Red Raider Runway

It's the last day of June so there's still time to reflect over what I've been loving this month! It feels like June just flew by so there were not many new things that I hadn't already been loving before. But I did take a short trip this month so there were a few things I used more than usual that deserve some praise so I'll keep this short and sweet and get straight to it.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave-In Conditioner - $4.49

I started using leave-in conditioners when I first went ombre and I haven't looked back since. I used to use the Garnier Fructis Whole Blends Leave-In Conditioner which smelled like coconut, and I wasn't a big fan of it. It felt too thick and I'm not really a fan of coconut flavors or scents. So I switched to the Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioner from the same brand and it works so much better! The product feels much lighter in my hair and smells sooooo good! It smells really fruity (apricots) and refreshing and makes my hair smell so good long after I put it in. Sometimes I'll go a few weeks without using leave-in conditioner, but I especially like using this after spending all day in the heat or going swimming, so my hair can be revitalized.

Benefit's The POREfessional Face Primer - $31

I mentioned before that I have naturally large pores (and I hate it!!) so I do everything I can to minimize their appearance!! Like I said in the charcoal post, you cannot actually change the size of your pores (thanks genetics), you can only make them appear to be smaller - and this product does just that!! It's a miracle worker. I don't know if magic or science is involved in the beauty of this product, all I know is that it works! It's extremely expensive though for such a small tube, so I use it as sparingly as I can because I don't have the funds to replace it every time I run out. I mostly use it if I'm going to be taking pictures for something important or if I'm going out somewhere new or special, and sometimes I don't need any occasion to wear it!

NYX's Mineral "Set It & Don't Fret It" Matte Finishing Powder - $10

Truthfully, I don't always use powder after I've applied foundation because sometimes I'm good to go without it. However, since it's summer and it's been over 100 degrees lately, sometimes my foundation just feels so creamy and greasy even when I'm not sweating. So I started applying this matte finishing powder more often after I put on makeup and it really does help keep my makeup from running and keep me feeling fresher in this heat. I love this product because a little of it goes a long way so I don't constantly have to go out and buy a new powder and it somehow manages to match my skin tone whether I'm tanner or not.

Various Mini Mascara Samples: Estee Lauder's Sumptuous, Carmindy & Co, Make Up Forever's Smoky Extravagant, Benefit's They're Real!, Wet N' Wild's Mega Volume, and Lorac's Cobra Mascara

I have so many mascara samples it's insane, which is fine because it's recommended to switch out your mascara after 3 months (though really, who actually does?) Mascara samples are so great because I can just throw them into my purse on the way out! I'm always running late and whenever I'm hurriedly putting on makeup, my top priorities are: foundation, eyebrows, and maybe eyeliner if I have time. But I almost always forget to put on mascara afterward because I'm in such a rush. That's why carrying around a mini sample of mascara is perfect so I can apply it on the road to where ever I'm going. It's one of the only makeup steps I can apply while sitting down with one hand whereas my eyeliner or eyebrows require full attention standing in front of a mirror.
What I love about all the different mascaras I have is that I can use a different one for different things. I love Benefit's They're Real! because they make my eyelashes look so long and natural, but if I want a voluminous, full, thick look I'll go for Carmindy & Co., for length I'd use Estee Lauder's Sumptuous, etc. I just like having options!
I recently went on a trip last weekend and I'm trying very hard to learn how to pack lighter, so these mini mascaras were perfect for minimizing the size of my makeup travel bag! I definitely recommend you stock up on all the samples you can get your hands on from different beauty stores! I got the Lorac one from joining Ulta's membership, the Estee Lauder one was complimentary for buying another one of their products, etc. What's better than getting convenient, useful products for free?!

Various YesTo Face Masks - $2.99

As I mentioned above, I recently went on a trip last week to my hometown. It was a short weekend trip but still, driving long distances, eating more food than I usually do at home, and drinking more usually tires my skin out. Even if my skin doesn't openly react badly (no breakouts, no dryness or excessive oiliness), I still make it a point to treat my face with a mask a day after I've returned from a trip. I just put it through a change (in weather, food habits, etc) so I want to make sure it's taken care of! 
It's not news that I love YesTo products, so they are my preferred brand of face masks, but honestly any mask works!! I just like to make sure it's a mask and not just a scrub because I want my skin to soak in the nutrients and whatnot. Currently I have a few different types, a charcoal paper mask, a coconut paper mask, and argan oil mud mask! I prefer mud masks over paper masks because I like being able to move around after I've applied it to my face haha, but paper masks are really hydrating and that's what I prefer to do to my skin after a trip. There are also sleeping masks but I haven't tried those yet! Maybe one of these days I'll do a comparison on types of masks.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

