February Empties

Hi everyone!I recently posted my February empties on Instagram but I thought I would share more about each product here. I love watching/reading empties posts. What products have you used up and loved (or hated!) recently?

For reference, I have dry and sensitive skin and my skin is very reactive - I get very red if I touch my skin or after washing. I have thick, very long hair that has not been colored and I rarely use hot tools (including hair dryers)

 * Tula 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream - I really love this moisturizer. I know that a lot of influencers promote Tula and that leaves some people feeling "iffy" about them and their products, but I absolutely stand by the moisturizer and the cleanser. This left my skin feeling so soft and seemed to calm down my redness. I also loved that it wasn’t too heavy to use during the day.

 * Hempz Vanilla Plum Body Moisturizer - I found this body lotion to be very light and non sticky but still hydrating. This scent is difficult to find (I think it may be discontinued?) but it will pop up from time to time at TJMaxx. I will say that if you are experiencing severe dry skin (or cracked skin) that this body lotion may not help because it isn't thick.

 * Batiste Dry Shampoo - Batiste is the only dry shampoo I’ll use. I love all the scents and it’s inexpensive and it’s the only dry shampoo I’ve found that actually absorbs into my hair. I have tried all the other popular dry shampoos and I either hated the way they felt, smelled, or they left a gray tint in my hair. Batiste is my ride or die dry shampoo.

 * Philosophy Fresh Cream Warm Cashmere Perfume - I love this scent so much. It’s warm but isn’t overpowering. My mom adores this scent too so I think its a good universal scent.

 * Tracie Martyn Absolute Purity Toner - I wanted to hate this toner because it is pricey but my skin loves it. I did see a difference in my skin and pores - my skin has a glow to it after I use this. Tracie Martyn skincare has great ingredients too. Fair warning - I used this product up pretty quickly (I used it only at night and I think it took about a month to go through) but it is so worth it. I also highly recommend their Complexion Savior!

 * Trader Joes Shea Butter and Coconut Oil Hair Mask - I used this as a conditioner for the most part. It is amazing and a great price point. It smells like the beach and left my hair feeling soft and moisturized but didn’t weigh my hair down.

 * Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo and Conditioner - I received a sample of this from a BeautyHabit order and fell in love. The scent is amazing and stays in my hair but the formula is great too. It is pricey but it’s worth it. I’ll be repurchasing this because I adore the scent and the product worked great.

May It Last: The Avett Brothers

Seth and Scott in Augusta, GA.

On Tuesday, I drug my non-Avett Brothers loving boyfriend to see the Judd Apatow documentary on The Avett Brothers called May It Last.

Y'all. The word love doesn't even come close to how I feel about The Avett Brothers. I've been a fan since 2005. These North Carolina born and raised boys have had my heart for a long time and I was so excited to see this documentary.

It did not disappoint.

I'm half way writing this post to tell you that if you get the chance, go see May It Last. The Avett Brothers are kind, down to earth, amazing people and they deserve more success. Go listen to their music.

But I'm also writing this post because Tuesday reminded me of the importance of something that The Avett Brothers taught me a long time: it costs nothing to be loyal, honest, and true.

I write a lot of about fashion and beauty on this blog.  I can be materialistic and vain and want to keep up with the Joneses. This mentality and lifestyle has led to a lot of anxiousness, stress, and depression and it is something I struggle with every day. The desire to be successful and have nice things often keeps with pressure and endless worry of "is this enough? am I doing enough?"

May It Last served as a reminder that at the end of the day, fame and success fades but being a good person and being true to who you are and loyal and loving those in your life that matter is what's important. I will always love fashion and beauty and enjoy my job, but at the end of the day these things don't define me.

I didn't realize how much I needed the familiar voice of those North Carolina boys and the reminder to be good, to trust, to care until I heard it.

I think my non-Avett Brothers loving boyfriend now sees what I see in this band and why its so important to me. I hope they can be important to you and help you find a little peace and truth in this world that right now is so uneasy and hard.

