Tag: Tested

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Does a Vibrating Hair Straightener Actually Work? We Tested It


Madness has broken out in hair tools. It’s like an arms race to the next best thing: hairdryers are gold-plated and coming out of NASA. Curlers are vacuuming your strands in and releasing them coiled, and the sheer amount of innovation happening in flat irons boggles the mind. Some use sensors to “read” your hair and adjust the temperature from there; others shoot out argan oil-infused vapor or use diamond-infused iron.

Over the last few months I’ve tested my way through the bunch, until I narrowed it down to one flat-iron ready for the ultimate test. The N:P Beautiful Flat Iron uses ceramic plates that vibrate to shuffle your hair back and forth, which minimizes pulling, the brand says. MIT studies back the technology up, but we put it to a still harder test: a simulated get-together before a group of women go out. Six women with all different hair types, textures, and preferences shared a single iron. Here’s what went down.

The Curly Hair Up Against Humidity

“I have crazy, curly hair. I cannot keep up with this humidity and my new short cut, so I blow out my hair and then go over it with a flat iron twice a week. I use a titanium iron to touch up in the mornings—titanium makes it so much smoother and frizz-free, and I can get more done with less heat. That being said, this iron is magic! It’s so much fun to use, and it definitely works way better on my kinky roots than a normal iron.” —Azadeh Valanejad, video producer

The Silky Hair With a Fried Past

“Back in high school, I’d flat iron my hair every single day, but I haven’t touched one since 2010. I was a bit worried this would be just like the heavy, hair-frying model I used to use—however this iron proved completely different. It gave me silky, straight hair a world away from the fried mess I used to sport back in the day.” —Melissa Haney, digital analytics manager

The Frizzy Hair Touch-Up

“I don’t usually use flatirons since they tend to snag my hair at the ends, plus I don’t really like to wear my hair pin straight. I’d actually use one more often if I could curl my hair with a straightener, but the curl never comes out right. This flatiron might be the one however, it went through my hair smoothly and curling my ends was a no brainer. Also, the vibration wasn’t too aggressive, so it was easy to get the hang of. I’d definitely recommend it.” —Khaliha Hawkins, digital administrative assistant

The Damaged Waves

“My hair is naturally pretty wavy, and since I’m now the proud owner of a lob, I love how my new cut looks when it’s smooth and sleek. Trouble is: I’ve found that a regular flatiron damages my hair, so I’ve cut back on using one…until now. I’d definitely incorporate this one into my daily routine. It straightened my hair in one go, and without as much heat as I normally apply to my hair. Plus, it doesn’t make my hair feel overly dried-out or crispy. I think I know what my next paycheck is going toward.” —Jen Lance, assistant editor

The Full-On Curls

“After devoting hours in high school to straightening my hair, I’ve mostly left flat irons behind. It’s just not worth it—any whisper of humidity in the air, and my hair’s back to curly. When I do go straight, it’s always with a blow-out first, since straightening with an iron alone takes at least an hour. That said, this was impressive. I tested it on an inch-wide section, and in a couple of passes it was straight and pretty silky. I’d still blow my hair out first, but this adds the glossy, smooth finish I never quite reach.” —Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer

The Thick, Long, and Iron-Averse Hair

“I never, ever flat iron or straighten my hair. It’s incredibly thick and long, and I’m always scared of damaging it. I also just don’t have the time to fully style my hair every day because of its length. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It actually didn’t make my hair feel dry, and the result was actually very silky and smooth. Also, it works so fast! I could definitely imagine myself using this every day before work on some quick strands, to look like I had a blow-out or make myself look a little less disheveled.” —Tara Gonzalez, commerce editor

N:P Beautiful Flat Iron, $249, revolve.com

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California Just Became the First State to Ban Beauty Products Tested on Animals


California just gave beauty brands across the industry a big reason to stop animal testing. On Tuesday, the state legislature passed a bill to make the sale of animal-tested cosmetics illegal within the state after 2020. The practice has long been a hot-button issue, but recently more brands like The Body Shop, Too Faced, and Lush Cosmetics have been vocal about taking a stand against it. Now, with the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, it marks the first time a state has taken action to move the needle on such a large scale, and state representatives are hoping it sends a message.

The bill was introduced back in February by California Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), and on Friday, California’s senators unanimously voted to pass the act and send it to Governor Jerry Brown, who will decide whether or not to sign it into law. Brown’s record in office shows him historically supporting animal welfare issues, so the bill’s proponents are optimistic that it will pass. Co-sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Social Compassion in Legislation and supported by Cruelty Free International and Lush, the bill will make it illegal to “sell any cosmetic in California if the final product or any component of the product was knowingly tested on animals after January 1, 2020,” according to the legislation.

What does that mean for shoppers? On the ground in California, it’s going to simplify transparency. Now, Californians will no longer have to decipher a slew of tiny symbols to make sure their beauty routine hasn’t come at animals’ expense. The included umbrella covers products like deodorant, shampoo, and conditioner, so whether or not Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde left you with strong feelings on animal testing, ethical buying is no longer a personal choice.

