Cleaning out my Closet!

I recently gave in and downloaded the latest buying and selling app, Poshmark. I've heard about it for a while now but never really thought I could contribute. Then I started thinking about how much my style has changed over the years and how many things in my closet I literally haven't touched since my freshman year of college about five years ago!

I've been weirdly obsessed with the idea and even downloaded ANOTHER similar app called Vinted. I started this post thinking I would just share my thoughts on Posh, but now I think I have a pretty good idea of the main differences of the apps and can let you know which one I prefer!

Both apps allow you to sell items for credit or cash and buy items with your credits or credit card! After a few weeks on both apps, I can tell you I 100 percent prefer Vinted!

The app itself is newer than Posh and not as "advanced," there are still a few bugs they need to work out. But these are the main differences and reasons why I prefer Vinted!

1. Success and ease of start-up
I'm not sure if this was just my personal experience, but I got more sales and activity on Vinted in the first few hours than I have gotten on Poshmark in 2 or 3 weeks. Let me put it in perspective: I've had Posh for three weeks and sold ONE item. I've had Vinted for 3 days and sold more than 15 items. I've noticed that Posh is a more "high-end" atmosphere with people selling Louis Vuitton bags, fur coats and designer jeans. There are SO many more users on Poshmark, that it's easy for your items to get lost. Many people have more than 10k followers on Posh, where I haven't seen anyone with more than 5k on Vinted. Vinted is more my price range and style as well. I think it is much more realistic for a younger audience that may be on a budget!

2. Vinted takes less commission
It's only a one percent difference, but who wouldn't prefer keeping even a few extra cents, amirite?
(Poshmark keeps 20% of your list price, Vinted keeps 19)

3. Shipping
On Posh, shipping is a flat rate.
 ($4.99 on orders over $25, $6.99 on all others. Extra $1.99 if package is over 2 lbs)
On Vinted, you choose the weight range of the package and the buyer pays accordingly. This means it can be a lot cheaper for the buyer!
Shipping is paid for by the buyer on both apps and they provide you with a prepaid label. On ease of shipping/use for the seller, Posh and Vinted fare equal.

4. Swapping is supported
You can swap on Posh, but it's not recommended and it must be taken OFF the Posh app. On Vinted, there is a "swap" option. You're still taking a little risk, but you can still swap within the app and get tracking and a little more piece of mind. I am not in the market for "swapping" at the moment but it seems more people swap on Vinted than Posh. It can be great for people who don't have $$$ to spend but want to revamp their wardrobe!

5. Interface and Usability
On Vinted, you can comment on items and also message users directly. A gripe of mine with Posh is that there is no messaging feature and people's negotiations and conversations flood the comments! I just generally prefer the look and interface of Vinted!

So there it is, my not so organized but honest thoughts about Vinted and Poshmark! I am still currently using both and am hoping that once I gain more followers on Poshmark I can begin selling some of my more big ticket items!

My Vinted username: beccabellevie
My Poshmark username: beccaseylar

 

Happy shopping lovelies!

xo
Becca

Manicure Monday - Nude & Sparkle

I had a nice little Monday last night including my man friend, House of Cards on Netflix (if you haven't seen this yet you're not living correctly), Sleepytime tea and a manicure!

This choice of colors was SO weird for me, but I love the way it turned out. I love my black nail polish more than anything, but when black chips, it chips badly. I felt the need to do something girly and pretty afterwards

 (Luna always has to be in same room as me and she frequently photobombs...)

 

I usually don't go for nudes and beigey pinks on my nails, but for some reason I was really envisioning a nice nude with some sparkle so this is what I chose! I love the color of Samoan Sand but it is a little sheer for my taste. I can imagine that makes it versatile though, for those who just want a sheer wash of color on their nails! I had to use 3 coats to gain my desired color payoff. 

I'm also really not one for glitter or sparkle so this manicure was REALLY out of my comfort zone. But there's just something about a silver glitter accent nail that makes my hands and nails look so good. I love this Revlon polish too, it's just too pretty.

xxx

Becca

Current Skincare Favorites

I was thinking about what to post today, so subsequently I was trying to think about what I've been loving lately. I realized that just this morning I was really happy with my skin...which NEVER happens. Like ever.

