Alisha Reviews: Kylie Cosmetics

    We all know who Kylie Jenner is; she's the most followed person on Snapchat and her family is forever in the media's spotlight. She has been taking the makeup world by storm ever since the release of her first lip kit. She has vastly updated her shades, and has even added glosses, "Kyliner" and even "Kyshadow!" When the craze first started, I didn't purchase any of her lipkits just because I knew they would be sold out from the hype that surrounded them. However, once I tried a friends Koko K, my life was forever changed. 

    I started really getting into makeup almost a year ago, and I hated wearing lipsticks. I could never get them on my lips right, and they always smeared everywhere. And none of the ones I ever tried lasted more than an hour on my lips. 

    My lipstick knowledge and collection has grown since then, and the Kylie lipkits have become my favorites by far. Currently I own six of her lipkits (two more coming in the mail, oops) and four of her glosses. I haven't purchased her Kyliner or Kyshadow, but again, I'm simply waiting for the hype around them to die down (plus I'm not sure if that bronze Kyshadow palette is quite worth the money...). 

Each Kylie lipkit comes with a liquid lipstick and a lipliner. They retail for $29. I've heard plenty complain about the price tag, but if you go to Ulta or Sephora and try to buy the same, you'll be paying about the same if not more for a high end lipliner and lipstick. Shipping, however, is worth complaining about. I paid $8.95 for shipping each time I ordered something. It hurt my heart every time I ordered something. But honestly it was worth it to me because as I've said before, they're my favorites. The lipstick is a liquid matte formula. A little drying as all matte liquid lipsticks are, but these lipsticks do not budge. I can wear any of these all day long and not touch it up one time and it will still look good by the end of the day. Especially if I don't eat anything messy. 

Love Bite is one of Kylie's newest shades. It's a mauvy purple, perfect for fall! It does look a lot darker on my lips though.

Kourt K was the first lipkit I bought. Mainly because Kourtney Kardashian is my favorite and I love dark lipsticks. This one is a little patchy on me, and this color is the hardest to get a precise line on my lips.

Ginger makes my lips look the best out of all of my other ones; it doesn't settle as much into my fine lines. The warm shade also goes with so many looks!

This shade is Dirty Peach and it is also one of Kylie's newer shades. I feel like this peachy shade looks the best on me out of the other ones against my skin tone.

Kristen is a berry shade named after Kylie's mom, Kris. She released it as a Summer shade; however, it does go on the lips darker than what it swatches so you could wear this at any time of the year.

Most of the nudes I have are all pinky nudes, so Exposed is a nude shade I don't have yet in my collection. It almost looks like Dirty Peach when I first put it on my lips, but when it dries it looks a million times better.

Kylies's glosses are $15 dollars each. I bought Like, Literally, So Cute, and the birthday edition Poppin'. After watching her commercial for her lip glosses, I had to buy all three of them. And the birthday edition was just because! Usually I don't buy glosses because I hate how sticky and tacky they are on my lips. But these aren't sticky at all. The applicator is a little brush, and the pigment in the glosses are very nice! Of course, considering they're a gloss, they're not supposed to be totally opaque or last forever on your lips. But they feel and look nice on the lips and I love them for days I
don't want to put in as much effort.

Top to bottom: Like, Literally, So Cute, Poppin

What do you think of Kylie Cosmetics? What have you tried? What are you dying to try? Let us know in the comments!!

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The Gas Crisis of 2016: What We Know

Gasoline – it is a necessary commodity in our modern world. We take a trip to the gas station to fill up our car for granted. We would like to assume that there is an infinite supply of gas beyond the gas pump. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Gasoline is considered a non-renewable source of energy. Eventually, the supply of fossil fuel on Earth will be gone, forcing humanity to adapt and create newer, more renewable sources of energy.

So what happens when the supply of gasoline becomes very limited?

Almost always, panic ensues. Everyone rushes to their local Exxon station to fill up their cars and gas cans. The owners of gas stations raise gas prices drastically to make an extra buck. It seems almost apocalyptic. . .

September 9, 2016-- An inspector with the Alabama Surface Mining Commission was performing a monthly check of an abandoned coal mine in Shelby County when he reportedly noticed a strong odor of gasoline. This smell was coming from Colonial Pipeline’s Line 1. This gas line is three feet in diameter, and it pushes (on average) 1.3 million barrels of gasoline per day. The Line starts in Houston, Texas and pushes gas to distribution centers all across the Southeast and Eastern Seaboard.

