Anyone can try a butterfly cut, but it typically works best on thicker hair that isn’t too long. “If the hair is too long, you can’t do so many layers,” says Lordet. “As the hair gets shorter in length, the more layers you can do. If you do too many layers on long hair, the problem that can happen is you lose the thickness at the end.”
Any texture can try butterfly cuts as well, but make sure to talk to your stylist about layers for your curl pattern that will help frame your face best.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Growing up, my mother never wore makeup. I remember a jar of Olay face cream on her dresser nestled next to a bottle of Beautiful perfume. From time to time, she’d paint her toenails red or occasionally put on lipstick for very special events. My mother’s simple beauty regimen is the reason why, to this day, I’ve never embraced wearing makeup. And the truth is, even as an adult I don’t know how to wear makeup. No one ever taught me how.
Kulfi
“Growing up in South Asian culture, I wasn’t allowed to participate and use makeup,” says Priyanka Ganjoo, founder and CEO of Kulfi. “We weren’t supposed to attract attention, and we were actively discouraged from focusing on anything beauty related. My mother never showed me how to use makeup either.”
As an adult, my relationship with makeup has slowly evolved. I’ll use a little bit of blush, a touch of eyeshadow and maybe a dab of lip gloss. But never eyeliner — it requires too much precision for someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.
Enter Kulfi. Its award-winning kajal eyeliner has made me love eyeliner. It’s easy to use, and the intense, long-lasting color doesn’t budge, sparing me of raccoon eyes. Nazar No More (black) is my absolute favorite, although I hope to try some of the bolder colors like Rain Check (blue) and Purply Pataka (berry).
Although the beauty industry was hit hard by the pandemic, marketers like Ganjoo have been resourceful, coming up with innovative ways to sell to customers. Many direct-to-consumer brands like Kulfi found success when consumers had no other choice but to shop online. In 2020, the global beauty industry spend was $483 billion, and by 2025 it’s expected to be $716 billion. And where those sales are coming from is rapidly changing: Online sales will make up 48% of spend by 2023.
“While we had to delay the launch of Kulfi due to the pandemic, it ended up working out for the best,” Ganjoo says. “It gave our team a chance to really grow our community of Kulfi fans in a digital-first environment and made the launch a huge success.”
Image Credit: Kulfi
Here are three of the biggest lessons Ganjoo has learned in building Kulfi.
Understand your why
“Growing up, I wasn’t one of the pretty girls,” Ganjoo says. “I was extremely curious, excelled in school and spent my summers in Delhi eating kulfi, a type of Indian ice cream. I named the company Kulfi as an ode to that little girl, now that I have the power to reclaim beauty for myself and so many others.”
Ganjoo remembers starting her career at Boston Consulting Group and being told by coworkers that she looked tired. She didn’t wear makeup at the time, and she felt pressured to go and purchase concealer to cover her dark circles. “I’ll never forget that visit to the cosmetic counter. They told me my nose was too big; it needed contouring,” she shares. “They told me I needed to groom my eyebrows. They sold me over 20 products I didn’t know how to use, some of which didn’t even match my skin tone. I left feeling even more insecure and didn’t feel like myself.”
With Kulfi, Ganjoo is focused on her why and her purpose for building this brand. She wants women to unlearn the toxic expectations that are set for us when it comes to beauty. “When I was younger, I wasn’t supposed to wear makeup because it might attract men, and I would be attracting the wrong attention,” she says. “Then I entered the workforce, and I was pressured to wear makeup so I didn’t look unprofessional.”
Now, with Kulfi, Ganjoo wants women to wear makeup for themselves. She wants them to play with makeup and have fun with it. She wants it to bring them joy and be a way to express themselves. And finally, for all women to feel fierce and confident using Kulfi.
Challenge the playbook
Though her first foray into makeup wasn’t a positive experience, Ganjoo later ended up in the beauty industry herself, first at Estée Lauder and then at Ipsy. After years of building beauty brands for industry titans, she left Ipsy to build Kulfi. At the time, the marketing playbook was running Facebook and Instagram ads to create awareness, and hiring a celebrity was another quick fix to building a brand.
“From the beginning, I challenged that playbook, and that made people uncomfortable,” Ganjoo says. “I knew I wanted Kulfi to be a community for all the people who looked like me, who had been excluded by beauty brands for far too long.” She drew inspiration from Glossier and Glow Recipe, both of which built strong followings. The products they continue to launch are all community driven.
Originally, Ganjoo wanted to launch with a concealer to match her undertones. But the Kulfi community she was building had other ideas. “Every woman I talked to wished she had a better kajal eyeliner in her makeup kit,” she says. “No one was excited about this product. It was our opportunity to reinvent it.”
Image Credit: Kulfi
Historically, kajal is one of the most popular beauty products in India. It was originally applied as a form of protection, used to shield the eyes from harsh rays of sun and to ward off the evil eye.
“With the launch of the Kulfi eyeliner, we wanted to celebrate South Asian beauty, accentuating beautiful dark eyes and eyebrows and giving women an easily accessible, no-hassle product,” Ganjoo says.
Embrace your role as the visionary founder
For Ganjoo, the road to fundraising hasn’t been easy. Before Kulfi launched, investors told her “the market is too small,” and “South Asian beauty is not aspirational” and “using dark skinned models won’t sell.” She didn’t listen to them. She was determined to build a brand that celebrated and centered South Asians in its narrative.
After a successful pre-seed fundraising round, with a majority of women of color investing, it has changed her perspective on who will continue to be on her cap table. “To the extent I can pay it forward, I want to do that,” she says. “I want as many women of color building Kufli with me as possible.
Ganjoo will never forget what one investor said to her. “You need a visionary co-founder, that was the feedback,” she says. “Despite all of my credentials, I still continue to face bias as a South Asian woman founder. Why do I need a white man as a co-founder sitting next to me to bring me credibility?”
Here’s what Ganjoo knows for sure. Countless customers have told her that Kufli looks and feels so fresh and so different from what’s in the beauty marketplace. “That’s because Kufli has shifted the perspective to center the people who have been left behind.”
Her advice now to all entrepreneurs listening: “Remember that you are the visionary founder. Don’t let anyone else convince you otherwise.”
You’ve probably heard a lot about Kim Kardashian’s new skincare line, SKKN by Kim.
It first entered the news cycle just by virtue of being Kim’s brand. After shutting down KKW Beauty and KKW Fragrance, everyone wondered what Kim was going to do next. Surprisingly, her popular apparel brand Skims gets rave reviews for quality and comfort. So when she launched SKKN, she inevitably made headlines.
SKKN claims to be “an innovative line of uncompromising skincare developed by Kim Kardashian. Through a visionary nine-product ritual, SKKN By Kim delivers nourishment, renewal, and an indulgent at-home experience.” But what is it, really?
The packaging claims to be sustainable but was accused of greenwashing. Womp womp. The nine-piece collection also raised eyebrows for its price range, with products ranging from $43 to $95. The full collection includes a cleanser, toner, exfoliator, a hyaluronic acid serum, vitamin C8 serum, a face cream, an eye cream, oil drops, and night oil. It’s a luxury line, she said in defense, so expectations were high.
Because at this point, celebrity brands are ubiquitous. Even Brad Pitt, who allegedly didn’t wash his face twice a day until his twenties (ew), has a new skin line. So what’s Kim bringing? Just her name? Her beige packaging — which is practically all she brought to her Beats collab?
In SKKN’s press release, she stressed the quality of materials and the dermatology-first approach. “What began as a psoriasis diagnosis became the catalyst for my journey of skin-care discoveries, inspiring me to learn more about my skin and how to care for it,” she said. “Working with some of the top dermatologists and estheticians over the years has given me the incredible opportunity to learn from their expertise, and I knew I had to share my learnings.”
SKKN has been around for a few months now, so we can safely say we’ve had a chance to sit with it and get past the hype to give you a real review.
So is it worth it? Our editors say … no.
Though it isn’t just another flop celebrity brand, there’s nothing special about it. And now, with Rhode Skin making headlines for introducing unique, versatile products at an affordable price point, SKKN products aren’t bringing anything new to the table.
So what should you buy instead? We’re breaking down each reason you might have been tempted to add SKKN products to your cart or your wishlist — and what you can get to scratch that itch instead.
All products featured are independently selected by our editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
You might think SKKN is reasonably priced…
With skincare, I’m not afraid of paying higher prices for higher quality. But most SKKN products are pretty mid and their ingredients are nothing noteworthy (more on that later). The markups are a result of good marketing and Kim K’s affiliation with the brand. I don’t know about you, but I’m not down with the Kim tax.
Brands like The Ordinary have proven how accessible it is to get high efficacy ingredients at an affordable price. But if you don’t want to do the work of decoding which ingredients at The Ordinary work for you, try brands with lower price points, similar clean ingredient values, and overall better products. We like the skincare offerings from Kosas or Indie Lee
.
You might think SKKN is prestigious because it’s made by Kim Kardashian…
Hate to burst your bubble, but very few “celebrity” brands are made by the celebrity. I’m sure you didn’t think Kim was in the lab cooking up your cleanser, but she probably wasn’t very involved in much of the ideation process either. She simply wrapped the products in her signature beige with her name on the label. And there’s not much that’s prestigious about that.
And I don’t know about you, but I haven’t heard a single peep from the digital skincare community about any of her products in the past few months. I personally like to buy products that have the prestige of positive reviews. If stores I trust have picked them up, I know I can trust the quality. And if beauty lovers have actually integrated them into their routines, I know they work. I bought the Kosas Serum Spray — which is a novel product and unlike anything else I have — only after I’d heard about it from multiple different sources. And I am loyal to Indie Lee because it’s stocked in clean beauty stores I love and every product I’ve tried has worke. To me, that’s real prestige.