For background purposes, I'll just say my skin is very acne-prone, sensitive and dry. About 50 percent of products I put on my face break me out, which is a real fucking pain, if I'm being completely honest. I also should point out I don't spend a lot on skincare. It is pretty contradictory, because you think with how many issues I have and how long I've struggled with my skin, I'd be willing to invest in products. But when there's a 50/50 chance it will break me out or I'll get an allergic reaction, I really try to save myself the grief AND the money. But enough complaining! I've learned that everyone has flaws, and one of mine just happens to be my stubborn skin. I do what I can to take care of it and control my acne the right way.

On with my current skincare products!

(I listed these in the order in which I use them)

AcneFree Oil Free Acne Cleanser

My one MUST for morning cleansers is exfoliating beads! Because my skin is dry, I really feel like I need some exfoliation in the morning to get my face really clean. This cleanser doesn't over dry my face but still is effective at controlling my acne. It's also available at the drugstore and is really affordable ($6).

Korres Face and Eye Serum

I had been eyeing this serum for a while, but never pulled the trigger. I received it for Christmas and I've been using it for a few weeks. This hasn't broken me out and I'm really enjoying it! It claims to be line smoothing and skin brightening, and I have actually noticed a difference in some of my hyper pigmentation and am excited to see if it continues to fade my spots. It's expensive, but we'll see if it actually makes enough changes in my skin to make it worth the $40!

Up&Up Moisturizing Lotion (Dupe for Aveeno Radiant Moisturizer)

 My daytime moisturizer changes all the time, I haven't really found one I've loved enough to remain loyal to. I do however require it to be moderately cheap and have SPF. I just try to find ones that are the simplest and best for my sensitive skin. This does have a sunscreen scent that I don't actually mind, and this may also have been helping out with my dark spots. I've used the Aveeno version as well and can't notice a difference. It is very moisturizing for my dry skin while not being too oily, but I can't vouch for you oily skinned people!

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser

You wouldn't think something so plain and simple could be coveted so much, but I really can't imagine my skin routine without it. It's perfect for sensitive, acne-prone skin and does exactly what it's supposed to! I use a makeup wipe (I prefer the original Ponds ones) to remove most of my makeup prior to using this, but this really gets my face clean and feeling good. I also love that I can buy the jumbo size of this for $10 and know it'll last me a few months.

Acne.org Treatment (Benzoyl Peroxide)

When I said I've tried a lot of acne systems before, I wasn't kidding. I bought this Acne.org treatment when I was trying out the Acne.org regimen (which I do still use as the basis for my skincare). It is a 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide gel that I slather on my whole face at night. This is my real acne-fighting part of my routine. It DOES dry out my skin and I couldn't imagine using it twice a day, but maybe for more oily types that wouldn't be an issue.

As far as price goes, this is one of those things I consider an investment. $36 isn't that much to some, but for me that's a few meals or a water bill! It is however, a jumbo size (16 oz), and it has lasted me about a year with the end of the bottle nowhere in sight which is actually really shocking and a bit mysterious.

 Ponds Dry Skin Cream

So I know I said I'm not particularly fussy about my day moisturizer, but for some reason that can't be said about my night cream. I am completely devoted to my Pond's Dry Skin Cream and can't imagine being without it, honestly. I love the scent and how thick and moisturizing it is. It's perfect to add in that moisture that I lose after letting my treatment completely set into my skin. When I wake up in the morning I can just tell my skin is hydrated and ready for the day. Plus it's cheap as hell and lasts me ages.

xxx
Becca

My Favorite Travel Products

I am a very strategic packer when it comes to my makeup and beauty products. Which is ironic because before any trip I usually just throw a random assortment of clothes and shoes in my suitcase 20 minutes before I head out the door and there's a 99 percent chance I forget underwear.

