March 13, 2020
The face/body makeup you never knew you needed, my thoughts on Atolla's customized serum, Nails Inc. polishes to get your hands on, shop Ouai by scent and the step-by-step for my favorite makeup look.
Let's glow!
It seems we just can’t get enough of gorgeous, glowing skin—and achieving this goal often begins with our skincare and culminates with our makeup. After exfoliating and infusing our skin with moisture, we turn to radiance-enhancing primers, foundations and highlighters. But what if you could use all of these other steps to focus on other skin concerns and get the lit-from-within look you’re after with your makeup’s final finishing touch? With RMS Beauty’s new Living Glow Face&Body Powder, you can.
Designed to flatter all skin tones, a light dusting of this ultra-fine, shimmery loose powder is just what the doctor (or makeup artist) ordered for otherworldly skin from head to toe. Infused with a hint of color so it works double-duty as a bronzer as well, I totally see myself using this on my face, chest and shoulders once my more revealing summer slip-dresses and tanks are back in my regular wardrobe rotation—and if I’m lucky, maybe I’ll have chance to take this glowy show on the road in the form of a relaxing, tropical getaway (where radiant, sun-kissed skin is pretty much the only accessory you need).
IBB Intel: Upon reading the first online reviews—which are all 5-stars—apparently this powder works wonderfully as eyeshadow, and you may want to apply it with a fluffy brush instead of the included puff.
RMS Beauty Living Glow Face&Body Powder
RMS Beauty products are non-GMO, non-nano, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, cruelty-fee and free from soy, gluten*, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicone, talc, petrolatum and polyethylene/PEGs. *The Volumizing Mascara contains wheat starch.
I'm obsessed with my new customized serum
We all know that skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all—which is why most of us mix and match different products to meet our skins’ needs. There are few beauty indulgences I love more than customized products, because they’re the perfect way to get the ideal mix of ingredients that is going to (hopefully) make a difference in the look and feel of your skin.
One of the coolest bespoke brands out there right now is called Atolla—beyond the amazing serum that was created for me (I’ll get to that), the entire process has been beyond fund and enjoyable. (What can I say? I’m a beauty geek.) The beauty of this approach is that each serum is made just for your skin, and your formula is capable of addressing breakouts, pore congestion, discoloration, dryness, redness, irritation, sun damage and, of course, fine lines and wrinkles. (P.S. Atolla’s products are vegan as well as free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, artificial preservatives, artificial fragrance and gluten.)
Here’s how it works… When you sign up for the monthly subscription (which is only $45!) you’ll receive an at-home Skin Health Kit in the mail. It includes easy-to-use strips that analyze your skin’s oil and moisture levels, as well as its pH. You also get four “base” samples, so you can even select the consistency you prefer most. Best of all, you input the results into your online profile so you don’t waste any time by having to send anything back.
There’s also a pretty in-depth online questionnaire, which you can take while your Skin Health Kit is en route or after it arrives. Designed to account for a wide variety of factors including your skin concerns, current routine, stress levels, environmental and lifestyle factors, diet, skin tone and even food allergies and sensitivities, all of this analysis yields the optimal ingredient blend for your skin.
My serum arrived in just a few days and I couldn’t wait to get started. The bottle features a one-month supply (for morning and evening use), and you also get another Skin Health Kit to use before your second month’s supply is created—in case it needs to be tweaked in any way.
Sure, I use a lot of products, but my skin has been looking and feeling amazing since I started my Atolla serum. I’m curious to see how my skin fares when I do the re-test—and I’m considering trying a different “base” just for the sake of comparison. (For the record, I don’t have any issues at all with the original one I selected.) Remember, it’s important to switch up your skincare from season to season to help it adjust to different temperatures, humidity levels and sun exposure—and with Spring upon us, it’s the perfect time to try Atolla!
