BEAUTY: July Favorites { PICS COMING SOON }

I've been going through a huge LUSH phase lately. Anyone who knows me knows I love bath products. Along with some super natural and fun bath products, I've come up with a list of my July Favorites. Here it is!

1. Catastrophe Cosmetics Mask (LUSH) - This mask is so natural that it has to be kept refrigerated and has an expiration date. This mask is not available online because since all the ingredients are natural (blueberries, etc) it has to be kept in a cool place. I absolutely love this mask. Out of all of LUSH's masks, this is the most gentle. When you put it on your face, you feel blueberry particles exfoliate your skin. It's soothing and super relaxing. Plus, it's purple and so fun to put on!
2. The Sacred Truth (LUSH) - This mask is a little more intense. I purchased this because I have been breaking out a little bit, and this takes out all the gunk and nasties from my skin. This has papaya in it which is great for the skin and gives me a glow. This mask is super healthy for the skin and it really does remove blackheads and dries up blemishes. I would definitely recommend this for when your skin misbehaves. For me problematic skin, I would suggest LUSH's "Brazen Honey" mask which detoxifies problematic skin.
3. Ocean Salt (LUSH) - I am in love with this scrub because it is multifunctional. It is made with salt, vodka, limes, and other super natural ingredients. You can use this on both your face and body-it's ideal for the shower! Another way you can use this is directly after using a mask. It is oh-so important to either exfoliate or use an astringent on your face after a mask to rid the skin of the mask thoroughly. I use this on my face in the shower. You have to make sure your hands are dry because the salt will dissolve in your hands. Salt is a natural antiseptic and is known to get rid of bacteria. For my body I use...
4. Rub Rub Rub (LUSH) - This contains super hydrating oils and salt that is finer. LOVE this body scrub and I use it everyday in the shower. The smell is one of a kind. Rub Rub Rub makes my skin super soft and luxurious.

What's super great about LUSH is that the store is so fun. The SA's are super friendly and are more than welcome to help you find your products-at the store in Boston at least! When you walk in, you will be overwhelmed by the aromas of the store. Try it out!

BEAUTY: Olay 2-in-1 Daily Facial Cloths for Combination/Oily Skin

With all the different brands and types of makeup removers, it gets hard to choose the right kind. For me, I look for 3 basic qualities:

1. Effectiveness. Will this product remove ALL my makeup including waterproof mascara? Will this cause breakouts?

2. Ingredients. I try to look for products that are oil-free. I have oily and acne-prone skin so oil-free products are key to clear skin for me. Also, some ingredients react harshly to my sensitive skin so I go through rigorous beauty reviews before I even purchase products! If a product has some type of oil in it, I research it and read reviews about it and how it reacts to acne-prone skin. I have heard that some makeup removers have oils in it to help completely remove makeup. There are also oil-based removers out there too!

3. Online reviews. I think it is absolutely important to read reviews on products before purchasing them. Obviously when you read the box, bottle, etc, they attempt to make their products sound like the best on the market. Real reviews by real people are the best way to see if products work for you. This not only applies to makeup removers, but many other products as well. www.Makeupalley.com is my go-to website for makeup reviews!

So here is my favorite and current makeup remover: Olay 2-in-1 Daily Facial Cloths for Combination/Oily Skin.

Above are the facial cloths still in the box. For me, I don't wear a lot of makeup, so I usually cut them in half giving me double the makeup remover to last twice as long. If you wear a complete full face of makeup, I'd recommend using one full cloth. One side is smooth to remove eye makeup and the other side has an exfoliating texture to get rid of stubborn foundation/makeup.

Here is the cloth after you apply water to it. It foams up and dissolves your makeup. I love the two sides because it tackles both my makeup from the sensitive eye area to my foundation. It also makes my skin super smooth!

And after all the dirty work, here it is! All my foundation, bronzer, blush, eyeshadows, eyeliner, and waterproof mascara ALL on one cloth! I absolutely love this product because it's gentle, yet effective. Now, I don't have to use two separate makeup removers for my eyes and face. It is also very convenient. Whenever I'm going out of town or spending the night at a friend's house, I just cut the cloths and throw it in my makeup bag. No more worrying about liquid makeup removers spilling and no need to buy cotton pads to remove your makeup-not to mention it's light-weight and takes up very little space.

The description on the box doesn't state whether or not it's oil-free, so I'm guessing it's not, but this product has never broken me out. A plus about this remover is that it's soap-free and has Witch Hazel in it. I love witch hazel which is a natural astringent. It calms and cleanses the skin. I'm absolutely a fan. Each box contains 33 cloths-doubled to 66 if you cut them in half. One box usually lasts me a couple months and I buy the two-packs for better the value. You can find these at drugstores, Target, Walmart, and almost anywhere that sells beauty products for under $10. I think it's around $8 at Walmart for a 2-pack. I'd definitely recommend it.