Friday Finds: Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish Colors for Fall

Happy Friday! As fall approaches, I am beginning to switch up my nail polish color. I know it sounds so silly, but one of the reasons I love fall is I can begin to wear darker colors on my nails. Below are some of my favorite fall colors from Deborah Lippmann. I love Deborah Lippmann because her brand is free of harsh chemicals and full of nutrients like green tea to help strengthen your nails. Plus, the line is cruelty free, which I adore as an animal lover.

• Deborah Lippmann in Daytripper: I know this doesn't exactly scream "FALL IS HERE!" but I always keep a pink color like this on my toes.
• Deborah Lippmann in Happy Birthday: How cute would this glitter be for an accent nail? I love this for fall and for winter to get festive.
• Deborah Lippmann in Lady Is A Tramp: I LOVE a dark red for fall and this red is perfect. I can definitely see myself rocking this red with the leopard print items I featured recently.
• Deborah Lippmann in Naked: This is the perfect nude color for those of you who need a more natural color for weddings or a more strict office environment. 
• Deborah Lippmann in A Fine Romance: Pale pink polishes are so feminine and I love the way they look in the fall with dark colors. I could see myself reaching for this polish for special occassions
• Deborah Lippmann in Fade to Black: A good black polish is a staple in my nail polish collection. 

I Didn't Like It: Estee Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge

I am addicted to buying and trying to new perfumes. My go to fragrances are usually warm and spicy or warm florals, but I will try anything once. I picked up Estee Lauder's Modern Muse Le Rouge after it popped up on perfumes recommended to me by Sephora. I loved the scent when I tested it in the store, so I bought a full bottle.

When I first sprayed this on, I noticed that it smelled differently on me than it did in the bottle and on a tester stick. I still enjoyed the fragrance, but not as much as I had in store. As the day went on, I became bothered by the smell. I don't normally get sinus headaches or allergies from perfumes unless they are very floral based, however, this perfume killed my allergies.

While this perfume is quite lovely and the smell is nice, I wouldn't be able to recommend it to any of my friends or family simply because it is so strong. If you do want to try this perfume, I would recommend spritzing it and then walking through it.

JCrew New Arrivals

I am LOVING J.Crew's new arrivals. Tucker and I walked past the store front on Saturday after dinner and I knew I had to check back in and see what was new for fall. I know some people have their moments where they don't love J.Crew but I usually end up picking up quite a few pieces each time they have new arrivals. Here is what is currently in my cart:

• Leopard Print Coat: I love, love, love leopard print. I know this coat isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I can't wait to get it for fall time and wear with skinny jeans and boots. 
• Tippi Sweater in Camouflage: I'm usually not a huge camo fan, but this season I am really liking it. I love the colors in this sweater and I could see myself wearing out to brunch when the temperature cools off down here in Columbia.
• One Shoulder Bow Top: This top is absolutely darling! I'm actually getting this top to wear to games and then as a transition piece for events at night with my life group or Kappa Delta alums.
• Andover Pea Coat: I love the purple color in this coat. I always buy J.Crew coats because the quality is amazing.
• Leopard Print Silk Cami: I'm excited to get this cami and wear it under sweaters and blazers. I think it is the perfect staple piece for fall and will go with jeans and skirts.
• Tie Back Sweater: I am getting this in the pink and the navy color. Sweaters are my go to in the fall for when I want to throw something on and look presentable. The back detail on this is a super cute touch.
• Bell Sleeve Sweater: This sweater comes in other colors and I am resisting buying all of them. I love bell sleeves (really any sleeve detail) and think this would be super cute with gold hoops, jeans, and flats.
• Daisylace Bell Sleeve Top: I'm ordering this in a tall because this top looks a little shorter on the model than I would like on me. I can't wait to dress this up for date night.
• Taurus Shirt: I'm a sucker for a graphic tee and this one is perfect for me.

What pieces are you loving from J.Crew?

Sample Tuesday: Alterna Caviar Repair

        

Long time, no post!