July 13, 2018
Affordable hair perfume for day 2 (or 3, or 4), patriotic face mask options, the liquid lipsticks that changed my tune and an easy-to-follow K-Beauty regimen.
Free mini-facials for everyone!
Kudos to the person who came up with the idea for pop-up shops. Not only do these limited-time retail experiences garner attention (and sales) for brands, they also give customers access to exclusive products, and in the case of beauty brands, treatments. (Yay!) Pop-ups are relatively few and far between down here in my neck of the woods (at least aside from major events like Art Basel), but I was able to take advantage of one this week, courtesy of Clarins.
The storied French beauty brand has opened a string of pop-ups across the country and they’re more than a showcase for skincare and makeup. The temporary spaces also offer Clarins exclusives that you won’t find anywhere else, including haircare only found on cruise ships and abroad, body scrubs and lotions, candles, gift sets and more. Here’s a list of the current locations:
Town Center in Boca Raton, Florida
612 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, Florida
The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas, Nevada
NorthPark Center in Dallas, Texas
Bloomingdale’s Chestnut Hill in Boston, Massachusetts
But perhaps the best part about the Clarins pop-ups is that you can schedule mini-facial treatments—and you don’t have to buy anything! Simply stop by (or click here to schedule an appointment) and enjoy the Hello Glow and one of these add-ons:
I was lucky enough to have my treatment performed by Regional Education Manager, Tanya Cruz (and her magical hands). Since she obviously knows the world of Clarins better than I do, I let her decide the best add-on for my skin. She went with the Eye Lift along and the Extra-Firming Mask (with the Booster Detox)—and when I left I was literally glowing (sans makeup). In case you’re curious, here’s the full run-down of products Tanya used on me:
Instant Eye Makeup Remover
One-Step Facial Cleanser
Toning Lotion with Iris
Super Restorative Treatment Essence
Hydra-Essentiel Eye Mask
Double Serum
Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate
Extra-Firming Day Cream
UV Plus SPF 50
All and all, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend 30 minutes (although I think I got a bit more). So if you find yourself with a little extra time on your hands—or just in the neighborhood—don’t miss the chance to pamper yourself for a spell. You deserve it!
Because your hair deserves perfume, too
We all know I’m not a frequent hair washer (if you don’t, just hop over to the hair section to see all of the dry shampoos I’ve tried). Less shampooing means more paranoia about the smell of my hair, and I’m a big fan of hair perfumes when more dry shampoo just isn’t an option. Yet even if I love the scent of a hair perfume, sometimes it’s too strong, or it doesn’t mesh with my real fragrance, which definitely poses a problem. But I found a real winner when I received a package of Pacifica products to try a few weeks back.
The Dream State Hydrating Hair Perfume has fast become my favorite because it totally gets the job done without being too perfume-y. It also adds a bit of texture as it refreshes your strands without leading to frizz. In addition to being a between-wash pick-me-up, you can use it on wet hair before styling or air-drying to infuse your hair with a delicate jasmine-and-lemon scent. While writing this I also discovered the Hardcore Happy Texturizing Hair Mist, and I basically need everything in this product’s name so it’s definitely on my to-get list.
These products are part of the new-for-summer line that includes a wide array of offerings ranging from makeup to yummy-smelling bodycare—and they are all infused with real crystals! I can always use a little more positive energy in my life, and these fun, budget-friendly products are a fun way to do it!
Red, white or blue... Which mask is for you?
I’m on a bit of a mask kick these days, for no other reason than my kid is away at camp and I have a lot more free time on my hands. I wasn’t planning on posting today, but I’m feeling the July 4th vibes—and here are three ways you can celebrate (and do something nice for your skin)!
Red: Eminence Organics Sweet Red Rose Treatment
I love Eminence products because they’re basically whole foods for your face. This particular mask contains real rose petals, lemon, honey and glycerin to boost your skin’s tone and radiance.
White: Embryolisse Hydra-Masque
I picked this up at a French pharmacy in St. Barth’s last summer (even though you can get it here) because it was just what my skin needed after five days of island-hopping and lounging on the beach. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, sweet almond and sesame oils, a slew of vitamins, glycerin and more, you can apply it and wash off to hydrate and plump your skin before putting on makeup, or leave it on overnight for smooth, soft skin come morning.
Blue: AcneFree Sulfur Mask
If breakouts are a bother, this mask harnesses the power of sulfur to minimize acne-causing bacteria and clogged pores without irritation. It goes on light blue and you know it’s done its job once it turns white, so there’s no guessing about when it’s time to rinse.
Enjoy the BBQs, family time, fireworks and everything else the holiday has in store!
I'm not afraid of liquid lipstick anymore
I love a bold, matte lip (and have for a long time), but I have to confess that I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around this whole liquid lipstick thing. Yes, I understand they provide long-lasting color with little to no effort—but I’ve been getting this for as long as I can remember with a number of NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils (unless I bring them with me on vacation and forget to bring a sharpener—which actually happened to me recently). So needless to say, my makeup drawer was devoid of liquid lipstick—until I got a package of Bad Habit Beauty’s Liquified Matte Lipsticks last week.
Left (top to bottom): Trophy Life, Center Piece, Broken Heart, Mind Games.
Right (top to bottom): Collide, Speed Dial
I’ll admit I was reluctant at first, but then it clicked. With the application ease of a gloss and a barely-there feel PLUS a major punch of color, I’m totally on board. I’ve come to learn that exfoliating my lips before wearing one of them yields a smoother result, but this extra effort is well worth it (and I don’t have to worry about sharpening). My favorites are Mind Games and Speed Dial, and I’m sure I’ll wear the Collide once Fall rolls around again.
Thanks to Bad Habit Beauty (how great is that name?), my first foray into liquid lipstick was a success—and served as a reminder that it never hurts to try something once (beauty-wise, at least).
K-Beauty doesn't have to be confusing
Let’s be honest… As intriguing as Korean skincare may be, it can be a little overwhelming. From multiple cleanses to tonics, essences and what seems to be countless other lotions and potions, once you actually figure out what to buy and have a skincare “ritual” in place, it’s almost impossible to remember the order you’re supposed to use everything in. Am I right?
As it turns out, it can be easy to reap the benefits of K-Beauty—at least with Savor Beauty. Each product has a big, can’t-miss number on the bottle or jar, which totally eliminates the guessing game of knowing what to apply when.
For example, the optional Step 0 is the detoxifying Manuka Honey Mask or Organic Coconut Pre-Cleanse Oil, which can be used by all skin types to remove makeup and get a leg up on the Step 1 cleansers. (You have two options: exfoliating Pearl Cleansing Cream and brightening Champagne Cleanser.) Step 2 is the one-size-fits-all Toning Mist, Step 3 consists of brightening, line-diminishing and/or natural retinol oils, Step 4 is the anti-aging Truffle Face Cream and finally, Step 5 is the Caviar Eye Cream.
Simple enough, right? You can check them all out (minus the eye cream) with this customizable starter set, so stop being intimidated by Korean skincare and start seeing the benefits for yourself!