NEW WAYS TO GLOw: CLEAN SHAVE
If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever consider shaving my face, I’m pretty sure I would have said no fucking way. Shave? My face? Yes, I have peach fuzz on my cheeks, and yes, I am on the constant prowl for new and improved skin, but shave? My face? No thanks. I don’t need stubble so much. Cut to two weeks ago when I shaved my face.
Well, to be fair, I didn’t do it myself. Angela at Total Skin did it for me. She took a razor to my face and she shaved it. Except she called it Dermaplaning. And let me tell you something: I think it has changed my life.
Dermaplaning sounds scary, but really it’s a pretty simple and safe procedure for exfoliating the top layer of skin, which also has the added benefit of getting rid of the peach fuzz that we all have. Here’s what happens, your esthetician (yes, you can do this at home, but I don’t feel so awesome about taking a razor to my face, so I’m going to suggest that you find a spa or doctor near you who is licensed in dermaplaning) takes a scalpel (basically), and quickly and lightly “shaves” off the top layer of your skin. It’s fast, painless and leaves your skin so soft and glowing, you won’t even believe it. And don’t worry, that old wives’ tale about your hair growing back heavier and darker is merely that: an old wives’ tale. This is just “vellus” hair that’s being removed, and it will come back exactly as it was.
So ask me again if I would ever consider shaving my face, and you'll get a HELL YES. It's totally worth the weird stigma.
Oh, and if you absolutely feel like you MUST do it at home, here's what I found for instructions, and if you need to buy your own scalpel, a quick google search will help you with that. But again, I don't really think it's the smartest move:
1. Clean skin thoroughly and apply toner. Make sure skin is completely dry.
2. Hold skin taut with one hand, hold blade in other hand at a 45 degree angle against skin, shaving upwards. Repeat over desired areas.
3. Rinse off and apply serum & moisturizer.
Throw your clarisonic in the garbage and burn your washcloth, there's a new kid in town. The Luna by Foreo ($6500 for the uber luxe to $200) range of personalized face cleansing and anti-aging devices remove 99.5% of dirt and impurities from your skin while being 35X more hygienic than your standard bristled facial-cleansing brushes. They're also portable and super lightweight for travel.
FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M REALLY PISSED AT MOTHER NATURE. BLIZZARDS, ARCTIC FREEZES, TORRENTIAL RAIN — THIS WINTER HAS BEEN BS. MOST OF MY DAYS ARE SPENT WISHING I WAS SITTING IN THE SUN DRINKING PINA COLADAS. EXCEPT I'M NOT. AND I WON'T BE ANYTIME SOON, SO I DECIDED TO FAKE IT. Here are our selects for best self tanners.
It’s the oil in the St. Tropez Tanning Essentials Self Tan Luxe Dry Oil ($50) (I don’t know what the “dry” part refers to, but I guess it sounds good) that helps this self tanner glide on, and it also makes the tan last longer (about 10 days). Another plus: it’s 100% natural so there’s no weird chemical smell.
Clarins has long been a leader in the self tanner field, and their Radiance Plus Glow Booster ($30) is the newest of the new. Just add three drops of this serum to your day and / or night moisturizer and watched as your skin gradually gets that golden glow. There’s an option for your body ($45), too.
Dr. Dennis Gross is known for his Alpha Beta peels, so the fact that his Alpha Beta Daily Glow Moisturizer ($42) is a ten should come as no surprise. It’s a daily, oil-free moisturizer enriched with active vitamin D that enhances radiance with anti-aging and exfoliating benefits. Plan to see the tan in about three hours.
St. Tropez makes some of the best self tanners on the market, and their Bronzing Mousse ($42) is nothing short of legendary. It’s super lightweight, easy to apply, dries in one minute and – wait for it – has “aromaguard” technology that all but guarantees no self tanner stink.
The best part of Origins’ Great Pretender Shimmery Self Tanner ($24) is that it’s tinted, so not only do you get an immediate glow, you can also see what you’ve done and what you haven’t. And in true Origins fashion, it smells great with orange and peppermint essences.
Kate Somerville’s 360° Tanning Towelettes ($48) make self tanner application a breeze. Each wipe is infused with tea tree extract to help clean and clear skin, cucumber to soothe, and DHA which reacts with your skin’s amino acids to ensure that your tan complements your skin tone.
Smooth the silky Vita Liberata Self Tanning Moisture Mask ($45) on your face, neck and décolleté following your evening routine, and wake up to golden, hydrated, glowing skin.
The cool factor of the James Read BB Tan Pen ($25) is no joke. Just dispense the product onto the brush and then apply and buff to ensure even color. It’s like having the sun in your pocket.
SAY A-MEN
Being that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, we thought we’d give some thought to men and their needs. While my particular man is against all skincare, we know there are many of you out there who appreciate a good toilette, so with that in mind, here’s a short list of some favorites to get through the last weeks of winter.
For years women have sworn by the Clarisonic face brush, and there’s finally a version for men’s thicker, oilier skin. The Alpha Fit ($189) promises to clear away dirt, sweat and oil and will cleanse 6x better than just using your hands.
