My Trip to California: Day 4 and 5

I am so sorry that I am dragging out this mini series. I was super busy in between posts but I am finally finished telling you all about my trip to California this Summer. This is way overdue because I started school a few days ago. I want to tell you all about my last two days in California before I drag this out any longer. Don't forget to answer my question at the end of my post and my Wordless Wednesday Post! (Linked:  here )

                                  DAY 4

Universal Studios is filled with old sets, and rides based off of movies. There are rides such as Jurassic Park, Transformers, The Mummy, and Transformers.

If you have seen Despicable Me you would absolutely love the references to the minions all over the place.

There was a plastic horse, and I decided to stand near it. Nothing really interesting about that...

Later that day, I went swimming in the pool. This pool was gorgeous and it had a hot tub! I miss that so much.

The next day, I went to Venice Beach. This beach has tons of little stores that sell candy, food, henna tattoos, skateboards, sweatshirts, and anything you would think of when you go to the beach. It was a cloudy day, but it was relaxing to just walk on the beach.

I got a henna tattoo that lasted roughly 2 weeks. I love henna tattoos because they are super easy to get done, and people always compliment on them.

They were selling so many penny boards!

QOTD: Should I do more picture posts like this?

xx

What you need to know about Brows and Foundation #TeenBlogSeries

Hey everyone! I know, I have been a bad blogger lately with the updating. Now that school is starting I have to balance blogging, youtube, school, homework, and so much more. There will be more posts up this week, so I will make it up to you.

This is the second week of the #teenblogseries run by Anouska Millar and Beth (MissBeautyObsession). There are now almost 100 teen bloggers in this series. The posts are really fun to read and you can find most of them by searching #teenblogseries on twitter. My first post in this series is 10 Facts About Me. Check it out, and answer my question at the bottom of the post.
This post will be about eyebrow and foundation routines.

                                                       FOUNDATION

Foundation is a tricky topic. If applied correctly, it can make your skin look flawless. But then, if you are like a big proportion of people who make it look cakey or don't apply it correctly, then it can look really bad. There are many different types of foundations such as spray, liquid, and powder. There are also alternatives to foundation such as BB cream, or tinted moisturizer. Then, there is concealer that you don't need to even wear with foundation if you so choose too.

If I were to use a foundation, I would use the Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation. This is my favorite liquid foundation because it is inexpensive and works really well. This foundation has a blue pump and it gives you the perfect amount of foundation (I use 2-3 pumps). For me, I used it to cover my acne, which you aren't supposed to do. If you have acne you should use an alternative to foundation that will let your skin breathe or a foundation made for acne. The Covergirl foundation did not cause me to break out. If you want a foundation that works to get rid of acne then use the Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation. Both can be found at Ulta, CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade, or your local drug store.

                                              This is the Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation.

This is the Covergirl  Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation.

Powder foundations are easy to apply too. You need a foundation brush and a good powder that matches your skin. A powder foundation I like to use is the Sephora Powder Foundation. Powder foundation gives an airbrush finish to your skin instead of rubbing in a liquid. You also don't need an expensive brush for this. You can buy a brush from ELF or Ecotools and it will work well with this foundation. I, personally recommend powder foundation if you are going somewhere and you don't want to spend a lot of time on foundation.

Foundation is good to use in the Winter because you don't have to worry about it melting off from heat or sweat. A good alternative to foundation are BB creams. There are many benefits to BB cream such as it contains SPF 15-30, moisturizes your skin, blurs imperfections, aren't heavy against your skin, and so much more. BB Cream blends into your skin to match your skin color. All you have to do is to find your color and then apply it to your face like it's moisturizer. BB cream also lets your skin breathe and certain BB Creams fight acne.

TIP: Sometimes when you apply BB cream it makes your skin look shiny since it's a lot like moisturizer. To get the most use out of your BB cream use a setting powder or a matte powder over it.  The powder will make your BB cream look matte and your skin will look great.

