December 16, 2016

Your favorite M.A.C. lipsticks have coordinating scents, luxe skincare for the toddler set, more Tom Ford to lust after, Kiehl's gives back and Quip has all of your oral-care needs covered.

Now there’s a scent that matches your favorite M.A.C. lipstick

Are you “Ruby Woo” or a “Lady Danger”? Or perhaps you’re feeling more “Candy Yum-Yum” than “Velvet Teddy” today. If you’re a true M.A.C. diehard, you know I’m talking about the brand’s most iconic shades and not losing my mind because this felt like the longest week ever. My point here is that now you can match your lips to your spritz (so to speak) thanks to the launch of Shadescents, M.A.C.’s new fragrance collection.

Featuring six scents, here’s the skinny on the scents, along with their makeup counterparts so you can get your hands on these cult-classic shades. (Better late than never!)

Ruby Woo
The scent: A woody floral infused with leather
The shade: A bold, classic red

Crème d’Nude
The scent: Clean, velvety musk
The shade: Pale peachy beige

My Heroine
The scent: A heady blend of wood and leather
The shade: Bright, matte purple

Candy Yum-Yum
The scent: A fruity floral accented with guava
The shade: Bright neon pink

Lady Danger
The scent: Sultry, sexy patchouli
The shade: Vivid coral-red

Velvet Teddy
The scent: An oriental punctuated with honey and musk
The shade: Deep beige nude

I haven’t had a chance to check these out in person (yet!) but I’ll definitely be popping into the M.A.C. store the next time I’m at the mall. I’m partial to “Lady Danger” and the scent sounds right up my alley… What color is your favorite—and which scent(s) do you want to try?

It’s never too early for good skincare habits

If you’ve ever wondered how French women manage to look so good all the time, one reason is their staunch commitment to skincare. In fact, most French moms make it a point to take their girls to a pharmacy for a good product regimen at a young age. How young is young? I’m sure it varies from family to family, but with the launch of Chantecaille Bébé, it could be mere hours after being born.

When Olivia Chantecaille (founder of the eponymous makeup and skincare range) had her first child, she was nervous about what she put on her skin—as many of us are/were. After searching for a high-end product line with all of the luxe and none of the yuck (and not being able to find one), she did what any mom with her own successful brand would do: She created her own. Hence, Chantecaille Bébé was born, and the first members of this 100% organic COSMOS-certified product family are the Wild Moss Rose Body Lotion, Flower Petal Hair & Body Wash and Orange Blossom Face Cream.

Beyond being the toddler equivalent of La Mer, the airless packaging protects the preservative-free products from contamination while letting you squeeze out every last drop without the tube getting all mangled (quelle horror!)—which is a good thing considering the prices start at $48.

With a fourth product launching Spring 2017 and more in the works, Chantecaille Bébé is proof that there’s still room for growth in the baby beauty category, and that it’s never too early to start taking care of your skin!

The latest addition to my makeup lust list

At this point, I can safely say that I don’t NEED any more makeup. I’m pretty sure I have every eyeshadow shade I could possibly need, along with more blush, eyeliner and lipstick options than some entire cosmetic lines. But this sense of practicality went out the window as soon as I set eyes on Tom Ford’s Winter Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette…

The sleek, chic compact features four shimmery, bronzy shades of eyeshadow that can be mixed and matched to your heart’s content, along with a perfectly peach blush and highlighter. (Keep in mind it comes in both “Warm” and “Cool” versions.) Now you might be thinking that $155 is a tad ridiculous, but when you take into account that a Tom Ford Eye Color Duo costs $60 and a Cheek Color is $60, you’re well ahead of the game.

I’m obviously not the only one obsessed with this palette because it’s sold out on TomFord.com. However I was able to track it down at Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, so it can still be yours, but it’s probably a good idea to get it sooner rather than later!

A body butter that gives back

It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday season and forget what it’s really all about—which should be spreading kindness to others. Part of this is helping those who may be less fortunate than ourselves, and there’s a way to achieve this goal while crossing a few gifts off your list: Kiehl’s Crème de Corps “Grapefruit” Whipped Body Butter.

This skin-smoothing Kiehl’s classic gets an update for the 2016 holiday season thanks to a super-cool label designed by FAILE, the collaboration between Brooklyn-based artists Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller. But even better than the sweet scent and nurturing ingredients is the fact that 100% of the profits benefit Feeding America, and Kiehl’s has pledged to donate at least $100,000. Every jar sold translates to 340 meals for those in need, which is why we’re putting this at the top of our shopping list—at least while this limited-edition packaging is still around.

So if you’re still on the hunt for a stocking stuffer or gift that feels as good to give as it does to get, we highly recommend scooping up a bunch of these!

This subscription service gives you something to smile about

We all know we’re supposed to get a new toothbrush every three months, but how many of us actually do it? (Not me.) Obviously this isn’t the best move in terms of oral health, so why not just automate the process so you never have to think about it again? That’s where Quip comes in, and if you take your smile seriously, this is THE subscription service for you.

But Quip goes well beyond the standard freebie toothbrush you get when you go to the dentist for a cleaning. When you sign up for the service, you get a super-sleek battery-operated electric toothbrush complete with a travel-friendly stand that can be attached to any smooth surface without damage, plus a three-month supply of the amazing Quip toothpaste along with a travel-size for when you’re on the go. (Choose from silver, slate, copper or gold metal for $40, or blue or green plastic for $25.)

Then you’re obviously going to want to sign up for the refill plan, which sends a fresh head direct to your door when it’s time for a new one. You can also opt in for toothpaste refills if you feel the need to kick your Crest or Colgate to the curb for good (I did).

Since getting my Quip, I’ve enjoyed brushing so much that I actually do it for the full recommended 2 minutes—and I love how it pulses every 30 seconds so I know it’s time to move on to the next zone. Talk about transforming a mundane task into something a little more fun—and you’ll have one less thing to worry about!