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Last week I came across this photo on my Instagram feed. Needless to say, I RSVP’d instantly. I went to this event on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and I couldn’t be any happier that I went.
Most of you will know that in the last months, I’ve turned into a makeup and skincare junkie. Investing in your skin is the best investment you can make. It doesn’t have to equal spending insurmountable amounts of money on boujee products. It’s all about the ingredients. Not only will your complexion be noticeably smoother and plumper, but it will create the groundwork for preventing skin problems in the future.
I was looking for a new serum I could incorporate into my night time routine, so I asked for recommendations from @projectskin_, an Instagram skincare account that I follow and that’s how I discovered Purpl Goat.
Editor’s note (2021) : This brand is now called Purpl & Prosper. Although the name is slightly different, the packaging remained the same. Go to the website here.
After I went to her website I completely fell in love with her story and how her brand is centered on self-love and gratitude. All the products are handmade in Pasadena, California. If you haven’t checked out her blog, please do!
The event was held at Nars on Melrose. Upon entering, we were given goodie bags with complimentary makeup sessions at Nars, which are an $85 value, a free class at Wanderlust yoga studio and a few Nars makeup samples. This workshop was centered on meditation, self-love and achieving your greatest self. It was broken down into 4 parts.
In the first part the store manager, who is also yoga teacher, took us through a 5-minute mindfulness meditation practice. Perfect way to start the day!
In the second part of the event, Felicia LaTour, a celebrity makeup artist, shared her story about her struggles with battling depression and insecurities that held her back before getting to where she is. Like makeup, everything looks good on the outside. It’s so easy to fake a perfect life, but no one except us knows our hardships. Felicia has travelled around the world, and her work has been featured in the most prestigious magazines, yet at the end of the day none of those things fulfilled her. You see this all the time, especially here in LA. People strive to look good on the outside and uphold a certain image (with nice cars, nice clothes, a bunch of so-called “friends”), which unfortunately, leads to anxiety, suicide or drugs in order to cope with whatever it is they’re battling and fill that void. These are her 10 steps to becoming your greatest self:
💜Be mindful of social media influence. We have all been there— you’re bored out your mind, you tap on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of your home screen on Instagram and next thing you know, you’re comparing yourself to people that are “life goals” reminding you of your shortcomings. Remember that social media is a highlight reel. We don’t know what goes on behind doors. Appreciate what you see, but don’t fall into the comparison trap.
💜 What do you feed your body?
💜 Trust the journey, the timing, and the process. As humans, we are so impatient in the here and now that we forget every stage in our life is a process that shapes us to become who we are.
💜 Pray
💜 Plan your future; take one day at a time. Don’t just sit and wait but take small steps every day.
💜 Change your habits (Probably the most challenging step).
💜 Read and write. Do things that benefit you.
💜 Watch your inner critic (you probably already know that voice inside you which tells you that you ain’t sh*t). Watch out for that one.
💜 Work on believing in you.
💜Be grateful. This is the most important and the one I practice every day. Be grateful for where you are in life.
💜💜💜💜💜💜Felicia’s Instagram stories 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Following this, Purpl Goat’s founder Taiann Eiland took over and shared about her battle with cystic acne and dermatilomania. After trying out a myriad of skincare brands in the market with no success, she decided to develop her own brand. Taiann proceeded to do a facial on her friend, talking through all of the products being applied. She really emphasized to be as present as possible on your skincare routine and repeat the affirmations found on the products, as a daily reminder of the importance of self-love.
Once her friend’s skin was fresh and clean, Nars representative, Alix, proceeded to apply makeup on her. It was very subtle and she did the same steps I do on my face when I want to look put-together and more awake: tinted moisturizer, concealer, liquid blush (Nars has the best liquid blushes in the market), lipstick, eyeshadow and mascara.
In the last part of the event, Felicia sat down with us and we did a powerful visualization exercise: From walking into your dream job to hopping in your dream car and entering your dream house, you can achieve all these things. We are more powerful than we think we are, so what’s stopping you from being the best version of yourself? There’s this quote on my post about Hearst Castle that says “The only limits you have are the limits you believe exist”.
I’m so thankful for having had the opportunity to meet Taiann and praise her brand. She was super sweet and attentive and even complimented my skin and my eyebrows! She’s such a beautiful soul. These are the products that I’m currently using. Note: all her products are vegan-friendly and not tested on animals.
💜 Calm Complexion Serum
If you have acne prone skin, any redness or just problematic/sensitive skin, you need this in your life.
Ingredients: Lemon essential oil, lavender, jojoba oil, neem extract, calendula extract, turmeric extract, licorice root extract, lavender essential oil, lemon essential oil.
I apply this serum every night religiously. It smells great and the calming and soothing ingredients help me sleep so much better at night. You will notice the calming effect instantly! As I said in the beginning of this post, the price point (only $23), makes it clear that you don’t need to spend crazy amounts of money to get good, effective results on your skin. This is my holy grail.
💜 Healing Crystal Toner
This toner probably beats out any other toner in the market. For best results, I use this in conjunction with the Complexion Serum. The smell is so relaxing and refreshing. It’s also multipurpose, you can use it for setting makeup.
Ingredients: Organic Aloe Juice, Rose Quartz Crystal, Marshmallow Extract, Calendula Extract, Pink Himalayan Salt, Glycerine, Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil. It’s anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. This toner not only heals and calms your skin, but it also gives you a glow, keeping your skin nice and fresh throughout the day.
From serums, to face masks, to personal hygiene products, to deodorants and even skincare products for men, PurpL Goat will change your life in the most amazing ways. I’m super happy I found this brand which has seriously been a huge game-changer in my everyday skincare routine.
I couldn’t have asked for a better Sunday morning in this amazing, positive and supportive group of people that celebrated self-love and inner beauty, encouraging me to never give up and work on myself every day. After this, I felt empowered, ready to tackle any obstacle! 💪
Felicia LaTour also has her own Youtube channel, where she shares tips on how to overcome anxiety, makeup tutorials and other motivational topics.
I will make a future blog post about my current skincare routine that I can’t wait to share with you. Taiann also offers an in-person skin consultation where she will advice you about the best products for your skin. This is only for LA residents. If you haven’t checked out PurplGoat’s website yet, please do.
Instagram has become an amazing platform to discover indie beauty brands. If you know about other skincare brands I encourage you to share them with me! As you can see, I swear by Purpl Goat. Taiann suffered from severe skin problems so you’ll know whatever you purchase from her brand is going to work like a charm!
