Dry hands, irritated skin, chapped lips—those are just a few of the telltale signs that indicate winter has arrived. Winter can be a disaster for your skin — making it dry, itchy, and irritated. Cold conditions outside can leave your skin feeling raw, while the heat from indoors can easily remove moisture from the air and therefore from your skin.
Being proactive and updating your skin care regime to suit the season, can really help you battle the Wintery elements. We have put together a list of Winter skin care tips that we guarantee will keep you skin healthy, happy and glowing!
Look For Signs of Dryness
Make sure you are checking for signs of dry skin daily. You will notice things like your foundation patching, where it normally doesn’t or chapped lips becoming a daily (and very annoying) occurrence.
These small giveaways are signs of dryness in your skin that can be caused by the colder weather. When you start to notice these changes, it might be time to work in a new routine to you winter skincare regime.
Limit Time Spent (and Temperature) in the Shower
Taking long, steamy, hot showers may be very tempting during the Winter month, but your skin will be much better-served with a 5- to 10-minute lukewarm shower (or bath).
You should also avoid using excessively hot water when washing your hands and face, rule of thumb, if your skin turns red, the water is too hot. Washing your hands in cooler water appears to be as effective at removing germs as warm water and is less irritating to skin, so be mindful this season.
Apply Sunscreen (That’s right, Suncreen!)
Even though it’s December and you may not see the sun that much throughout the festive season, on bright winter days, snow reflects the sun’s rays — up to 80 percent, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation — increasing your risk of exposure.
That means whether you’re out on the slopes, playing in the snow, or just out shopping, make sure to apply some suncreen as it’s just as important in the harsh winter weather as it is in the Summer sun.
Also, don’t be fooled by the dark, dismal, dreary days packed full of clouds. UV light can penetrate even the darkest day, so make sure you apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to all exposed areas of your body.
Stay Hydrated
You should be paying extra attention to staying hydrated throughout the Winter months. Even though temperatures are much colder, the winter also brings much drier air, which can unexpectedly lead to dehydration. This in turn can cause your body to feel sluggish and run-down, with muscle fatigue and dry skin sometimes being a side effect.
The colder weather of winter is often used as an excuse to exercise less and eat more. This can lead to weight gain, which can be further exacerbated by not drinking enough fluids.
Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate
Even though you are trying to keep as much moisture into you skin as possible throughout the winter months, you need to add exfoliation to your winter skincare regime. As we try to get as much moisture as possible into the skin, we need to clear a path for those products to penetrate.
If you have too many dead skin cells, that path is blocked and your skin remains dehydrated. Using oil and moisturizers regularly won’t do you any good if you’re not starting with a primed surface, so remember to exfoliate at least once a week to keep your skin, healthy and glowing.
Need a Festive Makeup Look?
How about this holiday glam look? Perfect for Christmas parties, family gatherings and day to day festivities.
If like us, you have experimented with homemade beauty techniques before then it is very likely you’ve at some point put mayonnaise, egg whites and honey on your face or hair. Are we wrong?
We do it because we trust our friends and family who tell us all the homemade beauty treatments actually work, BUT for a lot of us, it’s about saving money. As it’s November and most of us having started saving up for the holidays, we thought we’d put together a list of our fave tried and tested skin and hair care homemade beauty recipes.
Everyone’s skin is different, so what might work for us, may not work for you. Check out alternative ingredients you can use to suit your skin and hair requirements. Save your money for Christmas gifts, parties, outfits and most importantly makeup(!) by using the recipes below.
How To Make Our Top Three Homemade Beauty Treatments
HOMEMADE FACE MASK
Avocados are one of the best ingredients for any beauty treatment recipe because they are rich in vitamin E, fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They make your skin glow, especially if you also make them a regular part of your diet. When you pair an avocado with oatmeal, you get a great mask that reduces redness, exfoliates and moisturizes dry skin at the same time. We found this wonderful DIY face mask by Fit Foodie Finds and just had to share it.
To make this face mask, mash up 1/2 a ripe avocado into a small bowl and use a fork to mash. Place rolled oats in a blender and grind until coarse. Mix into smashed avocado. Add in honey, lemon juice, coconut oil and your fave essential oil and blend. Use immediately as avocado will turn brown quickly. Leave on face for 15-20 minutes and then rinse!
HOMEMADE HAIR MASK
Apple cider vinegar is praised for being rich in vitamins and minerals that are good for our hair, such as vitamin C and B. Some also claim it contains alpha-hydroxy acid which helps exfoliate scalp skin, and that it’s anti-inflammatory, which can help with dandruff build up! Argan oil contains vitamin E which will add an extra shine to your hair!
To make this hair mask, in a blender, combine 1/2 avocado, 2 Tbsp argan oil, 10 drops of rosemary essential oil, and 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar, and pulse together. Work the mask through dry hair from roots to tips. If you have naturally oily hair avoid your scalp where possible. Let the mask sit for 15 minutes, then rise and shampoo your hair!
HOMEMADE BODY SCRUB
We found this great soothing body scrub recipe from Hello Glow and just had to share it with you. There are many benefits to using coffee on your skin, it fights premature skin aging, soothes inflammation, reduces cellulite and tightens skin! The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties in green tea also makes it an effective treatment for acne and oily skin.
To make this body scrub, combine the melted coconut oil with the green tea in a small saucepan and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 20 minutes. Using a strainer, strain the tea leaves from the oil and discard them. Mix the oil with the coffee grounds and ginger. Spoon the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze for 15 minutes or until solid.
Every year around this time, we find ourselves on a constant Google search for a fun Halloween costume. It has to be better than last year’s, creative and simple enough to pull off at home. Even though we’re sure we’ll see plenty of Pennywise the Clown costumes roaming the spooky streets this year, we usually like to try a less obvious route.
Naturally, we usually look to Instagram or youtube beauty blogs to find some amazing Halloween makeup ideas so here are a few our favorites for Halloween 2020!
Halloween Makeup Tutorials 2019
CELESTIAL | STARRY NIGHT SKY
Spacing on how to dress up for Halloween this year? How about some dangerously glamorous, celestial/galaxy inspired makeup? Both professional and amateur makeup artists have been covering their faces with constellations, galaxies and planets and the results are out-of-this-world beautiful.
The idea is to dust the middle of your face (from your brow bones to your eyes to the bridge of your nose) with purple, blue, and pink eye shadows (try the shimmer-filled try using our bombshell & glitter eyeshadow palettes) to look like space. Then, you draw stars along your cheeks with white liquid eye liner!
OPTICAL ILLUSION MAKEUP
Local, Vancouver based makeup artist Mimi Choi is a fave of ours. Her amazing portfolio of work speaks for itself. Over the last few years she has gain international recognition for her stunning masterpieces and her facial transformations has continued to grow, with each new look showcasing her expert artistry and limitless imagination.
From crazy contortions to trippy textures, Choi’s trompe-l’œil looks are sure to make you do a double-take. Using a range of liquid eyeliners, eye shadows, lipsticks, and body paint, Choi’s clever creations are often inspired by surrealist artists and photographers.
DOWNRIGHT SCARY
This makeup tutorial isn’t pretty. If you don’t feel like being glamorous this year, but instead wish to embrace all things scary and TERRIFY your friends this year, check out this sewed mouth shut makeup tutorial.
You will need Liquid Latex, white face paint, toilet paper, tissues, or paper towels, makeup, acrylic paint, face paint, paint brushes, Q-tips and black thread and a needle. This makeup look is very scary but not 100% ideal if you are a chatty Cathy that likes to socialize at parties. Prepare not to speak as much as you normally would!
LAST MINUTE MAKEUP LOOKS
For those of you who like to plan things… never and usually end up throwing something together last minute, here are a few last minute, easy, beginner makeup tutorials, just for you!
Fall has arrived! Okay, so maybe we weren’t fully ready to part with hot Summer days and long Summer nights, but at least we can expect amazing makeup and fashion this season. Bring on the stylin’ boots, knitted sweaters and cosy socks!
This year, we have searched what’s been hot on the catwalks for this Fall season and have made a list of our top three favourite makeup trends that you see on tv and in magazines this season.
Autumn 2019 Makeup Trends You Will ‘Fall’ In Love With!
GRAPHIC EYELINER
We are so thankful that this Fall, makeup is just as much fun as the colourful looks of Summer thanks to dramatic and creative makeup trends like graphic eyeliner. Celebrities like Dove Cameron, Rita Ora, and more have already started wearing the style. While some celebrities have opted for a classic black hue, others are experimenting with bold colours – which we absolutely love.
Finding the right eyeliner is key when creating this bold, sculpted and architectural style and it’s best not to overthink when you are applying as mistakes can happen when you stop and doubt yourself.
