KISS InstaWave Review #OBSESSED

In case you can't tell from the description of this video, I am OBSESSED with this product. This is hands down the best hair styling product I have ever owned. It is quick and easy to use and leaves your hair looking gorgeous all day (or night) long. The video shows how to get amazing curls in less than five minutes. No joke I finished my hair before "Uptown Funk" by Bruno Mars was done playing.

KISS InstaWave is a fully automatic tangle-free curler that instantly creates beautiful curls. It is easy for anyone to use, from any angle, with any hand and features a Curl Dial with left/right curl directions. It automatically shuts off after 90 minutes, and has 2 heat settings with a low/high switch with a maximum temperature of 420.

How to use:

1) Hold InstaWave vertically

2) Simply place section of hair on the InstaWave curling rod

3) Touch the Curl Dial either left or right, and the InstaWave instantly and automatically catches and curls the hair. Alternate between the two for the most natural looking curls.

4) Hold for 5-10 seconds, hold longer for tighter curls and less for beachy waves

5) Pull the InstaWave down vertically, letting hair out

I was given the opportunity to try the KISS InstaWave curler through Brandbacker, and you can learn more about it here. It's available at Target and Ulta, and it would be a great addition to anyone's Christmas list!

The Best New Skin Care Brand

   

I have never been one to be loyal to one brand for beauty products. I have always been a firm believer that no one company could be affordable and effective across all of their products, which is why my skin care/hair care cabinet looks like the Target beauty section vomited. It would take an extraordinary brand of products to change my mind on this, and InstaNatural has done it.

I was able to experience InstaNatural through a BrandBacker opportunity, and it has changed my skin care routine for the better, the much much better. Every product makes my skin feeling AMAZING, and gives me visible results. I started this routine right before finals week, and I swear it's the only reason I managed to look not only alive, but relatively normal despite my lack of sleep and abundance of stress. Here's a breakdown of the products I have had the pleasure to try so far.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This serum helps your skin retain moisture, so it's basically a booster for your moisturizer. It leaves your skin feeling soft and healthy, without feeling greasy. The more moisture your skin retains, the more it also retains vitamins and the benefits from your other skin care products.

Cellulite Cream

This is one of my favorite products. Even if you don't have cellulite, this cream will tighten up your skin so well you can see a difference in only three days.

Age-Defying Retinol Serum

Because I didn't actually understand retinol, I turned to the InstaNatural website for the best description. "Retinol (Vitamin A) protects against free-radical damage and is highly effective in reversing the appearance of sun damage and signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation and more." If that doesn't sound like something your skin needs, then you must be Jennifer Aniston. 

Advanced Action Retinol Moisturizer

"InstaNatural’s Retinol Moisturizer contains a robust formula of handpicked ingredients designed to transform older, damaged skin into a healthier and youthful appearance. Retinol is a powerful antioxidant derived from Vitamin A, one of the strongest and most trusted ingredients for anti-aging skin care. Once absorbed, Retinol is converted into Retinoic Acid, which starts working to help restore skin and diminish the appearance of sun damage and signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, hyperpigmentation, rough texture, and more."

Youth Express Age Defying Moisturizer

I've always heard that you should start an anti-aging regimen in your early 20's, and this is the perfect moisturizer for everything. It's light weight but leaves your skin feeling hydrated, nourished, and firm.

Youth Express Eye Serum
LOVE THIS PRODUCT, I smile too much (just kidding, that's not possible) so I already have crow's feet at the ripe young age of 21. I have bags under my eyes because well, college, but this product tackles all of these. So great. This is my top favorite.

InstaNatural is my new favorite skincare brand because the products are high quality, made from natural ingredients, and an affordable price. They have a bunch of different collections, that suite whatever skin care needs you may have. They also have products for hair! 

