Lauren Manoogian Alpaca Sweater Try-On

My first encounter with Alpaca was Everlane’s alpaca wool blend sweater (which I reviewed here). But because it had such a high nylon content I, one, sent it back and, two, really wanted to try a sweater that was 100% alpaca (no plastic please!). In the Everlane review I went over why alpaca fibers are better than cashmere and why it’s now the luxury fiber for sweaters (cashmere is no longer a luxury because even fast fashion brands like Uniqlo churn out cheap cashmere (including Everlane’s $100 cashmere I’m sorry to say)—which is also harming the environment with its mass production). And well 100% alpaca sweaters have the “luxury” price tag to match (like this one, this one and this one). Trying to find a sub-$300 100% Alpaca sweater is pretty much impossible. So I decided to stalk my favorite clothing consignment site, TheRealReal and found one from Lauren Manoogian (that link is for the one I actually tried on in this review and there are similar ones here and here). I’ve reviewed one of her items before, where I talk about the ethics and values of sustainability behind her company (she’s not quite slow fashion, but almost). Her limited number of items each season aren’t cheap but they’re made to last. But the best way to afford her pieces is by buying them used!

{Wearing: Lauren Manoogian 100% alpaca sweater, thrifted no brand ponte pants, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

I was lucky enough to snag this 100% Alpaca sweater for about $128 (incl shipping) but had to compromise on the size (it’s a large). But I figured with my big ‘ole prego belly, the large would probably be a good fit. So what did I think of the sweater? Alpaca really is an amazing fiber! The 100% alpaca knit was super warm (even with the shortened sleeves) and the sweater was super thick, but still lightweight considering how thick the knit felt. There was zero itch and if you’re sensitive to wool, this is probably the best alternative since it’s still ultra warm. It’s not as smooth and soft as cashmere, but much thicker and better than regular wool. I can’t speak to how it wears and whether it pills or not since I ended up not keeping it (but alpaca is supposed to pill much less than wool and cashmere). But considering this is a used sweater, there was no pilling at all (but of course I don’t know how many times it was actually worn by the previous owner). It was around mid-50’s when I was wearing this sweater and even with the shorter sleeves, I was feeling almost overheated in it.

So why didn’t I keep it? I just didn’t think the shape and length flattered my body. The large overwhelmed by petite frame (I’m 5’4”) and I think it made me look shorter than usual. Of course it did accomodate my prego belly but I couldn’t really see myself wearing a sweater this long post partum, so I sent it back (and thus it’s available again on The RealReal site). I think if you’re taller than me (around 5’6” and above) then this sweater might be a better fit.

But my appetite to find a used 100% alpaca sweater is even stronger than ever. I’m on the hunt y’all! Anyone else try 100% alpaca and what did you think?

First Jenni Kayne Review: Secondhand Wool Trench

You’ve heard me talk about Jenni Kayne before on this blog and so you know I’m a long time admirer though I never pulled the trigger on any of their stuff (because it’s so dang expensive and not really in the ethical fashion realm). But I just love her simple California casual styling and many of her pieces are classic, feminine and modern (and all in neutrals—just how I like it). I follow her on Insta for inspiration, which I then try to sometimes recreate with Everlane. And recently I started watching The RealReal (through my saved “feeds”) to see what popped up on there. I mostly was keeping an eye out for a pair of their leather mules in my size (which I’m not as keen on purchasing those anymore now that I have my Everlane Boss Mules that I love), but when a wool trench coat was listed I took the chance to try it out ($12 shipping and possible $12 return shipping be damned—I actually purchased several things I’d been saving to try out at once in order to hopefully reduce the pain of these costs). Anyway I’ve featured it several times on my Insta-stories because I’m in looooove. And even though you can’t buy the exact same one (though who knows what will pop up on the secondhand market), I wanted to write this post about my first experience and impressions of Jenni Kayne.

So first of all, I was seriously considering an Everlane coccon coat as a preggo winter coat since none of my winter coats currently fit me. True, I live in California so it’s not super necessary for me to button up all the way. But at the same time I just really disliked the feeling of not being able to button up any of my coats (essentially making everything feel as if it doesn’t fit). Well when I considered the Everlane cocoon coat (which I slightly regretted passing up as a freebie from Everlane but you know about my new resolve), I saw that it was only 60% wool and 40% plastic. In general, I’m trying to add clothes made from only natural fibers from here on out so I was hugely turned off by the plastic content of the coat (which by the way makes it substantially less warm). So I got really lucky that this 100% wool (with a 100% silk lining) Jenni Kayne coat popped up.

And how is it? It’s so dreamy. It really is the perfect wool coat for California. The wool is on the thinner side so I do need to layer sweaters under when it gets colder, but for San Jose weather it’s just right (for San Francisco I definitely need to layer). I love that there are no buttons to fuss with and it’s a simple tie closure. The inside silk lining feels wonderful when I wear shorter sleeve tops or dresses. The material quality is top notch and I’m very impressed by how well made the coat is. I’m wearing a small here and it’s perfect with just enough space to layer my Everlane cashmere waffle knit sweater underneath and accomodate my growing baby bump.

There’s the exact same trench in a size XS available on the RealReal right now and it’s about $100 less than what I paid (dangit!). If you’re lucky enough to be a size 0-2 and live in a place with moderate winters, I highly recommend this wool trench! If that one happen to be gone (depending on when you see this review), maybe you’ll get lucky when you do a general search on theRealReal for a Jenni Kayne coat like this link here.

Amazon Dupe for the Slip Silk Pillowcase?

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So last month when I did a review of the Slip Silk Pillow case (here), I was asked by a reader if I would test out a dupe she found on Amazon.  And I totally understood because if you can get away with paying $38 instead of $80 for the same thing, why not?  The one she liked from Amazon was this one, with 25mm silk which is higher in momme weight than the 22mm Slip silk pillowcase.  Also the Amazon one says it's made of the same mulberry silk charmeuse that Slip touts as using.  

So what did I think?

