fashion and beauty

Fashion & Beauty

10 Ways To “Enhance” Your Romance In The Bedroom: From Us (And Our Friends And Partners)…Anonymously

Welcome to our first anonymously written post, mostly because our partners made us promise. We’ve toyed with doing this at EHD as a way to keep our privacy (and privacy of our partners/family/friends) while being able to dive into what we really talk about in the office. Valentine’s Day is approaching and most of us don’t want diamonds, all we really want is a way to connect more. You know, to feel in love with our partner. And a side of butterflies wouldn’t hurt. Rumor has it that sex can get stale. It can even start to feel like an obligation, another box to check, after years of marriage and especially after having kids. But intimacy is SO important, and sex is how a lot of couples feel that intimacy. So in addition to the usual “For Him/For Her” gift guide (stay tuned), this year we’ve crowdsourced from all the women we know (and some men) ways/ideas/products to help bring some romance back, excite us a bit, and to help us “connect” more with our partners in the bedroom. Life is long so why not put some effort in and keep having some fun. *Please note that these are direct quotes from our ANONYMOUS friends and selves about stuff they/we LOVE and have worked for them/us. Everyone will be anonymous, mostly to save partners from embarrassment from their moms who likely read this blog. **And a warning – While we think these suggestions are about getting romantic, connecting and having fun in healthy consensual relationships, we also suggest that Emily’s parents (or those that might feel uncomfortable talking about sex) stop reading right here. :) 1. Dispea Podcast: “If you like reading romance novels (me!!) and like listening to podcasts (me!!) then throw on this erotic, not cheesy, story podcast after crawling into bed and see if it works. In my experience just turning it on, turns us on. However, my male partner wants to note that this is more for women than men. I countered with, ‘well, if it works for women isn’t it also for men if you know what I mean?’ He concurred. But be warned that perhaps both partners might not like these stories equally.” 2. The Spicer App: “This app is so fun. It presents activities and ideas and lets you “like” the things you would feel comfortable doing (separately from your partner, so you can answer as honestly as possible). Once you’re both done you get a list, but only see the activities that both you and your partner both “liked”. You can play “dares” or just see what you both are into. It’s fun and just the act of filling out the questions gets us both excited.” 3. Modern and Pretty Lingerie: Duh. But, a lot of us struggle with lingerie because not only can it be actually unflattering, but there is something so “come hither” cheesy about it – almost like putting on a costume, which sure, can be fun but feels kinda false for a regular basis. Historically lingerie brands have done anything BUT empower women, instead they have been another cog in the objectification machine and been a huge source of body shaming. We found Lonely Label lingerie on Instagram and it looks so pretty and modern. Please note all the beautiful women on their site are of many different sizes, shapes, colors, and ages. EXACTLY. Goodbye Victoria Secret. 4. OMGYES: “I found out about “OMGYES” through an Instagram ad, prominently featuring a photo of Emma Watson (who is a big supporter of the site). Think of it like Skillshare for the big O. You pay a one-time fee, which grants you access to an entire archive of informative and eye-opening videos from women of all ages, sharing their experiences and techniques. It’s not porn, and it’s not just text-based articles with diagrams. It’s kinda like chatting in your living room with your best friends, except your best friends are women’s pleasure experts. Learning about your own sexual pleasure only benefits your relationship and a lot of us weren’t taught ANYTHING. Let’s all get more informed.” 5. Eva II: “This discreet and insanely pleasurable little guy changed our sex life. If you feel like you have a hard time ‘getting there’ when having sex, this will make that a non-issue. But if you don’t want to make that investment, multiple women highly recommended this. Also I haven’t tried this but would sure love it – can anybody recommend it?” 6. Take a Sexy Photo: “Whenever I feel a little unsexy and perhaps slightly insecure about my looks I find that taking a naked or sexy mirror pic makes me feel like a new woman. A lot of the times I don’t even share the photos with my partner (but that can help set the mood, too). I just find that simply giving myself space and opportunity to love myself helps open me up to express that love with my partner. But if you do feel comfortable sharing this with your partner, it can be fun and exciting to throw on some lingerie and have them take some photos of you. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself like you are an exquisite masterpiece – because you are.” 7. Pop on a Steamy Movie Or TV Show: We’re not talking porn. Most women (and men) know the power of “The Notebook”, but a lot of guys don’t necessarily feel cool pressing play on that one. But there are some shows and movies that are less, “50 Shades of Ryan Gosling on a ferris wheel,” and more “Rugged Scottish warriors and vampires”. Our favorites are Outlander, True Blood, and even Dirty Dancing. 8. Turn Up Some Music: “This may be the oldest trick in the book. And when we say music – think romance, not sex. We’ve always struggled with selecting that right music choice. While I don’t mind ‘Let’s Get It On’ on the dance floor, there is something too ‘on the nose’ about it in the bedroom. This is highly specific per each couple out there, but I almost suggest more thinking about it romantically. One example: Play ‘your song’ – the one you did for your first dance.” 9. Pamper Yourself Into The Mood: “Everyone has different things that make them feel sexy. For me, feeling relaxed, soft, and smooth make me feel very sexy. I love taking a warm bath (with a candle because sometimes a cliche works) and using Frank Body Scrub to get my skin super soft and smooth. Then when I get out I like to use Fur Oil (actually TWO people swore by this) and then throw on something comfortable but that shows off all my soft skin, like a satin set.” 10. Celebrate Your Partner, Publicly and Privately: “This is coming from me, Emily Henderson, not anonymous. I think that making your partner feel like they are the best, not just with an ‘I love you’ but really letting them know why, what is it about them that you love, why are they so great is the best way to feel connected. And don’t be afraid to call out physical attributes – men like to be complimented as much as women.” Now we’d love to hear from you. What makes you feel good and empowered in the bedroom? Let’s talk about sex (and romance), baby.

Fashion & Beauty

How Sara Saved Her Skin & (Finally) Cured Her Adult Acne

We’re usually pretty into design over here at EHD, but one of our favorite non-design topics in the office? Skincare. Skin—we all have it, we all need it, and most of us have a very complicated relationship with our own flesh wrapping (ew). If there’s one thing I love talking about, it’s skiiiiiin. Almost as much as the rest of the EHD team loves talking about color trends. Skin is the largest organ of our body! IT’S AN ORGAN ON THE OUTSIDE, GUYS! How is that not fascinating? So since today is Saturday, we’re taking a quick departure from the design world to talk skincare (but if skin is not something you’re interested in, stay tuned because come Monday we’re going to have some pretty beautiful design content here on the blog). Since the age of 13, I’ve been at war with my skin… Emily Henderson Sara Beauty Skincare Graphic Highschool Sara Here is a list of the things I did not have from ages 13 – 21: popularity good taste clear skin But I had great friends to endure it all with, and to be honest high school is awkward for pretty much everyone, right? I figured college would be a new, fresh start. College would be where I blossomed from awkward teenagehood to full-blown adult. I was wrong. College had just as much acne in store for me as high school. But whatever, I didn’t let it hold me back. I knew clear skin was just around the corner, because adults don’t have acne. Acne is a puberty thing. And it was! I graduated, turned 21, and my skin calmed down. And I thought “THIS. This is where it starts…my new life as a clear-skinned adult…” Which made sense, college isn’t adulthood. POST COLLEGE IS REAL ADULTHOOD. That’s why my skin hadn’t been cooperating. But the wait was over, and I spent the next four years blissfully thinking my skin would be clear forever. Thinking I had finally acquired “adult skin.” And then I turned 25 and my acne came back, bigger and badder than ever. WORSE THAN WHEN I HAD BEEN 13. I didn’t think it was possible, but the evidence was right there on my face. Emily Henderson Sara Beauty Skincare Graphic 25 Year Old Sara Wow, that last picture is way too close and gross for anyone to see. So happy I’ve put it in large format on the very public internet. Now, listen, I know I’m not the first person in the world to find themselves battling acne. But at least when you’re a teenager most of your friends are right there, going through it with you. On the other hand, when you’re an adult? When you’re in meetings with your coworkers, and you’re just sitting there feeling like a 7th grader going through puberty. You feel like you’re the only adult in the world with acne (this is not true). And beyond the face forward appearances, there’s the fact that this acne HURT. And honestly, that was the worst part. If you have acne, it can make you self conscious because society is so hell-bent on having clear skin. But acne happens to most of us, and I know from experience that we always think our acne stands out way more than it really does. I rarely notice acne on anyone. But painful cystic acne is no joke, and when you’re face feels like a minefield ready to explode, you’re willing to try a lot. And over the past two years, I have. Which is what I’m about to share with all of you. In fact, it blew my mind a few weeks ago when Em told me she had just recently started a skin routine for the first time in her life. I’ve had one since I was 14! (Who else had the classic Clinique department store visit with their mom when they were around that age?) But Em said acne just wasn’t one of her issues growing up. *Teen angst eye roll* But let’s get a few things clear (skin not included): I’m not a dermatologist, I’m not a doctor, I’m not even an esthetician. I’m just an enthusiast who’s spent serious time dedicated to researching skincare in the quest for pain-free, well cared for skin (which just happens to involve a lot of selfie taking, and weekly skin updates between my best friend Nafeesa and myself). There is a lot of information out there, and a lot of it contradictory. What works really well for one person’s skin might wreak havoc on another’s. So what I’ve read/experienced might be different from what you’ve read/experienced. I’ve put together my skin regime based on recommendations from skincare experts that I trust, experimenting, and giving the products I’m trying the patience and time to work. There’s a joke in the skincare forums that companies will make an all-in-one shampoo/conditioner/body wash/mouthwash/hair gel for men, while they’ll create a lotion specifically for a woman’s left elbow. And it’s all because of a vicious cycle where “the media” tells women that clear skin is a key to confidence, so we’ll pay anything for a product that will give us that result. Men just don’t seem to care as much. That’s not to say that there aren’t men who experience acne and who do care. But in my experience, men as a whole don’t worry so much about the other aspects of skincare that women obsess over: sun spots, wrinkles, smoothness, dewiness, etc. And that’s probably because society hasn’t told them that their worth is dependent on how young and beautiful they look. WOW IT’S SO FRUSTRATING, RIGHT?! At the same time, I do want to take care of this tiny swath of organ wrapped around my skull. I don’t want to feed into unhealthy cycles perpetuated by corporations and advertising, but I also want to look in the mirror and feel happy and comfortable with what I see. And is it so bad that I want to look like a young 67 when I’m actually 70? IS IT?! It turns out I have a lot of complicated emotions about this topic. Which is all to say: You don’t need to spend a lot of money on your skincare if you don’t want to. I really do think the beauty and skincare industries have oversold women on how many products they NEED in their routines. I just happen to be really interested in skincare (almost as a hobby of sorts), which is why I spend my disposable income on it. Just like someone else might on clothing or expanding their collection of *archaic* DVDs (I’m looking straight at my boyfriend when I type this; we watch everything on Netflix these days and do you really need the collectors’ edition AND the Criterion edition?). In fact, let’s start with a few things I did in my general life that really helped my skin without even spending a dime: Change your pillowcases regularly: Turns out that pillowcase you’re rubbing your face on all night gets COVERED with dirt, grime, sweat, oils, and dead skin pretty fast. An acne-causing bacteria buffet. This sounds like a no brainer, but when someone suggested this to me a few years ago it actually hadn’t occurred to me. So simple, SO EFFECTIVE. I try and switch my pillowcase at least once a week, if not every 4-5 days. It sounds excessive, but I’ve found it makes a huge difference. Drink more water. Wow, water is so good for us. Have you heard the joke “I used to think alcohol was the adult drink, then I thought it was coffee, and now I realize water is the most adult drink”? Well, it’s true. I could down eight mimosas no problem, but trying to get myself to drink 8 glasses of water a day is a feat of willpower so impressive I rarely accomplish it. But I do notice my best skin when I’ve been in office consistently for a period of time because that’s when I drink the most water on a daily basis. Try avoiding dairy. I’ve cut out a lot of dairy from my diet, and it’s done wonders for my hormonal acne. I’ve read this is because dairy products contain proteins that are supposed to stimulate growth hormones in baby calves. When we digest those proteins, they release an insulin-like hormone that disrupts our own hormone production. This can cause our skin to produce more oil, which traps more dead skin and sebum in our pores, which acne-causing bacteria feed on. Acne is the result. Make sure you’re not using too many products. Maybe you’re a skincare devotee, like me. And maybe you’ve been trying all the products, all out once, and your skin is freaking the f*&k out (also like me). I was at a point where I was doing some sort of crazy 25 step skin routine overnight with four different kinds of acid, multiple toners, etc. And wondering why my skin was still breaking out. I was using all the good, expensive things! The first time I went to my favorite esthetician for a facial she casually asked me what I was using and it then took me about 10 minutes to summarize it all. She took a beat to process what I’d told her and then said something along the lines of “you might want to cut that back, your skin can’t possibly be benefitting from all of those different combinations, and you’re likely doing more harm than good (therefore wasting your money).” So now I’ve simplified and my skin is happier for it. I’ve tried a lot of different things in the past—Proactive, diaper cream, toothpaste, straight rubbing alcohol…ouch. But now I’m in a pretty happy place with my skin, and am using some products I really feel are helping me keep my skin clear, hydrated, and happy. There is one big change I’ve made for my skin that required a doctors visit. I’m currently taking a low dose of a medication called spironolactone. This article from Into The Gloss has a lot of great information about using spironolactone to treat acne. It’s an androgen blocker that has been wildly beneficial in reducing my hormonal cystic acne. I’ve been taking it daily for about a year and half now (it took about 3 months to kick in), and it’s made a huge difference. If you’re a female and are suffering from hormonal acne, it’s totally worth a trip to the doctor to see if spironolactone could be an option for you. But as far as everyday skincare goes, I really do believe that everyone could benefit from at least least washing their faces, applying moisturizer, and slathering on SPF. If you’re like “ugh skincare, no thank you” then I think a three step process (only two steps at night!) is all you need. ESPECIALLY THE SPF. It’s 2019, let’s move past our egos and just accept the fact that we’re not tougher than the sun. Not only will SPF help keep your skin looking younger longer as it avoids sun damage, it’s also just a good thing to do in order to help minimize your exposure to melanoma causing UV rays. I’ve read multiple times that SPF is the single most important skincare step. I even have Mac wearing daily SPF on his gorgeous face. But let’s say you’re into skincare, you want to kick things up a notch. Or five. Well then, step into my office (bathroom). Evenings are when I do the heavy lifting of my skincare routine. That way I can allow products to soak into my skin overnight, without the hindrance of make-up. Sara’s Nightime Skincare Routine Step 1: Cleanse Right when I get home, the first thing I do is wash my face using a “double cleanse” method, which means I basically wash my face twice. Think of it like a dishwasher. The first rinse gets rid of all the big chunks and makes sure food doesn’t dry impossibly onto your dish, and the second wash makes sure your dish is truly clean. For the record, I don’t have a dish washer and do all my dishes by hand. As for my face, first I use an oil cleanser (right now I’m using Versed’s Cleansing Balm) to break down all the makeup and SPF that’s been on my face all day. Then I use a second cleanser to make sure I haven’t left any make-up or SPF on my face (currently I’m using PCA’s BPO cleanser – the benzoyl peroxide helps remove sebum and dead skin cells from my face, which acne causing bacteria would otherwise feast on). I like this combination because it leaves my face feeling clean and fresh, but not stripped or “tight” (your face’s natural oils are GOOD, you don’t want to completely remove them). Step 2: Tone Next, I tone with Nip & Fab’s Night Pads. These are pre-wet pads, which have a 5% glycolic acid solution. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydraulic acid, and acts as a chemical exfoliant. That means it helps exfoliate your skin (gets rid of dead skin cells) without the use of physical abrasives, like tiny grains or beads. I prefer to use a chemical exfoliant because physical exfoliants tend to be too rough on my skin, causing microscopic tears that just allow more surface area for bacteria to settle in. Step 3: “Correct” (Serums) I then mix together one pump of PCA’s ExLinea Serum and one pump of PCA’s Total Strength Serum in the palm of my hand and apply all over my face in a thin layer. PCA is a skincare line that Emily started using a while back because it was recommended by an esthetician, and I actually noticed a difference in her skin appearance. The ExLinea is my attempt to be preventative about wrinkles, with ingredients like acetyl hexapeptide-8 (argireline) which “minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles” and sodium hyaluronate, which “has the ability to hold 1,000 times its weight in water and plays an important role in skin hydration.” The Total Strength Serum has ingredients like almitoyl tripeptide-38, which “stimulates collagen, and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” I let this soak in for at least 10 minutes before moving onto my next step. Both of these serums are pricey, and definitely a luxury item for me. But these bottles last me a long time, and I really enjoy using them, but there are good products out there with similar ingredients for much more affordable prices. Serums are one of those steps that are interesting and exciting to me, and I feel like they have made a difference in my overall skin health, but they aren’t MANDATORY. If you’re interested in skincare, they are fun accessory products to experiment with. Step 4: Treat (Medication) Once I feel like my serums have settled in for the night I’ll apply a thin layer of topical acne-fighting ingredients. Right now I’m on month 4 of trying out Curology’s custom topical acne medication. I used to see this all the time on my Instagram feed, and finally caved to the hype (my skincare curiosity got the best of me). But surprisingly I’ve been pretty happy with it. It’s one of those “take a quiz and we’ll create a custom blend for you” companies that I think will be a period marker for this era. And yet… I’ve found success with the product. My medication contains a low dose blend of clindamyacin (“antibiotic and anti-inflammatory with powerful effects against acne-causing bacteria”), zinc pyrithione (“fights acne via its antibacterial and antifungal effects), and niacinamide (“a form of vitamin B3 that acts as an antioxidant, reducing inflammation, hyperpigmentation and fine lines”—I think this has been helping fade my acne scars!). Again, there are other topical options out there that can help, but this is the product I’m using right now and feel pretty happy with for the time being. I let this soak in, and usually go make dinner/watch TV/hang out. Step 5: Moisturize About 20 minutes before bed, I’ll apply my moisturizer. I use First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream because it’s super basic, gentle, unscented, uncomplicated, and works great. It also comes in a huge tub that will last me at least another 2 years. My eye area and eyelids are sensitive to just about everything (I don’t apply any of the above products anywhere near them), but they don’t mind this moisturizer. I also apply some lip balm with a heavy hand (whatever I have on hand) to keep my mouth breathing lips hydrated overnight. And that’s it! I do all of these steps with enough time before bed that the serums and medication actually have a chance to be absorbed by my skin, rather than soak right into my pillowcase. And then I wake up. Sara’s Morning Skincare Routine Step 1: Cleanse Not everyone washes their face in the morning. Some people just rinse with some cool water, and I think that’s totally fine. Personally, I like to wash my face (just once this time), to get rid of any residual nighttime products as well as any sweat from the night. I just use one of the same face cleansers from my nighttime routine, based on my mood. Science. Step 2: Tone Next up, I tone with PCA’s Nutrient Toner. It’s my favorite smelling thing in my line up, but it also has some great benefits. The pumpkin wine base (produced by fermenting whole pumpkins) “offers the nutritional benefits, including vitamin A and vitamin C” as well as lactic acid, another AHA, which helps with skin moisturizing. It also just makes my skin feel happy, bright, and glowy for whatever that’s worth (which to me is a lot). Step 3: “Correct” (Serums) For daytime, I’ll mix one pump of my Total Strength serum with one pump of PCA’s C-Quench Antioxidant serum – one of Em’s recommendations. Topical vitamin C has been recommended as a great skincare step to include by several skincare aficionados, including Velinda’s facialist. Here’s a little snippet from an Allure article all about topical vitamin C: “As far as your skin is concerned, vitamin C is ‘a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals,’ explains board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler. ‘Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C aids in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells.'” Step 5: Moisturize Before I apply any sort of make-up (which I really don’t wear much of), I gotta make my face as moisturized as possible so it stays flexible and doesn’t flake (I have dry skin). I start with two pumps of PCA’s Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum. Hyaluronic acid is a buzz ingredient in the beauty industry, but for good reason. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant—”a substance used to reduce the loss of moisture.” Its molecules are able to retain 1,000 times their weight in water content, and the added ceramides in this serum “supports the renewal of the skin’s natural protective layer and forms an effective barrier against moisture loss.” But then you need to apply a moisturizer…from what I understand, hyaluronic acid itself is not a moisturizer. It will just help your moisturizer work better, and aid your skin in retaining the moisture you’re applying. So next I apply a thin layer of my First Aid Beauty moisturizer. Then, as an added moisturizer, I’ll mix in two drops of Herbivore’s CBD + Adaptogens Glow Oil to my It Cosmetics CC cream (which has SPF). CBD is another trendy ingredient in beauty products, but I’ve found this oil to really help combat the redness in my skin. It also helps loosen up my CC cream so it doesn’t go on so thick as I like a more sheer coverage, and keeps the cream from getting cake-y. If I’m not headed to work (like on the weekends), I generally avoid makeup to give my skin a breather, and just apply the CBD oil and some Supergoop! Unseen SPF. That’s it. That’s the whole thing, morning and night. My skin has come a long way since I turned 25 and cystic hormonal acne took up residence on my jawline. After about 6 months of this skincare routine, here’s how we’re looking (I knew all my selfies would come in handy one day): Emily Henderson Sara Beauty Skincare Graphic Now Sara 1 I still get the occasional pimple, but they’re often surface level and not the deep rooted, painful cystic acne I used to get. My redness still stops me from wearing certain shades of pink-toned lipsticks (lest the area surrounding my lips just look like a continuation of my lipstick), but between being moisturized/non-irritated skin and my light coverage CC cream I no longer look like I’ve just run a marathon all the time. Plus, the scars left over from my cystic acne are beginning to fade away. And most importantly my face skin doesn’t HURT anymore. I stopped plucking my eyebrows years ago, I let my mustache fuzz be, and I don’t mind the occasional zit. I’m even growing kind of attached to the very light crow’s feet that I see developing. But I also have fun caring for my skin, and going on this journey with it. Seeing what makes it glow or learning what dries it out. I’m just doing my best to care for it, because it’s the only face skin I have. Thank you for reading my novel. I surprised myself with how much I had to say, seeing as how I have no official credentials with which to preach. But maybe your skin is similar to mine, and you’ve been able to glean a new tip to try. Or maybe you are an expert and have some valuable knowledge to share in the comments! Maybe you’re just as interested in other peoples personal habits – same. Whatever the reason you found yourself reading all the way through, I thank you for sticking with me.

