Beauty, Real Sh*t, Wellness

Well, look what we have here! Another skincare post! You guys love all things skincare just as much as I do, but I’m not surprised. This one is a good one because literally everyone can benefit from this magical oil.

Yes, there are like 993,457 oils available for the skin and it can be so confusing WTF kind of oils are best. Safe advice: start with Herbivore’s Lapis Oil if you are new to using oils.

When I saw that Herbivore had this blue oil available AND it is listed as being anti-inflammatory, clarifying, antibacterial, AND plant-based, I HAD to have it.

Back up, let’s talk about what Lapis is:

Lapis Lazuli, a favorite stone of ancient Egypt, is known for its gorgeous deep blue color. Lapis Facial Oil is named for the precious blue oil it contains, Blue Tansy. This oil holds a component called Azulene which aids in soothing dry irritated skin, reducing the appearance of redness and balancing skin. Formulated for combination, oily, and blemish-prone skin types or any skin in need of balancing hydration. {Source}

Within a two days of using the Lapis oil, I could tell that it lived up to its promises. A little sidenote: I have rosacea, and this oil neutralizes my redness amazingly well. I was and still am pretty shocked. It makes your skin very soft, too. I noticed that within 24 hours.

What’s even more cool about this oil? You can use it in the morning and/or at night. Many oils are too oily for daytime use, even for me — the dryest person on the planet, but I LOVE that the Lapis oil is so universal. It’s so light, soaks into the skin the dreamiest way, and sits well under foundation.

Little tip: If you are super dry like I am, try mixing the oil into your foundation (I use Lawless Woke Up Like This) and you will have the most insane NON-GREASY glow.

If you’re worried about breaking out or looking greasy if you struggle with acne or oily skin, don’t worry. The base of Lapis is jojoba oil, which mimics the skin’s natural sebum production. It naturally helps reduce acne scarring and discoloration, is anti-aging, and increases the skins elasticity. I love it as someone who has dry skin, but I think that someone with oily skin would love it just as much, if not more because it’s just so damn hard to find an oil for that skin type.

Now let’s talk about the smell. I don’t love it. That is the ONE downside. HOWEVER: I seem to be the minority here because everyone else I know who uses it loves the smell. Lapis has no added or artificial fragrance, but the jasmine-sambac in the oil gives it a floral scent. I love me some floral scents, but this one is just…different. Not bad. But it’s not as offensive to me now after using it for awhile.

So there you have it: the oil that works for just about everyone.

Let me know if you’ve tried this oil. Do you love it? Hate it?

xo, Lynn

Beauty, Real Sh*t, Videos, Wedding

Looking like a radiant bride on your wedding day is a must…and it all starts with skincare. You guys know I am a self-professed skincare psycho, so I had been researching and testing products LONG before my wedding day.

PRO TIP: If you are a soon-to-be bride, please test out products at least 6 months in advance of your wedding day to make sure that they will work for your skin.

In today’s video, I’m sharing everything I used on my face as far as skin products go on my wedding day, and HOW to use them in order to get glowy, radiant skin.

xo, Lynn

Real Sh*t, Wellness

Essential oils and diffusing is SUCH a thing right now, and I am obsessed. Completely. Diffusing oils is the best to make your home smell amazing, to feel better, and just to make your home more vibe-y. You know what I mean if you have a diffuser. When I am at home, you can bet I am diffusing oils.

Another big benefit of diffusing essential oils is that the ones I am going to show you today are non-toxic and plant-based…so you don’t have to worry about being poisoned by gross chemicals.

I’ve spoken about my anxiety here on the blog before, and it is something that I deal with regularly, so I recently did some research on the best oils to use to help with anxiety. THERE ARE SO MANY! I have tried most of the recommended oils and I am here to share my absolute faves with you.

Adding in the use of essential oils with other self-care things like meditation, yoga, therapy, etc. will add to your arsenal of combative techniques.

♡ Lavender oil: Lavender oil is the all encompassing oil and can be used for anxiety, to help with sleep, and ease your mind. Think: relaxation and serenity.

