I Will Never Shut Up

Tonight, I got into a disagreement on Facebook. Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds. I’m tired and beyond frustrated of the racism, bigotry, and sexism that has become mainstream in this country during this election cycle. There are major media outlets reporting on it every day, comments that in a normal election cycle would get a candidate disowned by his/her own party, but it somehow, has become acceptable.

The United States of America is BETTER than this.

We pick hope over fear.

Love trumps hate. Every damn day.

You’re different, awesome, welcome! You have a place here, because in the US, we accept EVERYONE, from EVERY walk of life. Not just the whites ones. Or the rich ones. Or the ones that belong to the “correct” religion.

I cannot and will not keep quiet. I have a voice and I will use it until the day I die. I will stand up to discrimination, sexism, racism, bigotry, bullies, etc. I hope that you all use your voices, too.

And vote. For the love of all things holy, VOTE. Don’t skip on voting because you  don’t like the candidates. You don’t need to like them. You don’t need to want to have a beer with them. It is not a personality contest, it is a contest of qualifications. Do you research. Use bipartisan sites to fact check claims. Please don’t let the talking heads on MSNBC, CNN, and Fox be the ones that inform you.

As Americans, we are smarter than this.

Lipstix & Chill

The ol’ Play by Sephora came in last week and I’ve been putting the products to the test ever since then! I do love a subscription box! And without further ado, the main event, product reviews:

–Smashbox Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver’s Seat:  Oh Smashbox, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I’ve loved Smashbox ever since I tried their original Photofinish primer years ago. Do you remember when people didn’t use primers? Good gawd, we were cavepeople. Anyway. I’m the crazy girl in Sephora that is swatchy liquid lippies up and down her arms. And I always gravitate back to Smashbox. Sephora describes Driver’s Seat as a warm pink, I don’t truly agree with that description. It not warm and it’s not quite neutral, it’s like a little hybrid baby of the two. And Smashbox doesn’t dry down quickly, which I like because it gives you time to fix any of your mistakes.

–The Estée Edit  Flash Photo Gloss: Oh hello, white teeth! High shine gloss with cool blue undertones is an understatement! If you’re wanting to brighten your smile before a night out, this baby is for you. It has minty/vanilla scent to it, but it’s not overpowering. The finish is slightly sticky, but you can work with it so that your hair or food doesn’t get stuck to it all night long. And in the tube, it looks a lot like those chrome nails that are so popular on Insta.

–Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum: Did anyone else have to Google what in the world Framboos is? Ok, great, I’m not alone. Framboos, my dears, is Dutch for raspberry. Drunk Elephant claims that raspberry is used to rehydrate and smooth your skin. Awesome, sign me up! To me, it doesn’t have much of a scent, which is totally okay with me (Hey beauty/skincare industry, not EVERYTHING needs to smell like something! Chill, ok). I’ve used this at night for a week straight and I found my skin to be brighter and more even-toned. It is definitely an investment, BUT, if you’re like me, you’d rather invest in your skincare, instead of having to pay a ton of money to cover it up with makeup.

–Farmacy Skin Dew Hydrating Essence Mist: As I’m writing this, I’m alternating between typing and spritzing my face with this essence mist. I can’t quite place the scent, it’s earthy, but not dirty smelling, but somehow, it also smells clean. It dries down to a slightly sticky finish, but doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. And it definitely makes the skin dewy. If you tend to be oily, I wouldn’t recommend this as a setting spray, but you could use it at night as an essence, especially if you’re doing one of the 10-step Korean skincare routines.

–Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture Scent & Shine Coconut Oil: It’s as if they bottled up hopes and dreams. My gawd. It’s amazing. The smell. The texture. The claims that it actually follows through on. It brings a tear to this product junkie’s eye. You literally only need a drop. If you find yourself trying to use two drops, stop yourself and I will slap some sense into you. Happiness…this oil is pure happiness. I really can’t say anymore. And if you haven’t added it to cart by now, you’re doing life wrong.

–Derek Lam 10 Crosby:  I don’t think I’ve ever spritzed a perfume on myself and automatically gone, “oooooooh!” But Derek Lam’s perfume has done that to me. I can’t even explain the scents to you. It smells like that perfect balance of fall and winter. It makes me think of cozy sweaters and chilly walks through Paris. But that’s not useful to you, so here’s what Sephora says: Pure and simple, this soft blend of white musks and subtle florals evokes a calm moment amongst the chaos of NYC. Ok, so they evoke NYC, but I think it’s Paris. There’s something beautifully Parisian about this perfume.

