December 20, 2019

The non-makeup primer/makeup primer you need, indulgent gifts you want to give and get, a fool-proof outfit formula, my first-hand experience with GeniusRF and rediscovering the perfect foundation.

My go-to makeup primer (and I'm not a primer person)

Primer has never really been a mainstay in my makeup application process, simply because I rarely wear a full face of makeup—and when I do it only needs to last for a few hours at most. That doesn’t mean I haven’t tried them, but I could definitely survive without one. I’ve been using Charlotte Tilbury’s Wonderglow for a little extra radiance and imperfection-blurring as needed, and I enjoy the lightweight fluid texture (It can also be used as a highlighter on top of foundation.). But for the record, I am NOT a fan of skin-smoothing primers with silicone or an otherwise slippery feel, generally because I’ve found they tend to pill when applied on top of moisturizer and various other products.

Most of the time, I use moisturizer in place of primer for a little extra moisture and plumping before foundation—and I recently found a product that does the job of both. My new go-to when taking a deep-dive into my makeup drawer is Juno & Co.’s Moonshine Miracle Cream. Thanks to its rich, cream consistency and a combination of hydrating avocado oil and hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and other skin-improving ingredients, it makes my fine lines and pores look better before I even reach for the foundation. It definitely helps my makeup go on smoothly and enhances its blendability, leaving me with a flawless finish every time.

In fact, I like this cream so much that I’ll use it on its own after a mid-day shower if I’m just hanging around the house and not going anywhere. Don’t we all deserve to like what we see in the mirror, even if we’re the only ones seeing it?

The gift just about any girl would want to get

If I had to name one of my best qualities, my gift-giving skills would be at the top of the list. I carefully consider my intended recipient’s likes and dislikes, as well as their hobbies, lifestyle and their proclivity toward treating themselves. (The less they splurge, the more inclined I am to do so.) In most cases, I try to come up with something fancy that they will use (or at least appreciate)—and that they would probably never, ever buy for themselves. I reserve designer goods (such as these INCREDIBLE Saint Laurent cocktail stirrers) for those who are into fashion, but it’s no surprise that I tend to lean toward beauty-based gifts. Why? Because there’s literally something for everyone, and it’s easy to narrow down the options based on the person I’m shopping for.

Although I usually shy away from perfume (unless it’s for someone who has a ride-or-die signature scent they would never stray from—and in that case this gift is a slam dunk), there is a way to side-step this rule: Hair perfume. Significantly less of a commitment than an actual “juice,” hair scents are a great way to give a luxurious gift one probably wouldn’t treat themselves to (unless they’re me). Oh, and they are a fraction of the price of their eau de parfum counterparts.

If I had to stick with one scent for the rest of my life, this would probably be it.

If this sounds like something someone on your gift list would like, I suggest checking out Byredo’s hair perfumes. Available in all of the brand’s best-selling scents, these mists impart enough fragrance for you and those in close proximity to smell without being overpowering. They also hang around—and do a great job of covering up any unsavory odors if your (or their) hair isn’t squeaky clean. Byredo even offers trios of minis (in “woody” and “floral” scents) and this increases your chances of giving them the best gift of all: Discovering a scent that becomes their signature.

The fool-proof 4-piece outfit (and you probably already own everything)

We all have those days when we feel like we have absolutely nothing to wear. This usually leads to trying on a million pieces and leaving your closet or bedroom in shambles—and a lot of frustration. Being pressed for time makes matters even worse, which is why I have one go-to outfit that absolutely, positively never fails to work for virtually any daytime occasion. (This formula works for a dinner date as well if you just swap out your flats in favor of a pair of classic heels.) And here it is…

1. An elevated dress shirt
Whether slim and starched, silky and billowy, sleek and minimalist or a statement-making print, a good button down is the unsung hero of any wardrobe. My favorite right now is by Black Crane. With a boxy fit, high side slits and only one button (I had the tailor add a hidden snap so it doesn’t bare my belly), I got it on major sale which made it a no-brainer. I also don’t have to tuck it, and it still looks polished.

This top looks equally as good with slim and flowy pants.

