September Loves

I know I'm pretty late posting this, but when am I ever on time for anything?

Beauty Loves:

Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara
This gives me tons of volume and length.

Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect
This comes as another recommendation from Liz, who I realize is pretty much my life's Yoda.

Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Moonlight Path
Fragrance often goes forgotten on my blog, but it's about time I mention this one.  Proper perfumes can be a bit heavy for me during the summer, and I've been turning to Moonlight Path pretty much every day since receiving it in an Influenster Spring Beauty voxbox.

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum
My ex-roommate and close friend Ashlee forgot her bottle of this in my guest room during her visit this past May, and my hair's been loving it all summer.  In addition to its strengthening properties, it's also great in terms of managing frizz.

Rando Loves:

Red Baron Four Cheese Super Slices
I know it's disgusting, but I've been pretty much living off of these.  The best frozen pizza in the world, it's better than a whole lot of "real" pizza.

Good Time by Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
This song is just freaking fun.  Don't judge if you see me rocking out to this in my car.

Awkward
This show is completely hilar.  I love that MTV has every episode online.  Put on your jammies and watch it all weekend.

RachhLoves
My favorite YouTuber this month is RachhLoves, who I can't believe I'd never heard of until recently.

Personal tidbit:
Last month, I mentioned that this semester I'd be writing for my college newspaper.  Well, this week I made the front page (below the fold, but still the front page).  I've included the PDF, in case anyone cares to read my article "Murdered by Makeup?" (continued on Page 2) which is about cruelty-free beauty and includes my interview with the lovely (and vegan) Tashina Combs of Logical Harmony:

Open publication - Free publishing

What do you think of my September loves?  What products did you love in September?

XOXO, T

Skincare Sunday: Origins Checks and Balances

First off, I apologize for not blogging much lately.  I've been a bit under the weather, insanely busy with the school paper, and generally unproductive.  Have I even done Skincare Sunday yet on this blog? </rambling>

Perhaps as a result of stress coupled with the fact that I never sleep, my skin has been pretty out of control lately.  I have sensitive combination skin that tends to break out on my forehead and around my nose (t-zone) but really nowhere else on my face.  Over the past couple weeks, though, I've experienced breakouts along my cheekbones and down the sides of my face. (What the hell?)

That was a ton of background information, but I think my skin is finally back under control (knock on wood) thanks to Origins Checks and Balances Frothy face wash.

I believe this retails for $20, but I received it as a gift from my mom, who also has sensitive skin and is pretty much always right about everything.  Twenty bucks seems a little expensive for five ounces of product, but it honestly only takes like the teeniest, little pearl-sized amount to lather up my entire face so I see this bottle lasting me forever.

Have you ever used anything from Origins?  What's your favorite facial cleanser?

XOXO, T

August Loves

I guess I haven't done a monthly loves post in quite some time, so these are kind of like my entire summer's worth of loves (in no particular order):

Beauty Loves

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in basically every color (Honey pictured)

I'm sure we've all seen countless raves of these, so I'm not going to spend much time on them except to say that they're fantastic and I'm basically obsessed.  Let me know if you'd like me to swatch and/or review these.

e.l.f. Essential Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara

This is great for taming my crazy eyebrows just a bit when I want to appear slightly more polished, which is the only use I'm interested in.  (Why would I ever wear clear mascara?)

Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow Mascara

If you're an o.g. Kathryn Rose follower, you might remember me being really into this mascara forever ago and then kind of forgetting about it.  So it's a rediscovered love for me, and you really can't beat it in terms of cruelty-free, clump-free volume for the price.

Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow in Silent Treatment
The quality of these shadows is incredible, and this particular trio can be adapted for either daytime or nighttime.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny
This cult bronzer is every bit as good as everyone says it is.

Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion

Liz was right (per usual) about this being a dupe for Benefit High Beam, and I'm certain this pearlescent liquid highlight would be beautiful on any skintone.

Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Shampoo and Intensive Moisture Mask

Since switching to this sulfate-free line, my hair is noticeably softer and shinier with less breakage.

There's no non-awkward way to arrange these eight objects.

Fashion Loves

Jorts
I'm sure any Floridian will tell you that denim cutoffs are an absolute summer staple.  (Is this true all over the south?)  I've been especially into these white ones from American Eagle.

January Jones Versace
Who doesn't love a pair of huge sunnies?  This Betty Draper inspired retro gorgeous pair has scarcely left my face since receiving them for my birthday (May).

Random Loves

Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Skins: Favorite ever; I'm rewatching because I've seriously watched everything on Netflix.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: Can't believe I waited so long to read this; it's perfection.

Personal Update

I completed my "general" A.A. degree this summer but missed the deadline to transfer to UCF for this fall, so I'm currently taking a couple Journalism classes at SSC, just to keep my brain from falling out my ears during an unintentional semester off.  So I'll be working on the school newspaper which is kind of exciting, as I've never really been an extra-curricular kind of person.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but this journalism thing just might end up making sense for me.  (Watch out, Anna Wintour.)

What do you think of my August loves?  What were some of your favies this month/summer?

XOXO, T