Preserve a Blowout with a Silk Pillowcase

Hair is difficult for me. I've had pretty much the same cut and style since I was twelve, with the exception of sporting the occasional zig zag part in middle school, that time I stupidly cut my own bangs in college, and those other times I was curious about both the bob and the lob. And for most of my life, I've washed my hair daily, requiring frequent styling. But I'm lazy. So instead, I often opt for disheveled. I finally trained my hair to be washed less frequently and most recently, figured out not just how to maintain clean hair for days, but how to maintain styled hair for days - a feat for me because I get such terrible bed head. Disheveled. A boar bristle brush, a silk pillowcase and dry shampoo seem to do the trick.

After taking my time on an amazing at-home blowout a couple weeks ago, I was determined to maintain it as long as possible. I've heard of the benefits of silk pillowcases for hair and skin (apparently it prevents wrinkles), and did a little more research before bed. Because silk is such a smooth and natural fabric, your hair glides on it, versus being exposed to friction caused by cotton which results in bed head. I didn't have a silk pillowcase on-hand, but really wanted to test out the theory.

Isn't that hair worth trying to preserve? 

So I got creative and safety-pinned that beautiful, coral 100% silk scarf up there to my pillow. I brushed my hair thoroughly with a boar bristle brush to distribute my scalp's natural oils throughout my hair and went to sleep. I woke up to an intact blowout - a rarity for me. All I did to "style" my hair was turn my head upside down to brush upwards for volume with the same brush and I was set. I thought maybe it was luck, but I had a couple more night's to test the theory.

On night two, I did the same routine: boar bristle brush, improvised silk pillowcase. Again, I woke up to a still smooth, albeit slightly less voluminous blowout. Nothing my upside down boar-bristle brushing couldn't fix.

On night three, I did the same routine. This time, on day four, I woke up to a less-than-perfect blowout. My hair was definitely flatter and the front layers didn't cascade quite as nicely, but my ends were still looking great. I did my upside down brushing, sprayed in some Batiste dry shampoo for volume, mostly - my hair wasn't oily at all - and pinned it back into a half up-do which still managed to get me a compliment or two.

On day five, I washed my hair.

I should address the questions as to whether or not the pillowcase can be satin or a blend, as opposed to silk, and this past weekend I decided to test that theory. I was visiting my parents and my mom mentioned she had some satin pillowcases, so after another beautiful DIY blowout on Saturday, I put satin to the test. I woke up Sunday morning to flat hair, with hints of bed head. The results really didn't compare to my pillowcase...I mean, scarf.

In order to get the most out of your pillowcase, it must be 100% silk, and preferably long-strand mulberry silk with a traditional charmeuse weave (!?!). It sounds super fancy because it is. I'm not even sure my scarf met the long strand and weave requirements, but it is 100% silk and was successful for the most part. Here are some options that are on the affordable side and do meet those requirements. I won't use my scarf forever because my safety pins keep coming undone and poking me, so I'll be making my selection from among these, too.

Beauty Bites Volume 4

This/last week's recap:

Play! By Sephora 
Sephora announced last week that it's entering the subscription beauty box market with Play! By Sephora. It's a $10 subscription (like competitors Ipsy and Birchbox), which includes five products and a curated Spotify Play! List. I had multiple short-lived relationships with both Ipsy and Birchbox and I can't say I felt great about either. Both work with new and emerging brands, which I love to learn about and discover, but there were far fewer hits than misses among what I did receive - I even once received a Bic Pen. A Bic Pen! Even though Sephora sends a slew of samples anytime you place an order online, and even though you can ask for samples at any beauty store (and you can bet I do!), I'm curious to see what the company includes in its monthly themed boxes. Considering there are more hits than misses at Sephora in general, even if the choices are similar to their 100-point Beauty Insider rewards, I'll definitely consider subscribing for a test run and for that added-value playlist.

