Alexander Wang Pre Fall 2020 Collection and Beauty Trends

June 7, 2019

Last week I was invited by Jin Soon to go backstage at the Alexander Wang Pre Fall 2020 Collection Runway Show to see what the beauty artists were up to when it came to hair, makeup and nails. As an ode to the pioneers of American sportswear, Alexander Wang took inspiration from iconic designers such as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren for his 2020 Collection 1 runway show. With the collection broken down into four parts, the last part being Wang's future vision of American design, he also wanted four variated hairstyles to go with the looks. And that’s just hair. Continue reading to see full visual story of the behind the scenes in beauty along with some of my favorite looks from the show.

HAIRSTYLES

The first hairstyle was a very structured '70s silhouette, with two different types of braids. Some of the models had braids (which took up to six hours to create) with a center part. The hair was then saturated with handfuls of L'Oreal mousse to ease the pressure of the braids on the scalp, lock in style, and tame any fly-aways and baby hairs. "Alex wanted a very clean and graphic silhouette," says lead hair stylist Duffy backstage. "There's a Jet cover from 1973 with a [model with a] center part. When you look through documented trends in hair, some of the braid work was so intricate and well-executed. I wanted to celebrate that moment that was forgotten." For the second type of braid, the hair was extended into ponytails and then wrapped with leather to resemble a bull whip. My favorite hairstyle from the show. After waist-length extensions were added, models were given one, two, or three ponytails that were pulled tightly and held in place with Elnett Extra Strong Hold Hairspray. They were then wrapped and braided with leather all the way down — a project that took as many as five stylists on a single model. The level of focus from the stylists were intense. Major dedication to this look.

The second group of models had their hair separated into three sections, straightened, and then finished off with loads of L'Oreal setting lotion. The aesthetic was, "graphic, hard, and shiny," according to Duffy, but Wang didn't want the hair to look too wet or plastic-y either. The third look was inspired by sumo wrestler hair. L'Oreal Extra Hold Gel was applied to the strands in order to achieve an iridescent, reflective sheen and the hair was then fanned out into ponytails. See in image above to the right.

The fourth look matched with the other three looks but consisted of more individuality. Wang “gang” girls, Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber, Lexi Boling, Selena Forrest, and Binx Walton, all wore white for the show. To go with this look, they wanted sexy and minimalistic, as if the models just stepped out of water. This is definitely a look I go for during the summer time.

MAKEUP

Lead by makeup artist Diane Kendal, the models were given a subdued look of luminous, glowing skin with a bit of cheek contouring using Nars' Endless Orgasm Palette and Orgasm Liquid Highlighter. Brows were filled in with a "boy-ish" charm to them and the Nars' Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint (insane packaging) was applied to both lips and the tops of the cheekbones for a 90s-inspired, dewy glow. That gloss/glass effect on the cheekbones and eyelids is definitely going to be making a comeback in the next few seasons. I have yet to try any of these products (too crazy to attempt to amidst the chaos backstage) but do use their Orgasm blush every day and it’s my go-to-product for fresh, subtle blushed cheeks. This look is perfect with slicked-back wet polished hair - I think because of the intricacy behind the hair along with the strong statement from Wang’s collection definitely were influenced by the minimal no-makeup-makeup look and it truly works because the makeup doesn’t need to distract from the clothes.

NAILS

The nails were also minimalist, with Jin Soon Choi using four nude shades from her eponymous polish line: Dulcet, Demure, Nostalgia and Muse. "We tried to match a JINsoon nude shade to each model to complement their skin tone" explained Choi. Then, because the designer "wanted a cool, more modernized spin" to the neutral nails, she topped the polish with Jin Soon Matte Maker Topcoat, noting that, unlike many other matte-finish polish formulas, hers is "very satin-finished, not dry. This gives more of a cool, sportswear look," said Choi, “while celebrating each model's individuality without overpowering any of the looks they are sporting.” If I’m wearing a nude polish on my nails, it’s Nostalgia, but I’m dying to trying Dulcet for the fall!

