Happy Friday, friends! It is starting to feel like the unofficial end to summer with kiddos getting ready to go back to school (or are back in their classrooms already!), even though the weather is still way too warm to even be thinking about autumn.
I recently celebrating my birthday and some of you may know that we try to go down to Napa Valley every year around this time. We use the excuse of my birthday because it usually happens to coincide with the beginning of the grape harvest. We even took Sophie with us on this recent trip and while it was different from our previous visits we had an amazing time together as a family. We’ve had a lot of fun this month and hope you have too!
While I was putting this post together I realized that I had unintentionally themed all of today’s Five Things to be related to Summer Beauty / Fashion. I don’t normally do themes, because the whole point of this series is to be a random collection of things (not just products — including local events, global movements, fun recipes, movies to see the in theaters or even new streaming entertainment, etc.), but these things have all impacted me so immensely lately that I had to share them in today’s roundup. I realized as I was pulling everything together for this post that I want to dive deeper into the products in almost every section, so I’ve noted that where applicable (and keep an eye out for them!).
Today’s Five Things are items that have piqued my interest or things that have been on my mind / going on in my life recently!
Cakes Nipple Covers
Starting things off with a bang this week. 😂 These are the perfect grippy (not sticky!) nipple covers for all of your summer tops and dresses!
Full disclaimer: these covers provide absolutely no support and are more for a modesty situation (think of them as major upgrades from the awful foam circle / triangle inserts that are in most bra tops). You can even wear them with your swimsuits!
I included links for some additional alternatives below, but Cakes makes the best — they offer the most natural, smoothing, seamless effect and can be used over and over and over! They also don’t pull on your skin when you remove them (like the sticky ones do) so they’re a lot more comfortable to wear. I’ve been very pleased with them.
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Styling My Wavy Hair
During the summer I love to embrace my natural waves and I am FINALLY figuring out what products work for me and how to use them! I tried a bunch of different methods during the COVID-19 quarantine, but didn’t love the results from them (I think they were more intended for people with a tighter curl than I have). If you have wavy hair and would like more information on these products and how I use them, I’ll be sharing everything in an upcoming blog post so stay tuned!
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Rosacea Skincare Picks
I was recently diagnosed with rosacea so I’m in the middle of a full skincare revamp. These are the products that I am trying out after doing a lot of research. I’ll be sharing a longer form blog post soon with even more information as well as my opinion on the products, but I thought I’d share them here ahead of time just in case you’re also dealing with “adult acne”. 🫠
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At-Home IPL Hair Removal System
I have been wanting a hair removal solution for a long time now. I have heard rave reviews about this tool and so I had to order it for myself during the recent Prime Day sale! I haven’t used it yet because while you’re using it for removal (and not just occasional maintenance), you have to stay out of the sun to prevent skin damage… but it’s currently high summer with lots of days left to be spent at the pool and on patios. I can’t wait to put it to use when the temperatures start to drop and outdoor season concludes.
I have dark hair and fair skin so hairs are very visible on my skin and I get ingrown hairs along my bikini line and occasionally on my legs so I really want to minimize / eliminate hair basically anywhere except my head (including eyelashes and eyebrows). 😂 I definitely plan to write a long form blog post about this process and the tool, but I wanted to share it with you sooner than that just in case you’re also looking for an at-home solution and are interested in giving it a try sooner than later!
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ANTI-CHAFE SOLUTIONS
These two products are essentials in my Summer Survival Kit, and I love them both for different situations:
I adore Megababe Thigh Rescue for the days where I just know that I am going to be in a super humid climate or in a constant state of sweat; it works like a charm, even in the harshest conditions. It’s also ideal for travel due to the fact that it’s a solid, so it’s already TSA-friendly! The applied Thigh Rescue never really dries because it stays oily and slick to help skin glide and prevent friction… it can sort of work WITH your sweat so this is a High Summer MUST.
Alternatively, I think the Monistat anti-chafing gel is exemplary because it’s literally a gel that glides on so smoothly and then dries with a powdery soft feel. This is the perfect solution if you’re going to be creating a lot of friction from walking, but maybe it’s not an ultra-sweaty situation. I took it with me to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert because the slim tube fit perfectly in my little clear crossbody bag so it’s great for events, especially when you’re low on space!
I know that some of you have little ones and the new school year is rolling out across the country (I believe that school starts in Seattle in the next couple of weeks) — I hope that the going back to (or starting!) school goes smoothly for you all.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend, friends!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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