Hairstylist Gregory Russell’s Short-and-Sweet Guide to Keeping Styled Hair Healthy

One of the most important steps to styling hair is how you prepare it. From the shampoo and conditioner you use to the serums, lotions, mousses, and mists that supplement your hair routine, it all matters. One of my favorite products to prep hair is the new Pureology Strength Cure Dream Healer Serum. Not only is it healing the hair from the inside out, but the mirror-like finish is the stuff of hairstylists’ dreams. I’ve never had such a reactive response to a product as I have with this one. People are delightfully shocked by how soft and shiny their hair looks and feels.  

I think about hair like I think about my skincare. The shampoo is just as important as your facial cleanser, the serums and oils are just as important (and should be personalized the same) as the ones you use for your face. The first product I add to my hair out of the shower is Color Fanatic Spray to help with smoothing, adding protection and shine. Then I add two pumps of dream healer, to keep my hair looking frizz-free, shiny, and to define my curls. I will add another pump after it’s fully dry for more definition to my waves. 

On my clients, I generally will start with a detangling leave-in/heat protectant like Color Fanatic Spray. Your hair is most sensitive when it's wet because of how elastic it becomes. Using a detangler before brushing is important to protect against breakage and add hydration. The next step for me is using a serum like the Dream Healer Serum to add slip, heal split ends, add high shine, and recondition so my finished product is long-lasting, super shiny, bouncy, and healthy. After my blowout, I will use some additional serum for more shine, definition, and polish. It's also amazing to use for sleek ponytails.

How Brow Guru Kristie Streicher Achieves “Above-Average” Skin Tone & Texture

When it comes to beauty and looking/feeling good, it’s all about good brows and skin for me. They’re both the key to looking naturally youthful and framed.  Properly shaped eyebrows can enhance and lift the entire face.  By defining your brow bone—which then accentuates the cheekbones—you’ll essentially be uplifting your whole visage. As an eyebrow artist, witnessing this transformation and seeing clients radiate confidence after an eyebrow treatment is truly rewarding.

Streicher working her brow magic on a client.

Streicher in her studio.

If you know me, you know I am terrified of any skin procedures (outside of a baby's tear drop of Botox for my 11s).  My secret weapon for above-average tone and texture for the last few years has been my ZIIP Halo device. This handheld tool utilizes both microcurrent and nanocurrent technology to emulate the body’s natural electrical currents, promoting skin cell renewal and repair. The bouncy, plump, and even texture is unparalleled—and the best part is it only takes minutes. I try to use this facial toning device at least twice a week; my favorite 1-2 combo (which I do monthly) is to use it following the Shani Darden Triple Acid Peel—it’s as close to receiving a supercharged, professional facial as you can get.

My nighttime routine is pretty simple. I’ve recently started using Lenox & Sixteenth’s The Laser Serum Triple Acid Concentrate—it’s been a game-changer for my texture and overall brightness.  I find taking my progesterone (HRT) and some magnesium before bed really helps with getting a restful night’s sleep, which is everything!

Why Elsa Marie Collins Starts Every Day With Her Morning ‘Non-negotiable’

What does success look like for me, a mother of three multiracial, multicultural, and multilingual children, plus a husband who lives part-time in a different state? How does it manifest for a woman like myself, one who runs her own charitable organization and a consulting company, on top of simply trying to be a functioning member of society? If I told you all of it hinges upon 20 minutes on the treadmill, you might not believe me. But those precious 20 minutes of exercise each morning give me purpose and keep me focused. Frankly, it is a way to motivate me to help others.

My workout is about more than movement—it’s about setting up my day for success. I would wake up every morning with the idea that the treadmill was the most important priority of the day—not because it actually was, but because if I didn’t give it this level of importance, it would be very easy for me to do [insert any activity that society deems is important for women/mothers]. So I treated my morning workout like an absolute must. And before long, the routine became the thing giving my day structure and meaning. 