 

As always, all opinions stated here are my own and this is not sponsored in any way. I pay monthly for this subscription and I’m so thankful that I do.

Let me know if there’s any product you’d like me to review!

 

Xoxo,

The Opinionette

 

Running…It Can Be the Worst

I recently joined a local running training program and to be honest, I don’t know what in the world I was thinking!

I’ve never been a runner. I have no idea what a runners high feels like. To me, running is work. Monotonous, boring, often painful, work. In the past, I’ve run because I played club, high school, and later on, college soccer. For me, running after a ball, running to support a teammate’s play, running to make a GREAT play, wasn’t really running. It was being part of team. It was going after a common goal.

Running for the sake of running? What in the world did I sign up for?!?

Both of my parents have participated in this running program for the majority of 2016. My mother LOVES it, possibly more than her kids on some days. My dad did it mainly to support my mom, but ended up getting sidelined because of a knee injury. I thought to myself, “Self, maybe you’ll enjoy it as much as they do!”

Sure. Sure. The lies we tell ourselves.

To be honest, I don’t hate it. I had forgotten that I hate exercising with people. I’ve never been one of those people who chats at the gym. The gym is for working out. So, it has been hard for me to see the community side of it.

Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, I suffer from depression. And some days, getting out of bed and putting on pants is a win. It makes it hard when I want to go out for a run (more like a run/walk in my case, but anyway) and I physically can’t get it together. And then I beat myself up because I didn’t work out, which then makes me even more depressed. It’s a vicious cycle.

But I’ve committed to it, all 8 weeks of it. And I’m going to try to stick to the schedule as much as I can. I will be gentle with myself when I come up short some days. And I will push myself when I feel able. One and half weeks in, six and a half week to go.

 

October Birchbox Product Review

Ok, folks, it’s that time of the month! Birchbox review! I’ve been a member of Birchbox for several years now. Some months are hits and some are misses. I’ve never been disappointed enough that I’ve wanted to unsubscribe. I’ve watched videos on YouTube where people have left Birchbox because they’ve been disappointed. I think that’s unrealistic to expect a subscription box to make you happy EVERY month, especially when the cost is only $10. Even if I don’t love a month, I at least get products to use when I travel, which makes packing easier. That’s a win in my book.

And without further ado, it’s product review time:

–Parlor by Jeff Chastain Smoothing Blowout Spray: Ok, I RARELY blow dry my hair. Mainly because I have a ton of it and I’m super lazy when it comes to hair. But, I did try this product and it was ok. I won’t purchase it once the sample runs out, but if you blow dry your hair often, you’ll like this. And if you’re into scents, it has a nice one. Not too heavy and not too fake smelling.

–Madison Reed Nourishing Color-Enhancing Conditioner: This conditioner claims to help extend the life of your color, while being sulfate and paraben free. I really liked the smell, it smells like coconut and vacations. I know that’s a random description, but that’s the best way to describe it! And it made my hair silky soft.

–Madison Reed Nourishing Color-Enhancing Shampoo: Similar claim as the conditioner above, but I didn’t actually like the shampoo. I know a lather is supposed to be bad for your hair, but I like some lather. And my hair didn’t feel clean after I’d used it.

–Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara: It’s rare that I say this about a product, but, I LOVE LOVE LOVED this mascara. It added volume to my puny, little baby eyelashes. It didn’t smudge throughout the day or make my eyes burn. And it came off easily with an oil-based makeup removed. It is a very deep black, which I love to make my baby lashes stand out. I will definitely purchase this once the sample runs out! Nice job, Mally. (ps – if you aren’t following Mally on social or are unfamiliar with her brand, I really love supporting her because she’s so positive)

–Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask: This was my sample choice for that month and I am SO glad that I picked it. I had wanted to try this mask for awhile, but was deterred by the price tag. I love the consistency of this product, it’s so unique. It’s feels like a cross between Jell-O and those Jumby toys. I know, that sounds weird, but trust me. This mask is organic and made in the United States (Vermont, I believe), so you’re supporting a US-based business. On top of that, it really works.  My skin feels so soft and smooth after one use, and the next day, it looked brighter. You have to love that. I’m saving up my Birchbox points to get this baby!

 

As always, I hope you enjoyed my product review and if there’s something you want me to test out, let me know in the comments below!

 

And if you want to try out Birchbox for yourself, you can do so here.

Xoxo,

The Opinionette

Product Review: Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour

Through Influenster, I received two products from Maybelline to try out. Both were from their Super Stay Longwearing Lip Color Collection. The claim from Maybelline:

“This longwear lip color won’t cake, dry, flake, or fade thanks to our unique Microflex technology that leaves lips feeling fresh through 24 hours of wear.” 

