January 13, 2017
Your Shellac manicure gets an upgrade, Eufora's reparative haircare products really work, NARS adds to its concealer collection and why I'm obsessed with Aesop.
Your Shellac manicure just got even better
What did we do before Shellac? Well, we endured vacations with chipped nail polish and tried to squeeze weekly manicures into our hectic schedules. The concept of a mani that you didn’t have to worry about for two weeks was a real game-changer, and the introduction of CND’s Shellac Duraforce Top Coat helps further protect your polish from chipping—and the health of your nails.
Offering 25% more protection than its predecessor to strengthen brittle, weak nails, this in-salon top coat delivers the high-shine and long-lasting wear you’ve come to expect with less damage when you decide to take a break from Shellac. Keep an eye out for it at your nail salon this month and just think… One manicure could take you into February!
These products finally got my hair back on track
Last month I received a much-appreciated email inviting me to try a few products from Eufora, a line of professional haircare that’s committed to sustainability, environmental protection, fair trade and all those do-gooder values that help make the world a better place—or at least help slow its demise. Naturally I was asked about the state of my hair, and at that point I explained my post-platinum damage and said I trusted them to pick the products that would help nurse my hair back to health.
A few days later, I received four products from the Nourish range, which is designed to deliver moisture and protection to hair in need of extra TLC. I couldn’t come up with a better name for the Urgent Repair Shampoo if I tried. After one use my hair was soft, shiny and totally free of the dry shampoo I use almost excessively to stretch time between washing. (I usually have to lather up twice to get it all out.) Beyond being gentle enough for daily use, it contains menthol, camphor and peppermint oil to stimulate scalp circulation, and in turn promote a healthy environment for healthy hair growth (yay!). It also has antioxidants to protect hair from environmental damage and preserve your color.
I also received the Deep Moisture Cleanse, which I’ve been using every second or third time I was. This sulfate-free formula is packed with extra hydration along with keratin proteins that help strengthen the hair I still actually have on my head while protecting it against further breakage.
I follow both with the Moisture Solution Conditioner. Though designed for daily (or every-time-you-wash) use, I find that it delivers the smoothing, softening benefits of a deep-conditioning treatment without weighing my hair down or creating a greasy mess the next day.
Even though I’ve been trying to keep blow-drying to a minimum, my jam-packed holiday season schedule made that a bit difficult so I’ve been using the Fortifi Keratin Repair as a pre-styling treatment. This weightless mist is formulated with heat-activated proteins that help reinforce brittle strands and prevent styling-induced damage.
The bottom line: These products have made a tremendous difference in my hair. I had breakfast with my aunt yesterday (who I last saw a month ago) and the first thing she said to me was that my hair looked so thick and healthy. After totally freaking out about my hair for the past few months, this was music to my ears—and thanks to Eufora my tresses are back on track. Now the big question is, do I go back to blonde?
NARS does it again with this brand-new concealer
I challenge you to find someone who’s tried NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer and not tossed all of their other cover-ups immediately. I’m absolutely devoted to the stuff, and wouldn’t even think about stepping out my front door without a dab under my eyes, around my nose and on any other imperfection I may have going on at the moment. From the blendable, buildable formula to the long-wearing blurring effect, it’s truly the cream of the crop.
Well, apparently winning the concealer game with just one product wasn’t enough for NARS, so they’re doubling-down with the new Soft Matte Complete Concealer, which launched on January 1. Designed for full coverage that still looks like natural skin, this oil-free formula also blurs imperfections and stays put—but its added powders help absorb shine (without settling into nooks and crannies). Best of all, it’s infused with peptides, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants for skincare benefits along with your flawless finish.
My first beauty obsession of 2017
Have you had enough of the “new year, new you” crap yet? Frankly, I get more frustrated with this mantra as I get older, probably because I don’t want to be a “new me,” but rather make some small improvements that will add up to a “better me.” My appearance obviously comes into play here—or more specifically, my skin. Amongst my resolutions for 2017 are to use my microneedle roller and Retin-A more consistently. And to get a lot more Aesop, because I’m seriously obsessed with this brand (so far) this year.
This Australian favorite of the fashion/beauty elite isn’t anything new, and it’s been years since I’ve used it. (I distinctly remember an amazing lip balm that came in a big jar, but alas, it’s no longer around.) Aesop and I became reacquainted through somewhat of a gag gift I got for my husband for Chanukah. As soon as I saw the Post-Poo Drops, I knew we had to have them, but unfortunately the hubs didn’t exactly understand that the fact that they were Aesop was a BFD. (Thank goodness he doesn’t know I spent $29 on them.)
BUT along with the Post-Poo Drops came a few samples, and the Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser is the best thing that’s happened to me this year (so far). The zesty herbal scent is divine, and I don’t think my skin has ever felt so smooth and soft after using a gel cleanser. I love the fact that it has lactic acid in it for gentle exfoliation (in fact you’re supposed to leave it on your face for a few minutes before rinsing—hello, mini-peel!). And can we discuss how chic the bottle is going to look on my bathroom countertop?
On that note, I’ll let you in on a little fashion/beauty girl secret for creating a more-fabulous-than-thou vanity… Buy a hand soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner and/or mouthwash once, and then refill the bottle with cheaper stuff—because not all of us can afford an ongoing Aesop personal-care product habit. But we all can fake it until we make it… Happy New Year!