You might think SKKN contains only good ingredients…
SKKN, like many other brands, is actually full of filler ingredients. While it may “be certified clean” (which isn’t a regulated term so has no real value) and gluten free, the ingredients are pretty unremarkable. Nothing sets SKKN apart from any other brand in terms of formulation. And the efficacy isn’t even that strong.
For products with actives like SKKN Vitamin C serum, I would definitely opt for something stronger and better. The Indie Lee CQ-10 Toner is a cult-favorite brightening powerhouse with more complex brightening ingredients. It’s also trusted by stores that specifically ban many harmful ingredients, so there’s more pedigree to its ingredients than a meaningless label.
We will all experience challenging times in life. Jesus Himself told us that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). We have all likely known someone helpful and comforting to have around when we go through those challenging times, and we have all likely known someone who makes the situation harder, despite their intentions. Praying is always good. Bringing a meal or helping with schedules are great tangible ways to care for others. But what about just sitting with someone in their time of need? How can we ensure that we are the type of person who helps others? Who doesn’t make things more difficult? Who provides true comfort and empathy rather than empty words? The way that we are to treat each other during hard times can be summed up in one Bible verse: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).
A Time for Everything
Often, we want to just make things better, easier, and more understandable. We try to heal wounds that are too fresh to be healed and give explanations to events that may never be understood this side of heaven. We want to avoid the uncomfortable pain and lack of explanation. Platitudes such as “Everything happens for a reason” invoke eye-rolls because they gloss over the pain of being human. It is ok to hurt, to mourn, and to grieve. It’s ok to just say to someone, “I’m sorry you are experiencing this,” or “This is just so terrible.” Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: …a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,…a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,…a time to be silent and a time to speak….” Like Romans 12:15 says, when a friend is mourning, it is time for us to mourn with them.
Job’s Friends
The book of Job is often the first place we look when we want to discuss suffering. Job’s friends started on the right track to help him in his pain. “When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how great his suffering was” Job 2:11-13). What a beautiful friendship! They showed up and mourned together. They were hurt for their friend, and they loved him simply by being by his side.
But then they started talking. They gave lengthy speeches telling Job that he must have done something wrong, attempting to explain God’s actions. This provided no comfort at all to Job. In fact, it upset him even more. In Job 16:2-5, Job responds to his friends, “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.”
Not only did their words cause more hurt to Job, but in trying to provide answers on behalf of God, they were just wrong. As the Lord said, in Job 42:7 “to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about Me, as my servant Job has.” We do not know the inner workings of the spiritual realm. We do not know why terrible things happen other than that we live in a fallen world. We don’t have to know it all because God does! “Of the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” (Romans 11:33-34). We should not offer words of explanation on God’s behalf because we are not capable of such knowledge. “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity” (Proverbs 21:23).
What to Do
When we do not know what to say to our friends or what to pray about their situation, we take comfort in the knowledge that these circumstances are not a surprise to God and not beyond His almighty power. Romans 8:26 guides us in how to pray, telling us that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Sitting quietly with someone provides more comfort than empty words. The power of silence and stillness are sprinkled throughout Scripture. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still” (Exodus 14:14). “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues” (Proverbs 17:27-28). The Lord appeared to Elijah in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13).
While we do not need to fill the space with lengthy speeches or attempted explanations, or empty platitudes, we can rest in the truth that we are equipped to provide comfort. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-6).
The Good Samaritan
In Luke 10:25-37, we read the story of the good Samaritan. Jesus tells a story of a man walking along the road when he was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A couple of people see him on the side of the road and just keep going about their business. Then a man from Samaria takes pity on him. “He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him” (v. 34).
This dramatic example of caring for someone supports what John writes in 1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but in action and in truth.” When the time comes for us to love others through their challenging times, may we be people who “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). May we be people who love with fewer words and more actions.
Megan Moore is a military spouse and mom of 3 (through birth and adoption). A speech-language pathologist by training, she now spends her time moving around the country every couple of years. She is passionate about special needs, adoption, and ice cream.
This movie is so action-packed and features incredible special effects. What was your reaction to seeing the completed film for the first time?
Jessica, I was blown away. I almost started crying. For the most part, I was doing green screen for everything. And this was the first time I’ve ever been in a movie like this before. When I saw the final product, I almost got down to my knees and started weeping because I felt so grateful. I can’t believe this is what I am in. I never, in my wildest dreams, could have imagined it to be that. And the way they shot those action sequences and the soundtrack with it, it was art. That’s a combination of not just the CGI and the special-effects team but Jaume, most definitely Jaume. And then our DP, Lawrence Sher, he’s just out of this world. He won an Oscar for Joker. And just going back to the Western references—like Lawrence of Arabia, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly—those big cinematic-scope Westerns were definitely a style inspiration for this movie. And oh my god, did they pull it off.
Okay, let’s switch gears for a minute. Everyone wants to know when season two of Sex/Life is happening. What, if anything, can you tell us about what’s next for Billie?
[The date of] season two of Sex/Life has not been announced yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s happening next year sometime. But I’m not at liberty to say more than that now. All I can say about that is the season this year is a little different. The themes this year are really about hope and second chances—wherever your imagination can go, if you can imagine Billie talking about second chances, [and] what that would mean.
And for me, I’m sitting in this chair right now in front of you. I don’t really know too many people who have this opportunity. To sit here and talk to you about the Netflix series, this huge movie I’m a part of, and to be a female in this position is just really fucking cool to me. At the end of the day, I sit back and think, “Damn—no matter how things pan out, I’m just lucky.” I’m so grateful.
The show was watched by 67 million households in its first four weeks and centers on empowered female sexuality, which we don’t see a lot on TV. Did you know it would be such a hit?
No, not at all. My job as an actor is to tell the highest level of truth for this character. That’s the only thing I can think of—to focus on her emotions, her feelings, who she is. To make sure I’m acting between the lines and to be so full of life and be present and just raw, that was my job. I also had a lot of personal life to draw from at the moment. I’m actually writing a book right now about all of that. But I was floored when I saw the response that all those people tuned in. Again, I sit here with so much humbleness. I guess hard work works. And keep going. Just put your head down, stop and smell the roses every once in a while, but this too shall pass just like everything else. I don’t get too attached to success. I don’t get too attached to failure. I just try to do me every single step of the way, and as long as my kids are provided for and I’m happy and healthy and they are too, that’s all I care about.
Summer may be nearing its end, but there’s one thing that will most likely not be changing anytime soon—the pent-up demand for travel. After an extended amount of time spent at home, it’s safe to say people were ready to go somewhere again. That destination depended upon what you were craving. It could have been a buzzy destination, a low-key weekend spot, or a new place to go dance in town. Whatever the case, it’s crystal clear that we wanted to be back outside, and we wanted to dress up again. Nothing speaks more to that desire than two facts: the reports about record-breaking summer air travel and the extensive number of vacation posts from the fashion set. Travel was top of mind for everyone this past summer, but if you couldn’t partake, there’s still a chance this fall. With plane-ticket prices slowly decreasing and the prospect of fun fall trends, there’s no better time to take a trip than now. Of course, traveling now is still a ton of work—knowing where to go, how to stay safe, what to pack, and how to avoid baggage-claim drama. But you don’t have to stress, as we’ve reached out to seven stylish and well-traveled women, who are sharing their packing hacks. They’ve covered all the bases, from the most common packing mistakes to avoid to the fall staples that are worth the space in your suitcase. So fasten your seat belts, readers. It’s time for takeoff…
WHO: Jullie Jeine, content creator and travel enthusiast. How would you describe your style? I would say my style is modern yet classic. I like wearing everyday staple pieces with a twist, such as different textures or interesting shapes and cuts. What do you think are the most common packing mistakes for vacation? There are three common packing mistakes, the first being overpacking. One way to avoid this is by knowing where you’re going and what the vibe is and then packing accordingly. The second common mistake is solely packing single-use pieces. For instance, I love prints, but I’ll always make sure to have core pieces that I can style and pair differently throughout my trip. I promise that rewearing the same trousers on different IG posts is totally okay.
And lastly, I’d say not packing a small iron or steamer is a mistake. I can pack the most amazing outfits, but if I wear wrinkly clothes, I won’t have the same confidence level.
Do you have one hack you swear by when discerning what to wear while traveling? I swear by doing two things, the first being that I’ll plan my outfits by creating a Pinterest board with realistic outfit ideas. And secondly, I’ll go straight to my closet and check how I can create new looks with the things I already own because buying less and cherishing your clothes really is a superpower. From there, I can choose what I want to treat myself to and invest in.
For those of us who are dreaming of planning a trip for the fall and winter, are there any staples you swear by, and why do you swear by them?
A structured and slightly oversize blazer because you can layer underneath, making you look put-together instantly. Also, a neutral maxi skirt because it’s also elongating and super chic.
Can you share what you’ve been eyeing for your next trip or pieces you wore and loved?
I am a big fan of textures such as mohair, denim, pleats, faux leather… You name it. So for my next trip, I want to invest in a statement trench coat.
A good pair of baggy jeans just looks effortlessly cool and is the perfect piece to pack for a fall trip.
Lastly, for any fall trip, you need a pair of boots that are made for going all out.I love these square-toe ankle boots from Miista. The khaki-green patent is beautiful, and the stitching details are definitely eye-catching.
WHO: Anna Campbell, content creator. How would you describe your style? I would best describe my style as classy, comfortable, and always current. I have noticed over recent years that my style has become the most minimal than it has ever been. What do you think are the most common packing mistakes for vacation? I think the most common mistake when packing is bringing unnecessary items. Sometimes, the more you bring with you, the harder it is to dress. We all have the “ah, I’ll just bring that too” attitude at times. It’s very easy to overthink outfits. So I like to keep it simple and stick to key pieces that can be styled in numerous ways.
