It's the first time in history, and a U.K. media first, that will allow fashion fans to see footage from the top designer shows including Alice Temperley's fashion label Temperley London and Ashish and Osman. Footage will be screened across 60 Ocean and Signature Outdoor home sites including Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle, as well as four locations in London.
"Collaborating with Ocean means we are able to bring London Fashion Week to more people than ever before. With more conversations taking place around involving the consumer in fashion weeks this is the perfect opportunity to open up parts of LFW to the public not just in London but across the country," Caroline Rush CBE, CEO of British Fashion Council, said.
Fashion week officially kicks off on Feb. 19, and will showcase the Autumn/Winter 2016 collections of 83 designers, but the Ocean/British Fashion Council collaboration has already started its London Fashion Week countdown and coverage will continue until Feb. 23. Content will include live streams from six catwalk shows as well as daily round-ups, highlights and "special preview content across Ocean screens" which will "celebrate the talent and variety of designers showing on schedule [sic]."
"Our partnership with the British Fashion Council builds on previous innovations which allowed us to present the U.K.'s first shoppable billboard in association with Twitter and Top Shop and broadcast the AW15 Hunter Original London Fashion Week show across The Grid," Ocean CEO Tim Bleakley said. "This new venture amplifies the attention afforded by London Fashion Week, allowing designers and brands to reach significantly wider audiences across the Ocean portfolio."
Will you be headed to an Ocean venue to check out the highlights of London Fashion Week? Do you think this is a smart collaboration? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Eyes that pop: This makeup artist trick feels a little awkward when you first do it, but it is so life changing. You have to put your eyeliner on the inside rims of the top and bottom of your eyelids — the area more near your eyeball. Perfect nightlife look: unlocked!
Eye base/eyebrow shimmer: I love to apply a bright shimmer from the base of my lids all the way up to the bottom of my eyebrows. It’s a great way to make your eyes pop and accentuate the color of the eye shadow that you choose to wear for the night. And as a bonus, the shimmer hides eyebrow strays — something I am always guilty of having!
Eye lift: I just love highlighters! Draw an arch directly above your eyebrow with a highlighter, blend with your finger and it will look like you’ve had an eye lift! Bliss! I just saved you so much money.
Eyebrow pencil lift: If you need to work on the shape of your eyebrows, you can actually change the way your face looks by altering the shape of your brows with some pencil work. Simply color in a new design by focusing on the top portion of your eyebrows — not the bottom.
Mega lashes: If you use a lash curler, here’s a trick that no one seems to remember. Heat your curler for a few seconds with a blow-dryer. No more than five seconds. This one, small step will give your curler a long-lasting effect.
Contour nose: This is easier than you think. You can make your nose look smaller by using two different colors of foundation. First, apply foundation that is one shade darker than what you normally use on both sides of your nose. Then, blend onto your cheeks. Finally, choose a lighter shade and apply it to the bridge of your nose — that’s the thinnest part. Blend, and you are done!
Exfoliate your lips: The winter can especially dehydrate us, and one way to get our lips ready for the latest matte shade is to give our puckers a good scrubbing prior to heading out for the night. You can use any exfoliating cream on hand or grab your toothbrush and gently scrub for a few seconds.
Add a little color to your cheeks with blush: It’s really about the apples of your cheeks. Dab your choice of color on the center, and then use your fingers to blend the color up to your temples.
Lip foundation:Apply some foundation on your lips if you want to ensure that the color you apply is as close as possible to what you see in the tube.
Start off with a stain: If you are planning a full night out with friends and don’t want to worry about having to reapply your lipstick over and over again, start with a lip stain. It won’t necessarily give you the full color that you started off with before you left the house, but if will ensure that you have some color on your lips all night long. Try to top the stain with lipstick in a matching color.
What are your thoughts about some of these tips? Do you have any you’d like to share? Would love to hear your thoughts!
This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between Abreva and SheKnows.
No need to pack on the makeup any longer. Just grab your tinted moisturizer and some good ol'-fashioned highlighter or illuminator (you can also DIY your own illuminator). Use it to enhance specific areas of your face in all of the right places.
Whether it was a bad night of sleep or allergies that that gave you the circles, the end result is the same. Dark circles under your eyes make you look less rested and can age you. Rather than piling on the concealer, which will end up looking cakey and not fully cover the circles, you need to add in a color corrector. You'll need a peach or pink color corrector, and for more pronounced circles, a more vivid corrector will work better. Lightly tap the corrector over the areas of discoloration only, and cover with a very light layer of concealer. Suddenly you look like you got a few extra hours of sleep!
If you notice that your dark circles are showing again later on in the day, you can apply a very light layer of corrector over your makeup. This touch up corrector should be very lightly tinted and just tapped on to the trouble area with a fingertip.
2. Visible jaw line
My skin is particularly difficult to match to foundation, and I seem to always be between shades. One of my biggest beauty fears is a visible line of foundation on my face. Walking around all day with a sharp line of foundation on my jaw is not appealing to me!
To prevent this, you should be sure that you have a good color match for your foundation. Most makeup artists recommend having a new color match done at least twice a year, but you may need to be matched more frequently if you notice big changes in your skin tone. Also, lighter coverage will be much less likely to create that sharp line if it isn't blended well. Whenever you apply your foundation, concentrate your application at the center of your face; and as you go out toward the jawline, apply less product and blend, blend, blend!
