April 20, 2018

An energy boost in a bottle, IGK dry shampoos for each post-blowout day, M.A.C. Strobe Cream for your body and a skincare line that cuts through the B.S.

These drinks promise enhanced performance in a bottle

I know I’m not alone in starting my day with coffee and (usually) ending my day with wine. These beverages have become mainstays at specific times, first to get me going in the morning and then helping me survive homework/dinner/bedtime and wind down after a seemingly endless day. While my coffee and wine certainly get their respective jobs done, I decided to try a few different ways to boost my energy—and neither of them involved caffeine.

First up was BrainGear, which promises "immediate focus, clarity and concentration within 15-30 minutes of consumption.” In fact, I’m on it right now and I’m banging out this article like nobody’s business. Rather than caffeine and other stimulants, this mind-fueling formula contains a blend of vitamins (various Bs, D and E) and other supplements you’ve probably heard of like acetyl-L-carnitine, tyrosine, green tea extract, DMAE and more. Best consumed cold and on an empty stomach, I didn’t really like the pineapple mango flavor at first but now I have no problem with it. I’m not kidding when I say this stuff works—and helps me blow through my to-do list. I’m also psyched it’s available through Thrive Market so I can stock up when I order the only pasta sauce my son will eat. (Don’t ask.)

With my brain operating at maximum capacity, I figure my body could use a little boost, too. Enter HTWO Hydrogen Water. Yes, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom are the building blocks of any water, but this purified water is infused with extra molecular hydrogen gas (but there are no bubbles). Why would you want more hydrogen? When you drink it before a workout, apparently it increases endurance, reduces fatigue and minimizes lactic acid buildup that leads to post-exercise soreness. I drank a pouch before three Pilates classes, and even though I didn’t notice a difference during or after my workoust, let’s be honest, I wasn’t exactly pushing my body to its physical limits. However, there are clinical studies that prove hydrogen delivers these benefits, and professional athletes drink the stuff by the gallon, so who am I to judge?

The way I see it, we spend so much money on stuff that’s potentially bad for us, so why not invest in products that are more likely to do good? Maybe that’s the BrainGear talking… Regardless, excuse me while I go find the cure for cancer before I go crush it at my 10:30 Pilates class—or at least wrap up a few articles that I’ve been meaning to finish.

Now there’s an IGK dry shampoo for every step of your blowout cycle

I order dry shampoo in bulk, and it never dawned on me that I could benefit from different formulations throughout my three- to four-day (OK, sometimes five) blow-dry cycle. I usually give myself a light spray on day one if I have to go somewhere and my hair is too squeaky-clean—and of course I use it daily to refresh (sometimes more than once) until I wash and blow again. And then there are those days when I break a serious sweat in my cardio Pilates class and I have no choice other than to wash my hair because my usual dry shampoo just isn’t going to cut it.

IGK totally gets me (and others like me, apparently), and I know this because the brand now offers three dry shampoos that offer different levels of waterless, between-shampoo cleansing. The lightest, Jet Lag, is an invisible formula with finely-milled volcanic ash to eliminate mild dirt and oil, and it can be used throughout the day between washings to keep hair looking and feeling fresh. Direct Flight contains turmeric and charcoal powder for medium-grade cleansing along with added volume and texture. Lastly, First Class is the heavy-duty option for those of us who try to maximize time between blowouts—and keep our hair looking (and smelling) clean after working out. Along with oil-absorbing charcoal powder, this one also contains calming, cooling white tea because sometimes things can get a little itchy if you take your blowout a day too far.

I’m happy to report that these all come in travel-friendly sizes, which makes it easy to build your own dry shampoo wardrobe—because you know you totally need one, right?

If you like M.A.C’s Strobe Cream, you’ll want this ASAP

It hit 90 degrees down here in Florida yesterday, which left many of us wondering, Is this it? Is summer here? Fortunately (according to the Weather Channel) we’ll have a few more days of low 80s before the mercury is firmly fixed north of 85—but I couldn’t help but start thinking about my bare skin approach for 2018. Prtty Peaushun has been my go to hydrator/illuminator for years, but I feel like it’s time for something new—and that something just might be M.A.C’s new Strobe Body Lotion.

Lightweight yet moisturizing and infused with skin-perfecting pearls and optical pigments, bare arms, legs and shoulders will be begging for this emulsion upon their warm-weather debut. Offering more sheen than shimmer (thankfully), it’s a must-add to your spring beauty wish list.

Skincare for those who like to keep things simple

I’m all for serious skincare, and over the years I’ve learned how to decipher product labels and ingredient lists. This doesn’t come easy for everyone, and if you feel like you need a degree in chemistry to keep up with the latest (or figure out which product is best for your skin concerns), you’re not alone. That’s why I was intrigued when I came across a new brand called No B.S., because frankly, sometimes we all want to keep things simple.

Offering potent plant-based products with ingredients you can totally pronounce (think aloe vera, lavender oil, cucumber and green tea), No B.S. is a breath of fresh air in the skincare world. The straightforward range includes a cleanser, antioxidant serum, face and body moisturizers and a retinol—because these are really the only products you need if you like to keep your routine lean and mean. The ingredients are scientifically proven to do what they say and you won’t find anything questionable, such as parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances and the like.

Best of all, the prices max out at $50 (for the retinol) so you can “green” your entire routine without breaking the bank.