Friday Fashions: Most Worn Shoes!

Happy Friday!

Today for Friday Fashions I thought it would be fun to share with you my most worn shoes! These are the shoes that I live in all year round and probably wouldn't be able to survive without!

Let's start off with the nicer shoes!

I got these nude wedges from a local boutique in a spur of the moment purchase and I am so glad I got them! They are from the brand Bamboo and are SO comfy! I wear them all the time when I want to look nicer and look perfect with both dresses and pants!

I am absolutely IN LOVE with these shoes! I got these oxford booties from Shi by Journeys and I think they are absolutely adorable! They are a more casual option when I want to wear heels but don't want to be too dressed up and look so cute with dresses and skirts!

During the colder months these are the boots I live in! These are by the brand I.N.C. and I got them at Macy's. They have the slightest (probably 1/2 inch) wedge to them and give the perfect clicky sound when I walk, I love it when shoes have a good click to them! They have the prettiest braid detail down the side and around the top and are so beautiful and simple! I absolutely love the shade of brown these are!

These flats are by the brand Merona and I got them from Target.  These are just a good dependable pair of shoes! I can wear them any time of the year and they look good with literally EVERYTHING! Everyone should have a good pair of flats in their shoe collection because they are so versatile and are the perfect shoes to throw on when you have to run out the door!

The grand finale! My favorite pair of shoes in the ENTIRE world! I can honestly say that I have never owned a better pair of shoes than these! I have had these shoes for years and they have been MANY a mile.   I got them randomly at Ross and they are by the brand SO. They were cheap but have stood up surprisingly well to the insane amount of climates, countries, terrains, and experiences they have been through. I also get SO many compliments on these shoes every time I wear them! These are the shoes I seriously don't think I could live without! They are my babies!

I could probably talk forever about my shoes because I am a bit of an addict, so I think I will stop myself here! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Much love,
Rachel

Friday Favorites: June 28, 2013

For the past week I have been loving a lot of new things, and in the spirit of Friday Favorites, it is only fair for me to share those things with you!

Favorite Nail Polish

Essie's Mint Candy Apple

This color is gorgeous.  I don't even know how to explain it.  Imagine a Tiffany Blue with less green in it, and you have this.  It looks so pretty on, and I'm in love.

Makeup Favorites:

MAC Cleanse Off Oil

 If you checked out this post, you will remember that I recently purchased this with high hopes, and since then those high hopes have become reality.  This stuff works like magic at taking off all of my eye makeup even on the days where I wear a lot of it.  This is a must have.  

Maybelline Age Rewind Eye Concealer 

I bought this the other day, and automatically fell in love with the application, the color, and the stay-on power.  It is one of the best concealers I have tried, and most concealers I have tried are high end!

Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Mascara

 This dual-ended brush is the perfect applicator for both top and bottom.  I like the upper lash applicator as much as any other mascara, and love the lower lash applicator.  Best part: the formula doesn't smudge throughout the day!

Favorite Blog:

Dreaming in Blush

You may already know my love for Elle from this post, but that love extended to her blog too!  It is amazing, I love the way she writes, it is like she is talking eloquently to her best friend!

Let me know what this weeks favorites are for you!

Have a great weekend,

Caroline

Cosmetic Corner: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share with you the product I use to conceal my under-eyes and any blemishes! I have pretty bad under-eye circles; they are very dark and it takes a lot to cover them up. I had heard a lot about the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer being a great drugstore product with lots of coverage and I would have to say I completely agree!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

I'm always on the lookout for a drugstore concealer that really does its job!  Concealers can be SO expensive and I don't want to spend that much money on a product unless I am totally happy with it.  But the great thing is that I don't have to spend a ton of money because I have found an awesome drugstore alternative!

This concealer is very pigmented and stays put throughout the day.  It gives fantastic coverage and I can finally say that I am happy with a concealer!  For the longest time I wasn't quite satisfied with this concealer and was keeping my eye out for something better. But (quite recently actually) I finally figured out what I was doing wrong, I just wasn't applying it right!

