May 19, 2017

Lots of newness from BeautyCounter, Sara Happ's 3-step routine for luscious lips, Boscia's crazy-looking cleanser, the M.A.C. eyeshadow I'll never be without and Miriam Quevedo's indulgent skincare.

Tackle your specific skin concerns with the latest from Beautycounter

My friend and neighbor Amy has done an amazing job of making me a Beautycounter fan, and I’ve loved each and every all-natural, clean (i.e. free of potentially harmful ingredients) product she’s given me to sample. That’s why I was overjoyed when I arrived home from (yet another) baseball game a few weeks ago to find a box of goodies on my doorstep…

Inside was the new Beautycounter+ collection of facial oils, masks and mists—and I had a hard time deciding which to try first. After not so much debate, I went with the No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil. First impression: I loved the fresh, orange-y scent. I also felt a light tingle and my skin looked instantly dewy and glowy without feeling greasy. I chased it with the No. 1 Facial Brightening Mist and was pleasantly surprised at how luxurious it felt. The mist itself is super-super-fine, so it doesn’t leave your skin dripping wet after you spritz it on like many others do. It has the same citrusy scent and all I could think was that I didn’t want to give it back—and that I was wasting this radiant complexion by going to bed. (I also tried the No. 2 Plumping Peony and No. 3 Balancing Charcoal mists and had equally as pleasant an experience.)

Over the next few evenings I tried the No. 2 Plumping Jasmine and No. 3 Balancing Ylang Ylang Facial Oils and extremely impressed with those as well. While my skin can certainly use all three, obviously it’s up to you to decide which one (or more) is ideal for your skin specific skin concerns.

But I definitely had the most fun with the masks. Since I felt like I needed to test the products ASAP so Amy could get them back and start selling, I decided I’d multi-mask and use them all at once. I applied the No. 1 Brightening Vitamin C on my cheeks, the No. 2 Plumping Peony on the lower third of my face and the No. 3 Balancing Charcoal Facial Mask on my T-zone (see below). Fifteen minutes later, my cheeks looked more even, my mouth area looked and felt a bit less deflated, and my nose was blackhead-free thanks to the kaolin clay.

After my most recent experience, I’m an even bigger fan of the brand. And even though I’m not that much of a stickler about avoiding certain chemicals in my skincare, you have a lot to gain and nothing to lose (except exposure to questionable ingredients) by using the latest from Beautycounter!

What have you done for your lips lately?

I make a really big deal about skincare, but somehow my lips don’t get factored into the equation. Yes, I apply lip balm liberally—and like 10 times a day—but other than that, I rarely give them extra attention. Sure, I’ll exfoliate if I’m going out and I know I’m wearing a matte lipstick, and no, I wouldn’t even consider rocking a matte lippie without applying Lip Fusion’s XXL Advanced Contouring Priming Plumping Pencil first. But then I received Sara Happ’s newly expanded lip care collection and I basically gave my lips a facial. And it was so good. Here are the three steps, as seen on yours truly.

Step 1: Exfoliate
As with any facial, the standard protocol starts with exfoliation. Sara Happ’s Lip Scrub (which launched in 2005 and is still going strong) contains sugar, essential oil and little else and gets the job done splendidly. Just the act of exfoliating alone leaves your lips plump, pillowy and naturally flushed. And it’s available in a bunch of delectable flavors.

Step 2: Mask
This is where things get interesting, because this is the first lip mask I’ve ever tried. Don’t let the candy-pink fool you. The Sweet Clay Lip Mask features a serious concoction of stem cells and bentonite clay to smooth, firm, hydrate and make your lips irresistibly kissable. Leave in on for two minutes or 20, and you’ll be blown away at how luscious your lips could be.

Step 3: Balm
There are no words for how amazing the Lip Slip One Luxe Balm is. Insanely moisturizing with just the right amount of shine, this balm trumps all others (and you get a pretty hefty amount to boot). Whether you use it as part of your lip facial or throughout the day (which I recommend), I promise it doesn’t disappoint.

So all in all, this whole process took a minimal amount of effort but had major results. Truth be told, I was thinking about getting a little something-something done to my lips—but then I incorporated this little regimen into my routine. Kiss, kiss!

You have to see this crazy-looking cleanser!

In case you didn’t know, charcoal is having a major skincare moment, and it’s popping up everywhere from micellar waters to masks. It’s also a star cleanser ingredient thanks to its purifying, healing and antibacterial properties.

The Japanese brand Boscia has a full line of charcoal-infused products, but this forthcoming addition is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Meet the Charcoal Jelly Ball Cleanser—and believe me, I was intrigued when I first saw it, too.

