I love discovering new, indie beauty brands that really cut through the clutter. As a beauty writer for the past ten years, I'm hard to impress, but when I see something different, I have to get my hands on it. I first discovered Tréstique at the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) product demonstration last month. It was one of the few highlighted indie beauty brands that I stopped to learn about. Now, I have their sticks and crayons in all of my bags.
Last Friday I had the pleasure of sharing my summer travel must haves on NBC's New York Live TV. It's always so much fun to work with Jacque Reid and Joelle Garguilo. I've been a beauty contributor to the show now for over seven years, so it's fun, comfortable and the NY Live team feels like family. These are the items I've been toting around to Key West and the Jersey Shore this summer. The hair sheets smell as good as we say! Click here to watch.
When I first learned about WELL WITHIN skincare, I was impressed, simply because it was so clean. Then, I had the pleasure of meeting Co-founders, Lynne Florio and Renee Tavoularis, and fell in love with their mission. As beauty industry veterans (they both worked for La Prairie for over 20 years), their wellness journeys lead them to take a leap of faith and run with a vision. As an entrepreneur myself, I understand what it takes to bring a passion to life. Here, Lynne (LF) and Renee (RT) talk about starting the company, the best advice they've ever gotten and their definitions of beauty.
A manicure and blowout in 45 minutes? Yes, please! When Studio MB45 invited us in, I couldn’t be more excited to give this star treatment a try. MB45 streamlines your pampering where they give you a chic manicure and hairdo by two trained professionals in one efficient appointment. In the fast-paced setting that is New York City, the idea of simultaneous services is genius.
If you follow me on Instagram, then you might have seen my story about my magical experience on a press trip with Farmacy Beauty. We toured Co-Founder, Mark Veeder's, 7-acre lush property in Forestburgh, NY and then went to the farm where their hero ingredient is harvested in Damascus, PA. You know I've always been a fan of natural skincare, but seeing first hand how the ingredients are nourished for efficacy made me appreciate it even more.
Whether you have hyperpigmentation like me, acne scars or fine lines and wrinkles that you'd like to get rid of, one of the fastest ways to get the job done is through laser treatments. Hyperpigmentation has haunted me all of my life and I'm constantly on a quest to brighten my skin. A few years ago, I tried Fraxel, which unless you have severe acne scarring, I would never recommend. It was brutal (see post here) and while my skin looked very clean after the healing, all of my hyperpigmentation eventually came back. Enter PicoSure, a laser that was recently FDA approved for facial resurfacing with seriously, no downtime.
Now that I was able to share the big news, I can tell you how I got that awesome ponytail in the ads. My on-set hairstylist, Bethany Brill told me a tip that changed my life forever. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but as someone who's constantly in athleisure wear and even sometimes wears a pony on date night, this was a total game changer.
When it comes to makeup, I'm a less is more type of girl. I opt for creams and liquids over powders, because they tend to melt into my skin and give off a more natural look. One product I have a real weakness for is illuminators. Each time I sort through packages that come in every day, I get so excited to try a new highlighter. Here are my three current favorites.
