The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang August 10, 2018 in Beauty 4 Comments

Summer Skin Essential: Bio Oil

For some reason, my skin tends to go haywire every time I travel. I don’t know if it’s the change in climate, routine, or something completely unrelated, but every time I take off for an extended period of time I anticipate having skin problems of some sort. Especially in the summer – I’m very prone to mosquito bites and heat rash, and all too often find myself incredibly itchy and uncomfortable. My skin also scars really easily, which is extra fun when you’re trying to wear shorts and dresses.

Thankfully, I discovered Bio Oil a few years ago and it’s become a skincare staple.

Bio Oil is a bit of a cult skincare product – if you know, you know. It’s made with natural ingredients (rosemary, chamomile oils) and then enriched with vitamins A and E – which help heal and improve skin. It addresses so many skin problems many of us have, and it’s also SO affordable (you can get it for under $20). Here are a few reasons Bio Oil should be a staple in your skincare routine and how I like to use it.

Summer Skin Essential: BIO OIL

+ Stretch marks and scars.

This is probably Bio Oil’s claim to fame – and it really does work. Whenever I get nasty bug bites or cuts that I’m afraid will turn into scars, I make sure to use bio oil every day while my skin is healing. It helps remove the discoloration and lighten the scars. It also works on stretch marks!

+ An all natural glow.

I love mixing Bio Oil with my foundation and moisturizer. It gives my skin a bit of a natural, dewy glow.

+ Moisturizing oil

Vitamins A and E are very hydrating, so I like to use Bio Oil on my cuticles, heels, and even the ends of my hair when I don’t have my usual hair oil on hand. You can even use it as a facial oil, on your elbows, lips, and and scalp.

+ Soothing scratches and cuts

The oil is filled with ingredients that soothe irritated skin. It’s perfect to use before or after shaving or when your skin is feeling irritated or tight.

+ Makeup remover

When I travel, I like to pack as light as possible. I love how multi purpose Bio Oil is – making it a summer travel essential!

Have you tried Bio Oil? xx

By Amy Zhang July 30, 2018 in Travel 2 Comments

Travel Diary: 72 Hours in Florence

It’s hard to believe I’ve been back in LA for over a week already…. every trip abroad is always incredible, but this last trip in Europe was one of my favorite trips to date. Every destination was incredibly magical, and the trip could not have come at a better time. I came back from two weeks abroad feeling so energized, refreshed, and inspired. I’ve been a little MIA on the blog because I actually started a new job last month! I’ve been putting most of my time and energy there (it feels so good to start something new that excites you!), but I wanted to recap all of the destinations we visited on our trip.

Although we ended our trip in Florence, it was definitely a highlight of our vacation. Florence is beyond picturesque and romantic, there is so much history and culture in the city, and the food (and wine!) is just to die for. We went for the wedding of one of my close friends from college (which was absolutely stunning, at the beautiful Villa Gamberaia outside the city! – see photos below), but fell in love with the city at the same time.

Here’s a quick snapshot of our 72 hours in Florence.

How to get there:

Florence can be a little tricky to get to – but it’s oh so worth it. There aren’t direct flights into Firenze but you can fly into one of Europe’s larger airports and then take a connecting flight. If you’re already in Italy, there are plenty of high speed trains that will take you to the city. We took a quick 2 hour train from Milan to Florence – the experience couldn’t have been better!

When to visit:

You can’t go wrong any time of year! The summers can be a little hot, so the most popular months to visit are May, June, September, and October. Apparently it’s lovely over the holidays as well. We were only in the city for 3 days but are already planning our next trip back. We fell in love with the charming town instantly, despite how many tourists there are. It still manages to feel quaint and filled with hidden gems. If you have more time, I would suggest staying longer. There are so many little day trips you can take from Florence – or if you’re up for it, you can rent a car and drive around Tuscany, exploring all of the little villages and towns. This is next on our list!