Shop InstaNatural.com now!
Powered by Brand Backer

High Standards are the Only Standards: Men

So many articles lately (especially on Elite Daily) are about how to be happy in a relationship, or what to look for in someone if you're going to settle down. To be honest, some of the lists are a little absurd. However, I do agree with the idea of knowing what you can and cannot tolerate when it comes to dating/guys. So I decided to take a look at my standards for dating. My top five standards are:

1. Intelligence
2. Sense of humor
3. Kindness
4. Ability to communicate
5. Chemistry

I need to date someone with an equal or higher intelligence than my own. I get bored so quickly by dull conversations and closed minds. Being able to debate current events or discuss our opinions on controversial topics are very important to me because I enjoy being mentally stimulated. I cannot imagine ever dating someone that never wanted to talk about anything new or lacked common sense.

A sense of humor is essential to every relationship. Anyone that knows me knows that I am very easily amused. While some people might view this as a negative because I'm always giggling at stupid things or laughing to myself, I like to look at it as I can laugh even when life isn't all that funny. If a guy can make me laugh, and likes to make me laugh, I'm hooked. Life will never be completely smooth sailing, and the ability to laugh and take everything in stride is extremely important. If I can laugh at him when he spills coffee all over the floor, he needs to be able to laugh at me when I forget to put gas in my car and need to call him to rescue me. Plus life is just better when you have someone to laugh with.

Kindness is very underrated as a quality people look for. I think that we always assume we'll date someone who is kind, but forget to think about whether or not someone is. I use the word "kind" instead of "nice" because of the whole "girls don't like nice guys" thing. I notice when a guy holds the door open for me, or is polite to a waiter, or just makes a comment about someone. Being kind can be a challenge, especially when it comes to talking about people. A guy who is kind in his actions and words, especially towards me, is a keeper.

I am a firm believer that communication solves almost all relationship problems. I love to talk (sometimes too much) and I've learned that communication is just so essential to a relationship. Being able to communicate to your SO your feelings/emotions and thoughts, and also understand theirs is a challenge. Listening is just as much a part of communication as talking. A relationship is a process of learning about another person, and how to compromise so you can work best together. If you don't know anything about their feelings and they don't understand yours, there is no way to find middle ground.

Some people don't believe in chemistry, but I absolutely think it's a thing. Sometimes people just don't mesh well together. And sometimes they mesh together so well it can be bizarre. I don't think that chemistry is permanent. You may not have strong chemistry with someone initially, but it could grow Or you may have it in the beginning, and it fades a bit. People change, but the essence should always be there. I think that there are people that we are just meant to "click" with, that when you meet, it just makes sense why you met. That's chemistry.

It's also very unlikely I'll ever have chemistry with a guy under 6'2 (kidding).

Keep your head, heels, and standards high.

Forgive Me, for I have Messed Up REAL Bad

I have never been a huge fan of saying "sorry". It always seemed like just another meaningless word to me. It seemed like a cop out that people used to get out of facing up to what they'd done wrong. "Sorry" doesn't mean you'll change, it doesn't mean things will change, it just means you have a feeling. I only used to accept apologies if they came with "I'm sorry and I will do _________________ to fix what I did wrong." I viewed sorry and apologies as a sign of weakness, and I viewed forgiving others as saying it's okay that they hurt you or treated you poorly. I had this view for almost my entire life, until I realized how much people forgave me for things that I never even apologized for.

A few weeks ago something happened in my life that turned who I am upside down. It completely changed my personality, my interactions with others, and my attitude about relationships, friendships, and being happy. I finally learned about being sorry. I learned about accepting apologies. I learned that you don't need to get an apology in order to forgive someone.

I have always been a very proud person. I always felt the need to defend my "honor" and my reputation against anyone that tried to mess with me. I was not afraid of confrontation. In fact, I figured if someone was ballsy enough to cross me, they deserved to be confronted. They deserved to deal with me face-to-face, and see if they still felt the same. I never backed down from an argument, hell I encouraged them, because I wanted to win and prove that I was right.

