teenage.me

Yesterday, my sister Mariel and I were sent to our first launch party and it was quite the experience! We arrived at the Woodley & Bunny Salon and Apothecary in Brooklyn for the launch of the Swedish hair care line Sachajuan Professional Haircare. Sisters Misha and Erin Anderson are the owners of the Woodley and Bunny Salon and were also the hosts of the event (of course, Mariel and I could appreciate their sister act!) I’ve come to notice that good things always come in two’s–and that fact also extends to Sacha Mitic and Juan Rosenlind, the creators of the Sachajuan product line.  

Sachajuan products are Sweden’s finest! Given the typical Scandinavian hair types, Mariel and I were a little skeptical about how this simple and chic product would work on our unruly curls. And since Mother Nature gave Mariel and I plenty of texture and volume we were a little apprehensive about how the styling would go down. Stylists Alder and Jennifer were the ones who took on the grueling task. A large mop of curls lay on the crown of my head, as two stylists blew dry my hair from either side. I could not help but feel a little bizarre as onlookers gathered in the window of the salon, but Alder reassured me it was probably just because they thought I was famous. All the while Sacha and Juan watched from afar, possibly questioning whether or not their products did in fact work on all hair types. Two hours later with five people working on our hair combined (plus a standing diffusing dryer that resembled a device from Star Trek), we were done! At last, Sacha (looking slightly relieved) ventured near my blown-out locks.  He approvingly ran his fingers through my hair, patted me on the shoulder and said, “It’s smooth now” in his strong Swedish accent. It was a great adventure for our first day, and mad props to the stylists at Woodley and Bunny, Alder, Tommy, Jennifer, and three assistants, for successfully taming the Tyler manes.   

A little tip off about some of Sachajuan’s great products (and I can attest they don’t just work on Scandinavian hair)–anyone who wants that “beachy” look should try their SOcean Mist.  Also, their Straight Out Gel can be used to straighten your hair or to style your curls! Algae is an essential ingredient in all of their products (apparently great for conditioning), no matter how much product you put in your hair it would never get that heavy, sticky feeling.

Stay tuned for more of our beauty adventures.  And if you need any tips about taming your manes, just ask! After years of playing with different products I think I have got all of the answers (well most of them).

–KATHERINE and MARIEL TYLER

I’ll be the first to acknowlege that putting something that vibrates near your eyeball seems like a sort of crazy idea. And considering how clumsy I am, well, it seems like a recipe for disaster! But not so, in the case of Lancome’s Oscillation mascara! It’s a super-powered mascara, designed to emulate the minute wiggle of the wand that most gals employ while applying mascara.

My lash type: fine, straight, and sparse (sigh)
I tested: Lancome Oscillation
Thoughts: Definitely takes practice, but the payoff is definitely worth it! You get out of this world lashes that are not only longer and darker, but fuller and dramatic (you can keep layering the mascara for a Bambi-like effect). One coat on its own gives a subtle look. (In case you’re wondering, the battery is not replaceable on this mascara… but by the time it dies, you really should buy another, for hygiene’s sake!)
Best for: any kind of lashes, but best for those with decent hand-eye coordination and the patience to get the technique down.
Buy it at: lancome-usa.com for $34

Dr. Michelle Copeland recently was kind enough share her top summer skincare tips with Beauty Blogger… Read on for her illuminating (literally!) tips:

“Your skin has different needs depending on the month. During the summer, the glands produce more oil, so switch to a product that’s not so moisturizing. The zone around the nose and down towards the mouth contains a lot of glands, so you probably want to go easy on it all year round. People often wonder whether they should stop exfoliating during the summer because they think the dead skin is protecting them from the sun. While it’s true that surplus surface cells offer a slight shield against rays, that benefit is outweighed by the greater gain you’ll get in encouraging cell turnover. Always wear SPF to protect from the harsh UVA/UVB rays of the summer months. Apply sunscreen every day to your skin and lips. An easy way to remember your sunscreen is to use a daily moisturizer with SPF built right in! Sunblocks containing clear zinc oxide offer both UVA and UVB protection with the added benefit of the antioxidant properties of zinc.

When I buy anything, from a new tube of mascara to a loaf of bread, I always read the ingredient panel. You don’t need to be a biochemist to pick out certain ingredients to avoid: fragrances, dyes, and forms of silicone. They don’t increase an item’s efficacy, so it doesn’t make sense to put an unnecessary element on your skin. In addition, check to be sure that your skincare items have been allergy tested. While many products contain alcohol, teens should try and avoid products that have rubbing alcohol as the primary ingredient, because these products can strip away your natural oils and end up dehydrating your skin.”

Visit drcopelandskincare.com to learn more about Dr. Michelle Copeland (and her new book!).

IDMad: you’re keen on Taylor Momsen’s “angsty teen look” and pretty-punk hot pink lips! I asked drugstore.com (and street-chic/punky!) makeup artist Tina Turnbow for some product recommedations: “NARS FUNNY FACE Lipstick!!!! And for added pink pop, top with Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Gloss in James.”

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