Having more time at home I have added a few things to my hair and makeup routine I just have to share because, well, they are game-changing. And, some of these things will make great Christmas gifts.
Hair –
For several years I have been using the Revlon One-Step hairdryer. One of my besties, Mary, sold me on it. It not only dries your hair, but it styles it as well. For me it’s a timesaver in case I don’t want to take the extra step to curl it. The secret to the outcome of your hair is sectioning it with these clips. I start at the bottom and work my way up. I also live by this Oi Oil to smooth out my hair after I blow dry each section. I use about two drops to fight frizz, and add shine and softness to my hair. A bottle literally lasts a year.
Photo: The New Yorker
One problem with my hair is the lack of volume on the crown of my head. The last time I got a haircut (I’ve only had two haircuts since the pandemic and my normal stylist Mandy has been on maternity leave since March), the stylist suggested using Oprah’s favorite Valoom. It’s kind of like a crimper. You section pieces of hair and starting at the roots you crimp the hair. The clamp looks like a waffle iron and it creates volume pockets. The first time I used it I wasn’t sold, but then I watched this YouTube video, practiced, and oh, my. It really does make me look like Mary Tyler Moore!
Makeup –
Pretty makeup results will only happen if you are religious in your skincare routine. I started using Savor Beauty in March and my skin has never looked better. The first time I used the products I messaged Angela, the founder, to tell her “I just moaned out loud washing my face!” She replied back, “Best message I’ve seen all week!”
Founded by Angela Jia Kim and inspired by her mother’s Korean heritage the products are hand-made in small batches and certified organic. I literally feel like I am getting a spa treatment every morning to start the day and in the evening before bed. Take a look at their website. I love the pumpkin and raspberry serums, the rose-oil spritz, the caviar eye cream, and coconut cleansing oil. And they send you samples with every purchase.
The other thing I can’t live without is this BlendSmart2 Makeup Brush. It’s on Oprah’s Favorite Things. It’s a battery-operated motorized brush that gives you the look of an airbrushed makeup application. It comes with three brush heads so I use one for my Laura Mercier foundation, Bobbi Brown blush, and Laura Mercier loose powder.
The eyes are the window to the soul. Two things I cannot live without eyelashes and eyebrows. My daughter turned me onto Ardell accent lashes and the clear lash adhesive. I wore eyelash extensions for about a year but I got tired of the upkeep and expense, and when they were removed, I had almost no lashes left. What has grown out are so small, I needed a supplement so I looked like I had eyes. Second, eyebrows. As we age our eyebrows thin out and lose their pigment. Do not go to all the trouble to make up a beautiful face and leave your eyebrows naked. I love Brow Wiz by Anastasia of Beverly Hills. Keep your peepers focused on the day with these Lapis blue gorgeous specs from Warby Parker. I love their high quality, affordable price and that for every pair I purchase, they give a pair to someone in need.
Last, as you walk out the door (or into the next room) add a pop of the most perfect red on your lips from Bobbi Brown – Harlow Red. I swear this red looks great on everyone. I like that it’s a lip pencil that gives a nice matte finish and has great staying power.
Buzz over to my LikeToKnowIt to see all the above and more good stuff.
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
