Why Collagen is the Best Beauty Ingredient

Reading time: 3 minutes

In the beauty world, you'll come across all sorts of products with all kinds of ingredients. Some of these ingredients are a bit rubbish, while others are downright dangerous. You'll be stunned to see how many harmful chemicals are in a lot of beauty products, doing more harm than good. 

Collagen is one of the few ingredients that's worth paying special attention to. In fact, it's the best beauty ingredient you can find. As a swift description, collagen is a type of protein found in your body. It has many functions, but the main one is to help provide structure to your skin. In essence, this makes your skin a lot firmer and more elastic. Already, you can see why this ingredient is so special. Still, let's expand on things by looking at a few other reasons.

Collagen is multifunctional

Collagen can be used in three main ways:

• As an ingredient in a topical treatment
• As a component of an injectable treatment
• By activating it under your skin

The first option is simple: buy creams or serums with collagen as an active ingredient, then apply to your face. For the second one, you go to cosmetic surgery and get injected with collagen. Thirdly, you can find cosmetic surgeons that offer things like microneedling. I know you're wondering what's microneedling, and the simple answer is that it's a treatment that triggers collagen production. Essentially, you activate the collagen under your skin, which encourages it to reproduce and help your skin. So, you have many choices in deciding how you want to use collagen for its beauty benefits. 

Collagen is natural

Collagen is natural! It isn't a chemical compound that somebody has manufactured in a lab. It isn't an ingredient that people have conjured up out of nowhere and tested on multiple animals. It's a naturally occurring protein that all human beings produce in their bodies. This makes it entirely safe for anyone to use. You don't have to worry about any side effects when you utilize collagen; it just does its job!

Collagen works

There's no debate over if collagen will help your skin or not - it simply works. You can find many medical and scientific studies that back this up. Unlike other beauty ingredients, you know that you will see positive results when using collagen. It makes your skin firmer, healthier, and more resilient to wrinkles. It can also help keep your hair in excellent condition and prevent it from falling out. 

As a general rule, if a beauty product or treatment includes collagen, it will help you out. Of course, you should make sure there aren't any harmful chemicals or nasty ingredients alongside the collagen. Also, for serums and creams, look at the concentration of collagen in the product. If it's a tiny amount, you won't see many benefits. The bottom line is that this is the main ingredient in the beauty industry to keep your eye on. If you want healthy skin and hair, you can't go wrong with collagen.

What are some of your experiences with collagen?

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Makeup Basics for Your Best Summer

Reading time: 2 minutes 56 seconds

I know many of you are bummed out that summer is most likely canceled this year. Personally, summer is my least favorite season, so it doesn't really bother me. What does bother me, though, is that I might not even be able to go home for summer break if China doesn't open its borders for outbound flights by then. That will suck in a major way, not just because I won't be able to spend time at home but also because the humidity here will kill me, so let's not dwell on the negatives. Even if we're still under lockdown when summer rolls around, we can still play with makeup to pass the time! 😄 Here are some makeup basics to experiment with for all your summer FOTD needs.

Eyeshadow

Tbh, this is the perfect time to experiment with those eyeshadow shades you've always wanted to try. For me, I've been wanting to try green and blue, but I've always been worried about looking too 00s. Sure, the decade's making a comeback, but that's never been my look. My go-to palette lately is the Urban Decay Naked Heat because I have been super in love with that dark, burned, red and orange look, but I have my eye (😉) on the ColourPop Midnight Masquerade and Misunderstood. Since schools are reopening in China, and I go back to face-to-face teaching on Monday, I don't have as much time, but I might take one of these weekends to post an everyday makeup look using Naked Heat.

Mascara

Mascara is a must-have for a lot of people, especially for me. Even when I'm too lazy to bother with makeup, mascara is a must-have, along with eyebrows. I usually just apply a couple coats of the Missha 4D Mascara. My lashes don't usually respond to mascara. Regardless of what the product advertises, be it length or volume, it does literally nothing to my lashes, but this one works wonders. A couple of swipes adds incredible length and definition to my lashes, and they honestly look like falsies, even more so than the actual Maybelline Falsies Mascara, honestly. 😂 This summer, experiment with color mascara, especially if you're looking to go with a minimalist look. Instead of going all out with eyeshadow, you can try a minimalist graphic look with color mascara and maybe a cat-eye with some color eyeliner. Of course, with the heat and humidity ramping up, waterproof is the way to go. Pro tip: the Garnier Micellar Makeup Remover kicks ass when it comes to removing even the most stubborn of waterproof makeup.

Foundation

I cringe at the thought of foundation in the summer because once again, the humidity here is killer, but also, my combination skin leans more towards the oily side during the summer, so most days, I skip foundation altogether, or it's breakout galore. With that being said, though, we still need SPF, and I specifically need color correction and redness control, so I tend to opt for CC cream as opposed to foundation, but if foundation's more your speed, try one that's light and airy that won't suffocate your skin in the heat and humidity. When I need more coverage than CC creams can provide, I go with the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation.

With eyeshadow, mascara, and foundation, you're equipped with all the basics you need to experiment with new looks this summer. When you land on a look you love, and you can't run out into the street to shove it in people's faces, remember that we always have social media. 😉

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Weekly Reading | April 23, 2020

Health

Everyone is on high alert with their physical health and wellbeing nowadays, checking temperatures and tracking symptoms, but don't forget to keep an eye on other aspects of your health as well, like your reproductive health and your mental health. Make use of available online resources as much as possible to flatten the curve and leave all available health resources to folks who really need them.

