Skin Care.

I got a request to do this post.

HAHAHA.

Anyway, skin care regimens are very important to every girl. And if you ask around, you'd know they change as quickly as the seasons. It's about finding something that actually works for you and sticking to it.

In this post I will tell you the products I have used, how they worked, and the products I use now. And being an African American woman, I have a whole 'nother set of skin problems.

Let's start off with the infamous drugstore acne washes.




Do you catch my drift? I have used ALL of these and more. Here's what I can say about them: EH. They're not bad, not good either. And here's a common trend amongst them: DRYNESS. They dry out my skin so much!! They smell serious too. Ugh. I think I'm done with drug store brands now, unless I'm in between real acne washes. I feel as though these brands are GREAT for the person who doesn't get acne, and just uses these as a means to get their face clean.
BUT I, like many others, actually have an acne problem, and none of these do ANYTHING about it. Seriously.
So my overall conclusion: Great products for a nice clean face, but don't expect any results.
Moving on...

Let's talk about those face washes you can't find in drug stores now. And with that, comes price. Here is what I've used:




I guess you can say I haven't used so many of the "serious" products. Most of the time I've been using the drug store washes, letting my acne ebb and flow and just dealing with it the best I can.
Proactiv: wasted a lot of my life using this. I started when I was in 8th grade, so like, 5 years ago. I think I only used it for a year though. But they kept on mailing and mailing and MAILING it to us. Literally, I still have some left over that I only use when I'm desperate.
I don't like this stuff. Here's the deal. Say you use it for 2 weeks. Great results. No new acne at least, and the scars are healing. Then, one night you get in late and forget to wash with it. Wake up and you've got 10 MILLION PIMPLES. I hate that. It's like you have to use it twice as day for the REST OF YOUR LIFE for it to work. Ugh. No thanks.
Plus it burned the HELL out of my face. Like sticking it into an oven. Ouchies.

Seacret: My brother used this stuff after he bought it from a mall kiosk. Shady, right? Anyway, he called up my mom and said he had used it for like a week, and that there was NO evidence he ever had acne ever. So my mom jumped on this and bought it for me. It's basically a peel, and then a moisturizer. So there's no cleanser involved, which is bad for me because I need something to wash my make-up off.
Anyway, you're only supposed to use it ONCE week, and for the rest of the week, wash with water only. So I knew already that the results would be tampered with because I used another face wash throughout the week (for the make up). So I used it once, and got fantastic results. Used it for the second time, great results. Used it for the third time, okay results. So on and so forth. Worked for the first few weeks only, and its REALLY expensive. Safe to say I wont be using it again. But I still have some of the moisturizer left over, it's the most LUSCIOUS thing ever.
Seacret is more of a buffer, not an acne eliminator.

Clear Advantage: One of my mom's friends had a left over bottle of this from her son, so she gave it to my mom to give to me. They're a pill you need to take every day and they clear your acne from the inside out. New for me. Took the pills and for the first few days I got TERRIBLE headaches after I took them. But I guess after my body got used to them, it actually started to work. I noticed all it did was dry up my pimples and prevent new ones (except for when it's my time of the month. NOTHING can stop those pimples) from coming. Did nothing for the acne scars, although I feel nothing will unless I go get some laser procedure. Whatever.
There was also some free sample of face wash that came with it. Didn't do anything spectacular. Smelled like strawberries and didn't leave my face TOO dry.

What I use now:

Acne.org. My mom and I literally just went on Amazon and typed "acne face washes." We got a lot of results, but this was rated with 5 stars the most so we got it.
I've been using it for a little over 2 days now. It's pretty different from what I'm used to using.
Scent free, light, and hopefully if I stick to it, it will work.
Face wash is decent, not TOO trying. Then you use what's called a "treatment" and that's a gel you put on your face and let dry. Then you use a moisturizer with jojoba oil in it, so it doesn't make my skin dry, which I LOVE!
The secret to this system, according to the owner, WHO IS NOT A DERMATOLOGIST (not as if dermo's know what works anyway coughProactivcough), is a heightened amount of benzoyl peroxide, which oxygenates the skin which limited all bacteria growth, hence no acne. The gel part of it has the BP, and as you get going with the regimen, you're supposed to use more and more BP until eventually you're just lathering BP all over your face. Benzoyl is what REALLY kills acne, but too much is irritating.
We'll see if this works. I like it so far.

