It seems like everyone is hanging eucalyptus in the shower these days, and you might be wondering why. Given the state of things in 2020, it’s safe to say my anxiety at times has been sky high. To combat my anxiety, I’ve been looking for little (& affordable) hacks to make my home feel like an oasis. Trying to create spa vibes, but at home. Hanging eucalyptus in the shower has been an instant relaxor. You seriously have to try it!
All you need is fresh eucalyptus and a hair tie (or string, something to tie around the branches!). The best part about eucalyptus is you can buy it at most stores and it’ll cost you around $5. Trader Joe’s usually has it, if not then try your local farmer’s market. I got some from the DTLA flower market and my neighborhood Trader Joe’s.
Once you have the bundle of eucalyptus, you can tie it onto or above your shower head easily with some string, rubber band, or a hair tie. If you don’t have either of those, a vase or container in the shower works just as well! Make sure the leaves are not directly in the line of water. You’ll notice that the leaves will release a smell when you turn on the shower and the bathroom gets a little steamy.
Personally, I LOVE the smell of eucalyptus, even if it’s a little medicinal.
Because eucalyptus leaves are filled with essential oils (the spa like scent you’re familiar with, but typically bottled!), they release the scent and other stress-relieving benefits when you hang them in the shower. Eucalyptus is also often used to relieve chest congestion and other respiratory issues (that’s why it kind of smells like the chest rub you use when you have a bad cold).
Not to mention, it looks so cute hanging in your shower! You can replace the bundle about every 3-4 weeks, depending on when you can no longer smell the eucalyptus.
And that’s it! The easiest cheap shower hack to make your home feel like an instant spa.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
I know it’s only October, but now is the time to start holiday shopping. Ok, hear me out… it might feel like fall is in full swing and it’s the season of pumpkin spice everything and Halloween decorations. But TRUST ME, you want to get a head start on holiday shopping. With everything going on in the world right now, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a crowded mall or paying $30+ for overnight shipping come December. Shipping times are going to be slow with an influx of last-minute shoppers, and you don’t want to be one of them.
Amazon has seriously stepped up its product selection and shopping experience, especially with the launch of their holiday gift guides for the upcoming Prime Day sales, which will be on October 13-14. I for one am very excited about the opportunity to cross off some of my holiday shopping early and done from the comfort of my home. It’s a win-win, honestly.
I’m personally super picky with gifts, so I’m always cautious when making gift guides. I went through and selected these picks only on my favorite gift guides from Amazon below, to spark inspiration as you shop for your loved ones for all of the holiday gifting ahead. Happy shopping!
In the theme of thinking ahead, you’ll likely be in need of a good (faux) tan come December. This mini kit is one of my favorites for a guaranteed flawless fake tan.
Truly a power couple, if you’re looking for a simple nighttime skincare routine this is it. Whoever you gift this to will fall in love with their new glowy skin.
I have this hairdryer and can 100% attest to its quality. My hair is silky smooth after using – I rarely blowdry my hair but I always use this when I want to put a little extra effort into my beauty routine.
On that note, anything Oribe is a good idea if you don’t know what to give someone. The packaging is so luxe and the products smell amazing (and will seriously change your hair) – the perfect “treat yourself” gift for anyone.
I love these glittery eyeshadows for the holidays. They look more intimidating than they actually are – on your eyelid they add the right amount of glitter and shine for a festive makeup look.
I wear mine every day and love it so much, I joke with my fiance that it’s my favorite gift from him ever. Believe it or not, it helps me be on my phone less (I can quickly scan texts, emails, and notifications to make sure they aren’t urgent), and I love tracking my workouts and sleep.
Le Creuset anything makes a great gift for the home cook or domestic goddess, Amazon offers so many items at great prices as well (and a fantastic color selection).
A quality coffee grinder is life-changing, we hardly ever go out for coffee anymore because we usually make it at home and, in my opinion, with the right beans you can basically be your own barista and save tons of money in the process.
It’s easy to default to giving a candle as a gift when you don’t know what to get someone, and it’s honestly a safe bet because 9 times out of 10 they will love it (unless they hate the scent you gift). Nest is always a safe bet.
I like to gift these to someone when they move into a new home, plus whether they use it or not, the bundles are cute and decorative. Super easy stocking stuffer!
A neutral throw blanket is a welcome addition to any home as well. Amazon has a great assortment of cozy neutral and patterned throws to check out this holiday season.
Be sure to check out all of the other gift guides to snag gifts for your loved ones this holiday season early!
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.
Gone are the days of needing to have a drink in social settings – the future of drinking is increasingly less booze forward, and I’m here for it. Personally, I’ve felt my brightest and most energetic when I’ve gone longer periods of time without alcohol. There are so many health benefits to cutting down on alcohol – my favorites being better sleep, skin, digestion, and mood. So it’s no surprise that I’m all about the trend of moving away from alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a spicy marg or a glass of wine or two, but I prefer not to drink most nights. Especially during the workweek or if I have to wake up early and be productive the next day – even just one drink can leave me feeling noticeably less clear-headed the next day. This is what happens when you’re almost 30!!!
Anyway, what I’m really excited about is the bevy (< ha!) of new drinks that not only taste incredible but have no alcohol so you get all the fun of having “a drink” without the added hangover. Now during the week if I want to treat myself with a beverage, I reach for one of these instead of a glass of wine. You won’t miss the booze, trust me!
What to drink instead of alcohol
Kombucha
I love, love, love kombucha. If you’re looking to cut down on soda I highly recommend transitioning to kombucha first – you get gut boosting probiotics and significantly less sugar than a can of soda. My favorites are Healthade and Better Booch (both are local to LA!), however if you’re on a no/low sugar diet be sure to check the label because a bottle of kombucha can still pack 12+ grams of sugar.
Healthy Soda
I love the new “healthy” sodas from OLIPOP and Poppi. These taste better than actual soda (in my opinion) and are so much better for you while satisfying any craving you may have for a carbonated beverage. OLIPOP is filled with prebiotics, plant fiber, and botanicals, so it’s actually beneficial for your digestive health which is pretty cool. Poppi is infused with apple cider vinegar and has 20 calories a can or less, making it a much better alternative to alcohol as well.
Mocktails
You can make a very convincing mocktail thanks to non-alcoholic spirits such as Seedlip. These spirits make some of the best mocktails I’ve ever had, they’re perfect substitutes for alcoholic liquors in cocktails. Of course, it doesn’t taste like a cocktail with alcohol, but the spirits add complexity to what would otherwise be just, well, a mocktail. Before quarantine I saw Seedlip cocktails popping up all over at bars and restaurants in LA/NYC so I think these will continue growing in popularity over the next few years.
My favorite option on this list if I need to unwind at the end of a long day. These are only legal in certain states, but in California, you can find them easily. You still get a light buzz from the microdose of THC and CBD, but none of the hangover from alcohol. The pineapple jalapeno flavor is my favorite if you’re looking to share it with a friend. Lately, I’ve been reaching for these on the weekend instead of a cocktail. I like to pour in a cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of jalapeno or herbs to really give it that happy hour feeling.
What’s your favorite drink at the end of a long week?
