currently craving: fall

usually this is right around the time the air is at its perfect crispness, the leaves are looking pretty spectacular (but also equal parts crunchy beneath your feet), and one of the best holidays is so close you can taste it. I say usually because what I'm describing it pretty particular to a place that isn't Los Angeles, and not that it's the end of the world, but this girl misses fall. I'm sure it sounds crazy to someone who hasn't grown up their entire life with it as your favorite season and what you straight up wait for all year (and put up with the bs that is snow in the winter and the humidity in the summer/all year long), but it really is the best. not to mention the fashion (hello layering and knits and boots and sweaters!), the activities (apple picking and corn mazes and pumpkin patches and haunted hayrides), and the tastes (apple cider and cider donuts and caramel apples and sugar rim on my pumpkin beer). did I say I was missing fall?! the year I was in madrid was the first and only time that I missed it, and it's just as horrible now as it was then. and thanks to the creation of instagram (that was back in the day when all the cool young people were using facebook), I have the daily reminder of just how much beauty and fun I'm missing out on. I know when it's January and New England is dealing with the raw, grey horribleness that is winger, I'll be counting my blessings that I jumped ship and headed west- but right now, autumn on the east coast is looking mighty good.

love it/hate it: bioderma

there are few products that I will give "holy grail" status to, and bioderma is definitely at the top of that list. back when I was studying abroad in Spain, I loved poking around the department stores and pharmacies to see what products these beautiful women used and loved. I picked up a small bottle of bioderma and was immediately obsessed with its ability to cut through my waterproof makeup (specifically my holy grail eyeliner) and was instantly a convert. it wasn't until I was back in the states, and realized just how difficult it would be to get my hands on this amazing product, that I cursed falling in love in the first place. there was always amazon, which charged ridiculous prices/shipping fees, but I just couldn't bite the bullet. fast forward to two years ago when one of my bosses took a trip to Slavonia and popped over to Italy to snag me a bottle of this miracle worker. I was instantly hooked again and savored every last drop of that bottle (which side note lasted quite a bit since I only use it to take off my eyemakeup and a little goes a long way). thankfully, the makeup gods have spoken and bioderma is easily available from the website beautylish (#hallelujah). as soon as I heard that they were the first US distributor, I hoped on the website and ordered a bottle (with a cute travel size too) and it is still just as amazing as before (sometimes when European products jump the pond the formula is different and it's not the same product that you know and love- this was not the case). there are plenty of micellar water products out on the market now (I'm looking at you simple), but none compare to the original. the best, and only product, that cuts through my waterproof eyeliner like it's nothing, doesn't leave my skin tight after using, and unless I get it directly in my eyes- doesn't sting them. the only thing that would make bioderma better, is if it were a bit more easily accessible (I love being able to pop into sephora, target or cvs to pick up my favorite beauty products), but online vs. over seas? I'll take it.

have you ever tried bioderma? are you a fan of micellar waters?

xx, marissa

neighborhood faves: Beverly Hills

spending the last eleven months in beverly hills (with a stellar resident tour guide bee tee dubs), I definitely have my fair share of favorite places. whether it's the perfect chicken sandwich, or the best rooftop for drinks, I've got you covered. I've founded up a list of my favorite places & spaces that are must sees the next time you're in the neighborhood.

food:

honor bar was the first restaurant we hit when I visited LA last summer, and home of the best chicken sandwich (currently tied with another neighborhood favorite, but that's for a different day). love the ambiance, the great location, and of course the food. their french fries are amazing, and there's even a liquor store attached where you can buy a bottle of bubbly and share it at your table. I've heard great things about their sushi, but you'll have to take other people's word on that (my relationship with the whole raw fish thing is touch and go.)

urth caffé can be a total zoo (equal parts tourist trap & hip spot) but totally worth it for brunch and great people watching. inside is cutesy, but try and snag a table outside in the sun. 

il tramezzino is a tiny little panini restaurant not too far from work that makes a nutella and banana croissant that will make you weep (pressed in a waffle maker to melt the nutella and bananas, crisp up the outside, and then topped with powdered sugar- holy yum.) I'm pretty partial to the chicken dijon (avocado & dijon/honey mustard is always a winning combo in my book), but the chicken special is also great (hint hint it's the basil garlic sauce that seals the deal).

sirtaj was the go to spot after a grueling day of soccer practice all season. amazing indian food, great servers (the bartender on Monday nights was the best), and mellow vibe. order the chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, and the potato croquette (but make sure it's a Monday & ask for it to be extra spicy). and if you have room (ie make sure you have room) order the chocolate samosa- so good.

