Nighttime Skincare Routine

As I am over halfway through my twenties, I knew that a new skincare regimen was something I wanted to invest in. Since it can be pretty pricy, I am slowly but surely incorporating new products into my nighttime routine. 

1. Cleanser- The Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is extremely gentle and soothing. It also has a very reasonable price tag. Its jelly-like texture feels great on my skin. However, I am still interested in exploring other cleansers out there because I like a deep cleanse that really feels like I am removing the grime and impurities.

2. Lotion P50- This product has greatly improved the texture of my skin. Although it does not have the best scent, I have seen amazing reviews about the Lotion P50 and had to try it out. There are a few different variations, but I decided on the P50W, which is a little more gentle. I highly recommend ordering from the Vicki Morav Website because they send lots of fun samples with the order and provide free shipping!

3. Serum- The Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate goes on great after the Lotion P50. I really love the scent of this product and the silkiness of my skin after applying. I eventually want to incorporate the Daily Reviving Concentrate into my morning routine as well!

4. Moisturizer- The Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream is a great consistency for a moisturizer, especially for the hotter months. It goes on lightly and absorbs quickly into the skin. Not to mention a little amount goes a long way. Although it has been great for the summer, I like a little thicker moisturizer that has a longer-lasting feeling, so I am looking forward to investing in a new product in the fall.

5. Eyelash Booster-  Although the Rodan and Fields Lash Boost is quite pricy, I have noticed immediate and drastic results. I invested in this product after feeling like my eyelashes had thinned and shortened, and the results have been amazing. I will probably be one and done with this product since it is so expensive and then will trade it in for an alternative brand!

I am so glad I have committed to a consistent skincare routine, and can't wait to try more products!

Dtox 'til Dinner

Last week, I tried out my first Juice Cleanse. After comparing different brands, prices, and requirements, I settled on the "Dtox 'til Dinner" Juice Cleanse through a local Juice Bar, Dtox. Dtox has a few different locations in the Atlanta area that prides themselves on buying only from organic and local Georgia farmers. The Dtox 'til Dinner cleanse included four juices to be consumed every 2-3 hours after waking, and then a raw, gluten-free, vegan dinner of your choice. 

The Juices

1. Dtox H2O (alkaline water, lemon, cayenne pepper)- this one was very bearable, but a little on the spicy side. It didn't bother me since I like spicy things, and I liked how my day started with a light, water-based drink.

2. Sweet Red (carrot, apple, lemon, romaine, beet, kale, spinach, dandelion, ginger)- This juice also was pretty easy to get down. The ginger was a little overpowering, but that was the only thing that stuck out to me.

3. Green (cucumber, apple, celery, kale, lemon, spinach, parsley)- This was by far the hardest of the 4 to finish. I had to chug the whole thing in one sitting while plugging my nose! I think the parsley and lack of sweetness is what made this juice so unappealing to me, especially since I don't love green juices in the first place.

4. Brazil Nut Milk (brazil nuts, coconut water, alkaline water, dates, vanilla, Himalayan pink salt)- After forcing the Green Juice down, this one basically tasted like dessert! It had a thin consistency and was very easy to drink. This was my favorite by far!

Overall, I enjoyed this particular juice cleanse because it was pretty filling and they were well spaced out. I did feel less bloated afterward and lost 2 lbs. If you are in the Atlanta area, I definitely recommend stopping by Dtox whether it's for a post work out juice, cleansing plan, or a quick snack!

Now, what are your thoughts on juice cleanses?!

Breast Reduction Surgery Recap

A week ago I finally received clearance for activity following my Breast Reduction Surgery! Back in November, I decided to officially undergo a breast reduction. After months of thought and research, I followed through with the surgery in order to improve my quality of life and self confidence. Eight weeks later I could not be happier!

My surgery was scheduled on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Thankfully it was an outpatient surgery, so we did not have to deal with the mess of the hospital. We arrived around 8:30 am and waited awhile until time for me to be prepped. As soon as I got called back, the nurses hooked me up to an IV and my surgeon came back to start drawing all over my chest. Shortly after I was wheeled into the OR for my procedure!

When I woke up in the recovery room, I immediately asked for pain medicine to help with the discomfort. One of the worst parts was the dryness of my mouth from the anesthesia. Despite the horror stories I heard about the recovery, mine went pretty smoothly for the most part. The pain meds gave me the worst side effect of itchiness, so I transitioned to Tylenol about 5 days post op. Other than that, I just had to get used to relying on others due to the weight lifting restriction (I didn't realize how many things weigh over 5 lbs!) and sleeping on my back. I felt perfectly fine otherwise until.....

At exactly 3 weeks post op, I was talking with a room parent in my classroom when I suddenly started having excruciating pain in my right breast. Since I had not had any complications prior, I figured it couldn't be normal and had my room mom drive me to my doctor's office. Long story short, I unexpectedly developed a hematoma in my right side and had to have emergency surgery that afternoon. Unfortunately they had to insert a drain in order to make sure it stayed clear, but I was so thankful to finally have the relief from the swelling. My surgeon explained that this was a freak accident but I should take it extremely easy for the next couple of weeks. Thankfully, the timing could not have been better as I was about to be on Christmas break.

Even after this set back, I could not be happier with my decision. Each day as I get dressed, look in the mirror, work out, wash dishes without back pain etc, I am so grateful for this surgery and how much it has changed my everyday life! I could not have done it without the support of my family, friends, and coworkers, and I am so thankful for them!