♡ Tangerine oil: Any citrus oil can brighten your mood when your anxiety is making you feel depressed and sad. Orange/tangerine oil is known to be the best of the citrus oils for this purpose. I love to mix orange essential oil with eucalyptus oil for the most amazing spa-like experience in my bathroom.

♡ Bergamont oil: Bergamot oil comes from bergamot oranges and has an invigorating citrus scent (see above for orange oil being amazing for anxiety). According to a 2015 study, both animal and human trials have found that bergamot helps relieve anxiety and improve mood.

♡ Ylang Ylang oil: Ylang Ylang oil is a beautiful floral scent and is used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation. According to a 2006 study on nurses, inhaling a blend of ylang ylang, lavender, and bergamot lowered stress and anxiety levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and serum cortisol.

My favorite blends:

♡ Well-Being oil: If you are just getting started with essential oils, I highly recommend trying out some of Saje’s blends. Well-Being is my all time favorite because it’s a blend of some of my favorite scents: lavender, neroli, and cypress. We already talked about lavender, and neroli is a floral, citrus note to instill feelings of peace and harmony. Cypress centers the emotions and stimulates the senses with a fresh, woodsy aroma. AKA it’s pretty much perfection when it comes to helping with anxiety.

My best tip is to use essential oils consistently. I keep my faves in my car, too, so that I can use them all day.

Real Sh*t, Style

The wedding is over, I get it. But I have so many tips to share!

Jeff and I were engaged for 2.5 years, so I have some unique tips to help the whole process run smoothly. I feel like this is more easily shared by literally talking with you guys, so please take a listen to today’s Podcast episode all about wedding planning!

Beauty, Real Sh*t, Wellness

First things first, I have quite the history when it comes to having fake nails. I got my first acrylic set when I was 12 years old because I thought the french manicure was so cool. You know what I’m talking about! I loved the long square shaped french was just so chic. LOL!

I would continue to get them done occasionally, but took several year breaks until a few years ago, when I was just sick of my natural nails constantly breaking. So 3 years ago, I jumped back on the acrylic train and didn’t stop until recently.

The #1 reason that I wanted to stop getting acrylics was actually because I also topped them with gel polish, which meant that I was putting my hands under UV light every other week. I know that nail techs will tell you that there is no risk, but there’s just no way around it. UV light is no bueno. I also wanted a more natural solution to my thin, brittle nail situation.

Enter dip powder. OH-EM-GEE, guys, this is life changing. Unlike Acrylic, manicure dip does not make use of any special chemicals to help it harden. And compared to Gel manicures, it does not require the special UV rays necessary for curing. {Source}

Dip powder application involves applying a base and then dipping them in powder. The powder adds the colors, and they come in different colors and shines. {Source}.

I was nervous that after removing my acrylics, which was a NIGHTMARE by the way (it took me 6 hours), that my nails would break even with the dip powder. Nope. It’s been 3 months since I’ve been getting them done, and my nails have remained strong and they have even grown out quite a bit. There are no “tips” on my nails, I just have the dip powder laid over my natural nails and they are thriving.

I. KEEP UP WITH NAIL APPOINTMENTS

When I got acrylics, I stuck with the same person because she GOT me. She always got my shape just right, and knew which colors I’d like. I was so sad to leave her because she doesn’t do dip manicures, but I have found someone at a new salon that does a great job. I recommend going every other week and sticking with the same person. This may require trial and error, but once you find the right person, keep them!

2. ALL ABOUT THE POWDER DIPS

We talked about dip before, but it really is the best alternative to gel and acrylics because it’s natural – the powder is fortified with vitamin E and calcium. It’s a win win. No damage, no chipping, no UV light…I mean, what could be better?!

3. USE CUTICLE OIL

If you’re trying to repair damaged nails or grow your nails longer, using a vitamin E oil on your cuticles helps a lot. It also helps keep your hands looking hydrated which is a bonus. I love this one from Jason.