April 17, 2020
Why you *still* have to wear SPF, what to do when your Botox starts to wear off and your lash extensions are falling out, a pedicure extending hack and the CBD products we all need right now.
Yes, you still have to wear sunscreen every day
You don’t need me to tell you that you should be applying SPF before heading outside for a run or walk—but you may need me to remind you that you should be wearing sunscreen even if you’re staying inside all day. Yup, you read that correctly.
Reason one: Whether you’re sitting at your kitchen table working or relaxing on the couch watching TV, if there’s a window close by UVA rays are likely hitting your skin because they can penetrate glass. These are the “aging” rays that that discoloration and sun damage—and none of us want that.
Reason two: The screen you’re looking at right now is emitting high-energy visible (HEV) light—which is often called blue light. More and more research (and dermatologists) say this wavelength of light can cause skin discoloration and inflammation, but all sunscreens do not protect against it.
For optimal protection from UVA, UVB and blue light, opt for a sunscreen that includes zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and iron oxide (which is the main “tinting” ingredient in tinted sunscreens). Here are a few I love…
What to do when the Botox starts wearing off...
February 12th was a pivotal date for 2020, as this is when I got my last Botox before the pandemic. Here we are just about two months later, and the movement is slowly but surely returning to my forehead and crow’s feet—but I’m not really freaking out about it so much since we’re all in the same boat. (Frankly, I’m much more concerned about my roots especially since I spoke to my colorist yesterday and there isn’t anything I can do for my highlights until it’s safe to go back to the salon.)
But if you are bugging out about the steady decline of your Botox, SiO Beauty’s reusable silicone wrinkle-smoothing patches are the next best thing. I have the full set, and I’m here to tell you that they TOTALLY work. You might feel a little silly wearing them (and your S.O. will surely have something to say) but waking up to line-free skin makes it all worth it.
Although there are a la carte options for the forehead, crow’s feet neck, and beyond, I recommend the SuperLift Pack for a full-face rejuvenating experience that can help you get through these turbulent times without obsessing about your expression-related lines and wrinkles. (BTW, if you’re a side-sleeper and wake up with lines on your chest that take a while to go away, add this to your cart as well.)
You can also help minimize facial movement by using serums with specific types of peptides that help reduce the neurotransmitters that tell your muscles to contract. Although these topical products are not (and will never be) a substitute for injections, they definitely can’t hurt when a trip to the derm isn’t an option. I’ve been using Slurp’s Hyaluid for the past few weeks as an insurance policy of sorts to (maybe) help my Botox stick around a little longer. I press a few drops around my eyes and on my forehead (and pat any extra onto my neck) along with all of my other lotions and potions—and basically hope for the best with each application.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how concerned about the Botox situation are you?
What to do when your lash extensions start falling out…
Way before the pandemic, I saw countless friends freak out about re-entering society without their lash extensions. I’ve never actually gone this route, but I understand the trauma that is often associated with the sudden loss of lash length and density. If you have extensions, odds are they’re dropping like flies at this point, but on the bright side (which has become my new self-soothing buzz-phrase) this is the perfect opportunity to get your natural lashes back and have them looking better than ever by the time this whole shitshow is behind us.
Enter LASHFOOD’s Lash + Brow Rx Kit. You get travel sizes of the all-natural Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer and Eyebrow Enhancer plus a full-size Conditioning Collagen Lash Primer to help pump up the volume of natural lashes day-to-day while you wait for new growth. (If there’s ever been a time to test-drive bushy brows, it’s now!)
Bottom line: Don’t stress about your newfound lighter lash load, and definitely don’t try to bribe your lash guru for a touch-up right now. I’ve used several lash enhancers in the past and been wowed by the results (so much so that I had to stop using them because my lashes we’re grazing my sunglasses—which is really annoying), so what do you have to lose? Start now and you’ll be good to go on COVID-19 flip side.
A quick pedicure fix that can buy you a few more days
If you just haven’t come to terms with the fact that your feet won’t be seeing the inside of a foot spa at a salon anytime soon, I’m with you. One of the last things I want to do right now is take off my toe polish, and not just because of the mess the red is going to make. My toenails haven’t been naked in about 30 years, so they aren’t exactly in the best shape—and this means I’ll want to paint them immediately to avoid looking at them any longer than I have to. (And that’s not happening today.)
But if you need a quick fix, the easiest thing to do is file them down (especially if you’re a picker) and give them a fresh coat of the closest color match you have on hand. At the very least, this buys you a few days to either work up the courage to attempt your own pedicure or accept that you’ll be going au naturel for a while.
You may also want to consider ordering a foot file to keep rough skin and calluses under control (this one from Amazon is great)—or do a foot peel like Baby Foot since you don’t exactly have to worry about anyone seeing your peely, flaky feet for a while.
Cannabis Awareness Month couldn’t have come at a better time
In my line of work, I’m inundated with emails about virtually every “awareness” day and month, and I’m often impressed by publicists’ creativity when linking their clients and/or products to these observances. With everything going on, I failed to realize I missed “National Pet Day” over the weekend (sorry Nugget, but every day is National Pet Day around here), but I am fully aware that April is Cannabis Awareness Month and I’m all in. Here, all the CBD (and THC) products that are currently in high rotation (no pun intended).
Lord Jones
It’s 9:15 a.m. and I just popped a Blackcurrant Hemp-Derived CBD Gumdrop. My son is in the middle of his first Google Meet for school, and I need to maintain my calm when he comes downstairs with his to-do list for the day. I also slathered on the brand-new Acid Mantle Repair CBD Moisturizer this morning, which has been a godsend for my face since it arrived last week. I was recovering from a full-on skin-purge (can you say stress breakout?), and this rich, comforting cream totally helped get everything back on track.
Maddyn
These products actually arrived before the proverbial shit hit the fan, and boy am I glad they did. The Relax & Revitalize CBD Oil Tincture (600mg, of course) is my afternoon go-to after constantly refreshing CNN’s live updates begins to take a toll. I love the minty taste and it totally takes the edge off without affecting my ability to work. Another lovely side effect of this quarantine situation has been randomly itchy skin. I’ve always been prone to hives (especially in times of stress), and I wake up in the middle of most nights with “hot spots” on my legs or back. I have the Renew & Recharge CBD Topical Crème on my nightstand so I can stop scratching and (hopefully) get back to sleep—and although it’s meant for muscle recovery, I have done enough testing to know that CBD helps soothe skin itching and inflammation, too.
Four Sigmatic
I’ve been trying really hard not to snack, but I definitely get peckish between lunch and dinner. If I’m not starting happy hour early, I make myself a cup of Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee Mix with Lion’s Mane and Chaga. Although this does NOT contain CBD, it is packed with focus-enhancing (and stress-mitigating) adaptogens, I couldn’t imagine quarantine life without it.
THC cookies
My bestie got us these amazing THC-laced cookies for the holidays, and I’ve been treating myself to a half every now and then because, well, there’s not really all that much else to do. I’m waiting to hear back from her about the name of the chef (and if we can get more!), and I’ll update this post as more info comes in!
A few new products I haven’t tried (yet)…
I love a good facial mist, and I always have one on my desk to refresh my face throughout the day. (Now that I’m rarely wearing makeup, I’ve been using it more often.) The one I really wish I had right now of Eraclea’s Calming Facial Mist +CBD.
Although a CBD shampoo and conditioner aren’t likely to impact my mood or stress response, I’m intrigued by R+Co’s brand-new Super Garden CBD Shampoo + Conditioner. I’m actually running low since I’ve been washing my hair after my daily walk, so I just might have to treat myself to these.
