TrueLife: I’m a haircare hoarder

Posted on March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 Posted in LifestyleTagged bannerLeave a comment

Hello. My name is Chelsea and I am a haircare hoarder. At least I’m aware. That’s better right?!?! I have a shampoo or conditioner for absolutely anything and everything my hair could possibly need. I know that its obsessive and definitely overkill, but my hunt for the perfect haircare may be helpful to you, so it all works out.

Let’s start with my hair. I have a ton of hair, but it’s incredibly thin. I also have naturally pretty stick-straight hair. It gets weighed down easily, making a lot of conditioners hard to use. I often find that within a few hours after showering and drying my hair that I can start to see my hair begin to fall and start sticking straight to my scalp. The women in my family also have a tendency to lose their hair, so I try very hard to nourish my hair and scalp to try and prevent any major hair loss from happening.

When if comes to the products that I use almost every time I wash my hair, I have 2 shampoos & 2 conditioners that are my go-tos. I have been using the Leonor Greyl Gentle Shampoo for a little over a month now, and I love it for my very thin hair. It is almost a watery consistency, which is completely different from anything else that I have tried before. It gently lathers up and cleanses just enough to have clean hair without ever stripping. The only problem that I have had with it is the top didn’t work on mine and I ended up having to take the top off and just pour it onto my hair.

The conditioner that I have been pairing with the shampoo is the Bumble & Bumble Invisible Oil Conditioner. I have been in love with the oil from the Invisible Oil collection for probably 2 years now. It is absolutely beautiful and lightweight yet so hydrating. When I ran out of my last conditioner a few weeks ago, I decided to give this a try, and boy it did not disappoint. Just as lightweight as the oil, this has to be one of my favorite conditioners I have ever tried for daily use. It imparts the perfect amount of hydration without ever making my hair feel heavy. I really was to try out the rest of the range soon!

I recently picked up the Kristen Ess Signature Shampoo & Conditioner to try out after seeing the gorgeous packaging which strolling through Target. It very-well could be the most beautiful haircare packaging I’ve seen in a long time. But what kept me using it over and over was the fact that this stuff is freaking good. It contains what they call “Zip-Up Technology” which is meant to strengthen the weakest parts of your hair and help protect your hair from environmental stressors. Both the shampoo & conditioner pair beautifully together and I love having them in my rotation.

Anytime I am going out or going to have my picture taken, I reach for the Leonor Greyl Gentle Volumizing Shampoo. There is absolutely nothing I have used before that gives me the volume that this does. That feeling that a you get from a volumizing powder is exactly what this feels like in my hair. Not my favorite feeling in the world, But I pair this with a deep conditioner and it tones that feeling down quite a bit while still providing that added boost of volume that I want.

After a night having used the Leonor Greyl Gentle Volumizing Shampoo, I will always cleanse with the Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo. The deepest cleanser that I have, this gets out dry shampoo, hairspray, moose, absolutely everything, leaving me with intensely clean but not over stripped hair. I have not tried the conditioner that goes along with this yet, but it’s on my list!

Since dying most of my hair blonde a few months ago, I have been on the hunt for a good purple shampoo. The only that I ended up trying out was the IGK Instafamous Blonde Shampoo. I’m not sure how I feel about this though. It does a great job at keeping my blonde from going brassy, which is perfect. The only problem with it is the consistency. It feels like, for lack of a better word, snot. It does what its supposed to. I’m just not sure I can get over the idea of putting snot in my hair…

I find that I like to use a deep conditioning mask at least once every other week. When it comes to conditioning masks, I want something that really hydrates every strand but still doesn’t weigh down my hair. While I love Oribe in general, I find that Gold Lust just isn’t worth it for me. I love it, and will definitely use it to the last drop, but I think some of their other products that I’ve tried were so much better and I would rather spend my money on those. My favorite deep conditioner isn’t even really a deep conditioner at all. The Juice Organics Brightening Conditioner is incredibly thick, so much so that it can be a little hard sometimes to get product out of the bottle. But it was designed for think hair like mine, so even though its so thick and hydrating, I find it never makes my hair feel heavy or flat. Every time I use it, I have shiny, beautiful hair for days. The Deva Curl Melt In Moisture & the Loreal Elvive Total Repair Damage Erasing Balm are both newer editions to me. I have only used each of them maybe 2 times a piece, but so far I have really liked them both. They have a thinner consistency than the Juice Organics, but both make my hair feel strong & hydrated.

