My Accutane Experience: One Month In

Hi guys!
Today's post will be about a little skin care drug known as Accutane (Well, actually, that's a lie. Acctune was taken off the market a few years ago and replaced by a few other drugs that do virtually the same thing. Technically, the drug I am taking is Claravis, but since even my dermatologist refers to it as Accutane, I will use the two interchangeably).

To begin, here's some background info on my skin. I have been getting breakouts since I was about 13, and while I have never been happy with my skin, my acne has not been as bad as some. I guess I would consider myself to have moderate acne, on my face, at least. My biggest issue is with acne on my back (totally gross, I know, but it's actually very common). I have tried every prescription pill and cream, and nothing worked for me. Suffice to say, Accutane was a last resort.

The verdict?

So far, I'm not impressed. Not at all. I realize that I shouldn't expect much in terms of results after so little time, but the side-effects make me wish I had never started to begin with. Ok, that's a bit much, but I hate that I have no results, other than ones I don't want.

First and foremost, my skin has dried out to an incredible degree. Not just normal dryness (like I had before),but nasty, flaky bits that no amount of exfoliation or moisturizer can get rid of. My lips are also dry and flaky, and lip balm does nothing (although maybe I'm not using anything strong enough? If you have a heavy-duty lip balm suggestion, please let me know!). Its pretty embarrassing to talk to people knowing that they can see your nasty, cracked lips and the skin flaking off of your chin...

 Another issue is that it has made my cheeks and nose very red. I've always had a lot of redness in my skin, but this is unlike anything I've experienced before. Foundation, concealer, and powder together can only manage to cover it for about five minutes, and then I'll notice the redness slowly creep to the surface. It basically just looks like I've gotten a sunburn. I also have just as many breakouts as always, so no improvement there. If anything, it's a little worse (which my dermatoligist warned me about), because now I have a bunch of tiny bumps on my cheeks instead of just red acne spots.

So, all in all, I'm not loving this Accutane business. Obviously, no one should decide whether or not to go on Accutane based on this post, because I'm only one month in, and it'll be a while before I start to see results. Seriously, don't base your judgment on this, I'm still optimistic and hopefully I'll start seeing results soon. Just venting because this first month has done nothing for my skin!

 Join my in a month for my next installment of The Accutane Diaries, hopefully with more positive results :)

Have you ever used Accutane? What was your experience, and how were your results?
-Seraphine

Redken Blonde Glam Shampoo/Conditioner Review

Hello all!

Today's post is a review of the Redken Blond Glam shampoo and conditioner, which I've been using for about two weeks. Before I dive into the review, here's a little background info on my hair: natural color, thin, rather limp, tends to get dry at the ends.Well, now that that's out of the way, on to the review!

 

link to image

I really like these products. They make my hair feel incredibly soft and nice. I don't think that they weigh my hair down at all, which is a big plus for someone whose hair already lies pretty flat on their head. I also feel that it enhances the natural highlights in my hair, and makes it look very shiny. They do have a scent, but I can't really describe it. Not a bad scent at all, just not your typical shampoo smell. Prior to these, I had been using the John Frieda blond shampoo and conditioner for almost two years, and I still adore and highly recommend those (particularly if you're on a budget, see below). In a weird way, its almost like they enhance my blonde in different ways, if that makes sense. Both great in their own rights, but there's something about the way my hair looks and feels with the Redken products that makes me like them a wee bit better.

The one downside? At about $18 a bottle, this stuff ain't cheap, especially compared to the $5 a bottle my John Frieda cost. I hate to say it's worth the price, since its an obscene amount (at least to me) to spend on shampoo, but I do really, really love these products. I gripe about the price, but I know that once I've used these up I'll be all to happy to fork over the cash for new ones. These are also not the easiest things in the world to find, or at least they weren't for me. I found them in my grocery store by chance, but I haven't seen them anywhere else and Redken doesn't allow you to buy anything from their website. A little searching, though, and I'm sure you'll find out where to buy them in your area.

Any questions, just leave them in the comments :)

-Seraphine

J-Crew Tweed OOTD

Hi guys!

Today's OOTD is an all J-crew ensemble (minus the accessories). I love J-Crew. Seriously, best store ever. Almost any age can pull their stuff off, and there's something in there for everyone and every occasion. Are the prices a little high? Sure, but their stuff is well made and tends to last me a long time (plus, they have an outlet site called J-Crew Factory that sells cheaper items, although I've heard the quality is not as good). Unlike my other two work OOTD posts, this is something that I think would be appropriate for any work environment.

( I apologize for my finger covering the lens a little!)

