fave products // furtuna skin rituale luminoso transformation set

Furtuna Skin had been on my must-try list for quite some time now. So I was super excited to get the opportunity to try out a specially curated set, known as the Rituale Luminoso Transformation Travel Set, which includes a micellar essence, a face & eye serum, and a moisturizing face oil. For those who don’t know, all of Furtuna Skin's products originate on their own organic farm in Sicily! This set includes sweet-smelling, wild foraged botanicals designed to help transform your skin.

Furtuna believes in the fundamental pillars of skincare, and that is reflected in the dual action formulas of each of these products. First up, in pillar one, you’ll prepare skin with Acqua Serena Micellar Essence, a cleanser and toner in one that removes impurities, balances pH, and soothes for a radiantly bright complexion. Pillar two involves treating the skin with Porte Per La Vitalità Face and Eye Serum, a dual-use, supercharged treatment for the face and eye area that absorbs in a flash for an instant glowing transformation. Key hydration comes into play in pillar 3 with Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil, a two-in-one bioactive blend for plumping moisture, antioxidant protection, barrier moisture repair, and Vitamin C to help support skin’s natural collagen synthesis. These three essentials create a transformative ritual (like the name of the set implies) that leave skin luminously smooth and protected, while helping to soften fine lines and restoring the skin’s overall resilience.

Thanks to natural ingredients like olive oil and anchusa azurea, both of which are packed with vitamins and fatty acids to nourish, rejuvenate and soothe your complexion, you’ll be saying hello to glowing, luminous skin in no time. Not to mention, this set is already the perfect size for on-the-go, so you can take it with you on all your travels as well. Since Furtuna is not exactly a budget-friendly brand, it’s also a great intro set to get you acquainted with the brand, in case you’ve been interested in trying it out for yourself!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // good juju herbal

I mostly talk about facial skincare around here, but taking care of the skin on the rest of your body is super important as well! Plus, pampering yourself and treating your body well can feel like such a self care spa experience, so why wouldn’t you want to partake?? Bonus points for beautiful, handcrafted products that earn a coveted spot on your vanity or in your shower! Enter Good Juju Herbal, a brand that’s built on making lifelong, can’t live without staples. They believe that quality body care should be accessible to all regardless of skin condition, age, and income level, and the product line is intentionally designed to fulfill this purpose. Everything is also 100% natural (made from plants and naturally derived ingredients) with a strong focus on sustainability (they only offer the highest quality ingredients, fair trade partnerships, and value the importance of a healthy natural ecosystem). Not to mention, all Good Juju Herbal products are free from palm oil, parabens, fragrance oils, as well as skin irritating foaming agents like SLS. Yes please!

Now for the products themselves. I’ve been obsessed with the Good Juju Herbal Felted Soap, which is built on the fun idea of combining bar soap with a washcloth. It’s bar soap that is wrapped in a naturally antimicrobial coating of roving. When you wet the soap and start to lather, it will continue lathering through the outside coating. The roving will shrink with the size of the soap inside because when hot water hits the fibers of the roving, this allows it to open up and knit tighter and tighter around the outside of the soap. How neat, and feels so luxurious on the skin! I’m also a fan of the heavenly smelling Eucalyptus & Bergamot Bar Soap to take your shower to the next level. Good Juju makes some lovely scrubs for the body and face as well. Plus, the Whole Body Oil has been the perfect post-shower hydrator, and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

It’s no surprise I love a good face oil, and Good Juju Restorative Face Oil is one of the better ones I’ve tried lately. With nourishing ingredients like blue tansy oil, rosehip, squalane, and jojoba oils, it’s great for all skin types, including sensitive and blemish-prone. The product works to provide the skin with vital vitamins and fatty acids, while also boosting collagen and lipid repair as skin ages over time. After using the oil for only a few weeks, I can already tell it helps to reduce inflammation, regulate oil production, repair the skin barrier, as well as supply lasting, lightweight hydration. Next on my list to try is the Good Juju Essential Salve, which is said to be great for calming irritated or inflamed skin.

