My Tried and True, Expert Approved Skincare Tips

Skincare is probably the most complex aspect of beauty that there is. Every person's skin type is so unique and can change throughout the years and seasons. There are so many articles out there that it can be difficult to figure out what is helpful and what isn't. I've assembled some of my favorite skincare advice that has been proven to actually work through the studies of experts and my own personal knowledge. 

To begin, some background on my skin. Like many others, I started getting acne in middle school that was definitely close to severe. My skin was oily all the time and I tried so many products and was never satisfied. To make it worse, I developed an allergy to antacids my sophomore year of high school. That means ibuprofen, aspirin, and the common skincare ingredient salicylic acid. I broke out worse than I ever had in my life. Now after several years with a dermatologist I have finally found a good product combination but my skin has become dry and is very sensitive to new products. 

With all of that said, I think that this advice I'm about to share is needed for all skin types. I hope it can help you in your quest for healthy skin!

1. After trying a new regimen of products, wait 4-6 weeks to see results. This is so true but it can be so hard to listen to. I got very discouraged with my dermatologist but after about 6 to 7 weeks of using a new set of skincare products my skin has finally cleared up. Listen to the experts and suffer through a few weeks and it will definitely pay off. 

2. Use a lot of moisturizer. I got this tip from one of Bobbi Brown's books. Moisturizer helps your skin retain water and give it the vitamins and sun protection that it needs. Don't be afraid to use a lot on a daily basis. I also follow the editor of Lucky magazine, Eva Chen, on all her social media and she is always posting product reviews of different mosuturziers that she goes through super quickly. Both of these iconic women have smooth, glowy skin that proves the power that a great moisturizer can have. 

3. Don't overcleanse. A lot of beauty figures have started cleansing their face only once a day to avoid the overproduction of oil. On days when you've worn a light face of makeup, I recommend using a cleansing water instead of a normal cleanser. I've recently tried the one from Simple Skincare and it really does a great job of getting off dirt and makeup without drying out or tightening your skin. These are super popular right now for a good reason! 

4. Look for products with natural ingredients that are proven to help your skin. This has helped my skin so much lately. Instead of grabbing the bottle with a complex mix of chemicals, find one that promises ingredients you've actually heard of! For example, oatmeal, chamomile and coconut oil are all amazing for hydrating dry skin. If you keep a lookout for those ingredients you'll find a much more effective product. Whenever my skin gets extra dry, I use Eucerin cream on it because the oatmeal in it completely soothes the redness. 

5. Drink green tea. Green tea has been one of my favorite things to drink for years and it has so many health benefits. Not only is it great for your skin, but it helps with your heart health as well. I'm currently obsessed with this authentic sencha tea I got from a Japanese food store. It tastes heavenly! Plus it was super inexpensive. I can't say enough good things about it. 

 

These tips have really helped me work toward healthy skin. I hope that they help some of you out as well. Enjoy your weekend! xoxo, Katie 

May Favorites

This month I moved back home so my beauty routine has been pretty simple. I barely wear makeup and I've been really focused on taking care of my skin! Regardless, here are a few products I've tried or rediscovered. 

1. Clinique Chubby Stick in 05 Chunky Cherry

When I was at school, I found myself using this lip product almost every day. With a very neutral makeup look, it adds the perfect amount of red to my lips and is glossy and hydrating. 

2. Boots Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz

I use this every morning after washing my face. It smells heavenly and makes my skin feel extra hydrated.

3. Suave Moroccan Infusion Body Lotion

I needed a non scented body lotion for after my showers and I am obsessed with this! It has a nice sheen to it and really moisturizes. It has a little bit of unexpected scent but it is very subtle. My skin feels so soft after using this repeatedly. 

4. Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Duo in Iced Coffee

I pulled this old favorite out of the collection recently and remembered why I've held on to it for so long! The subtle shimmer is perfect for an everyday look and I've been wearing it nonstop.

5. OPI Nail Lacquer in Purple-opolis

Berry nail polishes are super on-trend for summer and this is one of my personal favorites. I recommend looking for it or finding a berry shade of your own! 

I hope that this sparks some interest in you! More posts are coming soon and I'm extremely excited about the updated appearance of my blog. A huge thank you to my sister Sarah for creating my header and please check out her photography at sarahlandmesser.com!

