Skin Care

For the most part I can say I have been fortunate that my skin usually doesn't give me much troubles.. When I was younger I had a little patch of eczema that would not seem to go away until one day it magically disappeared and since then it's been relatively smooth sailing.

Even though my skincare routine is subsequently very low maintenance, I have been trying to develop some sort of skincare regimen to at least maintain its youthful elasticity for as long as I can. The biggest struggle I have with my skin is that it is dry, I dare not wash my face without applying some sort of moisturizer or I'm left with this very uncomfortable tight feeling that I loathe. 

Over the past few months I have been trying out various skincare products in an effort to find what's right for my skin type ..dry and I've complied a list of a few items. 

First up is Shea Moisture's

Raw Shea Butter Soap and Raw Shea Chamomile and Argan Oil Baby Ezcema Bar Soap. The Raw Shea Butter soap was a bit disappointing , the smell was wonderful (as it is with most Shea products) but it still left my skin with that awful tight feeling after I used it. The Baby Ezcema bar soap was the opposite. To date this soap has been one of the very few soaps that I've used to wash my face that doesn't send me running to the closest bottle of lotion I can find. This soap leaves my skin feeling so soft and after using it I need to use little to no moisturizer on my face ( wish is a miracle for me) . This soap and most Shea Moisture soaps , retails for $4.29 at Target stores and online. Ever so often Walgreens and CVS also has BOGO 50% off on Shea products. 

Equate Blackhead Clearing Srub. It's very rare that I get a blackhead and most times (if ever) has it been on my face, but I've always liked how this exfoliant makes my face feel. It also doesn't dry out my skin too much which again is a problem I have with most products,  and I also use it on my back, which tends to be the area most susceptible to blackheads for me. 

Trader Joe's Natural Face Cleansing Pads One of my favorite youtubers mentioned that she had been trying out Trader Joe's Beauty Products and loving them, and to be honest I didn't even know Trader Joe's even had their own brand of beauty products, but I had been wanting to invest in some cleansing pads so I opted for these. I love that it contains Tea Tree Oil as again I'm always on the lookout for some sort of moisturizing for my skin. This product does its job but the smell is very overpowering. It's not a bad smell in any sense of the word I just think that it is too strong of a scent for a product that  you are using directly on your face. It also requires that you rinse your face in cool water after using. I'm not a big user of astringents/ facial cleansing pads so I'm not sure if that's an extra step not usually required but I would before something I could use to cleanse my face and just go. All in a all I give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars. If I'm not mistaken it costs around $3.99. I'm not sure if I would repurchase this product. 

Island Paradise Exfoliatig Sugar Scrub in Pineapple Mango

First and foremost the scent is everything. It's so yummy. I purchased this on whim at a Marshall's for $5.99z I generally only exfoliate when it's a part of my shower gel but I wanted to try just an exfoliant. The consistency is very thick and a little goes a long way. What I love most about this product is not only does it exfoliate but it moisturizes so wonderfully . I was really surprised that after I had used it and washed it off not only did my skin feel smooth, but I also did not need to apply any body creams. It might be a while until I need to replace this but it will definitely be repurchased. 

I hate that Aveeno products are so pricey in comparison to other lotions etc.. But every time I use their products it justifies the price. I love their daily moisturizing lotion because it is so light but lasts the whole day without me needing to reapply, and I love that I can use it on my face without feeling like a put a glob of lotion on. The moisturizing lotion with spf is really good to use for the summer months especially but I do hate how hard it is rub it in, I feel like it's 70% sunscreen 30% lotion, which I guess should be expected from an spf 30 lotion. The Aveeno Smart Essentials products pictures are actually a recent pick up. Pictured is the Daily Detoxifying Scrub ( smells divine) and the daily nourishing moisturizer. The scrub does unfortunately leave my skin feeling a bit tight, not as bad as most scrubs do, but still it is a bit significant, and the moisturizer also takes a while to rub in as result of the spf but it is not as hard to rub in as with the regular lotion. Overall I am pleased. 

