Monday, December 31, 2012

Beat The Winter Wind!


Winter is here! For Canadians, we have a very short autumn and winter kind of bites us in the ass when we aren't looking. In this post I bring my winter tips and supplies to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized during these bitter winter winds. 
My skin is usually more on the oily side, but my hormones are practically sadistic because my skin gets to the polar opposite of dry when winter comes (especially around my period). Here is a list of products and routines I turn to when I notice my skin losing all moisture.  

Dove Go Fresh body wash w/ Nutrium Moisture

Every other season, I usually use Bath and Body Works shower gel (in Sweet Pea). But I noticed I needed to throw in extra moisture too. I switch to this dove body wash because they always have moisturizing creme in their products. I know it doesn't seem like much but these little things really help boost the skin. 




 It's a 10 leave in conditioner

My hair is even affect by dry winds! It's either blowing in the wind or my hair is always in a tight non-breathable bun. Either way, my ends get very dry and brittle. It's a 10 hair mask spray is practically hair conditioner in a bottle. Many other leave in conditioners are much more liquidy, so they aren't as strong or concentrated as this spray. 
I spray this into my hair (only on the ends) right after I step out of the shower. I use my hands to rub it in more, and when it dries your hair feels like butter! 

Biotherm Source Therapie Serum & Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Creme

These two products have been a great combo to battle dry and dehydrated skin. I definitely don't think you have to get these specific brands to help dehydrated skin. But I recommend switching to using a serum and creme during the colder months. A serum penetrates deep into the skin to rehydrate it. The texture can be quite thin, which is why you layer on a creme to keep it moist and lock it in. 
A lot of brands carry very thick cremes for dry skin, but I feel like they just sit on top of your skin and create and shiny look. A light to medium creme on top of serum makes your skin feel fresh and soft without the weight. 



Bio Oil & Lubriderm body lotion

Even though our arms and legs are usually hidden and protected underneath clothing during the winter, our skin can still take a lot of damage. The two products I have here follow a similar routine (that is used for face), which is a serum + creme formula. 
I definitely don't think you need both. But if you're tired of using thick heavy body lotions, this combination may be better for you! I've never liked using thick cremes such as body butter or cocoa butter, so I take the time to layer these two products after I shower.

Bio oil (or vitamin E oil) has so many benefits, but in this case I love how well it soaks into your skin and truly hydrates it. I also came across using Lubriderm after I got my first tattoo. I liked the texture because it was not heavy at all, and didn't leave a slick feeling afterwards. 

If you feel llike this routine is too much (but you still want maximum protection and moisture), try using Bio oil on your most dry areas (knees and elbows) and then your favorite creme all over your body. 



DIY Lip Scrub

Dry lips are always the worst on a bitter windy day! Constant dry lips can create a chaffed red ring around your lips from licking As much you slathe on the lip balm, the dead pokey skin on your lips will still sit there. The photo shown is not my photo but it does show the ingredients for the scrub, and I also got the recipe from one of Michelle Phan's videos.
Just mix equal parts of sugar, honey and vaseline into a container. The picture shoes brown sugar, but I use white sugar (I find it more coarse and effective). Rub this on your lips until it feels smoother and then wash it off and apply a hydrating lip balm. 

Other Tips to Avoid/Treat Dry Winter Skin:
  • Always dress appropriately to the weather. Not only will it prevent you from getting sick, but it'll prevent any access dryness
  • Avoid scalding hot showers. Yes you feel so wonderfully warm but it'll dry your skin very quickly. And you also regret it when you get out of the shower and you feel that naked draft. 
  • Patches of dry skin? When I'm along my period, I get these horrible patches of dry skin around my chin, mouth or nose. Before you go to bed, apply a thick amount of serum (or creme) to the dry patches. Then put a small layer of vaseline (or any petroleum jelly that wont break you out) on top of the serum/creme. This locks in the moisture while you sleep. When you wake up, clean your face and see the noticeable difference! 
  • Keep hand lotion....on hand. If you're a frequent hand washer or don't like wearing gloves, you'll notice how dry your hands can get. It can feel pretty unpleasant but also increases the wrinkle process on your hands (when you see older women complain about their hands looking older than their face). Having one of those mini hand lotions in your bag is always more beneficial in the winter. 
  • Dehydrated skin doesn't mean dry skin. People with oily skin can still have dehydrated skin and people with dry skin as well. A sign of skin dehydration are lines underneath your eyes. So drink lots of water and/or focus on a creme/serum with hydration properties. 


Thursday, December 27, 2012

All Black Everything



HANDS DOWN, this has got to be my favorite outfit I've ever worn. 
I got the chance to get all dolled up, when the girls and I made our way to the Friday Night Live ROM. (Which is a party they throw at the Toronto museum) We actually got to sip cocktails while looking at exhibits then shook our booties around old artifacts (not really).

There was no dress code identified on the event, so when in doubt: All Black Everything. 
An all black outfit always looks chic and fashionable (with no real effort) and it's hard to define if you're overdressed or not. But in my opinon, go fashionably over-dressed if you're unsure of the dress code. You'll just look more fabulous than others than awkwardly out of place. 


