How to Aquire Hydrated Skin

Winter is upon us (although the lack of snow here in Utah says otherwise), which means your skin is about to live it's worst nightmare: dry skin. For someone who has naturally dry skin, I think I could probably create another person with the amount of dead skin I have already shlepped off (gross, but true). This year, I decided to do something out of the ordinary and actually take care of my skin. I've been seeing lots of improvement so far. Not only is my skin not as dry as it usually is, but it's also not covered in acne spots. After noticing these improvements, I began to think of all the other people that may also be having trouble with their skin during the winter. So, without further a due, here are my tips!

DISCLAIMERS: 1) This is mostly centered for people with normal/dry skin. If you have oily skin, this may not be for you, but I hope you enjoy the read either way. 2) These are just the tips that I know have made a huge impact on my skin. Confirm with your dermatologist if you are nervous about trying any of these ideas. 3) If you have skin-related medical conditions, such as eczema, these products may not improve your skin, and may even cause irritation. Check with your dermatologist if you're considering using these products.

1. Wash your face at least twice a day. This should kind of be a given. I say "at least" because I have this obsession with having a perfectly clean face, so when I get the chance, I will wash it right when I get home from school, along with washing it in the morning and at night before bed. You can wash it with whatever you want to, just make sure it fits your skin type (oily, dry, combo, normal, spotty, etc). Lately, I've been loving Solrov-Tval Swedish Dream Sunflower Facial Soap. It smells absolutely lovely and doesn't dry out my face. Also, when washing your face, don't scrub it raw. This will just irritate your skin and make it red. Gently rub with a warm, damp wash cloth, then pat it dry with a towel.
2. Add oil to your lotion. I got this idea when I read Alexa Chung's interview with Into The Gloss. She combined her Cetaphil facial cream (probably the best thing to happen to my skin other than Acutain) with some Decléor oil. I don't have the luxury of buying expensive oils just yet, so I usually apply a dime-sized amount of coconut oil with some Cetaphil. If you're nervous about your makeup melting off with all of the oil, put the oil on your face at night so it can soak into your skin while you sleep. 
3. Aquaphor and non water-based lotions are your friends. Seriously. You cannot have enough oil or petroleum jelly in your life for people who have bone-dry skin. When purchasing lotion, it's easy to tell the thickness of it without even feeling it. Lotions that come in bottles with pumps usually have a higher concentrate of water. Lotions that come in jars are too thick to come out of pumps, which means they have a lower concentrate of water. But just because they come in a jar doesn't mean that they are mostly water. Check the ingredients list: if the first ingredient is water, than it may not be thick enough for your skin. For every day lotion, I prefer to use Jo Malone Body Crème in Peony & Blush Suede. When I've just stepped out of a bath, and have scrubbed my skin to perfection, I'll either use the Jo Malone Body Crème for when I'm feeling fancy, or Eucerin for when I'm having a pamper evening. For the times I need to apply something stronger to really dry, irritated skin, I like Aquaphor. I find it to be a lot nicer to rub on than Vaseline.
4. Apply masks and exfoliate when necessary. Get rid of dead skin by exfoliating it every once in a while, or when it really looks like it needs help. If you have the time and can afford it, I highly recommend exfoliating your skin at least once a month to maintain soft, hydrated skin. Same goes for facial masks. I promise, nothing feels better than applying a nice mask on your face, then rinsing it off and finding gorgeous, healthy-looking skin underneath.  
5. Use liquid-based makeup. I absolutely hate applying powder to my face. I don't like to spend a long time putting makeup on, and I feel like it only takes a second if I only use liquid based makeup. Plus, you never really need a brush when applying cream makeup, unless you want a more finished look. Applying cream formulated products to your skin will make your face look dewy and hydrated. 
6. Drink water. LOTS. Not only does drinking water help with losing weight, but it will help hydrate your skin (obviously). One of the most common responses celebrities give when they are asked how they have achieved god-like skin is because they drink water. Not only will it make your skin look a hell of a lot softer, but it will also reduce the appearance of wrinkles. I recommend drinking 2 liters of water a day, or about 8 cups.
7. Take fish oil pills. I've heard that these help a lot, not only with dry skin, but also with getting rid of unwanted fat on your body. Taking fish oil pills will make your skin shiny and healthier (which is something people with naturally dry skin love to hear). Taking it regularly will help reduce moisture loss in the skin. It can also help with acne, and has plenty of other health benefits. You can either buy these at your local grocery store or drug store, or get a prescription from your dermatologist or doctor.

