Is it just me, or has this year's "holiday season" been lacking the Christmassy spirit? My friend Danny put it very well saying that finals "ruin the lead up to Christmas," and I have to agree with him. So, today, to pump up the holiday cheer I decided (with the help of my family) to kick the festivities into full gear by whipping up a batch of cookies and slipping into some cozy attire. Read on for my a few of my essentials (all product information at end of post).
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If any of you have had to battle of the horrifying combination of summer heat and humidity, you've more than likely tried your fair share of mattifying products by this point in life. I'm happy to report that I've found a combination of mattifying products that have proven their worth in the crazy hot box that is New York during the Summer.
The first is, Embryolisse's Emulsion Hydra-Mat. Bought during my stint abroad in Paris, this moisturizer is definitely on the pricey side ($40) but it really does the trick when it comes to combating shine. It's a gel formula so feels really cooling and smooth on the skin. Honestly, what attracted me when I was looking at this in City Pharma (a must-go if you're looking for discounted French pharmacy brands) is that it's formulated without parabens and also doesn't seem to have any silicones in it based on its ingredients list. Plus, it's not tested on animals which is a huge plus! It contains a lot of really great moisturizing ingredients like Apricot Oil so it nourishes my skin while mattifying it. The only downside to this as a daily moisturizer is that it doesn't contain any SPF, so definitely remember to apply some before you go out! Next up is Tarte's Aqualillies for Tarte Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder, quite a mouthful, but definitely great for really eliminating shine. I use this product when I really want my skin to stay matte throughout the day and often dust a light layer of this powder on after applying liquid or even powder foundation. It leaves a really matte but not powdery effect on the skin. Sometimes I even think it gives a nice airbrushed finish too! I tend to save this one for really hot, sweaty days because it can be a tad drying at times, but overall, it's an amazing, super shine-nixing formula! How do you battle the summer heat?
Unfortunately, a light layer of balm is recommended before slapping this baby on, after doing this prep step this lipstick wears beautifully and feels great for hours (although a slight bit drying at those times when my lips are not at their juiciest). Plus, the blue tones in this eye-popping red make my teeth look slightly less yellow. Not for the faint of heart, this lipstick is as matte as they come, bold, and really gives you that "bam I'm wearing red lipstick" confidence. It's an old Hollywood red that'll have you channeling the grace of Audrey Hepburn, the elegance of Grace Kelley, and the sensuality of Elizabeth Taylor. *RiRi Woo was part of Mac's "Rihanna Hearts Mac" collection which released in Fall 2013 and is sadly, no longer available. However, RiRi Woo was inspired by Mac's Ruby Woo and is almost an exact dupe. I've linked to Mac's Ruby Woo in the link above. I'll be the first one to tell you that I would and most definitely do, rock a sun dress in the dead of winter. That being said, I do enjoy a light warm breeze through an A-line hem, on tight-less legs -- something only summer lends to a dress. So this summer I've decided to feature a visual firecracker of a dress: The Kate Spade Petal Floral Sonja Dress. It's an absolutely beautiful dress that falls just below the knee and looks amazingly flattering on (as you can see on my gorgeous sister modeling!). This 50s style dress is the perfect summer stunner for anyone who isn't into the "typical" summer dress and wants a bit more weight and structure to their warm-weather frock. I imagine this dress will come in handy at my next beach party in the Hamptons...which I'm sure will happen sometime in the foreseeable future...right?
To go with the dress, try slinging a cute brown leather purse over your shoulder. We opted for this vintage Cartier purse* that we found thrifting around town one day. Thrifting is one of my favorite things to do; you can find incredible pieces for amazing prices. Plus, I have to admit it's pretty fun to call dibs on that one-of-a-kind jacket and make all your friends jealous. Now for the underdog of the look that packs a serious punch and honestly, could be featured on its own. The shoes. A glorious pair of Kimchi Blue Sandals found at Urban Outfitters. These are the perfect summer-but-not-summer sandal, that, A. Doesn't leave you going foot-commando to the world, and, B. Has a handy heel-strap that makes them über comfy to walk around town in. Finally, onto the makeup, which, in my opinion, is the icing on the cake to a great look. For this, I reached for the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain Rebel Nudes in 104 Fuchsia Tomboy. It's part of YSL's new nude glossy stains collection that is anything but boring. I decided to try it out today and I have to say I think I'm liking it the color and staying power! I'll do a separate post on this soon but it's a gorgeous fuchsia shade that I personally like to apply and then pat with my finger to take away some of the shine. To warm up the face, I lightly applied both the shades in Elf's Contouring Blush & Bronzer duo in the shade St. Lucia onto my sister's cheeks and under her cheekbones. This duo has pretty good, blendable pigmentation (especially the bronzer) and at $3 a pop it's such a steal! So there you have it, a festive and vibrant look that is perfect for many a summer shindig. Now, I just need to find a house in the Hamptons to wear it too... What are your favorite summer festivity pieces? This Memorial Day weekend definitely left it's mark on me --in the form of a massive sunburn all over my body. However, despite the pain, my aloe-soaked shoulders remain perky after a wonderful hike in the Hetch Hetchy area. My family and I woke up at the crack of dawn to start our 3 hour drive to O'Shaughnessy Dam where our hike to Wapama Falls began. The entire hike is about 5 miles roundtrip and took us around 3-4 hours (naturally, we took a number of pit stops and photo ops).
Growing up in a state with a myriad of beautiful hiking opportunities it's hard to pick just one, but I think I can safely say that the hike to Wapama Falls is by far my favorite. It's the perfect hike that combines the best of California indigenous wildlife, a beautiful resevoir, and the most gratifying waterfall experience at the end. It gets a little rocky at times and there a few up-hill points along the trail that could be difficult for some but we got through unscathed. Along the way we saw small streams and wildflowers and although we were hiking in the sweltering, end-of-May heat, it was well worth it. As you can see from a few choice photos I've included in this post, the hike to Wapama Falls is definitely a gorgeous one. What makes it truly amazing? The gift of a perfectly-sized waterfall that gives your sun-scorched body the most amazing glacial-water shower --the most incredible post-hike (and post-work out) experience you will ever have. What did you all do for Memorial Day? |