The Mindy Project Returns 

While technically not beauty related, Mindy Kaling is my own personal hero (even though I know she feels old when people refer to her as such - you're fantastic, Mindy). I shamelessly have two Mindy quotes staring at me at my office desk. So when I found out this week that The Mindy Project is set to premiere on Hulu on September 15, the same day as her book, Why Not Me? (the title is actually the less profane and cover-friendly version of one of my desk quotes), my heart wept tears of joy.

Christian Louboutin Lipstick Collection

Apparently these new Louboutin Lipsticks cure cancer, or something. Not really. But they are $90 each. When I mistakenly bought a $50 Tom Ford lipstick I had the worst buyer's remorse. And then Andres (of all people) convinced me it was okay - and I realized that particular lipstick was worth every cent. I am, however, a somewhat reasonable adult with a baby on the way and I have to draw the line somewhere. But you can bet I'll envy anyone who can actually afford these and wish them an infection that causes their lips to melt off. Too much?

Honest Company Organic Belly Balm
My belly is finally a clear bump and not an "Is she just getting fat?" pooch. I started using belly balms and butters, first with Palmer's Tummy Butter. Even though the Honest Company is under a microscope right now for defective sunscreen, I went ahead and picked up their Belly Balm after hearing great reviews. I'll be reporting back on this one and others.

Essie Gel Setter 
A little more than a month ago, Essie launched their new Gel Setter Top Coat and I got my freshly manicured hands on one just last weekend. Because my current Nailmatic polish and all-time-favorite Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat are both working overtime, my mani is pretty much still intact. But to finish off my next mani, I'll be testing Essie's Gel Setter and reporting back on whether or not Sally Hansen's Mega Shine remains the reigning champ. At this point Gel Setter has three and a half stars on Essie's website with 89 reviews.

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20-Week Pregnancy Skincare Update

I have some beautifully organized posts on pregnancy beauty and skincare planned, but have lots more research to do before I can actually write them. For this first pregnancy skincare post, I'm sharing a hodge podge of products getting me through pregnancy now, four and a half months in. So far, I've consulted list after list of safe/recommended products, talked to my doctor for confirmation, and checked the FAQ pages of some of my favorite brands for information on their pregnancy safety.

First, a disclaimer: I spent my entire first trimester asleep and to make up for my lack of research I just refrained from putting anything on my face altogether to avoid any potential harm. I stopped using my Clarisonic from fear that I was cleaning so deep into my pores that whatever products I was using were seeping into my skin, into my bloodstream and hurting my baby. I started washing my face in under thirty seconds to avoid having cleansers (even gentle ones) on my face for too long. And I switched back to my raw, organic Manuka honey as a face wash, knowing for certain it was the only one-hundred-percent safe item in my cabinet.

You would think simplifying my routine would have helped my skin, but be it hormones, or my lack of Clarisonic-ing, my skin did not react well during this time. It felt incredibly dry, scaly and I even experienced a few minor breakouts. And diet wise, in the first couple weeks of my pregnancy I was the picture of health, but after the carb, Takis and Flamin' Hot Cheeto cravings kicked in, it was downhill.

Now that I've gotten my life back together and am awake more often than I am asleep, I've done a little more reading and a lot more testing. Below is some of what is working for me. Let me know what you used during your pregnancy. I would love to hear from any other moms or moms-to-be that had good experiences with pregnancy-approved products.

