Allergy and Sinus Tips

Hello Everyone!

 

As much as I love Spring, I absolutely HATE my seasonal allergy and sinus problems. I actually suffer from allergy and sinus problems throughout the whole year (I've had these issues since I was a baby), but like some people the warmer months are terrible for my health. Here are a few tips that help me cope.

1. Shower

Taking a shower has to be my favorite part of the day. During this time of year it's so important to stay clean especially with all the pollen outside. I always take a shower in the morning and in the evening.

2. Medication

I usually start taking medication early. Unless I have to go to the doctor for medication. Here a few over the counter medications I take:

- Benadryl
- Zyrtec
- Mucinex (for allergies)
- Chlorseptic Drops or Chlorseptic Spray (I usually get throat aches when I have allergy and sinus issues)

These medications help with reducing my allergy and sinus symptoms. Please read all directions carefully before taking any medications. You may want to consult with your doctor as well.

3. Wash my hair

Since your hair is most likely going to be exposed while your outdoors, keeping your hair clean is also important. I normally wash my hair once a week anyway, but during the Spring and Summer, I try to wash my hair twice a week.

4. Wash bed linen and clothes regularly

Once again two other elements you should keep clean. Some people don't realize that you can bring pollen into your home just by the clothes you wear hence then sitting on your bed etc. Keeping your clothes and bed linen can make a huge difference.

5. Stay Indoors

Ok I know I can't stay indoors like a hermit lol, but I try to stay inside when pollen is bad outside. However I usually have to take medication before I leave the house.

6. Drink Water

Staying hydrated is so important during allergy season. This is never an issue for me since I drink a lot of water anyway.


7. Stay in a cool environment

Allergies, sinuses, and humidity don't mix well together so try to stay cool.


8. Wear No Makeup or Minimal Makeup

This time of year also makes me sad lol because I wear minimal to no makeup. Since it's so hot and humid in the South, wearing makeup tends to make me feel hotter. Sometimes I have breakouts due to allergies wearing makeup will only make it worse, so I just skip wearing it. I guess I don't mind that too much since I don't wear makeup everyday especially during hot weather.


9. Go to the doctor

If you have terrible sinus and allergy issues like I have, you may have to go to the doctor if over the counter medications don't work. I've been to the doctor numerous times over the years because my allergy and sinus issues became out of control. I actually may need to take a trip soon. Unfortunately, I've been sick for weeks now :(


I hope that these tips help you find relief if you suffer from allergy and sinus issues! I'm by no means a medical professional, these are just things that I do that help me feel better.

Spring Makeup

Hello Everyone!

 

 

For today's post I have a Spring Makeup look for you that I created about ago. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen these pictures already. I went for a neutral eye and bold lips. This is this is what I came up with.

 

 

 

Product Used 

 

* Eyes *

- MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre 

- Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette 

 

1. Tease as a transition color in crease

2. YDK tear duct and half of lid

3. Snakebite on the other half of lid and Outer V 

- Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (clear)

* Face *

- Cetaphil DermaControl Oil  

  Moisturizer (for preparation) not pictured 

- Fashion Fair Oil Controlled Pressed Powder (Fawn)

  

- Fashion Fair Fast Finish. Foundation

  Stick (Topaz)

* Lips *

- Nivea Lip Balm 

- NYX Lip Pencil Hot Red

- MAC All Fired Up Lipstick (Retro Matte) 

Thanks for the stopping by my blog! 

Depression Awareness: Counseling, Is It Worth a Try?

Hello Everyone!

Even though I've been in the process of moving and unpacking this past week I have a new post as promised. Today I have a follow up to my first Depression Awareness Post: My Story click here In this post I'm going to share my experiences with going into counseling.


Even before I was diagnosed with depression in August 2009, I actually started seeing my college counselor in September 2008. My primary reason for going to counseling was due to stress that I wasn't dealing with.


