Latest news with #SlowBeauty
Elle
17-07-2025
- Health
- Elle
I Tried the Skinny Confidential Mouth Tape—Here's What Happened
Want to know if a product really works? Welcome to Slow Beauty. Since it can take up to six weeks to see results from using a new formula, we have testers try the best and buzziest in hair and skin care for double that amount of time to determine what actually makes a difference. As a beauty writer who basically lives on TikTok, I'm always testing out new products and trends to see if they're truly worth the hype. The latest beauty hack people are loving is mouth tape, which is said to help snatch your jaw while you sleep—who wouldn't want that, right? Before I began my three-month journey with mouth tape, I spoke with licensed dermatologist Kunal Malik, MD FAAD about the pros and cons of the trend. 'While mouth taping has gained popularity for reducing mouth breathing during sleep, it does come with potential risks,' Dr. Malik explains. 'The most immediate concern is for individuals with compromised nasal breathing due to allergies, deviated septum, or nasal polyps, as taping can lead to breathing difficulties and potential sleep disruption.' Dr. Malik notes that, from a dermatologist's perspective, adhesives like mouth tape can cause contact dermatitis, especially with repeated use. He notes that the skin around the mouth is thin and sensitive, which means that it's more prone to irritation. 'Rapid removal of tape can damage the skin barrier, potentially causing micro-tears or stripping the protective barrier,' he adds. For patients with skin conditions like perioral dermatitis, eczema, or rosacea, mouth taping may worsen symptoms or even trigger flares. In order to help protect the perioral skin, Dr. Malik recommends cleaning and moisturizing before applying mouth tape. 'Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer to the lips and surrounding skin as a protective barrier between your skin and the adhesive,' he says. He also recommends opting for hypoallergenic tape specifically designed for sensitive skin, and implementing a 'tape rotation' strategy by altering the placement each night to avoid constant adhesive contact with the same area of skin. In the mornings, Dr. Malik suggests gently cleaning the area with a fragrance-free cleanser and immediately applying a restorative moisturizer with ceramides to help repair the skin barrier. 'If you notice any signs of irritation—redness, peeling, or discomfort—stop mouth taping immediately,' he cautions. From a skin-aging perspective, repeated pulling and stretching of the skin around your mouth may contribute to fine lines over time. With Dr. Malik's advice in mind and the allure of a more defined jawline as a prospect, I tested out The Skinny Confidential's viral Mouth Tape for 12 weeks to find out if the TikTok beauty hack actually works. Here are my findings. Week 1' Adjusting to mouth tape has been harder than I expected. As someone with sensitivities to certain textures—and a fear of feeling trapped (yes, even by mouth tape)—this experiment may take all of my mental fortitude to complete. While I'm still coming to terms with having tape on my mouth as I sleep, I really do appreciate the hole in The Skinny Confidential's design. It allows me to talk to my husband when he gets into bed and makes it easy to sip water through a straw. Some things I'm noting for the future: how dry the skin around my lips gets, and whether or not this is triggering eczema—or possibly something else—around my chin. Week 2 I'm still getting used to wearing something on my mouth, but two weeks in, I can admit that it's getting a little easier. This week, I tried putting on lip balm and Aquaphor on my face before applying mouth tape, but found that the petroleum jelly makes it difficult for the tape to stick. My workaround—especially with a contact dermatitis flare-up on my chin—is to apply the mouth tape first, then add little bit of hydration on my skin. I think it's too early to say if I'm sleeping better or noticing a change in the way my jawline looks. Week 3 I had to take a few nights off from the mouth tape because I was sick. I don't think this is something you should (or can) wear if you're feeling