Do you have one hack you swear by when discerning what to wear while traveling? On my recent weeklong holiday to Greece, I took a carry-on case with me to dodge any luggage problems at the airports. I really shocked myself because I could fit seven evening outfits, seven swimsuits, and numerous cover-ups into one carry-on.
As for footwear, I took with me a small block heel that worked for every evening look and, of course, my trusty Havaianas flip-flops for daytime. This was the best way to travel, and everything I brought was worn!
For those of us who are dreaming of planning a trip for the fall and winter, are there any staples you swear by, and why do you swear by them?
If I was planning a trip for the fall, my go-to piece of packing or wearing while traveling is a blazer, preferably an oversize blazer, as you can layer with a sweater or knitwear. A blazer, for me, doubles up as a layer during the day and is a smart add-on for dinner or evening plans.
I almost always take my longline leather jacket with me for a winter trip. I picked it up in a local vintage store where I live a few years back but have recently seen some online. I find it has such a “Julia Roberts meets Notting Hill” vibe with a beret, and I can’t get enough of it!
Can you share what you’ve been eyeing for your next trip?
One lustrous item for me is Frankie Shop’s trousers. I love wide-leg trousers paired with an oversize sweater, a fine polo, and boots. It’s probably my favorite, most-worn winter look and a must-have for my next trip.
A more recent purchase I made was the infamous Birkenstock Boston Clog in brown with fur. I have the taupe suede version, and I wear them so often. I knew a second pair would give me a variable option, and they’re the ideal shoe to pack for a winter weekend getaway.
WHO: Richlove Rockson, plus-size fashion content creator. How would you describe your style? My style is very colorful, fun, and chic. I especially love experimenting and trying out different color combos! What do you think are the most common packing mistakes for vacation? The biggest packing mistake is not planning your outfits for your vacation and then realizing once you’re there that either the pieces you chose don’t go well together or you don’t know how to combine them.
Do you have one hack you swear by when discerning what to wear while traveling? When packing, I always put together full looks before leaving. This is so practical because it saves a lot of time, so while I’m at my destination, I don’t have to worry about what I’m going to wear. I can just throw something on and enjoy being there. I can not sing higher praises for packing this way for any trip.
For those of us who are dreaming of planning a trip for the fall and winter, are there any staples you swear by, and why do you swear by them?
Definitely a black blazer. It’s so versatile and always looks good. Whether you want to go on a night out, explore the city, or go for a walk, it works for any occasion. You can pair it with a skirt, wide trousers, shorts, jeans—there are so many options!
Can you share what you’ve been eyeing for your next trip?
When it comes to traveling, a tote bag is always useful. I dream of taking this Dior tote bag on my next vacation.
I recently bought a pair of these Versace glasses and, of course, wore them on my vacation in NYC. It’s definitely worth investing in a pair of designer shades for any upcoming trip.
Dreaming of wearing this for a trip to Dubai on New Year’s Eve!!
I’m planning a trip to Paris in a few weeks and have been looking for pieces to pack. I love the simplicity and color of this jumpsuit. It screams, “Take me to Paris.”
WHO: Rabia Cissokho, content creator. How would you describe your style? When I moved from New Zealand to London in 2019, I transitioned from an eclectic style to a more minimal-chic aesthetic with predominantly monochrome with nude tones. I’m definitely a fan of keeping things simple now regarding my personal style. What do you think are the most common packing mistakes for vacation? There are quite a few common mistakes when it comes to packing for a trip, the first being leaving it to the night before to pack for your trip. It creates unnecessary stress for yourself and leads to overpacking or not planning outfits properly.
Another common mistake is packing shoesamong the clothing in your suitcase. It’s a big no-no because it can inadvertently ruin your clothing, so investing in packing bags is essential.
And lastly, forgetting to pack essentials like hand sanitizer, lip balm, and hydrating face mask.
Do you have one hack you swear by when discerning what to wear while traveling? For me, it’s all about being comfortable but chic at the same time. When rushing around the airport, you want to wear something light and breathable, but also be prepared with a layering option in your carry-on luggage when the airplane takes off.
For those of us who are dreaming of planning a trip for the fall and winter, are there any staples you swear by, and why do you swear by them?
For me, fall and winter are jacket seasons, so a coat is a must if you’re planning a trip during this time. Preferably, you’d opt for an oversize and monochrome version because it can be styled with different outfits easily.
Can you share what you’ve been eyeing for your next trip or pieces you wore and loved?
I can’t think of a better piece to wear on your flight than a matching knit set. It’s all about glam loungewear.
Comfort is key when traveling, and this chic slipper is the perfect shoe to wear for a long flight.
WHO: Amelia Wilkinson, content creator. How would you describe your style in a sentence or two? I think I’d describe my style as effortless and classic while still being fun and trendy. What do you think are the most common packing mistakes for vacation? Packing too much is definitely the most common mistake. I’ve been guilty of doing it myself. I always try to pack about three outfits per day for while I’m away and then end up wearing one thing each day, and the extra clothes end up just being a waste of space.
Another common packing mistake is not folding clothes properly. When I’m going on holiday, I fold and roll everything so neatly so it fits perfectly, and then on the way home, it all just gets thrown in randomly and doesn’t fit, and I inevitably have to spend even more time repacking it all properly. So take your time to pack neatly, and when in doubt, invest in packing cubes.
Do you have one hack you swear by when discerning what to wear while traveling? The number one thing I think of when I’m planning a trip is footwear. In summer, I have a bit more leeway with it, as flip-flops and strappy heels take up so little room, but if I’m going away when it’s a bit colder, shoes are bulkier and need to be planned more carefully. I try to be as ruthless as possible and only take shoes that I’ll wear a few times, and I try not to take things that fall into the same category (e.g., one pair of trainers and one pair of boots).
For those of us who are dreaming of planning a trip for the fall and winter, are there any staples you swear by, and why do you swear by them?
I always, always, always pack a good white T-shirt, no matter the season or the destination. They go with everything and are such a good backup if the outfit you’ve planned in your head doesn’t quite work the way you thought it would.
Specifically for autumn and winter trips, I always like to pack a good coat or jacket. Depending on where you’re going, the weather can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to be left unprepared and have to panic-buy one when you’re there.
Can you share what you’ve been eyeing for your next trip or pieces you wore and loved?
I’m going to Copenhagen this month and have been eyeing up so many pieces to take with me. I’ve managed to steer clear of the cowboy-boot trend so far, but I’m not exaggerating when I say I’m absolutely obsessed with these Ganni ones. I think their height is perfect, and the embroidery is absolutely beautiful. Maybe I’ll pop in to see them in real life when I’m in Copenhagen.
The surge of denim skirts I’ve seen all over my Instagram and TikTok has influenced me to the point where I might have to take the plunge and pack it for my next trip.
WHO: Hafsah Mohammed, content creator. How would you describe your style? I would describe my style as statement-making, elevated, and timeless. What do you think are the most common packing mistakes for vacation? Not planning your outfits in advance. It can lead to chronic over- or underpacking and can take away precious time that could be spent enjoying your destination.
Do you have one hack you swear by when discerning what to wear while traveling? Before I start packing, I put complete looks together down to the accessories, I take a photo of each look, and then I pack them. That way, I have an outfit planned for every activity. This saves me from overpacking things I won’t need on my trip. It also helps me save time while I’m on vacation.
For those of us who are dreaming of planning a trip for the fall and winter, are there any staples you swear by, and why do you swear by them?
I swear by packing at least one dress (or a jumpsuit) that is the statement piece. But I want to remind everyone that you want to take pieces that will photograph well and are functional for your trip.
I recommend you opt for statement pieces made from comfortable fabrics like cotton, linen, satin, and plissé. It will ensure you look great and feel great throughout your trip.
In the fall and winter, I also recommend you invest in a statement coat to wear on your trip. It will keep you warm as you explore your destination, and you’ll look chic in all your photos.
Can you share what you’ve been eyeing for your next trip or pieces you wore and loved?
I recently wore this plissé jumpsuit from a small brand, Orire, and loved it. It’s the ideal piece to pack for a vacation because it’s chic and cozy.
I wore a hat from the South African designer Crystal Birch on a recent trip to Turkey, and it was 100% worth the space in the suitcase. A hat can elevate an outfit and protect you from the scorching summer sun simultaneously, so it’s a must-pack for any trip.
WHO: Luena Gama, marketing director and digital creator . How would you describe your style? In my book, more is more! I am a big fan of colors, layers, and accessories. I think my style can be described as bright and eclectic with a hint of cottagecore influence. (I love a good prairie-dress moment.) . What do you think are the most common packing mistakes for vacation? Overpacking always seems to be the bane of holidaygoers. Packing what you like rather than what you’ll actually use is usually what leads to you having too few pairs of underwear and six pairs of shoes you know deep down you won’t wear!
Do you have one hack you swear by when discerning what to wear while traveling? Planning your outfits beforehand and making sure they are versatile is key! Usually, I will pick a color theme or a style I’m into and pick pieces that can be styled in various ways or layered if necessary with that theme in mind. I’ll try every outfit before packing as well so I can make sure that everything fits and feels comfortable.
My best hack, though, is taking pictures of every single outfit before I pack it all. Having reference pictures means you have a cheat sheet of sorts for your best looks, which means you spend less time trying to figure out what to wear and more time enjoying your holiday!
For those of us who are dreaming of planning a trip for the fall and winter, are there any staples you swear by, and why do you swear by them?
Get yourself a flowy maxi dress! A maxi dress is a super-comfortable way of making a statement, allowing you to style it with various pieces.
Once you invest in a great maxi dress, you can style it a few ways—you can go from comfy chic with a pair of trainers to a more glam look by adding a blazer or heels.
