My Favorite Things while Staying at Home | Beauty, Fashion, & Home

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It seems like there’s no end to this quarantine/stay-at-home period, but I can say I’ve really upped my game when it comes to creating a relaxing experience at home. With all the stress that comes with living through a pandemic, I’ve really learned the importance of finding comfort in the little things. Five months in, and I’ve really started “nesting.”

Beauty

This extra time at home has given me more time to do something I often neglect in my beauty routines: masking. I went months without using a face or hair mask before all this started, but now I set aside some time each week to make sure I treat myself to a relaxing masking ritual. I just got the Beneath Your Mask Illuminate Clarifying Face Mask last month, and it’s been the one I’ve been reaching for the most. It’s a powder mask that you turn into a paste by mixing with water, or whatever you want. I love these kinds of masks because although there’s a little more work involved, you can really customize it and it makes it feel even more like a special occasion. I like mixing mine with a little bit of the Fresh Deep Hydration Rose Facial Toner and a little dollop of the I’m From Honey Mask. I also recently got the Indie Lee Clearing Mask after hearing nothing but good things and having it on my wishlist for close to a year. I can’t wait to work this into my masking routine to keep blemishes at bay.

As for hair, my all-time favorite hair mask is probably the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Hair Mask - we go through the giant bottles of it a few times a year because my husband loves it, too. I also recently fell in love with the Virtue Restorative Hair Treatment Mask, so I’ve been working that into my routine. For me, spending most of my time at home also means I put off washing my hair longer than I should, so on those days where it feels like I have a lot of buildup to get rid of, I like a pre-shampoo mask - my favorite is the Amika Reset Scalp Cleansing Oil. I like that the thin nozzle tip makes it easy to apply directly to the scalp. It has a cooling sensation that feels really nice, too. I put it in dry hair, massage it in, and then shampoo as normal. It doesn’t leave my hair stripped, and it’s a nice extra step in my long Sunday self-care routine.

Fashion

I’ve always been pro-loungewear, really only wearing real clothes if I left the house and changing into sweatpants as soon as I returned home, but the pandemic has really solidified my stance. I’ve spent months searching for the comfiest outfits to wear while lounging at home. I’ve discovered Lou & Grey this summer, and I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of them or tried them sooner. They really do the basics well. I have a matching set of sweatpants and a sweatshirt, as well as some sweat-shorts and t-shirts, and they’re some of the softest and coziest I own. The only other clothes I wear on a regular basis are workout clothes while I’m doing my Zoom Cardio Kickboxing classes or following along to some TikTok Dance Workout video on YouTube. I’ve been searching for comfort in these, too, and my favorite set is from the new FLOAT line from Girlfriend. I like that they’re soft and lightweight, but they give just enough compression.

Speaking of compression, I’ve recently discovered the wonder of compression socks. I had only heard of these for the elderly mostly, but Comrad reached out to me and sent me a variety pack of theirs. They look cute, and they feel like I’m just constantly getting a calf/foot massage. They’re so comfy to just lounge around in!

On the accessories side, I’ve been spending lots of time staring at screens - pretty normal for me, but my screen time has definitely gone way up since the stay at home orders started. I’m on my phone, watching Netflix on TV, and playing Animal Crossing on the Nintendo Switch most days. LOOK OPTIC sent me a pair of their Blue Light Glasses to try - I had been skeptical of blue light glasses in the past when YouTubers recommended them, but I really do notice a difference when I’m wearing these around the house. I didn’t have any eye strain complaints before, but I’ve noticed my eyes do feel better and are less red and tired from wearing the glasses. And it seems like it’s easier for me to wind down at night when it’s time for bed, too.

Home

I’ve been big into cooking and baking for about a year and a half now, and now that we aren’t going out to restaurants I’ve been cooking so much more. I recently got my hands on the Our Place Always Pan, and it’s been a game-changer. Not only is it super pretty so it makes me even more excited to cook, but it’s a super versatile pan and very high quality. So far I’ve made pancakes, a pasta dish, ground beef and beans for tacos, and omelets in it, and I can really see myself using it to cook almost any meal. My favorite part is how well the non-stick surface works - everything I’ve made easily slides out of the pan, and it’s super easy to clean up afterwards. I’ve never actually been able to make an omelet before because it would always stick in places, but the ones I made this weekend came out perfect!

