A stunning pastel nail color feels quintessentially spring, and now that we’ve officially hit the turn of the season, we’re fully on board. From delicate bloom-inspired shades like lilac and rose to slightly punchier hues of peach or tangerine, our favorite nail polish brands have been debuting fresh, muted versions of our normal go-to hues.
Whether you love splashy shades of neon or you adhere to a steady rotation of black, red, and nude, we’re about to prove pastel nail colors don’t have to be predictable or boring. Below, we’re sharing the 15 prettiest pastel nail colors we’re currently lining up for our at-home manicure routine this season. Keep scrolling! Serious polish inspo is just ahead.
I know. The idea of keeping romance alive in marriage seems like a lot of hard work to many of us. We are trying to make it through the day – and trying to be romantic seems like one job too many. We are just plain tired! Romance is not about the big things. It’s about the small things we do to express our love for each other. Dan and I have been married for almost 46 years. It is tempting to think Dan knows how I feel about him after all these years. But God has convicted me that keeping romance alive in a marriage is a huge investment in my husband and our relationship. And that investment honors God.
Let me share how I am learning to keep the romance alive in our marriage. I have to confess that I don’t always succeed in doing all of these things well. But I am more romantic now than I was when we got married. And that is a big statement! So you can make that same investment and reap the same rewards of a happy and healthy marriage.
1. Make Christ your highest priority.
Every relationship in our lives mirrors our relationship with Christ. If we want our relationships to be healthy, we must have a healthy relationship with God. The earth is not the friend of marriage – but God is. God wants to use marriage, family, and home to display His very nature. If we want a healthy marriage, we must put Christ first in our lives.
2. After Christ, give each other top priority.
After Christ comes our marriage. When I have neglected my relationship with Dan, I have not only hurt my relationship with Dan, but I have also sinned against God.
I thought Dan would understand that I had a busy speaking schedule and an exciting ministry to women. Oh, he understood. He understood that his wife made time for total strangers, but she did not have time to talk with him. There is nothing less romantic than being made to feel you are unimportant. Talk about a romance killer! Marriage takes hard work. So does romance. Marriage must be constantly and consistently nurtured to keep the romance alive.
3. Go back to the beginning.
Do you remember the qualities you so admired in your mate when you first met? The things that made them so attractive. Sift through the memories you and your mate have made together. Those attributes that first made you notice and admire your mate will rise to the surface. Make a list of those qualities and begin to voice them aloud to your spouse, children, and friends. Doing so will rekindle the romance you once experienced in your marriage.
4. Discover your mate’s love language and learn to speak it well.
Learning your mate’s love language and how to speak it will fan the flame of romance in your marriage. Gary Chapman’s book, Five Love Languages, has had a significant impact on every relationship in my life, but especially in my marriage. We tend to think that everyone has the same love language. Not true. I have two love languages – time and gifts. My husband’s love language is touch. It can be something as simple as holding hands or scratching his back, but Dan feels loved as long as I touch him.
I recently had Covid and was pretty sick. So Dan shifted into high gear. He knows how much I love soup, so he made three different kinds. He made sure I always had something to drink. The words “Do you need anything, honey?” became his mantra. Dan willingly became my servant.
Sidebar: My whole family knows how much I love chocolate-covered cherries. A box of those scrumptious treats is always in my Christmas stocking. One afternoon during my battle with Covid, I was struggling with depression. Dan said he had to run a couple of errands. I heard the rustle of shopping bags when he returned home. My sweet husband walked into the bedroom with the biggest smile on his face and a box of chocolate-covered cherries in his hands. My husband didn’t have to say a word, but he was speaking my love language through time and gifts.
I remember the day I realized that our family schedule was completely out of control. I was racing through each day like a madwoman between school, church, football, soccer, cheerleading, and birthday parties. Dan was the lead teaching pastor of a large church exploding in growth. The phone was constantly ringing. An important meeting, hospital visit, or counseling session of some kind seemed to claim every night of the week.
Something had to give! Our marriage was on the back burner, and I could feel our relationship beginning to splinter. A trip to the furniture store became a turning point in our marriage.
I bought a love seat for our bedroom. We didn’t have room for that little sofa, but I made room for it. And every night, Dan and I would sit on that love seat for at least an hour and talk through our days. Problems, fears, hopes, and dreams all came to light as we sat and talked. It was amazing! Laughter replaced tears. Problems were solved. Fear gave way to peace. When one dream died, we dreamed another one as we sat face to face.
Time together each day did not come easily. So many voices clamored for our attention, but as we talked and shared our hearts, we learned to hear God’s voice above all the rest. To keep the romance in your marriage, commit to spending time with each other every day.
6. Have fun together. Don’t forget how to laugh.
I don’t know about you, but it seems like a helicopter is always landing in our lives. It is easy to get so serious and overwhelmed by daily battles that we forget to have fun together. Remember fun? Laughter?
Date nights have seemingly become a requirement for having fun with your mate. Of course, it is nice to have a night away from home, but it is also fun to curl up together with popcorn and ice cream, watching a movie in your living room.
We often have the wrong idea when it comes to romance. Romance does not have to be complicated. The conversation does not have to be scripted. Just share whatever pops into your mind and heart. I love the truth that if you laugh more days, you will have more days to laugh with your mate.
7. Keep a long-term perspective.
The tyranny of little things can be toxic in a marriage. Extra charges on a credit card, a cluttered house, sharp and angry words – will any of those things matter when your mate is gone? Think about the day you will stand beside your mate as they die. Will the things that irritate you today be important in the grand scheme of things? If we let them, the minor irritations can snowball into significant roadblocks.
Learning to discern what is important in a marriage is crucial to the success of that marriage. Romance has died on the altar of what seems to be significant and urgent in many marriages. Don’t get so caught up in the here and now that you lose sight of the big picture – a lifetime of commitment and love.
We can cultivate the habit of dismissing the small things and concentrating on the big things like love, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. Romance will thrive when we choose to look beyond the faults of our mates and see their needs.
Oh boy! I know I hit a nerve on this one. But I also know that I am guilty of just letting my appearance go because, after all, Dan is the only one who will see me. Right? Since Covid first began, I have battled a lazy attitude regarding my appearance. Baggy pants, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt are sometimes my wardrobe for the day. I may or may not brush my teeth and fix my hair. Makeup? That is only for days when I go out. I’m just keeping it real.
