Tag: Hair

  • 6 Solutions For Stressed Out Skins

    6 Solutions For Stressed Out Skins

    Worked all day. Out all night. 10 days of straight travel.

    Sound familiar?

    Below, explore the best brands and products that beat signs of stress better than all the rest. Get ready to glow, girls.

    Skyn Iceland Face-Lift-In-A-Bag – This brand is literally all about “solutions for stressed skin.” They wrote the book. I have only tried their Face-Life-In-A-Bag and I am hooked. The weekly system is meant to turn back the clock. Eyes will look more rested, wrinkles appear smoother and smile lines fade away.

    Indi Lee Squalane Oil – This olive-derived Squalane is 100% pure and promotes elasticity, diminishes age spots and hyper pigmentation, and boosts cell regeneration and oxygenation. It’s super natural and suitable for all skin types. I love slathering this all over my face, neck and chest.

    Avène XeraCalm – Another brand who has tackled the calming department and is literally dedicated to sensitive skin. Their XeraCalm line is all about lipid-replenishing skincare that directly targets the source of itching, redness, irritation and even eczema. My favorite is the A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm. I like to use it on those bumpy areas on the back of my arms.

    Pai Calm Redness Serum – Have you girls tried Pai? This super natural line is my latest favorite and pre-wedding go-to. The Instant Calm line is fab. Jessica Richards of Shen Beauty told me all about it and now I’m hooked. The Instant Calm Redness Serum is so nice and goes really well with the Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream. I’m hooked on this whole line.

    Erno Laszlo Light Controlling Lotion – This stuff takes me back to the 90s when my mom gave my sister and I our first official skincare routines. Years later, I was reintroduced to this magical lotion and it still works. It’s meant to calm redness and reduce surface oil to refine the texture of the skin and tighten pores, eliminating dullness for fresh-faced results. Anti-inflammatory botanicals calm irritation and support natural tissue repair, leaving skin smooth and hydrated. I’m obsessed with the chic bottle too.

    Rodin Lavender Body Oil – This is the holy grail of body oils. Period. It’s formulated to relieve and nourish tired, overworked skin. It’s enriched with a calming blend of French Lavender Absolute and Bulgarian Lavender, as well as Rosehip, Neroli and Evening Primrose to help promote collagen production. It’s the ultimate in skincare indulgence.

  • How to Walk Off a Flight Fresh and Dewy

    How to Walk Off a Flight Fresh and Dewy

    There have been countless articles written on the subject of travel beauty, but nothing compelling enough for me – well not yet. As someone who truly travels on six and seven hour flights quite often, I can honestly say that I have my en flight kit down to a t. Part of the secret, and as Into the Gloss recently concurred, is the prep that you do before the flight. This is how it goes (for me).

    AT HOME (PRE-FLIGHT)

    Take a real shower. Not that half-a** kind where you only wash what’s necessary. No I’m talking the real deal. Do a full body scrub using Earth Tu Face Salt Scrub on semi-dry skin.  Wash your hair with something awesome, like Christophe Robin’s Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt followed by Robin’s Volumizing Conditioner. Shave your legs. You are going to feel great, trust me. Then slap on something really nourishing like May Lindstrom’s The Good Stuff. It’s totally organic and all natural and smells like cocoa. It’s my latest body addiction. I will also blow dry my hair, so that I feel prettier.

    BUT FIRST…WIPES!

    The first thing that I do once I get settled in my seat is to whip out my wipes and wipe down the arm rests, the cushion area behind my head and neck and any other place that I am likely to touch. Then using another clean wipe, cleanse your face, neck and hands. Simple Skincare and Josie Maran both make great and inexpensive wipes. I like to make sure the wipes are clean and not filled with chemicals, because I really like to use them liberally.

