Versatile Blogger Award

Yey! I’m so excited that I was nominated by the great blogger behind It's Me Kikay for the Versatile Blogger Award. It was really nice of her to do this and you should definitely take some time later to check out her great blog.

The Rules:

First Thank the person who nominated you for this award and put a link to their blog in your 'reply' post - it's common courtesy :)
Then, select 15 blogs/blogger that you've recently discovered or follow regularly - even though the rules say 15 I am just going to nominate the blogs/bloggers who I think deserve it the most instead of a fixed number of people.
Nominate those blogs/bloggers that you've chosen for the Versatile Blogger Award.
Finally, tell the person who nominated you and your readers 7 things about yourself - they can be about anything!

7 Things About Me...

1. I'm a nail polish junkie
2. You will always find a lipstick and blotting sheets in my purse...they're a necessity for me
3. My shoe size is US 5!...and yes, it's extremely difficult to find shoes that I love and actually fit :(
4. I could never have enough purses, but then again, can anyone?!
5. I love Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Carly Rae Jepsen...yes...I'm a girly pop kinda' girl...don't judge me...have been that way forever
6. Currently, the #1 thing on my bucket list: a long trip exploring different countries throughout EUROPE! Never been there and I'm dying to go.
7. I'm moving from Puerto Rico to Miami in May! (Yey!)

My Versatile Blogger Nominations:

Anusha

Trend-ish

Strawberry Hearts Chocolate Darts

Spring Break Beauty Essentials!

Spring Break time has come! I don't know about you, but I'm hitting Miami this year and I'm so excited! Whether it's Miami or other beach destination, there are some key products you must pack to be completely prepared to hit the beach/pool/party/etc and look amazing while at it.

1. Tinted Lip Balm + SPF

If you're planning to spend the day under the sun, your lips will totally get dehydrated and burned. Be a smart girl and prevent this from happening by using a rich lip balm that would moisture your lips. Find one that has the extra benefits of color and SPF so you look extra cute while taking care of that beautiful mouth of yours. I like the Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment from Fresh which has an SPF 15. This lip balm, while on the pricey side, would be the best, most moisturizing lip balm you'll ever try!...just look at the great reviews all over the internet that rave about it.

2. Sunscreen

This is a MUST! Skin cancer is one of the most dangerous types of cancer and it has a very high incidence rate so be good to yourself and protect it. My current favorite is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen because it's broad spectrum (which means it protects you against both UVA and UVB sun rays that damage your skin) and it's totally non-greasy. Love tanned skin? I know, I love it too so I opt for sunless tanning products such as my Comodynes Self-Tanning Towelettes (see my post here!).

3. Body Butter

With all of the water, alcohol (if you do drink), and hot sun your skin will end up begging for hydration. Give it some lovin' by using a body butter after you shower to keep it looking healthy during your amazing vacations. I got this Pacifica Body Butter in a sample box and I love it since its very hydrating and 100% vegan which means no nasty ingredients than could harm your skin.

4. Makeup remover wipes 

By the time you get to your house/hotel/any where you are planning to stay in, you will probably be too tired to remove your makeup or clean your face but don't succumb into temptation and at least use some makeup or face cleansing wipes. While it's better to completely remove impurities with a face cleanser, the wipes will cover the job temporarily until you return to your regular life. Sincerely, I haven't found my go-to facial wipes, so in the mean time I've been trying out different ones. The ones in the picture are a sample from my Ipsy bag subscription and are from La Fresh . I'll for sure let you now when I find my holy grail wipes. 

5. Clear Top Coat

Your nail polish could really get dull looking and loose its shine throughout your vacation so to give it a fresh, recently painted appearance by taking your top coat with you and applying as needed. Plus it would make your mani last longer. I always rely on the Sally Hansen Insta/Dry Anti-Chip Top Coat since it's ultra shiny and it dries really fast, perfect for vacations since you're priority is spending time having fun, not waiting for those damn nails to get dry!

6. Dry Shampoo

Getting your hair wet and washing it every day will leave it looking shine-less and very dry. To prevent this, take your dry shampoo with you and use it instead. You will eventually have to wash it, but the dry shampoo will help absorb extra oils in your strands for some time while adding volume to it. My fave, without a doubt, Batiste Dry Shampoo. I wrote a post about it so go check it out if you don't know about this amazing product!

