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May 2018

Beauty, Hair, Makeup

GTL: The Boldest Beauty Looks of the 2018 Met Gala

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

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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.

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Beauty, Body, Fashion, Hair, Lifestyle, Makeup

May the Fourth Be With You: Chic Star Wars Swag to Add to Your Collection

A post shared by Val’s Vanity (@valsvanity) on

“May the 4th be with of you!”

When it comes to Star Wars, there is no such thing as too much merch, especially since the franchise was acquired by Disney. And it’s gone far beyond action figures, t-shirts, and Lego sets. Since The Force Awakens was released, there has been an explosion of Star Wars-themed, well, everythingAnd with Solo hitting theaters this month, the mania doesn’t look like it’ll be calming down anytime soon.

With the plethora of products on display from fashion and beauty to even housewares and home decor, there’s plenty of ways to show your love for the ever-growing film franchise on this special day. But everything need not have the bold logo emblazoned across it in order to pay homage. In fact, some of the most recent iterations are subtler than some of the products we’ve collected in the past. So I decided to search the shelves for some chic ways to honor the story that took place in a galaxy far, far away because for die-hard fans, Star Wars day isn’t just today or tomorrow (you know, Revenge of the Fifth), it’s a 365-days a year kind of thing.

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Beauty, Makeup

Wait, Did Rihanna Just Give Us a Sneak Preview of New Fenty Makeup?!

Photo via Vogue.com

We all woke up to watch Rihanna do her makeup for Vogue, but we might’ve also scored a sneak preview at what Fenty might be launching next.

The songstress-turned-beauty-mogul, who’s also on the glossy’s latest cover, appeared in its Beauty Secrets get-ready-with-me style video series. The playful tutorial featured Riri going from bare-faced to “ready for the club” in a mere 10 minutes using her own eponymous products.

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Beauty, Makeup

Show Your Stash: Natalie Irish’s Litany of Lipsticks & Much More

Photo courtesy of Natalie Irish.

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.

I’ve always believed that makeup is not just a way to express ourselves but also serves as a medium for artists to play with, especially when we’re talking about makeup maestros like Pat McGrathVal GarlandKabuki, and so many more. They not only create some of the most captivating and avant-garde looks that we see on magazine covers and runways all over the world but also help redefine what art and beauty are in the process. So needless to say, along with a slew of industry insiders, I also follow plenty of artists in other mediums whether it’s in ink (like comic and tattoo artists), digital (graphic designers and illustrators), or, in the case of Natalie Irish, lipstick. Yup, you read that right.

 I first learned of Irish’s work when she partnered with Urban Decay in 2013 to celebrate the launch of the brand’s Revolution Lipsticks (which are now known as the Vice lipsticks) and even got the chance to interview her myself. By then, she’d already received loads of buzz on her beauty-inspired body of work, even making an appearance on Conan back in 2012! Browsing through the portraits of celebrities and still lifes rendered in creamy shades of fuchsia, plum, and, of course, ruby red, I was mesmerized by how detailed they looked, especially when I discovered that Irish doesn’t use a brush. Instead, she uses her pout to paint, which she told me requires a lot of breaks and loads of lip balm. I quickly became a fan of hers and have followed her on social media ever since.

And because she is a lip color connoisseur, I thought it only fitting to ask her to show her stash this week to find out some of her favorite formulas as well as what she wears when she steps away from the canvas, who her inspirations are, and if there might be a lipstick line of her own in the future (stay tuned for that!).

On her approach to beauty and style: “Usually, I wear zero or minimal makeup along with Star Wars or band t-shirts and jeans with Vans or boots. My style is a little punk, a little grunge, with a dash of hobo….but that’s just everyday stuff. I can also go the complete opposite with full face and crazy costumes with tons of jewelry. My style is all about FUN. I’ve had every hair color under the sun, even shaved it all off back in college, but it’s been some shade of blue/teal for the past five years or so.”

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On her biggest beauty idols:John Waters. First of all, he’s brilliant and eccentric and makes ridiculously entertaining films. He proves that it doesn’t take much to create an iconic look. He’s been working that pencil-thin mustache since the beginning of time and is forever loyal to the same Revlon pencil he uses to fill it in. Find something that works and own it.

“Then, on the other end of the makeup spectrum is one of my all-time favorites, the iconic, RuPaul Charles. Full on transformative! Makeup can be soooo much fun! And he truly shows that you can make yourself up to be whomever you want, inside and out. Also, RuPaul has the best sense of humor ever, a common quality that most of my favorite people possess!

“I love the shift in the way people view cosmetics these days, and I think a lot of it is because of social media and the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Makeup used to be primarily seen as that stereotypical 1950s idea that it is something to hide behind. Most of us still know someone that won’t go out without their ‘face on,’ or their partner has never seen them without makeup. But that viewpoint is fading away; we’re learning to love ourselves a little more, accept out flaws, and embrace the artistic side of cosmetics. It’s about transformation and expression, and like most things in this world, it shouldn’t be taken too seriously. That’s definitely one of the things I love about drag — you can be anyone! I love that you see more and more these days women and men are painting their faces because it is fun, not because it’s something to hide behind.”

