Exploring Maryland Neighborhoods and Winter Products
I feel like I say it every year, but what. A. Year. On a personal level, political/global level(?!)—What a year., another different post/my IG stories.
That being said, I’ve also been working on new projects and finding new products during my travels. Most recently, I’ve been visiting Silver Spring, Maryland, to capture content and promote a diverse small business district called Fenton Village. It’s been fun to explore the area, pop into stores, and get some videos, but the last few months have been MUCH colder than the balmy Georgia weather I’m used to. Because of that, my travel routine has found a few new products to keep me moisturized and glowing after a long day of walking outside in the dry, cold air.
First and foremost, I’m already a dry individual—both in humor and skin. I’m a lover of heavy ceramide creams and hyaluronic acid (HADA LABO Gokujyun hyaluronic acid lotion, anyone?) so I didn’t need to make major changes to counteract the drier climate.
In all truth, I actually went back to an old but familiar ingredient I loved in college for how moisturizing it was: Propolis.
My sister recently gifted me the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum for Christmas. It’s a propolis and niacinamide serum with a few other moisturizing ingredients and extracts, and it has that thick, viscous texture I knew I was going to love. Wayyyy back in the day, I was a fan of the Tosowoong Propolis serum (RIP. albeit, a little thin) and a night cream with propolis, and the rich texture that comes with that ingredient always gave my skin an amazing finish and glow.
I’m not entirely sure why I stopped incorporating it into my routine… but alas, it’s back! And I’m glad I’m back on the propolis train because a few drops of this mixed into my moisturizer or applied beneath really locks in the hydration from my routine. Maybe a little too heavy for Georgia’s humid summers, but it’s great for now.
The finish also makes for a great primer that my powder-based bronzers and highlighters melt naturally in to. (I say “natural,” I WEAR highlighter.) Thank you Tati for getting me hooked on this Wet & Wild highlighter ?! 5 years ago when YouTube was a thing ?! Then again, I feel like I’m seeing a resurgence. Who else is enjoying Miss Darcei’s return to YouTube?
The skin on my body also tends to get dry, so I grabbed a bottle of Byoma’s Hydrating Body Lotion during my travels. I usually throw a tub of CeraVe’s hydration cream in my suitcase and use it all over—face included—but Byoma’s ceramides have my attention. I like this lotion’s weight,. It’s heavy, but in a juicy way.. The scent is strong and burns my eyes if I apply it on my body first and the leftovers get on my face.… Otherwise it’s fine on my body. Incase you’re more sensitive to scent, because it’s there.
I even picked up a mini travel humidifier for my hotel room to keep the moisture going, lol.
Businesses associated with photos, ⬆️ ➡️: Blossom and Grow Wellness Center, Tailoring & Alteration Center, Kefa Cafe, Manny & Olgas, Pulse Community Care, Quarry House Tavern, Amirah Kinlaw at Blossom and Grow Wellness Center..
I’m sure it sounds excessive, but I was walking around outside in 30-degree weather for eight hours a day, for multiple days! I’m already a dry individual adapted to humid climates, so I knew my skin would feel tight. Downtown Silver Spring is WINDY, so heavy protective layer on top of my skincare was necessary while I was walking around and recording content.
I’ve partnered with videography friend, Shawn Maxwell, during these excursions to capture promotional content in partnership with the businesses of Fenton Village and the community organizers. It’s been a fun adventure—running around, meeting the diverse businesses and cultures in the area, and playing with our cameras all day. So far, we’ve produced social media commercials for the area, provided headshots to business owners, and created a content library for a business highlight campaign.
We initially visited in November to cover the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade and made our initial highlight reel. We continued to make content that reached the equivalent of 13% of Silver Spring’s population over the month. It was exciting to see our organic content perform so well on such a small account.
One extra travel find:: Those silicone cable ties for charging cords? Game changer. Get 20 for $7 online immediately.
*No affiliate links or monetization used, I just like sharing~