The following article was published originally in August 2023. We are sharing it now for your perusal, but take into account that the following information may be outdated.
Hello, ladies! There’s no way to sugarcoat it: it’s hot. Seriously hot. On the bright side, every day of suffering brings us closer to the September breeze—or maybe October. Fine, December. Let’s not be petty. A woman has to embrace her inner sweat goddess; there’s no other choice.
But on the other hand, there’s always a choice when it comes to dealing with such situations, and I’m talking about distraction. There’s nothing like distractions to soothe a weary soul and a body slowly baking from the inside out. So here’s what’s new on the shelf: the best deodorant for sensitive skin, the best cream for porous skin, the firmest serum, sunscreen that protects the skin barrier, an outstanding hair mask for curly hair, and makeup that doesn’t budge even in August’s heat and humidity.
Sensitive Skin DeodorantOver the past few years, I developed a strange and severe allergy to deodorants. No matter what they claim—suitable for sensitive skin, paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free—they all cause an annoying, itchy rash after two or three days. I’ve tried dozens, and eventually, I ended up ordering some odd crystal from abroad, essentially a white mineral stone. It’s nice, but it lasts for a shorter time and has no scent.
It seems I'm not alone, as Garnier Mineral has launched a new series: Hyaluronic Care, designed for sensitive skin, offering up to 72 hours of strong odor protection. Naturally, I was skeptical because ‘sensitive skin’ labels often mean nothing. But I’ve been using it for two weeks now, and the usual itchiness hasn’t attacked me. Not even a slight tingle. Highly recommended for any sensitive lady.
Price: NIS 16.90 Available at: Supermarkets, food, and pharmacy chains
Firming SerumHikari is a relatively new company to me, but so far, every product I've tried from them has been good. The same goes for this serum, FOUNTAIN SERUM. It’s the star of their "Fountain of Youth" series—a concentrate that promotes skin renewal, strengthens and protects the skin, enhances long-term hydration and radiance, reduces and prevents wrinkles, and increases skin elasticity.
The formula includes a variety of synergistic ingredients, primarily NAD Nobel™, a patented component developed with scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It mimics the rejuvenation processes occurring in a state of prolonged calorie reduction—activating our natural mechanisms to strengthen cellular repair processes, thereby improving skin tone, reducing wrinkles, and making the skin more elastic.
The product also contains an extract of rare "snow algae," selected for their ability to survive in harsh climates, and the Royalepigen P5 complex, which enhances tissue regeneration, helps eliminate toxins and defective proteins, and offers many other benefits. This year, the Fountain Serum won a bronze medal in the Best Luxury Product category at an international competition in London. It is indeed luxurious—and expensive.
Price: NIS 499Available at: Hikari laboratories or authorized cosmetic clinics
Infallible Matte Cover FoundationInfallible Matte Cover is a new and upgraded matte foundation with SPF 25, incredibly durable, with the added new star in cosmetics—niacinamide at a concentration of 4%.
The international makeup brand L’Oréal Paris makes sure to blend makeup and skincare, and this product definitely meets the criteria. It offers full coverage of blemishes, redness, skin imperfections, and scars, with a matte finish and shine control throughout the day. Meanwhile, niacinamide improves skin tone and keeps it smooth for a long time. Shake before use, and don’t think about it until the end of the day.
Price: NIS 100Available at: Pharmacies, Hamashbir Lazarchan, and online
Sunscreen for Different Skin TonesDid you know that darker skin is more sensitive than lighter skin to domestic radiation, such as from computers and screens? I didn’t. These rays are called VL, and broad-spectrum sunscreens with high SPF do not protect against this light radiation.
"Recent studies on the biological effects of visible light on the skin," explains Dr. Landau, "have found that while exposure of light skin to visible light does not manifest clinically and they are primarily sensitive to UVB damage, darker skin shows pigmentation changes similar to tanning. When non-light skin is exposed to a combination of minimal UVA radiation, significant, prolonged pigmentation can result. This may explain the appearance of post-inflammatory pigmentation in people with darker skin, despite using traditional sunscreens that filter UVA and UVB. According to recent scientific literature, these findings may explain the difficulty in treating melasma (hormonal pigmentation) despite using traditional sunscreens."
