The Beauty Benefits of Biotin

Just two months ago, I couldn't grow out my nails. They would constantly bend and break, the corners would crack, and I had to keep them short since they weren't strong enough to be long. By comparison, over the past week, my nails had gotten so long that I literally could not wear my contact lenses without injuring myself. While I partially have regular at-home manicures to thank, I also have to attribute most of this change to my daily use of biotin supplements. 

Biotin is a B-vitamin that is used to keep nails strong, make your hair stronger, and prevent split ends and other hair damage. When you take biotin, you produce the amino acid keratin (just like all those keratin hair treatments), which is why biotin is known to be good for your hair and nails. Biotin is also supposedly good at keeping skin clear and nourished. 

Over the past two months of taking biotin, I have definitely noticed some changes to my hair, nails, and skin. First and foremost, my nails are way longer now and much stronger than before. They do sometimes still break but much less frequently and not as badly as in the past.

As for my hair, it is definitely growing! In mid-September, I got the slightest trim so that my hair wouldn't grow out weirdly from my angled bob, and I can tell that it is slowly but surely getting longer. I don't want to cut my hair again until the weather gets warmer, so I appreciate the extra length to keep me warm in the cold weather. I also feel that my hair has been shiny, has less breakage, and requires less maintenance than before. I have also been trying to wash my hair every other day (more on that coming soon!) and I think the combination of the two has helped. 

Lastly, my skin has seemed more plump and dewy the past few months. I am really glad about this since colder weather can tend to make skin very dry. I'm not 100% sure that it's because of the biotin, but I think only time will tell. I have also been using the Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream as my moisturizer. I just ran out of this product so my skin might change again with a new moisturizer. 

All in all, I would highly recommend taking biotin supplements, particularly if you are trying to grow your nails. I think the supplements have done wonders to help this and I am loving the results I see.

Have you tried any vitamins or supplements that have made a big beauty difference? Share below!

Cozy and Sustainable/Ethical Fall Clothing

This fall more than ever, I am dreaming of cozy days wrapped in blankets while drinking coffee and reading a good book. Though I love the fall temperatures in the 50s and 60s, I know that colder days are around the corner. I wanted to share some great loungewear pieces with you that also are made by great companies supporting ethical and environmentally-friendly fashion.

FLEECE CREWNECK | This sweatshirt from Everlane is made from 35 renewed plastic bottles and is part of the ReNew collection, which is the beginning of Everlane's efforts to cut out all virgin plastic. Plus, Everlane prides itself on its transparency, which is one of my top five wear-no-evil factors.

WINTER BEANIE | This Patagonia beanie is made from 96% recycled polyester materials. Some of the items recycled to make the fabric include old plastic soda bottles and worn out clothing garments. Patagonia also supports fair trade working conditions and safe factory environments and clearly outlines their supply chain practices online.

IVORY SLIDES | These Everlane sandals are the perfect shoe to throw on quickly if you need to run outside and take a break from cozying up by the fire. They are made from leather, so vegans beware, but they look like the comfiest slide that will last for a long time.

CABLE KNIT SWEATER | Another Everlane piece here, but this one is a bit more dressy if you need to use it for less casual occasions as well. The cable knit and mockneck make this the perfect thing to wear if you want to stay warm at home but paired with some stretchy pants and booties, this sweater would also be perfect for a comfortable Thanksgiving Day outfit.

PAJAMA SET | Reformation has the cutest pajamas, and though this set is shorts and a short sleeve tee, the print just screams fall! This is a great wear-pajamas-all-day set for weekends spent indoors. The set is 100% made from the recyclable fabric TENCEL and saves you 15.36 pounds of carbon dioxide, just under 1150 gallons of water, and 1.31 pounds of waste.

BLANKET SCARF | The blanket scarf pictured above is from Bloom and Give. The scarfs are hand-loomed and packaged in reusable cotton bags. 50% of all profits are donated toward programs for female education. I wasn't able to link this same scarf in the widget below, so instead, I linked a very similar one from Eileen Fisher, whose company is one of the most well-known for sustainability initiatives.

