Douse of the Day

Hey y'all.

How've you been? Good? I'm happy to hear that. I've been good, too. Busy as a little bee.

In these past few weeks, I've been buying presents, opening presents, doing school work, applying for this and that, and everything else. This, combined with extreme bloggers block, has stopped me from posting. How silly of me! However, Christmas, with all it's magicalness and beauty has given me enough time and ideas for a whole bunch of posts. Get excited. About a billion blog  posts are coming to a blog near you. (aka this one).

Anyway, I just wanted to start up an occasional little type of post I'd love to trot out: a douse. A douse (said deuce) is a double use, usually utilizing a neglected material.I'll be posting a few every once and a while.
This week's douse isssss....
BRACES WAX (or any kind of wax) AS TAPE.

 Now, if you're a little brace face (like me) you'll often be given or offered little packs of wax you can use to dull any sharp points the braces have, and I don't know about you but I rarely (to never) use mine, meaning I have several little boxes that go unused.

One day, I was looking at my little box and thinking: "Gee, this reminds me of something..." and then I realized what it was-- Fun-Tac. Now, if you've never used Fun-Tac before, what did you do all third grade? I don't know if it was just my school or maybe just my class, but kid would steal it off the backs of posters and distribute it to friends. I was rarely close enough with the troublemakers that would perform such a terrible crime to receive any, but I still got my hands on it from time to time and would spend hours with my hands in my desk, stretching it back and forth with a tiny and rebellious smile on my face.
I sure was naughty.

Anyway, you can use your wax to affix any sort of posters or photos onto almost anything, including walls.

A little goes a long way: just pinch off tiny pieces and smack them on every corner, then smack the paper wherever your heart fancies. It's easy to attach, easy to remove.

Alternatively, pinch off medium sized pieces and put them in between the folds of paper while wrapping presents for a polished and invisible finish.

Alright, that's all for now. I'll be posting a recipe soon as well as a hair tutorial and some beauty reviews.


oooo(hugs) Shana

My 10-10 favorties

Today is ten ten. It's like 11-11, but not as cool. Anyway, I just decided that this deserves a favorites post. (I wanted to do a September Favorites, but it's too late for that so I made up my own thing. Deal with it.)
So, here goes:

1.) My Graphing Calculator-
 Sorry, I know this is really nerdy. But I just want to be honest. I got a graphing calculator and I LOVE it. It makes math so much easier, and to be honest a little more fun. Furthermore, it's really easy to use. I love it. (It's the model Texas Instruments 83 Plus, and I got it at Staples for $115 but I know you can get it cheaper on Amazon or Target.)

2.) Cambridge and Thames Sour Lemon Drops
I'm a sucker for anything lemony. Anything at all. That's why I was thrilled when I got these lemon drops for my birthday. At only 5.15, the price isn't bad and they are deLICIOUS first, their coated in powdered sugar for a sweet start. Then, though, you get to the lemony bit and it's just sweet enough to be pleasant and just sour enough to be interesting. It's all so nicely balanced, and so lemony. <3

3.) My Vera Bradley Post-It's and Pens
These are just plain old fun. Thet're jazzy, but also utilitarian- the post-its work well and the pens write beautifully. perfect.

4.) Sour Patch Watermelon
I got a box of these for my birthday and MAN are they delicious. They're large and chewy and sweet and sour. They remind me of just sitting back and chilling in the summer. I know that's sort of general and weird-sounding, but that's what they taste like to me. 

5.) Wet n Wild Juicy Lip Balm
All the things in this favorites are fun, and this is no exception. This lip balm is absolutely addicting. It's kind of large and it smells nice (like strawberry flavored stuff), so I always look forward to putting it on. It's also tinted a really pretty shade and has SPF 15. What's not to love?

Alrighty, that's this months 10-10 favorites. They're all fun and I would recommend them all to my friends and strongly discourage them to all my enemies. (kidding c: )

ooooo (hugs)

The Perfect Facial

Skin. It's the body's largest organ and one of the most difficult to maintain, especially for teenagers.One of the best ways, though, to give it the flawless, acne-free finish that you desire is to give yourself a monthly facial. While you may think of a facial as an unobtainable, salon-only treat, it can be broken down into several steps and then customized based on your needs, money, and time constraints. 
However, if you're thinking about putting "the procedure" off, don't. Most dermatologists believe that the fall is the best time for a facial. You've just had two to three months of exposure to harmful UV rays, chlorine, and extra oil from sweat, and you're about to head into two to three months of cold, damaging weather. It's the perfect time for a pick-me-up for your face if you're only going to do it once a year.
So, this is the way I do my facial. However, it's completely customizable. You can skip steps, add steps, make your own treatments, or buy them all. 

