Warm Soul"

Eyes: To get my neutral eyeshadow look, I applied MAC's "blanc type" all over (the best matte white of all time), and then popped some "Soft Brown" eyeshadow in the crease. This color is a warmer toned brown than what I'm used to. I love it, however. I finished it off by popping some "shroom" in the inner corners of my eyes. I piled on a ton of L'oreals collagen mascara. It makes your eyelashes look fluffy and full, but not much thicker than usual. I cheated and applied a coat of CG lashblast (not pictured above) over the top of it to get the really dramatic effect I love. I lined my waterlines with Benefit "bright eyes" eye pencil and called it a day.

Lips: I just swiped on some of my YSL lipgloss in the color "golden purple" and sheered it out to get a more toned down, wearable color. I normally hate lipgloss, but not this one. It has a gorgeous melon scent that I can't get enough of, and it's incredibly moisturizing and long lasting. I need to wear it more!

I love you all <3

Thrift Store Purchases

2011-04-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

The sunlit path I walked down on my way to class this week.

The sun has been shining so beautifully lately, the gorgeous cherry blossom trees have been raining their lovely little flower petals all over the freshly cut, emerald grass, and I've been soaking it all in with a smile on my face.
Spring has sprung. :)

So, lately I have been really wanting to get some maxi dresses and skirts and Spring/Summer clothing in general. I am incredibly sick and tired of going to stores and paying really inflated prices for items that just aren't good quality/ aren't my style. I do not purchase clothing often, but when I do I have to know exactly what I'm looking for or else I end up frustrated, overwhelmed, and not in the mood to shop at all. Alas, I embarked on a thrift store expedition on telegraph avenue today that left me feeling completely in love. I found a few gems that I am excited to share with you.

The first item I purchased is this long, chocolate brown skirt from a vintage thrift shop on telegraph. I couldn't help but pick it up. If you watch my youtube videos you know how much I love neutral colors in my makeup and in my wardrobe. The color will go with anything, and it sits high on my waist - a silhouette that works best for my body type. I love how it flows around my ankles. :) This lovely skirt cost $13. It was made in Germany.

I am normally not into patterns - unless they are floral. This gorgeous, long dress has a beautiful African pattern on it. When I saw it, I fell absolutely in love. The back of the dress ties together and exposes my shoulders and a bit of my mid-back, making it a very unique piece. It will feel lovely to wear this on a swelteringly hot Summer day.

I love the length - it looks so graceful and elegant when it moves.

It reminds me of something a beautiful Egyptian princess would wear to lounge in.

It also makes me think of a the character Mara from a book I read when I was in sixth grade called Mara: Daughter of the Nile. It is a lovely story that is beautifully written and will always be a favorite of mine.

Can I please just go to Egypt right this second?

Ahh, my imagination is getting really carried away. This was $12.

I couldn't help but purchase this little flowery dress. If you can't tell by my background, I love cabbage roses and floral patterns that are delicate and very feminine. This dress looks a lot better on than off. It fits me really well and, due to it's light cotton fabric, will be a pleasure to wear on a warm spring day. I love the idea of throwing this on and venturing out to sit in a field of daisies or a garden where I will do nothing but read poetry, drink tea, and enjoy the exquisite beauty of nature. :) This was $10. It is made of 100% cotton and was originally from H&M.

Lastly, I purchased these strappy, chocolate brown sandals (noticing a trend?) for $12. They will look great with shorts, jeans, and all of the clothes I purchased. I just need to paint my toe nails so I can wear these proudly!

Thank you for reading. xoxo

Welcome!

2011-04-07T00:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my beauty blog! I love to write, so it's fair to say that I will update this more frequently than I upload videos.

I just want to say hello and thank you for stopping by. <3

Please subscribe by e-mail above or follow me if you have an account. I really appreciate it!