Skincare 101

This post is all about skincare, but I’d like to put the disclaimer that I am in no world a dermatologist. These are all things that I follow, and have read up on.

The basics; a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. This is the most most most basic routine for your skin. My routine is very similar, but I have a makeup remover and a couple of exfoliants thrown in as well. Below I’ve broken it down for you in the most simplistic way possible.

Cleansers:

• Cleansers are what remove all of the gunk from your skin.
• Different skin types will benefit from different types of cleansers.
•  Oily skin does well with gel and foaming cleansers.
•   Dry skin does well with cream cleansers.
•  Combination skin and normal can use either depending on whether it leans towards oily or dry.
•  Some people prefer to use oils to cleanse their skin, and use the oil of their choice to cleanse. This method hasn’t worked best for me, but many people love it.
•  To cleanse once or twice a day?
• Many people feel like they need to cleanse twice a day because of how oily their skin is. This is when I yell to drop the cleanser, and listen. Your skin might be so oily because you’re over stripping the oils from your skin. When you strip all the oil out of your skin, your skin reacts by overproducing oils. I only cleanse once a day, right before bed. Although, some will benefit from cleansing twice a day.
• What about cleansers that have actives (Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid) in them?
• I don’t care for cleansers that have these ingredients in them because the cleanser is not on your skin long enough for these ingredients to work. The cleanser most also be at the right pH level for the active to work, which it’s often not.

Moisturizers:

•  Moisturizers restore moisture back into the skin. Everyone needs a moisturizer, even those with oily skin.
• One should moisturize in the morning and in the nighttime. You can use the same moisturizer for both the morning and nighttime, but often people like a heavier moisturizer for the night and a lighter one for the morning.
•   Different skin types will benefit from different types of moisturizers:
• Oily skin does well with a gel moisturizer.
•  Dry skin does well with thicker creamier moisturizers.
•  Normal skin does well with lotionesque moisturizers.
•  Combination skin can use a combination of any of the above listed moisturizers.

Sunscreen:

•       Most people think that this step is optional, but it is not.
•        Sunscreen protects the skin from the sun’s rays, and needs to be worn no matter the weather.
•     You need to apply around a quarter of a teaspoon of sunblock per application. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but measure that out and you will be amazed. This means that even if your makeup has sunscreen in it, you are in no way getting the adequate protection that you need.
•         Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially if one decides to stay out in the sun.
•     What’s the difference between SPF 15, 30, 50?
•     SPF 15 filters out around 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 filters out 97 percent, and SPF 50 keeps out 98 percent.
•        If you are wondering why people need protection from the sun, here is an article that should show you the effect that the sun has.
•          But what if I hate how sunscreens feel on my skin?
•     Sunscreens are known to be very greasy and have a white cast on the skin. I haven’t found an American sunscreen (I have other problems with them as well) that I love, but that’s where Asian sunscreens come into play. Asian sunscreens are known for being much nicer on the skin, even though they contain drying ingredients like alcohol. A cult favorite is the Biore UV Aqua Riche Water Essence Sunscreen SPF 50 ++++.

   

The Extra Products:

•       Acne Fighters:
•      Salicylic Acid: This causes the outer layer of skin to peel. The removal of the skin can help to unclog pores.  Known as BHA (beta hydroxyl acid).
•      Benzoyl Peroxide: this kills bacteria, and kills bacteria that might cause acne.
•     Glycolic Acid: this causes the outer layer or skin to peel. This is similar to Salicylic acid, except that it’s an AHA (alpha hyrdoxy acid).
•     The salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be used daily, but the glycolic acid needs to be built up in frequency of usage. I recommend starting using it once a week, and building it up to a maximum of three times a week.

What should I avoid in my skincare?

•  I try to avoid any fragrances, drying alcohols, irritating extracts (lemon, grapefruit, menthol, and etc.)
• I try to avoid products in jars, to avoid contamination. Pump and squeeze bottles also help to preserve the ingredients in the products.

What order should I use these products?

•       AM:
•         Cleanser (optional)
•         Active (optional)
•        Moisturizer
•        Sunscreen
•       PM:
•         Cleanser
•        Active (optional)
•       Serum (optional)
•        Moisturizer

That’s all for skincare today, but if there’s a deeper interest in the future, I’m happy to follow up.

The Night of My First Party

      Two weeks ago, I made the decision to finally be social. For those of you that don't know me personally, you have no clue how antisocial I really am. For example, in school, I eat my lunch with my friends in the little corner of a teacher hallway. Yes, you heard correctly, a teacher hallway. This decision was a pretty big deal to me, as I usually skip on anything I might have to see people at. But I was excited, it's my third year in high school and I was finally going to an adult party. In a novel, this would be a life altering event that made me realize that people are not all bad, but this is boring reality.