You’ll want to get your hands on these polishes (or vice versa)
It’s been a few years since I’ve worn fun, funky nail polish colors—but I’m starting to find them appealing once again. Maybe it’s because Spring is starting to make its presence known (at least when I shop online), or maybe because I’m looking to shake things up a bit. Regardless, I bookmarked two polish sets this past week, and they both happen to be from Nails Inc.
The first one that caught my eye is the Crystals Made Me Do It Nail Polish Duo. I love anything rose gold (although in this case the mineral reference is rose quartz), and the “Healthy Feelings” shade is a sparkly pink that’s sure to boost your mood. But the 45 Second Top Coat with real amethyst in the bottle really made me swoon. It’s so pretty, I would leave it out on my desk, which would probably help me remember to reapply top coat every few days to maintain my mani.
The second set I can’t stop thinking about is the Coco For Real Nail Polish Duo. Currently available for pre-order (which means you should buy it RIGHT NOW), this pair includes the caramel-colored foil “I’m Fondue You” and the dark, creamy “100% Hot Chocolate”—AND THEY BOTH SMELL LIKE CHOCOLATE. It might be a little awkward when you’re spotted sniffing your fingers, but honestly, who cares?
It might be a bit early to bust out the easy, breezy dresses and flip-flops (unless you live where I do and it’s 87 degrees), but it’s never too soon to kick off the forthcoming season with a fun, new nail color (or three).
Shopping for shampoo and conditioner just got a lot easier
Is it just me, or is it so difficult to choose a new shampoo and conditioner? My hair falls into several categories that these products cater to, such as colored, dry, damaged and oily—all at the same time. If I got specific shampoos and conditioners for each of these, there wouldn’t be room for me in my shower.
Leave it to Ouai (and celebrity stylist Jen Atkin) to shake up this long-held hair paradigm and give us a totally new way to choose our haircare: Thickness. With this new range, it’s as easy as determining if your hair is Fine, Medium or Thick—which you probably already know. (And if you’re feeling non-conformist, you can mix and match. Personally, I would get the Medium shampoo for extra nourishment, strength and shine with the Fine conditioner so my strands don’t get weighed down.)
There’s also another tantalizing twist… Ouai offers refills that include enough shampoo and conditioner to reuse your bottle three times—and use 60% less plastic while you’re at it.
Ouai Fine Shampoo
EWG/Skin Deep® Score: 7 (via the “Build Your Own Report” tool)
Ouai Fine Conditioner
EWG/Skin Deep® Score: 7 (via the “Build Your Own Report” tool)
When your makeup comes out awesome and you have nowhere to go
This is basically the story of my life—when I actually put on makeup. I haven’t really been wearing much recently since I love how my actual skin looks (thanks to my ZIIP) and work has had me chained to my desk. But last week I decided to make a teensy bit of effort, any my arbitrary mixing-and-matching yielded a fabulous result.
Here’s what I used:
Kosas Tinted Face Oil: I can’t put into words how much I live for this product. All it takes is 4 drops for the perfect amount of casual coverage and a lovely glow.
Glossier Stretch Concealer: All I need is a little under my eyes and around my nose, and the lightweight texture makes it perfect for daytime.
Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel: This product may seem intimidating at first, but once you learn how to use it you’ll see it’s the best bronzer ever.
Pixi Glow-Y Gossamer Duo: Per my post from a few weeks ago, this has become my go-to eyeshadow for daytime.
Glossier Lash Slick: This mascara is so great, I’ve purchased it several times.
Glossier Boy Brow: I rarely do my brows during the day, but I figured why not.
Tom Ford Lip & Cheek Stain: Sadly, this was a limited-edition product that debuted roughly eight years ago—but I bought three and I’m down to the last one. I’ll be devastated when it’s done.
Note: I drowned my skin with moisture before creating this look, so that might have something to do with the final outcome. My pre-makeup skincare involved a few swipes of Pixi Glow Tonic, Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Hydrating Essence, Jurlique Moisture Plus Rare Rose Serum, Natura Bissé Essential Shock Intense Cream and DermaQuest SheerZinc SPF 30.