   I recommend the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream or the Dream Pure BB cream (which fights acne)

Concealer is definitely a MUST if you are a teenager or an adult with dark circles, acne, or redness on your face. A good concealer, can brighten your face and give the illusion that your face doesn't have any imperfections. Unlike foundation or BB cream which evens out your skin, concealer is used on certain points on your face to make them lighter. It gives these spots a little more attention. Concealer is mostly used on under eye circles, acne on your chin, forehead,  nose, and any redness that foundation or BB cream isn't covering. Concealer can be used before or after you put on your foundation and/or BB cream. I prefer to put it on after I apply my foundation because I want to see if I need to cover any spots.

When applying concealer to your face make swift motions with your concealer instead of dots. The dots will make you miss places on your face unlike the motions where you can blend it in more. Different types of concealer are more easier to use than others. It's a preference you have to have. I like stick concealers because I feel they are easier to use and you can keep them in your bag for a quick fix up during the day.

TIP: You don't need to wear foundation or BB cream to use concealer.


                                                             EYEBROWS

Eyebrows are so important.  They can make or break your look. I am more into strong dark eyebrows. Mine are really dark and thick so I always go for the strong brow as my go to.  I can never pull off the Cara Delevigne eyebrows but having strong brows can make you looks just as good.

Grooming your eyebrows: 

When I was 10 I had dark eyebrows, but the bad part of that, there was only one brow. Yes, I had the infamous unibrow. I first got my eyebrows waxed when I was 11. If you are young like I was just go for it and get it waxed. Once, your eyebrows have been waxed at least once, then it will be easier to tweeze your brows if you choose too.

Tweezing your eyebrows are painful. Unless you are one of the lucky people whose eyebrows don't grow back fast, I suggest only using tweezers to pluck stray hairs in-between waxing or threading. All three ways to get your eyebrows groomed hurts but you just have to be strong.

Threading vs Waxing:

I got my eyebrows waxed from the time I was eleven to when I was thirteen. I have really sensitive skin around my eyes and eyebrows so my skin burns really easy from the hot wax. The people I went to burnt my skin a few times to the point where I had burn marks on my skin for weeks.  Waxing also doesn't shape your eyebrows very well. If you take to much with the wax then there is no way to fix it until it grows back. I don't like waxing my eyebrows and I don't recommend it to anyone who has sensitive skin.

Threading is the best way to shape eyebrows, in my opinion. Yes, it hurts but there is not hot wax or ripping things off. Threading takes roughly 15 minutes and is a series of pulling thread to cut the and shape your eyebrows. Threading doesn't burn because it is just thread. Shaping your eyebrows while threading can make the arch in your eyebrows that many people really want. I recommend it because after I switched to threading I saw a noticeable difference in my eyebrows. Waxing lasts 4-10 days, and threading lasts 2-3 weeks.

Filling in your eyebrows:

If you have light eyebrows, you might want something to darken them. Filling in your eyebrows is a technique that can make your eyebrows look great. When filling in your eyebrows, use a shade slightly darker than your eyebrows are. It will make them look more natural and not too bold. If you have blonde hair, go for brown eyebrows to frame your face.

When using an eyebrow powder, use an eyebrow brush to apply it to the middle of your eyebrow. The most powder will go there and then slowly extend the brush to the front and end of your eyebrow. Make sure it is even and one color throughout your eyebrow. Then, do the same for your other eyebrow.

Remember: Your eyebrows are sisters not twins. They will not look exactly alike but that's not the point. Make them close enough.

Products I recommend for filling in eyebrows:

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel
Anastasia Brow Powder Duo
Eyebrow Brush with Spooly

Tell me if you liked this and if it was helpful in to comments below!

If you are part of the #TeenBlogSeries comment your links to your helpful tips and I will check them out!

xx

Christina

                                   

My Trip to California: Day 3

Hey everyone! I am back to talk about my third day in Los Angeles. I only have two more posts after this one to talk about it, so its almost over (this mini series)! On my third day, I went shopping in Santa Monica. The mall has stores such as Hangar 221, Free People, Hot Topic, Love Culture, and so many more stylish stores. The streets around the main building are strip malls (streets filled with store after store).  I went shopping at Love Culture (outfits will be seen in my Fall Lookbook), PacSun, and Brandy Melville.

Here is my day (July 17, 2014) in pictures:

This is what the inside of the Santa Monica Mall looked like. It was three floors high and was so beautiful. 

