You’ll Love Fall Most of All With These Autumn-Ready Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Finds!
To quote Betty Caruso and Jodi Deitz (Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph’s characters in their now-iconic “Bronx Beat” skit for Saturday Night Live), we’re officially in the midst of “sweater weather.” From pumpkin patches and hayrides to colorful foliage, freshly baked apple pies, cron mazes, pumpkin spice lattes, and bonfires and s’mores, autumn has a plethora of delights in store for us. To help you look and feel like the cutest apple in the orchard, check out these great beauty, fashion, and lifestyle finds — all of which I shared on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin.”
Make sure to watch the segment here and keep reading for my fall essentials!
OLAY REGENERIST ULTRA RICH MOISTURIZER
Conditions associated with autumn and winter —among them lower humidity levels, frigid gusts of wind, hot showers, and indoor heating — can all have a damaging effect on the skin’s moisture barrier, leading to cracks in the outer layer and, in turn, loss of hydration and inflammation. If your skin tends to feel dry, itchy, or tight during autumn, it may very well be a result of a compromised skin barrier.
To give your complexion the hydration it craves, all while reinforcing its own defense system, check out the new new Olay Regenerist Ultra Rich Moisturizer ($30 at Olay.com), the latest addition to the Olay Regenerist collection. Formulated with a special shea butter blend, this moisturizer feels rich, luxurious, creamy and indulgent as you apply it onto skin and yet skin drinks it right up, so that your complexion will never feels greasy or look shiny.
In addition to that special shea butter blend, the Olay Regenerist Ultra Rich is formulated with: Vitamin B3, which strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier and helps to lock in hydration; peptides that improve skin’s smoothness and firmness, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; and glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which help skin stay hydrated and appear dewier and bouncier.
LOUM BEAUTY OF CALM RENEW & BRIGHTEN POLISHING MINIFACIAL
Stress can adversely affect our bodies and moods, leading to everything from headaches and muscle tension to irritability, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and more. But did you know stress can also impact our skin’s health? See, whenever we feel stressed, our bodies go into fight-or-flight mode: in response to a perceived threat, our bodies release chemicals that, in turn, cause inflammation. This inflammation can manifest itself in a number of ways including acne flare-ups (often the result of increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, leading to higher oil production), dehydration (often the result of increased sweating due to higher adrenaline and cortisol levels), and eczema and psoriasis flare-ups.
Sure, you can exercise, meditate, and eat a healthy and balanced diet, but surely there has to be a skincare line that can help you soothe stressed-out skin in a more direct and efficient manner, right? Well, there certainly is! Meet LOUM Beauty of Calm, a clean skincare line formulated with the guidance of a leading Psycho-Dermatologist, who is an expert in the mind-skin connection. Co-owned by Daphne Oz, LOUM Beauty of Calm specializes in products that help mitigate the effects of stress and burnout on skin.
To keep your skin centered and glowing, check out the new LOUM Beauty of Calm Renew & Brighten Polishing Minifacial ($60 at LOUMbeauty.com). This gentle, multi-tasking minifacial helps to revitalize skin, gently polishing off dull and dead skin cells to reveal a smoother and brighter complexion while simultaneously helping to speed up cellular regeneration, thereby helping to fend off aging signs such as uneven skin tone and fine lines and wrinkles.
The Vegan Society and Leaping Bunny certified formula contains clean ingredients such as: soothing chamomile and grape seed extracts. which are rich in vitamins C and E and help to promote cellular regeneration; pumpkin enzymes, which contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that polish off dead skin cells and promote collagen synthesis; and the brand’s unique TriSerene Complex, which combines 50mg of CBD with marine micro-algae and wild indigo extract to minimize and reverse visible signs of stress on skin.