Unfortunately it is not the same.  I had mentioned in my Slip silk review that I tried to make my own cheap silk pillowcase by converting the Grana 22mm silk slip dress into pillowcases.  And well to be honest the one from Amazon is more like these Grana ones than it is to the original Slip (though I would say the Amazon one is better than the Grana ones by a smidge).  There's a difference in texture between the Slip one and the Amazon one.  Somehow the Slip ones are just more slippery and smooth, while the dupe is (though not rough) a tad rougher.  It just doesn't have the same slinkiness to it (for the lack of a better descriptive word).  Also when it comes to my face creams, with the Slip pillowcase I can tell it's not absorbing into the silk (it just kinda stays on the surface and sometimes can feel a bit tacky) but this pillowcase is definietly absorbing it.

I do however like that these Amazon ones have a zipper to it since sometimes my pillow pops out of the sleeve of the Slip pillowcase.  But other than that I would repurchase my Slip silk pillowcase in a heartbeat.  Like I said $80 is a lot but if you only use one and take great care of it, it's worth it all the way.  Now this dupe is sort of like a substitute whenever my Slip one is in the wash.

Casper Sheets Review (and comparison to Brooklinen Sheets)

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Since we moved into a new house and got a new bed, I decided to try out a new company for sheets.  As much as I love my Brooklinen sheets (which I reviewed here), for the sake of research for this blog, I decided to try Casper Sheets.  I purchased mine through their website but you can also buy them at Target.

Much like Brooklinen, Casper promises premium sheets at direct-to-consumer prices.  Also like Brooklinen, Casper makes their sheets from long fiber cotton (though Casper's is from Supima cotton grown in California).  But Casper uses 2-ply thread at a 400 thread count while Brooklinen uses a single ply thread at a 300 thread count.  Brooklinen claims that  single ply thread makes for a smoother, lighter and softer fabric.  Also the Casper sheets are a Percale weave while the Lux core sheet set I bought from Brooklinen are a Sateen weave and thus has more of a sheen.

In terms of pricing, the Brooklinen ones are a tad more expensive ($149 for a Queen set compared to Casper's $140 for a Queen set).

So which one do I think is better?  For me Brooklinen is the winner hands down.  The Casper sheets are definitely less soft and more rough than the Brooklinen ones.  My husband however likes the Casper ones because he runs cold and sometimes finds the cool crispness of the Brooklinen sheets too cold when first getting into bed.  As for me, I love that feeling of cool sheets.  Since I regret not getting a set of Brooklinens for the new bed, I think I'll be returning these (Casper has a 100 day return policy).  Also I'm thinking of trying linen bed linens (lol linen linens) since a couple of you guys highly recommended it after I wrote up my slow fashion linen review.

What kind of sheets do you guys sleep on and recommend?

Summer Sun Protection Plan

Hi guys, and can you believe it?  Another summer is upon us!  Last year I reviewed some items I use to protect myself from the harsh San Jose sun.  I still use those, but I've also added some other SPF items to my routine.  So I thought I would share with you my whole sun protction lineup that I'm using for 2018.

1) Paula's Choice Clear Ultra-light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30

As I mentioned in last week's post, I've added this as my first base layer of SPF for my face.  It's a super light liquid that absorbs quickly into the skin and it's perfect for those prone to breakouts like I am.  Love love love this new addition to my routine.

2) Deborah Lippmann's Rich Girl Hand Cream

I mentioned this in a weekend update post once I think, but I'm now on my second tube of this.  Like I said before I love the SPF factor of this hand cream as well as the lavender smell (it doesn't smell like sunscreen at all).  I keep this in purse at all times and usually apply while driving (I really want to keep sun damage on the tops of my hand at a minimum but since I'm always driving and towing Airstreams, my hands get a lot of sun exposure).  And the best thing about this lotion?  It's a twist top tube so it makes applying with one hand super easy and you can never lose the cap (it really is genius!).

3) Suntegrity 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen in the color Light

I reviewed this last year and my love for this BB cream/tinted sunscreen is still going strong.  Even though it goes on a tad greasy/shiny, this protects my face from sun damage all day even when I sweat.  And again no breakouts.  I don't usually wear this at night or for my going-out makeup but it's perfect for my day-time routine.

4) ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15

This is another new item I added this year.  I've used Fresh sugar lip treatment SPF lip balms in the past but they always melt and get gooey in my purse (and then when you apply it ends up going on real thick because it's melted).  So I decided to give this Ilia lip tint a try this year.  It's my first time using this brand, which uses mostly organic and natural ingredients and so far I love this lip tint.  It gives a touch of color without being overpowering and it doesn't melt and go soft!  

5) Cover-up/Sunscreen for your body

So I rarely wear sunscreen on my body because I'm not a huge fan of the greasy lotion feeling on my arms and legs.  And so instead when I'm out in the sun I'll wear a long sleeve shirt and long pants.  My current uniform is a tee with my Elizabeth Suzann linen Clydes and I wear an Everlane work shirt button-down to cover my arms.  When I went to Hawaii and spent time on the beaches I did wear sunscreen and I made sure my sunscreen was reef safe (Hawaii's going to be banning the unsafe ones this year).  That means you want to avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone (I just remember it as avoid the ben-zone), octinoxate (less commonly found), or the words BP-3.  Most sunscreens have oxides as their active ingredient and those are reef safe.  Of course this doesn't pertain as much if you're not going swimming in the ocean, but I think in general it's probably better to stay away from such chemicals.  Mineral sunscreens are the best but they usually go one quite white and chalky.

Anyway hope this post gives you some ideas on how to stay protected under the sun.  Sun damage is no joke guys!  Plus less wrinkles and sun spots in the future is reason enough for me to make sure I stay protected!  Also here are some other tips about SPF that I just learned about.

Second Paula's Choice Review: Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50, Clear Ultra-light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30, Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster

*This review is unsponsored and I purchased all items myself.  There are some affiliate links below where I would earn some cents per click.

So this is my second review of Paula's Choice skin care items, and like I mentioned in my first review I AM ADDICTED to their stuff lol.  I tried to wait until I ran out of items before buying more, but the thing about skin care (and what makes the industry so lucrative) is that there are always new things to try that you've never tried before.  And there's always that hope that this one new thing added to your skin regimen would change your life (well at least your skin) and it'll be that one item you swear you would take with you if you were stranded on a desert island.  Okay, well maybe that's asking too much of skin care, but I gotta say Paula's Choice products, more than any other brands', make me believe in skin-changing miracles lol.

1) Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50

I purchased this (along with the second sunscreen moisturizer I'll be discussing below) when I ran out of my daily sunscreen that I was purchasing from SkinSalvation.  Since I've always had highly blemish-prone skin I'm very picky about my daily morning moisturizer.  It needs to not only not clog pores but it also needs to have sun protection in it.  I've realized the number one thing that keeps me from breaking out is proper sun protection (I'm pretty sure it has to do with keeping the damage and inflammation as well as oil production under control).  I wasn't sure if either of Paula's Choice moisturizers with spf would work so I got two with the intention of returning one (thanks to Nordstrom's awesome return policy).  I really like that this Resist moisturizer has spf 50 and since my night-time moisturizer (from the first review) is also part of the Resist line, I thought it would work for me.  And it does!  This moisturizer is really great: no sunscreen smell, high spf, and a good medium-light texture.  I actually prefer the second sunscreen more so I decided to keep this one as my back-up, gym-bag sunscreen.  

2) Clear Ultra-light Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30

So out of the two sunscreens this one is my favorite because it goes on super duper light.  Since my Suntegrity tinted sunscreen (which I wear as my daily makeup) is kind of thick and shiny, I prefer the lightness of this fluid (and it really is a fluid, not a lotion) as my first layer after toning.  I think it also works better with my naturally oily skin.  Also this one worked great in Hawaii where the high humidity and the hot sun make my sunscreen work extra hard.  Seriously no complaints about this spf fluid and I definitely will be re-purchasing this when it runs out.

3) Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster

So even though the last Paula's Choice booster didn't work for me, I was not scared off from trying more.  I was especially interested in hyaluronic acid because of how it helps to build up collagen to minimize wrinkles (or in my case sunken acne scars).  It's no miracle worker (and I don't need to take it with me on a desert island) but I do think it's been helping keep some moisture to my skin without added oiliness or greasiness that other thicker lotions have.  And I have seen some positive changes (I think my skin looks a smidge plumper overall) so it's encouraging me to keep going (I've used maybe a third of the bottle by now).  I definitely plan to rebuy this one as well when I run out.  

Anyway I'm very happy with these recent Paula's Choice items but like I've said in the past, everyone's skin is different so I can't guarantee it will work for you (so purchase it at Nordstrom's where they let you return opened items).  Anyway I'm going to try to not buy any more skin care items for right now since I still have a lot but I'm not making any promises.

Vince Blair Sneaker vs. M.Gemi The Cerchio and M.Gemi promo code giveaway {Closed}

If you've been following along for awhile now, you know that my Vince Blair sneakers (similar here) are my favorite and thus one of my most worn items so far this year (I purchased it in January of this year).  Well I haven't mentioned that I've actually had the M.Gemi Cerchio for about 8 months now and it's been worn once and has been languishing in its box ever since.  And I would feel remiss if I didn't review these shoes before sending them off to their new home (via eBay).  

First a note on sizing, M. Gemi sizing is all over the place so I try to pay attention to their sizing chart every time I order.  I got the Cerchio's in a size 38 (and I'm usually a size 7.5 to 8 but with wide feet).  They run wide so for me I found them TTS.  

So here's my problem with the Cerchio's: they are quite heavy due to the thick rubber soles but the elastic on the top of the foot isn't enough to keep them comfortably on the foot.  I end up clomping around.  Also the thick rubber soles are quite stiff and inflexible.  It's too bad too since I really like the look of the woven leather.  They also have good arch supports which is better than the Vince Blairs, which are quite flat.  

But here's the nice thing about the Vince Blairs, and what makes them my favorite slip-on sneaker: the Blairs have a thinner and more flexible sole combined with a well-placed, large piece of elastic on both sides of the foot to help the shoe grip the feet better.  I seriously walked miles and miles with my Blairs and had zero discomfort from the get-go.  Also I found that even though I have a high arch, I had no arch pain either.

As for the Vince Blairs, I got them in 7.5 and found that they fit perfectly.  I've seen reviews of these shoes saying they're a tad on the larger side so size down (which to me I guess means take the smaller of my two sizes).  You might find that you will have to go down a full size down from your normal size for a better fit.

I wear these slip-on sneakers without socks so yep, it can get a tad smelly inside the mostly-leather interior of the Blairs.  So I don't plan to wear these in the summer and will probably go with my Rothy's (reviewed here) or my Everlane Street Sandal (no longer sold).  I'll also be looking into a shoe deodorizer like this (though I'm not a fan of the plastic here) or maybe something like this.  But I found this to be a perfect California winter shoe with the leather keeping my feet warm but not too hot.  And it shows, since I've worn it 52 days so far this year (making it my #2 most worn item) and getting my cost per wear down to $2.11 (I got them at Nordstrom Rack so I paid about $110 for these shoes which normally go for $195).  So yes, these might not be an "ethical" pair of shoes but for me they are so worth it!  

Anyway onto the giveaway!  I've got a bunch of $50 M.Gemi codes lying around and since I'm not really interested in buying anymore shoes from them, I hope some of you guys could put them to good use.  I have 9 codes to giveaway and to enter just fill in the form below.  Giveaway will end in 1 week and you will be emailed the codes if you win!

Paula's Choice Review: 2% BHA liquid, Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer, and Resist C15 Booster

*This review is not sponsored and I purchased all items myself

So I mentioned using the 2% BHA liquid here and touched upon my history with Paula Begoun of Paula's Choice (if you don't want to go back and read it, I basically said that I grew up with her book The Beauty Bible and thus I trust that she is making these products because she really knows her stuff and not because she's trying to make a quick buck).  Paula also has a fairly well respected site that reviews beauty products called Beautypedia.  So knowing all this I don't know why I didn't try her products earlier.  I guess a part of it was just being dazzled by the bigger and flashier brands.  But once I tried the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, I was a convert.  So here are reviews of the first three items I've tried thus far.

1) Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid: So this was the first time I used BHA, which is a type of chemical exfoliant.  I've used Salicylic Acid before for my zits with mixed results.  So I didn't think this would work for me.  But I gotta say it has really turned my skin around.  It does help with the zits but more importantly, makes my skin really smooth.  2% may not sound like a lot, but for someone like me with really sensitive skin, 2% is enough.  I actually use this 2-3 times a week instead of daily since when I used it daily I noticed some irritation.  I've also noticed when I do use it consistently it helps with the redness of my skin.  I also tried the 8% AHA gel sample that came with this and found that it did not help my skin and I prefer the BHA more.  Both AHA and BHA are chemical exfoliants that do slightly different things.  Read here if you want to know more about it.  For $29, this is a great price for a really awesome product!

2) Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with retinol: This was the second product I tried from Paula's Choice (I tried both this one and the BHA liquid above on a random instagram story recommendation) and I again I was wary since I've tried retinols in the past (good for acne and wrinkles), but they've always irritated my skin too much.  Looking at the ingredient list, I'm not sure how much retinol is in there but I think it's pretty minimal since I can handle using this daily.  And again this lotion makes my skin feel so smooth.  This has become my new daily moisturizer replacing the Elemis SOS cream I mentioned before.  The Elemis cream didn't break me out but I didn't think it was improving the texture of my skin like this one does, and this moisturizer is $33 compared to the $85 for the Elemis one.  It was kind of a no-brainer for me to switch.

3) Resist C15 Super Booster: So I tried this out on a recommendation from a reader after I talked about the BHA liquid in the Weekend Ramblings post.  Sorry Sooji, but it didn't work for me >.< . About 3 minutes after I tried it, my skin got bright red and it started burning (and it was only on the right side of my face even though I spread it evenly on both sides--weird, right?).  I guess it just goes to show that what works for one person doesn't work for everyone since our physiologies are all different (which is why when you read my beauty reviews, take it all with a grain of salt).  Luckily I purchased it from Nordstrom and was able to return it.  But this hasn't stopped me from wanting to try more of Paula's stuff!  However, I'm going to hold off until I use up some of my other beauty items since I am trying to be more mindful of what I buy.  When I use up a bottle of something, I might see if I can replace it from one of Paula's skincare lineup.  

Anyway, if you've been looking for a gentle way to smooth out your skin and build some collagen, I recommend trying the Skin Perfecting BHA liquid and the Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer.  They are great for acne-prone sensitive skin like mine and definitely worth a shot.  But buy it from Nordstrom's where you can return it though, just in case ;)

P.S. I have to eat my words above.  I have learned by now that it's in my nature to go a bit overboard when I find a brand or product that I like (for example: Everlane) so I have purchased another 6 items from Paula's Choice (2 of which replaced my empty sunscreen, 4 of which are totally brand new products I've never used before and doesn't replace anything *facepalm*).  Again I will review when I've used them all for a bit.

Le Labo Body Lotion Review

I avoided Le Labo for the longest time because I always thought it would be like Aesop (which I reviewed here and did not care for at all).  I think it's the brown bottle look that led to the association of the two brands?  But when I went to Amsterdam, the Pulitzer Hotel had Le Labo toiletries and I fell in love with the brand.  The scent the hotel uses is Santal 33, which has a woodsy leathery smell.  Here's the full description of it:

What it is: A unisex fragrance that captures a defining image of the spirit of the American West and personal freedom.

Notes:

- Top: violet accord, cardamom.

- Middle: iris, papyrus, ambrox.

- Base: cedarwood, leather, sandalwood.

I especially loved the body lotion because it not only was light enough that it absorbed quickly, but the scent was not overpowering.  I also have sensitive skin in general and some body lotions will give me a rash (thanks Clinique Happy body lotion), so I tend to be really picky about what lotions I use.  Most of the time they are unscented so as not to cause any reactions.  But amazingly (and I think because it's a high quality product), Le Labo's fragrant lotions never cause a reaction, even when I use it on patches of skin that's already itchy and irritated (not something I would recommend doing, but for me is a true test of how gentle the lotion is).  I had three small travel bottle of Santal 33 which I used up (and I never have used up hotel toiletries in my life before, even when I do take them as souvenirs).  And that's when I knew I wanted to buy more.

So I went to my local Nordstrom's Le Labo counter to see if I liked any of their other scents.  I'm usually very drawn to florals so it's no surprise that I chose Neroli 26 and The Noir 29.  Here's the description of Neroli 26:

Neroli is another name for the essence of orange blossom. The unique quality of Le Labo's neroli is its sunny floral character with an extraordinarily warm, sensual base. Rose, musk, mandarin orange (slightly aldehydic), jasmine and vanilla, among other essences, complete the portrait, bringing Neroli 36 spikiness, ease, zest and heat. Well-being, elegance and charm, all in a bottle.

And the description for Noir 29:

Thé Noir 29 Eau de Parfum is an ode to the noble tea leaf and the craft that surrounds it. It combines depth and freshness, softness and strength through permanent oscillation between the light of bergamot, fig and bay leaves and the depth of cedarwood, vetiver and musk. A special extraction of black tea leaves wraps up the composition by bringing to the formula a leavy, hay, tobacco feeling in the dry base, transforming this creation into a sensuous and addictive essence. Citrus, rich, soft, fresh and sensuous.

I'm not really good at describing scents but I liked the Neroli because it's a classic floral smell, while I was drawn to The Noir 29 for its spiciness.  I would say Santal 33 is the subtlest (it's a unisex crowd-pleaser kind of scent) and that's probably why the Pulitzer Hotel uses it for their toiletries. The other two scents are definitely on the more fragrant side.  

But here's the thing I've come to realize: I have always relied on perfume for a signature scent, but I never remember to put it on.  And I've only used up one bottle of perfume in my life (some Gucci thing back in my early 20's when I was dating a lot, lol).  But these days I never wear perfume (my husband could care less what I smell like).  So by switching to scented body lotion, I'm not only moisturizing my skin but I'm already wearing a scent.  Seriously even a whole 24 hours later I can smell the lotion on my skin (ok so yes I can only smell it if I'm bringing my nose directly to my skin and taking a whiff).  Also some of my tees smell like it too.  By using the body lotion, I feel like my skin is infused with the scent but it's never overpowering.  I think I've found my "better" way of wearing scents and I it's with Le Labo's scented body lotion.  Of course expensive lotion isn't for everyone, but if I'm no longer purchasing and wasting $150-$250 bottles of perfume and I use up all of the body lotion, I can easily justify this little luxury for myself.