If you are experimenting at home for the first time, we recommend extended you usual black eyeliner line, up and towards the arch of the eyebrow! Check out tutorial from youtuber and makeup artist Desi Perkins for a lesson in creating a graphic eye style.
DEWY LIPS
A simple makeup trend we’ve known and loved since the ’90s is back! Clear lip gloss created dewy, wet-look lips! Yes, lip gloss, or in other words, the simplest beauty product in the world, is back and in a big way.
This Spring, we saw a trend with dewy skin taking over all the seasons catwalks and runways. Designers and makeup artists internationally have embraced that ‘wet’ look and playing with the glistening texture in forward-thinking ways (think pale, icy shades, vibrant hues paired with matte skin, and matching glossy eyelids) have decided its time to bring back wet look lips!
Beware though, highly pigmented, patent-finish lips popping up on the red carpet don’t come easy – there’s layering and a lot of touch ups involved. BUT on the plus, clear lip gloss looks good on EVERYONE!
A FLUSH OF LIGHT BLUSH
Many makeup artists would agree that blush is quite an underrated makeup product, but Fall 2019 will see a turn in events with a flush of blush becoming a trend of the season.
Blush is now being brought into the spotlight, and for good reason too! Not only does a blush add some extra color and dimension to the face, but it can also highlight, contour and give you a rosy glow. Perfect for a flushed, seasonal, just-in-from-outside look.
Depending on the look you are trying for, you will want to apply your blusher in different ways on your cheekbones:
For a natural look – dab your blush onto the apples of your cheeks
For a dramatic look – try draping your blush from your temples down across your cheekbones
For a rosy flush – apply your blush just under your eyes, so that it is higher up on your cheeks, and then blend it in well. Cream or gel formulas tend to be best for this look
For a sculpted look – blush can be used to contour your face. Simply apply it onto, and above, your cheekbones, in the same areas you would usually place a highlighter
Check out this video tutorial below for more info on how to apply blush and check out our blush palette for various shades of blush suitable for every occasion.
We all LOVE makeup, right? That being said, we aren’t always guaranteed enough time to beautify ourselves before leaving the house. For example, sometimes we have to rush our beauty regime in the morning before work and it is for this reason that we have created this blog featuring our 10 of our favourite beauty hacks, tips and tricks that will help you get ready faster and also make use of makeup that perhaps you thought was ready for the trash can.
Cat Eyes Using… Tape!
Cat eye, eyeliner creates a dramatic, glamorous look that’s both classic and trendy. When you first start doing a cat eye, it’s easy to smudge your eyeliner or to draw uneven lines, but you can master the technique with practice.
If you’re ready to try out a cat eye, you have two options for drawing it on. You can use a makeup brush to help create an easy outline for your cat eye or use TAPE or two plasters as a guide. For cat eyes, liquid eyeliner is vital, but you can try to layer pencil eyeliner if that’s all you have.
Place one piece of tape at an angle upwards below the eye and the second piece on the bottom half of the eyelid, also angled slightly upwards to create a cat eye finish on your look.
Reduce Eye Puffiness Using Green Tea Bags!
Puffiness and dark circles around the eyes can be caused by lack of sleep, overwork, skin disorders and hypothyroidism. Other causes come from toxins through alcohol and tobacco use. Hormonal changes, skin disorders and allergies affect the delicate skin around the eyes. Despite popular belief, lack of sleep, fatigue and staying out late are not the main causes of dark circles under the eyes.
We recommend placing brewed green tea bags on the eyes for a short time period allows the tannins in the tea to treats puffy eyes and dark circles. Green tea bags reduce swelling and tighten the skin around the eyes. The caffeine reduces puffiness by shrinking the blood vessels. Green tea works on dark circles by decreasing the dilation of the blood vessels under the eyes.
Add Extra Curl To Those Lashes!
Sometimes a simple eyelash curler is not enough to create that extra bit of curl for the desired look. However a heated curler can help you achieve a dramatic and long-lasting curl.
Whether you prefer using a regular eyelash curler or using an electric or battery-operated curler, heating these tools is easy and can help produce awesome results!
We recommend three ways to heat your eyelash curlers: using Hot Water, using a Lighter or using a Hair Dryer
No matter which way you decide to heat your curlers, make sure you check the temperature on the back of your hand before applying to you lashes. If the metal is too hot it can cause permanent damage to your lashes. We recommend waiting at least 5 minutes for you curlers to cool down.