I call these 20 minutes my non-negotiable. After my alarm goes off, I head downstairs to the kitchen to prepare lunch for my youngest child and start to get breakfast ready for the family.  I then head to my treadmill for 20 minutes to get my sanity. I get on the treadmill to ideate around projects. I walk on the treadmill to ruminate on the day ahead and get ready to tackle all of the items that are on my calendar and my to-do list. Once I get this movement in, I can finish making breakfast, do school drop-off, and then start my work day.

But what if I have an early flight? A service trip to the border? A visit to a battleground state to help my community get out and vote? Do I still get my non-negotiable in? Yes, I do. I have set my alarm at 4 AM to ensure I have those 20 minutes, because as tired as I am when I get out of bed, I know I will feel worse if I don’t do it at all. This simple act rids me of anxiety and generally makes me feel like I can handle anything that comes my way. That’s a powerful 20 minutes!

The first time I ever heard the phrase “mom guilt” was a couple of weeks after having my first child. I was trying to figure out when I was going to be able to work out between feedings, taking showers, and getting back to work. Then someone said to me, “but won’t you feel guilty that you are working out instead of doing [insert any activity that society attributes to women/mothers]?” I remember this moment clearly—and I also recall deciding, then and there, that I wouldn’t. I knew I would be a better mother, worker, and human being if I did this one activity for myself. As a result, I unsubscribed from mom guilt (and from peer pressure, too!). No one is living your life in your shoes, so why let their opinions affect you?

Beauty Writer Zoe Schaeffer Will Happily Take a Week of Downtime for This Skincare Treatment

Zoe Schaeffer

My beauty writer circle likes to talk shop about treatments, because we feel like we’ve tried them all. We have our no-no’s (deep heat!) and our goals (skin longevity!) and are always looking for the next best thing. Well, I believe I found it, and it’s called cold oxygen plasma. The treatment is offered by my new favorite face witch, Jennifer Gerace, (aka Beverly Hills Skincare Muse), who has cooler shit than any aesthetician I’ve ever been to (next up: needling with fermented vegetable serum from Korea).

Here’s how cold plasma works, in a nutshell: the plasmaceptor device vaporizes the skin by using energy that delivers oxygen directly to cells, which triggers a healing response—or “controlled micro-injury” much like microneedling if you’re familiar with that. In turn, cold plamsa does all the things: tighten, build collagen, promote cell turnover, shrink pores, and (my favorite) “lift” pigmentation. But the service also has some unexpected benefits that are tricky to otherwise achieve, like helping eyebrows grow back, zapping pesky upper-lip lines…One time, it literally made one of Jennifer’s clients look as if she got a lower bleph (check her IG for proof!).

Jen Gerace performs a facial treatment on Zoe Schaeffer.

As someone with hyperpigmentation, slight rosacea, and mild melasma, the treatment completely evened everything out. A week later, I looked in the mirror and swore I was still wearing foundation from the night before (an actual thought I had, by the way). The only downside is downtime. Because you need to clear your calendar for…One Week. And that’s one week of looking like cars ran all over your face and neck (an area which Jennifer claims plasma will “shrink wrap”!) The tire-track scabs eventually flake off, much like an IPL, to again, compare it to a more recognizable treatment. And while I maintain that the week of looking crazy is indeed worth it, Jennifer now sells (and is one of the few to carry in the U.S.), a plasmasceptor home device as a companion to the service, or simply to use on its own. Its sound (a zapping noise), and smell (let’s just say it gives "burning") are nothing to fear at all. You are not heating up skin, nor are you messing with your barrier. Rather, you are restoring cells and improving elasticity; in five to seven minutes, you're done and ready to resume your normal skincare routine the following morning. Yes, it’s an investment (less than a Lyma, more than a Nuface), but will yield similar results to the treatment over time. Plus, there is no downtime. But in the end, a week of working from home, passing up events, and snuggling on the couch just feels like a great price to pay for your best skin ever.

How Matt Rez Keeps His Clients’ Hair Smooth and Healthy—Even Between Dye Jobs

My entire career has been dedicated to healthy hair and maintaining the integrity of my clients’ hair while changing colors. The hyper vigilance in me to save every strand has gotten me the reputation and career I have today. As careful as I have always worked, I would quite often turn new clients with compromised hair away out of fear of potentially damaging their hair.

