Skin Care Routine

Hey guys!

Today, I was brainstorming and going through new blog ideas when I realized I had never posted a skin care routine blog. I know every beauty guru/ beauty blogger has probably already done a post like this one, but I figured I would give it a shot! I am by no means an expert or a beauty guru- this is just the routine that seems to work best for me :) 

A few things to note- I have combination skin (I have an oilier t-zone but dry around the cheeks), which tends to get a bit more dry in the winter. My skin isn't too sensitive but I try to stay away from harsh products and things that have a ton of perfumes/ dyes/ chemicals. I've been following this particular routine for about two months now, and my skin has gotten a lot clearer.

Now, let's get started!

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1. Cleanse

The first thing I do is wipe all the makeup off my face. I like to use the Pond Original Face Wipes, or the Simple Cleansing Face Wipes.  Most days, I only wear mascara, but I make sure to scrub every last bit off before I go to sleep. Also, if I'm feeling kind of lazy- let's face it, some days are just really tough- I'll only do this step. 

I'm trying to wash my face everyday; I do see a difference when I follow this routine each night. Trust me, your skin will thank you later if you take care of it now! After I remove my makeup, I use my Clarisonc Mia2 to cleanse my skin; just for reference, I have the "Sensitive" brush head for the Clarisonic.

I like to change my face wash every once in awhile, but I've been using the Clean & Clear Morning Burst Fruit Influsions Smootning Favoal Scrub in the "Yumberry/ Strawberry" scent (whew, that was a mouthful!).  

2. Tone

Toner helps remove any makeup, dirt, and/or oil that you may have missed while cleansing your face. It also restores the pH balance of your skin, so this step is definitely a necessity for me. Not all toners are created equal, but I've found that some of the drug store toners are actually pretty awesome! I've been loving the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Comtrol Triple-Action Toner. It doesn't smell great (the smell doesn't linger for very long, though), but it doesn't burn my skin. I just out a bit of toner on a cotton pad and swipe it across my face. Let your toner dry/ skin in before moving on to your moisturizer. 

Also, you don't have to buy any specific kind of cotton pad- they all work the same. I just happened to be at Ulta and figured I would pick some up while I was there. I normally buy the cheapest brand from Walmart. 

3. Moisturize

A good oisturizer is an essential, in my opinion. Honestly, I couldn't live without moisturizer- especially in the winter! I've been using the L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate and the Youth Code Texture Perfector Day/ Night Cream. They're a bit on the pricier side for drugstore moisturizers, but I think they're worth the splurge. I've seen a huge improvement in my skin since I started using these! Obviously, these are both marketed towards more mature skin, but I'm using these more for prevention. It's easier to prevent premature aging/ wrinkles than trying to make them disappear later on, right? 

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I hoped this helped! I'll talk to you all again very soon :) Until next time!

Keri <3

Varsity VoxBox Unboxing

Hey everyone!

My Varsity VoxBox came in the mail today!! I'm so excited to share these products with you- this post will be an unboxing only (no reviews/ first impressions). Once I've tried out the products for a bit, I'll do a review post :) 

Just for reference, here is a timeline for this VoxBox: 

October 1: Recieved an email saying I qualified for the Varsity VoxBox

October 10: Recieved tracking number and shipping conformation email

October 12: Recieved the VoxBox

So without any further ado, let's get started with the unboxing!

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DISCLAIMER: I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.com. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

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The Box

Surprisingly, this box was a lot smaller than the Mary Kay VoxBox I received a few months ago. I like the compact size- all the products fit nicely and nothing was squished. 

The Details

I'll list the names and prices of each product underneath the pictures, but here is the card with all of that information on it. This box is worth $19.16. Since it was completely free, I'd say that's an awesome deal! 

Clearasil Daily Clear Refreshing Superfruit Wash ($6.49)

Three small sample-sized pouches were included in the box. There is a decent amount of product in each sample- enough to wash your face once, I'm assuming. There is also a $1 coupon on the back of each sample. These coupons can be used on any Clearasil Daily Clear Refreshing Superfruit Wash, Scrub, or Pads. I've never used this particular cleanser, so I'm excited to see how it works for me!