Does anyone else use lotion as their fragrance?  Do you sometimes supplement the actual perfume with the lotion?  (I got some free samples of the fragrances along with my lotion but find the perfume itself too overpowering and much prefer just using the lotion alone).

The best and worst items I received free to review in 2017

Mott & Bow Jeans, part of the best list

So I'm sure I'm killing any future gifts from brands with this post, but since I decided that I won't be taking any free gifts for review this year (to minimize waste) I kind of don't care.  Of course I love free things, but if it's at the cost of what I stand by (brutally honest opinions and minimal waste) then I rather pay for the things I review and try to monetize elsewhere (which means if you're reading my posts on a phone or tablet, sorry those small pop-up Google ads are gonna continue for the time being).  Also just to note for this list I am not including things I got free from referral credit (that applies mostly to Everlane and Grana) because in a sense I "earned" those credits and I'm "spending" those credits (and they never asked for a review of their items).  The ones on the list here are the items I got completely free in exchange for a review from companies that contacted me directly out-of-the-blue.

The Best

1) Mott & Bow Jeans: My love for these 98% cotton, 2% elastane jeans are still going strong!  I received these for review at the end of June last year and they are still in my jeans rotation.  In fact I prefer them over the Everlane jeans I've reviewed thus far (including the modern boyfriend and the skinny jeans) because the Mott & Bow ones are just more comfortable for me (I think it has to do with the M&B ones being more mid-rise and not high-rise). The slim boyfriend style of these jeans work well with my pear-shape (especially my thicker thighs).  These jeans are in heavy rotation with my other two Frame denim jeans.

2) Tradlands The Skipper Shirt: I love this really soft button-up and it's my go-to shirt for whenever I go to lu'aus or Hawaiian get-togethers (which is more often than you think since I'm from Honolulu).  It's my mainland version of the Aloha shirt.

3) Chamberlains' leather milk: One of my first collaborations and one that was extremely useful since I still use all these products to protect and condition my leather shoes and bags.  This collab probably worked so well since I had already done an initial review of their product and that's how they found me.  I'm a big believer in their products, especially if you want to cherish and take care of your expensive leather items.

The Worst

1 and 2) Siizu V-neck tee and Siizu Hella Top: I initially liked both items (maybe because they were free?) but soon found that I never reached for them.  The v-neck tee made of 100% modal, was not a fave since I preferred my 100% cotton tees from Everlane and Grana.  The Hella Top was cute but didn't fit into my super casual, non-office lifestyle.  I also don't think frilly items fall under my style.

3) Tradlands Faroe Tee:  Sorry to say that when it came to this specific item from Tradlands, it was kind of a dud.  After I washed it, it was super stiff and uncomfortable.  When it comes to linen I would go with Elizabeth Suzann, Everlane or Grana.

Also a note on Grana since I received the most free items from them to review: I think Grana is always a mixed bag with lots of really good things.  Since I was simultaneously getting free things from them as well as buying things with credits earned, I ended up with way more Grana pieces than I anticipated or needed, some of which I'm letting go here.

So yep, once this post is up I'll revise all the above reviews to include this post so that people know how these free items fared in my closet rotation.  Also since I'm being completely honest here, it can be tough at times to write anything negative about items given free to review since there are usually representatives of the company checking on your reviews and making sure you post to Insta.  To me, that already feels restrictive even if the brand never tells you 'you can't say that'.  I rather be pressure-free to say whatever I feel like (and I don't mind giving my money to brands that really deserve it)!

P.S. After writing this post, I read this one from EcoCult and I'm surprised to learn that bloggers will recommend items without having tried it themselves.  Also for them to review and post something, EcoCult charges $400 (which makes me think, how can you say anything bad about a product if you're getting paid $400?).  It's making me realize if I want to keep my blog the way it's going (only providing unbiased reviews with items I've tried myself), I'm going to have to keep my day job (or drive uber to supplement--which I've seriously considered) lol.

P.P.S Please read Leah's comments below because she is a much more experienced blogger than I and comes up with a lot of good points that I failed to clarify in this post (basically it's hard for me personally to write 100% unbiased review when it comes to free and gifted items).

My Best And Worst Purchases From 2017 And The Lessons I Learned

As a continuation of sorts of my post about learning how to shop mindfully, today I'm going to review my best and worst purchases of 2017.  When I reviewed all the things I purchased to make this list I had to laugh (this was me on a shopping ban?!).  Anyway I hope by analyzing my purchases, and learning the lessons behind some of my mistakes, I can be more mindful in the future of what I'm buying.

The Best

1) Marley's Monsters facial rounds and machine-washable sponges: Still going strong with these items and goes to show that when you upgrade to zero waste items, they will become your workhorses (as long as they are made well, which these are).  I actually put in second order during their birthday sale this year to try more things.

2) Plaine Products: I also re-ordered a bulk supply of their original line of shampoo, conditioner and body wash for myself and for my Airstream guests after writing that initial review.  Yes, they're not the most luxe products out there but they do the job and don't break me out.  Plus I am no longer producing waste from my bath products.  Again going zero waste has steered me right in this case.

3) Secondhand Georgia Tee from eBay: So I wasn't supposed to buy any clothes in 2017 but then I got it into my head that if it was an even "trade" then it was ok.  Well I'm glad I did break the rules, otherwise this beautiful top from Elizabeth Suzann wouldn't have entered my life.  This was actually my first ES piece and I love it.  Lesson with this one?  Sometimes it pays to break the rules?  Or maybe a slow fashion item on the secondhand market is extra sweet.  I also bought the Tilda pants secondhand but the size wasn't right on those so I sold it back through eBay and ended up paying $20 for the experience of trying them on (but also not having to wait a whole month to do so).

4) Patagonia swim wear: So again more clothes during the year of no-clothes shopping, but I made the exception because I was investing in my fitness.  After my ski accident earlier last year and the need to change my workout routine, I had to get the proper gear for my new swim workouts.  And I haven't regretted the purchase one bit.  I'm still swimming weekly (most of the time) and so I'm still wearing these suits all the time.  They've held up really well!

5) My Celine wallet from Fashionphile: Again purchased this one because I needed a proper wallet.  It looks like my best purchases (like #4 above) are items that fulfill a specific need.  No regrets on breaking the shopping ban for this one.