 But that was before I started using Epres Professional Bond Repair. Now, I can’t imagine a world of my work without it. As of the last year, I have been able to level up with the newest generation of hair bond repair. Epres has changed the game for me and my clients when going lighter with their hair color. I feel safe to push the limits with full security that my clients’ hair will be left in the best condition humanly possible after chemical services. I use it in my bleach, color, glosses, and as a treatment on every single client, especially in multiple-step color-correction sessions. The highly concentrated, waterless formula is made of just four vegan, biodegradable ingredients. My clients use the healthy hair shampoo, conditioner, and the at-home bond repair treatment as maintenance between visits with me! I can’t sing enough praises about my love for Epres, and would recommend this product to anyone who regularly colors their hair.

The product Matt Rez can’t live without.

How to Use:

Apply the product and leave it on for at least 10 minutes (you can even sleep in it).

Pour one concentrate vial into Epres™ spray bottle. Fill with water, attach sprayer and shake well. Spray a generous amount onto dry hair until fully saturated.

Spray onto dry, unwashed hair until fully saturated. Leave on at least 1 minutes then cleanse and style as usual.

Use 1-2 times a week for softer, stronger, healthier hair. After mixing, product can be used for up to two months.

Matt Rez at work.

Milla Jovovich’s Beauty Journey—and the Lessons She’s Learned Along the Way

Courtesy of Milla Jovovich

Women and age, age and women—everyone has an opinion, and everyone has a suggestion. (Interestingly, it seems like the people with the most opinions aren’t even women. I get the most comments on my aging from men.) With all this new information available and the myriad products out there, there’s never been a better time to take care of one’s skin and body. The problem is, what actually works and what’s just another magical snake oil product—expensive, useless, and potentially harmful? Well, here I am to tell you the truth: I have no clue. But I am a total product whore, so I’ve tried almost everything out there (and messed up my skin on many occasions in the process)! So I’m going to briefly give you a few tips that have kept my skin in (mostly) great shape through the years.

This is the regimen I return to when I’ve tried too many new products and I wake up with red, dry skin and have to take a weeklong skincare break to recover:

First, a great cream cleanser. I love Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser because it removes oily makeup so gently. It takes a minute to get used to, because it doesn’t strip your skin and you don’t feel squeaky-clean afterwards. Now, I’m not a young girl anymore, so my skin needs the extra moisture. And it definitely feels like my face is well-hydrated after using this cleanser.

If I’m on a film or photo shoot and the makeup has been piled on and powdered in for 12 hours, I double cleanse. One of my favorite cleansers to really make sure I get that squeaky-clean feeling, but I know it’s still gentle, is Dr. Melaxin’s Melting Cleanser. It’s wonderful.

Normally, I don’t like to wear a lot of makeup, so the Glossier does me just fine (an added benefit? It even washes away waterproof mascara). I then use a calming serum, like Biossance’s Rapid Plumping Serum. It feels amazing and I know it won’t irritate me. I sometimes layer that with the new Deinde Serum, which has a lot of anti aging ingredients, but is also calming and gentle. I love the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream as a great base for everything else. I also carry one of their travel samples in my makeup bag for a little pick-me-up mid day.

Now, onto makeup. When I was but a wee wisp of a girl, I used makeup like there was no tomorrow. I piled on eyeshadow in the colors of the rainbow, I loved powder blushes and face powder to keep the shine down. Everything back then was in powder form. Once I got to my late 30s, I realized that powder was definitely NOT my friend. It started creasing into my laugh lines. It would cake up after multiple reapplications in an evening. And in the end, it did not make me look gorgeous and glamorous. I felt like halfway through the night, I was already doing the 4 AM walk of shame, looking like a hot mess with powder in places I couldn’t fix on the go.

That made me switch my thinking. Back in the early aughts, there weren’t a bunch of new makeup brands with delicious, creamy products that gave the skin a dewy appearance like there are today. But I knew that cream was the answer for aging skin.

