battle of the hair texturing sprays/powders // love it & leave it

Who has fine hair? *raises hand*
Who's hair is flat as can be? *raises hand*
Who wishes their hair had more texture and less blah-ness? *raises hand!!!!* 

If you (hypothetically) raised your hand to any of the above questions, then perhaps this post would be very beneficial for you. I have tried numerous texturizing and volume products in hopes of finding that one gem that will give my hair the omph that it NEEDS (and deserves). You want to find out which products is the best of the best? That's the spirit! Read on, my friends!

Here we go: 

1. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (8.5 fl) $42 - Might as well start with the absolute favourite. This stuff is magic in a bottle. Yes, that price point is HEFTY, but you get so much in a bottle. With everyday use, this bottle will last you for MONTHS. I plan on doing a completely separate post dedicated to this product (with before and after pics), so as much as I would love to rave right now, i'll save that for later. 

2. Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion (0.7 oz) $32 - This product is interesting because you don't tap the powder onto your scalp. Instead, you have to squeeze the bottle, and magical powder comes flying out to dust your hair with texture. I would love this more if one bottle lasted longer. I most likely will not repurchase. Also, there is no smell, which is no bueno. 

3. Bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finish (4 fl) $30 - Love it. Had I not have found the Oribe spray, I would have continued to repurchase this. This smells amazing and gives hair a messy and tousled look. This lasted me for a month and a half with everyday use - I would have liked more product for the price I paid. 

4. Bumble and Bumble Pret a Powder (2 oz) $27 - This is my dry shampoo that I will never live without. It takes away second-day oils and adds some volume into the hair. Not a texturizing powder, though - I still prefer to use my Oribe spray in combination with this!

5. Got2b Powderful (0.35 oz) $8 - Before I ventured off into the world of highend texturizing products, this is where it all began. This stuff is the tackiest product of them all. I would never put this in my hair if I were planning on leaving it down. However, if I wanted to make a braid/bun and needed the texture and hold, this is a great product for that. 

And that's all! For now, at least. 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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Essence Cosmetics // Brand Overview

Whenever I am at the drugstore I walk past the Essence display, and never think give it a second look. I'm not going to lie, when I think of this brand one word comes to mind - cheap. Maybe it's because of the (almost too) affordable price point. Or maybe it is because I have never heard anyone rave about this brand. Well, the most recent time I was at the drugstore, I thought, "Don't knock it until you try it". So I did. And I am so glad I did. 

I bought 5 things, and here are my thoughts (all prices are rounded up): 

Sunclub Matt Bronzing Powder (light) $ 5 - This is the largest bronzer I have ever owned. I had a fear that it would be orangey (since many drugstore bronzers are). I am so happy to report that it is not orange at all. Since i'm pretty tan right now, this blend perfectly into my skin and gives it the summer glow that it needs. Out of the 5 products I'm reviewing today, there are 3 that you MUST try - this is one of them. 

Mattifying Powder $4 - I grabbed this because I needed a pressed translucent powder for travel. I love translucent powders for setting my face but the only ones that I own are in loose form (definitely not travel friendly!). I realized after I bought this that it is actually not translucent. However, this powder has such light coverage that it may as well be translucent. I carry this with me everywhere. And if it falls and shatters, who cares? It was only 4 bucks!

All About Matt! Oil Control Paper $2 -  I'm kinda meh about this product. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. That's why it's meh. If you're not super oily then this product can totally work for you. But if you are super oily (like yours truly), then you may prefer a higher quality oil blotting sheet like Clean and Clear. 

Longlasting Lipstick (06 Barely There) $4 - Are you freaking kidding me?! I have nothing but good things to say about this lipstick. It's creamy, opaque, longlasting, and the colour is GORGEOUS. This is the perfect 'my lips but better' lipstick. I have a feeling I will be wearing the heck out of this colour in the fall and winter time. Ahem, MUST BUY PRODUCT. 

Lipliner (06 Satin Mauve) $2 - This is the matching lipliner to 06 Barely There. Again, very creamy and opaque. Not drying at all. Pair this with the longlasting lipstick, and you'll be set for the whole day. I'm serious. Do yourself a favour and GET THIS NOW. 

After having success trying some amazing products, I am really excited to further explore this brand. What are some of your favourite products from Essence? Let me know! 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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summer, I love you

What time is it? (Summer time!) 

It is my fave time of the year, y'all. Summer time! Well actually, it's still spring but as soon as school is out I consider it summer! I know you do, too! The weather here in Canada is warm(ish). It has major mood changes. One minute it's blazing hot, and the next it is winter again. Well that's Canada for ya! 

