All posts by Laytee Samida

LINK-END ROUND-UP: August 7, 2020

LINK-END ROUND-UP: August 7, 2020

LINK-END ROUND-UP: August 7, 2020 | STAINED COUTURE

Guess who’s back? Okay, as much as I want to proclaim and feel that Link-End Round-Up is back, you never know. However, I’m slowly but surely feel myself coming to grips with my new normal. We aren’t just entering a new season, but a new way of life. Unfortunately, some people haven’t realized that’s what is happening. Instead, in my opinion, I think some people are “waiting” for things to go back to “normal”. Sadly, that’s not going to happen.

Although I’m still trying to get the hang of this new life we’ve had to enter, I’m tired of being fearful and uncertain. Guess what? Everything in life is uncertain, which means we just have to keep on living, being present, and enjoy life as much as we can. To help me get back in my flow, I’ve been upping my self-care game. This has included being more mindful of my food intake, making sure I move my body more, and staying in regular contact with people.

If there is one thing that I’m super grateful that appreciate from this pandemic is learning to reach out to people more. I’m a true introvert. I enjoy being alone and rarely reach out to people, even if I need to. I’ll figure it out before I ask for anything from anyone. However, I realized that when I couldn’t my friends and family when I usually saw them, I started to miss them. Ya girl actually started to send random “how are you” text and even made a few phone calls. It was wild, but also a need for my mental health. I want to keep doing that, even when outside opens back up.

I’m back to reading blogs and websites that don’t mention the numbers, because I know that’s not going to help. Instead, I’ve been reading things that help and motivate me to keep on living, despite the current state of the world. Here are some links that did just that, but I also include a link on how you can help the people of Beirut. The video footage of the explosion and the aftermath is heartbreaking.

LINK-END ROUND-UP: August 7, 2020

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LUST-HAVE LIST: August 2020

Lust-Have List: August 2020

LUST-HAVE LIST: August 2020 | STAINED COUTURE

Happy August! Usually, August is one of my favorite months – top 5. The main reason I like August is because it’s totally okay to start getting into fall. Fall is my favorite season. Although, Fall doesn’t begin until September, August is definitely the cocktail party before the main event.

Unfortunately, due to the poop storm that is 2020, it’s taking me a little longer to get into wanting buy fall decor and stalk boots. I know I’ll eventually get into the spirit, but I’m just on a slight delay. As long as I beat Starbucks revealing that PSL (pumpkin spice lattes, in case you don’t speak basic b*Tch) are back, I’ll be okay.

Here’s the small, but important list of things I want to acquire this month. Actually, I think all of these are really attainable…for once.

LUST-HAVE LIST: August 2020

  • Bathroom Counter Organizer – This past weekend, I finally put some shelves up in my bathroom to help store my skincare products. They were taking up all of the counter space. I now have space to add a small, but chic organizer for my cotton rounds and swabs. I’m really into this one I spotted over on Amazon and will probably pull the trigger on my next Amazon order in a couple of weeks.
  • Full Dense Fan Brush – During one of my nightly binges of TikTok videos, I discovered that I needed a dense fan brush. They are great for applying most powder makeup, including this one from It! Cosmetics for Ulta. I’ve tried a few brushes from this line and feel confident that I would appreciate this one.
  • Wooden Wide Tooth Comb – I’ve been doing my best to keep my hair in good shape. Wooden combs are better than plastic one, because they help circulate blood and encourage hair growth. Plus, plastic can sometime snag your hair, which is no bueno por me. This wooden comb is wide tooth and great for curly hair, which I’m known to rock on numerous occasions.
  • Radiance Nourishing Body Oil – The current state of the world has made me want to treat myself more. For example, I currently have standing hair and facial appointments – best decision ever. I want to step up my bath and shower routine by adding a nice luxe body oil to the team. Based on the reviews I’ve read, this body oil by BeautyBio sounds amazing. Plus, the ingredients and scents sound like it’s right up my alley. I love body oils, fyi.
  • Cooper Bakeware Set – I’ve reached the point of weekend self-quarantine where I want to cook and bake more. Unfortunately, I don’t have all the bakeware I need, but the set from Ayesha Curry has all the basic and then some. Plus, it looks copper, which is apparently my color of the moment. Not mad.

