Random Thoughts and Favorites from January 2018

First off on the January favorites, this sweatshirt from Marshall's. Bought it on a whim and I am IN LOVE. Its so easy to throw with some skinnies and booties for a night out OR paired with your coziest leggings and watching Netflix in bed. Both tested by moi and approved.

If you haven't heard the newest song from Maren Morris, Zedd and Grey, do it. Do it right now. This baby will be stuck in your head all day. Seriously been playing it on repeat each morning as a I drive into work and singing along at the top of my lungs. (Sorry to all those who witness this karaoke solo on 494 in the AM).

Speaking of work, with my new job this week, I also got a new dress code! Bye bye khakis, hello jeans <3 Our motto is "dress for your day" so I've been typically wearing a blazer with a cute button down, skinny jeans and flats/booties. Seriously, it's been so nice to change up my look everyday and actually use more than 10% of my closet. And definitely yet another excuse to go shopping for more business casual ensembles.That's what credit cards are for, right? *insert facepalm emoji here*

If you didn't see my last post on my winter skincare routine, open another window and scroll through. Still in love with my Pearlessence oil during this awfully long January weather. My skin has never felt more hydrated, despite the negative weather.

I <3 The Bachelor. And not because its a particularly interesting season. But when my friends get together for our weekly viewing parites, we now have a little game of throwing Snapchat filters on these poor girls. GAME CHANGER. If you don't follow me on Instagram, you know you gotta for every Monday night now. #NoTeamBachelor #JustInItForTheFilters #CheersfortheMNGirl

And lastly, Superbowl Week is here in Minneapolis and everyone is a buzzin. Not remotely kidding when I thought I saw JT at the MOA last week. Turns out it was just some guy sitting in the rotunda. Nevertheless, it's been star-searching central here in MN and I am just crossing my fingers Nick Jonas or Thomas Rhett stops by our local gas station or something. Reaching for the stars #literally, but a Midwest girl can dream, right?!

Anyone else feel personally victimized by their own skin pores sometimes? Like I was promised that once I graduated high school, these little facial enemies called "spots" would automatically go away.
Nope. Wrong-o. They continue to take vengeance against my precious skin, while adding on to the growing list of concerns I have about my face. Like wrinkles. They are a thing. *Shudders*

Guys, I'm here to tell you that I've found the cure. The solution to all your post-grad-why-do-I-still-have-acne-I-have-a-401k-for-goodness-sakes problems. It may not work for everyone, but this is what I have found to work best on my combination skin.

I have always struggled with spot acne. Mostly focused on the sides of my chin and occasionally on my t-zone. My skin is normally tight-dry in the evenings after washing, but super oily only after a few hours on my nose/forehead/chin. Because of my situation, below are some tried-and-true products I have found to work on my face, especially during these bitterly cold MN winters.
**This is not an ad nor sponsored by any means. I'm just that passionate about these products/skincare. Seriously.*

Dr. Wellness Volcanic Ash Clay Mud Mask
-My weekly ritual, which I look forward to every Sunday to cleanse and purify my pores from a week's worth of foundation. I love this mask and have noticed a huge difference in my pore size and brightness of skin after one use. Purchased it on a whim at TJMaxx and I am never looking back!

Jergens Natural Glow Face Daily Moisturizer
-Obviously, we Midwesterns spend most of our time indoors from about November - March. So, let's just say my skin is less than colorful after a few weeks of keeping hidden indoors. I love this moisturizer because it gives a natural glow to my skin #exactlywhatthelabelsays and makes me feel not so ghostly come springtime. I also use the body lotion version (mixed with a scented lotion) to match my facial "faux tan". Easily can be found at your local superstore or drugstore!

Pond's Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream
-Guys, I may have a suffered a slight quarter-life-crisis attack when I picked this up.
But I'm too young to be thinking about wrinkles! These are just smile lines...right?!
However, once I got past my initial shock, this cream has been CRUCIAL in my nightly routine. Like I said before, these cold winters bring some major dryness to my skin by the end of the day. I love lathering this cream on my face after cleaning it because I feel like it just locks in moisture, so my skin can just drink it all in while I'm catching some zzz's. The best part? I found this in the travel section at Target, so you can sample it before buying in bulk. Try it out and fall in love too like I did <3

PearlEssence Argan + Vitamin E Balancing Facial Oil
And now...*in my best British accent* for the STAHHHR of the show! Seriously, this is the product that inspired me to even write this post to begin with. This facial oil has been a literal miracle for my skin care routine over the past few months. Again, I purchased this on a whim when I was at TJ Maxx and it has probably been the decision I have made skin-wise. The best way I can honestly describe it? Well, if you have seen the Hunger Games and can recall the magical gel Haymitch sends to Katniss when she had several open stab wounds? And they magically healed overnight with application? Yea, this oil is basically the same.
(On a very different scale. Like a 10 on the beauty scale, compared to a 10 on a scale of life-saving medicine products during an all-out battle in the Capitol. But you get my point.)
This oil has significantly reduced my outbreaks on my chin over the past several weeks. And it seems so strange to slather on a bunch of oil over my acne (isn't that how it started?), but it must have a miracle element that cannot compete. If you are looking for something to radically change you skin, this would be at the top of the list. And just watch...the miracles occur <3

Ba-da-da-daaaaah! My skin after a few weeks of this routine. Note: I am wearing some minimal makeup on in this selfie. Butttt no acnes spots were edited or removed. That balancing oil is just that good. Yasssss.

Let me know if you have any luck with some of these products as well! Or if you have any winter skin care products you swear by, I wanna know!