July 20, 2018

I'm loving ModelCo's brow gel and lip gloss, Blaq's line of masks have shown my skin the light and aromatherapy balm-sticks that help me get my mood on.

Better brows in an instant

Believe it or not, I’m pretty low-maintenance when it comes to my eyebrows. I get them waxed and shaped every three months or so (of course I pluck stray hairs in between appointments) and I only use It Cosmetics’ Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil when going out for a night on the town. I’ll occasionally use Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Clear Brow Gel during the day if they’re acting a little unruly, but I never thought to add a dash of color during daylight hours—at least until I tried ModelCo’s More Brows Fibre Gel.

Essentially a brow pencil and fixative in one, this fast-drying gel adds enhances your arches with hair-like fibers that boost thickness and definition while filling in sparse spots. The small wand makes it easy to place the product where you want it and eliminates the risk of overdoing it. I like to use a clean spoolie brush after applying it for a bit of extra blending, and the results are so natural-looking that I never worry about my brows looking too “done,” especially in sunlight.

I’ve used the gel a few times this week while running around town, and I’ve found that I love how slightly bolder brows add a little extra polish to my overall look—and I can totally get away with tinted moisturizer, a colorful lip and very little else!

P.S. I also received ModelCo’s Lip Plumper Gloss for review, and if you like high shine and pillowy pout, this one is for you!

The hottest skincare color right now is black

Mask Month is still going strong over here at IBB HQ, and last week it dawned on me that it’s been quite some time since I did a peel-off mask. Unlike traditional gel- or cream-based masks, peel-off versions come along with a sense of satisfaction—and the challenge of trying to get the whole thing off in one piece (which rarely happens). I was in luck that I had just received Blaq’s signature Mask, so off I went.

As you can see, this mask is really black, and I’m happy I tried it when I was home alone as not to scare my husband or child. After slathering on a layer, I sat down at my desk to catch up on emails and let the activated charcoal purge my pores. After letting it dry, I went in for the peel, and while it left me with noticeably clarified skin I would definitely apply a thicker layer next time to make the peel-off process a bit easier.

I also received the Hydrogel Eye Masks, and figured I’d give them a whirl while I was writing this post. The consistency is similar to other eye patches, and the blend of activated charcoal and hyaluronic acid did an amazing job at de-puffing and smoothing out the fine lines around my morning eyes. Note to self: Do eye masks in the morning more often.

This innovative line also offers regular and shimmery body scrubs, cleansing wipes and a teeth-whitening wand, and you guessed it… They’re all black, really fun to use and perfect for messing with your family!

Aromatherapy has never been easier

I love surrounding myself with scent—whether in the form of perfume, a candle or an oil diffuser. A fresh fragrance is always great, but one with aromatherapy benefits is even better. As an essential oil amateur, I haven’t started mixing and matching to create customized blends that address concerns like stress, difficulty falling asleep or just a bad mood—but I don’t have to because Scentered has already done the work for all of us.

If you believe in the power of aromatherapy (or you want to start), Scentered’s Ultimate Relaxation Kit is the ideal way to de-stress, rest easier or put a smile on your face. With these three stick-based balms, all you have to do apply to your pulse points, take a few deep breaths and let the oils and botanicals take care of the rest.

The “Be Happy,” which features calming lemon myrtle along with uplifting pink grapefruit and spearmint, is sitting front and center on my desk for those times when I need a little pick-me-up. The “Sleep Well” is on my night table because the blend of relaxing lavender, ylang ylang, palmarosa and floral notes does a great job helping me nod off at the end of the day. I actually gave the “De-Stress” to my husband because he could use the natural tension relief its mix of mandarin, chamomile an neroli provides (and he actually uses it!). Just so you know, Scentered offers "Love," "Escape" and "Focus" scents as well.

Regardless of what ails you at any given time, one of the biggest upsides of these aromatherapy balms is that they force you to stop whatever you’re doing and be present in the moment. Just the simple act of closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing goes a long way, and Scentered makes the experience even better.