Speaking to the decision back in February, Galgiani wrote in a statement that “inaction at the federal level compels California to lead the way in ensuring a cruelty-free cosmetics market for its citizens by barring any new ingredients or cosmetics that are tested on animals.” With the new regulations in place, ideally manufacturers will stop selling products tested on animals across the country, Kristie Sullivan, M.P.H., vice president of research policy with the Physicians Committee, added.

Also in a statement from when the bill was introduced, Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation, implored that it’s high time for the U.S. to get on board with more humane regulations: “This policy is tried and true, as the European Union implemented a similar law over five years ago and the sky didn’t fall. Animals have been saved while companies have flourished and grown without cruelty as part of their business model.”

California’s history of animal rights activism also supports its current initiative. In 2000, it outlawed animal testing when appropriate alternatives are available, and in 2014, it passed the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution, which urged Congress to prohibit animal testing for cosmetics. On a broader scale, almost 40 countries have banned cosmetics testing on animals. Still, the FDA has stayed neutral, stating that while it doesn’t require animal testing, it “advises cosmetic manufacturers to employ whatever testing is appropriate and effective for substantiating the safety of their products.”

With 2020 still a ways away, it’ll be some time until we see the ban’s effects. In the meantime, if you’re looking to make your routine cruelty-free, these brands are a good place to start.

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The 10 Best Cream Eyeshadows of the Hundreds We've Tested


Instagram makeup never ceases to amaze me. There are painted-on brows that anyone would swear are real, and people re-inventing their whole bone structure through the magic of contouring. So it’s crazy that eyeshadow, which everyone talks about like it’s as easy as putting on lipstick, is still as tough as it is. Not just in skill (blending is its own ballgame), but even in finding a product that doesn’t surrender to eyelid oil within a few hours and leave you with smudged lines collected in your crease. As with most makeup dilemmas, there are worse things in life. The difference is, this one was solvable with rigorous trial and error, as I tested my way through all the cream shadows on the market. That sounds like an exaggeration, but really. I tried more than 100 options from all the top brands over the course of a month—during the summer in NYC, no less. Scroll, shop, and put the money you save to something better.



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We Tested the Fenty Beauty Highlighters On Different Skin Tones, and It Lives Up to All the Hype


We’ve seen big launches in the beauty world, but honestly, very little has been on par with the Fenty Beauty debut. It could be that it’s Rihanna, and gorgeous, outsized spectacle is just her bread and butter, but more likely, the huge response has been thanks to the fact that right off the bat, Fenty Beauty treats women of all colors as equally worth representing. It’s 2017, and that should be normal, so Rihanna’s pioneering the way. And after spending two years developing the line, she did us right: from the 40 foundation colors to the sole, all-you-need lip gloss, the products are beautiful.

And the thing is, Rih understands how products play. After 12 years in the spotlight, she knows foundation needs to be a spot-on match, and she knows highlighters need to pop—which rang loud and clear at her Fenty x Puma fashion show last night. (According to our fashion editor who was there, models’ cheeks could be seen across the room.) Available as powders and in creamy stick form, they’re stunning to look at. But it’s one thing to see them in the pan or on Slick Woods’ cheekbones. It’s another to see how they live on us mere mortals of varying skin tones.

There was only one way to find out. We got our hands on the Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter duo in Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal (a pearlescent shimmer duo on the more natural end of Fenty’s highlight spectrum), and put it to the test. Below, three Glamour staffers weigh in.

Khaliha Hawkins, digital administrative assistant

Skin tone: “Medium dark.”

What she thought: “I feel like for my skin tone, Fire Crystal was a bit too light. But Lightning Dust was perfect, which is shocking, because I thought it was going to be the other way around. I’d wear Fire Crystal when I go out, because it’d be darker and I’d want that pop of color to stand out. But Lightning Dust would definitely be an everyday kind of thing. The brush is really cute, and it was honestly very accurate. Everyone always says a fan brush is best for highlighter, but the Fenty one seems better, and it picks up a lot of product.”

Jessica Militare, assistant editor

Skin tone: “Light olive.”

What she thought: “I really liked the consistency of the Fire Crystal powder. There was an instant shine that was really pretty. You have to be daring enough to want to wear it to the office, but I think you could totally get away with it, especially saying it’s Fenty Beauty. Like, this is Fenty—leave me alone. Lightning Dust is lighter, but it’s that pale, brightening feel, so it still gets the job done. For me, I prefer Fire Crystal because I want my highlighter to really show. That’s the problem that I find with highlighters—I have to coat it, I really want to see what this is doing. And sometimes with certain highlighters it takes longer, but this is an immediate effect.”

Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer

Skin tone: “Very pale, with neutral undertones”

What she thought: “When I first brushed Fire Crystal on, I was a little wary—it’s a lot of glitter, and I’m not here for a My Little Pony sitch. The champagne color is maybe just a touch too dark for my skin, but after a minute, I loved it. The powder has such a creamy consistency that once you give it a second to settle, it melts right into your skin. Lightning Dust is way more subtle, which isn’t what I typically look for in highlighter. But I’m super into it! A light, slightly matte powder feels really modern, and it’s great for places you want to highlight while being under the radar about it. Like definitely, Rihanna, help me weave that illusion.”

Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal, $34, sephora.com

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