My outfit:

Brandy Melville Dress -$30

Brandy Melville Bralette - $18

(the bralette goes perfect with a backless dress like the one I was wearing)

Skippy's shoes - $10

Love Culture is just like Forever 21 but with better quality clothing. I love Forever 21, but Love Culture is definitely one of my new favorite stores. There aren't any near me in New York. *cries*

The Brandy Melville in LA is one of the best Brandy Melville stores I have been too. They, by far, had the most styles and clothes. I  only bought a skirt and a body chain from there but I could have spent my whole wallet at the store.

I thought this was a cute board.

The view of the strip mall in Santa Monica. The mall has stores such as PacSun, Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters, Rip Curl, and CIVIL. The Palm Trees were so beautiful, it was such a change from New York.

Later that day I went to Venice Beach and rode my penny board. I had to take an artsy photo because the scenery was such a beautiful sight.  I miss it so much :((

Question of the Week: What is your favorite thing about where you live?

                                              xx

Zara Terez Collection Preview Party

Hey everyone! On August 7, I was went to the Zara Terez Collection Preview Party in New York.  I was invited by Small Girls PR. Zara Terez is a clothing brand made in New York for people of all ages. Many of their clothes involve patterns that range from polka dots to candy crush. Their line of clothing is quirky, fun, and one of a kind. And I got to see where it all happens...

You can shop some of these styles at www.zaraterez.com . There are so many styles to choose from such as skirts, dresses, and their most popular leggings. They have dozens of different prints and each month the company comes out with five more prints.

I was allowed to pick a complimentary pair of leggings to keep. I picked a pair that had cassettes printed all over them. These leggings are super comfortable and they make your legs look really skinny, in my opinion. The leggings are regularly 75 dollars.

Some examples of their clothing. The outfit on the right is super cute!

At the Zara Terez party, some people from PRIV were there to do makeup and nails. PRIV is a company that sends people to your house and event, using an app, to do hair, nails, makeup, and so much more. I got my makeup professionally done for the first time. The workers from PRIV were so nice. You can see the website at www.gopriv.com. 

Here is some of the makeup that the lady used for my makeup. She gave me a more natural look that brought out my eyes. I never heard of some of the makeup brands she used, but once I find it out, I will definitely invest in it.

One of the most exciting part of the event is that I got to meet and see three amazing dancers,  (right to left) Jordyn Jones, Chloe East, and Lexee Smith. These girls are from Los Angeles, and are amazing dancers and are now models for Zara Terez. Jordyn Jones is famous for her Youtube Channel including her very own song, Banji, and she was on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition. These three girls were some of the nicest people I have met. Besides from them, I was the only girl that was their age so it was nice to talk to them.

Jordyn and I had a picture of us taken. The next day she followed me on Twitter. She is such a sweet girl.

The whole event was so much fun. I can't wait to buy some Zara Terez clothes. You can check them out at www.zaraterez.com.

QOTW: (look at the website) what is your favorite print by them?

                                                            xx

My Trip to California: Day 2

Hi everyone! I have been having a lot of problems with my computer, so that's why my newest video isn't up yet or that I haven't blogged in over a week. This post is about my second day in Los Angeles, California. My first post is here so don't forget to check it out and leave a comment.

On  my second day in Los Angeles, I went to Disneyland. It was my first time to Disneyland but I pictured it totally different. It was very nice but I thought it would be slightly more exciting (a.k.a princesses and more rides). I went on The Haunted Mansion ride. Thinking back, it wasn't that scary. But, I scare very easily so I did not like it one bit.

There is not a Cinderella Castle in Disneyland but there is a Sleeping Beauty Castle. It serves as a walkway and it is so pretty.

I met one of my favorite Disney characters, Pluto. I got so excited when I saw him. I felt like I was five again. 

Some of the amazing things in Disney. This was a huge mountain ride, I found it cool that it looked so real. Some of the creations in Disneyland are so amazing and unbelievable.

I got to see Micky's house and it turns out I was taller than him. His house was pretty and really big. It was fun getting to see all the things I used to like when I was little.

One of my favorite restaurants is Panera Bread. It is unsurprising that I went there in California. I got broccoli and cheese soup in a bread bowl. If you are unfamiliar with Panera, you get a choice of either an apple, bread, or chips. I got an apple (trying to be healthy despite all the bread I was eating).

