Category: Favorites

The Best Products of 2019 That I’m Bringing into 2020

by arrows+attitude, posted in Favorites

As excited as I am for this new year, 2019 was such a great year for me! For a little life update: a few months ago, my long-term boyfriend and I moved to California together, I finished working on my first feature length film for Netflix, I spent amazing time with family for the holidays and much more!

2019 was great for movies, shows and the reason why we’re here, products! This was the year that I really took my skincare, wellness, sustainability and beauty seriously! With that being said, I wanted to share the products that I will continue to use this new year – even after my product clean out!

Let’s start with my favorite makeup product of the entire year. Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. Guys, this stuff this my absolute favorite! I consider myself really not great at makeup. For some reason, I just can’t figure it out. But this bronzer is so easy and ends up looking flawless when you just need an extra boost on the face. I will continue to purchase this bronzer until I find something better – but that hasn’t happened yet!

image via Hey Dewy

For skincare, I still am holding onto my favorite products from Mario Badescu, Drunk Elephant, Dr. Dennis Gross, etc. that I’ve raved about in past posts – so I won’t repeat myself! But, I will let you know about my Hey Dewy Portable Facial Humidifier. This was a Christmas gift that I have been using ever since I unwrapped it – I absolutely love it. It is not a facial steamer, it actually is more of a cold mist. I use it after a workout or a warm day, but I also love having it run in the bathroom when I’m doing my skincare routine or my makeup. It just adds an extra boost of hydration to your skin and is so cute & small & portable.

image via Baggu

If you guys haven’t read my post about my favorite sustainability products – check it out! I purposefully left out this product because I wanted to shine a bigger light on it. My Baggu bags are my very favorite. First off, they are adorable and second, we’re reducing our plastic use – yay! Baggu has such a range of designs for their reusable bags that I use for grocery store and farmer’s market trips! They are so spacious and have been my favorite for years now! Go get some to keep in your car – you won’t regret it!

image via Kush Queen

Now let’s dive into a couple wellness products that have helped me this past year. Some of you know that I work on a film set for sometimes 16 hours a day. My body pretty much constantly aches and nothing seemed to help. My boyfriend stopped at a wellness store after work one day and picked up a CBD bath bomb for me – and oh my goodness, perfect. It was from Kush Queen and not only smelled amazing, but really relieved the pain I was experiencing in my joints. I highly recommend checking it out if you have any sort of joint or muscle pain.

Last, but certainly not least, I became obsessed with another wellness product this past month actually that I can no longer picture my life without! I splurged and got a Theragun, you guys… This year, my boyfriend and I skipped Christmas presents and decided to take the leap and get a G3 Theragun to share (he has major back pain from corporate America life). If you’re not familiar, a Theragun is a high-powered massage gun that truly gets into any tight muscles or aches that come up. After sitting at my computer for hours, I get that little kink in my lower back – 2 minutes with this thing gets it right out! It definitely is pricey, but invest in yourself! We truly will get our money’s worth out of this thing!

Well, there you have it! I wanted to share some of the products that I loved during 2019. I of course have so many more skincare and wellness products that I fell in love with – but I tried to avoid repeating myself and wanted to talk about some things that I never have before! I hope this was helpful and that you learned about some new products to possibly try out this year! What were your cult-faves of 2019? Let me know in the comments down below!

My Go-To Beauty Products Available on Amazon

by arrows+attitude, posted in Favorites, skincare

Available with the click of a button.

Summer is coming & this is the time of year that I am always super motivated to take care of myself. Exercise, diet, skin – I love to be on top of it all when the weather starts taking a turn for the better.

With new routines, comes some amazing products that I want to give a shoutout to. Look, everyone’s busy. We don’t have time to run to the store anytime we need something. Believe it or not, some of my favorite beauty products in my routine are available to purchase on Amazon – making my life that much easier.

Without further ado, let’s get into my go-to beauty products available on Amazon…
Ice Roller, ~$10

If you already aren’t on this bandwagon, jump on in! Having a ice roller at my disposal for the past few years has been a game changer in my morning routine. We all wake up a little puffy after a night of drinking, salty foods, etc. Keeping an ice roller like this in the freezer to use while you drink your morning coffee, celery juice or tea is the most refreshing thing you can do to start off your day. It reduces inflammation, especially near my jawline and under eyes. Definitely a tool I’ll never give up!

Facial Steamer, $30-$40

Yes – this looks a little dramatic to be sitting on your bathroom counter, but it’s what we do for beauty, ladies! You know how fresh and dewy your skin feels when you step out of a hot shower? You can achieve that feeling everyday with this easy tool. A facial steamer will easily become the most relaxing component to your routine. The warm steam opens up your pores to allow products, especially serums, to absorb deeper and better into your skin. Pop on a podcast, your favorite album, or just enjoy some peace and quiet & add this extra dimension to your skincare routine.

