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Beauty, Body, Lifestyle, Personal Musings

Surviving Festival Season & Not Sweating the Small Stuff

I like to tell people I grew up in a pit—a mosh pit to be exact. I went to local metal shows in high school and cut my teeth on the Vans Warped Tour and the Bamboozle before Coachella and festival season itself became a thing. So when I got to listening to house and EDM music after college, I thought the same concepts I could apply to my festival-filled past. Well, not exactly.

I got the chance to explore the technicolor world of the Electric Daisy Carnival when it hit NYC on May 14-15th, thanks to Secret. The brand has had a unique shift in focus from the barre babes and the Soul Cycle set to the summer music scene where calories are burned dancing in the heat of the moment rather than in a hot yoga studio, embracing the unfiltered fun and rush of summer music festivals. Last year, Tokimonsta took over as Secret’s festival face, but the brand put the power in the people’s hands (and arms, too) by offering a body paint station smack dab in the middle of the grounds. There, ravers of every flavor could water-marble their limbs and snap up a travel stick of the deodorant to swipe on between DJ sets. Though I initially felt out of my element at the vibrant affair, I learned a lot more than I expected before slipping on the neon wristbands.

May 16, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

Wonder Woman’s Back on Beauty Counters!

via Pop Sugar

After getting a look at DC’s First Lady of Justice in Batman v. Superman earlier this spring, I was dying for more Wonder Woman. While her standalone flick has been moved up a few weeks to feed the fans’ fascination, Diana Prince’s next move offers instant gratification.

Walgreens has partnered up with Warner Brothers Entertainment to curate a cosmetics collection inspired by the superheroine that will be available at select stores nationwide. The makeup musts include a neutral eye palette, lip glosses, colored liquid liners, lipsticks, lip balms, nail polish, a beauty book (pictured above), plus accessories including cosmetics cases and travel bags covered in her signature double W’s. All of the items available are priced under $15, making it a great option for budget-conscious fangirls and beauty buffs.

This certainly isn’t the first time Wonder Woman has shown up on beauty counters, as MAC joined forces with the amazing Amazonian back in 2011 for a collection of its own that sold out almost instantly. Not to mention the Crazy Foam fun 3-in-1 Body wash, Shampoo, and Conditioner that’s also available on Walgreens.com.

There’s no question I’m nabbing something from this collection! I’ve been a big fan of the heroine since college, even focusing my senior thesis on the superhero. I’ve even held onto my MAC x Wonder Woman cosmetics case for 5 years, bringing it with me everywhere I traveled, and I refuse to get rid of it. She’s come to represent more than just the good guy who wins in the end, becoming Ms. Magazine’s cover girl in the ’70s and subsequently, the face of the women’s rights movement. She symbolizes the strength that each woman possesses, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional, and the heart to seek truth (hey, that lasso wasn’t just for the cheesecake factor) and deliver justice to those who are wronged and/or oppressed. Besides, seeing women on screen kicking ass and overcoming tremendous odds show other girls they can do the same!

While most of the beauty buys have already flown off shelves, head over to Pop Sugar to see what else may spring up on shelves and nab the rest if you can!

May 12, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Lifestyle, Personal Musings

Beauty Secrets I’ve Swapped With My Mom

mothers-day-2016

Before YouTube and Instagram, the biggest beauty influencer in everyone’s lives was Mom. Mine was no exception. I would sit in awe as she took a flame to her eye pencil, created full roller sets without a mirror, and collected lipsticks in an array of shades that I would sample and swatch on our apartment walls while she napped (Sorry, Mom!). Without her, I likely wouldn’t be so in love with the power of transformation that cosmetics offer or the power to repair mistakes with a proper skincare and hair care products (and I’ve made a lot mistakes). But throughout my career, I’d like to think I’ve helped my mom learn a trick or two that she’s helped to pass along to others, sharing her favorites and helping to build community through beauty. So in honor of her big day, I’ve rounded up some of the best advice we’ve shared with each other. Happy Mother’s Day, and if you can, give your mom a hug for me!

