Combating Winter: How to Protect Your Hair This Winter

The weather in Boston isn't a joke. With the Nor'easters going through there, the long winter and all of the snow, they take hair protection seriously! I got a few tips on how to avoid damaging your hair in the winter weather from Alex Safar, master stylist and owner of Salon Acote in Boston.


Thick/Coarse Hair
Thick, coarse hair needs extra help during the winter season. Hydrating your strands will help make them more manageable and soft.

Alex recommends trying MoroccanOil Intense Hydrating Mask to repair dry hair in the cold.


Normal/Medium Hair
Thin to normal hair can easily dry out, especially in the winter. Shampooing your hair can strip the strands of its natural oils, so try washing less. To keep your hair looking great in between washes, Alex likes using Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo.


Color-Treated Hair
Protecting your hair color from the elements is so important during the winter months. Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color is a gentle cleanser and moisture treatment. Oribe Conditioner for Beautiful Color restores and extends your dye while protecting your hair from future damage.

Alex Safar, master stylist and owner of Salon Acote in Boston. Alex has acquired knowledge from his father Gaston as well as extensive education in creative color theory with Redken-New York and Goldwell-Boston, and modern cutting with Vidal Sassoon in Miami.

Salon Acote is located on Newbury Street in Boston’s prominent Back Bay. The salon offers comprehensive services, from the signature haircut and color services, to the Keratin hair treatment and Remy-made hair extensions. The salon also features a breathtaking outdoor terrace with cappuccino and wine bar. Salon Acote has participated in and hosted events during Boston Fashion Week and Fashion's Night Out Boston.

5 Years of Favorite Products: Exfolikate, Green Goo for the Win!

I seriously love this expensive green goo. When I first wrote my Exfolikate review, I called it a holy grail product, and it definitely is for me!

About twice a week, while my conditioner sits on my hair, I spread a thin layer of this green stuff on my skin. I rinse my hair, and the timing is perfect for rinsing the Exfolikate.

This makes me glowy and smooth. It takes virtually no time. The tube is expensive, though I've been using the same one twice a week for about 9 months and still have a lot left. Definitely worth it!

Kate Somerville

Novo Solutions MD: Cutting Edge Skin Care from an Umbilical Cord? Actually... Yes

A few months ago I received an email with information about a new skin care line that had me a bit... perplexed. I wasn't exactly sure what they meant by some of the information in the press release. How did they get the product? What do they think is active in it? Did they see results?

The reason I was so confused? Umbilical cord serum.

Actually, it isn't as strange as it sounds, and their preliminary results are promising. Read on to see what their founder wrote me in a reply email, and why I'm sharing it with you.

5 Years of Favorite Products: NARS Orgasm in Many Forms

Obviously this color is a cult favorite for a reason. Orgasm is an amazing blush color on almost everyone, and I'm certainly no exception. You can see that my blush has been around for a while (that's the worst part of the pretty black NARS packaging, it gets gross easily on the outside), but I've been using this a few times a week for well over 10 years.

I have Orgasm in the blush, the multiple, the highlighter, the nail polish, the lip gloss.... you get the picture. My favorites are the Multiple and the blush. I usually pair them together. I use the Multiple over my foundation, blended just a little. When I apply my translucent powder over this, the buffing of my powder brush completes the blending. Then a small amount of powder Orgasm blush goes over the top.

The end result is glowy and lasts all day!


NARS Cosmetics

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Experiment: Weekly Update #1

Last week I started a new series of Kiehl's Clearly Corrective reviews, and I promised to post weekly update pics.

I clearly should have thought this out a little bit more, as this means weekly pics of my skin, super close up, without any makeup! Well, too late now.

In this week's pic you'll see that I do still have hyperpigmentation, though it's only been a week and I was initially using Clearly Corrective only at night. Oops! I do admit that I was surprised that things are so apparent in the pics this week, because I do feel as though my problem areas are less obvious and require a little less makeup this week.

I've found that using the product twice a day is not an issue. I was worried that it would interfere with makeup application but I've found that to not be the case. Instead, I simply apply right after washing my face and let it sink in for a minute or two before applying lotion. (I'm in the middle of using BeautyMint for a review, so each morning I'm currently using their light moisturizer with SPF, just as an FYI.) I can't tell that I've applied the Clearly Corrective under my moisturizer, there's no residue or alteration in my skin texture. It is a little bit hydrating, though not quite enough for me mid-winter.

Hopefully next week the pics will show a real change, but I do feel that the hyperpigmentation near my eyes is less noticeable.

Check out my Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Review Series
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective