Winter Beauty Saviors

I love the sweater-wearing, curled up by the fire, coco-drinking, quiet snow fall part of winter. It's amazing. I'm not so crazy about the frozen fingers, crazy winds, and hours of darkness. When you combine the hard freezing winds outside with the dry, sauna-like conditions inside, it gets even worse. I can feel my skin drying out just thinking about it. Luckily, I've spent the past two crazy winters desperately searching for the best winter beauty products, and I finally found them. 

Here are my essential products that get me through the terrible parts of winter.

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01. L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Skincare Regimen 

This skincare line is named after a flower with magical powers: it never fades even after it has been picked. The eye balm is light and silky while the neck & face cream is wonderfully creamy, but neither are heavy or at all greasy. It's so rare for me to find a luxuriously thick creams that keep my skin clear, but that cream and balm get help from the gentle cleansing foam and alcohol free-toner (the essential water) which always leave my skin feeling soft and firm. During the day I use the BB cream with SPF 30 for light coverage and sun protection. PS. You can save money by buying the cream, eye balm, essential water, and cleansing foam together in this kit. 

02. Patchology Facial Masques

I got Flash Masques Trio in my PopSugar Must Have box, and they were the first things I tried. Even if you take great care of your skin, you still need a little extra help sometimes. The Illuminate FlashMasque reveals fresh-faced radiance by evening skin tone and giving new life to a lackluster-looking complexion with essential ingredients Licorice and Grapefruit Seed Extracts. The hydrate masque delivers a mega-dose of Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin B5 designed to quench, refresh and plump the look of thirsty skin. Lastly, the exfoliate masque gently removes dead skin cells using Lactic Acid and Papain to help achieve a smoother, more refined-looking complexion.

03. Vaseline Rosy Lip

You really can't beat Rosy Lip. It's a classic that's been used for generations. For function, it relieves dry and cracked lips while locking in moisture to help them heal. But it isn't too much to use on lips that aren't chapped either. Use it daily to prevent cracking and keep lips soft. For style, Vaseline Rosy Lip has a light rose fragrance and leaves a sheer pink tint that you can wear during the day and is perfect for adding a touch of color to a glam nude look at night.

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01. Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Crรจme

I actually got a sample of this in my January 2014 Birch Box. I use it every day in the winter and most days the rest of the year. BUT I'm still using my sample from TWO YEARS AGO! Birch Box gave us such a big sample, but I feel like I should buy more just because I love it so much. It's really lightweight, and won't weight your hair down. My ends get the frizziest and can end up looking dull by the end of the day (no matter how recent my last haircut was). But I just apply a pea-sized amount of the glossing crรจme to the bottom two/three inches of my hair and it stays smooth and glossy all day. Even when it's being whipped around by the winter wind.

02. Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray

I know you're really never supposed to go out with wet hair, but you really shouldn't in the winter. Even if it isn't cold enough for your wet hair to freeze (which is seriously terrible), you'll be extra cold for no reason. So blow drying in the winter is a must... which means more damage. But the Royal Blowout Spray actually repairs damage while speeding up dry-time. Besides repairing split ends, and nourishing, softening and strengthening hair, the mist is unbelievably lightweight and gives your hair great, healthy body and shine. Seriously though, it's so lightweight that I can use it in addition to my other hair products and my hair ends up having more body and looking less greasy/weighed-down than if I didn't use it at all. 

03. Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo Three

I put so much extra product in my hair during the winter, I like to use a clarifying shampoo once a week (or anytime I use heavy hairspray) to clear out any build up or residue. Paul Mitchell's clarifying shampoo removes dulling buildup from hair, strengthens strands, and minimizes future buildup using a paraben-free, vegan formula. It leaves my hair feeling so clean and refreshedI and ready for whatever damage I'm going to put it through next. If you color your hair, Shampoo Three will make it fade more than regular shampoo. To preserve color and remove build up, use Shampoo Two. 

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01. La Mer The Body Crรจme

I first discovered the body crรจme when I lived with my parents after college. My mom always had the best beauty products, so I would always go into her bathroom and borrow her hair products, pressed powder (which I used as bronzer #palepersonproblems) and lotion. My favorite product to borrow (okay, steal) was her La Mer Body Crรจme. It may be expensive, but it really is worth it. It's so rich and lush that you don't need to use a ton or even use it every day. It completely saturates your skin and actually cures it of all dryness instead of just temporarily relieving it. Take that winter. 

