I think what I hate most about the end of each year is actually the looming presence of spring. She’s off in the distance, just out of focus enough to forget about her, but then WHAM – she hits you in the face! Literally. With sideways rain.
I mean don’t get me wrong, I hate January through March too but those are typical hated months. April and May are SO much worse because they tease the coming of the best season of the year. The season where seasonally-affected Portlandians get a small reprieve from the relentless drizzle and oppressive gray. When the abundance of green gorgeousness can be actually be enjoyed and the California transplants finally decide the move was worth it (trust me, it’s not).
So in celebration of being about halfway through the month of May, let’s talk about some recent faves!
I’ve been on a huuuuge Free People kick lately. It started on our recent trip to Palm Springs where I fell madly in love with these jeans and BOUGHT THEM FULL PRICE. You guys. This is coming from the girl whose wardrobe is 95% from the bins. The jeans are perfection and also look super cute cuffed. I just couldn’t resist them and I’ve worn them a ton – so comfy, unique, and fun!
Also don’t mind my bunions…
Diane Von Furstenberg x Target Utility Purse (sold out)
I got to Target bright and early for the DVF collab drop. I thought I wanted the little camera bag but I sent my sister a picture of both and we landed on this one. This has easily become my go-to purse, it’s adjustable, made of nylon (read: easy to clean), and has a front zippered pocket for a phone. Couldn’t have designed it better myself.
I picked this up during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Event, which is really worth keeping an eye on! I think I paid about $25 and it’s been worth every penny. This is a full-coverage foundation with SPF 50. Perfect summer foundation for when I want more coverage. I am still on the hunt for a good sheer/tinted version with maybe a hint of dewiness. Leave any suggestions in the comments!
A setting powder that doesn’t take away the “dewiness”? Sign me up! I splurged on this powder after some rave reviews I found on TikTok. It sets my makeup just enough – takes away the harsh shine but leaves the radiance. I love it.
Body oils might be my new favorite thing, thanks to this one. Doesn’t hurt that the notes are: pistachio, night-blooming tuberose, jasmine, and ylang ylang, with undertones of milky coconut and warming amber. STOPPPP it. The formulation is perfection and super moisturizing, which not all body oils are. So hydrating and the smell lingers.
Before I leave my initial thoughts on this LED mask, let me just say that I am also having a sleep study done soon and will likely be prescribed a sleep apnea machine. Let’s all take a moment to let the visual of me in my LED mask, CPAP machine, and night guard seep in. I’ve already alerted the husband that he is about to become the luckiest man alive.
For our 6-year anniversary, David lovingly gifted me this mask as I was not willing to purchase it myself. At around $385 it is costly, but I am hoping that with consistent use I’ll need fewer IPL photo-facials to banish my dark spots. The jury is still out, as I have only had this for about a month, but I will keep you all posted. So far, it is comfortable enough to wear and only takes 10-minutes!
Trader Joes Calandiva Potted Flower
ExCUSE me but how sweet are these mini-rose wannabes? I die. ALSO this cost $4.99 and ALSO I have kept it alive for 6 weeks now. Perhaps the best 5 bucks ever spent and I might go back this week for another.
All for now! Tell me what I need to check out for this summer in the comments 🙂
Some things never change. The sun will always rise in the east and set in the west. What goes up will always come down. Wicked on Broadway. And the annual posting of my Christmas list. As I look back on years past, I realize that really – I haven’t changed. Sure, it’s always a different perfume, skinny jeans have evolved into wide-leg, gold jewelry, then silver. But really, I still like what made the list 10 years ago – I’ve just gotten older. Just a little. So here is the list for this year. I wonder how my 2013-self would feel about these items?
Gap has a collab with Love Shack Fancy which means this is really my only chance at owning something from the brand. If this sweatshirt isn’t 100% me then I don’t know what is!
I’ve always wanted to own Caviar Sticks from Laura Mercier! This set comes with my favorite shade, Amethyst, and two additional gorgeous colors. It’s such a great deal.
I got a Nespresso machine last year for Christmas, but I am constantly running out of the pods! We have a storefront in Portland, but it’s pretty far away from me. More coffee, please!
