Val's Vanity - Part 13

Beauty, Hair

Jen Atkin Adds Extra Shine to Your Summer Hairstyle

via Refinery29

Since fascinators went out of style, the beauty scene’s been a bit scant on the accessory front. Sure, Flash Tattoos added shimmer to those with straight strands last summer, but Jen Atkin set out to build a better-looking barrette and more with the help of jewelry brand Chloe + Isabel.

The collaboration resulted in 13 modern hair accessories that Atkin told Refinery29 suit “the hippie chick and the girl who’s very Céline, fashion-forward.” She worked with many of stylist friends to create a series of barrettes, pins, headbands, and the most eye-catching, a bun cuff (as seen on your right) that’s sure to sure to fly off shelves—seriously, I’m even nabbing one for myself. “[F]or me our bun cuff [pictured above] was a one-of-a-kind piece,” she explained to People. That’s what you want to carry in your purse and take with you to the gym so that when you’re going to meet friends for drinks, you throw it over your gym bun and all of a sudden you look perfect.”

Prices range between $18-$45, which Atkin made a point to keep the pieces affordable for her fans. “It’s either you find something at the mall that feels like a drugstore product or you find something you loved at like Celine or Colette or something that is super, super expensive,” the super stylist shared with the glossy. “So it was really amazing because I feel like our visions really met up and I got to really create something that was luxury but at an affordable price point for an everyday girl.”

This cool collab is just the icing on the cake for Atkin, as the celebrity hairstylist has already made serious waves in the past two years, not only did she launch the successful Mane Addicts blog but also her OUAI hair care line has become a favorite of editors alike.

Head over to Refinery29 to check out the rest of the stylish selections, and let me know which ones you’re planning to snap up for yourself.

June 9, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Hair, Makeup, Skin

Show Your Stash: Misti Michelle’s Makeup Musts, Muses & More

Courtesy of Misti Michelle

I know I’m not the only one curious about celebs and influencers’ favorite beauty buys as well as who and what shape their view of beauty in the biz.

It’s a bit of a coincidence that it’s National Bestfriend Day, and I happen to be featuring one of my best beauty buds—and there are many more you’ll see soon. Misti of MistiMichelle.com (formerly Entertainista.com) has always had an eye for beauty whether it was rocking wildly colored tresses in high school or becoming a licensed esthetician herself, and like most of us, she got it from her mama! She’s channeled all of her know-how, her carefully curated closet, and appetite for entertainment into a beautiful blog where she regularly shares her favorite finds and media musts. After forming a strong bond, as well as her encouraging me to start my blog, I wanted to spread the love and get her take on all things beauty, including how her aesthetic has shifted, what’s her best beauty advice, and what products make her #BeautyLust list for 2016.

Misti’s ultimate beauty look

On her approach to beauty: “My approach to beauty has changed so much over the last few years. Now that I’m in my mid-30s, my approach is less about the flashy, crazy trends and more about finding something that works for me. These days my beauty style is simple and classic. Most days it’s just a 5-product routine, as I’m just too lazy to do anything more; however, even when I go ‘all out,’ I don’t go for the crazy eyeshadows or lip colors. I tend to keep it all neutral.“

On the beauty idols she grew up with: “I didn’t really grow up with any beauty idols other than my mother; however, I do remember loving Cindy Crawford on MTV’s House of Style.”

via MTV.com

On her first beauty buy: “My mom sold Mary Kay all through my teens so I never really had to buy makeup. It wasn’t till I came to New York for the first time in 2000 that I was introduced to MAC. I couldn’t afford much but I did score Ruby Woo lipstick and I treasured it.”

On the best beauty advice she’s received: “Blend. Everyone from key MUA’s to my mom drilled blending into my head from the start. To this day, I live in fear of the dreaded foundation line.”

On her favorite tip to share: “When I was trying my hand at modeling, one of the MUA’s on set told me that if I’m ever in a bind lipstick can double as a blush and to use mascara as an eyeliner.”

Her picks for the best beauty buy of 2016 (so far): “I have to say it’s a toss-up between Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream and OUAI’s Hair Oil. Both have become staples in my daily beauty routine.”

Check out Misti’s musts below!

June 8, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Hair

Lion Babe’s Jillian Hervery Is Pantene’s New Mane Maven!

via People.com

Lion Babe‘s Jillian Hervey is making waves as the newest face of Pantene!

Following in the footsteps of fellow sultry songstress Selena Gomez, Hervey will encourage everyone to embrace their hair texture and share her tips to snagging her signature frizz-free spirals throughout the summer on the brand’s social channels. “It’s really exciting to be a voice for girls with curls,” Hervey told People. “I feel honored to be [working with a] company that I’ve really seen my whole life. My dad has had Pantene in his shower since I was a little kid.”

Like many other curly girls in the game, it took a while for Hervey to love her locks as they are since she didn’t really know how to properly care for them.” It was overwhelming and it kind of freaked me out especially since most people around me had super long, straight hair. I didn’t really know where that fit in,” she said.

