Fashion Friday!: OOTD - Ode to Pop

90's knot (inspired by Britney Spears) + 80's highwaisted shorts (inspired by Madonna)

More OOTD? Yay or nay?

San Diego Birthday Haul: Accessories!

Sorry about my low quality pictures lately, my photography has been off so hopefully these pictures make up for it! What would you like to see from me next?

Earrings, bangles, beaded headband, necklaces from Everything a Deal - $1 each
Nude dangle earrings from Macy's - $2
Faux Fox tail keychain from Warped Tour - $10

Fashion Friday! : Turquoise Arm Party!

This is not my typical Fashion Friday where I show you a piece I'm really loving. I was really inspired by this challenge to try bracelet stacking. (Now, I'm not going to enter the challenge solely on the fact that I don't want to put the botton on my page.) So here's my twist on bracelet stacking featuring turquoise and earthy browns. These look really blue, that's just because I had no natural lighting and took them in my room, they're very turquoise in person though.

From left to right: Bangle (Gift bought in Santa Cruz), Turquoise Earthy Wrap Around Beaded Bracelet (Charlotte Russe 3 for $10), Turquoise Chunky Beaded Bracelet (Charlotte Russe 3 for $10), Brown Animal Print Beaded Bracelet (Won as a Poise/Posture Award in an Organization I'm in).

Ombre Hair

Thrfited BIRTHDAY Haul: Goodwill

For my birthday, my grandma gave me $30 to spend at Goodwill. People may not think $30 is a lot, but I love my grandma and it was a great gift... Especially for all the amazing things I got. I gave her $20 to pay for my items because she gets an extra 10% discount. And just to let you all know, I STILL only get things 50% off even at Goodwill.

White Short Sleeve Button Down with Ties - $2.25

H&M Multicolored Chunky Knit Top - $1.80

Black & White Short Sleeve Button Down - $2.25

Long White Lace Fringe Dress - $3.60

Black & White Polka Dot Long Sleeve Button Down - $2.69

Aztec/Tribal Print Multicolored Pleated Maxi Skirt - $3.14

Straw Multicolored Sun Hat - $2.69

TOTAL: 18.42

Quick Tip: Soothe Hives Fast

Oatmeal is not only a yummy breakfast and a super moisturizing cleanser- It soothed hives at the speed of lightning! Just wet the affected area with lukewarm water, take some unflavored oats and massage for a minute! Then rinse with lukewarm water and your hives are not itchy! It's so helpful since I visit my grandma 3+ days a week and I'm allergic to her dogs :/

Thrifted Haul: Goodwill + A SPLURGE

Sorry I've been doing so many hauls guys! It's Summer! And that means SHOPPING!

Black Pleather 1" Wedge Knee High Boots: $8.00

Lizzie McGuire Season 1 (Disc 4 Missing): $2.00 each

Nothing Can Keep Us Together: $2.00

Back in Black: $2.00

TOTAL: $16.00

AAAAAND....

I GOT A MACBOOK!

I know, I know. I'm not attractive. But if I started making fashion videos, would you watch?

Haul: eBay

Deer Necklace: $4.00

Cross Dangle Earrings: $0.39

TOTAL: $4.39

Get the Smoothest Lips You'll Ever Have!

AQUAFINA Hydrating Lip Balm - $4 for 4

I purchased mine $1 for 2 at the 99 cent store, but you can purchase it at Walgreens or Walgreens online by clicking the link above

I know it may sound like I'm over exaggerating, but this lip balm changed the way my lips feel in ONE night. My favorite lip balm before was Nivea Kiss of Moisture (which is also amazing), but this is BETTER AND CHEAPER! I love that it's flat and fits your lips a lot better for a more precise application. I literally brushed my lips for a mild exfoliation and put on this lip balm and when I woke up the next morning AND the morning after that- My lips were silky smooth! Not only that, it gives a really cooling/minty sensation that I've only experienced with Bath and Body Works minty lipglosses and Burts Bees Lip Balm (which I hate -_-), so yeah! I really recomment this lip balm!

Fashion Friday! : Vintage Aztec/Tribal Print Maxi Dress

I know I'm picking a lot of vintage pieces for Fashion Friday, but I just love having pieces in my wardrobe that are really fashionable, on trend, and well - nobody else will have them! I got this skirt at Goodwill and love it so much! It's so flowy and has a good shape to it. It is really big on me, so I have to safety pin it, but I still love it! Also, navy is really in for the nautical trend so it fits in with that too! I just love aztec/tribal print because the pattern is so unique but it still can go with other prints - I LOVE "clashing" prints - without looking to gaudy. You should all go to thrift shops and look for Maxi skirts because the vintage ones are so beautiful and unique!

Thrifted Haul: Goodwill

Navy Nautical Cardigan with Gold Chain Detailing - $2.50

Floral Patterened Striped Maxi Dress - $4.00

Blue Tribal Top with Copper detailing - $2.50

LA Candy - $3.00

Dates, Mates, and Cosmic Kisses - $.80

Uglies - $2.00

TOTAL - 14.80

My Closet: Neutrals & Basics!

