July '16 Faves

WEAR

Most of the clothes shopping I did in July was done near the end of the month, so while I have a few things I'm really liking, I haven't worn anything enough to for it to qualify as a monthly favorite yet...

SKINCARE // BEAUTY

Korres | Jasmine Lip Butter - One can never have too many lip balms, butters, etc... This one's so creamy, has a slightly sweet fragrance, and a subtle tint to it. Also, bonus points because Korres is a cruelty-free company!

Origins | Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask - Sheet mask, clay mask, I don't care-- I'll try it. This mask doesn't make my skin feel tight and dry like some of the other clay masks I've tried. This tube will definitely last me at least six months, since I only use a clay mask once a week, and it doesn't take much product to coat my face. I love Origins' approach to skincare; using lots of natural ingredients along with a healthy dose of skin science in their products.

Bio-Oil - I'm shifting towards using more body oils instead of lotions to moisturize, and so naturally, I'm hopping onto the Bio-Oil craze. It's a multi-use oil, and I first began using it on my upper arms hoping it would slightly reduce my minor KP. Although KP is incurable, and eventually just goes away with time, I found that Bio-Oil really helps to diminish some of the redness. I also love the fragrance, and now I'm basically using it as a total body moisturizer to fix any areas prone to uneven texture.

EAT // DRINK

Aladdin Water Bottle - Finally, I can end my water bottle search! I can't seem to find a link to this to buy online, but I got mine at Target. I've been looking for a water bottle that I can stick in my bag without the fear of it leaking all over the place, one that is practical enough to carry around, and one that is easy to clean. So far, this one has fulfilled all my requirements. My butter fingers can't handle a glass bottle, and I think I prefer metal anyway since it keeps my water cold all day, even during the summer heat.

Soba Noodles - I've started eating a lot more soba noodles this summer, and I love that they are so easy to prepare (literally takes a 4 minutes to cook), and you can basically add anything to them. The  noodles are buckwheat based, and I like the added nutty taste this gives them. Two recipes that I've been loving are soba noodles with Lemony Kale Pesto and Tahini & Black Sesame Soba Noodles.

Sticky Rice with Mango - I've never been a fan of mangoes, but this dessert changed everything! Sticky rice with mango is a traditional Southeast Asian (specifically Thai) dessert, and it's exactly what the name says it is: Glutinous 'sticky' rice cooked with coconut milk and served with mango on the side. It's such a simple concept, and I'm completely obsessed. The coconut milk adds just enough sweetness to quality the dish as a dessert, but it's definitely not sugary sweet, which I prefer with my desserts.

WATCH // LISTEN

Pacific Underground Podcast - A podcast by APIs (Asian and Pacific Islanders) for APIs, based in one of the whitest cities in the country-- Portland, Oregon. All of the episodes so far are extremely interesting, and I particularly enjoyed their episode about mixed API identity; a subject that I feel passionately and personally about.

Mitski | Puberty 2 - Mellow, moody tunes, which fit perfectly with all those summer vibes. I first heard the single 'Your Best American Girl' (video) back in the spring, and I anticipated the album's release in June ever since.

June '16 Faves

Y A Y for my very first set of monthly favorites! It's a bit on the wordier side, but I'm still playing around with the format for these posts, so bear with me. I've included links for most of the things I talk about below.


WEAR

When it comes to buying clothes nowadays, I can't help but ask myself "Would this be something that I could wear in a school?" As an art education major who is nearing (and partially dreading) my semester of student teaching, I've begun to consider my clothing choices a bit more. That being said, I've pretty much been buying clothes that are either a bit more on the professional side, or comfy clothing that I can bum around the house in. Another factor that I'm starting to consider more and more is the origin of my clothing. After watching the documentary 'The True Cost' on Netflix, I couldn't help but immediately feel guilty about the large pile of cheaply made F21 and H&M garments sitting in boxes waiting to be donated. I'm trying to make more aware choices about buying clothes from sustainable, ethical retailers, and just buying less clothing in general!

After doing more research, I've found several online retailers that I plan to purchase from in the future. One of these brands is Everlane which emphasizes buying with complete transparency. This month, I decided it was finally time to get a versatile tote bag that I could use both during and after college. I found Everlane's Twill Zip Tote in black cotton twill with a black leather double strap, and it's the perfect size for the amount of stuff I tend to carry with me to class.

