Not gonna lie, I had one of the best weekends I've had in a while. Sometimes I feel like the world is going full speed ahead and I'm at a standstill—and vice versa. When at times, you can feel so low, have an amazing high, and then back down again, it's hard to tell what's in store when all you can rely on is hope.
I have great things ahead of me, but sometimes I wonder why I am capable of having all of these things. It's too easy. I feel guilty about it. I tell myself to remember all of the great things I have, the people in my life, the connections I've made, the stability and security, and a small part of me is fearful that it could all be taken away in an instant.
Practicing gratitude has been only one of the most grounding factors in my life, as well as, allowing myself to feel good. Jealousy, comparison, resentment, fear, and all of that bad juju we feel in small bits every once in a while outshine all the good that we forget we have in our lives or are able of having and deserving. Some of the best moments I've had are with the people I love—sine clothes, money, job, status, social media following, or superficial obsessions.
It takes a lot of introspectivity to realize that we are all capable of happiness if we allow ourselves to see past the matter of our own desires. Maybe it's not happiness, per se, but it could definitely be something better. I have to confess, I find myself in a position of deep fear and just utter self-depreciation at times. I'll be in bed, on the train, in class, getting coffee, etc. and these thoughts just invade my brain.
Lately, though, I have felt a remarkable amount of promptitude and at a pace that I can follow. I'm busy, that's for sure, but the only direction is up from here. I've kicked off producing more quality content on here that I am beginning to keep up with and actually love. I'm proud of the creative work I am doing and hope that more can inspire me to continue. Including new social media projects, I am working on for Her Campus DePaul, my college's online women's magazine. I also got back into photography and have been picking up some graduation photo side gigs, my camera definitely needed to be taken out more!
I am also studying abroad in like two months, which is UNREAL. All of my dreams of traveling are going to become a reality and I think it will hit me once I head to the airport that morning. We will be attending the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity the first week networking with prestigious brands and building our portfolios, so I am extremely excited I get to be a part of it this year.
I guess things with me academically, socially, and personally, have been really good. Maybe too good, but I'm not going to question it. I still have moments I digress, but it has been easier for me to control those feelings and a little sunshine can help.
I worry about a lot, and usually about little things that don't matter. Remind yourself of the little wins you have each day: whether someone complimented your necklace, you got a good grade, or maybe the barista got your order right this time. Whatever it is, there is always something to be thankful for and appreciative of. Practicing gratitude every day or when you think you need it can make all the difference in times of grey. Also, smile :)
I have already worn sandals once this month and am determined to wear them again. Since it is starting to warm up, I've been more conscious about my toenails. Something as simple as a nail color can go such a long way when it means you feel more boss-like or put together. This might not be true for everyone, but I definitely get excited when it starts to look pretty out and I can actually wear something other than jeans and boots.
I have always been on the search for new nail colors and found these pretty Sally Hansen Miracle Gels to try out. When it comes to doing my nails, I definitely do not want to be sitting there for an hour waiting for them to dry only to get up and smear them. Paying for a mani/pedi is also not in the budget, although I would love to just have a monthly treatment, doing it yourself can be just as great.
Now I have only gotten a gel manicure once, and I quite liked the process, except for the waiting. I just remember sitting there for what seemed like forever. Maybe that's just because I was new to it, or I have no patience, but I also loved the way that it stayed on forever. By "forever," I mean like two weeks or until I got bored with the color. These no UV light, no chip, polishes have been out for quite some time, but I thought why not test it to see just how long they last? Granted, I did not purchase the Miracle Gel topcoat and was very pleased with the results nonetheless.
This peachy coral, named Koi Coral, is a color I've actually never owned. It's very springy and light. One thing I noticed with the bottles, is that there's a rubber lining on the lid, which makes it so easy to open. I've literally had to pry nail polish bottles open with my teeth before, so I am very grateful these are easy to open.
The next shade I picked up was After Altar, which I assume is a marriage reference? I'm always curious how companies think of the names ha. Anyway, this one is a nice creamy white color. Almost like an eggshell, I would say. Perfect for your tootsies! I always gravitate towards bright neutrals and whites for my toes during the spring and summer. It's a nice base for glitter and sparkle, too.
I also picked up this lavender pink shade, because I also do not have a color like this, and fell in love with it. It's called Forever Together. I also really appreciate the flat brush or applicator that comes with it. I always find that they're just the best brushes for polish, I may be partial to having squared nails, but I can swipe once and the whole nail is covered!
To my knowledge, these colors are not listed on the Sally Hansen website as I was searching for them so I may have bought the last of them at my Target or what have you. I made sure to link them from Amazon, as they still exist out there on the interweb. I know I get so annoyed when a color I love gets discontinued, but hey, that means new polish! There's usually a dupe for just about any color anyway. What's your go-to spring shade?
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.
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