fave products // r&co. haircare products

R+Co. haircare products // shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo & volume spray

I know a lot of people out there must be missing their hair colorists and hair stylists during the quarantine, am I right? To be honest, the break is likely a welcome one for my hair. It’s definitely enjoying the break from being constantly teased and curled and spritzed on set at photoshoots… But one thing’s for sure is my balayage highlights have definitely been growing out. Luckily, my colorist (Dana Ionato at Sally Hershberger Salon in NYC!) is awesome, and when hand-painting the highlights on my hair, she intentionally leaves some darkness at the root, which creates a nice contract and gives the overall look some depth. It also helps it not to look so “omg I need my roots done ASAP” once the color starts to grow out.

To that end, I’ve found investing in some high quality hair products to be of the utmost important. Enter R+Co. I’ve had many of their products used on my hair during photoshoots over the years, and am always really pleased with the results. I used to wash my hair every. single. day. Crazy right? I thought I had to otherwise it would get oily, but to be frank, I was probably just fueling the fire. Now I only wash every few days, and lately I’ve been reaching for the R+Co Sunset Blvd Daily Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner. This particular set is great for color-treated blondes (especially when a certain pandemic is keeping you from your would-be touch-up appointment!)- it works to keep your blonde bright and helps prevent those yucky brassy tones. I also really love their Television Perfect Hair Shampoo & Conditioner, which is great for all hair types, and leaves you with clean, shiny, silky hair, and zero build-up!

In between washes, I’ve been spritzing with the R+Co Spiritualized Dry Shampoo Mist, and it definitely helps buy me that extra day (or two) without feeling like I need to cover up with a hat. The micellar-based formula thankfully doesn’t leave a powdery residue like many dry shampoos, and it even helps relieve itchiness! Whenever I want a lil va-va-voom in the hair department, I go for the R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray. It’s a great way to add texture, shine, and volume (duh) in a lightweight spray that won’t weigh down those locks. I’ll admit, I’m not the best hair stylist by any means, but the Balloon Dry Volume Spray helps me achieve that slightly messy, textured ‘do that I love! PS- many of their products come in travel size versions, making them great for tossing into your suitcase or gym bag! A big plus (in my book at least) is that R+Co products are vegan & cruelty-free, as well as free from parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and petroleum! No need for any of that on your scalp, so close to the brain, in my opinion…. If you’re looking to change it up in the hair category, I definitely recommend checking out R+Co!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


sephora spring savings event 2020- my picks!

A couple times a year, Sephora gifts us with savings events that are basically a beauty junkie’s Christmas! If you hadn’t heard, their Spring Savings Event is happening right now and ends officially on Friday, May 1. It’s an amazing event and the perfect opportunity to stock up on not only your favorite skincare essentials, but consider pulling the trigger on products you’ve been eyeing for a while. After all, with this quarantine lasting until who-knows-when, we have all the time in the world to play with products at home!

In case you aren’t exactly sure how the Sephora sale works, here’s my breakdown. 

There are three tiers for Sephora members: Rouge, VIB, and Beauty Insider. 

  • Rouge members have spent over $1,000 with Sephora and had first access to the sale starting Friday, April 17 and receive 20% off their order.

  • VIB members have spent over $350 and began shopping Tuesday, April 21 for 15% off their order.

  • Beauty Insiders were granted access Thursday, April 23 and receive 10% off their order. There is no dollar amount you have to spend to get Beauty Insider membership! Sign up is free and fast, and you can immediately start shopping. 

Most importantly, you’ll need the promo code no matter which tier you belong to: SPRINGSAVE

With all that in mind, I wanted to share the 9 products that I’ve re-stocked since the Sephora sale began. From skincare to haircare, these are the brands and products I love and trust most when it comes to taking care of myself no matter the season.

TATA HARPER

Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil With Vitamin A

I love a Retinol. Truth be told, not being able to use this Retinoic Face Oil from Tata Harper during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is hard (to read more about anti-aging products to avoid during pregnancy, read this). I love this particular face oil because, although it’s retinol-powered, the oil and added vitamin A keep it hydrating and extra gentle on your skin. So many retinols can be drying or cause irritation, and this doesn’t. Looking forward to getting it back in the rotation!

 BIOSSANCE

Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil

Biossance has a cult following for a reason. Its main ingredient in most of its products, Squalane, is a 100% natural, plant-derived moisturizer that is gentle on all skin types. This particular oil is both clarifying and balancing for the skin. I’ve noticed it helps me most with breakouts and redness and is great when it’s that time of the month and your skin is getting a little too hormonal!