But a move to New York for college gave her fresh perspective as she watched people from all walks of life express themselves freely. “Once I really started to embrace my curls, my entire world changed, and it’s made me the woman that I am today,” Hervey said in a June 7 press release. “Keeping my curls strong and healthy is so important, and thanks to Pantene I’ve finally uncovered a routine that allows my curls to be practically frizz-free.”

So what’s in her arsenal, you know, aside from her gilded MAC eyeliner? The Lion Babe lovely (who’s the daughter of Ramon Hervey and Vanessa Williams) makes moisture a priority, including Pantene’s Daily Moisture Renewal 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner, which she admits to leaving on for a little longer than what’s listed on the bottle. Another major must is keeping heat far away from her hair. “If I wash my hair in the morning, then I usually air-dry it,” she said. “In warmer weather, if I walk my dog, by the time I am back in, it is usually nice and dry!” Well, that shouldn’t be a problem this season.

And regardless of the weather changes and trending tresses, she’s in no rush to change her look, which is amazing to see continue to see this shift in the strand sphere. “I’m pretty into my look right now. I’ve come a long way to get this look,” she explained to the glossy. “When I was little my hair was super, super long and once I went to one hair appointment without my mom and the stylist was supposed to give me a trim and she cut off more and I was devastated! I’ve always thought that more than length, I was looking for volume, but I think I’m gonna stay with it as long as I can.”

June 8, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

MAC Puts #NYFW Backstage Staples in the Spotlight

Kabuki, James Kaliardos, and Diane Kendal are the makeup maestros that have launched trends and developed many of the techniques we try backstage at Fashion Weeks around the world, so it’s no surprise that MAC would look to them for a curated collection.

Though the three K’s of backstage beauty have worked their magic on behalf of the brand during Fashion Month every season, this marks the first time the company has collaborated with independent makeup artists. “[The three] have been a part of the MAC family for many years, keying our shows at fashion weeks around the globe and working on our various visual campaigns,” James Gager, creative director of MAC, told Women’s Wear Daily.

The only caveat is that the collection isn’t slated to hit shelves until January 2017. But this special collection will be worth the wait! The 50-piece collaboration will feature individual collections from each artist that reflect their personal approach to beauty. According to the trade, Kaliardos will offer a clean aesthetic filled with neutrals while Kendal captures the spring runways with bronzy lids and cheeks and a bold lip for balance. But none is as glamorous as Kabuki’s creations that include a vibrant blue cream shadow, classic red lip, and even a bronzer/blush compact to complete the look.“[They] gave me complete freedom with this collection and turned my wish list into reality,” Kabuki said.

And for fashion fans and editors alike, this is definitely a dream come true. I’ve watched them work their magic behind the scenes amidst the chaos, transforming exhausted models into magical creatures that captivate on the catwalk with such precision and creativity—all while still coloring inside the lines determined by the designers. So seeing these artists free hand their own version of beauty will certainly be a treat. Needless to say, I can’t wait to see more of the campaign pictures to get a closer look at their handiwork!

June 6, 2016 by Val

Entertainment, Music

#MusicMonday: Time Traveling Through Sound

via GIPHY

Ghost World was one of those memorable movies that had more of an influence on me than I expected. The flick was mixed in amongst Tarantino’s best on constant rotation on IFC back in the day, and I studied the movie based on the comic by Daniel Clowes more than my classes, memorizing all of the quotable lines from the film and trying to adopt Enid’s (Thora Birch) aesthetic. I even tried to dance along with the indie darling to the iconic opening song, “Jaan Pehchaan Ho” (which you’ve probably heard in a Heineken commercial or two). But who knew all those memories would come flooding back via a music player?

June 6, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Hair

#OnMyVanity: My Summer Curl Cocktail

summer-curl-cocktail-top

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

Finding the product formula that fulfills all of your hair needs takes time and patience, especially if you’re a curly girl. From the heavy pomades that shellacked my strands to the mousses that left my coif crunchy, I’ve pretty much been there and done that. But over the years, I have learned what works for my 3a/3B hair texture, and the industry at large has made serious strides towards deciphering what works for every type of curl out there. Case in point: Sephora recently launched a hub, complete with video styling tutorials, to educate customers on what types of products they should reach for depending on their curl type. I’m hoping it becomes a permanent part of the site, as so many may still be in the dark about get the most out of their mane.

Not to mention with summer unofficially here, I have to bid goodbye to blowouts, lest I sweat it out in the subway and start to frizz. With so many brands rolling out curl lines, I decided to roll up my sleeves and start sampling which beauty buys will withstand everything the season has to throw at my tresses.

May 31, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Body, Skin

My Sunscreen Selections for Summer & Beyond

Photo May 26, 5 44 12 PM

If today’s temperature is any indication, this summer is going to be sweltering and filled with beach days, festivals, barbecues, and any other excuse to get out and enjoy the sunshine. But while most know the dangers of UV rays, they only slather on suncare when they slip into their swimwear. It also doesn’t help as a recent Consumer Reports study found that many sunscreen formulas aren’t protecting us as efficiently as we think. The report noted that many of the factors include not using enough (remember, you’re supposed to use a shot-glass amount on the body and a nickel-sized dollop on the face), not rubbing it in properly (there shouldn’t be a gray cast on the skin), or just not reapplying at all (seriously, you should know better by now!). Regardless of the excuses, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Prevention comes from daily protection and every inch of skin counts. In honor of “Don’t Fry Day” and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I scoured my stash of suncare solutions to serve up an easy regimen to ensure your skin’s health and safety is a priority, no matter what’s on your agenda.

