BIZZY BUT COOL
Wearing: Zara blazer / Levi’s jeans / Coccinele bag / NLY glitter turtle neck / Steve Madden nude heel / Cartier necklace
CASUAL BUT SLICK
Wearing: Zara blazer / Zara t-shirt / Levi’s jeans / Vintage woven bag (it was my mums, it is about 20 years old! / Adidas sneakers / Urban Outfitters glitter socks / Cartier necklace
FEMININE BUT FIERCE
Wearing: Zara blazer / Cocinelle bag / Jimmy Choo boots / Cartier necklace / Sacha sunnies
As you all already know, my hair isn’t great – but on top of that I also haven’t been blessed with the clearest skin. I have been battling with breakouts, oiliness, blackheads, scarring, irritation & desperation as long as I can remember. I have tried so many different products and the moment I thought a product was helping and my skin started to clear up, I would get punished for these thoughts by a shiny, white, huge zit, mostly on some very visible place like middle of my cheek.
Today, I seriously don’t believe that there is any type of product or product line that will get you clear, perfect skin with tiny pores – perhaps I am being pessimistic, but I feel like I have tried it all (including drinking a disgusting Chinese tea – which I needed to brew myself at my house – using totally gross smelling herbs and twigs mixed with alcohol – it made the whole house smell so bad and I got so nauseous drinking it. But drinking I did, as I truly believed it would clear out all my blackheads and give me a perfect skin – HA HA. Right now I only can imagine how much fun the old Chinese lady must have had thinking of me going trough all this for absolutely NOTHING) so I can hands down say – nothing will give you a perfect looking skin if you weren’t born with it (or if you don’t have ridiculous amounts of money for doctors which I don’t).
What I can say is, that there are products you can use as well as tricks you can do in order to keep your skin more or less under control.
The products below I have been using for a while now and noted that when I do my daily regime with these products, my skin does look much better and I have less breakouts and blackheads. These products my dearests, I am advising you after years and years of product tries and fails, so let me save you some money and most valuably – lots of time, by listing them below for you.
As some of the products aren’t cheap, I listed budget options which work almost as good, the key is always in the ingredients and not in the brand name, never forget this when choosing products for your skin, hair or body.
I am also giving you some do and don’ts for troublesome skin, I promise these tricks will help!
FACE WASH
Hydropeptide – Purifying Cleanser, Anti-wrinkle + clarify
Obviously it is very important to keep your skin clean and to take off your make up thoroughly every day, to avoid clogged pores as much as possible. Nr. 1 ingredient to unclog your pores is salicylic acid. I have been using this fasewash from Hydropeptide which has salicylic as well as mandolin acid which promote correction of imperfections as they exfoliate and clean pores deeply.
After using it,
I can feel that my skin is squeaky clean, but not over dried which is important – LOVE. Nice plus is that it has anti oxidants and soothing agents (anti aging), as well tea tree oil which clears out spots. The smell of the cleanser isn’t great, but it def does its work.
Note for all Dutchies: If you would like any of the Hydropeptide products, give me a shout and I’ll hook you up with some nice discounts! 🙂
Alternatives
Basically all face cleansers with salicylic acid will work, just watch out for them not to be too harsh, I have listed some good ones below.
Philosophy – Clear days ahead
Body Merry – Glycoid Acid Exfoliating Cleanser
Misumi – Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser
PEELING
Acure – brightening vegetable peel
I stopped using scrubs, as these irritate your skin and can cause even worse break outs.
Actually you want to treat your skin as gently as you can as harsh products and intensive scrubbing can irritate and inflame your skin. This is ideal playground for more breakouts, lowers the skin’s barrier function (again more breakouts as all the dirt can get deeper into your skin) and dries out your skin (aging!).
So I have been using this peeling which you simply apply on your cleansed skin, wait up to 8 minutes and rinse off including all your dead skin cells. I love it as it is 100% natural (made from kale and chlorella). I use it once or twice a week.
No need for scrubbing – scrubbing is basically scraping your skin – which is when you really think about it a pretty crazy thing to do to your face to start with.
(Btw, don’t you think my nails look good? I may have weak hair and troublesome skin, but my nails are great and I am so proud of them – all natural!)