My Facial: Top Row Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Cleanser, DIY mask, Kiss My Face Honey Calendula Facial Lotion. Bottom Row: Salt Water toner, lipton tea bags for eye cover up, and St. Ives Apricot exfoliant

Here's how it's done

1.  Planning- Planning is what takes your facial from good to spectacular. You'll have to plan the basics, like what products you want to use and such. However, you can also plan details like a perfect playlist to listen to while you pamper, the activities for any down time in the facial (masks), or what problem areas you specifically want to target in the facial. 

2. Cleansing- This step is pretty simple: was your face with your choice cleanser. Because I gave myself an "anti-acne" facial, I used my Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash. 

I've mentioned this stuff before here. It's pretty nice. Always wash your face with lukewarm water: anything hotter could burn you, or basically undo all the love you're giving to your skin. 

3. Exfoliate- Exfoliating is both my most and least favorite part of a facial. Whenever you try it, you feel like you're hurting your skin by scrubbing the little particles all over, but when it's over  your skin is soooo smoooooooth. It's the part of the facial that gives you results instantly, especially if you haven't been giving yourself facials regularly. I like to use the Saint Ives Apricot Exfoliant. It says you can use it 3 to 4 times a week, but over-exfoliating is tough on skin so I use it once a week at most. A lot of times products will recommend using more of the product than necessary because then they can sell more units. Make sure you research how much of all products you really need, and see how your skin reacts. No one else has your DNA, so it isn't always necessary to do the dame beauty routines as someone else. Experiment!

4. Steam- Perhaps the most neglected aspect of the facial is the steam. Steaming is especially effective for anti-acne treatments as it soften the outer layers of the skin, allowing the dirt, bacteria, and oil that causes acne to escape. One big no-no of the steam though, is "tenting", or putting a towel over your face to prevent steam from escaping. Instead of lifting the impurities out of the skin, tenting traps them in. For an easy steam, simply boil water in a large pot, adding scented essential or oils or basil leaves to give it a fresh scent. When the water has begun to profusely steam, pour it into a bowl and rest your head above it for 8 to 10 minutes. If you need to, take a break for some cool air. 

My steam- fresh basil to give it a scent.

5. Mask- The mask is definitely the most fun part of the facial. It feels so lovely and girly to slap a mask on and sit around painting your toenails or reading magazines. They are also one of the easiest things to DIY: I made one (see photo) comprised of honey and cinnamon (I added a bit of lemon juice too) from a recipe on Michelle Phan's website. 

6. Tone- Okay, I lied before. The most neglected part of the facial is the tone, and this absolutely sucks because it is so helpful. Toning makes any facial completely customizable: just pick something about your face you'd like to fix (for example, anti-acne, anti-aging) and google a toner to help target that specific problem. Because my entire facial was anti-acne, I took a tip from Andreas Choice and mixed salt with water for a super simple and yet effective toner. I just mixed it all up, soaked the mixture in a cotton ball and spread it all over my face. 

7. Moisturize- Do not skip this step. Especially after a facial. You've just subjected your face to a ton of water, products, towels, and many different temperatures really quickly, and your skin is probably reeling! Care for it with a nice moisturizer. 

Alrighty. That is the perfect 7-step facial. Seriously, you've got to try it. It's the perfect time of year, it's easy, it can be fast if you need it to. As Nike says, "Just Do It."


ooooo (hugs) 
Shana

The Little Things

Hey There!
How are you?
I'm good. A little tired. (Basically the life of a high school student.)

Anyway, today we're going to talk about The Little Things. "The Little Things" are not the best high end lipsticks or the best Kim Kardashian makeup techniques. They are the small ideas, products and methods that make your life just a tiny tiny bit easier. And honestly, who wouldn't love that?

