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Val

Beauty, Makeup

Bite Beauty’s Latest Astrology Lipstick Offers a Pretty Neutral Pout for Pisces

Courtesy of Bite Beauty.

It’s almost Pisces season, and according to Bite Beauty, it’s time to pucker up!

The brand is expanding its limited edition Horoscope collection of its popular Amouse Bouche lipstick with inventive takes on each horoscope’s attributes. While the first lipstick in the line offered a deep a rich take on the airy and inventive Aquarius, Pisces is a fresh and juicy take on a neutral in the form of what the brand calls a “pitch-perfect peach.”

Some astrology afficoinados might scratch their heads wondering why a pretty pastel like a lavender or mint green wasn’t picked to represent the romantic and whimsical aspects of a Pisces, but the neutral hue makes a lot of sense! Pisces is the sign of “artists, visionaries, and dreamy creative types,” like Nina Simone, Steve Jobs, Chelsea Handler, Elizabeth Taylor, and the bad gal of beauty herself, Rihanna (just to name a few), according to astrologer Tara Greene, who was tapped by the brand to help select the shades. While they’re considered the most spiritual and compassionate sign of the zodiac, Pisces are also known for working their magic behind the scenes, swimming from social circle to social circle seamlessly to help bring their visions to life — just like a good neutral goes well with anything in your wardrobe or on your vanity.

Or as Greene put in in a press release about the hue, “Pisces are soulful, and like water they ‘go with the flow,’ blending in and out of different environments. Find them painting a masterpiece, writing an original song, or volunteering at an animal rescue organization.”

So don’t sleep on this shade — snap it up ASAP before it sells out! Besides, as a Pisces myself, I would be remiss to miss out on snagging this shade! As much as I love the idea of owning a shade associated with my sign, the fresh hue could also be a great way to transition my makeup from winter to spring without skipping a beat. Plus it could be fun to mix with some of the other shades in the astrology-inspired collection — I’m an Aries rising, after all.

February 19, 2018 by
Beauty, Makeup

Erdem and NARS’s Collaboration Redefines “Garden Variety”

Photo via Women’s Wear Daily.

Erdem Maralioglu is bringing his siganture romance from the runway to the beauty counter in its first color collaboration with NARS.

But the London-based designer wasn’t satisfied with simply selecting a few shades from one of his previous collections and calling it a day. Rather, he used the team-up opportunity to explore his aesthetic and develop a sercret garden of fresh pigments and palettes that “push different elements through color and product,” as he explained to Women’s Wear Daily.

“You can tell a story as much with what you’re wearing on your face as what you’re wearing on your body,” Maralioglu told Vogue.

The result is Strange Flowers, a 13-picece capsule collection wrapped in “weird” floral motifs of spiky dahlia and lilys, which made its debut backstage at his Fall 2018 show Monday morning after two years of development. The collaboration really plays up the pout with not only six lipsticks and balms in varying hues of red, plum, and mauve but also a powder lip palette inspired by the saturated pigments used to mattify the models’ mouths at one of his early runway shows. “There was a lot of time spent talking about the idea of using products or textures that you normally would associate with certain parts of the face, in different ways,” he said.

Other standouts of from the upcoming collection include an icy, pink-toned highlighting pencil to add irridesnce to the inner corners of the eye or anywhere else on your face, even when you’re on to the go. Plus there’s a batch of blotting papers, an unexpected but delightful addition that’s a major must-have for those (like me) who battle against serious shine during the spring and summer.

I’m already head over heels for Erdem’s aesthetic thanks to his penchant for contrast and contradiction, which he says he played with for the cosmetic collaboration, but the idea of using darker hues during a season when brights and neons tend to take center stage. Not to mention, I’m dying to get my hands on that lip powder palette — a surprising beauty buy that I have a feeling we’ll see more of as makeup mavens, novice and pro alike, continue to toy with textures on their lips, lids, and anywhere else.

While there’s no word yet on how much it will cost stateside, you can mark your calendars for May 1st when the capsule collection is slated to hit shelves nationwide. In the meatime, you can head over to Vogue.com if you want to get a closer look at the pretty products.

What are you planning to add to cart? Let me know in the comments below!

February 19, 2018 by
Fashion

Plus Size Models Take to The Streets of London Fashion Week

Embed from Getty Images

Plus-size fashion has incresingly become part of the style spotlight in New York with the likes of Ashley Graham, Candice Huffine, Marquita Pring, Iskra Lawrence, and many more becoming a runway regulars this season. But there are still plenty of places where the plus-size set are squeezing themselves in just to be seen by the industry, like London Fashion Week.