Now for last, HAVE FUN! Spring Break, while traveling or not, is all about de-stressing from work/school and enjoying yourself. For me its way more delightful if I'm looking extra good and taking care of myself while on it. So now be safe, get crazy (or not), relax, and see you until my next post!

Dry hair? Keep reading...

I recently subscribed to BuzzAgent, a website where you can see and write reviews about different products that are currently in the market including beauty related products. By collaborating with them through surveys, you can be selected to participate in a "campaign" which consists of them sending you a product to try and you completing certain activities which mostly consist of reviewing the product in different platforms with your true and honest opinion, regardless if is positive or negative (please read my disclaimer at the end of this post). They recently sent me the new Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge System which includes the Hydrating Shampoo, Conditioner, and the 1-minute Moisture-Plenish Treatment.

How are these products different?

This system is for dry to normal hair and it claims to replenish moisture to the hair, making it feel silkier and softer without weighting it down. This ultra hydration is achieved by the fruity cocktail of Goji Berry, Passion Fruit, and Kiwi that are inside all the 3 products of the system. Also this super hydration is supposed to last 2 days. Jummm, sounds intriguing doesn't it?

So now let's go strait to the point...Does it really work?!

First of all, and as usual, I started out with the shampoo to wash my hair. Right from the start I was really pleased with the product! The smell was fruity and delicious. After I washed the shampoo off, my hair felt nice and soft unlike some shampoos that leave your hair feeling like harsh bristles from a hair brush. So the term "hydrating" really does apply to this product, I was really pleased.

After washing my hair I proceeded to use the Conditioner and the 1-minute Treatment. Because I was eager to try them both, I decided to combine them and use them at the same time. I left them on my hair while I cleaned the rest of my body and washed them off afterwards. My hair instantly felt really soft and it was so easy to detangle it. I was really excited. Then I decided to blow dry my hair and use the flat iron to style it....guess what...my hair remained SO soft! I was really impressed because it felt very silky as the product claimed and looked very healthy and shiny. The next day I woke up, my hair still felt really soft and looked wonderful so I decided to push it a little further and used my curling iron. Again, my hair remained the same as the day before! Now I was REALLY loving the product.

End point : I love these products! I couldn't believe how good these were, and for the price? Pl-ease! They are just amazing and really good quality, even better than many high-end products I've tried. To prove my point even more, my brother, who's 18, used the shampoo because I left it on the shower. He didn't know anything about it being new or that I was trying it out or whatever. He came out asking me about it and telling me if he could take it because his hair felt so soft! It was hilarious since he NEVER mentions anything about hair products, he just uses what's available in the shower at the moment. So if a teenager notices a difference, imagine how you would feel about it! Just give it a try, trust me, you won't regret it.

Will you be giving it a try any time soon?!

***Although these products were sent to me to review, all of the comments in this post are my TRUE, HONEST opinions. I was not paid to review them. Besides I would NEVER recommend or give positive opinions about products that I truly didn't enjoy. Just to let all of you girls know!***

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

Many girls do not like wearing lipstick because of the heavy feel of it on the lips. I agree, I don’t appreciate the feeling of having a heavy substance on my lips but I still use them because I just love how it looks. But for those who can’t stand it, NYX has a very cool formulation called a Lip Cream. This product is so different from anything I’ve tried before since it has a very good pigmentation and a matte finish but it feels really light in your lips. There is no sticky or uncomfortable texture on the lips, just like when you leave them all natural without any product! The color lasts for a pretty decent time and even looks sort of like a pigmented stain. Application wise, the product is very smooth and easy to apply. I love this product and I can’t wait to buy more colors to try them out. My selection of color was a beautiful and very natural looking peachy pink with the name of Antwerp (SMLC05). On the negative side it tends to feel a little dry on the lips after some time, but nothing that a bit of lip balm can’t fix. The makeup industry is always coming out with such innovative formulations and this one from NYX is definitely one you should not pass out on. 

