Why you should be taking a probiotic everyday

If you’re thinking “What even is a probiotic?”, the answer is already inside of you (LITERALLY)! Probiotics keep your gut healthy and promote a healthy digestive system. Adding more of these to your body allows for food to be digested properly and helps destress your digestive system.

The first type of probiotic I ever tried was greek yogurt! Whenever I had a stomach ache or felt heavy after eating a large meal I had a little greek yogurt, which did the trick when I was younger.

The next type of probiotic I discovered was Kefir! Kefir is a yogurt type drink that contains live probiotics and comes in a variety of yummy flavors! I really enjoy this type of probiotic to throw into a smoothie!

Kombucha is another type of probiotic that has become popular! Whole Foods carries a variety of flavors and even has some chia seed kombucha drinks. I love kombucha and find it super refreshing, it has an apple cider vinegar taste that’s bitter and sweet at the same time.

Lately, I’ve been taking a probiotic pill every morning from Whole Foods because of my busy schedule! Make sure the product is refrigerated or freeze dried when you buy these types of probiotic pills. Live probiotics need cold environments to survive in order for them to work their magic!

The reason I take a probiotic everyday is due to the fact that they support digestive health and therefore immune system! I don’t feel as sluggish as a consequence of the energy it takes to digest my food, since the probiotics are helping maintain my digestion’s efficiency.

Let me know about your favorite types of probiotics or supplements in the comments section below! Thanks for reading!

Skincare Routine | Daytime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve simplified my daytime skincare routine over the years, because I usually let my coffee cool as I’m applying these products. BASICALLY I like a routine that’s short and simple so I can get back to sipping my coffee and applying my makeup! I have combination skin– oily T-zone and dry everywhere else– and these products have worked really well for me!

Su:m 37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick- I’ve fallen in love with this product! It lasts so long and is easy to travel with because it’s a solid formula! The cleansing stick never dries my skin out and the rose petals in the formula lightly exfoliates! 

Pixi Glow Tonic– I’m very prone to breakouts because of my combination skin, and I feel as though I haven’t had any in a while thanks to this toner! I just apply this on a cotton pad and rub it on my face focusing on my T-zone. The smell is also heavenly and is very refreshing in the morning. The glycolic acid in the formula helps exfoliate lightly and helps prep for my moisturizer.

Burt’s Bees Day Lotion– I’ve recently discovered this moisturizer and so far I really love it! However, because of the spf 15 there is a white cast when you first apply it to your face. If you continue to rub this product into your skin the white cast tones down and doesn’t look as ghostly. My CC cream has spf 50 so I feel as though the spf 15 in this product is perfect for me.

Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist– When my skin is feeling pretty dry, I like to mist this either before my moisturizer or before and after my makeup. I’ve been obsessed with face mists and love to refresh my skin with them throughout the day! 

Evan Healy Wild Carrot Eye Balm– I love the formula of this product, and again I love how it’s so easy to travel with because it’s a solid formula! I typically put this under my eyes and in other areas that are prone to wrinkles like my smile line areas and forehead. I find that it’s a perfect base for undereye concealer, which is why I like to use it during the daytime!

 

Stay tuned for my current nighttime skincare routine! I’d love to hear about your routine as well so leave yours in the comment section below! 

Spooky Gallery Wall | Ideas and DIY Guide

Creating a cool gallery wall is easier than it looks! I really thought about my aesthetic and my favorite things. I also tried to keep a color scheme of black, white, and red.

I purchased an Alexander McQueen Calendar when I was in NYC at the Met’s Exhibition of Savage Beauty a couple of years ago. I decided to frame two of the pictures that worked with other elements of my gallery wall. The antler jacket matched my chrome gazelle hook, and the Scottish kilt dress matched the reds and greens in the Phantom of the Opera poster.

I wanted to leave space in the middle to highlight the smaller pieces, such as the plates and the air plant house. I also liked adding in some phrases in order to break up some of the images.

Fun Fact: The frame that states “Of course, there’s always my way…” is a quote from the beginning of the Haunted Mansion ride, which is my favorite!

Some of my favorite spooky gallery wall finds under $50:

Smoke Blue Antlers Wall Decor • Pier 1 Imports • $39.98

Asstd National Brand Stratton Home Dcor Black Baroque Mirror • Asstd National Brand • $47

Melody Rose – Skull In Red Crown Side Plate • £21.35

Merci Merci La Lune Art Print • Urban Outfitters • $19–199

Set Of 2 Trigg Small Wall Vases • CB2 • $24.95

Dormify Sketch Skull Print • Dormify • $15–29.99

Mini Guide to the Power of Essential Oils

One of my favorite parts of my daily routine is diffusing essential oils. At first, I was so confused about how they actually work and just imagined them being a replacement for candles. But, in my opinion, aromatherapy is so real and relaxes/motivates/de-stresses me! Here are a few of my favorites I’ve been using:

• Lemon– Really awesome pick-me-up when I’m feeling tired or need more energy! I also love mixing this with Rosemary, isopropyl alcohol, and water for a bathroom spray!