I remember when Dan and I were dating. I had very little money, but I could always find a way to dress in a way that he found attractive. Dan was important to me. He didn’t love me because of how I dressed, but I loved him and wanted him to be proud of how I looked.
Women often hide behind 1 Peter 3:3-4 when it comes to their outer appearance. But read these verses carefully. Peter is cautioning us not to allow our outward appearance to be our only source of beauty.
1 Peter 3:3-4 “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
Yes, God is much more interested in who we are inside than he is with our outward appearance. A gentle, quiet spirit is so much more important than our clothes, how we style our hair, the makeup we wear – our outward adornment. I know that. But having an inner source of beauty does not mean we have to neglect our outward appearance to be godly. After all, I am a child of the King. I want to dress like a child of the King. Does that mean I have to wear designer clothes? No! I have a shopping rule – never buy anything at full price. I have learned that when I shower, do my hair, put on a little makeup, wear a nice outfit, and tell Dan I did all of that just for him, I can see the spark of romance in his eyes.
9. Keep your love life interesting.
It is easy for your love life to become, well, a little boring and routine. I know this is a complex subject for many married couples. But a thriving love life refers to a healthy sex life and a life of intimacy. Intimacy is a crucial part of marriage and may very well be the most vital part of your love life. Sex and intimacy are not the same things.
We have a friend who has diabetes. He is on several powerful medications that make having sex an impossibility. However, he would tell you that he has an amazingly intimate love life with his wife. He can share absolutely anything with her. They talk about everything in their lives – their problems, dreams, hopes, desires, and concerns.
When it comes to the sexual part of marriage, let me say that it is never too late to mix things up. Be creative! Have fun! Dan had a meeting running late one night, so I put the kids to bed and shifted into high gear. I had a plan that began with rose petals strung from the front door that led to our bedroom, where Dan found several burning candles, chocolate-covered strawberries, and me.
On Valentine’s Day, I covered our bathroom and bedroom with red and pink hearts strategically placed. For example, on the sink drain, the heart said, “I’d go down the drain without you.” On the light switch, the heart read, “You turn me on.” Dan would not let me take them down. Those hearts stayed put for a couple of weeks.
You really can rekindle the romance in your marriage. God is for you and the success of your marriage. So, take a deep breath, and go for it!
Mary Southerlandis also the Co-founder of Girlfriends in God, a conference and devotion ministry for women. Mary’s books include, Hope in the Midst of Depression, Sandpaper People, Escaping the Stress Trap, Experiencing God’s Power in Your Ministry, 10-Day Trust Adventure, You Make Me So Angry, How to Study the Bible, Fit for Life, Joy for the Journey, and Life Is So Daily. Mary relishes her ministry as a wife, a mother to their two children, Jered and Danna, and Mimi to her six grandchildren – Jaydan, Lelia, Justus, Hudson, Mo, and Nori.
Singer Olivia Rodrigo didn’t single-handedly ignite our obsession with ’90s style, but we have to admit: her consistent and cool throwback looks made us wish that we’d hung on to a few iconic staples from the era. Fortunately, not all fads come and go. In fact, the few that demonstrate decade-lasting devotion tend to foster a cult following among fashion lovers of every persuasion.
Rodrigo was recently spotted wearing Vans Filmore High-Top sneakers with straight-leg jeans and an eye-catching green trench. While this look is super simple and easy to replicate, that’s exactly what gives Rodrigo’s style a cross-generational appeal. Plus, her exact sneakers are only $75, which makes this tried-and-true footwear staple easy enough to add to any wardrobe.
While there may be more expensive designer versions out there, we keep coming back to the OG canvas design. And the Hollywood set agrees: Affordable black and white Vans have also been spotted on everyone from Rihanna to Hailey Bieber.
Since the Vans brand first debuted in 1966 as a shoe for skateboarders, it has continued to evolve and push its design while maintaining its classic, cult-favorite styles, too. Ahead, shop 12 pairs of black and white Vans that are about to become your go-to sneakers.
Welcome to Deep Reviews—your one-stop destination to discover the absolute best products and brands the beauty industry has to offer. The Who What Wear staffers you already know and trust will research, test, and review the market’s most sought-after and buzzed-about products to see which formulas (of the hundreds up for consideration) are truly worth your hard-earned money and attention. You can expect honest, completely uncensored feedback and no-BS recommendations our hard-to-please testers endorse without reservations.
Sometimes, wearing a full-coverage foundation feels like putting on a latex mask. And on the flip side, going totally bare-faced can feel daunting. For days when both sides of the spectrum feel impossible, it’s best to reach for a base product with flexible coverage that feels breathable and maybe even skincare-adjacent. That’s where BB creams come in.
BB creams are the perfect solution for skin-blurring, even-toned coverage that looks—and feels!—like your skin. Unfortunately, finding the right BB cream can quickly devolve into a Goldilocks and the Three Bears situation. You want a formula that has enough coverage (but not too much), feels hydrating (but not oily), and stays on all day (but doesn’t mattify). Basically, we want BB creams to do the most. We tried 13 BB creams and picked the top eight. Keep reading for our favorite BB creams and why we loved them, plus info on our rigorous testing process and insight from a celebrity makeup artist on everything you ever wanted to know about BB cream.
