I usually like to play it safe when it comes to skincare since so many products in the past have not managed to cooperate with my skin, but I was in dire need of a reshuffle and it was about time to switch out my daily cleanser and some moisturizers. I love to try out new products, but I am way more cautious than I was before. Especially now that the season is transitioning, my face isn't as dry or in winter mode anymore.
When I do try out new skincare products, I like to give them some time to really adjust to my face before I make a final impression. Lately, I've confided in Sephora for skincare and trying out more luxury brands. I still love using my Simple Micellar Water and use it daily as well. There are just a few products I wanted to try out and had some great experiences with. I have been obsessed with the Kiehl's Ultra Oil-Free Facial Cleanser for the past six months. I completely love it over all the gel cleansers and acne treating cleansers I've used before. I'm not entirely sure how I got introduced to this, but it could have been one of the Sephora experts who happened to know exactly what kind of cleanser I was in need of.
I love that it lathers really quickly and isn't a powerfully scented cleanser like some of the Neutrogena ones I have used. It is very gentle and leaves my skin feeling very clean and smooth, no oil to be found on this smiling face! On the topic of Kiehl's, I just scraped out the last of my mini Creme de Corps Lotion that I literally saved this entire time because I enjoyed it so much, I don't know why I haven't just purchased a regular sized bottle.
After I have cleansed my face, I still continue to moisturize. I received this Evolue Day and Night Cream in a PR package and surprisingly, it has been the only moisturizer I've actually liked in a while. I have been trying to get my skin adjusted to warmer weather, since it was so dry in the winter, and have had problems with moisturizers burning my face. This is a very light, oil-free, cream and makes my skin feel very taut and firm. I also managed to scoop out the smallest amount of Tarte's Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment, that almost felt like a mask for my eyes. I also don't know why it lasted so long, but I would definitely say a little goes a long way.
The GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment Charcoal Mask acts as an emergency life-saver for all my breakouts and bad skin days. This is another sample size, that I wish was more inexpensive regularly, but nonetheless is another superstar product for cleaning out the gunk and gross stuff that sits on your face all day. It also smells minty and fresh and not muddy like some charcoal mud masks do. It's so handy when I'm on the go and traveling, too. Oh GlamGlow, how you do me so well.
Lately, I have tried to put a little more makeup on, I've noticed my overall mood is better when I do put makeup on and helps to wake me up a bit. When I do look like death some days, I make sure to put on a primer at least to even out my skin and rejuvenate my face where it needs it. This also precedes lots of concealer, so I've tried out this Cover FX Mattifying Primer and it really gives almost like a real-life filtered look. It blurs out imperfections and makes my concealer stay on 4 EVER. It's also an acne treatment—who wouldn't want that? My pores look flawless.
Personally, I feel like it is very easy to lose optimism when it comes to taking care of your skin and finding products that work best for you. It's been a bit of a journey and my skin is subject to change (you better not). I know I have kind of strayed away from the product endorsing posts, but I think at this point I'm still very open to trying things out and I also know products I already love.
Spring is a season of changes and maybe that means changing one thing about your skincare regimen.
Hello April! The month we've all been waiting for and a busy month at that. There is a lot in store for me this month as I'm now looking at my calendar and there seems to be a mark on each day for me. It's the first day back to school and while I've had a very relaxing spring break visiting family, painting Bob Ross, and rejuvenating my calamity in the country side, I'm glad to be back in the city. I think everyone gets a bit antsy this time of year with the sun teasing us with rays and a fresh spring start.
01. One of the things that I have been trying to focus on is this blog and creating content that I'm proud of; that isn't the clichè fashion blogger type posts. I have noticed that I am getting more into lifestyle posts, or at least my tags say so, because I connect with this type of writing more. I have also been needing to take my camera out a bit, I've hidden it away out of pure laziness and a lack of motivation to edit all my photos and I just can't use that excuse because I love my camera and the photos I take on it.
02. The winter slum is over and that means I need to revamp the way I present myself. Not for anyone, but me, myself, and I. I got very comfortable wearing sweats and Uggs, but sometimes I wish I had the same fashion motivation to take the extra effort, wake up early, and actually add some things to my morning regime. I would say that my daily regime is very low maintenence, but when I do give myself the time, I feel more productive, confident, and an overall sense of "I can do this today," just because I wore jeans or swiped a coat of mascara on.
03. I don't know if I formally announced, but I will be studying abroad this summer in Europe and this quarter I start my class that coincides with the course. I will be studying international advertising with sixteen other DePaul students who we work with during the quarter. I will be visitng three countries: France, Spain, and The Netherlands for three weeks building my portfolio and conducting team projects while I'm there exploring the culture and gaining a global perspective of the ad industry. This will be my first time leaving the country and I am so excited to be going. I am not sure how I feel about advertising, since my focus is public relations, but having knowledge in both areas will be more than beneficial for my future in the industry.
04. When I'm not focusing on my blog or school work, I have been very involved in two student organizations at DePaul: Her Campus Media and DePaul PRSSA. I believe that I have mentioned these in the past, but recently I got the opportunity to not only edit for Her Campus, but become one of their social media content creators. This quarter I have had a really fun time playing around with designs for our new flyers and media posts—something I've always kind of loved. Her Campus is mainly an online college run magazine for students to openly express themselves, so being a part of the process and seeing all of the work being done is amazing.
