Maddie Lynn

Travel Skincare & What I Can't Live Without

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Travel....it can be a bit of an overload for your skin! From changing temperatures, climates, and routines, lack of sleep, food, stress, its a LOT! I travel a decent amount throughout the year, but traveling cross country, especially flying, is a whole different ballgame. On my trip to NY I realized firsthand just how VITAL a good skincare routine is while traveling, so today I am sharing my Travel Skincare favorites, because my skin would not have survived New York without it:)

Lotion

Travel can seriously dry out your skin, especially if you are in a new and dry climate. Being in New York my skin got seriously dry (especially my hand) so I made sure to use hydrating lotion every morning and evening. I got Philosophy's Fresh Winter Morning lotion for Christmas and decided to bring it along. I am so glad I did because not only does it smell fresh (like a winter morning) but it helped my skin stay hydrated.

Face wash

So every once in awhile I change up my face wash/cleanser. I know....I know.....it's probably not the best thing to change up your skincare routine all to frequently, but every few months I usually give a new face wash a try if there is one I have heard great things about:) I have been hearing soooo much about Philosophy's face wash, specifically "Purity" and I personally was intrigued by their "Microdelivery Exfoliating Face Wash." Before I went on my trip I made a quick stop into Ulta and found a travel set of these two face washes from Philosphy. Since they were travel sizes and a great price I knew it was worth it to try them out (TIP: Buy the travel sizes of things before you know if something will work for you).

Purity: LOVE this stuff and it definitely lives up to the hype! I use it to take off my excess makeup and it is so gentle. What I love about it is that it isn't overly "soapy" so its cleansing power is gentle on my skin and makes it feel refreshed. Plus, as someone who struggles with breakouts this hasn't made me skin worse or bothered my acne. I typically use this in my morning routine, and use it occasionally at night.

Microdelivery Exfoliating Face Wash: OH MY GOSH!!! Seriously fell in love with this stuff too! I love using exfoliating face washes in my routine to buff away dry skin and smooth things out. Since this is a microdelivery exfoliator the exfoliation is small and gentle and I love how soft it makes my skin feel. I used this every night in NY and it was a great way to buff away the impurities of the day.

Face Oils

If you remember me mentioning in one of my past skincare posts I started implementing a "Korean" style skincare routine, focusing on more natural products (+ a LOT of steps) that help the general "health" of my skin. With that being said, face & skin oils are two things I have seen other bloggers and beauty gurus using and have always wanted to try them. I discovered MONASTERY through an Influenster group called Palm where am lucky enough to try out new products from unique small businesses. These two oils are so amazing & I am about to tell you why below!

Botanical Brighten Serum

MONASTERY'S Neroli Black brightening serum is sooo good! I have come to realize brightening serums & oils are a staple of my skincare routine. With everything my skin goes through (breakouts and acne due to hormones and stress......not fun) I am always focused on keeping my skin healthy and bright and Neroli Black has been a dream. This is a dry oil which soaks straight into the skin to rebuild cellular walls black English walnut oil (used to brighten dull skin) and regenerating squalane oil......not only does it smell amazing but it makes your skin feel and look amazing. Needless to say this oil had to come with me to New York because after long days, cold weather, and stress travel skin needs a brightening boost.

Rose Cleansing Oil

Part of Korean Skincare is using a cleansing oil and this rose oil from MONASTERY totally sold me! Anything Rose I am all for, and this elegant oil is so luxurious on my skin. I have used this to remove makeup (works great on eye makeup), renew parched lips, and even used as a moisturizer. I love that this oil is made with over 100 Edwardian rose petals and is gentle on sensitive and parched skin which I needed in New York. My skin got super dry being in the cold climate of NY so using this for more than a cleanser was a life saver!

