Question of the Week: What’s your favorite new product of 2017?

Ooh! This is a good one. What was your favorite product of 2017? Was it a foundation that changed everything? A shadow palette or a tool? I'm still all about my hair transformation; going from full frizz helmet to soft, shiny hair that swings. What did I use to make such a change? The Vital Nutrition Line from Keune. It adds nutrients damaged hair needs, along with helping to deal with excess porosity. My results are mindblowing. I'm on my fourth bottle of Porosity Filler. I can't live without it.  What about you? What's your favorite product of the year?

  EauMG - Need some last minute gift ideas? Well, I have them! I’ve posted gift guides all week. Check out this one for gifts for niblings and teens.

Geniabeme - See my results after using the PMD Personal Microderm for 3 weeks!

Gouldylox - Could this one brush replace four brushes in your kit? Maybe not every day, but if packing lightly is your thing, this transforming brush may just be your everything.

My Beauty Bunny - has the scoop on all the new releases from Physicians Formula. Wow! Some of these products are department store quality at drugstore prices!

Phyrra - 2017 had a ton of beauty releases. See the Worst Beauty Products of 2017!

Realizing Beauty - The new MAC Jade Jagger Collection just launched on December 14th and Christa shares why she's in love with everything from the shades to the packaging.

we heart this - Look, it's a primer...it's a serum...it's one of our favorite skincare products of the year! It's Ren Perfect Canvas.

Beautygeeks is all about these fragrances that keep summer alive despite the deep-freeze.

Blushing Noir - There is no one more glamorous on YouTube… maybe not even in the world…. than Patrick Starrr. His first collab with MAC Cosmetics is now available and it’s quintessentially Patrick. You’ll need every.single.piece.

(Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)

EauMG is Currently Craving: - What am I not craving right now?! There are so many great deals, gift sets and new products out right now. I know I don’t need anymore eyeshadow palettes, but I’m so tempted by the new Electropop one from Kevyn Aucoin. It looks so creamy and pigmented. ________________________________________________________________________

Brush was sent for review. Post contains affiliate links, like everywhere else on the internet.

Do you always overpack? Bring extras and options that you don't need? It Cosmetics just launched one way to pare down your suitcase! Check out this  Superhero™ 4-in-1 Eye-Transforming Super Shadow and Liner Brush. A nifty sliding "neck" on the brush helps you switch between an all-over shadow brush, a crease brush and a smudging brush with one quick click. Plus, there is a liner/brow brush on the other end. Could this eliminate the need to travel with so many brushes? Maybe.



Let's take a look.

Pros:

• One brush replaces four brushes    
• Fits anywhere, easily 
• Great to keep in your makeup bag or at work for touchups

Cons:

• You have to clean the brush in-between color changes, which can be ultimately annoying, even with a great brush spray cleaner like this one.  
• The brush doesn't really change that much; what changes is the flexibility of the bristles
• Only helps with shadow, not blush or foundation. That would take some kind of magic to combine all of them...

Is it just me or has skincare gotten to be hella confusing lately? Between all of the extra steps (where does the essence go?) and the snake oil, it's no surprise consumers don't know where to begin. Years ago, I was lucky enough to have the chance to chat skincare with Jan Marini, of Jan Marini Skin Research. Since it's been more than five years, I wanted to check back with her, to discuss what trends are important, where ingredients are going and what is going to make me look like a baby.

Gouldylox: How has skincare really changed in the last five years?

Jan Marini: Honestly, it hasn't changed that much. Real efficacy in products can still be hard to find. I still believe that peptides are the way forward to truly younger looking skin. Retinols, glycolic acid and peptides are still some of the most active and effective ingredients on the market. With specially formulated peptides, not only can products reach more deeply into the skin; they can also trick the skin into building more collagen or they can downregulate hormone production and their their effect the skin.

One issue that has become quite a concern for many women is rosacea. While you can manage your rosacea by learning what triggers your skin, we can also use peptides to downregulate how the skin responds to some triggers. We've seen huge success using that kind of advancement in our RosaLieve Redness Reducing Complex. RosaLieve often provides a major reduction in redness, where other treatments may create more inflammation.

GX: Let's discuss loss of volume and if there is any way around injections. Especially around the eyes.  I'm asking for a friend...



JM: Of course. So first things first, you'll never get the same results from a topical that you will from an injectable or procedure. That said, you can use a variety hyaluronic acid, in conjunction with peptides and actually add volume to the skin. Our Hyla3D actually uses tiny hyaluronic acid molecules to create a framework that helps to build 3D volumization in the face. In other words, you can add volume back into the skin. We've got a great library of before and afters on the site - you won't believe the difference!


