Beauty – The Luxi Look

By Amy Zhang May 9, 2022 in Beauty, Lifestyle 1 Comment

How to Get Glowing Skin for Your Wedding

woman showing Glowing Skin for Your Wedding

Let’s be honest, what bride doesn’t want their best glowing skin for your wedding day? With my wedding about a month away, I’ve been kicking it into overdrive on several fronts – especially when it comes to my skin. The truth is, with skincare oftentimes less is more and it really does come down to the basics. I don’t have any magic serums or secrets – for me, my best skin occurs when I am consistent and mindful with my lifestyle and practices.

The below is what works for me and helps me achieve my best skin – but I also realize everyone is different! Of course, always speak to a dermatologist or other licensed professional if you don’t know where to begin. My routine and habits are established from years of research and trying different things myself. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!

My Tips & Tricks for Glowing Skin for Your Wedding

+ Water

The most obvious answer, but in my experience nothing makes you glow from the inside out more than being well hydrated. It’s so much easier with a big water bottle you can refill throughout the day to keep count. I aim for as many ounces in the day as my weight (for ex: if you weigh 120 pounds, I would aim to drink 120 ounces in a day of water). If it sounds like a ton of water, it is! I add lemon, cucumber, and mint to mine to liven it up.

+ Diet

This is probably the most challenging one for me, but I’ve found that my skin really reflects how I’m nourishing my body from the inside out. Foods that make me happy – healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, avocado, salmon) and lots of greens (I mean LOTS. Like handfuls per meal).

Foods that aren’t so kind to my skin – lots of salt, processed food, sugar, alcohol, fast food, too much caffeine – basically all the fun stuff. I haven’t cut it out entirely, but the couple of weeks before the wedding I probably will just to make sure there aren’t any last minute skin freak outs.

+ Less is more when it comes to products

A really important lesson I learned recently is to find products that work for you and stop testing new products/experimenting around 3 months before your wedding. Due to the nature of my work trying and testing new skincare products, I ended up having a HORRIBLE allergic reaction a couple of months ago that I am still recovering from.

I would really recommend dialing in your skincare routine and any treatments at least 3 months before your wedding day (again, consult a professional if you aren’t sure where to begin!) and then stick to it. Don’t add anything new that could irritate your skin. If it’s working, don’t mess with it.

+ Tailored facials

This is where bringing in professional help is a must. If it’s in your wedding budget to spend a little more on treatments, you’ll be able to more specifically target any skincare concerns or goals you have. I’ve been personally focused on hydrating facials and microcurrent treatments, but I know there are so many other treatments out there from lasers to peels that may help you reach your bridal skin goals faster.

+ Lots of sleep

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and needs adequate sleep and rest to repair and restore itself. Of course, be sure to use a silk pillowcase! This helps to protect your skin and hair. Now is not the time to be messing with your sleep schedule. Getting enough and consistent sleep is one of the keys to managing stress, which brings me to my last point…

+ Less stress

Finally, as hard as this is to do in practice, don’t stress!! Stress is the skin killer of all skin vices. Nothing causes freak skin problems more quickly than stress – usually a cortisone treatment will fix any last minute flare ups, but it really is a vicious cycle where your hormones are all over the place, your skin reacts, which leads to more stress, etc. I’m doing my best to stay zen and not stress in these final 5 weeks. If I crack this code, trust there will be a post on this as well!

Again, this is just how I am choosing to focus on my skincare and self care in the final weeks leading to my wedding. How are your prepping your skin for your big day or other event? xx

By Amy Zhang March 14, 2022 in Beauty, Lifestyle 1 Comment

LOLI Beauty Review

One of my goals this year is to try more clean skincare and makeup (in addition to bringing back the blog!!) and I’m really excited to share this new clean beauty brand I recently came across – LOLI beauty. The brand was super kind to send me over some products to test, and I wanted to share my experience with LOLI firsthand.

