The Little Pink Dress I Almost Forgot About

This season, I've been trying to go above and beyond to organize my little space of the internet and life. I cleared out my inboxes and then got rid of any old paperwork from 2016. And let me tell you... it felt great clearing out all that useless clutter.

Among the clutter, I found a few old photo sessions that never made it live - which sucks because if I were to think back to that day I clearly remember being frantic, late and/or cold.

I need to do better about posting them all and on time.

Regardless, I'm going to go ahead and post them all even if it doesn't seem seasonally appropriate :). And with that I bring you the first "found" look - the pale pink Ramy Brook dress that I (still to this day) adore!

It's incredibly sheer so it's definitely not for the meek but I highly advise wearing a sheer tube layering piece underneath, like this.

Dress: Ramy Brook (similar style)  Sunglasses: The Row (similar style)  Coat: Planet London (similar style)  Boots: Sam Edelman (similar & under $100)  Necklace: My Own (similar)  Bracelet: Kenneth Jay Lane (similar style)  Purse: Rebecca Minkoff  Lip Tint: Rosy Lips via Vaseline

I recall taking these photos when there was a still a chill in the air which explains the wool coat haha. But I would still style it the same way at the same temperatures.

But once summer hits, I lose the coat and the over the knee boots and go with something a little more practical and cute like gladiator sandals and possibly an oversized denim jacket.

If this sheer isn't your style take a look at Ramy Brook for other options. They have so many cute dresses and tops for the Boheme in all of us.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

Shop the look:

Made in NYC: Modern Vice

It's been a while since I've looked in my own backyard and took a good look at the designers and startups that call New York City home. In fact, it's been a little over two years which is kind of embarrassing on my end because there is so much good stuff happening here ALL THE TIME.

Luckily for me, I was invited to tour Jordan Adoni's Modern Vice, where each boot is designed and handcrafted in the heart of the Garment District.

Modern Vice has the perfect boots for each season in all sorts of textures, colors, and hardware. Each boot feels luxurious and is only made with the highest quality to last a lifetime. There's truly something for everyone. And if you haven't already heard of this blogger and celebrate favorite brand I implore you to take a peek at their Instagram page.

For those who are looking for something truly unique, Modern Vice allows you to customize your very own pair of shoes. They're so great at creating fast custom, one-of-kind designs they tend to co-design with bloggers pretty frequently. 

Stop by their site and support your local NYC business: www.modernvice.com

Photos by Lauren Listor.

Skin Care 101: Best Exfoliators for Your Routine

Exfoliation - there are so many things that can be said about this. It's definitely the most misunderstood and can potentially cause more harm than good, but with a little trial and error can bring brighten your face and add some much-needed balance to your routine.

via Vogue.in

Unlike facial cleansers, most exfoliators should be done on a bi-weekly basis for smooth, glowing skin. (And in case you want to read up on cleansers, you can find that post here). 

Being the adult-acne-sufferer that I am, I absolutely love exfoliating. It's probably one of my favorite parts of the day because it sloughs off dead skin and (slowly) reveals the perfect skin I pine for. Now, exfoliants can either be physical (i.e. St. Ives Scrub) or chemical (these can be BHA or AHAs). They both have the same end goal, to reveal brighter, younger skin. This, in turn, helps your products like serums and moisturizers absorb better.

Personally, I lean towards chemical exfoliants since there's less of a risk of getting a micro-tear. Although, physical exfoliants help you achieve softer skin :).  

Here are a few I find myself going back to time & time again.

Chemical

m-61 PowerBlast Facial Mask
I absolutely love this mask and everything it's able to accomplish within 60 seconds. It's a foaming mask so you can "feel" the bubbles working away to reveal brighter, calmer-looking skin. I usually reach for this during bad breakouts as it's the only thing that makes my angry skin slightly happy. It's still a staple in my cabinet and used twice weekly.

Vichy Idealia Night Peeling
This is incredibly gentle which is surprising for a glycolic product. Unlike most products listed this is for PM use only and be layered on top of. It slowly, keyword here, renews and evens out the skin. I would imagine it would do the same for wrinkles long-term but the only improvement I've seen is faded acne marks. Can be used daily.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion
This exfoliator has made multiple appearances throughout skin-related blog posts and my Reddit posts for good reason. It's an OG on my shelf and if you had to pick one chemical exfoliator out of all listed here, I'd recommend this hands down. The gentle formula means I can swipe on during the AM and not have to worry about red, flaky skin later on. Another reason I prefer to apply this in the morning, it smooths skin for even makeup application. Can be used daily.

m-61 PowerGlow Peel
Although these individual pads don't immediately give results after swiping they are extremely effective in showing you good skin over time. Skin looks tighter, pores look smaller, and acne marks fade quicker. The formula is a little harsh, I mean it is called PowerGlow, so I wouldn't recommend to those with sensitive skin. Can be used daily or 3x a week.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Daily Cleansing Pads
These daily cleansing pads are a super easy and convenient way to introduce Glycolic into your skin care regiment. I prefer my Glycolic acids to come in a bottle but I would recommend Nip + Fab's jar for traveling. The pre-moistened pads make it easy to exfoliate nearly anywhere - just make sure you keep the jar completely closed otherwise you run the risk of drying out the product. If you can't afford the cost of these, a close second I'd recommend is Stridex's Daily Pads. Can be used 1x or 2x daily.

Physical

Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub
I find myself coming back to this scrub time and time again. The scrub has fine-textured crystals made of detoxifying dead sea salt and citrus essential oils that buffs away dullness and smooths out acne scars. I also love how soft my skin feels right after. Use twice a week for the best results.

via www.instagram.com/dermae

Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Glycolic Scrub
This scrub reminds me of the iconic St. Ives scrub but better. I found myself using this for those moments when I crave a good deep buff. It's a little on the pricey side but I do love how there's vitamin A to help renew skin. Can be used daily but prefer twice a week.

via willworkforlipstick.com

e.l.f. Exfoliating Scrub
This affordable scrub works to buff skin for a brighter appearance. I absolutely love that it contains no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. My skin doesn't feel dry after use but instead moisturized. You can use this daily.

Biore Charcoal Acne Scrub
The brand is known for its iconic pore strips but they released a slew of scrubs earlier this year too! This scrub, in particular, has a tingly sensation that feels amazing. The formula contains salicylic acid which keeps acne at bay but doesn't dry out skin. Pro-tip: use this stuff in the shower for easy clean up. You can use this daily.

What are your favorite exfoliators? Drop me a comment down below!