I began my Pilates journey having absolutely no idea what I was getting into. The start of my career as a beauty editor was similar, so it was no surprise that I had to reconsider the products I used on a daily basis. Everyone talks about the more “obvious” benefits of a Pilates-led fitness regime, but have a tendency to skim over the smaller, skin-related details. While Pilates is lower impact than weight lifting or running, it has may of the same (if not all) the same impacts on how my skin responds to physical activity. I don’t perspire easily, but when I do, I notice how my complexion responds to it. Blemishes appear overnight along my t-zone, prompting me to spend extra time cleansing my skin and replenishing essential hydration.
Over the past year of countless mat and reformer Pilates sessions, I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate the pros and cons of every one of the skincare products populating my vanity; zeroing in on the ones that have been the most helpful with delivering hydration, playing defense against environmental aggressors, combating hyperpigmentation, and keeping post-work-out breakouts at bay. Below, I’m sharing the 18 skincare picks I can’t live without as well as my gym bag must-haves. No fitness journey is without its wins and fails, but your skincare product lineup can definitely be all wins.
“That’s so fetch!” When we first heard Mean Girls, the Broadway musical version, would be adapted into a movie, we were excited to see what a 2024 version of one of our all-time favorite films would look like. That enthusiasm doubled when we heard who would be stepping into the high-heeled shoes of the Plastics. We stan Reneé Rapp, of course, but we also love a fresh face and couldn’t wait to see Avantika Vandanapu and Bebe Wood in action. Wood—whose previous credits include Hulu’s Love, Victor, Ryan Murphy’s The New Normal, and ABC’s The Real O’Neals—is so fun to watch as the catty but vulnerable Gretchen Weiners. Not only does she deliver on the laughs, but she also has a noteworthy musical number in “What’s Wrong With Me.” What’s more, she’s a fashion risk-taker and lover of all things vintage—a woman after our own heart.
My experience auditioning for Mean Girls was… Totally surreal! I grew up with Mean Girls. I truly can’t remember a world before it. In fact, did the world even exist before Mean Girls? It was such an honor to be considered for the part and totally insane and thrilling to actually be cast. It really is a dream come true.
I was excited to put my own spin on Gretchen Wieners by… The nature of my being me! Gretchen is such an iconic character that so many incredible actors have touched. It’s easy to overthink it! I tried my best not to fall into that trap and trust that, by virtue of my being a different performer, the performance will be different. At the same time, I think the essence of Gretchen will always be the same. Tina’s writing is so brilliant. Gretchen’s voice is so clear. Sometimes, as an actor, if you’re going out of your way to try and make a character different, you can actually stray from who said character really is in a way that will hinder you.
If I could go back to one day on set, it would be… The day we were shooting “I’d Rather Be Me” and a full-on blizzard broke out. That whole sequence was done in two very long takes. From the cafeteria to the outside area, we don’t stop. We had done it a few times, making it outside each time. The weather seemed perfectly fine! But then, we did it again, and when Janis (Auli‘i Cravalho) opened the door, it was fully snowing. We were all like “WTF?!” It was hysterical. We had to go home and film the rest another day. Aha ha!
The stories and/or characters that make me feel excited to work in this industry are… Stories about women with big minds, hearts, and ideas. I also feel excited about stories that thematically touch on the nuances of life and humanity, all the beautiful little things that lay within the in-between.
Outside of acting, some of my other passions include… Music and songwriting!! I am passionate about so much, but music feels more like my soul. I released my debut EP 21st Century Hippie back in 2021, but I’m excited to record some new stuff I’ve been working on. I also love art, history, poetry, nature, antiques, and my cat and puppy!
If you catch me off duty, chances are I’m wearing… Ooh! It depends on the season. In spring and summer, I love a white cotton number. Turn-of-the-century Edwardian underwear is really my 21st-century outerwear in the summer. In the winter, you can catch me in knitwear, my long black Max Mara coat, and a wide-leg pant. These seeded denim trousers from Carrier Company are my favorite. I also always wear little gold hoops.
When it comes to fashion, I’m a total sucker for… Vintage! Clothes tell stories. I like to think about who wore something before me. And it’s good for Mother Earth—yay sustainability!
My winter wardrobe would not be complete without these three pieces:
You’ve been embraced as an It girl on TikTok over the past couple of years. How would you describe your everyday approach to beauty and style?