I'm not even mad about the annoying weather changes. I'm just happy to be out of school for a few months, so I can relax and have some fun. 

Currently, I'm working a full-time job (my first one!). I'm working at an art gallery on campus as a Gallery Educator. Aaaaaand I freaking love it. I'm getting paid to do something I love, and in a field that I am very interested in (i'm an art history major, remember?). I feel super lucky that I actually love my job - it doesn't feel like work to me! I know a lot of people my age are stuck working jobs that they hate. To those people I say: Keep on keeping on! You can do it, my friend. All that hard work is going to pay off! 

In other news, I will be going into my 4th year when school comes back into session. How crazy is that??? It's crazy for me. These years have passed by quickly. Too quickly. I need things to slow down - partly because I love my school and don't want to leave, and partly because I have no freaking clue what the heck i'm going to do after graduation (hopefully i'm not alone). Buuut i'm not stressing about it too much. I'll just live in the moment and see where that takes me. 

Keep on keepin' on, my friends! 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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i'll admit it, I like tv...

Who doesn't? I am ALWAYS looking for new shows to watch, but I never seem to find really good ones unless it happens to be during midterm/exam season. Convenient how that works out, eh? So are you interested in hearing about my latest faves? No? Well great, i'll tell ya anyways!

Modern Family - a cult favourite. I started watching this early in high school (around the time when it first came out), and it's held strong as being one of my favourites. It's lighthearted and always manages to squeeze a couple laughs outa me (and sometimes even tears!). In case you're living under a rock and have never seen it, I highly recommend.

How to Get Away with Murder - oh. my. gosh. Are you kidding me with this show?! I am obsessed. Anytime Shonda Rhimes comes out with a new show, I just have to watch it (i'm a long-time Grey's Anatomy fan), and boy am I glad I did! This show is delicious. Sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat type of show. Part of me wishes I discovered the show years later so that I could happily binge-watch countless seasons of it. But I guess for the sake of my social life, academics, and HEALTH, it's good that it only just came out. 

The Bachelor - don't judge me. I've been watching The Bachelor ever since I was a little kid (don't judge my mom). I've watched countless seasons of various bachelors and bachelorettes - some I loved (ahem. Ali Fedotwosky), some I hated (ahem. Jake Pavelka), and some were just blah (uhmm..Lorenzo who?). This season with Prince Farming...i'm really digging it. I'm loving the drama, and i'm definitely loving the crazy. I am team Becca. Buuuuuuut, I totally want Kaitlyn to be the next Bachelorette (gotta support a fellow Canadian). Who's your fave?

The Mindy Project - found this on Netflix recently...and you can imagine how that turned out. I think Mindy Kaling is an absolute comedy star, and she does it in the most effortless way. You can tell comedy just comes natural to her. It goes without saying that Mindy is definitely my favourite character on the show. However, a close second can be rewarded to Nurse Morgan. 

Stop talking, Sandra.

Got any recommendations? GIMME!

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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read & to read

Do you know what I really love to do? Read. I just never seem to have a lot of time for it during the academic season (aka. September - April). Soooo...I thought it'd be nice to share with y'all 3 books i've read (somewhat) recently, and 3 books that I have on my list of 'to read'. 

READ:
1. Yes, Please - my most recent read. I bought it to read at the airport over winter break and finished it right before landing. Gosh, isn't Amy is a delight? Her writing is hilarious, but she manages to deliver it in an authentic and not too over-the-top manner. Yes, I enjoyed it. Yes, I recommend it. 

2. To All the Boys I've Loved Before - slightly ashamed to admit that I've read this, and even more ashamed to admit that I loved it. This book is definitely aimed towards a middle school/early high school audience, and I certainly do not fit in that category. However, I love easy reads and I remember really loving Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty series back in high school, so I just HAD to give this one a try. This book turned out to be predictable, cheesy, and not at all intellectually stimulating.....aaaaaand I loved it. 

3. The Selection - imagine The Bachelor taking place in a dystopian Hunger Games-like world - that's what this book is. Literally my dream plot. So when I first heard about this book, I filled with excitement and raced to read it. Unfortunately, the author's writing fell short of my expectations. With such a cool (in my opinion) plot, I just felt like she could have done more with it. Oh well. That being said, this is a series. And yes, I have finished the entire series. Not for everybody, but I do think a lot of people would enjoy it for the story. 

TO READ:
1. We Were Liars - first heard about this from Goodreads. In their reviews, people describe it as, 'haunting, tragic, unexpected'. I'm usually someone who prefers light reads, so I'm not too sure how well I will fare with this book. However, after reading so many raves, I think I will give this one a go. I'll keep you posted. 

