My Fascination Street: January 2015

Yamleh Foundation Brush

Jan 27, 2015

When it comes to foundation I spent a lot of years using powders with kabuki brushes so when it came to using a liquid I always defaulted to my fingers. But of course, I decided to put a brush to the test because I'm tired of people telling me how unhygienic it is to use my fingers. Hello! Ever heard of washing your hands and letting them air dry before touching your makeup? No...figures!

But anyway, as a beauty blogger I have to be a trooper and try things out as much as possible and thankfully Yamleh gave with the chance with their foundation blending brush. I really like that the fibers don't shed, therefor not leaving any strands of hair trapped between my skin and the subtle foundation/tinted moisturizer. They're also super soft so it doesn't feel rough against my skin. I mostly used this for my ELF foundation because it's the thickest liquid face makeup that I own and I wanted to see if this brush not only grabbed on to it well but applied most of it to my skin. It was a success on both accounts.

When I went to wash it off a few days after using the foundation brush it was easy to get everything off and it dried within 24 hours. While I still blend my tinted moisturizers with my fingers I"m going to keep this brush around for nights that I want more coverage by using foundation that normally takes me a bit longer to blend in.

Posh v Pinch: The Perfect Coverage

Jan 25, 2015

It's been a long time coming! I've been on the hunt for the prefect and affordable foundation for what seems like years. I found it a while back in Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer but the price started to get a little too steep for me. Especially since I constantly mixed it with my Stila Illuminating Beauty Balm so I was using twice the amount of products to achieve the same result.

When I was in NYC this summer I decided to give Sephora's 10 hour Wear Perfection Foundation a try to see if I could find the perfect shade and I was so happy to find that I did! Not only did I grab that but I also tried it with their Bronze Perfect CC Cream and it was affordable heaven!

Now I know that my go to Laura Mercier product isn't a foundation but it acts like one for me. It supplies me with enough coverage while leaving my skin looking totally natural. the only complain that I ever had with it was that I sometimes felt like my skin looked really flat so I would use an all over face bronzer my Bare Minerals to give my skin that extra kick. The cost of the product was never really an issue for me because I was fine paying just a bit more for a single product that worked well. But after realizing that I also used a bronzer the cost kinda went up so the search began.

It took a few tries for me to find the right shade of the Sephora foundation and I've started to use it without the addition of the CC cream but with just a moisturizer with SPF instead since it is something that the tinted moisturizer has over this one. All in all the cost comes out to be more beneficial for my wallet with the Laura Mercier at $43 and my Sephora combo now coming out to $31 thanks to a sale on the CC cream. I now just have to see if I'm 100% happy with the results. So far I did leave my mark on my boyfriends shirt the other day but that could have been because I just got ready right before he arrived and we hug a bit too much, so we shall see. I'll let you ladies know if I've found a suitable and affordable replacement or not!

budget travel

Is Traveling for $20 a Day Possible?

Jan 24, 2015

Well, Vanabode says yes! I am pretty much a super budget traveller. I know when to purchase tickets, what days to fly out, how to maximize my time abroad by not having to backtrack (unless I have other friends to see in my first city), and where to find the best accommodations. I never did get to travel on $20 a day though which is something I wouldn't be able to do now because I pretty much spend about that much on booze alone while I'm on vacation. Per meal. Per. Meal.

So basically living in a vanabode is living in a van that is your home for more than just a week or two. It's a total lifestyle that I know is super hard for me and 95% of my friends to do in this stage of our lives. I yearn for the days that I can just roam around with a few of my family members in an RV, keeping ourselves entertained without needed the Internet or TV, and just making the best out of being minimalistic but realistically I'm way past that point. I like things. I need my moisturizers, to keep in touch with my friend across the US and abroad, eating fancy cheese and drinking wine. I wouldn't survive on $20 a day. I can probably spend only $20 as it is now but housing and keeping the lights out already have me at a lot more than that.

I do love the book and know a few of my friends that would love it as well. If anyone really wants to disappear into the open road there's so much advice here not just on choosing the right essentials but keeping yourself safe and secure while doing so. The idea really does fascinate me. I know I can easily do it if I wanted to or if my cousins just gave me a really big push! It's just so tough to leave things like health insurance, income, and an apartment behind. And my shoes. I am just a wee bit attached to my shoes!

Sleep Well CD & Giveaway

Jan 20, 2015

I've been having lots of trouble sleeping lately. Life is getting a bit overwhelming and I've got a lot going on that makes it a bit tough to fall asleep easily. I've been taking unisom but I don't want to be dependent on a pill to fall asleep and I know it's not helping me sleep easier. It's just helping me fall asleep fast.