OK, so I've also been forever searching for a cute but affordable pair of sunglasses. I would totally buy some beautiful Zanzan frames, but I always have to consider the extra expense of putting my prescription in them. Because I'm not at the point yet where I'm willing to sacrifice my ability to see for amazing frames, I discovered a pretty great compromise. EyeBuyDirect has a lot of eyeglasses styles that I like, and their sunglasses aren't too shabby either. This month I've been wearing their 'Divine' frames in the color 'Grey Tortoise' on a daily basis, and I especially appreciate them during my hour long morning commute.

This American Apparel Wrap Skirt in black is the perfect length and style for all seasons, and can be paired with most of my tops. I find that wearing black spandex underneath is a good idea on windier days, especially when I'm in Flagstaff. Also, because it's a wrap skirt, I can adjust it if I decide to eat dessert. ;)

Lastly: Topshop's DART Sandals in the color nude. First of all, you should know that I absolutely love any shoe with a block heel. Also, I love light, neutral colored sandals for the summer and springtime as a wardrobe staple. After my previous pair of tan block-heeled sandals began showing some serious signs of wear, I decided it was time to pick up some new ones. These Topshop sandals are really similar to my old pair, minus a t-bar strap and some white accents, and the heel is a perfect casual height.

TL;DR? Look below!

Everlane | Twill Zip Tote - Black + Black Leather
EyeBuyDirect | 'Divine' Sunglasses - Grey Tortoise
American Apparel | Demi Wrap Skirt - Black (on sale rn!)
Topshop | DART Two-Part Sandal - Nude

SKINCARE // HAIR

It's officially summer now, which means lots of sun. I've only recently decided to put more effort into my skincare, and that includes consistently wearing sunscreen (every single day!). For the longest time I was opposed to sunscreen because of the oily, unpleasant feel of it on my skin. This month, I've been using Missha's Waterproof SPF 50 Sun Milk, which goes on very light and creamy, and doesn't leave a white cast. Because it's from a Korean brand, I think it really caters well to my half-Asian skin.

After showering at night, I like to spray in a hair mist for some extra texture and hydration. I'm currently loving The Gnarly Whale's Thai Coconut Beach Waves mist. If salt sprays/beachy hair isn't your thing, I'd recommend this just for the delicious coconut scent alone!

I have to say, Glossier's Haloscope Highlighters are just plain magical. And this is coming from someone who wears absolutely no face makeup. I've known about Glossier and their products for a while now, but never had any strong impulse to try them out. Like I said previously I've become much more invested in my skincare recently, and Glossier is all about prioritizing healthy skin, so I decided to give it a go. I bought the highlighter in the shade 'Quartz,' and I was worried it would be a bit too light for my skin tone, but it adds just the perfect amount of natural shine. It's super easy to apply, moisturizing, and gives my skin that dewy, glowy look that I love.

Lastly, Herbivore Botanicals! I bought three of their products at the beginning of the month (or was it May?): The Coco Rose Lip Conditioner, Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist, & their Coconut Milk Bath Soak. I'll typically apply the lip conditioner at night, which keeps my lips hydrated until the morning without feeling sticky. The face mist is definitely my favorite of the three, and it smells amazing, since I absolutely love the scent of anything rosy and floral. I'll use this after my morning skincare routine, or just randomly throughout the day for freshness. I've only used the Coconut Milk Bath Soak once so far, but as you probably know by now, I only have positive things to say about all things coconut.


TL;DR? Look below!

Missha Sun Milk SPF 50 Waterproof
The Gnarly Whale Beach Waves Hair Mist - Thai Coconut 
Glossier | Haloscope Highlighter - Quartz
Herbivore Botanicals | Coco Rose Lip Conditioner, Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist, & Coconut Milk Bath Soak

EAT // DRINK

For a simple but delicious summer snack I've been loving oranges with shredded coconut.

Sushi bowls. Enough said. I don't really follow any specific recipes, but rather just throw together whatever I have in the fridge and pantry at the time. My usual go-to veggie sushi bowl will have sushi rice mixed in with a bit of wasabi, a sliced avocado, edamame, green onions, cucumber slices, strips of nori, and topped with a sweet soy sauce and sesame seeds.

If you're in the Phoenix area, I highly recommend visiting Welcome Chicken + Donuts for delicious freshly made donuts and Asian inspired chicken and food. For my first visit, I ordered the Japanese BBQ chicken with a cucumber side salad, and paired it with a peach apple pear butter donut. SO good.

WATCH // LISTEN

I recently realized that binge-listening is a serious thing when I found Megan Tan's Millennial podcast.

Jessy Lanza | Oh No



OTHER 

The fresh, cleansing scent of Aura Cacia's Peaceful Patchouli and Sweet Orange Aromatherapy Room & Body Mist is heavenly, and I like to spray it in my room before I practice yoga.