This Brow Pencil Magically Works on Everyone
Since I changed my beauty routine to cruelty-free products only, I've struggled to find a brow pencil that I could love forever and ever. I must have tried and tossed a dozen cruelty-free brow pencils trying to find one to match my cool blond brows. Some were bad, others were good, but none were the perfect shade of pale with a proper, ashy undertone.
My new, ultimate favorite is It Cosmetics Brow Power Micro Eyebrow Pencil, $24. This pencil comes in just one color, called Universal Taupe. It matches my brow color — light blond with a touch of gray — perfectly. It also looks great on much darker brow colors; if I'm feeling myself and hit the salon for a brown brow tint, this pencil magically still matches me.
Recently, when I shared this bit of makeup sorcery to my bridal makeup artist, she was so impressed by the product's natural shade and micro-fine tip that she bought a pencil for her own kit. Get yours! — Katie McCarthy
Cover image via @itcosmetics
The Shampoo and Conditioner Duo That's Totally Customizable
My daughter asked for "fancy shampoo" for Christmas, so I surprised her with a Function of Beauty Custom Shampoo + Conditioner, $39 - $49 — and it's pretty much the best thing ever! With Function of Beauty, you go onto the website and customize every last detail from what abilities you want to give the products (I chose detangling, moisture, and shine) to the scent (peachy!) to the color (pink and purple for my tween — obvs). You can even choose the name! The products smell incredible and work so well. My daughter's hair has been glossy and noticeably less knotty. They're so good in fact that I've found myself stealing them a few times. Shh! — Alyssa Hertzig
Cover image via @functionofbeauty
This Serum Spray Is My New Favorite Product (From My Favorite Brand)
I stan Neogen: Its Real Ferment Micro Essence Treatment, $38, is one of my faves and the Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Lemon Exfoliator, $27, has long been one of my skin care staples. But I recently tried the H2 Dermadeca Serum Spray, $19 and it has hands down become my favorite from the Neogen line.
I'm obsessed with it. It's a multi-purpose mist that hydrates, protects and repairs the skin, using all of my favorite ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin C and centella asiatica. I've incorporated it into my morning routine and I find that it gives my skin that oomph to kick start my day. It's refreshing, for one, and the vitamin C and hydrogen help protect the skin from free radicals and sun damage (when used with sunscreen, of course). But it's also a fantastic moisturizer for oily skin. It goes on light, and gives my skin a bright and dewy — but never oily — appearance. — Nicholas Pilapil
Cover image via @neogen_global
This Caffeine-Charged Stick Changed My Mind About Undereye Treatments
Like most people, I find myself clocking well below the recommended eight hours per night. Between working, exercising, planning a wedding, and trying to maintain an active social life, I'm often left with less than six hours (if I'm lucky). From the time I was little, I've always been told that my eyes are a dead giveaway when I'm lacking sleep.
As a beauty editor, I've tried just about every eye cream or treatment to boot — and let me tell you, I'm often unimpressed. See, most eye creams are too heavy for my combination skin, which lead to breakouts, milia or severe makeup meltdown. Even worse, they never seem to make a noticeable difference to my undereye bags or crinkly little lines.
I was recently introduced to Peach & Lily Cold Brew Recovery Eye Stick, $28, and I was most pleasantly surprised. First of all, it comes in a travel-friendly stick that doesn't require dipping a finger into (win!). And, like the name suggests, it's made with caffeine to depuff; plus a slew of other skin-loving ingredients like ultra-plumping hyaluronic acid, soothing and cooling cucumber extract, vitamin C-packed kiwi extract and tons of antioxidants for protection against environmental aggressors.
The ever-so-slightly blue-tinged formula is kissed with a hint of pearlescent shimmer to help neutralize any discoloration. It simply glides over skin without a hint of drag, which is so perfect for the delicate undereye area. I love that the formula cools on contact and instantly awakens tired-looking eyes. It brightens, plumps up the little lines and minimizes dark circles and bags. It doesn't leave behind any film or greasiness, so I can apply my makeup moments later (and it doesn't affect the longevity at all).
I had pretty much written off eye treatments, but this on-the-go stick is like an icy cup of coffee that perks me and my eyes up each morning. Farewell to tired, puffy-looking eyes making my lack of sleep apparent, I'm sticking to this eye treatment.
To see more of my beauty must-haves, follow me on Instagram.
Cover image via peachandlily.com
The Dark Spot Corrector That Fades My Skin Sins
If I could go back in time and dispense some wisdom to my teenage self, I'd start by telling her to knock off tanning. Actually, that's about it. The only thing I really regret in my whole, silly life is my reckless pursuit of tanning and all the sun damage I have to show for it.
As a result, I've spent the past 10 years or so trying every dark-spot remover on the skin care market. One of the newbies on my shelf is Peace Out Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots, $28.
Whenever I feel like my hyperpigmented patches need some extra attention, I slap a few of these on after applying my normal nighttime skin care routine. I wake up to spots that are way less spotty, thanks to the product's cocktail of niacinamide, tranexamic acid and licorice extract.
Although I bought these dots to minimize my sun damage, I've found they work just as well to even out my skin tone after a bad pimple. All my skin care regrets are fading by the day. — Katie McCarthy
Cover image via @peaceoutskincare
