July Favorites!

One of the finer things about living in Georgia is the fact that we experience all four seasons.

And we southern gals know good and well that the red clay we walk on isn't the only thing baking in that hot sun come summertime - our skin and hair suffer too.

With the hot rays stripping away nutrients, it's so important to replenish your body. And it takes a little extra love and care to keep our locks finely coiffed (and sufficiently teased) and our skin nice and dewy.

Here are some of my favorite things that have helped fight the humidity and have quenched my very dry skin and thick (yet fine) hair.

Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion

photo:  bluemercury.com

This product can work for every skin type. It feels more like a tonic or astringent, really. Initially I thought it would only work for oily or normal skin types but I have extremely dry skin and this has not caused any problems as far as I can tell.

I use this product morning and evening after cleansing with my normal cleanser. It deep cleans pores and truly leaves skin refreshed. Because I have dry skin, I follow up with a heavy-handed amount of moisturizer or cream to replenish my skin's ph-levels and to add moisture for elasticity.

I have really enjoyed this over the summer because the makeup/residue/suntan lotion/sweat that clogs our pores during our jaunts outdoors is extremely difficult to remedy. This stuff does wonders for deep cleaning. Plus, you feel so so very fresh after application. I use a cotton square.  The price is right, too.

Available at Nordstrom: Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion, $15


Naturopathica Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream

photo: natureofbeauty.com

Natural calendula comes from the calendula flower and has amazing anti-inflammatory properties that are great for treating skin irritations, particularly itchy skin or rashes or sunburns.

Calendula is fantastic for dry skin or sun-damaged skin because of its healing properties that make skin supple and moisturized. Calendula oil is great for under the eye skin to combat premature aging.

I discovered this stuff a little over a year ago and can personally attest to a litany of skin issues it has corrected. It's single-handedly the most effective thing I've ever used.

The spa I like to go to sells this locally. It's pricey but I rely on it because it works.

Available at Natural Body Spa or Naturopathica Holistic Health

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream

photo: shop.nordstrom.com

There's a reason this cream is on Bobbi's "Greatest Hits" list. I'm starting to use this cream as a primer to my foundation in the morning. At night, I use calendula, but this is FANTASTIC to keep your skin hydrated under foundation all day long.

Having a great primer on your skin helps your skin absorb the foundation and makes it last longer. Highly recommend.

Available at Bobbi Brown





Jamison Shaw Vita Plexx

Another important item to have in your bag is a great de-tangler. This one is from my hairdresser's at Jamison Shaw in Buckhead. Vita Plexx is conditioning, has SPF to help prevent color fade and sun damage and works wonders after the pool.

Available in store or at Jamison Shaw Online.

Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask

photo: oteenvogue.com

This mask is absolutely phenomenal. It hydrates hair, seals cuticles and restores shine.

Use when you're cleaning, studying, responding to emails before bed, or sleep with in it in your hair overnight with a cap on. I love this stuff and use it once a week.

Available at moroccanoil.com


Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm "BB" Cream

I've raved about Trish products before, especially this one in particular. The only unfortunate thing about this product is the price. $90 is a step price to spend on a tinted beauty balm.

Trish's products are formulated with the help of her dermatologist husband and has many amazing ingredients for your skin, but the SPF content along with the amazing coverage is what makes me buy this.

I pop this on my face to even out my skin tone and provide coverage and protection! in the sun where I'd normally forego makeup. It's long-lasting and makes skin look dewy.

This bottle lasts FOREVER. One pump is really all you need for a full face of moisturizing foundation. It just makes me feel prettier too when I'm in the sand or by the pool. It's not cute to thane a cute bikini but your face isn't also done up (just a little).

Available at Woo Cosmetics in Buckhead or Nordstrom

Olive Oil

photo: joyandsunshine blog

Personally, I prefer my olive oil on a nice little plate of pasta but you can't always get what you want.

Instead, I more frequently use olive oil on my body. I mix it with organic brown sugar for a face and body scrub that is simply divine.

I also rub it on my cuticles for conditioning. I mix it in my with hair conditioner (a very little bit will do) for some shine.

Live and love olive oil.

Available at Whole Foods or any market.


Banana Boat Protect and Hydrate Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30

You know what is REALLY gross? Mineral Oil.

That's the stuff mechanics use ... yes like cars and engines and grease and well, mineral oil.

It's also in MANY beauty products, especially tanning oil and sunscreen.

Banana Boat is all I will use because this particular formula has a moisturizer in it and does not contain that icky mineral oil. I don't like tanning oils. For one, they are HORRIBLE for your skin. The spray ones mostly don't even touch your skin because mist blows with the sea breeze.