This is one of those things I would NEVER buy for myself but I really want it. If you aren’t on Bama Rush TikTok then maybe you don’t know – but the Glamorous Wash from Tyler is apparently the end-all-be-all for laundry detergent. This new one in Regal is a dupe for Baccarat Rouge 540 and I really want my clothes to smell bougie. Too much to ask?
I have officially decided I want a Jellycat collection and what better to kick it off than this sweet lil piece of cake? So apropos! I also really need the Christmas ones, like the candy cane, snowflake, and star. If you’ve never gotten your mitts on a Jellycat, just run to the nearest Nordstrom or local toy store. They’re amazing.
And that concludes the list for 2023. Thank you, as always, for reading.
Why is this song so perfectly applicable to anything sad? Billie just gets it.
I almost didn’t write this post at the risk of sounding like another millennial mom, droning on about how time is a thief, how we blink and a year drifts by, but today I am putting that aside. I am writing it TF down because another summer has gone, and doggone it – it’s the year of the Barbie movie!
Clara is going to be 5 years old in just 3 months. We started official preschool 3 days a week at a new school and girlfriend SLAYS in her pink Fjallraven and Disney princess lunchbox. We are dealing with a 4-year-old who wants to get dressed, use the bathroom, brush her teeth, and pour LARGE glasses of milk all by her lonesome. Her catch phrases and one-liners literally SEND David and I. Favorites include (while leaning up against something) “How a’doin?”, “Bemember lasterday?” (aka anything that has happened in the past), and the one that gets me err time, “You’re breaking my heart mommy” (when I tell her goodnight and am about to leave the room, it always buys her at least 15 more min).
Eliana is 12 and in 7th. We are going through the delightful saga that is middle school – friends, enemies, boys, makeup, controversial outfit choices, iPhones, all of it. We’re “trying on personalities” as my best friend Kelly lovingly puts it. One day we’re sporty spice, then we’re an Influencer, and then out of nowhere we’re asking to be tucked in at bedtime. Really I cannot blame her one bit – I cringe at the memory of me in JNCO jeans.
Our summer was packed to the brim. E had summer camps and vacations. Clara took a ballet class. We went on a few random trips. Here are the highlights:
One of my best friends, Holly got married in Idaho. My other BFF’s and I were bridesmaids and we had THEE best time!
I love her.
Clara discovered the gas station strawberry shortcake ice cream bars!
She also got SO much better at drawing. Check out her troll doll!
Trip with with Liv and Kelly to Pacific City. We chaperoned a group of 16-year-olds so we EARNED THIS.
JONI JAM 2023. For my mom’s 70th birthday, my sisters and I got tickets to see Brandi Carlisle and Joni Mitchell at the Gorge. It got super cold after the sun went down but it was SO FUN!
We discovered THEE best pizza in Portland (IMO) – Ranch Pizza.
We went to Kennewick for the 4th of July and I (for the first time maybe ever) beat everyone at shanghai rummy.
Clara started taking pre-ballet and tap at a little dance studio near our house and LOVED it. I physically cannot handle how cute she looks in her leotards and unitards.
Face-painting ala Mommy
I gardened for the first time in my life AND planted something.
We drug our $85 pool out of the garage.
The cousins came to visit and we took a little trip to the Oregon coast.
We went to visit our friends Anna and John at their gorgeous lake house.
We attended a birthday party with Rapunzel. Sidenote: I think I missed my true calling as a party princess.
We went to Sun River with my family!
And lastly, but most importantly – Eliana and I FINALLY checked visiting this Christian bookstore/vegetarian foods market off our bucket list. Spoiler alert – we didn’t buy anything.
It’s a whirlwind this life, and most of the time I am DRAINED. I know I could use a little more time to myself but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Like Annie’s “star-to-be”, I am still asking myself this question. Is it the FIVE Ladurée locations? The abundance of rainbow bagels? Or just the knowledge that SJP’s Manolos have clickety-clacked upon the same upper east side sidewalks that you find yourself standing on?
Back in May our little family descended upon the city that never sleeps and packed a week’s worth of fun into a 24 hour chunk. Allow me to deconstruct.