An aerial view of the spill site in Shelby County. (Credit: Marty Sellers, sellersphoto.com for al.com)

The three-foot-wide Line 1 was built in 1963. It is estimated that this line supplies the East Coast with 40 percent of its gasoline. Colonial Pipeline shut down the line within twenty minutes of receiving a report about a potential leak. Gasoline is being rerouted through an alternate pipeline—even being shipped via tanker ship from Houston to New York.

With the flow of gasoline interrupted, six states have declared a state of emergency. This is so truck drivers may work longer shifts to head off shortages at the pump. On Saturday, Colonial announced that it would be constructing a temporary pipeline in order to bypass the spill site in an effort to restore the flow of gasoline more quickly.

Gas stations all around the Southeast have reported shortages of some or all grades of gasoline. Fear of shortages has sparked long lines at gas stations in Nashville, Tennessee. As expected with the fear of shortage, gas stations have raised their prices. Gas prices have started to creep up all around the region; however, Alabama law limits how much gas stations can raise prices during declared states of emergency.

Credit: Google Images

An estimated 340,000 gallons of gasoline have been lost since the leak was discovered on September 9th.  Over 700 workers have been working around the clock to dig up the pipeline, repair it, and to clean up the spill around the old mining property South of Birmingham.

The average price of a gallon of gas went up by 8 cents in Tennessee, 10 cents in Georgia, five cents in South Carolina, and 3 cents in Alabama.

Officials announced on Sunday that Colonial’s Line 1 has been repaired. The pipeline could be restarted as early as this week. The rise in gas prices will only be temporary, officials say.

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My Top Secret Skincare Routine

Picking and choosing products to wash your face with can be a daunting task. I'm still trying to figure out what's best for my skin; it seems to be working against me these days. Today I'm going to share with you my personal skin care routine. This is just what currently works for me; everyone's skin is different and some products might work better or worse for any one of you!

Because I don't have a current favorite makeup remover combo yet, let's just assume that makeup has already been removed!

Step One: Cleansing

I have two different face washes I use on a regular basis. When it is time for exfoliating, I use the Perfectly Posh BFF (Best Face Forever) Exfoliating Face wash! I got a sample in one of my ipsy bags, and I'd never previously heard of the brand before. I'm completely obsessed! This facewash smells amazing. Literally I am going to repurchase this almost entirely based on the scent alone. My face feels so fresh after using this. I can't get over how revitalized this makes my face feel. It is exfoliating, so typically I only use it one or twice a week. However, the packaging claims that it is gentle enough to use every day. You only need a small amount, so my sample size has lasted me quite a while. Once I get around to buying a full size, I'll probably test it out for everyday use; however, I have mostly dry skin so that whole idea just makes me nervous.

On days when I don't exfoliate, I use the Clinique for Men Charcoal Face Wash. Yes it says for men, BUT. It has done an amazing job at clearing up acne on my face. I tend to only have it on one spot and it never seems to go away; however, after continuous use of this, it is starting to subside. This is a huge deal for me because I've had the same acne in the same spot for years and nothing was able to even remotely do anything to help until now. I ran out of my face wash and use my husband's instead which is how I discovered this. Now I use it more than he does! 

Step Two: Tone 

My pores are out of control. Toning my skin after I cleanse is a must! The most difficult thing about finding a toner I like is finding one that doesn't shrivel up my skin. Most toners will kill my skin with dry patches, even though I moisturize religiously. The Neutrogena Clear Pore Toner does a great job at detoxifying my pores. Even after cleansing, this toner still pulls out dirt from my pores that face wash couldn't reach. The label does warn against over drying of the face, but I only use this once a day and it doesn't dry my face out at all. 

Step Three: Moisturizing

After toning I apply the e.l.f  Daily Hydration Moisturizer. This does not make me feel greasy or oily whatsoever. When I wake up the morning after applying this, it's like my skin has gone through a transformation overnight. My face feels so nice and smooth after using this. And for only eight dollars, you can't go wrong! 

Once a Week: Mask

Once a week I like to treat my skin to a deep cleaning of some kind. I have a few masks I switch between every week depending on how my skin feels. My absolute favorite mask to use right now is the Freeman Feeling Beautiful Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask. As I said before, my pores are out of control. This mask cleans out everything. It shrinks and purifies my pores so nicely, and it also brightens up my skin. It contains Vitamin E, avocado, and oatmeal to hydrate the skin. The packaging claims to be ideal for normal to combination skin. My skin leans toward the dry side and it works wonders for my face. 

