The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang June 17, 2020 in Lifestyle 1 Comment

Career Talk with The Corporate Diary’s Kat Garcia

I’m so excited for today’s interview featuring my friend, colleague, and fellow blogger Kat Garcia. Kat lives in New York City and balances her full-time job with her passion project, The Corporate Diary. Although we live on different coasts, we instantly bonded over our love of fashion and all things beauty, and asking ourselves over coffee dates if it’s really possible for women to have it all. She’s smart, sassy, and super driven (not to mention SO stylish) – so I knew I had to interview her to share her journey and experience, and some of her secrets for juggling everything and looking flawless while doing so.

Meet Kat Garcia, of The Corporate Diary

Introduce yourself.

Well, hello there, I’m Kat Garcia! I define myself as a polymath and someone who has been blessed to boast many titles: management consultant, business entrepreneur, television/film actor, singer/songwriter, Forbes contributor, and currently a growth architect in corporate venture capital.

Tell us about your career path, and how you got to where you are today.

While it would take me too long to describe how I got from one place in my life, I’ve thankfully documented most of it on my YouTube, haha.

I started off on television when I got casted in my first television series as a recurring principal in a show called “Tactik”. My character’s name was Chastity Gomez-Baker – an exchange student from Vancouver, Canada who moves to Quebec, in order to learn French (yep – it’s a French TV show!) It was targeted towards pre-teens and got picked up by network TV5 Monde in France, Germany and other parts of Europe. Acting was my first love. It allowed me to be entrepreneurial with the audience I began to speak to, which explains my passion for digital ventures, growth and business.

My education at McGill University catapulted my corporate career and my path became clearer with time. From digital advertising, management consulting to corporate VC, I’ve learned a lot and have never stopped applying my learnings from different jobs, cultures, industries and skills to the multiple projects I’m a part of.

Tell me more about Kat Garcia Online!

Kat Garcia houses content for young ambitious professionals, and more.

With a variety of blogs and video series, www.katgarciaonline.com is more than a destination. It’s a carefully curated collection of stories and insights, while shedding like on the female perspective. While I share my life in New York through lifestyle videos and articles, my personal favorite series is The Corporate Diary. It’s where I interview women in male-dominated fields, while alluding to my own ventures and opinions on all things business.

What are your thoughts on having a side hustle?

Totally for it, but I like to think of side hustles as hobbies. Entrepreneurial ventures are fun for me, and have always been a way for me to play. It removes the pressure, and I don’t think of it as work. I already have a demanding full-time job. Removing the “hustle” out of my spare time is more motivating.

I’ve always had [side hustles]. Growing up with a creative and business-savvy Colombian mother meant I was selling jewelry around lunch time at age 9. In Latin American culture, there’s none of this “you have to choose, and be one thing”. I’m glad I never adopted the mentality that to be specialized or thought of as a leader in one field, I must give up on everything else. The truth is, I have many talents and have actively developed skill sets in a variety of different worlds. It’s actually what has helped me get to where I am in the corporate world. The more the merrier, is what I think.

What career / life advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

You’re going to make mistakes. Forgive yourself. It’s not L for losses but lessons.

From being in the wrong job for too long to falling in love with a person who doesn’t deserve you, mistakes will be a part of your journey, but once you’re done and ready to move on, forgive yourself first. Instead of waiting for the world to forgive you, for the world to see you, remember that all you have is yourself…so she better pick you up and say “It’s okay. I see you, and I’ve got you”.

Your physical and mental health are #1

To the incredible women in my life who inspire me to better myself, everyday…thank you for not only killing it at your jobs but primarily, teaching me that no one is immune to the consequences of poor working environments leading to mental and health problems.

I didn’t know how bad it was out there until I spoke to the women in my life – my age – who I saw as smarter, more rational, kinder, possessing greater emotional intelligence. As I shared my experiences and breaking points, they revealed theirs, and people…let me tell you, the corporate world is tough, especially for women. Put your mental health first. If you have to take a day off, take it. If you’ve pushed through and you foresee risks to your physical and emotional wellbeing, arm yourself today by tactically pushing back, and planning for your next move.

What are your values? Know them. Learn them. Practice them.

I was blessed with amazing parents. We talked about values, right and wrong, almost every day at the dinner table. As my sister and I poured our feelings, describing what was going on with our friends, our dreams, and obstacles, we learned to understand the values being passed on to us. What was important to us. What our principles were and their significance.

When you’re in your 20s, life is going to come at you. You will be placed in situations of fight or flight. You will have people impose their values on you. Their world views on you. You will have to be strong and understand where your values lie and the best way to be prepared is to know what they are.

