January 22, 2021

A different way to deal with dry skin, Dr. Sturm's new vitamin C serum and creating your very own custom lip color at home.

An adorable way to deal with dry skin

I LOVE it when it gets chilly down here in Florida (and by this I mean anything below 70 degrees). Not only can I bust out the cashmere, leather and boots unapologetically, checking out people’s “cold weather” fashion choices is pure entertainment. In the before times, I got such a kick out of seeing fur vests, Uggs and all sorts of bundling up when the temps dipped into the 50s—but these days my people-watching is pretty much limited to the goings-on outside my office window (which faces the street in front of my witness-protection-like suburban home). But still, I’ve seen enough beanies, gloves and puffer jackets during recent cold snaps to make me chuckle. 

But my neighbors’ doubtful sartorial choices (and temperature sensitivity) aside, one thing I don’t like about these brief sub-70-degree spells is the dry skin that comes along with them. My lips are usually the first to go, followed by my arms and legs (when I actually see them since these conditions call for a matching sweatsuit or knitwear set). And when a major cold front or polar vortex eventually makes it here, I can definitely see and feel the effects on my face.  

That’s where a humidifier comes in, although I certainly don’t need to invest in a major piece of machinery to moisturize the air around me for, say, two weeks total out of the entire year. This is why a perfectly-portable, USB-charged option is in order, and Hey Dewy fits the bill. Perfect for my desk because it takes up hardly any room, it serves up at least eight hours of virtually silent vaporized mist (almost long enough to cover my workday)—and several color options let you match it to your décor. I mean, why not turn your desk into a mini-spa and keep your skin happy and hydrated at the same time?

FINALLY, a vitamin C serum from Dr. Sturm!

Just when I already wanted just about every one of Dr. Barbara Sturm’s advanced skincare offerings, my wish list has gotten even longer thanks to the brand-new The Good C Vitamin C Serum. Not a day of my life goes by without applying a potent antioxidant serum, and this one is definitely at the top of my list when it’s time for a refill. 

Featuring three forms of the sunshine vitamin (one oil-soluble, one synthetic and one naturally-derived from Kaduku plum) in a 5% concentration that’s guaranteed to be gentle on the skin, you get all of the free-radical-fighting, skin-tone-evening, collagen-promoting and overall youth boost you’re looking for in just a few drops a day.

One point of difference between Dr. Sturm’s latest antioxidant serum and most other kids on the block is the addition of zinc, which is said to enhance the penetration of vitamin C—and that sounds good to me! (You also get aloe vera and hyaluronic acid for extra hydration, which is never a bad thing.)

I have no doubt this serum is on track to be a Dr. Sturm bestseller, and my only question is, why did it take Dr. Sturm so long to give us this skincare essential?

Create custom lip color at home!

The CES consumer technology trade show is always one to watch, especially if you’re into beauty gadgets. The 2021 convention kicked off today (virtually, of course) and in uncanny timing, one of last year’s most buzzed about debuts is finally available for presale. YSL Beauté’s Rouge Sur Mesure Powdered By Perso (yep, that’s a mouthful) can be yours for $299—and you just might be able to justify the spend because this means you may never have to buy a lipstick ever again.

Here’s how it works… You use the iOS or Android app to create your desired shade, and the Bluetooth-enabled device releases liquid from three color “pods” that you mix and apply with a brush. (The device also doubles as a compact so you can take your custom color to go.) And, BTW, you can even use a photo to match a favorite lipstick shade you already have and get suggestions that will match your outfit! 

Slated to ship this spring, for now, you can choose from red, nude, orange and fuchsia lip color “sets,” and at some point skincare and foundation “pods” will be available as well. I just signed up to be a beta tester, and if I’m selected, I won’t hesitate to buy it. Fingers crossed!