• Rosemary– Rosemary is very uplifting and nice whenever I’m feeling upset or have anxiety. I find it very calming and relaxing.

• Clary Sage- I bought this one thinking it would have similar magical powers to burning sage, jokes! But it really does help at the end of the day with calming properties and smells fantastic mixed with Lavender!

• Lavender– The classic OG essential oil! Lavender is soo soothing and I honestly cannot go a day without using this one! I even bought Lavender essential oil body oil for putting on after a shower!

• Rose– Really great for self-confidence and overall a strong essential oil. I usually mix this one with Ylang Ylang or Lavender because on it’s own Rose has a strong fragrance.

• Clean the Air Blend- I purchased this blend from Whole Foods! I typically use it when I’m starting to get sick or have a sore throat. I honestly think this blend has kicked so many of my colds and I especially love diffusing this one after a warm shower.

• Naturally Loveable Blend– SUCH a beautiful blend I, again, purchased at Whole Foods! Whenever I want to have some me time, I diffuse this blend and the whole room smells so comforting and citrusy!

• Ylang Ylang– Love this essential oil before bed mixed with Rose or Lavender! My sister first told me about this blend and we couldn’t stop laughing about the name! The smell is very strong, like Rose, but mixed with another essential oil it’ll send you off into a peaceful night’s sleep!

Some of these blends I purchased at Whole Foods because I like how you can smell the essential oils before purchasing. A great place to buy essential oils on a budget is TJ Maxx or Marshall’s! Just make sure the label says it’s Therapeutic Grade.

Two magical ingredients to add to your morning coffee…

Photo: Monik Marcus

I’m obsessed with coffee. I know it’s bad to be addicted to caffeine, but I can’t help it if I’m the walking dead without a cup every morning. Through reading about different types of “healthier” coffee choices, I came up with my own little concoction!

Cinnamon Powder

Cinnamon has properties to lower blood pressure, and tastes great as well! I love sprinkling a little cinnamon in my morning cup of coffee because it helps me chill out and get ready for the day ahead.

Turmeric Powder

Turmeric has properties to help with inflammation! If you have any kind of soreness or inflammation, turmeric might just be the botanical helper you need.

Be aware that I am not a doctor and these two ingredients are not cure-all’s, however I do feel as though they spice up my morning coffee! I encourage you to do your own research and try out different types of morning potions to see what works for your body.

In between Tim Burton and Hello Kitty…

Very often I find myself between a binary that typically doesn’t come together. On one hand I love spooky vibes like skulls, Tim Burton films, the band Sisters of Mercy, and many other dark aesthetics. On the other hand, I also love girly aesthetics such as light pink, Hello Kitty, and Gossip Girl.

Both styles were present while I was growing up, but recently I’ve learned to incorporate both aspects into my personal style. Piecing together my own unique style was as difficult as solving a 10,000 piece puzzle. I often got comments on how I wore all black one day and a pink sundress the next day. Instead of dressing with one binary in mind, I learned to incorporate both vibes into single outfits as well as my own room decor.

For example, pairing a pillow that says “Good Morning Gorgeous” in gold script with a pillow with an anatomical skull on it displays my style perfectly. Pairing my Marilyn Manson T-shirt with a full face of makeup, contour and all, is another way I combine my own unique style. Gossip Girl and American Horror Story will also always be some of my favorite shows, to which I no longer need an explanation.

Hiding the darker side of my style often faced me with feelings of incompleteness. Giving myself a chance to explore my love of everything spooky provides me with self-acceptance. Don’t let anyone put you in a box or limit you to a certain aesthetic. Let yourself explore your own unique style or vibe!

Mystical Room Vibes

While decorating my new apartment bedroom I thought about the vibe I wanted my room to have. Definitely spooky, with touches of old world elegance. Collecting beautiful pieces with skulls and other spooky aspects is something I can typically only do during October. However, every year during Halloween time I rummage through T.J. Maxx, Homegoods, and Marshall’s for the perfect spooky and elegant decor!

Creating a space where I can display my own personality made decorating  super fun! Pinterest is the best place to cultivate decor vibes as well as other fun DIY ideas for your apartment or bedroom. I currently have a bedroom Pinterest board as well as a spooky vibes Pinterest board where I can sort through items to create a mood for my room.

 

I’m currently working on a spooky gallery wall, and will post on the finished project! I’d love to see other room decor vibes as well so make sure to comment your style! I’ve often thought my spooky and elegant style was hard to work with, but once I started to collect specific items for my room everything came together.

Winter Favorites 2017

 

Hello all! I first would like to start by saying sorry for taking so long to post! I’ve been super busy with school, family, and life stuff! I promise I’ll try harder to be more consistent with posting! Let me know what you want me to discuss in the comment section!

