August 17, 2018

The Oribé styling product that changed everything, false lashes for those of us who can't do false lashes, the ultimate germ-resistant loofah and more from Rodan + Fields, Acqua di Parma and Playa.

I FINALLY found my holy grail hair product

My son comes home from camp on Sunday (YAY!) and school starts on Monday (BOO!), so it’s safe to say my summer is basically over. Although my life will change dramatically in 72 hours (not like I’m counting), the jungle-like weather isn’t going anywhere for quite a while. I’ve managed to avoid blow-drying my hair more than a handful of times over the last few months, but it’s taken a lot of product mixing-and-matching to get my air-dry results just right (and it didn’t always work out). But then I got Oribe’s Gel Sérum and it changed everything—and I can call off the search for the perfect product that might let me put my blowdryer away for good.

I was skeptical when I first saw “Radiance, Magic and Hold” on the tube, but I’m a believer after using it. Though billed as a gel, it has none of the stiffness or stickiness, but it definitely provides hold when I rake it through my damp strands. It also imparts shine and luster thanks to little gold flecks (fancy!), and my hair has unbelievable texture once it’s dried. My hair usually gets greasy after a day or two, but this gel-serum doesn’t add any weight—and its conditioning ingredients help keep my hair in tip-top shape.

No joke, this styling product has been a gamechanger for me, and even though my summer comes to a screeching halt the day after tomorrow, I’m happy I found it late rather than never finding it all. Apparently good things do come to those who wait…

An amazing option if you can’t master false lashes

My mom had a few very valuable skills that missed the genetic bus, meaning they didn’t find their way to me. One was gardening/not killing houseplants, another was creating a perfect cat-eye (she could do it while walking down a New York City sidewalk) and yet another was applying false lashes without looking like a character in a horror movie. These last two bother me more than the first (my husband has a green-ish thumb), and I continue to try and try—to no avail.

Always on the lookout for a hack that can step up my liner and lash game, I recently came across something that kind of targets both. It’s called the LashLiner Magnetic Eyeliner and False Eyelash System, and of this morning its exceeded its Kickstarter goal by 300%, and it still has six days to go.

Sorry for the slightly cheesy photo--it's slim pickings out there!

In what appears to be groundbreaking, all you have to do is apply the black magnetic eyeliner per usual (I can handle that) and pop on the lashes. Then you just pull them off when you want. There’s no glue, no mess and the lashes are reusable. They will also be available in different styles—which you get to choose once the Kickstarter campaign is complete and the lashes are in production.

I just pledged $40 so I can be one of the first get my hands on what I hope will be a false-lash game-changer. Projected delivery is in October, and I think I can wait that long! If you need help in the lash department, or are trying to break your extension habit, check this out pronto!

Rodan + Fields’ latest will rock your body

There’s a big different between a run-of-the-mill body lotion and a body skincare treatment. The former will eradicate dryness and scaliness for a little while, but the latter actually works to improve the health and appearance of your skin over time. There’s a place for both, but let’s just say I’m a lot more excited about Rodan + Fields’ brand-new Active Hydration Body Replenish than I am about the unscented generic CVS lotion under my bathroom sink.

Sure this rich yet lightweight cream delivers moisture courtesy of coconut oil and shea butter, but the addition of the brand’s 3D3P Molecular Matrix Technology (found in the Active Hydration Serum and Bright Eye Complex) is what makes this body cream that much extra. I immediately noticed that the skin on my arms looked more supple and radiant—and that little patch of soon-to-be-crepey skin right below the inside of my elbow vanished into thin air instantly. The cream absorbs super-fast without leaving any stickiness, and my markedly younger-looking arms stay that way all day.

There’s still a little summer left, so if you want to make the most of those off-the-shoulder dresses and tops, snag yourself a jar ASAP…

If you always need to have lip balm within reach…

Lip balm is pretty much on the same level as oxygen for me—without it, I wouldn’t survive. I have it within arm’s reach at all times no matter where I may be, whether in the car, while at my desk and even in bed. There’s a tube in the kitchen, my bathroom and all my most frequently used bags. But I’ve never been able to figure out how to keep lip balm close by while working out. Then BKR Paris’ Water Balm happened.

You’ve surely seen these rubber-sheathed glass bottles at the gym or just around, but maybe you didn’t know the name of them. They come in different sizes, colors and textures—and now you can get a replacement cap with lip balm IN IT. Is this not the most genius thing you’ve ever heard? And it’s not just any old balm… The glossy, rose-scented treatment contains 16 natural actives, including real roses, algae extract and biolipids—and you can even pop it out of the cap and take just the compact with you if you can’t bear being without it. And just like that, my biggest workout problem is officially solved.

Transport yourself to the Mediterranean

If you’re on Instagram, you probably feel like you’re the only person who’s NOT drinking rosé all day on a boat in Greece or Italy (I know I do). Instead of island hopping, you’ll either find me sitting at my desk chipping away at my never-ending to-do list for work, or running around town preparing for my son’s return from camp next weekend—and trying to wrap my head around the fact that school starts again in 10 days. While there’s not much I can do about my current situation, I can make the most of it by surrounding myself with a Mediterranean-esque scent, and Acqua di Parma has been a huge help.