Plump Up Your Pout!
Peppermint is a refreshing and stimulating oil that is both soothing and enlightening. This scent is invigorating to the senses that promotes energy and alertness. Peppermint Essential Oil has a cooling effect on the skin that is revitalizing and wonderful to the touch, due to its menthol content. With many amazing uses for this essential oil, Peppermint, is a valuable addition to any oil collection.
You can create a full, fake pout without makeup or surgery just by using Peppermint Essential Oil. The peppermint helps to stimulate the circulation under the lips and creates a “swelling” effect, thus making your lips appear fuller! Add you need to do is grab a Qtip and dab one – two drops of peppermint oil on it and rub across your lips. You can also add the oil to your favorite lip gloss! I practically swear by this stuff!
Set Your Nails With Ice!
There is nothing worse than smudging your new manicure. Luckily, there are a number of tried-and-true methods to dry painted nails quickly. This will help maintain your beautiful nails and often prevent chips and damage.
Our favourite method by far has got to be the ice bath. You can ready your ice bath previous to completing your manicure and set it in the fridge. Once your manicure is complete, dip your fingers into the ice bath (a bowl of water filled with partially melted ice cubes) and keep your fingers spread apart. Leave submerged for 2-3 minutes. Once removed, your nails should have a beautiful uniform finish and will have hardened and dried perfectly!
Remove Makeup Stains With Shaving Cream!
Anyone who wears makeup has had the groan-worthy experience of getting foundation stains on a nice top. But next time it happens to you, don’t despair—most kinds of foundation can be removed from fabric with the right cleaning materials and a bit of patience. For oil-free foundation, our favourite beauty hack is to a dab of shaving cream will usually do the trick.
Cover the foundation stain with shaving cream, let the shaving cream sit for 2-3 minutes, rub the shaving cream into the stain (add rubbing alcohol for stubborn stains), rinse with stain with cold water and the foundation should have disappeared!
Remove Makeup Stains With Shaving Cream!
Those tell-tale dimples happen to the best of us; yes, even models and celebs aren’t immune. But with swimsuit season in full swing, you might have banishing cellulite on the brain—or at least reducing its appearance. This is the DIY to do just that, thanks to a couple of secret, lump-combating ingredients.
The first ingredient is caffeine, which tightens and provides antioxidants to the skin when applied topically. When applied religiously, it has been shown to reduce the appearance of cellulite—especially over time. Here, we combine coffee grounds with moisturizing, skin-soothing coconut oil and a bit of sea salt for an extra exfoliating kick – overtime and used often these ingredients will increase blood flow and reduce the appearance of cellulite!
Touch Up Your Roots Using Mascara!
One of our favourite beauty hacks has got to be hiding roots with mascara! There are hair mascaras on the market, but in a pinch we recommend using a regular eye mascara! Sometimes we just don’t have the time to get to the salon and maybe we have a big party or event coming up! Next time this happens, brush it on until your roots are full disguised, then wash it out in the shower at the end of the day.
Thinking of making a career move? Perhaps you aren’t happy with your current job and need a little inspiration and motivation to make a much needed change in you life? Is your goal to be an entrepreneur and your own boss?
That is why we have created an article on the top 6 female entrepreneurs of 2019 that you HAVE to follow right now. Some are household names you’ll recognize instantly, others have influence in small niches but are worth your attention. These leading women have elevated their companies and personal brands to new heights!
We recommend looking them up, following them on social media, reading their books and watching as many of their interviews and Ted Talks as possible. These exceptional women have excelled in their areas of expertise and we couldn’t think of better role models for ourselves and for all you beauties!
Sara Blakely: Founder of Spanx
A female entrepreneur that had to be featured on our 2019 list is Sara Blakely. She is the founder and owner of shapewear brand Spanx, which sells undergarments, leggings, swimwear and maternity wear in 65 countries.
Sara began her career in sales as a door-to-door fax machine salesperson but creatively had made an undergarment using pantyhose that could be worn under white slacks.
Noticing a niche in the market her design became hugely successful and became shapewear brand Spanx – which we all know and love, are we right ladies? She has been a guest judge on ‘Shark Tank’ and had a cameo role in hit TV show ‘Billions.’ She is also the co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team and we think she in AMAZING.
“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.” – Sara Blakely
If you want to hear her story, check her Variety’s Power of Women speech.
