The Essentials: June 2020

Please note: this blog post was written before May 25th and do not reflect the current Black Lives Matter movement, which I 100% support.

It’s been a minute and LOTS has happened. My grandstand plans of restarting my blog, trying to excel on my career path, and training for two half marathons have all come to a screeching halt due to a pandemic. It’s a wild time to be alive.

The only thing we can do is take it day by day and practice kindness along with gratitude. And for those of you that are coping with a mental illness or disorder—I am right there with you. My PTSD symptoms have gone into overdrive but somehow a mindful routine invites moments of chill. I can go on and on but we’ll get more candid later this month.

Onto lighter topics, like skincare and wellness favorites you might enjoy for June or at-home spa days.

Hair: To be honest, my wash days have been few and far. But, after one too many matted knots I’ve made the conscious effort to at least try to put my best curls forward to feel better. I’m not alone in this thinking either, 54% of Americans agree that having a good hair day will put them in a better mood. Amika’s Nice Cream is a fantastic cleansing conditioner that provides enough slip to get out the gnarliest knots, gives my curls a moisture boost, and good-for-strands ingredients. I will say, that the scent is very fragrant (I love it) and similar to all co-washes a deep scalp cleanse is necessary at least 1x a week. Here’s a scalp cleanser I’m currently testing and so far love.

Face: There are always so many products when it comes to this category so it’s probably best that I start in the order of application 🙂

• Theo Sterling’s Skin Clarifying And Probiotic Balancing Mist is a new face on the natural skincare scene. It’s made with three ingredients (purified water, Epsom salt, and a probiotic blend) to effectively tame blemished skin. It’s a luxury item but backed with their research to clarify skin.

• After misting, I’ll do one or two layers of serum. After realizing Vitamin C serum does more harm than good during my AM routine I decided to swap it out for a serum that’s packed with antioxidants instead. After browsing at my local Target, I left with bliss glow & hydrate day serum. It not only contains antioxidants but also Niacinamide, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid to help improve blemishes, brighten skin, and show off radiant skin. The formula is super light and works. The packaging is cute too!

• Even though we’re in quarantine I’ve been applying my organic sunscreen every single day! Unless you work in a cave you should be doing the same. One that I love for running or barefaced moments is COOLA's Classic Face Sunscreen SPF 50 White Tea. It’s never stung my eyes from sweat runoff, left a white cast, and is perfect for sensitive skin. A cabinet favorite!

• As for those 1x a week treatment, I’ve fallen in love with Youth to the People Superfood Skin Reset Antioxidant Mask. Think of it as your reset mask used best on Sunday nights for a fresh week glow. Aveda’s tulasāra™ wedding masque eye overnight is another one the whole world needs to seriously try. It’s thick, rich, and leaves eyes so refreshed in the morning. Not sure why my lips have been a little drier this past month but innisfree’s Lip Sleeping Mask with Green Tea goes beyond lip balm. The 99.9 percent naturally-derived mask moisturizes and nourishes dry lips with Jeju green tea powder and seed oil. It also helps lips retain moisture.

Body: Since we’re in quarantine, I decided to make the transition over to natural deodorant. It felt less risky that way. I got a ton of natural deodorants from one of my favorite shops CredoBeauty.com. The first one I decided to try was from Ursa Major, due to the 4.5-star rating and familiar stick design, and it went better than expected. If you're curious about making the job make sure to read this helpful article!

Since PR companies noticed my pivot into the world of clean beauty, I was sent samples from the Bare Republic. Their Mineral SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Stick, in particular, stood out because it’s purse and reef friendly. You can honestly slip into your back pocket and go. The coconut scent is a plus too! Another absolute favorite that was sent my way was Herbivore’s Jasmine Body Oil. You guys… the scent was intoxicating.

