Collective Haul: Makeup, Skincare and More!

So I've been a bit naughty these past couple of weeks and this happened.... During multiple trips to CVS, Target, Walgreens, eBay.com and JustFab.com I have been getting some stuff I wanted to try and I hope you enjoy me showing it to you.

Starting on the left, I picked up some up & up Exfoliating Cotton Rounds because everyone and their mother on YouTube has been mentioning these and saying that once they tried them, they never went back to normal cotton rounds. I tried them today for the first time and I they feel really good on the skin and definitely help me take off my make up faster. I also picked up an e.l.f. Studio Small Angled Brush, a Conair Volume & Styling comb*, Conair bunmaker, and a Maybelline Eye Studio eye liner in Blackest Black.

I found some really awesome deals on the Revlon Lip Butters at Target. They are usually around the $7 price tag but I was able to get a pack of two Lip Butters for $6.28. I picked up two of those, one in Creme Burlee and the other one in Berry Smoothie. These are super wearable colors perfect for every day. In addition, I got three of the Wet n Wild megalast nail polishes at CVS and they were only $1, which is half of what they usually go for! I picked up the shades (in order): Through the Grapevine, Tropicalia and Undercover.

Now, one of the things I was most excited to try were these Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains. They claim to do everything I want in a lip product and I was not disappointed. I'm definitely going to pick some more shades as soon as I can! Another thing I can't wait to try and review for all of you are these L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector serum and day/night cream. They are pretty expensive for a drugstore product but after some YouTube peer pressure (*coughs* Nicole Guerriero *coughs*) I finally was persuaded to give them a try. 

I picked up the only shade from the Wet n Wild coloricon blushers that I did not have, Berry Shimmer, the Physicians Formula Matte Collection Quad in Canyon Classics and the Sonia Kashuk cream bronzer in Rick Bronze. On top of that, I found the L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution on eBay. These are only sold in the U.K. for at less than £4 he moment but I really wanted to try using a micellar water to take off my makeup so I decided to order two of them online, even if it is a bit more expensive. So far I am really liking it, but I will have to keep you all posted on it.

Now to some of the random things I got... I needed some boots for the fall and winter time. It doesn't get too cold here in Arizona, but it is still necessary to wear cozy shoes. After shopping around, I was not pleased with the styles (or the prices) of the boots I was finding so I decided to look online. Thankfully, I was able to find this pair of faux-leather lace-up boots in JustFab.com for just 19.99 (because of some deal they had going on)! They are super comfy and will definitely be a staple in my Fall wardrobe.

Lastly, I picked up the latest book from my favorite author, Between the Lines. I haven't had time to read it but I am really looking forward to it. I own most of Jodi Picoult's books and she never lets me down with her narratives.

So that's it for this post! If you have special interest for me to review any of these items, let me know in the comments. 

Gabriela xx

Finding motivation and getting back in shape

Photo courtesy of JAMES LORD productions

New-Skin has set me the challenge of sharing what inspires and motivates me to stay healthy and maintain my fitness routine. Funny that they ask because since I came back from summer vacation (about a month ago), I have decided that this is it: this is the semester I get in shape. I've been doing really well changing up my nutrition and exercising at least four times a week.

But what keeps me going? Well, I am just so tired of looking in the mirror and hating what I see. I am pretty overweight so I find it really hard to accept myself when I strongly dislike what I look like. My goal every day is to be a bit more positive, to love myself a little bit more and being able to share my joy with the world. I have taken many steps towards that direction but I am still not happy with myself because as much as my physique is not what defines me, it can really bring me down. I am just fed up with it!

You know what else motivates me? The idea of being able to wear the cloth that I like. It is so hard to know what kind of style you like but being unable to pull it off because your body is just not fit enough. I want to walk into my favorite stores and not have to go to the plus size section. I want to be able to rock any style I want and not be limited to "whatever I can find in my size." As a girl who loves fashion, having to settle is very depressing.

But enough with that. The important part is that I am back at it! I am feeling good about my workout and my nutrition. I am already seeing differences and I just feel so happy and empowered. I know I can do this and by the end of this year I want to be proud of the work I've done.

I will probably keep you guys updated along the way with some before and after pictures. Be in the lookout for another beauty review soon.

Gabriela 

xx

Review: ZonePerfect® Greek Yogurt Bars

A few days ago I got my first ever VoxBox from Influenster. I was really excited because not only I was going to try new products, but also because the theme of my box is very relevant to my weight loss goals. 

Among the products included in this box was one of these ZonePerfect® Greek Yogurt Bars (in the Yogurt Vanilla Berry flavor, one of three flavors). It was a full-size bar in it's original packaging just like displayed under this text.

Now, let's get to the review. At first I was a bit skeptical because I'm one of the pickiest eaters of all time. I don't like berries and I don't particularly like yogurt. However, I decided that I needed to try them in order to pass a legit judgement on them. I do not regret doing so because these were pretty good.

They have a very strong berry flavor which was overwhelming at first but it also combines really well with the greek yogurt. The texture is not too solid, but not soft either, which I enjoyed. The appearance of the bar itself isn't the most attractive, but as long as the flavors are there, I can look past that.

