June 22, 2018

The SPF your lips need, a hydrating balm that makes matte lipstick so much better, an amazing sheet mask, a super-charged at-home cellulite treatment and Living Proof's instant frizz fix.

You’ll love this SPF for your lips

Summer is in full swing, so you should be spending a lot of quality time with your sunscreen. You’ll hopefully protecting your face each and every day (regardless of what’s on the agenda), but what about your lips? In addition to being the most delicate skin on our body, it’s also the most neglected when it comes to SPF, which makes this a very common skin-cancer spot. The good news is, you don’t have to sacrifice glossy sheen or a touch of color for 100% mineral-based broad-spectrum protection, at least not if you use Soleil Toujours’ new Hydra Volume Lip Masque SPF 15.

Quite possibly the best new product I’ve come across this summer (so far), it offers much more than safe sun protection under the guise of a gloss. It is also formulated with hydrating sunflower seed and coconut oils, anti-aging peptides, the volume-boosting Maxi-Lip Complex, line-plumping hyaluronic filling spheres and a blend of antioxidants that includes red algae, vitamin C and vitamin E.

Available in six sheer shades (I have the peachy “L’Orangerie”), you’ll want to wear this even when you’re not in the sun—and when you are, remember to reapply your SPF from head to toe at least every two hours, and after swimming or towel-drying.

Don't even try to wear matte lipstick without this...

I love a bold lip—whether achieved with a liquid lipstick, chubby pencil or any other product designed to deliver maximum color payoff and wear-time. But what I don’t love is trying to get it off, because I wind up looking like the Joker more often than not. (The struggle is real.) I know I’m not alone here, so if you can relate you best check out INC.redible Cosmetics’ new My Dirty Mouth.

Beyond a great name, this hydrating balm easily whisks away long-wear and waterproof lipcolor thanks to a surprisingly simple (and gentle) blend of coconut and jojoba oils. Gone are the days of rubbing and scrubbing, and it leaves your lips soft and supple to boot.

The not-so-great news is that it’s currently sold out—but you can sign up to get an email when it’s back in stock. So what are you waiting for?

One small extra sheet-mask step makes a world of difference

Every time I actually do a sheet mask, I wonder why I don’t do them more often. They’re super easy, relatively effortless and the results are visible immediately. I have quite an inventory with options for just about any skin concern—but after trying Starskin’s 2-Step Oil Sheet Mask, I’m not sure they’ll be able to compare.

This Korean newcomer looks like a regular sheet mask and works like a regular sheet mask, but what sets it apart is a not-so little ampoule of pure camellia oil, which is one of the most nutrient-dense skincare oils out there. Packed with fatty acids, omegas and vitamins A, B, D and E, it’s hydrating, skin-softening and nourishing benefits can’t be beat. Applied before the sheet mask, it enhances the results big time (and there’s enough left over for a second application after the mask if you so desire).

These two-step masks come in two versions: Nourishing/Anti-Wrinkle and Nourishing/Brightening. The anti-wrinkle one is infused with plumping hyaluronic acid along with arginine and amino acids, while the brightening option delivers a dose of glow-boosting niacinamide along with mulberry bark and peony root extracts. I tried the brightening mask first and loved it—so much that I think I’ll do the anti-wrinkle one tonight!

An interesting at-home cellulite solution

This Saturday marks my first foray into a swimsuit this season (weather permitting), and although I’m definitely not stressing about it, I have been checking out my “rear view” a bit more closely. Cellulite has been in the news lately—namely this Refinery29 story that claims it was “invented” by Vogue in 1968 to give us another thing to hate about our bodies—and whether you believe it’s a real “condition” or a misogynistic construct, the dimples are right there before your eyes. (If not, lucky you.) This doesn’t mean you have to hate them, but it’s your right to do something about them if you want.

What is real is that cellulite is unique to women, because our skin’s underlying supportive matrix is actually different from men’s. The criss-cross pattern of our connective tissue allows fat to bulge through—hence the lumps and bumps. Most dermatologists will tell you that cellulite creams are a crock, but a variety of in-office technologies have been shown to smooth the appearance of cellulite (even if just for the short-term). The British beauty-tech brand Assome! has combined three of these professional-grade modalities in one at-home device, and their Ultrasonic Massager may be the DIY solution you’ve been looking for.

Combining radiofrequency, ultrasound and LED light, this device claims to firm skin up and slim you down while perfecting the skin’s surface and targeting cellulite at the source with just three five-minute treatments a week. The company also offers different serums to use along with the massager, and four “therapy kits” to help you achieve specific goals. For example, the slimming and firming Beach-Ready Therapy includes the massager along with cellulite-fighting and fat-minimizing serums. The Hard As Steel Therapy features fat-fighting and gravity-defying serums, and the Twerk Ready Therapy comes with all firming serum for minimal jiggle. (P.S. The prices may be in British pounds, but they ship to the U.S.)

If my tush looked remotely like any of the bums on the Assome! website, that would be awesome—but I’m still relatively happy with the one I have, cellulite and all!

An instant fix for frizz

I officially bid adieu to my blowdryer a few days ago, since the new constant in my life is humidity. It has rained every day for (at least) the past two weeks—and the sauna that results once the clouds finally clear makes blow-drying an absolute waste of time. I’ve lived in Florida long enough to know that this weather pattern will likely continue through at least October, so what’s a girl to do? My last attempt at air-drying was a complete disaster, so I decided to do a little browsing on Sephora was in order. Could Living Proof’s No-Frizz Instant Defrizzer be the answer?

A dry-conditioner spray that claims to tame 92 percent of frizz on dry hair—while enhancing softness and shine without adding weight—this certainly seems worth a try. Not to get all scientific with you, but it uses a negatively-charged conditioning agent that helps seal the hair cuticles and repel the frizz-inducing effects of humidity.

I was at the mall yesterday and I only wish I had thought to pick one up. (It comes in a travel-sized bottle, too, so we can all try before we buy a case to get us through the long, hot, sticky summer!)