I hope these tips have been to your advantage. Let me know in the comments if there are other great products or suggestions you have. 

New Year's Resolutions

Photo originally posted on Tumblr by @flirtyfashi0ns

When I made this draft, I told myself that the first Friday of 2015, I was going to post it. If you couldn't tell already, that time has come and gone. Oops!

Nonetheless, I'm still going to make this post, because "better late than never." So here I am, talking about my 2015 resolutions when we are already 25 days into the year.

Personally, I don't like to share new year resolutions with other people. I think they should be kept to yourself. But despite my beliefs, I'm going to share a few of them with you!

1. Make at least two blogposts a month. I really do want to get into blogging a lot more than I said I was going to. Writing about fashion, beauty and music is something that I find really enjoyable, and I really hope that my getting off on the wrong foot won't affect how the rest of year goes, publish-wise.
2. Get my weight down to 160 lb. This is a little uncomfortable for me to post, mostly because I'm incredibly insecure about my body. When I started my weight loss plan at the end of December, I was around 200 lb., which is really embarrassing for me to admit. I've already lost about 14 lb., and I really hope to get to my goal either by my trip to Maui at the beginning of June, or by my birthday at the end of July.
3. Love myself more/Take better care of myself. It seems a little silly to have such vague goals for 2015, but I do have a method to my madness. Lately I've been really hard on myself because of poor grades and my lack of focus and drive at school. I'm just not having fun anymore, and that sucks. Like, a lot. I want to enjoy my last couple of years as a teenager before having to go and be an adult (which sounds like the opposite of fun). I'm hoping that 2015 is the year that I really get to go out and live life as much as one can at the tender age of sixteen. I bet my lucky stars that 2015 will be one hell of a year.

What's In My Bag? | Back to School Edition | F/W 2014

Ahh look, poor quality photographs. The best kind.

Ahhh, August. Such a bittersweet month. It's still technically summer, but you have to bare the burden of school just around the corner. Some of us don't start until September. Screw you guys.

As for the rest of us, who start in late August, we need to get the cool, at least decent-looking school supplies before they run out. And boy, do they.

I've never been one to buy my school supplies early, but this year, I want to start off on the correct foot. This year I would like to get pretty decent grades. Please lord, send help.

But anyways, we all need school supplies, so I thought, "Hey, what the hell? I'll just add my thoughts to the topic!"

I went down to Office Max yesterday, and I don't know why I expected cute school supplies. Why do commercials make these things seem more appealing than they actually are?

But, I made a promise. And that promise was to give you a blogpost today. And since I have no back up plan, we're gonna stick with this. Hopefully this will help you if you're drawing a blank on what you need in your backpack, or maybe you're starting high school or middle school and have no idea what you'll need. Good luck, chum.


Binders & Paper: You're gonna need at least one binder. I cannot stand it when people get a folder for each class. You can store all the crap teachers say you'll need but will never use safely in it's protective, plastic arms. Binder dividers and paper are also crucial. I get the binder dividers that come in a pack of eight, because it's one for each class. Yes, teachers will tell you that you'll need a separate binder for their class, but I promise you this: you'll need the extra space. Now, about the paper. You can get the really bad Office Max brand that they sell for a bargain (sorry, Office Max), or you can get the extremely, expensive good shit, like Five Star. Ahh, nothing screams supporting education like selling overpriced school supplies. Also, please, for the love of God, get college ruled. You're most likely in high school. You're too old to be using wide ruled paper.

Homework Folder & Notebook:I don't know if you'll need this next item, but it's helped me out immensely. A homework folder is kind of critical for me if I need to keep my grades decent-looking. In one section, preferably the left-hand side, put in the homework you need to complete. In the other, put in the homework that you have completed and need to turn in. In my opinion, it's a much easier way of organizing your work, but that's just me. Get some notebooks and/or composition books while you're at it as well. They're kind of a "just in case" thing for me.

Planner: This is like the homework folder. It's helped me out a lot, and it might help you too. I'm one of the most unorganized people I know. I found my driving certificate under my dresser. How'd it get there? Maybe the giant spiders living in my cluttered closet moved it there. Basically, I need all the help I can get when it comes to organizing, which is why a planner is perfect for me. I like the one that I got, because I can mark down important dates on the monthly calendar, like tests, but also have sections for each date where I can jot down my homework. The color scheme and design isn't half bad either. You know, for a planner.

Other Supplies: This is basically all that other stuff you use every day, like pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters and a calculator. Pens are fucking important. Pens make the world go 'round. Pens are the shit, but unfortunately you'll make writing mistakes, so ya need some pencils and an eraser. Mechanical pencils are just better than plain wooden ones. It's an investment, I promise. They may be  more expensive, but if you buy a good one, and store it in one place, then you really only need to worry about lead. Erasers are good to have because you can't always use the one on the end of your pencil. Use that for emergencies, and get a nice pink eraser for everything else. You can thank me later. Highlighters are important, because they highlight everything important. I repeat, highlight everything important. Lastly, the calculator on your fucking iPhone 5S isn't, has never been, and will never be as good as a graphing calculator. You will use it in college, so you might as well buy one know, because pal, you're gonna need it.

Other: This is everything else. Water, phone charger, headphones, Tylenol, wallet, keys, mints/gum, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, tissues, and lip balm. Okay, now let's break this down as quickly as possible, shall we? Water: obvious. Force fluids (no, not like that, you horny teenager). Stay hydrated. Phone charger: you will get bored. You will go on your phone. It will die. Headphones: to tune out the other snotty teenagers. Tylenol: to get rid of your headache caused by the other snotty teenagers. Wallet: to spend money on snacks that will make you fat and coffee that will keep you alive during the day. Also, to feel old. Keys: to get in your god damn house, duh. If you're in high school and don't have a key to your house, you're gonna regret it when you're parent or guardian is unable to let you in and you're without a key and you have to pee. Mints/Gum: The main reason is to make your breath fresh. Don't be that weird kid and bring your toothbrush to school. It's also good if you're hungry and lunch doesn't start for another hour. Chewing gum will also make you look coo. Fact. Hand lotion: I've mentioned this before, so it won't be news when I tell you that I have incredibly dry skin. I will always carry hand lotion on me. Always. Hand sanitizer: if you're not washing your hands between classes you have a tolerance to germs that I will never understand. I'm not a germaphobe, but kids are gross, it's the truth. Tissues: But sometimes ya just need tissues, okay?! I PROMISE I'M NOT A GERMAPHOBE! Lip balm: Again, dry skin. Stay hydrated. Also hoping that my hydrated lips will trick boys into making me seem alluring. It's a stretch though.

Well, I guess that's my back to school edition of what's in my bag! Comment if you have other things you think are important. New post next Monday!

Part One: Clothing

Part Two: Accessories

Back to School Essentials: Accessories | F/W 2014

Back to School Essentials: Accessories | F/W 2014 by lindsay-johnson61

Time for part two of my back to school essentials! To be honest, I'm pretty surprised about how proactive i've been with these sets. Hopefully this new habit of mine will continue through the rest of my blogging days. Or years. Whatever. Link to part one is belowww.

Scarves: These babies are sooo incredibly important for winter. I can't tell you how many times I've been thankful that I've had a scarf with me, especially growing up in a state that's slogan is "The Greatest Snow On Earth." I really like big wooly scarves, in both check print and just classic colors, like grey, black, or navy.

Bags: This is a back to school essential post, so obviously you'll need a backpack. Now, depending on who you are, you'll want to get different backpack designs. Personally, I like the really simple ones with no design. I also like the ones with toile prints, because they're just gorgeous and classic.

Hat/Head Accessories: "Head Accessories"… what a weird term. Apparently you should wear warm things on your head in order to keep warm the best, or something like that. I'm obviously not a doctor. I simply like wearing beanies and berets SO so much. Basically anyone can wear a beanie, unless you're a girl with cropped hair. Then you'll just look weird. Again, simple, classic colors like back, grey, and navy blue, beige, and, if I'm feeling festive, red. I also like that kind of woven look about pom pom beanie above. I don't really know what you call that. What do you call that?! I also like wearing those fury headbands. I feel like a Russian when I wear them.

Belts: Pretty basic, pretty essential in any look. I like this belt because of the look. I love the color, and I love the braided rope. I'm not really a fan of "bling-ing" myself out (as you can probably already tell), so this belt suits. me.

Gloves: I get incredibly cold hands, and I hate it. My hands are just naturally cold. I feel like I have a medical condition. So gloves are defo in my essentials. I like plain, black leather gloves, but if I saw some with emojis or something like that, I'd probably just have to get them.

Aaaaand I think that's about it! Let me know what you thought in the comments below, and if you like these blogposts. New blogpost on Friday! Yay!

Part One: Clothing

Back to School Essentials: Clothes | F/W 2014

Back to School Essentials: Clothes | F/W 2014 by lindsay-johnson61

Ahh, August. What a ridiculous month. It's like the October of Christmas. It's still summer, but somehow the school system has managed to work it's way into the end of the month. Which means we need to get ready for autumn and winter. Pronto. So, without further a due, here are my back to school clothing essentials!

Tops: Most of the time, I stick to the basics when it comes to my wardrobe. My back to school essential tops include basic long sleeved tops, button downs, victorian/bohemian blouses, basic tees, graphic tees, pullovers, and basic cardigans. When it comes to the long sleeved tops, button downs, basic tees, pullovers and basic cardigans, I recommend getting them in colors such as grey, black, white, and navy blue. On the long sleeved tops, also get black-and-white, horizontal stripes, which are classics. Similar to that, get vertical stripes (most of the previously mentioned color ranges work),  polka dots (same on the colors), and gingham print, which is pretty on trend now. When wearing boho or victorian tops, stick to white or cream with blue accents.

Outerwear: Leather jackets are something a person just can't live without. Trench coats are not super important, but look cool and are great for when it rains. Borge coats are super comfy and warm for when it rains. Army jackets are good for layering, which is kind of essential in cool weather. And lastly, leopard print coats. My staple piece. I cannot live without leopard print in my closet.

Jeans: Jeans will never go out of style. We will always be wearing jeans, no question. My back to school essential jeans include boyfriend jeans and skinny jeans. I don't really like boyfriend jeans that are too baggy or dark in color, so I usually go for light colored ones that are basically loose-fitting skinny jeans. Now, for skinny jeans, I like black, dark grey, and a classic denim blue. Rips optional.

Shoes: A girl can never have too many shoes. I've never really thought of myself as a shoe freak, but after seeing how many shoes I put in this post, I retract that statement. I love ankle/chelsea boots, biker boots, loafers, brogues, flats, and classic trainers. Multiple colors and fabrics when it comes to most of these shoes. The strappier the better when it comes to flats, I always say! And for the trainers, some Converse and Vans will do!

Underwear: This is, obviously, essential. For school, I don't really think you need anything fancy because, come on, it's school. So I've decided to go for some easy Calvin Klein bralet and "panties". God, I hate that word. There really needs to be a better word for them. Like knickers, why don't Americans use the word knickers?!

You may or may not be wondering why there are no skirts or dresses in this post. Well, personally, I think skirts and dresses just tend to get in the way when it comes to school. I will hardly ever wear a skirt to school. I like to be comfortable, especially in school, and I always find myself fussing with the hem and such. If you do add a skirt, just make sure it's school appropriate, and don't flash anyone.

Well I hoped this has helped you decide what to buy on your back to school shopping spree! And if not, I hope you enjoyed the read. Let me know if you'd like me to do more of this in the comments down below. I'll be doing all back to school related posts this month, so stay tuned! x

Favorites | July 2014

Makeup: I'm not really the type of person to constantly be buying and trying new makeup. I tend to stick to the items that I know work really well, and my philosophy on makeup is that if it isn't broken, it shouldn't be fixed. So, with that being said, I've gone back to my ultimately favorite foundation, the YLS Le Teint Touché Éclat Illuminating Foundation. I had to take a break from this bad boy, because I had ran out of my previous bottle, and my skin and turned a shade darker from the summer sun. But I bought more, and I'm super happy to have it back in my life once again.

