My Favorite Shoes for Fall 🍂🍂🍂

Image by: Denise Benson Photography

I LOVE Fall! It’s the second best season next to Spring. The temps are dropping and it’s time for sweater weather. It seriously gives me all the feels. I spend most of my days in oversized tops, jeans and boots!

If you didn’t know I love shoes…thanks grandma! All shoes are not created equally. I like finding a mix of comfort, style and affordability!

J Lo Bannah

I’m a sucker for a good wedge heel. Not only are they cute they provide more stability when walking. I find that my feet are less likely to ache when wearing wedges. I’ve added these snake print to help bring my fall wardrobe together. I can part these with skirts, dress or skinny jeans.

They do run a little narrow.

Crown Vintage - Cindy Bootie

Fall is not complete without the perfect bootie. I’m in love with these from Crown Vintage. I’ve notice this brand focuses on comfort. I can own several pairs of shoes from and notice that I don’t have any problems.

LifeStride Alita

I love the versatility of this shoe. I am more inclined to pull this shoe out for fall but it’s perfect year round. It’s a great cross between bootie and everyday heel. I love the height on it. It makes it really easy to walk and the fabric has a little give - making it perfect if you have fuller feet, like me.

Waldron

If you buy a nice pair of boots once they can last you 2-3 years! When purchasing boots, it’s important to look for ones that are well made and match your personal style. I try to avoid “trendy” shoes because I like pieces that will last me for more than a season.

Dr. Scholl’s Slip-ons

Last but certainly not least, slip-ons! I love shoes that easy to put on and go. Whether I’m running to grocery store or heading to the park with the kids; these shoes are easy and stylish!

What’s your favorite shoe for fall?

Cosmetic Surgery: The Top Pros and Cons You Should Consider

Internationally, millions of people have cosmetic surgery every year. A trend that’s ever-increasing, people are continuously seeking ways to enhance their appearance to conform with a certain look or to boost their confidence (among other reasons). 

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, however, then you should be aware of the downsides alongside the benefits. A significant part of ensuring that you’re ready for the process, it’ll guarantee that you’re not kept in the dark from the get-go. 

To help guide you, along with the medical advice of your doctor, here is a list of the top pros and cons you should pay attention to:

Let’s Start with the Pros:

It Can Be Used to Improve Physical Health

Although many people perceive cosmetic surgery to be purely as a way of enhancing your appearance, it can also be used to improve physical health. For example, if your breasts are causing you back problems due to their size, then it may be recommended that you have a breast reduction. Or if you are having problems breathing through your nose, rhinoplasty surgery could be the answer.

Of course, this isn't always the case. But it can be a notable reason why many people opt for it every year.

A Confidence Boost

As aforementioned, cosmetic surgery is often used to give the patient a confidence boost. Aligning with your wishes, you can undeniably benefit from an improved level of self-esteem. This doesn’t only benefit you when in social situations, but can have a positive knock-on effect on your mental health – as the insecurities you once had around your physical appearance may start to fade.

Before heading for surgery, alongside talking with your doctor, it’s worth looking into the specific procedure, however. For example, these videos about breast implants are filled with useful information. 

Achieves Your Desired appearance 

If there is a particular part of your body that you’ve long been unhappy with, then cosmetic surgery can be a way of aligning your desired appearance with your natural one. Although it’s of course, not always the answer (there are some non-invasive ways to achieve better skin elasticity for example), in many cases it can be a way of improving yourself in the way that you’ve always wanted. 

Now, Onto the Cons

The Expense

Unfortunately, cosmetic surgery doesn’t come cheaply. And although many might offer finance packages or in some cases, you can get them through healthcare services, often they are very expensive. Costing upwards of $3000 depending on the surgery, it’s something that you’ll want to fully think through before taking the leap.

The Risks 

Another big downside is the risks that come with the surgery. Of course, the risks will depend on the type of surgery in question, but they are still worth discovering ahead of time. Something that your doctors should discuss with you, it will give you an insight into whether it’s the right decision for you.

Recovery Time

Before agreeing to the surgery, you should also determine the recovery time and how this will fit into your lifestyle. For example, if it will take weeks of bed rest and you have a busy career, you’ll need to work out how this will fit into your schedule. Even if you don’t have an intense career, it’s still an important factor to consider, however. 

It Might Not Meet Expectations

And lastly, even though the surgery might seem as though it will completely transform your life and align with your expectations, this isn’t always the case. And when it isn’t the case, then it might lead to further issues down the road in terms of self-confidence or the state of your mental health. 

Which is why it’s important when looking at videos and reading through resources, you keep in mind that the surgery might not be all you dreamed it would.

Final Thoughts

So, there you go! Those are the top pros and cons you should consider when looking into cosmetic surgery. Whether you opt for it, is a decision that’s up to you. But it’s important to look at these and seek medical advice before making any big decisions surrounding it.

Are You Washing Your Face TOO Much?