We had a family wedding to attend on Long Island, and rather than send out a solo member, we bravely decided to make it a family affair after realizing we had the Jet Blue points to fund the flights. We made the plans to stay with my cousin, his wife and daughter in Massapequa and purchased red-eye flights into JFK. Then I quickly got into formation – planning, packing, and panicking…about just about every detail imaginable.
The trip came at us fast and before we knew it, we landed in New York and had successfully gotten both girls to sleep on the plane! David and I were not as fortunate and despite the Unisom, neither of us got more than an hour of sleep.
I sipped a scalding hot Dunkin Donuts coffee from the airport and we rode the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to Massapequa. After getting settled and attending the first of two pre-wedding activities, we rested up for our ONE big day in the city.
But first – a Massapequa rainbow bagel!
You see, between wedding festivities, PTO, and missing school, we decided that we could really only swing one full day in the city. And luckily E’s aunt (a local New Yorker) mapped out an entire day of fun, and was able to join in and act as our guide.
We rode the LIRR into the city once again, and can I just say – I love riding the train. I could dead ass be a commuter with a podcast, comfy sneakers, and little backpack, I can see it now! We borrowed an umbrella stroller for Clara from my cousin and it was easily the BEST decision we made the whole trip. Homegirl loved it, we loved it, just a total win.
We started with the Museum of Natural History. The place is colossal and so iconic, I could easily have spent a whole day wandering around. But a busy toddler who wants to run, yell, and touch everything, affords you 2 hours tops. The highlights for us were the blue whale (ocean) room, the gems, and the dinosaurs.
After that, we walked up to the original Levain Bakery on 74th Street and got 3 different flavors of their massive cookies. They live up to the hype.
The upper west side is so quintessential New York, I loved pushing Clara in the stroller and pretending we were headed home to one of the impressive brownstones.
Then we had lunch at Lenwich and Clara promptly PTFO.
After lunch we headed over to Central Park to stroll through Strawberry Fields.
The walk through Central Park was absolutely gorgeous and the weather was perfect.
Then we hustled to the subway to make our way to St.Pat’s cathedral. But before I get there, can we talk about riding the subway with 2 kids, a backpack and stroller? We quickly found out the stroller wouldn’t fit through the GD turnstiles and David and I were STRUGGLING. Just full upper-lip sweat for me. We must have scanned the subway card like 10 times before a nice older gentleman pointed to a steel door off to the side. A big sign on the door said “DO NOT OPEN”, so I hesitated when I went to open it and looked over at the man again. He nodded at me like, “Just do it already!” so I opened the door and a LOUD-ASS alarm went off. Cue more upper-lip sweat. David plowed through, stroller in tow and we ran through on our merry way. I kept looking over our shoulder for the subway police to come write us a ticket, but it never happened. Over the course of the next 24 hours I witnessed several people utilize this door to carry through strollers, bikes, and other large items . We used the door each time after that with pride, feeling like cool, seasoned New York parents navigating the subway with ease!
Ok, back to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
It is gorgeous yes, but I feel like the fact that it is a.) in the U.S and b.) in the middle of a bustling city makes it all the more cool.
Then we spotted something that we knew immediately HAD to be added to our afternoon plans.
The American Girl Store!
E and I were in heaven. Running around and squealing like 6 year olds. Clara was impressed but still a little too young to really “get it”. The NY store is really worth a visit if you’re an OG American Girl fan like me, they have a hair salon, doll hospital, and restaurant!
Then we walked over to FAO Schwartz where I discovered they make you pay to play the giant piano from Big. LAME. I opted instead for a picture in the Barbie box.
Then we hopped back on the subway to make our reservation at the Museum of Ice Cream. If you aren’t aware, the Museum of Ice Cream is an Instagram-worthy sensory experience, not a traditional museum. The self-guided tour leads groups through several rooms, all with an ice cream theme where guests are served – you guessed it – ice cream!
After ice cream, it was almost dinner time. We checked into our hotel in Times Square which was small, but nice, clean, and cozy. Then, we headed to dinner at Serendipity!
OBVIOUSLY we got the frozen hot chocolate. But I didn’t see John Cusack (sigh).
Then we headed back to the hotel for some much-needed shut eye. I know this pic is blurry, but it perfectly captures the moment so idc.