2. Dark skinny jeans
Don’t believe the hype… Skinny jeans aren’t going anywhere. My current go-to pair is Everlane’s Stretch Mid-Rise Skinny in Deep Indigo. I originally bought them because they got so many amazing reviews, which were so on-point. With a high-enough (but not too high) waist to hold everything in and enough stretch to actually be comfortable, the slim silhouette balances the volume of a looser top perfectly.

IMO, you can’t get better skinnies for the price.

3. Polished loafers
With my stiletto days somewhat behind me, I love a good loafer—but I’m not talking about Bass Weejuns. I lean toward styles that have a little something special, such as stud embellishments or crinkled patent leather (and you can never go wrong with a classic Gucci). They get extra points if they have a collapsible heel since that means they can be worn as a mule as well.

I try not to play favorites with my shoes, but I’m still obsessed with these Isabel Marant loafers from FW 2018.

4. A structured bag
This is the piece that pulls the whole look together. Even if your top is on the more casual side, a refined bag instantly elevates the overall effect. In this scenario, the bags I reach for first are my black Louis Vuitton Epi Speedy or my Boyy Bobby Bag in gray leather and suede.

A classic never goes out of style.

This Boyy bag fits the bill with a little more modern edge.

With these four pieces you should be good to go—but if you want to glam it up a bit, load on the jewelry. A solid bracelet stack, masculine watch, statement earrings or a thick gold choker are sure to do the trick. My advice: Have this outfit put together and placed front and center in your closet so you can throw it on at the first sign of distress when trying to get dressed. You’ll thank me eventually!

I tried Lutronic’s Genius microneedling treatment and here’s the scoop…

It’s a tough job, but someone has to try the latest professional anti-aging treatments and report back, right? That’s why I headed down to Juvly Aesthetics in Fort Lauderdale last week to meet founder Dr. Justin Harper—and give Lutronic’s Genius a try.

Before I dive into my experience, you probably want to know what Genius is. This innovative treatment takes microneedling to the next level with the addition of radiofrequency, so you get all of the skin-smoothing, texture-refining and collagen-stimulating benefits of traditional microneedling with the added bonus of skin tightening—and no need to hide for several days afterwards. Ideal for fine lines, wrinkles, visible pores, scars, loss of elasticity and overall skin rejuvenation, Genius treatments are fully customizable to meet each patient’s unique skin needs, willingness for downtime and even their personal pain threshold. For the record, Dr. Harper told me he definitely didn’t go easy on me, yet my treatment was totally bearable I was able to return to my usual schedule immediately after leaving his office. My treatment focused on my face and neck, but this “smart” technology can also be used to improve skin quality virtually anywhere on the body—including the chest, abdomen, arms, thighs, knees and beyond.

Upon arriving at Juvly, the first thing I noticed was the incredibly friendly and attentive staff. I sat down with the lovely double-board-certified nurse practitioner, Rafina Rahim, to go through my medical history, including the requisite pre-treatment questions about my skin, medications I’m taking, if I’ve had any other office-based treatments lately, etc. I told her about my recent injectables, my skincare routine and how my skin reacts to sun exposure. Apparently, I was all good to proceed with the Genius treatment, so she then applied numbing cream and the 25-minute countdown was on.

While we waited for my skin to lose as much sensation as possible (did you know doctors know your skin is sufficiently numb when it turns pink?), Dr. Harper came in to explain the Genius treatment in detail. After mutual confessions that we were both beauty geeks, he used an iPad to illustrate how Genius targets the lowest layers of the skin while preserving the skin’s surface (hence the lack of downtime). To make it even clearer, he also illustrated how another resurfacing treatment I had a few years ago worked—and quelled my fears that this would hurt as much as that one did. Dr. Harper showed me the high-tech handpiece with gold-plated tips, which actually analyzes the skin continually throughout the treatment to adjust the depth of needle penetration based on skin thickness in each particular area. Also big on safety, he emphasized that the actual handpiece tip heads can only be used for one treatment—because you can never be too careful. 

Dr. Harper then selected my skin type (Fitzpatrick Type II) and age (he entered 30s—which made me like him even more), and gave me one “pulse” so I would know what to expect when the full 30-minute treatment began. I would describe the feeling as a double-tap of pressure and heat, but I would definitely not say it was painful. Each area of my face got three passes, beginning with my forehead before moving on to my cheeks, mouth area and neck. Dr. Harper told me beforehand that the upper face is the least comfortable because of the lack of fat (he was right) and my upper lip was particularly sensitive—but overall the treatment was very tolerable. If I had to rate the pain, I’d say it was a five out of 10 at the very worst on my upper lip, and from a 3 to a 4 everywhere else.