Where to stay:

We stayed at a hotel in the middle of the city a block away from the Duomo, but there are so many quaint (and affordable) Airbnbs in the city. If you’re looking for a more upscale experience, there are many luxury hotels in the city.

What to do:

Despite being an extremely manageable city in terms of size, there is SO much to do in Florence. The city is filled with museums, art, shopping, food, culture – in fact, so many of my friends studied abroad in Florence or have spent extended time in the city, we couldn’t get through even half of all of the recommendations we received.

+ Sightseeing – Florence is filled with incredible architecture and art. The Duomo and Uffizi Gallery are musts, but if you have more time you need to see Accademia Gallery, Basilica di Santa Croce, and Museo Nazionale del Bargello. You could easily spend a week in Florence visiting all of the museums and galleries.

+ Walk everywhere – One thing I really loved about the city is how walkable it is – it only took about 30 minutes to walk from one end of the city to another. If you’re looking for a small hike, be sure to catch the views from Piazza Michelangelo. There are taxis available, but the streets are narrow and you’ll honestly get there faster by walking. Plus, you’ll want to burn off some of the amazing food you’re eating (more on that later).

+ Shopping – I’ll go into this in my next post, but the shopping in Florence was amazing. If you’re a non EU citizen, you can get the value added tax – VAT – back as a refund when you leave the EU. If you’ve never done it before, it can be a little complicated – I’ll go over the details in my next post. But if you’re looking to do some shopping, Italy is not a bad place to do it!

+ Aperitivo – be sure to catch the sunset from one of the rooftop bars in Florence (the view from the Westin is unreal) or any of the little aperitivo spots along the narrow streets. One of my favorites was the spritz at La Menagere.

+ Eat! When I’m in Italy, all bets are off. The word “diet” doesn’t exist, and I enjoyed pasta and wine every. single. day. It was so worth it, and I’ve sworn off all pasta in LA for the foreseeable future. See below for some of the best meals I had in Florence.

Where to eat

+ Gusta Pizza – for 7 euros or less, you can get your own personal neopolitan pizza. This is the real deal. They even make the pizzas in a heart shape, which is just the absolute cutest.

+ Il Profeta – come here for pasta – specifically, the “John Travolta” pasta. Think – vodka sauce on crack.

+ Cantinetta Antinori – this was a girlfriend’s recommendation and it could not have been a more lovely spot. Filled with locals and regulars, we felt so at home. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the fresh local vegetables were a much needed change from all of the carbs (why does everything taste better in Europe?!)

+ Trattoria da Mario – another recommendation from a friend. Come here hungry and ready to eat meat! They’re known for their Florentine steak. Best to brush up on your Italian a bit before you come as well – the menu is hand written every day in Italian. They’re open for lunch only, so try to get there before they open or expect to wait.

+ Gelateria Santa Trinita – I ate gelato every day (for the sake of “research”) and this spot was by far my favorite. It’s right across the bridge and always has a long line out the door. The black sesame gelato came highly recommended, but you can’t go wrong with any of the flavors.

+ Le Volpi e’Luva – the cutest wine bar with the most delicious crostinis and small bites. We loved stopping by and sampling local wines (they were so affordable as well!) and splitting a sausage & truffle crostini.

And of course, there’s nothing better than seeing one of your oldest friends so happy and in love, marrying her perfect match. Congratulations Felicia!!

By Amy Zhang July 13, 2018 in Wellness 3 Comments

FOOD CRAVINGS and What They Mean

Food cravings are soooo real. You know, that feeling you get when all you can think about is a specific food and you just have to have it. I’ve found myself wondering about this recently so I did some digging to find out what it is exactly, how to change what you crave (can you?) and what specific cravings might mean.

If you’ve ever wondered about this, take a look at what I learned below.

What is a food craving?

How I understand it, food cravings are basically the brain trying to communicate with you. One theory is that when you see a certain food associated with an award or a positive experience, it triggers a happy memory. This can then make you crave that food again because of its association with happiness (this is part of why we stress eat).