Turns out, if you go through life yelling at people, and confronting them about things that they do or say that really have no impact on your life, you'll end up alone and with a reputation for being a bitch (shocker, huh?). My roommate last year, and one of my closest friends, was usually with me when I would rant about so-and-so and how they said this about me to someone, and how I was going to put them in their place. She would always just look at me and laugh. "Why worry about that person? Do you realize who they are? They're irrelevant. They're saying stuff because they want to rock the boat. Don't let them." But I would ignore her and continue on my path of destruction. I knew she was right, but I had points to prove.

To live life in an angry way does nothing but cause pain. It hurts you, it hurts the people closest to you, and it hurts your ability to be happy. The first step to not being angry, is accepting the fact that you're mostly hurting yourself. There may be people in your life that make you happy, but if you're constantly an awful person, you will lose them. You will lose people that don't make you angry, but that don't want to deal with you. The second step, is forgiving whoever or whatever made you angry. So many times we hold onto anger about things we cannot control, or things that are in the past. There is no point, it just destroys your ability to live a pleasant life now and move forward.

You know what replaces that anger? Happiness. It might sound stupid, but when you just get over all the stuff you can't control and the stupid people that make you upset, your life is just better. When you're not angry, you can actually be calm. You can move forward, you can focus on yourself and your happiness, and it's easy to ignore the people that literally do not matter in your life.

Forgiving yourself can be as hard as forgiving anyone else. In the past year and a half (and obviously before, but specifically recently) I made choices that hurt myself and people that I cared about. I caused people that I care about to suffer. I lost people in my life that I cared a lot about. I was angry with myself for making the decisions I did, for causing the loss in my life that I did. I was angry at myself for making mistakes that I knew I would regret, but doing them anyway for stupid reasons. I hated admitting that I was responsible for so much "destruction" (super dramatic word) in my life, but I came to accept it, and I changed who I am.

Someone once said that mistakes are only mistakes if you don't learn from them. I think that they're still mistakes, but they're just valuable mistakes. Sometimes life can seem like you've messed up so much you'll never be able to fix everything. And yes, that might be true. But that doesn't mean that you need to keep messing more things up. If you decide to be happy, to accept mistakes and faults, and forgive anyone who has caused you to be angry or upset, your life will be so much better.

"Making a big life change is pretty scary. But you know what's even scarier? Regret."

The Flaunt Shop Giveaway!

So the undeniable truth is that fall is coming. But something that makes this fact tolerable is The Flaunt Shop's Labor Day Sale! The sale goes from now through Labor day, and the sale means my code TFSNY is worth DOUBLE, Which means 20% off on all non-sale items! To make this whole deal even sweeter, I'm doing a giveaway! Stock up on everything from cozy sweaters for chilly weather to dresses for game days and formal season!

I'm holding a giveaway through Instagram and email, to win a pair of The Flaunt Shop's high waist fleece lined leggings, and a pair of bow button earrings. Read the reviews of these leggings and you know you'll need them in your closet. And do I even need to explain why you need those earrings? No, I didn't think so.

All you have to do is make a purchase at TheFlauntShop.com using my code and share your purchase with me!

Rules:
1) In order to enter the contest you must make a purchase at TheFlauntShop.com using code TFSNY under "view cart."
2) Each item in your cart counts as one entry. All items purchased during the sale will count, whether or not they are all in the same order.
3) Send a copy of your receipt or some proof of purchase to TFNYSocialite@gmail.com, or post proof of your order to Instagram and tag @TheFlauntShop.NY and use #TFSNYGiveaway.
4) Contest ends August 31st!

Email TFNYSocialite@gmail.com or comment below if you have any questions. Also, if you're interested in becoming a Flaunt Shop Socialite, shoot me an email! Good luck and enjoy shopping the sale, I know I will!

