BEAUTY LAB
A half-dozen of the best new beauty products on the market this month
UP TO THE TASK
The Everything Balm from Trilogy, a New Zealand skincare company, is made from beneficial organic ingredients and natural emollients. It contains antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids and can be used to condition nails, soothe lips, repair cracked heels and put an end to flaky elbows. So gentle, it's even safe for babies. trilogyproducts.com
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CELEBRATING THE TROPICS
The sugary sand beaches, colorful festivals and luxurious resorts of the Bahamas were the inspiration for Essie's newest collection of six polishes, called "It's Better in the Bahamas." Shown here are The Cove Copper, a rich, shimmery copper; Bahama Mama, a deep plum; and Lyford Lilac, a mauve-lilac shade. essie.com
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THAI THERAPY
Naturopathica's Thai Herbal Body Lotion is free of synthetic fragrances and full of essential oils of lavender, ylang ylang, jojoba and wheat germ, to name a few. This rich body lotion is also fortified with sea algae, avocado oil, shea butter and vitamins A, C and E to provide silky smooth skin in a holistic, authentic way. naturopathica.com
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BRITTLE HAIR BANISHER
Part of Redken's new All Soft line that softens dry, brittle hair, Gold Glimmer is a finisher that conditions strands, prevents breakage, and blocks humidity and environmental aggressors. The line's shampoo, conditioner, treatments and finisher all include the Silk-Luxe Complex, which enables the delivery of three oils for internal and external softening. redken.com
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HIGH POWERED
In his quest to select the perfect hair dryer for himself and the stylists at his namesake salon, Ted Gibson decided the best way to find tools that would live up to his expectations was to make them. His new hair dryer uses nano fuzeion, ceramic and tourmaline technologies to dry hair faster without damage or static electricity. tedgibsonbeauty.com
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FRIZZ-FREE ZONE
A few spritzes of Curlisto Glow & Shine on dry hair will seal the cuticle against moisture loss and color fade, add shine, and eliminate frizz and static electricity on either straight or curly styles, without weighing strands down. The alcohol-free, nonoily spray contains aloe barbadensis leaf extract and jojoba seed oil. curlisto.com
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A LITTLE DAB'LL DO YA
From spiky Mohawks to slick updos, the 30 waxes and pomades here will help you get the job done.
Much has changed in the world of styling products since the 1920s, when Murray's Superior Hair Dressing Pomade was introduced. Once primarily the domain of men with barbershop cuts, pomades spawned waxes, pastes and clays that help provide a range of textured styles for men and women.
 Short cuts like this from Toni&Guy are made for pomades and waxes. |
"These products are great to add to any styling portfolio because they address all of the innovative textures that you're seeing today," says Redken Education Artistic Director Sam Villa. Waxes tend to be more solid, heat-sensitive and provide medium support for piecey looks with defined texture and polished shine, Villa says, while pomades are usually more liquid, offering touchable control with light support, subtle shine and added body. And while usually associated with short looks, Villa says these products can work well on long hair, too—pomades can add body and soft control when blow drying, and waxes can control frizz and add shine to curly hair or produce sleek updos. Whatever look you're going for, application is critical.
"You need to apply these products where you want the hair to be most responsive," Villa says. "Most often, pomades should go from scalp to ends, and waxes should go from mid-shaft to ends." —LOTUS ABRAMS
Moldable Style
Alterna Hemp Modeling Clay provides long-lasting hold with a touchable, satin finish. Hemp seed oil, which contains lipid-rich essential fatty acids, replenishes hair's moisture and prevents damage. 4alterna.com
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Versatile Paste
You can create texture, increase definition or achieve pliable hold with American Crew Tea Tree Defining Paste. The lanolin-based styler contains tea tree oil, known for its healing, antibacterial properties. americancrew.com
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Double Identity
Combining the flexibility of a wax with the lightness of a mousse, Goldwell's new Profiler Mousse Wax utilizes FlexShine technology for lasting hold and brilliant shine without buildup. goldwellusa.com
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Matte Effect
N. 2 Mat Moulding Gesso, from Davines' For Wizards styling line, is an extra-hold defining wax that produces a matte finish—all the rage on the runways lately. The nourishing formula is water soluble. davines.com
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Curl Companion
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Grooming Pomade delivers workable hold and control. Excellent for wavy or curly hair, the pomade produces slick texture and definition, with reflective shine. paulmitchell.com
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Soft and Natural
The light- to medium-hold Short Sexy Hair Gleam Me Up Texture Shine and Hold Wax gives hair texture, definition and a big dose of shine. It contains provitamin B5, and herbal and protein extracts. sexyhair.com
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Twice as Nice
On wet hair, Scruples Pearl Prescriptives Dual Design Gel/Wax acts as a gel, providing volume and control. On dry hair, it works as a wax, adding shine and separation. scrupleshaircare.com
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Perfect Curls
Curls in need of the smoothness of a cream but the definition of a pomade will benefit from ISO Bouncy Curl Definer High Shine Crème Pomade, which leaves curls defined, frizz-free and shiny. isohair.com
