Yearly Archives: 2019
Current Beauty Favorites: Face Oils & Serums
Face oils and serums are a staple in my skincare routine. These skincare products are perfect for adding and locking in moisture while delivering anti-oxidants to gives skin a healthy glow and smooth look. Face oils are the best for adding and locking in moisture. I try to use one twice a week. Oils are especially soothing after an exfoliating mask. Serums add moisture and a good number of anti-aging ingredients to soak in to your skin while you sleep each night, so you wake up with glowing and more youthful looking skin.
I apply my face oils and serums in the evening, so they have all night to soak in and work there magic while I sleep. While the word oil, probably makes you think greasy. Most face oils are light in texture and quickly absorb. I usually just look a little shiny before bed, and have a nice radiant glow in the morning. These four are some of my current top favorites. All of these oils and serums leave my skin looking refreshed, hydrated, and more youthful in the morning. Most of them with just one use.
To Use: I wash off my makeup and then apply my oil or serum of choice. I use about 2-3 drops depending on the product. For some serums, I do follow up with a moisturizer.
c/o DERMA RADIANT GLOW FACE OIL – This oil includes the essential oils Jojoba, Argan and Seabuckthorn. These oils really help nourish your skin and add in moisture. My skin soaks this stuff up! It’s very lightweight and absorbent. This one takes a few uses to see the benefits, but over time I noticed a smoother and hydrated skin with a nice healthy glow.
c/o DRUNK ELEPHANT VIRGIN MARULA FACIAL OIL – This oil features a cold pressed process to extract the oil preserving the anti-oxidants to deliver your skin the best this oil has to offer. After just a couple uses, my skin looked more plump and moisturized. This plump and moisturized effect really helps with fine lines and gave me a nice healthy glow.
KIEHL’S MIDNIGHT RECOVERY CONCENTRATE – This oil features a blend of the distilled oils Lavender Essential Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Squalane. After just one use, I noticed results with this one. It added instant hydration and an amazing morning glow. This oil improved fine lines and leaves my skin feeling soft in the morning. The essential oils do give this one a very distinct smell that’s going to be a love it or hate it thing. It doesn’t bother me at all. Also, I had a friend use this and have a bad reaction to her skin with breakouts. She ended up giving me her bottle just so it wouldn’t go to waste.
ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCE NIGHT REPAIR – This serum is one of my favorites! I received a sample as a bonus after purchasing some beauty products. The sample was good for about two uses, but after one I went and purchased a bottle. Even before I went to bed, I started seeing this serum do its work. My skin started looking almost instantly hydrated and glowing. By morning, my skin looked refreshed, plumped, and smooth. All adding to the reduction of fine lines.
Face oils and serums do tend to be on the pricey side of skincare products. I find them worth the price because they deliver the best results for hydration and anti-aging. Since you only use a few drops at a time, all 4 of these will last you for awhile especially if you only use them a couple times a week. My routine is to use an oil only 2-3 times a week and a serum and moisturizer combo the other days.
Do you include face oils and serums in your skincare routine? What are some of your favorites?
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20 Outfits with White Jeans for Summer
Hello friends! I had so much fun this weekend sharing some summer styling tips. One of my staples for summer is a good pair of white jeans. It’s an easy way to dress up a causal look and really helps add a little vibrancy to those bright summer colors and prints. Today, I’m taking a look back at spring and summer outfits I’ve styled featuring white jeans.
I’m pretty sure every single one of these outfits features my Paige Skyline White Jeans. I love them so much that I own two pairs. The denim is thick which means not at all see through. I have had my first pair for about 4 years now, and they still look crisp white. I have tried other pairs, but the fit just doesn’t compare with these. I think the cut of them is flattering to my body type. White jeans will accentuate all areas whether you like that area or not, so finding the right cut for you is super important. Nordstrom has a pretty good return policy, so you can order different styles and try them on in the comfort of your home.
I hope you enjoy this look back at 20 outfits with white jeans from the past couple of years, ok and a few older than that, but I loved them too. Hopefully this will give you some different ways to wear your white jeans for summer and plan a few weekend or vacation outfits.
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The Basics vs The Trends
ORIGINAL POSTS: one | two | three | four
Black & Gray
ORIGINAL POST: one | two | three | four
Floral Print Tops
ORIGINAL POST: one | two | three | four
All the Shades of Pink
ORIGINAL POST: one | two | three | four
Blue Striped Tops
ORIGINAL POST: one | two | three | four
Want more outfit ideas? Check out a white jeans roundup I shared a few years ago HERE!
4th of July Outfit Idea
Hello Hello and welcome to Friday! It’s has been a crazy, busy, and fun week. Work has been really busy which I never really mind because it makes the work day go by faster. Wednesday night, my boyfriend and I went to a tasting event at McCormick and Schmick’s to sample their new menu. We ate so much good food that night. I’m now craving their chocolate silk pie!
