No 'Poo Challenge - WEN Haircare

I'm taking a challenge...a no-shampoo challenge. I've seen the demos on QVC (my guilty pleasure on Saturday mornings...don't judge me) and the late night infomercials when I can't sleep, and now I'm ready to give up shampoo for 30 days and see what WEN Haircare can really do.

I used to have super thick hair, but the older I get, the thinner my hair gets. I've also noticed it's incapable of growing past a certain length, which drives me crazy. Each time I visit the salon to get a trim, I feel like more than a trim takes place. My ends become so dry, dead, and split that anything that just grew gets chopped off. It's a vicious, endless cycle. I don't have the best relationship with my hair...but in all honestly, who does?

Back to the challenge...

Over the past year or so I've been introduced to products that claim to be without harsh detergents and parabens, specifically sodium lauryl sulfate. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a detergent that's in almost every single shampoo on the shelves (go ahead...read the back of your shampoo bottle...it's listed right there as the 2nd ingredient)...it's what creates the foaming effect. It's super cheap and super bad for your hair. I've tried several brands of "sulfate free" shampoos, and out of curiosity have wondered how these products can foam without the use of sodium lauryl sulfate. The answer: it's little friend sodium laureth sulfate. It's basically the same thing...how sneaky! After reading the ingredients lists on so many shampoos, I decided to completely stay away from anything that had sodium and sulfate together as an ingredient.

Source: sephora.com

Enter WEN Haircare...no harsh chemicals and no crazy and cheap detergents that will strip your hair and scalp of its natural oils. I picked up the WEN Healthy Hair kit at Sephora last weekend and decided to make the commitment of not shampooing for 30 days. It's only been seven days so far, but I don't think this is really going to be a difficult challenge for me. I love how the cleansing conditioner feels in my hair. It doesn't lather, but instantly makes my hair feel super soft and smooth. My hair feels clean and doesn't look greasy or oily. The only downside thus far is that I spend extra time in the shower making sure I'm distributing the production thoroughly through my hair, and that I'm rinsing well. Oh well, small price to pay in my opinion.

I'll periodically post updates on my no-poo journey and include some before and after pics as well.

If you want more info on WEN, check out the website, and you can purchase products there, at Sephora (in store or online), or on QVC.com.

Here's to no 'pooing!

Geek Chic

Credit: jcrew.com

Guess what? Geek is chic nowadays. And not just the thick-rimmed glasses...those have been around for a few years...I'm talking about the entire geek package (minus the pocket protector though). Plaid shirts, bow ties, rolled up jeans, oxfords, blazers, cardigans, suspenders...it's getting serious. And I'm OBSESSED!

You don't have to go completely "Revenge of the Nerds" style and put all of the above together in one outfit. But, you want to incorporate a classic nerdy piece and pair it with a basic jean or cord pant, preferably a skinny fit. A bootcut or flare doesn't really make this look work. Then you want to make the overall look more casual: roll up your sleeves, don't button your shirt all of the way, tuck in only a portion of the shirt. The more casual, the better!

Here's my take on geek chic:

I wore this last Saturday to brunch with my friend, Arianne. It was the coldest morning thus far this fall, so I was super cozy and warm with the plaid woven and v-neck sweater. I rolled my sleeves and even rolled my jeans a bit...it just looked better with my old-school oxfords.

And speaking of oxfords...my favorite part of this outfit? My Bass saddle oxfords. Love!

Looking forward to playing around with this trend. I'm on the hunt for a great button cardigan that I can mix and match for more nerdy outfits. I may actually go with this one from J. Crew...with a pair of colored twill pants (another huge fall trend), basic white tee, and my oxfords. See how easy it is to be geek chic?

jcrew.com

 

Here are the links to my outfit (or similar items):
J Crew Plaid Woven (mine is last season, but here's another great plaid)
Aqua Cashmere V-Neck Sweater
7 For All Mankind Gwenevere Skinny Jean
Bass Women's Saddle Oxfords
Movado Women's Museum Moderna watch
Helen Ficalora cross charm
Alex Woo charm bracelet actually, this was a gift from Arianne :)
Chanel Glasses (these aren't quite the same, but pretty close)
 
Are you going to try this trend? If so, email me pictures (sincerelyobsessed@gmail.com). Would love to see how you make geek look chic!