If you've already left the house, you can blend away a foundation line with just a tissue. If your makeup is particularly stubborn, a light mist of water or using a damp sponge can make it easier to blend away the excess foundation.
3. Flaky skin under foundation
During the winter, it can be difficult to keep your skin well hydrated. Between much drier air and dramatic temperature changes as you go inside or outside, your skin's hydration level can suffer! If skin becomes particularly dry, it will be itchy and start to flake. It isn't a pretty sight! Add foundation to the mix, and that dry, flaky skin becomes much more obvious.
The best way to prevent flaky skin is to keep it well hydrated. Keep your showers short and use warm water instead of hot water. Apply moisturizer within three minutes of drying off, it helps prevent loss of moisture in your skin to the air. Increasing the humidity in the air of your bedroom can also help, look for a cool mist humidifier to run while you sleep.
When applying your makeup in the morning, if you notice that you have an area that is flaking, there are a few things you can do to minimize the issue. First, a little gentle exfoliation with a washcloth or deep cleansing brush will help to remove any loose skin. You only want to remove the areas that have already lifted up; don't scrub so hard that your skin becomes irritated! Next, apply a slightly heavier moisturizer than normal to the dry area, gently patting it over the dry area. When you apply makeup over this area, you need to stipple the product into place, gently patting it rather than sweeping or buffing with a brush. This keeps skin from lifting up further and making flakes more obvious.
If the dry area becomes flaky again later in the day, you can sometimes pat a light layer of moisturizer over the area to help minimize the flakes.
4. Blemishes and cold sores
They're every teenage girls worst nightmare, those big red blemishes that feel like they're taking over your face! Unfortunately, many women seem to still suffer from blemishes after their teens and early 20s. While you can't make a blemish disappear completely in a few minutes, with the right makeup application you can minimize their appearance very easily!
Because most blemishes are red, you will need to start with a yellow or green color corrector. I like to use a cream consistency, as those correctors usually have a higher level of pigmentation and will stay put longer over a blemish. Gently pat the corrector on to the blemish with a finger tip, be sure to apply only to the blemish itself. Next, add a light layer of a well pigmented cream concealer that matches your skin tone. Gently pat the concealer into place with your finger or a brush. Set it all with a light patting of translucent powder.
If you have a cold sore to cover up, the process is the same as for a blemish. However, you'll want to first apply a cold sore patch to the sore, which will treat and protect the cold sore all day long. Apply a little corrector if necessary and then light layers of concealer until you are happy with how well the cold sore is hidden. A bright lip color will also help distract the eye from your cold sore.
5. Smudged mascara
Image: Christine Mikesell/SheKnows
If you routinely suffer from smudges of mascara under your eyes, the problem may not be your mascara. It may be your eye cream. If you are applying a heavy eye cream close to your eyes, as it migrates throughout the day it can dissolve some of your mascara! Try using a lighter eye cream, and apply it a little further from your eye. Mascara that is applied to lower lashes, which frequently touch the skin, is also likely to rub off. Try skipping your lower lash line or only applying mascara to the very base of those lashes.
If you have smudges midday, you can gently blend away the smudge. Try rolling a cotton tip swab over the area to remove the mascara, or gently blend it with a sponge eye shadow applicator to make the smudge look intentional.
6. Midday shine
Image: Christine Mikesell/SheKnows
No one likes feeling like their face is a mirrorball! Piling on the powder isn't the solution to a shiny T-zone, it will just cake and make your skin look like the makeup has been piled on. To prevent midday shine, look for a shine absorbing foundation primer. Even if you aren't planning to wear foundation, these primers can be worn alone. It will absorb excess oil all day without looking like you have a lot of makeup on. To blot away excess oil, use a blotting paper to absorb the oil and leave your makeup in place. Keep a small pack in your purse so you'll have them always on hand throughout the day!
7. Feathering lipstick
It can be frustrating to spend a lot of time applying a bright lipstick only to have it gradually spread and feather out into fine lines throughout the day. To prevent the feathering and keep your lipstick in place, you'll need an anti-feathering lipliner. These liners are clear and waxy, and anyone can wear them! Rather than applying the liner to your lips, you'll line around the outside of your lip line, effectively creating a dam to keep your lip product in place. Reach for a matte lipstick rather than a shiny gloss, it will be much less likely to travel on to your skin!
8. Creasing eye shadow
It can be disappointing to spend a lot of time applying your eye shadow with precision in the morning, only to have it crease or smudge into a mess by mid-afternoon. You can keep it in place by prepping your eyelid with a shadow primer, rather than a concealer. There are many different versions and colors. I like to use a basic primer that is the same color as my skin for every day use. You can use a white primer to help color shadows appear more vivid, or a black primer to add dimension to darker eye shadows. If you are planning to use a glitter shadow, be sure to prep with a glitter shadow primer, it is stickier and will help to prevent fall out throughout the day.
9. Too much blush or bronzer
Image: Christine Mikesell/SheKnows
Sometimes, what looks good in the mirror at home can look like a hot mess once you get out into sunlight! For me, the most common issue is too much blush or bronzer. That natural looking flush of color on my cheeks can look a bit clownish out in the real world. While it is tempting to just wipe it off with a tissue, this often just blends the color on your cheeks, creating a big rosy area that isn't flattering. Instead, fold your tissue and use it to gently blot off excess product. A light dusting of translucent powder over the top and things will look much better!
This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between Abreva and SheKnows.
The mom of North West and baby Saint West gave her followers the big secret behind her gravity-defying cleavage, and it's actually pretty simple: tape.
