The Best Foundations for Oily Skin

When the sebaceous gland produces more sebum (or natural oil we naturally produce) than usual, it creates an oily finish to your skin. Granted the production of the sebaceous gland will make your skin hydrated and healthy, too much will make your skin oily. Oily skin can be caused by an array of things that range from the environment in which you live to the food that you ingest to even your individual anatomy to your DNA background. 

As a woman who deals with oily skin in the Spring and Summer months, I have figured out ways of dealing with this issue. Although a good skincare regimen is vital, what I have discovered are some great foundations that help eliminate and deal with extra oil on the skin. My skin. I have tried quite a few foundations for oily skin. So what are the best?

1. NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation I like the texture of this foundation and how it lasts throughout the day. I have personally put this one to the test three times--one while working out, two while visiting Yellowstone National Park, and three one while laying in the sun. This foundation lasts and it doesn't feel dry nor creates any sort of weird oxidizing on your skin.

2. Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Foundation Balm Hydration is extremely vital and important, especially when you have oily skin simply because you don't want to use products that could potential weaken or damage your skin's natural acid mantle. This foundation is not only long-lasting, but provides your skin with moisture and is good for those of you who are looking for something anti-aging too.

3. Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation This virtually lasts through almost everything. I have went swimming while wearing this foundation and it didn't come off. The only thing that took this foundation off was makeup remover followed by my normal, routine skincare regimen. 

4. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation When it comes to oily skin, I like this foundation because it's very lightweight and sinks into your skin like a second skin. I have used this foundation for years and still pick it up no matter what season it is. I have combination skin which leans towards the oily side during Spring and Summer. This foundation is fantastic.

5. Ellis Faas Foundation Working a regular 9-to-5 shift can be tiresome. And when you have oily skin, you just want the day to be over. Yet the day seems to be slower. Luckily this foundation exists, as it is clearly one of the best I have worn to the office. Whether dry or oily, this foundation will last through it all. 

6. Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation I used this by accident before going outside and lets just say, it lasted the entire time. It didn't fade nor flake. Although this foundation is anything, but luxury, it is quality and truly proves that some of the greatest foundations can be found at your local drugstore. Nothing is better than an affordable foundation that performs so effortlessly. 

7. Cover FX Power Play Foundation Recently, I discovered my real love for this foundation as I wore this to the gym recently. It is Summer, so my skin is on the oily side of course. After working out for almost two hours I looked in the mirror and realized my foundation was still on my face as if I just applied it. This was the foundation I used. 

8. Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation As one of the world's best makeup artists, Pat McGrath delivers some of the greatest makeup products, with this foundation being one of them. I put this to the test while doing yoga and lets just say, this foundation lasted the entire time. 

9. Marc Jacobs Beauty Shameless Youthful Look 24-Hour Foundation I have tried so many foundations this year, as my skin is combination and leans towards the oily side in the hotter climates. This foundation my friends has lasted through some of my toughest days this year. I have cried in this foundation and it didn't fade. What more can I say? For oily skin this is truly a winner.

10. LORAC POREfection Foundation What I love most about this foundation is the fact that you don't really need a primer and it still works incredibly. And as this is phenomenal for large pores, it is fantastic for those of you with oily skin. I put this to the test when I went to the recent Farmer's Market in 110 degree weather. I was quite stunned and a little shocked to see my foundation still on my face hours after I originally applied it. 


Honorable mentions include: Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation, DermaBlend Professional Cover Creme, Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Lasting Foundation, Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, Graftobian HD Ultra Glamour Creme Foundation, Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

In conclusion, I would just like to say that these are the best foundations I have tried for oily skin. 

Now Playing: Higher Love by Kygo & Whitney Houston 



FTC: All opinions are my own. Not sponsored. Some affiliate links used.

This Labor Day, post a job and search resumes

Monster is one of the best places to post a job online. In fact, this world-renowned job site roams the world wide web to find you only the best potential employees for your open positions.