"What's 'normal'?: period volume and heaviness" via Clue

"Free Mental Health Resources to Make Life a Little Bit Brighter Right Now" by Xandie Kuenning

"How Chronic Illness Affects Relationships" via Kate the (Almost) Great

Travel

While we, as responsible citizens, do our part to fight the pandemic by social distancing, we can still dream about and plan for vacations. These lockdowns will be lifted eventually. We just need to be patient. The less we care about social distancing, the longer we will all have to do it.

In the meantime, we can all live vicariously together through some blog posts from the Before Times.

"The Ultimate Travel Guide to Bali, Indonesia" via Classified Closet

"The Ultimate Travel Europe For Cheap Guide" via Indian Girling

"Travel Tuesday: Answering More International Travel Concerns" via Gal Meets Glam

Beauty

Other things you can do to keep yourselves occupied and indoors include (window) shopping! Finances are tight right now across the board, but we can still indulge in the pastime of Adding to Cart but Not Actually Buying.

"10 Cruelty Free Makeup Brands You Can Find At Ulta" by Erica Elbers

"Natural Anti-Aging Methods" via HKPR

"Beauty Tips for Looking Your Absolute Best at Any Age" via Strikeapose

For college, wellness, and lifestyle posts, check out the previous Weekly Reading!

What do you miss the most about the Before Times?

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Weekly Reading | June 27, 2019

Travel

It's summer, y'all! 🌞 While I hate summer weather, I still appreciate the break. It's actually low-key one of my favorite parts about being a teacher: you (mostly) get breaks when your students get breaks, and for my school, summer holiday starts in July. I'm definitely going home for the summer, but I haven't decided if I want to do any traveling outside of that, so if you're in the same boat, here are some travel posts.

"How to Get This New Yorker to the Beach" via The Champagne Edit

"My Paris Guide: Eat, Sleep, and See" via Atlantic-Pacific

"What I Am Packing for A Summer Trip to Italy" via The Brunette Nomad

Beauty

Traveling is fun and all, but that pesky summer weather is inescapable (unless I travel somewhere in the southern hemisphere, I guess), and one reason I hate summer weather is I tend to break out in the heat and humidity, so I looked up some skincare posts.

"8 Reasons Why You Have Bad Skin" via Mally Elizabeth

"What Your Breakouts are Telling You" via The Brunette with A Blog

"How I Treat Breakouts" via Life with Kendal

Home

Then, of course, apart from traveling, some of that free time can go towards the home. Reorganizing and shopping for the home are great and all, but you know what the best part about them is? I can stay my ass indoors! 😎

"How to Organize Your Closet in 30 Minutes Flat" by Ayn-Monique Klahr

"The 8 Best Home Decor Shopping Websites for A Girl on A Budget" by Marian Osrat
"Styling A Living Space with Vintage Thrift Finds" via Style Lullaby

For career, blogging, and wellness posts, check out the previous Weekly Reading!

What are your summer plans?

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5 (Seemingly Innocuous) Reasons You're Breaking Out

In my younger years, even throughout high school, I had beautiful, clear skin. Then, one day, that all changed dramatically. I don't remember if there was anything going on in my life at the time that could've contributed to the decline in my skin health, but I started breaking out like crazy. My skin became dry in some areas. It developed redness and blotchiness. Everything about it was terrible.

To this day, I never fully recovered, not even when I was on hormonal birth control, which clears up some women's skin. My skin is still red and blotchy and dry, and I break out frequently, especially in the week or so after my period. Of course, that's hormone-affected breaking out, but throughout the years, I've read and heard about and even seen and experienced for myself seemingly innocuous habits that can cause your skin to break out: everyday objects, picking and popping, skin (over)care, skin (under)care, unhealthy foods, unhealthy drinks, and a lack of post-workout skin care.

In this post, we'll take a look at these bad habits and talk about how you can break the cycle.

Everyday Objects

Think about the things that come into contact with your face on a daily basis: your cell phone, pillow, and hair, for example. Imagine how much bacteria is on your cell phone from all that use, then imagine all of that being put on your face when you talk on the phone, and if you're like, "I don't even talk on the phone. My phone comes nowhere near my face," then another culprit to beware of is your hair. If your hair is like mine and gets greasy quickly throughout the day, then it's best to keep it out of your face, i.e., avoid having bangs, because greasy hair on face equals greasy face equals breakouts. Basic math, right? 😛 Along the same lines, change your pillowcases frequently because it's not just greasy hair that dirties pillowcases, and bacteria-ridden pillowcases plus face also equals breakouts.

Picking and Popping

This is something I am definitely, abso-fucking-lutely guilty as shit of. I know it's terrible for me, but I still do it, and I can't help it! I wonder if there's like a support group for face pickers or something. 😂 Anyway, picking at your face and popping zits is a sure way to leave scars. That's why if you've ever seen me sans face makeup, you'll feel inclined to hand me a flyer for Face Pickers Anonymous. Most advice I've seen just say don't do it, but us face pickers, we know not to do it; we just can't help ourselves, so what I've been trying to do is to stop myself whenever I catch myself doing it.

Skin (Over)Care

Overzealous skincare might actually be one of the reasons my face ended up betraying me. Around the time when I started this blog, I started exploring more beauty brands and trying more skincare products, and that was unfortunately the same period of time when alcohol in skincare products was super in vogue, so what I suspect happened was that using too much alcohol-based products stripped away the important oils in my skin and seriously dried it out, causing irreparable damage that I'm still suffering to this day. Of course, that's just a theory, but experts do suggest staying away from alcohol-based products and use, for example, witch hazel instead.