mulberry street is the LA equivalent to Boston's Ernesto's (check out my north end neighborhood faves here) and THE place to go to for a slice. chicken parm is my favorite, but be sure to try the garlic knots with a side of sauce to dip.

shop:

planet beauty is california based beauty boutique that is like a baby sister to sephora. less total brands, but amazing quality. shop big names like stila (my favorite eyeliner of all time here), OPI, Essie (check out my favorite picks from either brand here), Sarah Happ (amazing lip scrub and treatment), sigma brushes (rival MAC quality brushes), or smaller like ahava (great line from Israel made from Dead Sea minerals) and nuxe paris (their dry oil is my go-to for taming my curly hair post brushing, and the shimmer version is amazing for summer goddess skin). plus they have amazing buy two get one free deals (jump on that bandwagon sephora!) that are perfect for stocking up on your favorite products or trying something new.

kyle by alene too is the boutique owned by real housewives Kyle, which would usually make me run in the other direction, but their window displays always draw me in. they carry typical LA girl wardrobe staples, but also manage to incorporate amazing pieces from Elizabeth and James, Mara Hoffman, Tolani, and Rebecca Taylor to keep it interesting. the boutique space is the former home of a bank, so the back room features a vault loaded with past season goodies that they open up for sales at different points of the year. 

planet blue is great for fun bathing suits, cheeky wild fox pieces, and dainty accessories. while I'm not the biggest fan of the shopping experience there (think sales associates who are more interested in appearing cool vs. helping customers), their buyer does a great job having a good mix of trendy pieces and lust investments.

go:

SIXTY Beverly Hills (formerly known as the Thompson hotel) has my favorite rooftop for cocktails and enjoying a beautiful day. it's the go-to spot for showing out of town visitors (amazing views of the hills and all of LA), bungalows and a great pool for lounging, and mellow music & people. my go-to is the Beverly Hills lemonade, but swap out the vodka for tequila- amazing.

the Beverly Hills farmer's market is every sunday morning/early afternoon and is such a fun way to start a sunday funday. great people watching (may or may not have seen a celeb or two before), picking up fresh and organic fruits & veggies for the upcoming week, tasting some amazing food (the chilaquiles are RIDICULOUS but literally the hottest thing I've ever eaten. get their early, before the guacamole is gone, or else you'll be crying like a little baby), and jamming out to the live music on a beautiful morning.

xx,
marissa 

like it, love it, gotta have it: moisturizer for sensitive skin

being surrounded by so much plastic surgery for that last 10 months has made me really want to up my skin care game- so many people who haven't taken care of their skin, get work done and end up looking like creepy plastic versions of everyone else. with my super sensitive skin, I always need to try new products before making an investment (and quality skin care is always $$$). sephora and their sample policy make it super easy. when I popped in a few weeks ago I grabbed a few cult favorites to see what worked best.

like hate it: first aid beauty ultra repair lotion. I wanted to like this product, I really did. I had heard so many great things about the first aid beauty brand, but this product is the worst. right off the bat I was super unimpressed with the liquidy consistency, it spilled out of the sample container and made a big ol' mess. usually products that are that thin and runny don't stick around on the skin too long, and you end up feeling like you haven't even moisturized. but, I was willing to put my consistency issues aside if it proved to be a good product. spoiler alert- it did not. after using this for two days, I was left with tons of tiny little pumps and breakouts all over my forehead and along my hairline. not cute. it's been almost three weeks and I'm still combating those breakouts (more on the product that's been clearing up my skin later). this product may be a cult favorite, but for those of us #blessed with sensitive skin- beware.

love it: fresh lotus youth preserve face cream with super 7 complex. this moisturizer is an all around good product. good for you ingredients, leaves the skin feeling moisturized but not weighed dow, and from a quality company that I love supporting. it has a fresh (har har!) scent, very cucumber/spa like, that didn't irritate my skin. it claims to have seven super charged ingredients that leave the skin radiant and plump- which I think definitely added some luminosity to my skin. if I hadn't tried the next product, this would have been the moisturizer that I added to my skin care routine. but this is a battle of the best, and another product was just better.

