August 18, 2017
BiteLab's customized lipstick is everything, a totally addictive serum, nail masks for post-gel damage and Fekkai returns to truly luxurious haircare.
Can’t find the perfect shade of lipstick? Make your own!
Anyone who’s ever lived in New York City knows how great it is to go back to visit, because you don’t feel the pressure to do “touristy” things. Instead, you can return to your favorite once-local haunts, whether restaurants, parks or just wander around your old ‘hood to see how things have changed. But when you’re beauty-obsessed there’s always a new destination, and Bite Beauty’s Lip Lab was a highlight of my NYC trip a few weeks ago.
We stayed in SoHo this time around, and I stumbled upon this little storefront when we were looking for a place to have lunch. I was hoping they accepted walk-ins, but the first appointment available was three days later—and just a few hours before I would have to leave for the airport. But naturally I booked it, and it was so worth the wait!
The Lip Lab offers two options, Custom Lipstick or Bespoke Lipstick. The Custom service allows you to select from roughly 200 pre-made pigments before choosing your finish (glossy sheer, matte cream or Amuse Bouche) and scent (cherry, mint, vanilla, citrus, mango, violet, coconut, wild berry and fresh citrus). The Bespoke option takes things a bit further, and you work with the Lip Lab artist to create the exact shade you crave by mixing as many pigments as necessary to get it just right. The Bespoke finishes are different (luminous, matte and sheer cuvée) but the scents are the same. Oh, and all of the ingredients are food-grade, so there’s no need to worry about ingesting chemicals (especially if you’re one of those who wouldn’t be caught dead without lipstick).
I went the Custom route, and it was fascinating to watch the artist blend the pigment and waxes before heating them up in a centrifuge to blend them seamlessly together. The resulting liquid is then poured into a mold, and placed on a cold plate to harden before the perfect bullet is transferred to a case. The whole process too about 45 minutes, and I went home with the perfect berry (and matching lip liner). Best of all, my unique formula is saved in Bite Beauty’s system so I can reorder when I need a refill (no trip to NYC required).
This was such a fun experience, and I’m already thinking about going back to get a nude the next time I’m in town, since finding the right shade for my skin tone has been an ongoing challenge. I almost wish my friends and I were still in the engagement/wedding phase since this would be an amazing bachelorette party idea (and a lot more civilized than traipsing around town decked out in penis paraphernalia).
Beyond NYC, you can also experience the Lip Lab in Toronto and San Francisco, so maybe you should make either of those your next vacation destination!
It’s OK to be an enabler—for your skin
I’m far from a minimalist when it comes to skincare, and more is more in my book. This especially rings true for anti-aging ingredients, and I’ll take the highest concentrations of antioxidants, acids, retinol and any other actives I can get my hands on. Perhaps this voracious appetite for anything that can improve the appearance of my skin is why J.Nicole’s Overdose Serum caught my attention.
The ingredient list reads like a who’s-who of anti-aging, including time-released retinol, the retinol-like Sytenol A, soothing Rhamnosoft, brightening azelaic acid, exfoliating lactic acid, pigment-targeting niacinamide and a plethora of vitamins and hydrators. I’ve been working it into my morning routine a few times a week, and it plays very nicely with my other products—no pilling, stickiness or residue.
I’m a fan of this multi-tasking serum because I’d rather tackle all my concerns with one bottle as opposed to individual products and steps—and it seems Overdose Serum is my new skincare addiction. And with a forthcoming cleanser, exfoliator and masque from this burgeoning brand, it just might be a gateway drug, too.
Post-gel manicure rehab
I love a good gel manicure—but I hate what happens to my nails afterwards. Truth be told, I tend to pick gel polish off once it starts to lift (and I know this is part of the problem), which is why I only get these long-lasting manicures when I go on vacation or a business trip and I don’t want to risk chipping. But with two back-to-back vacation this summer (and two back-to-back gel manicures), my nails have seen better days.
Other than giving my nails a break from polish and loading on the Rejuvacote, I haven’t found any other way to get them back on track—and then I tried 7th Heaven’s Strengthen Nail and Cuticle Finger Masks. Packed with antioxidant-rich pomegranate plus argan and macadamia nut oils, simply slip your digits into these pockets and hang out for 15 to 20 minutes. The nourishing ingredients go to work on damaged nails, leaving them strengthened and revitalized while softening and conditioning your cuticles.
Best of all, this easy treatment costs less than $4, so why not stock up so your nails are always in tip-top shape, post-gel manicure or not.
You won’t want to miss Fekkai’s latest haircare launch
Frédéric Fekkai Salon will always have a special place in my heart, since I was lucky enough to call it my go-to for cut and color both when I was an editor in NYC, and when I first moved to Florida. That’s where my wedding hair was conceptualized and executed, and I made wonderful friends who I am still in touch with today. I’ve always been a fan of the products as well, and although they made their way to mass retailers over the years (no judgement), Fekkai’s luxury line is back on the form of THE ONE by Frédéric Fekkai.
Slated to drop at Ulta.com, Fekkai.com and Fekkai’s salons in NYC, Greenwich, Dallas Palm Beach and St. Barths any second, this comprehensive line features five solution-oriented collections targeting everyday care, colored hair, damaged hair and frizz-prone hair plus an array of styling aids. All the products are infused with a refreshing scent inspired by the Mediterranean—and a high-tech complex of marine-based ingredients once reserved for skincare that help shield the skin from damage caused by environmental factors like pollution.
From shampoos and conditioners to masks, dry shampoo, texturizing spray, hairspray and more, there’s certainly something for everyone in this much-anticipated collection. I, for one, will be stalking my local Ulta in hopes of a travel set so I can try a bunch of the products and see how they stack up to my long-standing favorites—and if you happen to spot them online or on store shelves, let me know!