If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

There are few people who have reached a beauty icon status as cemented in pop culture history like Pamela Anderson. Take her classic thin brows during the ’90s that defined an era or her perfection of the smokey eye shadow look I’ve spent years trying to recreate—the actress and author has always been that girl.

Nowadays, Pamela seems to be leaning towards a significantly more natural makeup look but it’s just as inspo-worthy (if not more) as the glam she wore all those years ago. The Baywatch star recently revealed in a new video for Vogue’s In the Bag series all of her go-to makeup products, so naturally, we plan on snagging these immediately.

Among her item essentials she keeps in her purse—including a G-string she promptly used to tie her hair up with— Pamela gave her stamp of approval to a skincare meets makeup fan-favorite product, Ilia’s True Skin Serum Concealer.

ILIA.

Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer

Ilia’s serum concealer—which is available in 20 shades—is a medium-coverage product that is packed with skin-loving ingredients such as brightening vitamin C and albizia julibrissin bark extract. If you’re a bit insecure about under-eye circles (relatable), than you’ll love that fact that you can both cover your dark circles and help correct them at the same time.

Another one of Pamela’s favorite products? The Ilia DayLite Highlighting Powder, which comes in soft gold and rose gold shades. “I love Ilia,” she says in the video. “Ilia is really beautiful. And this is like their little highlighty thing. We didn’t know about this in the ’90s but this is good.”

ILIA

Ilia DayLite Highlighting Powder

The brand’s highlighter is made of a buttery soft blend that adds a gorgeous touch of shimmer to your complexion. Use it on the high points of your face (like cheeks, bridge of nose, temples) or on your eye lids or underneath your brow bone for an illuminated shine. The clean, talc-free finely milled powder brings an an illuminating glow to the skin that makes it almost appear airbrushed. Plus, the inclusion of jojoba oil hydrates and nourishes the skin throughout wear.

Who knew channeling Pamela Anderson could be so easy?! See below for another item she always keeps on hand.

Amazon

Dr. Hauschka Lip Balm

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Getting your neck firm and ready for the upcoming fall season might not be such a task with a little help from skin-lifting cream that shoppers say makes a “huge difference” on sagging skin. Dermelect’s neck firming lift cream is packed to the brim with skin revitalizing ingredients like avocado oil, alpha-hydroxy acid and green tea extract that hydrate and plump skin so well, wrinkles and fine lines look less prominent instantly. And to top it off, you can shop the brand’s President’s Day sale with code PRESDAY. Right now, save 20 percent sitewide with free shipping on orders $50 and up, which gives you an ample opportunity to stock up on all of Dermelect’s bestsellers.

“This is THE only neck cream that does what it promises to do,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “My necklines have disappeared and my skin feels much softer. No negative side effects, either.”

With the purpose of being used daily, the cream is meant to improve the overall appearance of wrinkling and sagging skin from across the neck and jawline area. Basically, it gets rid of what’s so lovingly nicknamed “turkey neck.” 

Courtesy of Dermelect.

When you take a look at the product’s main ingredients, it’s easy to see how it’s so effective as an anti-aging, wrinkle-erasing tool.

Avocado oil works to nourish your skin, while the alpha-hydroxy acid evens your skin texture out and the green tea extract aids in UV protection as well as anti-inflammation. One shopper said the product’s a “game-changer” and added that, if “you want instant better skin tone—this is it!” 

Along with anti-aging ingredients, the cream is jam-packed with nourishing ones. Jojoba Oil is also another powerhouse ingredient in this firming cream and helps skin retain moisture. Say goodbye to dry, chapped skin.

This firming cream is a hit with customers who have mature skin problems,  many of whom said it helps them look younger and fixes sagging issues around their necks. 

“I have been using this cream for my ‘senior neck’ for a long time and I can report that my 89-year-old neck looks years younger,” says another customer. “Be consistent, I use it twice a day.” For best results, use your bare hand (or maybe a Gua Sha stone) to massage the cream into your skin with an upward motion until the product is fully absorbed. This can be done when you wake up and before you go to bed. 

Even better: the neck-firming cream is free of mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, sulfates and synthetic fragrances. Along with this, it’s also cruelty-free and gluten-free, making it the perfect product for you if you have relatively sensitive skin. 

So, if you’re in the market for a neck cream that performs wonders and has an ingredient list from the heavens, then Dermelect’s Self-Esteem Professional Neck Firming Cream might be something you might just want to add to your cart.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

The last time I went to a dermatologist, she took one look at the blackheads on my nose and said, “are you using retinol here?” When I said I wasn’t, she promptly replied, “well that needs to change.” I used to think absolutely nothing could minimize my pores, but hey, who am I to question a doctor?

I just started applying retinol cream religiously, so I’ll keep you posted on the results, but for now, there are tons of reviews on Amazon singing the praises of this $17 retinol cream that shoppers say “works miracles” on a variety of concerns. They’ve noticed shrinking pores, diminished dark spots and acne scars and an overall improvement on the skin’s appearance and tone.

