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I've never been a fan of whitening strips or overnight gels as they're uncomfortable and need to be used repeatedly for results, so this (highly effective) one-time treatment is a refreshing change.
Use the Rembrandt Whitening Kit on a lazy Sunday, when you're watching Sex and the City reruns, and you'll see results by the time Mr. Big reappears to steal the scene.
Retailer: Drugstore.com
Cost: $18.99 (SRP $20.25)
I'm heading to Vancouver tomorrow to see my parents for a week and have decided to detox whilst away. My mum and I have done them (we use the Wild Rose Detox kit) regularly for years and, though it's a bit painful at first, you feel absolutely amazing afterwards. What always got me through the ten day cleanse was the thought of being 5-7 lbs lighter, which is a lovely little side effect of the detox.
You can still eat a large variety of foods with this program so it's really not that big a deal, it's just that I haven't been able to complete one in New York since I moved here a couple years ago. Call me weak, but there's just too much going on here and it's too difficult not to participate. I think being in Vancouver (land of the healthy and fit) will be a great help and I'm also extremely determined this time around, so hopefully I'll stay the course. Wish me luck!
I don't know about you, but
I haven't been able to turn on the TV or flip through a magazine recently without seeing an ad promoting mineral-based makeup. Both mass market and niche cosmetic companies have been following this trend quite closely, which makes me wonder- what's enticing everyone to go mineral? Are brands just trying to cash in on the 'green' movement by adding (more) natural products to their collections, or is it that minerals are actually beneficial enough to become a key ingredient in the coming years? Maybe it's a bit of both.
Until this week, I didn't know much about mineral makeup (apart from its existence), so I did a bit of research and found that it does indeed have many benefits, some of which are:
Though it all sounds wonderful, I've been devoted to Chanel's Poudre Universelle for as long as I can remember, so the idea of trading it in for a mineral powder is a bit daunting. I don't think I'm ready to make that switch quite yet, but I did play with an assortment of mineral-based products this week and the majority had a really nice texture and pigment to them.
A few of my favorites:
I think mineral-based cosmetics are much like organic foods or natural
skincare, you can become totally taken by it all or just supplement a
few things and find your own balance. From what I've tried, I think
mineral makeup is definitely worth the fuss and hope it becomes more
than just a trend in the coming years.
Pictured above (from left): Pur Minerals Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 (Tropical Bronze pictured) $16.50, Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer
$28, Youngblood Mineral Eyeliner
Pencil $10, La Bella Donna Mineral Mascara $22.50, Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips $18, Jane Iredale PurePressed Blush (Sheer Honey pictured) $26, and Laura Mercier
Mineral Powder SPF 15 $35.
Based in New York, Erin Anderson is best known for styling some of Hollywood's most enviable tresses. Her extensive client list includes the likes of Mischa Barton and Rachel Weisz, both of which rely on Erin's experience and expertise to highlight their best features and keep their style current.
I recently had the opportunity to quiz Erin on summer haircare, how to achieve the perfect fringe, and what styling products she turns to as a professional.
Q1: Our hair can be brutally
abused by the elements in the summertime, what do you recommend to protect/repair
the hair?
Protection is key to
address first, hopefully to avoid the need to repair! Protection methods
I recommend are: wearing a hat, always wetting the hair down with fresh
water before going in swimming pools and rinsing right after, and/or using
a sun protection sprays such as Phyto Plage Protective Beach Spray w/olive
oil for dryer hair types or Phyto Plage Protective Sun Veil w/ sunflower
extract for oilier hair types. If your hair does become damaged by
sun, chlorine, and/or salt water exposure, a weekly masque or treatment
is necessary.
Q2: Can you recommend any simple
at-home styling tips/tricks to achieve the tousled, wavy ('Gisele')
look?
To achieve that wavy
tousled 'Gisele' look, you can use beach sprays such as Bumble and
bumble Surf Spray or John Frieda Ocean Waves. Depending
on the texture of your hair, I recommend different methods for using the product. For thicker/drier types, I recommend using a
leave in conditioner underneath and for oilier finer types, its fine on
its own. You can also let hair dry naturally encouraging movement. Once your hair is dry, try using an inch, or larger, curling iron, wrapping sections
around the wand freestyle. NO WINDING! This way you get
a wave and not a curl. Finish off by using a pomade, such as V05 Reworkable
Putty, to separate and give a 'lived in' appearance.
Q3: Do you feel anyone can
go blonde or should the look be reserved for certain skin tones/hair
types?
Anyone can go blond!
The key is finding the right SHADE of blonde to suit your skin tone
and hair type.
Q4: Some of us have learned,
the hard way, that bangs can be a bit overwhelming to the wrong facial
structure. How do create such flattering bangs for clients, like Mischa
Barton, who have a round or square facial shape? Is it in the cut or
in the styling techniques?
Deciding to cut bangs
is a great way to change up a 'stale' style. The key is consulting with your stylist to
figure out what style of bangs will be most flattering to your face
and what will work into your existing haircut. For round and square
face shapes, I recommend keeping the bangs on the longer side side swept with soft ends. That way you create soft angles to bring
out facial features like eyes and cheekbones. I also recommend a long 'V' shape, that way you can style to either side and achieve different
looks.
Q5: What are the top three
styling products you're addicted to at the moment?
The top 3 styling products I'm addicted to at the moment are:
If you're anything like me, you'll soon find yourself with one of these little compacts in each of your handbags.