GX: Other than wearing a sunscreen every day since birth, what is the most important thing a woman approaching middle age should do?

JM: I think you know the answer to this one already. Wearing a sunscreen is your best defense against aging. We know that damage from the sun causes the signs of aging. The skin's best protection from sun damage is actually melanin. People with darker skin have more melanin and can tolerate sun exposure much better than those with pale skin. While some sunscreens feel heavy or unpleasant, we've worked hard to create a sunscreen that not only protects the skin beautifully, with a combination of UVA and UVB filters, but one that also contains phytomelanin, a bio-identical version of melanin. The Jan Marini Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant with SPF 33  will even protect your skin for up to 80 minutes in the water!  You've got to start with a sunscreen or you will never see the results you're hoping for. That's not all you can do. Of course you should drink water. Eat well. Exercise. Effective skin care products can help you balance everything, even if you don't always eat the salad topped with salmon.



GX: While I know it's impossible to pick just one, what product in your line is a true rockstar?

JM: I have to say it's our Bioclear. It just works beautifully for everyone. Aging skin, acenic skin, skin suffering from rosacea can all benefit from Bioclear. It contains glycolic and salicylic acids to help resurface and keep the skin looking clear. The azelaic acid helps reduce redness in the skin with rosacea. We believe Bioclear is so important, we have it in two formulas; a lotion and a gel. The cream is better for dry skin, while the lotion is better for normal to combination skin. Everyone wants smoother skin with clarity and luminosity and this is the product that delivers.

I hope what people understand is that all of these little steps to slow the aging process really do work; the little things add up. But anyone over 50 with a great neck has had surgery - don't let them fool you. 



Jan Marini Skin Research products are available online and in select spas. For those who are new to the JMSR line, check out the Skin Care Management System. You pick your skin type, the preferred type of sunscreen and if you want standard or full-sized products. They take care of the guesswork and you get skin that improves rapidly.

Question of the Week: If beauty products were like Thanksgiving dinner, what’s your gravy? (The product you use with/over EVERYTHING.)

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving Week! I hope it means a short work week, amazing and calorie-free desserts and the sense to keep your mouth shut in front of your mother in law. (Maybe I'm talking about me here...) While I'm most grateful for the best husband, a warm and cozy home and truly wonderful friends, I'd be remiss not to mention the beauty product I'm currently very grateful for. It's the one product I wear every day, no matter what. It goes with everything, which makes it the big dinner equivalent of gravy. My favorite comes in the form of the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder SPF50+. I don't know why more people aren't raving about this. I have never found a pressed powder that delivers such a perfected looking finish. It's almost too perfect. You can wear it lightly on top of your makeup or by itself for a natural, radiant no-makeup-glow. A little goes a long way, so start with a stippling or very fluffy brush so you don't overdo it. I can not be without it. If you grab it right meow from ItCosmetics.com, you can save 25% with code ITFRIEND17.


If you are looking for a sweet deal on skincare that delivers results, use code FALL50 at Your Best Face Skincare. If you are like me and shave your face, you've got to try the Shave Cream for the smoothest skin ever.

  we heart this - There's a Beauty Advent Calendar this holiday season that's $350 in BIG name, full-size products and you can get it for just $88 with free shipping. Go forth and purchase!

Beautygeeks - is talking about fear-mongering marketing, betrayal and a natural-beauty backlash with forbes.com!

Beauty Junkies Unite - Love sneak peeks? So does Amber! Here's a sneak peek of an awesome eyeshadow palette from Urban Decay, Distortion!

Blushing Noir - Love Urban Decay? Love to enter huge giveaways that are open internationally? Then you NEED to check out this massive Urban Decay Giveaway and enter ASAP!

  Clumps of Mascara - Urban Decay Heavy Metals collection has been rockin’ my world. So much so that I did a video all about it.

EauMG - Are you familiar with Houbigant Quelques Fleurs? It’s a little OG floral perfume from the 1910’s. Well, Houbigant has launched an updated classic that I’m smitten with Quelques Fleurs Jardin Secret.

fanserviced-b - I shared my personal holiday wishlist on the blog this week, featuring some info on new at-cost candles and how to score a coveted beauty advent calendar for half price.

Gouldylox - Frizzy hair that soaks up product like a lost wanderer in the desert? THIS may be your issue and I've got the products to fix it.

