Red Raider Runway

As a rule of thumb, they say to swap out your mascara for a new one every three months to prevent eye infections from bacteria build up (bacteria like tight, moist places), not to mention by three months most mascaras get flakey and dry out anyway. But instead of simply tossing them aside when it's time to replace them, why not donate those mascara wands for a good cause!

A few months ago I saw a post on Facebook explaining that a wildlife refuge organization was accepting donated mascara wands used to help clean the animals they rescue! The non-profit organization, Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, started the Wands for Wildlife mission to collect old mascara wands. They state that the tiny bristles on the small wands are perfect for combing out any fly eggs or larva from the animals' fur. Mascara wands are firm enough to comb out the fur yet soft enough not to harm the animals. And when you see pictures of some of the cute animals, you can see why these tiny brushes are the perfect size for them.

When I first saw the post on Facebook, I immediately shared it with my friends and family to see. However, because of the nature of social media, sometimes it's easy to feel like we contributed to the cause by sharing a post and act complacent, as if we've done enough by then. While there's nothing wrong with spreading awareness, taking action should be the goal as well. With everything in life, I like to make sure I follow through with my plans. Earlier in the year I made a post saying that I love mini-mascaras because I have so many of them, so I know I'll have quite a few wands to be able to donate periodically.


The website states to wash all the brushes before you send them in, so I made sure to scrub each one down well. I even used waterproof makeup remover just to be as thorough as possible (you know how stubborn makeup can be at times!) 

The organization asks that people not go out and buy new wands - the point is to recycle what we already have! No matter the brand, everyone uses mascara, so there's no reason why anyone shouldn't be able to participate and donate their wands!! They also accept monetary donations if you would like to help out with food and care for the animals' rehabilitation.
If you would like to donate your wands please do so and mail them in (with the mailing form) to:

P.O. Box 1211
Skyland, NC 28776

With so many other mini-mascaras I still have, I know I'll be able to continue donating for as long as the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge needs them! Who knows, maybe other wildlife refuge centers need them as well!

As an activist I am always trying to do my part to help. Are there any other programs you think I should know about? Let me know in the comments below!


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We're a month into school now so exam time is upon us. The positive vibes from the beginning of the year are still somewhat lingering in the air but this crucial first exam determines whether we can cling on to the hope that we ace our classes or risk falling behind. But this year, you don't have to worry about failing if you have a phone!

I'm a person who is always on the go, so I don't always have time to stop and do work from a computer or study, which is why these apps are essential for me. There may not always be a computer around, but everyone carries their phones with them everywhere, so everything you could need is in the palm of your hand.

The app is available for iOS, Android, and Windows.

First and foremost, get the Blackboard app. Almost all professors use Blackboard so getting this app is probably one of the most beneficial things you can do for your education. The great thing about this app is that it notifies you whenever your professor does anything - update your grades, post a new quiz, make an announcement, or upload a new document to read. These notifications are great to keep you on track with class! New updates to the app include a tab which shows you what upcoming assignments are due, which is so helpful! If your professor is not the type to use blackboard for anything other than grades, at the very least, you'll know where you stand in class.

This is currently only available on iOS, however there are probably similar Android options.

iBooks is one of those apps that already comes on your phone when you first buy it. While your first instinct may be to delete it along with all the other apps that you never use (Pages? Keynote?), iBooks is actually a great tool you should be taking advantage of!! I'm sure all the other apps Apple has programmed on our phones probably have their advantages too but the best part of iBooks is its simplicity. This is probably the app I use the most from this entire list.

iBooks opens up all types of pdf's and e-books so it's perfect for loading up textbooks, or what I like to use them for - syllabuses. I like to load up my class syllabuses from Blackboard onto iBook so I can check up on any info I need right away! The best part about iBooks is once you open something to iBooks, it'll stay there forever so you don't have to keep re-opening it. It keeps your place where you left off, and it even works in Airplane mode so you don't ever have to worry about a slow connection or limited data preventing you from opening anything since your files are saved on the app!

