Blog Archives
Four Favorites: Makeup Wipes
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Makeup removing wipes can be a fast and effective way to clean your face. Great for travel, gym bag or just laziness – these wipes remove dirt, oil and makeup in a few swipes.
We have all been there… Too tired/lazy/champagne-induced to wash our face before bed. The nighttime hours are when your skin does the majority of it’s repair work. If you sleep with your makeup on, your skin can’t breathe and you will be missing out on allowing it to benefit from that crucial beauty sleep.
Makeup wipes cleanse, tone and moisturize in seconds. Just make sure you are using them properly. Instead of quickly rubbing the towelette all over the face – let the wipe soak on the face for a couple seconds. This allows the formula to start breaking-down makeup and impurities. Concentrate particularly on the eye area to avoid too much rubbing later. Gently rub the wipe, back and forth on the face. It will do the job of taking the makeup off for you.
A good facial wipe should have just the right amount of saturation – not too wet or too dry. It should also leave the skin feeling clean, fresh, soft and hydrated.
Here are my current four favorites:
Bioderma ~ Crealine H20 Wipes: around $18.00 (purchased in Paris..sorry)
*** Great for sensitive skin and eye area – these never make the eyes sting and take off everything with ease while toning the skin.
Josie Maran ~ Bear Naked Wipes: $12.00
*** Super hydrating and smell delicious.
MAC ~ Wipes: $20.00
*** These are amazing at taking everything off your face – however, I always wash my face after as the formula is a bit strong.
Aveeno ~ Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes: $6.99
*** The perfect wipe. Soothing, no stinging, face feels clean and fresh. Cost-Effective.
The Double-Cleanse Method: Dermalogica
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Double Cleanse to help relieve skin dullness, congestion and more.
The International Dermal Institute, the brains behind skin care line Dermalogica, conducted a research study that found most women only spend approximately 20 seconds washing their face. Unfortunately, even with the strongest of cleansers, a single cleanse cannot effectively penetrate and remove the dirt, oil, makeup, debris, sun-screen and pollutants left on the skin. In the long run your skin will start to look dull and be more prone to congestion and breakouts. Thus, the Dermalogica Double Cleanse was born.
The first step of the Dermalogica Double Cleanse is PreCleanse. PreCleanse is formulated with plant-based oils that melt the layers of oil-based debris on your skin because the oil molecules bond to each other, unlike the water molecules in your usual cleanser. These oils then emulsify when you add water, encapsulating and removing the trapped debris, thus allowing the second step of the cleanse to penetrate even further than before. PreCleanse is the best oil-based cleanser I have tried. Extremely gentle yet amazingly effective.
The second step of the Dermalogica Double Cleanse is the Special Cleansing Gel (or any recommended Dermalogica cleanser). The Special Cleansing Gel is a gentle, soap-free, foaming gel cleanser that removes impurities without disturbing the skin’s natural moisture balance. Calming Balm Mint and Lavender extracts soothe the skin, while natural Quillaja Saponaria gently foams away toxins and debris for a super-clean surface. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.
With all of these new products on the markets, such as primers, BB Creams, fillers and long-lasting cosmetics – the Double Cleanse Method is the only way to get your skin clean. These products are filled with silicons and oils that a single cleanse cannot penetrate. Try this method and I am sure you will never go back.
Performing the Dermalogica Double Cleanse:
1. Remove eye and lip make-up by dispensing PreCleanse onto damp cotton.
2. Shake a generous amount of PreCleanse into dry hands and spread between the palms.
3. Sweep PreCleanse across neck, cheeks and forehead. Begin the step-by-step Dermalogica Professional Cleansing Technique listed below.
b. Continue by circling chin and cheeks, paying special attention to areas of congestion.
c. Use one fingertip on both sides of the nostril, then circle around the side and top of the nose.
d. Come between the eyebrows and continue circles over forehead, making sure to include the hairline.
e. Wet hands and massage over PreCleanse to create a light, milky emulsion.
4. Remove with the dampened cleansing cloth to gently exfoliate for ultra-clean, super smooth skin!
5. Commence second cleanse with recommended Dermalogica Cleanser.
The Balm: REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm
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Chemistry 101 dictates that “like dissolves like.” When it comes to cleansing the face, oil is better at binding to oil and dissolving it, which is why it is so often the basis of makeup removers.