Skin (Under)Care

I feel like this is something people more so do out of laziness. At least, that's why I do it. You get home late, especially after a night out, hear your comfy bed calling your name, and just think, "Fuck it." For me, I always feel like one night won't hurt, but it actually does. Makeup and your skin's natural sebum can clog pores, and clogged pores tend to turn into breakouts, especially when left to their own devices overnight, so think twice before going straight to bed without washing your face. Similarly, don't skip washing your face in the morning either because your skin still produces sebum while you sleep, even after you wash it before bed. An easy alternative to days and nights when you just can't is to leave a pack of face cleansing wipes next to your bed. It's not a recommended long-term solution, but it's at least something.

Post-Workout Skin

I used to do this all the time until I found out that it's really, really bad for your skin, not just your face but the entire rest of your body as well. It's along the same lines as not washing your face before and after bed—your body's own secretions can stab you in the back. Stab you in the face? Excess oils and sweat from working out can settle in your skin and clog your pores, and as we've learned before, that's not a fun time for your pores, so once again, it's cleansing wipes to the rescue! I always have a pack of them in my gym bag so that I can kind of clean my face after toweling off the sweat. That removes the excess oils and sweat and dirt temporarily until I hop in the shower or wash my face for realsies.

What other reasons do you know of for breaking out?

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Weekly Reading | November 15, 2018

Beauty

Let's get down to business basics this week. I feel like I've been neglecting this category lately while I read up on other topics, so it's about time I reacquaint myself with some beauty basics like at-home gel nails, eyebrow products, and skin care.

"How to Do Gel Nails at Home: Shellac Nails at Home for Any Budget" via Chasing Daisies

"Eyebrow Essentials on Fleek" via A Pint-Sized Life

"Cleansing Your Face with Oil is a Thing—Here's How to Do It" by Chelsea Jackson

Fashion

It's back to basics with fashion as well, and last week, I found a post about sweater dresses for all budgets. I love sweater dresses so much, so it was a great roundup for me, at least. Another basic is how to mix patterns for fall style. Then, Elizabeth of Lizzie in Lace wrote about transitioning one of the hardest patterns to work with: tweed.

"The Best Sweater Dresses for Every Budget" via Shop the City

"Pattern Mixing for Fall" via Sunny Side Cecilia

"Transitioning a Tweed Dress from Day to Night" via Lizzie in Lace

Blogging

For blogging basics, I found a roundup of free courses and webinars for creatives, e.g., bloggers. I also found a list of important info for us to include in our Instagram bios. As for the last post, it's something that resonates with me a lot because it's something I've always believed in: blogging is a community, not a competition. People tend to wonder why I have so many posts and series where I show other bloggers' content, like my Style Ideas by Bloggers series or this Weekly Reading series. My answer is always, "Why not?" As much as I love getting my content out there, I still feel like hey, we're writing about the same stuff. We should acknowledge one another's work and share it instead of competing to get more views on posts about the same topic. But that's just me. 🐸☕

"The 4 Best Free Courses and Webinars for Creatives" by Emily Hester
"5 Things Every Blogger Should Have in Their Instagram Bio" via Kayla in the City
"Why We Need to Remember that Blogging is a Community" via Creatively Lauren

For more blogging as well as lifestyle and fitness posts, check out the previous Weekly Reading!

What are some of your favorite beauty, fashion, and/or blogging basics?

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Makeup Mistakes and How to Fix Them

There are many reasons people wear makeup, and regardless of the reason, it is possible to do it--that is, applying makeup--wrongly, and I know I talk about mistakes a lot (I've even previously covered common makeup mistakes) but it's only because I'm guilty of so many of them, so it's fun for me to share my mishaps and misadventures with y'all to maybe get some commiseration.

Anyway, I bring up reasons because I don't want this post to be misconstrued as being one about how your makeup is making you look older, or it's making you look trashy, so ya need to cut it out. I bring up reasons because some people, women especially, do wear makeup for the sole purpose of looking older. There are some industries (ahem, education, ahem) where your apparent age can dictate how you're treated.

Therefore, the mistakes that I mean in this post are those that detract from your makeup, regardless of reason.

Wearing the Wrong Foundation

The wrong foundation, then, is not foundation that makes you look older or that draws the color from your face because, again, there are people who wear makeup for the sole purpose of looking paler, and I'm not going to go into detail about this because I can legit write an entire post about it.

The wrong foundation is foundation that feels uncomfortable on your face. If it makes you break out, if it makes your face extra oily, if it dries out your face, it's the wrong foundation. We tend to think if it's the right shade, it's the right foundation. I can just blot my face or spritz water on it throughout the day, right? I mean, yeah, but why put yourself through all that trouble?

Buy instead a foundation that's already right for your skin type. Not sure if it is? Try a sample out first. Sephora especially is pretty generous with their foundation samples. Ask for some and try them out for a few days. This'll also help with determining how long it'll take you to put it on because no one wants to wake up hella early just to make sure you have time to get your foundation just right.

Wearing the Wrong Blush

Like foundation, blush can also be uncomfortable to wear, but another thing that's easy to mess up with blush (probably even easier than with foundation) is the color. When you choose to wear blush, chances are you want it to have some sort of effect, but sometimes, the blush doesn't even show up on your face! This is something that I especially struggle with because I tend to play it safe when buying blush and end up choosing one that's way so light for my skin tone that it doesn't even look like I have blush on.

