May 5, 2017

Supergoop! does it again, transport yourself to Hawaii with this all-natural skincare, frizz-free air-drying thanks to Miriam Quevedo, It Cosmetics' new bronzer and affordable custom fragrance.

This summer’s hottest new sunscreen

There are certain products that we all use no matter how high- or low-maintenance we are, such as toothpaste and deodorant. Sunscreen should be another, yet for some reason a lot of people haven’t gotten the memo that it’s not such a good idea to leave the house without it—ever. I’m sure we can all agree that it can be hard to get excited about these personal-care essentials, but Supergoop’s new Super Power Sunscreen Mousse Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is worth a bit of fanfare.

With a whipped cream-like texture that’s infused with intensely hydrating blend of natural oils, antioxidants and a high level of sun protection, this isn’t your standard sunscreen. Ideal for use as a daily moisturizer, if not for the baby-soft skin you’re left with you wouldn’t know you were wearing SPF at all. And the best part (as the countdown to the last day of school has begun): The formula is water-resistant and it absorbs so quickly that it’s perfect for squirmy kiddos who just can’t wait to jump in the pool.

Now’s the time to restock your beach bag because if you have any sunscreen left over from last summer, odds are it’s expired—and this one should be at the top of your shopping list!

Say "Aloha" to this all-natural skincare line

Indie skincare brands can be like a box of chocolates… You never know what you’re going to get. I’ve tried my fair share of under-the-radar products, and I’d say that there’s generally a 50-50 chance it will meet my stringent standards—and actually stay in the rotation. But with that said, many names we’ve come to know started in someone’s kitchen or treatment room (May Lindstrom, Eve Lom, Tammy Fender and Tata Harper are the first that come to mind).

Aside from the products themselves, I also like to help spread the word about brands that don’t have the budget to advertise or hire a big PR firm—so what do I have to lose by giving them a try? In the case of Eavara, absolutely nothing, because this all-natural and organic line created by a husband and wife on the Big Island of Hawaii truly exceeded my expectations.

The first product I tried was the Botanical Facial Cleanser. With gentle yet effective coconut-derived cleansing agents, antioxidant green tea and vitamin E, anti-aging and hydrating tamanu oil and detoxifying charcoal, I couldn’t possibly ask for anything more. The fruity scent is amazing, and I just love how my skin feels after using it.

I also received the Pure Paradise Day Cream, and if I were able to bottle my experience in Hawaii 15 years ago, this would be it. The scent truly transforms you to the Pacific, and the jojoba-, botanical- and hyaluronic acid-infused anti-aging formula manages to be light in texture and big on hydration. The only downside is a lack of SPF, but that’s easy to fix by topping it off with one of the many sunscreens in my medicine cabinet.

The bottom line: If you want to support small business and have great skin at the same time, check out Eavara—and you don’t have to go to Hawaii to get it (as much as you’d like to).

Finally, the secret to frizz-free air-dried hair!

I try to keep blow-drying and flat-ironing my hair to a minimum year-round, but air-drying without all the fluff and the frizz becomes more of a mission when the Florida humidity kicks in (which is usually around this time of year). You name it, I’ve tried it, but I had yet to discover the ideal product regimen that would prevent my husband from asking, “What happened to your hair?” until yesterday—and now all I can say is, “Bring it on, Mother Nature!”

Miriam Quevedo gets full credit for this game-changing discovery, and in case you’re unfamiliar with her amazing line of haircare and now-available-in-the-U.S. skincare (stay tuned for another post about it!)—it’s replaced Manchego cheese as my favorite Spanish export. Taking a skincare approach to caring for the hair with luxurious ingredients like platinum, diamonds and gold, Quevedo believes healthy hair starts with TLC for your scalp. The expansive selection includes gentle shampoos, conditioners and a bevy of treatments that you’ll want to (and can) use on your skin as well.