Tory Burch: Fashion Designer & Business Woman
Her eponymous fashion line, which includes high-end handbags and Reva ballet flats, is ubiquitous.
The designer’s bags, sunglasses and shoes are flying off the shelves at Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and Saks. She’s competing with more established brands like Coach, Michael Kors and Kate Spade—and winning.
Burch started her career a fashion copywriter. After her ex-husband, retail tycoon Christopher Burch, gave her $2 million, she began designing clothes in her kitchen. Before long, she had an important celebrity endorsement and soaring sales figures.
“If it doesn’t scare you, you’re probably not dreaming big enough.” – Tory Burch
Weili Dai: Co-founder & President, Marvell Technology Group
Weili Dai, 51, is co-founder of Santa Clara, Calif based Marvell Technology Group LTD, among the world’s five largest “fabless” semiconductor companies. Fabless means the company designs chips that other people build. A software engineer by background, Dai started the company in 1995 with her husband, Sehat Sutardja, a chip designer. Today, Sutardja serves as chairman and CEO, while Dai is vice president and general manager of communications and consumer business.
In practice Dai serves as the official public face of the company while helping chart strategy for Marvell, which designs chips that power digital storage products, mobile devices and, increasingly, smart TVs. She is an inspiration female entrepreneur that we definitely recommended following!
“If you feel like you’re doing good things and have good intentions, you’re taking care of people with the right principles and ethics, you’re actually a lot happier.” – Weili Dai
Arianna Huffington: Founder of The Huffington Post
After her graduation from Cambridge, Huffington relocated to New York where she worked as a television commentator.
Despite her job, Huffington persistently engaged in her writings backstage and eventually published her first book, The Female Woman, which focused on feminism. However, her second book, Reason After, got rejected thirty-six times by major publishers.
In 2003, Huffington tried partaking in politics; she ran for California State Gubernatorial election. Her attempt, however, was unsuccessful. Shortly after Huffington co-founded Huffington post with Kenneth Lerer.
Huffington said in an interview,
“Very often there are going to be naysayers and critics. But don’t let that dominate, or you won’t be able to do something new and risky.”
JK Rowling: Author of Harry Potter Book Series
“An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless … By every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.“
JK Rowling
After receiving “loads” of rejections from book publishers when she first sent out the manuscript, Bloomsbury, a publishing house in London, gave “ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” the green light in 1997.
Her series of seven books has since sold more than 450 million copies, won innumerable awards, been made into movies, and transformed Rowling’s life. She is our hero!
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – JK Rowling
Sofia Vergara: Actress, Model & Business Woman
You probably know Sofía Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett from ABC’s Modern Family. But the 40-year-old Colombian-born actress is also a savvy businesswoman; her entrepreneurial ventures have made her the highest-earning woman in television, pulling in a total of $19 million last year.
In 1998, Vergara and partner Luis Balaguer cofounded Latin World Entertainment, a talent agency representing Latino entertainers in the U.S. market. Over the years, as the Latino market and mainstream awareness of it have grown, the agency has branched out in new directions.
Then in 2011, Vergara capitalized on her fans’ enthusiasm for her sense of style with the debut of her own clothing line, in partnership with Kmart. The clothes are stylish but affordably priced. Last year, the line expanded to include home products such as bed and bath items and luggage. Is there anything this woman can’t do? Clearly not and that’s why we LOVE her!
“Never take no personally. Sometimes people tell you no for a reason that has nothing to do with you. You must keep going.” – Sofia Vergara
90’s Throwback: Walk-mans, Clueless, Justin and Britney, The Macerna, Beanie Babies, Nintendo 64, fanny packs, gel pens, tamagotchis.. let’s face it, some of the greatest trends EVER happened in 90’s. Are we right?
We particularly love the fashion and beauty trends that took the world by storm. Some trends have made a complete cycle and are now back ‘in vogue’ – other however, in hindsight, probably should never have happened at all. If you’re looking for cringeworthy beauty ideas, the ’90s are all that and a more. Streaky highlights, flannel shirts tied around our waists and WAAAAYYY too skinny eyebrows. Eeek!
We thought we would take this opportunity to walk you through what we think are the BEST and WORST trends of the 90’s…
But first, watch this quick video, breaking down some of the trends that we missed in this article!
Meanwhile, celebrities have been wearing their hair in high ponytails with tendrils left out, exposed bobby pins, and extra thick headbands. 90s hair trends seem to be making a massive come back and the only thing we are truly missing right now are butterfly clips!