I haven’t used it much this summer, but come fall and winter I know I’ll be getting a lot of use out of my Cuisinart Dutch Oven for warm, comforting meals. I’ve also made quite the variety of meals in this, and I know it’s something I’ll have in my kitchen for years and years. I got mine during a sale and would highly recommend!

I think having candles lit around the house really completes the cozy atmosphere I’m going for, so I always have at least one burning. My favorites lately are from Boy Smells and Bijou Candles. Boy Smells Slow Burn, their collab with Kacey Musgraves, is my all-time favorite, and I’ve bought a backup to make sure I can fill my home with the scent for a long time. I also really love Bijou Candles Greta and Judy (not currently available) especially for the kitchen - they’re both warm, gourmand scents that aren’t too sweet or sickly. Someone that came by our house the other day walked in while Judy was burning and exclaimed that it smelled like I had just made French toast!

What are you using to help your comfort levels around the house?

Scalp Care is Skin Care: Rooted Rituals Quick Rinse Scalp Scrub

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, meaning I was paid for this review. However, all opinions are my own.

For as much attention I pay to the health of my skin, I was really overlooking how I could also be taking care of my scalp and hair. Oftentimes I just grab whatever shampoo or conditioner is in the shower, throw some leave-in conditioner in my damp hair, and go. I recently got to try some products from Rooted Rituals, and it’s turned my hair care routine around!

Rooted Rituals products use a blend of ginger root and Vitamin E that is designed to cool and soothe the scalp, improve the scalp’s moisture barrier (something I always focus on in my skincare, but never before for my scalp!), remove buildup, and fight breakage. The regimen is meant to be used long-term to promote continuing scalp and hair health, and the products are also safe to use on color-treated hair.

A healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair. Every hair on your head grows from a follicle, each of which produce sebum from the sebaceous gland. Think of the follicles on your scalp like the pores on your face: you want to keep your pores clean and clear of dead skin cells, excess sebum, and infection to have clear, glowy skin, so it’s no wonder that doing the same for your hair follicles will produce full, shiny hair. Consistent and gentle exfoliation is key to maintaining not only skin health, but scalp health as well.

As I said, I used to be pretty simple with my hair routine. One thing I never could make a part of my hair-washing system was a scalp scrub - they would never really feel like they were getting down to my scalp, and then they were a nightmare to rinse out. But the Rooted Rituals Ginger Root & Mint Quick Rinse Scalp Scrub has truly been a game changer. It has a creamy formula that has the consistency of a conditioner, and it contains micro-exfoliators that feel gentle but still get the job done. It gently lathers up and spreads easily, so I can actually feel like it’s getting down to my scalp instead of getting stuck in my hair. The best part is that it rinses out so easily - probably because the particles are small. The creamy consistency helps keep my scalp conditioned and hydrated instead of stripped. When followed up with the Clarifying Shampoo and Silicone-Free Conditioner I’ve noticed my hair feels so much cleaner and has a lot more volume and body than it feels with my old hair routine.

The Rooted Rituals products have made my hair-washing “ritual” so much more enjoyable and fuss-free. They all smell amazing - I’m bad at describing scents, but it’s a typical “hair product” smell, and the scent lingers subtly in my hair. All the products have a nice “feel” to them that just make them feel luxe and lovely to use. After washing my hair, I love applying a few drops of the Cooling & Strengthening Tonic and massaging it in with the Root Rejuvenating Scalp Massager - the drops really do feel cooling on my scalp, so it’s been such a welcome addition to my routine as the weather has warmed up! I’ve also been using a scoop of the Multi-task Leave-On Mask to keep my hair hydrated and smooth. I’ve never used a leave-on hair mask before, but I love the ease of this one. It makes my hair so soft and smooth, and it doesn’t weigh it down or leave a residue at all.  

I typically wash my hair three nights a week, and I use the Scalp Scrub on one of those nights  - I personally like using it on my Sunday night hair wash. It’s a nice treat to start the week with my best hair possible!

Have you used a scalp scrub before? What do you do to maintain your scalp & hair health?

You can find these products exclusively at Walmart!

Top 10 Sephora Favorites | VIB Sale Recommendations

Let me first start with a disclaimer: we’re living in unprecedented times, and I know many people are unable to shop the Sephora sale this time around. The last thing I want is to appear tone-deaf and like I’m telling you you need to shop the sale. That being said, I love reading favorites posts and recommendations, so I thought I would still share my current favorites you can find at Sephora. Sale dates, percentages, and codes can be found at the end of the post.

