Friends, thank you so much for your kind notes on last week’s happy news!! You are, as always, the best. As I said, I have much to discuss now that the news is out, likely beginning with the decision to have a third child – hopefully later this week. This was the number one question by far when I asked, and I definitely have thoughts! :)
But for today, something a bit lighter! I don’t consider myself an expert on skincare by any means, but as with most areas of my life, I like to do my research and indulge in some slow tinkering. Over the years I’ve landed on products that really work for me, and even though skincare is SO personal, I wanted to share in case one of them might really work for you! And it’s just fun to document my routine at different points in my life (here’s a post from three years ago – some products are still in rotation!).
So – here we go! My morning and evening skincare routine in my mid-30’s.
Rise and shine! Here’s my morning routine:
1. Splash my face with water and pat dry. I’ve found there’s no need to cleanse in the morning. I’m hoping this retains more moisture in my skin!
2. Apply vitamin C serum.This is the newest addition to my routine (I’m about a month into using it), and I would say the jury is still out. It has definitely not had any adverse effects, and it’s less expensive than many other serums, but I’m not sure what positive effects I’ve been able to pinpoint, either. Vitamin C serum supposedly has antioxidant and ant-aging properties, and is supposed to give your skin a brighter, more radiant, and more even appearance. It’s one of the two products (along with retinol) it seems everyone recommends in your 30’s, and so I figured it would behoove me to try it. (No retinol for me yet.) Maybe it’s meant to be more of a protectant than something you see immediate results from? Or maybe I just need to keep at it a bit longer?
I use three drops and blend it in all over my face, then wait for it to dry before putting on the next layer…
3. Apply sunscreen. I converted to Elta MD a few years ago and LOVE it! It is not inexpensive, but to hear any skin expert talk, the absolute best thing you can do for your skin is wear sunscreen daily. I use one pump all over my face and any extra on my neck. (If I know I’m going to be outside a lot, I use a less expensive Neutrogena sunscreen all over my neck and the rest of my body!)
The Elta glides on smoothly, leaves no white cast, has a nice, very light smell, and layers well under makeup, etc. It’s also nice that it’s moisturizing enough that I don’t need to use a separate moisturizer, which helps justify the price!
4. Remove any remaining eye makeup from the night before. I swipe on a little coconut oil then wipe it off with a Q-tip or tissue.
5. Apply deodorant. I am back to using the Schmidt’s stick, which is readily available in my grocery store/Target and reasonably priced. I like that it is “natural,” but I do find I need to reapply at least once during the day (TMI?). I am all ears for any other recs!
6. Brush my teeth. I think doing this step at this point in the routine gives everything a chance to sink in before applying makeup. I use this toothpaste which I’ve raved about before – it actually does seem to whiten without causing pain!
1. Wash with charcoal soap. Many years in, this product continues to be a slam-dunk winner for me! You canNOT beat the price, and I feel like it continues to do so much to balance out my oily/dry skin. I’ve even turned John onto it! After I rinse, I’ll wipe my face all over with a clean, wet wash cloth, which serves as a gentle exfoliator. I am really weird about using an actual clean wash cloth every day, so I bought a cheap pack of 12 for $4 and just toss them in the wash with our whites!
I’ll also gently swipe my eyes with the Makeup Eraser to remove eye makeup at this point.
2. Swipe on toner with a cotton round. I’ve long struggled with dry, flaky skin on my forehead, and this toner is the first product that’s ever made a difference. The flakiness is gone, overall my skin is smoother, and I do think my pores look a bit smaller, too! (Fun fact: I discovered this via an online order sample. I don’t try 90% of the samples I receive, and I’m not sure what made me pick this one up, but I’m VERY glad I did!)
I use two pumps and swipe it all over my face.
3.Moisturize. A favorite for several years running! Skin Dew feels so light and sinks so effortlessly into my skin, yet is SO moisturizing and balancing. It’s expensive, but a small amount goes a long way for me, and the price is totally worth it for the results I see. Plus, I love supporting a Southern small business! I have been tempted to try Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb on Jen’s recommendation, so perhaps I’ll try that after my current jar is done.
