Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Picks To Help You Thrive This Spring — As Seen On CBS Austin
Check out my favorite finds to help you update your wardrobe, streamline your skincare and makeup routines, protect your hair from intensifying UV rays, and more! Make sure to check out my latest segment on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” to learn about my curated list of must-have spring finds and continue reading to learn even more about the items and services discussed on air.
Hair Proud All Inclusive 5 in 1 Protection Milk & Glass Hair Heat Activated Smoothing Shine Spray
Thanks to our growing understanding of the harmful effects of tanning (and of prolonged UV exposure as a whole), most of us are disciplined about applying sunscreen regularly — particularly as the temperatures rise and UV rays intensify. We often, however, forget about how heat and UV rays can adversely affect our strands. To protect and nourish your hair this spring, check out these two multi-tasking products from Hair Proud, a new line of clean, vegan, and cruelty-free hair products formulated using skincare-inspired active ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and squalane.
My personal favorite is the Hair Proud All Inclusive 5-in-1 Protection Milk ($8.94 at Walmart and Walmart.com) is a multi-tasking, leave-in spray that hydrates, detangles, smooths, and adds shine — all while protecting hair against heat damage from styling tools and UV rays. The formula contains a Protein Complex that combines It hydrolysed wheat protein and niacinamide to fortify strands, combat the effects of heat styling, and reduce breakage. Moreover, the formula contains antioxidant-rich raspberry and papaya extracts to keep hair healthy and shiny, along with hydrating and nourishing coconut, sunflower, and grape oils.
And if you’re looking to don a slicked-back ponytail or a sleek bob, you’ll want to scoop the TikTok famous Glass Hair Heat Activated Smoothing Shine Spray ($8.94 at Walmart and Walmart.com). This heat-activated spray features an Encapsulated Shine Complex comprised of specially selected lightweight silicones that deliver next-level, non-greasy, weightless shine. You can enjoy a mirror-like sheen without your strands looking limp or weighed down, and the formula gives your hairstyle a waterproof finish so it can look smooth, shiny, and frizz-free for longer.
In addition to its luster-boosting prowess, the spray contains scalp- and hair-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid to maintain optimal moisture levels, and pomegranate and ginseng extracts to nourish, protect and energize the scalp and hair.
Alleyoop Game Face Second Skin Concealer and Sunsational SPF 50 Skin Tint
Tired of spending money on 7 different skincare products and 20 makeup items just to pull off an “effortlessly pretty” look? I’ve got you covered! To streamline your skincare and makeup routines this season, you’ll want to rely on multi-tasking products that can perform multiple functions at once. Beauty brand Alleyoop has mastered the art of creating truly efficient, multi-functional, jack-of-all-trades products that save you time and money (and also free up space in your makeup bag and/or travel bag!).
You’ve likely seen Alleyoop pop up on your social media feeds thanks to viral beauty products like the Multi Tasker, a 4-in-1 brush that contains 4 different makeup applicators (a blending sponge, an angled blush brush, a flat brow brush, and an eyeshadow brush) or the travel-friendly Stack The Odds, which contains a cream blush, bronzer and highlighter in one stackable and super lightweight compact.
This season, Alleyoop is fusing together skincare and makeup with groundbreaking launches like the new Alleyoop Game Face concealer ($25 on MeetAlleyoop.com), which features a crease-proof, medium-coverage formula that goes on like a second skin. Available in 12 shades, the Game Face concealer is infused with rosehip oil and sea buckthorn oil to moisturize, soften and smooth skin, as well as aloe stem cell extract, which has anti-inflammatory properties and help to alleviate redness and dryness.
Alleyoop also just launched a new sunscreen: the Sunsational SPF 50 Skin Tint with Niacinamide ($30 on MeetAlleyoop.com), featuring a reef-safe, mineral-based formula that enriched with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide and jojoba esters. This SPF features non-nano particles that protect the surface of the skin without sinking into it (or ending up polluting the ocean). Moreover, the formula features a light tint to rev up skin’s radiance and even out skin tone, and it’s available in 12 flexible shades.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation & New Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
The “clean girl aesthetic” that became a huge beauty trend on TikTok last year is still going strong, and at the core of the look is an emphasis on natural-looking foundation and concealer that creates a fresh-faced and dewy effect. It’s very similar to the “no-makeup makeup” look that preceded it, but it’s more honest, involving fewer products and fewer steps. In other words, with the “clean girl” look, the goal is for skin to look like, well, skin. The key, then, is finding the right foundation and concealer to enhance your complexion while providing natural-looking coverage. And that’s precisely what you can achieve with the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation and Concealer.
The Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation ($49 on CharlotteTilbury.com) is a buildable, medium-coverage, long-lasting foundation that’s infused with a skin-brightening rose complex and hydrating hyaluronic acid, as well as Bix’Activ (a natural ingredient obtained from Bixa orellana seeds) that helps to regulate oil production and minimize pore size, and coconut extract to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. The formula, then, immediately revitalizes and illuminates the complexion, plumping and smoothing skin so that the foundation can look its very best. Moreover, the skincare ingredients in the formula offer long-term benefits that go well beyond the duration of foundation wear. It’s available in 30 shades, so the range is quite expansive and includes options for all skin tones,
And to tackle everything from dark circles to blemishes, pick up the new Beautiful Skin Concealer ($33 on CharlotteTilbury.com). Available in 30 shades, this hydrating, long-lasting concealer delivers buildable, medium coverage. Plus it’s infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, radiance-boosting golden vitamin C and pore-refining niacinamide to smooth, brighten, and lift. These skincare ingredients help to extend your concealer’s wear time, prevent cracking and creasing, and keep your skin looking stunning.
To find your perfect foundation and concealer match, visit CharlotteTilbury.com and use the Pro Shade Match Tool.
QMS Medicosmetics Collagen Top To Toe Treatment
We tend to think of our pantries, closets, and garages when we hear the term “spring cleaning,” but this is also an optimal season to detox skin and give it a true reset. For a head-to-toe skin transformation, turn to German skincare brand QMS Medicosmetics. Its medical-grade, clinically-proven, high-performance skincare products are formulated with 97% skin-identical collagen and hyaluronic acid for optimal results.
Not only does QMS Medicosmetics offer an extensive line of facial and body care products, many of which are available at luxury spas across the country, but the brand has even developed customizable treatments for these wellness destinations.
At the Lost Pines Spa at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort, located just outside of Austin, you can enjoy the QMS Collagen Top To Toe Treatment, a 2-hour, customized, ultra-luxurious facial and body treatment that energizes and transforms skin. Your esthetician will combine techniques from lifting and contouring face massage to facial treatment masks that warm, cool, and activate, leaving your complexion rejuvenated and glowing. The heavenly treatment concludes with the application of the Top To Toe Body Foam Exfoliant followed by the Collagen Firming Finishing Cream.
Visit QMSMedicosmetics.com or LostPinesResortandSpa.com for details!
Samii Ryan Spring 2023 Collection
From bucket hats and claw clips to cargo pants, slip dresses, baby tees, baggy jeans, and track jackets, ’90s-inspired fashion is making a huge comeback in 2023 — and we are here for it! The key, of course, is making sure that the ’90s-flavored elements still feel modern and fresh — and that’s where women’s streetwear and lifestyle brand Samii Ryan truly excels. The Los Angeles-based brand offers unique, playful and uplifting pieces that nod to the ’90s via pastel colors, oversize silhouettes, logo-heavy designs, and lively graphics, and yet they all have an effortlessly cool vibe that says, “I know how to be comfortable and keep it cute.”
Just check out the Icon Track Jacket ($94 at BySamiiRyan.com) and Icon Track Pants ($92 at BySamiiRyan.com), both of which feature a comfortable silhouette and an all-over logo print in a white and lilac pink color scheme. The Smiley Rainbow Baby Tee ($94 at BySamiiRyan.com) is yet another must-have with its smiley face graphics and colorful contrast stitching accents. Like many of the brand’s designs, this cropped T-shirt incorporates words and phrases meant to inspire and motivate, such as “Think positive every day” and “Manifest your energy.”
In fact, kindness, positivity, and self-love are the brand’s core values, and they shine through in many of the pieces, among them a T-shirt bearing the phrase, “I hope something good happens to you today” and a pair of sweatpants with the phrase, “We are all endlessly evolving.” No wonder celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Halsey, and Saweetie love rocking the brand!
