Staying On Track In 2020!

by with No Comment familyhealthholidayholidaysinspirationlifestylemotivationreviewswellness

I’ve partnered with Green Giant, Optimum Nutrition, vitafusion and L’il Critters as part of an Influencer Activation and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Can you believe we’re already through January and walking firmly into the rest of the new decade?! We launched this year with goal sharing and our family’s resolutions for the year and I wanted to check in and see where we all are now that the first month of the 2020 is coming to a close <3 

To recap: our family wants to eat more meals together, eat healthier, be more active, and take our vitamins! I’m happy to report that we’ve been staying on track *praise hands* I went to our local Walmart at the start of this month and picked up some things that have helped us to stay focused and support our wellness goals. 

My top picks are the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein and Essential Amino Energy, the Green Giant Veggie Hash Browns, and vitafusion – with a shout out to the L’il Critters too! I hope you enter the Resolutions at Walmart Sweepstakes and do it with us. Here we gooo!

I mean, this Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein is Vanilla Ice Cream flavored, travel friendly (oh hai tumbler), perfect for in between meals, and it’s SO delicious that you can mix it with just water and go! This protein is so important with how often we’re working out and helps us meet our daily protein requirements. Win win.

Essential Amino Energy not only gives us energy and focus for those workouts, but also helps support muscle recovery … perfect for bootcamp heyyy. I love this Fruit Fusion flavor!

vitafusion Men and Women’s Gummy Vitamins have been such a yummy way for us to be nutritious and get our daily vitamins in. They are the #1 Gummy Vitamin Brand and the only gummy vitamin brand with “clinically proven absorption”. Sure, those are great facts but the fact that as adults we’re taking our vitamins daily … super win! 

The L’il Critters Children’s Gummy Vitamins are a perfect way to get you little ones to take their vitamins. They’re fun, taste great, and are this cute lil gummy bear shaped! There’s no artificial sweeteners or flavors in them, and is the only gummy vitamin brand with “doctor tested proven nutrient absorption”. Again, win win!

*For Vitamins C & D3 in products that contain those nutrients
**The ChefsBest Excellence Award is awarded to brands that surpass a quality standard established by independent professional chefs

Green Giant Veggie Hash Browns what I can say, these are crunchy and everything we love about has browns with one full serving of cauliflower in each serving. Corrine doesn’t even know that it’s an actual veggie hash brown, she just asks for them every day! Perfect as a breakfast side, grab and go snack, and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives *where are those praise hands again* If you love these as much as we do, be sure to check out the other great Green Giant products at Walmart, like the Cauliflower Gnocchi!

I hope my go-to products that have helped keep us on track as a family so far this year also inspire you! You can shop all of these products at Walmart and enter the Resolutions at Walmart Sweepstakes! 

Here’s all the Sweepstakes Information you’ll need:

  • Enter for a chance to win a gym membership for a year!
  • Entries valid from December 28th 2019 – February 24th, 2020
  • Limit one prize per person or household.  Only one valid entry per person over the sweepstakes 
  • Visit WalmartResolutions.com for full terms and conditions

Tell me, how are your goals going this year so far? Any tips and tricks you wanna share with us? Please do, and remember we’ve got this! <3

 

 

 

Local Discoveries – The Who, What, Where #DiscoverTorrance

by with No Comment adventurecommunityentertainmentleisurelifestylereviewsshoppingtravelwellness

Shopping, adventures, and foods oh my!

As you saw from my last article, I visited the neighboring city of Torrance last month and I’m so happy to share my discoveries with you. Where we shopped, our explorations, local eats … all the things! We stayed at the Best Western Plus Avita Suites and they provide a complimentary breakfast buffet so we only had to find lunches and dinners … and saucy sips … oh and desserts 😉 There’s so many options and I got so many of your recommendations from Instagram, thank goodness discovertorrance.com exists which helped me narrow down all my choices! Pssst and thank YOU for your recs <3

So day one was all about settling into our suite and enjoying dinner at our hotel, so the next morning after we enjoyed the buffet we visited the Farmer’s Market for some lunch and local goods.

