The War Against Acne!!

As I have mentioned a few times in past posts, I have been at battle with a very stubborn opponent known as, ACNE! She is not nice at all, extremely annoying, and very aggravating. As if when she pops up to say hi, it's as if she is trying to instigate and provoke my frustration on purpose...So, I caved... I gave into the VERY over hyped, in my opinion, Pro Active. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when ordering this product due to many mixed reviews, however on the other hand, I thought, what would I have to lose, other then a few dollars to by the product along with my curiosity of whether it works or not. When receiving the product, I have to say I was a bit perturbed. It took well over a week maybe even two, for them to respond to me that they were finally sending out my product, however it did arrive within 2 to 3 days after the message was sent. I was a bit excited when finally receiving the package. I admit I did get butterflies, hoping it was the answer to my prayers. I couldn't wait to wash my face!


Sooo my review on this product after using it for half a month is, IT WORKS!! I would say that 90% to 95% of my acne has been put to rest, so far. Don't get me wrong, although this product does do a good job at clearing up your acne, it does come with its cons. After using the product for the first few days my acne was clearing up, but by the end of the week I literally felt as if I was leather face. My skin was sooo tight and extremely dry and I have combination/oily skin. It was as if when I went to moisturizer my face the moisturizer laughed and said "Oh yea Right!" All in all, with my experience, yes this product does work but you must make sure to find a good balance when using it. If you have dry or sensitive skin, I wouldn't recommend this product as it can be too harsh for your skin. However if you do decide to take a crack at it, don't be afraid, I would minimize the use to 2-3 times per week and a lot of moisturizer. The moisturizer I found that worked wonders in combination with proactive is Philosophy's Hope in a Jar.

I hope this post was able to be of service to you in some way and if you are or have struggled with acne and have found a system that works for you, Please leave a comment! I would love to know!

Peace&Clear Skin,
Amber Nicole

Lush Reviews - Grease Lightning

When it comes to skin care regarding your face, this is a tricky situation that you must get just right. As I have gotten older I'm realising that my skin has become more and more unmanageable and sensitive. More so then when I was in my teens. WTF??? Backwards right?? So at the moment I am seeking out the perfect skin regime when it comes to my face. Haven't quite locked down one that I am comfortable with but when I do, trust, I will let you know. So getting on to the point of this post. A couple weeks ago I took a trip to Lush and while I was there I made sure to pick up Grease Lightning, which I have heard nothing but great reviews about. Coincidentally this product came at a time when my skin had an insane reaction to a new tinted moisturizer I have been trying. I must say that this is a brilliant product not only because it works but it is made with all natural ingredients, always a plus in my book. I find that when comparing this topical acne treatment to others out on the market, Grease Lightning is the best by far. It immediately works to zap your unwanted zits and remains quite gently as to not affect your surrounding layer of skin. I've noticed with other treatments they tend to be ridiculously drying and make my skin look crusty and flaky, GROSS. Not Grease Lightning at all! Definitely a must if you are fighting the war with acne... to be continued =D

Peace&Clear Skin!
Amber Nicole

Make-up Masterclass by Jemma Kidd

So recently I have just become more and more obsessed with make-up and fashion more so make-up as fashion and clothes have always been my first obsession. As I have been building my make-up collection, in which I blame youtube for, I realized, now what to do with all of it?? I've always been one to keep things quite natural when wearing anything on my face, so I thought it be best to seek out some source of self taught material on make-up. Granted youtube is very helpful and was actually the first to get me more interested in make-up, however, there is just something about actual reading material and illustrations that catch my eyes and soak up my brain cells a lot more. I took a trip to my local bookstore and came across a good selection of make-up books by well known and respected make-up artists. I wanted them all but made my final decision with Jemma Kidd. I find that this book is very thorough and incorporates all the latest and up to date techniques and trends when it comes to make-up and the overall application of it. Also in the book you will find helpful tips and tricks when it comes to your skin and taking care of yourself. Definitely recommend this book, it's a must in every make-up beginners collection!

Peace&Jemma Kidd!
Amber Nicole <3

Unbroken Mold

In her lies the mystery that no one knows,
if they only knew to walk the line she dares to go,
Or dream the dream of dreams where in our hearts we hold,
the power to live the life we yearn for, till our days grow old,
only truth speaks true when our reflection looks back with eyes empty and cold,
from a world of muffled cries, hidden tears, and fake smiles that are often sold,
She prays the day will come when our awakening radiates our love for life and causes us to unfold,
but in her dreams the dream remains an unbroken mold,
because in her lies the mystery that no one knows...

I'm becoming a vegetarian... whhaaa???

Hey Beautifuls!
This post is going to be giving you the 411 and some tips on becoming a vegetarian. First off, a vegetarian lifestyle is very healthy for you and has been shown in studies to be very beneficial to our health and well being. Second, despite what you might have heard, there are more then one specific type of vegetarian. Third, again this is a lifestyle, not a diet. With that being said let's get to it.

What exactly is vegetarianism/vegetarian you may ask?
A: Vegetarianism is the practice of following a plant-based diet including fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, and seeds, with or without dairy products and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat meat, including: red meat, game, poultry, fish, crustacea, shellfish, and products of animal slaughter such as animal-derived gelatin and rennet.

Worried you can't do without some of the foods mentioned?
A: Worry not! Like I said before, there are several different styles of vegetarianism such as the following:

Semi-vegetarian- diets primarily consist of vegetarian foods, though occasional exceptions are made for some non-vegetarian foods, including fish, poultry and red meat.

Flexitarianism: A diet that consists primarily of vegetarian food, but includes occasional exceptions such as red meat.

Pescetarianism: A diet that is mainly vegetarian but also includes fish and sometimes other seafood.

Pollotarianism: A diet that is mainly vegetarian but also includes poultry.

Lacto-ovo vegetarianism is a vegetarian diet that permits consumption of animal products such eggs, milk, and honey.

Lacto vegetarianism permits milk but abstains from eggs.

Ovo vegetarianism permits eggs but abstains from milk.

Veganism abstains from all animal flesh and animal products, including milk, honey, and eggs.


So don't sweat it! Leading this very beautiful lifestyle can be quite easy and simple if you put your mind and heart to it. Odds are if you are interested in becoming a vegetarian and are reading this post then you are already taking the necessary steps on your path. What I found very resourceful to help build my knowledge was books, books,books, and of course the Internet. The very first book that I picked up and literally through me over the edge into this lifestyle was
"Skinny Bitch". This book is a must! Not necessarily for becoming a vegetarian but for your overall knowledge of what you are putting into your body. The writers of this book really did not hold back what so over when unveiling the truth about what is really behind the food industry i.e. factory farmed animals, pesticides, cancerous sugars, puss bacteria filled milk, and the list goes on. I warn you this book is not for the overly sensitive. I myself cried through a couple of pages in the book and there are even pages that I couldn't even attempt to bring myself to read. (the chapter was on how animals people eat are brutally slaughtered) :(
Aside from this book, I recommend beginners guide to becoming a vegetarian and vegetarian cookbooks. These books not only give you tips on what meals to put together but go into detail on what to look for when needing the right source of protein, minerals, vitamins, carbs, and fats, to keep yourself healthy.
I hope you are able to find this post at least a bit informative on your venture. I wish you all the best and please feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Peace&Vegetarians!,
Amber Nicole