Updated Winter Skincare

I was thinking to myself the other day about how dry my skin is getting, and it made me realize that it's that time of the year: the time when no matter how hard I try, my skin does not want to cooperate with me. So I got to work collecting my Holy Grail skincare products and getting back into a routine.

My winter skincare routine is pretty simple, and some of the products remain the same. I'm just a lot, a lot, a lot more disciplined when it comes to actually keeping up on it all. Every morning and night I use the same products (with an added face mask here or there), and I never slack on what's being applied. So what do I do to keep my dry skin looking at least a little healthy and glowy?

MORNING

The morning is pretty cut and dry: If my skin needs a little something extra, I'll use a miscellar water (currently the NYX brand one, but any will do), and a clean cotton pad and wipe away any excess dirt or oil; a lot of the time I skip this step. Next, I apply my eye cream. 

(Side note: if you're not already using the Olehenriksen Truth Banana Bright Eye Cream, start. Everything you've ever heard about it is true. It's that good, that magical, and it's made a HUGE difference in how my under eyes look.)

After my eye cream, comes serum (also Olehenriksen Truth), and then moisturizer. My holy grail moisturizer is KORRES. I switch between the Greek Yoghurt line and the Vitamin C 24 Hour Moisturizer; currently I'm on the brightening one because, y'know, winter dullness and everything else. Then I go on with my day and apply my makeup. Easy.

I focus a lot in the winter on what's brightening because that's what I need. My dryness gets to me because it makes me look dull and all I ever want is to be dewy and glowy. These products have given my skin the best glow from within. I highly, highly recommend all of them if that's what you're going for. Some days I just stare at my cheeks before I apply my foundation because they're just that moisturized. LOVE.

NIGHT

My night routine has a little more variety to it than my morning one. It also includes more body because I suck and never moisturize that (I need to start, I know. I'm trying to be better). I always start with the basics: removing my makeup. 

(If you aren't removing your makeup every night, I'm going to preach to you for a minute: How do you possibly expect to have nice skin if you're treating it poorly? Makeup is great and I love it, but do not sleep with it on for God's sake. At least get a damn wet wipe and take it off that way.)

I am a cleansing oil gal, and really enjoy the Burt's Bees one, so that's always what I use. Sometimes I go in with a cleansing balm after (the Pixi one is really nice for drugstore), but often I go straight to washing my face. If I'm hurrying, I'll hop in the shower and use my KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser, but most of the time, I keep to the sink and go in with my Youth to the People Kale Superfood Cleanser. It's so gentle and doesn't dry out my skin, while still removing all of the excess makeup and oil from the Burt's Bees cleanser. My face always feels so soft and fresh after this one. If you're gonna splurge on  cleanser, splurge on this one.

If I didn't work a double that day, I'll usually throw on a face mask around now. It's almost always a Lush one. Sue me. Right now I'm being festive and using their Rudolph jelly mask. It smells like chocolate cake and it makes me happy. One of the ingredients is orange juice. Guess what it does: brightens.

Once my face is clean, I go in with either my KORRES Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial or, if my skin feels unbearably dry, my KORRES Wild Rose Rose Sauvage, which is really just a brightening face oil. Then I put on a Bite Lip Mask, lather my arms and legs in cocoa butter, and go to sleep.

EXTRAS

OH! I did forget to mention that sometimes in the shower I use either King of Skin or Buffy (both from Lush) to moisturize and/or exfoliate my legs, shoulders, and arms, where I get super dry in the winter. They're so gentle and smell so amazing. Plus, my skin is amazingly soft after using either one. Try them out if you haven't already! I'll also take a bath with some type of moisturizing oil or soak once a week or so to try to calm down just how dry my body gets.

And that's my winter skincare in a nutshell. Of course, stay hydrated, eat well, protect your face from the cold, don't take excruciatingly hot showers, but I'd be lying if I said I kept up on half of that stuff (but kudos if you do!).

Let me know what your favorite skincare products are in the winter! I'm always looking to try out something new (especially masks). And have a fantastic Thanksgiving if you're American!

xxx

A Weekend Getaway: Nashville, TN

Sorry I've been MIA lately. I've been stupidly busy with work and life. But a couple of weeks ago, some of my friends and I got away to Nashville, Tennessee, and oh my God was it cute! I definitely want to go back again to see more--we didn't get to much of the touristy stuff--but we got to walk around and see Nashville in all of its charm. And boy, does it have charm!

