Home Beauty

Beauty

Beating the Bloat: Flat Tummy Tea Review

flattummy

Being bloated sucks! I know I’m slender and usually in shape, but after three weeks in LA, and doing both weekends of Coachella I was feeling the effects of major vacation bloat. I blame my beer, fast-food and salted popcorn diet.

{Behold the dreaded bloat!}
bloat_2

It didn’t help that while I was there the May issue of People StyleWatch came out featuring me in a bathing suit. I had shot the campaign in February when I was in my ultra-healthy, workout mode. But alas, the only real exercise I got in the two weeks away was the walk to and from the music festival. Truth be told under a loose tee shirt all looked good under the hood but by the second weekend the last thing I wanted to do at the pool parties was be in bikini. And my crop tops were buried at the bottom of my suitcase.

By the time I got home I was ready to get back on track and try Flat Tummy Tea. I had seen them all over social media and with all of the health benefits of their teas I was ready to detox!

flat-tummy-tea-2

Before anyone asks, Flat Tummy Tea is not a weight-loss supplement! It’s an all natural, herbal detox cleanse system designed to get rid of bloating and offer a daily energy boost. I mean… no one likes that bloated and sluggish feeling and this tea tackles that!

Paramore Hayley Williams Launches Vegan Hair Dye Line

hayley-williams-lara-eurdolian

Last week, I had a blast having dinner with Paramore’s Grammy Award winning artist, Hayley Williams and her colorist Brian O’Connor. Hayley is known for experimenting with hair color, just watch every music video she’s ever done — including her cameo in Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood music video — and you’ll see a vast spectrum of shades from the rainbow. So it should come as no surprise that she is starting a new venture and launching a ‘beautifully obnoxious’ DIY hair color line called goodDyeyoung with Brian O’Connor as the Artistic Director. good-dye-young-paramore-hayley-williams-brian-o'connor

As a voice for anyone whose rebel spirit stands out, but might not always fit in, the launch of goodDyeyoung (GDY) represents a youthful community bonded by self-expression, limitless inspiration and a flair for bold colors. When I chatted with Hayley and Brian they talked about how they have been working on the line for the past four years and as a color enthusiast she struggled to find the products she was looking for and thus decided to create them. Launching with five shades ($5,99 each) in Rock Lobster (red), Blue Ruin (purplish-blue), Ex-Girl (pink), Steal My Sunshine (yellow) and Riot (orange), a Fader ($13.99), Lightening Kit ($8.99) and glove, tint brush and mixing bowl tool kit ($5.99), the collection is completely affordable, vegan, and cruelty-free. It also smells amazing!

2016 CEW Beauty Award Winners Announced

Enjoying the @CEWinsider Beauty Awards with @DermStore - sharing the winners live on Twitter and will post to the blog tonight. #CEWAwards

Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) held beauty’s biggest celebration of innovation today, recognizing the year’s best beauty products at the 22nd annual CEW Beauty Insider Awards. Hosted at the Waldorf Astoria, I had the pleasure of sitting with one of the event sponsors, Dermstore. With over 800 entries, 212 finalists the top products were announced across 37 categories including hair care, fragrance, skin care, cosmetics, and more.

Hosted by Tony Award-Winning Actress, Laura Benanti, the 2016 CEW Beauty Insider Award winners are:

At Home Devices Worth Investing In: NuFACE, Dermaflash and Nailbliss

dermaflash-nuface

It’s not every day that an at home devices make us go WOW! In fact before this year most of the ones I used were just okay at best. While I’m still on the hunt for an at home laser hair remover that actually works, I’m no longer as concerned about it thanks to Dermaflash! Here are three devices that conquer everything from at home gel manicure, anti-aging, and hair removal that I’ve been highly impressed with!

dermaflash-dermaplaner-at-home-device

Dermaflash – Inspired by dermaplaning, a procedure available only in medical spas or doctor’s offices that exfoliates your skin to remove the dead skin cells and gets rid of the peach fuzz at the same time comes an at-home version. Dermaflash Facial Exfoliating Device is a first in class, patented, safe, hygienic, exfoliating device for at-home use. The easy-to-use device refinishes skin by removing dead skin cells and built up debris, while also gently removing facial hair (aka peach fuzz) for smooth, luminous, and youthful-looking skin. Use weekly and watch your skin be noticeably softer and glow after treatment. Follow the instructions and use it at an angle to shave all unwanted hair off your face and get ready to be shocked by how much facial hair you never knew your always had comes off your face. Note: You can only charge the device without a blade, so don’t immediately snap it in when receiving. You’ll know the device is charged when the light goes off. Each blade should only be used once (for whole face) before being disposed of.

