Stitch Fix Haul #5

Over the weekend I received my 5th Stitch Fix. For this Fix, I requested a variety of pieces I could wear to interviews and into my future employment (graduation is quickly approaching!). Some of my favorite pieces in my closet are from Stitch Fix, so it's always exciting to see what my stylist puts together for me. I liked all the pieces in this Fix, but it all seemed to be a little off, which was unfortunate. That's bound to happen from time to time! I'll share with you what I got anyway though.

But first, a primer on Stitch Fix, in case your new to this amazing service! After filling out an extensive style profile and linking a Pinterest board or other helpful things for your stylist, you pick a date for your Fix to arrive. You can choose to schedule them automatically, but for me and my current budget situation I just do them when I can. Then, you wait anxiously for your Fix to arrive! :) Once it finds it's way to your front porch, you excitedly open your Fix up to find a personalized note from your stylist, 5 pieces they picked for you, and style cards to help you figure out what to pair with them. Awesome! Then, after trying everything on, you check out online and send back anything you don't want. You get 25% off for keeping everything in your Fix, and your $20 styling fee is applied to whatever you do decide to purchase. Easy, and so so fun! Now, onto my latest Fix...

Fate Alonnah Knit Blazer | XS | $78 | My stylist added this is my Fix because I've been on the lookout for a blazer more appropriate for my creative field, something less stuffy. This one has sweater sleeves, which fits my criteria but they came up just a little too short, and I felt like the drape was a little much for my frame. Verdict: Send Back

Pixels Mirando Lasercut Detail Blouse | XS | $58 | I don't love how this lays on me, and I have something very similar already. Beautiful detailing along the bottom though. Verdict: Send Back

Margaret M Emer Printed Knit Straight Leg Pant | S | $98 | With an elastic waistband and soft fabric, these pants are so comfortable! Initially I was a little torn because they were so comfy, they almost felt like relaxing pants, not work pants. The print is fun, and I think they would get a lot of use. Verdict: Keep!

Skies Are Blue Misti Shirt Dress | XS | $68 | Olive/military green is totally having a moment in my closet right now, and I've received pieces by this brand before so I was excited to see another in this Fix. If I hadn't just bought this beautiful green dress from Banana Republic Factory, I'd keep this dress! Unfortunately I'm trying to keep my closet at a reasonable number of items, and I can't justify having two very similar dresses. Verdict: Send Back

Le Lis Cadence Dress | XS | $58 | Grid-print is very in right now, and I liked the high neckline of this dress. However, it was just a tad too form fitting for my taste, and I didn't love the feel of the fabric. I wanted to love it though! Verdict: Send Back

Overall this was not my favorite Fix, and I only kept one item. I'm going to request another one to try some other styles for work... While I don't have a job lined up yet, I want to be prepared for any interviews that might come my way! If you're in a creative field, do you have any wear-to-work tips you can give me? 

Happy Monday!

--Caroline

Stitch Fix Haul #4

So all while I was in Europe and busy wedding planning this summer, my two friends who love Stitch Fix as much as I do kept sending me pictures from their Fixes. I got so jealous! lol :) Stitch Fix is just such a fun, exciting way to "go shopping" {truthfully the shopping comes to your doorstep} and I just was so transient this summer that I wasn't able to order my next one.

But not anymore! Last week I received Fix #4 in the mail, and Berlioz was so confused by my excitement as I came home from class and rushed to open this box. My sweet kitty boy just didn't understand. You can see that he hung out with my though the whole time, as he makes his way into several of the pictures to follow :)

Item 1: Adora Stud Border Tote by Octavia

I love this tote! It's very spacious, the studded detailing adds a little edge, and I could see it being a fantastic statement piece for fall. Unfortunately {or fortunately} I spent a good chunk of change this summer on an Italian leather handbag made in Florence, so I had a hard time justifying keeping this one. Returned.