A rule of thumb that I've since found out is that pinks and peaches work well on fair to medium skin tones, while corals and oranges work well on medium to dark skin tones.

Skipping Brows

Here's another cliché for you: brows frame the face, so when you don't do anything with them, it looks like something's missing. You can do as little as brush them down with some transparent gel or as much as draw them in and define them with pencil, so long as you don't leave them as they are. It takes a lot of getting used to if filling in your brows isn't something you do on a regular basis or any basis at all, but they're so worth it because, since we're on the cliché train, practice makes perfect.

For some of my favorite foundations, blushes, and brow products as well as a look at how I do my everyday makeup, check out my everyday makeup post.

What are your favorite foundations, blushes, and brow products?

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Weekly Reading | October 11, 2018

Blogging

Last week, I found a post about how to grow blogging communities, which was super useful because I'm taking some time to (once again) bring ExtraExtravagant back to life. In the post, Jenn mentions attending blog conferences, so I found Alicia's post about blog conferences.

"5 Ways to Grow Your Blogging Community" via Hello Rigby

"The Low-Down on Blog Conferences" via Alicia Tenise

"The Blogger's Guide to Growing Your Email List" via The Wonder Forest

Lifestyle

In line with the how-tos and guides, here are some lifestyle-type ones. The first is where Lauren talks about what you can do to make a new city feel like home, and when you're in that new city, here's a post where Haley discusses healthy roommate relationships and another one where Paige shares how you can eliminate distractions.

"6 Ways to Make A New City Feel Like Home" via Lifestyles by Lauren

"How to Cultivate A Healthy Roommate Relationship" by Haley Kellner

"How to Eliminate Distractions" via Eyeliner Wings & Pretty Things

Beauty

I also found some informational beauty posts, one about Brazilian waxes and one about what to consider with acne products. Then, here's a post about clean beauty by Nicole to leave you with something to think about.

"I Got A Brazilian Wax and Now I'm Never Shaving Again" via Daily Cup of JoJo

"Here's Why Your Drugstore Acne Products Aren't Working" by Cara Giannetto

"Clean Beauty 101 - Good and Bad Ingredients & Helpful Shopping Tips" via Glamorously You

For more beauty posts as well as food and career posts, check out the previous Weekly Reading.

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My 2016 MVPs (Most Valuable Posts) and a 2017 Forecast

One more year has come and gone. Well, it will still be around for about four days, I guess. We still have the week! Either way, the sad, nostalgic lament of "Wow, time flies" is overplayed and growing old (just like I am, sigh), so I will sidestep all of the cliché sentiments and move into a foreword of sorts for my ten most popular posts for the year.

At the start of the year, I resolved to post twice a week, once on Tuesday and once on Thursday. I am still a full-time graduate student with what is essentially a full-time teaching and research job, so I decided to start with an easy and manageable schedule that I can add to once I get the ball rolling again (My blog took a huge hit when I disappeared on that unexpected hiatus). I stuck to the schedule surprisingly well for the first half of the year, especially after I launched my Weekly Reading series that I added to every Thursday.

Blogging finally became a routine for me. It was such a sustainable and efficient schedule that I even had time to dedicate to regularly updating my Instagram. I was slowly creating an aesthetic for it and was building up my following, so I finally felt like ExtraExtravagant was getting back on track and growing again. Things were going so well that I considered finally expanding into creating YouTube videos.

Then, this past Fall semester hit, and everything basically went to shit. I was taking four classes as a student, teaching two classes for my teaching assistantship, and working on a grant-funded project for my research assistantship. How graduate school usually works is you take two to three classes per semester and work on either a teaching or a research assistantship. It did not work out that way for me, unfortunately. What that means is that once August hit, 24 hours in a day became way too little time for all of that, let alone blogging, so yet again, I had to place blogging on the backburner.

Fortunately, I was still able to produce a few posts, and I am so glad that a few of them managed to make it into the lineup of my ten most popular posts for 2016.

Here they are! You can click on the titles to navigate to the posts themselves.

10. July Drugstore.com Haul

9. 5 Hair Myths You Shouldn't Believe

8. Valentia True Glow Eye Cream Review*

7. Fall Style Ideas by Bloggers

6. Summer Style Ideas by Bloggers

5. How to Become More in Touch with Yourself

4. My Everyday Makeup (but with Glasses) ft. Glasses Shop*

3. Spring Style Ideas by Bloggers

2. 15 Contact Lens Mistakes You're Probably Making

1. Celebrity Style Inspiration for Any Age: 30s

It does not come as a surprise that the Celebrity Style Inspiration for Any Age post is the most popular one. The series itself was probably my most popular series when I launched it in 2015. This is the most recent one, but I planned for the series as a whole to have four more installments (40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s and Beyond). If 2017 goes as hoped, I should be able to complete the entire series by the end of next year.

Another series that I want to continue into 2017 is Style Ideas by Bloggers, my most popular series for this year. I was actually able to complete it for 2016, and three out of the four total 2016 posts made it into this lineup. One of my favorite aspects of running this series is the opportunity it provides me (and you) to connect with other bloggers, so I do not see this series going away anytime soon.

Besides that, the guides (albeit clickbait-y) seem to be a reader favorite too, and the good news is that I have quite a few ideas for more of them all sitting around as drafts, so I hope to be able to get to them too in 2017.