VII Code Oxygen Eye Cream

If you caught my blog post about my collaboration with VII Code you will know how much I LOVE this eye cream! I don't know if you are like me, but I get super exhausted when traveling! Between late night plane rides, early morning, and long days, not only was my skin feeling the brunt of travel, but my eyes showed the exhaustion :) However, with this Oxygen Eye Cream I was able to give my eyes a boost in the morning so I didn't look like a total zombie....lol! Needless to say, eye cream is a travel necessity.

Coco Rose Lip Conditioner

And so my rose obsession continues....with good reason! This stuff is magic! Not only does Herbivore's coco rose lip conditioner smell heavenly and feel amazing on my lips, but it keeps them incredibly moisturized and especially pampered. And the fact that it is coconut oil + rose makes it a must have. I received this lip conditioner through Palm in my Velvet Report Vegan Beauty Box and absolutely fell in love (apparently I have fallen in love with a lot of skincare products recently). I am constantly applying chap stick throughout the day, so this lip conditioner is a perfect way to start my morning and end my evening and it especially helped my lips stay hydrate in the dry cold of New York.

SHOP SKINCARE FAVORITES:

Upper East Side

Monday, January 22, 2018

| Boots: Joules | Purse: Thrifted (Coach) |

Visiting New York was seriously a dream......and getting to experience the life of the city and what it felt like to be a "newyorker" was so fun. New York truly has so much to offer and taking part in that IRL rather than through movies and TV shows was so amazing. One of my favorite parts every day was walking along the sidewalk in all the different neighborhoods, especially ours.
Our Air bnb was in the Upper East side and each street had something special about it. The avenues had markets and bagel places, coffee shops and restaurants, while the streets themselves were lined with tall historic apartment buildings, all different in their own way.
I have always admired the architecture of New York, especially the neighborhoods themselves, and getting to walk four blocks each day to the subway was the perfect time to admire the doors, iron fences, windows, and stone work. Just think "gossip girl" and that is what our daily walk looked like, not to mention we were a 15 minute walk from the steps of the MET:)
On our Sunday (our second day) we went to brunch with one of my Instagram/blogger friends who recently moved to NY, which was so much fun! Since Sunday was still a frigid 15-20 degrees I layered it up with this look (not pictured, my parka and gloves). I picked a navy wool sweater for the day and paired it with this gray wool skirt I thrifted and altered from Goodwill. Since the look itself was simple I paired my plaid blanket scarf with it to match my red boots. I finished the look off with my cream slouch beret hat (because if you don't wear a hat in NY you will be very cold). As I mentioned my style inspiration for this trip in my last post, this look definitely went more along the lines of preppy with a nod to classic and it was perfect for a low key Sunday excursion.

- Madison

Pamper Your Skin: Luxurious Eye Cream With VII Code

Friday, January 19, 2018

I've always loved skincare, but I didn't always focus on it specifically for my skin's health. Often times I saw skincare products as a way to clear up my skin and keep blemishes at bay, but throughout the years I have realized that the general healthy of my skin was fading and I needed to make it a priority. I once heard someone say that they used "anti aging" face wash at an early age to be a preventative for the future.....as the years have gone by I have realized that focusing on my skin's health and "youthfulness" right now was something to make a priority.

With that view in mind I was thrilled when VII Code reached out about doing a collaboration with their Oxygen Eye Cream. Oddly enough, eye cream has never been something I considered adding to my routine, but after learning about the benefits of VII Code's Oxygen Eye Cream I knew it was something I had to add to my daily routine and I am so glad that I did!

Their Oxygen Eye Cream is packed full of beneficial and antioxidant packed natural ingredients like Elderberries, Jojoba Oil, and Evening Primrose to facilitate the healing and regeneration of damaged skin cells near the eyes. Did you know that under eye skin is the thinnest skin on your face and the most sensitive to products and outside elements.....plus did you know it is also the most prone to thinning over time? With that, why wouldn't you want to use naturally nutrient packed products! It's formula was created to fade wrinkles and signs of aging, firm skin, and treat the look of tired eyes (or dark circles). I am a HUGE believer and supporter of skin products that rely on natural ingredients to restore skin to it's youthful health and glow, and the products at VII Code make that their mission.

