‘Instead of’ Movement Earth Day Launch

Lara Eurdolian and Claudine DeSola serving Williamsburg Pizza at the ‘Instead of’ launch party

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.

What’s the most sustainable form of takeout? Pizza boxes! Guests enjoying Williamsburg Pizza over this eco-friendly jute rug from Nourison.

‘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).

Keisha Hannam, Co-founder of Camel Assembly getting her hair done by Aveda

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!

Designer, Ariana Ost offering guests chakra readings

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:

  • Alysia Reiner, actress, activist, producer and co-founder of Livari
  • Toni Trucks, actress on Seal Team on CBS
  • Annie Jackson, Co-Founder and COO of Credo Beauty
  • Nicole Rechelbacher, co-owner of Intelligent Nutrients
  • Mike Indursky, former President of Bliss and CMO of Burts Bees
  • Dr. Terry Zickerman, Founder of Love Sun Body
  • Mike Korchinsky, Founder of Wildlife Works
  • Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs, Co-founder of the zero waste clothing line Livari, and the Women’s March Organizer.
  • Rebecca Gregory, VP of education for Simply Organic Beauty
  • Nicholas Reichenbach, Founder and CEO of Flow water
  • John Salzinger, founder of MPOWERED
  • Jessica Schreiber, Founder of FABSCRAP
  • Sylwia Wisenberg, Founder of Dope Naturally and Bawdy Beauty
  • Ben Larkey, Founder BAL Associates
  • Antoinette Beenders, Global Creative Director of Aveda
  • Jonathan Propper, Founder of Dropps
  • Steven Phan, Founder Come Back Daily
  • Joy Reese, Vice President of Skinny & Co.
  • Nicholas Reichenbach Founder & CEO, Flow Water
  • Keshia Hannam, Co-founder of Camel Assembly
  • Lara Eurdolian, Founder Pretty Connected and co-founder of Share Your Beauty
  • Claudine DeSola, Founder Caravan Stylist Studio and co-founder of the sustainable, zero waste clothing line, Livari

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:

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4/24 – 4/29 Space NK The Essentials Gift

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

Pretty Connected Accessories Launch Party

Pretty Connected launch party Sponsored by Bumble Bizz, Sunglass Hut and LeSportsac all photographed in this photo. Photo Credit: White Honey

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.

Katya Kulyzhka + I rocking the Lara Chains + SandraD cell phone jacket. Charlie’s leash is a combination of our Jamie Strap + Lara mini chain.

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!

Alexa Luria, Ashlee Glazer, Val Greenberg showing off all the uses of our chain straps from a camera, to waterbottle and flip flop strap. Add it to you makeup case to make it a wristlet.

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.

Our LeSportsac bag is packed, lets go on a Pretty Connected journey through my timeline.

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.

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All Hail the Queen Beautyblender

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!

The Original Beautyblended in limited edition Queen canister

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

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