There’s nothing like a good skincare routine to kick off and end your days. By the time you hit your thirties, chances are you’ve got a multi-step process that takes upward of 15 minutes. It’s tedious, but it’s worth it--you’ve got a smooth, milky glow.

But what if you struggle with acne breakouts from time to time? You’ve tried dozens of different remedies, both home-based and dermatologist-prescribed, and have still had no luck. Well, did you know that sometimes your sterling skincare routine could be working against you? That’s right; it is such as washing your face too much.

Maybe you’re convinced you don’t belong to this group. Sure, you wash your face frequently, but only as a measure of practicing good hygiene and certainly no more than twice a day. As balanced and diligent as you are in your washing routine, you still suffer from breakouts. Unfortunately, sometimes acne breakouts have nothing to do with our method, but with our genetics. Some people are predisposed to having oilier, dirtier, more bacteria-laden skin. If that’s the case, there’s not much we can do besides encourage you to consult a dermatologist who can help people with acne-prone skin.

You would think it’s impossible to get too much of a good thing, but washing your face too much does have some negative consequences. Even though you remove dirt and oil when you face your face, many facial cleansers often remove too much. Your skin does need some amount of these things to produce the necessary protective barrier. While it’s true that you should wash your face at least once a day (no matter what your skin type is), washing more than twice a day could strip your face of protective oils and bacteria. You can tell you’ve been washing your face too much if it feels tight and dry. Other signs of overwashing are dry, red patches that are sensitive to the touch. Most of the time, the devil is in the product you’re using; it’s simply too harsh for your skin. Switch to a gentler cleanser for several weeks and see if it improves.

But let’s say you haven’t been using any abrasive scrubs or cleansers. Instead, you only use acne medicine when you’re having a breakout. You can still get acne this way as you are not building an excellent daily habit of washing your face, but trying to fix the symptoms of the problem. Establish a good daily routine of washing your face before bed and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.

Some medicines, like benzoyl peroxide, you can use to spot treat acne. You can purchase benzoyl peroxide cream at my drugstores, and their concentration can range from 2%-10%. However, the stronger the concentration doesn’t necessarily mean the better. Products with high levels of the stuff have been to dry the skin more, but not necessarily be more effective. Many products with lower concentrations balance the benzoyl peroxide with other soothing chemicals that are calming and nourishing of the skin.

However, not all chemical additives produce this effect. Many of them, like fragrances, colors, and dyes, irritate the skin quite a bit. There’s a shocking amount of tinted creams hidden in acne treatments, and many people have reported that it’s made their skin worse overall. Fragrances can dry the skin out more than usual, so they are also wrong for dry, acne-prone skin. If your skin is especially sensitive, you might want to start checking the ingredients on your facial cleanser. Look specifically for all-natural cleansers that have phrases like ‘fragrance-free’ or ‘dye-free’ on the label.

You found a great new cleanser that’s gentle on your skin, you’ve been using it for a couple of weeks, and you’re not getting the fantastic results you envisioned. If that’s the case, we’d like to ask you a question: How long do you leave your cleanser on? We hope it’s at least a couple of minutes! No, the cleanser is not a caustic chemical that’s going to melt your face if you don’t wash it off right away. Some cleansers, especially those that include acne-fighting chemicals like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, need to sit on the skin and soak in a bit to work correctly. Skin experts suggest massaging the cleanser into your skin for a duration of the Alphabet song.

Caring for sensitive, acne-prone skin can be a downer, but don’t let acne care and face cleaning make you sad. For more tips on how to handle chronic breakouts, head over to Averr Aglow to see what they have to say.

Relaxed Hair Journey Update: 3 Months

Whoever said relaxed hair can’t grow lied! Relaxed hair can be healthy and fabulous; it’s all up to you. I remember growing up thinking that my hair wasn’t good enough. I fell into this awful complex about my hair that I hate to relive but I’m better now because of it. I damaged my hair a lot. Glue was my worst enemy.

Guess what? I’m doing better at keeping up with my hair. I was going to say great but that would be a lie. So I recently relaxed at 8 weeks post because I had an upcoming photo shoot. I believe that my hair can go 10-12 weeks; so my goal is to continue the stretching process. I’m also going to attempt to get my hair done at least once a month. The upkeep can be really hard on me. {Edit: that was the plan but CORONAVIRUS}

Thinking about going back to the creamy crack? Here’s what I’ve learned in the last two months. Your hair and health go hand in hand. I’ve added a multivitamin into my regimen and I notice that if I get slack so will my hair. I’m becoming more intentional about wrapping my hair at night and on those super lazy nights I still wear a bonnet even if I don’t wrap it. You have to make it a lifestyle. I’m not there yet but one day! My goal is to reach shoulder length in the very near future. I’m doing my best to keep heat out of it as much as possible. My goal is to use heat 1-2 times a month max. If you’re still having issues with hair growth, it’s worth taking a look at medications you’re taking or other underlying health conditions that could possibly be hindering your growth.