02. Kiehl's Purifying Hand Treatment

Winter is also cold and flu season, so not only are your hands drying out from the weather,  they get dried out even more from hand sanitizer and extra vigorous hand washing. Besides reminding myself that I don't need to scrub a layer of skin off my hands just because the flu or a nasty cold is making its way through the office, this cream-gel hybrid is the best thing I can do for my hands. The Purifying Hand Treatment leaves my hands feeling hydrated without heavy residue and clean without the sterile doctors office smell. Basically, it's perfect for keeping your hands feeling fresh after you realize how dirty keyboards, phones, and other office equipment gets, but you're still going to reach for the purel if you have to shake hands with somebody who would rather infect everybody they come in contact with than take a sick day. Just take the sick day people.

03. Waxing Kara Organic Sweet Body Balm

During the winter, I always have a few spots that get extra dry and lotion just isn't enough. My elbows and knees can be trouble, but my biggest problem is my hands. We don't have a dishwasher, and hand washing during the winter is especially brutal. My knuckles are always cracking and take forever to heal. The palms of my hands go through hell and are basically raw everytime I have to shovel snow. This balm has saved my hands. I put it on my knuckles as soon as they start getting dry and to heal any cracks that happen. I also put it on my palms and heels where I get blisters to keep the skin soothed. My favorite is the Peace of Mind (citrus/lavender) fragrance, but it also comes in Strength (cinnamon/clove), Blossoms+Bourbon (orange/geranium) and Unscented.

 

Happy winter & stay beautuful!  

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Bundled Up

I spend most of winter trying to stay warm without looking like a marshmallow. With the winters we've had the past few years, this has been a serious challenge. During the polar vortex, it was so cold that I wore sweatpants over my work pants just to wak to my car. It wasn't a good look. Since then I've made onsite parking a must for all rentals. 

After returning to Virginia after vacation, I've had to say goodbye to the beautiful 70 degree weather  we had in December and welcome back the frozen tundra that is January.

Normally, I would just drive everywhere and suffer through the cold. But now I live in Lexington. It's such a walkable city and dogs are welcomed in most stores and some restaurants. Dixie is also pretty demanding about walks, so I have to be outdoors much more than usual. Ugh. It's a good thing she's so cute. 

Here are my 10 head-to-toe must haves for a warm&stylish winter. 

0 1 | H A T

C A S H M E R E  B E A N I E by M A D E W E L L  

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I've never met anybody who doesn't love cashmere. They made a whole Seinfeld episode about it. Even my puppy will pull my cashmere scarf out of the basic and snuggle up on it. Cashmere for me is the ultimate winter luxury, and if you're going to be outside is freezing temperatures, it's a luxury you deserve. Treat yo self. 

 

0 2 | S W E A T E R

W A R M L I G H T  P U L L O V E R by M A D E W E L L  

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My theory is that J. Crew had to die so that Madewell could rise from the ashes. Madewell really started to hit its stride when J. Crew started falling apart and thinking that people actually wanted to wear a $600 sequin pencil skirt. Anyway, this is a great piece for winter. It's longer in the back so it will cover your booty if you're wearing leggings. It's also light enough to be worn with shorts in the spring. For winter, try layering it with a striped turtleneck for extra warmth. 

 

0 3 | G L O V E S

O R E A  G L O V E S by M A C K A G E

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I love this style of gloves. Mittens are better than gloves because you'll be warmer when your naked fingers can huddle together. But gloves are better for opening Chapstick or getting things out of your purse. This may not always be the most fashionable style, but it's function gets an upgrade with stylish leather and sheep shearling.

 

0 4 | B A G

R E G A N  S A T C H E L by R E B E C C A  M I N K O F F

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A big bag is a necessity for winter. Tohis bag is big enough to fit your gloves, scarf, hat, and other winter accessories on top of all your normal purse things. It has four (I repeat, FOUR) interior pockets so you can easily find your smaller items. It also zips closed so you can keep snow from getting your things wet.  

 

0 5 | P A N T S

S K I  L I N E  P O L A R T E C by A T H L E T A

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I personally hate running, especially outside, and especially during the winter. But I still wear leggings all winter long. Last year I got a pair of fleece lined leggings from Athleta and wore them every week to play paddle tennis outside in freezing temperatures. These are Athleta's new winter pants and they are great. They are super breathable but also keep you very very warm. So if you don't play paddle (or most likely, you've never even heard of paddle), no worries. They are also perfect for walking around town (preferably with a puppy), going for a run, or as a base layer for skiing. 