The Worst

1) This backpack from Building Block: it was an impulse buy, purchased on sale when I was killing time with shopping.  Mistakes all around!  Lessons learned: a) don't kill time with shopping b) especially when there's sales c) and no impulse purchases during sales season (only items you've already had your eye on).  Also realized I'm just not a backpack person.  

2) All my Glossier purchases except for one item (review 1 and review 2): Hyped-about skin care for the general public is just not doable for my super sensitive acne-prone skin.  The boy brow was the only thing I liked and used up.  But I don't want to re-purchase it because I don't need to be adding more plastic to landfills just for better brows (especially when I'm perfectly happy with my Shu Uemura brow pencil that has lasted me 5+ years and which when it's gone, won't leave any plastic around).  I did keep the boy brow container though since the wand is great for combing out brows.  I wonder if I can refill it with some kind of natural product and reuse it?

3) This Supergoop set: Again same lesson as #2 above, I can't be buying beauty products willy nilly because it looks good.  Packaging got me again.  And now I've contributed more plastic to landfills SMH.

4) Akamai products: Also, did not do much research on this one, but went off one blogger's recommendation.  I probably will take that blogger's reviews with a grain of salt because I did not like any of these products.  I did force myself to use up the skin oil but couldn't finish any of the other stuff.  Just because a sustainability-focused blogger promotes eco-friendly products, doesn't mean as much this day and age I guess (and that motivates me to make sure my reviews are better and more accurate than ever).

5) Loewe Hammock Bag (reviewed here): Yep, I purchased a new bag during my shopping ban (well more than one).  This time breaking the rules did not pay-off.  But I did research this bag thoroughly, so I thought it was for me.  But in the end I was trying to use this when what I really wanted was the Hermes Lindy.  Once I got the Lindy, I realized all the ways this bag wasn't as good.  Maybe the lesson on this one is don't buy a placeholder, and instead save your money for the thing you really want.  Lost quite a lot of money on this lesson!

I'm interested to hear, what were some of your best and worst purchases in 2017 and why?

Unsponsored Lo & Sons Review of the O.G. Overnight bag

With my Away Bigger Carry-On (Unsponsored reviewed here)

First off I just want to thank readers notsaf and Sarah who commented on my Cuyana Le Sud Travel bag post suggesting trying the Lo & Sons travel bags.  I read that and lucky for me Lo & Sons had both their OG overnight bag and their OMG medium overnight bag for sale at 30% off (and actually there are still some colors on sale now) so I got both to see which one I might like better.

The OG is the bigger bag on the left and the OMG is the smaller bag in green on the right.  I spent a lot of time waffling between the two because I liked the blue color better but the size of the OMG better.  I found the OG to be quite gargantuan. 

And a poll on Instagram had the OMG winning.  But in the end I went with the OG because I just had too much stuff for my 10 day trip to Europe.  I had to go with the bigger bag and I'm glad I did!  This bag can fit a ton of stuff and I definitely needed to.

The OG bag really was the perfect carry-on bag to take on a train tour of Europe!  I loved that it had a panel to slip over the handlebar of my roller bag.  This OG bag never once fell off the top of my luggage, which is not something I can say about the Cuyana Le Sud Travel bag.  Also the OG bag is super lightweight and inside there are a ton of pockets for everything you need.  The laptop section is nicely padded and there's also an outside zippered pocket that has another zippered compartment and an organizational section for pens and such.  They really thought of everything with this bag.  Oh and it also comes with a large shoulder strap but I never used it (and can't imagine trying to carry this humongous bag with a long shoulder strap).  For the most part I carried it atop my roller luggage or by the shorter straps that still were able to go over my shoulder.

I would say the only cons with this bag are:

- When the bag is packed to the brim, it's hard to pull the laptop out of the bag.  I think it's due to the domed shape of the bag.  Also when it's packed to the max, the outside organizational pocket is pretty useless (its impossible to get things in or out).

- It's a tad hard to put the bag under the seat in front of you on the airplane with it standing upright since the bag is so tall (and this is especially true when it's packed to the max).  Lucky for me I was traveling with my husband so I would lay the bag down and he didn't mind if it went into his foot-space a bit.  

But I would say that this OG bag is above and beyond better than the Cuyana one for practical traveling.  I look forward to taking many a trip with this bag.  In the meantime I think I'll try using it as a gym bag since my current one can never seem to hold everything I need.

Review of the StyleBook App and my Winter 10x10 Challenge recap

*This review is not sponsored 

When I was doing my Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane post couple months ago I really tried to calculate my cost per wear and found that it was pretty impossible.  So I went in search for an app that would help me do that, and that's when I found the StyleBook app.  I never heard of it before so I did a little research and it seemed to be the number one app for keeping track of your clothes.  I promptly spent the $3.99 to download and then left it untouched on my phone for over a month.  But with a trip to Europe that coincided with the Winter 10x10 challenge, I knew it was the perfect time to give the app a shot.  And well long story short, I love the app and I find it super useful and easy to use.

To get my closet uploaded into the app (which by the way I'm no where near done), for most of my clothes I did a flat lay shot on some white poster board to upload the clothes into my digital closet on the app.  It's super easy and does a fairly good job of picking up the outline of the clothes.  Here are some tips for using the photo function of the app:

- When laying out shoes, try to keep some distance between the left and right pair since if they're too close together, the app has a hard time erasing the white space between the shoes.  You can go in a manually erase the white parts that the program fails to automatically erase but it's a bit of a pain.

- This also applies for purse straps.  Try to lay it out so that there's a lot of white space that the app can automatically erase (ie don't have it criss crossed in complicated ways).  

- If your item has white in it, you have to use a towel or sheet that is of a contrasting color

-This function is hard for items with patterns and lots of different colors since the app then can't tell whats the the clothing and whats the background.  If you have a closet full of patterns, this app might not be the best for you

- When erasing the background manually, it's better to over-erase a little than to under-erase since when you under-erase, you can see the background with the clothing and it looks weird later.

You can also add clothing by finding it in their "shop".  I found Everlane items there, which was great.  But even if you find it on their shop, you still have to erase the background yourself (they basically provide you with the stock photography).  It would be the same as if you went to the brand's website and copied the picture, pasted it into the app, and erased the background (which is also another function this app can do). So if you find some time on your hands (say while commuting on a bus or train), you can add items to your closet this way.

