Update Skincare Routine (STORY!)

If you've been following me for a while, you may remember last year I wrote a post about my morning and night skincare routine. 

My skin has changed quite a bit since I wrote that post. For the past 8 months or so, I've been working on keeping my fungal and cystic acne at bay. 

*STORY TIME*

Beginning around May or June last year, I noticed areas on my cheeks and forehead had tiny bumps which didn't seem to go away. They didn't hurt, were at times itchy, and almost always dry. All my efforts failed in trying to rid my skin of this strange, stubborn texture. I tried DIY face masks, store bought face masks, acne washes and exfoliators. Nothing seemed to work. As a result, I thought that my skin was becoming bumpier and more textured because I was getting older (I was 25 at the time, currently 26 writing this post). I began to accept the "fact" that my skin was bumpy and there was nothing I could do about it. If I didn't have good skin as a middle-schooler, throughout high school and college, why would I ever have good skin? Every time I looked at my face in the bathroom, my bedroom mirror, store mirrors – the list goes on, I felt quite upset and frustrated. I honestly thought there was no chance in having smooth skin. 

Obviously, I got really fed up with seeing how bumpy my skin looked. So, I did some research. With the help of the internet, specifically Simple Skincare Science and Reddit, I discovered that I had fungal acne. Great! The annoying thing about fungal acne is that it's very difficult to get rid of if you don't know what it is. Traditional acne treatments (specifically the ones you don't rinse off) can actually worsen the condition. That, and you can't really prevent it entirely. A video that I found really helpful when learning about fungal acne was this one by Dr. Dray. 

WHAT I DO NOW

The biggest thing I'm doing for my fungal acne is using Head & Shoulders Classic Anti-Dandruff Shampoo as a face mask. Anti-dandruff shampoos contain an active ingredient called Pyrithione Zinc. This is highly effective in treating yeast-invaded hair follicles, which is what causes fungal acne.

I apply the shampoo to damp skin on the affected areas, mainly my cheeks and sometimes my forehead. I leave it on my face for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off with cool water. I used this method twice a day (morning and night) for about a month or two until my fungal acne had cleared up. I recently had another fungal acne spell and have been doing this method once a day. For a while I used aloe gel on my face. 

Facial oils are out of the question for me, unfortunately. Yeast loves oil! This is a bummer because there are so many intriguing facial oils on the market. The shampoo treatment can leave my skin feeling tight and dry, so it's really important that I keep my skin moisturized. 

So, there's that little story on my fungal acne and how I take care of it. My skin texture has improved so much! It's still something I need to keep an eye on, though. Anyway, keep reading for the rest of my stupid simple skincare regime. 

MORNING

- MOISTURIZE: CERAVE MOISTURIZING CREAM 

I'm pretty oily around my nose in the morning, so I rinse my face with lukewarm water. While my face is still damp, I moisturize my face and neck with the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. It's safe for fungal acne and a little goes a long way!

- MASSAGE: HERBIVORE JADE FACIAL ROLLER

Between this step and the first one, I put on the kettle for my morning tea. While I wait for the water to boil, I work my moisturizer into my skin a couple minutes with my Jade roller. I recently wrote a review of it. 

EVENING

- CLEANSE: CERAVE FOAMING FACIAL CLEANSER 

Before bed, I use a cleanser to get rid of all my makeup. I like this one by CeraVe (no, this is not sponsored) because like the moisturizer, it's fragrance-free. I think it also does a good job of removing stubborn makeup, like mascara. I haven't tried this on waterproof mascara, so I don't know how well it would work for that. 

- MOISTURIZE: CERAVE MOISTURIZING CREAM  

Same thing as in the morning, I apply a little of this to my face and neck and work it in with my jade roller. So simple! 

1-2 TIMES A WEEK

- EXFOLIATE: NEUTROGENA ACNE PROOFING DAILY FACIAL SCRUB

I know this scrub is gentle enough to be used daily as the name suggests, but I don't recommend exfoliating your face every day. I use this twice, maybe three times a week. It doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. If I'm suffering from cystic acne, I try to be extra gentle on those areas. 

