Leibster Award

Hi guys!

So I was nominated by the lovely Cindy from Cindysmusings to do this Liebster Reward tag. I was a bit confused to what it was at first but once I read her post, I thought this was a pretty cool idea! So thank you Cindy for nominating me. I'll leave the link to her post right HERE :)

So let's get started.

RULES
1. Thank the blogger who nominated you
2. Answer the set of questions they set you
3. Nominate 11 bloggers

First I'll answer the list of questions Cindy has left for me.

1. What are your aspirations?

Wowza. First question and it's already getting deep haha. I guess i'll just be honest. I have short term aspirations and long term aspirations. My short term aspirations would be to graduate with a high enough average to get into the graduate school I want. There's a school in California that I hope I get into once I finish my undergrad :). As for long term aspirations, I want to graduate from that school, start my career in California and hopefully along the way I become more "grown up". As in, being able to take care and fend for myself without the help of others because I think it's important to learn certain life skills (I tend to depend a lot on my parents woops.) since I also hope to become a good mother who can take care of her kids one day hehe.

2. Are there any food that you wouldn't touch with a 10ft pole?

For me, this one has to be Stinky tofu. I've tried it once before and it tastes just like regular tofu. HOWEVER, the smell is just so bad to me that I could never bring myself to go near it, let alone eat it again. I'd rather just eat regular tofu....because it tastes the same....what was the point of making it stinky? I don't get it.

3. What is your aim in life?

Other than the stuff I mentioned in #1..I guess my aim in life would be to live life without letting my anxiety choose what I get to do for me. I have to be more consistant with doing things for myself without worrying about pleasing others.

4. Have you ever experienced 'blogger's block' and how did you overcome it?

Of course I have! I'm sure everyone has. I guess I overcome it by taking a break and getting back to it after a while, or at least until I get an idea. I just feel like with blogging, or any writting, it shouldn't feel forced. I think it can most times come across in a person's post when a post is "forced out". So I tend to just wait it out, until I feel inspired again or just in the mood to blog. That way, everything just flows a lot more naturally and feels genuine.

5.What is your favourite non-living object?

Fairy lights. I just love them. They make a room so much prettier and they set a tone I really like. So enchanting, romantic and girly!

6. Name the actor you are a fan of and why

I really love Rachel McAdams. Every movie she's been in I love. I guess i'm just a sucker for those romantic flicks. And who can forget Mean Girls? Am I right?

7.What is your favourite makeup brand?

This is a hard one, because I have bits and bobs of everything. I guess i'll just name what I find myself reaching for the most. Rimmel, Maybelline & Benefit

8. Finish the sentence. To me, blogging is ________

an escape.

9. Would you be disheartened and unhappy if you didn't become big like other popular bloggers out there?

Not at all. I never started this blog with the plan to become "big". I started this blog as a way for me to escape and release some stress. I guess in the long run if I get more well known, then sure that would be cool. But becoming "big" was not the point of this blog. So no, I wouldn't be disheartened or unhappy.

10. Would you ever consider "vlogging"?

Haha I don't know! I don't think my life is that interesting to be vlogging.

And those are all of the questions!

I Tag
Antonella
Christina
Lily
Aimee
Sarah
Hannah
Shanna
Michaella
Cielo
Emily
Cate

Questions for nominees
1. How did you come up with your blog name?
2. What is your favourite book?
3. What are your 3 most favourite nail polishes?
4. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
5. What is your holy grail skincare product?
6. If you only had 3 days left to live, what would you do?
7. What is your favourite drugstore make up brand and high end make up brand?
8. All time favourite movie?
9. What are you wearing at the moment?
10. What is your favourite app?

Leave the link to your post below so I can read them!
Even if you weren't "tagged" by me, and you want to do this tag, also leave the link to your post below so I can read them as well :)

Have fun, guys :)

Love,
Kristie

My Skincare Routine

Hello everyone!

I'm sorry I didn't post last week, I had a lot going on so I wanted a small breather and take some time off for myself. On a more positive note, I am now back and I wanted to do a post on my current skin care routine because it was so highly requested. Those of you who have read my blog for a while now, know that I have acne prone oily skin and my main concern are dark spots that are left behind from a blemish. So the products that i'm going to mention are obviously catered to that. Also, I just want to apologize that most of these products are high end (most as in...all except 2) so I am very sorry if these items are not in your budget. It's just that I have tried many products for my skin over the years and this is what I have found to work the best for me.

So let's get started.

For both morning and night I like to use the Shiseido Ibuki Purifying Cleanser. I've mentioned this in one of my "monthly favourites" before. It's a creamy-thick cleanser that foams up once you add water to it. I like that it gives me a really deep cleansing and removes any left over makeup that I may have. I also like to actually cleanse my face twice with this, I just find that by cleansing my face twice I really get rid of all impurities and by doing so, I noticed that I don't get blemishes as often.

