Let me first preface this post by saying:  if you aren't washing your undergarments by hand, you are doing yourself a serious disservice. You are cutting the life of your bras in half (at least) by putting more stress than is necessary on the underwire.  Don't you put enough stress on them as it is?

I'm serious about handwashing my bras (as you can see from the paragraph above). Not so serious that I own a washboard, but serious enough to invest in lingerie wash.  My favorite? Soak.  The greatest thing about Soak is that it is a no-rinse product, meaning that I don't have to spend another 5 minutes of my life trying to get the soap out of my bras.

Not only is the formula a time saver, but it is packaged in recyclable bottles and printed with water based inks. It comes in many scents, which will never overpower your chosen fragrance.  The scent leaves the lightest hint, which you notice as you put the undergarment on but don't notice once you're clothed.

How I use it: I fill up my sink with two bras at a time, add Soak to the running hot water, and let the bras sit.  I come in after about 15 minutes and work Soak into the bras a little more and then continue to let them sit.  When the water is cold, I release it and then fill up the sink with cold water to "rinse" the bras. Then I just hang them in the shower to drip dry.  It's such an easy process that requires little attention (and totally worth the time to save the life of your bras).

If you're not handwashing your bras, I challenge you to start right now.  You'll be amazed at the difference a little TLC will make!

Neosporin LIP HEALTH overnight renewal therapy White Petrolatum Lip Protectant

$5.49 by Neosporin at Walgreens

If I thought the Winter winds were heck on my face, I had no idea how much the Winter weather would actually affect my face. Partly due to the Winter winds, but a good portion of the blame rests in my choice of lip products. No matter how much I prime, line and moisturize, by the end of the day, my lips are chapped. A serious solution needed to be found!

At an event one night, a tube & tub of Neosporin's Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy appeared in my gift bag. It made it's way around my apartment until one day, I decided it was time to see what this was about. When you open the tub, you're overwhelmed by how stark white this product is. Even when you apply it to your finger, the product still appears white and it isn't until you smooth it across your lips and your body heat warms it, does it actually begin to turn clear.

This treatment is serious business. As it says, it is an overnight treatment - don't even attempt to wear this with lip color - it will slide off your face. I prefer to use this in the AM as I am prepping my skin. When I'm ready to apply my lipstick, I wipe off the remaining product (it takes a seriously long time for this to soak in). I'm left with smooth, moisturized lips for the day ahead.

Do you have a prepping lip treatment you prefer to use in the morning? I want to know about it!

T3 Bespoke Labs Featherweight Dryer

$200.00 by T3 Tourmaline at Sephora

If you've spent any time at all on beauty blogs, you've no doubt seen the glory of the T3 hairdryer touted from coast to coast, guru to guru and back again. The truth is, I was initially put off by the $200 price tag. How could this hair dryer be any different than a $20 hair dryer? They both claim to be ceramic and tourmaline powered. I don't claim to know a lot about science behind hair dryers, but I do claim to know a lot about the behavior of my hair - my hair is a pain in the ass.

As I mentioned yesterday, my hair is incredibly difficult to deal with. 9 times out of 10, I'm attempting to beat my hair into submission by using styling products, tools and various other forms of torture.  I run my blow dryers on hot & high in order to prep my hair for styling. All that ended the day I used the T3.

During my normal routine, I apply my root volumizing product while I let my hair air dry a smidge, then my mouse/volumizing and then I blow my hair completely dry. While my hair isn't soaking wet, it certainly isn't 100% dry. Within 60 seconds of using the T3, my hair was dry. So dry I could walk outside and not catch the death.

What was even more unbelievable than the drying time was that my hair somehow still felt soft and was still as shiny as Snow White. My hair walked the fine line between feeling & appearing healthy yet somehow being manageable. When I used styling tools or velcro rollers, my hair was ready. That was it - my hair had seen the light and there was no turning back.

I've sang the praises so high that when my mother visits in less than week, she's already sworn she has every intention of stealing it from me. We'll see who wins this battle!

Over the course of the past month, I've seen and experienced so much, I cannot begin to relay it all in posts, no matter how many.  I've enjoyed all the amazing artists, bloggers and personalities I've met during NYFW and otherwise, and I am so grateful to know you all!

In an attempt to share what I'm loving/feeling/seeing without the pressure of a traditional post, the below is entirely a stream of consciousness bulleted list:

• I am obsessed with MAC's Style Black collection, but I don't feel that it's complete without the perfectly coordinating Greasepaint Sticks from the DSquared2 Collection.  The mineralize eyeshadows have me rocking glittery black eyelids during the daytime without hesitation.


• I've let my natural hair color be the shade that represents me over the past three years. It was tough growing out my hair colors but even as difficult as that process was, I cannot stop the occassional urges to change it up.


• I've only used Avon's new Reversalist line for one day, but I can already tell I'm going to love it. Best feature? The Night Cream actually soaks into my skin, as opposed to creating a sticky layer that attracts dog hair while I sleep.


• I'm enjoying collecting all the fun locations I'm able to visit for events with FourSquare.  If you happen to live in a city where it's offered, sign up! You could be the mayor ;).


• Speaking of hair, I'm trying to avoid using heat to style my hair.  I'm utiling Davines Structuring Mist For Wizards and velcro rollers (when I actually have the time to do my hair) to achieve big volume and soft waves.

Did I forget to cover something you're curious about? Leave it in the comments below. Thanks for reading! xoxo

Batiste Dry Shampoo

$7.29 by Batiste at Sally Beauty

My life is so run-run, go-go that I rarely have time to refresh my look.  Generally, it involves blotting my face, reapplying lipstick and running out the office door. Recently, I had the extreme pleasure to come home, let my hair down, take my makeup off and start the process all over again (minus a shower).  Earlier that day, we had walked over the Brooklyn Bridge in 90 degree weather.  Needless to say, my hair was still soaking wet.

I took my hair out of the ponytail, flipped my head upside down and sprayed Batiste Dry Shampoo at the roots (similar to a root booster).  I didn't touch my hair afterwords and proceeded to do my makeup.  At the end of my application, my hair was full and refreshed.

A concern people have when using dry shampoos are the "powder effect".  If you use a light touch when spraying Batiste into your roots and let it settle, you'll have no reason to worry.  Also Batiste is an aeorsole product, so there is no fallout.

Batiste Dry Shampoo is one of those products that you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.  In fact, I dare you to find out.