Drugstore Skincare Haul + Review!

I recently picked up a couple of items from the drugstore for my face. Here's what I got!

Freeman's Avocado and Oatmeal Facial Clay Mask. I got this because I've been breaking out like crazy lately, and so far I love it. This is the first clay mask that I've ever used. It leaves my skin really soft, and after only two uses I can already see an improvement in my skin. 

Freeman's Pineapple Facial Enzyme Mask. I actually ordered this long before my skin broke out as badly as it did. My only problem was tired, dull-looking skin and hyperpigmentation. This mask has AHAs, which I've read are a great, gentle exfoliant and can improve the quality of the skin. I will do a review with my findings, if anyone's interested!

Ocean Potion Face Sunscreen SPF 45. I've read that moisturizers with SPF don't give the greatest protection from the sun, so I've been looking for a good sunscreen. I've been using this in addition to my moisturizer without SPF in the mornings before putting on the rest of my makeup. It doesn't get greasy at all, and my makeup layers nicely with it. I'm looking forward to using the rest of this up! The only downside is that it's in a jar, which is a little inconvenient for daily use, but it's not terrible. 

Pond's Cold Cream. I got this because I'm running out of my eye makeup remover and was looking for a cleanser. I've used this before, but I'm not too fond of the reformulation. It's much greasier than I remember. However, I still feel really glamorous in a 1940s sort of way when I sit down at my vanity to take my makeup off before going into the bathroom to wipe if off my face with a warm wash cloth (and put on a mask!). It's a nice, luxurious way to get ready for bed that I quite enjoy.

Anyway, that's what I've gotten recently! Add anything new to your skincare routine recently?

Wishlist Wednesday #2 | Bourjois, Body Shop, Wet N' Wild!

It's time for another Wishlist Wednesday! I really do love making these posts. They're a lot of fun for me because it's like shopping for items online--except I'm not actually tempted to check out with the items in my cart. (Okay, well... maybe not that much.)

Click through to read more about this week's picks!

What should I do with the rest of my life? A post of discernment.

I've been thinking a lot recently about what to do with my life. I suppose that's to be expected, because within a few short months, I'll be starting my Senior year of college. This brings up a lot of questions, especially what to do afterward.

I really, truly love to sing. Not just singing in the shower--I love singing opera. I love finding an aria, struggling through melismas and difficult passages in languages that I barely speak and, and coming out at the other end of the tunnel completely nailing it. If I go for an extended period of time without singing, I get cranky and physically hurt. I honestly can't see myself not singing in my future.

That being said, I would love to be able to go to graduate school for Opera. There's a really great opera studio program at University of Maryland that my mentor has mentioned (that he said would be a great fit for me), but I can't help but worry at the competitive field I would need to break into after two more years of school. In addition, with my knee injuries and recent awful flare-ups of chronic knee pain, I worry that I won't be able to do much moving at all. Finally, I worry about paying out of pocket for graduate school. I will be lucky enough to graduate from college debt free next spring, but I am anxious about how to accumulate funds for the next step.

That being said, there are also a lot of other things that I would love to do with my life: achieve financial independence, start a small soap and cosmetics company, and be able to support myself with freelance blogging, artistry, and video-making. I can't see myself doing one thing for the rest of my life, but I don't know what I can fit into my future.

Anyway, I know I have a lot to think about. I really just needed to write these things down, and I don't anticipate making a decision any time soon (although I really, really need to), but I have hope that one day I'll know exactly what I want to do with my life--and that I'll run right out there and do it. 

Wishlist Wednesday #1 | Rimmel, UD, Bourjois!

I've seriously been lusting over a couple of products that I can't get my hands on recently. With the exception of the Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Woodstock, all of these products are only available in the UK. I'm heartbroken.

• Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. I've seen far too many beauty bloggers rave about this foundation to just sit still! I'm really interested in exploring more from Rimmel that isn't available in the US, and this is my top pick right now. I know I can order this off of ASOS, but I'm currently on a no-buy. One day, Simba. One day.
• Bourjois Bronzing Powder. My older sister has this bronzer. I'm not entirely sure how she got it, since it's no longer available in the US, but I have really fond memories of digging through my sister's makeup bag (sorry, Jo!) and admiring her products. Best part? This smells (and looks!) like chocolate. She did mention that she still has it after all this time and barely uses it. Maybe I can finagle my way into acquiring it...
• Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Woodstock. I'm not the biggest eyeliner wearer, let alone a colorful eye kinda gal, so I've been training myself to wear eyeliner more often in hopes of one day biting the bullet and getting this gorgeous liner. It's a gorgeous fuchsia/magenta kinda color that I spend too much time looking at every time I go to Sephora.
• MUA Undressed Eyeshadow Palette. I've read that this isn't the greatest quality palette, but I really don't care. I need it. Who said makeup addictions were rational? I sure didn't. It's cute, it has nice colors, and it's unattainable. Plus, I have a thing for eyeshadow palettes. Who doesn't? (Probably normal people.)

What kind of products have YOU been lusting after recently?

Sweet as Candy: Pocket-Sized Favorite

Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week. Even though it's been tainted in my youth by dreading going to classes the next day, I've learned to love them as I've gotten older. Maybe it's because this semester the only thing I had on Mondays was Chorus and a voice lesson. Who knows?

I'd like to introduce a new little series to my blog: Rave of the Week. I love reading posts about monthly favorites, but I am horribly impatient when it comes to waiting for the month to pass before finding out what people have been digging recently. So, I decided that on Sundays I would post about things I've been loving over the past week! I'd like to kick off the series with my newest baby: the Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart. 

More photos and swatches under the cut!

Tea Collection 1.0

Hello, all!

It's that time of year again: finals are over (or still happening for some!) and it's time to start packing everything up to move out of the dorm! Well, in my case, I'm moving from one room into another. I'll be staying at my college this summer as a summer RA!

I had to say goodbye to my MicroFridge rental this morning, and I was so sad that I turned to a cup of tea to cope. (How else can one cope, right?) I couldn't find a cup that I was interested in, so I dug out my whole collection and figured it would be a good opportunity for a photo! I love taking a peep at other peoples' collections, so I figured my blog might like it too.

The ones I love are Sleepytime, Sleepytime Peach, chamomile, Sleepytime Vanilla, Orange Pekoe, and French Vanilla Chai. Right now I'm drinking a monstrously big cup of the chai and it's absolutely delicious. This enormous mug I'm drinking it in is my personal favorite:

Are you a lover of tea, too? What's your favorite kind? :)

Things I bought: Makeup. (Surprise!)

I picked up a bunch of these a while ago, but I realized I never published a post about it. Whoops.

Here it is! My spending addiction!

Here's what I got:

• Urban Decay Naked Basics palette
• Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and Powder Brush
• Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation
• NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray
• Revlon Lip Butters in Creme Brulee, Pink Truffle, and Tutti Frutti
• NYX Matte lipsticks in Butter and Indie Flick
• NYX HD Concealer
• NYX Slide on Pencils in black and white
• Rimmel ScandalEYES pencil in nude
• NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
• NYX Single Eyeshadow in Sahara

Individual reviews to follow. Ain't nobody got time to do all that at once.

What have you guys been hauling recently?
Em x

Tiny things: stocking up for summer!

Yesterday, I managed to acquire some new, non-beauty related things. I felt like sharing them anyway!

In case you didn't know, I am very much a tea addict. Not only did I pick up some of my favorite tea (Sleepytime, which I had just run out of), but I also picked up two new boxes of tea for me to try! I'm pretty excited to try me some Mandarin Orange Spice. I couldn't help but to rip into that box of Sleepytime Peach... That stuff is tasty. I'm enjoying a cup of it right now.

I also got a crochet hook! I'm so pleased. I misplaced mine and haven't been able to do any crocheting, so I'm excited to get started again. Especially now that I'm essentially done with college for the semester and won't have many exciting things to do for a while besides summer classes and a job.

That's all on my end! Have you guys picked up anything fun recently?