I've been following the face mask evolution closely. At first, getting any kind of face mask was impossible, but slowly companies began to produce effective, fashionable face masks. Months later there are too many to choose from and while this newly adopted accessory is a must, people are treating it like a fashion trend. I ordered a plain white material mask with the b.a.gorgie logo in black and a black mask with the logo in white from Etsy. It took almost two months to arrive, but was worth it. Personalizing masks is a great way to promote your brand.
GRLFRND has a nice selection of fashionable cloth masks. I purchased this HOMEGIRL face mask and Veni Vidi Vici mask by GRLFRND from Revolve. The fit is nice - I have a small face, so finding masks that are snug is a struggle.
I'm a basic mask wearing kinda girl and prefer the plain white KN95 medical grade mask. This is the most comfortable mask I've tried and the easiest to breathe in. You can purchase the KN95 from Amazon. Outfit details - Dior aviator sunglasses, Mate The Label mint classic crew tee and lounge short, Dior J'adior cotton oblique bracelet set, Fendi fur slides. No, I did not mismatch the slides, they are a pair!
I also like the evolvetogether high bacterial filtration efficiency masks. There is small print along one side that says evolvetogether and the geographic coordinates of NYC, Milan and Amazonia. These basic, 3 ply masks come in white, black and sage green. For every green mask purchased, evolvetogether will donate a mask and proceeds to One Tree Planted. I like that! Whatever your face mask style - WEAR A MASK! Make sure you cover your mouth AND nose. These are unusual times, but let's make the best of it and treat face masks like any other accessory. We'll look back and say - What was the fashion trend in 2020 - face masks! 
      My usual Must-Haves list is comprised of designer clothing and accessories that I have-to-have or am lusting over and can't afford. These days, the must-have items on my list are necessary beauty products during a pandemic. Never thought I'd say that! I'm sensitive to scents and hate the smell of hand sanitizer, but it's a necessary product to have on hand! I was so happy when NCLA Beauty launched a small lineup of Hands Clean sanitizer available in lavender, eucalyptus, watermelon and unscented. You can pre-order these little bottles of hand sanitizer at Revolve. I got lip fillers (and botox) a few days before the stay-at-home order came into effect AND my lips are perfect - BUT, now I have to wear a face mask. Enough said! I'm happy to see many of my favorite clothing brands producing face masks - I know the quality is there. I pre-ordered three cute GRLFRND masks at Revolve. The best place to order cheeky, cloth face masks is Etsy. You can also order personalized masks. If you want a hefty mask with replaceable filters, there are many online stores to choose from. I believe face masks will be around for a while and everyone should have at least one. It seems like many people are struggling with DIY beauty these days. Most rely on hair, nail and tanning salons to keep their beauty in check. Fortunately, I prefer to do my own gel nails and apply self tanner at home. I do however get my hair colored every three weeks and had to learn a new skill during these unusual times. dpHUE is my go-to hair coloring brand. The dpHUE root touch-up kit is easy to use, the color is perfect and the solution completely covers roots (even greys). Paired with the dpHUE gloss, this color touch-up duo is perfect for someone who requires single process coloring. I posted a lengthy DIY root touch-up video a few weeks ago - Scroll down a little.. Another necessary step in most beauty routines is waxing or threading the upper lip and eyebrows. The Tweezerman Smooth Finish Facial Hair Remover is an excellent DIY threading tool. You simply twist the handles, while gliding the coil spring along your upper-lip. It's painful, but does a great job removing unwanted hair. You can purchase this Tweezerman beauty tool at Sephora. Being able to do your own nails is a necessary skill to have. You never know when your go-to salons (and the entire world) may close for months! I was introduced to gel nails a few years ago and went to the salon four times before deciding to do it myself. I purchased gel polish in a variety of nude shades, base and top coat polish, remover, foils and an LED nail lamp. My go-to brand is CND. I recently discovered Static Nails. The lineup includes reusable press-on nails (I gotta try these) and long-wear polish that promises to last up to 10 days. The shades are gorgeous and it seems like either one would be easier than applying/removing gel polish. Of course, I have a few items in my cart! Admittedly, I like tanning beds. BUT, the last place I wanna be is baking inside a horizontal UV radiation bed that someone else just laid in. SO, I'm going back to DIY self-tanning. My go-to brand is St. Tropez. I've been using it for years. BUT, as of late, I'm experimenting with new brands. I'm going to apply Luna Bronze Self Tanning Lotion later today.. This process takes a little practice. I suggest purchasing a light color, a tanning mitt and body exfoliator. Read the instructions carefully and stay away from water and excessive activities that will make you sweat for at least 6 hours. Applying self-tanner is a quick way to enhance your stay-at-home skin. On the bright side, if you screw it up, nobody will see it - Unless you post pics. 
..TOODLES 2018. It was a rough one emotionally, but my beauty exploration and fashion addiction survived the madness and remained strong and exciting! I'm heading into 2019 with a new attitude towards health and beauty. My shoe and handbag addiction will probably continue to be ridiculous (by some standards), but 2018 has taught me to make changes, embrace new brands and get creative with my style and makeup.
My biggest obsession is sunglasses. I purchased too many Chloé sunglasses this year! MIU MIU sunnies recently took over my looks, but Chloé reigns supreme on my sunnies shelf. I just snagged these MIU MIU star embossed sunglasses and Swarovski crystal embellished sunglasses and glasses chain at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. LOVE! I'll be seeing stars in 2019!
My personal style remains the same - chic joggers and sock-style boots with printed t-shirts and sweatshirts. My favorite clothing brands are 3.1 Phillip Lim, Fenty X Puma, Tularosa, GRLFRND, Mother, Spell & The Gypsy Collective, For Love & Lemons, Monrow sweatpants , Karl Lagerfeld and Fiorucci (t-shirts and sweatshirts) and Nation LTD (to name a few).
My infatuation with designer shoes and handbags remains expensive! Louis Vuitton handbags are still taking over my collection. I finally found myself an LV sales representative in New York and she's fabulous. Some LV bags are impossible to get (unless you have a rep). She snagged me a Summer Trunk tote and Time Trunk Alma handbag as soon as they hit the sales floor. She's my handbag fairy! After a five year hiatus, Gucci has made a comeback in my collection. My husband tracked down a Gucci bag I had been coveting for months and gave it to me for our 10 year anniversary. Best gift a girl could get! AND, of course, I'm still a Chloé girl and LOVE Chloé handbags. I LOVE BOOTS! I'm still rocking Fendi Rockoko and Yeezy sock-style boots. I purchased too many Adidas sneakers in 2018, got some Chloé boots and a new pair of Fendi fur slides (possibly the best purchase of 2018). I'm looking forward to summer, so I can strut around in my mew Fendi slides.
Another year gone and while I spent most of my time shopping and exploring new beauty products, my go-to brands remain the same. For anti-aging, Neocutis is my favorite. I got a mini fridge for Christmas and am keeping my Neocutis products in there. Applying cold eye and face creams is new to me and I love it! AND, I still love Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Hydrating Face Cream (great for calming rosacea) and Extra Eye Repair Cream. My favorite make-up brands list has changed a little. Benefit Cosmetics, Too Faced, Dior and beautyblender reign supreme in my Cosmocube. Oh and there's a few KKW Beauty products in there too - love the brushes. My long-time favorites, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier are still taking up some real estate in the cube. I still get IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Treatment) and Clear + Brilliant laser Treatment. These two combined leave my skin looking fresh, vibrant and reduce the appearance of my rosacea. They are painful and expensive, but worth it. I'm also still doing botox. I've had a few botched jobs and am a little turned off, but I think it's about finding the right dermatologist..
My hair is finally back to normal. I suffered from botched hair for two years and it was a struggle. The silver lining is that I tried too many hair care products and shared my thoughts on b.a.gorgie.com. I hope my product reviews helped a few of you. Surprisingly, I introduced a new shampoo and conditioner to the routine in 2018. My long-time favorite Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil shampoo and conditioner still have a permanent spot in the shower, but now I'm alternating with Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance shampoo and No. 5 Bond Maintenance conditioner. This stuff is amazing!
I tried Coolsculpting and got "minimal results". Highly disappointing. After waiting four months for maximum results and feeling like I spent too much money and wasted my time, I decided to start working out (there are no shortcuts). I also changed my eating habits. I'm eating healthier and smaller portions. I'm proud to say, I've lost 14 lbs. YUP! It was a slow process (took an entire year)! I have another 6 lbs to go and am hoping to get a MIRROR Home Gym in the 2019. HINT HINT.. I'm also considering the new fat reducing procedure Vanquish. I'll let ya know how it goes.
My favorite body wash and creams are Sol de Janeiro and Aveeno (for those sensitive days). The caramel-pistachio scent of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum body cream, Brazilian Crush body mist and Brazilian 4 Play moisturizing shower cream-gel are delicious! This cosmetic brand has made a few appearances on the blog and still reigns supreme. That's my favorite cosmetics, procedures, fashion brands and style diary for 2018. I'm still a cosmetic junkie and am obsessed with shoes and handbags. I have a few trips in 2019 and am already planning my outfits.. 
    
     
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