Campus VoxBox

Hey, lovelies! Long time since I’ve posted. I am so sorry for that. Finals and a couple life changes kept me really busy. But, now I am back! This next couple weeks will be a little slow with posts while I plan out and brainstorm ideas. I can’t wait to get going with the blog again, especially since I have time to really get going with it this summer.

On to the VoxBox, I love trying out new products. So, when I had the chance to try out some through Influenster’s VoxBox, I was excited. These products were focused for college students, and I really enjoyed every product they sent me. Without further ado, here is what I thought.

1. Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Tanning Mousse

I personally have never used fake tan, so I was a little nervous using it. My roommate, who is redheaded and extremely pale, offered to try it out because we were heading to the beach in a couple days, and she didn’t want to look blindingly white. I was worried that since the color was “Deep Bronze” that the color would be super dark, but it wasn’t. It was so easy to apply, and looked so natural with no streaking. I was impressed. My roommate looked naturally a little tan. I will be using this for myself this summer. If you want a darker tan with this product, I would suggest using it a couple days in a row until you get the color you want.

2. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub

I have skin that breaks out easily, so I was a little scared to use this product. I tend to shy away from scrubs that are blemish control formulas because they tend to be very drying. This one wasn’t that bad (although I would use it every once in awhile just to be safe and not dry out my skin). I personally still prefer my Origins scrub for an every once in awhile exfoliator.

3. Sour Punch Rainbow Straws

I am not the biggest fan of sour stuff because I am very sensitive to sour and spicy things. These weren’t that bad, but they weren’t my favorite candy. They are mild in reference to other sour things, but I still don’t like sour things that much so they didn’t thrill me.

4. Sour Punch Punchies

I actually liked these a lot better than the straws. I liked these because I like hard candy with a soft inside. These weren’t too bad by sour standards either, so I enjoyed eating these. I might actually consider purchasing these for myself.

5. Soft Lips Cube

I hoard chapstick—its so bad. So, I was very pleased that they included a chapstick to try. This reminds me of EOS because of the large packaging. I really liked the formula of this. My lips felt moisturized for a good period of time, and it was a bit minty, making my lips tingle afterwards. I don’t know why, but I liked that haha. It left my lips with a nice healthy shimmer/shine as well, which I liked.

6. L’Oreal Paris Advanced Straight System

I have used a lot of their shampoos and conditioners, but I hadn’t tried this one. This did a bit to make my hair a little less wavy after using it. When I straightened my hair, I noticed a bit of a difference in it being easier. Overall, it wasn’t a miracle worker, but I noticed some difference that helped.

I hope these reviews were helpful for you, and maybe gave you some ideas of products to try out. Leave any questions you may have about Influenster or VoxBox in the comments and I will try to respond as soon as possible.

Thanks lovelies, Kirsten

(DISCLAIMER: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way by a third party.)

March Favorites

March has been a month of self-discovery, growth, and change for me. To reflect all of this change in my life, I gave the blog a facelift and am working to improve it more. I not only changed the blog, but my major. I am now a Web Development major with a minor in Graphic Design. I am so excited to see where this major takes me. And I also chopped my hair. I cut off about 5-6 inches.

This month I didn’t try a lot of product beauty wise. I did do some clothes shopping over spring break and found some pieces I really love. Here are some of the things I have been loving this past month.

BEAUTY

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (Vanilla): I LOVE this concealer. It is really expensive, but so worth it. I had one last year. I used it everyday and the tube lasted me 6 months or more. A little bit of this concealer goes a long way. I love how a little bit covers so well without it being super thick—and it doesn’t clog your pores either for that reason. It also is long lasting and blends beautifully without drying out your skin. 

5 Reasons You Should Be Using Coconut Oil

My roommate introduced me to coconut oil, and I am forever grateful. I love, love, love coconut oil. There are so many uses, so many that I won’t be able to cover in this post. I am going to share with you my favorite uses for coconut oil.

1. Face & Body Moisturizer.

Coconut oil makes a great moisturizer. I use coconut oil on my skin every night as a face moisturizer, but it also makes a perfect body moisturizer. My skin is recovering from being up north last week in the cold so I used coconut oil on the driest parts on my body (elbows and knees), and it has worked so well. If you do end up using coconut oil as a moisturizer, it’s very oily so I would suggest using it at night.