I travel a lot, and most of my traveling requires that I pack incredibly light. Since most of the time I am backpacking in the wilderness, I have to make sure that every product that I bring is multipurpose yet effective. This has officially made its way into my travel bag as the only shampoo & conditioner duo that I will bring with me anymore. Smoke & Mirrors from IGK Hair is the only cleansing conditioner that I have found that actually fully cleanses my hair and still leaves it feeling moisturized. And the travel size is the perfect size for my backpack that I take with me.

What’s your favorite Shampoo & Conditioner?

My Supplement Routine

Posted on February 22, 2018February 22, 2018 Posted in Fitness, LifestyleTagged banner, ReviewLeave a comment

First off, let’s start with the fact that this is not sponsored (But hit me up! I would love to be sponsored by HUM). I just genuinely love HUM Nutrition. Now I am not someone who would ever take my vitamins when I was younger. You could not pay me enough or bribe me with enough candy to swallow a multi-vitamin. It just wasn’t;t going to happen. Bless my mom, she tried her best.

It wasn’t until I got out of college that I even started looking into vitamins. Like my interest in skincare, my interest in supplements started when I was looking for solutions for my acne. That’s when I found the Daily Cleanse supplements.

These little green capsules detox your entire system, including your skin. This herb-nutrient blend includes organic chlorella algae, bladderwrack, red clover extract, alpha lipoid acid, and milk thistle that helps boost the immune system and purify the body. This blend of ingredients also works as an anti-inflammatory & antioxidant.

I will note that when I first start taking these, my face will break out. I think that is from it pulling out all of the toxins because after probably 2 weeks, my face is incredibly clear. If I run out of these and don’t repurchase for a couple months, I will have to go through that process all over again. Just something to keep in mind.

When my boyfriend started having severe stomach issues last year, we didn’t know what was going on. Luckily, after getting diagnosed with a stomach problem, he has been able to work with his doctor to manage his symptoms fairly well. Going through all of this for months on end though, made us realize how important gut health really was. I already knew I trusted HUM Nutrition, so I decided to try their Gut Instinct supplements.

Essentially, this probiotic helps support the immune system. A blend of 10 strains of probiotics, helps regulate your system and makes sure your gut is functioning the way it should. BONUS: it also helps alleviate bloating.

The most recent addition to my regimen is the Ripped Booster. Not something I take everyday, I like to use these in conjunction with my workouts to help keep my energy up as well as burn some additional calories. This natural fat-burner includes 7-Keto, an ingredient that has been known to enable three times the weight reduction than diet and exercise alone. Now I have not seen that, but I have also not been taking it everyday. I have, however, noticed a decrease in my food cravings on the days when I take these.

What supplements do you take?

Brand Overview: Nyakio

Posted on February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 Posted in SkincareTagged banner, ReviewLeave a comment

Nyakio is one of the newest brands to arrive at Ulta. A less expensive alternative for people that want to delve into green skincare, I thought I’d share with you some of the products that I have had the chance to test out from them.

By far my favorite product is the Kenyan Coffee Facial Polish. It is absolutely amazing. It has definitely become my current go-to exfoliator. Somehow its abrasive enough to really get a good exfoliation while being gentle enough to be able to use multiple times a week. It feels as if the Kenyan Coffee beans have been rounded into very small spheres so there are no harsh edges anywhere, which means I have no real fear of micro tears. This leaves my skin feeling impossibly smooth and prepped for the next stages in my skincare routine.

I enjoy the Quinoa Eye Cream. I adore the ceramic applicator. It’s so incredibly cooling and depuffing. My only problem with it is that a couple times that I have used it, it has burned my eyes slightly and made them start to water. The actual product seems great on my undereyes, but I think because it’s a little thinner it moves slightly throughout the night and can get into my actual eye. If it didn’t move so much after application, I would love it.

The Sweet Almond Cleansing Oil Balm does a great job at removing pesky makeup. It can be slightly difficult to remove because it does not emulsify, but since I use it as a first cleanse to remove makeup, that is not a huge issue. I just use a warm washcloth to remove it and go in with a second cleanse to ensure I got everything. If you are the type of person who does not use a washcloth, I might stay away from this as it is difficult to remove without one.