I mentioned this faux leather skirt in a Friday Favorites, and even though it's a size larger (than I order) it was actually a bit too tight! I could barely breathe but it really emphasized my waist. The pleating in this skirt was also perfect. 

I was unsure over which top to wear, so I tried on about 4 black body suits and narrowed it down to these two:
I love (and have never worn) the one with the sheer sleeves, but I felt too over done (and too many textures). I think if it was a bigger night time event it would've been perfect. The one I'm wearing on the right is my basic body suit, and it is such a staple (I recommend everyone to own one). The only downfall was how sheer it is, and how my red bra pops (when taken with flash). I actually had to edit the red out.  


I'm also in LOVE LOVE LOVE with this belt, I received so many compliments on it! And the combination with this skirt was just too perfect. 

(here is a random photo of the scooped back)
**Also, excuse the crazy curls...the wind was not friendly that night.**

Outfit Details:
Black 3/4 sleeved body suit - ASOS Curve
Faux leather skater skirt - Newlook.com (Inspire)
Sheer black tights - ASOS Curve
Riding boots - Lanebyrant.com
Arrow necklace - ASOS
Oui/Non belt - ASOS Curve

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Tis' The Season To Be Studying



Like all you post-secondary lovlies, I'm spending the next (and past) couple of weeks studying for finals. So to take the edge off, I put on some heeled boots and berry lipstick to spice up a typical late-night library outfit. 

I also invested in a tripod so I got to procrastinate more by testing it out!


Clearly....Selfies > Studying



My top favorite this week is definitely this mens plaid shirt. The loose fit is super comfy for the long hours at the library.



Outfit Details:
plaid shirt - walmart
cable knit cardigan - gmarket
leggings - forever21+
heeled hiker boots - Old Navy
Lipstick - Euphoria by Covergirl 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

How Amanda Styles Doc Martens (Part Three)

Hello! This is my final post on how I like to style my Doc Marten boots. You can check out some of our other posts here, here, here, and here.


Ta-Da! These are my old and faithful purple Docs. They were my first pair, and one of my more scary purchases at the time - they were so out of my usual comfort zone (I know, I'm a boring person), but so awesome at the same time! You can definitely tell they've suffered through a few too many winter days, to the point where the colour is starting to go where the leather bends naturally. Here comes my public service message of the day: Take care of your shoes people - name them, cherish them, love them!



























I've probably said this before, but I love the combination of really girly pieces with stronger, chunkier elements. It makes me feel like a lady, but still scary enough so people won't talk to me on the subway. Yesterday, I had to explain the basics of my psych thesis (large research project) to an old lady who kept reading my notes over my shoulder and asking me questions. I blame the inviting skirt and riding boots I was wearing.

Enter today's outfit, including this
lovely floral dress from Material Girl by Madonna. I surprisingly love a lot of her pieces, they're fun and on-trend, while still pretty affordable (for that sad day where spikes and chambray shirts are no longer relevant). Paired with this thrifted cardigan and knit beanie from H&M and it was a simple, pretty neutral outfit for the week.

For all those dealing with college/university finals, stay strong. Drink coffee. Eat cookies. Really try to get some sleep. Hit the books. Or blog about your outfits on the Internet instead. Whatever works.

Love,
Amanda 


Outfit Details:

Beanie - H&M
Black Cardigan - Thrifted
Floral Dress - The Bay (Material Girl by Madonna)
Black Leggings - Forever 21
Doc Martens - Soft Moc (from 2010?)


I believe the intended caption for this photo was: "Oh wow, look at this really neat boots that I'm wearing!"

Sunday, December 2, 2012

November Snapshots

Now that December's here (Yay, Christmas!), I thought I'd share some of the crazy, wild things I've been up to this month (see: walking, drinking coffee, eating).
 
Crunching leaves under my feet walking home in my favourite triangle-printed swingy skirt.

Sharing a beer with dinosaur bones at the Royal Ontario Museum's Friday Night Live.

Making a healthy, homemade omlette with red pepper, green onions and mushrooms. Does anyone else feel like they're on the Food Network when chopping veggies? (No, just me?)

Taking my new, giant peace-sign coffee mug for a run while absorbing the wonders of Gestalt Therapy, as it compares to Freud's Psychoanalysis. (That's about as much as I remember from the exam!)

Admiring my lovely new Aldo riding boots from afar after spraying them with sealant to survive the Canadian winter.

Savouring my first red coffee cups of the season!

Documenting my family's healthy admiration for tea. So what we don't have any more room in our pantry, no big deal...

So excited to be back to the red side, it makes my getting extra pale during the winter look more fashionable and on purpose.

Slowly but surely working on my first scarf of the season. Couldn't decide on a colour, so I opted for all of them.

 
My boyfriend's lazy kitty, Joey, taking his fourth cat-nap of the day while simultaneously taking up half the couch.

Have a lovely lazy Sunday!
-Amanda