“To me, the formula is about as perfect as a tinted moisturizer can get. There’s no funky scent or heavy oily consistency, and it just blends into my skin so seamlessly without drying it out or making it break out. I can wear it every single day (and honestly do) and my skin is actually better for it. I’ve actually already been using this product for two or three years now, and it’s my holy grail. I love how seamlessly it glides on, and it blends flawlessly. The formula is just right for my skin so it never feels dry or flaky or, on the flip side, oily or heavy, like so many other BB creams I’ve tried have done. It also works as a wonderful base to makeup, and my cream blush, concealer, and bronzer all blend in well on top.” — Anna LaPlaca, Editor
“I have used many, many BB creams in my day, and I can honestly say that none have ever held up better than this tinted moisturizer from Chantecaille. I don’t know how they do it, but it genuinely looks like an eighth layer of skin—you can’t even tell you’re wearing any base makeup at all with this product, which is genuinely impressive. It does come with a steep price tag, but if there’s anything you’re considering splurging on, this is truly, truly worth every penny. The finish is dewy but not shiny, and it never pills over my skincare and sunscreen. Truly the holy grail.” — Katie Berohn, Beauty Editor
“Since I was test-driving this BB cream throughout New York Fashion Week, I knew I needed lightweight, long-lasting coverage for running around the city and being photographed. Lightweight and long-lasting usually don’t go hand-in-hand, so I was skeptical at best. But shockingly, Covergirl blew me out of the water. It settled on my skin flawlessly and gave me a radiant, skin-like finish. I’ll admit I was having much better skin days at the start of fashion week than at the end, so my first reactions were that it was incredible. Toward the end of the week, I was itching to get it off since my skin was starting to break out (too many slices of stress pizza will do that to you!), but sans textured skin or acne, it looked incredible. Given how low-cost the CG BB cream is, I’d recommend everyone try it out at least once—at worst, you’re out the price of a latte in New York. At best, you’ve found an affordable formula that you can wear without worrying about cost per wear.” — Ana Escalante, Assistant Shopping Editor
“This is the product I use daily, and I absolutely love it. Prior to trying it, I never used a tinted moisturizer or BB cream and just kind of went with whatever my skin looked like. From a product like this, I’ve only ever really wanted a dewy, barely there layer of coverage that looks like skin, and that’s exactly what this product provides. I’ve already bought it at least five times and will continue to for years to come unless they reformulate. It’s something I put on every single day and genuinely adore. I think if anyone’s looking for super lightweight, barely there coverage that still provides you with a glowy, fresh look, this is a great product for them to try. It’s much dewier and more natural looking than most BB creams I’ve tried. It also acts as a better base for makeup than I’m used to.” —Eliza Huber, Editor
“It did exactly what I wanted it to do. It glided onto my skin with ease, gave me a nice glow, and evened out most of my discoloration. I usually still go in with concealer for my under-eye area while using any BB cream, but I’d be okay with just applying this if I just wanted just a little something. Other BB creams either feel like they do absolutely nothing or they’re too close to a foundation. I think this product found that sweet spot right in the middle. And as someone with dry skin, I’ve had the issue of other creams cling to my dry patches and make my skin look even more dry, no matter how I moisturize. This makes it look like I have dewy and healthy skin, which I love.” — Yusra Siddiqui, Associate Editor
“As someone who typically shies away from skin tints or BB creams in fear of looking too oily or not having enough coverage, I was surprisingly excited to try this one from Fenty. I see a ton of content creators using this product, and it has pretty rave reviews from people of all skin tones and skin types. I was hoping for the glowy finish that I see all over my For You page. My biggest hope was for my skin to look like skin. It definitely met my expectations in terms of glow and finish, but I found that the product had such a red undertone that I looked a bit orange immediately after application. After a while, it oxidized and the match felt right, but if I were going to take a selfie immediately after finishing my makeup (like I normally would), I might look a little orange. I will definitely use this product for those light-makeup days. It gives just enough coverage where I feel like my skin can breathe while my blemishes are concealed. It’s super lightweight and perfect for those days when I’m running errands, hopping on a virtual meeting, or heading to lunch. I love that it’s available in so many different shades.” — Aniyah Morinia, Associate Editor, Branded Content
“The shade match process got me the correct shade on the first try. Since BB creams usually have limited shade options, I was so impressed that this one offered up to 25 options. It blended super easily and had the best coverage, while still being lightweight, of the other products that I tried. My mom has been looking for a new tinted moisturizer, and I’ve already pointed her in Fenty’s direction. It reminds me of a step back from my favorite natural finish foundation. That’s a huge compliment, by the way.” — Sierra Mayhew, Associate Editor
“Even though it met me at a rough time, it delivered. I was quite tired during fashion week after a late night and tried it in the midst of all the craziness. It is important to note that the shade range was impressive, and I loved seeing that it brought color to my skin and revitalized me after a rough night. While many BB creams disappear into my skin, this one sticks around with great coverage for a tinted product.” — Mayhew
“My skin truly looked impeccable after application, but during the process of blending it out, the cream was literally white. It changes color as the product is blended out, so it’s safe to say I had quite the jumpscare when the shade didn’t match. After giving it about five minutes, it magically matched my skin and had the most flawless finish. The product is silky smooth and blended in super naturally. It accentuates my natural features without covering too much or too little. I love that this has SPF 30 in it. I’m a huge fan of this product and would happily repurchase it. I will 1000% be keeping this product in my routine. It’s lightweight, easy to apply, protective, and surprisingly doesn’t transfer. I don’t feel like I need additional products to have a flawless base when I’m wearing this. It’s truly everything I’ve been looking for in a skin tint or BB cream. It’s light, slightly dewy, breathable, and creates a nice satin finish.” — Morinia
“There are three things I always look for in a BB Cream: sheer coverage, glowy finish, and blends well with the rest of my makeup routine. So far, we’ve hit the trifecta with the Cle CCC Cream. It brings such a healthy glow to my dull winter skin and feels weightless. After wearing all day long, the coverage has stayed intact with no powdering involved. Other glowy tinted moisturizers I’ve tried tend to transfer easily and wear off throughout the day. If you like decent coverage but hate the feeling of foundation, you need to try this product.” — Natalie Gray Herder, Associate Editor, Branded Content
“Unfortunately, I think my shade was a bit too light, making the product look a bit off on me. Apart from that, though, I actually think very highly of this product. It’s super natural and clean, making it good for sensitive skin like mine, and I love that it’s SPF 50, which is rare in a BB cream. I like how skin-like this product is and that it gives a subtle, realistic glow. My only other qualm is that I think it doesn’t give as glowy a result as I prefer. I probably won’t use it every day, but I think if I got a darker shade, it’d be great for the summer, when I need a daily higher SPF. It’s a great item to keep in your pool or beach bag when you want a bit of tint. I think it’s great for someone with sensitive skin who wants something natural and skin-like. It’s different from other similar products in that when it comes out of the bottle, it’s not colored, and it doesn’t change color until it makes contact with your skin. It has a little bit of a white cast, which is something I wouldn’t want daily, but I wouldn’t mind it at all if I was going to lay in the sun.” — Huber