I honestly have no idea how 2017 will go. This coming Spring semester, I will only be taking two classes, but I still have my teaching and research assistantships. Plus, it will be my graduating semester, so I have my entire thesis research project to conduct and write up to prepare to defend and hopefully graduate! After that, I will be going home to Malaysia to visit my family for at least the summer, and everything after that is super tentative and in-the-air, so I really have no idea if I'll be able to get back into blogging consistently again. Fingers crossed!

What types of posts do you typically expect from a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blog?

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DIY Spa Night

If your week was anything like mine, you must be exhausted at this point (which is made worse by the fact that I won't actually have a weekend this week). Be it due to work or school or anything in your life that tires you out to the verge of tears, we need a night to just relax and unwind. Trips to the spa can hurt your wallet (and time), so for times when you want or need to pamper yourself at home, here are some ways to make it as luxurious as a fancy trip to the spa.

Create the Mood

To be able to fully relax and unwind, you need to create an atmosphere. Light some scented candles, play some soothing music, grab a glass of wine, and pull up your favorite show on Netflix (which spas don't have). Now that you have the spa ambience down, let the pampering begin!

DIY Beauty Treatments

There is a whole host of beauty treatments that you can whip up yourself, using ingredients that you already have on hand. You can make face masks from bananas, oats, yogurt, and honey. You can make hair masks from egg whites or coconut oil. All you need to do to find these recipes is hit up Pinterest or even Google. There really is no need to splurge on expensive beauty products (unless you plan on having spa nights on a regular basis, in which case you might prefer more luxurious, store-bought options).

Teeth

Our teeth are often forgotten about when it comes to pampering even though it is also an integral factor in how we look and even how we feel. One way to pamper your teeth is to whiten them. You can incorporate this step into your spa night by just looking for the best whitening strips for you.

Hands and Feet

One of the most popular pampering activities is a mani-pedi. These are rather expensive to get at a salon, especially considering how easy it is to create the same look at home for much cheaper. To do so, start with a good hand cream. Then, file your nails and cut your cuticles. Finish off with nail polish of your choice, including a base and top coat. Then, you're good to go! If you're looking for more complex designs than just a swipe of color, there are cute nail designs that you can try. While you're doing your nails, you can even pop your feet into a foot spa. If you don't have one at home, you can DIY it! Just fill a large bowl with warm water and essential oils. It's that easy!

How do you prefer to pamper yourself?

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My Everyday Makeup (but with Glasses) ft. GlassesShop*

Here is a fun fact for you: I posted my last makeup tutorial three years ago! It was a pink eyeshadow look for a wedding. Believe it or not, not much has changed since then except that I now have a better relationship with my eyebrows.

This is not going to be a tutorial post. I will just be discussing my favorite makeup products and how I incorporate them into my everyday look.

For my face, I start by priming with the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and use the Catrice 12H Matt Mousse Foundation in Soft Ivory, set with the ELF High Definition Translucent Powder. Then, I lightly bronze with the Benefit Hoola Bronzer and add some Benefit Dandelion Blush to my cheekbones.

Then, I fill in my eyebrows with Sleek from the TheBalm Nude'tude Palette and the lighter shade from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown. For my lips, I first buff with the ELF Clear Lip Exfoliator, then apply a generous amount of the Peripera Peri's Tint Jelly.

For my eyes, I first prime with the Urban Decay Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion and just sweep Sin from the Urban Decay Naked Palette all over my eyelids. The cat eye is achieved with the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper as a base and sharpened with the ELF Liquid Liner in Jet Black. I then tightline with the Wet N Wild Color Icon Kohl Eyeliner and finish with a couple of coats of the Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara in Very Black.

Not only do I love this routine because it is easy to do, but I also love it because I have the option to slap on my glasses and completely change the look of my outfit for the day. To be completely honest, I like that it makes me look older and thus more credible when I teach.

This pair that I have on is from GlassesShop. My eyesight is terrible, so my prescription tends to make it so that the lenses in my glasses are super thick and, as a result, super heavy. However, these ones are lightweight, which I really appreciate because, as you can see from the picture above, the bigger frames that I prefer always end up resting right above my nose stud, so heavy glasses like my previous pair sometimes pull on it, which obviously hurts.

GlassesShop is the way to go if you are looking for some new prescription eyeglasses or just cheap glasses in general. They even stock prescription sunglasses!

As a bonus, you can take 50% off your purchase of glasses or sunglasses, which also come with free lenses! Just use the coupon code GSHOT50 at checkout.

How do you do your everyday makeup?

*This complimentary product was provided for review consideration.

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Influenster Ole Henriksen Voxbox Unboxing*

I have finally tried all of the products that came in my Influenster Ole Henriksen Voxbox. This is my first brand Voxbox, and tbh, I am still on the fence about whether I prefer it to theme Voxboxes. Either way, here is a list of the products:

1. Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation, $38 (1.7 fl oz) at Sephora.com

2. Ole Henriksen Complexion Sponges, $6 (2 pc) at Ole Henriksen

3. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster, $48 (1 fl oz) at Sephora.com

4. Ole Henriksen Power Bright, $55 (6 pc) at Sephora.com

I will start with a description of the Power Bright, which is the three-step skin brightening system because there is more to cover.

Step 1: Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask

This is an exfoliating mask that feels like a lip scrub on your face, which is terrible for someone with sensitive skin like me. Needless to say, it felt harsh even though I tried to apply as little pressure as possible. However, it did make my skin brighter and tighter, and I think it even removed some of my blackheads and tightened my pores. It wasn't worth it for me, though, because some more sensitive areas were left red.