    SKIN

    On a clean face, spray something. I like SK-II’s Mid-Day Essence Spray. You get all the Japanese pitera benefits but in the easy-to-use spray form. For those of you with no shame like me, use SK-II’s Facial Treatment Mask and just leave it on until all of the moisture has absorbed onto your skin. When you take it off, you can just pat the product into your face, and any excess (especially around the neck) can be whipped off with your handy wipes. There really isn’t anything else better. Otherwise, pop on a clear and more discrete mask like Laurel Organics Honey Berry Enzyme Mask for 10-20 minutes. Wipe it off using one of your handy wipes. I also keep travel size skincare serums and moisturizes and I am always switching them up. I’ll use Tata’s Serum and then I’ll slap a pea-sized amount of One Love Organics Wonder Balm One. Love Organics makes a great eye cream, and it’s super nourishing and compact – making it ideal for travel. I really love that one.

    HAIR

    I like the Tangle Tease brush because its super small, and it doesn’t rip out my hair. So give your hair a good brush, why not. Just don’t freak out your neighbor. ?

    HANDS

    I am addddicted to Weleda’s Skin Food Hautcreme for my hands. It’s goopy and thick, so your only need a little bit. But it moisturizes like nothing else. I randomly saw it at the grocery store here in Zurich, and now I can’t stop using it. I even keep one in my car.

    SPIRIT

    Bring on some essential oils. I feel essential oils are this world of their own. It’s kind of like their own club. Once you get into them, you become addicted (kinda like crystals) and you can’t leave home or anywhere without them. The cool thing is that there is an oil for every situation. On the plane, I will roll Tata Harper’s Aromatic Stress Treatment on my neck, pulse points and on the palms of my hands and breath in deeply 3 to 5 times. This really helps relax my mind. More on essentials oils coming soon.

    MAKEUP

    Let’s face it, everyone likes to arrive feeling concealed. I will apply a bit of RMS Beauty’s “Un” ConcealerLiving or Magic Luminizer and Magic Mixer and Tata Harper’s clear Be True Balm to my lips and lids (I trick I learned backstage at NYFW). On my brows, Glossier’s Boy Brow

     

    COMPRESSION SOCKS

    Yes, this is a real thing. This is if you don’t want your legs to swell up like a balloon. And it works. I buy mine here.

  • How To Brush Your Hair?

    How To Brush Your Hair?

    It kind of goes without saying that you shouldn’t treat your hair the same when it’s wet and when it’s dry. The texture and elasticity of your hair varies depending on the amount of water it contains, so brushing it incorrectly causes severe damage – and who wants that? The brand spanking new Laight & Mercer changes the way we brush our hair by offering twobrush options – a Hairbrush for Wet Hair and a Hairbrush for Dry Hair. Pure genius!

    The Hairbrush for Wet Hair features these special Intelliflex (or extremely flexible) bristles specifically formulated to untangle all hair types without causing damage. The bristles are flexible enough to glide through wet hair (water causes the hair shaft to swell, making it more susceptible to damage) without snapping the hair cuticle and causing split ends. Hell yes.

    The Hairbrush for Dry Hair features Mongolian Boar and nylon bristles (which I already know is the perfect brush bristle combo) for dry hair that’s in-between cleansing. This brush leaves your hair silky smooth and, more importantly, healthy.

    Looks like we really need them both.

    Laight and Mercer

     

  • 5 Best Hair Masks From Around The World

    5 Best Hair Masks From Around The World

    I am VERY selective when choosing hair masks and treatments after a very traumatic keratin hair mask experience a few years ago. I honestly won’t even lookat a hair mask if it contains protein or keratin, or anything questionable or too harsh or that matter, for fear of damaging my fine locks. I’ll go crazy on face masks and treatments, leaving them on my face well over the directed time, but my hair can’t deal with that same aggressiveness. Do you feel me on this?

     

    I recently went cold turkey off hair masks to prevent another disaster. But as time passed, my ends became dry and needed some extra love (because if you haven’t heard, winter is never ending in New York). So, I slowly and carefully started trying hair masks again. My rule of thumb is that I look for masks that are vegetable based and don’t contain any keratin or animal proteins. I don’t want anything heavy or over-chemicalized that will leave my hair feeling lifeless and greasy. I need a mask that delivers beautifying results and comes packed with moisture without weighing me down.