Ren’s No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm uses plant-based oils to cleanse the skin. It is extremely gentle on the skin, but powerful enough to remove oil, oxidized sebum (blackheads), daily dirt, and even waterproof mascara. Infused with chamomile oil and pink violet leaf, it calms the skin and soothes redness, while rose oil relieves stress, leaving skin purified and clear.
A totally unique way to cleanse your skin, the creamy clear balm transforms into a rich milk on contact with water. As you rub the product into the skin, the emollient process begins. This gives you ample time to work on a deep-facial massage – a facialist secret and crucial component to great skin. The balm is nourishing and hydrating and leaves the skin feeling clean and supple. It comes with a muslin cloth, which works wonders to remove all traces of makeup, grease and dirt while gently exfoliating the skin at the same time.
Avoiding overly-cleansed skin is key to healthy skin – especially those with acne-prone skin. Dryness sends a signal to your skin to produce more sebum (oil), which can make skin and acne worse. The oils in REN’s No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm bind to the oil in your pores, and whisk away grime without stripping your skin. If your cleanser leaves your face feeling tight and dry, you’ve likely been stripped!
Tried & Tested: Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment
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Josie Maran’s Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment is food for the hair. This innovative hair treatment comes with an advanced self-heating mechanism that allows the miniature argan ampules to warm up under the hot water of your shower or by simply rubbing between the palms of your hands. The oil heats to the ideal temperature to penetrate hair strands and help seal in moisture.
Self-heats? Yes… exactly what I said.
Unlike the days of the VO5 Hot Oil Treatments where a scalding cup of water was needed to heat the tube of oil, these self-heat. Simply run one of the ampules under the hot water in your shower or rub vigorously between the palms of your hands, and the oil heats to the perfect temperature.
This expert treatment repairs and restores hair in just one minute. Its gentle formula is infused with Maran’s signature argan oil, which contains a large amount of vitamin E to reverse damage caused by heat and over-styling, leaving hair smoother, shinier, and healthier. It also contains bergamot, jojoba and soybean oil to restore dull, lackluster hair.
Suitable for all hair types and color-treated hair, this is an intense, nourishing treatment. In the shower, I leave the oil in my hair for longer that one minute and sometimes add one ampule to my hair before a day at the beach. It really does a great job of protecting my hair from the sun and saltwater. After the treatment, my hair is noticeably smoother and holds an incredible shine. The individual ampules are great for travel and are resealable, so those with shorter or thinner hair can get 2 or more uses.
How To: The Bend
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Perfectly – un-perfect hair is the only way to describe The Bend. Messy… “this is what I look like when I wake up” hair, that appears effortless, but takes a little work.
This look can be done simply with a flat iron, however, flat iron waves are tricky to master and never look uniform. The following technique is easy and controllable.
NEEDED:
‣ Styling Cream
‣ Heat Protectant
‣ 1 – 1.5 inch Curling Iron
‣ Flat Iron
‣ Texturizing Spray or Hair Spray
HOW TO:
‣ On second day hair, apply a styling cream to add some grip to the hair. TRY: Rusk Being Sexy Cream
‣ Next apply some sort of heat protectant to the hair; spray/oil/cream. TRY: Rusk Being Sexy Argan Oil
‣ With the curling iron, begin curling 3 inches down from the roots. Haphazardly curl entire head rotating the iron inward than outward. Don’t worry too much about shape of the curl – it will be fixed in a moment.
‣ Once hair is curled and cooled, take flat iron and straighten the ends of the all curls – at least 2 inches from bottom.
‣ If happy with the results, no need to go any further. If, however, some of the curls are “too curly/prom curls” – run the flat iron gently over them. This will remove the curly-ness and result in The Bend.
‣ Finish off the hair with a texturizing spray or hair spray. TRY: Oribe Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray.
OPTION:
The model in the picture is wearing extensions. This look is easier to achieve with some length. If you want to add some extensions, try these: SKR Hair. In a set of SKR Extensions you will receive ten wefts. One of the wefts in the set is an ingenious Quad Weft (4 strips of hair sewn-on to one strip). This piece can be worn with the other wefts or on it’s own. It is extremely comfortable and instantly adds length, volume and body.
