October 2012 Birchbox

Hey everybody! Today I received my October birchbox, and the theme was transformations. So, this box contains samples focused on jazzing up your everyday routine. 

The first sample is a Harvey Prince fragrance, in the scent Eau Flirt. Normally, I'm not too fond of fragrance samples since they usually smell grandmotherly. However, I really like this perfume since it contains citrus and jasmine notes for an all around fresh and fruity scent. But that's not the best part! It claims to be clinically proven to attract men. See, this saves a lot of time for me. Instead of making a milkshake to bring all the boys to my yard, this scent can apparently do that for me. How nice!

The next product is the Mox Botanicals Pomegranate & Fig Lip Butter. I'm a huge lip balm junkie, and I hope that this lives up to my beloved EOS lip balm! It seems to have the same thick consistency, and smells wonderful! Even though I'm not a huge fan of the potted packaging, I'm willing to give this a shot. 

Next we have the City Sunscreen Serum by Supergoop! I'm not entirely sure why it's called a "city sunscreen", but I'm really interested in a serum form of sunscreen. I'm hoping it doesn't leave a white cast, since high-SPF sunscreens have a tendency to do that. 

I'm super excited for this sample! I've heard only great things about theBalm Cosmetics, and I've been itching to try some of their products for months now. The Mary-Lou Manizer in particular has had great reviews, and I can't wait to try it! From what I've swatched of it, the highlighter seems very creamy and leaves a nice sheen, not obnoxious chunks of glitter. I also adore the fabulous packaging! 

Last, we have the lifestyle extra with is the LUNA Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter bar. I've also heard great things about LUNA, and have wondered about it for quite a while now. I love energy and protein bars for breakfast or snacks on the go. The last food extra I was sent in my birchbox was the KIND bar, which I fell in love with! As a result, I have high hopes for this bar. 

Here's an overview of my box. This box was a bit lighter than usual, but I'm excited for a majority of the samples in here. I definitely prefer quality over quantity! 

I hope you enjoyed! 
<3 Lucero 

Song of the Day: Little Things by One Direction

5 Tips for Clear Skin

Hi everybody! Over the past couple of years, I've struggled with acne and my skin in general. Some of it had to do with hormones and other uncontrollable factors, but some of it had to do with my skin care habits. I've compiled a list of tips that have improved my skin and made it more manageable. 

1. Drink Water. This is a very popular tip, and was one that I often overlooked. I heard it time and time again, but didn't really believe it until I tried it for myself. I started drinking more water this year, and when I first started, I noticed a difference within a few days. The texture of my skin was a lot smoother, and the inflammation around my nose and chin had gone down a bit. If you're having difficulty drinking water, try adding calorie-free flavor packets to add some pizzazz. 

2. Exfoliate. The exfoliation process helps remove dead skin cells and improve the overall texture of the skin. I use the Clairsonic Mia (shown below) to exfoliate every other day. It gently scrubs away all of the dead skin cells, and leaves my skin feeling clean. It helps any acne cream or other lotions work more effectively. Alternatively, a warm washcloth with your daily cleanser will also work. Just remember to go in small circles and avoid scrubbing too harshly. 

3. Wash your pillowcases often. This tip I totally didn't follow until I started breakout out on the right side of my face. I typically sleep on the right side, and I started getting small red bumps on my cheek and jawline, where I usually don't break out. The inflammation on that side of my face was also more aggravated compared to my left side. I recommend washing your pillowcases at least once a week, and alternating pillows every couple of days. 

 4. Cleanse your face twice a day. This is a part of my daily routine that I never, ever, ever skip out on! Even when I'm tired, there's always enough time to wash my face. Especially if you wear makeup, simply using a wipe isn't enough to get all of it off. Using a cleanser will not only remove makeup, it'll also lift off the day's dose of dirt, grime, oil, and other impurities. One that I enjoy is the Aveeno smart essentials cleanser shown below. It's got a lovely scent and is very gentle. 

5. Don't skip out on moisturizer. This tip follows the previous one, because a moisturizer should always follow cleanser. Even if you have oily skin, use a moisturizer! A moisturizer will hydrate your skin, and keep the texture smooth. Just because your skin is oily, doesn't mean it's hydrated. In fact, it can mean the exact opposite. If you're worried about becoming an oil slick, one great mattifying cream is one from the Body Shop shown below. 

If you're doing all of these things and still have stubborn acne, I would recommend seeing a dermatologist. Sometimes, the cause of acne or other skin issues has much more complicated underlying issues. I, for example, deal with both acne and eczema which means that my skin is so dry that certain parts of my face produce oil to compensate for it. The fact that I have eczema also means that my skin is super sensitive - no proactiv for me! So, my dermatologist prescribed me a cocktail of creams and lotions for both acne and eczema along with allergy medication, and my skin is miles better than I could have achieved on my own. 

I hope that these tips help those of you out there suffering from acne. Even if you don't have skin issues, I highly recommend following the tips, so that you're in the habit of having healthy skin. 
<3 Lucero 

Song of the Day: Strangers Like Me by Phil Collins