Aside from using it for syllabuses, this app is great on the go from one place to another, so when I have a bit of time to kill in between classes, waiting for a bus to arrive, or even while on the bus - I'll pull this app up and read any assigned chapters for class. Getting your required reading done over small bursts of time is a great time saver and frees up your evenings to other things instead of spending a whole night reading. I know a lot of people don't like the idea of e-books, but it is honestly so convenient. Not only can I read wherever I'm at, but I can use the search function in the app to look through the book to find something quickly which definitely helps for homework.
And even when I'm not reading for class, sometimes I'll read a book for fun to kill time when I need a healthy break from social media. (In case you're wondering, I'm currently re-reading The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, aka my favorite book in her Raven Cycle series).

Wedged in between two books is a PDF of a class syllabus, which I open up frequently to check assignments.

This app is available for iOS and Android.

Pocket Points is not necessarily an app that can help you keep up with class, but it is an app that you should be taking advantage of during class! This app rewards you with points for every minute you stay off your phone in class. It tracks your location so it can only work on campus and the longer you stay off your phone (aka keep it locked!), the more points you earn. Some campuses might not have Pocket Points but most should.

You can then use those points for rewards that app offers such as discounts for shopping brands like Forever 21, Lulu, Under Armour, and more online discounts from places like Amazon Prime or Papa John's. Since this app uses your location, it also offers local rewards like $4 off on campus dining in participating locations and my favorite options: free food. There are options such as free Frosties from Wendy's, free appetizers from Chili's, buy one get one free, or buy two get the third free options for places like Bahama Bucks and Panda Express. One time I even saw a reward that said 50% off a tattoo at a local tattoo shop, and as many people would know, tattoos are not cheap. The app is constantly adding new incentives to keep the rewards worth staying off our phones in class (or in the library, hint it's still on campus hint).

The rewards don't seem like much at first, but as a college student, budgeting is always super important so using this app can motivate you to stay off your phone in class in order to get those points for free food or free stuff! With this app alone I've managed to stretch my lunch money from lasting a week to lasting two weeks with the discounts I use. Use Pocket Points to be smart and shop smart!

Make sure you lock your phone once the app gives you the go-ahead in order to earn your points!

This app is available on iOS, Android, and Windows systems.

If you're not taking notes in class with OneNote, what are you doing?! OneNote is a Microsoft Office program that allows you to create a virtual notebook and separate things by tabs and then create multiple pages within each tab. I'm probably making it sound more complicated than it is, but it's very simple to use. I swear, this thing is a life saver for note taking. In the past, I just used to create new word documents for each day's lecture and have to separate them in folders by class. But this has it all in one handy program, one click and it's all available! I never again have to search through all my files to study or look something up for class. And the best part about OneNote is that it all syncs automatically across devices, so whenever I open it up on my phone, all my newest additions are right there! This makes studying on the go so easy, so any last minute cramming before an exam can be done anywhere!

This app is available on iOS, Android, and Windows phones.

This is not necessarily an educational app, but it has been so handy to have! Genius Scan is a great app that allows you to take a picture of a paper or document (maybe you need to scan an ID) and turns it into a PDF. It looks a lot more professional than simply taking a picture on your phone without all the hassle! This saves me from having to find a scanner, then having to email it from a computer. With this app I can do it all on my phone with a few clicks. You'd be surprised at how often it comes in handy as soon as you get it, but you'll be grateful you did!





These apps can't take all the credit for my grades improving over the years as I've used them, but they have played a role in keeping me organized with my study time. Time is money and college is expensive, so do yourself a favor and get these apps! With these up your sleeve, you'll never have to worry about falling behind again.

Got any other useful apps that help you stay on top of your classes? Let me know in the comments below!



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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! 


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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!!


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As I mentioned in my planner post, I usually like to reflect over my obsessions during the month as it comes to an end. I like to try new things often so some months I use things more than others. It doesn't mean I stop using them after the month is over, but simply that it was something new I tried during this month and particularly liked it. Here are my favorites for the month of May!

