September 1, 2017

It Cosmetics' newest products, you've never seen a blowdryer like this (and it's $60), the latest additions to my perfume tray, Dermalogica wants you to pre-cleanse and Foreo's new zit-zapping device.

IT Cosmetics’ hottest new products for fall (Part 2)

In case you missed it, last week I shared IT Cosmetics’ standout launches for fall, and there are so many that I couldn’t fit them all into one post. As a woman of my word (at the very least), I figured the second installment of these must-have products would be a great way to kick off the weekend—so you might want to carve out a little time for some shopping!

Bye Bye Undereye Concealing Pot
If you’re one of the millions of women who can’t live without the original Bye Bye Undereye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer, you’ll most definitely want to give this new version a try. You get all the coverage you need in a lighter, creamier anti-aging formula that glides on effortlessly and blends like a dream. It’s also fantastic for covering blemishes since it contains hyaluronic acid for extra hydration that keeps dryness and flaking to a minimum.

Perfect Lighting Radiant Touch Magic Wand
Move over Touche Eclat, because this skin-perfecting pen is the new go-to. Designed to color-correct, conceal and brighten in one light swipe, use it as a cover-up and highlighter that makes your skin look flawless instantly while antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients deliver improvement over time.

CC+ SPF 50+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder
If you’re a powder kind of girl but not into a matte finish, you’ll want to pick up one of these compacts pronto. With anti-aging peptides, hydrolyzed collagen and silk, broad-spectrum SPF 50 and the ability to build coverage from sheer to full, you get full-on radiance with absolutely no shimmer or sparkle. I don’t know how they do it, but it’s a game-changer!

Bye Bye Pores
I loooove my Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder, but I might love the new radiance-enhancing version Bye Bye Pores Illumination even better. It delivers the same flawless finish with a subtle glow, so I never feel like I look too matte. And if enlarged pores on your cheeks are problematic (and you want to skip the powder), the new “Sweet Cheeks” shade of Bye Bye Pores Blush gets the job done beautifully.

Bye Bye Redness Skin Relief Treatment Moisturizer
If you experience flushing, whether caused by sensitivity or rosacea, you want your skin to look and feel better—and this moisturizer is up for the task. Beyond providing much-needed moisture, it neutralizes redness with a slight green tint as it soothes skin with a blend of colloidal oatmeal, aloe, turmeric, cucumber. In addition to all this, it delivers anti-aging benefits as well.

Confidence in a Cleanser
You’re going to need to wash your face at some point after trying all these fabulous new offerings, so you might as well make the most of this essential skincare step. Super-gentle on the skin yet strong enough to remove waterproof and long-wear makeup (mascara, too!), it leaves skin soft, plump and completely clean.

Decisions, decisions… No matter which of these new products you choose, thanks to IT Cosmetics it’s shaping up to be a beautiful fall!

This new blowdryer will make you do a double-take

When Dyson debuted their high-tech hairdryer last year, stylists and ladies like us everywhere freaked the F out. The super-lightweight, super-quiet, super-fast styler raised the blowout bar significantly, and we haven’t seen an innovation of its ilk since. But Revlon Hair Tools’ new Pro Collection Salon 360 Surround Styler is unlike any blowdryer I’ve ever seen.

With a unique split-barrel design and two airflow directions to choose from, this dryer’s versatility helps you get the best blowout result possible. For smooth, straight styles, choose the Vertical 360 mode, which provides downward airflow through jets that surround each section of hair both front and back. The result is faster, less damaging drying that smoothes the hair as you blow so frizz is kept to a minimum. If you want to blow-dry the old-fashioned way (like at the roots or with a round brush), simply twist the nozzle to active Classic Horizontal Mode and you’re all set. It’s like having two hair-styling tools in one!

And at $60, you can buy six for less than the price of one Dyson. That makes it well worth a try, right?

I spent the summer of 2017 obsessed with new scents

I kicked off the summer by buying a bottle of Byredo’s Gypsy Water, and I have to say it was worth every penny. It’s so clean and fresh, which makes it the ideal summer scent. It took me through a trip to New York, where I coincidentally stumbled upon the SoHo boutique—which was quite fortuitous since I had been itching to try the brush-on version as well as the various creams and lotions. For the most part, I didn’t find any of these products to be scented enough to justify the price tag—except the hair perfume, although I haven’t pulled the trigger just yet.