On her first beauty memory: “My mother gave me a sticky, opaque lip gloss when I was in 7th grade, Avon Peach Pie. I tentatively started wearing a thin layer of it, almost like a stain. A girlfriend of mine asked to borrow it one day and slathered a thick, bright layer on. It looked amazing. I realized there are different ways to wear things, and you won’t know until you experiment with it.”

Mehron “Mini-Pro” Professional Makeup Kit.

On the first beauty buy: “A Mehron stage makeup kit in high school. I think that might explain a lot…”

On the best beauty advice she’s received: “Mother always said, ‘If you want to get ready in a hurry, all you need is red lipstick and a pair of shades.’ She rocked that look a lot when my brothers and I were growing up. Guess we kept her pretty busy. That woman has never been afraid of putting bright colors on her face and always wears them with confidence.”

On her favorite beauty tip to share: “Use things in ways they aren’t intended. I use lipsticks as cream blush almost every day. Colors can be blended and products can be thinned out for different effects. Nail polish color is a little off from what you wanted? Pour in a few drops of a different bottle and make it exactly what you want. I don’t think my Mamaw ever owned a bottle of polish that she didn’t alter a little bit, and her nails were always gorgeous. [The] main thing, you gotta play and practice. I like to try new makeup looks in the evenings before I wash my face for the day. That’s the best time to experiment. You don’t want to attempt a new multi-color, cut crease, winged eye look right before you’re about to go out!”

A peek at some of Natalie’s go-to lipsticks.
Courtesy of Natalie Irish.

On her favorite lipsticks: “I paint with a lot of stage makeup, Ben Nye and Mehron. The cream colors are super pigmented, and they have all the colors of the rainbow. I worship Urban Decay lipsticks. Every color, every finish, all perfection. On days when I do a lot of painting (most days), my lips tend to hurt and dry out so I only wear balms, clear or tinted. On days when my lips are feeling normal or when I’m going out, I’ll wear all kinds of brands and colors. I have quite the lipstick collection!

“This is just some of my lipstick stash. I have everything from high-end to dollar store, matte to glitter. This pic doesn’t even show any of my stage makeup…that’s another container entirely. Not to mention the boxes upstairs….there’s basically lipstick EVERYWHERE!”

On developing her own lipstick line:
“I have painted with lipstick I’ve made before and am currently working on my own line. It’s still in the early stages. I’m focusing on perfecting my formula at the moment and haven’t even made it to naming yet! I am a sucker for puns, so it should be….can you guess?…FUN.”

Check out Natalie’s favorite everyday beauty buys below:

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Beauty, Makeup

Massy Arias Makes Serious Moves With CoverGirl’s New Mascara

Photo: CoverGirl via YouTube.

You might’ve spotted her as you scroll through Instagram or even signed up for her MA30Day Programs to build up your strength. But Massy Arias, better known as Mankofit, is moving beyond our social stream to take over our TV and newsstands as the face of CoverGirl’s latest launch, Flourish by Lash Blast Mascara, as part of its #IAmWhatIMakeUp campaign.

The personal trainer and model first found fitness as a way to work through her depression and found it to be a drug she couldn’t get enough of and spurred her to help others. According to Trimmed and Toned, Arias began making a splash on social media after setting up boot camps and workout classes in parks around New York City where they became popular through word of mouth and her Instagram. Her motivational posts, featuring tips on proper nutrition and technique as well as a variety of different workouts (like resistance training, calisthenics, yoga, high intensity interval training, and sprinting) for fans to try, built a following of millions and foster a community built on hard work and dedication to fitness goals, no matter what they were. And she has the opportunity to reach beyond the fitness community in her first video ad which was unveiled on Tuesday and that you can check out below.

Arias saw her partnership with CoverGirl as a way to not only continue to shake up beauty standards but also show how they can change their lives by taking care of themselves whether it’s with a workout or a swipe of mascara in the morning. “The standard of beauty is continuing to change; it starts with finding beauty in what sets you apart and owning it,” she captioned a sneak peek of the clip on Instagram. “Every milestone I hit makes me more humble than I was before.”

And every milestone hit should come with some reward! In fact, that need for self-care was what initially sparked the idea for the fresh formula in the first place. The mascara uses a blend of papaya, avocado, and coconut oils to nourish and condition while defining each lash and pumping up their volume for lashes that look lush and feel strong with no clumps or flakes to be found. Since the new mascara shouldn’t flake or smudge, I bet it would hold up well during an intense sweat session whether you’re working out with Arias’s program or doing your own thing. As long as you’re taking time for yourself, that’s all that should matter.