The next day we started out bright and early for another few hours of sight-seeing before we had to go back to Long Island. E, David, and E’s Aunt TT went to the “top of the Rock” (Rockafeller Plaza) while Clara and I slept in.
E was dead-set on going to Madame Tussaud’s and I knew I couldn’t leave without getting a picture of Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment. So, we split up. E, David, and Aunt TT went to Madame Tussaud’s while Clara and I braved the rain and the subway to find 66 Perry Street.
Annnd, we found it!
Tears literally welled up in my eyes you guys. Such a millenial.
Then it started to downpour so Clara and I ran into a Dunkin. Her wet hair and happy little donut smile KILL ME.
That afternoon, we rode the train back to Long Island for the rehearsal dinner. The next day was the wedding and I must say, we slayed the formal attire.
We had an amazing time at the wedding. Overall, it was such a whirlwind trip but OH, so memorable!
Can you believe I have been posting my Christmas list on this blog for 9 years? NINE. If you need a laugh, go take a gander at my 2013 list where I include a statement necklace from Forever 21, a DVD, AND a Lord of the Rings phone case. No words are needed. Millennial me has slayed and will continue to slay.
But now. Now I slay in a slightly different way. With outfits purchased at the bins, vibrating heating pads (yes, from Walgreens), and crinkled up packets of Liquid IV found at the bottom of my purse.
And so, here is a list of material possessions that I believe will make my life better. Whether or not they actually will is a story for another day.
Found this ring via TokTok (where else?) and it was love at first sight. Ignore the pun. It is simple, feminine, and I do not really own any rings other than my engagement/wedding band.
I have been wanted a perfume that makes me smell like a snack, lol. Kinda like a more intense version of the Brazilian Crush no.71. This was created for Salt & Straw and as a Portlandian, I feel it is my duty to own it!
It should be tradition that I get a new EllandEmm sweatshirt every year. They are high-quality, SO fun, and slightly oversized. I LOVE this one, “strawberry” en francais – j’adore!
I am all about the gel polish these days. I do it myself at home with my Le Mini Macaron macaron-shaped curing lamp! I need to add this bubblegum color to my collection.
I think this might be a Hailey Bieber product which means I will probably never get my hands on it. But I have heard amazing things and it is an Allure Beauty Award winner. I really want the salted caramel flavor but would settle for watermelon.
Life has really gotten the better of me lately. A combination of work and an escalating side-hustle have left me completely depleted as of late. Then, you factor in 2 kids, a dog who pees on the carpet, and menty b struggles – it’s been a busy fall. But also, everything is great. E is doing well (all things considered) in middle school, Clara is tolerating preschool/daycare. David and I have been agreeing on our nightly shows. My hair is totally grown-out but the botox I got in September is still somewhat visible so at least my forehead looks good.
It’s so important to have good things around, when life is busy, when work sucks, when it takes you 6 tries to get Wordle. You get it. I have comprised the below list of a few items that myself and my family have been using and loving.
Birkenstocks Boston Clogs
I ordered these back in August when I had a sneaking suspicion they were going to blow up. Thank you TikTok! I will gladly take any opportunity to look cool while staying comfortable. Birkenstocks are easily the most comfortable shoes. I wish I would have sized up in the clogs, but they still fit. I have been wearing them nonstop and loving every minute of it.
I happened to find myself sipping from this MyBevi tumbler, while wearing my Ellandemm Troop Beverly Hills sweatshirt and pink glasses so I had to snap a pic to commemorate. This is my new favorite tumbler. Yes, I still love me a Starbucks tumbler with a straw but you guys, I keep breaking them! They are beauties but they cannot withstand my clumsiness and carelessness. This MyBevi tumbler however, is a freaking workhorse. It keeps my water nice and cool (I don’t like super ice cold water) and my coffees piping hot. The lid is amazing, SUPER durable and you can use a straw with it. I love everything about this – especially the color!
I have meaning to invest in a silk pillowcase for some time now. These pillow cases are great for two main reasons – they are great for those with dry, damaged, thin, or thinning hair AND who are concerned with the effects of ageing. These 100% mulberry silk pillowcases lead to less breakage and help skincare products fully absorb into the skin. Plus, they are SUPER soft, breathable, hypo-allergenic, and have a hidden zip closure.
