Category: Beauty

Nordstrom Rack Summer Must Haves!

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This post is sponsored by Nordstrom Rack and ShopStyle:  As we all know by now, this summer is looking a little different! Just because we’re staying at home does NOT mean that summer fashion is cancelled. I’ve been finding SO many incredible summer styles at Nordstrom Rack! It’s so exciting to be able to stock […]

Curl Talk with Herbal Essences

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This post is sponsored by Herbal Essences and ShopStyle. 

I’m the kind of person who is EXTRA careful about what kind of hair products I use on my curls, so I’m always excited when I find a new product that is as safe as it is nourishing for my hair! A few weeks ago, Herbal Essences reached out to me to try out their NEW bio:renew Potent Aloe + Mango collection designed specifically for curly hair. Although I have frequently walked up and down the hair care aisle smelling all of their products, I hadn’t actually used Herbal Essences before! I decided that I was definitely down to explore this new product once I learned that the Herbal Essences’ bio:renew collections contain real botanicals endorsed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.  

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Well, I’m officially a convert! After a few weeks of using the nourishing sulfate free shampoo and conditioner, I’ve watched my curls become noticeably more hydrated, defined, and shiny! I’ve been using the curl cream on the daily as a styler on my wash day and a refresher for bouncy curls even on days two, three, and four! The best part is that the Aloe collections were created to improve the health of your hair over time utilizing the power of plants and the Aloe Vera used in the products is sustainably sourced from Mexico. The Potent Aloe paired with Mango makes for the perfect combo of hydrating ingredients that soften my curls and soothes the effects of heat damage that I sometimes experience on modeling gigs! 

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As part of this collection, Herbal Essences has also created products that focus on frizz control, scalp balance, and detangling. The curl defining line (my personal favorite) will absolutely be added to my hair care rotation, especially because I know it was mindfully created to be sulfate free, paraben free, colorant free and PETA cruelty free! The shampoo also meets the Environmental Working Group’s standards on ingredient selection, transparency, and manufacturing! I’m so impressed by just how thoughtful the new Herbal Essences Potent Aloe collection is from start to finish! Shop the links below (or visit your local Walmart store) and let me know what you think! 

 

16 Beauty Favs I Used During NYFW

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Hey hey!

NYFW SS 20 is officially over and it was one for the books! This is my third year participating in fashion week and believe it or not, that means I’m a total newbie! Fashion Week is the biggest time of the year for fashion and I am so thrilled that plus size representation is being seen more and more! Curvy Con happens to be held during the same time and I know that having so many plus size designers, bloggers, and consumers present for Curvy Con forces the Fashion industry to take notice! Plus size fashion is here to stay!

I’ve been sharing all the fun on my Instagram, including the fashion shows I attended, my time on the ground at Curvy Con, and, of course, all my outfits! Be sure to head there to check it out! In today’s post, I want to share some of the beauty products I used throughout the week! From skincare, to makeup, to hair products, I use quite a bit of products to feel NYFW ready! Scroll down to see some of my favorites!

Makeup:

Skincare:

Hair Care:

 

xoxo,

Alex

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Five Ways to Stay Confident During A Workout | Sponsored by Secret Deodorant

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Hey everyone! Happy May! Does anyone else feel like the months are flying by? I’m 95% sure that Valentine’s Day was last week and we’ve somehow jumped to Cinco De Mayo! *looks around suspiciously while eating chips and guac* I’m happy to be back on the blog and share that I’ve teamed up with Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant to tell you an embarrassing/educational story about how hosting a yoga class in New York City has changed how I prepare for and think about my workouts.

 

The year was 2017… I had just finished holding on for dear life in a crowded, rush hour subway car while on my way to host my first yoga class! It was definitely a big day for me because 1.) I had never hosted anything before and 2.) I had rarely participated in group yoga. I have loved yoga for years, but I’ve always completed my practice alone, so I was so nervous!  There was a group of about 15 of us. We introduced ourselves and I even made it through a quick welcome speech. I took a sign of relief when we started our practice, but was suddenly and rudely interrupted by a growing stench. I realized that I was the culprit and was immediately horrified! It was the end of a hot NYC day; and after that subway ride and now the yoga class, my mediocre deodorant just wasn’t doing the job. I spent the rest of the class trying to my best to keep my movements slow and confined so I wouldn’t assault the rest of the class, but I know that those who went in for a hug after class definitely regretted that decision – ugh!

 

I went home understandably mortified and decided that wasn’t going to happen again. After some crowdsourcing, I learned about Secret Clinical Strength deodorant and now it is my go-to everyday deodorant. Whether I’m walking down a runway, at a client meeting, or hosting a yoga class, this product helps me feel safe and in control! My favorite thing about Secret Clinical Strength Invisible Solid is that you can use it just once for all-day, strong wetness protection. It is definitely not fun to be caught off guard by sweat, smells, or any mixture of the two! That embarrassing day taught me a lot about how to prepare for a workout and stay confident throughout! Let’s break it down:

 

  1. The first step is to simply show up! Maybe you’re nervous or unmotivated? Maybe you feel too busy to take some time for yourself? Or maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of today’s beauty standards? You could be hosting a class like I was or maybe you’re working out just for you? There will always be a million reasons to quit before you start, but show up anyway.