Companies will talk about their values when they interview you. You usually have to memorize a few…It’s crazy to think we know our companies’ values more than we can recite our own.

[ Adapted from “What Advice Do You Have for Women in Their 20s?” – Katgarciaonline.com ]

How do you find time to do everything?!

Ah, the truth is, I don’t.

I really try though, and it’s because I love to multi-task. I get very excited about the many ideas I have and am careful about the ones I choose to execute. And I definitely struggle with consistency and maintaining motivation, but I know what it’s like to let myself and others down because of it.

I use Asana and checklists for my day to day, and organize everything from work, to personal life, to what I should eat! It helps me stay focused, organized and happy. Prioritization is key, as well. Understanding your boundaries comes into play when prioritizing and executing. If I don’t agree with the external deadlines others have placed on me where the priority is low, for instance, my hobbies, I’ll push deadlines back and vocalize my boundaries.

What are 3 things young women should do in the workplace to set themselves up for success?

1. Advocate for yourself everyday.

It’s not about advocating for your work when you want a promotion. It’s about calling out your triumphs whenever you have them. Also, it’s about fearlessly asking for what you need.

2. Know when to be “yourself”

Work is business, not personal. It’s easy to forget that because many workplaces are friendly and special. There is a time when you’ll know when you can be yourself, and with whom, but figuring that out is a journey of its own.

3. Have a real life outside of work

It’s not easy to achieve and harmonize but being able to finish the work day to come out to a fruitful home life is helpful in being set up for success. When things go bad at work, you can rely on the success of a beautiful personal life, and vice versa. It’s like diversifying success and it removes the pressure from one world to another.

You always manage to look put together and polished in the office. What are your favorite style and beauty tricks for the workplace?

Aw, thank you!

My current job allows me to play a lot more with my mood. I can pull an Olivia Pope head-to-toe boss outfit one day, and then come in with a dark NYC activewear look. I have to admit, I’m more of an Olivia Pope meets Victoria Beckham meets Rachel Zane kinda girl.

However, I’ve recently purchased a bright red cropped hoodie & legging combo, and I cannot wait to wear it on Zoom! While I would have loved to come to the office with it, maybe the leggings would’ve been pushing it a little – haha. Working remotely actually comes in handy.

Beauty tricks, hmm. I love a hydrating mask and my Estee Lauder anti-aging kit. Otherwise, I wear a lot of makeup on a day-to-day and enjoy a NYX contour and blemish-heal Almay foundation. It is the only foundation that I’ve now been wearing for 7+ years. No acne.

Must-have pieces for women to have in their workwear wardrobe?

A power suit.

A Victoria Beckham inspired business dress.

A pair of nude heels.

Stay tuned for much more career content (do we like these more corporate oriented interviews?!), and be sure to check out Kat’s site and YouTube for more content for the young, ambitious woman.

By Amy Zhang May 20, 2020 in Wedding 1 Comment

The Best Digital Invites and Wedding Websites from Bliss & Bone

One of the best decisions I’ve made while wedding planning is the decision to use Bliss & Bone for our Save the Dates and wedding website. Not only is it a small business run by the absolute nicest couple (Carl and Cindy – they are SO easy to work with), it has everything you need in one place to stay organized and communicate with your guests. Not to mention, their designs and customizable templates are absolutely gorgeous. When it comes to aesthetic, Bliss & Bone just gets it.

Why I love Bliss & Bone

+ Pre-made or entirely custom templates you can make your own

Their templates are modern and clean, which is very much my aesthetic. If you’re looking for something a little edgier or want to go the completely custom route, you can do that through Bliss & Bone. No graphic design experience needed, but it gives you an opportunity to set the stage for your wedding aesthetic. It takes a little more time to set up than your typical wedding website. But you have so much more flexibility to make it your own. And it’s still much easier than designing it entirely from scratch.

+ Thoughtful design details throughout

Bliss & Bone templates and designs feel luxe and modern – it isn’t your cookie-cutter website. I especially love the range of fonts and calligraphy options you can use to create semi-custom logos.

+ Going paperless never looked so chic

Considering skipping paper save the dates or invitations? Go paperless! Forgoing paper is not only sustainable and gives brides planning more flexibility (custom paper goods take a long time to design and finalize, which may not be an option depending on your wedding timeline), it also saves a lot of money. If you’re tight on budget but don’t want to skimp on the aesthetics, I highly recommend looking into digital save the dates and/or invitations.

We knew we wanted to send paper invitations to our guests. But we did opt to send digital Save the Dates due to timing. (Our original wedding date was less than a year out from our engagement. And we wanted to communicate travel plans to our guests as soon as possible). Now that our wedding has been postponed due to COVID-19, we will be announcing our new date through Bliss & Bone.

