Beauty Essentials Ms. Chacha and I Can't Live Without!

Alex and I were chatting the other day about some of our favorite beauty essentials, everything from bathrobes to skin and hair products. We decided we like them so much we wanted to share them with you. Most items are things we found because friends and family recommended them and that is why we felt it was important to share!

So, here they are! Our favorites…all linked back at the bottom of this post to make it easy to read more about them and purchase if you wish!

Hanro-Cotton Waffle Bathrobe. Alex and I get a lot of use out of a short light weight bathrobe. We love to wear them out of the shower, after moisturizing and while applying makeup. The waffle texture is great for absorbing moisture!

Speaking of showers, this “Love Pumice 2 in 1 Pumice Stone for Feet” does the trick! We will even take these scrubs on vacation. Use them in the shower and then moisturize with the Goe Oil (also recommended here) to keep heels smooth! Definitely a must in sandal weather!

Here’s the All Over Long Lasting Natural Body Goe Oil. By far our favorite body oil. A little goes a looong way! Especially moisturizing for those dry Winters in New England!! I first read about this on the Anthropologie website and then discovered it when we were in Utah. What a lifesaver.

Speaking of the “trotters,” these UGG-Ansley Antoinette' Slippers are a winner. Alex and I have been believers in these slippers since we lived in CT. We still wear them in Florida! We promise...they won't owe you a penny!

We must talk about all three of these products at once because they go hand in hand.

There are many hair towels/turbans out there. Don't be fooled. The Aquis Original Microfiber Hair Turban is the best! I think we’ve tried all of them! It absorbs moisture and really cuts down on drying time. Alex and I both love it.

Before brushing out that mane we both like to use this The Wizard Detangling Primer, by Amika. It’s a new one to our hair regimen thanks to Alex’s hair stylist. We purchased one bottle to try and we must purchase another because it goes back and forth between our two medicine cabinets!!

I don’t know how we got along all those years without the Wet Brush Flex Dry! Talk about "No More Tears!" I use it every day (so does Alex) on wet or dry hair!

For those days when you don’t have time to wash your hair or you just need a refresh. We love this Batiste Dry Shampoo Clean & Light Bare. Dry Shampoo is a lifesaver!! I was using the colored ones for a while but I don't like the way the color comes off on towels. This version is lightweight and fresh! Spray from a distance, let it sit a minute and then blow dry it through!

Here is another grouping of products that go well together…

We love having a spa headband and are not particular about which brand we use. I like to keep one in the guest bath too. They are also great when applying masks! I like this Terry Cloth Spa Headband, by Tatibana. It has a velcro closure instead of being an elastic pull on version.

Speaking of taking off makeup…I have used Lancome BI-FACIL - Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover for years. I have tried many others in between but always come back to Lancome.

Instead of using a cottonball my dear friend, Laurie, turned me onto these Shiseido Facial Cotton Squares. They are super for removing eye makeup when paired with the Lancome BiFacil. They are much easier on delicate skin areas.

Although, this Clarisonic Mia Smart Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush has been on the market for a while, I only was able to try it yesterday at a special spa day that Alex and I shared. I can’t wait to get one! Maybe Santa will bring one!!! I don’t think a speck of dirt is left on the face and it’s super gentle.

I always believe a makeup mirror is an essential. However, the older I get the more I need the magnification of a makeup mirror. I love this VESAUR - 10" Lighted Makeup Mirror - 5X Magnifying Mirror-LED Lights because it has both regular and magnifying mirrors and is pretty compact for small places.

This is the perfect time to talk about brows. I am obsessed with Anastasia Beverly Hills - Precision Tweezers and Anastasia Beverly Hills - Brow Gel. Don't let anyone use these tweezers for splinters! I always keep them in my makeup bag! The brow gel goes on smooth and doesn’t clump or flake.

These Mario Badescu - Mist and Glow Facial Spray Collection, (3 Piece Set - Lavender, Cucumber, Rose) are wonderful after a day in the sun. This travel size is also great to take along as a refresher after Alex's riding or even in a carry on for after a flight. We each have a favorite but we'll let you decide which is your pick. We suggest the pack of 3 to sample first!

This Yonka -Facial Spray (Normal And Oily Skin) Toner is a must, especially for both teens! I have been using it for years!!! I’m not kidding…probably since 1991!!! For any acne outbreaks (especially from riding or football helmets) I suggest compresses with the Shiseido cotton squares. It is amazing how well it works.