All you need for that added tan acceleration is cocoa butter over your sunscreen.

I love this stuff, hopefully you will give it a try. I buy mine at Ulta.


Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater

photo: bluemercury 

Ever heard of a setting spray? This product is a fantastic one.

After applying makeup (your whole face of makeup) simply spray this on to set the makeup and seal it to make it last longer.

I also spray this on after the beach or pool and just about every day, midday for a pick me up. You wouldn't believe how thirsty your skin is midday because of the stress and the makeup and the dry air in the office. You can even spray it on your hair.

Available at Nordstrom



Raw Aloe:

You can pick up an aloe leaf (branch?) at Whole Foods or Publix for a couple of bucks and you wouldn't believe the great beauty savings from that. Aloe is such a wonder-plant because it has every healing quality and moisturizing capability known to man.

Buy a leaf, trim the outer ridges, then slice the leaf into sections. Peel the membrane to expose the healing gel. You can youtube this for a how-to.

I use the raw gel as a mask. You wait about 15 minutes for your mask to tighten and then wash off with a damp cloth or just rinse. You skin feels tight and hydrated afterwards.

Water

There's nothing like the benefits of drinking water to keep your body hydrated and beautiful. :)

Cheers to feeling great and well-cared for!

Brooke

Yes, I drink this every morning

photo courtesy of foodnetwork.com

Lately I've been going green in a juicy way.

With the gift of a juicer from my parents (my Dad recently graduated to a nutribullet that he swears by), I have taken to the art of juicing. 

It's been wonderful, really. I'd like to share what I do literally every morning.

Before the juicer, I would venture over to Whole Foods every Sunday for a couple days supply of their detox juice. With oranges, apples, lemon, spinach and ginger - the detox juice was tart, tangy and even bitter.

It also is a bit annoying (not to mention pricey) to do this religiously 2x a week.

Thanks to my parents and Giada de Laurentiis for the recipe, I now enjoy an energy-boosting, metabolism-revving juice EVERY morning.

I am loving this stuff so much (it tastes FABULOUS!) and I think y'all will too!

1 carrot

1 lemon

2 apples (I use Fuji apples, for sweetness)

2 celery stalks

1 2-inch section of peeled ginger

a TON of spinach (your preference really - I use a 1/2 bag or more)

And there you have it! Your very own green, yummy energy boost for the day. Serve over ice and keep it in a Tervis tumbler to keep chill throughout the morning. 

I'd love to hear other recipes if y'all would like to share!

Cheers and happy juicing! 

Brooke

The Blog Is Back

Ever... you know ...  been in a funk?

 It's like life is going well and orderly and all that and then something happens to throw you off track ...

and instead of jumping right back into the saddle you sort of let the situation ride right over you.

That's what has happened to me lately.

You see, I stopped writing right around law school finals for obvious reasons. I can't expect any person not in law school to understand, but during finals you literally cannot do anything else.

Law school finals beat the hell out of you, freeze the world over and then barrage you with anxiety until the grades come in.

In short, during finals time, don't get in between me and my iced skinny vanilla latte or I will hurt you apocalypse style. It's a fight for life.

That time passes and then summer internships take over, further smothering any creative juices or bright thoughts that are not related to legal matters.

See what I mean? It's easy to just forget about the things that make you happy. It's hard to balance and if you ask my boyfriend I am the WORLD'S WORST at balancing ... anything.

If I focus on work quite intensely, then the laundry doesn't get done, then the house is a mess then I'm stressed about that. If I focus on exercising then I study less in the evenings and then I feel out of sync at school. It's always a challenge for me to harmonize my life.

And  it doesn't have to be that way and it upsets me when I allow life to get the best of me. I really can do it all. And I REALLY need to learn how to do it all.

Instead of picking myself up after exams I just let something I really LOVE to do fall to the wayside.

I miss writing. I've always been a writer, mainly privately but I've had my stints with publications as well. And I absolutely adore it.

So here I am, back to blogging.

With the birth of Baby Cambridge on Monday, I felt it was a happy time to get back to it. I've been a Kate follower for what seems like my entire life. I have literally stalked her fashion choices since she fell in love with Prince William at St. Andrews like 12 years ago. I know. It's insane. But Kate is elegant and modern and has the best hair known to man so she's my girl and I love her. I couldn't imagine a better role model for young girls.

Cheers all, and thank you for supporting this little endeavor. Stay tuned for what's to come.

Brooke