My everyday approach to beauty is enhancing my natural features and finding those little things that make me special. When I watch beauty tutorials on my makeup looks by other people, they often try to just copy what I’m doing, but that’s not always necessarily the best thing to do. I think you should look at my videos, take your pieces from it, and spin it in a way that fits your face. For example, if my contour is sitting up here because I have a higher cheekbone, that doesn’t mean yours needs to be there. I think it’s really all about looking at yourself and figuring out the parts of your face that can be enhanced.
I take a very classic approach when it comes to fashion. One thing I always say since it’s been installed in me since I was younger is to never follow trends. A lot of the time when you follow trends, you’ll look back five years from now and wonder, “What was I thinking?!” I stay true to a really timeless style, which allows me to never look back and question the fashion decisions I’ve made in the past. I really gravitate toward classic suit blazers, nice trousers, a good belt, and having staple jewelry, which is so important to help pull an outfit together. You can have the simplest outfit on, and if you also have fabulous earrings, you look so luxe and chic.
We can never get enough of your “get ready with me” videos, luxury shopping hauls, and photo shoots. What message do you hope to impart to your viewers and followers?
When people look at my content, I want them to feel inspired. About [my recent] luxury haul in particular, I had no idea the effect it would have on people. They instantly went out and treated themselves to amazing products! I love to be an inspiration and push people toward things that they would never ordinarily do for themselves and become what they didn’t think they could be. I also hope I can inspire people with their style and health journeys!
I just posted about the Pressed Juicery juice cleanse that I did, and so many people responded to that saying that they wanted to step their game up and start the year off right. There were so many benefits to that cleanse! It helped with bloating and made my skin so glowy. I also hope that … the workout and fitness routines I post … can also inspire people to feel good inside and out.
How has becoming a mother shifted your self-view?
It has made me more aware of a lot of things than I was before. It’s made me become a lot more healthy because, of course, I want to give my daughter the healthiest options for when she’s eating and when she’s out and about to avoid chemicals. My approach to health and wellness has grown and improved with her in my life, which has been really interesting and fun. I love having a lot of positivity around her, so in my daily life, I try to remain super happy and positive all the time, which I have always done. Now, I think about creating a safe space and energy for her. It’s been the best journey ever! She’s the sweetest, cutest little girl, and I just can’t wait to be her mom for the rest of her life.
What are some things you’re looking forward to in 2024? Are there any projects you can share with us?
My day-to-day consists of my activewear brand, so I’m really excited for the future of that and have a lot of exciting things coming. We’re still a really small team, so it’s fun! I’m wearing a lot of hats, so it’s nice to see everything coming to life, and all of the aspirations and dreams I had for the brand are really starting to form.
This year, I committed to a self-inflicted shopping ban. It’s not like I’m irresponsible with my money or I lack self-control; I just noticed that I, like so many other people on the planet, possess more material items than I probably should. My drawers are stuffed with clothes I haven’t worn in years, and between you and me, my beauty collection could probably stock half of the shelves at any given Sephora. So even though it isn’t egregious, it’s not great.
So along with a lot of purging and donating, I committed to a shopping ban. That doesn’t mean I can’t buy anything. Instead, it means I can only buy essentials. Well, that’s the idea anyway. I may or may not have made an exception. Okay, fine, 15 exceptions. That might sound like a total fail, but hear me out: I’m only going to buy these products when the equivalents—that I already own—are all used up. For example, if it’s a body lotion I’m eyeing, I’ll wait to purchase it until I use up my existing body lotion. You get the idea. Ahead, check out all 15 items.
Although my skin type and hair texture don’t always allow for it, I love to try new beauty products on a weekly basis. Granted, some products don’t always work out, but I’m on an endless quest to find what I truly love—the products that make me swear off all others. As a part of this quest, I was curious about biomimetic haircare brand K18. I talk to a lot of stylists and it’s one of the brands that they consistently recommend.
I initially didn’t give it a second thought because it seemed like a brand exclusively for fine, thinner hair types or folks who bleach their hair. I’m also always a bit skeptical when it comes to products that claim to be for “all hair types.” If having thick, coarse, 3c curls has taught me anything, it’s that not all formulas are going to gel with your hair (cheers to learning this the hard way!). While K18 does say it is for all hair types and textures, I decided to give a few of the brand’s products a go to see how they’d work for my curls. A few star products I tried included the brand’s new Damage Shield Protective Conditioner ($36) along with the accompanying Damage Shield Protective Shampoo ($36). Keep scrolling for my honest thoughts.
