The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang November 21, 2018 in Travel 5 Comments

Things to Do in Santa Ynez

This past weekend was spent in Santa Ynez and it couldn’t have been a more relaxing getaway this time of year before all of the holiday craziness. Although only 2 hours from LA, it was our first time visiting the area and it definitely will not be our last! My ideal weekend getaway is a short drive from the city, peaceful, and requires good food & wine – Santa Ynez checks all of those boxes. If you’ve never visited the Santa Ynez area it’s an absolute must for a charming weekend staycation – here’s what I would recommend for a quick getaway.

Things to Do in Santa Ynez

+ Stay at The Landsby

It’s in Solvang (quiet Danish town) in the valley and although it’s a little further from Los Olivos and the wineries, it’s worth it. The hotel has the cutest decor (the rooms are spacious as well) and the restaurant in the lobby has a great happy hour every day from 4-6pm. Staying at the hotel also means you get free or 2 for 1 tastings at certain local tasting rooms and wineries. You’re right in the middle of the small but walkable town and a quick 10 minute Uber ride from Los Olivos. If you’re a fan of pastries you will want to check out one of the Danish bakeries in town.

+ Eat dinner at SY Kitchen.

If you’ve ever seen the movie Sideways you will have a list of spots to hit, but SY Kitchen is newer but a great, more modern addition to the valley.

+ Go wine tasting

The central coast of California is known for its abundance and diversity of amazing wine. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or amateur, you will find something you like. The vineyards are smaller and less crowder than those in Napa and Sonoma, but equally charming. You can pack a picnic and spend an entire day sipping wine and relaxing. We didn’t have a chance to visit all of the vineyards, but our favorites that we visited were Demetria and Sunstone.

If you’re looking to try more wines, the town of Los Olivos has almost 30 tasting rooms in a couple block radius. We loved how each of the tasting rooms had their own unique story and many were small batch, local vineyards – again you can’t go wrong with any of them, but our favorites were Solminer, Kaena, and Dragonette.

+Outdoor Activities

As far as activities go, you can go kayaking, cycling, and even horse back riding in the region. It really depends on how active you want your weekend to be.

By Amy Zhang November 20, 2018 in Style 4 Comments

What’s on my Farfetch Black Friday Wish List

Farfetch Black Friday Wish List | The Luxi Look

Black Friday is almost upon us, and that means the biggest sales of the year and the start of holiday shopping. I’ll be updating the blog with all of the best Black Friday sales and holiday gift guides all week, but first I wanted to share some of my picks from Farfetch. For those of you that aren’t familiar with Farfetch, it’s an online luxury shopping site. And it honestly seems to carry EVERYTHING. They aggregate brands and product across hundreds of sites around the world to provide the most diverse selection of designer items.

Farfetch has become one of my go-to sites when I’m shopping for higher end designers online. Because I know I’ll find the best selection and price. In anticipation of this week, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite items from the site that I secretly hope are included in their annual Black Friday sale… Click on the image to shop!

+ Re/Done Denim

+ Stella McCartney Falabella Tote

+ Gold Hawk Leopard Print Blouse

+ Bottega Veneta Knot Clutch

+ Zimmermann Flared Wrap Dress

+ Givenchy Pandora Bag

Farfetch Black Friday Wish List

By Amy Zhang November 8, 2018 in Lifestyle, Wellness 1 Comment

Wellness Must Have: Hum Vitamins

Slight confession – I am not the best at taking my vitamins. At least, I wasn’t until I tried Hum Nutrition. Taking vitamins is one of those things that I know is “good for me” (or at the very least, doesn’t hurt to do), but I have a tendency to forget. Whenever I start a new vitamin routine, I’m great about taking them for a week or so before I fall off the habit. Last month I got extremely sick for over a week – think sleep 12-14 hours a night, can hardly move or eat kind of sick.

My body just gave out and I knew I had to take better care of myself.