Fashion & Beauty

Our 15 Absolute Holy Grail Makeup & Skincare Products (That Happen to Be Cruelty-Free)

Saturday is normally fashion day around here (unless we have something special up our sleeves) but Em shared a big styled-out post earlier this week, so we decided to try something else. Today, we’re diving into beauty, but with a very important twist. I can’t speak for the entire team (even though I kind of am right now?), but cruelty-free beauty and skincare is a topic I’m pretty passionate about. In true transparency, cruelty-free wasn’t even a thought in my head until about three years ago when I was supposed to do a story about it for my last job. After tons of research, I was SHOOK, and vowed to myself then and there to try to make a change. I did what I always do when I newly get into something: ran to spend money and resolved to never turn back to my evil ways. Well…it was a little harder for me mentally to let go of certain products I’d used for years (specifically Kiehl’s and NARS, neither of which are considered cruelty-free companies as they sell in China…will explain more about that in a sec). It was my acne-prone and sensitive-skinned face vs. the well being of sweet little animals. You’d think that would be an easier decision to make than it was, sadly and shamefully but look, we all have our journeys and I’m pretty much on the other side of it now. From the get-go, Cruelty-Free Kitty was a huge resource for me to learn more about CF beauty, what it all meant, why it was important and brands that did not test on animals. They have a very useful listing of companies that are both Leaping Bunny certified and PETA approved (you can also search by specifications like 100% vegan, palm oil-free, category, store and more). Anyhow, this post is not sponsored by CFK (or anything, just our genuine interest) but I would be remiss if I didn’t talk you through this fantastic resource. If you have others, please let us know! The site taught me a lot about what it means to be cruelty-free, including not testing ingredients or the finished product on animals, and that also, the term “cruelty-free” is not regulated here in the US, so literally, anyone can slap that language on a product. Make sure to look for the Leaping Bunny or PETA cruelty-free logos to be sure you’re supporting the right brands if this is important to you. Research is very important, and one dead give away is if a brand is sold in China. It’s required by law in mainland China to do animal testing if it’s a non-domestic product such as American or European brands, and a lot of these do not want to give up this enormous market. So while a brand might say its US products are not tested on animals, the brand itself is supporting the cruel practice that, FYI, isn’t even necessary these days. Originally, animal testing was a thing when we weren’t sure what new chemical compounds and other ingredients were safe to use by the general public, but there are now over 7,000 ingredients that are already proven to be safe and no longer need to be tested on bunnies and guinea pigs and other cute little furry creatures. Animal testing is already banned in the EU, Isreal and India…come on America…GET ON BOARD. In the grand scheme of all the issues plaguing our country, this is probably way down on the list of priorities, but…just sayin’. The good news is that it seems that more and more brands are jumping aboard the CF train (Target even has their own new line called Versed…haven’t tried it, but probably will). Anyway, you probably didn’t come here today to hear me go on about the specifics. Chances are, if you clicked through, you already know a little (but if not, welcome!), so let’s get into some actual products, shall we? A few of us here at EHD headquarters rounded up our absolutely HOLY GRAIL products that are cruelty-free. These are makeup and skincare picks that we use nearly daily and couldn’t imagine our routines without. This is not an “oh, I just tried this and it’s pretty good, give it a whirl” situation. This is undying dedication, things we’ve purchased on repeat that should they be discontinued, might cause a revolt (a touch dramatic maybe, but don’t get in the way of this woman and her glow tonic, mkay?). First up is our girl Emily, then I’ll go and so on and so forth. And pretty please, share your own favorites below. We’re all always looking to add top-notch “this actually works” type CF products to our arsenals, so if you have something you use that you would consider “holy grail,” spill. Emily’s picks: Emily Henderson cruelty free makeup5 Perfekt Matte Tanning Gel: As you may or may not know, I’m a lover of the natural-looking spray tan. But it often fades on my legs in the first day or two which is really where I want it most as I personally don’t love a tan face on someone who is obviously fair skinned. This cream goes on chocolate brown, and you’ll freak out, but once it’s rubbed in, it looks relatively natural (a little darker than I think I could ever be) and washes off hands. It will definitely get on clothes so don’t wear white, but it also has SPF 30 and stays on well, and showers off at night. Anyway, I LOVE it. PCA Beauty: This is ALL I use now. Literally, I’ve totally switched over and now use the toner, facewash, hyaluronic acid boosting serum, and moisturizer. It’s VERY effective. It’s not a highly marketed product, doesn’t have any “cool, millennial” packaging, so it looks simple, not-flashing but I don’t care because all that matters is that the products work. Arlyn’s picks: Emily Henderson cruelty free makeup4 Mario Badescu A.H.A. & Ceramide Moisturizer: I have used Kiehl’s for years and have been on the hunt for a replacement moisturizer since I found out they are not cruelty-free and I FINALLY found my successor…something I used years ago and totally forgot about from Mario Badescu. This brand flies under the radar but it’s solid. The formula is spot-on for my sometimes-dry-always-oily-30-something-skin, it sinks in fast, and works beautifully under foundation. Just add an SPF on top for day time, and I’m all set with perfectly balanced, hydrated skin. Oh, and at $20, it’s far more affordable than other moisturizers in its category. REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic: REN has wonderful products and is a “clean” brand (which means it’s formulated without all the bad stuff like formaldehyde, triclosan, SLS, etc. and with less than 1% of synthetic fragrances), but this stuff right here is my everything…100% Holy Grail status for me. I use it morning and night and since I started using it a few months back, my skin has no joke transformed for the better. It’s not dull anymore or clogged, I feel glowy and far more confident makeup-free. Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation: I found this wonderful foundation when I decided it was time to give up my beloved NARS (not cruelty-free). It’s full-coverage and pretty thick but it still looks natural on the skin. It comes in 30 shades, doesn’t transfer AT ALL (finally my steering wheel isn’t covered in the ghosts of my daily makeup), wears beautifully for the ENTIRE day, and controls my crazy T-zone oil. I’ll probably wear this for as long as it’s produced, which is hopefully forever and ever (do you hear me Too Faced?). Sara’s picks: Emily Henderson cruelty free makeup3 Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm: This is my favorite face cleanser. I double cleanse which I explain to people is like rinsing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. The first rinse breaks down all the food particles and the second wash cleans away all the residues. This oil balm breaks down my makeup, sunscreens, and face oils (without stripping my skin), and then I use my favorite gel cleanser to rinse it all away. This balm gets through my mascara and eyebrow gel, leaves my skin super moisturized, and doesn’t leave the film residue that I’ve experienced with other face balms. Paula’s Choice Anti-Redness Acne Solution: I’ve tried MANY toners. From cheap and trendy Glossier toners to wildly expensive P50 toners that you have to order from Canadian retailers. This toner seems to actually be DOING something for my skin, and without breaking the bank. This, combined with the face oil I use, have helped reduce a lot of the redness my skin experiences (I have a hard time wearing blushes or lipsticks), and it’s an exfoliant that doesn’t leave my skin stinging or bright red. Herbivore CBD Face Oil: I love this face oil so much. I have super red skin, and this paired with my Paula’s Choice Toner have helped to significantly reduce the daily redness in my skin. It’s also really moisturizing. I’ve been using oils in place of cream moisturizers for a while, and I feel that they hydrate my skin better and give me more of a “glow.” I’ll put this oil all over my face after I cleanse and tone, and then I’ll add another extra drop to my IT Cosmetics CC Cream to help it apply smoothly and feel less cake-y, thick, or dry. It’s also a great oil to wear on a “no makeup” day. Jess’ picks: Emily Henderson cruelty free makeup2 Tatcha Nourishing Ritual: I first heard of Tatcha on Johnathan Van Ness’ Getting Curious podcast. After listening to the founder’s story and learning about her products, I decided to give it a go and I haven’t looked back. I feel like I FINALLY, after 31 years, have a skincare system that my sensitive, dry, slightly aging skin LOVES. I started out with the starter ritual kit that I got directly from her site to see if I liked it and when I saw a noticeable difference in my skin that was it. They have products for all different skin types so there is something for everyone. I have the Pure One Step Camellia Oil Cleanser, The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder and The Essence Plumping Skin Softener all available at Sephora, too. They aren’t cheap so I am saving up for the Silk Cream moisturizer and Violet-C Brightening Serum. Can you tell I’m hooked and they are going to take all of my money? But hey, this is the only skin bag I’ve got so I need to treat her well. BLINC Mascara Amplified: I have previously gushed about this mascara but I have been using it for 5 years. Once I was freed from my “Raccoon Eyes” I got from traditional mascara, I vowed to never let this magical eyelash wand out of my sight. How it works is that due to magic (or science?), tiny tubes are formed around your lashes instead of painting the ink onto them. It sounds weird but go with it. Let’s just say no more nasty rings under those beautiful eyes! Windle & Moodie Invisible Day & Night Cream: This is a “hell yes” product for me. It’s light, moisturizing, leaves zero residue, controls those flyaways and smells GREAT. Both Arlyn and Julie bought it as soon as they tried mine. It’s seriously magical. Now, Windle & Moodie isn’t denoted on Cruelty-Free Kitty (it’s not a large company) but I did some research and found other sites that confirm. Ryann’s picks: Emily Henderson cruelty free makeup 1 First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair® Cream Intense Hydration: I am a simple woman when it comes to skincare. Not because I don’t have any pain points, but because I lack discipline and eagerness to try new products (and it’s so expensive to do so). I pretty much go with whatever is recommended via friends, the internet, or otherwise, but when I find something that works, I stick with it. I used to religiously use Origin’s Ginzing moisturizer, but their products are not cruelty-free (huge bummer) and they run out so fast. I went to Sephora and asked one of the gals who worked there to please please help and tell me what to do use for my dry as the desert skin. I was recommended First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream and after trying, I was sold. It’s like slathering on a cool, silky shield and it leaves me feeling fresh and smooth all day long. Glossier Boy Brow: Some days I really don’t want to put on makeup. Especially in the summertime, I start to feel icky with a lot of product/makeup on so sunscreen and moisturizer are all I want to put on my face. Oh…and Glossier’s Boy Brow. I have thick unruly brows but I prefer them to look natural (which really just means that I don’t get them waxed). I’ve been using this for a few years and I think it works perfectly for what I want to accomplish with my brows. I apply a few strokes going toward the direction of my brows, and a few going against to ensure I get enough coverage for natural, full looking brows and voila. OUAI Wave Spray: If you read the EHD hair transformation post, you might remember that I don’t enjoy spending time on my hair. My ideal situation is to get out of the shower, brush and go. I am lucky because my hair air-dries fine, but it needs a little product to keep from falling flat. If this sounds anything like you, say hello to your new best friend: Ouai Wave Spray. It smells AMAZING, and gives your hair that extra volume like you just came from the beach…but make it fashion. Alright, was there anything you saw here that use, love and can also vouch for? Don’t forget to throw some of your own CF skincare or makeup favorites into the comments. Let’s discuss, recommend and share! Thanks for hangin’ out today and see you tomorrow for The Link Up.

Fashion & Beauty

A Year in Fashion & Beauty: All the Things I Wore (On My Body and Face) in 2018

It has come to my immediate attention (once we pulled together this post) that this was not a very fashion-y blog year for Emily Henderson. I blame it on the fact that I was too deep in the renovation trenches to focus on fashion and beauty which I really LOVE, too. But once the summer hit, we got it together and dove in hard. So much chambray, bathing suits for different body types (thanks Arlyn and Sara), the team’s favorite beauty picks and, of course, the HAIR MAKEOVERS. We have a lot of plans for fashion and beauty next year because, well, it’s just fun and most everyone likes it, me included. :) Plus, I’ll take any excuse to try something new. For now, let’s take a look back on what happened in 2018 in the world of Haute Henderson. My sister pointed out to me that last year’s post is almost identical to this one so I fired her immediately. LOOK this girl loves her blue, white and blush for an everyday look. Plus this post contains some of my staples like the jeans and shoes that I wear all the time (SPEAKING OF WHICH: Nisolo, one of my go-to footwear brands is having an INSANE sale starting today until January 5th where a big majority of their products are 40% off, like these Chelsea boots, these oxfords and these mules). I did step out of my color palette a little so head to the post if you want to see what I changed up. I tend to lean on the modest side of fashion so swimsuits are not my favorite clothing item to discuss. And let’s be real, all of us have pain points on our bodies that we aren’t the happiest about. One of mine is my post-baby tummy. So this year, I talked to the team to see who was brave enough to talk about their bodies and pick out swimsuits they love. Sara and Arlyn (it was her FIRST month here) stepped up. Head to the post for some real body talk and flattering swimsuit options. I love a flowy dress and this summer I wanted them on my body. They are easy, comfortable and a whole outfit in one piece of clothing. This post was a roundup of all the ones I wanted plus some super cute summer shoes. We thought it would be really fun and super helpful to share the ladies of EHD’s most favorite beauty products. Since we all have different skin types, needs and levels of beauty knowledge, we figured that many of you could relate. So each team member talked about their skin, challenges and why they love the products they use. Just consider us your new cool friend who has all those awesome product recommendations you need in your life. This was the first year I shopped at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and now I get it. It’s AWESOME. This post was not sponsored at all. I just needed some new fall clothes and jumped on the sale train. My love for the long trench is alive and real folks. But I grabbed some other very fun and apparently CONTROVERSIAL pieces. Check them out and see what you think. :) Summer is THE wedding season and it’s hard to know what to wear to all of those different weddings. Jess felt very passionately about this since she had five weddings to attend this year. So we decided to round up our favorite dresses and shoes by venue type and dress code. Remember when I said at the beginning of the post that I love trying all the new things?? Well, that usually excludes my hair. But we got an opportunity to do a trade with The Harbor Salon in Silver Lake to do five hair makeovers in exchange for a blog post. Four of the EHD ladies and I were ready for a change so we said YES. This post is an intro to where their hair was at and what we wanted to go for. We did it! Well, they did it as my hair is forever a work in progress. The girls look SO good and they feel/look like new people. Head to the post to see the beautiful pics of the salon and how awesome the ladies hair turned out. There you have it. That’s it. Short, sweet but still full of fun yet help info. Okay, now I want to hear from you. What fashion/beauty content do you want in 2019? It’s honestly so fun to put together so we would love to know what is most helpful to all of you. Comment below and we will try to deliver.

