Weekend Mode: Easy Breezy

The one where I (literally) fangirl Vornado fans

Hello, Gorgeous!

I am so ready for the weekend. And so without further ado, let’s discuss things that will make your summer weekends —whether at home or away— so much better.

A recovery mask

I’ve been rediscovering Epicutis skincare and my stressed out skin is a lot happier for it. I’ll hopefully post next week about their luxury skincare set, but for right now, it’s all about the spa in a sheet mask. Here are two intriguing tidbits:

1. The bio-cellulose mask is an extremely concentrated version of their serum. And the mask delivery method means you’ll be getting even more instant calming and skin soothing.

2. It’s recommended to use this mask about a day or two before an invasive aesthetic treatments, and then after treatment to help the healing process. While that’s not a topic I cover, my very stressed and sunburned skin felt so pampered by this incredible mask ($125 for 5 masks, epicutis.com).

Vitamin-enriched skin spray

I haven’t worked in the corporate world for a really long time now, but I remember the dreaded effects of dry office air on my skin. Kleos+ Klea has been marketing a mineral rich spray said to reverse the effects of office air which I found intriguing. Then I dug in a bit deeper. This easy spritz has 77 rare trace minerals, and a whole host of interesting ingredients including collagen and elastin in the form of zinc and copper, hyaluronic acid by way of maganese and zinc and selenium for extra hydration. While the packaging is stunning, it’s a bit awkward to manage. Meanwhile, this would be an incredible product to take on trips to combat canned airplane air. I hope they come up with a smaller or more streamlined size as well ($98, kleosandklea.com).

A subtle matte lip

While I don’t always love the look of matte lips, I love the idea of matte. CoverGirl’s new Clean Fresh Yummy Blur is formulated with lip blurring spherical powder technology for an instant blurring effect. Normally, I wouldn’t love the idea of a blurred lip since after a certain age, color can settle into the lines around your mouth. This formulation seems different though, It deposits color (and smells delightfully fruity) without stain or a mess. One thing I’d advise is applying over balm for a slightly smoother look. This is a great way to wear color on your lips over the weekend without really trying too hard ($12, exclusively at Ulta).

No scrubs

Okay, maybe one. Tree Hut has about a bazillion new launches and I’m just catching up with all of them. I’m enjoying the Lotus Water Shea Sugar Scrub which is great for getting rough bits off your feet. I also used some before doing my nails as a way of exfoliating any errant cuticles. If you do use on your hands, use a bit extra water since the grains are on the large side. I should add that the ingredient list reads like a tasty dessert and includes Sugar, Shea Butter, Lotus Water, Blue Agave and an array of natural oils including Pistachio, Evening Primrose, Avocado, Macadamia, Sweet Almond, Safflower and Orange Oils ($10, Ulta).

I’m a big fan of fans

A reader asked if I have a fan recommendation for stuffy cabin bedrooms. I’ll be honest, for some reason I was never a great fan of fans. Maybe it’s because my eyes started to dry out whenever one was near. Or there was the fact that every time I plugged in a fan everything on my desk blew around the room. Whatever the reason, those days have passed. I find myself newly enamored with Vornado fans. I tested a few out and have narrowed my favorites down to three.

Vornado PEBL PAK Portable Desk Fan with Carry Case

This one is seriously cute. It’s also surprisingly practical. If you need a boost of air while sitting at your desk or in-flight, this is easy to set up and transport. It totally fits in your carry-on. it comes with a travel case you can use as a stand. And unline more traditional fan models, this one operates horizontally. It’s also a great little fan to to keep on your nightstand in case you want to boost the impact of your AC ($25, Amazon).

Vornado STRATA 8T Oscillating Table Fan with Remote

The design of this fan is a bit futuristic, but it’s extremely practical. Don’t have room for a stand fan? This model can work on the floor or a tabletop. It has 10 speeds and is extremely quiet. But you know what else it does? Unlike other fans that operate in a limited arc, you can set this beauty to operate at a full 180 degrees to get air moving nearly everywhere. And I have no way of knowing if this is true or possible, but the air actually feels cooler around this fan. I like it best on the floor and angled upwards. The remote is the slightest bit confusing, so you might want to read the instructions a few times. It’s also great for the kitchen if you’re baking during the summer and need some air ($80, Amazon).

Vornado TRANSOM AE Window Fan with Alexa

I don’t even know where to begin with this one I love it so much. I love leaving my windows open whenever possible, so I really likedthe idea that this fan can be mounted on your windowsill. Depending on the width of your sill, you might need to use some of the enclosed foam blocks to secure it in place. Notable: I used two potato chip clips to keep my bedroom curtains from blowing wildly while I use this fan. Moving right along. If anyone out there is an engineer, I’d love to know how Vornado engineered this little marvel to actually cool off a room. I am not kidding. Even with the window only partially open, the blast of air feels cool instead of just like recycled air. You can also use this in exhaust mode to pull out noxious smells or stale air from your room.

Here’s what I don’t love. There doesn’t seem to be any type of filter, so you’ll eventually be pulling in smog and dust and pollen. You can buy a cheap lightweight filter and wrap it around the exterior of the unit, but that ruins the elegant design. Also, this model doesn’t have a remote, so you’ll have to rely on an app or Alexa for use. Here’s the thing, I may kvetch about nearly everything but this fan is absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to use it during cooler fall nights. It’s available in black or white, tbh, I wish I’d have tried white since it would have better blended with my window frame ($119, Amazon).

So what are you up to over the weekend? I’m about to apply an Epicutis mask and tune out the world for a while. Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

Join me in a weekend dance flashback: