Counting down to Fall

With summer coming to an end, school starting and the slight chill in the morning air just reminds me how much I look forward to fall. It's by far my favorite time of year and enjoying all of my favorite things about fall for the first time is so much fun!

1. Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle I love these candles and anything that makes my house smell like pumpkins is right up my alley!

2. Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Muffin I wait until there's no question about it being fall to enjoy DD's pumpkin muffin. It's so delicious and tastes how fall should. I can't wait to enjoy one of these!!

3. Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Coffee Some people rave about the Starbucks pumpkin latte but I never got hooked on it. Despite being a huge Starbucks fan, you'll find me in DD all autumn long sipping hot pumpkin coffees.

4. Pop Tarts Pumpkin Pie I only discovered these a few years ago, although I'm not sure how long they've been around but they are SO GOOD. They're not that easy to find so when I spot them (usually at Target) I grab a few boxes for myself friends and family.

5. Pumpkin Picking I love pumpkin picking even though they usually rot before I get around to carving them. Going pumpkin picking, enjoying cider donuts (OMG CIDER DONUTS HOW DID I FORGET TO INCLUDE YOU!! Okay, honorable mention!), and buying previously-picked apples (let's be real, I don't pick my own apples) has got to be my favorite fall activity - other than Halloween, of course.

6. (Flat) Fall Boots I'm trying to figure out why I love boots so much... I think it's because they're an easy way to dress up without having to wear heels (heels and I don't get along). Plus they're warm and super cute!

7. Scarves I'm always cold and scarves are a great way to keep warm and still look good. I have too many to count in way too many colors and prints.

8. Candy Corn I didn't always like candy corn (I know, right?!) but now I love it. I can't wait to consume way too much of it in the upcoming months.

9. Halloween Decorations Every year, I swear I pull out the Halloween decorations earlier and earlier. It's so much fun and I just can't wait until October!! This year, I stocked up early on some decor to hang at work. I'm aiming to have the most festive workspace in the office although I have a feeling I won't have much competition!

 

And be sure to check out my Candy Corn Pumpkin Spice Cookies recipe from last year!
What are you looking forward to the most? What are you favorite fall treats?

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Seventh Generation Skin Serum

Math tells us that if we multiply a number by its self, the answer is zero. This same equation applies to oil. Using oil against itself has been on the rise and gaining popularity recently. As someone who has fought oily skin, I've gone from curious to addicted.

I've combined the concept of using the Seventh Generation Skin Serum as a moisturizer with the oil cleansing method and have fallen in love with the results. You will need a wash cloth and the serum.

To a clean face, apply 1-2 pumps of the serum and massage into your skin. Take the cloth and soak it with water as hot as you can tolerate. Place the cloth on your face and let the steam open up your pores to free the oils. After a minute or two, wipe off the excess (if any) of oil. No additional moisturizer needed. Your skin should feel fresh and revitalized. This has been my nighttime routine for the last couple of weeks and I'm very happy with the results. I will definitely be repurchasing this serum!

Have you tried this serum? What do you think?

#AllNaturalStyleSecrets

I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this blog. 

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Combating Oily Skin

1. Olay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away!} 2. Olay Pro-X 3. Josie Maran Argan Oil 4. Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder 5. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets

Oily skin is my biggest fight when it comes to looking good. Bad hair days don't bother me but bad skin days are a no no! I've finally come up with a routine that works for me and keeps oil at bay. I finally discovered that my issue wasn't just oily skin but the sebum that lurks around. Washing my face the old fashioned way was not getting into my pores and cleaning them out. That's why I absolutely love my Olay cleanser. I use it every morning in the shower (yes! you can use it in the shower!!!) and if I ever skip just one day - it shows on my face. That, combined with the Olay Fresh Effects face wash is great.

At night, I practice the oil cleansing method. At first, it sounded crazy to me and even my dermatologist was skeptical but I find that it works for me. Cleaning my oily skin with oil actually cancels each other out and I find that my skin is less oily afterwards (go figure!). Not to mention using a hot cloth really opens up my pores allowing for everything to be cleaned out. It's not a pretty concept but it was to be done!