Meeting with my College Counselor for the First Time 

I had so many thoughts running through my mind while I sat in the waiting room. Is this lady going to judge me?...Can I really open up to a complete stranger?...Do I even need or want to be here?....like I said I had so many thoughts as I sat there waiting. 

Once I got into her office it was more of a meet and greet. She asked me some questions about myself based on my intake packet I filled out in the waiting room. That first session wasn't bad at all. I didn't feel judged or anything negative. So when she asked me if I wanted to come back, I said yes.


Counseling Overall

Honestly I found counseling to be helpful in maintaining balance in my life. Over time I felt I could open up and trust my counselor. I think it's so important to find a counselor you can trust because the more you trust someone, the more likely you will feel comfortable to talk about your life.

Counseling is also a great way that I found an outside opinion. Even though I can talk to people that are close to me, sometimes you need someone else's point of view. A counselor's point of view will be non biased. I loved that I could talk about anything in counseling. The  main focuses sessions included stress management and learning to cope when I struggled with depression. Every session I had didn't tackle the negative things I felt, I had plenty of sessions where I discussed all the positive things that were going on in my life. 


My counseling experience lasted for almost 2 years until I May 2010 when I graduated college. I think that counseling was very beneficial in helping me deal with life's issues and issues within my own life. I even kept in touch with my counselor a few times after I graduated (she retired the year I graduated because of health issues) She was such a kind woman that helped me deal with my stress and depression. Sadly she died in November 2012 from cancer. I like to think that I'm living my life to the fullest, and using the coping skills she helped me develop would make her proud of me. I'm not in counseling now, but I would go to another counselor in the future if I found the need too because it was very beneficial in helping me become the woman I am today.



Have you had any experiences with counseling? 

Side Note: I know that depression is a sensitive topic, so if anyone doesn't feel comfortable leaving a comment in the comment section below, feel free to send me an email
beautyandmorebypilar@gmail.com


Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Quick Update!

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to give you all a quick update. I'm currently in the process of moving this week, but I will be posting new content. I may be delayed with responding, but I will respond, and visit your blogs soon as possible.


Talk with you all soon!

BH Cosmetics 28 Color Smokey Eye Palette and BH Cosmetics 28 Color Neutral Eye Palette Review

Hello Everyone! 

 

 

Disclaimer:

 My apologies for the missing pictures. My pictures were accidentally deleted off my blog. Please Refer to my Instagram account miss_pilar to view the pictures (or some of the pictures) that were deleted.  

 

 

Today I have two palette reviews from BH Cosmetics.


1. BH Cosmetics 28 Color Smokey Eye Palette

 

 

Pros
- Variety of colors
- Variety of finishes that vary from matte, shimmer, and glitter
- Darker shades are very pigmented 
- Budget friendly 
- Larger eyeshadows
- Clear top to see eyeshadows
- Most colors blend well
- Small amount of fallout 

Cons
- Lightest colors lack pigmentation 
- Not good for travel

 

Swatches 

 

Throwback Blue Smokey Eye FOTD 

2. BH Cosmetics 28 Color Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

 

 

Pros
- Blends ok
- Variety of neutral shades, hence the name
- Budget friendly (this was palette was free during a holiday BOGO Sale)
- Larger eyeshadows 
- Clear top to see eyeshadows 

Cons
- Lack of pigmentation in many shadows 
- Eyeshadows fades quickly
- Not travel friendly 
- Not good quality

 

Swatches 

 

Another Throwback FOTD 

My Thoughts 

Even though I like both makeup looks I created, the 28 Color Smokey Eye Palette is the better palette hands down. The shadows are really pigmented (except a few light shades), and I've created a few smokey eye looks with it  (I've only had both palettes since December). I really love using this smokey eye palette and I definitely recommend this palette. 

