It’s been a MINUTE since I’ve been inspired/able/focused enough to crank out a blog post. So much has happened in the past year (seriously? it’s almost been that long?!) but I haven’t been able to sit down and synthesize it into words, so we’ll start with something simple. Back in November, I found a new favorite foundation. It was a product I’d seen around but had never given it a try, and after one application I was hooked.

My relationship with running has always run hot and cold, but this time I’m committing. My husband is the kind of runner who can do nothing for months and then decide to go out and run 5k without blinking an eye. I require a little more training. I registered for the Cambridge Half Marathon in November along with my husband, my brother, and a few other friends. So far I’ve been training for a little over a week and can run just under 6 kilometers in half an hour.

I’ve made a few lifestyle changes over the past couple of weeks and I’ve had unexpected results. I made the decision at the end of December to get in shape. I set some goals and figured out a way to achieve them the old fashioned way: exercise and nutrition. What I didn’t expect was that it would have a profound effect on my skin. Seriously, my face has never been so even or clear and I think it’s a direct result of my healthier lifestyle.

The theme for this month’s Play! box is: No Appointment Necessary. The idea is that with these products, you can achieve “salon” results at home. I actually love trips to the salon. A little time to myself to get pampered, relax, and leave looking and feeling my best is always welcome, but at the same time, my schedule and budget doesn’t always allow for frequent facials or blowouts, so an at-home, DIY option is a great alternative.

It’s that time again! My Sephora Play! November box has arrived! The Sephora Play! boxes have been steadily improving, at least in my opinion. Here’s a look at November’s box. This month’s theme is “The Exclusives”, meaning products that are exclusive to Sephora. At first glance, some really great things in here! Bite Beauty products are some of my favorites. This is their High Pigment Lip Pencil in Rhubarb, which is an intense dark pink, described as “plum rose”.

I feel like I JUST got my October box, but none-the-less, my November Birchbox has arrived. I’ll say it now – I’m THRILLED with this box. November’s theme is “Feeling Fancy” and I definitely am with this box. I love the cool floral pattern and the metallic copper logo is gorgeous. This is one of my favorite box designs so far this year (after the Rifle Paper Co box of course)!

As the weather gets colder and suntans fade, you’re going to want to make some changes to your routine. Here are a few updates I’m making: The other day, it was pretty clear that it’s no longer acceptable to go outside with wet hair. You could catch a cold (or freeze and damage your tresses)! So I’m pulling out the blowdryer more often, and shampooing as infrequently as possible to make those blowouts last.

This month’s box was one of my favorites. Unfortunately, one of the samples leaked so the whole thing was a bit messy inside, which led to less than fantastic photos, but you’ll get the idea! First, the prime offender, Number 4™ Lumiere dhiver Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil. Ok, ignoring the fact that this has the longest name ever and spilled all over the place, I really like it. It smells amazing.

Before we get too far into October and this becomes irrelevant… I don’t know if I’m going to do monthly favorites. It feels a little repetitive since it’s rare that I find anything life changing, but I haven’t listed my general favorites since my holy grails, so I thought now could be a good time. Here’s what I’ve been loving lately, my September favorites! Again, the R+Co Badlands Dry Shampoo Paste.

As I mentioned on Monday, I’m in San Diego this week. Which means a few long flights and a week in a hotel. Of course, I brought my usual makeup, most of which will be in my September Favorites soon, but there are other specific bits I make sure I have to make traveling a little easier. Ok, let’s get this out of the way. The R+Co Dry Shampoo Paste. Seriously, Alina, enough.

As you’d expect from a beauty sample hoarder and Sephora fangirl, I signed up for the Play! box as soon as it was available. Let’s take a look at what’s inside: My overall impression: This is a bigger box than you’d expect from Birchbox or Ipsy, with deluxe samples, good variety of color, skin, and hair care, and well-known brands. It’s also a great value for $10. So the first impact is a good one, but looking closer….

I used to work at Birchbox. Which was really cool but also it kind of ruined the experience of getting a Birchbox. I knew way ahead of time what the product assortment was for the month and even what was going to be in my box. The delight was still there, but the surprise was lacking. Since I left back in May it’s been a lot more exciting to get a monthly box.

I spent the long Labor Day weekend saying so long to summer in Cape Cod. We had a super fun girls weekend (#girlstrip!) drinking Bud Light Limes and frozen mudslides, eating lobster, and enjoying the last bit of summer. Spending a lot of time out in the sun and consuming a heavier than usual amount of alcohol can be really taxing on your body, so here are the steps I took to make sure I made it out of the weekend in one non sunburnt piece.

Since I’m leaving NYC and my current job, my coworkers and I went out last night for drinks to celebrate and say goodbye. And when I say drinks I mean… Vodka sodas, and picklebacks, and fireball shots. Let’s just say my skin (and the rest of me) was not quite its vibrant glowing self this morning. Luckily, I’ve developed a routine to get myself back to radiant (or at least fake it!

I have been shopping lately. Between the Sephora VIB Sale, the dwindling days left I’ll be eligible for my Birchbox employee discount, and just general excitement for the spring season, I’ve picked up quite a few bits and pieces here and there. I decided it’s better to break it up a bit instead of having one monster post. Which is extra bad because soon I’ll have to pack up everything I own, so I’ve also been trying to use up my current stash as much as possible (aka apply self tanner daily).

It’s that time of year, when the temperature surges above 50 degrees and the bare legs are set free. Except most of those bare legs haven’t seen the sun in literally months and are looking a bit sickly pale. I never really got into the whole self tanner thing until recently, but now I consider myself fairly well versed in the application, formulation, and other aspects of becoming sunlessly bronzed.

It’s March favorites time, but I just posted a Holy Grail list, so instead I’m going to post about the things I’m looking to maaaaybe pick up in April? The Sephora VIB sale is coming up, right? Hmmm… Surratt Artistique Blush The who Surratt line is new at Sephora this week. I have heard great things about the collection but it hasn’t really been accessible. Until now. The blush shades I’m looking at are **Grisaille, **a contour shade, Guimauve, a “marshmallow pink” (pictured above!

I mentioned in my previous Kiehl’s Haul that the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is my favorite cleanser ever. And it is. I thought I’d do a little rundown of products I feel similarly passionate about. Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat, $4.99 on Amazon for .5 oz. Okay, just now creating that link I realized how much cheaper this is on Amazon than Duane Reade and now I’m kicking myself for ever paying more for it, especially since I’ve gone through like, 5 bottles since I discovered it a few years ago.

Kiehl’s recently had a gift with purchase promotion that I found too compelling to pass up. In order to celebrate Healthy Skin Week, which I don’t think is a real thing, but okay Kiehl’s, they offered a complimentary bag of deluxe samples with any $65+ purchase. There was also an option to upgrade your gift to also get a free full-size Ultra Facial Cleanser with a $100+ purchase. You probably don’t know, but the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is my HOLY GRAIL cleanser OF ALL TIME.