Current Favorites | Spring 2017

I haven't been on the favorites bandwagon as of late. I stopped doing monthly favorites because I felt like every time the end of the month rolled around I was scrambling to figure out what new things I had been using during the past month and I felt like mentioning the same products that had actually been my favorites had gotten a bit repetitive. I've decided to do my favorites whenever I feel like I have enough new things to share with you all and instead of it just being beauty-related, I'm going to branch out and include other things that I've been loving that are more lifestyle related. 

A Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion ~ In my quest to read for pleasure more often this year, I bought a load of books at the beginning of the year. One of which was The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, who is easily my favorite writer of all time. I personally like non-fiction more than fiction because its easier for me to read and stay engaged. Although this book is pretty sad (it's about the death of Didion's husband), its beautifully written and really interesting insight into her home life with her daughter and her husband.

Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk ~ It's no secret that I am a Glossier fangirl (read: freak). Since the majority of my makeup/skincare routine mainly consists of Glossier products it took a lot for me to only pick one product that has been a serious favorite from the past couple months. I wrote a whole review on the Glossier Cloud Paints about a month ago and since then they have basically become the only blush that I wear on an everyday basis. Dusk has been a real standout for me because it looks gorgeous on its own or mixed with the other colors (especially Puff and Haze), but it also can be used as a really subtle contour/bronzer shade for fair skin or even a very subtle eyeshadow. 

PF Candle Co. Black Fig Candle ~ I have a candle on the go pretty much all year round and while I am always drawn to very woody, masculine, and spicy scents sometimes they feel a bit too much for the warmer months. PF Candle Co (which is my go-to candle maker) recently released a Black Fig candle, which is incredible. It has a very woodsy base but because it is a fig scent, it has some lighter, fruity notes that help to balance this candle out to make it more appropriate for Spring and Summer. 

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Platinum ~ My approach to makeup recently has been incredibly minimal, as in most days I barely wear anything on my skin, a bit of blush, some Glossier boy brow through my brows, and then mascara. When I do wear eyeshadow though I always go for a single eyeshadow, and that almost always comes in the form of a cream eyeshadow because they are so easy to apply and require no brushes. The Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes are one of my favorite cream eyeshadow formulas because they are super lightweight and have an almost mousse-like texture and because of the shimmer and the texture of the shadow, they almost look glossy on the lids. I love the shade Platinum, which is a neutral-toned taupe that can be worn either during the day or for a night out. 

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 ~ I've been getting back into photography, especially analog photography, a lot more lately. I've had the Fujifilm Instax camera for about a year and a half and while it isn't the best quality polaroid camera on the market, it's a great option if you want to take polaroids for fun. Since I've been taking a lot of weekend trips with friends during the past couple months, I've been taking this camera along with me and it's been really nice to take pictures with friends and have a tangible photo immediately. 

Five Instagram Accounts I've Been Loving Lately

It's no secret that I loveInstagram, it's easily my favorite social media platform and I admit that I spend way too much scrolling through my feed than I probably should. While I do like following my friends and people that I know in real life, following content creators on Instagram serves as a massive source of inspiration for me both in terms of lifestyle and fashion (something that I spoke a lot about here). As a result, I follow a lot of accounts on Instagram, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites as of late.

Double3xposure ~ Reese is a 21 year-old Atlanta-based blogger who runs one of my favorite fashion-based Instagram accounts. Her style is very much in-line with my own and I love how she plays with silhouettes. Reese incorporates a lot of vintage clothes in her outfits which I absolutely love. While she does have impeccable style, she is also incredibly approachable and seems so nice. Also definitely check out her Instagram stories because her dogs almost always make an appearance and they are so damn cute!

Shot From The Street  ~ I talked about Lizzy in the post where I shared how I found my personal style. Between her blog, her instagram, and her YouTube channel, Lizzy creates some of my favorite fashion content by far. I especially love how Lizzy mixes a lot of affordable and high-end pieces because I feel like its all too often that fashion bloggers stick strictly to high end items. Lizzy's minimalist looks are definitely things that I try to emulate on a day-to-day basis but I also think its really nice to see her get a lot more experimental recently with both color and silhouettes.

The Southern Yogi ~ I've been following Morgan for about a year and a half and while I don't quite believe in #fitspo, her account really motivates me to get my bum in gear and continue to do yoga. She seriously is one of the strongest, bendiest yogis I have come across. She also has the cutest animals, Kovu and Kali. I really love watching the videos she posts to inspire some of my own yoga sequences that I do from home (although I have yet to be able to hold a handstand like she can).  

Sisilia Piring ~ I discovered Sisilia Piring through Christine's YouTube channel. She is a photographer based out of LA and mainly uses 35mm film for her photography. I'm a huge fan of film photography, which is something I'm going to explore more on this blog, and it is really refreshing to see someone on Instagram who has film content. Sisilia does a lot of fashion-related shoots in really interesting areas in and around L.A.