As you can see, I use less products in my skincare than I had been using even a year ago! I've been reading ingredient labels a lot more since learning about how finicky fungal acne is. 

What are your favorite skincare products at the moment? I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Tiya 

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DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. I bought the reviewed product with my own money. As I am also not a dermatologist, this post is not meant to be used for medical advice. If you are struggling with your skin, please pay a visit to your dermatologist. 

REVIEW | RocksBox Jewelry Subscription

Hi everyone! Today, I'll be sharing my first experience with RocksBox. I found out about this service from my friend (also a blogger! check her out), and decided to try it out. :) 

WHAT IT IS

RocksBox is a subscription service where you are mailed designer jewelry chosen by either you (you have a "Wishlist" for this) or a stylist. You can keep them as long you want, provided you are still paying for membership. The jewelry you receive can be swapped out or bought at any time.

MEMBERSHIP FEE + CREDIT SYSTEM

RocksBox has a $21 per month membership fee, which is added as credit to your account. The $21 credit can be used towards buying jewelry you receive. This however excludes jewelry on clearance and new items. Your credit must be used within the month you receive it, or it expires. 

HOW IT WORKS

Upon signing up for membership, you will be prompted to create a Style Profile. This takes form as a short quiz, which asks questions regarding your jewelry preferences. You can update this at any time; it's actually encouraged so stylists can have a better idea of what you like. 

After completing your Style Profile, you will be asked to add 30 items to your "Wishlist". If you wishlist 30 items within 24 hours of signing up, you get $5 credit for free. This amount is added to your $21 credit. Once you've added at least 30 items to your wishlist, you can pick 10 of those items and add them to your "Top Requested" list. This will help stylists know which styles you really want and what your tastes are. Your top requested list can also be modified any time. 

With a completed wishlist and top requested list, a stylist will start putting your box together! Before sending it out, you'll be notified of the three items your stylist has curated for you. If you don't like an item (or any of them), you can swap them out for something else. When that's done, your box will be on your way to you.

You can keep the jewelry sent to you for as long as you want. If you need a break, you can choose to put your membership on hold for either 3 or 6 months. If you do this, you will have to send any jewelry you have no purchased back to RocksBox. You can also cancel your membership at any time.

WHAT I GOT IN MY BOX

I wasn't sure if I'd wear the pieces my stylist put in my box, so I swapped them out for a couple other things. There was a necklace I wanted to try out but wasn't available, so my stylist put another one from my wishlist in for me. I don't wear jewelry often, so I was pretty excited to try something new!

From left to right in the picture below: Rudiment Twin Peaks Huggies, Kate Spade Bright Ideas Drop Earrings, and Ava Rose Raleigh Necklace.

FINAL VERDICT

What really sold me about this subscription is that I'll always know which items I'll get in my box. If I end up not liking something, I can swap or return it. I've hesitated to use subscription services because sometimes you don't always get what you like. I truly loved everything I got in my first box. It arrived within two days of being shipped out, which is always a plus. 

My favorite item was the pair of Rudiment earrings. They're elegant but have a touch of glam because of the gemstones. I wore these out to a casual dinner with my husband the other night and they worked well with a nice sweater, a pair of jeans and some loafers. 

The Kate Spade earrings are gorgeous – just what I've been looking for, for a long time. They are a little bigger than I thought they'd be, but that's okay. I love jewelry that I can pair with an understated outfit and for special occasions

The Ava Rose necklace is pretty; good for everyday wear. I love the lighter shade of gold that the chain is, and the peachy stone is different from what I usually go for. I do think that this style is very common, though. Considering the price, I could find a necklace like this elsewhere for less money. 

I'm already excited for my next box! If you're interested, you can try out your first box for free here. 

Until next time,

Tiya

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DISCLAIMER: This post is not sponsored and does not contain affiliate links. I pay for my RockBox subscription with my own money. All opinions are my own. 

REVIEW | Herbivore Jade Roller

Hi everyone! Today I'll be reviewing Herbivore's Jade Facial Roller. It's a beautiful tool, but is it just a gimmick? I wasn't sold on the idea of using one at first, but after doing some research and Reddit-lurking, I finally caved and bought myself one. This is what I think of mine so far. 