PEELING 2
Laboratoires Novexpert – La Creme peeling de nuit
Once a week I use this overnight peeling (but using just one peeling is def more than enough, I just happen to have both these products at the same time). You just put it on instead of your serum and night cream and leave on overnight, washing it off in the morning. I particularly love this peeling as it contains vitamin c which visibly brightens your complexion. Oh and it smells divine! I love this brand as their products don’t contain any chemicals or preservatives and are almost 100% natural.
Get the peeling here ♥
*For Dutchies: you can get this peeling at Ici Paris.
Alternatives:
Below couple more peelings which are GREAT:
Alpha Beta peeling pads – LOVE
OroGold 24 Multi-Vitamin Deep Peeling – $$$ but sooo goood
TONER
Recherche Biologique – Lotion P50
I am in LOVE with this toner, it is my ride or die, I have been using it for a very long time now.
I apply the toner in the am and pm – the toner gently exfoliates, fortifies your skin so it can regenerate itself, it regulates the sebum secretion, and helps to maintain your skin’s ph level and also hydrates your skin (if you skin gets dry it will produce more sebum, so more clogged pores as a result).
Active ingredients:
TIP: After putting the toner on a cotton pad (actually gauze pads are better, they soak up more product and give amore even release) do not swipe it across your face (it will get red and tingle), but just pat gently on your face pressing and releasing the pad. I know this product seems intense (and it is!), but it is really effective and I would recommend it to anyone with any type of skin!
Alternative: I have never come across a toner which is as great as the P50, so I don’t have a product alternative. If you would need to choose just one product from this blog post, I would definitly recommend to get the P50, it’s my magic potion. Although if you tight on cash, do this:
As one of the magical effects of this toner is based on its acidity, you can make a similar version yourself using apple cider vinegar and water. Of course it will not have all the great ingredients of the P50 toner, but this is a great budget proof alternative which you can simply make at home and it is very effective as well! (mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 2 parts water). It will improve your complexion and help your skin function optimally warding off bacteria.
Messy, but functional 😛
LOCAL DISASTER OINTMENT
Hydropeptide – Spot Correction
I use this clearing spot treatment whenever things get bad locally, it helps to fight the bacteria and clears out the spots.
While using try to give yourself a break though – once I started with covering one red inflamed spot, I ended up smearing the solution all over my face – this is NOT how you should use this product 😛
SERUM
Hydropeptide – Redefining Serum
Fights spots, improves skin tone and has also anti aging agents – all I need from a serum. It also calms redness, is very light and absorbs super fast. Winner.
MOISTURIZER
Hydropeptide – Aquaboost
It is super important to keep your skin hydrated, I cannot repeat this enough. Dryness will cause only more blemishes which we want to avoid obviously. My personal fave is Aquaboost from Hydropetide as it has salicylic acid which cleans pores & Hyaluronic acid which is one of the most coveted moisturizing agents atm. It’s also is full of botanicals and antioxidants for you to keep that glowy young face 🙂
Oh and it smells like summer 🙂
SNAIL GEL
Holland & Barret (de Tuinen)
This is so funny because actually my bf got me hooked on this (he uses it every day and he loves it). I use it when my skin gets pretty bad, as it beautifully heals your skin, disinfects it and makes it super smooth! Snake snail also consists lots of natural collagen which helps to keep your skin look youthful. I usually put a thick layer on at night and wash it off in the morning.
Get the gel here (Dutchies) ♥
Similar – Organic Doctor Snail Gel ♥
MASK – TO CLEAN DEEPLY
Holland & Barret (De Tuinen)
Total ambassador for this mask, it:
MASK – TO HYDRATE & CALM YOUR SKIN
Khiels – Calendula & Aloe Vera Soothing Hydratation Masque
I am actually a big fan of Khiels, I own a lot of their products, although for the problem skin, I get better results using other brands. For hydration though which is really important also for the acne prone skin, I love love love this mask. When I put it on my skin literally drinks it up and feels super fresh after rising the remaining product off.
I use the mask on its own or after the green clay mask. It is also a perfect mask to use during or after flights or after spending a day in the sun.
Alternative: Get an aloe vera plant or buy loose leaves at the grocery store, cut the leaves open en put the jelly like consistence on your face – works great and will also heal scarring.