We, easily, had thousands of butterfly clips back in the 90s, day time clips, school clips and weekend clips in all shapes and sizes. We LOVED these little clips – time to bring them back!
Body Glitter
Remember when you just could never own enough body glitter? Even if it left your clothes, sheets, and bathroom looking like Tinkerbell exploded – we had to have it.
Your low rise jeans and tube top outfit would not be complete without excessive amounts of body glitter smeared all over you neck, shoulders, torso and face.
We are lovers of glitz, glitter and glow – I think if we had a 2019 version of body glitter, we could make ourselves shimmer effortlessly, all day and night.
Crimped Hair
Nothing screams 90s like over textured crimped hair paired with super neon attached/dyed streaked pink or blue hair. Yaaass! Wasn’t it the best?
Nowadays we strive for a little bit of volume in our hairstyles, nothing gave an extra bit of volume like heavily crimped hair. No one did it better than Christina Aguilera! If you didn’t have a lip sync and dance routine rehearsed with your best gal pals to ‘Lady Marmalade’ – were you even a 90s kid?
90’s Throwback: The Worst Trends
Embellished Jeans
There were plenty of different jean trends in the 90s, for example, extra wide and waaayyy oversize, low rise (so low you need a wax!) not to mention the low rise with a BIG shiny buckle. Oh yeah, the 90s had some killer jean trends, however, one we don’t think made the cut would have to be the over-embellished style.
Remember the very extra pair of jeans you had that were covered in badges AND an excessive amount of iron on patches? Let’s face it, those jeans were not very complimenting to anyones figure, are we right?
Bucket Hats
Without a doubt, there have been an influx of trends re-emerging from the 90s of late- for example ripped jeans, which we love! However, one we are not so sure about is the bucket hat. The bucket hat was made famous by the likes of LL Cool J and perhaps more significantly Britpop idol Liam Gallagher.
Arguably, the bucket hat is going to be more popular than ever this summer and we are not sure about it. Whether we like it or not, we are about to see a lot of bucket hat looks, so if you want to know how to introduce it into your style this year, check out this article here.
Skinny Eyebrows
In the ’90s, if you didn’t pluck your eyebrows to death, then you were not up-to-date with the latest beauty trends. By law, everyone was required to tweeze away almost everything and then draw it back in with a super thin line (usually from a sharpie!!!)
Thanks goodness that trend is in the past – don’t get us wrong we like shapely eyebrows, just as long as they actually exist! For the latest way to enhance your brow game, check out our eyebrow pomade here.
If you want to start shopping for ethically today, click here to see our selection of cruelty-free cosmetics.
The Costume Institute Gala at New York‘s Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met Gala) is the biggest event on the fashion fundraising calendar. T biggest names and most famous faces come together from fashion, film, music and art to raise money for the Met’s Costume Institute and celebrate the grand opening of its latest exhibition.
First up in our top 3 looks from the Met Gala 2019 is the stunning Celine Dion.
Dion showed up to the event in an Oscar de la Renta gold fringe dress and a feathery head piece that reportedly weighed 22 pounds. Her decade long Las Vegas residency is soon come to an end which is perhaps why her ensemble resembled that of a Vegas show girl. At 51 years old, this pop diva is still dropping jaws with her wonderful sense of fashion and fabulous flashes of leg!
We are in love with her natural makeup look enhanced only by the dramatic eye makeup. Dark shades blended superbly – topped with thick and voluminous lashes for a smoky look. If you want to re-create this makeup look using our products, we recommend our Bombshell Eyeshadow Palette, our Vegas Lashes and our pale, nude shade Fantasy, from our liquid lipstick collection.
Next up in the our top looks from the 2019 Met Gala is Janelle Monáe wearing Christian Siriano.
Janelle Monáe is just rocking the outfit inspired by surrealist art allusions! We think this outfit is head turning and that hot pink is completely stunning!
We particularly love the eye and lip motifs (espcially the custom eye bag from Judith Leiber) which elevate the outfit into something a little more ‘Met Gala appropriate’.
Janelle wore one hat that held three other hats on top. The accessories were built up into a tower, with one hat seemingly looking like it was about to fall to the ground. Of course, defying gravity was all in the name of ‘Camp’ style.
We really love how her makeup complimented her overall look. The angles of her surreal inspired outfit managed to be perfectly matched in her precisely contoured face. If you would like to re-create this makeup for yourself, make sure to check out our cream contour palette or our powder contour palette (for those of us with oily skin).