Just a little on the make up side:

I don't just use all these acne products on my face and just lather on any type of foundation. I use this Acne Solutions foundation for my skin. It gives dewy medium coverage, and has medicine in it that heals acne. So as you wear it, your acne is being treated. Who knows if it works, haha. But I use it now when I must have foundation. I also use Clinique press powder. Clinque is just an over all gentle and trusty product to use on your skin.


So that's it for my skin care spiel, at least the face wash side of it. My skin regimen is much different once the face is washed and the make up is on. Maybe in another post.


:)

-Millie Michelle

Lacquer.

I love updating this thing!

Anyway, today I want to express my undying love for all things nail polish! I remember I NEVER used to wear nail polish before I was a sophomore in HS. That's when that black nail polish trend hit HARD, so I had to follow. And since then, there has HAD to be some type of color on my nails.

Here are some of my favorite colors to wear:


MINT GREEN.
Okay, mint green has officially been crowned my NEW favorite color (I mean, it's even the color of my blog). Move over, blue! And I know what set it off: nail polish. This is called Peppermint Patti from MAC. I don't personally have this. I have the shade called 'Office' from American Apparel. I love this color. I think it adds a hint of brightness without being super neon and tacky. Def can wear this during ALL seasons, but it fits in most during the warm months of spring and summer.


I have this on right now! Only mine is from Rimmel and not Chanel, haha. I don't know why I love this so much because it does just look like a boring brown, right? WRONG! It is definitely in the nude family, so don't get this if you want people to notice your nails first. But do get it if you enjoy being subtly sophisticated. During a summer where everyone is trying out neon oranges, this color will definitely make you stand out, in a good way. It also feels like a kind of indie color, you know?

Jade green, not to be confused with mint green. I got my Jade shade from Forever 21 and its a bit more blueish than this is. But it's the same idea. Jade is a big trend right now from what I can see, and it's a sure fire way to add a spring/summer pop to your outfit.



Pastel pink. I got mine from American Apparel, once again. I'm loving this color. I think I'm definitely a more subtle person when it comes to nail color, if you haven't noticed already. Hot pink seems too tacky for me, so this color is the compromise. It looks just beautiful with my skin tone too!

Yep, white! I love this color. Now I will warn you, if you put a white-ish color on, and then do a lot of work with your hands throughout the day, your nail color will get dirty, which is just disgusting. But if you choose a white with a nice shimmer or pink to it, and then put a clear coat on, you should be good to go. Deliciously bright without being tacky.



You guys knew I was going to include black, right? It will never go out of style. It goes with everything, and adds a slight edge to EVERYTHING. Its a must have.

Complete opposite from black, NUDE. I know I included a nude tone already, but that was more brown/purple-ish. This is straight up beige. I got my beige shade from Urban Outfitters, and kind of didn't read the label. It was a matte finish. So when I put it on my nails it really did look BLAH. But, I cheated and put a shimmery clear coat over it. Loved the result. Year round, sophisticated color.



Dark purple, and also dark wine red. I have these colors forthe days I think black may be a little too harsh. It gives your nails that dark edge without being TOO harsh.

Navy blue. Not so much a summer shade, but wait until fall or winter rolls around and it can be a really pretty alternative to black, or red. Blue has gotten a bad rap for being kind of childish and tacky as far as polishes go. But I think navy blue is a definite way to infuse the beauty of blue, yet stay sophisticated.
All my colors so far have been about sophistication I feel lol. So I will end this off with a funky color!