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation - $28

I really hate switching up foundations because of the uncertainty of it all. What if it makes me break out? What if it looks really cakey? What if I wasted all my money on this for no reason? But the bottom line was, as much as I love my current foundation (Maybelline's Fit Me Foundation), I wanted something with a little more coverage that wasn't too heavy. Sometimes I have days where I break out and want more coverage, or I know it'll be a long, busy day and I want something that wouldn't wear off by the end of the day. So I asked around and this foundation was suggested to me for long lasting good coverage.
So I took a risk and bought it, and I love it so much! It feels a little thicker than most foundations I've used in the past, so it leaves a bit of residue on things like the rim of my glasses or my phone screen if I'm taking a call. But for the most part it's not terribly inconvenient, and when set with a powder afterward, it looks even better! The coverage more than makes up for it. I wear this foundation when I want to look good and know I'm going to be photographed because it covers so well. 

MAC Prep + Prime BB Cream - $31

And then sometimes I have those days when I really don't want a lot of coverage at all! Sometimes I have really good days when my skin looks great so I don't need heavy coverage. Or sometimes my day will be short - only one class, or only an errand or two to run, so I don't care so much about being 100% covered for a long period of time. This BB cream is light and covers well enough for exactly when I need it and I like knowing it does its job with minimal effort. It's great. I wish it didn't smell so strongly like sunscreen, but the SPF in all these MAC products isn't a bad thing.

Boxed Water - $1.49

Look, I'm just going to go ahead and say it - I'm all about the aesthetic. I originally bought boxed water because it looked so freaking cool. Yeah, I'm one of those people, I'll admit it. But if I'm getting purified water to drink (I'm trying to stay more hydrated this year) regardless of what it comes in, does it really matter? The company claims boxed water is better because the packaging is made from recyclable material and ships better, etc. whereas bottled water made from plastic usually ends up in the ocean. If I can reduce my carbon footprint while drinking good, clean water in a cute package, why not? Ain't no shame.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Soft Waves Sea Salt Spray - $7

I recently cut my hair really short (like, really short) which is the shortest I've had it in about...eight years. Needless to say, it was a huge change for me. I thought it was short after having dyed and cut it last summer, but this was a huge change for me. (It's not the shortest I've ever had it though!) So because I got a new hairstyle, I needed to find ways to style it. I decided to pick up this NYM's sea salt spray to give myself some natural curls. I love this product because it gives me so much volume! It adds texture and a buttload of volume so I can style my hair without heat which is perfect for the summer coming up. It also smells very sweet, like vanilla. Except it makes my hair pretty greasy the next day, since it's a product and all, so I would advise to use this on second-day hair instead of freshly washed hair so you don't have to wash it immediately afterward. Not Your Mother's also has a texturizing beach babe sea salt spray so I really want to try it out to see what the differences are between the two products!! 

Seacret Salt & Oil Scrub - $50-$100

Speaking of sea salt, this salt and oil scrub is amazing. The stuff retails for $100 (but the website sells it for $50) but my roommate and I got it for $25 each! Who knew you could hustle kiosk workers? We were just trying to politely decline the man's salespitch and he ended up lowering the price for us and throwing in free stuff so in the end we gave in. We're still not sure who ended up getting swindled overall, but the bottom line is - this product works great! It's made from pure sea salt from the Dead Sea and it's hypoallergenic so it should be fine for all skin types.
It's a really great exfoliant as a salt scrub generally would be, but the best part is the oil afterward which leaves your skin feeling INCREDIBLY soft and moisturized! It's seriously amazing how soft your skin feels after this. So I especially like to use this scrub on rougher areas such as elbows (something I'm really self conscious about!), knees,  callused hands, or any other body part you think needs exfoliating and natural moisturizing!