Hello, Beautiful Skin

I have a new product obsession and I'm so excited to share it with you! A few weeks ago Dennis and I had dinner with our friends Marissa and Jon. Boys will be boys and talk about boy things; girls will be girls...and we talked about skincare. 

Marissa and I share a skincare obsession, and she has a beautiful complexion. She's partnered with the creators of Proactiv on their new skincare brand: Rodan + Fields Dermatologists. She gave me some samples...and I've got to be honest...I've never been so excited to try new products.

If you haven't heard about Rodan + Fields Dermatologists you might be living under a rock...their skincare products have received excellent reviews and recommendations from publications like Allure, Self, and Women's Health (you can see their entire press clippings here). 

So what is this incredible product I'm newly obsessed with? It's the Enhancements Micro-Dermabrasion Paste. If you know me, or have kept up with my blog thus far, you know I have dry and sensitive skin. My skin can get flaky and dull at times, which is always a signal that I need to do a little exfoliation to buff away that top layer of dead skin cells ruining my complexion. Since I have sensitive skin I used a small amount of the paste, which is a sugar and salt scrub with vitamins C & E, and followed the instructions to use on dry skin and massage for 60 seconds. I then rinsed and was AMAZED at how soft and smooth my skin was! I've used exfoliants and scrubs once or twice a month for years...and I've NEVER gotten results like this! I'm hooked! 

Now that I don't have that extra layer of dead skin on my face, my skin is brighter and more radiant...and my other skincare products can be absorbed better....it's a win/win situation. I used the paste last night and didn't even bother to wear makeup today while running errands. It's seriously good!

Interested in Rodan + Fields Dermatologists products? They have several lines that are catered to your individual needs. Check out Marissa's website and browse their products, testimonials, and FAQ page to learn more!  You can also purchase Rodan + Fields products on her website. 

Jon, Marissa, Dennis, and I

By the way...this isn't the only R + F product I've become obsessed with...but you'll read about those later :)

Trendy Tourist

Just because you're out sight-seeing doesn't mean you have to dress like the typical tourist, or worse, a total slob. Most of us would put comfort as the top priority in our wardrobe selection for a touristy trip. Which is completely understandable...you want to be comfy while checking out a new city...but you can still dress fashionably without sacrificing comfort! 

This past weekend Dennis and I visited Washington DC (his third trip, my first), and obviously seeing all of the monuments was at the top of our to-do list. If you've been to DC, you understand that means quite a bit of walking. Being New Yorkers, we walk a lot on a daily basis, so we were physically prepared. The next step was being fashionably prepared.

I packed my favorite brand of skinny jeans - 7 For All Mankind's Gwenevere fit. They're incredibly soft and comfy - not tight and restricting like most skinny jeans can be. They're super stretchy too, so they really move with your body...I could sleep in these! For a top, I packed my white Banana Republic boho blouse. It has wide, flowy sleeves with crochet around the neckline (again, super comfy...not sloppy). I layered an Express basic tank underneath since the boho blouse is a bit big. I topped off my look with my new favorite casual shoes, Sam Edelman's Jones Loafers (these are cushioned more than your average flat, so they were perfect for all of the walking we did), my Ray Ban aviators, and my Tory Burch messenger bag (LOVE). 

As for jewelry, I kept it extremely minimal with my Helen Ficalora necklaces and charms.

I don't look incredibly fabulous - like I'm headed to meet the President or First Lady - but at least if I did run into them, I wouldn't be embarrassingly dressed like a tourist.

Here's links to my outfit, except the BR boho blouse, it was from spring 2011.

7 For All Mankind Gwenevere Super Skinny Jeans
Sam Edelman Jones Loafers
Tory Burch Messenger Bag
Ray Ban Aviator Sunglasses
Helen Ficalora Charms