December 21, 2018

A new makeup sponge option to try, a texturizing spray that prevents hair from falling flat, whiten your teeth with the help of your phone and don't leave home without these sun-protection essentials.

Now there's a Juno & Co. sponge for every product in your makeup bag

This past summer, I extolled the virtues of the Juno & Co. microfiber sponge, and I recently started using it instead of the puff that came with my AmorePacific cushion compact with great results. The problem with the original Juno is that the one flat surface was a bit on the large side, so it picked up a bit too much color along the edges. This translated to a little more effort necessary to blend evenly, and I felt like I was wasting too much of this pricy product (but I continued using it anyway).

But alas, I was pleasantly surprised when I received a package from Juno & Co. a few weeks ago and found four brand-new sponge shapes inside. Eager to try them with my cushion compact, it turns out the new Microfiber Sculpting Sponge is perfect. The flat side is significantly smaller so I can control how much I apply, and it still has a rounded shape that makes for easy blending.

This package also included the Clean Up Your Act Solid Cleansing Bar, which was a good thing since I’ve only washed my sponge a few times since I started using it. (I know, yuck.) All I had to do was wet the sponge, wet the bar and rub them together to form a little lather—and I was surprised at how easily both the cleanser and the makeup rinsed away.

So now it’s like I have a brand-new sponge to use with my cushion compact, and three other options to bust out when I apply regular foundation and experiment with contouring. And BTW, each sponge is only $6, which is significantly less than other big-name blenders out there.

The perfect product when your hair falls flat

There are a few instances when I’ll make an exception to my air-dry hair rule, and one is when the weather is just glorious. We’ve had a handful of low-humidity days with temperatures around 70 over the past few weeks, which made the effort of blow-drying and flat-ironing totally worth it. But for some reason, dry shampoo doesn’t deliver the root volume I need for day-two and beyond in this weather, so I have no choice other than to reach for something different. Last week, SEVEN Haircare’s Cubica Swept Texture Spray was that product, and it saved the day.

Unlike some other texturizing sprays that can feel stiff or sticky, this one is literally light as air. The vegan formula is devoid of sulfates, parabens, dyes and talc—and it features volcanic ash for added fullness, nourishing amber extract, softening kiwi extract and sunflower seed extract to protect against color-fading and environmentally-induced damage.

A light misting around my entire head added volume and the piece-y, slightly messy look I love—and a little extra at my roots gave my locks the lift they needed. I won’t even tell you how many days I went without washing, but let’s just say the scent is both fresh and a big help for keeping any tell-tale “dirty hair” smell at bay. And best of all, I was able to use this amazing mist numerous days in a row without my hair turning into a big old mess. In fact, I actually debated going one more day before washing—and I probably would have if I didn’t break a sweat during an interval training class.

After our two-day cold front, the weather went back to normal, and the Swept spray worked equally as well. So much so that I think I can squeeze one more day out of this current blow-dry (and I’m going to try). I’m kind of obsessed with this product, so my usual dry shampoo better watch its back.

Whitening your teeth has never been easier

Remember the episode of Friends when Ross whitened his teeth and went a little too far? Anyone who knows me well enough might say the same about me. Yes, I have a touch of body dysmorphic disorder when it comes to my teeth, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I spent the last year wearing retainers to tweak the position of two slightly off-kilter teeth. (For the record, I recently “graduated” from the orthodontist and I couldn’t be happier with the results.) But as a result of my second round of orthodontia (my first was in middle school), my whitening trays don’t fit as well as they should—and I couldn’t justify spending $250 to have another set made.  

Then I received Smile Direct Club’s Bright On Whitening Kit—and it’s so damn easy I almost can’t believe it. Fine, my baseline tooth color was pretty good to start, but after just three 10-minutes sessions, I’ve noticed a difference.

Here’s how it works: First you brush the whitening gel on your front eight top and bottom teeth. Then, you stick the mouthguard-like blue-light accelerator in your mouth and plug it into your phone. Finally, set a timer for 10 minutes and that’s it—you’re done. You’re supposed to do this twice a day for optimal results (although I have not).

When I’ve whitened in the past, I had to wear my trays for at least 30 minutes, and I would literally watch the clock waiting for time to be up, but you’d be surprised how quickly 10 minutes goes while doing some work or doing some online shopping. I’ve also experienced sensitivity with other teeth-whitening methods but haven’t felt a thing with the Bright On (yay!).

I keep the little case on my desk as a reminder to do it when I know I can sit still for 10 minutes, although I could theoretically stick my phone in my back pocket and take care of stuff around the house while I’m whitening. Long story not so short, if you want a brighter smile fast, I highly recommend picking one of these up.

Holiday-travel sun-protection essentials

One of the perks of living in sunny Florida is that everyone comes to see you over the holidays (at least in our case since my husband and I are both from up north). This means that we usually stay put between Christmas and New Year’s—and have loads of plans day and night with friends and family from afar. Obviously, our visitors from cold-weather climes make beach and pool time a priority, and more often than not, they have a bit of a sunburn when we get together. If you’re planning on some fun in the sun—whether in the tropics or on the slopes—don’t leave home without these sun-protection essentials this holiday break…

TiZO AM Replenish SPF 40
This hydrating 100%-physical broad-spectrum SPF 40 is available in clear and tinted, which comes in handy for those who want a bit of complexion-evening and imperfection-blurring while sitting pretty on a chaise lounge or enjoying an après-ski cocktail without having to wear makeup (although it does work beautifully under foundation if you so choose). It also features skincare ingredients like antioxidants and ceramides that help this SPF double as a treatment while you wear it. (Note: Although extremely effective for shielding the skin from UV rays, this formula is not water-resistant. If you’re going to be swimming or sweating, apply this and top it off with a formula that’s designed to stay put when taking a dip or a run.)

La Roche-Posay My Skin Track UV
It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re on vacation, but it’s important to keep an eye on your UV exposure, even when wearing sunscreen. This wearable waterproof device can be discreetly clipped to your beach bag, towel or ski gear, where it measures UV rays (as well as pollution, pollen and humidity) to provide you with real-time information and notifications via a smartphone app. Based on the information it gathers (and stores with absolutely no charging necessary), it also provides personalized skincare tips and product recommendations. See it in action here.

This lip-and-cheek SPF streamlines your makeup routine

We all have those mornings when we’re short on time, but I refuse to leave the house without a touch of no-makeup makeup so I don’t look like a monster (because you never know who you might run into). This makeup requires little more than a tinted sunscreen or moisturizer, concealer under my eyes, a light swipe of mascara and I pop of color on my lips and cheeks—but this last step often requires rummaging around my makeup drawer.

I found the perfect product to take care of this final finishing touch, as it’s so easy (and versatile) that I could actually apply it in the car if I had to. It’s Supergoop’s Perk Up! Lip & Cheek Treat SPF 40, and the name alone screams YOU NEED THIS.

I rose-tinted balm with broad-spectrum SPF 40 protection, a little dab on the cheeks makes it look as if you’ve been up and running for hours, even if it’s only 7am and you feel like you’re running on empty. It’s also great anytime your lips need a bit of extra moisture and sun protection (which is basically always), and the tint enhances your pout’s natural color.

Best of all, it comes in a cute little compact that you can toss in your bag or tuck into your bag pocket so it’s always there when you need it.