Hello, beautiful! As relieved as I have been to take a break from blogging (and spend time with my handsome boyfriend), I'm excited to get back into my regular routine - and share more of my inner life with you guys here on Haley Marie Blog, of course.
Today's blog post is all about the coveted summer glow up, which, let's face it, we've all been secretly craving since June 1st. I'm a firm believer that every body is a beach body, and that we don't need an Instagram filter or makeup mask to love ourselves the way that we are - but that doesn't mean we can't prioritize taking care of our bodies inside and out, too!
More importantly, it's important to acknowledge that what we see online - whether in the blogging, YouTube or Instagram communities - isn't always what we get in real life. To me, the glow up trend highlights an important reality of being a woman in the public eye: it takes a lot - and I mean a lot - of effort to keep up appearances!
Lately, I've been obsessed with absorbing as many summer beauty secrets as I can on Pinterest to help me master the art of physical self-care. My adventures eventually led me to learn about some incredible products to help you get that #glowup this summer, which I'm sharing with you today on the blog.
As I tell you the products I swear by for boosting my physical appearance, I encourage you to keep in mind that these supplements, scrubs and shampoos are part of what goes into being a beauty and lifestyle blogger. In other words, what you see on my blog and Instagram feed is not what you get when I roll out of bed at 7 AM in my favorite whale pajamas.
My life is far from perfect. However, with a little help from the right products, you, too, can live like one of your favorite bloggers! Assuming, of course, that I'm one of your faves :)
On that note, I can't wait to tell you all about my newfound beauty secrets for the perfect summer glow up - but before I go any further, I just want to take a brief moment to say thank you to Ritual for sending me their Women's Multivitamin to review and for inspiring today's post! Here's to the perfect daily ritual that helped me get my summer glow going on - and the ultimate women's health product that I hope you will love as much as I do.
Skin & Body
Step one to glowing up? Glowing skin, of course! This summer, show your full body and skin a little TLC - it is your largest organ, after all. Oh, and while you're soaking up those summer rays, don't forget to slather on some broad-spectrum SPF....because skin cancer isn't a good look on anyone, babe!
Ritual Essential for Women (AD)
When Ritual offered to send me their cult-favorite women's multivitamins to try, I couldn't be more excited. Not only are these vitamins totally Instagram-friendly (for all you bloggers out there!), but they're pretty much your typical multivitamin on steroids. These vitamins are free of synthetic colors, nausea-free and will leave your mouth minty fresh, meaning no more icky capsules that taste like dog food.
Ritual's Essential for Women formulation comes with nine key nutrients that are, you guessed it, essential to maintaining a healthy body and glowing skin. Their Omega-3s come from algae oil rather than fish, so you can feel good about getting your nutrients from a 100% vegan source, if you're into that kind of thing. Add on folate, boron, magnesium and more, and you've got yourself a supercharged multivitamin that's the perfect addition to your summer glow-up routine!
ClassPass Membership
As much as I love beauty products, there's only so much that scrubs, lotions and cleansers can do for your body. In the end, I'm of the opinion that there's nothing better than good old-fashioned exercise for giving you that summer glow. The key is finding an activity you love to do, and doing it often! That's what's great about ClassPass: their flexible monthly membership allows you to try out tons of classes nearby on the cheap. Click here to get a $40 credit from yours truly (aka a free week of ClassPass)!
Foreo FoFo
The Foreo FoFo is Foreo's next-level skincare technology. Included in every fabfitfun box this summer, the FoFo hooks up to Foreo's app to conduct personalized moisture readings - that's right, this device's unique sensors can determine whether your skin is hydrated too little, too much or just right. After these readings, the app gives you a personalized skincare treatment plan that syncs to your device, so you can have the cleanest skin of your life in less that five minutes. Can you say "hello, summer glow?"
Curology Acne Treatment
If you've ever struggled with hormonal acne, then you know how much Curology's customized acne treatments have helped me in the past. (Click here to check out my blog post all about it.) All you have to do to get a custom acne formulation from Curology? Snap a couple of pics, send them to your virtual derm and wait. Your custom formula will be on its way to your doorstep in no time, leaving you with nothing left to do but relax and get ready to thank Curology for its borderline-miraculous results.