Fashion & Beauty

Update: The Team EHD Hair Reveals

Well folks, we did it. We walked into The Harbor salon in Silver Lake Wednesday morning and walked out that afternoon feeling like different people. It’s shocking what a good cut and color can do to your day (and confidence). If you have no idea what I’m talking about then rewind back to this intro post. The briefer recap is this: A few of the braver EHD members in the office and I popped over to the brand new The Harbor salon for a hair transformations in exchange for sharing about our experience on the blog and social media. It was about as nerve-racking of a team building exercise as you could get. My only request was that whoever wanted in on the hair transformations had to be willing to get at least ONE big change (I excluded myself from this rule because I’m the boss and that’s what being the boss means). Keep reading to see who made what changes… Ai2a8951 The Harbor is a very sweet little salon in Silver Lake (aka very convenient for me), that also happens to be just as full of charm as it is full of very wonderful and talented hair magicians. It’s owned by Shanda Wallace (pictured above with me), and just opened its doors in July. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process Sara Julie In the end, four girls from the EHD office (and me) walked in with open minds and willing hair. Sara (on the left, EHD’s resident photographer) wanted to make a color change and was in good hands with Josh Miramontes and Ash Bazarjian. Julie (in the pink coat on the right, an EHD associate designer/project manager) worked with Rachel Hummel on her goal of a shorter length and darker color. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process Velinda Ryann 01 Velinda (our resident curly haired staff member, and an EHD design associate) had stylists Kat Cali and Darla Hawn as her dream team. And last but not least Ryann (our blog assistant) had stylists Kelly Walker and Lauren Payne in her corner while she went even shorter than she already went (in length, not height obviously). Ai2a9133 Isn’t that space so cute? It’s bright, open and minimal but has great little design pops all over. Those gold sconces are great, and they match the circular gold mirrors we all used to stare at ourselves. Floating stations keep things from feeling cluttered, and those big salon chairs are very comfortable for long stints of color processing. There are also little hanging planters along all the walls to keep things feeling fresh and alive. Like I said, minimal but very, VERY cute. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process 01 Sara underwent just about every coloring technique in the book from the looks of it. Those two guys spent a good amount of time just mixing up color, brushing it in, and foil wrapping her entire head. She didn’t seem to mind though and quickly admitted that having two talented men softly touching her head for 3 1/2 hours was a dream and made her feel like a very important person. Ai2a9057 Darla took Velinda’s hair from a medium brown to a darker, richer brown tone. We were all SHOCKED at how long Velinda’s hair got once it was wet and weighed down. You always hear about curly hair being unassumingly long, but seeing it in person was pretty eye-opening. So many of you in the last post brought up the concept of a dry cut for curly hair. Velinda got a little bit of both. They did some initial cutting on her damp curls and then went back in once it was completely dry to get the final shape perfected. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Process 02 Ryann wanted to go even shorter than her already-above-the-shoulder cut (which, by the way, she did herself with the help of her boyfriend a few weeks ago…18 inches chopped off). She wanted something along the lines of Parisian page boy chic. She also got some depth and warmth put into her hair with the help of some toned glaze. Julie also went darker but in a much more dramatic way. She’d had light brown hair with additional highlights for years and was ready to go a little darker even than her natural color. But her stylist pointed out that as the color wore on her hair, it would start to naturally lighten in some areas, allowing her hairs natural highlights to add dimension. I2a9299 I worked with Shanda to reshape my hair, adjust the color, and tape in extensions. My hair just hasn’t been growing the way it used to, so I was ready to add some faux length and volume while I give my hair some TLC. Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for…THE REVEALS. Ai2a9386 I LOVE my extensions. Having longer hair just feels like me. I think that maybe I just don’t have the time nor desire to style bob-length hair. I already know how to style my longer hair. I can throw it up in a cute pony, or quickly add some bounce to it with a curling iron… As a reminder here’s where I started, and what I was using as my inspiration: Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Emily That was the inspiration, on the right. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Emily If only I could go back in time and keep that hair. I know you are thinking “Wait, what do you mean? You changed it after this?” YEP. It was too ashy for me and I’m used to brighter around my face. Honestly, I’m kinda nauseous about the whole thing because I feel like such an idiot. My hair DRINKS toner and now it’s been toned and retoned about five times and it looks nuts (check out stories to see what I’m talking about). So many people have DM’d me and I frankly don’t really want to even talk about it. But here’s the plan: I need to wash and wash and wash my hair to get out the variety of toners because it’s just too processed right now. So sorry, not really an “after” yet for me. I just wish I hadn’t changed it after Shanda first did it. This fine, porous blonde hair really can’t handle going darker just to go lighter again (without a TON of damaging bleach which I’m trying to wait on). I just want a time machine. But it’s okay. It’s just hair. Meanwhile, I’ll let the rest of the team elaborate on their looks… I2a9610 Sara I LOVE my new hair. I seriously smile so big every time I see myself in anything reflective these days. It’s new and different for me, but I don’t feel like I’m walking around with someone else’s head on my shoulders. I can dress it up with texture spray for an edgier look, or keep it sleek for something a little quieter and sunkissed. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Sara My hair was completely untouched before Josh and Ash got their hands on it. It was shoulder length, medium brown, and fine (as in “not exciting,” but also a little thin and soft). I really wanted to try something I knew I couldn’t normally afford, but something that wouldn’t need too much upkeep afterward. My original inspiration photos didn’t include the one above of Lucy Hale, but the night before we went to the salon, I was scrolling through Pinterest, saw this photo, and knew it was the direction I wanted to go in. It was darker and more natural at the root, but way lighter at the bottom, with all of this depth and warmth. A lot of my friends wanted me to try the ‘pumpkin spice’ color I had proposed, but the guys let me know that would mean color maintenance. This option will allow my natural root to seamlessly grow in, while also going with more of a spiced blonde at the tips, rather than a cooler ice or ash tone. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Sara We only did one short round of bleaching, so my hair barely feels any different and I can’t see anything that’s setting my “split end” alarms off. I’m already using the Olaplex line, including the intensive hair mask, which so many people with bleached hair call “magic.” Ash also sent me home with some purple conditioner to try if I wanted to experiment with a cooler tone in my ends at any point (or if my blonde starting turning brassier than I wanted it to). I’m also so excited I can finally try Kristen Ess’ temporary rose gold hair tint. Josh gave me a super textured cut, which I love and works great with my typical “beach waves” style (the only thing I really know how to do). But I also can’t wait to experiment with new styles and looks (for example, my usual ’90s-esque matte mauve lipstick now looks horrifyingly try hard next to my blonde ends, so it’s time to try some new, brighter colors). Josh and Ash are my heroes. I2a9511 Julie I feel human again with this new hairstyle!!! After having the same locks on my head for over a decade, I felt stagnant in life. Getting something this drastic makes me feel brand new and mentally ready to accomplish some goals that have been lingering off to the side for a while now. It is amazing how something as simple as a hairstyle can give you a new lease on life. I guess it’s time to finally go to the DMV or go skydiving??? Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Julie Rachel, my stylist, worked her magic on me (thank you again). As someone who has gone to the same stylist since the age of 11, I was hesitant to let someone else’s hands touch my hair but right away I felt so at ease with her maybe due to the fact that we bonded over both being born and raised in the valley. Yup, that’s right. I am a proud valley girl! I was so appreciative of her taking the time in our consult going over every detail of what I wanted done, from the exact color, type of dye and how it would grow out/fade over the next couple of months to the texture and length of my cut. We probably spent a good 15 minutes discussing it all. We decided on a brunette color 3 shades darker than my natural light brown hair using a demi hair dye which when it starts to fade will let those highlights come through again (making it easier to maintain). I had told her shoulders or shorter in terms of length and we decided on a lob which sounded perfect especially after the initial cut (I was still a little scared). Before getting to the color part, she started off with a dry cut just below my clavicle which was a good 3-4 inches shorter already. It was HAPPENING, no turning back now. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Julie I absolutely love how it turned out and I am still doing double takes every time I’m near a mirror. We ended up cutting off a total of 5-6 inches. I haven’t had my hair this short since I was 4 when I also had bangs, red glasses and, of course, a pink flowered jumper and matching hat…it was the early ’90s and I was VERY cool. Rachel even taught me how to achieve the coveted “bed-head-beach-waves-tousled-but-not-too-perfect” hair. So hands up emoji to her. The whole team was so sweet, they made little gift boxes for each of us with products specifically catered to our hair needs. I got and already used the Evo Haze styling powder the next day which helps to give a little more life to the roots and that piecey / textured feel on the ends. Thank you Rachel, my fellow valley girl, you are the best! VELINDA: I2a9501 I’ve had the chance to live with my new do for 48 whole hours, and it has taken all 48 to get used to glimpses of my new reflection. I immediately felt a refreshing excitement when they started slicing my hair into bangs. I mean it, they sliced…with a knife! (okay, a hair razor, but practically a sword). Darla (color) and Kat (cut) were my weapon-yielders and they BOTH HAD CURLY HAIR, which if you read post #1, you’ll know was a huge relief. Darla guided me through a color treatment that wouldn’t be high maintenance to maintain; a semi-permanent treatment that will slowly fade as my hair grows, preventing root lines. I’ll probably keep it dark though. I love it. Darla also kept some strands of my natural color to add subtle highlight and dimension. As a quick reminder, here was the before and one of the looks I was considering (but feared): Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Velinda1 Kat, who had both curls and bangs (but wore it straight that day. Thanks a lot, KAT!) understood my concerns about bangs with curls…poofy ’80s/top-heavy mushroom hair. And she knew how to cut/style to avoid them. First, we took a look at what pieces of my hair “naturally wanted to be bangs.” We pinned those strands into a sort of faux-bang and took a look. Then, I made the final decision…sure, why not! (always best to wing such things last minute…y’know, things that’ll take three years to correct if you hate). Last Wednesday, all of your strong opinions bore revelation to the true issue at root of our divided country…curly bangs vs no bangs. One warning I carefully considered was that bangs with curls meant extra work. I think that CAN be true. Luckily, so far in my 48 hours of experience, it’s meant increased ease. My head took to bangs, and the new fringe needs NO help from styling. I can air dry and go, which means I found the four-leaf clover of forehead curl and can’t promise this will work at home. Even Darla and Kat said, “you almost never know how curls will take to bangs.” To be careful, Kat cut my “future bangs” extra long so she could see how the curls would behave. Then she let my hair air dry (w/slight help from a diffuser) and made final cut-edits while dry. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Velinda Between my re-shaped hair and my bi-annual, second-hand clothes-shopping trip w/my wife this week, I feel suddenly stylish. Feigning vogue is super fun and I promise to keep it up!…all month…maybe. At least now, when I return to my standard jeans and tee, I’ll be rocking locks with built-in style. The new look is SO different after a decade of same ‘ole, same ‘ole. It’s taken a bit to decide if I liked it out of pure shock alone, but it’s really grown on me. I can’t wait to play with new styling options (and straightening)! My wife, the most important person to have on the “pro-bang” side of the country, is obsessed! Ultimately, this isn’t anything I would have thought to do without the challenge/offer from Emily, but I’m pretty thrilled. I2a9571 Ryann Okay guys, here she is. The new NEW Ryann. And I have to say, I love this length on me. My stylist Kelly and I both agreed that my face shape longs for short hair. It just works. Though I love Rapunzel hair for many reasons—one being that I can throw it up in a messy bun and go about my day—I think short hair is my hairs’ calling. I know we all wanted short bangs for me, too, and I agreed, but ultimately Kelly and I decided to do subtle middle part bangs to start. Unfortunately, you can’t really tell in these photos (because I’m fidgety on camera and had tucked the bangs behind my ears) but she gave me curtain bangs which adds a lovely texture to this cut. Now that I have spent a few days with this hairstyle, I am definitely up to going full-on with the bangs. Maybe I will even do another solo salon day in my bathroom, who knows?? Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Before Inspiration Ryann Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon After Ryann Now let’s talk color. I left it to Sara to be #blondecurious, which in the end I did not regret. My hair has never been dyed so fear of damaging my poor virgin hair made me reconsider the blonde lifestyle. Instead, Lauren suggested we do a warm chestnut brown, which would make going lighter a possibility in the future. To be honest, I couldn’t get the Parisian inspiration photo out of my head (the one I was surprised many of you thought I should go for) so sticking with my dark roots just felt right. Emily Henderson The Harbor Salon Ehd Team Hair Transformations Salon Photo Booth Julie Velinda1 Don’t these darling women look great? To make sure everyone has their “hair selfie,” the salon has the cutest photo booth, which is perfect for snapping that new hair photo (this feels far less narcissistic somehow than the classic “driver’s seat selfie”…it’s never not awkward to sit in your car after a haircut taking photos of yourself awkwardly in the parking lot). Even if you don’t use the app they have provided, it’s the perfect light for a quick selfie or instastory. Plus, the back wall is covered in a very sweet LA themed illustrative wallpaper. I2a9426 There was a lot of hooping and hollering when the team made it back into the office later that day. Lots of “let me see, let me see” and head petting ensued (and okay, some hugging). We’re still trying to get used to the back of everyone’s heads (is it Julie or Sara? OH THE CHANGES) but all in good fun. Ai2a9195 Thank you again to the wonderful team at The Harbor salon that greeted us with enthusiasm and excitement bright and early last week. Your space is truly a delight. If you’re local to LA and looking for a new set of hands to tend to your hair, be sure to pay Shanda and her team a visit. Okay, now’s the time to hear from ALL OF YOU. You guys were SO engaged in our last post (in fact, some of you said you wished we had done the reveals right away instead of waiting a few days…sorry we just needed time to pull all the assets together), so we want to hear what everyone thinks of the final looks/reveals. Do you love them as much as all of Team EHD? Did anyone inspire you to shake up your own style and try something new? We’re all anxiously waiting to hear what you think.

Fashion & Beauty

This Could Be Epic: Befores & Inspirations for the Team EHD Hair Transformations

I’m not risky with my hair and may never be. I like to try out a new duvet cover, or even a new living room rug and sofa and do so with little to zero anxiety, but “trying out” a new look on my head is not something I’m comfortable doing…that is, until today. I’m making a change, though admittedly not a huge one (keep reading) but the same cannot be said about some of the EHD team (because why not include the team on hair risks?). Some of them said, and I quote, that they “didn’t want to be able to recognize themselves in the mirror.” It’s happening TODAY (head to my Instagram stories to follow along), but I thought it’d be fun to walk through some of the styles we were all debating for ourselves before doing the big reveal next week. Oh, sorry, first I need to torture you with my hair biography, written by me (though it’s so boring that it might as well have been written by my hair itself): I’ve been long, natural blonde and wavy since birth. The biggest change I ever did, hair-wise was chop, bleach and get bangs a year ago and it was fun, it was, but had I known how much damage it was going to do, I may have reconsidered it. A lot of you warned me that it would be hard to recover from bleaching fine blonde hair, but I did it anyway and no regrets here, but no, my hair has not recovered. To be fair, though, my hair was in bad shape before I bleached it. I look at old photos and long for my full, middle-of-the-back head of hair. But in all fairness, my hair was already pretty fried when I processed it further last year, so it wasn’t really “my” hair. A secret fun fact about me is that I had AMAZING post-baby hair. My hair thrives while I was breastfeeding and all the photos of me with good long healthy hair was during that first year after having a baby. But if I can’t be a wetnurse then I need to find my way back to healthier hair. See? That’s good hair, but that wasn’t my reality when I chopped it. It was in a much sadder place and it needed a change. So I went to this: So here is the boring hair story: After the EXTREMELY LOVELY Kristen Ess gave me my new lewk last October, I knew that she couldn’t take me on as a consistent client because she is super busy with her product line and partnerships. Justin Anderson’s team at DP Hue reached out and I started going to him. I’m not just saying this; as someone who generally doesn’t love the ego and self-consumption of Los Angeles, this man gave me hope that you can be raised here and still be a good, grounded person. Sure, he is GREAT with hair color and his product (especially the apple cider vinegar wash) has been GREAT for my scalp, but the reason that I drove 45 minutes is because I love being around him (fun fact: he is a former Mormon and those of us former Mormons connect pretty quickly). But the nearly hourlong commute was becoming a problem with my schedule, plus in LA, many colorists (Justin included) don’t cut your hair, so I was having to book an additional cut or, more on par with my busy attitude, just not getting my hair cut for months (thus looking unhealthy). He was busy so scheduling was hard and I just longed for the days of home salons (the ease, chill vibe and personal care of a neighbor just doing your hair). So when I saw my friend Anne Sage post about The Harbor salon in Silver Lake, I thought I should try it out. I didn’t want to leave Justin, but my schedule was calling out for someone more local, who could also cut and give blow outs. I could tell from Anne’s Instagram that the design of the space was so cool, and I figured someone with a sense of design had to be good at hair, too, right (because of course, that’s how it works). But frankly, the most important factor to my lifestyle was location and convenience—it’s a pleasant 10 minutes away, with ample parking and a super mellow and lovely Silver Lake vibe. I wouldn’t have to fight traffic to go there and once there it just feels nice and friendly. OH MY GOD SHOULD I JUST STOP TORTURING US NOW AND WRITE A TO-BE-UNPUBLISHED BOOK ABOUT MY HAIR WOES? This is so boring. But I have to tell you everything in order for you to properly understand why I’m about to do what I’m about to do. Okay, we’re getting to the fun stuff, I promise… I went to meet with Shanda Wallace and fell in love with her and the salon. One of the best parts is that she has no ego and wants you to be happy, so I even came back after my first color session and she tweaked my color with glaze. Turns out that using the word “icy” means super cool (temperature-wise) which doesn’t look good on me despite how trendy it is. I loved her eagerness to help me get the hair I want and leave super happy and these days, in LA at least, good customer service is jarringly refreshing. But now it’s time for round two (and for the team to also shake things up), and I’m debating some stuff. Shoulder-length blonde hair is not my jam. It looks boring and too “mom” on me; it’s neither a sexy short bob or a healthy blunt medium length cut. Two months ago, when I was sitting in her chair, we started talking about what we COULD do (which is where we are today), and we came down to two options: either go short-short (not pixie, but sexy bob) or get extensions. Here are the pros and cons: SHORTER: Short hair is just cooler than long hair. It’s edgier and more modern. I have a theory that hair extensions and the Real Housewives have made long hair less cool because everyone can have them and what used to indicate youth (long hair) now can just look cheesy. Sure, my husband and most men I know prefer it, but it’s not as cool as a short bob (with bangs??). Case and point: hairstyles 2018 female HOWEVER, because of the damage I’ve done, my hair is pretty fuzzy and frizzy and in order to tame it, I have to heat style it EVERY SINGLE DAY which is going to further the damage/breakage. If I had my old hair it would be great, but it needs to be healthier in order to be short and look good. EXTENSIONS: Obviously, the instant fix is to put in extensions until my hair grows out (and yes I’m taking supplements and using Olaplex). If you get good ones (mine are from Ahn Co Tran) it doesn’t do any damage. In a way, it lengthens your actual hair by pulling on it and kinda protects it, too (or so I’m told but I’m not convinced). We put them in and played with the length. The problem with hair extensions is that they are new and fresh and, for me, are a contrast with my fuzzy, frizzy hair, so styling it has been hard but overall I’m happier than when I had shoulder-length hair. Are they kinda annoying? Yes. These are taped in and you can totally brush and wash your hair, but they are still fake hair taped to your real hair. Last week, I had to go to Minneapolis on a shoot and I didn’t have time to get them taken out, moved up, colored and cut (like 5 hours of time) so Shanda just took them out. This is my hair as of last week: hairstyles 2018 female Pardon the mug shot, this was literally taken at 6 am in Minneapolis by my hair and makeup person, BEFORE she started (obviously). I’m in my pajamas. Current Hair Situation: Boring length, bad texture, kinda fried. hairstyles 2018 female Biggest Hair Concerns/Notes for the Stylist: I want to “drop my root” which means to go darker un your under layers (like a low-light), which helps keep it healthier since you don’t have to dye it as often. Maybe I should go darker underneath in the back than I ever have before? The goal is to have a more blended extension look: shorter and more layers because my hair is so wavy. I want highlights around my face, but just to have more depth and texture. Below is the color that I’m wanting. More natural, but with a lot of depth and contrast (but not crazy contrast). hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #1 (and only): Deeper Roots, Blonder Ends, and Extensions. As far as the length, I don’t want to go crazy long and we’ll likely cut. I love the extensions more for fullness and looking healthier than for length. Do I sound desperate to look better and willing to do anything? Yes. We’ll see how it goes!! I’m going to need to spend the next year really taking care of my hair (vitamins, masks and supplements) to get it back to healthy. ENOUGH OF ME. Four of my team members are up for a challenge. Not everyone wanted to try something new or to leave their stylists, so we have Sara, Ryann, Julie and Velinda all up for it. Let’s see what they have in mind… hairstyles 2018 female Up first is Sara, EHD’s one-person photography department. Current Hair Situation: My hair is a medium brown and slightly wavy. It’ll dry straighter if I brush it when it’s still wet (with a little bit of OGX Coconut Miracle Oil), or curlier if I leave it to dry untouched (with a little bit of Kristin Ess’ Leave-In Conditioner). It’s shoulder length right now, and totally virgin. I spend about 5-15 minutes styling in the mornings, depending on whether I’m just walking out the door, need to wash it, or want to curl it for a more “done” look. This morning, I tried to do “beach waves” with a straightener and realized that 1.) I don’t know how and 2.) Pretending I did while rushing to get ready for work was not the time to learn that I didn’t. It’s very hard to get a big straightener crimp out of hair. Biggest Hair Concerns/Notes for the Stylist: My hair is pretty soft and thin, so anything I can do to make it seem fuller would be great. My face is also very round and some cuts I’ve had in the past have accentuated that in a very helmet-like way, so that would be great to avoid. I’m open to ideas from the stylist and very excited for a change. But I am shying away from a pixie or bangs. Cutting bangs the first time was great, cutting them the second time a few years later was a mistake, cutting them the third time (two years ago) was somewhere in the middle—some days they looked great, other days were a struggle. I’ve dyed my hair black, I’ve dyed it eggplant, I’ve bleached it all and dyed it lavender. I’ve had it as long as my waist, and cut it into a pixie twice. I’ve put it through a lot, but it keeps growing back… hairstyles 2018 female Sara’s Style Considerations hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #1: LIGHT, Short, Textured. I’ve never gone LIGHT in my life. I did self-bleach my hair once in college, but I promptly dyed it cotton candy purple so I didn’t get to see my bleached hair in the daylight. I’m very excited by the idea of light hair, but I also have some concerns. My skin has a lot of red tone to it, so will light hair make my skin look even pinker? Is there a way to go light while still letting my natural roots grow in so I don’t have to maintain the color religiously? And would a warmer honey tone or a cooler ash tone work better? If I’m being honest, I really just want to be able to use Kristin Ess’ Rose Gold Temporary Tint like all the other blondes in the world. There’s also a little hope that some bleach will give my thin, soft hair a little texture, even at the expense of its softness (though I do already use the Olaplex hair products, which bleached blondes swear by). hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #2: A Serious Ombre. Are these still cool? Is this too 2015? I see this as being a way to try something dramatic, but also letting my roots creep in naturally which could be a more affordable way to maintain the color. I could see this working with a short textured cut like the cuts in option #1, or keeping my hair its current length but giving it some more texture with layers. hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #3: Warm Copper/Pumpkin Spice Hair. COULD I PULL THIS OFF?! I don’t know. I’ve never tried anything in the realm of reds. Will this make my skin too pink? It’s a very different look, and I think it does fall in the category of “dramatic.” Lucy Hale is my hair icon. I love everything she does with her hair. hairstyles 2018 female Julie, an EHD junior designer / project manager, is ready to commit to a new color and cut. Current Hair Situation: I’ve been stuck in a hair rut for the past 10+ years. Every time I see my stylist, he’s already mixing my color as I walk in, “highlights and a trim again?” Yup, I’ll take one very safe hairstyle, please. When Emily told us about this potential partnership and the opportunity for a free cut and color, I was suddenly feeling very adventurous (well at least for my standards). My natural hair color is light brown with some warm tones. It is very fine, wavy and is prone to breakage. I am one of those people that have always wanted really long hair but it never seems to want to grow longer than mid-chest so the frustration is high and I am ready to chop it off somewhere between my shoulders and chin to start fresh. In the mornings, I’ll either let it dry naturally as you can see in these photos or just take a flat brush and blow dry it which takes about 10-15 mins. I am pretty low maintenance when it comes to my hair, add a little Moroccan oil and I’m set. Biggest Hair Concerns/Notes for the Stylist: I either want the stylist to make me a true blonde or brunette but since my skin tone is very fair, I think a dark brown would look nearly black on me. I have made that mistake before and by mistake, I mean that I dyed my hair (myself) dark brown all throughout high school and looking back, it is cringeworthy how dark it was. My hair is also pretty thin so although I love the look of a blunt cut, I think it needs some texture to give it life. hairstyles 2018 female Julie’s Style Considerations hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #1: Short and Blonde. I’ve always been hesitant to go fully blonde because of the maintenance it requires (I get my hair colored probably twice a year so that would be a big lifestyle change for myself and my wallet). Out of these two, I am more drawn to the coloring on the right with the blunt cut of the left. hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #2: Brunette, Shorten, Bangs?! There have been two times in my life that I have had bangs, the first when I was four. I had no say in my hairstyle and not a care in the world of how my bangs were looking that day. Then I got bangs again before my freshman year of high school—the first two days were great but then they turned into a morning frustration of how to style them and I thought never again until…we were pinning inspiration photos and I came across the photo on the right, she is just working that hairstyle and making me want to go home right now and cut them myself. I think either of these warmer brunette coloring would work for my skin tone and I’m excited to see what you all think! hairstyles 2018 female Next, let’s bring in one of our junior designers, Velinda. Current Hair Situation: My “current” situation is the same as it’s been for nearly a decade; long, curls that are occasionally colored (by my sister) a bit darker than my natural chestnut brown (but not since last April). It’s very curly and I learned a bit too late in life that letting it air dry with a bit of product is better than blowing and brushing. (Insert childhood frizzy mullet photo here… Mom, if you’re reading, you HAVE curls. WHY did you force the hairbrush? Shame on you!) Currently, I spend 0-5 minutes styling because I usually roll out of bed and luck into a messy look that works…or it’s just a huge fail and I put it up and say “good enough.” Sometimes, I can salvage the morning’s frizzy rat’s nest with Alterna Caviar Dry Oil Mist. If having to get fancy, I’ll tweak my curls with a curling wand, which takes maybe 10-15 minutes. Straightening takes 30 minutes or more, which I’m willing to do, but not until some shape is restored. I get away with long stretches between haircuts because of the texture, so I apologize in advance to the lucky stylist that gets my tangled, dead-ended mess. Overall, I’m bored of the same style for the last several years and I’m open to ideas. But I’m not willing to go short. I tried in my early 20s and now tote a driver’s license that serves as a forever reminder of that time I instantly became an (uncool) 40-something soccer mom. Thing is, most long, curly hairstyles look all-the-same to me! So maybe a new color can help? Biggest Hair Concerns/Notes for the Stylist: I’ve had past encounters with stylists that were inexperienced with such tight curls, resulting in a shorter-than-intended look once my hair dried post-cut and inevitably spiraled up several inches. My hair actually reaches my low back when wet or straightened. I also don’t want short layers that create a top-heavy or mushroomy look. I hope to have the option of straightening/styling for fun variations on this new do, but with the flexibility to be low-maintenance and cute when messy. Speaking of maintenance, I’d like to limit any color or other treatment to something affordable to maintain (i.e. not hideous if it’s growing out) because let’s face it, when I tell my stylist see you in three months, I’m a brazen liar! hairstyles 2018 female Velinda’s Style Considerations hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #1: Leave Length, No bangs, Go Dark. I think this is the sexier look, but not quite as much of a change. I’ve rocked the side part before (and have loved it). Going this dark would be fun and maybe there’s a slightly new shape to try. Less risk, but what’s not to love about locks like these? And maybe the pros can give me some styling tips/tricks for those times I don’t go bed-head messy/rock a top knot. hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #2: Leave Length, Add Bangs, Richer Color. Bangs??? I’m sweating. I’m definitely open to something this different, but is this too ’80s? Is it too “cutesy” or trendy? Will it work for my face? I love the idea of having some wispy pieces hanging loose those times I pull my hair back and I think it’d be super cute straightened. But does it reeeeaaalllyyy work with curls? I had bangs as a kid, but the rest of the haircut was so bad, it’s hard to know if bangs were the culprit. This would be a big risk. Then again, if I hate it, I hear bangs are just super easy to grow out ( EYE ROLL/INSERT NERVOUS FACE). hairstyles 2018 female EHD’s newest team member, Ryann, is ready for a BIG change. Current Hair Situation: This is what we are working with: dark brown (with some natural highlights), mostly straight, pretty unruly, and THICK. I usually wash my hair in the morning, run through it with a brush, spray with Ouai wave spray, and hope for the best. I’ve never really done anything too drastic (never dyed my hair, never had a haircut I truly regretted) but this shoulder-length-haired gal is actually the new me. Up until a few weeks ago my hair was 18 inches longer and had been that way for years. One Friday I was complaining to my wonderful co-workers here at EHD that I was so over my long hair, and by Monday morning I had chopped it all off. And when I say I chopped it all off I mean I chopped it all off. By myself. In my bathroom. With no supervision. So I might be a little bit more daring than most, but honestly I chalk it up to general laziness and restlessness when it comes to my hair. I am definitely not attached to the $0 haircut I gave myself impulsively so of course I volunteered to go a little crazy for the sake of the blog. The bigger change the better. Make me a new woman. Biggest Hair Concerns/Notes for the Stylist: Two things. #1 Check out that frizz. Yikes. I am hoping my mom doesn’t see this post because I will definitely get a text scolding me for not brushing my hair. The thing is, I did. And I do! I swear I do! But clearly I need something more powerful to tame those flyaways. I would love some spiritual guidance on how to achieve the glossy finish that I think we all deserve. #2 I won’t spend more than 5 minutes doing my hair. I love sleep way too much so if a cut requires me to get up earlier in the morning, it’s a no from me. hairstyles 2018 female Ryann’s Style Considerations hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #1: Short Bob, Bangs, Dark Color. This cut feels so classic and good and it’s kind of what I’ve always wanted in a haircut. It seems simple and not as big of a change, but I would go really dark if I went this route which would be fun. I know I am in desperate need of layers and I love a good set of bangs, but I’m also wondering if this style is way too safe? My heart is telling me yes. hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #2: Short Bob, Bangs, Blonde. I’ve been wanting to go blonde for years. I’ve never dyed my hair, so the thought of suddenly being blonde is so exciting. My only worry is I won’t be able to achieve the color I want in one session and that might be disappointing for all of us. I want a transformation and instant gratification, ya know? hairstyles 2018 female Style Option #3: Super Short Bob, Bangs, Darker Color. Ugh. This one. This cut is just dreamy. So chic, so cool, and so wonderfully feminine. I kind of think this style would actually make me a new woman (a woman that lives in the Italian countryside and runs her own winery a.k.a. my dream) but I’d be lying if I said I am not afraid I would look like a boy with a bowl cut. What do you think? Can I pull it off?!? Remember, I am #goingforit. OKAY SO LET US HAVE IT! We’re heading to the salon today (do not miss the hair mania on Instagram today to see all the action) and drastic changes might happen when we all hit the chair. Will Velinda get bangs? Will Sara be an entirely new person who her cats (and BF) won’t recognize? Will I all of a sudden be a brunette with a dramatic Parisian-inspired cut? WHO KNOWS. But we want to hear from everyone what they think… it could sway us (and stay tuned next week for the final reveals…it’s going to be GOOD).

