STOP BULLYING

This is a different type of blog but I felt it had to be posted to help bring awareness…

I’m sure many of you have heard of Amanda Todd’s story by now. I watched her video a few days ago and was absolutely heartbroken to hear what she had to go through. This video really struck me hard – why are people so mean to each other? And I’m not saying I’m perfect by any means; I’m sure I have hurt people’s feelings in the past too. Everyone has. But why do we do it? Just because someone is different does that give us a right to act superior to them? Absolutely not.

It makes me absolutely sick to hear that, even after Amanda took her own life, people are still bullying her. How can you want someone to feel so much pain that they feel that there is no other way out? Yes, she made a mistake by sending topless photos, but have you never made a mistake?? We’re only human and it’s perfectly normal to make mistakes. What’s not normal is to bully someone for one silly mistake.

I hope that everyone can take Amanda Todd’s story to heart. Take a step back to look at who you might be bullying or help stop someone else from bullying. Bullying might seem harmless at first, but it can hurt the other person to an extent that is irreversible. No one should ever have to feel this kind of pain. My heart goes out to Amanda’s friends and family. I wish Amanda could have stayed in this beautiful world with us but now she is in her own paradise, away from the hurt she felt on earth.

This is Carli Bybel – a YouTube guru and she made a video in response to Amanda Todd’s story. Carli is such a beautiful person inside and out. Please go watch her video – I couldn’t have put it any better myself.

RIP Amanda Todd ♥ 

http://www.stopbullying.gov

Wear Your Boyfriend's Clothes!

No, don’t actually wear your boyfriend’s clothes, but wear the trend! The boyfriend style is quickly becoming more and more popular with its straight lines and loose fits. It is super stylish and, might I add, comfortable! Oversized sweaters and cardigans, baggy jeans, and the loafers all makeup the ‘boyfriend’ trend. Here are a few pieces that you can incorporate into your wardrobe to follow this trend on a casual autumn day!

Cardigan: H&M

Coat: H&M

Blazer: TopShop

Jeans: TopShop

Wrap Bracelet: Juicy Couture

Belt: American Eagle

Sneakers: Shoe Dazzle

Flats: TopShop

2 Amazing Dupes!

If you haven’t already realized, I’m slightly obsessed with makeup. I love buying it, I love trying new products, I love makeup application – everything about it. My favorite part of the makeup application, however, is contouring. Contouring can completely change the shape of your face – jaws, cheeks, nose, etc. My all time favorite contouring bronzer is Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer. It gives the most perfect contour that’s not too orange and is matte. It’s also slightly lighter than the normal contour powder, but it’s easily buildable for darker skin tones. The Hoola Bronzer is $28 at Ulta. An amazing dupe for Hoola is Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Protector Finishing Powder in the color Honey.  It’s not quite as pigmented as Hoola but is also buildable. The Instant Age Rewind Powder works just as well as the Hoola bronzer (and it’s only $8!)

If you love Kim Kardashian’s makeup (like myself), you may know that she is known to use Nars’ Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight. It is the perfect color for any skin tone and over any lipstick (it can also be used alone). This lip gloss is long lasting, but has a horrible smell and costs a whopping $24. The perfect dupe for Turkish Delight (that doesn’t smell awful) is NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Sugar Pie. This lip gloss is only $5 and gives the perfect pink-nude color to your lips.

So, if you’re in the market for some high end contour bronzer and lipgloss but don’t want to spend the money, try these two amazing dupes! You won’t be let down :)

3 Ways to Style a Chunky Sweater

Chunky sweaters are the essence of fall. They are so comfy yet so stylish. The main way to wear a chunky sweater is with leggings and riding boots. So, I’m going to show you three simple and different ways to style this type of sweater.

Sweater: TopShop

One hot trend this season is to wear all one color from head to toe. I paired the TopShop sweater with skinny jeans, studded flats and a faux fur scarf to keep the look classy and comfy.

Pants: TopShop

Flats: Modcloth

Rings: H&M

Scarf: ASOS

Bag: Baker’s

The second look is just an everyday casual trend. Just throw on this sweater with a pair of jeans, moto boots, and layered accessories for a stylish and relaxed look you can wear everyday!

Jeans: H&M

Boots: H&M

Belt: Lulu*s

Necklace: Lulu*s

Bracelets: ASOS

Hat: TopShop

Don’t store away your summer dresses just yet! Putting a chunky sweater over a dress can completely change the look and transition the dress into fall. And if it’s chilly out, just throw on a pair of colorful tights or knee high socks to keep your legs warm!

Dress: Brandy Melville

Necklace: Lulu*s

Bracelet: H&M

Shoes: ShopBop

Top 5 Philosophy Products

I’m officially OBSESSED with Philosophy products! They are an absolutely amazing company with so many products to offer. I have tried many different Philosophy products and I haven’t found one that I don’t like. Out of all the different products I have tried, I decided to compile a list of my top 5 favorite Philosophy products!