+ Matching paper designs

On a similar note, if you’re looking to maintain a cohesive aesthetic from start to finish, Bliss & Bone helps you do that! From digital communications to the wedding website to fully customizable paper goods, you can do it all and more on the website.

+ Helps you stay organized

Anyone who has planned a wedding knows how chaotic and stressful it can be! Bliss & Bone allows you to input all of your guest information into an address book, track and manage RSVPs and preferences, and send updates as needed. Our website also had in-depth travel information, details on all of the events, things to do in the area, and FAQs. Basically, you can provide your guests with all of the information they need and more.

Although wedding planning may be on pause, I’m still using Bliss & Bone – I might even redesign our website just for fun. If you’re interested in trying out Bliss & Bone, you can sign up for a free 7-day trial to play around with the designs and templates yourself before committing to a longer-term plan.

By Amy Zhang May 15, 2020 in Lifestyle 2 Comments

The Lipstick Effect – Little Luxuries to Add to Your Life

The Lipstick Effect

It’s hard to believe we’ve been staying home for two months! Even though I gave up retail therapy as a method of coping with stress years ago, that doesn’t mean I don’t treat myself! Something interesting I came across the other day was the concept of the lipstick effect. Basically, it’s the theory that during economic crises and recessions, consumers won’t buy as many luxury goods and will instead buy designer lipstick. Even though consumers are spending less on high-end jewelry, handbags, and clothing, they will still purchase luxury goods at a lower price point. Our taste for little luxuries and treats does not go away, we just shift to more affordable items. Think less Chanel handbags, more Chanel lipsticks.

To a certain extent, I agree with this philosophy. Personally, I have not been shopping much since staying and working from home, with the exception of a few items that I know I will use regularly. However, during times like this, I believe it’s still important to treat yourself! Whether that’s takeout once a week or a small purchase every month, it’s something to look forward to and brighten your time at home. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of items that are functional yet luxurious.

Little Luxuries to Add to Your Life

+ Luxe Slippers

Let’s be honest, most of our shoes are in the back of our closet collecting dust. I’ve been living in sneakers and slip-on shoes, and have my eyes on these fluffy slippers.

+ Spa Level Robe

Get yourself a luxurious robe and feel pampered every day. I’ve had this robe for years and love getting ready in it.

+ New Bedding

Investing in quality sheets and bedding is a gamechanger. These linen sheets from Parachute are my favorite – they’re a little pricier but absolutely worth saving up for. You’ll feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud, and the fabric is perfect for warmer months.

+ Milk Frother

Miss your lattes from the coffee shop? They’re surprisingly easy to make, and I’ve been kicking myself for all the money I’ve spent on lattes over the year. Add frothed milk (dairy or non-dairy) to kick up your coffee or tea game up another notch.

+ Bougie Candles

Set the vibe for relaxation with a candle at the end of the day. It also helps to separate your work from your personal space – lighting a candle sets the tone that the day is over and you can unwind. My favorites include Diptyque, Le Labo, Byredo, and Boy Smells.

+ Skincare

Now is the perfect time to get your skincare routine down. My favorite new product I’ve incorporated into my routine is peel pads – I like the Eve Lom pads (can be used daily) and Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads (I use 1-2x a week). Since we aren’t able to get facials right now, peel pads are a more affordable way to get spa-level results at home. They leave your skin feeling baby soft, and your serums and moisturizers will absorb into your skin better. It’s really been a miracle product for my skin.

+ NYT Cooking Subscription

Quarantine has forced us to up our cooking game and the best purchase I’ve made in this area is a subscription to the New York Times Cooking section. For $40 a year, you get access to thousands of recipes.

What are little luxuries you’ve purchased recently?

By Amy Zhang April 30, 2020 in Lifestyle, Recipes 4 Comments

The BEST Spicy, Skinny Margarita Recipe

Now that the weather is heating up and we’re still social distancing at home, I’ve turned to making my favorite drinks at home. I’m not the biggest cocktail fan as I generally find them to be too sweet, but I absolutely LOVE a skinny spicy margarita. These are not your typical syrupy and overly sweet margaritas you get at your local Mexican restaurant. These are light and refreshing, I honestly don’t even care that they’re “skinny” – I just prefer my margaritas this way! I swear these also don’t give me any hangovers (as long as you don’t have too many!).

