The Five Things: April Must-haves
A quarter of 2018 just flew by!
Can you believe it's already April? Why is it that the older I get, the faster time seems to just go by? It's crazy! Anyhow, we're back for the monthly must-haves, and here is my April list!
A Beauty Essential for the "No-makeup" Makeup Look
The concealer stick in Medium Warm #07.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to celebrate bareMinerals' launch of their new BAREPRO concealers. The collection features 15 different shades and I was color-matched to Medium Warm #07. I think this product is a key component of the no-makeup makeup look!
The concealer is waterproof and offers a soft matte finish, which is perfect the upcoming warmer days. I love how creamy the texture is; it glides on under my eyes so easily, which is great because I don't want to use too much force around my eye areas. This product can also be used to contour and color-correct your skin, and I love my multi-tasking beauty products, so this is a bonus for me. On the website, the brand claims that the concealer can last 16 hours, and I've never had it on my skin for that long yet, so I can't tell you if that's true. It did still look very good after 12 hours, though!
A Body Polish Session (In Preparation for Skin-Baring Tops)
When warmer season approaches, the first thing that comes to my mind is the status of my back because I know we will soon be baring more skin. I used to suffer from bacne (back acne) and sometimes still get acne on my back now and then, so a good scrub helps keep it clean and clear.
Note: The above product was gifted to me by Vanity Planet; all opinions are 100% my own.
Currently, I'm using Vanity Planet's cleansing system that comes with four different attachments, including brushes for face and body that cleanses and exfoliates. Because it's harder to reach our backs, I find this tool super helpful! It spins to exfoliate and remove bacteria, allowing your skin to become smoother overtime.
Other products I love using include Frank Body's coffee scrub and the Castanha body scrub from Natura Brasil. If you want to really target bacne, give Peter Thomas Roth's Blemish Buffing Beads a try. It totally saved my life!
Even if you don't have bacne, exfoliation is really important anyway, especially before you apply body lotion or if you're planning on getting an even tan!
A Colorful Silk Scarf
If you haven't already, check out my post featuring the 6 ways I style a silk scarf!
I think this is the best time of the year to add a colorful striped silk scarf to your outfits. It gives any look the right amount of "spring-ness," won't you agree? It's so work-appropriate, too, so you can show up to work looking chic and professional at the same time.
The best part is: you can find a cute piece without breaking the bank!
A See-through Transparent Bag
The plastic see-through bags are everywhere! I've seen Aimee Song from Song of Style holding one from Chanel and Staud Clothing, not once but again and again since fashion "month." I think the "lightness" of it is perfect for spring and summer. It's just a bit tricky to keep things neat inside, but I guess that is part of the fun, too!
An Intimate Time with Cherry Blossoms
Some flowers are around all the time, but cherry blossoms are really only visible for a week or two throughout the year. So if possible, be sure to check them out this month! The beautiful sight is totally worth the trip (or trouble) if you need to travel somewhere to see them!
This year, I'll be in DC during the peak bloom week! This was a very lucky coincidence and I will be sure to take advantage of it. If you're in New York, consider attending the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden!
Central Park, New York (2017).
Thank you for reading!
Love,