Can you share what you’ve been eyeing for your next trip or pieces you wore and loved?
Stine Goya maximalist knits have my heart. I adore the bold colors and effortless maximalism of their winter pieces, and it’s the ideal cardigan to pack for a trip.
A good blazer helps elevate any autumn outfit, and I’ve been loving this staple in warm, earthy tones. Like all great staples, this piece, and any blazer, makes for the ideal piece to pack for upcoming vacations because it’s beloved by many and can be worn anywhere in the world.
Chances are if you have an Instagram account, then celebrity and editorial makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes has popped up in your feed. (She has more than 800,000 followers, so there’s just no way around it.) But trust me—hers is the type of content you want to consume. It’s not your typical “Instagram makeup”—you know, a heavy (heavy) face, bold eyes and brows, and literally no skin texture. Instead, Hughes likes to post photos and videos of herself applying colorful makeup looks that focus on natural skin, with tips sprinkled in for achieving her signature glow. “I like to keep skin fresh with makeup and use dewy products like Iconic London Underglow Blurring Primer ($29) and top it off up with a light base. Keeping the skin fresh lets me play with color,” she says.
By now, you’ve seen it — the series of photos that broke the internet. You know what I’m talking about. Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez were pictured together at the Academy Museum Gala, and jaws hit the floor across the nation.
Years from now, we’ll still be able to say where we were when we saw the Hailey and Selena photos. This is how they felt when the Cold War ended. This is the Berlin Wall falling. This is man’s first step on the moon. Earth-shattering, unprecedented, and a whole new frontier.
The vibe has shifted. And Justin Bieber must have a new lock screen.
I’ll admit, at first, I thought the picture was fake. I thought it was one of those photoshopped fan images, like those 90s edits of Br*d Pitt, J*hnny Depp, and L*ondardo DiCaprio all haphazardly photoshopped into the same image. I scrolled on, fully expecting the caption to be by some anonymous moderator begging fellow fans to stop the hate or something. Then I realized the image was posted on the verified Vogue Magazine account. It was a re-gram from celebrity photographer Tyrell Hampton, who captioned the instantly-iconic image with the fitting: “plot twist.”
It hasn’t even been 24 hours but I’m still in a state of shock. That being said, I never really bought into the whole Selena vs. Hailey narrative, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t aware of it. So much of fandom culture is built on fabricated feuds. Just look at the Don’t Worry Darling press tour.
But this one has gone on for years. And Hailey recently addressed it in her episode on the Call Her Daddy podcast, saying, “I can say, period, point blank, I was never with him when he was in a relationship with anybody — that’s the end of it.”
Selena has also called for an end to the rumors and Hailey hate. After all, she’s booked and busy! With the success of her Hulu show, Only Murders in the Building, and her upcoming documentary, My Mind & Me, as well as her brand,Rare Beauty, she doesn’t have time to worry about her ex.
But even so, I could have never predicted that photo.
While both stars could have continued to milk the press from this alleged feud — all press is good press, right? — this image shows that they’re more invested in a narrative where women don’t fight over men. We love to see it.
Hopefully, the fans will finally leave both of these women alone. And this photo will make it into history books as the most influential peace summit of all time. Give them a Nobel Prize! Nature is healing!
While I’m still reeling from this photo, Selena and Hailey are probably back to minding their business — literally. Both are beauty entrepreneurs in their own right, and I have been browsing their respective selections since the photo dropped.
I mean, it has to be said: one reason it’s so iconic is simply because of how good they both looked. Skin: clear. Makeup: fall perfection. I want to be them. I want to be Justin Bieber, frankly. And so I’ll be buying Rare Beauty and Rhode Skin dupes in spades in an attempt.
While Rhode is currently all sold out, here are the best Rare Beauty finds to recreate that iconic photo:
All products featured are independently selected by our editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
While I can’t get my hands on Rhode Skin, this primer gives a similar glow when you use it as a base for your makeup. That must be why both girlies were serving skin this weekend.
Brown lipstick is here for the fall. Channel this trend with the perfect soft brown lipstick with a hydrating but matte finish. Then practice your Selena/Hailey smirk for the camera. Smile, besties!
Jacob and Rachel’s relationship, though reveled in as the finest biblical romance, endured many difficulties. Jacob worked seven years for Rachel’s hand. When the seven years ended, Jacob was ready to marry Rachel, yet Rachel’s father, Laban, tricked Jacob and gave him Leah (Rachel’s sister) instead. This caused Jacob to work seven more years to marry Rachel. Rachel and Leah became Jacob’s wives, but Jacob always preferred Rachel.
This biblical soap opera showcases three truths we can learn from Jacob and Rachel’s relationship:
1. Favoritism Is Wrong
The Bible states Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah: “his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years” (Genesis 29:30b). Yet, the Bible tells us directly, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism” (James 2:1). Jacob showed favoritism in his relationship with Rachel, though he was married to both sisters.
God never wants us to show favoritism in any of our human relationships. While polygamy is wrong, Jacob shouldn’t have shown favoritism between the two. Due to his blatant favoritism, we see bitterness creep up in Leah’s heart. Naturally, she begins to doubt her worth while living in Rachel’s shadow.
In our own relationships, we should only have one partner, and we should not express favoritism. Often in relationships, partners can compare their current partner with a past partner or even show favoritism toward a past partner over their current partner. God doesn’t want us to do this. Instead of dividing our interests, we need to focus on one partner, the current partner, rather than comparing them to somebody else.
In the same way, outside of romantic relationships, we should not show favoritism within the family. Sadly, many parents play favorites with their children, or children play favorites with their parents. Friends play favorites, teachers have their pets, and coaches have their number-one Allstars. As Christians, we never need to play favorites or show favoritism. We need to love all people as Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
2. Polygamy Is Wrong
A second truth we can learn from Jacob and Rachel’s relationship is that polygamy is wrong. As previously mentioned in the first point, Jacob showed favoritism to Rachel over Leah. If an individual has multiple spouses, favoritism is bound to result. This is one of the many reasons why polygamy is wrong. Jacob was married to both Leah and Rachel, but at the beginning of creation, God designed marriage to be between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Anything outside of this goes against God’s design for marriage.
Polygamy brings many problems into a relationship, as shown throughout Jacob’s relationship with Rachel and Leah. As Christians, we should never endorse polygamy. Simply because it was in the Old Testament doesn’t make it okay. God never tells us polygamy is right. God specifically tells us we should only have one husband or one wife. Polygamy has been accepted by many false belief systems, including the Church of the Latter Day Saints, formally known as the Mormon Church, but this is not biblical, nor are their other doctrines.
In our relationships, we must ensure we only have one partner. We should not have multiple husbands or multiple wives. We need to focus on one partner—not multiple partners. Even in the case of dating, a Christian should only date one person at a time. The purpose of dating is to see if the other person will be a potential person to marry. If an individual is dating multiple people, it can cause division, confusion, and a lack of faithfulness. These concerns occurred between Jacob and Rachel and only created tension and hostility.
3. Marriage Shouldn’t Be Based on Physical Appearance
A third truth we can learn from Jacob and Rachel’s relationship is that marriage should not be based on physical appearance. Rachel was very beautiful, and that made Jacob attracted to her. The Bible tells us, “Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful” (Genesis 29:17). Since Rachel was beautiful, Jacob loved her more than Leah. Despite Rachel’s physical appearance, we are never told she was a follower of God. In fact, the Bible tells us Rachel took one of her father’s household gods with her when they left (Genesis 31:19,34).
Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Leah was a woman who loved God and followed Him. She called out to Him in her distress, and He heard her. While Rachel was beautiful on the outside, we are never told she was beautiful on the inside. From God’s eyes, Leah was beautiful because she loved Him, followed Him, and obeyed Him.
Marriage should not be based on physical appearance because love is not based on a person’s fleeting features. When you love somebody, it’s because of the character within—not because of how “pretty” or “handsome” they are. Instead, we love those who are kind, caring, and compassionate. It doesn’t matter as much what they look like. Sure, an attractive person is nice to look at, but if we stop and think, most of us would prefer to spend time with someone we genuinely cared about, whose heart and soul was beautiful regardless of their outward appearance.
Regarding relationships, we must love others because we value them as a person created in God’s image—not just because they look attractive on the outside. When you are in a relationship, try to focus more on the inner beauty of the individual rather than their outward looks. The Apostle Peter tells us, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
Relationships need to be built upon God and a biblical definition of love. Christians should not have a relationship with those who don’t know God, nor should we have relationships outside the confines of biblical love. It is highly plausible that Jacob and Rachel’s relationship was built on lust instead of real love. In our relationships, we must ensure they are built upon God, His Word, and true sacrificial love.
The world has mixed the definition of love and lust to be the same, yet they are opposites. Lust does not last, but love does. Jesus warns us against lust, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). As demonstrated by Jesus’ words, lust is not a good thing as it leads to discontentment, comparison, and sexual sin (both in the mind, heart, and body). For a relationship to last, romantic or not, it must be built on the foundation of God’s great, sacrificial love for us.
While Jacob and Rachel are well known in the study of theology, their relationship had many difficulties, which God wants us to avoid. We can learn from Jacob and Rachel’s relationship that we should not show favoritism, practice polygamy, or base marriage on physical appearance. If we understand these truths and apply them, it will help us in our own relationships. God wants us to have healthy relationships built in true, life-giving love.
Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.
Released during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project focuses specifically on supporting Black women’s health because Black women face the highest breast cancer mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group in America. Beauty products marketed to Black women often contain the most toxic cosmetics ingredients, including chemicals linked to cancer. In fact, Black women who regularly dye their hair have a 60% increased risk of breast cancer, and those who use chemical hair straighteners are 30% more likely to develop the disease. By uplifting leading non-toxic Black-owned beauty brands and connecting Black women with products they can trust, CSC aims to combat toxic health disparities to help prevent breast cancer and other diseases.