So, let's start off:

1. Water~ Alright. This isn't really a little thing. It's a big thing. It's a really big thing. But too often I forget just how important water is,  and how drinking more of it can help in more ways than one. First of all, some myths debunked: you don't need to drink eight glasses a day: That was a suggestion rather than a scientific theory. However, you do need to drink enough that you feel well hydrated and satisfied. Also: drinking more water won't usually make your skin look better, because the first few layers of your skin are all dead, meaning water isn't being actively sent/used to them. However, if you exfoliate regularly, you may notice drinking an abundance of water will make a difference in your skin. Water just makes you feel better though; I was dehydrated for a few days this summer and it was torture. Just saying.

2. Tea- specifically the Green Tea with Mango from Bigelow. Tea has endless benefits: anti-cancer properties, anti-heart disease properties, anti-hypertension properties, and pro-happy properties. Amazing, huh? Normally I don't love tea: the weird watery taste is quite strange, but this stuff is great. Really, really great, and it contains just the right amount of caffeine to wake you up while sparing the jitters. Perfect. 

3. Easy French Manicure Tip- for the perfect round edge, put the curved edge of a band-aid a millimeter or two away from the tip of your nail and paint over it. Voila. The perfect french manicure. 

4. Lipstick as blush- Whoever discovered this works is a genius. Just take any lipstick, draw a little on and blend your heart out. Your lipstick and blush will never clash, you'll save money, and it has great staying power. Who wouldn't love that. (I love Ballet Shoes from L'Oreal (reviewed here)). 

5. Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils- For those of you in school, I  would highly highly recommend these. They have gummy pink erasers that are like magic wands and soft dark lead that makes every word look smarter. Just saying. 

So those are the little things for now. :) I hope you liked them. 
ooooo (hugs)
Shana

P.S. exciting moment of the day- I asked Louise Sprinkle of Glitter a question and she answered it in a blog post. How cool is that?

P.P.S. dumb moment of the day- I was making a ton of pasta for my friends and I was so busy and rushed that I poured the pasta and water in at the same time and then spent 25 minutes draining the pot with a bowl and a small strainer because the pot was too heavy to pick up. yup.

Apologies and Birthdays

Remember how a few weeks ago we had a little chat? 

Guess what. It's that time again. Go grab yourself a little something to eat or drink, something healthy, and then read on. We have some things to cover

School has begun, which threw my life not through a loop, but through a gigantic roller coaster-sized spiral. The first two week of school I had literally no free time. I woke up, went to school, did after school things, came home, ate dinner, did homework and went to sleep. And what was I thinking while I did this? Wow. I have no time for blogging, do I. I'm going to have to give it up. But then this week everything seemed a little bit easier. I had a little more time. I read a sprinkle of glitter post that encouraged me to blog my little heart out.  And I realized that I could do this. I could make it work. So I will.

Anyway, until I get my time management down, nothing on this blog will be regular. At all. But I promise you. There will be some things. I really, really want to make this work. 

Anyway, this past weekend was my birthday, so we can talk about that a little bit!

I got a new phone! The T-Mobile Concord, which I'm quite enjoying. I think I may review it (comment on this post if you are interested) but for right now I'll just say it does nice texting, I have a nice plan, and the Internet is nice.

my boo

 I also received (drum roll please) BEN RECTOR TICKETS. If you don't know Ben Rector, I don't know what you are doing with yourself. Go hop over to iTunes or YouTube and listen to some songs. I like "I Like You" and "Making Money" and "Thank God for the Summertime" and "Forever Like That". I am extremely excited about it and it will probably pop up in blog posts between now and the time that I go. Just a warning. 

As part of the birthday shebang, I also went to see the One Direction Movie. Even though I'm not really a "Directioner" I was entertained by the movie and by the looks of the five boys. Let's be honest. They're all gorgeous. Especially Harry. Just saying.

Alright. I think that'll be all for today. I so badly want to make this work, and I am going to try really really hard to swing it. Hold on.

oooooo (hugs). 
-Shana

We Need To Talk. ♥

Hi there. 
Today you and I need to have a little talk. 

 So. How have you been? I've been pretty good too. I watched a few episodes of Bones today. It's a cool show. You should watch it.
I'd like to give y'all a small update about blogging, because I messed up a little today, and I want to explain some things. 
I'm trying to blog as much as possible because when school starts, I am going to get caught up in absolutely everything and we won't be able to have as many chats like these. So, I just wanted to say hey. I meant to put out a really nice blog post tonight, but then I realized I didn't have the proper amount of time to give you the truly excellent post I know it can be. 
I know I'm trying to squeeze in lots of posts, but I'd rather give you a few really awesome blog posts rather than a lot of crummy ones. So sit tight. The post that's in the works took a little more effort than I expected, so I can't give you a real concrete date, but I'd say expect it up by Wednesday. I'm really sorry. 

