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l’oreal

Beauty, Body, Fashion, Hair, Makeup, Skin

#BeautyBookmarks: The News You Need to Know

There’s so much happening in the industry that I can’t possibly cover them all! But to keep you informed on what’s shaking, I’m serving up the biggest beauty and fashion headlines of the day right here!

Photos via Bustle and Glamour, respectively.

The Fenty Effect shows no signs of slowing down as new and established brands are bolstering their shade ranges. In fact, Revlon has partnered with Allure’s founding editor Linda Wells to launch Flesh, a new beauty brand with inclusivity at its core and foundation sticks that comes in 40 shades (Fenty’s magic number, which has now become industry standard for complexion products). The line is expected to hit Ulta stores exclusively on June 24th, so mark your calendars now, kittens! [Teen Vogue]

Another brand following in Fenty’s footsteps: Tarte Cosmetics. After its latest foundation and concealer launches were criticized for having a limited shade ranges, the brand went back to the drawing board to expand the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation from 25 to 40 shades and the Creaseless Concealer from 14 to 30 shades that just hit shelves. And it’s not stopping there, as the brand plans to do the same for other formulas in the line, stating, “We are excited to share that our shape tape matte & hydrating foundations, shape tape concealer & Rainforest of the Sea water foundations will get shade extensions this year.” [Bustle]

If you’re already on the hunt for Father’s Day gifts (it’s June 17th, but it will be here before you know it), Lush has got you covered. Forget the ties and grilling gear, the brand is serving up a batch of bathtime and grooming goodies, including a solid beard oil and a handlebar mustache soap you might want to snap up for yourself. [Allure]

Sure, we might use Spotify to listen to some of our favorite podcasts (The Read, Unladylike, and Fat Mascara quickly come to mind), but Tidal is taking streaming to a different level. The platform announced on Wednesday that it will add beauty content with an entertainment alongside some of its music-related shows. The first to hit small screens is Get the Look (hmm, that sounds familiar) in which various beauty vloggers will channel stars like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna in some of their hottest music videos., so if you don’t have an account, don’t forget to create another email account to score a free trial and check them out. [The Cut]

We’ve all been eagerly anticipating any new news on the upcoming Aaliyah x MAC collaboration, and we’ve finally got a better look at what’s expected to hit beauty counters this summer. The roster will include an orange-toned lipstick, a deep plum lip gloss, a bronzer embossed with the late singer’s signature as well as the nude lipstick and dark eyeshadow palette we’ve previously had a peek at —all housed in glossy, burgundy packaging. And we won’t have to wait much longer as the collection will become available online on June 20th before hitting stores the next day. Set your alarms because this one is sure to sell out ASAP! [Bustle]

But that’s not the only collaboration coming soon — far from it! L’Oreal is rocking the runway by linking up with Valentino to produce prestige beauty buys and fragrances for the brand that has already birthed a number of successful scents (I remember when Valentina and its second iteration first launched!). But if you’re looking for something with more sheen, Pinrose has partnered with Sephora to unleash a slew shimmery, holographic glosses, highlighters, and even a rainbow-hued brush set to ensure you can be seen from space all season long. [PopSugar, Elite Daily]

Since Memorial Day, everyone’s been looking to splash into summer. And it looks like mega model Hunter McGrady is making sure each beach body (because every body is a beach body) is ready with a line of sexy swimwear that budget babes will love in partnership with Playful Promises. With cute keyhole cutouts, little bits of lace, and a splash of sequins on a variety of sultry silhouettes, you can expect temperatures to rise (and pulses to race) as soon as you step onto the sand. [Glamour]

May 31, 2018 by Val

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 McGrath, Val Garland, Kabuki, 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.”

Embed from Getty Images

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:

May 2, 2018 by Val

Beauty, Body, Hair, Makeup, Skin

Skip The Subscription & Treat Yourself to a Target Beauty Box for $7

Photo via Target.com.

There’s nothing like the giddy anticipation of opening up a box filled with a mysterious array of tiny treasures, but doing so might be a bit much for many who either can’t afford to keep up with a subscription beyond a few months or haven’t finished the samples they initially received yet. But Target is delivering the best of both worlds: a slew of beauty buys to sample for less than the price of a full-sized product — minus any commitment.

The retailer has just released a range of six themed beauty boxes that are $7 each and come housed in pretty, Insta-ready printed packaging that makes any last-minute gifting super simple. Each is designed to tackle a specific beauty need whether you just need something to help you get out the door in the morning, repair the damage your hair has incurred, or even simply wind down for the day. So you don’t have to worry about getting stuck with samples you won’t use (though you can always gather them into a gift basket for someone in your circle who could use it).

April 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, 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