The storied Italian fragrance house added a few key products to their Blu Mediterraneo collection this summer—namely a body lotion, lip balm and hand cream. All wonderful ways to enjoy the range of scents inspired by Capri, Calabria, Sardinia, Amalfi, Sicily, Panarea and Liguria, I’m especially smitten with the Candle Collection, which features three different votives that infuse your space with aquatic, citrusy notes. The bold blue glass adds a pop of color to my office (and anywhere else for that matter)—and the gorgeous packaging makes it the perfect hostess gift if you have a weekend escape planned before summer is officially over.

So instead of lamenting the fact that I’m on this side of the Atlantic (and poring over pictures from when I was in Italy and Greece 20 and 11 years ago respectively), I’m closing my eyes, taking deep breaths and taking myself on a mental trip to the Mediterranean. And if you need a little help getting there, this video might help…

1 drop of this oil undid the effects of a monsoon

True story… My husband and I had a “date night” dinner reservation last Saturday, and the sky opened up about five minutes before we were planning to leave. Since we’ve both lived in South Florida for 15+ years, we know these storms often stop as quickly as they start, so we proceeded to head out. Let’s just say the rain didn’t stop, but I didn’t think it was that big of a deal since the restaurant we were going to has valet parking right in front. So we roll up and sprint out of the car—but things only went downhill from there.

The awning over the restaurant entrance created an epic waterfall, so despite (what I thought was) my lightning speed, I wound up looking like this:

THEN, the valet proceeds to tell us that the lot is full. We had no other choice than to get back in the car and bail on our reservation, but we stood there sopping wet for a good five minutes hoping the rain would let up. (It didn’t.)

I took my shoes off and sprinted back to the car. My husband casually mentioned just going home, but I was adamant about not wasting the time and effort I put into getting all gussied up for our night out.

We went to another restaurant where we have a secret covered parking space. Naturally I ran to the bathroom to assess the damage as soon as we got there, and since I had so much product in my hair I was able to slick it back and pretend my “wet look” was intentional.

We had a lovely dinner, but when I got home, my hair looked like this:

I had to do some damage control, even though I wasn’t going anywhere other than bed—so I reached for my Playa Ritual Hair Oil to see if it could smooth things over (because I’ll basically do anything in my power to avoid washing my hair two days in a row). Low and behold, just one drop restored my hair to its pre-deluge state—and made it look better than it did before I left the house. So I went to bed looking like this:

If this blend of natural oils is powerful enough to offset the disastrous effects of a downpour, imaging what it could do for your hair when there’s not a cloud in sight!

If a makeup sponge and brush had a baby…

Makeup sponges like the BeautyBlender (and non-BeautyBlender iterations) have slowly but surely taken over our makeup bags, and while they’re perfect for obtaining a natural-looking foundation, concealer and contouring finish, these porous foam tools haven’t eliminated the need for brushes, especially when it comes to powder-based products. But if you love the ease of stippling your way to marvelous makeup, you may want to consider adding JUNO & Co.’s Microfiber Fusion Sponge to your cosmetic bag.

It bears a striking resemblance to the BeautyBlender, and yes, you can wet it and pat your way to foundation perfection—but there are a few key differences. First, it has a flat, slanted edge that’s great for tight spots like under the eyes and around the nose. Second, and most importantly, it features a velvety microfiber coating that lets you use it DRY for blush, bronzer or highlighter while delivering the essential blending necessary for seamless results.

I’m by no means suggesting that you should toss your BeautyBlender in favor of the Juno sponge, but you may want to have one of each so you’re prepared for any makeup situation—especially if you’re on the go and don’t want to lug around a bunch of brushes. I have two in my makeup drawer, and my only problem is remembering which to use for foundation and which to use for my blush and bronzer (which isn’t really much of a problem at all).

Enhance your cleansing without adding to your laundry load

I’m a big proponent of tools that help take your cleansing to another level, but I’m not such a fan of clothes that contribute to my hamper overflow (especially when they are wet and it’s going to take a few days for me to get to the wash). I love my FOREO Luna 2, but you can get the deep cleansing and extra exfoliation for a fraction of the price with Nurse Jamie’s Exfoliband Silicone Loofah.

Constructed of the same easy-to-clean bacteria-repelling silicone as the FOREO (minus the sonic vibrations), simply slip this mitt over your hand and wash as usual for more thorough cleansing than you’d get with your hands and face wash alone. Perfect for all skin types, it helps keep skin clear of blackheads and exfoliates dead cells for skin that’s softer and smoother than ever. When you’re finished, all you have to do is set it aside to dry and it’s ready to go the next time you’re ready to wash—without the extra laundry and icky germs associated with a traditional washcloth.