Top: J-Crew (link) I would never have thought to pair this color T-shirt with this skirt, but it they complement each other really well. Thanks sales-lady for pointing it out to me! The one I've linked looks a lot brighter than the one I'm wearing (mine is more of a spearmint green), so it might not be the exact same one

Skirt: J-Crew (link) For whatever reason, my skirt was $10 less in store than the one I've linked? Maybe they're not exactly the same? Not sure, but  its worth checking out your J-Crew's sale section to see if they have any left, just in case you can get a better deal that way

Shoes: Vince Camuto (link). Sorry that I keep cutting my shoes out of my pictures! I think nude flats are a must have for everyone, and are a perfect, every day staple. I did think that these ran a bit big, size-wise. I'm normally an 8, but I had to get the 7.5 instead. 

Necklace: Juicy Couture (link) The necklace I'm wearing is no longer available, as I got it for Christmas, but I've linked basically the same necklace in silver

Med Alert: See my first OOTD post

Makeup: See my Everyday Work Makeup post. This variation includes MAC's blush in Stunner, and Lancome's Rouge in Love Lipcolor in Corail in Love

Hope you had a great start to your week!
-Seraphine

Current Loves

Hello all,

Having just narrowly missed the time for May favorites, I figured I would do the next best thing and talk about the products I'm currently loving instead. Namely:

Redken Blonde Glam shampoo/conditioner: I don't want to talk about this too much here, since a review on these products is coming soon, but I am loving this shampoo and conditioner combo! If you have blonde hair, they are definitely worth checking out.

Lush It's Raining Men shower gel: If you like the smell of Honey I Washed the Kids soap, then this, my friends, is for you. I'm actually surprised its taken me so long to try this, since I love its soapy counterpart (they have the exact same scent). But lets face it, shower gels are easier to use, better to travel with, and moisturizes your skin much better than a soap. This shower gel smells so amazing, and while it's a tad expensive, for a shower gel, Lush products always seem worth the indulgence to me.

P2 Perfect Face Makeup Fixing Spray: Like MAC's Fix+, this spray is designed to spray before or after makeup to help it stay on longer and give a dewy finish. My skin has been especially dry and flaky this past month (thank you, Accutane), and this has been an essential part of my daily makeup routine. My face looks so much nicer and glowier with this on, and I look fresh rather than made-up. Since I've never owned the MAC version, I can't say how it compares, but I love it as a product and will be sad once I've used it up (P2 products are only available in Germany, unfortunately).

Clarins Bronzer in 10 Morning Sun: I only use bronzer during the warmer months, and this bronzer has been perfect as a starter bronzer, so that I don't go from super pale to super dark in a day! It is fairly light, which I love since I am very very pale, and it has almost a satin finish (it comes off more matte than shimmery, but it's not completely matte, either). To me, this is the perfect, subtle bronzer.

Coastal Scents 88 Ultra Shimmer Palette (not pictured):  With all this warm weather and sunshine, I've really been into using golds and bronzes on my eyes, and this palette is perfect for this.While I tend to neglect anything but the two left and two right columns, I still highly recommend this palette. And $20 for 88 shadows? Can't beat that!

And for non-beauty related faves:

Downton Abbey: I know, I know, you're sick of hearing about this show already. It seems like everyone and their mother is jumping on the Downton bandwagon and singing its praises. Well, add me to that list of fans! It is such a smart show, everything is carefully thought out and executed, and the attention to detail is extraordinary. Only downside: US viewers have to wait until January to see the next season :(

Summer!: On the back of a rough semester at school, I have never been happier to be on summer vacation. The good/lazy times haven't lasted too long, since I got my wisdom teeth out a week after I got home, and  I started an internship this week, but even that is a refreshing change from my college schedule (class, study, sleep, repeat).


What stuff are you all enjoying lately?
-Seraphine

OOTD: Nautical Inspired

Ahoy there!

Today's OOTD is somewhat nautical, which I did not do on purpose. I only noticed it after I got dressed and realized how sailor-y I looked! The blazer is an old favorite of mine that I got at H&M two years ago (which has a sailor vibe all on its own, seeing as the buttons on the blazer have ship steering wheels on them...), and I usually pair it with jeans or a jeans skirt. Today I mixed it up a little for work, and wore a new, navy blue skirt from forever21. The skirt is a little mod, but it doesn't steal focus from the busy blazer, and, unlike some forever21 items, it actually feels very well-made. I love the way this outfit looks on, and the pop of a bright tank top makes it look so young and fun. Incidentally, the skirt and the tank top look adorable paired together on their own, but adding the blazer made the outfit more worky and less casual (I took the last two pictures at the end of my day, so sorry for the wrinkles!)