It was such a beautiful day in Torrance that it was easy to walk around for three hours before I decided I wanted a mid-day pick me up. We headed to the best boba in town… 7 leaves cafe

That would be my macarons and cafe over there chillin’ next to the Moana tree haha. Sooo good, please go there and get the Taro milk tea boba! The Depot was high on your recommendation list as it was on the discovertorrance.com site so that’s exactly what we did for dinner and let me tell ya… I’m a martini kinda lady and their martini’s cannot be matched! So perfectly paired with a filet and mashed potatoes dinner. Umm and that would be pistachio butter you see next to that fresh baked bread *drool*

P.S. that’s the Chef! Of course I asked to take a photo with him, it was one of the best meals evaaaar! And what better way to wrap up day one than a night cap?! We walked over to a neighboring hotel bar and enjoyed one more saucy sip… can you guess what I got? And of course- a bar pretzel is the best choice duh.

Perfection ah. With time in the books I was already fully enjoying my time in this city. Day two began the same as the previous morning but we switched up routine by having some Hawaiian lunch for the first time. I learned that Hawaiian food and Chamorro food (it me!) are very similar! Think spam and rice haha This was The Loft in Torrance and they did not disappoint.

Musubi and Hawaiian fried chicken for the win! Since I’m the type of person who plots my next food venture WHILE still having the current meal (ha!) I decided we’d go to Brio for dinner AND dessert and enjoy some home made donuts… they had me at donuts let’s be real.

We wrapped up the day by finishing our holiday shopping at Del Amo Fashion Center, which by the way is just a hop and a skip away from our hotel… winning! It was such a perk considering I shopped ’til I dropped.

Why yes, I did purchase this camo cropped pull-over *hail hands* I ended up completing all of my holiday shopping AND shopped for myself so… treat yo self. Day two was a smashing success and when I tell you I slept like a baby, trust.

Before leaving on our final day in Torrance, I ran one last time at our hotel gym, enjoyed a homemade waffle and took time with every bite, and just had to make one last stop before checking out of my staycation dream. Enter Strand Brewing for some FUNS!


Ending my staycation in Torrance could not have been any more fun than enjoying a flight of local beers, playing some games, and sports!

I had the best time and feel so lucky to have partnered with such a welcoming and hospitable community to showcase some of the best places in Torrance to eat, visit, explore, and shop <3 I hope you get a chance to visit our new home away from home and I’ll link you to all the places that helped make our stay so memorable and easy to navigate!

Have you added ‘more adventure’ to your New Year goals yet? Let’s do this! 

https://discovertorrance.com/stay/

https://discovertorrance.com/hotels/best-western-avita-suites/

www.discovertorrance.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discovering Torrance – Best Western Plus Avita Suites- Cheers to venturing more in 2020!

by with No Comment adventurefitnessfoodholidayholidaysleisurelifestylemom lifereviewsself care sundaytips and trickstravelwellness

It’s a new decade darlings, can you believe it?! Welcome to 2020… we’re in it and we’re also just coming off of a two week break where we didn’t know what day it was, what time it was, and if we were ever going to change out of footed pj’s. So now that we’re back into the full swing of things I want to share a few of my personal goals with you. I think it’s so wonderful when we can get real with each other and spark creativity in one another. I read a great quote the other day that had so many meanings to me, “one year closes so another can open”. 

So good right? So one of my goals this year is to travel more, to hit reset on my mind and my heart when I need it, and to not feel guilty about it. Even if it’s just jumping in my car and visiting a neighboring city, I’ve got to do it in the name of adventure. I was inspired to take more time to explore my own city when Discover Torrance reached out to me for a staycation. ‘Ummm yes please’, is what I think I responded with. 

The idea of a staycation always encourages me to relax without worrying about taking a flight out or being too far away from family and financial responsibilities. So I packed my bags and headed to the Best Western Plus Avita Suites in Torrance. Sweet Suites, it’s an award-winning-all-suite boutique hotel and was so close to everything I wanted to do during my stay I couldn’t wait to get there. So with my itinerary in hand I checked into my suite and found it very difficult to peel myself from the cozy bed to hit the town on our night one haha. 

