IMPORTANT UPDATES ON MY JOURNEY

Okay. I am going to be completely honest and say that YES, I fell off.  I fell off of updates, I fell off of using the system for a couple of weeks, I fell off of new content, I fell off from uploading any YouTube videos/updates. I fell off.  If I am being 100% honest, I fell off for 2 main reasons:

1.  I have been spending a lot of time with both family and friends because I am on summer holidays from school and I am trying to spend as much time as I can with them before I have to go back to school.  With that comes less time to write/upload because I am usually out late and out during the day either with family/friends or at work.  

2.  I have been lacking on motivation.  Because it's summer and because the weather's nice and hot, some of my acne scars are getting darker because that it naturally what the sun does.  I do wear my SPF but of course the sun's rays are super powerful and my skin is bound to get darker.  What does this have anything to do with motivation? Well... darker acne scars = more visible acne scars = not impressed Jessica and viewers because you may think the actual Banish Acne Scars kit isn't working!  Who really wants to upload pictures of MORE acne scars using a system that is supposed to banish them?  See where I'm getting? Good.

Now, with all of that being said, I have come across one person in particular (on YouTube) who has in a way changed my life.  His name is Brian Turner from HumerusFitness and over the course of a year he's been on Accutane and has recorded his journey.  Let me tell you... I thought I was positive and optimistic, but this guy takes it to a whooooole other level!  Through the camera he is able to project his happiness, positivity, optimism, motivation, etc. etc. to all the people watching his videos and his persona is just so addicting!  Weird to say, I know, but seriously, watch one of your videos and if this guy doesn't get you pumped up or motivate you in one way or another then you've gotta clean out your ears and watch the video again because his whole attitude and outlook on life and his journey is so inspiring and addicting! 

 As a result, I have decided that for the month of August (and hopefully for future months to come) I am going to take this blog and my skin's "journey" as serious as ever!  Meaning, I am going to be updating you constantly on my progress and really start taking care of my body and my skin because it's the only body and skin I've got.  I don't want to get all preachy but... we are only put on this Earth once.  We only get to live once.  We are only given one body and it is up to us to think about how we want to live and how we want our body to be treated.  

With all of this being said, I am so excited to be getting back in the swing of things and very motivated to put 110% into this blog and my journey!  I do want to apologize for those who have been asking for updates and wondering where I have been.  I've been here, just not here... in the moment, you know?  
Alright ladies and gentlemen, I am going to sign off now but expect to see many updates over the course of the next couple months and I hope you are as excited as I am for what is yet to come!  Like I said before, check out Brian (click here to see his YouTube channel) and of course tell him I sent you and show him some love.  I don't even know the guy but after binge watching almost all of his week-to-week updates, I'm hooked.  I've included 3 of his videos from his "Life-Changing Accutane Journey" below: one from the very beginning of his journey (Week 1), another in the middle (Week 44), and one at Week 81 which is coming to almost the end of his journey!  The progress is unbelievable!

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn  

"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned."

Peter Marshall 

The Power of Make-up

It is no surprise that make-up has the power to drastically change one's appearance for the better and also for the worse.  Whether it is an ashy brown contour shade to define your cheekbones, or voluminous false eyelashes to open up the eye, there really are endless possibilities when it comes to make-up!  

  I am sure you have all seen the trend floating around social media of women and even some men applying make-up to half their face and leaving the other half bare in order to see what a difference make-up can make.  One video in particular which has almost 20 million views is none other than Nikkie Tutorials' "The Power of MAKEUP!" video.  In this seven minute video she shows 20 million people the power of being able to transform her face using various make-up products.  At the end of the video, Nikkie encourages those watching to take the challenge by applying full-on glam make-up to one side of their face and leaving the other side bare to see the power that make-up has! I have linked the video above so be sure to check it out!

I have decided to take this challenge and show you the drastic difference that make-up can give!  Now, let me just put out this disclaimer for anyone reading this and thinking, "Oh my gosh! Jess is so self-conscious! She needs to slap on all that make-up to feel pretty! Etc., etc., etc!"   No. That is definitely not the case.  My whole philosophy and view on make-up is that it is something fun for me to do and it is just something I love doing.  Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I could spend an entire day just getting ready and playing with make-up because it is what I love doing.  

Do I ever go out with absolutely no make-up on my face? Heck yeah I do! 

Do I feel confident without any make-up on my face? Of course I do!

Do I feel confident with make-up on my face? Hell f*cking yeah I do!  

In no way am I saying that it order to look beautiful that you have to slap on a shit ton of make-up.  All I'm saying is that if you have a love for make-up and you LOVE putting make-up on your face, do it!  Don't let anyone tell you that you're fake because you're putting on all that make-up, or you don't love yourself because you put all that shit on.  I am far from fake and I sure as hell love my damn self so in no way does make-up change any of that!  Okay, enough rambling for me, onto the POWER of make-up! 