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Hydrating Control
Part of the new Aveda Men line, the water-based Pure-Formance Pomade adds texture and definition with strong, pliable hold. The line features a proprietary phyto-active blend that soothes scalp and hair. aveda.com
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Naughty or Nice
Whether you're after punky spikes or simply extra body and texture, TIGI Bed Head Manipulator will provide textured separation and pliable hold with a matte finish on any hair length or texture. tigihaircare.com
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Nourishing Shine
Joico Brilliantine Pomade defines and moisturizes, while providing a glossy finish on dry hair. It contains a blend of the same 19 amino acids found naturally in human hair to promote hair's health. joico.com
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Variable Design
Create piecey looks, sophisticated shapes and tousled styles with Nexxus Phyto Organics Transfigure Molding Paste. It's formulated with bunga raja for lustrous shine and acacia Senegal for flexible hold. nexxus.com
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Texture Builder
Hempz Texture Paste is designed to create texture by piecing hair into separate sections. The formula contains beeswax, castor oil, and hemp seed oil and extract to help keep hair conditioned. hempzhaircare.com
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Shining Bright
KMS California Hairplay Hard Wax provides strong, pliable hold with separation and shine. Extracts of cilantro and lime enable hold and flexibility, while grape and peppermint protect hair. kmscalifornia.com
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Easy Blending
L'Anza Art Elements Mix Hi-Def Wax provides pliable staying power for flicked-out styles; high-definition, detailed designs; and rugged, texturized looks. It easily blends into the hair and adds subtle shine. lanza.com
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Double Duty
Combining the benefits of both a wax and a pomade, Redken Water Wax 03 Shine Defining Pomade creates bold texture and separation to the hair, while adding moisture and luminous shine. redken.com
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Staying Solid
Even the tallest spikes will stay put with John Amico's solid fixative, Stick-Em-Up. A combination of natural ingredients helps the product deliver weightless definition, control and high shine. johnamico.com
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The Soft Touch
It may feel like a cream, but Matrix Biolage Shaping Crème-Wax offers the hold, texture and definition of a wax. The product's milk thistle, rice milk and bamboo milk complex provides a touchable, shiny finish. matrix.com
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Color Saver
Lisap Milano Sculture CC Wax provides shape, shine and body. The lightweight wax's UV filters protect haircolor, while D panthenol and jojoba oils strengthen and moisturize the hair. lisapusa.com
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Clean Conditioning
Pravana Shine & Define Wax adds sheen, definition and control, yet it's free of mineral and castor oils and petroleum products, so it washes out easily. The added Naturceutical Complex reconditions the hair. pravana.com
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Mold Hold
Create architectural looks with Sebastian Molding Mud Sculpting Fiber Cream, which includes natural and synthetic fibers to add support and separation, while leaving hair pliable, supple and shiny. sebastianinspires.com
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Easy Access
Barex Italiana Glossing Pomade features a twist-up tube that cleanly delivers the precise amount of product desired. The pomade offers flexible structure and weightless shine without greasiness. oloffbeauty.com
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Finely Polished
PureOlogy NanoWorks ShineLuxe Finishing Hair Polish contains certified-organic ingredients, and the proprietary AntiFade Complex and DryShine Technology to revitalize hair and tame flyaways with brilliant shine. pureology.com
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Enduring Sheen
The nongreasy Structure Pearl Finish from Profound Beauty glides easily into hair and will hold piecey, contoured styles or sleek, modern updos in place all day with luminous shine. profoundbeauty.com
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Natural Power
You can create chunky-textured effects with Keune So Pure Earth Wax when you use it on damp hair. Each product in the So Pure styling line is free of artificial polymers and has a pleasant citrus aroma. keune.com
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Botanical Formula
The blend of shea butter, vitamin E and aloe in Vitale Pro's Defining Curl Wax moisturizes and protects hair. When applied to dry hair, the product provides shiny texture and controlled definition. vitalepro.com
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Flexible Hold
The combination of resins, carnuba wax and light coconut oils in Kenra's Platinum Texturizing Taffy Sculpt & Separate enables pliable hold without stiffness. The product provides texture, separation and control. kenra.com
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Sculpting Aid
Formulated with extracts of yarrow and thyme, J Beverly Hills Finissage Finishing Texture Clay is an ideal tool to sculpt, refine and texturize hair. The medium-hold product softly separates and defines strands. jbeverlyhills.com
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Two-in-One Tool
Tressa KIS GelWax glides on damp hair like a gel, increasing volume with lasting support. On dry hair, the medium- to firm-hold product works like a wax, smoothing and separating strands, while adding definition and texture. tressa.com
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Lasting Color
Wella Color Preserve Shine Wax defines strands while delivering radiant shine. A combination of color-preserving molecules, UV filters and antioxidants helps maintain haircolor. wellausa.com
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