It’s time for another round of my Top Picks for the month! Isn’t it fitting that I waited until literally the last day of April to write this post — oh well!
This month, I was introduced to quite a few new products that I’m so pumped to share with you. As always, if you have any particular questions about any items on my list, or you want to know more about them, comment below! I’m always happy to chat!
Let’s get started!
Transcending Waves Planner
*Get 10% off this product using my discount code: STYLISHLYGOODVIBES
I talked about this planner pretty extensively in my blog post last Friday, but I love it so much I wanted to share it again! If you’re a little disorganized and need something that can help you remain accountable for the things you’re trying to get done, get this planner!
It has helped me immensely, not only because it lets you map out each hour of your day, but it also helps you dedicate time to think about what you’re most grateful for. Additionally, I love that this planner is leather bound because I’m constantly throwing it from one bag to another.
In the past, I found that I would write all of my monthly goals in one notebook, and then make a calendar for my blog in another, which meant I never had one central location where everything I needed could be found. Now, I do with this planner!
Hask Chia Seed Volumizing Dry Shampoo
I came across this product while I was aimlessly roaming around Target’s beauty department. I was instantly intrigued by the color of the can, since all shades of purple are my absolute favorite! After reading that it also acted as a volumizer in addition to being a dry shampoo, I was sold.
I’m not even kidding you when I say that I immediately sprayed this stuff on my roots once I got home. I love that it doesn’t smell artificial, if that makes sense! In my past experiences with dry shampoo, they’ve done what they were intended to do, but they really just didn’t smell that great to me. This one smells unbelievably fresh and clean, which is one of the reasons I’m always using it!
It truthfully does help add some volume to my second or third-day hair, which is awesome. If you’re like me and find that your hair loses volume in-between washes, you may want to think about looking for a volumizing dry shampoo. When I use this, I simply flip my head over, spray it on my roots, then flip my head up and rub it in.
Peach Slices Citrus-Honey Aqua Glow
I recently became obsessed with this aqua gel after I purchased it during one of my Peach & Lily hauls. I absolutely love my Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion, but I felt like I was going through it so quickly when I was using it morning and night. I decided it was time to look for a morning-only moisturizer. Peach Slices is the sister brand of Peach & Lily, and most products can be found at your local CVS Pharmacy!
This aqua gel is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a mix between a gel and a serum, so you only need about a dime-sized amount to add a significant amount of moisture to your face. Instead of rubbing this stuff onto the skin, I pat it. This prevents you from pulling the skin.
The aqua gel is perfect for anyone who applies a face of makeup in the morning. It’s really lightweight and I’ve found that my makeup goes on much smoother. In addition, this stuff actually plumps and perks your skin up right in the morning. Plus, it leaves a natural glow that cannot be beat!
AHA & BHA Daily Clean Toner
I’m going to give you a little back story about why I bought this toner. So, I had been using another exfoliant prior to buying this, but of course when I went to buy a refill, the product was not available for purchase until May. Ugh. I was a little annoyed, but I knew that I could find something even better, which brings me to this toner!
For one, this toner is cheaper than what I was previously using, so it’s already a win in my book! Quick lesson: AHAs and BHAs help to balance out your skin’s pH levels by acting as gentle exfoliants. AHAs, or Alpha Hydroxy Acids, help to remove all that dead-skin grossness that sits on your face if you don’t exfoliate regularly. BHAs, or Beta Hydroxy Acids, work hand-in-hand with AHAs and generally show more results in those with troublesome skin. Collectively, AHAs and BHAs not only exfoliate the skin, but they can help boost collagen production and give you smoother skin over time.
I’m a little obsessed with skincare as you can probably tell, and I love learning about why certain products work the way that they do! After I complete my regimen of other toners and essences, I apply this with a cotton pad. You simply sweep it across your entire face, giving special attention to any irritated or acne-prone areas.
Natural Coconut Cleansing Oil
I’m a huge fan of K-beauty routines, and double cleansing is a process that I came to know more about because of this fascination. Double cleansing is when you wash your face using two different types of cleansers — first, an oil-based cleanser and second, a water-based cleanser.
For someone who has combination (oily + dry) skin, I wasn’t too sure how double cleansing would work for me, so I put it off for almost two years. It wasn’t until this spring that I started to think about how much double cleansing would simplify my nightly skincare routine. So, I decided to buy this cleansing oil, which had been recommended to me in my Peach & Lily personal skin consultation.
Let’s just say that I will NEVER go back to normal cleansing! This cleansing oil has literally changed my skincare game and I’m not exaggerating in the slightest! By using an oil-based cleanser like this one, as your first cleansing step, you allow your skin to have nearly, if not all makeup removed prior to using a water-based cleanser.
To double cleanse, I use two pumps of oil and massage it onto my face of makeup. After massaging it, I apply a little water to my hands and keep scrubbing the oil into the skin, then I rinse. By this point, the majority of my makeup is removed and I follow up with a water-based cleanser to remove any leftover oil on my face. It’s ~pure magic~
That concludes this month’s Top Picks! I’m excited to see what you guys think of these items! I’ll be sure to keep experimenting with new products so that I can share them with you next month!
Have a fabulous Monday, friends!
Alicia <3