I write this with a sniffly nose and sinus infection, but the cold is totally worth it, because I was able to spend Presidents' Day Weekend hitting the slopes in Mammoth.

My family tries to go skiing every year, as it is a favorite activity of ours, even though living in Southern California means we must trek to find snow-covered mountains (except for today, apparently; it snowed in LA today!). I have such a fun time skiing—and après-skiing, of course—but one thing I have learned is that my skin is not always a fan!

The combination of dry air and cold conditions really stresses my skin out, causing it to go into dryness overdrive, so I have found a few wintertime beauty essentials that keep my skin looking gorgeous even during harsh winter weather!

Even if you aren't making your way to the mountains this year, these products are really handy for anyone suffering dry skin in the winter:


SUPERGOOP GLOW STICK SUNSCREEN: first thing's first when skiing: sun protection! Yes, even when you are in the snow, the sun can be extremely harsh; in fact, the snow reflects the sun's rays and can be more intense than a tan on the beach! For athletic activities like skiing, I love using a sunscreen stick for easy on-the-go application. Besides, only your face will really be showing, so you don't need a lot of sunscreen; just enough to protect your face from sun damage!

L'OCCITANE HAND CREAM: my hands are always the first thing to dry out when I encounter harsh winter weather. I keep a small tube of L'Occitane hand cream in my purse whenever I travel so my hands stay soft.

GO-TO FACE HERO: I was skeptical of applying oils to my face for the longest time, but this lightweight oil from Australian brand Go-To is a miracle worker. It keeps my skin smooth and hydrated without overdoing it.

SHISEIDO MOISTURIZER: Moisturizer is a must, obviously! Shiseido's creamy formula is rich and luxurious, making it perfect for a winter skincare regimen.

OGEE SCULPTED LIP OIL: Truth be told, I carried 3 different lip balms this weekend. My lips get soooo chapped when I go skiing, so I kick it into overdrive when it comes to balms and chapsticks. This one is especially hydrating and refreshing, and unlike other lip balms I feel like it actually repairs my chapped lips as opposed to just masking it.


And those are my ski weekend beauty essentials! Do you have any products you turn to in winter? Let me know in the comments!

Shop Winter Beauty Must-Haves:

I make no claims about being a neat and tidy person. As much as I would love to be a minimalist Marie Kondo worshipper with clear countertops and an organized closet, I just don't have the time and energy to be about that life. I'm not messy, but I'm a Taurus so I have a lot of things and I like it that way.

My purses are an extension of this way of living—never overflowing with random trinkets, but filled with their share of mile-long Rite Aid receipts and old lipsticks that I haven't work in ages. And yes, throwing these items out would take minimal effort, but I usually just don't care enough to worry about it.

But for the right accessory, these viewpoints can change. Enter: the Staud Shirley Tote, an adorable purse came in such a gorgeous shade of pink that I just had to add it to my holiday wish list.

The transparent outer shape was a bit intimidating at first (am I really the type of person who can handle this responsibility?) but I realized it was the perfect gateway into the world of clear purses, since it features a removable pink pouch for me to hide all my more sensitive belongings (in other words, I don't care how cool the purse is, I'm just not the kind of person who can have tampons on display in my clear purse—even if said tampons have cute packaging).


The clear purse trend has almost become a challenge in this regard; are you brave enough to show off the contents of your bag to the world? Can you even edit your belongings enough to look like a simple, curatorial individual instead of a hoarder?

The beauty of a purse is the ability to keep objects, no matter how mundane or shocking, close to us and known only to us. The clear purse removes that air of mystery, and that can be very frightening.

On the other hand, the clear purse allows for all the contents within your purse to become accessories themselves. Keys, sunglasses, lipstick tubes, wallets, and more are fully on display now, instead of simply when they are utilized. I for one love this benefit, because so often I feel the gorgeous packaging of my go-to Origins lipstick, for example, goes unseen by everyone but me; now, all passersby can witness the small details of my personal style.

If you're completely intimidated by this trend, I understand, but I encourage you to try it out! And even if your purse doesn't come with an opaque pouch like mine does, you can always toss in a makeup pouch to obscure any items you don't want the general public to see. But test out this trend and let me know what you think!

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All photos by Brandon Colbert

I've always been a sucker for floral prints and am constantly looking for designs that turn floral print on its head. One trend I've been noticing lately is fabrics that mix different size floral prints, or different prints altogether in patchwork designs.

Take this dress that I wore over the weekend for example: the floral design shifts from miniature to oversize throughout the fabric, which creates intrigue and movement.

From Gucci to Ulla Johnson, so many designers are getting into this trend. I dare you to test out this style come spring.

Check out how I wore this trend below and keep scrolling to shop some mixed-floral prints!

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Anything is better when it is tied up in a bow. It's a simple truth. A gift adorned in wrapping paper? Top with a bow! Shoe laces? Tie them in a bow and you remove a tripping hazard! A ribbon at the end of your braid? A bow is exactly what's needed!

It stands to reason, then, that shirts too would benefit from a little bow action. It's crazy how a long piece of fabric or ribbon can transform the whole style of a clothing item when looped into a bow, but it's so true. A plain white blouse is just that until you add a bow at the neck!

Because I love all things girly and feminine, bows are a staple styling trick of mine. It shouldn't come as much as a surprise for you to learn that this pink blouse I'm wearing was the must-have piece (in my mind, anyway) from Atlantic Pacific's collaboration with Nordstrom. I HAD to have it!