Ask the Editor: Vol. V, No. Three

I’m in a bit of a daze. And to add insult to grievous injury, Sloane is sick and I’m catching it. Uncle. So let’s just take it easy and reach into the mail bag.

Abra,

I’m back in the office and back in pantsuits. Can you help me find a good belt that doesn’t have a WWE buckle on it?

Leslie

This slim belt with a subtle oval buckle comes in black, chocolate brown, and white. This Frame belt is a steal at $15. I also like the round buckle on this Linea Pelle belt. Plus-size? This basic black belt from Torrid is worth a look.

DM: How are we removing chin hair?

I had a bad hot wax experience as a teenager, so I will not wax my face. Instead, I tweeze. Sometimes, I lose patience with it and use this electric razor, but I try to stick to tweezing.

Tweezing requires patience and the right tools. A magnifying mirror with a good light is key. I’m test driving these double-hinged tweezers right now. I like them so far; will report back.

Abra,

I’m hoping you can help me. I recently had surgery and I have a large scar running between my collarbones and on my sternum. It’s ugly and red right now, though I pray it fades. My family vacation is in two weeks, and I don’t have a single thing that hides it. Everything is strappy or open neck. Help. Please help.

KCD

Let’s start with a top. How about a sleeveless linen boatneck? Very modest chest coverage but with summer vibes. Madewell has high neck top in a summer-plaid that would be great with a white or navy bottom. And if you’re going to go out to dinner, this BR top has a really glamorous look with a twisted high-neck.

For swim, how about this very vibrant cobalt suit from Spanx? It’s got a very youthful color but it still covers up the chest.

Need a dress? This pale blue J.Crew dress comes up pretty high but could be tailored to be higher. This Farm Rio dress just says beach vacation. And I love this green floral Boden dress so much, I bought it for myself.

Hi Abra,

My SIL is having a casual wedding on the patio at a bar/restaurant next month and I do not know what to wear. My husband and I thought she would do something really extravagant and bought formal attire last year before she decided to go simple.

I still want to look nice but fit in. I’m looking for something shorter (at least midi, not maxi) because the wedding is outside and I want to wear a flat sandal. SIL’s only request is no red because it will overwhelm in family pictures.

Thank you! Anon

This green Boden dress with a dramatic medallion embroidery keeps finding its way into my cart. Sadly, this LOFT dress is only available in three sizes, but it’s so cute that I’m not shocked it’s selling out. Tuckernuck also has this chambray dress and this super cute seersucker shirt dress.

With a casual wedding, I think the most important thing is to wear something that you are comfortable in and that feels like you could wear it to brunch. More and more of the weddings I attend these days are in backyards, parks, or restaurants, and you never want to be the person who got dressed for herself and not for the occasion. I appreciate that you are trying to respect her wishes, and I’m sure she will too.

Did you have melasma after Sloane was born? My twins are two and the brown spots on my cheek are not fading. Is there a serum I can use?

Thanks. Alix

I had one stubborn brown spot on my jaw that I had to contend with. I used Skinceuticals Discoloration Defense to treat it. It was slow going, but it’s gone. La Roche Posay makes a cheaper version that has good reviews.

A derm told me that the most important thing with melasma is to stay out of the sun and use so.much.sunscreen. Most women do not apply enough sunscreen, because it takes way more than you think to get the recommended coverage. It’s supposed to be a nickel sized dollop. For sunscreens available in the U.S., I use either Suntegrity or UltraViolette.

I also recommend this pool hat that kind of wraps around your head so you can pile a bun or ponytail on top. It also rolls up in the pool bag without issue. On walks, I wear my Chord baseball cap.

If you can’t beat the spots with serum, you might talk to your dermatologist about a laser treatment. There are so many lasers available now for use in dermatology offices, and many of them had minimal downtime. But you certainly want to wait until winter to try one.

DM: Your hands look so young. What are you doing?

I apply my face serum to my hands. I also apply my face sunscreen to my hands. And I use this pricey but worth it Soft Services Theraplush Hand Cream every night. Mostly, I think it’s the consistency of applying the serums and SPF every day rather than the products I use. If it’s good enough for my face, it’s good enough for my hands.

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