7 Beauty Products I Love Right Now
Here are 7 essential beauty products you need to know about. Each product deserves a separate blog post, but here is one summarized post of all the must-have beauty essentials just for you! #timeless #classic #beautifulshades
I can’t wait to share with you 7 beauty products I love right now. However, to be honest, these are 7 beauty products I have loved for a longgg time! I keep buying them because these beauty essentials are timeless staples. At the very bottom of this post you’ll find each product linked so you can grab one (or each) of these products yourself!
Pictures wearing the products :)
1) Alastin Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology
Alastin Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology
WHY I LOVE IT: My dermatologist recommended Alastin Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology. The TriHex Technology is a proprietary blend of peptides and other key ingredients that help clear away damaged and aged proteins in the skin’s ECM.
The day after our appointment, I opened New Beauty Magazine’s Summer 2019 edition and noticed Alastin’s TrasFORM BODY TREATMENT with TriHex Technology was listed as #1 in their article “Power Duos.”
Alastin’s Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology is listed as #2 in New Beauty’s 13 Powerful Skin Care Products Dermatologists Wish Their Patients Used at Home.
HOW TO USE IT: Apply this serum every morning to face and neck. Then, apply your favorite sunscreen.
Hourglass Cosmetics Makeup Brushes
WHY I LOVE THEM: Oh my gosh. I looooveee Hourglass Cosmetic’s makeup brushes! I have tried so many different makeup brushes from several brands….
Hourglass’s makeup brushes are sooo soft, dense, and do not pull on your skin when applying makeup. The tug and pulling on my skin is something I’ve noticed from most makeup brushes (even high end brands) that I’ve used, especially if it has denser bristles. These brushes are dense, yet STILL so soft with NO tugging and pulling. They also last for years so they’re worth the investment!
HOW TO USE THEM:
No1 Powder Brush (top brush on the right): This brush works great for application of liquid foundation or mineral foundation. I applied Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup Foundation with this brush. The bristles are made of Taklon hair, which is more hygienic and kinder to animals (since Taklon is not sourced from animals).
Retractable Foundation Brush (middle brush pictured) This brush is amazing for traveling. It can be used as your regular foundation brush, or bronzer, etc.. This brush is also great for blending in your makeup after application, if there are any harsh lines left over. Also uses soft Taklon bristles.
Ambient Powder Brush I applied my blush with this brush, right under the cheek bones. Also uses soft Taklon bristles. Compact, softttttt, dense bristles and beautiful.
Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup
WHY I LOVE IT: I’ve tried sooo many foundations and Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Smooth-Effect is my favorite by far! The color blends in seamlessly, no orange tone, and is lightweight, yet still buildable. The finish IS soft like velvet. It’s a great foundation during the day AND going out at night. This works great over sunscreen, bare face, or at night—over a serum or primer. Absolutely love this foundation.
HOW TO APPLY IT: Use an Hourglass foundation brush No1 or their Retractable Foundation Brush to apply, or, your favorite brush, beauty blender, etc.
Alima Pure Lip Tint in “Paprika”
Alima Pure Lip Tint in shade “Paprika”
WHY I LOVE IT: Alima Pure Lip Tints are like beneficial lip balms transformed into rich lip tints. This lip tint is like a skincare makeup hybrid. I love the lip benefitting ingredients in this formula, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, pumpkin seed oil, camellia seed oil, olive oil, punica oil, coconut oil, and more. It’s also preservative free.
HOW TO APPLY IT: I apply this tint with my finger for a lip color enhancing shade. The shades of the lip tints are very rich, and depending how you apply it, it can be worn as a lipstick or a lip enhancing tint.
Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils #04 Fascinating Violet
Yves Saint Laurent’s Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in shade #04 Fascinating Violet
WHY I LOVE IT: Most of the time when I wear this mascara, someone compliments the color and asks me where I got my mascara. Yves Saint Laurent’s formula in Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils is buildable to create a dramatic lash or can be applied lightweight with one or 2 coats. HOWEVER—the deep violet purple shade is what keeps me loyal and so excited for this mascara year after year. It’s such a deep beautiful shade. It’s a dark deep purple, so the color purple is only noticeable if someone stares closely at your eyelashes in direct sunlight. (This happened a few times while I was wearing this, and in a good way, ends in compliments and asking “what mascara is that?”)
