I consist of flesh and citrus and lots of words.

A few posts ago, I mentioned my Khaleesi-worthy dragon skin and how it was ruining my life. Basically. Although those shiny scales make her baby dragons look fierce, they don't do the same thing for me. The skin around my mouth, nose and chin was so dry and stiff that I felt like I was wearing a mask constantly. Blame the weather all you want, but something had to be done about it. I don't know where I began seeing Vitamin C moisturizers in conjunction with repairing dragon scales, but all of a sudden I just knew that I had found the cure for my woes. And I did indeed. 

Snooping around CVS, I stumbled upon a little pot of moisturizer by the name Lumene that just so happened to also have the happy little phrase "Vitamin C+ With Arctic Cloudberry". Now, I do not know what a cloudberry, let alone what an arctic one is, but I knew it was coming home with me. According to Ulta's website, "the plant sterols in the Arctic cloudberry seed oil rejuvenate the skin's natural protective layer". Okay, whatever. Sounds good, let's give it a try. There were two sizes (one regular and another miniature) and seeing as the price of the full size pot was around $20, I went ahead and said hello and thank you very much to the mini ($4). 

YOUR SKIN WILL SMELL LIKE DESSERT AND YOU WILL SEE RESULTS IMMEDIATELY. 

Am I selling it yet? How about when I tell you that Jonathan (who fears cleaning his face as much as a cat fears a lake) willingly offered to test it out because he said it smelled so good? Really, it just smells like a lemon cake and an orange had a baby after getting it on in a really clean bathroom. It smells fresh and clean and everything you could ever want in something that goes on your face. Not only does it smell nice, but it actually works. I think everyone who knows me knows that I'm a freak for St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer (it is clean, soaks into your skin within minutes and leaves your face/wherever feeling plump and hydrated) but I think this Lumene is replacing St. Ives...at least for night time use.

I bought the night cream, you see. As you can imagine, it is thicker than a day cream and hangs out on your face for quite a while. Within an hour or so of using it for the first time, my skin felt human again. I could noticeably see my skin becoming smoother and alive. When I finish my little pot (I'm about a third of the way through in a week's time) I will definitely suck it up and go spend the money on the full size one. I just wish I had known about this miracle worker ages ago, when winter made my skin want to hide. Now I know, and now YOU know. 

Lumene isn't the only citrus I'm embracing! 

^swatches shown left to right, starting with Rendezvous and ending with Tutti Fruity

Corals and oranges are colors that I have always enjoyed. On other people. I've always found them hard to wear and have always been so self conscious when they're on my lips. However, with the changing of the season, I have finally embraced the lighter lip. Move over orange pop sickle, I'm here for the real thing. I'm currently fangirling over:

-Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous.
This isn't as long lasting as the other Just Bitten stains, but it sure is beautiful and gives a nice foundation for my favorite orange-y lip glosses. Plus, the minty scent makes your lips wake up and makes you feel refreshed.

-Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Cantaloupe Cream
For a long time I avoided Almay's Liquid Lip Balm line for fear of an allergic reaction that ended up being caused by another product. I had put blame on these poor things an

d now I deeply regret it because the whole line are my absolute go-to's now. Cantaloupe Cream is a lovely little shear pop of orange without making commitment to the color. No stickiness and all the shine!

-NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler
Like the Liquid Lip Balms, the Butter Glosses have turned into a go-to to put over my Balm Stain. It's juicy, smells like childhood and doesn't break the bank. What's not to love?

-Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Tutti Fruity
These puppies have received so much love it's almost silly to try and convince you to love them, too. You probably already have a stock pile of them in every shade. It goes without saying that this little number is well worth a go. It is moisturizing and a lovely pop of color once again without too much commitment. My only issue is that it picks up on any dry patches my lips may have. Solution? Glide on Cantaloupe Cream or Peach Cobbler and you're good to go.

Back to St. Ives. You know I can't go more than a few paragraphs without giving a shout out to perhaps one of my favorite product lines. As a long standing lover of the Apricot Scrub, when I saw this (is this new) new product, I had to give it a try. The promise of a pink lemon and mandarin orange scent was enough to get me to toss it into my cart, let alone the "even and bright" bit. 

After having played with it for a few weeks, I do believe it has replaced my apricot scrub, at least on a more regular basis. For a deep deep scrub, I would still reach for the apricot, but this pink lemon and mandarine orange scrub has weaseled its way into my nightly routine. The exfoliating bits in it are unlike any I have ever tried. Have you ever played with that fake sand stuff? If so, you'd know what I'm talking about. I am of half a mind to suggest that is what this is made of. Either way, this gives the perfect amount of exfoliation. The little beads do not dissapear a second after rubbing yet they are not rough and scratchy. Your face smells great and feels clean and you didn't even have to sit through an awkward and expensive session with an esthetician! As far as evening and brightening...eh...that is rather subjective, isn't it? My skin is always in a state of change, for better or worse. Sometimes I wonder if it is controlled by the moon. Regardless, this puppy won't be leaving my shower anytime soon and I will continue to walk around smelling like an orange.