The first product I wanted to mention is Pixi’s Glow Tonic, which is my greatest find of, dare I say, THE ENTIRE YEAR. Since using it, I have not had one single break out. I KID YOU NOT! This product must have some magical sort of qualities to it because I’ve been swearing by this every morning! The smell is also super refreshing, like watermelon and honeydew melon! The Glow Tonic also comes in a travel size which is nice to try out without wasting your money if you don’t like it!

The next product is the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, which I picked up by accident. I own a Beauty Blender as well, however I’ve noticed I’ve been reaching for the RT sponge more often than the BB. I really like the cut side to use for concealer, and then I use the pointed side to set my concealer with powder. I just found the texture so similar to the Beauty Blender, and the price point at around $7 is WAY cheaper!

Another product that caught me by surprise is Too Faced’s Hangover Replenishing Face Primer! I got the travel size version of this product while I was searching Sephora for cosmetics to bring for my trip to Hawaii. I have combination skin, which is why I was apprehensive to use this product because I hate looking too greasy! However, the product sinks into the skin when you apply it and you’re left with this super moisturized, fresh feeling! I’m not super into primers, but this one just might’ve converted me into a believer!

Another Pixi product that I stumbled upon is the H20 SkinTint–I’m in the shade cream. I wanted to try a lighter foundation or bb cream for everyday wear. I was pleasantly surprised with the buildable coverage of the SkinTint! I even mix it with my It Cosmetics CC Cream (which I’ve previously mentioned in my Fall Favorites) to make my skin a little more glowy! I also like the way it blends out with a brush, it doesn’t leave streaks or any patches! I’m definitely repurchasing this product forever!

The Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette earned it’s place in this favorites post because it makes me look like a moon goddess when I use it. I cannot get over Kat Von D products, not just for the quality but also because they’re vegan and cruelty free! At first, I was unsure about when I would use these types of iridescent highlights, however they’re super versatile! I use them as eyeshadows and even over lipsticks for extra glow!

I’ve switched to natural deodorant without aluminum, however I’m sensitive to propylene glycol. I found Schmidt’s Deodorant in Bergamot and Lime at Whole Food’s one day and I thought I would try it out. So far, this has been my favorite all natural deodorant! I’ve tried making my own and it was a disaster! But I highly recommend this brand, if you want to make the clean deodorant as well.

Burt’s Bees is an allover good brand, in terms of sustainability and product quality! I purchased the Burt’s Bees Lily Lake Lipstick from CVS because I need a more moisturizing lipstick in winter. I’ve been super pleased with the pigmentation and the hydration!

The Kevin Murphy Shimmer Shine Spray is one of the more pricey products I’ve purchased in the past couple of months. I’m changing my hair from brunette back to a cooler blonde, and it’s SUPER DRY. I’ve needed something to keep it hydrated, especially during winter. My hairstylist introduced me to this spray which is sold in their salon, and I immediately fell in love! The smell is like a warm deep vanilla, and the shimmer is not chunky glitter but more natural and not greasy.

Again thanks for reading my blog, and please let me know what types of posts you’d like to see! Follow my instagram for some spooky vibes @beenbewitched

 

MOST AMAZING Homemade Cashew Milk

Photo: Goop

 

I wanted to share this recipe from The Moon Juice Cookbook because of how amazing and simple it is! I’m an avid coconut milk or almond milk drinker, and finding this super simple recipe for cashew milk was a BLESSING!

 

You can use almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, or cashews (or even a blend of a couple different ones)! 

 

Nut Milk Recipe

 

1. Fill a bowl with water and soak nuts in it overnight, in your fridge

2. Drain the liquid from the nuts and then place the nuts in your blender with fresh water

3. Blend for a couple of seconds, be sure not to overblend because you’ll have little pieces of nuts in your     milk

4. Strain the mixture with either a cheesecloth, or I used a french press!

5. ENJOY! It’ll last in the fridge for up to 4 days!

 

I also love LIVE FOR the blueprint cold pressed juice cashew milk so I put some other ingredients into my cashew milk. I put a couple dashes of cinnamon, a date, agave, and vanilla extract! SO DELICIOUS!

 

 

Let me know what you think of this recipe or what other types of nut milk blends you’ve tried!

Photo: Amazing Paleo

Easy Chic | A Makeup Look I Wear Almost Everyday

 

For an everyday look, I like to keep it light and glowy! Here’s a list of the products I use almost every single day in the order I apply them! I didn’t include my favorite brow product I use everyday, but if you want to read about that then check out my other post on Brow Products.


1. Shiseido Pureness Matifying Moisturizer  – I like to use this as my primer! 
2. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
3. Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
4. Too Faced Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer
5. Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner – Sometimes I opt not to wear eyeliner! Either way is tres chic!
6. Maybelline Mega Plush Volum’ Express Mascara
7. MAC Lipstick in Taupe – The taupe shade is my favorite! My lips are naturally dark, and this shade is two shades darker than my natural lip color! A nude lip is ALWAYS chic!