About LOLI Beauty

LOLI — which stands for Living Organic Loving Ingredients — is the world’s first zero waste, organic and MADE SAFE® certified skincare brand. On a mission to stir up a clean + conscious change in beauty, LOLI Beauty’s multitasking products are upcycled from organic food supply, waterless, vegan, non-GMO and cruelty free. Going a step further, LOLI mindfully packages using recycled, recyclable, reusable and garden compostable packaging. LOLI Beauty also offers carbon free shipping and is plastic negative, cleaning up to 2 LB’s of plastic in the universe with every order.

Most beauty products are made with 80-95% water and over-packaged in plastic, despite the double threat of global water scarcity and proliferation of planet polluting plastics. As a beauty industry veteran, LOLI’s founder, Tina Hedges, witnessed the industry’s waste and pollution firsthand and decided to become part of the solution. From sourcing and formulating to packaging and fulfillment, LOLI is transforming the way consumers experience clean beauty.

Recognized for its efforts, LOLI has received the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) Beauty Award for Sustainability Excellence, a Fast Company Fashion Design & Innovation Award, the BYRDIE Eco Conscious Award and a Shorty Social Good Award, in addition to being named “one of the 250 disruptive brands to watch” by IAB. LOLI also is the first and only beauty member of MADE IN A FREE WORLD and FRDM, two platforms that help assess the risk of people trafficking in its supply chain.

https://lolibeauty.com/products/purple-corn-grains

LOLI Beauty Review

My first impression of LOLI was the packaging – cute and sustainable. I loved that everything was in clear glass (note to store in a mild temperature away from the sun!). What I really love about natural and organic products is the ingredients they focus on (ones I recognize and can pronounce!) as well as the scent – LOLI is FULL of superfoods which I love. These make you glow from the inside out, so naturally it makes sense they would benefit your skin as ingredients in your skincare as well! These are the products I tried and focused on – when testing new skincare I always make sure to patch test first and then slowly introduce the products over the course of a few weeks so I can have a better sense for how my skin reacts to the ingredients in the product.

Purple Corn Grains – I’m cautious of exfoliating scrubs. I know some that I have tried in the past have been way too harsh for my skin. LOLI’s version is super gentle and left my skin feeling soft and smooth. This was even after a day in the sun on vacation. With ingredients like purple corn, almond flour, and pomegranate. These are natural product is one I feel comfortable using 3-4x a week or any time I want to give my skin an added natural glow. It’s honestly gentle enough for daily use. Also, a good gentle exfoliant is key to sloughing off dead skin cells to refresh your skin. Also, it helps your other skincare products penetrate your skin to be more effective. It helps your makeup apply on more smoothly as well.

Chamomile & Lavender Tonic

This smelled AMAZING, I love chamomile and lavender individually and was super excited to find a toner that combines two of my favorite ingredients!! It smells heavenly and makes your skincare ritual feel more luxe and spa-like. The toner itself was hydrating, gentle, and removed dirt and makeup from my skin. I’ve been looking for a more natural makeup remover for the days I actually do a full face, and this was a welcome addition to my routine.

Tea Seed Elixir

I LOVE a good face oil – especially with a gua sha to sculpt you face. I use one everyday and love the glow it gives my skin and how soft it leaves it feeling. Also, I had no issues with breakouts or clogged pores and would apply as a last skincare step before sunscreen. Also, I really feel like a good face oil helps to lock in all of the other products (serums, moisturizers, etc.) you use in advance! This one contains tea seed oil, flax seed oil, and apricot oil to naturally hydrate and nourish your skin.

Overall, I really loved LOLI products.

These products are gentle yet effective, and priced fairly given the quality of the ingredients. Of course, an added bonus is they’re natural and organic! I’ll definitely continue to use these products in my daily routine, but am also dying to try some of the other products in the line. (Specifically: this date nut brulee – YUM! and the aloe blueberry jelly).