On came the Sleep Well CD by Janet Montgomery and Jeff Gold. Janet is a hypnotherapist with a super soft voice that pretty much gives you a relaxing session whenever you want. I'm a huge supporter of people working in the mental health industry so I was able to listen to this CD with an open mind.

The music in this CD is very relaxing and goes great with her voice. It helps put me in a really calming place and lets the stress of the day be washed away. It's pretty much like having someone read The Secret to you before bed so that you could go to bed super relaxed and positive and wake up the same way as well.

If you're like me and need help calming your mind before bed, or even during an afternoon nap, you're in luck because they gave me the chance to give one of these away to my amazing readers! So enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

hair products

Gurin Hair Straightener

Jan 19, 2015

I haven't had the chance to try out many hair products or tools so I was really excited when I was sent Gurin's Flat Iron to give my thoughts on it. I've had my most recent straightener since 2008 and it still worked amazing even though it looked a bit worse for wear so it was totally time for a new one!

When I got this straightener in the mail I loved how it came. It was set in this red silk bag that doubled as a carrying case and it just looked really nice. It wasn't just thrown in the box with the cord tied up. I decided to use it that night because I was due for a night of beauty and just really wanted to play with it.

My hair routine goes a little something like this: I shampoo and condition, set my hair in rollers, sit under my awesome hair dryer for about an hour while I pretend to do work, blow dry the roots as I remove eat roller and then pass the flat iron. This takes me about 2-3 hours, depending on how slow I am, but the results are worth it. I'm able to do this about once a week, usually on a Sunday, and then I'm done dealing with my hair too much for the rest of the week.

Sadly, I was disappointed when trying the Gurin straightener for the first time. The hair straightener started to heat up right away but it didn't do a thing for my strands. I used really small sections of hair , because my hair can be really thick, and I didn't get any kind of result. My hair was still slightly frizzy, bouncy, and nothing was achieved. After trying it on two sections I unplugged and went back to my Babyliss flat iron that has been keeping me sleek and shiny for over six years now.

acid peel · skin care

Dr. Song 20% Salicylic Acid Peel

Jan 18, 2015

I love Salicylic Acid in my skincare products. I always make sure that my exfoliating products have the maximum amount of it in it, which is 2%, because I know that it's what helps rejuvenate my skin. So imagine my surprise when I was given the chance to use Dr. Song's 20% Salicylic Acid Peel.

I was a bit scared to use such a strong product on my skin at home so I first did a patch test on my inner bicep. After 24 hours I didn't have a negative result so I went along and tried it on my face. I used a very small amount and left it on for 2 minutes. Luckily my skin isn't sensitive so I didn't experience any stinging. I was able to wash it out with ease and didn't notice much peeling after. The first morning after my skin was a teeny bit flaky but my moisturizer with SPF did the trick and I didn't think about it for the rest of the day.

This peel has been a great addition to my skin care regiment. It sloths off the dead layer of skin which helps my other products and makeup do their job more efficiently. I think I can use this about 15 times in total which is like 4 months worth of an at home peel. Love it!

food · snacks

Franklin's Gourmet Popcorn

I'm not a massive fan of popcorn but I'm not one to turn down the chance to try something new. It's not that I don't like it, I just rarely have it unless I'm watching a movie. Plus I've never really made popcorn right at home in a microwave and rarely attempted the stove top version.

Franklin's Gourmet Popcorn seemed like a pretty interesting concert. It's all organic, it came with oil and seasoning and the portions seemed really well. It looked perfect for 2 people to enjoy without having to make another batch.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the massive box ( I received a case of 24) was how the seasoning and oil looked. It didn't look very appealing. I was immediately turned off by it and vowed to just give it a try but not commit to using it every time. When I put all the ingredients on my pot the kernels started to pop right away and within minutes it was all done and overflowing. The amount of popcorn that was made was pretty insane! It was enough for four people to enjoy. When I dumped it onto several bowls I noticed that not very many kernels were left unpopped. An issue I always had when using the microwave kind!

I was a bit leery about what the taste would be like because of the consistency and look of the oil and seasoning but was pleasantly surprised that it didn't really have a taste. I actually added salt because it was pretty bland. I liked this because it means that I can avoid using those weird extras and I'm not losing out of any flavor that I might've accidentally fallen for!