 

0 6 | C O A T

S L I M F I T by C A N A D A  G O O S E

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This is one of the warmest coats you will ever buy. and yes, maybe puffer coast are one of the main reasons I tend to look like a marshmallow in the winter, but this coat is different. Really. It's mid-thigh length covers your booty to ensure maximum warmth, the pockets a lined with soft fleece, the hood is lined with lush coyote fur, and it is rated for temperatures down to -13 degrees F. All hat comes in a slim-fit style. 

 

0 7 | S H O E S

T O F I N O  H E R R I N G B O N EC by S O R E L

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An updated twist on the classic Tofino boots from Portland, OR, based SOREL. These boots were designed for light snow, but you can wear them anytime. They are waterproof AND have a microfleece lining to keep your feet cozy. The faux fur lining is removable for easy cleaning. 

 

0 8 | P A J A M A S 

D O N U T  P A J A M A  S E T by A S O S

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I love a good pair a pajamas. When I'm wearing cute pajamas, it makes me feel like I have an excuse for not getting dressed and curling up on the couch. This adorable pajama set is made of soft touch jersey fabric and consists of a loose top and stretchy pants. Plus, the donut print is too adorable to pass up. All you need now is some real donuts & coffee, and you have the perfect winter Sunday morning. 

 

0 9 | R O B E

W A F F L E  D R E S S I N G  G O W N by N E W  L O O K

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There is nothing worse than stepping out of a hot shower and into a cold room in the dead of winter; or getting out of your warm bed to let your early-rising puppy out and losing all body heat while she potties. Luckily, this robe is solves both those problems. It's faux fur fabric is super fluffy and its belted waist keeps the robe secure and the heat in. It even has a hood with ears so you can channel your inner polar bear.

 

1 0 |  S L I P P E R S

F L U F F  C L O G by U G G  

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I know Uggs can be a major no, but one of the things they do riht is slippers. Your feet will be forever thankful for these slippers. The slippers have a classic slip-on silhouette and come in three colors. The best part is that they are made out of either real lamb or sheep fur. Seriously, every time you put the on will be like a spa vacation for your feet!

 happy winter and stay warm darlings,

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Catching Up

I forgot how amazing school breaks were. Do you know how much more fun NYE is when you haven't worked from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.?? Or how much more you can enjoy Christmas Eve when you aren't sitting in an office where your boss banned holiday decorations! It's AMAZING.

The boyfriend got almost an entire month off of school, and I was lucky enough to take that time off too.  

Since the majority of the students in his class do not have significant others who have to stay in town and work over the holidays, most people peaced out of LexVegas as soon as they possibly could.

Of course this is ridiculous for two (but probably more) reasons. One: how can you possibly pack properly while studying for exams or in a few hours after your brained was fried from exams. Two: Lexington is actually a pretty cool little town and they missed the opportunity to enjoy it without the stress of law school looming over them.

We started our break by taking Dixie to Crabtree Falls. She handled the hike like a pro and promptly passed out for the rest of the night as soon as we got back in the car. That is the biggest puppy victory you can ever have. Like literally ever.

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Next, we had the honor (and the privilege) of hosting my newly legally-drinking brother in Lexington. He was only in for a night, so we used it as an excuse to go to the greasy and delicious Kenney's. We took our massive order of fried chicken, honey biscuits, mac & cheese, and green beans to Devil's Backbone Brewery and enjoyed our food with some local beer. Seriously, if you ever drive through the area, you should stop at Kenney's. You may not feel fantastic afterwards, but you'll definitely be happy.

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Our time in Baltimore was mostly spent preparing for our annual Christmas Eve party (with some very important time set aside for sushi burritos). I got to make my favorite bourbon punch and candied bacon brussel sprouts (recipe coming soon). It's always my favorite party of the year.

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We also had time to go to a Raven's game, before which we got to go on the field and watch them warm up a la a #sidelineVIP. The game itself wasn't as fun. The Ravens ended up losing by a not even close to being close 30 points and we left before the game was over.

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After Christmas, the jetsetting really began. We flew off to the real Vegas where we had little to no luck gambling but some good luck picking shows. My absolute favorite was Absinthe, which is performed in a tent outside Ceasar's Palace. It's like a hilarious  scaled down Cirque du Solei meets burlesque. While I highly reccomend it, you should probably read the Yelp reviews before buying tickets. Seriously.

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Back on the other side of the country, we hopped on a train to New York for the night to see Hamilton on Broadway. I know how hyped the show is right now, but we were blown away. The live performance is better than the cast recording. Everyone in the audience was so happy to be there and the cast played off that energy. The combination of Lin-Manuel Miranda's lyrics and Leslie Odom, Jr.'s voice literally brought the entire row behind us to tears. And you have to see Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in action. Amazing and hilarious. Oh, and Johnathan Groff. I love him. King George is a million times better than a guy singing to an animated reindeer.

