Is Your Foundation Breaking You Out?

Recently, I had a tragic experience with a foundation I was using.

Let me fill you in on my struggle with acne. (Skip this paragraph if you don’t care) I started getting acne before I ever wore makeup. My parents made me go to the dermatologist in only sixth grade because they saw that I was already getting moderate acne at such a young age and they didn’t want it to get worse and cause scarring. At the time I was super nervous to go to the doctor and embarrassed about the whole situation. I am now very grateful that my parents made me go to the doctor back then because I’ve been able to keep my acne primarily in check. Although it has been a constant battle. I have been on the high risk acne medicine, Isotretinoin (Previously known as Accutane) two different occasions. Most people can use this acne medicine for 4- 6 months and never have acne again. I was part of the 2% that was not so lucky, although it has helped me more than any other medicine. My skin was clear for about a year after using it. I will probably have to go on the medicine for a third time because over the past year I have started slowly getting my oily skin back and my familiar breakouts.

I have had some of my worst breakouts in my life this past year. Horrible cystic acne, on and off. I realized one of the big culprits.

Dun..Dun..Dunnnn:

MAYBELLINE Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation

I started using this foundation because I wanted a more affordable everyday foundation than what I normally used which is Estee Lauder Double Wear. I had heard really great things about this foundation in the beauty community and I liked the coverage and matte finish it gave me. Right when I started using it I noticed worse than normal breakouts. I figured it was a coincidence or my skin needed to get used to the makeup. After I ran out of the foundation my skin cleared up. I again thought it was a coincidence and was because I wasn’t as stressed, so I decided to repurchase. A couple weeks into using it, I had the worst breakout of my life. Cystic, painful acne all around my mouth. I decided to look up reviews about this makeup. What I found was horrifying… Tons of stories of people that never had acne until they used this product. Check out some of those reviews here: https://bit.ly/2GmyquJ. I felt like I immediately needed to warn people about this foundation on my Instagram story. I received over 20 messages from girls that also had a similar experience. (Does this mean it will break you out? Maybe not, but if you are someone with sensitive skin, I would be careful using it.) I then was on the journey to look for a new drugstore foundation that wouldn’t break me out. I started looking into what pore clogging ingredients to stay away from. This foundation has several PEG ingredients, which can clog pores. When doing my research about other ingredients, looking for a new foundation became very overwhelming. (List of ingredients to stay away from is at the bottom of this blog) Most of the great coverage foundations recommended in the beauty community were full of pore clogging ingredients. I decided to do a lot of research to find the best foundations for your skin that are also known for great coverage in the beauty community because most people with acne prone skin don’t want to give up the great coverage of a foundation.

Here are some tips for makeup application when you have acne prone skin:

#1

Look for a foundation with water as the main ingredient. Water is obviously not going to break you out, so if you find a foundation that makes your skin look great and water is the main ingredient then you’ve found a winner!

#2

Find a foundation with a pump. A pump foundation keep your foundation from being exposed to the air, which can cause bacteria and change the formula of the foundation.

#3

Some people are sensitive to SPF foundations because of an ingredient called oxybenzone. If you find you are allergic to oxybenzone, find a sun protectant that uses zinc oxide or or octinoxate instead.

#4

Clean your beauty blenders, brushes and sponges!

#5

Be careful of silicones, talc, and sulfate ingredients. Some people’s skin does not react well with those ingredients. Test things out and see what works best for your skin.

The Five Best Drugstore Foundations for Acne Prone Skin

#1 Almay Truly Lasting Color Foundation

It’s been awhile since I’ve used this foundation, but I remember really liking it because it’s non-comedogenic. I used it for a long time. Contains vitamin E which can help fight acne. If you’re sensitive to makeup with SPF then I would not advise using.

#2 Neutrogena® Skin Clearing Liquid Makeup

I have personally used this foundation as well and liked it. It has Salicylic Acid to help fight acne, so I would only use this product if you have oily skin. Non-comedogenic and oil-free.

#3 Revlon Color Stay Foundation

I recently started using this foundation after finding out about Maybelline Fit Me. My acne has cleared up a bit. It definitely doesn’t last as long as my Estee Lauder Double Wear, but I am liking the formula.

#4 Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

I haven’t used this foundation yet, but I had a couple friends who have acne-prone skin recommend it to me and it has great reviews.

#5 Loreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation

I also have not tried this foundation and was recommended it. Dimethicone is the second ingredient listed, so be careful if you are sensitive to silicones.