As if all that wasn’t enough, they also participate in The Happy Skin Project, which provides free and discounted soap to those currently undergoing radiation or chemotherapy in order to keep their skin as healthy and intact as possible. Good Juju also donates their soap ends to local shelters & community organizations. How wonderful!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // iS clinical youth serum

I may sound like a broken record at this point, but iS Clinical is legit and I love them. Too much? I’ve raved about their serums, moisturizers & cleansers, but this Youth Serum deserves a post unto itself. It’s that good. The whole youth line is pretty epic to be honest, but the Youth Serum is the cream of the crop, in my opinion. This baby is both acne and wrinkle reducing, has no harsh fragrance, and feels weightless on the skin. The oil-based serum is packed with antioxidants like vitamin A, C & E, making it key for promoting cellular turnover. It not only helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles that you may already have, but also fights off free radicals that may cause signs of premature aging as well. Yes please! My skin feels tighter after applying the serum, yet somehow also rehydrated and nourished. Let’s just say your smooth, glowing complexion will thank you for treating it so well!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // taïla face oil, eye balm & toning mist

I was recently introduced to Taïla, high performance all-natural skincare rooted in the plant powered science of Ayurveda, and I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised. A lot of skincare brands claim to be rooted in this or that, or act like a cure-all for any skin concern, but Taïla really does deliver. Each formula advances treasured beauty traditions of India to awaken your senses and bring skin into harmony. The entire collection is non-toxic, using only USDA organic and wildcrafted ingredients, which I love! I even feel comfortable using the oil on my baby boy, that is, if he gets so lucky… The products are formulated with a team of Ayurvedic Doctors in Kerala, India, and are all sustainable and eco-friendly as well.

The Prana Face Oil is one of the best I’ve tried- it’s a multi-targeted treatment serum that works to nourish your skin in several ways. From smoothing fine lines to diminishing dark spots to boosting collagen production, it really is a jack of all trades. I love the antioxidant-rich superfruit amla, which helps fight dullness and leaves you with a beautiful glow! The Vayu Illuminating Toning Mist is super lightweight, but ultra hydrating all at once. It’s a great way to prep the skin and boost the performance of any subsequent steps in your skincare regimen (like the Prana Oil!). I love giving myself a spritz throughout the day to refresh the skin, and it’s also a nice way to set your makeup. Plus, key ingredient tulsi (aka Holy Basil) helps draw out impurities and neutralize environmental stressors! Yes please. The Nayana Revitalizing Eye Balm works to revive, nourish, and revitalize the delicate skin around the eyes thanks to its concentrated blend of phytonutrients. Manjishta and ashwaghanda work to keep dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines at bay, while also promoting the production of collagen and elastin. I’ve found the balm to be the perfect way to hide any signs of fatigue (hello mom life!). Pro tip- add a layer to your lips at night for an intensive hydration treatment while you sleep!

Everything Taïla makes is free of parabens, GMOs, sulfates, artificial dyes, and synthetic fragrances, making them a wonderful option for those with sensitive skin. What’s more- Taïla is a woman-owned business made in NYC! It’s so important to support these types of small, local businesses, so I’m happy to do my part in spreading the good word! Next up on my must-try list: The Nava Jungol Detoxifying Detox Mask!

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 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

fave products // r&co. haircare products

R+Co. haircare products // shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo & volume spray

I know a lot of people out there must be missing their hair colorists and hair stylists during the quarantine, am I right? To be honest, the break is likely a welcome one for my hair. It’s definitely enjoying the break from being constantly teased and curled and spritzed on set at photoshoots… But one thing’s for sure is my balayage highlights have definitely been growing out. Luckily, my colorist (Dana Ionato at Sally Hershberger Salon in NYC!) is awesome, and when hand-painting the highlights on my hair, she intentionally leaves some darkness at the root, which creates a nice contract and gives the overall look some depth. It also helps it not to look so “omg I need my roots done ASAP” once the color starts to grow out.