Because it is one of the best employer-meets-employee websites online, Monster delivers only the most efficient and most effective results by finding you only the most chartered candidates.

Monster gives you the best exposure money can buy by connecting you with successful results. And if time management seems to be an issue, Monster provides you with a systematized solution which is ethical and productive. It is 2019, this internationally known site designed a very unique integrated approach utilizing technology to create instantaneous results.

Packages start at just $249 per month and go up to $1,000. You are billed on a monthly basis in which you can cancel anytime. Offering a powerful email distribution, Monster reaches across an entire network of millions of users and offers a platform that is built for mobile.

Additionally Monster engages with candidates using specific tools implemented into the platform. You can messages candidates directly without any pressure and hassle. Some of the products Monster offers include: job advertising, resume search, employer branding, full service sourcing, HR software and services, and Monster exclusives.

For Labor Day this year, Monster is offering a great special. Only $199 for a 14-day (two weeks) job ad. Amazing right? And if you are a new customer, you can save an additional 25%. Just use code: mktal_15801US_Save25. Plus, if you intend to post a 60+ day monster job ad, you will get $126 off instantly. One job slot, multiple postings and great candidates. What is better? 

Are you an employer looking to hire someone? What are you waiting for? Just click here to get started today.

FTC: Not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Some affiliate links used.

Album Reviews: Lover by Taylor Swift

Lover by Taylor Swift.

When I first listened to Taylor Swift, I will admit I wasn't much of a big fan; however, I always felt like she was destined to be a big star. As isolated as her vocals are, what I really like about her is her artistry and strong ability to be connect to virtually everything she sings. She is a woman's artist and for that, I respect her. 

A lot of you may ask "why didn't you like Taylor Swift when she first came out?" Well, when she first came out, she came out with the song Tim McGraw and I just thought that the song was a bit cheesy. McGraw is a great artist, but to name a song after him and use it as your first single, I didn't understand it. And the song made no sense to me. 

It was when I heard the song Love Story from the album Fearless that I knew she was going to be a star. And I was right. Recently, the country crooner released her seventh studio album called Lover on August 23, 2019. Released by Republic Records, Lover includes 18 tracks co-written and co-produced by Swift herself. The album also includes several bonus tracks which are exclusively available to Target. 

The songs include: I Forgot That You Existed, Cruel Summer, Lover, The Man, The Archer, I Think He Knows, Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince, Paper Rings, Cornelia Street, Death By A Thousand Cuts, London Boy, Soon You'll Get Better, False God, You Need To Calm Down, Afterglow, ME!, It's Nice To Have A Friend, and Daylight. The bonus tracks exclusively available at Target include: I Forgot That You Existed (piano version) and Lover (piano version). 

My favorite songs include: You Need To Calm Down, Daylight, Cruel Summer, Paper Rings, Cornelia Street, Afterglow, Soon You'll Get Better, I Think He Knows, Death By A Thousand Cuts, Daylight, The Archer, and Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince, with Paper Rings being her strongest song. The song is a very fun and exciting uptempo and really proves why Taylor Swift is an artist we can all relate to. 

Soon You'll Get Better takes us back to Taylor Swift from the beginning over a decade ago. As a collaboration with the Dixie Chicks, this song is probably the only country, bluegrass genre song on the entire album. Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince was giving me symphonic rock vibes, which is very new to hear from Taylor Swift. And Daylight was very new wave and reminded me of something Leona Lewis would have recorded. Brilliantly beautiful. The Archer gave me serious 'Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper' vibes. 

And with every album, there tends to be a weakness. I am not the biggest fan of ME! As much as I love Panic! At the Disco and Brendon Urie (Sarah Smiles is a beautiful song), I didn't care for the marching beat in the beginning and throughout the song. I don't know, but I felt like they added too much to the song with that beat being one of them. It's a fun song, but to me it isn't her strongest song. 

