"The" Change

AND HELL NO I'm not talking about Menopause! I'm way too young for that!! :)
Ahhhh Hello late 20s!! With my 27th birthday fast approaching it's no secret that I'm in that "almost but not quite 30" stage of life. It's also no secret that I used to be a smoker and sun goddess since I'm starting to notice the beginning stages of what my mother talked about all those years... the dreaded skin sag.... loss of elasticity, drying out, one hour in the sun makes you look like you a cowhide when it never used to in college stage.
YIKES. I never ever thought it would happen to me, but it did. And because it did, I'm having to adjust my entire skincare and makeup routine. The makeup I used to love before now make my face look pourous and chalky. The skincare that I thought I'd never switch from dries me out even more.
I've been at a combination stage on my skin for a little while, wanting desperately to make the jump from acne to anti-aging products, but everytime I did, breakouts would ensue. (inner monologue: "weren't my breakouts supposed to go away when I  grew up?!) I'd venture to say that for most, the 20s are a weird stage anyway, somewhere between adulthood and wanting to still be a kid.... and you don't need your skin causing more problems, trust me!!
After copious research, I've formulated a budget friendly routine that will ease you into the wide world of anti-aging while still keeping you pimple free! I can honestly say I don't think I've ever been happier with my skin. It's clear, it's glowing, it's NOT even close to looking 30!!

The routine for Morning and Night:

Wash your face with water that's on the cool side of warm. Anything too hot will strip the skin of moisture.
Product: Olay or Equate Classic Anti-aging Cleanser (I'm using the Equate, but couldn't find it online)
Price: 4.67 for Olay, 3.97 for Equate at WalMart
Why I love it: It cleans without stripping your face of it's moisture. and BONUS! it exfoliates and gets gross dry skin off! I'm an avid self tanner and there's nothing grosser (is that a word?! lol) than having an extra tan patch of dry skin on your face. EW.
Find it here: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Olay-Age-Defying-Series-Dly-Renewal-Cleanser-6.78-Oz/888150

Then Exfoliate some more (we hate dry skin!!) and fight Zits!

Product: OXY Maximum Cleansing Pads (I Use the Equate Duplicate)

Price: $4.67 for the Brand name. I think the generic's are around $2.82

Why I love it: Keeps my skin Crystal Clear and feels amazing! Plus I love that you can acutally see the dirt and makeup that the cleanser left behind. The ultimate clean!

Find it here: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Oxy-Maximum-Cleansing-Acne-Treatment-Pads/10898759

Finally, Moisturize that beautiful face!! 

Product: St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer

Price: GET THIS, $4.67 for a jar that will last for LITERALLY YEARS!!! What a steal! $9.34 for a 2pack!

Why I love it: A more appropriate title for this section would be Why DON'T I love this??!!? It's light but full of moisture, makes my skin feel CRAZY smooth, it makes my skin radiant, I Visibly have noticed a reduction in the small crows feet that I did have and an unsightly forehead wrinkle that has definitely softened. Best of all, NO BREAKOUTS! 

Find it Here: http://www.walmart.com/ip/St.-Ives-Swiss-Formula-Collagen-Elastin-All-Skin-Types-Facial-Moisturizer-10-oz-2pk/12560311

Next time I'll do a post about how my makeup routine has changed with my skincare and skin! 

Hope you all enjoy!

The Greatest Eyeliner Ever and Lining the Waterline

I've been a fan of black eyeliner for a long time. I use eggplant when I can find it, but it's rare that I do. I'm a self-sharpening kind of gal, and hate the mess of any pencil you have to sharpen yourself. Sure, maybe it's great and has a smudger at the end, but by the second broken tip, I'm OVER it. I had recently been stalking people's eye makeup as I felt like I'd fallen into a rut with my own and noticed how much of a difference it made when someone lined their waterline versus the rim of their eye.  (side note-- it's SUPER awkward when you find yourself really close to someone's face in a conversation because you are trying to stalk their makeup routine. I decided it was probably best if I just watched more youtube tutorials).
Lining the waterline makes your eye pop in a clean but smokey, piercing way that I've never ever experienced with lining the outside rim. One of my eyeliner Idols is my cousin Ashley. She looks like Cameron Diaz and has the most amazing blue eyes that she lines with navy blue eyeliner... check her out:

I KNOW. Gorgeous. You see why she's my eyeliner Idol. I never thought navy blue would be for me but with my recent rut, and the fact that I couldn't find eggplant liner in a self sharpening stick at target, I decided to just get so cray cray and opt for this shimmery, sapphire blue color. It's Rimmel London Exxagerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Deep Ocean. (wow that's a long frickin name for blue eyeliner!), about a 5 dollar pricepoint and OH so worth it! I got home, eager to play with my new purchase and have been hooked to this liner ever since. It's definitely lighter than navy but gives blue eyes a really great pop, not to mention that it goes on like buttahhhh.... I think on the next tube, I'll go back to eggplant or black, but blue has been a really fun addition to my makeup repertoire!!! (and hey-- if it makes me look anything like Ash, then.... WINNING!)

I highly recommend trying both the liner and lining the waterline instead of the outside of your eye. It can be slightly awkward at first ( like that friends scene where Rachel hates eyedrops ) but it's well worth sticking it out... check out what a difference it makes! 

Here's my eyes, lined with black, on the outside lash line: 

(not bad, but a lot of what you can see is just black eye makeup. I look like a raccoon already because of my circles... Lord knows I don't need any help!!)

And then here with the waterline lined with sapphire liner:

(Oh hey blue eyes!! Those eyes sure do pop and sparkle!!!)