Sucker for Lace

One of the many style challenges I came head to head with myself was, “how do I re-wear my bridesmaid dress?”

Because of the fabric and cut, the dresses ended up hanging in the back of my closet, never seeing the light of day. Another option, that has never been utilized, was tailoring it into a brand new piece. When it came time to partner with Gather and Gown I really wanted to put my casual spin on their lace dress.

I was, and still am, big into wearing sneakers with dresses. The vintage vest and black sunnies helped pull the look together with an edgy vibe. I was very into this look and still have the dress for more casual opportunities!

Let me know in the comments if you would re-wear your bridesmaid dress.

Photos by Mark Kim.

Dress: Gather and Gown (love this alternative!) Vest: Rag and Bone (similar here) Sunglasses: Old (love this option!) Shoes: Vans Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury in Red Carpet Red

The Essentials: September 2022

So... It’s a lot harder to maintain a lifestyle blog with an infant (who is now a toddler 😭). However, I’ve never forgotten about this little corner of the internet I’ve carved out for myself. It’s always in the back of my mind along with content ideas, products and places to share, and outfits too good to live within my memory.

In fact, there’s a basket at my desk that collects all of my empties. Just need the energy to spill the tea. I still don’t have a ton of energy tonight, but traces of my former life are starting to creep in and that’s a really nice feeling. I even posted to my Instagram this week. The post didn’t get many likes but the fact that I did it deserves a pat on the back. And sometimes I get to wash my hair TWICE in a week. Baby steps; but your girl is coming back.

Now onto the good stuff:

HAIR: After falling in love with Bread’s Hair Mask, I took a chance on their hair oil with the assumption it would be just as great. I wasn’t wrong, friends! Lately, I’ve been using the hair oil as the last step in my wash day routine (and to tame flyaways) but I may try the recommended suggestion of applying it on sopping, wet hair and as an intensive scalp + hair mask. The scent is very sweet (reminds me of sweet tarts) so if heavily fragranced products aren’t your thing you may not appreciate this guy.

FACE / SKINCARE: Sometimes your skin needs an extra-gentle cleanser that can still wash away makeup and sunscreen. Farmacy’s Clean Bee checks off all the boxes for me - skin never felt tight or musty (ha). The soft scent of honey was a nice touch.

My skin has been on the dehydrated side lately (I’ve been really bad about drinking water) so I’ve been reaching for Juice Beauty Prebiotix Instant Flash Facial to add a boost of hydration and a subtle summer glow. It’s a 3-in-1 product (cleanser, exfoliator, and mask) that makes packing for long weekends easier. I thoroughly enjoyed using the mask and will be rebuying it again!

For sunscreens, I’ve alternated between SkinMedica’s Essential Defense (mineral sunscreen) and Supergoop!’s Glow Screen (chemical sunscreen). If I plan on being active, outdoors, or after a skincare treatment I’ll reach for SkinMedica’s sunscreen. And on the days I want a nice glowy base for under my makeup (or in general) then I go with Supergoop!’s sunscreen.

FACE / MAKEUP: My day-to-day makeup no longer contains layers of contouring, color correcting, or falsies. It’s been pared down to what some may call the no-makeup makeup look: light coverage and a dewy, bronzy look. To hide the lack of sleep on my face, Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat does wonders and highlights the skin without a shimmering effect. And the one-click application is a godsend for those days you have a literal 10 minutes or less.

Another product that gets an A+ for application is Glossier’s Solar Paint. It’s buildable, melts into the skin, and has a nice finish. Sometimes I use it as a contour and other days more as a bronzer.

Honorable mention goes to It Cosmetic’s Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Lip Balm Treatment - it leaves lips fully hydrated and with a nice flushed color, however, I wish they would reconsider the price as it’s a bit steep for lip balm.

BODY: I finally got to test out Blume’s Hug Me natural deodorant and friends - it deserves more hype! I ended up purchasing 3 more during a sale to stock up. It rolls on like a deodorant (I love an easy application), and kept my underarms dry and stink-free. There were days that were more active than others which called for reapplication but overall I am so happy I decided to try this out.

A few other heroes you need to know about: Kopari’s Coconut Melt and La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Mains. The Coconut Melt is very rich and great for days when your body is craving extra moisture. I like to use it after spending a day at the beach or pool. The same goes for the hand cream. I actually use this year round and have one stashed on my person at all times.

