How to Remedy Maskne
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Face Mask: Bloomingdale's
UNDERSTANDING MASKNE
Upon examining my own skin and maskne, I realized it was occurring in the same places and is caused by three important factors - friction, pressure and heat. My breakouts were targeted to my chin/mouth area due to the heat, below my jaw and upper cheekbone area due to the friction by the mask straps and finally, the bridge of my nose because of the pressure caused by the firm nose wire.
ACTIVE MASKNE
In my quest to remedy my active maskne, I've found products featuring acid exfoliants to be greatly effective. A chemical acid exfoliant like salicylic acid, a very commonly used beta-hydroxy acid, helps regulate skin and rids excess oil from pores all while featuring anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, opting for skincare products with such exfoliants helps skin in a wealth of ways including the removal of dead skin cells, hydration and pigmentation correction.
To help heal my sometimes painful maskne, I turned to Caudalie's Vinopure range which is formulated with a balanced cocktail of natural salicylic acid, antioxidants and essential oils. Using their Vinopure Purifying Toner in tantum with the Vinopure Skin Perfecting Serum has not only aided in expelling acne-causing impurities sitting in my pores caused by the heat and steam from the mask but has improved the overall condition of my skin.
For those pesky maskne blemishes, I love using a targeted treatment, like Clarins Clear-Out, which works wonders overnight. This direct solution gel is applied right on the breakout, calming it and infusing the inflamed bump with a healing concoction formulated with salicylic acid, meadowsweet and purslane extracts. Best of all, the nozzle tip design creates a mess-free application and the formula dries down clear.
Finally, to minimize the maskne caused by friction, I've picked up the dermatologist-favorite MedZone Face Balm. Mimicking the same protective qualities of the friction-balm I use for high heel use, applying this on my high-friction areas (jaw and upper cheekbone), has created a protective barrier that has provided comfort and prevented new breakouts.
MAINTENANCE
Overall, face mask use is looking like a long-term reality and seeking a lasting solution is a must. I've found that adding a skin care product rooted in balancing skin to my current maskne healing routine has proved to be beneficial. Kiehl's Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate has helped keep the redness at bay and greatly helps rebalance my congested and angry skin when maskne or other uncomfortable factors occur. This weightless oil assists in strengthening the skin's barrier which helps hold its moisture and fight active breakouts. The purifying properties of oregano oil coupled with the calming agents of the cannabis sativa seed oil make this concentrate an excellent long-term remedy to maintaining healthy skin.
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Enticing Autumn/Winter Fragrances You'll Want to Wear All Season Long
Monday, November 30, 2020
It's always exciting to switch up my scent with the turn of the new season. As soon as fall arrives, I look forward to shelving my light and bright fragrances of summer and reach for deeper, more complex scents. This year's autumn/winter launches certainly didn't disappoint, as some of my favorite luxe brands delivered some incredibly intoxicating perfumes I will reach for the remainder of the year. From punched up florals to beautifully blended spice notes and beyond, here are the top fragrance launches you'll want to wear well into 2021.
Sophisticated Classics
A scent for women, created by women, Idôle is a sophisticated and polished scent that earns a revisit time and time again. A timeless blend created by three expert female perfumers, Idôle is a symphony of notes including bright citrus elegant florals and a pop of fresh spice. This refined yet modern scent is one I've been reaching for quite often and its inviting aroma is soon to become a fast favorite on your fragrance shelf as well.
A beautiful story told through an arrangement of elegant notes, Ilsa's Infinite No 1 is truly a love letter to women. The inspiration behind this fragrance and this wonderful brand emphasizes the courage, strength and bold determination of all women. Founder Ilsa Manning was motivated to start this brand after the birth of her daughter and this special blend serves as a lovely reminder to all those women working towards achieving their dreams. With a fresh floral opening which mellows into an alluring warm amber scent, Infinite No 1 is the perfect final touch that'll boost your confidence before stepping out your front door. Best of all, Ilsa's brand focuses on quality over quantity, concentrating on creating small batches to assure every element of this scent is expertly formulated.
Sweet & Sexy
Leave it to Tom Ford to take a usually sweet peach note and elevate it to a more developed and sexy scent. Bitter Peach blends classically warm patchouli and davano oil with fresh Sicilian blood orange and pêche de vigne which creates a graduated, full-bodied fragrance that presents sweet and melts into more deep, delicate spice.
