Browsing Tag

beauty

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

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

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

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, 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

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