I have always heard to use your fingers when applying concealer because it warms up the product allowing it to sink into your skin; however, I discovered that this technique was making me "overapply", if that's even possible. I was putting too much product on which was basically causing it to slide around easier, taking away from the coverage.

To solve this I started putting some on the back of my hand and taking a Sonia Kashuk fluffy crease brush and applying it with that.

Sonia Kashuk Blending Brush

Something about that brush does wonders to applying concealer even though that's definitely not what it's supposed to be used for. I find that it distributes the product evenly and beautifully! It gives just the right amount of coverage, looks beautiful, and doesn't slide throughout the day. After I apply it with the brush I go in and lightly pat it with my ring finger to really work it into my skin and then I set it with powder!

This concealer really is amazing! It's cheap but has fantastic coverage and quality! I actually just picked up a new bottle of it today, my third one! For all those who, like me, are self-conscious about their under eyes, this is the product for you!

Much love,

Rachel

Thursday Thoughts: My Favorite TV shows

So recently I have been catching up on a lot of TV series and I thought I would share with you what my favorited are!

Gossip Girl

This is an oldie, but I love it.  I watched this starting two years ago and was heartbroken when it ended.  But the ending was amazing! The Upper East Side is portrayed in a creative light when there are scandals, affairs, and even death (sometimes fake death).  I love the show for its creativity, drama, and suspense.  You never wanted to stop after watching one episode.

The Hills

Now, I am a huge Lauren Conrad fan, so I was quite disappointed when she left.  I wasn't really a Kristin Cavallari hater, but I had stop watching it when Lauren left.  The Hills was really exciting to watch and follow the disaster of a relationship that became of Lauren and Heidi.

Pretty Little Liars

I have been a fan of this show since the beginning, and I haven't missed an episode!  As much as I love this show, I have to say that this season is having a slow start. (what do you think? tell me in the comment section!)  But, I am still a fan, don't get me wrong!

Teen Wolf

Love, love, love this show.  Rachel actually forced me to watch it, and I have been hooked ever since (it took me one weekend to catch up on season 1 and 2, and then a week later season 3 came out!)  I just love every character so much and want to be friends with all of them.  I am totally loving this season, and I thought that with the Alpha pack, I wouldn't like this season, but I am really loving it!  Thank you Rachel!

Vampire Diaries

Now that I have given my thanks to Rachel, I think it is fair to say that I will be forcing you to watch this.  I started this series at the beginning of this summer, and am now officially caught up, and officially obsessed.  Nina Dobrev is so beautiful, and has such a beautiful look in this show, and I absolutely love the darkness of it!  The storyline of this is so enthralling and I cannot wait until season 5 to come out.  Don't get me wrong both are incredibly hot and awesome in their own way, but I am head over heels in love with Elena and Damon together.  Let me know in the comments if you are a Damon or Stefan fan!

Love,
Caroline

Wednesday Wonderings: Facial Cleansers!

Hey everyone!

Today I am going to talk all about facial cleansers!  Most people use a cleanser and most people end up trying out many different ones in order to find the one that's just right for their skin. But behind the unique aspects that make people pick one cleanser over another, there are common ingredients that make all of them work the same general way.  Today I am going to explore what makes them work and what extra step you should be taking to keep your skin healthy and beautiful!

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser

Cleansers are basically used to clean off all of the oil, dirt, and makeup that clogs your pores.  Some people use their cleanser as their makeup remover and some use a separate makeup remover, its all a personal preference, but the general idea is to remove unnatural or irritating substances from your skin.

Cleansers do just about the same thing as soap and detergent, but in a much gentler way that isn't harsh on one's skin.  Cleansers work by breaking down big substances on the skin (oil, dirt, and makeup) into much smaller ones that are easily washed off.  The difference between traditional soap and a cleanser is that cleansers are typically made with synthetic detergents which, while cheaper and easier to make, are also much gentler on the skin.  Soaps contain ingredients that easily make the skin dry and irritated.  Cleansers, while they still contain some of these ingredients, contain a much smaller amount in order to keep dryness and irritation to a minimum.

