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Free shipping with code FREESHIP | Free Travel Beauty Bag with Purchase of $200 | Free Samples with Every Order

The best beauty products from around the globe

Monthly Archives : September 2015

Helpful Tips For When You Forget To Pack Your Toothpaste and Toothbrush

replacement toothbrush and toothpaste

If you travel — even occasionally — you’ve likely experienced the dread accompanied by the realization that you’ve forgotten to pack your toothbrush and/or toothpaste. Depending on where you are and where you’re staying, running out for replacements may be an option – but it’s not always.

 

What to do? As I pride myself on my resourcefulness and um, creative off-label uses for various products, I have some brush and/or paste-less solutions to just such a situation. They’re found —where else? — in your beauty bag!

 

First things first: have you started tongue scraping yet? I have been singing the praises of tongue scraping for years now, and have written a post that is basically an ode to the practice. If you regularly tongue scrape morning and night, I promise your mouth will feel significantly less gnarly over the long term. Also, as a tongue scraping zealot, if I were to forget my toothbrush and/or toothpaste, I would still have yet another mouth cleaning tool in my quiver. (Since a tongue scraper is A LOT harder to purchase in a pinch, I make sure to always have it packed!)

 

Though nothing replaces that so fresh and so clean clean feeling that a thorough brushing brings, once you scrape all that gunk off your tongue, you won’t feel nearly as bad about your mouth. And don’t get me started on flossing — a much more mainstream way to keep your mouth feeling fresh. Accost me on the street and you will find no less than two types of dental floss in my handbag.

Heaven Skincare’s EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes are so big, soft and strong that a recent first-time user elatedly exclaimed “you can do an entire whore’s bath with one”! (Not that we know what that is…but it sure sounds impressive.) These wonder wipes have also become the official skin wipe of Travel Beauty expert Dara Liotta M.D.’s practice.

That’s all swell, but did you know you can also CLEAN YOUR TEETH WITH THEM? Yup, these organic wipes can be used to wipe down those chompers anytime, anywhere. They are super soft and “taste” very mild. Infused with taste bud-friendly honey, peppermint and apple pectin, they are almost good enough to eat (but don’t eat them, please.) Just take a wipe and gently wipe along the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth, focusing on the gum line to attack that plaque, and viola! Your mouth and breath will feel totally refreshed in seconds flat. I can tell you first hand that there is no weird taste or aftertaste…if anything the almost imperceptible flavor is pleasant!

 

 

They have also become the official skin wipe of our resident Plastic Surgeon, Dara Liotta, MD’s practice.

 

One of the most versatile products we carry is Vine Minus Ion Care Water. (We’ve shared all the reasons to love this water here.) You can (and should) spray it anywhere! Face, skin, hair…and even your teeth.
Last but not leastMorihata Binchotan Charcoal toothbrushesWe are so excited to add these unique brushes to Travel Beauty’s virtual shelves. Each bristle of these toothbrushes contains active Binchotan Charcoal to deodorize, prevent bad breath and remove plaque. The activated charcoal gives off negative ions and prevents harmful bacteria from growing within the brush. Rememebred your brush but not your paste? In a toothpasteless pinch, using this brush alone definitely beats brushing with any old Oral B.

 

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

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7 Ways to Protect Your Hair During Workouts

improve hair health while exercising

While it’s well known that working out is beneficial to the body, it can actually be good for hair, too. Mild to moderate exercise helps to reduce stress levels, calm anxiety and ward off a whole host of health problems – all of which can affect hair growth. There are even things you can do to immediately improve the condition of your hair while exercising. However, there can also be drawbacks. Below I’ll explain how to keep your hair in tip-top condition during your weekly workouts.

Swimming

It’s a definite must to protect your hair when you swim. Like bleach, chlorinated water is an oxidizer and can seriously dry out your strands. It may also turn blonde hair green. A safe bet is to wear a silicone swim cap. And if you have hair below shoulder length, purchase one specifically for long hair (Speedo, amongst other brands sells them and in an array of fun colours). Personally, I like to apply our waterproof hydrating Philip Kingsley Swimcap Cream before doing my morning laps. It not only protects the hair, but also moisturizes it. Shampoo it out and condition as usual for shiny post-pool hair. You can even wear it under your regular swim cap if you don’t like getting your hair wet. The longer you leave it in, the more intensive the treatment will be – so as an added benefit it gives me extra incentive to crawl through those last laps (pun intended).