Again, this routine is only what works for me and my skin type right now. Some products might not work as well for different skin types. If any of you feel like you have similar skin type to me and have some skincare tips to try, by all means tell me! I'm frequently buying and trying out new skincare products because there's so many out there!

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Alisha Reviews: Colourpop Haul

I think we have already established that I spend way too much money on makeup. Normally I snag things here and there, but lately I've been going a tad crazy and I've been buying more things at once (I can't help it I swear). Today I will share with you a little haul from Colourpop. 

I bought six different lipsticks, a brow pencil, and a highlighter. And thanks to Colourpop being so affordable, this haul didn't kill my wallet as bad as some of my other ones.

Colourpop has collabed with famous beauty guru Kathleenlights (my favorite). Kathleen created three new liquid lipstick shades and an eyeliner. I own some of her previous collabs already, and I guess I just had to have all three of her new shades (I told myself no but I love anything she makes so...I caved). 

From left to right the shades are: Taurus, November, Point Zero, and Alyssa. Taurus is a lippiestix from one of her previous collabs that I didn't have yet. Not sure if it is going to work out on my skintone, but a girl can hope. November, Point Zero, and Alyssa are all ultra satin lips; I haven't tried out their satin formulas, so I'm beyond excited about that!

From left to right: Lost, Prim, LAX. Contradictory to what it might seem, I love a dark lip. Preferrably a dark red lip. I feel like I usually talk about really nude lip colors, but it's only because I'm really picky about my dark lip colors. I've been on the hunt for just the right dark red lip, which led me to snag these three liquid lipsticks. Lost and Prim are both ultra satin lips, while LAX is an ultra matte lip. I almost feel as if Prim and LAX are the exact same color; however, I feel like Prim is a tad more on the brown side. 

Last but not least, I bought a highlighter that I have been dying to try. This highlighter is called Monster. It's beyond beautiful. The highlight gives off an iridescent light pink duochrome shimmer. For those of you that like a subtle highlight, you might not lean towards this. But it's perfect for girls like me that like that stripe of metal look! 

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Alisha Reviews: Champagne Pop!

Anyone part of the beauty scene is familiar with Jaclyn Hill. This beauty guru is killing the makeup game with over three million followers on youtube and instagram. Influential makeup brand Becca reached out to Jaclyn for a collaboration, and from this 'Champagne Pop' was born! This creamy highlighter with gold and peachy undertones was an instant hit. However, Becca and Jaclyn didn't stop there. After Champagne Pop's amazing success, they went on to create an entire Champagne Pop collection! This collection includes highlighter/blush split pans, highlighting sticks, a liquid version of Champagne Pop, a highlighting brush, a poured cream version of Champagne Pop, an illuminating face palette, and the original Champagne Pop!

Today I will be talking about the Champagne Collection Face Palette. I was lucky enough to snag one of the last two palettes at Sephora. 

This limited edition palette includes two highlighters and three blushes; it retails for $52.

From left to right in reference to the photo above, the shades in the first row are Rose Spritz, Amaretto, and Pamplemousse. Second row is Champagne Pop and Prosecco Pop. 

This palette is my first time trying out anything from Becca (I've already had Champagne Pop, but since it's in the palette that's basically the same thing). Every single shade is creamy, buttery, and ridiculously pigmented. I'm not a big blush girl because I already have redness on my cheeks and I don't like putting more pink on top of it. Amaretto is perfect for me as it isn't so pink but still provides a little flush of color. The OG Champagne Pop provides such a beautiful glow. And if you mix it with Prosecco Pop, be prepared to reflect any and all light that comes in contact with your face. I prefer my highlight to be as dramatic as possible, so I'm always mixing the two together.

(Top to bottom: Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse, Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop)

It's safe to say I am completely in love with this palette. It's so pretty I'll probably try to use my original Champagne Pop up first before I dive straight into it. 

Unfortunately, the face palette is limited edition, and it has sold out everywhere online. However, a couple Sephora's might still have it in stock in store. You can find the rest of the Champagne collection here! 

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The Three Types of Grievers: What You Need to Know

Co-Written by: Jessica N. Keller

     When you and the people around you experience a hard loss, you'll find that sometimes the way others grieve can make it more difficult for your own grieving process. The first step in dealing with other's grief is realizing that we all grieve in our own way. In my own experience, I have seen three types of grievers. I have witnessed these types of grievers throughout my life, watching my family and close friends struggle with the transition of the stages of grief - in their own way. We struggle to wrap our minds around the fact that there are different types of grievers, and grieving processes, because we only know of one that works for us.