More specifically, she uses gaffer's tape to go braless in plunging dresses.
"I’ve used everything from duct tape to packing tape to masking tape and I think that the best I found is gaffer’s tape," she wrote on her Web site. "It sticks the best!"
Kim Kardashian gaffer's tape
Kim Kardashian gaffer's tape
Gaffer's tape is like duct tape in consistency and look, but it's even more heavy duty and is used to keep materials in place in theatre, photography and television production. Basically, it looks like Kardashian lifts and separates her breasts and then harnesses the tape around them and up onto her shoulders, much like a bra would.
Now, this trick won't keep wardrobe malfunctions from happening if you decide to copy her technique. For that, you'll need to get some double-sided fashion tape that will keep fabric in place when you're wearing something especially revealing.
Our biggest question: Does it hurt when you take it off? Heavy duty has to equal heavy pain — and Kardashian confirms it. "Just brace yourself for when it’s time to take it off LOL," she wrote.
It might be worth it to make your boobs look bangin' in that dress. But as an everyday thing? We'll leave that to Kim.
The British woman followed a tip she saw on Facebook and used a paint roller to apply her tanning lotion. The results? Well, she got a tan, but it was just a tad darker than she wanted.
"Who ever the girl was that recommend to apply fake tan with a paint roller is one lying f***. Don't think I'll be at work Friday (sic)," Silversides posted to Facebook on Feb. 9, along with a photo of her very, very, very dark skin.
The hue, according to Silversides, looked like "the color of a dining room table."
Another woman, Amy Ridler, gave Silversides the idea. She posted about it on Facebook in early February and, from the looks of it, was successful with her paint-roll tan.
Amy Ridler tan
Amy Ridler tan
"Okay so you don't get it on your hands,can wash it,perfect even tan, NO STREAKS can get it mega dark if you like oh and you can reach your back (sic)," Ridler wrote of the paint roller trick.
We definitely can't blame Silversides for wanting a glow, even if a paint roller isn't really the best way to do it. Lucky for her, there are products that can rapidly fade heavy-handed fake tans.
And it looks like everything is back to normal now, judging from a Valentine's Day photo she posted to Facebook. But hey, we can't blame her for trying to get a perfect tan in time for spring.
At first I thought it was just my rosacea. Showing up in my 40s, it can be exacerbated by my love for running, addiction to Sriracha and the occasional glass of red wine. Never did I think my glasses would be problem.
However, a couple of years ago, I noticed something different about my breakouts. They were forming a pattern across the bridge of my nose and were accompanied by dryness and itching. Going back to my contacts, I soon grew tired of the challenge they posed — getting them into both eyes correctly was the biggest hurdle, but altering my depth perception was another. Patients trust me to analyze their facial asymmetry and skin concerns — my vision needs to be perfect.
I eventually pulled out my readers but made sure that I was careful to follow all the rules of keeping them clean and off my head. Soon, the redness and itching returned.
After some research into my dilemma, I found that allergies could be playing a role. Apparently, many people have an allergy to nickel, which is commonly used in frames. Pitching all of my metal glasses into a box, I continued on with the plastic variety, to no avail. I was resembling a circus clown with a huge, honking red nose!
Determined to find a fix for my skin, I made an appointment with my dermatologist, stopped all skin-care products except for a very mild cleanser and a benign moisturizer and learned all I could about eyeglass frames.
I'd only researched which frame shape would look best on me — who knew there was so much more to learn?
Apparently, most plastic glasses are made of zyl, which is short for zylonite, or cellulose acetate — a combination of cottonseed fibers, wood flakes, plasticizers and stabilizers. Zyl is the most commonly used material because you can get any type of texture, color or pattern you want. There's also a difference in the quality of zyl, with Mazzucchelli zyl from Italy considered one of the best.
Next there are metal frames — monel, titanium, nickel silver and stainless steel. Monel, nickel silver and stainless all contain nickel, which is usually the cause of allergic reactions. However, titanium is considered hypoallergenic because it doesn't contain nickel.
Okay, now I know I should purchase titanium frames if I'm going to continue wearing glasses. Next, it's on to my derm appointment.
Self-conscious of my ever increasing redness, now complete with a large cyst on one cheek, I put aside my vanity and casually walk into the dermatologist's office sans makeup — only to be greeted by a full waiting room. Holding my head high, I sit and wait.
Once in with my doctor, she agrees my skin is in desperate need of intervention and that glasses might be part of the issue — but only part. My rosacea is out of control and an aggressive treatment plan is in order, glasses or no glasses. Leaving the office with a three-month prescription of Doxycycline and samples of various rosacea medications, I feel somewhat defeated.
I really wanted my breakout to be all about my glasses. It would have been such an easy fix. However, knowing it could be a part, albeit a small part, of the picture, I have now changed out my glasses for hypoallergenic ones — just in case.
We consulted dermatologist Dr. Jeannette Graf to get an expert take on the probiotic trend. Our first question was a little obvious — how can topically applied probiotics actually help skin? “Probiotics are protective microflora that protect our skin from the [harmful] bacteria and other microflora present in the environment,” Graf explained. “As we age and our moisture barrier is compromised, so is our ability for our skin’s microflora to work.”
So the thinking is that topical products can help replace the naturally occurring good microflora that you may have lost due to age, over-stripping skin or other environmental causes — and, as a result, address all the problems caused by this imbalance, like acne, sensitivity and cell-aging inflammation.