 In last month's favorites, I talked about Netflix and the shows you should be watching, so this month I thought everyone could use a little more textual enrichment! One of my mid-year resolutions was to read more books, and there's no better time for someone to pick up a few books than the summer by the pool! I am not too picky about how I read my books - paperback, Kindle version, or even online on my phone. But there's something fun about going to the library to check out a book, I don't need money or the hassle of not finding it online, so that's what I did this month!
I decided to check out Six of Crows because a lot of my friends said it was similar to all the other book series I love (Harry Potter series, The Raven Cycle, All for the Game series). They had all suggested the other two series for me so I trusted their judgment on this series. This book is a fantasy mystery book about criminals and crimes, so it's full of intrigue and suspense. I think it provides the perfect balance of realism and fantasy and has such a great, interesting ensemble of characters. It's not exactly a "light read by the pool" material but who cares? And if not, I have plenty of other books that will fit the summer beach read criteria (also currently reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell). All I'm saying is everyone should try to stimulate their minds by reading a book or two this summer!


With June behind us, I'm more than ready for the month of July! It's always such an exciting month: fourth of July, my birthday, peak summertime fun. I wonder what it has in store for me. What type of posts would you like to see from me next month? I recently took a trip home so, of course, my grandma gave me a whole bunch of stuff to take home with me, so you can at least be expecting a haul post soon! 


Be sure to follow the site on all social media platforms at @RedRaiderRunway and use the hashtag #RedRaiderRunway for a chance to be seen and featured! And leave a comment below too!

It's no secret that New Year's Resolutions are rarely ever kept up with throughout the year. It's become so common to neglect resolutions that lots of people have chosen to forego making them at all, which just sounds sad! It seems counter productive to start off a year with the mentality that you will fail so you might as well not try.

I'm not saying making and keeping resolutions is easy, it's hard work. But who says you need to make such goals at the beginning of the year and if you didn't keep up with it by February then it's too late? There's a saying that I've recently latched on to whenever things don't work out according to my plans for the future - dreams don't have deadlines. There's nothing wrong with working towards something, no matter how slow it takes - because at least you did it at all.

So with us being halfway through June, we are now officially halfway through the year 2017. There is no rule that says we can't make resolutions at any other time in the year, so I'm going to declare June the month to make mid-year resolutions. Maybe you set out a goal to read 50 books a year but now that you're halfway through it you realize that goal might not be feasible anymore? That's okay! Reset your goal, don't give up on it completely. Make it 30 books, or 20, something a little more reasonable for the time you've got left. Don't try to squeeze in those 50 books in the last half of the year because you may stretch yourself too thin trying to add that on your plate. You've got to remember your own happiness and well being takes precedence over checking something off a list.

2017 has been so great for me and the funny thing is, I didn't really make any resolutions this year. Well, that's a lie, I did make two simple resolutions and they were: Chew less ice and be less bitter. I've only upheld the latter so far. That was an important resolution for me going into 2017 because 2016 was nothing but constant setbacks and failures and everything about that year left me emotionally drained. I made tons of resolutions (aka goals) for myself that year and surprisingly, I accomplished a lot of those things on my list. But mentally and personally, I was unhappy the entire time. I got to cross so many things off my list, but at what cost? That's why, in 2017 I decided to focus on personal fulfillment rather than achievement hunting and it's worked out so much better for me.

If you're not the type to set out goals or checklists and don't really do new year's resolutions, try a mid-year resolution - there's a lot less pressure riding on them. Here are a few tips to help you figure out what you want to accomplish for the rest of 2017.

First, manifest your resolutions.

I'm a visual/kinetic person, so for me, writing them down makes it a lot more final. Write them in a blog post, a journal, or on a sticky note and paste it somewhere you'll see it every day to give you motivation. If you're an auditory person, tell someone what your goals are, or say them out loud to yourself if you're too shy - just put it out there in the world so you've got a reason to uphold it.

Always remember: goals are aspirations, not obligations.

Don't beat yourself up if you don't keep up with your resolutions. All that matters is that you at least try and you can try again at any time you want. But also keep this in mind for others too. If someone decides to tell you their goals and you see they're not fulfilling it, try not to nag them or point it out to them, because chances are they already know they're not upholding it, they don't need that added guilt or shame. Goals are about personal fulfillment so it's not your place to inadvertently put them down. (Unless they specify that they'd like you to help them stop a bad habit, then by all means do your friend duties without being overbearing!) I'd hope they extend the same courtesy to you.

Lastly, keep them real and attainable.

As I mentioned earlier, you don't have to go all out and say you're going to lose 60 pounds! Because you have half a year left, make the goals a little smaller so you can achieve them with the time you've got left. If you manage to exceed the reduced goal, then great! If you met the goal you set, fantastic! If you didn't quite meet it, awesome, you still did more than you expected from the beginning of the year! If you keep your resolutions somewhere where you can see them, it can start to get pretty discouraging if you constantly see them and know you haven't made any progress. That's why it's best to stick to smaller, attainable ones. It's better to have accomplished something than to have given up on a larger resolution made back in January.