Because I worked with some of the greatest makeup artists in fashion history, I was taught a few tricks. For instance: I noticed some makeup artists using lipstick instead of powder blush. I immediately took that technique and never looked back. I found myself using lipstick as blush and lipstick as eyeshadow—it was the most amazing discovery that allowed my skin to move without creating those creases, which were so difficult to touch up after a few hours. Whether I knew it or not at the time, I’d also ignited an obsession with makeup that had multiple uses.

But the problem remained with foundation. It was still super thick and made my skin look cakey in real life. So I started diluting it with moisturizer. Immediately, I saw how much lighter the coverage was, and how much more I could control it! I would use a brush to apply unadulterated foundation around my nose, where I have redness—but by my eyes and cheeks, I would apply the lighter version with moisturizer. Boom, I knew I had discovered the secret to more beautiful, realistic results that immediately made me look fresh and natural while hiding the bits I needed to cover.

Cut to today. Now, cream-based makeup is more common than powder—and for good reason! Older women have never looked so gorgeous and glowy. Out went the powders, and now we’re allowing our skin to show through and shine! I’ve tried so many tinted moisturizers, but in the last few months, the one I keep going back to is the Supergoop Protect(tint). It’s got SPF 50, so I don’t need to apply an extra layer of sunblock.

I NEVER leave home without mascara because it’s a staple piece that can be used in so many ways. On the lashes, of course, to make your eyes pop and look more awake, but also in a pinch, I use a Q-tip and brush it over the mascara wand to apply at the base of my lashes for an instant smoky effect. It’s saved me on so many occasions when I’d forgotten my makeup bag—but I always carry a small satchel with my essentials.

For lips and cheeks, I love a handy, everything-stick: something I can use on my lips, eyes, and cheeks. For those who like a more subtle makeup look, these kinds of products work especially well. I adore the Ogee blush sticks, which come in some beautiful neutral shades that give the cheeks a sun-kissed glow. Additionally, this product works incredibly on the eyes when applied with the fingers.

On a personal note, I’ve always loved a classic red lip, so I use a wonderful, fuss-free brand called Merit Beauty. They have these gorgeous little pots that can multi task for eyes and lips called Flush Balm. They are truly adorable and so easy to apply.

There you have it: the contents of a tiny makeup bag filled with my history and beauty wisdom, along with a few products I’ve picked up along the way. It’s been an honor and a privilege, ladies! Enjoy! —M. Jovovich

Robin Black Has Serious History With This Red Lipstick

The renowned makeup artist shares the story behind her “crimson little secret.”

“Red is the great clarifier, bright and revealing. I can't imagine becoming bored with red, it would be like becoming bored with the person you love.” —Diana Vreeland

“Red is associated with passion because it is the color of fire. Those who take this seriously need to be reminded there is such a thing as arson.” ―Fran Lebowitz

~

It was 1994: I stubbed out my cigarette (a newly acquired and very short-lived habit) before sauntering into Barneys. Usually, I just wandered around, admiring all the avant-garde fashion that I couldn’t possibly afford. But on that particular day, I was on a mission—the kind of mission that feels extra important when you are only 19 and just arrived in New York.

And then I saw it. Sitting on the counter was a small black display with 12 glorious bullets of color in rectangular black tubes. It looked powerful and modern, different from all the ladylike, classic packaging that ruled the upscale cosmetic departments in those years. I had seen it in Linda Wells’s Allure Magazine ("the bible," as the beauty-savvy referred to it,) but it looked even more delicious in person.

“One tube of the NARS Jungle Red please,” I said to the sales woman. 

“Would you like to try it on first?” she replied. 

“No. It’s the right red for me.” I said, imagining that I sounded like the type of sophisticate who had loads of luxurious red lipsticks tossed on her vanity in the Upper East Side. (Never mind that I was, in fact, subletting a room in a tenement building in the Bowery that didn’t even have a proper mirror.)