The Tamanu Firming Face Balm is probably the product that I have used the least. Living in Texas, it can sometime get far too hot for a rich balm like this one. But since we have been having crazy weather recently, I have had the chance to really dive into this. It is a beautiful balm. It feels thick, yet sinks into my skin quickly. It tends to leave my skin looking a little shiny after application, so I prefer to use this at night. When I do, my skin is noticeably plump, hydrated and glowing the next morning.

Would you try anything from Nyakio?

PurEarth Mitti Mask

Posted on January 27, 2018January 27, 2018 Posted in SkincareTagged banner, Review, SkincareLeave a comment

I have long been a believer of the transformative powers of honey, specifically for acneic skin. When I first heard about this mask, the raw, organic honey is what truly drew me to it. It’s the first ingredient. PERFECTION! These masks are micro batched & wild harvested to ensure the purest ingredients. PurEarth utilizes Ayurvedic medicinal principles when choosing their botanical actives & clays.

Ayurveda

To be entirely honest, I had only heard of Ayurveda once in passing, so I knew very little about what it was & how it could apply to skincare.

Essentially, Ayurveda is an Indian science & philosophy that “utilizes plant and mineral based healing which harnesses the potency of wild harvested herbs, seeds, roots, leaves and flowers. Seeking to create harmony and balance between the mind the body, we draw from its sacred repository that is believed to govern the fundamental energies that relate to all our biological processes.”

How PurEarth utilizes Ayurvedic principles in their skincare

Taken directly from their website:

“Our approach to beauty and wellness does not rely on quick fixes or chemical solutions – we believe that for the external to be beautiful, the internal must be in balance. The secret to youth and wellbeing, according to Ayurvedic literature, is in the balance of three elemental energies or doshas: vāta (air & space), pitta (fire & water) and kapha (water & earth). Everyone possesses a unique combination of doṣhas that defines their temperament and characteristics.”

Typically when I think of a clay mask, I think incredibly drying. The kind of mask that crumbles off your face when you move & leaves my face feeling like it’s dying for a tall glass of water. This mask is nothing like that. Yes, it has the detoxifying properties of a traditional clay mask, but without drying effects that can reek havoc on my skin. Because of the honey and a whole array of oils inside of this mask, it actually hydrates while clearing out my pores.

Now this is unlike any mask I’ve ever used, making it incredibly hard to categorize. It detoxifies, cleanses, hydrates & promotes collagen production. This really is a super hero mask that does it all.

The real reason I love this mask is for the way that it was able to lighten pigmentation left behind due to acne. Within the first couple of uses, I noticed the redness in my skin reducing. My acne was starting to look less noticeable. My skin looked more plump and I found that I started using less makeup to hid my acne. That in-and-of-itself makes this product worth it for me.

This specifically contains raw organic honey, something my skin absolutely loves. Since honey is naturally antibacterial, it helps with treating and preventing acne. It’s also incredibly hydrating so I don’t end up stripping my skin of essential moisture. The Mitti Clay Face Masque also contains rosa damascena, frankincense, sweet orange and ylang ylang essential oils in organic avocado, tamanu and macadamia oils.

I’ve already gone through over half of the jar with no plans to stop anytime. I may have found my perfect clay mask!

Eye creams with your skin tone in mind

Posted on January 25, 2018January 25, 2018 Posted in SkincareTagged banner, ReviewLeave a comment

The most important factor to consider when designing skincare is tone. At least, thats what the people at Virginia Stone think.

They believe the tone of your skin can determine exactly what your skin needs. Your tone determines your skin personality, which they believe inherently defines other unique characteristics, such as skin density, sensitivity, SPF requirements, and how tolerant your skin is to different potency levels.

Fortified with antioxidants, vitamins, and vital nutrients, ‘Eyes’ is designed to stimulate cell renewal, combat free radical damage, and reenergize and awaken tired, aging skin.

They believe each skin tone has different requirements. The eyes are the first area on your face to show signs of aging, therefore they need special care and attention. Lighter skin tones have naturally thinner skin, meaning the area around the eyes show skins of aging much faster on fair skin tones than medium and darker complexions.

Each ‘Eyes’ formulation feels like it’s been whipped into a light and airy cream. I must warn you, a little goes a long way. Upon contact, the warmth of the skin melts this butter into an oil that sinks beautifully into the skin.