There's so much pressure for new year's resolutions with everyone asking you what they are and expecting you to uphold them throughout the entire year. With mid-year resolutions, you can still set out some expectations for yourself at your own pace. You can be as specific or broad as you want, set deadlines or keep your options open as long as you finish it (even if it took you longer than a year, at least you did it). You can tailor things according to your lifestyle and daily busyness.

If you want to make monthly goals, quarterly goals, etc. it might make things easier for you. Instead of reading 50 books a year, try breaking it up into small time sections. Read 10 books every three months, or 1 book a week. Keeping it small makes it seem less intimidating! Keep a tracker so you can monitor your progress. Seeing it (or telling someone about it) helps you feel like you are accomplishing something and can go a long way to motivate you.

So - what are my mid-year resolutions? I've got only got a few. First, I've decided to keep up with my original resolutions: 1. Chew less ice and 2. be less bitter. I've got the second one checked out perfectly, but the first one needs a lot of work (a bad habit I can't break!) Notice I set a realistic expectation of myself by not restricting myself completely. Instead of saying "Stop chewing ice" I decided on "Chew less ice." Smaller and attainable than quitting cold turkey. I can work my way up from there.

As for new resolutions:
Read more. Read 20 books.
Reading has always been a resolution of mine, and I never quite reach the quota I set out for myself because I get really busy throughout the year and I usually only consider reading new books as part of the quota. But this year, all I've wanted to do is re-read books I already love. I decided I'd still count them towards my goal because I still took time out of my day to read a book instead of watch tv. I've also decided for every book I re-read, I'll read a new book as well so I still make some progress. I start off small - a chapter from each book (old, and new) a day, at the very least. Small and attainable. As I make a habit of this, it becomes easier to read more and more each day.

Work out more. Twice a week.
The problem with "working out" as a resolution is that everyone seems to think you need to do a complete lifestyle overhaul in order to keep up with it. You need to start drinking protein shakes and meal prepping and going to the gym nonstop. I am not that type of person. But I do want to get in shape. So I'm going to start off small. A few at-home workouts I can do in the privacy of my own bedroom. That way I can establish a routine and work my way up to not being so intimidated to go to a gym. Small and attainable.

Do you have any other tips you'd like to keep yourself motivated to try new things? Are there any new mid-year resolutions you want to try out? Let me know in the comments below!!


Be sure to follow Red Raider Runway on all social media sites at @RedRaiderRunway and use the hashtag #RedRaiderRunway for a chance to be seen and featured.

One of the first posts on this website was a comparison between different types of eyeliners. However, afterward I realized that there was one type of eyeliner that I have neglected to mention, and that was felt tip eyeliner! I've heard them called various different names: eyeliner pens, markers, etc. but they all have the same type of tip. I decided to go out and buy one because I had never used one before (hence why I had forgotten to include it in the "This or That" eyeliner post).

I decided to buy NYX's Super Skinny Eye Marker because NYX is a really affordable brand that has reliable products for someone on a college budget.

NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker - $9.50

My first impression is that the pen offers much more control than a liner with a brush would, whether that be a liquid liner or a gel liner. And its tip is very fine point which makes for easy wings. It is no doubt the easiest type of eyeliner to use, without question. With the felt tip pen eyeliner, you get the stability and control of a pencil liner, with the fine precision of a liner with a brush!



The pigmentation of this eyeliner varied though. I tried the product several different times for many different occasions to see how it held up. At first it seems like the color is dark and rich when you first apply it.

The bottom two lines are both from the felt pen.

However, after using this product over time, I can say that more often than not, it looks pretty dull and grey, and I have to go over what I already drew a few times just to get a darker color. Secondly, this product smudges so easily, especially with a little water, it would be completely gone at the first sign of rain. When I washed my hands after drawing all the different types of liners, both felt pen lines were completely gone while the top three lines remained on my hand. (The pencil and gel lines were smudged, but the liquid line stayed completely intact - I told you it's resilient!)

Overall the best thing about this specific eyeliner is that it is extremely quick and easy to use. If you're a beginner and want to try out some winged cat eye looks, this is the eyeliner for you. It's not as intimidating as liquid liner, and the broad strokes of a pencil won't work against you. This felt tip marker has the right amount of control and precision for winged looks. It's honestly the perfect eyeliner for when you're on the go or in a rush. Just swipe it on and you're good to go!

I'm thinking the durability of this product has more to do with the brand than the actual type of eyeliner. I'm curious to try out other types of felt tip pen eyeliners from other brands. Do you have any recommendations for which brands I should try?


Do you have any tips? What other products should I review next? Leave a comment below!

Follow the site on all social media platforms at @RedRaiderRunway and use the hashtag #RedRaiderRunway for a chance to be seen and featured!