OBSESSED: Sea Salt

It's Friday!  Which means I'm about to blabber on about something else I've been OBSESSED with as of late.  On a side note (because I truly feel the need to mention this), Fashionista.com recently posted an article about words they are sick of seeing/hearing/reading/saying.  Now, I couldn't agree more with this article, but I cannot (literally...not figuratively, but srsly LITERALLY) -- CANNOT -- stop saying the word 'obsessed'. I think it's because I am seriously not over-exaggerating.  When I say I am obsessed, I am OBSESSED as in I cannot stop using/wearing/thinking about/wanting the THING that is the object of my obsession.  So, case in point...I will continue on with my 'OBSESSED' series of blog posts every Friday.

Monday 'Pick-Me-Up': Clay Masks! [Miracle 10 Mask Review]

It's Monday!  And I have a whole new series of posts for you Dandies.  Well actually, I've completely re-vamped my 'blog calendar' if you will.  I used to blog about fashion/style related news and events on Mondays, but I just wasn't feeling it anymore.  Behold my new Monday posts: The Monday 'Pick-Me-Up'!  Whether you're a student or working the 9-5 grind, Monday mornings are hard - everyone knows that.  I'm always hunched over and zombie-like at my desk (literally...right now...that's me), and I'd like to blame this on the fact that Monday's are inconsiderate, but I know that it's probably more so due to my sleeping late/sleeping-in habit.  What can I say?  I am a creature of the night.

Every Monday I'll be bringing you all helpful tips that will hopefully help ease the pain of Monday Mornings.  For my first post: CLAY MASKS!  I am a long time lover of clay masks, and this Miracle 10 Mask is no exception.

You all may remember my trip to the Miracle 10 Spa back in late April.  And some of you may have even seen my Top Box Miracle 10 Prive Box video.  Well, post-peel back in April, Miracle 10 was kind enough to give me a full size of their Miracle 10 Mask for review.

I am a complete sucker for clay masks.  I love how they pretty much suck out the dirt and toxins from your face.  I've been pretty devout about doing a clay mask at least once a week for the past year or so, and I'd like to say I HAVE been reaping the benefits.  But OH MY LAWDY, this Miracle 10 Mask is like no other.  It's not your typical brownish/greyish thick chalky clay mask.  No.  Noho-ho-ho!  The Miracle 10 Mask is a green, light, and moist clay mask.  This mask is jam-packed with all sorts of goodness like Aloe Vera (probably why it's green), a slew of vitamins, and elastin.

Typically, I slap and smear a clay mask all over my face in a sloppy mess with my hands.  The mask gets everywhere (i.e. the welcoming crevices under my claws...ugh).  During my facial peel at the Miracle 10 Spa in Yorkville, the aesthetician applied the mask to my face using a fan brush.  It felt AMAZING.  So naturally, as I am a visual learner, I've started to follow suit.  Behold my fan brush good-ness! 

On the Miracle 10 Mask product page, the mask claims to do all sorts of wonderful things like sooth, cool, hydrate, nourish, refine pores, and diminish the appearance of broken capillaries and redness.  It also promises that your skin will be less prone to breakouts.  I've been using the mask for about a month and a half now, and it's not a noticeable difference but my skin definitely FEELS different.  I've always had broken capillaries on the sides of my face.  Though they were faint, I could always see them.  In recent days I HAVE noticed that they do appear less visible to me, which means they're completely non-existent to other peoples' eyes *YAY*!  

The real gold in this mask is its texture and the minty freshness it gives your face.  This is what truly makes it a relaxing mask.  Most clay masks feel heavy, and start to feel tight as it dries.  The Miracle 10 Mask still allows you to speak, giggle, and sip from a straw as it's drying.  Thirsty?  NO PROBLEM!

And correct me if I'm wrong, but it's got these tiny mint beads in it that make your face feel 'so fresh and so clean!'  Sometimes, when I'm feeling like I need a REAL pick-me-up, I'll smush all the beads on my face to give myself FULL ON minty fresh relaxation.

Anyway, I don't do this often but I present to you my bare face.  It's not perfect or flawless by any means, but I'm happy to say that I haven't had a raging/deep/painful/'under-the-skin' type of zit in a real long time.  *internet high-five*.

If you get a chance to try out the Miracle 10 Mask, I highly suggest it!  It won't replace your heavy toxin-sucking clay mask because this mask's function is totally different, but it will guarantee you a 15minute refresh and leave your face feeling like a baby's butt!  I promise you this!

Happy Monday All!

<3

Skin

*Image from my Pinterest board.

I don't talk beauty enough.  I really don't.  And I really should, because what girl doesn't love to get obsessive over looking all-the-more-beautiful??  I've never had TERRIBLE skin, and for most of my life I've had people compliment me on my 'flawless' complexion.  Needless to say, these people have never gotten as close to my face as my mirror has.  And these people have not fallen victim to my own harsh criticisms.  I hate my skin.

*Image from my Pinterest board.

Lucky for you (or for me), I won't be showing you any up-close-and-personal images of my own skin, but I do want to share with you some of my current skin ailments.  At first glance, my skin looks 'O.K.'.  I don't have an acne problem.  I don't have rosacea, my pores are relatively normal-sized (I think), and I'm not dry or wrinkly.  Despite ruling out these problems, my skin is going through some weird changes that I've kind of been trying to ignore.  Maybe it's my age that is triggering these changes, as I'm no spring chicken.

*Image from my Pinterest board.

My most recent ailment is that I've noticed lately that my skin is more oily than it used to be.  It's annoying the he** out of me because I'm not quite sure what to do.  While, I'm sure switching up my skincare routine would solve the problem, I haven't had the time to seek out an expert or do any research.  In the meantime I've just been using a translucent powder to temporarily remedy the situation.

I was heartbroken when I noticed that the added (albeit SO unwanted) oil on my skin is making my pores look enlarged, and this is resulting in little zitty friends --UGH.  I am 25, do I really have to be dealing with this right now?!  

*Image from my Pinterest board.

And finally.  I'll come clean.  I have a blackhead issue.  I may have mentioned this before, but yeah.  It's there.  And I can't ignore it any longer.  I need a cure.  I want my skin to be flawless.  Clear.  Soft.  Perfect.  I'm not a fan of wearing foundation or cover-up, and I try to avoid it whenever possible.  But I feel like I'm getting to that point where I NEED it.  It's heart breaking, I know.  My fantasy of staying 18 forever is getting shattered by the reality that we all grow up and our skin ages and does terrible things to remind us that we're old! Haha.  *tear*

Anyway, this post isn't just about me burdening you with my first world skin problems, and sharing perfect model faces;  I've made a list of things 'To Do' to tackle my skin issue.  And if any of you have any suggestions of things I should add to this list to try, PLEASE leave me a comment!  I want a cure!

How to (maybe) Get Perfect Skin

• Switch up Skin Care routine
• Currently using: Spectrojel for sensitive skin & Aveeno Clear Complexiion
• Exfoliate twice a week
• Currently using 'no name' dupe of St. Ives scrub...hmmmm
• Clay Mask once a week
• Currently using SkinFood Ghassoul Clay Mask, soon to try this Miracle 10 mask.
• Facials once or twice/month (what's the norm here?  these things are 'spensive)
• Have only ever had one at the DOVE spa; Facial Peel at Miracle 10 Spa booked!
• Steam treatment
• Baking soda
• Does this work?
• Anti-aging serums
• Moisturize
• Currently using Cetaphil & Skinfood
• Wear Sunscreen!!

I'll keep y'all posted.  

In the meantime, what are your skin ailments and regimens?  Please share!

<3

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Top Box: January 2013

Hello all!  It's SAAAATURDAYYY!  Finally.  Life (especially work) has been pretty busy lately, so I haven't been able to post as much as I've wanted to this past week--especially style posts!  I have some photos from a shoot I did last weekend that I'll be editing and posting as soon as I can.  Tonight I have a birthday dinner party (and I still need to pick up a present!), but for now I have all these beauty videos made, so I thought I may as well share them with you =).

In my Beauty in a Box post back in December, I mentioned that I had signed up for a bunch of monthly beauty subscriptions NOT including Top Box because I was waitlisted.  Well!  A week or so after that I got an email from them saying that my subscription was ready!  Just in time for a January box!

To my surprise, the January Top Box ended up being a Privé box.  This means that instead of containing 4-5 various products, the box contained products from one brand, and for the January box the featured brand is Clinique.  Now, the box states that it features "repair wear repair focus".  This was my first disappointment because the featured product was also the teeniest, tiny sample!

I've never really used Clinique products (save for their Perfect Moisturizer), and I had some mixed feelings about some of these samples (especially the clarifying lotion...aka toner).  You can click here to watch my unboxing/review!

Ryan doing the Face Shop Ghassoul Clay Mask with me!

Have a happy Saturday all!

<3

Beauty in a Box

Skin Food Giveaway!

I know I'ver never posted anything beauty-related, and I know I am definitely no beauty expert.  But when it comes to skincare, I definitely have my go-tos!  Ever since my year-long journey to South Korea a couple of years ago, I have been so in love with Skin Food.  Skin Food is a Korean skincare and cosmetics brand that makes its products with organic food-based ingredients!  It is extremely affordable, the packaging is always so lovely, and the products themselves work wonders!
I had heard about this brand before I had gone to Korea, so as soon as I saw a store (they're everywhere in Korea) I went in and bought...everything.
Ever since then, Skin Food has never failed me.  Whenever I want something I always try to find someone I know that is going to Korea (or that is already there) and I ask them to pick a few things up for me!  Anyway, that being said,  I just wanted to show you guys my daily skincare routine.  It's nothing fancy, but here's a look at the products I use...