May 26, 2017
Sigma's new lip gloss screams summer, suggested cleansing routines for every level of commitment, transform your shower into Sri Lanka and IGK's texturizing shampoo kind of changes everything.
This is THE lip gloss for summer
We’re all guilty of falling into a makeup rut from time to time, but a new lip color is an easy way to snap out of it—and refresh your look. This doesn’t have to mean rocking a bold red when you feel most like yourself in a more neutral hue. For those of you who want to shake things up a bit, but prefer to stay in your comfort zone, try Sigma’s Lip Switch.
These iridescent glosses look almost foil-like in the tube, and each one actually features multiple hues. Available in green/lavender, orange, hot pink and purple, they give lips a hologram finish whether worn alone of over your favorite lipstick. Yes, they may not look anything like the lip gloss you’re used to, but their versatility and wow factor make them a must-have for summer. But don’t wait too long because they keep selling out as soon as they’re re-stocked!
Double (or triple) cleansing isn’t as laborious as you think
No matter how many products you slather on your skin each morning and night, it’s all for naught if you don’t start with a clean slate. You may think your usual cleanser gets the job done, but if you use toner afterwards I’m willing to bet there’s still some makeup on your cotton ball or pad. Double-cleansing drastic reduces the chances of any leftover residue, and there are a few approaches you can take. Here, a few suggestions, from the least to most effort (which still isn’t all that time consuming).
Easy: Cleanse as usual, and follow with a micellar water. I’m partial to Bioderma Hydrobio H2O, but there are plenty of wallet-friendly options at the drugstore.
Medium: Start with an oil-based or balm cleanser, and rub it into dry skin, including your eyes, to melt away makeup and sunscreen that’s sticking around from the day. When you rinse with water, you’ll see it emulsifies and easily washes away. (My favorites are It Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup, Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm and any of the Shu Uemura cleansing oils.) Then, follow with your usual cleanser to be extra sure your face is primed for your products.
Hard (but not really): Take your double-cleanse to a triple cleanse simply by adding the micellar water step. By this point, your skin should be squeaky clean (but not in a dry, tight way).
Extra credit: I may be taking this a step too far, but using a facial cleansing device such as a Foreo or Clarisonic brush with your regular cleanser optimizes any cleansing routine, but you may not want to use it every night if you have sensitive skin.
Multi-step cleansing is best at night, since there’s not all that much to remove from your face when you wake up. I know sometimes you’re tired (or tipsy) and it’s the last thing you might want to do, but your skin will thank you!
Experience Sri Lanka without leaving your bathroom
I’ve done my fair share of traveling (before getting married and having kids), but unfortunately I never got to Sri Lanka’s corner of the world. I’m very curious about the culture as a whole, and I hear this tropical island is home to some amazing traditional beauty treatments as well. After receiving a package from Sri Lanka-based Lili Aromatherapy a few weeks ago, now I can say that’s definitely true.
Lili Aromatherapy specializes in body scrubs make exclusively with mango butter, coconut oil, essential oils and natural exfoliants like black tea leaves, sandalwood powder, brown sugar and salt—and everything is handmade, vegan and cruelty-free. The offerings include “An Affair Amongst Jasmines,” ”Meditations Amongst Lotuses” and “Serenity Amongst Lavender Fields”—and you can guess the main scent of each based on the name.
The scrubs are majorly exfoliating, intensely hydrating and super-fragrant (meaning the scent sticks around for the entire day). The one downside is that it’s a bit messy, so be prepared to wipe down your shower floor after using it (or save it for right before your housekeeper comes!).
With summer approaching, odds are you’ll need a hostess gift or two, and Lili Aromatherapy is a great way to say thank-you—and treat her to a taste of Sri Lanka!
This new hair product is going to make your summer
I find it so ironic that achieving effortlessly messy hair take a whole lot of effort—and multiple products. Most of the time, I’ll just wash, condition and apply some sort of reparative product, let my hair air dry and hope for the best. Then I’ll throw in some texture spray or dry shampoo to finesse the result if necessary.
Always on the hunt for never-before-seen beauty products that “disrupt” the way we’re used to doing things, I had to do a double take when I stumbled across IGK’s 1995 2-in-1 Shampoo & Texturizer. Yes, you read that correctly.
Here’s the deal… This shampoo contains sulfate-free cleansing agents to remove product build-up, excess oil and all that jazz, plus conditioning agents that hydrate the hair—but it doesn’t stop there. It also deposits texture-enhancing bentonite clay that thickens your strands and delivers that second-day grip and grit—straight out of the shower.
Ideal for all hair types, it’s especially perfect for those with fine limp locks and anyone who wants to help an updo or braid stay in place without adding additional styling product. It’s also a dream for someone like me who hates it when my hair is squeaky clean.
Just keep in mind that the directions say to leave it in for one to two minutes before rinsing—and skip the conditioner. Then let your hair-dry or style as usual and enjoy day-two hair on day one!