The beauty industry is already bulging with a dizzying array of products. New companies come on board almost daily, and product releases mean there’s always something to try, recommend, love or toss into a “product graveyard.” What is also new is that some great beauty products are made right here at home, and that means it’s time for a little Louisiana purchasing.
Skin Sense: DermAware fans will want to know about VitalAssist Skincare, a line of products associated with the cosmetic dermatological scientists of Owen Biosciences, Inc. in Baton Rouge, one of DermAware’s creators. The five-product line aims to clean, hydrate, repair, renew and protect. I started with The Daily Probiotic Cleanser, used both day and night. A gentle pH gel cleanser that removes makeup without stripping, it contains a proprietary blend of probiotics and peptides that are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. The herbal spa scent and foaming gel texture are pleasant. VitalAssist’s Daily Essential Hydrator is another winner – light and lovely, plumping and moisturizing without being sticky or greasy.
Face It: Ashley Sievert, a local make-up artist who’s well known for her wedding makeup artistry, has a retail line of her foundation, powder and concealer/brightener. The Mineral Velvet Crème (SPF 15) provides full coverage, if layered. One application with a flat-top kabuki-style brush gives even, long-lasting, medium coverage. This foundation has been my daily go-to use for about three weeks and is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites. Paris (my shade) is close to a perfect match of my light-medium, slightly yellow skintone. There is a complementary mineral Finishing Powder that’s micro-fine and silky – great for setting foundation on particularly hot, sticky days. The Glow Under-Eye Brightener is pretty, but doesn’t have enough of the right color or coverage to tackle my seriously dark under-eye circles. Used in conjunction with a corrector it worked better, but I loved the Glow product best as an eye shadow base.
Brow Arching: Brow fanatics like me will flip for Lauren Prats’ Hi-Brow. Prats, an Aveda-trained esthetician with a passion for brow correction and shaping, developed her own line of products to help cover gray brow hairs and fill in gaps. Of her current line I’ve been using the Waterproof Brow Pen in dark taupe (there’s also a soft taupe) and the brow mascara in brunette (of course there’s also blonde). The products are truly waterproof. I have worn filled-in brows to work out (a spin class and a sweaty walk in the park) and I got caught in the rain, but my brows stayed on and looked amazing. The brow mascara not only provides tone, but also the appearance of fullness. Prats takes appointments at her own spot in Metairie (126 Sierra Court) and her products are also sold at Buff Beauty Bar and Earthsavers.
Lip Service: Lipscape is an all lip-product brand of Ingrid Butler, a geographer by training and a lip guru by nature. Her all-natural line of lipsticks, butters, stains and glosses are highly pigmented and totally wearable for real life. If you love a super-matte look, check out the Lavas. Going for something a bit more summertime sheer, the WetScape and Buttercream glosses are perfection. Butler’s whole range is flawless and can be found at Söpö, Hattie Sparks and Mint Uptown Salon.
Body Beautiful: Megan Hargroder is best known for her social media skills – she’s a go-to for many of the best businesses. When her name was whispered to me as a source for beauty products, I was intrigued. Hargroder’s Apothecary is an Etsy store filled (and growing) with truly natural body, bath and skin care products she meticulously makes by hand. Simple, clean and pretty, both in product and packaging, she often uses sensitive skin-loving coconut oil as a base. Her line started with hand-poured lip balms scented with high quality essential oils and has expanded to include soap, body butter, body and room sprays, muscle rubs, shower fizzes and more. Her top sellers, a Tension Headache roller-ball oil and a sore muscle rub are must-haves. The skincare products are newer and include an oil cleanser, restorative face serum and eye serum. There is emu oil (collagen boosting and penetrating) in the eye serum and Helichrysum (a known restorative and scar reducer) in the face serum. I want one of everything. Find the bulk of her products online – for now.
If head-to-toe Louisiana is how you roll, there’s a lot to love in locally made beauty products. Make a Louisiana purchase and get that Southern glow.
Have questions or products to recommend? Email SouthernGlow@MyNewOrleans.com.
