My skincare has been evolving and changing all the time recently and with the warm summer heat, my skin changes and tends to get more oily and high maintenance than normal. I'm more of a fan of skincare products than I am makeup, but I still need to be careful when I try out new products because my skin reacts to so much that I never know if it will work or break me out even more. 

On my way through the tempting kiosks in Sephora to check out, I spotted the Tatcha Pore-Perfecting Moisturizer & Cleanser Duo. I've always heard good things about Tatcha, but couldn't dare spend so much on a full size, singular product. I mean I'm a college student, so $50 dollars on a face product isn't where I should be really spending my money. However, this duo was only $25 dollars, so I decided it was time to try them out.

Now I actually bought this because I was really interested in trying out the moisturizer. The cleanser, though, impressed me way more. I loved how the cleanser had a fruit exfoliant and the way it reduces my breakouts really shows. 

While the moisturizer is rather light and smooth, I didn't notice so much hydration afterward. I think I can get even more hydration from my Simple moisturizer which is one of my all-time favorites. I don't know, there's something to be said about high-end skincare, but I really think you can get the same results and products for far less at the drugstore. 

Maybe it's my inability to really differentiate between brands, but I've had great experiences with other products half the price. The packages are small and there's hardly a lot of product between the two. I'm on the lookout for more products to try out as usual, but I'm not so sure that I would revisit Tatcha. What do you think about high-end versus drugstore skincare products? 

There's something about having a fully decorated place to call yours really satisfying and gratifying. When I was 7 years old, I was changing and organizing this very room probably three to five times a day. It might seem like I'm overexaggerating, but if you ask anyone that knows me, I love to organize and decorate. 

I would spend hours trying to figure out where I liked my cute Target baskets on my shelf or how I wanted to place my Zac Efron poster next to my hot pink butterfly chair. My neighbors even paid me to organize their kid's rooms. They would be relieved when I came over because they knew I would change something or help clean up my friend's rooms. It was just something I loved and continue to love. 

It started with lining up my Bratz dolls on my bookshelf and limited to the half of the room when my sister and I shared it. I had a small twin bed, the current dresser and side table, the Ikea shelf I still have, and a small cherry print rug. My design ideas were very censored by how much space I had and what my sister would and wouldn't allow me to add to it. You can say I was pretty flustered. 

When my sister eventually moved out of my room (thank the lord), I had some very important decisions to make. My room has been three colors throughout my childhood. That's a lot of paint for a kid. However, each color was a stage in my life and I grew out of them and tired of staring at banana yellow and dark periwinkle. I recently painted it this mint or seafoam and have decided that it will stay for awhile. 

I added my personal touches with cheap Dollar Tree knick knacks and crap that I've either donated or sold at garage sales by now, but at the time, I didn't have any money and it gave me something to do—hound my dad to go to the Dollar Tree all the time. I probably have spent more than the average kid on room decor. Even in my dorm room. There's just something about the little details that make me love designing and getting to call a space my own. 

My style has definitely developed over the course of my childhood. When I was little, I used to love rainbows and bright colors. When I got into my young teens, I was all about Parisian style. Paris prints everywhere, hot pink and purple, a black and white baroque rug, matching pillows, a metal Eiffel tower, everything. I think in High School I really got sick of it all. 

I got obsessed with the "millennial pink" and rosegold phase, glad I didn't paint my room pink and wanted something more modern and mature. As my mom calls my room the "spa" room, for reasons I don't know why it's definitely different than what it used to be. I love metallics and minimal touches. Geometric pastel prints, industrial-looking decor, furniture, and just a more modern feel. I know my style will change in the future as trends change, but that's okay with me because it means more trips to Target and Home Goods. 

People ask me what I want to do when I get out of college and to be honest, anything in Interiors would be a dream. If I could design spaces or get into any field of recreating spaces, I know I would love it. I took interior design in High School and would go past due dates to perfect floor plans and dream boards. My sister even says I should just become a professional organizer, but something with a little more "oomph" might be better for me. 

