Review! Mask of Magnaminty

A Little Background Info

     So I have been struggling with my skin since 5th grade. I used to and continue to be very self-contious about my situation. Although I am no expert, I have tried a fair share of skin care products ranging from drug store to higher end products.
     One particular product/ range of products is the lush fresh face masks. In particular, the love lettuce and catastrophe cosmetic ones do the best for my skin. Since I love these two products so much, I try to get them as often as I can, usually about once a month. This month in particular, I went to go buy a pack only to find that they were sold out completely of any fresh face masks. To say I freaked out would be an understatement. The lady working on the floor informed me of the self preserving mask of magnaminty. She said that it was similar to the fresh face masks so I decided to try it.

Image from google images/polyvore

Get to Know my Skin

     I have skin that breaks out very easily. My t-zone is quite oily, especially my nose, and the rest of my face can get rather dry. My break outs are usually targeted around my nose but not on it and at my temples. I cleanse daily with the Kiehl's ultra facial cleanser and about once a week I use The Body Shop tea tree skin clearing face wash. To moisturize I use the Kiehl's blue herbal moisturizer.

Images from google images/mens journal and google images/the body shop

What I Thought

     When I first applied it all over my face, I liked the creaminess of the mask as well as how soft the beans felt. I'm not a big fan of the smell though. It was a bit too herbal for my liking. I left it on for about 7 minutes and I loved the icy fresh feeling it left on my face, similar to the effect of a mouthwash in you mouth. It came off quite easily and it left my face feeling smoothed and refreshed. 

Better Than the Fresh Face Masks?

     In my opinion, no BUT when there isn't a refrigerator around and my skin is having a bad day then I definitely will repurchase it. Lush has never disappointed me and I hope to continue to be impressed with more products as time goes on. 

     Make sure to follow me on instagram @eliselemans and tell me what brought you there. It would mean so much to me if you comment below and tell me about your favorite skin care products! 

XoXo,

Lemanade<3

Breakfast (smoothie bowl)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as you have probably heard before so here's a little breakfast I ate today. It is completely vegan and super healthy!

Banana and Pineapple Smoothie Bowl

This bowl has three layers: chia on top, smoothie in the middle, and oatmeal at the bottom.

Layer 1 Chia:

The night before, mix 2 tablespoons of chia with the juice of half a lemon. Leave this in the fridge over night.

Layer 2 Smoothie:

In a blender, blend 1 frozen banana, a cup of frozen pineapple, and up to a half a cup of water. Blend until smoothie consistency.

Layer 3 Oatmeal. Follow the directions on any type of healthy vegan oatmeal to make about half a cup of cooked oatmeal. Don't worry about sweetening it or anything. The smoothie is sweet enough. 

After the oatmeal has cooled put all of it in a bowl and pour the smoothie on top. Last, at the end put a dollop of chia on it. 

There you go! This breakfast is so delicious and keeps me relatively full until lunch time! I hope you enjoy the recipe and tag me in your photos on instagram @lemanadee and comment below please! 

~lemanade <3 

Infused Water Recipe

Being that may has just begun, summer is just around the corner! One of my favorite things to drink on these scorching hot summer days is an infused water. It is guilt-free, super healthy, and it looks so fun and pretty. If you're like me and drink a lot of water but sometimes gets bored of it, but you're still too lazy to try anything crazy this idea will be perfect for you.

All you have to do is grab a jar or cup, add some fruit, citrus, and herbs, and fill it up with water and drink right away or, for more flavor, put it in the fridge and wait at least two hours. 

For this particular on above, I sliced 2 medium strawberries, 2 slices of lemon, and a little mint.

Here are some of my favorite combinations:

strawberry, mint, lemon

orange, cucumber, lime

ginger, blueberry(smash them for more flavor)

honeydew, mint

strawberry, blackberry, basil

watermelon, mint, lime

You can also add an herbal or green tea bag for extra flavor. I love adding camomile tea or peppermint the most.

I hope you guys like this recipe and find it helpful. I love how refreshing and easy it is. Share with your friends, comment below your favorite combinations, and follow me on my instagrams @lemanadee @eliselemans it would make me so happy!

~lemanade<3

Progression

Its amazing how easy it is to forget about or become impatient of progression. People are constantly trying new workouts, attempting to raise their grades in school, starting new diets, and all sorts of other things in search of results. Often times, these new things don't quite turn into habits.
Waiting for progress to come isn't easy because results don't always appear at the blink of an eye. It can take a while; days, weeks, months, even years before the results are noticeable.

So, here are some tips on staying focused and on track when searching for progress.
1. Make sure to have a realistic goal in mind.
-Trying to have the sexiest beach body off a magazine may not be achievable in reality. Instead, maybe go for toned abs and strong thighs.
2. Take note of any milestones towards reaching your goal.
-Maybe that excruciating workout video that you couldn't even complete in the beginning is becoming increasingly easier for you. Note that. That's progress!
3. Understand that even if you aren't seeing results, what you are doing is truly beneficial for you or you body.
-Perhaps eating a healthier diet isn't really making you lose those extra pounds you want to lose but eating healthier is leaving you with more energy and less fatigue. Focus on that part instead.
4. Lastly, don't become miserable in it.
-Enjoy your life! It's not worth becoming miserable over lack of visible progress. Maintain a positive outlook on what you're doing.

I hope these tips help you out. All of these things, I apply every time I am struggling to achieve. If you have any questions comment below and follow me on either of my instagrams @eliselemans and @lemanadee. I'd be delighted to hear from you guys. It really would mean the world to me.
~Lemanade <3