Fashion & Beauty

EHD Team Picks: Our Absolute Favorite Beauty Products (That We Can’t Quit)

Picture this: You walk into a Sephora/Ulta/your beauty store of choice and every product had a recommendation underneath it from someone you knew and trusted (like your friend Jenn, for instance, who stockpiles free makeup samples and knows the difference between hyaluronic acid and alpha-hydroxy acids.) Those recommendations from “Jenn” don’t come from a hunch…they happen to be totally educated information after she trialed said product for months or years (or even decades)…I mean, how much would you love that?!? Never again would you have to spend $568.47 only to find that 87% of what you bought was mediocre, soon to be forgotten, sadly covered in dust until you get the bug to clean out your medicine cabinet and think “oh yeeeaaahhh…I hated this.” Yes, of course, there are reviews online you can look at prior to shopping, but I mean its hard to trust a bunch of strangers. Now, we are all, of course, A BUNCH OF STRANGERS, BUT you know us all by proxy as people who work behind the scenes of a site you (hopefully) visit often. We’re friends, right? I’d like to think so. So, as your friends, we are highly recommending the following 73 beauty products for face, body and hair. [drawattention ID=159844] Name: Emily What I Do at EHD: I play the role of Emily Henderson in Emily Henderson design. Skin Type: I have what I call “cheap white skin” which means thin, English/Irish skin that can be super dry and wrinkles easily when in sun (or as I get older, obviously). Pain Points: Besides the challenge of not knowing how to do my brows (compounded with the fact that I don’t really care), I need a moisturizer that I can smother myself in, that won’t get caught even in my small pores. My last facialist on Mother’s Day told me that I had so many blackheads and I was shocked because I couldn’t see them at all. She said it’s from over moisturizing, but then I was like “you said I had dry skin and that I need to moisturize a lot!!” So, it’s a lose, lose. Beauty Expert Level (scale 1 to 5): 1+ I basically just do whatever my friends or makeup artists tell me to do. It’s hard to trust most magazines, blogs or even beauty influencers these days nor do I like to spend thousands of dollars experimenting so I do what my friends tell me to do. I don’t really like the look of makeup on my face but I really want to do a post where someone experiments and does cool/weird stuff to convince me that I can pull it off. Product Wish List: I like as few products as possible both in my bathroom and my purse. I want cruelty-free and for it to look as natural as possible on my fair skin. Mostly, I want whatever will make me look like a young sexy French model. I’m accepting daily suggestions to help in that transformation. Skincare Philosophy: I just want to wake up and go (which is why I get lash extensions and want microblading so badly on my brows, but won’t do it because I know it won’t look good on me). 1. Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Chunky Cheery, $17.50: I’ve been using this product for 10+ years and I love how it pops and feels. It’s never crazy bright and it goes on so smooth, and yet I don’t need to look in the mirror to make sure it’s in the right place because it glides on so easily. So while it does add a lot of color, it’s more of a chapstick. It doesn’t look like I’m wearing “lipstick” which is what I like to go for generally. 2. Lashfood Browfood Tinted Brow Enhancing Gelfix, $24: I don’t actually know yet if this works, but I’ve been told to use it, so use it I will. I’ll let you know in a year if I grow the 10 hairs it promises. 3. Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift + Retinol, $98: I just started doing this a couple months ago and I swear it works and my skin looks, well, younger. It feels VERY scientific because its weird foam that sizzles on your skin. 4. St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse with Mitt, $32 + $6.50: I speak self-tanner fluently and this is my favorite at-home treatment (so far) that I’ve used for years. YOU MUST use that mitt, but if you apply it right, you look tan, not orange and it’s super even and lasts for 4 days (dependiing on how often you shower). I literally dreamt of this product when I was a teenager before it existed. 5. DPHue Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse, $35: I have a dry scalp and well, extremely dry hair what with last year’s bleaching situation, so I try not to shampoo too much and mostly use this to remove impurities, and argon is super moisturizing. Also, Justin Anderson (one of the founders of DPHue) is just an awesome person so if you like to support nice people then know that I recommend him fully. If you have brassy hair his purple shampoo is great, but my hair is too cool to use it. 6. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment, From $24: I’ve been using this for years as an exfoliating mask and it’s a noticeable difference when done with it. I think they call it the “10-minute facial” or something super catchy like that. Plus, it’s bright green so it feels like it MUST be healthy for my face. 7. NARS Blush in Orgasm, $30: I really should try a different blush but for now (and the last 10 years) this is that pop of pink that I love. 8. Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil, $34: I’m listening to you guys and I’m trying to have better brows, I promise. I went to Striiike and Kristie recommended this product to me and so far I’m happy. A friend of mine also thinks that I need a sharp pencil to make it look more like real hair so I’m searching for that to help supplement. But the tone is good with my face (I’m told—I guess I was using a pencil that was too warm previously). 9. Kate Somerville Goat Milk De-Puffing Eye Balm, $38: I love the idea and the feeling of this product (and so does Brian). I don’t see a huge difference but on those days when I’m puffy and I don’t have time to do anything proper, this smooths and just feels really good. 10. Caudalie Premier Cru Cream, $140: I started Caudalie when I was pregnant with Charlie (it’s organic so that was my excuse to splurge) and I just love it. I use the daily moisturizer and when I’m not out of it, I use this night cream. It smells good and just feels really smooth. 11. Kristin Ess Dry Finish Working Texture Spray, $14: My hair has a lot of texture, but can also be super fluffy and fuzzy so this kinda tames the texture to look more “fun and messy” than frizzy. [drawattention ID=159851] Name: Arlyn What I Do at EHD: Editorial Director Skin Type: Is “Can’t Make Up Its Mind” a skin type? No? Okay then…combination (but mostly oily and acne-prone). Pain Points: My skin is really sensitive and breaks out just for THINKING about chicken wings. I have a very oily T-Zone and tend to get hormonal acne along my jawline (bummer), but if I don’t moisturize enough, my skin is tight and dry and dull. My pores are the size of sinkholes so they suck up ALL the filth, and my eyebrows are patchy and have seen lusher days (hello, 33). Beauty Expert Level (scale 1 to 5): 5+ (my darling husband would surely leave me if he knew what being Sephora VIB Rouge meant in terms of $$$ spent). Product Wish List: Prefer anything natural, cruelty-free but that actually works (though I bend for NARS…GET IT TOGETHER, NARS). I’m also a sucker for “prestige” brands and anything that feels like #selfcare and will keep me YOUNG FOREVER. Skincare Philosophy: There’s no wound—emotional or physical—a sheet mask can’t heal. 1. Acure Day Cream, $17: When I don’t feel like splurging on Drunk Elephant (#3), I usually turn to Acure, which I get at Target, and frankly, I always forget how much I love this stuff until I’m feeling frugal and avoiding Sephora. It’s a budget pick that performs like a splurge. Bonus: It’s vegan and cruelty-free. 2. NARS Matte Lipstick Pencil in Cruella, $27: Every woman (who likes makeup and lipstick) should have their signature “red” and this is mine. I discovered it kind of by accident and I’ve re-upped several times since. It’s velvety and luscious and makes me feel super vampy. The formula isn’t meant to be long-lasting, so I do have to reapply a few times during the day, but it does last several hours and doesn’t get all clumpy like some all-day formulas do. 3. Drunk Elephant Moisturizer, $60: I’m all for brands like Drunk Elephant that are cruelty-free. This face cream provides the perfect level of moisture for my really-oily-but-also-kind-of-dry face. It doesn’t break me out, it absorbs quickly and the pump applicator dispels the ideal amount each time so you never have any wasteful “whoops” moments. 4. Amika Dry Shampoo, $25: Another HG (holy grail) product for me. My hair is GREASY (I have to wash it every day, basically), but since finding this when I was working on a “best dry shampoo” story last year, I was instantly sold. It doesn’t feel chalky or leave my dark strands dusty and white. And it smells really yummy. 5. Benefit Rollerlash Mascara, $24: I loved Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara for a looooong time, but got so tired of it flaking off (and the water-proof formula was not my favorite). Then I found Rollerlash from Benefit and while it doesn’t give me the same insane falsies-like volume, it still lengthens really well and doesn’t give me raccoon eyes halfway through the day. I’ll take it. 6. Beauty Blender Pro, $20: Best tool I’ve ever used to put on foundation (and I’ve tried a lot)…full stop. It leaves my face even, not streaky, is easy to clean (I used the branded soap that was $$$ for a while until I discovered Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap worked just as well for so much less) and lasts for months and months (so I don’t feel wasteful tossing out single-use sponges). 7. Glossier Sunscreen SPF 35, $25: Sunscreen and my face do not get along. I’ve tried so many and they either feel really thick and paste-y or break me out. I used SuperGoop’s City Sunscreen Serum for years until I found Glossier’s, which I like just as much and it’s almost half the price. 8. NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Vallauris, $49: I think the last time I had smooth skin, I still thought boys had cooties, so I feel best with foundation. I DO NOT like thick, full-coverage foundations, but need something with some actual coverage that feels light and doesn’t LOOK like I’m wearing thick cake-y base. After decades of wearing bad foundations, I finally discovered this one from NARS. It’s insanely light and thin yet somehow still covers all my acne marks and discoloration without added concealer. If I don’t set it with powder, I do get a bit oily, but it lasts basically all day, isn’t streaky, blends really well and I can’t be without it. 9. Sunday Riley Power Couple Duo, $85: Yes, this is pricey, but whoa does my skin transform when I actually use the kit. It smells AWFUL, but the Good Genes’ lactic acid must eat away at the top layer of my skin or something because after a week or so of using it religiously with the sleeping oil, my skin is SO SMOOTH. It’s basically magic (that comes at a cost). This is Holy Grail stuff. So stinky, but effective! 10. Thayers Witch Hazel, $9: Take a quick look at the 4.5-star rating on Amazon from OVER 10,000 PEOPLE…this stuff is freaking awesome and is super affordable. I bought it when I was having a particularly bad breakout thing happening on my jawline, and after using it a few times a day for a few days, the toner really started clearing me up. It’s alcohol-free, smells really nice and makes my face feel awesome. 11. Korres Foaming Face Wash, $26: This is the face wash I go back to time and again when I stray (I’m a beauty product player…#playasgonnaplay). It leaves my face clean as a whistle without stripping it (it’s a cream cleanser, which works great for my combo skin). More pluses: it doesn’t have sulfates, formaldehyde, mineral oil, phthalates, silicones or other yucky ingredients I don’t want seeping into my pores twice a day. 12. Sephora Liquid Liner, $12: Are greasy eyelids a thing, because if they are, I have them. My eyelid skin EATS makeup, so finding a liner that stays put is hard. I’ve spent big bucks on “24-hour” formulas (I call BS because they’re never an all-day thing for me unless I use a primer), but I find that Sephora’s eyeliners (including this liquid version) work just as well as the “premium” brands, are easy to apply and come in lots of fun colors. [drawattention ID=159831] Name: Sara What I Do at EHD: Photographer Skin Type: ‘A dry, red war zone of angry hormonal acne’ wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Pain Points: I’ve always had acne, but when I turned 25 it took a turn for the cystic & hormonal. My skin is also typically dry & ruddy. No powder ever touches this skin. While the products I’m highlighting are essentials in my skin & beauty routine, the only thing that has truly helped battle my hormonal acne directly is a medication called Spironolactone I began taking about 7 months ago after a conversation with my doctor. It’s made such a difference in my skin (but took about 3 months to kick-in). Beauty Expert Level (scale 1 to 5): 5-ish Product Wish List: Cruelty-free whenever possible! There are so many good brands on the cruelty-free train these days (I love using this site to quickly check brands if I’m out shopping). Routine: AM – Wash, Tone, Moisturize, SPF, CC Cream. PM – Wash, Tone, Lactic Acid, Retinol, eye cream. Skincare Philosophy: In Caroline Hirons we trust. Skincare is an investment in yourself – you only get one face. 1. Kristen Ess Dry Finish Working Texture Spray, $14: This is what hair dreams are made of if your dream is that perfectly unperfect, bed hair that so many French girls on Instagram seem to be born with. If that sounds great (it does, right?), then you want a can of this. 2. Glossier Cloud Paint, $18: I love the texture of these blushes, the layerability of their color, the wide range of colors they come in, how they don’t look/feel like a dry powder, and the fact that one tube will last you FOREVER. I’m crushing on Beam for summer, but also love the color Dusk. 3. Lush Fresh Farmacy Soothing Calamine Bar, $12: This is the face wash I use in the mornings or when my face is feeling a little more sensitive (for example, after sun exposure). It’s gentle, non-exfoliating, and specially formulated to be super soft on skin. 4. Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment, $158: ACID EXFOLIATION, people. This is pricey, but I see real results with consistent use (for me that’s every night). I follow it up with Sunday Riley’s Sleeping Night Oil, which has retinol. Retinoids will keep your skin young, friends. 5. Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner, $32: Toners are super important to a skin routine. This non-acid toner is what I use in the mornings after I wash my face. It’s super hydrating with aloe and hyaluronic acid, and the perfect foundation for my moisturizer. 6. Lush Herbalism Natural Herbal Face & Body Cleanser, $17: I have a few different face washes, which I switch up depending on how my skin is feeling (this is a PM wash for me). This is more of a paste, with ground almonds that gently exfoliate. It’s helped my acne prone skin glow, but be wary because particle exfoliation isn’t for everyone. 7. MILK Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara, $24: This is new to the MILK Makeup line, and I’m very into it. It’s super thickening, so I like to use this for volume near the roots and then layer on Glossier’s new Lash Slick mascara (with fibers!) on my tips for amazing added length. 8. Pixi Skintreats Glow Tonic, $15: This is my current night time toner, which has 5% Glycolic acid (the holy grail of acid exfoliants which dissolves dead skin cells and helps skin look brighter, feel softer, fades pigmentation, and fights signs of again). It’s affordable AND sold at Target. It didn’t make it to the board, but their Double Cleanse face cleanser is another favorite Pixi product and the best for removing stubborn makeup. 9. Grace & Stella Anti-Wrinkle + Energizing Gold Collagen Eye Masks, $19 for 12 pairs: Up too late? Out last night drinking? Ate too much salty food yesterday? Whatever made your face puffy or put dark bags under your eyes, these little guys really help. 10. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40, $32: The sun is the number one most aging and damaging thing for your skin. Even though I’m in the office most of the day, I still slap this stuff on, just in case the sun grazes my face for a single second while I drive to work. It feels like velvet, is completely invisible, and goes on seamlessly over any face tint I’m wearing. 11. It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50+, $38: This is as close to foundation as I have ever gotten. It’s an opaque tinted cream that helps hide my acne scars and even out my redness, but still has a glowy/dewy effect. A little goes a long way, and it works really well. Plus, it has built-in SPF! If this is a little too opaque for you, try MILK Makeup’s Sunshine Skin Tint, which is my weekend go-to. 12. Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment, $56: This is the only moisturizer I use because it keeps my skin feeling fresh all day. I have a very serious romantic relationship with this stuff. Please Josie Maran, never ever discontinue this magic-in-a-bottle. [drawattention ID=159823] Name: Velinda What I Do at EHD: Design Team! Skin Type: Combination Pain Points: Eyes that puff and hair that poofs. Beauty Expert Level (scale 1 to 5): 3? I’d be entry-level if not for my beauty-savvy friends/cosmetologist sister who have shared enough to keep me afloat. Product Wish List: Pretty content, currently…though those black, charcoal peel-your-face-off masks look like so much fun. Are those actually good for you? Skincare Philosophy: Fingers Crossed!!! And Sunscreen. 1. Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Spray SPF 15, $36: When I visited a dermatologist as a 22 year-old in an attempt to take care of my skin for the first time ever, the doctor told me more than any other product/procedure out there, SUNSCREEN was the secret to “lasting youth.” I can be pretty hit-or-miss when it comes to any beauty regimen, but I can now claim sunscreen use as a decade-long ritual. Shiseido makes a product that’s both face-friendly AND a spray. Sprays are my favorite! Easy to use/reapply, without ruining makeup. 2. Oz Naturals Vitamin C Facial Serum, $18: I first used this when I found a bottle in a check out lane at Marshall’s. I seemed to notice more even, bright skin, but never bought another bottle. Then, this year, I met with a friend/makeup artist in preparation for a wedding skincare routine. I confessed that my only existing “routine” consisted of some oil, sunscreen and alcohol-riddled hair products, she educated me on some basics. (I told her to keep it VERY simple, or I’d abandon). Vitamin C was on her short-list of “must do these four things at night” so…back to this I go. 3. