Hasta La Ideas

Epistolary-inspired nail art puts a retro-futuristic twist on the traditional manicure

London’s legendary name in nails Mike Pocock created Nail Quills for Illamasqua, an over-the-top answer to nail art. The handmade press-ons seem born from some kind of fashion editorial fusing magic powers with a darkly futuristic vibe, also nodding to a bygone era of handwritten correspondence. While it’s technically an old-time motif, the talon-like shape makes for a fierce way to trick out a manicure for Halloween or any time you need a decadent Goth touch.

Nail Quills come in a set of two—one for each thumb—and are available for £35 via waiting list through Illamasqua online. For a more monstrous take on the concept, check out Pocock’s latest, the Toxic Claw.

An exfoliant-and-cleanser-in-one to battle the changing seasons

To help keep skin soft and healthy before winter rolls in, we’ve been using Ren’s Micro Polish Cleanser. The two-in-one formula combines a deep clean with gentle exfoliation to rejuvenate and purify the skin a few times a week, as part of Ren’s Radiance Range. Having used the cleanser for a few months, we’ve now reserved a coveted permanent place for it in the bathroom cabinet.

What made us fans of the British brand in the first place—”skincare as it should be”—all Ren products have an ingredient list of healthy, mostly natural active ingredients derived from fruits and vegetables. The three main bio-actives here include amber micro-beads to start the exfoliation, papain from Mexican papayas to further exfoliate and reduce inflammation and pineapple-based glycolic acid to decongest pores and leave the skin’s surface feeling significantly renewed. Other natural cleansing agents and non-intrusive chemicals in the Cleanser also help to reduce pore size and fine lines.

The 100-milliliter tube sells for $30 from Ren online, as well as from Amazon.

Spray-on conditioner detangles and protects delicate tresses in a flash

I don’t have kids, but spraying Little Green’s detangler on my hair brought back childhood memories of mom pulling a hairbrush through my tangles as I ran out the door to school. Having also spent hours combing my baby sister’s long, ultra-fine hair (we called it “turning straw into gold”), the leave-in product is perfect for wrangling any unruly mop when time is at a premium.

Fortified with ingredients that moisturize, strengthen and protect (aloe, silk proteins, vitamins B5 and E, etc.), the formula helps with sun damage as well as other hazards of the environment, including chlorine, heat and salt. To use, evenly spray the fine mist on clean hair, maybe finger comb it—no rinsing necessary .

The hypoallergenic, paraben- and sulfate-free conditioner doesn’t come cheap, starting at $15 for an eight-ounce bottle (available from the Little Green site or Amazon), but the spray dispenser means it should last you longer than others.