May 2011 Archives

Imagine my surprise at Sephora recently when I was offered a product I actually use as a reward for my Insider Beauty points. I quickly said yes to Benefit’s ‘Feelin’ Cheeky! Minis’ which included tiny travel size versions of Benetint, Posietint, and High Beam.

While we love the idea of exfoliating our skin, many scrubs are way too harsh for our sensitive visage. Even if we mix an exfoliator with our cleanser, it still hurts and irritates our face. That’s where Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle Exfoliating Treatment comes in.

What we love most about this exfoliator? It really is gentle. The green scrub is filled with tiny granules, but they don’t feel harsh against our skin. And rather than rubbing it into our skin and immediately washing it off, which generally causes redness and irritation, it’s basically a mask that’s left on for 2 minutes and exfoliates slowly and gently.

We also love the color of the scrub—it’s such a gorgeous deep green! We’ve taken to applying it in the shower so it can work quickly on steamed, warm skin. It decongests, detoxifies and refines even the dullest skin, leaving behind a fresh, youthful glow. (And we’ve even tried it on skin that was completely dehydrated from tons of travel!)

We recommend using this scrub 1-2 times per week. You’ll be amazed at the difference in your skin almost immediately!

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle Exfoliating Treatment retails for $65 at katesomerville.com.

We’ve been obsessed with cleansing towelettes for quite some time. They’re great for travel, they remove every last trace of the day’s makeup or grime, and they’re just so cool and innovative. The newest towelettes to enter our lineup? Comodynes Make-Up Remover Normal Skin.

These towelettes are great for the entire face—cheeks, chin, even eyes! They cleanse and tone the skin while moisturizing it at the same time, so you’re left with a face that’s stripped of makeup or dirt without feeling pared down to nothing.

While these towelettes are formulated for normal skin, we’ve actually found that they work well on a multitude of skin types, even sensitive, dry and combination. Plus, they’re hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested.

Since we travel quite a bit, we’re always looking for a way to cut back on the amount of products we’re stuffing into our carryon, and these towelettes definitely do the trick.

Comodynes Make-Up Remover Normal Skin is $6.25 for a pack of 20 at comodynes.net.

From quick low-commitment summer hair styles to dramatic hair color changes, here are 3 of the season’s hottest — and most wearable — hair trends.

1. Red Alert

As stars like Drew Barrymore (below), Blake Lively and Scarlett Johansson opt for varying shades of red, there’s no denying it’s spring’s hottest hue. Whether you opt for rich red, dark auburn or strawberry blonde, there’s a shade that’s right for virtually every skin tone.

2. Low Knotted Buns

A hot trend on the red carpet and on the spring runways, a bun knotted at the nape is one of the season’s most wearable looks. From sleek and knotted to messy and swirled, the low bun can be worn everywhere from the beach to the boardroom or ballroom.

3. Long Bob

Tired of your long hair but not ready to cut it short? Opt for this season’s long bob (or “lob”) like Scarlett Johansson (below) and model Brooklyn Decker. Falling somewhere between the chin and the shoulders, spring’s long bob is sexy, soft, layered — and completely wearable.

Rachel McAdams hit up the premiere of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the Cannes Film Festival looking quite beautiful herself in a nude Monique Lhuillier high-waisted pant and sparkly corset top combination. What makes the look pop so much and keeps it from being washed out with her pale skin tone and hair… is her dramatic lipstick. Perfection.