November 4, 2016

An easy way to get beauty waves, a ridiculously inexpensive hair treatment that really works, Sigma makes brush-cleansing a breeze and splurge-worthy masks for your face and body.

Quite possibly the easiest path to beachy waves ever

The beachy-wave hair trend shows no signs of waning, and although my hair is nowhere near being long enough to participate, I’m always on the hunt for new ways to achieve this sought-after style. My goal is to find tools that minimize the effort it takes to get the effortless vibe, and my latest discovery is called CharlieCurls.

Essentially a cushiony strip of super-soft fabric that snaps together at the ends, the beauty of this tool is that it takes only a few steps—and none of them include sectioning or heat-styling your hair. It’s as easy as slipping damp hair into in the oval you create by twisting the CharlieCurl, pulling it flat and down to the ends, rolling it up toward your head and securing it into a bun. After a few hours (or overnight), just unroll the CharlieCurl and voila… Beachy waves are yours! The looseness (or tightness) of your waves depends on how much you twist the CharlieCurl, and the website features how-to videos about the results you get when you place your final “bun” in different spots (i.e. low bun, high bun or “unicorn” bun).

Each CharlieCurl costs a mere $25 (significantly less than one blowout) and you can also get a pack of three for $65.99 and share your secret with your friends—only if you like them enough to help them strengthen their hair game.

No joke: This $2 treatment made my hair normal again

I’ve been struggling with my hair (amongst other things) for the past few months. After almost two years of relatively happy, healthy platinum hair, things started to go awry. It was breaking off in the front and I had a semi-bald spot in the back where my head rests on my pillow. I got a silk pillowcase and stopped blow-drying but it kept getting worse. Ultimately I decided to dye it dark brown, and I can’t even think about highlights until all of the old now-brown-platinum grows out. Despite going dark, the texture was still awful, and the amount of hair I’d find on the shower floor and in my sink was just scary. Then I read a glowing review of Deesse’s Linkage Meu 4+ and I figured for $9 (for four treatments), what did I have to lose?

Well, let’s just say I had everything to gain… After one use my hair was actually soft again. At first I thought it was the “first time” effect, you know—like when you switch to a new shampoo and you notice a difference immediately. Then, after subsequent washings my hair was still soft and “normal.” And the best part: I’ve noticed much less hair in my shower and sink when I (gasp!) blow-dry it.

I still have a ways to go, but I’m optimistic. My stylist says that all the old platinum should be gone after two more haircuts—which takes me to about February/March. And then you better believe I’ll be back to blonde (via highlights, not single-processing).

I was never one of those people who totally freaked out about their hair—and then all of a sudden I was. The struggle with damaged hair is real, but this treatment saved me (and my hair).

A revolutionary new product that will make you want to clean your makeup brushes

Back in my NYC days, being escorted to beauty events in a car service was an almost daily occurrence. Now that I’m a Florida resident, not so much. The lack of launch events in my area makes them that much more exciting when they do pop up, so I was obviously super-psyched when Sigma Beauty invited me to a mansion on the water in Fort Lauderdale to celebrate their latest game-changing product, Sigmatic Brushampoo (with my bestie, no less).

The well-deserved fanfare surrounding this launch included Hawaiian dancers, a lovely al fresco dinner for about 40, YouTubers flown in from around the world and one-on-one time with Sigma’s gracious founders, Simone Xavier and Rene Xavier Filho. (Their backgrounds are pretty amazing—read more about them here.) Then we got down to the real reason we were all there…

Obviously Sigma is a makeup, brush and accessories go-to for professionals and amateurs alike, so naturally it only made sense for the brand to offer an actual brush cleanser to help keep your tools in tip-top shape. The Sigmatic Brushampoo isn’t a facial cleanser sold as a brush cleanser (although you can use it on your face if you’d like)—it’s a 100% natural coconut oil and palm oil blend that effectively dissolves makeup, oil and anything else lingering in your brushes without damaging natural or synthetic bristles. It’s also fragrance-, paraben- and sulfate-free and provides an antimicrobial boost to ensure brushes are practically like new after cleansing.

I tried it for the first time this last weekend and I was amazed at how effective it is. It took half the time it usually takes to wash my brushes and rinses completely away with practically no effort. After spending the night in my new Dry’N Shape Tower (thanks for the awesome goody bag, too!) it was like I had a brand-new batch of brushes that I couldn’t wait to use.

If you have yet to experience Sigma Beauty, hop over to their site to see the incredible array of makeup and tools they offer… And the best part of all, everything is reasonably priced so you can step up you’re makeup game in a big way without breaking the bank! 

Treat yourself to these luxurious masks

There’s a mask to suit just about every skincare need and personal preference, and just when you think you’ve seen them all, you come across something completely new and unique. That’s the story with Nannette de Gaspé—and once you get past the sticker shock and learn more about these innovative products, you’ll probably find yourself justifying the splurge.

This Canadian import launched at Barneys with a collection of five targeted treatments for the Face, Eyes, Mouth, Neck and Hands. At first glance, they may look like the same sheet masks you can get at the drugstore for just a few dollars, but they are in fact quite different. Comprised of an advanced Japanese woven fabric, these waterless masks can actually be reused three times, in turn making the steep price tag a bit more palatable.

The Face version is obviously infused with anti-aging ingredients that work to firm, tighten and hydrate skin, while the formula for Eyes aims to smooth fine lines and improve contours. The Neck mask is anti-aging as well, and the shape is ideal for targeting skin that needs some help in the tautness department. The mask for Hands incorporates actives that target age spots and crepiness, and as a finishing touch, the Mouth treatment hydrates, plumps fine lines and enhances the lips’ contours.

My pick would definitely be the Coffret (which includes one of each mask for a whopping $425), but you can purchase them individually for $85 to $120, depending on the version that meets your needs most. With the holidays fast approaching, these make a great gift for any beauty buff on your list since it’s always nice to treat someone to something they probably wouldn’t buy for themselves… (Hint, hint.)