Wellness Voxbox!

I was fortunate enough to receive the Wellness Voxbox recently from Influenster. Interesting box!

Well, all except for the Attitude body wash....

(This was the condition it came in)

Nonetheless I am grateful for the products I received.

Here are some reviews for the products!!!






1) Olay Active Botanicals Refreshing Gel Cleanser: This product smells super nice and glides on very well onto my face. Use of it for 1 week did not break out my skin and I'm glad that, like other Olay products, this one lives up to the famous name Olay is known for in its quality.


2) Attitude Living Body Wash/Shampoo: I didn't find that this product did much for my hair or body. Unfortunately, it wouldn't get off the dirt/grime I had at the end of the day (I work in a hospital/clinic and have gotten splattered with all sorts of things, unfortunately). I ended up having to use a second body wash as well. However, the shampoo worked very well for my fiancee's hair so I think it works on different hair types.


3) Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer with Monoi Oil - this product is da bomb. Super moisturizing, smells amazing, and keeps my skin supple and nice during and after nighttime shower status-post application. Would definitely repurchase.



4) My Urgent Rx Aspirin pain relief - Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have not had to try this product yet, but I look forward to using it the next time I get a headache. Which I probably anticipate one soon.

5) Colgate mouthwash - kind of drying but very cleansing of an after-feeling. I use mouthwash every night and I also like this product's size - perfect for traveling if you're going to be taking a large bag check-on as well. Will repurchase.

Bottom line, I'm really grateful that Influenster sent me these products for review, and I'm happy I discovered some new products that will be awesome for future use :)

First wedding post board!

Wedding~ by luciaz168 featuring a bohemian headband

TOMS platform sandals
nordstrom.com

Soludos ankle strap sandals
$22 - theiconic.com.au

Open toe shoes
$36 - newlook.com

Touch Ups glitter shoes
zappos.com

Bohemian headband
etsy.com

Crystal hair comb
etsy.com

Forever 21 lip treatment
forever21.com

Current Routine

Routine by luciaz168 featuring Eos

Current wishlist (skincare-heavy)

Current wishlist (skincare-heavy) by luciaz168 featuring travel tote bags

My relationship with makeup throughout the years

When I first started using makeup in high school, I was obsessed. Never did I imagine I could use a pencil to make my eyes look so much bigger than before. From high school through early college I wore all sorts of weird looks, ranging from crazy eyeshadow colors (bright purple! cornflower blue!) to sparkly green eyeliner and white highlights. I would create what I called "Lady Gaga" looks - coloring my entire face in different colors and taking photos of myself in them.

I thought of makeup as a powerful tool - one that could redefine my personality, my characteristics, covering up what I had hidden on the inside.

Ever since I started medical school, my makeup trends have toned down quite a bit. Time is much more limited now, and combined with the fact that I now use makeup to look professional rather than to try new looks, my collection has become more of basics. At the same time, the quality of makeup has gone up. I use only neutral tones for eyeshadow, but I use the Naked 3 palette instead of the $1 ELF eyeshadow palette I used in college. My principal eyeliner upgraded from $1 sharpened pencils from Wet N' Wild's ColorIcon series to Maybelline's Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner. I change out my mascara (usually waterproof) every 3 months, but the brands range from Maybelline and L'oreal to Smashbox and Lancome.

I've also toned down my craze for makeup. In college, I used to wear makeup to class every day, every single day. In med school, during pre-clinical classes, I used to only wear eyeliner, concealer and maybe eyeshadow/mascara (people got so used to the look that they asked if I was sick when I didn't wear any makeup). During clinics, my routine was reduced even more. Cream eyeshadow, eyeliner, and maybe mascara if I had time. No lip stuff, no concealer to hide my dark circles, etc.

Honestly, now that I look back, the times when I wore heavy makeup were still times when I wanted to conceal myself. I remember during particular times in my life when I was scared of the environment I was placed into (strangers, potentially scary people, etc). I would wear heavy BB cream foundation, primers and load up on tons of makeup in order to create a "barrier" of sorts, between myself - my real self - and those around me.

But now, every day after I leave work, I go home and take off my makeup. The feeling of washing off a day's worth of work, getting all of the gunk off of my face - oh what freedom!