The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang March 26, 2020 in Style 1 Comment

Stay Home in Cozy Loungewear

The only clothing pieces I’m even considering purchasing at the moment are loungewear. I’m still adjusting to working from home, but one thing is certain – comfort is key. Staying at home is fitting for athleisure – one of my favorite trends for years. For those of us that have to video conference, it may be time to upgrade our sweats. If you’re going to buy any clothing right now, I would wholeheartedly recommend loungewear. You’ll wear it all the time while we’re social distancing, and then for months to come. As far as cost per wear goes, sweatpants are a clear winner. That doesn’t mean you have to look like a slob, though! See below for my favorite cozy loungewear sets for you to work and hang from home in.

Stay Home in Cozy Loungewear

Cozy Loungewear Under $50

Monochrome Loungewear

Tie-Dye Cpzy Loungewear

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By Amy Zhang March 23, 2020 in Lifestyle 6 Comments

How to Work From Home (From Someone Who Hates It)

What a year these past few weeks have been. I see similar thoughts all over the Internet and I’ve never agreed more with a sentiment. With all the craziness in the world, it’s been nice to stay home and feel safe and somewhat normal in my own bubble. More on this in a later post, but I’ve been trying to enjoy a slower pace of life. No obligations, and no excuses. Whether you’re an introvert who thrives alone or an extrovert who craves social interaction, we all have the same 24 hours a day. Social distancing has really shed a lot of light on how I choose to spend my time. (We may or may not have watched all of The Tiger King in one sitting, and that’s okay…)

The biggest adjustment for me has been working from home. It’s provided a sense of normalcy in my life (most of my waking hours during the week are still spent working, albeit without my usual commute), but it’s also been difficult. I realized very quickly I dislike working for home. It’s not for me. All of you who say you love and want your companies to allow you to work from home whenever – can you explain this to me?

Those of you who work from home and thrive in it – mad respect. You all have inspired this post.

Maybe it’s because I may be more extroverted than I realized, but I find the most productive and efficient way of working (for me) is to be in the same room with the people I’m collaborating with. Messaging all day via Slack and Email isn’t needed when you can just meet in person for 20 minutes to iron a task out. For the foreseeable future, however, it will be a reality.

I know not everyone has the luxury of being able to work from home, so I realize that I am incredibly fortunate to have the option of doing so at this time. I’m equipped with the tools and team I need to work from home and am trying to make the most of it – and it’s a very new experience for me! I’ve spent the last couple of weeks adjusting to WFH life – some days are more successful than others – but these are the tips that I’ve picked up from others and learned myself, that help make the days productive and satisfying.

How to Get Sh*t Done Working From Home

+ Pretend like you aren’t working from home

This might be a no brainer, but when you mentally allow yourself to work from home, you might be more inclined to do things around the house (even when you shouldn’t). Think about it this way – you wouldn’t do the dishes or a load of laundry during the day normally, because you would be in the office. It’s easy to look around your house and want to fix things the minute you notice them, but try not to. Save the chores for before or after your workday. Avoid working from your bed. “Pack” your lunch if you can.

+ Get in a routine

As someone who craves routine and structure in my life to keep me disciplined, it took me a while to get into a WFH groove. Try to stick to your usual routine as much as possible, but also don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t as regimented as normal. We still try to wake up between 6 and 7 AM, but will allow ourselves to sleep in if we need it (now is the time to get your full 8 hours of sleep!). I also still try to exercise in the mornings before work, have defined hours that are dedicated to working only, and get to free time (virtual happy hours, Netflix, blogging, cooking) afterward.

+ Make your bed

Almost everyone who works from home regularly says this, and I have to say it really works. What a difference this small action makes. Even if you are not the tidiest person, making your bed takes less than five minutes and instantly freshens up your entire home. You’ll feel more accomplished and put together, even if you don’t organize anything else. Your mom was 100% right – make your bed every morning!

+ Define your work attire

I’ve accepted that my WFH attire is athleisure and sweats, and I’m entirely happy with that decision. However, some people find they are more productive when they wear their usual work attire. Figure out what works best for you! Personally, I am enjoying the time I am saving from not wearing makeup and deciding what to wear every day.

+ Time block

The most effective thing for me to do when working from home is to batch my tasks and work in timed increments. If I don’t have to be in a meeting, I write down all of my tasks and choose one to work on. I’ll then set a timer for 15-30 minutes, depending on the task at hand, and will only allow myself to work on that one thing until the timer goes off – no checking my phone! Once the timer goes off, I allow myself a short break before getting back into my to-do list.

This is how I’ve studied for tests in the past and handled lengthy to-do lists – it really keeps me from going crazy when there’s a lot on my plate. There are a lot more distractions for me at home (my fiancé and dog being the main ones) than in the office, so working in short but efficient sprints keeps me productive.

+ Treat yourself

It’s hard to stay disciplined and motivated right now. It’s ok to be less productive than you normally are or feel like you’re in a funk. Now is not the time to beat yourself up for skipping a workout, sleeping in, or doing happy hour more than usual. Do what feels right for your body and take the time to figure out what the new normal looks like for you.