Since then I’ve made a huge effort not only to adjust some of my habits (particularly around adjusting stress and making sure to get enough sleep), I also started being much more diligent about getting on a regular vitamin routine. I’m not going to lie, it was the cute packaging and branding of Hum that caught my eye initially – but after a month of taking a recommended regimen of vitamins every day, I felt I had to share my experience and how – spoiler alert – positive it’s been for my health and wellbeing.

I’m all about putting in the work to feel your best, but something about taking vitamins has always felt like a bit of a shortcut or cop out to me. I knew that with my work schedule my immune system and sleep schedule would need some help – long haul flights adjusting to cross country time zones on a weekly basis definitely messes with your overall health – so I took the quick assessment on the Hum website to get recommendations for which products from Hum’s comprehensive line of vitamins were best suited for my needs and lifestyle. I picked up the products that were recommended for me, as well as a few other that a friend suggested.

My Hum Nutrition Regimen:

Uber Energy

These claim to help support consistent energy through adrenal strength. What I will say is taking these every day allowed me to cut down on caffeine and feel more balanced overall. Would definitely take these again.

Flatter Me

Supposedly these contain digestive enzymes that help you break down some less than good for you foods (read: sugar, carbs, dairy, etc…) and help you debloat. I didn’t notice too much of a difference taking these, but other reviews online are stellar. I also take a regular probiotic, which may already take care of a lot of my digestive issues.

Air Patrol

I took these as a preventative measure against getting sick since I was traveling so much at the time. It saved me from having to take too many vitamin C supplements and I haven’t been sick (knock on wood) since, despite numerous late nights and cross country flights.

Moody Bird

Probably one of my favorite supplements I added to my routine. After tracking my cycle for the past few months (highly recommend the “Clue” app if you haven’t checked it out already), I noticed that my mood swings and cravings would get very out of control during certain times of month. After taking Moody Bird I’ve honestly noticed a huge difference in my mood and cravings. As someone who grew up with a lot of Eastern medicine and remedies, the ingredients are definitely up my alley.

Beauty zzZz

Melatonin isn’t for everyone (have been told by multiple people that they get weird dreams or feel groggy after taking it), I personally have not had issues with it and found that it really helped calm my nerves and sleep soundly on the nights I needed it most.

Glow Sweet Glow

Not pictured because, um, they’re all gone. The little kid in me loves gummy vitamins, these are legitimately the yummiest ones I’ve ever had. I truly looked forward to eating these every day and was sad when I ran out (note to self: repurchase today!). Oh, and they’re filled with vitamin C and E – which are so good for your skin and make you GLOW!

Shop My Hum Nutrition Regimen:

By Amy Zhang October 31, 2018 in Fitness, Lifestyle 2 Comments

Half Marathon Update

A few months ago I announced that I was going to be training for a half marathon. I haven’t talked about it much and I don’t really think of myself as a huge runner. I ran a half marathon a LONG time ago (5 years+) and honestly did not think I was going to do another one again. Not because I didn’t enjoy the experience, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about the training process. My boyfriend and I agreed that we would run one together, and over the course of a few months and several long runs later, I’m slowly starting to feel more confident about my running ability.

I didn’t realize that training for something specific would really tap into my goal-oriented side but it’s honestly been so much fun. I was pretty happy with my routine of Barry’s Bootcamp + yoga/pilates/stretching, but a half marathon felt like a goal that was achievable (read: wouldn’t break my body) but would also push my limits. Who knew long runs on the weekend could be so therapeutic and enjoyable? We ran the race last weekend and I couldn’t be happier with my time – I shaved almost 30 minutes off my previous half marathon time!!

To be honest my training plan was unstructured at best. Typically a few Barry’s Bootcamp classes during the weeks (I aim for 3 miles each class) and then a long run over the weekend. I’m not an expert. But I’m convinced that just doing the long run alone goes a huge way in getting you race ready!

A few general training tips I do follow:

+ Don’t go too hard, too fast.