To shop our full collection of online cosmetics, click here.
THE NEW, OLD HOLLYWOOD
Finally, our last favourite look for the 2019 Met Gala was Taylor Hill in Ralph Lauren wearing a Butani necklace.
Taylor Hill wandered through ‘The Library’ at Ralph Lauren and searched through hundreds of vintage pieces to find the perfect dress. She found a shoulder-less pink satin dress that was re-made, just for her, for the 2019 Met Gala.
The dress and light pink feather boa is a reincarnation of the old Hollywood style and we think that it’s simple, fashionable elegance is stunning. Not to mention the magnificent diamond encircling her neck!
We also love how her makeup is subtle and elegant, just like her outfit – minus the feather boa, of course. The light blush on her cheeks is both natural and high fashion. We also love the matte pink finish of her lips, for that slight pop of sophisticated colour.
If you want to re-create this makeup look for yourself, make sure to try our Blush Palette which has 10 unique shades to suit every complexion. If you want a touch of pink on your lips, get that matte finish using our Show Me Off liquid lipstick from our Black Edition.
To shop our full collection of online cosmetics, click here.
In today’s article we are going to be discussing animal testing within the cosmetics industry and how to be an ethical consumer and shop for cruelty-free beauty products. First though, we’d like to you read our mission statement:
“Our mission at Inception of Beauty has always been and will always be to create a high end, luxurious line of cosmetics that will empower and build confidence in every individual. We believe that every person has their own unique form of beauty and our products will only enhance that beauty that already lies underneath and within.
We believe in creating cosmetics that are universal and wearable by every race, age and gender. We believe that cruelty to animals is completely inhumane and totally unnecessary when creating new makeup products. Our entire line of products are cruelty-free.
Self Love, confidence and motivation. The three aspects of our customers’ life that we wish to nurture and encourage. Our line of cosmetics are the tools every woman and man can use, to help them realise the best versions of themselves. A version that is fierce, powerful, tenacious, elegant, charming and beautiful. A version of themselves that they love, inside and out.”
At Inception of Beauty we are committed to creating and maintaining an ethical beauty brand. All of our products are created without animal tested and are completely cruelty free. This is not the case for all beauty brands however and animal testing in the cosmetics industry, although not as common, still happens.
ANIMAL TESTING IN THE COSMETIC INDUSTRY
Are you aware that in many parts of the world, animals in laboratories are still suffering and dying to test cosmetics such as lipstick and shampoo? As consumers, it is our duty to make sure that we shop ethically, particularly within the beauty industry. Animal testing in cosmetics is not a necessity as many modern ethical brands demonstrate every day. It is the ugly secret of the beauty industry and in this article, we thought we’d share some hard facts about animal testing with you.
It is estimated that between 100,000-200,000 animals around the world suffer and die for cosmetic testing every year. The animals that are used most commonly are hamsters, rats, mic, guinea pigs and every rabbits. It some countries dogs and monkey are also used for testing, although not for cosmetics, but for other chemicals.
There are many types of cosmetics tests carried out on our furry friends. The main types of experiments are:
Skin and Eye Irritation Tests: These include chemicals being rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of rabbits or other animals to check if the chemicals cause long last irritation.
Repeated Force Feeding: These tests last weeks or months and consist of animals being force feed chemicals orally, to look exam any signs of illness or specific health hazards from repetitive use of products.
“Lethal Dose” Tests: These test, by far, are the worst of them all. Like repetitive force feeding, animal and forced to swallow massive amounts of the chemical to determine how much of a dose would be required to cause death. These tests can cause considerable pain and distress including blindness, swollen eyes, sore bleeding skin, internal bleeding and organ damage, birth defects, convulsions and death. Pain relief is not provided and at the end of a test the animals are killed, normally by asphyxiation, neck-breaking or decapitation.
If you want to learn a little more about animal testing in North America, check out this video by Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics.
HOW DO I CHECK IF A BRAND IS CRUELTY-FREE?
If you want to check if the products and brands you use every day are cruelty-free look our for these three certified logos:
PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies
PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies is one of the most well known cruelty free programs, with over 1,900 brands certified.
Many members of PETA are extremely concerned with animal testing and look to the company’s for insights into animal testing policies. If a company that is interested in having its name added to our cruelty-free list(s) must complete a short questionnaire and sign a statement of assurance.