nuface-mini

NuFACE Mini – The portable mini facial toning device version of NuFace’s original Trinity Facial Trainer, utilizes soft wave microcurrent technology to provide a five-minute facial-lift by gently stimulating the underlying structure of the skin tone facial muscles.  As we age, our body’s natural current begins to slow down leading to sagging skin loss of contour and wrinkles. This device mimics this natural current and goes beyond skin deep to tone facial muscles and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. And yes, you can feel the current (it’s super gentle though) as you use it on the contours of your face. Great for travel, it’s pocket size! Although I have to disclaim if you’re ready to invest consider going for original NuFace Trinity which is larger but compatible with two attachments that aren’t available for the mini. The NuFace Trinity Wrinkle Reducer which uses red, amber and infrared light to combat fine lines an wrinkles and the Ele attachment which targets the eye and lip area to attack eyebrow furrows, crow’s feet and fine lines around the mouth. I’m waiting patiently for them to come out a mini version since I’m dying to try both!

nailbliss-at-home-gel-manicure

Nailbliss One Step Gel Polish + LED Lamp – If you love the stay power of a gel manicure but are over the price, I have found the at-home device for you. Super compact and powerful, the Nail Bliss LED Lamp is specially designed to cure all types of UV/LED gel polishes in 60 seconds flat.  While the One Step Gel’s say “one step”, they mean one coat for darker colors and 2-3 for lighter shades. Be sure to apply polish in thin layers and do one nail at a time because the polish is extremely thick and will not last as long if applied in thick coats. If you especially like dark shades on your nails, this is easy to use! And the pink, portable LED lamp bed is the cutest! Paint and cure each nail one at a time for added perfection.

European Wax Center® Launches Strut 365™ Product Portfolio May 1st!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by European Wax Center® through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about European Wax Center®, all opinions are my own.

ewc_product_shot

During the winter, I’m terrible about waxing and general hair grooming with the exception of my eyebrows. I’m a sloppy shaver at best unless there is a special occasion or I’m traveling somewhere warm where my skin is exposed. Then come’s April when the weather starts to get nicer and my annual trip to LA which kicks off pool parties, music festivals, shorts, and my waxing season. And I want everything done — legs, bikini, underarm, and eyebrows (well, maybe not everything, but the basics).

This year I partnered with European Wax Center®, to ring in wax season and celebrate the launch of their new brow and skincare collection! When I went in center, I felt that they have a great waxing process that leaves my skin smooth and doesn’t make my skin sensitive! Plus, they have locations everywhere, which is really convenient for me since I travel so much.

I’m very excited that a European Wax Center® just opened in my neighborhood in New York, but I waited until I landed in LA to get everything waxed since I wanted it to be as fresh as possible for my trip. Walking out of the center knowing I can put my hands up and not worry about any stubble is a huge confidence booster and time-saver since the last thing I want to deal with is hair growth while on vacation.

ewc_brow_products

For the trip I also packed their new Strut 365™ portfolio which launched May 1. Comprised of three collections – Strut Smoothly, Strut Lavishly, and Strut Boldly – and spanning the bath, body, skin care and brow care categories, the portfolio has everything you need to reveal beautiful skin and maintain your wax. All 27 products in the range are paraben and mineral oil free. Here’s the collection breakdown and my mini reviews:

Strut Smoothly – This five-piece face and body collection designed to restore and replenish skin while maintaining your wax includes the Reveal Me Body Exfoliating Gel, Reveal Me Face Exfoliating Gel, Renew Me Restoring Serum, Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Serum and Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Wipes.

The Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Wipes have been a lifesaver for me. It works to help with the appearance of bumps and ingrown hairs while slowing down the regrowth of hair in between waxes. I get bumpy, especially around my bikini line since I have such thick hair but so far it’s been smooth sailing.

I’ve also been playing around with the Reveal Me Face Exfoliating Gel and Renew Me Restoring Serum. The gel you apply to dry skin and massage in circular motions and rinse off after usage. I think it’s really gentle (no exfoliating beads) and was one of my must-have post-music festival beauty products. I needed a deep but gentle exfoliation treatment to take all of the sand and dust off of my face. I follow with the serum, which has a thicker consistency than most serums. It is soft-to-the touch and makes my skin feel the same way.

