Sarah Lavin

Teething, crawling, and solid foods, oh my! My baby is making her preferences known. Here are some of her favorite snacks, gear, toys, and more. She still enjoys books and toys, but they don’t hold her attention when she just wants to move and crawl around.

Are you behind on the Korean skincare hype? I’ve got you with a quick guide of what I know so far. K-beauty is highly innovative and trend-setting. It’s focused more on skin health and protecting the barrier. We are moving away from having a permanent skin type, and we are treating skin as needed. (For example skin can be oily but dehydrated, could be drier in winter, etc). Korean skincare is definitely changing the whole beauty industry, so strap in! Meet the hottest K-beauty brands: Medicube- Think innovation! They popularized the current PDRN craze, which is an ingredient being studied for skin regeneration / collagen production. Seriously, every new skincare product I see lately seems to be PDRN themed. Their viral pink PDRN product line also has hydrolyzed collagen (Think hydrating, smoothing texture, and plumping fine lines) Lots of great products and they always have something new as well. Products are around $20-$40 (excluding their expensive devices). Anua- We know them as an affordable and trendy Korean skincare brand! They are steadily coming out with more and more skincare products. They had a product collab with K Pop Demon Hunters, which really made them especially popular with a younger demographic. TIRTIR- Woman-founded brand. They are known for their cushion foundations, which are incredible. Affordable brand with most products in the $20-$25 range. Focus is on a perfected complexion and they know what they’re doing! Peach and Lily- Heard about “glass skin”? That term was popularized by this brand! It took me awhile to get into because the cute packaging gave me the (totally wrong) impression that the skincare wasn’t effective. Plus, it’s female-founded and an AAPI-founded. Mighty Patch- Woman-founded brand. These are pimple patches that aren’t just stickers! These have a medical grade hydrocolloid that absorbs fluid from blemishes while protecting it.

Step by Step of my simplified makeup routine! SPF + skin tint, concealer (just a dot), setting powder, bronze, blush, mascara, and lips!

Anyone else obsessed with Alo? I love going in the physical store to try stuff on. I never want to take the items off! Everything is great quality and super stylish.

Ever go to your closet and have NO idea what to wear? I like to have “outfit formulas” in mind so I have a vague idea of what I can grab. I tried to link the exact item I own and love most where I could!

Did I go a little crazy on my recent shopping trip? Definitely! I tried out lots of clothing and beauty products and made strict cuts before check out. Here’s what all made it home with me. 🫶

Have you heard the phrase, “Buy it nice, or buy it twice”? Those are words I’ve learned to live by. I’m still living and learning what lasts and what doesn’t. But here are my absolute favorite things that I’ve found to be worth every penny!

These are all the pretty products that are hot sellers right now at my Ulta location. A lot of these even sell out often! Lately, I have seen a ton of press-on nails, and more skincare and hair care than usual! The Ordinary, Amika, Pureology, Medicube, Sol de Janiero body mists, and Korean skincare brands have all been very popular. Charlotte Tilbury, Fenty, Tarte, and Nars are the most popular in prestige makeup right now. I see a lot of hair tools like curling irons sell lately with no specific item being most popular. I’ve also seen more hair dye lately. People seem to be skipping the nail and hair salon and trending toward DIY hair and nails 💅🏼

I love fragrances! I make an effort to smell and test everything that comes out. The new launches have become overwhelming and it can be hard to keep up, even as an Ulta employee. Here are some new and noteworthy scents! Including the notes, my own opinion, and my silly descriptions of who I invision might wear the scent. Don’t forget about Ulta’s return policy if you ever need to use it. If you loved the description, but you don’t love the scent in person, you can always return within 30 days for full refund. ❤️

Cool boho style is so back! My obsession with Free People in particular is growing and growing. A new location opened near me and I love going there. Everything I’ve gotten has been amazing quality. I love finding pieces that are comfy, feminine, and effortless!

Designer high-end and luxury items I’m loving and wishing for! I love balancing fun fashion with looking clean and elegant. Here’s some beautiful fashion and accessories that have caught my eye.

I had a rough pregnancy! Nausea was sooo bad as well as lots of sensory issues around smells and clothing. I also had extreme heartburn at the end, and gestational diabetes made me rethink everything when it came to my diet.

I’ve been a MUA at Sephora and I’ve worked at Ulta for manyyy years. These are some of my all time favorite things that not everyone knows about! And remember: 1. Start with a moisturizer for YOUR skin type 2. Good lighting is everything 3. Blend, blend, and blend some more!

I like to travel light! I love mini’s and travel sizes. Besides my phone, keys, and wallet, here’s everything I keep with me to keep everything clean, fresh, beautiful, and of course my travel perfumes so I always smell good!

All the pretty things I’m wanting are here! I love girly fashion, shoes, and finding the absolute best beauty products and fragrances.

I try it all and I always ask what my coworkers are loving too 💞 There’s always so many products it can be hard to know what’s actually great. Here’s a list of the products that I’ve gotten my hands on and that went way above my expectations!

Did you know Saint Lucia is only a 4.5 hour flight from Atlanta? It’s a top honeymoon destination and there are lots of fun things to do and gorgeous views to see. The famous Piton mountains are a must-see! The locals serve locally brewed Piton beer and they’ll make you a fresh “Coco Loco” which is served in a coconut with locally made liquor. I’ve also heard of visitors taking a scenic helicopter ride from the airport to their resort!

From a mom who loves high-quality basics as well as trends. I love being both cute and comfy! These pieces are my most reached for, and they are effortless to style. I used to run late because I couldn’t figure out what to wear, or what things go together. I’ve curated my closet to be ready to grab and be on my way! My favorite pieces are ultra comfortable and also feel luxurious!

I’ve done ALL the research. These are the best investments that make being a mom easy breezy. Some are basic essentials, and some are expensive but so worth splurging on. I love having all the help I can get as a SAHM who’s doing it all!

I’ve worked at Ulta AND Sephora. I’ve tried it all! These are my tried and true products that I always repurchase.

Going on our bi-weekly date night is something I sooo look forward to. I definitely love being wined and dined! Here are only my favorite places to go in Huntsvillle and Madison.