Once you add the picture of the item to your closet, you can add details like the color, fabric, size, season, brand and price.  I usually just add color, brand and price so that I can upload and add an item to the closet in about 2-3 minutes.  You can also edit this later.

Once you have your clothes uploaded, you can start adding them to Looks and to your calendar.  I tend to make the Looks first and then add the look to the calendar so that when you take a quick look at the calendar you can see the whole outfit.  Otherwise the calendar will only show one piece of clothing (the first one added for that date).  

I also really love the packing feature of this app.  You can either add the clothes to the packing list or even better, add Looks to your trip and the app will automatically add what you need to pack to your list.  So if you want, you can plan your looks first and then pack.  These are all the items on my 10x10 plus accessories:

And now my favorite of all: the breakdown of the numbers!

So I'm nowhere near entering all my clothes but the 24 on there is probably the most worn items of this season.  I'm pretty much adding clothes as I go.  And the feature that I bought this app for:

Now this app isn't perfect (it can be cumbersome to add and organize your closet and looks), but it definitely does what it needs to.  And this app isn't for everyone since it requires tracking your clothes everyday if you really want to utilize it to its potential.  But man, I love it.  I hope to continue doing this so I can really refine my wardrobe and know exactly which pieces I'm wearing and which I've forgotten about.  Also it's been a bit of an eye opener on how much I spend on clothes (um only 24 items and I'm already at over $4k?!  I'm a little scared to see what the sum of my closet will turn out to be).

I did have a bit of a hurdle trying to figure out what to put down as the cost for items that are really old and I've already worn the heck out of.  For example the tall leather boots that I've had for 5+ years should already have a low cost per wear.  But I decided what really matters is how much I do use them from this point on.  So I gave it a fairly high start cost (as if I bought them at a thrift store), but this is a personal preference.

Now onto the Winter 10x10.  If you want to see it, head over here and you can see all 10 outfits along with the Style Book app layout for them.  I wasn't initially going to the 10x10 but when it coincided perfectly with my trip to London, Paris, and Amsterdam I thought I might as well.  Especially since it would help me to keep my luggage items to a minimum, and it would ensure that I would wear everything I packed.  And I'm so glad to have done it since there were only 2 items I packed that I never used (of course it was the last minute items I threw in, just in case).  Also the 10x10 was a good excuse to make an effort to take pictures during my trip.  

And my one takeaway from this particular challenge was it's totally okay to repeat the same outfit.  Accessories like the scarf and bag will change the look enough that it won't look exactly the same (besides no one but yourself notices outfit repeating).

Anyway anyone else use the StyleBook app and have any useful suggestions?  Also did you participate in the Winter 10x10 challenge, and if so what were some of your take-aways?

MOO Custom Business Cards and Greeting Cards Review

*This is not a sponsored post and I purchased all cards with my own money.  

There are some things I use so often in my life that I forget how awesome it is and worthy of a review.  And Moo falls into this category.  We’ve been using Moo business cards for GoSilver and have re-ordered them multiple times.  Their business cards are made from high quality card stock and the photos printed on them are crisp and have beautiful colors.  I love that you can choose the specific shape, size and finish of your cards.  They even have recycled cotton cards (made from cotton tees) and fancy cards with gold imprints.  For our business we order cards with the rounded corners (because it loosely resembles the shape of an Airstream) with a matte finish.  But I have to say the best thing about these cards is that we can print out these beautiful photos of our Airstreams on one side (and you can do a variety of pictures in one order).

We also love it since the site is so easy to use.  Creating personal business cards is a cinch (lol, do people even say ‘cinch’ anymore these days?).  And you can keep all your projects saved so that when you run out, reordering is a breeze.  We loved our business cards so much that we also ordered greeting cards from them as well.  

And lastly their customer service is amazing.  When one of our orders never got delivered (even though it said it was delivered on the tracking), the people over at Moo expedited a replacement order with no questions asked!  

So if you're interested in getting some quality custom cards (and maybe even Christmas or other greeting cards) from Moo, use this referral link to get 20% off our first order (thank you for your support!). 

Lacrosse/Massage Balls Review

Here's an unusual review for you guys, but I love love love these balls and I've been using them for over a year now so it's about time I let you guys know about them.  I'm a fan of really good massage chairs but considering I live in a 220 square foot trailer, I don't have the luxury of getting one of my own (and TBH I'm a little creeped out by communal public massage chairs).  But you know whats better than a massage chair?  These balls.  They get to the trigger points that even most massage chairs can't get to and they're super portable. {Just to note, I also have a foam roaller and I'm a fan of rolling too, but I love these balls more.}

These massage ball also goes by the name of lacrosse balls.  They're quite firm with just a slight slight give.  To massage my shoulders and back, I usually roll them along a wall while standing up.  And to massage my IT band and glutes, I'll roll them along the floor (and oh it feels so good since gravity and my own body weight allow the balls to go really deep into the muscle tissue).  If there's a particular painful point, I'll try to hold it in that spot and breath through it for 30 seconds.  I feel like that helps to really loosen some of the knots.  Also run the ball parallel to the muscle fiber to help push the knots out.  I found this great little article explaining the basics of self-massage.  For the most part I don't have a set routine and just massage where I feel like I need it.  There's also a lot of great youtube videos demonstrating some basic massage moves.

Even if you're not a particularly active person, I think most people should use a foam roller or these lacrosse balls daily (especially if you're sitting in front of a computer all the time).  Sitting and holding that position for prolonged hours causes muscle weakness in some fibers and muscle strain in others (fun fact: I thought I wanted to be a personal trainer at one point and so I studied for the licensing test.  I never did take the test but I learned a lot of really interesting stuff about kinesiology).  Does anyone else have these massage balls and what's your favorite technique when using them?

P.S. I usually like to make a lot of inappropriate comments about my balls but restrained myself this time, lol.

Cartier Santos Demoiselle, Tank Francaise, and Ronde Solo De Cartier Watch Review

Hi guys so this is a semi-review of my three different Cartier watches, as requested by a reader.  To be honest, I love the look of watches but I no longer wear a watch at all times, since nowadays I usually use my phone to tell time.  But ever since I went to a De Young Museum exhibit about Cartier (like this one), I've viewed Cartier as my watchmaker of choice (talk about great marketing). 

