Face-care Routine for Normal to Dry Skin

        I am finally home in Georgia, and it feels marvelous! I packed pretty small for my visit since I'm only here for about two weeks. I only brought my basic needs and decided that it was the perfect time to do an update skincare routine. My skin is much more normal during the summer and especially here in Georgia where it's humid, but I still kept my skin care routine from the winter and it's still working for me. 

Morning Routine:

First, I wash my face with the Origins: Checks and Balance Frothy face wash. Washing my face is also my way of really waking up! This product is meant to balance your dry and oily areas, and I personally think it does its right job. (At night: I will use makeup remover first on days that I'm wearing heavy eye make up)

Second, I apply my Benefit Moisture Prep Toning Lotion. This thing is perfect for me in LA since it moisturizes as well as tones. 

Third, I moisturize my face with my Body Shop Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream. This product moisturizes my face thoroughly and I'm good for the rest of the day. It even lasts me through plane rides, and you all know how dry it gets in airplanes.

Night Routine:

 Before I go to bed, I will do all of the above, except for moisturizing, I will use my Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream. I apply more moisturizer at night since this is when my skin is repairing itself. 

and that's it for my face-care routine. Thanks for stopping by! 

Summer Nails

That day we just walked along the shore,

gazed at the sea and listened to its roar,

hand in hand with the sky in our view

orange, pink, and indigo blue

felt the salty breeze and the sand in our toes,

I looked up at him and kissed him on the nose,

this was a moment I will never forget,

the day we saw the beautiful sunset

For You Vacationers

For July 4th, I spent a perfect weekend at my boyfriend's place. His parents took us to Carmel, known as Carmel-by-the-Sea, and it is a beautiful little town. Before arriving at Carmel, we stopped by Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. It is a small beach that sits behind the forest, and many people come here for camping. It was very chilly, so we ended up walking on the purple sand,  taking a few pictures, and heading to Carmel. For those of you looking into road tripping down California State Route 1 (runs along the Pacific coastline), I would really recommend stopping by Big Sur and Carmel!

Bixby Bridge 1932

Purple sand from rock minerals!

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel is a peaceful and romantic town. It is a cultural hub for the arts, filled with exquisite dining. It is also lined with a gorgeous beach, which is popularly known for its white sand. Whether you're looking to getaway with your significant other or vacation with your family, Carmel is definitely worth the visit.

Dinner at La Bicyclette (Italian/ French)

Lunch at Dametra Cafe (Mediterranean)

Alameda County Fair

For the last day, my boyfriend took me to the county fair. We are still kids at heart :)

This weekend was amazing! Now back to my daily shenanigans in LA.

New Product Review: Tarte

After months of hearing good things about the Tarte Amazonian Full Coverage Clay Foundation, I finally decided to try it out for myself. I got mine in light-medium sand, which is for light to medium skin with yellow undertones. It's been a few days since using this product and so far I am really liking it. I say that it definitely meets up to its praise. You only need a dollop and it will give you full coverage, while feeling light on your skin. It also has a matte finish. 

When I was at Sephora, I was looking for a new face primer that would go well with the clay foundation, and they recommended me any of the Bare Minerals primers. I learned that brand products that use natural ingredients, such as Bare Minerals and Tarte go best together. So, a smash box primer would be best with a smash box foundation or even a Make Up Forever one. Therefore, I ended up getting a sample of the Bare minerals Brightening Primer, and it goes amazing with the Tarte Foundation. The shimmery primer pairs well with the mattifying foundation, giving my face a healthy glow. 

Last but not least, I've been using a Sonia Kashuk beauty blender to apply my foundation. It's a lot more affordable than the original one beauty blender, and personally I think it works great. I would usually wet the blender a little before applying, but I started spraying the Eau Thermale Avene spring water spray (from Ipsy) instead. I'll just spritz a little on my face, flap my hands a little to air it out, then apply the foundation. It does the same job! 

I would recommend this foundation to anyone who's looking for a foundation that is light but gives good coverage for the summer. It also contains SPF 15 in it to protect your skin. This is actually my first Tarte product, and I would love to try their other stuff.