This product is fantastic at keeping excess oil at bay without disturbing your makeup or clogging pores and the formulation even has tea tree oil to help combat breakouts and vitamin E to help repair skin damage. Add those skin care benefits to a mirror and sponge housed in a tiny black compact and you'll wonder how you ever survived a summer without the Smashbox Compact Anti-Shine.
Retailer: Sephora.com
Cost: $28.00
Most girls love a great sale and I'm no exception. It's that proud moment of displaying something fabulous you found for a fraction of the original price or that discontinued shade of gloss everyone compliments you on. I admit, it can feel pretty rewarding though terribly superficial.
However, regardless of how good it's felt in the past to walk out of a store with my latest [insert brand name here] find, I've become quite phobic of overcrowded department stores/boutiques during sale season as some women can transform into rabid animals over a pair of pumps or a shade of rouge. Enter the online sale. What once was a dreadful experience is now a delightful ten minute affair complete with delivery right to my doorstep, what more could a closet shopaholic wish for?
Below are just a few great pieces/products that are currently on sale if you're interested, but do keep in mind that sizes and quantities are limited...
1. Chloe Edith Satchel $1,275 $829 @ NeimanMarcus.com
2. Ralph Lauren Leah Patent Leather Pumps $525 $299 @ Polo.com
3. NARS Hot Sauce Lip Palette $55 $30 @ Sephora.com
4. Kenneth Jay Lane Rope Link Necklace $126 $50.40 @ Net-a-Porter.com
5. Breath Palette Cinnamon Toothpaste $4.49 $3.14 @ Drugstore.com
6. Earnest Sewn Decca Presidio Jeans $109 $49 @ Barneys.com
7. CHI Rocket Hair Dryer $300 $135 @ Drugstore.com
8. Stella McCartney Studded Clutch $1,200 $799 @ IntermixOnline.com
9. Lanvin Perforated Ballet Flats $515 $310 @ Barneys.com
10. Sephora Cosmetic Brushes $5-$40 $2-$20 @ Sephora.com
11. Alison Raffaele Soft Eyeshadow $19.50 $9.75 @ Sephora.com
12. Henry Beguelin Star Tote $1,195 $777 @ NeimanMarcus.com
13. Alice Ritter Babydoll Dress $485 $199 @ IntermixOnline.com
14. Matthew Williamson Bangle $335 $134 @ Net-a-Porter.com
15. Christian Louboutin Peep Toe Wedges $580 $350 @ Barneys.com
16. Aromatherapy Lavender Vanilla Body Wash $13 $5 @ BBW.com
17. Paula Dorf Magic Stick Concealer $16 $8 @ Sephora.com
18. Catherine Malandrino Blouse $325 $130 @ Net-a-Porter.com
Honorable Mentions:
Shopbop.com
BergdorfGoodman.com
Saks.com
Paul Smith Blue Cropped Bomber Jacket $1,086
Jennifer Meyer 18K White Gold Leaf Necklace $675-$1,200
Marni Cotton Jersey T-Shirt $180
Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses $100
Topshop Lizzie Denim Hotpant $45
Hermes Arceau Watch $3,500
KORS by Michael Kors Sarasota Sandals $155
Slim Aarons A Place in the Sun, Hardcover $75
Goyard St. Louis PM Tote $750
Chantecaille Claim: Just Skin SPF 15 is a lightweight tinted moisturizer with a
non-toxic mineral sunscreen and a complex of botanicals that
delivers protection from free radicals, smog and sun.
Stila Claim: This tinted moisturizer is packed with sun protection and just enough color
to even skin tone. The light, hydrating formula is ideal for all skin
types and comes in natural, see-through shades.
Price: $62.00 for Chantecaille and $30.00 for Stila
Number of Shades: Chantecaille 3; Stila 10
Coverage: Chantecaille 4.5/10; Stila 7.5/10
Wear: Chantecaille 8.5/10; Stila 7.0/10
Summary: Both of these tinted moisturizers are actually quite nice, but the Chantecaille Just Skin formulation gave a luminescent finish to my complexion that Stila's Sheer Color just didn't provide. If you seek greater coverage but desire the glow that the Chantecaille product gives, try mixing it with your liquid foundation (equal parts) before applying to the skin.
Winner of this tinted moisturizer comparison:
Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 available at BergdorfGoodman.com
Warning: Product is highly addictive.
This oil-free moisturizer is perfect for the summer season and comes complete with nourishing shea butter and vitamin b5 as well as soothing bergamot.
Why is this product a current obsession when I have 50+ body lotions in my beauty cabinet? Well, aside from being non-comogenic and super lightweight (a must during NYC's humid summer months), what sold me is that there's no need to wait before getting dressed as this lotion absorbs instantly.
I've now got a great glow to my skin and it feel gorgeous to the touch (says my guy) without the greasy, slippery residue I've experienced in the past.
Retailer: Barneys.com
Cost: $36.00
Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee Sunscreen Lotion SPF 4 $10
Evian Skin Care Atomizer $5.50-$16.50
Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Soother SPF 20 $6.50
Vaseline Petroleum Jelly $2-$6
Booth's Walnut Shell Body Scrub and Cleanser $6
Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara $3
Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion $7-$12
Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme $7
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Instant Touch-Up Glossing Spray $6
Canus Goat's Milk Moisturizing Body Wash $7.50