Bonnie Tsang ~ Last but certainly not least is Bonnie Tsang. Bonnie works as a freelance content creator and artistic director for a whole host of very well-known and cool brands. Her Instagram account is also quite possibly one of the most aesthetically pleasing things you will ever lay eyes on. Bonnie posts a lot of food content that basically makes me want to go LA for weeks and stop at every place she goes to. If you want some incredibly minimalist and satisfying photography to look at I highly recommend Bonnie's instagram.

My Current Skincare Rotation

I always treat my skincare routine as a wardrobe kind of situation. My skin is never exactly the same day-to-day, and while it is generally well-behaved as of late, it never hurts to chop and change which products I use in order to fit my skin's needs from day-to-day. I have combination skin, and tend to break out around my chin, but often have a few dry patches around my cheeks fyi. 

Step 1: Cleanse ~ If there's one step in my skincare routine that I never forget to do, its cleansing. I never leave my makeup on at night and I also always cleanse my face in the morning. For a morning cleanse I usually go for the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, which is perfect for the morning because the texture is lightweight and refreshing but never feels stripping. I also will sometimes use the Glossier cleanser at night if I'm wearing little to no makeup on my face or had a day indoors and decided not to wear SPF. On a more regular basis though, at night I remove my makeup with the blue capped Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, which is geared towards waterproof makeup because I wear waterproof mascara. This micellar water does a great job at removing all my makeup but I will go in with the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm afterwards in order to really cleanse my skin. 

Step 2: "Treatment" ~ Ok so this isn't entirely one step but I wanted to lump all of this stuff together so I didn't have a million steps. Most days I will use an acid toner, my favorite being the Pixi Glow Tonic, right after I cleanse my skin in the morning. Using an acid toner really helps the tone and texture of my skin. Depending on how my skin is, I will sometimes opt to use one of the Glossier Super Serums. I have been loving Super Pure because it has really helped with some congestion that I've been experiencing around my T-Zone. I will go in with Super Bounce when my skin is feeling a bit dry and dehydrated, as it really does help with those two things without leaving my skin feeling overloaded with product or oily. I have used Super Glow for dullness, but haven't used it enough to give it a full recommendation but it does feel nice on the skin albeit a bit watery. At night, after I cleanse I use the Effaclar Duo on any spots or residual scars from past spots that I have. I have been using this product for years and don't see myself straying to another spot treatment any time soon.

Step 3: Moisturize ~ The moisturizer step is the step where I change up the products the most. For the morning I will use moisturizer right after applying a serum, or right after the Glow Tonic if I opt not to use a serum. If my skin is on the dryer side or if it's really cold outside I will use the Glossier Priming Moisturizer Rich, which I love even though I have slightly oily skin because even though it is rich it really sinks into the skin and feels very moisturizing rather than greasy or heavy. During the warmer months though I will use the original Glossier Priming Moisturizer because it is very lightweight and works really well under makeup (as the name would suggest). At night I really go the whole hog with moisturizer. I always use the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatmentas my eye cream because it is super moisturizing and super thick so it is best used at night. Since I'm only 22 I don't need a targeted anti-aging eye cream and I love this one because it is so basic and so good at making my under eye area so soft. Most nights I will use the Origins Make A Difference Plus moisturizer because it is really rich and creamy but is very basic and, like the eye cream, doesn't do much else but moisturize. I love this cream for nighttime as well because it smells so calming. About twice a week (or more if my skin is really freaking out) I will use the Pai Rosehip Regenerate Oil either by itself or underneath the Origins moisturizer. This oil is amazing at soothing any kind of irritation my skin gets and is a real lifesaver during the winter months when my skin can get very dry almost to the point of eczema. I also find that because it is a rosehip oil it is really good for getting rid of any kind of pigmentation from leftover acne scars, with enough use over time.

P.S. I do use SPF pretty much every day but will go more into that in a later blog post :)

How To Make a Temporary Apartment a Home

Ever since moving away to college almost four years ago I have lived in different apartments. Freshman year I lived in on-campus apartments for first-years, sophomore year I lived in a townhouse off-campus with three other girls, and then junior year I moved into a studio apartment that I am still living in now. Being someone who's mood is very much affected by their surroundings (as discussed in last weeks post), I struggled a bit when I first moved away from home because I found it very difficult to create a space that felt like my own when I wasn't going to live there for very long.

Making an apartment, especially a college apartment, feel homey and like its your own is difficult because 1. chances are you won't be there for a very long period of time and investing in the place can feel like a waste and 2. because it is a rental it can be nearly impossible to make more permanent changes to suit your particular style. However, I've found that making an apartment feel more like a home is possible (even if you're on a budget like me), it just takes a bit of time and experimenting with less traditional decor options.

