September 20, 2019

CBD-infused workout gear, more black eyeliner options than you could possibly want, an ultra-luxe fix for hair damage, skincare that makes the most of your sweat sesh and spray-free perfume options.

The future of fitness is here

If I had to pick two elements of my daily self-care routine that I absolutely, positively could not live without, they would be Pilates and CBD. It’s only 8am and I’ve already popped my Elixinol, rubbed Extract Labs’ Muscle Cream on my sore detoids, and suited up for my 10am Pilates-infused interval training class.

While these two habits certainly have a synergistic effect on both my body and my mind, I never imaged the two could get more intertwined—but they can with Acabada ProActiveWear. No joke, this super-stylish workout gear is infused with microdroplets of encapsulated CBD that are strategically placed in areas of major muscle movement and released with friction. (BTW, this helps promote muscle recovery.)

The company says the 25 grams of 99.9% pure CBD will last through 40 high-intensity wash-and-wear cycles—and then you can upcycle your garments to get a discount on your next purchase (or just keep wearing them minus the CBD benefits).

Can we discuss how AMAZING this outfit is? These pieces may be on the higher end in terms of price, but they aren’t totally out of control—which is why they’ve been added to my birthday/Chanukah wish list. (Too bad my husband doesn’t actually read anything I write here, but I’ll find another way to drop the hint!)

UZ has officially redefined black eyeliner

New York Fashion Week has come to a close, and Spring 2020 is poised to be a sartorially satisfying season. The biggest trends range from lots of color to refined tailoring, and the beauty looks spanned the spectrum from minimalist to maximalist as well. Yet one makeup product seen on virtually every runway was black eyeliner (I better start trying to improve my skills—again), and UZ actually debuted seven variations of this one hue at the 3.1 Phillip Lim show.

BTW, this image is dark on purpose.

If you think all black liquid eyeliners are created equal, you are woefully wrong. UZ’s 7 Shades of Black collection is proof—and although each of UZ’s versions of this makeup-bag staple might look similar at a glance, they are actually all different. There’s Pitch Black, Matte Black, Metallic Black, Platinum Black, Navy Black, Red Black and Green Black—and each brush is handcrafted using 1,200-year-old Japanese techniques to ensure flawless application (so long as you have a steady hand). While the construction may be as OG as it gets, the formula itself is decidedly cutting-edge thanks to a waterproof hybrid polymer that holds up to water, sweat, oil, humidity and tears. But get this, it washes off effortlessly with warm water.

As you can see, there’s more to black eyeliner than the standard Crayola hue—and this goes to show that nothing is always as simple as black and white—or black and black for that matter.

Serious care for damaged hair

Summer may feel like eons ago, but I’m just now noticing its effects on my hair. Despite keeping heat-styling to a minimum, my stands are limp, lackluster, fried and frazzled. I’m sure a haircut would help (it’s been over two months since my last one) but I feel like a major mask is in order. I recently received word that Philip B. is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their decadent Russian Amber collection—and the Imperial Gold Masque instantly jumped to the top of my wish list.

This unapologetically luxurious mask helps restore shine, bounce and overall vitality thanks to a powerful blend of strengthening pea peptides, time-released oleosomes for a steady stream of moisture, antioxidant-rich botanical extracts and oils for environmental protection, and flecks of gold to help reflect light.

Ideal for colored, non-colored and any damaged hair in need of some serious TLC, this super-charged treatment is worth saving up for—or splurging on immediately.

Want your workout to give your skin a boost?

When I work out first thing in the morning, I keep my pre-exercise skincare routine lean and mean since I know I’ll be washing my face again two hours later. After cleansing with my Foreo, I apply a vitamin C serum and top it off with a tinted sunscreen—and that’s it. But what if there was a way to turn your daily sweat sesh into a serious skincare experience? The British-based FaceGym chain of skincare spas—which are now popping up across the U.S.—is here to help. 

Before their foray into skincare, FaceGym was all about quick, non-invasive skin “workouts” designed to keep your face looking fresh, healthy and youthful. With an array of facial-like treatment options that include electrical stimulation and supercharged serums (and a bevy of tools to help you maintain results at home)—skincare was the next logical step, and their line of Training Sticks helps maximize your workout’s benefits for your body and face.

Touted as “motion-activated skincare,” options include the Multi-Vitamin Training Stick (with vitamins C and E plus hyaluronic acid), the Charcoal Training Stick (to detox and purify oily and blemish-prone skin), the Brazilian Pink Clay Training Stick (for overall rejuvenation and brightening) and the Spirulina Training Stick (for firming, tightening and enhanced radiance).

And best of all, they’re super-easy to use. Just apply a few swipes across your forehead, on your cheeks, down your nose and on your chin and start your workout as usual. The ingredients are activated as your body temperature rises—and you simply wash it all off when you’re done (as you should be doing anyway).

My biggest problem is deciding which to try first (although I suppose you could multi-stick to target different concerns in various areas). I figure if I’m already working out for the healthy and appearance of my body, it couldn’t hurt to let my face get in on the action as well.

3 ways to wear perfume without a bottle in sight

Perfume has been a thing (in some form or another) since the dawn of time, and nothing is as synonymous with scent as a beautiful bottle or fancy flacon. As a fragrance-obsessed person myself, I’m always intrigued by new ways to wear perfume—and Diptyque’s new collection is completely devoid of the traditional means of scent delivery.

Scent-infused jewelry isn’t anything groundbreaking, and I’ve had many pendants and charm bracelets that doubled as a time-release perfume delivery system. Yet, form and function collide in Diptyque’s new Perfumed Brooch, which houses a fragrant ceramic disc for a steady stream of fresh fragrance throughout the day.

A bit more innovative is the Perfumed Bracelet. Packaged similarly to dental floss, you pull out enough length to wrap it around your wrist twice, tie knots at the ends and slip them into the gold logo-embossed clasp. With proper wear (i.e. avoiding getting it wet), each bracelet should remain fragranced for up to a week—and each dispenser contains up to 30. Perfect for sharing with friends!

And finally, perhaps the most fun of the bunch is the Perfumed Sticker. Available in three designs (each with a unique scent) and reusable up to three times, simply place it anywhere you’d like to up the olfactory ante (your shoulder, inner arm or any other spot on your body for that matter).

The sheer novelty of these new offerings is definitely part of the appeal—and I’ve never met a Diptyque scent I didn’t like. The wallet-friendly price points make these a great way to test-drive something new, and I bet these will be a huge hit for the holidays. (But I suggest stocking up now, because they’re selling fast!)