Netflix - $8-$12/month

Honestly, we are so lucky to have a service like Netflix. I know we all binge watch Netflix, but May was the month in which I consumed the most television (procrastinating from studying for finals oops) and I just have to talk about all the amazing shows Netflix has provided us with. Catching up on old seasons of beloved shows is fun, but Netflix has been killing it with their original series!! I am an aspiring television script writer, so I love talking tv and analyzing shows. I can talk about shows for days (ask me what I think about a certain show and I'll give you a dissertation on it!), but I'm going to try and keep it brief. These are shows you should be watching ASAP:
Master of None (season 2) - The most beautiful piece of television my eyes have ever seen. So simply authentic and beautiful in both script and cinematography. I feel this show deep in my soul. Great script, filming, casting, storyline, everything. Amazing amazing amazing.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - This show is so unexpectedly funny, I feel like people are sleeping on it! It's just the right amount of quirky and cute. I feel like it's the perfect light, fun show everyone needs to contrast all the bleakness of the real world. Add some positivity to your life by watching this show!
Grace & Frankie  - The cutest show on the planet, so wholesome, witty, and hilarious!! You will not regret watching this, I promise.
Girlboss - I love how real and honest this show feels. I can watch it and say "I know someone exactly like her" and who wouldn't want to know badass women who go after what they want? Also the soundtrack is bomb!
The Get Down - REST IN PEACE. Netflix just cancelled this gem of a show after just one season but WOW it was amazing!! It had an all POC cast, amazing original songs, and dealt with real historical issues of classism and race and how that affected disco and rap music. I'm so sad this show didn't get the recognition it deserved but don't miss out on watching it now!! (Maybe we can bring it back!!)

Cooking Fever - Free

Last but not least is this mobile phone game, Cooking Fever. I'm a sucker for phone games and every summer my game playing spikes up because I have all this free time again without classes. I usually don't like to give in to advertisements or sponsors (Youtubers promote this game like crazy) but honestly...it's pretty fun. I'm addicted to playing it and getting a perfect score on each level. I like this game a lot because it's not one of those real life games where you have to wait in real-time for energy to reload or any of that nonsense! Just frantic fun. Except I ran out of gems and I refuse to use real money to buy any so just be careful how you spend your gems since I was spending mine a little too freely without calculating how you can earn more. 

Do you also play games on your phone? Recommend some to me!! I'm always looking for new games to play in the summer! 

So these were my monthly favorites for the month of May. It felt like such a long month. The first half of it was stressful and full of events and finals for me, whereas the second half feels like a different time entirely with endless free time to play games and watch Netflix. Be on the lookout for more monthly posts like this every month!

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Products with activated charcoal are not entirely new, but it seems lately in 2017 I've seen the ingredient almost everywhere! Before, I had only ever seen it in one extremely expensive body scrub, but now there are charcoal versions of every type of beauty product available. It's so common everywhere now you can even find charcoal products at Walmart for low affordable prices, so it feels like you're getting a quality product for a decent price.

So what's the deal with charcoal? Is it actually good for you? I've seen it in everything from soap bars, to face masks, to makeup wipes, to toothpaste! It seems crazy to use black powder to clean things, but it actually has the ability to draw out all the bacteria and impurities on your face to absorb them because it can absorb up to 200 times its weight, so it's definitely a deep cleanser. 

So naturally, being the type of person to have major FOMO (fear of missing out), I tried out a bunch of these products! I was particularly interested in the face products because I have naturally large pores (damn my genetics), and contrary to what the beauty industry tries to sell you - you cannot actually make your pores smaller, you can only make them appear to be smaller. And the first step in doing that is making sure they're not clogged with dirt or bacteria! 

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser - ~$5.50

Biore actually has a lot of different charcoal products: scrubs, masks, charcoal bars, pore strips, etc. I've tried their charcoal nose strips and I think they work just a little bit better than regular nose strips. And then they have different types of charcoal cleansers, one for acne and one for deep cleaning. While I'm still trying to fight my (rudely belated) acne, I already have an acne cleanser so I didn't want to use a second type and irritate or dry out my skin, so I opted for the regular deep cleanser instead.