Another YLS product is the matching Touché Éclat concealer. I've never really used a concealer before, and I was able to get some in a set when I purchased the foundation. Personally, I think it's starting to look a little too light for my skin, but it definitely gets the job done when I need to cover my dark under eyes and frustrating spots.

Along with concealer, I've never been a big lipstick person. I usually just dust my lips lightly with my foundation to where it looks like I'm wearing something on them, but not enough to make it look like I have no lips at all. I decided it was time: I needed to find a lipstick. So I popped into Ulta and went to the Rimmel London isle. I love anything English, and I know a ton of people love Rimmel. I grabbed one of the Kate Moss lipsticks. I believe it is the Lasting Finish lipstick in shade 113, which is this extremely nude color, except it's got a tinge of pink in it, which I like, because it helps my whole 60's look I've been working on.

Last but not least is by a brand I swear by. 'Tis the Eyeko x Alexa Chung "Eye Do" liquid liner. Holy shit, this stuff is good. If you love cat eyes, and enjoy feeling like Jane Birkin and Francoise Hardy, then I highly recommend this. It's really easy to use, and it's not super sharp, making it looks slightly undone, which I love. I bought that limited addition tube thing, that came with some tissue paper with eyes on it (screams me), and a guitar pick and a poster. Super rad.

Hair: Nothing really new with hair, either, except I've been using a little bit more of my Bumble and bumble surf spray. I like the beachy texture it gives my lifeless hair. It doesn't keep the kinks as long as I'd like it to (all day), but it does look good when I give my hair a slight curl, then add the spray to make it look a little more messy.

Body: Lately I've started taking more baths, because they help with my sandpaper skin. To me, it's kinda boring only soaking in the water without some suds or salts. So, I purchased some Dr. Teal's Epson salts. And I am in love! Apparently they help with detoxing your skin, but I don't really know anything about that chemistry shit. I just know if feels good in the bath, and really helps with my sore muscles when I get done with a workout (squats hurt, man!).

Like I said, my skin is sandpaper. And it doesn't help that I live in an incredibly dry state. Thankfully it's been a bit rainier, so that's nice, but I still needed a really hydrating body lotion. I have to pay super close attention to the ingredients, because usually, when the first ingredient is water, I have to move on. But I was really fortunate enough to find a lotion that didn't have water as the first ingredient. There is a god after all. It's a Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Face + Body Cream. It's really creamy, not greasy, which is something I try to avoid. The scent is very natural smelling, and I looooove smothering it all over my body when I step out of the bath/shower.

Yay, now to can read me ramble on about my random favorites!

(If you've survived this long, kudos)

Favorite Song/s: This is really hard for me, because music is probably one of my biggest passions. I have been listening to a ton of HAIM, so I'd say they're my favorite band. But song wise, I've mainly been listening to "Don't Save Me" by HAIM, "Mote" by Sonic Youth, and "Shades of Cool" by Lana Del Ray.

Favorite TV Show: This has got to be Catfish on MTV. I fucking love this show. The people getting catfishes are incredibly gullible, and it's enjoyable to look at them get all worked up over these relationships with these phony people. I'm also gutted that the season is over, and I have to wait some more weeks (or months, I have know idea how often the seasons start).

Favorite Human: I've been watching a LOT of Cryaotic on YouTube. I like his videos because they're interesting to watch and he makes them really long—perfect for binge watching. Oh, and his voice in angelic. Go check him out if you're into YouTube gaming.

Favorite Food/Drink: In an attempt to be healthier, I've started drinking green tea. A lot of green tea. I also drink a lot of coffee and milk. Super yummy, and not lot like that fluffy shit at Starbucks that the kids drink these. Not bagging on Starbucks, but teen girls shouldn't say they like coffee if they only ever drink Vanilla Bean Frappuccinos.