Step 2: Truth 25% Vitamin C Concentrate

I was expecting this to have a liquidy, serumy consistency, but it was denser and had a creamy texture that almost feels powdery during application. It forms a matte film on your face and kind of soothed the irritated areas from Step 1.

Step 3: Pure Truth Melting Cleanser

This product is very aptly named because it does "melt" when you apply it. You're supposed to apply this over the product from Step 2, and it turns everything into a lovely, light gel texture. The instructions said to expect tingling. Mine was clustered around the dry, irritated areas, which I'm not entirely sure is a good thing in my case. Afterwards, my skin did feel softer and firmer, so this system definitely works. The only caveat is skin irritation for people with sensitive skin, so that's something to consider.

The complexion sponges that came in the Voxbox were to be used to remove the product after Step 3. They came in two dried, compressed wafers that you run under water before using. This was probably my favorite part of the whole thing because the sponges literally puffed up once they touched water. I wish I'd taken a video of it! They also dry hard, but they're not compressed anymore.

This is the Sheer Transformation moisturizer that's supposed to even skin tone. I've only used it a few times, so I'm not sure if it actually does the trick. It's also a creamier product but with a gel-like texture.

This is the Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster, which is exactly as it sounds. It's a vitamin C concentrate serum that's supposed to boost collagen in your skin and in turn tighten it. I stopped using this after the first try because it's too harsh for my skin. It might be from the vitamin C, but I'm not sure.

Overall, these products do do what they claim to do, and you can see instant results. The only thing to consider is that if you have dry or sensitive skin, this might not be for you. On the plus side, everything (except the Sheer Transformation) smells of citrus!

What is your favorite skin brightening product?

*I received these complimentary products for review consideration.

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July Drugstore.com Haul

Another month has come and gone, and we are now past the midpoint of 2016. Can you believe it? I actively try not to because that means that I have less and less time to finish writing up my current research. I'm also teaching a course in the fall that I've never taught before, so lesson plans need to be written up for that. Also, this stress reminds me that I still have an IRB application to finish, since I've started equating that with stress.

Anyway, retail therapy always helps, so here is my Drugstore.com haul for the month:

1. Garnier Skin Active Clean Plus Purifying Oil-Free Cleansing Towelettes, $5.99 (25 sheets) at Ulta.com

I usually buy the Pond's Original Fresh Wet Cleansing Towelettes, but this Garnier one was on sale, so I decided to give it a try since I don't think Garnier has ever let me down.

2. Pantene Pro-V Color Revival Radiant Shampoo, $3.84 (12.6 fl oz) at Walmart.com

When I started coloring my hair in 2012, I started using the Tresemme Color Revitalize Shampoo and its corresponding conditioner because I had recently discovered Tresemme and loved it. I haven't ever stopped using that shampoo and conditioner because they work and they last me a good while, so I never saw a reason to switch brands. Four years is a long time, though, right? That's why I decided to break out of that routine and try this Pantene shampoo, which I've heard good things about.

3. Jergens Naturals Extra Moisturizing Liquid Hand Wash Refill, $3.49 (21.3 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

I bought the Jergens hand wash in May and was instantly hooked. It cleans well but still moisturizes your hands, and that signature cherry almond scent is delightful!

4. Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara in Very Black, $8.99 (0.22 fl oz) at Ulta.com

You can never own too many mascara. That's all I have to say about this, lol.

5. Palmer's Night Renewal Cream, $7.02 (2.7 fl oz) at Drugstore.com

Do you remember the fail in my June Drugstore.com and Walmart haul when I accidentally bought the Nivea Creme, thinking it was night cream? Yeah, it's currently sitting on my office desk, being used as hand cream, so this month, I decided to continue the search and found this! My Influenster Ole Henriksen Voxbox came, and I'm trying those products out at the moment (Stay tuned for the unboxing post!), so I've only tried this Palmer's night cream once since I bought it. The scent is not the best. It smells like how cocoa butter naturally smells, I'm guessing, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. It'll just take some time to get used to, especially after the Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Restorative Night Cream's heavenly smell. Anyway, this Palmer's night cream has a gel-like cream consistency that doesn't apply easily, but it feels great on the skin!

What is your go-to facial towelette, shampoo, hand wash, mascara, or night cream?

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June Drugstore.com and Walmart Haul (and an Online Shopping Experiment)

In my last Drugstore.com haul, while researching other websites where you can purchase those products, Walgreens came up a lot, and the prices were lower than those at Drugstore.com. Walgreens also offers free shipping on purchases exceeding $35, which was one of the reasons I cited for regularly purchasing from Drugstore.com, so this month, I decided to try an experiment of sorts.

Let me preface this by saying that I keep a shopping list of essentials that I add to throughout the month, which I then use to shop on Drugstore.com. What I did this time was shop normally on Drugstore.com, and once I have all of the products added to my cart, I went over to Walgreens and did the exact same thing.

Findings reveal (Yikes, the researcher side of me is showing) that my total on Drugstore.com was cheaper by a small margin, and I was able to add an extra product to my cart and still have the total be not too much more expensive than that at Walgreens. Basically, Drugstore.com is still the better option. With that being said, here is what I purchased this month:

1. Final Net Unscented All Day Hold Hairspray, $3.99 (12 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

I have actually never heard of Final Net before this, but it had a lot of favorable reviews on Drugstore.com, so I decided to give it a shot.

2. Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner, $7.22 (8.5 fl oz) at Ulta.com

I am a chronic repurchasor of this product. The last time I used a different toner is back in December when I repurchased a Boots Expert toner in my December Drugstore.com haul. Then, in my March Macy's and Drugstore.com mini haul, I explained the reason behind my preference for this Neutrogena toner over the Boots Expert one.

3. Nivea Creme, $5.89 (6.8 fl oz) at Walmart.com

Apparently, this is a cult product, and I didn't even know it. I saw it while hunting for a new night cream, and the packaging misled me into thinking that this is a night cream. It's not, guys. It's body lotion, haha. I should've paid more attention to the product description. Either way, it doesn't matter. I apparently bought the travel size too, so I'll just throw it into my makeup bag and use it as a hand cream.

4. Zapzyt Maximum Strength 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Gel, $5.29 (1 fl oz) at Drugstore.com

This is also a repurchase. I bought the first one back in December too, and I still have quite a bit of product left over; I just don't want to run the risk of running out of it before my next haul in July. It's a spot treatment that works really well, even on sensitive skin such as mine. I'm using it in my fight against adult acne and scars from acne past (It's a fight that I seem to be winning, btw), and it's clearing up my face because when I feel a zit forming, I just slap some Zapzyt on there before bed, and in the morning, it'll either be completely gone, or it'll be tame enough where I don't have the urge to pop or pick at it.

I also picked up a couple of things from Walmart. I didn't actually go to Walmart for the express purpose of buying these. I was actually there for an eye appointment and had some time to kill afterwards while waiting for the bus. Here is what they are:

1. Garnier Micellar Water, $8.99 (13.5 fl oz) at Ulta.com

It's probably about time for me to try out micellar water for myself. This particular one is biphasic, which seems like it would work really well on my heavy eye makeup, so I'm excited to give it a try!

2. Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream, $5.99 (1.7 fl oz) at Garnier

This is one of the first moisturizers that I fell in love with. The gel consistency is lightweight, soothing, and cooling, which makes it perfect for the summer! It also hydrates my skin without making it greasy.

Have you tried any of these products?

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6 Substitutes for Beauty Products

There are two reasons I can think of for us to want to substitute our beauty products for something else: first, we want to remove as many unnecessary chemicals as possible from our beauty routines; second, we ran out of something and forgot to grab more. There are definitely other reasons, but whatever that reason is, it's good to know that it is possible to rummage through your medicine cabinet or pantry for something to stand in place of your everyday beauty items.

Petroleum jelly for mascara
Dip a Q-tip in petroleum jelly and apply it like you would mascara. It works just like eyelash gel!

Coconut oil for makeup remover
Makeup removers, especially biphasic ones, contain oils that lift the makeup from your skin. Coconut oil can work the same way and is less harsh than regular makeup removers.

Apple cider vinegar for toner
The natural acids and enzymes that come from fermenting apples have antibacterial properties that work like the astringent in alcohol-based toners, but apple cider vinegar is definitely less harsh, which is great for sensitive skin. Just don't forget to dilute it with four parts water to every one part apple cider vinegar!

Yogurt for face mask
This makes sense, considering that there are already face masks out there that are yogurt-based. Of course, use plain unsweetened probiotic yogurt for this. The extra sugars and flavorings in other types of yogurt would defeat the purpose.

Essential oil for deodorant
Deodorants make you smell good, but don't you think that essential oils smell much better than any conventional deodorant? They even come with added benefits. For example, lavender oil reduces stress hormones and soothes irritated skin, and peppermint oil increases mental alertness. To turn your deodorant into an antiperspirant, mix ten to 20 drops of your chosen essential oil into a jar with 1/4 cup baking soda.

Olive oil for cuticle treatment
Cuticle treatments essentially work by hydrating and nourishing your cuticles. Olive oil can do the same thing for a fraction of the price!

Have you tried any of these substitutes?

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May Sephora Play Unboxing

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I subscribed to Sephora Play last month, but I never got around to posting an unboxing of my April Sephora Play, which I regret because it was a great box. There was the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien, the Sephora Collection Colorful Cheek Ink Gel in Peony, and the Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream, among other things. Admittedly, I haven't actually tried any of the three products I mentioned, but they're the ones that I was most excited to see.

When I opened my May Sephora Play, I was immediately disappointed by the packaging. I was expecting the gorgeous box that my April Sephora Play came in, complete with confetti and booklet, but all I was greeted with are a folded sheet of paper in place of the fancy booklet and a flimsy linen bag in place of a sturdy box. I'm not sure if they only pull out all the stops for your first box, or if they're cutting down costs now that the service is open to everyone, but even if my April Sephora Play didn't raise my expectations, this packaging is still subpar compared to the other beauty subscription boxes out there. The Ipsy Glambag also favors flimsy bags, but at least they're cute and reusable, and Birchbox may just come in a cardboard box, but at least it's sturdy and pretty.

The products themselves, though, are not too bad. I'm especially excited about the fragrance, lipstick, and mask primer. I feel meh towards the mask and lip liner. As for the hair mask, I already have the exact same sample from a previous Birchbox, which I also haven't used, so that's that. Here's what everything is:

1. Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, $48 (1.35 fl oz) at Sephora.com

2. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, $36 (8 fl oz) at Briogeo

3. Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue Pure Perfume, $120 (3.3 fl oz) at Sephora.com

4. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi, $26 (0.15 oz) at Sephora.com

5. Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram, $18 (0.01 oz) at Tarte Cosmetics

6. Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer, $22 (3.2 fl oz) at Sephora.com

Have you tried any of these products?