#1: Hope in a Jar

Hope in a Jar is the most amazing moisturizer I have ever found – it is pretty pricy but 110% worth the money! This moisturizer has changed the appearance of my skin drastically (I do believe that Hope in a Jar is one of Oprah’s favorite products too!) The smell of it is such a clean and fresh scent. You can get this moisturizer in different skin types as well (I just use the normal one).

#2: Turbo Booster C Powder

Not only does your immune system need vitamin C, but your skin does too! This Turbo Booster C Powder is hands-down one of the most impressive products I’ve bought. This powder claims to improve skin tone and protect your skin from the environment. I have noticed a huge difference in my skin tone since I started using this product. All I do is take a scoopful of the powder and mix it together with the Hope in a Jar to make the perfect moisturizer!

#3: The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash

This exfoliating face wash acts almost like a microdermabrasion treatment. It is so gentle on your skin while clearing away the dead skin cells from the surface. I use this face wash one to two times a week at night and it brightens my complexion instantly!

#4: Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath

Philosophy offers products that act as a 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath. I have yet to try these as a shampoo but use them as a shower gel and a bubble bath! These come in so many amazing scents (my favorite is Blackberry Sauce). Some of the yummy scents, like Pumpkin Pie and Vanilla Birthday Cake, give you recipes on the bottle! Try this product to feel squeaky clean and smell delicious!

#5: Pure Grace Spray Fragrance

This perfume’s description is “Nothing smells better than soap and water clean.” That is EXACTLY what this perfume smells like: soap and water. It is such a pure and clean scent that can be used during the day or at night and lasts for hours on end!

If you have tried any Philosophy products that you absolutely love, let me know!!

Bat Those Lashes!

I believe that one of the most feminine things to have is long and voluminous eyelashes. Whether they’re real or fake, beautiful eyelashes give further dimension to your eyes, make you look more awake, and just give you that extra oomph to make you feel beautiful. I have played around with many different mascaras and techniques and have finally found the most perfect mascara routine that gives long and thick eyelashes that lasts all day (some people have even asked if I’m wearing fake eyelashes -- hah!)

Many people only put mascara on one side of their lashes. The front of your lashes should be the primary place to put mascara, however, if you want to coat every single lash you need to put mascara on the back of your lashes as well (and if you get mascara on your lid, just take a Q-Tip and wipe it off!) This technique also makes your lashes look much longer as well as holding your eyelashes up all day.

Another thing I found is that you shouldn’t use only ONE mascara. Different mascaras do different things – some make lashes look longer, some make lashes look thicker, and some are for separating lashes. So why not use all three to get the most beautiful lashes possible?

The first mascara I use is Rimmel London’s Lash Accelerator. This mascara is AMAZING and super inexpensive. The Lash Accelerator really helps to lengthen and separate your lashes. The second mascara I use is Lancôme’s L’Extreme mascara in Waterproof (the waterproof works MUCH better than the regular). This mascara is my holy grail and I will NEVER EVER be without it! It makes your eyelashes look so incredibly long and absolutely perfect. If I were to recommend a mascara to anyone, this would be it! Finally I plump up my lashes with L’Oreal’s Extra Volume Collagen Hydra Collagen Plumping Mascara (that was a mouthful!) This mascara has such a big brush and incredible formula that it makes your eyelashes look extra full and thick.

So, if you want long, voluminous eyelashes, try out this mascara routine! It has worked for me for years! Also, if you have any mascara recommendations, leave a comment below :)

Pizza face?!...YUCK!

The good part about having oily skin: less wrinkles when we’re older (YAY!) The bad part: it’s quite unsightly.  I have extremely oily skin and not until just recently I found the perfect skin care and makeup to use to help control the oil. If you are looking to control your oily skin or are just plain curious then read on!

Skin Care:

I read somewhere that you should treat your skin care routine like a prescription from your doctor and NEVER skip it! The number one rule (for everyone) is to wash your face every morning and night. The best way to help control an oily face is to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS moisturize after you wash your face. If your skin doesn’t get the moisture it needs, then it will produce excess oil to make up for the lack of moisture.

My secret weapon is the Josie Maran Argan Oil – yes, I am actually telling you to put oil on an oily face. Use this 1 to 2 nights a week in place of your moisturizer. (This product can also be used for cuticles, damaged hair, body moisturizer, etc.) I highly recommend this product if you have oily skin. It is a little pricy but sooo worth it!

 

Makeup:

Makeup, when you think about it, is kind of icky – it sits on top of your skin for hours on end and clogs your pores. No wonder it makes our skin extra oily! But makeup, at least for girls, is something we just have to wear everyday. I’ve tried so many different high/low end foundations, powders, concealers and I finally found the PERFECT foundation that helps you stay matte ALL DAY LONG. The perfect foundation is…. Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup!! I do end up setting it with a powder (I use Neutrogena Shine Control Powder) but this foundation looks better and better as the day goes on.

One more product that will help your makeup stay on all day (and keep it matte) is the Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finishing Spray. Just spray this on your face after you apply your makeup for a flawless and matte finish!

Leave a comment below if you have know of any other products that would help control oily skin! I’m always curious to find more! I’m going out of town today but I’ll talk to you guys in a few days :)