Marissa's Pick of the Week - Solid Serum for Oily Skin

My new love is Lush skincare. Everything is handmade with natural, perishable ingredients. The most interesting of my purchases is the Saving Face solid serum ($13.95). I have to admit that the bizarre idea of a solid serum is what initially attracted me to this product. After reading the ingredients and viewing a demo, I took one home with me and fell in love after the first use. I have now been using it for 3 weeks and still get as excited to use it as I was the first time. This vegan wonder tablet is loaded with so many skin delicious ingredients, I can't believe it all fits into something I can hide in the palm of my hand.

Super Awesome Face Saving Yummies:

On top of powerful antioxidants found in all the cirtrus oils, shea butters give just the right amount of moisture oily skin types need while kaolin clay and talc absorb excess oils.

Thyme - This key ingredient helps with acne because it is a natural astringent, helps keep skin clear due to its anti-fungal and anti-viral properties, and protects skin because it's a free radical crime fighter (powerful antioxidant).
Jojoba Oil - lasting moisture and antioxidant
Chlorophyllin - Naturally derived from plants, it is a great antioxidant and repels pollutants such as cigarette smoke, smog, and diesel emissions.

Don't let the the "oils" in this recipe scare you. What a lot of oily skin types don't know is that natural essential oils are good for us. It's mineral oil that is our enemy. My skin started clearing up when I added Saving Face to my regimen. Try it out at your local Lush store. They are VERY generous with samples.

Yay! Contest!

I will be hosting 2 drawings for 2 awesome prizes!

Contest #1 Youtube! 
Subscribe to my YouTube channel, KitschkweenDIY, and once I reach 100 subscribers, I will randomly pick a winner using Raffle King. The winner will receive 3 mini Lancome Juicy Tubes (about a $20 value) in "Simmer," "Dreamsicle," and "Magic Spell." After this iconic lip gloss launched 10 years ago (stumping the sales of every other lip gloss on the market) almost all other cosmetic lines had to release a similar product to keep up with the trend. After 10 years and some tough competition, Juicy Tubes are still a best selling brand.

Contest #2 Blog Comments:
Comment on any of my blog posts here (not on Facebook), and I will draw a name after 100 comments. The winner will receive A full size Arbonne NutriMin C RE9 RElease Deep Pore Cleansing Masque ($31) This vitamin packed mask sucks all the yuck out of your pores while it tones and firms your skin.

I need a lot of participation for this contest to work, so please tell your friends about it. The more entries I get, the sooner I pick a winner!

Good Luck!

Ganguro Girl

Ganguro girls in Japan are often perceived as trashy. So I thought, "This is perfect for me!" Stay tuned after the credits for a short Japanese lesson. ^_^ 

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!

Ganguro Makeup Tutorial from Marissa Rhoades on Vimeo.

A shorter youtube version is also available here:

Bahirah's Pick of the Week- Milk Pencil

The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk" ($4) Has become a staple in my makeup wardrobe since I first saw it used in a video makeup tutorial. It is the perfect brow bone highlighter, giving a natural matte finish. If you are lucky, you can find a Milk pencil at your local beauty supply store for a cheaper price. If you do, get a bunch at a time. They are always sold out at the store I go to. You can of course get them on the NYX Cosmetics Website. $4 is still a steal for this professional quality must have.

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Charcoal Mask

Using a deep cleansing mask at least once a week is important for acne prone skin like mine. Luckily, Origins has their Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask ($21). Activated charcoal is a great skincare ingredient used to detoxify and clarify. It works as a filter, trapping impurities in the skin (kind of like how a water filter works) therefore leaving your face squeaky clean. The added benefits of White China (Kaolin) clay stimulates circulation, heals acne and removes dead skin cells for a clear and bright complexion.