Beauty

I’ll admit it — I’m a bit late to the game when it comes to SK-II’s newest hero product, the LXP Ultimate Revival Essence. I may have been admiring the gorgeous, rose gold bottle (which, perfectly dresses up my vanity) since I got a sample back in January — but trying it — that didn’t happen until just a week ago. But…I have a perfectly good excuse reason for that: I simply didn’t have any cotton pads that I deemed worthy to apply such a premium product. The LXP Ultimate Revival Essence is the even more luxe sister to the brand’s iconic Facial Treatment Essence (which btw, also comes in a gorgeous limited edition bottle designed by Rochas). Like the classic treatment fluid, the Ultimate Revival Essence is also loaded with Pitera, a nutrient rich broth derived from the fermentation process of yeast, but contains an 8 times more concentrated version of the miracle ingredient. The new formulation also contains a trio of moisturizers, a peptide protein that encourages collagen production, and  Centella Essence, a healing ingredient that helps repair the skin and promote a healthier barrier function. The essence is so potent, in fact, that the brand is confident you’ll see results such as brightening and clarity  in as little as three days. Speaking from personal experience, after having just used it for a week, I definitely feel that my skin is looking more radient and more importantly, didn’t break out in my usual cycle of hormonal acne during the time of the month.

Now about that cotton pad situation. SK-II actually recommends not using anything other than your fingers to apply, but for the same reason I hate splashing water over my face and prefer to use a washcloth, I couldn’t heed that advice. If you don’t mind, however, definitely just splash a little in your hands and tap directly into face (bonus: more youthful looking hands and you won’t waste even a drop of the product). But if you’re like me and need a cotton pad, check out this one, which is specially  made for toner and a worthy fit of this luxurious essence.

What do you think when you hear the term “sexy hair”? Soft, beachy waves à la Victoria’s Secret Swim Catalog? Yeah, me too. But how does that explain gals like Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway and Miley Cyrus? IMHO, they look just as sexy now — perhaps even sexier — than they did with long, flowing (and dare I say … generic?) locks.

For those of you who agree, consider checking out what Sexy Hair has to offer come June. The Chatsworth, Calif.-based line — perhaps best known for Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play, the hairspray in the big red can — is releasing a new product line dedicated to helping edgy hairstyles hold up. (more…)

I try so many different products, sometimes I can forget how fabulous it is when I find one that I really love. And then something like Zoya’s new PixieDust collection comes out and I find myself squeeing all over the place and texting all my friends to tell them they MUST buy it. This is why I love writing about products so much — because when you find one that’s so amazing you want to shout it from the rooftops, it’s just plain fun.

PixieDust is a collection of six new shades with a super cool finish – it’s textured, matte AND sparkling, all at the same time.  (I know it sounds hard to believe, but I’m wearing one right now and that pretty much perfectly describes it).  Here are the shades available right now:

• Dahlia – A sparkling black
• Chyna – A sparkling red
• Godiva – A sparkling nude
• Vespa – A sparkling green
• Nyx – A sparkling blue
• London – A sparkling grey

Every single one of these is gorgeous.  Every.  Single.  One.  I’m currently wearing Dahlia and I cannot stop looking at my hands.  The color is super, super sparkly and you can definitely tell that it’s textured, but not in a very chunky way that can get annoying.  And I love that they dry matte – it gives the shades an extra something special that other textured polishes don’t have. (more…)

We’re definitely a bit of a lipgloss kick here at TDO — there are simply too many new spring colors and collections that are just too pretty not to write about. Our latest find comes from the beauty brand we’re always obsessed with — CHANEL — which launched a limited edition shade for spring called Attirance. As part of the Rogue Allure Extrait de Gloss collection, the product is housed in a heavyweight black tube inspired by Chanel’s iconic lipsticks. The regal and formal nature of the packaging belies the product inside — the gloss itself is very smooth and silky and this color in particular has a lightness to it that makes it perfect for warmer days ahead.

Though described as a coppery-beige, I actually found the color to be more of a golden peach as there is none of that dense flatness I usually tend to find with both copper and beige. The formulation is sheer and lets the natural color of your lips show through, adding dimension and a subtle, beautiful sparkle. As one would expect from Chanel, there is no grittiness or glitter to the product, instead the fine gold sparkle is encapsulated in a moisturizing and silky gloss. The color can be worn on its own for those who prefer a natural look, or layered over color to help enhance the shape and fullness of the lip. In fact, this is that perfect shade to gloss to dabble on the center of the lips to add fullness regardless of any color lipstick underneath. My preference, however, is just to let the product shine on its own, and as the day gets sunnier and my makeup turns more natural, this will be the perfect gloss to carry over into summer beach days and bonfire nights. $32 at Nordstrom.com. 

If there is one big takeaway that I’ve learned from working with Simple Skincare for the past year, it is that taking care of your skin requires a multi-faceted approach. The great thing about Simple Skincare is that — yes, the products themselves are kind to skin — but the brand also encourages users to look beyond creams and toners and approach skincare holistically.

Thus the brand has set up the Simple Advisory Board, featuring a dermatologist, nutritionist, psychiatrist, makeup artist and fitness expert. I can only dream of having my own personal advisory board composed of such experts, so I’ve been paying close attention to all the advice that the Simple team has been dispensing. Check out the super cute video above where skincare darling Allison Williams introduces the Simple Advisory Board, and logon to Facebook to get to some great tips. (One of my favorites that I’m already incorporating into my routine? Apply makeup with upward strokes – that great tip comes from Simple Advisory Board makeup artist Gita Bass).