“It’s definitely heavier than a lot of other tinted sunscreens on the market, and if you’re looking for more payoff and coverage without resorting to a thicker foundation-type product, it’s great. For people who prefer more lightweight formulas for their BB creams or with oily skin, I’d recommend something else. It’ll become my new non-foundation foundation.” — Escalante
“I have been using this product for a couple of years now, and it’s one of my go-to base products, particularly in the summer when I don’t feel like wearing foundation and want an extra boost of SPF over my face sunscreen. (Always remember base products with sunscreen never have all the SPF you need to stay protected.) This tinted moisturizer applies so easily and looks incredibly smooth on skin while giving you a juicy, skin-like finish. My only qualm with this formula is sometimes I find the finish a little too dewy—it can border on glossy.” — Berohn
“Believe it or not, this is the first BB cream I ever used. I never used to wear base makeup at all through high school and college (save for some concealer under my eyes and to cover any blemishes). In the summer of 2016, I wanted to try something with a bit of extra coverage. I was interning in New York City, and I was also broke. I went to Duane Reade and picked up the cheapest BB cream I could find, and it ended up being this one. I personally love the formula and always have—it is a really solid drugstore find that blurs and evens skin and leaves you with a radiant finish. My only qualm is that I found the shade to be a bit too dark and warm-toned for my skin, but it blends out enough to not be noticeable. I recommend applying this one with a brush for the most flawless finish. I wore this to dinner with my friends a few weeks ago for the first time since 2016 and got so many compliments on my skin—might be time for me to break this baby out of retirement.” — Berohn
“It got the job done, and it’s decent for its affordable price, but I wouldn’t reach for it on the daily. While it felt fairly lightweight on my skin, it did have a noticeable sunscreen scent that put me off, and it tended to pill when I blended it in. I just used my fingers like I do with other makeup products, but maybe it would have blended better with a brush or makeup sponge. I wouldn’t want to use it as a key part of my everyday routine because the sunscreen scent bothered me, and it felt too oily on my skin for my liking. I’d be nervous everyday use would make me break out. It holds up for being a drugstore find.” — LaPlaca
To get the lowdown on all things BB cream, I reached out to celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz who’s clients are Quinta Brunson, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Cynthia Erivo, Jaylon Barron, and Vanessa Rubio. Essentially, BB cream really is a do-it-all product—it’s moisturizer, primer, and foundation all in one. “[It’s] sort of like an all in one product that helps to hydrate, smooth fine lines, and brighten the skin,” Loiz says.
There are plenty of ways to apply BB creams. “You can apply like a moisturizer with your fingers, use a makeup brush, or a beauty sponge,” says Loiz. “I personally prefer to use a beauty sponge, as I feel I use the least product this way and get a seamless finish.”
Think of CC creams as a step above a BB cream—they share all the same benefits, but CC creams have the extra benefit of color-correcting added in. “Also, a CC cream is a much thicker formula and has more coverage than BB cream,” says Loiz.
A tinted moisturizer is the simplest of the three but still shares many similarities to BB cream. “A tinted moisturizer is a moisturizer and foundation mixed together,” says Loiz. “[It] has a very sheer coverage and usually no added skincare benefits.” When it comes to product names, the terms can be pretty interchangeable, which is why you’ll see some products labeled “CC cream” and “tinted moisturizer” on this list.
First, Loiz recommends looking for a BB cream with a wide-coverage range. After that, she recommends looking for BB creams that boast hydrating and skin-blurring benefits. With Loiz’s expertise in mind, I combed through 51 BB creams that had made other publications’ “best-of” lists, and landed on 13 formulas for our editors to test. From those, we chose and ranked the top eight based on coverage, blendability, finish, shade range, wear time, and more.
Let’s talk about your look for the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
What I loved about that look is that it tells a story of sensuality that I like because it’s not upfront. It’s reserved, but it’s there. So sometimes through the gap of the dress, you can see my leg, but sometimes, you don’t. I love this kind of way of telling a story of sensuality. But also, I loved it because it is, in my opinion, what Italian fashion is, what it always was. So it’s chic but minimal but very definite and very strong. It doesn’t need that much—it’s there. I tend to have a very soft energy, so something that makes me feel more strong, it was just perfect.
Was it one that you tried on and instantly knew “This is the one,” or did you try many options?
I tried many looks from many brands, but for some reason, my eye would always go back to that one because that dress was one that we tried, but it didn’t fit. It was the most complicated one, but I kept going back to it.
You had such cool hair and makeup. What was the inspiration behind your glam look?
I think that we were going for more of a natural look for the makeup. And then for the hair, we wanted a wet look, which is something I’d never done before and was exciting. The glam team was so talented. Peter Gray did the hair, and it was so good. And also the makeup artist Karoline Karakeosian works with Valentino Beauty. With makeup, I don’t like to have too much on. I always love a natural look, but this was the idea to create a sort of wet effect.
Goody Tru is a new line of hair accessories from Goody that’s in collaboration with three multicultural female artists: Hola Lu, a visual artist based in Mexico City; Let It Happen, a dance trio of sisters based in the Netherlands, and Reyna Noriega, an Afro-Caribbean visual artist based in Miami.
After spending a couple of sun-dappled days in Miami with Noriega, it’s apparent how much the city inspires her art—and that inspiration has wiggled its way into her Goody Tru line. “We were intentional about it from start to finish, from the accessibility, from the usability, from the quality, it was very nice to do a collaboration where I had a say,” said Noriega. “I’m just grateful I got to translate my art in this way.”
Each artist’s Goody Tru collection has hair brushes, claw clips, head bands, barrettes, scrunchies, elastics, and other hair pieces to choose from. Each hair accessory is infused with personality and stays far, far away from the realm of kitsch.
Below, I’ve curated my ten favorites that I think would please even the most anti-hair accessory people among us (speaking from experience!). Available exclusively at Walmart for the time-being, every accessory is under $10. Keep reading to see the absolute best of the new Goody Tru collection.
Since the two-step method on this product makes the process quick and efficient, there isn’t a need for many coats like there is with other mascaras. Despite having naturally long lashes, I’m always building up multiple layers to get the dramatic effect I want. With this one, only one coat is needed for full-looking lashes. I know the phrase “less is more” is a bit cliché, but it’s the motto for this product. Applying additional layers can cause the mascara to get clumpy, so the best results will be with minimal product. (This means less time in my makeup routine, which is a winning situation.)
L’Oréal set out to make your makeup routine more seamless, and this product surpasses that goal. If you’re looking for a mascara that requires minimal application but still creates a dramatic look, this is the one for you.
To me, CC cream is one of those makeup products that just slip through the cracks. Most of the time, I throw on a good primer as a base and tend to just go straight for the foundation (or trusty skin tint). But maybe it’s time to rethink that strategy. CC cream can act as an important extra complexion enhancer if you struggle with redness, uneven skin tone, or just dullness in general. It’s the secret to any radiant makeup look that many of us have been sleeping on, and of all places, the drugstore seems to be the place to look if we want to get in on the action without spending a pretty penny.