To that end, I’ve found investing in some high quality hair products to be of the utmost important. Enter R+Co. I’ve had many of their products used on my hair during photoshoots over the years, and am always really pleased with the results. I used to wash my hair every. single. day. Crazy right? I thought I had to otherwise it would get oily, but to be frank, I was probably just fueling the fire. Now I only wash every few days, and lately I’ve been reaching for the R+Co Sunset Blvd Daily Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner. This particular set is great for color-treated blondes (especially when a certain pandemic is keeping you from your would-be touch-up appointment!)- it works to keep your blonde bright and helps prevent those yucky brassy tones. I also really love their Television Perfect Hair Shampoo & Conditioner, which is great for all hair types, and leaves you with clean, shiny, silky hair, and zero build-up!

In between washes, I’ve been spritzing with the R+Co Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist, and it definitely helps buy me that extra day (or two) without feeling like I need to cover up with a hat. The micellar-based formula thankfully doesn’t leave a powdery residue like many dry shampoos, and it even helps relieve itchiness! Whenever I want a lil va-va-voom in the hair department, I go for the R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray. It’s a great way to add texture, shine, and volume (duh) in a lightweight spray that won’t weigh down those locks. I’ll admit, I’m not the best hair stylist by any means, but the Balloon Dry Volume Spray helps me achieve that slightly messy, textured ‘do that I love! PS- many of their products come in travel size versions, making them great for tossing into your suitcase or gym bag! A big plus (in my book at least) is that R+Co products are vegan & cruelty-free, as well as free from parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and petroleum! No need for any of that on your scalp, so close to the brain, in my opinion…. If you’re looking to change it up in the hair category, I definitely recommend checking out R+Co!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

owl venice bone broth & mylkshake reset

I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of juice cleanses. I believe, for the most part, that the body is self-cleansing, and find that subsiding solely on juice can be really depleting (not to mention make me hangry as all get out!). I also like to think I take pretty good care of my body overall, so any extreme cleansing is unnecessary. On the flip side, a nutrient-dense reset can be a healthy way to get you back on track if you’re feeling sluggish, overly-tired, or find those sugar cravings getting more and more intense. Over the holidays, for example, when there’s even more sweets and alcohol seemingly everywhere, having healthy options to grab can make all the difference, and help ensure you still flood your body with the nutrients it needs to flourish.

I recently got to try the OWL Reset, an organic “cleanse” of sorts from the lovely team at OWL Venice, that helps with bad digestion, bloating, sugar cravings, and fatigue. It’s designed to heal and seal your gut using the principles of Ayurveda and Chronobiology to nourish your body, and consists of three bone broths and three hemp mylkshakes daily. There’s even a vegan mineral broth if you do not consume animal products. The shakes include matcha, turmeric, ginger, and beets, along with homemade hemp mylk, and are super tasty to boot! I like the idea of having a few of these around to supplement my daily foods even when not on the cleanse.

The OWL Reset is packed with ingredients that restore and repair the gut wall, increase digestive fire, reduce inflammation, and draw toxins and heavy metals from the body. Full disclosure, since I’m breastfeeding and definitely did not want to affect my supply, I supplemented with foods. OWL suggests cooked greens, boiled chicken, steamed squash, and avocado, which left me full of energy, and caused no dip in my milk supply. My digestion was regular and comfortable, and I never felt bloated. Even the sugar cravings subsided (a bit… I am still me, after all!). I also love that the broths and shakes come in reusable 32oz. glass jars instead of disposable plastic. Post-cleanse, I store mine in our kitchen cabinet and use them for drinking filtered water or smoothies at home! If you’re looking for a bit of healthy reset, or even just some tasty broths and shakes to supplement your daily food intake, I highly recommend checking out the OWL Reset. Don’t forget- they ship nationwide too!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support!