Her beauty secret: A potent acne- and inflammation-fighting salve made of nopal, aloe vera, jojoba, and oranges.
Using plants as medicine is nothing new. Many cultures all over the globe have used them for centuries in healing work, but according to Prados Beauty founder Cece Meadows, they can also act as powerful soothing agents for the skin.
“As a young girl visiting my grandparents in our colonia in Sonora, Mexico, there were a lot of plants that were used as medicine and skincare,” she shares. She even touts one universally loved skincare ingredient as helping to heal her skin inflammation and breakouts. “I had a bit of acne one summer, so my grandmother would take nopal and aloe vera plants that grew on our land to make a skincare salve for me. The salve contained raw nopal and aloe salve with a mixture of jojoba and oranges. The aloe and nopal salve that the plant naturally excretes was for the acne but also to heal the skin that I had been picking at that summer. The jojoba was for the inflammation that I was experiencing, as it is a natural vitamin E and B complex to heal skin. The oranges were for vitamin C to keep my skin looking healthy by brightening it, helping to heal scars, and reducing dark spots from picking at my acne.”
Using her environment as her healer inspired Meadows in many ways, but especially when it came to creating her makeup brand, Prados Beauty. Jojoba is a shrub that grows in dry regions like Mexico and offers somany healing benefits. Many already use it as a skincare oil, but Meadows had another use for it in mind. “I have a makeup remover currently that contains jojoba oil. When removing makeup, you want to nourish the skin as you wipe awaygunk and cosmetics off your face. I believe if you can use it during and after the makeup-removing process, the skin will become nourished, making it easier to bounce back from a long day of wearing makeup,” she says.
Her culture inspires every aspect of her brand, from ethics, sustainability, and formulations to storytelling, affordability, accessibility, and philanthropy. “I always want to be a representative of my people and where I come from, so creating a brand that pays homage to that requires a lot of respect and care. It starts from who I work with on designing packaging, sourcing high-quality ingredients that are safe and aren’t putting lives at risk to acquire them, [and] making them affordable and accessible. Then taking the money that I make from selling my products and sowing it back into my people and our communities. I often tell people that this is more than just a beauty brand; it’s a brand for all people who wish to buy beautiful high-quality products and do more with their money by helping me give it back to those who are in need,” Meadows says.
Welcome to Who What Wear Weddings, the destination for style-minded weddings. Expect insightful tips straight from the newlyweds, shoppable elements, and plenty of must-save imagery as we share the nuptials of our favorite fashion people getting married. For upcoming features, share your submissions here.
It was a Friendsgiving dinner in Venice Beach, California, that brought Kendall and Benjamin Knox together. The two were seated next to one another and spent the evening locked in conversation, but it was the handwritten notes that followed the evening that led to their first date. “I happened to write gratitude cards to everyone in attendance, conveying what about them I was grateful for. It seemed to leave a lasting impression on him,” Kendall shares. “Shortly following Thanksgiving, we went to see James Blake with friends.” Kendall reminisces about how the night ended with a kiss in her driveway, adding, “From that night on, we were together.”
Benjamin proposed five years later in Sydney, Australia. Kendall says, “Ben proposed to me after a walk on the beach and lunch at one of our favorite venues, The Boathouse in Rose Bay. It had been a rainy weekend, and just as we sat to eat, the clouds parted a little, and the sunshine poked through—it was a very special moment.” Soon after, the couple began making plans for their wedding and decided on a tranquil countryside villa in the Australian wine region of Hunter Valley. “We wanted to choose a place that represented the two of us in a meaningful way. Australia is my home and Ben’s borrowed home, but it was important the venue represented us as a couple,” shares Kendall.
The venue was also the perfect setting to integrate special pieces from Olive Ateliers, a brand co-founded by the couple that sources one-of-a-kind objects from around the globe. “We worked to curate and ship over an assortment of our vessels to use as part of the tablescape and styling on our special day,” Kendall shares. Vintage vases and pottery added a personal touch to the sprawling tables where guests dined for the reception. Scroll on to read more about the wedding weekend with words from the bride and see more details from the beautiful Australian celebration.
“The morning of the wedding was honestly really calm. We drank coffee and sang ‘Going to the Chapel.’ I got ready with my three bridesmaids, and my mum joined us toward the end of the morning.”