Although it is a great step to add, finding the right one for your specific skin type can be a bit daunting without a little help. To save you some time (and dollars), I’ve rounded up the best drugstore CC creams for each skin type. I will note, however, that shade ranges for CC creams still appear to be quite limited—sigh. That being said, there are still also some great options for Black and Brown skin tones included below. Enjoy!
I have two sets of parents. Both couples were wed during the Jurassic period (not really). Both were married almost 60 years. I watched each twosome grow old together.
One pair barely tolerated each other at the bitter end. My folks were sweethearts until death parted them. Mom and Dad had a caregiver in their final years, and they confided that they wanted her to arrive later in the morning so they had time to snuggle and kiss!
My Mom had mid-stage Alzheimer’s, but Daddy didn’t care. He patiently reminded her where to find her shoes and never scolded her for asking the same questions over and over again.
Such long-lasting love!
Yet long-lasting marriages can also become challenging.
My in-laws struggled greatly in their latter years. Although they loved each other deeply, their days were filled with snapping, nagging, impatience, and frustration. Mom-in-law yelled. Pops pouted. At the end, they clung fast to each other and grieved that so many years were wasted in frustration.
“Precious and Papaw” were excellent parents, phenomenal grandparents, and wonderful Christians. They just rubbed each other the wrong way. Their golden years were a bit rusty.
Ancient Sarum wedding vows encourage:“For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness and health. For as long as you both shall live.”
My husband and I have taught a bazillion marriage conferences around the world. We explained the “marital satisfaction” scale as fantastic during the honeymoon stage, good during the childhood years, terrible during the teenage years, better as the kids left home and best during retirement-the “golden years.”
We were wrong!
Retirement is not always easy. Marriage can be challenging after partners stop working and spend long hours puttering around the house together. Some couples are healthy, wealthy, and happy. Others are strapped for cash, suffering with debilitating illness, grieving the loss of family and friends, and fearful of the future.
So how do we finish the race with grace?
God promises strength to persevere, but we have to submit to His plan and learn acceptance with joy. Here are three “Scripture nuggets” to revive the romance and survive the challenges:
1. Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you. (Romans 15:7)
The whirlwind of family life may mask flaws that exist between couples. Toothpaste tubes, chewing loudly and leaving laundry on the floor become battlegrounds. Let’s face it. I have mentioned trivial irritations. However, there are more devastating differences.
We reject each other when one spouse is anxious and the other is carefree. We fight when one partner is disciplined and the other procrastinates. Jesus accepted everyone, even tax collectors and prostitutes.
Acceptance means loving someone, affirming them and appreciating them whether they change or not.
2. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Burdens come in all shapes and sizes. They can be mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual. Some are little backpacks. Some are boulders. A farmer yokes his oxen together to get the job done. That’s why Solomon observed,
Two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up…though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Two are better than one…” is Solomon’s way of describing the power of support and protection that marriage provides. The threefold cord is a picture of the amazing bond between God and two marriage partners.
Prayer is the most important way we can bear our partner’s burdens.
Christ is the ultimate “burden bearer.” He took our sins and suffering to the cross. Burden-bearing for an aging spouse may include dressing, driving, or helping with housework.
Don’t try to do life without help. God provides family, friends and church homes to come alongside the elderly. I have observed that those couples actively develop a support system will find it much easier to survive.
3. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
Be gracious, polite and courteous, not rough, rude or blunt. My husband always opens my doors, walks on the outside of the sidewalk, and pulls out my chair. He is as chivalrous as Sir Walter Raleigh.
Be thoughtful and helpful, not insensitive and selfish. Be understanding and compassionate, not callous or unconcerned.
Be patient and tolerant, not edgy or easily annoyed. Be big-hearted, not begrudging. Be forgiving, not vengeful.
Be gentle, not rough or harsh. It takes energy and effort to be kind.
Only Christ can accomplish such sweetness in us. Many husbands and wives don’t want to go the extra mile. It’s exhausting. But when your loved one is gone, you miss the inconveniences. The extra time is filled with loss and regret. Love while you can. Each moment is precious!
Dr. Julie Barrier, along with her pastor-husband, Dr. Roger Barrier, have taught conferences on marriage and ministry in 35 countries. The Barriers are founders and directors of Preach It, Teach It providing free resources in 10 languages to 5 million visitors in 229 countries. The Barriers pastored 35 years at Casas Church in Arizona, Julie has served as a worship minister, concert artist and adjunct professor at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. She has authored or composed of over 500 published works.
Jennifer Coolidge is known for many things. Most notably, there’s her larger-than-life personality, her iconic character Tanya McQuoid on White Lotus, and her penchant for classic, red carpet glamour. The latter certainly held true at last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. Coolidge walked the red carpet in a sleek Saint Laurent gown that she paired with diamond-encrusted jewelry. The real star of the look, though, at least in our opinion, was her retro bombshell hairstyle. With lots of volume, big blown-out barrel curls, and a sleek black headband keeping it in place, Coolidge channeled a classic French look popularized by Brigitte Bardot in the ’60s. The look was created by celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight, who counts other A-listers such as Gwen Stefani, Rita Ora, and Adele as clients. “I really wanted Jen to be the ultimate bombshell,” he says. “This look is all about big volume and soft waves.” Keep scrolling to see a step-by-step guide to re-creating Coolidge’s red carpet hairstyle.
To start, Knight prepped Coolidge’s wet hair with this mousse. The formula is lightweight and provides a flexible hold and body. He applied it directly to a brush and brushed it through her hair for “perfectly even distribution.” Take it from us; don’t sleep on mousse if you’re looking to create a voluminous hairstyle. It’s so helpful, especially for those of us who have fine hair.
Here’s the brush Knight used to evenly distribute the mousse through Coolidge’s hair. He said the “two-tier teeth gently detangled the hair while evenly drawing the mousse through.”
Once he was sure the product was evenly dispersed, he reached for his hair dryer. Using medium heat, he blow-dried Coolidge’s hair while using a round brush to accentuate volume.
Before applying heat directly to her hair with a curling iron, Knight spritzed this hair spray through each section for two reasons. The first was heat protection. (It protects hair up to 410ºF.) The second was staying power without stiffness. (Remember a Brigitte Bardot look is all about volume with movement.)