Floral Fusion
As a long time fan of Armani fragrances (Si Passione, Acqua di Gioia are SO yummy), I was so excited to try their latest launch, My Way. This beautiful poppy and classic floral scent is one that features lovely sparkling notes like bergamont, Egyptian orange blossom, Indian tuberose and builds with Madagascar vanilla and soft white musk. Like an international journey bottled to perfection, this exquisite fragrance is not to be missed.
Date Night Pick
Fancy fragrances with unique ingredients are usually reserved for date nights. These special scents consist of a polished collection of aromatic notes that blend beautifully when combined. Gucci Mémoire d'une Odeur, the fashion house's newest perfume offering wonderfully fits the bill. This intricate yet light fragrance is a fusion of warm and musky notes (sandalwood, cedarwood) with rich botanical scents (Indian coral jasmine, Roman chamomile), which makes for an airy and elegant fragrance that wears beautifully and yields many compliments.
Ultra Luxe
For a truly luxurious scent experience, look no further than Bond No. 9. This iconic brand's meticulously blended fragrances are always a feast for your senses and My New York is no exception. This aromatic scent expertly blends an array of spicy and elegant floral notes like ginger, pink pepper, rose and sandalwood which becomes a unisex creation that is as lively and striking as the city it's named after.
Holiday Must-Have
There are a handful of familiar scents which mark the holidays, some of which include pine, cedar, balsam and aromatic spices. Warm and inviting fragrances are usually abundant during the wintery holiday season but Jo Malone offers a modern and merry take on holiday fragrance with their Green Almond & Red Currant blend. The hero notes in this fragrance offer an interesting interpretation of the freshness and warmth seen during this festive season. Green almond presents a sharp earthiness, whereas the subtly sweet red currant and cedar extends a familiar coziness in this unique perfume. A few spritz of this delectable scent will make you feel merry and bright with every use.
Images courtesy of brands
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Nails Inc. Freshly Juiced Duo Review
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Polish - Not From Concentrate
If you've browsed social media or skimmed beauty news lately you may have noticed Nails Inc. really knocking it out of the park with their recent nail varnish releases. From daring neons to cool tone-altering polishes, and crystal-inspired sets, Nails Inc. is really injecting a major dose of excitement and fun into traditional polish usage. With summer in full swing, I'm certainly in the market for some punchy, poppy hues and was instantly drawn to the Freshly Juiced Duo, one of the brand's newest polish launches.
These yummy Vitamin C-infused, fruit-inspired polishes are beautifully pigmented and offer a rich wash of streak-free color with two easy coats. With such intense shades, I find a few layers are needed to achieve the color present in the bottle. Luckily, that wasn't the case with both of these polishes, While the colors alone are enough of an attraction, these warm weather shades are scented with the exact yummy fruits by which they were inspired.
NOT FROM CONCENTRATE
This beautiful shade is a true orange tone which doesn't fade or turn yellow with extended wear. Additionally, it features the same impressive lasting quality of standard Nails Inc. polishes and doesn't chip or crack along the tips of the nails. The scent of this was more a creamsicle orange rather than a punchy orange and wafted up as I was painting my nails. A welcomed change from the familiar chemical smell I'm used to, this subtle fruity scent lasted well after a layer of top coat and several hand washes.
LOOKING SUPER JUICY
This sweet poppy pink polish indeed reminded me of the summery fruit after which it was created However, the scent of this polish was nothing like the watermelons I imaged. Unlike the sister shade in this set, the fruity scent was not as present or pleasant. It smelled of classic nail polish with a hint of something else. While the color was beautifully pigmented and displayed the same successful wear as the orange shade, the scent was certainly lacking.
With such a lovely wear and beautiful color payoff, I'd repurchase this set once I run out. As a major fan of both these shades, I predict I'll be getting lots of wear out of them this summer season.
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7 Innovative Black Women-Owned Beauty Brands to Shop and Support
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Left Row: face By Camille Rose | Uoma Beauty
Right Row: Oui the People | Loving Culture
While many brands are still catching up and creating new ways to be more inclusive and diverse, these 7 black female creators developed unique brands offering innovative beauty and wellness products which not only address the needs of the women in their communities but are suited for all seeking high-quality cosmetics, skincare and wellness solutions. Ahead, the 7 Black women-owned beauty brands I'm loving to shop and support.
