Healthy Eating: Quick Breakfast for School & Work

I admit that breakfast is hardly usually my first priority, especially on busy school/work mornings, which generally involve me grabbing a granola bar or opting out entirely for a coffee with soy milk. But I am trying to improve on that, and today wanted to show a fairly easy, relatively healthy breakfast I've been enjoying.

It's a simple stack of pre-made waffles with half a banana and pure maple syrup. I'm enjoying the Van's gluten-free waffles, which are already lightly sweetened with fruit juice. However, the texture is a bit dry and crumbly at points, which I suppose goes with the gluten-free aspect. At any rate, this is filling and enjoyable even as a dessert (which I confess to doing more often than not).

Still on the hunt for good breakfast ideas, so feel free to share!

Goldfaden MD Sun Visor SPF 30: Review

As mentioned, I'm normally a drugstore sunblock fan due to the much more attractive price point, but I decided to splurge on the Goldfaden MD Sun Visor after watching a tutorial that purportedly showed how easy it was to spray and go with this product. To be honest, even after months of use, I have no idea how that particular person was able to use it so easily. It beats regular sunblock, but it still is far from an effort-free product, and brings other concerns that keep me at bay.

My first major concern with this product is its use of microionized titanium dioxide, which has been cited as a potential risk upon inhalation. Spraying it directly on the face not only heightens the risk of directly breathing it in, but in my experience also often led to some of the product going into the eye (even with your eyes closed). I had white particles accumulate around my eye shortly after I used this.

However, it isn't gloopy like most sunscreens. This is good and bad, because good news is it spreads easily - I usually spray a bit into my hand and then massage it into my face. I do find it doesn't seem to stay as well on my skin, as it starts running off immediately when I spray a bit of water on. I also don't think it's as effective as my traditional formula sunscreens.

I purchased from the SkinStore, and got the below samples with my order. I think the price was about $35/bottle with discount, so still a fairly pricey bottle. At this point I won't be repurchasing, because I think there's better alternatives.

Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash

I've mentioned before that I've been on the hunt for a one-stop makeup remover that will easily and quickly get off all my makeup at night. Unfortunately, my Emma Hardie balm just hasn't been cutting it (requires far too much rubbing to remove eye makeup), so I swung into Kiehl's after seeing the signs for their new face wash.

Although I have dry skin, the sales associate assured me that this product would work. I like that it's simple to use, you literally just pump out some of the clear fluid and lather it up on your face. 

The product itself is clear and with a very light herbal fragrance, and works up into a light lather that isn't drying (though you will need to moisturize well afterwards). I've been using it now all summer, and I will say it's by far the most effective product I've tried yet. Unfortunately, it still requires a bit of work to remove eyeliner, but for non-waterproof mascara and eyeshadow it does wonders - a few smears and it comes off.

Overall I'm very pleased with the product, and as a bonus the Kiehl's associate was super sweet and threw in samples for their creamy avocado eye cream and midnight recovery oil. I recommend this if you're also on the hunt for an effective, all-in-one makeup remover.

My Nighttime Skincare Routine

I try to keep my skincare routine down to about 5-10 mins at night, because honestly I don't think I would commit to much more than that at the expense of sleep. Here are the products I've been using lately. Keep in mind that I have dry skin and usually wear only light makeup (including nonwaterproof mascara). I'm probably also not as thorough as many of the other bloggers out there in terms of cleansing, but so far this has been working well.

I have only four steps in my routine: 1) Cleanse, 2) Eye cream, 3) Face Treatment Cream, and 4) Moisturize. I will rotate out products in these four steps, especially the face treatment as I run low on things, but generally I stick closely to this regime. I'll also be away from home for much of the summer, so here are the products I will pretty much be using for the next three months:

Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser: I got this on a whim, and am surprised at how much I've been using it. I love that it foams, because it makes it feel so much faster and easier to just give it a quick pump and immediately slather it on the face. I will say that this is not great at removing makeup, and on days when I do wear more makeup I have to resort to a cleansing balm instead. However, for light summer days, this is good, and also generally effective at getting my mascara off.

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Eye Cream: I like this the best of the eye creams I've tried. It's rich but easy to rub in, and it also doesn't cause millia unlike many other creams I've tried. I just wish it were more moisturizing.

Sulwhasoo Timetreasure Renovating Cream: I got this as a sample, and so far I like it. It has a nice herbal scent, and I think I do notice a slight difference in my skin texture and general glow after a few uses. But it's not quite enough to justify the $400 full-size price tag - yikes!

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream: This was also a sample, and I use it on days when I don't use the Sulwhasoo. I like the smell and the light texture, but after continual use I'm not sure it's all that effective, as I haven't noticed any significant changes to my lines. But it is pleasant to use.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream: This has been my nighttime moisturizer for quite some time now (reviewed here), and I find I keep going back to this. It's just so easy to use and really is very effective at keeping my dry skin hydrated. But it contains parabens, so I'm going to need to find a replacement after I finish it up.


In terms of how I use these products, I always make sure to gently pat them in and avoid rubbing, which causes premature wrinkles. I also try to be gentle when cleansing. I see so many girls tugging harshly at their faces while cleansing, and it makes me wonder if by being so thorough they're doing more harm than good. Thus, my philosophy is to stay as minimal and delicate as possible with my skin. I won't kill my face to try to get every last scrap of makeup off, but I will do as much as I can. It's a balancing act.

What's in my Bag: Summer Edition

I definitely aspire to be a minimalist in terms of what I allow in my bag. I find that no matter how small or light the bag, your shoulders will end up tired after a day of carrying it, so it's critical to shave everything down to the bare essentials. This is a peek into my current summer bag, which I use for running errands and shopping.