All Virginia Stone ‘Eyes’ formulations contain about 57 different raw and unique ingredients. Butters, oils, botanical extracts and teas layer together to create a superfood eye cream.

Over the last 2 weeks, my friends and I tested out each of the different formulations to determine if skin tone really does play a role in the type of products we need.

KAVESI ————————————————————————————————————————

‘Eyes’ in Kavesi was designed for fair skin tones. Because these skin tones typically have a thin and very delicate eye area, they tend to suffer from some serious dark circles. I personally fall into this category. I am very pale. My skin tends to bar very translucent around my eye area, making dark circles my number 1 priority. Most people ask me while I look so tired every day. I’m not. My dark circles just make me look like I haven’t slept well in the last 8 years.

My goal with trying this eye cream was to find something to help hydrate and brighten. I must say, it did both beautifully. Using this at night allowed my under eyes to really drink up the moisture, leaving me with plump, hydrated eyes in the morning. After 2 weeks of consistent use, my overall eye area does actually seem brighter. With more long term usage, I believe that these results will only improve. While I do not think that my dark circles will ever fully go away, I do think that this eye cream is only of the only eye products that has actually help conceal any of the dark circles that I have. For that reason alone, this is a winner in my book.

JASARI ————————————————————————————————————————-

People with a medium skin tone will generally have slightly thicker skin around the eyes. A medium skin tone will have somewhat similar concerns to those with fair skin in that they too suffer from dark circles under their eyes. But since they have thicker skin, the formulation of Jasari was made to be slightly richer. Medium skin tones can also handle more active ingredients than someone with fair skin.

‘Eyes’ for Jasari aims to target dark circles as well as increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage in order to minimise the appearance of under eye bags and inflammation.

Since I do not have a medium skin tone, I had my friend test this out very night for 2 consecutive weeks. After 2 weeks of use, similar to my eyes, her under eyes were more hydrated and plump. The added benefit for her was that her under eye bags became less noticeable. Although she is only in her 20s, she somehow looked more awake and youthful.

ODAJA ————————————————————————————————————————-

Those with darker skin tones typically have much thicker skin that contains a high level of melanin. This melanin provides a higher amount of natural sun protection, which is why fair skin tones typically burn much easier than someone with a darker complexion.

Because darker skin is naturally thicker, Odaja has the richest texture of the three formulations, providing the deepest levels of hydration. The person that I had testing out Odaja suffered from hydration issues under their eyes. Makeup could be hard to apply as it could easily cling to dry patches. After using this for 2 weeks, her under eye moisture levels increased enough to where makeup was no longer clinging. There was no flakey, dry patches of skin anymore.

Overall, all three formulations seemed to do what they were designed for. I must admit, when I was first reading about this brand, I was skeptical. Could skin tone really play such an important role is designing skin care? But after using it, I must say, it kind of makes sense. Just thinking about the fact that those with thinner skin need a product that is thinner because the skin is so much easier to penetrate makes perfect sense If you have thicker skin, you need something much richer since your skin is naturally harder to get products to sink in. From what I have read, Virginia Stone is planning on releasing more products into their line of skin tone based skincare and I can’t wait to try out everything else that they are cooking up!

Would you ever try skincare based on your skin tone?

Makeup Awards: 2017

Posted on January 17, 2018January 17, 2018 Posted in MakeupTagged banner, Favorites, Makeup2 Comments

Even though 2017 was really about skincare for me, that did not stop me from falling back in love with makeup.

These are some of my favorite things I used in 2017.

Giorgio Armani Power Fabric in 3

I am on my second bottle of this stuff. That really is saying something, since I typically switch foundations once I finish a bottle. I like to try new things pretty often, but every morning I reach for this. It’s not overly drying, gives medium-high coverage, & does not need to be set with powder.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Vanilla

Even with the collection of concealers that I have amassed over the year, this is still the one concealer that I keep reaching for. It’s not even a question. This works like a dream both under my eyes as well as around the rest of my face to cover any blemishes.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in 1 Fair

Let’s start with the fact that I hate powder. I feel cakey with almost every powder I’ve used. Except this. It’s so incredibly finely milled. It sets my makeup and really helps lock everything in place without ever getting cakey. I can pack this on and it still looks flawless. My only qualm with this is that it felt like I went through it rather quickly, but I guess that just shows how much I truly love it.

