Love it or Leave it: Smashbox Tinted Moisturizer

Hey guys! So for this post I decided to do a product review, specifically the Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 15. As I'm sure you picked up in my last post about antioxidants, wearing SPF everyday is very important for maintaining youthful skin. I love using a tinted moisturizer w/ SPF on days when I'm in a rush. It's also great for when I don't feel like putting a full face of makeup on but still want some coverage. I had been on the lookout for a good oil-free one because my skin can get very oily, especially around my t-zone. I'd heard a lot of good things about this one and it was one of the more affordable ones at Sephora so I decided to give it a try...

Yes I saved the box specifically for this picture.

Essential Skin Care Ingredient: Antioxidants

Hey guys! Today I'm going to be sharing with you some of my knowledge about antioxidants and the vital role they play in keeping your skin healthy. If you do not have some sort of antioxidant serum/cream in your skincare routine, you are really missing an important step to protecting your skin from premature aging. Obviously we are all going to age, but the key is doing it gracefully and keeping your skin wrinkle-free as long as possible.

The Optimist

Ah the Optimist. Like a little seaside crab shack transplanted right into the middle of Atlanta

Last night to celebrate our four year anniversary my boyfriend and I decided to go to The Optimist, a little seafood and oyster bar located in West Midtown. Complete with palm trees and blue dock benches, you can close your eyes and almost feel the ocean breeze. We'd been wanting to try it for ages and this seemed like the perfect occasion. 

Hair Care Tips

Hey guys! For this post I am going to be sharing with you some of my tips for having long, healthy, beautiful hair. I'm not a professional hair expert, but I have been told before that my hair is pretty and looks healthy. Read on if you want to learn my tricks!

Summer Hair Inspiration

Hello! So for my first official beauty post I decided to share some summer hair inspiration pictures that I found on Pinterest. Sorry it's not very original but I am currently locked away in a study chamber at the library, trying to study zoning laws but incessantly being lured by the siren call of Pinterest. Figured I would embrace it and then get back to studying!

So here are a few photos that I've found and that I think would be perfect for summer. I'm sure you will notice a trend in that they are almost all updos... I don't know about where you live, but in Georgia it gets so hot and humid in the summer. Definitely not the best for wearing your hair down, especially if you plan on being outside for more than ten minutes!

So lets get to it...

Source: girlbeinspired.tumblr.com via Patricia on Pinterest

How fab is this top knot?? I think its so pretty, especially with those sunglasses. I actually used to think I couldn't wear top knots, since my hair is very thick and it used to be really long, it would just never stay up. I have it short-ish now but anyways, I tried a top knot again the other day and it worked!

Here is the trick: you have to put your hair in a pony tail first! I was always just twisting it all up there and expecting it to stay. That might work if you hair is thinner, but for us thick-hair girls, definitely need to start with a ponytail. That may have been common knowledge already but I just realized it! But anyways so yeah ponytail, wrap around and secure, and I even left a strand out to braid and loop around the base, looked so cute! Was quite proud of myself. Going to try it with a sock next time to get a more fuller bun like hers.

ANYWAYS back to the pics >>>

Source: hji.co.uk via Patricia on Pinterest

I don't know about you guys but I love Whitney Port! She was always my favorite on the Hills, and I was so sad when her spin off The City got cancelled. I just think she is so stylish and effortlessly chic: exhibit 1, this braid. I love how loose and wavy it is at the top, very laid-back and deconstructed for a lazy summer day. 

Source: stylecraze.com via Patricia on Pinterest

Ponytail! such a classic but such a MUST during the summer, especially if your trying to stay cool. I love how hers is curled a little at the ends, its def not your average "roll out of bed and throw you hair in a ponytail" ponytail. Would be perfect for a summer party! You could even wrap a strand around the base of the ponytail if you want to hide the elastic. 

Source: harpersbazaar.com via Patricia on Pinterest

Ah another ponytail just for fun! This one is a low bouncy one, LOVE IT.

Source: elle.com via Patricia on Pinterest

This roll-up is so cute, the pin didn't link to an actual tutorial so I'm not completely sure how she did it, it looks like she put that fabric headband on and then wrapped her hair around it at the base. Not sure if my hair would stay up all day with just that, again, #thickhairgirlproblems, but I will definitely try.

Source: amazon.com via Patricia on Pinterest

Fishtail braid! This is so gorgeous/cute, I can't even. I think to recreate this you would have to do a fishtail braid and then pull at it to give it that deconstructed poofy look. Either way, it's so cute.

Source: 25.media.tumblr.com via Patricia on Pinterest

If all else fails, you can always just chop your hair off into a cute bob for summer, that way it will always be off your shoulders! That's kinda what I did last summer to be honest, which is why its still short-ish now. I don't know about you but I think this picture of Keira Knightly is GORGEOUS and her hair looks so pretty. It definitely has some texturizing spray in there to give it that messy look.

Alright that's it for now, really should be getting back to studying. 

Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite!

xoxo Patricia

Welcome to my blog...

Hello world!

I decided to finally create my own blog after thinking about it and wanting to for so long. Since this is my first post I figured I'd better tell you a little bit about me and what I plan on doing with this blog. My name is Patricia and I am an aspiring lawyer, current 1L student in law school. It's a very stressful learning environment, and I've found that a common way I've been de-stressing lately is by reading lifestyle blogs such as The Londoner (love her) or watching Youtube skincare/beauty channels such as Check in the Mirror (love her too). Through countless hours of procrastination (haha ;)) I've come to amass quite a bit of knowledge on these girly topics! I'm also a complete product junkie, it's becoming a problem. My boyfriend always says that I should start my own blog/youtube channel and while I'm not quite brave/talkative enough to do a youtube channel I thought why not start my own blog? I go through enough beauty/skincare/haircare products, might as well share my knowledge by reviewing some of them! And believe me, I have come across MANY a bust. Hopefully my experiences can help you not make the same mistake.

I also want to do some posts on health/fitness, which is something I'm struggling with in law school. College was bad enough, I definitely gained the freshmen 15, and law school has not been helping. I'm thinking writing about it will inspire me to take my own advice! 

And then there will also probably be posts about other random things I enjoy, such as decor or entertaining ideas, or anything else really.

I hope you find this blog entertaining/informative, or if nothing else a fun way to pass the time when you should really be doing something else!

xoxo Patricia