May 17, 2019
PMD Beauty's skincare helps make the most of your devices, PUR's inclusive range of foundations, you haven't lived until you've experienced Krigler fragrances and a much-needed bedding refresh.
You probably didn’t know this go-to beauty-tool brand offers skincare
If PMD Beauty rings a bell, it’s probably because you’ve seen (or tried) their signature at-home microdermabrasion tool or Kiss lip-plumping device. The brand has been a solid contender in the ever-expanding arena of DIY treatments that mimic professional procedures, but I bet you had no idea that PMD does skincare—and rather well at that.
Frankly, I didn’t know either until a package of products showed up on my doorstep, and I took their Daily Cell Regeneration System for a test-drive today after Pilates. Designed to complement PMD’s tools—but appropriate for use on its own—I was pleasantly surprised by this simple three-step system. The Cleanse: Soothing Antioxidant Cleanser did a great job at gently washing away my first sunscreen application of the day, along with the little bit of CC cushion I put on since I had to run a few errands. The clear gel doesn’t get all that sudsy (which is a good thing), yet it left my skin feeling really fresh. Then I sprayed the Soothe: Multivitamin Nourishing Toner on a cotton pad and gave my face a once over. There was no stinging or burning, and since I read the directions afterwards, I added a few extra spritzes all over my face (as recommended). Since I love a good facial mist, I enjoyed the extra moisture—and the light neroli scent. Finally, I finished with the Regenerate: Anti-Aging Recovery Moisturizer and again, I was quite happy with the formula and the level of hydration it left behind.
Each of these three products feature a unique complex of hyaluronic acid and peptides to maximize skin hydration while giving the skin’s natural regeneration process a boost—and they are formulated to help maintain your skin’s barrier as well. Serving up everything you’d want in a simple skincare regimen (i.e. effective cleansing, soothing, antioxidants, hydration and ingredients that target visible signs of aging like uneven skin tone and rough texture), this $80 bundle gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
And the award for most inclusive foundation range goes to…
If you’re into makeup, you probably know that Fenty Beauty rocked the cosmetics world when it launched with 40 foundations shades (and the range has since grown to 50 options). Countless other companies followed suit to jump on the inclusivity train, and this has been a wonderful shift for ladies of every color. But one brand has basically put everyone else to shame by launching 100 shades from the get-go—and the winner is Pur.
An abundance of shade options is just one of the upsides of the 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Longwear Foundation and Concealer. In no particular order, here are some of the other rather impressive benefits.
With a traditional pump and a doe-foot applicator, you decide if you want all-over or targeted coverage
The buildable, medium- to full-coverage formula effectively camouflages redness, discoloration, blemishes and other imperfections
It’s enhanced with antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients
Protection against high-energy visible blue light (HEV)
Options for cool, neutral and warm undertones
No animal-derived ingredients (vegan)
Paraben-free, gluten-free and cruelty-free
Sounds kind of awesome, right? I’m definitely going to try to get a sample the next time I’m at Ulta!
Where exquisite scents and time-travel collide...
Last month I met up with a publicist-turned-friend from my NYC days who I hadn’t seen in 10 years. (When I realized I was pregnant the last time we saw each other my mind was blown.) She was in town for the soft opening of the Krigler boutique at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach—but our coffee date was more for personal than business reasons—or so I thought.
After an hour or so of catching up and talking about the drastic changes in the media and publishing worlds, we were joined by the ever-so-charming Ben Krigler—and my olfactory world will never be the same. As someone who appreciates (and craves) a good story behind a scent, I was mesmerized by the history of this fragrance house that dates back to 1879—and the fact that Krigler is the atelier behind the signature scents of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ernest Hemingway, John F. Kennedy, countless royals and many other historical heavy-hitters.
I was amongst the first to experience the new jewel box of a shop at the Four Seasons, which was a treat for much more than my nose. Ben took me back in time, explaining the brand’s nomenclature (the numbers associated with the perfume names have significance) and the inspirations behind each scent. Many date back to Ben’s great-great grandfather, Albert Krigler, whose first fragrance was created as a gift for his future wife.
Literally dizzy from all of the stories and intoxicating scents, I had to choose one to take home with me—and thankfully Ben was making mental notes of my reactions to each of the more than 25 juices I sampled. There was no question that Lieber Gustav 14 (created in 1914 and Marlene Dietrich’s favorite) was the one. With a striking purple hue and completely unique blend of black tea, lavender, geranium, leather, sandalwood and tonka bean, I was literally sniffing myself the entire drive home—and I was so giddy after my afternoon that my husband was actually a bit suspicious about where I had been—and what I had been doing.