Compared to the chocolate or peanut butter protein bars I like to eat, these aren't exactly the tastiest, but they are a great option if you're a fan of combining yogurt and berries. In terms of nutrition, I was pretty good. Nothing impressive, but it wasn't bad.

180 calories

12g of protein

3g of fiber

5g of total fat

22g of carbohydrate

15g of sugar

I think the calories are a bit much compared to other bars, as well as the sugar. I wish it had more fiber, too. However, this snack overall was satisfying enough to hold me for a couple of hours in between my meals, which is all I ask for in a protein or fiber bar. 

Overall, it's a much better option that eating a muffin or just a regular candy bar as a snack. These are easy to eat on the go and make you feel like you've made a smart decision by eating them. I haven't seen these at my local grocery store, but if you do I suggest you pick them up and give them a try because I do not regret trying them. Can't wait to try the chocolate one!

Rating: 8/10

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

REVIEW: Opinion Outpost

Today I got a bit of a different review for you guys. After seeing SO many youtubers mention this website called Opinion Outpost I decided to give it a try because why not? I spend most of my time on the computer so I might as well earn some money from it just by answering surveys and giving my opinions.

 My favorite thing about this website is that it lets you exchange the points you earn for the reward that better suits your needs. For example, every 50 points you earn a $5 Amazon gift card, every 100 you earn a $10 iTunes gift card or every 50 you can make a $5 donation to the American Red Cross. Personally, I get my rewards through PayPal ($10 every 100 points) because I buy a lot on eBay and you can transfer your PayPal balance to your bank account so getting rewarded through PayPal is the most versatile way to get your money.

A lot of people get scared with websites that claim to give you money for taking surveys because they think they are scams (which most of them are) but this one is very reliable and safe. I've been using it for more than 6 months and have enjoyed it a lot. Another thing that's different about this website is that you can get rewarded pretty easily. Other similar websites only pay you very small amounts of money per survey and you have to get to a pretty high amount of money before you actually get that reward. Here, I got my first $10 within the first 3 days. By now, I've earned a total of $170 which doesn't seem like a lot, but for a student who can't usually treat herself to nice things, this has been the perfect way to earn money.

In terms of the surveys, they are very varied. I have taken surveys about cosmetics, home improvement, finance, and even politics. Usually they start by asking some basic information like your age, location and employment status. If you qualify, then you proceed to the survey. Be prepared to not qualify for A LOT of surveys (especially if you do not live in the United States). They are usually looking for specific groups of people and if you don't fit into that category, you won't be able to take the survey and be rewarded.

Taking surveys can be a very time consuming task, but you at least get told beforehand how long it should take you so that you decide whether or not you want to start it (example above). I have taken surveys that take me less than five minutes, but I've also taken surveys that last more than two hours (and you are rewarded accordingly). Not all of them can be accessed if you leave the page before completing it, so when you start a survey make sure you have the time to complete it. 

This is not for everyone, but personally, I think this is a great way to earn some extra cash every month. As a student with a passion for makeup and beauty products, it is very hard to treat myself with nice things. What I've done is limit my online purchases to the money I get through this and this has helped me stay on budget SO much! I bought my Clarisonic and many other makeup products using only the money I've earned here (and of course finding great deals on eBay) so it has given me the chance to try things I haven't before. 

Let me know if you've tried this and what you thought of it. 

Rating: 9.5/10

Disclaimer: I am not being paid to review this. I just genuinely like this websites and the services they provide.

P.S. My vacations are coming to an end so once I get back to Arizona, I'll start posting more content and showing you some exciting products I've been using.

Gabriela xx

REVIEW: Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

Sorry I haven't updated the blog for the past couple of weeks. I'm back now with a lot of new products to try and review for you all. 

I was looking for a lighter coverage foundation a couple of months ago and came across the concept of a BB cream. I started looking into some reviews on YouTube and some blogs hoping to find the best BB cream for oily/combination skin types. This one was one of the most raved about, especially for my skin type, so I decided to give it a try. I paid less than $8 for two of them on eBay (which is an amazing deal compared to the $11 one of them usually retails for).

I dont want to make this review too long so let's get straight to the point: I really like this BB cream, but during these warmer months is not really holding on as well. As shown in the picture below, this comes out in a white creamy form and as you blend it it starts turning to a skin color. The coverage is very light, but it is enough to even out my skin tone and make it look like your skin but better. The finish is more of a demi-matte and once it has dried, it feels like a very silky powder on your face.

It lasts all day and it is pretty decent at oil control if you set it with a good powder. My problem with this BB cream at the moment is that when applying this, you should be in a comfortable temperature because the second you start sweating before the BB cream has set, it will break down.

Bottom line is that I do recommend this BB cream for people with normal to oily skin. It has a very natural looking finish and it smooths out your skin tone. It works great as a primer, but also just by itself. It is a must that you use a concealer if you suffer from undereye circles, sun spots or have any blemishes because this will not fully cover those. This is not very water/sweat resistant so it might not be the best product to use during the hot summer months, but other than that, it does what it claims.

Have you tried this BB cream? Do you have any recommendations for lighter, easy to apply foundations or BB creams for the summer time? Let me know in the comments!

Rating: 7.5/10