My current routine

I know it's been a long time since I've posted, but I feel motivated to write over break when life is a little less busy. So here is my current skincare and typical makeup routine. I'll try to add individual reviews and pictures soon!

AM skincare:
cleanse - Alba Coconut Milk Facial Wash, or Aveeno Positively Clear cleansing pads
tone - DHC Acerola Lotion
moisturize - Clinique Dramatically Different Gel, or Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
eyes - Clinique All About Eyes
cuticles - Sally Hansen NailGrowth Miracle Serum, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme
lips - Lysine+ Cold Sore Treatment, Carmex Moisture Plus

Makeup:
foundation - Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Beige 2
concealer - ZuZu concealer, Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller, or my foundation mixed with some eye cream
blush - Alima Pure Satin Matte Blush in Antique Rose
mascara - Maybelline Full & Soft Waterproof, or L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof

PM skincare:
makeup removal - DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
cleanse - Clarisonic Mia with Alba Coconut Milk Facial Wash
tone - same as AM
treat - Clearasil Ultra Overnight Acne Serum
moisturize - Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
cuticles - same as AM
lips - same as AM

More info to come soon :)

An experiment of sorts

Hello All!

Recently I decided to try my hand at a more formal blog, but what to write about? I have many interests, many topics I'm knowledgeable about... would I talk about music? Movies? Books? Current events? To help me decide, I took a look at the blogs that I regularly read for inspiration and to my surprise I found that nearly 80% of the blogs I read are on the topic of beauty/makeup! Since when did I become so obsessed with beauty?

To give you an idea of why my being beauty obsessed is surprising, let me tell you a bit about myself. I didn't start wearing makeup regularly til I joined a ballet company at 15 and had to learn to make myself up for shows. I was terrible at doing my own makeup since previously I had only worn it a few times a year for shows and even then my mom had always done it for me, so I decided to practice more regularly. Thus, I started initiating myself to the skills needed to apply eyeliner and mascara; how to pick the right colors and formulas for my skin. Gradually I began accumulating more products as I experimented more. By the time I graduated high school, I had a full makeup case and a large assortment of body, bath, and hair products. However, despite my interest in trying new products, I still only used them on rare occasions: for dance and orchestra performances, for parties, etc.

I wouldn't say I truly became beauty obsessed until I did a year abroad. Up until that point, most of my girl friends were like myself: rather low maintenance and not overly concerned about our appearance. However, in Ireland I became exposed to a group of girls who went to college classes with a full face of makeup up every single day, even if it meant getting up at 6am to primp. These same girls went out every night to the clubs and bars, pulling out all stops as far as their appearances went. Also, I was exposed to new makeup brands, new products that are not available in the states. I tried my first department store makeup brand (Clinique) and fell in love with higher quality products than the usual drugstore variety I had previously used. I became more fashion conscious and began reading all the so-called "glossies" featuring everything new in fashion, beauty, hair, and makeup. I got my first stylized haircut which I had the stylist fashion after a picture of Kate Winslet. By the time I finished my year abroad and returned to the States, I was a certified beauty addict.

Since then, my obsession has continued. I'll go to the store to get a lip balm (the one beauty product I am ABSOLUTELY obsessed with and that I never go anywhere without), see all the rows and rows of pretty colors and new textures, and end up leaving the store with 5 or 6 new products. I constantly am window-shopping online for all the new products, reading reviews and drooling over things my starving college student budget cannot afford. At least twice a year I end up having to spring clean my makeup kit because it is overflowing with lipglosses, mascaras, and eyeshadows that I rarely ever use but for the first couple times I tried them. I keep trying to pare down my obsession, but after a couple weeks of behaving, I inevitably end up buying "just one more eyeliner" that I'd been eyeing the entire time, and it all goes down hill again.

Yet, despite my obsession, I still consider myself a low-maintenance gal. Roughly 4 days a week I go about with no makeup on at all (aside from my trusty lip balm), partially because as a dance major I'm in classes sweating 5 days a week and I do not wish to chance breakouts nor have to reapply everything all over again. Rarely will you ever find me in a full face of makeup, as even when I go out I'll tend to use a light hand. Although I read almost all the fashion and beauty magazines, I wear what is comfortable and affordable. I have my own sense of style that is not dictated by what is current and "now", but rather a mixture of hippie peasant skirts and paisley tops, classic 40's and 50's style inspired dresses, and athletic/yoga gear for dance. Although I have tons of facial skin care products, my daily skin care routine is fairly basic and quick. Same goes for hair products: though I have a lot of options available to me, most days I run my fingers through my hair, finger comb it into a ponytail, and go. In general, being the night owl that I am and forced into having to take early morning classes or early work shifts, I've learned to be able to roll out of bed and get ready for the day in 15 minutes tops. Though I try to look my best within reason, I rarely am overly concerned about appearances, either my own or others.

Thus, I find myself as I've titled this blog... an unlikely beauty junkie. If you were to ask pretty much anyone who knows me, they would be astonished that I of all people has so many lip glosses, or that I obsess over so-and-so's hairstyle. This blog will be a venue for me to discuss my findings from all my beauty experiments, get feedback, and perhaps find other beauty junkies like myself that are perhaps a bit different from the usual makeup/fashion crowd.

Anywho, I hope those of you who read this blog enjoy my postings and perhaps learn something new from my own journey through the beauty world. Please feel free to comment or to contact me... feedback is always welcome! And please do take a look at some of the other blogs I have listed on my blog roll... all of those lovely ladies have great things to say and I have learned a lot through them!