August 25, 2017

My latest product sample reviews, L’Oreal Professionnel’s version of Olaplex, It Cosmetics' latest drops, St. Barth's vibes no matter where you may be and getting healthy with DeliverLean and HUM.

My latest product sample adventures

I love samples because they help keep things interesting, and of course it’s great to try any makeup or skincare product before purchasing the full size. (Not to mention, they come in handy when traveling as well.) I have no shame ripping them out of magazines or even asking for them at Sephora or a department store, and these are the most recent ones I’ve taken out for a test-drive.

Ligne St. Barths Mango Cream
In addition to the Deluxe Mini “Massage” sampler I wrote about earlier this week, I also came home from St. Barths with a bunch of sample packettes—and my favorite by far was the Mango Butter Cream. This lightweight facial moisturizer smells just as good as it sounds, and it provides anti-aging benefits for all skin types. Beyond leaving skin smooth and soft, it also gives you that just-got-back-from-vacation glow every time you use it.

NARS “Laguna” Bronzing Powder
Am I the only one obsessed with those little powder sample sheets that give you enough product for three or so applications? This cult classic has been on my list for quite some time, but with at least two bronzers already in my drawer, I can’t justify buying yet another. I will say that this one lives up to the hype thanks to a healthy wash of sun-kissed color and the perfect amount of subtle golden shimmer.

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel
I got this sample with my Sephora points and I was pretty excited to see it as an option since it’s perfect for my gym bag or traveling. The formula keeps brows under control for hours on end—and never feels crunchy or gets flaky by the end of the day.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation
Seriously, what are the chances that a foundation sample is the correct shade for your skin? I lucked out with this one, and it made me start longing for cooler weather when I don’t have to worry about makeup literally dripping off my face as soon as I step outside. Serving up light to medium coverage, this foundation feels absolutely weightless on the skin while providing the perfect amount of coverage. Just a few drops gave me even, radiant skin—and I love that it has SPF 15 in it. This has officially been added to the “to get” list when I eventually finish the three or so foundations that are currently sitting in my makeup drawer.

So there you have it… Have you tried any amazing samples lately?

A new way to keep colored hair healthy

As a former platinum blonde, I know first-hand how hard bleaching and highlighting can be on the hair, and I wouldn’t have made it as long as I did without Olaplex both in the salon and at home. These professional and DIY hair-strengthening treatments have become wildly popular, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a colorist who doesn’t use them, especially when lifting the hue of any shade of hair (and if your colorist doesn’t use something to protect your strands, you might want to find a new one who does).

The good news is that Olaplex isn’t the only damage-prevention game in town, and L’Oreal Professionnel’s Smartbond is the newest bond-strengthening kid on the block. Similar to Olaplex, there’s an in-salon product that’s mixed into hair color or lightener before it’s applied, another one that’s used before shampooing once your color is complete, and a take-home product to help keep hair looking and feeling healthy between appointments.

Ideal for damaged, dull, colored, highlighted and platinum blondes, this combination treatment boosts softness and shine, increases hair strength and helps your strands resist the stress that comes along with color services.

The bottom line is, if you color your hair, you need to take preventative measures to keep it happy and healthy—so don’t even think about changing your natural hue without Smartbond or a similar treatment!

IT Cosmetics’ must-have makeup for fall (Part 1)

Last Monday was one for the books, simply because I received the most insane delivery from IT Cosmetics. I wasn’t expecting to find a waist-high box when the UPS man rang my doorbell—and it literally took 30 minutes for me to unbox everything. (Follow my Instagram @insiderbeautybuzz to see everything that was included.) The point of this monster package was to introduce all of the new fall offerings, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a robust assortment of new products for a single season. In addition to some fantastic skincare offerings, the makeup collection is next level, and here are a few of the standouts…

Bye Bye Breakout
OK, these products technically blend skincare and makeup (as most It Cosmetics innovations do), but they’re an absolute must for anyone who gets pimples—even if it’s just once in a while. The Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer serves up the benefits of a drying lotion and concealer in one bottle (with an amazing applicator) so you can get rid of zits without anyone being the wiser. It blends seamlessly with foundation (or whatever complexion-coverage you choose) without caking or cracking, and it contains anti-aging ingredients as well. This concealer pairs well with the new Bye Bye Breakout Powder, which is a lightweight loose finishing powder that minimizes shine, improves active breakouts and does a great job of evening skin tone to hide any redness.

