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hair

GTL: The Boldest Beauty Looks of the 2018 Met Gala

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

When this year’s Met Gala theme, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” was announced, I instantly had visions of crystal tears in homage to the weeping statues of saints, Della Robbia blues of the Virgin Mary, some swaths of silver to symbolize the Crusades, but definitely lots and lots of gold. And I was not disappointed, as many not only took the theme head-on with the amazing array of gorgeous gowns and headpieces but also extended it into their beauty to create looks that are true works of art that I couldn’t get enough of. With proms, dances, and even weddings coming up on shortly on everyone’s social calendars, I scored the details on how to recreate the looks straight from the hairstylists and makeup artists should you want to channel Catholic chic at your next big event.

May 8, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Body, Hair, Makeup, Skin

10 Egg-cellent Beauty Buys To Add To Your Easter Basket

Embed from Getty Images

To be honest, I almost forgot that Easter was upon us since I’m so used to it falling around the middle of April, not on April Fool’s Day. (I can only imagine what kind of crazy pranks will pop up on social media this weekend!) But the holiday brings back a wave of memories of my mom getting me dolled up in pastel frills for a few photos before heading off for Easter service and then a slew of Easter egg hunts, with the youngest of us popping open all of our collected plastic eggs to scoop the trinkets and treats housed inside.

Many might think that Easter baskets are just kids’ stuff, but why should the little ones have all the fun? I figure it’s a fun opportunity to treat yourself, especially during Mercury retrograde. In keeping with the spirit of the celebration, I’ve found a slew of beauty buys that are sure to soothe and tighten skin, pump up the volume of your locks, and make your beauty look absolutely egg-cellent (you knew that was coming!), using the power or inspiration from eggs themselves. After all, egg whites are a classic DIY mask ingredient thanks to the albumin’s ability to help tighten pores for a smoother-looking visage. And according to Refinery29, the yolk comes packed with proteins, vitamins, and fatty acids to help nourish skin and hair and hang onto hydration. So whether you’re want to start small on the egg trend or splurge on something extra special for your skin, there’s a little something for everyone.

March 30, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Hair

New York’s Newest Hair Color Hot Spot: The Loft by Clairol

A post shared by Clairol Color (@clairolcolor) on Mar 22, 2018 at 3:13pm PDT

Whether you shift your hair shade according to the season or simply step out of your color comfort zone now and then, there’s no denying the power hair color has to change our appearance. But, hey, even hair color brands need to shake things up, and Clairol is giving everyone in New York City a chance to check out Nice n’ Easy‘s new look.

The Loft by Clairol, located at 579 Broadway, will be open from March 23 (aka today) through April 1 where Soho shoppers can not only learn more about the brand’s revamped formulas but also discover their shade they should rock this season with help from Clairol’s MyShade app. Though no product will be available for purchase, guests will leave with a one-of-a-kind box featuring their photo and the selected from the app so they can #ColorFearlessly at home. If you have any hair color questions, Clairol Color Director James Corbett and Clairol Color Ambassador Shirley Gordon will be making appearances at events during the pop-up. Plus, a group of influencers called the Fearless Femmes will also step into the Loft during its 10-day stay in the city.

Another amazing activity taking place at the pop-up? According to Women’s Wear Daily, visitors will also have the option to play perfumer by crafting their own aromas using the new formula’s scents. It’s all meant to make the at-home hair coloring process feel more like a spa day rather than a smelly chore. “While other beauty treatments have come to be appreciated as healthy indulgences, hair color has been seen as maintenance grooming for far too long,” Anna Vorrias, vice president Clairol Global and U.S. marketing, said at a panel discussion about confidence and female empowerment during the press preview for the event on Thursday. After all, if #SkincareSunday can make sheet mask selfies a social media sensation, then why couldn’t at-home colorist start contributing to a #ShadeShiftSaturday hashtag to show off their before and after hair hues?

March 23, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Body, Hair, Makeup, Skin

Serena Williams Is Launching Her Own Beauty Line

Embed from Getty Images

She’s conquered the tennis court and slayed the style game, but it looks like Serena Williams is ready to serve up something new: her very own beauty line!