gotta have it: evercalm global protection day cream. this was the first I tried of the bunch, and I wish that I had ended with it. it left my skin moisturized, without being overly greasy, but also didn't break me out or leave dry patches in any areas. the consistency was perfect for making sure that moisture stuck around for a little while and didn't just soak up into the skin from being too thin and liquidy. it worked great under my makeup (but note- I don't wear any foundation or liquid skin products so this may not be true if you do) and didn't make my bronzer or blush look patchy. it's been unbecomingly  muggy & super hot in LA lately, and it didn't make my skin goopy (which as a sometimes sweaty girl happens with a lot of moisturizers). it was scented with a citrus fragrance, that initially made me nervous (fragrance is usually a big no-no with sensitive skin), but didn't end up being a bad thing. the scent was actually refreshing first thing in the morning. a huge bonus for this moisturizer over any other that I tried (or have tried in the past) is the global protection aspect. living in LA (with its amazing air quality) has made me realize just how important protecting your skin from air pollution is, and this product is specifically formulated to do just that. this is the moisturizer being added to my beauty arsenal (and thanks to hitting the next level of Beauty Insider at sephora), I'll be taking it home soon & for 10% off. win, win.

are you lucky enough to have super sensitive skin too? what's your all time favorite moisturizer for keeping your skin soft & glowing without adding breakouts? 

xx, marissa

currently craving: bangs

my only personal experience with bangs (that should be classified as a personal nightmare) came right around the 11/almost 12 year mark (ie. perfect pre-teen awkwardness when everyone is their most attractive). I had begged and pleaded with my mother to cut bangs into my thick and naturally wavy hair that frizzes even at the slightest hint of humidity, and eventually won the mother daughter battle. I should have listened when she told me that they would require upkeep, daily blow drying, and about their affinity to get frizzy and look awful in the 90% humidity that New England has more than half of the year, but what did I know. I resented those bangs for exactly as long as it took to grow them out, and developed an aversion to anything bang related.

flash forward to now, and living in a place with hardly any humidity (besides this past two week long heat wave- that's enough Mother Nature! I'd like the real LA weather back please), and I've been itching for a change. now my hair is in serious need of a haircut, but any movie/show/random person the street has me craving thick, long bangs like none other.

what to do, what to do?

xx, marissa

love it/hate it: simple cleansing facial wipes

as a gal with sensitive skin, I love when companies put out products specially formulated to be super gentle (let alone a whole line!). I was so pumped when simple skin care first came over from the UK. I dove right in, experimenting with their cleansers and moisturizers- but it was the facial wipes that had me the most excited. every other brand that I tried (even the versions supposedly made for sensitive skin) would either sting my eyes, make my skin burn and itch, or leave a sticky feeling behind. now- having to rinse off after using a wipe isn't a total black mark against a product, but it definitely makes those late nights that much easier when I don't have to schlep all the way to the bathroom after using one (you know that struggle). so I gave these wipes the old college try and not only did they give me all of those problems, but they also caused me to break out along my forehead after just a couple uses. they work fine at taking of my non-waterproof mascara and eyeshadow, but on my waterproof eyeliner they were hopeless. and while that may make sense, since they are a line created to be sensitive to the skin, they werent even gentle on my skin. the wipes are scented, which I have no issues with scented products (as long as the fragrance doesn't break me out), but usually with sensitive skin products scent is one of the first ingredients left out.

do these wipes work for some people? absolutely. they are a beauty product that has quite the following of loyal fans, and if you're somebody who has tough skin that doesn't easily breakout or flare up, you may be one of them. I love the ease of a makeup wipe, super convenient to keep in your bedside drawer or makeup bag for easy touch ups and the laziest nighttime routine ever (hey, we all have those nights. no judgment.), but I've found a product that's just as easily + better for you ingredients + better formula + without all the issues (expect that blog post soon!).

what's your take on the simple cleansing facial wipes? have you tried any other products from the simple skincare line? 

xoxo, marissa

manicure monday: god's gift to nail art

slight overexaggeration? possibly, but it's pretty great. now I was perfectly content with my makeshift nail art tools (bobby pins, eyeliner brushes, and brushes from old polish), until I noticed that sephora had quite the little nail art kit on sale (thanks sephora app!) and decided that I deserved an upgrade. the sephora "art at your fingertips" nail kit has everything that you need to create so many of my favorite (and easiest!) looks. everything from brushes (for painting small designs using your favorite polishes and cleaning up any stray marks on your cuticles) and dotting tools (for making the perfect polka dots or scalloped edges) to black and white stripers (for making straight lines and zebra print or adding details to any design). it even comes with an info card with different uses for each of the items if you're new to nail aren't and just aren't sure where to start. use this with my other mani must haves (check out that blog post here) and be prepared for everyone to ask where you got your nails done.

how are your nail art skills? are you a diy type gal, or do you prefer to leave it to the professional?

xx, marissa