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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!

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Lifestyle

Lola’s Now Got Your Condom Needs Covered

Photo: Courtesy of Lola.

Lola, the period company known for its organic tampons, wants to be the first brand to be there for women from “their first period through their last hot flash.” And it’s thinking well beyond just that time of the month by branching out with a new line of condoms and other sexual health products.

Coined Sex by Lola, the new range that boasts everything “natural” you need to have sexy time with your partner (or solo) safely. The collection includes ultra-thin condoms made of natural rubber latex and lubricated with 100% locally-sourced, medical-grade silicone oil. There’s a water-based personal lubricant formulated with aloe juice to mimic the vagina’s natural moisture. And to round things out, there are also all-natural cleansing wipes that’s made with 100% bamboo soaked in a purified water solution to maintain a healthy vaginal pH balance.

The brand is maintaining its transparency when it comes to its materials and where they come from. During the R&D process, Lola found that many suppliers sold lubricants mixed with other additives like industrial-grade silicone, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t require companies to share in their ingredients lists since lube is considered a medical device, not a drug that requires more stringent ingredient regulations. (Though many that are on shelves now haven’t been cleared with the FDA.) But the line avoids the scary stuff and unnecessary ingredients altogether like parabens, petrochemicals, and other known carcinogens; glycerin, which is often formulated in a number of lubricants but can also cause yeast infections, according to SELFas well as synthetic colorants, flavors, and fragrance, which can all irritate anyone’s naughty bits, especially if you already have sensitive skin.

Photo: Courtesy of Lola.

Some might be wondering, “Why condoms?” But Lola’s founders saw it as a natural progression for the brand that already working to destigmatize reproductive health. While condoms and lube are associated with and marketed to people with penises, Lola didn’t want to keep accepting the status quo, kickstart innovation in the category, and open up discussions about sexual health for everyone involved. The brand surveyed about 1,000 women and found that 36% of women say they actually buy the condoms, while another 33% said they buy them with their partner. As co-founder Alex Friedman told Fortune, “Brands are targeting the male consumer, [but] women want to have that conversation and play an active part in the decision making.”

Besides our attitudes towards condoms have changed in recent years. A 2017 survey by Trojan Condoms in partnership with Indiana University’s National Survey of Sexual Health & Behavior found that 96% of those polled thought that when seeing a woman buy condoms as being responsible and smart, or don’t find it to be any of their business. (Because it’s not anyone’s business other than their partner.) Plus 68% of women polled either “strongly disagreed” or “disagreed” that it was a man’s “responsibility” and not the woman’s to supply the condoms for a heterosexual hookup, though only 18% of women said they purchased the condom for their most recent sexual encounter. But with Lola stepping further into sexual health, those numbers are sure to skyrocket, especially since you can easily order them along with your monthly supply of period products.

Fashion

Ashly Graham Is Rag & Bone’s Newest Face…Does That Mean The Company’s Extending Its Sizes?

Photo Rag and Bone via People.com.

Ashley Graham‘s newest fashion campaign has left fans wondering if a beloved brand is branching out into bigger sizing

The mega model joins the likes of Paris Jackson, Alek WekYuka Mannami, and Bella Hadid for Rag & Bone’s DIY Project that’s meant to emphasize authenticity and individuality in each model’s shoot by allowing them to pick the pieces they’re dying to wear.

Just one thing, though: Rag & Bone currently only offers straight sizes, with tops only going to up a Large and jeans maxing out a 32 (a size 12). It was something that brought up again and again when Graham posted some of the pictures from the campaign, with one fan asking about the sizing with, “[S]orry to ask but are you a 32” or are they making larger sizes?? Look ?.”

Another fan crossed their fingers for an upcoming collaboration, leaving the c0mment: “Omg! Where are the plus size @ragandbone jeans?!?!? Please say this is a collab and REAL LIFE @theashleygraham.”

And it looks like it just might be happening as Rag & Bone released a statement to People on Monday confirming that extended sizes will be available before the end of the year! “We can confirm that rag & bone will be introducing a selection of best-selling denim and ready to wear, in extended sizes from November. In addition, we have already started delivering a selection of denim with extended sizing through our partners at Nordstrom,” the brand told the glossy. So while there’s no additional information about how far the sizes will extend, we can at least get an early sneak peek on Nordstrom‘s racks.

This is just another door that Graham has kicked down in regards to body diversity, as she was not only the first curvy model to be featured in Sports Illustrated’s 2015 Swimsuit issue in an ad for SwimsuitsforAll, she also became the cover girl of the iconic issue the year after. Not to mention her most recent broken boundary as one of the first plus-size models to land a beauty contract with Revlon. And with her design acumen, which she’s honed with brands like SwimsuitsforAll, Nordstrom, and DressBarn, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Graham share some design ideas and help shape this next new stage for Rag & Bone.