The Essentials: September 2022

So... It’s a lot harder to maintain a lifestyle blog with an infant (who is now a toddler 😭). However, I’ve never forgotten about this little corner of the internet I’ve carved out for myself. It’s always in the back of my mind along with content ideas, products and places to share, and outfits too good to live within my memory.

In fact, there’s a basket at my desk that collects all of my empties. Just need the energy to spill the tea. I still don’t have a ton of energy tonight, but traces of my former life are starting to creep in and that’s a really nice feeling. I even posted to my Instagram this week. The post didn’t get many likes but the fact that I did it deserves a pat on the back. And sometimes I get to wash my hair TWICE in a week. Baby steps; but your girl is coming back.

Now onto the good stuff:

HAIR: After falling in love with Bread’s Hair Mask, I took a chance on their hair oil with the assumption it would be just as great. I wasn’t wrong, friends! Lately, I’ve been using the hair oil as the last step in my wash day routine (and to tame flyaways) but I may try the recommended suggestion of applying it on sopping, wet hair and as an intensive scalp + hair mask. The scent is very sweet (reminds me of sweet tarts) so if heavily fragranced products aren’t your thing you may not appreciate this guy.

FACE / SKINCARE: Sometimes your skin needs an extra-gentle cleanser that can still wash away makeup and sunscreen. Farmacy’s Clean Bee checks off all the boxes for me - skin never felt tight or musty (ha). The soft scent of honey was a nice touch.

My skin has been on the dehydrated side lately (I’ve been really bad about drinking water) so I’ve been reaching for Juice Beauty Prebiotix Instant Flash Facial to add a boost of hydration and a subtle summer glow. It’s a 3-in-1 product (cleanser, exfoliator, and mask) that makes packing for long weekends easier. I thoroughly enjoyed using the mask and will be rebuying it again!

For sunscreens, I’ve alternated between SkinMedica’s Essential Defense (mineral sunscreen) and Supergoop!’s Glow Screen (chemical sunscreen). If I plan on being active, outdoors, or after a skincare treatment I’ll reach for SkinMedica’s sunscreen. And on the days I want a nice glowy base for under my makeup (or in general) then I go with Supergoop!’s sunscreen.

FACE / MAKEUP: My day-to-day makeup no longer contains layers of contouring, color correcting, or falsies. It’s been pared down to what some may call the no-makeup makeup look: light coverage and a dewy, bronzy look. To hide the lack of sleep on my face, Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat does wonders and highlights the skin without a shimmering effect. And the one-click application is a godsend for those days you have a literal 10 minutes or less.

Another product that gets an A+ for application is Glossier’s Solar Paint. It’s buildable, melts into the skin, and has a nice finish. Sometimes I use it as a contour and other days more as a bronzer.

Honorable mention goes to It Cosmetic’s Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Lip Balm Treatment - it leaves lips fully hydrated and with a nice flushed color, however, I wish they would reconsider the price as it’s a bit steep for lip balm.

BODY: I finally got to test out Blume’s Hug Me natural deodorant and friends - it deserves more hype! I ended up purchasing 3 more during a sale to stock up. It rolls on like a deodorant (I love an easy application), and kept my underarms dry and stink-free. There were days that were more active than others which called for reapplication but overall I am so happy I decided to try this out.

A few other heroes you need to know about: Kopari’s Coconut Melt and La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Mains. The Coconut Melt is very rich and great for days when your body is craving extra moisture. I like to use it after spending a day at the beach or pool. The same goes for the hand cream. I actually use this year round and have one stashed on my person at all times.

SHOP MY ESSENTIALS:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve

The Essentials: August 2021

Lots happened! On February 14, I had a healthy baby boy and experienced that “mom love”. I’ll dive deeper into this whole new chapter later on month.

Normally, I would have had lots of products to rave about but honestly, I’ll be lucky if I could squeeze in a wash day. It’s all a balancing act really.