“I roamed around in my beautiful Stone Cold Fox robe, gifted by my dear friend Cydney.”
“I was lucky enough to collaborate with Shona Joy to design custom bridesmaid dresses for my girls. I wanted to blend a ’50s vintage look with a ’90s slip dress in a silhouette that complemented the unique and beautiful body of each of my bridesmaids. We added a hint of lace to each dress as a nod to my own wedding dress and opted for ivory silk to make sure they could shine like the angels they are.”
“I was the last to receive glam. I opted for a very natural makeup look—I wanted to make sure I looked like myself, that my skin was clear, and I didn’t feel overdone. My hair and makeup artist Serena Wyllie and I decided that a classic French twist was exactly what my look needed, and boy, we were right.”
WWW Weddings tip: “Leverage the power of Instagram to find your hair and makeup artist. Instagram is a digital portfolio for the work of these artists, so scroll ’til you find the one, and book the artist of your dreams well in advance to make sure you trust who you’re working with on the big day.”
“Ben donned a classic black tuxedo. I wanted to make sure we both looked timeless and that when we looked back on our wedding photos, nothing felt dated or trend-driven. He even agreed to grow his hair out, which, in my opinion, is his most handsome state. He treated himself to a vintage Rolex, the perfect accessory for our big day.”
“Before we knew it, it was time for the first look with my dad, an Australian tradition.”
“Landing on a look was easier than I thought. I followed all the advice from all the brides before me. Try everything on. Don’t assume you know what you’ll like—bridal dresses are a whole other ball game! Have fun! I did all three. I explored vintage options, designer couture, and somehow, magically, early on, I landed on the beautiful, timeless Netta BenShabu Elsa dress—a strapless gown with a beautiful scalloped train, which I extended by an extra 1.5 feet because I knew I had a long aisle ahead. Once I chose my dress, I refused to look at another. I knew if I kept looking, I’d change my mind. I paired my look with a scalloped, lace-trimmed cathedral veil, which I wore over my face until I reached the groom.”
“[For the wedding venue, we decided on] Redleaf Wollombi, a hidden Tuscan villa nestled in the Hunter Valley with sprawling European-inspired gardens.”
“The ceremony felt heaven-sent. My entrance was made clutching tight to dad and trying not to tumble down an incredible (incredibly long) tree-lined aisle. An anecdote: I did happen to get caught on a rose bush or two en route down the aisle, but dad did his job well, detaching me from the foliage swiftly. We had a giggle, and so did the guests.”
The bridal party arriving at the ceremony.
“Olive leaves were tossed as we left the altar and entered our chapter as Mr. and Mrs. Knox. It was a really special, happy tear–filled ceremony.”
The couple with family and friends on their wedding day.
“We kept the ceremony relatively short and sweet [with] a meaningful bible reading from a family member and handwritten vows.”
“A snippet of my vows: And just as we love filling our home with objects with old souls and our closets with secondhand clothes, I can’t wait to antique our marriage together. Wear that sucker in, patina the pages, see our story tatter slightly at the edges, but inevitably become better, stronger, and more rich with age.“
WWW Weddings tip: “Don’t forget to factor in the bridal dress tailoring costs. Mine came in at almost a third the cost of the dress, and let’s just say it was not something I had budgeted for, so beware.”
“The moment I saw the venue, I knew it had to be a Tuscan-inspired alfresco dining experience—shared family-style food, a dance floor, and a bar nearby so we could dance and laugh under the stars. We opted for two long tables, and Ben and I looked out at all our guests the entire time.”
“We wanted a theme of romance, abundance, and nostalgia. We opted for a family-style Italian feast, with shared pastas and sides. Both visually and metaphorically, we loved the concept of sharing a beautiful, delicious, messy meal with those we love. Our grazing table was abundant with locally sourced ingredients, and we hosted an opulent oyster bar because who doesn’t love an Aussie oyster?”
“The architecture and ambiance of the venue spoke to us immediately and complemented our brand Olive Ateliers, which sources and sells one-of-a-kind décor, pottery, and home furnishings from Europe, India, Indonesia, and other corners of the globe.”
