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    Beauty

    Winter Skin Essentials

    Today I’m sharing my favorite winter skin essentials with you. Although I love winter time, I definitely don’t love the negative effects that it has on my skin. When the weather is harsh, my skin tends to get very dry and, in the past, I’ve had to deal with very bad acne because of it. While I’m no skin or beauty expert, over the years I’ve developed a routine that keeps my skin healthy and looking its best when the weather is rough. Here are the products that have been keeping my skin looking great this winter:
    Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream-Until recently, I only used regular lotion to moisturize my face, which wasn’t enough to keep my skin from peeling or getting dry during winter time. I purchased this moisturizer on a whim a couple of months ago because my skin was in a very bad state, and was surprised at how incredibly soft my skin was after only one day of using it. I also love that this moisturize can be used for day and night because it helps me keep my skin care routine simple, just the way I like it.
    Yes to Cucumbers Daily Calming Moisturizer-One of the most important parts of my skin care routine, regardless of what time of year it is, is wearing sunscreen. I want to make sure that I’m doing as much as possible to protect my skin from UV rays in order to avoid sun spots and other types of skin damage. Although the name of this product suggests that it’s a moisturizer, I find that it works best when used just as a sunblock. I like it because I have sensitive skin and, unlike other sunblocks that I’ve used, this particular brand doesn’t look too shiny or feel heavy on my face. It’s also not sticky, which makes it easy for me to apply foundation over it.
    Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye CreamNow that I’m a bit older, I’ve started to notice that the skin around my eye area gets dry much more easily, especially when the weather is cold and rough. Although I’m ready to embrace most things about growing older, I’d like to keep wrinkles at bay for as long as possible, which is why it’s necessary to keep that area moisturized. This is another product that I’ve started using recently, and I really like it because it’s very light and doesn’t irritate my eyes like other eye creams do. And, I also like that a little bit of product goes a long way; I’ve had this tube for about 4 months and still haven’t used it all up.
    Boots Extracts Vanilla Body Butter-During this time of year, I make the switch from using regular body lotion to using body butter. If you haven’t used it before, it’s basically just a very thick and intensive moisturizer, but it absorbs really easily and isn’t too heavy on the skin. My skin used to get very dry and red, especially my hands and elbows, but I haven’t really experienced that ever since I started using this regularly.
    Trader Joe’s Vitamin E Oil-This time of year, I usually get these rough patches that just don’t go away no matter what I do. I’m talking about rough patches on my elbows and dry skin around my nose and lips. I’ve found that the best way treat these areas is to apply Vitamin E Oil on them before I go to bed. I only use Vitamin E Oil in case of emergencies, when my dry skin is not healing at all, because I’ve found that it can clog my pores if I use it too often. I also only use it at night because it’s very greasy, and I want to make sure that I can wash it off in the morning so that my skin doesn’t look and feel oily.
    EOS Lip Balm (Not Pictured)-In order to avoid dry lips as a result of dry weather, I make sure to always carry around some sort of lip balm. EOS lip balm has become a favorite of mine because not only is it organic, the container is also impossible to lose. I can’t even tell you how many sticks of lip balm I’ve misplaced over the years. For me, lip balm works best when I exfoliate my lips, which I do by simply rubbing my fingers over them in a circular motion when I wash my face or when I’m in the shower.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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    Outfit

