Great news for beauty mavens in NYC! On Saturday May 24th, BeautyCon, an international summit for the internet’s most influential beauty and fashion icons, has teamed up with ELLE Magazine to make its New York premiere. After taking over Los Angeles and London for the past two years, this fab event packed with celebrity guests, digital influencers and their loyal beauty and fashion-followings is finally coming to the Big Apple. What a better place than New York for hundreds of content creators and celebs to come together to network, talk industry news, discuss the future of online media, and participate in panel discussions.
The mission of BeautyCon is to inspire a new generation of online trendsetters through hands-on experiences and exclusive access to up-and-coming brands and products. On behalf of socialite beauties everywhere, I’d like to personally invite you to join the action. Tickets are available on BeautyCon.com. Hope to see you there!
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.
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!
Before Diego Binetti‘s Fall 2014 presentation, I was given the exclusive opportunity to go backstage and see what happens behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week. Two hours before the show was scheduled to begin, the models arrived for hair, makeup, and nails. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (love the name) did an amazing job giving the models dramatic smokey eyes with their 100% vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics. Since the collection was inspired by nature and getting back to the earth, the nail artists designed gorgeous ombre nails using Morgan Taylor lacquer made to appear as if the models had been digging in the dirt. Now that you’ve been behind the scenes, click here to check out the collection.
Make a luxe statement as you walk into your business meeting or while arriving at a dinner with a colleague. Rich, shimmering shades of gold is the ideal way to achieve a ‘goddess’ effect with a sun-kissed twist. This look has been rocked on the runways and by the biggest celebs. Nicole Richie followed this very of-the-moment trend recently at Fashion Week where she hosted the 10th Annual Style Awards. According to Cosmopolitan, she wore her gorgeous eye makeup with a straight, sleek bob with terracotta bronzer and nude lips. Anyone can wear gold eye shadow. The trick is selecting a warm shade of color that will complement your skin tone.
Choose a Shade
From super sunny to smoky and subtle, golden eyeshadow shades can take on a multitude of looks. It works well for a lively daytime or a sultry evening look and is a warm option for holidays and parties. Choose a shade that will blend well with your eyes and skin tone for the best results. Dark metallic shades, such as a golden bronze, can flatter women with ebony or olive skin tones. Fair skinned women should opt for paler shades of gold with yellow undertones.
Enhance the look by combining your gold shadow with other colors. Gold eyeshadow works well with your basic black smoky eyes for a dramatic nighttime look. Darker bronze hues should be applied in the creases, while lighter shades should become more translucent as they reach the brow bone for proper highlighting. Eyeliner should be neutral for a soft daytime look. Using various forms of eyeshadow such as powder, cream or gel can also create different looks. Refinery29 suggests using a cream liner instead of a pencil when lining your inner rims, as it will stay put longer and is more resistant to smudging and fading.
Get the Look
Begin with clean, moisturized skin which will help to adhere the makeup and make it last longer. Prime the eyelid from lash to brow with a light neutral eyeshadow or face powder. Apply a stick, cream or liquid foundation around the eyes in areas that have increased pigmentation. Blend the concealer well to even out your skin tone with your finger or blending brush. Use a dense applicator brush to apply a wash of gold eye shadow over the entire lid area, stopping at the crease.
Using a dark golden brown, copper or other complementing shade, apply color to the crease and outer edge of the lash line and blend outwards. Use a highlighter around the inner corner of the eye and under the brow bone. Complete the look by applying a subtle wash of eyeshadow with a pinkish tone over the entire eye to add an instant pop of color. For a bolder look, use black eyeliner to line your upper and lower lash line. Darken and lengthen your lashes with a coat or two of black mascara.
Use Complements
Use complementing colors on your cheeks and lips to play up your best feature – your eyes! Opt for a subtle pink cream or fuchsia powder blush on the apples of your cheeks. Lips should be kept neutral to make your eyes the main attraction. Clear gloss on the lips can be used to keep them moisturized during the day. The golden eye look doesn’t work quite as well for women who wear glasses. Really make your eyes pop by making the switch to Coastal.com contacts when rocking your golden lids. Contact lenses are also available in colored selections, allowing you to create a variety of looks using your eye color. Golden makeup enhances brown, hazel and green eyes best.