ill, especially if you're coughing. I have a hard enough time yawning with this thing on! Still, it's reassuring that the tape has already become a habit—I automatically reached for it each night. So far, I'm not seeing any massive results, but I get the sense this is one of those things that takes a few weeks of consistent use to really show improvement. Week 4 While I don't own an Oura ring or anything that can definitively tell me if I'm sleeping better with mouth tape on (one reported benefit of the beauty product), I can tell you that I feel like I've been sleeping better. I'm notorious for taking a long time to fall asleep, and I often wake up a lot throughout the night. I forgot to wear the mouth tape one time this week and realized that, since starting this experiment, I haven't been having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Week 5 I have a love-hate relationship with this mouth tape. Currently, it's a deep loathing after the medical tape tore off a good chunk of dry skin off my lip. Who's to blame? It's hard to say, but I'll give the product the benefit of the doubt (it had to stand up to drool, after all!) and claim it was mine for not lathering on a lip mask or Chapstick before going to bed. Week 6 This week, I've opted to test out Dr. Malik's 'tape rotation' strategy by placing the mouth tape at a slightly different angle to help avoid perioral dermatitis. My dermatologist recommended I stop testing the product, but in the name of good journalism, I persist. He prescribed me Tacrolimus Ointment and a two-week dose of Doxycycline Hyclate to help get rid of my contact dermatitis. Week 7 In case you were wondering (and you probably are), mouth tape is not a sexy thing to wear to bed. Half of the time, I feel like a clown lying beside my husband with these bright pink lip-shaped stickers on my face. On our recent trip to Paris, I found it incredibly unromantic to rock these in bed at our 4-star hotel. While the mouth tape might be helping me sleep a little better, there's a chance it's also slowly killing my sex life. Week 8 At the behest of my dermatologist, I finally started the two-week dose of antibiotics to clear up the rash on this side of my mouth. In order to do so, I have to cut the mouth tape so that it's only covering the center of my lips while I sleep. I've found this to be an effective way to extend the life of the product as well, but it should be noted that it won't prevent you from drooling as much, and wearing the lip tape this way also makes it more difficult to talk or drink after it's been applied. Week 9 I injured my foot playing soccer last week, which means I've been having to take a lot of medicine that makes my face extremely puffy. How does this relate to mouth tape, you might ask? Over the past few weeks, I feel like my jawline has become a bit more pronounced (in a way maybe only I can see since I'm super self-conscious of this area of my body). Now, since taking all of these medicines, I feel like I'm not seeing the subtle change that mouth tape *might* be responsible for. Week 10 I think I've reached the point in this experiment where I never want to wear mouth tape again. It's frustrating to have to put it on every night and, honestly, I'm not seeing the results I expected on my jawline. At the very least, the rash on my face is finally gone. Week 11 We've almost made it to the finish line! Nothing new to note this week. Week 12 We made it! In all honesty, this was a pretty grueling beauty challenge. Between the contact dermatitis on my face—which may or may not have been caused by the mouth tape—and never quite getting used to having my lips trapped overnight, it wasn't easy. Plus, if I forgot to apply lip balm before bed, the tape would rip off pieces of my lips, but using too much balm meant the tape just wouldn't stick. Even though mouth tape wasn't for me—I really didn't see a ton of benefits like better sleep or a nicer jawline—I do think this is a great option for people who want to stop snoring or drooling at night. Ultimately, every person is different, which means mouth tape might actually be a great option for you. Just be sure to take necessary precautions to protect the skin on your lips and around your mouth.
