May 12, 2017
A makeup-must for anyone who wears reading glasses, ColorWow's color-conscious dry shampoo, brightening skincare basics from MEG 21 and the masks I'm eyeing this month.
An innovative solution for an age-old makeup problem
Some people have anxiety about going to the doctor because they’ll have to get weighed. I have anxiety about going to the eye doctor every year because I know I’m going to need reading glasses—eventually. I haven’t had to increase the font size on my phone yet, and I’m pretty sure I still have a few years before I have to buy multiple pairs of drugstore reading glasses so I always have them within reach—but this is something I think about a lot.
It never dawned on me that the demise of my close-up vision will most certainly affect my makeup application—and I have The Carrie Makeup Reader to thank for bringing this to my attention. Yes, they look rather odd (and I certainly wouldn’t use them anywhere other than my bathroom) but I have to say they definitely serve a purpose. The one lens flips from side to side so you can see with one eye while applying makeup to the other. And it’s available in powers up to +3.00, so I should be set no matter how bad my eyes get. Now if I could just improve my liquid eyeliner skills while I can still see what I'm doing...
Read this if you color your hair and use dry shampoo
If I had to choose one product to take with me to a deserted island (other than sunscreen) it would be dry shampoo or texturizing spray (since there’s a very fine line between the two). I seriously can’t live without the stuff. I’ve tried more than I can count, and some meet my stringent criteria and some don’t. But in all the years that I’ve been stretching the time between shampoos, I’ve never stopped to think about my spray’s effect on my color (whether highlighted blonde, platinum or brunette). Then Color Wow Style on Steroids launched, and I’m rethinking everything.
Billed as the only texturizing spray for color-treated hair, it’s designed to add the “grit” and grip you want without dulling or clouding your color. We’ve all learned to live with this side effect basically because we haven’t had a choice, but Color Wow side-steps it with texture-adding micro-zeolites and bounce-enhancing elastomers that leave absolutely no dulling residue or brittle feel behind. Another differentiation is that you can use it before heat styling, whereas other texturizing sprays are usually used as a finishing touch.
Though I haven’t tried it (yet), I am beyond intrigued and will definitely be keeping my eye out for it. In the meantime, I’m second-guessing all of the cans I currently have under my sink. To be continued…
Could your skincare regimen use these brightening basics?
Every regimen requires a few essentials, regardless of skin type—and a cleanser and exfoliator are at the top of the list. We have our preferences when it comes to specific formulations, but if you like a gel cleanser (which comes in handy once the weather heats up) and a scrub, then MEG 21’s new Bright & Clear Brightening Gel Cleanser and Exfoliating Scrub are for you.
Beyond serving up suds for days, this supercharged cleanser features MEG 21’s proprietary Supplamine, which is designed to prevent the collagen-damaging glycation process caused by excess sugars in the body. This ingredient has also been found to lighten unwanted pigment, but MEG 21 also threw in mulberry and bearberry extracts to ensure you see a more even-toned complexion with continued use. The clear gel is also enhanced with grapeseed and green tea extracts for antioxidant protection, as well as vitamin B5 and glycerin for extra moisture.
The Brightening Exfoliating Scrub makes a great addition to any skincare lineup, too, and it also contains the aforementioned Supplamine plus ultra-fine grapeseed powder for gentle yet effective exfoliation, along with complexion-brightening bilberry extract, pore-reducing grapefruit peel and citric acid for ca dash of chemical-based exfoliation.
So if you’re looking to upgrade your skincare basics—or fill in any regimen blanks that are missing, consider these high-performance products… I’m glad I have them on hand to keep my skin looking even and radiant this summer!
The masks I want to try this month
Nothing adds a little excitement to a monotonous skincare regimen like a mask. Not the kind you buy a jar of and keep going back to over and over again—more like a single-use sheet mask that gives you a chance to try something new without straying from your regular skincare efforts. I’ve come across a few over the past few weeks that have me itching to plan a girls’ night in, because who doesn’t want to drink wine in comfy clothes and go home looking better than you did when you went out?
1. Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask
Newsflash: Sheet masks no longer have to be messy and drippy—and the latest iterations are actually imprinted with active ingredients so you’re not left with a slippery, slimy mess. As if that’s not reason enough to make the move to dry masks, oftentimes this technology allows you to use each one multiple times. That’s the case with this marvelous Charlotte Tilbury mask, which features ingredients that brighten, firm, lift, hydrate and reduce wrinkles in 15 minutes—and keep working for up to eight hours after you take it off. It’s a must, darlings.
2. Petite Amie Skincare Emoji Masks
Remember when a # was a pound sign? (My son doesn’t.) That was before hashtags and emojis basically took over the world—including our skincare. Yes, I’m 40-years-old, but I’m also obsessed with these masks. Don’t let the juvenile appearance fool you, because each version features different ingredients designed to target firmness, smoothness, cellular rejuvenation, redness/irritation, etc. The Instagram possibilities are endless (and there’s no need for a Snapchat filter).
3. Nannette de Gaspé Uplift Revealed: Tush
Bathing-suit season is closing in fast, and frankly, I’d rather pay almost $200 instead of doing more squats—and that’s where this mask for your derriere comes in. It, too, features dry technology (imagine sitting on a squishy mask for 15 minutes—ew) that incorporates ingredients like marine collagen and hyaluronic acid to make the most of your ass-ets. (I couldn’t help myself.) The company recommends sticking one pair of “infusers” inside your underpants for an hour for eight consecutive days, and then twice a week (two days in a row) for four more weeks. Imagine yourself confidently rocking a thong bathing suit by July 4th… We all need goals, right?
So there you have it/them, my mask picks for May… Which ones have you been using?
This innovative mascara delivers a major volume boost
I first discovered “tube” mascara about 10 years ago, and I often wonder why it’s not a staple in my makeup drawer. These mascaras are fantastic for a few reasons, mainly because they coat your lashes in almost plastic-like tubes to create visible definition and significant volume. The biggest advantage is that they don’t flake off (or require mid-day cleanup) and they really last until you wash them off. And then you do eventually want to remove it, a bit of warm water and light rub helps detach the tubes with absolutely no mess or need for makeup remover.
It’s been quite some time since I’ve had a tube mascara in the rotation, so I was happy to receive D.J.V. Miaray Beyond Mascara Volume Lash. Billed as Paint-On False Lashes, this Japanese import has become my daily go-to—and I just may never go back to traditional mascara. If you haven’t tried tube mascara—and you’re sick of dealing with “panda eyes,” I highly recommend trying this one for yourself.