The Five Best High End Foundations for Acne Prone Skin

#1 Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

This foundation has a lot of street cred. Two acne-prone Youtubers said this foundation is a holy grail for them. I personally think it is a little too oily for my skin and some do say it breaks them out because of their skin is sensitive to coconut water. If you love coconut-infused products, you will probably love this foundation and it’s vegan!

#2 Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup

This is my holy grail foundation. Many full coverage foundations make people break out, but this one has great ingredients.

#3 Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation

A little pricey, but Koh Gen Do always uses great products for your skin.

#4 Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free

This vegan foundation is known for it’s amazing ingredients and with helping with breakouts.

#5 Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation

If you want a glowy foundation, this one may be for you. It’s very hydrating and is also vegan.

The primary causes of acne are

Excess oil production
Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
Bacteria
Excess activity of a type of hormone (androgens)

So most likely, your foundation is not the only reason you have acne, but some foundation ingredients can make your skin breakout worse. Everyone’s skin is different. A foundation that works great for one person may break someone else out, so keep this in mind when testing out my recommended foundations. The list of ingredients to be careful using is below. I hope this blog helps! I wish you all clear skin. 🙂

High- higher chance of clogging pores. Medium- medium chance of clogging pores. Mainly be aware of the top five ingredients in your foundation.

High	Acetylated Lanolin
High	Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
High	Algae Extract
High	Algin
Medium	Almond Oil
Medium	Apricot Kernel Oil
Medium	Arachidic Acid
Medium	Ascorbyl Palmitate
Medium	Avocado Oil
Medium	Azulene
Medium	Behenic acid
Medium	Benzaldehyde
Medium	Benzoic Acid
Medium	BHA
High	Bismuth oxychloride may cause cystic acne
High	Butyl Stearate
Medium	Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Medium	Cajeput Oil
Medium	Camphor
Medium	Capric Acid
Medium	Caprylic acid
High	Carrageenans
Medium	Cetearyl Alcohol
High	Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
Medium	Cetyl Alcohol
Medium	Chamomile
High	Coal tar
High	Cocoa Butter
High	Coconut Butter
High	Coconut Oil
High	Colloidal Sulfur
High	Corn Oil
High	Cotton Aws Oil
High	Cotton Seed Oil
High	Crisco
High	D & C Red # 17
Medium	D & C Red # 19
High	D & C Red # 21
High	D & C Red # 3
High	D & C Red # 30
High	D & C Red # 36
Medium	D & C Red #27
Medium	D & C Red #40
High	Decyl Oleate
High	Dioctyl Succinate
High	Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2-Sulfosuccinate
High	Ethoxylated Lanolin
High	Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Medium	Evening Primrose Oil
High	Glyceryl Stearate SE -MUST have SE after the stearate
High	Glyceryl-3-Disostearate-(MUST have a “3” with it)
Medium	Grape Seed Oil (extract is OK)
High	Hexadecyl Alcohol
Medium	Hexylene Glycol
High	Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
High	Isocetyl Stearate
High	Isodecyl Oleate
High	isoproply linoleate
High	Isopropyl Isosterate
High	Isopropyl lanolate
High	Isopropyl Myristate
High	Isopropyl Palmitate
High	isostearic acid
High	isostearyl acid
High	Isostearyl Isostearate
High	Isostearyl Neopentanoate
High	lanolic acid
High	Laureth 23
High	Laureth 4
High	Lauric Acid
High	Linseed oil
High	Mink Oil
High	Myreth 3 myrstate
High	Myristic Acid
High	Myristyl Lactate
High	Myristyl Myristate
High	Octyl Palmitate
High	Octyl Stearate
Medium	Octyldodecanol
High	Oleic Acid
Medium	Oleth-10
High	Oleth-3
High	Oleyl Alcohol
Medium	Olive Oil (but Olive Oil Extract is OK)
Medium	Palmitic Acid
Medium	Peach Kernel Oil
Medium	Peanut Oil
Medium	PEG 100 Distearate
Medium	PEG 150 Distearate
High	PEG 16 Lanolin
High	PEG 200 Dilaurate
Medium	Peg 75 lanolin
High	PEG 8 Stearate
Medium	Pentarythrital Tetra Isostearate
Medium	PG Dipelargonate
Medium	PG Dipelargonate
High	PG Monostearate
High	Polyglyceryl-3-Disostearate (the “3” must be present)
High	Potassium Chloride
High	PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
High	Propylene Glycol Monostearate
High	Red Algae
Medium	Sandalwood Seed Oil
Medium	Sesame Oil
High	Shark Liver Oil
High	Salt – Table Salt or Sodium Chloride
High	Sodium Laureth Sulfate
High	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate-leaves a film on skin-clogs pores
High	Solulan 16
High	Sorbitan Oleate
High	Sorbitan Sesquinoleate
High	Soybean Oil
High	Steareth 10
Medium	Steareth 2
Medium	Steareth 20
Medium	Stearic Acid
High	Stearic Acid Tea
Medium	Stearyl Alcohol
High	Stearyl Heptanoate
High	Sulfated Castor Oil
High	Sulfated Jojoba Oil (Jojoba beads are OK)
High	Syearyl Heptanoate
Medium	Tocopherol (Tocopherol Acetate is OK)
Medium	Triethanolamine
Medium	Vitamin A Palmitate-(ONLY this form of Vitamin A)
High	Wheat Germ Glyceride
High	Wheat Germ Oil
High	Xylene

