Full disclosure: I am the queen of casual-chic. On the weekends, it’s hard to find me in anything but tee dresses and ankle boots. However, I think I may have found the crowning jewel in my casual-chic wardrobe with this chambray jumpsuit. This baby checks allllll the boxes: soft, slouchy, comfy, and it’s a onesie. What more could you want from a summer outfit?
On another (yet related) note, Old Navy has been KILLING it lately. I’ve always loved Old Navy for easy, affordable basics, but they’ve really stepped up their game lately. I couldn’t help myself and picked up this skirt, these pants, these shorts, and these shorteralls this weekend. #sorrynotsorry
When I emerged wearing this jumpsuit, Sawyer asked me, “Umm… who told you that was stylish?” This is of course man-code for “why are you wearing that, you look like an adult baby.” I, of course, confidently replied, “No one told me, I make my own rules homie!” ;) Maybe the joke is on me, but I don’t care. Happy jumpsuit shopping!
A few weeks ago, I had one of those pinch-me moments when I found myself not only standing in a room with famous and successful women, but getting to sit and chat with them as well. I had the honor of meeting the smart and gorgeous actress Ali Larter, Williams-Sonoma president Janet Hayes, and author/founder of networking group A Band of Women Christine Brownstein. It’s days like this that have me thanking my lucky stars that my blog has allowed me these kinds of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet brilliant and inspiring women.
Gushing aside, I was there to attend an evening of empowering conversations, hosted by Real Simple and Fidelity. The panel discussed the pivotal moments that helped get them to where they are today, and the everyday challenges, biggest opportunities, and moments that inspired them to take action along the way. I appreciated the candor these women expressed while not only sharing their fantastic triumphs, but their devastating failures. Their stories were aimed to drive more awareness and discussion around the importance of women taking charge of their future – including the role engagement in financial decisions have on reaching short and long-term goals throughout their lives. This is so important, because 95% of women will end up being the sole financial decision-maker (because of either divorce or outliving their partner).
I felt like I took away a lot of important information from the event – I even set up a one-on-one conversation with a Fidelity representative to talk about my financial needs and goals for the future (and I’m excited about it… what???!). There’s so much more that I need to learn about budgeting, goal planning, and investing, and I can’t wait to take the next steps in my financial education. Remember: believe in yourself, don’t let money be a taboo subject, do your homework, and don’t delay (investments have a compounding effect!). You only live once – get your money’s worth!
Let’s talk about skincare! I’m constantly buying and trying new products to find my perfect skincare combination. I have very dry, dehydrated skin with an oily t-zone, so I’ve finally figured out that I need to pack on super-hydrating products at night and wear a lighter, oil-free moisturizer during the day. I also use the dual cleansing method for washing my face at night to break down my layers of makeup. I think I’ve finally found the combination that works for me, which is heavily dominated by Philosophy. Below I run through the products I use every morning/night, as well as my must-have weekly treatment for perfect skin! Here we go!
Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil: I’ve recently started using the dual cleansing method for washing my face in the evening, and this cleansing oil is step 1. Before I wash my face, I massage this oil into my skin in circular motions. This rich cleansing oil breaks down the layers of makeup on my face, including my stubborn eye makeup, without leaving my skin feeling greasy.
Clarisonic Mia: This tool has singlehandedly changed my skin. I use my Clarisonic (along with my Cetaphil face wash) to cleanse my skin once a day after rinsing off the Tatcha cleansing oil.
Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water: In the mornings, I like to saturate a cotton pad with this micellar water and swipe my face for a quick cleanse and to remove any traces of mascara under my eyes. As I mentioned in this post, I prefer the Bioderma micellar water, but this one does the job for now.
Philosophy Time in a Bottle: After cleansing my skin the morning, I apply one pump of this vitamin C-8 serum and let it absorb for about a minute before applying my moisturizer.
Philosophy Miracle Worker Retinoid Eye Repair Cream: I take a tiny amount of this retinoid eye treatment and gently pat it under my eyes and on my browbone. I use this treatment twice a day – morning and night.
Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Moisturizer: As always, it is important to use SPF every day in your skincare routine. I like this moisturizer because it’s very light but very hydrating. The formula is also oil-free, making it ideal to wear under makeup during the day.
Philosophy Hope in a Jar Night: Most nights, after cleansing my skin and applying the Miracle Worker eye treatment, I pack on this thick moisturizer. It’s super rich and hydrating, which leaves my skin looking plump and fresh in the morning.
Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask: On nights when my skin is feeling particularly dry (usually about once or twice a week), I slather on this mega-rich moisture mask. My skin drinks it up! I wake up looking like a glowing angel-baby.