Drugstore’s Finest: CeraVe
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Recommended by dermatologists everywhere, the CeraVe line of skincare products are all non-irritating, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free. Better yet, they are all available at a drugstore near you.
The CeraVe line was created in conjunction with dermatologists and was intended for use in the treatment of dry skin and other conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea and atopic dermatitis. CeraVe is the first brand to contain essential ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids that healthy skin needs. CeraVe uses a patented “multivescular emulsion” or MVE® system that was only available through prescription not long ago. This system consists of a controlled and steady release of various ingredients over time allowing skin to be hydrated longer and more efficiently with one application. The daily regimen of cleansers and moisturizers helps repair, replenish and protect the skin’s barrier to leave it looking and feeling soft, clean and healthy.
The CeraVe line of skincare products are drugstore’s finest. Here is a review of the first few products I have tried and tested:
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser: Gentle yet powerful, this cleanser removes makeup, dirt and oil like a champ. It leaves the face feeling soft and clean, not stripped or dry. It contains the brand’s signature ceramides and hyaluronic acid – two ingredients that help lock in moisture so your skin will never feel tight or dry.
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30: A great daytime moisturizer that feels light on the skin but wards off UVA/UVB rays with it’s standout broad-spectrum sunscreen. It keeps skin hydrated and restores the skin’s barrier with Niacinaminde (vitamin B3) making it less vulnerable to the elements.
CeraVe SA Renewing Lotion: This body lotion does it all – exfoliates, smoothes and softens. Skin can only be truly hydrated when the top layer of dead skin cells are removed. This allows moisturizing ingredients to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. The Renewing Lotion does all of this for you. Formulated with both salicylic acid (used for epidermal exfoliation) and ammonium lactate (a mild exfoliant and humectant) this lotion gently removes dry, scaly skin. While, vitamin D, glycerin, ceramides and hyaluronic acid smooths, firms and hydrates the skin.
CeraVe, in my opinion, is the best affordable line of skincare products. All of the products are gentle, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, non-irritating and readily available at mass retailers and drugstores nationwide.
Festival Beauty Essentials
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Be prepared for hot and sticky situations with Glow-T’s Festival Beauty Essentials:
Tory Burch Double Zip Train Case: A great travel case with cool ikat design.
Supergoop! Sunscreen Swipes SPF 30 (21 count): These sunscreen wipes are individually packed, perfect for throwing in your bag. The pre-moistened towelettes are formulated to calm and soothe the skin while providing complete UV protection. Great for sensitive skin, these wipes can be used all over the body.
Coola SPF 30 Unscented Matte Finish Tint: This lightly tinted moisturizer delivers broad spectrum SPF 30 protection. Infused with antioxidants, shea butter, plankton, borage seed oil and evening primrose extract, this lotion will rejuvinate, hydrate and protect. The water-resistant formula and matte finish is great for long days in the sun.
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25: My favorite lip balm to date, this product is incrediably soothing and moisturizing – provides SPF 25 and lasts. Enriched with superior skin conditioners and antioxidants, this emollient balm relieves dry, chapped and irritated lips.
Donna Karen Cashmere Mist Deodorant: Keep dry and odor-free with Donna Karen’s Cashmere Mist Deodorant. Delicately scented with perfume, this advanced formula controls wetness and perspiration.
CleanWell All Natural Hand Sanitizing Spray: Thousands of people and porta-potties… hand sanitizer is a must. This all-natural formula is made with thyme oil that kills all germs and the portable spray makes it easy to carry everywhere.
Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo (Travel Size): Extend time between washes with a dry shampoo. This gentle formula smells nice and absorbs oil and dirt – an instant refresher. Infused with oat milk, it also nourishes the hair while creating volume and texture.
Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes: Remove makeup, dirt and oil quickly with these all-natural wipes. Formulated with aloe vera, cucumber, chamomile and vitamin E, the easy-access wipes cleanse and refresh the face and body. Bonus: When purchased, these biodegradable wipes support to protect the endangered Polar Bear.