TMZ recently reported that the all-star athlete filed legal documents to trademark the name “Aneres” (which, while it sounds like the name of Game of Thrones characters, is actually Serena spelled backward) for a cosmetics line back in January. She had previously applied for a trademark on the reversed version of her name for a clothing line back in 2003 that fell through and reapplied for it again in 2016, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. While she hasn’t announced anything regarding the line, the filing details that she’ll be using her moniker to bring the beauty line, which will include everything from skincare to cosmetics to fragrance to bath and body care to even hair care and styling products, to life.

Given the fact that Williams loves to look glam on and off of the court ( I still can’t get over this gilded pony she rocked at the 2017 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards), I could easily see a makeup collection and maybe even a dry shampoo, which was also listed in the filing, designed to stand up to serious sweat in the near future. In fact, big beauty brands like Tarte and Clinique have already released their own gaggle of gym bag goodies in recent years to much fanfare. But I feel like Williams could easily smash the cosmetics competition by taking a 360-degree approach to her athleisure array of beauty buys, delivering easy and effective solutions whether you’re a barre babe, a busy mom, or both!

So while we’re all keeping our fingers crossed for more details on the upcoming launch, I’d start saving my pennies now so you can snag every items on your wishlist once it’s finally served up!

March 12, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Body, Hair, Skin

#OnMyVanity: The Mega Moisturizers That Helped My Skin Survive Winter

A post shared by Val’s Vanity (@valsvanity) on Mar 6, 2018 at 5:34am PST

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

Proper hydration is essential in maintaining the health of your skin and hair no matter the season. But the winter’s high-speed winds, chilly temperatures, and the subsequent use of dry heat to keep warm can make dry skin anywhere on the body feel extra parched. It’s something my skin has dealt for years, sometimes drying out to the point of splitting (yeah, ouch!). Since I started writing about beauty, I’ve slathered on a slew of serums, lotions, creams, butters, and beyond to keep my skin and strands supple season after season on a mission to find formulas that not only deeply nourish but also pass the doorknob test (you know, when you’re trying to turn a doorknob after moisturizing).

Sure, Spring (and my birthday) are only a few weeks away, but we’ve faced a pretty weird winter filled with fluctuating temperatures, plenty of blustery, grey days, and dry indoor heat. With a slew of moisturizers on the market at the moment, I decided to roll up my sleeves to slather on a slew of samples to see which beauty buys could sustain the suppleness of my skin throughout the harsh season.

Let’s take it from the top (to toe), shall we?

March 4, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Hair

Amena Khan Becomes the First Model to Rock a Hijab In a Major Hair Ad

via L’Oréal Paris UK.

Update: Mere days after beauty blogger Amena Khan was announced as L’Oréal’s first hijab-wearing hair model, she has backed out of the campaign in light of a Twitter backlash. Khan made the announcement on Twitter and Instagram stating that the decision was made after tweets from 2014 in which she criticized Isreal came to light. Though she has since deleted the tweets, she decided to step down as she didn’t want to detract “from the positive and inclusive sentiment that [the L’Oréal campaign] set out to deliver.”

The brand delivered a statement Monday, saying, “We have recently been made aware of a series of tweets posted in 2014 by Amena Khan, who was featured in a UK advertising campaign. We appreciate that Amena has since apologised for the content of these tweets and the offence they have caused. L’Oréal Paris is committed to tolerance and respect towards all people. We agree with her decision to step down from the campaign.”

January 19, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Hair

#OnMyVanity: Aquis Quick-Dry Hair Towel

omv-aquis-towel-1

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

When you have as much hair as I do, it takes forever for my strands to dry, especially when I regularly rock a top knot to keep my curls tight. The problem is that my hair is still damp once I let my hair down (even after a night’s sleep and a commute into the city), leaving my curls prone to stretching and breakage. A regular towel is fine enough when you’re about to heat style your strands into submission but can cause serious frizzing if you’re letting your locks air dry.

June 25, 2016 by Val

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

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