But last night, while the babe was asleep, I had the chance to dive into my beauty closet, empties and reassess my skin routine. Here’s what I can share with y’all:

HAIR: Wash days are nearly non-existent so when I do have have a solid 45 minutes I jump right into the shower and give my strands a deep treatment. Along with post-partum hair loss, nursing has made my curls really, really dry. It’s not as tragic as it sounds but a deeply hydrating hair mask, and a lot of slip for those tangles, makes a world of difference. I’ve been alternating between Eva NYC’s Therapy Session and Bread’s Hair Mask. Both come from different price points and both are highly recommended.

And because wash days are few and far between it’s so important to treat my scalp too. I absolutely LOVE TPH’s Master Cleanse - the design of the applicator, the formula, the tingling sensation. All of it is so good. This has been my fourth bottle purchased and I honestly hope it never gets discontinued.

Eva NYC’s Gotta Bounce Cream has made its way over to my desk and it’s a solid product. Curls were defined and didn’t weigh down my strands. I do wish they made the bottle bigger - my curls drank it right up!

FACE / SKINCARE: Clean beauty is where it’s at! Maybe I’m bias since I’m nursing but here are some heavy-hitters:

Indie Lee has so many great products from masks to facial oils. Currently, I’m loving their Brightening Cleanser. It has good-for-you ingredients leaving skin gently cleansed, hydrated and bright.

Pai is a cult-beauty favorite. Their Rosehip BioRegenerate Face Oil. This oil feels so luxurious and has so many nutrients which deeply condition the skin. But, that’s not why I included this into my routine! This treatment helps clear and even skin tone. This is a re-buy for me.

I’m not 100% positive if Image Skincare falls under the clean beauty umbrella, but they do have amazing spa professional products. Heyday Skincare uses a few of their items at their spas and that’s exactly how I found out about Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque. The mask gently exfoliates buildup, fades dark spots, and keeps skin hydrated and balanced. There’s something about the slightly sweet scent that brings me comfort too,

Honorable mention goes to Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Tinte. You either love it or hate it and I’m definitely a lover. However, I wouldn’t recommend wearing makeup over it as it could cause pilling. (This best for those fresh-faced looks!)

FACE / MAKEUP: Let’s be honest. When you’re thrown off the deep end and fully immersed in the newborn stage - makeup seems frivolous. Now that I’ve survived the newborn stage and entered the infant phase, mascara is do-able. One that’s been on my list is Glossier’s Lash Slick - some love it, some hate it, so I had to try it. And honestly, I like it for those days that I want to emphasize my eyes but don’t want that caked-on feeling. Not a lot of volume but does give my lashes length and color.

BODY: Bear with me, I bought a lot of Glossier during Black Friday and am finally using it all. I snagged a lot of new items, like their Body Hero Exfoliating Bar, to see if they were worth the hype. And friends, the bar is definitely worth the hype!! The scent is intoxicating, the bamboo powder is the right amount of exfoliant, and skin never feels dry after use.

Like I mentioned, nursing has made my curls dry but it’s also made my skin super dry. Womp womp. Two moisturizers I discovered and loved - Flamingo’s Light Hydrating Spray and Herb Essntls Cannabis Infused Body Lotion. Flamingo’s spray is seriously so good for the summer season. It applies evenly and feels refreshing. Skin is moisturized all day long. Herb Essntls lotion is a bit thicker and luxurious. The formula, which consists of omega3-omega6 and Cannabis Sativa seed oil, perfectly mirrors the natural proportions in your skin.

I’m still using natural deodorants and testing out new brands. Drunk Elephant launched their own Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream and tbh, I thought it would be terrible. BUT, it’s actually quite nice. The formula doesn’t leave any stains on clothing, the scent is light, and does a great job at keeping sweat minimal.

SHOP MY ESSENTIALS:

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The Essentials: January 2021

Happy New Year!

In case you missed the news, I’m expecting a little baby boy this February so I for one celebrated the new year a lot differently than what I’m used to. Oh, and the fact that we’re still living through a pandemic definitely kept our social circle very, very small. I hope you celebrated safely as well!

I know I’ve been consistently not posting but one of my resolutions last year (pre-Covid) was to create and publish more blog and Instagram content. That kind of fell by the wayside due to multiple factors but this year, that same goal feels more manageable. Maybe it’s because there’s this sense of newfound hope or this commitment that I have to myself to do what makes me happy. And believe it or not, creating has always made me happy.

It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out with a newborn, ha! In the meantime, I’ve prepped a lot of content to make it easier on myself and the huge transition I’m about to embark.

Now, here are some favorites I’ve enjoyed this weird winter.

HAIR: If we’re being honest, I wasn’t all that much into styling for about 8 out of the 12 months last year for obvious reasons. But the tangles and knots were too much of a hassle to deal with on wash day so I made it a point to get a short chop AND dedicate one full day to washing, styling, and drying my curls. It helped - a lot! Two products that pleasantly surprised me were Drunk Elephant’s Cocomino™ Glossing Shampoo and Cocomino™ Marula Cream Conditioner. The shampoo is formulated with a sulfate-free blend of coconut-based surfactants to lift dirt and styling products without damaging the hair shaft or stripping color. The formula also helps prevent water loss and adds smoothness, which means less frizz for curly girls. The conditioner has a nourishing blend of plant oils and butters work to soften, smooth, and detangle while fortifying the hair shaft to protect against the damage done by heat styling and color treatments. I love the light, nutty scent they both have, not at all overpowering.

FACE / SKINCARE: I’ll start this section off with one of my favorite, and recurring buys the m-61 PowerBlast Mask. All it takes is two minutes for the mask to foam up to exfoliate and clarify the skin. And thanks to ingredients like chamomile and lavender, it’ll calm and soothe the skin. I wrote more about this mask here.

My go-to toner as of late, is the COQ-10 from Indie Lee. It’s a clean beauty product that uses aloe vera and cucumber to refresh, smooth, and clarify. It also has Hyaluronic Acid which provides continuous moisture and other nutrients + powerful antioxidants.

I’ve also written about Bliss’ Glow & Hydrate Serum in the past, and my love for the lightweight formula and its superstar ingredients, niacinamide + hyaluronic acid, which help reduce blemishes and brighten up the skin. Definitely scoop this up if you’re looking an inexpensive serum to add to this year’s routine.

I haven’t written about Naturopathica’s Calendula Cream yet but I have mentioned it plenty on my Instagram page. It’s a nourishing moisturizing, thick cream that’s perfect for the winter season. Its main ingredient, Calendula, is an anti-inflammatory that soothes dry, sensitive skin. I like to layer this on thick at night and wake up to dewy, moisturized skin in the morning.

During the AM, I opt for a lighter formula. Right now, I’m loving Skinfix’s Triple Liquid-Peptide Lotion which has squalene, jojoba, and macadamia oils that micmic the structure of the skin’s vital natural lipids to more effectively replenish those lipids. And its high concentration of botanical actives deliver optimum nutrition for improved skin barrier function. Another thing that I love about this brand - they share clinical results on nearly every product they create.

Lastly, a product that I’ve admittedly slept on and now love is Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex. What sucked me in is the gel creme texture that absorbs quickly and leaves the area feeling silky-smooth. The formula kept my eyes looking bright, hydrated, and not-as puffy. The formula also repairs UV and blue light damage which is needed after all the screen time I put in last year.

FACE / MAKEUP: I’ve worn the least amount of makeup but when I did put in the effort, I opted for a multi-tasking product like ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40. It’s a weightless, light coverage tinted serum that softens imperfections with a luminous finish. It also has skincare actives like niacinamide, squalane, and hyaluronic acid so you can skip your skincare routine if you’d like!

And if I’m wearing makeup outdoors it’s super important to set it with a powder or risk having it all rub off on my mask. I’ve been using Tarte’s Smooth Operator since it also helps diffuse imperfections and minimizes oily skin for a natural-looking finish.

BODY: I made the transition to natural deodorants back in February, which was great timing for testing out and finding the best formula that worked with my body chemistry. Definitely not an easy task or scent to endure at first but after reading reviews on Kaia Naturals’ Underarm Bar and adding it into my routine things went more smoothly! The bar helps to manage and keep odor under control thanks to its ingredients like activated charcoal and apple cider vinegar. It can also enhance a natural deodorants strength - making it a powerful duo together. The bar might seem a bit pricey but I’ve only needed to restock twice in the last year.

SHOP MY ESSENTIALS:

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