Aviel Kanter

When I got wind that celebrity makeup artist Nikki DeRoest was releasing her own makeup line, I practically jumped out of my seat. She's pretty much the reason why the hottest stars today look so good - DeRoest is responsible for the dewy cheeks of Phoebe Dynevor, Meghann Fahy, Emma Corrin, and Barbara Palvin, to name a few. She's known for her "your-skin-but-better" look, which is very much the vibe I strive for. DeRoest partnered with beauty industry veteran Cerre Francis to create Ciele Cosmetics (which loosely translates to "sky" in French), a cosmetics line with a focus on formulas grounded in SPF and non-pore-clogging, good-for-you ingredients. The hero product of the line is the Tint & Protect SPF 50+ Serum ($44), a lightweight serum foundation. Keep reading for my review, along with a tutorial on how to apply. About the Ciele Tint & Protect Serum It has a dewy finish with a buildable formula that gives light to medium coverage. It's available in 13 shades. The formula contains non-nano mineral-based broad-spectrum SPF 50+. It's good for all skin types but is specifically noncomedogenic, acne-safe, and made without pore-cloggers. The SPF 50+ protects against all types of radiation: UVA, UVB, blue light, and infrared. What I Like About Ciele Tint & Protect Serum The biggest thing I like about this product is the texture - it really glides onto your skin and sinks in within a matter of seconds. I also love that it's pretty long wear, which is hard to find in a serum-based foundation. I've applied this in the morning and gone all the way through dinner without it settling into creases or starting to just sit on top of my skin. It doesn't lose the dewy finish and it doesn't feel heavy or sticky - two other perils associated with serum tints. It feels very second-skin-esque, which is what you want in a lightweight foundation. How to Use the Ciele Tint & Protect Serum I'm a big sponge girl, and lucky for us, Ciele gives you a free Blending Sponge ($16) with every purchase. Because I prefer an extra dewy finish, I wet my sponge slightly, add about 6 drops of the Tint & Protect to the back of my hand, and dip the sponge in it. For me, this is the best way to get really even, lightweight coverage. The brand also makes a Complexion Brush ($36) if that's more your speed, providing a little more coverage. Of course, you could also use the dropper to place product directly onto your face and blend with your fingers if you'd like. What to Consider About the Ciele Tint & Protect Serum The biggest thing to consider when using the Ciele Tint & Protect Serum is that you must also wear regular SPF under it, and reapply throughout the day. Yes, it's amazing that this formula has the added bonus of a high SPF, but in order for your skin to be truly protected, you need to use at least two tablespoons of sunscreen on your face. You can definitely try to apply that amount of the Tint & Protect to your face, but I can pretty much guarantee you're going to look clownish. That much pigment just isn't going to sink in; the color is just going to sit on top of your skin. So, while it's great to have the little extra layer provided by the product, it shouldn't be your only form of sun protection. The only other thing to consider here is that the finish is quite dewy, so if you're looking for something on the matte side, this likely isn't for you. Where to Get the Ciele Tint & Protect Serum Ciele's Tint & Protect Serum is currently available to buy at Sephora.com and Cielecosmetics.com. Rating: Aviel Kanter is the editorial director of branded content at Vox Media, where she oversees lifestyle content across the portfolio of brands, including POPSUGAR. Her main expertise is in the beauty space, specifically editor experiments and reviews. Before her time at POPSUGAR and Vox Media, Aviel worked in the editorial departments at Condé Nast, Artforum, and Interview Magazine.

