Thursday, June 12, 2014

Bare Minerals Bare Skin Review


So about a week ago I purchased the Bare Minerals Bare Skin Foundation. I have been a longtime fan of Bare Minerals Powder, however, since I moved to the Northwest, my skin has gotten drier and powder just seems to exacerbate that. So I switched to liquid foundation.  I experimented with several different types, but had yet to find one that gave my skin the natural finish that I wanted. Then I started seeing ads for this new Bare Minerals liquid foundation, and I gotta tell ya, it felt like the best of both worlds.

However, I wanted to wait and see reviews and that sort of thing before I jumped in with both feet. I have fairly sensitive skin, and most anything that I put on it will make me breakout.  So I have to be careful about putting just anything on my face.

After reading up on it online and in magazines like InStyle, I found out some great information.  For starters, like all Bare Minerals makeup, the Bare Skin foundation is formulated without oil, paragons, silicone, or fragrance; and is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and therefore great for all skin types and tones. Also, I kept seeing all of this jazz about the foundation being a "serum," which I thought sounded kind of gimmicky. However, I read up about it on sephora.com and found out that the brightening skincare serum infused in the foundation is actually the real deal. Bare Minerals extracts stem cells from Lilac plants, which are known for their healing abilities and powerful antioxidant protection, and fortifies their mineral complex with it.  This in turn helps defend against environment stressors.


In terms of the chemical makeup it seemed like a good fit, however I didn't want to end up with a bottle of something that I used once and then hated.  So my friend Amy and I decided to get our makeup done one day when we were passing by the Bare Minerals store at the mall near her house and try it out, as we had both been dying to. And, needless to say, I loved it.  What I think is great about it is that it is fairly thin and sheer, so depending on how much coverage you need you can build on what you've applied to take care of problem areas. It's also much like the Bare Minerals powder in that your natural skin still shows through, so you don't feel like you're wearing a mask - instead it's your skin, only better and more even toned.  I constantly battle with dark spots that are left over from even the tiniest zit (I'm only a number three in the foundation, and that's me with a tan!  Gosh I'm so pale...), and this gives amazing coverage.  I don't even need concealer most days, which is something that I never thought I would say, with hereditary dark under eye circles and dark spots galore.

When I was talking with the girl who applied my makeup (shout out to the Green Hills Bare Minerals!), she told me that while it's great for most normal skin types, she herself can't use it because her skin is too dry and it kind of just sits on top of her dry spots. So, if you have problems with extremely oily or dry skin, this product is probably not for you. If that's not the case, though, I would definitely try it out! Head to your local Bare Minerals store, Sephora, or Ulta and pick it up :)

Until next time,
xo
T

PS: Here's my video (my first ever!) of my application process so you can see the before and after of my skin.  Just don't judge my paleness, please!




Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Feeling like Spring





Top: Duke and Winston via Tuckernuck; pants: JBrand; shoes: Sam Edleman; hat: Eugenia Kim via Anthropologie; necklace and ring: Jennifer Zeuner; sunglasses: Ray Ban; bag: Dogeared 

Yay for the weekend! I spent my Saturday tearing up my front yard with my mom... You can see our handiwork behind me! But when we finished we showered up and decided to walk down to my local brewery which is right on the water in tacoma, and it's so gorgeous! Since I was tired from a day of yard work, I just slipped on some white jeans, an oversized graphic tee, and put my hair in a braid with a Panama hat on top. Easy! And comfy. And perfect for a relaxing Saturday night :) 

Until next time,
xo
T  




Tuesday, June 10, 2014

OMG: Pretty Little Liars comes back tonight!


Ok, I admit, I am addicted to Pretty Little Liars. It is 100% my guilty pleasure.  Well, that and Real Housewives of Orange County. And the Kardashians. But I digress. The point is, Pretty Little Liars starts its 5th season tonight on ABC Family, and I am stoked. "A" might finally be revealed (and by finally I mean about the fourth iteration of A reveals), hopefully there will be some new boy candy, and probably lots of creepiness peppered throughout for good measure. 

But lets get to the real reason why I watch this show: the clothes. Yes, I am obsessed with mysteries and suspense and can't get enough of Forensic Files and the like, but this show puts Forensic Files and Gossip Girl together to make a very well dressed and accessorized murder mystery. So color me obsessed. Mostly I can't wait to see what Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson's character) is wearing.  She is the closest to my personal style, and girl can rock a good color blocked outfit and a well collared shirt with the best of them. 

Anyway, I'm so excited I might even skip yoga tonight so that I don't miss a minute. My glutes might not like it, but that's the way it is. 

Until next time, 
xo 
T

Monday, June 9, 2014

Flower Power




Sweater: JCrew; top: Yumi Kim; jeans: JBrand; shoes: Tory Burch; sunglasses: Karen Walker; bag: Dogeared 

So I have to say that I absolutely love the color pink. It's been my favorite color since I was little (except for a few years here and there when I didn't think it was "cool" enough), but the great thing about getting older is that you start to realize how awesome it is being you, and embracing all of the little things that make you you! Even if that is your love of the color pink :)

Until next time,
xo
T



Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Oh happy day!



Top: Joie; skirt: Lilly Pulitzer; necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner, Kendra Scott; shoes: Tory Burch

I received some sad news this past weekend, and so I thought this outfit would be an appropriate post to work on cheering myself up. I wore it shopping with my best friend Amy, we had a great day, and this lilly skirt is just so happy! Between a good lilly print, some fresh flowers and a much needed Mexican food outing, I think I might be putting bad news out of my head :) 

Until next time,
xo
T


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Book Report: Malala



I recently finished reading this book, which, written with the help of a ghost writer, is a first hand account of the atrocities committed by the Taliban against a young girl named Malala. She was a girl who just thought it was her right to go to school, just like we often take for granted in the Western world. She began campaigning throughout her native country of Pakistan for what I believe is a basic human right, the right to get an education, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion. However, her campaign was interrupted when a member of the Taliban shot her in the head on her way home from school one day. Yes, a grown man shot a 14 year old girl. Because he was afraid of what she had to say. 

Miraculously, she survived. And she remains a prominent voice in the quest for equal rights for girls and women in the Middle East and throughout the world. It's an inspiring book, and a quick read, if for no other reason than the fact that it shows you truly anything can be accomplished despite your circumstances. 

What made me particularly passionate about posting about this amazing young woman were the horrible events that took place this past week at University of California, Santa Barbara. Many don't know that I went to UCSB for a year before I transferred to UCLA. I was also in a sorority. My sorority was sister sorority with Alpha Phi my freshman year. I have been in that sorority house, those girls were my friends and classmates. 

I think that it's truly abhorrent that, in this day and age, young men still think that it's acceptable to think of women as objects. To think, like this misguided young man did, that they have a right to our minds and our bodies. To think that it's acceptable to retaliate with violence when we reject you or don't agree with you. The #yesallwomen hashtag that was trending this last weekend only serves to further emphasize that point, raising the question, why do we as women have to amend our behavior in order to make way for that of men?  Why should the women of UCSB have to live in fear because they didn't want to go on a date with some guy? Why should Malala and her classmates have to live in fear because they just wanted to go to school? 

I don't normally like to post about politics or current events, I'm not a politician or an expert, nor do I profess to be. But as this is a blog focused on the things that I love about being a girl, I think it's important to note that we still have so much more progress to make in this world to make it a safe place for all girls and women to do the things that make them love being a girl. #YesAllWomen. 

Until next time,
xo
T


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Rain, Rain, Go Away!





Sweater, shirt, pants: JCrew; bag: Kate Spade; shoes: Tory Burch; heart bracelet: JCrew; bow bracelet: Kate Spade; watch: Michael Kors; sunglasses: Karen Walker 

It has been raining or threatening to rain for days now... Isn't it may though?! Sheesh! However, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade, right? Or at least put on a bright sweater and your favorite polka dot pants... 

Until next time,
xo
T