October 11, 2019
The lip mask, foundation, Paint Box nail-polish pairings and scrunchies you need right now.
Have you ever tried a gel mask for your mouth?
I’ll be honest… I’m not really in the mood to work today. That’s why I’m sitting here with a pout-shaped mask on my lips right now—but Patchology’s MoodPatch Keep Smiling Lip Gels are more than a means of procrastination.
Jam-packed with relaxing sweet violet and lavender, nourishing coconut extract and plumping hyaluronic acid, this aromatherapy-infused treat is soothing and hydrating my lips as we speak (and pushing me to cross today’s blog post off my to-do list).
Between the time it took to write this up and take a photo suitable for posting, my 10 minutes was up, and now I have a soft, pillowy pout. I also feel a renewed sense of calm that makes me totally OK with moving from my desk to my cozy office seating area, putting my feet up and catching up on my magazines before it’s time to pick up from school—which is far more than I expected to get out of playing with this fun (and effective) product. Thanks, Patchology!
This foundation truly lives up to the hype
I’m not a big foundation person, and I generally only wear it when I have a meeting, event or go out on a Saturday night (which doesn’t add up to all that often). I’m perfectly happy with my Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder, but truth be told, I’m thinking I may need something with a bit more coverage when my bottle comes to an end.
Even if you’re not really that into makeup, you’ve probably heard about Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation. The winner of countless beauty awards and lauded by virtually every celebrity and professional makeup artist under the sun—I never tried it until I got a sample with my most recent Sephora order.
None of the four shades I received was a perfect match (although 5.5 was pretty close), but I’m here to tell you that it blew my mind anyway. Yes, everything you’ve heard is true. It melds seamlessly with your skin to leave a smooth, soft, naturally radiant finish—and it feels like you’re wearing nothing at all.
And since Fall is the perfect time to update your foundation (because you’re bound to be a bit more fair due to less sun exposure), don’t even bother shopping around and go straight for this one. Who knows… It just might be your forever foundation, too.
Found: The perfect nail-polish pairings
Although I have not been lucky enough to experience the NYC manicure mecca Paintbox (yet), it is at the tippy-top (get it?) of my to-do list the next time I make a trip. Known for impeccable attention to detail and swoon-worthy seasonal design collections (check them out here), I’d probably be broke if I still lived in the vicinity (but at least my nails would look amazing).
But living in the hinterlands doesn’t mean I can’t get in on at least a bit of the action, and Paintbox’s Power Couples take the guesswork out of coordinating colors between your hands and feet—or in one simple yet sophisticated design for one or the other. Featuring two complementary 10-free shades that give you an endless array of options, my first pick would be “Like Desire + Like Dreams” followed by “Like Mystery + Like Magic” coming in close second.
FYI, in case you haven’t heard, French manicures are back—and these fool-proof polish pairings guarantee a fresh, of-the-moment spin.
Yup, I just bought a pack of scrunchies (again)
I was at a friend’s house with a few other families about a month ago, and the mommies got a lesson about VSCO girls. As the mom of a boy, our universe is definitely more about Fortnite than Hydroflasks, and although I’ve definitely noticed the fashion aesthetic the tweens and teens are going for these days, I never knew that Brandy Melville is basically the 2019 version of Benetton in 1989. (BTW, if you ever wore Colors by Benetton perfume, this is a perfect modern-day dupe.) I’m actually proud of myself (and my mom posse) for being in the know—and last week I dipped my toe in the VSCO girl water by purchasing a pack of scrunchies.
I got a pack similar to this one because the colors are pretty basic, and they are so much more gentle on my hair than elastics. The manage to keep my hair back during Pilates—without making dents if I’ve blown my hair straight—and yep, I can wear one around my wrist in case I decide to zip around town with the top down.
My son actually noticed my new hair accessory, and I’m pretty sure there was an eye-roll involved. When I think about my friends who have pre-teen girls, Fortnite doesn’t look so bad after all. (Good luck with that, ladies!)