WWW Weddings tip: “An editorial wedding photographer and videographer is everything. We were blessed to secure Lucy Blake and The Love Lens, who so very beautifully and effortlessly capture special moments. I told both ladies that I wanted to spend as little time as possible posing for photos but that I trusted them to capture us in motion, interacting with one another and our guests and enjoying the day. Lucy and Katie did just that. I think all up we spent 40 minutes away from our guests on photos. They never made us pose in an inorganic way. We didn’t have a laundry list of a shot list to abide by. They let us do our thing, and the memories we now have are truly perfect.”
“We worked with our florist, The Flower Drum, to ensure our florals complemented the venue and our vintage vessels. We kept to flowy greens and whites, with a sprinkle of Aussie natives. I partnered with Little Lane Events to bring my vision to life by styling florals alongside locally sourced provisions to reiterate the theme of abundance.”
“We all had so much fun, laughing, sharing pasta dishes, and drinking good wine. But gosh, the absolute highlight had to be the speeches. I know I might be biased, but they were the most heartfelt, funny, inclusive speeches of all time.”
“We shared our first dance to ‘Godspeed’ by James Blake, and I snuck off the change into my second look before the five-piece band hit the stage.”
“My second look was a Kim Kassas corseted minidress embroidered with pearls. A dream, if you will. I left the dance floor shortly after my first dance with Ben and slipped into my mini and let my hair down, quite literally. I entered the dance floor to Beyonce’s ‘Crazy in Love,’ followed by a very fun bouquet toss to all the single ladies.
“We danced into the night, and everyone left with an Australian sausage roll in one hand and an Olive Ateliers gift in the other. Best night of our lives. The moment the party ended, the skies opened up, and the rain poured for days and days. We couldn’t have timed it better.”
I’ve lived in NYC for almost a year and a half now. As you can imagine, living here costs a pretty penny, so I’ve had to be smart with my spending. Don’t get me wrong—I love a designer lipstick, an expensive mascara, or a $400 face mask as much as anyone, but I’ve learned there are dozens of hidden gems you can get for $20 or less. I challenged myself to narrow it down to the 15 products that have completely surpassed my expectations and whose performance is on par with the more expensive products I have. Keep reading to see them all, including an innovative moisturizer, a Dior lip oil dupe, and my favorite holy-grail mascara.
I have a lot of things on my bucket list, and going to Greece is one of them. Blame it on my fixation with ancient history or the fact that I’ve watched the cinematic masterpiece that is Mamma Mia! probably 50 times in my life, but I would love nothing more than to leave my responsibilities behind and relax on an island in the Mediterranean for a couple of months.
Unfortunately, I haven’t made it there yet, and to be honest, I don’t see myself making it there for a while. To tide myself over until I’m finally able to book a plane ticket, I can turn on Mamma Mia! again or turn to one of my favorite skincare brands—Korres.
There are a lot of reasons I love this Greek skincare brand. One of the top ones is that it cooperates with local farmers and uses traditional ingredients to create its effective formulas. These formulas target a variety of skin concerns. Do you struggle with dark spots and discoloration? Korres makes a few products that can help. Dryness and irritation? Yep. What about loss of firmness and elasticity? Definitely. Ahead, check out my favorite Korres products. Plus, see proof that they can make your skin glow like a Santorini sunset.
One of my favorite things to brag about when I mention this product is just how clean it is. It’s made out of ingredients that you can see and feel that are also high performance. I asked the founder, Devanshi Garg, how this product came to be, and she told me everything.
“Cleansers are the first step in our skincare routines. I believe they can either set us up for a great skincare journey or potentially take us back a couple of steps, which we then must make up for. In spite of being ‘the most used category’ of any skincare product and one used by the largest range of skincare customers, ranging from least sophisticated to the most, cleansers and face washes are overlooked by brands and consumers alike,” she said. “Personally, I found that a lot of cleansers were either irritating my skin from fragrance, sulfates, or a high pH, or they were doing nothing. I was inspired to create a cleanser where one can see and feel a difference immediately—a product packed with such beautiful, high-performance ingredients [that] it becomes just as important to someone’s regimen as a good serum or moisturizer that they love.”
