December 7, 2018

A tool that helps you remove gel polish at home and why you want to work a skin elixir into your routine.

Because soaking off your polish at the salon just sucks…

I’ve been off manicures lately (opting instead for DIY shaping and clear polish), and I’ll admit part of the reason is simply a shortage of time. Dip manicures did the trick for a while since I only had to go every three weeks, but after a while I just wasn’t in the mood to deal. The manicure itself wasn’t that much of a time suck, but sitting there for 20 minutes or more to soak off the previous one started to get really annoying. It would have been great if I could soak it off myself at home, but I obviously don’t have a big-old jug of acetone, or the proper tools to remove the polish without damaging my nails. Then a beautiful thing happened…

I randomly discovered this Triangle Nail Polish tool and it was like an a-ha moment. Apparently I could soak cotton balls in nail polish remover, wrap aluminum foil around my fingertips and catch up on the last This Is Us before gently scraping my old manicure away.

Even better, it’s only $10, and it sounds pretty study since it’s make of stainless steel. As silly as this sounds, the 20 minutes this tool can save might actually be enough to get me back to the salon.

I’m all about this skin elixir right now

My skincare routine is in a constant state of flux, and my morning, evening and post-workout product regimens are different from day to day. Sure, I always include the essentials like cleanser (duh), an antioxidant (in the morning) and some sort of treatment to target my skin’s unique needs at the time. But I also enjoy working in a wild card or two (which are usually sent to me for a potential review), and it’s always a pleasant surprise when one of these “random” products finds its way into my regular rotation.

This was the case with Whal Myung Skin Elixir. I use a lot of products throughout the day, but I will admit that a liquid-based elixir or essence isn’t generally one of them. But when I received this product and saw “The Secret Formula 1897, Royal Recipe, All-in-one Liquid” on the bottle, I was more than a little intrigued. Upon further label inspection, I learned this herbal-based Korean product was formulated to support the skin’s natural renewal process, protect against environmental pollutants with antioxidants, calm, nourish and revitalize all types of skin at any age. So of course I was in.

It took me a few tries to get the hang of applying it—because it’s really liquidy and not meant to be applied with a cotton ball or pad. Eventually I learned to gingerly tilt the bottle to pour a small amount in my palm and get it onto my face without it spilling everywhere. And this effort was well worth it, because I find it provides the perfect amount of mid-day moisture (I use it after my post-Pilates shower) without leaving even the slightest bit of greasiness. I also love that it absorbs really quickly so I can move on to my makeup and get back into my office without wasting any time. I’ve been using it pretty regularly for the past two weeks and I have to say my skin is very happy with it (and so am I).

The only outstanding question I have about this “elixir” is how did I not know about it sooner—and I’m starting to think I should look into adding essences to my morning and evening skincare routines as well!

Holiday hair is just a spray away

The holiday season is all about sparkle, and your hair deserves to get in on the action as well. You’re likely using a bit of texturizing spray to give your style a little extra oomph, so why not add some subtle shimmer as well?

You’re in luck, because Bumble and bumble has dropped three limited-edition edition twinkle-infused sprays that make the most of any holiday hairstyle. The pint-sized Bb.Glimmer Finishing Sprays are available in gold, rose gold and silver—so you can even match your jewelry or outfit. You’ll love the soft, tousled texture, and the subtle sparkle is sure to garner compliments. But these are only around through the holidays, so get them for yourself (or as a gift for a friend) while you can!