Friday, August 1, 2014

Japan Post #1: Tokyo

This is the first post showing my time in Japan last summer.  I think I'm going to divide the whole trip into three parts: Tokyo, Toyohashi, and Kyoto.  These will mostly be picture posts with some captions and whatnot.  I hope you enjoy!  

Takeshita Dori


Fightbots!

Omuraisu

Japanglish :3

Vegi-Tegi samgyeopsal!  One of my favorite meals ever.

Awesome building in Ginza


Hachiko

Green tea ice cream!

The view from Tokyo Tower.
I was really amazed at how clean Tokyo is for such a huge city.  It also felt very safe so walking around at night in a foreign country wasn't intimidating at all.  It was great and hopefully I will be back soon!  Okay, that's it for today.  Next time I will have some snippets about Toyohashi.  Hope you enjoyed this! 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Recent Everyday Face Routine

Recent Everyday Face Routine



Hi Everyone!
I decided to show you the products I've been using with consistency lately.  I will list these in the order I use them to give you a simple idea of what I do in the mornings. 

First of we have skincare.  I have been using these products for quite a while and have been loving them! 
  • Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser:  This product doesn't irritate my skin or completely strip it of its moisture.  It's perfect for using in the morning when I've done an intense cleansing with my Clarisonic the previous night.  
  • Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner:  I bought the sample pack of these and have been working my way through it.  I am quite pleased so far, although there a few scents I don't care for.  I will have a more in depth review of these once I've tried them all.  I apply this with a cotton round and let it sink in before applying my moisturizer.  
  • CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion:  I cannot rave enough about this!  I really struggle to find moisturizers that are hydrating enough for me that don't break me out and this has been doing a great job.  It has replaced my Korres Yoghurt Face Cream and Sephora Instant Moisturizer.  AND it's from the drugstore!  
  • CeraVe eye cream:  Nice and hydrating without leaving an oily residue or weird film.  I mostly use this in the evening, but sometimes I'll pop it on in the morning if my eyes look like they need some hydration.  
After I finish applying my skincare I move on the liquid and cream products.  I start with my foundation, then apply concealer where I need it, and lastly prime my eyelids.  
  • Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Spotless Foundation:  I like that this serum foundation is hydrating and easy to apply, however all of the shades are much to dark for me so I have to mix it with other products to get a decent color match.  
  • Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation: Another serum foundation, but with a way better color selection.  I bought a light shade of this to mix with the PF one.  
  • Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: This is probably one of my favorite concealers of all time.  It never looks patchy and doesn't settle into my fine lines.  
  • Maybelline Color Tattoo:  I have a million of these.  I use them under powder eyeshadows or just on their own.  
After my liquid and cream products I use my powders.  This usually consists of an all-over face powder, bronzer and a highlighter, in that order.   
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light: I use this to set my undereye concealer and any other areas that I don't want to have a super matte finish.  After I use a matte powder to set the rest of my face I will go in with this again and highlight my cheekbones and cupid's bow.
  • Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: I use this to set foundation and concealer everywhere else.  
  • NYC Sunny Bronzer: I stopped using this for the longest time but I've been reaching for it again this past month or so.  I generally use this to bronze all over and also contour my cheeks a bit.  
Lastly I move on to lip balm, color products, and mascara. 
  • Maybelline The Falsies Mascara:  This has been my HG mascara for quite a while.  I haven't found anything that holds my curl this well while still giving me tons of length and volume. 
  • Burt's Bees Lip Balm:  Another all-time favorite of mine.  I always prep my lips with this before applying lip color.   
  • Tarte lip pencils:  These are so easy to use and convenient to toss in a handbag.  I don't even need a mirror for application. 
  • Maybelline Define-a-Brow in Dark Blonde and Medium Brown:  This is just a really easy to use product.  I like that it is pigmented enough that it shows up, but not so pigmented that it looks like your brows are painted on.  There is a slight sheerness that makes it look very natural while still defined.  
Well, that's it!  I have been skipping the blush lately in favor of a more bronzed and highlighted look.  What have you been wearing recently?  

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Life Update: Japan, College, etc.

Hey Everyone!

Long time no see!  I know I keep saying I'm going to get back to posting on here more regularly, but I'm really going to put some effort into it this time!  I think I might make a post on my typical "everyday" makeup and skincare routines because they've changed quite a bit since the last time I shared.

This is as festive as I got for Halloween >.<


I think the biggest thing that has happened since I last posted is that I went to Japan for a month back in May/June.  It was beautiful and amazing and there's so much to tell.  I will definitely be making a separate post once I can organize all my thoughts and the bazillion pictures/videos I took.



Also, I still haven't graduated from university.  Mostly because I keep changing my major and can't make up my mind.  I have been wavering between art, foreign languages, and heath care.  I think I know what I'm going to do though!  My uni has a program that basically lets you design your own major if they don't have exactly what you want.  I'm going to see if I can basically create a makeshift Art Therapy degree and keep my minor in Japanese.  If it all works out how I think it will, I will basically have already taken 95% of the classes I need to graduate!  My overall plan is to apply to grad school for Occupational Therapy.  My uni has an amazing program that lets you get your doctorate in 3 years and I can really see myself being happy in that field since you get to work creatively with the human body and help people at the same time.  I think my Japanese minor might actually come in handy too, because there is a city near me with a pretty large Japanese population.

I don't usually do New Years Resolutions, but I did make some general life goals for the new year.

  1. Get back into yoga!  I used to be intermediate-advanced level when I did yoga twice a day, but now I rarely do yoga once a month!  I've noticed a decrease in my flexibility and an increase in my stress.  I also get more achey than I used to.  Lately it's been hard to carve out the time (and space!) for yoga, but I want to make it a part of my life again.  Even if it's only 2-4 times a week!  An even more longterm goal is to try aerial yoga! 
  2. Improve my general fitness overall!  I've been managing stress in all the wrong ways lately and it's led to a bit of weight gain and overall sluggishness.  At the very least I want to set aside 30 minutes for cardio every day.  
  3. Live up to my potential.  I'm someone who has gotten A's throughout high school and college with minimal effort.  I think if I actually applied myself I could do even more, especially in Japanese.
Alright, well that's all for today folks.  I plan to post again sometime this week or next week.  Talk to you then!