I don't have much to say, but I actually took some pictures of a place for once! So have a look for yourself, and definitely visit Nashville. While you're at it, get some hot chicken, some ribs, and some cookie dough (or if you're a veg head like me, some vegan food; Nashville was honestly very veg and vegan friendly)! Walk around, enjoy the pretty views and the rooftop bars, and really get to know the city. It's quaint and I instantly fell in love.

 Oh! I probably should have mentioned, I minimally edited these photos (if at all) for a real feel! I also used my beloved Huji app (highly recommend)! Look how cute and candid my friends are! I love them.

 Nashville has little murals everywhere. We found the one below right outside of a gas station. We didn't get to the wings one because there was a GIANT line, but the ones we found were lovely and colorful. Go on a little Nashville adventure yourself to find them.

We also stumbled across a little pumpkin path (since we went only like a weekend or two before Halloween) and had a little photo shoot. It really made me feel at home in the little city.

Some of us also got tattoos while we were there! Rule #32: Enjoy the little things.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chaotic post! Definitely visit Nashville if you get the chance, and leave your favorite place you've visited in the comments!

xxx

My Updated Favorite Cruelty Free Brands

I've been cruelty free since 2014 and I like to think I've done my fair share of dabbling with different brands who don't test on animals. I'm sorry, but my favorites aren't indie brands or crazy secrets. They're pretty popular and well known, but hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, you know? These are the brands that perform best for me. After so many years of trying probably every brand, these are the ones I keep going back to.

I narrowed it down to my favorite skincare brands, my favorite face brands, and my favorite eye brands. "Favorite" meaning the brands I repurchase again and again, nearly always try their new products, and find myself using almost every day. But before we get into it all, let's get the disclaimer out of that way:

Disclaimer: My criteria for cruelty free is as follows: the brand cannot sell in China (unless they bypass the requirement to test on animals by only selling online) and the brand cannot have a third party test on animals for them. The brand can, however, be owned by a not-cruelty free brand (if you trace everything back, almost everything is owned by the same handful of companies, so, unfortunately, it's almost impossible to not buy something with a parent company that tests on animals).

Now that we've gotten that little disclaimer out of the way, here are my favorite cruelty free brands.

Face Products

Becca Cosmetics
No surprise here, right? I love a glowy look, and Becca knows how to deliver in that department. They make my favorite foundation and my favorite highlight (everyone's favorite highlight), and every time I walk into Ulta or Sephora, I swatch practically their entire collection. Their stuff is just so gorgeous. Besides the looks, though, their products deliver: they wear well, last long, and blend easily. Find me in their highlighter more often than not.

tarte
tarte was my first makeup love and probably my strongest. Granted, their eye products (besides their 4-in-1 mascara) are boring and their formulas aren't amazing, their face products are the complete opposite. Their Park Ave Princess is one of my Holy Grail products, and their blushes are some of the best. I don't think I'll ever stop loving tarte as a brand.

wet n wild
This is one of the most affordable brands, and its quality is so freaking good. Have you tried a wet n wild highlighter? You should. What about their cream products? Or their primers? Like the higher end cosmetics mentioned above, wet n wild's products have an awesome wear time and blend flawlessly with everything I've ever put on my face. If you're still overlooking them, do yourself a favor, spend $4 on something at Target, and get on board.

Eye palettes

Lorac
I feel like people either love or hate Lorac, and I'm one of the people that love them. I've never been disappointed with their eyeshadows. The formulas blend well, the pigment is amazing, and the color selection is never disappointing. Granted, some of their shimmer shades have fallout, but that's an easy fix. I hit pan on almost every palette of theirs I own, and I'm completely okay with that. I'll buy them forever.

Anastasia Beverly Hills
Honestly, I feel about ABH palettes the way I do about the Lorac ones. The formula, the colors, their ability to blend, is all exactly what I look for. I know I don't need to sell these to you. Modern Renaissance sells itself. Just try them if you haven't.

Skincare

Lush
We all know Lush and I think it's pretty easy to love them. I mean, an all-natural, environmentally conscious brand that focuses mostly on bathroom products: what's not to like? At least, that's how I feel. Their scents are always lovely, but what I enjoy the most are all of their ranges. I count down to the Christmas and Easter and other little seasonal ranges they bring out every year. They're just so fun and enjoyable to me. And I love hygiene and taking care of the environment, so there's always that.