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May Drugstore.com Haul

I am back with another Drugstore.com haul, and before you raise a skeptical eyebrow at my suspiciously regular purchases from this website, no, I am not sponsored by Drugstore.com. I just genuinely enjoy the higher convenience and lower prices. I do not have a car, so running around to pick up essentials can be quite a hassle. Drugstore.com provides free three-day shipping for orders above $35, and since my monthly essentials exceed that threshold anyway, I have no reason not to buy them online. There are other perks on top of that, but this is starting to sound like a plug, so you can check out the website if you so choose.

Here is what I purchased this month:

1. Revlon Aquamarine Body Lotion with Aloe, $1 (14.8 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

2. Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash, $5.79 (10 fl oz) at Drugstore.com

Summer is coming, so it is time to rid myself of (and prevent) body acne. My skin is still really dry from the cold Winter months, so I will only be using this on my chest and back areas.

3. Jergens Extra Moisturizing Hand Wash, $1.49 (7.5 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

Likewise, the skin on my hands is in terrible condition, but I hate putting body lotion or even hand cream on my hands, so this is my compromise.

4. Aussie Hair Insurance Heat Protecting Hair Shine Spray, $2.97 (8.5 fl oz) at Walmart.com

5. Natrol MSM and Glucosamine Double Strength Tablets, $13.29 (90 tablets) at CVS.com

6. Natrol Omega-3 Fish Oil Softgels, $11.99 (150 softgels) at The Vitamin Shoppe

I am getting old and feel my body slowly giving up on me, so I have started taking supplements. The MSM and glucosamine tablets are for joint health and the fish oil softgels are for heart health.

7. Yogi Tea Green Tea Kombucha, $3.99 (16 bags) at Drugstore.com

I have previously tried a couple of teas from Yogi Tea. The Detox one worked really well, but the Skin Detox one, not so much. This Kombucha one is to help balance out my digestive system, which hates me.

Have you tried any of these products?

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May Birchbox Unboxing

If you can believe it, my last Birchbox unboxing post dates back to October 2013, more than two years ago. That is back when I had a different camera, as can be seen through the questionable quality of those pictures. That is also back when ExtraExtravagant had a completely different layout. I unsubscribed after my December 2013 box, after two years of continued subscription, mainly because of financial reasons. I was at a point in my life when $10 can sometimes be the difference between being able to eat and otherwise, so extra expenses had to go.

Since then, I have gotten my shit together and am in a much better situation, not just financially but generally. I am better at adulting now, and I decided to reward myself by resubscribing to Birchbox. I have much more room in my budget for $10 every month, but I still wanted to hold out until a good offer comes along. For those of you considering subscribing to Birchbox, here is a pro tip: sign up for the newsletter first. They will send you constant emails urging you to subscribe, and they will throw in a special offer to entice you. Wait until an offer that interests you comes along, then subscribe. I waited from August 2015 to March 2016 before I received one that I wanted: a free deluxe sample of the Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner, which was completely underwhelming, btw.

You probably did the math and realized that if I resubscribed in March, the unboxing posts for that box and the April box are missing. Tbh, I was super pumped to post about them, but life (well, school) got in the way. The Spring 2016 semester kept me busy, and it was all I could do to stay alive, let alone devote time to my blog. I am back now, though, and hoping that the summer semester is kind to me. With that being said, here is what came in my May 2016 Birchbox:

1. Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo for Coarse or Frizzy Hair, $25 (8.45 fl oz) at Birchbox

2. Davines LOVE Smoothing Conditioner for Coarse or Frizzy Hair, $29 (8.45 fl oz) at Birchbox

I started using this shampoo and conditioner duo on Monday, so we shall see how that goes.

3. ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Creme Brulee, $24 (3 ml) at Birchbox

4. Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, $29 (0.28 oz) at Sephora

I was excited to see this sample. I already have the full size, but I love it so much that I am excited to have some extra.

5. COOLA SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray, $36 (1.7 fl oz) at Birchbox

I was miffed to see this sample because it was already in my March box, and it did not work for me at all. Even if it had worked, I would still have been annoyed at a repeat sample.

6. CLEAN Blossom Eau de Parfum, $41 (1 fl oz) at Ulta

I always love receiving fragrance samples!

Have you tried any of these products?

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Influenster Bloom Voxbox Unboxing

Influenster sent me another Voxbox, the Bloom Voxbox, which I assume is a Spring theme Voxbox. The only product in here that screams Spring is the nail polish, but I am still excited about three other products. Here is what came in my Bloom Voxbox:

1. Sunbelt Bakery Oats and Honey Chewy Granola Bar, $3.50 (15 count) at Walmart

2. Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Thickening Hair Lifter, $5.99 (8 fl oz) at Ulta

3. NUXE Huile Prodigieuse, $45 (3.3 fl oz) at NUXE

4. Secret Outlast Xtend Completely Clean Invisible Solid Antiperspirant, $3.97 (2.6 oz) at Walmart

5. Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads, $3.99 (10 count) at Drugstore.com

6. Sinful Colors Sinful Shine Gel Tech Nail Polish in VIP

The three products that I was most excited to see are the hair lifter, multipurpose oil, and nail polish remover pads. I've tried the Not Your Mother's dry shampoo and really liked it, so I have high hopes for this product as well. The multipurpose oil, on the other hand, I will probably use on the ends of my hair to hydrate them. As for the nail polish remover pads, I got them in my Glam Voxbox and liked them, so I'm glad I got more.

Have you tried any of these products?

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