From behind the counter, the associate smiled at my bare-faced, wildly unjustified, youthful confidence—but she kindly made a big fuss over wrapping my treasure in tissue before placing it carefully inside the coveted Barneys bag. I couldn’t resist browsing slowly through the rest of the store, bag casually swinging from my arm, proud that I had just bought THE statement lip of my dreams. Even if it did mean skipping a few meals to fit into my very limited budget.

This might sound like a trite little tale about a young woman who was searching for a visual way to express her newly found adulthood, and it is. But it's also true that the perfect shade of red lipstick can change your life.

Thirty years later, I still saunter but I don't smoke, and my passion for a statement red lip remains. NARS Jungle Red is my go-to anytime I want to feel fabulous, or command attention in a meeting, or need a little boost of motivation, if I'm hiding a horrible case of jet lag, or sometimes it's a bit of armor for the days I feel sad or angry. Over the years, I've moved from red to red, and I can identify what year of my life it was by which brand/shade I was wearing at the time. (For those of you who are curious, I've been absolutely hooked on the Sisley Paris Phyto-Twist Matte in #18 for ages.) But NARS stands out as a forever favorite, and I’m happy to share my crimson little secret with you all.

Molly R. Stern on the Life Lessons (and Self-Care Products) That Got Her Through 2024

As the (beloved) go-to makeup artist for Reese Witherspoon, Maya Rudolph, Greta Gerwig, and many more, Molly R. Stern knows a thing or two about celebrating a big year. Even when it’s one of the toughest of her life.

With 2024 coming to a close, I wanted to share some of my favorite “must-haves” that got me through the year.  I have had an incredibly transitional 12 months, starting with separating from my husband of 20 years and moving from and selling the only home I have ever owned. After 17 years of living in the same place, the process of shedding the things I’d been shoving in every corner made me feel incredibly vulnerable—but was also so liberating. I had lived alone before getting married a few times, but was always wanting…wanting to find love, wanting to have kids, I was always sort of waiting for my family life to begin. Now, I have the opportunity to live on my own, in my new, unique space. And feeling ‘whole' this time is deep and very fulfilling. 

Another major milestone: I sent two of my three kids off to college. I know that sending children out to explore the world is part of the gig as parents—if we do our job right, we are raising the loves of our life to leave us. But whoa, I was not expecting the feeling of loss that washed over me. It’s been amazing to see them flourish, and to transition to having adult children. They continue to be the greatest humans I know. But when it did happen, it all went too fast…I had been warned, but it’s truly a blink.  

Then, in a shocking turn of events, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in June. After the initial shock subsided, I was actually relieved.  I had been suffering for close to a year with many symptoms that were starting to feel debilitating. It felt good to know that I wasn’t insane, and that the messages my body were sending me were real. It’s been a process to get my medicine right and find my groove again. But I am so grateful to modern medicine, and the fact that I now am confident that I can live well with this new reality.  

This year, my personal mantra to ‘LOVE YOURSELF’ was put to the test. Re-engaging with myself in such a deep way was both terrifying and profound.  I realized that, with the help of my loving family, dedicated friends, loyal work community and yes, my self-care gadgets and products, I absolutely have the ability to heal my heart and my body.  It is incredibly empowering to take the reins of self-care and redirect my habits and priorities. I am truly walking into this new year hopeful and excited. I get this optimism from my amazing genetic makeup, which has the bones of Holocaust survivors, cancer survivors, family and friends with perfect comedic timing. And of course, by leading with LOVE and GRATITUDE. 

Here are my LOVE yourself ‘NEW BEGINNINGS’ Must-Haves:

A great, old-fashioned planner

This is a great way to visualize your month and decide when you will meet with friends, exercise and rest. Scheduling to boost dopamine is a must.  

The Choice by Dr. Edith Edger

This memoir is both harrowing and inspiring beyond belief. Dr. Edger describes her experience as a young woman in Auschwitz—how she survived, and then fearlessly found the capacity to choose joy in her life. I could not put the book down. 

