Stephie Estie

August Favorites 2017!

Hi everyone!

It’s the last day of August and I’m quickly sharing a few of my favorite items I couldn’t get enough of this month.

Let’s dive right in.

Rhonda Allison Cherry Jubilee Enzyme  

I won this product in an Instagram away hosted by a fellow esthetician friend and just like the name implies, this smells (and feels!) like a tart cherry puree.  What I love about this (aside from the scent) is that the natural polyphenols provide great antioxidant properties for your skin and the “potent pro-youth value that mimics the strength of lactic acid,” allows for gentle exfoliation.  My face looks nice and glowy after using this.

m-61 SuperSoothe E Microdermabrasion Scrub 

I found myself at a Bluemercury counter returning an item that unfortunately didn’t work out when this caught my eye.  I liked the fact that this contained kaolin clay mixed with natural pumice to help exfoliate and clean pores and it worked well with the hot, humid weather we had.  I applied a thin layer over my face, let it sit for about 2 minutes and then rinsed it off with circular motions.  Although seaweed and goldenberry are added to provide some moisture, I found it a bit drying, so in my opinion, this is best used for combination/oily skin.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs Body Lotion Lavender Eucalyptus 

Back in July, I went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs and had such a great experience!  I’ll admit that it was a bit hard for me to just relax and not worry about anything but it’s kind of easy to do after a few minutes soaking in a hot spring. 🙂  Anywho, the lotion dispenser had a lavender scented cream and of course I had to buy the bottle.  The calming scent of lavender with a burst of eucalyptus does not disappoint and I use this at the end of day to wind down.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Love Lipstick in Raw Sugar

As soon as I got wind that Estee Lauder was launching a new lipstick collection, you better believe I was busy stalking searching which stores would be the first to carry them.  Hey, I’m a lippie addict, what do you expect? 😉  After finding them at Ulta, I ended up taking the shade Raw Sugar home with me.  Guys, the packaging on these are gorgeously chic and the matte formula is comfortable to wear as long as your lips are smooth and not overly dry.  Raw Sugar is a nude apricot shade (see swatch above) and is great for any day, anytime, anywhere. The applicator is a bit difficult to work with at first but it’s easier if you treat the edge like a lip liner and apply it that way.

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I’m a big fan of foundations that look more like second skin.  This Bobbi Brown foundation does just that.  A few drops of this water-based, oil-free formula is enough to cover up my redness and can be built up for medium coverage.  My skin looks flawless and I receive a ton of compliments with this one.

First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer 

I received this product in one of my Sephora boxes and I will definitely add this to my list of things to buy when the Sephora sale comes in November, if not sooner.  Smells like coconut, does not irritate my skin, the texture is so light-weight and addicting, and it has a nice dewy finish that is not overwhelming. My makeup goes on smooth and although it doesn’t keep shine at bay per se, I’m not overly oily either. Very happy with this one.

Living Grace Podcast Episode

The last item that I loved, a non-beauty item, was my podcast interview I did with Kami Lingren from Living Grace Blog.  In this episode, we talk about my life in the moments leading up to being diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, the alternative method I discovered to treat IC and much more.  If you missed it, you can read and listen to it here.

What did you love in August?

 

 

Living with IC and Thinking Outside of the Box for Treatment

Hi everyone!

I know it’s been a while since my last post but I’m currently dealing with some issues, both on a personal and professional level and I haven’t quite had the necessary mindset needed to write posts.

However, I did want to hop on here and share that I recently stepped out of my comfort zone and did a podcast recording with my dear friend and fellow blogger, Kami Lingren from Living Grace Blog. We delve into my journey through my life with Interstitial Cystitis, what it means to trust your instincts, and what skincare means to me in the wellness context.

So, if you’re interested in knowing more about me (and hear my voice, haha), grab some headphones and click here.

Thank you for your continued support and I’ll see you back here soon. 🙂

With love,

Motivational Tuesday: This Letter is to You!

Beach

Hi everyone!  It’s been a while since I shared a motivational quote and yesterday I stumbled across one that is perfect for anyone going through a difficult time.

“This letter is to you. ⠀

The you that’s had a rough week. The you that seems to be under constant storm clouds. The you that feels invisible. The you that doesn’t know how much longer you can hold on. The you that has lost faith. The you that always blames yourself for everything that goes wrong.

To you.

You are incredible. You make this world a little bit more wonderful. You have so much potential and so many things left to do. You have time. Better things are coming your way, so please hang in there. You can do it. ” 

This fast-paced life can quickly become overshadowed by disappointments and despair, but remember that you are here for a reason and that you matter.  Tomorrow could be the day your prayers are answered so have faith and don’t give up.

Stephanie

Happy New Year 2016!

NYE

Happy New Year’s Eve (or day) everyone!