Other songs I dislike on the album include: The Man, London Boy, False God, It's Nice To Have A Friend, and I Forgot You Existed. The vocal diction was not good in I Forgot You Existed, I could not understand a lot of what she sang in the song. The chorus was also not good. False God could have been better without the saxophone playing throughout the song. It's Nice To Have A Friend had a very similar problem, as the trumpet was unnecessary with the song. As perfect as the song was for Swift's pretty isolated vocals, I simply did not get it. And London Boy is not only the worst song on the album, but one of my least favorite songs by her. 

Overall, Lover depicts a story about an effulgent woman who is not letting the obstructively obscure steal her shine. It is very 80's new wave sounding compared to her other albums. Almost possessing a retro redux, this album is a reminder why Swift is a woman's artist and will always remain on top in music. Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift is an artist and Lover proves thus so. With that said, I recommend the album. 

Lover is currently available at Walmart for only $12.97. To purchase the album, simply click here right now. To get the deluxe Version from Target for $16.99, just click here now.


FTC: All opinions are my own. Some affiliate links used. 

Trying the new Impossible Whopper from Burger King

I am officially trying the new Impossible Whopper from Burger King for the first time today. To be honest, I rarely do fast food as it is relatively unhealthy, addictive, and overpriced, but this I had to try. After all of the hype, I had to try this delicious vegan addition (in my case, vegetarian, as I ordered this with cheese and mayo on it) as everyone is raving about this burger all over the world wide web.

What more can I say that hasn't been said already? This is literally one the best veggie burgers I have ever devoured. 

Truth be told, I have tried so many veggie burgers and everything from the texture to the flavor of the Impossible Whopper is incredible. The grilled smoke flavor is unbelievable, but it is the charcoal taste that won me over. And when paired with a toasted sesame seed bun, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, pickles, cheese, and mayonnaise; it is simply outstanding.

If you haven't tried the new Impossible Whopper at Burger King, you definitely need to. I really hope Burger King keeps this fantastic addition to their brand, as there is nothing like it. It is easily one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had in my life and quite possibly the best one in the fast food industry. 

DollarDig

I recently discovered DollarDig through a co-worker of mine who told me she made almost $5,000 just using this particular platform. I was stunned, as I never heard of it until just recently.

If you love to shop online, more than likely you will love DollarDig. In case you are unaware, DollarDig allows you to earn cash back on virtually every single purchase you make. It is simple. Just log onto the site, find your favorite store, click the link and shop like you normally would shop. Then, earn cash back for your purchases. 

Plus, once you earn $25 cash back you can request that money via Paypal, check (US only), Dwolla, or in the form of an Amazon gift card. Currently, DollarDig is only available in the United States and Canada; however, it is growing, so it may hit other countries soon. 

Additionally DollarDig offers coupons from many different brands including Overstock, Walmart and much more. There is no risk with this reward--just reward, making this more than just a place to earn your money back, but an opportunity to claim those incentives you are owed. 

And the best part is, if you sign up to DollarDig today, you can earn $2.50 easily just for joining. What are you waiting for? To sign up for DollarDig today, simply click here right now. I hope you are having a wonderful day.

FTC: Not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.

UniqPaid

Good morning. Before I go to work this morning, I want to share something with you. Recently, I discovered a platform called UniqPaid. In case you are unaware, UniqPaid is a platform which allows you to earn money and other rewards simply for completing offers. 

With hundreds of offers to choose from on a daily basis, not only is it free to join UniqPaid, but the offers are also free. These offers range from visiting websites to reading emails to even referring other people to sign-up. You will earn rewards and money. Yes, actual money.

Although I work a full-time job, I can appreciate a program like UniqPaid simply because all of the rewards and incentives add up. Nothing is better than saving money, as nothing is greater than getting that money back. Minimum payouts start as low as $5.00. 

And the best part this is a program for everyone. UniqPaid embraces the diversity concept in more ways than one. So whether you live here in the United States or live in India or anywhere else in the world, you can join this program too. 

Amazing right? 

There are a total of three unique offers. These include: free, paid, and email-only. The advertisers and merchants affiliated with UniqPaid are interested in the actions, hence why some of the tasks include downloading software or a simple mobile app. 

