Let's Talk Health

Hello everyone! It has been a while since we've last chatted. I've been cracking down on my studying & all of a sudden an entire month got away from me. But I'm feeling ambitious today, and I want to share with you my journey from the summer. The journey I am talking about is my "weight loss" journey...if you want to call it that. I am going to skip out on the mushy, emotional details of how I felt before losing weight, because I'm sure you can guess... I did not feel great about myself. Who knows, maybe I will save that for another post. But here we go. 

All summer long, I ate really healthy...compared to how I used to eat. Basically, I cut out sugary drinks, excessive alcohol, grains, junk carbs, sweets, etc. and just stuck with the basics. I grew a love for fish (tilapia being a major fave), chicken, veggies (minus corn), and tried to avoid fruit as best as I could (an extra way to deplete carbs and sugar, even in a pure form). Basically the "diet" was heavy in protein, because that is the best way to preserve muscle as well as burn fat. (Google ketosis if you really interested in the science behind this kind of diet.) In about 3 months, I was able to shed nearly 20 lbs, 17 total inches, and 6% of my body fat. But more importantly, I learned about what it means to be healthy on the inside, and then reap the benefits on the outside...I'm talking crazy growing hair, nails, & a clear complexion. But coming off of that diet, I needed to learn how to maintain my weight loss (and continue to lose) and not end up turning it into a yo-yo effect. So, I set some guidelines for myself that I want to share with you too. 

First and foremost, when magazines say things like "keep a food diary", and you think it sounds like a joke, it really isn't. It really does truly keep you accountable. I personally love to use the app MyFitnessPal. It allows me to set goals for caloric intake and many other things. It also is excellent for food & exercise logging. This has been my number one tool (after learning all about the appropriate amount of grams of protein, carbs, sugar, etc. should be consumed daily). 

Second, I started to incorporate exercise. All summer long, I was semi-active. Because of the plan I was following, I simply wasn't eating enough calories to accompany an active lifestyle. So I just went on walks and an occasional run. But now that I have upped my caloric intake, I am back in the gym AND attempting to become a runner. Eww, right? I never thought I would see the day. Like...EVER! But after having lost some weight, my body feels more comfortable when I run...basically not as heavy, obviously. I have learned a breathing technique that works of me and have figured out what the heck to do with my arms. When I run, I like to use the Nike Running+ app to track my route & distance. 

Third, I have tried to become a "smart" grocery shopper. I highly recommend making a list of things you need before heading to the grocery store. This will save you some serious time AND money. It will help you pick out only the things you need and will help you avoid impulse (and probably unhealthy) purchases. Also, when shopping, check out nutrition labels. Know what a serving size is, and see if the nutritional value fits inside your personal guidelines. [Note: If you are contemplating a fat-free item vs. a sugar-free item, like salad dressing or coffee creamer, opt for the sugar-free. Fat is not always bad, and it is definitely not the problem in the American diet. Sugar, in an un-pure form + carbs are the issues, as carbs are stored as sugars.]

Instead of telling myself I can't have this or can't drink that, I think about all the healthy things I should eat and drink and how my body will thank me for it later! Removing negativity makes a huge difference.

When I said (continue to lose) above, I said that because I personally am not 100% where I want to be, yet. I have learned we have to take it one step, one meal, and one day at a time. It does not happen over night & it takes a lot of dedication. My plan is to let the guidelines I have made for myself be a guide me to help me achieve my long term goals. 

Another way that I have found myself motivated to not slip back into my old ways has a little something to do with my faith. Once I was settled back into school, I knew I wanted to grow my faith in God and build a relationship with Him. I luckily have found an amazing church in my city & also have been blessed into finding a bible study filled with other young gals who seek God + his word. I started reading the book "Made to Crave" and it talks all about how we should fulfill our cravings with God, rather than unsatisfying food. Cool thought, huh? I recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

This month I strive to:
1. Continue to grow in my faith. I also plan to finish reading "Made to Crave".
2. Run an average of 15 miles per week (at least 3mi. x 5 days a week).
3. Eat protein rich foods.
4. Drink plenty of water (64+ oz/day).
5. Continue taking a multi-vitamin, omega-3, and calcium supplement. (I don't drink milk.)

I hope that this was helpful and gave you some insight on my little journey & what I've been up to. I hope that if you have goals you push yourself to find the best route to meeting those goals. If you have questions about the ketosis diet, please ask & I'll do my best to explain and give direction!

Talk to you soon,
Carrie

A Week in Photos...

Hello & welcome back. It has been about a week since I blogged last, but with good reason! It was a holiday weekend, as you know, and I spent it with friends and family at the lake. We had such a great [long] weekend that I was sad to see it leave. Following the weekend, I headed back to DM for a school event. It was so nice to be back in my little apartment for a few days and shop do the things I like to do in Des Moines. I had dinner with a good friend & got to hang out with my older brother too! Over all, it has been a very busy and enjoyable week. Here's a peek inside...