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018

Forever 21 Finds

Every time I get a compliment on an outfit and am asked where it’s from, the answer is always Forever 21! I often hear, “Oh, I can’t shop there. It’s too hard to find things.” I think that’s one thing I love about shopping there though.. I enjoy a good challenge. It’s like searching through a thrift store, not knowing if you’re going to find anything or not.. But, when you do, it’s oh so satisfying! I am also balling on a budget and don’t enjoy repeating outfits often, (especially on my Instagram) so I prefer to buy more affordable clothing. (Unless I’m splurging on a staple piece.) This blog features items from my last Forever 21 haul. I collaborated with Amar Kahlon- @ShotsbyAK for these effortless street looks. It was a really fun shoot. We enjoyed great conversation and Insomnia Cookies!!

Here are my Forever 21 finds and my five tips to shopping there.

5 Tips for Shopping at Forever 21

1.

Know what you’re looking for. Last time I went in knowing I wanted some business chic trousers that I could wear to work, white boots, sunglasses, and a cute top. Guess what I found!? All of those things!

2.

Don’t be afraid of the clearance rack. They purposely put the clearance rack in the back with bad lighting. There are always some cute in season items hiding on the clearance rack. The orange striped top I’m wearing above was off the clearance rack!

3.

Don’t be scared to size up. Last time I was there, every cute sweatshirt or t-shirt was cropped. I personally don’t like wearing cropped shirts often. I like to size up from a small to a large to make that cropped t-shirt more of a mid-crop, oversized look.

4.

Be daring. Forever 21 is full of edgy looks that you may be scared to take on. Find an edgy piece and pair it with something from home that’s more simple. I bought plaid trousers, but instead of buying the matching plaid jacket, I paired it with a casual white baggy shirt to tone down the look.

5.

Shop their shoes and accessories. Maybe you can’t find that cute going out dress, but their shoe and accessory sections never disappoint, and then you don’t have to deal with the dressing room lines! Plus, if you’re like me, I always lose my jewelry, so it’s best that I buy affordable jewelry.

I hope this helps! Let me know your go-to affordable clothing store in the comments. 🙂

January 18, 2018January 18, 2018

“Nostalgic Narrative” – A Poetic Lookbook

NOSTALGIA is when you look back and feel an old familiar happiness. Those memories aren’t always real. Sometimes, the flashbacks are fabricated and might not be what you really experienced.

I worked with Photographer, Bishoppe Kamusinga to compile a lookbook of three styles that make me feel nostalgic. Each of these looks are so classic to me. I love the fun patterns, the burnt orange tones, and the free spirited mood of this shoot. I hope every image and poetic line takes you to a different place, somewhere nostalgic.

Look #1: 70’s Chic

I want to let go, but I keep hanging on.

I told myself I wouldn’t look back, but my reflection reminded me of you, my twin flame.

Never enough time, but always enough time for you to cross my mind.

The sun gleaming against my skin. For a second, it feels inspiriting, and then the hot memory of you burns my skin.

I wake up everyday and think “Today is the day, I will finally forget all the good times with you.”

I wish it was that easy.

I wish I could truly control my mind.

No matter how much I distract myself, the thoughts, the memories, the nostalgia, always pulls me back.

Look #2 Free Spirited Fashion

I never wanted life without you.

I don’t think you did either.

You let everyone and everything tear us apart.

You left me broken.

It still feels like a nightmare.

Look #3 Dated Dress

A nightmare that repeats every single night.

You left me no other choice, but to say goodbye.

Goodbye to our dreams, goodbye to the nightmares.