I also mention Yves Saint Laurent’s Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in shade #04 Fascinating Violet in my blog post “Packing Light for a Girls Trip! Which Essential Products I Picked!”
HOW TO APPLY IT: If you have blue or green eyes you will LOVE this shade. The purple shade enhances blue eye colors. If you have brown eyes, try the burgundy shade. It will enhance your brown eyes.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Enjoy these makeup finds! These beauty products are all timeless, classic, and you will be happy with them!
Xx,
Laura
INSTAGRAM: @ooohlalastone
Spa Night at Home by Yourself Essentials
#relax #restore #rejuvenate
Spa Night At Home by Yourself Essentials
photo by Christian Mackie
Full Body Spa Night from the Inside Out
One of my favorite things is a spa night at home. Below, I will go over a 3-step day spa routine and the long-term benefits backed by research of each step in this at home spa experience. The spa essentials recommended for each step are linked at the very bottom of this blog post. This 3-step spa routine is a simple way to bring the spa home.
photo by Marks of Mana
Here’s How We Will Bring the Spa Home
Step 1: Stretch.
Bullet points taken from International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy’s article and this pubMed study. Physical benefits of stretching include:
photo by Laura Stone. Using a stretch strap.
Increases muscle length.
Aligns collagen fibers during muscle healing.
Increases connectivity in muscles that are aged.
Will allow blood to flow to the areas that are stretched. *This will prepare you for the next step, step 2 in your spa night at home (BELOW).
Recommended Spa Essential: A stretch strap. *Spa essential linked at the bottom of this blog post.
A stretch strap will give you an even deeper stretch. Stretch straps are super easy to travel with after a long day of sitting in a car or plane. Here, I also mention a stretch strap in my blog post Packing Light for a Girls Trip! Which Products I Picked!
Step 2: Infrared Sauna Blanket Treatment.
Bullet points taken from this study from the National Institute of Health , this study by Mackay Medical College and this study by Dr. Cheng-Lung Lee, the health benefits of an infrared sauna blanket include:
photo by Laura Stone
Far infrared sauna heat penetrates deeper into fat and the neuromuscular system than traditional warm sauna air.
Decreases cortisol levels (stress levels) in the body.
Growth hormone (HGH) increases during and after a sauna session (this is an anti aging hormone).
Reduces inflammation in the body.
Far infrared sauna’s are effective in “scavenging superoxide anions in blood.” This means it has an anti-oxidative effect in the human body, even through the blood.
Step 3: LED light therapy facial mask. Listen to your favorite music while enjoying the many benefits of benefits of LED phototherapy.
Bullet points taken from The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology and this study at the Department of Dermatology at the National Medical Center , LED phototherapy has many benefits and has an “excellent safety protocol.” Some of the benefits of LED light therapy include:
photo of Dermashine PRO 7 Color LED Face Mask
Acne clearing.
Wound healing.
Psoriasis.
Skin rejuvenation.
Collagen synthesis.
Growth factors.
Extracellular matrix production by activating cellular mitochondrial respiratory pathways.
Lifting and tightening of the skin.
No adverse effects were reported with LED lights.
Brightened skin tone.
Improved skin texture.
Recommended Spa Essential: Dermashine PRO 7 Color LED Face Mask. *Spa essential linked at the bottom of this blog post…..This is the LED face mask I have. My review on the Dermashine PRO 7 Color LED mask is I love how there are 7 options of wavelengths to choose from, and this mask so easy to use.
Bonus Recommended Spa Essential: Alpha Lipoic Acid 5% (30ml) by The Ordinary. *Product linked at the bottom of the blog post.
Apply Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) on your skin before your LED phototherapy session. According to The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, “Photodynamic therapy with ALA has been used to treat a range of conditions, including from pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions and photoaged skin.”