If you use a cleanser, you should always take the extra step of moisturizing your skin afterwards.  Since there are drying effects of cleansers, adding moisture back into your skin is the best way to treat it after you've removed the harmful things.  Think of it as taking out the bad and replacing it with the good!

Hey! I think I just accidentally included a life lesson into this post! Cleanse your life by taking out the negative things in it and then make sure to moisturize it by adding in some positives!

Much love,
Rachel

Wasted or Not Wasted Wednesday: Lilly Pulitzer Agendas

As many of you may know, Lilly Pulitzer agendas are ever so popular, but if you are picking one up for the first time, and you see the price tag, you may think "is it worth it?"  Read on to find out if I picked up a new one for this up coming year.

Last year, I grabbed my first Lilly Agenda, and shyly gave away my $30 to the cashier.  I wanted it because it was pretty, and I hoped that it would keep me organized, but I never imagined that it would end up being a life-saver when it came to school and time management!  Mine is only little worn out (but still overly used) 10 months later.  Yes, the $30 was well spent.  Each page was bright and cheery, perfect for those cold winter months where I was stuck in Spanish class understanding absolutely nothing.  The full calendar pages were perfect for planning my weakly schedule, and the day pages were great for putting all of my homework in one place.  I didn't forget an assignment once! (unless I did on purpose...)

So being the person that I am, I picked up the 2013-2014 Agenda without hesitation on the first day that it was available at my nearest Lilly retailer.  This years agenda is filled with new stickers that are so cute! It makes me want to go to the beach right this second wearing only Lilly clothing and sipping out of my Lilly Koozie, but blogging this is just as good!  I decided to get the Tropical Pink Lulu pattern, but I was debating between the Resort White Chiquita Bonita and the Turquoise Lets Cha Cha.  I originally decided on the Turquoise Lets Cha Cha, but after I went to the cashier, I turned around and picked up this one and now I have no regrets!  The thing I love about these agendas is that it shows the personality of the person carrying it.  Mine is pink and flirty, and I hope thats what this year looks like for me!  This upcoming year could be a toughie, but this planner is going to keep me on task and ready to conquer each day!

Let me know which pattern you are picking up!

Adios chiquitas,
Caroline

Tuesday Tips: The Perfect Curls!

Hello lovelies!

This week for Tuesday Tips I'm am going to give you some great tips on how to get beautiful loose, wavy curls!  These are super bouncy and natural and look beautiful for the summer!  Keep in mind that this isn't exactly a tutorial; this is more just me sharing a few quick things that will help you achieve these long-lasting, beautiful curls!

Awkward selfie (sort of)! 

These are the only things I used to achieve these curls!

Garnier Fructis hairspray with extra strong hold, Conair 1-1/4 ceramic curling iron, a wide toothed comb 

Tip #1!
To achieve this these curls you don't to go out and buy a curling wand! If you own a curling wand that's great, but it's not necessary! Using a normal curling iron like I do still gives beautiful curls and saves money! Why spend money on a product when you can achieve the look with things you already have?

To curl the hair with a normal curling iron, you do just as you would with a curling wand.  Simply wrap the hair around the curling iron while holding the clamp open. It works just as well and gives the same results! I like to curl in alternating directions with different sized pieces and for different lengths of time to give more texture and shape to the look!

Tip #2!
Don't hairspray too much! Too much hairspray will give your hair a crunchy, oily look. You want your hair to be bouncy and natural looking so avoid spraying till the very end!
To make sure the hair doesn't fall before you hairspray it, reform the curl and hold it in your hand once its off the curling iron and wait for it to get mostly cool.  This will ensure the curl is molded in the right shape as its cooling!  Once all of your hair is curled, then you can hairspray!

Tip #3!
This might seem counterproductive, but the KEY to this look is to comb all of the curls out once they are cool and right before you hairspray! Combing the curls will blend all of them together so it looks natural and beautiful!

