Kiehl’s

loving lately…

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I’m making it my mission to finish all of my products before I run out and buy something new. After cleaning up my room (a bit) I realized that I SOOOO many beauty products that I haven’t even touched. So, here is the first batch of products I’ve been loving lately…

A new to me brand, Kinara means “on the edge” in Hindi and is all about bringing spa services home. The Kinara Weightless Infusion is a serum/gel combo that contains peptides, powerful antioxidants, and skin lightening agents that creates an oil-free primer. I apply this underneath my moisturizer top prep the skin.

Speaking of moisturizer, I’ve been using Patyka Ultra Riche Radiant Face Cream that has Rose Hip Oil which improves cell regeneration and increases collagen production. It sinks into my skin, doesn’t have an overwhelming scent, and doesn’t leave me feeling greasy. The last skincare product is Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Eye cream. I’ve already spoken about Rosa Arctica face cream that I was using (and finished to the core!) but this eye cream revitalizes the appearance of skin in the eye area over time, smoothing crow’s feet and lifting the eye contour area. I don’t have any concerns in the eye department now but, hey, it doesn’t hurt to start early!

Moving on to the hair department, I’ve eased out of using too many products now that my hair is short BUT I haven’t completely abandoned ship. I’ve been relying on oils to tame frizz, keep my hair shiny, and easy to style. My number one love has been Kerastase Elixir Ultime Moringa Immortel. A lightweight oil for damaged hair, this has a lovely scent (as all of the Elixir Ultime oils from Kerastase do) and is rich in Vitamin A and C. When I’m not using Kerastase I go to my trusty friend, CLEAR Ultra Shea Nourishing Scalp & Hair Oil. I’ve waxed poetic about this before but it’s non-greasy and lovely. I’ve been applying this to my scalp versus my hair itself just because I’ve been having dry scalp lately and no one wants to see dandruff flakes flying about. Ew.

Lastly, I recently received a sample of Garnier Fructis’ Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment. A wee bit heavier than the previous two oils (but not to the point where my hair is lying flat and gross), a little bit goes a long way to tame frizz. I love it best when applied to wet hair then blow dried.

Disclosures: a few product samples were given for editorial consideration.

Categorized Beauty, Skincare | Tagged Clear Hair Care, Garnier, Kerastase, Kiehl's, Kinara Skin Care, Patyka | Comments

what’s in my makeup bag

Monday, October 22, 2012

I carry way too much makeup for my own good BUT I like to be prepared. Since I practically rush out the door, I tend to do my makeup on the bus.

eww! gross! do that sh*t at home! WHATEVER!! It’s my business.

I recently read on The Cut that people think it’s disgusting to do your makeup in public and while my mother will agree, I truly don’t give a damn. It takes me close to two hours to commute to and from the city, and I value what little sleep time I have so I slap on foundation and do the rest on-the-go. So deal with it. I’m too lazy to wake up even earlier to do my makeup – plain and simple. now, it’s not ladylike at all but hey, it’s makeup going on MY face. It’s not like I’m PEEING in public thus effecting your commute with horrible unsanitary conditions and stench. amiright? Maybe one day I’ll stop. ’till then here’s what I schlep with me on a daily basis.

Kiehl’s Musk Essence Oil / FlowerbyKenzo rollerball/ MAC blush in Dollymix/ NARS Palladium/ Sephora Mattifying Foundation/ MAC Pro Longwear Concealer/ Lancome Powder Brush #1/ NARS Yachiyo Kabuki Brush/ NARS Montenegro Cream Blush/ CoverGirl Liquiline Blast Eyeliner, Blue Boom/ NARS Trio Eyeshadow in Okinawa/ COVERGIRL Natureluxe Silk Foundation in Brazilnut/ Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 11 Rose Culte/ Inglot Slim Gel Lipstick in 60/ tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara

I know, I know. dannngg girl!

Categorized Beauty | Tagged CoverGirl, Inglot Cosmetics, Kenzo, Kiehl's, MAC Cosmetics, NARS, NARS Cosmetics, sephora, Tarte, YSL Beauty | Comments

Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Lately, my skin has been beautiful. Absolutely glorious. I’ve been reintroduced to my Clarisonic (more on that later) and have also included a few new products into the mix. I’m always hesitant to switch up my routine for fear of epic breakouts but the beauty girl in me insists on trying new things. Live a little, I say! Plus it’s much easier when the products come from a respectable company that has never done me wrong. Kiehl’s is one of those brands, so when I received a sample of the new Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream ($60), I was curious.

The cream is unbelievably lightweight and perfect to use as the weather transitions from the summer heat to the chill fall air. A lighter version of the brand’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Cream, this also features the “Resurrection Flower.” According to the brand this flower, the Haberlea Rhodopensis, is known to survive up to 31 months of dehydration and return to life when proper moisture conditions are restored. Fancy!!!!

The first thing I noticed was how light it was yet it didn’t feel watery or thinned out. It sinks right in and provides enough moisture without becoming greasy. After using this cream for about three and a half weeks now, I’m noticing that my oily skin is pretty much calm throughout the day. Since I don’t have wrinkles, I can’t comment on its performance against that but when it comes to hydrating skin it works. During the summer, my biggest concern was dehydration along my forehead so using my Clarisonic and applying this after really makes a difference.

The Rosa Arctica line also comes in an eye balm ($44) and is available at Kiehl’s locations and online now.