The 80 small and medium-sized businesses who made the list raise the bar for ingredient safety and lead the movement to address the injustice of Black beauty by selling products free of CSC’s 241 “Do Not Use” Red List Chemicals of Concern in Cosmetics. CSC vetted all 700+ products included in the first-ever searchable database for safety and verified them to be free of harmful chemicals linked to health concerns like cancer, diabetes, early puberty, endometriosis, infertility, maternal health, pregnancy complications, and uterine fibroids.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our searchable database of non-toxic Black beauty products,” said Janet Nudelman, Director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a program of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. “These leading Black entrepreneurs are making safer beauty products that won’t harm the health of Black women and girls. We hope that more companies will follow their lead and grow the clean Black beauty industry by selling non-toxic beauty and personal care products that Black women can trust.”
As Black women purchase and use more beauty products per capita than any other demographic, spending more than $7.5 billion dollars on beauty products a year and nine times more on hair products than the average consumer, toxic exposure from beauty products is of particular concern.
By eliminating toxic ingredients that negatively impact Black women, these companies have made a significant commitment to protecting their customers’ health and well-being. They are also helping to reduce the disproportionate toxic burden that Black women face from unsafe chemicals in beauty and other consumer products they use, which can help prevent the development of chronic diseases like breast and ovarian cancer.
The Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project is guided by an Advisory Committee made up of leading non-profit organizations and scientists working to improve Black women’s health. This project represents the first comprehensive effort to generate a list of chemicals of concern in Black beauty products that should be avoided by consumers, cosmetic manufacturers, and retailers.
First, I want to thank you for proving them wrong. I can’t tell you how many times I was told what I was looking for “just doesn’t exist.” There were moments where I almost threw in the towel and settled for second-rate as I started listening to those who told me I didn’t have to lower my standards, just make them more “realistic.” Yet, you are the most realistic and fairytale-like man I have ever met.
Thank You for Teaching Me How to Love
Second, I want to thank you for teaching me how to love. I had always been taught that a man should love a woman the way Christ loves the Church, but I never knew that by loving you, I would learn of the faithfulness, gentleness, patience, and compassion of our Father.
In this world, love is transactional. You give to get, and if the relationship isn’t beneficial one hundred percent of the time, you get left. You’ve taught me that bad days or weeks, or months are okay to have. You have shown me that love does not hinge on performance or what a person can give another person. Instead, it solidifies itself into the deepest, most secretive places of our hearts. It tears down walls to build castles. It fights nightmares to encourage dreams. And it grows roots so that storms can’t blow it away or tear it down. You have shown me that true love, the kind of love that stays, can only originate from the Father. Then, we can share it with others.
Thank You for Being My Friend
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would find a man who would not only give me roses and willingly listen to my Taylor Swift fan-girl sessions but would double as a best friend. You sit for hours and listen to me ramble on about life’s drama. You participate in spa nights with me (sometimes un-begrudgingly) when you know I’m not feeling my best. You encourage me to take risks and put myself out there, all while cheering for me in the background. You’re a confidant and lifeline that I only ever prayed would exist.
I Am So Proud of You
I also want you to know that I am proud of you. This world is a cruel place. It tears down dreams and runs over those who don’t uphold its sinful standards. Yet somehow, I have seen you walk into the dark parts of this world and let your light shine on those who inhabit the darkness. You never impose judgment, nor do you carry yourself in a boastful manner. You simply walk up to those who are hurting and offer a hand. You reflect the kindness of Jesus so well every day.
Your kindness is something that I have grown to anticipate in every area. No matter how small the gesture or large the inconvenience, you never fail to show others that they have value. You never stop fighting to fill the void of loneliness and misdirection in this world with Jesus’ love. I will forever be proud of who you are and honored to stand by your side.
I Will Always Be Your Biggest Fan
I want you to know that on the days you feel torn down, I will still be cheering you on. When life seems to have no direction, you can always come to me. I know the best and the worst parts of you. So on the days everyone else gets to see the best of you, I will be there in the crowd of smiling faces. I will be the one cheering the loudest and beaming the brightest. And on the days that everyone sees the worst, I’ll stand in front of you, making sure that no one gets to harm the heart that I have come to know and love so well. I will take the harsh words or sentiments, so you don’t have to. I will always cheer for you, love you, and support you no matter what.
I want you to dream big
I want to remind you of how capable and wise you are. You have a tenacity for the things that fill you with passion and a tendency to solve rather complicated issues. I believe in you more than anything, and I want you to remember that God is always on your side. There is so little that is in our control, but there is nothing that is out of God’s. Pray big and dream big because I believe our God has big plans for you. I believe He is going to use you in ways that you never thought possible and that are too large for you to fathom right now. Don’t sell yourself short, and don’t put God in a box. Dream the big dream, do the hard work, and then trust that God will take you the rest of the way right into His plan for you.
Thank you for helping me trust
When we met, I told you it would take me a long time to trust you fully. In all honesty, I expected that to offend you, at the very least. You were not the reason for my lack of trust, but you were the one who was being hurt nay it. Yet, you looked at me with eyes full of compassion and told me that it was okay to be guarded. You insisted that you would show me rather than tell me that I could trust you. As usual, you held strong to your word and slowly taught me that true and pure trust is a beautiful thing that I shouldn’t shy away from but welcome into my life.
I love you
Lastly, I just want you to know that I love you. You are the prince I sang with Sleeping Beauty as a little girl. You are the friend I lacked in elementary school. You are the crush that I daydreamed about finding in middle school. You are the confidence boost that I craved in high school. You are the dream come true that I met in college. You are my answered prayer. And you most definitely exist.
Olivia Lauren is a graduate student passionate about Scripture, particularly the Book of Romans showcasing God’s grace. Outside her studies, she enjoys teaching her dog new tricks and finding quicker ways to silence the smoke alarm after trying a new recipe.
Today would have been my dear friend’s 28th birthday, and this year, I would have told her happy birthday. I wouldn’t have forgotten to tell her how grateful I was that she graced this world with another year of her laughter and rich kindness.
But I forgot last year.
And only a few days later, she took her life.
I got the text around 5 a.m. relaying the dreadful news. I reread the message repeatedly, afraid that if I put down my phone and peeled my eyes off the words, I would have to accept them. I would have to process and replay that I had missed her birthday (though she hadn’t missed mine). I would be forced to count the times I thought about checking in on her and her baby girls and didn’t. Why didn’t I? Because my schedule and my to-do lists somehow always seemed more important.
My shame quickly stepped in and took grief for a torturous twist. I wept bitterly. I mourned not only her loss but the newfound reality that I wasn’t there for her as I should have been.
If you had checked on her when she shared that post about anxiety, she might have opened up to you. Maybe she would’ve gotten help or found hope.
Some big, bad, holy-rolling mental health advocate you are, huh? You don’t mind chatting about mental health and faith to recruit social media followers, but where were these conversations when your dear friend was wading through her darkest days?
Where were you?
What kind of friend were you?
Can you even call yourself her friend?
Like a brutal broken record, these piercing thoughts replayed, hollowing my heart day and night. Shame’s salvos were relentless, offering no sign of light, life, or hope.
Nonetheless, at some point, I had to move on. I had to accept reality and press forward. But how?
It took time, and it continues to take time as I navigate grief without shame suffocating my journey, but I would like to share three things you should remember when a loved one commits suicide.
I pray these three things aid your healing:
1. You Aren’t Responsible
You aren’t responsible for another person’s decisions. You are called to love them well, to support and encourage them and even call out their unhealthy choices, but you weren’t granted control over them for rightful reasons. Love is freeing. It cares so deeply about someone that it steps back and allows them to make their own choices.
After all, Jesus doesn’t force us to accept Him. Though He knows the agonizing consequences if we don’t, He still lets us choose. Why? Love isn’t love if it’s forced. At that point, it’s watered down to manipulation.
In other words, no matter what we know—no matter how aware we are of the danger of our loved one’s decisions—love doesn’t steal freedom from another.
It wasn’t and isn’t your responsibility to dictate another person’s decisions, and by allowing them the freedom to live their own lives, you are free of the consequences of their actions.
Does this mean if a friend mentions suicide, you should side-step their troubles and let them “make the decision” to take their life? No, no, no! But does recognizing a loved one’s freedom make grieving their suicide any easier? Yes, with time. As the adrenaline subsides, emotions find a healthier rhythm, and your mind recalls the truth, you can slowly see that you aren’t required to carry out the burden of the consequences of their decision.
Remember that love is freeing–for both parties.
2. Your Love Was Enough
I’ll repeat: your love was enough.
So often, we tally up the ways we failed that person. We recall the times we didn’t check in on them, follow through with coffee plans, or care enough to ask hard questions that might have made them upset but saved their life.
What if I had only pushed harder? Asked more? Kept my word? Stayed faithful to the schedule? Prioritized our time better?
What if my love wasn’t enough to make them know they mattered?
What if?
What if?
What if?
As a young girl battling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, I became well-acquainted with this hounding, two-word question. My mom always countered, “Remind yourself that what-ifs don’t matter. Tell your mind that.” I did and still do tell my mind that what-ifs don’t matter, but often, my mind doesn’t take its own advice.
Yet, at some point, we must be brave enough to answer our what-if questions, tell them they don’t matter, and walk away from their death grip. You see, what-ifs don’t hold the keys to your shackles. You do. What-ifs only have the control you permit.
And regardless of whether or not you question if your love was enough, no matter how often you wonder what would have happened if you had loved them “better,” carrying such shame won’t heal anyone.
It won’t restore their life. But it will destroy yours.
Don’t give what-ifs such power. Don’t allow yourself to second guess if your love was enough.
I’ll answer this one for you: your love was more than enough.