A couple close-ups to show the texture and shape of the curls

I absolutely love curling my hair!  I always feel like I am treating myself when I do because I am putting good effort into it!  Give yourself a treat this week and curl your hair.  It'll instantly make you smile!

Much love,

Rachel

Tasty Tuesday: Dark Chocolate Goji with Raspberry

So if there is one food I literally cannot put down it is the Brookside Dark Chocolate Goji with Raspberry.  I pretty much pick this up every time I go to the grocery.  The chocolate melts in your mouth, and the gummy-like texture Goji berry with Raspberry is so chewy.  The two flavors and textures complement each other amazingly.

There are two other types that Brookside also has: Dark Chocolate Acai with Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Pomegranate.  All of these Flavors have dark chocolate surrounding a gummy-like texture that is infused with one or two fruits.  My favorite, of course, is the Goji with Raspberry 

I had never had a Goji berry before I tried these, so I did some research.  The Goji berry has particular health benefits in prevention against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and more.

I am sure most of you know the health benefits found in dark chocolate, but some of the main include: a lowered blood pressure, an increasing blood flow to brain, an increase in mood, a controlled blood sugar level, tons of antioxidants (which help protect from cancer and reduce signs of aging!), and it is high in vitamins such as Potassium and Iron!  Eating something as delicious as chocolate does not seem so guilt-worthy anymore, does it?

Between the benefits of Goji Berries and the benefits of dark chocolate, I can justify eating a little each day!  Go and try out some for yourself and let me know your opinion!

Love,
Caroline

Monday Musings: Things that Make Me Happy!!

Hey everyone!! 

Welcome to Monday Musings where I talk about anything and everything, basically whatever random thing is on my mind!

This week I am going to talk about some of the random things that make me happy :)

I absolutely love books and stories of any kind! I adore being drawn in to a story so completely that I can't stop thinking about it even when I'm doing other things. So I'm going to share my favorite book, TV show, and movie (sort of) at the moment!

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin! This is my new read and I'm absolutely loving it! As you can see my copy is quite battered up! I've watched a few episodes from the HBO series but I decided to read the books first. It's so easy to get into and really enthralling, so I have easily become obsessed! A fair warning, though, that these books are quite graphic and the HBO series is EXTREMELY graphic! So this is definitely not for younger audiences!

My absolute favorite TV show is Teen Wolf on MTV!! I'm completely obsessed with this show! I'm not someone that's into the whole werewolves and vampires thing, but Teen Wolf has totally sucked me in! I don't know how to properly express my love for this show but I have totally gotten hooked on it!

My favorite movie, you could say, at the moment is the 25 Anniversary Production of the Phantom of the Opera on dvd! I absolutely love this musical and I randomly came across this gem and had to order it! It never gets old for me; I could watch it over and over again and will always be engrossed in the beauty of the music and Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo's voices!

Apart from books and TV shows and movies, my room decor has been making me particularly happy!

I have a thing, some might call it an obsession, with warm and cozy fairy lights. I can literally never have enough in my room!

I was recently in Asheville, North Carolina and in a ton if their shops there were these star lantern-type things in the windows and me and my sister just had to get some!

So this is the most recent addition to my room's lights and I adore it! I have hung it right above my chair which makes for the perfect place to curl up and read a book!

There really was no point to this post except to share a few things that I love, so I hope it encourages you to check out some of the things I've mentioned or spice up your room with a few fairy lights!

Much love,

Rachel

Makeup Monday: Color Whisper

So recently I have been loving my Maybelline Color Whisper in Coral Ambition (I hauled it in this post).  It has been my go-to lip color all week.

This is the color it gives off after only two swipes!

First of all, it is so moisturizing, but the best part is the color it gives off.  What i do it swipe it on and then apply a bit of my Soap&Glory A Great Kisser Lip Moisture Balm which acts as another moisturizer, but also it has a nice sheen and the color is a sheerer version of the Color Whisper!
Overall I would highly recommend this color or any of the Maybelline Color Whispers!
Love you all!
Caroline

Friday Fashions: Off-the-Shoulder Trend!

Hey lovelies!

Welcome to my Friday series, Friday Fashions!
This week I am going to be talking all about the off-the-shoulder trend! I've been seeing this popping up all over the place and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to talk about it!

Dress from Free People, Top from Asos, Top from Free People, Dress from Asos

I absolutely love this trend! I think it is so versatile, so there's a version of it for everyone!  It gives off a very classic and effortless look while still being a little sexy by showing off the skin.  There's something extremely beautiful about the shoulders and collarbone, and this trend allows you to show off those gorgeous, feminine features!

These next pieces are my favorites! I've split them up to show you the different ways you can work this trend!


Flowy and Bohemian:
We'll start off with my favorite category!  I love these flowy, light fabrics, especially for the summer time!

Top from Free People

I love this top!  The crochet detailing on the neckline is so subtle and gorgeous.  The off-the-shoulder cut of this top is really able to show off that design and adds a definite hippy vibe to it!

Dress from Asos

THIS DRESS! I absolutely adore this dress.  I really am a sucker for white dresses with lace or crochet details.  I can't help but be drawn to them, they are just so beautiful!  I think the small straps add an interesting aspect to the dress that I really like, and the details on the bottom are just to die for.  The off-the-shoulder neckline looks so effortless and lazy.  I can just imagine walking around in a field of sunflowers in this dress.  I am so close to ordering it right now!


Crop Top:
I think an off-the-shoulder crop top with a pair of high-waisted shorts is so cute! Definitely something you would want to wear to a summer music festival!

Top from Free People

I think the outfit on the model is styled perfectly!  A patterned off-the-shoulder crop top looks adorable with denim high-waisted shorts!  This top adds a little bit of edge to the bohemian off-the-shoulder looks I showed earlier but still looks super comfy!

Top from Lulu's

This top is definitely edgier than the last crop top! It's much tighter fit and monotone color would make it look great with some patterned high-waisted shorts.  If you wanted to keep the true edge of the top, pair it with some distressed denim (like the model has) and some combat boots!  This is a truly versatile top and is sure to feel great during the hot summer months! 

Sleek and Structured:
These next two dresses are for the more formal occasions, or for those who aren't as into the bohemian trend.  They are definitely sexier and sleeker and would be great for a night out!

Dress from Lulu's

A little black dress! Every girl needs one, and this off-the-shoulder dress could definitely be it!  This GORGEOUS neckline and off-the-shoulder gives it a very classic but definitely sexy look.  I absolutely love how the off-the-shoulder trend is executed on this dress.  It definitely gives me an Old Hollywood vibe!

Dress from Asos

This body-con dress is designed with the off-the-shoulder trend that adds a sexier look to the vintage paisley.  This is another very versatile usage of the off-the-shoulder trend!  The shoulders make it very easy to either add a nude heel and pink clutch for a girlier look perfect for girls night out, or black booties and a dark cropped jacket for a sexier look perfect for a date or the club.



So if you can't tell, I'm loving this off-the-shoulder trend! There are so many ways to wear it and its the perfect addition to your summer or year-round wardrobe!

Much love,
Rachel

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Friday Favorites!!

Happy Friday!!

So today I am going to show you the things that I have been loving this week, and give a short review on each thing!

Favorite Face Product:

Boots Botanics Hydrating Night Cream

I talked about this in my haul post, and have since fallen in love with it.  The moisturizing feel that this night cream has makes me want to apply buckets of it on my face, but after you put on a little you won't need anymore moisture until you wake up the next morning! It is very light as well!  All around this is an amazing product and I would recommend it for anyone with normal to dry skin!

Favorite Hair Product:

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean shampoo

I use this once or twice a week (as I talked about in this post) to purify my hair.  After years of product build up, my hair has been weighed down with oils, sprays, heat, conditioners, and shampoo, but this shampoo gets rid of all of that build up and automatically makes your hair lightweight and breezy! I wouldn't go as far as to using this every day, but once every once in a while makes your hair feel and look so much healthier!