Categorized Skincare | Tagged Kiehl's | Comments (4)

review: kiehl’s aromatic blends

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Seeing as you’re reading this, I’d like to let you know that it took me about 30 minutes to come up with an opening sentence. Why? Because there’s nothing more I want to say other than I FRICKIN’ LOVE KIEHL’S! I know I proclaim my love a lot on this blog, but I want you to believe me. Plus it’s my blog so whatever. Kiehl’s just seems to get it right when it comes to my needs. Their body lotions are lightweight, masks effective, and don’t even get me started on their musk oil.

Now they’ve introduced the new Aromatic Blends into their repertoire of amazing products and I’m a woman addicted.

Aromatic Blends is a collection of three products, available in four different scents, inspired by pure scents from around the world:

Orange Flower & Lychee: a desert oasis in Morocco
Vanilla & Cedarwood: the dense jungle of Uganda
Nashi Blossom & Pink Grapefruit: the tranquil gardens of Japan
Fig Leaf & Sage: the lush countryside of Provence

Each scent was formulated with 30% less ingredients than found in traditional fragrances, using higher proportions of each key ingredient, so the resulting scents reflect a truer rendition.

What won me over? The Vanilla and Cedarwood fragrance which was created through a fair-trade program in Uganda to help institute social change across 6,500 vanilla farms. This scent strike the perfect balance. Me falling for a vanilla + cedarwood combo should be no surprise if you’ve ever read a fragrance review by me. The vanilla is smooth and smokey while the Virginia Cedarwood brings a slightly earthy element.

It’s a slightly warm and, dare I say it, sexy fragrance. I recently wore it on a date (RIGHT!?) where the dude couldn’t stop complimenting me. I’m now afraid to wear anything else. GOOD GOING KIEHL’S!

The Aromatic Blends collection is available now in cleanser ($24), lotion ($26) and fragrance ($75) form this allows you to layer one scent and build it so that it lasts all day and isn’t over powering.

Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged Fragrance, Kiehl's | Comments (1)

Kiehl’s & Cyndi Lauper Celebrate Pride Weekend

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Kiehl’s Since 1851, skincare brand and purveyor of many of my must have beauty and skincare items, showed their true colors Thursday evening when they kicked off Pride weekend with THE Cyndi Lauper.

Cyndi Lauper and Chris Salgardo

Chris Salgardo, president of Kiehl’s Since 1851, presented Lauper with a $5,000 donation to her True Colors Fund, which helps raise awareness to homelessness of the LGBT youth.

While I’ve always known the brand to support environmental causes, I had no idea that they were 100% behind the LGBT community. As an official sponsor NYC Pride, they have a rich history of support dating back to 1996 when Kiehl’s made HIV/AIDS a key philanthropy for the brand, partnering with Magic Johnson to raise funds and awareness for the Magic Johnson AIDS Foundation. Since 2001, Kiehl’s has raised over $2,000,000 for HIV/AIDS organizations and continues to do so.

I got to speak to Salgardo on why this is important and how he’s prepping as Grand Marshall of the parade (HUGE honor!)

MissWYA: Can you tell me a little bit about on how Kiehl’s got involved in the Pride parade?Salgardo: Kiehl’s, as a company that’s been around for 161 years, we’ve been supporting different charitable causes probably for the past 36 years. And also in our mission statement, we believe that we should be giving back to the community in which we operate. So for us, especially with Pride, the gay community has always been so open and so incredibly supportive of us for so many years and because we’re a company that really believes in diversity and inclusion we felt that it was really important that we go back and support whatever initiatives that we could. I’m really proud to say that for the past 10 years we’ve been marching in gay Pride. We’ve actually been a sponsor of gay pride for the past four [sic] years. This marks our 10th year anniversary and I’m actually Grand Marshall.

MissWYA: What’s it like to be Grand Marshall? Are you excited?
Salgardo: I’m so excited because for me, individually, it’s been a real time for reflection as a gay man, and what that means in this country and to have incredibly supportive family, friends, network and to work for a company that believes, again, in diversity and inclusion because I couldn’t work anywhere that didn’t have those important values. Kiehl’s has been about that forever. You see it in our staff, you see it in the people who work in our office. It’s always a very international flair and I love all of these different people coming together to make things better.

MissWYA: How are you prepping for Grand Marshall? Sounds like a lot of fun!?
Salgardo: Okay so I have an appointment at the Kiehl’s spa tomorrow [Saturday 6/23] for my facial and massage and beard trim – the whole nine yards. We have the spa on 64th and Lexington [in New York City] — first one in the world. So I’ll be doing that.

I also had the chance to quickly chat with Cyndi Lauper (I know, dying!) on how she started the fund and why this celebration with Kiehl’s means so much to her.
Lauper: They [Kiehls Since 1851] have always been so supportive of the LGBT community . We’re trying to launch a 40 to None campaign which will focus on helping the homeless LGBT youth – gay transgendered kids – that have been either thrown out of their home simply because they are gay or runaway out of fear of rejection or whatever. I think it’s important to us in the fund to be outspoken about this, especially this weekend. Kiehl’s has been generous enough to support us and they’re a wonderful company. They’ve been around for over 100 years, so it’s nice to have that kind of real Americana company supporting civil rights and helping kids who are on the streets simply because they’re gay or transgendered.

On the homelessness, Lauper says some kids are as young as 12 years old, “We gotta step up. We gotta step up, we’re grown ups and kids are our future.” You can learn more about her True Colors Fund here.

Watch as Salgardo presents the $5,000 donation to Cyndi Lauper: