January 11, 2019

A sustainable (and more effective) replacement for makeup-removing wipes, yet another foot peel to try and taking a skincare stand against pollution with Dr. Loretta.

Ditch the wipes for this reusable makeup remover

There’s definitely a time and place for cleansing/makeup-removing wipes, but I’m not a fan of using them daily simply because of the waste they generate. (This is probably why mine inevitably dry out before I finish them—but you can give them a quick refresh by pouring some inexpensive micellar water directly into the package). I tend to opt for a muslin cloth or past-its-prime washcloth instead so I don’t have to care about makeup stains and simply toss them in the wash.

But we all know it can take a bit of extra effort to remove some cleansing balms, a full face of makeup and waterproof mascara. Scrubbing doesn’t do our skin any favors—but Take My Face Off’s Makeup Mitty does the work for you and leaves skin spotless without irritation or filling up your wastebasket.

Constructed of a super-soft polyester that effectively removes makeup while being gentle on the skin, its unique shape allows for easy cleansing of larger areas like the cheeks and forehead, as well as small spots like around the eyes. Designed to release makeup residue so it’s good-as-new every time you wash it (and safe to put in the dryer—yay!), the $14 price tag equals less than one or two packages of disposable wipes. The Makeup Mitty is built to last and you’ll get months (or more) of use with proper care, which means you’re saving money as well as doing your part to save the planet.

Kick off the New Year with smooth, soft soles

Timing is everything when you do a foot peel, and the stars aligned for me last month. I was post-birthday (so no Saturday night plans that required barely-there strappy sandals) and pre-holiday break so I knew I had a few weeks before I’d be sporting sandals to hit the beach or a fabulous hotel pool where one of our many out-of-town friends would be spending their vacation. Truth be told, I’ve been a Baby Foot devotee for years, and this was my first experience with another brand’s product, but I’ve loved each and every Patchology product I’ve tried so I figured their PoshPeel Pedi Cure was worth a spin.

Per the directions, I soaked my feet for 15 minutes beforehand. Amusingly enough (to me at least) the instructions said to pour the desired amount of solution into the bootie—and I was like, all of it—duh! So that’s what I did and slipped on a pair of Pilates socks so I could walk around as the blend of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids (i.e. glycolic, lactic, citric and salicylic) went to work on the rough, dry skin that has accumulated since my last peel, despite monthly pedicures. The instructions say to leave it on for 60 minutes (or 90 for extra exfoliation) so I went all in and kept myself busy for an hour and a half before rinsing and soaking my feet for 15 minutes again.

This obviously wasn’t my first time at the foot-peel rodeo, so I totally knew what to expect. This means basically nothing for the first few days after the two-hour initial process—and then the magic started to happen—albeit five days later.

I honestly didn’t think this peel was going to work. I did it on a Friday, and diligently checked my feet multiple times a day. I noticed absolutely nothing (other than more rough, dry skin than usual) until my inspection on Wednesday night—until I saw the first signs of peeling on my toes, and then there was no going back.

The next week sheer heaven for me. (I’m a picker.) From small bits on my toes to full-on sheets on the soles and sides of my feet, I was in exfoliation paradise. But it kept going for almost two weeks, at which point I was ready for it to be over! (I had to go for a pedicure while my feet were still peeling since we had plans to meet friends from out-of-town at the beach on Christmas Eve, and it was semi-mortifying. You should have seen me trying to explain I didn’t have a communicable skin condition.)

But as always, the end result was spectacular, with nary a patch of dry skin in sight. My feet were so soft and smooth that I think I smiled every time I looked at them or touched them!

P.S. Just remember, any of these intense foot peels are likely to mess with your pedicure, which is yet another factor that plays a role in timing. (No one wants to waste their money on a polish job just to have it jacked up, right?)

Fighting pollution is my New Year’s resolution

I’m not a big New Year’s resolution person, but I do have a few skincare tweaks that I’m going to try to stick to for 2019. My first is applying body lotion with SPF every morning, since I recently got a convertible and I’ve been riding around with the top down more than up. (Not to worry, I’m a lunatic about protecting my face and I even have a sunscreen kit complete with cream, mist and powder in my glove box). The second is remembering to use my derma-roller more. I was really into it for a while but it kind of fell to the wayside over the past few months. The last is shielding my skin from environmental aggressors beyond the sun—and the main one I’m keeping my eye on is pollution (thanks to Miami dermatologist Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, whose Dr. Loretta skincare range recently launched in Nordstrom stores—yay!)

Did you know that people who live in more densely populated cities with higher pollution levels have more wrinkles? (Sorry, New Yorkers, your state wins the most-wrinkled award.) And guess what, outdoor pollution like car exhaust, construction debris and factory emissions is just the beginning. We’re surrounded by pollution indoors as well in the form of off-gassing from carpet, paint, plastic and common household chemicals like cleaning supplies.

If you’re wondering why this is a problem for our skin, here’s why. Pollution particles can be 30 times smaller than a single pore, which means these nasty particles can get deep into our skin and potentially cause inflammation, damage collagen and elastin and basically cause fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and sensitivity. Fighting pollution is one of the cornerstones of the Dr. Loretta range, which is why the Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is literally the first product I used in 2019.

A lightweight, clear gel that becomes milky (not sudsy) when mixed with water, this cleanser is designed to whisk away pollution (as well as makeup, dirt and debris) and neutralize the free-radical damage it causes. At the same time, it helps hydrate the skin with marine peptides, soothe irritation with chamomile essential oil and minimize sensitivity by eliminating potentially problematic ingredients like parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrance and dyes. When I saw Dr. Ciraldo a while back, she told me I should leave it on my skin for a few minutes when possible for an even deeper (yet non-aggressive) clean. 

The Dr. Loretta line also targets light-based damage caused by UV rays and HEV exposure from electronics screens as well as fluorescent and LED light. Discoloration has been at the top of my skincare to-do list for a while, which is why I’m using the Intense Brightening Cream, too. Packed with a whopping 20% L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), the tingle you feel means it’s working, and I’ve definitely seen improvement in “Spot” since starting. (In case you’re not a frequent reader, this is what I’ve named my one pesky area of pigment on my left cheek.) This high-concentration antioxidant cream also helps support collagen production, and it’s the first product I apply after cleansing every morning.

Dr. Ciraldo may be one of the nicest women on the planet, but she also has it in for climate extremes and other external irritants that can have a negative impact on the skin. The beauty of these powerful products is that you can mix and match them to address the state of your skin as well as your environment—in turn creating the ideal skincare regimen for your unique complexion and surroundings. Even if you’re not into New Year’s resolutions, Dr. Loretta can do the work for you and you’ll see how beautiful 2019 can be…

Would you like to see more than beauty?

Yes, I basically sleep, eat and breathe all things beauty—and this is part of my conscious intention to live my best life (within my means, of course). Those of you who know me well have probably gotten a least a few tips, tricks or hacks that fall outside the skincare and makeup arenas, so I’ve been thinking about expanding my IBB coverage to include some of my favorite non-beauty finds. I hope you don’t mind, and I hope you I can help make your life a little better or easier—or at least put a smile on your face!

Stay tuned, and Happy New Year! I have a feeling 2019 is going to be a good one…