    Winter Florals

    Photos taken on my iPhone by Sara Hatakeyama
    Outfit Details:
    Forever 21 Sunglasses
    Black Tights
    ASOS Leather Belt (Similar)
    Target Boots (Similar here and here)
    Part of the reason that I started a blog is because I love reading them, and there are several bloggers whose style I truly admire. I usually just visit blogs for outfit inspiration, but when I saw this floral Samantha Pleet dress on Rebecca from The Clothes Horse, I fell in love and was determined to have it. The print was just so beautiful and unique to me, and I loved that it fit in with my style, but didn’t look like anything else that is currently in my closet. However, I was immediately heartbroken when I clicked on the link to the dress and realized that it was way out of my price range. Luckily for me, I found this similar style at ZARA for a small fraction of the price. The print and fit of the dress are both very similar, and I’ve received several compliments every time I’ve worn it.
    I have to say that last week and this weekend were amazing. I had so many family and friends send birthday wishes my way, which made me feel so incredibly loved. In addition, I have had several things happen that have made me feel more confident in my potential and plans for the future, which is different for me. All of last year, I felt confused and insecure about my life goals and what I’ve been doing with my life, but last week I finally started to feel like everything is falling into place.
    I’ve also been in such a great space because I’ve been doing a great job at managing my anxiety and practicing self-care. I spent too much of last year being a recluse and moping around, but I hope to keep working towards maintaining a positive attitude throughout the rest of this year.
     In my efforts to live more in the moment, I’ve been making sure that I make time to hang out with friends and family, and do things that I really enjoy. This weekend I made sure to get out of my “cave” and do some socializing. On Saturday I went out for brunch with my friends Shantal and Sara, and I also went hiking with my sisters on Sunday. Because of that, even though I had a lot of work to do, I still felt like I got the most out of my weekend. I’ll have to remember that next time that I try to become antisocial and let other responsibilities consume my life.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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    Outfit

    Birthday Weekend in Tie-Dye

    Photos by Ale Veyna
    Outfit Details:
    Tie-Dye Dress (Similar here and here)
    Crocheted Purse-Handmade by my Grandmother
    Silver Earrings-Gift from my Mom
    8 oz Latte (My favorite accessory of all time!)
    I wore this ensemble when I went out to brunch with my sister on Saturday. This black and gray tie-dye dress is one of my favorite things that I own, but I don’t wear it enough because 1) it is inappropriate for work because it has an open back and 2) it’s not cozy enough to wear when it’s cold outside. My solution to all of the problems/excuses that were prohibiting me from wearing this dress was buying a basic black sweater. One of my resolutions this year is to be content with my existing wardrobe, and focus on buying things that will enhance it. I think that this is one of those instances when I practiced just that. This black sweater is a great basic for fall and winter, and also makes it easier for me to wear many items that are usually only appropriate for summer and spring.
    To complete my look, instead of my usual cat eye makeup, I switched things up and used MAC Cosmetics Pigment in Blue-Brown on my eyes. As a person who has yet to master eye shadow, I love this pigment because it reflects different colors and allows you to create the illusion that you’re using multiple eye shadows depending on how much you layer and blend. Apparently, you can also apply this pigment while it’s wet to bring out more of the blue color and create a more intense effect. I’ll have to try out that method next time that I want to look like a disco queen.
    Today is my 26th birthday, and I’ve been celebrating all weekend long! As you already know, my sister treated me to brunch on Saturday, and we went to Auntie Em’s Kitchen in Eagle Rock, one of my favorite brunch places. On Friday night, I went to see one of my favorite bands, Geographer, and I got to meet the lead singer Mike Deni. I had a good weekend, and it’s made me excited about the rest of my birthday month. Yes, I do celebrate my birthday all month long.
    I have to admit, though, that I wasn’t too enthusiastic about my birthday a couple of weeks ago, mostly because I’ve been so tired and preoccupied with so many other things. However, this weekend has just been really great, and I feel positive that this is going to be a great year for me. After all, I’m surrounded by a great group of family and friends, and every day I become more mature and have the opportunity to learn a little more about myself. This is probably the first time that I’m approaching a new year without a list of expectations, and just trying to live in the moment. I just want to learn how to be grateful for everything I have and live without any regrets.
    This weekend, I also celebrated my first year of blogging. When I started this blog one year ago, I honestly didn’t think that I would be able to stick with it. I’m also always so amazed at how many people visit this site every week, and how supportive everybody is of my little corner of the internet. When I started this blog, I thought that my Mom was going to be my only most loyal follower, but I’m always so happy when somebody new reaches out to me to let me know that they’re following along. Thank you so much for making all the work that goes into this space seem worth it! I promise to start bringing you more than just outfit posts once my schedule clears up.
    xoxo,
    Helen
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