Perfume-wise, I spent the second half of the summer obsessed with “no perfume” perfumes. It started when I finally ordered a sample of Molecule 01 from Scent Split (which is either the best or the worst website that has ever happened to me), and this led to adding a sample of Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume to my cart as well. The common denominator between the two is that they are both single, synthetic note fragrances—and I have a hard time smelling both of them. BUT, when I do get a fleeting whiff I absolutely swoon. And I’m convinced that even though my nose can’t sense them, my brain does because they leave me feeling really happy. So here within lies my conundrum…

Let’s just say I did A LOT of research, and I discovered that I could make my own Molecule 01 by mixing the sole note, Iso E Super fragrance oil, with some sort of alcohol. I promptly ordered a bottle of oil from Etsy for $11 (as opposed to spending $100+ for the ready-made perfume) and mixed it with vodka (as recommended online). Since I can’t actually REALLY smell it myself, I asked my husband and son, and they totally loved it.

But then it was time to make more, and I decided to use a higher proof alcohol because the first batch was a bit cloudy. For my second attempt, I used the ethanol we use for our outdoor fireplace (because it’s essentially the same thing as grain alcohol—although I’d never drink it). I think it worked because my son said it smelled so good, but then again, I don’t know. However, I’m still dousing myself in it multiple times a day. (And I'll be upping the concentration the next time I need a refill.)

As luck would have it, the sole ingredient in Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume, Cetalox (also known as Ambrox), cannot be purchased on its own. (Believe me, I searched for it.) So I bought a mini bottle at Sephora so I could really give it a good test drive. Again, I can’t really smell it, but when I do I absolutely love it. I also found that I noticed it more when I had the teeny-tiny sample and had to use more than I generally would with a spray. With no recourse, other than spending upwards of $100 for a scent I can’t appreciate all the time, I decided to put this on the back burner—we’ll see how long it takes for me to cave. But I will say I’ve greatly enjoyed my time with this one. But boy, it’s going fast. The beauty of all this is that when I combine the two, it’s pure olfactory heaven—as far as my brain (and not my nose) is concerned.

At some point earlier this month I took a long, hard look at my perfume tray and decided I had to stop the madness. That very afternoon, I popped into Sephora and found myself engrossed in an incredible fragrance conversation with the rep for Atelier Cologne, as I’m rarely able to speak so in-depth about perfume with someone. After about 30 minutes of chatting, the main takeaway (other than some great samples) is that I’m a fragrance collector. I’m not sure why this never dawned on me. Instead of being proud of my well-curated collection, I’ve always felt guilty about buying another perfume that I really don’t need. But in retrospect, I don’t regret any of my purchases, as I have a connection with each and every scent that I now call my own. So with that said, maybe I do need Not A Perfume (ironically enough)… Stay tuned for updates, because this story is definitely not over!

Pre-cleansing is the new double-cleansing

If double-cleansing is too much for you at the end of a long day, maybe you just need a little attitude adjustment. If you use makeup remover on your eyes (or anything else), you can essentially use this step as your first cleanse—or instead call it a “pre-cleanse,” which takes some of the pressure off. Dermalogica’s soon-to-be-released PreCleanse Balm makes the process a lot easier, but you’ll probably want to reserve one before it goes on sale on September 7.

You start by applying this novel formula to a dry face before rubbing it around with included mitt for a bit of mild exfoliation mitt as it melts away dirt, grime and makeup. Then you add water to transform it into a lightweight milky fluid and rinse. From there, cleanse as you normally would and enjoy your soft, silky, hydrated skin.

Keep in mind that this new variation of Dermalogica’s PreCleanse is designed for normal to dry skin, so if you’re on the oily side, stick with the original—and reap the same benefits!

The newest at-home acne laser

I’m a huge fan of at-home laser devices, basically because a lot of them deliver real results. I have the Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X and Tria SmoothBeauty Eye Wrinkle Laser (now 50% off!), and they totally work—when I use them. I should bust them out more, but alas, finding the time can be a challenge. I also think a DIY acne laser is a must if you’re prone to those painful undergrounders, and Foreo’s new Espada is a new high-tech option that has a leg up on the competition.

Inspired by the blue light treatments found in dermatologists’ offices—which have been proven to minimize the bacteria that lead to breakouts—this nifty-looking device can help keep your complexion on track. Featuring blue LED light (and a special technology that helps direct it to the precise spot you need it) and sonic pulsations that drive the energy deeper into the skin, each treatment takes just 30 seconds—and users report astonishing results like visible results after one day and a decline in the number of breakouts.

Another cool feature is that the Espada activates upon contact with your skin to maximize battery life and minimize the risk of eye damage. The “wand” is covered in medical-grade silicone to prevent the spread of bacteria, and there’s no need for replacement cartridges (ever). The Espada is also waterproof and delivers 240 treatments on a single charge so there’s no waiting around when you have a zit that needs to be zapped. Sure, there are plenty of spot treatments out there that work if you’re patient, but with the Espada you can blast your blemishes in no time flat.