WHAT IT IS

The Jade Roller is a skincare tool that retails for $30 at Sephora. According to the product page on Herbivore's website, the origins of this beauty tool originate in China. It's made of Aventurine Jade (source) and gold metal. A number of brands sell facial rollers of varying materials; most commonly rose quartz and amethyst. As it's quite lightweight and small, the Jade Roller is travel friendly.

WHAT IT CLAIMS TO DO

- Tighten and smooth skin

- Help the absorption of product

- Support the lymphatic system

- De-puff skin and reduce fine lines, dark circles and undereye bags

WHAT WORKED?

1. It's undoubtedly relaxing – it feels really good because of how cooling it is on the skin. It's a happy medium because it isn't freezing, just refreshing.

2. It does help with de-puffing, especially in the morning when my face is slightly puffier than usual. Or when I'm retaining a little extra water.

3. I have noticed a reduction of fine lines. This is probably due to the fact that it helps moisturizer/facial oil to be better absorbed into the skin. Since you're using a stone to work product into your skin, you can be assured your fingers aren't absorbing a lot of the product.  

4. Overall, my skin feels and appears smoother. I don't think this is solely from the use of the jade roller (I'll get to that later), but it seems to be helping my skin look and feel more plump, hydrated, and softer. 

WHAT DIDN'T WORK?

1. I didn't notice an improvement in my dark circles. I've read that some people find success in reducing their dark circles after they started using a facial roller. I think mine are largely genetic and therefore here to stay. I'll just be over here drinking (hopefully) enough water and applying concealer. 

THE FINAL VERDICT

I've been using my Jade Roller for a few weeks, every morning and every night (eh, I might have missed a night or two). I'm pleased to say that I'm enjoying my time using this little guy. If you've been curious about getting one, I'd say it's worth the shot. Also, routinely massaging your face is good for your skin anyway. :P

The most important thing to remember is that the Jade Roller is a TOOl. It isn't magic! It's meant to work alongside a good skincare routine, plenty of water, sleep, and protecting your skin from the sun. If you buy a facial roller thinking it's the only thing you'll need for great skin, you'll be disappointed. A facial roller is best for someone who is diligent and serious about their skincare regime, however simple or meticulous it is.

If you're more lax with your skincare. but want instant results when you do do something for your skin, this won't be a product worth buying (thankfully, face masks exist). Unless of course you're working towards a good routine! 

Thanks for reading! I hope this was a helpful review if you are at all curious about this in vogue little tool. Do you own a facial roller? Do you love it or is it meh? Let me know. :)

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DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. I bought the reviewed product with my own money. As I am also not a dermatologist, this post is not meant to be used for medical advice. If you are struggling with your skin, please pay a visit to your dermatologist. 

Drugstore + High-End Makeup Haul | February 2019

Hi everyone! I hope everyone's Christmas/New Year/Everything-in-between has been swell (I know we're heading into March).It's been a minute since I've shared anything on here, so we're just going to get straight into things today. I'll be sharing some drugstore and high-end makeup purchases I've made throughout the month of February that I've been playing with. 

1.  PAT McGRATH LABS | LUST: MINI MATTETRANCE LIPSTICK TRIO (SKIN SHOW) ($25.00)

 

I've had my sights set on this little lip trio for a few months. It was always sold out on Sephora's website and in their store (at least the one I live closest to, which is a bit of a hike). A nude, matte lipstick is an everyday essential in my makeup routine; when I saw this was finally in stock, I picked it up. I've also never tried anything by Pat McGrath, so I grabbing a trio of these minis for $25 is a great way to try out the brand.
2.  TARTE | TARTELETTE IN BLOOM 2 PALETTE ($39.00)

This palette has been out for a while, but I don't anything by Tarte other than my eyelash curler which came with their Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. My thought behind purchasing this was to have a small, neutral palette I could take from day to night if I wanted to. It also pulls slightly cooler (yes, cooler) than shadows I generally use –this is me trying to branch out haha. 

