March 10, 2017

Tweezerman makes plucking a lot easier, DevaCurl's gentle product-buildup buster, Tom Ford's approach to an ombre lip, Natura Bissé's 10-minute skin-rejuvenator and I got my Pinnertest results.

Tweezing just got a lot easier

How many times have you been trying to tweeze a stray hair, but sub-par lighting prevents you from grabbing it? No matter how you contort your face, you just can see it (but you can feel it!) and you won’t give up until it’s gone. The struggle is real.

Enter Tweezerman’s new Expertweeze Lighted Slant Tweezer, and those pesky hairs just got easier to pull. Featuring the same reliable design that we’ve all come to rely on, the addition of an LED light ups your plucking game by helping you visualize even the shortest, blondest hair (even in the dark, if you happen to find yourself in that situation).

The hot pink handle makes it easy to spot in your makeup bag and more comfortable to grip than a standard tweezer. And for those of you who devote a lot of time to making sure your brows are on fleek (and other areas are fuzz-free), the battery is replaceable.

P.S. Just a reminder that Tweezerman offers free sharpening for all their tools (and if yours can’t be sharpened, you get a 50% off coupon to buy a replacement).

A skincare staple made for your strands

What did we do before micellar water cleansers came onto the scene? I personally use one as step three of my evening cleansing routine (after cleansing oil and cleansing gel) to make sure every last but of dirt, makeup and grime is gone, but others with sensitive skin love micellar water because it’s so gentle and unlikely to cause irritation (and there’s no need to rinse).

Micellar waters contain teeny tiny molecules that basically attract anything you don’t want on your skin so they’re easily wiped away—and now this trend has been adapted for your hair. DevaCurl’s Buildup Buster Micellar Water Cleansing Serum is formulated with similar molecules that act like magnets to remove dirt, oil and product buildup, but unlike the facial versions, you do need to rinse. So, yes, it works like a shampoo, but it won’t damage your hair or strip your color.

This product is technically made for curly hair, because traditional shampoos can really drag natural curls down—but I think it’s an excellent option for anyone looking for a gentle cleansing solution!

The jury's out on the latest Tom Ford lip concept

I guess you could say I stalk Tom Ford—or at least his beauty and fragrance launches. When I was at Neiman Marcus in Palm Beach about a month ago, I stopped by the counter to see if the news spring offerings were in yet, because I was itching to get my hands on the new Shade and Illuminate Lips. Essentially a contouring kit for your lips, I was intrigued by both the two-shades-in-one and the unique powder-gel formulation.

The Tom Ford counter had yet to receive their shipment, so I asked my BF/NewBeauty editor if she had received them (and, of course, she had). We had plans to meet for lunch last weekend, so she brought me two compacts and even though it was Saturday night and I was staying in, I knew what my plans were!

But a strange thing happened when I was ready to play… I had no idea how to utilize both colors. The tutorial-searching commenced, but I didn’t have any luck. Now, I’m far from achieving professional makeup artistry level, but at the same time I’m rarely flummoxed by a beauty product—so I just started by outlining my lips with the darker color and filling them in with the lighter color. (The compact comes with an applicator that has a sponge on one end and a brush on the other.) I guess you could say I achieved an ombre effect (but that’s subjective) but beyond being unsure of the resulting look, I wasn’t thrilled with the feel of the formula. It felt a bit dry and there was some caking going on.

In a nutshell, I’m not so into this concept, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try it again. Maybe one shade is the way to go, or maybe I need to exfoliate and moisturize my lips before diving in again. If any of you have tried the Shade and Illuminate—and have some pointers—please share!

P.S. After hitting up the site for an image of the Shade and Illuminate, I came across the Clutch-Size Lip Balms, and now I have another product to stalk! And I don’t think I’ll have a problem figuring out how to use them!

This 3-step treatment lifts and illuminates in just 10 minutes

Nothing beats that glow you get from a professional facial—but this usually takes a significant chunk of time and money. If a trip to the spa is financially out of reach, you probably think Natura Bissé’s amazing skincare is, too, but not their new Diamond Instant Glow Express Mini-Lift. For just $88, you get skin that looks and feels like it just got a professional facial in 10 minutes flat.

Ideal for all skin types and ages, step one’s single-dose ampoule of alpha-hydroxy acids treats skin to an exfoliating mini-peel that eliminates dull, dead cells to reveal a smooth, randiant complexion. Step two’s hydrating emulsion features carob extract, niacinamide, alow vera and Sensorphine that refreshes and soothes the skin as it targets uneven skin tone and imparts even more radiance. Step three is designed to tighten and lift thanks to a Phyto-Lift Complex and collagen that smoothes skin texture and softens lines while locking in hydration that keeps skin supple—and you also get a hefty dose of antioxidants for all-day protection from the elements.

The best part of this treatment is that you don’t have to schedule a spa night to do it. All you have to do is set your alarm for a few minutes earlier, prepare your morning coffee or tea, and start the day off with a skin treatment that provides visible results—and sets the stage for a beautiful day!

My Pinnertest results are in, and they’re not what I expected

If you’ve been following me for a while, you may be aware that I have some stomach issues, and I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) a few years ago. Since then I’ve been somewhat obsessed with my diet, and tried eliminating the most common triggers in hopes of identifying the foods that contribute to my bloating, discomfort and other, well, poop-related problems. I’ve also been taking a medication called Amitiza, which definitely helps—but thanks to my new insurance it now costs me more than $300 a month.

After about a year of feeling good without taking the Amitiza, I had a flare-up and went back to my gastroenterologist, and he recommended I try the low FODMAP diet again. (This basically involves avoiding certain sugars, and there’s no rhyme to reason to which foods have which sugars, so I have to look everything up in an app before I eat.) Honestly, this diet is really hard to follow, especially when eating out, so I’m always on the lookout for a new solution.

As luck would have it, I received an email to try a food intolerance blood test called the Pinnertest while in the midst of this flare-up so I jumped at the chance. This test looks at the enzymes in your blood to identify the foods you’re intolerant to, and would basically save me the time and effort of doing the whole FODMAPs elimination thing. As soon as the test kit arrived, I promptly pricked my finger, put a few drops of blood on a special piece of paper and sent it back.

When the results landed in my inbox I was so excited. I was about to know once and for all which foods I should avoid, and (hopefully) start feeling better and (possibly) be able to avoid taking medication twice a day. I was fully expecting a laundry list of foods (especially fruits and vegetables that are high in FODMAPs) but that wasn’t the case. In fact, according to the Pinnertest I’m only intolerant of two foods: Wheat and corn.

This is may seem like a good thing, but you probably have no idea how many foods contain wheat and corn. Even more disconcerting is that fact that I hardly ever eat carbs, so my intolerance to wheat and corn cannot possibly be the cause of my IBS. Yes, stress and hormones contribute to symptoms, but the truth is, no one knows the exact cause of IBS, but now I know for sure that food isn’t causing mine.

The Pinnertest may not have been the solution for my stomach woes I’d hoped it would be, but it did give me some vital information that made it clear that I need to investigate the cause of my symptoms further. I’m contemplating seeing another gastroenterologist for a second opinion, and perhaps undergoing additional testing to see if I have a different underlying condition. (To date, I’ve only had a blood test to assess my inflammation levels—and maybe I need an endoscopy or colonoscopy.) I’m also thinking about trying digestive enzyme therapy or hemp-based CBD oil (check out some interesting research here).

The bottom line: Without the Pinnertest I’d probably spend years avoiding a lot of foods for absolutely no reason. And now that I have more knowledge, I can take a different path to getting to the bottom of my digestive issues once and for all.