Lately, probiotics have found their way into all sorts of products, from cleansers to night creams. Graf prefers serums and moisturizers because they stay put on the skin. “One of the popular strains that work well on the skin are extracts from yogurt,” she adds. As a side note, you can DIY your own probiotic face mask using yogurt.
Although the arguments for topical probiotics are solid, Graf recommends taking them internally as well. “Gut probiotics are our first line of defense, since the probiotics destroy and detoxify any potentially toxic substances before they are absorbed into the body and eventually the skin.” So, in other words, arm yourself with a good supplement too.
The entire Tula line incorporates probiotics, but this versatile gem works for both day and night and is infused with other natural extracts, like watermelon, lentil and avocado oil. ($52, Tula)
Exotic white truffle and French black currant bud extracts combine with a probiotic blend to help nourish delicate neck skin while you sleep. ($35, Skinn)
Acne sufferers will love this ultra-light moisturizer that combines probiotics with cucumber, salicylic acid and tea tree to sooth, exfoliate and reduce inflammation. Meanwhile, shea butter keeps skin hydrated. ($58, DermStore)
This lightweight serum combines probiotics with anti-aging peptides, along with vitamin E and baobab (which is rich in omegas). We also love its delicate scent — a combo of jasmine, plumeria , tuberose and mandarin.($84, Net-a-Porter)
This two-piece set includes a probiotic oxygen activator to prep skin and a probiotic enzyme mask to exfoliate and boost regeneration. ($85, DermStore)
This rich cream combines lactobacilli acidophilus with micronized silver (which is said to ward off acne-causing bacteria). Hyaluronic acid, aloe, shea butter, plus macadamia nut and sunflower seed oils leave skin soft, soothed and hydrated. ($87, Epicuren)
This chemical-free probiotic soap seemingly does it all: gently deodorizes, clears the complexion, works for both dry and oily skin and can be used all over the body. ($10, Vitamin Shoppe)
9. RenewLife Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 50 Billion
Each capsule contains 10 probiotic strains to boost digestive health and overall immunity — very good things for your entire body, including skin. ($20, RenewLife)
Stacey Wilson of Benton said she felt when the nail technician went a little too rough on her feet with the pumice stone, cutting her foot near her pinky toe.
"She knew she had hurt me a little bit," Wilson said of the tech. She went home, but the pain got worse and by Monday her entire lower leg was red and she developed a fever of 102 degrees F.
"I was like, it's time to go to the ER," Wilson, a nurse, told news station KATV. She was diagnosed with an infection called cellulitis.
Cellulitis can be caused by one of three different bacteria — group AB-hemolytic streptococcus, streptococcus pneumoniae or staphylococcus aureus — and typically affects the face, arms, legs and feet. Treatment is usually administered through antibiotics, either through pills or IV, depending on the severity.
"Pedicures and manicures aren't the only things that cause it, but we definitely do see it associated with that," said Dr. Michael Pafford of Saline Memorial Hospital told KATV.
The best way to deal with cellulitis, though, is to prevent it. Don't get a pedicure if you have cuts or abrasions on your feet and legs, and wait for at least a day after you shave or wax to go. Be sure to ask about cleaning procedures before you sit down and observe their cleaning practices. If you're not sure, don’t get one.
As for Wilson, she's on the mend but won't be forgetting the painful infection anytime soon. "It feels like you're sitting too close to a fire and you just cannot get away from it, that's the way it feels," she said, adding that she plans to notify the Arkansas Health Department when she gets out of the hospital.
White, whose agency launched the careers of supermodels such as Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell, told the newspaper that contracts and legislation to encourage more diverse and realistic models aren't working. Designers, she says, still want "young, flat-chested girls." Their measurements are invariably "straight up-and-down," rendering them "strange beings, almost aliens."
White also described the in-demand physique as "lanky," belonging to the kind of school girl who is "hunched over because she's taller than the boys and embarrassed."
She pointed to the recent move of fashion label Rose & Willard to implement contracts which force models to eat during a day of shooting, in order to discourage eating disorders, as an example of a reform which "achieves nothing." She maintains that the vast majority of models she has worked with are healthy and simply young and naturally very thin.
Designers, she said, "want their clothes to fall as they designed them. Which is unrealistic when most women have boobs. I can't change that. It's just how it is."
"If you look through the history of fashion, designers have always wanted girls who are flat-chested, not developed, which is a young girl," White stated. "Someone 16 to 19 who hasn't changed into a woman's body. That's why models start young. Scouts go to schools to seek the lanky girl who does the scoring in netball."
White's comments are, on the face of it, disappointing. In saying that designers simply want one specific type of figure, and that nothing can be done to change that, she shuts down any notion of industry responsibility towards achieving diverse representations which appreciate bodies of all types.
But White's comments are also instructive. She is experienced in working with the top models and designers within the fashion industry and her comments free us from the hope that change might come from within it.
Designers cite a number of reasons why they prefer skinny models. They say that a skinnier body provides a blank canvas for their designs to be better realised. They say that smaller models provide an air of imagination and aspiration for consumers to be drawn to the brand. They say that smaller clothes sizes on the catwalks are easier to deal with because it makes for fewer last-minute, stressful alterations. They say that fashion editors and consumers prefer looking at thinner people.
But when Ashley Mears, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Boston University, wrote about her studies on this issue in 2010 she concluded that underlying all these reasons is a deeper one: "they do it because that's 'the way things are done.'"
