I finally met Lindsay Ellingson, co-founder of Wander Beauty at the brands first pop-up shop in NYC. The travel theme, highly instagram-able shop is open through July 31st and located at 787 Lexington Avenue, between 61st and 62nd street. They are offering fun, daily activations so be sure to check it out.
For more information and the daily class schedule head to wanderbeauty.com/popup
Follow @wander_beauty for updates!
It’s been a very ambitious year for me with evolving Pretty Connected to now include an accessories line and while there are days I’m spread so thin, I never want to lose site of my passion projects and using my voice to help make change. Mental health and how we treat ourselves, others and the environment has become a big priority for me. I’ve partnered with Claudine DeSole on a new ‘Instead of’ project where we aim to build a positive community that can be a resource and share ways to better ourselves, our work environment and promote sustainability while highlighting brands and individuals making real change.
‘Instead of’ is a social media movement (follow us @insteadofmovement) that is all about taking small (to big steps) to make a major impact and create a more mindful community. The movement is less about telling you what to do and more about keeping our audience informed and offering resources so they are aware of the impact and ways we can be more mindful. It’s about community, sharing ideas and resources. ‘Instead of’ will be a year-round program highlighted online through social media, this website, events and eventual podcast (coming soon).
The kick off event was hosted at the Gregory hotel, where guests could meet different green brands and learn about everything from composting, solar energy, to reversing your carbon footprint. Braid bar by Caravan Stylist Studio and Aveda, Nourison curated the carpets and gifting was provided by Hello Products, MPOWERD, Tribute, Dropps, Dope Naturally and Aveda. Guests enjoyed cocktails, Harmless Harvest, and Williamsburg Pizza, while designer, Ariana Ost was also on hand to chat with guests about chakras and how to be more mindful. More on our sponsors and activations below!
The event also debuted out video series featuring various actors, brands and individuals sharing their ‘instead of’ hacks when it comes to being mindful to of the planet. Everything form using reusable straws, how to sustainably recycle packaging, Christmas trees and beyond!
Meet our contributors:
Special thank you to Tribute for helping us create this video!
More about the brands included in our Earth Day launch that are making a difference:
It’s the magical time of year when Space NK does one of their edit events with an epic gift with purchase. This season (while supplies last) they are offering 18 deluxe beauty samples from brands including Ren, Bumble and Bumble, Tata Harper, UMA and more yours with any $165 Space NK purchase. Spend an additional $30 an choose from two Omorovicza products the Moor Mud Cream Cleanser of the Queen of Hungry Mist!
Follow them at @SpacenkUSA #DiscoverSpaceNK, learn more at https://www.spacenk.com
The Pretty Connected brand has evolved so much over the past decade from when I first started as a beauty blogger/reporter 10 years ago! I was helping brands like NARS, Kiehl’s, Jurlique in marketing and grow before getting into the blogger world, with no idea blogs/social/influencers would explode to what they are now. Now we’ve expanded the content range to include fashion, travel, lifestyle and beyond and the doors Pretty Connected(™) has opened to major campaigns, magazine features, TV appearances and beyond still blows my mind. In 2014 we added, Share Your Beauty, an amazing non-profit program we started with Family-to-Family to help donate beauty products to women’s shelters and now we’re in a new chapter, my Pretty Connected accessories line.
Our multi-purpose straps have grown such a cult following, almost as big as our BOSS rings, which have been worn by so many powerhouses from Drew Barrymore, Patricia Field to Chloe Kim!
I recently launched with Urban Outfitters and our online store has grown so much to include bags, reusable straws and cell phone jackets, that we needed a party to celebrate and properly launch my little brand that could.
Since the House of Pretty Connected (should I start calling it that, lol!) has so many parts I wanted to take guests on a journey through the Pretty Connected World and my brands evolution over the past decade! We made passports for their trip and had each gifting stations gave them as a stamp as they traveled through my story.
