Christina’s Favorites | October 2018

This year is flying by. This week officially marks one year back in San Francisco, and what an eventful year it has been! Here are a few of the things I have been loving lately…

BEAUTY

Credo Beauty | Marie Veronique Soothing B3 Serum | Tata Harper Boosted Contouring Eye Mask

After becoming pregnant, I became much more aware of the ingredients in the products I use and tried to swap out my normal routine for “clean” products. When I started out I had good intentions, but I found it impossible to keep track of what I should or shouldn’t be using. All those five syllable ingredients on the back of packages left me unsure I was choosing the right things. I kept thinking I really wish there was a place I could go where someone else has already done all the legwork. Then a friend recommended Credo Beauty. They carry tons of clean beauty lines ranging from skincare to makeup to hair care. 

Michelle at the San Francisco location is AWESOME. After consulting with her about my skin concerns (parched skin, redness, fine lines, and crazy pregnancy hormones), she was able to pick out a regimen perfect for me. I swear she knows every ingredient in every product and what it does. She did a mini facial (which is FREE when you purchase two products) with all the products she recommended  and I’m loving the results so far. Two of my standout favorites:

Tata Harper Boosted Contouring Eye Mask – Is it just me or is it sometimes hard to tell if your eye cream is actually doing anything? When it comes to my skin, there is nothing I hate more than those pesky little lines around my eyes. I find that the area can get dry which leads to makeup and concealer settling right in. Ugh! Michelle gave me a sample of this eye mask a couple months back, and I immediately purchased it when I returned to the shop. This mask keeps the area around my eyes plump and hydrated making this new mama look alive despite sleep deprivation. Pro Tip: Michelle also recommends using it between your eyes to prevent the “11” lines that develop in that area; something I never thought to do!

Marie Veronique Soothing B3 SerumThis serum ticks all the boxes when it comes to my main skin concerns. It leaves my skin glowy and is great for all seasons. If you have redness, rosacea or generally sensitive skin, give this serum a try!

If you’re interested in clean beauty and don’t not where to start, stop by one of their stores (you can book ahead online). The staff is incredibly helpful! If you’re in SF, you’ll find the store on Fillmore Street. For my New York friends, check them out in Soho on Prince Street.

In other clean beauty news – did you know Sephora recently released a clean beauty section? If you are apart of the Sephora loyalty program, there is an upcoming sale site and storewide! For VIB members (those that spend between ($350-$1,000/year), you get 20% off from Friday November 9th through Monday November 12th with code VIBBONUS.  If you are at the base level, your discount days are Friday November 16th through Monday November 19th where you’ll get 15% off with code BIBONUS. It’s a great time of year to stock up on your favorites or try something new. They carry the Tata Harper line I mentioned above.

FASHION

Modern Citizen Marjorie Sweater Coat in Plum

Between being pregnant and now on maternity leave, I have had an incredibly boring wardrobe over the last year. I’ve been dreaming about the day where I can wear a cute outfit and heels without worry of spit-up from my baby or God knows what from my toddler all over me. Until that day arrives, I’m at least stepping up my uniform with pieces from Modern Citizen. This is a new-to-me Bay Area brand started by Stanford grads and is owned and operated by women. If you are a fan of the brand Vince, you will love their aesthetic and even more, you will love their accessible prices. My absolute favorite thing is that nearly everything is MACHINE WASHABLE! As a mom this is so important to me, but even before becoming a mother, I hate hate HATED when I bought something and wore it only to find out it was hand wash only. Does anyone else have a bag full of hand wash only clothes that has been sitting around forever? #guilty

I picked up this cabernet colored sweater coat. The color is gorgeous in person and the material is nice and thick so it will look and feel great all season long. 

If your’e in San Francisco, check out their newly opened flagship store at 2078 Union Street. In addition to clothes, they carry beautifully curated accessories and home goods.

FOOD

From the time everyone gets home and until the kids go to bed, we are moving nonstop. I enjoy cooking, but these days I need to get something on the table quickly that I can’t screw up too much if it gets neglected for a few minutes. This is my go-to weeknight pasta recipe from Giada De Laurentiis’ oldie but goodie cookbook Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes. It is SO. GOOD. I would highly recommend buying the book, but you can also find the Salsa All’Amatriciana recipe here.

A couple tips:

  • If you can find it, I highly recommend Barilla Spaghetti Rigati pasta. It has ridges and the pasta sticks to it nicely. If you can’t find it, I would go with spaghetti or another long noodle.
  • I do not add pasta water to the sauce as this version of the recipe recommends. That step is not in the book.
  • If you like spicy food, go heavier on the chili flakes and substitute with fire roasted tomatoes. Yum!

PODCAST

Royally Obsessed Podcast | The podcast for all things Royals! As a commuter, I love podcasts. It fills what would otherwise be wasted time in the car or walking to work. I have everything from TED Talks to my favorite morning show on my phone. One of my guilty pleasure podcasts is Royally Obsessed – a weekly recap of the (primarily) British Royals. The hosts—Kaitlin and Lisa—are royal writers and have fun, light-hearted banter about royal history, fashion, gossip, and now Meghan + Harry baby watch. If you love the royals and want to escape real news for 45 minutes, this is the podcast for you.

Well, friends, that wraps up my October faves.  I’d love to know yours! Drop me a note in the comment box below.

Happy November!

XOXO,

Christina

Missed a month? Check out all my monthly favorites here.

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2 Responses to Christina’s Favorites | October 2018

  1. Rob Komas November 8, 2018 at 10:20 am #

    Good to see you back Casually Glam.

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  1. 10 Places to Shop Small for Small Business Saturday | Casually Glam - November 30, 2019

    […] wrote about Modern Citizen in one of my monthly favorites posts. This is still one of my favorite neighborhood spots for simple but beautiful clothes and […]

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