August 11, 2017

Serious wrinkle-smoothing with SiO, my thoughts on skincare for "down there," a mess-free gray-covering mousse and a new week calls for a new Skyn Iceland mask.

Serious wrinkle-smoothing while you sleep

The first time I applied SiO Beauty’s SkinPad on my chest, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I prepped my skin with one of the Décolleté Cleansing Discs, carefully placed the thick medical-grade silicone pad on my chest, and hit the hay wondering what I’d wake up to. I ran straight to my vanity as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, removed the pad and was astonished at how smooth and youthful my chest looked. Needless to say, I’ve been hooked ever since, and I even said to myself, They need to make these for the face.

My skincare wish came true this past week when I received a package with the brand’s new Eye & Smile Lift, BrowLift and NeckLift patches—and let’s just say I wish I hadn’t spent the money on Botox a few weeks ago. Similar to the décolletage patches, these targeted silicone “stickers” deliver the same rejuvenating effect after just one night by flooding your skin with plumping moisture and creating an occlusive layer that prevents it from getting out.

The Eye & Smile Lift patches are designed for crow’s feet and nasolabial folds (the “parentheses” on the sides of the mouth), while the BrowLift patch gets those horizontal forehead lines and the “11s” between the brows. The NeckLift version looks like a really thick choker, and it helps smooth those pesky lines that run from one side of the neck to the other.

Beyond working better than any lotion or potion you’re going to slather on bed, you apply SiO Beauty’s patches to clean skin so you can save money by skipping the skincare—and the patches can be reused up to 15 times with proper washing and care. They’re also great for pre-party prep because you can get visible smoothing by wearing them for just a few hours. Best of all, the FaceLift bundle pack includes all the new patches so you can look years younger by tomorrow morning (just ignore any mockery from your bedfellow).

I have some thoughts about skincare for “down there”

I try to keep a pretty open mind when it comes to skincare and beauty in general and I'd try just about anything once, but I have a few issues with products designed just for our oh-so delicate lady parts. (Where's all the penis- and testicle-care?) Case in point: A new brand called The Perfect V offers offering a full line of luxury skincare—including a wash, exfoliator (ouch!), serum, moisturizer, mist and luminizer (seriously?)—just for your va-jay-jay. But just to be clear, these products are designed for the “V area” (i.e. the bikini area and visible triangle only), and not meant to get all up in there.

A revolution? I don't think so.

On one hand, nature does a pretty good job of keeping everything clean (and laser hair removal, waxing and shaving keep things tidy—but if that's not your jam, that's OK, too!). I think we can all agree that cleansing wipes can come in handy at certain times (like before and/or after getting down with your S.O. if a quick shower isn’t in the cards). This is why the SOLD OUT VV Beauty Sheets are the only Perfect V product I’d even consider trying—if the Costco butt wipes I have in every bathroom didn't get the job done.

Now let’s talk about the bigger picture… The actual name, The Perfect V, doesn’t really sit well with me. Is there such a thing?  It would seem millions of women are striving for some sort of hoo-ha ideal with the growing popularity of vaginal rejuvenation procedures, but anyone with a drop of feminism in their blood would most likely cringe at the idea. (Don’t get me wrong... Childbirth can have a lot of unsavory side effects, and if any one of them is interfering with your sexual pleasure or self-esteem, I’m all for fixing it.) But if you really want your vagina to look like an 18-year-old porn star’s, maybe you should do a little soul searching before applying the Very V Luminizer. (What’s next, contouring?) 

Prices range from $21 for the cleanser to more than $54 for the serum, and the natural ingredients include Arctic cloudberry (for brightening), bilberry (for antioxidant protection in case you run around with no bottoms all the time), lingonberry (for reducing redness and sensitivity) and more. I could go on, but I think you get the gist. The only thing missing from this line: S.O. Repellent for when you’re just not in the mood.

Personally, I have more products than I know what to do with (and my V is doing just fine), so I think I’ll pass on the skincare for down there. What about you?

A super-easy way to cover grays

It’s been nearly a year since I went dark after the post-platinum fallout—literally and figuratively. The biggest surprise associated with not coloring for almost nine months has been discovering my natural hair color, which I hadn’t seen since I was 13. Adding to the awe factor is the fact that I only have a handful of gray hairs, and I can totally get away with plucking them.

I certainly know this isn’t the case for everyone, and a lot of my friends have standing salon appointments to keep their roots to a minimum. I’ve been known to give these friends root cover-up products to try, and while they may come in handy in a pinch, I usually receive similar feedback: Sprays are messy and powders can be difficult if you’re trying to camouflage more than a part. So when I learned about a totally different root-concealing, color-boosting formula, I had to share it.

Wouldn’t it be easier if you could just rake some mousse through your hair to cover those grays? With TruHair’s Revive & Style, you can! Offering instant gray coverage and temporary color that washes out the next time you shampoo, it’s pretty much a no-brainer. It can also be used to refresh fading color and highlights between appointments, and as with other mousses, it gives you major volume and shine. Available in five shades (including blonde and silver), what do you have to lose, other than the gray roots?

These nail polishes are too cool for school

And just like that, it’s August—which means back-to-school is upon us. I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that my son will be home from camp in 12 days and starting third grade in 13 days (poor guy). Although I don’t have to worry about shopping for classroom supplies thanks to pre-made boxes we can buy online, there’s one beauty product I think I need to kick off the 2017-2018 school year: Sally Hansen + Crayola’s Insta-Dri Collection.

Featuring 12 classic Crayola shades—in an adorable bottle to boot—these polishes deliver vibrant color and a one-coat formula that dries in a flash. These might be better than Trapper Keepers…

Kick off the week with a skin refresh

I had a particularly tough time getting going this morning, probably because this is my first full week home in a month. The past 10 days have been a whirlwind thanks to a trip to Pennsylvania to visit my son followed by non-stop days in New York City. Needless to say, my body was tired and my skin was in dire need of a reset. That’s why I decided Skyn Iceland’s Fresh Start Mask was in order.

Formulated with detoxifying blue clay and an exfoliating blend of alpha-hydroxy acids, this weekly treatment helps smooth, brighten and breathe new life into tired, stressed skin. It features two steps—the clay and the AHAs come in separate packets—that work together to revive and rejuvenate, leaving your complexion soft, radiant and totally refreshed in just 10 minutes.

Starting off the week with a skin reboot is always a good idea in my book, and thanks to this mask I’m ready to face this week’s to-do list—and anything else that might come my way!