September 14, 2018

The Charlotte Tilbury concealer than won me over, Osmotics skincare just for the 40+ set and a simple spray that extends the life of your keratin treatment.

This might be the best concealer ever made

Yes, this is a bold statement, but I’m making it nonetheless. I still love my NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer and the iconic Cle De Peau, but Charlotte Tilbury’s new Magic Away Liquid Concealer takes complexion perfection to another level thanks to an innovative formula and applicator.

I'm ordinarily scared of a concealer or foundation billed as full-coverage, but in this case you get the power to virtually erase dark circles, redness, blemishes and other imperfections with no visible evidence that you’ve covered anything up. Once you roll it on with the soft sponge applicator, it blends seamlessly with the skin without settling into fine lines or pores. Honestly, on my better skin days I’m able to get away with just a little of this concealer under my eyes and around my nose and still like what I see skin-wise in the mirror.

Amongst the magical ingredients are Persian silk tree extract, which literally stretches across the skin to smooth texture and tighten things up a wee bit (in addition to hiding whatever it is you don’t want the world to see). There’s also anti-aging palmitoyl glycine to help rejuvenate your skin while you’re wearing it, plus radiance-enhancing extract of wild indigo.

Now let’s talk about the applicator… Once you give the wand a few twists, the concealer appears on the super-soft and fluffy sponge. The shape is designed to hug the contours of the undereye (and precisely place product everywhere else, too)—and you’re supposed to roll it across your skin, although dotting it on has worked just fine for me.

This “magic eraser” is available in 17 long-wearing, water-resistant(!) shades, but get your while you can because this concealer is one of the hottest beauty buys so far this fall. I give it six stars—and you will, too!

Skincare made just for the over-40 set

Although I’m not necessarily thrilled that I’m now the target demographic for a line of skincare geared specifically for the over-40 set, I suppose there is an upside to using products designed to address exactly what’s going on with my skin at this point in time. That’s the goal of Osmotics’ Blue Copper Prime collection—because apparently hormonal changes are happening, and they can rapidly accelerate the appearance of visible signs of aging. (I’m not sure which is worse.)

I didn’t actually know this when I first tried Osmotics Blue Copper 5 Prime Instant Exfoliating Facial, which was probably beneficial for keeping an open mind. Designed to simultaneously exfoliate and hydrate the skin, this treatment is used like a cleanser (apply to wet skin, massage to create a lather and rinse) but leaves your skin feeling like you did a lot more. The secret is organic mannan (a plant-based sugar) particles that soften upon contact with water to exfoliate with no risk of irritation due to over-doing it. At the same time, it restores the skin’s moisture balance and improves skin texture, tone and the appearance of pores with continued use. Safe enough for daily use (though those with sensitive skin should probably keep it to two or three times a week), this has become a staple in my 40+ skincare regimen—and I’m totally OK with that.

Water you'll actually want to drink

I NEVER leave the house without water (in a reusable cup or Swell bottle, of course). I’m not one of those people who has to push themselves to drink enough water—I’m quite the opposite actually, and spend more time in the bathroom throughout the day than I’d really like. But with that said, water with an enticing flavor makes it so much easier to suck down, and water infused with vitamins, botanical extracts and other good-for-you ingredients is the best possible scenario. So when I received a package from Drinkfinity last week, it’s a good thing I was thirsty.

This advanced hydration system starts with a unique, reusable BPA-free “vessel,” designed to work with the brand’s range of “pods.” All you have to do is fill the vessel with water, peel back the foil on a pod, place it in the cap, “pop” it and shake it all up. Then, voila, you have a supercharged water that you can customize to fit your needs at the moment.

The berry-flavored “Acai Charge” gives you a nice dose of caffeine courtesy of green coffee extract, while the “Mango Chia Flow” provides vitamins C and E along with fiber- and protein-packed chia seeds. The “White Peach Chill” is designed to provide a little serenity as you sip, and the “Berry Lemonade Renew” features electrolytes and ginseng to help you bounce back after a workout. I may have only received these four to test, but there are 16 available options—including coffee- and espresso-charged options if you’re looking for an alternative to your morning cup of java. I’m especially intrigued by the “Oatberry Flow” that includes real, whole oats (because we can all use a little more fiber, right?).

We’re definitely loving Drinkfinity in our house, and my husband and I are not-so-secretly making a mad dash for the vessel in the morning (because whoever gets it first gets it for the day). He’s won more days than not, so I’m actually considering buying another one for myself (and I’ll be hiding it when I’m not using it). So if you’re one of those people who struggles to drink enough water, you might fall for Drinkfinity, too. And BTW, life is much better when you’re well-hydrated. (P.S. When you stop drinking bottled water, you’ll save money AND the environment.)

Help your keratin treatment last longer

I’ve never gotten a keratin treatment, but I know that it’s important to take special care of your hair afterwards. No sulfates in your shampoo and wetting your hair (and possibly applying a mask or oil) before jumping in the pool or ocean are the biggies—and these are small prices to pay for more manageable hair and easier blow-drying. Naturally you want your smooth, cooperative strands to last as long as possible, so if you have a keratin you might want to check out Lasio’s Keratin Protector.

This versatile mist moisturizes and shields your strands from heat and UV damage, and you can use it in a few ways. It’s a great pre-styling leave-in, or you can apply it as an extra protective step before taking a dip. And the best part of all: It improves your keratin treatment's performance by 40%!

I don’t know about you, but this seems like an easy enough way to prolong the life of a keratin treatment, so why wouldn’t you use it?