For an industry that sees itself on the rebellious cutting-edge of art and ideas top players are surprisingly very conservative and afraid of change. Mears brings up the example of Melissa Richardson, co-founder of London's now-defunct Take 2 Models, who, as a mother of a teenager, felt uncomfortable recruiting 14-year-old girls to the industry. But she did it anyway, "because other people do, and if I don't, I lose out on it."
Likewise when Mears asked designers why the measurements of sample-size clothes were what they were they just said that it was convention. Mears writes, "we end up with a certain working order of things because over time conventions get locked-in, and it becomes easier to not change them, even if we don't like them."
Women are right to look at the world around them and want better representation and greater acceptance of different body shapes, colours and sizes. But the modelling industry, as White's comments and Richardson's research shows, isn't the place we should look in order to find it. It is simply not a good place for finding the body validation many of us are looking for.
Instead we need alternatives. New ways of looking at art and clothes and the body. Many individuals are making such body-positive statements through Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr and other social media platforms. Aside from being refreshing forms of authentic expression, they also take some of the power out of the conventional ways things have always been done in the fashion industry.
Celebrity stylist Corey Roché offers the simplest explanations for each body shape so you can finally figure out what all of this means — as well as 10 wardrobe essentials for each shape.
Apple shape
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows
Celebrity apple shapes: Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Tyra Banks
How to tell if you're an apple: "Your shoulders and hips are around the same size," Roché says. "Apple-shaped ladies have little difference between the measurements of their chest, waist and hips.. You as an apple-shaped girl have chest and waist measurements that are fairly close, but your hips are about six inches smaller than your chest."
Apple body shape traits:
Hips and shoulders have the same width; waistline has the same width or is wider.
You gain weight mainly around the waist, at least in proportion to the other parts of your body.
You probably have slender lower legs and arms.
Your high hip is wider than your lower hip.
Your bust and/or midriff are larger than your hips.
You might be short-waisted.
Your thighs or hips are probably the narrowest part of your body.
Celebrity pear shapes: Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Kelly Clarkson
How to tell if you're a pear: "Your hips are wider than your shoulders," Roché says, "They are also wider than your bust, making them the widest area of your body. In numbers, your hip measurement is more than five percent bigger than your shoulder or bust measurements. With a pear figure, one of your best assets is you slim midriff, which many women envy you for. Make sure to show off your killer waist and balance your wider lower half. These basic items should be the foundation of a great wardrobe."
Pear body shape traits:
Your hips are wider than your shoulders.
You have round, sloping shoulders.
You have a well-defined waistline (and might even have killer abs).
Celebrity hourglass shapes: Kim Kardashian, Dita Von Teese, Eva Longoria
How to tell if you're an hourglass: "Your shoulders and hips are around the same size," Roché says. "Your waistline is significantly smaller. The rule of thumb here is about 75 percent: Your shoulder and hip measurements are within five percent of each other. Your waist is at least 25 percent smaller than your shoulder, hip and bust measurements. Your waist is eight to 12 inches smaller than your hip or bust measurement."
Hourglass body shape traits:
Your hips and shoulders have about the same width.
You have round and sloping shoulders.
You have a well-defined waistline.
Did we mention cleavage?
You buttocks are rather round.
Your lower hips are wider than your high hips.
Your thighs are full but narrower than the lower hips.
Hourglass body shapes gain weight through the hips and above the waist.
Celebrity rectangles: Anne Hathaway, Queen Latifah, Cameron Diaz
How to tell if you're a rectangle: "Rectangles have a very athletic frame," Roché says. "That allows them to wear boyish clothes as well as a wide range of feminine ones. Your shoulders, waistline, bust and hips are around the same size. Your shoulder, bust and hip measurements are within five percent of each other. Your waist is less than 25 percent smaller than your shoulder or bust measurements. Waist measures from one to eight inches (2.5 cm – 20 cm) smaller than the bust."
Rectangle body shape traits:
Your hips, waistline and shoulders have about the same width.
Rectangles gain weight evenly, but may gain some more through the upper back or neck.
You have rather straight shoulders.
Your buttocks are flat.
You have an athletic build and a small bustline.
Inverted triangle shape
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows
Celebrities with inverted triangle body shapes: Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore, Renée Zellweger, Miley Cyrus
How to tell if you're an inverted triangle: "Your shoulders are wider than your hips," Roché says. "They are the widest part of your body. Your shoulders are more than five percent bigger than your hip measurement."
Inverted body shape traits:
You have prominent and broad straight shoulders — wider than your waistline or hips.
You have an athletic build.
You probably have rather flat buttocks.
You might have a larger chest and fuller back than rectangles.
When inverted triangles gain weight, they usually gain it through the torso and back area.
Between tubing mascaras, fibers, primers, extensions and even false lashes, ladies will go to extreme lengths (sorry, had to go there!) to get amazing eye curtains. And these methods can be expensive and painful. But thanks to this tip from Huda Kattan of Huda Beauty now you can get dreamy butterfly lashes on the cheap.
Just keep your eye on the cotton ball.
No, literally: She uses the fibers from a regular cotton ball as lash fibers to lengthen and thicken her eyelashes. All you need is a spoolie (a clean mascara wand, basically) and a fluffy white ball of cotton, both of which you can buy at almost any drug store for a few bucks.
