(the best nail polish remover EVER)
What I Bought
SoLow lace inset leggings from Nordstrom – but I’m returning them because the stitching on one side came out!
Also, tried CereVe moisturizer (the AM and PM), but I didn’t like it at all, my skin felt stretched and tight with it. Traded it in for La Roche Posay Toleraine Ultra which I really like. I read about both of these in an article on Into the Gloss with reader favorite moisturizers under $40. Since I’m REALLY REALLY trying to spend less, and just don’t have the big $$ to spend on my favorite Caudalie products right now, I am trying to find good alternatives! I wanted the CereVe stuff to work, because it’s really cheap…but it totally didn’t – for me, anyway. The La Roche Posay lotion is very good, and now that I know they carry it on Skinstore, I will get it there with a coupon (they’re having 20% off now with code JULY20) instead of at Ulta where they don’t allow coupons on that brand.
What I Got rid of
Almost all of my Inhabit cotton pieces that don’t fit me, or I don’t wear anymore. Only the v-neck and crewneck sweaters are left.
What I read
Where’d you go Bernadette – this was really good, engaging, and interesting. I was surprised. I read it in a day, and sort of missed it when it was over.
I started the Orphan Master’s Son, but it’s sort of slow going. I’m also still reading A Prayer for Owen Meany, but I own that, and the other two are library books I get on my kindle, and I was waitlisted for, so I need to read those first!
I love DvF even more now: the last thing she bought was a James Perse pullover 🙂
What I did
I cannot keep colored nail polish on anymore. I just want them neutral. In the picture above, I’m just wearing the Julep nail treatment, but yesterday I painted them with Chanel Emprise, but was over it by the evening, so I removed it. I don’t know – lately, color on my nails is just too jolting. Sometimes I will just use this Butter London nail foundation, which I also really like. It’s more natural nail colored and matte than the Julep treatment, which is pink-ish. And on my toes, I’ve been using Marc Jacobs’ fluorescent beige. I guess I’m just anti-color in every way right now…weird, because it’s summer, and I usually feel like I can have a little here and there during the summer. Not this year!
What I Ate
Nothing too terribly interesting really. I do have a few things I’m interested in trying/making next week though, hopefully I’ll have success to report!
Yesterday was Val’s birthday (mamavalveeta03)!! happy birthday!!!!! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend, and thank you so much for all the value you add to our conversations here 🙂
Gretchen…I’ve been into “translucent neutral” colors on my fingernails too lately. Makes my nails look professional but without the upkeep that colors require….Have no trouble with pretty colors on my toes…but I used to prefer frosted finishes on my toes…and now want only cream formulas.
I did receive my black James Perse Vintage Fleece Drape Neck Pullover from their summer sale, and loved the fit so much, I ordered the white one. I’m a terrible spiller so I’ll have to be extra careful. I never would have known about this brand if I hadn’t discovered your website, so many thanks!!
I don’t care for CeraVe products on my skin either…which is normal/oily even at my advanced almost 57 years.
Too bad about the quality of your lace leggings…they looked really nice on you.
Off to check out your “Bernadette” book and see if it’s something I’d like to read….
Cheers….cheryl
Hmm, I just finished a bottle of the CeraVe moisturizer for normal to dry with SPF30 and really liked it. Just started Olay Regenerist spf 50 and so far so good. It’s a little smellier and more emollient than the CeraVe and in the summer in NC I’m not sure I like that. At night I’ve been using a No. 7 from Target and that’s also quite rich and a little smelly, but the smell evaporates quickly or I would have stopped using it! (I’m 41 and have been using the anti-aging products for a few years but many still feel heavy to me – I haven’t had truly oily skin since I was a kid but I’m on the border I guess….)
My skin is just sooooo dry that not much really works. I liked the caudalie sorbet a lot, but I know that can’t be the only thing that softens my skin. Also Argan oil, but I’m trying to spend less money. I read about using sesame oil on your face also. I think I’ll try that.
I guess I prefer more natural solutions like oils, but I wonder if I’m missing stuff that way? Like anti-aging stuff or whatever. Ugh. Skincare is so complicated!!!
Have you tried the new L’Oreal oil? I can’t remember if you did or not. I haven’t yet but have read quite a few good reviews (just one this week on Une Femme’s blog http://unefemme.net/) I have some oil I brought back from France 2 yrs ago but haven’t really used it (yes, I do most of my souvenir shopping in grocery stores – in France, at Monoprix 😉 )
Hi Grechen,
You mention that you’re returning your Solow lace inset leggings – will you be repurchasing? Just wondering if you otherwise felt happy with your purchase. I always stock up on Zella leggings during the Anniversary sale, but all your positive reviews of Solow have made me curious, and I wouldn’t mind giving them a shot during this promo. Also, I notice that the sizing for Solow sounds small – size 6-8 for size L, but you mentioned you purchased your regular medium. Would you say that your normal alpha size would suffice? TIA!
i’m not going to repurchase the lace inset leggings – i notice that the more “stuff” that something has that CAN go wrong, it usually will…like in this instance, the lace probably wouldn’t have lasted as long as I’d want, and there were just too many seams that could come undone. i prefer simpler, but i wanted to give these a try! i do have a pair of mesh “moto” style leggings by SoLow that I love and have held up well, but I think i’ll stick with simple from now on!
i do find that they run rather small. i have several pairs of pants in large that still fit me fine, but i prefer the compression of the medium now, and i would consider myself a 6-8. i just REALLY like my workout pants to be TIGHT and compressive, and i’ve not found that to be a problem, but if you like them to be not so tight, i’d go up a size. i also think if you do not have thick legs/hips/butt as i do, your regular size will be just fine.
again, i really love all my soLow pieces, but i generally have basic black or basic leggings. i’ve never had an issue with a pair before. also, i NEVEr ever dry them. or wash them with lighter colors – i wash all my workout clothes together and hang to dry. some of the blacks pick up lint really easily.
Dang! You looked so amazing in those leggings! But I think you’re right about “stuff” and seams creating the potential for unraveling, hence, my avoidance of sheer linen sweaters due to my cat’s love of sitting on my squishy tummy!
Thank you so much, Grechen, for the birthday shout-out! You are the BEST<3 You're the ONLY blogger I follow religiously…relatable, real, motivating, honesty, integrity…all of the qualities you embody, not to mention, KILLER style! 🙂
I'm into neutral fingernails, since I keep my nails short and I like a clean, natural look, and on my toes, it's still pretty classic, but hot pink or orangey-red in the summer and true red or "Vampy" shades in the winter. It works for me.
Have you tried looking at any of the organic beauty websites? Some of them have great face oils, that are rated highly effective, and not overly pricey: juice beauty, Dr. Hauschka, and even spiritbeautylounge.com and beauty.com have great organic beauty sections with customer ratings. (Plus, think about how long a bottle of a Josie Maran's Argan Oil lasts! For me, that's quite a long time.)
Thanks for the fit advice and honest feedback! I can see why you wanted to take a chance on the lace leggings – such cute detailing, and they did look great on you. But if you think they might not hold up as well then you’re smart to just be done with them, rather than just worry about wrecking them.
I agree with washing workout gear together and line-drying. Dryers are death to spandex!!
hi cheryl! i thought i replied to this last week, but it appears i didn’t! so sorry, but thank you so much for your comment, glad you loved your JP sale items!! i was able to wear my draped fleece top last weekend since it was cooler…
So glad you tried the La Roche Posay. The Dermo-cleanser of the Toleriane line is awesome, too. I have crazy dry skin and it has helped a lot. You don’t even have to rinse it off……it is that gentle.