No7 ADVANCED RETINOL 1.5% COMPLEX NIGHT CONCENTRATE
Fall is a time of renewal, so why not give your complexion a reboot? Since our skin repairs and regenerates at a much faster speed during the night time and the nights are now longer in autumn, this is the perfect time to maximize your beauty sleep. How can you go about doing that? Well, start by using a powerful skincare product designed to further aid the natural skin-renewal process by stimulating collagen synthesis, increasing cellular turnover, promoting exfoliation, and so on. My choice these days is the No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5 % Complex Night Concentrate ($39.99 at ULTA and ULTA.com or $36.99 at Walgreens and Walgreens.com), a powerful skin-rebooting product that combines two of the most effective age-defying ingredients: peptides and retinol.
Retinol, a form of vitamin A, has long been hailed for its ability to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture and skin density, clarify acne breakouts, reduce pore size, and enhance radiance. But, since retinol could sometimes lead to redness, flakiness, dryness and irritation — and, as a result, it got a bad rap for a while. Nowadays, however, consumers are embracing retinol once more. These days, scientists and dermatologists know much more about retinol — including the optimal potency in a topical formula, as well as the soothing ingredients that can best accompany retinol to prevent any irritation — and hence the retinol-packed formulas that are currently hitting shelves are designed to deliver all the benefits we associate with retinol without any inflammation, redness, or dryness.
The No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate is a shining example of a retinol-packed product that will visibly transform skin. The formula consists of 0.3% pure retinol — which is the expert-recommended optimal percentage of retinol for both efficacy and comfort. Moreover, the retinol in the formula is encapsulated in a lipid core, which allows it to gradually release into the skin over the course of the night.
Between the formula’s 0.3% retinol level and that slow-release delivery system, you get to reap all the benefits of this anti-aging ingredient with minimal to no irritation. With regular use, then, you’ll see reduced fine lines and wrinkles, a brighter skin tone, a more even-toned complexion, more refined pores, a smoother and softer texture, and a more taut and lifted appearance.
MAYBELLINE NEW YORK SUPERSTAY COFFEE EDITION
Do you want someone to look at you the way you look at your morning cup of coffee? Well, they just might if you treat your pout to one of the shades in the Maybelline New York SuperStay Coffee Edition. This limited-edition collection of richly blended, coffee-house inspired SuperStay Matte Ink and SuperStay 24 lipsticks is absolutely brew-tiful. If, like me, you need a strong cup of coffee and a bold lip before you feel ready to conquer the day, you will absolutely adore this collection of stunning nude and brown hues.
The SuperStay Coffee Edition is comprised of 10 super saturated lipstick hues: 5 shades of SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick (Mocha Inventor, Caramel Collector, Hazelnut Hypnotizer, Chai Genius, and Cocoa Connoisseur) and 5 shades of SuperStay 24. 2-Step Liquid Lipstick (Hushed Hazelnut, Mocha Moves, Chai Once More, Caramel Crush and Mocha Chocolatte).Not only are the shades bold, confident, and versatile, but the lipstick formulas are long-wearing and mask-resistant.
And get this, fellow coffee lovers: each lipstick has its own unique scent, which corresponds with its name! They say coffee smells like a big warm hug, and these lipsticks have scents that are just as comforting and inviting.
The SuperStay Matte Ink Coffee Edition shades are $9.49 each at mass retailers, while the SuperStay 24 Coffee Edition shades are $10.49 each. Visit Maybelline.com for more details and to find a retailer near you!
CLAIROL PROFESSIONAL SHIMMER LIGHTS PRODUCTS
Heidi Klum once said that “going blonde is like buying yourself a light bulb.” To keep that light shining bright all through fall, check out the Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights line, which is designed to help extend the life of your blonde hair between salon appointments, helping it remain shiny, healthy, and brass-free.
Known for its classic purple shampoo, the iconic Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights collection just unveiled three new products, all boasting the same blonde- and gray-enhancing results you know and love.
In addition to toning strands, these products nourish hair, amp up shine, lock in moisture, and much more. The Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Violet Toning Mask ($10.99 at ULTA and ULTA.com), for instance, features violet pigments that neutralize brassiness, plus it conditions, detangles, and smooths strands with a blend of lavender extract and jojoba, coconut and argan oils. The Shimmer Lights Leave-in Styling Treatment ($11.99 at ULTA and ULTA.com), meanwhile, restores lost moisture thanks to botanical extracts like safflower seed oil, evening primrose oil, and babassu oil, leaving hair looking and feeling silky, shiny and healthy. Lastly, the Shimmer Lights Thermal Shine Spray ($9.99 at ULTA and ULTA.com), provides protection against heat damage while adding color-enhancing shine.
