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A Textured Blush That Delivers Amazing Results
The Product: Sonia Rykiel Glowing Gel Blusher
The Reason: "I love the sponge texture of this gel blush," raves celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh (she's worked with the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain and Rosario Dawson). She says it gives skin an incredibly natural flush, because it "melts into skin" and leaves it with a "subtle, dewy glow."
Map image courtesy awalkinhirakatashi
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The Nail Polish That's All the Rage in France
The Product: Kure Bazaar Nail Polish
The Reason: This is "the chicest polish brand in France," says Marie-Laure Fournier, founder of Fournier PR + Consulting. It's all natural, trendy and innovative -- she says that it truly changed the health of her nails, and that they no longer break.
Though the company is relatively young, they already have a salon in one of the nicest areas of Paris. If you get the chance to try this product, "You will die, you will die, you will die." It's that good.
Map image courtesy dogsanddoubles
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The Shine Spray to Rule Them All
The Product: Percy & Reed Shine and Fragrance Spray
The Reason: Jodi Shays, owner of Queen Bee Salon and Spa in Culver City, Brentwood and Seattle, enlists her mum, friends and even clients who are visiting London to bring her back this amazing shine spray. (Shays knows a thing or two about the best British products, as she hails from England herself).
It "smells like morning roses and it just makes my hair look so healthy with a shine that is not greasy looking. It's really an alternative to perfume as well and this is a must-have for me in the spring and summer," she explains. She's also a fan of the brand's Totally Intensive Treatment Oil, which softens crunchy hair ends and smells good enough to eat.
Map image courtesy freepngimages
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A Multi-Purpose Face Treatment
The Product: Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence
The Reason: Essences have a special place in the multiple-step Korean skin care routine -- they're a bit like a serum on steroids.
"This essence has a higher percentage of galactomyces and fewer preservatives than in the very popular and pricey SK II," Jones says. In addition to sounding like a bad ass gladiator name, "galactomyces is a fermented yeast that is thought to improve skin tone, increase elasticity, fight aging and also helps with acne or troubled skin."
Map image courtesy Destination Sport
Photo 10/26
A Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
The Product: Banila Clean it Zero
The Reason: A favorite among Koreans (and those in-the-know in the US), this cleansing balm "melts makeup and oils off skin," says Jones.
The formula starts off as a thick balm that turns into an oil and gently whisks away makeup, and contains papaya fruit extract and cherry extract that brighten skin and contain antioxidants -- plus, the packaging is beyond adorable.
Map image courtesy Destination Sport