The idea to go to a part started when my friend M asked another if she wanted to go to a party in a group chat. I then promptly invited myself to this party, since I wanted one high school party experience. M has no problem with me coming, and we make plans for dinner and the party the next night. When I wake up the next morning, there are many unanswered texts about how the original party is a no go. Apparently, the party was on a bus and seats were unavailable. Disappointed, but still hopeful, we start scouring for another party. We possible find a "getty" (get together for those who were just as confused by the slang as I was) and everything becomes okay again in my world.          

Fast forward to the evening, and my friends are at my house before I am. That day, my parents had dragged me on a boat and held me captive until 6:00. I am also apparently bad at estimating the time events take, as I get multiple frantic calls of being locked out of my house and only a few minutes to explain how to get in before my phone dies. I finally arrive at my house, shower, and profusely apologize for making my friends wait what feels an eternity but is only 40 minutes. 

Showered and dressed we head to the restaurant, and I order what is overpriced, overcooked, and under flavored fish.

"Shittt guys we don't have a party to go to", says M.

"What do you mean? I thought we had that getty," I ask in disbelief afraid that the waiter will hear me and question why a girl that looks 12 is going to a getty.

"Nope, not happening, plans fell through", replies M. We then sit at the table for another twenty minutes texting everyone we know that could possibly be of assistance. No one is answering. 

Not yet defeated, we head back to the car and continue bothering people. The party maniac kid in our grade, finally comes through and gives us the address of a party relatively close to my house. I then stop texting my non-school party maniac friends, and relax. 

We arrive at the party, and are greeted by a high schooler that looks at least twenty-five, who is also wearing a lanyard. 

"Are you here for the party?" he asks.

"Yes" M gulps, as we know no one there.

"Alright, park right over there" he answers and walks away.

M looks at me and starts questioning if we really should go inside at all. The neighborhood is sketchy, we don't know the guy, and a million other problems come from her mouth. We start walking towards the doorway anyways, but this time I find myself agreeing with her. As we discuss our options, the 18-year-old going on twenty five, points to the door and says come in through there. This is when I grow some lady balls, and say, "Time to be a Gryffindor", and enter the house. I am then promptly greeted by the boy's mother who points to the backyard, which is when I shoot my friend M a questioning glance. I've never been to a party, but I'm a thousand percent sure that this is not the norm. Once we reach the backyard, I'm instantly disappointed. The music is barely audible, there's a table of beer pong set up but not played, and everyone is standing as if they're in a middle school dance. This is when girl T decides to whip out her phone and pretend that she's taking a call.

I start analyzing the crowd and realize two things, I'm not dressed even close to slutty enough, and that I'd rather be anywhere else. M and I talk about how lame the party is when the host starts interrogating us.

"You're cool but how the hell did you find out about the party?"

"Someone named S sent us here."

"I have no clue who the fuck that is. What school do you guys go to?"

"Somewhere in Boca."

"You didn't tell anyone else right? Because this party is already bigger than it's supposed to be and we don't need any Boca kids here"

"Nope, we're not from there and don't talk to any of them anyways."

After this, he swiftly turns away which leaves us back to discussing whether we should stay or not.  Unanimously we decide to leave. 

Once back in the car, we realize that there's not much to do, as the only other party we know about starts at 12, which is the same time as our curfew. Out of ideas, we head to a shady drive through that gives alcohol to underage minors. I am not an adventurous person, never got drunk, never got high, so we split the cost of a Smirzoff Green Apple pack of beer when we get to the drive through window. This is the drink that the girl who hates the taste of alcohol orders, just to look like she is fitting in. 

            The Smirzoff is the end of our night, and results in me being passed out in my bed at 11:00. The next morning, I receive the 11:00 pm text from T saying that someone in our school is throwing a getty, and I just sigh to myself.

    

                   

The Day That I Committed to Black Lipstick

This is it freshly applied (This face accurately describes how I felt about it)

       When I was planning my makeup of the next day, I got it in my grade that I should wear black lipstick with minimal face makeup. This was further complicated by the fact that I don't actually own a black lipstick. Like any other person, I turned to the Internet. Makeup Geek corrupt shadow and petroleum jelly became my formula, and a hated Nivea lip balm the tube. This of course turned my desk and hands into a mess. Even with the mess I remained hopeful and thought that the fridge would allow my perfect lipstick to form. Mostly wrong...  
      It did take the shape of a lipstick, but once I twisted it all the way up, it refused to twist all the way down. The true nightmare happened though when I applied it to my lips. It had the same effect as a lip balm, but wouldn't layer into a nice black and looked like I smeared goop on random places on my lips. This is about when most sane people would temporarily abandon their dream of black lipstick, not me. I wiped off the goop and started raising my drawers for black eyeliner. Yes, I went there. After finally finding it and applying it, I realized I had another issue: it wouldn't get on the god damn center of my lip. Running out of time, I grabbed my homemade goop and slathered it throughout my lips. It effectively covered my lips, but still took a lot of cleanup to make it wearable. Not sure of my "lipstick", I grabbed my bag of lipsticks and hoped that I wouldn't need to abandon my black lipstick dream. 
Here are some visuals for you guys:

