What I’m Loving Now

Whenever I come across a new product or purchase that impresses me, I do my best to share it with you as soon as possible.  But, with how hectic life has gotten lately, I’ve fallen a bit behind with these…so today I’m playing catch-up!  Here are 5 things that are either on my radar for fall or are items that I’m currently using & loving right now…

WINDOWPANE PRINTS

If you’re someone who doesn’t usually wear plaid, this more minimalist version of the classic print is a great alternative.  Because this print has a slightly polished feel, it’s great for the office and beyond!  I’m a big fan of all the scarves, sweaters & skirts I’ve seen popping up everywhere & I think this pattern is universally chic.  Here are some of my personal favorites at the moment:

ONE // TWO // THREE (also here) // FOUR
FIVE // SIX // SEVEN // EIGHT

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CLEAN BEAUTY

My philosophy when it comes to clean products is: “something is better than nothing”.  Similar to eating healthy, exercising and making lifestyle choices that help the environment, I don’t think any of us are going to be perfect 100% of the time.  So, while I do actively make an effort to seek out clean brands that can replace old favorites, I also give myself grace if there’s something I want to use that doesn’t fit into that category.  I’m not going to throw out all of my Essie polishes anytime soon & I’ll probably use CeraVe until the day I die, but I want to make small changes where I can because every little bit helps!  So, I wanted to share a few new-to-me clean beauty products that I’ve been using & loving lately!

Tenoverten Nail Polish
I do my own at-home manicures every 10 days without fail.  So, when I came across this brand while browsing Target one day, I was anxious to try it out because the colors were so gorgeous!  I have to say this is the best clean/green nail polish I’ve tried (both in terms of consistency & longevity).  These are non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free and 8-free (that stands for all the chemicals usually added in traditional lacquers).  The colors I ordered were Hester, Cliff & Market – all so pretty & perfect for fall!

Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick
At the same time I was ordering those nail polishes, I added these to my cart too.  I had seen an ad for them pop up in my Facebook feed & they had great reviews.  I like that it isn’t nearly as drying as some of my other longwear lipsticks, but you need to make sure your lips are really soft & moisturized before applying so it doesn’t settle into cracks.  The color payoff is great & I felt like these were really pigmented so you only need one swipe for full coverage.  I got the colors Passion, Goddess & Happiness – I’m hoping they come out with some darker colors for fall/winter because I would love to buy more!

Glow Recipe Retinol Eye Cream
This is one of those products that probably wouldn’t have even been on my radar, but I received a sample with my last Sephora order so I decided to test it out.  This is a rich cream that contains a blend of retinol, hyaluronic acid and niacinamides that work while you’re sleeping.  I was a little nervous it would irritate my sensitive skin, but I didn’t experience any peeling or redness.  After a week of applying it before bed, I could definitely tell a difference – my undereye area was noticeably brighter & smoother.  As soon as I ran out of the sample, I ordered the full-size jar – it is a little spendy, but I don’t mind paying a little more for a product that’s truly effective (and has clean ingredients!).

Artnaturals Vitamin C Serum
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that Vitamin C wasn’t part of my skin care regimen until I came across this article, which prompted me to immediately research serums to buy.  I settled on this one because it was affordable, clean & had great reviews – I like that it has a light texture & it absorbs quickly.  I apply it after washing my face each morning, let it sink in for a few minutes & then follow it up with a moisturizer & sunscreen.  There are some experts who recommend using it at night too, but keep in mind that you don’t want to use it within a few hours of salicylic acid, glycolic acid or retinol because it can cause irritation.

OLD NAVY SPORTS BRA

For me, a big part of working out is mental – so if I have workout clothes that I feel great in, I’m more motivated (and excited!) to put them on & break a sweat.  Over the past couple of years, I’ve done a good job of keeping my activewear & sneakers up to date, but I wasn’t doing the same for my sports bras.  I have a random handful of old styles from T.J.Maxx, Forever 21 & Target that are pretty over-worn & stretched out.  So, a few weeks ago, I decided to go on the hunt for a new favorite that I could wear during Zumba classes & while running that would be comfortable & supportive.

I ordered no less than 10 styles from all different brands/retailers and this one was the clear winner.  I love that you can order by your actual bra size (rather than just S, M, L) and fit is perfect!  At first, I wasn’t sure I would like the hook in back, but it doesn’t bother me at all while I’m working out + it makes it so much easier to get on & off.  After wearing it one time, I immediately went back online & ordered 3 more in different colors.  These wash up really well & I find the shape to be super-flattering too (no dreaded uni-boob!).

EQUILIBRIA CBD CREAM

I’ve briefly mentioned it here before, but my health hasn’t been great ever since I returned from India in late July.  I had an awful Lupus flare, along with several other illnesses that seemed to happen one right after another.  Even though I’m on the mend now, the one lingering symptom I can’t seem to get rid of is pretty significant joint pain.  At its worst, there are mornings when I can barely pick up my coffee cup…and, at its best, I can still get in an hour of cardio, but I know my knees will be killing me by the end & I’ll be hobbling around for the rest of the day.

Right around the time I was nearing my breaking point, Equilibria reached out to me about testing their line of products.  I was so desperate for relief that I was willing to try anything (though, admittedly, I didn’t know much about CBD at the time).  I agreed & started doing some research while I waited for my box to arrive.  The first product I used was this transdermal cream – I rubbed it all over my knees after a long run and was amazed by how quickly it worked.  I’ve tried so many other products in the past (Biofreeze, Aspercreme, Capzacin-HP, Deep Blue Rub, Icy Hot Gel) and nothing even comes close to this!  I can’t tell you how elated I am to have something that I know will help me on a daily basis when I need it most (also works great for sore muscles & premenstrual cramps).

I’ve been testing out their products for the last few weeks and will be sharing a full review with you here soon.  But, in the meantime, if you’re interested in trying Equilibria out for yourself, you can get 15% off your first order with code “pennypinch“.  Have questions about how CBD works?  Send me an email & I’ll include a reader Q&A section in my upcoming post!

PEARL JEWELRY

Pearls have made a big comeback over the last couple years and I’m loving the modern interpretation I’ve seen in stores lately.  I wouldn’t call this a “trend” because I think pearls are a true classic that will never go out of style.  And the newer versions that are out now definitely aren’t like your grandmother’s pearls!  Whether you opt for a simple everyday pair of hoops or a statement piece, these will add instant sophistication to any look.  Here are some of my top affordable picks:

ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR // FIVE
SIX // SEVEN // EIGHT // NINE // TEN
ELEVEN // TWELVE // THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN // FIFTEEN

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