 

  1. Expect the best, but prepare for the worst. I know, I know! This sounds unnecessarily extreme. A workout usually isn’t a dire situation, but hear me out. It’s important to be in positive mindset and believe that you are 100% capable of what you set out to do (Cause you are!), but it’s wise to also stay prepared in case something goes wrong. You don’t plan on getting in a car crash, but you wear your seat belt just in case, right? That is how I feel about wearing Secret Clinical Strength Invisible Solid. Maybe your old deodorant has been holding up so far; but honestly, why risk the discomfort of B.O. and unwanted pit stains?

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  1. Work your booty off. Not literally, because butts are incredible. Your butt is incredible! But go the heck off! Put in work! Slay! I choose “D.) All the above;” because going 100% feels so good when you’re finally done!

 

  1. Okay listen up, because this one is important! Shaming yourself is never the right choice! We lose our confidence when we allow self-shaming thoughts to linger in our minds for a little too long. The wild thing about our thoughts is that if we think something for too long, our brain will start to change what we know to be true. Have you ever looked at a word for too long and then all of a sudden it looks unfamiliar or misspelt? It’s kinda like that. If we challenge all of our confident thoughts with judgment and shame, we will begin to question our confidence. So if a negative thought comes in, I suggest countering it with a positive affirmation! I personally like “I am loved, beautiful and strong!”

 

  1. Last, but not least… BE PROUD of yourself! Whether you hit your goal or totally missed the mark, you showed up! You set out to do something that will ultimately benefit you and that intention is important. The great thing about what I learned is that these tips aren’t just about working out! These are  applicable to any big event or moment that is going on in your life! No matter how big of a day it is and no matter how nervous you are, Secret Clinical Strength Invisible Solid has got your covered. Nothing will ever go completely as planned, but be sure to prep for what you can and make the best out of what you can’t!

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I hope you have an incredible rest of your day!

 

With love + gratitude,

 

Alex

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Sponsored by Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant

Top 5 skincare picks from the ASOS Advent Calendar

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Hey everyone!

 

I hope all of you are having an amazing holiday season so far! It’s a couple days after Christmas and for those of you who celebrated… how was your Christmas?! I had an exceptionally fun and easy Christmas this year. I spent the early morning opening gifts (I definitely scored!) and the rest of the day cooking with my mom! Then the whole family got together for dinner and watched our favorite Christmas movie: Diehard lol! I’m not a natural gift giver or receiver. I always feel weird about it and somehow make things awkward or blow the surprise. It’s not my love language, BUT quality time most definitely is and I look forward to Christmas every year for that exact reason! But that is not what this post is about!

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Outfit details in last post!

 

 

 

I want to share my favorite items from the ASOS Beauty Advent Calendar! Y’all know what an advent calendar is all about, right? There’s twenty five little gifts inside and you are supposed to open one each day from Dec 1st to Dec 25th. I obviously don’t have the patience for that; because in true Alex fashion, I opened all 25 on day one. Oops! I already told you that I’m bad with gifts (and pretty much with rules in general). So sorry, not sorry? Do the cool kids still say that? The calendar had a nice mix of skincare, makeup, hair, and body products; and I really appreciated the size of the samples! I’m happy that I opened the whole calendar, because I was able to test the products throughout the month and share my favorites with all of you!  

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Links to shop are listed below!

My Top 5:

If you would’ve asked me beforehand which kind of beauty products I was most excited about, my answer would have definitely been makeup. But my favorite products are the skincare! One thing that stands out right away are the two different cleansers. I personally don’t use cleanser in the morning, because I have super dry skin; so I use these cleansers at night. DHC deep cleansing oil ($$) is perfect for removing makeup and cleansing on a good/dry skin day. But even with my dry skin, I get bad breakouts during my period. That’s when I use the REN T-Zone Control cleansing gel ($$)! I’m so in love with the Alpha-H Liquid Gold ($$$).This glycolic acid treatment goes on every other night after cleanser and works to revitalize and firm your skin. It’s like a mini facial in a bottle and it didn’t dry out my skin – major win! I was surprised by The Ordinary surface hydrating moisturizer ($). To be honest, it doesn’t have that spa/lux feeling when you first apply the product. But the moisture lasts all day and my makeup sat so well on this formula that I had to add it to the top five. The Cowshed lippy cow balm ($$) is my favorite product from the whole calendar! My lips chap like no other! Cracking, peeling, chapped lips are usually an annual shame that I go through every fall and winter, but Chowshed has completely alleviated this problem! I am so hype about it too! I’ve used the balm on my lips, of course, but also on dry patches around my nose and chin. I cannot recommend this product enough! Hello new skincare routine! I will definitely be purchasing all of these items again!

Honorable Mentions:

 

Eyeko London – Liquid Eyeliner in Black: ($$) Goes on smooth and stays put!

Caudalie – Vinosource Creme Sorbet: ($$) Skin feels plump and it smells so good!

Foreo LUNA travel cleansing brush: ($$$) Love to use this after the shower when my pores are still open! Its feels like I’m getting a really deep cleaning that isn’t too harsh or damaging.

Smashbox – Photo Finish Primer: ($$) A classic! This is my go to primer any day!

Rodial – Stem Cell Magic Gel: ($$$) This product felt amazing! Apply more product and you can use it overnight as a sleeping mask! This sample was pretty small, so I was only able to use it twice.

Thank you ASOS Beauty for helping me celebrate the holidays! The calendar was so much fun and the introduction to these amazing products was the perfect gift! And thank you to all of my readers! I appreciate that you spent these last few moments with me! 

XoXo

Alex