Skin-ny Dipping

Last month, I focused on foundation for the monthly beauty review (non-drugstore items), and this month I am taking off the makeup, and getting to the root of it all.  Your skin. I am by no means an expert on skincare, but I can promise that if you invest in your skin and take the time to treat it, both your natural face and your made up face will look exponential better.

Here is what I will be reviewing this month:

• My daily moisturizer 
• My go-to treatment product
• My #1 self tanner

Before I start, none of the products below are inexpensive.  But, each of them will last you months, and you have my guarantee at least that they are quality products that truly work. I would though, before you buy, try them for yourselves. Go to Sephora and ask for samples (you can do this for the moisturizer and treatment gel), for the self tanner, they have sample packets that you can purchase at Sephora for a fraction of the cost.  Try before you buy (you will be happier).

Reviewing in order of how you should apply:

1. Peter Thomas Roth, Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel

I found this product by chatting with a Sephora rep about a few of my skincare concerns: acne scars, redness, blemish control. She encouraged me to try the Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel, and I am so glad that I did.  This is my second bottle, and my skin is smoother, clearer, and brighter than it has ever been. You can wear under makeup, as well as apply at night, and one bottle lasted me 7 months (SEVEN). Coming from someone who was very concerned about her skin pre-wedding, this did the trick and then some. A little warning, when you first start using your skin may appear more sensitive (peeling, redness) and this is 100% normal. You will NOT see results with this product for the first month or so, but trust me, its working.

2. Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads

If you are anything like me, paleness scares you.  But so does the tanning bed. And with spray tans being expensive, and a lot of maintenance to keep up, they are not always the most convenient or cost-effective option.  These pads (1 per package) give you a natural glow (not orange) that will last you 2-3 days.  When people ask me how I look "tan", first I want to say "you need your eyes checked because I am the farthest thing from tan", but then I remember, "Oh yes, I did use self tanner this morning".  On top of the tan factor you get with these pads, they also have anti-aging benefits that exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. They are a win (unless you are going for the Jersey Shore glow).

3. Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lotion

I love this lotion.  I love the smell, I love the lightness, I love how bright and clean my skin looks and feels when I am wearing it.  That being said, I hate the price.  But I also hate to admit, that its worth it.  I found the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin lotion by receiving a few samples from the Saks counter on a visit to NYC.  I went through the samples, then went and asked for more samples (I am telling you, TRY), and then I was convinced. There is something about this lotion that just makes you glow, and enhances your skin, makeup or no makeup. Oil-free, SPF 15, and ultra light weight. This lotion is meant for the morning only, but you will feel hydrated throughout the day.

Peter Thomas Roth, Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel, $48
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads, $32 (for a 20 count pack)
Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lotion, $95

Can You See Me Now?

This week's outfit post features my new camo pants, which I think are a great alternative to jeans or cords during the fall. But before the featured item, I want to take a minute to give a quick review of one of the most classic retailers of all time, the Gap.

As I kid, I was only a Gap kid. While other friends were allowed to wear Limited 2 (so trendy at the time) or Abercrombie, my mom insisted on the Gap. All the time. She loved the classic styles, great price points, and the fact that she could dress my brother and I from the same store. And I have to admit, she, with the help of the Gap, did an amazing job of dressing my childhood.

Which leads me to... the other night my friend, Alaina, and I went to the Gap because I was adamant on taking advantage of their sale (30% for card members, which ends today, 10/14).  From the moment I was greeted by the below camo pants at the door, I knew the Gap and I were going to get along that night. From the slouchy boyfriend jeans to the INSANE variety of smoking slippers, the Gap brought me back to those early years, when you could throw on a cute style, and it didn't have to cost a million bucks.  You looked great and you felt great.

So even if the camo pants aren't your style, I encourage you to visit your local Gap store in the near future.  I have a feeling you will also be pleasantly surprised.

And now for the look.  I paired my camo pants with a pop of color on top and my denim jean jacket (the pants are a khaki material, not jean). I have to admit that these photos are far from my favorite, as J and I were traveling all weekend in Michigan, and probably saw 15 houses (1 of which we liked).  But hopefully you get the idea.

Pants and sweater from the Gap, old jean jacket, Tory Burch flats and sunglasses, and J. Crew phone case.

Save More October

Today's Save More October is going to be quick (because I am not feeling well, and should probably be job hunting since the news is officially official that the Midwest tour continues to Detroit! Much more on this to come)...