Last but definitely not least is European Wax Center's Slow it Body Lotion, Body Wash and Ingrown Hair Serum. The skin in my nether regions is very sensitive and easily irritated by anything. For me waxing is not an option but a must because any other method of hair removal leaves my skin extremely irritated. The wax technicians at European Wax Center always apply the Ingrown Serum after every session and I try to use it at least twice a day to stave off any irritation and it works! The slow it body wash is also a good exfoliator and so I try to use it at least twice a week. The Slow it Body Lotion I really don't use that much, As it says it is supposed to be a hair minimizing treatment, but I'm really not a hairy person so I don't find much use for it, I only ended up getting it because there was a deal on getting the set. So if you are someone that's looking for something to treat ingrown hairs this serum/ set is definitely recommended.

Fragrance Frenzy

Recently I've gone on a slight fragrance frenzy and decided to make a repurchase of a previously owned perfume and also make a new purchase. There is just something about a good scent that has the power to either remind me of a wonderful memory, or make me feel super confident, or super sexy.

The first purchase I made was a repurchase of my Versace Bright Crystal Perfume

I tend to gravitate towards floral based scents and this perfume gave me everything I've wanted plus a bit more. Versace Bright Crystal is a wonderful blend of peony, lotus flower, magnolia and other ingredients such as pomegranate. What I love the most about it, is that even though it is girly and discrete as how I like most of my perfumes, it also has a little pleasant kick to it, and is very lasting. I've actually purchased this scent on three separate occasions, First as a gift for a friend, then for myself and this third time in a scent. I usually don't purchase sets as I am not a fan of using perfumed lotions and shower gels on a day to day basis, but the price point difference between the biggest bottle and the set was so insignificant that it seemed silly not to just invest in the set. I purchased my set from www.macys.com  for $95 with free shipping Just for a point of reference this set comes with a 3 0z bottle of perfume, and a 3.4 oz bottle of lotion and shower gel as well as a travel roller ball. The 3 0z bottle alone retails for $90, so it only made sense to me to spend the extra $5 and get the set. What I have found is that even though I will not necessarily use the lotion and shower gel on a daily basis, they make perfect travel items and they are just at the limit you are allowed to carry on a plane. So instead of having to buy travel sizes of lotions and shower gels or buying travel sized containers to transfer items into it's super easy to just grab these and go. 

The second purchase and my favorite one thus far is Michael Kors " Glam Jasmine" 

I initially told myself that the Versace Perfume set was my birthday treat to myself, and that was it, but when Macy's sent me the Versace set, they also sent a bunch of samples ( clearly a set up, which of course I fell for)  which included a sample of the Glam Jasmine. As soon as I smelled this scent. I knew I had to have it. Again, I love most floral scents and this was no different.  However this scent is super feminine without being too girly. If you are looking for something light but not too 13 year old ish...This is the scent.  I actually feel like this might be the most " grown up" scent I've ever liked. While the Versace leaves you with a nice little kick, this scent lingers on the tip of your nose and brings me to a happy place. I also purchased this from www.macys.com  for $105 with free shipping and the set includes a  3.4 oz bottle and a 0.24 oz minature version (not pictured because I gave it to my mom) and also 3.4 oz body creme. Whenever I wear this scent I always feel so fresh. Weirdly every time I wear this I want to also wear white, which might explain my latest purchase of a white buttoned down,.. but that's for another post. 

Another sample I was sent that I really liked was " Viva La Juicy Noir" 

I've always loved Viva La Juicy but I've never actually been moved enough to purchase it, I think because it was just a little bit too strong or my liking... However, I love love love the " Viva La Juicy Noir" my next big bottle purchase will be this one, It's a great everyday scent and I love that it's girly but not too juvenile.

They also sent me a sample of Kate Spade's " Live Color Fully" and even though I am a big fan of Kate Spade otherwise, none of their scents for me have ever been to die for, or a must have. My bf likes this scent, so i'll probably end up using it until the end, but I don't think I will be purchasing it. It's not a bad scent, I think it's just a bit too strong for my liking, if they had just toned it down a notch, I may have liked it a bit more. However if any of  you guys prefer a more distinct smell then by all means give it a try!

Another all time favorite of mine is Dolce and Gabbana's "Light Blue" I've actually been wearing this scent for a few years now. The bottle pictured above is actually empty *tear tear* I got it as Christmas gift from my bf's wonderful nieces last Christmas. This scent will always be repurchase, the only reason I have not repurchased another larger version as yet is because I am a poor college student on a budget and I can't justify the purchase just yet.  Anyways, the scent is so crisp and clean but still so so sexy. Even though I do think it could be worn as an everyday perfume, I definitely prefer to reserve it for a night out on the town or a date night. This scent always makes me feel super sensual and confident. 

Last but not least is Banana Republic's "Wild Bloom Rouge" I actually ended up purchasing this perfume in a desperate attempt to replace their "Wild Bloom" scent.  The Wild Bloom scent was actually one of the first gifts my dbf ever gave to me on our first valentine's day and the scent was amazing and lasting, unfortunately a few months after that it was finished and I've been trying to replace it since, I'm not sure if it's just discontinued, but I've been to Banana Republic on numerous occasions to no avail. So I settled for this. The scent is described "floral and woody" so it has that floral element i'm constantly looking for but then you also get that clean, fresh, outdoorsy smell.  It's a really nice on the go scent especially if you're just going to run errands or something lowkey.

What are some of your favorite scents?

Hair Products Review

One of my favorite things to do is try out new hair products. I am constantly on the search for the next new product that will leave my hair soft and healthy and smelling great! Below are a list of some of the products I've tried recently or have been using for a while. The first thing I always like to do before investing in a new hair product is go through the reviews of current and past users to see if the product is something worth trying, hopefully my reviews help you guys out in choosing your next shampoo or leave-in!



 It's A 10 Miracle Leave In Product ... I got introduced to this product from one of my hair stylists and initially fell in love with it solely based on the scent ( It smells heavenly) but that aside. If I could only have one hair product for the rest of my life, this would be it. This product is accurately described as a 10 AND a miracle, I have relaxed hair so one of my number one concerns is always keeping my hair detangled and also protecting it when heat styling and this product does both. This product runs a bit on the pricey side retailing at Target for $14.39 for the 4 oz bottle but I actually purchased a 10 oz bottle on Amazon.com for $20 with shipping and handling. So the product is pricey but if you shop around you will be able to get a good deal on it. Also,a little goes a long way with it's a 10, so a few sprays and you are good. I wash my hair every seven days and a 10 oz bottle lasts me around 3-4 months.

 Shea Moisture's Jamaican Black Castor Oil Hair Masque, I've only used this product twice, as I just got it recently but I am highly pleased. It contains some sort of menthol property that leaves my scalp feeling so tingly and clean, but most importantly it does a great job of getting my hair really soft and easy to detangle. I will do an update to let you guys know if it has affected my hair growth. It retails for $10.99 at Target.com but ever so often Walgreens and CVS has buy one get one 50% off on Shea Products.

  Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum and Garnier Fructis' Sleek and Shine Anti Frizz Serum are my top 2 favorite moisturizing oils. I am a lover of coconut anything so I decided to try the Organix Milk a shot and I have been hooked ever since. The Nourishing Coconut Milk gives my hair a really nice shine and luster without weighing it down and I especially love using it after I have gotten a relaxer or on my wet hair.

Coconut Milk $5.79 and Sleek and Shine $4.99 ( Target) 

I use the Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Anti Frizz serum more on a day to day basis than I do the Organix Coconut Milk, my favorite thing about the Sleek and Shine Serum is how incredibly lightweight it is, it gives my hair such a nice sheen but literally feels like nothing which is really great, this product is really great to use when it is nearing the time for you to wash your hair and it is starting to get a bit oily but you still need some sort of moisturizer to slick it back.

