Month: July 2020

I Downsized During Quarantine and Rediscovered the Joy of My Beauty Routine

For many people, the past few months of quarantine have been a time to re-evaluate how they spend their time and money, how they decorate their home, which type of bread they want to bake from scratch on any given day, and, more recently, how they approach and advocate for race relations and anti-racism efforts in America (about time, don’t you think?). For me, in addition to those things (save for the bread), it’s also been a moment to step back and reflect on my beauty habits—or, rather, recent lack thereof, thanks to some standout quarantine beauty products. I know what you’re thinking: “But, Becca, beauty is your beat…” And you’re absolutely right.

As a beauty writer (and former editor), I’ve been sent just about every product under the sun—and if I haven’t tested it firsthand (whether on my face, forearm or back of my hand), I’ve read all about it. While this is most definitely one of the perks of the job, it’s also—wait for it—one of the biggest stresses. Major first world problem, but hear me out.

Living in a 600-square-foot New York City apartment where roughly 250 square feet of it are solely mine, products have a tendency to pile up. Everywhere I look, there’s some relic of beauty. Retinol and exfoliating acids, sheet masks and mud masks, toners and essences, serums and creams—every surface in my bedroom and office nook features more than a few, and my vanity is fully covered in bottles, tubes, and jars waiting to be explored.

Let’s be clear: I love to try new products—and it’s a privilege to be given the opportunity to test them out for free. But at the same time, it’s also something that makes it incredibly difficult to stick to a set routine—something that’s super important for someone with sensitive, reactive skin (hi, hello). After all, with new products arriving every day and expectations of actually testing them all out, it’s easy to get in the habit of switching up my AM and PM regimens to follow suit, only to wonder why my skin (and recycling bin—so much packaging) then freaks out in the process. 

Allow me to reiterate: This isn’t to complain, it’s to explain.

Instagram PhotoSource: Instagram

On my worst days—which were at the height of my being sick for weeks on end—the abundance of products was enough to make me take one look at my overflowing vanity, only to feel paralyzed by decision fatigue, which in turn left me backing away slowly without so much as cycling through a simple C-T-M (cleanse, tone, moisturize, y’all—the basics). This response to such privilege made me realize one thing: Something needed to change. Fortunately, understanding the need for change lined up perfectly with the week leading into quarantine. 

At the time, lockdown orders had yet to be set in New York and my parents (despite my being in my late 20s; oof, the first time I’ve written that one out) were worried about the potential of such a thing happening, knowing full well that, given I’d been starting to feel quite cramped in my small city dwelling, I’d likely lose my mind. As a result—bless their hearts—they drove to the city to scoop me up with less than 24 hours notice as the health crisis began to rapidly progress (to be fair, I had been self-quarantining, so there wasn’t a risk of spread), a privilege for which I’m both aware and extremely grateful.

In preparation for what I thought would surely only be a couple of weeks away (big LOL), I decided there was no time like the present to redefine my beauty habits. And, in doing so, I chose to start with the basics: my two favorite cleansers (HoliFrog Kissimmee Vitamin F Therapy Balmy Wash and HoliFrog Como Popp-E Renewal Scrubby Wash), two highly-coveted treatments (Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA and Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform), two glow-inducing moisturizers (Shani Darden Weightless Oil-Free Moisturizer and Marc Jacobs Beauty Youthquake Hydra-full Retexturizing Gel Crème Moisturizer), one tube of sunscreen (Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 PA+++), and my desert-island-must-have lip balm (BITE Beauty Agave+Nighttime Vegan Lip Therapy). It might not seem simple, but for someone typically surrounded by over a hundred products, often incorporating oven a dozen into her daily routine, eight is a welcome refresher. 

rebecca norris quarantine beauty

Rebecca Norris.

When I arrived in Virginia, I committed to using these eight products regularly, with the balmy cleanser, vitamin C, one of the moisturizers, SPF, and lip balm daily; retinol every other night; and the exfoliating cleanser paired with the balmy one twice a week. And, all praise the skincare gods, it worked. My skin hasn’t looked this happy in months (if not years). Of course, I also chalk that up to going makeup-free for the duration of quarantine—not to mention the markedly better air quality in suburban Virginia compared to metropolitan New York.

Part of what made this process so streamlined was the fact that 1) I put my skincare on my to-do list every day so that it’d give me an incentive to actually do it, and 2) I wasn’t being sent a jillion mailers that I felt pressured to test out and find a home for ASAP.

rebecca norris quarantine selfie

Rebecca Norris.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, however, the mailers started resurfacing. The difference was, now that I had a set routine in place—not to mention space to store all the products—the stress wasn’t a by-product of the unboxings. Instead, I’ve been able to slowly incorporate new products—I’m currently obsessing over Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, Juice Beauty PREBIOTIX™ Instant Flash Facial, Freck Cactus Water, Loops Beauty Hydrogel Face Masks, and Pixi Beauty Lipglow—into my routine while testing others on my hands and forearms as I always have.

All this is to say, if you’ve been feeling stuck or bogged down by your beauty routine—something that should ultimately be a moment of self-care and love—it might be time to Marie Kondo the ish out of it. Get back to the basics and figure out what you want to add in from there. And, if you (like me), don’t want to pare down to the bare minimum, simply research which products will have the biggest impact on your skin and ways to keep them as organized as possible so that they remain a source of joy instead of an eye-sore of product overload.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

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Soon, All Sephora’s False Eyelashes Will Be Cruelty-Free

Those who wear false lashes on the regular know they’re not all cruelty-free. Sometimes it’s even hard to identify which are synthetic and which are made from mink fur. Well, that’s about to get easier. Sephora will ban mink fur eyelashes going forward, only selling faux-fur lashes once its mink ones are all sold out. This comes after a PETA campaign showed the poor treatment of caged animals in fur farms.