My Beauty Bunny - has a list of cruelty free beauty brands at Sephora. Bookmark this handy list for holiday shopping!

Phyrra - I'm excited to be sharing my first impressions, swatches, comparison to the Kat Von D Alchemist palette, and 3 eyeshadow looks with the new Urban Decay Distortion Palette!

Prime Beauty - If you're on the fence about the new Urban Decay Heavy Metals Palette, read Prime Beauty's review and check out the swatches!

Realizing Beauty - Can an at home beauty device take on gravity and product visible tightening and wrinkle reducing results? Christa is taking us on a 10 week journey with the Silk'n Titan to find out. Plus there is a chance to enter to win one for yourself!

(Wondering what the Lipstick League is? Find out here.)

we heart this is Currently Craving: The Pat Mcgrath Labs Mothership II Eyeshadow Palette in Sublime. And she asks the Makeup Gods to please relay this information to her husband in time for Xmas...

How porous is your hair? Have you ever even thought about it? I hadn't. Not really. I've been raving about Roux's Rejuvenating Porosity Control and Correct Conditioner for years. Then I fell in love with this new serum from Keune that made my hair go from straight up Wildling to print-ad-luscious. Before I tell you what took my hair from fuzzy, cotton candy to silky and lovely, let's discuss what porosity means.

Essentially, your hairs' porosity relates to how well your hair absorbs moisture. Hair with low porosity has a very tight cuticle and maintaining moisture may be difficult. Hair with high porosity absorbs water, oils and moisture like hungry squirrel. Why is hair so hungry? Because the cuticle is riddled with damage. Here's a fast way to determine the porosity of your own hair:

1. Pluck a clean strand of hair from your head.
2. Drop it in a glass of water.

If it floats and stays on top of the water, the cuticle is sealed and it's hard for moisture to penetrate the hair shaft.

If it sinks, your hair likely resembles Swiss cheese; and would be considered to have a high porosity.

This is my hair (on a good day) in August. Notice, it sticks together, it's "clumpy", it's frizzy and it's not cute.

My hair last night. I don't know what my bangs are doing, but my hair texture is amazing.

So now that you know if you have porosity issues, here are three products that will change everything you hate about your hair. They did for me!



1. Roux's Rejuvenating Porosity Control and Correct Conditioner at Sally Beauty should be your first stop.  Grab this for $11 or less (there is BOGO right now). This won't add a huge amount of moisture, but it will help manage the porosity of your hair.

2. Add a serum to smooth out hair and fill in the gaps. Specifically, Keune's Care Vital Nutrition Porosity Filler is like manna from heaven for my hair. This dramatically changed my hair and I've actually stopped looking to improve my results. I add a little serum to wet hair before I blow dry and after I blow dry. This keeps my hair silky, shiny non-frizzy. Grab the entire Vital Nutrition line if you have really troubling hair. It's not cheap but it's made the biggest difference of anything I've tried. Keune is a salon-only line, so to find the salon closest to you, click here.

3. Every other week, I treat my hair to an extended masque, using SheaMoisture® Mongongo & Hemp Seed Oils High Porosity Moisture-Seal Masque. I got mine at Target, but it should be anywhere that carries the full line of Shea Moisture.

While you are well on your way to maintaining a frizz-free life (or at least starting to win the battle), there is one more thing you should do. Add a little keratin. I use ApHogee® Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor every other week to help fill in those potholes in my cuticle. You do have to be careful not to overdo it with keratin; too much and your hair will break.

I started using the Keune Vital Nutrition Line, along with the products mentioned above in early September. Since then, my hair has changed dramatically. It swings. It moves independently, instead of in a tangled mass of frizz. It doesn't frizz as easily. My styles hold for days instead of hours. Instead of hating my hair, I love it.

Do you have high porosity hair? Let me know what works for you!

It's time to stock up and save on your favorite It Cosmetics products! While they left out a few of my personal favorites, there is no denying that It picked their most popular products to include in this TSV. Here's what is included:


It's CC+ Cream is the gold standard of CC Creams, and possibly, the last one standing, for a very good reason. This foundation covers everything quickly, perfectly and gives you a flawless canvas that won't crease, crack or oxidize. You'll get the original version of the base, not the illuminating version.


Bye Bye Pores Illuminating Finishing Powder will set your look and give you a little bit of a glow. Oh yeah, your pores will be minimized and your face, flawless. Dust this lightly over your finished face and use it to set your concealer. Gorgeous!