As for the 28 Color Neutral Eyeshadow Palette...two words NOT GOOD! This was such a let down. The shadows may swatch nicely, but they fade very quickly. Don't be fooled! I really like the colors, but they lack pigmentation. The only way I get a decent color pay off is when I use my NYX white eyeshadow base (and that's only when with the pigmented eyeshadows). I'll probably use this palette from time to time. At least on the bright side my 28 Neutral Eyeshadow Palette was free.

 

I marked the shadows that I find are more pigmented.

Do you own either of these palettes? What are your thoughts? 



Thanks for stopping by my blog! 

Coastal Scents Revealed and Revealed 2 Palette Review

Hello Everyone! 

 

 

Disclaimer:

 My apologies for the missing pictures. My pictures were accidentally deleted off my blog. Please Refer to my Instagram account miss_pilar to view the pictures (or some of the pictures) that were deleted.  

 

 

Welcome to my 200th post!! :) Last year I wanted to know how Coastal Scents Revealed and Revealed 2 Palettes compared to my Urban Decay Naked, Naked 2, and Naked 3 Palettes. So when Coastal Scents had a sale, I decided to purchase both palettes.

 Revealed Palette 

 

 Revealed Palette Compared to Urban Decay Naked and Naked 2 Palettes 

 

 

 Revealed 2 

 

  Revealed 2 Palette Compared to Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette 

 

 

Pros
- Budget friendly 
-  20 colors in each palette
- Similar shades/dupes for Naked 
  and Naked 2 Palette (Revealed) 
  and similar shades/dupes for 
  Naked 3 (Revealed 2)
- Sleek cardboard, great for travel
- Nice pigmentation with most  
  shadows
- Full sized shadows
- Blends decently 

Cons
- Some of the shadows are messy 
- A lot of fallout
- No brush 
- No mirror
- You have to use a light hand 

My Thoughts 

Overall I wasn't all that impressed by these palettes. That doesn't mean I think these palettes are terrible, I just feel Coastal Scents could have provided better quality. The major turn offs for me included all the fallout and messiness of some of the shadows. You really have to use a light hand when using these shadows. Now there are some things I like about these palettes such as the pigmentation. As you can see from the swatches, the color shows very well. Most of the shadows are dupes for the UD Naked Palettes. I think these palettes are good to have if you're on a budget or if your like me, you just want to try them out and have the palettes as a back up. I still like to put these palettes to use even if some of the shadows are messy lol. Personally I wouldn't pay the original $19.95. Like I mentioned I purchased these palettes on sale back in September 2014. The Revealed and Revealed 2 palettes are okay, but in my opinion they aren't as good as the Naked Palettes.


Coastal Scents recently released the Revealed 3. This is what the palette looks like if you haven't seen it.

 

 

* Both Images are Courtesy of Google

Thanks for stopping by my blog! 

Beauty and Skincare Travel Essentials

Hello Everyone!

 

 

Disclaimer:

 My apologies for the missing pictures. My pictures were accidentally deleted off my blog. Please Refer to my Instagram account miss_pilar to view the pictures (or some of the pictures) that were deleted.  

 

 

So while I was away from blogger, I went out of town for a weekend. Like I mentioned before, just because I'm away from blogger, doesn't stop me from thinking and drafting new posts. This is my first time writing one of these travel essentials posts. For this post, I focused on my beauty and skincare products. 

 

Makeup

 

I really love this case! This was a VS Fashion Show 2014 exclusive I got for Christmas. This bag may look small, but it holds quite a lot!

 

See how much this cosmetic case can hold?!

 

These are just the usual products I use. I've shown these products for many of my makeup related posts. 

 

I decided to keep my makeup simple, so I went with neutral looks with these palettes. For this trip, I took my Real Techniques Brushes and my Avon Concealer Brush.

Skincare

 

VS PINK's Sun Kissed smells so good! It has a beachy coconut smell with hints of Vanilla. This fragrance is perfect for the Spring and Summer  months. This was another cosmetic case that was a VS Fashion Show 2014 exclusive. I got this on sale back in February. This case hold a lot as well!

I almost forgot! I took my Cetaphil products along too!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!