FAVORITE LOOKS/TRENDS

Taking place at Rockefeller Center the show was the first ever held at the venue, and sectioned off to specific clientele along with a quite vulnerable position for public viewing (hey, he’s done it before). In homage to the Holy Trinity from the 90s - Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, Wang feature 4 different looks including his own future take on American sportswear. I loved the bold shouldered blazers inspired from Karan’s collections along with the crazy cool denim, a personal favorite and one that will be sold out in a heartbeat are those thigh-high slit denim skirts. (That' 90s light blue wash is MINE) Definite Klein vibes along with logo tees and even underwear as outerwear. Ralph Lauren-isms like flannel plaid, mile-long suede fringe, and wide-wale corduroy were also spotted on the runway. How good are those corduroy blazers though?! Another detail I spotted were neck ties being used as an accessory on a handbag. Not your typical piece, but I will definitely be re-interpreting this.

LOVE & XX’S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

NYFW Beauty Trends in Hair, Makeup and Nails

February 16, 2019

Hi, everyone! I’ve been meaning to get this up on the blog, but amidst travels and also my laptop having a nervous breakdown, it’s been rather trying to get this up and live. But it is finally here: my recap of all the beauty trends I noticed during New York Fashion Week for Fall/Winter. Some have been around since the dawn of time, as most trends in fashion are refurbished, reused and recycled. But there are several trends I truly loved and will definitely be partaking in the upcoming season. So without further ado, let’s jump on it and start with the makeup trends spotting around from NYFW.

MAKEUP TRENDS

PINKY PINKS & BURGUNDY WINES

If you noticed one thing about my makeup abilities as of late, I am all for color. The more vibrant the better. Which is what many makeup artists played around with backstage this season. For example, the makeup direction to Kate Spade with Romy Soleimani and Maybelline was filled with vibrant, friendly pink shades ranging from blushing pink to burgundies. Sally LaPointe’s show also displayed heavy wine colors, interestingly applying an iridescent pink liquid highlighter - the Hyper Real FX to the cheek bones which gave such a beautiful subtle quality to the look.

SMOKEY EYES

You know what’s a trickery in eye makeup? Mastering the art of a smokey eye without looking like raccoon eyes! What makes this difficult is the subtlety of the smudge, but not too much where it becomes overkill. Tom Ford always does this technique so well (need to try the Tom Ford beauty line) but my favorite was the intense smokey eye in Jeremy Scott’s Show. Maybelline did the full eyelid smokey, but also carried it down to the inner corners of the eye to give it a more dramatic effect. Rest assured, smokey eyes aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

WATERCOLORS

Another favorite, MUA Cassandra Garcia played with a subtle green smudge for Tibi. Using Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, the look was inspired by the perfectly imperfect look of slept-in makeup and the watercolor green is something cool and different. It looks slightly messy, but in a chic unpolished way. Other shows that really played on watercolors more intently were Eckhaus Latta and Collina Strada where the models’ eyes were a wonderful canvas to blend on. Literally reminded me of Monet’s brush strokes and definitely got my heart palpating.

SHARPLY SKILLED EYELINER WORK

3.1 Phillip Lim’s lead makeup artist for the show, Diane Kendal was all about precision when it came to eye makeup backstage this season. Using only three colors of white, khaki and purple and with the help from a new makeup brand, Unframe the Beauty, their eyeliners are an innovation 1200 years in the making. The brush is created by traditional craftsmen from the Kumano and Nara region of Japan, with custom-made fibers that are entirely hand-blended for firmness, flexibility, and softness. Only seven people in ALL of the world can skillfully do this delicate and precise work.

BAMBI LASHES

Makeup artist Tom Percheux described the beauty as “eyes that wouldn’t lie to you” for the Brandon Maxwell show was very reminiscent of Twiggy’s signature look. And it’s as simple as it can get, but will bring the eyes to life with an added illusion to bigger and brighter eyes. Something I can totally get on board with - the key is to do both the top and bottom eyelashes. I have to say out of all my favorite makeup trends, this will be probably the first one I will want to re-interpret.

HAIRSTYLE TRENDS

BEJEWEL ME, BABY

If you’ve been paying any attention in the hair accessory scene, you know barrettes, bobby pins, clips of any kind are all making a huge comeback. But there’s been a transitioning period here at NYFW where the accessories are more about letting women SHINE. Justine Marajan did the hair backstage for Christian Siriano where we saw chains mixed in with braids, giving it a cool and edgy vibe. Area had a gang of 70s rebels take the runway with likeminded hairdos beaded in jewels, literally. I am really into anything in the rebellious family so this trend is definitely something I would like to re-create for myself!