To get started with UniqPaid and sign up today, simply click here right now. Have a wonderful day!


FTC: Not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Affiliate Links Used. 

TBT: Me at four years old

It is amazing how fast time flies. And especially after everything I have been through in my life, some days I find it hard to believe I am still here, living in this crazy world. I was talking to mother the other day and we reminisced about life. We were going through old pictures including baby pictures of me. 

I found this photo of me and wanted to share this picture for Throwback Thursday, as I originally shared this with my amazing boyfriend Sumit. This was taken in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania back in the early-to-mid 80's. I want to say maybe 1985? I will have to get validation from my mother, as she would know more so than me. Although the photograph originally has color, I made it black and white as I think it makes more vintage looking. 

My grandfather in the picture is deceased and died several years after from lung cancer. From what I remember, he was a wonderful grandfather. He is my mother's father. My grandmother who is also in the photo is deceased and died back in the early 2000's. She was my mother's mom. She was also my best friend, so I really took her death hard. 

It is truly astounding the memory that comes to life when you look at one simple photograph. In this case, although my memories are somewhat vague when looking at this one, I remember this day and find myself reminded that life only continues. 

Your story is only beginning

One bad chapter in your life doesn't mean your story is over. It means your story has character, meaning, and is only beginning. There will be seconds, minutes, moments, hours, and even days you will wake up and endure one of your worst chapters. 

This.Is.Life.

Life is a book of endless experiences that range from a pristine utopia to a sadistic nightmare. And only you can dictate your life. So unless those people who belittle you for whatever reason are willing to read your entire book, they cannot judge you nor define you. Because in the end, those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, as those people tend to blame you for their own foibles and shortcomings which only define them.

There will be people who use you, there will be people who abuse you, and there will be people who lose you. You will be betrayed, you will be lied to, you will be manipulated, and you will be left behind. There will be people who love you, hate you, or simply 'nothing' you. And speaking of hate, it is a well known fact that there are people in this world who will hate you. In fact, you will meet several in your life. And sometimes those who hate you, will hate you because of the way other people love you. Remember, you have absolutely nothing to prove. Let them have an opinion of you because at the end of the day, what others think of you is none of your business. 

And speaking of business, you cannot undermine a human's natural right to speak. Whether good or bad, you cannot control what another human being says or how another human being reacts, but you can; however, choose how you want to respond to them. Remember, you are in charge. If you are thinking negatively, you are attracting negative. If you are thinking prosperity, you are attracting happiness and security. Eventually all of those wonderful thoughts will turn into greatness and incredible things will manifest as a result. 

You have so much love within your soul, give some to yourself before you give any of it to someone else. The answer is not within the solution, as the solution is never to be cold and bitter let alone ruthless and oafish. And separating right from wrong, as well as, dissecting wrong from right is relatively chasmic and will only make you feel miserable. Ruination (and rumination) will only bring you down, especially if you overthink yourself into an oblivious brain freeze. The solution is simple: to forgive and to love deeper. To love more profoundly. 

My life is a paradox. My life is a journey--not a race. Your life is a journey--not a race. Everything and everyone you have loved, are currently loving and will love in the future--you may lose eventually. So, the best thing you can do is trust your journey, love the life you live and live the life you love. It is not only the best thing you can do, it is the only thing you can do. 

These are my thoughts for today. Now I must go to work. Have a wonderful day! 

A Brooklyn Brownstone

So it is Sunday. Today, I must get back into the grind of things and prepare for my daily 9-to-5 work week ahead. In spite of being depressed and sad all Friday, my Saturday and Sunday truly made up for it. I spent the entire weekend visiting a friend of mine who I met when I lived in Montana. She is going through a tough time in life, so it was good to catch up. 

I really love to play the mobile app Design Home. Created by Crowdstar, It allows me to embrace my inner interior decorator, although I must say that my strengths in interior design are much better offline than online. Does that make sense? 