Have a lovely day!

xoxo, Katie 

Summer Swimsuit Favorites

This season I have been seeing more swimsuits come out that I love than I have in any previous season. I think it has to do with the creative silhouettes that are becoming more popular as well as some of the more athletic styles being combined with gorgeous patterns. Whatever the case, I know I have to share some of the ones I've picked up or ones that I've noticed in general so that you all can get some inspiration of your own!

1. Scalloped Bikinis

I found out about these amazing scalloped pieces from Marysia through a post on Lauren Conrad's blog. (I am obsessed with her and her style, to no surprise.) However, they are way out of my price range. I found a similar one from Victoria's Secret and it arrived yesterday. I am obsessed with it and I can't wait to wear it. 

This is the Marysia version. I am so in love!

This is the Victoria's Secret one. It's really flattering and super similar to the other one!

2. Sporty and Strappy

I absolutely love how a lot of swimsuits that are in right now are more athletic. You can actually wear them if you're planning on jumping into the pool, playing in the ocean or tubing. This style from Sensi Graves is $49 and you can just buy a basic black bottom to match! I love the colors of the straps. Also the front is really simple and comfortable unlike a lot of the super padded ones. Here's a link to the page.

3. Triangl Bikinis (And Imitations)

You can't go anywhere without seeing one of these this summer! While the neoprene trend is love/hate with a lot of people, the one thing I have to say is that you should at least find a bargain. Right now this one from Oasap is $15.12, which is pretty hard to pass up! If you're looking to try this trend on your body type then this site is the place to go. I like this one the best for the different pink tones. Here's the link.

I hope you keep some of these in mind when you're shopping for new suits this summer and that you enjoy all your time spent in the sun!

xoxo, Katie

My Spring/Summer Wishlist

I have always lived for spring and summer, and since getting back from college last night my summer has officially begun! Finally I get to wear shorts and flip flops and spend all my time soaking up the sun. I also love the opportunity to switch up my beauty routine and incorporate this season's trends into my wardrobe. There are a lot of items that I have been loving lately as well as several online items I can't wait to purchase! Here's a list of fashion and beauty things that I am going to be loving this summer and I hope it can inspire you as well. 

1. Rose-scented products

I haven't always been a fan of floral scents since they can sometimes be too heavy, but lately I've been loving the fresh smell of roses for my beauty routine. The smell goes perfectly with the flowers that bloomed all over my campus. This mask is one of my favorites for hydrating and toning my skin and it smells amazing! Another thing I've been really into is Epsom salt baths since I've been sick. Mixing Epsom salts with a few drops of rose essential oil gives a calming bath that also soothes illness and alleviates the tension in sore muscles. To buy the mask click here.

2. Clothed in Hope bracelets 

Clothed in Hope is a company that was founded in 2011 by a student that graduated from my school. All of the products are made by women in Zambia and the proceeds go back to them to help them learn how to support their families through running a business. I was fortunate enough to go to several trunk shows where a lot of the items were being sold and I've created a collection of these bracelets! I love the burst of color and I wear them every single day. I highly recommend checking out the site since everything is absolutely beautiful and it always starts a conversation about a great cause. Here is a link to the bracelets!

3. Palm Tree and Pineapple Patterns

If you go out to any store right now, it's impossible to miss the fruit-printed items and tropical themes on many articles of clothing right now. I started loving the pineapple idea when I visited Charleston in February and saw the famous pineapple fountain. As it turns out, pineapples are incorporated into everything all over the city! Ever since then I've loved seeing them for some reason and it makes me happy that they are popping up everywhere. I also love the palm fronds and trees that I'm seeing on a lot of pieces. Nothing could be more cute and appropriate for the summer time. 

I'm dying over this palm-print romper from one of my favorite local stores, Entourage. All of the clothes they carry are less than $42. I'm obsessed!

I'm also a huge fan of these phone cases from Nunuco Design Company. I found out about these somehow through Instagram and I'm in love with the watercolor patterns. I just want to order them all! I have to say that I'm leaning toward the pineapples. 

4. Lauren James

I always love preppy items as summer rolls around, especially anything pastel and seersucker. Lauren James products always combine the two perfectly without being overdone. Right now I'm eyeing this coral beachcomber and anything with the American Magnolia pattern (right on time for the 4th of July!). 

I hope you all enjoyed this post! I am super excited to be home and I can't wait to incorporate these ideas and trends in time for the hot weather that is surely on its way. I hope that you all are enjoying the spring and summer so far and good luck if you're finishing off school! 

xoxo, Katie