November 16, 2018
Perfume versions of your favorite hair-product scents, Function of Beauty's new purple shampoo, BeautyBlender debuts a powder puff and Oribe incense is a thing.
When you just can’t get enough of your favorite hair product’s scent…
Earlier this week I wrote about Oribe’s amazing new incense—which helps fill your home with the beloved hair brand’s signature scent. (OMG, it’s so good!) Well apparently this is a thing now, because Ouai is going in a similar direction with the launch of four limited-edition scents that mimic those found in their most popular hair and body products. I received North Bondi to test-drive, and yes, it captures the smell of Ouai’s Wave Spray (which happens to be one of my favorites). And yes, I’ve been wearing it all week.
Other scents include Melrose Place (a heady scent inspired by the Rose Hair & Body Oil), Mercer Street (Ouai’s fresh signature shampoo scent in perfume form) and Rue St. Honore (a floral homage to the best-selling Hair Oil)—but you better act fast and sign up for early access before they’re available on November 13, because I’m willing to bet they will sell out in a snap!
Attention blondes (and brunettes): You need this shampoo!
Now that I’m back to blonde, a purple shampoo is a must to keep my color bright and minimize brassiness. These targeted color-specific cleansers definitely get the job done, but the main drawback is that they are generally one-size-fits all, and I have other hair concerns that I’d like to address while I wash. For starters, anything to help reduce oil on my scalp so I can stretch time between shampoos is a major plus. Frizz protection comes in handy since I live in South Florida, too, as extra hydration to prevent my strands from turning into straw. I know this is a lot to ask of a shampoo, but my wishes have been granted with Function of Beauty’s new purple shampoo.
In case you’re not familiar with this innovative haircare line, they let you customize your shampoo and conditioner for your specific hair concerns. Choose up to five hair goals (i.e. straighten, curl definition, shine, anti-frizz, volumize, etc.) from a list of 16, select one of five scents (and three fragrance strengths) and pick a color (for non-purple shampoo and conditioners)—and they’ll also put your name or a formula nickname of your choosing on the bottle. (Which is especially helpful if you like to alternate between multiple formulas.)
Your powder just got a BeautyBlender of its own
At this point I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t have a BeautyBlender in their makeup kit—or at least some copycat version of it. (Personally, I prefer Juno & Co.’s Microfiber Velvet Sponge because it has a super-soft outer layer that sucks up less foundation, but that’s just me.) But with this said, we haven’t really seen any major innovations in the powder department, and I still rely on a traditional brush when setting my under-eye concealer or toning down the shine on my T-zone. However, BeautyBlender has jumped into the powder game with their latest, the Power Pocket Puff.
This dual-purpose powder puff has an application side and a touch-up size, so it’s safe to say you’ll get a lot of use out of it. The pink, plush applicator side picks up and deposits powder (I suppose you could use it with pressed or loose powder just making sure to tap off any excess), while the tan suede-like side can be used to reblend and refresh your foundation/powder handiwork without caking on more product. The puff has an elastic band that can be flipped from side to side to keep your fingers off your face, and a pocket you can slip your fingers into for more precision. It’s also hand-washable (which I recommend doing often to prevent makeup and oil from building up) so it should last quite a while with proper care.
I’m probably going to stick with my brushes because I don’t use powder all that much—but if any of you have tried this puff and wholeheartedly believe that it’s a must, let me know!
Softer, smoother lips are in your future
You may not be thinking about holiday shopping just yet, but you probably do have chapped lips on your mind. We all need a smoothing, soothing balm to help our lips survive colder weather, so why not get one that’s designed with your zodiac in mind? If you’re a fan of Fresh’s line of Sugar lip treatments (who isn’t?), you’ll love this special-edition Advanced Therapy range that lets you embrace your sign.
Not to worry, there’s one for every zodiac sign!
Beyond the major lip nourishment and 24-hour moisture this balm delivers as it reveals your astrological sign every time you bust it out and swipe it on, you also get an exclusive online horoscope by famed astrologer Susan Miller. Maybe it’s time to start your holiday shopping list, because this is a perfect personalized option that just about anyone who’s into astrology would love to get.
Incense has come a long way, baby
Despite what you may think, incense isn’t just for hippies, and there are plenty of fancy ways to use these smoldering sticks to scent your space. I happen to be one of those few people who don’t gag at the smell of patchouli (which is a good thing because husband sparks some up every now and again), but I’d much prefer to surround myself with a more sophisticated scent. As every beauty junkie knows, Oribe’s signature fragrance is sheer heaven, and now you can enjoy it even when you’re not washing or styling your hair with Côte d’Azur Incense.
In addition to 20 minutes of burn-time that leaves Oribe’s Mediterranean-inspired bergamot, orange, tuberose, jasmine, sandalwood and amber scent lingering for hours, you also get a chic gold holder that elevates your décor as well. And for the record, this incense is crafted by Koh-Shi artisans on the Japanese island of Awaji whose mastery of incense craftsmanship dates back to the sixth century. Now that’s nothing to turn your nose up at…