Korres
This could be incorrect, but I think Korres are overlooked as a brand. First off, they're a Greek brand and Greece is beautiful. Second, their ingredients are thought out and lean to the natural side. Third, have you ever used a Korres product? Holy hell do they do wonders for skin. I love their face moisturizers and creams. They leave my skin hydrated and soft and healthy. For a girl with skin as dry as the desert, I glow after I put these on. Yes, please. Plus, they're decently affordable for what they are. I highly recommend.
*I do find it important to point out that Korres sell in China, but they do not sell in physical stores, allowing them to bypass the animal testing laws in Mainland China. Thank you, Korres.*

Let me know if you guys have ever tried any products from these brands and what you think of them overall. And, of course, let me know your favorite cruelty-free brands. I'm always looking to expand.

xxx

The First Fall Bake: Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

It's the end of September, which means the beginning of fall, and since I am basic af, I wanted to do something with some pumpkin puree. I asked my boyfriend what he would want to eat, and of no surprise to me, he told me snickerdoodles. Off I went to find a recipe.

After running into  couple of recipe road blocks (i.e. cream of tarter and brown sugar), and taking a quick break to go to the store, I finally got to work.

Firstly, let me give a big shout out to My Food Story for supplying my inexperienced baker self the recipe. It's no secret that I am not the most creative in the kitchen, nor the most skilled, and this recipe did everything it needed to for me (meaning, it was easy, not a lot of mess, cheap/using supplies most people already have on-hand, and not too time consuming).

Secondly, my boyfriend is lame, so we omitted the chocolate chips and the peanut butter chips, but there is no doubt in my mind I am going to try them with all of their goodness next time! These ones were still delicious, just not by the book. I am linking the recipe here for your guys' convenience. Please use it!

Now to the cookies.

They were super easy to make, following the same pattern as always: mix the wet ingredients, mix the dry ingredients, then mix them together. You do have to let the dough chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, which I was not expecting, but it worked out because I forgot to preheat my oven to 350 degrees anyway, so I did that and watched some Harry Potter (per usual).

After visiting Godric's Hollow with Harry and Hermione, I decided the cookies were chilled enough, and I went to work rolling them in the cinnamon and sugar that makes a snickerdoodle, a snickerdoodle.

The recipe says to flatten the cookies a bit and to make sure there is a decent amount of room between each cookie for them to span out, so I placed six on a cookie tray, sprinkled some extra sugar on top, and let them bake for about 10 minutes.

I'm honestly not a huge snickerdoodle fan, but these ones were SO GOOD. They were so soft and chewy and the spices were such a nice touch--perfect for fall. I'll definitely be making them again before the season changes.

Let me know if you guys give them a try! I'd love to see some pictures of them, so tag me on Instagram @jojomariaaa if you do make them. And of course, comment below what your favorite fall baking recipes are.

xxx

How I Decided to Stop Caring

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

I allow everything to weigh on me. I have a difficult time realizing that I am not, in fact, the foundation holding everything together, but rather just a piece of the puzzle, and if I was lost, the picture would still be clear. It took me a while to come to this conclusion, and I still struggle with it daily. But I had to stop. I was allowing my jobs and my school work and everything that should have only been an aspect of my life to completely swallow it and take it over. And I stopped doing what I needed to do for me.

Thankfully, a few months ago I kind of realized that enough was enough. It was hard, and I don't really know how I did it, but my quality of life is 10 times better now, and I want to share it with all of you! I'll do my best to list out three ways of how I decided to say f it and start enjoying myself more, but I can't promise they'll be the most clear. I hope you get something out of it nonetheless.

1. Go after what you want, and if you don't get it, don't settle. This one is a hard one to carry out considering you have to take into account how far you can really go. Don't quit your job if you have bills to pay; I'm not telling you to be spontaneous. I'm just saying, if you are unhappy in any aspect of your life, try to fix it. There's almost always a way out, and living a low-quality life because of comfort isn't necessary. You aren't stuck, be it a job, school, a friendship, or a routine.
2. Being responsible doesn't mean missing out on everything. I still struggle with this one, but don't let the cons always out way the pros. Sometimes "because I want to" is a good enough reason to do something. Buy the thing, take the day off, go on the trip. Whatever you have to do can most likely wait. And if one thing can't, that doesn't mean nothing can.
3. Remember that you come first. You aren't here to please everyone. It's impossible. You're going to disappoint and you're going to let people down. Just don't let that person be you.

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Do what makes you happy. It's a cliche for a reason; you should listen to it and take it to heart.

What ways do you make your days more worthwhile? Let me know in the comments!

xxx

What I Got During the Sephora VIB Sale!

