My Nightly Routine

Today I thought I would share my nightly routine with you, it doesn't vary from the average nightly routine that much, but I still thought I could show you the products and methods I use. I'm usually very picky about the way I do things and in which order I do them, so when it comes to my nightly routine, everything is spot on. So here goes...

Before I hop in the shower I will take my make up off. I usually don't have much, just some mascara and coverup, maybe some eyeliner. I like to use the Equate Exfoliating cleansing face towelettes. I prefer these make up remover wipes over others because they are really gentile and they don't have any harsh ingredients. Lots of people like the Neutrogena wipes, but I find them to be irritating and they make my face sting, not to mention they're way more money for way less quantity. 

Then I wash the day away. For my shampoo I use Paul Mitchell's Shampoo Two. I love this shampoo because it's a clarifying shampoo, with this product you can skip a day of showering and your hair wont get oily and gross, also it's really good for people who are in chlorine a lot. For conditioner I use Garnier Fructis' Hydra Recharge conditioner. I use this because a little goes a long, long way, you only need a squirt the size of a dime and it leaves your hair so silky and healthy. This works best for people who tend to have hair on the drier side or live in a dry climate. For face wash I use the Clinique liquid face soap in mild, I just got this sampler and so far so good, no complaints.

I don't usually shave my legs every time I shower but when I do, I do it pristinely. My razor is an inexpensive one from Venus, as long as it doesn't cut me I'm fine with it. Before I shave I use my apricot scrub, this was really cheap and a complete copy of the more expensive St. Ive's scrub. I scrub my legs before I shave them to get rid of dead skin and sort of clear the way of the hair follicles so you get a longer lasting shave. For shaving cream I sometimes use generic shaving cream, but I find it cheaper and easier to use conditioner, I know it sound weird but it leaves your legs hydrated and smooth.

After my shower I dry off, get dressed and work on my face a little bit more. I like to use the Clinique toner for the dry-combination skin type. Occasionally, I will use the Sea Breeze Astringent for black heads or oily areas. One my face is all dried out I like to put some hydration back into it with my Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer plus. I only have a sample size to try it out but it is amazing! You only have to use a little and spread it evenly around your face and neck, and your face literally feels like a baby's butt.

After that process, I make some tea. I like to drink a relaxing caffeine free tea to help me sleep. I have been using Celestial's Sleepytime Extra for years now, it has a really good, light flavor of camomile, spearmint and the ancient Greek sleep aid valerian (herb). This tea works so well, it knocks me out and puts me into the best night of sleep. I then, tuck myself into bed, put my phone away and read for thirty to forty-five minutes. After that I snooze off! 

**A couple tips for a better slumber**

1) Your sleeping environment should be a dark slightly colder room. You sleep best when it's a few degrees colder and when it's completely dark you are forced to fall asleep.

2) Turn off all electronics and bright screens at least one hour before you go to sleep. The light tricks your brain into thinking it's daytime causing you to stay awake and have a restless sleep.

I hope you liked reading about my nightly routine, products I use, and simple tips I gave. I really enjoyed writing about this topic and would love to write more things like it. Until next time...

xo,

Stella

A Week in My Style

This week I decided to finally do a post about me and my fashion, focussing on my point of view. I figured the best way to do this was to blog about some outfits I might wear in a week. So that's what I did, I hope you like it. 

Monday

Me being weird when there's no school.

This monday we had no school due to MLK day, yay! I didn't feel like getting all dressed and ready do just do homework and maybe go to the grocery store with my mom. So I put on a pair of my most comfortable jeans with a white v-neck tee and my moms hoodie. I put a purple headband on to hold back my hair and that was pretty much it.

Jeans: American Eagle 

Tee: Urban Outfitters

Hoodie: Target

Headband: TJ Maxx

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Tuesday

I'm so matchy-matchy!

I had school on Tuesday, so I had to dress up a little and start the week off right. I wanted to look cute and put together but comfortable at the same time. So I went with some lavender corduroys, a colorful plaid button down, and a knitted circle scarf. For shoes I wore weaved orange flats. I was neither hot nor cold in this outfit it was perfect for the cold weather.