3.  FLOWER BEAUTY | LIGHT ILLUSION LIQUID FOUNDATION ($13.99)

Pretty soon, I plan to write a background story post on why I bought this foundation. The Flower Beauty Light Illusion Liquid Foundation is one I've had in the back of my mind for some time. I'll be playing mixologist when I use these, as I picked up the shades M4 Tawny and M5 Caramel. This is a supposed to be a radiant finish, which is another out-of-the-box purchase for me, considering I gravitate towards matte finish foundations.

I hope everyone's having a fantastic Thursday! I want to get better at posting more often. This almost five month hiatus was a big oof. 

Current Hair Care Routine

Today I'll be sharing my hair current hair care routine. It's pretty uncomplicated, seeing as I don't do much with my hair on a regular basis. Let's get into it:

ABOUT MY HAIR

I have moderately dense, black (or just very deep brown) hair that is quite sensitive to styling and dye. If you're at all familiar with hair types, I believe mine falls under the 1C category; it's mostly straight with a little wave to it, and holds curl relatively well without the use of hairspray. 

I was probably 12 or 13 when I started dyeing my hair, which included bleaching to lift the color out of it. I'll be 26 next month and I haven't dyed my hair in just over three years. Part of it was because I didn't feel like spending money that could be used elsewhere, the other reason was trying to have healthy hair again. I've also come to appreciate my dark hair, which for the longest time I thought was dull and flat. I keep heat styling to a minimum and always use a heat protectant when I do so. 

SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

About a year ago, I switched to sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner just to see if there would be any improvement in my hair. So far, I've been experimenting with the OGX line of hair care, as they're all sulfate-free. Right now I'm using their Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil shampoo and their Nourishing Coconut Milk conditioner. I've also enjoyed using their Detoxifying Pomegranate & Ginger shampoo and the Bamboo Fiberfull shampoo and conditioner. I try to switch up the shampoos I use to keep my hair confused so the products are still effective. 

I try not to wash my hair more than twice a week. Once a week I add sea salt to my shampoo (equal parts) as an scalp exfoliant. I frequently use dry shampoo, so the salt really helps to clarify and lift all the extra gunk off of your scalp. I also find that my hair is noticeably more voluminous after doing this once a week. Salt is rough, so if you do this, just be careful and massage your scalp gently! 

ANTI-BREAKAGE SERUM

I'm about to talk about another OGX product, and no, this post is not sponsored! I'm just sharing what I do with my hair, and a lot of the products I like are from this brand. Since my hair is so prone to being brittle at the ends, I apply a dime-sized amount of OGX's Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum to the ends of my hair when its damp. I've been using this for a couple months and I still have a lot left. It's heavily scented, so if you don't like coconut, you could always opt for a different serum for your ends. 

Post-shower, I let my hair air-dry. I'm someone who showers at night, but I try not to sleep with damp hair – I used to do this all the time; now I'm not sure if the tousled waves and worth the breakage. Being gentle to my hair in the past few years has to be one of the best things I've done for it. I also love using homemade hair masks, and should probably do them more often. Maybe that should be a post for a later date. :)

Moody Color + Textures | Autumnal Decor Inspiration

Truth be told, I was never a huge decor person until maybe a year or two ago. My dorm room as a college freshman had a dry erase calendar and a gigantic beaded lime lizard above my bed – fin. It was a combination of not caring, and the known fact that I was only in this dorm for a short period of time. Decorating my room just seemed like an inconvenience – I was happy with the bare walls of a room that truly wasn't mine at all. 

Seven years into the future, I've come to appreciate the purpose of creating beauty in a living space – it's a reminder of order. A beautiful room, or even just a beautiful corner of a room, is so soothing. 

Like so many, I love fall. I've never officially decorated for this season before, so it's a first. I'm honestly not a fan of the orange and brown hues we see so much at this time of year, so I decided to pick up from shades which I love while still maintaining an autumnal color story. 

We're only just getting into fall, so what I have at the moment are items for my dining table. I played around with plums, red-orange, dusty mauve and gold. I love how they look against the wood of the table. I think they colors are true to fall despite not being traditional colors. In a way, this palette was inspired by what we tend to see in vampy fall makeup. 

