Finding Gold: Kerastase Initialiste

There's a whole new approach to hair as of late- more of a skincare approach.  There are more serums & oils on the market that sound just like they would belong in your normal skincare regimen. In the past, the focus has been on the ends- but now that's shifted. Because the hair at the end is dead, the way to improve the overall quality of your hair is by treating it at the scalp.

Though I've used many of Kerastase's serums on my hair, often it's from mid shaft to the ends. Initialiste is literally a scalp treatment first & foremost - which made me hesitant, as my hair at the roots is rather oily. The serum however is much different from the Oleo Relax or treatments oils I've used from them in the past. It has a light watery texture & shockingly helped my hair look less greasy, with more volume at the roots on the nights I skipped a shampoo- so go figure. I don't know if I've seen results to warrant $60, when due to this product's texture I use way more of it versus their oil based serums. With their oils, one pump goes a long way in a 4.7 ounce bottle.  Initialiste is only 2.2 ounces, it's a nice product- but the jury's still out on whether I'd purchase it again.

 

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

Must Have Make-Up Monday: Mally Dream Brow

Often in Files from the Brow Whisperer, you'll see the before & after of just my waxing. For people who have never filled in their brows before, I then give them a tutorial on how doing so enhances their new shape in their initial visit. People with any color hair can benefit from filling in their brows- it subtly pulls everything together & gives a lift to the eye area.

Often I stick with powders, as I feel like they look more natural & are easier for my clients to use versus pencils. That being said, Mally Beauty just launched a product called Ultimate Performance Dream Brow, which since I'd like to think I create dream brows- I wanted to get my hands on!

It's a cream, but very soft in texture, almost a whipped consistency. The brush that it comes with is actually awesome- a spooly on one side to groom into place & then a nice angled brush to fill in on the other side, that is just the right firmness. The product's texture helps keep my brows in place without being crunchy, which as I'm getting older I need as my brows are getting more unruly. This texture is also great for those without a lot of hair, as it will adhere to the skin more effectively than powder. For those who are nervous about using a product with more intensity pigment wise, I always suggest going with a taupe option, which is usually offered in most brands. I have jet black brows & I'm wearing taupe- it's a very universal brow shade. See, you can't even really put your finger on it, but my brows look better- exactly what a brow product should do. So go on & kick your brows up a notch!

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer.

Manicure Mondays

I tend to stay with colors most of the time a)because I feel slightly naughty when wearing them b)with my hands in latex gloves for most of my days at work it sometimes discolors light polish c)my dark denim also always stains my light polish, too- for the lovely "I just dug myself out of a grave look." All bets were off though, when I spotted Zoya's Blu polish. It screamed Spring time & I'm so ready for it. I did my accent pinky nail in Zoya's Pixie Dust polish in Nyx, which is matte- but I topped with my Seche Vite.

I adore this color. It works very well with my pale skin tone, is very opaque & creamy in texture- so there's no streaking when applying. When filling up Baliey's water bowl this morning I noticed I perfectly matched it & thought this truly is the perfect baby blue. How cute would this be as a favor at a baby boy shower?!?

Peace. Love. Polish.

Files From the Brow Whisperer

Often people with very blond hair think what's the point of waxing when they're so light?

But cleaning up the brow & enhancing definition is so important when the hair is very fair.

A quick tutorial in applying a soft taupe to enhance her shape & she's off!

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer.

Manicure Mondays

I wanted a fun vibrant color for my beach weekend, and needed one that would work with my fifty shades of pale. That meant Essie's Fiji was out- especially on my piggies. I ended up picking up OPI's La Paz-itively Hot for my mani/pedi & am loving the blue toned hot pink. I'll reach for it often this summer!

Peace. Love. Polish

Benefit's Bathina

Since I shun the sun & am currently at the beach- I'm blindingly pale. I've accepted that & tell myself that I'll be the youngest looking 75 year old around when I get older. I often reach for a luminizer of some sort to at least give my arms & legs a pearly gleam.   

This weekend I packed Benefits' Bathina. I scooped it up after a girls weekend in NYC, where my friend Heidi went on & on about her love for it when we were at Bendel's. The retro tin is admittedly adorable, though a bit bulky for packing.

Though not very sparkly or intensely shimmery, the solid balm gives a lovely sheen to the skin & isn't greasy. Plus it's scented with Benefit's signature white blossom notes. I detect a little Lily of the Valley- which is delicious.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

What's In My Bag: Beach Edition

My bags are packed, as I'm headed for a nice long beach weekend in sunny Florida. What's in those bags you ask, as signs of Spring finally peaking through have us yearning for summer? Here are a few of my favorite things. A new beach hat- I'm never without a hat if I'm outside for long, this one by Sloggers has SPF 50 in the material. It offers additional shade to my face while protecting an often neglected area- the scalp.

My new Yves St. Laurent sunglasses - a birthday treat to myself. They're massive - just how I like them! My Becca Untitled Lip Balm SPF 20- besides feeling like butter on the lips, it smells like a vacation. Why oh why they just discontinued it, I'll never know!

 My bareMinerals Ready Bronzer & Luminizer. In my attempts to not overpack (read attempt), I grab multipurpose compacts. BareMinerals pressed minerals make them so much more travel friendly than before. The matte bronzer is a believable shade on my Casper self for relaxed, no fuss make-up days at the beach. The highlighter takes it up a notch when headed to dinner & doubles as my eyeshadow.

What are your beach must haves Beauties? Happy Friday!

Peace Love Lipgloss. 

*bareMinerals gifted for review

Files From The Brow Whisperer

Is it time for a little Spring Cleaning?

Peace. Love. Brow Whisperer.