I was lucky enough to sample The Countertime Collection for a week and I'm sold! Have you heard about BeautyCounter? “One by one, they are leading a movement to a future where all beauty is clean beauty. They are powered by people, and their collective mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Formulate, advocate, & educate—that’s their motto for creating products that truly perform while holding themselves to unparalleled standards of safety. Why? It’s really this simple: beauty should be good for you.” They are an amazing company and their products will not disappoint. The facial cleansing oil, Supreme Cream and Eye Renewal Cream were really impressive! I am also a fan of their foundation and toner pads (especially for traveling).

All products are linked in this catalog…Beauty Essentials Ms. Chacha and I Can't Live Without!

We hope you enjoyed the suggestions! Would love to hear any of yours. You can always email us or dm @therealchachaolivia.

Fashionably yours,

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Teaching My Teens How They Dress Matters

I always had the best time shopping for Alex’s clothes. Then one day I bought her an outfit she didn’t like. I knew that day would eventually come. My little girl was growing up and I was excited to see her style evolve.

We started off on a little shopping trip to celebrate her birthday. We were having a lot of fun and finally landed at the shoe department in Nordstrom’s. We came across a sale rack and she was able to try on all the shoes that interested her. She pulled out a pair of heels and they were small enough to fit. It was fun to watch her walk around in them. And then she asked me to buy them for her…she really wanted them! I was not buying them. She was 5! It made me realize as cute as the whole situation was, there were a lot of things we’d have to talk about when it came to dressing.

I had some worries then and I still do now. She is in middle school and these can be difficult years. We are embarking on this long road and there are so many things to discuss as we navigate this next chapter. I’d like to have fashion and shopping remain part of our fun!

It’s important to say here that I’ve had similar discussions with my son about clothing. For the purpose of keeping things simple, I have chosen to chat about the way Alex and I are navigating it. As a family we have been discussing this topic and it has been very interesting to hear their views and thoughts.

I want both of my children to have their own style and to feel comfortable in the clothing they wear. I do, however, want them to realize that it’s important to think about what you wear and what it says about you.

I want both of my children to have their own style. It’s important to feel comfortable in the clothes you are wearing. I know for myself, when I feel put together I am at my most confident. Have you read my blog post "I Feel Pretty"? It’s all about my feelings towards clothing and my confidence. This may not be true for everyone but I can certainly see a difference in Alex’s confidence and the way she carries herself when she is put together in something she chooses to wear. I also recognized it was important for Anthony to choose his own graduation suit and shoes for his end of year events. He stood a little taller and carried himself differently.

Your peers aren’t the only ones who see you. You will be seen by parents, teachers and potential employers all throughout your life. These people may all look at how you present yourself differently. It most likely will matter to them. They will care how you present yourself.

In the same breath, whether we like it or not…this is also the first impression people have of you. The way we carry ourselves and how we present ourselves is the first thing people see. My children explained that their friends respect what other classmates choose to wear and even if they think a classmate is wearing shorts that are too short, exposing cleavage or even wearing a hood over their head in 90 degree weather, it’s their choice to do so. I heard this from other teens that I spoke with too. I was glad to hear that they didn’t judge other kids for the way they dressed. But what I did stress to them was this…your peers aren’t the only ones who see you. You will be seen by parents, teachers and potential employers all throughout your life. These people may all look at how you present yourself differently. It most likely will matter to them. They will care how you present yourself. I was happy to see that they agreed with this.

Where do we go from here?

I decided to give Anthony and Alex a small list of questions to help them navigate choosing an outfit for outside of school events and occasions. I explained to them that these are things I think about myself when getting dressed! They were receptive to the idea because it gives them freedom in choosing their own clothes. I liked it because it takes me out of the equation, and now that we have laid some ground work it builds trust.

*Is this outfit appropriate for the weather?

*Will there be activities that I can comfortably participate in with this outfit?

*Is the outfit I’m planning on wearing appropriate for where I’m going? Is it a funeral, church, an adventure park or the beach?

I know that we still have Middle School and High School years to navigate and the road of “what is appropriate to wear” may not always be this smooth. At least it’s a start. As always, I think openly discussing things is important and so is respecting my children’s opinion. I also realize that every teen is different and so are all parent/child relationships.

I hope you’ll join me next week. Alex and I collaborated on planning her Summer Looks. It was quite an adventure as she has grown out of the children’s department and is shopping in Juniors. There were many more options and it was interesting to see the items she chose and how she arrived at her decisions!

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