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New York Women and Sophistication

When I think of the “New York Woman” I think of sophistication. There are tons of ways on how to emulate the “French/Parisian Woman”, so I thought I’d post about New York.

3 words to describe them: sophisticated, busy, and chic.

the tell-tale signs she’s from NYC: the blow out. the bag. the shoes.

NY women are well-groomed, put together, and practical.

No matter what her hair color is (and NY blond, is tough(and crazy expensive!) to keep), it is shiny and sleek (when I say sleek I mean there is no breakage - or at least no one else can see the breakage). Her nails are not chipped, not too short, and not too long (too long= jersey). Her outfit is clean and functional, in winter this means she won’t sweat on the subway and in summer this means she won’t freeze on it. Her bag is big enough to hold her life (sometimes she even has 2 bags!) and it is chic enough to look amazing with any outfit. NY women like their logos, think Givenchy, LV, etc. NY women have sturdy shoes and you do not usually see them commuting in their work-shoes (those are in the bag, or a drawer in the office).

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dedicated micellar water post

Caudalie’s micellar cleansing water is an absolute dream, but it is so expensive and I would run out of it consistently.

I am trying XX right now, and it doesn’t smell as good or feel as hydrating as the Caudalie one. 

Other micellar waters I would like to try because of their price tag, ingredients, and reputation are:

Bioderma

Garnier

CeraVe

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Skin things I’ve been loving (to be updated)

MASKS: Cosmetic Warrior & Cup O’Coffee face mask from LUSH. I am about to try their BB seaweed mask as well and I’ve tried Mask of Magnamity before and I like that as well, but do not have a need for it. --do not like: catastrophe cosmetic (too drying for my skin) -- I would like to try their rosy cheeks mask, aqua marina cleanser, and angels on bare skin cleanser.

Not buying from LUSH: lip scrubs (honestly, I don’t buy them from anywhere, I diy them)

CLEANSERS: indie lee brightening cleanser! very nice, clears makeup as well. it is much more of a “every night” product. It is less expensive than the tatcha oil cleanser, which I also love, but will be running out of soon. --post indie lee cleanser, I would love to try free the people’s kale cleanser.

TO TAKE OFF STUBBORN MAKEUP: nothing beats good ole coconut oil, it does clog pores, but I really only use it for the stubborn eye makeup, or before I cleanse in order to make the makeup less stubborn.

TONERS: I’ve used Origins Zero Oil Purifying Toner and did not like it because of the alcohol in it. I then tried Caudalie micellar water(I was really babying my face at the time) and I LOVED it. I repurchased twice, but I went through it too fast and didn’t want to put the money out a third time. So I diy-ed a tea tree oil/water “toner” which I am still using, but I am not in love. Which is why I went to TJ maxx and picked up an off-beat French brand micellar water, but idk how I feel about that one yet. I’d like to try Bioderma (cheaper than Caudalie and v loved), but its hard to find in the US... so we’ll see. I may try lush, I may purchase Caudalie again. I also picked up a mini Caudalie beauty elixir and I enjoy it, although I do not enjoy the smell, I’ve been trying to use it as an all natural makeup setting spray, but I may just have to put out for the UD all nighter.

MOISTURIZERS: I’ve been using the Ordinary oils, and LOVING them for lighter days, and using the Caudalie SOS Deep Hydration Moisturizer. I’m not looking for a new moisturizer. I use the Marula and the Rosehipseed for the face, prefer to use Argan in my hair.

Glycolic Acid treatments: I had used the DE Glycolic serum when I was “resetting” my face, but I am not about to shell out on that stuff regularly. I find the PIXI Glow Tonic does the job on the occasions I do reach for a chemical exfoliant. --I don’t tend to use a lot of face scrubs anymore, unless it is in a LUSH mask.

BODY HYDRATION: I am still working on my lotions from my teen years, all the Bath and Body Works crap. When that gets done with, I would like to use my face and hair oils (specifically the argan oil with a better smelling essential oil) for the body and possibly diy a couple of versions.