THE SPA ESSENTIALS. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
I hope you enjoy your spa night at home by yourself and enjoy how you can bring the spa home with these spa essentials. This 3-step spa routine is very simple, yet delivers research-backed and long-term results. Cheers to your spa night!
Xx,
Laura
Insta: @ooohlalastone
Raiding Products in the Pharmacy in France!
Scroll through and see my French pharmacy product picks! :)
One of my favorite parts of France is visiting their pharmacy.
French FDA regulations for cosmetics in France are different than in the United States. So, certain skincare ingredients are found in French products, but these ingredients are not found in the U.S. version of the same product.
Here are the products I picked and why….
La Roche Posay Sunscreen, Anthelios line
Star ingredients: Mexoryl, other names for Mexoryl…. Mexoryl SX (Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid or ecamsule), Mexoryl XL (drometrizole trisiloxane)
In Europe, skin care manufacturers have the option to choose out of 7 UVA-ray filtering ingredients that deliver better performance advantages than UVA filters available in the United States. The sun’s UVA rays cause premature ageing while its UVB rays cause sunburn. Mexoryl, protects against both UVA-1 and UVA-2 rays.
Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and avobenzone are UVA-ray filters used in the United States which don’t compare to the UVA protection offered by Mexoryl. **Mexoryl is a safe ingredient as far as I know, and is currently under FDA review in the United States **
“Research data has shown that Mexoryl in particular is more effective than either zinc oxide or titanium oxide alone in blocking UVA/UVB rays, and in fact blocks in a similar range to zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in combination. Mexoryl, available as SX (water soluble) and XL (lipid soluble), is very effective for two reasons: one, it is very stable [as a benzylidene camphor derivative], and two, because it absorbs light at a broader range of UVA wavelengths than many other chemical sunscreens. ”
My first choice for the La Roche-Posay, Anthelios line was Dermo-Pediatrics SPF50+ since its formula is sensitive enough for children, while still containing full UVA protection. I just prefer sensitive skin formulas in sunscreen.
The second choice was Anthelios XL 50+ since it contains Mexoryl XL and Mexoryl SX, and nice for everyday use, but also still perfect for the beach since it’s waterproof. It also comes in a 250ml bottle as opposed to the smaller bottle!!
Caudalie Vine[Activ] eye cream
Star ingredient: Resveratrol
Caudalie uses the antioxidant found in red wine, resveratrol, which is the highly coveted anti-aging antioxidant found in red wine. Researchers have found that topical resveratrol has a 17-fold greater antioxidant content than idebenone, which is also an expensive and powerful antioxidant used in anti-aging products. What better way than to invest in some anti-aging resveratrol when it’s sourced right from one of the main wine regions in France, Bordeaux and is at a bargain price when compared to the price sold in the U.S.!
Vine[Active] is amazing because it uses a high concentration of grape polyphenols, I like to apply this antioxidant defense in the morning lightly patting under my eyes, under my eyes and under my brow bone.
Caudalie Masque Purifiant
Star ingredients: Kaolin clay and Bentonite clay
I love Caudalie’s Masque Purifiant because it’s purifying with Kaolin (the second ingredient used) and Bentonite clay and also delivers a high concentration of antioxidants from plant origin. You can use this mask 2-3 times a week, and I like to apply to my face and décolletage. **All the ingredients are the same in this formula as in the United States’ formula, but the price is lower!
Nuxe Paris Huile Prodigieuse, a shimmering dry oil
Star ingredients: Camellia Oil, Argan Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Olive Oil, Rosemary extract, Tomato fruit extract
The next product I had to snag is by Nuxe Paris, Huile Prodigieuse. Not only does the bronze/gold oil contain shimmering gold particles, but it contains skin benefitting ingredients to nourish your skin at the same time. The finish is non-greasy and the scent is like wearing a perfume in itself. Definitely a favorite of mine, and of course, the price is unbeatable and cheaper than in the U.S.! The application is via a spray glass bottle accentuated by a beautiful gold cap. I love to apply it to my legs, arms, and décolletage when I’m wearing a dress or shorts on a night out. It can also be applied to your body or hair.
