While a clean diet, healthy lifestyle, and great skincare routine should theoretically leave you with clear and blemish-less skin, we know that’s not always the case. Hormones, stress, undiscovered food sensitivities (or sometimes indulgences like the occasional slice of pizza for me) can all contribute to less than perfect skin. I’ve personally been dealing with a few stubborn breakouts for months that have been really annoying.

I’m playing with my diet/lifestyle and working with a new functional doc, so hopefully I can get to the bottom of the problem with my skin. Although it’s not a big deal in the greater scheme of things, breakouts and blemishes can definitely be a hit to my confidence and a bit of a hassle. I have to adjust my skincare to account for the sensitive or active areas, I usually choose to wear makeup to cover the spots, and then heavy cleansing the makeup/sunscreen from the area just feels like making it worse!

Luckily, I’ve found a great little group of products that have made dealing with my breakouts much easier. I’ve tried A LOT of acne lines and products, and was a huge fan of Proactiv back in the day (and up until a few years ago, actually). The products I’m sharing today are hands down some of the best that I’ve tried. I’ve got two masks, two spot treatments and a bonus item that if you follow me on Instagram, you already know I love!

I’m always happy to chat about beauty and health & wellness, but one of my goals this year is to share more of my other interests with you! I’ve always loved fashion, magazines, clothes and accessories and I LOVE browsing my favorite stores online. I have bookmark folders for every different category and am always saving things for inspiration, ideas and to buy or try.

One thing I like shopping for this time of year is actually swimsuits! If you live in a tropical place that’s always 70 degrees and up like me, then swimwear is obviously a necessity year round. This is also the start of when many of us start planning warm-weather & beach trips that begin in the spring. Fashion has always had a kind of weird cycle of releasing product lines that are technically out of season, and the resort category (also called a cruise/ travel collection) is usually released in the winter. It’s a great time to shop since there are so many cute pieces available that don’t last long—meaning you’ll be less likely to see your same swimsuit on everyone at the beach this summer (and waiting until then to shop is sometimes too late to find something you love)!

I’ve got a pretty good skincare routine down right now and am seeing some great results like fewer breakouts, better texture & tone, brighter skin and fewer fine lines. I don’t use all of these every day (and often use different/additional things), but here are my go-to products that I’m loving right now and wanted to share:

Last year, I tried three different organic tampon subscriptions to see which one I liked best. Lola, Cora & Sustain are the brands that I tested and here I’ll give you a rundown on each.

This is one of those products that I liked but just never ended up using. The powders are really unique and almost like pastels (the crayons, not the colors) in that they’re finely milled and soft, almost creamy. While the colors and formula are lovely, this palette isn’t perfect. These are some of the better clean/green beauty eyeshadows I’ve tried, though!

Another major clean beauty sale is happening this week/weekend! The Detox Market is offering $10 off $100, $30 off $200 (and a FREE Maya Chia Face Oil worth $60), and $80 off $400 (and a FREE Maya Chia Face Oil & Free Opalite Gemstone Facial Roller worth $30). This is an amazing opportunity to stock up on all of your favorites! Again, I’ve compiled a list of my faves from the Detox Market in case you’re looking for something new or are interested in what I love/want to try.

Don’t sleep on this discount and opportunity to try one of the most popular clean beauty items ever for free! Maya Chia’s Supercritical Omega-3 Face Oil is a cult fav and this is a great way to try it or have an extra on hand (or to gift!). Deal runs today through Tuesday, Nov 27. Happy shopping!

Okay, Credo is having a major gift with purchase this week in honor of Thanksgiving and Black Friday. I’m talking about a $100 value and with brands like Pai, W3ll People, Suzanne Kaufmann, Ilia and more! Keep reading for more details and some of my favorites/picks from Credo in case you want some shopping inspo!

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Another lip product I tried this past year was Ilia Beauty’s Tinted Lip Conditioner in shades Blossom Lady (medium pink) and Nobody’s Baby (a warm nude). After reading description of these, I was excited to receive “lightweight lip color meets balm” that are also supposed to be a “must have” for those who don’t want to use a mirror. You certainly don’t have to use mirror, but you’ll still want to with these!

Next up: Kjaer Weis Lip Tints in Dream State (a nude peach) and Sensuous Plum (a warm plum/berry).