Whether you blame the stars, the seasons changing, or society in general, March was a rough month on us all.

Aries season brings us a fresh start, making it the perfect time to do some spring cleaning, reset your intentions, and reflect on your past. For me, this meant cleaning out my vanity, closet (obviously), and taking a second to reflect on the new products that entered my life in the past month.

While the universe spared me from the emotional turbulence caused by March’s retrogrades and eclipses, I did feel the effects directly on my skin. I am still fighting a cystic breakout that popped up the first week of the month, one so terribly reminiscent of my high school days I was left feeling beyond lost on how to approach it. It had been so long since a breakout this bad had wrecked havoc on my skin. And while I can determine the cause was the purging phase of starting Tretinoin again, that knowledge does little to ease the pain of a breakout.

I felt this breakout in my face, but mostly in my confidence. And while I am lucky to be in a more supportive environment full of positivity this time around, I still felt the same frustration, insecurity, and exhaustion I had as a teenager.

This month was about soothing, healing and protecting. I knew I had to be gentle with my skin, but that wouldn’t solve every issue. I also had to be gentle with myself, and put a little extra care and attention to the areas I could fix, so I would feel my most confident.

I (finally) added some red to my hair, got a few new wardrobe accessories, and fell in love with some self care rituals. And of course, I leaned on some truly outstanding skincare.

I present to you now, my March Madness Essentials- the products I fell in love with this month:

Skincare

While I tried to keep my skincare simple this month, I did have to rotate out a few products from my usual routine. I needed to heal my skin during this explosive cystic breakout, and wanted to focus on recovery products. The most important things I looked for was hydration, healing, and soothing. I needed less actives, and more simple and sensitive friendly formulas to get my glow back.

The Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream provides deep hydration and nourishment, which was exactly what I needed right now. It was a real life skin saver, and quickly became my new favorite every day moisturizer.

My skin is sensitive, and turns red at the slightest inconvenience. When I was constantly battling cystic acne before my initial Accutane days, I opted for green concealer under my makeup. This time around, I wanted to wear less makeup and really focus on healing my skin with the right cocktail of products. I fell in love with INNBEAUTY Calm the Red Down, which is a dual product. One side is a serum that delivers a skin barrier treatment to treat the redness. The other side is a Instant redness corrector to apply in the morning either under makeup, or to wear on its own.

I love a product that is, at its core, easy. I love the idea of a Hyaluronic Acid mist, since you should be applying HA on damp skin. It’s easier than ever to incorporate this step into your routine- just spritz your face as a finishing touch post-cleansing. The Yepoda Skincare The Mist Have works as a toner, makeup prep, or a refresher throughout the day. It’s calming, and refreshing, and my skin drinks this right up.

When I need a little more oomf in my post-cleansing routine, the Paula’s Choice Milky Toner is my go-to. I love a milky toner, since my skin is constantly craving extra hydration. This calms redness while strengthening skin’s barrier, working to prevent future sensitivity.

While this product is not new to my routine, I did repurchase the Mutha Pucker Lip Butter for the third time this month. This is the ultimate lip product for day and night, moisturizing, nourishing, and smoothing lips. Plus, it plumps lips slightly by boosting collagen, versus the stinging and burning that comes with lip plumping products.

Last, but certainly not least the Sun Smart UV Mirror may just be the coolest beauty technology product on the market right now. Not only do I prioritize sunscreen, but I live with two people (boyfriend and grandma!) who are severely sensitive to the sun. This is the ultimate way to deliver UV protection through a Smart UV Camera, ensuring you never miss a spot. Even better, it also works as a power bank for your phone! I can’t wait to bring this product with me everywhere this summer!

Body Care

Between all the new face serums and treatments, hair masks and shampoos, eyeliners and mascaras, body care can sometimes be forgotten. This month, I wanted to make an effort to give my body the same care and attention I was giving my face and hair with carefully selected and hard working products.

I love prioritizing my nighttime routine, and really try to find ways to make myself feel good before bed. Especially when my skin is breaking out, and I am feeling meh about myself, it is so important for me to find ways to feel beautiful at bedtime. While the obvious answer is always a matching pajamas set, another unexpected trick has been to have a signature sleep fragrance. I fell in love with the 11 11 Fragrance Oil Roll On which is a super light scent, with musky undertones. It’s sexy, fresh, and reminds me of that feeling of walking out of a perfect everything shower. I love rolling on a little at my wrists, behind my ears, and on my neck.

Inspired by my social media feeds, I have been venturing into the world of at-home lymphatic drainage. While most of the conversations center around a gua sha routine on your face and neck, I was super interested in how to bring this routine to my whole body. The Love Wellness Bye Bye Bloat Lymphatic Massage Roller and Detoxifying Body Oil has been a great entry point, and something I have loved adding into my self care routine. The massage roller is an easy-to-use tool that boosts circulation and encourages lymphatic flow for instant sculpting. Paired with the body oil, you’re delivering a hydrating and smooth massage while de-puffing anywhere on your body, anytime!

With sensitive skin, shaving can leave my skin irritated and inflamed. In an effort to combat that, the Fur Oil Ingrown Concentrate has become a staple in my post shave routine all year long. Paired with their textured finger mitt, this works to banish bumps and redness, eradicating in-growns and leaving skin smooth and clear.

Scent is such a powerful tool, and one that I utilize when curating a calming shower routine. The Golden Hour Scented Skin Replenishing Body Wash is not only super hydrating and gentle on my sensitive skin, but also envelopes me in a nostalgic and warm scent. It’s like a warm hug at the end of a long day.

I never understood the hype about Salt & Stone Deodorant until I tried it myself. Not only does this smell heavenly, it also actually works. Plus, the packaging makes me feel like an IRL Certified It-Girl Influencer when I use it. It takes a lot to get me to admit a product is worth the hype when it goes viral, so trust me when I say this is a product that’s worth your money.