    The Best Hair Masks

     

    After doing a little  research, I found a few masks that are AMAZING and non-damaging. These are my new favorite go-tos that I rotate through on a weekly basis. I trust these babies to (SAFELY!) get the job done right:

    Philip Kingsley Elasticizer (England): Philip Kingsley has over 55 years of Trichological experience, which is the scientific study of the hair and scalp. He’s like a doctor, but for your hair. His range of products target specific problem areas to promote healthy and nourished locks. I visited his New York City based office a few years ago and was introduced to this super-conditioning pre-shampoo treatment that intensely moisturizes the hair’s cuticles to boost elasticity and add bounce to the hair. Leave it on for 20 minutes pre-shampoo and you’ll notice increased suppleness and shine after just one use. I love it!

    Christophe Robin Cleansing Mask with Lemon (France): Christophe Robin calls his Cleansing Mask the “Rolls-Royce” of shampoos for colored hair. The non-detergent formula fixes color and restores a natural gloss and bounce to dyed hair. Lemon Zest extracts clean hair and scalp and help rebalance pH levels, while soothing Chamomile and St. John’s wort extracts prevent loss of artificial pigment.

    Davines Minu Hair Mask (Italy): This illuminating and regenerating mask is another that is ideal for colored hair. Its formula is designed to deeply nourish the hair, making it soft and silky. It even improves the duration of color – without weighing it down. The mask relies on plant-based active ingredients like capers from Salina, Italy. Yum yum.

    Cocovit Coconut Oil (India): By now we all know about the magic of coconut oiland its multiple uses, so it comes as no surprise that it’s amazing for the hair too. I’ll apply a tablespoon of oil to my hair’s cuticles and through to the ends once a week before shampooing. It gives you that shine and moisture that the freezing temps and dry air take away. It seriously helps condition hair from the inside-out providing strength, moisture and shine.

    Bumble and bumble Mending Masque (USA): I am a HUGE Bumble fan…It’s my go-to salon in New York, so I basically use all of their products, and I really just trust the brand. This masque is geared towards those with colored and damaged hair – aka me. For the ultimate repair, use it weekly to restore strength and elasticity.

  • 6 Solutions For Stressed Out Skins

    6 Solutions For Stressed Out Skins

    Worked all day. Out all night. 10 days of straight travel.

    Sound familiar?

    Below, explore the best brands and products that beat signs of stress better than all the rest. Get ready to glow, girls.

    Skyn Iceland Face-Lift-In-A-Bag – This brand is literally all about “solutions for stressed skin.” They wrote the book. I have only tried their Face-Life-In-A-Bag and I am hooked. The weekly system is meant to turn back the clock. Eyes will look more rested, wrinkles appear smoother and smile lines fade away.

    Indi Lee Squalane Oil – This olive-derived Squalane is 100% pure and promotes elasticity, diminishes age spots and hyper pigmentation, and boosts cell regeneration and oxygenation. It’s super natural and suitable for all skin types. I love slathering this all over my face, neck and chest.

    Avène XeraCalm – Another brand who has tackled the calming department and is literally dedicated to sensitive skin. Their XeraCalm line is all about lipid-replenishing skincare that directly targets the source of itching, redness, irritation and even eczema. My favorite is the A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm. I like to use it on those bumpy areas on the back of my arms.

    Beautiful smiling woman lying on a grass outdoor. She is absolutely happy.

     

    Pai Calm Redness Serum – Have you girls tried Pai? This super natural line is my latest favorite and pre-wedding go-to. The Instant Calm line is fab. Jessica Richards of Shen Beauty told me all about it and now I’m hooked. The Instant Calm Redness Serum is so nice and goes really well with the Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream. I’m hooked on this whole line.

    Erno Laszlo Light Controlling Lotion – This stuff takes me back to the 90s when my mom gave my sister and I our first official skincare routines. Years later, I was reintroduced to this magical lotion and it still works. It’s meant to calm redness and reduce surface oil to refine the texture of the skin and tighten pores, eliminating dullness for fresh-faced results. Anti-inflammatory botanicals calm irritation and support natural tissue repair, leaving skin smooth and hydrated. I’m obsessed with the chic bottle too.

