Who Doesn't Want to Glow? (And not in the Robert Pattinson/Twilight sort of way)

It's confession time. I generally have less than awesome skin. I'm not one of those girls who can bounce out the door in the morning wearing only moisturizer and looking fabulous. But for some reason my skin's been behaving pretty well lately (I think it's confused by this weird thing back east called the COLD), and I can finally move beyond just trying to abuse it into submission to actually trying to make it look pretty. Hence the glowing (minus the cheesy sparkles).

Skyn Iceland Nordic Skin Peel with Biospheric Conplex, $45 at sephora.com, Shu Uemura Skin Purifier High Performance Cleansing Oil Fresh, $28 for 5 oz. at sephora.com, Clarisonic Plus, $250 at sephora.com: I'm a huge fan of daily peels, and this one is chock-full of lactic acid (AHA) and witch hazel to gently exfoliate and clean out/tighten up those pores. I use a gentler (cheaper) version of this on a daily basis, and while I love it to death I want more results. $45 is a lot of money for 60 pads, but I'm thinking if you use them every other day or twice a week, you could stretch out there $45 for at least 4 months, which isn't really that bad. I used to use this shu uemura cleansing oil before I became a broke college student, and I have to say, it's amazing. It's really expensive, but it works so, so well. I know cleaning your face with oil seems counter-intuitive, but it really works to balance out your skin's pH without drying your skin out so it produces more oil. It removes even waterproof makeup, smells delicious, and doesn't leave your skin dry or tight. And it even helps with breakouts. Talk about multi-tasking. I really, really want a Clarisonic (b-day present? Maybe?). For those of you who haven't heard of the magical Clarisonic, it uses sonic vibrations to move super fast and open up your pores, pushing cleanser in, kicking dirt out, and exfoliating all at the same time. This Clarisonic is a little on the pricier side because it comes in that awesome '60s pattern, and comes with a body brush attachment, 3 different types of cleansers, and a body polish.


Adidas by Stella McCartney Gym Track Pants, $100 at net-a-porter.com, Juicy Couture 14k Gold-Plated Earrings, $88 at net-a-porter.com, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Silk and Cashmere-blend Cardigan, $350 at net-a-porter.com: I'm sort of fascinated with the idea of high-fashion sweatpants. It sounds weird, but it can really work and has this "I don't try but something I ended up looking devastatingly chic this morning" sort of vibe. These are the perfect example. The cut is the perfect mix of sporty function and the drapey, pajama-esque pants we saw on the runway. The silhouette is so perfect, the ankle band has a slight harem vibe, and the zebra pattern inset adds a touch of spunk. These Juicy earrings have such a British Maharajah feel to them. The shape is vaguely exotic and mysterious, the detailing is intricate and luxe, and the overall effect is that of slightly old school, Baroque-inspired heirloom. For less than $90. Yes, please. My love affair with leopard is no secret anymore, and when you combine that with my love of cardigans, well, you get this. The grey-on-black tones down the leopard a bit, as does the classic cut. I love basic pieces with a serious helping of spunkiness, and this totally fits the bill. Throw it on over a white tee and jeans on the way to class, and instantly look pulled together and interesting.


Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Striped Wool Sweater, $325 at net-a-porter.com, Preen Peep Bandage Dress, $1,195 at net-a-porter.com, Thread Social Bow-detail Knit Top, $150 at net-a-porter.com: I'm a sucker for a nautical themed sweater, and the fact that this Breton-esque piece is a sweaterdress only makes me want it more. How chic would this be with black tights and a pair of ballet flats? Hello, Audrey Hepburn. It's a really classic look done in a more modern cut, and it's executed perfectly. Yes, this Preen dress is crazy expensive, but there's so much hidden detailing! There are bra cups in the sweetheart neckline with lace inserts, there's subtle pleating/ruching on the body of the dress that makes it really, really flattering, an exposed side zipper, and a flash of skin and tie on the back that takes this LBD from cocktails to night on the town. I really like that it's a basic piece in theory, so it's versatile, but at the same time it has so much personality. This Thread Social top has given me some interesting ideas. The top itself looks exactly like an American Apparel raglan pullover, but so much more expensive. You could totally buy the American Apparel version and then DIY a giant satin bow and pin it to the shoulder. The limited color palette contrasts perfectly with the inherent girliness of the bow, and it's a cute play on the emphasized shoulder trend.


Image Sources:
Skyn pads: sephora.com, Shu Uemura oil: sephora.com, Clarisonic: sephora.com, Adidas by Stella McCartney pants: net-a-porter.com, Juicy Couture earrings: net-a-porter.com, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel cardigan: net-a-porter.com, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel sweater: net-a-porter.com, Preen dress: net-a-porter.com, Thread Social top: net-a-porter.com.