Beauty, Real Sh*t, Wellness

Let’s just cut to the chase: we all want to look good nude. Amiright?

It’s so cliché, but when you look good, you feel good. I didn’t make it up, but it’s just true. And yeah, working out and eating clean are huge parts of feeling and looking your best, but today I’m talking about specific things that I do to look and feel smoother, tanner, tighter…you get the drift.

Keep scrolling to check out what my tips to look better naked are:

Dry Brush

I’ve been dry brushing for years and it has done amazing things for my skin (and my lymphatic system). When you dry brush, make sure you use long strokes and direct the brush towards your heart, not away. It hurts in the best way possible, and it will leave your skin feeling incredibly smooth because it is quite literally the best exfoliating method there is. Hot tip: you can add oil to the brush (love this one from Diptyque) and then shower immediately after so that your skin can absorb the oil in the steamy shower.

So, do you have any tips for looking better naked you want to share with me? Leave your tips in the comments down below and let me know!

Wear your sunscreen!

Am I telling you to wear sunscreen again? Yep! It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, cloudy, or sunny and hot, you MUST wear sunscreen everywhere, everyday. My absolute favorite is Elta MD’s line. I use the UV Facial Broad Spectrum Sunscreen on my face and the UV Shield Broad Spectrum Sunscreen on my body. I love Elta MD’s sunscreens because they are not chemical sunscreens – meaning shitty chemicals are not going to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Instead, Zinc Oxide sits on the skin to protect it from harmful rays. I love this stuff because it’s not only good for you, but it’s easy to apply makeup on top of and it does not ever break me out. Hot tip: don’t forget your eyelids, under your eyes, and ears!

Niacinamide Serum

Niacinamide is insane for combating BACNE and BUTTNE AKA back acne and butt acne. If you have ANY acne, anywhere on your body. Niacinamide is your secret weapon. I am really shocked that this is really never talked about. I use Niacinamide on my arms to help smooth my keratosis pilaris and on my butt to smooth it out. A little more info on the magical potion: Niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties make it an attractive treatment for skin conditions marked by inflammation, like acne. In fact, in two double-blind studies—one published in 2013 and the other published in 1995, both in the International Journal of Dermatology—a topical preparation of 4 percent niacinamide treated moderate acne just as well as 1 percent clindamycin (a topical antibiotic commonly prescribed to acne patients) when applied twice daily for eight weeks. {source}

I love The Ordinary’s Niacinamide.

Ok, those are my tips for looking your best in your birthday suit (or in a bathing suit!). Do you have tips? Please share!

xo,

Style

Well hello! Fancy seeing you here. Do you guys remember those “what’s in my bag” videos that were super popular back when YouTube was just jumping on the scene of social media?

I LOVED those videos being the nosy person that I am. So today, 10 years after those videos became super popular, I’m making my own.

First things first, I have to share this vegan handbag from JustFab with you. It can be quite a challenge finding chic, inexpensive, and high quality vegan bags (I don’ t ask for much) and JustFab hits the nail on the head with their bags. I mean, how fabulous is this bag? In love with the snake print, the red, and it really does look so expensive. But it’s not – it retails for $63. I got so many compliments rocking it the very first day I got it.

Ok, now you can take a look at what’s inside:

Wellness

Yep, we’re going there.

Let’s talk about periods.

Periods can cause horrible cramping, bloating, irritability, and the list goes on.

For a varying amount of days every month, these symptoms occur…at least some of them, and we’d rather not deal with them, right?

I have a few tricks up my sleeve for surviving my period each month (yeah, I’m being a little dramatic)….so here’s how I deal with the cramps, bloating, and breakouts.

1. DEALING WITH CRAMPS

I’m personally not a fan of drugs, like Midol or Tylenol. Since I know how helpful CBD can be for pain relief, I tried CBD Lotion from Lord Jones on my lower back and on my stomach for the first time a few months ago and it has been life-changing when it comes to pain relief! I deal with lower back achy-ness when I’m starting my period especially, and this lotion kills it. An added bonus: it smells so good!

Another tip: use it on your temples if you suffer from migraines or headaches.

2. PREVENT BREAKOUTS

Ya know those zits you get around your chin area during that time of the month? Those are hormonal breakouts. I nip these ASAP by using Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads, which have alpha beta acids to keep the skin in the best possible shape when it comes to zits.

ALSO: butt zits. A whole other story. Want to prevent breaking out on your butt, or really anywhere else on your body? Use a Niacinamide serum or lotion. Also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinamide, niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works with the natural substances in your skin to help visibly improve enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, and a weakened surface. My favorite is from The Ordinary. I keep it in the shower and I apply it right after I’ve towel-dried my body.

3. ORGANIC TAMPONS

Why organic? Because putting something up where the sun don’t shine, it’d better not be riddled with bad chemicals.

Most non-organic tampons are made using pesticides, which I don’t think anyone wants in their vag. Am I right?

I discovered Cora Tampons one day while shopping at Target, and have been using them for a year now. Cora carries a few different sizes so that you can use a tampon for a heavy flow, light flow, etc. I keep them in my bathroom in an old candle votive.

Wellness

Breast Implant Illness.

I’m sure you’ve heard about it on social media. It’s becoming such a huge phenomenon.

So many women are speaking up about their experience with BII, which is a term used by women who have breast implants and who self- identify and describe a variety of horrifying symptoms.

I met Tawna on Instagram years ago, and we instantly clicked when we met. Her fitness journey is so inspiring – if you don’t follow her yet, go check her out. She offers so much value and realness when it comes to fitness. She shares her routines, her experience competing, and is just such a badass.

When I saw that she had her breast implants removed recently, I knew I had to talk to her to hear her story. In our podcast episode, Tawna shares her journey from experiencing very scary symptoms to having her breast implants removed and how she’s feeling now. Hint: she’s feeling A LOT better. I mean, just look at this before and after photo she posted on Instagram:

She’s also sharing bikini competition tips and fitness motivation tips.

Take a listen HERE.

Hope this one brings you a lot of value.

xoxo, Lynn


Wellness

‘What’s in my bag’ videos were super popular back a few years ago, and they were some of my favorite videos to watch…so I thought I’d do my own spin and show you all what’s in my gym bag.