“Following a PETA campaign and emails from more than 280,000 concerned shoppers, Sephora has confirmed that it has banned mink-fur eyelashes and will purchase only synthetic or faux-fur lashes going forward,” a statement from PETA reads. “Mink fur typically comes from fur farms, where stressed minks frantically pace and circle endlessly inside cramped wire cages and many languish from infections or broken or malformed limbs.”

Per the Independent, a rep from Sephora confirmed the news. “At Sephora, we have always been committed to upholding the highest standards of beauty, and we take our responsibility to communicate transparently and honestly with our clients about the products we carry seriously,” the statement reads. “As we shared with PETA, earlier this year we had already decided to begin phasing mink products out of our assortment in 2020. We have only ever offered products our clients can trust and we stand by the people and partners who have made the Sephora experience what it is today.”

abh norvina lashes

Image: Anastasia Beverly Hills.

Luckily, some of the best lashes out there are made with faux fur. Tarte, Urban Decay and Anastasia Beverly Hills all sell vegan and cruelty-free lashes that look just as great as mink ones. And they don’t hurt any animals in the process. Yes, we just gave you another reason for a Sephora run.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

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Luxurious Body Butters to Keep Your Skin Nice & Moisturized

There’s something undeniably indulgent about applying nicely-fragranced and ultra-creamy body butter. Sure, traditional lotion formulas are nice too—and most certainly get the job done—they hydrate your skin for a few hours or so post-shower. But for me, the luxury of opting for a dense, ultra-rich body butter feels so much better—it’s truly an experience. Just like your love for your favorite facial moisturizer, applying your favorite body butter feels less like a mundane skincare step, and more like a special treat.

Body butter just goes the extra mile, leaving your skin not only quenched with lasting moisture but also feeling baby-soft and smooth (and usually, smelling delicious to boot). And, if you suffer from chronically dry, itchy, and flaky skin, body butter will feel less like a luxury, and more like a necessity. Whether you prefer a super-emollient balm or lightweight whipped formula, these body butters will give your skin the extra TLC it deserves.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

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The Before & After Pics by Users For These Charcoal Teeth Whiteners Are Pretty Impressive

From detoxifying face masks to oral supplements, charcoal is one buzziest ingredients of the moment. Recently, activated charcoal has also gained momentum with fans for its teeth whitening and gum-nourishing benefits. While charcoal isn’t exactly FDA-approved for these purposes, the anecdotal “evidence” documented by the many loyalists to the black stuff is pretty impressive (at least, to me). While charcoal-infused oral care products can be kind of messy, they seem to actually keep their promise of removing surface stains without causing sensitivity.

When it comes to removing discoloration thanks to a love red wine, cold brew, and tea, there is clearly no single at-home treatment or remedy that’s able to rival the effectiveness of in-office work performed by your dentist. However, the striking amount of hype surrounding charcoal left me intrigued enough to try it out for myself. Yes, I too am a self-professed coffee addict, who often forgets to rinse and gargle after finishing my morning cup of joe (or afternoon latte, let’s be honest). Below, you’ll find my favorite charcoal-powered whitening products that left me with a visibly brighter smile.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

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Tinted Moisturizers That Leave Fair Skin Radiant Instead of Brassy and Greasy

Those with deeper skin tones know the struggle of finding the perfect foundation and BB cream shades with the right undertones. Luckily, brands are expanding their shade ranges making both fair and deep options and everything in between. When it comes to those on the other end of the spectrum, finding the best tinted moisturizer for fair skin can be a bit of a pain. You want lightweight coverage that leaves skin radiant but not too pale or too greasy.

When it comes to undertones, those with fair skin will want to pay attention to whether the product is for neutral, cool or warm tones. The wrong one and your porcelain skin can look orange or your warm skin can look dull. It helps to look for oil-free but radiant options as well. This keeps the multiple tones of your skin vibrant and light-reflecting.

Of course, there’s also a tinted moisturizer for your budget and eco-friendly needs, as well. Find vegan, cruelty-free and clean formulas, as well as ultra-affordable ones you can grab on your next Target run. Shop some of our favorites, below.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

neutrogena radiant tinted moisturizer

Image: Neutrogena.

Neutrogena Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30

This oil-free tinted moisturizer is formulated with vitamins A, C and E for a radiant-looking finish.

first aid beauty ultra repair

Image: First Aid Beauty.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30

There are multiple undertone options here, such as Bone for extra-pale skin with warm-neutral to golden undertones.

colourpop pretty fresh

Image: ColourPop.

ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Tinted Moisturizer

Choose from warm and neutral fair shades enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid.

honest cc cream

Image: Honest Beauty.

Honest Beauty CCC Clean Corrective With Vitamin C Tinted Moisturizer

This skincare-makeup hybrid primes and protects skin and covers up any imperfections.

thrive buildable blur

Image: Thrive.

Thrive Causemetics Buildable Blur CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35

This cream features a sheer-to-full-coverage formula with broad-spectrum SPF 35 protection with cool, neutral and warm undertones.

glossier skin tint

Image: Glossier.

Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint

Fans love this breathable, ultra-thin formula for the way it gives skin a dewy finish without being greasy.

beautycounter dew skin

Image: Beautycounter.

Beautycounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

Black currant seed oil, peony root extract and vitamin C brighten dull skin.

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