Anyway, I feel sort of bad getting you all excited and then not delivering, so I'm going to give you a very small Happy Kit.
What is a Happy Kit? 
I am not sure. I just made it up. But here goes. 
*Open when you are feeling down*

A song:
This is basically summer in a song. It just came out, but I can already tell it will be my little breath of summer in the cold months. I love it.
Thank God for the Summertime.

A person:
Do you ever meet/find someone that are just so happy all the time it actually makes you feel happier? Well Nikki Phillippi is one of those people. Her husband and her make videos that just make me smile, while at the same time educate. Strange and wonderful!
Nikki Phillippi.

A food:
For an at home treat, make cinnamon sugar toast! Simply grab some bread, toast, it, butter it, and sprinkle some cinnamon. Delicious and even satisfying to that hard to scratch cinnabun craving!

A movie:
I'm sure you can get this illegally, but I don't know where. The Parent Trap. Oh my goodness. What an AMAZING movie. It always cheers me up.

A book/magazine:
Real Simple, the magazine. My grandma gives me her issues and I absolutely love them. They're fun, easy to read, and educational. I just can't get enough.

Alrighty! That was a nice little chat, and a nice little happy kit. Thank you so much for being patient with me. I have a "life" post coming out probably Monday, and the big post will be out by Wednesday. I love all of you so much. Have an amazing week.
shana
oooooo (hugs)
 
 

Technical Difficulties!

Hey everyone!
I hope your day is going totally fabulous. Mine is! I just gave myself a facial and will probably move onto a manicure real soon. It's a pre-school pamper day.
Anyway, because my blog is just starting out, I need to do some very small technical adjustments and had to make this post. There will be a real post coming out late in the afternoon or the night though, so sit tight for that. I've been planning for it all week and I can't wait to publish it <3.
Thanks so much for being patient, Shana
ooooo (hugs)
P.S. My blog is now available on bloglovin! Follow me!

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My First Day of School Outfit!

Howdy. :) 

Today we are going to talk about something very near and dear to my heart: my back to school outfit. I usually think about what to wear on the first day for the majority of August, and then figure out the precise hair, makeup, and accessories to go along with it. I know, I know, it's a little excessive, but the first day of school is a blank slate. Besides your friends (and let's be honest, you aren't really dressing to impress them) you haven't seen anyone in two months, so why not make your first impression (in two months) a good one? Mostly, though, I always feel a little more excited and ready for school when I know I'll be wearing something nice. And that's what looking pretty is all about.

So, I went out and bought a new shirt and played with my hair annnnd Voila! My outfit. Let's begin.

So, let's start with the outfit:

I decided I wanted to look "Classy Casual" on my first day. So I got this top from Forever 21 for $17.80. Pretty classy? I think so. I like it because it's really versatile. I can wear it with jeans, like I am here, or tuck it into a pencil skirt and add a blazer and it's perfect for Model UN. 

Makeup:
Especially for school, I like to wear makeup sparingly, so this look represents that. It's a little nicer than a naked face, but it's inconspicuous enough most people won't realize you're wearing makeup at all.

Here is how it's done:
1. Wash your face. I used Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash reviewed here.
2. Prep with lotion such as the Kiss My Face honey calendula lotion.
3. Conceal. (Unfortunately this concealer is old and no longer has a tag on it, so I have no idea what brand it is, but any concealer will do.)
4. Powdered to prevent shininess, especially around the concealer. I used Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder in 115 Natural Ivory. For this and the blush, I used the brush shown front and center which is from Ecotools.
5. Proceeded to blush, using Covergirl's Cheekers. This is old and discontinued, I believe, but the color is still out there.
6. I did this in a weird order just to change things up, so proceeded to lips, which I like to prep with lip balm. I used my EOS lipbalm in strawberry sorbet which I reviewed here.
7.  Add lip color, like the 135 Ballet Shoes from L'Oreal. It's sort of light and pink and frosty. I reviewed it here.
8/9. Finish up with eyes. for my inner corners, my brow bone, and the inner corners of my bottom lash line, I used a 24 Hour Color Tattoo in "Too Cool". For eyeliner, I used "Tough as Taupe" to make a light brown line on the outer edge of my bottom lash. I reviewed both of these
here.
10. Finish off with a light coat of mascara. Covergirl's Lash Blast Volume in Brown works for me. 
 