SWEATPANTS | There is nothing quite as wonderful as waking up on the weekend and not having to get dressed in fancy pants that day. Sometimes I'll opt for leggings or yoga pants, but these Reformation sweatpants are the perfect combination of both (and in a great holiday red, to boot). They're made from surplus fabric and save 15 pounds of carbon dioxide, 766 gallons of water, and just under 1 pound of waste.

Personality Tests That Will Give You Real Results

Personality tests are one effective way to learn more about your skill set, your work style, and how you interact with others. This doesn't mean the Facebook tests that tell you when you'll find your soul mate based on what you ate today. If you've taken a business class before, you've probably been exposed to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test or something similar. These tests are very common in the corporate world and though people debate how accurate the tests are, they are especially good if you want to develop a self-awareness about how you interact with others and engage with the world.

Below, I'm going to share 5 different personality tests that I have taken, how I scored, and why the test has value. Each one of these tests has played a role in my personal development by exposing a different part of my personality. By taking more and more of these tests, you can develop self-awareness and recognize patterns in your behavior that will help make you a better leader.

MYERS BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR

My Results: ENFJ or ESFJ

What The Results Mean: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (or MBTI) test breaks down personality into 4 binary categories. The first is introversion or extroversion (I or E) - my score in this category is E. The second category is sensing or intuition (S or N) -- in this category I go back and forth. I've taken the test multiple times and depending on what is going on in my life, sometimes I am more intuitive about the big picture, whereas other times I am extremely detail oriented and sense every tiny thing that goes on. The third category is thinking or feeling (T or F) and I am a feeler all the way! This means that I make decisions using emotion more so than logic or rationality. The fourth category is judging versus perceiving (J or P) and I am also a very strong J in this category. The J and P nomenclature is a bit outdated, but it mostly has to do with whether we prefer to live in a structured (J) or flexible (P) way.

How to Use this Test: One of the ways that I have used this test most when working in groups has to do with my Judging component. I know that I like very structured environments, going into meetings with a plan, and accomplished a certain amount within a certain time frame. If I am working with other people who have more of a P tendency, I know to account for this and to prepare for meetings in advance or take charge of establishing a schedule. Also, if I am working with others who are more introverted than myself, I use this to my advantage by making sure to ask for their input regularly and allowing for processing time before making big decisions.

Note: The above link is to a free version of this test, whereas you have to pay for the official test. When you take the official version of the test, you are given your results on a sliding scale, which is why I said that I am a very strong J, but I might sway back and forth between S and N because I hover near the middle of the scale.

CLIFTONSTRENGTHS STRENGTHS FINDER

My Results: Discipline, Empathy, Developer, Positivity, Achiever

What the Results Mean: When you take the Strengths Finder test, you are given your Top 5 strengths out of 34 total. I matched mostly to Discipline, which says that I require an orderly world and predictable schedules. Empathy means that I am good at sensing the emotions of people around me and anticipate the needs of others. Developer means that I see potential in others and want to help people achieve success. Positivity is an indication that I offer generous praise, celebrate achievements, and think positively of situations. Achiever is my fifth most prominent trait and it explains a constant need to achieve and accomplish something each and every day.

How to Use this Test: This test is great for helping broadly direct a career path or showing you what skills you are inherently good at. If you have the feeling of not knowing what to do with your life or that you don't have any skills, taking the Strengths Finder test can help you by highlighting some of your interpersonal capabilities. For example, I was not surprised to find out that I require discipline, but knowing that I am skilled at empathy and being a developer is beneficial because I can use that to my advantage when friends come to me for advice or when working with teammates. This is also helpful because it can guide me toward careers that would allow me to regularly practice empathy, positivity, and discipline.

Note: The version linked above is the official version, but you must pay to take the test. A similar free version of this kind of test can be found here.

PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS QUOTIENT ASSESSMENT

My Results: Mostly Effective (70) with Problem Areas in Being proactive and Seeking first to understand

What the Results Mean: The Personal Effectiveness Quotient (PEQ) comes from the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which I talked about here. This assessment produces a scoring system where below at 64 is "less effective," between 65-84 is "mostly effective," and above 85 is "highly effective." I scored in the middle with a raw score of 70. The median score is a 74.5. In some areas, such as Putting first things first, I scored very highly. Because I like to schedule my time, plan ahead, and set boundaries for myself when it comes to accepting commitments, this was not surprising to me. In other areas, such as Being proactive, I scored less highly. In this area, I tend to not enjoy confrontation, let situations and outside circumstance affect my productivity, and want to have control over everything. From my experience with other tests, I was also not shocked that I performed less well in these areas. My second problem area was Seeking first to understand. Although I have empathy for others emotions and want to develop people for success, I have the tendency to run with my own ideas when I think they are good and spend less time listening to the thoughts of others.

How to Use this Test: One of the most striking comments from this book is about how there is a difference between efficiency and effectiveness. You might be very efficient and get a lot done in a short amount of time, but that does not always mean that you completed those tasks as effectively as possible. Taking this test gave me critical information about when I am efficient but not effective - namely, when I don't take the time to hear out other people's ideas and perspective because I am too caught up in my own idea. Knowing this has helped me to be more mindful of how I approach situations when I think I have the perfect answer. This test is not only helpful in a business setting, but also when dealing with friendships, family relationships, and personal growth.

Note: Be sure to copy the registration code to your clipboard so you can take the test for free!

DELOITTE BUSINESS CHEMISTRY

My Results: Integrator and Guardian

What the Results Mean: The consulting company Deloitte created a new type of personality test, which is used to evaluate team relationships among employees. But you don't have to work for Deloitte to take this test! Every person falls into one of the four Business Chemistry quadrants, while some people (like me) fall in between two. As an Integrator, I am relationship-oriented, empathetic (surprise!), and reluctant to create conflict. As a Guardian, I am methodical, loyal, and respect hierarchy and formal rules and structures. 

How to Use this Test: This test is great for not only finding out about yourself, but also learning how to work well with others. By "creating a hunch" about someone, you answer a series of questions about how they behave and respond in various work settings, and as your result you are told both which of the four quadrants this person falls into and tips for interacting with this person effectively.

Note: This test was administered to me by a Deloitte team during one of my business classes at school, but you can find the same results from home. Make a free account for Business Chemistry. Once you get to the home page, you can self-assess by "creating a hunch" and answering the questions for yourself, instead of in relation to another person.

FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

My Results: Words of Affirmation and Quality Time

What the Results Mean: The 5 Love Languages explains ways that people connect, and helps you figure out which ways you prefer to bond in relationships. For me, my top language is 'words of affirmation,' which means that I like receiving praise and compliments, and insults stick with me for a long time. For this love language, it is important that the compliments are given through someone's own doing, not because I told or asked them to. My secondary language is 'quality time,' or having someone's undivided attention for a period of time with no distractions or interruptions. 

How to Use this Test: Though this test is designed mostly for romantic relationships, I think that it can easily be applied to other environments as well. For example, it really bothers me when I am working with a group and someone is not fully engaged in the project (simultaneously texting, working on another assignment, or surfing the web) -- and this translates to the whole 'quality time' language. I also really value when friends offer enthusiastic, honest, and encouraging words, especially when they are given spontaneously. If I am working on a team project, I like for my teammates to build me up in this way, and I simultaneously like to publicly acknowledge great ideas and hard work that my teammates put in as well.

Note: Whether you are using this test for help in your personal relationships or your professional ones, it is important to note that not everyone gives and receives "love" the same way. I might like offering compliments to a coworker because that is how I would like to receive "love," but maybe that coworker would prefer that I provide an act of service or bring them their favorite treat to the team meeting (receiving gifts). Additionally, you might have different preferences for giving and receiving love -- getting gifts was lower on my list of languages, but I absolutely love when I find the perfect gift for someone else and know that they will really like it!