The cats seem to really like the pears, so I had to temporarily remove them from the table. :( Are you guys decorating for fall yet? 

The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag

I've always enjoyed reading tagged posts because I like learning about people. Since I myself have never done a beauty tag post on here, I thought this one from EmilyNoel83's blog (all the way back in 2013!) looked fun. :) I tag anyone with a beauty blog who wants to do this!

 

1. NAME A BEAUTY REGIME THAT YOU RARELY DO
I don't really style my hair much. I use dry shampoo, but no mousse, gels, pomades, etc. My hair is super sensitive to heat; I always notice split ends when I curl my hair, even though I always use heat protector on it. My knowledge of styling hair is extremely limited, too – I can curl it, straighten it, put it in a braid or a ponytail, and that's pretty much it. That being said, I do care about the overall health of my hair. I try to use homemade hair masks (when I feel up to it, haha), I avoid using shampoos and conditioners with sulfates, and I only use heat styling for special occasions. 

2. IS WASHING YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES SOMETHING THAT YOU DO REGULARLY?
Yes and no – I wash my foundation brush pretty much every day, but I'm pretty lazy with my eyeshadow brushes and usually wipe them off with a tissue. :| 

3. HOW LONG WILL YOU LAST WITH CHIPPED NAIL POLISH? 
This is kind of a funny question because when I was in junior high, I liked the look of chipped nail polish. If I'm wearing a nude/neutral color, I think I can get away with having them chip for a few days (I just try to convince myself no one's looking at my nails!). If I have on a bolder shade, I usually end up taking everything off. 

4. HOW LONG WILL YOU PUT OFF BUYING/REPLACING A BEAUTY PRODUCT, EVEN IF YOU NEED IT?
It honestly depends on the product. My base makeup, such as foundation, primer and setting powder, are items which absolutely need to be replaced before I run out. Another thing would be brow powder or gel. Stuff like mascara I can typically go a few weeks without buying. It isn't until a formula has become unbearably dry and flaky on my lashes that I replace it – a new tube of mascara is always a wonderful thing. :)

5. WHAT IS YOUR WORST BEAUTY HABIT?
Picking at split ends and not drinking enough water. 

6. NAME SOMETING NON-BEAUTY RELATED THAT YOU PUT OFF DOING ALL THE TIME
The dishes. I really like to deep clean, vacuum, etc. but I hate doing the dishes, so my husband does them most of the time. 

7. WHEN GOING OUT, DO YOU LEAVE GETTING READY TILL THE LAST MINUTE?
No! I hate feeling rushed. I always try to plan my getting ready time accordingly. If needed, I could probably do my makeup in about 20 minutes, but I'd prefer not to. 

8. CAN YOU COMMIT TO SPENDING BANS?
I'm not an impulse buyer at all. I can usually stop myself from buying stuff on a whim if it's going to put a dent in my bank account. When I see something I want to buy that I don't need right away, I go home and think about it. If I can't take my mind off of said item, I plan for a good time (financially) to get it. 

9. HOW ORGANIZED IS YOUR MAKEUP AND NAIL POLISH COLLECTIONS?
Pretty organized! I have a specific place for everything. I try to put stuff back where they belong when I'm finished using them. I don't own a ton of nail polish, but what I do own is organized by color (I organize my closet like this as well). 

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OUTFIT DETAILS
Sweater | H&M 
Scarf | H&M
Watch | FOSSIL

REVIEW + TUTORIAL | Day-to-Night Feat. The Emily Edit - The Wants Palette

Oh my goodness. It's here, I have it – The Emily Edit, The Wants palette from EmilyNoel83! Though I'm not a longtime subscriber of Emily's (she's been on YouTube for almost 11 years), her channel quickly became a favorite of mine, next to Jessica Braun's. I was thrilled when Emily announced she would be releasing two palettes with Makeup Revolution – a brand that, in my opinion, has a bunch of great, affordable products. I picked up The Wants palette from my local Ulta on Sunday, and began playing with it when I got home.