Savon Liquide de Marseille a’l’Huile d’ Argan
Star ingredients: Argan Oil, Rose essential oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Coconut Oil
The last product I grabbed on my pharmacy haul was Savon Liquide de Marseille a’ l’ Huile d’ Argan, for only 5 euros and at a 500ml bottle. With Argan Oil, Rose essential Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) AND Coconut oil, the price for this body wash is a steal. I saw this product as I was checking out and was amazed at the price for the amount in the bottle and the quality of ingredients within this. What’s great about body washes like this is that they are moisturizing enough to use as a shaving gel.
Tip—> If you aren’t headed to France anytime soon, check pharmamundi.com or frenchcosmeticsforless.com to order products overseas. The shipping time could be up to a month.
XO
Laura
Laura Dern of "Big Little Lies" Shares Her Beauty Truths!
Laura Dern, of “Big Little Lies,” “Twin Peaks” and “Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi,” sits down with the New York Times and shares her beauty truths. Dern has access to the best-of-the-best in beauty tips, secrets, insights and treatments from around the world in her career as an A-list actress …..
Laura Dern’s interview in NY Times
Julie Hewett’s Organic Camellia Oil- Industry staple
Laura Dern, of “Big Little Lies,” “Twin Peaks” and “Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi,” sits down with the New York Times and shares her beauty truths.
Dern has had access to the best-of-the-best in beauty tips, secrets, insights and treatments from around the world in her career as an A-list actress for the past 40 years! It is safe to say that she is qualified to be one of the beauty influencers in Los Angeles. Dern says that Julie Hewett’s Camellia Oil is one of her secret weapons in her beauty arsenal! Let us explain the magnificence of this beauty secret of the Geishas—Camellia Oil.
In the NY Times interview, Dern says that Julie Hewett’s Camellia Oil, alongside Crème de la Mer and iS Clinical, is part of her nightly routine.
“At night, I might use this really beautiful camellia oil by Julie Hewett, the makeup artist.”
A few of the long list of benefits of this “nutritional powerhouse” Camellia Oil include:
anti-aging benefits,
anti-inflammation properties, and
skin healing benefits.
Due to camellia oil’s high antioxidant content of polyphenols and Oleic Acid (almost 82% of its fatty acid composition!) it helps slow DNA damage of the skin and protects from aging free-radicals.
Julie Hewett’s nourishing Camellia Oil pictures among Dern’s other favorites!
How can you wear Camellia Oil?
Camellia Oil can be worn any time and is multi-purpose beauty product. SHOP JULIE HEWETT CAMELLIA OIL HERE!
Julie Hewett’s Organic Camellia Oil- Industry staple
Camellia oil is an emulsifier, which means it can easily be mixed and added to other creams, oils or sunblock and deliver an added punch of antioxidants and nutrients.
Camellia Oil can be applied to the hair, a few drops applied through the ends to add shine and hydration, or a few dabs to fly aways to slick your hair back.
The oil can be lightly dabbed to the under-eye area for an intensive hydration treatment and can supplement any other eye treatment or is outstanding and healing on its own.
Some beauty enthusiasts like to cleanse with camellia oil, remove make-up, apply the oil to stretch marks or wounds.
Wear it under makeup, for a dewy base and added skin protection.
The molecule size of Camellia oil is small enough to penetrate the skin’s Natural Moisture Factor (NMF) in the Stratum Corneum Layer. This means that not only does Camellia Oil contain all these awesome long-lasting benefits for the skin, but its molecule is small enough to penetrate the pores and deliver them to the deeper layers! Furthermore, the Camellia Oil molecule is stable, which means that its beneficial, precious qualities will not break down to heat. (Thank goodness Camellia Oil properties stay intact during our long steamy spa sessions in the bathroom and hot Summer-time rays!)
SHOP JULIE HEWETT CAMELLIA OIL HERE.
XO
Laura