Summer Essentials

 

❤ Degree Dry Protection - Shower Clean

First and most important, D.O. for the B.O.. This has been my go to for a while now. Really gets the job done if you know what I mean. I like my D.O.s to have a little antiperspirant as well because Arizona is sweat inducing 24/7. I know its probably not the best for my health and the armpits on all my shirts really take a beating but to be sweat free is worth it to me. It smells pretty good too but more like clean sheets than shower fresh.

❤ Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Creme

 I remember a girl I followed on Tumblr swearing by it while I had a streak of hating all moisturizers I tried, I found this at the drugstore and haven't looked back. That was in the early years of high school  for me and I just don't think I'll ever find anything that compares. It's a light gel, like so light that when you stick your finger in you can't tell if you're touching product of not, and it absorbs in seconds to leave your skin soft. It's truly a heaven send for me because my skin does the whole dry/flakey kind of thing and this is powerful enough to quench the driest parts of my face though you might not expect a gel to do that. As you can tell I already have purchased a replacement.

❤ Simple Foaming Cleanser

 I wouldn't classify my skin as sensitive but this definitely gets the job done without being aggressive. Brownie points in my book! Its not harsh on your skin which is important after a long day soaking up the sun but cleans up what my makeup remover leaves behind. With no animal derived ingredients how could you go wrong with this?

❤ BioOil 

An absolute must have for me since I do have dry skin and acne scarring. If I have some extra time in the morning, which I usually do because I don't have to rush off to class, I like to slather my face with it and hang out for a couple minutes before washing my face for the day. This works wonders for scars and dry skin patches anywhere on my body.

❤ Nip + Fab Skin Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Pads

The most recent thing I've added to my skin care collection and I'm so glad I did. I've only used it a couple of times but I already see a difference. This comes with 60 cotton rounds and smells like citrus. I like to use it on the ends of my shoulders cause I get little ances there but this has cleared that up completely with every-other-day use. These haven't healed any of my acne scars like I had originally hoped when I brought these home but I've only used this a couple times and my pores have shrunk. With the cheap price I think it's well worth giving a try!

❤ Neutrogena Body Clear Body Spray 

I don't use it often but it is a lifesaver for ances that are just out of reach because it sprays even when you hold it upside down. If you're turned off by strongly scented products, you'll want to stay clear of this but clear skin is worth it to me so its handy for swim suit season! I like to use it at night so I don't smell all chemically during the day.

❤ Essie Nail polish in Bikini So Teeny

My current favorite nail polish and periwinkle at it's finest! I always like Essie nail polishes because they are the perfect consistency for getting a smooth polish job. I'm always on the lookout for new shades of polish so tell me your favorites in the comments!

❤ Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Mascara

Perfect for summer and I know it's not a skin care product, but I wanted to include it anyways because its really the only cosmetic I use on a daily basis during this season. I love this stuff because its the first mascara I've found that sets in time to shape my lashes exactly how I want. The lashes of my left eye grow in funny directions because once upon a time I had a sty that didn't heal correctly (gross but it happens, right?). Its nice to be able to get them to stay they way they're supposed to. The formula is also super defining but allows you to build coats for volume without clumping. Also, it's one of the first formulas that doesn't leave marks as my face oils throughout the day. It's a staple for me!

There ya have it folks. Eight of my go-to summer products, tell me about yours?

Always,

kpeterr

Holler

It's not very often that other people can explain your feelings better than you. It does happen though. Mostly with music lyrics that are open for interpretation, but sometimes my best friend will say something about me that explains a whole lot of the parts of my personality that I haven't been able to understand, and sometimes it happens with things you see on the internet. Whenever it does happen for you, I think it's important to relish in those moments of pure clarity and take them as little knowledge mints (like how mints refresh your breath but for your brain). Jenna Marbles made this video earlier this week and it just really hit home for me. Usually she does a lot of funny things and her wacky humor just hits me right in the giggle dick, but lately she's been posting some real good life advice. I'm not sure if this quite sits on the "2real2handle' side of her video spectrum but I do want to remember the way this video gave me the kind of unique feels that only only happen every so often.

♥kpeterr

Why we need to talk about Caitlyn Jenner

Has or hasn't the media beat the story of little miss Caitlyn Jenner to death? I'm sure you and everyone else on the planet will agree with me when I say, media sources far and wide have had something to say about the Vanity Fair cover that I think is drop-dead stunning.

It's the first experience with a transition, most people (myself included) have gotten. I wouldn't be lying to say that Bruce Jenner has a following and a platform that spans many many people. Whether it be through sports recognition, or the Kardashian family, or other means, Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner's voice and words have the potential to be hear far and wide across many demographics that are aware of his, and now her, existence.  Bruce has gone out of her way to acknowledge and answer the many questions thrown at him that most of the population has never had a chance to ask before. No matter how ignorant (looking at you, Diane), or invasive, or personal, much of the worldwide curiosity has a chance satiation all due to little miss Caitlin Jenner.

The story can be appreciated by all generations. The Diane Sawyer interview relates well with the older generations and those who grew up with Bruce. The Kardashian special catered to a younger generation and gave intimate details of what it's like to go through a transition as a family. Sports fans and athletes alike have a lesson to learn about gender stereotypes and what it means to be brave, honest, realistic, and ignorant.

Gender is more relevant than it deserves to be. Once considered the ideal, Bruce now doesn't at all fit the bid for hegemonic masculinity, at all whatsoever. Pop culture icons usually feed stereotypes rather than work to break them down and to see Caitlin stand up for herself as the epitome of a "man's man" is really powerful and exciting. It makes me excited to be alive and to see it happen. After all, who really cares what someone looks like physically anyways?

It's not a realistic representation of transition. In real life it's not as easy or as glamorous as media has made it out to be because of Caitlin Jenner. There is probably a lot that Bruce did not wish the media to share and had right to censor the things that were just to personal. There's also a certain luxury to privacy that Bruce was denied during his transition and I can only image how hurtful people can be, to experience that first hand would not be glamorous in the slightest. 

Personally, I think transgendered is so misunderstood because it's unrelatable for most. Its hard to imagine what it must be like of feel like to question your own gender so to think that other people might is hard to grasp. I'm really happy for Caitlin to be living life the ways she's been imagining it and I'm proud to say that I live amongst many people who care more about a person's happiness than what they look like or dress like. Now for the important questions... 

Why C and Not K?

♥kpeterr