I tried Panera Green Tea for the first time. I give it an A+, it was so good. If you are ever there, I recommend the Green Tea. The Lemonade and other Iced Teas are just as good. 

I had some pretty cool scenery for the OOTD for July 16th. The person my family was staying with had a beautiful pool. I definitely took advantage of that. I especially love pools/hot tubs and swimming.

Outfit:

Shorts- Forever 21 (post on them here )

Shirt- Brandy Melville (featured in my youtube video here )

QOTD: What did you do this Summer? Answer below

                                                                              xx

My Trip to California: Day 1

Get to Know Me TAG (Youtube)

My Trip to California: Day 1

Hey everyone! I haven't been blogging because I have been away on vacation. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about my blog. I came back to 8,000 views! I went to Los Angeles, California from July 15 to July 20. I decided that I wanted to share my trip on here.

On July 15, I woke up at 4:00 in the morning to get on my flight at 7:00am. It is absolutely terrible getting up at that hour, especially when you had only four hours of sleep. The flight itself wasn't too bad because all I did was read magazines and watch KUWTK (Keeping Up with the Kardashians). I am not a big of airplanes.

Once I was in Venice Beach in Los Angeles, I went to the canals. The canals are similar to the ones in Venice, Italy giving this part of Los Angeles its name. Many people don't get to see this part of Venice Beach or even know its existence. It was beautiful and I am so happy I got to take pictures of it.

My outfit:

Brandy Melville Shorts - $15.00

Hollister Crocheted Shirt - $29.95

Forever 21 cami- $8.00

I loved the house I was staying out, so I was just taking some silly photos :P

All this week will be posts from my trip. Hope you enjoy!

New video going to be up this week, hopefully.

                                                               xx
                 

OOTD- 7.7.14

Hey everyone! I haven't done an 'outfit of the day' post in awhile. I have gotten so many new clothes so I should do some more. So, today was my second day of work. For those of you who don't follow me on twitter, I work (volunteer) at a pre-school day camp. I spend my morning playing and taking care of the one, two, and three year olds. I wanted to wear an outfit that was comfortable but not too fancy since I am around toddlers. Since it was  very  hot out (90 degrees!) and the air conditioner at my work broke, I went with a simple casual outfit.

American Apparel High-waisted shorts- $58

A plain white t-shirt (you can buy them mostly anywhere)

Nike Frees 5.0 - $90

Claire's Bandana Headband- $12.50

If you didn't notice in my latest video or blogposts, I bleached the ends of my hair blonde to give an  ombre type look. I used a SPLAT bleaching kit, and I am very happy with the results.

(oops my shirt was untucked for this photo)

Do you like my ootd's? Should I do more? Let me know what you think in the comments!

                                                         xx

Fourth of July Drink

Happy 4th of July! On July 4, 1776 America gained it's independence from Britain making today Independence Day. In America, most people celebrate this day with barbecues, watching fireworks, and going to the beach and/or pool. Today, it's very gloomy and rainy out in New York. Usually it's very hot and warm out on this day. Hopefully, I am going to go to the beach tomorrow.

I wanted to show a drink I recreated using the Fourth of July drink that Bethany Mota (macbarbie07) did a video on, last year. Even if you aren't American, you can make this drink.


First you will need three drinks. It's very important you get the right drinks or it won't look as cool.

1. Sprite Zero (The amount of Sugar will keep it from mixing with the other two drinks)
2. Cranberry Juice
3. Gatorade (The dark blue works better, but I use the light blue)

You will also need a glass that can fit the whole drink. I love Mason Jars because they make the drinks look really pretty and hold a lot of volume.

First: Fill up glass 1/3 of the way with ice.

Next: Pour in cranberry juice. 1/3 of the glass should be filled now.

Then: Fill up the rest of the glass with ice.

After: Pour the Sprite in, so 2/3 of the glass is filled.

Lastly: Pour the Gatorade in.

The colors will mix into each other.

I dyed the drinks to emphasize the different layers.

The drink is really sweet but is carbonated because of the soda. I personally like this drink a lot. It doesn't take that much time to make and it's good for parties or get togethers.

Happy 4th of July!