Yellow! I have yet to find a nice yellow that isn't streaky and watery, but I will never give up on my infatuation with yellow things. Kind of like the dress I bought yesterday, I just know it looks good on my skin. But don't get confused, mint green is still my ultimate favorite color of all time now, but I can appreciate the simplicity of and fun that yellow brings. It's the color of the sun, so people will automatically associate it with all things bright, fun, and peppy. Plus, I love canaries.

Now I know what you're thinking, 'Camille, where's the red?' because every girl needs that classic red polish in her collection, right? I HATE RED. I hate red nail polish so much. I hate red shirts, red dresses, I just hate red. It looks awful on me. ALL SHADES. So I'm going to go ahead and be the exception to that classic red rule. Yuck.


I hope this has helped/inspired/entertained you. I know a lot of the pictures are Chanel, MAC, Dior, etc. But you don't have to get an expensive nail polish for it to look good. Drug store (and yes even dollar shades) can look great with the right top coat.

Rule of thumb for nail polish: If you want to keep it trendy, look to what colors Sally Henson, OPI, and Chanel are doing at the moment, and then find those shades at the drug store. Cheap and easy way to be in style!

-Millie Michelle

Look What I Just Bought.

I will probably do posts like this frequently because I am an avid online shopper. And that fused with the knowing I WILL get a job this summer, the "Look What I Got" entry will probably be the thing I do most here haha.

Anyway, just YESTERDAY I made a blog and within it I stated I wanted a floral dress for summer. WELL LOOKIE HERE:

I just bought that from, YES, Forever21.com. My FAVORITE place to do my shopping. This was only 18 bucks, coupled with S/H made it a 25 dollar purchase over all. GOOD BUY to me anyway because I KNOW I will wear this year round. I can wear it during the day, and make it evening as well. It's PERFECT. And I love the color yellow on me.
I love the zipper on it, the rouching, and the shape (like a tulip!)

I had to fight myself on this though. I really don't buy things unless I KNOW my use of it will outweigh it's cost. So I went back and forth with this dress, adding flip flops here, a necklace there. But after 1 hour adding and removing things from my F21 shopping bag, I decided to get THIS and only THIS.

I love it. I hope it fits LOL.

I will take pictures of me in it as soon as I get it in the mail!

-Millie Michelle


p.s. One time I went on F21 for a hoodie, and ended up with an 85 dollar purchase complete with 2 hoodies, 2 shirts, and some jewelry and some other things I don't remember. BUT after spending so much money on those things, I only to this day wear the ONE T-shirt I got. It was an epic waste of money. So to this DAY I really scrutinize my F21 purchases for things I will actually WEAR. So many cute things at such LOW prices? Yeah, it's a trap if you don't know how to shop.

Beautiful, Dirty, Rich.

This is all things fashion/makeup/superficial part of my blog.
It doesn't need much explaining so let me just get into it.
Here are the latest material possessions I wish to own:

Steve Madden Caryssa pumps in a nude color. They also have them in black, blue, red, etc. But I think nude has a certain versatility that colors like black and silver don't have. I mean, black pumps can look harsh with some things, say, a cream colored dress. I love the nude idea, plus I don't have nude heels thus far. I feel like I'd use these for nights out, for coffee dates, and for anything in between. I mean, I really feel these could be used on most occasions. Okay, maybe walking through the mall, or going to work they'd be a bit inappropriate.. but other than that, skinny jeans, skirts, dresses, you name it. These heels will suit most things. Only 90 bucks too. Expensive enough to know they're of quality and wont hurt your feet, cheap enough to be practical to buy. Love em.




Floral romper! I just want a romper in general, but I love floral patterns. I got one romper from H&M hastily and of course it was ill-fitting. This isn't a specific one that I want, they have a lot at different retailers, specifically Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. Such a great thing to have in your closet. Cute AND effortless. Plus, I think you can wear these into the fall and winter. Just pair them with some leggings and a cardigan. I'm not sure which shoes you'd put with them, but it's definitely doable. And HELLO, those pumps I posted match this perfectly.