2. Hair Mask.

My roommate had horribly broken and dry hair, and my other roommate and I had her use coconut oil as a hair mask. We had her simply get her ends wet, and then coat the ends generously with coconut oil. Then we had her put it up in a bun and put on a shower cap. In the morning she washed it out in the shower, and it did a miracle with her hair. Another quicker method is putting it on the ends of your hair while you take a shower and then wash it out after you are done shaving and washing your body and face.

How to Grow Out Your Hair

My hair is really long, and it grows uncommonly fast. There are a few things I have learned from re-growing my hair after cutting it short a couple times. One main thing to remember when trying to grow out your hair is that a lot of these tips are to prevent breakage. If you hair isn’t breaking, it will grow faster because you won’t be losing any growth.

Don’t Wash Your Hair Everyday

This sounds kind of gross, but the natural oils of your hair actually help make your hair healthier. Also, if you shampoo too often, it can dry out your scalp, making it so your hair is oiler that it would naturally. So, if you start washing your hair every other day or every three days, eventually your hair will adjust and your scalp will get less and less oily. By letting the natural oils of your hair work, often times it helps your hair grow faster.

Limit Heat Products

If you want to make your hair healthier, it’s important not to use heat products everyday. A lot of people say to give up heat completely, and I give props to them for doing that, but that just isn’t something I can do. However, I do try to limit it. I try to only use heat twice a week, three times max. And every time I do, I use my Tresemme Heat Protector to keep it from damaging my hair too much. 

February Favorites

Another month has passed by, and I cannot believe that spring break is coming up in a week (yasssssss). I still haven’t gotten my tax return so this girl has been pinching pennies. For that reason, this month I have a few new favorites, but most of them are products that I already had but rediscovered.

I also started working on the blog a lot more because I realized that if I love doing something I should take time to do it. This blog has become somewhat of a de-stresser for me. I feel like when you take time out of your busy schedule to spend time with God and do things you enjoy, you are less stressed and more focused on the work you need to get done.

Anyways, here’s what I have been loving this month. :)

// BEAUTY

1. Maybelline Color Sensation Lipcolor in Plum Paradise.

I have been looking for a darker lip color that isn’t too obviously dark. I am someone who likes their lips to look as natural as possible so I never go for a statement lip. This color is gorgeous, in that it’s a deep plumy-red that’s shimmery without being obnoxiously shimmery. I love that I can blend this color out and make it a subtle color or I can go full color and both look great.

2. Maybelline FaceStudio Master Conceal.

I have been trying to use more drugstore makeup because high-end makeup makes me broke (notice the fact that I said trying haha...). I had just run out of my concealer and needed another one, and I knew I was about to break out because I had eaten terribly that day. This concealer is wonderful. I apply it with a tiny flat brush and then pat it in with my ring finger, and it covers so incredibly well. I don’t feel like I need to buy a high-end concealer anymore. Seriously is one of my new favorites.

What to Do on a Snow Day

One of my favorite things about winter is snow days. You are planning on class and then, suddenly, your day turns all awesome and magical because your school decides they do actually love you and they cancel class.

I am currently off of school for two days because people down south don’t know how to deal when it snows. I mean, I’m not complaining. I get to chill with my friends and do nothing but watch movies and snack (and mayyyybe do some homework). Experiencing this, I was thinking about all that is essential for a snow day. And of course, I am going to share them with you. 

Stay in Your Comfy Clothes

The first thing I did when I found out we were having a snow day is I got into comfy clothes. I am obsessed with joggers right now because they are so stinking comfy. I got mine from TJMaxx and they are all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I also love my hoodie I got from Aerie (I have talked about it before) but I love how comfy it is and it can be all lounge-y or you zip down the sides and its fancier with all the lace underneath. It’s perf. Also, if I find out early enough in the day that we are not having school, I throw on a beanie cause I am not about to spend time on my hair when I don’t have too. My favorite beanies are from Neff and Forever 21. And of course you can’t forget the fuzzy socks.

Have a TV/Movie Marathon

A snow day isn’t complete without watching a ridiculous amount of Netflix or movies. I thought I’d share with you guys my current favorite TV shows, whether on TV now or on Netflix.

If you want comedic drama...