Corduroys: H&M

Plaid: American Eagle

Scarf: a gift

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Wednesday

Black, White, and Red all over.

On Wednesday I wanted to wear two new clothing items I had gotten over holiday break. One being the black lacy scarf from my friend fro Christmas. And the other, a white three-quarter-sleeve top that I bought on sale. I pared these items with my bright red jeans. I had on some weathered black leather  lace-up boots (what a mouthful). I haven't worn these jeans in a while, so I decided to add a pop of color to this outfit.

Scarf: a gift

Shirt: Forever 21

Jeans: Gap

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Thursday

Not trying hard in the middle of the week.

When Thursday rolls around, my looks start to get more casual and less time consuming. Thursday morning I woke up late and threw on whatever caught my eye first. A long sleeved mustard top with buttons in the front, my favorite pair of skinny, dark-wash jeans, my Ugg boots, and a soft gray scarf did the trick. I was so comfy, I think I almost fell asleep in fourth period.

Top: H&M

Jeans: American Eagle

Scarf: Down East

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Friday

Preppy all around.

At the end of the week I'm always tired but relieved and excited too. I wanted to end the week in good graces with a put together look. I went with my favorite jeans, a black and white striped button down, and a red cable knit sweater over top. I wore dark emerald flats and my leather strapped watch too. 

Top: Forever 21

Sweater: JC Penny

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Well, I have to say, I enjoyed stepping out of the borders a bit with this post. I really enjoyed it and I will probably keep doing it. Its more fun and everything comes easier to me. Anyways, I hope you all had a fabulous, fashion filled week! (I love alliteration)

xo,

Stella

The Roaring 20s

The 1920s is my favorite era for so many reasons. One being the fashion, I adore the way the women dressed in the twenties; all of the pearls, beaded dresses, and headbands. The whole concept of prohibition and secret speakeasies is completely riveting to me. The twenties was a time where people really let loose, had fun, and lived life one moment at a time. I would easily give up all of the technology we have today to go back in time and live in the twenties.

"Au Revoir" By Georges Barbier

The Fashion

The women in the twenties were tired of stuffing their bodies into corsets so they wore

comfortable, loose fitting dresses that were practical and hastle-free. No corset needed, these dresses still created an illusion of thinness and elegance. Fun fact: Coco Chanel was the first designer to out the corset and change the way women dressed. These flattering dresses were usually not fitted at the waist but sometimes at the hips. They came in materials such as: lace, velvet, and chiffon. The usually had intricate detailing with beads, sequins, fringe, and other embellishments. With these beautiful dresses women wore accessories. Headbands with flowers, beads, sequins, feathers and more, were commonly worn to match the dress. I neck of pearls was the norm at the time, it created the illusion of length and it accentuated the collar bones. Wealthier women would often ware extravagant shoulder wraps, usually make of fox or mink fur. As far as shoes go, low heels with a strap were easy to dance in, yet fashionable at the same time. Along with the abrupt change in trends, women chopped off their long hair and started to wear it in a bob.

An example of flapper fashion from Decade Fashion

The Way of Life

The twenties were all about letting loose and doing the unspeakable. In this era women started to do things that were unexpected or considered unladylike. These ladies had had enough, they wanted to be independent and confident. Fun fact: applying makeup -- specifically lipstick, was considered sexy. The term "Flapper Girl" didn't just mean a dancer in a speakeasy, it stood for a women who wanted to live their life in freedom. Webster describes "Flapper Girl" as: 

"a "new breed" of young women in the 1920s who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior. Flappers were seen as brash for wearing excessive makeup, drinking, treating sex in a casual manner, smoking, driving automobiles, and otherwise flouting social and sexual norms."

The way these ladies lived was taboo at the time, but soon enough it caught on and the way people looked at life was completely changed. If you're wanting more intel about the marvelous fashion in the 1920s check out All About Fashion blog.

Image courtesy of All About Fashion

I have to say this has been my favorite post to write and research about. Let me know if you want more decade fashion in the comment section below. It's been fun! Until next time...

xoxo,

Stella