Eyelash hack
Eyelash hack
Start by putting eyelash primer or one coat of your favorite mascara on your upper lashes. Then roll the clean spoolie in the cotton ball until it picks up some of the fibers and brush through your eyelashes. The cotton fibers will stick to the primer or mascara. Let it dry for a bit and then cover it with a couple of more coats of mascara.
Of course I had to try this myself! (I used an eyebrow comb because I didn't have a spoolie and it worked fine.) Here's a snap of my puffed-up peepers:
Image: Charlotte Andersen
Here are a few tips I learned the hard way if you're interested in trying this:
1. Start small. Just like any eyelash fibers, if you try to put a lot on at once they'll fall into your eyeballs and cause you endless misery — especially if you wear contacts. (Which I do, heaven help me. It hurt.) You can always add more if you'd like. Remember, you want fluffy lashes, not fluffy eyeballs.
2. Try brushing just the tips for length. While you can coat your entire eyelash shaft, as Huda does, I found I got a more "natural" look (well, as natural as this can look anyhow) by just brushing the fibers at the ends of my lashes. It lengthened them without looking clumpy or spidery.
3. Use a gentle hand. The first time through I accidentally brushed all the fibers off when I put on the mascara over the top. They're delicate little things so they require a light touch, which can be hard if you're as uncoordinated as I am! To avoid de-furring your eyes, make sure the primer/mascara is good and wet when you put on the fibers and then let it dry. (I did one eye completely before moving on to the next.) When you do add the first topcoat of mascara, go gentle! You can always do more coats.
4. Top with waterproof mascara. I found this out the hard way after going to pick up my kindergartner from school only to realize I had gooey black clumps stuck to my eyelids. It looked like my brows were molting. (I know they say full brows are the "it" look right now, but I'm pretty sure they don't mean full all the way down your face!) To fix this, I used a waterproof mascara as the final coat to seal everything in.
If you've ever done lanyard, you probably already have a good idea of what this looks like. It's essentially just a fancy knot with a thicker middle that looks strikingly like the body of the cobra snake. I'll explain in detail how you can easily create the style yourself, but first, here are some up-close shots of Fall 2016 New York Fashion Week models sporting the look.
cobra ponytail
cobra ponytail
Cobra ponytails
Cobra ponytails
Fun fact: This look was created for the designer Leanne Marshall's Fall 2016 show, who also happens to be the woman designing my wedding dress. While it might look a little intense, it's actually a super simple hairstyle that pretty much anyone who's ever braided hair can achieve. Here are the basic steps in video form if you want to try it yourself. If you're not a visual learner:
Part your hair down the middle, and split it into 3 sections, making the middle one slightly bigger.
Put that middle section into a ponytail, preferably using a clear, thick band.
Start the braid by taking the left section and crossing it over the middle ponytail section like you're making a "4." Thread that left same section under the right section.
Bring that right section under the middle ponytail and left section (which is now on the right), and through the hole that you made when first crossing the left section over the middle ponytail.
Now bring that original left section (which is now on the right) back over in the same "4" pattern and under the right section that you had previously pulled over to that side.
Take that right piece and thread it back under and through the hole that was made by the "4" pattern on the right side.
Repeat once more for a more cobra-y look, and secure with bobby pins.
Not too hard, right? Here's a diagram to reference if the instructions are difficult to visualize.
Cobra instructions
Cobra instructions
If only my hair were a little longer, I'd totally rock this. It looks like it works best on long, straight hair, but I'd be very curious to see how it stands out on curly locks. So if you're planning a night out and want to get a little crazy in the hair department, give this little cobra braid a try and see if your friends notice.
Jan Arnold, style director and co-founder of CND nail polish, accessorized models at the Libertine fall/winter 2016 fashion show with faux fur nails... as in, nails that have little patches of fur stuck on top.
To create the furry fingers, Arnold and the CND team brushed the models' nails with Vinylux Weekly Polish in the colors Rubble and Cream Pull and then attached the little tufts of fur with Super Shiney High-Gloss Top Coat, according to Cosmopolitan.
libertine fur nails
libertine fur nails
The results are truly bizarre, but in a high-concept fashion sort of way. It's difficult to imagine them taking off as a real trend, but bubble nails were a thing in 2015 so anything is possible, really.
That said, there's plenty of potential to take this into faux furs with cheetah and leopard prints. It's a way to put some fur into your outfit without going full Kardashian in a floor-length fake fur coat.
Plus, don't underestimate the power of having fur on your fingers for a mid-afternoon mini-massage. Just rub those little tufts all over your face — it's like petting a cat without all the pesky litter box cleaning.
Phillipe Morgese is trying to change that. He's honed his skills over time, finding a real talent for creating intricate braids. He even made an intricate Katniss Everdeen for Halloween.
But he noticed other dads were having a hard time doing the same with their girls' hair, so in fall 2015 he reached out to a local cosmetology school in Daytona Beach, Florida, to create the Daddy Daughter Hair Factory. The first father-daughter event was a huge success with a mixed bag of dads — both married and single — from all walks of life.
Daddy Daughter Hair Factory
Daddy Daughter Hair Factory
"I asked the dads what they did for work, and it was an interesting bunch. We had a prison guard, mechanic, general contractor, ATT tech, Apple tech, healthcare recruiter and a carpenter. Definitely out of their element but they were all excited to learn. It was beautiful :)," he wrote of the turnout.
The classes have attracted hundreds of dads in the four months since — and the classes are all free, thanks to the support of the International Academy and fans that send hair products. Volunteers are also sharing tips for working with hair from different ethnic backgrounds.