Anyways, the theme is "A Brooklyn Brownstone" and for this particular live challenge, I took it upon myself to utilize light blue, aqua, beige, and champagne gold. The items I used in this challenge include: West Elm Antonella Sofa, Kathy Kuo Home Amanda Leather Upholstered Gold Finished Chair, Kathy Kuo Home John Richard Modern Silver Champagne Giraffe Print Bench, Phillips Collection Crystal Coffee Table, Kathy Kuo Home John Richard Montego Grey Frame Sideboard, Wisteria Sandblasted French Country Chest, and Apt2B Martina Del Rey Round Pouf. 

The rug I used in this challenge is from the Loloi Anastasia Collection in Blue Mist. Additionally, I utilized the Coastal Floor Sea Orbs in this challenge to give it color which kind of accented the rug. I also used the white roses in the porcelain vase twice along with the Carved Leaves Duo paintings. To finish the 'A Brooklyn Brownstone' challenge, I used a Fiddle Leaf Tree as it was earthy yet brought the entire room together. 

Update: I just checked my score and I received a 5-star rating for this challenge. Lately, I haven't been getting a lot of great scores, so it is nice to see others notice the effort I made. In spite of being digital, I did earn and purchase the items I used to compliment this particular design. 

Fashion Talk: My Style Is Unique

I have always thought my style was unique. I think that is why I never really blended in with the average crowd. In high school I was mocked, in college I was praised, and in everyday life--people are amazed at my style. As a businesswoman, I find myself shopping for dresses or anything of an elegant yet conservative nature because that is the kind of clothing I am most comfortable in. It is not that I am opposed to wearing anything else, it is just me. 

I am a size 5 and have been this size for most of my life. I am 5'2-5'3, so that is a curvy size. At least for me. My weight tends to fluctuate. I have been called skinny and I've been called fat. I have been skinnier than what I am now and I have been fatter than what I am now. In end, what others think is none of my concern, as what I think matters most. 

In regards to my style, there are quite a few things that I love, many things that I hate, and a lot of things I simply debate whether or not to wear them or at least wear them again. Does that make sense?

When I am at work, I wear primarily business clothing. This can be anything from sophisticated suits to swanky slacks to upscale casual. I never wear anything too flashy or formal as my everyday attire is subdued. Now, when I go out, I like to wear clothing a little more lavish, but even then I am never too flashy nor formal. 

Some dresses that I am loving at the moment include: Givenchy Beaded Long Sleeve Dress, Boden Tilly Ottoman Belted Sheath Dress, Carolina Herrera Oleander Print Silk Fit & Flare Dress, Ted Baker London Hedgerow Flounce Sleeve Body-Con Dress, Galvan Sequin Long Sleeve Cocktail Mini Dress, Carolina Herrera Leaf Print Stretch Cotton Dress, HVN Paula Deep V-Neck Sequin Dress, Alice + Olivia Delora Body Con Dress, and almost every dress at Herve Leger with the exception of Maxi dresses as they tend to not look the best on me. Perhaps it is because I am short or the fact that I am not a size 0. Who knows. 

When it comes to print, I am not the biggest fan in spite of me wearing zebra print in my photo. But all of the dresses at Pinup Girl Clothing are truly beautiful and designed with so much heart by the talented Laura Byrnes from California who I admire and respect. Versace has been really obsessed with creating zebra print lately and I am not really too sure what to think of it. 

I absolutely love stretch knit trousers, boot leg suit pants, pencil skirts, a-line skirts, and anything that can complement a majority of my wardrobe. I also love double breasted blazers and one-button blazers. And speaking of blazers and jackets, the Dolce & Gabbana Double Breasted Stretch Wool Blend Jacket is stunning. What do you think? I am not a fan of wool. In fact, it makes me itch, but I would wear the Judith & Charles Matera Wool Suit Jacket if it were made with faux wool. 