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo, $34: Remember that makeup-artist friend I mentioned a few lines ago? As a wedding gift, she gave my wife and I a basket of some of her favorite products to use in preparation for our day. The basket included many incredible items I wouldn’t have EVER known to look for. The Alterna products were the ones Katie and I fell in love with most. This shampoo and conditioner apparently contain “real caviar extract, rich in omega 3 fatty acids” and my hair now pretty much feels like silk and so does Katie’s. We have different hair-types and have had to get different shampoos/conditioners in the past. Having one we can share? We’re in. There’s also a ton of bad things it doesn’t include (which my friend was super excited about…but I only remember “sulfates”). 4. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Conditioner, $34: Love this for all the same reasons mentioned for its sister shampoo in #3. 5. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Omega+ Anti-Frizz Dry Oil Mist, $34: I don’t know why I didn’t list this one first. It’s my personal favorite. Several weeks ago, Emily asked me what I put in my hair after I go swimming (spoiler alert for future blog posts?). My response was, “some cheap, alcohol-based thing I couldn’t recommend to anyone.” But this stuff is actually worth mentioning! It uses skincare oils (avocado oil, Abyssinian oil and camellia oil) to smooth frizz, even in humidity. I like that I can put it in my hair while it’s still damp (i.e. after I go swimming) so I can prevent frizz. But it can also go on dry hair…which Katie likes to use as a heat protectant before she uses her irons and I like to use on day three of having not washed my hair to tame/add shine. 6. Trader Joe’s Coconut Oil, $10: I’ve tended toward a hippie-dippie approach thus far in my self-care and it wouldn’t be complete without coconut oil. I’ve used it as moisturizer in the past (I’ve found more penetrating options recently). But I still use it to tame some of my curly-hair frizz and to remove eye-makeup. (Olive oil has proven another good option, but has a more distinct smell that I don’t want lingering in my hair). My “high-end” brand of choice: Trader Joe’s. 7. African Shea Butter 100% Natural, $9: I found a jar of this stuff in a surf shop in Florida a few years ago. The lid made such claims as being a “treatment for eczema, arthritis pain, skin discoloration, stretch marks, diaper rash, wrinkles, muscle stiffness, dry hair/skin” and more. But you can’t trust anything coming out of Florida, right (well, except for Arlyn, of course, who just moved here from there)? I figured since it claimed to be a miracle cure for everything from dry hands to cancer and it cost $7, I’d try it. I can’t attest to every claim, but I’m still using it as a fantastic moisturizer! So much better than a lotion. 8. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Sheer Dry Shampoo Powder Spray, $25: Katie loved this product. I had never used dry shampoo before (my hair gets frizzy vs. greasy…that means I don’t need dry shampoo? Excuse my ignorance). But I’ve tried this stuff because my wife raved about it and I figured more “shampoo” just made me cleaner? I liked it because I couldn’t feel any product in my hair and it wasn’t chalky. It smelled nice. Katie liked how voluminous it made her hair. And they’ve squeezed 200 pumps into a travel-sized bottle… extra points for good design! 9. bareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder, $23: My wife turned me onto this one. I couldn’t tell you what it was exactly, so I looked it up. Turns out, it’s a “finishing powder” and it “gives your skin a soft, airbrushed quality.” Cool. I just like it because it makes my complexion super even and it isn’t heavy-looking like a foundation powder. AND, it’s translucent so it doesn’t involve matching skin-tones. It suits anyone and is super natural-looking. 10. Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 55, $9: When I don’t want to spend the $36 or hunt down the Shiseido spray from #1, this SPF from Neutrogena is a great substitute. [drawattention ID=159838] Name: Grace What I Do at EHD: Design Assistant Skin Type: Combination Pain Points: My skin is pretty clear, but I do get the occasional zit (around that time of the month) and ALWAYS around the same area—near my mouth/chin or the side of my nose. Before, like 5-10 years ago before, it would always clear up on its own as if nothing ever happened. But now, for some reason (or maybe the reason is called turning 30), when it “heals,” it leaves a dark spot that takes MONTHS to fade! Oh, and my skin can get oily so unless I take 1 million hours to do my makeup, it’s just all gone by the end of the day. Beauty Expert Level (scale 1 to 5): 3? Not an expert, but I did go through a phase where I was obsessed with watching makeup and skincare videos on YouTube. Product Wish List: I have this dream of being responsible enough to actually be one of those people with a 10-step Korean skincare routine (it’s a thing), so I’ve been eyeing either the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence or the Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence Rose Edition. I’m also forever on the hunt for that perfect foundation that’s kinda dewy but also kinda velvety matte that would stay on my face all day long! Skincare Philosophy: Less is more! If the minimalist route has been working, why fix what’s not broken? 1. Caudalie Beauty Elixir, $49 for 3.4 oz: Any product that makes me feel cooler and momentarily makes me forget about my disdain for the heat is a favorite in my book. The fact that this spray sets your makeup and also freshens up your face mid-day are just two little bonuses! I recommend getting the mini version so you can take it with you wherever! 2. Glossier Cloud Paint in Beam, $18: Maybe it’s because it’s summer, but I’m currently very into anything coral colored. Historically, this is a color that I shy away from because I don’t think it works for my skin tone, but I tried this on at the newly opened Glossier store on Melrose, and was pleasantly surprised! On my skin, it’s a pale coral blush with a slight luminescence, which I feel gives off just the right amount of summer glow. And because it’s a gel-cream formula, it has really good lasting power on my (kinda oily) skin! 3. Soap & Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream, $9: It literally says ‘Better Than A Pedicure?!’ on the packaging and it is indeed! Especially when you are pressed for time and can’t get to the nail salon, but need your feet to look their softest, smoothest and silkiest selves! Apply to feet at night, pop on some socks, and you’ll be beach/sandals-ready by morning! 4. Maybelline Makeup Superstay Ink Liquid Lipstick in Amazonian, $8: This one is a real game changer, guys! If you can buy only one out of all my picks, this liquid lipstick from Maybelline would be it! This matte lipstick actually does what it promises (“16 hours of liquid matte intensity”) and literally lasts ALL DAY. It also doesn’t feel as dry or as tight as when I’d have Colourpop on my lips. Every lip product out there seriously needs to switch their formula to this one! (I, along with two other friends, have a couple shades and would like more, but our all-time favorite is Amazonian. Go get it now. You’re welcome. 5. Heimish All Clean Balm, $17: The best oil-based cleansing balm that I’ve ever tried for removing eye makeup, hands down! I feel like oil-based makeup removers do a better job of removing makeup, but I really hate the oily residue that it leaves afterward. That is not an issue with this cleansing balm—it removes all the gunk without the icky oily feeling! (P.S. If you have sensitive skin or Malassezia Folliculitis, maybe skip this one.) 6. Origins Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief, $14: One thing that you should know about me is the fact that I absolutely 100% abhor the heat, so any product that would give me some sort of immediate relief from it instantly becomes a favorite. This Origins Peace of Mind On-the-Spot Relief is one that I’ve loved for years and even got me through two hot and humid summers in the Philippines. Dab a tiny bit at the back of your neck, temples and earlobes and in less than a minute, the minty formula will cool you off and make you a much more pleasant person to be around! 7. Duo Adhesive Lash Adhesive Dark, $5: I think everyone who has used this will agree with me on this one—Duo is the best eyelash adhesive out there! It’s easy to apply, long lasting, pretty forgiving (aka you’ll have time to readjust) if you mess up putting one of your falsies on, is not irritating or painful when it gets too hot and you start sweating, and most importantly, very easy to remove. I’ve used other glues that were a pain to take off and at the end of the day, one just shouldn’t have to deal with that (one time I thought this other glue had ripped out all of my real lashes and I ended up avoiding looking at my eyes for two weeks). 8. Neogen Real Fresh Foam Cleanser Blueberry, $21: I use this as either my morning or night facial wash depending on what I feel like that day, but definitely always after I use my Heimish All Clean Balm (these two are the only ones left in my skincare rotation from my failed attempt at getting on the 10-step Korean skincare bandwagon). It contains fermented ingredients (a big thing in Korean skincare from what I’ve heard) that are supposed to have many benefits for your skin, makes your face feel so fresh and smooth after, and the best part—it actually smells like blueberries. So good it makes me want to eat blueberries every single time! 9. Eyeko Black Magic Eyeliner, $22: I got hit with a double whammy of eyelid problems (hooded Asian lids and oily lids—never a good combo), so finding a good eyeliner that actually stays on and does not smudge within an hour of putting it on is a tough ask. Enter this Eyeko eyeliner—my holy grail now and forever! It’s got a very fine brush tip so you can be as precise as you want, it’s super black, and stays on not all day, but pretty darn close! I’ve never found any other eyeliner (even those that are highly touted by beauty vloggers) that has worked for me as amazing as this one. [drawattention ID=159832] Name: Jess What I Do at EHD: Blog Assistant/Office Manager Skin Type: Dry…like the desert Pain Points: My skin is really sensitive so I rarely try new lotions or oils because no one likes a face rash. I also have dark circles which are both hereditary (thanks mom AND dad) and caused by my lack of sleep/minimal vegetable intake. This means a good under-eye concealer is non-negotiable. Beauty Expert Level (scale 1 to 5): 3. Not hopeless but could use some help. Product Wish List: I just want to look natural with a little glow (you know, like a sun goddess). But I also want LOW maintenance makeup that I don’t need to touch up throughout the day. I am moving more and more to natural products because well the less harsh chemicals the better. A cup from the fountain of youth would be great, too. Skincare Philosophy: The fancier/expensive it is the better it works right? #easilyinfluenced 1. Blinc Mascara Amplified, $26: Raccoon Eyes might as well have been my nickname ‘til this gem of a mascara came into my life. Due to magic (or science?), this mascara forms tiny tubes around your lashes instead of painting the ink onto them. It sounds weird but go with it. Let’s just say no more nasty rings under those beautiful eyes! 2. Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, $36: Like I said, I am wary of putting new lotions on my face but this one passed the rash test. Plus, the tint matches my skin tone to give me a nice even glow without needing to put on foundation which I hate. BONUS, it has 30 SPF and is nontoxic. 3. Ilia Satin Cream Lip Crayon in Push It, $24: I just bought this and I love it! It’s the prettiest coral I’ve ever worn and doesn’t give you the dreaded “faded lip liner” look after a couple hours of wear. Not crazy long-lasting but it’s natural so I’m okay with it. 4. Innersense Color Awakening Hair Bath, $26: Natural shampoo is a real hit or miss but this one is awesome. It suds up, smells beautiful and for us “not so natural” hair types, this one protects your expensive color. 5. Kosas Color + Light in Tropic Equinox, $34: In my sun goddess quest, I feel like this creamy highlighter/bronzer combo was a game changer. It’s so pretty and glow-y, easy to use (I was a contour virgin, so phew) and it’s another product that’s natural. 6. OPI Nail Polish in Crawfishin’ For a Compliment, $8: Hi my name is Jess and I like orange. Sorry EHD! Okay, that felt really good to get off my chest and onto my nails because this pale orange nail polish is my perfect shade. Fun but not too loud. 7. Schick Intuition Sensitive Care Razor, $8: When I was 14, I was given this razor for free at the grocery store and I have never looked back. That’s 16 years people. Aside from the annoying commercial jingle, this thing is magic. No shaving cream needed because soap is already around the razor. The refills are expensive but to me, it is SO worth it. 8. Sephora Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in 01 Always Red, $14: I love a bold red lip and this puppy is seriously the best! Super long wear and matte. I’m never wearing any other red…plus it’s $14. Please and thank you. 9. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Biscuit, $30: Dear NARS, you may have a ton of toxins in your makeup which is a real bummer, but this concealer is my everything. Maybe one day I’ll eat all the kale and get a lot of sleep but until then, my dark under-eye circles need you. To me…you are…perfect. Love, Jess 10. Wet Brush Classic Brush, $8: I don’t know if your wet hair could win a gold medal in a tangle competition like mine but my life changed FOREVER the day this hairbrush came into my life. If you don’t have one, buy one right now. Yes, I mean it. RIGHT NOW. But P.S. don’t use it with a hairdryer. It will melt. [drawattention ID=159829] Name: Julie What I Do at EHD: Assistant Designer / Project Manager Skin Type: Classic combo…I always have issues with dryness in the morning but then I can use an oil blot sheet in the afternoon and make that thing clear (so gross, but the truth). Pain Points: I have very fair skin with freckles so summertime is not my favorite season. I have to get the annual bad burn before my skin (and myself) accepts the fact that it is 90+ degrees, then the sun and skin become frenemies. Beauty Expert Level (scale 1 to 5): 2.75 (ironically, I went to makeup school back in ’09). Product Wish List: I am a big proponent of drugstore items, finding products that are not only good for my skin and the environment but easy on my bank account. I am as frugal as they come, so products that work well and last a long time are always also my go-to priorities. Skincare Philosophy: Hydration, I try my best to drink a lot of water during the day but is a task I fail to do often. Nothing is better for your skin in my opinion. 1. Majestic Pure Lavender Oil, $17: I’m one of those people that will take a bath over a shower and if you’re a fan of lavender like I am than this oil is AMAZING. Two drops of this stuff and all the stress of the day fades away. One bottle of it lasted me over two years ’til I had about a quarter of it left and it broke in my car when I was moving back to LA. The upside of it is now every time I get into my car, I feel like I am running through a field of lavender. 2. Maybelline Face Studio Master Strobe, $8: My makeup routine is pretty minimal but this product makes the cut. I think of it as my “fancy” item, it’s so easy to use and gives my cheekbones the perfect highlight for that summer dewy look. Just swipe, dab, and go! 3. Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Peppermint Soap, $16: Clean your hair? Check. Wash your clothes? Check. Brush your teeth? Sure, why not. There is a reason why this soap has been around since 1858, it works for everything and on top of that, it’s biodegradable so it is better for the environment than most other brands out there. Plus, it lasts for.ev.er. 4. Pursoma Detox Beauty Jute Dry Brush, $32: The first time I ever tried dry brushing, all I could think is “Why do people do this, it hurts?” More I did it the more addictive it was and I was seeing some amazing benefits. Exfoliates, detoxifies, reduces pores and cellulite…it’s trendy for a reason people. 5. Maybelline Full ‘N Soft Waterproof Mascara, $8: I tried this mascara my sophomore year of high school—that’s 13 years ago—and have never used another one since. Not sure if now I just love it or it’s just routine but it works so well and cheap, why try anything else? #setinmyways 6. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, $45: This cream does magical things, like transforms your butt back to the baby smooth one it once was (you know back in the day) and transports you to a tropical vacation. It smells so good and is basically the main reason why I buy it time and time again. 7. Dr Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution, $5: When I used to workout, I loved taking an Epsom salt bath for sore muscles and this coconut scented one makes you feel like your laying in one big pina colada. Hmmm…I’m seeing a theme of products that make me feel like I am on vacation, “Hey guys, I’ll see ya in a week”. ? 8. Green Goo All-Natural Skin Repair, $18: This is my version of a night cream, it helps so much with my dry skin and when I get those bad sunburns. It has all of the good stuff: olive oil, coconut oil, rosehip seed oil, aloe vera oil, basically all the oils, so I don’t feel bad when I slather it all over my face. 9. Mountain Ocean Coconut Skin Trip Moisturizer, $11: By far this is my most coveted product on this list. Speaking of a tropical vacation, I literally get compliments on the coconut smell often. A big pet-peeve of mine is the greasy residue of moisturizer and this one is perfectly lightweight and did I mention it smells delicious??? It is my favorite part of my morning routine. And because sharing is caring, PLEASE chime in in the comments with some of your own recommendations, holy-grail type beauty and skincare products you just can’t live without. Oh, and if there is anything you’ve been dying to try but haven’t gotten to, let us know, too. Maybe we can collect all of those requests, do a big slather-all-over-out-bodies-in-the-name-of-blog-science party and report back with our thoughts.

Fashion & Beauty

Softened Water and Me – a love story.