My next article will share in detail all of my recommendations for where to go, what to do, things to eat, best desserts to find, and local favorites in Torrance. Today I want to share my experience at this beautiful hotel and share that you can book with them here! 

I wouldn’t usually describe lobbies as inviting and beautiful but let me tell you, this lobby was inviting, comfortable, and beautiful. I actually blurted out at the front desk, “how pretty is this?! I have to take some photos before I check in”. 

It was bright and festive, the staff was so welcoming… and so was this cushy bed! Every room is a suite so they each have a seating area, office area, and kitchenette. Here’s a fun walk through…more like dance through of my room! Imagine Mariah Carey’s voice singing as I dance you about the suite.

Once I settled in and unpacked… P.S. am I the only one who get SO excited about hotels that I have to unpack all of my belongings before doing anything else? AKA I hang my clothes in the closet, utilize the robe, put my keys in the safe, and place all of my toiletries out ha! I’m saving the rest of my excitement to share all of the things we did, the foods we ate, the drinks we drank, the desserts we hunted, ALL the things that we took in during our time in Torrance.

For today you get to hear me dish all about these digs and the hospitality and generosity we were shown while on our staycation at the Best Western Plus Avita Suites in Torrance. Can we just talk about how much joy complimentary breakfasts bring us all? Haha talk about breakfast, this was a full blown buffet with options like home-made waffles, a yogurt and bagel station, fresh fruit, and every cereal and topping you can imagine. 

I indulged and had a little bit of everything Cafe Avita had to offer, here’s a peek above. After all that yummy food I had to get some cardio in and build energy for the day’s events to eat our way through the town! It’s so nice when the place you’re staying at has a gym, it encourages you to stick with your goals, and it completely helps that they have weights and not just a standard treadmill…yayy options! 

It was truly so relaxing to stay at this destination for two nights and made coming back after a fun filled day of adventures and foodie times just all the more spectacular. I do hope you get a chance to visit our home away from home, Torrance which is just a town over from us. The staff, the amenities, the views, the food, all of it … I’m so grateful to have been able to relax for a few days before heading back to reality of the grind and hustle. 

This was just before the holidays and could not have come at a more necessary time. Please scroll back through and enjoy the images, I hope you loved my dancing walk through of our suite, and come back on Monday for my complete guide to Torrance <3

Staycations… you ever been on one? What is a destination close to home that you’ve been dreaming of visiting? I hope Los Angeles is on your list and I hope you check out Torrance and where I stayed while you’re here! 

I’m including links for you here because that’s love haha xx 
https://discovertorrance.com/stay/
https://discovertorrance.com/hotels/best-western-avita-suites/

 

 

 

Self Care Sunday- My favorite skincare masks

by with No Comment beautyreviewsself care sundayskin carewellness

Happy Sunday Funday! I love a lil Self Care Sunday so I want to share with you my favorite skincare masks <3 You can give yourself some lovin’ today or any day and these masks are luxurious and will give you a dose of that skincare self care xx

 

Glam Glow Supermud Clearing treatment – clarifying, clears pores, brightens skin. I use it once a week

Pixi glow mud mask – brightening and plumping, comparable to the Glam Glow but for half the price

Peter Thomas Roth cucumber gel masque – soothes sensitive, irritated skin. perfect for after a beach day

Osea white algae mask – hydration. Ultra moisturizing, super luxurious, I use this at least 3 times a week! (my favorite)

Ren glycol lactic radiance renewal mask – helps improve skin tone, texture, firmness and reduces the appearance of pores and pigmentation. Doesn’t irritate my skin and I swap this out once a week with the Glam Glow

O Cosmétiques purifying creme – gently exfoliates with 10% glycolic to rejuvenate your skin for a softer, more youthful look. I love using this twice a week as a moisturizer since it’s a multi-tasking super product! With all glycolic products, you want to ease into regular use and patch test. This one is ultra gentle and doesn’t irritate my skin

Patchology eye gels – plumps and soothes delicate eye area. I keep these babies in the fridge and use them at least 4 times a week ha!