This weekend is going to be pretty busy too. I’m heading to the lake on Saturday, and then Sunday I’m hosting a shopping party at Loft. If you are in the Houston area, I would love for you to stop by on Sunday, so we can meet and talk fashion. It’s going to be really fun!
Can you believe July is just around the corner? Do you have any 4th of July plans yet? I’m heading to Colorado with friends. I’ve never been, so I’m excited to travel somewhere new. I’m not quite sure what I will be wearing for the 4th, probably going to lean towards pretty casual. If you are heading somewhere a little dressier, I have the cutest 4th of July outfit idea for you.
This blue and white striped top is a subtle way to dress up for the 4th. It has the stripes and blue and white, but isn’t too over the top festive. I love the lace and ruffle details to add a little feminine flair to the look. I paired it with my white skinny jeans and my taupe block heels sandals for a dressier outfit. You could pair this top with white shorts and flat sandals or wedges for a dressed down look. If you want to make this look even more festive, you could change out my pink earrings for red ones.
I hope you all have a fabulous weekend, and I hope to see a few of you this Sunday at Loft!
| OUTFIT DETAILS |
c/o Blue Striped Top | White Jeans | Taupe Block Heel Sandals | Similar Clutch | c/o Pink Ball Earrings | Silver Bangle | Links Bracelet | Nails: Essie Minimalistic
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Clean Skincare Routine for Morning & Night
Hello friends! I’ve been hearing more and more about clean beauty products lately. As someone who always reads food labels and opts for foods with real ingredients, it was only a matter of time until I took my love for clean eating to my beauty drawer. With food labels it’s pretty easy to tell if it’s food or not, beauty products are not as easy and requires a little more research. I’ve slowly been trying different brands and products out to see how my skin responds. Clean beauty products feature ethically sourced ingredients without any proven or suspected toxins. They are made with the health of or body and the environment in mind.
A little over a month ago, I ran into a lady who worked for Drunk Elephant (which is Houston based) at the nail salon. We started chatting about her results switching to a full clean skincare routine. I decided to be my own test subject and go 100% clean with my skincare routine. For 30 days and 30 nights, I only used skincare products from brands I believed fit the clean guidelines like Drunk Elephant, Derma-E, and Cosmedix.
One of the most interesting things I noticed was how over the 30 days, I started using less product. The first few days I would use 3 pumps of the different serums and moisturizers, and my skin would soak it up. After just a few days, I noticed only needing 2 pumps. I felt like this showed how much my skin needed the goodies provided by these products, but also how my skin was over time able to hold on to the moisture and not need as much. I noticed an improvement in fine lines and lightening of some sun spots. My skin also feels hydrated, softer, and smoother. I feel like my skin glows a little bit more, and I’ve been happily going makeup free for pool days and grocery store runs.
Now that my 30 day test run is over, I do plan to continue incorporating clean beauty products into my beauty routine. My love for always trying the latest new products will probably keep me from going all in right now. It’s something I would consider for the future. I’m breaking down my day and night routine for you below. For my morning skincare routine, I did the same thing everyday. In the evening, I would mix it up every other day.
(All products are c/o Drunk Elephant)
MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE
STEP 1: After my morning workout, I wash my face with the Beste No9 Jelly Cleanser.
STEP 2: I apply 2 pumps of the C-Firma Day Serum to my entire face.
STEP 3: I allow the C-Firma to soak in a few minutes, and then apply the Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense to my entire face.
STEP 4: I allow the Daily Defense to soak in for a few minutes and then apply my makeup.
(side note: I also use the Daily Defense as my face sunscreen for the pool.)
NIGHT TIME SKINCARE ROUTINE 1 (3-4x per week)
STEP 1: Wash off makeup with the Beste No9 Jelly Cleanser.
STEP 2: Apply 1-2 pumps of the Protini Polypeptide Cream & 1-2 pumps of the B-Hydra Intense Hydration Serum to palm of hand. Mix and apply to my entire face.
NIGHT TIME SKINCARE ROUTINE 2 (2-3x per week)
STEP 1: Wash off makeup with the Beste No9 Jelly Cleanser.
STEP 2: Apply 1-2 pumps of the Protini Polypeptide Cream & 1-2 drops of the Marsala Oil to palm of hand. Mix and apply to entire face.
NIGHT TIME SKINCARE ROUTINE 3 (1x per week)
STEP 1: Wash off makeup with the Beste No9 Jelly Cleanser.
STEP 2: Apply the Baby Facial to face and let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off. (FYI – this mask does tingle a bit for the first few minutes.)
STEP 3: Apply 2-3 drops of the Marsala Oil to entire face.
Have you tried any clean beauty products? Drop your favorites in the comments below!
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