I'm not sure when beauty and skincare became such a substantial ongoing expense in my budget but it's a thing now and I accept it. While I try my best to keep my spending in line with my needs, I can admit that I'm good for the occasional splurge and Halle Berry can totally relate. While some of her products can be bought at your local Sally's, others cost half my rent.
I aspire to the level of bougie beauty that is Halle Berry, and the actress recently answered our skincare prayers with a list of products that will have your glow on go all year, including but not limited to a $7 foot scrub and a $435 light mask that will get your acne breakouts all the way together.
For more details on Halle's favorite beauty-related things, scroll below!
Kismet Salt Soaks ($20)
Instagram/Halle Berry
Give bath time a boost with these all-natural soaks from Kismet Essentials. Halle's picks are Chill, with notes of lavender and rosemary, and Soothe, made with Himalayan salt and rose petals, which can both be bought at Anthropologie for $20.
Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser ($45)
Instagram/Halle Berry
This luxury body cleanser may be pricey, but according to reviews, a little goes a long way. Infused with sea salt, mandarin, bergamot, and mandarin, Aesop's Geranium Cleanser acts as an exfoliant and antibacterial agent that balances all skin types.
Buddy Scrub Coffee Body Scrub ($15)
Instagram/Halle Berry
A scoop of coffee a day keeps the dead skin away, or whatever my esthetician said. While some may use this caffeine-infused bean as an early morning energy-booster, Halle uses java as an exfoliant and this essential-oil infused product by Buddy Scrub will get the job done without leaving you dry AF.
Heel to Toe Exfoliating and Polishing Foot Scrub ($7.49)
Instagram/Halle Berry
Say goodbye to dry, cracked heels with this exfoliating polish that you can snag locally for less than $10.
Charity Pot By Lush Cosmetics ($16.78)
Instagram/Halle Berry
Made from a blend of rosewood and ylang ylang, this cocoa butter-based body lotion leaves your skin "touchably soft". As an added bonus, a portion of every Charity Pot purchase is donated to a good cause, proving that some things that feel good are actually good for you.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro ($435)
Instagram/Halle Berry
I was today-years-old when I learned I needed an iRobot-style beauty mask that reverses my wrinkles and zaps my acne spots, but it's a thing. They sell it at Dillard's. And now I need it. This LED mask is great for all skin types and can help diminish discoloration, reduce the appearance of sun damage, and even prevent future breakouts.
Featured image by Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
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Layover. Although it isn’t exactly “music to our ears” whenever we hear the word, it doesn’t have to be a tremendous burden if you know some tricks of the trade that will make a layover more bearable. Luckily, I’ve got 10 that could actually make this your best year for summer travel yet, y’all!
10 Layover Travel Tips You’ll Be Glad You Know
1. Research Best Layover Airports (Yes, There Is Such a Thing)
GiphyIf while planning your trip, if it looks like a layover is going to be more than 90 minutes, it never hurts to research the airports that are the most user-friendly as far as layovers are concerned. From what I can see, several studies reveal that George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas) gets a lot of props, thanks to the food options and the amount of frequent flyer miles that you can stack up.
Some other airports that top the list include Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and Denver International Airport. If you want to save money on your travel by having a layover, purposely landing in these cities can make the wait much more pleasurable for you.
2. Download Your Airline’s App
Whatever airline you plan on flying on, make sure to download its app before heading to the airport. There are many reasons why this is a solid hack including the fact that:
1) you can check-in and get a mobile boarding pass; 2) you can get real-time travel updates; 3) you can utilize the entertainment options that they have (including the airline’s Wi-Fi); 4) you can see how to best navigate through various airports; 5) you can easily contact their customer service support; 6) you can oftentimes track your checked baggage, and 7) some apps (like Delta) can even help you to store where you parked your car (if you put it in long-term parking) in your smartphone, so that you can easily find it upon your return.
3. Also Download Your Entertainment Beforehand
GiphyIf you happen to be on a flight that either doesn’t have Wi-Fi or charges for it, you can still enjoy your movies ‘n stuff by downloading them before you leave. This can also come in handy at the airport when their internet access is running hella slow because so many people are accessing it.
4. Choose a (Layover) City Where You Have a Friend
Although I don’t hate to fly, I wouldn’t exactly say that it’s my favorite thing to do. And so, back when I used to fly to South Africa to see some family, it was common for me to stop over in London for a couple of days because it’s the halfway mark for me — and seven hours on a plane is a lot easier to endure than a whopping 14.
That said, if you’re planning on an international trip, you’re not the biggest fan of flying yourself or, again, you want to save a few coins by booking a flight that has a layover or two — why not use this as an opportunity to hang out with a family member or friend in another city? That way, you can get a break from air travel and get in some quality time with them as well.
5. Pack Some of Your Own Snacks
GiphyIf you’ve ever wondered why airport food is so damn expensive, one of the main reasons is how much it costs for each restaurant to rent their space is completely insane. Plus, there are things like vendors, commission costs and all kinds of other “blah, blahs” that make the mark-ups so crazy. That’s why it can never hurt to bring some snacks along — non-liquid items that you can pack in your carry-on that will get you through your layovers without you breaking the bank in the process.
6. Put an Empty Recyclable Bottle in Your Carry On
Since a lot of airports have water refills stations available, you can stay hydrated while also keeping coins in your pocket by packing an EMPTY recyclable bottle in your carry-on too. Most TSAs will totally allow it. As far as refills on actual drinks, some airports allow those as well (after you purchase one drink from them, of course); never assume, though. Ask before making the purchase.
7. Have a Portable Charger in Tow
GiphyMaybe it’s just me but, even though airports seem to be filled with charging stations all over the place, it’s like only half of them actually work (and I’m being gracious on that!). That’s why it’s also a good idea to invest in a portable charger. I don’t know what took me so freakin’ long to get myself one; however, it’s basically my BFF at this point.
The one that I will cosign on is the ANKER Zolo Power Bank, 20,000mAh 30W Max Fast Portable Charger. It charges pretty fast and I’ve been able to get about three full charges on my smartphone before needing to charge the portable one all over again. Such a lifesaver!
8. Get Some Lounge Access
If almost everything about airports gets on your very last nerve, you definitely need to get some airport lounge access. It’s quiet(er); you have lots of room to stretch out; the food and drink that they have to offer is typically free; many lounges have spaces that are designed and designated for children; there are convenient work stations, and some even feature spas and showers (I know, right?).
And just how do you get your hands on all of this? You can do so by flying first or business class, using your frequent flyer miles, presenting your military ID or purchasing a membership or even a day pass access into your airline’s lounge.
9. Cop Some Duty-Free Samples
GiphyIf you are going on an international flight, make sure to take advantage of the duty-free shops, not just because you are usually able to purchase items from there without paying local taxes but they oftentimes have free samples that you can stock up on as well; this is especially the case when it comes to beauty-related items.
10. Stay over a Night
Since a fair share of my friends are in the entertainment world, they tend to travel a lot. What is always funny to me is how most of them talk about flying to almost every city in the country while only actually visiting a handful of them. My point here? If you are headed one place and you decide to not have a direct flight, if the city where you are having your layover is one that you’ve always been interested in, stay over a night or even two.
You can find some hacks for how to find cheap hotel rooms by checking out “Hot to Get Cheap Hotel Rooms: 20 Tips and Tricks” on Travel Mums’ site.
BONUS: Get an Exit Row Seat
GiphyIf one of the things that you hate about changing planes is how uncomfortable the flights can be, space wise, ask to be put in an exit row seat. You will automatically have so much more room without having to pay what first class passengers do. Brilliant. Happy (and safe) travels!
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