SHOP MY ESSENTIALS:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve

The Essentials: August 2021

Lots happened! On February 14, I had a healthy baby boy and experienced that “mom love”. I’ll dive deeper into this whole new chapter later on month.

Normally, I would have had lots of products to rave about but honestly, I’ll be lucky if I could squeeze in a wash day. It’s all a balancing act really.

But last night, while the babe was asleep, I had the chance to dive into my beauty closet, empties and reassess my skin routine. Here’s what I can share with y’all:

HAIR: Wash days are nearly non-existent so when I do have have a solid 45 minutes I jump right into the shower and give my strands a deep treatment. Along with post-partum hair loss, nursing has made my curls really, really dry. It’s not as tragic as it sounds but a deeply hydrating hair mask, and a lot of slip for those tangles, makes a world of difference. I’ve been alternating between Eva NYC’s Therapy Session and Bread’s Hair Mask. Both come from different price points and both are highly recommended.

And because wash days are few and far between it’s so important to treat my scalp too. I absolutely LOVE TPH’s Master Cleanse - the design of the applicator, the formula, the tingling sensation. All of it is so good. This has been my fourth bottle purchased and I honestly hope it never gets discontinued.

Eva NYC’s Gotta Bounce Cream has made its way over to my desk and it’s a solid product. Curls were defined and didn’t weigh down my strands. I do wish they made the bottle bigger - my curls drank it right up!

FACE / SKINCARE: Clean beauty is where it’s at! Maybe I’m bias since I’m nursing but here are some heavy-hitters:

Indie Lee has so many great products from masks to facial oils. Currently, I’m loving their Brightening Cleanser. It has good-for-you ingredients leaving skin gently cleansed, hydrated and bright.

Pai is a cult-beauty favorite. Their Rosehip BioRegenerate Face Oil. This oil feels so luxurious and has so many nutrients which deeply condition the skin. But, that’s not why I included this into my routine! This treatment helps clear and even skin tone. This is a re-buy for me.

I’m not 100% positive if Image Skincare falls under the clean beauty umbrella, but they do have amazing spa professional products. Heyday Skincare uses a few of their items at their spas and that’s exactly how I found out about Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Masque. The mask gently exfoliates buildup, fades dark spots, and keeps skin hydrated and balanced. There’s something about the slightly sweet scent that brings me comfort too,

Honorable mention goes to Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Tinte. You either love it or hate it and I’m definitely a lover. However, I wouldn’t recommend wearing makeup over it as it could cause pilling. (This best for those fresh-faced looks!)

FACE / MAKEUP: Let’s be honest. When you’re thrown off the deep end and fully immersed in the newborn stage - makeup seems frivolous. Now that I’ve survived the newborn stage and entered the infant phase, mascara is do-able. One that’s been on my list is Glossier’s Lash Slick - some love it, some hate it, so I had to try it. And honestly, I like it for those days that I want to emphasize my eyes but don’t want that caked-on feeling. Not a lot of volume but does give my lashes length and color.

BODY: Bear with me, I bought a lot of Glossier during Black Friday and am finally using it all. I snagged a lot of new items, like their Body Hero Exfoliating Bar, to see if they were worth the hype. And friends, the bar is definitely worth the hype!! The scent is intoxicating, the bamboo powder is the right amount of exfoliant, and skin never feels dry after use.

Like I mentioned, nursing has made my curls dry but it’s also made my skin super dry. Womp womp. Two moisturizers I discovered and loved - Flamingo’s Light Hydrating Spray and Herb Essntls Cannabis Infused Body Lotion. Flamingo’s spray is seriously so good for the summer season. It applies evenly and feels refreshing. Skin is moisturized all day long. Herb Essntls lotion is a bit thicker and luxurious. The formula, which consists of omega3-omega6 and Cannabis Sativa seed oil, perfectly mirrors the natural proportions in your skin.

I’m still using natural deodorants and testing out new brands. Drunk Elephant launched their own Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream and tbh, I thought it would be terrible. BUT, it’s actually quite nice. The formula doesn’t leave any stains on clothing, the scent is light, and does a great job at keeping sweat minimal.

SHOP MY ESSENTIALS:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen