August is typically an eventful (and often stressful) month, because we start to enter panic mode as we realize summer is winding down. However, on the other hand, we also keep ourselves busy with fun activities like vacations and swimming. Whether you lean more toward the stressful or exciting end of the spectrum, August is a great month to treat yourself! As I do every month, I’ve put together a list of 10 things to help get you started, so what are you waiting for? Dive in to this month’s picks!
**This post may contain affiliate links (which means I make a small commission when you shop from them) and sponsored products (gifted items are indicated with a [c/o] and sponsored items with a [sp]) because we all have to pay our bills, and I’d rather keep creating awesome content for you than get a real job. All opinions are my own.**
Lavender Body Wash – This Argan Oil & Lavender Body Wash from Love Beauty and Planet has become my favorite way to end the day. The aroma is dreamy and I instantly feel more relaxed when I smell it. I love the subtle scent and smooth, silky feeling it leaves my skin with, too!
A Cutout Clutch – I recently grabbed this envelope clutch at Target, and I can’t stop pairing it with my outfits. The nude color has a slight blush tint to it that makes it feminine and perfect to wear with anything. It also comes in a really pretty jade color.
Jumpsuits – Finding a piece of clothing that can transcend seasons is one of the best feelings in the world. I love jumpsuits so much because they make getting ready so relaxed. They really speak for themselves as stand alone pieces! In an attempt to give you that relaxed, comfortable feeling, too, I’m showing you 3 different ways to style a jumpsuit in this post.
A New Multivitamin – I recently connected with Ritual (c/o) in an attempt to revamp my vitamin routine (which is practically non-existent because every time I buy vitamins, I forget to buy them again and then the habit of taking them dies, so I love that they’re subscription based). Only containing 9 essential ingredients, I love their “less is more” approach to wellness and the peace of mind knowing I’m only putting necessary things in my body. I’m starting my first bottle of Ritual today and I will certainly keep you posted on my thoughts!
Therapy – With a pretty intense and unexpected shift in my life (you can catch up in recent volumes of The Sunday Edit), I am so very grateful for my therapist. It’s magical to have someone in your corner who will hear your thoughts, help show you fresh perspectives, and give you action steps to help you get back on course. I can’t say it enough: there’s no shame in getting help. I look forward to my appointment every single week!
Grounding – Speaking of therapy, one of the techniques my therapist and I talked about in our last session was grounding, a technique to immediately connect you to your surroundings and hopefully get you out of your own head. Personally, my anxiety gives me anxiety and the more anxious I get, the more I get anxious about being anxious. There are so many ways to do this, and basically, all it requires is for you to remind yourself who and where you are right now in this very moment. Feel the fresh air, notice the words on the sign, know your feet are pressing into the ground, and/or acknowledge the softness of your sweater on your skin. Draw your attention to anything that you know is 100% true in this moment.
Outdoor Activities – I’m sorry to say it, but we’ve officially passed the half-way point of summer. I don’t say this to stress you out; I say this because I want you to soak up every last second you can of the rest of it! Try these outdoor activities for making fun, unique memories with the family. Also related: 6 Things You Need for Summer Entertaining and Nights on the Deck.
The Perfect Sunscreen – I’ve never been able to find a sunscreen that I love until now (just in time for my August vacation to the Outer Banks!). With other options I’ve tried, I either hate how it feels on my skin, can’t stand the smell, or it makes me break out. The Countersun Mineral Sunscreen [c/o] collection from Beautycounter solved all three of these issues for me! It absorbs quick, has SPF 30, and protects against UVA, UVB and blue light (plus, its not harmful to coral reefs!).
![I was recently introduced to Okame Skincare (which means happy mask in Japanese) - a newly launched Asian beauty brand focused on simple, nature inspired products with non-toxic ingredients that are effective for skin types across the board. I've been loving their travel kit [c/o] for trying out all the products. I've used a bit of each to test them out, but I am trying to save the kit for my trip in August so that I have quality, travel sized products to take with me - but it's hard because I want to keep using them all now! I'm especially obsessed with the Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner because they make my hair feel healthy without being weighed down.](https://allynlewis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/allyn-lewis-10-things-august-treat-yourself-lr-1.jpg)
Okame Skincare – I was recently introduced to Okame Skincare (which means happy mask in Japanese) – a newly launched Asian beauty brand focused on simple, nature inspired products with non-toxic ingredients that are effective for skin types across the board. I’ve been loving their travel kit [c/o] for trying out all the products. I’ve used a bit of each to test them out, but I am trying to save the kit for my trip in August so that I have quality, travel sized products to take with me – but it’s hard because I want to keep using them all now! I’m especially obsessed with the Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner because they make my hair feel healthy without being weighed down.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – You have just 5 more days to steal tons of new fall items from Nordstrom at crazy discounts before the prices go up. Now is the perfect time to stock up on soft sweaters, essential jeans, cozy loungewear, and casual dresses.