Rest in that today.
3. Grief Is Allowed to be Messy
Bottling up grief always leads to an unhealthy explosion. And heaven forbid you unleash its detonating blow on someone who didn’t deserve the bitterness, anger, and deep hurt swelled in your exhausted, heavy soul.
Remember that grief is allowed to be messy. Healthy grief is not linear. It’s up and down, in and out, here then there, hiding, then in plain sight. It’s not limited to certain times and locations but has its own schedule that infiltrates everything we see, smell, touch, hear, feel, think, remember, etc.
I challenge you to face your grief and allow it to have a place on your journey. It can come along for the messy, bumpy ride. In fact, you can introduce your grief to trusted Christian mentors, counselors, and close friends and family. I encourage you to welcome grief to sit at your table as you have healthy conversations to process what has happened to you.
Let grief be part of your healing journey.
But remember, shame isn’t allowed on this trip. There is no hope, light, or life at the end of shame’s sick games. It promises no peace, resolution, or healthy survival tactics. It wants you to feel guilty when you haven’t “defeated” grief, but I am here to say: grief never really leaves us. When we love someone, they stay with us, and their absence is forever present. It’s almost tangible in a loud, surreal way.
You are allowed to grieve. But you aren’t allowed to let shame control your story if you ever want to find peace and lay the what-if questions to rest.
I’m on this journey with you. I’m paddling alongside you. You might see me cry. You’ll certainly hear me mention my dear friend’s name. But promise me you’ll call me out when shame takes the stern.
Jeremy Stalnecker seeks to help his podcast listeners answer one of the toughest questions we all face: “How do I move forward when my world is falling apart?” You can listen to every episode of March or Die for FREE on LifeAudio, or listen to an episode right now by clicking the play button below:
Peyton Garland is an author and coffee shop hopper who loves helping others find beauty from ashes despite OCD, burned bridges, and perfectionism. Follow her on Instagram @peytonmgarland and check out her latest book, Tired, Hungry, & Kinda Faithful, Where Exhaustion and Exile Meet God, to discover how your cup can overflow, even in dry seasons.
Lucky for us, you don’t have to book a trip across the pond to get your hands on a bottle. The 1.6-ounce size is available on Amazon for a very doable $26, which officially makes it the most affordable scent in our arsenal of French fragrance staples. What, exactly does the oil smell like, and why is it so special? Well, it has multitasking powers, for one. As a dry oil, it’s supremely hydrating, but it’s light enough to be used anywhere on the body—try it on your strands to make your next slicked-back style a snap.
Even though it soaks into the skin and leaves behind a noticeable satiny glow, it’s the opposite of greasy, and you’re also left with that now-famous scent featuring delicate notes of orange blossom, magnolia, and vanilla. Last but not least, there’s the 98% natural origin of the oil’s trademark ingredients. Seven precious botanical oils (tsubaki, argan, macadamia, borage, camelia, hazelnut, and sweet almond) team up to deliver an impressive host of benefits, such as anti-pollution protection, antioxidant-induced brightness, diminished stretch marks, and long-lasting moisture. Obviously, we’re buying about 10 bottles. Click below to get your own bottle and then keep scrolling to discover more best-selling French favorites from Nuxe and the other French pharmacy gems our editors go wild for.
But there’s are a couple surprising elements of the work experience you may never have considered: Artwork and connections to cultural activities.
While it’s lovely to wander a museum on a Saturday afternoon or enjoy a sculpture park on a crisp fall day, art is usually not what people consider when they think of the ideal office experience. But with all the disruption in how people work, where they work and why they work—reimaging the office with unexpected perks of art and culture makes perfect sense.
A new study by Brookfield Properties, examined the impacts of enriched offices—those which featured art, sculpture, beautiful design and elements which made them aesthetically rewarding—beautiful places people wanted to be. They also considered places where people were brought together with cultural, social or wellbeing events (think: art walks, community/company gatherings or meet-the-artist events).
They found big differences in peoples’ productivity, satisfaction and creativity based on these experiences.
Beautiful surroundings can energize, motivate and inspire.
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Great Offices Deliver Great Results
The great debate about where people do their best work is in full swing, but a critical element of the discussion is the nature of the office.
Satisfaction
Only 38% of those surveyed liked the atmosphere of their office, but for those with access to cultural, wellbeing or social events, the percentage rose to 63%.
Fully 41% said their office is badly designed and 37% said it is uncomfortable. Those most likely to report these experiences work in offices which lack beauty or aesthetic design elements.
Inspiration and Creativity
Only 24% of people feel inspired by their jobs, but this jumps to 39% when people work in enriched offices.
Overall, only 18% of people said their offices encouraged them to be creative in their work, and only 10% felt a sense of creative energy. But when they had enriched spaces or access to cultural or wellbeing events, 32% felt inspired and creative.
Effectiveness and Wellbeing
A large percentage, 64% said cultural and social events in the office helped them work more effectively.
Fully 69% said having interesting and visually attractive art pieces in the workplace contributed to their wellbeing.
And 77% said their wellbeing is improved by having interesting social, cultural, wellbeing events in the workplace.
Great Offices Draw People In
The quality of the work experience makes a big difference in people’s motivation to come to the office—especially when the opportunity for socializing or drawing boundaries are involved.
The study found 62% of people preferred working in an office rather than working from home. And the percentage rose to 75% when they worked in offices which were richer in terms of art, design and aesthetics.
Socializing was also a draw. Specifically, 77% of people enjoyed coming into the office so they could connect with colleagues, and 72% were motivated by the presence of colleagues in the office. Three quarters (72%) of people also said they preferred the office when they had access to cultural, social or wellbeing events. In addition, 66% said working with their leaders inspired them.
Work-life boundaries were also positively impacted. Fully 66% said coming into an office gave them a good delineation between work and life, and this percentage rose to 76% when their office conditions were more enriched.
Create spaces which are beautiful, activated and connected to the community.
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Enriching Offices
The conclusions from this study are clear: Great office experiences draw people in and contribute to positive results.
Spaces
Companies have the opportunity to create great work experiences with plenty of choice and control and which offer a wide variety of settings to support all kinds of work (think: focus, collaboration, learning, socializing and rejuvenating). In addition, they can display art and feature areas where people can make, hack and bring an artistic bent to their efforts. They can also ensure nature is part of the experience with the texture, color and beauty brought into the space with elements like water, daylight, plants and views.
Activation
Organizations can also activate their spaces with events which help people feel connected to the region, the company and their coworkers. Events featuring wine (or iced tea) and cheese with executives for employees work well, but also think broadly about the organization’s role in the community. Invite the community in for a fund-raising auction, host an art fair on the company grounds or sponsor an evening celebrating local dance customs.
One food company in the eastern U.S. hosts lunches for community members once per week during the summer months, and a financial firm in the pacific northwest opens their café to community members as a work club on Mondays and Fridays. A pharma company in the western U.S. invites employees’ children in for Halloween trick or treating.
Art and Beauty
Organizations can also be creative about how they make art part of the work experience. One tech organization in the Midwest gives every employee the opportunity to spend a stipend on a piece of art of the employee’s choice which becomes part of the corporate collection. Their grounds are vast, and they offer bike rentals and opportunities for the community to do self-guided tours of the facility’s outdoor art and architecture on weekends.
A manufacturing company in western Canada displays (only) art from local artists. At a healthcare organization in the south, artists regularly visit the facility offering to do quick oil paintings of patients and families. An insurance firm in the Midwest has one of the largest corporate art collections and they open their doors to the community once a year to put their collection on display. A consumer goods company with nature trails featuring sculptures, invites community members to use the space alongside employees who use them as well.
In Sum
Great experiences help people connect with others and feel part of a community which is larger than themselves—contributing to motivation. Beauty is meaningful as well. People value a positive aesthetic experience, and they gain energy from their surroundings. All of these make a well-designed and an intentionally inspiring experience worth the effort.
In life, there will always be conflict. No matter how much we try to avoid it, there will always be people who share different opinions than we do. If both parties are passionate about their opinions, believing each is correct, this results in conflict. Christians often avoid conflict because they think it’s not Christlike. They believe it’s not being gracious by asserting themselves or their opinions on others. Christians also fear not being liked. Jesus embodied grace, but he also set firm boundaries with others, especially those who did not want to put God and his will first in their lives.
Handle Conflict in a Christlike Manner
Consider the rich young ruler. Mark 10:21-22 says, “Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.”
Jesus did not run after the man; he allowed him to make his own choices. Jesus rooted his identity in his father, and being right was not on his agenda. He came to do the work of his father on earth, and he often paid the price of rejection and persecution (and ultimately death) because of it. In the same way, being Christlike does not mean being liked or not being assertive. Certain situations require us to set firm boundaries against people who may hinder our spiritual growth. This often results in conflict. Although all conflicts in our lives may never be fully resolved, we are called to deal with them as Christlike as possible.
Here are six Christlike ways to handle disagreements:
1. Pray About It
When we disagree with someone, the first thing we can do is pray. Give God the situation. Pray for the person with whom you are in conflict. Ask the Lord to speak and reveal to you anything you need to know about the situation that you may not know already. Ask the Lord to show you anything about the person you may need to know. Reflect on their story—their background, childhood, and current standing with your local church body. Ask the Lord to soften your heart towards that person. During the disagreement, you may have said things that attacked their character, and they may have done the same. Redeem this behavior by confessing your sin to God. Offer an apology to the other party. They may or may not accept it, but you have taken the first step toward resolving the conflict in a Christlike manner.
2. Bite Your Tongue
In the heat of the moment, it is easy to use hurtful words and harsh comments to win the argument or to protect yourself from further rejection. Yet, when Jesus was on trial and falsely accused, he did not snap back with a quick comment or a word of knowledge about their lives. He instead remained silent, knowing that the ultimate judge had already found him not guilty.