FOOD TIP: Frozen Grapes

Alright, folks.  We all know the world is getting warmer and warmer, and we're definitely feeling it.  A/C gets blasted, and everyone's wearing their short shorts.  Even the guys (I know you've seen 'em!).  So what I've got here for you all is a food tip.  Frozen grapes.

Now, I can't help you if you don't like grapes.  I'm not going to be able to make your taste buds change their minds.  First off, they're on your tongue, which is slippery and pretty gross to touch.  Second, they haven't actually got any minds, so I really can't do anything.  If you do like grapes, though, lucky you, and you should give this a try.  Perhaps some of you have already tried it.  For those who haven't, it's refreshing and easy.  It's also great if you have some leftover grapes that aren't really bad yet but are a little overly ripe and soft.  What results from freezing your grapes is the following:

1. They taste sweeter.
2. It solves the squishy grape issue.
3. They last longer
4. They cool you off infinitely.

First, wash your grapes.  Put them in a large bowl.  It can be metal, plastic, glass, who cares.  Just let it be big enough to hold your grapes.  Rinse your grapes under some cold running water, and then soak them for a little bit in the bowl.  Then change the water and soak for a little bit longer.  You don't want your grapes to be soaking in brown water, which happens, I promise.  You've no idea how dirty fruit can be.

I like to take my grapes off of the vine.  It just makes it easier to store.  If you would rather not, that's fine.  It's really up to you.  I've also heard that fresh grapes last longer when their stems are still present.  It makes sense, yeah?  Taking out the stem just leaves a nice hole for bacteria and mold to squirm their way into.  What my mother likes to do is take a pair of scissors and cut each grape off the vine, keeping just a millimeter or two of the stem.  As for me, I'd rather just pull them off.  The hole won't really matter anyway since we're freezing them.  Plus, the little nubby stem is rather difficult to pull off after they're frozen.  If you'd prefer to have the stem, I'd recommend cutting each grape so that the stem is easy to grasp.  That will also make it easier to remove when you're eating them later on in their lovely frozen state.

Once your grapes are in whatever stemmed/stemless state, find an appropriately sized freeze-safe container.  You don't want any unnecessary toxins from warped plastic, so make sure it's freeze-safe.  Plus, you've tasted yucky ice cream with all that ice inside, right?  What about frost-bitten meat?  Well, let me tell you, frost-bitten anything doesn't taste great.  Many Tupperware containers are pretty invincible these days, so I'm sure you'll find something.  Anyway, toss your grapes in your container, and throw it in the freezer for about 6 hours or overnight.  Voilà!  You have fruity frozen deliciousness to snack on.

This tip isn't great for grape-haters or people with sensitive teeth, sorry!

FOOD FIND: Maggiano's Berry Tiramisu

For those people who do not enjoy coffee, but have always wanted to try tiramisu, there is finally a dessert out there for you! Maggiano's is now featuring a "Berry Tiramisu" for their Eat-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish campaign. For every dish you order from the special Make-A-Wish menu, $1 is donated to the foundation. What a great concept, right? You not only get to enjoy a delicious meal, but you're also donating to a great cause. Here is my review on this tasty dessert & a picture to go along with it.

Let me start by saying that this "tiramisu" does not taste like coffee at all. Hence the name, Berry Tiramisu. This dessert has blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries which compliment the cake very well. The tiramisu itself is very light and fluffy. What I love about this dessert is that it is not overly sweet. Usually when I eat cake that contains berries, the sweetness of the cake overpowers the taste of the berries, but not in this case. The whipped topping is very light and has just the perfect amount of sweetness. Overall, all aspects of this dessert compliment each other nicely. You distinctly taste each flavor and they all go together very well. The tartness (if that's even a word!) of the blackberries, the crispness of the strawberries, and the sweetness of the blueberries offer different tastes, but all come together as one delicious bite when combined with the cake-Perfect!

The appearance is great as well. The colors of the berries add vibrancy to the plate, as well as the light colors from the cake for contrast. This dessert also comes in a fairly big portion so it's perfect for sharing. I definitely recommend this dessert, especially for those people that want dessert despite the fact that they are so full. C'mon, we all know the feeling! The lightness of the Berry Tiramisu offers just the perfect amount of dessert for those with a sweet tooth after a big meal! You can order one of these for a limited time at your local Maggiano's and you can also donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish foundation. You cannot go wrong! Enjoy!