Great! I love a longwearing lip color and finding a great lippie at drugstore prices? Score! I received two colors (again, this was complimentary, but this post is NOT paid or sponsored in any way): Keep Up the Flame and Constant Toast. Keep Up the Flame is a blue-toned red that is perfect for fall and Constant Toast is a nude, definitely more on the neutral side than what shows on Maybelline’s site.

I was excited to receive these two products and quickly pulled them out for swatches.

Constant Toast (top) & Keep Up the Flame (bottom)

Beautiful colors, right? I loved how they swatched, but that was the end of my love for Constant Toast. It dries very streaky on the lips and patches up. However, Keep Up the Flame wears beautifully. My biggest tip: follow the directions exactly. Put on the liquid color,wait until it dries down, then use the topper. I don’t know why one color wore better than the other, but definitely check them out. They will stay all day!

An Open Letter to Secretary Clinton

Dear Secretary Clinton,

Thank you for everything you said in defense of the Affordable Care Act and your recognition that it does need improvement.

I currently have coverage because of ACA through Covered California. I have a pre-existing health condition and one that requires very rarely used drugs to treat (rare in the sense that most pharmacies have to special order my medication so I can get refills). Because of your work, dating back all the way to the 90s and the work of the Obama administration, I have coverage today. I’m able to see my specialist and only be responsible for my copay. I can get blood work done every 6 weeks to check my liver and kidney functions, and instead of stressing about how I’m going to foot the bill, I pay my copay and go on my way. I refilled the FOUR prescriptions that keep me alive and functioning this week, and because of the ACA, it cost me $40. Without healthcare, it would cost me thousands. ACA is not perfect, but it is a start. And when building something from scratch, it should not be expected to be perfect the first time around. 

Thank you for your defense of the ACA on Sunday. I voted for you in 2008 and I’m beyond proud to vote for you again in November. Thank you for fighting for people like me, who wouldn’t survive without the ACA.

You have my vote.

The Struggle Inside.

Depression hurts.

It’s not visible.

It’s not understood by everyone.

It’s hard to diagnose and even harder to treat, whatever treatment path you decide is the correct one for you.

As a society, we don’t talk about mental illness. There’s still a stigma around it. This might be an oversimplification, but people don’t understand what they can’t relate to. If they haven’t experienced the crippling nature that is depression, they don’t understand what it’s like.

To not be able to get out of bed…

To feel like there’s something sitting on your chest, weighing you done…

To fight for breath because the littlest action takes the wind out of you…

To feel so alone, so bleak, so lost, so painfully broken…

To cry gut-wrenching sobs in the shower because the pain won’t go away…

For those fighting depression every day, and it is a daily battle, I see you. I understand you. I walk with your pain. I hold space for it in my heart. I’ve fought with it for years. I’ve seen doctors who told me I needed to meditate and get outside more. I had a doctor who put me on Effexor and then, years later, took me off it without weening me off it. If you don’t know what Effexor withdrawals are like, they’ve been compared to coming off hard drugs, such as, heroine or cocaine. I would never wish that experience on my worst enemy.

Because of my battle, it causes me to disappear from time to time, much like I’ve disappeared from this blog. I apologize for that. My hopes, through this blog, is to build a discuss platform that allows for the exchange of ideas, opinions, and support. For those who stuck around, thank you. For those who have stumbled open my site, welcome. I hope you enjoy and contribute to the ongoing dialogue.

And for those battling any type of mental illness, don’t give up hope. You matter because you exist. You are beautiful, not broken. You are not scarred or damaged, you are strong and stunning. You MATTER.

 

xoxo,

The Opinionette

The family we choose.

Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.

Everyone’s heard it.

Everyone has someone they think of when they hear it again.

Since one of my best friend’s moved away (you can read about that here), I’ve been thinking about that a lot. My chosen family…

A little background on me, I’ve lived in 4 states in the last 9 years. If you’ve done that as well, props, it’s definitely not easy. I don’t recommend it unless you have a nomadic soul, which I do. I’m already jonesing to move again. I digress.

My point being…my chosen family is spread out across the United States and a few traipsing around Europe. I don’t get to see them as often as I would like. I wish we talked more, but in the busyness of life, we don’t. That’s ok, that doesn’t make them any less family.

I do get envious of the people who have stayed in one place for a long time and their chosen family is nearby. It makes life so much easier when you have a community, a tribe, a coven, whatever you decide to call it.