A spicy skinny margarita my go-to drink for girl’s nights, date nights, sitting outdoor, honestly so many situations! It’s the ideal drink, in my opinion. The best part is how easy they are to make! I am the furthest thing from a mixologist but I can whip one of these up within minutes. They are SO good with chips & salsa/guac and just scream summertime. Perfecting our recipe at home has been a game-changer. I’ve had so many variations of this drink over the years, I honestly avoid it at most places unless I know they do it well. There are so many things that can go wrong with a margarita, so once you find a recipe you like it’s worth asking the bartender very, very nicely if they’ll make it the way you prefer. So with that said, here is my insanely easy but so refreshing spicy (skinny) margarita recipe.

The BEST Spicy Skinny Margarita Recipe

The key to a good skinny margarita is to go easy on the sweetener and use FRESH juices. It’s a little more effort, but honestly SO worth the squeeze. The secret ingredient in ours is freshly squeezed orange juice rather than orange liquor (typically Triple Sec or Cointreau). It’s a small change but you will notice the difference immediately – I promise you won’t miss the liquor AT ALL. You’re also cutting out the added sugar and alcohol, which is a major bonus in my book.

The second change is to go easy on the sweetener. If you’re at a bar or restaurant and don’t want to drink tequila on the rocks (the “skinniest” drink but not the easiest to consume), you can always ask for a margarita with lots of fresh lime juice and to go easy on the sweetener. If you’re a little more particular, you will want to be specific about how much sweetener. I make mine at home to taste and don’t usually measure the amount of sweetener (we use agave), but I would estimate it is about a teaspoon, if that.

Most margarita recipes call for 1 ounce of sweetener per drink – that is A LOT of sugar, think a shot glass worth. All of this sugar is what ultimately leads to hangovers and major headaches the next day. Cutting down on the sweetener and using freshly squeezed fruit juice – which also has sugar, I have to add – which be a lot easier on your body.

Spicy Skinny Margarita Recipe

+ 2 oz tequila – I like Casamigos Blanco for my margaritas, but Espalon is good for cocktails as well and really affordable.

+ 1/2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice – I usually use 1/4 of an orange

+ 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice – I usually use 1 medium-sized lime

+ 1 jalapeno, sliced (to taste)

+ 1/4 – 1/2 oz agave nectar or sweetener of your choice

+ Salt for the rim – I like Tajin, or none at all

+ Lime wedges

+ Ice

Instructions:

If you like salt on the rim, do this step first. Rub a lime wedge around the top of your glass and dip it in salt. Chile lime salt or Tajin compliments a spicy margarita very well. If you’re looking to go easy on the salt you can skip this step entirely or just do half of the rim.

To make the cocktail: muddle jalapeno slices and lime in a cocktail shaker. Adjust the amount of jalapeno depending on your spice preference – I like mine extra spicy so I always use at least 1/2 of a jalapeno. Go easy to start, you can always add more! Add agave, orange juice, and tequila. Shake and strain over ice – garnish with a lime wedge and jalapeno slices.

You can easily adjust this recipe for different margarita variations by adding different fruit juices to the mix or muddling fresh fruit in place of the jalapenos. Some ideas: fresh watermelon, mango, passionfruit, raspberries. The possibilities are endless!

By Amy Zhang April 28, 2020 in Beauty 3 Comments

An Honest Drunk Elephant Skincare Review

Drunk Elephant is a brand I’ve shared a LOT on my blog and social media for the past few years, so I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to put together a comprehensive review of all of the skincare products I’ve tried from the line. Drunk Elephant gets a lot of buzz for its clean skincare products that are known for being “for all skin types” and highly effective. The founder of Drunk Elephant, Tiffany Masterson recommends you use several of the products together for optimal results, but this comes at a super steep price. If you buy the suite of skincare products, you’re looking at almost $1,000 worth of skincare products in one go!

I’ve been using Drunk Elephant products for several years now on and off, and have found that my skin definitely improves with regular use of specific products (tighter, smoother, softer, clearer). To be fully transparent, I have received free products from Drunk Elephant, but more often than not I actually repurchase my favorites on Sephora because I can’t get enough! Below is my honest review of the Drunk Elephant skincare products I’ve tried and which I think are worth your money.

An Honest Drunk Elephant Review

Personally, Drunk Elephant is one of my favorite skincare lines. I stand by the quality and effectiveness of most of the products I’ve used – but understand that due to the price point and differences in skin, they might not be for everyone! I will say that I know people with wildly different skin than my own, that use the same products and love them. If you’re on the fence, I always recommend getting a sample from Sephora (they’re amazing about this!) before committing. They also have tons of kits with smaller versions of the product (I love The Littles if you want to try a bunch of the products at once!) before you commit to the full size. They’re also perfect for travel, and my go-to whenever I’m on the go.

