Hey everyone! Today is the first day for the broadest tier that Nordstrom cardholders can shop the annual Anniversary Sale for 2020. This is honestly one of the top times I go all out and do my clothing shopping for the year since this is one of the few sales that have pre-season items that are marked down, then after the sale is over the items will go back up to full price. I usually stock up on pricier basics that rarely go on sale such as boots or leather jackets, or things that I typically need like beauty care items I use frequently.

 Today - any cardholders can shop

Aug 19 - full public access begins

I placed my order and am waiting for it to ship (I'll post a try-on haul video soon!) But for now I wanted to share a few of my favorites that are still available. Since one of the most difficult issues that arises with the #Nsale is that things quicky run out of stock, I hope this will prove useful! I also made all the graphics clickable so if you like something, just click on the image of that item and it will take you to the page to shop.;)

BP Lace Trim Camisole | Naturalizer Callie Boot

• Chelsea28 Leather Moto Jacket I love slim sleeves on a leather jacket for a sleeker look and this one has really great reviews on the soft leather quality.
  
• Dalby Leather Moto Jacket I was keeping an eye out for any classic shades of All Saints jackets (which are great quality pieces) to come in stock and this one popped up recently!
  
• On Gossamer Bump It Up Bra This comes in a range of sizes all the way down to 30A
  
• AG Farrah Jean These are a great staple light denim skinny. It's an ankle length but the raw hem makes for easy at-home length alterations
  
• Colby Boot I own the very similar Callie boot (also available on sale here) and they are such a versatile lace-up boot, especially in this rich brown color. So comfortable and easy to wear with dresses, shorts, and skinny jeans and the rubber sole gives a little platform so it's easier to walk in. Also, the side zipper makes them so easy to take them on and off which is not the case for many similar boots I've seen
  
• BP. Open Stitch Cardigan It's actually pretty rare to find a 100% cotton cardigan but this one looks great and comes in multiple colors including black, ivory, grey, olive, and rust

• Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan This is one of my favorite pieces that keeps coming back each year and is even lower-priced than last year at $68! I've gifted these super soft cardis to my mom and sister and they both rave about it
  
• Moonlight Dream Long Pajama
• I own this in black and it's the softest pajama set ever!
  
• BlankNYC Suede Jacket I have a past-season version in blue but this tan is so pretty and timeless
  
• Topshop Jamie High Waist Jeans I love and have owned many pairs of the Jamie jeans. They have a super high waist and run a size or two small so I usually pick up a 24 or 25 (versus my usual 23) depending on how roomy I want the fit to be
  
• Moonlight Dream Short Pajama I also own this set and wear it during the summer months. Buttons are particularly nice when you are breastfeeding as well
  
• SPANX Faux-Leather Leggings (Petite)
• These are a great step-up from regular leggings and come in petite sizing as well as regular length and plus-sized versions
  

• Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer & Setting Powder Duo I've used this primer for several years and continue to adore it since it keeps liquid foundation looking fresh in a noticeable way. The setting powder is also nice and airy and I'm glad to see the two available this year
  
• YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick Set This is one of my holy grail lipsticks! If you like your lips to feel plush and hydrated, this lipstick feels balmy and looks juicy while packaged in a luxe bullet 
  
• Beauty Blender & Cleansing Solid Set It's a good time to stock up on your basic beauty blender, plus the cleansing bar is the BEST for easily cleaning not just sponges but all brushes too
  
• L'Occitane Hand Cream I love this hand cream! So necessary to keep on hand especially during these times of frequent hand washing
  
• Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish Remover Set I've been doing my nails at home so much more often and having a good polish remover is a game changer
  
• Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliant This is a great chemical exfoliant that is a better alternative to use than physical exfoliants, plus salicylic acid is fantastic if you are acne-prone

I'll do a full try-on haul so make sure notifications are turned on to my Youtube Channel and follow me on Instagram @frmheadtotoe for mini-reviews on stories! :)

 1. Switching our Laundry Detergent

I know from experience that when you have contact dermatitis aka "itchy because something touched me" nearly the first thing I will hear suggested is to switch laundry detergents. Especially when you have a new baby, we frequently hear about switching to baby detergents but in my experience, I found the scents to be too strong for my nose. Don't get me wrong, I looooove that intoxicating actual new baby scent but I'll be honest and say I'm not the biggest fan of that faux baby powder detergent smell.