Floral dress. Pretty much the same deal as the floral romper, versatile, cute, and effortless. I have a floral dress but it's more cocktail-y. This is more day-date. Although you can absolutely make this a nighttime look.




Cute accessories! This picture does get the full scope though, but you can get the point. Having a quirky necklace, ring, or bracelet can definitely make an outfit. When I think necklaces and things, I def think of Forever 21! So many cute jewelry items for cheap. I used to think the main parts of the outfit were most important, you know, shirt, jeans, shoes. But in the last 2 years or so I have seen the importance a nice piece of jewelry has. I have a few necklaces, rings, etc. But I really want to build my collection.

This bag is from Forever 21. It's basically a purse that slings over your shoulder like those ever popular strapped coin purses. They allow you to have important things with you, WITHOUT having to carry a large annoying bag that you have to search through. They're much smaller than a typical purse. I just want to have a purse that is smaller than my sling purse, yet bigger than my coin purse. So basically it's a cute in between option.

Now in the same vein, I do desire a really HUGE tote-like purse because lets face it, there will be days that you're out and about, and you need to have a lot of things with you. Sometimes I put umbrellas in my purse, change of clothes, food, etc, you never know, and it always helps to have a big purse for this. This isn't a specific one that I want, but I will tell you that when it comes time to buy one, I will go straight to Marshalls or TJ Maxx. They have a lovely selection of high quality purses for low prices. The purse I have now is from Marshalls and I looked it up online right after I got it to find out it was originally priced as a 70 dollar purse. I got it for 35. Holla.

I had to put an entire label for this one. I WANT MORE MAKE UP. MAC has been a standard for me. I use their eyeshadow, blush, and foundation on a daily basis. Besides the fact that their foundation falls short, a lot of their other products are really great. Basically the idea is that I want high quality make up, because I want high quality results. On a more specific basis I would like to buy some rave products from NARS, Chanel, Dior, and many many others. Maybe I'll do a specific post on make up products because there are just so many items I want to try.

I want a real camera, yall! One that takes nice pictures. My Canon digital camera was acting up for about 6 months, but miraculously it hasn't been causing me any problems. I'm thankful for that because I didn't want to be without a camera. But I am yearning a better quality result type of camera. I love taking pictures whether they be of me, of destinations, or of anything, and I have a knack for it. This camera is also good for HQ videos which would be nice for Youtube. Now I know this camera wont cut it for concerts because it wouldn't be allowed in (which is why I'm thankful my digital camera got it together), but I feel like I could use it a lot. In fact, maybe the only thing my digital camera will be needed for is concerts. I love the idea of pictures in general, so I want a nice camera.


This is the HairArt flat iron. I asked my stylist what she uses, and she told me this. Now the last time I asked a stylist what she used, she told me CHI and so I got it. And I hated the results. And I didn't understand why. When she used it, my hair was bomb. But when I did it, it wasn't so bomb. I'm sure there's some secret serum or conditioner that stylists use to prevent salon results at home (so you'll keep going to them), but either way, I want a new flat iron. I'm hesitant because of my CHI experience, and because it's only like 70 bucks, which is relatively cheap for a flat iron. I'm one of those people who's like: if it's more expensive, it MUST be better. Clearly not because CHI irons are 130. Anywho, might as well get it because 1) I already know how it will work with my hair since my stylist uses it 2) If it sucks, at least its only 70 bucks I wasted rather than 200.


~~~~~

So this is all I will post for now. The most pressing items that I need from the above list are the flat iron and camera believe it or not. I'd like to get my hands on those soon.

Of course I still want the basic things like jeans and tops and perfume and nail polish, etc ...can't ever have too much of those. I just don't feel the need to post all those pictures here.
Then there's a new guitar that I'd like. But I need to do more research first.

So God allowing, my job this summer will finance these things, with enough money left over to save for a rainy day.

That's all for today.

-Millie Michelle