If you didn't already know from my instagram or other social media (links on my homepage), I actually just dyed my hair. It was time for a change and I am obsessed with the balayage trend. That said, I've kind of switched up or have been using some fairly new products for awhile for my lob hairstyle. My look when I usually curl or style my hair is with texture and loose hold. 

I actually have two dry shampoos that I have been using on occasion. The first one is the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing dry shampoo in toasted coconut. It is probably my favorite drugstore dry shampoo so far. It reminds me of vacation and the best part is that it gives your hair more volume and texture while also getting rid of the excess oil. 

Another dry shampoo that has come in at a close second is the Herbal Essences Bio Renew dry shampoo in cucumber and green Tea. I honestly am not a fan of cucumber, but the combination is just so refreshing and nice. This one doesn't add texture, but is probably better at cleaning my hair more than the NYM's one. Both are great and inexpensive options! I use them interchangebly when I feel like it. 

So my experience with the products may have been affected by using the different formulas together, but I don't see how that would be a major issue since it's the same brand. Following many other bloggers and seeing the great reviews, I wasn't too skeptic paying ten dollars for a shampoo and conditioner that has been praised by many. I was just trying to switch it up a bit with my hair care.

Not only are these containers aesthetically pleasing, they are very small and you don't get much product for how much you spend. Since I was the only one using them, though, I found it fine and both lasted me a couple months. Both different types of shampoos and conditioners smell entirely different. The gentle formula smells like coconuts and vanilla which I love, but the signature formula smells very strongly of rose and floral which I did not enjoy at all. 

My main issue with this product is that there is an insane amount of build up. At first, I thought it was my college's really bad water pressure, but I brought the shampoo and conditioner home to see if normal pressure affected the distribution and rinse of the product and I still woke up with greasy and sticky hair. I wasn't noticing it much until I started to style my hair and I noticed combing through it with my fingers that it felt oily and not soft or fluffy. 

While I appreciated the easy-to-close cap and how it was paraben-free, sulfate-free, and aluminum-free, there are way more options that work better than these two do. I haven't tried any of Kristen Ess's other products, but I'm not entirely swayed by these two to give the rest a go. Tresemme and L'Oreal have some great products that I always fall back on.

I'll be honest, I am the type of person to buy things because they look pretty or because a majority of people enjoy a product. However, I've tried to stick to my own opinion when it comes to products because some just don't work out for some people, and that's okay! You don't need to spend much for great beauty products and this goes to show that not everything is as great of quality as it seems. 

One of my goals this month was to improve my blog and that I did. I totally re-designed it (with the help of Themxpose) and am really happy with how it looks now. I think it is more visually appealing and balanced. 

It is definitely refreshing to have a new look and new vibes all around. I hope you guys enjoy the new look. I really want to change the way I take photos and write posts, so little by little it will evolve throughout the summer. It's a well needed change and something new to revamp my mood. 

To be honest, lately, I've been in a slump. It's May and that's a very promising month. Yet, I've felt like I've been so focused on other people lately and what other people are doing, that I've honed out of my routine and have been slacking on taking care of myself. I was doing so well doing my own thing, but when I wanted to be more social and "out there," I was so worried about what other people thought of me. 

Since it is the beginning of summer almost, I'm confident that I will eventually get back to my yoga-doing, blogger self. I have many trips planned and places to go or things to do this summer, so I am excited and looking forward to it.  I will be doing an end of freshman year post, but college has gone by incredibly fast. I'm going to be a sophomore in college and it doesn't even feel like I should be in college right now. Time truly flies and I am trying to make the most of it the best I can really. 

This year has been a year to find and reinvent myself. There have been highs and lows, but I would say that overall this year has been an extremely positive adventure. I survived my first year of college and all of you newbie freshman will too. The most important part of college and especially growing up into a mature adult is finding yourself and knowing who you are before anyone or anything else.

The Buddhism class I am currently in has a lot for me to think about. Specifically, the idea of mindfulness. Mindfulness has been the topic of my self-care and reevaluation. In my Caveman, anthropology class, I have also learned that we are all human beings making mistakes and carrying on through struggles. Great classes amirite? It's time for me to focus on myself and I hope this inspires you to do the same.