Hayley Hasselhoff — yup, you guessed it, David Hasselhoff’s daughter — joined a crowd of fellow curvy models, diversity activists, and influencers, including Megan Jayne Crabbe, Sonny Turner, and Callie Thorpe, for a protest during London Fashion Week early Friday morning. The group, which was organized byplus-size fashion retailer Simply Be (which caters to sizes 12-32), stood outside of the LFW show area in their skivvies, holding signs calling out the UK fashion industry for its lack of size inclusivity with phrases like “LFW —Where Are the Curves?” and “Curves Shouldn’t Mean Compromise.”

It isn’t the first time that the retailer has used its platform to protest at London Fashion Week. Last year, Simply Be not only took to the streets but also kicked off the fashion festivities by hosting its own Curve Catwalk that featured a mix of models and influencers and became the U.K.’s most size diverse runway. But this time around, the brand sought to use the protest to make the industry more accessible after discovering that while the average dress size in the U.K. is a size 16, according to research it had commissioned, 89% of participants didn’t feel their size was represented on the runway or in ads.

“We want the fashion industry to change the way it represents body shapes,” Angela Spindler, chief executive N Brown Group plc, which owns Simply Be, told The Evening Standard. “This isn’t about ‘skinny shaming’ we, think that shape should be celebrated irrespective of size and it’s time that the industry became more diverse — after all, fashion is for everyone.”

Hasselhoff echoed the same statements as the group also posed in denim jackets painted with phrases like “Flaunt it, Support It” and “Your size, No compromise” at Oxford Circus. “We want to give women everywhere the confidence to be who they are,” she explained. “This is only achieved by showing a wide variety of models irrespective of size. By tearing up the ‘one size’ fits fashion rule book we hope to encourage any woman, whatever her size, to feel fabulous in their skin.”

Hopefully this continues the conversation and leads to bigger changes and more visibility for diverse body shapes, sizes, and abilities!

February 16, 2018 by
Beauty, Makeup

You Can Now Score Pat McGrath’s Latest Eye Palettes For Less!

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We’ve all ooohed and ahhed over the sultry and shimmering shadow swatches of Pat McGrath’s eponymous Mothership Eye Shadow Palettes. But as much as we’ve lusted after the precious pigments, most of us balked at the $125 price tag for 10 shades, choosing to love the line from afar.

But the Mother of Makeup announced via Instagram on Thursday that she is making things easier for those who can’t always treat ourselves to her little luxuries by unleashing a new plethora of moderately priced palettes that will be availble exclusively on McGrath’s site starting March 7th. The three palettes, aptly called MTHRSHP, will feature six all-new shades each (but the same ultra-pigmented formula) in three color schemes named Sublime, Subversive, and Subliminal. Each will come housed in a small mirrored compacts, making them easy to toss into your carry on or your work tote. But best of all: each of the brand new palettes will be priced at $55 each — less than half the price of the originals — or about the same price as the latest Naked palette.

Also coming to shelves soon: a new fine-tipped liquid eye liner with a thin, tapered brush for “exquisite control for elegant contours and pristine definition,” McGrath told Fashionista, noting that it will include a more intense and opaque formula. Sounds like it might be perfect for getting those thin Lana del Rey type of feline flicks or super sharp lines for a more decadent and detailed makeup look.

Needless to say, I’m already saving up my pennies for at least one palette (maaaaaaybe two if I can swing it). Would you put down the dough for these new Pat McGrath palettes? (I don’t blame you, the formulas are fantastic!) Let me know in the comments below!

February 16, 2018 by
Beauty, Body

Lush Launches A Campaign to Champion Trans Rights

via TeenVogue.com

Lush might be best known for its eco-friendly approach to the beauty and body care, not to mention its array of eye-catching bath bombs. But the brand has a long histroy of using its platform to advocate for social change. And its latest campaign is lending a hand in the fight to secure trans rights.

via Lush.com

As part of its 14-day #TransRightsAreHumanRights initiative, Lush has released an exclusive bath melt called Inner Truth that comes in the shape of a blue and pink heart, meant to evoke the complexities of gender, that swirl together in the bathwater into a beautiful shade of purple that has come to represent LGBT+ equality. The bath buy retails for $5.95 with 100% of the proceeds (save for taxes, of course) benefitting the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity in the hopes of raising $450,000 for the organizations. And according to Bustle, the funds will be used to support high school-based race and gender justice training for teens in the U.S. while the donations in Canada will fund resiliency training and community-building camps for trans youth.

