Chelsea's New Blog

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I created a new blog to share my experience as a physician assistant student. Check it out!

The P.A. Pursuit

Tips for Clear Skin!

Photo: allure.com

Hey guys! I decided to write a post on my favorite tips for clear skin. I have struggled with moderate acne in the past, so I understand how frustrating it can be to find a solution. Here are some tips that I have found helpful in my skin care journey.

1.) Less is more! // Less really is more when it comes to skin care, especially if you have acne or sensitive skin. If you use a ton of products, it will just irritate your skin further and cause more breakouts. Make sure to use a gentle cleanser (NOT Cetaphil as it tends to cause breakouts for many) and avoid physical exfoliators (scrubs).

2.) Be an ingredient detective. // Look at the ingredient lists of skin care and makeup products before purchasing. This website has a list of ingredients and rates them on comedogenicity and irritancy : Become an Acne Detective. You can also copy and paste ingredients into this website and it will rate the ingredients as well: Ingredient Analysis. These are not fullproof lists. Some ingredients that are rated high on the scales may not break you out or vice versa, but the websites are good starting points. Some people break out from silicones, such as cyclopentasiloxane, which is not rated comedogenic.

3.) Check your hair products and toothpaste. // If you have acne around your hair line and forehead, it may be caused by your hair products. Washing your face, chest, and back after using shampoo and conditioner can help reduce breakouts caused by hair products. If you are breaking out around your mouth and chin, your toothpaste may be to blame. Try switching to an SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) free toothpaste, such as Sensodyne ProNamel.

4.) Don't use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. // They leave residue on sheets and towels that can cause breakouts. Also be sure to only use free and clear/fragrance-free laundry detergents.

5.) Hands off! // I know it is extremely hard, but try your best to avoid touching your skin or picking at pimples. It will only cause more breakouts and scarring. If you really struggle with picking at your skin, I recommend taking a look at this website: Stop Skin Picking. It is really helpful for those with a serious obsession with skin picking.

6.) Clean your cell phone and change your pillowcases often! // Make sure to disinfect your cell phone daily, so that it won't contribute to breakouts on the sides of your face. Dirty pillowcases and sheets can also contribute to acne on the sides of your face. Try to change your pillowcase every other day and change your sheets once a week.

7.) Make dietary changes. // If your acne is hormonal, certain foods may be causing or contributing to your acne. Soy, green tea, flax seed, and skim milk (all dairy for some) can all affect hormones and cause breakouts. Biotin and iodine in supplements can also contribute to acne. Some people find that taking Vitamin D3 and Omega 3 supplements improve their acne. Omega 3 supplements can cause acne in some people, though.

8.) Keep a skin care journal. // Keep track of products you are using and any dietary changes you have made, so that you will know what is helping or hurting your skin. Make sure to only make one change at a time and give it at least 2 weeks before making another change. If you make too many changes at once, it will be hard to figure out which product or change made a difference in your skin (whether it be a positive or negative one).

I hope you found these tips helpful! If you try all of these out and are still having issues with acne, I recommend seeing a dermatologist. Let me know if you want me to write a post on skin care product recommendations or go into detail on acne-fighting ingredients.

Konjac Sponges | A Review

What are Konjac sponges? Konjac sponges are sponges made from 100% Konjac plant root, so they are chemical-free and biodegradable. 

What they claim to do: 

• Gently cleanse and exfoliate skin
• Balance the acidic pH of the skin (the sponges are naturally alkaline) 

How to use Konjac sponges: 

• Rinse and soak sponge until it becomes soft
• Gently massage face in circular motion (you can use it with your cleanser)           
• Rinse and squeeze sponge and hang to dry

What do I think? Konjac sponges are made by many different companies. Mine was by "My Konjac Sponge" and I bought it on Amazon.com for $10. It was the Original Pure one without any clays or charcoal added. When I first opened the package, I was amazed at how hard the sponge felt. It felt like a rock, but once I rinsed it under water for a bit, it became really soft and almost gelatinous. I used it with my usual cleanser, and it felt so nice on my skin. My skin felt so soft and smooth afterward.   The smoothness did not seem to last very long, though. I used the sponge once a day for about a week, and I noticed that I started to break out more than I usually do. I decided to stop using the sponge to see if it was the cause, and after several days, my skin started to clear up. I think it caused breakouts for me because of its alkaline pH. The pH of healthy skin tends to be slightly acidic and should be kept at that pH so that the skin's barrier is not disrupted. I really wanted this sponge to work out for me, but its alkaline pH really messed with my skin. 

-Chelsea

Yum | Healthy Snacks

I recently decided that I wanted to start eating healthier and get fit again! I really want to try to stick with it this time since I usually only last around a few weeks of healthy eating and working out. I can already feel the difference in my body and it has only been about a week! Here are some of my favorite healthy snacks since I tend to snack a lot throughout the day.

1.) Air-popped Popcorn: It's quick and easy to make your own in the microwave! Just put the kernels in a brown paper bag, fold over the edge, and place it in your microwave. I like to add olive oil and salt to mine. Here is an old video I made showing how to do this:

2.) Frozen Banana Pieces: Slice up a banana and put the slices in the freezer for a few hours. They taste so wonderful and creamy. 

3.) Apple Slices with Almond Butter: You can also use peanut butter or sun butter (from sunflower seeds). 

4.) Hummus and Veggies or Chips: My favorite brand of hummus is not pictured above, but it is Sabra.