Item 2: Queensland Dolman Jersey Top by 41Hawthorn 

Instant love with this soft, flowy top! I asked for versatile pieces I could wear casually or dressed up for presentations in class, and this top is perfect for that. I knew it was a keep for sure when I didn't want to take it off to change back into what I was already wearing for a Premier Designs training, so I cut the tags off while I still had it on and walked out the door! Kept, obviously. 

Item 3: Reagan Skinny Pant by Liverpool

These pants are very dark in this picture. They are a kind of really dark, almost black, olive with a pattern to them. More like leggings, I was not a fan of them. The legs were also so long that I would of probably had to hem them, which I certainly don't have the time for. While everything else in this Fix was a win, this was the one thing that I was not a fan of. Returned. 

Item 4: Sonja Boyfriend Jean by Mavi

I was excited to see another pair of Mavi jeans in this Fix, and I really love how they fit! Lately I've been feeling like I'm getting tired of wearing skinny jeans, so I had asked for a new kind of denim. They were just a touch tight, so they look more like straight leg jeans on me. I was really torn with keeping these, but like the bag I just couldn't quite justify spending the money on these at the moment. Returned.

Item 5: Sofia Leaf Print Dress by Collective Concepts

Lori, my stylist for this Fix, said "I can't wait for your thoughts on the Collective Concepts dress." Lori, if you're reading this, I LOVE IT. It's perfect! Like I mentioned, I wanted some versatile pieces in this Fix, and this dress can be worn casually with sandals, more put together with flats and a statement necklace, or for a presentation in class with flats or heels and a nice cardigan. The print of this dress is also unique, something I don't have already in my wardrobe. Total win with this one, and the highlight of my Fix. Kept. 

Overall it was a great Fix! I can't wait for the next one :). If you haven't tried Stitch Fix before, make sure to check it out using this link:     https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4356736 

I may or may not receive a little kick back if you sign up! :) {And by that I mean I do, so help a sista out if you want to try it!}

Have a fantastic Monday!

--Caroline

Weekend Spa Day

I apologize for my lack of a Five Friday Favorites post; my cold got the best of me and in between that and Kyle coming to pick my up and bring me back to Daytona things just got a little crazy. Yesterday he worked, and since I was still feeling under the weather I just spent the day relaxing at home. I ended up having a little impromptu spa day with a couple last-minute packages I had sent to his house.

I recently made an order from Everyday Minerals to try their foundation (when I went to order my normal stuff in preparation for my study abroad they were out of my color, requiring me to look elsewhere!). They have a cool system where you can order free foundation samples, the 7 Piece Custom Sample Kit, to help you try and find the right color! Since I needed foundation badly, I went ahead and took a chance with my color, but also ordered some sample shades just to see what it was like. It was really fun to experiment with them all yesterday, and thankfully the shade I ordered is in fact the correct one! I also ordered their 3 Piece Custom Kit, which allows you to get a little discount on any three items. Overall, my whole experience with my order was a lot of fun! I love how natural their products are, and that they are made right here in the USA. 

You can see all the free samples I got to try... So fun!

The other part of my spa day was painting my nails with one of the polishes from this month's Lillian Eve Duo Box. I am just so in love with Lillian Eve! Last week I painted my nails with a non-Lillian Eve polish and.... let's just say I won't be using it again. Nothing compares to the quality of Lillian Eve's vegan polishes, and I love supporting yet another American grown company. This months theme was Champagne & Peonies, and I love both colors that came in the box, Bit of Bubbly and Maid of Honor. I decided to try Maid of Honor first, and I'm in love with this purple-pink shade! It's perfect for spring. 

So that as my fun little spa day yesterday while I tried to rest and recover from the cold I'm still harboring. I'm hoping I get better ASAP, because I will be heading to Italy very soon to start my study abroad. Although I guess I'd rather be sick here than be sick there...

Happy Monday!