I had the opportunity to meet the wonderful creator of the brand, Janell Stephens at the brand's NYC launch and was excited to hear how the vegan, health-focused mom and successful beauty entrepreneur planed to expand her booming natural hair and body care brand, Camille Rose to skincare. The skincare arm of the brand, face by Camille Rose, is a garden-inspired line which features a 360-concept to skin care. From pore refining and clearing, to hydration and radiance, face by Camille Rose, offers effective botanical-infused (white peony, mallow flower, aloe) products that can be used alone or paired to suit specific skin needs. Impressively, Janell began her wildly successful beauty business from her humble kitchen with a commitment to creating natural, and harsh chemical-free products which delivered real results. With plans to expand into home and beyond, I can't wait to see the greatness to come from the Camille Rose brand.
"This is not multicultural beauty; this is simply beauty, and all are welcome to this beautiful tribe"
A beauty brand that goes beyond cosmetics, Uoma Beauty emphasizes the community aspect of makeup and invites all beauty-enthusiasts to join their celebration of feeling beautiful through color. Founded by Nigerian-born Sharon Chuter, the LA-based former beauty executive was on a mission to create an innovative beauty range that broke the traditional beauty mold catering to select groups. The final result was Uoma, a stunningly empowering brand that inspires its users to be authentic, vibrant, outspoken, and included, all with the wonderful unifying essence of African culture. From complexion to shadows and every colorful cosmetic in between, it's hard to highlight only one product in the growing brand's vast makeup offerings. Thankfully, Uoma's lively and bright cosmetics help create a multitude of unique looks fitting all moods and personalities.
When talking about breaking the traditional boundaries of beauty, Oui the People and it's exciting reconstiution of beauty instantly comes to mind. This modern razor company, founded by Karen Young, is rooted in sustainability and creating a feel-good solution to shaving without the fluffy expectations and packaging of the unattainable, perfect standards we're all used to seeing across media. Oui offers luxe, single-blade razors that not only get the closest shave for all but are sure to tackle the sometimes tough thicker hairs that skip on classic multi-blade disposable razors. Upsettingly, those same plastic disposable options end up in landfills by the millions and add to growing environmental concerns. Expanding on their philosophy to help users feel good in their skin, Oui also launched skin enhancing products like oils and masks which work in tandem with their signature steel razors. From soothing sensitive areas post-shave (DEEP V - Bikini Line Sheet Mask) to nourishing and replenishing parched skin (Featherweight - Hydrating Body Gloss), Oui is changing the way we address hair removal and body care.
In a transition to a more holistic and health-focused lifestyle, Mary-Andree Ardouin-Guerrier found a vacancy of beneficial regrowth and revitalizing needs in the hair care space and was inspired to create an effective, natural hair product which both rejuvenates hair and stimulates hair growth. Interestingly, when researching ingredients to formulate this hero product, she turned to her rich West Indian heritage and vowed to incorporate the aromatic spices of this richly cultural region. Mary soon perfected the blend of her now successful and fan-favorite Revitalizing Organic Hair Oil which has a muti-use quality and suitable for all hair types.
Top to Bottom: Beautifully Bamboo | Rosen Skincare
Addressing beauty from the inside, Nadege Lewis tapped into the beneficial properties of the mighty bamboo plant and developed a wellness brand highlighting this natural treasure. She found that bamboo silica, which lends to the plants rapid growth and strength, is a potent ingredient which contains a vital nutrient needed for healthy hair, skin and nails. A true superfood, bamboo silica is the foundation of Beautiful Bamboo's wellness products. Coupled with much-needed collagen and antioxidants, the brand helps provide a beauty boost from within. From soothing teas to supplements, Beautiful Bamboo is creating a natural wellness solution packed with beneficial nutrients which supports healthy growth of hair and nails while keeping skin balanced and firm.
Stubborn acne was the catalyst for Jamika Martin's creation of Rosen Skincare, a clean solution to remedying our worst skin woes. Handling acne with a new approach, Rosen is not only healing acne-prone skin but helping with the skin damage and scarring left behind. A struggle with which many are familiar, Rosen offers a multi-tier fix for various ranges of acne familiar skin that helps users read on ingredients and their efficacy. From taming to treating and overall prevention, Rosen's clean and understandable concept to skincare removes the intimating aspects of healing and helps you target your issues with lasting solutions. Best of all. Rosen's potent products are all modestly priced.
Images Courtesy of Brand Instagram
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