Natalie-Elizabeth

Browsing the book sections in Anthroplogie and Urban Outfitters is one of my favorite activities to do. I could seriously spend all day in both stores. Recently, I have started to form a small collection of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle books. These are the type of books that just look pretty sitting on your coffee table or on your book shelf that you can flip through to get inspiration or just enjoy the pictures. Here are a few favorites that I recently purchased.

In The Company Of Women - Grace Bonney

Capture Your Style - Aimee Song

Now this book is what I like to call, the beauty bible. It is THE instruction manual for all things beauty. Sali Hughes has 15 years of experience in the beauty world and all of her tips and tricks are in this book. She gives realistic beauty advice for the everyday woman. She covers everything from teenage skincare to mature beauty. I love how honest this book is and I have learned some life changing techniques from her. I always keep this one on my nightstand. It's like my little dictionary that I always turn to whenever I have a beauty problem! Definitely recommend this one if you are just as obsessed with makeup and beauty as I am.

Finding the perfect handbag has always been a struggle for me. It is so hard to find a bag that is perfect for everyday and practical for the evenings. For years, I have been lusting over Rebecca Minkoff handbags and I finally decided to break the bank and purchase my first one. A lot of research goes into buying your first designer bag and I knew the M.A.C. Crossbody would be the best option for me. The overall size of the bag is great. It is 11" L x 2" D x 8" H with a 21" drop chain strap. I can fit everything I need for the day and it doesn't get bulky. This bag also comes in a mini version, which is great if you want the same style but feel the regular size is too large for your needs. I was really impressed with the quality of the leather. It feels super soft and buttery, so it will definitely get better with age. When it came to color choice, I stuck with black because it is a classic color and it will be easy to style. I knew if I picked a brighter color, I would get sick of it. My favorite thing about this bag is the gold hardware. The clasp in the front and the metal hardware on the bottom gives off a subtle, edgy look. The gold details and size makes it perfect to use on a night out.

Since I chose a neutral color, I figured I could accessorize the bag with fun key chains. I picked one up at H&M, it is currently unavailable on their website, but they have a lot of unique ones out for the summer. I really like this key chain because it really stands out against the black leather. Also the lips add a nice pop of red.

Overall, this bag was the perfect choice for me and I know it is going to be my go to choice for the summer.

Sunday Riley has been a brand that I have always wanted to try. I have heard so many great things about their products and how you will see instant results. Their Martian toner has been on my list of things to try for awhile now. I came across this product while watching one of Zoella's monthly favorites videos.  She was raving about how this product has made a huge difference to her skin. I have watched Zoella for years and she has always been open about her skin issues and I have always felt we had similar skin types. So when she talked about how this product made her skin clear up, I had to go try it out myself. Sunday Riley has been creating high-performance products that create instant results that will have a long-term payoff. There is a large range of products that will suit any skin type. From cleansers, moisturizers and facial oils, there is something available for everyone.

In past posts, I have talked about all of my recent skin issues and I am still trying to figure out how to get my skin back to normal. With graduation right around the corner, I have been experiencing really bad breakouts due to stress and my skin has been oiler than usual. I regularly see a dermatologist so I have switched up my skin care routine a little bit since I have been using the same products for years. The Martian toner has made a huge difference to the appearance of my skin. This toner comes out as a cooling gel and as you massage it into the skin, it turns to water. This toner helps clarify, remove oil and tighten pores to help mattify the skin. Bentonite clay is used to help clarify and tighten pores by pulling out oil and pore-clogging debris. This ingredient also helps set your foundation since it keeps oil at bay. Marshmallow extract is used to help soothe the skin and reduce redness. Cucumber, green tea and witch hazel are all used in this product to help tone and tighten the skin. The final main ingredient is manuka which is used to keep the skin clear. I apply this product twice a day after I cleanse my skin. I have only been using it for a week and I already see a difference! I was getting really frustrated with how oily my skin has been and my makeup would break up only a few hours after application. This toner has helped control the oil of my skin and I have noticed my makeup has lasted way longer. I also love how much smaller my pores have gotten from this product. The full size bottle costs $55, which is the main reason why I held off purchasing it for awhile. When I was at Sephora in JcPenny, I saw a smaller bottle that was only $25! Which isn't bad for how pricey this brand is. Even though I have only used this product for a week, I already know it is going to be a permanent part of my skincare routine. I have already seen a difference in my skin in such a short period of time, and I can't wait to see how my skin looks the longer I use this toner!

During my free time, I love going on Pinterest or Instagram to take a look at what the latest bloggers and fashion influencers have been wearing to help me get some inspiration. The latest trends for this season are so fresh and unique, I can't wait to start incorporating them into my wardrobe when the weather warms up! There are a lot of trends right now that I am loving, but this blog post would last forever if I listed them all. Here are my top favorites:

Fishnets

Fishnet tights or socks have made a huge comeback recently and I love how they can spice up an outfit and give it an edge! Lately, I have been wearing mine like the picture above. I picked up a pair of  fishnet socks at Topshop and I love how they make a simple outfit look unique. I like wearing them with my adidas or sock booties with cropped jeans. You can also wear fishnet tights underneath your jeans so they peek out through the rips or have it show a few inches above your waistband.