Product Review: Introducing Make-up by One Direction

I had the lucky privilege of trying Make-up by One Direction before it's release date thanks to Brand Backer! I really liked the presentation of the makeup, it comes in a metal container that holds everything together and displays it nicely.

Now all we really care about what make up looks like on our face. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the makeup. I guess when I think of makeup that is associated with a group or celebrity I think of my Barbie makeup from when I was ten that was the worst stuff ever. This is not Barbie makeup.

I love the mascara. It really lengthens and thickens your eyelashes and isn't clumpy. Doesn't stay on super well but looks nice. The eye shadow set that I got (there are three color pallets) was a bit dark for my taste, but I could see myself wearing it to a concert or something. I love the lipstick, it's bright and stays on well. The lipgloss is FULL of glitter, and that stuff does not come off easily. Which is good if you want glitter lips for three days, but you'll need to use makeup remover to get it off otherwise. 

Overall I give the makeup a good quality rating. It's use depends on what you use makeup for. This is not the makeup set to use for brunch with your grandmother, but it would be awesome for a concert.

Check out how to get your own at

https://www.facebook.com/MakeupbyOneDirection

Please note: While I received these products for free from BrandBacker all opinions are my own. I gave my genuine impression of the items and their quality.

The Flaunt Shop Friday

So last week for The Flaunt Shop Friday I only featured one item. As I've shopped more and more on TFS's website I realized that there are way too many items that I'm obsessed with to just list one. So, my new compromise is one new arrival, and two classic items. Because who can get enough of TFS?

Certainly not me.

This week's new arrival is the Leave Him Speechless dress. I love this dress. I honestly cannot choose which I want more, the mint or the black. I know I'll end up with one of them in my closet because I am dying to wear it to a formal or date night. It's simple but still makes a statement, and can show off curves and a bangin' body like it's nobody's business. The mint is bright and eye catching, while the black is sleek and alluring. The cut out on the chest is teasing without giving away too much. Ugh, it's just a must have, but both colors are so perfect.

The first "classic" item (which was actually just restocked) is the Back Off top. I have school on the mind and this is an amazing top for going out in the fall. It's a crop top so you can show off your toned summer abs, but the three quarter sleeves mean you won't freeze if you're partying into the night after the sun goes down. The open back is a flirty twist that makes it easy to wear this top with leggings, jeans, short, or a skirt. Pretty much anything you want can be paired with this! I know that this is on my back to school shopping list, and it will probably become my go-to going out shirt.

My last item is the Limelight Skinny Jeans. Neon makes you look tan. Jeans make you look skinny. These pants are a win-win. If you're willing to show the world your abs this would be great paired with the Back Off top for going out, or you could just pair them with a more modest shirt for going to class or activities around campus. Jeans are versatile, but they don't have to be boring blue all the time. Being bright and making a statement is never a bad thing. If you've got it, flaunt it!

Use "CODEKO" or "TFSNY" under "view cart" for 10% off your purchase!

Click on any of the pictures to shop!

Living is not for the Weak

Life is not easy. It can be made easy, but it should not be easy. People who think that life is easy have never tried to do anything spectacular, they've never pushed limits or given it their all. They haven't put in extreme amounts of work or been turned down or had to earn their stripes. For people that have earned themselves an easy life, they know that life is not for the weak because you can't be weak to earn wealth. You cannot become a full person without pushing yourself and pressing your limits to the max.

Success comes from intensity. No one ever got where they wanted to be from being average, unless their goal was to stay on the bottom. Money, success, status, love, all of them require commitment, focus, and passion. Nothing can be exceptional without the intense desire to make it so. Not even a desire, but a need. If your life is easy, you're not trying hard enough to succeed. Sometimes there are insurmountable odds like illness and health issues, and sometimes life can just plain knock you down. There are reasons to accept just getting by. Sometimes just surviving is succeeding, and that is okay. But sometimes you need to get up and get after it, because if you don't, you'll be stuck in the same place that you don't want to be.