You may or may not be aware that Sephora recently had their VIB sale, where, as a VIB Rouge member (oops), you get 20 percent off (you get 10 percent for Insider, I believe). Well, I got a little excited for my 20 percent discount at that pricey little makeup store and got myself some goodies that I want to share you with you guys!

I got some essentials and some frivolous items, but it was a sale--what do you expect? Most of the items are well-known and loved, but besides the foundation, they're new to me, and I am excited! I've had the items for about a week and have put them all to the test, so I've got a bit of  first impression for every items for you guys, as well. Without further ado, here's what I got this past week from Sephora:

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation in the shade Light, $44

This is my Holy Grail foundation and I've talked about it before, so see my Top Four Favorite Makeup Items post about why I love it so much.

Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronze Coconut Perfect Tan in the shade Tan-Tastic!, $49

I've only heard good things about this bronzer, and after using it for a few days, I can definitely see why. It's a light color, not really a bronzer you can use to contour, but more to add some color to your face in a natural way. The pan size is huge and the mirror is beautiful and so nice to have around when you're trying to get up close for something! Not to mention, the bronzer has that signature coconut collection summery smell. I'm about it.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, $62

I have wanted this palette for so freaking long. I love, love, love Hourglass. Their formulas are always so nice and their powders never seem to sit on my skin weirdly. And for someone who loves a good glow, they're my go-to. This palette adds a fresh, subtle glow to your face without being overwhelming or too pigmented. It's just the right amount. So far, I'm in love, and I think this is going to be so perfect for my winter makeup looks.

Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara in Ultra Black, $29

Samantha Ravndahl raved about this mascara, so naturally, I had to try it out. It claims it doesn't transfer, and so far, I haven't noticed any transfer. It is a little difficult to get off at night, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. It's a beautiful black, though, and it doesn't clump. So far, my non-existent lashes are a little more noticeable, and I'm a fan, I think. Also, it's worth mentioning that this mascara feels expensive. Like, it's heavy, and I'm in love with it's packaging, so add 10 points for that.

Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer in the shade Porcelain, $29

My friend told me this concealer is being compared to Tarte Shape Tape, so I figured I'd give it a go. I'm never crazy about concealers, and I accidentally got this one a little darker than I wanted (it's for my under eyes and should have been a shade lighter), but it blends like a dream and has a nice full-yet-natural coverage. I also haven't noticed any creasing, so I'm pleased so far!

Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser, $36

I'm always one the lookout for a new cleanser because I think skincare is so, so important, and when I saw this one, I had to try it! Ugh it's so beautiful and its packaging is sophisticated yet simple: aka everything I want in life. The cleanser itself has a subtle smell and is gentle, but it works into a lather nicely, leaves my skin feeling refreshed and clean, and not too stripped of anything. Hopefully nothing changes. I've been using it once a day after I remove my makeup and before bed.

Let me know if you guys try any of these products or what you bought during the sale! I'm always looking to try new makeup!

xxx

My All-Time Favorite Lyrics

Photo taken by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

(My beautiful and creative friend Donita suggested this one, and I instantly wanted to post it, even though I doubt most of you will want to read it. I hope you enjoy it anyway.)

Music has always been my saving grace (original, I know). But it has. When I was going through family stuff growing up, it was my main solace; I didn't feel like I could voice my feelings to anyone else, but I could always relate to a lyric in a song.

Sociologically, that's kind of what music is for. Most bands write for their audiences, and even if it's only a part of the reason they're writing said lyric, it's still a reason. And maybe that takes the magic out of it, but maybe it doesn't. When I relate to a lyric, I am extremely aware that I am projecting my personal feelings onto it. And I've always enjoyed that. I like to know that lyrics can take on so many different meanings; they can be whatever you want them to be, whatever you need them to be, and that should be something to celebrate.

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

The lyrics I love are pretty cliche, I'm the first to admit, but I am forever a cynical and angsty teen, reciting The Catcher In the Rye over and over in my head and reading into conspiracies, so sue me. These are for me. Maybe you'll make them for you. Please do.

"I'm trying to find truth in words, in rhymes, in notes, in all the things I wish I'd wrote."

-The Format, "I'm Ready I Am"

I think this quote embodies what I wrote above. I want to be introspective and I want to place meaning and personal truths in things that don't belong to me. This lyric (from my favorite band) pops into my head a lot and it really calms me down when I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Don't ask me why.

"We don't all need a home, but just a place to sleep."

