Mason Pearson Sensitive Boar Bristle Hair Brush
We can’t overstate the importance of a quality hair brush suited to your specific type and texture. Britney Williams, the West Coast Manager of Education at Bumble and bumble is a diehard Mason Pearson devotee. “I like the idea of boar bristles mixed with nylon in this brush because they help detangle and smooth,” she says, adding that they’re the healthiest type of brush for your hair. “Boar bristles will help de-frizz as you’re blow drying and it encourages shine.”
Editor’s Testing Note: Yes, it’s a lot to spend on a hair brush, but they are designed to last a lifetime (I’ve been using mine since high school). The boar bristles are bendy to move with hair but still stiff enough to detangle knots. My hair looks noticeably shinier when I use it and the bristles also offer a nice scalp massage while you brush.
Edward Bess Perfect Line Everytime Eyeliner
The product name says it all and it’s not a lie, which is not surprising considering the source — Edward Bess, the makeup artist Oprah and Jennifer Aniston have on speed dial. In fact, Oprah even included his lipstick on her Favorite Things list, but if your eyes are the feature you love to play up, it doesn’t get any better than this luxuriously rich, deep inky black gel that effortless glides across lids in one long, clean line.
Editor’s Testing Note: Whether I want to wear a clean line or a smokey, smudged eye, this is my go-to that I save for special occasions or when I want to look and feel like a million bucks. For the smoky effect, use the pointed sponge on the opposite end of the want to slightly mussy up the color on the lid for a sultry, diffused look.
U Beauty Resurfacing Compound
This buzzy new brand from influencer Tina Craig has caught the attention of editors, celebrities and beauty aficionados alike and the chatter around the Resurfacing Compound is never-ending. This gel-serum is loaded with a list of actives that seems to go on and on to improve skin tone and texture — fast. In fact, clinical studies showed that skin brightness had an average of 16% improvement after 30 days and 5% improvement after just one use. If you’re looking for a miracle in a jar, this just might be it.
Editor’s Testing Note: When a product boasts it can do more than one thing, I’m instantly skeptical. My perspective is that if you’re doing many things at once, odds are that you’re not doing any of them well. Yet, I stand corrected and humbled. The Resurfacing Compound lightened my acne scars, minimized blackheads and actually improved my skin texture in a serious way. It’s also allowed me to scale way back on other acids and exfoliants for a more streamlined routine.
Heretic Dirty Grass Candle
For those who spurn sweet gourmand scents or even the overdone iterations of santal, Heretic’s brewed an earthy number that just simply smells dirty — and delicious. Designed to “mellow your mind and center your spirit,” the earthy candle opens with a cocktail grassy vetiver, relaxing violet leaf and zesty lemon before settling into a mix of rich honey and spicy coriander with a hint of skunky hemp.
Editor’s Testing Note: As someone who is very much not a fan of hemp or cannabis odors, I lit this candle with the intention to blow it out after a minute or two. Instead, I let it burn all night. This candle is said to help unwind a busy mind, and it certainly did — I couldn’t get enough.
Noble Panacea The Brilliant Radiant Resilience Moisturizer
There are times that require a complexion to look nothing less than brilliant. Say, a NYFW runway show, for instance, like Jonathan Simkhai’s models, or your wedding day. For these special times, a very special skin care product is needed and that product is Noble Panacea’s The Brilliant Radiant Resilience Moisturizer. There are many reasons to believe in this product, both visible and that which are working underneath the surface. Skin appears instantly luminous and plump, while the brand’s proprietary technology is working at the cellular core to ensure a healthy, youthful glow.
Editor’s Testing Note: Each mini pack of daily moisturizer feels like a luxurious experience to apply and somehow the lightweight texture sinks deep into pores for a deeply moisturized and supple finish. My makeup always looks next-level amazing when I apply it after using this product.
