Trina, Author at Electric Bones

Goodbye Phoenix

After 5 years as a desert creature, it’s time to say goodbye to Phoenix. While my time in the city has been great for my career and investing in my future, it really hasn’t been good on my mental health.

I don’t think Phoenix ever really felt like home. When I moved to the city, I had hopes that it would save my relationship, allow me to pursue my passions, and feel like a little slice of LA – with all the other Californians moving there. Unfortunately, the relationship didn’t last too long after the move, depression kept me from enjoying any of my passions, and even the heart of downtown always felt quiet and sterile. I struggled to connect with people and made very few friends (if you’re reading this and you’re one of the few, I love you). I always felt like I would wake up one morning and be like “Okay, vacation over. Time to drive back home to LA.”. I thought buying my townhome would make me feel more settled. It didn’t.

To be honest, the last 5 years have been really tough on my mental health. I struggled a lot with depression and anxiety. To the point where I wasn’t leaving my bed for days at a time and I would have panic attacks in public. I had multiple nervous breakdowns. I struggled with disordered eating and body dysmorphia again.

Phoenix wasn’t all bad though. The few friends I did make are amazing. It was great for my career. I was able to buy a townhome at 24 years old. I didn’t have to spend all of my 20s barely scraping by. I learned a lot about myself.

But now I work from home, my family is getting older, and I have the opportunity to be near the majority of my family and friends again. I’m so grateful for my time in Phoenix and the opportunities it has given me, but it’s time for this chapter to close.

The next time I post, I’ll be in LA.

AW22 Trends I Love

It’s always hard for me to pick out my favorite trends for autumn because I love so many of them. But I’ve narrowed the list of AW22 trends down to the ones that I think are the most in-line with my style and wearable for everyone.

Just because these are going to be the upcoming AW22 trends doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a bunch of new clothes. I usually have the items from my favorite trends in my closet already and just highlight them more during the season. If you do feel like buying something new for yourself, I always suggest checking out the secondhand options.

Flapper Inspiration

Sequins, fringe, beads, and feathers are usually reserved for holiday parties, but this year they’ll be worn all season long. This is the perfect time to work your holiday party pieces into your regular wardrobe. If you’re looking a more subtle way to wear this trend, pair an embellished top with jeans and a cool jacket. If you want to go bold, you can pair a beaded fringe dress with the leather trench and a tall boot.

Over The Knee Boots

Speaking of tall boots, over the knee boots are also on trend this season. To be fair, tall boots are always in during this season. However, instead of the standard slouchy suede knee high boots, opt for a more bold over the knee pair in an interesting texture or color.

Punk Meets Prep

I finally have an excuse to dig the Dr Martens that I’ve had since I was 14 out from the back of my closet.

This trend is all about mixing hard and soft elements. Mixing typical preppy pieces with punk elements creates an interesting juxtaposition. For the harder punk elements, consider combat boots, studs, leather accents, and tartan. For the softer preppy elements, consider loafers, white button downs, and messenger bags.

Statement Coats

My favorite thing about dressing for fall and winter is outerwear. Statement coats are a great way to make an outfit more interesting, especially if you just wear all black in the cooler months. I personally love coats with interesting prints, like paisley or tiger, or unusual textures, like vinyl and faux fur.

Maxi Dresses

Maxi dresses are a must for every season. For the cooler months, you have tons of options. If you want something a little more season-specific, opt for dresses in knits or dark florals. Or, you can just rewear a maxi dress you already have and throw a leather jacket on top of it. Everything is better with a leather jacket.

Review: Pat McGrath Divine Skin: Rose 001 The Essence

Disclaimer: I received the Pat McGrath Divine Skin: Rose 001 The Essence free and complimentary from Influenster and Pat McGrath Labs in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All of the thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

If you’re looking for fresh luminous skin, look no further than the Pat McGrath Divine Skin: Rose 001 The Essence. There’s a fine line between luminous and greasy skin, and this essence knows where that line is. Even with my oily skin, it left me looking fresh without looking greasy.

Highlights

cruelty-free

non-greasy

glass packaging

Pat McGrath Divine Skin: Rose 001 The Essence Review

According to Pat McGrath Lab’s website, this essence is “a transformative bi-phase essence that does double-duty to address dull, dehydrated skin and bring out the glow in an instant.” A Rose-Biotic complex and other botanical oils help calm and rebalance the skin while also plumping and hydrating it. It claims to enhance your skin’s barrier over time.

I have to say that the packaging is beautiful. The bottle is a durable thick glass, and even the plastic cap feels luxurious. The label feels like parchment, not a cheap film.

The essence has to be shaken before use since it separates. When shaken, it’s a milky consistency that’s slightly pink. It has a fairly strong rose scent for a skincare product.

When used alone, it acts as a very lightweight moisturizer. I used it under my makeup instead of my regular daytime moisturizer since I have oily skin. It left my skin feeling hydrated and glowing, without looking oily. At night, I used the essence after my toner and before my regular moisturizer. My skin felt hydrated, even into the morning.

One thing I didn’t like was that this product isn’t vegan. I’m guessing it’s the squalane (which is usually harvested from sharks). It is a little weird to me that a product that’s so focused on botanicals doesn’t use a plant-based squalane. If you’re looking for a product that’ll make your skin glow and is also vegan, check out my review of the Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask.

TL;DR

I gave the Pat McGrath Divine Skin: Rose 001 The Essence 4/5 stars. I really liked how it felt on my skin in the daytime and under my makeup, despite having oily skin. The packaging is glass and feels really luxurious. It does have a pretty strong rose scent and added fragrance. While that doesn’t bother me, I could definitely see how it would be a turn off to others. Sadly, this product isn’t vegan. If the squalane was plant-derived, I probably would have given this product 5 stars.