The Weird Instagram Pimple Remedy That Actually Works
Instagram's targeted advertising knows me so well that it would creep me out if it wasn't so damn useful. (OK, it's still creepy.) Among many eerily spot-on ads I've been served was one from a skin care brand called Zitsticka. The brand's namesake product is a sort of next-level hydrocolloid pimple patch upgraded with something called microdarts, which supposedly help skin-healing ingredients like salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide penetrate the skin's surface.
It was only a matter of time until Zitsticka hit me with an ad while I was suffering from a hormonal acne flare-up. Well-played, Zitsticka. I purchased its Killa Kit, $29, for eight patches plus eight pre-treatment cleansing cloths.
My $29 was well spent. I have never seen a skin care product — over-the-counter or prescription — wipe out a pimple so quickly. Overnight, Zitsticka chills out those angry, painful zits that would normally stick around for days on end. Plus hyperpigmentation-erasing niacinamide ensures that any leftover red marks fade with amazing speed.
Order yourself a kit now so you're prepared for your next skin crisis; you'll be glad you did. — Katie McCarthy
Cover image via @zitsticka
The Budget Liquid Eyeliner That Lasts For Hours On End
I'm a bit of a liquid liner snob, meaning I'm super picky about them. They don't have to be expensive, but they do have to be easy to use, they have to produce a dark, inky-black line, and they have to stay put. Revlon Colorstay Wing Line Liquid Eye Pen, $8.49, checks all of those boxes for me and then some. It's super dark, it lasts all day, and — here's the best part — it's got a nifty, angled felt tip that makes it simple to draw a cool, cat-eye flick. Love! — Alyssa Hertzig
Cover image via @revlon
The Grown-Up Glitter I Don't Need an Excuse to Wear
Growing up as a 90s kid, I've worn my fair share of glitter. Remember the colorful rollerball tubes of fruit scented goo? The pretty pots of the sticky stuff? The glitter-infused vanilla-scented body sprays? Yep, I collected all of those and wore them pretty much religiously. Fast forward to 2019, and I'm still drawn to the sparkly stuff like a moth to a flame. Glitter makes me happy. Period.
Several years ago, I discovered Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Liner, $21, and it's my go-to source for sparkle. Packed with vibrant glitter pigments, these tiny tubes come with precision brushes for painting the glitter anywhere you want. From small accents to loading up your lids with shimmering perfection, you can be confident that wherever you put it, the glitter won't transfer. Personally, my favorite application is to layer it over my black liquid eyeliner for a gleaming, sophisticated cat-eye.
I can't tell you how many compliments I receive when I wear this stuff. It absolutely draws all the attention to the eyes! The best part is UD offers so many different colors, so you can match your glitter to just about every outfit, or try an iridescent hue (that basically goes with everything).
Instead of looking like a disco ball (like I did in my younger days), I prefer this liquid liner that gives maximum glitter impact that is super easy to achieve. I also like to rock it day or night... be it for a special occasion, or just a regular day in the office. If you're looking to add a little twinkle to your eyes, I suggest you give this stuff a go! It's that good.
To see more of my makeup must-haves, follow me on Instagram: @the_beauty_whoreder
The Multitasking Micellar Water I Take on Every Vacay
Remember when it seemed like everyone was going crazy for Bioderma Crealine, buying marked-up bottles on Amazon and bulk-shopping on trips abroad? Well, that was then. Now, not only are micellar waters pretty much everywhere in the U.S., they are some of the cheapest beauty products you can buy at the drugstore. What a time to be alive!
After realizing my old standby micellar water isn't cruelty-free, I discovered It Cosmetics Miracle Water, $38. It's a little spendier than other micellar waters but also contains more powerful ingredients like hyperpigmentation-busting licorice root, wrinkle-fighting peptides, and antioxidant vitamin C. You can use it to cleanse, remove waterproof eye makeup, and tone and rehydrate dull-looking skin.
Miracle Water is so gentle and multifunctional that I've started taking a teeny-tiny version with me when I travel. It takes up so little space in my bag and does so much for my skin that I almost feel low-maintenance. — Katie McCarthy
Cover image via @itcosmetics
The Root Concealer Spray That Instantly Hides My Grays
Fellow dark-haired women, you'll feel me on this: For that week or two before a color appointment, the peek-a-boo gray roots around my part are the bane of my existence. Yeah, yeah, blondes can have grays too, but come ON. The extreme contrast of white against deep brown makes them so. freaking. obvious. Which, in turn, makes me look way older.
I've tried pretty much every root cover-up there is, so I can assuredly say that Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray, $25, is the very best one out there. It's got a targeted nozzle, so the color goes right where you need it, there are five shades (I wear Dark Brown/Black), it covers grays instantly and completely, and then it totally stays put until I wash it out. Try it, because I promise: It will be love at first spritz. —Alyssa Hertzig
Cover image via @ritahazan
