Sunday, December 23, 2012

It Puts the Lotion on It's Skin:The Best Moisturizer Ever!

 Hello again! Sorry I've been missing for a bit. Exciting things are happening! If I haven't already beat you to death with it on numerous internet venues, I'm now a beauty contributor on XOJane! If you've followed me over here from Jane, welcome to my little cone of weirdness.

This makes a great base for make-up.
  My skin has taken a turn for the dry since I got off Accutane last year and I'm still not used to it. I've tried a number of different moisturizers like a parched Goldilocks and wasn't blown away with anything until this. It's the Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator. That's more of a mouth full than most porn stars could handle, am I right? But it's the very best.

 It's funny because I was first exposed to this after getting it as a sample in Sephora while buying another moisturizer. I ended up liking this much better, and giving the one I bought away. I am prone to flaking in the winter and so far I haven't at all. This really hydrates without being oily or heavy. I do worry about that since my skin is closer to "dry combination" than just "dry" but it doesn't make me shiny at all. Supposedly repeated use of this guy repair's skin's moisture barrier. I am honestly seeing a difference in my skin, it hasn't been dry at all. It honestly just looks healthy. If you're looking to get the most out of your moisturizer, rub it in as normal and then press whatever remains on the surface deeper into your skin with two fingers.


This moisturizer also works really well as a base for make-up. It keeps your face looking really natural and the make-up just sort of melts into your skin. It's also a really great value since my little sample jar has lasted me a month so far. This stuff is pretty intense so you really only have to use a tiny bit. A decent sized jar that should last you about a year is only $37.

 The only real downside I've seen so far is that it kind of reeks of chemicals. Like, you're not even fooling yourself about what this is. You open the lid and are ambushed with a nail polish-like smell. It's not the best, but I personally think it's worth it.  Check the Moisture Surge out if you have winter skin issues.

Have a lovely holiday!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Chanel Make Up:Distract Yourself With $26 Nail Polish

 Hey guys! So a few weeks ago it was my birthday and my friend gave me some swanky Chanel make up. It was such a great gift because I have actually never had any of their products before.

Holiday 2012
  I was really excited about it, but also kind of afraid of it.  You see, for years I'd been telling myself that that stuff wasn't really any better than regular make up. The eyeshadow and mascara were pretty safe because I don't wear that stuff every day, but I am pretty obsessed with nail polish so this was potentially dangerous. I need a $26 nail polish habit in my life like I need a fucking hole in the head. And the packaging was already really nice. I don't always wear eyeshadow but I'm into it, it came in a little Chanel compact with a little Chanel pouch, how can you not love that? And just so you know what kind of idiot person you're dealing with, I have a $30 mirror from Brighton. $30. For a mirror. But it's so me! You just look at it and oh my god that's Kristine's mirror! If I believed I had a soul, it would look like this mirror. Come to think of it, it also came in an adorable little pouch, adorable little pouches are my downfall. I'm pretty convinced at this point if someone offered me the plague in an adorable little pouch I'd be all "yes, please! does it also come in black?"
This $30 mirror is my spirit animal.
  I have not tried the eyeshadow or mascara yet because I have not had an occasion to wear them to, but I have tried the nail polish and I'm sorry to say it's kind of the best nail polish I've ever worn. It goes on really smooth, one coat is opaque and while I usually would never wear red (i prefer much less classic nail polish colors generally),  I really love this color. It has complexity. It is actually more of a burgundy with red shimmer. I feel like I will end up wearing this a lot, it stays on longer than your average polish, and damn it, I want more of them.

"Malice"

 "Luxury" make up like this may seem silly, but really all cosmetics are sort of silly and that's why I love them. Sometimes I just want to let go and be silly and indulge in some fun products. It might seem shallow to some people but it's better than dwelling on the bad stuff. I've learned somewhere along the way to let little things make me happy because the big ones let you down a lot. And a $30 mirror might be ridiculous but I smile every time I look at it and enjoy the simplicity of it just kind of...being what it is. Make up is fun! Products are fun! They're a nice escape, they won't break your heart. There is something comforting about them. This works really well until I get irrationally annoyed when a tube of Dior mascara is shittier than one from the drug store because I'm really upset about something important. It's kind of like the time I watched "Revolutionary Road"when my past relationship was falling apart, I kept crying and saying "I don't know...I just feel really bad for Kate Winslet...".  For like a week. It was bad. I think I just accidentally started talking about real things on a beauty blog. EW.

 Anyway if you are into these types of things, and can afford it because you already have a job and a house and all those important things, go for it. This one is actually a really high quality product.

 Honestly though, if reading this blog has helped anyone relax and be entertained and maybe just forget themselves for a little while I will consider myself successful :)

Monday, December 3, 2012

My shoot with Kayln Rock

 Hello! So today I had a very exciting day shooting with my good friend, director of photography  Mark Raker, and the lovely and talented Kayln "Rocki" Rock.

Me and Kayln
  Kayln will be releasing a follow up to her well received debut album "Passenger" and I was happy to be a part of the album cover shoot. It was a lot of fun and we all work really well together. I got to hear some tracks from her first album and I really enjoyed them. She has a great voice and very sweet melodies. I much preferred her stuff to whatever Kayln and Mark were playing off Pandora because I was not allowed to choose the music. What I enjoy is apparently in the genre of "things you would have slit your wrists to in the 90s" and was not appreciated today. We managed to have a great shoot despite the absence of Massive Attack.

Some of the things I used today.




 For this shoot Kayln wanted a fresh, natural look. I used Physician's Formula Tinted Moisturizer in Light, Clinique blush in fig, Clinique mascara in black, Revlon balm/stain in sweetheart, Bone Bell eyeshadow in cafe classics, and Lush highlighter in feeling younger.

The look.
 I will be sure to report back with the finished product as well as when the album is released. If you would like to check out Kayln's music and support this great indie artist visit kaylnrock.com. She can also be found on iTunes  :)

Thank you, Jane Pratt!

So I came home to this today:

This is a thing that happened.

 That is Jane Pratt from Jane magazine/xojane.com saying that she likes this blog "a lot!" I am totally flipping my shit. It's really cool when someone you admire really lives up to how awesome you think they are. She totally did not have to take the time out to read this or respond. Welcome to everyone who found this blog through that exchange! I will try not to disappoint.

Be sure to stay in touch with me on twitter @prtoftheprob