I ran across this quote yesterday and I found it to be perfect for today.  2015 for me was a good year.  I accomplished several of the things I set forth on my vision board in 2014.  This blog has grown so much within a year and has been viewed in about 97 countries!  To many, I am considered their go-to skincare and beauty expert and I can’t even begin to tell you how much that means to me.  Whenever I get a text message, an email or a comment asking for my advice, I’m so thankful I’ve established myself in a way where people can trust my opinions and advice.  I’m continually reading and educating myself to provide you with the best information available which lead me to accomplishing my dream of (finally) taking the UCLA Cosmetic Chemistry course.  It’s crazy how when you put your heart and soul into something you love, greatness occurs.

Of course, life wouldn’t be life if it also didn’t come with many downfalls and yes, I had plenty of those this year too. There are lessons we have to learn and sometimes they present themselves in the most painful ways. My willingness to help sometimes exposes me to be torn apart and used, making me withdraw from getting attached to people.  This is something I have to work on.  Defining myself as a person and not by my chronic illness is something else I’ve been struggling with. But, I just have to keep going forward, staying positive and having faith that things will get better.

So what will 2016 bring?  I have no idea but I have a feeling it will be awesome!  I’m working on some other ‘visions’ so stay tuned. Thank you so much for the love and support you have shown me.  May 2016 bring all of you happiness, love and health.

Best wishes for 2016,

Stephanie 

 

 

A Little Thursday Motivation: Comparison is the Thief of Joy!

Comparison

Hello readers!  How is everyone holding up?

I wanted to share a quote today that lately has been on my mind and perhaps can help you too and it is regarding comparison.  With so many social media sharing platforms around, now more than ever it is easier to see what everyone else has been up to and all their accomplishments.  While you get to in a sense experience and share their joy, too often it can also feel overwhelming and downright depressing in comparison to yours.  You may be left wondering why your own life isn’t advancing as smoothly and fast as theirs. They look happy, without a care in the world.  And so it begins.  The doubting yourself.  A tinge of jealousy.  Forgetting the things you have accomplished because now it pales in comparison to what someone else did.  The feeling that perhaps you’re not good enough. Once this type of thinking starts settling in, it can be hard to shake off.

BUT, what we fail to see at times is that all of us have a different journey to take.  Some individuals are blessed to find their purpose/calling earlier while other people take longer.  Our paths may not be smooth but rare is the time that this is true for anyone.  We see the smiles shared but what’s not shown are the tears, the struggles, and the worries.  There are also different lessons we need to learn and if we look hard enough, we’ll find them and most importantly learn from them.  Sometimes the roadblocks in our path are actually blessings in disguise, meant to protect us from harm.  At other times, obstacles lead us to a different avenue we may have never encountered otherwise.

This life is a continuous cycle of ups and down and the situations we find ourselves in are not forever. Keep working on your goals and dreams but also have faith in God that you are where you are meant to be right now.  Instead of comparing yourself to what you aren’t, remember what you are.  Everyone has different gifts and talents to offer the world.  Don’t loose sight of that.

I hope this was helpful in case you are going through difficult moments. Just know that you’re not alone and that all of us experience this from time to time.  Keep going and don’t give up!

Now I want to hear from you.  Do you find yourself playing the comparison game? What do you do when you find yourself in this type of situation?

Stephanie  

Success Is…

palos verdes day 2 2014 052

Hi everyone!  I have another quote I found and loved accompanied by this amazing picture taken by my  sister. Enjoy the beautiful California scenery! 🙂

Originally, I read the quote in Spanish but I translated it up at the top.  I think this quote holds a lot of merit.  Often, we equate success with material items and while I am not saying acquiring these things isn’t great, we are also successful when we evolve as a person.  Everyone has fears that hold them back from accomplishing goals but what were to happen of we decided to step out of our comfort zone? Would we grow emotionally, spiritually or physically?  Perhaps therein would lie your success and who knows what endless possibilities it will lead to!

Do you agree? What’s your definition of success?

Stephanie

A Little Thursday Motivation

pv quote

Hi readers!  Thank you all so much for your concern and well wishes- I really appreciate it! I am doing much better than last week, expect for a mild cough.

Anyways, I wanted to share the quote above I came across this week that really spoke to me.  I interviewed for a position this week that I felt I would have been perfect for and although they were very impressed with me, sadly I didn’t get it.  I was disappointed for sure but with support from my amazing friends and family, I’m able to see that although it wasn’t meant for me this time, it will be someday.  Life has shown me (and continues to show me) that everyone’s timing is different.  Some people are blessed with wonderful opportunities at an earlier stage while others take a longer road to arrive to where they want to be and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  When I look back at all the obstacles I have faced, and believe me when I say they have been brutal, I am in awe of how strong I have become.   I reflect on the exciting and unique opportunities I have been able to live because of them.

So I leave you with this message my dear readers.  Everything has a way of falling into place when the time is right.  Never stop going after what you want whether it’s in life or love.  Move forward with the faith that if it’s meant for you, it will be.  And if it’s not, well, just know that something better will come along that will make you see why other things never worked out the way you had hoped.

*Side note: The picture above is courtesy of my talented sister’s photography 🙂

Enjoy the rest of your day,

Stephanie