The beginning of the new year is one of the best times to change up your morning routine and try out new products. Here are just a few of my favorite hair care accessories that I'm absolutely in love with and think you'll love as well...

Lulu Organics Lavender & Clary Sage Hair Powder

Lulu Organics Lavender & Clary Sage Hair Powder, luluorganicsnyc.com, $30

Everyone’s obsessed recently with dry shampoo and it’s easy to see why! They’re super easy to use and it only takes about 5 minutes to get your hair from drab to fab without even showering. Lulu Organics Lavender/Clary Sage Hair Powder is one of my faves because it smells AMAZING (I mean, who doesn’t like the smell of lavender in the morning?) and it works like magic. Plus, it’s eco-friendly! What could be better?

Styling tip #1: Pour a dab of powder (all you need is a little!) in your hand and rub your palms together before applying to your hair. Just rub along your roots and through your hair and you’re good to go!

Aussie Aussome Volume Hair Spray

Aussie Aussome Volume Hair Spray, aussie.com, $3.99

As someone who uses hairspray nearly everyday, this little can of genius has been a lifesaver on more than one occasion! What makes this spray so special? It’s inexpensive, doesn’t have that awful hairspray smell, and it holds your hair in place for hours without making your hair feel rock hard. Awesome.

Styling tip #2: To add extra volume, pin the front sections of your hair straight back and spray all over your hair. Let the hairspray dry and then unpin. Your roots will have great lift and you’ll have volume all day long.

Styling tip #3: Hairspray can also be great if you’re just looking for an extra bit of shine. Lightly spray your hair and dry off the excess with a paper towel or your hands. This ensures that you get the shine without the hold.

Trader Joe’s Refresh Citrus Conditioner with Vitamin C

Trader Joe’s Refresh Citrus Conditioner with Vitamin C, traderjoes.com, $11.50

This conditioner is great because it has nearly all-natural ingredients and is silicon-free! I personal love when I can read all the ingredients on a bottle and actually understand them and this conditioner is no exception. It’s also super lightweight and makes my hair feel truly clean after I’m done. Plus, the smell of citrus really helps to wake me up when it’s time for class!

What do you think? Any products you'd like to add to the list?

My morning makeup routine is usually pretty simple. I put on some eyeliner and mascara and call it a day. However, during the winter months my skin tends to dry out a bit more and I break out so much easier. So lately, I have been working on correcting how I apply my foundation, concealer and bronzer so it doesn’t look like I have much makeup on.

The foundation I have been using pretty much ever since I was sixteen is Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. I love it because it isn’t oily and even though it is a liquid, it doesn’t leave me appearing shiny, which is great. I use 173 Amber for medium skin with dark olive undertones.

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, sephora.com, $42

Since I don’t always use concealers, I don't own very many but I do want to try out a few other brands (if you have any suggestions feel free to leave a comment). The one I have been using is by MAC and it is Select Moisturecover in NC45. It comes in a small tube that’ll fit pretty much anywhere.

MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer, MAC Counters, $18

Last but certainly not least, would be my bronzer by Tarte. I have tried numerous bronzers simply because I am obsessed with looking sunkissed all year long. I live in the Northeast so there are plenty of dull months where the sun is at an all time low, so this product adds the right amount of golden hue you need. I use Park Ave Princess and it’s a mineral powder and does not leave you orange which is great. I used to use a bronzer by MAC but I thought I was seriously on the verge of looking like an oompa loompa. It is also great because I have sensitive skin and to this day, mark my words, this has never made me break out.

Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer, sephora.com, $29

If you’ve been following my posts, then you already know that I have really sensitive skin. For this reason, I have to take extra care when it comes to the skincare products I use. I have been trying to find the right skincare routine for years, but after years of searching, I’m proud to say that I have finally found a few products I can stand by.

For just about 5 years now, I’ve been using Eucerin Calming Creme, and it’s the best moisturizer I have used. While I was growing up, I always struggled with itchy, dry skin. I’ve tried tons of moisturizers, from Cetaphil to Aveeno to Clinique, but nothing has worked as well as Eucerin Calming Creme. It calms my easily-irritated skin throughout all seasons and doesn’t leave an oily residue. Some moisturizers I’ve tried worked for a while then began to dry out my skin, but not Eucerin Calming Creme. When my skin is feeling more dry than usual due to weather change, I mix Eucerin with a bit of Aquaphor for extra moisture. I apply moisturizer after I shower, and my skin feels soft throughout the day.

Eucerin Calming Cream

For my extra dry spots, I apply Aquaphor a couple times a day, when the dryness is noticeable. I also use it on my lips and sometimes as an eye make-up remover.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

For showering, I’ve started using Dove Nourishing Body Wash for Sensitive Skin. Since I’ve started using it, my skin has begun to feel softer and smoother. Before using Dove, I had been using baby body wash, simply because I was too afraid that scented body washes would dry out my skin. Dove Nourishing Body Wash for Sensitive Skin moisturizes and is unscented, yet it still leaves a pleasant fresh, clean scent after I shower.

Dove Nourishing Body Wash for Sensitive Skin

If any other sensitive-skinned girls have products to recommend, please do share. For now, these products are ones I can definitely count on to keep my skin nice and smooth!

Personally, I love the holidays because it's the time of year when the temperature drops, people put up their lights, and everything seems very warm and cozy. I love incorporating metallics and sparkles into my holiday makeup and beauty routines because they really evoke the spirit of the season. They add a festive touch to any outfit. Here are a few ideas to get you into the holiday spirit.

I hope these ideas inspire you to get into the festive spirit and I hope all of you enjoy your holiday season!

I recently started using coconut oil on my hair and I have been very pleased with the results. I've been using the product for a few weeks now and my hair has become noticeably more shiny and soft. I dye my hair quite frequently so it has been very dry lately. However, since I've started using coconut oil as a hair mask, that has changed.

I did some research on the benefits of coconut oil and found that there were numerous ones. Coconut oil has long been used in many cultures, such as India, as a regular part of their hair care regimen. According to organicfacts.net, coconut oil is a great way to heal your scalp and prevent dandruff. It helps regrow damaged hair and it has the essential proteins that your hair needs. You can also use the oil on your skin (though I tried this once and it made me break out a lot before it got better), to heal scars and stretch marks, and as a part of your diet. I haven't tried all of these yet but I've heard great things about each of these applications.

How to use coconut oil for your hair:

First of all, make sure that you are using an organic virgin coconut oil. You can find it for about $6 at Trader Joe's.

1. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so if it is solid, put 2-3 tablespoons into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 15-30 seconds.

2. Once the coconut oil is in its liquid state, use either your fingers or a small paintbrush to spread it through your hair. Make sure your hair is well saturated with the oil.

3. Wrap your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap and let it soak into your hair for at least an hour.

4. Rinse out your hair, shampooing twice and using conditioner as normal.

5. Do this about once a week.

Here is a useful tutorial I found SMLx0's youtube channel.

I also like to comb it through my hair just to make sure it is really evenly spread out. I try to focus on the scalp and really massage it in because I usually have a pretty dry scalp, especially during the summertime. I can definitely say that since I've been doing this, my hair looks a lot more shiny and healthy than it did before. This is a natural alternative to expensive drugstore products that has really worked well for me. I hope that if you try this, you will see the same results!