The brand, which was recently named one of Forbes’s  Best Employers for Diversity, saw the campaign as an opportunity to amplify the voices of employees and colleagues who shared the discrimination they face. “We are a diverse group of people with one thing in common — advocating for human rights,” Carleen Pickard, Ethical Campaigns Specialist at Lush Cosmetics North America, told Teen Vogue. “As an inclusive employer that champions equality, we simply couldn’t stand by. We needed to shed light on these daily discriminations and work to advance and secure their basic rights.”

And they’re not stopping there! Lush is also looking raise awareness by swapping out the vibrant bath and body buys in their stores’ windows for quotes and stories about gender identity, which come courtesy of its staff’s own experiences. Some of those stories are included in a recently released video about the campaign, which is part of a series of documentaries that feature trans allies discussing how to build a more accepting society. Plus, it plans to hand out 75,000 “How to Be an Ally” manuals to cisgender shoppers, host community events at 16 select shops in the United States and Canada, and use its Snapchat to share tips and resources for trans and questioning youth throughout the campaign though it will also mainatain a Trans Rights hub on its site an additional resource.

“What’s really special about this campaign is that our transgender and non-binary colleagues have genuinely impacted every aspect of it, from providing guidance and sharing personal experiences to educating us on how to become better allies to the community, ultimately creating a safer and more inclusive environment for all, ” Pickard said.

And that includes securing some of the most basic elements of life: freedom from harassment and violence, a safe place to live, and a secure job. One of the problems is that many trans people are faced with privacy violations, harassment, and even physical and sexual violence on the job — if they’re even able to get one, as some are refused employment because of their gender identity, which lead many to turn to sex and drug work to make ends meet.According to United States Transgender Survey (USTS), one in three trans people become homeless at some point in their lives because of violence, discrimination, and even rejection by their own family. One in four trans people have dealt with housing instability or discrimination, like getting being evicted from their homes or denied housing altogether. Worst of all, the survey found 300 reported cases of transgender people were killed by violent means, including at least 26 in North America. And the thing is these rates are much higher for trans people of color!

So if a bath melt can help open up eyes and educate others to join the fight for equality, all I can say is power to the purple and to the people!

February 15, 2018 by
Beauty, Body

The Sexiest Scents to Spritz for Your Valentine’s Day Date

A post shared by Val’s Vanity (@valsvanity) on

While most would consider either sight or touch as the sexiest sense, I say it’s all about smell. Afterall, as humans, we naturally secrete pheromones through our sweat that on a subliminal level can attract potential partners via scent. In fact, Bustle discovered one famous study that found participants rated the smell of the sweat of people ovulating to be sweeter and more attractive than those who weren’t ovulating. Hell, I once caught a whiff of a guy walking by who smelled so good that I had to ask what he was wearing — it was John Varvatos’ eponymous cologne, btw. So with scent and sex going hand in hand, especially around Valentine’s Day, it makes sense to spice up your perfume wardrobe if you have a hot date tonight!

And when it comes to sultry scents, I’m not talking about bouquets of fresh florals. When I’m in the mood for love, I tend to reach for notes that blend a bit of the masculine, like spicy and warm notes of cardamom, pepper, oud, and leather, with the feminine, like oriental notes of jasmine, honeysuckle, and citrus, to get the best of both worlds. But I’m always pleasantly surprised to find notes that blend together to make something mysterious, intriguing, and utterly irresistible. As such, I wanted to share a few of my favorite sultry scents that are sure to set the mood with just a spritz. And don’t worry if you can’t add to cart immediately, either. If you can’t get your hands on one of the bottles before your big date, swing by your local beauty counter on your way over for a sample spritz-down.

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February 14, 2018 by
Lifestyle

Lola Gives Back for Galentine’s Day — And So Can You!

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While everyone is either scrambling for a last-minute gift or getting dolled up for a big date tomorrow — you know, Valentine’s Day —LOLA, a feminine product delivery service, is spreading the love a day early by donating up to 500,000 period products to homeless shelters throughout the country. And the best part is you can lend a hand too!

