The Essentials: November 2015

Well, this is a first - completely forgot to include clothing, shoes, or activewear/fitness faves. At the same time this month is all about giving thanks and eating, lots of it too. Sooo... let's focus our efforts elsewhere shall we?

Some of these products are repeat offenders but can't help but mention them again. Lots of big-name brands and a few indy brands new to the beauty game. Also, if you're on Periscope, add me! I do lots of reviews on-the-fly there. My username is @thestyleboro.

Lots of hair and skin faves this month - partially due to experimenting with new hairstyles + skin solutions.

Hair: Now that my hair is a bit shorter I've been able to experiment with braids (which I love!). I've been using Redken's Braid Aid 03 to help make my hair more pliable/manageable. Another standout fave is Eva NYC's Forget Me Knot Dry Conditioner. This is basically the best "dry shampoo" for curly-haired girls. It doesn't leave a white residue, makes it easy to detangle those danced-all-night knots, and easily refreshes my curls for another night out. Absolutely love!

Skin:  I discovered Simple at a pop-up inside Flywheel. They encouraged me to wipe off the day's grime before class with one of their makeup wipes - which I did - and I loved how easily it took everything off. It uses micellar water which is amazing and super gentle on your skin. Two other faves are AMG's Hydrating Mist and Toner & NYX Be Gone! Lip Color Remover. AMG's Mist is on the pricey end of the spectrum but I love how it's made with all natural botanical ingredients, chemical free, and vegan. If you need something similar tryout Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz or dermae Hydrating Mist with Hyaluronic Acid. As for the NYX lip color remover - it gets the toughest color off while moisturizing your lips. Affordable and works!

Body: Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex Body Lotion is my absolute favorite right now. It's a great thick cream that helps repair hydrated skin. It also smells amazing. Another fave is the Skinceuticals Sport UV Defense SPF. Before heading out on my outdoor runs I make sure to apply this to my neck and shoulders. It gets the job done regardless of how sweaty I get.

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

What are you loving this month? Tell me about it!

TSB: October Rack Up

This month has felt extra long for some reason. Like, too much month at the end of my check. Anyone else in the same boat? I've also been dreaming of my next adventure but with the holidays coming up soon, it's best to shelf it until 2016.

I've been working a lot of early morning to late night shifts in the office, so naturally a lot of my style posts reflected that. Hopefully, you guys didn't mind the corporate version of me. I'll try my best to mix it up more next month.

Necklace: My Own  Top: Boohoo.com  Pants: ZARA (similar)  Heels: Swedish Hasbeens  Watch: c/o JORD  Lipstick: Soft Rose via Bobbi Brown

Jacket: Willow & Clay  Shirt: J. Crew  Pants: bebe (similar)  Boots: Zara (similar)  Necklace: Nashelle  Bracelet: Charming Charlie  Clutch: Quilted Koala  Lipgloss: Juicy Apple by Clinique

White Button Down: Ann Taylor (on sale)  Sweater: Gap (similar here)  Jacket: H&M  Skirt: J. Crew (similar styles)  Tights: Calvin Klein  Necklace: Baublebar  Earrings: MUJUS  Watch: Folli Follie  Boots: Zara (similar pair)  Clutch: Ora Delphine  Lipgloss: Grapefruit by Stila  Brows: Benefit

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

Sunglasses: The Row  Scarf: Vintage (similar on sale)  Top: Boohoo.com (on sale!)  Skirts: Boohoo.com  Purse: Miu Miu  Watch: Vintage  Lipgloss: Buxom Lipgloss in Megan

Top: Lucy  Sweater: Lucy  Leggings: Lucy  Sneakers: Adidas  Lipgloss: Glacé via BITE

Now, that I had a look back I got to say that suede skirt was definitely my best purchase and my favorite piece to style this month.

How was October - style-wise & such - for you?

Quick Strides

Less than a week away from New York’s annual marathon and the city is buzzing with excitement. Close to 50,000 people head into Staten Island and collectively run together over the Verranzo bridge where they let their strides take them into Brooklyn, Queens, the Boogie Down Bronx, and finally Manhattan. And it’s not only top athletes who take on the 26.2 miles but people with heart who have demonstrated their commitment week after week to get out there and run.

Every year, you’ll find me on the sidelines cheering on those that are giving it all because, well… It’s so f-ing inspiring. And next year it’ll be my turn to dash from one borough to the next. I’m so pumped and insanely nervous at the same time.

Instead of focusing on my nerves it’s better to go day by day and remember what triggered my elation for those quick swift strides. And you know, share what I learned with y’all.

If we were to take it from the start, one of the things that really got me into running was how strong I felt after each run and amazement at how far my body could take me with the bare minimum. Not only that, but it made me feel normal enough to get off my prescribed medication for good (for those that don’t know I was diagnosed with PTSD & anxiety – not a lot of fun). And so, whenever I felt a little out of sync, I ran.

If you want to experience that runner's high – I say, try it! You’ll never know until you do.

Classpassers (sign up here for $25 off your first month), a few studios that I found to help with my runs were: Mile High Run Club + Barry’s Bootcamp (go faster with their speed runs), Y7 & Tangerine Hot Power Yoga (stretch out those muscles), and Absolution + Flex (a strong core is everything).

A few must-haves + tips I recommend for those wanting to dive right in:

- Get fitted for running sneakers. Your sneakers can make or break your stride so I highly recommend getting fitted. Don’t go for what’s popular but what works best for you!

- Do wear workout gear that makes you feel confident. If you’re a busy bee like me, then look into activewear that can take you from studio to street or vice versa. I’m a huge fan of Lucy Activewear for that sole reason. Plus, their clothes are super flattering, material is amazing, and made for the woman’s body in motion. I started out with one piece their Hatha leggings and quickly added a few more pieces each season as a treat for sticking to my workouts.

- Nutrition + hydration are super important. On race weeks (or when I’m really putting in the work) I up the protein intake with a few of my favorite shakes. Although I dabble with Sha-Glam and DailyBurn’s FUEL 6, I find myself reaching for Vega Sport. It’s still a plant-based nutritional meal but what I really love is how it divvy ups it’s product based on what stage you are in your training; Prepare, Sustain, Recover. Essentially helps fuel you better. I use their pre-workout energizer before runs and then their performance protein after (if I went really hard). If you’re looking to add this to your nutritional plan, take the quiz on their site to get started. While you’re at – pick up a Blender Bottle for protein shakes on the go! When it comes to hydration, you'll always find me with a bobble water bottle in my hand. It keeps cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot.

Top: Lucy  Sweater: Lucy  Leggings: Lucy  Sneakers: Adidas  Lipgloss: Glacé via BITE

Give these recommendations a go and let me know how it goes during your next sweat sesh And remember, all that matters is that you put one foot in front of the other when you run.

P.s. I took these photos before heading to yoga, hence my casual sneakers. Don't run in casual sneakers - they will kill your knees.

Photos by Victor Cerejo.

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