Hair-up

Take a look at how you tie your hair up. If it feels like your ponytail/bun is pulling, make it looser. Traction from tight styles can break hair around the hairline and temples, and over time pull it from the follicle resulting in hair loss. What you use to keep your hair in place is also important. Tight rubber/plastic bands can cut into the hair shaft and fracture it. I suggest purchasing some large scrunchies and/or fabric-covered bands. They are gentle on the hair shaft and less likely to pull.

Cardio

It may seem obvious, but you should wash your hair after you work up a sweat. Your scalp becomes just as sweaty as the rest of you. Forgoing shampoo is bad news for two reasons. Firstly, hair traps sweat, which creates the ideal environment for bacterial growth. As bacteria begin to break down the sweat, your hair can start to smell. Secondly, proliferation of bacteria can irritate your scalp. If you don’t have time to shampoo, make sure to use an anti-microbial dry shampoo and scalp toner. (PK One More Day Dry Shampoo and Scalp Toning Tonic).

Don’t Overdo It

High intensity work-outs can be fine, but overdoing it can send your androgen (male hormone) levels rocketing. And if you have a genetic pre-disposition to hair thinning, this could be a problem.

Re-fuel

Eat nutritious, energy dense foods post workout. Nuts, bananas and granola are good choices. If your body is left hungry and depleted, your hair cells are going to be feeling it even more. As hair is a non-essential tissue, it is usually the first part of you to take a hit from any form of dietary or energy deficiency.

Mat Work

Depending on the class you take, you may not work up a huge sweat during an hour of yoga, Pilates or meditation. You may also have washed your hair in the morning, or leave it until the next day. Do yourself (and your hair) a favor and wipe down the mat you use before lying on it. You are otherwise subjecting your hair and scalp to other people’s germs and sweat while your doing roll ups, hip lifts and mindful breathing.

Multi-task

Using a weekly deep conditioning hair mask can do wonders for the condition of the hair. But sometimes it’s hard to find the time. The solution? Work one into your locks before working out. I recommend our Philip Kingsley Elasticizer – a multi-award winning pre-shampoo conditioning treatment that was originally formulated for Audrey Hepburn.

Have questions for Anabel? Please comment on this blog and all will be answered.

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Layering Body Care Products

layering body care products

We’ve been told how to layer our clothes, our skin care…even our hair care. I ask you: What about our body care? Given the amount of square footage you have to cover compared to your face or hair, body care is probably the most important product-layering lesson to learn.

I spend the bulk of my “getting ready time” applying body care products – longer than I spend on my face & hair combined. This has been the case since the beginning of my beauty product obsession, so I’ve learned some best practices along the way…usually through making mistakes. (For instance, if you’re going on a beach vacation and want to do Baby Foot for super-soft feet and a spray tan for super-tan skin, make sure to do Baby Foot far enough in advance that the bulk of your peeling is complete BEFORE getting your spray tan! Otherwise your feet will look like a map. Or a cheetah. Either one is not so cute.)

Before We Begin: Are You Exfoliating?

Don’t get me started; I’ve talked about body scrubs for years now! From there, here’s a step-by-step game plan for getting the best body out of your body products.

Step 1: Self-Tanner

The first step of this first step is to cream up the palms of your hands before even looking at self-tanner. You don’t want to get caught tan-handed. Especially in summer when I am applying self-tanner over most of my body regularly, I like to use self-tanning towels for this step. As you’ll see with the number of products I apply to my body, listed below, having one more cream/oil/gel to apply is a bit of a pain. The towels can be used first thing after getting out of the shower, so they don’t interfere with all the other creams/oils/gels. In fact, if you use exfoliating tan towels, they will actually help all subsequent body products absorb deeper into your skin.

Step 2: Treatment Products

If you’re not using self-tanning towels, these should be applied first to the appropriate areas. They are full of active ingredients that you want to apply directly to bare skin. You may have different products for cellulite, bloating, etc. It’s the same idea as spot treating on your face or hair. If you have one pimple, you only apply a pimple cream to that area. Try Mio Skincare’s award-winning range of targeted treatment products!

Step 3: Body Oil

Should go next; all over body or to treat a specific area. (I will say, though, that a high-quality body oil, even one designed to firm or treat specific conditions can be used everywhere else on the body, so don’t be shy!) Mix up a cocktail with….