Honestly, I had no idea there was blood involved until I saw these photos afterwards.

Naturally I was afraid to look in the mirror once Dr. Harper was done, but I was more than pleasantly surprised. My skin was red (but not insanely red) and it felt slightly hot (but not burning-off hot). I was covered in a thick layer of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, which was the one and only skincare product I could use for the first few days after treatment. (I waited a week to resume my full regimen.) The redness continued to subside as the day went on, but there were a few areas where the needle pricks were visible. It really wasn’t a big deal because I wasn’t going anywhere, but I drove to pick my son up from the bus stop rather than taking my daily stroll with the dog to avoid the sun. I applied more CeraVe cream every hour or so, and almost forgot I had the treatment by dinnertime. 

My car selfie on the way home.

A little pink, but nothing major to speak of by the end of the day.

When I woke up the next morning, my skin was pretty much back to normal—but I did notice my pores definitely looked smaller. I applied a thick layer of CeraVe and topped it with a mineral sunscreen to go work out, and washed with CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser and applied more cream when I got home. There was no reason for me to put on any makeup, so I left it at that—and wore a giant hat for my walk to pick up my son from the bus stop. (As if my neighbors didn’t already think I was crazy.) When I washed my face that night I noticed a bit of bumpy roughness on my lower face, which is totally normal. (It’s completely normal to experience itching as the skin heals although I did not.)

Friday was pretty much the same… Still a little bumpy but my skin texture looked even better. By Saturday there was so evidence that I’d had anything “done” (other than extra-luminous skin), which was a very good thing because we had a bat mitzvah to go to—and I even got several compliments on my complexion.

Five days after my Genius treatment…

Here I am yesterday (with a little makeup). I’m still sticking to the CeraVe cleanser and moisturizer, and I have to say this streamlined regimen has saved me a ton of time and effort. Between the no-brainer approach to skincare—and the visible improvement in my skin that will continue over the next few months—the Genius treatment was a total winner (although I am looking forward to getting reacquainted with my lotions and potions)!

It’s important to know that as with most minimal-downtime treatments, several sessions are recommended to achieve the optimal outcomes—and from the before-and-afters I’ve seen Genius is totally worth the commitment. After seeing the results from one (even before the actual skin tightening becomes apparent over the coming weeks and months), I’m hooked and ready for more!

Want to learn even more about GeniusRF? This video explains it all!

I shopped my beauty closet and rediscovered the foundation I need right now

I found myself with a little extra time on my hands over the long Thanksgiving break, so I figured I’d revisit my ancillary makeup stash. Part overflow from the jam-packed makeup drawer in my bathroom, part storage for backups, extras and products I’ve received, I found a few long-lost favorites that have be reintroduced to my makeup routine. My best find by far was my Cover FX Cover Click foundation that I bought a few years ago with a few color-correctors—mainly because you can put two of them in the handy-dandy Click Stick (which, sadly, doesn’t seem to be available anymore although I found it on Amazon).

Historically I’ve been more of a lighter coverage, liquid foundation girl. But as we all know, time and accumulated sun exposure (and in my case, melasma) don’t do our skin tone any favors. I’ve been procrastinating starting the search for a higher-coverage option—and it’s a good thing I did. This stick-based cream foundation (which is actually a portable version of Cover FX’s Total Cover Cream Foundation) is just what I needed to help even everything out—without looking like I’m wearing a ton of makeup. All it takes is a few light swipes outward from my nose and along the nose, chin and forehead (blended really well with my Artis Elite Oval 7 brush) and I get the flawless skin I put so much effort into achieving. 

Even better, this stick can be used as a concealer, and I also have a slightly darker shade to create a natural-looking contour when the mood strikes. I was so excited about our reunion that I bought a new one on Cyber Monday—but at only $12 each, I consider this a beauty bargain at full price.

P.S. If you want to give it a whirl, hop over to Sephora where you can test it out in person!