    Rodin Lavender Body Oil – This is the holy grail of body oils. Period. It’s formulated to relieve and nourish tired, overworked skin. It’s enriched with a calming blend of French Lavender Absolute and Bulgarian Lavender, as well as Rosehip, Neroli and Evening Primrose to help promote collagen production. It’s the ultimate in skincare indulgence.

  • How to Walk Off a Flight Fresh and Dewy

    How to Walk Off a Flight Fresh and Dewy

    There have been countless articles written on the subject of travel beauty, but nothing compelling enough for me – well not yet. As someone who truly travels on six and seven hour flights quite often, I can honestly say that I have my en flight kit down to a t. Part of the secret, and as Into the Gloss recently concurred, is the prep that you do before the flight. This is how it goes (for me).

     

    AT HOME (PRE-FLIGHT)

    Take a real shower. Not that half-a** kind where you only wash what’s necessary. No I’m talking the real deal. Do a full body scrub using Earth Tu Face Salt Scrub on semi-dry skin.  Wash your hair with something awesome, like Christophe Robin’s Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt followed by Robin’s Volumizing Conditioner. Shave your legs. You are going to feel great, trust me. Then slap on something really nourishing like May Lindstrom’s The Good Stuff. It’s totally organic and all natural and smells like cocoa. It’s my latest body addiction. I will also blow dry my hair, so that I feel prettier.

    BUT FIRST…WIPES!

    The first thing that I do once I get settled in my seat is to whip out my wipes and wipe down the arm rests, the cushion area behind my head and neck and any other place that I am likely to touch. Then using another clean wipe, cleanse your face, neck and hands. Simple Skincare and Josie Maran both make great and inexpensive wipes. I like to make sure the wipes are clean and not filled with chemicals, because I really like to use them liberally.

    SKIN

    On a clean face, spray something. I like SK-II’s Mid-Day Essence Spray. You get all the Japanese pitera benefits but in the easy-to-use spray form. For those of you with no shame like me, use SK-II’s Facial Treatment Mask and just leave it on until all of the moisture has absorbed onto your skin. When you take it off, you can just pat the product into your face, and any excess (especially around the neck) can be whipped off with your handy wipes. There really isn’t anything else better. Otherwise, pop on a clear and more discrete mask like Laurel Organics Honey Berry Enzyme Mask for 10-20 minutes. Wipe it off using one of your handy wipes. I also keep travel size skincare serums and moisturizes and I am always switching them up. I’ll use Tata’s Serum and then I’ll slap a pea-sized amount of One Love Organics Wonder Balm One. Love Organics makes a great eye cream, and it’s super nourishing and compact – making it ideal for travel. I really love that one.

    HAIR

    I like the Tangle Tease brush because its super small, and it doesn’t rip out my hair. So give your hair a good brush, why not. Just don’t freak out your neighbor. ?

    HANDS

    I am addddicted to Weleda’s Skin Food Hautcreme for my hands. It’s goopy and thick, so your only need a little bit. But it moisturizes like nothing else. I randomly saw it at the grocery store here in Zurich, and now I can’t stop using it. I even keep one in my car.

    SPIRIT

    Bring on some essential oils. I feel essential oils are this world of their own. It’s kind of like their own club. Once you get into them, you become addicted (kinda like crystals) and you can’t leave home or anywhere without them. The cool thing is that there is an oil for every situation. On the plane, I will roll Tata Harper’s Aromatic Stress Treatment on my neck, pulse points and on the palms of my hands and breath in deeply 3 to 5 times. This really helps relax my mind. More on essentials oils coming soon.

    MAKEUP

    Let’s face it, everyone likes to arrive feeling concealed. I will apply a bit of RMS Beauty’s “Un” ConcealerLiving or Magic Luminizer and Magic Mixer and Tata Harper’s clear Be True Balm to my lips and lids (I trick I learned backstage at NYFW). On my brows, Glossier’s Boy Brow

    COMPRESSION SOCKS

    Yes, this is a real thing. This is if you don’t want your legs to swell up like a balloon. And it works. I buy mine here.