May 8, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Skin

#OnMyVanity: H2O+ Beauty Oasis Moisture Lock Mask

h2o-oasis-2

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

Regardless of your type, hydration is key for healthy skin. I re-learned this lesson recently after handling a wacky winter and an unsettled spring with my skin completely going out of whack. We’re talking a tight forehead, oily cheeks, and dry skin around my nose. Even a humidifier didn’t do much to help my moisturizer do its job!

May 7, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Body

Bath & Body Works Brings Back Fan-Favorite Fragrances

A photo posted by Bath & Body Works (@bathandbodyworks) on Jun 26, 2015 at 7:26am PDT

Sure, it’s technically #FlashbackFriday, but Bath & Body Works is opting for a new hashtag to revive some of its signature scents from the ’90s.

The brand announced on Thursday that it would revive 8 of its signature scents from its archives as part of its ongoing #FlashbackFragrance campaign, which started last year when the company brought back 6 of its original aromas. Though the scents are under lock and key until they hit shelves on May 27th, by process of elimination we likely won’t see Pearberry, Plumeria, Wild Honeysuckle, Juniper Breeze, or Cherry Blossom. But there’s still hope for some others like Sun-Ripened Raspberry and Seaspray from your middle schools days.

Most of my tween years were spent in a cloud of Sweet Pea, Cherry Blossom, and Juniper Breeze, with the popular crowd choosing to slather on the scent in the form of hand sanitizer that they sported clipped to their backpacks like Fendi’s bag bugs. Luckily, they were all too happy to share until our classrooms smelled more like Bath & Body Works itself, and the windows had to be thrown open so everyone could breathe. As awkward as that stage in life was, the saccharine smells bonded all the girls in our sense of self as mature young women–think the classic Disney movie line, “I’m 13, Mom. I’m not a baby anymore.” We had no idea what was ahead for us, but the future smelled sweet. So I think I’ll need to snap up a bottle or two of sanitizer if only for nostalgia’s sake.

Update: According to Pop Sugar, we can now choose between Sun-Ripened Raspberry will hit shelves first on May 27th to whet the appetites of nostalgic fragrance fanatics. Meanhile Country Apple, Cucumber Melon, Freesia, Brown Sugar & Fig, Mango Mandarin, Cotton Blossom, and Peony will arrive just a few weeks later on June 6th. Plus all of the #FlashbackFragrances will be available to spritz as a scent and slather on in the form of shower gel, body cream, and lotion if you really want to re-live your school days. But be sure to snap

May 6, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Body

KFC’s New Nail Polish Redefines “Finger-Lickin’ Good”

via PopSugar

Sure, I love my share of chicken fingers, but this is going a little too far.

via The New York Times

KFC is moving from the food court to the beauty counter with the first-of-its-kind edible nail polish. Nope, I’m not kidding. It’s the latest marketing campaign for the chicken chain in Hong Kong, which features an Original Recipe and Hot & Spicy glitter polishes in a nude and red, respectively. According to Ad Week, the brand teamed up with McCormick, who provides the secret mix of 11 secret herbs and spices for the franchise to infuse into the formula so it tastes like chicken (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

All you have to do is paint on a coat or two (Maybe you just add on as many layers of flavor as you want?), allow it to fully dry, and then nab a nibble. While this spells trouble for nail biters, I don’t think many in the U.S. are apt to test-drive the lunchable lacquer, but the marketers were impressed by how it turned out from the pretty packaging to the final taste test. “I tried it myself in the office when they were doing testing,” Anna Mugglestone, marketing and communications director for Ogilvy & Mather Group in Hong Kong (the agency running the campaign) told The New York Times. “It tastes like chicken. It’s crazy. I don’t know how they do it.” I don’t know either, but I’m honestly afraid to find out.

But the campaign is all in good fun to remind younger generations of chicken fans of “the great taste and good times the brand stands for,” even going so far as to ask fans on Facebook which flavor they’d prefer. While it’s not being mass produced yet, this is not the first time fast food has been infused into beauty buys. KFC’s sister brand, Pizza Hut, introduced a signature scent back in 2013 and Cheetos created its own Cheeteau in 2014. Neither were mass produced, much to everyone’s relief.