Since receiving the Oxygen Eye cream in December, I have been using it every day, in the morning and evening. I think the one aspect of VII Code's eye cream that stands out to me is it's quality and scent. The first time I used it and experienced it's power I remember the word "LUXURIOUS" coming to mind, because that is exactly how it felt (and smelt) on my skin. Unlike many eye creams that leave your skin feeling heavy and greasy, the Oxygen Eye Cream is designed to be light, absorb well into your skin, and instantly leave your skin feeling moisturized and youthful.....and let me tell you it does all of that!

My favorite part of my skincare routine might now be my Oxygen Eye Cream! I often wake up in the morning with tired looking eyes (due to late nights, lack of sleep, or general exhaustion) and nothing has ever perked up my eyes like my Oxygen Eye cream. As soon as I swipe on a small dab of the luxurious cream my eyes automatically feel and look more youthful and awake...its truly amazing! It's a great way to pamper your skin every day and I have definitely seen the results of brighter eyes, fading of find wrinkles, and less appearance of dark circles (like seriously, my eyes never looked this good without makeup before!).

How I Use My Oxygen Eye Cream:

Cleanse my face (both morning and evening).
Gently pat my face dry with a towel.
Swipe a small pea sized amount of eye cream onto my finger (apparently your ring finger is the correct one, but I always forget).
Apply the cream right under my eye and to the sides.
Gently massage the cream until it is absorbed by my skin.
Use before make up or in the morning/evening after you cleanse your face.

I seriously can't tell you how great this Oxygen Eye cream is! I am totally sold on eye cream as a beauty and skincare staple in my everyday routine and VII Code's cream will forever be something that I cherish.

If any of you are looking to start using an eye cream in your routine or are wanting to try out something new I would highly suggest VII Code's Oxygen Eye Cream! I know the cost might seem a bit pricey, but you really do see results, so if you suffer from dark circles or want to prevent and/or fade wrinkles (like me) this stuff truly is magic and is totally worth the investment....plus a little goes a long way and this stuff lasts for awhile. I have been using it over a month and I will probably get at least two more months out of it:)

Are you a fan of eye cream?

-Madison

My New York Journal & First Travel Vlog

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Well, I have visited New York and it was AMAZING!!! This was my first big trip that I have taken by myself (without my family or parents) and it was such an adventure of figuring out things for myself and learning things by being in a new city in the dead of winter. Throughout my trip I kept a notes section open on my phone titled "New York Journal" and jotted down my thoughts or things I learned:

