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.

Coming Up Roses

September 26, 2016

Out of all of my style posts from this month, this look is by far my favorite! There's something about this rose-covered dress that helps me stand a little bit taller, talk a little louder, and command the attention I deserve.

Because of that, I've worn it out to my (sober) Tinder dates, client meetings, and anytime I'm feeling a little bit down. It looks phenomenal on which makes my insides feel equally so.

The dress (or should I say the moments when it's worn) also brings to mind a familiar quote that describes where I am in life:

“I want to be full on my own
I want to be so complete
I could light a whole city”

— Rupi Kaur

On that note, if you haven't picked up her book Milk and Honey do so now. I've underlined so many things and left notes for my future self in the borders.

"But Aileen! Where did you get this dress?!"

Glad you asked! I found this dress on Dezzal.com for under $80 (dress it's still stocked y'all!!) and would say it runs a smidge smaller than expected. I'm wearing the small but would be slightly uncomfortable if I ate four slices of pizza.

Oh! And make sure you browse their site because they have some CUTE things listed and it's all super affordable.

Next thing I wanted to point out are my booties from an Italian brand called OUIGAL. So many quirky, colorful, and on-trend shoes - there's something for everyone and they ship quickly. A few stateside retailers have definitely noticed their appeal so you'll be able to find them on Shopbop or Anthropologie IF their stock hasn't sold out yet.

Dress: Dezzal Boots: Ouigal Bangles: The Sak Rings: Assorted Earrings: Links of London Necklace: Athra Luxe + Baublebar Purse: Shana Luther Eyebrow Pencil: Billion Dollar Brow Pencil Lipgloss: Riot via Lime Crime

One last thing before I sign off! Ever since I discovered the power of a strong brow I've been reviewing and testing a few brands and products. Let's be honest everyone swears they have the best in the game but only a few can back it up.

I was given Billion Dollar Brows' Brows on Point Micro Pencil to try out and must stay I love the blendable formula, how easy it is to apply, and the precise tip. Highly recommend if you're a brow pencil kind of gal. I'm wearing their Raven color in these photos and think my brows came out fleeky.

Photos by Lauren Adriance.

Shop the look:

Best Fitness Studios for Runners

September 23, 2016

With the marathon coming up and my knees feeling a bit stiff from all the running, I've started to supplement my runs with a few fitness classes (via Classpass of course). It's definitely not normal to run 26.2 miles in one day nor is running on asphalt great for my joints but what can I say - I'm a little crazy.

My days of being a spring chicken are far from over (sigh) so my training runs are followed with stiff knees, tight hips, and a weak core. So it's imperative that any additional workouts improve my balance and flexibility. And if I get a six pack in the progress, then hey, even better!

Classpass (and New York City) boasts of hundreds of classes but only a few types do the job: barre, pilates, and yoga. Occasionally, I'll sign up for a spin or high-intensity class but those are few and far between since additional cardio might overwork my legs and make them more prone to injury.

Barre
It's only recently that I learned women runners will suffer from hip issues compared to men. So it's better to avoid them altogether by taking a class that focuses on strengthening our legs, hips, and inner (deeper?) abs. The stronger these main muscles are the less chance I'll end up with a knee injury. It also can't be denied how similar some of the exercises are to those done in physical therapy. For instance, the tucking in barre class is something I've definitely done with my therapist.

Here are my go-to spots: Pop Physique (cute studios to boot), FlyBarre (accessibility and their Power 45 class is amazing + intense), and Physique 57 (classes are broken up by difficulty level).

Pilates
Similar to barre, pilates increases core strength and helps loosen my hips for a more fluid stride but it's the emphasis on breath control that keeps me coming back. Using my breath with more increased awareness helps on those hilly routes or when I want to increase my pace. Another thing that makes pilates a must for runners is that it helps correct your posture which minimizes a chance of injury.

Here are my go-to spots: Flex Studios (always challenging), New York Pilates (wide range of classes and picturesque studio), and Pilates on the Square (I've always felt welcomed here).

Yoga
Runners are notorious for not stretching. I'm definitely guilty of forgoing deep stretches only to regret it later. Enter yoga. The foundation of these classes is rooted in postures that offer flexibility, stretches, and mental focus. Holding a tough pose also trains the mind for enduring long, hard runs. I try to take a class 1-2x a week depending on how tight my body feels.

Here are my go-to spots: Sky Ting Yoga (amazing space + amenities), Tangerine Hot Power Yoga (classes are small and teachers are so attentive), Y7 Studio (a bit more energetic and music is fresh to death).

I hope this run down inspires you to take a few new classes around the neighborhood. And for those of you not on Classpass, check it out here! It's so easy to add classes to your gym routine and test new studios around the city.