The best part: Dads are now sharing hairstyles they've created on the Daddy Daughter Hair Factory Facebook page. Truth be told: These guys are creating styles that I can't even begin to do.
So, to slough or not to slough? We asked Dr. Ronald Moy, scientist, dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon and founder of the DNARenewal skin care line, to weigh in on the question. “The past trends of over-exfoliation have led to skin irritation, dryness and redness,” he asserts. “A gentler approach to skin care yields much better results by keeping the skin’s natural barrier intact while removing dead skin and dirt.”
How do you know if you’ve gone too far? “The most common signs of overdone exfoliation are redness, dryness, scaliness and even tenderness.” In our own case, extreme peeling and increased breakouts resulted after a round of Tazorac (while it’s an effective solution for many, it proved too darn harsh for our skin).
If you have overindulged, start by taking a hiatus from exfoliation entirely and give skin a chance to recover. Choose gentle moisturizers, skin oils and products that contain ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide to help restore and protect the natural lipid barrier.
If you must exfoliate — or want to return to it after a break (there are benefits, after all) — pay attention to how your skin responds to a product and adjust your approach and frequency accordingly. For example, retinoids should never be applied if skin is damp, since this will increase irritation. Instead, wait about half an hour after cleansing and layer a pea-sized dab over moisturizer or even mix the two together. Start out by using the product only a few times a week and gradually build up to daily use if your derm recommends it.
In place of extreme exfoliation, Dr. Moy is a fan of milder formulas that still have active ingredients but are less likely to cause trouble — like those with low concentrations of glycolic acid. But even those can be saved for special occasions. “Using a cleanser and washing your face with a warm washcloth using circular motions is the most people need on a day-to-day basis.”
This night lotion is infused with DNA repair enzymes to help replenish skin’s natural supply lost to aging or other damage. Other star ingredients include peptides and botanicals like soothing Spanish lavender. (DNA EGF Renewal, $130)
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum
Each capsule contains a skin-nourishing and skin-soothing serum infused with ceramides, essential fatty acids, vitamin E and borage seed oil. (Elizabeth Arden, $76)
The name comes from the ratio of barrier-boosting lipids in the ingredient list — 2 percent ceramides, 4 percent natural cholesterol and 2 percent fatty acids. Together, they help restore the skin’s lipid layer and boost hydration. (SkinCeuticals, $125)
A cocktail of oils, including rosehip seed, seabuckthorn berry, cranberry seed, ximenia oil and others, combine to nourish dry skin and protect against damage. (REN Skincare, $80)
This lightweight oil cleanses and removes makeup without stripping skin. We love that it’s infused with antioxidants and barrier-boosting essential fatty acids. (La Belle Day Spas, $47)
It's called chroming and it's essentially a highlighting technique applied to the cheekbones, eyelids and brow bones. It requires only one beauty product: a shimmery lipstick — which is great for when you don't want to take a whole makeup bag with you on a night out.
"Love it as a Lipstick, love it more as a #Highlighter!! Out in the UK & Ireland on Monday! ONLINE ONLY," Skinner captioned the shot, which has been liked almost 1,400 times.
Chroming trend
Chroming trend
And women everywhere have reacted to the look with great excitement, taking to Instagram to show off the results of their own chroming attempts.
So what should you remember when trying this trend out at home?
It can be daunting, because the texture can be a little bit sticky, so it's important to blend it in well (using your fingers will make it easier). If you're not confident enough to pull off such a bold look, you can achieve a more subtle finish with the use of pressed powder.
Makeup artist and director of Lash Unlimited, Lindsey Kane, also shared her techniques for the trend with Daily Mail's FEMAIL, saying, "The technique is to apply in the the [sic] areas that you want to accentuate and highlight like your brow bone, cheekbone, cupid's bow and bridge of the nose."
"I love using a sheer lipstick as it can give a perfect glow and dewyness to the skin, especially in this frosty, skin-drying weather," she continued. "A powdered highlighter can make the skin look dry. This can save you money and create make-up [sic] bag space for more of your favourite beauty products."
Will you be ditching your highlighter in favour of the chroming trend? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
However, there are several methods you can employ to help give your hair a growth spurt if you have naturally slow-growing hair, or are simply impatient to reach that next hairstyle level. You could always try my positive reinforcement approach of chanting "grow!" 30 times before going to sleep, or go with one of these more scientifically proven, (slightly) less silly-feeling methods.
Scalp massage is a proven way to stimulate hair growth, according to a four month-long study conducted in Scotland. Vernelle Murphy, expert stylist and owner of a top hair salon, Salon V in New York City, says, "A good scalp massage will draw more circulation and blood to the scalp making hair grow faster." You can do these massages on dry hair, or while you're in the shower. Just remember to use strong, even pressure, and try to stimulate as many root follicles as you can. If you've got the funds, get a scalp massage at your local hair salon. If you've never had one, it's one of the most relaxing experiences of all time.
2. Use a good scalp scrub shampoo
Sometimes hair growth can be slowed by a buildup of hair product and/or pollution from the air. The best way to counteract this is by shampooing with particular products that help unclog the pores on your head. It's like exfoliation for your scalp. Vernelle says, "[It] will help to remove product buildup and debris which can clog pores and slow down hair growth possibly even causing hair loss." She recommends using Maxi Wash by Kevin Murphy, which you can get on Amazon.