From there, Knight moved on to curling her hair. “I took a 1.5-inch curling iron, pulling two-inch sections, and curled round the barrel,” he says. “I curled all the hair from the top of her ears down towards her face, and all of the hair above this away from her face. Doing this is flattering, as it gives a voluminous kick to the shape.”
Next, it was time to tease Coolidge’s hair. “Once the hair was curled, I used a tail comb to tease the hair at the crown as big as I could,” Knight says. “It’s important that the hair can stand on its end if you want it to withstand a brush-out.”
Once that was done, he applied this volume-and-texture spray hybrid throughout her lengths. Doing so added even more volume and body to Coolidge’s hair. The bigger, the better.
Once the volume-and-texture spray hybrid was applied, he went ahead and smoothed the top layers of Coolidge’s hair with this brush so it had a voluminous yet seamless look.
“We added in a black headband at the front of the hair for a touch of that ’60s Bardot vibe,” Knight says. “You could also add in a ribbon or big barrette, whatever you like!” All in all, it’s not a red carpet style that’s too difficult to re-create on your own.
Just don’t forget to spritz some hair spray. Knight says the finishing touch was a “generous cloud” of this hair spray to hold the style all night long. It works for all hair types and offers a firm hold without stiffness.
A matte, faux-leather headband? Yes, please.
These are comfy and incredibly budget friendly.
We like this puffed take on a classic headband.
This headband is stretchy and has an ultra-wide fit.
It doesn’t have to be a headband. You can also channel a ’60s Bardot vibe with a simple black bow.
“We created a soft monochromatic look inspired by the silk roses in the gown,” celebrity makeup artist, Raoúl Alejandre, shared in a press release. “Draping has been a staple in my beauty work for some time, but I went a step further to create a fresh take on my technique by working with iridescent and satin pastel tones to create a highlighted fresh look. This technique creates an inverted sculpted effect. I pared the romantic pastel eyes with a mod spikey top and bottom lash. The lip was also carefully thought out and rather than going for a cool tone we decided to clash and finish off the look with a neutral liner and a peachy centered lip for warmth.”
Alejandre also shared the exact products he used to create Zendaya’s dreamy makeup look. Keep reading for every makeup product Alejandre put on the star’s face last night.
I’m sure you’ve heard it said that marriage grows richer through the years as your love for one another grows deeper.
But, maybe you’re not feeling the love. Or experiencing the depth.
Maybe you’re only seeing how your spouse has changed through the years.
After 32 years of marriage, I’ve learned that love is not something we always feel. It isn’t an emotion, it’s an action. And it’s something God expects us to continue to extend toward one another whether we feel like it or not.
(I’ve also learned that when we start complaining that our spouses have changed, they often believe we have changed just as much).
While writing my books, When Couples Walk Together, When a Woman Inspires Her Husband and 12 Ways to Experience More with Your Husband, I interviewed nearly 100 couples married anywhere from 10-50 years to find out how they continue to keep love alive. From those interviews, along with personal experience in my own marriage, I came up with a list of three ingredients to keep loving one another through the years even when our spouse has changed and the feelings don’t show up.
And the amazing thing about this list is, when we do our part to love regardless of our feelings, God shows up and many times, in His grace, brings those feelings back.
The Kind of Love God Wants in Our Marriages
God designed marriage to work perfectly. And I imagine, before sin came into the picture, Adam and Eve had no problem loving each other. After all, they were each sinless and perfect.
Yet, their sin created a whole new dynamic for every marriage (Genesis 3). As a result of sin’s presence in our lives, the only kind of “love” that comes naturally is that feeling of infatuation we had when we first met our spouse.
Back when you and I first married we saw in our spouses what we wanted to see. “Love is blind,” they say. And then through the years, our eyes are opened to reality and we see many things we may not have wanted to see at first.
We saw that our spouse was a sinner. We saw they were capable of letting us down and causing us pain. And they saw the same sin and capabilities in us.
But agape love–God’s kind of love–sees all and still loves. God knows everything about us, including our imperfections, and He still loves us.
He knows what lurks in our minds and hearts, and He knows not only our past sins but our future ones as well–and He still extends love. God loves us unconditionally and in spite of who we really are. And that’s how He calls us to love one another–including our spouses.
Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another.” Jesus loved us by giving His life for us. He showed sacrificial, persevering and enduring love for us. And by doing so, He showed us how to love our spouses.
Based on how Jesus loves us, here are three ways to love your spouse through the years:
As humans, and therefore sinners, it’s easy to put ourselves first.
I am ashamed when I think of my Lord’s example of washing His disciples’ feet and dying for the sins of mankind. I’m sure my selfishness is displayed in my marriage more than I realize and that my husband sees it. And of course, that is not Calvary love.
Calvary love–or sacrificial love–dies to self. Calvary love puts another first. Calvary love says “Not my will, but yours,” “Not my happiness, but yours,” “Not my preferences, but yours” and “Not my fulfillment, but yours.”
How can our spouses not be encouraged, inspired, and motivated to love us back when we demonstrate to them that kind of sacrificial love? And as we do, our love for our spouse grows deeper.
Yes, God created marriage to be equally fulfilling for both partners. But we are sinners, and therefore at least one of us must bend and become unlike the other. At least one of us must choose to be more like Christ. To show sacrificial love to our spouse is to ask yourself “What is it costing me?”
During the early years of our marriage it is a joy to love our spouses. But as the years go by and the pressures of life set in, it becomes more of a challenge to show that love consistently. And if that love does not cost you something in some way, it is not sacrificial as Christ’s love is for us.
Such love will sometimes cost us an inconvenience, a delay, or a setback. Other times, sacrificial love will cost us our own desires. But such love is worth it. It shows our spouses–and God–that we do know something of Calvary love.
2. Practice Persevering Love
Scripture speaks frequently of God’s great lovingkindness, or steadfast love which endures forever (1 Chronicles 16, 2 Chronicles 7, Psalm 136). Some translations call it His unfailing love. Regardless of the terms, it is a love that perseveres.
The most thorough description of love that we can find in Scripture is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Quoted at many weddings, this passage describes persevering or enduring love–the kind of love that just won’t quit.
Here we see a beautiful description of God’s love and we are instructed to practice this love toward others, especially our spouse:
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (ESV, emphasis added).
Did you catch that? The New International Version says love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” If that last line didn’t convict your heart, enough, look the opening words of the next verse, where we are told more about this love we are to practice: “Love never fails” (verse 8).