4. Brush my teeth and swipe on more Aquaphor. Obviously :)
And that’s it! I’d love to hear the MVPs from your morning or evening skincare routine! Have you tried a retinol or vitamin C serum you love? Any interest in a beauty routine post? :)
A month ago, my purse and John’s wallet were stolen. They were taken out of our car which was parked, unlocked (our mistake – marital miscommunication), a short distance from our neighborhood’s tennis court while we played. It must have been an intense game, because we both noticed nothing. While our phones and sunglasses were on us, our credit cards, money, face masks, wallets, car keys, house keys, gift cards, rewards cards, and June’s camera, among other things, were gone.
After the flurry of requesting replacements and rekeying our house and cars, I was left with a handful of credit cards, new keys, and nowhere to put them. The purse that was stolen was my everyday purse – meaning, the one that I carried literally every day – so replacing it was a top priority.
Even more immediate, though, was replacing my wallet. My sister-in-law graciously sent me the sweetest card case to tide me over while I looked, but I still felt discombobulated without a home base whenever I left the house. (Which, granted, has not been as often as usual!)
The wallet that was stolen was a Kate Spade I bought in 2012. It was the prettiest pale blue leather, and I loved the button closure and generous number of card slots. I would have gladly bought the same thing again (it was still in great shape!), but there’s nothing similar on their site right now.
Instead, I chose the Neely & Chloe zip wallet in Steel Blue with a gold foil “EM” embossing. The color is absolutely perfect in person, and I love that the purchase supports a small business. While I still don’t feel completely at home in it (we get used to what we’re used to!), I’m happy have a spot to keep everything together once again.
Now – let’s talk about a purse replacement. This will not surprise many of you, but I have carried essentially the same bag since college (going on 12 years!). It’s the smallest Longchamp Le Pliage in black, and I actually did replace it a few years ago, when we were in Paris – but with exactly the same thing :)
Unless I was going to a fancy occasion, that was the purse I carried, day in and day out – with every outfit, to every occasion. Honestly, I’d be happy to buy it again, but I feel like I should at least consider other options after more than a decade. But, when I think about ALL the options out there, I get overwhelmed quickly. So that’s where I’d love your help!
Here’s my criteria: — I don’t want any crazy patterns or colors, and I prefer a classic, feminine look. — I don’t care for black leather. Although my Le Pliage was black, I would choose a camel or navy over black in most instances. — I am looking for a small to medium handbag or tote – nothing too large. I’m open to a handbag or something I carry over my shoulder, but am not looking for a crossbody. I need it to fit my wallet, glasses case, a few little pouches, face mask, pen, hand sanitizer, a snack, etc. — I am willing to spend up to about $300, given that I expect to carry this bag every day for many years, but of course, I’d love to spend less. The Le Pliage is just over $100 right now online (but — fun fact — sells for about $75 in Paris!).
So, friends, help a girl out! What bag would you point me toward? Do you carry a bag you love? I’d love to hear – it will help me narrow down the insane number of options…
Here’s a question for you: do you wear makeup every day?
Most days? Some days? Never?
For a long time, I’ve worn some makeup pretty much every day – usually under-eye concealer, a light BB cream, cream blush, a little bit of setting powder, and a tiny bit of eyeliner on the lower outer corners of my eyes. Sometimes mascara.
It’s not really a “fun” thing for me (it’s also not not-fun – just neutral!), but I do like how I look when I wear it. It’s hardly noticeable, but with makeup, my complexion is just a little more even and my eyes are a little more prominent.
The second day we were in Maine this year, though, I put on my usual sunscreen and then… walked out the door. Why? A few reasons, I think:
1) In this particular community, it’s an established norm. Most Islanders subscribe to the classic New England throw-on-a-hat-and-call-it-a-day look. Many people wear tees, shorts, and sandals every day; I’m in good company with a no-makeup look.
2) I’ve known these people my whole life, and they’ve known me – I’m known and loved. I feel like one of the reasons I wear makeup in my “normal life” is to try to manage the first impressions of others, and that’s not necessary here.
3) It’s an active place. We’re in the water, in the sun, on the boat, walking, swimming, playing tennis. There’s little point in spending too much time applying product just to have it wash off a few hours later.
4) I rarely look in the mirror there. At home or at work, I pass mirrors several times a day and give myself a once-over each time. I spend a LOT more time outside in Maine, and it seems to be out of sight, out of mind with me – I just think about what I look like a lot less.