SUNDAY RILEY

C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil

Another cult classic in terms of face oil is the C.E.O Glow Face Oil from Sunday Riley. Vitamin C is a hero when it comes to anti-aging and that, mixed with the calming effects of Turmeric make this product one of my all-time favorites. This oil does it all: brightens, hydrates, and leaves skin with an unmistakable glow, which we could all use more of nowadays.

DRUNK ELEPHANT

T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial™ 25% AHA + 2% BHA Mask

I love my spa visits as much as the next girl, but there’s no telling when we’ll be able to go back to relying on an expert to pamper us. The importance of at-home self care has become even more vital to me over the last month or so to feel some sense of normalcy and calm. I love Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial for this reason. It truly is as close to a facial in a bottle as you can get! Apply it once a week for 20 min and watch in awe as your skin is suddenly glowing again. It has almost 5 stars and over 2.1K reviews on Sephora for a reason!

 SUPERGOOP!

PLAY 100% Mineral Broad Spectrum Lotion SPF 50

Speaking of treating your skin, just because you’re not taking a beach vacation anytime soon doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be protecting your skin via SPF daily. I swear by this Supergoop! 100% mineral, broad spectrum SPF lotion. Because it’s mineral based, it’s much less irritating making it ideal for sensitive skin. You can use it all over—on both your face and body—and you should! Have I mentioned how important SPF is?

ILIA

Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation

Speaking of SPF, ILIA is quickly becoming a new favorite in clean beauty for me. I wrote about the brand back in January, and I’ve since added another product to my arsenal: the Super Serum Skin Tint Foundation with SPF 40. This is the perfect option for springtime into the summer months. When it’s warm outside, the last thing you want to do is apply a heavy foundation to your face. This ILIA Skin Tint is lightweight and gives you a dewy finish thanks in part to its serum and hyaluronic acid! Plus, the SPF is perfect for every day, but especially pool or beach days.

MILK MAKEUP

KUSH High Volume Mascara

Another essential for spring and summer days when minimal makeup is what you’re going for is a great mascara. I love the KUSH High Volume Mascara from Milk Makeup. It’s volumizing without looking clumpy (huge plus) and is 100% vegan! Plus, the hemp-derived cannabis seed oil simultaneously conditions your lashes while thickening them. Just a few coats of this is all it takes to look and feel glam with minimal effort.

OLAPLEX

Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3

If you haven’t seen or heard of Olaplex, you must not be active anywhere on social media because this line of products is everywhere and for good reason. With a team of legitimate scientists and industry experts behind Olaplex, their hair care product delivers serious results. I love the Hair Perfector No. 3 the most. It isn’t a leave-in conditioner; the No. 3 is a concentrated hair treatment that reinforces and strengthens all types of hair. Personally, I’ve found it’s great for color-treated blondes. By applying it for at least 10 min once a week (or more for severely damaged hair), it works to repair breakage and general hair damage.

SLIP

Silk Sleepmask

Lastly, to really round out the list of ultimate treat yourself Sephora skincare, I love this silk sleepmask by Slip. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase has proven to do wonders for haircare, and this sleepmask promises the same for your skin. Friction from tossing and turning can cause you to wake up with those oh-so-attractive “sleep lines,” but treating yourself to this mask made from the highest grade mulberry silk will prevent that and so much more. It’s one-size-fits-all and available in 8 different colors and patterns to fit your exact sleeping beauty personality, not to mention it’s hypoallergenic. It’s the small luxuries like this mask that are carrying me through quarantine, so I hope you’ll treat yourself to one, too!

Bonus Splurge!

DR. BARBARA STURM

Super Anti-Aging Serum

I somehow (?!) didn’t know Dr. Barbara Sturm products were carried at Sephora until now, but boy am I glad I do! With a background in anti-inflammatory medicine, Dr. Sturm focuses on non-aggressive natural extracts and scientifically-proven ingredients to treat the skin from within. Her super anti-aging serum is packed with antioxidants like purslane and skullcap to promote skin rejuvenation, leaving you with a firm, youthful complexion. Yes please!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // innersense hair products