But because I am really specific about bringing products that are good for travel, I thought I'd share my favorites to bring on weekend trips! I'm going to Reno, NV this weekend and it's sure to be freezing as hell...but we are going to brave the snow and rain because there is lots of shopping, eating, drinking and gambling to be had!

Now, let's get on to my favorite travel products!
(Keep in mind these are just a few items I specifically choose because they're travel-friendly and versatile. I haven't included my basics like foundation, mascara, etc.)

1. E.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzing Duo

If I'm just going away for a weekend, this is literally all I need in the realm of cheek products. They both have a bit of shimmer, but it's nothing too overwhelming. I just sweep these on with my Real Techniques Blush Brush and I know it's going to look good every time with minimal effort. I also like that this is only $3 so if I lose it or drop it, it's no big deal. (This picture being living proof- I recently repurchased this because my old one had been dropped on a hotel floor!)

2. Naked 2 Palette

One word: packaging. I actually prefer my original Naked, but this one just SO much more appealing for travel. (Anyone with the original Naked can understand my frustration with that velvety packaging...) With the Naked 2, I don't have to worry about my shadows breaking or turning my entire makeup bag into a glittery, powdery mess. Don't get me wrong, I still love this palette. It's extremely versatile and I especially love that I have the option of matte or shimmer, depending on the occasion.

3. L'oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner

This is my all time favorite liquid eyeliner. I wouldn't be caught dead without this in my possession, so it's obviously a travel favorite. In all seriousness though, I often just leave my eyeshadow at home and rely on this because I can get a pretty dramatic eye look out of just this and mascara alone. It's just one of those products that's fool proof for me, which is a necessity when I'm on the go. 

4. Blending eye brush - Sigma E35

 Any blending brush, I personally like the E35 from Sigma, is perfect for travel because of its versatility. I can use this or my finger to sweep on a light shade and then use it to add my crease color and blend. You can really create an entire eye look from this one brush. I also have two of the mini E25 blending brushes from Sigma (they used to throw them in as a free gift with purchase- not sure if that's the case anymore) and those are even better because they're smaller. Mine happened to be dirty, so naturally I grabbed a clean brush instead of washing my others :)

5. Two lipstick options

Pictured: Wet 'n Wild Megalast lipstick in Cherry Bomb & Mac Hue

I like to have one dramatic lip color and one nude. I always have various pinks/nudes in my purse, but Mac Hue is my go-to. Mine is almost gone, which makes me want to cry because I can't believe I pay $15 for a sheer, pink lipstick. But it's honestly my favorite lipstick because I can wear it with anything and the formula is amazing. I also LOVE these Wet 'n Wild matte lipsticks because they last forever, they're cheap and the colors are awesome. Cherry Bomb is a deep, dark red that I can easily throw on to transition from day to night! Again, it's no big deal if I lose or drop this because these lipsticks are literally TWO DOLLARS. Amazing.

Let me know what your favorite travel products are! 

xo

Becca

My first post

Bonjour blogger friends,

My name's Becca and I am excited, anxious and a bit nervous really, to start this blog! I graduated with my journalism degree last May and have since been, how do I put this...wandering. I made a big change in my life and moved to the Bay Area to work at a high-tech PR firm two weeks after I graduated. I was so miserable and was feeling a lot of regret that I made such a big decision with such little thought.  After a few months of stress and tears, I finally ended up back in my college town because I just love it so damn much. So now, here we are!

In reality I'm much like other 22-year-olds--not really having a clue what we want, or giving a shit about the questionable choices we can sometimes make in total disregard of the consequences to follow. (I say that now, but any time someone gives me some condescending lecture about my age, I am defensive and use big words and eloquent phrases to compensate).

What I do know is, I love beauty and fashion and the last few years have constantly found myself watching YouTube videos and stalking blogs, completely avoiding my actual work. So I thought...all of these other people are blogging...why can't I? I mean, I am the one with the journalism degree, right?

So here I am, still wandering a bit but perhaps with a little more regard of where I may be headed. Wander with me if you wish!

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