Although we are unsure of our date, we are calling this our "anniversary month" :)

This may have happened... When in Rome, right?

I finally got to see my bestie!

Burke & me keeping things festive on the 4th

Burke's cousin is a pilot & landed this plane on the lake.
It got an insane amount of attention!

Oh how I missed my little apartment!
The chair is such an eyesore.. But the room is still a work in progress. 

Typical "getting hair done" selfie... ;)
I tried out a new salon really close to my apartment.  I enjoyed my visit and found it to be VERY affordable!
Check out Estilo if you are in the West Des Moines area. 

I'm heading out of town for a bachelorette party this weekend. The attire is LBD so a new pair of heels was in order.
I picked these up at DSW for a whopping $19. I must say, I was feeling rather thrifty.
[Now let's hope they are comfortable.]

Via recommendation of Alex Garza, I picked up these Joico shampoo and conditioners at Ulta.
Color therapy can never hurt & K-PAK means it contains keratin. Which also can't hurt, right?
She says she has used it for 3 years, and it helped her grow her hair long and strong!

I popped into VS to check out their self tanners that I have heard so much about.
Just my luck- they were offering all tanning products for $10 each. They normally are $15 and up.
I picked up the Self Tan tinted spray and the Exfoliate body prep smoothing scrub.
I have already tried both & am in LOVE! Is it bad if I like this better than my [more expensive] St. Tropez? NO.

A few other things...

I wore this outfit a while back & have been wanting to wear it again and again.
I paired a cream, lightweight summer sweater with denim cutoffs, gladiator sandals, and a fun chain necklace.
Easy as that!

I have been drooling over these Sweet Tea Jewels bangles.
You can find them on Facebook & place your order there. 

I am a crazy huge fan of Honey We're Home & Honey We're Healthy. Both written by the lovely Megan.
She recently competed in a NPC bikini competition & has been inspiring so many of her readers.
She is a beautiful, humble woman of God, and was not shy to share her secrets along the way.
I loved following her journey, but especially loved her food prep/meal guide posts.
pic via her instagram

Last but not least,  of course I have to share a picture of Miss Sidney. What a joy in our life!

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend! Thank you all so much for your support & your generous comments! I appreciate all of you taking the time to read!

XO, Carrie

How to Cover Acne Scars

There are some things that never go away... those things might include acne scars. While typically most hyperpigmentation will lighten up {several months} post acne, some scars like to over stay their welcome. Coming from a girl who is very prone to hormonal acne, I too, struggle with post-acne marks.  While some of us may be brave enough to flaunt our beautiful skin without coverage, others like to make sure those spots are hidden for certain occasions. Here are my best tips for covering acne marks!

Be sure to start your day by cleansing & exfoliating your face, followed up with a good moisturizer. Makeup does not adhere well to dry, flakey skin. 

Step 1: Apply a medium coverage foundation all over. While I love a good coverage foundation, I think it is important not to worry about covering everything up with foundation alone. (Thats what concealer is for!) Layering it on will cause your makeup to cake throughout the day {if not right away} and can tend to make acne and scars look worse. For this step, I love the Urban Decay Naked foundation. Applying your foundation with a Beauty Blender will better help your makeup be pressed into the skin, rather than just sit on top. 

Step 2: Find a concealer that is made for your face, NOT your under eye. These are two VERY different products. Lately, I have been loving the Almay Clear Complexion concealer. This will help brighten the dark scar and help treat any inflamed acne you might have. You can blend this with your finger, but I personally love using a small concealer brush from Sigma. This will allow you to get to all angles of the scar {especially good if you have any indentations}. 

Step 3: Finally, it is important to set all the product you have just applied. Using a translucent powder, like this one by Laura Mercier, is a great way to prevent your makeup from traveling throughout the day, without adding too much product. This fine-milled powder sinks in through the makeup you just applied and locks it in. I like to do this with a big powder brush from Sigma. Be sure to dab, not drag it across your face. 

While the products themselves are important, I have found that the tools you use to apply them are equally as important. Don't skimp on this ladies! Brushes are the number 1 thing when it comes to flawless makeup!

I hope these tips were helpful! What is your favorite concealer to cover acne marks?

XO, Carrie

Blog Relaunch

Hello & welcome to Face First Beauty!

I apologize for the severe lack of posts in the last month or so. With a hefty finals week and the rush of everything else in life, I took a small break & a step back to think about my blog and where it was headed.