Retrouvé Balancing Face Oil

This perfectly absorbent, deeply hydrating face oil is perfect for anyone dealing with complexion dryness. It makes the skin feel like silk. I love it at night, and in the morning, depending what my skin needs. It soaks in and wears beautifully under makeup.

Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar

This turbo tool vibrates and energizes the skin while boosting blood flow. I use it on every single one of my clients. The smoothing, sculpting results are instantaneous. 

The Higher Dose Infrared PEMF Go Mat

This energy-boosting holistic recovery mat is amazing for on-the-go relief anywhere, anytime.

Boxing Classes at Box Union ( for my L.A. folks!)

Learning of my diagnosis came as quite a shock, but understanding that there were multiple ways to slow the progression was a huge relief. Exercise is a clinically proven way to diminish symptoms of brain fog, loss of balance and coordination (as well as boost morale like nothing else). All of these symptoms can rear their heads and ramp up during menopause and age, even without the actual cherry-on-top diagnosis. Boxing has been a lifeline for me. It’s fun, makes me feel strong and promotes a release of neurotrophic factors which are important for the entire nervous system. 

The Beautiful Chorus Choir

This musical group’s album, Mantras of Love, is a gorgeous, affirmative listen. It’s ideal for meditating, drifting off to sleep, or singing at the top of your lungs while sitting in traffic on the 405.

VioletteFr Bisou Balm

I have always been and continue to be obsessed with finding the perfect lip. And these matte, colorful, just-bitten balms might just be it. They come in a great shade range and feel glorious upon application. I have them in every color, and they are perfect to slip into my clients’ bag for their night out.

Jill Kargman’s Signature Scent That Never Fails to Impress

“Ma’am, I’m so sorry to bother you—but, um, can I ask what perfume you’re wearing?”

Not once, not twice, but dozens of times, dudes on the subway have asked me this question. We’ll both be rush hour strap-hangers, my spritzed-wrist exposed in a sea of squished humanity, and my flowery scent will waft over, happy eclipsing multiple commuters’ nostril-tormenting combo of noxious halitosis, B.O., and street-meat lunches. I always answer, “Jo Malone Red Roses,” prompting iPhone memos and, at times, vows to go buy a bottle for their girlfriends. 

When Hannibal Lecter is hiding in Florence, lurking in a famed perfumery, FBI analysts bring evidence to a trio of celebrated “noses,” who harness their olfactory expertise to discern the bespoke layers with various top notes and nuanced combinations. That may sound very chic, but I don’t need some complicated potpourri including ambergris, whatever that is. My philosophy has always been: do a common thing uncommonly well. (Which is why I’d rather eat the most kick-ass grilled cheese rather than a Michelin three-star razor clam with celeriac foam and scallop jizz. Keep it simple.) Jo Malone does rose in its purest, most untouched form, and I can’t get enough of it in perfume version. There’s a reason people say stop and smell the roses: they’re fucking amazing. As the ‘80s Froot Loops cereal mascot Toucan Sam chirps, follow your nose. It always knows.

Introducing: Letters From Friends

I wanted to create this section in The Editor’s Edit for two important reasons. First and foremost, I hoped to make a permanent place on TEE where people I trust could share valuable insights into products, experiences, and places that enhanced their lives. In today’s media landscape, where endorsements often come with hidden motives, I've noticed far too often a trend of product reviews driven by a need to buy. Are these reviews genuine or merely sales pitches? With this new Letters From Friends section, you’ll hear from makeup gurus, aestheticians, editors, and generally chic people sharing their favorite things—with a dose of honest and insightful wisdom.

Each post will be dedicated to honesty without personal gain; the idea is to share authentic experiences and the things we love. Basically, I want to offer genuine perspectives that will positively impact your life in some way. It could be as simple as a reliable sunscreen or a transformative skincare regimen, a perfume that becomes your signature scent, or a book that offers solace during difficult times (or inspires you to pursue your dreams). I’m not counting out innovative beauty tools, physical therapy, or a hidden gem of a Parisian hotel, either. Sharing without needing anything in return is a valuable and worldly concept that’s often overlooked. So I’d like to foster a little space for it here.