Boys like girls who wear Abercrombie and Fitch

ANGEL SCHLESSER FEMME BY ANGEL SCHLESSER 50ml - $30

Yes, I got the title from LFO's song "Summer Girls" except it goes "I like girls who wear Abercrombie and Fitch..." haha, btw the perfume is Out of Stock Right now :/ But it's the cheapest one I found with high ratings!

I know most people aren't fans of Abercrombie and Fitch's prominent smell of perfume when you walk in, but I LOVE IT! If you love it, then you should try this perfume. It lingers for ages and ages and it really reminds me of Abercrombie's scent! (I don't know if they use Abercrombie Original or Fierce, it just depends on where you go) But I really recommend this perfume. It is strong at first, though, so you have to wait a while before you can really get that Abercrombie scent.

DON'T THROW OUT YOUR LIQUID FOUNDATIONS!

This works for all liquid foundations, all moisturizers, and all skin types! I'm just putting it in my experience so I can't speak for things I haven't tried.

We all sometimes buy foundations that aren't exactly to our liking. That's $20-$40 dollars spent! (Drugstore foundations too, I don't discriminate! Haha) But just because you can't use it as a foundation, it doesn't mean it's totally worthless.

What you do is take one pump of your moisturizer and half a pump of your foundation and BAM! It's wearable.

This trick works really AMAZINGLY with pore-clogging and/or heavy foundations that you just can't wear anymore. It thins the foundation AND makes a more coverage tinted moisturizer. It's great with really full coverage foundations as well because you only need a little bit of the foundation and it gives you great coverage even when you thin it out! It's perfect for the summer and saves you a lot of money.

I just take a bit of foundation and cover my whole face to even out my complexion. Then, with the rest, I dab on the tinted moisturizer lightly to my problem areas and stiple it with a dense stippling brush (I use the RealTechniques by Samantha Chapman Stippling Brush) so it blends in, but still gives coverage.  Of course, the moisturizer will never really be full coverage but it's still amazing!


I learned this from Goss (gossmakeupartist on YouTube) who does not believe in tinted moisturizer and sees it as just a waste of money when you can just take a bit of foundation and a bit of moisturizer and there it is!

Studio Gear Studio Matte Foundation

STUDIO GEAR Studio Matte Foundation in Praline - $23

You can purchase this at Ulta or any Studio Gear counter

My skin: I have very oily skin. My skin isn't acne prone or sensitive, so most products don't break me out. I do have big pores on my nose and around my nose so my pores do get clogged easily.

Pros:

• Full coverage
• Affordable
• Stays matte
• Long lasting with the right primer and setting powder/spray

Cons:

• Clogs pores
• Transfers on clothes
• Hard to work with, doesn't blend easily

For my first high-end foundation, I really expected more out of this foundation. I like it, but it's definitely not my holy grail item! It's a really good foundation for the price though and I love the coverage!

Fashion Friday! : Vintage Fringe Necklace

I'm going to start a segment called Fashion Friday where I pick my favorite fashion pick of the week, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Vintage Flower Fringe Tribal Necklace

Excuse my dirty wall! Here is a vintage necklace passed down from my grandma. I remember seeing these hanging on her jewelry wall since I grew up, but I  knew she sent them all to the Philippines. Luckily, when I visited her today - I saw this one! It was the last one left from her collection and said I could have it! It totally goes with all the trends - tribal/aztec print, fringe, and floral! It's such a statement piece that will make any outfit stand out!

My skin care routine

BIORE Steam Activated Cleanser - $5+

ST IVES Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub (Invigorating) - $4+

BIORE Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser - $5+

My steps:

1. Remove all the dead skin cells by exfoliating using St. Ives apricot scrub, then wash face thoroughly

2. Lather the Biore fighting ice cleanser in hands and massage face for one minute, then wash thoroughly

3. Lather the steam activated cleanser in hands and massage face thoroughly concentrating on clogged areas and areas with bigger pores, make sure the water is warm-hot and face the water so the steam activates the cleanser

SKIN BACKGROUND: My skin is extremely oily, except for the bottom of my cheeks near my jawline where it can get very dry. I don't consider my skin combination because 95% of my face is oily and I really need to control that oil. I have sensitive skin on my nose, so even though it's one of my oiliest spots, it peels when I use harsh cleansers. I do use mostly harsh cleansers though, because my face can take it and I like my cleansers to be super effective. I have only two problematic areas- around my hairline (especially sideburn area) and my nose. Hair follicles mixed with oil (my hair also happens to get oily so it's a double whammy -_-) is the main reason for any breakouts. My nose gets many blackheads that never seem to go away - even with pore strips- so I'm still looking for the perfect cleanser that will help with blackheads. I've found one that comes close, but I'm still experimenting. When I actually "break out", I'm fortunate to only break out with 1-2 pimples at a time. But they ALWAYS leave scars and I have hyper-pigmentation.