Origins Hello, Calm Cannabis mask– hydrating, soothing, calming. When my skin is being a real asshole, I use this mask to calm it all down. Great for my hormonal breakouts and when I’ve exfoliated toooo much 😀

 

Have you been doing these Self Care Sundays with me? Self care every day baby but especially when you can take some time to mask…these are my favorite <3

 

 

 

Get UNREADY With Me – My Nighttime Skincare Routine

by with One Comment beautymakeupreviewsskin caretutorialvideo

I am so fascinated by these ‘Get Unready With Me’ videos! I like to know what people are using on their skin, what are they putting in their hair, and what are they spritzing on their pillows! Lavender… that’s what!

Here is my current nighttime skincare routine, lets get ‘unready’ together <3

O Cosmétiques Gentle Cleansing Milk

Pixi Glow Tonic To-Go

OSEA Sea Vitamin Boost Elixir

Kate Somerville Retinol Vita C Power Serum

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer

Laneige Lip Mask

Bare Minerals Ageless Genius Firming & Wrinkle Smoothing Neck Cream

 

Do you use a neck cream? Who even knows how to pronounce decolletage??? Ten points if you also sleep like a Geisha and don’t move at all ya lil sardine. 

 

 

 

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! – MY CAMERA SET UP

by with No Comment lifestylereviewstechnologytravel

I like to do things nice and easy *said in the voice of Tina Turner* So when it comes to recording videos for my channel or taking photos for my blog, I TRY to stick to one piece of equipment because, convenience. However, in true form- I also really love having options! So this past year it’s really been dependent upon the type of content I’m creating and the type of weather conditions … can we say wahoo for an adventure series?! My ONE piece of camera equipment has turned into TOP THREE. I thought today I’d share with you my recent camera set up wheeee!

First up is my handy dandy vlogging camera. If you watch my video blogs and wonder how I get so much of the background in one shot, it’s this lil guy! I’m no camera expert but I know what works for me and what I do, and these are my tried and tested suggestions. If you’re just starting out, this is for you!

Price: $ Features: Auto focus, auto lighting, auto sound, auto is my new favorite word. Optional modes; low light, indoor, outdoor, sports. Perks: This is a great starter camera and for its capabilities it’s on the lower end in terms of price points. It also takes stills, so you can do video and picture, it has an adjustable touch screen, fits in the palm of your hand, and it’s tripod compatible. I know, you’re in love I am too!
My sketch comedy and more produced videos are shot on our Sony RX100 which is our most recent purchase. I was a little intimidated when we got it tbh! I got spoiled with my Vixia which does auto-everything for me. Having to learn how to adjust exposure and focus settings was like learning a foreign language. It was worth it though, image freedom to capture beautiful landscapes and keep its quality is everything! Price: $$ Perks: This camera is a beast. It can record in slow motion and 4 k- so you can crop and zoom in on your images and it’s still ultra crisp! It’s also pocket sized so you aren’t lugging around this huge contraption! You can see some of that in action with videos we’ve done here!

Bustin’ out the big guns here, we have our GH4! When I saw we, I mean Joe! There really isn’t comparing the GH4 to the other cameras we have, it’s in its own realm. The videos we’ve done with this camera are more cinematic looking, and in reference to quality, Joe shot some of his film with it. I really like how it feels like a heavy duty camera (I mean, it is) but it’s also user friendly for someone less experienced with DSLRs like yours truly. A lot of my travel series for the Parks was completed using this camera, and I can actually switch out the lenses and feel like I know what I’m doing! Full disclosure, Joe is sitting behind me making sure I give you all the right information on these because he’s the expert! I just bat my lashes and say, “can you light me, and is the sound on, oh oh and how’s the memory on the card?!” 