However, no testing or monitoring is performed, therefore the legitimacy of PETA’s cruelty-free logo depends on the honesty and accuracy of written statements.
Leaping Bunny
Leaping Bunny is an internationally recognized certification program that follows strict no animal testing standards, Supplier Monitoring System and mandatory audits.
Their Supplier Monitoring System requires companies to show and submit proof of documents that each of their suppliers comply with Leaping Bunny’s standards. Leaping Bunny also does not allow applicants to distribute their products in foreign markets that require animal testing (such as China).
Choose Cruelty Free
Choose Cruelty Free (CCF) is an independent, non-profit organization based in Australia but CCF accredited brands have an international presence.
CCF currently has over 250 accredited brands and they have different standards compared to Leaping Bunny and PETA. CCF does not accredit brands that are owned or related to a non-cruelty-free company and they have some restrictions on the use of certain animal ingredients.
They also require accredited brands to sign a legally binding contract to guarantee the statements made on their applications are true.
If you want to start shopping for ethically today, click here to see our selection of cruelty-free cosmetics.
‘Spring’ Into The Latest 2019 Beauty Trends This Season
SPRING the season of fresh starts, new beginnings, warmer weather, lighter jackets and hope for the Summer ahead. We just LOVE this season and the spring trends in fashion and beauty that arrive with it.
Fashion week (x5) has just been and gone and we were interested in finding out just what the spring beauty trends on the catwalks are and how this is translating into every makeup looks and fashion – for us mere mortals. We examined the what’s hot on the runways from London to Miami fashion week and have complied our favourites for your perusal. Also, check out this video featuring the top moments of NYC fashion week, 20191
BEAUTY TRENDS
PUCKER UP IN PINK
We’re not telling you to throw away your classic red lipsticks BUT this season we think it’s time to make a different statement with this bold colour of lippy. Fuchsia has been used across all fashion weeks this year and we think it will be a huge spring beauty trend this year!
If you want to get the look, you should check out our selection of liquid lipsticks, available in all different shades of pink, highly pigmented (ensuring you will stand out) with a long lasting, wearable finish. Shop our selection of liquid lipsticks here.
READ AND YELLOW AND PINK AND BLUE…
We love our go-to neutral eyeshadow palette as much you love yours – trust us, but for this Springseason, how about putting it down and dusting your eyes with rainbow colors instead? The final results speaks for themselves! If this look is a little too bold for you, why not use fewer colors or lighter pastel shades?
To achieve this look we recommend using our Love Affair Eyeshadow Palette. To purchase the palette click here.
ORANGE YOU GOING TO NEED SOME BLUSH?
Orange blush – we know, sounds like something only a model/influencer/actress could pull off. If done incorrectly, it could transport us right back to the days when we discovered blusher and bronzer for the first time – yikes!
But once you’ve tried this latest Spring beauty trend out, you’ll see that it can provide a flattering touch of warmth on the cheeks -especially for olive skin tones. Give it a chance, you might be surprised with the results!
If you are interested in creating this look for yourself, we recommend our blush palette – with a choice of 10 different shades, even if the orange look isn’t for you, you have other options to choose from. To purchase the blush palette, click here.
ECSTATIC FOR MONOCHROMATIC
Not sure how to create a cohesive makeup look? We recommend going monochromatic. Keep a theme running through your cosmetic choices and you won’t regret the results.
For example, peachy pastels will feel like spring time. What’s great about pinks and peaches is that you can work them into your eyes, cheeks, and lips! Perfection!
If this is a look you’d like to try yourself, we recommend our diamond eyeshadow palette – offering 6 pastel shades, perfect to mix and match for all your monochromatic needs. To purchase the palette click here.
FASHION TRENDS
TIE-DYE IS BACK… AGAIN!
Dior made a splash on the runway this season along with Prada and Stella McCartney. These contemporary tie-dye pieces create a a trend that feels clean but organic, bohemian but tailored, nostalgic but contemporary and we just LOVE it. Get yourself a little flower power this season.
WARM YOUR WARDROBE WITH COLOR
Rusty reds and warm, sunshine colors are hot this season. For example, Valentino has used orange and wine colours seamlessly fused together. If you want to bring the heat this season, you know what to do. Matching these hot colors is another fashion trend – so why not bust out the sun hat, with terracotta cullotes and a vibrant red blouse? Go on, we dare you!