Along with a good pillowcase, is a nice silk scrunchie! How much hair have I lost over the years to the regular hair tie? Honestly, I don’t even want to think about it. These mini, thinner scrunchies from Celestial Silk are absolute perfection. The color (dark taupe) is perfect compliment to my dirty blonde hair, are incredibly soft, and do not pull out any hair. I want them in every color now!
YOU GUYS. Anyone remember the Turbie Twist? I had a pink Turbie Twist for many years, a small, cone-shaped, cotton towel with a small elastic loop on the end? Mine never washed well and before too long, it was stringy and gross and I am pretty sure it never really dried my hair.
Enter: the VOLO Hero Hair Towel!! This is the bougie, Barefoot Dreams version of the crappy Turbie Twist. Truly feels like a blanket for the head. It is ridiculously soft, thick, and absorbent. The VOLO towel promises to cut dry-time by 50%, which for me is everything. I do not have time for wet hair. And due to the aforementioned state of my damaged locks, I try to keep it away from the heat of a blow-dryer. This towel has seriously changed the game for me. I am experiencing less breakage, faster drying times, and best of all – my forehead isn’t being yanked backwards, bearing the weight of a regular towel. I will never use a normal towel to dry my hair ever again!
Are they bracelets or are they hair ties? Don’t know about you, but bangles and bracelets are tough for me. The jingle-jangle and impracticality of them when you are spending your days wiping PB&J off of sliding glass doors is enough to keep my wrists bare 99% of the time. But that is no fun! I usually can bear to keep a hair tie or two around my wrist and when I saw these beautiful gold metal-adorned hair ties, I knew it was kismet. These look super cute, go perfectly with my blonde hair, and best of all – do not snag on my hair! I am never without them and definitely need more for mixing and matching.
Now that we have discussed a blanket for my hair, we must talk my new favorite blanket for my body – the PediPocket! So. If you know me, you know I suffer from poor circulation. I blame all 72 inches on this. Blood just cannot reach my extremities and honestly, I don’t blame my blood – it’s a long way to go! Having poor circulation also means my hands and feet are nearly always cold. And not just cold, ice-cold. Yes I’ve seen a doctor. This blanket came to me at the perfect time, because just as the September weather went from 80’s down to the 50’s in matter of a week, I whipped out this blanket, nestled my little feetsies (ok my big feetsies) in, and was instantly in love.
You see, this blanket comes equipped with a 20 inch designated POCKET for your feet. If you are one of those people who plays the do-i-cover-my-shoulders-or-feet game, you need this!
I’ve been seeing these big acrylic letter keychains around and duh – needed my own pink and sparkly version! I went for the cursive lettering for Clara and I to adorn our bags with. I clipped hers to her rainbow overnight bag and it is just the perfect addition. These letters are thick, high-quality acrylic and come very nicely packaged. I am in love!
This kit from Mantra Mask comes with over $55 worth of products for only 30 bucks! I have really been loving CBD products lately (more on that in another post) and these sheet masks from Mantra Masks are jam-packed with super high-quality ingredients as well as about 30 MG of CBD.
This 3-pack of CBD coconut eye gels has been a huge help when I have a random sleepless night. These eye gels also pack 30 MG of CBD each, hyaluronic acid and other great ingredients. I am fairly picky when it comes to under-eye gel masks. They can’t slip down my face, be overly gooey, or smell weird. These check off all the boxes and make my under eyes feel hydrated, slightly plumped, and definitely more awake. They also come packaged in this neat little pouch that is perfect for throwing in a purse or bag.
Our sweet E is in middle school! And as we all know, this age comes with all the fun stuff ;). It is really important to me to equip her with her own hygiene products so she takes ownership of this new phase of life. Also, skincare should be tailored to the needs of each of our unique needs. I need anti-ageing products, formulated to fight wrinkles and provide deep moisture. Her skincare needs and mine are totally different! Also, getting kids this age to shower, wash their face, and apply deodorant can be a struggle. This skincare kit from New Legends makes it so fun and easy to provide your tween or teen with products that work well, are made with organic ingredients and are targeted to fight the good fight (read: pimples, hormones, etc.). I am so happy we have found this amazing line of products that she loves to use and that work great for her skin!