The Wants palette (pictured above) retails at $20, and The Needs palette at $15. Emily came up with the ideas for both products; she hand-picked every single shade, which represent special moments and people in her life. If you're interested in hearing about the background story of both palettes, I highly recommend watching the reveal video she posted.  

I will admit that when I first saw the shades, I was a little intimidated. I'm an everyday neutrals girl, and tend to be color-shy. When I bought the palette, however,  I found myself drawn to hues I'd seldom use. My personal favorite, Eve Rose, is a delicate lilac with gold shimmer. Family is a rich matte plum shade which can easily replace black if you're looking for something a little different for definition. Corduroy, a strong forest green, makes a stunning liner shade. The shade pairings you can use are probably endless, and there's something for everyone and every season. These shadows are also buildable, so they'll work perfectly even if you want a sheer wash of color.

The palette measures 9" x 6". Not exactly a travel-friendly size, but you do get a huge mirror inside. 

I created a daytime look and an evening look in the photos below. They're super easy and the best part is that there's no need to start over when transitioning from day to night. :)

THE DAYTIME LOOK

1. Prime your lids with your favorite eyeshadow primer, or with dot of concealer on each lid. Blend with a brush or fingertip. (Optional: set the primer/concealer with loose powder).

2. For the lid, use Midwest. 

3. In the crease, take a fluffy brush to blend in Dues Paid. 

4. Using a contour brush, blend Apartment in the outer corner and halfway across my crease. Blend this shade along the bottom lash line.

5. With your middle fingertip, pat Top Story in the center of the lid, building up to desired intensity. 

6. Taking a fluffy angled brush, use Eve Rose in the inner corner, blending towards Top Story and stopping where the edge of your iris begins.

7. Finally, use Oh Heavens! to highlight the brow bone. Curl your lashes and coat top lashes with your favorite mascara (I used the Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara). I also used a light coat of mascara at the center my bottom lashes. 

TRANSITIONING TO THE EVENING LOOK

1. Using a fingertip or a flat, dense brush, use Capricorn to pat in the center of your eyelid. Use the same shade to blend along the bottom lash line.

2. For the outer corner, take Dark & Early, blending in a V shape. Blend along upper lash line. Use this shade for the outer lower lash line, stopping where your iris begins. 

OPTIONAL: I'm not using falsies in these photos, but you could really amp up these looks with some beautiful, wispy lashes. I really like the Faux Mink line from Ardell. 

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This is my first tutorial on here, so I hope everything was easy to follow! I'll definitely be creating more looks with this palette, so maybe I'll post some more tutorials if I'm happy with the outcome. :)

REVIEW | Wet N Wild MegaCushion Foundation

Last month, I went to the beach. Many people opt out of wearing makeup on days when they'll be by the shore, but I still prefer to wear makeup even during vacation. I just love makeup, guys. :) 

I wasn't willing to bring my Becca foundation (I'm the shade Bamboo) with me; it's expensive, and I'd be so upset if I left it behind or lost it. I also wanted to go for a foundation lighter in feel and in coverage, one that was portable and easy to use for touch-ups. I figured this would be the perfect time to try out a cushion foundation.

Thanks to Korean beauty, cushion foundations have made their way into the western market in the past two years or so. They're essentially a sponge saturated with foundation, often containing skincare benefits. Drugstore and high-end brands alike carry cushion them. Since I wasn't about making a pricey purchase, I went for the most affordable option in the drugstore: Wet N Wild's MegaCushion Foundation. 

PACKAGING 

Very travel-friendly. The foundation "cushion" is encased in a black plastic compact, 2.5" in. in width and 1" in. in height, making it easy to fit in the makeup bag I keep in my purse. It has two compartments: one for the sponge it comes with and one where the foundation sits. The bottom of the packaging is translucent, so you're able to see when you're running low on product. I really have no complaints about the technical design of the packaging, but I don't care for the label graphic – it makes this look like a product for children.  