Being intense is not a bad thing. Do not settle for people who don't share your drive to succeed and your passion for excellence. Whether you want to have the best job, future, relationship, or just accomplish a goal everyone else thinks isn't within your reach, never accept mediocrity. And do not accept people in your life who do not support you. This doesn't mean you have to cut out everyone that doesn't think the way you do, but it does mean that you need to stop listening to them for guidance. 

Never be afraid of the next step. Never be afraid of taking a leap of faith. And never be afraid of what you can do. If there's a dream you want to accomplish, push your limits until you get there. Too much is never enough.

Beauty Blogger Tag

I got this tag from Ramblings of a Southern Belle and she said she was tagging everyone in it, so I figured I would give it a try! I know I'm not exclisively a beauty blogger, but I'm getting more into it, just wait ;)

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

It's naturally fluffy and usually wave.

2. What is your natural hair color?

Blonde

3. Do you dye it yourself or do you go to a salon?

I don't dye my hair anymore. 

4. How often do you wash your hair?

Every time I shower, which is everyday since I usually workout daily!

5. Do you wear the same style everyday or do you change it?

If I have anything important to do I blow dry my hair and then use velcro rollers to give it volume, and if I'm just bumming around I put in sea salt spray after my shower and wear it wavy.

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or do you go to a salon?

It depends.

7. How often do you change your nail polish?

I actually don't paint my nails very often because my nails are very strong. When I do paint them, it's usually a French manicure because I think they look so sharp.

8. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just in the summer?

My toes are always polished. I think toes look weird if they're not.

9. How long does it take you to put on your make-up?

If I'm not going anywhere special, about 2 minutes. Just mascara and eyeliner, and maybe a little blush. If I have something to do, about 25 minutes for everything.

10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

I do my face first because it just makes more sense to me.

11. Do you "collect" make-up or do you just buy what you need when you need it?

A little bit of both. I will buy products that I have had my eye on for a while even if I don't need them, but I don't do that just all the time.

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

I'm still building up the courage to wear fake lashes aka glue something to my eye. 

13. Do you wear a full face of make-up everyday?

Nope. If I am just staying at home, I don't wear any make-up. If I am just going to run errands, I usually just wear mascara. If I am going to work or out for the night, I wear a full face of make-up.

14. Do you wear make-up when you are home alone (or with family)?

Nope. I'll only put some vaseline on my eyelashes to make them look darker.

15. Will you leave the house without make-up?

Yes. Sometimes I just have a good face day and don't feel like dealing with makeup.

16. How many high-end products do you have?

Maybe one. I like to find inexpensive products that work well.

17. How often do you wash your make-up brushes?

About once a month. It's bad.

18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?

I usually decide in a panic when I'm looking through my closet five minutes before I'm supposed to leave the house. 

19. How often do you change your handbag?

Maybe twice a year. I use my KD bag when I'm at school. 

20. What time do you get up and go to sleep?

I'm a night owl so sometimes I'm up at 3am but I'm usually up by 10.

21. How often and when do you work out?

I try to run or at least power walk everyday, in addition to yoga and a couple of 30 day challenges.

22. Left-handed or right-handed?

Right

23. How tall are you?

5'9"

24. Do you speak a foreign language?

Spanglish.

25. How many pets do you have?

Zero :(

26. How often are you on Blogger? 

I aim for 7 days a week.

27. Do you read the comments left on your blogs/

Yes.

28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Sometimes.

29. How did you come up with your blog name?

You can read all about it here.

30. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?

My iphone. 

31. How often do you clean your house?

Haha cleaning.

32. What is your favorite color?

Pink

33. What is your favorite beauty/fashion magazine?

Vogue

34. Do you swear?

More than I would like to admit. 

35. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

I'm actually writing this at 2:30 in the morning so sleep!