Bye Bye Redness
If you just can’t be bothered with using color-correctors to neutralize the look of flushing and blushing, the new Redness Erasing Correcting Powder lets you skip the extra step. Offering buildable sheer-to-full coverage that won’t settle into fine lines or other nooks and crannies, it also featuring skin-soothing and anti-aging ingredients that make for an all-around awesome alternative to foundation. And if you prefer a one-step redness-neutralizing/full-coverage cream, two new shades of Neutralizing Correcting Cream have launched as well.

Bye Bye Lines Foundation
It’s not too much to ask your foundation to hydrate, fight visible signs of aging and mask imperfections without feeling like you’re wearing anything at all. The new Bye Bye Lines Foundation offers all this and more, and it could possibly convert you anti-foundation ladies to daily foundation wearers.

Brow Power Pomade
It’s crazy how much of a difference paying a bit of attention to your brows can make for your overall look, and this clear waterproof gel keeps hairs in place, adds definition (without color) and adds polish day and night.

I could sit here all day singing the praises of these products, but there are still more I want to share—but I have to pick my son up at school! Stay tuned for the second installment of this oh-so exciting start to the fall season next week!

Vacation vibes anytime

It may still be summer according to the calendar, but my days of laziness and lounging are over. With school back in session (as of yesterday) I hit the ground running at the literal crack of dawn, and I’ve made breakfast, lunch and worked out before most people even head into the office. Needless to say, our vacation to St. Barths seems like a distant memory even though it was only six weeks ago—but thanks to Ligne St. Barths’ Deluxe Mini “Massage” sampler set, I can revisit paradise anytime.

I brought home lots of European beauty goodies, but this one might be my favorite. I figured it would be the perfect way to sample some of the island-based brand’s best-sellers—and I was so right. (The packaging also looks fab on the side of my bathtub.)

I’ve enjoyed each and every one of these body products, even for post-shower use rather than an actual massage. The Avocado Oil is more than a moisturizer, it can be used as a bath oil and makeup remover as well, and the delicate scent is just divine. The Firming Body Gel glides on and absorbs quickly, and I’m certainly not complaining that it contains a slew of botanical extracts to fight cellulite. The Relaxing Oil with Camphor and Menthol is amazing when my muscles are sore—but just be careful if you apply on the upper thighs because you don’t want to get it on your VJ (trust me). And lastly, the Pure Coconut Oil isn’t all that different than other coconut oils, but it’s French, which definitely gives it a leg up.

For the record, this sampler set only cost $28 in St. Barths (as opposed to the $49 online price) so I highly recommend stocking up if you’re ever in that neck of the woods! It makes a perfect gift for anyone back home—just be sure to get one for yourself!

Back to school, back to [healthy] business

I’m not exaggerating, but my summer came to a screeching halt yesterday. Like going from waking up at my leisure with my son still at camp in the morning, scooping him up at the airport (yay!) in the afternoon, to getting into bed at 9pm and setting my alarm for 6:15am for the first day of school. Doesn’t that sound fun?

With a lot more free time on my hands this summer, I was great about working out (except for the 2 weeks we were on vacation), and I was pretty good about my diet—but I did more than my fair share of drinking. That’s why I decided today was the perfect day to get back into a healthier routine—and DeliverLean seemed like a great way to start. So last week I picked out my meals, and I had a cooler sitting on my doorstep when I woke up at the aforementioned 6:15am.

I’m only one meal in, and it was awesome. I went for the Paleo option so I got Almond Blueberry Pancakes with Organic Maple Agave Syrup (see below). I’m going to have a California Quinoa Bowl for lunch after I post this, and then I have some sort of Balsamic Chicken situation for dinner. As we like to say in our family, “Meal to meal, baby!”

BTW, I went to the gym this morning for cardio and weights (my new Apple Watch is a major piece of the motivation puzzle) so I’m definitely on track for getting the school year off to a healthy start. The only thing I’m still on the fence about is my supplements… I’m thinking of tossing all of mine and starting over after finding a brand called Hum on Goop (don’t hate me). As we all know, supplements can be confusing, but not when they are designed for specific needs and concerns. With the ability to shop by Anti-Aging, Blemishes + Acne, Cleanse + Detox (yes, please!), Weight + Body (Hello!) and Hair + Nails, I’m kind of sold. (But if that’s still too much for you, you can take a quick quiz that helps determine the best supplements for you—and you get $10 off your first order!)

I truly had an amazing summer and I’m definitely sorry to see it go, but with school back in session (and my boy back home), things are looking good. Plus, there’s only 311 days until camp starts again!