Facial Spatula, $5

I’ve talked about my love for a good facial spatula before, but I need you all to know there are very inexpensive options available on Amazon! I use my facial spatula to apply masks, moisturizers, scrubs, anything to my face and it applies the product evenly without getting my hands covered in that, sometimes expensive, product! It’s such a simple tool that you may have never thought that you needed, but it makes application and cleanup so easy that I recommend you adding it to your cart during your next Amazon spree.

Silicon Face Mask, $10

Ok trust me, I know what this looks like – terrifying. But if you’re an avid-wearer of sheet masks, this may look like another Tuesday night to you. Why might you need this, you ask? I was struggling applying moisturizers and serums to my face, and 2 minutes later it seemed like they evaporated from my skin. Poof, gone. I then had the idea to research to see if there was anything like this, a mask you could use to allow that product to fully sink in. Apply your favorite moisturizer, serum, cream to your skin & then wear this Silicon Face Mask overtop for as long as you’d like. It keeps your skin moist and makes sure your skin doesn’t dry out or not fully allow the products to sink in. Yes, you may look like a serial killer with this thing on – but it’s the price we pay.

As for actual skincare products on Amazon, I usually steer clear. I’ve ordered moisturizers, lip care, etc. in the past, and sometimes they come from a different seller/supplier – creating the chance that the product isn’t legitimate or safe for your skin. As for tools, eat your heart out! Always check the reviews and take some of my recommendations & really spice up your beauty routine. Of course, none of these are necessary for perfect skin. Use what works for you!

Until next time,

✩ March Favorites ✩

by arrows+attitude, posted in Favorites

Better late than never!

Hey ladies! So as you might’ve noticed, I’ve been gone for a couple weeks. I have been in Los Angeles working on a new TV show so I’ve been working 16 hour days. Now we’re back & better than ever and ready to deliver some of my favorite products from this past month! Let’s get right into it…

Quay Blue Light Glasses, $65

Alright, first up is probably my favorite product of this entire post. I finally caved and got some blue light glasses – I’m literally wearing them as I type this! If you’re not sure what they are, they block the blue light from our phones and computers from creating negative effects on our eyes. Extended exposure to blue light can disrupt your sleep cycle and create strain on your eyes. Nobody wants that! I’ve always seen the glasses on Amazon but when I saw this pair in the Quay store, I just had to. Not only are they stylish, they’re helping my eyes at the same time. Win, win!

Vermont Village Vinegar Shots, $16 per pack

None of us like to take the god awful apple cider vinegar shots, but the benefits have us drinking them through the pain. If you’ve ever had ACV, you know how acidic it is – meaning it’s not great for your teeth. I found these vinegar shots from Vermont Village that have a little more tolerable flavor and are meant to dilute in your water. This way, my teeth can be spared & I don’t mind consuming ACV everyday!

Kopari Coconut Deodorant, $14

This deodorant has been a lifesaver for me this month. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been working in LA in the heat. I’ve been using natural deodorant for some time now, but this one from Kopari truly, truly works for me. This deo is aluminum-free which means you won’t have clogged pores in your armpits and prevents a harmful ingredient from getting into your bloodstream through those pores! I used to believe I would never find a natural deodorant that actually worked for me, until this one. It smells amazing, doesn’t leave white residue & is safe for your lymphatic system. If you’re wanting to make the switch, this is the #1 one I’d recommend!

Vital Proteins Collagen Shot – Glow

Speaking of wellness shots, here’s another one I’ve been loving! Vital Proteins is known for their collagen powders, but late last year they started selling individual liquid shots & I’m obsessed. I’ve been loving the “Glow” one because in just one little shot it has 7g collagen peptides, 60mg of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and biotin. To put that in clearer terms, it’s amazing for your skin! I find mine in Whole Foods so I don’t have to buy an expensive bulk pack. Tequila shots on the weekends, collagen shots during the week!

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion, $6

Back in my January Favorites, I showed you guys my holy grail lip balm from Palmer’s. I discovered their Cocoa Butter Lotion this past month and my life was forever changed. This is the best naturally smelling & hydrating lotion I have ever used. I am pretty bad about regularly applying lotion, but I get excited about applying this stuff! It’s also super affordable and doesn’t contain drying fragrances. I’m obsessed.

There you have it – the products I’ve been obsessed with over the past month! These Favorites posts are always my favorite to write & I hope you were introduced to some new things! This month was all about wellness for me, so go ahead and get started with your self-care!

✩ February Favorites ✩

by arrows+attitude, posted in Favorites

It feels like yesterday that I just shared my January favorites with you all. This month flew by! But, I still happened to fall in love with a few things within that short window and per usual, I feel the need to share.