 Voila! completed look.

I occasionally use a bit of bronzer, but for this look I would not recommend any. It can look a tiny bit (excuse me) whore-ish with the very pale lip color. 


Accessories! 

Staying with the classy casual vibe, I purchased these earrings for $1.80 from Forever 21. What a steal!

As for hair accessories, I decided to stay with the sheer fabric theme and go with a set of three hair bands from Wet Seal for 6.50 here.  I chose the peachish colored one. 

Hair!

As for hair, I kept it simple with the tutorial shown here.

So, that is my outfit of the day. I think I'll have another one coming out next week sometime. i've also been preparing all week for a really cool post that comes out tomorrow! It's another beauty one. Expect more high school ones next week. Lots of Love, shana <3

ooooo (hugs)


 

My Favorite Way to Do My Hair

I am a blonde. And I am proud. 

I have extremely fine, medium length hair that doesn't require too much maintenance, but I give it love every single day and in return, it is quite soft and manageable. They say treat others how you want to be treated, and although I know it sounds a bit strange: the same applies to your hair. Treat it nice, and it'll be nice in return. 

One of the ways I am nice to my hair is limiting heat. And by limiting, I mean cutting it out almost entirely: the last time I curled/straightened my hair was over a year ago, and I've only used the "Heat" setting on my hair dryer once in that time frame (the cool setting takes a little longer but it helps your hair out in both the long and short term by overall protecting your hair and making it shinier, which any exposure to chilly temperatures will do). Anyway, because of my heat ban, I like to use the following method to style my hair. It's easy and leaves my hair happyhappyhappyhappy.

So, let's start!

1. Start with wet hair, either recently washed or just sprayed. 

2. Comb, NOT brush, your hair out. Never ever ever EVER brush your wet hair. Wet hair is more elastic than dry hair, and brushes de-tangle by slightly stretching your hair. Using a brush on wet hair stretches it to the point of breakage, causing split ends.  

3. Work in any anti-frizz/texturizing product. I personally like the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-in Conditioning Cream. My hair is easily weighed down by product, but this makes no difference. In addition, it makes my hair hold a wave ten times better. The longest I've ever kept it in was a day and a half, but it preserved the style that entire time without ever looking greasy or heavy. I think I'm in love. <3

The container suggests about a quarter sized amount, but I like to use a teensy bit less because I don't have that much hair. Rub it between your fingertips, and work it through your hair starting about an inch away from the roots and working downwards.

4. Now depending on time constraints you can do one of two things at this point. You can wait for your hair to dry and then brush it, for smoother, tangle-free hair, or simply proceed to the next step.

5. Braid! Depending on hair thickness, determine the number of "plaits" you need and braid your heart out. I use two for my thin hair. 

#pippiswag

5. Continue with your day/night. Unbraid after a few hours, or immediately after waking up. Results may vary, but this is how I usually look.

Depending on the weather you can style it accordingly:

It also works well when pinned back from your face with bobby pins or a hairband.

Yay! I hope this works as well for you as it does for me. If you like the waves to start a little higher up and you have nimble fingers, try french braiding. If your hair is thick, try three braids instead of two. For tighter waves, try a product with a stronger hold or use hairspray. For looser waves, don't use any product at all. It all depends on your preferences and your hair type. Experimentation breeds excellence, so even if you don't like the result the first time around, try it again with different factors.

That's all! I have two posts coming out tomorrow and Saturday that I am really excited about, so get pumped! 

ooooo (hugs)

Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Daily Clarifing Cleanser

 As you may be able to tell, I have a slight obsession with cleansers. I guess it could be worse... I could be into crack or something else that doesn't make my skin clean and happy, but I like to try out as many as I can and I can sometimes over do it. This one, though, is definitely one of my favorites. Let's begin.