The current bag I'm using is an old Coach purchase from their factory stores. It's a baby blue patent leather, which is pretty much made for summery weather. I like it because it's the perfect crossbody size, holding all of my things without allowing for overstuffing. It zips easily and the patent leather has proven to be extremely durable, as I've taken it out for long days of traveling in extreme humidity, rain, and heat.

My one qualm is with the shoulder strap. Unlike the rest of the bag, it's made of a cloth fabric, which is easily stained and starting to fuzz up with wear. However, the pro is it's the right length to rest on my hips. 

The top row contains:

Mini Notebook: I'm the most forgetful person, and need to scribble reminders to myself constantly. I also find that I have a habit of continually dwelling on what I need to get done. When I write it down though, it helps me refocus on what's at hand, because I know I'll get to it later. This is a small leather notebook I got from an event.

Sunglass case + Sunglasses: The case is from Aldo, and I love that it's super light yet structured and durable. Much better than the hefty cases most designer sunglasses come with. The sunglasses are from Urban Outfitters.

Bottom row:

Missha Deep Moist Lip Essence in Ample Berry with SPF 10: This is from Korea, and to be honest I'm not in love with it. This might be unique to my dry lips, but I find I can't use this by itself or it'll leave my lips completely chapped. It leaves a subtle red gloss on the lips and has a nice sweet taste. SPF in the summer is also essential, which is why I take this even if I prefer some of my other glosses.

Bite Agave Lip Mask: Reviewed here, I can't go anywhere without this.

Blistex Deep Renewal with SPF 15: I keep this purely for the SPF. My routine is to start with the Bite lip mask, apply a layer of this, then top off with the Missha gloss. Perhaps excessive, but a good way to ensure moisture + SPF + shine.

Earplugs: Yes, that's what those weird neon green cones are. I literally do not go anywhere without these, because you never know when you'll be stuck in a loud place and wishing for a reprieve. I'm also paranoid about hearing loss (my grandpa's almost completely deaf), and it's always good to have this in case.

Vera Bradley Keychain Zip Wallet: This needs replacing as I've used it for years, but there's nothing more portable than a keychain holder that doubles as a wallet. I keep all my cards + cash in here. It also makes it harder to lose your keys. If anyone knows of a better-looking alternative, please let me know!

Not Shown:
Phone
Pen

Hat: This definitely doesn't fit into my bag, but I pretty much never step outside without a wide-brimmed hat (per the reasons stated in my sunblock post). This one is from Nordstrom, and technically it's more of a winter hat due to the wool material. However, I find it works all seasons, and I've received tons of compliments. It's also held up its shape extremely well; I hate it how most wide-brimmed hats start to droop after a few wears. I do try to take care of it by keeping it on my lap and trying not to fold it up if at all possible. 

Water: Also not shown, but make sure to stay hydrated and go out with a full bottle!

Hope you found this post helpful!

An Interesting Perspective on Manners

One of my friends said something about manners the other day that struck me. She said that manners are all about making the people around you feel comfortable. So it's not about knowing which fork to use for which dish, but instead about creating an enjoyable environment for the whole table. This could entail doing anything from eating with your mouth closed, to demonstrating enjoyment of the food (even if it may not be the best), to just projecting confidence even if you're not sure what's going on.

I'll definitely be bringing this to my next social eating occasion.

My Drugstore Sunscreen Picks

I've certainly splurged on very pricey sunscreens before (I'll be posting a review of one of them shortly), but to be honest have rarely found them to be worth it. In fact, branded, expensive sunscreens are just as likely to contain the "Avoid" ingredients as drugstore ones and the performance gap just isn't enough to warrant the high price tag. 

Here are three of my drugstore sunscreen picks that you can get for under $10. You can zoom in on the ingredients list in the photo below and see that all three pass the "Avoid" test.  

Aveeno Natural Protection: This one leaves the most obvious white cast, so for that reason it's my least favorite of the bunch. It's fine for the body, but I would keep it far away from the face and neck - I once put it on and despite blending it as best as possible, I had people commenting on what the white stuff on my face was. Yikes. However, the texture is quite smooth and less goopy than some of the others, making it easier to spread out than a couple of the others.

I will warn you to watch out against the other products in the Aveeno sunscreen line. They have a Protect and Hydrate SPF 70 version with very similar packaging, but that's a chemical sunscreen with Oxybenzone. Stick to this Natural Protection version if you're doing this brand.

Banana Boat Kids (Yellow Tube): This is my favorite. It's also conveniently the cheapest of the three, costly less for 8oz than the others for only 3 or 4oz. You'll note that I have two kids choices up here, because it seems manufacturers are at least becoming aware of the importance of keeping harmful chemicals off kids skins. But don't be deterred, because these work perfectly fine for adults too!

This one is a nice medium between the other two. It's fairly easy to spread and does not leave a white cast when blended out. I use it on my face and body.

Banana Boat Kids Natural Reflect (Green Tube): To be honest I'm not sure what the major difference between this and the yellow tube are, especially as this costs over twice as much per oz. It is a significantly thicker texture though, so maybe it has a higher coverage (I noted the Titanium Dixoide is 3.6% versus 3.1% for the yellow tube)? Anyways, as much as I like this product, I really don't like the thick formulation. This one is literally impossible to rub in - you have to aggressively pat it onto the skin because it's so thick.

However, unlike the Aveeno one, once you pat this in it all but disappears, leaving a flattering glow to the skin. In fact, that's what I kind of like about mineral sunscreens - they make the skin appear luminous after. Just make sure to powder, or else your face will be too shiny.

As always, make sure to apply sunscreen often, and keep protected!