With these Shimmer Lights products, your blonde hair will be shining as bright as you are!
BELLEFIXE HAIR ACESSORIES
Heather Chandler, Heather Duke, and Heather McNamara had their color-coded scrunchies in the cult classic Heathers. Blair Waldorf had her vast collection of headbands in The CW’s hit series Gossip Girl. And, in Netflix’s Spanish language series Elite, Lucrecia “Lu” Montesinos has adorned her school uniform and party outfits with everything from pearl-studded and polka dot print headbands to jeweled hair pins, floral crowns, and Art-Deco inspired head wraps. The wisdom all the most stylish characters in TV and film share is clear: the right hair accessories will infuse just the right amount of personality, glamour, charm, and drama into any look.
To follow in the footsteps of these memorable characters, level up your fashion game with some help from Bellefixe, a brand new, women-owned hair accessory company that offers on-trend designs monthly for all hair types and textures. Cost-conscious fashionistas will find premium affordable pieces that are pretty and practical, with prices ranging from $8 to $18.
There are always new designs being unveiled online at Bellefixe.com. Right now, I’m crushing on the brand’s Safari collection, which includes everything from scrunchies to braided headbands, turban headwraps, and hair scarves in funky leopard, snakeskin, and zebra prints. I wore the Safari Collection snakeskin Turban Headwrap ($15 at Bellefixe.com) to complement my Alexia Admor dress on air, and I loved the eclectic vibe it added to the look!
And, with the holidays coming up, you can jazz up any party outfit with the new Cocktail collection, which includes hair pins, barrettes, headbands, and more in beautiful shades inspired by rosé, prosecco, and more. My favorite pieces in that collection include the Rosé Collection Turban Headwrap shown above, which has a gorgeous sheen to it, and the Rosé Collection Gemstone Pin Set pictured above. They’re just $15 each at Bellefixe.com!
CELSIUS HEALTHY ENERGY DRINK
In places like Minnesota and Maine, folks are bound to hibernate come winter due to the brutal cold and heavy snow but, here in central Texas, we tend to do most of our staying indoors during the height of the summer season, when the sweltering heat and stifling humidity make it near-impossible to remain outdoors for extended periods of time without seeking refuge in an air-conditioned sanctuary. If you love working out in the great outdoors — be it hiking, cycling, jogging, or doing yoga in your backyard — then you know first-hand that squeezing in a great sweat session can be more of a challenge in the summer months here in the South. Between work schedules, kids being out of school, and the uncooperative weather conditions, it’s easy to put your fitness routine on hold during summer.
Now that fall is here and the temperatures have dropped significantly, it’s officially time to get back into a routine and recommit to leading a more active lifestyle. And to help you crush every workout and make the most of your calorie-burning session, you can reach for CELSIUS, a healthy energy drink with thermogenic properties that’s clinically proven to accelerate metabolism, burn fat and calories, boost endurance and help build lean body muscle.
Unlike traditional energy drinks, there’s no crash or jitters. Instead, CELSIUS provides sustained energy via a MetaPlus blend comprised of ginger root, guarana seed extract, 7 essential vitamins, and green tea extract with a specific ratio of EGCG — all of which work together to turn on thermogenesis, a process that boosts the body’s metabolic rate. Made with healthy ingredients, CELSIUS contains zero sugar, no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, no aspartame, and no high fructose corn syrup. It’s also non-GMO, vegan and kosher.
As a fitness enthusiast, I know first-hand that CELSIUS can help you power through even the most grueling workout — and the delicious flavor options make this my go-to pre-workout drink. One of my absolute favorite flavors, the crisp and refreshing Sparkling Fiji Apple Pear, was just reintroduced for autumn, but I’m also still loving the limited-edition Peach Vibe flavor that launched this past summer.
To try CELSIUS, visit Amazon.com or check out your local Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, and grocery store.