The fact that it’s on sale for way less right now doesn’t hurt, either. As always, if there’s a product on the market that people are actually excited to rave about, you better believe I’m going to pay attention.

The LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream is made up of a high-potency blend of retinol, of course, and also hyaluronic acid, organic green tea, shea butter and jojoba oil. Because retinol can be harsh and drying on the skin’s surface, the added moisturizing ingredients help to condition the skin and prevent any visible signs of redness or peeling. And shoppers have definitely taken note that the blend works to keep typically enflamed skin tame: “I LOVE this product,” wrote one reviewer, adding that, “it is so luxurious, never causes burning, peeling or redness.” Okay, sign me up.

Courtesy of Amazon.

LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream for Face

Another reviewer actually wrote that despite this retinol cream only being $30 on average, it “beats their $75 serum.” The reviewer, who calls herself a “picky retinol user” said, “this product changed the playing field. With one use, I could tell this was different.”

This product only contains natural ingredients and is free of parabens, gluten, sulfates, and phthalates. It’s also 100 percent vegan and made in the U.S. Plus, because you get 1.7 ounces of product for $17, shoppers love that you can liberally apply it to the entire face and even the neck twice a day without having to be stingy due to high costs. Applying the product twice a day and extending it to your neck is a great way to see results faster.

Shoppers love that although the cream feels thick once it comes out of the dispenser, it goes on lightweight and doesn’t weigh down the skin or feel heavy under makeup. “It’s a thick cream, but very lightweight when it’s on and I haven’t been dry or irritated,” wrote one reviewer.

If you’ve been looking for an easy and affordable way to get into a retinol routine, this is a great place to start. You can even choose from a few different size options, depending on how much product you want to have on-hand. Pick one up today while it’s on sale.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Have you ever loved a skincare product, like a moisturizer, but not loved the packaging? It can keep you from repurchasing it even if the formula works well for your skin. Well, TikTokers found a solution (Don’t they always?) and are buying airless pump jars on Amazon. This container works just like their fave Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream (Bubble uses it too) but costs just $6 and can be filled with whatever moisturizer they already have.

Of course, if you already love the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream ($68 at Sephora) — which many do! — you can just buy that one and the container. But if it’s not in your budget or doesn’t work with your skin type, you can buy one of these airless pump jars and simply your favorite moisturizer inside. Screw on the top and it pumps out the top just the same. Folks with long nails love it because there’s less worry of germs inside the jar. Plus, the top is useful for mixing skincare and bronzer for a glowy face cream.

For example, @oliviarrobichaud loves the Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer ($45 at Sephora) but hates having to stick her finger down in the pot or use a spatula that always gets lost. She puts her Summer Fridays cream inside the jar and it comes out the top with a push perfectly. Though, she warns, don’t overfill it or it’ll leak out of the side.

@oliviarrobichaud

this might be the best beauty hack ever #skincare #beautyhacks #beautytips #summerfridays

♬ original sound – oliviarrobichaud

TikToker @carolinepitts_ found her favorite Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator Moisturizer ($44 at Sephora) on sale at Sephora and repotted it into her Amazon find. “This is a game-changer,” she said. TikToker @jaes0nmyf33t did the same thing with the E.l.f. Cosmetics Fragrance Free Holy Hydration! Face Cream ($13 at Ulta Beauty), an affordable favorite.

Now, you just want to be safe when moving products from one container to another. Be sure to thoroughly clean the airless pump before using it. There are tons of great options on Amazon with varying prices and delivery dates. Shop a few, below.

SOGOODED.

SOGOODED.

Kleem Organics.

Ready for your third piano lesson? I hope you are feeling enthusiastic about all you are learning about music so far!

[If you are just joining us for the first time, welcome! You will want to first read/watch my Introduction, Lesson 1, and Lesson 2. No need to stress about “catching up” to where we are, you can go at your own pace.]

3.1 Lesson 3: 3 Health Issues that Might Affect Your Piano Playing, the Troublesome 4-finger, and Enjoy the Calm!

This week I wanted to talk a little about 3 health issues that might be affecting your piano playing: Issues with Vision, Hearing and Arthritis. Watch the video below for a discussion about what to do if you experience impairments or arthritic pain that range from annoying to debilitating.

Also, you might have noticed that it is super difficult to play with your 4-finger! It feels kind of land-locked between your 3- and 5-fingers, but the exercises I give you will help your 4-finger to play more independently, over time. Finally, I discuss the soothing effects of playing the piano.

Before we move ahead, let’s review what you have learned so far.

Review, p.1-16

When you play your piano or keyboard, make sure your back remains straight, your shoulders stay relaxed, and check that your arms, wrists and hands are parallel with the floor. Your elbows extend slightly in front of the midline of your body, and your feet are flat on the floor.

