Last week, Pretty Connected came together with Family-to-Family for a Mother’s Day beauty drive where bloggers, editors, and brands could donate their excess beauty products to women in need just in time for Mother’s Day. The launch of Share Your Beauty took place at the swanky Davio’s Modern Italian Restaurant on Lexington Ave and 45th Street. Over delicious food and drinks, we stuffed 100 bags donated by LeSportsac with 100 Birchboxes and countless product donations. Each bag was paired with a personalized Mother’s Day message.
In addition to the 100 fabulous bags filled to the brim, over 35 boxes filled with beauty products were sent to the Shelter for Domestic Violence Survivors and Third Street Women’s Residence at Henry Street Settlement to be given out on Mother’s Day! It felt amazing to be part of such a wonderful group of women who are beautiful both inside and out. It means a lot to me to know that we made a different in the lives of women in need and showed them how much they are loved on Mother’s Day. Congratulation to my good friends Lara Eurdolian and Ashley Tschudin for making this possible.
For anyone interested in donating unused beauty products please contact ShareYourBeauty@Family-to-Family.org. Check out a full recap of the Share Your Beauty event on PrettyConnected.com.
Last week, I visited Caravan Stylist Studio for a full hair and nail treatment. Caravan is a by appointment only hair, nail, makeup, and wardrobe styling studio located at the Carlton Hotel catering only to editors, bloggers, celebrities, and other influential people in creative fields. Therefore, I was super excited to have been invited.
When they asked what I wanted to do with my hair, I immediately said curls. Though I’ve perfected the art of makeup, I’m still a novice when it comes to hair and having such thick hair makes it even harder to curl myself. So I’m rarely seen with curls. To get these gorgeous curls, they used a curling wand and set the curls with Style Sexy Hair Spray Clay for shine and hold. The curls stayed perfectly intact well over 24 hours, even after a night’s sleep. Unlike most hair sprays that make hair sticky and brittle, Spray Clay is perfect for everyday use to add texture and hold.
I’ve always loved nail art and Caravan does some amazing work. Since I was wearing a blue color-blocked dress to my cousin’s wedding that weekend (stay tuned for a post on that), I chose a blue nail art design called watercolor with strong black lines. The design went perfectly with the dress and I can’t tell you how many strangers have come up to me to tell me how much they love my nails. Though the design looks complicated, it’s actually something you could do yourself at home provided you have the time. All you have to do is paint your nails white, dab dots of a color across your nails, blend the dots with nail polish remover, and repeat with different colors until you’ve gotten the look desired. The Zoya Nail Polish used blended perfectly and lasted far longer than the average polish.
Thanks Caravan for this amazing look! I hope to come by again sometime.
In celebration of the season 3 finale of Scandal, a fabulous group of beauty bloggers and I checked into a suite at the Carlton Hotel to sample all the amazing beauty products used on the show over glasses of delicious Tiziano wine. This scandalous night of beauty was hosted by the fabulous beauty mavens of Glamazon Diaries and Pretty Connected AKA Makeda Saggau-Sackey and Lara Eurdolian.
Scandal makeup artist Denise Hooper gets a crazy amount of beauty products sent to her on a daily basis, but only uses the best of the best when bringing out Olivia Pope’s inner gladiator. Without further ado, here are all the glam products used behind the scenes of the hit series:
Hair:
When it comes to shiny hair and presidential curls, Scandal’s hair stylist, Linda Villalobos, uses a BaBabyliss Pro Nano Titanium Marcel Curling Iron ($49.99) and Sebastian Cellophane In-Glossing Treatment ($35) to transform the actors into their DC alter egos. The Nano titanium provides high heat without damaging hair. Sol-Gel technology makes the iron barrels 37% stronger and 22% smoother than those of standard irons. The Sebastian Cellophane In-Glossing Treatment is only available in salons and has protein-rich infusers that illuminate every strand. This heat-actived formula enhances color without damaging hair and is both peroxide and ammonia-free.
On Project Runway: Under the Gunn, the biggest fashion and beauty blunders are constantly being solved within seconds. In honor of this week’s episode featuring a ‘Real Women’ challenge lead by Benefit Cosmetics where designers have to solve everyday fashion emergencies in an instant, Benefit’s Global Beauty Authority, Annie Ford Danielson, is sharing her top beauty tips. I must say they’re genius!
1. Dilemma: How to wear a bold lip and make it last?
Solution: Remember, that when you wear a bold lip, you don’t want the bold lip to wear you. Longevity is key to this statement look. Before applying your lipstick you need to prime and perfect your lips. Make sure you exfoliate and hydrate. Try using a tint like Benetintbeneath your bold lip color for longer staying-power. Also, dap on cheeks for a natural girly flush.
2. Dilemma: The Shine Factor!
Solution: Remember that when the weather starts to change so does our skin and sometimes shine gets the best of us. Try Benefit’s The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine; an instant pro powder mattifier that minimizes pores and shine in an instant.
3. Dilemma: How to achieve the ‘No Makeup, Makeup Look!’
Solution: Remember, less is more. Before reaching for your foundation, apply concealer first, that way, you find that you won’t need as much makeup. Try Boi-ing, an industrial strength concealer that stays put, when you need it to.
4. Dilemma: How to cut down your skincare routine and amp up the results?
Solution: Choose a multi-tasking product that is bigger than BB! Try Benefit’s NEW Big Easy; a multi-balancing complexion perfector that balances moisture & controls oil while provide flawless coverage. Plus the formula provides SPF 35 protection!
5. Dilemma: How Bright is too Bright?
Solution: Bright cheeks are amazing, but in order to keep it from looking too young and costume-like, use a long-lasting, weather-proof tint like Benefit Lollitint (this shade is spot on for pantone’s color of the year Radiant Orchid), which will give you the brightness you’re looking for in a subtle, soft way.
6. Dilemma: How to get full long lashes?
Solution: Ditch the stripes and glue and choose a mascara that can creates length and fullness! Try Benefit They’re Real! Mascara. It really opens up the eyes by giving lashes a dramatic base-to-tip curl. Your lashes will never be the same.
7. Dilemma: How to pump-up skimpy Brows?
Solution: The best way to accentuate and add shape to a skimpy brow is by filling it in with a product that adds color, texture and VOLUME to the hair. Try Benefit Gimme Brow.Its gel-like formula is filled with microfibers that create the most natural full brow in seconds.
8. Dilemma: How to instantly perk-up dull skin?
Solution:Benefit Cosmetics believes laughter is the best cosmetic, so remember to SMILE, it will instantly make you look more radiant & beautiful!
I’ve suffered from acne ever since the 5th grade. But, you’d never know it now thanks to my daily skin care regimen of amazing over the counter and prescription products. As someone with incredibly oily and sensitive skin, I never cease to be flattered when I get compliments on my skin. For over 15 years, I’ve used prescription pills, face washes, and creams in an attempt to keep my skin clear. After visiting a dermatologist a few months ago, I finally found the perfect complexion cocktail to keep my skin radiant. Without further ado, here’s the skin care routine that I swear by.
Thanks to this treatment, my skin is absolutely glowing. I really only wear foundation when I feel like it. If you’re not happy with your skin, getting prescription acne treatments isn’t difficult at all. Since most general doctors treat acne, you might not even have to go to a dermatologist to get the products you need. Though the out of pocket costs tend to be a little higher than your average medical costs much of the expense is still covered by insurance.