SHADE RANGE

There are 8 shades in the MegaCushion line, which have warm, cool, and neutral undertones. I purchased the shade Honey Beige, described as a medium/tan shade with a warm undertone. I actually have an olive undertone, so this shade pulled a little red on me. It was, however, a pretty close match for my skin tone. 

CONSISTENCY + APPLICATION

The foundation is dispensed by pressing an applicator into a sponge, so the consistency is quite watery, but incredibly light. I chose not to use the applicator the foundation came with because of the size – I wanted a quick application and it was just too small of a sponge to do that. Instead, I used my Real Techniques Blending Sponge. The coverage is sheer to medium, but can be built to a fuller coverage. There is a scent to the product. Sometimes scented makeup can make me break out, but so far I've had no issues with it. 

FINISH

I'm not big on dewy foundations because my skin is on the oily side. But this had the most natural, luminous finish. It made my skin look healthy, glowing, and hydrated. It was also quite forgiving on any texture I had. Most importantly, my skin looked like skin, not makeup. I did need to set some areas of my face with powder (I used the Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Powder), but I used as little as I could get away with because I didn't want to take away from how pretty the finish was on its own.

WEAR TIME

Although I kept this foundation in my purse, I didn't touch up my face during the day. The longest I ever wore it was for just over 12 hours, using a mattifying primer underneath. This formula doesn't claim to be water resistant, so it did start to separate after I had been splashed/misted by ocean water. On other non-beach days, it held up well with a primer (I paired it with the Wet N Wild matte primer) for roughly 5-6 hours; past that time, there would be slight fading. Cushion foundations are lightweight and not meant to last long, hence why they're marketed to be good for touchups. 

FINAL THOUGHTS + WHO IS IT FOR?

For under $10, this foundation is really nice – I would gladly buy this again. I've been using it on-and-off since I purchased it, and every time I've been satisfied with the coverage, finish, and feel of it. The coverage was easily buildable even on my worst acne scars and hyperpigmentation and never looked cakey. What's disappointing is how quickly it gets used up. I read that you can flip over the sponge inside the compact to get leftover foundation out. 

Wet N Wild's MegaCushion Foundation is for someone who wants a natural looking, no-fuss foundation to even out their skin tone. I could see this working on all but excessively oily skin, and I would imagine it would be comfortable to wear for those with dry skin. If you're is sensitive to scented makeup, I would steer clear of this product because it is scented. 

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DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. I bought the product above with my own money. 

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread (Magnolia Table Cookbook)

I associate the flavor of lemons with my mom; growing up there was always some sort of lemon baked good in the house. It's been a number of years since I've come home from school and paired a slice (or two) of lemon loaf with a cup of tea, and this Lemon Poppy Seed Bread from the Magnolia Cookbook does not disappoint. It isn't an overly sweet dessert, making it perfect for just about any time of day. 

JOANNA GAINES' LEMON POPPY SEED BREAD 

Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: about 1 hour | Cool: 1 hour | Makes 8 servings 

INGREDIENTS

• Vegetable oil spray
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I substituted with Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour)
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (you can also use olive oil or grape seed oil)
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

LEMON DRIZZLE

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest 
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or as needed

DIRECTIONS

       1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil; bottom and sides should be coated thoroughly.

       2. In a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients together; flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

       3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, milk, oil, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. Whisk until blended.

       4. Add the dry ingredients to the liquid, a little at a time. Do not overmix. 

       5. Scrape the batter into the loaf pan. Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour*.

       6. Let cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan. Remove and set on plate or cooling rack until cooled completely. 

FOR THE LEMON DRIZZLE

Combine sugar and lemon zest in a medium bowl and stir. Add 1 tablespoon water and lemon juice.**

Pour lemon drizzle over warm or room-temperature bread.

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*May need less time depending on your oven. I recommend checking on the loaf at around the 45-minute mark to see how much more time it needs, if any. 

**Adjust the amount of lemon juice until you have a pourable icing; it should be an almost honey-like consistency and not overly runny.  

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This recipe is taken from The Magnolia Cookbook. 

DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. 