CRIMPED

Probably my favorite hairstyle that I saw backstage this season, it’s not a difficult hair style to achieve. Nowadays with all the top hair gadgets/tools you can get a heat iron with the shape embedded into the tool that will ease the process of getting the waves in the crimped hair. However, one way to achieve this as well is to braid the hair then flat iron the braid before brushing it out. This gives it a more froofy overall look, leaving it more modern in my opinion. I saw this technique done by Aveda, led by Gary Gill for the 3.1 Phillip Lim Show.

A SPLASH OF COLOR

Or rather a splash of paint, Jeremy Scott’s fake news theme was quite cheeky with the hairstyle to go along with the message behind his collection. The models all wore wigs which were all trimmed backstage before what looks to be a bucket of paint spilled all over the tops of the models’ heads. It obviously was painted on, however. Philipp Plein also used neon green streaks in the models’ hair, giving it that pop of color.

FINGER WAVES

The 30s are back and I couldn’t be happier! Finger waving is the shaping or molding of hair while wet into "s"-shaped curved undulations with the fingers and comb. These waves, when dried without being disturbed, will fall into deep waves. Finger waving differs from marcel waving in that there are no heated irons used on the hair. Prime example was Sally LaPointe’s show, giving the models’ a suitable look to go with the Elvis theme. Zimmerman and Maryam Nassir Zadeh also demonstrated this look but in a more relaxed way either with softer waves with a shorter cut or ruched ponytails. Overall, another favorite hairstyle I need to try and do soon!

NAIL ART TRENDS

ADD SPARKLE

At Kate Spade New York, manicurist Julie Kandalec (for Essie) paid homage to Kate, “she leaves a little bit of sparkle everywhere she goes.” by subtly applying bronze glitter to a nail prepped with a base coat for a naturally shimmery look. Tibi also took an understatedly sparkly route: Jin Soon Choi painted the top half of the nail in a rich toffee beige shade and filled in the bottom half with a mélange of holographic silver flecks. To tone down the shine, Choi finished it with a matte top coat. Which is what is next in terms of trends.

MATTE EVERYTHING

I noticed several other nail looks aside from Jin Soon Choi’s such as Maryam Nassir Zadeh powdery blue matte nails, which were also a favorite. Phillip Lim also worked with Jin Soon Choi to create a peachy nude matte finish as well, bringing a modern woman essential vibe. I love the non-streaky look to a matte nail, as it looks more polished and sophisticated. You can bet you’ll be seeing a lot more of this trend come this fall season.

OVER THE TOP EXTRANESS

Jeremy Scott worked with Ms. Pop to do a monochrome monogramming in an effort to keep up with the graffiti-inspired textiles. She lent her expert brushstroke to write out "New York" in black-and-white lettering, creating a newsprint effect over seven fingers. Definitely made headlines. ;) Other statement nail looks included Alice + Olivia where they literally hand-painted 3-D acrylic butterflies on sets of burgundy nails. And last but not least, Adeam went with gluing pearls of all different sizes on blue and pinks nails, which were definitely delivering something extra to the table.

LOVE & XX’S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Gift Guide

November 21, 2018

‘Tis the Season! It’s Black Friday time! I did five roundups of gift ideas for your viewing (and shopping) pleasure. :) The first 2 are for the hardcore beauty lovers, one is the best sets of both makeup and skincare from a variety of Black Friday specials ranging from Ulta to Sephora and others. The second is for small gift-giving ideas, ranging at prices points from $20 to no more than $75. The other three gift guides are fashion, home, and pet-related, where I picked up items not only I’d grab for myself, but would love to give to someone else even more. Several items, mostly from the beauty boards are of limited edition (holiday collection/item) so don’t miss your chance to score big, as there’s so many deals to be had with these items I’ve listed! Lots of sales I’ve listed are from Nordstrom, Shopbop, Bed Bath & Beyond, and others along with Sephora & Ulta and even Amazon. If you’re interested in one of the products mentioned in my gift guides, hover over the number with the mouse to click-through. Happy shopping and happy loads and loads of turkey and love.