Top: Hollister (no longer available, but any bright tank from any brand would work)
Blazer: H&M (no longer available, unfortunately!)
Skirt: Forever21 (link)
Shoes (not pictured): Silver Tory Burch flats (link) (I told you I wear them with everything!)
Earrings: Anthropologie (link) These earrings a such a fun twist on classic pearls, and I wear them all the time
Med-Alert: see previous OOTD post

Makeup (Something from MAC's Hey Sailor would have been appropriate, but I didn't buy anything from that collection): MAC Prep and Prime SPF 50, Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation in 51, Physicians Formula RX concealer in Fair/light (on blemishes), Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer (under eyes), Clarins Bronzer in 10 Morning Sun, MAC Dame blush, MAC mineralize eyeshadow trio in Love to Love (LE), Fairy Drops Scandal Queen Mascara, MAC Beachbound lipstick (LE), Milani lipgloss in Whisper

-Seraphine

Everyday Makeup Routine For Work

I'm the first to admit I am not a morning person (nor am I a night person... I'm more of a middle-of-the-day person. But I digress), so when it comes to doing my makeup for work, I have a routine down pat that is easy enough to do when I'm sleepy. My internship is actually away from home, so I wasn't able to bring too many products (which is why my makeup posts are a bit repetitive at the moment!), but I planned it out so that I have everything I need to look polished for work.

1. Foundation routine: My foundation routine is always the same: MAC Prep and Prime SPF 50, Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, Maybelline Dream Lumi-Touch concealer under my eyes, Physician's Formula Conceal RX on blemishes, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, Clarins Bronzer in 10 Morning Sun (a must have for pale ghosties like me!)

2. Eyebrows: I'm not one to fuss with my brows, since they're fairly thick to begin with, but I usually run a tiny bit of my Essence Brow Pencil (mine was called light brown, but I believe it's now called blonde? Not really sure, but it's whichever one's lightest) with Essence Brow gel to hold them in place

3. Cheeks: Either MAC Stunner (LE, sadly!), or MAC Dame, depending on whether I want a pinker cheek or a peachy-pink ( I know, the difference is astronomical ;) )

4. Eyes: Too Faced Natural Eye palette, and I mix up what colors I use daily. One of my favorite looks (borrowed from an older video of Michele1218's) is Silk Teddy on the Lid, Velvet Revolver in the crease, and Erotica in the outer corner, with Heaven as a highlight (if you work in a  conservative office environment, I would forgo any shimmery shadows and just work with mattes). I finish off the eyes with one coat of Fairy Drops Scandal Queen mascara

5. Lips: This is where I mix it up the most, but I've especially been liking Milani's Lipgloss in Whisper. I always prep my lips beforehand with my EOS lip balm in Strawberry Sorbet (I think that's what it's called? Its the light pink one!)

And there you have it! I find that the whole routine doesn't take me too long to do, since I pretty much have it down to a science. If you have less time but still want to look polished, I recommend just lightly dusting Push Up from the Too Faced Palette all over your lid, and eliminating the foundation, bronzer, and second concealer from the routine (whichever one you need less!). Quick tip: lay out your makeup the night before so that you know exactly what you want to use in the morning. This has helped me a lot throughout the school year to avoid falling into a makeup rut!

-Seraphine

My Very First (Work) OOTD

Confession: I may be the most unphotogenic person ever. Seriously. I am one of those people who just can't take a good photo, and believe me, I try! I was desperately perusing my pictures to try and find something suitable for my first post, and the only quasi-decent thing I found is almost a year old. Not only that, but my camera (iphone) quality is pretty terrible. Note to self: buy a real camera! To sum up: don't expect anything but mediocre photos from me. That being said, here's my first OOTD! I work in a pretty relaxed office, so this might not be appropriate for every work environment. However, I think just changing from shorts to pants would make this appropriate for more conservative offices. Keep in mind that all but the first photo were taken at the end of my workday, and the rest were taken at the end so all of my makeup is gone and my hair is a wreak (in other words, ignore my hair and face!)

Awwwkward camera angle, trying not to have my phone in the shot

Hi there! Man, do I look tired...


Top: Zara  (link) This top is way more coral in person than it is in these pictures

Blazer: Zara (link)

Shorts: J-Crew (link) One word of caution, these shorts crease like no one's business. Felt a bit embarrassed when I got up from my desk and saw how unkempt I looked. And not sure if you can tell by the pictures, but they are in fact high waisted.

Shoes: Tory Burch (link) My second pair of these shoes (as I wore out/destroyed my first), and let me tell you, these are without a doubt the best shoe purchase I have ever (and possibly will ever) made. They go with everything, can be dressed up or dressed down, and are very comfortable. If you only buy one pair of high-end shoes, make it these!

Bracelets: My mom got these for me in Charleston, South Carolina last spring, so unfortunately I don't have a link on where to get them :( I'm sure if you google it you'll find something similar.

Med-Alert: (link) This is the cutest med-alert ever, and everyone mistakes it for a Tiffany bracelet, which is a plus. I can't find the exact one I have, but I've linked something almost identical from the same website that I bought mine from.

Makeup (not that you can see it!): MAC Prep and Prime SPF 50, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51, Physicians Formula Conceal RX in light/medium (on blemishes), Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer (under the eyes), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in light, Clarins Bronzer in 10 Morning Sun, MAC blush in Stunner, Too Faced Natural Eye Palette (Silk Teddy on lid, Push Up in crease, Coco Puff in outer corner, and Heaven as my highlight), Fairy Drops Scandal Queen mascara, MAC lipglass in It's a Wow

-Seraphine