Another theory suggests that cravings happen when your body is telling you it’s low on a certain nutrient. So when you think you’re craving chocolate, it might actually mean you need magnesium, B vitamins or essential fatty acids. More on this below under how to change what you crave.

Can you change what you crave and why do you crave certain things?

While there are psychological reasons (like anxiety) that can cause cravings, when it comes to recognizing what your body needs, I think there are a couple tricks to avoiding all the sugary and fattening foods we usually go for when a craving strikes. All you have to do is be a little more intentional about recognizing your craving and learning what your body is actually asking you for. Sounds easier than it is, but you really can help yourself out here! Below are tastes, or types of food you might crave, and what your body is trying to tell you it’s running low on.

Craving: chocolate

Needs: B vitamins, magnesium, essential fatty acids

Alternative: dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher), smoothies with unsweetened cocoa

Craving: sugar

Needs: chromium, magnesium or water

Alternative: fresh fruit, water—watermelon would be a great way to combine the two

Craving: salty

Needs: electrolytes, B vitamins

Alternative: nuts and seeds

Craving: fried foods

Needs: essential fatty acids

Alternative: healthy fats from nuts and seeds, leafy greens, whole grains or eggs

How are cravings related to anxiety?

If you’ve ever struggled with stress eating/cravings being triggered by anxiety and feeling overwhelmed, this is for you. Unfortunately, when we’re stressed our body searches for ways to boost serotonin, and carbs will do just the trick—temporarily at least. This means fatty and sugary foods make us feel better in those stressed out times, but only until our blood sugar crashes and we might even end up feeling worse, both physically and psychologically. This is why I think it’s important to look back at the alternatives I mentioned above. Because if you do reach for food during anxious times, you have some healthy options.

Can you stop food cravings?

From what I’ve gathered, there may not be a way to completely stop food cravings. Bummer, I know! But, the good news is that there are a couple solutions on how to deal with them without going on a major binge. The first solution is what I’ve mentioned above, which is searching out those healthier alternatives and gaining a greater understanding of what your body is actually telling you when a craving arises.

The second solution, especially if your cravings are triggered by stress and anxiety, would be to simulate happiness to ignite serotonin production without having to eat. Do the things you enjoy—talk to friends and family, exercise, play with your pets—anything that brings you even just a little bit of joy.

Hopefully this helps the next time you feel a craving coming on!

By Amy Zhang July 10, 2018 in Wellness 2 Comments

Everything You Need to Know About: Alkaline Food

There’s a lot of hype on the Internet and in the health and wellness world about alkaline foods and their kind of “magical” effect on the body. Which, of course, means there’s also a lot of skepticism. If you’ve never heard of this concept or aren’t sure what alkaline foods are, strap in, because I have some information for you!

To put it simply, after our bodies burn up the food we consume for energy, there’s a kind of “ash” left over. That ash can either be acidic, alkaline or neutral depending on what the food was. Here’s where the magical part comes in. Some people say alkaline ash acts as a sort of protection for your body (more on these benefits below), whereas acidic ash can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to diseases. Your ash can also be considered neutral, which is said to have no effects.

If some of these words are taking you back to high school science class, it’s because all of this goes back to the pH level of your body (remember learning about that in 9th grade?). A 0-7 pH level means you’re acidic, 7 is neutral and 7-14 means you’re alkaline (or “basic” as it was probably referred to in your science class).

So now you might be wondering how to tell if you’re acidic, neutral or alkaline. Here in lies the mystery because there really isn’t a super reliable way to tell. The stomach has lots of acids to help break down food, which is totally healthy and natural. But the blood is slightly alkaline to help maintain cellular function. Neither of these change, nor do you want them to, so they’re not reliable for testing. Some say you can measure alkaline through urine, but it’s also considered pretty unreliable (according to this article and its corresponding research).

If your curiosity has been piqued, though, here are some of the benefits of an alkaline diet:

Benefits of eating alkaline food

Improved energy levels
Reduced acid reflux
Improved metabolic function
Increased antioxidant properties within the body
Anti-aging
Increased colon health

And if you’re looking to incorporate more alkaline-heavy foods into your diet consider the following:

Alkaline Food

Nuts
- Almonds
- Chestnuts
- Cashews
Vegetables
- Artichokes
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Root veggies
- Spinach
Fruits
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Cantaloupe
Other
- Pumpkin seeds
- Ginger root
- Sea salt
- Parsley

Acidic foods (foods to eat less of according to the alkaline diet)

Dairy products
Alcohol
Fish
Red meat
Turkey
Added sweeteners
Eggs
Most grains

What’s your take? Do you think alkaline foods have benefits beyond just their natural nutritional value?

By Amy Zhang July 7, 2018 in Fitness, Lifestyle 4 Comments

5 Tips to Stay Active on Vacation

It’s been a year since I took a proper vacation and I couldn’t be more excited to spend the next two weeks in Europe! We’ll be going to Mallorca, Ibiza, Milan, and Florence – so stay tuned for more travel posts! To say I’m excited to unwind and unplug with a glass of wine is an understatement, but one area I have changed in over the past year is how active I am even when I go on vacation. In the past I’ve gone away and completely let go of my health and fitness routine, only to come back sluggish and a few pounds heavier. The older I get, the more careful I am not to overdo it *too* much (you still have to live a little!) – and staying active even when I travel has become a huge part of it.

Why Staying Active is Important… Even on Vacation

If you’re normally very active and have a consistent routine down, you can afford to take a few days (or even a couple weeks) off without skipping a beat – but when fitness becomes a huge part of your daily routine, chances are you will stay want to keep it up somehow. It’s so easy to get out of a healthy routine when you’re on vacation which can easily translate to weight gain or inflammation. Getting out of sync with your sleep cycle, fitness routine, and diet can really throw off your digestion and gut health (google traveler’s constipation – it’s a thing). I’m all for indulging and letting loose, but not at the expense of the balance you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Staying active on vacation doesn’t have to be hard or feel like a chore – packing a few key items and making small changes to your itinerary can help you ensure that you don’t fall off track too much!

5 Tips to Stay Active on Vacation:

1. Walk everywhere!

It’s the best way to see a new city and you might even stumble into a hidden gem you would have missed otherwise. Whenever I travel, I typically walk at least 7 to 10 miles a day (make sure you pack comfortable shoes!). This helps offset all of the yummy local foods you’ll be indulging in ; ). Bonus points if you run around the neighborhood in your new location!

2. Bring equipment

If you insist on working out properly but aren’t sure if you will have a gym around, pack lightweight equipment such as resistance bands or a jump rope. They’re compact and perfect for on the go workouts – plus, you can use them anywhere, even in small hotel rooms!

3. Choose destinations with activities in mind

If staying active on vacation is important to you, try to choose vacation destinations with this in mind. Try to find spots where you can run outside, hike, ski, or bike. If you’re on an island, try snorkeling or surfing. Going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to sit around all day!

4. Do your research in advance

You can always look online beforehand to see if there are local fitness studios you can try or a hotel in your gym. This way you can plan accordingly and even schedule your workouts in advance.

5. Pack gym clothes!

This is a no-brainer, but bringing gym clothes along (even though they take up precious space in your suitcase!) can help motivate you to workout. Always pack gym shoes (I really love my adidas Ultra Boost sneakers for travel!) and lightweight, sweat wicking clothes. Even a pair of leggings or gym shorts with a sports bra is enough – you can always wash and reuse if you don’t have much space left in your bag. I brought my sneakers with me to Europe – I just got these last month and can’t stop wearing them. They’re super lightweight, so comfortable, and cute enough to wear with an outfit to go sightseeing.

Some of my vacation essentials below:

1. adidas leggings

2. Swell water bottle

3. adidas Ultra Boost sneakers

4. Resistance bands

5. Jump rope

How do you stay active on vacation? Is it something you prioritize?
Though this post is sponsored by adidas, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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