October 28, 2016

Elemis steps up for breast cancer awareness, the hair hack that changed everything, longer lashes for the cause and the Vapor Beauty BCA gloss you'll want to wear year-round.

Step up your skincare for the cause

Let’s be honest… Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great time for beauty buffs. Just about every brand curates a special kit or limited-edition product that helps raise money for research, making it a perfect opportunity to try something new—or stock up on your favorites. I always look forward to seeing what Elemis comes up with each year, as this is one of my go-to skincare lines—and this year’s Limited Edition Hero Collection Pink Edition doesn’t disappoint.

This collection includes perfectly-portable sizes of Elemis’ bestsellers, and it has you covered from head to toe. Starting at the top, the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules offer a single serving of detoxifying oil and work in tandem with the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream to deliver radiant, hydrated and all-around happy skin. From there, the Pro-Collagen Neck and Decollete Balm nourishes oft-neglected skin from below the chin down to the chest with moisture and anti-aging algae extract to help smooth those pesky fine lines. This kit also includes my all-time favorite, the Frangipani Monoi Oil. If it’s possible to bottle the smell of a tropical vacation, this is it—and it helps smooth even the thirstiest of skin while leaving the perfect amount of sheen when baring your arms, legs or any part of your body for that matter.

Since Elemis is a British brand, this BCA offering benefits Breast Cancer Care, a U.K.-based charity that provides care, information and support to those affected by skin cancer. And since breast cancer knows no borders, every little bit counts!

This hair hack changed my life

When I actually sit down to read a month’s worth of magazines, it looks like a massacre took place on my kitchen table. I usually have a pile of tear-outs for things I want to buy (makeup, skincare and clothing) as well as a pile for tips to try. It’s honestly been at least two months since I ripped out a Tokyo-themed story (complete with how to get “the look” with blue or green highlights and lowlights—which I would never try, BTW). In this piece was possibly (what they claimed) was an easy way to get the wet/slicked back look that is perfect for my short hair. And last night I finally tried it…

Upon deciding that I’d shower in the morning after drop-off and do the new hair treatment I got (stay tuned), it was the perfect time to experiment—and here’s the trick. Rake mousse through dry hair with your fingers. That’s it. I tell you, that this is the perfect way for me to tame my usually messy tresses while preserving just enough undoneness so I don’t look like a short-haired soccer mom. And just so you know, my mousse of choice was Rene Furterer Volumea Volumizing Foam—and it totally keeps my hair in place without feeling stiff or crunchy. This just helped my step up my hair game (or at least my own perception of my hair) in a major way. Happy Wednesday!

Longer lashes for you, and a confidence boost for a cancer survivor

I’m on a total lash kick these days so I was so excited to stumble across an eyelash (and brow) enhancer that is participating in Breast Cancer Awareness Month! If you haven’t heard of Wink, today’s your lucky day, because this lash-boosting oil delivers visible results in as little as two weeks. Hypoallergenic, vegan and cruelty-free, this all-natural option nourishes lashes and brows and promotes new growth with a combination of Himalayan cherry, kukui seed, raspberry seed, argan, jojoba, pomegranate, sunflower seed and other botanically-derived oils.

Perhaps the best part is that for every tube sold this month, Wink will donate one to a cancer “warrior” whose lashes and brows have been affected by chemotherapy. Last year Wink helped 1,100 women, and this year’s goal is 2,500, so why not help them help women feel better about themselves? You’ll feel better about yourself (and your lashes and brows), too!

The BCA gloss you’ll wear all year long

I love a bold lip but sometimes I like to keep things light, and a pinky-nude gloss is my product of choice. There’s an endless array of options from the drugstore to the department store (and all points in between), but those who gravitate toward natural and organic offerings may have a harder time finding “the one.” When it comes to clean, “green” makeup, look no further than Vapour Beauty—and thanks to 30% of the proceeds from October’s sale of their “Honor” Elixir Lip Gloss going to breast cancer research, you can pucker up for the cure.

What you get: Gorgeous, sheer golden pink color, antioxidants and loads of shine. What you don’t get: Nasty chemicals or synthetic ingredients. What everyone gets: (Hopefully) a step closer to a cure for breast cancer.