The Beauty Battle // Make-Up Setting Sprays

About a fortnight ago, I finally ran out of my Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray and found myself searching for a new, less expensive setting spray. I tend to use setting sprays in the summertime to avoid makeup running down my face and to control my oily T-zone, but I have to admit it isn't exactly a necessity. That is probably the reason why I decided to go for the NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray which is a fraction of the price of the Urban Decay spray. If you happen to be in the market for a setting spray, here is a condensed comparison of the two that may help you deduct the winner.

Rimmel // Mini Haul

So I went a bit ballistic today. Why didn't anyone inform me that the Rimmel Apocalips finally made it over the pond? I popped into Walgreens today and made a bit of a scene when I spotted them. I immediately grabbed about four and had to restrain myself. I ended up getting 'Big Bang' and told myself I could always go back for more. I am already in love and am afraid that I will be making a trip tomorrow to get more. I also noticed that we now have the Rimmel 60 Second polishes, and since they're only $1.50 each, I grabbed three. I had recently done a clear out of my nail polishes and I am so happy that I once again have a mint and lavender in my collection. They are essential for the summertime. I will be sporting 'Mintilicious' and 'Lilac Yo' for the next couple months. The other polish I bought is a beautiful mossy green called 'Sage All The Rage'. The polishes do streak a bit and you need 2 or 3 coats for a nice opaque look but the pros do outweigh the cons. The polishes are inexpensive, have thick brushes, there is a big color range, and they do dry quickly. In the picture above, I quickly applied 3 coats each [sorry about my cuticles but I was just too excited to wait]. I do think a top coat would make this look a tad better. All in all, it is great to have a bit of the UK here with us in the states. Less things to beg my friends to bring me over from London. Have you tried any of these bits?

NYX // Mega Shine Lip Glosses

Beige, Tea Rose

As I have mentioned previously, I don't have the best relationship with lipgloss. I feel like someone embedded in my mind long ago that lipgloss = child and lipstick = adult. The point I'm trying to get to is that I have found a rage of lip glosses that I love enough to put aside my adoration for a matte lip. The NYX Lip Glosses with Mega Shine have conquered my heart [or my lips] with their thick consistency, artificial cherry smell, and long staying power. I have been able to eat a whole meal and still look as if I just applied a fresh coat. It must be magic! However, I have heard some rumors that not all of the lip glosses in this range are made with the same formulation so you may have to be careful when purchasing them. So far I haven't faced this dilemma, probably since I'm only two lip glosses in. My favorite out of the two is 'Tea Rose' because it adds a significant amount of color to my lips and my overall complexion. 'Beige' is also beautiful but I fear I'm not the best at pulling off nude pinks. The test to see if I actually love a range of lip products is if I have two or more from the collection. So... it must be true love. Have you tried any lip glosses in this range? In what colors?

Let's Talk Fitness // 1: Introduction

This post has been without a doubt been inspired by the fact that I had my first session with a personal trainer yesterday. I have always been interested in health and fitness and the nutritional science overall. Since being healthy and happy both mentally and physically is a large portion of being confident and beautiful, I thought that my blog would be the perfect place to share my exercise routine and some healthy recipes. Now keep in mind that I am just a college student attempting to stay fit and not a professional.

Okay, let's start off with a bit of history. I was always involved in many athletic activities as a child: I danced for six years, I swam, I played tennis, did karate, and ran track. Unfortunately when high school came around, I became less active. I would go to the gym now and then and try out diets that I was curious about (nothing too drastic). I was never overweight but I wouldn't classify myself as skinny by any means. I have long muscular legs, broad swimmer shoulders, and then I got myself a big bootie and boobs. Also, I am almost 5'7". I guess some would classify me as curvy but I don't believe I fall into that category because I do not have very wide hips. I've maintained pretty much the same weight all throughout high school until senior year when I lost about twelve pounds. I must admit I'm not all sure as to how I managed to accomplish that because I wasn't try to lose any weight at that point. I assume it was because of extreme stress.

Me in January 2013

I'm sure all of you know about the infamous 'Freshman 15'. Luckily, I don't fancy beer so I did not gain that much weight, but I did gain weight from poor eating habits. The major problem was that my schedule was all off and I would end up eating dinner very late at night. Even though I began going to the gym regularly and began going to boxing and yoga, that late night Jimmy John's was making an appearance on my body. Also, I come from a pretty healthy household where we rarely have juice (too much sugar) and mostly eat whole grains. The transition from that to college definitely influenced my eating habits. When I came back home in the beginning of March for a weekend visit, my mom informed me that I had visibly gotten bigger.

I must admit that this upset me and I did get a bit obsessed with losing all that I had gained during the second semester. I ended up going to the gym almost every night for an hour to two hours and I started a food journal. I would burn anywhere from 500 to 800 calories a night. I know that isn't the healthiest mentality to have but it's been four months and I lost the weight and I kept it off. My next goal is to get more toned and get down to the weight I had at the end of my senior year. I don't want to be skinny, I want to be fit and healthy.

I know that this is more of an introductory post but I promise I will post more about food and specific exercises. Let me know if you guys enjoy this series! xx