5 Things I’m Loving Right Now + New Fall Spotify Playlist

Keeping with the trend of “Spotify Playlist & Random Things…” posts, in addition to a detailed description of five things I am currently wearing/using/loving, why they’re fabulous additions to my life and why I think you’ll love them too, embedded is my fall playlist! At the beginning of every season, I always make a random list of new songs I’ve come across (Spotify Discover, you the real MVP), all varying in genre, with a seasonally appropriate title. Past faves include “Pumpkin Spice,” “Summer Vacation Brought To You By PTO,” and “It’s Cuffing Season.” They’re kind my ~thing~ But I digress. Hope you enjoy! It’s packed with some certified BOPS. Now, on to the goods… 

1) Canadian Clay Pore Cleanser (Sephora, $27)

This mask is serious magic. The last two months, my skin has been beyond terrible. Probably a combination of stress, not eating as well as I normally do… It’s been such a long, on/off extended period of time, and nothing would fix it. I had tons of break outs, and tiny little bumps kinda on the side of my face (not cute). I never really get oily skin, and it was just this unmanageable, vicious cycle; this clay cleanser/mask was a total godsend. It’s a clay that turns into a thick, bubbling foam blend of carbonated water, centella asiatica extract, and colloidal clay from Canada. It’s a total powerhouse; it removes your makeup, dead skin cells, blackheads, and excess oil, and just leaves your skin, and especially your pores, feeling really deeply cleaned. The first very time I used this, I woke up and my skin was looking glowy but not oily, and all of my breakouts had already cleared started to clear up. Magic.

2) The Daria Pant (Aritzia, $135)

The legging/pant hybrid of my DREAMS man. These have quickly become one of my favorite pieces in my closet; they are crazy flattering, suck you in all the right places, and are thick enough to feel more like a pant, while still maintaining the comfort of a legging. Which is so, my jam. You can dress them up with heels, with an oversized sweater and booties, or wear them with sneakers and an oversized tee and denim jacket. I’ve featured them a few times on Instagram, and wear the time in my real life.

 

3) Pure Barre On Demand ($29.99 a month)

Sooo in my October Intention of the Month (which is Discipline, you can read about it here!), I mentioned that I recently went the longest I had ever gone without working out in recent years, maybe 4 or 5. I’ve done tons of different types of fitness (treadmill sprint intervals were my go to for a really long time), but barre has been the one thing I’ve never gotten tired of, has done the best things to my body, and is just something I very rarely dread going to. And, in those cases, I just don’t go. Simple as that. Usually. With the recent break-up and subsequent moving back home to the suburbs, my normal routine went completely out the window. I think I could have gone the other way and had my sadness motivate me to go to class all the time, but I ended up just feeling too meh to go. I drank wine, spent time with friends and fam, and threw myself into the blog, but I did not go to barre lol.

It’s insane how in just over a month, I could essentially undo such a good habit that had taken multiple years to establish. It’s definitely been really tough getting back into it; for a few weeks, I probably only ended up going only 1 or twice a week. As my mental and physical energy returned a bit I was able to start making some changes. It doesn’t feel quite as second nature as it used to, I think I made it to 4 classes over the last 8 days, which was a a huge step! I also only took one class at my local studio SALT; the other three full, Pure Barre classes I took were all through Pure Barre online, which I took at home in my room.

I wouldn’t say I’m totally a workout video person, but because it’s a real class specifically recorded for home viewing, it’s essentially just as good as the real thing. I like the energy of a real class and having a teacher there to help you make adjusts on your technique, but overall, it’s a really convenient and convincing option over going to a studio class. It has been the only reason I’ve been able to ease back into a workout cycle over the last couple weeks, and has just played a huge role in reminding me why I love the work out, and how great it is to feel strong, etc.

For the $29.99 monthly membership, you get access to a large library of different length videos, with different teachers, even different target areas. I typically do the 40 min full body workouts, which are most similar to a live class. A few of the videos use a hand towel instead of hand weights, but right now I’ve just been doing them with no equipment (you can order the small rubber ball to use if you want). I’ve tried a tooon of the videos over the last year I’ve been a subscriber, and I love how they are all so different. The teachers have great energy, and do a ton to make it feel like they’re right there with you. They are super tough and I always feel SO accomplished after I do one of these.

4) Kerastase Elixir Ultime  Oil (Sephora, $50.00 3.4oz)

Helloooo holy grail hair serum. I literally live for this stuff. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but a little goes a long way— a tiny travel sized bottle lasted me about four months. In addition to giving your hair shine and nourishment, it smells amazing, tames frizz, and leaves your hair feeling soft and hydrated. I put about two pumps in my hands and run it all through my hair, focusing on the ends when I first get out of the shower. I typically let my hair air dry, but it also works great as a pre-blowdrying heat protectant. I swear I get the best hair of my life two days after washing it; first, I put a tiny bit of dry shampoo by my roots and then shake it out, give it a quick brush to get all the tangles out, and then apply one pump of the oil, focusing on the ends. Seriously life changing stuff.

5) Soothing Gel Eye Mask (Bed Bath & Beyond, $5.99)

This is a perfect example of something so simple, inexpensive, underrated, and something I need to have in my house at all times. I have been headache prone for as long as I can remember. Hair in a ponytail for too long? Headache. Stress? Headache. Too much sugar? Headache. Usually I just get them for no reason, at least every other day for some period of time. And because of that, I don’t take Advil too often. Instead, I turn to this little lifesaver; I put it into the freezer (or heat it in the microwave if I’m having sinus issues), put it over my eyes, and get back to whatever I’m doing. Does the trick every time. I also will use this when I get a terrible night’s sleep and look like a zombie the next day. It helps with puffiness and eye redness, makes it easier to apply  makeup, and just helps bring you back to life.