I’ve talked a lot on here about natural, organic skincare products, which are obviously super important to me. But what about that same level of quality for the products that go in your hair?! Enter Innersense Organic Beauty, an organic haircare brand using clean, natural ingredients making products for all hair types. I’ve been testing out their Hydrating Cream Hairbath & Hydrating Cream Conditioner, as well as the Refresh Dry Shampoo, I Create Waves Salt Spray, and Harmonic Healing Oil, and so far I’m really loving everything! Sometimes with products that are “too natural” I feel like my hair doesn’t even get clean, or looks greasy soon after a wash. But with the Innersense shampoo, I get just the right amount of “suds”, with no leftover residue after rinsing. I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical of the dry shampoo before I tried it- a foam to powder formulation with a pump dispenser? I’m used to the more standard spray models. But I was pleasantly surprised that the tapioca starch and witch hazel help eliminate oil while giving my second (or third?) day hair that extra oomph it really needs. Now, whenever I want to fake that Cali beach babe hair, I’ve been grabbing the salt spray, and I love the subtle texture it creates without leaving my hair dry and crunchy. Just spritz, scrunge, and go! I love using the healing oil on my ends post-shower. It’s super hydrating thanks to a blend of emollient oils and flower essences (& smells great to boot!). It even makes for a soothing scalp and nail treatment as well. What’s better is that all Innersense products are formulated without any of those nasty ingredients (think phthalates, sulfates, silicones, parabens, artificial dyes & synthetic fragrances), and are all cruelty-free and non-GMO! No matter your hair type, there’s a product for you in this lineup, so I highly recommend you check them out soon!


 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // love beauty and planet coconut oil & ylang ylang shampoo & conditioner

There’s just something that feels right about supporting companies who do good, both for your own body as well as Mother Earth. Love Beauty & Planet is all about small acts of love that make you and our planet a little more beautiful every day! I’ve been trying out some of their newly launched shampoos, conditioners, and body washes, and so far I’m really impressed! Sometimes products that are too “all natural” don’t seem very effective, but I can tell you that’s definitely not the case. LBP offers six unique collections, each infused with signature natural ingredients. I’m partial to the Hope and Repair line made with organic coconut oil and ylang ylang- it’s the perfect treatment for damaged hair! Their conditioners even uses something called fast-rinse technology, which helps keep your hair tangle free and not weighed down, allowing you to cut down on rinse and overall shower time!

Ethically sourced oils and extracts (like French heirloom lavender!) are used as opposed to irritating synthetic fragrances. In addition, their labels separate easily so that the bottles are easily reused, and all their bottles come from 100% recycled plastic! Talk about a commitment to doing good for our planet! Even better, Love Beauty & Planet has formed planet-focused partnerships that help fund environmental changemakers as well as programs that help reduce carbon emissions. Good for me and the planet- what could be better? Safe to say I’m a total LBP fan, and I plan to check out their dry shampoos next!

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // shu uemura essence absolue nourishing protective oil

shu uemura hair oil2.JPG

Working as a model, my hair goes through a lot. With all the products and hot tools used when I'm on set, it's important for me to take steps to repair and rehydrate it whenever possible. There are several great, high-quality hair oils out there, and I'll switch mine up from time to time. Recently, however, I've been loving Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil thanks to its lightweight and non-greasy formula, which is ideal for my fine, blonde hair. There's nothing worse than trying to hydrate your locks, but ending up with an oil-slicked head of hair. I like to use it as a leave-in conditioning serum, both on wet and dry hair, and it really has improved the quality of my hair. Not to mention it helps protect your hair from any hot tools you may be about to use for styling purposes! Essence Absolue leaves me with just the right amount of silky shine, while giving life to my dry and damaged ends. A little goes a long way, so use sparingly, and it'll last you a good, long while!


fave products // nutrafol supplement

My hair has been through a lot. From the chic platinum blonde pixie cut I rocked for a while, to the (almost) daily styling with hot tools and products on set, its strength is definitely put to the test. While I consider my hair to be in pretty great condition, all things considered, I have been noticing some light breakage at the front/center of my head (where my hair parts) as well as near the crown. I personally try not to use any damaging tools or products on my hair, and make it a point to always hydrate with a nourishing oil. Due to the nature of my work, however, it's impossible to completely avoid the culprits. That's where Nutrafol comes in. My hair colorist introduced me to this natural, drug-free hair supplement a while back, and it's a true game changer. Nutrafol works to: 1) Rebalance- helps rebalance harmful levels of stress hormones to reduce follicle damage; 2) Repair- supports hair follicle restoration & helps reduce micro-inflammation; 3) Revitalize- helps revive follicles, increase scalp circulation, & improve follicle function; and 4) Regrow- supports your hair's growth cycle & helps you grow healthier hair. Change doesn't happen overnight, but trust me- if you stick with it, you'll notice a dramatic difference in the quality of your hair. By using the beneficial properties of potent therapeutic plant botanicals (like ashwagandha, biocircumin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid), Nutrafol is able to achieve what vitamins & minerals alone are not: your strongest, fullest, and healthiest hair!