Month: November 2019

Posted on

3 Things That Are Secretly Aging You, According to a Celeb Stylist

You often hear the phrase age is but a number. Yet, if you ask a room of adults if they’d like to know how to look younger, we bet most would raise their hands. If you’re among the set that would have their arm up high (myself included), this post is for you. If you could care less, we’ve got a ton of other great content—may we direct you to some winter outfit ideas or a piece on bag trends?

We’re not aiming to cast aging in a negative light (hey, it’s literally part of being a human), but there are simply some style habits that can make you look older and some that can make you look more youthful. Do with this information what you will, but to make sure it’s the best intel we could gather, we tapped a most excellent expert. Read on for the wisdom of Dani Michelle, one of the most in-demand celebrity stylists who works with a range of ages.

“When your accessories look tired, so do you. Make sure your best pieces are well cared for by taking them to a repair shop or doing some DIY care at home with shoe and bag polish. Accessories can really polish and demolish an outfit.” — Dani Michelle

“I’m a huge fan of vintage pieces and incorporating them into everyday outfits. That being said, don’t be afraid to alter, chop, or re-invent pieces so they are relevant and reference current trends and you aren’t just in old looks.” — Dani Michelle 

“You aren’t the same throughout your life, so why should your style stay stagnant? There’s a difference between re-buying your aesthetic season after season and evolving it with current trends. It’s certainly important to dress for your body type, but in turn, don’t be afraid to try new styles that work on you. You’ll feel like yourself and still be in style.” — Dani Michelle 

Next up, check out the best skinny jeans at Zara, dressing room tested by our editor in chief. 

Posted on

This Surprising Product Is Facialists’ Best-Kept Secret for Dewy, Hydrated Skin

Toners are a hotly debated topic right now in skincare for a few reasons: First of all, the best formula really depends on your specific skin type and your biggest skin concerns. Second, there are certain ingredients you definitely want to avoid (cough, alcohol!). And finally, there are differing opinions on the best way and time to apply them. That said, according to skin experts like celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau and dermatology physician assistant at Facile Lena Metcalfe toners can offer some seriously amazing benefits as long as you’re working with the right formulas. Being that it’s officially dry skin season, choosing options with the right balance of hydrating ingredients (and nixing complexion-drying alcohols) is imperative for reaping max ultra-glowy results. To get the full scoop on toners, we asked Rouleau and Metcalfe to answer all of our burning questions and to recommend the very best toners for dry skin as a cherry on top. Keep scrolling! 

As Metcalfe explains to us, toners are water- or alcohol-based solutions designed to gift the skin with extra hydration or active ingredients to address a variety of skin goals. 

“Back in the day, toners were mostly alcohol-based, but not the good, moisturizing types of alcohol,” she shares. “These alcohol-based toners can be over-drying and stripping, which disrupts the skin barrier and can cause rebound oiliness. They feel great for people with oily or acne-prone skin because they make your skin feel extremely tight and clean, but they are one of the worst things you could be doing to your skin.”

Fortunately, most toners on the market these days don’t contain the worrisome types of alcohol (think alcohol, denatured alcohol, ethanol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, SD alcohol), and are now available in more gentle and strategic formulas. As far as the benefits toners can offer, Rouleau says the right formulas can boost hydration (leave it on damp after cleansing!), balance your skin’s pH, remove drying salts and chlorines found in tap water, enhance the results of your entire skincare regimen, and last but not least, support your skin’s natural protective barrier. 

“I don’t believe toners are a be-all and end-all for great skin, and they certainly aren’t something everyone NEEDS in their regimen, but they can be helpful for some, especially those who prefer a multi-step skincare routine,” confirms Metcalfe.

First and foremost and for optimal results, toners should be applied immediately after cleansing both morning and night—apply the formula with a cotton round or toning cloth (we’re obsessed with these eco-friendly cloths from Rouleau’s namesake line!) and wipe over the entire face. For extra hydration, leave the skin damp and immediately follow with your serum and moisturizer. 

“Anything you apply after cleansing your skin is more potent because the water allows it to absorb more efficiently into your skin,” Metcalfe confirms. “Water-based toners actually enhance this process because you are adding another layer of water to your regimen, so the next product you apply will be even more potent—an amazing perk for dry skin types.”

Plus, using your toner right after cleansing helps remove any residual excess dirt, makeup, or oil lingering on the skin. 