Elle
20-06-2025
- Health
- Elle
I Have Rosacea and My Skin Loves This Azelaic-Acid Serum
Want to know if a product really works? Welcome to Slow Beauty. Since it can take up to six weeks to see results from using a new formula, we have testers try the best and buzziest in hair and skin care for double that amount of time to determine what actually makes a difference. I've never been particularly loyal to a skin-care product. I love to experiment with formulas and ingredients—and for a beauty editor, this mindset is all but a requirement. I've been lucky that for many years my skin was equally game; I didn't often experience adverse reactions to new or potent products. But suddenly last spring, my skin became fussy. It looked increasingly uneven, and rashy red bumps formed on various parts of my cheeks, rocking my confidence. I minimized my use of strong retinols and chemical exfoliants and swapped in redness-fighting products like aloe-soaked sheet masks, but nothing was working. Finally, I was at the dermatologist for an unrelated cosmetic treatment and sheepishly mentioned to her how splotchy my skin looked. She studied my face for a few seconds before saying, 'Well, you know you have rosacea, right?' Suddenly everything made sense. I got a prescription for a medicated topical cream, and after a couple of months, my flare-ups were mostly under control. To maintain these results, my derm recommended incorporating azelaic acid into my routine and sticking to it. The ingredient is known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, and is often used to target rosacea, acne, and hyperpigmentation. After a trip to that tested my willpower—I somehow refrained from adding a bunch of new products to my cart—I settled on the Shani Darden Skin Care Rescue Serum With 10% Azelaic Complex. The brand's eponymous founder is a celebrity aesthetician I've long admired. Her approach to skin care, both in her practice and with her line, is all about maximizing results while minimizing irritation—perfect for my current situation. In addition to azelaic acid, the Rescue Serum contains oat-kernel, aloe, and licorice extracts to fade the look of uneven skin tone, reduce redness, improve dryness, soothe, and brighten dullness. I committed to using the product for 12 weeks, in hopes that I could get back to my glowing, clear, and unbothered pre-flare-up complexion. Here's how it went: Week 1 As suggested by the brand, my plan is to start by applying the serum three times a week at night to see how my skin reacts (while azelaic acid is generally well-tolerated, some people's skin might need time to get used to it). I dispense two drops after using a micellar water and a hydrating toner. The formula has a milky appearance and a silky feel and absorbs quickly, leaving my skin soft to the touch. I follow up with a nurturing moisturizer. In this first week of testing, I notice no irritation or dryness from the product. Week 2 I'm pleasantly surprised to see how glowy and smooth my skin looks and feels. These are the types of results I used to get from exfoliating with a strong glycolic-acid peel several times a week. After my rosacea diagnosis, my derm suggested that I stick to gentler products, and it turns out that didn't mean sacrificing results. Week 3 I'm on vacation in Miami this week, and the Rescue Serum came along for the ride. Sun is a trigger for rosacea, so while I'm being diligent about SPF and seeking shade, I've been fully prepared for flare-ups to happen. But so far—perhaps thanks to this product—my skin has remained calm. Week 4 Feeling perhaps a little too confident, I've bumped up the frequency of application to once a day at night and introduced a new exfoliating toner into my routine. Although the toner is marketed for sensitive skin, I've been noticing sudden irritation and redness. I'm not sure whether this is due to the toner, the increased serum dosage, or the combination of the two, but either way, it's time to revert back to the original plan. Week 5 I'm back to using the serum three times a week with a hydrating toner and have slotted in the exfoliating formula on the serum's off-days. My skin has settled down and is back to looking bright and even. There are some residual red rosacea spots near my jawline, but since using the Rescue Serum, I'm noticing them less and less. What's new is a dark spot on my cheek that made its presence known after my Miami trip. I'm hoping the Rescue Serum can also work its magic on that. Week 6 I haven't noticed much of a change this week, but when tackling dark spots and uneven tone and texture, it's all about patience and consistency. Week 7 I'm traveling again, this time to Los Angeles. I went for a makeup-free hike one morning and took a few selfies, fully expecting I'd have to do some editing before posting them on my social feed, as has become routine since my skin started acting up. But after reviewing them, I was excited to see how clear my skin looked—no filters needed. Week 8 Week after week, I'm seeing