Tuesday Tips 29: At Home Facial!

Hi Beauties! 

Facials are very important in taking care of your skin's healthy complexion. The facials at the spa however, can cost you a pretty penny. We are still in school and hopefully one day we will be able to live large and make trips to the spa as wanted. Right now, in school, it’s all about substituting products to get the same results, it is even easier than you may think!

Here is my at-home facial routine, and the best part is that all the products I use are from the drugstore so they are super affordable! I TRY to do this every week, it not only accomplishes relaxation but also the healthy complexion you want.

1. Cleanse. Take off all the makeup, dirt, and oil that you have accumulated through out the day to prep your skin.

2. Exfoliate. It is important to remove the dead skin. Rub in a circular motion focusing on the neck, forehead, nose, and chin. 

3.    Steam. You want to steam to open your pores, the easiest way to achieve this is by taking a washcloth and drenching it in hot but bearable water. Wring the excess water and pat on your face, pausing for 3-5 seconds between each pat. Repeat about 3 times.

4.    Mask. This is by far the best part of the facial. Use a mask for your skin type. Follow the directions on your mask. Remember to not talk much or make many facial expressions as it is drying, you do not want the mask to crease. Stay tune for my favorite DIY masks for oily, dry, normal, and acne prone skin.

5.    Tone: Apply the toner to your entire face with a cotton ball. Toners are very important in maintaining an even complexion and when I personally use toners, I see a reduction in breaks-out!

6.    Moisturize. It is important to hydrate your face. Apply generously to your face and neck.

It is important for everyone to take time for themselves. This is great for after exams when you just want to whine down and relax! Have a great week! 

Better Your Basics!

Hi Fashionistas!

I have been gravatating towards my leather a lot recently and also my basic solid tops. I found myself scrolling down Forever 21's website the other day, adding random things into my cart that were subcontiously 60% leather and 40% basic tees.

My first fall jacket that I busted out this year was actually my leather jacket, it adds edge and interest to my plain-jane outfits I wear to class, and is perfect for the fall temps. Going for that simple, casual, and affordable look does not mean you have to dress "basic", all the time. Adding accessories like a cute bag, a nice scarf, or fun shoes can take that basic combo to a whole other level.

My outfit started off really simple with my skinny jeans (PacSun), along with my basic heather grey long sleeved shirt (Forever 21 $6). To go from completely "I was running late this morning," to "I actually am trying over here," I wore my hair a different way than usual and tied a scarf around my neck. The scarf took care of the bulk of my accessories with its size, print, and color and allowed me to wear a little more arm candy.

I was going to just slip into my combat boots until I noticed these white crochet TOMS laying beside them. The canvas shoes added an extra dimension with the light color without becoming an eye sore. I finally completed the look with my brown leather jacket (Forever 21 $30) and a matching bag (Michael Kors) before running out the door.

If you are always rushing in the morning, keep fun accessories near the door that you can toss on to brighten up your outfit without wasting any time.

Hope you all enjoyed this post!

Tuesday Tips 28: Safer Candle Craze!

Do you live in a student apartment that you are scared to burn down with your candles? But, do you still light your candles anyway? Well stop putting yourself at risk and use this tip....

Okay, that sounded like an advertisement, but today's tip will come handy for all of you candle lovers! At school, in my rented apartment, I never will light a candle. I am paranoid that against the odds, it would be my apartment building to catch on fire because of my dumb holiday candle. 

Instead, I use a candle warmer or an electric coffee cup warmer. Essentially, both tools are the same. My sister uses an electric coffee cup warmer for her candles, and I use a candle warmer. It has many benefits than having to physically light a candle: 

1.) No matches, just a simple switch

2.) Wax melts quicker and fully to release a stronger aroma in the air 

3.) No flame, no stress.

I bought my candle warmer at A.C Moore for $5, and that was without their weekly coupons. Definitely invest in one so you can start burning those apple cider, pumpkin, and leaves candles! :)

Tuesday Tips 27: Ebates: Get Cash Back On EVERYTHING!

Hello Fashionistas!

I want to introduce to you to a great thing I learned about this past year...Ebates! It has changed the way I online shop and has saved me tons of money, and I mean, what more can you ask for? Let me give you a quick breakdown about what Ebates is, and how it works.

Ebates is one of the largest online cash back shopping websites. It rewards us with cash back on purchases while providing us with access to coupons, discounts, and promotions at our favorite stores.

How It Works:
Ebates is free to join and free to use. You sign up and you'll find the latest deals, coupons, promotions, and a specific cash back percentage for each store's website. These stores include Nordstrom, Sephora, American Eagle, Target, Amazon, Groupon, and the list goes on and on. You search the store's website through the Ebates website, shop as you normally would and when you buy something, you will earn cash back in your Ebates account!

So now you may ask how will EBates pay you this money?
Every three month, they will send you a cash back payment check through the mail to the mailing address that you provided at sign up and you can cash it in like another check! During Christmas, Black Friday, and their site's anniversary, Ebates increases their cash backs, too! (Honestly, it just keeps getting better and better.)

