No-Fail Guide to Hydrated, Soft Skin

September 27, 2016

Today's post was created in collaboration with Aveeno and #WeAllGrow Latina Network. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

It happened. At about 3:12pm yesterday I gave into a Starbucks's seasonal offering - the Pumpkin Spice Latte. So it’s officially official, fall is here and with that comes a few things: bearable city walks, autumn weddings become rampant, and my beauty routine doesn’t feel complete without a deep burgundy lip.

As for my short skirts and mini dresses – those tend to stay in heavy rotation until the weather gods have deemed them inappropriate. As Eva Chen once mentioned, once the stockings come on they stay on for a solid six months. Thankfully, the brisk mornings in New York City are known for being nothing more than a charade for humid afternoons. Choose the thickness of your sweaters wisely my friends!

As for me, I’ll continue to bare my legs in all of the pretty dresses; some of them may even have pockets! Plus, it’s the best way to share all the hard work (and killer calves) I’ve been putting in for the New York City Marathon. And one of the best ways to flaunt the gams is with moisturized skin.

My say-no-to-ashy routine in the summer lends itself more to oils, but once the temperature dips my skin does a better job at soaking up hydration with rich, creamy lotions. As of late, I stepped up my skin drink to include A veeno Daily Moisturizing Body Yogurt Lotion, rotating both their Apricot & Honey and Vanilla & Oats. Their formula is enriched with ACTIVE NATURALS Oat and nutrient-packed yogurt, which leaves my skin feeling velvety soft all day long.

But before I slather on the lotion, the real work begins in the shower. Their Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Yogurt Body Wash is the perfect partner to their lotion. Their rich and creamy wash gently cleanses my skin without stripping skin of moisture. Being a hot shower kind of gal, it also turns my bathroom into an oasis for the senses.

Smelling all that goodness in the AM tends to give me a hankering for homemade oatmeal topped with berries and honey, which I happily oblige with.

After using this hydrating duo, my skin feels so amazing it’s only right I upgrade and share the rest of my skincare routine on how I achieve maximum softness:

Exfoliate! I do this twice a week with an all natural sugar scrub.
Elbows, knees, and your feet need love too. I use a salve on my elbows and knees right before bedtime. My feet get a little more special treatment. I generously slather on Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Yogurt Lotion and wear thick socks to bed for soft soles.
Pat dry! After each shower, I pat my skin down instead of aggressively rubbing the towel on my skin. The tugging of a towel’s fabrics can whisk away all of the lotion and moisture you just worked in.

Now that I shared my tips, why not leave your tips in the comments down below. Knowledge is power y'all!

Learn more about Aveeno here!

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of AVEENO. The opinions and text are all mine.

Five Friday Faves

September 16, 2016

By the time you read this I'll be settling into our Chicago digs and prepping for the weekend ahead by purchasing all of the Pedialyte in the state of Illinois. As promised, I added a bit more diversity to my Five Friday Faves that have made this week a breeze!

Lancômes Artliners from left to right: chocolat, cuir, menthe, jade, saphir, azur, violet, amethyste — *Lanc*ô*mes Artliners from left to right: chocolat, cuir, menthe, jade, saphir, azur, violet, amethyste*

Lancôme Drama-Liqui-Pencil from left to right: (top row) soleil, lame, french lace, pluie, lumiere, embrasé, brûlée, paradis, minuit, parisian night, côte d'azur, (bottom) macaron, ampoulé, baroque

1. Lancôme's New #AllEyesOnYou Collection
Lancôme surprised me with an amazing collection of eyeliners (liquid + pencil), mascaras, eye shadows, and eye makeup remover. Usually, I won't use a product until after photographing them, but like a moth to a flame, I was immediately drawn to their black Drama-Liqui -Pencil and Artliner. It has since been used up (got this awesome gift a few months back, eek!) but I can honestly say their formulas are to die for. The pencils glide on so easily and provide an intense burst of color. As for the Artliner, the precision gave a new dimension to my cat eyes. Plus, the colors they launched are so fun to play with! Whichever shade you're digging I highly recommend scooping up one or three and adding it to your arsenal.

2. Lola 100% Cotton Tampons
Did you ever wonder, what exactly was in your tampon? I mean we care about the ingredients in our food and skincare products, but we don't really bat a lash when it comes to our feminine products. Then I started hearing about Lola and their organic cotton tampons early last year. Their manifesto and clean, modern design intrigued me, but their transparency and convenience made me a customer for life.

I know change can be scary but there's no harm in trying it out once. Use my code AOLMEDO1 for $5 off plus new customers get 1 free box on their 2+ box order.