As Metcalfe explained earlier, water-based toners with additional moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid are the absolute best for dry skin and gentle, calming ingredients that are rich in antioxidants (like green tea) can also do wonders for a parched or irritated complexion. Rouleau also recommends keeping an eye out for moisturizing phospholipids, brightening and barrier-strengthening vitamin B3 (aka niacinamide), and other omega 3-, 6-, and 9- rich oils like black raspberry, blackberry, and so on. 

As far as ingredients to avoid, alcohols are strictly prohibited and you may want to avoid high concentrations of exfoliating agents like glycolic or salicylic acids. “As much as I love these exfoliators, at high concentrations, they can be a bit too irritating for dry, sensitive, skin,” says Metcalfe.

Also, make sure you’re not relying on your toner to do all the legwork for moisturizing—you still need your serums and face cream, folks!

“You must layer a good moisturizing cream on after the toner, or if you use an active ingredient serum you would layer that on after the toner and put your
cream on last,” instructs Metcalfe. “You also want to stick to a moisturizing, creamy cleanser so that you aren’t stripping your skin too much.”

And for those with extremely sensitive skin, Metcalfe recommends skipping a toner altogether to avoid unnecessary exposure to potentially irritating ingredients like botanicals and exfoliants.

I’m a huge Goop stan, and this pore-refining (yet hydration-rich) toner, is one of my all-time favorites and a permanent fixture on my vanity. It does have some exfoliating benefit, so tread carefully if you’re super sensitive, but as someone with an easily-irritated complexion, I find the mix of detoxifying malachite, moisturizing hyaluronic acid, brightening vitamin B3, plus cell-sloughing glycolic and phytic acids to be just right. 

A fan favorite from Rouleau’s namesake line of skin saviors, she says this serum-infused toner (which is similar to an “essence”) efficiently delivers hydration deep within the intercellular matrix of the skin. Essential hydrating ingredients include phospholipids, brightening niacinamide (vitamin B3), and a delicate mix of oils rich in omega-3, -6, and -9 from black raspberry seed and blackberry. 

Agent Nateur is one of the most luxurious and efficacious brands in natural beauty and skincare space. And, this pearl- and rose-enriched toning elixir could arguably be one of the best players within its all-star roster. Hyper-moisturizing, the strategic and gentle ingredient list helps to plump, firm, brighten, and diminish the look of redness, pores, and fine lines or wrinkles. 

“I like this toner because it has a lot of calming ingredients and antioxidants, so it’s great for sensitive skin while also having very mild exfoliating ingredients like white willow bark,” shares Metcalfe.

According to Rouleau, this is one of her favorite toners to recommend for dry skin types. “It’s fortified with vitamin B12 and ginseng root extract to help increase energy molecule production and increase blood circulation to bring a fresh-looking glow to the skin,” she tells us.

“I love this toner,” Metcalfe adds. “It has a very basic ingredient profile, and is great for dry, sensitive, irritated skin.”

I’ve heard great things about French skincare brand Darphin and have actually had my eye on this beloved toner (an especially great option for dry skin!) for a while now. However, after seeing how much Swedish pop star Zara Larsson loves it, now my parched skin REALLY has to have it. 

“This is another great option for those with dry or more sensitive skin who are looking for mild exfoliation,” Metcalfe tells us. “It’s full of fruit extracts to provide the skin with antioxidants and has some evening primrose oil to help promote skin hydration.”

Acne-prone folks, this hydrating toner is for you! “A multi-action toner to clear clogged pores, limit blackhead formation and prevent breakouts all while providing skin-nourishing hydration,” Rouleau confirms.

According to Metcalfe, this toner from Indie Lee is one of the best for dry skin because it has hyaluronic acid to hydrate and attract water to the skin along with nice, calming ingredients like aloe, chamomile, and cucumber extract which help soothe a parched complexion.  Up next, FYI: This Is the Number One Mistake You’re Making If You Have Dry Skin

Posted on

I Always Get Compliments on My Eyebrows—These Are the Products I Swear By

We’ve talked at length about the huge role eyebrows play in framing the face. Determining the shape you should go for is one thing, but maintaining that shape between grooming appointments can be a whole undertaking in itself. And as someone who takes her brow game very seriously, I can personally attest to the fact that my arsenal of brow products is as important to me as any other makeup I own.