Another thing I liked it that my apt didn't smell like popcorn. I'm becoming really sensitive to strong, lingering odors and the fact that these popped and rose quickly meant there was no risk of accidentally burning any.

peppermint oil · product reviews

An Unexpected Peppermint Oil Discovery

Jan 17, 2015

I was given Pure Body Natural's Peppermint Oil a while back to try out but I only just started to use it a few days ago. I've been having tons of leg pain and needed to soak it in epsom salt but wanted to add some kind of oil of some sort to add a extra dose of benefit. This peppermint oil was said to sooth and energize, which I thought was a good idea for my super tight muscles and I knew the smell of peppermint was going to add a nice touch for my senses while I soaked the pain away.

Now all leg issues aside I will say this about the peppermint oil. It is cooling as ----! I wanted to be nice a cozy under the covers after my soak with knee high socks, wool pants, a sheet and my blanket but nothing was working. The oil was so potent and strong that the cooling effect was out of hand. After about an hour I finally had to hop back in the shower to rub whatever was on my skin off in order to sleep warm.

I learned the hard way that this is not to be used during the cold months but now I know that if I want to keep cool during the harsh summer nights, or on a day that I don't want to have my air conditioner running super high I can take a quick soak in this! There are tons of other uses for this oil but I think I'm going to stick to using it for it's cooling effect on my body. I like that this came in a really large bottle too because a little bit totally goes a long way with this oil!

skincare · vitamin c serum

New Radiance Naturals Vitamin C Serum

Jan 14, 2015

I've been using Vitamin C on and off for my skin for a couple of years now and don't really know how I feel about it. I know that vitamin c is an antioxidant and it helps fight wrinkles and age spots so I tend to get back on the horse every now and then. My latest attempt and making this part of my skincare regiment was with my New Radiance Naturals Vitamin C Serum.

I was thrown off immediately by the fact that the bottle wasn't opaque. I have always been under the impression that light wasn't supposed to be let in to vitamin c serums otherwise it wouldn't work as great. But that could all have changed with the formulation and because this only uses 20% an exception could have been made.

I liked that this serum wasn't super thick so it was easy to mix with my Ole Henriksen nightly serum. After a few nights of doing that I decided to give it a go solo in order to give it a proper trial. I have to admit that I don't suffer from bad skin. Genetics, plus years of being diligent with my skincare routine has given me what I dub Zombie Skin. When I get a pimpled every 6-8 weeks I can't help but pick at it to death. It's something I know sooo many of us are guilty of and only admit it after someone else mentions it. But thanks to this Zombie Skin, my cells seem to regenerate at warp speed so the effects of my bad habit aren't noticeable for too long. The reason I admitted that is because I really couldn't judge this serum based on it's ability to diminish dark spots because it didn't make anything go away any quicker than normal.

I did notice that my skin felt a lot softer so that's a plus. I would recommend this for anyone with stubborn spots that won't go away, or that are not going away quick enough. This is especially recommended for those that have tried retinol and feel that it's too harsh for their skin.

skin care

Ageless Derma Stell Cell & Peptide Cream

Jan 10, 2015

Ageless Derma is slowly becoming a new favorite thanks to all the products I've been using from them recently. Along with my Michael Todd Soniclear my Stem Cell and Peptide Anti-Wrinkle Cream has done wonders for my skin as of late.

I'm noticing that my skin seems a bit fresher and my foundation glides out with absolute ease. Something that tends to get a bit difficult thanks to the time of the month when my skin changes. I'm also getting tons of compliments thanks to my naturally healthy glow that is obvious when I don't have anything but moisturizer on.

One thing that turns me off of some anti-wrinkle creams is how slick and oily they can be. Thankfully that is not the case with this product. It goes on silky smooth and is strong enough to penetrate into my skin without melting off easily. It seems to really give itself time to seep into the skin and so far my fine lines have remained just that: fine. And I'm hoping that by adding this to my skin care regiment that it can continue to do so!

life · product reviews

Never Hungover Shots

Jan 8, 2015

The holiday season is over and while to some that means and end to excessive drinking to others, like me, it's a fresh start on the boozing front. I always get really into champagne after the new year because it's all around me and I generally love the taste. I even made it my New Years Resolution to drink more champagne. How snazzy is that! But of course with drinking tons of champagne comes a slight headache...or even more! Which is why something like Never Hungover seems to come in hand!