 Shea Moisture's Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo, first and foremost the smell is absolutely amazing and lasting, I have to say of all the shampoos I've tried ( and I have tried a lot) this has been my favorite scent so far. Not to mention that it really does a good job of what it advertises which is hydrating your hair. As soon as I apply this shampoo to my scalp my hair instantly feels so much softer, the matching conditioner wasn't in the store when I purchased the shampoo but I will be going trying it at some point. Since the matching conditioner was not  available I decided to go with the Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner for Dry, Damaged hair..this conditioner also smells awesome and can be used as a regular conditioner or as a leave-in. However I would only give this conditioner a 3 out of 5 stars in terms of how well it detangled my hair. Even when I use a generous amount I still feel as though I am ripping my hair out,, no bueno!

$9.99 per bottle at Target

 Crecepelo

$3.89 for shampoo and conditoner

 at Publix and varying prices at drugstores like Walgreens

and CVS

 This line is by far my most favorite hair product line, I was introduced to the hair line online when a friend of a friend posted a picture and commented on how well these products helped her hair grow. Always eager to try new products, I decided to pick up the shampoo and conditioner.  The smell is amazing and to date I have not found a product that does a better job of detangling my hair. Unfortunately the product is not sulfate free but for me that is a small price to pay for the amazing job it does otherwise. As for whether or not it has aided in helping my hair grow, the jury is still out on that... Having long(er) hair has never been a main focus for me so to be honest I haven't paid much attention, especially since I've cut and or trimmed my hair a few times since I've started using this product, and my hair naturally grows at a rate that is satisfactory to me,  I will however, start to make more of an effort to pay attention to the growth of my hair and I will do a follow up review. For those of you who are concerned with hair growth, my mom has started using this product in my sisters hair who has chronic eczema and experiences hair loss or rather lack of growth, at the back of her head, and my mom has commented at how good of a job the line is doing at aiding in the growth of my sisters hair, and I have seen her hair experience significant growth myself.

Birthday Trip to Puerto Rico

   This Month I turned 25 (yesterday to be exact) and I had long decided that I wanted to commemorate turning a 1/4 of a century by traveling to a place I had never been before, after careful contemplation I decided on Puerto Rico. I am just beginning on my new life resolution to travel more and I thought that Puerto Rico would be a great start.

   It was only a quick 2.5 hour trip from where I live in Florida, and it  being a U.S. Territory meant I had the convenience of using the same currency and a lot of the amenities mainland U.S.A provides. After I decided that Puerto Rico was going to be my birthday destination I started my search for the most reasonable tickets. Weeks of of fare watching lead to my decision to fly Southwest. The factors that influenced this decision included the arrival time of the flight into PR (my party and I wanted to get the most out of the day we arrived as it was a short trip) as well as the fact that Southwest didn't charge baggage fees.

  After tickets were decided upon then I began searching for places to stay. From the experience of a couple friends of mine I decided that instead of staying at a traditional hotel that I would be using Air BnB to book a place to stay while in PR. After going through numerous listings we (my bf and I , who helped a bit with planning) decided on staying at an apartment on Calle Loíza about an 8 min drive from the airport. 

Staying at the apartment for 4 nights and 3 days with a company of 5 people ended up costing $688 including the fees air BnB charges which I thought was a great deal as the apartment came with its own balcony, as well as a terrace and roof top area to barbecue if we wished to do so. Another great benefit of the apartment was also that it was 2 blocks from the beach and central to all the other activities we had planned.
While in Puerto Rico I ziplined at Toro Verde Adventure Park www.toroverdepr.com  about an hours drive away,  different Zipline courses costs different amounts of money but there is a 10% discount for patrons with college ID. If you intend to go this adventure park I would advise you to go as soon as they are open as they work on a first come first serve basis regardless of if you have a reservation.

On the third day of my stay in Puerto Rico my friends and I went snorkeling with Traveler Catamaran Sail and Snorkel www.travelerpr.com the excursion cost about $75 per person more or less and included lunch and unlimited drinks. We sailed to Icaco Island where we spent a few hours eating and either laying on the beach or snorkeling then we sailed into deeper waters where we could dive, swim and snorkel some more. It was my first time snorkeling but I was completely at ease Angie the instructor was very professional and personable as well as the rest of her staff.  

