Friday Favorites – Summer Essentials

1. Cynthia Cazort Collins Ponchos and Tunics – These babies are absolute perfection for summer time!! Their Turkish Towel seen in above picture is so thick, soft and luxurious it doubles as beach towel and a perfect tunic cover up.

Her black cotton and linen blend poncho is a best seller and my go-to, light weight, cover up that’s way too easy to pack for any and every trip to the beach or the pool. They are available online or at shops like H. Audrey in Nashville, By George in Austin and Pied Nu in New Orleans.  http://cynthiacazortcollins.com/pocket-ponchos/poncho-black 

This poncho was even included in the Billboard Awards swag bags for all female nominees!

2. Josie Maran Argan Liquid Gold Self Tabning Oil in Tahitian Orchid – Current favorite self tanner on the market. It is as natural as a sunless tanner can get formulated without any parabens, sulfates or phalates.  Many thanks to my friend Anna for introducing me to this product! Follow the directions and use the mit for easy application. In addition to Argan oil it contains coconut water and aloe making it moisturizing as becomes the most perfect (i.e. not orange) color! One bottle will last you all season and for $38 it’s about the same price as one spray tan, completely worth it.

http://m.sephora.com/product/P395245

3. Beautycounter Protect Stick Sunscreen – I’ve talked about this product several times but I can’t get enough of it – truly a necessity in my home. This little stick lives in my purse year round, but gets extra use while the sun is shining. It is a safe, zinc based sunscreen that goes on clear without leaving the usual white, zinc residue. It is great for every member of your family and for face or body. It has an almost sweet smell so kids really love it too. 

http://www.beautycounter.com/carolineclark

4. Krewe du Optic, Franklin Sunglasses – I’m obsessed with this New Orleans based brand of sunnies. Once you’re on the lookout for them you will see them everywhere – Gigi has multiple pairs and dons them often, Selena, Allesandra and Reese are big fans too! I picked up mine from their flagship store on Royal in the French Quarter, but you can grab them from local retailers and their website as well. Besides the Franklin my favorite styles are the St. Louis, Julia and  CL-10.

http://www.kreweduoptic.com/

Spa Day selfie wearing Franklin sunglasses, Cynthia Cazort Collins navy Turkish towel cover up and Beautycounter stick sunscreen.

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Winter Skin Wonders

Ok, it’s the middle of winter and parts of the South and East Coast were just hit by Winter Storm Jonas. I know this has flooded every bit of your media, and you are all well aware.  While some of you are still digging out of the feet (or in Nashville’s case, inches) of snow, your skin may be feeling the wrath of Ol’ Father Winter. Even if you haven’t been in the snow, I bet your heat has been on and your skin feels a bit like a sandpaper. My skin gets so very dry in the winter, and these are my skin saviors. Not only do they help keep your skin moisturized and feeling great, but they are also predominately safe products, so that’s an added bonus.

  

1. Weleda Skin Food – At some point in the past several years I was told Kate Middelton used this. Naturally, I bought it (with no real knowledge of whether the princess uses or it not) and have been obsessed ever since. It feels and smells amazing. I use it on my hands constantly and have even lathered this stuff on my face before.
2. Beautycounter Countertime Nourishing Cleansing Balm – This balm melts into your skin to hydrate while it cleanses, removing makeup and other impurities but does not strip away moisture. It contains Vtamin C to brighten your skin and raspberry and cranberry seed oils for moisture. If you have dry skin or want to prevent aging you can also use this balm as an intensely nourishing face mask and wake up feeling amazing. Then if you have any left on your hands go ahead and rub it into your elbows or cuticles–you will not regret it. Talk about multi-tasking!
3. Beautycounter Enrich Body Butter – This stuff is the best thick body lotion ever. I love it all times of year but am especially thankful for it now. A little bit goes a long way, and it smells divine.
4. Vick’s VapoRub – This is one of those old wive’s tales that I use again and again, making me a true believer. Rub Vick’s VapoRub on the bottoms of your feet and on your chest if you have a cough or congestion. Put white socks on your feet and you will wake up remembering what it feels like to breathe–and with such soft feet! This is my go-to every time I feel my sinuses acting up or a cold coming on.
5. Beautycounter Every Night – I use this moisturizer every night and every day. Yes, they have daytime version, but I have always leaned towards the dry side and love this product. It goes on easily, has little to no smell, is great for sensitive skin, and is moisturizing without being greasy. It contains aloe, organic coconut oil, and green tea so you know this stuff has got to be good for your face!
6. Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 – I have adored this product since 8th grade. It is a nightstand staple that has truly stood the test of time. I have tried the scented and colored kinds as well as the same balm in a tube, but I go back to this little tub every time.

Please let us know if you have any questions about these products or tell us your favorites winter skin saviors!