Quick can still mean great though, and the Piperlime sale is nothing short of greatness. I LOVE Piperlime for the following reasons:

1. They carry a wide range of brands at every price point.  Their "Girl on a Budget" ideas are well thought out, cute, and right on trend.

2. Amazing customer service.

3. They are okay to carry a mixture of every style.  Preppy? Check. Edgy? Check. Classic? Check.  You get it, but really, they've got it.

And, last but not least--

4. They reward consumers, and nothing is better than a retailer who gets what keeps people coming back.

From now until 10/20, you can save 30% (+10% on Tuesdays if you are a Gap Card holder), Piperlime's 30% Fall Sale, on a fantastic selection of printed blouses, work appropriate dresses, and the latest fall booties you've been holding off on. Or, order holiday gifts now, and refrain from breaking the bank in December.  All in all, the Piperlime sale is a win-win situation.

Here are my picks, the Saves first:

Rhyme & Echo Laura Dress, $62.50

Rhyme & Echo Emily Mod Coat, $78.50

Line & Dot Ink Blazer, $66.50

Steven by Steve Madden Valantne Black Smoking Slippers, $69.50

Now the Splurges: 

Rebecca Minkoff Leah Silk Dress, $290.50

Joie Yogin Abstract Printed Long Sleeve Top, $210.50

Marc Jacobs Mika Sweater, $252.50

Cynthia Vincent Embossed Snake Coin Wallet, $67.50

I would love to know if you find anything worth spending on...email me a picture of your picks!

Happy Monday and Happy Shopping everyone!

Don't Sweat It

Colder weather calls for one of my favorite wardrobe staples, the sweatshirt.  The take on sweatshirts this year though is so much more fun, feminine, and wearable. The sweatshirt is no longer for post-workout/weekend mornings only, but the look is completely wearable with heels (as seen below), skirts, dresses, and more.

Best of all, the sweatshirt looks as effortless as it feels. You can be comfy and cute.  Chic, yet dressed for the weather.

Above: Johann Earl Letterman Sweatshirt from Asos, black skinny jeans from Rag & Bone.

 Above: Asos brand sweatshirt, Current Elliot boyfriend jeans, Sam Edelman pumps (old), and black vintage, Salvatore Ferragamo purse that my mom gave me years ago.

Above: J. Crew sweatshirt (old) and AG jeans, monogrammed necklace from Etsy.  Barley must have really loved this outfit because she wanted to get in every picture, so here is Baby Bear making her outfit post debut!

The 7's: In Color

Today, a few of our Cincinnati friends joined together to form The Color Fools and run the Color Run downtown. I don't usually get too deep in the 7's, but today really taught me something special. This morning was so cold, and so early for a Saturday, and to be completely honest, I did not want to get out of bed. I was excited for the event, but totally lagging once this morning rolled around. Once we got downtown and met up with our group, we roamed through a sea of all white outfits to the start line. As I looked around, half way frozen and barely awake, all I could see was white.  From head to toe. And honestly, it didn't wake me up at all. All the white, all the boring...I was asleep, unmotivated, and just plain tired.

Once the race started, and we hit the first Color Station (orange), I looked around at our group, and we all looked SO different.  Yes, it was one color that we were covered in, but how it hit us, mixed with our skin tones and hair colors, and fell on our faces, we were each unique. The next colors kept coming every half mile or so (blue, pink, yellow, and green), and each time we waited for each other to get our color badge, and laughed at how completely covered, vibrant, and well, alive, we were.

By the end of the 3 mile race all 6 of us were completely covered in color.  Some more green, some more pink, some a complete mix of the rainbow.  But in addition to the Color Fools, they were 10,000 more runners that were also completely covered. And not two people in that crowd looked the same. We each looked different, our colors a stand out version in a sea of every aspect of the color spectrum.

The point of all of this is, is to embrace YOUR colors.  What makes you different, honestly, it makes you beautiful. Conforming, caring what other people think, criticizing yourself, it puts you right back in that sea of...white. Who ever got anywhere in life without that extra color? They didn't. We, I, we are all so hard on ourselves every single day.  Do you ever give yourself a break and just give yourself a compliment? I don't. But maybe, after today, after seeing how all of that individuality created an incredible canvas, I will.

