The Key To Beautiful Skin

Over the past month or so, I have been trying to improve my skin care routine. After a long search, I have finally found a cleanser, exfoliator and moisturizer that work best for my skin. The only thing that I am missing is a toner. Toners are an important step in skin care that people tend to leave out. They control oily skin and remove anything that your facial cleanser may have left behind. They also work as an anti-inflammatory, waking up your skin to get rid of that puffy and tired look. I had initially planned on investing in expensive products, however; I recently discovered that all of the ingredients I need are sitting right in my refrigerator! I have been doing a lot of research on the benefits of certain ingredients and found a few great recipes for toners that are 100% natural for every skin type.


Rose Water Toner for All Skin Types
Rose water helps reduce wrinkles, as well as hydrates and deeply cleanses the skin without irritation. It is well known for making skin beautiful and was a staple in ancient Romans and Cleopatra's beauty routines.  What you'll need: Two large roses (petals only), water and a medium travel sized bottle. You may choose to use a spray bottle so you can take it with you as a refreshing mist throughout the day. Directions: Bring one cup of water to a boil. Add the petals into the water and cook for about one minute. The petals will shrink significantly and the water will turn the color of the roses. Let cool until it's room temperature and pour through a strainer into the travel bottle. Store in refrigerator and use within a week or two.


Cranberry Toner for Oily/ Acne Prone Skin
Cranberry juice contains vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A, all of which are antioxidants that fight free radicals. It also contains resveratrol, another antioxidant that minimizes acne. What you'll need: Pure Cranberry Juice (make sure it does not contain sugar because the acidity is what helps with excess oil and break outs), water and a medium sized travel bottle. Directions: Fill 1/4 of a cup with cranberry juice and fill the rest with water. Shake well and store in refrigerator since it contains fresh ingredients. Use within a week or two.


Green Tea Toner for Dry/ Aging Skin
Green tea contains an abundance of antioxidants that prevent free radicals. This helps slow signs of aging by stimulating collagen production and by brightening the skin tone. What you'll need: Two Green Tea bags, water and a medium sized travel bottle. Directions: Cut the tops off of the tea bags and pour the tea leaves in one cup of boiling water. Let this sit for about one minute. Let cool until it's room temperature and pour through a restrainer into the travel bottle. Store in the refrigerator and use within a week or two.




{ TIP: After cleansing and rinsing your skin, pat dry with a clean towel. Apply any of these mixtures to your skin using a cotton pad. Make sure to leave your skin damp with toner when you apply your moisturizer to seal in the hydrating properties. }

It's A Colorful World

In one of my very first blog posts, You Are What You Wear, I talked about my new found love for color. I had stumbled upon an amazing watch from La Mer; it was the perfect accessory to brighten up my very neutral wardrobe. Unfortunately, it was a little pricey, so the hunt for a cheaper alternative began. Since then, I've picked up some jewelry and a bright coral bag, but my mind kept going back to the La Mer Neon Simple Wrap Watch. When shopping online at Ideeli, a website that offers limited-time sales on well-known brands, I found the watch for half off! Without hesitation, I bought it and am anxiously waiting for it to come in the mail. It's so exciting to find something you love but can't afford at a reasonable price later on. Hurry up and grab it while you still can!

My Favorite Thing About June

A lot of women have strong opinions about waterproof mascara. They claim it's impossible to get off and that it's too harsh on their eyelashes. What they don't know, is that waterproof mascara is easy to remove as long as you have the right makeup remover! With the hot weather and my uncooperative oily skin, wearing waterproof mascara is the only option for me. If I don't, I get smudge marks on my eyelids by the end of the day. Unfortunately, my regular makeup remover wipes aren't able to break down waterproof mascara, so I need something much stronger. That is where MAC's Cleanse Off Oil comes in. It is an oil based makeup remover that contains oils from olive fruit, evening primrose and jojoba seeds that work together to break down the stubborn ingredients of waterproof mascara. Even though it's an oil, it's very gentle on my skin and doesn't make me break out. Just massage it into the skin and you will see your makeup disappear before your eyes. So, don't shy away from anything waterproof because it's not as impossible to remove as you think!

