My 5 Favorite Skin Care Items

Hello! How are you liking the new theme on the blog? I'm kind of in love. There are a few more changes coming but they should be seamless to you guys. I bought a domain (yeah!), I'm setting up hosting and I'm switching blogging platforms from Blogger to Wordpress. Wordpress is a more robust tool and more professional too. I hope it all goes smoothly - this is all a little intimidating (even for a tech-douche like me). Everything should be switched over by next week.

Now, back to the fun stuff. Today I'm sharing my 5 favorite skin care items. Picking 5 was hard because I've become kind of a product junkie lately. I blame Instagram. I'm obsessed with watching tutorials and learning about new products on there. O B S E S S E D. When I'm at my sink and survey all of the products I have, I tell myself "That's it! No more new stuff until I use some of this stuff up." Then I start to rationalize and it goes something like this:

Me: But I neeeeeed this cream for no makeup days and this other one for under makeup.
Other Me: How many creams do you need woman?

Me: And I neeeeeed this foundation for when I am not wearing sunscreen because this other foundation has sunscreen in it. Duh.
Other Me: And what about the mineral foundation you neglected to mention?

Me: I'm totally going to use up all this stuff!
Other Me: Before it expires?

Me: When I use some of this product up my vanity will be neat and tidy again.
Other Me: Eye roll.

OK, here we go. My 5 favorite skin care items (as of right now).

AM Routine: Let me start by saying that I have really sensitive skin. If I wash it with something too harsh my cheeks get all red, itchy and flaky. Not sexy. CeraVe Foaming Face Wash is the only thing that gets my face clean without setting it off. After I cleanse, I use the Mario Badescu Facial Spray. To be honest, I am not sure if this has any real benefit but I love the smell, it feels great and it must at least hydrate my skin right? Riiiight? OK, then I slather on the Fresh Rose Hydration Face Serum. This stuff feels really good on your skin and you're all dewy and glowy afterward. Then, if I feel I need it, I use the PM CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion. My Dermatologist told me that the PM formula is milder than the AM formula.

PM Routine: I wash again with CeraVe using my nifty $3 face scrubber and follow it up with the IS Clinical Active Serum. This serum helps skin cells regenerate and keeps my flaky skin in check.

Notables: There are two other things I use religiously that aren't pictured. The first is Elta MD SPF 40 Moisturizing Tinted Sunscreen. I use this every single day. Sun damage is no joke and do not plan on looking like an old shoe when I'm older. I've been so tempted to give Glossier's Invisible Shield a try but I love Elta MD so much that not even Glossier can tempt me away!

The other skin care product I love is Fresh Sugar Face Polish. I only use it a couple of times a week to exfoliate my face and man, my skin feels awesome afterward. The Fresh salesperson told me that I should leave it on as a mask while I finish the rest of my shower business to really reap the benefits of the product. Fresh is a little pricey but totally worth it in my book!

So those are the 5 7 skin care items in my current rotation. What products are you using? I mean, I know I said I need to pair down on products but a girl's gotta stay in the know right?

Changes...

I've got some exciting changes in the works. First of all, I am going to dial back the number of times I post so I focus on putting quality content out there that doesn't overwhelm. Next, I'm redesigning the blog so it looks more professional and it's easier to navigate. I'm really excited about both changes and I hope you'll like them too.

So stay tuned for a new look on the blog, a peek of the print I just acquired for the family room, some new flat lays and some other goodies!

Aritzia | Minimalist Dressing

Today I'm going to tell you about my favorite minimalist clothing retailer, Aritzia. Let's start off by hearing how to say Aritzia so you can pronounce it like a pro when you help others discover it. They have boutiques in the U.S. and Canada as well a beautiful website.

I'm lucky enough to work directly across the street from the San Francisco store and I go there often. I haven't visited any other locations, but the store in S.F. is exactly what you'd expect after checking out their website. Everything is opulent yet somehow understated.

They have many brands under the Aritzia name. Some are sophisticated and pricey like Babaton, and others are more casual and affordable like TNA. I like a brand called Wilfred Free which is smack in the middle. I shop this brand the most because they use fabrics with a lot of stretch (read: really comfy) without compromising on style.

Today I received two pieces I bought during a crazy sale. I'm going to show you how gorgeous the packaging is, how stylish the items are and how I plan on wearing my new pretties.

Check out this packaging. Each piece was individually wrapped with this stunning paper and bagged within the box. I just love pretty packaging - it makes the whole experience.

This is the Wilfred Normandie Jacket. It's got some stretch to it, has a super nice drape and it's made of a crepe-like material. They also have something that gets me every time, POCKETS! They are so subtle and yet so necessary.

This is the Wilfred Free Azeveda Skirt. Just like the jacket, it's got some stretch to it. It's mid-weight and structured which is just right for a pencil skirt in my book. Both of these pieces can be worn so many different ways and versatile is the name of the game if you're trying to pair down your wardrobe. Here are a few looks I put together with these two items. Let me know what you think in the comments.