The detergent we've been using lately has been Ivory Gentle Aloe Scent Laundry Detergent which I am very honored to partner with because it ticks all of the boxes for what I look for in a detergent. It's hypoallergenic and contains no dyes, phosphates, brighteners, chlorine, or enzymes and is specifically made with sensitive skin in mind. It's also very effective at cleaning the dirt and food stains that magically end up all over my two toddlers by the end of the day and is affordably priced. It's super accessible since you can pick it up at Walmart!

Oh, and you can also use it to clean hand-washed items (such as Aria's stuffed animals that always seem to end up wearing Mommy's lipstick) by adding 2 TBSP in a gallon of water which makes one less product I need to stock. 🙌

2. Washing Sheets & Pillowcases Frequently

Not only is slipping into freshly washed sheets just the most ASMR, mind-numbingly great feeling, it's also much healthier for you especially if you tend to suffer from asthma. SUPER FUN FACT TIME! I learned from my allergist that having eczema is positively correlated with having allergies which means that if you can better manage even minor allergy symptoms from prevention, it can actually improve eczema occurrences too. We are constantly shedding skin cells everywhere but especially on our bedding which can lead to dust problems, so you want to make sure that you are keeping it clean. Even more so, I try to rotate out my pillowcases regularly so that the acne on my skin is less likely to flare up. If you get too busy or forget, you can always put 2 pillowcases on your pillow and just remove the top layer after a few days so you can get twice as long before you have to wash again.

On top of just washing them in general, I also add additional layers to protect against dust mites by using a mattress protector, a pillow protector under my pillowcases, and a comforter protector. It's felt exactly the same sleeping with the layered bedding, but it's helped me sleep better overall.

3. Using an Air Filter

Having a nice air filter was another change I made after seeing an allergist and I can definitely see a difference in my health and energy when we sleep for a couple days in a hotel room or while staying with family. I like to keep our air filter close to our bed so that our air has less allergens while we sleep. I will note that not all air filters are equally as effective and different filters will work with different room sizes so make sure to do some research and change out dirty filters regularly.

4. Taking Vitamin D Supplements

Because this is an ingested item, taking Vitamin D supplements may come as a surprise for helping sensitive skin but especially if you tend to be like me and slather on the sunscreen and hide from the sun whenever possible, having a Vitamin D deficiency is actually quite common. I had a pretty major deficiency when I had my blood tested about a decade ago and had to go on a doctor-mandated regimen of daily Vitamin D doses and I was shocked at how major of a difference I felt. My skin improved but I was actually happier too. Allergies are the body overreacting to things it comes in contact with and not only does Vitamin D help to balance that immune response, it also can help alleviate winter blues and staying-inside-too-much blues which all have to do with Vitamin D which is synthesized from the sun's UVB rays on our skin. Less sun means less Vitamin D, so the supplements really help so much. If you want to know exactly how much to take, I would always ask your doctor first but generally adults should be getting 600 IU each day whether that is from foods, sunlight, or supplements. (source)

After making these relatively easy changes our whole family has lived a little healthier and less reactive than before so I really hope that some of my fellow sensitive skin folks out there can try these tips out.

If you also suffer from sensitive skin I would really love to hear any additional tips you've tried that have helped you so let me know what skin issues you suffer from and any of your favorite recommendations that have helped in the comments.

Thanks again to Ivory for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This year for me has been a huge process of working hard to keep my skin clear and find routines that are quick, easy, and can fit into my crazy mom life. It goes without saying that I’ve been so ready to leave my hormonal adult acne behind including the several rounds that popped up this past year from pregnancy, breastfeeding, and medicines from getting so sick this past Spring. If you want to see what my skincare has been you can check it out in my video here, but today I wanted to focus a little more on my Summertime makeup.

