August 24, 2018

French pharmacy body care essentials, an anti-hairspray hairspray, Shiseido makeup you'll want in your makeup bag and DefenAge made a major difference in my skin after 6 weeks.

Update your body skincare routine with these French favorites

Don’t shoot the messenger, but fall is right around the corner… A change in weather means your skin’s need will likely change, but a few small tweaks to your body routine can ensure you have smooth, soft skin even if you’re not showing it off with more revealing summer styles. And since everyone loves French beauty products, you’ll want to stock your shower with these newbies.

Combine cooler weather with less humidity and you have a recipe for dry, flaky skin—but a harsh scrub only makes matters worse. Eau Thermale Avene’s Gentle Scrub is packed with two sizes of cellulose and jojoba wax beads to slough away dead cells as it hydrates the skin with a blend of camelina, shea and safflower oils. It also contains Avene’s signature thermal spring water to help soothe your skin as it adjusts to the new season.

In addition to exfoliating, it’s very important to hydrate. Klorane’s new bodycare collection features four ranges (and scents) to nourish all skin types, including severely dry. Though not available just yet (keep an eye out in September), I’ve tried three of them and they are well worth the wait. All of the products are enriched with super-moisturizing organic cupuacu butter sourced responsibly from the Amazon rainforest, and each range includes a body lotion, body wash and bar soap. For the record, the body lotions are lightweight and absorb quickly, and the body washes are scented just enough to turn your steamy shower into an olfactory treat (but won’t interfere with your perfume).

The Yuzu Infusion is an invigorating, zesty scent that fuses notes of yuzu peel, neroli and aquatic moss, while the decidedly floral Hibiscus Flower blends hibiscus (obvi), honeysuckle and peony. The Fig Leaf is divine thanks to its mix of fig (duh), white tea and freesia. The only scent I haven’t tried is the Cupuacu Flower (this is the range for very dry skin), but the cupuacu nut, fressia and cotton milk fragrance sounds fresh and clean.

So instead of complaining about breaking out the sweaters, boots and jackets, how about getting excited for a new body skincare routine? Your skin (and your nose) will thank you.

The hairspray you need if you hate hairspray

I think we all have some degree of Aqua Net PTSD. I can still conjure up the so-strong-it-burns-your-nostrils smell, and who could forget the rock-hard helmet-like finish it would leave behind? And don’t even get me started on trying to brush it out (and the flaking that would inevitably ensue). This experience put me off hairspray for a looooong time, and only recently have I begun to embrace the benefits of hairspray—albeit in the form of lightweight, flexible hold. Another major factor that got me to rejoin Team Hairspray is Sexy Hair’s Healthy Sexy Hair Pure Addiction Hairspray, and here’s why…

First and foremost, this superlight mist provides hold and shine you can actually see—but if you didn’t have a short-term memory and couldn’t remember you used it, you wouldn’t know it was there. The alcohol-free formula means you get a pleasant, grapefruit-y olfactory experience instead of being overwhelmed with a nose-hair-singeing chemical smell, and believe it or not, your hair actually feels soft instead of crispy—even after a heavy-handed spritz. It also dries in a flash so you don’t have to worry about that short yet awkward period of time before you can continue your styling routine. And despite the barely-there feel, this hairspray is humidity-resistant, which comes in handy around these parts this time of year.

Essentially an anti-hairspray hairspray, this will help you forget about the Aqua Net days and get on with your life.

You've never shopped for makeup like this before...

Shopping for makeup is pretty straightforward, and we generally home in on a product based on where we want to use it (i.e. eyes, lips, cheeks, etc.) With the exception of multipurpose color sticks and highlighters, this is just how it’s been done since, well, forever. Alas, brace yourself for a major change thanks to Shiseido’s revamped color collection because the Japanese beauty brand wants us to shop by texture.

The four new texture categories are “Dews,” which include three shades of Aura Dew (an all-over highlighter that lasts for up to 12 hours). The “Gels” include 28 shades of lightweight yet full coverage VisionAiry Gel Lipstick and the clear high-shine Crystal GelGloss.

Don’t be deceived by the “Powders,” which feature eight eyeshadow palettes, 24 matte lipsticks, 10 blushes and the interesting Minimalist WhippedPowder Blush, a light-as-air mousse-like cheek color available in eight shades. Last are the “Inks,” which were inspired by Japanese calligraphy. This range includes five smudgeproof eyeliners, four shades of a 3-in-1 brow pencil, powder and brush; 10 shades of the Kajal Ink Artist, an all-in-one shadow, liner and brow pencil (maybe not in the bolder blue or purple shades—unless that’s your thing); 12 lip glosses; a felt-tip eyeliner and mascara (regular and waterproof).

This approach really makes sense when you think about it… If you lean toward light, transparent formulas, you’ll likely focus on the “Dews,” or if you’re more of a bold and defined type of makeup girl you can check out the “Inks.” Even better would be loading up on all the textures so you can mix and match to your heart’s content. My Fall makeup bag is calling…

I gave these products 6 weeks, and they gave me amazing skin

In my line of work, it’s quite difficult to commit to a skincare regimen and stick with it long enough to see real results. But after a client requested that I include DefenAge in a few stories, I became intrigued—or rather obsessed. Requiring only two steps morning and night (and an two-minute exfoliating treatment once or twice a week), and featuring a super-advanced blend of ingredients that promised to address all of my main concerns (i.e. fine lines, uneven skin tone, dullness, hydration, etc.), I kindly asked if I could try it. I mean, if all these major derms are recommending it, I had to see what it was all about.

When the products arrived I promised myself that I would use them daily for six weeks—and I did. Confession: I did use a few other products along with them, namely a vitamin C serum, eye cream and sunscreen (duh). I even had a little travel set for my Visiting Day trip so I had no excuses.

Here I am almost two months later and my skin looks great! It’s firm, even and just healthy-looking overall (and I still haven’t gotten Botox!). You’re probably wondering what’s in the stuff, right? The star ingredients are two types of peptides called defensins, which were discovered through stem cell research for wound healing and diabetes. Peptides act as ‘communicators’ between cells, and one type of defensin apparently speaks directly to adult stem cells and tells them to regenerate themselves. The second type of defensin in the DefenAge products helps enhance the skin’s barrier function, and this two-pronged peptide approach has been shown to provide dramatic improvement in aging skin in as little as six weeks. (I'll vouch for this claim.)

I have to say that in addition to the major skin improvement, following an easy regimen takes a lot of pressure off—you just don’t have to think about it (you just have to remember to use it!). So if you’re looking to streamline your skincare routine without sacrificing the state of your skin, DefenAge just might be for you, too!

A fabulous way to try the best Barneys beauty

Whenever I make a trip to NYC, a stop at Barneys is always on the agenda—specifically a visit the beauty basement. With all the perfumes I can’t get a whiff of here plus skincare and makeup that are nearly impossible to play with in person in this neck of the woods, I’m like a kid in a candy store who says budget be damned!

I don’t think I’ll ever give up my excursions to 60th and Madison, but I can get my fix between NYC trips thanks to Barneys’ relatively-new Beauty Boxes. Available for a variety of needs and wants, you can choose from 13, including the “Fountain of Youth,” “Got Your Digits” (hand care), “Groomed Gent,” “Hit Refresh,” “Mask On, Mask Off” and more. Prices range from $60 to $325, and I’ve already added these to my “gift list” whether for an upcoming friend’s birthday or even the holidays. (Don’t hate me for bringing that up!)