In world filled with knock offs and a beauty world that’s obsessed with what’s new, sometimes it’s the OG’s, the tried and true, that we need to continue to give our attention to. The Original Beautyblender just launched in a new Limited Edition canister at Sephora, fit for a queen; because lets face it, she’s the queen of makeup tools!
Beautyblender’s unique, latex-free, super soft material is aqua-activated. Meaning, you add water to and squeeze until it grow 2x in size, creating a second-skin effect when bouncing and melting product into the skin. Plus, when damp, makeup sits atop the sponge (rather than soaking it in) eliminating product waste.
You can use your Beautyblender with just about any formula from liquids, creams, and powders. Fun tip, I recently used is you can use it for “baking” for precise and mess-free application in those hard to reach areas. PRO-TIP: Before baking, slightly dampen your already wet beautyblender to ensure easy and efficient powder pick up and placement!
Personally, I just use it for foundation but I need to broaden my horizons. Cheers the QUEEN, you’re perfect.
Check it out ($20) at Sephora.com
Gua sha is a technique used in traditional East Asian medicine to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation and for lymphatic drainage. We’ve seen them in everything from Rose Quartz, Jade to and beyond. Dr Elizabeth Trattner sells ethically sourced tools on her site and shows us the proper way to Gua Sha (spoiler alert, you’ve probably been doing it wrong. And goes above and beyond in her demo below on how to tackle wrinkles and problematic areas like the jaw for a lot of us that grind our teeth! My friend, Dr. Nadia just launched a Bian Stone one that contains over 40 mineral and trace elements, and produces negative ions (which has an anti-aging effects).
Dr. Elizabeth Trattner is known for the Gemstone Acupuncture facial which includes gentle facial cupping, Gua Sha treatment, gemstones and acupuncture.
Learn more at elizabethtrattner.com
The Hudson Yards opening was completely next level! The area on the West Side Highway that’s between Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea first got a subway stop last year (the 7 train Hudson Yards stop) and now a shiny new mall featuring 100 shops, including NYC’s first Neiman Marcus, 20 restaurants from some of the world’s top chefs, and climbable bee hive structure that together cost $25 billion in development!
The whole affair was bougie, and massive. I need to actually go back and take it all back in, I was visually over-stimulated at the opening. Neiman Marcus stole the show for me, endless floors of luxury and displays. They also have a BLVD salon on the top floor of Neiman’s featuring an all in one beauty service from Valley Nails, DreamDry, Spruce and Bond and Pucker.
My friends at Sunday’s opened their second non-toxic, vegan and cruelty free nail salon on the 2nd floor.
Lastly, I got to meet Atelier Cologner co-founder Sylvie Ganter. I’m a longtime HUGE fan of the brand so it was lovely to meet the woman behind some of my favorite scents.
Admittedly I didn’t take as many pictures as I planned to, I was too busy having fun. But I have a “Hudson Yards” reel on my Instagram Highlights if you’d like to experience the party with me.
If you’re visiting NYC, definitely add this to your to do list. 20 Hudson Yards, NYC.
In what felt like my millionth trips to LA, it seemed about time I visit Santa Barbara and do the coastal drive from Malibu. If you’re wondering what to do in Santa Barbara, the answer is EVERYTHING and most of it is doable in a weekend, but who doesn’t want a full week in paradise? Most of the action centers around State Street, which has the majority of the shops, bars and restaurants in the area. It also borders the pier and beach, as well as “funk zone” where you can do the Urban Wine Trail and sample local vineyards. If you need help planning your trip make sure to stop by the Visitor Center at 1 Garden Street (across from the beach). They are incredibly helpful in helping you find the best hotel deals, plan your wine tour and other activities. Our complete guide below!
It’s a charming series of wineries and some breweries with tasting menus. It’s a very cool way to try local vineyards all in the comfort of downtown Santa Barbara. Make sure to start or at least make it to “the funk zone” and visit the Santa Barbara Winery (the oldest winery in the county), Santa Barbara Wine Collective, Corks n’ Crowns, and Paradise Springs. If you’re a fan of sparkling wines, Riverbench Winery is not to be missed. These are all within blocks of each other. For the sunset, head to Deep Sea Wine on the pier (about a 5 minute drive or 15min walk), sit outside and take in the view as you enjoy their exceptional wines. If you’re higher up on State Street, check out Jamie Sloan, Au Bon Climate and a few others in the area. Make sure to stop by the visitors center or website for a complete map.