With Ebates, shopping online has become very rewarding and I encourage you all to sign up, or at least browse the cash back percentages and see for yourself! Before I discovered Ebates, I never shopped online but with their incentives, it's hard not to. Even if you are ordering a textbook for class on Amazon (5%), use Ebates and get some $ back!

Some of the deals currently...

You can sign up with this link: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=x8Vl9Ua8%2BoyKRWLfeiygOw%3D%3D and get a bonus $10 gift card to a store of your choice!

Peasant Please...!

Hi Fashionistas!

A current obsession of mine this fall are the peasants blouses. They were previously the "mom" tops that you saw many years ago but this past spring they were back in stores looking more fashionable and classier than ever.

Peasant blouses are usually loose fitting, and a mix of casual and elegance. They can hold their own in an outfit but can hinder the whole look if they are worn wrong.

Here are ways to style/wear a peasant blouse:

1.) Never wear a loose, baggy, or flowy bottom with the blouse. It can add weight and volume, hiding your silhouette, causing you to look frumpy.

2.) Slim-fitting jeans or pants look great under peasant blouses as they balance the loose blouse and show your figure. If you are shorter, wear heels to extenuate your legs.

3.) Try it on before buying! A larger peasant blouse will not suit the body well since it is already loose.

4.) Layer up! The blouse looks great on it's own, but layering cardigans or jackets over it can add a great touch.

I bought this peasant blouse from Marshalls for only $15 and wore it with a pair of straight-legged jeans (PacSun).

SIDENOTE: To get the best deals for in-style items, definitely check out Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls! Sometimes, in some areas, you may have to check back a few times to find something specific, but they honestly carry everything one could ever want.

To dress the outfit up, yet keep it casual, I added my strapped gray booties ($25 Marshalls), a medium tan leather cross-body (Steven Madden), and gold jewelry! I wanted to go easy with the jewelry and avoid gaudiness due to the detailing near the collar and on the blouse.

I hope you enjoyed! Definitely stay on the lookout for peasant blouses this fall and don't forget to check out my last Tuesday Tip DIY Perfumed Lotion to smell amazing on every inch of your body. :)

Tuesday Tips 26: DIY Perfumed Lotion!

Hi Beauties!

Today's tip is something new that I have recently tried and found to be very helpful! The next time you want every inch of your body to smell amazing, mix a few drops of your favorite fragrance or perfume with an unfragranced body lotion. In the palm of your hand, combine both and apply the lotion as you would normally after the shower.

This will help distribute the scent evenly and now, you will not have to worry about getting perfume stains on your clothing! I hope this helps!

Falling (In Love With) Trousers!

Hi Fashionistas!

I constantly find myself throwing on leggings and a bulky t-shirt quickly before heading out to class in the morning. I admit, my dress game has not been at it's best this semester. I tend to always purge all the "snoozes" from my alarm clock before having to rush to class.

If I miraculously wake up early and chipper, I flirt with the idea of dressing cute, but only if the outfit is easy and comfortable. And to me, nothing says "I'm cute and comfy as can be," than a handy pair of trousers!

I wear trousers year-round, in the spring, summer, fall, and even during the winters when I am lounging at home! Today, I put together two looks that set two different vibes while incorporating the same colors, accessories, and trousers.

These particular trousers were only $7 at H&M! I have said this before, but if you are at the mall browsing, take 5 minutes and actually check out what H&M has to offer. These trousers were so affordable but two weeks later they were listed for full price, again. H&M goes about their pricing in a very strange way, so it's definitely worth a stop-by if you have time.

Warm Fall Day:

For a "warm fall day" look, I tucked a white top (H&M 2/$10) into the trousers and accessorized with a light neutral/peach necklace (Deb's $7), gold and brown bracelets (my mom's from the 80's), and brown wedges (Payless $15)!

Chillier Fall Day:

This outfit resembles something I would wear to lunch with my friends on a cooler fall day. I kept the same base and accessories from the "Warm Fall Day" outfit, just adding a fedora and a tied white sheer top (H&M $18) to divert from the summer theme and add a little protection against the cool breeze.

I hope you liked this post! Mix and match different items to get more bang for your buck and always stay alert for good deals!

Tuesday Tips 25: Biggest, Baddest, Boldest Lashes!

LATE TIP TUESDAY! I am sorry for this late post, school is currently taking over my life.

Hi Beauties!

Today, I want to discuss mascara...my favorite makeup item!
I personally love Estée Lauder's mascaras, many of their mascaras come with long brushes with millions of tiny nooks to lengthen and thicken each lash. Unfortunately, with it's hefty price tag, I made a once in a lifetime purchase. However, I found a way to achieve the same results for a fraction of the cost!

Keep your old favorite makeup brush! 

To achieve the same results with my Maybelline Rocket mascara from the drugstore, I kept the mascara wand from the Estée Lauder mascara (cleaned, of course), and use it with the Rocket's fluid!
Works the same for less than fourth of the cost! I hope this helps you achieve your biggest, baddest, boldest lashes!