Happy New Year!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

So it's a new year, and I've finally made the decision to actually put more effort into blogging, and vlogging. I know that I stopped making videos for a very long time and kept telling myself (and you all) that I would start again—but my work and personal life just gets the best of me and I end up having no time to make videos or blog posts. So one of my resolutions (that I really hope to keep), is to make a video and blog post at least once every week to two weeks. I know that's not a lot, but for me, it's a very good start (or restart). I'm looking forward to writing great reviews, filming great tutorials, and meeting lots of beauty junkies in the process :)

Sincerely,

Kelsey

Hope in a Jar, or Funk in a Jar?—An Initial Reaction Review

Hey Critiquers, So recently, I purchased the infamous Hope in a Jar, from QVC. It was included in a set I got for the Clarisonic cleanser. Upon first inspection, it seemed like a very smooth moisturizer packed with potential to become my everyday face lotion. Now, I haven't been using this long enough to give you a credible review on it's results, but I can give you a review on other factors, such as, consistency, smell, initial application, and my initial thoughts. This little treasure (or so it's thought to be called) is priced at a whoping $38 for a 2oz. jar. Its comes in a very sophisticated and clean packaging (which you probably don't care to know, but hey I'm a designer, I live for wonderful packaging), and has a very faint smell to it. Upon initial smelling it seems like it carries a soft, fresh, smell, but after application, that smell changes as fast as teenage boy's hormones. The consistency is very light, and smooth, and I get a cooling sensation when applied, but after about 1 minute of it sinking into your pores, WOW! The smell is simply indescribable. I'm sorry, but it is. I haven't smelled anything like to before, but it is not pleasant at all. Well wait, it kind of reminds me of the smell of a bad car engine, or the exhaust, if you can imagine what that smells like.

So after thinking that maybe QVC sent me an expired jar, I went online and started reading reviews from other Funk in a Jar users to see if anyone has had the same experience. Now let me tell you, I was completely suprised to see that 99% of the reviews I read were filled with women talking about having a love/hate relationship with this product. Here are a few funny ones I read....

 

and then there was this weirdo who must be used to smelling like funk, lol...

 

In addition to the review above, I also read reviews from women who stuck through the smell and actually experienced great results from this moisturizer—and since mine came with a set, and I can't send back just the jar, I'm stuck with it. Also, I recently ran out of my Olay moisturizer, so I guess I will continue to use it. I will continue to post updates on how this stuff works for me, and just some background information on my skin—I have an extremely oily t-zone and I break out alot right in the center of my forehead. So if you have skin similar to mine, it might help to stay tuned for my future updates :)

 

Sincerely yours,
Kelsey

 

Finding Inspiration in All Places

Some people have trouble finding inspiration for anything you can think of. Whether you're looking to produce a new piece for your design portfolio, or simply looking for inspiration for an eyeshadow look (like me). One thing that always stumps me is trying to find a new color palette. Colors are very versatile elements of everyday life, and while it's easy it overlook the beauty of color, it's even easier to just shake your mind clean and see things for what they really are. All it takes is a little concentration.

For example, lets take this photo and try and pull a beautiful color palette from it. Scan the image closely, and select colors that stand out to you.

Here's what I came up with:

Now let's try a picture that's filled with more attractive colors:

The next time you're looking for a bit of color inspiration, and you find yourself struggling to find it....STOP, empty your thoughts, stare at your surroundings (or a picture) with virgin eyes, appreciate, and pull from what you see. Doing this often will make you appreciate your surroundings and the world you live in a lot more. It's inspiring when you can truly see something for its real beauty... Stay tuned for a lot more of these color palette pulls in the future. I might do them weekly, so that you have somewhere to look for inspiration :)