-Mayday Parade, "Ocean and Atlantic"

This one is corny and I know it, but when we moved a lot when I was younger, this lyric helped me feel grounded. I never felt like I had a home, and the home I did have was in Connecticut and only accessible for me for a few weeks or months over the summer. Mayday, this song, and this lyric specifically made me feel like I wasn't the exception but the rule when it came to not feeling like home was a place I went everyday.

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

"When the leaves start to turn there is so much to learn from the freeway."

-Sherwood, "The Town That You Live In"

I love long car rides. I like the views and the quiet and the hours of being trapped in my own head. Thus, I like this quote.

"So read your books, but stay out late some nights."
-Jack's Mannequin, "Bruised"
I like this one for exactly what it is. Sometimes it's difficult to remember that you don't have to be all or nothing. Balance is key.

"If I find my way through the darkest of days, will I laugh about the things that kept me awake?"

Daphne Loves Derby, "Cue the Sun!"

Take this one at face value. You'll make it through, and when you do, everything weighing you down won't seem as heavy or as important, and you'll try to remember why it felt like that in the first place.

These are the ones I can think of off the top of my head, and I think they're a good little start. Maybe if you guys like this post, I'll do an updated or a part two. 

I honest to God want to know your guys' favorite lyrics, so please comment them below!

xxx

My Go-To Lipsticks

I'm weird about things on my lips. For some reason, aything that sits above my upper lip or on my lips makes me very uncomfortable; I'm almost hyper-aware of the feeling and I immediately have to wipe it off. Thus, lipsticks are almost never my friends. I can't do liquid lips, I can't do glosses, and I can't do anything that's too grainy, creamy, or fragrant. So that rules out a lot. But after years of searching, I've finally found a few brands and styles of lipsticks that I can deal with, and that I actually like a lot and have repurchased in different styles. Here are the only lipsticks that don't make me want to go insane!

Bite Beauty  Matte Creme Lip Crayon
I recently fell in love with Bite Beauty. I've always loved their color selection, but for some reason could never bring myself to buy a lipstick of theirs out of fear of hating it (see above insane lipstick qualifications). But one day I got a sample from Sephora and wow, I'll never go back. These lip crayons, even though they're matte are so creamy and stay on your lips so well! I have a beautiful orange shade ("Blood Orange") and even after eating, I don't have to immediately reapply. They glide on your lips so well, and the pigment is nice and even. The only downside is that I find them difficult to layer--they can start to ball up on my dry lips--but I never find myself needing to layer them, so all is well.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick, $26 on sephora.com
Again, Bite Beauty. They just really know what they're doing. These lipsticks are creamier than the lip crayons, and so beautiful! They have a bit of a scent, which I don't love, but they perform so well on the lips that I can get past it.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme, $5.99 on target.com
These lipsticks are my go-to. Nine times out of ten, I'm wearing one of them. They stay on all day, layer well, have amazing pigment, and are cheap. Some of the shades do go on a little patchy, but they're fixable. Not to mention the applicator is great so that, even with the darker shades, you can get away with not wearing a lip liner.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick, $21 on sephora.com
Smashbox has some amazing liquid lips, but alas, you guys know how I feel about those, so I opt for these instead. They're creamy and even though they aren't the most long wearing, when I touch them up, they go on hassle-free. These ones have been my high-end go-to for years.

Milani Color Statement Lipstick, $6 on milanicosmetics.com
These ones come in matte and a shimmer-like formula, and the non-matte can have a bit of a texture to them (like glitter in the lipstick), but they're so pretty that I don't mind. Not to mention, both formulas have a fruity smell that I don't hate. They apply easily, wear well throughout the day, and are so comfortable on the lips. If you're picking up a lipstick while you grocery shop, go for these.

Maybe if you're strange like me, these lipsticks will help you get over your disgust of all things liquid and cream on or around your lips! Let me know your favorite lipsticks down below!

xxx

Spring Cleaning

 

Hey guys! This week's post is just going to be a quick little update. I need some time to get some new ideas in order and to really put some time into my posts, so I'm going to take a few weeks to get that going. Please feel free to give me some ideas of what you'd like to see! I'd love to know what's of interest to anyone reading this blog.

I'll go live again in a few weeks, once I've had some time to come up with quality content.

I love you all.

xxx

I don't want to leave you all with nothing, however, so have a look at some of my most picture-worthy foods over the past few months!

Nachos inspired by an appetizer at Little Nickel, but made by my roommate and I

Avocado ice cream from Charm School

Latte from Sugar & Twine

Lady Madeline juice and avocado toast from North End Juice Co.