1. The Emotional Grievers

   The emotional grievers are in a state of shock when they receive the news of a heartbreaking loss. The loss they are going through affects their everyday lives, whether it be with work, family, their schoolwork, etc. - it is all affected. The emotional griever is likely to burst into tears when someone asks how they're doing in coping with their loss.
    The emotional grievers tend to take everything to heart much harder.  They are the ones who literally compare everything in their lives, unwillingly, to the event that changed it for good.  The hardest part for the emotional grievers is trying to find someone to connect to.  They typically are the one who get more depressed and take longer to overcome the circumstances. This type of griever has a hard time adjusting to change and has the hardest time dealing with how others grieve.

2. The Withdrawn Grievers

    The withdrawn grievers are the quick grievers. They will often grieve by themselves, shutting out everyone else that loves and cares about them. They may see grief as a chore, wanting to get it over with as quick as possible, or avoid it entirely. The withdrawn griever tries to protect themselves and they don't take into consideration other peoples feelings, because they are still trying to protect their own.
    Most could only hope that going through a tremendous loss would make you want to be closer to your family. Some could only hope it would make you want to continue having a relationship with your in-laws (because they are still your in-laws). However, the withdrawn griever pushes everyone away, even when they thought they weren't. All we can assume is that they thought no one was supporting them in their decisions, but the decisions they have made have hurt more than they're probably willing to admit.      

3. The Just-Keep-Going Grievers

   The just-keep-going grievers do just that: keep going. They realize what is going on but cannot force themselves to keep dwelling.  They are the ones who know they have to stay strong: to keep everyone intact.  They realize that if they don’t, everyone will fall apart.  In certain circumstances, no matter how hard they try, they simply cannot.
    The just-keep-going griever continues to try to be the glue. They are the ones stretching themselves to pull the withdrawn grievers in and keep the emotional grievers together. They find a hard time understanding the other two types, because it simply is not normal to them.The just-keep-going griever does grieve, contrary to the belief of the other two grievers.   They do grieve, behind closed doors and rarely; but it does happen.  The just-keep-going griever also looks to the future, constantly trying to decide the next move.  They want the best, not only for themselves, but for all of those around them.
     The just-keep-going grievers take the longest to recover from a loss, mentally and physically. When a just-keep-going griever has time to themselves and they aren't busy, they completely fall apart. They have the time to cry, to mourn. They don't like the way it feels, so when the tears stop rolling, they start. They start on the next project that will keep their mind occupied. They see some family, get another job, take on more at school. This type of griever is the type that almost has to stay busy with anything to keep themselves unscathed.

You Are Not Alone

     It will always be hard; it will always be a blow.  The hardest part is realizing that you have to live you whole life without someone, not by choice but by fate. Eventually you learn to accept everyone will grieve differently, no matter how hard it is on you. The main thing to keep in mind is how are your actions? Are you okay with how you’ve treated the other parts of you heart? The one you’ve buried very deep. For anyone going through any hard transition, my heart is with you. God bless you all.

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Society is Killing Us

   
     I have been watching our society in many ways and from many different angles, and I have come to one conclusion about it: it is killing us. The more I watch the news, the more I am amazed at how someone can do such horrible things to another human being. The more I log on to social media and see the public's reactions to said crimes worries me even more. After horrible crimes, we are so quick to play the blame game and attack others that we feel are the cause when that doesn't solve anything. It causes more and more violence. Violence cannot be solved with violence. All over my social media I have been seeing spectators blame such incidents on race, professional occupation, sexual orientation, gender, statistics, religion, political views, etc. But don't you realize that all that does is drives us further and further apart when we are supposed to be a nation United?

    We are literally a nation Divided, and all I see on social media is how everyone wants us to be a United nation again, and yet they're also the one's playing the blame game. I don't blame anyone for recent attacks. The only blame I see is in our society. The country is divided more now than it ever has been. There is more hate. There is more violence and hostility. There is more rebellion. Some would argue that it is due to this year's presidential election, and I could see that, but that's not where it is rooted from - not at all. This hate has been brewing for years. At least throughout the last decade. Black lives matter. White lives matter. Asian lives matter. Blue lives matter. Cat lives matter. All lives matter. We used to be "One Nation Under God" but now, we are One Nation Under the Death Penalty; because we are literally killing ourselves. You can agree to disagree, but I'm just calling it like I see it. As an American, for the love of God, please stop killing us. Please stop blaming.

    

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