Matte Remarks

The New OCD

June 1, 2017

Hey you. How’s it going? It’s been a while since I’ve written anything on my site. Please forgive me.

I wanted to just sit & write about something that’s been weighing heavy on me. I hope I’m able to get my point across eloquently.

So, as many of you probably know, I have a YouTube channel. Not a huge one, but I’m able to interact with lovely people all around the world. About a week ago I got a comment from a subscriber that kind of… well… shook me up. The subscriber said that based off of my Instagram feed, she would love to have my lifestyle and be me. Be. Me. I immediately teared up while reading that… and not because I felt great. This person has no idea that in 72 hours I have my routine appointment with my therapist. This person has no idea that I deal with depression and anxiety to the point where there are days I can’t leave my bed because I physically cannot muster up the energy to do so (Thank God this has gotten loads better). This person does not want to be me.

With that being said, let’s discuss my title choice. “The New OCD”.

Obsessive Comparison Disorder.

Yes, absolutely made up and a play on words. But this is quite literally what I feel is happening to so many of us. Why have we become so obsessed with other people? Their lives? Their appearance? Why are we constantly comparing ourselves to other people? Why do we feel inadequate? Why aren’t we captivating?

[Read more…]

Self-Love.

February 13, 2017

-OUTFIT DETAILS-

Top: Urban Outfitters

Blazer: Jessica Simpson Style

Jeans: PacSun

Heels: LuLus Clothing

Sunnies: Desi Perkins X QUAY – High Key

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted on my site, so hi again! Happy Valentine’s Day! How are you? Really… how are YOU? Especially during this Valentine’s season it’s important to take a step back and reflect on, well… you. I’ve realized that this holiday has become so commercialized (yes, I know I have heart shaped balloons in my pictures. Let me live!). It’s all about chocolates (I don’t mind them though. I also don’t mind the 15^th, when they’re all half off LOL), teddy bears, gifts, etc.

This year I’m not in a relationship and won’t be celebrating the “common” way, but I am making it a point for self-reflection. Am I loving myself? Am I being kind to myself? Am I taking care of my body? Am I loving others the way I should be as a Christian? These things should always be considered, but it’s so easy to get wrapped up in all the craziness with day-to-day things and forget that these things are important.

To me, Valentine’s Day is no longer just about hoping I have a Valentine. That’s totally cool if I do, but I don’t want to get so hung up on having someone there that I forget that the holiday is about LOVE. Loving your friends, loving your wonky nose, loving the trees that so generously provide the air for you to breathe, loving your siblings, and most importantly… loving yourself.

There are hundreds of bible verses I could post in here, but there’s one in particular that really resonated with me. “Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14. Everything we do really flows from the heart. I don’t ever want to become so consumed in false idols that I forget this. I want everyone in my life, whether I’m single or not, to know how much I care about them by acting on it. By showing initiative. By being quick to forgive (I’m workin’ on that one). By acting with intention rather than reacting.

I hope that this Valentine’s Day you realize how insanely loved you are, whether you have someone buying you chocolates and flowers or not. I hope that if you feel lost, you fall closer to God. I hope that if you feel shameful, you remember that He keeps no record of our wrongs. I hope that if you’re heartbroken, you recognize that time will pass and it won’t last forever. “I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of My hands I have written your name.” – Isaiah 49:15-16

P.S. Perhaps we should love ourselves so fiercely, that when others see us they know exactly how it should be done. – Rudy Francisco

With lots of love,

Val

Going Cruelty-Free? Here’s A List.

August 26, 2016

Hi guys! I decided to go cruelty-free a few months ago and I thought I’d give you some tips, as well as a list of companies.

A LOT of major makeup companies are cruelty-free, so don’t be afraid to take the plunge and think that you’ll have to cut out everything.
Make an e-list! (This makes your shopping at Ulta/Sephora/Drugstores a heck of a lot quicker when you can reference your notepad on your phone to check if the brand is cruelty-free or not.)
I’m still using my non cruelty-free items regularly to use them up, since I’ve spent quite a bit on makeup from all different brands over the years, but I am NOT endorsing them in my YouTube videos. Just trying to get my money’s worth and use ’em ’til they’re gone but I will not be repurchasing.
Going cruelty-free usually means including everything else – skincare/bath & body/household items. Baby steps are OK, but once you know which brands test on animals, you won’t need to buy from them if you know of an alternative.
DO RESEARCH! Suzi, the author behind Cruelty Free Kitty’s website, helped make my transition extremely easy. If you’re ever in doubt, check her page. She contacts companies directly to make sure that they really ARE cruelty free and will show proof. I’ll be linking her site down below – I got you!
If a company says “we do not test on animals unless required by law“, that means they test on animals. Don’t be fooled.

With all of that being said, I found a page on Cruelty Free Kitty’s website that listed a plethora of cruelty-free makeup companies. She has lists of other beauty and skincare companies that aren’t directly under “cosmetics” but today I’ll only be giving you the list of cosmetics in alphabetical order. Feel free to copy and paste all the names into your notepad on your phone so that you can reference them in the future for easy/data-free shopping. I’ll link her website down below. If you’re thinking of going cruelty-free, she has SO MANY HELPFUL POSTS! Please, please, please check out her page. Also, please note this list is not exhaustive. If you know of any companies that I might have missed, please email me or drop a comment down below and I’ll have this updated. People might give you the “one person isn’t going to change the world” spiel, but don’t listen to them. As quoted by Suzi, “As consumers, we can make a real change by choosing which brands we support.”

Happy shopping!

CRUELTY-FREE DRUGSTORE

Ardell
Colourpop
Ecotools
Elf
Hard Candy
Jane.
Jordana
Milani
NYX Cosmetics
Pacifica
Pixi
Physicians Formula
Sonia Kashuk
Wet ‘N’ Wild
Yes To _______

CRUELTY-FREE HIGH END

Anastasia Beverly Hills
Becca
BH Cosmetics
Bite Beauty
Buxom
Charlotte Tillbury
Cover FX
Dose Of Colors
Hourglass
Illamasqua
IT Cosmetics
Josie Maran
Kat Von D
Koh Gen Do
Makeup Geek
Melt
NARS
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC)
Ofra
Perfekt
Pur Minerals
Real Techniques
Sugarpill
The Balm
Too Faced
Urban Decay
Zoeva

http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/

Best,

Val xx

Life Update.

August 26, 2016

Hey, guys! It’s been a while since I’ve posted on my site – it’s been crazy!

I just recently left the company that I worked at for the past four years so that I’d be able to dedicate more time to school and focus a lot more on the social media side of things, since that’s what I’m going to be pursuing. With that being said, I’ll be posting a lot more frequently on my YouTube and on my website so stay tuned for new content.

Best,

Val