New Products:SUN Barrier - For very light to medium skin: SPF 50 protection against sun damage, enriched with SUPCERAT™ to support the epidermal barrier and enhance the skin's natural defense against sun radiation.
SUN Barrier+ - For medium to dark skin: SPF 50 protection against sun damage, adapting to your skin tone for optimal protection against visible radiation. Enriched with SUPCERAT™ to support the epidermal barrier and enhance the skin's natural defense against sun radiation.
Both SUN Barrier products are based on aloe vera extract instead of water, providing anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and soothing properties. All products in the series are fragrance-free, colorant-free, 100% vegan, and free from parabens or SLS.
Price: NIS 305-320Available at: Skin therapists and the Mahut website
Erborian Korean SkincareThe award-winning Korean brand Erborian (Erborian), acquired by the global group that also owns L’Occitane. Here’s what I have to say.
The company’s flagship store is set to open in Azrieli Sarona in January 2023, with an investment of two million shekels, but in the meantime, I must recommend two products that I tried and became immediately addicted to. These are two colorless products that simply smooth the skin and close the pores, at least visually—immediately.
CC Cream for Light Skin ToneA face moisturizer, SPF 25, and, of course, color pigments that blend with your natural skin tone upon contact, adapting perfectly to everyone. They provide an even and radiant tone—the perfect primer, and you can use it alone. The finish is light, absorbed quickly, the skin doesn’t feel overloaded, and the moisture and protection work.
Price: NIS 219, and worth it
SKIN HEROThe ultimate skin perfector, a colorless correcting cream, refines and smooths skin texture, blurs the appearance of wrinkles, and enhances the natural appearance of facial skin. How does it work? Gentle enzymes accelerate the process of skin cell renewal and help achieve a smooth and glowing skin appearance, while a Korean white ginseng compound brightens the skin and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from sun damage, free radicals, and more. With prolonged daily use, the facial skin becomes more illuminated thanks to the active ingredients and white ginseng responsible for refining and improving skin appearance.
Price: NIS 219
BB Cream in Light Tone + SPF 20Provides richer, double coverage compared to CC cream. It leaves a radiant finish on the face and serves as a base for makeup, for spot coverage of imperfections, or as a full-face cream. It softens and nourishes the skin, reduces pores, and enhances the overall feel of the face. Moreover, it changes its white color upon contact with your skin, leaving you with the exact, perfect, and right shade for you! The product is rich in the best of Korean tradition and contains medicinal herbs described in Korean culture as real magic makers.
Price: NIS 219
CC Cream for Redness CorrectionBehind the Korean secret to perfect skin, this unique product is called "Skin Corrector," and true to its name, it corrects the skin both externally and internally. The sophisticated formula contains green color pigments that absorb and appear differently on everyone, depending on their specific skin pigment, making it the perfect primer that automatically helps correct the appearance of redness and hides and blurs other skin imperfections. The cream is initially green, but on application, it changes according to your specific skin tone. The product works simultaneously to improve the visual appearance of the skin as a primer for makeup and enriches it with moisture, making it the perfect combination of makeup and skincare.
Price: NIS 219
CurlFIX - Protein Repair MaskAn excellent mask, speaking from someone with dry, damaged, dyed hair, and all that can be said about dry, dry, dry hair. Why use a protein mask? Protein is a building block. Our hair is made of proteins called keratin; keratin is a protein. If you lighten your hair, overexpose it to the sun, or burn it with heat, all these can cause hair to become torn, damaged, porous, and full of "holes," making it look dry and tired.
Using a mask containing protein, combined with amino acids, fills and completes the "holes," making the surface "smoother," and the hair look and feel healthier.
Price: NIS 140Available at: Online