After a year of blogging as "Lace of Hearts", a name that was chose on impulse and completely at random, I have decided to relaunch my blog with a new name and URL. My new title is self-explanatory in a sense that women unite to put their best face first each and every day. Over time, I want to encourage the moral here at Face First Beauty to be that beauty starts from within, and that makeup should be used to enhance our natural beauty. We are all uniquely beautiful and makeup should never take away from that. 

All my old posts can still be found here on my new and improved blog. If you are on the web version, you will notice that I have an updated clean & simple design. I have also added new tabs across the top, that make it easier for you to navigate. The "Ask Carrie" tab has been updated as well and now contains a submission form to ask your questions. Don't be shy! Ask away!

All of my social media handles remain the same [@carrieberschman], and you can find me other places with the icons on the top right of my page. If you wish to contact me via e-mail, you may do so at facefirstbeautygirl@gmail.com

I hope you like the new theme here! As always, thank you for reading! Enjoy!

XO, Carrie

Naturally Pretty

Hello! It's already Wednesday! This week seems to be going crazy fast. I've been swamped with studying for quizzes, handing in papers, and preparing for my finals that are in 2 weeks. I keep wondering how that is possible??

Today I am bringing you my thoughts on the It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Palette. I have had this palette for a couple of weeks now and it's all that I have been reaching for.

Take a look...

I can't say I am a fan of the nude foam packaging. My seems to already show some wear. 

Here is the description on the back of the palette.

Size comparison to the Urban Decay Naked3 palette

A first peak inside to the beautiful shadows...

Close up of the 8 shadows on the left half

Close up of the 7 shadows on the right half

Another shot of the gorgeous shadows inside the palette. 

If I had to sum this palette up in just a few words, I'd say, "They nailed it!" I have fallen in love with this pretty matte palette. I knew this palette would be up my alley, because I really had been wanting to incorporate more matte shades into my looks. For everyday, shimmer & frosted shades aren't always the look I'm going for. And in my palettes that do have a few matte shades, I most likely hit pan on them a long time ago. However, these aren't chalky, flakey matte shades. They are velvety and rich. They apply beautifully and have minimal to no fall out. Have I sold you yet? 

What else is great is that the shade range is unlike any other palette. I wouldn't consider it rose, taupe, gold, any of that. It's perfect because it hits all of those categories. I am convinced you can create just about any look with this palette. Major selling point in my book.

Last but not least, it includes a shade called "Transforming Pearl" (bottom right), that you can mix with or apply over top any shade in the palette to create a more pearlescent sheen. How cool, right? I have been wearing these shadows nearly every day since I purchased it. I see myself wearing this all spring and summer long.  I could go on and on, but I'll spare you!

This can be purchased at Ulta (20% off entire purchase for club members!) as well as QVC (on sale now!) If you have held out on any of the Naked palettes because it wasn't exactly what you were looking for, I recommend you check this palette out. 

As always, thanks for reading!

When to Say Goodbye

Recently, I was thinking about how long products are safe to use after they have been opened. We all have those products that are shoved back in our drawers and have been lurking around in our makeup baskets for a LONG time, but what is stopping us from throwing them out? Maybe it's because we feel like we are wasting money, or maybe it's because we think we might need that product one day in the future. However, products across the board DO have shelf lives even though most packaging doesn't list an expiration date. Long story short, a products clock is ticking once it's opened due to exposure to air, bacteria, etc. So it's up to us to know when to muster up the courage and say goodbye!

If a product seems to be discolored, runny or lumpy, separated, has a strange odor, or feels different on the skin than when previously used, then it should be thrown out. Because, lets be real, you shouldn't want to use something funky on your skin... 

Here are some general guidelines (varies based on usage, storage, climate condition, etc.):

• Mascara: 4-6 months, toss when dry (don't add water)
• Foundation: 1 year
• Moisturizer: 6 months - 1 year
• Powder/ Pressed items: 2-3 years 
• Lip stick/ liner: 2-3 years
• Lip gloss: 2 years

How to make your products last:

• Store products in a cabinet or in drawers
• Don't store in direct sunlight 
• Tighten caps or lids after use
• Don't add water (or saliva) to thin out or remoisten products 
• Abide to expirations dates available (sunscreen, retinol products, etc.)
• Don't "pump" your mascara- excess oxygen will shorten its life
• Check seals when purchasing

Spring cleaning is around the corner. Here's your chance to get a head start! :)

image via 

Beauty Bits: When to Save $$$

When it comes to skincare and beauty products, there are definitely categories you should head right to the drugstore for. The drugstore is FILLED with great options waiting to be discovered. Just because it's less costly and not in fancy gold plated packaging doesn't mean it doesn't contain great ingredients. These are four products that I always pick up at the drugstore and will continue to purchase again and again. 

What are your drugstore go-tos? 

XO, Carrie