Airheads Xtremes Bites ($1.69)

Honestly, I was really happy to see this candy included in my box! I'm not big on sour candy, but for some reason, I've always loved sour Airheads. These are "Rainbow Berry" flavored. To me, these are the perfect things to throw in my bag whether I'm going to school, the mall, a study session, or a movie. I can't wait to try these :)

Kiss Nail Dress ($6.99) 

I've used nail strips in the past, and I'm not really a huge fan. I'd rather paint my nails even if my manicure doesn't last more than a few days. That being said, these nail dresses may change my mind. Normally I don't care for the designs on these nail wraps/ dress, but these are absolutely adorable! They don't look childish or too cutesy- they look sophisticated and beautiful. I've never used the Kiss brand of nail strips, but we will see how it goes :) 

I also recieved a coupon for $1 off any Kiss Nail Dress. 

NYC New York Color Big Bold Plumping Shine Lip Gloss ($3.99)

I feel like the people at Influenster know me so well- the color of this gloss is perfect! The color is "Pleasently Plump Pink Rose (467)." It's kind of a coral pink color with pink and silver shimmer. I don't know how I feel about the whole "plumping" claim (I normally don't like gloss that leave a tingle on the lips) but I will definitely give this gloss a try. I love that this is a full-size product! Also, I haven't seen this on shelves yet, so I feel kind of special haha

Tide Pod (no price)

Because there is only one pod, Influenster did not provide a price for this sample. I used to use Tide Pods when I was in the dorms- it was so much easier to take one or two pods with me instead of lugging around a giant bottle of detergent. I use the "Spring Meadow" scent in the liquid detergent from Tide so I know I'll love the scent of this pod.

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Hope some of you guys found this unboxing post helpful and/or interesting. Check back soon for a full review of the items from this VoxBox. I'll talk to you all again very soon!

Keri <3

How To Clean Candle Jars

Hey everyone!

Fun fact- I like to scroll through Pinterest while taking a study break (I'm pretty sure most college kids do the same). Today, I saw some awesome DIY projects that only require glass candle jars and acrylic paint. Since I had some empty candles, I figured I would do a blog post about cleaning out the jars once you burn the entire candle. I don't know about you, but when I finish an entire candle I feel pretty accomplished :)

This is a really simple process, but it can be time-consuming. It usually takes me around 10 minutes to fully clean each jar. The great thing about this project is it doesn't take skill or concentration, and you can probably find everything you need somewhere in your home. 

So, on to the tutorial!

Materials:

- Candle jar

- Butter knife

- Dish soap

- Cloth or rag

- Nail polish remover (preferably with acetone)

- Cotton balls

- Water

Instructions: 

1. First, you want to make sure your candle is completely burned (no sense in wasting it!). There will most likely be 1/2" or so of wax left at the bottom of the jar. Place the candle in the freezer and let it sit for a few hours.

2. After the candle is complete cooled, use a butter knife to break up the wax into smaller chunks. This shouldn't take a lot of effort or force. The pieces of wax should lift right out of the jar once you break them up a bit. 

3. You may or may not need to do this step (I got lucky and didn't have to). If the glue from the wicks or the wicks themselves are stuck to try jar, just place some hot water in the jar and let it sit for a few minutes. Pour out the water, and you should be able to remove the wicks and/ or glue easily. 

4. Peal off the stickers from the outside of the jar. The sticker on the front of my candle came off cleanly, but the bottom sticker gave me some trouble. I used the butter knife to remove most of the sticker. After that, I took a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover and removed the rest of the stubborn sticker. 

5.  There may be some residue left around the inside or outside of the candle. Simply take another cotton ball soaked in the nail polish remover and wipe off the residue. You should be left with a squeaky clean jar. 

6. Wash the jar with warm water and soap to remove any stuck on glue or wax. I used a pretty abrasive dish cloth and Dawn dish soap. 

7. Enjoy your clean glass jar, and unleash your creativity!!

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I hope this tutorial was helpful and easy to follow! Be on the look out for more DIY tutorials- hopefully I'll make something out of these empty jars sometime soon :) Until then, thank for reading!