BIORE Steam Activated Cleanser: It's my FAVORITE cleanser of all time. It seriously unclogs my pores and takes out the majority of my blackheads. Of course, my blackheads are very deep in my pores and not even pore strips can remove them all, but this product has proved to be the most effective in clearing out a lot of my blackheads. It gives a really refreshing/cooling sting when I'm massaging it on my face, but only if I let it sit on my face for a minute- which I do unless I'm in a big rush. After I use it, I can really tell a difference in how big/clogged my pores on my nose are. I recommend using this in the shower because the steam of a hot shower really helps.

St. Ives Invigorating Fresh Face Apricot Scrub: This is a pretty good exfloiator. It's not my favorite... but it gets the job done. It doesn't remove all the dead skin cells on my nose when my nose starts to peel from harsh cleansers. There's not much I can say for this, it's good - not great.

BIORE Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: I love this cleanser! It's probably the first cleanser I fell in love with. It's really good and helps with blackheads as well. The blackhead removal isn't as strong as the Steam Activated cleanser, but it's the first cleanser that I noticed a big difference in my blackheads and I love it! It also gives a cooling effect when used which I love because it just gives me assurance that it's working, haha. The one con about this is that it's pretty harsh and at times can make my nose begin to peel because I concentrate most of my cleansers on my nose because it's my one of my problem areas.

Overview: I like using this regimen and it makes my skin feel REALLY REALLY soft afterwards, but I'm still experimenting and trying to see which individual products are the best. I also buy different brands and am trying to find my perfect cleanser. I only use drugstore products, though. I don't have much money to spend and I also have pretty great skin that doesn't break out a lot, so I don't feel like I need a $30 cleanser.

If you know of any tips, tricks, or products to get rid of ALL your blackheads, please let me know in the comments below! It's the only thing I'm really concerned about on my face and haven't found anything to help it.

HAUL: Free People, Romeo & Juliet Couture, Rachel Roy & Steve Madden!

I just came back from shopping at Ross and I found some AMAZING deals! Usually I go to Ross for cheap heels & clothes, but I never knew they carried some brands that I'm absolutely in love with (but sadly can't afford). I went to the sale rack in the women's section and my jaw dropped when I found brands like Romeo & Juliet Couture which are brands you find at expensive shopping centers and department stores like Saks! I had to take advantage of these deals and I suggest you run to the nearest Ross and buy! If there aren't any at the sale racks, in the front of the store where the racks are marked "Designer", you'll find these brands there too! And they're fairly cheap, so don't be sad if you can't find the deals that I did!

FREE PEOPLE Ivory Lace Sleeve Top

Retail: $68.00

My Price: $4.49

FREE PEOPLE Ivory Victorian Lace Babydoll Flounce Top

Retail: $78.00

My Price: $6.99

ROMEO & JULIET COUTURE Heather Gray Vneck Top with Floral Lace Detailing

Retail: $58.00

My Price: $5.99

STEVE MADDEN Silver Sparkle Sandles

Retail: $69.00

My Price: $4.99

RACHEL ROY Army Green Skinny Black with Black Stud Detailing

Retail Price: $32.00

My Price: $1.99

TOTAL WORTH: $305.00

MY TOTAL: $24.45

No, I'm not exaggerating! I'm a really smart shopper (:

OMBRE HAIR! : What I used

L'Oreal Excellence Crem Blonde Supreme in 01 Extra Light Ash Blonde - $9+

Revlon Frost & Glow Highlight Kit - $7+

I purchased these at Target & Walmart, but you can find them at your local drugstore.

I had ombre hair for most of junior year unil June where I dyed it black. After seeing Zoe (Zoella on YouTube), I fell back in love with the ombre look and decided to do it right. I used the L'Oreal Excellence Creme Bonde Supreme in Extra Light Ash Blonde to lighten my black hair (Hint: If you've dyed your hair dark brown-black like I did in the past three months, IT WON'T WORK! But if your hair is just naturally dark brown-black, then regular Light Ash Blonde hair dye will work for you.) That didn't do anyting so I just went and bleachd it. I jut took the Revlon Frost & Glow because it was really cheap and had bleach, which I needed.

My steps to ombre hair with the Frost & Glow Highlighting Kit:

1. Right after mixing the product, I put the product from my ends up to where my chin is and left it fr 20 minutes.
2. Wash & blow dry
3. I put the product from my ends up to above my ear and left it for 20 minutes
4. Wash and blow dry
5. I then just put the rest of the prduct on my ends and left it for 30 minutes
6. Wash with the shampoo and conditioner it comes with and leave to air dry

Results: Ombre hair! Since my hair was black before-hand, it came out brassy and orange instead of brown. But I kind of like it like that! If it comes out the same way, buy a blue-based toner at your local Sally's and it will take away the orange brassiness!