You can find Samii Ryan at BySamiiRyan.com and major retailers like Nordstrom, Revolve, and PacSun.
Teva Sports Sandals & New Closed-Toe Styles
The world is yours to explore, so go ahead and do so! But first, make sure to pick the right shoes for your adventures. Teva’s shoes — particularly its iconic sports sandals —have a long history of bringing free-spirited people together around their shared love of the outdoors.
Not only are Teva’s footwear offerings perfect for a variety of outdoor activities — from day hikes to kayaking and boating excursions, trips to the beach, and camping adventures — but their eco-friendly construction speaks to the brand’s commitment to preserving the beauty of nature so that future generations can, in turn, also come together and enjoy the great outdoors.
Teva’s sports sandals, for instance, feature quick-dry straps made from 100% recycled plastic using traceable, verifiable REPREVE polyester yarn by Unifi. Moreover, thanks to the TevaForever program, you can send in your well-loved and worn Teva shoes and they will be recycled, so they never have to wind up in a landfill.
If you’re looking for an everyday sandal that’s comfortable but has a sweet, coquettish touch, check out the Midform Universal Adorn ($65 at Teva.com), which features straps with ruffled edgesand comes in spring-perfect shades like pastel lilac. For a truly versatile sandal that you can wear to outdoor festivals or on weekend hikes, check out the Hurricane XLT2 ($75 at Teva.com), which features a robust EVA footbed, a durable rubber outsole with enhanced traction, and a nylon shank that stabilizes and supports feet on uneven terrain. And when you’re looking for more coverage as you venture out in the rain or tackle longer, more intense hikes on rugged terrain, there’s the stylish and comfy Geotreccca Low ($140 at Teva.com), a waterproof, lightweight hiking shoe made using a variety of recycled materials.
Check these out and more at Teva.com
Roasty Buds Coffee
As the first spicy coffee to market, Austin-based Roasty Buds is redefining what it means to enjoy a “hot” cup of joe.
Created by a group of friends who are also the founders of social media agency Bandolier Media, Roasty Buds specializes in coffee with a kick! Their unique approach to handcrafted specialty coffee involves combining coffee with chile flavoring to achieve various levels of spicy heat. Their inaugural coffee line includes a non-spicy, single-origin Colombian coffee, as well as three spicy options: Kinda Spicy Hatch Chile Pepper, Xtra Spicy Ghost Pepper, and XXXtra Spicy Carolina Reaper Pepper.
But, while they love their spice, the Roasty Buds crew also knows how to create smooth, delicious and non-spicy coffee flavors such as their new Mexican Chocolate, which incorporates rich chocolate notes and a hint of cinnamon as a nod to traditional Mexican hot chocolate.
Ever the innovator, Roasty Buds is debuting new flavor innovations this month including new Texas BBQ, Cherry Glaze BBQ, and smoked beans options. They’re sure to be the perfect addition to your spring grilling menu!
Each bag is $16.99 on RoastyBuds.com
Nerd Focus
Whether you’re a professional working long shifts, a grad student, an athlete, or a gamer, you want to feel both energized and hyper-focused when it’s go time. Enter Nerd Focus, a think drink that helps to boost mental acuity, focus, concentration, memory, and stamina.
The brand’s origin story dates back to 2006, when its founder was a University of Texas grad student burning the midnight oil while applying to med schools. He realized most energy drinks were loaded with caffeine (which can lead to jitters and unsavory crashes) as well as potentially dangerous artificial substances. Wanting a better alternative to keep him awake and focused, he began to look into creating a drink centered on nootropics, the term for natural or synthetic substances that improve mental function.
Nerd Focus, then, utilizes nootropics like caffeine (each can contains 128 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of 1.5 cups of coffee), as well as Alpha GPC (which studies indicate increases the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, hence improving brain health), Huperzine A (an extract of the Huperzia serrata plan that improves memory), DMAE (which also increases the production of acetylcholine), and gingko biloba (an herb that increases dopamine in the brain). These nootropics are complemented by adaptogens that help the body’s natural response to stress and by vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B12 to help the body create energy.
For a smarter way to get in the zone, pick up Nerd Focus, now available at H-E-B.
