November 10, 2017
A British bestseller hits our shores, Jillian Dempsey's lid tints, SkinCeuticals' solution if you have a sweet tooth, extend the life of your lash extensions and Fekkai does portion control.
This celebrity stylist FINALLY launched a product line
Unless you’re an Anglophile who’s really into hair, you may not have heard of Sam McKnight despite the fact that he has four decades of experience working with scores of models, celebrities, fashion designers and magazines. He’s the man behind Princess Diana’s iconic short, slicked-back ‘do and he’s been responsible for Kate Moss’ cool-girl coif for years. There’s no question he’s amongst the most respected stylists in the world, which is why we have to ask what took him so long to launch his own line of products?
Fortunately, the wait is over, and Hair by Sam McKnight is taking the U.S. by storm. Now you can get Moss’ aforementioned supermodel-worthy look effortless with the Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, or a messy bun that stays put with the Easy-Up Do Texture Spray. If dry shampoo is your jam, look no further than Lazy Girl, and if you need help holding it all together, Modern Hairspray Multi-Task Styling Mist has your back.
We can all use a little style refresh from time to time, right? With these innovative formulas, your next good hair day is in the can.
Liven up your lids with this alternative to eyeshadow
I’ve been doing this beauty thing for almost 20 years, and I’m still amazed by how small our world is despite the seismic shift from print to online (R.I.P. Teen Vogue). Case in point: When I launched Bronze Buffer with BeautyMart in the U.K. in 2013, my point-person (and saving grace) was a lovely, new-to-London lass named Sarah. We’ve been in touch since, we follow each other on social media, but as with many other professional connections, our careers continued on their own trajectories. Then a few months back I was working on a celebrity makeup artist story and submitted a blind PR inquiry through Jillian Dempsey’s website. Guess who replied the next day? None other than Sarah.
Aside from this little reminder that you never know who you’re going to cross paths with again—so don’t burn bridges and always be on your best behavior—I’d been ogling Jillian Dempsey’s Lid Tints for quite some time, basically because I’m intrigued by the whole glossy-eye thing (but have yet to muster up the courage to actually try to pull it off IRL). Sarah kindly sent two shades along and let’s just say this unique formula really changes the eye-makeup game.
More sheer than a cream shadow and less shiny than an eye gloss, these are truly “tints” in every sense of the word. The below photo shows a pretty heavy-handed swatch of the “Bronze” (top) and “Plum” (bottom) shades. They glide on with ease, leaving a touch of shimmer and hint of color that looks fresh (and they’re completely goof-proof). You can also layer them over other eyeshadows to add a bit of dimension, and if you like a little more polished look, simply bust out the eyeliner. (Dempsey’s Kohl Eyeliners are pigment-packed, super-blendable, waterproof and all-around amazing BTW.)
Before trying these for myself, if you told me I’d be wearing “Plum” in the middle of the day I would have looked at you like you were crazy. But I’m actually wearing it right now—and I love it. Oh, did I mention both the Lid Tints and Kohl Eyeliners are formulated with organic and naturally-derived ingredients like good-for-your-skin butters and oils? Once you check out Dempsey’s tutorials, you’ll want to hop on the tint train, too!
The skincare you need if you ate too much Halloween candy
The skin effects of what we eat have long been a topic of debate. Fried foods, chocolate and dairy have all been linked to acne—although many dermatologists refute these myths because of a lack of evidence. But one food that’s been proven to take a toll on the skin is sugar, and all that Halloween candy you may have laying around from last night can actually make you look older.
See, elevated blood sugar prompts a process called glycation within the skin, and when excess sugar molecules attach to your precious collagen and elastin, these supportive proteins lose their ability to function properly. Without a strong, flexible network of collagen and elastin supporting the skin, it becomes more likely to develop wrinkles and lose its youthful plumpness.
Ironically, the main culprits in glycation-induced aging are called A.G.E.s (advanced glycation end-products), but SkinCeuticals has figured out a way to stop them. A.G.E. Interrupter and A.G.E. Eye Complex are formulated to improve visible signs of aging—and wrinkles—associated with glycation by reinforcing the skin’s firmness and elasticity.
These high-tech formulas are no joke, and they both feature a complex of synergistic flavonoid antioxidants and peptides, blueberry extract that throws a wrench in the glycation process and Proxylane to help plump the skin from within. (The eye cream also contains optical diffusing pigments to instantly brighten and make dark circles less noticeable.)
So before you eye your kid’s bucket of candy, ask yourself if that Reese’s peanut butter cup is worth it—and if it is, offset the sugar rush with these powerful skincare products.
Extend the life of your lash extensions
Full disclosure: I have never tried lash extensions. I’ve tinted and permed my natural lashes and enhanced them with growth serums, but other than a one-night stand with false lashes here are there, I tend to stick with my own. But I know lots of ladies who use lash extensions to save themselves a step in the morning (and have envy-inducing lashes 24/7), so this post (and the EndureLash x LAshX Cleansing Kit) is for you!
If you’ve ever worn extensions, you know there are a lot of dos and don’ts to help them last. Rule number one is no oil-based anything near your lashes. This can make makeup removal tricky. Enter EndureLash LAshX Lash Cleanse, a gentle, 100% oil-free cleanser that whisks away makeup and bacteria without compromising the bonding agent that keeps those faux lashes where you want them. Use with the EndureLash Cleansing Cloth, which features a unique fabric that minimizes snagging and pulling, in turn minimizing lash loss.
Then there’s the matter of drying your eyes after washing, and a regular towel can be too rough on extensions. EndureLash’s Drying Cloth features 100% organic cotton terry that absorbs excess water without excessing wiping, and it also helps restore your extensions’ feathery look after cleansing.
So if you just can’t live without your extensions—and you want to help them last as long as possible between maintenance appointments—perhaps it’s time to rethink how you wash and dry your eyes.
Portion control for your hair
As if it weren’t hard enough to figure out which styling serum is best for your hair, once you go to try it you have to figure out how much to use. As someone with short hair, I only use the instructions on the bottle as a guide, since I obviously need less than the one pump or quarter-sized amount to coat my strands. But if you have a problem following directions, or you just want the guesswork taken out of squeezing the proper amount of product into your palm, The One by Frederic Fekkai’s new One to Go Individual Dose Crème may be just what you need.
Essentially a package of sample-sized packets of Fekkai’s amazing hydrating, smoothing, shine-enhancing styling cream, this new offering prevents product waste and helps you lighten your load while traveling. But remember not to use the whole thing before blow-drying, because you’ll want a little extra to smooth dry strands either immediately after styling, or to touch-up dry, frazzled, static-y hair at some point during the day.
If you’re like me and portion-control is sometimes a problem, your hair-styling product is a great place to start so at least your strands aren’t carrying around extra weight.