Adding to Krigler’s allure is its exclusivity… The only places in the U.S. you can experience these scents in person are the Plaza Hotel in NYC, the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and the Four Seasons in Palm Beach. You can, however, order samples through the website—and if perfume is your jam, I highly recommend doing so. The house also offers soaps and scented candles in its most popular scents (hostess gifts, people!)—and Krigler is also one of the only parfumeurs that still offers couture-level bespoke scents if you’re willing to invest up to a year (and a sizable chunk of change) to get it just right.
The next time you want to treat yourself—and your nose—to a heavenly experience (if you happen to be in New York City, Los Angeles or Palm Beach), be sure to make a trip to Krigler. And good luck deciding on just one scent.
I gave my bed a total makeover—and I’ve never slept better
The first thing I bought for our house 11 years ago was a king-sized bed—along with the requisite bedding. The ensemble included a butter-yellow Calvin Klein comforter, matching sheets, pillowcases and shams and a coordinating knit throw blanket. I loved it, and it was definitely a splurge compared to my prior history of “bed-in-a-bag” purchases. This set served us well, and we continued to use most of it (with the comforter in a duvet in more recent years), although I did give our bedding an occasional “refresh” with new sheets in white and taupe—and one impulse bed-in-a-bag buy a while back.
Then I had an epiphany about a month ago. I haven’t been sleeping well for quite some time, and it dawned on me that my bedding might be part of the problem. After all these years of minor bedding updates, I found myself sleeping with mish-mosh of mismatched pieces that suddenly felt really chaotic. I decided that a total bed overhaul was in order, and somehow managed to get the hubs on board. I ordered all new sheets, pillows, pillowcases, shams, accent pillows and a comforter. Aesthetically, it was perfect (i.e. all white), and I managed to purge my linen closets of six large garbage bags.
Here’s what I got:
Parachute Home’s Sateen Sheet Set: These sheets and pillowcases are perfection. Super-soft with the right amount of sheen, I give them five stars.
The Casper Pillow: I’ve struggled with finding the perfect pillow for years, and I was drawn to this one because it’s actually a pillow in a pillow so it’s adjustable. I really wish I had bought this sooner, as I now get the smoosh I love and the support I need. Miraculously, I don’t have to sleep with an extra pillow between my legs anymore, now that my spine is in a better side-sleeping position. (That extra pillow got really annoying—especially for my husband.)
Four not-expensive/not-so-cheap king pillows from Amazon: We don’t actually sleep on these, so their main purpose is decoration and extra support when watching TV and hanging out in bed.
Four Egyptian cotton sateen shams from Amazon: Truthfully, I didn’t want to spend an extra $160 for plain white Parachute Home shams, so I went with these instead—but I’ll probably upgrade to these Ettitude ones once these show the first signs of wear. (Keep reading to find out why.)
The Buffy comforter: Yup, the one from Instagram. (Read on to see what happened.)
I waited patiently for everything to arrive, and as soon as the last package was dropped off I threw everything in the wash so I could sleep in my new bed that night. When I first slid in, I literally felt like I was in heaven. (All three of us got in and were ooh-ing and ahh-ing with the biggest smiles on our faces.
Then I actually went to sleep—but I woke up several times during the night sweating like crazy. This actually allowed this to happen for a few nights because I loved how my new calm, cloud-like bed felt so much—at least when I was awake. I tried sleeping without pants and keeping leg over the covers. Then the hubs and I got in a huge fight because I wanted to crank the A/C. I finally conceded defeat and sent the Buffy back (they offer a 30-day trial period).
So I did more research about comforters for hot sleepers and came across the Climabalance—and they had me at “improves deep sleep phases by 50%.” Unlike other comforters, this one has mesh panels to optimize air flow and allow heat to escape. This comforter totally did the trick, but the mesh isn’t all that attractive so a duvet cover was in order. (This whole thing had become quite a process.)
As luck would have it, I received an email from the PR for Ettitude, a full range of bedding a sleepwear made with bamboo-based lyocell fabric. Touted as breathable, smooth, incredibly soft and sustainably sourced, I explained my bedding situation and before I knew it a duvet was on its way. When it arrived, I was actually nervous. What if I had another sweaty night? What would I do then? (I was out of ideas.)
The verdict: The Ettitude duvet saved the day! It adds the perfect amount of weight to the Climabalance comforter, it feels amazing against my skin, and actually makes me want to sleep naked—and I will once my kid is gone for the summer. (50 days to go.) It was the ideal finishing touch that completed my bed transformation—and has me sleeping like a baby again (without breaking a sweat). And the whole family loves it…