Focus on Bedding ~ I've found that if you're going to spend money on decorating and filling your apartment the best place to do it is on bedding. Considering the fact that you spend about a third of your time in bed, it should be a place where you feel the most comfortable and the most cozy. Especially since I live in a studio apartment, my bed is the biggest piece of furniture in my living space and I am constantly looking at it so I like it to look nice and cozy. I also like to throw blankets over my couch because its not a piece of furniture that I particularly love (my apartment was partially furnished when I moved in) and it does make the piece a lot more cozy and is more personalized to my taste. You don't have to spend a ton of money on bedding but I think a subtly printed duvet cover and nice sheets can make a world of a difference in the overall look of a small apartment.

Add Greenery ~ I talked about this in my last blog post, but I'm going to bring it up yet again, I think one of the nicest ways to spruce up an apartment is by adding greenery, whether it be in the form of houseplants or flowers. This is a relatively cheap way of adding some more color into a small living space, and for me at least, having greenery in my apartment instantly makes me feel better. As clichéd as it is I think succulents are always a good place to start because they look adorable and are relatively easy to take care of, and thats saying something for me because I have the least green thumb there is.

Decorate with Everyday Objects ~ Because my apartment is such a temporary living space I have not felt the need to buy decor for the sake of buying decor. Rather than buying loads of throw pillows and artwork for my walls, I like to decorate my apartment with more everyday objects. One of my favorite parts of my apartment is my little bookshelf, which I have organized all of my books by color. Not only does this part of my apartment serve a practical purpose, but because all of the books are color coordinated it acts as a kind of decor because it is so visually pleasing. I also like to scatter things like my cameras onto surfaces in my apartment because they are representative of my hobbies and I love how the look. In terms of filling up space on the wall, posters and prints are pretty much my go-to for "artwork". I have a glossier poster hanging up, which came with one of my orders (all glossier orders come with a different poster by the way) as well as a print that I randomly bought at Urban Outfitters a few years ago and a poster from a band that my friend got me for a birthday present. I think decorating with more everyday objects is not only a cost-effective way to decorate an apartment, but because they are such personal objects they really show your own hobbies and interests.

Lighting Is Everything ~ When I moved into the apartment that I live in now, the thing I hated about the space was the lighting. There is one overhead fan light in my apartment and not only is the fixture itself pretty awful-looking and outdated, but the light itself is just not pleasing at all and makes the whole apartment look a bit drab. One way I remedied this was getting a floor lamp from Ikea to add a bit of brightness, but also to act as a furniture-like fixture for the apartment. I also added fairy lights around my bed to create a kind of faux-headboard and the light that these string lights adds makes a load of a difference in terms of the way my apartment looks and feels. Lighting is a really cheap way to spruce up and make an apartment seem a lot more cozy and inviting.

The Three Things That Instantly Lift My Mood

Whenever I get stressed or get overwhelmed (which is more often than I'd perhaps like to admit) I really like to have my space be perfect. If my surroundings are organized an decluttered, then I instantly feel better and more relaxed. When I do get stressed or feel down I try to limit my screen time because I find that if I'm not feeling great, scrolling through Instagram and inevitably comparing what I'm feeling to the perfection that people are projecting out into the world is just not good for my state of mind. That's not to say I don't like Instagram or social media, believe me I do (just ask my boyfriend who constantly finds me scrolling through my Instagram feed), I just like to be engaged yet relaxed when I get overwhelmed and I've found that screen time can just put me on autopilot.

One thing I always like to have in my tiny apartment that always lifts my mood is flowers. I think I get this trait from my mom, who usually has about five vases of flowers in our house at any given time. Given that my apartment is so tiny and my window looks out to a parking lot, it's nice to have some greenery in my space and some colorful flowers always make me feel so much better and like I have my shit together. I also love to light candles whenever I feel stressed. I'm a big lover of Diptyque candles, but given that I'm a student I don't exactly have the funds to shill out $60 for a candle. Some of my favorite candles are from PF Candle Co., of which I am currently burning the Black Fig scent, which smells heavenly and like the perfect combination of fruity and woodsy scents. I also am a big fan of the Teakwood and Tobacco scent and the Amber and Moss scent, but I tend to burn those more in the colder months. The final thing that always makes me feel better is reading. I read so much for my college classes that I often forget to set aside time in the evening to read for pleasure, but this year I've set a challenge to read at least one book per month. Reading a book before bed makes me sleep so much better, and like I mentioned before its nice to get a break from screens when you're in a crappy mood. I am currently reading The Disappointment Artist by Jonathan Lathem, which is a collection of essays about the process of being a writer. I really like this book because it being a collection of essays means that it's really easy to dip in and out of.