As the weather gets warmer, it is once again time to bring out the Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick. I bought this on a whim last summer after dealing with a bad case of chafing, and I have never looked back. I repurchased as soon as I saw the weather start to change, because I knew it was a non negotiable for any slightly hot day. This product lives in my bag every day, all summer long.

Hair Care

I heard reds have more fun, and I had to join the party. I have been dreaming of a copper or cherry cola tint for a few years now, and I spontaneously decided to make the switch earlier this month. I love the new hue, but red is quite hard to maintain. I knew I had to add a few products into my hair care routine in an effort to prolong the color, and keep my hair healthy.

My boyfriend and I went to visit our mutual friend at his parent’s house for actual March Madness Games. His mom is a fantastic hair stylist and colorist, who offered to not only save me from the never ending hours of basketball, but also to give me the color switch we had been dreaming of. Since we did not have time to do a second round of gloss, she suggested I use this exact Color Depositing Mask to bring the color to life, and refresh as needed. The results were absolutely incredible, leaving my hair shiny, even toned, and all around refreshed. Pro tip- wear gloves!!! I missed that part in the directions and spent the rest of my night fighting with an array of cleaning supplies…

I love the JVN Hair Nurture Intense Hydration Hair Mask for its ability to reduce frizz and nourish split ends. This hair mask is color safe, sulfate free, and formulated with a first-of-its-kind Triple Hydration System. I love to apply this with my La Bonne Brosse N.04 brush to evenly distribute product throughout my hair and detangle while I let the mask sit. It makes for the most luxurious and relaxing shower experience.

Because celebrity brands tend to have a bad reputation and a lack of results, I was truly shocked to discover how much I loved the Jennifer Anniston founded brand Lolavie. Specifically, I fell in love with the Lightweight Hair Oil. This lightweight, multitasking formula is designed to hydrate, fight frizz, smooth split ends, and boost shine. Most hair oils I have used tend to drag my hair down, despite their “lightweight” claims. This one, however, lived up to its promise, and has become a staple in my post-blowout routine.

And speaking of blow out routines, I am proud to announce I have finally mastered the art of using a standard hair dryer and the La Bonne Brosse Round Brush to create a voluminous, bouncy, bombshell blowout. Adding this achievement to my resume immediately.

Fashion

As the seasons begin to change, having a versatile closet is imperative. While I was not yet ready to rotate my closet, I did want to feel like I was dressing for the season on the days when spring was in the air. I found that investing in quality basics, fun lingerie, and accessories I love can bring the excitement of spring to my looks with less effort and more function.

I love the shape and look of this Nuuds Muscle Tee, especially when paired with a perfect pair of jeans and a jacket. It can be dressed up, or dressed down and has become a staple in my closet. I love the way the slight muscle cut gives a little more shape, especially for someone with a bigger bust.

This Slinky Rib Tee is one of the softest things I have ever put on my body. While it does cling to your body, it does so in a way that leaves you looking smooth and snatched instead of accentuating every roll, bump, or pouch like other slinky tees do. The material is thick, but not heavy, and feels like wrapping yourself up in a butter blanket.

When in doubt, a classic tank top like this Stella Tank works for any occasion. I love the quality of this one, and the way it isn’t too short or too long. It fits perfectly, even on a larger chest, without showing too much cleavage. Again, this is super soft and hangs just right. I like that it is a high quality version of a basic, but is not as stiff and structured like other high end versions of the classic tank.

I am always on the hunt for a great matching lingerie set. I think there is power in wearing a matching set, and it gives you an extra confidence boost- even when you know that no one will see it. Again, comfort is a top priority for me and this Eby Mesh Bralette and Brief Matching Set checked all of my boxes. Not only is this bralette big bust approved, it combines the comfort of a sports bra but the sexiness of lingerie. I need this in every color possible ASAP.

When in doubt, accessorize. While I have a collection of cocktail rings in my jewelry box, I have been searching for dainty and delicate rings to stack alongside them. The Amara Ring Set is exactly what I have been looking for. I can wear each ring separately across my hands, or stack them together for a cluster of sparkle.

But, my favorite new piece of jewelry this month has to be my Sequin Jewelry Initial Necklace. It’s stackable, but also a standout piece I can wear alone, and brings any outfit together. I love the colorful gems, the slightly organic shape of the charm, and the adjustable lengths of the chain. My spring uniform will definitely consist of mixing and matching this piece alongside a classic tee and a jacket. I can’t wait to create fun stacks with this “C” charm at the center.

This month The Mayfair Group sweat sets entered my wardrobe, and I am never looking back. When WFH, traveling, or just going back home for the weekend, I am always looking for a cute, casual, comfortable matching set. I recently fell in love with the Playing With Fate Hoodie (I am wearing it rn!) for springtime. I think a zip up hoodie is my new go-to for function and fashion, and when I pair it with hoop earrings I feel like a y2k princess. Plus, I am suddenly obsessed with this pink and blue color combination.

Sadly, the days of WFH won’t last forever, and I will have to put on actual clothes and shoes. When working or attending events, I know I need a heel that is comfortable, easy to walk in, and can be worn again and again. The Dolce Vita Brevel Sandal is outstanding for all of the above. I have them in a bright red for when I need a pop of color, and a classic black. I may just have to add the bone color to my collection for summer…

Last but not least, keep an eye out for this Vest Mini Dress in my outfit rotations this spring. It’s a quiet luxury inspired cut, which makes it perfect for a work event or drinks with the girls. Pair it with boots or heels to achieve a different vibe each time. As much as I hate to admit it, because I do have lingering resentment, I love the quality, style, and price point of Abercrombie lately…