 

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Nightly PreCleanse Routine

I’m pretty sure that I’ve mentioned that I don’t have a go-to nightly skincare routine. Instead of using the same products, religiously every night, I instead listen to what my skin needs. There are days when my skin feels dry and I use hydrating products and get a little heavy handed with bedtime skin oil. However, I use the same nightly precleanse routine every night on days when I wear makeup.

Nightly PreCleanse Routine | STAINED COUTURE

 

What’s a precleanse routine? Well, it’s basically just removing your makeup before washing your face. Some people consider removing their makeup as part of their skincare routine, which it can be considered part of – not the cleansing part. I consider removing your makeup before washing your face the same as removing your clothes before taking a bath/shower. You need to remove to remove your clothes to wash your body. So, you need to remove your makeup in order to clean your face. Makes sense, right? Well, keep reading to see what I use and how.

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EMPTIES: June 2020

EMPTIES: June 2020

EMPTIES: June 2020 | STAINED COUTURE

EMPTIES: June 2020

I’d been wanting to try some products from Inkey List for a minute. I bought a few products from them, but the first product I used up was the Vitamin C cream. I think everyone needs to incorporate a vitamin C serum in their life, because it helps brighten the skin and fade discoloration. This serum is kind of thick and creamy, but it’s not too strong. I would recommend this is you want to add vitamin C to your skincare regimen. I don’t think I’ll buy this again, because it’s not strong enough for my skin.

The samples I used up this months is a Peter Thomas Roth FirmX Collagen moisturizer and Lancome Lash primer. I was excited for the collagen moisturizer, because it was part the same line as one of my favorite physical exfoliators. Also, my aging face is always down for anything with collagen. Although it was a very small sample, you don’t need that much moisturizer. I loved the thick, gel-like consistence of it. Since there wasn’t much to give a full review – I did enjoy it. I might actually buy the full-size bottle one day.

As for the lash primer – it was good! I know some people don’t think lash primers don’t do anything, but me and my sparse lashes do. However, I didn’t notice much difference with this primer than cheaper ones I’ve used in the past. So, I doubt I buy this in full-size.

I’ve been looking for a new hydrating body lotion and decided to go back to the basics – Vaseline. I grew up on and with the regular Vaseline, but they have so many more options now. The cocoa butter formulas and gel ones are amazing, but I wanted to try a different one. So, I grabbed this one, because it was a “jelly”. It did not have the texture of jelly, but it was super hydrating. I will totally buy this again when scrolling through Target in need a new moisturizer.

I used up another bottle of Bare Minerals Bare Pro foundation – it’s a new favorite. Initially, I was going to use this time to try to find a good drug store option, but I kept getting duds. So, I’ve already bought another bottle of this foundation. If it works, why go searching for others. *shrugs*

When I wash my hair, I usually let it hair dry before using a flatiron. However, I prefer the final results when I blow dry my hair first – on low heat and with a heat protectant. Not Your Mother’s thermal heat protectant is awesome – protects and not heavy. Probably will buy this again.

However, when it’s hot, I tend to wear my natural curls. There is no better moisturizer for my hair than the iconic S-Curl activator moisturizer. Well, there may be better, but I wouldn’t know since this one has yet to let me down. For the rest of my life, you will always find a bottle of this in my hair product stash.

Finally, I was able to use up Smashbox Photofinish Minimize Pores face primer. I used to love Smashbox primers, as well as every OG beauty vlogger. However, they no longer work with my makeup and skin. Plus, there are so many other primers out there that work better for me. So, I won’t be buying this again. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s not for me.

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