Favorite body Product:

Jergen's Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer in Fair to Medium

Finally they made a tanning lotion with no scent!  My favorite thing about this is that it goes on like a lotion, feels like a lotion, and acts like a lotion.  It doesn't feel slimy and gross, and it makes my skin soft and even toned.  People have complemented me on looking tanner after just one use of this! And i feel like an infomercial... whatever it takes to get the point across! 

Favorite video:

I have probably watched this video 20 times this week.  I saw it when Sam first put it out on his channel, but I rediscovered it this week and couldn't get enough! How much more hilarious can this get!

Favorite Food:

Blue Diamond Natural Oven Roasted Almonds with Sea Salt

These almonds have just the right amount of salt, they are so delicious! But the best part is the side of it that has a measuring section where it measures how much you have eaten.  Portion control is super simple with this!  If only everything had that handy dandy strip, or maybe that would just be scary...

Favorite Random Thing:

This blog!!  It is so much fun to just sit and type out everything you want to say in front of a computer screen! It has been so lovely!

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Cosmetic Corner: Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner Review!!

Hello there beauties!

This week is the debut of my Thursday series, Cosmetic Corner! I couldn't think of any catchy play on words that started with a T to name this series, so this was the best I could do!

To start off this series I thought I would do a review on my greatest and most important hair product, my shampoo and conditioner!!  I am currently using Pantene's Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner, and let me tell you, it's AMAZING!

I have a LOT very long, very thick hair.  I need a shampoo and conditioner that can handle all of that hair, and these products do!  One of the things I used to struggle with because of my hair was keeping its body and volume.  It is so heavy that it weighed itself down and could look really flat.  This shampoo and conditioner is designed for all the people with hair like mine because it is specifically formulated to NOT weigh your hair down!

The Aqua Light shampoo and conditioner feels just like it sounds! Light! It is created without the dyes and heavy chemicals of normal shampoo and conditioner that can leave residue and weigh down your hair.  These products leave your hair feeling weightless! As soon as I started using this I noticed how much more body and life my hair had and it definitely started feeling healthier because I wasn't taking the extra steps to add body to it.

The formula even feels light while holding it in your hand!  These products also wash out very quickly and well. I hate having a conditioner that takes forever to wash out and, even once it is out, never feels like it's totally gone.  This shampoo and conditioner doesn't do that at all! They go in and come out easily and the results have been amazing.

Even if you don't have hair like mine I would still recommend these products because there is no way you could go wrong with them.  10/10 would recommend!!

Stay beautiful,
Rachel

My Favorite YouTubers: Thursday Thoughts

So today I am starting my Talky Thursday series where I talk to you about whatever I please.  It could be something that I do, such as a routine, or it could be about a video or a picture or a person or an event, the list could go on and on, and the fun part is that it could be beauty related, but it also could be the opposite of beauty related... The point is that I talk. I should call it blah blah blah thursday that would make more sense!
Today I thought I would mix beauty and non-beauty and talk to you about my favorite youtubers!
Now the list goes on and on, however, I have narrowed it down to three categories:

1. Beauty Channel
2. Vlog Channel
3. Random Channel

1.  My favorite beauty channels are:
Zoey, She is so fun to watch because her personality is so genuine.  You can tell that she doesn't hide her true person in front of the camera.  She is who she presents herself to be, and I love that.  Her blog is also very interesting to read as well!
Next, Ingrid.  She is such an inspiration!  Everything she does is quality, and you can tell that she puts a lot of effort into each video.  Also, I have watched this video about 3 times now, and each time I learn to love Ingrid even more.
Lastly, Elle.  Elle is one of those YouTubers that you can never stop watching.  I think there may be a total of 4 videos on her entire channel that I haven't watched... and she has over 400.  Elle's videos (and blog!) bursts with quality.  Elle was the first person I ever subscribed to on youtube, and my love for her and her videos has only grown!