When our identities are rooted in Christ, the rejection of others is secondary to our standing with God. If we can remain blameless in a situation before God, we have already won the argument, regardless of whether we have come to a timely resolution. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Seek always to build others up rather than tear them down. We will not be perfect at this, yet striving to put others first even in the heat of conflict reflects Christlike character.
God’s will is for all people to be at peace. Paul writes about this in several of his letters to his churches. Since the church is the Bride of Christ, its members are our brothers and sisters. With so many opinions, we are bound to conflict with one another at some point. But it is how we resolve the conflict that counts. Be the first to offer a sincere apology to the other party. Practice active listening by listening to their point of view without asserting yours. When the other party is finished speaking, state your position again. Ask if they can see it from your perspective. Sometimes a shift in perspective can help us truly understand the situation from another point of view.
3. Forgive Always
Forgiveness is perhaps the hardest part of conflict because the other party might offer an apology, but trust has not been achieved. Therefore, you may be suspicious if they might repeat the action again. Scripture is clear that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us of our sins. We must understand that forgiveness is a process. It is a result of processing through tough emotions and resolving them in a way that cultivates Christlike character. When we seek to forgive others even when we feel they don’t deserve it, we are becoming more like Christ because Jesus died on the cross, taking on the world’s sins but having committed no sin himself. The other party may not forgive you, but that is no excuse for you not to seek forgiveness. We are obligated as Christians to forgive one another, regardless of the other party’s response.
4. Pinpoint the Underlying Needs
In the heat of the moment, it is easy to argue about the conflict at hand. This may result from a current situation where the two of you are entangled. Yet, the emotional response to the conflict may have nothing to do with you. If this is someone you know personally, recall what you have observed in their lives. Is there any unresolved trauma or other wounds from the past that may be interfering with your current conflict? Sometimes people seek justice in this current situation because they did not receive justice for a past injury or victimization. If this is the case, kindly state what you believe to be true and see if there’s a grain of truth to it. If there is, help them seek to resolve the previous pain so that pain does not interfere with your relationship today. By doing so, you will not only seek to resolve the conflict peacefully, but you may gain a true friend in the process.
5. Wish Them Well
Paul and Barnabas had such a sharp disagreement that they had to part ways: “Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord” (Acts 15:37-40). Scripture never says whether that conflict was resolved. While we may wish every conflict in which we are embroiled comes to a peaceful agreement, that’s not always the case.
Seek reconciliation and peace as much as possible. We can live at peace with someone and not be in conflict with them. Yet that conflict was not completely resolved. Romans 12:18 says, “as it stands with you, live at peace with all men.” Despite our passionate position and extension of grace, we may never resolve every conflict in our lives. Process any unresolved emotions or pain from the incident. Live at peace with yourself and accept that you may never be in a relationship with that person again. If reconciliation cannot be achieved, wish them well and pray for God’s blessing over their lives.
Conflict is always difficult. No one likes to be involved in conflict with others. But it is a necessary element of living with other people. Do your best to seek resolution and reconciliation with others. It may not always be possible, but peace and the Christlike character that results is always a guaranteed outcome.
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and a certified writing coach. Her new children’s book Who God Wants Me to Be encourages girls to discover God’s plan for their careers. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
EON is the first touchless, robotic device in the State of Washington advancing body contouring.
Press Release –
Oct 13, 2022
EVERETT, Wash., October 13, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Renew ND is pleased to announce that they will be featuring EON treatments using autonomous robotic technology, a first of its kind in Washington state. This will allow them to offer their patients a non-invasive body contouring treatment that permanently eliminates fat cells without the downtime of a surgical procedure. EON treatments have a high patient satisfaction and are ideal for patients trying to target those stubborn areas of fat that diet and exercise cannot improve.
“Here at my practice, Renew ND in Everett, WA, my customers are always looking for one-and-done treatment with instant results,” said Dr. Luba Evmeshkina, the owner and provider of Renew ND. “I’m happy to offer EON, which is touchless, robotic fat reduction first in the Pacific Northwest Seattle area.” Currently, EON is FDA cleared for flanks and full abdomen, which is backed by years of research and industry-leading scientist and doctors; EON leverages innovative touchless technology that targets unwanted stubborn fat. With its state-of-the-art robotic precision, EON can simultaneously deliver laser energy and cooling for a more comfortable treatment experience without post-treatment care or downtime.
EON is an FDA-cleared 1064nm laser used for non-invasive fat reduction of the abdomen and flanks. The device is designed with touchless, autonomous technology that maps the patient’s topography for personalized treatments. The device utilizes over 40 safety sensors for advanced patient safety, including skin proximity and temperature detection. EON heats adipose tissue to a temperature of approximately 123.8° F, inducing cell death or apoptosis. The state-of-the-art jet impingement cooling system maintains the external skin temperature to around 103.1°F for a comfortable patient experience.
Provider studies show that patients experienced a 21.6 – 25 percent average fat reduction after a single 60-minute abdominal treatment, while some patients lost as much as 40 percent. According to Dr. Luba, “With EON, customers begin noticing results a few weeks after their initial treatment with full results achieved after three months.”
To find more information about Renew ND and book an EON consultation, visit their website at renewnd.com. To learn more about EON Smarter Body Contouring, please visit www.eonlaser.com.
#END#
ABOUT RENEW ND:
Renew ND prides itself on providing individualized, superior services using only the latest state-of-the-art technologies. However, their passion for helping people and an unwavering commitment to their clients distinguished them as a leader in the Pacific Northwest area. With years of experience and advanced training, you will leave their practice feeling brand new.
ABOUT DOMINION AESTHETIC TECHNOLOGIES:
Founded in 2016, Dominion Aesthetic Technologies, Inc. is a laser platform aesthetic device company with corporate headquarters in Texas and R&D labs in Florida. Dominion Aesthetic Technologies created EON – Smarter Body Contouring to exceed the unmet needs of aesthetic physicians by leveraging innovative touchless robotic technology to advance the aesthetic body contouring industry.
Women have become a highlighted topic not just within the culture but in the church as well. There is one discussion that is lacking in the church when it comes to women: discipleship.
A healthy implemented discipleship program is the marker of a healthy church.
Discipleship is intentional in building not only relationships but addressing spiritual health areas that sermons cannot. This is essential to spiritual growth. It is so important, in fact, that teaching is part of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Woman-to-woman discipleship is crucial to the Body of Christ. It is vital to the health of a female believer in their walk.
Men cannot speak into the lives of a woman in the way another woman can.
Paul’s Teaching
Titus 2 is the model for woman-to-woman discipleship within the church. Paul is writing to Titus in Crete, where he was left to help set up and equip the newly established church. A great deal of the letter focuses on the health of the church and the roles of leadership.
Paul was likely either addressing issues that the church was facing by giving specific instruction to Titus on how to teach and appoint the church’s leaders.
Within Titus 2, there is instruction specific to women regarding discipleship. In a way, it is descriptive of the discipleship life cycle of the church.
Looking at the full passage, it speaks to men and women equally, but we can note the special instruction for women specifically:
“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Titus 2:1-5
There is specific behavior from older women that should be present if they are to teach younger women.
Reverent in their behavior – For a woman to disciple another woman well, she must lead by example. She is to be a woman seeking to walk holy as God is holy. The phrase I use often is that she must be a woman who practices what she preaches to other women. Older women are to live out the example of spiritual maturity.
Not slanderers – Unfortunately, women are known for gossip. Our words matter to God. What we say about others has a great impact. Women who are seeking to disciple, just like I said before, should be the example. Their words should be as reverent as their behavior.
Not slaves to much wine – Being a slave to wine will directly affect your behavior. If we are to guard our hearts against sin, we must put off what can cause us to stumble.
To teach what is good – Women and men are called to teach sound doctrine and the scriptures and to point to the gospel in all things. They cannot teach what is good if they do not know what is good. Older women should be trained to disciple younger women. This is what I call the life cycle of discipleship. Older women train younger women. Younger women will become older women, and the cycle will continue.
What Are Older Women to Teach?
What exactly are older women called to teach younger women? We know they are to teach sound doctrine and what is good, but there are specific areas where only a woman can speak into the life of another woman:
To love their husbands – Older women who are experienced in marriage can speak to the areas of marriage where a woman may struggle. They can encourage and even reprove where needed. Older women can give knowledgeable advice when it comes to marriage. This doesn’t mean you must be married for fifty years to qualify. To a newlywed in her twenties, I am an older woman who has been married for sixteen years. (There will always be a woman younger than you).
To love their children – This could look twofold. While older women should encourage younger women to love and care for their young ones at home, they should be encouraged to disciple their children. Those we love should be our priority for discipleship. Mothers are the first line of gospel truth in the lives of their children.
To be self-controlled – Self-control is a skill refined over the course of our lives. It is one that we often must be reminded of daily. For a young woman, self-control often comes in battling selfish desires or even dealing with disappointment. Older women can help be a constant reminder of what really matters in our day-to-day lives as believers.
To be pure – We are to be pure, chaste, and holy women. One of the main things we should be doing as believers is pursuing holiness. It is a day-by-day action of walking holy as God is holy, and we are to be encouraging one another to pursue holiness.
Working at home – There are many places within scripture indicating that women are the managers of the home. Women handle the day-to-day activities of the home, delegate tasks, and even control the emotional temperature of their homes. Women have a great deal of control over the home and should be encouraged to embrace the task with grace rather than resentment.
To be kind–- All believers should be marked by kindness, not just women.
To be submissive to their own husbands – The word submission leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. However, wives are called to be submissive to their husbands. They are not to be submissive to abuse or to be lorded over. Just as a wife is instructed to submit to the leadership of her husband, so her husband must submit to the leadership of the Lord. In the case of discipleship, older women can instruct in what submission is and is not. Older women can also be the first line of defense in abuse that may be taking place within the home.