May 27, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Body, Hair, Makeup, Skin

Show Your Stash: Kat Graham Shares Her Beauty Secrets

via Kat Graham’s Instagram

I know I’m not the only one curious about celebs and influencers’ favorite beauty buys as well as who and what shape their view of beauty in the biz.

Kat Graham has bewitched audiences since she was six with her moves, music, and magic on the big and small screens. Aside from being a well-rounded entertainer, she’s got serious beauty chops to boot. The Caress and Wet ‘n’ Wild ambassador regularly skips the glam squad in favor of doing it herself and considers fragrance to be the finishing touch to any ensemble. After meeting The Vampire Diaries star and learning more about her girl-powered attitude on beauty, I recently reached out to the multi-hyphenate maven to get her take on all things beauty, including how she channels her inner beauty, who she turns to for inspiration, and what her major must-have of the year is so far.

May 25, 2016 by Val

Fashion

Swooning Over Ashley Graham’s Sultry Swimwear

Courtesy of SwimsuitsforAll via People.com

Ashley Graham wants you to embrace your inner Bond (Jane Bond) on the beach this summer.

The mega model has linked up with SwimsuitsforAll to create a collection of espionage-inspired swimwear to make the straight and plus-size set feel super sexy. Though they’ve just hit the site on Monday, they’re selling out super fast. The 11-piece collection boasts a bevy of sultry silhouettes in sizes 10-24 for $79-$398 that will suit (wink wink) your style with everything from classic string bikinis, strappy monokinis, and other neoprene one-pieces that show off some serious skin. One of the standout selections includes a 007-inspired suit that Graham described as “truly like James Bond,” featuring a series of zippers for added sex appeal that doesn’t skimp on support. There is also a Swarovski-encrusted bikini (521 crystals to be exact) worthy of magazine spreads and personal style posts, though many wearing it will likely snag some of their strands in the process. I’ve already got my eye on Secret Agent suit that features a lace-up front. “I wanted [my customer] to not feel like a Bond girl but to feel like the badass Mr. Bond himself,” Graham told Refinery29. “When you put on these suits, you can take over the world… That’s what I’m doing! I put on a suit and took over the world!”

Graham herself has become a beacon of breaking down the image of the bikini body. She served as the first plus-size model to be featured in Sports Illustrated’s 2015 Swimsuit issue in an ad for SwimsuitsforAll (natch!), she upped the ante this year by becoming the cover girl of the iconic issue this year. “I proved to them that, yes, people want to see a woman my size, and men and women are really excited about it,” she explained to The Daily Beast. “I don’t know that that was the catalyst for MJ [Day, the sports glossy’s Swimsuit Issue editor] to put me in, but it definitely proved a big point.” Not to mention the fact she strutted the runway in Paris for H&M, recently snuggled up to Joe Jonas in DNCE’s music video for “Toothbrush,” and regularly puts body shamers in their place on social media.

Aside from smoldering in front of the camera, she has taken her eye for style to design smoldering styles in the form of lingerie that’s been a hit at Nordstrom as well as workwear that can go from desk to drinks with DressBarn. And this isn’t just an instance where a notable slaps their name on a product and just watch the cash roll in, she’s dedicated to ensuring her pieces are perfect before hitting shelves and portray exactly what she wants (#GirlBoss). “At the end of the day, if I’m not involved, if it’s not genuine to my style, if I’m not going to wear it, it’s not going to sell,” she told Refinery29. “Because I want to also be able to wear it, I’m creating things that haven’t been done before, or haven’t been perfected before,” which fuller-figured fashionistas are psyched about and already getting behind it.

Head over to Refinery29 to see every suit in the collection and act fast! These are sure to sell out soon, especially with Memorial Day around the corner.

May 24, 2016 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

Move Over Mood Lipsticks—MAC’s Got a Major Lippie Look for Summer

MAC

MAC wants you to toss the mood lipsticks from your middle school days and upgrade to something that’s sure to stand out.

The brand has taken the magic from our school days and reformulated them into the upcoming Tender Talk Lip Balms that will hit retailers and the web on June 18th for $20 each. Though the details of the formula are under wraps, the smart lip conditioners not only hydrate parched pouts, they also use your body chemistry to craft a sheer wash of customized color. And unlike the tubes from makeup’s past, there are an array of shades you can select for every occasion and skin tone.

Mood lipsticks were my first mom-approved makeup that I could use. We all initially thought that the (usually) green tube could magically shift between shades like the rings that also shared the same moniker but quickly learned better. These new lip balms instantly revive those memories and offer an amazing no-makeup makeup option for the season, like Glossier’s Generation G Balms that have already become a phenomenon, that is bound to become a summer sensation.

Get up close and personal with the chic shades below!

May 23, 2016 by Val

Older Posts

Newer Posts