The latest range, Glacial White Caviar Resort, is designed to shield your hair from the damage caused by aging, sun, salt water, chlorine and other environmental assaults—which obviously includes heat-styling as well. Featuring three products formulated with Swiss glacial water, white caviar oil, camellia oil, and baobab oil, they help you achieve frizz-free finish when you skip the blowdryer as well.

I started with the Cleansing Balm, which contains 15% of the aforementioned oils to gently remove product residue, salt and chlorine while majorly hydrating your hair. As instructed, I first massaged it into my scalp before raking it through to the ends, and then waited a few minutes before rinsing.

The second step is the Leave-In Conditioner, and believe me, after using a deep conditioner every time I’ve washed for the past year or so, it felt a little strange to stop my in-shower haircare regimen at this point. But, I did, and promptly sprayed the super-fine mist all over my head after I toweled off. Unlike many other leave-ins that feel heavy, this just made my hair soft and easy to comb.

Then it was time for the Beach Waves texturizing spray, which is salt-free so it won’t make your hair feel dry or crunchy. After another light misting, I anxiously awaited the result once my hair dried, and alas, it was fantastic. I had my natural waves with no frizz, no stiffness and no greasiness. Hallelujah… My summer officially starts now!

Get a jumpstart on summer with this new bronzer

A few weeks ago I started craving a new bronzer. I’ve been using It Cosmetics’ Sunshine in a Compact for quite some time, and the matte, natural-looking color has treated me well. But with that said, I decided it’s time to step up my radiance game. Perhaps it was a coincidence, or perhaps it was fate, but just then It Cosmetics’ latest launch, Confidence in Your Glow, arrived on my doorstep.

Essentially a bronzer, blush and highlighter all rolled into one, this ombre compact warms up your complexion in just one step. You can swirl your brush over the entire pan—or focus on the individual hues if you want to be more precise with your color application—but regardless of your approach you’re guaranteed to get a healthy glow and an almost airbrushed finish.

More than just color, this talc-free skin-brightening powder is infused with vitamin C and other anti-aging ingredients, and the three available shades are designed to work with all skin tones. My favorite, “Instant Nude Glow,” is the most subtle of the batch, while “Instant Natural Glow” serves up more rosiness. The deepest shade, “Instant Warm Glow,” features a peachy-pink and the most color payoff, so I’ll be saving this one for during and after my trip to St. Maarten in June when I actually have a tan. The countdown is on!

P.S. It Cosmetics’ Friends and Family is going on right now (through April 28)! Enjoy 25% off orders over $30 and free ground shipping with the code FRIENDS2017—but this event only happens twice a year so don’t miss it!

Finally, an affordable way to get a perfume personalized just for you

Bespoke fragrance isn’t anything new, but it usually requires visiting a fancy boutique and dropping a pretty big chunk of change. That’s not to say it’s worth it so you know you’re wearing a one-of-a-kind scent—but this splurge-worthy service is now accessible to all of us thanks to Scent Trunk.

The Scent Test.

Here’s how it works… You order a free Scent Test, which includes six cute rollerball fragrances that you test (on different spots) and rate as “love,” “like” or “no-go.” (They cover the spectrum of basic notes, including citrus, woods, aromatic, floral, amber and chypre.) The whole process took me less than five minutes, and after you submit your ratings, Scent Trunk goes to work creating a personalized perfume. A few weeks later, an atomizer filled with a month’s worth of juice is sent directly to your door. Oh, and it only costs $11.99 a month. Hello?!?!?

As you can see below, my customized creation features top notes of lemon myrtle and frankincense followed by middle notes of patchouli and musks before base notes of labdanum resin (whatever that is) and vanilla—and I love it! But what if you’re not into the blend? Just tell Scent Trunk and they’ll make you a new one, free of charge. How great is that?

As someone who’s somewhat obsessed with perfume, I give this service a 10 out of 10, and highly recommend it for anyone who doesn’t want to walk around smelling like someone else. And when someone asks what scent you’re wearing, it’s fun it say it was made just for you…