February 19, 2021
A tech-toy that changes your note-taking game, the candle that doubles as skincare, the nail products that bring the manicure home, body care with extra benefits and a lip balm you'll love.
I'm obsessed with my newest tech toy
I wouldn’t be able to keep my personal or professional lives together if not for lists and notes. I have a solid system in place, and work-wise I rely on notebooks and legal pads so I have dedicated “spaces” for each client. After a particularly busy month filled with various projects going on at the same time, I had a stack of pads on my desk and found myself spending a lot of time flipping through the pages to find the information I needed. This started to make me feel a little overwhelmed and I realized I needed to find a way to consolidate.
Then I came across reMarkable 2, and if this video doesn’t make you want one ASAP, I don’t know what will.
I pondered my decision for a few days before ordering because it’s a bit on the pricy side, but once I did I was tracking it like a mofo for the 10 days it took for it to arrive. As soon as it came, my son and I unboxed it together and we were both giddy with excitement. As the video suggests, it does feel strikingly similar to writing on paper, and I’m glad I splurged on the marker with an eraser on the end for an even more realistic note-taking experience. (I’ve tried several devices that allow you to hand-write with a stylus and this is by far the closest any have come to the real thing.)
I’ve been slowly but surely transferring my existing paper notes and I just love how organized and accessible they are now (and how much less clutter there is on my desk). I can also view them on my laptop and phone and send them to anyone via email from the tablet. Last night I used my reMarkable 2 to edit a PDF, which was amazing because I didn’t have to print, scribble my notes, scan and send back to my client. It also acts as a Kindle, and I’m sure I’ll use it in this capacity at some point when I actually have time to read for enjoyment.
I didn’t buy a sleeve or cover for my reMarkable 2 because I don’t have any plans to take it outside of my house at the moment, but I definitely will once I’m doing in-person off-site meetings or traveling again.
This may have been one of the best purchases I’ve ever made for the sake of my professional productivity (and sanity), so if you’re a note-taker, a journaler or even just an avid reader, I highly suggest considering this terrific tablet.
This candle taps into your sense of touch
I’m about as far from a Valentine’s Day person as they come, but it’s impossible to ignore the flurry of rose-infused and romantic gift emails that are landing in my inbox. (Pandemic upside: I don’t have to navigate my way through a sea of pink and red hearts at Publix—or anywhere else for that matter.) In fact, when my husband asked me what I wanted as a gift (which is so romantic in and of itself), I told him some alone time would be nice. Seriously, after almost a year of 24/7 togetherness, I’m kind of over it.
If you are a Valentine’s Day person, more power to you… I wouldn’t ordinarily recommend getting your S.O. a candle for this Hallmark holiday, but Mutha’s Aphrodisiac Massage Oil Candle is an exception. More than just a chocolate(!) scented candle with hints of warm milk, sandalwood and musk, the wax is actually a blend of coconut and soybean oils that are meant to be massaged into the skin once melted. This candle is also a hydrating gift for your skin, since coconut oil is packed with nourishing essential fatty acids and soybean oil is bursting with antioxidant vitamin E.
The vessel even has a little spout so you can pour the oil into your hand (or directly on your S.O.) without making a major mess—and then you can decide what to do with from there! Just remember to follow the instructions, because there’s nothing fun about intimacy-induced injuries. All you have to do is light the wick, let it burn for at least 10 minutes, blow it out and allow the oil to cool to a warm, comfortable temperature before going any further—and have fun!
P.S. An S.O. is not a requirement for purchasing this candle. You can light it up while you take a nice relaxing soak and use the warm oil to hydrate your skin afterwards—and then curl up on the couch or get into bed solo (with super-soft, sweet-smelling skin)!
I gave myself a "nail facial" today
As a beauty writer based in Florida, I basically miss out on all the fun launch events that New York-based freelancers and editors attend several times a week (if they so choose). One upside of the pandemic is that these get-togethers now take place on Zoom, which is great news for me. I attend a few a month, and there are always familiar faces—and even other women I’ve worked with for years, but never actually met in person. (Today I “met” my former Spotlyte editor for the first time, and a past NewBeauty colleague was there, too!)
The point of today’s Zoom was getting introduced to SpaRitual’s new Nail Wellness Collection, and we did nail facials! (There’s usually a fun hook.) These products are all about helping you get healthy, strong nails with natural ingredients, and after today’s treatment, I’m totally hooked—and have even more products on my desk. The beauty of this nail facial is that it only takes about five minutes, and your hands look refreshed and rejuvenated in a flash.
Step 1: Prep your hands with a body scrub. This helps exfoliate dry, dull skin—including your cuticles.
Step 2: Apply a few drops of Farewell Vegan Nail Treatment to each nail and massage in. Truly designed with the health of your nails in mind, this fast-absorbing treatment features tea tree oil and witch hazel to soothe dry, irritated skin while staving off bacteria and fungus to make sure your nails are really clean before you apply polish.