Do you have a favorite personality test that isn't mentioned here? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

How Vaccination Helps the Environment

Last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a new report outlining the dangers that climate change present globally. In the same month, reports of people contracting measles in the US surfaced, despite the disease being eliminated in 2000. This outbreak is occurring because non-vaccinated Americans are traveling to areas in the world that have measles outbreaks, and are bringing the virus back to the US with them. These people, in turn, are passing the virus along to others who also have not been vaccinated. Additionally, the spread of once-eliminated diseases in the US allows the pathogen to regain a foothold in this country. Reintroduction of these pathogens could have disastrous effects on crops, livestock, and human health if we are not equipped with the proper immunity to the disease. 

Climate change will bring about higher temperatures globally. Many diseases that thrive in tropical locales will be able to survive more broadly as regions warm up. Insects carrying diseases in warm climates will be able to live in areas of the world where they previously could not survive. People, plants, and animals in these areas may be unprotected from such diseases because they did not exist beforehand. 

Similarly, climate change will bring increased rainfall to some areas, and flooding can lead to reservoirs of unclean still water, where many disease-carrying insects breed. Other diseases, such as cholera and dysentery, are caused by drinking and cooking with contaminated water.

Vaccination helps the environment in two ways. First, vaccination will limit the ability of deadly illnesses to spread despite global warming. According to research published in the American Journal of Public Health, vaccination is one of the primary prevention mechanisms for controlling the public health impacts of climate change. Though warming will likely still occur, the associated health risks will be diminished because of vaccination.

Second, individuals who are vaccinated can spend more time engaging economically (because they are not bed-ridden), and economic development can help the environment. As death rates decrease in a country, there is more room for a productive working class and therefore, technological advances. Technological advances then can help lower carbon and methane emissions, for example, which is one of the leading causes of global warming.

Getting regular vaccinations is important for your own health, as well as the health of others around you. This concept is called herd immunity because individuals who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons are still protected from the disease when the members of their community or "herd" are protected -- thus there is little or no contact with the disease. Of equal importance is the fact that many infectious diseases will be able to spread under conditions of climate change, and vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent and limit this from occurring.

Questions, thoughts, or other commentary? Let's discuss in the comments below!

Recap of the Fall 10x10 Minimal Wardrobe Challenge

Gear up for a longer post! Today I'm sharing a recap of the 10x10 challenge I completed over the past two weeks. I have loved following Caroline over the past few years and she inspired me to participate in this 10-day challenge before I started a full-time job and would have less flexibility in my wardrobe. I am going to break down the full challenge, show you what pieces I selected for my wardrobe, what I wore each day, and my what my goals were, plus I'll talk about my successes and failures from the challenge.

For starters, here are the pieces I picked out. I followed a basic formula of 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes, plus one wild card option. I left the wild card in mostly because I wasn't sure if I wanted to use this for another top or for a layering piece, like a vest. I also didn't really know what I would be doing each day, if I would be outside or at home, and what the weather would be like (you know how sometimes a sunny 50 degrees is much warmer than a cloudy 50 degrees?)

Tops: cream turtleneck (mine is old from J.Crew, similar here) / black turtleneck (mine is old from Forever 21, similar here) / chambray shirt (mine is old from Old Navy, similar here)

Bottoms: black jeans / blue jeans / leggings (mine are old from Target, similar here)

Shoes: leopard loafers (mine are old from Tahari, similar here) / green slip on sneakers / black booties (mine are old from Marc Fisher, similar here)

On Day 1, I wore my black turtleneck, black jeans, and sneakers, and used my wild card to add a vest to the look. This day was chilly so I needed an extra layer to keep me warm, since my turtleneck is so thin. On Day 2, I wore the same black jeans but wore a denim shirt and loafers. 