Now a lot of you have messaged me and asked what my favorite pair of jeans are. To be honest, I don't really wear jeans unless they are of a higher quality simply because of my body shape. I find that high-end jeans fit me best. I prefer straight-leg and skinny jeans to boot cut, flare, and wide leg. I am also fond of some of the legging style jeans. Not necessarily a jegging, but a denim legging, although I some of my favorite pairs of jeans are actually denim leggings. 

Some of my favorite jeans include the Isabel Marant Etoile Jamie High Waist Skinny Jeans and the LYSSE High Waist Denim Leggings. I would probably make an exception for the L'AGENCE Margot Metallic Coated Crop Skinny Jeans as they are beautiful. I love corduroy jeans. I own several pairs of the Kut From The Kloth Diana Stretch Corduroy Skinny Pants.

I love athletic wear (or activewear) and find myself wearing a lot of yoga pants. They are what I am truly comfortable in. In fact, if I had it my way, I would wear nothing, but v-neck shirts, hoodies, and yoga pants all day. Of course capri leggings, gym shorts, and crew socks have me sold too. I have to admit, I am quite conservative when it comes to my gym style and don't like to show any skin at all, so to me a hoodie and shorts is okay in my book.  

As much as I love activewear, I can't choose a favorite for each thing that I truly enjoy, but I can share with you some of my favorite brands. They include: Zella, Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein, BCBGMaxAzria, and much more. 

I despise jumpsuits, but manage to love the Joie Tau Jumpsuit, which is probably one of the few I will ever wear. Although the Balmain Beaded Sequin Jumpsuit I would probably wear. Rompers are probably one of the worst thing to ever happen to fashion and I am not saying this because they look the least flattering on me. I am saying this because they look like a permanent faux pas. 

Other things I will not wear include: halter tops, halter dresses, color block gowns, tube tops, cheesy biker shorts, jumper dresses, ruched sleeve jackets, long cady pants, oversized blazers, asymmetrical midi dress, elbow patch coats, or anything with shoulder pads. Just not my thing. 

I will get into a deeper discussion about fashion very soon. We will talk shoes and accessories later on. Until next time, take care of yourself and your style. Have a wonderful evening! 



FTC: Some affiliate links used.

Brooke Houts is disgustingly vile

Most of you reading my blog probably have no idea who Brooke Houts is. In case you are unaware, she is an irrelevant YouTuber who gained notoriety for making super edited and cringe-worthy videos of her with her dog, a doberman pincher named "Sphinx". 

I am not sure if it happened early this morning or last night into the early morning, but Houts basically exposed herself by uploading a video onto her YouTube account. She actually went and uploaded the wrong video, the unedited version. Shortly after she discovered this, she deleted it (or made it private) and uploaded the edited one. 

With almost 330,000 subscribers, Brooke Houts subscribers noticed and the video went viral, as when one domino goes the rest follow. The video started circulating all over the world wide web as a result. I watched the video a few hours ago and was literally disgusted by this woman's outlandishly sinister behavior. In the video, you can see her yelling at the dog and sticking her finger in the poor dog's face. Shortly after, Houts is seen pushing the dog away, pinning it down, and even spitting on the dog. 

She is disgustingly vile.

Based on the video, I believe this is not the first time she has abused her dog, as you could tell by how Sphinx reacted to her abuse, he had to deal with this before. This low life should not be able to own a dog. And shame on anyone who defends this piece of shit and her abuse. To be honest, I am hoping the ASPCA and PETA get involved and remove this innocent dog from Brooke Houts care. Not sure if YouTube will delete her channel, but they do a major disservice glorifying this animal abuser simply for a quick buck. As the second most visited site online, it is evident and crystal clear why her channel still exists. 

Anyways, Houts attempted to save face and basically do damage control by uploading one of the most cringe-worthy apology videos ever. I don't believe her apology is sincere and if anything, I truly believe she's sorry she got caught more so than sorry for hitting her dog. 

I believe Brooke Houts is dangerous and clearly unfit to be caring for this precious sentient being let alone any dog at all. Hopefully she is investigated by authorities and charged with animal cruelty for her crime.