SS Article: Why Every Sorority Girl Needs a Panhell Lover

Check out my second article for Sorority Stylista!

http://sororitystylista.com/2014/07/every-sorority-girl-needs-panhell-lover/

Cinnamon and Honey Cleanse

There are plenty of products in the world that claim to make you lose weight quickly, or drop inches in a week, but I personally don't trust any of them. I don't know what some pill is made of that I have to take three times a day on the full moon or twice a day on the half moon and jump up and down three times before I take it. Sounds sketch. Plus, companies are making money from these products, which means they probably don't care if they really work or not, they're just out for a profit. I'm not trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, so I decided to try a pin that I've had for a long time that is supposed to help with weight loss: cinnamon and honey.

I have never done any sort of cleanse before. I'm planning on doing the master cleanse before school starts, but I think for the good of society (and my relationships) that I should avoid situations that put me in a 24/7 state of hangry-ness. So in the meantime, I've been doing the cinnamon and honey cleanse. Basically you mix two teaspoons honey with two teaspoons cinnamon and mix them together with a cup of boiling water. You are recommended to drink this concoction before bed, and thirty minutes before breakfast in the morning.

Cinnamon and honey in water does not taste as good as it sounds. Thinking to yourself that it doesn't even sound that good? Yup, you've got it. It's not unbearable, but I struggle to get the last bit down every time, and if you let it cool too much it is absolutely disgusting. So two notes: drink it fast and drink it hot.

So why subject myself to this weird mixture twice a day? Well for one, the first night I did it I woke up four pounds lighter. Attribute that to what you may, but I think it made a difference. Secondly, after drinking it one night and then one morning, working out became SO much easier. I actually enjoyed my run, and didn't feel like I was about to face plant into the pavement from lack of oxygen. This mixture really makes you feel better. I doubt that's something that extreme diets and wacky pills can say. I think that if combined with healthy eating and exercise this cleanse can make a difference.

I'm not saying drinking this mix will solve all of your weight loss problems, but there are also a lot of other health benefits to the combination. Besides weight loss, cinnamon and honey together have a ton of health benefits from healing stomach ulcers to improving your immune system to helping cure your cold. Apparently the cure to all of the world's health ailments are right in your baking ingredients and spice cabinets!

Why You Shouldn't Be KD

Check out my first Sorority Stylista article!

It has over 17,000 views already, so I must be doing something right!

http://sororitystylista.com/2014/07/reasons-shouldnt-kd/

Hello Monday, is that you?

 I cannot believe it's Monday again. Weekends really need to be more than two days long, there's just too much fun to be had. Someone should work on that.

The weekend was a blast, spent up at the St. Lawrence River, with good friends and a lot of sun and food. The water was a bit chilly but still beautiful. Some day I will own an island with a house and a boat, and I will watch the sunset with a glass of wine every night. That is a part of my life goals now.

But for now, it's back to reality of another week. New jobs, new challenges, but also new memories. Last week I signed my first modeling contract, became a writer for Sorority Stylista, got two babysitting jobs, and then spent the weekend getting tan on a boat. I don't know how this week could possibly compare to that, but I guess we'll see!

Don't forget to check out The Flaunt Shop for their new arrivals today! They sell out quick, but use CODEKO under "view cart" for a discount on your purchase!

The Flaunt Shop Friday: Take Me to Tahiti Dress

I think that a lot of maxi dresses can make girls look like giant blobs, or remove all of their shape. The main reason I am OBSESSED with this dress is that it still shows off your features while being comfortable and relatively casual. It would be perfect for date nights or running errands.

This dress is so popular that it's already sold out! It's one of the most popular pins on Pinterest, and it's light weight and flowy style make it perfect for summer. Gotta have it? Good news, it's being restocked on Monday so mark your calendar and get your credit card ready.

Click on the pictures to go to The Flaunt Shop's website. As always, use CODEKO under "view cart" when you shop!