And there's nothing wrong with that. ;)

xoxo

*I used the photo of Lumene Bright Now Vitamin C Cream found on Dermstore.com*

http://www.dermstore.com/product_Bright+Now+Vitamin+C+Night+Cream_23886.htm

is oil pulling worth the hype?

How long has this whole oil pulling fad been around? I've at least been hearing about it for a year or so - if not longer, and have always written it off as something that probably works but requires too much effort to attempt. I have long-since been an extreme believer in coconut oil (thank you, mom) and use it in pretty much every way possible. I deep condition my hair with coconut oil. I shave my legs with coconut oil. I cook with coconut oil and even feed it to my dog (she loves it!). All these things have had me in awe of this wonderful product of nature - so why was I so hesitant to take a spoonful and swish?

First let's hammer down exactly what oil pulling is. Oil pulling is an ancient method of maintaining oral health. Typically, one uses sesame seed oil and swishes it around in their mouth (don't swallow!) for 10-20 minutes, daily. The oil absorbs harmful bacteria and toxins, pulling them from your gums/teeth/etc. It also (bonus!) whitens your teeth along the way. I don't know about you, but the thought of oil just hanging out in my mouth, having a pool party or some nonsense is not exactly a pleasant thought and honestly, I almost gag at the thought. When I was in high school and had to wear a retainer (so hip), I gagged at just having THAT in my mouth for a length of time. How am I supposed to stand a glob of oil? Regardless of my hesitations, this morning I gave it a try. 

I chose to use coconut oil because:

A) I am already a firm believer in coconut oil.

B) Everyone on Instagram uses coconut oil in THEIR oil pulling sessions and you have to fit in, right?

C) I am a poor college student who cannot afford to run about, collecting oils. I already own coconut oil so the prize pony picked itself.

Despite my reservations, I am here to tell you that it wasn't so bad. Once everything melted. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and the spoonful I put in my mouth was spit RIGHT back into the sink on impact. I just was not prepared for the feeling of a cold chunk of slippery oil to exist in my nice, safe and unsuspecting mouth. It was very unhappy at first. 

A little word of advice, go slowly. Try a little oil at a time, building up to swish-ability. If you put a giant heap in your mouth (like I did) you will be sick and hate your life, okay? Take your time and adjust to it unless you are some Bizarre Foods kind of gal...or guy. Eventually it'll melt and you'll be left with a relatively tasteless but very silky liquid. 

I was able to go beyond what I thought I could - about 15 minutes before I had to run out the door. I checked my teeth when I got to the car and although I am willingly suggesting that it could simply be my overactive imagination, they did appear a tad whiter. 

Regardless, I'm on board with this band wagon. My sun, my moon, my coconut oil. 

xoxo

Have you guys tried oil pulling? Let me know your experiences! 

any excuse necessary.

Do you have those products that you just stalk? You visit them in stores and you exchange loving glances with them, flirting, only to leave empty handed? You have something so similar at home that you know is waiting for you and you can't really justify spending $40 on this new one? If so, we have something in common, nice to meet you. 

All of a sudden an excuse falls in your lap. You saw a cute dog = you deserve a splurge. Someone made you cry = you deserve a splurge. YOU GOT A NEW JOB = splurge. By the way, I GOT A NEW JOB. (I'm trying not to get too excited just yet because apparently the training could require missing classes and my professors aren't exactly accommodating this semester...) However, let's all clap our hands (while keeping our fingers crossed) because I'm going to be a wine server at the Biltmore Estate! Woohoo, classy. I got the email and literally within the hour was at Ulta with the Lorac Unzipped palette in my paws. Any excuse necessary. 

Although the picture doesn't exactly show it, the colors in the palette are very similar to those in the Naked3 one. Except these have a more champagne-drinking-fancy-dinner-night look about them. I'm very excited to start testing the Lorac out and let you guys know if it's worth the addition to your collection. Until then, you'll find me in my bathroom, smothering eyeshadow all over myself in the name of celebration. 

Makes sense to me. 

xoxo

it is spring and look at this table.

^Morning 8 of Whole30. This is a fruit salad and not a bowl of cupcakes. :'(

I hate being hot. I hate being sticky. I hate when you have to watch your fruit bowl like a hawk because dumb ole fruit flies walk fly this earth.

BUT I do believe I'm ready for the sun.
I'm ready for happy Sunday farmers market adventures.
I'm ready for brilliant colors that greet you the moment you step outside.
I'm ready to try my hand at gardening, even if I'm bad at it.

If we all put our energy together, maybe we can make this warm weather stay. I swear, if I walk outside in a skirt one more time, only to be met by a harsh winter wind...

Oh, and check out this coffee table. It's a goooood looking coffee table, made by wonder-boy Rodney Coulston. He's amazing and shortly we'll be creating a little social media for him, so get your wallets ready!

P.S the table is actually pretty big, the couch is just a mammoth. 

xoxo