Self Care

READ, REST, & RELAX!

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on READ, REST, & RELAX!

We are going through uncertain times right now. There’s a person out there struggling to stay home, unemployed, scared of experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and dealing with the scarcity of necessary supplies (such as toilet paper, Thanks Panic Buyers!) while trying to stay healthy. Any one of these things brings an enormous amount of stress to your body. The truth is that stress can send you to the hospital faster than the coronavirus can. So, the next time you feel anxious; Turn off the TV and take the time to READ, REST, and RELAX.

READ: Scrolling through Instagram, and watching TV can be exhausting. This is the perfect time to read about a beautiful love story, becoming a successful business owner, or a juicy autobiography. I finished reading “More Than Enough” by Elaine Welteroth. This book explores Elaine’s journey of growing up as a biracial kid in California to becoming the first black editor-in-chief at Teen Vogue.

REST: There’s a false narrative going around that sleep is the cousin to death, or that successful people don’t sleep. In actuality, you are doing more harm than good by skipping out on your rest. Sleep strengthens your immune system and combats infections in your body. Why else do you think your doctor advise rest along with your prescription?

RELAX: Stress can increase your heart rate and cause your body to deteriorate. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about this pandemic! Why not pamper yourself instead? When was the last time you allocate time for yourself? This past weekend I did my nails for the first time since February using Deco Miami vegan nail polish. Also, I kicked back and relaxed while wearing Pacifica Mattify Prep Facial Mask and listening to 90’s R&B.

Try not to consume yourself with frequent updates of the coronavirus. Instead, take some time to READ, REST, and RELAX.

Since we are on Stay at Home orders, all items can be purchased online by clicking on the links below:

“More Than Enough” by Elaine Welteroth,

DECO MIAMI Vegan Nail Polish

PACIFICA Mattify PREP Facial Mask

Thrifting

Thrift Store Finds: Paying Homage to the "Around the Way Girl"

by Skylar Rea2 Comments on Thrift Store Finds: Paying Homage to the "Around the Way Girl" 
Photo Cred: Antonio Diggs @80shots
Hair: Natasha Love @hairnlove

The “Around the Way Girl” is fun, smart, chill, and confident. She’s the one that every girl wants to be, and every guy wants to be with. Her style is effortless; it exudes sexiness without showing skin or spending hours in shoes that more than likely will hurt your feet than give you attention.

On my way to Brunch a couple of weeks ago, I paid homage to the Around the Way Girl, while adding a skylar flare to it. I wore a BCBG puffer jacket with a plain white blouse and black vintage high waisted jeans. I took it a step further by wearing tiny red-tinted shades, bookbag purse, and wore my hair in a high ponytail to complete the look.

Jacket and Jeans came from:
The Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center
1590 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852

Accessories Highlight:
Tiny red-tinted shades came from the wish app, and bookbag purse came from TJMAXX.

Clean Skincare

Shea Moisture Daily Hydration Creme Sugar Scrub

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on Shea Moisture Daily Hydration Creme Sugar Scrub

I’m an advocate for exfoliating your skin! There are times when our skin goes through a season of dryness, and we need an occasional body scrub to help revitalize and restore new skin cells. Some of your local Spa’s offer this type of treatment, But if you are on a budget, like me, then applying Shea Moisture Daily Hydration Creme Sugar Scrub two to three times a week will suffice. This product can successfully remove dead skin cells and encourages natural cell renewal while keeping the skin moisturized. I use a significant amount on my palms and gently rotate in a circular motion on my body for one minute and then wash off with warm water. After each use, my skin feels soft, smooth, and moisturized.

Four Main Ingredients:
Sucrose (Sugar)- Stearate that fills in tiny spaces between the cells improving the skin’s texture.
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil) – detoxifies the skin by pulling out toxins that help get rid of acne.
Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride- creates a barrier on the skin’s surface, which helps to reduce skin dryness.
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)- is an emollient and moisturizer that hydrates and smooths the skin.

Shea Moisture Daily Moisture Hydration Creme Sugar Scrub

Thrifting

CLOSE THE DEAL IN STYLE

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on CLOSE THE DEAL IN STYLE

Photo Cred: Antonio Diggs @80shots
Hair: Natasha Love @hairnlove

While attending a meeting, the goal is to close the deal or pick up a new client. Accomplishing these tasks in person takes preparation and confidence. Confidence is all about how you feel and look. Wearing an outfit that you feel comfortable in will have you strutting in the office with your head held high, saying that “I GOT THIS.” And, that is what I did last week at a meeting with a potential partner wearing a Max Studio patterned dress that had a tie in the front.

Max Studio Dress came from:
2nd Ave Value Stores
13770 Smoketown Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192

Events, Events

FBF: Galentine's Day Slumber Party

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on FBF: Galentine's Day Slumber Party

I hosted my first annual Galentine’s Day Slumber Party a couple of weeks ago for four of my girlfriends. The theme for this year’s festivities was “Self Care.” I wanted to convey how important it is to take time out for yourself. I partnered with Shanny B’s interior design to create a safe place for girlfriends to come together to eat, drink, play games, and talk shit. We enjoyed custom handcrafted sangrias by Lexi Sangria, Fried Chicken, salad, and freshly-baked cookies. Each individual received a gift bag with Self Care essentials such as Pacifica Kale Detox Deep Cleaning Face Wash, Hand in Hand Sugar Scrub, and Holler and Glow Facial Mask.