Only focus on increasing distance OR improving time (one goal at a time, otherwise you’re headed to injury city). Speaking of injuries, they can definitely be avoided by…

+ LOTS of foam rolling and stretching, and most importantly, REST DAYS.

Days off are so important so your body can recover from all the intense exercise you’re doing. After the race, take as much time off from running as possible. I plan on taking a week off from intense running and seeing how I feel afterwards.

+ Never increasing your mileage by more than 10% each week

This is key for not straining your body!

+ Get properly fitted for running shoes

Getting new running shoes has been instrumental in avoiding injury.

+ Train with a friend

It’s so much more fun! I never thought I would run without headphones and music. But I’ve come to love my long weekend runs with my boyfriend. We chat for part of the way and then run together for the rest.

+ Focus on nutrition

I’m really trying to be better about what I eat before and after a run. I’m still trying to figure out my ideal pre-run and night before meal (have made some huge mistakes here and let’s just say there is nothing worse than running with a stomach ache) but I am thinking something carb loaded and relatively bland. I’ve also been guilty of not refueling immediately after a long run, which you are supposed to do. I read that chocolate milk is a great post run option, so I’ve been using my weekend runs as an excuse to drink chocolate milk like a kid again. Personally I prefer running on an empty stomach, but play around with different snacks before and during your run. On race day I did have a gummy halfway through the run and the little boost of caffeine helped.

+ Get new clothes!

LOL I use every excuse under the sun to get new workout clothes but it’s true, new gear does motivate you to get active! Running in particular, you want sweat wicking materials that don’t chafe (OUCH). I love my Ultraboost sneakers for shorter training runs (light as a feather and so comfy, yet still supportive) and this jacket now that it’s getting chillier in the morning.

If you’re interested in running a half marathon, all I can say is go for it! 13.1 miles may seem daunting, but once you start training it really becomes more manageable. I don’t know if I could ever tackle a full marathon (although never say never!), but I could see myself training for a half marathon once or twice a year. Don’t hold me to that… we’ll see how I feel in a couple weeks!

By Amy Zhang October 22, 2018 in Beauty, Lifestyle 4 Comments

Fall Skincare Routine

As the seasons change, so should your skincare routine. In general it is a good idea to switch up your skincare routine but I feel the effects most as I transition from summer to fall. My skin gets drier when the weather cools down, and being in NYC for a month (and taking cross country flights every week) has made it even more essential for me to dial in my skincare regimen. Read on for the products I’m loving right now and why.

My Fall Skincare Routine

Glossier Solution

I’ve talked about Glossier on the blog a million times. Some of the products are just ok, others are amazing. Solution has been a part of my skincare routine for months. I love its gentle exfoliating qualities and swear it’s helped keep my skin clear despite tons of travel and after a workout. I can’t recommend this product enough.

Sunday Riley CEO Serum

I’m obsessed with vitamin C serums and you can certainly find more affordable options, but this one by Sunday Riley feels like supercharged vitamin C. It brightens my skin instantly and I love it for daytime. One of my girlfriends said it was a little too intense for her so try this one out – personally I love the effect it has had on my skin!

Drunk Elephant Marula Oil

Drunk Elephant has quickly become one of my favorite skincare brands, every product I’ve tried from the line is worth repurchasing. I’ve almost used up my bottle of marula oil and it’s definitely on my list to re purchase. If you have dry skin this is a major lifesaver!!

Fresh Rose Face Cream

I love how thick and moisturizing this cream is. It also smells incredible. The price point is also fair when you compare it to comparable moisturizing creams – I love my La Mer, but this rose cream is much more affordable and does the trick during the day and night for my skin.

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen

The best sunscreen!! If you don’t wear sunscreen everyday you have to try this one. It feels weightless and doesn’t leave any finish on your skin. I haven’t had any issues with irritation or breakouts, which happen with thicker sunscreens. I keep one in my gym bag and one in my travel bag so I’m never without.

What products are you loving right now?