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Take some advice + makeover tips from #MomTrends

Nicole Feliciano of MomTrends.com

While I have no immediate plan to have children (someday!), I’ve come to realize I have a something in my life, that gets more demanding with age, wants endless attention, exhausts me and brings me more joy then I ever expected at the same time — yes, I’m talking about my blog! (yes, it’s my baby.) And with that I have something very much relate to these busy moms that need no-nonsense beauty and fashion tips, electronics that save time and everyday advice to make life that much easier.  So when the queen of mom blogs, Nicole Feliciano, founder of MomTrends hosted her annual beauty event filled with educational guests including Caryn Effron of GoGirl Finance and Beauty Director, Valerie Monroe of O, The Oprah Magazine, I was all in!

Hosted at Blow, the trendy salon and original pioneer of the blow dry bar in NYC’s Meatpacking District, we got full on makeovers using the QVC bareMinerals line as well as learned 3 easy-but-don’t-look-easy pro worthy hair styles that can be done at home: sophisticated ponytail, retro glam waves and a special-occasion updo?.

Get the look at home! Here’s how (click image for larger view):

Seriously though, how great does the special-occasion updo look?

PC Named Top 50 US Beauty & Fashion Blogs to Watch & Learn From by iFabbo

Talk about waking up to some amazing news… Pretty Connected was listed in iFabbo’s 50 U.S. Beauty & Fashion Blogs to Watch & Learn From!! iFabbo is the premiere international organization for fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers, brands and technology companies. If you’re a fashion and/or beauty blogger this is an exceptional blogger network to be apart of. Membership is free (but you do need to apply).

And at a proud #36 (the number is not a ranking, the list is alphabetical), there I am!!!

Congrats to my fellow bloggers that made the list! It’s so flattering to be amongst so many of my very talented blogger friends as well as bloggers I follow. For the complete list click HERE. And for more information on iFabbo visit iFaboo.com

Sneak Peek of mark.’s Holiday Mag Cover Featuring Ashley Greene

Twilight star and mark. Brand Ambassador, Ashley Greene will grace the cover of mark.’s holiday Magalog. In case you’re wondering what a Magalog is, it’s part magazine, part selling catalog filled with mark.’s beauty products and their fashion line.

Launching in mid-November, the issue features mark Celebrity Makeup Artist Mai Quynh, as she shares the inside scoop on Ashley’s look and explains why photo shoots can be quite the lengthy process. And because we couldn’t wait until October for the details on this gorgeous cover look, we had a few questions for the makeup artist.

Pretty Connected (PC): Tell us about the shoot…

Mai Quynh (MQ): We did five or six completely different beauty looks in one day, which means applying and removing looks back to back. Ashley is such a professional; she’s very patient and makes a great canvas. We also shot “Very Sassy,” mark’s new fragrance that launches in October. Ashley is the face of the fragrance, which made the shoot exciting.

PC: What makeup is Ashley wearing?

MQ: On this cover, Ashley is wearing a jewel tone smoky eye, festive shimmer on her cheeks and an iridescent

Beach Bag Essentials: Top products to have on your radar

Whether you’re planning a trip to the beach, a lake or Central Park, there’s some key don’t-leave-home-without products that make the leisure day in the sun that much better. And with summer in full swing here are some of our top beach bag picks!

Morning routine: Start fresh!

1. Rembrant Deeply White Toothpaste – It’s an all-in-one fluoride toothpaste with Active Dental Peroxide that helps safely whiten below the enamel to remove deep and surface stains. I like that it offers a deep whitening without being too strong and makes for a pleasant brushing experience. The packaging is simple and clean and aesthetically looks great in my bathroom along with it’s Deeply White Mouthwash counterpart (which I also use). At 2.6oz, it’s big enough for your bathroom and yet small enough that it fits comfortably in most makeup cases if you’re on the go and need an afternoon freshen up.

2. Degree NaturEffects deodorant– With temperatures hitting close to 90 degrees do everyone a favor (including yourself) and apply! I use the orange flower + cranberry scent which smells lovely. As both an anti-perspirant & deodorant in one, it keeps me dry and is offers long-lasting protection. Plus it goes on smooth and has never given my clothes a single mark.

The gear!

3. THE BAG! People often use weekender bags interchangeably with beach bags and unless you’re packing for the whole fam that can get a little bulky (plus the bigger a bag, the more you’ll fill it with stuff you don’t need). I opt for the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote bag in size medium ($33.95). Opting for a size smaller then the weekender makes the bag much more comfortable to hold while still guaranteeing room for all your beach essentials.

VS launches new Body by Victoria and Love My Body collection angel style!

This morning I awoke to perfect weather, a gorgeous roof top, and supermodels and indulged in some yoga (poolside), polished off by a mid-morning massage. If only the next line of this post read “welcome to my life.” (A girl can dream…) This is in fact not my general routine — I’m not a morning person — however, when Angels, are involved, anything is possible!

{Morning yoga with Victoria’s Secret at The James Hotel}

And by Angels, I mean Victoria’s Secret supermodels Candice Swanepoel and Bregie Heinen. With the Angels on hand, Victoria’s Secret introduced my fellow editors and I to the NEW Body by Victoria bra collection which features vibrant colors and new lace in their Demi, Push-Up, Perfect Coverage, and Front-Close Razorback bra styles. As an extension of the collection, VS Beauty launched the Body by Victoria fragrance as the perfect compliment to the lingerie.

Pretty Connected featured on Kmart Fashion Blog!