Beautifying Relaxation

Some times life just gets crazy and stress can overwhelm us. Apart from the mental exhaustion that stress can bring us, it can also affect us physically. Here are just some negative physical effects of stress (which I'm sure most of you have experienced):

• Headaches
• Weakened immune system (therefore increasing the risk of getting sick)
• Dull and dehydrated looking skin
• Decreased sleep or difficulty falling asleep, which results in terrible looking under eye dark circles (which translates into a Not so good morning the next day)
• Increase in body oils production, which translates into our dear enemies: blackheads and acne

Ugh...I'm getting stressed just thinking about it! That's why everyone needs an anti-stress therapy once in a while, or a few times per week, or all the times necessary! Here I share with you some of my favorite ways of unwinding and diving into total bliss while acquiring some beauty benefits at the same time. You see, even when walking out from stress you can multitask!

Prep-Stage: Light up a delicious smelling candle. You can do this to sit down and meditate/clear your mind a little OR you can do this right before any of the below activities to make them even more relaxing and enjoyable. A little aromatherapy never hurts.

1. Give your face a treat! Apply either a hydrating mask if you feel that your skin is dull and dehydrated or apply a purifying mask if your face is rebelling against you by breaking out.

My two favorite masks: D:Tox System Purifying Mask 
from Giovanni and Hydrating Treatment Mask from Karuna.

While you wait for the mask to do its magic, use the time to read a good book or grab your favorite girly magazine and browse  for new fashion/beauty ideas to try. Trying new things always makes life more enjoyable, even in stress times.

2. Make your body feel luxurious! Always have at hand the Body Wash and Body Lotion of your favorite perfume and use them for those days when you feel like there's just no time for pampering yourself! Give yourself a nice and long shower using the scented body wash. Use this time to enjoy the time you have for yourself and try to maintain your mind blank or think about being on vacations with an amazing cascade rushing water over you...ohhh I already feel relaxed just by typing it! Right after coming out of the shower, take advantage of the humidity in the bathroom to apply the scented Body Lotion so it would absorb better into your skin. Finish up by applying the Perfume. Combining the products will leave you smelling delicious for a longer time and even if you have to get back to work/studying/whatever stressful situation you are in, you will feel the delicious smell and it will transport you back to the relaxed shower and wish-I-had-right-now vacation scene making your stress level decrease a little.

3. Make your own manicure session at home. Instead of going to a salon for the usual manicure, sit down comfortably at home with your coziest cloth and the needed tools for a perfect manicure. Focus just on painting your nails and making them look amazing. It will really bring your stress levels down plus you will end up with beautiful hands! 

Here's some inspiration from me and my sister!

Since most nail polishes need at least 30 minutes before completely drying down, use that time to watch The Food Network! Years ago I read that watching a cooking channel helps you to relax for whatever reason I don't remember anymore and so I tried it...OMG it really did relaxed me and now I'm hooked! My favorite cooks to watch are Giada De Laurentiis (from Giada at Home) and Ina Garten (from Barefoot Contessa) since both are very calm yet very fun, nice, and enjoyable. Plus you get the added benefit of learning some new plates to surprise your boyfriend/family/friends/YOU while avoiding smudged nails. (In the case your nails DO get smudged, not to worry!...watch my post about a quick fix for smudged nails)

Giada De Laurentiis and Ina Garten. My faves from Food Network.
Both make some absolute delicious plates!

4. And if you only have a few minutes for yourself, never underestimate the power of Pinterest. Get yourself in front of your tech device of choice and indulge on the experience of pinning. But I have to be responsible and warn you: while it is a very potent way of forgetting stress, it could be addicting and before you know it a whole hour could pass by! So practice this one with caution but DO try it in moments of need (and why not...in moments of no need too). While no direct beauty benefit will come from it, you will for sure find some amazing ideas for new looks to try as well as enjoyable and beautiful pictures that will make you smile therefore your body will release happy hormones (a.k.a endorphins) which will give you an instant feeling of well-being.

Click on the picture so you can see my pins!

Ohhh I can't wait to try one of these for myself soon since I've been so busy with school! But all of these are tried-and-true techniques, at least from my experience. So hope this helps and gives you some ideas for the next YOU TIME.

What is your go to therapy for relaxing?