Marc Jacobs Tan-tastic Bronzer

This one was limited edition, so it’s no longer available, but I just had to add it in. Some of you may have seen my Insta stories where I showed how they domed the product to make it look like there is more product than there actually is. This domed effect does make the product more prove to breakage since there is nothing supporting the powder. With that being said, it is the bronzer that I have fallen in love with. It has the perfect formulation. The undertone is not too orange, so I don’t look like am oompa loompa when I use it. It truly is the perfect bronzer for pale skin tones. If only it didn’t break.

Wet N’ Wild Contouring Palette in Dulce De Leche

The closest thing I have found to the Marc Jacobs bronzer, this one from Wet N’ Wild comes in at less than $5. While it says that it is a contouring powder, I find that it works amazingly well as a bronzer on my fair skin tone. It’s also just as smooth and applies just as beautifully as the Marc Jacobs one. If you missed out on being able to pick up the Marc Jacobs, or you just don’t want to spend that kind of money on a bronzer, I highly recommend picking this one up.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone

This is a new find for me. I’ve seen Becca highlighters everywhere, & I guess for some reason, that made me not was to pick one up. I put it off for the longest time. And then I swatched Moonstone. It is the perfect pale gold highlight. This is the first gold highlight that I have been able to wear without it looking like a strip of gold sitting on my face. Use a little and give a natural glow or layer it up and be seen by space. Either way, this highlight is beautiful. Can’t recommend enough!

Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Lipstick in I Wish

There is just something so feisty about these lipsticks. Like I could stab you & look good while doing it sort of vibes. Now that is now a reason to like a lipstick, but it sure doesn’t hurt. These bad boys are opaque in one swipe, are comfortable on the lips, & seem to last quite a long time. My personal favorite shade is I Wish, my current favorite nude lipstick. I could wear this everyday and never get bored! It was cool-toned enough to not just look yellow on my pale skin. I just love it!

Melt Rust Stack

I love this eyeshadow set. Specifically because of the shade Rust. All of the shades are beautiful mattes, but this one. There is something special about this shade. This deep brown had a burgundy undertone to it, which makes my green eyes pop.

Linda Hallberg Infinity Palette

I have spoken about this before, but if you need just one palette to take with you traveling, this is it. Contour, bronze, blush, highlight, eyes. This bad boy has it all. This is definitely my perfect travel pallet and includes all the staples you could need. Using the premise of a painters palette, this palette was built around the idea of mixing colors together to create your perfect shade.

Clarins Natural Lip Perfector

Now, I am not a gloss person. Typically, I find them to be stringy and sticky and my hair just seems to want to get stuck in them. But there is something about these lip perfectors that has changed my mind on lip gloss. These are not sticky whatsoever. They also smell like vanilla, which is just glorious. They keep my lips hydrated throughout the day and give just the right amount of shine to make my lips look every so slightly plumper.

What were your favorite makeup items in 2017?

Whole 30: Week One

Posted on January 14, 2018January 14, 2018 Posted in LifestyleTagged banner, Lifestyle1 Comment

Day 1:

Today, I found out corn counts as a grain. I would now like to die. I just freaking bought sweet potato tortilla chips. And they’re so freaking good! I’ve been looking forward to them all day. And now I can’t have them. Let’s hope the regular sweet potato chips I bought are just as good because I need a good pick me up!

Breakfast: Half a Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bar & a bottle of water as I ran out the door

Lunch: Pork chop, half a sliced apple & a bottle of water

Snack: Other half of the Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bar & a bottle of water

Dinner: Meatballs & potatoes

After Dinner Snack: Sweet Potato Chips & a tangerine

Day 2:

Not feeling great. But it’s the start of the weekend, so I’m just going to lay around all day and do a whole lot of nothing. woke up late and didn’t really feel like cooking myself much, so shoved some frozen hash browns in a pan and it was delicious! Also, Sweet Potato Chips are not nearly as good at the Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips. They’re fine I guess, but its not the same.

Lunch: Hash browns

Dinner: Meatballs & 3 tbsp tomato sauce

After Dinner Snack: 2 Tangerines

Day 3:

Spent half the day cleaning & the other half meal-prepping for the start of the week. At least I’ll have food for most of the week already made! I didn’t eat much today. Still wasn’t feeling great.