Thank you to the AC Hotel Marriott Downtown DC for providing a complimentary stay for us. This European influenced hotel is one of Marriott’s newest properties, located in Downtown, DC. Click Here to book a room for your next Girls Night.

Thank you, Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar, for gifting us with a $50 gift card for brunch. This Peruvian inspired restaurant is a two-minute walk from the AC Hotel Marriott Downtown. I must say that this place has the best empanadas, and their French Toast is amazing. Click Here to reserve your spot for brunch.

FYI: I was too busy enjoying myself and forgot to take pictures.

Thrifting

THRIFT STORE FINDS: Winter Edition

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on THRIFT STORE FINDS: Winter Edition
Photo Cred: Antonio Diggs @80shots
Hair: Natasha Love @hairnlove

Coat, Hat, and long sleeves are all perfect remedies to surviving the winter. I lucked out in finding a 100% long wool coat to pair with a vintage Asian print Chico Design blouse and a fedora hat. See, it is possible to be stylish while staying warm!

Wool Coat, Vintage Blouse, and Fedora Hat came from:
2nd Ave Value Stores
13770 Smoketown Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192

Beautiful Trends, Clean Skincare

ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer

In everyday makeup, you will find toxic ingredients that are linked to allergies, irritation, harming your reproductive system, or even causing cancer. Now in days, makeup brands are becoming more conscious of what they put in their products. But be mindful of products claiming to be vegan, but still have ingredients that cause harm to your body. I prefer a brand that prides itself on product safety and organic ingredients like ILIA does. Their True Skin Serum Concealer is a favorite product of mines. This lightweight creamy concealer has a serum texture that adds moisture while perfectly blending into the skin to brighten the dark circles under the eye. It is best to apply this concealer under the eye before blending your foundation. According to Bobbi Brown, you should find a concealer with a yellow tone that is one to two shades lighter than your skin to lighten the dark circles under the eyes.

I’ve listed two safe ingredients that give this product an advantage over the concealers that are currently in the market right now:

Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract– protects collagen and elastin, and reduces the signs of under-eye bags, dark circles, and a dull complexion.
Tetrabexyldecyl Ascorbate– is a very stable oil-soluble Vitamin C that has an antioxidant activity that helps stimulate collagen production as well as clarifying and brightening the skin.

ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer can be at your local Sephora or on ILIA BEAUTY WEBSITE.

Thrifting

Velvet, A Perfect Holiday Staple!

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on Velvet, A Perfect Holiday Staple! 
Photo Cred: Antonio Diggs @80shots
Hair: Natasha Love @hairnlove
Handmaid Purse: The Modern Mosaic Collections 
CLICK HERE FOR THE MODERN MOSAIC COLLECTIONS

Every year on Christmas Eve, I love getting dressed up for my annual family dinner. So, when I found a black off-the-shoulder velvet dress at the Thrift Store, I was Ecstatic! This dress is a perfect holiday staple that screams “festive and Chic.”

Find similar style at:
2nd Ave Value Stores
13770 Smoketown Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192

Thrifting

HOLIDAY FUN WITH FRIENDS!

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on HOLIDAY FUN WITH FRIENDS!

‘Tis the season to drink and be merry with friends! During this time of the year, everyone is hosting a holiday party at their home or venue. I find myself venturing off to the Thrift Store to find an outfit to wear to the next shindig after work, and I brought my friends along for the ride. After hours of rummaging through clothes, we found something that complimented our styles. See what we wore to a friend’s holiday party!

I wore a 60’s style inspired mod dress with a black wool blazer and black booties.
Shanty found a festive kimono sleeve wrapped midi dress and wore it with gold pumps,
Sony found a fun high-waisted PU leather skirt and paired it with a gray crop top.
All looks came from: 
2nd Avenue Value Stores
13770 Smoketown Road
Woodbridge, VA 22192

Photos by Antonio Diggs @80shots
Hair by Natasha Love @hairnlove

Thrifting

Thrift Store Finds: Holiday Office Party

by Skylar ReaLeave a Comment on Thrift Store Finds: Holiday Office Party 
Photo Credit: Antonio Diggs @80shots
Hair: Natasha Love @hairnlove

It’s that the time of the year, where you are spending more time at your job’s annual holiday office party, breakfast or luncheon than you are at your desk. Today, I attended a holiday breakfast and wore a lovely pink v-shaped blouse with a black calf-length pleated skirt. This outfit was fun, stylish, and appropriate for the office.

Blouse came from:
Goodwill of Greater Washington
8228 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309
Pleated Skirt came from:
2nd Avenue Value Store
6515 Dobbin Road
Columbia, MD 21045