--Caroline

Twice vs ThredUp

Recently (well, back at the end of February) I sent off some unwanted clothes to two different online consignment places, wanting to test out if there was a better way to get money for old clothes than Plato's Closet or eBay. I can't remember which site I learned about first, but it was through other bloggers that I discovered both Twice and ThredUp. Essentially they both work the same way: send them your old clothes, they process them, give you a payback amount (and donate the unwanted pieces to charity), and you can either use your payback for store credit or have it deposited into your PayPal account. But despite these similarities, there are enough differences to make me prefer one over the other. And we will explore those today!

TWICE

Pros

-- I was able to either have them send me the free bag, or print out the pre-paid label and use a box I already had... I used a box I had, and it was nice to be able to send it quickly to them!

-- I was given my payout estimate within about a week and a half of shipping it. They offer you more if you choose store credit instead of PayPal.

--They accepted 9 out of 11 items, and told me what was wrong with the ones they rejected.

--Since I chose the PayPal option, the $42 went through within 3-5 business days. (Had I picked store credit, I would have received $52.50.)

Cons

--Twice is a little more selective of their brands than ThredUp, so I would double check what they accept before you send it!

THREDUP

Pros

--The bag they sent me fit a ton of clothing and accessories!

--ThredUp accepts more brands than Twice, ranging from lower end to high end designer. 

--Quick cash out process into PayPal.

Cons

--It took them almost a week and a half to get me my free shipping bag.

--After I sent my bag in the last week of February, it took them until March 17th for them to send me an email saying they'd received it. Yikes! Then, I was told it would't be processed until the 18th of April. 

--They finished early, and on the 7th I received my payout proposal. A measly $19.38 for the 12 items they kept. I honestly can't remember if I sent more than that, it's been so long! 

Long story short, Twice is my favorite option hands down! Yeah, they are pickier about the brands but they paid far better and processed everything more quickly. The whole process through Twice was much smoother than that of ThredUp. As a shopper, I find Twice's site more helpful also, with better pictures and descriptions as well as thorough measurements. I would definitely send items for consignment to Twice again, and would recommend it to friends and of course you, my lovely readers!

Have you used either of these sites? If you try either one, let me know what you think!

--Caroline

Skin & Beauty Peace Part 3: Makeup Favorites

You've heard about my previous skin problems and then I shared my skin regimen yesterday, so today I'm sharing my new favorite makeup products! After my long pink-eye incident (viral pink is not fun at all, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!) my eyes were still feeling quite irritated, even with brand new infection-free products. For Christmas, I had asked for a makeup palette from a company called 100% Pure, and thankfully I got my wish! That was just the beginning of what I feel will be a long relationship with this company and their amazing, all natural products.

My daily makeup routine (in order of use)...

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Brightening Concealer in White Peach: This is probably the thickest concealer I have ever used, but it goes on nice and smooth! What I've been doing is putting a blob on my finger, then using my pinky to disperse it to my face. On days when I feel a spot needs a little more coverage, it's easy to build up coverage through layering. This baby is crease free and long lasting--my makeup still looks flawless by the end of the day. (Shop it here--each color has it's own listing)

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Healthy Skin Foundation Powder in White Peach: Before trying this natural foundation I had tried one from Juice Beauty and was not a fan (it didn't blend at all, and left a flaky look on my skin.) So I was nervous to see how this 100% Pure one would wear and I am so impressed! It blends right in, has great coverage, and lasts all day! I got lucky and ordered the right color, which is hard for me to find sometimes (I am light-skinned but not pale, and my undertones are more peach than pink) so I'm glad the White Peach color works. In addition, it makes my skin feel so soft and healthy, quite a different feeling than most makeups provide. Winner! (Shop it here--each color has it's own listing)

Tarte Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush (Shop it here)