2.  My favorite vlog channel is:
Fleur! although I love her beauty channel, I wanted to put her down for vlog because it is seriously my favorite vlog channel out there.  First off, she vlogs more than every once in a while!  Secondly, she makes vlogs that people want to see.  Lastly, she makes it seem like she really cares about her viewers.

3.  My favorite Random Channels are:
Caspar! He is so funny yet so down to earth.  Also, he has blue eyes and perfectly touseled hair.  Need I say more?
Jack and Finn Harries.  Beautiful, British, Twins. Also very comical, and they make me want to speak in a British accent (I am quite good).

Alrighty! Now you have the general gist of my favourites (see what I did there)!  If you aren't subscribed to these lovely people then click on their names and then click Subscribe! (then spend days on end watching their videos).

Stay fresh,
Caroline

Wednesday Wonderings: Base Coats!

Hey everyone!

This is a series that I am starting called “Wednesday Wonderings” where every Wednesday I will delve deeper into a product or ingredient in a product.  This is a series for all those people who are curious about the products that they use and want to know what makes them work and why we even use them in the first place!

This week I am going to be talking all about base coats for your nails!

What do they do? How do they work? And is it worth it to use them?  Keep reading and I will answer all of these questions!

Base coats, in the simplest words, help your nail polish stick to your nails.  They also protect your nails from the damaging effects nail polish can have and, depending on the type you buy, even out the texture of your nails.

There are two basic types of base coats you can buy—plain and ridge-fillers.  Plain base coats protect your nails and help the nail polish stick, while ridge-filers use a thicker formula to also fill in lines, ridges, and grooves in the nails to make them look and feel smoother.

Seche Clear's Crystal Clear Base Coat and Essie's Ridge Filling Base Coat

So how do base coats accomplish all of this? 

Base coats are made up largely of cellulose chemicals.  These chemicals make the base coat sticky and act like a double-sided tape that adhered to both the nail and the polish.

Base coats are also made with substances such as protein, vitamin E and calcium. These ingredients help keep nails healthier and prevent breaking, splitting and peeling by strengthening the nails.  They also act as a moisturizer for drier and flakier nails.  Who knew you needed to moisturize your nails!!

This next thing is what I find super interesting!  The actual human nail bed undergoes a lot more motion that one would assume.  Our nail beds are actually in a lot of motion throughout the day without us even realizing it.  To deal with this, base coats have things called plasticizers in the formula that allow for flexibility and movement so that the polish doesn’t crack once it dries!

So is it worth it to use a base coat? The answer is YES!

Base coats extend the life of your manicure,  and strengthen and protect your nails.  Strength and protection are essential for having beautiful, healthy nails!  So even though it may take longer to complete your manicure, use a base coat! Your nails will thank you later!

My personal recommendation for a base coat is OPI's Ridge Filler.  This was the best base coat I've owned and I'm out of it at the moment so I definitely need to pick some more up!  For people like me who have noticeable ridges in their nails, this product works beautifully to really even out the nail's appearance.  10/10 would recommend!

Much love,

Rachel

Wasted or Not Wasted Wednesday! June 19

Hola beautes,
so today, as you can see from the title is a series called Wasted or Not Wasted Wednesday.  I thought this would be a fun series to do because each wednesday I can focus on a product that maybe I had been recommended, or I just stupidly bought, and give my personal opinion on it!
Today I am going to review a product that has been talked about A LOT.

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

read on to find out how I feel about it!

I absolutely LOVE this product.  I pair it with my Garnier Fructis Pure Clean shampoo every Sunday and let it sit in my hair for around 10 minutes.  It softens my hair so much so that I can tell a difference in the frizz levels by the next day.  I know some people who use this as their every day conditioner, and simply do not leave it in for an extensive period of time, and it works wonders for those people as well! Honestly, this product is probably the best thing that ever happened to my hair.  YES! I reccomend this.  I want to keep buying this until I'm old and grey!

