Things I'm Loving

1. L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

One time I saw Tati talking about this mascara, so I had to get this mascara. There has been a noticeable void in my mascara collection this past year or so but I just am too stubborn to buy a bunch of full-sized mascaras and have them sitting around drying out in my drawer. I love the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, but I couldn't justify buying it when I have three or four full-sized mascaras already in my collection. I threw caution to the wind with this drugstore masterpiece because IT IS LITERALLY THE TOO FACED MASCARA. Like, the wand in the same (slightly less plump which means less clumping), the formula is similar. It's everything I could have ever wanted in a drugstore mascara and I cannot believe that my mascara issue has finally been solved.

2. Kate Somerville EradiKate™ Mask Foam-Activated Acne Treatment

Just to be up front, this mask feels weird. It has a gel/cream hybrid texture but as soon as you put it on your face it starts to foam and bubble up. It goes from cream to foam to semi-dry and it's such a weird tingling sensation that you really have to get used to. This mask is supposed to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog your pores to prevent breakouts. It dissolves away dirt and excess facial oils without irritating the skin.

I use this mask when I want my face to feel good and clean. I can feel the mask tingle and bubble and clean out your pores. After about ten minutes of the endless tickling, I can wash it off and my skin won't be red and irritated. It still feels soft and clean! I think since it is a cream/gel mask, it's much gentler on my skin than any other mud or peel-off mask, so it's a nice way to switch up my nighttime routine during the week depending on the condition of my skin.

3. Dua Lipa by Dua Lipa

DUA LIPA I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN! If you don't know about Dua Lipa yet, you will soon. Her debut album dropped two weeks ago and it's been in heavy rotation in my daily listening sprees. I've definitely talked about her song "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" on this blog multiple times but I'm going to bring it up again because it's a BOP. Her voice is so deep and unique and I just love the way she tackles good ole pop songs. I'm a massive fan of pop music and I think she's a nice addition into the world of pop. Plus, her fashion is out of this world, which has less to do with this album and more to do with her existence.

This album is a good mix of straight up BOPS, some songs to just sway and shimmy to, and then the song "Homesick" is slow and moody and just comes for your emotions. This album couldn't have come at a better time, right as summer is starting for many. I don't know how many different ways I can say that I love it, but I do.

To listen to: "Lost In Your Light," "IDGAF," "New Rules," "Room for 2," and "Genesis."

4. ThinkThin High Protein Smoothie Mix in Strawberry Raspberry

I don't eat enough protein. I never have. I'm a massively picky eater and I just don't like most things with protein in them. I know there's no replacement for the real thing, but I figure some protein is better than no protein so I've slowly been trying to find ways to inject it into my daily life. I drink a fruit smoothie almost every single day so when my mom's co-worker told her that this is what she used, we immediately picked it up at Target so I could give it a try.

It's basically a powdered mix that has real dried fruit, protein, and chia seeds in it. You're supposed to just have to add six ounces of milk and some ice, but I actually add it straight into my normal smoothie mix. If you want to fully get rid of the slight powdery taste it has, you definitely have to add a lot of fruit and more than six ounces of liquid (I use almond milk). I also started using only half of the packets so I was still getting protein (just not the 15 grams) without either having an off taste or having a huge smoothie that I can't finish. All in all though, I liked these packets and even with the slight grainy taste, I could power through them because I knew I was getting some sort of protein alongside my fruit!

What have you been loving lately?