I’m a beauty editor, so it should come as no surprise that I love blush… and I mean love. Blame it on my recently dull complexion (Midwest winters are no joke) or the fact that I rarely have more than 10 minutes to put myself together, but blush is an essential part of my makeup routine. It’s one of the only products that can make a major difference with little time or effort. That doesn’t mean I love all blush, though. I’m actually pretty picky about the formulas I use. I want them to provide enough pigment, blend easily into my skin, and last for more than a few hours after application. The one blush that checks off each of these requirements is the TikTok-viral Saie Dew Liquid Blush ($25). I can attest test that the creamy liquid formula is packed with pigment, looks so pretty on the skin, and lasts forever. I don’t like to toss around the word “favorite” too often, but this is my all-time favorite blush. When I heard that the brand was dropping three new shades, I knew I had to get my hands on them. I wanted to know if they’d hold up to my old favorites (spoiler alert: they do). Keep scrolling to see how each new shade looks IRL and snag them before they sell out.
Originally, there were five shades (now there are eight, but more on that in a minute). My go-to shade is called Dreamy, and it’s a cool-toned berry hue. I find that it suits my skin’s cool undertones well (whenever I wear it, I get major compliments on my skin).
Usually, I go pretty natural with it, but this time, I used a heavy hand to show how the color looks against my light-to-medium skin tone. It matches the natural color of my cheeks when they flush from the cold or from working out, which is why I think I like it so much.
The first new shade is called Cutie, and it’s a warm dusty rose color. On my skin, it reads almost terra cotta. I think it’s super flattering. Honestly, I love it so much that it’s currently vying with Dreamy to win the title of all-time favorite. There—I said it.
Next is Sweetie, which is a foolproof, neutral pink color. This one is a good go-to for people who like a subtle yet universally flattering shade. It’s not the one that stood out to me, but it’s the one that I know I can wear as part of almost any makeup look.
Last but not least is Baby, which is an aptly named cool baby pink. I won’t give up on it yet, but I have a suspicion that this shade doesn’t suit my skin tone as well as the others. Still, I can see how it would look stunning on other people. Even though it looks pretty shockingly pink in the tube, it reads as springy and youthful once it’s blended on the skin.
Every blush needs a bronzer. This one has a blendable, balm-like texture.
This skin tint creates the most natural-looking base.
A modern take on highlighter, this can be used in multiple ways to achieve a pretty glow.
This lip gloss-oil hybrid is so moisturizing and shiny.
A featherweight setting powder that pairs down shine.
There are a few beauty trends that I believe firmly define 2023. They include the cowboy copper hair color, “clean girl” makeup, and laminated eyebrows. And when I say “laminated eyebrows,” I mean it in the intense, brushed-up, and not-a-single-hair-out-of-place way.
As is inevitable with all trends, the fully laminated look might be on its way out, but that doesn’t mean people are giving up brow lamination altogether. Instead, they’re using it in a less obvious way. Let me introduce you to “baby brow” lamination—the 2024 way to create polished, yet more natural-looking brows. “Baby brow lamination is just like your regular brow lamination process, but it only treats the first inch or inch-and-a-half at the start of the brow,” says Autumn Estelle, Benefit’s U.S. national brow and beauty authority. “The rest of the brow is left untreated, creating a baby lamination effect (hence the name!). It’s trending because it makes styling your brows easier and offers a much more natural, fluffy look compared to a full brow lamination.”
As a beauty editor who’s constantly brushing up her brows but also appreciates a natural look, this trend was like music to my ears. So, I decided to try it out for myself. Keep scrolling to see my before-and-after pictures and learn how to get the look for yourself!
For context, this is what my brows look like when I haven’t touched them. I’m not wearing any makeup, and they’re not tinted or laminated. I took this picture about 30 minutes after I woke up, so this is as real as it gets.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find professional brow lamination services in my hometown, so I decided to try an at-home kit—the Brow Code Lustre Lamination Kit ($80) to be specific. I’d seen these kinds of lamination kits all over the internet (and especially on Amazon); this is just the first one that I had access to. I appreciated that it had everything I’d need to complete the process, including a lamination comb, a perming solution, and a fixing lotion. I followed the instructions, and I was done in about 15 minutes. Editor’s Note: I honestly recommend seeing a professional over DIYing it, but at the very least, I recommend following the instructions. The effects of brow lamination last for weeks, so you want to be sure you’re happy with the result and you’re using the kit safely. Luckily, this one comes with detailed instructions that are easy to follow. All it took was three steps: priming solution, fixing lotion, and a nourishing aftercare product.
This is what my brows looked like immediately after I finished the lamination process. As you can see, I only laminated the first half of my brow. I tried to only laminate the first third, but it was the first time I’d ever tried an at-home lamination kit, and I fumbled a bit by getting the perming solution too far into my brow. Oh, well, now I know to use less of it next time. I liked how my brows looked brushed-up and shapely without looking too over the top. Leaving the tail of each brow untreated toned down the results, and I loved it. This is definitely a trend I can get behind in 2024.
