Meagan Michaelis

I’ve always had troubled skin. My high school days were filled with drug store face washes that unfortunately never seemed to work for me. They would promise to give me less acne, but somehow gave me more?? I realized years later that I was using the wrong stuff for my skin because I didn’t understand what type of skin I had. Many articles, google photos, and experimentions based on strangers advice on the internet later, I now know it’s sensitive combination skin, and does really well with lots of moisture and a good exfoliator. These products are all in my current routine and are the ones that I used and made me say— “wow, my face actually looks good.”

When I invested in my first slow fashion piece I almost passed ahwhey…dropping $100+ dollars on one shirt felt like a tragedy when you’re recovering from fast fashion. Buying differently has been my mission ever since I started my sustainable fashion journey. Investing in better quality clothing was important to me, and doing it with brands that care about their employees and the planet. There’s a scale of affordability for sure, and for the sake of my finances— when I want to invest I look at the sales, shop on Black Friday, or try to find pieces from the brands I love secondhand on the internet. There’s lots of ways to go about building your dream closet. But you need to know where to look first!

I spent my first big girl money on Glossier. They were honestly the first brand that ever made me feel seen. I always loved makeup, but I wasn’t into ‘beating’ my face like it was cool to do back then…I hated the way any drug store foundation made my face feel heavy, and never really looked like my skin. They opened up my world to the possibilities of makeup that was used to enhance my features & my skin, not cover it up. From texture to color options, they made makeup I could live in and feel beautiful and free in. Since then, they’ve expanded their makeup line ALOT, and even added fragrances and more skincare options. And while they have a special place in my heart, these are my honest to God reviews of each of their products I’ve used.

The fast fashion industry is one of the biggest waste contributors… Last year I did the 75 Hard Style Challenge, so my mind and my heart have been very focused on how to be a baddie with a clean conscious. I’ve always loved fashion, but I haven’t always cared about being responsible with my money or my impact on the earth, and honestly when I heard that fact, it broke my heart. I had a closet full of new-ish clothes, and some hand-me-downs, that I didn’t wear much. I associated my lack of style with the lack of what was or wasn’t hanging up in my closet. I didn’t give my clothes much thought beyond that they were in season and if I really needed something else, I could just go and buy it. And then donate the clothes I hate— rinse & repeat. It was wanting to be more responsible with my money that first led me to thrift and consignment shops, learning about the magnitude of the waste my shopping habits were contributing to made me take more consideration in the hand-me-downs, the slow fashion brands, Depop & Thred Up. I’m now slow in my buying. Creative in my styling. And see opportunity in all pieces of clothing. Anything can be an accessory. And the most practical thing you can do to create longevity is take really good care of what you already own. This list is of the tools that helped me start creating a wardrobe I love, and that has lasted through many seasons and trend cycles.

I’m traveling quickly down the interior decorator pipeline and I’m at the “Be Obsessed With Lamps” stage. The way my space feels is so important to me, but I live in a small apartment, and so saving space is also important to me. I’ve been enlightened to the power of the lamp, and a lamp can be a piece of decor that can really change a space without taking up too much of it. I feel so lucky to be alive around a time where design in the home can be so interesting. My apartment is kind of a mix of contemporary, post modern & vintage—so that’s what I’ll be serving up today.

YOU CHANGE IT UP 💕 I switched to matcha a few years ago because it truly IS better for the anxiety, but I rarely want it straight up. I usually have one every day and the frequency in which I partake along with my foodie nature pushed me to explore some unique flavor combos and these are my ✨favorite✨ *my go to is an iced matcha, so that’s how I’d enjoy each of these but most of them could be enjoyed hot, too!

ICE CREAM & SORBET RECS As a foodie, a wack culinary experience can really make or break a moment, right? I’m recommending these so that never happens to you or your perfect summer day 💕 For years I’ve been in search of ice cream I really like—even LOVE—because If I don’t like it I’m probably not spending the calories on it. What inspired these flavor choices is how they made me feel when I tasted them. Most of them. Some I still haven’t had yet, but…they’re on my list. You see what I did there? 😏