These Arcona Clarity Aftershave Spot Repair Pads ($28) help soothe razor burn, clear skin and alleviate ingrown hairs. It also helps with breakouts and includes witch hazel and lactic acid to reduce pore size.
It’s really the name that got us, but the Billy Jealousy Assassin Intensive Face Moisturizer ($30) is actually really good. It’s rich in proteins, vitamins and antioxidants, is paraben, colorant and fragrance free and will brighten, tighten and make you look at least 10 years younger than you actually are.
The Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub ($26) is full of caffeine and menthol for a quick wakeup. It also exfoliates dead skin and breaks down your tough facial hair for a closer shave.
Another Kiehl’s favorite, the Heavy Lifting Anti-Aging Moisturizer ($40) is specifically formulated for men’s thicker, coarser skin and promises to lift, firm and diminish wrinkles while tightening skin.
The MD Solar Sciences Daily Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 30 ($68) is a great drama-free daily moisturizer with an SPF high enough to be effective but leaves no white residue stuck in your beard.
The Lubriderm Men’s 3-in-1 Lotion ($11.44) is perfect for the guy who can’t be bothered with more than one product as it can be used as a body, face, and post shave lotion.
Jack Black’s Epic MP 10 Nourishing Oil ($32) is the Windex of skincare. You can use it as pre-shave oil, shave oil, a beard, face, body, elbow and foot moisturizer, a body lotion booster and a dry treatment for your hair and cuticles.
Naturopathica’s Daily Defense Moisturizer ($58) is a lightweight blend of antioxidants and hydrating Aloeto, which promote a healthy-looking complexion.
A creamy, invigorating blend of astringent cypress oil and hydrating aloe vera, sea algae and shea butter to calm the skin, Naturopathica’s Soothing Shave Cream ($26) will also help to smooth and firm skin.
The Black Turbo Body Bar from Jack Black ($15) guarantees that your body will look as good as your face does with a blend of lava rock, shea butter and ginkgo biloba.
Anthony’s Wake Up Call ($38) deeply hydrates, refreshes and stimulates all while it’s soothing any irritation on the surface of the skin and reducing redness and puffiness. It’s ideal for dull or tired skin and is a powerful remedy for the effects of travel or a long night.
This 24K Gold Mask ($80) has a whole bunch of stuff in it that's great for your skin: caffeine to tighten and firm, peridot (a gemstone) to re-energize and reduce the aging effects of stress, and hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate. But, and here's where it got me, it's also infused with Pure 24K Gold and Colloidal Gold, which apparently help to lift and firm skin and give you a glow. You're putting gold on your face. Actual gold. Is it just me, or is that really cool?
The holidays can be stressful, and zits are the first sign you're eating too much fried food, drinking too much wine, spending too much time with your family. Enter Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion, which will dry them up in a matter of minutes (OK, it's more like a day or two, but it feels like minutes). It has a blend of salicylic acid, calamine and other quick-drying ingredients to shrinking those nasty whiteheads, and promises overnight miracles. The trick, though, is to NOT shake the bottle, no matter how much you might want to. Just stick a q-tip into the weird pink paste at the bottom of the bottle and slather over each unsightly bump.
SHARED SELECT
This intensive beauty cream brightens and refreshes aging skin thanks to a formulation combining Yam and Soy extracts with the Specific Biologique Recherche Oxygenating Complex which tones and restructures the skin. It is ideal for imbalances caused by aging and menopause and is recommended for mature skins. It's SUPER pricey at $320, but our Guest Selector, facialist Judith Desiree swears it's worth its weight in gold.
SHARED SELECT
From Judith Desiree: If you want to tweak your daily or nightly cream for more moisture, especially in the winter, I recommend pure unrefined Eastern African Shea Nut Butter (vitellaria nilotica). Heat a pea sized amount in the palms of your hands to liquify and apply over your cream. You will love it! It also sets make up. I live for Shea Nut!
We've all seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding. These toners (they call them lotions) by French company Biologique Recherche are every beauty editor's version of Windex. They smell like vinegar, but nothing tightens pores faster or more effectively. They come in 3 efficacies - P50, P50V and P50W for varying degrees of necessity.
This was a big year in the aging department for me. Most noticeable are these horrific brown spots that have appeared seemingly out of nowhere on both sides of my jaw. This Skinceuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector seems to actually do what it promises, and my melasma (yep, that's what it's called!) is finally fading.
I happened to walk by this tiny salon in Bridgehampton last Spring and noticed they sold the coveted Biologique Recherche (see P50 lotions to the left), so decided to book an appointment. Judith Desiree is the embodiment of luminescence - her skin literally glows from within (I have been striving for that for my whole life) and she is so kind and lovely. And she gives a kick ass facial.
I first read about Aida Bicaj in an interview with Jenna Lyons and being that I'm always game to try a new facial treatment, I made an appointment. Aida's salon is gorgeous - all soft grays and glowy chandeliers - and she is incredibly beautiful. Of course her skin is perfection, and her belief that everyone's skin can look just like hers is infectious. Her facial is amazing: all about anti aging and firming. But the real deal is Juan, her manicurist who hails from South America and will do your nails during your facial in a way you have never had your nails done before. I can't quite explain it, but he can take your winter feet and turn them into baby feet in under an hour.