• Prenatal Vitamins
  Obviously necessary, whether you care for gorgeous hair or not. I stick with VitaFusion - the only brand I've been able to find in gummy form. These have the added benefit of making your hair super lustrous and shiny and your nails really strong. 
• CeraVe
  CeraVe products are gentle, safe for pregnancy and are often even recommended for baby's skin. In fact, they have an entire baby skincare line that I'm definitely registering for. As part of even my pre-pregnancy routine, I use their moisturizing cream (for evening) and moisturizing lotion (for day time). I introduced their Foaming Facial Cleanser into my routine recently hoping to find a deep cleanse in a non-irritating formula that contains no salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is an anti-acne (read: harsh) ingredient in many cleansers, so finding a balance between a deep clean that's pregnancy safe can be challenging, and a bummer in 100-degree weather. This is a great option. 
• Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue
  This is a product I started using strictly for pregnancy, but have fallen in love with and will continue to use. It's a gel cream that glides onto the skin, moisturizes, contains SPF 30 (so it cuts a step out of my routine), and is formulated without parabens or fragrance - great for moms-to-be. And while it gives a very dewy finish, it's not heavy because it is formulated without oil, too. It has light coverage for daily use, but is buildable for when your skin needs a little more. 
• Tata Harper Skincare
  I learned about the relatively new Tata Harper line at an event this spring at Neiman Marcus. The line is all-natural, non-toxic and completely safe to use during pregnancy. I'm currently using the Nourishing Oil Cleanser, one of my favorite cleansing oils that literally dissolves your makeup and feels unbelievably silky as it's doing so; and then is rinsed off for clean skin that's also hydrated, covered in a super soft layer of nutrients. The Reparative Moisturizer smells as if you're rubbing your skin with fresh flower petals. It's supremely rich, but milky in consistency. My skin is touchably soft after wearing this and actually feels healthier.
• Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask
  It turns out that lots of Origins' products - with the exception of some of their products with herbal ingredients -  are safe to use during pregnancy. As little as I try to use overnight masks during pregnancy, if I do use one, I'm reaching for this one because of how much my skin just needs and loves the extra moisture.
• Palmer's Tummy Butter
  This is officially the first tummy butter I've tried since becoming pregnant and have only been using it about a week, as my bump is finally starting to take shape. I plan on testing others and comparing my favorites later into my pregnancy. Things I don't love about this butter: the consistency is a little too thick and I really have to work it between the palms of my hands to melt it down before applying. And it doesn't spread as easily as I'd like. Things I really love about this butter: my tummy feels super soft and moisturized after a full-day's wear. And it's been using a lip balm before bed. My lips have also been desert dry, they feel like sand, and this stuff is just magical as a lip balm.
• EOS Tangerine Medicated Lip Balm
  And speaking of dry, dry lips. I realize the medicated version of the organic EOS lip balms is probably the less safe of the options, but in my defense, all EOS balms are paraben, petrolatum and phthalate-free. And it really does the trick. I apply and this will keep my lips feeling super moisturized for hours. 

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Beauty Bites Volume 3

And this week's roundup...

National Lipstick Day
Last Wednesday was National Lipstick Day. Of course, I celebrated. And from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed, I saw Instagram post after Instagram post from other people celebrating -- fellow beauty aficionados and retailers, alike. WWD recapped some of the highlights of retailers partaking in the festivities, and below are a couple more from my favorite accounts.

This one's from @IntoTheGloss, featuring the beauty look at Comme des Garcon's Fall 2004 show.

And of course, this post from @BeautyBlitz, one of my favorite beauty accounts, talking about her first beauty goal - Molly Ringwald's lipstick talents from Breakfast Club.

Lipstick Queen Cupid's Bow Review
Prior to this month, I'd only heard of Lipstick Queen, but just recently started testing products from the brand's different collections. As part of my weekly Vanity Report for Lilliana Vazquez's site, and in further celebration of National Lipstick Day, I reviewed Lipstick Queen's Cupid's Bow Collection. I'm loving these lip crayons for the combination of their matte staying power and a hint of sheen. Read the full review here. 

Counterfeit Cosmetics Alert 

Allure shared an article this week about the dangers of counterfeit beauty products, and two arrests that occurred in London after a campaign called "Wake up - don't fake up!" launched. This is a topic I've been hearing about, as earlier this year the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also shed light on its dangers - like products that can cause infections, are expired and potentially poisonous. Though these guidelines are London based, they're great tips for ensuring you're not buying fakes if you do a lot of shopping for beauty products online like I do.

Cushion Makeup

At the top of my to-do list is trying out cushion makeup. It originally picked up traction in Korea - which means yes, I'll put it on my face - and is now taking off in the US. I've read about different forms of application with these products, and as far as I can figure out, it's like your makeup has a built-in Beauty Blender, or like playing Bingo on your cheeks and lips. These are a few Korean and US-based brands doing cushion products that I'm excited to try.

Peripera products from Korea. Photo credit: Birchbox