Hair & Brows
Don't underestimate the power of hair to make a statement. Personally, I consider my hair an accessory of its own - and when I'm having a bad hair day, it's impossible for my look to stay on fleek without some serious doctoring in the salon or vanity mirror. That's why if you want to glow up, it's just as important to take care of your hair as it is to take care of the rest of your body! Oh, and don't forget your brows - after all, if your eyes are the window to the soul, then your eyebrows are pretty much the curtains to your soul. No pressure ;)
The Perfect Cut & Color
There's a lot to be said for a good haircut when it comes to styling the perfect look. I'm a big believer in investing in a quality salon experience - as in, a professional cut and color - in exchange for months upon months of great hair days. Because why waste your money on weekly blowouts when you could get a flattering haircut and air dry it? Don't just use the hashtag #WokeUpLikeThis - get a hairstyle that actually looks good when you wake up! A word of advice: salon consultations are key - and once you find a stylist you like, stick with 'em.
Love, Beauty & Planet Blooming Color Shampoo and Conditioner
Colored hair, beware! Traditional shampoos and conditioners can easily lead to brassiness and sun-bleaching if you're not careful. That's why I take care to use products specially formulated for colored hair. My latest obsession has been the Love, Beauty & Planet Blooming Color Shampoo and Conditioner for color-treated hair. The shampoo and conditioner both use coconut oil, murumuru butter and rose to keep your hair glossy and soft, and your color looking good as new. I highly recommend this product for hair that glows, especially if you're looking to extend the time you spend between salon visits.
It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In for Blondes
I can't possibly say enough about the It's a 10 original leave-in treatment - so you can imagine my glee when I discovered a special formulation especially for blondes. While I'm not blonde all-over, I like this product because it protects my highlights from sun damage and brassiness. After all, the perfect glow-up is all about that "I look amazing but I didn't even try" aesthetic - and there's no better way to ruin that than a botched dye job. Moral of the story is that you should always take care of your color-treated hair - and, of course, don't forget a spritz of It's a 10 before you leave for your next jet-set adventure.
Benefit Brow Bar
Last but not least, I'm loyal to the Benefit Brow Bar inside my local Ulta for giving me arches sharp enough to kill a man (don't worry, I kid). But seriously: the Benefit Brow Bar offers the most legit brow wax I've ever received! Before they even start slathering your skin in hot wax, they first map your brows and fill them in with a pencil so they can see where to start and stop waxing, tweezing and trimming. Then, your stylist gets to work with the speed and precision of a professional stunt driver - and soon enough, you'll have the best brows this side of the Mason-Dixon line.
Sexual & Mental Health
I firmly believe that when your body is healthy on the inside, you'll shine from the inside out. To me, mental and sexual health are both two HUGE components of what makes somebody healthy on the inside. (After all, what better way to glow up than afterglow?) The idea is simple: when you're happy and sexually satisfied, you put your best self forward. That confidence and joy you feel will leave you practically radiating from the inside out!
Sustain Natural Latex Condoms
Step one to sexual health: practice safe sex each and every time! Start by getting tested, and only having sex with partners who have tested clean, too. Then, use a barrier method - the right way - each and every time you have sex. (Side note: here's a handy guide from Planned Parenthood on practicing safe sex, whether or not you live with an STI.) Sustain's Natural Latex Condoms are a great barrier option for penetrative sex, and can also be turned into dental dams with a couple of handy snips. I love these condoms because founder Meika Hollander designed them to be fair-trade and chemical-free. For an extra-good time, pair them with Sustain's all-natural lubricant to reduce friction (and the chance of breakage) while doing the deed.
HUM Nutrition Moody Bird
When I learned there was a vitamin that could prevent me from experiencing such bad PMS and mood swings throughout my cycle, my reaction went a little something like this:
But in all seriousness, I can't rave enough about HUM Nutrition's Moody Bird supplement. It contains all-natural Dong Quai and Chaste Berry herbs, which have been used in natural medicine for centuries to help regulate the menstrual cycle. And, what's better, you can get $10.00 off your first order with my code 14B2CC! Head on over to HUM Nutrition to shop Moody Bird ASAP.
Spring Valley Cranberry Chews
Spring Valley's Cranberry Chews are pretty much Pinterest's number one obsession for women's health. Not only do the natural benefits of cranberry help protect you from UTIs (so does peeing after sex, FYI), but there's a conspiracy theory that they might even improve the taste of your lady parts during oral sex. Granted, there's no scientific evidence showing that this is true, but hey: I'm willing to try anything once for the sake of better sex.
OMG Yes Video Subscription
I've raved about OMG Yes before in my 5 Things I Wish I Learned in Sex Ed post, but I stand by what I said! For $40.00, you get lifetime access to OMG Yes's library of video tutorials and hands-on demos. The subject? How to masturbate especially for women - and, of course, how to better communicate your needs when translating the hands-on approach to a partner in the bedroom. It's a pretty price to pay for Orgasm 101, but with the orgasm gap as wide as it is, it's my firm belief that more women should know this resource is out there...and that more women should be investing in their pleasure through OMG Yes!
What glow-up essential do YOU swear by?