During this season, I become a bit more of a homebody. I enjoy cozying up on the couch with a good book and a cup of homemade apple cider. I try to take time to slow down and when I have room for me-time, I love taking long baths. I also spend a little more time using skincare products that I don’t typically use on a daily basis like various treatments, face masks, and exfoliators. [/dropcap]
To set the mood, I always light candles when I take a bath and I recently purchased a new one for the holiday season. The new holiday collection from Diptyque released this month and this year it is beyond gorgeous! I have a slight obsession with all things Diptyque so I knew I had to get something from the collection this year. The designs are constellations inspired by light, and are represented by three mythical animals created by the artist Philipe Baudelocque. There’s a unicorn {Frosted Forest}, a dragon {Fiery Orange}, and a phoenix {Incense Tears}. The jars are designed to look like constellations with hand drawn chalk designs. Each animal is designed in gold foil – they are absolutely beautiful. I chose Fiery Orange which is described on the website as blood orange from Italy, smokey wood and cloves crackling joyfully in a burning fire…it is the perfect, comforting fragrance for a relaxing night in. We don’t really have a need for fireplaces here in Florida so this candle is a must-have for me. It smells like a fire burning on a cold, winter night and spiced orange pomanders. So good.
Since reaching my 30’s, I’ve started using more anti-aging skincare products and recently I’ve fallen in love with Elemis. Elemis kindly sent me a package of some of their Pro-Collagen line to try and I am thoroughly impressed with everything I’ve tried so far. The Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm has become my new favorite way to remove my makeup at the end of the day. Not only does it make my combination skin feel more nourished and balanced, it smells like a spa treatment. It has rose and mimosa waxes that are infused with oils such as Elderberry and Starflower. A cleansing balm is not something I would typically gravitate towards but I’m a convert. Normally, I wakeup with an oily t-zone {thanks to Florida humidity} but since I’ve started using this cleansing balm my skin has been a lot less oily and much more balanced. It’s a keeper.
I have a love/hate relationship with microdermabrasion products. Sometimes, I feel like they’re too harsh and make my pores even more noticeable, which obviously isn’t what I want. But, I’ve finally found my HG microdermabrasion and that is Dr. Brandt’s Age Defying Exfoliator. I received a deluxe size sample from Sephora as an Beauty Insider reward and I’m so glad I did, this exfoliator is amazing. Seriously, just thinking about it right now makes me want to stop typing and go use it haha. It leaves my skin soooo soft, even days after using it. The long-lasting results help my foundation apply more evenly, make my pores much less noticeable {even the annoyingly large ones around my nose}, and lessens the appearance of the acne scars and hyper-pigmentation that I have on my cheeks/around my mouth.
Because my skin is a little sensitive and prone to redness, I like to follow-up an exfoliating treatment with some type of soothing face mask. In this video I went with one of my long-time faves, Andalou Naturals Avo Cocoa Skin Food Mask. Why? Because it’s like chocolate syrup in a jar. 😉 If you are a chocoholic you need this face mask. Not only does it smell like an indulgent dessert, it leaves your skin feeling nourished, calm, and hydrated. It’s packed full of antioxidants and skin-loving ingredients like avocado oil, cocoa seed powder, and resveratrol CoQ10.
I use a variety of bath salts, usually the single use packets from Whole Foods but recently I’ve been using L’Occitane’s Relaxing Bath Oil from their Aromachologie line. It is divine. It’s made with essential oils like lavender, bergamot, sweet orange, and geranium and it truly smells like you’re at a spa. The fragrance is very soothing and it leaves my skin feeling soft but not too oily like other bath oils I’ve tried. I also love using L’Occitane’s Pillow Mist on my bathrobe. It has the same blend of essential oils and is the exact formula they use at their spas!
After a bath I put on my comfy lounge clothes {I recently found these slippers from NordstromRack, aren’t they cute?!} and sit down with a good book. Right now I’m reading Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty and I really like it so far!
In the fall, I also love making some type of warm beverage like tea or hot cocoa but on this night I made homemade apple cider in my slow cooker. Not only is it fall in a cup, but it smells amazing. While it’s heating up, the warm cinnamon and sweet, tangy apples scent fills the room…no candles needed. 😉
Here’s the recipe I used but feel free to adjust it as needed {like adding in some spiced rum for a holiday party!}:
SLOW COOKER APPLE CIDER RECIPE
8-10 apples, sliced (remove the seeds because they’re bitter)
1 orange, sliced
1/2 – 1 tsp whole cloves
1 whole nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
3-4 cinnamon sticks
water
optional: coconut sugar or sweetener of your choice
Directions: Add sliced apples, oranges, and spices in slow cooker. Top with water (leave about 1/2 inch). Cook on high for 3 hours (or on low for 6). About an hour before it’s done, use a potato masher and mash the apples, oranges, and spices. Allow it to cook for another hour or so. Strain using a mesh strainer. Serve and enjoy!
What are some of your favorite ways to take a break and have a relaxing night in?