BEST HOLIDAY GIFT SETS 2018 MAKEUP & SKINCARE

1. Marc Jacobs Beauty Waterproof Eyeliner & Volumizing Mascara - Fall Runway Edition, $49

2. IT Brushes Your Glam Must-Haves 5 Pc Brush Set + Exclusive Clutch, $125/30% off at Ulta

3. NYX Professional Makeup Sugar Trip 24 Days Of Beauty Advent Calendar, $30

4. Lancôme Definicils Mascara Collection Holiday Set, $35

5. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Gift Set, $76

6. Mario Badescu Spritz. Mist. Glow. Set, $12

7. Sephora Favorites Lashstash, $48

8. OUAI Swing Both OUAIs Kit, $48

9. Urban Decay Naked Cherry Vault, $100

10. LANEIGE Sleep & Glow Set, $39/$52 value

11. Ole Henriksen Glow Brightly™ - Radiance-Boosting Super Set, $49

12. First Aid Beauty Skin Summit, $48/$112 value

BEAUTY HOLIDAY GIFTS UNDER $75

1. Diptyque Black Friday Candle Limited Edition, $75

2. Lime Crime Diamond Dew Liquid Eyeshadow, $20

3. Philosophy Fresh Cream Warm Cashmere Eau de Toilette Mini, $18

4. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Pink Grapefruit, $18/$42 value

5. boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask, $20

6. Bobbi Brown Snow Glow Mini Highlighting Powder, $25

7. Jin Soon Encore Collection, $42

8. Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray Mini Ornament, $15

9. Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder - Limited Edition, $60

10. NARS Heartbreaker Blush Palette, $42

11. Stila One Step Correct, $23

HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THE HOME

1. Crosley Radio Cruiser Deluxe Turntable, $70

2. Nordstrom at Home Kennebunk Bliss Plush Throw, $40

3. CALPAK Ambeur 20-Inch Rolling Spinner Carry-On, $135

4. Mikasa® Swirl 16-Piece Dinnerware Set in Blue, $80/$150

5. Nordstrom 5-Piece Stainless Steel Bar Tool Set, $69

6. KitchenAid® Artisan® 5 qt. Stand Mixer, $280/$380

FASHION BLACK FRIDAY GIFT IDEAS

Comme des Garçons PLAY x Converse Chuck Taylor® Hidden Heart High Top Sneaker, $135

2. AKIRA Teddy Hug Midi Jacket, $40

3. Topshop Sela Crossbody Bag, $48

4. DL1961 Farrow Jeans, $199

5. Gucci Double-G Buckle Calfskin Belt, $350

6. kate spade one in a million initial pendant necklace, $35

7. Shopbop Escapade Sunglasses, $59

AMAZON BLACK FRIDAY DOG GIFT GUIDE

Lanyar Dog Reindeer Holiday Pet Clothes Sweater for Dogs Puppy Kitten Cats, Classic Red, $15

2. Christmas Dog Bone Ornament - Set of Three, $8

3. Petist Professional Pet Nail Grinder, Electric Pet Nail Trimmer, Clippers, File with 3 Different Gen, $26

4. West Elm Found My Animal Adjustable Dog Leash, $54

5. Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Puzzle Plush Squeaking Toys Dogs, $16

6. Chuckit! Dog Ball Launcher, $9.45

7. Christmas Dog - German Shepherd Naughty List Shirt, $20

LOVE & XX’S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

February Beauty Favorites

March 5, 2018

BEAUTY FAVORITES: SULWHASOO ESSENTIAL TRAVEL KIT | CLARISONIC MIA 1 SKIN 
CLEANSING SYSTEM | CLARISONIC THE ESSENTIALS SET | ALGENIST GENIUS LIQUID COLLAGEN | 
FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR TINTING MOISTURIZER in MEDIUM | LANEIGE LIP 
SLEEPING MASK | BLISS® LEMON + SAGE SOAPY SUDS BODY WASH | BLISS® LEMON + SAGE BODY
 BUTTER | JIN SOON NEO POP COLLECTION | GIVENCHY EAUDEMOISELLE DE GIVENCHY PERFUME | 
URBAN DECAY COSMETICS DISCO QUEEN HOLOGRAPHIC STICK | URBAN DECAY COSMETICS 
HOLOGRAPHIC POWDER | MOUNT LAI JADE ROLLER

I'm well overdue on last month's beauty favorites! You'll have to excuse the delay. With two weeks of back-to-back fashion weeks in New York and London, travel, and nonstop content creating since coming home, it's been rather the most difficult in terms of time management. I just can't do it all by myself, mind you it's still this way. Nonetheless, here are my top ten favs this past month - trust me it was hard to narrow it down to these! Continue reading to learn more about what's trending in the skin care & makeup world, from neo pop nail polish to a lip sleeping mask, these are all great beauty products you need to have in your hands right away come spring.