The end result ensures that the Word of God is not “reviled.” According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word reviled means to criticize, abuse, or angrily insult. Proper discipleship leads to a proper attitude towards God’s Word. It protects believers from erring and guides them in how to walk rightly.
All these things are written so that we may know God and honor Him with our lives.
Related Resource – FREE Discipleship Podcast for Women!
Check out Coffee and Bible Times – a podcast for Christian women to be encouraged and grow in their faith. Ashley, Taylor, and Mentor Mama are founders of the Coffee and Bible Time ministry. Their passion is to help inspire people to delight in God’s Word. Listen to every episode on LifeAudio.com, or click the play button below to listen to an episode right now!
Michelle Rabon is a wife and homeschooling mom of three who feels called to help women thrive in their walk with Jesus every day. In 2012, she started Displaying Grace, a ministry that is focused on helping women engage with God’s Word. Michelle has also served in women’s ministry for the past five years seeking to equip women in the local church through Bible study. When she is not writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, being close to the ocean, and drinking a lot of coffee.
The trending hair care product line has received praise from American models Hailey Bieber and Alexis Ren.
Press Release –
May 29, 2022
SYDNEY, May 29, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Australia-based AMR Hair & Beauty has become the exclusive stockist of K18, one of the fastest-growing brands in the hair care space. Designed to reverse hair damage, the K18 Repair Mask leverages a patented peptide technology to restore bleached hair back to its original condition in just four minutes. Since launching the K18 product line on its site in September of 2021, AMR Hair & Beauty has reported that sales for the brand have spiked 447%, generating $1 million per week.
Online, the K18 Repair Mask has been praised by customers who had noticed immediate results after first-time usage. Priced at $85 per bottle, the mask has drawn comparisons to similar products manufactured by industry leader Olaplex.
It has also received raving reviews from models Hailey Bieber and Alexis Ren, two of the largest beauty influencers in the world. The social media success does not stop there – K18’s mask has quickly become one of the most popular products among TikTok users in the beauty and hair care niche.
The vegan and cruelty-free mask contains patented bioactive peptides that repair the keratin within hair cuticles to strengthen locks, improve elasticity, and produce hair that appears shinier and feels softer. The peptides are recognised as natural by hair cuticles and can carry amino acids deep into the hair structure, unlike traditional bonding agents that remain on the outer surface of the cuticles, which can be easily washed away by water or shampoo. K18 works on all hair types and can be used to enhance damaged or dry hair.
AMR Hair & Beauty is a pioneer in the hair and beauty industry. As the exclusive Australian stockist for brands such as Olaplex, KEVIN.MURPHY, milk_shake, ELEVEN Australia, and now K18, the supplier has grown to become the fastest-growing hair and beauty enterprise in the country. AMR has opened three new stores in the last 12 months, with plans for continued expansion set to take place over the next few years.
AMR is Australia’s fastest-growing hair and beauty supply enterprise. Established in 2004, we specialise in offering the hair and beauty industry a wide range of high-quality, cost-effective salon essentials, products, equipment, furniture and accessories. We aim to source, import and supply the finest quality products from across the globe and deliver them directly to salons and customers Australia-wide. The key benefits for AMR customers are product ranges that are exclusive to our company.
The new hair accessories will be available for purchase at 700 Ulta Beauty locations nationwide.
Press Release –
May 9, 2022
SALT LAKE CITY, May 9, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– GIMME Beauty, a health and beauty company committed to designing innovative hair solutions, is pleased to share the continuation of its ongoing partnership with Ulta Beauty. Now, 700 Ulta Beauty locations nationwide will sell its new claw clip and bobby pin line in addition to the products that are already available for purchase at the beauty retailer.
As GIMME Beauty maintains its mission to eliminate bad hair days, its new products complement all hair types, including fine, medium and thick hair. The new claw clips come in a variety of colors and shapes and feature a unique, patented technology that provides just the right amount of pressure to stay secure and comfortable all day.
GIMME bobby pins stay in place all day and come in variations for fine, medium and thick hair, allowing anyone to find their perfect fit. The bobby pins provide a firm and comfortable hold all day long thanks to their double-bar design, thicker metal, and textured inside for extra grip.
“At GIMME Beauty, we’re committed to creating unique solutions that are just right for each individual,” said Jeff Durham, CEO. “We understand the need to specialize our products to cater to all hair types and avoid a cookie-cutter approach that one size fits all. We want women to feel confident and are here to support them with our products.”
GIMME Beauty is a family-owned company whose community is at the heart of its mission. GIMME celebrates individual beauty, helping people elevate themselves and their confidence with high-quality, innovative products that eliminate bad hair days. GIMME accessories are the second best-selling accessories at Ulta Beauty, the largest beauty retailer in the United States, and are available at more than 20,000 retail stores in the U.S.
GIMME’s products are available for purchase online at Ulta through the following link.
About GIMME Beauty GIMME Beauty’s vision is to design innovative hair solutions that disrupt the status quo of the health and beauty hair care category. The company’s products rank among the industry’s fastest-growth items, according to Nielsen Market Data. Since launching in 2006, GIMME has become a national brand available at more than 20,000 stores across the U.S. Follow GIMME on Instagram or Facebook to learn about its latest collections. To learn more about GIMME Beauty, visit www.gimmebeauty.com.
Together, they offer clients the best of both worlds; the industry-recognized technology behind Launchmetrics’ solutions along with DMR’s 20 years of historical data and reputable white-glove expertise.
Press Release –
Mar 29, 2022
NEW CITY, N.Y., March 29, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Launchmetrics, the leading Brand Performance Cloud for the Fashion, Luxury, Beauty (FLB) industries, announces the acquisition of their largest competitor, DMR. Following the acquisition, Launchmetrics becomes the SaaS provider to over 1,200 FLB brands, offering the most comprehensive brand performance solution. This strategic move marks the company’s fifth acquisition*, projecting Launchmetrics to the undisputed category leader in Brand Performance.
For Fashion, Luxury and Beauty industries, the brand is the most important financial asset, with investments upwards of $250B/year on activities directly linked to brand reputation. While there are a multitude of tools that track business and financial performance, Launchmetrics provides the only end-to-end solution to measure brand performance. Their Brand Performance Cloudprovides optimization and measurement tools enabling executives to make smarter decisions around their branding efforts.
“This is a significant moment for Launchmetrics,” states Michael Jais, CEO of Launchmetrics. “We’vebeen working hard to create the industry’s most powerful solution to optimize and measure brand performance – thanks to DMR’s added value, our momentum is propelled, with more than 1,200 clients using our tools today. I am proud to say that we’re an undisputed player in our category but we’re also one step closer to reaching our greater business objectives: hitting over $100M in ARR by 2025.”
“At DMR, we care deeply about each and every one of our client’s specificities and as Founder I have also cared for more than 20 years about our employees, whom I consider my family,” states DMR’s President & Founder, Enzo di Sarli. “Launchmetrics has been a longstanding competitor of DMR, the conversation has been a natural evolution over the years and my main goal, thanks to this decision, is to ensure my legacy, over the next years both to DMR clients, whose trust was essential over the years, and to DMR worldwide staff who have always been by my side throughout this exciting journey.”
Thanks to this acquisition, Launchmetrics grows to over 400 employees, across 10 offices worldwide. DMR clients will continue to benefit from the extensive panel of data and services that they know and love, while gaining access to even more metrics found within the Launchmetrics Brand Performance Cloud solutions, including (but not limited to) social media campaigns in both Western and Eastern territories on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Youtube, WeChat, Douyin (TikTok), Weibo, RED, Bilibili, and others. In return, Launchmetrics clients will see an added value thanks to augmented coverage results, 20 years of historical data as well as access to strengthened customer-centric services.
Launchmetrics technology monitors data for more than 5,000 lifestyle brands; tracking upwards of 5 million documents per day. ItsBrand Performance Cloud encompasses:
600,000 Voices across print, online and social media
10,000 publications (newspapers, magazines and supplements)
and 50,000 online sources
As well as:
85% global fashion shows powered by Launchmetrics
4k images and 1k videos shot every season, for more than 40 Fashion Weeks
$5B product value managed every season through the Samples tool
Ongoing, Launchmetrics will provide industry professionals with the tools and data to help executives make smarter decisions around their branding efforts. Enzo di Sarli will stay on as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition for clients, while bringing his respected expertise to the business alongside former DMR CEO Marco Levi. Moving forward, Launchmetrics’ top priority is to ensure DMR customers keep the same level of service while benefiting from the variety of tools found within their Brand Performance Cloud.
About Launchmetrics Launchmetrics is the leading Brand Performance Cloud used by Fashion, Luxury and Beauty (FLB) executives to connect with the modern consumer in a constantly changing landscape. With over a decade of industry expertise, Launchmetrics helps more than 1,000 customers create inspiring, impactful and measurable experiences.
Its Brand Performance Cloud provides companies with the tools and intelligence they need to optimize the use of their creative assets, execute powerful brand amplification programs and measure their brand performance. The company’s AI-driven and proprietary Media Impact ValueTM gives customers the ability to benchmark their performance against 2,000 competitors worldwide. Launchmetrics’ intelligence empowers these companies to grow their businesses and streamline their processes, bringing a sharp focus to profitability, accountability, and efficiency while enabling the type of quick decision-making required for agility.
Founded in New York and with operating headquarters in Paris, Launchmetrics has employees in ten markets worldwide and offers support in five languages. Launchmetrics has been the trusted brand performance technology to brands worldwide such as Dior, Fendi, Shiseido, and NET-A-PORTER as well as partners like IMG, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the British Fashion Council, Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana and the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode.
