After testing dozens of natural deodorants for a story a while back, I determined that Schmidt's is the only one that works for me. But there is a downside: It comes in a pot with a tiny spatula, and you have to massage it into your armpits every morning. While the touching doesn't bother me (it's self-love, people!), the necessary post-application hand-washing is an annoying extra step. Fortunately, the deodorant goddess (a.k.a. Jaime Schmidt) smiled down upon me, and released a slightly tweaked stick version of my beloved Schmidt's Natural Deodorant, $9. Now, you can swipe and go, and save the self-love for a time that's less hectic than the morning rush.
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A Magnet for Split Ends
My curling iron addiction means my ends are always a little fried. And, though I hate to admit it, I'm in the habit of mindlessly picking at them while I sit on the subway without cell service.
Even though there are countless split-end products on the market, the MIT scientists who formulate Living Proof decided to allocate a small percentage of their brainpower to my very important problem. The result of this meeting of the minds? The best split-end solution I've ever tried. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Fresh Cut Split End Mender, $24, uses ionic force to hold the splits together -- something they call "instant zip technology." The split ends are still there (and they'll be there until you get a haircut), but they're held together so you can't see them. And if you can't see them, you can't pick at them.
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Metallic Sheet Mask
Like any beauty junkie, I love a sheet mask. Give me a hotel bed, a glass of cabernet and a sheet mask, and I'm in heaven. Still, most sheet masks can be a little goopy (hence the hotel room -- better for the mess), and so much of that goopy goodness seems to evaporate instead of sinking into my skin where it belongs. With an Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask, $79, the evaporation problem has been solved. The sheet is backed with foil to help force the moisturizing, age-defying serum into the skin speed up results to an efficient 10 minutes. When you wear it, you look like a futuristic Tin Man, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
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Does-it-All Blowout Brush
I've been a round-brush-user my entire (DIY) hairstyling life. But when my go-to brush recently snapped in half, I decided to give the Tangle Teezer Blow Styling Tool, $35, a try. And I'm not going back to my old round brush ways anytime soon. This brush gently detangles wet hair and then easily smooths out my curls while I blow dry. The result is soft yet polished, and it's definitely a whole lot less damaging that tugging on your hair with a metal instrument.
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Felt-Tip Eyeliner FTW
I have an extensive collection of eyeliner markers, and I make it a point to try every new one I can get my hands on. The latest to make it into my regular rotation is BareMinerals Lash Domination Ink Liner, $19, which outshines every liner I've used to flick a cat-eye in recent months (maybe even years). It's inky but not too inky, dries quickly then locks in place and never moves or smudges, and the pen really lasts. While many of my favorite felt-tip liners dry out after a few weeks, this one has a tiny shaker ball inside that helps disperse pigments and keep it fresh. It's also packed with quinoa protein to nourish lashes. Why would I use anything else?
Each month, I round up the most exciting new beauty products popping up online and in stores right now. And March 2016 is shaping up to be a big month for innovation. These new beauty products go beyond pretty packaging and fun colors. They're disrupting their respective categories -- from makeup to skin care to hair care -- in ways I haven't seen before.
Whether you're looking for an easier way to blow out your hair or a moisturizer to rehydrate your winter-toughened skin from the inside out, there's a new beauty product you should try. And I guarantee you'll be impressed by the technology. Read on to learn more.