Day 3 called for my cream turtleneck sweater with blue jeans and my loafers again. I got these shoes at the end of the winter last year and hadn't fully broken them in, so I wanted to wear them two days in a row. However, they gave me a blister in one spot so I put them aside for a while. On Day 4 I wore the same blue jeans but with my black turtleneck and booties. This is one of my favorite 'uniforms' for the fall! To spice up the outfit, I paired it with a leopard printed belt. 

For Day 5, I decided on leggings and sneakers since it was a casual Friday at home. I changed up my sweater using my wild card and opted for a rust colored chunky sweater. The next day, Day 6, I wanted to try layering my tops and so I wore my black turtleneck and black jeans with my denim shirt worn open on top. I felt a little like Bob Ross but either layer would have been too thin on their own, so together they were just right. I also wore sneakers since I was out shopping and needed to be able to try clothes on quickly and easily.

Day 7 was a casual day at home so I wore my leggings and cream turtleneck, but switched out the shoes for a pair of embellished mules that are easy to slide on and off. On Day 8, I wore my black turtleneck and jeans with booties for an easy monochromatic look. This was also the day when people started catching on and noticing that I was wearing the same combination of clothing items.

The last two days of the challenge I was starting to get tired of wearing the same things over and over again, so I switched up my look by wearing a different sweater as my wild card item on Day 9. I paired it with the same jeans and sneakers that were part of my challenge, but wearing a different top made the look feel different and not the same as the previous 8 days. However, on Day 10, which was Halloween, I completely abandoned all the rules of the challenge and wore a buffalo check flannel top, dark wash jeans and a different pair of off-white sneakers. I'm pretty impressed that I made it through 9 days of this challenge without caving, even if I used my wild card 4 times.

GOALS FOR CHALLENGE

I had a few goals for this challenge, and I think I did a pretty good job of meeting them. First, I have wanted to do a challenge like this for a long time (it's on my 101 in 1001 list) and I am glad that I took the opportunity now to do it. With a new job starting soon, I am going to be restricted to work clothes most days and won't have the same flexibility in my wardrobe as when I am home. Also, because most of my days are spent 'working from home' recently, it's very tempting to wear leggings and sweatshirts daily, and I needed to use this challenge as a way to wear some normal clothes.

THOUGHTS ON PEOPLE NOTICING

One of my hesitations about completing this challenge in the first place was that people would comment on my outfits and how I was wearing the same things, especially because I didn't add in any more unique styling layers like a dress or cardigan. However, I have wanted to participate in one of these challenges for a while now, so I decided to go for it anyway! I'm pretty impressed that no one said anything until Day 8, because at that point I was in too deep and wasn't going to give up with only two days left. Had someone commented right away, though, I would have been more likely to give up on the challenge at the beginning. I feel like there is a very negative connotation around wearing the same clothes over and over again, but there are also many upsides to having a strict "uniform." I can do a whole blog post all about this, but overall I think that challenges like these help you refine your personal style in such a severe way that down the road you are more able to pick out outfits quickly and seamlessly. 

RECAP OF HOW IT WENT

I honestly am impressed with how this challenge went! I wish I had picked better layering options than just jeans, tops and shoes, but for my first try at a 10x10, I think I did a pretty good job. I didn't repeat any exact outfits, and I picked items that matched the weather and my day-to-day obligations well. I was comfortable in everything I wore and it was easy to pick out my outfits in the morning. The biggest obstacle was making sure that people didn't catch on too soon, and I think I did a good job of that as well. I would definitely be curious about trying a challenge like this again, maybe in the spring when the weather is warmer!

Another important thing to note is that this challenge is excellent if you want to try paring down your wardrobe and live with a more minimal selection of clothing. In a lot of ways, minimalism and sustainability go hand in hand, and this challenge is perfect if you want to clean out your closet and work with less. If you choose to get rid of excess clothes that you realize you no longer need, you can always donate them at any of these locations.