February 9, 2018

My current hand-and-foot bedtime routine, I'm obsessed with SugarBearHair, I'm using this super-cute cosmetic bag as a clutch, Neutrogena lets you analyze your skin at home and a clever DIY mani hack.

Bedtime treats for your hands and feet

After completing my semi-exhausting skincare routine at night, my final act of personal maintenance for the day is moisturizing my hands and feet—without fail. If I’m feeling lazy I just use some of the baby lotion on my nightstand (still one of my favorite smells), but otherwise I’ll use the dedicated hand and foot creams I have stashed in a box on my nightstand. I’m not generally loyal to specific brands and am more than happy to use anything that is sent to me or that I pick up in my travels—but I’m so into the latest products in the rotation that this might all change.

As we know, Trader Joe’s is a treasure trove of treats and all-natural essentials. Their personal-care products are worth a gander as well, and I am absolutely obsessed with the Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream. Since everything a TJs is private label, I’m convinced that this hydrator is made by L’Occitane, but I suppose we’ll never know. And at $4.99 a tube, it’s well worth hoarding.

I also pay special attention to my feet at bedtime because anyone with dry or cracked heels knows the struggle is real—and this is possibly one of my biggest beauty pet peeves. I’ve tried everything from pumice stones and microplanes to avoiding walking around the house barefoot to keep my heels soft and smooth—basically to no avail. But then I tried AmLactin’s Foot Repair and within a week I had smooth pink skin once again. After I slather it on I slip into cotton toeless socks (which prevents me from leaving footprints when I inevitably have to go to the bathroom)—and I don’t have to fret about dry, cracked heels anymore.

Sure, these extra products add a few more minutes to my day, but the pretty hands and feet are worth the extra effort. What are your bedtime must-haves?

Boosting hair growth has never tasted so good

Growing out my hair has been a well-documented journey (to say the least), and after more than a year-and-a-half I’m almost at the point that I have to decide what I’m going to do with my shoulder-length strands. Thanks to ditching the bleach, a handful of haircuts and a sh*t-ton of supplements I actually finally have healthy, normal, VIRGIN hair again, and I have to say SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins have made the process all the more bearable (no pun intended).

If the idea of eating candy to make your hair grow longer and stronger sounds like a fantasy, welcome to Neverland. Almost too cute to eat, SugarBearHair’s vitamins look like little blue gummy bears—yet they’re packed with biotin folic acid, vitamin C and other essential nutrients your hair follicles need to work at maximum capacity. Oh, and did I mention they’re so delicious that it’s almost a challenge to stick to two berry-flavored treats a day?

They’re also vegetarian and gluten-free, and my son even asks me for one every now and then—and if that’s not a glowing recommendation, I don’t know what is! I totally get it if you don’t want to take his word for it, so how about a comparison between my hair now and two summers ago? (And if you want to know the filter app I used to make myself look so glow-y, it’s InstaBeauty. You’re welcome.)

This cosmetic bag is so cute I'm using it as a clutch—but I have to customize it first

I’ve been trying to reduce my level of everyday schlepping, so I’ve pared down my essentials to fit into a clutch. Not only does this let me get use out of small bags I’d usually reserve for evening, it really helps me avoid throwing things into a bottomless pit and forgetting that they’re there. Hence my latest obsession: The large Oliver Thomas KST Cosmetic Case.

The quilted exterior screams Chanel while the easy-to-clean inside indulges my practical side—but there’s more. If you were thinking to yourself, WTF, it’s just a quilted makeup bag, Oliver Thomas offers stick-on badges so you can customize your pouch, tote or backpack either temporarily by sticking them on (and subsequently peeling them off) or permanently by giving them a shot with a blowdryer. Imagine one (or both) of the below on the bag above (I can’t decide)…

Want to bet how many people will ask me if my bag is Gucci? And BTW, this whole situation rings in at less than $55. Insane, right???

Anyone who’s ever visited my inner sanctum (i.e. my closet) knows I’m a big proponent of mixing high and low pieces. Zara, Gucci, J. Crew and Louis Vuitton all comingle in harmony, and thanks to my mom’s extensive vintage collection, I have more label-less pieces than I can count. I honestly get as much of a thrill out of a bargain find as I do from a designer splurge because it’s all about sparking joy, right?

So, help me out... Which badge should I get???

High-tech skin analysis at home

If you’ve ever experienced Visia skin imaging at the dermatologist’s office, you know it can be both enlightening and a little scary at the same time. From seeing your fine lines and pores in living color (i.e. enhanced with different colors) to revealing sun damage beneath the surface that isn’t yet visible, it’s truly an eye-opening experience that can help you get on the right skincare track—and see your improvement over time.

If you’re even remotely into your skin, you’re probably intrigued by this concept—and probably also wishing you didn’t have to track down a derm with the equipment so you can try it. Well, Neutrogena feels you, which is why they are launching the SkinScanner tool and Skin360 iPhone app this summer—and at $49.99 for the attachment that slips over your phone’s camera, it’s probably less expensive than your insurance co-pay.

The tool is basically a powerful camera that features 30-times magnification, 12 embedded lights and a moisture sensor to analyze your skin and give you a Skin360 “score” that indicates your skin’s overall condition. Naturally the app recommends a Neutrogena skincare regimen to help you improve your score and track your progress with the app over time.

Whether you decide to use Neutrogena products or not, this is a great way to see if your skincare regimen is delivering results, because sometimes it can be hard to tell just by looking in the mirror. I’m definitely looking forward to checking this out when it debuts, what about you?

Polishing your own nails just got way easier

As a former nail-biter, I’ve come to learn that weekly manicures—in a salon—are key for keeping my fingers out of my mouth. I do have relapses from time to time (especially if my week is too jammed to book an appointment), but this leaves me little opportunity to do my nails myself. But with that said, in the case of a bad chip or a bad color choice, I will attempt an at-home mani—often with less than stellar results, particularly when painting the nails on my dominant hand. 

BUT, I have a new reason to skip a week—and potentially save $20 while I’m at it—thanks to Sally Hansen’s new Big Polish Guards Cuticle Protectors. Kind of like Band-Aids that stick securely around your cuticles so you don’t have to worry about “staying in the lines,” simply paint, peel off and be impressed that the only place you have polish is on your actual nails. Gone are the days of trying to use a brush to clean up stray lacquer—or having a DIY manicure that looks like a hot mess.

Another new Sally Hansen offering I’m digging is the Gel Rehab Overnight Renewal Mask. The main reason I still go for weekly manicures is because gel polish crushes my nails. I reserve longer-lasting manis for when I travel, which fortunately for my nails isn’t all that often. But this vitamin-packed treatment for severely damaged nails makes me want to get one just to see if it really works… I have two back-to-back trips in March, so stay tuned!