If you’re not dealing with Bacne feel free to skip this part. Everyone else, join the party! It’s a bit lacking when it comes to this category and the products are usually a miss. So I was very excited to learn that Sandra Lee MD, aka Dr. Pimple Popper, crafted a body spray with maximum strength Salicylic Acid for our hard to reach spots. I’ve been using the spray for the past month and noticed a big reduction in clogged pores and zits.

Wellness: This is a new inclusion in our monthly essentials but I think it’s fitting to include supplements, vitamins, and tinctures that helped my everyday routine. At 26, I decided to get off prescription medication, like Adderall, since it caused more harm than good. It also made me feel like a shell of a human. Unfortunately, I still had to deal with ADD. And let me tell ya, there’s no amount of coffee or caffeine pills to help with ADD. Lucky us, cannabis has been decriminalized and a plethora of medicines and supplements have been created to assist. After lots of research and reviews, I decided to try out Plant People’s Stay Sharp. It uses hemp extract, herbal nootropics, and adaptogens to improve focus and mental clarity. There are no jitters. You don’t feel stoned. Just calm and focused which is a godsend. There are a few more CBD products I’ve discovered and can’t wait to bring them all up soon!

Did you discover any new products during quarantine? Let me know in the comments!

Shop my essentials below:

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*numbered them incorrectly… whoops!

The Essentials: January 2020

Hello, 2020! I’m so excited and ready to start blogging consistently. Last year, I felt so overwhelmed and tried playing catch-up with the blog, work, and life which led to me burning out.

Since we last spoke, my skin has gotten dramatically better and I became more conscious of the food I was ingesting and the products I was applying to my hair, skin, and nails. Not everything I use is clean or green but there have been transitions and thoughts.

Can’t wait to share them all with you!

Hair: If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may have seen me testing out different curl products and brands over the course of two-three weeks. I’m doing this for two reasons: 1. make sure it lives up to the hype and 2. to ensure I’m sharing products I stand behind. It’s so important to me that everything I introduce to y’all WORKS.

A brand, Sebastian Professional, I’ve slightly worked on and then followed closely came out with a curl-specific line called Twisted. Everything that comes from Sebastian is 100% amazing and they’re always relying on science to enhance their products. I’ve used the entire collection and love it but my try favorite is their Curl Magnifier - it defines, fights frizz, and feels weightless. You don’t need any other styler but the one.

Face: So many goodies when it comes to skincare! I used to be on a micellar kick but sometimes my eyes get a bit irritated so I’ve slowly stepped away from that trend. Instead, I’ve been relying on La Roche-Posay’s Respectissime. It’s incredibly gentle and gets rid of the most stubborn liquid liners and waterproof mascaras. You can find it at most drugstores too! Another goody is Naturopathica’s Lavender Honey Balancing Mist - it’s so relaxing. I use this during my AM skincare routine to hydrate dry-from-the-radiator skin and to calm my senses during a stressful workday. I have no idea how Fitish found me but I am so happy that they did! Their Dewing It cream has CBD and green tea leaves for an ultra-moisturizing feel and dewy finish. I have combination and acneic skin and it made it more “calm” if that makes sense. This cream has turned into a re-buy for me and I can’t wait to see how the brand expands.

At the end of every skincare routine comes SPF (if you aren’t already including this please start today!). I’ve been alternating between mineral and chemical SPF to see which ones I like most and can withstand my training runs. Not many can but Derma e’s Sun Defense Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen can. It’s a lightweight, non-greasy formula that doesn’t sweat off, pill, and layers nicely under makeup. They have a slew of other good for you and the earth products so make sure to browse their shop! Lastly, Skinfix was once known for having some of the best hand creams in the market until they expanded into skincare…and you guys everything is so GOOD. In particular, their Calm & Repair Sleeping Mask, now called Redness Recover+ Antioxidant Redness Treatment Overnight Mask, has been saving my skin after outdoor training runs and hot yoga classes. The mask is made with 97% natural ingredients and helps with hydration, calms blotchiness, and soothes inflamed skin.