MY TOP 5 DRUGSTORE BRANDS | BEAUTY

Holy smokes, it's been too long since I last posted! I'm back, so I'm just going to jump right into things:

If you're like me, the drugstore is where your search for makeup began. I greatly appreciate high-end makeup, but it's a rarity for me to buy it regularly because it's expensive. In no particular rank, I'll be talking about my top 5 drugstore brands, why I love them, and what my favorite products are.

1. MAYBELLINE

Maybelline is iconic – it's hard not to picture the lime green and bubblegum pink packaging of their Great Lash mascara that hit the market almost 50 years ago. They're pretty consistent with the quality of their products, and are generally affordable, considering that drugstore brands have hiked up their prices in the past couple years. Maybelline's Fit Me! line has a faithful following, and their lipsticks are the reason I seldom purchase high-end alternatives.

Here are some of my favorites from Maybelline:

- COLOR SENSATIONAL LIPSTICK (MATTE + SATIN FINISHES)

- FIT ME! LOOSE POWDER 

- FIT ME! FOUNDATION (MATTE + PORELESS)

- SUPERSTAY FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION

- GREAT LASH MASCARA

- LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA

- FACESTUDIO MASTER CHROME METALLIC HIGHLIGHTER

2. WET N WILD

Before the rise of the Beauty Guru era, not many people talked about Wet N Wild; I think this brand was pushed to the side because people were skeptical. Their products were cheap, and sometimes cheap can leave people wondering whether a product is mediocre. In the past couple years, however, WNW has proven that low cost doesn't need to sacrifice quality. They've put out some incredible products, and still managed to keep their items extremely affordable. 

Here are some of my favorites from Wet N Wild:

- PHOTO FOCUS FACE PRIMER

- COLOR ICON EYESHADOW PALETTE (10 PAN PALETTE)

- MEGAGLO CONTOURING PALETTE 

3. NYX COSMETICS

NYX is one of the bolder, more modern-feeling brands at the drugstore. They've always delivered affordable, on-trend products to beauty enthusiasts, and they truly value their fanbase. They're innovative, too – I have yet to hear about a monotonous release from NYX. Even their most basic products, such as their butter glosses, feel contemporary. 

Here are some of my (many!) favorites from NYX:

- WARM NEUTRALS EYESHADOW PALETTE

- PRISMATIC EYESHADOW

- BUTTER GLOSS

- TURNT UP! LIPSTICK

- SOFT MATTE LIP CREAM

- SLIM LIP PENCIL

- HD BLUSH

- BAKED BLUSH

- HD EYESHADOW BASE

4. MAKEUP REVOLUTION

Makeup Revolution has gained much of its following for being penned a "dupe brand", but who's complaining? While I''d love to see more original ideas from this brand, I do appreciate that their products are super affordable alternatives for high-end makeup. Makeup Revolution is a solid brand to experiment with if you're new to makeup, because the quality of the stuff I've tried is very promising. 

Here are some of my favorites from Makeup Revolution:

- LIQUID HIGHLIGHTER

- CONCEAL & DEFINE FULL COVERAGE CONCEAL & CONTOUR

- RELOADED EYESHADOW PALETTE

- ICONIC ELEMENTS EYESHADOW PALETTE

5. L'OREAL

L'Oreal is another classic drugstore brand that has been developing tried-and-true products for decades (the company is only a few years older than Maybelline). While L'Oreal does make skincare and haircare, I think where they shine the most is in their cosmetics. Their collections seem to be well thought out and their formulas feel luxe. 

Here are some of my favorites from L'Oreal:

- INFALLIBLE PRO-MATTE 24HR FOUNDATION

- TRUE MATCH SUPER BLENDABLE FOUNDATION

- TRUE MATCH LUMI GLOTION 

- TRUE MATCH SUPER BLENDABLE BLUSH

- COLOUR RICHE LIPCOLOUR 

- COLOUR RICHE COLLECTION EXCLUSIVE RED LIPCOLOUR

- COLOUR RICHE MATTE LIPCOLOUR 

- VOLUMINOUS LASH PARADISE MASCARA 

- TELESCOPIC MASCARA   

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DISCLAIMER: This post is not sponsored by any brands mentioned above. I bought all products mentioned with my own money.