Always check into your Air bnb when you tell the host you will check in....not earliar (even if you think everything is ready) because you risk the key not being there (because you told them you would check in in the morning) and be stuck in the COLD for 30 minutes at 3:00am!!!!!
Phones loose power QUICKER in the cold so keep it charged and take an external power bank with you.....especially if you are using your phone for navigation.
Taxi's are WAY LESS SCARY than it seems and feel totally safe (even at 12:00am) + they are always waiting outside any major building for your convenience and are about the same price as an Uber.
In an unknown and unplanned situation (3:00 am in the morning) or unknown neighborhood where there are no Taxis, an Uber is your BEST FRIEND because there is usually always one a few blocks away and can be there super fast.
If you get cold outside (like it's 3:00am in the morning) find a warm place to take shelter (Even if it's the first entrance lobby of an apartment complex) until you work out a plan or find your next destination.
In uncertain situations (especially with strangers in a new city) "fake it till you make it".... that is all I have to say. Pretend you have a plan and know everything and no one will question it.
When traveling in winter pack lotion chapstick and use it in LARGE quantities!
Markets are your best bet for groceries (there aren't a lot of big chain grocery stores) and you can find one every few blocks...........just be prepared that groceries in NY are EXPENSIVE!
"Newyorkers" are very focused and goal oriented people....especially when taking public transportation and aren't apt. to make small talk or give you the time of day. It's not that they are rude, that's just how they are, they are focused and efficient......so don't talk to people....it will give you away as a non native "newyorker" and its weird:)
People in New York are DEDICATED to working out (like running in the park), even when it is FREEZING outside! WHY?????
When riding the subway you will always be able to know what station you are passing or stopping at by looking for the street / station name tiled on the walls outside your subway car window.
When riding the subway pay attention to the "uptown" and "downtown" subways.....just because you need to take the 6 doesn't mean you can hop on just any 6, if you are headed uptown hop on the 6 going uptown.....pay attention to the key words on signs to see what area you are needing to end up.
Often times the subway will burst your personal bubble (#introvert problems), but just remember, "Newyorkers" are used to riding shoulder to shoulder in a subway car, so if you don't make anything of it it won't be weird....trust me:)
Some "Metro Cards" have advertisements printed on them instead of saying "Metro Card" and its quite disappointing when the second main reason you want a Metro Card (besides for riding the subway) is to take a picture of it......so when the machine knows you are a blogger it shoots out an ugly green card:( (so you borrow your friends for pictures)
Don't wear heels......flats are your best friend.....your feet will thank you.
Newyorkers know how to "practically" dress for the cold and wear giant parkas over their stylish work wear.
Most streets are given an # name (like 78th street) and most likely run into an Avenue (like 7th avenue) so finding your way along the blocks and streets is way easier than you might think.
There will always be a bagel place or coffee shop on nearly ever other street......Newyorkers LOVE their coffee and bagels.

If you want to see a live version of my trip and some fun footage of the places we went you can checkout more in my NEW YORK VLOG!

Have you been to New York?
What are your thoughts? Do they align with my journal notes?

-Madison

A Day At The Met

Monday, January 15, 2018

Sweater: Faded Glory

Skirt: Thrifted

Tights: Amazon (fleece lined leggings)

Boots: Joules (Amazon)

Boot Liners: Amazon

Beret: Amazon

Purse: Vintage Coach

The first major post of my New York trip....hooray!!! New York was seriously AMAZING! Not sure if I will even be able to capture the vibrance and bustle of the great city in all of these coming posts or in my vlog, but it is definitely all I thought it would be and more.
One of our first stops on our trip was The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I have always loved going to art museums, seeing history captured in art, admiring the talent of artists from the past, and seeing the many forms of art that exist. The MET was definitely the most impressive art museum I have yet to visit and is broken into so many different sections and time periods of exhibits you can't help feeling as though you are walking through history. I loved that each time period exhibit was in a room (or rooms) that actually resembled the architecture of the time. On one side you were walking through an elaborate and elegant American house filled with furnishings from the late 1700's. In another section of the museum you visit the Renaissance time period and feel as though you are in a dark paneled wood abbey, it was so cool.....I would highly recommend visiting if you are ever in New York.
As for my ensemble for the day, the weather in New York the first day was quite cold (15 degrees and colder to be exact) so I was definitely focused on dressing for the weather. Looking at my outfit you might be wondering how that was even dressing for the winter, but what you can't see are the two long sleeve shirts + tank top under my sweater, the 3 pairs of fleece leggings, and the two pairs of socks + boot liners. With all of those layers and my parka coat I was perfectly cozy in the nippy city air. I would definitely have to say my style inspiration for New York was classy prepster meets Parisian chic (and as all the NY outfit posts come to the blog you will start to see that trend).
This look in particular I really LOVE now after wearing it in NY. I have recently become obsessed with beret hats again, so this black number is a classic staple. I also love how classic turtle neck sweaters are, so pairing this plain black one with this wool wrap skirt was the epitome of classic prep with a hint of french. As for my footwear, I practically lived in my red Joules rain wellies because New York was covered in a blanket of snow, plus they are comfortable and warm:)

Have you ever been to New York?
Have you visited the Met?
Do you like art museums?

-Madison

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