results. The dark spot on my cheek that I noticed in week five has already improved, and my areas of redness are becoming a thing of the past. I'm excited to see even more progress as I continue using the serum. Week 9 I spent the weekend with my grandmother, who is my skin icon. She's the person who bought me my first moisturizer and taught me the importance of skin care. At 97, she still has a complexion that looks smooth and plump. One morning as we were eating breakfast, she remarked at how 'lit from within' my skin looks. Coming from her, this is high praise. Week 10 It's been over two months of consistent use, and there's still plenty of product left in the bottle, making the $68 price tag feel totally worth it. I'm going to experiment with adding another drop of product to my routine and see how my skin reacts. Week 11 I haven't been sleeping well this week, and every time I see myself in the mirror, I feel like I look haggard. I was considering getting a facial when a co-worker walked by my desk and said, 'Your skin is skinning,' before asking me what I've been using in my routine. It was the pick-me-up I needed, and proof that the serum has truly delivered noticeable results. Week 12 Coincidentally, it's been a year since I first started having rosacea flare-ups, and I can say that my skin is now the best it's looked in the journey. The clarity, radiance, and evenness of my complexion's tone and texture have greatly improved, some of my sun spots have faded, and my skin is less red overall. In the skin-care community, azelaic acid is often touted as a fix-all. While it may not be the solution to every skin problem, after this 12-week experience I can confidently say it's worth the hype. You can find the ingredient in many great products at Sephora, but for me, the Shani Darden Skin Care Rescue Serum With 10% Azelaic Complex was the right choice. So many products claim to target redness, but few over-the-counter formulas have actually worked for me. The serum has helped me maintain my results from the medicated topical cream that first helped get my rosacea under control, while addressing my other top skin concerns like dark spots and uneven texture. Usually when I'm close to finishing a product, I'm already thinking about what other potion I'm going to try next. This time around, I'll be keeping Rescue Serum on repeat, as well as checking out the rest of the Shani Darden lineup on my next Sephora trip.
Elle
12-06-2025
- Health
- Elle
I Used This $78 Hair Growth Serum for 12 Weeks—Here's What Happened
Want to know if a product really works? Welcome to Slow Beauty. Since it can take up to six weeks to see results from using a new formula, we have testers try the best and buzziest in hair and skin care for double that amount of time to determine what actually makes a difference. My relationship to my hair didn't used to be a complicated one. Growing up, my mane was my calling card: straight-ish brown strands, plentiful but thin in nature, that reached past my waist and were almost always tied into a low ponytail or, on special days, two low pigtails. During my preschool and kindergarten years, my dad was the one who would get me ready in the morning, and low ponytails were his speciality (read: the only hairstyle he could crank out consistently), and I continued the tradition into elementary school. I got my hair cut for the first time when I was 11 years old, a result of my general ambivalence about the whole thing. Of course, I went through periods of being in love with my hair straightener (tragic in retrospect) or my hair gel (tragic but make it crunchy), but it wasn't until my 20s, and now 30s, that I started to become concerned. Did my hairline always look like that? And by that, I mean, dominated by a slightly off-center widow's peak and lean patches on either side of said peak. According to my childhood photos, yes, this had always been the case. But, then again, had it ? Had it gotten worse? More sparse over the years? Were the supposed changes due to stress? Hormones? The plight of getting older? Combine this, let's say, unfortunately common thought spiral with our culture's recent So when I was offered the opportunity to try Courtesy of Vegamour Week 1 To be honest, I wasn't expecting any miracles this week. That's the ethos of this column, after all! Instead, I was mostly focused on the daily experience of using the hair serum, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. At the start, my colleague told me to use the product on dry hair, which made me nervous, since my strands get oily quite quickly. I worried: Would each use leave my scalp greasy, and therefore turn this entire exercise into a complicated puzzle of hair washing/drying/serum-ing? But I shouldn't have feared. The water-based concoction is so light that I forget about it minutes after applying. Week 2 We're still in the waiting period. According to Vegamour's website, one can 'expect to see results' from this hair serum in about three to four months. (We're really putting