On our last day we went to the beach that was by our apartment -Ocean Park Beach

and then we went to Old San Juan for a second time as we had only seen it in the night on our second night there.

Overall I had a great trip to PR and would love to return one day, everyone was very friendly towards us, and with the exception of the crazy driving that takes place there we always felt safe. If you are planning on travelling to PR I would definitely recommend renting a car especially if you plan on going on excursions that are not close to where you are staying  (as long as you are an experienced driver) also if you get a chance do dine at Molini's Cafe which had the yummiest lunch and breakfast! My favorite thing there was their..

Mofongo Relleno de Pollo Guisado

Marco Island

This past weekend my boyfriend and I took a trip out to Marco Island, and had a really good time. I'm usually a planner and need everything to be in place weeks (even months) before, but my boyfriend is more of the second by second lets see how it goes person and the trip was his idea so I let it go.. All arrangements boarding and activities were planned on the way there (we live about two hours away) but it all came together nicely. We stayed at the "Boat House Motel" off of Edington in one of the waterfront rooms

the hotel is very small and about as "homey" feeling as it gets. We got there about  3 hours prior to the official check in time and were able to check in. The room was cute and clean for the most part, the only real complaint was that the initial sheets that were on the bed had a few stains on them (nothing gross) just a few spots here and there so we just asked for a fresh pair. 

After we were settled in we headed out to do some kayaking, having read a few reviews online we decided to go with "Marco Island Kayak Adventures." We met up with our kayak instructor Chris at the meeting point which was literally 3 mins away from our hotel ( not intentionally, we just picked a hotel then picked a kayaking company and it worked out that way) . Chris took us out in his boat to a certain point and then we got up and set up our kayaks to head out. Neither my boyfriend nor I had ever been kayaking before but Chris thoroughly explained the processed and reassured us we would be just fine. Kayaking was more physically demanding than I anticipated but fun nonetheless, at first we kayaked out to a dead end where we stopped and took pictures then we kayaked to a little hideaway beach, it was very scenic. 

All along the way Chris gave us information on the different species we came across, and was able to answer most questions we had. We had the option of kayaking to one more island but by then we were beat and decided to just head back to the boat on the way back to the boat we were lucky to see dolphins ! 

and on the dock we saw a manatee, it was a great trip. 

If you ever end up in Marco Island kayaking is a good activity to partake in. Just don't forget to bring sunscreen, wear a swim suit or at least water related clothing, water is provided by kayak adventures but it's best to freeze a bottle over night so it'll last a little longer against the hot sun. 

Bistro 1902

Over the weekend I went to brunch with my bf and two of our friends to this cute little restaurant in Hollywood, Florida called " Bistro 1902". Before going we purchased groupons for $29 the groupon include either a fruit salad or yogurt and an entree for two people and unlimited mimosas (say what?? yes! )  I had french toast , eggs, and a fruit salad and my boyfriend has a crepe. Everything was delish! The french toast had a very homemade look and taste and the crepe was the perfect thickness. Our waiter was very attentive and was there every time our mimosas ran out. Overall it was a very pleasant experience and I will definitely be going back. If you're ever in the area or in the mood for some brunch definitely check them out!



P.S. I totally should have taken pictures of the food to give you guys an idea, next time I will :)

Little Pink Dress

As most girls my age I am a self admitted shopaholic. I am supposed to be on a self imposed shopping ban but as soon as I saw this dress (and calculated my financial obligations) I knew I had to have it! I purchased this dress yesterday from a dd's discount close to my house for a whooping.... (wait for it) $11.00 ! This was a deal I could not pass up. The dress is a 100% Polyester and feels and what did it for me the light pleating and the overall sexy sophisticated look of the dress. I will be wearing this dress to work and so I will need to cover up the top to make it work appropriate. I tried pairing it with a light denim jacket which gives it a really cute girly look and I also paired it with a black leather jacket which gave it a little more of a rocker chic look. I'm still on the fence about what shoes I'll be pairing it with, but once I do i'll be posting pictures of the look :)