Keep on shining,

Caroline

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Tuesday Tips: Packing!!

Hey guys, Rachel here! So I am leaving tomorrow morning for a short trip (about 5 days) to my grandparents and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do a post all about summer packing!

My trip is going to be a very informal, casual trip so there won't be much exciting stuff to bring.  However, this allows me to talk all about the basics that are essential to packing!

A basic rule when packing your essential clothing items (tops, bottoms, and shoes) is to work in 3's! Make sure you have a comfy item, a casual daytime item, and a dressier item.

The 3 different types of shirts I recommend bringing when you are traveling:

• Basic T's for lounging or messier activites
• Casual crew-neck or V-neck shirts for going out during the day
• Dressier shirts or blouses for nicer events such as dinner

The 3 different types of bottoms I recommend bringing (although I only brought 2 because I know I won't be needing jeans):

• Running shorts such as Nike's
• Denim or another pair of casual shorts
• Jeans, skirts, or dressier shorts

You can also use the rule of 3's for shoes! These are the 3 types of shoes I would recommend packing:

• Tennis shoes/Keds/Vans/Toms, anything that is closed toed and has laces
• Comfy, cute sandals
• Nicer pair of shoes such as ballet flats

The final thing I recommend using the rule of 3's on is jackets and sweaters! I am bringing these 3 types of jackets and sweaters:

• Big, soft hoodie perfect for curling up in during a long car ride!
• Over-sized cardigan. I got this from Forever 21 and literally live in it! Its super comfy but also perfect to wear with casual outfits!
• A nice sweater to wear over dressier clothes

My final clothing item that I am packing is a dress! Something comfy and church appropriate:

• This dress from Forever 21 is absolutely perfect for travel.  It is a thicker (but not heavy or hot!) somewhat stretchy material that doesn't wrinkle very easily which is perfect for when its crammed in a suitcase!

Now that we are done with clothes, lets move on to makeup and toiletries!

You want to try and bring as little makeup as possible, not only to save space, but to reduce the risk of  breakage that comes with travelling with makeup.  

I have done the impossible and managed to get all of my makeup and toiletries in this one bag!

Now let's see what I managed to fit in there!

• Covergirl BB Cream with SPF 15
• Rimmel London Stay Matte powder
• Clinique blush in Mocha Pink
• Maybelline Fit Me concealer
• Maybelline eyeshadow single in Made for Mocha (I use this along with the angle eyeshadow brush to fill in my brows)
• Tweasers! I always bring my tweasers no matter how short of a time I will be gone!
• Conair paddle brush
• A few bobby pins and hair ties
• Urban Decay Naked Palette
• Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara
• Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner (I think I will do a review on this later, because it is AMAZING!)

Other toiletries I recommend you always pack are:

• disposable razor
• Neutrogena makeup remover wipes because they take up much less room than rinse off makeup removers
• Toothbrush and toothpaste in a zip-lock bag because I don't want my toothbrush to touch anything other than my teeth!
• Secret Clinical Strength deodorant in Lavender
•  Nail Clippers!!! Always bring your nail clippers! Whenever I forget mine I always regret it because I end up really needing them

The final items to check off of your list are your accessories!

• A small purse or crossover bag.  This is my Tignanello crossover bag and it is perfect! It holds a significant amount, is cute, and easy to carry around and keep track of.
• Always, always bring a belt!
• Try and take as minimal jewelry as possibly since it can be so easy to lose.  The only piece of jewelry I am taking is my Wedgwood cameo necklace that I wear everyday.

Well that's about it! Now you can pack everything up in your suitcase and be ready to go!

I always like to leave out my clothes I will be wearing while traveling, my makeup bag so I can do my makeup (I always throw it in my suitcase once I am done), my purse, and my sunglasses.  At this point I am packed up and ready to get some sleep before I leave the next day!

I hope this helps all of you for when you have to pack for any future trips! Until then,

Stay happy and healthy,

Rachel