It’s free, right in town, and you can take the elevator to the top for the best 360 panoramic view of the city. It’s an active courthouse and equally as stunning on the inside as outside, make sure to take a moment on the rooftop and in the garden.
The boardwalk and pier is lovely and has several restaurants and tourist shops along the course to stop in. The walk/bike path goes along the water, and is a great way to start or end your day. For bike rentals of all sizes check out Wheel Fun Rentals. They have three convenient locations, and carry everything from electric to cruiser bikes (or our favorite the surreys).
From the pier (at the bottom of State Street), to the top the street has stores for miles. Everything you could ever want from contemporary chains to specialty boutiques, antique, to second hand shops, bars and restaurants.
Located right in town on State Street, it’s the largest underground crystal salt cave in North America. We’re talking floor to ceiling healing Himalayan salt to open your lungs! The air in the caves are infused with microparticles of the salt. Make sure to stop in for a “Walk in Session” which is a 45 minute relaxation in the cave. They also offer spa services, skincare products, yoga classes and other events (check out their website for more).
There are a few sailing options, we did the Double Dolphin sunset cruise and hopped aboard the 50-ft catamaran and drank wine while we cruised by sea lions and even a whale in the yonder.
Additional attractions not in downtown: Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, the historic Old Mission,
Last night was epic. Jamie Kern Lima, Co-founder and CEO of It Cosmetics took us on a confidence journey (complete with passport holder) as the brand welcomed four new products into their ever expanding Confidence collection.
Confidence in a Foundation ($32, 1 fl oz), 48 shades, 24 hours of full coverage in a velvet-matte finish. I watched as it covered acne, hyper-pigmentation and rosacea in the swope of a brush — and oh yes, I highly recommend applying with one of It Cosmetics skincare makeup brushes (brush No707 to be exact). The duo = flawless skin. It’s also filled with skincare loving ingredients like ceramides, peptides, hydrolyzed collage, hyaluronic acid and squalane and great for all skin types including sensitive skin.
Confidence in a Neck Cream ($52, 2.6oz), hits all the buzz words of elastin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, ceramides, seaweed extract and niacin to help lift and improve firmness, elasticity and smooth skin. It’s clinically tested to reduce the look of horizontal neck lines and it comes with a face and neck citrine roller. Because citrine takes out the bad energy and puts in the good!
Confidence in a Gel Lotion ($36, 2.5 fl oz), the Hydra-Plumping Skin-Transforming Weightless Moisturizer offers 72 hours of hydration (what, what?) It’s oil-free and light weight for all of those who crave hydration but feel like moisturizers are too heavy and make their skin feel “oily”. It’s velvety smooth and wake up tired skin. And as I still can’t get over 3 days of hydration in one step.
Confidence in a Cream Rosy Tone ($48, 2oz), Surface Cell Renewal Rosy Tone Vitality Moisturizer, which translates to this moisturizer helps wake up dull, sallow skin. Whether that’s due to having mature skin, living on an airplane or you’ve been up partying all night, this moisturizer infuses some instant vitality back into skin. Enhanced with rose tone pigments it also gently exfoliates dull skin and stimulates surface cell renewal for a more youthful appearance.
Before we went through rooms of bubbles, cotton candy clouds and experienced the products in the most magical of way, Jamie Kern Lima talked about Confidence. I mean look at the visuals of this event (this was the Confidence in a Cream Rosy Tone display):
Empowering messages, chic packaging and strong, beautiful pigment lipsticks… welcome Fempower Beauty Virtumatte Lipstick. A range of four universally flattering lipsticks with black magnetic packaging, strong pigment, that go on matte with just a touch of sheen.