Step 3: The Nourish Nail Vegan Strengthener is the product I never knew I needed—especially over the past year of doing my own nails. Designed to be used every day as a two-week intensive treatment, it’s formulated with bamboo extract, algae and hemp oil to boost your nails’ elasticity and their overall condition. It also has the ever-so-slightest pink tint that gives it a leg up on completely clear polish.
Step 4: Once your nails are dry, seal the deal (so to speak) with the Cuti-Cocktail Vegan Nail & Cuticle Oil. Aside from smelling amazing, it smoothes dry, jagged cuticles instantly—even if you can’t remember the last time you used a cuticle nipper.
Step 5: Finish with the so-good-its-sold-out Citrus Cardamom Hand Serum, which literally erased 10 years off the backs of my hands in seconds. I can thank Swiss apple stem cells and a blend of pumpkin fruit and licorice root extracts for this.
I can’t wait to try the new Nourishing Vegan Color polishes once I’m done with my two-week nail-strengthening treatment. Available in 72 shades (plus seasonal drops), they’re 13-free (the most “free” possible) and don’t require basecoat or topcoat, which gives me less of an excuse to not be wearing polish.
I’ve been aware of SpaRitual and founder Shel Pink’s “Slow Beauty” philosophy (she literally wrote the book on it) for quite some time, but I’ll admit this is the first time I’ve experienced SpaRitual’s products. And now that I have, the next thing on my list is making my own self-care kit—and you can, too! You get to choose three body products and three polishes of your choice and get 40% off the entire bunch. It’s a total no-brainer.
Boscia takes on body care
If you’re wondering what happened to last week’s newsletter, don’t worry, you didn’t miss it! I had a particularly jam-packed week that I literally didn’t have time to post—but I’m back with some big news this Monday…
It’s always exciting when a great brand ventures out into new territory, and in this case, one of our Japanese-inspired favorites, Boscia, launched a body category today! This expansion begins with the basics (at least in my opinion), including an exfoliating body wash, firming body serum and an all-over body deodorant—which is a totally new concept to me, but one that makes complete sense.
Let’s start with the Papaya and Pomegranate Enzyme Exfoliating Body Cleanser (which needs to be in my shower ASAP). As the name implies, this body wash is packed with fruit-based enzymes along with mild alpha-hydroxy acids for gentle exfoliation that helps you step out of the shower with smoother, softer skin. You may also notice improvement in your skin’s radiance and tone as well any wrinkling (which I’m unfortunately starting see when I bend my arms in certain ways). The scent features a blend of rosemary, orange and grapefruit that I imagine would be a great way to get going in the morning, at least until the coffee kicks in.
Next up is the Peptide Youth-Restore Firming Body Serum, and my arms are already begging me to get this. Formulated with skin-plumping moisture, a firming tripeptide, soothing chamomile and brightening niacinamide—and the same zesty, citrus scent—this might be the product that helps me take my anti-aging body care a bit more seriously.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Prebiotic + Probiotic Freshening All-Over Deodorant. Harnessing the power of “good” bacteria to prevent B.O., kaolin clay to absorb odor-causing impurities and lemon for natural astringent (and brightening!) benefits, you can use this cream well past your pits. Since it leaves skin with a soft, matte finish, it’s great for areas that are prone to rubbing (and sweating), like under your boobs and the inner thighs—and it will keep you feeling and smelling fresh!
I’ve never met a Boscia product I didn’t like, and if you couldn’t tell, I’m pretty jazzed about this new body collection. And BTW, everything from this innovative botanically-based brand is free of chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances and all that other nasty stuff, all while being gentle enough for sensitive skin. I’ll report back on the new body products when I try them!
Because your lips deserve a brand-new balm...
I honestly couldn’t tell you how many times a day I use lip balm… It’s the first thing I do when I sit down at my desk and start up my computer in the morning, the last thing I do before I say “Alexa, good night,” and I honestly don’t even realize I’m doing it between checking tasks off my to-do list throughout the day.
No matter where you are in my house, there’s likely a lip balm within arm’s reach (and of course I have them in my tennis bag and pocketbook for when I actually venture out of the house). That’s why I was so happy when I learned Karité Shea Butter was branching out into lip care—and although I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek last week, this amazing balm made its official debut today!
Featuring the raw, unrefined shea butter from Ghana that Karité is known for along with murumuru butter (I love saying this ingredient), organic jojoba and rosehip oils, and a bevy of botanicals, this lip balm offers everything your lips need and more. You get a surge of soothing moisture, antioxidants to protect this delicate skin from the elements and a lovely sheen that works equally well on its own or over lipstick. (It’s also great for smoothing the lips before lipstick.) And by the way, it might be one of the most prettily-packaged lip balms out there.
I know many of you find yourselves blanketed in snow today, and this balm is like a cozy blanket for your lips. I’m beyond happy I have one on hand for tomorrow when the temperatures dip into the 40s—and although I’m still figuring out what winter-weather outfit I’m going to bust out, I know what my lips will be wearing!