 

Gift Giveaway

 
We’ve teamed up for an Instagram gift giveaway valued at $250!!  It includes a $50 Visa Gift Card, a $50 Neiman Marcus Gift Card, a large S’well Water Bottle, a pair of Jocelyn fur mittens, & a holiday set from Beautycounter! Perfect gifts to keep for yourself or to gift if searching for last minute presents.

To enter, follow @adelinealley, @cobaltchronicles, and @seededinthesouth on Instagram then tag two friends on our Instagram picture! The giveaway will close at 8pm EST on Thursday, December 10th, and the winner will be announced on Friday, December 11th! 

  
Good luck!!

Four Faves : Carry On Favorites

This week’s version of our favorites stems from my recent trip to Italy… There are actually eight items so I double the number of usual weekly favorites but I’m ok with this.

These are the items that I could not have made it without – yes, that dramatic. They are the edited down version of things I really used and was thankful for each and every one. Actual travel essentials.

Carry On Favorites –

1. An over-sized scarf that can be used as a blanket on the plane, sarong on the beach and scarf when chilly. Be sure the one you choose for your trip that is the right weight and isn’t too bulky. Pictured: a Cynthia Vincent number that I have had for ages, but you can find great scarf/sarong/blankets all over if you keep you eye out for them.
2. A cross body bag, with the right zippers and flaps so you are not an easy target for a pick pocket. It also should be small enough that if you carry on your luggage it can fit down in your “under the seat” bag. Pictured: a vintage Louis Vuitton from Tradesy.
3. Travel size, Triple Sec 3-in-1 Spray by DryBar. This is the perfect product because it covers so many bases: texturizing, dry shampoo and volume. Check, check, check. Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1
4. Emergen-C for when you feel a cold coming on or just need a little afternoon boost. Grant and I used all that I packed and we were so thankful for each one. Emergen-C Vitamin C Supplement 
5. Beautycounter Rose Water Spray. Another one product many uses item. This bottle of magic spritz (small enough to be travel approved) can be used as some necessary mid-flight hydration, an afternoon pick me up and a makeup setting spray. Beautycounter Rose Water Uplifting Spray
6. Compeed Blister Cushions. These things are excellent. I am prone to blisters and we walked miles and miles every day but using these helped me not get a single one while we were overseas! Hooray! I am a fan. I wish they could stay on the back of my heels forever. Compeed Blister Cushions Extreme
7. Beautycounter Protect Stick Sunscreen – This is the perfect sunscreen stick. I have melasma and most of the products I have tried in the past with zinc oxide have worked but  have also made my face look a peculiar shade of cakey-white-blue (sounds just as awful as it looked). But not this little miracle stick! It goes on clear, and is not greasy at all. Plus I never got sunburned and none of my lovely brownish-grey spots of melsama reared their little heads. Winner. Beautycounter Protect Stick Sunscreen
8. Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Towelettes – These have a nice scent and come in the correct size for travel without worrying about bulk or potential ooze of a facewash. Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Towelettes

Summer’s Best Sunscreen

Last week I was fortunate to spend eight days on the beach. It was a blast! Each day I had a sunscreen routine, and I left the sun every evening without a single sunburn. In my little world that is quite the victory.

All of the sunscreens that I used are clean, safe and water resistant for up to at least 50 minutes. At first when I heard “clean and safe” about a sunscreen I thought well of course it’s safe because it’s keeping me from getting sunburned! I had NO idea how bad many name brand/main stream sunscreens can be until a friend of mine shared a scary article with me, http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/06/neutrogena-sunscreen-toxic-avoid/

Eeeek! Luckily I already had two of these products. Since I’m not pregnant and do not have children I didn’t feel too awful about finishing one of the toxic labeled sunscreens I already had in my beach bag on myself (I mean any sunscreen is surely better than none at all?), but now onto bigger and better things, and these three fit the bill perfectly… Just trying to get a little less cancer one step at a time, amIright?

My daily beach combination of clean, safe and successful sunscreen is as follows:

1. I started each day with an application of Beautycounter Protect, Broad Spectrum SPF 30, http://www.beautycounter.com/carolineclark. I like starting the morning with a lotion sunscreen then following up on the beach or at the pool with a spray. Some people suggest lotion for every application, but that is not realistic for me. This is a great one because it can go everywhere (body, face, etc.) and a little goes a long way.

2. La Roche Posay Tinted Face Sunscreen, SPF 50, http://m.target.com/p/la-roche-posay-anthelios-tinted-mineral-1-7-oz/-/A-14225598 This is everything my face needs in the summer – a little bit of makeup coverage and a lot of sunscreen. Done and done. I usually reapply this once during a day in the sun. I am also a huge fan of hats – wide brim, panama, baseball caps, doesn’t matter to me. I love them all.

3. SunBum SPF 30, http://shop.trustthebum.com/spf-30-original-spray-sunscreen/ SunBum has a nice, summery smell and goes on without a greasy feel.  Plus that packaging! (I’m a sucker for good packaging, it’s fine).

Here’s to lots of time spent outdoors with no sunburns to prove it!