PRSSA has also brought me onto their executive board this year and we start our first meetings this quarter. This is something that is really important to me professionally and socially. All of the people and connections I've made have been so worthwhile—we're like a big family. It's amazing to see how much talent there is. I will be recruiting new members into the organization and one of my responsibilities is to handle the fall involvement fair.
05. What's next on the agenda for me is finding an internship to do when I come back this summer. I know it may be a little early to do so, but you can never be too early job searching. I have all the resources I need at school, it's just getting it done and meeting with people to talk more about my options. I really have to tackle the search with an open mind, otherwise I'll be frantically looking for internships next year. I've found that a lot of people luck out on internships because they know a specific person who works for this specific company—it can be very intimidating when everyone around you is a step ahead. So, my goal for this month is to really hone down my search and reach out to my career center to get a head start. Experience is experience, so who knows what might happen?
April is one of those months when everyone is getting back from their exotic spring break vacations (or stay-cations) and turning their heads back to work and getting things done before summer starts. For me, it's a time of busy-busy and opportunity. I just have to keep my mind focused on things I want to work towards without comparing it to others—remaining authentic. I have a lot of promising things ahead of me and it will be important to remember that. What's on your to-do list for April?
My hopes for spring are far much higher than many others, but I think we can all agree that winter has played out for far too long. I'm done wearing the same pair of jeans and chelsea boots for the season. Spring itself just reminds me of sunnier days, birds chirping in the morning, that crisp warmth in the air that hugs you especially when it's about to rain. I just love spring. It's a chance to start anew and many people enjoy this sense of revitalization and get in the mood of sorting out their life after hibernating for so long.
There are many things I want to accomplish and do, and some of those I have put on the back burner until finals are over and I'm on spring break finally, but I also recognize that there are just some things in life we can't constantly "clean" out to make them resolve. As much as I believe that a clean space means a clean mind, life happens. Nonetheless, cleaning and organzing your life out can really be a lot of fun. It's not for everyone, but taking baby steps forward makes all the impact.
01. Let Go
In the wise words of Elsa, "Let it go," and I mean all of it. Whatever you are holding onto from winter just acknowledge its presence in your mind and gratefully forget about it and move on. Sunnier days are ahead and there's no point in chaining yourself to whatever doesn't serve you in this moment forward. Easier said than done, but worth the mental effort.
02. Erase Your Inboxes
I'm one of those people who just always subconsciously deletes old conversations, emails, downloads, photos—everything. If there are too many conversations going on, old messages I want to forget or leave, weird golden retriever memes and old assignments I have building up in my downloads folder, I just take the time to select all and delete. It's a great feeling, especially after a quarter of school and starting with an empty drive is so satisfying.
03. Reinvent Your Wardrobe
Sure you have a lot of staple items that you love wearing and you're okay with, but maybe it's time to part with some old pieces that you say you are going to wear, but don't. I know the Youtube cleaning and reorganizing videos are all the rage, trust me I've gone down that deep binge watching road, so why not think about downsizing your wardrobe? Selling some clothes? Or giving some of those old pieces the love they deserve? Now is the time to get your sh*t together and open your closet.
04. Get Your Hair Done
There's something about a new spring do that really makes a girl feel like she runs the world. Whether it be a new cut, a proper wash (if you really nasty), a new color, a new style, whatever! I've found that I look forward to getting my haircuts more now because I make it its own event. I'm still thinking about what I should get done and I'm maybe swaying a little more golden? Who knows!
05. Clean Out Your Purse
I rarely use a purse anymore, especially during school, but over the course of a month, things can pile up pretty quickly in the depths of our handbags. You don't know what kind of bacteria could be growing! You put your purse everywhere and put everything in it, your purse deserves some extra love. Dump it out and toss those gum wrappers, toothpicks, receipts, three month old candy bar, and whatever else you happen to find in there.
06. Say Yes to One Thing
A great way to refresh your life is to stop saying no to things that make you uncomfortable. It's starting to get warmer, so what's the deal? Your friends want to go out, you need to apply for a new job, book a trip abroad? Bring that positive attitude and commit to those things that make you uneasy, nervous, excited, because honey your life is waiting.
07. Start a Blog
I actually find myself telling people who are uninspired or conflicted about what they should be doing to just start a blog or some form of written expression. You do not need all the bells and whistles, but who knows, maybe starting a blog will reveal something deeply about yourself or you'll become the next popular beauty blogger? Ha. I wish I was. Keep your mind creative and continue to feed it. Blogging has really helped me find my footing and you should, too.
08. Commit to Drinking More Water
I remind myself so much that my body will ultimately thank me later for hydrating it. If you plan on working out more in the spring or just want to feel more energized, try bringing at least one bottle of water with you to school or work. You'll find yourself drinking it just because you have it with you. A simple way to cleanse your body and your mind.
These are just some simple and very doable steps to cleaning out your life, obviously these things won't necessarily make drastic change, but I think that these are great tactics to get you started into springtime and onward. As I finish up my last week of school, I will most likely be taking a blogging break during my final testing week, but will plan to have many things to come as I have the time over spring break to get some sh*t done and published for you guys. What do you do to sort your life out?
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