Your thumbs are your 1-fingers, your pointers are your 2-fingers, your middle fingers are your 3s, your ring fingers are your 4s, and your pinkies are your 5-fingers. Keep practicing finding C-D-E, G-A-B, E-F-G, A-B-C, and F-G-A up and down your keyboard so that soon you can remove your letter strip.

Pentascales are the first 5 notes of a scale. A major triad is a 3-note chord constructed from the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th notes of the pentascale. Triads always skip a key and skip a letter name between the notes. If you are a beginner, it will feel awkward trying to play a triad using your 1-3-5 fingers, but it will get easier as you continue to practice your exercises! A half step above a note such as G is called both G# and A-flat. A half step below D is called both D-flat and C# (see p. 8 in Upper Hands Piano, BOOK 1 to review flats and sharps).

Musicians read notes on a staff. Pianists read notes on two staves: the treble staff (where notes are played with the right hand) and the bass staff (where notes are played with the left hand). These two staves together are called The Grand Staff, and are connected with a bar line and a brace at the beginning of each line of music.

As notes move up the staff, they move up to the right on your keyboard. As notes move down on the staff, they move down to the left on your keyboard. We have learned four basic notes:

Quarter Note q = 1 beat

Half Note h = 2 beats

Dotted Half Note h· = 3 beats

Whole Note w = 4 beats

The Quarter Note is played for one beat. The Half Note is played and held for two beats (count “1-2,” “2-3,” or “3-4”). The Dotted Half Note is played and held for 3 beats (count “1-2-3” or “2-3-4”). The Whole Note is played and held for 4 beats (count “1-2-3-4).

Another name for the Treble Clef is the G-Clef, because it indicates that treble G4 (the G above middle C) is on the 2^nd line (from the bottom) on the Treble Staff. Another name for the Bass Clef is the F-Clef because it indicates that F3 (the F below middle C) is on the 4^th line from the bottom of the Bass Staff. Middle C is written on a Ledger Line below the treble staff. D “kisses the bottom of the staff,” E is on the 1^st line, F is in the 1^st space, and G is on the 2^nd line.

The top number of the 4/4 Time Signature tells there are 4 beats in each measure. The bottom number tells us that a Quarter Note is held for 1 beat.

Moving Forward, p.17-19

Note: If you have not yet purchased my Upper Hands Piano, BOOK 1, you can purchase it from my website. You will need this book in order to continue learning with us.

Turn to p.17 in Upper Hands Piano Book 1. Write the letters in the blanks before each note (not below or above the notes). Writing the letter next to the note helps the brain to associate the letter with that particular note on the staff. Check your answers on the ANSWERS page on my website

3.2 – p.18 Exercises

On p. 18, play these random notes forwards and backwards, one or two lines per day. Though I demonstrate the exercise forwards only, it would be great if you played it both forward and backward, sometimes saying the letters as you play. I count “1-2-3-4” setting a steady beat before I start to play, so that you can play with me, once you feel comfortable to do so.

3.3 – p.19 Au Clair de la Lune

You get to play two short songs on p. 19! Au Claire de la Lune and All Through the Night present different counting challenges! Play each one first before watching my demos. Once again, before playing the songs I count to 4, so that when you are ready, you can play along with me.

Notice that in my Au Clair de la Lune demo, I played a Left Hand G along with the Right Hand C at the beginning of the second line. Once you feel comfortable playing Au Clair de la Lune with your Right Hand all the way through, you might like to add the Left Hand G, as well!

3.4 – p.19 All Through the Night

Notice the “tie” at the end of All Through the Night! The tie means, play the first note, and hold it for the value of both notes. Since we have a whole note tied to another whole note, you will hold the F above the word “night” for 4 + 4 beats, a total of 8 beats.

Passion Practice!

At the end of each lesson, I will provide you with an assignment, called Passion Practice. I call it Passion Practice because: 1- I love alliteration, but also, 2 – we feel passionate about the music of our youth, and that passion can drive us to want to make music, ourselves. If you love music, bring that sense of passion and curiosity to your piano practice.

• Play Exercises #1 in D, A, E and B. You can use the Pentascales Chart at the back of the book to find the new E and B positions, and/or you can watch my video for Exercise #1. There is a list in the description telling you where each Exercise occurs in the video (E is at 4:14 in B is at 4:40).

• For the next two weeks review Ode to Joy on p.16, write the notes in the blanks on p.17, practice 2 lines each practice day on p.18, and the songs on p.19. Once you are comfortable playing pages 18-19 try playing them with my demo!
• Next lesson you are going to write lyrics to a melody! Start thinking about what you would like your first song to be about. It can be silly or serious. Listen to some of your favorite songs or pieces. What is it about them that you like? The lyrics? The melody? The chords? Or the sounds of the instruments or singer?

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have health issues that are affecting your piano playing? How are you coping with those issues? Are you noticing an increase in your ability to concentrate since beginning your piano lessons? Are you finding your practice to be calming? Or stressful? If you have a question or comment, leave it in the COMMENTS section below, because others might have your same question and I’d like to provide answers for all!