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Pretty Naked Palette: My Christmas gift! These shadows have not bothered my now-sensitive eyes one bit, and I am so thankful for that. The coloring is great, perfect for everyday wear, but I will say I wish they had a longer wear ability. However, I have always had oily eyelids, so eyeshadows have never really been long wearing for me anyway. But, they aren't irritating and there is always the ability to re-apply so I'm happy regardless! Also, I started using the blush in this palette before my other one was completely out... and I might not go back! The color is great, the coverage is nice, and it gives a great natural glow. My next step is to order some extra eyeshadows, but I've been pretty happy with the versatility of this palette so it's not an urgent matter.(Shop it here)

EcoTools Bamboo Blush Brush (Shop it here)

Sephora Collection Shadow Brush: I can't find this exact one but this is very similar! (Shop it here)

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara in Black Tea: Words cannot express how much I love this mascara!!!! 1) It's all natural and does not irritate my eyes like other mascaras were. 2) It's long wearing, and while it's not waterproof it stays on well. 3) It smells like fruit! 4) Wearing this has actually made my eyelashes stronger and longer... LIKE WHAT?! Never turning back. If you buy one thing from this post make it be this mascara! Your eyelashes will thank you for saying so long to chemically mascaras! (Shop it here)

Those are my favorite new makeup products, and I know they will be favorites for awhile! My next mission is trying some 100% Pure eyeliners, switching out my lip glass/lipstick collection to all natural products, and going through my nail polish collection and switching over to Lillian Eve and other vegan polishes. You see, Berlioz is a fan of me using all-natural products also!

"These are great all-natural products, Mom! Can I play with this eco-friendly brush now?!"

I'm so happy that my long search for a new skin regimen and all-natural skin & beauty products is over! I love the way my skin feels now; putting good ingredients on your face and supplementing that with professional treatments and treating your body well are definitely the solution I was in search of. And now, I can say farewell to all these other products... (Don't worry, I'll be recycling what I can!)

 I hope you all enjoyed this Skin & Beauty Peace series. It's been a long time coming and I'm so glad I could finally share these amazing products with you this week. Have you considered trying all natural products? Do you currently use some that you love? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Have a great Thursday, my beautiful readers!

--Caroline

*This is not a sponsored post. The views expressed here are 100% mine, and no compensation has been received. I'm simply a blogger wanting to share my experiences with my readers :)

Skin & Beauty Peace Part 2: Skin Regimen

Yesterday I posted about loving your skin and loving yourself. Today, I'm sharing the skincare products that helped me find skin & beauty peace! But before I go into the products, I'd like to note that clear skin really starts with what you are putting in your body. In addition to changing up my skincare products, I started easing up on my coffee intake, going back to really watching my gluten consumption, and starting a skin-clearing tea regimen. 

I came across the Get Gorgeous tea by The Republic of Tea at my local Earth Fare store, and decided to give it a try. I try and drink it twice daily, and the taste is amazing! I drink it in the morning before I eat breakfast, to help jumpstart my system. Regardless of the size of impact it's making, it tastes good and is a good habit so I'll keep it up! You can find it here & it might be available at your local health food store. 

In addition to eating better & drinking my tea, I've also been getting peels every 3 weeks at my local Ulta Salon (find yours here). As someone who used to get facials regularly, I'm a firm believer that regularly getting all that gunk out of your skin professionally helps your ability to keep up beautiful skin in between treatments. I started this habit in January with a coupon, and I haven't looked back. I definitely feel like it's making a positive impact on my skin.  

So now, onto the products! As you'll see, almost all of these products are natural, and many are vegan friendly! We'll start with my cleansing products (listed in order of use)...

Simple Eye Makeup Remover: This is a great non-irritating eye makeup remover that has been a favorite of mine for quite some time! I soak a cotton round and after I take off my eye makeup I make a sweep across the rest of my face. It's always a good idea to take off as much makeup as possible before cleansing, as most cleaners are not designed to remove makeup. (Shop it here)

Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash: An impulse buy from Earth Fare, I will never buy another cleanser. This baby is gentle, feels great on the skin, has skin-clearning ingredients without the harshness, and tightens pores like a toner. It's a powerhouse! (Shop mini size here, larger size here) 

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub: I have had this bottle for awhile, and it is a great basic scrub. (I think sometimes we feel like we have to have all these special ingredients in everything, but that just complicates & messes with a good formula!) What I've been doing is actually mixing the scrub with the face wash, so that I'm still getting the effects of the wash. I think that part of skin problems before centered around over irritation through excessive scrubbing and excessive acne treatment. To combat that, I try and limit my use of this to 2-3 times per week. And honestly, I haven't needed it any more than that! (Shop it here)

And now for the treatment & moisture products (listed in order of use)...