3. Don't over-style
This may sound like a no-brainer, but if you want your hair to grow, you have to treat it right. That means put down the straightener and curling iron. Such hot tools will cause breakage, which frays hair and makes it look like it's not growing (even though it is). Only super healthy, moisture-rich hair can grow fast (and actually look like it). Hot tools zap that moisture right out.
Biotin has often been touted by nutritionists as the go-to supplement if you want your hair and nails to grow stronger and, according to a 2012 study published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, it really does help stimulate hair regrowth, especially in women.
Lauren Carelli, Director of Operations at Blushing Brides Boston, a boutique hair, makeup and nails service, says, "[It] can be taken daily to promote healthy strong hair, skin, and nails. It's included in most daily vitamins, but if you're really focusing on growing your hair, I recommend taking it by itself."
5. Take your ponytail down
Wearing your hair in a ponytail constantly can cause more harm to your hair than you might think. Stephanie Johnson, a hairstylist and cosmetology educator says, "Keeping the hair in ponytails or putting sunglasses on your head like a headband — repeatedly — will wear follicles down making them not want to produce hair." We've all been guilty of the sunglasses habit, I'm sure, but it's a good one to break if you want long, lustrous hair.
Omega-3 fatty acids and foods rich in vitamin D are good for your body anyway, but you may not know they also do wonders for your hair. According to a 2012 study published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine, vitamin D actually helps your body create new hair follicles, from which new hair can grow. Carla Gentile, co-founder of >Harper — a well-renowned sustainable spa in Los Angeles, said, "Eating foods that are high in vitamin D, protein and omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, Greek yogurt, spinach, guava, lean poultry, eggs and sweet potatoes will promote hair growth and a healthy scalp."
But this just in: Curves were always hot. It is downright demeaning when the media tries to dictate which body type is officially trendy. It's one thing to praise women for their body types no matter the size; it's another thing to say that one body type is "in" and another is "out."
News flash: Body types shouldn't be treated like fads.
Companies are crawling out of the woodwork, promoting that "plus-size" models are sexy. They want to be part of the body positive movement, because women are demanding that all sizes get a fair shot. And that's great. But let's not turn our body shapes (or lack thereof) into a trend that will eventually fade away. We have to accept that Ashley Graham was always beautiful and always will be in her own right, just like every other model in the world, whether she's on the cover of a magazine or not.
I am sure I am not alone when I say that society should not treat body types like they are fads. For example: Cara Delevingne.
One of the most popular models to walk the runway has been pressured to stay skinny throughout her career. Delevingne told Huffington Post what all of us are thinking: "It's horrible living in a world where... you need to lose weight." One who is already extremely skinny should not "need" to lose weight. This promotes eating disorders and cripples our view of what it means to be thin.
Graham herself has had her fair share of body-shaming too. "I had agents wave money in my face and say, 'If you drop some pounds, you can have a lot more of this!'" she said to Teen Vogue. Is that what this world is coming to? Graham wears a size 16, the same size as Marilyn Monroe — who was considered the sexiest woman in the country — why have the standards changed? Who gets to decide the body "trend" in the media?
Media outlets are treating the "plus-size" model usage as a fad, probably making some feel like being skinny and having no curves means they are not hot anymore. When will these powerful companies realize the severity of what they promote? We can't lose focus; we must remember that Cara Delevingne is still beautiful and that both models are successful at what they do. Just because there are differences between the two doesn't make one lesser than the other. Women are blessed with such beautiful qualities, and we must embrace them, not shame them. Life would be boring if everyone looked the same — all body types make life that much more beautiful.
UFC-Que Choisir has published a list of 185 products, including toothpaste, perfume, shampoo, deodorant, nail polish and baby wipes, which it says contain substances that are legal but potentially toxic.
"In light of the absence of suitable European regulation, we want to put pressure on manufacturers through consumers' purchasing behavior," said Olivier Andrault, who led the study.
Among the substances that are legal for manufacturers to use but could cause allergies, irritations or endocrine disorders are phenoxyethanol, which could be toxic for the blood and liver, and a "totally unnecessary" UV filter known as ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, which is often listed on sunscreen products as octinoxate and may lead to endocrine disruption.
While the warning has only been issued to French consumers, many of the products listed are also for sale in the U.K. and many other countries across the world. Familiar brands like Adidas, Playboy, Head & Shoulders, Garnier and Colgate are included.
Parents may be concerned to know that many of the products, such as Nivea Baby Pure & Sensitive baby wipes, contain allergenic toxins not suitable for babies' skin.
And of the 185 products, more than 100 contain hormone-changing substances.
"Despite repeated warnings to toxicologists and dermatologists, manufacturers still haven't changed their practices," said UFC-Que Choisir.
The consumer group advised the public to not buy any of the products, particularly if they are to be used on at-risk people (such as babies). It also called on consumers to report any adverse reactions to the manufacturers.
In response to the study, the Federation of Cosmetics Makers said beauty and hygiene products sold in France were safe and met European regulation, which it described as "the most demanding in the world."
"Our safety evaluation system is very robust and all our products and our ingredients are rigorously evaluated before they are put on the market, always in full conformity to the regulation in place," L'Oréal said in a statement.
Be that as it may, the regulation isn't necessarily offering the public enough protection. Just because something is legal, it doesn't mean it is safe for everyone. Big brands shouldn't be waiting for substances to be banned before they stop using them.
Do you use any of the 185 products on the consumer group's list? Let us know your thoughts on this below.