Keri <3

Syria

Hi, again.

Before I even get started let me just say this: I am not going to state my opinion on the situation in Syria. I don't want to offend or upset anyone, and I really don't want to start a debate/ argument over something that I cannot change. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I don't wish to state mine at this point in time. 

That being said, I came across this interesting article on Facebook. My high school World History teacher shared it on her wall, and asked everyone to take a few minutes to read it. The article, a statement from Vladimir Putin, is addressed to the American people. He goes into a little bit of detail about the situation in Syria, but he mainly focuses on what plan of action would most effectively end the violence in the country. I'll let you read it for yourself before I say anything else. 



Click the image above to read the article

This has to be the most interesting article I've read concerning the chemical warfare being used in Syria.  Again, without saying too much, this quote really struck a chord with me: "A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism."  However you feel about the current events taking place in Syria, I urge you to read the article.  Whether you agree or disagree with him, Putin gives us a new perspective on the incident and offers the world a solution to the problem.

Please don't think I'm pushing my political view on you in any way.  After reading this article, I felt enlightened on the situation.  If you haven't watched President Obama's address to the nation (from 9/12/2013), you can watch a video of that here.  It's a bit long, but, again, I think it's worth watching. 

Hope this helps you become more informed on current world events.  Thanks for reading, and I hope to talk to you guys again soon :)

Keri <3

Remembering 9-11

Hi guys!

Today's post is going to be very different from all of my other posts thus far. I want to discuss the events that took place on 9-11-2001. 

As an American, it's hard to think about those events without feeling an array of emotions- anger, sadness, a sense of loss, depression, fear. I cried when I woke up this morning, not for my own loss, but for the loss and suffering millions of people throughout the US. We, as a country, suffered tremendously after the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. However, I also feel a sense of pride: the men and women on United 93 made their country so proud. They were the heroes of 9-11. 

I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news. My third grade class was in the middle of our weekly spelling quiz before my teacher got a phone call. He immediately turned on the television, and we watched the events unfold. The first tower had already been hit, and we watched, in fear, as the next plane crashed into second tower. All the students in the school were asked to wait in the cafeteria until our parents could pick us up; my mom was at the school in a matter of minutes, and took my brother and I home.

I remember being confused and terrified. Being so young, I wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but I knew something was very wrong. I saw my dad sitting on the couch when I got home, and asked him what had happened. Him and my mom explained everything to my brother and I, but it was still difficult to understand the magnitude of what had happened in New York. My mom called my aunt (who lived in NYC and worked less than 5 blocks away from the Twin Towers), to make sure she was ok. Her and her family were alright, but extremely shaken and in a state of utter shock. Who would do this? And why? I couldn't comprehend it at the time. 

My family kept the news on for the rest of the day. We later found out another plane had crashed into the Pentagon, and another, headed for the White House, was grounded in a field in Pennsylvania. I don't remember much else, but what I do remember is vivid and will be etched in my memory forever. 

About a month before the attacks, we had flown to New York for my aunt's wedding. We had seen the Twin Towers from a distance. A year and some months after 9-11, my mom and I visited NYC for my birthday. Ground Zero, the site where the towers had once stood, was almost completely cleared of rubble and debris. We drove by a chain link fence where children and adults had pinned thank you cards to it. Some were tributes to family member and friends, while others were from one stranger to another. It was at this point I realized that these attacks, no matter how traumatic, had brought the country together. I remember hearing the song "I Am Proud To Be An American" on almost every street corner. The song still brings me to tears because of this memory. 

We grew strong once again, even though the War on Terror raged in the Middle East. I was never in support of the war, but I understand why it had to happen. We couldn't stand by and let another country terrorize the American people; we had to act. 

I still can't believe 12 years have passed since that day. It's hard for me to believe, even now, that the towers are gone and so many lives were lost in a matter of hours. 9-11-2001, the day that will live in infamy forevermore. 

Take some time- even if it's only a few minutes- to tell your friends and family that you love them. Make an effort to help the men and women that serve this great country. Donate blood, money, time, or whatever you can. Make a difference in someone's life. 

"United we stand, divided we fall." 

Keri <3