RMS Cream Eyeshadow – Solar: Perfect for the desert princess, this cream eyeshadow reflects a sheer wash of gold. A great all-in-one eye product, it doubles as an eye cream to nourish and moisturize the eye area.
NARS Cream Blush – Cactus Flower: The name alone implies desert beauty. This bright coral/spicy pink cream blush can be used on both the cheeks and lips. A very subtle gold shimmer leaves the skin flushed, dewy and healthy.
Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Waterproof Mascara: Waterproof mascara is a must-have. I assure you Givenchy’s will not budge or smudge. The spiked-ball wand takes a little to get used to but defines, separates and lengthens exquisitely. Tip: With your finger, smudge on the lashline for an instant liner effect that will last.
Laura Geller Balance-n-Bronze: A genius design, adding bronzer and foundation, all-in-one. The color-correcting foundation is sheer but never looks powdery. The baked bronzer is infused with layers of color to achieve the perfect sun-kissed shade. Swipe separately or swirl together to get a glowing, sun-goddess look.
Easy Exfoliating: Origins Ginger Body Scrub
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Origins Ginger Body Scrub
Want softer, healthy-looking skin…Exfoliate!
Your body is covered by a layer of dead skin cells. No matter how often you moisturize, these creams and lotions will not be able to penetrate the epidermis of the skin without sloughing away these dead skin cells.
A body scrub is made up of granulated particles that deeply clean the skin and unclog pores. These products single-handedly remove dead skin cells, dirt and oil. They also stimulate the skin and promote blood circulation which has been used to help with cellulite and even boost immunity.
Once you have removed the barrier of dead skin cells creams and lotions will be readily absorbed by the skin.
Origins Ginger Body Scrub is made with dead sea salts and ginger zest. This invigorating scrub smells delicious and removes all traces of roughness on the skin. It also contains moisterizing properties like Macadamia Oil, Soybean Oil, Jujui Nut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil.
When using a body scrub, gently rub all over body in circular motion and rinse off. The amount of pressure used is up to you. When having a scrub procedure done at a day-spa, they use an immense amount of pressure that can be slightly painful – but totally worth it. Don’t be afraid to work up a little sweat when applying. Make sure to moisturize immediately after to reveal your new skin, healthy and glowing.
Tried & Tested: Micellar Cleansing Waters
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Micellar Cleansing Water is used to remove impurities, tone and hydrate the skin without the need of water. These delicate waters immediately eliminate makeup, dirt and oil from the skin with one sweep.
Based on a micelle principle, these technologically advanced products release softening agents to hydrate and calm the skin while effectively removing all traces of make-up on face, eyes and lips. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, (some brands provide a separate sensitive-skin formula) these refreshing waters cleanse and tone the skin without irritation.
The difference between Micellar Cleansing Water and simple makeup removers…
According to Bernard Pochic, Bioderma’s National Trainer, “Micellar Cleansers dissolve the bond between cosmetic pigments and your skin so you can wipe it off.” Doesn’t sound all that different, simple makeup removers primarily smear the cosmetic pigments allowing an easy removal when you wash your face. The Micellar Cleansers is a one-step process that eliminates the need for a second cleanse.
Simply apply product to cotton pad and wipe gently where needed. These products will dissolve even the most stubborn or waterproof product.
Primarily made by French skincare brands, Micellar Cleansers are now popping up everywhere. Here are a few of my favorites, all but one (Bioderma) can be found online, in drugstores or beauty supply.
Vichy – Purete Thermale Cleansing Micellar Lotion, Avene – Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover, Embryolisse – Micellar Lotion , La Roche-Posay – Physiological Micellar Solution, Bioderma – Sensibio H20 Micellar Solution
Prime Time: Stila Prime Pot
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Stila Prime Pot
Stila Prime Pot is a waterproof eye shadow primer that extends the life of eye makeup. When applied, this primer smooths and conceals the lid area of any flaws to create the perfect blank canvas for eye makeup. The inventive polymers in this product cling to eye shadow to prevent creasing and keep excess oil at bay.
This creamy primer is easy to apply and only the smallest amount is needed. Although this product is waterproof, it can be removed gently and without struggle.
Stila Prime Pot is available in two colors, Taffy: soft beige pink and Caramel: warm tawny beige. Both colors are matte and should match all skintones.
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