After cleansing, once or twice a week I will use the Rituals Brightening Face Exfoliator with Lotus flower & Moringa extract. This product has a similar consistency to lotion with very fine exfoliating grains (?) in it. The best I can describe it is that it's a lot more fine than the St. Ives exfoliating apricot scrub. This product has helped lighten my dark spots significantly and removes any dull/dead skin cells effectively. It leaves my skin very smooth and because it's like lotion, when I step out of the shower it doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped or tight.

For toner, I use the Garnier Pure Control Acne Astringent Lotion.  A lot of people tend to skip the toning step but I think it's important because a good toner will remove any impurities left behind from your cleanser if you do a crap job cleansing and it will also restore the skin's normal pH balance. This toner does both and it also helps soothe blemishes when they are present.

After cleansing and toning, of course the last step is to moisturize. I actually like to use two different moisturizers.

During the day, i'll use the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for combination skin. I know I dont have combination skin but I really like this moisturizer for day time. It's light and dries quickly. A little also goes a long way for me. It's a good everyday, "student budget friendly" moisturizer that will do the job.

At night, I use the L'Occitane Divine Creme which I believe I mentioned in my "May Favourites". It's a rich, luxurious moisturizer that is simply amazing. It has a lot of ingredients in it that are very beneficial to the skin. My overall complexion has improved since using it. Of course it also helps lighten my dark spots which is always good in my books. I like to use this one at night as opposed to the day because it's a lot thicker. I like to have my skin soak this up undisturbed. I find that if I wear this during the day, because it's a thicker cream, my face will become oilier quicker because it's being exposed to impurities, sweat and the sun, so it's just not nice to
wear during the day.

A few times a week I will also do a face mask. The one I use is the Origins Clear Improvement Active charcoal mask to clear pores. I did a full review on this product a few months ago so you can read on how I like that HERE :) .

And that's it!

That is my current skin care routine. Leave a comment below telling me which product you love most in your skin care routine or any suggestions you'd want me to write a post on in the future :)

Until next time

Love,
Kristie

Flowers & Sunshine | Summer 2014

Shirt: Brandy Melville

Cardigan: Brandy Melville

Shorts: Old Navy

Shoes: Spring
Backpack: Pink

Love,

Kristie

Face of the Day | Summer 2014

Hello everybody!

I'm not usually one to wear eyeliner on a regular basis since I like to keep my makeup pretty natural..But today I thought "what the heck" and decided to do a cat eye. I'll list the products I used below. Also, I'm drinking an iced green tea "organic detox" with two pumps of agave from David's Tea, If you were wondering!

BENEFIT They're real push up liner

BENEFIT They're real mascara

MAYBELLINE Babylips in Cherry

I'll talk to you guys again in my next post!

Love,

Kristie

La Vie en Rouge

I don't know about you guys, but a red lip always makes me feel like a million bucks. So today I wanted to show you guys my favourite "red" lip products. A lot of these aren't truly red, they're more off red. Also, a couple of these lip products you guys will have already seen from previous blog posts. I just want to add that the pictures below are taken with natural lighting haha, in case you were wondering (and I'm wearing a tank top!  My hair covered the straps so it doesn't look like I'm wearing a top..:S awkward territory...eek.).

So let's get started.

1. Maybelline Babylips- Cherry
I'll start off with one I wear almost everyday. No surprise here, it's the Maybelline Babylips in Cherry. I wear this one everyday because it's easy to just slap on, it's moisturizing and smells delicious haha. It's perfect for school, on the go and one I would reccomend to start off with if you're new to colours since it's just a tinted lip balm and super sheer.

2. Mac- Lady Bug
This lipstick is actually my first "big girl" as in "high end" lipstick. It's a lustre finish which means it has a more moisturizing formula with a bit of shine to it. I would say this lipstick is a great pick to start off with if you're new to red lipsticks and aren't scared to dive right into them. It's a very natural red and buildable. This means it can apply super sheer and tint-like if you just dab it onto your lips for a bit of colour, or you can build up the intensity with a full layer or two. Either way, it's a beautiful red that will suit almost everybody.

3. Wet n Wild- Hot Red
This is the cheapest lipstick I own. I believe I bought this for under $2 at my local drugstore. I like this lipstick because when I first came across it, I thought it could've been a dupe for Mac Lady Bug, but I was kinda off haha. This lipstick is super bright, super pigmented and super cheap, so you can't really go wrong picking this one up. When applied lightly, it has a bit of a pink undertone but once you build up the colour, it's simply a bright red. The only complaint I have about this lipstick is that it can be drying. So just apply a good lip balm underneath and you should be good to go.

If you find that it's hard to tell the difference between Mac Lady Bug and Wet n wild Hot Red because of the pictures (sorry!!), here is a swatch of them side by side. Hot Red is on the left and Lady Bug is on the right! As you can see, Hot Red is a lot more brighter and pigmented where as Lady Bug is more sheer and not as bright.

4. Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick-107
This is actually my favourite lipstick to wear during the winter time. It's dark, vampy, but so wearable and pretty. It's a berry-wine colour with a matte finish. It's very long lasting and for the summer time, I actually like to lightly dab this product onto my lips for a slight flush of colour. Wearing this at its fullest opacity is too much for me during this time of year, especially during the day. But for the autumn/winter time, this lipstick is perfection. I think it smells really sweet too, kind of like candy.I also just wanted to add that with this lipstick I like to go quite simple on the eyes since it is very bold. So just some eyeliner and mascara would suffice. I think adding any shadows would be too much.

5. Tony Tint-01 
This is a lip tint that was featured in a previous post. It's by a Korean brand called Tony Moly I believe..I really like the colour of this tint, it's a deep red and it gives the effect you'd get after sucking on a red lollipop. When I wear this tint, I actually prefer to wear it on top of the Maybelline Babylips in Cherry to intensify its colour. This product however, works just as well on its own. It's a tint so it will stain your lips and stay that way all day until you remove it. It will become a bit dry after a few hours, but I think that happens with most liquid tints. So just apply lip balm with this product and all will be well :).

And those are my favourite red lip products! I hope I explained why I like each one well, and hopefully I kind of helped those of you who are new to red lips and are planning on getting your first bold lip colour :)

What is your favourite lipstick? Let me know in the comments below!

Love,
Kristie

My June Favourites

Hi guys!

Where has June gone?? This month has come and gone so fast. Anyway, it's time to do my June favourites! I enjoyed some new products this month. I've decided to also include music and people favourites to the whole bunch.

So let's get started.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
why is the picture yellow? I have no idea. I'm not super familiar with make up sponges, but I decided to pick this one up when I found out that the Cover Girl 3 in 1 foundation applied so much better with a damp sponge. This sponge is super inexpensive, and I especially love that it has a pointed tip which is great for concealing and the shape makes it easy to get into more difficult areas such as, the sides of the nose. This is a great sponge to pick up If you're new to sponges like me, it leaves a super natural finish, blends founation and concealer beautifully and its easy to clean as well. I have not personally used the beauty blender but I've heard that a lot of people prefer this real techniques sponge over the beauty blender.

Shiseido Ibuki Purifying Facial Cleanser
My mom is a huge fan of Shiseido facial cleansers, so when she brought this one home, I didn't hesitate to try it out. It has a thick creamy consistancy and when you add water to it, it foams up. It cleans super well, and is definitely a more luxurious cleanser. It also has a really pleasant smell. I like to wash my face with this twice after removing my makeup to really get rid of the make up, dirt and oil that accumulated throughout the day. I also found that by cleansing my face twice has improved my skin a lot.

Target Exfoliating Loofa
Words can not describe how in love I am with this loofa. Plus, it's not just a normal loofa, it's an EXFOLIATING loofa. I feel like this loofa has helped my body wash work so much better. I can not shower without this loofa, it does a really good job removing dead skin cells, leaving my skin soft, smooth and clean. Plus it's super inexpensive!

Bath & Body Works Island White Pineapple Hand Sanitizer
I picked this up because I work in retail so its just nice to always have hand sanitizer handy. I am personally not a fan of a lot of the hand sanitizer scents they have at Bath & Body Works. This one however, I really Like. So much so, that I went back and bought 7.

The Fault in Our Stars (Film)
I read the book last summer so I was incredibly stoked when I heard they were making a movie. This movie is perfection. I think it remained faithful to the book which I really appreciate. Ultimately, I really enjoyed this movie and I can't wait until it comes out onto DVD so I can buy it and then watch it over and over again. TEEHEE. (Picture courtesy of Google).

X - Ed Sheeran (Album)
I have been Ed Sheeran crazy this month. There are so many songs I love from his new album. Some of my favourites are Sing, Don't, Thinking out Loud, Afire Love and I See Fire. (Picture courtesy of Google).

All of The Stars- Ed Sheeran
Surprise, surprise! More Ed Sheeran. This became my favourite song after hearing Ed Sheeran perform it with Christina Grimmie on The Voice. Then I got super excited when I found out it was written for The Fault in Our Stars. I have been playing this song on repeat alongside other Ed Sheeran songs on his new album. So definitely a favourite!

And lastly, my favourite person of the month is...

Makeupbymandy24
You guys probably all know her, she's a 14 year old beauty guru on YouTube. I really enjoy her fashion, outfit videos and when I first discovered her, I couldn't believe she was only 14. She has already accomplished so much at her age so it's very inspiring to watch her grow even more. (Picture courtesy of Google).

And those are my June Favourites! What did you guys enjoy last month? Let me know in the comments below :)

Until next time.

Love,
Kristie