When we bought this house last year, we (ahem … I) chose live brass finish faucets because I was desperate for that beautiful 100-year-old perfect patina. When I asked a salesperson at a high-end plumbing showroom here in LA how he felt about my choice, he said ‘I love them…. because you’ll be back here in 7 years to replace them’. Cool. The order had been placed for weeks and there was no going back. Besides, we had a 100-year-old house and I wanted that patina!! So I asked him what I needed to do to save them and he said very quickly and clearly ‘soften your water’. I mentioned it to you guys and many of you recommended Culligan. I hopped online, scheduled an appointment and basically forbade anyone from bathing until I had set up a meeting. I learned the benefits of their softened and filtered water and wrote the check thinking it was another way homeowners have to spend money without any visual ROI. I ended up going for the Culligan Whole Home system which was around 3k but they do have quite a few different systems that can work for any need or budget. And, after a year living with that water and knowing what the benefits have been, I can honestly say that we are SO HAPPY that we did. AD So when they reached out about working together a few months ago I was like ‘I already have you!!’. It’s a weird brand alignment, I realize, but at the same time not at all. I know I’m not the only homeowner who is wondering if treating the water everywhere in your home is actually worth it. I happily said yes because I knew it was something that you as a reader might not consider at first but is something that can make a long-term difference in your home. Also when I was debating it there weren’t a lot of resources that talk about process, benefits, cost and why ‘water’ is something you should spend money on, so I felt I could give valuable information. Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 11 To begin, the benefits of soft and filtered water reach far beyond just the water that you and your family drink every day. You might think ‘wait, I already have filtered water’ but having soft water is different than the ‘filtered’ water you are drinking. Without getting too technical or scientific, water softener systems are designed to remove minerals that can leave deposits on dishes and plumbing fixtures from all your faucets while water filtration systems are designed to remove contaminants and foul odors that might be in your drinking water. So although filtered water is great and delicious and something your family should enjoy the benefits of, soft water goes beyond just what you drink every day and contributes to the longevity of your plumbing, faucets, fixtures and just about anything else that water touches in your house (including your body and skin). To be clear Culligan does both – softens for all the pipes and filters for any drinking water. Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 17 Culligan’s High-Efficiency Water Softening System (which is what we have installed in our home) is a unit that typically is installed in your garage, basement or utility space. It’s not huge – about half the size of old hot water tanks. It basically softens all the water at the direct source and then distributes it to your house once it has gone through the system. Ours goes off at around 3am (if I’m up I can hear a slight hum and I’m like – that water softener is doing its job) and a service person comes and refills the tank (based on the level of the hardness of your water) with salt which is needed to soften the water… They know where it is and they have the code to the garage so I don’t have to make an appointment or anything. Culligan 8462 For drinking water there is another system under your sink that filters the water and let me tell you, the filtered water that comes out of both the fridge and the water faucet is the cleanest most delicious water I’ve ever drank. I’m that person who gives glasses of filtered water to my guests with a ‘eh?, eh?’ look on my face, just waiting for them to say ‘My God, woman, your water is delicious‘. And I think to myself… I know. It really is. Yes, the water you drink is important not just in the way it tastes, but also to make sure it is free of any contaminants that might be in your water. I don’t want to dive into any fear marketing here and tell you what might be in your water, but when we tested it at our own home I wasn’t psyched. Normal fridge filtration systems don’t filter out harmful contaminants that might be in your water. Our filtered water comes out of that small faucet and comes through the fridge. Even the ice is clear not white, which is at first so beautiful and strange, then you get used to it and when I see really white ice it’s jarring. On to the reason that my housekeeper knows that I’m insane. Not only did I choose real marble, but yes, live brass faucets, as aforementioned. No brasso on these suckers. We have to use a special cleaner and a wax imported from Belgium… Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 15 Now live brass faucets aren’t for anyone nor would I put them in every one of my houses, (we aren’t in the mountain house) but goodness gracious if you can keep them up they are gorgeous, but the catch, hard water will absolutely ruin them. If you want to see an example go to George’s plumbing in Pasadena where you can see everything in person and they have examples of what live finishes could erode to if you don’t take care of them (I’m assuming that there were enough complaints so they are super upfront about the risks, with even visual props). Typically, “hard water” means minerals, such as calcium and magnesium in your water that can add to tarnish build-up on your faucets, which can then create rust in your pipes, and a green residue on your faucets among other things. It’s definitely not a “patina” you want. The beauty of a live finish is that it will wear and age with time and gain a patina on it, which is why you will see little spots here and there and imperfections that make it look like it has been there for years, vs something that will always be a bright and polished brass. But there is a fine line between that 100-year-old English look, and disgusting dark green rust. It can work in a super old house, but it is high maintenance, folks. Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 16 The soft water also means less hard water spots on our dishes, glasses, silverware or countertops, which if you’ve lived in a house with hard water before you know how annoying those spots can be when they show up on everything. It also helps to prolong the life of your appliances by 30% (according to the American Water Works Foundation) filtering out the minerals that cause excessive wear and tear, which means your dishwashers won’t get a film or backup in them which can cause them to break down and need repair more frequently. Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 2 Soft water also means softer clothes for you and yours. Hard water can eat away at clothing fibers so once your water is softened your clothes will feel softer and last longer (plus it’s better for your washer). Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 3 In our bathrooms, the benefits of soft water are visible as well. It’s really the gift that keeps on … flowing. The soft water helps prevent hard water spots on our shower which means less cleaning and scrubbing to keep them looking good, and also better when we shower, bathe or wash our hands. Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 6 Any time saved in scrubbing this shower of hard water spots and minerals on the tiles and floors from the water is well worth the investment to me. Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 7 Soft water keeps your hair and skin so much softer as well, by helping to remove all the minerals that can dry it out or irritate it. Ever switch from facewash to facewash wondering why your skin is constantly feeling dry and rough? Well, it may not be the facewash and instead might be the water that you are splashing on your mug. All of this is said not to scare you from your current water situation but to only enlighten and educate you on the benefits that softer and filtered water can bring to you, your kiddos and your home (pipes and appliances). Emily Henderson Culligan Water Softner Benefits 10 I’ve never had treated water before and while it wasn’t something that I thought we needed when we bought our home, having filtered drinking water and softened water going through all our pipes, faucets and appliances has been a very good thing. Culligan 8293 Culligan handles everything from start to finish with the first consultation as well as the final install and they are there to help answer any questions, worries or concerns you have. The costs will differ from home to home, but as I said above, Culligan Water can design the right system to fit any household budget. If hard water is damaging your appliances and faucets then replacing them can be very expensive. Besides, they also offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee within thirty days of purchase. If you decide the system isn’t right for you they will come out and uninstall it and refund you completely. They handle everything from start to finish and Culligan offers salt delivery programs to ensure your softener never runs out of salt and keeps everything functioning at peak performance. So that’s my ‘water’ love story. I’m happy to answer any questions or ask them if I don’t know it all (which I don’t). Where you live will dictate the right solution for your home and if you are renting and can’t have an installed water treatment system they do have a bottled water delivery service (which is what we did for drinking water prior to this house). But if you are investing in your house, with say special faucets, all new plumbing and new appliances then the benefits are worth it. Besides, for some of us who LOVE fresh, filtered drinking water and want to brag to our friends that we have the most delicious water in the world, it’s worth it. Here’s a little video we put together about the process and our very own Culligan system.

Fashion & Beauty

My New Cut and Color. Help.

In my 20’s I dressed like a hipster clown, and generally the reaction was ‘only you could pull that off.’ But I really think that I did. Were my parents mortified when, at my brothers college graduation, I mixed a red sequin tube top with an oversized camo shirt (tied in a cute knot) and a knee length, home-made, preppy blue and white polka dot skirt? YES. Years later they copped to being embarrassed. And maybe that one was too far, but generally I took risks, was super on-trend, and gave zero effs because I had no money. I couldn’t experiment too much artistically in my tiny apartment, so I put all that creative expression onto my body. My story isn’t unique – you are more creative and risky when you don’t need to look very professional. The higher up you get in a career the more you want to be taken seriously, which means dressing less ‘totally unhinged’ and more controlled. Don’t get me wrong, I like ‘my style’ but I’m going through a bit of a mid-blog crisis, and after years of playing it kinda safe with hair/makeup/fashion I’m ready to be more creative. For a while there was a voice in the back of my mind that said ‘sure, thats awesome, but YOU can’t pull that off anymore‘ both in beauty and fashion… But you guys, I SHUT THAT LADY UP. If you are confident enough you can do anything, right? RIGHT??? But today is not about my style revolution in general – it’s focused solely on my blonde locks. It’s very important. I’ve been too long with the same ‘do and it’s time for a change. My New York hair and makeup artist Agata Helena first told me it was time. I’m collaborating with Kristin Ess to help design her studio, while she re-designs my hair. Because if there is anyone in the world I would trust to do the whole shebang (the cut, and color, and style of my hair) it’s her. I don’t think that she is necessarily taking clients (girlfriend is busy with red carpets and product lines at Target) so this was an OPPORTUNITY I was not going to say ‘no’ to, but more importantly not one on which I was going to waste getting a good version of what I’ve kinda had FOREVER. She could give me something new. Cutting Edge. Forward. No pressure, Kristin. Here’s where I started being photographed regularly, but long-ish blonde hair has been on my head since college. Emily Henderson Hair Cut Before Grid 1 Over the years I’ve gone blonder and learned how to put on makeup properly (excuse me while I fire Sara for putting that 2012 photo in that collage, despite my approval) but generally I’ve done the SJP in SITC meets LA with sometimes a little too RHOOC. So many letters, not enough change. If you really want to know, my hair is naturally curly, and it’s fine (as in, not full) but with good texture (so I’m told). It’s naturally very blonde, but if I don’t highlight regularly it looks dull. I have fair skin and zero eyebrows or lashes – before spray tanning existed I was mistaken for an albino quite often in middle and high school. I’m that fair. So the blonde hair has just gotten blonder while spray tans keep me from becoming all one pale color, and generally I’ve felt that it’s a good thing. Emily Henderson Hair Cut Before Grid 2 Above is where we are right now – well, actually it’s shorter than that. I like it. I’m not saying that in a narcissistic way – she is just a nice looking blonde lady. But lately I’ve been so inspired by both young and older women taking more risks and the voice in my head is now saying ‘GO FOR IT.’ Emily Henderson Rue Remember when I did this shoot above for Rue? I LOVED it then and still do now, and you know why? Because it’s more editorial. It took some risks, but I still looked like me. Then I thought to myself, my job is editorial – I tell visual stories for a living, so why shouldn’t my hair follow suit? I know you might be thinking what Brian also suggested, which is ‘why not experiment with hairstyles and not cuts and colors?’ Indeed. But it’s mostly because the ends of my hair are thin and I just need a haircut to keep it healthy, and while long hair will never be ‘out’ I do think this mid-length hair is very happening, and as an all-of-a-sudden-super-edgy-lady I obviously need to be in on that action. Plus… bangs. My hair appointment is Monday. Kristin is VERY opinionated and she sent through lots of styles she thinks will look good one me. First up? The shaggy with curtain bangs: Emily Henderson Hair Cut Shaggy With Bangs2 Now it’s hard not to love that look. Also because they are all such stunning models. I definitely want bangs, that is one thing that I don’t need your help on. But is the rest of the hair wavy, or curly, or is it blunt or layered? I know that Kristin has opinions and I’m personally loving the blunt look, but I’m not convinced it will work on my fine hair. The below gets my heart pounding in both excitement and FEAR: Emily Henderson Hair Cut Short Lob With Bangs Those girls are so cool. That hair is so beautiful, feminine, French, and forward. The key to that for me is keeping the texture super messy and even frizzy (I recently have been using Kristin’s texture spray, and it really does give it this effortless frizz that looks modern and less real housewives). It’s neither straight nor curly. I mean, it’s prefect. But let me tell you a story: One of my best friends, 7 years ago when she was 33, impulsively went from a long ‘Zoey Deschanel with bangs’ style to a cut similar to the bottom right (above). Now it could be because it wasn’t trendy at the time, or maybe it was an off cut, but she admittedly looked 10 years older INSTANTLY. Her commercial agent who reps ‘edgier’ actors told her that she had to get extensions ASAP or he wasn’t going to be able to book her. He said she instantly looked like a Texan soccer mom (obviously no offense to Texan soccer moms, but she wasn’t a mom yet … although she is from Texas). Her husband agreed. She agreed. Even I agreed. She got extensions, went back to looking 26, but it was a terrifying lesson. Does long hair always make you look younger? I’m currently in the ‘I don’t think so’ camp, but for years I felt that way. As a blonde with larger boobs and two kids, I’m super scared that I will look more suburban when my goal here is to look more fashion forward. I will say that I’m willing to put in more time on my makeup and fashion, which some of these hairstyles require. As if now is the time in my life when I need to spend more time on my looks (because as a mom of two small children I have SO much leisure time). The following is the riskiest of all, and the one that most people are pushing me towards – based on fashion and my particular texture. Emily Henderson Hair Cut Curly With Bangs1 Curly with bangs is a thing right now that I’m seeing amongst the hippest of folks. Pretty sure that last sentence disqualifies me from joining this group. That top left photo is what I want, I LOVE it, I’m just terrified that I’ll look like this: Eae51e3e862011cca26189385835dcd0 Yes. that is me photoshopped into Meg Ryan’s hair in Harry Met Sally, and if you are terrified imagine how scared I am. WAIT, imagine how scared BRIAN IS. That dude would be effing terrified if he read this post. Will medium length curly hair with curly bangs make me look like an 80s mom??? Follow up – is 80s mom a cool look right now? I mean there was ‘norm-core’ and now ‘meno-core’ with mom-jeans and oversized button-ups flowing from the runways, so maybe ‘early 80s mom’ (you know, with a 70s bent) is exactly what I want to be. Then we have a question of color. Do I keep the same natural blonde look or go blonder? I mean, when in Rome … Or should I say Norway … Emily Henderson Hair Cut Blonder I don’t think I can go platinum, but I could amp it up a bit – although that would take more maintenance, but if it looked THAT much better then maybe I should? Or I could do the opposite, something I’ve never considered ’til right now – the BRONDE. Emily Henderson Hair Cut Bronde Typically this means brunette with blonder highlights, and it’s probably the #1 request in LA right now. Justin Anderson, who I recently went to for color (who I LOVE and is good friend’s with Kristin), said it’s the only request he gets, even with extremely brunette women. They all want to look sunkissed. For me that would be Kristin putting in darker undertones so that my highlights could stand out. I will always be blonde around my face, but I wouldn’t mind some deeper tones too… So Sara, upon my request, which I realize now was a masochistic one, photoshopped my face onto some of these hairstyles. Enjoy: 2x2 Square Grid 2500 Pixels With all that is happening in the world, I sure am grateful/ashamed that this is what is properly occupying the ‘worry’ portion of my brain. Head to insta-story to see my hair right now and what it looks like with extensions (which I’ve currently been rocking), as well as what it would look like if I cut it. Obviously the question is WHAT DO I DO? Bangs? Lobb? Darker? None of the above truly show what it would look like on me, but if you had to pick one or a couple for me what might you suggest? Monday is the day – and while it’s just hair, now that I’m writing this post it’s all of a sudden too soon. I don’t want to be safe, but I also really don’t want to regret it. Dear world, Help. Your consistently normal blonde, with fine but textured hair, who wants to look fashion forward but is afraid of looking dated and older, Emily Henderson

Fashion & Beauty

Transitioning your Fashion for the Seasons

As you may know I have a partnership with thredUP that involves me playing a lot of dress-up. Read all about why I partnered with the world’s largest online thrift store, here. If you hate clothing then skip this post and come back Monday for design content, but if you find yourself sitting, wondering ‘how does Emily Henderson transition her striped dress from winter to summer’ then you can check that box off your bucket list because that answer is FINALLY going to be answered (keeping in mind, I’m “transitioning” here in Los Angeles, so there’s not a heavy snow jacket in sight). We all know that layering is key both in home and fashion, so that’s pretty much what I do here. First up – the pink shift dress – for work and play. Emily Henderson Transitional Fashion Pink Dress This whole experience was great for me because I rarely curate my outfits and I mostly just throw things on as soon as one of my two kids lets go of my legs, 2 minutes before I should be out the door. For this first outfit, I tucked a short and fitted chambray underneath this thick pink shift and wore my no-longer-available blue menswear duster with some booties. EDITThredUp_AB-6164 Then I de-shirted, added my go-to mules (which I wear almost every day) and spring sprang. EDITThredUp_AB-6187 That bag is from Fashionable, and it’s a b-corp company (meaning that they are invested in making the world a bit better) so if you are interested in that bag, I highly suggest it. It’s just so pretty. Most of the clothing is no longer available but you can troll through thredUP to see what similar pieces you can find. Meanwhile we put together a get the look (tip – the chambray shirt we chose I love but I just realized that it probably isn’t fitted enough to work underneath a dress, so make sure to get something stiff and fitted to layer). Below is the outfit that I would say is the biggest risk for me, and in many ways not me. I mean, I love a culotte on those fashionistas but I fear that they don’t look nearly as good on most of America as they do on models. HOWEVER I do kinda like these electric blue mom pants. The sweater is not something I would normally gravitate towards but heck, we were in a playful room so lets put on something playful, no? Emily Henderson Transitional Fashion Floral Sweater I do, however, love a boxy top on a fitted short/skirt or skinny jeans (and yes those are shorts, I’m not wearing THAT mini of a mini). EDITThredUp_AB-6800 That is the first time in SBEH history that I’ve worn my hair up in a bun. Don’t know if I’ll rotate it into my constant ‘wavy loose hair down’ or ‘unmade hair + hat’ repretoire, but even I was like oh man, it’s nice to see her doing something different with those locks. Now to a more typical ‘me’ outfit – the old striped boxy top + wide leg jean combo. EDITThredUp_AB-6294 These jeans were pre-Elliot jeans, and while my post-2-baby body may not be rocking them as well as I used to, I LOVE them and feel good in them. If I could duplicate that sweater I would. I love the fit, despite the 9 stains it now has that I pretend to not notice. Emily Henderson Transitional Fashion Jeans Winter = sweater/closed toe, summer = blouse/open toe. It’s not rocket science but it is kinda fun to see, right? For those of you not interested in non-design content, here! I’m holding flowers! They are for you to forgive me for a fashion post. EDITThredUp_AB-6350 For those of you interested in fashion, here are some get the looks: Lastly, and maybe my most favorite – The ‘playfully outdoorsy neutral flea market’ outfit. EDITThredUp_AB-6445 Fun fact, I’ve had that Old Navy jacket since I was 23 – which was like FOUR YEARS AGO (jk) and I still wear it. This one was about the dress (which was actually a maternity dress, that I still wear) and how I wear it in winter and spring. Emily Henderson Transitional Fashion Stripped Dress Fall/winter = pants, boots, jacket, and hat. Spring/summer = jean jacket, colorful bag, and mules. My I’m having so much fun in that outfit! And my how very short that skirt is . . . I don’t typically rock a colorful bag, but this outfit kinda wanted it and it’s making me start to rethink my ‘only camel, nude, and black leather bag’ subconscious rule. EDITThredUp_AB-6605 There you go. Again with this dress make sure that it’s thick enough to go over your jeans without doing that annoying things that jeans do underneath longer dresses. This post wasn’t sponsored by thredUP, although I did steal all the photos from them :) So if you are looking for a VERY affordable way to hunt and find used but quality clothes, head to thredUP. Otherwise all the links here are for similar clothes as well. There you go, folks. You get it – more layers, more warmth, closed toes, and more coverage in the fall/winter. Brighter colors, less layers, and apparently MUCH more leg in the spring/winter. Thanks to thredUP for giving me an excuse to get my model on. It was actually far more fun than I thought it was going to be. *P.S. As you know I am very fair skinned, so I do a spray tan called the ‘Versa Spa’ on level 2 (but it’s probably different everywhere – so try before some sort of important event). It’s way better than the mystic, but so much cheaper, faster, and more natural than airbrush (at least for us pale people – they ALWAYS over do me). It takes me 4 minutes from parking to back in my car and makes me feel a little better about showing so much skin. I know a lot of you have asked about it on Instagram or in comments so I figured I’d give them some unpaid endorsement.

Fashion & Beauty

6 Beauty Products I Use Every day

wearing the same EXACT makeup for 6 years. Not because I don't try new things, or because I'm not into beauty, but because these products are exceptional. They were all originally recommended to me by pros (makeup artists when I started my on-camera career) and every time I've strayed from them I've come back, crying, makeup smeared down my face. I know that every skin is different, obviously, so I'm not necessarily talking about the shade or color - it's the product itself that is shockingly good regardless of what color of skin it's on. 1. Eye Brow Pencil by Laura Mercier. If Obama knocked on my door and I only had time to apply ONE thing to my face it would be my eyebrows so I could do my special eye-brow move for him. I look strangely sick without those two little lines across my face. I've tried one million different kinds out of sheer desperation (and because I don't really want to spend that much on an eyebrow pencil), but this one has the most natural looking colors. I think that nobody wants to be the lady with the drawn on eyebrows, but some of us have to be. This is a very good one that is easy to apply (it has a good consistency) and a really natural looking color. I buy fair blonde. 2. Orgasm Collection Blush by NARS. The only thing wrong with this blush is its name. When I was 24 I bartended at a bar with a drink called the "G Spot" and I think that SO many more people would have ordered that drink had they not had to say "hey lady, can I get a G-Spot over here?" So disregard that bad name because this is America's blush. It has a huge cult following because it makes every cheek look happy. Even if your skin is a wildly different tone, this blush is for you. It looks crazy hot pink but once its on your face it just looks healthy and alive. Ask any makeup artist in the world (because they all have it in their kit) about this blush and they'll tell you it's amazing. Be careful with "Super Orgasm" because its kinda shiny. 3. Long-Lasting 12 Hour Wear Eyeliner by Sephora. Everyday I put on a tiny line of eyeliner on the top of my lash line, and this one is by far the best. I've tried the really expensive and the really cheap. Most of them are too shiny, smudge too easily, have a brush thats too thick to apply, don't stay on long enough, or don't ever come off. This is just simple, easy, jet black (or brown), and long wearing. Plus it ain't expensive. 4. Luminous Silk Foundation by Giorgio Armani. When I was first introduced to this I was like "foundation? Base? What am I, a lady-mom from 1985?" But then they applied it on my face and my skin looked immediately fresh, flawless, and totally makeup free. It's expensive but worth every penny. I used to drive to Beverly Hills to buy this stuff when I ran out (because it used to only be sold at Saks in store). It has a SLIGHT reflective quality that makes the light bounce off your skin in a really healthy-glow kind of way, and it's really light so you never feel like you are wearing makeup, yet it covers all dark circles (I don't even wear concealer), and flaws. 5. Long Lash Mascara by Laura Mercier. Now this is the only one where I'm like "I like it" but I'm not swearing by it. I'm desperate to find my mascara. Something that doesn't smudge, but is long lasting, easy to take off, and doesn't clump. If it can add length and curl then wonderful. Extra credit if it makes me look like Kim Kardashian circa 2008. But seriously, any amazing ones out there? I've tried fancy (Chanel), and drugstore (Loreal) with the same similar results - not bad, but not the one. Maybe I just have bad short blonde lashes and will never be satisfied because ultimately a mascara will never give me what I want. That could be it. Also I got eyelash extensions recently which was a DISASTER - so expensive and barely made a difference. And then as they grew out I kept picking at them and ripped out so many of my own lashes, so now I have stupid short, choppy lashes. Perhaps mascara isn't my biggest problem. 6. Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Color Balm by Clinique. I love these and I have them in MANY colors. They look natural, and give your face a little pop without looking like "OH HEY GIRL CHECK OUT MY LIPSTICK." And you can apply it easily in the car or anywhere without a mirror because you can't really mess it up. Plus it's moisturizing and feels good. And kinda tastes good. I was a kid that ate chapstick, so theres that. SO. Those are mine. I'm loyal and I keep it pretty simple. I don't have boxes of eye shadow for a special occasion (although I do like this one). Every now and again I wear a brighter lip, or for on-camera work I put on lashes, but generally this is what I like on my face and many of those are universally good - it's not the color that I love, its the product. And now, dish.