I’ll admit that my full eyebrows are genetic (thanks, Dad!), but I’m still forever flattered whenever anyone throws a compliment my way. Even though I am genetically blessed with bountiful brows, I’ve still had to put in some work to achieve optimal bushiness. After years of waxing and tweezing my poor eyebrows to the brink of extinction, I’m coming to you as a trauma survivor to tell you that there’s hope for you yet. I’ve tried it all, so I consider myself particularly apt at identifying which products are all talk and which products live up to the hype. Ahead, the ones I couldn’t live without.

This two-sided pencil requires a little more finesse, but it’s truly a miracle worker. On the one side, you’ve got a perfectly waxy pencil to define your arch or create hair-like strokes. Then, on the other side, you’ve got a small felt-tipped loose powder applicator to blend it all together. Chef’s kiss.

This no-nonsense brow pencil is the perfect basic to buy in multiples. The spooly brush on the end makes it a multifunctional tool that can be employed at any step of my brow-grooming routine. I keep one at home, in my purse, and at my desk so I can use it for quick touch-ups no matter where I’m headed.

When it comes to brow powders, this one by Anastasia is the cream of the crop. No surprises here! I go in with the darker shade and an angled brush to outline my brows and add a bit of drama. Then, I’ll tap the lighter shade into any sparse areas in the center for complete fullness. If, like me, you tend to wait a month or two between professional shapings, then this method makes it a lot easier to conceal rogue hairs and fake expertly groomed brows, no matter how long it’s been since your last cleanup.

I love the freedom of brows on the go, so I’m a big fan of this affordable offering from NYX. Having powders, wax, and tiny tools all encased in one mighty little kit makes it super easy to throw this in my bag and apply whenever I’ve got a free moment. While the brush included here isn’t my favorite (it’s a little stiff for my taste), there’s no denying the genius of this compact.

I can’t say enough good things about this pen. It’s the perfect device to achieve that super-chic bushy look without coming off too severe. The fine tip allows you to flick hair-like lines into the brows, one at a time, to slowly build the most natural-looking brows imaginable. It takes some practice to get the hang of this pen, but once you get that wrist flick down, you’re unstoppable. Seriously, buy this.

This four-pronged felt-tip pen mimics the effects of micro-bladed brows by placing clusters of thin, hair-like ink wherever you place it. I love it for adding natural volume to the sparse front end of my brows.

This little pot of deeply pigmented pomade makes for the perfect travel companion since it can create any number of brow looks. Whether you’re looking for a brow to accompany a full face beat, or you just want to lightly fill in sparse areas, this set is a winner.

Can we just have a brief moment of silence for this holy-grail product? I mean, it just doesn’t get better. I have gone through more of these pots than I can count throughout my eyebrow journey, and every time I come back to it after some time away, I’m reminded of its magic. It’s helped me through the wonkiest, awkward phases of growing out my brows.

Aside from being my all-time favorite Glossier product, Boy Brow is among my favorite beauty products, period. It comes in a clear version, but I prefer the tinted gel to quickly fill and hold my brows. The tiny brush head makes it easy to coat each and every hair for all-day efficacy.

When it come to long-lasting, firm-hold products, this one tops the list. I spotted it on my mom’s vanity a few years back and when I tried it out for myself, it was love at first swipe.

I prefer tinted gels to clear ones for one main reason: Clear gels have a tendency to flake. This is one of the few clear gels I’ve used that doesn’t.

Maybe it’s an old wives’ tale, but I’ve been conditioned from an early age to use castor oil wherever sparse hair is concerned. The natural substance has long been lauded as the most potent topical solutions for promoting hair growth, and this nutrient-dense formula is not only effective but ethically sourced.

When it comes to tweezers, I’m a Tweezerman purist. I can’t remember a time since I was a teenager when I didn’t have a pair of these quality hair nabbers in my arsenal. They last for so long that I honestly only buy new ones when I want a new color or design.

I don’t know what it is about this angled brush, but it’s truly the best one I’ve ever used. The bristles are both soft and dense, making it the perfect tool to pick up both powders and pomades without issue. The spooly on the opposite end is also great to blending out any harsh lines and keeping everything looking nice and natural. 

Speaking of high-quality tools, this double-edged brush from Sephora is another one I’ve had on hand for years. Believe it or not, I purchased this brush when I was in college, and it’s still a go-to all these years later. I love the eyelash comb component, for creating lengthy, separated lashes in addition to expertly groomed eyebrows. Up next, 21 holy-shit beauty products from the Nordstrom fall sale.