Don't let your colors hold you back, embrace it. Because there is no one in that crowd of 10,000, and no one in the world, that is just like you. And you can do anything--even with your face covered in green paint.

(From top to bottom: Kelsey coming out of the blue Color Station; V and J in action; Pink Power; Nihkil and Alaina post green paint dump; A just married bride and groom in their wedding attire (adore this!!!); the final color toss; post color run and loving every minute of it)

If you want to check out a Color Run in your city here is the official link, www.thecolorrun.com.

And scroll back up to the top of this post and take a look at the all white picture again.  Now that you've seen the post-race look, you have to admit, it's better with color.

Check out a video that J took of the final Color Throw!

Cigar Bar

In the first of what I am calling the "Man Cave" posts, we are bringing you our review of one of our mutual loves, cigars.  I have no shame in admitting just how much I love cigars.  I especially love them in the summer and fall (perfect timing)...sitting outside, having a drink, cooking on the grill.  Perfection. Now we both know that cigars are not for everyone, so we completely understand if you skip this post all together.  But as we want to appeal to both male and female readers, hopefully there are a few of your out there who want to know more...

And now I turn it over to J (and by turn it over to J, I mean that I am still writing and he is answering, because as he put it "I can't just spit out a bunch of words on the spot":

What do you look for in a good cigar?
Handmade (hand rolled, not machine made),  Robusto size (length of cigar), and torpedo tip.  I also like full flavored cigars, and cigars that are typically about 45 minutes- 1 hour smoke, which is what the Robusto is (J then says, "Tell them I have ADD and can't do anything for more than an hour"...good point).

What brands do you recommend for the first time cigar smoker?
You can't go wrong with the name brands, for example Oliva, Macanudo, & Romeo and Juliet. Start with determining what your looking for, mild vs. strong, full flavored, sugar tipped, etc. Look for a price point of $8-$12.   You can generally get a good cigar for $6-$8 though, no need to spend a lot on your first purchases.

Also, J wanted to recommend good cigars for the gold course: Churchill (long and burns well, lasts through the round).  If your looking to smoke for the entire game, you are probably going to need 1 for each of the 9 holes.

What countries do you think make the best cigars?
Dominican Republic and Nicaragua (Cubans are overrated)

What is your favorite memory of smoking a cigar?
Being with friends and you (and he can include me here because as evident in the photos below, I clearly love a good stogie).

(From Top to Bottom: Me in Punta Cana on our Honeymoon; J and Me in Gatlinburg, Jr. year of college, baby days; J on our Honeymoon enjoying the Domincan cigars; Me and one of my best friends Kim at Margot's wedding; Me on the night we got engaged in Florida :); J's current cigar collection; J at the cigar factory in Punta Cana, learning how to roll)

And we will leave you with this quote..."This is either going to be a success or we're going to have a great story to tell." (TFM).

This was written on the humidor that Justin's groomsmen gave him on our wedding night.  Love the quote, love cigars, and love all the memories featured above!

Save More October

Because today is rainy, at least here in the Nati, and because it's Monday everywhere, I wanted to send a little cheer with a few of my favorite websites offering savings today. I have also picked out a few of the things I am loving from each site...take a look and find your picks!

J Crew: 

From left to right: Tweed Popover Sweater, Denim Vest, Tuxedo Box Bracelet, & Stubbs and Wootton for J. Crew Smoking Slippers

For 25% off (free shipping on orders over $150+), visit www.jcrew.com and use the code MONDAY. Hurry though...this deal is for today (10/1) only.

Nico & Lala:

I cannot say enough good things about the quality & customer service at Nico and Lala, the majority of my holiday gifts came from here last year!

Until November 1st, head to www.nicoandlala.com to save 20% on your holiday cards at checkout.  Don't have the perfect picture yet? You can pre order your cards and send Nico & Lala your photo at a later date. Done deal.

ASOS:

From left to right: ASOS Collection Boyfriend Sweatshirt (available in 4 colors); ASOS Collection T-Shirt in Slouch Loose Knit (Available in 5 Colors); ASOS Collection Skirt in Skater Style (available in 5 colors); ASOS Collection Metal Frame Clutch Bag

For a limited time only, save 20% on all ASOS Collection items. Go to www.asos.com, click on Women, and then 20% off ASOS Collection. ASOS is one of my favorite websites for a mix of the trendiest pieces at a price range for every budget.

Enjoy, and Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month!