Products Used:
Nivea For Men For Sensitive Skin After Shave Extra Soothing Balm
L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Liquid Make-up in W5 Sand Beige
L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Make-up in W5 Sand Beige
MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation in C1
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent
Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette 
NYX Rouge Cream Blush in CB 02 Natural 
L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator Prime & Highlight in W101 Golden
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in Opal
Hard Candy's So Baked Bronzer in Tiki
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade
Milani Eyeshadow Primer
NYX Be Fierce Palette
Clear Eyes Redness Relief Eye Drops 
Lorac Pro Palette
MAC Sized To Go Pigment in Naked
L'Oreal Paris Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Black Mica 
NYC Liquid Eyeliner in 887 Black
Murray's Manicure TQ Eyelash Curler
Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara
L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara in Black 
Jordana Easyliner for Lips Retractable Pencil in Rock N' Rose
NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in 122 Natural
Bonnebell lipLITES in Cappuccino
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,

Glynn  

"Beauty is when you can appreciate yourself.  When you love yourself, that's when you're most beautiful."

Zoe Kravitz

LUSH Cosmetics: Cosmetic Warrior fresh face mask

Welcome back loves! 

Comin' at you with a bit of a different post today and that is my review on the LUSH Cosmetics "Cosmetic Warrior" fresh face mask! Wow, that was a tongue-twister.  I held off on uploading this post because I wanted to make sure I tested out the product and allowed enough time for me to see whether or not it works.  Basically, Cosmetic Warrior is one of LUSH's fresh face masks which can only be bought in stores because they are handmade with fresh ingredients that do have a shelf-life (as opposed to products that have parabens, sulfates, dyes, etc. which preserve and pro-long shelf-life). Also, LUSH's fresh face masks only last a couple of weeks and must be kept refrigerated because they are made with fresh ingredients, thus why they can only be bought in stores and not online.  Speaking of ingredients...

Cosmetic Warrior's ingredients:

Kaolin, Fresh Green Grapes (Vitis vinifera), Fresh Free Range Eggs, Honey, Cornstarch (Zea mays), Glycerine, Fresh Garlic (Allium sativum), Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), Limonene*, Fragrance (safe synthetics).

* = occurs naturally in essential oils  

So I'll just go over a quick Pros & Cons list:
Pros

• Cleanses and soothes troubled skin
• Inexpensive ($6.95 CAN)
• Can easily be applied with clean fingers as well as a foundation brush 
• Works well at reducing the size of active acne on the face
• Gives the skin a nice cooling sensation
• LUSH Cosmetics is a wonderful company who does test on animals!

Cons

• Because of the garlic some may be sensitive to the strong garlicy smell of the mask
• Somewhat difficult to remove as in it takes a few splashes of water and a generous amount of rubbing to get the entire mask off, however, it is nothing excessive. 
• Small amount of product (60 g) 
• Since it is one of LUSH's fresh face masks, you have to buy it is stores rather than buying in the comfort of your own home online  

Application Process:

1. Start with a clean face. 
• As with any face mask, you want to make sure you start off with a clean face.  If you plan on using this first thing in the morning, I'd suggest just wetting your face with water.  However, if you plan on doing this before bed, take off all your makeup or anything you have on your face with a gentle cleanser, wash off, and pat dry. 
2. Apply.
• Application is super easy with this product!  You can use your clean fingers to take a toonie-sized amount and apply it all over your face.  You can also use a foundation brush to apply which is my preferred method because it is less messy that way.  I use my Real Techniques pointed foundation brush to apply a thin layer of the mask all over my face making sure to avoid the eye/eyebrow area.
3. The waiting game.
   
   
   • Now is the fun part.  Put on some Netflix, watch some YouTube videos, listen to music, read a book, etc., etc., etc.  Now's the time to do whatever you want while you wait for your mask to almost completely dry.  I usually leave mine on for 10-15 minutes but I have left it on for longer and nothing bad has happened.  You'll know when your mask is ready to be taken off when you notice it starting to flake off when you make certain facial expressions.  The colour and texture of the mask also changes which indicates that it's time to wash it off!
4. Wash off the mask to reveal cleansed and soothed skin.
• The best way to wash off this face mask is to apply lukewarm water to the skin and gently massage off.  You'll notice the first few massages won't get everything entirely off, this is normal.  Just keep applying water to your skin and eventually it will all rub off.  Once it's all off, simply pat dry with a clean towel.  Apply your favourite moisturizer if needed and you're good to go.  

 The pictures above show the Cosmetic Warrior fresh face mask freshly applied to my clean skin.  As you can see the texture is quick thick and the colour is an opaque white colour.  The pictures below show the mask 15 minutes later.  As you can see it has hardened and changed colour. 

 

  *Click here to find a store near you in order to try this one and other LUSH Cosmetics' fresh face masks that you see below!* 

 

Stay tuned for my next blog post and take care,
Glynn   

"We believe in buying ingredients only from companies that do not conduct or commission tests on animals and in testing our products on humans." 

LUSH Cosmetics