Strut Lavishly – The body collection consisting of the Body Lotion, Body Wash and Body Polish available in three scents: Cheeky Strut (mandarin, naarjie, mango, soft peony and violet), Graceful Strut (freesia, white rose, muguet and white musk), and Sensual Strut (vanilla, amber, apricot, nectar, jasmine and lily). It’s a really generous portion and I love the body polish. It has exfoliating granulars which makes you feel like you are pampering yourself and it’s not abrasive, which creates a really beautiful experience..

ewc_4Strut Boldly – Six-piece eyebrow collection consisting of the Browfection Brow Liner and Shaper (available in 6 shades), Browfection Brow Powder Duo (available in three shade combinations), Brow Pals Dual-Ended Brow Brush, Sucha Tweeze Slant Tweezer, Oh My Brow! Brow Highlighter and Ready. Set. Brow! Perfect Brow Groomer.

Melanoma Monday PSA: Friends don’t let friends get sunburns

sunburn2

Friends don’t let friend’s get sunburned was a funny caption I put on a photo during Coachella, when two of my blogger babes got burned while camping in the desert. While I can make light of it in a post, truth be told this is something I take very seriously. It’s easy to miss an application but at least they know better. Especially with the SPF police breathing down their neck — I had my Aveeno sunblock in my bag (another in the car), I preach but out of love! The fear is real. Next year, I’m asking for samples and going to start throwing them at people. For them it was a mistake, they do know better and it’s not a habit. You just can’t get away with forgetting in the dessert the way you can on your way to work. For so many it’s not a habit, it’s not even something they packed! By the third day of Coachella I was shocked by the amount of sunburns I saw.
sunburn-coachella

Like this insane ones this girl has, who I totally creeped up on to take a back shot. Apparently some people were missing my daily public service announcement on snapchat to wear SPF! It’s Melanoma Monday and with music festival season fully in bloom and summer around the corner, now more than ever (although everyday) you really do need to consider SPF in your routine. Here’s why:

  1. Skin aging is often due to sun damage. It slows down the development of wrinkles and premature aging. Literally every beauty expert will tell you their #1 anti-aging tip is to wear sunscreen.
  2. The sun is strong even when it’s not sunny out. UV light penetrates windows, clouds… so over cast will not protect you. Neither will your office window or car window if the sun is shinning.
  3. Damage happens within the first two minutes of being outside. The ozone layer is depleting and our bodies need shielding from harmful rays.
  4. Because the risks of skin cancer are real people and sunscreen has been proven to decrease the development. One of my friends who I was with at Coachella had Melanoma, and now stays out of the sun or bathes in sunblock if she is going to be exposed. Fortunately, she’s has been cured but it is important to have your moles looked at. Early detection is almost always curable. But so many don’t get checked and the reality is Melanoma kills an estimated 10,130 people in the US annually. Scary stuff!

aveeno-spf

I obviously care about my skin and love skincare but at a very basic level everyone should wear SPF. Three of my must-have products for Coachella and what I recommend for anyone hitting the music festivals this season is of course Aveeno’s Protect+Hydrate Broad Spectrum SPF 50 for Face (which I often used on my body if I’m only packing one sunblock for the day, I also had the body version). It’s affordable and effective, I burned through two bottles in a week with all the applying and sharing it with James and friends (sharing is caring people when it comes to SPF). Also the Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Removing Wipes, which are gentle and refreshing. I would use throughout the day to cool my body down and at the end of the day to wipe all of the sand, dirt and makeup off my face before cleansing. I like that it has a plastic closer on the packaging to keep the towelettes from drying out. Sometimes when it’s just a seal I find the adhesive weakens and air gets in.

Lastly my latest Aveeno discovery, the Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads. These gently exfoliate everything off (I used them on my face and feet — sandals are not your best friend at Coachella), and the skin revealed is so soft and glowing! And the pad size is generous! Whatever was missed by the makeup wipe is coming off with this and then some. It is important to get the dead skin cells off, it will make every product you use after that much more effective since that layer of skin is no longer an obstacle of the product penetrating.

The Makeup Show NY Opens Doors May 1st

the makeup show nyc

The countdown to one of the most anticipated beauty industry events of the year starts now! Back for its 11th year and follow the success of the 10th anniversary in 2015, The Makeup Show event lineup is bigger and better – if that’s even possible! Mark your calendars for April 29 – May 2nd because here’s what we have to look forward to:

The Makeup Show Gala will be held Friday, April 29 from 7-10 pm and will shed light onto the next ten years by looking back into the past. Celebrating David Bowie, this year’s contest and theme will be “Sound and Vision” and guests are encouraged to arrive in either cocktail attire or their “Bowie-best” (lightening bolt makeup encouraged) to enjoy an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dancing and networking.