Statement Sleeves

Off The Shoulder Tops 

Denim

You may have seen Ouai haircare all over social media the past year and let me tell you, it definitely lives up to the hype. Jen Atkins, hairstylist to the Kardashians, created this product line to help achieve that chic, effortless, laid back style that everyone is looking for. Knowing that Jen Atkins was the creator of this brand had me running to purchase this product, but it also has some great benefits! According to their official website, their products are designed to help repair, strengthen, and nourish hair to help bring out it's natural beauty. You can go on their website to view the large variety of products they have! They also sell their products in some Sephora locations, so I made a stop while I was in Chicago to pick out a few. When I style my hair, I always go for loose, beachy, texturized waves so I couldn't decide between their wave spray or the texturizing hair spray. Instead, I purchased Jen's Style Edit. This box set contains three travel sized products. It includes the wave spray, texturizing hair spray, finishing creme, and six elastic hair ties. The box cost $25 which is equivalent to purchasing one product. I decided this would be the smarter purchase since I could test out which products I liked the most before committing to a full sized bottle.


Ouai Wave Spray - $26: This product is great when you want to achieve those loose beachy waves. After testing it out a few times, I absolutely love it. It doesn't spray out too heavy, so you aren't stuck with that crunchy feeling in your hair that other wave sprays can give you. I like to use it after I curl my hair to help loosen up the curl and add volume. My hair is naturally wavy, so on days where I don't feel like styling my hair, I will spray this in to help enhance my natural curl. This is the perfect product to use in the summertime if you are spending your days by the pool or beach!

Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray - $26: This is the perfect product to use when you want to put some life back into your hair! Not only does it build texture and add volume, it acts as a hair spray, so you get two products in one. Sometimes after shampooing and blowdrying my hair, it can become way too soft to style, so I like to add this in to help hold my curl. Also, it is great for second day hair because it absorbs oil. I find myself reaching for this product more than my regular dry shampoo.

Ouai Finishing Creme - $24: After I blow-dry my hair, it tends to be a little frizzy, so I like running this through my ends to help tame my hair. I love how soft and shiny my hair looks after using this product.

Overall, this has become my new favorite haircare brand. I noticed instant results when testing the products out for the first time and they helped achieve the style that I was looking for. I also noticed that my style seemed to last longer so I didn't have to do much to my hair when I woke up the next day. The one thing that I love the most about this brand is that Jen wanted to create professional products that are affordable. In my opinion, there are some professional haircare products that are way overpriced, so I love the price range that this brand has. I still feel like I'm buying quality products without breaking the bank. I also can't get over the packaging! It looks so chic and modern. After I made my purchase, I was so excited to go home and take pictures of the products because they photograph so well. The design is simple but it looks so luxurious. All of the products smell great too and it's not too overpowering where it gives me a headache! My favorite is the smell of the wave spray. It includes notes of Italian lemon, amber and white musk. It smells very fresh but also warm.  After testing out these products, I think I am going to purchase everything from this box set. It's definitely worth it! I also plan on testing out their pomade and foam dry shampoo, which looks so cool. Look out for a review on those products!

Whenever I am home for break, I love taking a trip to the city for a day of shopping and relaxing. Chicago is such a beautiful city and I always feel grateful that I live close by. Me and my friend Emma, always have our special routines whenever we go down. We like to visit stores that we don't have at home, and take the time to enjoy some of the beautiful views of the city. Once we get off the train, our first stop is Intelligentsia. It's a cute little coffee shop on Randolph St. near Millennium Park. Their lattes are amazing and I get one every time I go. They are super smooth and have an amazing taste. Sometimes on the way back home, I stop in for a second one! It can get busy since it is near a large tourist location, but it is worth the wait. They also have multiple locations, so next time you are in Chicago, definitely check them out!

Lately, my skin has been experiencing a few breakouts, so I decided to pick up a couple new face masks from Sephora to try out. Face masks are my favorite skin care product, so I am always trying to find new ones that will help my skin. I decided to test out a traditional clay mask and a sheet mask, which has been the new trend in the beauty industry.



Dr. Jart+ Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution - $9.00

I love using sheet masks and have definitely started reaching for them more than the traditional form of face masks because they are so quick and easy. Sheet masks are face shaped fabrics that are soaked in a serum. They are really convenient to use! You don't have to wait for them to dry and then scrub them off. Just throw it on for 20 minutes (sometimes more) and then rub in the excess serum. Boom. Done. They are also cheaper too. I've used Dr. Jart+ sheet masks before, but the brand has come out with a few new ones. I picked up this clearing one and I really enjoyed it. This mask includes Glutathione which helps brighten the skin, improve dark spots and discoloration. Other ingredients include salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and niacinamide. These will help control oil and keep your skin clear. This mask is perfect for people who have oily skin. I wore this mask for 10-20 minutes and rubbed in the excess serum before I went to bed. By morning, I saw instant results! Some of my blemishes were reduced in size and my skin was glowing.




GlamGlow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment - $22
When it comes to face masks, GlamGlow is the brand to go to when you want instant results. Whenever my skin is super dry, their Thirstymud mask is a life saver! Now this is a high-end brand and their full size mask goes for about $69.00. I would never purchase a face mask for that amount of money, but their travel size products are a reasonable price. Also, a little goes a long way with these masks, so the smaller size will still last you a long time. The tinglexfoliate mask is perfect for taking away impurities and exfoliating the skin. The grainy texture helps buff away dead skin and gives you a healthy glow. After my first use, I noticed my skin looked tighter and my pores already appeared smaller. Also, a few minutes after applying, your skin will start to tingle. I don't purchase these masks all the time, but they are my go to when I need something stronger for my skin!


Whenever I put on a face mask, I like to take that time to read since I don't have the opportunity to do it that often. Since graduation is right around the corner, I recently picked up The Career Code! This book is written by the women that created WhoWhatWear.com. This gives great tips and advice for women that are getting ready to start their careers. Since I am a senior in college, there are some tips that I already know about and are pretty obvious, but this is perfect for any undergrad that is getting ready to look for that first internship. It is also interesting to see how these women started their careers and what they have learned throughout it.