After a few hours, my brows looked even subtler because the lamination sheen wore off and the brow hairs looked like they were settling in place—especially the hairs at the front of my brows that tend to be stubborn and unshapely. “Baby brow lamination can work on any brow, thick or thin, especially if you’re looking to add some extra fluff to the start of the brow,” Estelle says. “Also, if your brow hairs are curly or unruly in a specific area, then a baby brow lamination can help tame those hairs as well.” Estelle says baby brow lamination should last anywhere between six and eight weeks and aftercare is incredibly important. “Like the hairs on your head, once your brows have been chemically treated, it’s important to keep them hydrated to encourage optimum health,” she says. “I always recommend incorporating a nourishing brow oil into your nightly routine post-lamination.”
This is the brow oil she recommends incorporating into your nightly routine post-lamination.
“You’ll also want to use a brow gel (clear or tinted) to help easily set and style your brow hairs each day,” she says. This is her favorite one.
This brow pencil creates super-fine, hair-like strokes.
If you want a laminated look without the, well, lamination, this strong-hold gel is your ticket.
I love that this growth-boosting serum can be used on lashes and brows.
This pencil has a slanted edge that easily fills sparse spots.
This tinted gel makes my brows look full and fluffy.
These are the best tweezers.
I love magnified lighted mirrors when I’m tweezing my brows. They help me catch hairs I would have otherwise missed.
The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go ’round.
For Heming Willis, it all started when she began experiencing brain fog after becoming a mom. She sought help from a doctor, made the recommended lifestyle changes to optimize her brain health, and even started a complicated supplement regimen—which she quickly realized wasn’t sustainable. “I couldn’t find an all-in-one solution for women that would take care of their brain, body, and beauty. Everything was a pill or too complicated,” she says. “I said to my co-founder, Helen, that I wished I could take all these supplements and turn them into a drink, and that’s how Make Time Wellness was born.”
As a beauty editor, I’m lucky enough to test dozens of new skincare, hair, and makeup products each month. I’m constantly surrounded by them, and it’s literally my job to judge them, so I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what’s good, what’s great, and what’s, well, not worth using. It’s only when I personally recommend a product to my friends that I know I really love it.
Two of my closest friends (hi, Ella and Hansi!) love swapping beauty news, info, and recommendations. I can’t even count how many times they’ve gracefully listened to my never-ending monologues on the subject. So when they came to visit over the summer, I naturally told them all about the products I’d been loving as of late, and they did the same. A week later, they left with a list of products to buy (and it’s only grown since). It wasn’t until recently that I realized every product on the list was $50 or less. Ahead, see all 15 products that I’ve recommended to them and learn why I love them so much.
Gould’s mornings start bright and early with wake-up times falling anywhere between 5:45 and 6:00 a.m. Before launching herself into a busy workday, she does a gratitude practice, something that I admittedly don’t do often enough. This includes journaling, meditating, and just “waking up and saying thank you” before she moves through the rest of her day. I’m not sure if she’s a natural early riser or if it’s been learned through trial and error, but I admire her dedication to taking calm moments for herself. She’s found a way to strike the delicate balance between wellness and her multifaceted career as a cosmetic founder, content creator, and creative director.
The Result:
I’ve wanted to discover solace in the silence, but I haven’t always had the tools or drive to pull it off. It turns out that starting a workday with gratitude can foster an extra helping of positivity to carry me through the day. I finally broke open the lined journal and daily planner I’ve been keeping on my bedside table for a rainy day and spent the first few minutes after my morning alarm writing down five things I’m grateful for, setting my intentions, and taking note of what I hope to accomplish. This was followed by whichever guided morning meditation I stumbled upon on Spotify that led me through deep breathing exercises, affirmations, and stillness.
While rising at the break of dawn isn’t something I would normally be drawn to, I was amazed at how much more time I had to myself in my mornings before switching on my “productivity autopilot,” the driving force behind my work mindset. The controlled chaos of beauty editor Maya didn’t exist until meditative Maya had a chance to set the tone for the rest of the day. Since following Gould’s morning rituals for a week, I’ve found myself wanting to wake up earlier to get as much “me” time in my day as possible. My mornings may not always start while it’s still dark outside, but I love being more of a morning person as opposed to my night-owl tendencies—consider me sold.