Makeup: Technically not makeup but I’m including my Vaseline Lip Therapy here because it does create the perfect base for lip application. I finally finished my tube of L’Oreal Infalliable Pro-Glow and I could not rave about it enough! It provides glowy (not greasy) buildable coverage and stays on all day long. Because the coverage was so good it was my go-to when my acne was rearing its ugly head. I wore the shade, Natural Buff. And for times when I needed just a little bit more coverage or perky eyes, Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind worked flawlessly on my skin. I can completely understand why so many beauty vloggers stan behind the product. I used the shade Light.

Next up is Marc Jacobs’ Twinkle Pop in Three Shakes. This caught my eye because, BECAUSE, @makeupbymario loves and swears by this product. He uses it on Kim K. and says it helps illuminate her eyes, blends easily, and creates a lasting effect. Another product I’ve been getting into more heavily are setting sprays. They help highlighters pop, keep eyeshadows from drooping and generally keep everything in place. One that’s been getting repeated use is Urban Decay’s De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Settiing Spray. My t-zone gets pretty oily and needs powder reapplication every so often so I really like how it helps control that while keeping my skin looking matte.

Any favorites you've been loving this month? Anything I should check out?

Shop my essentials below:
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The Essentials: August 2019

I’m not even going to front… I took a year-long sabbatical from posting and will speak about that more in an upcoming Fourth Wall post. But, let’s just say it’s been a YEAR.

I’m still working through some kinks but am feeling more inspired and rejuvenated to share everything I’ve come across since last year.

Anyway, let's get to it!

Hair: When it comes to hair, my biggest challenge has been growth and hair health. The amount of damage my curls took on during my icy blonde period ALMOST gives me blonde regret. (Almost.) Let’s not forget my alopecia moment when I lost half my curl volume. To rehabilitate my curls I had to consider my hair health on the outside and inside. On the inside, I’ve incorporated Philip Kingsley’s Root Complex supplements. Philip Kingsley are known trichology experts so it’s no surprise their supplements are inspired by a combination of hair healthy vitamins and minerals prescribed on a daily basis at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinics. As for cleansing and conditioning - Nexxus’ Oil Infinite Collection (shampoo, conditioner, and nourishing hair oil) is suited for thick, curly hair and works by replenishing nutrients and detangling hair without excess residue. My curls always felt great after use too! With all this damage control, I’ve kept styling very minimal this summer by relying on Renpure’s Coconut Water Sea Salt Spray. The spray adds weightless moisture and texture by using gentle plant-based ingredients.

Face: Earlier this summer I made an appearance in Teen Vogue’s yearly acne coverage - who would’ve thought? But to reiterate, I still stand behind all three picks which included Blume’s Meltdown and Naturopathica’s Pumpkin Purifying Enzyme Peel. Both are so GOOD for maintaining acne. Since my skin care routine was/is packed full of powerhouse products I decided to scale back on an intense moisturizer and instead trade in one that was lightweight and focused on gentle hydration - enter e.l.f. Daily Hydration Face Moisturizer. It does its job and is under $10! I also discovered Youth to the People on Instagram - where they quickly rose to Insta-fame thanks to their clean aesthetic and 100% vegan ingredients. I picked up their Superfood Skin Reset Antioxidant Mask after reading rave reviews and absolutely love it. I use it once a week, only at night, to detox and reset my skin - highly recommend it!

Makeup: Air conditioners and daily contact lens use has made my eyes a bit sensitive this summer so I haven’t been wearing much eye makeup. BUT, I still need my brows and mascara to be on before leaving the house. With that said, I went through countless mascaras until I tried Almay’s Multi-Benefit Mascara. The formula gives lashes a boost of volume and length without any irritation. Another favorite from this summer is NYX’s Makeup Setting Spray in a Dewy Finish which kept all my face makeup intact during the hot, sweaty nights out. Both items mentioned here are under $10 too!

Any favorites you've been loving this month?

Shop my essentials below:
one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen // fourteen