2. The Husband's Secret - first heard about this from Camp Patton. It's about a woman who find's her husband's letter (to be opened after his death) containing his darkest secret. However, she finds this letter when her husband is still very much alive. Curiosity is what is driving me to add this book to my list. 

3. The Best of Me - I first saw the trailer for the movie of this book, and I was not intrigued. I then read the description of this book, and I was not intrigued. Then, last night I was on Tumblr and I saw a quote from this book, and finally I was intrigued. Gotta love Tumblr. In case you're curious about that quote, here it is: "You aren't just someone I loved back then. You were my best friend, my best self, and I can't imagine giving that up again. You might not understand, but I gave you the best of me, and after you left, nothing was ever the same." - good stuff, amirite? 

And with that, I am off. Ciao for now. 

Also, are there any other books I should add to my list? Let me know!

Or not. 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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a year in review: 2014

I know this post is waaaaayyy overdue. HOWEVER! I was looking through my blog and was reminded of the post that I made at the end of 2013, reflecting upon the year. Although we are already 2 months into 2015, let's rewind a bit and recap the previous year, shall we?

It's crazy to see all the shit that goes down in just one year. A lot can happen in one year, and a lot DID happen this year. Let's see...well I went to Venice, first off! It was my first independent sojourn to anywhere in Europe, and it was AHHHHMAZING. I stayed there for an entire month, and at the end of it all I felt like a Venetian local. Looking back now, it almost feels like a distant memory. It's hard for me to put to words how dramatically this experience affected and changed my life, so let's just move on. 

I worked at Urban Outfitters for the latter half of 2014, and that was interesting. I can honestly say that with the bonus of the employee discount, I made no money at the end of it all - which is why it was probably very smart of me to quit. Not much to take from this experience, besides from the obvious fact that the retail world is not where i'm headed. 

I never shared this, but I was in a sorority for the first 2 years of university. This year, I decided that it was time for me to leave the organization. It was no longer something I was passionate about, so the only right thing to do was to leave. Had I stayed, it would not have been fair to me or the other girls in the sorority. Although it has been an adjustment, I know I made the right decision. Obviously me leaving wasn't so easy-breezy, but i'll save you from the lovely details. 

At the end of this year (just like every year), my family and I travelled to San Francisco to visit my grandparents. However this year, we decided to do something a lil different - we decided to take a road trip to San Diego. Although San Diego was BEAUTiful, i've come to the conclusion that road trips are not for me. Long days stuck in a stuffy car with 2 hours to go before the next rest stop - it really brings out the worst in people me. So the next time I think that maybe a road trip will be a grande idea, i'll look back at this post and be like, HELL NAH! 

Well that was fun. It's actually quite therapeutic to think back and go through the year. 

Same time next year? (maybe 2 months earlier) 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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current list of loves

Everyone knows that i'm all about buying and trying new products. When I find something that really works well for me, I incorporate it into my routine. So here are five new favourites that I recently discovered (except for one) and have become absolutely obsessed with. 

1. CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous (foundation & concealer) - gorgeous indeed. Aside from a shade mismatch, this foundation is da bomb.com. It has a build-able medium coverage and feels really light on the skin. It is hard for me to find foundations that do not separate in my oily t-zone throughout the day, but I can honestly say that this foundation does not do that!! = very exciting for me. 

2. L'Oreal Silkisseme Eyeliner (highlighter) - holy grail status. I discovered this about 5 months ago and I am never letting this go. I use this to line my bottom line, and it seriously makes my eyes pop. I ALWAYS get compliments on it. Highly recommended, yessir. 

3. Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash - I went into Sephora about 3 months ago and asked for a face wash that was gentle but cleans really well - and this is what they recommended. It does exactly what I asked for. I use the smallest pea size amount and lather it up real good before massaging it onto my face for about 30 seconds. Will I repurchase? YES! 

4. Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer - This was definitely an impulse buy. I've always heard really great things about this primer but the price is gross. But, when I saw it on my last trip to Sephora, I decided to buy it in the smallest size (which was still freaking $25, ugh!). I did not want to love this, but I do. Yes, I am here to sing its praises. It really is the God of all primers, and I notice a big difference when I do not wear this underneath my foundation. It truly hurts me to say that this primer is now a part of my permanent collection. 

5. Bio Oil - Out of all the products mentioned, this one is the only product that is not a new discover. I have been using this stuff since my high school years. It does really good things for my skin, and I will never be without it. Amen. 

And that is all that I have to say for now! If you made it through all my blabbing, congrats! 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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