Snow Day Must-Haves

Just a few days ago the Northeast was hit by winter storm Juno, which covered the tri-state area in up to 3 feet of snow, causing all schools to close on Tuesday. Unfortunately, for us high school seniors, it did not benefit us since we were in the middle of midterms, regents, and finals. With that we had a whole day unplanned and no where to go. So why not stay inside and just relax in a bath with a cup of tea and a face mask?

Bath Essentials

The Comforter Bubble Bar and A French Kiss Bubble Bar

Baths are key on cold winter days! Not only are baths fun to take, but there are tremendous benefits to them. For example, they can boost brain power, relieve stress, aid sleep and fight the common cold. So after months of working hard at school, it's great to have a day off to unwind. We recommend throwing a bath bomb or crumble a bubble bar into your bath because on top of all the benefits mentioned before, you can nourish your skin with the help of nourishing essential oils.

Candles 

Mini Capri Blue Iridescent Jar Candle in Silver Volcano, Diptyque Mimosa Candle, and L'Occitane Rameau D'Hiver Winter Forest Candle

While setting up a bath, it's nice to light a few candles, because why not? We are candle connoisseurs, we probably light three candles on average everyday during the winter season in our rooms. In lighting candles during baths, they can offer a calming  environment, so if you are having a very stressful week, take 20 minutes to an hour out of your day to soak in the bath, in doing so drop a bath bomb in and light a few votives. 

Masks

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask, Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask,  Glamglow Supermud, and Glamglow Youthmud

While in the bath, why not treat yourself to a mask? Some have time for daily or weekly masks, but with school work and extra-curriculars as a senior, there just isn't any time for them. So when given a snow it is the perfect opportunity to treat your skin! A personal favourite of ours is the Glamglow line, especially the supermud. Not only does it clear your skin of all impurities, but it actually shows you all the gunk it has taken out of your pores. 

Teas & Cocoa

MarieBelle Aztec Hot Chocolate, Mariage Frères Jasmin Mandarin Tea, and Kusmi Tea Bouquet of Flowers Nº108

Either after or during a bath, have a cup of tea. Some people like to have a cup of tea during a bath because it is there way of decompressing after a long day, but if that isn't your speed, throw on some comfy pajama pants, make yourself a cup of tea and hop in bed. If you're not a tea person, maybe hot chocolate is more your style, and snow days are the perfect time to make a cup. 

Comfy Attire

J.Crew Pajama Pant in Heather Gingham Flannel

Speaking of throwing on a pair of comfy pajama pants, these J.Crew ones are perfect! They are light weight but still super cozy. And during a snow day, pajamas are the only things we wear. 

Balms

Dior Crème de Rose Lip Balm, Soap & Glory The Righteous Body Butter, and RMS Lip & Skin Balm in Simply Cocoa

With it being winter, skin is dry and lips are chapped. So it is good to make sure both your skin and lips are hydrated because who wants flaky lips and ashy skin? A personal favourite lip balm of ours is the Dior Crème de Rose lip balm, it is hands down the best lip balm we've owned because you can use it before bed for extra hydration or you can use it to add a pinky sheen to your lips when going out, making it very versatile. For your body, we recommend Soap & Glory's The Righteous Body Butter, number one it smells so good and number two it isn't greasy and annoying like other thick body butters. It is the perfect consistency and leaves your skin super smooth lie velvet. 

A Few Boxing Day Finds

For all who celebrated Christmas, hope you all had an amazing day with your families and for those who celebrate Kwanza, Happy Kwanza!! As some of you know the day after Christmas is boxing day, which I only found out about just last year noting that it's a more prevalent holiday in UK. Lush in particular always has boxing day sales on all their holiday products and gift sets - buy one get one free! Disregarding the title of boxing day, a variety of stores were having sales yesterday through the end of December; to name a few, Uniqlo was having 50% off select styles, Stuart Weitzman is having 50% off select shoes, Macy's was having a huge one day sale, Aritzia is having up to 50% off fall/winter merchandise, Urban Outfitters was having 50% off all sale items,  Topshop is having up to 50% off select styles, and many many more. Long story short, after Christmas sales are amazing. 

Dream Steam Tablets, Candy Mountain Bubble Bar, and the Wizard Bubble Bar

Usually my local Lush isn't as busy, but on boxing day it was packed! Last year, I picked up two gift sets filled with bath bombs and bubble bars, but this year they didn't have many containing strictly bath bombs or bubble bars, they were all had one bath bomb and a bunch of soaps or shower gels, which I didn't particularly want. Luckily all their holiday products were also on buy one get one free, so I picked up the Candy Mountain bubble bar, which smells of vanilla and a hint of candy, giving it a very sweet scent. I also picked up the Wizard bubble bar, which smells like the signature Lush scent, very florally and sweet. Lastly, I stumbled upon these Dream Steam Tablets, where at first I thought they were for your shower and making the steam in your shower a certain way, but no you're supposed to drop them in a bowl of hot water and use the steam to leave your skin refreshed and unclog your pores, either way I'm excited to use them! 

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3, Beauty Blender, Living Proof 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, Bobbi Brown BB Cream, Glamglow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment, and Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

On my way to the Lush Boxing Day sale, I stopped by Sephora to pick up a few winter essentials. I love how every time I go in to Sephora to pick up a couple things, I always come out with so much more.  After running out of toner and moisturizer, I decided to go get some more. I use the Clinique Clarifying Lotion toner for combination and oily skin, I have no idea if that is what type of skin I have, but it seems to work for me and thats all that matters, right? For the winter time I like to use the Yu-Be moisturizer at night because it is so thick and helps cure my awful wintery dry skin. I also picked up a new Beauty Blender, after having one for a whole year it got a bit smelly, even after sanitizing in the microwave and deeply washing it, I thought it was time to throw it out, and get a new one! While on line to check out, I saw a bunch of mini Glamglow mud masks, I had already tried the Supermud version and have gone through two big tubs of it, so I thought i'd try the Thirstymud mask as an overnight replenishing mask, lets hope it lasts me through the winter. Lastly, I got two beauty insider rewards, the Living Proof styling cream and the Bobbi Brown BB cream, I haven't tried either before, nor I have I tried products from either brands, so maybe they'll be my next holy grail product, who knows?? 

Hope you all have a great rest of weekend! And a great end to the year!!

xx
Francesca