Strong Points:
∞ Unlike the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash that I reviewed here, this doesn't feel like chemicals. It feels natural and a quick look at the label confirms this. It's a feel good product. 
∞ It didn't completely clear blemishes (although that's unlikely in any cleanser because many blemishes are due to hormones and lack of exercise/healthy diet) but it kept them at bay, and that's satisfying enough.
∞ I think the best thing about this product is the way it makes your skin feel immediately after a cleanse: soft and smooth. I found this a week ago close to empty, and decided to give it a try again. I was so amazed with the results: it's the kind where after you wash it off, you almost feel like it's still on your face: it leaves your face with a smooth, rich finish that is refreshing and makes you want to just stroke your face. Weird, but satisfying. 
Weak Points:
∞ Price. It only contains 3.38 fluid ounces and goes for 8.63 or (2.55 per ounce)  here or at your local Target. This might seem cheap to a lot of people, but for a girl on a budget, this is a little disappointing. However, it does contain a lot of good quality ingredients, so you do pay for what you get. (By comparison, the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash reviewed here is 6 fluid ounces and goes for 9.49, or 1.19 an ounce.)
∞ I love a good smell, and this lacks one. This is alright for night washes because you don't want anything too invigorating, but for morning washes it's a little disappointing. Oh well. 

Despite the weak points, something about this cleanser makes me fall in love a teensy weensy bit every time I use it. I most definitely recommend it. It isn't the perfect cleanser, so I'm still on the hunt for "the one". If you have any suggestions, please leave them below to aid my search. I will never, ever, ever give up.
ooooo (hugs)

P.S. I have two posts coming out soon that I am really excited about! Expect them up Friday and Saturday! 

Small Rite-Aid Haul!

The vast majority of my beauty products come from Rite-Aid. There's no two ways about it. See, I live in a smallish town that's a good distance from a mall, and neither I nor any of my friends have permits. Also, I don't have a steady job which means I need to carefully budget. All this together= drugstore makeup. This is not necessarily a humongous setback, though, especially with all the I <3 drugstore tags on youtube as well as well-stocked stores like my local Rite-Aid.

Since my latest babysitting job, I've had some cash as well as a brain filled with ideas from the aforementioned youtube videos. So I popped down to the drugstore and Voila! purchased the following items:

1. EOS lipbalm in strawberry sorbet

 
If you haven't seen someone using these before, I am truly shocked. They're probably one of the most famous brands, and I think it's for good reason. The smell is quite yummy (and I love a good smell), it gives your lips a pretty and soft look. Furthermore, it's fun to apply (let's be honest) and the price isn't bad at 3.49 for a quarter of an ounce, which is slightly more than your average twist lipbalm. I noticed only one clear downside, that being it suffers majorly in the portability aspect because it will leave a strange lump (if it fits at all) in most jean pockets. This may not be such a downside though, as I know I've lost a good number of lip balms by forgetting they were in pockets and putting them in the wash.

2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit

I remember my older sister having this when I was little and thinking it was like miracle potion. I used to put a teensy bit on blemishes and then wash it off, and I found that in the morning they were gone! Now that I'm a teenager I find I don't notice as big of a change, but it does leave your skin feeling really clean and does slightly reduce acne. The scent is amazo, and the  price isn't bad: 8.49 for 6 fluid ounces.Overall, I like it but I don't love it. It gives me a strong feeling that I'm putting a lot of chemicals on my face, which I don't love, but it reduces blemishes, so it's worth it. 

3. L'oreal Color Riche Lipstick in 135 Ballerina Shoes

Now there is a very small back story to this which I think I'll explain with a more complete review with more photos in another post, so stay tuned! However, for now I'll explain: I like this lipstick. I have a very pale complexion so I do well with the frosty light pink ish colors, or basically, this. The packaging is nice, the texture is really cool: creamy and light on your lips, the pigmentation is average, which I like: one to two coats gives you a tinted balm look, three gives you a pink lip. However, one of my favorite things about this is the smell! I don't know how to describe it, but if I had to I'd say it's like a fresh sort of a scent. It makes me happy. Yup.

4. The Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoos Eyeshadow Base/Eyeshadow in "Too Cool" and "Tough as Taupe"

Now, every youtuber has been gushing about these, and when I saw them and I remembered I needed some eyeshadow, I decided to pick some up. Overall: the consistency is really nice: thick and creamy, smudgable, but long-wearing, too. First of all, the "Too Cool": I think this is a great highlighter: very pigmented, long wearing, with a bit of sparkle but nothing over the top. Overall, not bad. I really, really like the "Tough as Taupe" (or Permanent Taupe in the UK). It's just very, very versatile. I used it in my crease and outer corner for eyeshadow, but then I was feeling crafty and I decided to try it out as eyeliner. I dabbed a teensy bit on a brush, slid it on my lower lash line, and smiled at it's effects. Although I haven't tried it yet, I think it could also work as a brow shadow for someone with lightish hair. I may do a more full update on these, because I like them so darn much. For price, they're alright at 7 dollars. Not bad, but their isn't really much eyeshadow. I would definitely repurchase and highly recommend them. Go get them! Seriously!

