Something I’ve been loving lately: watching YouTube videos while I run on the elliptical. I’ve always been a big fan of watching makeup tutorials and beauty related videos on YouTube. Lately though I’ve been super busy and haven’t caught up on my subscription feed. So I’ve combined it with my workouts! Something about watching hauls and tutorials and favorites while working out is really fun and oddly motivating for me. A few good videos makes the half hour or so really fly by.

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.

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.

Ok yes, it’s insane that “holiday” sets are being announced (and even released!) in September. But that doesn’t mean we can’t wishlist the crap of them. Holiday Beauty sets have some of the coolest limited edition shades and products, usually at an incredible value. Here are my picks (so far) for this year! First, these Guerlain Snowflake Meteorites: Guerlain Meteorites Perles des Neiges – $80 OMG if that’s not the most perfect winter makeup ever.

I’ll admit, I do find the Kardashian’s style inspiring, especially Kim. They get a lot of hate on the internet, but there’s no denying that they’ve used what they have to get what they want and I can’t fault them for it. Why are they in the news this week? Three of the Kardashian sisters have launched new beauty and fashion websites, promising makeup tutorials, truth revealing articles, and leads on where you can find the extensions they wear or the products they use to look super glam all of the time.

I’ve introduced a number of new products to my routine over the past few weeks. I’ve been absent from blogging (I’m so sorry!) but not from beauty, obviously. I’ve noticed that while my new go-to products work great on their own, sometimes you hit a combination where it seems like two (or sometimes three) products were meant to be used together. Here are a few of the best combinations I’ve found.

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!