Lunch: Meatballs & 3 tbsp tomato sauce

Snack: 2 Tangerines

Late Night Snack: Sweet Potato Chips & Macadamia Nuts

Day 4:

It turns out I do NOT like pork butt. It just tastes like huge sections of fat & I can’t get behind that. But that’s okay. I’m trying to find the kinds of foods that I like, which means I’m gonna find some stuff I don’t like.

People, I like spaghetti squash!! I hate vegetables. I’m aware of that. But I actually like this stuff. Like I’m not just shoving it down. It’s actually delicious!

Morning Snack: Handful of Macadamia nuts & bottle of water

Lunch: Pork Butt, Mashed Potatoes & bottle of water

Snack: 1/2 of a Maple Sea Salt RX Bar & a handful of Macadamia nuts

Dinner: Spaghetti Squash, Meatballs & Tomato Sauce

After Dinner Snack: Pineapple & Pomegranate Seeds

Day 5:

I’m so freaking hungry! I’ve been hungry all day. I didn’t have enough meat to go with the spaghetti squash so I only ended up with 2 meatballs. So after lunch, I just walked around work starving. Spent the whole day craving a burger & boy was it good!

Lunch: Spaghetti Squash, Meatballs & Tomato Sauce & bottle of water

Snack: Pineapple Slices & 2 bottles of water

Dinner: Hamburger patty & a Coke Zero

Day 6:

I don’t hate the riced cauliflower. I added garlic powder & Italian seasoning when I sautéed it and it actually was pretty good. Definitely not the same as rice. Don’t lie to your self and think it will be. But it wasn’t half bad.

I ate dinner at my parents house tonight. Yes, I ate Hawaiian rolls. They are definitely not Whole30 approved. But damn they were good. I’m gonna be totally honest. I regret nothing.

Breakfast: Handful of Macadamia nuts, pineapple & a bottle of water

Lunch: Sautéed garlic shrimp, riced cauliflower & bottle of water

Dinner: Ribs, chicken thighs & Hawaiian rolls

Day 7:

Ate leftover chicken thighs & ribs for lunch. DELICIOUS!

Breakfast: Handful of Macadamia nuts & a bottle of water

Lunch: 2 ribs, chicken thigh & a bottle of water

Snack: Macadamia nuts & a bottle of water

Dinner: Meatballs & Tomato Sauce

Overall, I think I’m going to enjoy this month. This is incredibly restricting, which is going to be a bit of a pain & I can already see that I’m probably going to end up trying to find like 5 meals I like & just stick to that mostly. I’m lazy & making food is hard! I’m finding new things that I actually like. I like cooking at home for me & Austin. What I never liked was the amount of tie it took for me to make dinner every night. But I’m finding things I like that don’t take too much time. Anything that shortens my cooking time down I like. I haven’t really eaten out yet, so I’m not sure how I will handle it when that happens, but as far as eating in, I think i’m getting the hang of it.

I know this isn’t supposed to be a “diet”, but I thought every week I would share what sort of results I have seen from it.

Starting Weight: 154.0

1 Week in: 152.4

Have any of you tried Whole30? I would love to know some tips & tricks!!

Whole 30: Preparation

Posted on January 9, 2018January 9, 2018 Posted in LifestyleTagged banner, LifestyleLeave a comment

To be completely honest, I did very little research on this 30 day “detox”. I looked it up, said “ooh this sounds good” and the next day I started it. I don’t really recommend that. More research should definitely be done. The Whole 30 website says that you should cleanse your whole house of junk food, stock up on everything you need for at least a week & mentally prepare for what you’re about to embark on. I didn’t do that. But to be totally fair, I’ve been on a low carb diet on and off for two years at this point, so most of the food that I had is fairly healthy.

I did look into what sorts of snacks I could eat as I find that that really is the key to me staying on track with diets. If I get hungry and there is nothing for me to snack on, I will break down and eat something bad. I know myself. This will happen. So after doing very minimal research into approved snacks, I headed to Trader Joe’s, the mecca of all healthy snacking.

Before we get into what I picked up, let’s start with the basics: what the heck is Whole 30?

What what I have been able to gather, Whole 30 is essentially a food detox. The founder of Whole 30 does not like to call it a diet. Basically, you’re removing anything bad for you and trying to form a new relationship with your food.

