January 26, 2018
SkinMedica's HA serum is a winner, Colgate introduces a "smart" toothbrush, hair sheet masks are a thing now, a drugstore mascara worth trying and a hack that makes any type of cleanser foamy.
This hyaluronic acid serum rocks
I’ve been on a bit of a hyaluronic acid kick lately, and it just so happened that I received a sample of SkinMedica’s HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator as a perk from Brilliant Distinctions (the Botox loyalty program) just before I ran out of DCL’s Hydra Boost Finishing Serum.
No joke, this might be the best serum I’ve ever tried. It has a gel-cream consistency that glides on smoothly and absorbs quickly—leaving my skin soft, supple and visibly plumped. Another plus: I can use other products immediately following it without experiencing stickiness or pilling. It’s my go-to after applying Differin and using my dermaroller, and I never see any irritation from either when I use this afterwards.
All of us could use more hyaluronic acid in our lives (and our skin), and this serum is ideal for all skin types as it won’t clog pores or aggravate sensitive skin. I give it five stars—and you will, too!
Colgate and Apple want you to brush smarter
Electric toothbrushes aren’t anything new, but they do continue to get more and more “intelligent” with time. I’ve tried my fair share, from the sleek Foreo Issa to the subscription-based Quip—but I’ve never felt the need to try one that sends feedback or data to my phone. (I mean, we’re talking about tooth-brushing.)
Well, a new day has dawned, and you can now get oral-health help thanks to artificial intelligence in your mouth. Colgate and Apple have teamed up to create (and sell) the Colgate Smart Electric Toothbrush and the future is here—now. Featuring sonic vibrating technology and Bluetooth that sends real-time brushing feedback to your iPhone or Apple Watch via the Colgate Connect app, it uses sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze how well you’re brushing in 16 zones of your mouth. And if you aren’t brushing adequately, there’s a 3D “coach” who encourages you to do better.
While I definitely find this toothbrush to be intriguing, it does make we wonder if we’re taking this technology thing too far. What do you think?
IBB Trend Alert: Hair sheet masks
2018 is off to great start beauty-innovation-wise, and I’m really excited for what (at least) the next few months have in store! In between “New Year, New You” stories and tips and tricks for keeping those resolutions, one particular relatively-new category is getting a lot of attention: Sheet masks for your hair. Sheet masks for our skin have become mainstream over the past few years, but our tresses represent a whole new frontier for these targeted treatments, and if you want to be an early adopter, here are a few to try.
L’Oreal Paris Intense Repair Hair Sheet Mask
This single-dose treatment essentially takes the mess out of deep conditioning, since the mask is pre-saturated with product. This means no dipping your fingers into a jar (or dripping water in there). After shampooing, apply the mask and twist it like you would your towel after showering, and let the steam help the cream penetrate for five minutes. Then rinse, and voila, you have softer, smoother, shiner hair.
Ouai Anti-Frizz Hair Sheets
We all need a frizz-taming touch-up from time to time, and it’s easy to toss one of these individually-wrapped sheets in your bag. A few swipes smooth flyaways and boost shine, in turn refreshing your style when you don’t have styling tools within reach.
IGK Swipe Up No Frizz Smoothing Hair Wipes
These handy sheets off hemp paper are infused with avocado and camellia oils that stop static and block humidity to preserve your blow-out and keep frizz at bay. You also get extra shine with no added weight or greasy residue, making these perfect for between blow-outs.
Kocostar Split End Therapy
This no-rinse ponytail treatment may look a bit odd, but the strand-smoothing results are well worth it. Featuring argan oil, shea butter and botanical extracts, slip this wrap over your pony, secure with an elastic, massage your hair and hang tight for 15 minutes. There’s no need to rinse after removing the wrap—and you won’t want to because your hair will feel so soft and smooth.
This drugstore mascara is simply marvelous
I had some time to kill before picking my son up from school the other day so I decided to do a little browsing at Walgreens. It’s been a while since I perused the new mascara offerings since I recently bought yet another Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes (so good) as well as M.A.C.’s Upward Lash (after thoroughly enjoying a sample). It’s also been a while since I had a fiber mascara in the rotation, so I immediately zeroed in on CoverGirl’s Super Sizer Fibers—and boy am I glad I did.
My new daytime go-to (because for some reason I still feel compelled to save the “good” stuff), it’s almost like this mascara was made with my life in mind. It does an amazing job at separating and lengthening, and since it’s fiber-based there’s no flaking or smudging. This means I can apply it at the crack of dawn, go to Pilates, grind through the rest of my day, and still have long, separated lashes by the time I collapse around 9pm. The look is definitely more on the natural side, but a major step up from wearing no mascara at all. And the brush is interesting in that it has short barely-there plastic bristles, so don’t expect an explosion of fluffiness upon your first use.
I got the regular “Black” instead of the “Very Black,” which probably yields a slightly less conspicuous end result, but it’s also available in “Black Brown” and “Brown” for those of you who like to go a bit lighter. (Who came up with this nomenclature?)
The next time you find yourself with a little extra time on your hands, and conveniently close to a drugstore or supermarket, I highly suggest you pick this up. It might be the best thing that happens to you all day…
If you just can't part with your foaming cleanser...
In case you haven’t heard, foaming cleansers may do more harm than good, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. The surfactant ingredients in your sudsy products can strip your skin of its natural oils, in turn leaving your skin’s barrier compromised—and your skin more prone to dryness and irritation. While many of us still think bubbles translate to squeaky-clean skin, it can be hard to break up with our foaming cleansers, but DHC’s Foaming Mesh lets you have your suds without sacrificing the health of your skin—and it’s just $2.50!
Designed to transform any cleanser—whether cream, milk or even powder—this Japanese sponge helps crease a dense foam that not only gives you the experience you love, but let’s you use less product. With this cleansing companion, even the gentlest of washes can deliver a deeper clean without the side effects of harsh ingredients, and who doesn’t want that?