Step 4: Body Cream

Also apply cream to targeted areas. In small doses, oils make skin radiant. Put them on dry areas after creams—as a rule, oils can penetrate moisturizers, but not vice versa. The A Cream from Mio Skincare or Emma Hardie Super Rich Body Butter are superb.

Step 5: SPF

Last but not least, I always apply SPF later than I do all other body products; closer to when I’m actually leaving the house and usually when I’m almost fully dressed. This should be old news, but if you’re baring your arms and shoulders, make sure to protect them! And don’t forget the backs of your hands and your décolletage, which are usually exposed until it gets very cold out. Institut Esthederm Adaptasun for Body is the gold standard against which all other body SPF should be measured!

Overwhelmed? Too many steps? Take it slow…add new layers to your routine at your own pace. And ask any questions in the comments, below!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

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Facial Cleansers, Creams & Masks

facial cleansers creams masks

By now, you’ve probably put away your Havianas and Mara Hoffman two pieces…but has your summer season purge reached your shower yet? Here are some non-soapy facial cleansers you should swap in for those sudsy, foaming cleansers that got you through summer.

Squeaky Clean

Great for glass, fatal for face. We’re taught that getting our skin “too clean”, thus stripping away the natural oils, is a skincare no-no, and will lead to all sorts of unwelcome results: wrinkles, pimples, redness, etc. Not that that ever stopped me. For some deep-seated psychological reason with which a shrink would probably have a field day, I’ve never felt my cleansing was complete until my skin literally squeaked.

Summer Steam Calls For Extreme Measures

In the steamy days of summer I felt completely justified; the mixture of sweat and city grime seemed to call for extreme measures. But even in winter I’d wash like the dickens, and then slather on about 3 layers of serums/creams/oils/lotions/essences to re-dew my dermis.

Now, perhaps it is the sickeningly swift approach of a certain benchmark birthday, but of late, I have been more receptive to creamier cleansers. While these more nourishing formulas don’t give my skin the squeak, they still leave it deeply cleansed and comfortable.

The Cleansers: There’s One For Everyone!

Morihata Binchotan Charcoal Facial Cleansing Mask. Whether I leave it on for 30 seconds or three minutes, I get complimented on my skin every time I use this 3-in-1 makeup remover/cleanser/mask. Binchotan charcoal is blended into every drop of this rich mask to revitalize and tone your complexion. Charcoal’s natural detoxifying powers draw out impurities from pores which prevents future breakouts and absorbs excess oil. This product is a great choice for anyone who’s really fretting over foregoing the foam, as it cleanses skin so deeply you can see the difference.

This cleanser looks like latex paint when you first pump it out of the bottle, and it is slick and silky to the touch. Just a little bit creates a thick mask, but unlike other dark detoxifying masks, it doesn’t dry up and harden, so it never leaves skin with that tight, parched feeling. When used as a cleanser, it just slides on and off with water. I massage it in for about 20 seconds and then let it wash off in the shower. Unlike so many soapy/foaming cleansers, this one is truly safe for eyes – zero irritation or stinging, even when massaged in to remove mascara! It’s a “clean” cleanser, too: no parabens, alcohol, oil, fragrance or synthetic dyes.

Heaven Skincare New Edition Cleansing Cream. I was (pleasantly) shocked at how well just a little dab of this featherlight cream completely and thoroughly cleaned my entire face and eyes. It also happens to be the first bee venom cleanser in the world, which gives it anti-aging properties. It is the ultimate strong yet gentle cleanser. All Heaven Skincare products are made with the highest quality natural and organic ingredients, so the anti-aging effects are achieved without nasty and/or harsh chemicals.

May Lindstrom The Honey Mud. This silken, pudding-like cleanser/mask detoxifies, soothes and conditions skin. It gently frees skin of the day’s pollutants, infusing it with active enzymes and nourishment while restoring optimal hydration. It not only looks like a delicious dessert, it smells divine as well. That is thanks to its long list of organic ingredients: Raw honey is a naturally antibacterial humectant that promotes healing, Halloysite Clay deeply yet gently purifies and detoxifies and Colloidal Silver is naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antibiotic. Leave it on for a minute or two and rinse off.