Fashion & Beauty

I Tried On All Your Favorite Trendy Jeans. Here Are My Thoughts…

We did a call-out for all your favorite trendy jeans, and so many of you suggested the same pairs over and over and over – it was quite compelling, and my team perked up. So while I was out of town, they ordered them in my size (don’t worry – we returned what I didn’t keep) and when I got home, they greeted me with a fun jean try-on. As we know, loose and baggy is still ruling supreme, skinny jeans being an immediate negative style indicator (controversial, I know, and a real bummer), and yet, as an apple-shaped lady, this is so challenging for me. It’s my dumb non-expert opinion that baggy jeans look best with smaller, more fitted tops (cropped or body suit preferred), playing with proportions, etc, but it’s just not what I’m comfortable in (both physically and not how I feel like I look best). For me, I’m not wearing a big boxy blousy top over big boxy baggy jeans, so I’m not having my moment, and that’s ok (I literally don’t take this stuff seriously, it’s just fun! But I’m not alone, it likely won’t be for long, and there are a few silhouettes that are actually working for me (the last one is my favorite). Here you go: Quince – Bella Stretch I’ve been skeptical about Quince, very curious how they are disrupting the market by likely duping other brands (who are likely duping the OG designers/makers, so… ) but the price point is crazy low and the quality seems to be very high. The verdict: I really loved how soft these were with the perfect amount of stretch, but not too stretchy that it felt like they’d lose their shape in hours. And for $50, I was like, wait, what? FIFTY DOLLARS?? They felt extremely high quality to me for that price. I tried on both the 26 and 27 and kept the 26 (size down, I’m typically between a 27-28 depending on the week). The blue wash is really great, and the fit is mid-rise. I only kept three pairs of jeans, and this is one of them (three sounds like a lot, but you’ll see). Pistola – Lennon High Rise Crop Pistola has become a favorite brand for me, and I loved these jeans because I felt good in them. They are a slimmer cut but not “skinny” (I don’t think?). They are so comfortable, an easy wear and fit my lifestyle (which is very casual). I probably wouldn’t tuck a shirt this far since they are higher rise and I’m shorter torsoed, but at this price point (a little over $100), I felt like they were a solid investment. Mother – Hustler A LOT of you said this was a favorite of yours (and admittedly looks so good with those shoes). These fit great, with the signature Mother Stretch, and the dark wash is certainly flattering. With Mother, I always wore them post partum because they were so flattering and stretchy at the waist. “Bit of stretch, excellent quality, normal-sized pockets”. I really liked these and felt good in them (but was unsure that they are too “skinny”???). La Ligne – Marilyn Mid-Rise Barrel Admittedly, these are very cool – a lot of you sent this rec to me, and I hadn’t heard of them. They are dual-toned, the front being lighter than the back, and have a cool side seam and great tailoring. If I had a job in a big city that I had to go into an office for and look cool, I would 100% have kept these, but at this price point, I didn’t think I’d wear them enough to justify the cost. The verdict: These are rad, but too much of an investment for my lifestyle! I didn’t keep them, but if you are looking to invest and want something really cool (that still looks polished), we all agreed these were rad. AGOLDE – Fran Low Slung Yeah, I liked these… The color is perfect, the wash is perfect, and the straight leg is still flattering. They are another pair that so many people swore by, but they are $$$. I didn’t keep them (they weren’t a “hell yes” at the time), but now that I’m staring at the photos, I’m really into them!! Most people said to size down and wear high-waisted – I’m wearing my normal size, and if I had kept would likely have exchanged it for a smaller size. They are rad, but I just don’t love this baggy of a pant on me, and if it’s not a “hell yes” it’s a “no”. My younger team loved these BTW :) AGOLDE – 90s Straight I loved the wash on these (medium with some darker areas), but I didn’t know how to style the hem that came in really fast at the end (so I think you are supposed to just let it be awkward and baggy at the bottom?). I love Agolde – a definite favorite denim brand when I want to splurge (and I love their shorts a ton). I think this is just a style preference, and I’m not loving this on me :) I also want to say fashion is very perplexing right now, and I’m not seeing a lot of people, even when we went to New York, who looked like they had a clear personal style. Just a lot of people “wearing clothes,” mostly athleisure (everywhere) or just baggy jeans and a square neck tank top (and socks). Brian and I talked about it a TON while we were there. I actually felt silly wearing an “outfit”. It’s almost like the tourists wore the outfits, and the locals just look like they put on clothes. I didn’t expect to see a bunch of Carrie Bradshaws everywhere, but we left super uninspired. So I think younger fashion is still leaning away from trying to look good, which I think does track with what we wore in the 90s?? J. Crew Factory – Wide Leg Crop These were so cute for those who love wider legs, and the length is perfectly cropped. They are solidly tailored (and looked so cute with those shoes). A great light denim, with the right amount of stretch and a great price point. I think these could totally be office jeans, too – they do have a raw hem, but they are clean otherwise, and the tailoring is great. Old Navy – Barrel For $30, I was super impressed with these. I think we have another year with barrel jeans (the good ones, maybe longer). This price point is solid, and these feel really high quality. If you don’t want to invest too much into this trend, these (or the Madewell ones below) would be a great way in. You just can’t beat the price. Madewell – Balloon Jeans Ok, none of you recommended these, but I was recently at Madewell and they said that these are flying off the shelves – their new “balloon” pants. They feel more “barrel-light,” still with that rounded shape and slight tapering, but less exaggerated. They are too high-waisted for me (and they are fitted at the waist, FYI), but curious what you guys think? Sorry, we didn’t steam them:) Madewell – Low Slung Baggy I really wanted to keep these – they are pretty dang cute! But they are so long that I would need to wear them with high heels and I just know that I don’t need them enough to spend the money because I don’t really wear jeans/high heels enough (again, I work from home so the only time I splurge on new clothes that are non-work from home clothes is for fancier shoots). Definitely size down on these and wear heels or be ok with the Gumby look. I could also try the petite version because the waist, slight drop crotch, color, wash, and hem are all awesome. Madewell – The Darted Barrel While I’ve shown you these for months now, these are still my favorite barrel jeans that I think are flattering on those of us who don’t love a massive bottom. I have them in this wash (size 26) when I want to be a big slouchier, and also in the cream in a size 25 (which is fitted and feels cute). These are a 10/10 for me – comfortable, on trend, but still flattering and just so easy to wear without a crazy high price point. So I kept the Quince, the Pistola, and the Old Navy – all of these felt like I’d wear them a lot (for my lifestyle) and weren’t too splurgy. But I am eyeing those low-slung Baggy Fran jeans now…Fashion is hard!!! I find that I get so stuck in my comfortable rut, and for the most part, I’m ok with it until I have the occasion or shoot where I want to show that I have a point of view – less about what is “in” and more about representing my personal style. I think moving away from NY and LA (and living in the suburbs … on a mini-farm…) has drained my daily desire to wear anything that isn’t comfortable and casual :) Or maybe that’s just getting older. Turning 46 in a couple weeks, folks …

Fashion & Beauty

The 2025 UPDATE You’ve Been Waiting For! 19 Brands Like Madewell – Comfortable, Stylish, Wear-Everyday Pieces

What’s that thing called where the clock strikes midnight, you turn 30, and suddenly you’re like, “uh, where am I supposed to shop now?” If you’re like me, or Em, or literally anyone who has ever worked at EHD the answer has probably been “Madewell” – but what happens if you want to expand your options a bit? THAT’S WHERE I COME IN, PAL! And what’s even better is that this list has been completely updated for 2025! Today, I’m introducing you to 19 tried-and-true retailers at different price points who capture that same cool, effortless, like Madewell aesthetic that we all know and love. Each brand is labeled with their available sizing – I’m recommending some businesses that carry sizes through 4X! – and I’ve also noted the price points (from $ to $$$$, to avoid any “Say Yes to the Dress” syndrome where you fall in love with something that’s not currently in the budget). Let’s begin with an EHD fav… Abercrombie Price Point: $$ Sizes: XXS – XXL (+ “Curve Love” Jeans Line) Our Review: In case you haven’t noticed, the EHD team has been VERY impressed with Abercrombie’s comeback. I sing their praises weekly! We all can remember the dark, heavily perfumed stores, filled with shirtless men. In 2025 things are different! Sure, the lighting is still moody, but the perfume scent level is very normal, and everyone is fully clothed. But that’s not even the best part! The clothes are CUTE and chic and reasonably priced. It’s giving affordable Reformation and in case you missed this jean post or dress post we did, take a peek:) ABLE Price Point: $$ Sizes: XXS – 3X Our Review: Ooooh, y’all are gonna love this one: ABLE is a sustainable brand working to create jobs for women…and their leather goods, jewelry, apparel, denim, and shoes are heirloom-quality at an achievable price, to boot. (Amy Poehler had it right: women do get things done!) Check out ABLE for quiet, cool, put-together looks and ethical Madewell lookalikes. Alex Mill Price Point: $$$ Sizes: XXS – XXL, 24-33, 0-14 Our Review: If you also love scrolling the Alex Mill website, it’s for a good reason: this is some LEGACY good design. The team behind the scenes? Alex Drexler (the OG, who started selling shirts in 2012), Somsack Sikhounmuong (the former Creative Director of Madewell and J. Crew), and, uh, Mickey freakin’ Drexler (founder of Old Navy and Madewell; former CEO of The Gap and J. Crew). If you’re missing the Madewell and J. Crew of yore – you know, the kinds of clothes with clean colors, simple silhouettes, and fresh, delightful details – THIS IS WHERE THEY’RE ALL AT NOW. You’re welcome! AYR Price Point: $$$ Sizes: XS-XL, 24-34 Our Review: The Deep End button-up inspired this entire post, actually! Last year, I mentioned that AYR’s button-ups were the best out there (this is coming from a gal who name-dropped two Madewell pieces in her author bio) and it turns out that a lot of you agree! Visit AYR for quality, true-to-size, coastal Nancy Myers movie-esque pieces that’ll last the test of time (seriously, this is even one of Oprah’s go-to basics brands!). And while you’re at it, be sure to peek at their sale section for huuuuuge markdowns. I love a business that knows how to throw us a deep discount, you know? COS Price Point: $$ Sizes: XS-L, 24-32, 2-14 Our Review: Elephant in the room: COS has work to do on the sizing front. But if you fall into the “straight size” basket right now, this is a great source for chic, interesting, on-trend clothing that won’t feel dated this time next year. COS excels at the classic details (those pleats!), but they can also make a basic piece feel a little extra special (the neck on that dress is incredible). Emerson Fry Price Point: $$$ Sizes: XXS – XL Our Review: Emily was the one to introduce us to Emerson Fry, and wow, is it awesome. The light fabrics, the pretty draping, and lots of really good patterns and textures. Their pieces feel classic and unique at the same time, which is such a dream. What isn’t a dream is their lack of inclusive sizing. We REALLY hope that changes soon. We do, however, love how dedicated they are to being sustainable and eco-friendly. One of their main goals is to be a zero waste company, making things to order/producing limited runs. They are also very transparent about the fabrics they use and why. Oh, and their products on made in the USA. So, not perfect, but if you are in the straight size range and have a slightly bigger budget, this is a wonderful option for you! Everlane Price Point: $$ Sizes: XXS-XXL, 23-33, 00-16 Our Review: If you’re also a little nosy (I am), you’ll LOVE the material cost breakdowns at the bottom of each product. Everlane’s whole thing is “radical transparency” – they were one of the first movers to embrace the “cutting out the middleman to reduce our prices” messaging that the world’s since come to know and love. Check them out for well-fitting denim, breezy linen, organic cotton tops, and special pieces that can take you from office to night out (hi, cute flats!). Oh, and this is also where Jess gets all of her jeans. She’s obsessed:) Favorite Daughter Price Point: $$$$ Sizes: XXS – XL Our Review: Simple and chic are the defining words of Favorite Daughter. Owned by the Foster sisters, Erin and Sara (and creators of Nobody Wants This on Netflix), they really nail the cool woman aesthetic. The pieces are more high-end end but Jess got a few of their pieces on sale on LOVES them. As many other brands, they NEED to expand their sizing. But their pieces are super beautiful if you want to take a peek. I mean, look at that awesome blazer with the exaggerated slit up the back. So pretty! Frank & Eileen Price Point: $$$$ Sizes: XXS-XL, 0-12 Our Review: This is one of Em’s favorite brands! If you’re the “save up, buy once, buy for life” type, Frank & Eileen ABSOLUTELY needs to be on your radar. They’re a women-owned, women-led business producing ethical, sustainable pieces that’ll stand the test of time. I mean, that dress? Those chinos? Even the cut of the sweater is considered and a little special! If you have the budget and you’re ready to buy *THE* basic that you’ll turn to for the rest of your life, this is a great option. The Great Price Point: $$$$ Sizes: 0-3 (read: 0-14, for us normies who only know regular sizing numbers) Our Review: Had to fit in one more splurge-y recommendation for those of you on the hunt for investment pieces! The Great is an incredible resource for the kind of clothing that people will stop you in the street to ask about (and I know this for a fact, because Em gets a BANANAS number of DMs on Instagram anytime she appears in stories wearing a piece from here, haha). If you’re a Madewell lover who also enjoys the quirk and charm of Anthropologie, spend a few minutes browsing The Great’s website – it’s fun, even to just look, I swear!). J. Crew Price Point: $$ Sizes: XXS-3X, 23-37, 00-24 Our Review: HOLD UP. J. CREW IS SO, SO, SO GOOD AGAIN? There were a few years there where it felt like J. Crew kind of fell out of the cultural conversation, but if you haven’t shopped there in a second, pop back in – OLD J. CREW IS BACK. Simple cuts, easy-to-mix-and-match basics, UNBELIEVABLY flattering dresses, MAJOR sales, and all in a beautifully-selected, curated color palette. I did a major wardrobe refresh with a ton of stuff from J. Crew and have been THRILLED with how well everything’s held up so far (and it all looks good together, too!). Monrow Price Point: $$$ Sizes: XS-XL Our Review: Monrow is a go-to shop for those cool girls who embody the “I woke up like this/I just threw this on” vibe. Their pieces drape beautifully, come in gorgeous earthy colors, and are cut in such a thoughtful way! Their sizing leaves a bit (or a lot) to be desired, but the oversized fit and flexible construction of their clothing means that their XL still feels comfortable and breezy. Nisolo Price Point: $$ Sizes: 5-11 Our Review: As the owner of not one, not two, not three, but SIX pairs of Nisolos, I say this: these shoes last forever and look better with age. I grabbed my first pair – the d’Orsay oxford – in 2019 after joining the team at EHD, and my collection has only grown since. Their summer sandals and slides are so cute, but their Chelsea boots and winter flats are ESSENTIAL (I survived multiple walking tours in icy, salted-out Quebec in these heeled boots). Their pieces come in a variety of colors and tones, so you can find a nude shade that works for you! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Old Navy Price Point: $ Sizes: XS-4X, 0-30 (plus petite and tall offerings!) Our Review: OK GIRL, I SEE YOU. If you’re used to the Old Navy of olden times – you know, the place where you’d stop in to buy an American flag shirt on your way to a July 4th celebration – you’re missing out on high-quality, SUPER size-inclusive clothing that looks and feels WAY more expensive than you’d expect. I mean, be real – if this didn’t say “Old Navy” up top, I would have assumed these were from Madewell! Pop on over to the site and enjoy being pleasantly surprised by the new Old Navy. Pact Price Point: $$ Sizes: XS-3XL Our Review: We were introduced to Pact when Emily did a partnership with them. We all really loved that they focus on basics, have a better size range than most, AND are super sustainable! Aside from comfort, it’s their main focus – “We don’t just claim sustainability, we certify it. We proudly partner with Fair Trade USA, Global Organic Textile Standard and SimpliZero to ensure our products, and our processes, support both people and planet.” This is a great and affordable brand you should absolutely check out! Quince Price Point: $ Sizes: XS-XL, 25-33, 0-16 Our Review: Quince may be a new brand to a lot of y’all, and is so you’re in for a treat! If you’re looking at these prices and thinking “Wait, you can’t sell a responsibly-made, washable silk skirt for $70?” – QUINCE DOES, AND IT ROCKS. (Thousands of nearly-unanimous 5-star reviews can’t be wrong!) The founders of Quince built their careers working at high-end brands but wanted to make the same high-quality essentials at an achievable price point for the average person. Mission accomplished, right?

Fashion & Beauty

Our Very Cute Last Minute Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

One of the best sales of the year is coming to an end: The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Emily wrote about her picks here when it started! I, on the other hand, tend to be a bit disorganized about sale shopping, so if you also fall into that category, this post is for you. I went through and found 16 truly great pieces that can be worn through the rest of the year (and beyond, of course:)) If you’re in need of either a few more summer pieces or new clothing for the fall, I highly recommend you check out this sale before it’s gone. Ready to “last-minute” shop this Nordstrom Anniversary sale picks with me? Cozy Sweaters In the clothing category, few things are dreamier than a slightly oversized sweater. Both of these are from Free People, which makes sense because all of my favorite knit sweaters are from them. They just have “the slouch” down perfectly. And both of these are well under $100 and come in more colors. Also, should we do a belt roundup? The are EXTREMELY back. If you prefer a more tailored (but still cozy) look, this Madewell sweater is perfect. It’s great to throw on for a cool summer evening or be the perfect pop of pattern under your fall/winter coat. It also comes in blue with white stripes. Cool Jeans If you are someone who maybe wants to try a pair of expensive jeans, a sale like this is such a great way to do that without paying full price. Both of these jeans are by MOTHER, a beloved but not inexpensive brand. I love each of these styles for different reasons. Who doesn’t love a little flare? They just know how to show off those curves. The other wide-leg jeans are simply cool. It gives you that chic, effortless vibe I know I’m always trying to go for:) Easy Blouses Naturally, I had to find some pretty blouses since we are VERY pro flow-y blouse at EHD. If you like some pattern, then look no further than Farm Rio (where the blouse on the left is from). This top, in particular, is the perfect colorway and pattern for all seasons. It’s vibrant without being too over the top. We are big fans. Then that solid blue top is simple, but the detailing in the cuffs and neckline are so pretty. Versatile but special! A Chic, Structured Top But if you want a top that is a little more structured, that can also easily transition to a cooler season (just throw on a thin little long sleeved top under), this vest is ideal for that. It’s from Rails, which Em is a big fan of, and I love that it’s a little longer. A great find…if I do say so myself:) Fun Tees Time to get a little more casual. I’ve recently been leaning more into fun tees. I still love a simple, plain white t-shirt, but sometimes you just want something a little more, amirite? Both of these have that ideal amount of “fun” without being too loud. That’s my ideal mix. A Trendy Lounge Pant Continuing our cool and casual journey, I’m in love with these track pants. How cute is the paper bag waist, or the curved detail on the bottom, or those cool stripes? A great pant for you to run around town and feel put together and comfortable. Transitional Dresses One thing most women love is an easy dress. But especially an easy dress we can wear in that transitional time between seasons. I think both of these dresses fit that bill perfectly! They can be worn with or without stockings and/or boots, and style-wise are appropriate for any season. A Multi Seasonal Skirt Looking for a sweet skirt? How good is this one?! It’s great for any season, has enough detailing to be interesting but not so much that it’s not simple, and it has the cutest matching top. A classic staple for your closet Cute Coats Since fall is approaching, those of you who are on top of things know that it’s smart to buy things like coats and jackets now…if you need any. So if you do, we love a barn jacket. It’s cool, utilitarian, and easy to throw on with most outfits! This one also comes in blue and green. And finally, who can resist a powder blue bouclé coat? It’s such a great pop of soft color that is fun but still feels neutral enough. When I see coats like this, it makes me sad that I don’t live in a place that has a true fall or winter. But if you do, maybe you could be this cool person! Here ends our talk of last-minute Nordstrom Anniversary sale picks. Hope you enjoyed the finds, and if you’re like me, needing a little reminder it was ending, happy shopping.

