December Beauty Board

Click on the images to shop the products. 

AERIN Tangier Vanille: the newest fragrance launch. I am a HUGE fan of AERIN fragrances. Their packaging is so beautiful and the scents are really, really nice. These make great gifts. Tangier Vanille is a vanilla scent that applies stronger and fades to a delicate, sweet and spicy note. My other favorite?  Ikat Jasmine.

Sol De Janeiro's newest launch is the Brazilian Kiss Lip Butter - a chubby lip balm stick beautifully scented with fragrant vanilla. I'm someone who is sensitive to heavily fragranced products, and I'm happy to report that I love this. Get it here, packaged with their award winning Brazillian Bum Bum cream for $25! This is a very cute gift idea for coworkers or office staff. 

dPHue: A new haircare line on the market (sold at Sephora). They sent over a generous package and I have been really liking their Renew conditioner. My hair is pretty delicate and I am wary about what I use on it. I researched this before using, and vetted the ingredients. I also like their Argan Oil.

Mac Trend Forecast Palettes: each Fashion Week, MAC debuts eye and lip palette combos. They forecast the new seasons' trends.  For SS17, we have a perfect set of lip colors and eye glosses, conveniently packaged in a sleek, thin compact. These are easy to transport. One features 6 lip colors, the other 6 eye glosses, to compliment any editorial look.

Sio Skin Pad: this overnight gel pad infuses your skin with moisture, plumping fine lines and virtually eliminating those ugly sleep/crease marks on your chest!  Use it overnight, or a few hours before a big event or night out.  Retails for $99 for two reusable pads (30 day supply) or $70 for a monthly subscription. The before and after photos are on the website are pretty remarkable. 

Tatcha Camelia Cleansing Oil: I'll admit that the prospect of cleaning my face with oil initially put me off.  After trying out this product, I am a convert. It does a great job at breaking down foundation and eye makeup. Also does a good job at removing thick mascara. Apply on face while dry, massage in, and then it rinses cleanly.  The Tatcha line is beautifully done, with luxe packaging and quality ingredients that are good for your skin. I wish I could use more of their skincare, but the majority of their serums and face creams break me out. This oil cleanser though? Perfection. 

MDSolar Science Sunscreen SPF 50: I go back to this sunscreen again and again for it's antioxidant benefits, and excellent protection against aging and the sun. It wears well under makeup for a full 6-7 hours, making it one of the only products that I can actually put on before applying concealer or foundation.

Oribe Dry Hair Texturizer: I tried to ween myself off of this pricey dry shampoo. For one year, I tried everything in between. I just re-purchased this because nothing works as fast, or as well at absorbing oil than this product.

Clarins Toning Lotion: a super gentle toner that reduces redness, smooths my skin and generally helps calm it down. People skip this step in their skin care routine, but I tend to love it because it makes my skin feel really clean and refreshed. This has a bit of an herbal scent to it, which is worth noting. It does not linger but it is somewhat strong, initially.  

Clarins Boosters: Clarins has also recently come out with a line of "boosters." These are very potent skin serums, each with a specific, targeted goal.  There are three to choose from: Energy (powered by Ginseng), Repair (powered by Mimosa) and Detox (powered by green coffee). Clarins recommends you mix them with other skincare, like in a moisturizer, because they are that potent!

Brocato Vibrastrait Flat Iron: This flat iron is an amazing product. I'm pretty obsessed with it. It heats up very quickly, has a digital temperature gauge that allows you to control the heat setting, has a vibrate setting for quicker drying with smoother strands.  This makes my hair really shiny. It helps lock in moisture and helps eliminate frizz. An amazing product and truly worth the money.  You can buy it online at Target and Ulta.

THE BAD:

I'm always trying out new beauty products, so of course, I do come across things that I just do not like.  This month, I tested the Cloud 9 Haircare line.  I used the Brocato Cloud 9 Miracle Repair Blow Dry Serum. Bad news. Never test out a new product before a big night out right? RIGHT. I used this before going to a work gala and my hair never looked worse.  It was one huge frizzball. This product did not standup to the Miami humidity. It was the only thing I changed that night, in my hair care routine, so I know it was the culprit. 

Disclosure: I received all products mentioned above, except Oribe, MD Solar Science, and Tatcha, as press samples.  I have included them because I genuinely enjoy them, and have given honest opinions about them.