All posts filed under: Product Highlight

Beauty Discovery: Skincare Finds We Tried & Love Right Now

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When shopping for skincare, the options are plentiful. At times it can feel like the market is overflowing with brands. Beauty discovery should not be complicated, which is why we test (someone has to do it), love and recommend brands for their effectiveness, toxic-free ingredients, transparency and innovation. Whether they are indie, luxury, spa, a household name or just starting out, we enjoy exploring the alluring world of skincare. Here is what we found this Autumn! Retinol Beginner VERSED Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum Retinol products can be tricky. Our advice – start with a gentle formula, apply retinol at night and use sunscreen during the day. If you happen to be a first time retinol user or have sensitive skin, this Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum is for you. We love a good retinol product, and VERSED passed our sensitivity test. It is gentle, yet effective, without being harsh on your skin. Best of all, it is affordable. They even added antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, which means you get the glow but not the redness. Sleep …

Product Highlight: Kansa Organics Kansa Wands

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Kansa Organics Takes Face Massage To a Whole New Level PRODUCT HIGHTLIGHT | Kansa Organics Massage Wand Massage plays an essential role in the Ayurvedic healing system. In fact, the healing power of touch can be traced back to India as far back as 3000 BCE (or earlier). The Kansa Wand was born out of that belief, practice and love for massage. When it comes to facial, and body massage, we find this tool to be far more sophisticated than facial rollers and even Gua Sha tools. The reason for this is its history rooted in healing the mind and body and easy to use design. We find ourselves using it a lot more often than other tools, and adding it to our skincare arsenal has greatly improved our love for facial and body massage. WHAT IS THE KANSA WAND? The Kansa wand is a small domed tool (shaped like a bell or a cup) that can be used to massage the face + body. Kansa wands are made with India’s sacred and healing metal (Kansa). …

Product Highlight: Gleamin Vitamin C Clay Mask

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT | Gleamin Vitamin C Clay Mask As far as Clay Masks go, Gleamin’s Vitamin C Clay Mask is in a league of its own. While this mask might be Gleamin’s only product (for now), it continues to receive rave reviews. The bright colored product contains natural and organic ingredients, the most alluring of them being Kaolin Australian clay. The ingredient is native to Australia and it is what gives this mask that enticing pop of yellow color. This mask works overtime, and we will tell you why. Let’s break this product down. When we use a clay mask, the results are almost always clean and brightening, but not necessarily glowing. With Gleamin, are other ingredients in play and that is why this mask does more than just purge your pores. The yellow Australian clay ingredient detoxifies the skin, stimulates the blood flow, brightens and unclogs those pores. As a skincare ingredient, Turmeric is an old favorite, with abilities to calm the skin and reduce any redness. Combined with Aloe Vera’s moisture, the glow …

Product Highlight: Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 1970 is the Stinkiest Product You’ll Never Give Up

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There is a reason your favorite aestheticians and celebrities make a big stink about Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 Exfoliants. Inserting one of their pungent exfoliants into your routine delivers consistent and glowing results. Since French skincare is known for its reliability, and this brand has been around for a long time, I had to try it for myself. What I discovered is something I already knew. Biologique Recherche has a tendency to linger in some of the most famous routines for a good reason. The results outweigh the scent. Wonderfully fragrant products are not always the best products. Especially if the fragrance ingredient remains a mystery. Biologique Recherche is a luxury skincare brand that has no need for fancy scents, packaging and fuss. It is “the original” cult classic. Instead they rely on clinical results, science, nature and word of mouth reputation. The individual results and places that covet the brand (such as Rescue Spa) speak for themselves. Rescue Spa is also one of the most reliable place to buy the product. You should be …

Product Highlight, Ducalm MULTITASTIC™ BARRIER

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT | Ducalm Skincare MULTITASTIC™ BARRIER  Du Calme yourself because Ducalm Skincare is here to make your life a lot easier. This brand is all about the power of simplicity, combined with effective ingredients. I met the creator of DUCALM Skincare, Danielle Pitts, at Indie Beauty Expo and struck up a conversation about the world of on-the-go skincare. Sure, there are times when you want to slow down and enjoy the ritual, but this brand is for those times when you need fast and practical beauty. Whether you are at the gym, the airport, or running from your office to a cocktail party, the freshness of Ducalm keeps you feeling in-charge and taken care of. Using the product | Welcomed Cooling Although I am sure I will love the entire Ducalm Collection, as an editor with dry skin, I immediately gravitated towards testing the Multitastic Barrier. This convenient, and now essential tool, is a cooling moisturizer in stick form. I do admit that when I hear that a product contains hyaluronic acid, I immediately add …

Product Highlight, rms beauty lip2cheek

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT | rms beauty lip2cheek Less makeup, more efficiency and empowerment, is what rms beauty is all about. My adoration for this brand should be obvious. It is combining multi-tasking and clean beauty with a beautiful palette of vibrant and subdued colors. The creator and well-known make-up artist, Rose-Marie Swift, has created a lifestyle brand that teaches women to use makeup as a convenient tool, not a time-consuming nuisance. Rms Beauty provides simple and quick application. The ingredients are either wildcrafted or organic, nourishing your skin and providing your skin with a worry-free and toxic-free makeup look. Rose Marie’s health philosophy, combined with nourishing and chemical-free ingredients, makes this a lifestyle brand. Using the product: Let’s talk about application. I love to use my fingers with makeup and skincare. Rms beauty is a perfect brand for that. Since I love a pop of color, especially red, I gravitated towards this “beloved” lip2cheek option. This is a mineral color that can be used on both lips and cheeks, I even lightly apply any leftovers to …