This post was created as part of my partnership with Simple Skincare. 

Whenever I see Curtis Kulig’s “Love Me’ graffiti tag, I’m reminded of JNCO jeans (the “designer” denim of the time), dancing wildly in my room as a teenager, watching repeat viewings of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Romeo + Juliet, and listening to the soundtrack (Garbage–they were so good) with The Cardigan’s Lovefool. Love me, love me…say that you love me. In the spirit of that carefree era of my life, comes Smashbox Cosmetic’s latest collaboration, a collection meant to celebrate love: the love of makeup, the love of art, and the love of creativity. Each piece of the Love Me collection features what the they fondly dub “curt-sive,” with Curtis’s tag laser-etched into blush compacts, eyeshadow pans, and into the sides of lipsticks.  My favorite in the collection are the lipsticks–glossy, generously pigmented lipsticks in the signature, tug-your-heartstrings, romantic, signature red. True to Smashbox form, they’re long wear and instantly brighten up your face.

If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I love a good body scrub. Nothing makes me feel cleaner (especially after the gym) than a nice long exfoliation session in the shower. It always leaves my skin super soft and glowy and there’s just something so satisfying about the process. My new scrub obsession is Farmhouse Fresh’s Coconut Beach Body Scrub. I’ve never tried a Farmhouse Fresh product that I didn’t love and this one only extends the streak. It smells ah-mazing – the pineapple-coconut scent immediately takes me to a tropical island right in my own bathroom (at least until I get out and remember that I have to make my own bed!) I like that it gets all the dry skin off without being harsh and thanks to the shea butter and coconut water, I don’t feel like I’ve stripped my body of any moisture after I’ve used it. It’s also 90% natural, which is great if you’re trying to cut down on the chemicals that you put on your body, and best of all, it comes in a plastic jar. If you’re not a klutz like me, this may not seem like a big deal to you, but plastic doesn’t shatter (very important when you’re handling slippery products) and it also won’t hurt nearly as much if you drop it on your foot. (If I could only count the times I’ve done that…)  Love this one!

It only took me 28 years, but I’ve finally figured out my hair’s personality. And unsurprisingly, she was like me all along. She’s cranky in the morning before her pick-me-up (in my case, green tea, in her case, a little hair oil), looks best when she doesn’t put a lot of thought into it, is comfortable switching it up (straight/curly, creative/analytical, high/low) and requires a little discipline. For me, that means a little working out, but for my hair, that means Redken’s Curvaceous Wind Up spray, a curl activating spray so easy to use that it feels like a disservice to include it in the same sentence as “maintenance.” Unlike other curl lines which use words like “tame” or “control,” Redken’s Curvaceous line is meant to let your curl, like your heart, run free. They don’t do crunchy textures, all the products are light and meant to embrace your hair’s natural texture. I’m an odd candidate for the line, since my hair is naturally stick straight with a bit of natural curl that builds the more “natural” (aka in-between washings) my hair becomes. But it’s a testament to how versatile and great the line is that I’m able to use it even as I’m not even technically curly haired. Wind It Up is meant to “release” the natural curl of your hair when it gets dampened by environmental factors or the natural course of the day. I like to use mine straight out of the shower, when my hair is at its straightest, spritz some on the ends and twist it up into a bun, after lightly towel drying. Once it’s completely dry, it helps my hair to get that natural, effortless, slightly wavy bedhead that I love.

From Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence to Vanity Fair Oscar Party show stopper Selena Gomez, smoky eye makeup was all over the red carpet last night. (Love!)

Now, how do we get these sultry looks at home? Well, step one is to invest in a good, creamy long-wear liner. My favorite as of late is Tarte Skinny SmolderEYES Amazonion Clay Waterproof Liner. Celebrity makeup artist Jenn Streicher used it in Moonstone Brown on Gomez (above left), while celebrity makeup artist Kayleen McAdams used Onyx yesterday on Channing Tatum’s wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum (aka the luckiest girl alive). (more…)

It was one snowy December evening about five years ago that I first discovered Dr. Hauschka’s skincare line in the window of a beautiful vintage pharmacy in the middle of Hamburg. As I listened to the perfectly manicured aesthetician extol the virtues of Dr. Hauschka’s meticulously formulated creams in her German accent, I knew I had stumbled onto something special.  My skin was chapped and windburned when I walked in, and almost instantaneously after applying Rose Day Cream I felt soothed and rejuvenated. When I returned into the cold howling night winds, moisture was sealed in tight and my skin felt impervious to the elements!

Now many winters later, I’ve rediscovered the cream and reuniting with it feels just as good. Only a small amount is needed because the product is so rich and the one-ounce tube will last for the entire season. Extracts of rose petal, rose hip, marshmallow, St. John’s wort and avocado help soothe chapped and irritated skin. Despite the name, I actually prefer to apply the cream after a warm shower in the evening and leave it on overnight to sink in and nourish. The product isn’t called Rose Cream for nothing —  each tube requires thirty of the flowers to formulate!  The special ingredient is called Rosa Damascena and is collected from the velvety coating on fresh rose petals (think about how luxurious it feels to run your fingers over a rose petal) to form a light and breathable barrier that protects your skin. Dr. Hauschka brings quality face care to a whole new level, which explains its overwhelming popularity in Europe that is catching on quickly stateside!