Cosmetics 27 Cleanser 27 by M.E. SkinLab (Found in the new SOS 27 Kit). A cleanser rundown wouldn’t be complete without mentioning this parisian exfoliating & moisturizing cleansing balm from Cosmetics 27, now available in the SOS 27 Kit! This cleansing balm and makeup remover nourishes and hydrates while refining skin’s texture. It gently purifies even the most sensitive and/or dry as well as mature skin, without dehydrating it, restoring lost radiance and elasticity. Just message into wet or dry skin. All Cosmetics 27 products are made with 100% natural ingredients and are paraben free.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. Who’s the richest of them all? This jar par excellance. Emma Hardie is another natural, organic line from the United Kingdom. This cleansing balm is Emma’s superstar product, having won about a dozen beauty awards since its launch. This balanced daily cleanser thoroughly cleanses deep in the pores, moisturises and calms the skin. It thoroughly removes all traces of face and eye makeup, and is so pure it doubles as a soothing and hydrating mask (just leave it on for ten minutes).

This is one of the best smelling products I have ever used, and it is completely devoid of any “fragrance”. The amazing scent comes from a long list of natural botanical ingredients (which also make it so beneficial for skin):

  • Grape Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil rich in essential fatty acids help to plump and soften
  • Moringa Seed extract, Wild Sea Fennel and Vitamin E balance, purify and help to minimize the appearance of open pores
  • Essential oils of Orange, Neroli and Mandarin rejuvenate and revitalize the skin and calm the senses
  • Jasmine and Rose help to recondition dull, dehydrated and/or mature skin

The cleanser is a semi-solid, but quickly emulsifies into a luxurious liquid once you begin to massage it into damp skin. It feels and smells so good I think I go into a bit of a trance every time I use it…just standing in front of my bathroom mirror at the end of a long day zoning out. For an extra added refresher, store in the refrigerator. It turns it into a solid and is cool and soothing to the touch.

Say “No” to Soapy Cleansers

Are you ready to say “no” to soapy cleansers? Have you already sworn them off? Leave us a comment and let us know!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

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Charlotte’s Book Fall Beauty & Wellness Treatments

charlottes book fall beauty wellness treatment

Fall is here, and as we spend less time outdoors, on the beach and in the pool, we have more time to think about all the personal care we let slip in the name of late summer nights, hot dogs and frozen daiquiris.

We scoured Charlotte’s Book—the Wikileaks of wellness and beauty—to research ways we could absolve ourselves of the summer sins we’ve committed. Here is a roundup our favorite CB reads focused on aesthetic and wellness treatments to help us look and feel our best.

HOT? TRY CRYOTHERAPY: THE BEST WAY TO COOL DOWN, DE-STRESS, AND INCREASE METABOLISM

Freezing yourself seems extreme. But the benefits of Cryotheraphy—a 2-3 minute full-body freeze in a chamber where nitrogen-iced air circulates at minus-200 degrees Fahrenheit—has purported benefits that range from stress relief to reduced inflammation, better sleep, improved skin tone, and increased metabolism. Read more.

ULTRASHAPE: WHEN BARRY’S BOOTCAMP ISN’T ENOUGH

For how long have you wished that you could magically erase fat off of your body? Technology is finally catching up with our dreams of obtaining a sleek silhouette, despite stubborn areas of extra fat that seem impossible to get rid of, no matter how many Barry’s Bootcamp classes you endure. The first fat-zapper to the scene was CoolSculpting, which kills fat cells by freezing them to death, then your body gradually flushes it out over a period of two to four months. Now…. Read more.

LET THERE BE LIGHT (AND LASER): WE TRIED CLEAR + BRILLIANT

My skin may be young (I’m 24 years old), but that doesn’t mean it’s problem-free. From adolescent acne to eczema, and now adult acne (it just keeps getting better, right?), hyperpigmentation, scarring, and reoccurring blemishes are always on my list of skincare concerns to tackle. When I learned about Clear + Brilliant, a gentle laser treatment that evens skin tone and boosts radiance with no downtime, I was ready to sign up. Read more.

CHARLOTTE TALKS TO: TOWN & COUNTRY MAGAZINE BEAUTY DIRECTOR, JAMIE ROSEN

Welcome to #CharlotteTalksTo, where we feature amazing women out there shaking things up and remaining fabulous in the process. How do they do it? Behind every beautiful and brilliant woman are a few secrets that help them “be timeless”.

Jamie Rosen currently serves as the Beauty Director for one of America’s most storied titles: Town & Country Magazine. She has held this position since 2010 and her sharp editorial eye and reporting is evident on the beauty pages of this classic Hearst publication. For the past five years, she has overseen all beauty, health and wellness content in the magazine, online, and across Town & Country’s multiple social channels.  Read more.

Hungry for more? Visit our friends at Charlotte’s Book.

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