1. SULWHASOO ESSENTIAL TRAVEL KIT

When it comes to traveling, I find it best to bring compact sized items in my beauty and makeup products. Which is why this month I've been using Sulwhasoo's Essential line. It was perfect for my five day trip to London for fashion week as it is travel size. There are three items included in the kit. Sulwhasoo's essential water soothes and hydrates, leaving your skin supple. The water containing Matrimony Vine and Purslane provides hydration, leaving your skin with a delicate veil of moisture. The essential emulsion helps improve skin texture, providing rich moisture to leave skin dewy and smooth. Mountain Peony extract helps improve skin texture while Yai Jiu Hua helps elevate skin clarity. It spreads easily over the skin’s surface and absorbs completely, leaving it soft and supple. Lastly the cream seamlessly absorbs into skin for a naturally healthy complexion.
The cream helps fortify aged and loosened look of the skin, completing an overall younger-looking appearance. Formulated after dedicated research of skin resilience, Sulwhasoo developed JISUN Firming Complex™, a special ingredient complex of goji berries, black beans, and arrowroot. The proprietary complex effectively supports a more firm look of the skin. The cream helps skin to retain moisture, and makes its surface appear firm while hydrated. The whole collection together is thorough - my skin never looked fresher while traveling.

2. CLARISONIC MIA 1 SKIN CLEANSING SYSTEM

I've been using this with my regular face cleanser from La Roche Posay with Clarisonic's Mia 1™ features one speed for basic sonic facial cleansing. Oscillation technology distributes 300 micro-massage movements that happen every second to work within skin's natural elasticity to sweep away dirt, oil, and makeup to unclog pores, while fluid forces allow the water on the device to flush pores clean. After only 60 seconds, these patented technologies in the Clarisonic facial brush cleanse skin up to six times better than hands alone. This leaves skin ready for treatment products and prepared for smooth, flawless makeup application. This set contains:- Clarisonic Mia 1 White (with Radiance Brush Head) with a USB enabled charger.

3. CLARISONIC THE ESSENTIALS SET

The 4 brushes included in this set, the Clarisonic Acne Cleansing Brush Head is for sensitive, acne-prone skin and has extra-plush bristles to provide gentle cleansing. The Deep Pore Brush is for all skin types with enlarged pores, the Clarisonic Deep Pore Cleansing Brush Head is engineered with graduated dual-action bristles to help flush and dislodge oil and debris that clogs pores. The Radiance Cleansing Brush Head is specifically engineered with extra fine bristles to deliver a luxurious and highly effective sonic cleansing experience. This unique and patented brush head helps to remove sebum and dullness. And lastly, the new sonic foundation blending brush from Clarisonic utilizes patented oscillation technology to generate more than 18,000 micro-blends per minute. The makeup brush gently provides a flawless, full foundation coverage look in 60 seconds or less. Equipped with anti-microbial and non-porous bristles, it is easy to clean and ensures minimal absorption so you use less foundation. You can also use it to apply contour, concealer, blush and more. But nothing powder-related, it has to be liquid/cream form.

4. ALGENIST GENIUS LIQUID COLLAGEN

This breakthrough fountain of youth leverages a clean, vegan formulation design to help replenish and preserve a healthy, youthful skin matrix by delivering vegan collagen to the skin in its most active state. The anti-aging formula contains 13,000 microalgae oil beads naturally sourced and sustainably produced, omegas 3, 6, and 9, and a natural source of vitamin E. Skin is left more resilient, brighter, and youthful-looking. Since using it, my skin looks bouncy, radiant and well-toned.

5. FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR® TINTED MOISTURIZER

A multitasker with sun protection that provides up to 12 hours of soothing hydration, imparts a natural, luminous finish, and reduces the look of visible imperfections. Formulated with vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and other nourishing ingredients, this tinted moisturizer provides skin with up to 12 hours of soothing hydration and broad-spectrum SPF 30. Colloidal oatmeal and allantoin help to reduce the appearance of redness, while calming and soothing sensitive skin. Natural mineral pigments and micro-pearls deliver good, clean, buildable coverage to enhance skin's natural radiance, while minimizing the look of redness, pores, uneven skin tone, and other visible imperfections. The whipped, mousse-like formulation will not clog pores. I've linked the product in the shade I've been using which has been 'medium'.

6. LANEIGE LIP SLEEPING MASK

The Lip Sleeping Mask has a softening balm texture that closely adheres to lips for quick absorption. Enriched with vitamin C and antioxidants, its Berry Mix Complex™ offers a nutritiously sweet and fragrant blend of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, and blueberry extracts to indulge the senses. Exclusive Moisture Wrap™ technology boasts hyaluronic acid and minerals to form a protective film over the lips to lock in moisture and active ingredients. A generous layer of this soothing mask at bedtime helps reduce flakiness so you can wake up to lips that feel refreshed, supple, and soft to the touch. Moisture Wrap™ - an exclusive technology that features a mineral network of moisture-rich beta-glucan to form an 8-hour time-release moisturizing layer over skin. It locks in active ingredients and mineral water. What's the best part? It tastes like watermelon and yes, it's the best lip sleeping mask I've ever tried!

7. BLISS® LEMON + SAGE SOAPY SUDS BODY WASH

Bliss Lemon Plus Sage Soapy Suds jump-starts your morning with its invigorating body cleansing action. This fragrant body wash or bubble bath gently removes dirt and oil while comforting and moisturizing your skin. Glycerin acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin. Aloe soothes inflammation and irritation. Vitamin E softens the skin and fights free radicals.

8. BLISS® LEMON + SAGE BODY BUTTER

Lemon + Sage Body Butter - Bliss' Lemon + Sage Body Butter restores moisture to even the most 'rough and scaly skin' as it protects the skin from free radicals. It smooth's, softens, and hydrates dry skin, without making it feel greasy. Used in over 70,000 Bliss Spa massages every year worldwide, this superior skin-smoothing formula has gained a huge following - making it one of Bliss' best selling products. I am a definite fan of the product.

9. JIN SOON NEO POP COLLECTION

Pop art has been a major source of inspiration since the inception of the JINsoon nail lacquer line, so it was only fitting that JINsoon teamed up with Korean Pop Artist, Hyang- Sook Yun, for the JINsoon Neo-Pop Collection. Hyang-Sook is known for super-imposing dot matrix patterns as a transformative medium over silhouette-like archetypal images. The various shades, all yielding an Andy Warhol-like result goes perfect for an iconic product such as JINsoon nail lacquer. I've been using their collections for years and it's my favorite nail polish brand.

10. GIVENCHY EAUDEMOISELLE DE GIVENCHY EXTRAVAGANT

Magnetic spices are blended with green citrus notes, followed by blossoming tuberose, and heightened by the warm, animalistic, and milky facets of vanilla bean on a sensual woody background. Adorned in matte black warmed by the golden lettering, the bottle presents a refined and modern design. Extravagant celebrates a heady and addictive flower, revealing an intense and sensual floral trail for a bewitching, self-assured, and intrepid woman.

11. URBAN DECAY COSMETICS DISCO QUEEN HOLOGRAPHIC STICK

This holographic highlighter creates an iridescent, multidimensional sheen that looks amazing on any skin tone. Use a little for a subtly ethereal shimmer, or keep layering for an intensely holographic highlight. This silky, lightweight formula glides on, flashes down, and has an airy finish so it won't interfere with your complexion makeup.

12. URBAN DECAY COSMETICS HOLOGRAPHIC POWDER

A lightweight, insanely pretty powder that comes in a translucent, iridescent lavender shade and creates a luminous, holographic sheen. Take your glow into the next dimension with this lightweight, insanely pretty powder that creates a luminous, holographic sheen. Use a little for a more subtle glow, or build and layer to achieve a high-watt highlight. UD infused this velvety formula with lustrous pearl pigments. There's never any white cast just a pretty, luminous glow. And because this formula isn't pressed, the feel is ultra-lightweight.