Philosophy Detoxify: The Oxygen Peel: I use this facial as a once-a-week treat on Sunday nights. This peel leaves my skin looking brighter, my pores are tighter, and my skin looks taught and refined. It also helps tremendously with acne scarring and improving the overall texture of my skin. It is an essential in my skincare routine!
We made it… it’s officially warm weather season! Summer can be tricky to dress for, though, as layering really isn’t an option. It can difficult to strike a balance between staying cool and not showing too much skin. I’ve decided to start a summer style series to give you a few options. Give your tired shorts-and-a-tee combo a rest and try an easy style to keep you looking stylish (not sweaty)!
Try wearing a linen + cotton blend tee with your usual pencil skirt to work. The skirt keeps the look from feeling too casual and the tee helps you stay cool on hot days. Feel free to tuck in the shirt instead of knotting it to keep the outfit work-appropriate. Class it up with a pair of killer heels in a fun color and you have an easy + chic work outfit! Sunglasses: Amazon | Tee: Uniqlo | Skirt: H&M | Heels: Shoes of Prey, c/o (custom)
More summer style outfits coming soon!
XO, J
P.S To keep your feet comfortable all day, sprinkle some baby powder into your heels – it absorbs sweat and prevents chafing!
Micellar waters have been generating a lot of buzz recently in the beauty blogging community. Hailed as the best and fastest way to remove makeup and cleanse skin, micellar waters have been used at runway shows by makeup artists for years. The waters clear all product off the skin in a matter of seconds and don’t leave behind any oily residue or leave the skin feeling tight and dry. How are micellar waters different from typical foam, gel, or cream cleansers? Instead of using soap and alcohol like most other cleansers, micellar waters contain tiny micelles (clusters of fatty acid esters) that help dissolve impurities on the skin like makeup, dirt, and oil — similar to how dish detergent breaks down grease. I decided to take two of the best-selling micellar waters on the market and see how they stacked up. Check out my thoughts below and see which micellar water made the cut!
Bioderma Crealine H2O Micellaire Cleansing Water: This is the micellar water that started it all! It was very difficult (and expensive) for me to get my hands on a bottle of this cleanser, because it’s not yet sold in the US. I ordered mine through Amazon and probably paid double or triple of what the actual cost is in France – in the name of science! I really, really loved this micellar water. It took off every stitch of makeup on my face at the end of the day, including my very stubborn waterproof mascara and eyeliner. The formula was super gentle and fragrance-free. It actually felt like I was cleansing my face with nothing other than water, and my skin was not left tight or dry.
Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water: I assure you, this micellar water is a lot easier to track down than the Bioderma, which may be enough to tip the scales in its favor. Stocked on the shelves (and online) at every US Sephora, the large size of this micellar water rings in at $20. I also really loved the clever pump feature on the 13.5 oz size of this cleanser. This micellar water did a comparable job removing makeup as Bioderma, even with stubborn eye makeup. However, this formula is scented, and I found the fragrance to be off-putting. I would’ve preferred no fragrance, as my skin is sensitive and fragrances can irritate it.
The verdict? As difficult as it can be to snag a bottle, I preferred the Bioderma Micellar Cleansing Water. In a pinch, the Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water would do, but I was not a fan of the fragrance. For now, I will continue to order my beloved Bioderma through Amazon – all the while keeping my fingers crossed for its eventual entrée into the US!
Have you ever tried these products? Do you agree with my choice? Let me know in the comments section below!
For a lot of women, the thought of getting bangs brings back flashbacks of bad childhood haircuts. Luckily, bangs as an adult aren’t scary if you know how to style them! No poufy 80s bangs in sight! Apply a drop of smoothing serum (I like Kerastase Elixir Ultime) to soaking wet bangs. It’s important to blow dry your bangs when they are still extremely wet to lock in the style. Set your blow dryer to warm and attach the nozzle. Using a paddle brush, blow dry your bangs across your forehead for about a minute in each direction. Really get into the roots of your bangs to eliminate growth patterns and cowlicks.Split your bangs in half horizontally and pin back the top layer. Set the blow dryer to the hottest setting. Using a 1.75″ ceramic round brush, blow dry the bottom layer and side pieces. The closer you keep the brush to your forehead and the less curling under you do, the less volume they will have. The more you lift the bangs and the more you curl under, the more volume they will have.To eliminate the round brush puffiness, blast with high heat and smooth the bottom layer with the paddle brush.Unpin the top layer of your bangs and repeat step 4, blow drying with high heat.Repeat step 5, blasting the top layer with high heat and smoothing with the paddle brush. Finish with a quick blast of cold air to seal the cuticle. If there are any unruly pieces, feel free to tame with a flat iron.Kinda makes you want to cut bangs again, huh?
Hat: Old Navy | Jacket: ASOS | Jumpsuit: Old Navy | Boots: Steven by Steve Madden | Lipstick: Maybelline