5.) Roasted Carrots: I've been obsessed with these! Slice up some baby carrots lengthwise, drizzle olive oil, salt, and a little bit of brown sugar over them. Put them in the oven at 375° F for about 15 minutes. Make sure to check on them and move them around a bit, so that they don't burn!

-Chelsea

Yum | Macarons

I've always loved the look of macarons. They even look too good to eat sometimes! (Who am I kidding? They are too good NOT to eat!) A few days ago, I decided to try my hand at making them…and they were a total FAIL. Please learn from my mistake and do not rush into making macarons before  you fully understand the process of making them. My impatient self forgot to add the granulated sugar to the egg whites and beat them until it formed a meringue. I had added the granulated sugar to the mixture of almond flour and confectioner's sugar instead. I also did not sift the almond flour and confectioner's sugar, which is a very important step if you want your macarons to have that smooth and glossy texture. If you don't do this, you will end up with lumpy macarons without "feet" (the ridges along the edges) like I did.

The second time around, they came out almost perfect! Another tip: make sure not to overcook them or they will turn brown! Next time I'll have to keep a closer eye on them, so that they do not brown.

I watched this video before my second attempt, and I found it very helpful!

Macarons are fun to make, especially since you can change up the colors and fillings! Have fun with it and experiment! I know I will be doing that!

                                                                                     -Chelsea

Review: BECCA Sheer Tint Lip Colour in Vendela

Hey guys! I haven't posted on here in a very long time, so I decided I would post a review of BECCA Sheer Tint Lip Colour in Vendela. I absolutely love this lip product! It comes in a sleek metal tube, which I quite like. It is a sheer rosy nude color; it is definitely a MLBB color for me. As for the formula, it is creamy and fairly moisturizing. This is probably because it contains Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Honey, and Vitamin E. (It is also paraben free for those of you who like to avoid parabens.) As a result of its creamy formula, it is not very long-lasting. I don't mind this, though, because I would rather have something be moisturizing than long-lasting and drying. Oh, I almost forgot about its scent! It has a light vanilla/caramel scent that makes you want to lick it off your lips! Haha. Here are some pictures of it:

Disclaimer: I received this lip product for free from Apothica.com.

OOTD: Neutral & Neon

What I'm wearing:

Shirt- J.Crew Factory

Shorts- American Eagle

Necklace- Madewell

Earrings- Forever 21

Flip Flops- J.Crew

Sunglasses- Burberry

OOTD

Please ignore those annoying wrinkles. Haha.

Top: TJ Maxx (I wish you could see the detail. There are some silk and lace details...very pretty and vintage-looking!)

High-waisted Shorts: Abercrombie & Fitch

Sandals: Steve Madden

Sunglasses: Burberry

OOTD

Shirt: Madewell

High-waisted shorts: American Eagle

Mustache Necklace: Forever 21

Bag: JCP

Sunglasses: Forever 21

Candy-Inspired Makeup

Danielle did this makeup on me.

Outfit of the Day

Sweater: Forever 21
Shirt: American Apparel
Jeans: H&M kids
Boots: Daffy's

Outfit of the Day

Dress: JCPenney
Necklace: Forever 21
Flip Flops: Old Navy

Outfit of the Day

I went to the orthodontist today. It was the WORST appointment ever! I still feel really tired out and shaky. I had to get brackets on my bottom wisdom teeth, and the thing they put in your mouth to keep your tongue from going anywhere started to make me gag really bad. I almost threw up. It was soo scary. And then she poked me with a wire, and she twisted the inside of my lip into a wire. Haha, it hurt really bad. And the brackets on my wisdom teeth really hurt because every time I bite down, they pinch the inside of my cheeks. :(

You can click the pictures to see them bigger.
My dad just bought that huge plant today to put in our garden. Haha.




Black tank top: Old Navy
Gray tank top: Hollister
Jeans: H&M Kids
Flip Flops: Old Navy (Haha, I like to wear flip flops a lot in the summer since they're so comfy.)
Necklace: Gift, except for the Hamsa hand charm, which is from Etsy.

New jeans!

I bought these black skinny jeans from Pac Sun today. They were $42.50 originally, but I got them for $27.50 because of the Pac Loot thing I had. I've been looking for black skinny jeans for awhile, and these fit me perfectly!

Outfit of the Day

Haha yup, another one. Sorry for the awkward pose!

Ruffle Tank Top: Urban Outfitters

Sweater: Forever 21

Earrings: They were a gift.

Bracelet: From my grandma, I think.

Jeans: H&M Kids

Flip Flops: Old Navy (I wanted to wear sandals, but I didn't have any that looked right.)

Outfit of the Day

Shirt: Gap

Shorts: Abercrombie Kids

Cardigan: Gap

Necklace: Can't remember, haha.

Flip Flops: Old Navy

Ring: Payless

I love my new ring! I had to go to multiple Payless stores to find it in my size!

Outfit of the Day

Plain & Simple.

Outfit of the Day

Tank top: Marshalls
Bandeau Top: Wet Seal
Boyfriend Jeans: Forever 21
Flip Flops: Old Navy

There is a picture of the back of this tank top in this post: http://thecolorlessfiles.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-post.html

Beauty

“Basic beauty lies in the way a woman walks;
it is health and an attitude to life.”

— Nancy Astor

Outfit of the Day

Dress: Free People

Bandeau Top: Wet Seal

Sunglasses: Burberry

Flip Flops: Old Navy