My ideas go as far as my wallet will allow me. As a college student on a budget, I've found it hard to finance things I want to create or make, but Youtube and other bloggers have reimagined inexpensive and practical ways to find pieces and interior accents for pennies less, and that might be something I want to do in the future as well on the blog. 

Even if you are just getting into interiors or are just fascinated by it and want to redecorate, it truly is not as hard or as costly as you think. Even just a can of spray paint can go a long way. I will always be changing my mind about the rooms I'm in and get to change, but because living in a space should be more than just living—it's a direct expression of yourself and that's something I will never forget when I decorate and design. 

Sleep. Everybody does it. Why not make the most out of it? I'm a true believer in bed-time routines and regimes to make sleep a hundred times more relaxing. That said, it's funny I've never really talked about it before. I love doing masks and pampering myself so much because it makes me so comfortable and ready to take on the next day or week. 

I don't have a complicated routine or anything, but I do a couple things before I hit the hay just because it makes me feel good. 

Usually, at night I have already taken a shower and gotten my PJs on which consist of a t-shirt and Nike running shorts, nothing too glamorous. I'll do a mask or paint my nails on occasion, but I always make sure to clean my face after the long day and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. 

My yoga instructor said something that resonated with me: "We're more than just numbers on a scale, the price tag on our clothes, a salary, likes on Instagram...we have substance and we are so much more than that". I know it may seem cheesey, but it's true. 

I have my fair share of insecurities like most people: my pudgy stomach, acne, broad back, my big nose,  and round face all bother me sometimes. On occasions, I just feel like shit and I'm sure a lot of people can relate. Now more than ever I've been focusing on the good and pushing away the negative thoughts when I get to that low place. 

We can get distracted when we try to see ourselves as other people see us. Throughout middle school and high school, I would say I worried a fair amount about what I looked like. Heck, I used to wear curlers in my hair every night. As I've grown into college, I haven't been as high strung about looks and will normally just roll out of bed, no makeup, and a high bun. 

I am wearing makeup in these photos, but my normal day is only moisturizer, primer, and maybe mascara if I feel like it. My beauty posts and makeup reviews have really declined because I just don't wear much anymore and I know the minimal makeup is becoming a trend. It feels better without it and I can actually breathe and do things. 

I do wear makeup on occasion and have a pretty good collection still, but I don't see myself collecting more than I need or any fancy highlighters or palettes anymore. It feels good to be comfortable with my bare face and I think a lot of people should be too. 

I know it's not easy for everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin because it's different for everybody. It was definitely not easy at times for me and I will still have my low moments. The person I want to be is someone who can live their life not having a care in the world about what other people think. If only it was that easy. I think it's achievable and I have to keep telling myself that no one can define who I am, only me, myself, and I. 

I want to encourage body positivity everywhere, especially to my fellow readers and bloggers. It can be hard to not filter ourselves online and get distracted by how many likes or views we have. I also know that this all may sound clichéd, but I genuinely believe that a lot of people may need to hear this and their's no harm in boosting someone's mindset. We need self love and positivity more than ever nowadays. 

So far summer has really picked up the pace. I have already gone on three big trips and it's almost the middle of July. I think it's amazing how time flies and I'm really trying to take advantage of all the time I have this summer since I go back to school in September. 

You have probably noticed that my blog schedule has been flux over the past month—with travel, more nannying, and being all over the place, I've set my writing on the back burner and just gone with the flow for a bit. It's summer and I need to pace myself a bit more. Also, I want to be more ambitious and motivated in doing things and achieving things I want to in the future. 

There's a lot more going on this summer and it's really only the beginning. I am hoping to get my blogs back up and producing more content for you guys. I'm really excited to share with you all a photoshoot my best friend and I went on this past month. I want to focus on body positivity and changing your mindset on who you are and things like that!

I need to move forward on a good foot and apply myself more than usual. It seems like I might be doing a lot at times, but I always believe that I just haven't done enough at times. 

Especially with writing for the blog, I've been a little unsatisfied with the way my motivation and persistence has been with it. I'm going everywhere and doing so many things, it can be overwhelming. How do you all find your groove at times when you need the most motivation?