Truthfully, I’ve gotten to a point in my life that if my makeup routine isn’t going to support my skin goals then it’s going to take a back burner so I wanted to share what’s really been working for me, plus a few extras to give my look some personality befitting the warm weather. I’m so happy to once again partner with Walmart’s amazing beauty team because I was actually just running low on a couple things and this gave me the perfect opportunity to refill my must-haves and share step-by-step what I’m using to achieve this look. It's so fantastic that Walmart.com has put a huge emphasis on being inclusive for all skin tones and types which I obviously appreciate having grown up in an area where I didn't have that kind of access. They also have free 2-day shipping on most items so it's super convenient when I don't have time to run to the store which lately is most of the time. ;)


I wanted to start off the look with nails because if my nails are looking nice, I feel like I have my life together and everything else can fall into place. Just me? If you’ve been a long-time follower then you already know how passionate I am about nail polish and one of my favorite shades to wear is a pale pink that makes hands look really bright and clean. This OPI Infinite Shine Nail Lacquer in Sweet Heart is exactly that. I’ve mentioned before that Infinite Shine is hands-down (pun intended) my favorite non-gel polish line so I couldn’t resist picking up this color and I’m happy to report that it looks even better on than in pictures.


For the skin I’m applying my Clinique Moisture Surge Intense moisturizer which has been a holy grail product for years. My skin lives in that unhappy purgatory of feeling dry but also being acne-prone and this is one of the few moisturizers that’s actually both oil-free and fantastic at hydrating. Makeup will always lay smoother on hydrated skin so starting with a good moisturizer is an absolute must.


Next, I’m applying a daily facial sunscreen to both my face and neck. This is a personal choice but I like using a mineral sunblock which doesn’t cause my sensitive skin to react negatively and this Cerave one also hydrates as well as containing niacinamide (one of my fav skincare ingredients) which can help calm irritation.

Life pro tip: always bring skincare, including sunscreen, down to your neck & chest to keep everything looking younger and aging evenly.


For foundation I’m going in with another product that I always come back to year after year. If you frequently have acne flare-ups then you’ve got to give BareMinerals Original foundation a try. A lot of liquid foundations and pressed powders have filler ingredients that can clog pores or cause irritation but mineral foundation won’t do either and also won’t harbor bacteria which can create breakouts. It’s also SO fast to apply and I love that I can just do a light layer or build up coverage just in places I need it, just using one product. For reference I use shade Light.


I’m still all about warm tones at the moment so I picked up this Stila Perfect Me Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palette which conveniently has both eyeshadows plus two blush colors. The Medium/Tan had especially pretty shades that work well on complexions with yellow undertones.


I applied a wash of the peachy shade on the ball of the eyelid, then did a soft cut-crease using the burgundy shade, making sure to softly blend out any harsh edges.


To warm up my face I took the peach blush and applied this starting at the temples and bringing it forward to the apples of my cheeks.


Next, I love a nice highlight moment especially in the summer and this Maybelline Facestudio Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold is both affordable and so pretty.


Using a fan brush I applied this to the tops of my cheeks, very softly down my nose bridge, on the top edge of my lip line, and also on my collarbone which  is especially accentuated in my sundress.


This next mascara is one that I’ve heard a ton about so I wanted to try it out in person. You guys know I’m all about finding great mascaras that will work at holding a curl for straight lashes and I’m happy that the L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara lives up to the hype, dare I say better than the waterproof version of a certain mascara it closely resembles in design. Just saying. ;)


To finish off the face I couldn’t resist this deliciously hot pink NARS lipgloss in Priscilla. The formula is so silky without feeling overly sticky and you can wear this both fully opaque or blend out the edges for a softer look.



If you want to check out the products I used, I’ll list them out again or you can click on the item in the image below.

Disclaimer: Thank you so much to Walmart beauty for partnering on this post.