Goodbye to the

NOSTALGIA-

noun

a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life, to one’s home or homeland, or to one’s family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time

Hello to new memories, a new mindfulness. A life without you filling the spaces in my head and my heart.

January 11, 2018January 11, 2018

How I Got My Body “Miss Illinois Ready”

I competed in Miss Illinois in June 2016. I want to share with you my routine and how I got my body “Miss Illinois Ready”. Preparing for the swimsuit portion of Miss Illinois was pretty difficult because there were one hundred other things I had to focus on for Miss Illinois like paperwork, keeping up with appearances, knowing what was happening in the news, interview questions, stage presence, and my talent routine. On top of all that, I had just moved to a new city for an internship, so my plate was pretty full!

My Plate

Speaking of my plate, what did I eat preparing for Miss Illinois? Lean meats, greens, and whole grains. I’m a huge advocate for eggs to start your day! Eggs are super easy to cook, plus you can change them up. One morning you can do over easy eggs with a piece of toast, the next you can do an omelet with spinach, the next you can do scrambled eggs with salsa and avocado, and the next do scrambled again, except with a little buffalo sauce. The possibilities are endless! For snacks, my go to were protein bars, rice cakes with almond butter, and a protein shake. I had each of these almost everyday. I constantly ate! I did 3 nutritious meals and 3 high protein snacks a day. How did I burn off all that food?

Fat Burning

I would burn fat the moment I woke up because the first thing I would do was 10- 20 minutes of fasted HITT cardio. I would do Fitness Blender HIIT Workout YouTube Videos. They don’t require any equipment and they are free! This cardio helped me get my metabolism going for the day. I did HIIT 5 times a week.

My Other Plates

The other important plates are the ones I would put on the bar to squat and deadlift. Big compound movements like squats and deadlifts are so important to have in your exercise routine because they stimulate your core and burn the most fat. Make sure you have proper form, so that you don’t hurt yourself. Start off using little to no weight and then add the plates! Start low and go slow. My lifting routine was pretty simple.

I did 6-8 different exercises targeting whatever muscle group I was doing for the day. 3 sets for each exercise of 8-15 reps. I usually started with lower weight then went up and lowered my reps.
Monday- Legs

Tuesday- Bis and tris

Wednesday- Back

Thursday- Shoulders and Chest

Friday- Glutes, Abs, and Plyometrics

Saturday- This day was usually making up for whatever day I missed above, but if I didn’t miss any, I would do another leg day.

Supplements

The only supplements I was taking was the GNC Women’s Ripped Vitapak, along with drinking BCAA’s during my workout. I also tried to remember to take a probiotic and fish oil daily.

I actually remember being scared to get my swimsuit pictures back, thinking I wasn’t in my best shape. Once I received my pictures, I was like dang, I really was in my best shape! I wanted to look lean with muscle definition and that’s exactly the package I brought to the stage. This shows that even when we are exactly where we want to be, we can still be too hard on ourselves. Don’t let your insecurities keep you from feeling confident. Be proud of yourself, no matter where you are in your fitness journey! If you have any fitness questions for me, please comment below or send an email to sbelshaw5@gmail.com.

November 24, 2017November 24, 2017

6 Beauty Products I Can’t Live Without

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I wanted to share with you the six beauty products I find myself always using before I leave the house. Don’t wear a lot of makeup? I use these each of these products when I do a more natural look like the look below.

1. Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation

This foundation is heaven sent!! I have combination skin. My skin is naturally oily, but I use drying acne products. I have so much trouble getting foundation to stay on, but this is the most long wearing foundation I have found yet and the best coverage!! This foundation looks a little cakey by itself, but once I put on my powder, it looks perfect. Beauty gurus all rave over this baby. It retails for $42.00. It is a steep price, but a little goes a long way and because it lasts all day, you won’t waste product reapplying. You can always save it for special occasions and use a cheaper foundation for everyday use. I use the color 2N1 Desert Beige.

2. Maybelline Instant Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer

The best under eye concealer! I use this as a liquid highlighter. It instantly makes me look more awake. Retails for only $7.94 at Walmart. Beauty gurus rave over this one too! Super easy to apply with the sponge top! A great drug store product. I use the lightest shade fair, because I use it to highlight and create dimension.

3. Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Loose Powder SPF 16

If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to give this one a try! I have repurchased this powder foundation ever since I first tried it in 7th grade! (That was over 10 years ago.) I originally bought it because I was trying to find a good foundation that didn’t break me out. My dermatologist told me to look for something non-comedogenic and oil-free. This product is both of those things and more! It is also hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, dermatologist approved, and cruelty-free. It has a matte finish and helps get rid of my oily shine! I love that it is a powder that has great coverage and that it has SPF 16 to help protect your skin. A more affordable alternative to BareMineral Powder Matte Foundation. It retails for only $10.68 at Walmart. The only downfall is the limited color options. I use the color creamy-natural. It comes with a small brush, but I always use my own large kabuki brush.

4. Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment Skin Protectant

Always have chapped lips?! You need to try this! It is very similar to vaseline, but thicker and works ten times better! I put it on every morning and night before I go to sleep. They do have smaller options than this huge tub that I have. I have tried the Aquaphor Lip Relief and it did not work as well for me as the healing ointment. I once was on a very strong acne medicine called Accutane. (It is a pill that dries your whole body out extremely bad. My lips would crack and bleed.) This was the only thing that would help my lips! Everything else I had to reapply every five minutes to feel any relief. I swear by this stuff! When applying, know that a little goes a long way!

5. Revlon Eyelash Curler

This eyelash curler of mine is ancient! Whenever I buy a new eyelash curler, I always end up going back to this one. I think it’s because I’m so used to it. The technique of using an eyelash curler is more important than which one you are using! It is all about patience. Start at the base, hold for seven seconds, move to the middle of the eyelashes, hold for another 7, and then last to the tips. I have really short, stubby lashes, but I often get compliments that I have nice lashes and it is all because of the curl! If you are doing a quick natural makeup look, don’t skip curling! It’s an underrated step. I know these are scary to use at first! Watch a few YouTube tutorials and practice. Every girl should own one of these babies!

6. LashBlast Fusion Mascara

My favorite mascara!! I’ve tried numerous high end mascaras and I always go back to this affordable drug store mascara. Whenever I use a different mascara, my lashes end up sticking together and it looks like I have five lashes. This gives you volume and length. The oversized spikey brush, helps give my lashes volume. It it is almost like using a teasing brush on your hair. I never use the waterproof formula. Waterproof formulas are hard to get completely off. It is bad for your lashes to not breathe at night. It dries them out! My lashes became much healthier when I stopped using waterproof mascara. Retails for only $7.68 at Walmart. I use the color very black.

These make great stocking stuffers and small gifts! Girls love trying new beauty products.

Let me know the beauty products, you couldn’t live without in the comments below. 🙂 I’d love to try them!

June 12, 2016June 12, 2016

Does your makeup bag frustrate you?

My makeup bag and my makeup organization drove me nuts. There was never a makeup bag big enough to carry all my products. I have four Naked palettes, so just my eyeshadow alone was hard to fit in any makeup bag. I hated having to empty out my makeup bag every time I did my makeup. It made for a mess and products were scattered everywhere. Plus I could never find what I wanted to use. Doing your makeup is a long enough process without searching for each product you need next. After I won the title of Miss Gem City, I was doing appearances every week, so I knew I needed a better way of organization for my makeup. I decided to buy a train case. I love mine! I purchased it on sale for $75 and it was originally $110. It seems like a steep price to pay for a makeup case, but I searched at every makeup store at the Mall of America to find the best case and the best deal. Mac offered a more lightweight Travel Case for $175, but that was out of my budget and I wanted a case that had shelves. I would rather my case have shelves and be heavy than a giant light weight makeup bag. Online, Sephora has many different options of train cases for $110, but if you want something cheaper, try looking at a Sephora store like I did or Ulta has even cheaper cases!

My train case even came with keys, so I can lock up my expensive makeup when I want to! Check out a 5 sec video of me opening and closing my train case here.

June 11, 2016November 11, 2017

Two Boho Chic Looks

Everything is from Buckle in both of these looks. I worked there for a year, so most of my clothes are from there!

In the first look, I mixed patterns with the striped shirt and the patterned kimono. Don’t be afraid to try mixing patterns.

The second look is much more simple. It’s a Billabong midi length dress. (Midi length is very trendy right now.) I love the back and how the dress accentuates my curves.

I adore Buckle because they will style you for free and they carry my favorite brand, “Free People”. You can find so many different styles and brands there.

Buckle offers Buckle Select now. Buckle Select has an actual stylist that will select outfits for you based on your information and preferences. Your personal stylist will put together outfits for you and send them to your house, free of charge. Buckle Select provides free shipping and returns, within 10 days. My former manager Jordan is one of the stylists for Buckle Select. She is amazing at what she does and super trendy, here is the link to her page.