Demalogica Sebum Clearning Masque: I started using this when I tried the adult acne kit (see this post for review) and it is the only thing from that kit I've continued to use! Using it 2-3 times a week, after using the scrub, is a nice little mini-facial to keep my skin looking matte and acne-free. (Shop it here)

InstaNatural Age Defying & Skin Clearing Serum: I heard about this brand through another blogger, and I love that they are local to Florida and all-natural! The first couple times I used this serum it was a little much for my skin, slightly irritating, so I tried using it 2-3 times a week (after scrubbing and using the masque). Now, my skin is used to it and I use it nearly every night. It's packed with lots of great stuff for your skin, and I love that it works for my acne as well as helping ward off aging signs early on. (Shop it here)

Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick: I purchased this in conjunction with the face wash, and I'm really pleased with it's gentle acne-fighting properties. Tea tree oil is a well-known and natural way to ward off acne, and it's perfect for use in the morning. (Shop it here)

100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream: I put this on both morning and night while I let whichever acne product I am using soak in. (One thing I've realized is products in general work much better when they have time to soak in!). As I mentioned yesterday, I have definitely noticed an improvement in my under-eyes since using this product. It goes on so soft & smooth, and of course it's made by a fantastic natural brand! (Shop it here)

InstaNatural Haluronic Acid Serum: After the aesthetician that does my facial peels used this magical thing called haluronic acid to deeply hydrate my skin after treatment. Curious and wanting this magic in my own hands, I was so excited that I found it from InstaNatural! I use it under my normal moisturizer on days that my skin is feeling extra dry, and on any day I use the masque. (It's all about those mini facials in-between the professional ones!). This is definitely a product you want to let soak in until you can't feel it sitting on the surface of your skin. (Shop it here)

InstaNatural Youth Express Vitamin C Moisturizer: This is another product, like the skin cleaning serum, that took my skin a couple times to get used to; a perfect testament to keeping up with a regimen for a prolonged period of time! Now, I love using it both morning and night! It leaves my skin soft and supple, and fully hydrated. (Shop it here)

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream: I've been using this for awhile, and will continue to do so! In the morning, after I let the Vitamin C Moisturizer soak in, I apply this as a base layer to my makeup. In my mind, it acts as a primer and if I'm not wanting to put any makeup on, I let the first layer soak in and then go back over any spots for light coverage. I love that it also has SPF! (Shop it here)

And that's my regimen! It might seem like a lot of product, but it all goes on much faster than you think it does. I truly love how soft my skin has been feeling since starting this regimen, and how healthy it's been looking! I can't wait to see how it progresses. Check back tomorrow for my new makeup picks!

--Caroline

*This is not a sponsored post. The views expressed here are 100% mine, and no compensation has been received. I'm simply a blogger wanting to share my experiences with my readers :)

Stitch Fix Haul #2

I recently scheduled my second order from Stitch Fix, and I was so excited when it came in the mail last Saturday, several days before it was scheduled to show up! Gotta love that :)

When you schedule a Fix, you can add notes about anything you'd like to receive, so I had left my stylist a note that mentioned my upcoming trip back home to Colorado. As I result, I got a lot of great pieces that would be perfect for that trip! And without further ado, here they are!

Item #1: Olive Green Cargo Skinny Pants by Level 99

I absolutely love these pants! They are soft, comfortable, and just edgy enough. I think they will go with a lot of what I already have in my closet, and I paired them hear with a tan J. Crew Factory sweater, nude heels, a pastel scarf, and a little arm candy. 