What you can have:

Meat
Fruits
Vegetables
Eggs
Oils & Ghee
Coffee
Nuts & Seeds

What you can’t have:

Dairy
Legumes (there are a few exceptions to this rule)
Grains
Alcohol
Added Sugar

Now this is where things get a little weird. Potatoes are allowed. Oil is allowed. French fries are not allowed. Bananas are allowed. Cocoa is allowed. Freeze the bananas, blend it with the cocoa to make ice cream. Not allowed. Why? That is incredibly confusing to me. They say it defeats the purpose of the detox. Supposedly it’s a mental separation from junk food as much as it is a physical one. I don’t like it. But I guess I’ll give it a shot.

My first grocery run

Again, I will state that I did maybe an hour of research into this before I got started. So when I went to the grocery store, I was slightly lost. Since my apartment is already stocked with all kinds of meats, my real purpose with going to the grocery store was to stock up on snacks, sides and sauces that would help me make it through the day.

What I picked up:

Clarified Butter
Pineapple
Pomegranate Seeds
Lettuce
Riced Cauliflower
RX Bars
Larabar in Apple Pie
Sweet Potato Chips
Sweet Plantain Chips
Almond Butter
Olive Oil
Pork Belly
Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips
Yuzu Hot Sauce
Ginger Stir-In Paste
Thai Red Curry Sauce
Hazelnuts
Macadamia Nuts
Sweet Potatoes
Russet Potatoes
Shredded Hash Browns
Spaghetti Squash

Let’s see how this goes…

Skincare Awards: 2017

Posted on January 4, 2018January 4, 2018 Posted in SkincareTagged banner, Favorites, SkincareLeave a comment

2017 really was the year of skincare for me. It’s when I learned how much I truly loved learning about skincare and how different ingredients react with my skin.

These are some of my favorite things I tried out in 2017.

Tatcha Pure Camellia Cleansing Oil

I have been droning on & on about this cleanser for months now. I’ve been through 3 bottles of this stuff, & don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It’s simply the best. It removes makeup with ease, breaking down even my toughest mascaras. It is non-irritating, so I don’t have to worry about getting it in my eyes while trying to remove eye makeup. One of my favorite things about it; it emulsifies. Even though I remove all of my cleansers with a flannel, having it emulsify means that I don’t need up with an oily residue left over. If you are looking for the perfect first cleanse, look no further.

Retrouve Luminous Cleansing Elixir

This is the first cleanser to give my beloved Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel a run for its money. This rich, essentially balm, cleanser moisturizes while intensely cleansing the skin. It just feels so luxe to use. It also emulsifies, something that in case you haven’t figured out yet, I absolutely adore.

Girl Undiscovered Under the Waterfall Crystal Cleansing Water

During the week, my morning skincare routine is minimal at best. I refuse to wake up early, meaning that I have all of seven minutes to get ready in the morning before I have to race to my car so that I can make it to work on time. So when it comes to skincare, I require that everything be quick and simple. This 3-in-1 cleansing water can be used to cleanse, tone & hydrate making it basically all that I need in the morning if I’m running late. It also doesn’t need to be washed off, meaning that when Austin steals the bathroom to shower in the morning, I can finish my whole routine. I do like to apply the Pour Moi Climate Dat Cream on top of this for added hydration throughout the day.

LilFox Jungle Glow -or- Planted In Beauty Detox Exfoliant

This is really based on personal preference. If you like a really gentle exfoliation, something you could reasonably use everyday without irritation, then I would recommend the Planted In Beauty Detox Exfoliant. If you like an exfoliant with a bit more grit & is more of a once a week event, the LilFox Jungle Glow is your best bet. You really can’t go wrong with either, but if I had to choose one, I would probably say that I prefer LilFox’s Jungle Glow ever so slightly more.

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

I have long loved this mask. Over the last couple years, I have probably owned 3 or 4 of these. There is just something about this mask that constantly has me reaching for it. First off, the smell is perfection. Like a fresh baked pumpkin pie. YUMM! Using pumpkin enzymes to gently but effectively exfoliate the skin, I am left with brighter, more radiant skin after just one use. It does tingle, so be warned. But I love that feeling. It feels like its actually doing something.