As for during the day battles, I apply microfinish powder after my makeup which helps tone down the oil. Just in case there are any flare ups, I have some absorbing sheets on hand.

Touching  your face also promotes oil build up and break outs so training yourself to keep your hands away from your face can be difficult but necessary. And obviously, never go to bed with make up on. Also, make sure to moisturize sufficiently. If your skin isn't moisturized properly, it will produce more oil. 

What are you tricks to keeping oily skin under control?

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Beauty Blogger Tag ♥

This is a little different from what I normally do but it echoed in my mid-90s-aol-surveys memories and I couldn't resist. [ snagged from Drugstore Dreamer, go check her out! ]

1. Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for? I started blogging because I loved reading other blogs so much and wanted to try out that perspective. I also wanted to try a creative way to express myself on my own terms. I started this blog in the fall of 2011.

2. Whose blog did you fall in love with first? I started following a friend of mine's blog, Closet Vanity, and even though she doesn't blog anymore, I still owe a lot of my start to her.

3. What was the first blogosphere hyped about product that you bought? Was it worth the hype? The first product I bought based on other bloggers has to be BirchBox. It was really exciting at first, to be apart of what everyone else in the blogging world was experiencing and also a welcomed surprise every month in my mailbox. Was it worth the hype? Eh. I don't think I loved any of the boxes and if not for the element of surprise, I probably would have cancelled it sooner. But it was still a fun thing to look forward to and gave me blog topic ideas when I was otherwise short on them as a rookie blogger.

4. What are you five favorite things about blogging and being a Beauty Blogger?
- This is going to be a really boring answer because it's cliché but I promise it's true. First and foremost, the people that I've met. Not all have turned into friendships but I have taken at least one lesson from each blogger I've met and they've contributed to my voice, my blog, my style in their own way. See? Cliché.
- I have 100% creative freedom. I've always loved writing and now, I can do it whenever I want about whatever I want. It's a luxury.
- Opportunity. Blogging has afforded me so many opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise. Doing something fun and that I enjoy has also lent itself to my resume/experience and that is entirely priceless. I mean, working alongside Caroline Waxler at Lucky Magazine? PINCH ME. All because of this little blog.
- Events! It's so much fun to meet other bloggers, see new places, and enjoy the non-writing side to blogging once in a while.
- Trying new products never gets old.

5. What have you learned from being a Beauty Blogger? You get out of it what you put into it - and that this applies to most things in life.

6. Have you changed anything since becoming a Beauty Blogger? My makeup routine, obvi! I was so stuck in my ways and never changed it up. Blogging has exposed me to so many different products, tips, and styles which has broken me out of my comfort zone and encourages me to try new things.

7. What advice would you give to a beauty blogger just starting out? Do it. Just do it. That's all.

8. What are your top 5 makeup brands? Urban Decay, Maybelline, NARS, benefit, EOS.

9. What are your top 5 beauty products? Maybelline Rocket mascara, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, Covergirl Olay pressed powder, Urban Decay Naked Flushed palette, EOS lip balm.

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NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: Review + Swatch

Earlier this year, NARS released a new concealer and I've heard nothing but great reviews about it. So since I was in the market for a new under eye concealer, I splurged for the $28 concealer in the shade "Vanilla." Looking back, I think I should have at least swatched "Custard" but "Vanilla" works.

Very little is needed, just a few dabs under the eyes will do. Massage and blend into skin and it melts. This concealer works so well that it actually makes the rest of my face make up pale in comparison. 

It not only covers well but it's long lasting, too. After swatching this little bit, I placed my hand under running water and it didn't budge. Only when I scrubbed the area did it start to wash off. 

Seeing how great this concealer works makes me want to try more face make up from NARS! Any recommendations? NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer can be found at Sephora and other retailers. Have you tried this concealer? What do you think?!

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