13. MOUNT LAI JADE ROLLER

The jade roller is a Chinese skincare tool that has been used for thousands of years. Perfected throughout the centuries, this facial massager was built to have a cooling, soothing effect on the skin. Besides improving overall health and radiance of the skin, jade rolling has a multitude of benefits such as improving blood circulation, reducing puffiness and inflammation of the skin, and relieving facial and jaw tension. I have to say it might seem silly using something like this when it comes to skincare, but it's really great for de-puffing. (Love it around the eye area.)

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE PRODUCT

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NYFW AW 18 Full Recap

February 25, 2018

SEVEN ALL AROUND

Where can a city girl find a chic-but-wearable shoe? Look no further - Seven All Around embodies comfort but with an elegant style. Often times there is a lack thereof, whether it's too clunky or not aesthetically-sound, it fails to hit a complete mark. Heesung Choi, the founder of the footwear brand debuted ahead of New York Fashion Week. Her resumé is impressive: After graduating from the Parsons School of Design, Choi spent the first eight years of her career at Rag & Bone (as one of the founding employees), where she worked on both women’s ready-to-wear and footwear collections (including the brand’s early collaboration with Manolo Blahnik). Most recently, she was head of design for Public School. The South Korean-born designer wanted to create shoes for herself that would accommodate long hours of fittings and dinner with friends in New York, working remotely with her mother in Seoul to develop the shoes. From ankle boots to platform oxfords, and even flatform sandals, they are all extremely wearing while simultaneously very presentable. The built-in cork padding and sneakerlike cushioning are definite design details and measurements that will in all likelihood be a major success.

GRETA CONSTANTINE

Set in a three-story apartment, each Greta Constantine model wore thigh-high boots in a variety of reversible, colored sequins paired with skirts, dresses, and trousers that channeled the ultimate Eighties glam. Reversible sequins were the majority of the collection, like a green and blue trouser with a matching, oversized loose blazer. To add a dramatic flair, brocade blazers and sheer blouses had defined, exaggerated shoulders, and large sashes were tied around waists. The collection was bold, but held a nice reminder that fashion can still definitely be fun.

COLOVOS

Colovos is known to be minimal with an arty streak. The show-opening loose-fit trench set an easeful silhouette, one which emphasized to their tailoring: Jacket volumes were lightly gathered in back. Dresses layered over pants, a look that can tend to look over-styled, but here rather a nonchalant can-do quality. Webbed nylon shoulder straps on dresses were definitely stressing on the trend of utility. The Colovoses are jean experts from the early days. They showed their denim head to toe today, and the jeans had a baggy-but-tapered fit that looked current and trendy. Makeup done by Mac Cosmetics: lead by Romy Soleimani. Hair done by Pureology: lead by Ruth Roche. Nails done by Zoya: lead by Alicia Torello and jewelry by Laura Lombardi.

BCBGMAXAZRIA

A fusion between modernism and romanticism, BCBGMAXAZRIA was one of my favorite backstage experiences of NYFW along with the presentation. I really enjoyed their exploration of the contrast of feminity, masculine, hard and soft, playful and strict. But what made it all flow together so beautiful is this effortless manner while doing so. It's what BCBGMAXAZRIA is known for and they did not disappoint when it came to the AW18 collection. A job well done to the creative director, Bernd Kroeber and to the five female artists, including fashion illustrator Blair Breitenstein, that created artwork that was incorporated into the venue. Makeup by Huxley: lead by Jodie Roland. Hair by Cutler Salon/Redken: lead by Emily Heser. Nails by Zoya: lead by Naomi Gonzales.

CONCEPT KOREA

This season, Concept Korea presented two womenswear labels: Lie by Chung Chung Lee, and Greedilous by Younhee Park. Park presented her collection first, which included a collaboration with Beyoncé stylist Ty Young. Park was influenced by beauty in women, particularly on extreme glamour, the Palace of Versailles and the romance of Marie Antoinette’s style. Lee took a more political bent, titling his collection “GLOBAL WARMING; It’s not justICE.” The play on words is meant to bring awareness to global warming—more specifically icebergs. He tells us that fractured icebergs were the point of inspiration for many of the collection’s prints, patterns, and details in addition to colors of the Arctic Northern Lights and blue skies. “They serve as a reminder that this beautiful environment could ultimately disappear,” Lee says. Overall, the exposure of Korean Fashion in the American market is booming. Watch out, guys. You'll be seeing a lot more in the next few years.