As many of you know, in addition to writing about fashion, lifestyle, and beauty, I’m also super passionate about digital marketing and social commerce. The marriage of my 9-to-5 side with my blog side and I’m always the first to try out the latest and greatest on these frontiers. Along with the brand LOLI, I’m trying out this new commerce tool built by Fermat Commerce that allows you to buy products directly from the brand while staying on my page. I’d love it if you purchase with me here and let me know what you think – any feedback is welcome! xx

By Amy Zhang April 13, 2021 in Beauty No Comments

Sephora Sale 2021 Picks

The Sephora sale is a great time to stock up on your favorites and try any new products you’ve had your eye on. I’m sharing some of my favorite products, as well as new products I snapped up today. Depending on your status within their loyalty program, you get either 20%, 15%, or 10% off everything in stores or online (use code OMGSPRING).

Makeup

I don’t wear a ton of makeup on a day-to-day basis, but I did take advantage of the Sephora sale to pick up this Ilia skin tint that I’ve heard so much about, as well as this Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, and my go-to concealer. Like everyone, I’ve been inspired by Madison Beer’s makeup tutorial, and am dying for these contour and blush wands to come back in stock. I’m loving the trends of lighter foundation with a glow, feathery brows, and lots of cream blush.

Skincare

This is the best time of year to stock up on skincare – which naturally becomes more important as you get older. Even if you’re in your 20s, invest in quality products now! Some of my must haves from Sephora: these exfoliating peel pads that helped me get through a year without facials during COVID, a good sunscreen, and my favorite daily moisturizer.

Lately, I’ve also been obsessed with this cream that smells amazing, these body products, and these drops for the best at home tan.

Other

If you’ve been eyeing anything Dyson, now is the time to make the purchase. It’s also a great time to buy any fragrance or accessories you’ve been holding off of. I’m obsessed with everything Olaplex, so I’ll be refreshing my empties this week.

What are you buying from the Sephora sale?

By Amy Zhang October 19, 2020 in Beauty 1 Comment

An Honest Nécessaire Review

I first noticed Nécessaire products on my Instagram feed earlier this year, and I’ll admit I was immediately intrigued. Gone are the days of running to the drugstore to buy random toiletries – branding and packaging seem to matter more than ever now. For a product to make the main lineup displayed in your bathroom? Chances are the packaging on the outside needs to be as good as the actual product. Unfortunately, I’ve had my fair share of products in pretty packaging that aren’t actually worth the hype. I went out and bought Nécessaire to try on my own and give an honest review. Before trying, I was wondering if the products would live up to the hype. Here’s my honest take.

An Honest Nécessaire Review

[ The Packaging ]

First impressions count. I’ve seen Nécessaire’s sleek bottles and font all over my social media feed, so I instantly recognized the box when it arrived. Minimalists and neutral lovers seem to flock to Nécessaire’s simple yet elegant packaging. I have to say I love how they look in my shower and on my bathroom counter! I don’t always give my body the same love I give to my face, so my initial thought was hopefully these new products will encourage me to share the skin love a little more.

The brand also prides itself on clean ingredients and sustainable packaging – a mission any consumer can get behind! Their philosophy behind skincare is to use facial grade ingredients on the body, hence the premium price, so needless to say I was excited to try!

[ The Products Themselves ]

The Body Wash

initially I was a little concerned the smell would be too strong, however after using it really mellows out to a beautiful light sandalwood scent. It also comes in Fragrance-Free, Eucalyptus (smells slightly medicinal in a good way, if that makes sense!), and Bergamot. I’ll be trying them all. This is the kind of body wash that you’re excited to use every day!

The Body Exfoliator

To be used in place of the body wash 2-3 times a week. Although this is marketed as an exfoliator, the product itself is extremely fine and gentle on your skin – it feels nothing like the typical harsh and grainy exfoliators. But it will leave your skin baby soft and ready for The Body Lotion!

The Body Lotion

I have VERY dry skin and this moisturizer lasted all day long. I also loved that the lotion was fragrance-free. This was probably my favorite product I tried from Nécessaire and will definitely be a staple in my routine.

[ Final Words ]

My honest take? These products live up to the hype, but you’ll pay a little more for them than your favorite drugstore brand. If pretty packaging and luxe scents are your thing and you’re down to spend $25 on a body lotion, you will LOVE Nécessaire.

Because I’m surprisingly low maintenance when it comes to body care, I really love how streamlined this makes my shower and bathroom routine. The fact that the products are beautiful yet effective makes it all the better. I’m also curious about the body serum, hand cream, and deodorant as well – will have to try these next and report back!

