Browse the Internet and you’re sure to find a limitless supply of “the next best thing” in beauty tools. Beauty junkies are always searching for that one special tool that’ll serve as the magic solution to common problems, whether it be temperamental skin or frizzy hair. I’m no stranger to this exhaustive quest. I’ve become adamant about finding the right tools that will work better than the last. My vigilance is especially concerned with finding ways to manage my curly hair and clearing up my skin. When I learned of two products that promised to help with these respective problem areas, I knew I had to try them for myself.
Hubalou
Not only do I have curly hair prone to frizz, I have thick hair. When it gets wet, it’s quite heavy and takes hours to air-dry. As someone who’s been sticking to wash and go styles, I want to avoid the heat damage of a hair dryer and the breakage that can occur with using a regular bath towel. At first glance, the Hubalou seemed to be the answer to my dilemma. Based out of Austin, TX, Hubalou was inspired by the founder’s visit to her hair stylist. Sarah Masciana needed to recreate the natural waves in her hair at home. Sarah’s hair stylist told her to use a T-shirt or microfiber towel to achieve the results. The T-shirt trick worked, but Sarah wanted something a bit more aesthetically pleasing and functional. After researching and testing fabrics, Sarah stumbled upon bamboo fabric. The rest, as they say, is history.
The hair wrap is somewhat similar in look and purpose as a microfiber towel. However, the wrap promises the following benefits:
-
Smooth surface doesn’t snag on hair, as terrycloth can do. Thus, there’s less pulling and breakage.
-
Made of sustainable, ultra-absorbent bamboo, thus removing just enough moisture.
-
Ultra-lightweight.
I’ve tried microfiber towels before and although they certainly provide better results than a cotton bath towel, I have yet to find one that effectively wraps up my hair and holds it in. I was pleased to find that Hubalou delivered. After showering, I applied leave-in conditioner and then wrapped up my hair with the towel. It didn’t dramatically reduce the drying time, but it did allow my curls to hold their shape! By using the Hubalou, my wash-and-go styles are easier to manage. No tugging, pulling, or stretching required!
Additionally, it seems that many users agree; Hubalou was a 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Nominee and Wildcard Finalist.
Banish
As I get older, I’m less concerned with makeup and more concerned with maintaining clear, healthy, bright skin. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the Banish company and their line of products that was not only natural and cruelty-free, but vowed to get rid of acne scars! Although I don’t have severe acne scars, my skin isn’t as clear as it could be. Hormonal breakouts have left their mark.
Banish, designed and packaged in California, is the brainchild of CEO and YouTuber Daisy Jing. Daisy suffered from cystic acne in college and was desperate for a solution. Five years later, she’d graduated and decided to get her acne lasered. Before she could go through with the procedure, a professional from Clarity Medspa Clinic in Toronto recommended micro-needling, a non-invasive treatment, in conjunction with Vitamin C serum.
Like I said, my skin problems have never been as severe as the examples they show on Proactiv commercials. However, I do have a few spots and unevenness in tone. I didn’t have an interest in the micro-needling rollers, but I was drawn to the Pore Eraser and the Vitamin C serum. The Pore Smasher kind of looks like a mini rolling pin. It’s intended to banish puffiness, redness, and enlarged pores. You take the roller and stick it in the freezer until it’s cold. After, you massage the roller over your face. Pretty easy, right?
The Pore Smasher is pretty much like rubbing ice cubes over your skin. The notion of using cold water on your skin isn’t really anything new. Beauty and skincare magazines and blogs have noted the benefits of washing your face with cold water, as opposed to hot. Speaking to The Huffington Post, dermatologist Jessica Krant, M.D., M.P.H., says that water that is too hot will “strip healthy natural oils from your skin too quickly.” If you don’t fancy using ice-cubes or don’t have the patience to wait for your water to reach the appropriate temperature, the Pore Smasher is certainly a handy, effective tool.
Following the Pore Smasher, I used the Vitamin C serum before moisturizing. Vitamin C is typically used to lighten and/or brighten the complexion. Banish’s vegan, paraben-free, non-preservative serum promises to:
-
Reduce the appearance of age spots
-
Reduce wrinkles
-
Improve skin elasticity and texture
-
Firm and brighten skin
-
Reduce redness or sagging skin
-
Relieve dry skin
My skin didn’t become flawless overnight, but the Vitamin C did improve my complexion.
The bottom line:
Looking to put down the blow-dryer? The Hubalou hair wrap is in your corner!
Worried about your pores and complexion? If you want a user-friendly tool, check out the Pore Smasher. Follow with the Vitamin C serum for extra firepower.
To find out where you can buy the aforementioned products, visit their respective websites.
Literally, Darling received Hubalou and Banish at no cost as a potential product for review.