FOUNDATION
Lancôme – Skin Feels Good
The best thing you could do for your skin is to keep it foundation free (we all know that that is pretty much to ask though) , as most foundations contain heavy metals which make your pores larger and your skin dull. Foundations may also cause breakouts as your pores can get clogged. It is very important to use a foundation which allows your skin to breathe and is not too heavy. I stumbled upon this Lancome foundation lately and I have to say that it is a great one – it is super light, feels very fresh and hydrating to my skin, does not clog pores and contains moringa seed extract (free radicals protection) & hyaluronic acid (locks in moisture and plumps). It gives a nice glow and let your skin shine trough.
I use it during day time and it is also perfect for summer holidays & hot days as it is super light. For evenings though I use a foundation with more coverage.
Do’s and Don’ts to keep your skin drama free:
Do:
Try to clean your face as soon as you get home.
Don’t:
Touch your face after you have washed it! This sounds so ‘bla’, but seriously, just pay attention on how many times you touch your face without noticing! Each time you do this you’re creating a breeding ground for breakouts – STOP.
Do:
Use gentle products & moisturize
Don’t:
Scrub, use products with powerful antibacterial agents like benzoyl peroxide, harsh drying agents.
Do:
Get good facials, like one every 6 weeks if you can to professionally clean and exfoliate your skin and have extractions done. I love ultrasonic facials, where the beautician uses a device with high lever sound wave technology which penetrates deep below the surface of the skin promoting extractions, deep cleansing and also helps the skin to heal. I feel like this is the best way to get extractions done as no squeezing is needed!
Don’t:
This is so hard, cliché and annoying – I know – but try not to squeeze your face, you’re only making it worse (let the beautician do this for you, or if you don’t want to spend cash on a facial – steam first and then use paper napkins to squeeze and after disinfect and apply toner to close the pores, otherwise they will fill up with gunk again!).
Do:
Drink lots of water
Don’t:
Drink alcohol (HA, I know this will never be reality, so just pay attention to all the other do’s and don’ts)
Hope this was helpful to you guys! Also, if you did have found some holy grail product which gave you perfect clear skin with tiny micro pores, I am all ears, let me know!
NOTE: As already mentioned; if you are a Dutchie and you are interested in any of the Hydropeptide products and/or facials, please shoot me a message or e-mail (see contact page) or leave a comment and I will hook you up with some nice discounts 🙂
xo Monika
Ok, so this part has not really much to do with Wynwood itself, but the art hub is a great place to take some really cool outfit pictures! Check out mine below 🙂
Wearing: Zara top & shorts / Balenciaga cut out boots / Gucci sunglasses / Chloe bag / Chanel belt
Wearing: Love & Lies dress / Balenciaga cut out boots / / Au revoir les filles necklace / Chloe bag / Ray Ban sunglasses / Hair scarf: vintage
Wearing: Bamboo Blonde crop top / Zara pants / Urban outfitters glasses / Zara basket / Steve Madden wedge heel
Wearing: Zara top & leggings / Balenciaga boots / Chloe bag / Chanel belt
Now that we quenched our thirst for art, let’s still our hunger for shopping, fun & food (obviously).
The shopping
Wynwood is sprinkled with lots of cool shops and boutiques that carry interesting items, nothing main stream, so you can really find something different and uncommon, which is great. I love the mix of high end, boho, cutting edge fashion & local and European design. Just walk around Wynwood and you’re automatically will stumble upon all the different stores, so just go and explore!
I do would like to navigate you a lil’ more in regards to the food & the fun, so I have listed my favourite spots for you guys, definitely go and check them out and when you do, please let me know if you loved them as much as I do!
The Food
I am really excited to unravel a bit about all the food spots – there are so many of great great places where you can indulge in even greater food, bites & cocktails. I feel that Wynwood has Miami’s most creative & fun restaurants at the moment. So here we go, below a short list of my go to’s for delicious food & great ambiance:
Kyu – My absolute nr 1 – very interesting Asian food menu, AMAZING cocktails (must order: Tom Kyu Gai) The interior is modern, tasteful, raw and features some interesting art –for me that is the ambiance l love to dine in. Get the roasted cauliflower & the crispy pork belly – it’s divine. Kyu is also a great place to just hang out at the bar.