Product Highlight, Biossance 100% Squalane Oil

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT | Biossance 100% Squalane Oil Throughout the years, very few brands have impressed me as much as Biossance. As if using innovative biotechnology to create their one-of-a-kind beauty products isn’t enough, this brands truly pushes the envelope with social and environmental practices. Combining science and sustainability, the same scientists that created a plant-derived cure for malaria, decided to extend their knowledge to clean beauty. Biossance sets the bar high for skincare innovation.  100% Squalane Oil is one of my personal favorites for gently hydrated and smooth skin. Using the product: Did you know that squalene is naturally made by our bodies? As we age, the production of squalene decreases. This causes dryness, irritation and wrinkling. Biossance re-created squalane from sugar cane found in Brazil. It is a resource that doesn’t need to be irrigated or harvested. This plant-based and renewable resource has the power to create the much sought-after squalane for perfecting your skin. I like to put this product in the multi-tasker category. It can be used on face, body and hair. …

Product Highlight, Mullein & Sparrow Facial Steam

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT |Mullein & Sparrow Facial Steam When it comes to skincare and ingenuity, Mullein & Sparrow can do no wrong. The brand’s creator, Anit Hora, has set out on a wellness mission and ended up with a modern botanical skincare line. I was introduced to Anit and her luxe skincare at Cosmoprof’s press preview event. At first, it was the gorgeous packaging that lured me in, then we started talking ingredients. Anit’s vast knowledge on both skincare and herbs makes Mullein & Sparrow the ultimate green beauty brand. Ayurvedic traditions, holistic wellness and natural beauty are all a part of the creative process. My dry skin loves to absorb the healing and soothing effects of Mullein & Sparrow ethically sourced ingredients, such as rose, frankincense and calendula. To read more about Anit’s story, read “A Passion For Plants With Mullein & Sparrow’s Anit Hora”. For a pampered, at-home spa moment, I am fond of facial steams. It is one of the best ways to do a deeper pore cleanse. The old act of using …

Product Highlight, MILÉO NEW YORK Labyrinthe Vert

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT | MILÉO NEW YORK Labyrinthe Vert Skin Elixir, The Skin Refiner MILÉO NEW YORK is the creation of a wellness enthusiast. After Matthew Mileo find out about his godmother’s cancer and saw how chemotherapy effected her skin, he took matters into his own hands. I feel connected with Matthew’s story because my  godmother remains to be one of my favorite people. Mileo New York’s elixirs are created from some of the most unique ingredients. Oud, an ancient extract known for its anti-cancer and skin regenerating benefits, is the most important ingredients used in this skincare line. Oud leaves your skin restored and vibrant. Using it ensures a meditative experience. MILÉO NEW YORK is so much more than skincare. Using Labyrinthe Vert: This is one of the most special skincare products I have had the pleasure of using. Little goes a long way. After washing my face and applying toner – I dispense two drops in my palm and massage it into my skin. Since I like to mix my serums, I find that it …

Product Highlight, Kosås Lipstick

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT |KOSAS LIPSTICK One of the primary reasons I choose to write about beauty is because I believe it is more than superficial frivolity. For this reason, I gravitate towards brands with a genuine product and message. Kosås speaks to me with their mind, body and soul philosophy. They are elevating the idea of beauty by cultivating it on more than one level. There is something about a Kosås lipstick that is both modern and pleasing. This might not be surprising for today’s standards, however I have been writing about green beauty since 2006. It always puts a smile on my face when I see how far we have come on both color and design. My absolute favorite thing about this particular tube of lipstick is that I purchased it in one of my neighborhood shops. It holds a memory. DUO NYC is located on 9th Street in the east Village. My boyfriend and I often take walks here and have gotten to know the local store owners. My second favorite is the magnetic cap …

Product Highlight, Nairian Night Serum

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT | Nairian Face Night Serum I was introduced to Nairian at Cosmoprof’s press preview event. The packaging and brand story instantly impressed. Discovering new and interesting brands is at the top of my favorite activities. Nairian is all-natural and plant-based but what is most impressive is their dedication to the process. They are environmentally friendly and value the farms and community from which their ingredients come from. Since the brand and ingredients come the Armenian highlands, you can be sure this brand is all about the earth and nature. This is the kind of brand I love to highlight. It is my firm belief that integrity is just as important as the product. A jar of this rich-looking cream will last you for a long time. Little goes a long way. After a particular tough winter, my dry skin was in trouble and I cherished the fact that this was in my bathroom cabinet. It was after a bad cold that I realized just how nourishing the serum is. My skin was in …

Product Highlight, MyChelle Perfect C Pro Speed Peel

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PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT | MyChelle Perfect C Pro Speed Peel MyChelle products evoke nostalgia. I was introduced to the brand years ago, while working at the Organic Spa Magazine, and they struck with me all these years. The entire line is filled with smart and most importantly affordable options. There are simply too many favorites to list here but if you happen to be on the hunt for a new peel, try this one. This peel is representative of the brand’s dedication to making effective, clean, vegan and cruelty free products. A lot of peels come in packaging that can be hard to recycle. The glass jars MyChelle uses are perfect, the product feels natural and fresh. Using the peel | I have dry skin and peels can be especially irritating. The Perfect C Pro Speed Peel is fast (leave it on for 1 minute) and only has one step. That makes it ideal for those with busy schedules. Simply remove it with cool water. It does not irritate my skin at all. My face does get …