What are your best WFH tips?

By Amy Zhang March 17, 2020 in Beauty No Comments

Latest Empties – Beauty Products I Love

Just because we’re all cooped up at home doesn’t mean we have to let self-care fall entirely to the wayside. Even though my normal routine has been seriously shaken up, I’m still trying to stay committed to my skin and take care of it the best I can from home. The products below are some of my absolute favorite products of all time, basically my ride or dies. I’ve repurchased every one multiple times and have written about them on the blog before. I happened to have a ton of empties recently, which always fills me with a strange sense of pride and satisfaction. Seeing my bathroom counter a bit emptier also prompted me to write this post before placing another massive order online. If there’s something worth splurging on right now, it’s little luxuries for yourself to make staying home all the time a little more bearable.

The latest empties on my bathroom counter:

+ Glossier Solution

A very gentle exfoliator on your skin that can be used every day. I love it and will use it once a day, morning or night, and notice a huge difference in my skin when I use it consistently. I’ve read reviews stating that it helps acne-prone skin, but even my dry and sensitive skin loves it. I’ve had zero irritation whatsoever and find that my skin is so much smoother and brighter when I incorporate this into my routine. It’s not as strong as other peels and acids out there, but that might honestly be why I love it so much. [ Get 10% off your first order : )]

+ Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Forever my favorite foundation. It’s expensive, so I like to mix in other foundations when I can to stretch out how long a bottle lasts. This is my go-to for shoots, special events, going out, you name it. A bottle lasts a long time (I try not to wear foundation every day) and applies flawlessly with a beauty blender. Personally I like more of a “glowy” look, this gives you an airbrushed finish that isn’t heavy and stays on all day and night.

+ Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen

Sunscreen for your face is usually an unpleasant consistency and oftentimes clogs your pores, but not this one. The texture is so light and the gel consistency sinks right into your skin with no irritation. The finish is unnoticeable (hence the name “Unseen Sunscreen”) and makes wearing sunscreen every day a no brainer.

+ Peter Thomas Roth Eye Patches

Hi, under-eye circles. Every year you become more prominent. These eye patches help depuff and brighten the delicate skin under your eyes and add a boost of much-needed hydration. The skin underneath your eyes is the most delicate on your body, so extra care and TLC is needed to prevent fine lines and bags. I like to keep these in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation.

+ Drunk Elephant C Firma

One of my favorite skincare lines, the serums from Drunk Elephant are not to be missed. If you’re looking for a solid Vitamin C serum, this one is on the higher end of serums (but not Skinceuticals price) and is pretty potent (15% L-Ascorbic Acid plus Ferulic Acid). Some people complain about the smell and texture, but I don’t mind. I do try to buy the travel size so the formula doesn’t oxidize before I use it up.

+ Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos

When used in conjunction with Babyfacial, I find my skin glows for days. I love products that work while I sleep, so exfoliating nighttime serums and gentle acids are some of my favorites. I don’t use this every night, maybe every other night or a couple of times a week (you might need to gradually work your way up to it) but you will wake up to softer, glowing skin in the morning!

+ Red Carpet Supplement

I started a pretty intense vitamin regimen a couple of months ago and incorporated this one from Hum. I received multiple compliments on my hair and skin from coworkers and friends, so wanted to share the ones I have been taking most regularly. Also, I got lash extensions a month ago, and my technician noticed that my lashes had almost completely grown out after two weeks – I honestly attribute the rapid growth to the vitamins I’ve been taking!

+ Glow Sweet Glow

Aside from the fact that gummy vitamins are inherently more fun to take (I find I never miss a day with these), it’s also an easy way to get a dose of vitamin C, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid – all ingredients that keep your skin bright and glowing! These are probably the best tasting gummy vitamins I’ve ever tried.

By Amy Zhang March 14, 2020 in Wedding 2 Comments

Wedding Planning Diary: Postponing Our Wedding

This week, we made the incredibly difficult decision to postpone our wedding due to COVID-19, aka coronavirus. I still wake up and feel like I’m living in a nightmare – I mean, when’s the last time a global pandemic unexpectedly occurred and threw the entire world upside down? Global businesses are having their employees work from home, large scale events such as SXSW and Coachella have been canceled or postponed, travel has essentially come to a complete halt, stores are temporarily shutting everywhere…I don’t think most of us have ever lived through anything like this. I think we’ve all been affected in some way, shape, or form by coronavirus and will continue to be. Aside from how the pandemic has affected me personally, I feel incredible anxiety over how this will affect every other aspect of life for months, if not years to come.

Two weeks ago, our mentality was that we would have our wedding no matter what. I’m a very stubborn person and must admit I did not fully understand the seriousness of the virus, or what was to come. I felt that if guests didn’t feel comfortable traveling, we would understand. But we were determined to get on a plane to Italy ourselves unless we were dragged off and told we couldn’t go. Too many wheels were in motion, too much had been planned, and it felt like there was no turning back.