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By the time we got back from New York, break was almost over and we had to drive back to Lexington the next day. Now classes have started and Dixie counts the days until her sheepadoole friend can come visit. As for me, I'll just be here wishing it was still 70 degrees. 

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Until then... 

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Gifts for the Girl who has Everything

There are less than 15 days until Christmas, and it's time to get serious about shopping. Some people are easy to shop for; they're the first ones you buy presents for... & then there are the others. Everything that you think to get them, they already have.

That's where this post comes in. I've been stuck on a few people on my own Christmas list and I think I finally have those hard to shop for people down. So if you're looking for gifts for the fashionista, hostess, puppy mama, boss lady, or zen master in your life, this post is for you!

Enjoy!

(0 1)  T H E   F A S H I O N I S T A .

She rolls out of bed and looks more put together than you do after an hour of getting ready. She knows where to find the newest arrivals and greatest sales. Maybe she already has fabulous accessories or her taste is so specific you don't even know where to begin. 

PERFECT GIFT : Handbag Design Class + Kit With Rebecca Minkoff ($99.00) 

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Instead of paying for a Rebecca Minkoff, pay for the real Rebecca Minkoff! In this class, the fashionista will learn all about finding design inspiration, identifing trends, sourcing material, and working with leather. She'll also be walked through making her own Rebecca Minkoff Fringe Leather Clutch by Rebecca Minkoff herself!

 

(0 2)  T H E   H O S T E S S .

You love getting invited to her house because she always makes the best food, puts together the best cheese plates, and serves the best wine. Her house naturally looks cleaner than yours does after it's been professionally cleaned. You don't want to give her anything that will bring clutter and disorder to her harmonious home, and she already has the coolest kitchen gadgets.

PERFECT GIFT : Food52 Marble Board ($45.00-$58.00)

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Even if she already has marble countertops (lucky bitch), these boards are a perfect addition to her flawless kitchen. The white marble boards stay about 7ยบ F below room temperature and are perfect for serving chilled food like cheeses, but they also retain heat for keeping foods warm. As a bonus, the matte finish on these boards makes them insta-friendly (no glares!). 

 

(0 3)  T H E   P U P P Y   M A M A . 

This girl loves her dog and her dog lives better than you do. It eats better food and sleeps on a better quality bed. You could get her pup toys or treats, but who knows if it would comply with the dog's grain-free, raw food, fancy fresh lifestyle. 

PERFECT GIFT : Belle or Gents Bow Tie Collar by CrewLaLa (starting at $46.00)

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The pup already lives better than you, you might as well make sure it dresses better than you too.  All CrewLaLa collars and bows are handmade in Charleston, SC. They have tons of bow collars in plaid, polka dots, seersucker, striped, chevron, nautical, ikat, floral, gingham, geometric, and holiday-themed patterns. If you really want to up the pup's style, they also offer personalization and matching leashes! Miss Dixie is modeling the Patriot Belle Collar, but I'm OBSESSED with the Nightfall Plaid and Fuchsia on Mint Seersucker Belle Bow Dog Collar. 

 

(0 4)  T H E   B O S S   L A D Y .

She's always running around doing something important. Maybe she runs her own business, is a blogger, or is an important person at a big company. She has a lot to do and a lot to carry around. 

PERFECT GIFT : Mod Laptop 2 by THIS IS GROUND ($399.00)

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what it holds. pictured above in congac.

what it holds. pictured above in congac.

The leather case offers a way to carry your laptop, tablet, power adapters, cords, cell phone, headphones, pens, pencils, stylus, notepads, hard drive, battery pack, glasses, business cards, ID, credit cards, and currency. All in one stylish folio! It also comes with a removable leather strap for easy toting on the go.

 

(0 5)  T H E   Z E N   M A S T E R .

This girl is coming back from the gym before you've gotten out of bed. She makes exercising look easy and claims that its fun. She already has a cute gym bag and an awesome yoga mat and lululemon accessories galore. 

PERFECT GIFT : Leggings from Yoga Rebel (starting around $60.00)

You can NEVER have enough leggings, even if you rarely hit the gym (but especially if you hit it on the reg). Yoga Rebel has the best collection of leggings and yoga/workout gear I've found. Their selection features items from awesome brands like Dharma Bums, Varley Sofia, Liquido, Spiritual Gangster, Onzie, Teeki, Zara Terez, and more! Exercising might actually be fun with clothes like these!

 

Hope this list helps you with your hard-to-shop-for darlings. Happy Christmas and make sure you buy a few things for yourself! 

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