December 17, 2021

New breast cancer research, a rad razor and the holiday gifts you want to get.

The latest breast cancer research to know about

It’s estimated that more than 325,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime (according to BreastCancer.org). This is a lot of ladies (and a small number of men as well), and we all know that breast cancer is the subject of a lot of research. Treatments and reconstruction techniques have advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, but a good portion of this research is dedicated to prevention, and I wanted to share the latest developments that just might help eradicate breast cancer in years to come. The more you know the better, right?

Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Center is studying a vaccine that could enlist the help of the immune system to identify and destroy breast cancer cells. It’s important to note that this vaccine is only intended to prevent triple-negative breast cancers, which are among the most aggressive.

Because triple-negative cancers lack a hormonal component, the most common breast cancer drugs that target estrogen, progesterone and HER2 hormones are not effective options for these patients. This vaccine goes after a protein that is found in more than 70% of triple-negative breast cancers, and the first stage of the study will include a small number of women who have already been diagnosed and tried other treatments. If proven safe, the study will expand to women who are at increased risk for this type of cancer in order to assess its preventative performance.

There’s another big development, and this one may be a game-changer for breast cancer screening. Researchers are working on a blood test that could identify breast cancer markers, in hopes of catching the disease before it has a chance to advance. Just keep in mind that the ultimate goal of this blood test is to complement screenings like mammograms and MRIs—not replace them. This potentially means that cancers that go undetected by imaging could be caught early on. In my case, my cancer was found on an MRI, but it was so small it would not have been seen on a mammogram. I can’t even think about what would have happened if my cancer wasn’t found when it was, so this blood test would be HUGE for all women.

A razor to get excited about

Before the pandemic, I got a bikini and thigh wax every six weeks like clockwork. I waited way longer than that before I reluctantly took a razor to these areas during lockdown once I realized I wasn’t going anywhere for a while. I’ve been shaving ever since and guess what? I survived! I also realized that I’m not saving almost $500 year by taking hair-removal matters into my own hands.

With all this extra cash accumulating in my pocket, I think it’s time to upgrade my shaving situation. I’ve been using the Flamingo and I have no complaints, but the hanni Weighted Razor recently caught my attention. First off, it’s 100% rust-proof, powder-coated metal—and there’s no extra waste in the form of plastic cartridges. Instead, it uses single blades (which I’ll have to be extra careful with when replacing). The extra weight makes for a close, smooth shave while the extra-long handle gives you a bit more reach. The head is also curved so it glides easily along your ‘pits, and you also get a silicone cap for travel.

I’m going to spring for the Shave Set because I need the stand for my shower and am curious about the Shave Pillow stick (which is essentially free when you buy the bundle). The only lingering question is, should I get it in burgundy or blush?

Gifts any gal would like to get

Chanukah may be officially over, but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t plenty of stuff out there that I want. (It never ends, am I right?) Although I did score some great gifts from my friends and family for my birthday and Chanukah, I really would have liked to get one (or all) of Westman Atelier’s gift sets.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, there’s something for every level of makeup maven. Le Box is a great place to start since it includes the new Lip Suede palette in “Bordeaux” plus the universally-flattering, celebrity-beloved Lit Up Highlight Stick in “Parla” (which is new for Holiday 2021).

For the girl who all about lips and lashes, the Shanghai Edition of Le Box features the almost-always-out-of-stock Lip Suede palette in “Les Rouge” along with the Eye Love You Mascara.

There’s also the Squeaky Clean Lip Kit (with the perfect liquid lip balm shades for day and night) and several other options for increasing Westman Atelier’s presence in your makeup bag—but if you really want to blow your gift-recipient (or yourself away), check out the Deluxe Brush Collection. Packed with every brush you could ever need and a gorgeous gold cup that will make your vanity look that much better, these brushes are built to last (with sustainably-sourced birch and cruelty-free nylon bristles) and may actually be the last brushes your purchase ever, with proper care of course.