My lil sunday project

Facial Cleansers

So why do people spend so much money on what's essentially soap in a bottle that washes away impurities from your face?

Cleansers cleanse... That's about it. 

If you have oily skin, your cleasner will wash away the oil. If you have dry skin, the oil-based cleanser you're using (and should be) will help moisten your dry skin's surface and make moisturizer absorption easier. Whatever non-washing properties are advertised on the product (such as added moisturizers or vitamins) are all gimmicks. It's 'soap' that gets washed away by water.... So how would these things even get inside your skin? They don't.

I've had my fair share of cleansers, from Clean & Clear as a teen, to Vichy, Ole Henriksen, Philosophy and even everyone's supposedly favorite: Cetaphil.

All great products, they all do the job, but they do the same job, and they're all priced quite differently. Buying a $30 cleanser which does the same job as a $9 cleanser isn't very economic. Heck, it's just not smart.

It's very hard to narrow down what product is right for you since every company will have at least 10 different types of cleansers, each for a different skin type. Holy shit, I just want to wash my face!

People will determine the type of cleanser consistency they need by the skin type they have. For example, consultants will advise you to reach for a foam consistent cleanser if you have combination/oily skin or a liquid-consistency AND oil-based cleanser for dry skin. Does the cleanser consistency even make a difference in the job or result? Don't know, and I haven't had anyone justify it to me...yet. I personally haven't seen much of a difference, asides that I prefer foams rather than liquids (because it's a personal preference in consistency, but they both did the same job).

Obviously buy what's right for you, but keep in mind that they're all doing the same job: Cleaning your face of impurities. Nothing more. In my opinion, use that extra money and invest in a good and age-appropriate facial moisturizer, that's the facial product that really counts.

And regarding exfoliators... Well, just buy what works. Heck you can even make your own with sugar, honey and olive oil. It's inexpensive, natural and the most effective facial exfoliator.

Don't be fooled by the smart and cutesey packaging, just because a product is nicely presented, doesn't mean it's worth the price (You would be surprised how much more of your money goes into the presentation and packaging, rather than the actual product). DAMN YOU EVIL CORPORATIONS AND YOUR PRETTY BOTTLES!

And on a side note, someone explain to me why Cetaphil made their cleanser look and feel like jizz? It's just not right....

 

.... Oh please like you haven't thought it either -_-

Anti-Aging Serums and Creams - The Ultimate Prevention?

Girls seem to think that using anti-aging serums early on (in their 20s specifically) is the key trick to avoiding wrinkles when they get older.

Not true.

There IS such a thing as prevention, but learn how to prevent properly or rather, slow the process.

Using anti-aging serums, whether on a daily basis or a weekly treatment, can eventually grant your skin immunity from the effects as you grow older. You believe you're preventing now, perhaps, but later on, whether in your 30s, 40s or 50s, you're still going to see wrinkles. It's inevitable.

So don't blast your face with a ton of anti-aging products now, you'll just be wondering why they're not working on your skin later on. 

Do things gradually. 

Rather than using anti-aging serums, just ask your dermatologist or even any certified cosmetician which moisturizer is appropriate for you, based on your skin type and age group.

By regularly exfoliating your face and using a basic (preferably natural) moisturizer, you're helping your skin retain its youth and suppleness. Be gentle with your skin now. Don't feed it chemicals it doesn't need. Worry about that later on, but if you take things lightly now, you won't even have to ;D

Tips:

* After washing your face, rub on moisturizer. Let it set for about 3-5 minutes.

* If you plan to wear makeup, apply facial primer. It will act as a barrier between your makeup and your moisturizer.

* Use (unscented) baby wipes to remove all your makeup and wash your face thoroughly afterwards. Mist some rose water all over your face and let your skin soak up the moisture. It's refreshing and a wonderful way to give your skin some love :3

* Drink 7 bottles of water a day (500ml each). This will just help your entire body keep hydrated.

* Bi-weekly or monthly mashed avocado masks or cucumber slices are nice, natural treatments, but optional.

Personal Picks (my age and skin appropriate moisturizers):

  

 

Hope in a Jar by Philosophy

Dramatically different moisturinzing Lotion by Clinique

Aqua Sensation by Nivea

You will notice that these companies have even designed heavy-duty moisturizers for older skin, such as When Hope is Not Enough by Philosophy and Dramatically different moisturizing Gel (not Lotion) by Clinique.

 

So save yourself the extra money and keep it simple. Educate yourself on what is AGE appropriate for you. The type of girls that tend to over-use anti-aging serums early on tend to be the same ones that will seek out botox injections later on in life.

I don't think any of us here want to end up looking like Joan Rivers :\

REUSE! RECYCLE!

YAY FOR SAVING THE PLANET.
Well not really.

 
For some odd reason, I feel odd throwing away MAC boxes...

Well this one actually proved to be of some sort of use.

I used the Lipgloss "Mischief" Sexy Shenanigans lid as a lipgloss and pencil holder.

If you wanted to add use to it, you could also use the holes of the lid to dangle earrings. ^_~

But let's keep it simple.

Just turn the lid upside down, measure and place a piece of carton diagonally inside and place your items separately.

1.

2.

3.

4. 

 5.

My First REAL Apple Pie

Because my Easy-Bake oven ones weren't that great.

The most festive time of year deserves the most scrumptuous and delicious desserts ever baked.

My personal fave: The Apple Pie (apple pius).

Topped with vanilla ice cream, this is the best orgasm to the taste buds.

Followed the recipe from the Foodwishes.com blog and Andy's cheftacular mom (HI MARY) and voila:

Stage 1: Drooling

Stage 2: Clean drool and eye-hump

Stage 3: Admire and stretch pants

Stage 4: OM NOM NOM NOM

I obviously had help eating this.

Try it out, it's fun and delicious.

Happy carbs!

Recipe from

Foodwishes.com

Cucumbers - Not Just a Poor Woman's Sex Toy

Ever see a woman at the grocery store spend TOO much time carefully inspecting zucchinis and cucumbers?

Yup, because she's hungry....................clearly.

Asides from that, here are some interesting trips & tricks on cucumbers' beauty and non-beauty related uses:

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a slice of cucumber along the mirror the mirror will be clear and the residue provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of
  pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of
cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the
  collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite.  Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and
  headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost,
 keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?

  Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European during hunting to stave off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the
  squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling
    pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam,
   creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your
    mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your
    mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the
    surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and
   won't harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works
    great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Peanut Butter Frosted Chocolate Cake?

You know what you can make my christmas present this year? Carbs, and lots of them.

This is called the Chocolate Stout Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting. I call it sex on a pedestal. 

It's like a Reese's cup x 19283f74d%98fd273^4d97@s2834!.

Make me this cake now. I COMMAND IT.

Servings: Makes 12 servings.

Ingredients
2 cups stout (such as Guinness)
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
4 cups all purpose flour
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cups sour cream

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.

Prepare Icing (recipe below).

Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake.

Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing

Ingredients
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup heavy cream

Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.

How to Make

This

Cake of Awesome Deliciousness

Brownies OM NOM

Behold...the...most...epic...brownies...EVAR.

Want to make me some? Of course you do.

That's why i'm giving you the receipe linked below :D

I'll bring the taste-testing spoon. Get your apron ready...

How to Make the Perfect brownies...for dez

NOW COOK DAMN YOU