NINE WEST 40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY

The perfect way to kick off New York Fashion Week? Attend a fabulous party! I was fortunate enough to be invited to Nine West's 40th Year Anniversary party in downtown Manhattan at the VNYL. At the party, Nine West also launched its vintage-inspired capsule collection. Featuring 11 styles, the limited-edition line includes signature silhouettes and trends from the past four decades, including platform heels with a nod to the ’70s, architectural pumps that defined the ’80s and wedges that epitomized the ’90s. I remember my first pair of Nine West shoes from junior high, and they were the black platform heels everyone was wearing :) Good Times.

YUNA YANG

Models sashayed through the halls of the Margo Feiden Gallery in Greenwich Village presenting Yuna Yang’s bespoke womenswear collection. “Love Yourself”, the title of her collection, was embellished across the front of hats, on the backs of jackets and down the sides of sleeves. According to press notes, she “wanted to send a message about the importance of loving yourself. Every woman, regardless of race and status, should be treated fairly and equally”. A resonating message that coincides with the current changing landscape, not just in fashion, but throughout every industry. Inspired by colors, textures, and narratives in fine art, the original work by Al Hirschfeld was a splendid backdrop to the pieces incorporating east and west influences. Represented by a diverse range of models, her collection combined high and low elements visible in her designs and fabric choice. Leather ruffled skirts were paired with lace varsity jackets while silk organza dresses floated over jeans. Sporty, luxurious and an all-around feeling of empowerment.

TIBI

Even though I didn't get to see the Tibi show, I did go backstage with Aveda to learn more about the look for the show. Ultimate cool girl vibes, the collection was inspired by cities, construction, and architecture. Striking a perfectly brilliant balance between fashion and utility, the looks did not disappoint as the ultimate wardrobe for the NYC woman constantly on the go. I adored the unpolished look of the hairstyles, it kept the looks versatile yet clean. Hair by Aveda: lead by Frank Rizzieri. Makeup by Stila Cosmetics. Nails by Jin Soon.

TANYA TAYLOR

Known for her signature hand-painted floral prints, Tanya Taylor's AW 18 had less of that but with that came a greater emphasis on silhouettes, like curvy drapes and asymmetrical slouches. Tanya Taylor’s watercolor fall florals and plaid patterns came together in perfect harmony. More surprising were the pieces that nixed print altogether, like the zeitgeist-y turtleneck dress with rows of hand-stitched chrome sequins. The paillettes got bigger and flashier on a completely backless high-low tank styled over houndstooth trousers. Fans of ’90s and early-aughts style will say it’s evident of the “going out top” revival, but the pants (brown houndstooth with hints of neon pink) were worth a second look too. And the pops of color with yellow, pink and orange sealed with collection with perfection.

BEVZA

Only the second season Bevza has shown in NYFW, it was my first. Ukrainian-origins of the designer was apparent in the collection. Diaphanous silk dresses with ruching at the bust; they came in sweet candy colors like sugar pink, pale blue, and a rich green, a number that was inspired by Eastern European folklore and fairytales, it just sometimes works. As if it was a mixture of upper-class royalty and peasantry, the most spectacular outputs were the most abstract ones: a snow-white dress with linen reliefs and a deep neckline on Alla Kostromicheva, and outfits with complex assignments that repeat the shape of hosiery belts in that gentle pastel range. Specifically, the designer sent out a series of puffy nylon coats printed with animal skins and pieced together in strips to create the illusion of fur. Truly spectacular and with the times! I enjoyed this show immensely, and am hoping to see more of this kind of fluidity in Bevza's later work.

ZERO + MARIA CORNEJO

Fall is a terrific collection for Cornejo, full of bright shades such as turquoise and a reddish orange and novel-for-her fabrics such as a wide-wale cord that she cut into a skirt suit (not as traditional as it sounds) and a slinkier evening corduroy that turned up on a jumpsuit and an asymmetrically draped dress (one of my favs). The centerpiece is a tartan that she took the stuffing out of, draping and smocking it to create the easeful shapes she’s known for. This season was all about sustainability, as Cornejo reports that 84 percent of the collection is made locally in New York, which substantially reduces her clothing’s carbon footprint.