Superstar Mascara gives great lashes- thanks in part to the elastic stretch-like performance of the polymers. The formula is rich and a little goes a long way. I prefer to comb out my lashes in-between coats of Superstar. If you have really thin or sparse lashes, this will give you some oomph, just be careful not to overdo it. If you like Better Than Sex or Perversion, you'll love this.


You can never have too many brow pencils, especially when we're talking about It's Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil. This is as holy grail as it gets for thousands of women. The universal taupe shade works for everyone. I keep one in my purse, in my office drawer and on my vanity at all times!


Talk about addictive! The Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment is a must-have for winter lips. Plus, you'll get a sweet flush of color.


Of course, no It Cosmetics TSV would be complete without a fabulous new brush. This TSV includes the new Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Foundation Globe Brush, designed to give you a perfected, airbrushed finish. Good globe brushes are hard to find!

Of course, I wish they had included the Confidence Cream, which has been my go-to daytime moisturizer for over a year, along with the Confidence In An Eye Cream. But that's just because it's time for me to stock up on both!

Grab your shade and get one for a friend - this kit will make a fantastic gift!

As the holidays approach, the offerings are insane. Matte lips are not your only option, Huda Beauty is killing it, Fenty isn't for everyone and yes Virginia, you do need a hairdryer with an unlimited number of speeds and heat settings. Ready? Let's dive into what's good this November.

that liner tho...

10. Fenty Beauty: I haven't seen a launch that connected with so many feelings in forever. I love the idea of a softer, metallic look without all of the face shaping and liners. Alien Bae is my new BFF when it comes to liner that slays. Something about that blue black color makes my blue eyes look so intense. The foundation (don't hate the messenger) oxidized like a orange on my face. It didn't matter what primer I used, it went orange. I loved the liner Alien Bae and the lipstick, Supernova.


9. While only news to me, the Clarisonic Foundation Brush Head is the greatest invention and you need it. Flawless foundation is yours in less than the time it takes to wash part of your face. Seriously - grab it now.


8. The Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette is beautiful; think lush tones, shimmering shades and glorious glitters. The texture is creamy and the only shade I've had issues with is the mega-chunky russet glitter, Cosmo.


7. I'm so happy about the new Too Faced Melted Latex Lips that skip the matte look. Who are these li'l darlings that can wear matte everything without looking like a wrinkly raisin? I'm not one of them, so the High Shine Latex Lips are long wearing, a little sticky, and perfect for me. Personally, I love  Peekaboo, a light pink that doesn't make your teeth look yellow, which is my main problem with those ultra-light pink shades.


6. I've been showing off my shadow a lot more since I invested in these brushes that allow me to look like I'm a way better artist than I actually am. Try this brush from Sephora and tell me your shadow doesn't look 40% better. I dare you. Even if you think you can't apply shadow, this brush fixes everything. Grab the Pro Drawing Blending Brush and show me your improved pics!


5. I'm not really a gloss snob, but this gloss from Glamour Dolls continues to be one of my favorite lippies to take anywhere. This shade, Mood Ring, is like a Kylie nude or a rosewood shade (if you were alive in the 80's and bought lipstick, you know all about the color rosewood). It's beautiful, it feels super luxe and costs less than your pumpkin spice frappe.


4. It Cosmetics CC+ Cream is really awesome athleisure wear for your face. It looks like you tried way harder than you did, holds up in you exercise moderately and is as comfortable as wearing pajamas. Not sure if the coverage can really be that good? Check out my before and after!


3. ZO Medical and I have a storied past. I tried their Brightenex, a very strong topical that evens out skintone and my skin freaked the frack out. You can read about it here. My derm suggested I try one of their newer products, Melamix, to help fade dark spots that crept up when I was ignoring my own SPF rules. This seems to be working quickly, without the irritation. You'll need to see your derm, though; this product requires a prescription.


2. Too Faced Just Peachy Velvet Matte Eyeshadow Palette. The colors are just too pretty to pass up. Think you don't need a bright peach matte crease? Honestly, you're just wrong. Wait until you see how it makes your eyes pop.



1. The 8thSense Hairdryer by Elchim is the dryer that will make your stylist jealous. Forget that Dyson, it's not as quiet as you think it's going to be. The 8thSense has an unlimited number of heat and air settings, which mean you can take your styling in new directions with the same tool. It's gentle, it's tough, it doesn't weigh much, it's very quiet and it is glorious.

All of these make lovely gifts, too. Just sayin'.