Personally, I definitely plan on continuing to purchase Nécessaire products. They were also kind enough to gift me a set after my first purchase – however as always all opinions are my own!

By Amy Zhang September 27, 2020 in Beauty, Lifestyle 3 Comments

How to Actually Find the Best Beauty Products for Your Skin

Another day, another skincare routine. But really, with quarantine and staying home more, perfecting your skincare routine is more pressing than ever. The problem is, there’s just so much noise in the beauty and skincare space, and it’s very overwhelming to look for the right products for you. It’s no secret brands are constantly launching new products, or that influencers use and promote a ton of products. The key is being able to sift through all of the new releases and pretty images on social media and find what will actually work on your skin. Skincare is so incredibly personal, I always tell people to take my recommendations with a grain of salt.

My holy grail products might not be the same as yours, and that’s totally ok!! We all have such different skin, so I always tell friends and followers to be a little skeptical and do some research before committing to new skincare products or regimens. So, does this mean I think you should never listen to influencer recommendations or what you read online? Absolutely not – I think there’s a lot of truth and important information being shared across social media and online! Here’s how to find the products you should use.

How to Actually Find the Best Beauty Products for Your Skin

+ Look for influencers that share your skin type

Influencers fall along a wide spectrum – some are known for creating insanely beautiful content that brands will repurpose in their own marketing, while others are authentic about their experiences and are reliable for honest reviews. Whatever your reason for following someone, when it comes to skincare in particular, it helps to find someone who has a similar skin type as you. This might sound obvious, but if your biggest skin concern is acne, you probably won’t want to follow a step by step regimen for someone with dry skin.

With makeup, you can go more off skin tone and product consistency than finding someone with your exact skin type (although for products like foundation, your skin type and finish preference will impact which products you prefer). If you follow influencers, look for swatches and more detailed reviews of products rather than a single image or flat lay.

+ Be wary of reviews

There are so many reviews at beauty sites now, it’s easy to be swayed by items that have a ton of 5-star reviews on Sephora. However, in my own personal experience, I’ve found that some of my favorite products have either very few reviews online or lower than expected, while some of the most hyped about products I’ve fallen for haven’t worked for my skin AT ALL. Again, skincare is highly personal so you want to try products out for yourself rather than basing all of your decisions off of short reviews. Another thing to keep in mind is brands will sometimes incentivize influencers or customers to post reviews on sites like Sephora, so there may be a slight bias towards positive reviews.

+ Look for certain ingredients

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also tried to be smarter about what I’m buying. I try to get more bang for my buck from my skincare, which is why I now look more at active ingredients and the concentrated amount in skincare vs. just pretty packaging or good branding. Keep in mind a lot of beauty and skincare is marketing, so you want to cut through the noise and look for active ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid, etc.

+ Don’t judge a product by its price point

This is so important! A lot of us confuse quality with price, and that just couldn’t be further from the truth. Some of my favorite products are under $20 – I love brands like Glossier and The Ordinary. On the higher end, I love Drunk Elephant and Joanna Vargas and will continue to invest in their products. There are also some very expensive brands that get a lot of hype on social media that just didn’t work for me.

+ Ask questions

Don’t be afraid to DM someone on Instagram and ask them for their honest experience with a product or how their skin behaves normally.

+ Get professional advice

If you’re having major skin issues or just have a lot of questions, I always suggest heading to the pros. A dermatologist will be able to answer your skincare questions in-depth and recommend the products and treatments that will help you achieve the results you want. For more serious problems and concerns, they can also prescribe stronger products with a higher concentrate of active ingredients that you can’t get over the counter to target specific skin issues.

+ Trial & error

The best way to get to know your skin is to invest time and energy into it. It takes a long time to realize what works best for your skin type – and that comes through doing more research and trying more products – but it is so worth it! There’s no better confidence booster than feeling comfortable in your own skin, and I highly encourage everyone to take their own journey to get there. Thankfully stores like Sephora have amazing return policies that encourage their customers to try new products to make sure they find ones they love.