September 27, 2019

Victoria Beckham's new makeup line, a derm-developed line that should be on your radar, a better water bottle and a lipstick-blending tool that mimics your finger.

Victoria Beckham just launched her own makeup line and I'm obsessed

When you compare the 1990s version of Victoria Beckham to today’s, it’s hard to believe this is the same person. The mid-1990s “Spice Girl” is all but a mere memory, and although I wasn’t a fan of this phase (despite countless intoxicated Tell me what you want, what you really, really wants in the years since), VB has definitely become one of my top-five girl crushes. Her style, her success as a fashion designer and the fact that she gets to sleep with David Beckham every night (when they’re not trotting around the globe for their solo careers) are reason enough to justify my use of #goals.  

When VB dropped her first makeup collaboration with Estée Lauder in 2016, I snatched up a nude lip gloss and sparkly eye gloss that remain in my collection to this day. Her sophomore collection didn’t wow me as much (TBH), but I was giddy with excitement when I learned she was branching out and creating a line of her own—and the first drop of her first eponymous (and “clean”) brand became available this week.

Beyond aspiring to be VB herself, I also aspire to be that woman who can rock a smoky eye on the regular. As to be expected, Victoria Beckham Beauty’s initial foray into the makeup world is eye-heavy (with offerings for lips and skin promised to come soon). I literally can’t stop thinking about the Smoky Eye Brick in “Tuxedo.” Featuring the ideal shades for a modern yet sophisticated look (and I do mean “look” because achieving the desired end-result takes a bit of effort), this swanky compact was designed to give you all the shadows you need for a chic, sultry eye while keeping excess packaging elements to a minimum. (VB is eco-conscious, too!)

In my alternate life, I would get a lot of use out of the crystal-infused Lid Lustres as well. I immediately gravitated toward the gold-toned “Blonde” hue, but again, the shimmery taupe “Mink” and brilliant blue “Midnight” are equally as alluring. Rounding out the initial offerings is the blendable yet waterproof Satin Kajal Liner, which is on my list to try when I need a new black eyeliner. (The “Bronze” and “Bordeaux” shades are beyond gorg, but not necessarily the best fit for my lifestyle.)

So now I’m lusting after Victoria Beckham’s makeup—in addition to her fashion designs (which unfortunately aren’t the most practical for my personal day-to-day life). But it’s all about women supporting women (even if you’re bordering on being obsessed with any said woman), and I can’t wait to get a new piece of VB in my makeup drawer.

The latest derm-developed line you need to know about

If you stay up on the latest in beauty with the help of websites, blogs (like this one!) or magazines (either the old-fashioned print or online kind), you’ve probably comes across the always-on-point advice from New York City dermatologist Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton. After spending the past 20+ years doling out skincare tips (and other must-know skin info) to millions of readers and patients alike, it’s no surprise she has finally launched her own products—and you’ll be shocked (and excited about) how simple the concept behind Rose Ingleton MD Skincare is.

The foundation of this streamlined, problem-focused approach is the Signature Moisturizer, which provides the perfect base for all skin types. Dr. Ingleton looked to her home island of Jamaica while formulating her proprietary Superfruit Blend of sugar cane, sugar maple, orange fruit, lemon fruit and bilberry—and added hydrating hyaluronic acid, rejuvenating peptides, antioxidant vitamin C, barrier-reinforcing ceramides and more to create this hardworking moisturizer. In addition to this universal daily hydrator, the range also includes four targeted “boosters” for fine lines/wrinkles, red/irritated skin, blemish-prone skin and uneven skin tone/discoloration—so you can customize your regimen to meet your skin’s needs.

Whether you choose one or several of these Boosters to target your unique concerns, the entire range is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, fragrance, mineral oil, animal byproducts, synthetic dyes and formaldehyde releasers (which goes to show you Dr. Ingleton’s stance on these ingredients). Then once you’ve made your pick (or picks!) all you have to do is add on a cleanser and sunscreen, and you’re good to go!

What's lurking inside your water bottle?

I drink a lot of water and take a stainless-steel Swell-like bottle with me every time I leave the house. (I’m going to emphasize ‘Swell-like’ because I would never pay $40 for one, and instead buy them in bulk at Five Below.) My son has one for school as well, and my husband uses a Yeti—even while hanging out at home. (At least he saves me the chore of washing extra glasses.) The main reason we operate like this is because we try to avoid drinking bottled water unless absolutely necessary in an effort to minimize our consumption of single-use plastics.

This has been going on for quite some time, but I’ll be honest… I’ve been convincing myself that washing them with soap and hot water every few days was enough to ensure they were as clean as could be. Then one day, I noticed a buildup of I-don’t-know-what at the bottom of my bottle, and promptly ordered a cleaning brush from Amazon (and totally had flashbacks to 10+ years ago when my kitchen counter was overrun with baby bottles). This new daily chore isn’t all that big of a deal, but sometimes I wish our water bottles were maintenance-free.

As if the universe were listening, I then got a PR email about LARQ—an actual self-cleaning water bottle, and it’s pretty f-ing cool. This smart bottle automatically gives the inside of the bottle (and the water in it) a burst of germ-busting UV-C light every two hours. There’s also “Adventure mode” that lets you purify your bottle on-demand at the push of a button if you’re unsure of the quality or don’t like the taste of your last refill. The bottle itself is rechargeable via USB cable (you should get about one month out of a full charge), and, of course, the double-insulated bottle keeps water cool for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12—although you should be drinking more than 17 ounces within that time frame.

For those of us who are really thirsty, LARQ just launched a larger 25-ounce bottle that features all the same revolutionary technology that lets us save the time it takes to wash our water bottles. Available in navy, white, green and black, you’ll love the illuminated cap that tells you it’s eliminating 99.9999% of bacteria and viruses—which makes this sound like a pretty good investment with cold season approaching. Prices start at $95, but the LARQ bottle essentially pays for itself in no time if you kick the (plastic) bottled water habit.

Never worry about lipstick on your teeth again

If you’ve ever worn lipstick, you’ve probably put your finger in your mouth, pursed and pulled it out to make sure no color transfers to your teeth. Effective? Yes. Kind of gross? Yes, again. (I’ve totally wiped my finger on my car-floor carpet—black interior for the win!)

While reluctant to add to my already-expansive beauty-tool collection, there’s something to be said for Lipstuk—and if you’re a frequent lipstick-wearer, you’ll most certainly want one of these for your makeup bag. The same size as a standard lipstick bullet, this baking-grade silicone tube takes the place of your digit but serves the same purpose as the finger trick—and it can also be used blend or remove excess gloss. It also has a handy cap to keep it clean (and keep lipstick off the inside of your makeup bag) and you can toss it in the dishwasher to make sure it stays fresh and good as new.