I purchased my first Cartier watch on eBay many years ago.  I took quite a gamble with it since I didn't know anything about how to tell authenticity.  But I found a Cartier Santos Demoiselle Watch with all the papers and boxes from a reputable seller so I took a chance (which to be honest I probably would not do today, just because of the sheer number of fake goods floating out there on eBay).  As soon I got the watch, I took it over to Cartier for a full servicing and there were no red flags so I got lucky.  This watch measures 20mm x 28mm and is my only watch with both gold and steel, which makes this the watch I use on my fanciest occasions.  And actually I didn't realize that Cartier no longer sells this model (at least online, but I haven't stepped into a boutique in ages so please correct me if I'm wrong) until I wrote up this review.  So I guess if you want to get this same model then you might need to look for it used (which is what I had to use for the link above).

Since the Santos Demoiselle was just a bit too fancy for my everyday wear, I started lusting for a more everyday kind of watch.  So my next purchase was the classic Cartier Tank Francaise (similar here) in stainless steel and in the small size (measures 20mm x 25mm).  And as you can see in the very top picture above, the Tank Francaise is pretty much the same size as the Santos Demoiselle.  I prefer the smaller sizes because my wrist is kind of small to begin with.  I purchased this one through Fashionphile and authentication was verified through WatchFacts so I felt pretty reassured that this was an authentic purchase.  I love that this watch is super simple and classically Cartier.  I'm not a huge fan of heavy watches and this one has a good heft but I don't find it too heavy at all (but the Santos Demoiselle is definitely lighter but consequently daintier).

And my third and thus far final Cartier watch purchase was the Ronde Solo De Cartier watch (similar here) which I bought directly in a Cartier boutique.   After wearing my Tank Francaise consistently for over a year, I kind of wanted a round watch and a non-metal band because some days I just wanted a really light watch.  So I went with the Ronde Solo in the smaller size (29mm) and alligator skin strap.  And well not to say I regret this purchase, but I slightly do.  And this is mainly because the alligator strap closes like a snap bracelet (it's not the normal belt-like closure for most leather watch bands).  And I just have the hardest time opening and closing the snap, and I've even snapped a bit of skin in there once and it pinched like a mofo.  So unfortunately I don't wear this watch as much as I would like, considering this is the lightest watch out of the three.  Also to be honest, if I hadn't purchased this myself from a Cartier boutique I would think this watch could be a fake because it's casing is super light and not hefty at all.  Anyway I plan to change the strap on this to the bracelet version and see if I might wear it more often.

Like I've stated in the past, I prefer to purchase most of my luxury goods secondhand because not only do they come at a better price, but luxury items like these are meant to last so they hold up really well.  And as you can see, the only watch out of the three with any regrets is the one I purchased directly from the Cartier boutique.  But (and there's a big but here), purchasing used can be a risk since there are so many fake Cartier watches out there.  So I recommend purchasing through a reputable reseller who will stand behind the authenticity of their pre-owned goods (like Fashionphile or TheRealReal), getting a second opinion on authenticity (like at WatchFacts), and then lastly getting it serviced at a Cartier boutique. 

Anyway if you have any specific questions about this watch just leave me a comment and I'll try to answer them!

P.S. If you’re interested I also wrote a Cartier Small Love Bracelet review here.

Mott & Bow Jeans Review {Updated March 2018}

*These jeans were gifted from Mott & Bow for review and this is a type of sponsored post

Hi guys, I just want to start off today's review by thanking all of you guys for your support, whether it's clicking on my referral links or by giving me a few minutes of your day by reading my reviews.  I never thought I would get to this point, where brands would give me something free in exchange for a review (from out of the blue, I'm not counting Grana since I've purchased their items before for review)!  I know I'm still small beans in the blogging world but I'm just super grateful for any beans at all, lol.  

I guess I feel this gratitude especially since I'v been seeing Mott & Bow jeans on my radar (mostly those FB ads) and have been curious for awhile to try them out now.  But with my shopping ban and the fact that I don't have the use for more jeans, there was really no reason for me to buy a pair to try them out.  But fortunately for me, they reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try a pair and I couldn't say no.

Since I'm no longer loving the skinny jeans look (plus I have way more skinny jeans than I need), I decided to go with slim boyfriend style in the Benson color.  Also since the length was a bit too long for my short legs, I decided to cut the bottoms so that there's a distressed frayed look instead of neat hems.  I would say this kind of frayed hem style works really well with the thick denim material Mott & Bow chooses to use.  And the denim is the just right amount of stiffness with just the right amount of give (about 2% elastane).

{Wearing: Grana linen sleeveless shirt (review here), Mott & Bow Slim boyfriend jeans, Everlane canvas backpack (review here), Everlane form slide sandals (review here)}

I've tried really stiff jeans in the past (most recently Grana's Japanese denim which I reviewed here), but I just couldn't get used to the extreme stiffness of those jeans.  For soft, stretchy denim I usually go for Frame jeans like this and this (usually in the skinny jean style).  But if you're looking for a good pair of mid-weight denim with a tiny bit of stretch but not much, then I definitely recommend these Mott & Bow jeans.  I think they are a quality pair for a decent price.

As for the transparency and ethical qualities of this brand, to be completely honest, I'm not too sure.  They are made in Honduras, which does have some sweatshops.  But the founder is also from Honduras and they have a family-owned vertically integrated system, which would lead me to believe that working conditions aren't horrid.  But of course I don't know, so I sent them an email asking them but specifics.  We'll see if they get back.  In the meantime you can find all of their jeans here.

{Update: I received a kind email from Mott & Bow with all the details of their factory.  "Alejandro Chahin's family owned facilities in Honduras called Intermoda. His family have been in the denim business for over thirty years and have extremely clean and comfortable working conditions - air conditioning throughout, the best lighting and cleanliness for safety. Many of the employees at the facility have worked there with Chahin's family for over 25 years, which really reflects the respect they receive. And wages are completely fair across the board."  So there you have it folks a fully transparent and ethical working conditions, quite similar to Everlane!}

{March 2018 update: I am happy to say that I still wear these jeans regularly and thus they fall under the "best" category in this post about the best and worst things I received for free to review.}