Item #2: Striped Dolman Top by Market & Spruce 

paired with Item #3: Freida Skinny Jean by Mavi

You all know about my obsession with stripes, so obviously this top is a winner. It's very soft and comfortable, and looks great here with the Mavi skinny jeans, which are also so soft and comfortable I can't even deal with it! I paired these items with a fun necklace, leopard flats, and my tan leather jacket. 

Item #4: Thermal Cardigan by Millibon 

I have a thicker grey card that is great for fall and winter, but I love this one as a spring and summer option. Plus, the way it drapes is just beautiful, and will pair a little better with dresses than my chunkier knit one. I am excited to add this one to my closet!

Item #5: Heathered Knit Drape Cardigan by Skies are Blue

As I mentioned, my box came Saturday, which ended up being just before Kyle came into town for lunch on his way up to his grandparent's house. When I opened up my Fix I was instantly in love with this cardigan, so it's no surprise that I ripped off the tags and wore it out to lunch that day! I paired it with a basic grey tee, cuffed skinnies, silver accessories and sandals, and a cognac bag. Love this look!

Overall, another successful Fix! If you want to order your own Fix, put together by a personal stylist, you can do so here at Stitch Fix. To read my first Stitch Fix Haul Review, click here. 

Have a happy Monday!

--Caroline

Stitch Fix Haul #1

I have had my eye on Stitch Fix for awhile now. For those unfamiliar with the company, for a styling fee of $20 their experts curate a collection of 5 pieces tailored to your measurements and personal style. They send you everything in the mail, you try it all one, decide what you want to keep, thinned the rest back! The original $20 fee is applied to whatever you decide to keep, and then you just pay the overage. So easy, so fun! 

I finally signed up, and I'm so glad I did! You have the option to leave a special note for your stylist, perfect for if you have anything in particular coming up that you want an outfit for. I mentioned in mine that I would be going on a 3-day cruise with my boyfriend in December, so my stylist sent me pieces I could wear for that! Today I'm sharing what I got in my Fix, what I liked, and what I'm keeping! Excuse the iPhone pictures, I was just too excited to wait and take pictures with a real camera!

Item #1: Colorblock Tank Blouse

I love the way this blouse mixes cobalt, black, navy, ivory, and white! The fit was great, and it would look great tucked into the white pencil skirt I already have, or paired with a blazer and jeans like I've done here. Definitely a versatile item, and something I don't already have in my closet. Keep!

Item #2: Black Swiss Dot Blouse 

The detailing on this blouse is superb, from the embroidery on the blouse to the detailing along the button line. Would be perfect for date night, dressed up for a presentation in class, or even worn casually! Love it, and I don't have anything similar in my closet currently. Keep!

Item #3: Ponte & Leather Pants 

You can tell these pants are well-made, and they look great on! They were just a tad too tight on me though, even with the stretch, and I have a pair similar to these already. Not that the quality is the same, but keeping them would give me two of the same thing. So I sent these back.

Item #4: Colorblock Chevron Maxi Dress

When I saw this dress, I was excited to try it on. I love wrap dresses, and I could tell I'd be able to wear a regular bra with this dress, which makes me happy. But when I tried it on, I was a little disappointed. The v-neck is a little too deep (would be great for the cruise with my bf, but I'd feel awkward around family wearing it), the dress was a little too long for my frame, and the bold chevron accent didn't match up on the seam, which is a huge pet peeve of mine! This one went back as well. 

Item #5: Navy Chevron Print Maxi

Outside of this Fix, I had been wanting to buy a new maxi for our cruise, something that was more fall-like in color but still would work for a trip to the Bahamas. And this dress is it! The neckline on it's own is not my favorite, but the addition of a necklace helps with that. (I really favor v-necks over scoop necks, but since this one is slightly squared off I'm okay with it.) The pattern matching doesn't line up on the seams exactly on this dress either... and as I write this I realize that here I was going to keep a dress that I obviously don't love! See, this is why blogging is great, because if I hadn't started to write about this dress I would have kept it but not worn it as much! So I guess this dress goes back too. 