As you can probably tell from the above photo, my Clara absolutely LOVES having her nails painted. And we own approximately 2000 of those tiny children’s nail polishes. You know the ones. They last about 5 minutes before peeling off. Well, homegirl has caught on. She wants her polish to stay on dammit! I cannot blame her. I was on the lookout for a kid-friendly nail polish and Libbi Kids has it down. Their kids polish is vegan, and free of 16 other potentially toxic ingredients, it contains nourishing oils safe for kids and leaves behind a subtle, sweet scent. We are in love!
I am fully jumping on the cream products trend as of late, and have been in hot pursuit of a good cream bronzer for awhile now. I needed to find one that wasn’t sold out (haha), and a good shade for my pale, pale skin. Finally Sephora restocked this LYS Beauty cream bronzer stick and while I am not crazy about the triangular packaging, the product itself is awesome. The formula is easy to blend, and the lightest shade they offer is perfect for my coloring.
I am sooo late to the game on these amazing liquid blushes from Rare Beauty. I waited awhile for this cool pink shade in Happy to come back in stock at my local Sephora. I have recently realized that cool, bright-pink blush actually suits my skin nicely. As much as I would love to rock a peachy coral – it really just makes me look orange. Not it. I want at least 3 other colors in this liquid blush. It is SO easy to work with, blends like a dream, and only takes a tiny bit of product to achieve a rosy glow.
And that is it for now. Stay tuned for my holiday gift guide coming later this month. It’ll be a doozy!
So many new things have entered my life as of late, but the most notable is arguably all the new skincare I have been using! And I don’t know about you, but I am a “switch it up” kind of gal when it comes to certain beauty products. Of course we all have our tried-and-true, ride-or-die faves, e.g. Cetaphil cleanser, Donna Karen Cashmere Mist deodorant, or the Laneige Lip Mask just to name a few. But for me at least, it’s fun to throw new players into the lineup and see how well they perform!
This cleanser is SO good at removing every stitch of makeup, dirt, and oil. It’s creamy, almost lotion-like consistency also makes it super hydrating and leaves my skin feeling more plump, which is crazy! This stuff is definitely great for ageing skin and I cannot recommend it more.
SUCH a great, yet simple toner. This stuff does not dry me out, but is super refreshing and removes every last bit of grime. I feel like it helps all the other products absorb so much better into my skin and you cannot beat the rose scent. Definitely a new staple for me.
I have heard such great things about a few of the expanding line of skincare products at Trader Joes. The gel moisturizer is often compared to the Clinique version, and even regarded as superior! I am always in the market for a good microdermabrasion so when I saw this, I decided to give it a shot. What I look for in a microdermabrasion (as the name would suggest) is super fine (micro) scrubbies. This one did not disappoint, especially for $6. My face always feels softer and more radiant after using this. I will definitely repurchase.
I LOVE to use this mask when my skin needs a bit of a restart. A control-alt-delete if you will. I do occasionally experience breakouts on my chin and when I feel it coming on, I immediately whip this out. The mask itself comes in a powder form, which you mix with a little water and apply to dry skin. I leave it on until not quite dry and then remove with a washcloth. Afterwards, my pores feel like they have been completely cleaned out and my skin appears brighter.
I have been loving this plumping serum from Ambered Ember! Let’s be real, anything with the word “plumping” in it just has my heart and this stuff does not disappoint. One of the ingredients is silica, which according to the website, “helps to bind degenerating tissue layers associated with aging”. The formulation is great, super smoothing, non-greasy and really does give an immediate youthful glow.
This moisturizer with SPF came with me on our Palm Springs vacation a couple weeks ago and lemme tell ya, it did great in 115 degrees! It sinks into the skin very nicely and provides a great dose of moisture, something I really needed in the dry desert heat.
I love to use this moisturizer when my skin needs a rest from heavier lotions or when it is super hot outside. This moisturizer is lightweight, fragrance-free and great for sensitive skin. I like to use it when I have a break-out or feel one coming on. I have also used it “slugging” as the kids say, as it contains ceramides which act as a great skin barrier.