Body cleanser: I just use a regular ole bar of soap, I really enjoy this one scent, Sex on the Beach from a tiny shop called Out of this World in Cape May, NJ. But I use other bars too. LUSH brand is good, TJMaxx is great. I prefer glycerin, veggie, or goat milk based soaps for my sensitive skin.

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Somethings you need to know to get your #dreamhair

The list...

1 - wash your hair less! I wash mine every 3-5 days (a long time I know, but I’ve been training my hair)

2 - get regular trims (I tend to forget til I see breakage, in which case I will either go to a salon, diy, or enlist a friend’s help)

3 - WATCH what you put in your hair. NO parabens or sulfates... that being said, I am currently using 2 shampoos with sulfates because I was using them before I realized how bad they are for your hair and I’m the kind of person who uses things to completion before I get rid of it (I hate waste). 

4 - hair needs a balance of PROTEIN and MOISTURE to stay strong and healthy. So if you are using a strengthening shampoo & conditioner, use a hydrating mask and hydrating leave-ins and if you are using a hydrating shampoo & conditioner, use a protein/repairing/strengthening mask or leave-in OCCASSIONALLy.

You definitely always want moisture, but protein can be overused causing the hair to become stiff and break. My none-professional self would say a 70:30 moisture : protein ratio is good for the average joe.

5 - beware of heat use! When using heat, use a heat protector and if possible try to limit your heat use. My hair usually airdrys. I’d say twice a month I use some kind of heat styling.

6 - beware of product buildup. Salt sprays, dry shampoos, texturizes, shine sprays, gel, etc. It builds up in your hair, blocks your hair follicles, and can cause dry scalp while stunting hair growth... (to ensure no product buildup use a clarifying shampoo as necessary or get a clarifying hair treatment).

7 - do NOT brush your hair while it is wet. If you like to detangle while it is wet, use a WIDE TOOTH comb or wet brush (I personally use a pick).

8 - Satin / Silk pillowcase. I personally do not use one, but the science is there. Less friction = less breakage.

9 - change up your hairstyles. If you always where it in a high bun, try wearing it in a low pony. If you always wear it down, try braids. This disperses the stress on the hairs so that you are not stressing the same hairs on your head consistently.

10 - DIET. What you put in your body is what you put out of your body (and your hair is essentially dead skin cells your body grows for protective purposes), so be mindful of what you eat and make sure to hydrate.

Hydration is more than just water. Your body does not properly hydrate without healthy fats and consistent levels of sodium, potassium, and electrolytes.

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How to RESET your skin!

Everyone goes through that time where your skincare routine has been absolutely crazy from trying everything to trying nothing. What I did when I was trying to reset my skin was doing less.

This meant no harsh face scrubs, no dumb drying drugstore masks (that I always think look cute and are a good deal until I put them on my face and turn into the Sahara), and SUNSCREEN.

I used Drunk elephant and tatcha religiously. Now I know what you’re thinking... bougee, pricey, $$$$. Well it was expensive, but not as much as it could’ve been. I only bought the 2 drunk elephant duo sets and the travel sized tatcha oil cleanser and rice polish foaming cleanser. I used the morning DE set in the morning and the evening DE set before bed post shower. If I wore makeup, I used the tatcha oil cleanser (which is not everyday) and if I felt I needed a deeper clean I used the tatcha rice powder (which was approximately once every 2 weeks). This REALLY worked for my skin. It was CLEAR, it was GLOWY, it was beautiful. The CLEAN and powerful ingredients really made a difference.

But eventually I ran out. I knew I wasn’t about to fork over DE and tatcha level prices, so I used alternatives that I will detail in another post.

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@oliviaedit

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Let me tell you something about NYC ladies. They know how to look good all the time. They take care of themselves and they look good. I mean hair, nails, brows, and sometimes eyelashes are done, but look at the payoff. Fabulous.

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