On the day to day I lean more towards the Vixia and the Sony because they require less set up and I can whip them out in moments of quick capture! Now on to lighting! This is HUGE! My set up at home requires day light and a window! But since I’ve been doing more beauty and lifestyle videos I decided I needed to up my game so that my up close shots were bright and clear.


1) My ring light is perfect for this, it’s bright and gives off a fluorescent glow, yes magic! The light is concentrated on my face giving it a halo effect and you’ll notice that most beauty videos on YouTube feature a ring light of sorts. This one is great because it’s adjustable so you can be sitting on your bed or vanity, or stand up and film. It also has a dimmer on it so you can go all in on the brightness or lessen the intensity. If you’re looking for a more fancier approach, here’s another option and it features a smartphone mount. P.S. Tripod not included so you’ll want to pick one up and this one is inexpensive and gets the job done.
2) Flo lights are a wonderful addition to your lighting kit, I use 1-2 depending on the lighting in the room. There is usually one sitting off to the side that acts as a hair highlight and backlight. You kind of want to create a triangle of lights around you so that there are minimal shadows cast and you’re nice and bright. I lean more towards daylight lighting vs tungsten, because I like to mimic the natural light coming through my home. Again, if you’re feeling fancy, here is another option for you!
3) My travel gear is different from my home gear because at home I have endless storage space. When we’re on location and we’re traveling around I try to pack as light as possible. This small light is ideal for travel because it’s about the size of your palm and fits snug around your phone or laptop. It radiates a hefty glow for its compact size and is reasonable in price. My monkey tripod peaks perfection in moments that I need an extra hand or am forced to wrap it around a vacuum handle to imitate a tall tripod! And it works!


I’ve really enjoyed learning about equipment and how to use each to better my business and I hope this helps you set up for your next session! There are so many options out there that it can be a bit daunting, I’m lucky to have Joe steer me in the right direction so take it from me, these are definitely investments.

Have you worked with any of this equipment and what is your most coveted? Any options out there that I should try? I love trying new things and reporting back my experiences so share your suggestions with me.

<3

 

MY MORNING SKIN CARE ROUTINE!

by with No Comment beautyget the lookreviewsskin care

Throughout every season change, every temperature rise and fall, there are some staple products that will always remain. I’ll swap out a few products depending on my skin’s dryness level and if it’s prone to breakouts during that time but usually – this is the deal.

Listing out step by step, product by product, my current morning skincare routine. PS don’t be intimidated, it only takes a few minutes PLUS there’s two things here that aren’t technically ‘skincare’ products but I can’t. live. without. them.


1. Cleanse! so so so important. Cleansed skin, closed pores, and ready for your skincare and makeup routines. Milled finely enough I can use it daily, it’s ultra gentle and I alternate between this product and that Tatcha

2. Exfoliate! This is a big one! The most important one if you ask me. No matter your skin type, exfoliating will help to slough off the dead surface skin, promote collagen production, and remove dirt and impurities. You want all those good oils to be produced, even for already oily skin so DON’T skip this step. I can feel this Tatcha enzyme powder working immediately and am currently obsessed with this particular physical form of exfoliation

3. Tone and Hydrate! the Hydrating Essence Toner by Algenist is my FAVORITE and then I personally alternate between A) Vitamin C, which is incredible for your skin; it neutralizes free radicals, prompts collagen production, it’s light, and it absorbs quickly! And B) Hyaluronic Acid serum- which is already a naturally occurring compound found in our skin and it will take your face to a whole other ‘dew level’ babes!

4. Protect! I like to use this Purlisse cream to seal the deal and my Coola SPF or Fre SPF (depending on my type of day), which doesn’t feel to heavy on my skin. This may be too thick for your skin type but the Coola and Fre on their own are pretty light and they’re non irritating. ***remember that the UV radiation from the sun is the #1 contributing factor to aging and skincare problems so protect your skin and your eyes

5. It’s all about the eyes! Speaking of your eyes, my second biggest tip is to NEVER EVER rub or pull on your eye area. Pat gently with your ring fingers, in towards your nose. Pat pat pat! The skin around our eyes is the thinnest of our entire face, hence we age there the quickest! I personally like to just use my moisturizer around my eye area but if you’re going to use a specific eye cream, this is a natural one with light reflecting elements, it’s creamy and ultra rich