5) When I’m in a beautiful place, I find I care less about my own beauty. I’m just grateful to be there, and I already feel like my best self living my best life :)
In my continual quest to live my best Maine life at home, I’ve been forgoing makeup more often since our return. These days, I’d say I’m wearing it about 4/7 days a week. I generally don’t wear it on days we’re planning to ride our bikes, or days I’m working from home and won’t be “on camera.” I’d love to get to the point where a CC cream or concealer doesn’t make any difference, and my hope is that by wearing makeup less often and letting my skin breathe, I’ll get there faster! :)
This is a topic that could go much broader and deeper, but we’ll leave it there for today. I welcome your thoughts on any of this, but mostly I’m curious: do you wear makeup every day?
Photos from Maine, sans makeup. Affiliate links are used in this post!
Do y’all still take yearly photos with your extended family? We do, and we joke that the real purpose of our annual Maine vacation is so that my Mom can get her Christmas card photo with everyone present and accounted for – ha! Joking aside, we all love looking back at how our family composition has changed over the years, and acquiesce to the yearly photo session with minimal grumbling.
As my family’s resident “creative person,” I always get tasked with deciding on the year’s outfit color scheme. Outfitting a ten-plus person grouping, with kids, babies, adults, and grandparents in the mix (all with varying preferences and styles) and is not for the faint of heart. Since we’re in the thick of preparing for our family photo right now, I thought I’d share a few of the tips I’ve gathered over the years — both for outfitting, and for the photo session itself!
1. Think ahead. Depending on how often your family gathers together, you might have to take a photo months ahead of Christmas if the goal is to have a photo ready for a holiday card. My family is scattered, but one of the most reliable times we’re all together is in the summer, so that’s usually when we take our photo. (This year is an exception!)
2. Make an outfit plan. For our family, the goal is to look casually — not cheese-ily — coordinated. We don’t want to look like we’re trying too hard :) With a big group, it’s important to have a wide-enough palette that you’re not all stuck in one of two colors. A mix of textures and patterns can also go a long way toward a look with depth, as well as different shades within your palette. The goal isn’t to match perfectly, but just to look like you belong together! (That goes for the level of formality and the seasonality, too!)
I usually pull two color palette options (using inspiration photos like these) and then ask my mom and sisters which they’d prefer. Once we’ve chosen our palette, everyone is responsible for selecting their family’s outfits. Sometimes I start a Google Doc to track what everyone is wearing; other times we just bring several options and make final decisions the day of.
3. Choose a location. My MOST IMPORTANT location criteria isn’t aesthetic at all: it’s to choose one that’s inconspicuous! The last thing you want while wrangling multiple generations is to feel rushed or awkward, so pick a spot where there will be few passersby and you can take as much time as you need (or pause to regroup as necessary). To let your faces shine, a simple backdrop is best – a colored wall, porch steps, a fence, stone wall, evergreen hedge, etc. Avoid distracting colors, signage, and clutter as much as possible.
If at all possible, take your photo outdoors – it will be WAY easier to get a well-lit, professional-looking result, even if you’re just using an iPhone.
4. Pose. If you have an especially large group, it can be helpful to incorporate levels, like a chair, bench, rock, or fence for some people to sit on. From there, have fun! Look at each other and then back at the camera, throw in some fake laughter (because it always results in real laughter!), and squeeze in close enough to each other that it feels awkward :)
5. Take the picture. Some folks use a tripod and remote clicker set up, which sounds awesome but isn’t something I have experience with. We usually use the newest iPhone in the group (ha!), either with the timer function or in the capable hands of a cousin or friend (remember, we’re usually taking our photos on vacation in Maine). Enlisting a photographer is especially helpful when you have young kiddos in the group, as the likelihood of smiles goes up!
Of course, working with a professional photographer is the ultimate, and well worth the splurge if you can swing it! Many of my favorite photographers hold “mini sessions” in the early fall, which are shorter sessions at a lower price point and PERFECT for capturing a large group.
And now, a few of our family’s photos from years past…
And a favorite outtake :)
Any tips you’d add? Do y’all still take yearly photos with your siblings and parents?
