Where I've Been & Future Plans

 

Wow, look at that, I haven't completely fallen off the face of the earth!

First off, I need to apologize for the radio silence around here. My life got unexpectedly crazy busy over the last few months and hasn't stopped since. With my birthday, school, looking at universities and working, I haven't had time to think let alone blog.

I've really missed posting but unfortunately it doesn't look like things are calming down anytime soon. This does not mean I'm giving up on blogging because that is the last thing I want to do! However I doubt I will have as much time as I want to devote to this space until around the beginning of February. By then I'll have (hopefully) survived Christmas and exams and will be able to make a full return! By then I'm also hoping to have a new theme and have changed the look of the blog if I can figure out some of the technical stuff. I've got tons of ideas that I can't wait to share with you guys, so I hope you stick around!

- Faith Lorraine
<3




Winter Essentials | Body

As the Starks always say, Winter is Coming, so I figured I'd do a little series for you all about what I consider my winter essentials. (Also I really wanted to use a Game of Thrones references...oops).

 

 

One of the most important things to have during the colder months is a good body moisturizer. Most people, myself included, find that their skin dries out much easier in the colder months so its a good idea to revamp your moisturizing routine in order to combat that additional dryness.

 

 Some of my favourites include anything from the Vaseline Intensive Care line. They do amazing products that really hydrate but also absorb really nicely. They come in several nice scents, as well as an unscented version so that's always a plus! If you're looking for something a little more intense, a body butter might be what you're looking for. They take longer to absorb, but contain some really heavy duty moisturizers.

Next on the list is some sort of exfoliating product. Skin tends to get a little dull in the winter, so regular exfoliation will help to combat that. Freeman Beauty does a nice sugar body scrub that I like to use in the shower to exfoliate my arms and legs. However, it is waaay too abrasive for the much more delicate skin on your face. For that, I'd recommend Neutrogena's Deep Clean Daily Scrub. It exfoliates nicely without being too rough on skin. You may also want to add a chemical exfoliator to your routine, depending on your skin type.

Speaking of skin type, if your skin dries out very easily, some sort of heel moisturizer/treatment is a really good thing to invest in. Cracked, dry heels are never fun. I like to put lots on my feet before bed and then put socks on over it so it has a chance to absorb overnight.

 

I'll be continuing this series over the next couple weeks, so stay tuned for posts on winter skincare, makeup and possibly even fashion if I'm feeling brave. Thanks for reading!

 

xx Faith xx



Autumn Nail Polish Picks

 

 

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons for a lot of reasons, but I especially love all the beauty trends that come back during this time of the year. Nail polish is a particular favourite, considering how much I love typical fall colours. I don't find the bright colours of summer to be that flattering on my hands, so I love when September rolls around and I can pull out my darker shades.

 

Today I've picked three of those to talk about. I think these are three shades that are pretty different but kind of cover the whole autumn colour spectrum. Yup, we're getting technical today.

 

The Sally Hansen in 230 Nude Now is a really nice peach-toned nude. It comes off really pink in the photo but is actually a bit more neutral. This would be a good colour to match with a lot of different things, or if you're just looking for a nude that isn't quite as beige as some others.

 

OPI You Don't Know Jacques is one of my favourite polishes, partly because it's so unique. It has a "suede" finish, which basically means that it's a matte shimmer. The colour is a really nice medium brown with a hint of gold. If I could find them, I'd love to own more colours with this type of finish. The lasting power is also really great, so that's an added bonus!

 

Covergirl's Outlast Stay Brilliant in 275 Wine Stain is another huge favourite of mine. I have a full review of the product here but to sum it up, this is a really well-formulated, opaque polish that lasts a super long time. I would definitely recommend this, considering they're not too badly priced either. This oxblood/red wine shade in particular is a really classic fall colour that I'm absolutely in love with. I'm determined to find some clothes in this colour because I definitely need more of it in my life. :)

 

What are some of your staple autumn nail polishes?

Current Curly/Wavy Hair Care

 

 

Hey guys!