 - Jane the Virgin: This is the story of Jane who was determined not to end up like her mother, so she stayed a virgin. Everything changes, though when she is accidently artificially inseminated. I love this show. I thought it was going to be dumb, but it is sooo funny and I fell in love with the characters. I definitely recommend checking this show out.

- White Collar: This show is about an ex-con who is brought in to consult on White Collar cases. This show is awesome because you fall in love with all of the characters and the main character, Neal, is hilarious.

- Royal Pains: This is about a doctor who ends up becoming a traveling physician to the rich and famous at their homes in the Hamptons. Again, this is a show where you fall in love with the characters. It also has a lot of well-placed humor.

How to Avoid Limp, Dry Hair This Winter

I have looooong hair. Like one more inch, and it’s to my belly-button. When you have hair as long as mine, you have to take really good care of it since you don’t want it looking stringy, or broken and split, or just ratchet in general. This winter is especially hard because it’s been so cold, and I am outside walking to class all the time. I have found some products and methods that have really kept my hair moisturized and volumized.

Let me explain my hair type first. I have long, thick hair that gets really dry in my scalp and will have dandruff if I wash my hair two days in a row. But, my hair also gets oily really quickly. Confusing, I know. But, I understand both sides of caring for hair—whether your problem is your hair is too dry or too oily. Plus, I also use products to help my hair have more volume on top. I do that because my hair is so heavy that it makes my hair flat. 

Beginner's Makeup Kit

Hello lovelies! Today I thought I’d give you some ideas for a beginner’s makeup kit. Whether you are new to makeup, or you know a younger girl who is getting into makeup soon, here are some ideas to get you or them started.

BB Cream

I love BB cream and personally use this everyday over foundation. Since this is a kit for beginners, I’d say BB cream is probably the best product to start off with. It’s lightweight (so it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing makeup), a little bit of coverage, and SPF. I use the one by Revlon, but one of my friends uses Maybelline, and another of my friends uses Almay (but if you’re allergic to soy, don’t use the Almay one). This can be applied with your fingers, or with a damp makeup sponge.

Concealer

Since BB cream doesn’t always cover everything and a lot of times when we are starting out with makeup, it’s the time of our lives when we have acne. This concealer is long lasting and can also be used under your eyes to cover any dark circles. Make sure when you apply the concealer that you are patting it on your skin, not rubbing in on so that you can actually cover the imperfection without rubbing the product off. I prefer Maybelline’s SuperStay concealer because it can be used on oily or dry skin since it’s a liquid.

Powder

Powder is great to set your face makeup and keep your face from getting shiny throughout the day. I love the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in translucent because it doesn’t make your face too powdery and it keeps the oily-ness at bay.

Eyebrows

Eyebrows to me are a necessity. Its important to not fill them in so dark that they look fake, but enough that they look polished. I use an angled brush to apply ELF’s eyebrow kit. This stuff is only $3 and such a good product. 

January Favorites

I can’t believe that January is already over! I’m three weeks into the semester and loving my new major so far. If you didn’t read my previous blog post, I talked all about my major change. January has been an awesome month of new beginnings, fresh hope and perspective, and reunion with my amazing, God-loving college friends. These favorites I’m about to mention are things that I have faithfully been loving this month. I hope you enjoy :)

BEAUTY

// Dr. Jart BB Cream

I love this BB cream mostly because it just makes my skin look really nice. Its brightening, which is awesome for my skin since I don’t always get a lot of sleep or drink enough water, leaving my skin looking dull. I also love that it has a no-mess pump and you get a lot for your money, even though it’s on the pricier side. Another plus is that this has SPF 45, which is the most I’ve ever seen in a BB cream.

// Coconut Oil

Oh my gosh. My roommate has got me hooked on coconut oil. I have had horrible acne pretty much for half of my life and I finally went to a dermatologist two summers ago. There, they put me on an antibiotic and a cream and a gel for my skin, and also had me wash my face with a benzoyl peroxide wash. My acne went away for the most part, but I hated the fact that I was using so many chemicals for my skin. Recently, I went completely off all of that stuff and started washing my face with my Origins scrub at night and then putting coconut oil all over my face. I tell you, this stuff is a miracle worker.  It sounds counter-productive putting oil on your face if you struggle with acne, but this actually helps because coconut oil gets rid of the bad oils in your skin. I mean, it’s not all because of the coconut oil, since I also cut out deep-fried food, but it mostly is the coconut oil. My skin is clearing up better than it ever has and looks so healthy. Oh, and coconut oil also makes a great hair mask.

