Safer skin care? Beautycounter for the win!

I’m sure we all have our go-to products when it comes to skin care and make-up, I am no different.  Over the years I have used face wash and moisturizer by the likes of Kiehls, Chantecaille, LaMer, you name it.  I was also a bit of a make up snob and had my go-to items from MAC, Bobbi Brown, NARS, and YSL just to name a few.  Trust me, I was the first person to say ‘no thanks’ when approached by people who used other skincare or make up products.  

But, something changed for me.  A little over a year ago a good friend joined Beautycounter as a consultant and sent me a few of her samples.  I’ll admit – I liked what she sent, but when push came to shove, I kept using what I already had.

As time went on, I kept hearing more and more about this company, and decided to do a little more research about them.  Their mission statement is “to get safer products into the hands of everyone”…sounds good, right?

A few interesting facts…

• There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today, many of which do not have any safety data
• The FDA {the agency in charge of regulating cosmetics in the U.S.} allows companies to use chemicals known to be extremely harmful in products we use
• The U.S. hasn’t passed a major federal law to regulate the safety of ingredients used in personal care products since 1938
• The European Union in the last couple of years has banned more than 1,300 chemicals in the product formulas of personal care products {the U.S. has only partially banned 11 to date}

Y’all it seems like almost daily I am hearing of someone I know or a friend of a friend who has been diagnosed with some form of cancer.  And most of these people are young!!  While some of these chemicals/toxins haven’t been directly linked to certain cancers, I decided I wanted to do better.  The skin is our largest organ, so why aren’t we watching what we lather all over ourselves?  Women put an average of 168 chemicals on their bodies EVERY DAY.

Beautycounter has committed to a health and safety standard that goes beyond what’s required by law in the U.S. – the company has banned the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals through their “Never List”.  Not only are these products safer, but they’re still high-performing like other luxe skin care and make up products on the market.

I will be doing more posts on specific items, but in the meantime if you want more information or would like to try any of their products, please reach out to me at lindseylicht@gmail.com or check out my link at beautycounter.com/lindseylicht.  You won’t be disappointed, I promise!!

 

xo, Elle

Baby blues and booties

Hi loves – welcome to my blog!

A few weeks ago I had my first photo shoot – a big thanks to Ryan Duggar at ryanduggarphotography.com.  A natural at modeling, this was easy.  I kid, I kid.  This was a bit daunting at first, and definitely outside of my comfort zone.  I will say, it helps having someone experienced behind the camera to guide/direct you.

So let’s get down to the important stuff – the outfit.  Living in Atlanta, the transition from summer to fall can be a little tricky (80 degrees on Halloween, anyone?!)!  I saw the ‘Elsa’ Chiffon Tassel Blouse from Goodnight Macaroon and fell in love!  A huge fan of baby blue, the color immediately caught my eye.  I also really liked the detailing at the top, the tassels, and that it was light-weight.  Not only have I worn it casual chic {as seen in the pics below}, but I’ve also dressed it up for work and worn with a pencil skirt and block heels (see last pic)!

Does anyone else appreciate white after Labor Day?!  Growing up in the South, white was acceptable between Easter (though I think the more strict folks would even wait until Memorial Day) and Labor Day.  I am so glad those ‘rules’ went away!  I decided to pair my Goodnight Macaroon top with white J.Crew skinny jeans, and these cut-out Vince Camuto booties.

The cut-out booties are perfect for this transitional weather – they give your feet breathing room so they’re not too hot, they’re comfy, and of course cute.

(Pic above: pairing this blouse with the pencil skirt for work)

What are some of your favorite transitional pieces this year?  Be on the look out for more ‘fall outfit’ posts soon!  xoxo, Elle

 

 

Wanderlust in the making…(Part 1)

As a child I’d never flown on an airplane, but I was convinced I was scared of them.  Yeah yeah yeah, I know – cars are more dangerous and you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than die in a plane crash, but none of that mattered to me.  The irony is, I’m actually fascinated by airplanes (so long as I am not one of its passengers).

Fast forward some years – in my twenties I did a fair number of traveling {in the states}, but still was not a HUGE fan of flying.  However, I saw friends travel abroad and I had a deep yearning to see other parts of the world.

My sweet (and brave) friend Jessica decided to join for my first European vacation, and my passion for travel was officially born in July 2011.

After a long couple of days attempting to get to Rome (buddy passes and a British airways strike), we made it!  Thanks to plenty of research via friends, Rick Steves, the internet, and good ole’ Facebook, we were ready to explore!

Rome has plenty to sightsee – from the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain, to the Pantheon, and the Roman Ruins.  Last but certainly not least, the infamous Coliseum.

(These pictures were all taken with an actual camera, imagine that!!)

When in Rome (literally!), I realized I had a great appreciation for art, architecture, and history.  Growing up, I was always more interested and academically inclined to math and science, versus fine arts.  It’s amazing what being in a foreign country can do for your interests – seeing first hand these paintings and structures, and imagining the time it took people hundreds to thousands of years ago.  I was in awe.

Annnnnnd because Italy.  You can never have too much gelato, #amiright?!

The other must-do/see in Rome is Vatican City.  You can easily take the metro from Rome proper to Vatican City, where you’ll see St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum (wherein the Sistine Chapel lies).  I would highly recommend hiking to the top of the Dome which overlooks St. Peter’s square – you’ll feel good about working off all that Italian food, wine, and gelato! 😉

View from St. Peter’s Basilica dome.

Pic below: illegal pic of the Sistine Chapel, shortly before being escorted out by an Italian policeman.

I want to talk ALL day about this trip, but I realize the first destination is already becoming a novel.  So….more to come on the rest of this trip….stay tuned, loves!

xoxo, L (‘Elle’)