3. Kylie Lip Kit in KoKo K (& its Dupes)
If we're being honest, I'm obsessed with Kylie and her lip kits. If I wasn't knee deep in bills I would probably buy her entire collection of colors. Instead, I gave myself a limit and bought the 22 + KoKo K shades. I'm obsessed with both but KoKo K has done wonders for me this summer. Part of me wants to stock up on the color but the other part is not about the $9 shipping fee. Instead, I headed over to my local drugstore and found dupes that are just as good if not better for a fraction of the price! Now, let us rejoice over these finds:

4. Dove Dry Spray
Are you surprised to see Dove's Dry Spray make the list yet again? It's such a timesaver and lifesaver when it comes to getting ready in the AM and at fitness studios. The spray goes on dry so there's no white residue left on clothes, has no alcohol in the ingredients so it's gentle on skin, and moisturizes your skin for a smoother feeling. Grab a few on your next shopping trip and pamper your underarms.

*Magnetic Eye Color Pencil from left to right: angel, spirit, chocolate*

5. NUDESTIX for Eyes
For mornings that I'm feeling a no-makeup makeup look, I've turned to NUDESTIX's complementary colors of nudes. The shades are subtle, chic, and effortless which is great for when I'm short on time. You won't need a primer either with these sticks since they won't smudge, crease or fade - aka great for all day wear. After a little more digging, I noticed the vegan line boasts a collection that is free of preservatives, parabens, and gluten. If you're into a no-fuss routine, give this line a look.

Skin Care 101: Best Makeup Removing Wipes to Start Using

September 6, 2016

As I hit publish on my first Skincare 101 post, I realized that I completely missed a step. Essentially, not everyone needs to start their skincare routine with makeup removing wipes but I do find it helpful for those "heavy on the smoky eye" days.

Besides becoming a staple on my bathroom shelves, makeup wipes have found a permanent home inside my gym bag. Good for fellow class takers, because leaving spin class with raccoon eyes can be scary.

In the end, it's up to you on whether you'd like to use wipes as a precursor to the first step of skincare layering or add to your gym bag. I've tried SO MANY face wipes over the last few years - some hits, some misses - but the ones below are the few that keep me coming back.

Dickinson's Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths
For those days leading up to Aunt Flo's arrival (TMI?) I'll take all the help I can get on preventing clogged pores and minimizing hormonal breakouts. Dickinson's Cleansing Cloths helps soothe my skin and gets the gunk off my face pre- and post-sweat. I do tend to use these wipes more in the summertime since the witch hazel feels refreshing on a humid day and is known to heal sunburnt skin.

Clean & Clear® Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes Review.jpg

Clean & Clear® Makeup Dissolving Wipes
These wipes bring me back to high school and thankfully they've improved with age. The soft wipes are able to take off the entire day, leaving skin cleansed. On days that I've fallen lazy, I rely on these instead of washing my face. Bad habit, I know. For those of you that wear waterproof mascara, I recommend gently pressing the wipes to your lids for a few seconds before wiping. It'll make the process easier. They're also super affordable and practically free when combined with coupons.

Simple Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes
I discovered Simple at a pop-up inside Flywheel. They encouraged me to wipe off the day's grime before class - which I did - and loved how easily it took everything off. It uses micellar water, a new cleansing technology. They've also expanded their line to offer different focuses such as exfoliating, cleansing, radiance, the list goes on. My personal favorite is the original Micellar wipes. Highly recommend this brand to anyone with super sensitive skin as they keep their ingredients simple.

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Makeup Removing Towelettes
Garnier also has a selection of products that use Micellar technology. I'm a huge fan of Micellar technology because the micelle molecules cluster together to lift dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities on contact. This eliminates the need to rinse and rub your skin providing a gentle way to cleanse your skin. Garnier's towelettes come in a smaller packaging compared to the Simple wipes which is great for gals on the go and gym bags across the nation. Another thing I love, the super soft wipes - incredibly gentle on the eyes.

Skinn's Olive & Enzyme Makeup Wipes

These wipes fall on the more expensive side of the spectrum. Kind of a bummer since I would love to have my cabinets stocked with these wipes. So ladies with disposable incomes and skincare addicts willing to try anything once, these wipes are for you! These wipes smell so amazing, it turns my bathroom into a spa room. They also have this great texture that helps when taking everything off and in a way exfoliates your skin. The end result is clean, smooth skin.

e.l.f. Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths
Last but not least, these e.l.f. cleansing cloths are the best bang for your buck. They do a solid job at removing makeup and cleansing skin. Even better, is that each wipe is infused with Aloe Vera for deep hydration and moisture so your skin never feels stripped. The scent can be overpowering so I wouldn't recommend to those with fragrance allergies.

There are so many different wipes out but these are my top contenders when it comes to getting rid of the grime. Did I call out any of your favorites? Or are you going to try any of the above? Drop me a comment down below and tell me about it!

Now that we’re on this magical skincare journey together, let me know if you decide to give any of these a go and how you loved it. AND, if there are any cleansers you think I need to try, drop me a comment down below.