Fewer marriages would struggle today if just one partner in every marriage practiced that definition of love. Yet, can you imagine what marriages would be like if both partners practiced enduring love? There would be no strife, no stress, no bitterness, no built-up baggage. There would be no devastation, nor divorce.
There would be two people who daily give up their rights to themselves so they can serve one another. There would be a perfect picture, in our love toward each other, of God’s love toward us.
If your spouse does not seem like the same person you married, yet you are still together, that is persevering love. That is love that says “I made a promise; now I’m keeping it.”
God did the same with you and me. Take a look at His unending, persevering love for you:
He has promised He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5)
He is gentle toward you when you’re broken (Psalm 147:3)
He promises nothing will ever come between the two of you (Romans 8:39)
He loved you in spite of yourself, and still does (Romans 5:8)
Because we are not like God, who never grows weary or wounded, we must know how to renew our love for our spouses. We can’t simply wait around for our feelings to be there.
I’m so glad God’s love for us isn’t based on His feelings! Rather, He has determined to love us, regardless. He calls us to love one another (and our spouses) that way, too.
Because the world will take it out of us. Pain will take it out of us. The everyday stuff of life will take it out of us. But thanks be to God, He can replenish it in us.
In Isaiah 40:28-31, we have this encouragement from God, who can fill you up with love for spouse:
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
If your love for your spouse has waned, how do you renew it? How do you get back that delight in each other when something in your spouse or in this life has taken it out of you?
By waiting on the Lord for His strength, which will enable you to love your spouse, and by going back to what first drew the two of you together. Was it your spouse’s smile, sense of humor, integrity, charm and wit, or love for God?
Ask God to help you focus on what you once saw and trust Him to open your eyes to see it once again.
As a fashion editor, it’s fair to say that I see tons of exciting brands on a daily basis. I spend my days grazing the Internet for the best new products and some of my favorite brands are found on ASOS. Of course, I then find myself in a rabbithole of similar products and choice brands on the site that leads to a full cart.
It truly is a gold mine of cost-effective yet trendy pieces in a range of sizes. Whether you’re looking for a brand name pair of sneakers, a fun new bag, or a bargain piece of outerwear, the options are endless. Not to mention, plenty of amazing denim options–both traditional and trendy.
I’ve shared this week’s rabbithole below for shopping the best affordable pieces on ASOS right now.
I have a thing for blush. Maybe it’s the storied history of it or maybe it’s the glamorous associations I have with it, but it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite makeup products to use. That, in itself, is crazy, considering I used to avoid it altogether. You see, I’ve struggled with redness and rosacea for most of my life, and the thought of exacerbating the flushed look wasn’t something I found very appealing. It wasn’t until I entered my late-20s that I realized the power and potential of blush. When placed correctly, it doesn’t accentuate my redness; instead, it brightens up my complexion, whisks away dullness, and makes me look, well, alive.
I also recently joined TikTok, which means I’ve been spending a gross amount of time scrolling through videos—many of which happen to be the review and the get-ready-with-me type. What I’ve noticed is that the majority of TikTok-viral makeup products are blush. Whether cream, liquid, or oil (more on that last one in a minute), TikTokers can’t get enough of them. So, as any good beauty editor would do, I decided to test them all, pitting the products against one another to find the best of the best. Ahead, see every blush I tested, what they look like IRL, and which one was the winner (hint: even I was surprised at the result).
The history of the formula: True Match has been around for over 20 years. It first hit drugstore shelves back in 1994 and has been a hit for L’Oréal ever since. L’Oréal’s AVP of scientific communications, Balanda Atis, breaks it down, saying, “This foundation has stood the test of time because of the continuous research we’ve done to understand our consumer needs. In developing the formula, our team of scientists worked to make sure the texture and performance of the formula is relevant for our consumers today. We also have studied skin tones for many years to understand the tones that are appropriate for skin around the world.”
What makes this formula unique: True Match is now formulated with up to six different pigments including white, yellow, red, red, black, ultramarine blue, and cobalt green to help you find your most precise skin match. Using these pigments, it’s able to adapt to any skin color and texture. Atis also says, “True Match is unique because we utilized science to create a formula that our consumers can rely on to deliver superior performance and a match that fits their skin. Our moisturizing formula now has hyaluronic acid, which enhances the skin’s own ability to retain moisture for long-lasting hydration.”
Why makeup artists love it: Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon also shares a love for True Match. “First and foremost, they really executed the color range beautifully,” she says. “The product itself is fantastic for its variable coverage, natural finish, and long-lasting formula. I think the versatility and shade range plays a major factor in its popularity among artists.”
Expert application tips: Aharon says, “When speaking to application, I most often express that your comfortability with a tool is most important. You can press foundation in with your fingertips, stipple a wet blender into the skin, or pat it on with a foundation brush. Whatever feels easiest for you—they all work!”
Shopping for a powder foundation can be tough in general, but if you have dry or mature skin, it can be even more of a challenge. Although most people consider powder foundation strictly for those with oily skin, that’s not always the case. Celebrity makeup artist Allison Kaye says there are a few things to look for in a powder foundation if you do happen to have mature skin and would like to try one. “You should look for microfine powder foundations to prohibit the powder from settling into fine lines and wrinkles,” she says. “The microfine powders will have more of a velvet feel to them and will sit more evenly on your face.”
I’d first love to start by talking about your background as an aesthetician and why you decided to create your own brand.
I became a licensed aesthetician in 2010—which was well over a decade ago. When I was seeing clients, I essentially could not find the products I needed because I had various clients with different needs. I was in Los Angeles, in Hollywood at the time, and I felt like I was starting to see a segment of women (and men too, but mainly women) who were coming out of those teenage years, approaching their 20s and 30s, where they could not use the same skincare. They couldn’t use Neutrogena anymore, couldn’t use Clean & Clear anymore, but they were still struggling with hormonal imbalances and acne. They were also wanting to work their way into [using] some anti-aging [products]. They would say, “I don’t want to use benzoyl peroxide, but I want to jump into retinol.”