This was the month that I finally got on top of things in my life: work, wellness, etc. I also have been experiencing extremely cold and windy weather, which I have not loved. My first product helped me get through that. Here are my February Favorites…

LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask

The only reason my lips have not completely fallen off of my face during these cold temperatures is my LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask. This product gives my lips the deepest hydration they’ve ever had and I haven’t had crusty lips since purchasing. It’s called a “sleeping mask” because it works great when used overnight, but I find myself using it during the daytime if I’m spending time outside. Must have.

OUAI Dry Shampoo Foam

I’ve been exercising a ton this month which has been great for my body but not so great for my hair. We all know we shouldn’t be washing our hair everyday, but sweaty & greasy hair is a no go. There are plenty of great and cheaper dry shampoo products out there, I have a ton! But I decided to try out the OUAI Dry Shampoo Foam because I thought it looked unique. I became obsessed the first time I used it and now I already need to run out and pick up another bottle. It’s the consistency of a mousse, but instantly sinks into your hair and absorbs the oils. I have no clue how it works, but it works for me!

Tesla High Frequency Current Facial

The 100% most life-changing discovery I made this month was the Tesla current. Guys, as you can see in the photos, I was struggling with some hormonal acne around my chin. Not even two days after this facial, my acne completely flattened out and essentially disappeared! The wand you see in the photo is where the current is administered & it delivers a non-painful “zap” to your problem areas, killing the bacteria below and around a zit. This facial also can reduce fine lines, decongest puffy eyes & reduce the appearance of under eye circles. The next time you’re seeing your esthetician, ask them about a high frequency facial! I’m addicted.

Bliss Mint Chip Mania Mask

Ok, if you have a sweet tooth, I found the perfect mask for you. I’ve been a fan of Bliss for quite some time now, but I just got around to trying their Mint Chip Mania mask and holy moly, I’m hooked. It literally looks & feels like ice cream and don’t even get me started on the smell. It contains aloe vera so it truly feels cool on the skin the entire time you have it on & it feels so good. The shea butter “chocolate chips” help exfoliate the skin when you wash it off and the skin is left smooth and refreshed. Cute sh*t like this keeps me going.

CycleBar

Like I mentioned in the introduction, I really have been trying to get on top of my fitness lately. I don’t love going to a gym and running on a treadmill for a half hour, it’s hard for me to get excited about it. That’s why I love taking fitness classes – you can’t slack off & they are designed to be fun and motivating. I’ve been going to CycleBar, a cycling studio, for a couple years now, but this month I went almost every other day. The instructors and music make for a great workout and I leave drenched in sweat every single class. Since cycling classes can be pretty pricey, I book classes through my Class Pass which allows me to get more for my money. Let’s hope this habit sticks through March as well!

Thank U, Next

You saw this one coming. Not only have I been a huge Ariana Grande for years now, she keeps pumping out amazing music lately and I can’t get enough. Her most recent album Thank U, Next has been on repeat ever since it dropped earlier this month. My favorite songs are “7 Rings,” “Needy,” “In My Head.” Please tell me you’ve been listening, too?

February was short, but sweet. These were a few of my current obsessions, I can’t wait to see what I get into this next month! What were some of your favorites this month? Share them down below!

What’s In My Shower? My Go-To Shower Products

by arrows+attitude, posted in Favorites

If you couldn’t already tell – I love sharing my favorite products with you all! This week, I’m sharing my go-to products that I need when I jump in the shower to wash off a stressful day.

After searching far and wide, I’ve finally locked down some favorites that truly work for my skin & hair. Showers, for me, aren’t just used to rinse off a workout or wash my hair, they’re a time where I can relax and decompress; these products help me do that.

HAIR

Raw Sugar The Bounce Back Shampoo & Conditioner, $9.99

Taking care of my hair is the utmost importance to me, so finding the perfect shampoo & conditioner for my hair has been a struggle. After I tried Raw Sugar, I fell in love. Common hair products are packed full of harmful ingredients, I never understood that. This duo not only smells incredible, but has no parabens, sulfates or silicones, is made with organic extracts and is completely vegan/cruelty-free. After regularly using these, I noticed my hair looking shinier and feeling stronger.

dpHUE

dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse, $35

Speaking of hair miracles, direct your attention to this incredible hair rinse. I’m obsessed with celebrity hair colorist @justinandersoncolor on Instagram & he introduced me to this brand he co-founded, dpHUE. They have some pretty amazing products, one of them being this apple cider vinegar hair rinse. Apple cider vinegar helps cleanse your scalp as well as strip all the impurities right out of your hair. I use this as both a shampoo & conditioner substitute about every other week and it leaves my hair feeling softer than it’s ever been.