Alright, well I think I'll wrap it up there. I think I may be reviewing some of these products again in the near future and you'll see them again very soon! (That's a hint. Sit tight for a super cool blog post coming soooooon. I am extremely excited about it). oooooo (hugs)

My most favoritest lotion ever

Alright, behind facial cleanser, a good body lotion is VERY important to me, and today we'll talk about my all time favorite, the (drum roll please)  Nubian Heritage Mango Butter Lotion!!!!!!!!!
Excited yet? Here's the "down low"  on it.

The strong points: 
     ∞The consistency of this lotion is AMAZING. It's thick, creamy and feels like angel wings. In fact, it's so thick it's quite hard to get out of the squeezy top, but if you unscrew the cap and scoop it out, it works quite well. 
     ∞The smell  is really fantastic. It says "Mango Butter" but it really reminds me of Creamsicles. I love it, everyone I show it to loves it, I actually checked to see if I could get a perfume in the same scent. (You can't, FYI.)
     ∞ In terms of the moral side of this product, it doesn't get much better. It's cruelty free, certified organic ingredients, sustainably produced, has ethically traded ingredients, and made in the USA. Neat. 
     ∞ It does make your skin feel quite a bit smoother and smoother, although I wouldn't say that it is phenomenal. My skin is neither dry nor oily, so it didn't make a huge difference, but i definitely noticed a change. 

The weak points:
     ∞ At about 10 dollars and $1.25 per ounce, it isn't cheap, but I would definitely purchase this again. 

Overall, it's a really great lotion due to both it's moral and physical attributes. You can purchase it here. 

Alright! That's all for now! ooooo (hugs)

Trader Joe's Nourish All-In-One Cleanser

Disclaimer: This is not my photo. No rights reserved.

Because I'm not big on makeup, especially foundation, a great cleanser is extremely important to my beauty routine. I've tried around seven, and this one has been, well, keep reading and you'll see.

Now, I know what you're thinking, why would you EVER buy a facial cleanser from a store that primarily sells food?
Well first off, I didn't buy it, it was a gift. But second, you're right, it isn't really the best cleanser. Here's the lowdown:
It doesn't really have a scent, which isn't a deal breaker, but especially for morning washes it's a little disapointing.
It does do a fair job removing oil, but it doesn't really leave my face feeling soft or luxurious. It just feels like my face, and I prefer something a little richer.
The price is pretty good at six dollars, but I would rather pay a little more for something a little bit better. It contains 8.75 fluid ounces, so that's about 69 cents per ounce, which isn't bad. 
One bright spot, however, is it's no animal testing seal. Pretty neat, I would say. 
In terms of preventing acne, it's average. If I skip a night, I'll get some small breakouts, but with steady use I still get an average amount of pimples. 
All in all, I would give this a B-. It's good, but it could be better. I've been using this for a few months and it's got a decent long term effect. I would recommend this, but cautiously. 
Okie dokie artickokie! oooooo. (hugs)

hi there.

Well, I was hoping to forgo this kind of a post because it feels a little silly to introduce my blog and say stuff like this is who I am and what I like and what you'll expect to see on this blog. Then I was thinking about it and I don't really want to leave you without anything, so I shall begin.

Who I am?
Hi! I'm Shana, or Cammi. I'm a sophomore in high school. I'm a blonde. Yup!

What do I like?
Wow, okay, just got totally sidetracked, pulled the shift key off this laptop, and have no idea whatsoever how to reattach it. I am currently typing with only a little nub for a shift key. This is problematic. Anyway, I like chocolate, sleeping late, Scrubs, donuts, Ben Rector, fuzzy pajamas and blankets when it's cold, the smell of cookies, and my family and friends.

What can I expect from this blog? 
Well, I'm not one hundred million percent sure, but I think the title suits it well. Basically, all things, beauty (reviews, tips, tricks), life (stories, recommendations), and high school (stories, tips, and regrets.)

As my mama would say, okie dokie artichokie! oooooo. (hugs)