// The Body Shop Body Butter in Strawberry

I freaking love this stuff. My skin was getting so dry from the cold and this actually keeps my skin hydrated, which is a miracle in of itself. Plus, my favorite part is that I smell like a giant strawberry when I put it on. That may not be your cup of tea, (it makes me SUPER happy) so if it isn’t they have tons of other scents too.

Winter Essentials: Beauty, Fashion, and Random

Today I thought I’d bring a fresh face/perspective to the blog. This is one of my best friends, Sarah. She is a feisty, fun and hilarious red head who loves beauty products like I do. I thought we could do a blog post together where we both share our winter essentials. 

BEAUTY //

Sarah: Hello everyone! My name is Sarah. You may be thinking, "Wait what? Who is this girl?" Well you see, my best friend thought it would be a great idea to let me be a guest blogger. Great Idea? YASSS!!!! SO here we go…

Let’s start off with talking about how damaging winter truly is. Your hair can get so dried out during these next few months. It is awful! One of my favorite things to use is hair oils. I have so many of these fancy hair oils that all claim to do wonders for your hair. My favorite one to use is Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment. This stuff is amazing! It definitely protects your hair and makes it feeling softer than ever. Be careful, a little goes a long way. 

Kirsten: My favorite hair product for the winter is also a hair oil. Mine is from TJMaxx (Bless that store. My college budget is so happy there.) and called MOA Argan+ Hair Treatment. What I do is in the morning after I blow dry my hair, I put this oil in my hair. Then, I proceed with curling my hair. I don’t know why, but when I use the oil after I blow dry and before I curl my hair, then it’s a winning combination. My curls stay longer and it doesn’t get frizzy.

Sarah: Next, let’s talk about lips. Who wants chapped lips? Not me! To keep my lips looking soft and healthy, I use a rosebud salve. This stuff will make your lips looking soft and healthy after one use. But wait, that's not all! Not only can you use it on your lips, but you can also use it for your knees, cuticles, elbows, anything. Definitely worth the five or six dollars. 

December Favorites

2015 is almost here. Isn’t that crazy?

But before I start going on about how 2014 was an incredible year (which it was-I went to my dream school, met some amazing people who love Jesus, grew so much in my relationship with God, am pursuing the career I dream of, and I have been overall just very blessed this past year), I want to get into what I was going to talk about—my favorites from this month. I’ve seen YouTubers do this and I love these videos. Mine, however, will be in written format. :)

// BEAUTY

Origins Face Scrub.

I needed a new face scrub, and I was on Sephora’s website and I needed one more thing to get free shipping… so I splurged. Haha… yeah... But I am so glad I bought this. I love the fresh fruity scent as well as how well it works. It scrubs the rough skin off of my face without drying my skin out, which is a very hard thing to find in a product when it comes to my face.

http://www.sephora.com/ginzing-refreshing-scrub-cleanser-P386197?skuId=1596527

Beauty Blender.

I know. I’m late to the party on this one. …Oh well haha. I had a $20 off of $50 at Sephora and I wanted to get something random that I hadn’t gotten before... thus this purchase. Wow. I fall into Sephora’s marketing traps a lot don’t I? Oops. However, I am loving this. But, then again so does everyone else, it seems, who uses this. I love how well it applies my foundation or BB cream because it applies enough to cover my imperfections, but the sponge absorbs all of the excess product.

http://www.sephora.com/beautyblender-P228913?skuId=1151869

Revlon Lip Stain in New York Scene.

I wanted a red lip color that wasn’t in-your-face-red, but still had good pigmentation. I love this product. Walmart was all out of them so I actually made one of my friends drive to Target just so I could get my lipgloss. Yeah, I know. My friends are pretty great :) I love how this lip stain is highly pigmented and it is long lasting and the color is on-point.

http://www.target.com/p/revlon-colorstay-moisture-lip-stain/-/A-15084471#prodSlot=medium_1_5&term=revlon+lip

Let's Talk Mascara

Today I am going to talk about my number one must have makeup product: mascara. If there was only one makeup product I could have, I would go with mascara. It just does so much for your face and eyes. So, today I am going to share my tips and tricks, along with some do’s and don’t and some of my favorite products.