I used to be so into collecting new products and trying out every new launch I could, but this year I’ve really pared my routines down and use products much more consistently. It definitely made this list super easy to compile.

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 - I’ve been using this almost daily since I got it and have a full review here. It’s beautifully lightweight and dewy, smooths over the skin seamlessly, and has great lasting power for such a glowy product.

Kosas Revealer Concealer - This is another daily favorite, and I reviewed it along with the ILIA skin tint linked above. This concealer is moisturizing so it doesn’t ever cake up, it has great coverage, and it looks incredibly skinlike. It works well on bare skin as well as with other base products, and on dark undereye circles as well as blemishes. It’s truly the most versatile concealer I’ve ever used and has dethroned the Milk Flex Concealer as my favorite.

ROEN BEAUTY 11:11 Eyeshadow Palette - I love the Roen eyeshadow formula, and this new pink-toned palette really caught my attention. The shadows are a hybrid cream-powder that I haven’t experienced from another brand, and they’re beautifully shimmery and glimmer-y. They’re a sophisticated shimmer, if that makes sense. These shadows do crease on me, but since they’re more aimed to be used in a slap-and-go kind of look, and they also blend back into place easily, I don’t mind it and still reach for them all the time.

Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Mask - One of Amika’s newest launches really blew me away. My hair tends to look quite dull because it’s dry, but adding hydrating products usually just weighs it down and makes it greasy. This lightweight mask only takes one minute in the shower and is hydrating enough for me to use as my conditioner step. It really does add a ton of shine to my hair without weighing it down. It also makes my hair super soft, which isn’t something I experience often, having quite frizzy hair naturally. I’m tempted to use this every time I wash my hair!

Briogeo Strengthening Treatment Hair Oil - I’ve only been using this for a week, but I can already tell it’s a winner. As I said above, my hair tends to be a little dry and frizzy. Lately I’ve been letting it air-dry, because why bother styling it when I’m only going to work and going home, right? I run this lightweight oil through the midlengths and ends of my hair while it’s still damp, and I notice a huge difference in how my hair air-dries. It looks much smoother and healthier, and the oil doesn’t make my hair greasy or need a wash faster.

Korres Hydra-Biome Mask - I always use this after I’ve done a cardio class and my face is hot and flushed. It’s not only incredibly moisturizing, but it also feels so cooling and soothing. I rarely take the time to mask anymore, but I still consistently use this one at least twice a week.

Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40 - I’ve made it a habit to wear sunscreen every single day over the past year or two, and I can definitely tell a difference in my skin. My latest daily favorite is this new launch from Supergoop. It has the most beautiful dewy finish that doesn’t get greasy on me as the day goes on, and it really makes the skin look blurred and perfected. When I wear this, I only pop concealer on my undereyes and blemishes and skip foundation.

Dior Lip Glow Oils - These are still my favorite lip products, and if you haven’t tried them yet, now’s the time. They’re just basically a thick, nourishing gloss that doesn’t feel sticky or goopy, and they subtly tint the lips like the original Lip Glows. I have most of the shades, and my most-worn ones are the Berry and Raspberry shades.

Fresh Sugar Hydrating Lip Balms - I’ve been straying away from potted balms lately for sanitary reasons, but these ones from Fresh are so nice that I make an exception and wear them all the time at home. They’re plush and nourishing without feeling too thick or sticky, and they last a while on the lips. Their new spring/summer scents are all lovely, and my favorite (from the new launches and the whole line as well) is the Blood Orange scent.

Milk Makeup Highighter - This is an oldie but a goodie! I know I’ve mentioned this countless times, but it’s probably my favorite highlighter ever. It looks so glossy and glowy on the skin, but never looks over the top or too wet. It’s just a great daily highlighter, and there’s so much product here that it’ll last you forever. (Actually, maybe consider the mini so you have the possibility of using it up before it expires). I’ve had mine for a year and with almost daily use, I’ve barely made a dent in it.

Like I said, these are all products I’ve been using consistently in my routines lately. I know if I looked through my stash I’d find many more favorites to mention, but these are just the ones I reach for a lot right now! I’ve convinced myself I don’t really need more beauty products right now, so my order this morning consisted of 2 Overose candles that are now at Sephora (even though I definitely don’t need more candles either)! What are your favorites from Sephora?

This post contains affiliate links.

VIB Rouge: 20% off 4/17-5/1

VIB: 15% off 4/21-4/29

INSIDER: 10% off 4/23-4/27