Luxe Botanics Camu Brightening Mist

By far, Luxe Botanics is the best mist I have ever used. The sprayer is perfection. It’s so incredibly fine & can be used under or over makeup without any fear of water droplet marks. This refreshing mist is nutrient rich in vitamin C, sodium hyaluronate, damascus rose water and soothing botanical antioxidants. This is one of the most soothing mists I have used. An instant pick me up, plumping and priming skin to lock in moisture, leaving a soft, dewy glow. BUT! It is currently only available if you purchase $100 of Luxe Botanics products from Neiman Marcus, which is a huge bummer.

Oskia City Mist

If you don’t want to drop money on other products to get your mist as an add on, I highly recommend checking out the Oskia City Mist. Oskia’s alcohol-free Citylife Facial Mist hydrates, refreshes and plumps your complexion at the same time as deflecting damaging pollution. Copper-rich malachite, brightening vitamin C, detoxifying vitamin B3 and red snow winter rose extracts work together to offer antioxidant protection and uplift the complexion. One drawback is the sprayer. Its not amazing. Perfectly fine to use with a clean face, it is not great to use on top of makeup. I just find that it hits my face with water droplets instead of a fine mist. Overall, it is a beautiful mist that protects my skin from the days pollution, but just be wary of the mister.

Kypris Moonlight Catalyst

There’s just something about Kypris that makes me happy. Now I know very little about retinoids, but this is supposed to be a gentle, natural alternative to a retinoid. What I love this for is it’s exfoliation properties. Pumpkin enzyme is one of my favorite exfoliants, and this oil is chock full of it. This serum refines texture, encourages cell turnover, even skin tone, calms skin, & reduces healing time of blemishes. It really is one of my favorite serums for acne-prone skin.

Luxe Botanics Kigelia Clarifying Serum

Where Moonlight Catalyst is all about cell turnover, Kigelia is all about soothing the skin. When I have acne that is deep under my skin, this is what I reach for. Immediately cooling on contact, this serum feels like a thinner alternative to aloe. It calms my aggravated acne spots while soothing & hydrating my skin. I just don’t know where I would be without this in my life.

Oribe Balmessence

This is by far the most expensive lip balm that I have ever owned ($35), and honestly, I regret nothing. This glorious gift from the Gods contains Camelina oil, Vitamin E & Shea Butter to instantly soothe dry, chapped, intensely dehydrated lips. It has a beautiful satin texture and gives a matte look to the lips, allowing my boyfriend to actually use it too (he absolutely hates lip balms that make it look like he’s wearing lip gloss). This is one of the thickest lip balms that I have used, making it ideal as a intensive night lip treatment. That, however, does not stop me from slathering it on throughout the day as well.

Girl Undiscovered Stars Aligning Crystals

Now I don’t know how I feel about the idea of certain crystals having healing properties. I’m not knocking anyone who does believe that they do, I just don’t fully understand. What I can say, however, is that taking 5 minutes out of my day to do a face massage a few times a week has been so incredibly relaxing. using these crystals to apply my facial oils increases absorption and helps bring blood to the surface of the skin, encouraging skin repair.

What were your favorite skincare products of 2017?

Oribe Balmessence

Posted on December 17, 2017January 14, 2018 Posted in SkincareTagged Review, SkincareLeave a comment

These last few weeks I have had impossibly dry lips. The weather is starting to get colder and my lips are worse for wear. My trusty Basalt Overnight Lip Masque just wasn’t cutting it anymore. And then this beauty showed up in my MINTD box. It was love at first swipe.

Unlike a typical lip balm, this does not melt on contact or turn into an oil. This is one of the thickest lip balms that I have used, making it ideal as a intensive night lip treatment. That, however, does not stop me from slathering it on throughout the day as well. It has a beautiful satin texture and gives a matte look to the lips, allowing my boyfriend to actually use it too (he absolutely hates lip balms that make it look like he’s wearing lip gloss).

Every night I apply a generous amount & in the morning my lips are impossibly smooth and nourished. I’ve never had anything heal my cracked lips overnight the way this has. I now refuse to be anywhere without it. I’m so paranoid of losing it that I’m thinking of buying a second so that I can have one in my bag & one that lives on my bedside table.

Overall, my only complaint is the price. It’s stupidly expensive for a lip balm. That being said, I will definitely be buying another. It’s just too good not to.

Would you ever drop this much on a lip balm?