Check out Kyu: kyurestaurants.com
Joey’s – Italian food, great for lunch, cool & tiny bit fancy vibe. Make sure to get a spot outside in the beautiful garden.
Check out Joey’s – joeyswynwood.com
The Butcher Shop Beer Garden & Grill – A chill & laid back ambiance, lots of locally crafted beers (it is so weird how I used to dislike beer and now I am all about it) and simple, but good & tasty food – what I love about this place is the fact that they promote clean and healthy eating – all food is all natural with no hormones, no antibiotics, no nitrates. Their burgers and sausages are made in house & the meat comes from certified farms. Also they have vegan options if you coming with a group of mixed eaters. There is a patio where you can hang out which has a true beer garden feel including large picnic tables. This is a great place to hang out with a group before you go out or to have a fun lunch.
Check out the Beer Garden – butchershopbeergarden.com
The Fun
That culturally inspired nightlife scene, my faves below:
The Wynwood yard – Super cool hang out with live music/dj’s – there are different events going on almost every day (Reggae sundays!) multiple laid back food spots and a big bar in the middle (get the Froze! Or some locally brewed beers) to hang around on.
In the mornings/early afternoon the Wynwood yard is actually a chill weekday outdoor workspace as well, the wifi is good and the background music gets you moving and grooving on that to do list.
Check out: thewynwoodyard.com
1-800 Lucky – This is actually a food hall (Miami’s first ever!) featuring seven Asian concepts – although I like this place mostly for its athmospehere as it has a cool bar and the outside area is a great place to hang out and chill. But while you’re hanging out get the duck – it’s yummy.
Check out: facebook.com/1800lucky
El Patio – Latin hang out; funky, charming & authentic decor (the owner actually shipped some of the furniture from Colombia). Great music (Latin, reggae, electro) & such a fun ambiance! A nice surprise is the great happy hour – $1 beers and $4 cocktails… which was supposed to make me spend less, but in the end it just made me drink more. But that just added to the fun which is the subject of this post in any case 😛
Check out: elpatiowynwood.com
The murals are perhaps the most outspoken, grand and not to miss art in Wynwood, but don’t forget to visit the – sometimes very well hidden – galleries, there are over 70 of them! There is the curated pop art gallery in the Wynwood Walls area, The Margulies Collection, Eleazar Delgado Studio, Pan American Projects – I went to a bunch & wanted to particulary highlight one of my favorites; The Rubell Family Collection. Scroll down to see and read more about it!
3 images below: pop art in the gallery at the end of the Wynwood Walls walk.
Rubell Family Collection – located in a huge warehouse (cool fact: it once was a DEA confiscated goods facility) and privately owned by the Rubell family, is a worthwhile art collection to see. The fact that it is owned just by one family is remarkable to me (ok, another cool fact: Donald Rubell was the brother of Steve Rubell, who was the co-founder and co-owner of Studio54), as well as the exposition which took place when I visited (& still to see until August 25th). The current exposition is ”Still Human” which I experienced as really interesting, but actually also pretty disturbing – it showcases how technology is reshaping our behaviour.
One of the unsettling art works is a suited woman packed in a see trough garbage bag – her job is all the woman was, it defined her. Without it – she’s simply trash. A sad showcase of the impact of automation on the work force. The piece is called ”Thank you for your service”.
On the right: A painting by Allison Zuckerman, an other expo at the Rubells’ (”Stranger in Paradise”).
The installation which packs an even harder punch is called ‘Untitled’ (top picture on the right) You see a girl holding herself up by her chin, hanging couple of inches above the ground. It seems like she’s sleeping, but then every couple seconds the fingers of her non bionic arm move (creepy!) On her back she is attached to a battery pack, she’s charging like an Ipad or Iphone . The most scary part though, is to see how my friend almost organically fits in into the whole scenery, doesn’t it look like she’s a part of it?!
”Still Human” leaves you a bit pessimistic about our technology mediated future & gives you a lot to think about, if you get the chance, def go and check it out, it is so worth it!
The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse.
Rubell Family Collection – Life sized ”Barbie” doll transformed into a nutcracker. There are actual walnuts at the gallery for visitors to crack.
The Rubells are known for givig a platform and being a fairy godparent for many young artists and women artists.
