Five Friday Favorites

You guys, my kitchen cupboards are brimming with product I can't wait to tell you about that I may just up my Friday Faves to a weekly thing. But then, there's the issue of time and how little I have. That's the conundrum that I'm in. I could also stop buying everything I see in Target/online - but, that would be too easy.

1. ORG Skincare Mineral Peel Face
The first time I heard about this Mineral Peel I absolutely knew I had to try it. I'm currently on a Retina-A routine which means lots of dry skin and peeling. It's so not sexy but it's the only thing keeping my acne at bay. Another thing I love was my ability to create a smooth surface before any makeup application. If you're dealing with dry skin and hate seeing the flakes underneath your makeup - pick this up and give it a try. It does take some getting used to, so I'd highly recommend using it on a slow day when you have time to play around it. And if you're really curious watch a few YouTube videos on how others are applying it.

2. Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk (on the left)
This isn't your average leave-in conditioner, it's more of a leave-in moisturizer. The rich cream hydrates every single curl on my head which is a great thing BECAUSE it means my curls are less likely to frizz up. With the threat of frizz being absent I haven't used any sort of gel or hairspray (bye crunchy curls!). My hair feels soft to the touch and stronger + the scent is pretty amazing. I find that using less product is best for me and I've been able to hold onto the bottle for a month. Plus, the pricing is very affordable and there are no parabens.

via Facebook

3. EVA NYC's Flat Iron
I've started getting into the habit of treating myself to monthly blow-outs and mani-pedis - it's been such a game changer in lifting up my mood. (Sidenote: I encourage all of you to find a nice way to treat yourself once a month. It's okay to put ourselves first especially when we work hard). I tend to keep my blowouts for at least five days, so dry shampoo and a flat iron are key. Besides the fun design, I found that the EVA NYC hair heats up quickly and the ceramic plates are gentle on my strands. With the price set at $50, this makes for a pretty great gift too for those hair savvy gals in your life.

4. Hairiette Co-Wash
I'm still on board with co-washing. Hairiette Co-Wash cleans my hair but without stripping the moisture from my curls. Fun fact, this line was created by Tanya Wright, a cast member from Orange is the New Black. The co-wash is made with all natural ingredients like Kokum Butter and Marula Oil + smells amazing. I went through the jar within three weeks - so pretty good when compared to other brands I've used. On top of that, this made it really easy to detangle my curls with my fingers which I always have a tough time doing.

via Facebook

5. Pixi Skintreats Glow Tonic
I've been hearing about this for a while now, and finally got the chance to try it. You guys, I'm obsessed with this and it really does live up to all the "Holy-Grail" hype. It's alcohol-free (which is a must when it comes to our skin), my previous acne scars have started fading, my pores have gotten tighter (after use), and one exfoliating swipe gets my skin so smooth. In my regimen (when given the time) I use the ORG Skincare Mineral Peel Face first and then swipe my face with the Glow Tonic. If time is tight, I only use the Glow Tonic. The light rose scent is also amazing, but I'm biased towards rose-scented goods.

How To Wear Sweatpants to Work

On Thursdays (and a few other days that end in ‘y’) I reach for the ultimate lounge pants - sweatpants. Yas girl, we lounging today.

Even though there’s no lounging taking place at work, wearing sweatpants anywhere is pretty much THE best. For reference, I sit all day so avoiding that irritating red mark around my waist (maybe I should be pantless?) is kind of key. The only problem I can find (and it’s a pretty big one) is that sweatpants are a huge office no-no. Unless… it’s worn right.

I’ve been wearing this Lucy pair particularly to my AM Classpasses and found a loophole that benefits us all.  Plus, the fewer things I carry on my commute the less hate and shade I’ll get from other straphangers. (This shirt tends to get a few side-eye rolls but I gotta share the PSA).

There’s enough slouch in these pants that I can wear my Hatha shorts (underneath) on the way to class, remove these, and then wear (and relax in) the sweats all day after.

If you’re curious, it’s all in the footwear and fabric of what you choose to wear after the sweat session.

The polyester material in the pants has a nice sheen that makes them a bit more grown up for the office (keep that in mind when shopping). I also switch out my sneakers (when worn) to a cute pair of heels or booties and wear a white button-down top. This top is my fave since it doesn't wrinkle when packed.

Shirt: Ann Taylor  Active Top: Lucy  Pants: Lucy  Necklace: Old (love this tho!)  Heels: Old (similar)  Backpack: Tumi  Lipgloss: Juicy Apple via TonyMoly

I love black & white but it can feel a little school-uniformish, so I went with these blue suede shoes (my tried & true favorite). And of course, a little bit of bling.

Also, if you have not tried the Y7 yoga studios around NYC/LA, you should (on Classpass of course). I’ve been hitting their space weekly and it’s such an awesome way to start the day.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

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Giving Back With: glassybaby

Hey guys, so I wanted to try out a new feature on the blog. Well, an old feature I used to write about – brands that give back.

Every now and then I’ll include a mention but some of these companies are doing such GREAT things that they deserve more than a mention. In the past, I’ve mentioned MUJUS, DellaLA, OneSight and even Old Navy.

Today, I’d like to shine some of the spotlight on glassybaby. I had the pleasure of meeting their impassioned team a few weeks ago and I could not stop thinking about their project. Which brings us to today’s post and restarting this old blog column.

glassybaby are votives with a motive, giving – and giving back – inspirational stories since it’s inception. The concept was started back in 1995 after the founder Lee Rhodes was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. She met with other patients and heard their stories about not being able to afford basic necessities for either themselves or their children because of the cost of treatment. During this, she had an “Aha” moment with a tea candle and a glass cup – and glassbaby was born.

With that, she starts up glassbaby and hires artists to make more glass votives for us to gift. Each sale, she donates a portion to charities that are committed to helping their patients heal. For example, the ‘true white’ glassybaby gives 10% to help cancer patients with day-to-day needs not covered by basic health insurance. This has now grown to something even bigger – the white light fund – which supports the same cause and provides a family housing service at the university of Washington Medical Center.

Since 1995, Lee and glassbaby (and their amazing team) have raised over three million to go towards their cause. They’ve also expanded the list of causes they give to - specific votives give to specific causes too. And in case you’re wondering no two glassybabys are the same since they’re all made by hand which makes them a unique gift.

As we head into the holiday season (or simply need gift ideas as party favors), keep this brand at the top of your mind.

www.glassybaby.com