To celebrate Galentine’s Day, a holiday meant to celebrate the women in our lives, the period brand known for its organic tampons wants you to raise your voice for women by sharing the image in the Instagram above, which is meant to symbolize how a small act of kindness can make the difference for millions. All you have to do is post the picture in either your feed or your Instagram stories from today until 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, the 15th, with hashtag #TamponsAreNotALuxury and tagging the brand. And LOLA will donate 100 period products to women in need through Support The Girls, a non-profit dedicated to providing homeless women with bras and feminine hygiene products. This would help double LOLA’s lifetime donation since its start in 2015.

LOLA initially kicked things off last week by linking up with 100 of its New York City customers to help hand deliver over 10,000 tampons to shelters throughout the city. The drives are part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to ensure that people who get periods, no matter how much they make, are able to access the products they need every month. The fact is tampons, pads, and other monthly necessities can be pretty hard to come by even if you’re in a homeless shelter, as they’re not donated as often as coats or non-perishable food. That means that millions of low-income people in the U.S. are forced to choose between buying menstrual products for themselves or essentials for their families, according to the organization’s founder, Dana Marlowe.

“You don’t really think to donate this [feminine care products], but this really is a basic life necessity,” Alex Friedman, LOLA’s co-founder, told Cheddar.com. “And we’re doing everything we can, as a brand, to get women the products they need.”

And even if you’re not homeless, feminine care products can hit your wallet pretty hard over time! Aside from the fact that not only are we paid less than men, we also pay for items like razors, toys, and even dry cleaning, including tampons. That’s because period products are subject to sales tax in most states since it is seen as a luxury item when items like cowboy boots, Viagra, and candy are exempt in various states in the U.S. (Yeah, I know. WTF?!) In fact, only 12 states don’t have a tampon taxor have recently gotten rid of it. So by adding your voice to the conversation, maybe we can all help change these policies so everyone who has a period doesn’t feel financially penalized for having it.

February 13, 2018 by
Beauty, Makeup

#OnMyVanity: The Red Lipsticks I Love to Rock on Valentine’s Day

A post shared by Val’s Vanity (@valsvanity) on

I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

I’ll admit that since I started covering backstage beauty at New York Fashion Week, thoughts of Valentine’s Day has floated to very back of mind. I usually don’t have the time to gather gifts, let alone try to make a reservation at any restaurant in the Big Apple that day as I’m running from show to show, but I try to at least dress up my look a little more on February 14th even when I’m ready to fall over with exhaustion (concealer is a BIG help!). Regardless of your relationship status or your schedule, there’s no reason why you can’t get all dolled up for Valentine’s Day! All you really need is a swipe of a great red lipstick to channel the look of l’amour — no crazy cut creases or hearts necessary (unless you want to, of course). After playing with a slew of fabulous formulas over the years, I wanted to share a few of my favorites reds that you’ll want to stash in your bag should the need to pucker up (or add polish to your look in an instant) arise.

Scroll on to start seeing red!

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February 12, 2018 by
Beauty, Makeup

You Have to See How This Makeup Artist Channeled Every Sign in The Zodiac!

While some of us spent New Years recovering from champagne-induced hangovers or getting a start on our New Year’s resolutions, I know most of us at some point scrolled through our 2018 horoscopes to find out what’s written in the stars for us. But makeup artist and YouTube sensation Marion Moretti, a fellow Pisces like myself and beauty queen Rihanna, used all of the astrological signs for a spectacular series of makeup looks you have to see to believe!

Moretti started the year off by making a serious splash on Instagram by posting customized beauty looks, even using prothetics, wigs, and plenty of glitter, for each zodiac sign throughout the month of January. But Moretti told me that she had the idea for the extravagant astrological looks in the works as far back as June 2017. “I started with a Gay Pride series last year, and then listed what series I would like to do. Zodiac was one of them,” she said in an email, noting that she pulled inspiration for each look from a variety of sources, building the looks bit by bit with the colors, animals, and figures each sign is based on.

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February 12, 2018 by
Beauty, Skin

So…Pimple Popping Toys Are Now A Thing

Embed from Getty Images

There’s nothing more satisfying for an acne sufferer than popping a pesky — and sometimes painful — pimple. Hey, it’s why millions of us can’t stop watching hours of videos of the process from derms like Dr. Pimple Popper. We’re all delightfully disgusted and completely mesmerized by what’s lurking below the surface of our skin. But now the skin-picking phenomenon has made its way to the toy aisle!

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February 9, 2018 by