The thing I've started picking up on as I get older (I'm 34) is that once I notice something new about my skin, I can't unsee it. It doesn't matter if it's something tiny that only I will notice. Once it's been identified, the obsessing begins. That was the case for my neck wrinkles. I was just living my life, and then one day, seemingly out of the blue, I had developed relatively deep lines and wrinkles from the chin down. Apparently - to my great chagrin - I should have paid more attention to all that talk about ways to prevent tech neck and actually followed a skin-care routine for the area. Because I will now never not be able to look past those wrinkles, I took to the internet to figure out how to get rid of those pesky reminders of my scrolling habit. The solution was right in front of me: neck Botox injections. If it's good enough for Kim Kardashian, as she told People, it's good enough for me. I immediately made an appointment with Parvaneh Rafaeloff, MD, at her med spa Le Jolie, a celebrity favorite in Beverly Hills. Keep reading to see my results and get a sense of the neck Botox experience. What Is Neck Botox? Neck Botox is exactly what it sounds like: Botox injections in the neck area. Botox is a neurotoxin used to paralyze the muscles, helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Your doctor will place the injections directly along those horizontal lines on your neck for a targeted approach. (This is not the same as traptox, which is Botox injected into your trapezius muscles.) It's worth noting that in this story, we're specifically talking about the Botox brand of neurotoxin, but you could also use other brands such as Dysport, Xeomin, or Daxxify. Dr. Rafaeloff notes that each brand has its own formulation and may have slightly different dosing and duration of effects. What Does Neck Botox Treat? According to Dr. Rafaeloff, Botox injections in the neck can effectively treat wrinkles, lines, and neck bands. Botox is not primarily used for treating significant sagging or laxity of the skin. "There are other procedures for sagging skin such as Forma, Emface, or Morpheus8," Dr. Rafaeloff says. While Botox is considered the gold standard for smoothing wrinkles, there are some other treatments you could opt for. However, those tend to have much more significant aftercare and downtime than Botox. Take Ultherapy for example. This procedure uses high-intensity focused ultrasound to target deeper levels of the dermis. It heats up and traumatizes cells in order to generate new collagen. I've done this procedure and can attest that it hurts. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, especially for cosmetic procedures, so trust me, it's not fun. Plus, it doesn't give the immediate results of Botox. You could also go the laser route, but then you're looking at significant downtime, scabbing, and no guarantee that deeper wrinkles will lessen. TLDR: if you want pretty much guaranteed results with little pain and no downtime, I recommend Botox. My Neck Botox Experience Like I mentioned, I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but Dr. Rafaeloff added some numbing cream to my neck just in case. This is because the skin on the neck is pretty thick, so pushing the needle through isn't as buttery as on the skin of the face. Once I was numbed, Dr. Rafaeloff hit the wrinkles on both sides of my neck with injections - I have three deep lines going across my neck that she targeted. She warned that it might be slightly painful since the skin on my neck was quite taut (a win for me, finally), but I found the pain to be pretty nonexistent. All in all, the appointment was around 20 minutes. There are a lot of procedures billed as "lunchtime treatments" - this one definitely falls under that. You're in and out in under an hour (sometimes under 30 minutes), and you look pretty normal afterward. I was slightly sore after the numbing cream wore off a few hours later, but nothing prohibitive. In terms of results, it takes anywhere from two to 14 days for the effects of Botox to kick in. For me, I usually start seeing it take effect in my face after about three or four days - it took a full seven days for my neck to smooth out, I'm guessing because the wrinkles were deeper there. Neck Botox Side Effects Like with any injections, common side effects of Botox injections in the neck include temporary bruising, swelling, or redness at the injection site. As you can see above, I had some minor redness immediately after, but by the next morning I was back to normal. I also tend to get a mild headache for the rest of the day after getting Botox. Neck Botox Aftercare Anytime you get a 'tox injection, you should make sure to stay upright for at least four hours after your appointment (no naps!) and avoid working out for 24 hours. Similarly, you'll want to wait a few days before any massaging of the area; make sure to schedule any facials at least three days after your Botox appointment (I give it a week just to be safe). This is all to help prevent the Botox migrating to other parts of your body. Dr. Rafaeloff also recommends slugging with Aquaphor for a few nights after your injection to keep everything hydrated and supple. Is Neck Botox Worth It? If you're like me and unable to stop obsessing over wrinkles once they appear, then yes, neck Botox is worth it. Keep in mind that Botox is not cheap and doesn't last forever - Dr. Rafaeloff says she injects anywhere from 30 to 60 units in the neck (at the standard $15 per unit, you're looking at a $450 to $900 bill every four months or so). If it's worth it to you to shell out some cash for a wrinkle-free existence, then Botox is the way to go.