January 19, 2018

An amazing dupe for a Dior favorite, a new ovulation-tracking option, a majorly multitasking zit-zapper and the Woosh Beauty products I'm crushing on.

This lip-plumper dupe is worth a trip to Target

I’ve rekindled my love affair with lip plumper thanks to a deluxe-sized sample of Dior Addict Lip Maximizer. Its glossy finish definitely gives my lips a volume boost without any stinging or burning and shine goes on and on. At $34, I’ve definitely spent a lot more on a lippie, but then I received a package of Pixi Beauty’s latest launches and let’s just say that won’t be necessary.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Pixi’s LipLift Max in “Petal Ice,” which is basically indistinguishable from Dior’s Lip Maximizer in “Pink.” But the big news here is that Pixi just added new shades to the LipLift Max lineup—and the “Sweet Nectar” shade is a perfect dupe for Dior’s “Apricot” Lip Maximizer. You get the same plumping action and glossy shine with a subtle peachy tint—and at $14, a lot more bang for your buck.

Be sure to put this on your list so you don’t forget to pick one up on your next Target run!

I’m tracking my ovulation—but not because I want to get pregnant

When my husband and I decided to have a baby 10 years ago, I got pregnant in a millisecond. I know how lucky we were, especially after seeing so many friends struggle, and turn to various fertility-boosting treatments ranging from acupuncture and Klomid to all-out IVF. I never had to deal with tracking my ovulation by taking my temperature or peeing on sticks either—and despite a few weeks of bedrest and a baby who eventually had to get kicked out of my “hotel womb” via inducement, the end result was a healthy eight-and-a-half-pound boy.

So here I am a decade later trying to figure out my “cycle.” I have an IUD so I don’t get an actual period, and I’ve always been irregular. I’m doing this because I get an annual breast MRI (I’m gene-negative but high-risk), and apparently my last scan wasn’t timed well and they didn’t get the best reading. So, I have until June to get a better idea of the length of my cycle so I can schedule my MRI 10 days after I would get my period—and it hasn’t been easy.

Then I got a PR email from a company called KNOWHEN, and let’s just say ovulation prediction technology has come a long, long way from when it was a constant discussion amongst me and my friends. Rather than peeing on sticks and charting temperature, all you have to do is put one drop of saliva on a little glass lens first thing in the morning, let it dry and then see what kind of pattern there is. If it looks like a bunch of ferns, BOOM, you’re ovulating (and most likely to get pregnant), if you see dots and a few small ferns you’re either approaching or finishing ovulating, and if you see nada, well, nothing is going on.

One of the biggest upsides of KNOWHEN is that you can use this kit over and over again—and track your cycle month after month with an app. I’m super-confident that I’ll have a solid idea of my cycle’s length after using this simple device for a few months, and in turn, be able to schedule my MRI for the ideal time this year. Aside from my unique reason for using it, this is truly a game-changer for those who want to know when they have the best chance of getting pregnant (or not)!

This blemish-blaster is so good I had to write about it again

I know if I like a product the very first time I try it, but it’s a whole different story when that like grows to love. This can take some time as I try using such an aforementioned product in different ways, at different times or in conjunction with others currently in my routine or my medicine cabinet (or under my sink or in my beauty closet).

The most recent product I’ve found myself in this situation with is It Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Breakout. Part full-coverage concealer, part zit-zapping treatment, it’s become a PMS mainstay over the past few months. I first wrote about it when I got a big-old launch package from It Cosmetics some time ago, but it has since secured its status as an essential, and I feel like I didn’t give it enough love the first time around.

First and foremost, it really helps dry up blemishes fast—like shaves at least a few days off the redness/tenderness cycle. Second, though its texture is super-lightweight, it conceals even the angriest of pimples.

Last but certainly not least, it’s perfect for use anytime. On top of makeup when I need extra coverage. On its own to create the illusion of more even skin tone while running errands. But one of my favorite times to use it is between steps of my long, drawn-out skincare regimen in the evening. (I like to stretch it from about 6:30pm until bedtime so I can use more stuff and give each product time to absorb.) When I pat this concealer on specific spots throughout the night, I get multiple doses of healing alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids and undetectable camouflaging so no one in my family has to see I still get zits at the ripe age of 41. (But on the bright side, this means the hormones and oil glands are still working, right?)

The main takeaway here is that sometimes it can take time to get your groove on with a product, so don’t be so quick to cast something off. You never know where your relationship may go!

This innovative line makes it easier to do your makeup

Sometimes you don’t realize you need something until you discover it exists, and that’s exaclt what happened when a sponsored post for Whoosh Beauty popped up on my Instagram feed. Always one for a clever tool that gets an essential task done better, I didn’t hesitate to tap to learn more about the Flex & Curl Mascara—but not because I’m in the market for a new tube. (It does feature a unique bendable brush, though.) What caught my attention was the Lash Shield that comes along with it. 

This small piece of plastic works double duty to first ensure your mascara doesn’t get anywhere other than your lashes (like, say, on your lids—which is super-annoying). At the same time, it also helps separate lashes as you apply to prevent clumps. And since you can really get in there without worrying about mascara migration, it helps add a bit of curl as well.

As I continued to explore Whoosh Beauty’s offerings, I came across the MMS Bag, which is one of the coolest makeup bags I’ve seen in a while. I love a carryall that keeps my stuff organized, and this case features suction cups for tubes, palettes, pots, etc., elastic brush holders, a removable case you can throw in your handbag and a cinch section for all your other products. You can also add on the lighted MMS Mirror to create a pop-up vanity that gives you good lighting no matter where you find yourself applying makeup. With lots of storage and a zip-around closure, it’s just what you need for your next outing, whether it be to the office or half-way around the world!