This is a close up, it is definitely a major fail

This is it two hours into wear
it was off my lips right after this picture

Update: I later applied Ofra Liquid Lipstick in Mina which I removed hours later for other reasons...

New Changes

      When I first created my blog I was toying with what I should make my blog about. Did I want to make it about beauty? About me? About books? About films? About tv? About poetry? About my opinions? I think that by now you get the point that I was confused. After stressing about it, I realized that I could make it be about everything; I promise this will make sense in a minute. This blog was initially made to be about beauty products and experiences, but it felt too impersonal. I'm an over sharer by nature, and I couldn't  keep it so clinical and impersonal. Hence, I renamed it beauty and Yafit. Half of my blog will be dedicated to beauty and the other half will just be about me. For those who only want beauty, there'll be a tab dedicated for it. For those who are here to connect to an internet stranger, there'll be a tab dedicated for that. And for those that dare to read both, that's what the home page is for. I'm going to try to post biweekly in each category, so it feels evenly balanced. The web design changes should be coming soon!


Also good luck to those returning from the three day weekend.

All The Things You Never Knew You Wanted To Know About Me

     This will be my first non-welcome post, which makes me nervous because there is SO much to talk about and no one or everyone is listening. Instead of choosing a random topic that'll establish my blog basis, a 20 fact about me list could substitute.

The very sexist book I'm currently reading

1. I'm an Aries, which means I like to argue and have things done my way. My "it's my way or the highway" attitude is probably why I don't have a boyfriend. Just kidding, boys aren't ready for this fabulous piece of work yet. 
2. I'm a junior in high school, and it kind of sucks so far. I wasn't expecting musical numbers (which would actually be horrible because I sound like a dying horse when I sing), but an awesome group of friends was promised and not delivered.
3. I'm really into books, like if you lock me into a room and leave me with a stack of books, I will devour them.
4. I have insane curly hair, hair that can't be tamed. Before anyone starts listing crazy methods, I've already tried them all. Fluffy and frizzy hair is just something I'm going to have to deal with.
5. I was born in New York and moved when I was about six.
6. I have two adorable dogs who really need to remember how to hold in their bladder. One of them once peed on my bed when I was away. It was a great welcome back present.
7. I go through stages of my life where I just want to focus on one shallow area of myself to fix. Currently, it's skin and I know that playing around always makes everything worse.
8. My feet get cold really easily, it's the reason why I always wear socks. 
9.  I have my own room- and it's painted mint green.
10. My favorite color happens to be purple, but not a dark shade.
11. I don't have a favorite singer, but I do have singers that I like and dislike. I love P!nk (or Pink), Avril Lavigne, Marina and the Diamonds,and nineties punk rock/ pop music. According to Amazon Music, I have a preference for dark pop.
12. I really dislike raps and the only song that sort of rap that I know is Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, I know it's really old. 
13. Some of the TV shows that I watch are Jane the Virgin, Glee, Switched at Birth, New Girl, Project Runway, Criminal Minds (I'm still behind so it's only on Netflix), and Melissa and Joey.
14. I enjoy old television, and when I say enjoy I mean binge watch them anywhere from a week to a month. I actually caught up with Grey's Anatomy over two months in the summer; we're talking about 10 seasons worth of 45 minute episodes.
15. Some of the shows that are oldies but favorites are The Nanny, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, George Lopez, Malcolm in the Middle, Everybody Hates Chris, and most of Roseanne.
16. Work is going to slowly kill me because there's so much of it and not enough time in the day to do it.
17. I'm sassy, and I enjoy every moment of it. Proof is my Instagram bio, which states,"Bios are for people who don't know me, and if you don't know me, you shouldn't be here". Which also happens to be the opposite of what I'm doing right here. You might want to add bipolar to the list.
18. I can act like a two year old sometimes, and then become an expert licensed psychologist moments later. 
19. I have commitment issues, for example this blog post is two years old and I'm now only uploading.
20. I'm excited for this blog, it's kind of my trial blog. Hopefully this is a real success, because I'd like to buy a domain eventually. For now I'm too cheap, and as listed above: I have commitment issues. 

So, I hope that you enjoyed reading and feel like you know me a little better now.