So when I decided to create Klur as a brand, it was a few years into [doing] treatments. I realized that there wasn’t really anything that was sophisticated enough that felt like a grown-up skincare brand. It needed to meet the clinical needs of what you could get from an aesthetician or dermatologist with high-performance ingredients as well as contain the soothing botanicals of a natural-care product. It really clicked with me in 2013 that after I had been seeing clients for a few years that there were no Black aestheticians with a skincare line on the market at all—not one. I just took a step back and said, “With all the knowledge that I have, the education I have, and my real life experience with people, I think I can do this. I think I should at least try to put a line out, even if it’s just sold in my spa. I can just sell it to my clients.”
That’s how it began; it actually just began focusing mainly on selling it to my clients. Eventually, I was called by Urban Outfitters in 2014, and that landed us on shelves. Very quickly, we did very, very well. This was my first foray into anything retail. I had no clue that there had never been a Black professional skincare line on the market. I’d never known that there wasn’t a Black aesthetician who’d ever had a product on a shelf, on a major retail shelf. I had no clue—I was just kind of going. At that point, I decided to close my spa and stop juggling all these things and just solely focus on building as a brand. Two years later, after a really good run and being in 200 stores, I voluntarily pulled out of Urban Outfitters to take care of my own health because I felt like I was compromising it by running a facial studio and trying to build the line. So I took two years off to rebrand and relaunch the line.
What would you say is the core ethos of Klur, and what is your brand mission?
As a founder, I believe that my personal mission is the same as the brand mission, and that is to inspire, educate, and guide individuals into making healthy decisions. Not only just skincare decisions but healthy decisions living holistically and showing them that by using skincare as a catalyst to inspire and cultivate a healthy lifestyle using holistic tools.
It’s so great to see so many women of color creating their own brands now—especially ones that champion holistic practices and ingredients! Would you say treating melanin-rich skin is different than treating those with lighter skin tones?
People of color come in all different skin tones, which is fantastic because speaking clinically, there is a difference in melanocyte activity. Some people have very robust melanocytes, which means they’re much darker, and then some people have melanocytes that are not as active. That’s one reason why we actually get hyperpigmentation is because the melanocytes rush to that one area and then they darken. They act as a sort of healing mechanism to the skin, and it ends up healing darker in an area. When we look at dark skin versus lighter skin tones, I think one of the main things is (besides all the science-y stuff), there is some thickness in the skin. I think that people don’t realize with darker skin, you must treat it quite gently.
Having that experience working with dark-skinned women and being a Black woman, of course, I realized that, for the most part, skincare brands were catering to lighter skin or white skin before they would cater to darker skin. We reversed the scale and actually made sure that we put dark skin at the forefront of the science, and we realized that fair skin actually can also take a gentle approach. There’s not a single person with skin that can utilize a harsh skincare routine. You don’t have to be sensitized or sensitive to have a gentle routine. It’s actually really, really important that all of us practice that gentle consistency. I think with dark skin, somehow people have believed that you can take this aggressive approach, and you really cannot, because the skin does hyperpigmentate. When you understand that, though, that’s actually really beneficial to all skin.
I’ll always a strong believer in the idea of looking to the past to better recognize its impact on our present (and, ultimately, our futures). A prime example of this is taking the time to highlight the beauty of the past that graced our silver screens. By providing inspiration for today’s looks, they also encourage appreciation for the women who wore the iconic looks of the past. Unfortunately, many of the Black women who were at the helm of Hollywood during it’s golden years were not recognized for their contributions due to the rampant racism and discrimination of the film industry.
As a melanin-blessed beauty editor, one of my biggest goals is to shed light on the individuals who deserve recognition for their role in redefining and challenging beauty trends. Keep reading to meet the four brilliant Black women that come to mind when I think of the beauty of Black Hollywood and the modern-day products you can use to recreate their looks.
Searching for the types of products her skin desperately needed is what ultimately awakened Tsai’s curiosity as to how products were made, why certain ingredients were chosen, and the complicatedness of product formulation. “Once I started to understand a bit more of the ‘behind the scenes’ of beauty products, I realized I could develop a different type of skincare brand that prioritized the substance of the ingredients and formula more than anything else,” she says.
Another standout feature of the line? The totally doable price points. In fact, the idea that skincare has to be expensive in order to be effective is a huge myth in Tsai’s eyes. “I’m so grateful to see so many brands like Cocokind proving you actually don’t need to spend $80 to cleanse your skin or to see results from a powerful serum,” she says. “I realize it can be hard to judge a product by its packaging and price, but just know that you can find amazing skincare at every price point—truly!”
A few other hot tips from Tsai when it comes to having the best skin of your life: prioritizing sleep, infusing your routine with polypeptides, and instilling a less-is-more approach when it comes to highly active ingredients.
“I notice a huge difference with how supple and hydrated my skin is when I’m not getting enough sleep,” Tsai shares. “I think it’s a hugely underrated component of our overall health and mental well-being.” As far as polypeptides—they’re an all-star ingredient you’re likely neglecting but totally shouldn’t be. “I’m a huge fan of polypeptides, especially as someone in my 30s,” she says. “Polypeptides help stimulate your skin’s natural collagen production, which then helps reduce the look of fine lines. This is my primary skincare concern these days, so using polypeptides is a critical step! I also love the philopsophy ‘a little bit often.’ I don’t do super-high percentages of active ingredients because I don’t want to have to overthink my skincare—I want to use AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids at a lower percentage but regularly.”
Keep scrolling to find out which Cocokind products Tsai can’t get enough of right now in addition to all of the other go-to beauty products in her day-to-day routine. Enjoy!
I have a confession to make. Even though I’m a beauty editor, and sometimes styling my hair is quite literally part of my job, I dread it. The most I ever do is accentuate my natural waves by way of a flat iron (the same one I’ve had since I was 13 years old). I loop sections of my hair through, twisting my wrist as I pull down, and out pop some freshly waved strands. If I really want volume, I’ll use hot rollers. (They’re my secret weapon for adding ’90s-inspired height to my naturally limp roots.) Other than that, though, I don’t really use heat tools all that often.
That changed exactly one week ago when I saw two other Who What Wear beauty editors messaging back and forth about a specific hair waver. They were waxing poetic about how it gives such a nice shape to their hair and how they always get compliments when they use it. I hadn’t used a hair waver since I was in middle school, so I was instantly intrigued. It couldn’t be that good, right? When I got the chance to test it out for myself, I realized it could be that good. It was that good. Instead of being the fussy, clunky hair waver of yesteryear, it was functional and grown-up. Instead of the finely crimped hair I imagined it would give me, I got a super pretty, fresh-from-the-beach texture. Keep scrolling to see for yourself.
