Introducing the New Body by Victoria

Six months after the end of January I tend to go on the hunt for new bras. Not any bras in particular, but one that fits perfectly and wont make this summer hotter than it is. Being the daredevil that I am, I took the Body by Victoria Challenge before stocking up on my mid-summer basics (nude, white, black) and a few fun pieces.

It's a lot easier than it sounds (trust) and you don't even a measuring tape. The Body by Victoria Challenge will make assessments about the current bra you're wearing and it's fit. This risk-free challenge offers free shipping and returns if you purchase the recommended bra size as well.

For me, I wore one of my regular bras (the no-frills basic kind) and went through the questions. I clicked on my current size, whether my straps fall off or stay on (they tend to fall), how the band feels and how the cups fit. After a few questions the quiz gave me my right size and I had the option of building my boutique or going straight to the shop. Obviously I went for the shop.

In the end I received the perfect shape, demi, and lounge bra - all of them were spot on, smooth (no lines) and incredibly soft. One of them had a lace detail and it was pretty close to a no-show underneath my top as well. You'll be impressed with their array of colors and styles - something for everyone.

I will admit my favorite addition to V.S.'s collection is their Lounge Collection. I legit bought a few (read: a lot) more of these incredibly soft bras in nearly every color. They are being marketed as bras to chill in but I think you can wear them under anything.

Sidenote: earlier this year I learned its not good to wear one single bra daily and instead let it breathe for a full day after being worn... Mind blown right? For that reason alone, it's good to bookmark Victoria's Secret next sale (August 8th thru 11th) in which you'll get a $25 gift card with every three bras purchased from their new line. Even better, when you shop Victoria Secret through ShopAtHome.com you get 2% cash back until the 31st and then 1% after that.

While you're on the site taking the challenge don't forget to enter the Body by Victoria Sweeps. With the purchase of any Body by Victoria bra you are automatically entered to win a Jaguar - click over to enter here.

Have you taken the Body by Victoria Challenge yet? Let me know how it goes in the comments!

Today's post is sponsored by ShopAtHome.com + Victoria Secret - thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! And as always, all opinions are my own.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

Skincare Addiction: Asian Finds

Skincare, my new addiction. I've never had the best skin and always deal with the same pesky zit (sound familiar). Every now and then I'll randomly find myself on /r/AsianBeauty - a forum dedicated to making your skin look and feel its best with the help of Asian products.

It's been a good steady seven months of checking in, interacting, and trying new products either recommended or raved about by other users. Ladies, these are my precious finds:

For reference, I have combination skin with occasional hormonal flare-ups along my jawline. My skin is not sensitive in the slightest - it can handle a lot besides hormones. If your skin is sensitive, I recommend doing a patch test or introducing one product at a time and slowly (1-2x a week to daily) to see if there's a reaction. 

1 - Toner: Rohto Hadalabo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist
In search of a toner to replace my Caudelie, I instead came across this. This is different from American toners since it doesn't dry out your skin but instead helps your skin stay moisturized and absorbs anything else you layer on after (i.e. moisturizer serum or sheet masks). My face feels more plump and hydrated - overall healthier. I apply it to my skin right after I hop out of the shower when my skin is still moist.

2 - Sunscreen: Biore UV Aqua Rich Smooth Watery Gel Spf50 + / Pa ++++
They say that when you decide to build your skincare regimen, the first thing you should add (and apply everyday) is sunscreen. And for sunscreen you need to go abroad. Our domestic sunscreens will never rival those found around the world mainly because the FDA moves at a snail's pace. But I did the research on finding the best sunscreen that doesn't add to my summer sheen (grease-face) and is safe - and this Biore UV Gel is phenom. Great for face and body!

3 - Mask: TonyMoly Sheet Masks
Sheet Masks are buzz words right now and for good reason. When Tony Moly opened it's first stateside store the first thing I did was buy a ton of these: mainly to try them out (finally), it's great price points, and cute packaging. Once I tried them on it felt like a mini spa date (even if I was just sitting on the couch watching Netflix). They started stocking these masks at Sephora and Urban Outfitters. FYI: each mask has a specific treatment to target certain skin concerns - I love using their Rice masks for acne.

4- Face Mist: TonyMoly Pocket Bunny Moist Mist
I'm a mister. In the summer I'm even more hardcore about misting - it helps me stay cool and my skin hydrated. I use over or under my makeup and spritz throughout the day. Writing about it made me mist. Do you need to have this in your regimen? Probably not. However, if you have dry skin it might be something to consider adding to your everyday purse.

5 - Snail Recovery Gel Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream
Yes, this is composed entirely of snail mucus but hear me out. This gel has transformed my skin and my boyfriend's skin. My skin looks more even toned and the mucus actually (and rapidly) helps acne healing and scarring. It's also extremely moisturizing and banishes redness. Got sunburned? You can use this too! There's a reason this product is cult favorite when it comes to Asian skincare - it works and it's so affordable. If you're going to try any one of these five - try this one first!

Are you also into Asian skincare or skincare in general? Let me know if there's something I need to try in the comments.

Real Talk | How to Get Free Samples

Had to do some digging around for a client on subscription boxes which led me to a nice discovery you might all enjoy. 

photo by Lydia Hudgens

I'm sure you all heard about the subscription box trend - I'm particularly fond of the POPSugar Must Have boxes. You pay a subscription fee per season or month for a box full of amazing goodies from new-to-you and well known brands. It's even inspired a slew of unboxing blogs and youtube videos. 

But what if I said you can experience the unboxing of goodies for free? Well, almost free. There's this whole sampling industry that is dying to get samples into your hands in exchange for an honest review, tweet, or instagram. That's where PINCHme comes into the big picture.

There are a few other companies in the market that provide the same services as PINCHme, but what's different is that you'll be able to pick samples you will genuinely use and hopefully love enough to buy again. I'm a member of a few other sampling programs and honestly hate it when I get items I'll never use - such a waste.

The way PINCHme works is really simple (we like simple over here). You sign up, fill out a short questionnaire, and then request samples for your box. Every other Tuesday (at 12pm EST) they seem to offer a new batch of samples to choose from. After trying out the product - return to the site and leave your thoughts. 

In case you were wondering what sort of samples came in a box - here's the assortment that came for me last April. Pretty good right!

If you're loving this freebie train and wondering what other companies I came across in my research, here's a few others worth the sign up for even more samples: PINCHme, influenster, Klout, Crowdtap, Swaggable.