Today's post is all about curly hair maintenance. I have suuuuper thick wavy hair that has a strong tendency to frizz and recently I've found some new products that have really helped me make myself a bit more presentable. I figured I'd share them with you guys and let you know what I thought of them.

 

Both products are part of the Girls With Curls Collection by dippity-do. I spotted them in Walmart one day and was totally sucked by the gorgeous pink packaging. Oops. I did, however, manage to restrain from the shampoo and conditioner and only grabbed the Curl Defining Cream and Deep Conditioning Treatment.

 

I'll start with the Curl Defining Cream. Before this, I've usually only used foaming mousse type products on my hair, but I've found I much prefer this more gel-like formula. I already have thick hair so I didn't really need the volumizing aspect of the mousse, only the curl-enhancing properties. This product fits my hair's needs really well. Less is definitely more with this product. My hair can usually handle a lot of product without getting greasy or sticky, but it is easy to overdo it with this stuff, so consider yourself warned. The bright side of this is that one bottle will last you quite a long time.

 

While the Defining Cream is nice, the Deep Treatment is definitely the star of this duo. It's hands down the best deep conditioner I've tried. Most make your hair feel great and conditioned and all that jazz when you're fresh out of the shower, but the effects seem to fade pretty quickly. This one, however, is really awesome for actually moisturizing your hair long-term. My hair still feels soft and smooth into the second day. The only downside is because my hair is so thick, I need to use rather a lot and only get about 4-5 uses out of a bottle. However, I will still definitely be repurchasing!

 

 

What are your favourite curly/wavy hair products? I'd love to hear some of your hair care tips! Hope you're all having a lovely day!

Posting Schedule

 

Hi guys!

 

First off, I owe you an apology for the lack of posts and content lately! Offline life has been crazy lately, with settling into a new job and getting back into a routine with school.  

 

However, I think I've got my head on straight again and I'm so excited to start blogging regularly. I'm also looking to get a lovely new theme soon, so watch this space! New posts will be going up every Monday and Friday from now on, I hope you enjoy them! Let me know what you think in the comments, or if you have any requests or ideas for posts.

I hope you have a lovely day!

Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer

 So after hearing hype about the Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer for years, I found an excuse to try it out after my beloved Rimmel Match Perfection ran out. After trying it, I'm now kicking myself for not getting it sooner! I've been using it everyday since I got it and it's been brilliant.

 

The coverage is way better than most of my previous concealers but still looks completely natural. It gives a really well-rested appearance to the under eye area. It also helps bring out the cheekbones, so you can skip using a highlighter if you're in a rush or don't want a super contoured look. Also, pale girls can rejoice! I got this in the lightest shade, Ivory, and it's just a bit lighter than my skin tone, making it perfect for the under eye.

 

 

My favourite method to apply it has been using a damp beauty blender, but fingers work as well. I haven't tried it with a brush yet but the consistency seems like it would work well that way too. If you're looking for a new concealer, I'd definitely recommend this one. I think this has displaced Match Perfection as my favourite everyday concealer! If you've tried it, let me know what you think in the comments!

 

 

 
 

A New Foundation Favourite

While Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation is definitely not a new product, it is one that's been on my wish list for a long time. I always talked myself out of it because of the price, which at around $16 is a bit steep for the drugstore.

However, I recently caved and bought it, and so far its been totally worth the price. It gives a really nice medium coverage without being at all cakey. The finish is slightly dewy on my oily skin, but those with dry skin would probably get a natural finish. I absolutely love the coverage and the way it looks on the skin. Applied with a beauty blender and a light hand, I've actually found it looks really natural for a higher coverage foundation.

 

One of the best parts of this foundation is the lasting power. I can wear it all day, even in the heat and with oily skin. It doesn't fade or wear at all. In fact, it almost seems to look better as the day goes on. If you've been eyeing this foundation, I'd totally recommend that you go for it. I'm planning on getting another shade, since my tan is starting to fade (already, ugh). I hope you get good results if you try it! If you already have it, let me know what you think in the comments!