the slow in Slow Beauty here.) The daily ritual of massaging the serum into my temples has given me much to think about, including what it means to be constantly noticing or analyzing a part of your body. Existential crisis: triggered. Week 3 I'm still hesitant to report anything substantial here, but there's definitely some sort of placebo effect going on. I look at myself in the mirror and think, Maybe it does look fuller around my temples? Is there suddenly more hair there? Has it magically transformed? No, of course it hasn't. But after three weeks of daily attention, my mind clearly wants there to be an effect. Hopefully, by next week, I can be a bit more clear-eyed. Week 4 No substantial changes that I can see, though I'm still confident this could all work! It's an easy enough task, and either way, I do feel like I must be keeping my skin hydrated and healthy. That feels like a win. Courtesy of Vegamour Week 5 The placebo effect still seems to be working—my temples look a little fuller to me, even though I know, scientifically, that can't be right. Even so, it's nice to soak in the feeling. Week 6 Halfway through! My Vegamour serum and I are practically best friends now; I've even experimented with using it on wet hair too. I hesitate to analyze too much at this point, but I appreciate the opportunity to give my temples some extra attention. I've honestly never used anything consistently when it comes to my hair, so an improvement either way. Week 7 I can't believe it, but I seem to be almost done with my first bottle of serum. The last day or so, I haven't been able to get a dropper full of product, but I have been able to pour a bit of serum from the bottle into my hand and apply it that way. I think it's safe to say that if you're using the serum every single a day (I've admittedly missed a day here or there, but I think the average customer would do the same) then one bottle can last you about 6 weeks. Not bad, all things considered, but a good thing to know, since you're not supposed to see results for three months. Week 8 Two months complete! I've officially moved on to my second bottle of serum and have been a bit more indulgent lately, sometimes using a full dropper on one side of my scalp and then repeating on the other side. This is partially because I realized every once in a while I was forgetting to use the product altogether. We're going to finish out the last month of this Slow Beauty process strong. Courtesy of Vegamour Week 9 I'm very excited to take my 'after' photos in a few weeks and do a true comparison. Over the weekend, I attended a wedding and pulled my hair back into a half-up-half-down 'do, something that really accentuates my bare temples, in my opinion. Maybe I was high on sunshine (the wedding was in Puerto Rico, after all), or maybe the product really is working, because this time around, the lack of hair didn't bother me as much. Week 10 I can't believe we're almost at the end. I'm not going to lie, I'm back to feeling a bit self-conscious about my temples after seeing a few photos of my hair looking particularly sparse—though my partner reminded me that, in these instances, I hadn't washed my hair in a day or so, which definitely does not help. Week 11 Alright, guys, I'm back on the other side of the fence. Maybe I do see some new growth?! I will say I've been traveling a lot this month and find it harder to keep up with the once-a-day cadence while I'm away from home. But I'd give myself an A- so far. Week 12 Now that we've come to the end of this experiment, I have to say, I'm going to keep it up. There are some baby hairs on both sides of my head that feel very promising (were they there before? I don't think so! but maybe?), and I really want to see if they keep growing. Plus, the product is simple enough to use. Maybe there's hope for me and my temples after all? Design Courtesy of Leah Romero The author before and after using the serum for 12 weeks. Final Thoughts Despite it being 12 weeks later, I'm still definitely in the early stages of my relationship with the Vegamour serum. Per the product's website, you're supposed to start seeing results around three to four months, and I've just recently hit the three-month mark. But to use the same metaphor, I'm happy to report that I'd like to keep dating this little guy. I found the serum quite easy to use; I've been pleasantly surprised by how the quick-drying formula doesn't leave my hair greasy at all, meaning I can use it whenever it fits in my schedule best, and not the other way around. Personally, I've found assessing hair growth to be a challenging task. After staring at something every day, it can be easy to feel like your mind is playing tricks on you, similar to how it's difficult to recognize a change in a loved one because you're seeing them so often. My current read, and what I think these photos show, is that I'm seeing some growth and density, including new short baby hairs coming in. It's not a shocking amount, but such things take time, so I'm more than willing to keep the experiment going. The serum is an investment at $78 a bottle, so if you're also hoping to try, and you have the coin to spend, I would suggest going for Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum
Elle
20-05-2025
- Health
- Elle
This Serum Helped Minimize Stubborn Dark Spots I've Had for Years
Want to know if a product really works? Welcome to Slow Beauty. Since it can take up to six weeks to see results from using a new formula, we have testers try the best and buzziest in hair and skin care for double that amount of time to determine what actually makes a difference. Due to the nature of my job, I'm constantly in a hamster wheel of trialing beauty formula after formula, and after a while they tend to blur together. It's honestly pretty rare that a skin-care product impresses me enough to land a permanent place in my routine. Eucerin Radiant Tone Dual Serum, which helped visibly reduce the appearance of my dark spots over a span of 12 weeks, is the latest to earn entry into that inner circle. Eucerin spent 10 years on research and development to finalize the products in the new Radiant Tone collection. The line's star ingredient is Thiamidol, a patented compound that helps treat and prevent the appearance of dark spots with continued use. The Radiant Tone Dual Serum also contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate. When I first started using the serum, I was hoping it would sufficiently moisturize my skin (so I wouldn't have to layer another serum on top) and fade the dark spots that have populated my cheeks and temples for years. Keep reading to find out what actually happened during and after I incorporated Eucerin Radiant Tone Dual Serum into my routine for a full 12 weeks. Week 1 The serum feels pleasant on the skin and hydrates without feeling sticky. It's only been a week, so there aren't any big changes to note here. Week 2 It's freezing outside, but my skin doesn't feel dry thanks to this serum. I looked in the mirror today and was shocked at how much brighter my skin looked than last week. Could it already be working? Week 3 I don't see much of a difference this week compared to the last; however, I know I need to give the serum a few more weeks to work its magic. Patience is key here, folks! Week 4 Still, nothing has visibly changed since week two, but I'm not worried. The serum hasn't caused any inflammation or breakouts—which has been known to happen when I'm trying a new product—so that's a plus. Week 5 I got some microneedling done all over my face and neck last week, so I had to keep my routine super-simple and wasn't able to use the serum for a few days. I'm glad to be back using it, though—I missed the moisture. Week 6 I can see that the darkest cluster of dark spots on my left cheek has faded significantly, and I don't have to use as much concealer on it. Week 7 My skin is still loving the formula; if I forget to apply it, I definitely notice a difference in both hydration and brightness. Week 8 My dark spots are continuing to lighten up. I feel like I'm using less and less concealer and foundation to even out my complexion. Week 9 The weather here in New York City is warming up, and my skin doesn't need quite as much extra moisture as it did before. However, I'm still appreciating the hydration boost in my nighttime routine and when I wake up, my skin looks smooth and radiant. Week 10 Looking at photos, I'm shocked by the difference I see; my complexion looks clearer and brighter. This is a testament to how consistency with the right skin-care product can yield real results. Week 11 I've been in Miami this week, and I've been getting compliments on my skin left and right. My friend's mom, who owns a company that sells professional aesthetic equipment, told me that it looked perfect and that she couldn't think of a single aesthetic treatment I should try—that was super meaningful to me, considering that I was on a potent medication a few years ago to treat my cystic acne. And my dark spots have lightened so much in the past 11 weeks that I feel confident being out and about without makeup. Week 12 Just under the wire, my bottle completely ran out this week. I could tell how much I actually loved the serum from the pang of sadness, and even slight panic, I felt when I realized I was down to the last drop. And even after baking in the subtropical sun of South Florida last week, my remaining dark spots didn't get any darker. Pretty impressive. Although my original spots weren't very dark, there were so many of them that my eyes always immediately gravitated toward them in the mirror. Now all I see is luminous, clear, healthy-looking skin. Some of the dark spots are gone entirely, and the remaining ones appear significantly lighter. I keep flipping back and forth between my before and after photos, and even though I lived it, I can't believe the results. I definitely recommend Eucerin Radiant Tone Dual Serum to anyone looking to combat dark spots—and I can't wait to break open another bottle.