Mascara Before or After Eyeshadow?

When I do my mascara in the morning, it is ALWAYS after my eye shadow and eyeliner has been completed. Some people prefer to put their eye shadow on after because they accidently smudge mascara on their eye shadow and then have to redo the whole thing. However, as you practice, you will find a way to apply your mascara with minimal damage. It’s a process, and one you will eventually master. Plus, if you do mess up, you can always apply more eyeshadow over top to cover up the mascara. Also, eye shadow is so much easier to apply before mascara. Applying it after can also create smudging, sometimes even worse. I would just stick to these steps: eye shadow, eyeliner, and then mascara. But, hey, if the other way works for you, then you do you, girl.

How Do I Prevent Clumping?

Ah. The ever pressing question about mascara. What I do is the wiggle method. I place the mascara wand at the base of my lashes (this step of putting it at the base is super important if you also want to make your lashes appear longer and your eyes bigger) and I wiggle as I slowly apply a coat of mascara. This I do a couple times, all over my lashes. The trick is to know when to stop. If you sit there applying more and more mascara, yes your eyelashes are going to look clumpy. But if you wiggle the wand and not apply too much before it’s dried, then you should be golden. 

My Top 10 Birchbox Finds

I have had a birchbox subscription since February of this year and have loved it for the most part. A few things I love about it are that (1) I can try out new makeup samples every month, (2) the samples are small enough that they are perfect for travel, (3) I don’t feel the need to go on makeup purchasing sprees every month because I am getting new makeup already. :)

So, here are some products that, through Birchbox, I have found and LOVED. (P.S. – In case you were wondering, this is NOT a sponsored post. I simply wanted to share my favorite products I have received through Birchbox.)

1. Cynthia Rowley Beauty Liquid Liner: I love felt tip liquid liner and this one didn’t fail my expectations, except that its not as waterproof as my favorite liquid liner: Stila’s Stay All Day Liquid Liner. Cynthia Rowley’s liner went on smoothly and was beautifully pigmented.

2. Juicy Couture La La Malibu: I am not a huge fan of deep musky scents at all, and this one was nice because although it was a bit musky, it was also sweet which I loved.

3. Agave Healing Oil Treatment: OH MY GAWSH. This stuff. I used every last drop that I could of the sample. If you are looking for a good hair oil, I HIGHLY recommend this.

My 5 Makeup Must-Haves

I want you guys to just imagine for a second that you lost your entire makeup collection. (I know it’s a terrifying thought, but work with me.) What five products would you absolutely need to go out and buy first? These are mine, and the brands that I love from each one.

1. Mascara

Mascara is an absolute must have for me. If I could only wear one makeup product it would be mascara. It does so much for your eyes (if you do it right). It opens your eyes up, makes you look more awake, brings out the color (you can even use colored mascara to enhance this), and I can go on and on. Also, I prefer the waterproof formula for my mascaras because I am always SO afraid of it smudging or getting raccoon eyes, plus the waterproof version holds the curl you create if your use an eyelash curler like I do.

favorites: Maybelline The Rocket Mascara ($7.49 at Ulta Beauty), Maybelline Pumped Up! ($7.99 at Ulta Beauty)

Let's Talk Makeup Wipes

   It’s no lie that I really love shortcuts. I was the kid who studied less than a half hour and aced the test, or spent just 3 hours writing a 10 page final paper and got a “this is the best work you’ve ever done” from my teacher. (How I did that I have no idea. Unfortunately, I have yet to perfect it… being able to do everything perfectly on the spot would be the coolest superpower EVER in my mind. But, no I am not a superhero. Thanks for asking.)

   So, today I bring you reviews on one of the best shortcuts ever.

   Makeup wipes.

   These babies are awesome for the person who has those rare (haha lol jk… look at me on a roll with my sarcasm) lazy moments. However, a little disclaimer, washing your face for real is the best thing to do, even adding makeup wipes to washing your face is the absolute best. But, I love makeup wipes for those times when you are too busy or tired to wash your face (and yet you are smart and know that it is a huge no-no to leave makeup on your face overnight).

   So, here are some of the makeup wipe brands I have used and my thoughts.