I’m so excited! Yesterday, my feature went up on Kmart’s blog. Check it out my interview with the mega-retailer and the behind-the-scene images from my upcoming video shoot: kmrt.us/Q2LEXH

Get the look! All the clothing in my feature is currently available on Kmart.com with details posted on their blog. My favorite outfit was the Sofia by Sopfia Vergara Women’s Color Block Dress, pictured below ($29.99 on sale for $19.99).

I have to give a big hair shout out to Drybar, for my bomb $40 blow-out. Makeup done by moi using Smashbox Lipstick in Electric Pink, NARS Eye Color Makeup pencil in Black Moon, Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation SPF 16, and Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess.

The Fresh Beauty Cleanse Pop-Up Truck is in Town!

Today, Fresh® is kicking off of their summer beauty cleanse with a pop-up truck perusing the city streets from now until tomorrow! The campaign features the Soy Face Cleanser which boasts to remove dirt and makeup without ridding the skin of the moisture it needs to be soft and glowing. Fresh® is partnering with juice cleanse masters BluePrint and will be offering a Fresh® Beauty Cleanse Kit that includes the Soy Face Cleanser, BluePrint Cleanse Spicy Lemonade, and a card for a free mini Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy! 

THE FRESH BEAUTY CLEANSE TRUCK SCHEDULE:

If you’re not in New York or you’re just not able to brave the heat and make it out, you can still get involved by going to the Fresh® Facebook page and share what you are cleansing from! Upload a photo that represents your personal cleanse, and you have a chance to win a $1,000 Fresh shopping spree. The Fresh® Beauty Cleanse Contest runs from July 25nd to August 8th. Fans can entry daily, and the participant with the most “likes” wins.

For more updates on the Fresh® Beauty Cleanse Truck, Facebook Contest, and other campaign news, follow Fresh® on Twitter @FreshFounder and Facebook at facebook.com/fresh

 

Taking time with Celebrity Hair Stylists Cherry Petenbrink and Mika Fowler

What happens when two of Beverly Hills most renowned celebrity hairstylists hit the NYC scene? I get one killer makeover and the opportunity to talk hair with two of the industry tops: Cherry Petenbrink and Mika Fowler.

{After a day with Cherry Petenbrink and Mika Fowler, I could be a hair model}

 Cherry Petenbrink, is a former salon owner turned celebrity stylist and color specialist– we’ve all seen her work on the big screen as the color consultant for the Hunger Games! Cherry also conducts regular workshops and trainings in the industry and is a member of the Joico’s elite Color Competency Team and Guest Artist for the brand.

Having dark hair sans grays, I’m challenged with limited color options. Cherry encouraged my pursuit of an Ombre (which will continue to trend through the fall/winter season) and introduced me to “Flash effects”, which offers a lightened effect that brightens the hair internally for a warmer softer look. Both are modern, with some edge while still managing to be polished and great for any age.

{With Cherry Petenbrink — Can you see my “Flash Effect”?}

What I appreciate about both color options is how well they compliment each other and require zero maintenance — they can grow out naturally without having to be redone, making them a very budget friendly option. Cherry’s trick when performing an Ombre or Flash Effect is to not work on a horizontal line (which just weighs hair down). Instead, Cherry works at a vertical

Keeping Up With Kiehl’s: 3rd Annual LifeRide for amfAR

This past Friday Kiehl’s president, Chris Salgardo, and other celebrity motorcyclists set out on a 1,800 mile journey to raise awareness for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. The third annual Kiehl’s LifeRide for amfAR is a 10 day adventure starting in Miami and working its way up to Washington, DC, with 8 celebratory stops along the way.

The remaining dates and times of the celebration stops are listed below. If you’re nearby, come out and speak with the riders to learn more about amfAR and support them on their journey!

July 20th:     Kiehl’s Georgetown store, Washington, D.C – 6pm – 8pm

July 21st:    Stop 1: EagleRider store, Fall’s Church, VA – 9:30 am-10:30 am

                         Stop 2: Kiehl’s at Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA – 11am –12pm

As part of the LIfeRide initiative Kiehl’s is launching a social media campaign as well as a Limited Edition Active Lifestyle Essentials Kit, with proceeds form the sale benefitting amfAr. In total Kiehl’s hopes to raise $115,000 via events, social media, and the sale from the set.

Get involved! Visit any Kiehl’s free-standing store on the day of the events and Kiehl’s will donate $5 to amfAR. If you’re not able to make it to the store, don’t fret – become a part of their social media campaign by simply  hitting the “Like” icon on the Kiehl’s Facebook page. Kiehl’s will donate $1 for each new fan!

You can also purchase the Limited Edition Active Lifestyle Essentials Kit which includes Kiehl’s new Eucalyptus Lip Relief (available only in this kit), full-size bottles of Cross-Terrain All-In-One Refueling Wash, Ultra Facial Cream, Cross-Terrain UV Face Protector SPF 50, Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer, and deluxe samples of Creme de Corps, Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, and Midnight Recovery Concentrate. The kit retails for $74 and 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit amfAR!

For more information, visit Kiehls.com and keep up with the remainder of the ride on twitter by following Kiehl’s at @KiehlsNYC and Christ at @KiehlsPrez.

Smooth and Polished: Redken Introduces New Smooth Lock Technology

There are few things more dreadful than waking up to a forecast of excessive heat and humidity and if you have hair like mine then hot summer days can be your worst nightmare. Recently, I joined renowned salon owner, stylist and brand ambassador Rodney Cutler as he presented Redken’s new product line and service (and solution to summertime hair woes): enter Redken’s new Smooth Lock technology.

Many hair products out there are directed towards one hair type or another, but Redken’s new line was created to cater to hair types across