Clothing & Beauty Haul: 21-22 July 2014

Firstly, I would like to apologize for the lack of posts. I've been incredibly busy with family visiting, and my mom and I just recently had a birthday. Also, homework is a pain in the ass.

But, I wanted to start posting hauls, and I had some free time on my hands so I thought, "What the hell, let's actually make blog posts." So, here we are!

On the 21st, my mom and I had to drive down to Salt Lake City to drop my cousin off at her brother's apartment, and while we were there, we decided to pop into Steinmart. Steinmart isn't really my kind of store, because most of the clothes are for women older than me. However, I did manage to find a lovely stripy dress, leggings, or tights (I have no idea what we're calling them now), a bag, and a chambray top.

The dress is really cute, but its a little short (which is why I also purchased the leggings), and the fabrics a little heavy. Personally, I think I wouldn't need the leggings if I had skinny legs. But it's fine, because the legging/tight things are really lightweight, even if I think my legs look stubby in them.

The bag is definitely my new favorite bag. It looks like a wicker basket, which makes me feel like Jane Birkin, who, according to me, is one of the prettiest people ever to walk the face of the earth. It's a really great summer bag, and can hold a lot of things, which I've never really needed, because I never have a lot of shit to put into my bags.

The day after, my friend and I went back into the city to pick up some beauty items and celebrate my birthday a little bit early, since she wasn't going to be there. The first stop on our list was obviously Sephora, where I got some excellent beauty products. I grabbed the Eyeko Deluxe Mascara Duo, which consisted of the Black Magic and Midnight Blue mascara. Both, I think, will make great substitutes to the Eyeko mascara that I already have. However, I was nervous getting the Midnight Blue mascara, because, it's blue. Like, really blue. I read on the back of the tube that the blue makes your eyes pop, and also makes the whites of your eyes whiter. Will report back if these facts are verifiable.

The next product that I grabbed was Origins Clear Improvement ® Active Charcoal Mask Pods (another mouthful, Origins knows how to name) which are basically four little sampler pods of the face mask. I'm not too sure how well Origins products work (for me, at least), because I only own one other face mask, which is nothing like the charcoal mask. But I'm really excited to see if the mask will make an improvement to my already fucked up face. :-)



Now, because my birthday was the day after the shopping trip, Sephora also gave me the Happy Birthday Beautiful birthday gift, which is a Make Up For Ever travel sized/sampler product of a mascara and a lipstick. Unfortunately, you don't get to pick out the lipstick shade yourself, but it was fine, because the shade that they do give you is really pretty, natural pinkish brown shade. It literally almost looks like the lipstick version of the skin pigment on your lips, except maybe a little browner. The mascara is intense, with an incredibly huge brush—something I'd never pick out on my own. I guess it'll be a good sub for when I run out of all the mascaras that I just
purchased.

After Sephora, we peaked into H&M, where my friend bought me a cool muscle tee that I cannot show you at the moment, because it's in the wash. But it's white, and loose and feels great. She also got me a pineapple necklace, which is pretty rad because, well, pineapples. It's gold, too, so I feel very on trend, which is something I hardly ever feel.

Subsequently, I did two things I didn't think I would ever do: purchase something from Forever 21, and purchase something at Forever 21 in the men's section. Like every teenage girl, I've purchased things from Forever, things that were very on trend for the moment. But unlike teenage girls, I prefer quality over quantity when it comes to clothes. And for me, Forever just doesn't sell good clothes. Yes, they're cute, but I've had their tops become unthreaded really quickly after purchasing. My friend wanted to pop in, and while browsing around (Yes, in the mens section. I like to know what men are buying.) I found a top that screamed me because it had dinosaurs on it. Yes, dinosaurs. I have an addiction. I'm now sixteen and I like dinosaurs like an nine-year-old boy likes dinosaurs. Anyway, the shirt is nice and lightweight, and since it was in the men's, it came in a size extra large, which is good for me, because extra large men shirts are probably one the comfiest things ever. Now I just need a boyfriend to wear it and spray his cologne on it.

PS: The photo of the dino shirt is from my Instagram, and if you want to (or not, I believe that you're intelligent enough to make your own choices), you can follow me @johnsonlindsayh