I started trying out Differin Gel after watching Dr. Dray on YouTube. I love that she gets right to the point and is no-nonsense about skincare. What I learned is apparently adapalene can provide the same benefits for the skin as tretinoin and retinols do, and perhaps even more effective. So I bought it to use in place of my usual tretinoin and have also been enjoying using it on breakouts as well. I have not experienced any of the common issues that occur with retinol/tretinoin use, such as skin peeling and dryness so I think Differin (adapalene) might be the anti-ageing treatment for me. I will also add that it works great on breakouts and definitely cuts down on the length and severity of them for me.
You might remember this stuff from my Agency skincare review post. I was using Agency tretinoin and this dark spot formula for the past several months but (as previously mentioned) wanted to switch things up for new products. I have been continuing to use this product because I do feel it is helping keep my dark spots at bay. However, the number one treatment I would recommend for dark spots is IPL photo facials. Those have single handedly removed the majority of dark spots from my face. This stuff is great for use in between and does not irritate my skin.
Recently I spent $45 on an eye cream that promised to do everything. Trap in moisture, de-puff, lighten the dark circles, and act as a nice base for concealing products. I am here to report that the $45 cream did NONE of that. In fact, it seemed to sit on the top of my eye skin and once it dried, I could almost roll it up into a little ball. NO BUENO. This eye cream from ACO Skin Care costs $25 and has been working wonders! I immediately noticed a tiny reduction in the dark circles under my eyes, which lemme tell ya – is really saying something. My under eyes appear more hydrated and refreshed, without being too heavy. I also love that it is safe for sensitive skin and comes in a squeezy tube. I am hooked!
I signed up on Deciem to be notified the SECOND this stuff was released. As you may or may not know, I have been a Grande Lash user for several years now (read my full review here). Grande Lash works. It provides both length and volume with consistent use, but it does have its drawbacks. For me, is slightly darkens the lash line where it is applied which does not bother me but could be bothersome for others. It also costs about $68 for a 3-month supply which aint cheap. I have been looking for a comparable, less expensive alternative lately and wasn’t really getting anywhere. Then I got an email alert that The Ordinary was coming out with a serum. The Ordinary can be hit or miss for people but has mostly been a hit for me. I love several of their products and was delighted to try this stuff out. I have only been using it for a couple of weeks now, so the jury is still out. I will provide a full review in another month or so when I have more details. So stay tuned if you are interested!
As a final step in my skincare routine, I have been using this lip butter from Anokha. This stuff contains beeswax, camellia oil, sunflower seed oil, vitamin e, and peppermint. I love to use this right before bed, as the formula is super nourishing and comfortable. It also works great as a base for lipstick (especially drying ones!) and I find the peppermint to be very mild.
As for body care, y’all know about my battle with KP. I have tried every product under the sun! Recently I discovered these products from BIA Skin and I am beyond impressed. First, the Body Polish contains glycolic acid, which is has so many benefits for the skin. According to the website glycolic acid “works by speeding up cell turnover and helps dissolve the bonds that hold skin cells together”. Which in the case of KP, is a very good thing as it helps breaks down that built-up keratin. I not only use this on my KP, but anywhere else where exfoliation is needed.
The Exfoliating Treatment Mist is such a genius product! Similar to a toner for the face, this product helps to prep skin to absorb other treatment AND contains hyaluronic acid for moisture, allantoin which helps to soothe and calm skin, glycolic acid and salicylic acid. All the good stuff! I like to mist this all over my legs and then follow up with lotion.
Check out how clear my leg looks – the inside of my knees are my biggest problem area with KP.
These Hair Skin and Nails gummies from FGBG taste delicious, come individually packaged and really do the trick, especially with nail growth. My nails are super strong and I have to trim them about once a week!
I love using the body oil when I want to my skin to have that bit of sheen that only an oil-based product can provide. I love the aerosol mist, as it dispenses just the right amount of product. It is not overly greasy or hard to wash off and is unscented, making it great for sensitive skin!
And that wraps it up folks! Stay tuned for a vacation/Disneyland recap!
thenataliediaries.com 