I'm pretty picky when it comes to maxi dresses, but overall I loved my Stitch Fix experience! I definitely want to make another order in the future, because I really enjoyed the personalized styling service this company offers. I highly recommend y'all check them out if you haven't already.

Have a great Wednesday!

--Caroline

Recent Skincare Obsessions

I've been struggling with a lot of skin problems recently. Back in May, I decided to go off my prescription acne meds, hoping I didn't need them any more. Whelp, turns out I do. Very much so. But I set out determined to find something over the counter that would work. After trying a myriad of products, and using up the last of my prescriptions, I turned to an adult acne set, the MediBac Clearing Adult Acne Kit by Dermalogica. A clerk at Ulta recommended it, based on her friends' experience, so I was very excited to try it! I started using it back towards the beginning of October, and everything was off to a good start. It certainly brought a lot of stuff to the surface, and started to clear up what was already there. 

My thoughts on each product in the set? I absolutely love the Sebum Clearing Masque, but everything else was so so. When the end of November started approaching, I really considered if I wanted to continue using it. The system wasn't seeming to dry up what was remaining, leaving me with lots of acne remaining. So back to Ulta I went, this time to try a more natural approach with the Yes To Tomatoes line. (I use other Yes To products so I figured it was worth a try!). I put on the Repairing Acne Lotion that night, and when I woke up the next morning, the remaining acne had started to dry up! For over a week now I've been using the Roller Ball Spot Stick in the morning, the gel at night, and so far I'm much happier with the results! I'll keep y'all posted, but I think I finally have something that works!

Aside from the Dermalogica Masque and the Yes to Tomatoes products, I'm also loving a new CC cream I'm trying, Juice Beauty's Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream.  It's very natural feeling, and not heavy. Also, when I was home last week, I rediscovered the Tarte Maracuja Oil. I used to use it, see this post, but I stopped because it's a little expensive for being on a college student budget. But I had a bottle back home so I started using it again and I realized that I truly miss how soft, luminous, and lively it makes my skin-- a nice change from the dullness I've been experiencing recently in addition to the acne problems. Keeping that in mind, I might have to start using it again! Or maybe I can find something similar that's a little bit nicer to my wallet? Fingers crossed!

What are you favorite skincare products? Have you outgrown teen acne but grown into adult acne?

--Caroline

And the Winner is...

Even though having pink eye wasn't fun, I had been wanting to try some new mascaras. So when I went to Ulta to get new makeup I was excited to try out the travel size versions of a couple of Benefit Mascaras: A Little Bit BADgal Lash Mascara and They're Real! Beyond Mascara. 

To properly compare the two, I put one kind on each eye, and kept it that way all day to see how the mascaras held up. The results? Read on...

They're Real

This mascara went on like butter. Clump free upon application, the brush style perfectly separated each lash, extending them out and up. As the day went on, my lashes still seemed as perky as they were when I applied the mascara in the morning. Definitely my pick if you want long, lengthened lashes!

BADgal Lash

I could tell a difference between the two immediately (see pictures). This mascara seemed to give the allusion of more volume at the base, but did not have the same lift the other mascara had. By midday, I noticed my lashes on this eye weren't as perky, and by evening they had totally flopped. 

I'll be keeping both (I mean, I did pay for them!) but for everyday wear I'll make use of the BADgal, and on those days when I really want my eyes to stand out, I'll reach for They're Real. 

Do you ever compare two products side by side like this? What mascara do you use and love?

--Caroline

P.S. I know I said I'd be doing more Monday "Welcome Home" posts, and I promise I will! 

This is not a sponsored post, and the opinions here are totally my own. I have no affiliation with Ulta or Benefit, just simply a consumer wanting to share my experiences with you.