Most Wanted is a weekly series in which one editor, staffer, or influencer shares their top 30 must-haves or current wish-list items.
I’m from a small town in Northern Michigan, but up until this year, I spent four years living in LA and two years living in Austin, Texas. Not to state the obvious, but the climates of those three locations are drastically different. In LA, I had balmy 70-degree days. In Austin, I had high heat and high humidity to contend with. Now, I’m dealing with below-freezing temperatures and lots of snow, wind, and ice. Like I said, it’s different.
Even though I grew up here, it wasn’t exactly easy to readjust to the climate. In fact, I dreaded it. Dark, cold days do a number on my mental and physical health—not to mention my skin and hair. For the former, I had to rework my daily routine, get fresh air, and engage in lots of self-care activities. For the latter, I had to rework my beauty routine, collect new products, and use them strategically. It took me a while, but I’m happy to announce that I have my cold-weather essentials on lock. Ahead, check out the 30 products that will see me through to spring.
No matter how much we wish we could hop on a plane and fly somewhere warm and sunny each time we feel a little lackluster, that’s simply not the case. We have to deal with it ourselves. That means engaging in some rest, relaxation, and self-care… and stocking up on highlighter.
That last part might sound strange, but hear us out. Whenever we feel tired or burnt out, our skin is usually the first to show it. Since we don’t want to look the part, we reach for highlighter to give us that well-rested, post-vacation glow we wish we had. In some ironic psychological play, it actually makes us feel better. Maybe there’s some truth behind that old adage “look good, feel good.”
Regardless, using highlighter is an underrated way to make your skin look glowy and sun-kissed. If you use the right ones, you might make people think you just returned from a two-week vacation. Maybe you spent it sipping limoncello on the Amalfi Coast while the sun warmed your shoulders. Maybe you stayed in a private villa in Majorca drinking cocktails and eating fresh fish. Take your pick. Ahead, see the 15 best drugstore highlighters. They’re all $20 and under, so they cost a whole lot less than a luxury vacation.
It’s 2024, and although it may seem like we’ve hit the peak of celebrity brands—they just keep coming. Every time you think, “This is enough,” a few more press releases make their way into the world. To a certain extent, each celebrity brand banks on hype and name recognition to secure initial buzz. But when you have standout successes like Rare Beauty and Skims, which have brought out trustworthy products regardless of the name attached, it makes sense for others to throw their cards on the table. And while others may write them off completely, I can’t help but be extremely nosy, or in better words, curious. If I had judged Skims off the bat, I never would have found the only bra I have ever bought in six different colors.
After chatting with fellow editors and taking an in-depth scroll through the product reviews of TikTok, I embarked on the journey to spend my entire winter break testing out as many celebrity brands as I could get my hands on. Once I got past a few trial runs and settled into a routine, it was evident which products would be finding a place in my everyday life. Now, I can’t help but reach for Lemme’s sleep gummies when I’m in dire need of a full night’s rest and Being Frenshie’s body spray stays in my purse at all times. Keep scrolling to see the celebrity-backed products I’d recommend to friends in the new year. The results may surprise you.
By now, we all know that wearing sunscreen every single day (no matter the time of year or weather) is of utmost importance if you want to stave off damage and premature signs of aging. And thanks to the editor-approved selection of oil-free sunscreens below, even the oiliest, most acne-prone people can get by with that daily application sans irritation, clogged pores, and breakouts. Not all oil-free sunscreens are up to our high standards, but rest assured any of the below 15 have our discerning seal of approval. Keep scrolling!
Pro tip: The end of the holiday season is, by far, the best time to find beauty gifts at smart prices (and we know there’s a good chance you’ll still be giving presents well into the New Year). December comes and goes in a flurry, often resulting in a missed opportunity for a heartfelt gift or two, but who said holiday shopping should be stressful or challenging? Sometimes, the best finds come when you least expect them.
With the help of my fellow beauty editors, I’ve compiled a list of the 25 best makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance products to consider gifting a loved one with across a wide range of different price points. We’ve even provided customer reviews to ease your decision-making process. Keep scrolling for a look at the gift-able beauty finds, from luxurious L’Occitane bodycare to high-tech NuFace tools Who What Wear’s beauty editors can’t stop raving about to anyone who will listen.