I love this product so much! It foams up and spreads really well so a little goes a long way. It doesn't smell too good, to be honest, but it's not horrible smelling either. It tingles and really makes me feel like it's deep cleaning my face and then I use an exfoliating scrubbing brush to really get the product deep in my pores to trap the bacteria. Afterward I really do notice a difference in my face. It's so much softer and smoother and it washes away any dead skin or impurities. I would give this a 10/10!



Okay, I love Yes To. This is my go to brand for any type of face masks and facial wipes. I've tried so many other types of makeup removal wipes, but none have worked best for me quite like the Yes To Soothing Cucumber Facial Wipes! They smell so clean and refreshing and they work so well on even the toughest waterproof eyeliner and mascara!
However, when I saw that they had new charcoal wipes, I was intrigued. They even have an entire charcoal section on their website with tons of charcoal products to try! I like to try new things every now and then, and I was on a charcoal kick, so I figured why not! Well, after using them, I can say that they're fine, but not my favorite. The texture is a little rougher than Yes To's normal face wipes, so I have to wipe my face a little harder and the entire process of taking off my makeup is not as smooth as its "Removes makeup with a swipe!" claim.
And although I can't deny the wipe being pitch black is really cool looking, the down side to that is I can't tell if I'm wiping off my eyeliner, mascara, or eyebrows well enough. I usually wipe my makeup off at the end of the day while I'm walking around my room doing things, getting stuff prepped for the next day or picking out my outfit, etc. but now I have to stand in front of the mirror to make sure I'm wiping off all my makeup. It doesn't sound like that big of an inconvenience, because I usually wash my face after using a makeup wipe anyway, but it does throw off my routine. Another thing to note, these wipes are also heavily scented, in my opinion. It's a sweet smell, so it doesn't smell bad, but I feel like it leaves my face feeling a little bit sticky and perfumed, so washing your face afterward is a must. I personally don't like sweet scented things, so it's not something I like, but I wouldn't consider it a "con" of this product, because some people may prefer their products to have a sweet scent!

My DIYed charcoal bath bomb - ~$5 to make

Lastly, the thing that first kicked off my charcoal obsession - bath bombs. I was trying to put together a spa gift for a friend and I wanted a black bath bomb but they were sold out everywhere, so I found a Youtube tutorial on how to make your own. Anyone who knows me knows I'm notorious for DIYing everything, so I set out to make one of these! Let me just say, it's a lot harder than it looks and took me quite a few tries to finally get it right. As you can see above, I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to make this bath bomb. And while it looks super green, it does dissolve black. I decided to demonstrate a little piece so you can see.



The key to making these is to use activated charcoal, not just your regular charcoal used for grilling! They sell activated charcoal in a package as shown in the video, or in small capsules that you can open up to use the powder for. I wanted to use a charcoal bath bomb, not just because it's black and it looks super cool, but because exfoliating your skin with the ingredient makes your skin feel really soft! In my opinion, colorful bath bombs just exist to make the water look cool, but with this charcoal bath bomb, at least it can have a semi-purpose!



And in case you were wondering, it doesn't stain skin or bath tubs. However it may leave some residue so a second rinse through to get the last of the powder off the sides of the tub may be needed.

Some people have even gone as far as to ingest activated charcoal capsules as a sort of "cleanse" or de-tox, but I'm not brave enough to try something like that. Truthfully, there seems to be no medical evidence as to whether charcoal actually helps cleanse and purify the body like the beauty industry is claiming and capitalizing on, so I'm not too keen on ingesting it just yet.

I'll just stick to bath bombs and face masks for now. I don't like to use charcoal products every day (I find my skin gets dried out if I do the same thing to it over and over), so I like to space out my usage. I use the cleanser every time I shower, the makeup wipes every other day, and face masks after a particularly grueling week or after a trip.

Either way, putting activated charcoal on our bodies can't be worse than all the other chemicals we use to clean our faces or bodies with, and it's "natural" so there's no harm in jumping on this trend! Especially now that the products have become a lot more affordable, I'm not complaining! I'm a fan of charcoal products, they just look so much cooler than regular products! Are you?


What other trends have you noticed lately? Are you buying into the charcoal craze or do you think there's nothing special about it?

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