The Best Pair of Pants For Work

This was my first week at my internship! Before I started, I needed clothes that were appropriate for the office. I am most comfortable in pants, especially at work, and whenever I need dress pants I go to Express. The Editor- no other pant feels like it, looks like it, or fits like it. It's their best known, best selling, most popular pant for a reason. The Editor pant is made from fine fabric and has a flawless fit, being all around a sexy pant. They transform my legs and give me so much confidence. Recently, I bought the Ultimate Double Weave Editor Ankle Pant, which is a slimmed down, cropped version of the original Editor pant. I like this length because it shows off my shoes and is much cooler in the summer heat. They are available in the classic and sophisticated black, tan and white, but they also come in vibrant colors; perfect for brightening up your typical day at the office!

Friday's Five

Favorite Photo
{ Liberating, Adventurous, Spontaneous }

Favorite Animal
{ "Don't look at me!" }

Favorite Table Setting
{ Pretty Picnic }

Favorite Outfit
{ Two - Toned Shirt }

Favorite Art Tool
{ Neon Colored Pencils }

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

An Easy Way To Make Sangria

For my 21'st birthday, my mom made sangria from a recipe she found online and it was absolutely delicious. So, I suggested that we make it for my cousin's graduation party this past weekend. My cousin and I went to the liquor store to pick up the basic ingredients that are needed: red wine and triple sec. On our way to the register, a woman was sampling pre made sangria and offered us a taste. I love sangria and have tried many different recipes that are homemade and that are from different restaurants. This was by far the best sangria I have ever had, and the best part is that it comes in a bottle! All you have to do is add one can of orange soda to a bottle of Gallo Family Sangria, along with the fruit that you would normally add. So, instead of buying red wine and triple sec like we had intended, we just bought a bottle of Sangria! When making it, we chose to exclude the peach, kiwi and lime, but added strawberries instead. Remember, the longer the fruit sits the better it will taste!


Ingredients:
1.5L (1 Bottle) Gallo Family Sangria
1 Can of Orange Soda (Any Brand)
1 Apple
1 Peach
1 Kiwi
1 Orange
1 Lime

May Favorites

1. Soap & Glory Hand Food: I included this purchase in my makeup haul post  from a few weeks ago and am still loving it. I have extremely dry hands and have tried every lotion on the market. This is the only one that has managed to keep my hands soft and smooth for the entire day. I'm convinced the key ingredient is marshmallows! 
2. Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner: This was another purchase that I included in my makeup haul and since then, I refuse to use any other eyeliner. I have very oily skin, especially in the summer and all of my eye makeup disappears. Even on a humid day, this will not budge. I apply it with the Sonya Kashuk's Pointed Eyeliner Brush, which is another thing I'm loving this month. This is a great dupe for the Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush that you can get for $6.00 at Target.
3. bareMinerals READY SPF 15 Touch Up Veil: Summer is finally here, which like I said, means my skin becomes extremely oily. I have the loose powder version of this and love it for absorbing the oil, but needed something that I could bring with me in my purse. The Touch Up Veil is a pressed powder form of the Mineral Veil and is perfect for on the go touch ups. With just a few sweeps along my T-zone, the oil disappears instantly.
4. MAC Brush #168: I bought this brush over six months ago but haven't used until now. When I purchased it, the makeup artist at MAC told me to use it for blush, but when I applied it, it looked too harsh and streaky. Last month I went to MAC to buy a new powder blush (I got Dainty and I absolutely love it) and the makeup artist used brush #168. I explained my delema and he explained that if you dab the product onto your cheeks, as opposed to sweeping it across your cheeks, you will achieve a natural and healthy glow. Now I've been using the #168 brush and absolutely love it! This goes to show that how you apply your products makes all the difference!
5. Fifty Shades of Grey: Just like every other girl out there, I can't put this book down. I typically do not enjoy reading love stories, but I really like this one. When I finish the series I am going to write a book review, so for now, I'll just say that if you haven't read this already then you need pick it up!
6. American Eagle Jeggings: People who know me, know that I am afraid of wearing color. But since neon is really in this season, I have been trying to incorporate color in subtle ways with bright accessories. With that said, buying a neon coral pair of pants was completely spontaneous and a little bit scary; however, once I put these one I became obsessed with them. I like to pair these pants with a dark grey tank top and nude flats. I'm starting to realize that wearing bold and bright colors isn't scary after all!

Friday's Five

Favorite Hairstyle
{ Connecting Fishtail Braids }

Favorite Outfit
{ Floral Skirt }

Favorite Patio
{ Neutrals + Sheer Linen }

Favorite Destination
{ Waterfall Gardens, France }

Favorite Architecture
{ Spiral Staircase }

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5