The ones who hold space for your grief.

The ones who dance and scream “YES” to life.

The ones who pull all-nighters with you.

The ones who call your actual family Mom and Dad.

To my chosen family, though you are far, I always hold you near.

Finding work.

I left my previous employer in 2015 after working there for 7.5 years. I was tired of Texas, tired of the work, tired of that industry. I wanted to come back to the West Coast and live closer to my family. In short, I was miserable.

I came back to California without a job, not the wisest choice, and not one that I quickly recommend to anyone. If you’re thinking of leaving your job, try and make sure you have everything lined up as much as possible. For the sake of your sanity. Thankfully, I was working again by September. And you know that phrase, “the grass is always greener”, well, I found out the hard way that it is all too true. I was employed, but even more miserable than I could possibly imagine. I loathed my boss and I’m pretty sure she felt the same about me, my coworkers were some of the most gossipy, backstabbing people I had ever encountered, and it was a contracted position, so I didn’t get sick leave, paid vacation, 401k, etc.

I can hear the collective eye roll. Believe me, I recognize that many people would see me as lucky to have had that job. That’s what I thought. Stay there, be miserable, but be thankful to be employed. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, they decided to end my contract. Without warning, without providing me a reason, without saying I did anything wrong. It was over. Such is the life of contracted work.

Fast forward two months, and I’m still looking for work. While unemployment sits at 5.1% nationwide, in California, it is still higher, closer to 6%. Not as bad as it used to be, but it’s still hard out there. It’s hard to stay positive, to keep putting in applications, hope for interviews and pursue leads. Well-meaning friends give unsolicited advice that makes you feel worse. Your parents, who haven’t had to find a new job in 20+ years wonder what’s wrong with you and your resume. And you start to question all the decisions you’ve made in your life. You ask yourself how you got here, to being unemployed, but also, having 8 years of work experience in a field you hate that translates into nothing you actually want to do. To not knowing exactly what you want to do and on some days, lack an inkling as to where to start.

It’s a dark place. It’s a sad place, often filled with a lot of tears. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But you keep plugging forward and hoping for the best. This too shall pass, right?

August Play! by Sephora Product Review

As everyone knows by now, I love monthly subscription boxes. The two main ones I get are Play! by Sephora and Birchbox. I wish they would do a skincare only subscription service*. If you have a good canvass, than makeup enhances your beauty and looks SO MUCH BETTER!

Anyway, onto the main event….my August Play! review:

– Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Smoothing & Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer:

Dewy glow…?? Not so much. And, it’s summer, I have oily skin, and my Sephora profile says that. For me, this wasn’t a good product for my skin. For people with truly dry and tired skin, I could see them loving it. It has a fantastic light texture, but a heavy scent, so if you’re scent-sitive (get it??? huh? ok, I’ll stop), I would ask for a sample at Sephora before purchasing.

– Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm:

First, you get a really generous sample, so props to Sephora and Algenist for hooking it up sample-wise. So the product description says it’s good to treat dark circles, fine lines/wrinkles, and puffiness. Check, check, triple check. It can be used day and night, but I use it in the morning because I wake up with super puffy eyes. So far, it has been an awesome edition to my morning routine. I haven’t used it long enough to decide if I will commit to a full size, but I definitely recommend it for anyone who has those eye issues.

– Make Up Forever Artist Shadow in Pink Granite:

Pigmented. Blendable. Beautiful color payoff. Make Up Forever, you can do no wrong in my eyes. AND a great sized sample. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. *slow clap*

– Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil in Plum:

So, the claim is 12 hour wear…did it live up to its claim? Yep, I took this baby out for a spin on Friday. My eyeliner remained smudge-free through all day meetings, dinner, drinks, and a little dancing. On top of losing the battle against allergies. Another win. Don’t underestimate the Sephora Collection, it has some amazing finds.

– Urban Decay Perversion Mascara:

I will be honest…I’m always very hesitant to stray far from my Benefit Roller Lash, buuuuuuut…..Urban Decay came through. Beautiful lashes, even my best friend commented on my lashes and wanted to know what product I was using. I do love Urban Decay (the Naked palettes are legit), so I wasn’t surprised that they brought out a great mascara. But really, what’s with the name?!?!

– Clean perfume:

Ok, I hate perfume samples. Hate, hate, hate. I’m super picky about perfume scents, most of them give me a massive headache, so I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t like the scent as a perfume. It smells like clean laundry, which is an amazing scent, but I don’t want my perfume to smell like it.

 

Did you love your Play! by Sephora this month? Any products that you are absolutely dying over?