Now, I usually just have a good time without worrying about what my body is going to go through in the morning and I've had a few mornings in the last week where I could've been in real danger if I wasn't lucky enough to avoid a hangover! I will have to say that I can drink a whole bottle of wine and be absolutely fine the next day so I'm not 100% sure if my lack of a hangover a few days ago was because of the Never Hungover shots but they were worth a try. The company tells you to you take a shot, or one of the small bottles, before going to bed to avoid a hangover. First. eek! The taste was awful.
I wouldn't want to drink this straight or ruin the taste of anything by mixing it. It was kind of gritty and had an aftertaste that didn't seem to go away.

When I woke up the morning after a champagne binge I felt fine but wasn't sure what the reason was. It could have been a natural way that my body processed the bubbly or it could have been because of the shots. I normally don't drink to excess (ha!) and I don't usually mix liquors, wines, and beers but I'll keep the rest of these in my liquor cabinet in case I see that I'm heading into trouble one day!

beauty · beauty tips · skin care · tips

How I Keep Dry Skin At Bay

Jan 7, 2015

I was asked the above in a question by someone that wanted every product I used and here it is. Step by step on what I do daily in order to prevent my skin from looking dry, dull and flaky. I’ll preface this by saying that while I am loyal to certain brands I sometimes have to stray from their basic products because they may not be as powerful or I just might find an alternative that is a lot easier on my wallet. So here we go.

These are the products that I use the most but some that I like just aren’t bought anymore because I don’t experience much dryness here in LA like I did in NYC.

The first thing I always wash my face with is Neutrogena’s Fresh Foaming Cleanser. I use this for two reasons(I’ll touch and the second one later on in my blog) but for now I’ll stick to just one. It’s gentle, you don’t need a lot in order to get it to foam up and it’s really good at cleaning up oil that my skin may have accumulated during the night.

The second thing I do is turn into a chemist. I mix my Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub as well as the Morning Burst Facial Cleanser and use those to exfoliate. Notice that I purchased the Target brands of the original face washes because they do the same thing and are sometimes, not always, cheaper. Target and CVS are really good at making generic skin care products that work exactly the same, fyi. The grapefruit wash is also excellent for clearing up adult acne. The morning burst is great because it has vitamin C, ginseng AND caffeine. I am a huge fan of caffeine for both inside and outside of my body. Not only am I addicted to coffee but I’ve been putting medium ground coffee in my body scrubs for years because it helps with skin circulation which we need to help fight cellulite. Now that I’m using it for the face too it’s like a total body experience. We need out cells to keep rejuvenating as we get older so anything with caffeine is a plus. The ginseng in the scrub also helps to make your skin stronger so less elasticity can be lost. Now it’s said that ginseng should’ve be used on skin that is too young but that’s all relative. Some women start to get fine lines in their early 20’s while others, like me, are just starting to see them and I’m already in my 30’s. It all depends on the individual skin but I recommend preventing things before anything gets out of whack.

On to the third step: Philosophy’s Microdelivery Enzyme Peel. I received a sample of this once and fell in love. This product has done wonders for my skin. I use it on my face 1-2 times a week and highly recommend it. It’s pricey and I have yet to find a suitable alternative for it but this specific bottle has lasted me over a whole year already because of how little needs to be used. I also store it upside down to prevent too much leaking out when I first open it.

After my face fully dries I apply some of this on and leave it for the maximum time of 3 minutes. This is a really quick exfoliator that leaves my skin smooth after I wash it off. Before I moved out to LA I suffered from a sullen appearance every morning. I always compared myself to a vampire that hadn’t fed in years because thats how washed out my face looked in the mornings without makeup. Now after using this product for the last year and a half I can walk outside my apt without NEEDING to use any foundation or tinted moisturizer. That was the case when I was living in NYC and it still remains today in LA.

travel

Ultimate Travel Pillow

Jan 5, 2015

Another great thing that I've had the chance to play with recently was something really worthy because I actually did travel right after receiving it! The Ultimate Travel Pillow was the first time I've ever used anything other than the standard issue pillow we're now starting to receive again on domestic flights.

This pillow came stored really well in its own bag and was meant to be wrapped around your seat instead of just on your neck like so many others that seems to be a bit more work than needed. It was comfortable and I did enjoy it on my red eye flight to NYC from LA last month but it wasn't enough for me to use it on my returning one because with window seats I'm usually just using my coat/sweater and a airline pillow for that extra support and this pillow, since it was filled with air, moved a lot due to the fact that I didn't have a place to secure it. If you're a fan of the aisle or middle seat though then this is a product for you because it means that you sleep on a plane sitting straight back and will take advantage of the strapped on support.

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