The Keynote & Business Forum is a staple for The Makeup Show and will highlight a range of topics and themes such as innovation, diversity and signature celebrity style. This year’s keynotes include Scott Barnes, sharing insight on “The Signature Style of a Celebrity Artist”, Nick Lujan and Lori Taylor, Hosted by James Vincent discussing “The Skin That I’m In: Diversity in Artistry and Application” and Gregory Arlt on his career in makeup.

The Career Fair is back Sunday, May 1 from 4:30-6 pm to provide the face-to-face interview and career tips you need to land your dream job.

Finish off the weekend with the Beauty Tour NYC as James Vincent, The Makeup Show’s Director of Artistry and Education takes you through a champs filled ride around the city sightseeing his favorite makeup haunts.

The Makeup Show YC is held on Sunday, May 1st from 9 am – 6 pm and on Monday, May 2nd from 9 am-5 pm at Metropolitan Pavilion. For a complete schedule and ticket information visit themakeupshow.com.

Reach for the Beach with Palm Beach Tan and $150 Nordstrom Giveaway

This giveaway is now closedperverse-sunglasses-spiritual-gangster-may-we-all-be-happy-and-free-tee

{Outfit details: Perverse Fresh sunglasses, Spiritual Gangster Happy and Free tank, Kate Spade Orchard Street bag, Reef Leather Uptown Sandal, Minkpink denim shorts (similar), jewelry: vintage and Pandora}

Coming from the New York cold to the LA sun, I wanted one thing: a tan (okay, more than one thing), but with my SPF regimen, that’s not happening anytime soon. Truth be told the only way you’ll see this body with color is if it’s a spray tan or body bronzer. With Coachella, pools and the excessive amount of white clothing I brought I don’t have the energy for body bronzer or the patience with it sweating all over my clothes. The easy solution, Palm Beach Tan. They are my jam, and literally have locations everywhere but NYC (they are the largest indoor tanning company nationwide, and my go-to when I’m in LA!)! In literally 2 minutes they can customize my bronze to any level of golden with their state of the art machines and products. I mean how tan am I from these photos I took yesterday?

In celebration of being in reach of the beach, we’re partnering to giveaway tan packages and a $150 Nordstrom gift certificate to help with that summer outfit!nordstrom-giveaway-reef-sandals-kate-spade-orchard-bag

Five winners will be chosen to win a free sunless/sunbed certificate to the the Palm Beach Tan salon of choice and one grand prize winner will win a three-month Diamond Premier membership (sunless and sunbed options available with Diamond level) and a $150 Nordstrom gift certificate!

There are 3 ways to enter (each counts as a separate entry):

  • Liking @prettyconnected on Instagram and liking and/or commenting under the matching giveaway image (direct link HERE).
  • Like us on Facebook at: Facebook.com/PrettyConnected and like and/or comment under the post (click HERE form direct link)
  • Following us on Twitter at @prettyconnected and tweet about the giveaway – don’t forget to tag us! or by tweeting: RT/Follow @prettyconnected for ur chance to win $150 @Nordstrom giftcard + @PalmBeachTan packages: http://bit.ly/1qY54qN

Scroll to the bottom for rules and the golden rules of tanning!

My Coachella Beauty Checklist on Real Simple!

 

coachella-beauty-must-haves-5As far as I’m concerned, the only person that can pack light and still look beyond on point everyday for Coachella, is Patricia Field. I could definitely take a cue from her organizational skills from our trip together last year. At least I’ve picked up a few tricks of my own when it comes to packing my makeup — I finally found the winning combination between LeSportsac travel pouches and this Caboodle traincase.

Absolutely Ageless In the Garden of Aveeno

aveeno-face-products-review

Before I left for LA, I went to one of the most beautiful events for Aveeno. Hosted at the Lowline Lab in NYC, and walked out of the urban jungle and into the rainforest. The event highlighted three of their face collections, Ultra-Calming, Positively Radiant and their new range, Absolutely Ageless and they planned activities around the active ingredient in each.

aveeno-positively-radiant-collection-soy-candle

For the Positively Radiant collection we made soy candles – since the range harnesses the power for soy to help with dullness and discoloration. This has longtime been my favorite collection from Aveeno since brown spots and uneven texture are my primary skincare concern.