Postponing Our Wedding

Over the past 14 days, that mood has shifted dramatically day by day, until we realized this was so much greater than our destination wedding in Italy, and we would have no choice but to postpone our wedding. Ultimately, we felt that the health and safety of our guests and vendors came first, and who knew what the travel policies would be in three months? Would we even be able to go to Europe or come back?

I was never the girl who dreamed about her wedding growing up. Yet, going through the process of postponing my wedding is taking me through all of the stages of grief. I’m taking the time to mourn this loss. I think anyone who has planned a wedding can relate – it takes so much time and energy. The entire process is incredibly emotional but ultimately fulfilling.

Our wedding has been a labor of love for the past 9 months that we couldn’t wait to finally bring to life. Having a destination wedding and vendors abroad meant countless emails and 6 AM phone calls with my planner overseas. We adore the vendors we chose and had ironed out all of the big pieces. Invitations were sent earlier this year. My wedding dress just arrived at the beginning of this month. I had my bachelorette party three weeks ago! We had shifted to finalizing all of the small details– the music choices, signature cocktails, surprises for our guests. Having that ripped away overnight was more difficult than I expected. To be honest, I’m not the most outwardly emotional person. But recently, I’ve found myself randomly crying throughout the day and feel like I’m walking through a haze.

More difficult than the loss of the day itself, is what feels like a painful halt of the start of the rest of my life.

A little dramatic? Maybe. I mean, yes, there are so many worse things in the world and practicing gratitude is important – we have our health, our relationship is not fundamentally changing (we already feel like we are married), we can still get married here. There’s nothing technically stopping us from going on with our lives as planned. But as many brides will tell you, when you have your heart set on something, nothing else will do. You should always have a Plan B, but it’s not what you want to do. No bride wants to execute her plan B.

AJ, my fiancé, and I have been dating for six and a half years. We’ve known for a long time that we wanted to be together forever, but took our time enjoying our relationship and getting to know each other. Getting married is not a decision we took lightly, and we were over the moon to finally make it official. We consciously chose to plan an incredibly intimate destination wedding and had planned to go on our honeymoon next year. We even started discussing our future family.

Now it feels like all of that is paused and has to be pushed back a year.

My heart truly goes out to all of the brides who are in a similar position, and the vendor teams that stand behind them, as planning and executing a wedding really does take a village. I feel incredible sadness for all of the weddings that are being postponed and canceled as a result of this virus. The small businesses that now have to worry about their livelihood. The entire wedding industry is comprised of small independent businesses that rely on these events to support their families. Losing out an entire season or even a few months of events can be devastating to these small businesses.

In the meantime, we are working with our planner to secure a new date and making the most of the situation. I’ve already joked that an extra year to prepare will mean more florals and a second dress. I’ve relaxed my fitness and wellness routine. Dessert and wine have returned to my diet. But what this experience has really done is to teach me a valuable lesson. Our family and friends have also shown an incredible outpouring of love and support. I’m beyond grateful for all of them. I feel this experience has made our relationship even stronger and ready for marriage. At the end of the day, we have each other, and nothing else matters.

*Not my dress!!

By Amy Zhang March 5, 2020 in Lifestyle, Recipes 2 Comments

Easy Weeknight Airfryer Salmon Recipe

I’m not the greatest chef and truthfully prefer not to spend all of my time in the kitchen. But, I’ve found that healthy and delicious meals don’t have to take much skill or time. I’m also not the biggest fan of kitchen appliances, but one that I absolutely cannot live without is our air fryer. Initially a skeptic, I’m now officially converted. As far as foolproof cooking tools go, this is it. It’s virtually impossible to mess up a meal in the air fryer, and you can cook almost anything in it. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me cooking salmon with it – I make this meal at least once a week. It’s so easy, delicious, and good for you.

My Easy Weeknight Airfryer Salmon Recipe

I love salmon and could eat it every other day. A few reasons I love salmon? It’s full of omega-3s (healthy fatty acids that are good for your hair and skin), protein, B vitamins, and potassium. I buy the BBQ cut filets from Trader Joe’s or, if we’re feeling fancy, we’ll get them from a local fishmonger. This entire meal takes about 15-20 minutes. All you need:

+ Salmon filet (4-8 oz serving per person)

+ Salt and pepper

+ Good olive oil

+ Lemon

Dry off salmon filet and place skin side down on a plate. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle spices and herbs generously over – you can use whatever you have on hand. Sometimes all I’ll use is salt and pepper! I also like adding garlic and red pepper flakes. You can honestly use most spices and herbs!

Preheat air fryer or oven. If you’re using an air fryer, many models will have a “fish” setting (as I said, it’s foolproof cooking) that will set the time for you – it’s usually around 15 minutes. For the oven, you can broil the fish for a similar result. This will take about 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the filet.

Once the salmon is cooked, squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the top. Serve with a salad or your favorite vegetables. Some ideas – roasted broccolini, sautéed spinach, arugula salad, avocado, or roasted sweet potatoes. Enjoy!