Browsing Tag

on my vanity

Beauty, Body

#OnMyVanity: Soap & Glory’s Sugar Crush 3-In-1 Creamy Body Wash

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

Disclosure: I received a sample of this from the brand for consideration, but the opinions are all my own.

I might be very detailed about my skincare routine, but shaving is another story. I usually skip it in the winter to help keep me warm (jk) since who’s going to see my leg hair under layers of leggings, tights, and trousers? I just don’t feel like it’s spring until I feel the silky softness of my freshly shaven legs. (I consider it summer already since it’s been hot enough to need shorts.)

But razors are only half the battle though as what you use to score some slip can determine how much hair you actually take off as well as how your skin will look and feel after a razor’s run over it. I’m pretty low-maintenance most of the time, using a bar of soap to smooth over my stems and slathering on loads of body cream as soon as I step out of the show to compensate for moisture loss. But it wasn’t until this winter that I started re-thinking my shaving routine for the season ahead.

May 15, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

#OnMyVanity: The 5 Concealers That Make My Skin Look Flawless

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

Let’s face it; no one’s skin is perfect…unless we’re talking about Lupita Nyong’o because her’s is flaw-less! Whether it’s acne that pops up at the worst time, undereye circles that appear after an all-night Netflix binge, or uneven tone from scarring or a lack of sun protection, it can make us feel insecure.

Sure, there are plenty of pimple solutions on shelves, but they often take a few days to eliminate the acne and can leave some redness in its wake. And if you’re a picker like me — yes, I know — or regularly deal with hyperpigmentation, you’re often let with a dark reminder after the inflammation goes down. Not to mention, dark circles need more than just a cool set of spoons or an eye patch to disappear.

But while we wait for our skin to return to its homeostasis, many of us reach for a concealer to hide those blemishes and even out our tone. So you’re starting with a blank canvas wherever you go from there, whether it’s a couple of coats of mascara and a little lip balm or contouring and highlighting until you’ve sculpted a perfect visage. But not all concealers are created equal, as I’ve learned from testing a load of formulas. Some are amazing at eliminating the look of a zit, and others are better at brightening your undereyes.

Since concealers are a staple in every makeup maven’s kit, I’m sharing a few of the favorites that I return to when I need to hide any blemish I’m uncomfortable with or any undereye evidence of a late night. They pack enough pigment to get the job done but lie down smoothly enough to blend with the rest of my makeup seamlessly. Check them all out below!

May 1, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Body

#OnMyVanity: Degree UltraClear Black + White Pure Clean Dry Spray

Disclosure: I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it! In this case, I received a sample of this from the brand for consideration, but the opinions are all my own.

It never fails. If the temperature is remotely above freezing, I tend to sweat at the drop of a hat, something that many plus-size people deal. It’s the reason why blowout season for me starts around the same time as the holiday season and usually ends before Easter. But even with chillier temperatures in the forecasts, the layering required to keep warm tends to leave me sweating in places other than my pits.

April 10, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Body

#OnMyVanity: Sally Hansen Big Polish Guards Cuticle Protectors

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 be the first to admit that I’m the worst when it comes to manicures. Aside from the fact that my nails easily bend and break (making chips inevitable), I can never keep the polish just on my nails during application. I always end up splashing a bit of whatever shade I’ve selected onto my cuticles, resulting in a messy manicure. Sure it only takes a day or so for the excess polish to shed off of my skin, but it’s still not something worthy of showing off on Insta. In fact, I’ve been called out about it in the comments section a few times.

March 19, 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, Makeup

#OnMyVanity: 7 Mascaras That Will Make You Forget About Falsies

A post shared by Val’s Vanity (@valsvanity) on Feb 27, 2015 at 9:36am PST

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

When it comes to the pursuit of long, lush lashes, most of us can’t leave home without applying a little bit of mascara or even applying a pair of false lashes before leaving the house. While they’re great for dramatic effect and a slew of selfies, faux lashes aren’t a fit for everyone’s daily routine whether it’s due to waiting for the glue to dry, getting the strip to sit close to your lashline, handling the heavier load on your lashes, or just having your lengthier lashes pressed against your glasses all day (like me). So finding a formula that mimics the look of false lashes without the extra steps (and the aggravation that can come with it) has become a big priority for me in order for my lashes to be visible behind my frames.

And with National Lash Day here, I decided to dig through the drawers of my vanity to share some of my favorite formulas that get me the lust-worthy lashes without transforming them into spider legs or sticking to my glasses. These mascara not only fatten up your lashes but ensures that they reach new heights — no falsies necessary.

February 19, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

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

A post shared by Val’s Vanity (@valsvanity) on Feb 13, 2018 at 11:02am PST

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!

February 12, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Makeup

#OnMyVanity: Shiseido’s Rouge Rouge Kiss Lipstick

omv-shiseido-top-final

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

Before the bold blues, the nearly nudes, and the pretty pinks, there was red. The color of passion and action, it’s the hue that beauty buffs from across the globe for the last 5,000 years (you know, just using gemstones or, in some cases, crushed bugs to achieve the look)! It’s also one of the trickiest to coordinate with your complexion. But Shiseido is serving up a slew of solutions with its new Rouge Rouge Kiss line, a collection of 16 shades suited to your skin tone and mood.

July 1, 2016 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, Skin

#OnMyVanity: Ole Henriksen’s POWER Bright Kit

omv-ole-henriksen-powerbright-top

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

There are day trips to the beach, weekends in the Hamptons, a week down the shore, or a few hour spent sitting by a rooftop pool are just a few of the ways we’re all trying to soak up the sun. But even with sunscreen slathered on every two hours, skin can still be damaged, further darkening any spots on the skin, dulling the complexion, and causing pre-mature aging, so brightening is essential to maintaining a clear complexion. But while moisturizers and serums can up to four weeks to begin to see results, Ole Henriksen has just given me everything needed for a gorgeous glow in just half an hour!

June 18, 2016 by Val

Older Posts