After all this, I think I’m having steak for dinner tonight.

May 5, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Body

6 Chic Mani Tutorials to Try for Star Wars Day

“May the 4th be with of you!” If you haven’t heard that phrase, seen the Snapchat filter, or seen the memes, it’s Star Wars Day, the unofficial holiday of George Lucas‘s sci-fi phenomenon that’s alive and well decades after its 1977 release, thanks to The Force Awakens. With endless merchandise available (some of which I’m dying to get my hands on), I feel like it’s much more fun to craft your own tribute to the franchise, namely with nail art. I scrolled through my subscription feed to find a few fun ideas that you can replicate with your own color collection, regardless of your skill level, to show your love and choose a side. Happy Holiday!

Storm Trooper Nail Art — Nobody keeps the Empire or the First Order running like the soldiers suited in white. And who better to teach you to recreate the iconic Stormtroopers than Darth Vader (aka cutepolish) himself. Whether you feature one soldier solo or a whole squad on your fingertips, it’s sure to stand out. #SquadGoals

May 4, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

Zoe Kravitz is YSL’s New Beauty Muse

Embed from Getty Images

It the midst of all of the Met Gala madness, many have missed the memo that Zoe Kravitz has landed a big beauty deal with YSL Beaute!

The news broke this morning, fresh on the heels of the actress rocking the beauty brand behind her lacy mask at the fashion fest (channeling a bit of her X-Men, character, Angel Salvadore). Kravitz will bring her “edgy playfulness” and cool approach to beauty to the company’s social channels, sharing her makeup must-haves and her top tips and tricks. She’ll shoot a new project for the company this week called “Before the Light,” a video series that will showcase up-and-coming talents from around the world as they primp and prepare to take the stage, show off their personality, and become the rockstars in the spotlight.

“YSL has always been one of my favorite brands,” Kravitz said in a statement. “Their ability to combine the chicest of style with a raw edge has always been to me one of the best ways to express yourself through fashion and beauty. Nothing is forced, nothing is fake, but everything is bold, strong, and unafraid.”

I’ve always coveted Kravitz’s natural cool, so the partnership seems like the perfect fit to me. Given YSL’s rockstar sensibilities and Kravitz musical (she’s the frontwoman of LOLAWOLF) and acting talent (I mean, she was in Mad Max: Fury Road, easily the biggest movie of 2015 with more projects on the way), she’ll offer a fresh perspective for the luxe beauty brand that follows the fashion house’s Music Project. I’m psyched to see what the final cut of the music clips will look like as well as the rest of Kravitz effortlessly chic campaign. Congrats!

May 3, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Hair, Makeup

GTL: The Boldest Beauty Looks of the 2016 Met Gala

GTL – Get the Look, not Gym, Tan, Laundry, duh!

Embed from Getty Images

When this year’s Met Gala theme, “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology,” was announced, I instantly had visions of cyberpunk pretty — sharp slashes of eyeliner, manicures using bits of motherboards, and cascades of chrome. While most played it safe this year, letting their custom glittering gowns (crafted with the latest technology) do all of the talking, I was psyched to see many stars embracing the theme fully and stepping out of their regular red carpet glamor routine. I got the details on how to recreate the looks straight from the hairstylists and makeup artist to ensure you stand out at the next social gathering on your calendar.

May 3, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Body

#ManiMonday: 10 Bright Polishes for Pedicure Perfection

Yay, it’s May! As I banish my winter wardrobe to the back of the closet, I’m also brightening up my vanity with more vivid hues. While a punched up pink lip or a bold bolt of blue liner can add instant pizzazz to a spring ensemble, I love to look vibrant from head to toe. I’ve dug through my nail drawer as well as searched beauty supply shelves for a rainbow of rich hues to help your tootsies say hello to the sunshine in style. Whether you match your mani and pedi or just select a shade to rock with a pair of chic sandals, these lovely lacquers will brighten up a bad case of the Mondays.

May 2, 2016 by Val

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