BODY

Formula No. 45 Coffee Body Scrub, $9.99

If you’ve seen my previous post, you’d know that I put a lot of importance in exfoliation. Scrubbing off a spray tan, dry skin or a horrible week is a necessity in my routine. This scrub from Formula No. 45 is my absolute favorite because it not only leaves my skin feeling polished, but it smells exactly like coffee & vanilla! The coffee scent is invigorating and the coconut oil its made with leaves you feeling clean and moisturized.

Skin & Co Blue In Capri Shower Gel, $22

For so long I used body washes that smelled fruity & fresh, but left my skin feeling dry and stripped of it’s natural oils. I received this shower gel from Skin & Co in my FabFitFun box last year and I haven’t stopped using it since! The scent is more earthy, which I love & actually leaves my skin feeling silky and smooth. In addition, the scent actually lasts on my skin all day. Love, love, love.

FACE

The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash, $18 (on sale now for $13!)

If I’m ever in a rush to get my day started or just want to get a jump start on my skincare routine, I like to wash my face in the shower. Clean up is way easier & I don’t have to break my back hovering over the sink! Anyway, this Skin Clearing Facial Wash from The Body Shop is one of my favorites because tea tree always leaves my face feeling fresh as can be. It claims to deeply clean blemished skin and remove excess oil. If you’re looking for a cleanser to have in your shower, this one has worked wonders for me!

Shea Moisture

Shea Moisture Purifying and Hydrating In-Shower Mask, $13

If you don’t have a lot of time for self-care everyday, I suggest trying to get it done by multitasking! I love a good face mask and getting it done in the shower kills two birds with one stone. I like to slap a mask on while shaving or waiting for my conditioner to sink in. This one from Shea Moisture contains activated charcoal so it pulls dirt and impurities out of your skin and provides a deep cleanse. For an affordable price, pick it up and give it a try!

Everyone has a different shower routine; that was mine! These products haven’t let me down yet, so I keep coming back to them. It took a while to find products that actually worked for my skin & hair, so don’t be discouraged if you’re still on the lookout! I wanna hear what some of your holy grail shower products are, sound off in the comments!

✩ January Favorites ✩

by arrows+attitude, posted in Favorites

2019 is off to a good start.

Anyone that knows me, knows I love to test and try new products. Thinking about all of different things I’ve tried this past month, made this post very pertinent! Instead of droning on, let’s just get into some of my favorite things from January…

Face mask applicator

Yes, I am aware of how pretentious this sounds; but hear me out. For so long, my face mask “applicator” was my hands, plain & simple. This month, I decided to pick up a mask spatula and my life was forever changed. First of all, super satisfying. Second, it saves you the mess of washing (& wasting) a bunch of clay mask off of your hands every time you apply!

Celery juice

Next up is me fully admitting that I jumped head-first onto the bandwagon. I give full credit to fellow blogger All Day Pretty for turning me onto drinking celery juice every morning. Guys, this stuff works wonders. It lowers inflammation, reduces bloating, heals acne & truly flushes out your system. I’ve noticed that I’ve physically been feeling better ever since introducing this magical juice into my life. Break out your old dusty juicer or head to your local health food store and give it a try. Bottoms up!

Sugar Bear Hair

Ok, don’t judge me yet. You’ve seen this stuff all over your Instagram feed and maybe their advertising has worked on you as well. I used to think Sugar Bear Hair was another gimmick aimed towards millennials — until I tried it. Kylie Jenner was right, guys. This sh*t works (for me, at least.) If you don’t know, these are hair, skin & nails vitamins. I’ve always had short and brittle nails, like I would be embarrassed to get a manicure. After taking these the entire month of January, my nails have never been so long and healthy, EVER! Not to mention my hair has also grown rapidly as well! Obsessed.

Mario Badescu Skincare

I think after years of searching, I’ve finally found my go-to skincare company. Although I’ve been using Mario Badescu products for a while now, this month I’ve been using a ton of new stuff. I’ve been lucky to never have had horrible skin, but it does have it’s moments. I’ve found that their products like their Aloe Moisturizer, Seaweed Night Cream and all of their facial sprays have truly made a difference for my skin. Usually I like a skincare product because it just makes me feel good, but everything from this brand has actually been pumping out good results.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

I don’t know why I’ve had an unhealthy obsession with lip balms lately, it might be the recent below zero temperatures in Indiana. Anywho, I’ve officially found my favorite one I’ve ever tried. Even though I think they need a major packaging re-design, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lip balm has made it’s way into my product hall of fame. First of all, it’s literally the size of an oversized glue stick which I love because I never lose it. Second, it leaves my lips feeling moisturized all day. Perfection.

Well, there ya have it: my January favorites! Let me know you’re obsessed with any of these products as well!