6. Don’t forget your décolletage! Just like with your makeup, bring your skincare products down your neck and onto your décolletage…that fancy word for cleavage. I absolutely love this advanced neck cream from Tula, it’s rich without being greasy, and it glides on and stays put. My other go-to neck cream is from Bare Minerals, it’s just so good- I’m on my 2nd tub

7. Beauty from the inside out! You’ve heard me talk about collagen like I talk about chocolate. I love it! I love these marine collagen sachets from Proplenish! I add it to a cup of warm water and lemon in the morning and if I add collagen to my coffee Vital Proteins IS THE WAY TO GO. I love the unflavored one, but the Matcha with some coconut milk …. O M G <3

8. My most favorite part y’all, the invisible accessory! If you know me than you know I’m all about scents….like to an obsession. I mean, the measures I take to tote around about 5 different perfumes with me AT ALL TIMES, yikes. PS I must really love you to share one of my signature scents with you. My other go-to is Le Labo’s Santal 33 or Another 13. They’re so expensive though that my daily is this yummy Givenchy

9. and 10. aren’t pictured, but exfoliating and hydrating my lips is something I do at least twice a week. And then I apply this nice thick and creamy lip balm by Laneige which feels luxurious af

And there you have it! My morning skincare routine … and some essentials in my morning that aren’t necessarily ‘skincare’ products but they ARE ‘can’t live withouts’.

Does this sound pretty standard to your morning skincare routine? Does it sound like too many steps? What’s the ONE thing you must do before you rush out the door? Please say SPF 😉 

 

 

 

 

Holy Grail Skincare

by with No Comment beautyget the lookreviewsskin care

We’ve all been there…flopping into bed so tired and too lazy to take off our makeup…that’s bad, so so bad HAHA

I decided to have you hold me accountable for good habits by walking you through my ‘lazy lady nighttime makeup routine’ using my holy grail skincare products. I say ‘holy grail’ because these are the products I continue to reach for again and again, tried and true.

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser • I love this cleanser! It allows me to not have to use my Clarasonic religiously because you know what, I get lazy and honestly the battery on that thing dies a lot and I forget to charge it so. But this is an enzymatic cleanser, it smells like strawberries, and it’s full of antioxidants. Those are the things that fight those free radical things that try to stick to your skin and damage it when you’re out living your best life. BONUS: this cleanser doubles as an exfoliating mask which will help smooth your skin texture and minimize large pores. Thank you for just getting it Indie Lee <3

Pixi Glow Tonic • On nights that I’m feeling lazy to head over to the sink to properly wash my face, I reach for this glow tonic which exfoliates and purifies your skin. Perfect for when it’s that time of the month for me and my skin is being especially problematic. It has glycolic acid and ginseng which improves circulation, and aloe vera which soothes. Love love this toner!

Thayer’s Natural Toner • After I cleanse my skin with the Indie Lee (or if I’m feeling super lazy and don’t want to walk over to my vanity for the Pixi) I’ll saturate a cotton round with this toner (which smells so good btw, lavender!) and gently go around my face with it until the cotton round comes up clean. It usually takes me 3-4 passes depending on how much makeup I wore that day. TIP: this toner comes in a travel size so I keep it in my gym bag and after a nice sweat sesh I wipe my face down quickly to keep breakouts at bay!

Shiseido Benefiance Eye Cream • Eye cream eye cream eye cream! I can’t stress enough how important an eye care routine is. The skin around our eyes is the thinnest of all our face, hence we show signs of aging there the quickest. So hydrate….and try to sleep like a geisha haha. And sleep on a silk pillow like this one! What I like about this eye cream is that it’s nice and hydrating which is why it’s my nighttime eye cream. I try to apply it at least 30 minutes before bed so I’m not just sleeping it off. My go-to daytime eye cream is from Kiehl’s as you can also apply it to your eye lids and it’s not heavy, perfect for wearing under makeup. This Benefiance has

Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate • Love love love this serum which I purchased for flight preparation when we went to Tennessee for Thanksgiving. What does that mean? Your skincare truly matters before a flight, not during. This serum plumps dry, dull skin… haaallllo long flight sucking the life out of my face….not today! It intensively hydrates the skin to combat dryness and rough texture. Layer this on top of your serum and under your moisturizer. Top with a face oil.

Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate • And here’s that face oil! I’ve been talking about this face oil a lot. A little goes a long way and if you’re going to splurge on one item, I suggest this one. It’s so nourishing and luxurious, infused with botanical oils and all that antioxidant protection from those free radicals again. It doesn’t irritate my skin, it’s a beautiful primer under makeup for that dewy glow, and it calms my skin after I scrub the hell out of it with an exfoliant. I drop 3-4 drops onto my finger tips, warm it up, and then pat it into my skin. I also like to whisper to my skin while I’m doing that, “stay in youthfulness mkay love you”. Try it, it works.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream • I keep this lil baby in the refrigerator, it’s a water cream that delivers all the needed moisture with two forms of hyaluronic acid and tamarind extract. Perfect for hyper-pigmentation and fun fact: “Tidal increases hydration by up to 68 percent in as little as 15 minutes for up to 24 hours of continuous moisture.” Say wuuuuut! <3

Rose Quartz Facial Roller • All the rage today has been facial rollers. Ice rollers, derma rollers, and crystal rollers. Haiii I’m one of the skincare addicts that bought em all just to share with you which ones actually worked for me and which ones are worth the spend. I love the crystal rollers (I linked you to a mini one here for all my travel babes so you don’t have to purchase two) because they’re not crazy expensive and they do the job. They’re naturally cooling because of the stone stone roller which will also depuff facial tissue and tighten your skin. This feels so so good under your eyes after a long day and just feels luxurious on your face.

Micro-Roller • Derma rolling, micro needling at home, love it, gotta have it, addicted to it. Derma-rolling may sound intimidating, it’s taking a beauty tool with tiny little needles all over it and rolling it over your entire face. Okay I get why that’d be intimating. But I promise it’s not as scary (or as painful) as it sounds. Doing this to your skin created these micro-injuries on your skin’s surface which stimulates collagen and elastin production for plumper, glowy, more radiant skin. Not to mention it also allows for your skincare products to penetrate deeper into your skin’s layers. I did a lil video about how I derma-roll here for you. Do some research on it, see what you think, and please don’t go buying a derma-roller that has huge needles… no blood should be drawn…..now that sounds intimidating. PS I derma-roll 2-3 times per week but that’s my preference

Nurse Jamie Uplift Massaging Beauty Roller • A bit more on the price point but so worth it in my opinion. I keep this pretty by my bed, it’s the last thing I do before going to sleep after applying all my skincare products. It helps maintain healthy blood circulation, stimulates collagen, tightens pores, and promotes lymphatic drainage… have you seen the videos on this….I binge watched a ton of them before impulsively purchasing this roller. Really happy it worked out.

And there they are! I love sharing with you the things I do in real life and the things that actually work. High end or drugstore brand, if it works, it works. If you purchase any of these please let me know how you like them. Do you already have some of these in your beauty arsenal?

 

Let me know if there’s something that you do and love that I should try too <3 Have a beautiful rest of your week! 

 

 

 

 

the can't live without's

My Makeup Essentials

by with No Comment beautyreviews

Just a few of my favorite things! I have two makeup bags, anyone else? And the smaller of the two gets toted around with me everywhere, tossed into whatever bag I’m using for the day. Here’s the bare essentials, things I MUST have at all times, ya know, just in case!


Since there are so many brands and ‘favorites’ that I love, and in the interest of not calling everything I own my favorite-because they are, I’ll just share my HAVE TO HAVE ITs:

  • Chanel Vitalumiere in 40- Beige: my all time favorite foundation, it’s light, dewy, has buildable coverage, and is natural looking. There is also an Aqua option for lighter coverage