Drunk Elephant’s philosophy is that less is more and that only ingredients that actually benefit the health of your skin should be in the product itself. Also, all of their products are vegan and clean! Note that I’ve mostly tried their original skincare products, since the initial launch they have released more products that I haven’t tried (yet!).

Beste Jelly Cleanser

This cleanser does MAJOR work! I have somewhat dry and sensitive skin, and I definitely feel like this cleanser strips my skin clean after washing my face, but in a good way? If that makes sense. I typically only use it if I have a lot of makeup to remove or after a very sweaty workout – it’s also great if I’m looking to double cleanse. If you have oilier or combination skin I think this cleanser would definitely be a major WIN. It’s a bit steep at $32 a bottle, so keep this in mind before purchasing.

C Firma Day Serum

I’ve written about this Vitamin C serum a LOT. If you’re not using a Vitamin C serum in your daytime skincare routine yet, read this post on why it’s a must for your skin. I’ve read some reviews online complaining that this particular formula can be a little sticky and oxidizes over time (the color goes from a clear serum to a darker orange – Drunk Elephant says this is natural and the shelf life is 6 months!). My personal experience has been to purchase the smaller travel size that comes with their moisturizing serum (which when you do the math ounce for ounce comes out to less than the full size).

This is one of my absolute favorite Vitamin C serums. $80 is a lot for the full size, but I still get about a month’s worth of use out of the smaller size because I only use this during the day. I like more potent Vitamin C serums, this one has 15% L-Ascorbic Acid as well as Ferulic Acid and Vitamin E. A comparable Vitamin C serum is another cult favorite, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, which is more than twice the price for the same size!

TLC Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum

It took a while to work up to using this product regularly (at first there was some slight irritation), but now I can use it 3-4x a week without a problem. I love skincare products that show instant gratification and work while I sleep, so naturally, I love this night serum. I apply this at night after cleansing and toning and then I wake up with smoother, softer skin. It’s honestly a win-win. The Drunk Elephant serums are expensive so I would recommend trying either C-Firma OR TLC Framboos at first if you’re uneasy about the price.

B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum

For some reason this product doesn’t get as much love online, with some reviewers saying “it didn’t do much” for their skin. I beg to disagree!! I love combining this with C-Firma or TLC Framboos in the morning and evenings to give my skin an added moisture boost. It might just be because I have dry skin, but I love the daytime combination of the two serums together. I’ve even used this as a spot treatment on dry, flakey spots on my face in the past. If you don’t need the added hydration to your skin you can probably pass.

Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer

One of my favorite moisturizers ever. I love this moisturizer more than a lot of similar and higher-priced moisturizers. Peptide moisturizers do so much for your skin – peptides rebuild your skin and boost collagen production, so this moisturizer is ideal for a wide range of ages (I’ll continue to use this into my 30s!). It’s also super gentle and doesn’t cause any irritation at all. Drunk Elephant considers this like adding protein to your smoothie – this moisturizer is filled with good-for-your-skin proteins and nutrients. If you were to only get one product from Drunk Elephant, this is my recommendation! (And a lot more affordable than some of the serums and masks). A jar lasts me a few months, and I use this moisturizer during the day and night.

Virgin Marula Face Oil

I LOVE this facial oil, but admittedly it is very pricey. If you’re not constrained by budget, this is my favorite facial oil I’ve tried and repurchased multiple times. If you’re looking for something more affordable, people seem to like The Ordinary’s dupe (I thought the two products were vastly different, so try both if you’re unsure!). I have dry skin so a good facial oil is a must, I use this during the day and night in the winter and only at night in the summer. After using an at-home peel or exfoliating mask (like Babyfacial!) my skin drinks it up and feels so much better after applying this oil!

C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream

Although I’m not the biggest fan of eye creams, this is one of my favorites that I’ve tried. It’s filled with peptides and Vitamin C, which is ideal for firming and brightening the most delicate skin on your face. If you have an eye cream that you love that’s cheaper you could probably pass, but I will likely be purchasing this product again.

Babyfacial

Probably the most well-known product from Drunk Elephant’s line. The ingredients (25% AHA blend) are powerful, so it’s best used once a week. Babyfacial promises to exfoliate, smooth, and brighten skin. This mask does it all and really lives up to its name – your skin will feel baby smooth afterward and it really is like an at-home facial. I highly recommend following up this mask with an oil or extra hydrating moisturizer. Your skin will be smooth and glowing for days after. If you only have the budget for one product and you’re looking for something that’s the most bang for your buck, I always recommend trying Babyfacial first.

Note – Drunk Elephant also recently launched a hair and body line that I have been testing and will share my review soon!

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