September 6, 2019

CBD skincare you can actually afford, a case for pre-washing your hair before you shampoo, dealing with gray hair down there (if you want to) and a sheet masks you won't want to save.

Affordable (and effective) CBD skincare does exist

If you haven’t tried CBD-laced skincare yet, you’re probably a little cannabis-curious—but you might also be reluctant to spend a lot of money on these lotions or potions. I’ve tried my fair share and have fallen hard for several pricey products, but as the demand for CBD grows, so does the array of price points at which you can reap its skincare benefits. Case in point: NxN Beauty, a super-wallet-friendly range of non-intoxicating, THC-free products that deliver the benefits of CBD without the financial risk.

I tried a handful of the products and was happy with each and every one. We all need a hyaluronic acid serum in our lives, and NxN’s Hydra Power serves up four different forms of this exceptional hydrator (and it’s safe for all skin types) while the addition of CBD provides extra antioxidant benefits. Just a few drops leaves my skin soft and silky with absolutely no sign of stickiness or greasy residue, and it absorbs so quickly I can move on to the next step of my skincare routine immediately.

This such next step has been the Zero Gravity Whipped Day Cream, which I would recommend to anyone who likes a lightweight moisturizer that provides hydration that stays put. With squalene for long-lasting moisture and even more free-radical-fighting courtesy of marine algae, sea grape, sea buckthorn, raspberry seed and CBD (because there’s no such thing as OD-ing on antioxidants), I was honestly shocked to learn this moisturizer only costs $19.

The final NxN product I tried was the Power Detox Clear Complexion CDB Mask when my skin was acting up a few weeks ago. This green-clay-based mask works double-duty by purifying pores and soothing redness and irritation associated with breakouts, since CBD is also an amazing anti-inflammatory ingredient. It only takes five to 10 minutes to help your skin chill out, and it’s so gentle you can use it as needed.

I also received the C-Change Vitamin C Glow Serum (which does not contain CDB) and the Beauty Sleep CBD-Infused Hydration Mask, and although I haven’t had a chance to test them just yet, I have high hopes. In fact, they’re sitting on my vanity because it looks like I’ll have a lot of time to play with products with Hurricane Dorian paying us a visit for the holiday weekend!

Newsflash: You need to protect your hair before you wash it

I wouldn’t imagine using a regular towel to dry my delicate hair, which is why I’m devoted to my AQUIS Rapid Dry Lisse Hair Turban. In addition to absorbing just the right amount of moisture by the time I’m done applying body cream and ready to start styling, its unique fabric virtually eliminates the friction that causes frizz and breakage. But just I thought I was doing everything I could to give my hair the TLC it needs, it turns out I was wrong.

I knew that wet hair was more prone to damage when it comes to brushing, but I didn’t know that it’s specifically 56% more prone to breakage thanks to the stretching and swelling of the hair shafts that naturally occurs upon contact with water. This means your hair is more vulnerable to damage when you’re actually washing and conditioning, too.

Fortunately, AQUIS has a new way to protect your tresses before you even step foot in the shower. It’s called Prime Water Defense PreWash, and its main goal is to repel water, prevent strand swelling and keep the cuticles smooth so harsh ingredients don’t get into the hair shaft and compromise its strength. All you have to do is spray it on dry hair at least two minutes before you’re ready to wash (and focusing on damaged, brittle areas goes a long way.)

If you really want to step up your hair-protection game, this new collection includes the gentle Rebalancing Hair Wash and Restorative Leave-In Conditioner as well—and who am I to argue with the 90% of women who said their hair is healthier, shinier, hydrated and easier to manage after using the AQUIS system?

One of my most dreaded signs of aging just happened

If you’re a regular reader, you’ve probably noticed that there aren’t many things I won’t talk about—or share (photos included). In my most recent personal age-related developments, I finally realized/accepted that I now need reading glasses for up-close tasks like proofreading on paper and reading in bed before I go to sleep. (The major upside of this overdue acknowledgement is that I can now insert my son’s headgear swiftly and easily, without a major brawl ensuing. To think I could have avoided this nightly bedtime strife for the past 6+ months simply by bringing my readers upstairs, but lesson learned.)

Just a few months shy of 43, I’ve been very lucky in the gray hair department. I’ve had one single gray eyelash for a while, which mascara can easily mask (not that anyone would notice). I tried plucking it once but accidentally grabbed too many lashes and wound up with a hairless spot, so I won’t be doing that ever again. On my head, I have a few grays along my hairline, but they blend with my blonde and I can pluck strategically without creating bald spots. (For the record, it’s a fallacy that more grays come back if you yank one out.) 

But perhaps the most dreaded gray hair situation happened this past weekend. I found a gray ‘down there.’ Although my bikini-waxing preferences lean toward leaving just a little patch, this was not a situation I was mentally prepared for. I promptly plucked it, but now I’m considering my options going forward because it WILL come back. 

#1: Let it go.
This is pretty self-explanatory. For the record, this is not a major situation. Although the sprouting of this pigment-less strand has some significance when it comes to accepting the natural aging process, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I just let it be (at least while we’re still in the single digits).

#2: Take it all off.
If I don’t want to be reminded that my body’s natural internal clock is flashing the time in my face every time I pull down my pants, I could just ask my long-time waxer to take it all off. This solution is easy enough—although being completely hairless makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable.

#3: Color myself happy.
This isn’t an option I would consider until the gray hairs outnumber the dark ones, but let it be known that pubic-hair coloring is a thing. (And I totally get it because we want every part of our body to look as young as we feel.)  Available in both natural and fun colors like blue(!), Betty literally has your gray hairs covered down there if you so choose.

So, what’s your most dreaded sign of aging? (I’m terrified to see what pops up next.)

Because we should all be masking more often...

There’s no denying that a sheet mask is a quick, easy way to give your skin a pick-me-up, but for some reason I tend to view them more as occasional treatments than a mainstay in my routine. Maybe part of the problem is that I have my mask stash tucked away in a dedicated drawer beneath my sink, rather than having then comingle with my daily essentials. The solution for higher visibility: JayJun’s So Cool sheet masks, which come in a pouch that looks strikingly similar to a pack of cleansing wipes.

Routine-altering presentation aside, these masks are infused with hydrating cactus extract, brightening vitamin C and soothing beta-glucan—and they are designed to reduce skin temperature on contact. Great for a post-workout skin reset (and for the remaining hot summer days), they are also slightly smaller than many other sheet masks you can wear it when styling your hair without it getting in the way. (Talk about multi-tasking!) And at $16 for 30, you can mask every damn day if you want without breaking the bank.