This cleansing ball comes packaged in a balloon that you remove with the included pick. Once unwrapped, you simply massage it over wet skin or create a lather in your hands and rinse just like you would with a regular cleanser. The ball is stored in its plastic base which allows it to dry between uses—and although there’s no word on how long the ball lasts since it hasn’t hit store shelves yet, I certainly plan on giving it a try, simply because it looks so cool. Don’t you agree?

One eyeshadow I can’t live without

As a beauty editor and writer for the past (OMG) almost 20 years, I’ve been very fortunate to always have so much skincare and makeup on hand that I rarely have to buy anything unless there’s something specific I want to try. But despite having drawers and cabinets full of stuff, there are a few products that I go back to over and over again—even if that means actually purchasing it. In addition to Stila “Kitten” (which any beauty maven has or had had at some point), I’ve had M.A.C’s “All That Glitters” in my rotation for at least 15 years.

Why do I love this eyeshadow so much? First, the texture (as with most M.A.C shadows) makes it super easy to apply and blend. You can get a light wash of color with a fluffy brush or more intense color with a denser brush. And then there’s the color… Billed as a beige with gold pearl, it’s totally neutral but far from boring, and it has just the right amount of shimmer.

Truth be told, I almost always wear it alone (rather than blending with other shadows) and it’s become my daytime go-to when I don’t want to give even the slightest bit of thought to my eye “look.” If I want to dial it up a bit, all it takes is a little eyeliner and I’m good to go. Get one for yourself and you will be, too!

Customized skincare that meets your unique needs

Sure, you can mix and match products to create the ideal regimen that addresses your main concerns, whether anti-aging, discoloration, loss of firmness and everything in between. But, there’s something to be said for a truly bespoke beauty routine that is tailored for your skin after a professional analysis. I was treated to this luxury just a few weeks ago courtesy of Spanish skincare (and haircare) guru Miriam Quevedo, and now there’s no going back.

The concept behind the new Black Baccara collection is surprisingly simple. It uses your lifestyle as the primary determinant for the products you’ll use—and how you’ll use them. The main “targets” are epigenetic factors (i.e. lifestyle factors and habits) such as sleep, stress, pollution and sun exposure.

Everyone starts with the cleansing ritual that consists of the Global Cleansing Milk (which is rich, creamy and super-effective for removing makeup, dirt and anything else you don’t want on your face) and Global Revitalizing Toner (which is packed with revitalizing and calming botanicals that purify and balance the skin). But then things get interesting…

Based on whether your skin is more on the oily or dry side, you get the Moisturizing Bio-Adaptive Cream, Soft Cream or Gel Cream (I got this last one). Based on your skin/lifestyle analysis, you then infuse your moisturizer with a certain number of drops of specific boosters.

My formula involves 2 drops of Youth, an anti-aging complex of HA, marine collagen and peptides to plump the skin and keep its natural renewal process going…

Then three drops of Energizing, an oxygenizing formula that purges toxins and feeds your skin the essential minerals and trace elements it needs… (This is ideal for those who get the occasional blemish.)

And three drops of Protection, which is an antioxidant powerhouse that pretty much defends my skin from everything. (There’s also a Comfort booster that helps soothe and reinforce sensitive skin.)

There are also two eye formulations that lift, firm and rejuvenate delicate skin. I got the Bioactive Uplifting Eye Gel (I absolutely love it), and there’s also the richer Bioactive Molecular Eye Cream.

In the morning, you top all of this off with the Softening Veil SPF 30, which is an amazingly velvety cream that has illuminating pigments that instantly minimize imperfections like enlarged pores, fine lines, dark spots and blemishes. Seriously, it’s like an Instagram filter for your face.

Five nights a week you stop with your boosted moisturizer—but on the other two you skip the boosters and moisturizer in favor of the Weekend Peel. This exfoliating serum contains AHAs, hyaluronic acid and amino acids to target dulling dead skin cells and dramatically increase skin radiance by morning.

It may seem like a lot of products, but you’re really just washing, toning and combining your serum and moisturizing steps (although you can technically do them separately if you’d like). The reason this simple routine works is the ingredients. The Black Baccara rose has a high concentration of antioxidants, and the Polar rose’s resistance to harsh Arctic conditions provides similar benefits for your skin. Of course there are plenty of other botanical extracts, oils and waters that have been selected specifically for their beneficial effects on the skin.

So what’s verdict after two weeks of sticking to this regimen? Amazing! My skin looks fresh and dewy, I haven’t had a single pimple, and truthfully, I love the whole process (even though it’s not THAT much of a process).

The line JUST launched here in the U.S. and SpaceNK is the only place you can get it. I highly suggest hopping over to your local Bloomingdale’s (if it has a SpaceNK store-in-store), but if that’s not possible, go online and use some common sense based on what you know about your skin. The formulas are pretty self-explanatory, and I’m confident you can figure it out! (Or you can email me and I’ll try to help!)