Fashion & Beauty

5 Women Reviewed Abercrombie’s Viral Best Selling Dress…Here’s What We Think

Earlier this summer, I stepped into an Abercrombie location at the Christiana Mall in Delaware. This was not the Abercrombie of yore – there were no dark lights, no overpowering scent of cologne, no ear-splitting bass. Nary a shirtless teen in sight! On the contrary: this was the new Abercrombie. The 2025 version. The transformation was made evident when a young tween, dragged in by her early 40s mother and wholly uninterested in every dress in front of her, gestured to me, a 33-year-old woman minding my own business, and said, “This store is for people like her.” “Her,” in this case, means adults. Grown-ups. (The horror!!!!) We grew up, and Abercrombie grew up with us. Gone are the layering tanks, the popped collars, the micro-shorts, the air of exclusivity. Instead, you’ll find your local Abercrombie stocked with modest midi-length dresses, comfortable jeans, athleisure with built-in bras, and easy throw-on-and-go basics at wallet-friendly prices. WHO KNEW?! Well, I did – and that’s why I forced the team to try on and review Abercrombie’s Viral Best Selling Dress, the Emerson collection. I’m convinced that this style looks good on everyone (you can be the judge below!) and it’s offered in a variety of shapes, cuts, lengths, and patterns, meaning that there is an Emerson for every body. (I mean that literally, too – sizing runs from 000-24 and regular, petite, and tall lengths are offered. They’re not perfect, but Abercrombie is far more inclusive than other major brands out there today.) ANYWAY – you ready to see what these grown-up adults think of their new dresses? Emily Dress Size: Small/Regular My Height: 5’4″ Thoughts: When things go viral, I’m curious for sure – is it really that good? Would it work on my body? Since I have larger ladies and a short torso, I really thought that the fitted bodice would crawl up and make me look pregnant (true story for all the Reformation dresses designed like this), but I was so pleasantly surprised by the structure of this dress! I really love it (with one caveat). It’s comfortable, drapes really well, obviously the sleeves are flattering, and the bodice slimming and just so easy to wear (shout out to the alllllll the various patterns). My only issue is that I only have one bra that has wide enough straps and a low enough back to not be seen. I actually think it’s best to not wear a bra with this dress, but I’m not terribly comfortable doing that. The square neck is very wide, and it’s not that the back is super low it’s that my supportive bras just have a thicker strap that does ride up higher. I bought these cakes, but they didn’t arrive in time. So I’m keeping this dress (I bought it in the poplin, too, but prefer the linen, so I returned that one). I know we are in mid-July, so buying a linen midi dress might feel “end of season,” but the sale price of this is an incredible deal (and it’s too hot to buy fall right now!). I’m sure the other ladies will say this, but if you are in between sizes, size down – I’m in between small and medium in most things right now (I really wish the world would get itself together and agree on a universal sizing), and bought a small, which fits great. I was prepared to say “cute dress, not for me” but I’m excited to announce that even if you are apple shaped, with a bigger bosom, this dress is very flattering and makes me feel good (just beware of the bra needs). Gretchen Dress Size: Large/Tall My Height: 5’9″ Thoughts: Consider me a fan of Abercrombie’s resurgence! Gone are the days of me rocking a moose-embroidered, long-sleeved babydoll top to 3rd period (thankfully). Now, I’m wearing puffy sleeves and flowy skirts to wine country, baby! We’ve graduated, and I like it. Especially this style of dress; big puffy sleeves, a square neckline, and a tiered skirt that hits just right at the waist. I was smitten with this cute wine and cheese pattern on the fabric, which is admittedly a little too on the nose to wear wine tasting (what I’m doing in this picture), BUT so many strangers (okay, two) came up to me and told me they loved the dress! So I consider that a win and have plans to wear this piece other places, too. I wasn’t totally sure about the sizing, so I tested a variety, and really I just wish they sold a medium-and-a-half. The medium fit me super well in the waist/ribs, but squished the girls down in a weird way. The large fit best in the chest but is looser than I would like in the waist. I went with the large tall (I’m 5’9″) over a regular because I think a longer midi skirt looks better on me. Overall, I’m pretty pleased with this dress and think the quality is great, especially for the price point. Jess Dress Size: Small/Petite My Height: 5’4″ Thoughts: What I will say first is that it is an extremely cute dress that doesn’t require my size C-cup breasts to wear a bra, and since it doesn’t have a fitted skirt, I can wear whatever style underwear my heart could desire (granny, duh). The pattern is so sweet, it’s lined, and overall, the quality feels so good. I chose a petite length since it’s a “mini” dress (though, I don’t think it’s all that mini) and was afraid the regular would have hit me in an awkward spot. Oh, and it was a bit of thing to get on because it’s a pullover, but once you’re in, it’s so comfortable and you feel secure! But as truly cute as it is and think it looks on me, it’s just not my style. I sort of figured as much when this style was chosen, but as my mother always told me, “Just try it on, you never you and you might be surprised.” However, since I know I just wouldn’t wear it enough, I’m going to return it. This is a dress that’s much more “Jess”:) Caitlin Dress Size: Large/Regular My Height: 5’8″ Thoughts: I’ve been screaming about Abercrombie for TWO WHOLE YEARS, and it’s about time my team started paying attention!!! The Emerson line is a total breeze to wear – it’s the epitome of the “throw on and go” dress to me. Everyone looks good in it, they’re appropriate for nearly every occasion (church! Antiquing! Farmer’s market! Parent/teacher conference! Thanksgiving dinner!), and honestly…they’re pretty fun and princess-y to wear. I love the pockets, I love that my 36Fs fit inside (I’m bra-less here, with room leftover!), and I love the variety of cuts and patterns. If none of the current pieces are doing it for you, never fear: they drop new pieces every season. And while we’re talking Abercrombie: here’s the Mila dress I’ve been yappin’ about all summer! ICYMI, I’ve been on a “shop small or not at all” kick in 2025…and it was going great, until I tried this dress on. It’s simultaneously structured-yet-breezy, supportive enough up top that I can still go bra-free (praise be!!!), and I ADORE the cut of the straps – it covers up my armpit folds, or lumps, or whatever those weird pieces of skin between my boob and my armpit are called. I wear this one at least once a week – it’s just SO easy and flattering. If the Emerson cut isn’t doing it for you, give the rest of the dresses a look – they have some great basics at rock-bottom prices. Mallory Dress Size: Small/Regular My Height: 5’7″ Thoughts: Imagine how confused I was when I opened up this blog post in the backend and saw everyone’s Abercrombie dress that did NOT look like the one I ordered!! Caitlin raved about this dress, which is how we came up with the idea to do an Abercrombie dress try-on, so I thought we were going with that one, but JOKES ON ME!! I don’t know what happened. But this is what I ordered and I LOVE IT, so I’m gonna review it anyway (lol this is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to me on the blog). Let’s get into it, though. This dress comes in a few different simple colors, and this really fun pattern too. The quality is shockingly good – there’s a bodice that’s super flattering but isn’t tight and uncomfortable (I don’t know how they do it). I was super impressed with the fit (I got a small). But wait – I saved the best part for last – IT HAS POCKETS! I’ll be wearing this all summer. Thanks, bye! Marlee Dress Size: Small/Regular My Height: 5’8″ Thoughts: I am not a huge fan of puffy sleeves on myself, and I don’t really wear midi or maxi dresses casually, so I was unsure about reviewing this line when the team first proposed it (didn’t feel super me) – but I was happy to see the Emerson Cap Sleeve Mini Dress as an option in the line! I ordered a Size S in the black (regular height). My biggest takeaway is WHY am I not wearing square necklines ALLLL the time? It’s so cute – combined with the little cap sleeves, I ended up liking this dress much more than I thought I would. From a sizing standpoint, it felt pretty true to size, and I liked that the back area where the zipper has ruching, so it’s pretty stretchy. Lengthwise, it hit at a good point on my legs but is on the longer side for a mini dress – I do have a shorter torso, but if you’re worried about the length, I think it’s totally fine/appropriate. I went braless and felt totally fine, but if you need more support or feel most comfortable wearing a bra, I do think you would have to go strapless (unless you don’t mind a little peekaboo strap) – the neckline did go basically all the way to my armpit. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this item, and I think it will be a great, simple staple to have in my closet! There you go! Let us know what you think. Do you like the kinds of reviews? Are you going to try an Abercrombie dress now? Have a great weekend, pals!

Fashion & Beauty

Our Summer Fashion Staples: The Clothes That Make Us Feel Great And Keeps Us Cool

Now that we are about a month into summer, Marlee posed the question the other day, “What are everyone’s summer staples?” A big gab sesh started so naturally, we then thought that it was a pretty great blog post idea. So here we are! And much like a capsule wardrobe, it’s helpful to really pinpoint what types of pieces we gravitate towards and can wear with what we already own. It makes us better buyers and happier in the long run. No more “I’m sure I’ll find a place to wear this” and then never do. Each of us on the team has our own little style variations, so hopefully you’ll find some good inspo and/or pieces that will help you beat the heat. First up, our fearless leader… Emily Overall Summer Style: I’m living casually per usual, but dialing in things that make me feel cute enough around town. Great Flats – I’m still loving the Dolce Vita mesh leopard ballet flats – they strangely go with everything and are super flexible (not stiff, and therefore comfortable). The bright blue Nike sneakers are solid, and my new pointy clear jellies are strangely flattering and comfortable, and still loving these brown sandals from Anthropologie. Jean Shorts (Multiple Lengths!) – We are all going baggier than we used to, and I’m still loving these Agolde shorties and the longer Gap Bermudas (I have in both white and light denim). Blousy Tops – I really like the new one from Nordstroms I’m wearing in the opening shot. But my go-tos tend to be either Doen or Love Tomas (Emerson Fry). The delicate cotton is so breathable, and they are just so pretty and yet casual. Head Scarves – I can not stop wearing scarves on my head, either as a triangle or a headband. Alex Mill, Madewell, and Urban Outfitters all have great ones. This one is super cute. Aviator Sunglasses – I go mostly for knockoffs, but my last pair (Fetch) was from Consign Couture in Multnomah Village, where I sell a lot of my clothes, and I love them. These are great too! Pearls – I like a light strand around my neck at all times – pops just the right way. Patterned Dress – I’m sad my Evereve dress is sold out (snag it if it comes back), but this new Madewell one is FANTASTIC. Such a great drape, comfortable and versatile (and the pattern makes it so forgiving). Baseball Hat – This hat (in the opener photo), from Anthro, is my new absolute favorite. It’s a trucker hat with mesh backing and is so cute (despite being a fake souvenir hat, which I think is hilarious – but it’s such a good hat that I ignore it). Jess Overall Summer Style: Oversized Button Up – This has been a staple for me for many summers. What’s easier than throwing on an oversized button-up with some shorts, over a swimsuit, as a nighttime extra layer? It’s so versatile and effortless. Now, I got my first Frank & Eileen button-up as a surprise for Christmas, and it has been in heavy rotation ever since. It’s pretty perfect. Of course, that one is not all that budget-friendly, so here’s a great alternative for a fraction of the price. Activewear Shorts – I’m new to the love of “activewear” pull-on shorts that Emily and likely many of you have been on for a minute. Remember this post Em wrote a few years ago? Well, I’m finally here and I am happy as a clam. It started with my new bright green Lululemon shorts and soon expanded. I love throwing those on with my Frank & Eileen button-up with my ballet jelly flats. It’s easy, casual, and a little fun. The other pair I bought is super similar to these (except these are a little less “activewear” and more “cute summer shorts”). Jean Shorts – A jean short is a staple for many of us, so no shocker here. But to get specific, like Gretchen, I am a sucker for these Agolde Parker shorts. They are just the perfect fit, the perfect wash, and regardless of what my waistline has been (I’ve fluctuated a few sizes over the past few years), I’ve always felt confident in them. They do have a longer version if that’s more your preference. And speaking of longer jean shorts, these will also be in HEAVY rotation this summer and beyond. Baseball Hat -Any ole regular baseball hat will do, but what I keep grabbing are my “local merch” ones. I got a great one when I was in Oaxaca from a cafe called Onnno that just says “Sándwich”. It’s fun, silly, and reminds me of my incredible trip with my friends. But there are also places like Altadena Beverage & Market that were thankfully able to reopen after the fire. They are selling these “Altadena” baseball hats, where 100% of the proceeds are going to fire victims. Just a small way to feel a little more connected to our communities and the businesses that we want to uplift. (Also, if you live close enough, Altadena Beverage & Market has the most incredible wine selection, a vast non-alcoholic spread, and a bunch of other delicious goodies and gifts.) Jelly Ballet Flats – The true winner of the summer! I want to wear these shoes EVERYWHERE. I bought them in clear after seeing our photographer, Kaitlin, wear them on our retreat, and I haven’t looked back. They go with everything, are so easy to slip on, and are fun but cool at the same time. Ok, I’ve talked myself into it, and I need to get the red ones now. Fun Tee – What can I say? I love a fun tee! I prefer either pretty fitted or fairly oversized. This “oranges” one is fitted and so cute (and those oranges sit ABOVE your boobs, in case you were wondering:))! I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on it. I know it’s not cheap, but it’s made from 100% deadstock cotton in Los Angeles by a women-run brand and sizes up to 3x. Happy to support these kinds of companies when I can. Honorable Mention – A flowy dress you can dress up-ish or down. This is a no-brainer, but I don’t own any that I can link up, but it had to be said in case you see me in the street in a flowy dress and think, “but that wasn’t on her summer staples list?!” ;) Caitlin Overall Summer Style: THE Sunglasses – I know the all the cool kids are doing tiny sunglasses, but I DON’T CARE. Wayfarers are classic for a reason! They’re universally flattering (especially if you have a big ol’ round face, like I do), polarized for extra protection, and they never get caught in my hair. Hair Clip – You know that whole “reject modernity, embrace tradition” meme? Well, reject your modern plastic claw clip and embrace the vintage slide barrette!!! This $9 fish-shaped hair stick has been my most-used purchase of 2025 – it’s the simplest way to elevate your look with absolutely no effort. (My greasy 3-day hair has never looked more polished.) Fun Sandals – Have I been sharing these fresh flip-flop alternatives incessantly for the last several weeks? Yes. Do I have any plans on stopping? NO. My pair gets better and better with wear – the leather footbeds have now molded to my feet, they’re divine for long walks, and they’ve been garnering so many compliments from cool women on the street!! I can’t believe they’re under $70 – I would have happily paid double that price because I love them so much. Thigh Saver – I buy a few Thigh Rescue minis every year and scatter them amongst my tote bags, suitcases, and purses. I know some women like to wear shorts to prevent chafing, but I run hot and can’t handle extra layers in the summer – Thigh Rescue keeps me comfortable and pain-free whenever I throw on a dress or a pair of shorts. (PS. I’ve been relying on it since 2019, so this recommendation comes with lots of experience!) Pull-On Linen Pants – Take it from someone whose ancient apartment lacks insulation and regularly tops 95 degrees: these linen pants are a dream to wear on extra-hot days. Gap really does a great job here – the 3 pairs I grabbed last summer have held up beautifully over countless wash and dry cycles. Skort Dress – I bought my first skort dress in 2023, and I’ll never go back. It’s breezy, it’s simple, you can go bra-less (!!!,) and it’ll keep you cool when it counts most. (Seriously – this is what I wore to explore the blistering Australian outback.) Dress her up for date night! Dress her down for the beach! Wear her in the middle of a desert! Anything goes! This dress gets perfect marks from me – it’s likely the most versatile piece I own. Arlyn Overall Summer Style: Classic Huaraches – Who am I kidding? As a SoCal resident, I wear these year-round, but they are, of course, most appropriate for summer. I’ve had my Nisolo’s Huarache Sandles in Almond since we did a sponsored post with them like…six years ago? They are my go-to shoe for basically everything. I wear them with dresses, shorts, jeans, even leggings to run out to the store. Because they are so good quality, they’re still kicking after what is likely 50,000 miles on them. They can’t be beat, seriously. Short-Sleeve Linen Shirt – Thus begins my “broken record” summer fashion list, because basically all I wear from May until November is some variation of a button down camp shirt. I’ll admit I do not have this *exact* shirt from Quince, but I have many just like it I bought a while back and wear on rotation. The price ($35) on these is at least half if not more of the camp shirts I used to get at Madewell. They are so easy to throw on, don’t stick to my body when we’re in heatwave territory, and look great with basically everything and on everyone. Boyfriend Button Down – I’ve had maybe four (?!?) of these boyfriend button down shirts from Old Navy over the last five or so years, and the linen one I have is on regular rotation now. I tend to grab a few during one of their many 50% off sales and just wear them into the ground. The best part about their loose fit is that you basically don’t even feel them touch your body, which is high on my priority list for summer attire. They are very roomy, so I’d size down if you don’t want to look like you’re wearing a parachute (though you do do!). Barely There Cotton Blouse – Annnnd more button downs. I ended up at Kohl’s about a month or two ago hunting down the only Winnie the Pooh quilt I could find for my daughter’s upcoming big girl bed (at her request), and found this striped number which I’ve wear over and over again since I scooped it up. It weighs practically NOTHING, which ranks as #2 on that priority summer attire list I just mentioned above. Fair warning: the buttons are spaced further apart them I’m used to, but even with my large chest, it’s totally fine as long as you’re in the right size (I got a large). Flowy Sun Dress – I have to take a break from all those buttons at some point, right? New to my wardrobe is this 100% cotton shell-print dress from a store called City Chic that sells sizes 12 – 24. I’ve never bought from them before but I was pleased with the quality and fit of this one I got on sale for about $50. In fact, the fit works so well on me that I just might venture out into the world…ready for it…sleeveless! ::Gasp:: (I am being serious, as someone who has hidden their arms away for decades.) Oh, and don’t even THINK of forgetting some thigh protection because giant chafing-induced inner thigh welts are no good for anyone. I love these cooling short from ThighSociety because they don’t squeeze you like shapewear, which is inconceivable on a 90-degree day. They come in three lengths (5″, 7″, 9″) and sizes from XS to 6x. Chambray Button Down – Back to my regularly scheduled button down programming, this time with some chambray. I’ve bought this one from Loft twice already (and honestly, I should just go ahead and get a third one while it’s on sale right now because I wear it THAT much). I find some chambray to be either too heavy, too structured or too wispy, but this one is just right. The sides are a little higher than the front and back which results in more movement for any Hippy Helens out there (I just made that up, not sure it’s working but I’ll let it marinate). Mallory Overall Summer Style: Jean Shorts – I reach for these jean shorts on the weekly (if not daily) during the summer. I love these so much, I snagged them in two different colors (also note I cut them to make them a bit shorter). They’re so roomy and not too tight on the thighs, but they fit perfectly at the waist (which has always been hard for me to find). Lightweight Knit Shirts – I am a knit shirt lover, and that’s because they’re breezy and easy to walk around town in without sweating uncontrollably. I have a few different ones in my rotation, but currently I’m rocking this black and white one with the prettiest details and this affordable one from H&M (that has matching shorts!) Statement Vacation-y Dress – I go to Palm Springs a lot, and when I do, I generally wear something from Farm Rio, so in the summers, if I have any fun vacations or getaways planned, I like to grab something fun, flowy, and statement-y from them. This year, I went to Hawaii (and truly had the vacation of a lifetime!!), so I snagged this dress, which I actually can’t stop wearing. It’s great for a fun brunch or resorty dinner, and I absolutely love how farm rio dresses can be casual or fancy depending on how you style them. Button Down – I’ve always loved a button down (especially for bathing suit cover-ups!!) I have a blue pinstripe, a red pinstripe, and an electric blue color that I rotate between constantly throughout the summer. I usually buy mine secondhand at crossroads (they always have great options!) and bonus, you can always shop men’s shirts and they’re sometimes cheaper…but for an online resource that’s affordable, this one from Old Navy looks exactly like the one I have! Gretchen Overall Summer Style: Jean Short – I reach for these shorts so often I may as well sleep in them. Yes, they are annoyingly expensive, but they’ve truly become my summer staple pair and I wear them SO OFTEN I’ve far surpassed the cost per wear. They are the perfect length, perfect distress, hug my butt just right and have a great button fly. A size 31 fits me just right! Gauze Pants – I’ve been wearing these perfect pants since LAST summer and they have remained my go-to breezy pant option. And actually, I do wear these to bed from time to time. They are so soft and flowy and the gauze-y texture just hangs so nicely. They wash up really well and I think they get better the more you wear them. LL Bean has a variety of matching “Cloud Gauze” tops to make it a cute set as well! And I just saw that they also offer the pants in a really great, bright French Blue, and mysteriously, they’ve just found their way into my cart (I like a size large and am normally about a 12 in pants). Canvas Cap – Nine times out of ten you will catch me wearing a baseball or trucker hat. I don’t know what it is about them but they seem to have a chokehold on me. Especially in the summer. Whether they’re working overtime to disguise a sweaty/bad hair day or just functioning to block out the sun, these Carhartt Canvas caps are ones I reach for all the time. They are simple, comfy, affordable, durable, easy to adjust–I could go on. I have them in a few different colors and love them all. Sunglasses – I was gifted a pair of these polarized Ray Ban Wayfarers and just absolutely love them. Hard to go wrong with a classic! While I could never justify spending hundreds of dollars on say a Gucci pair of sunglasses or something similar, I would spend the money on these if I had to. They’re nice and heavy–great quality–and the polarized lenses are just the best. I grab for these every single day! Sandals – I just bought these and like I predicted, am already wearing them to DEATH. I am a Birks-since-birth kind of gal because my dad was a big fan of them growing up. Like him, once I find a comfortable (and cute) shoe to wear, it becomes a daily staple. I really love the bigger buckle on these and that it’s not a shiny gold. The light leather goes with everything and I can wear them allllll day long without comfortability complaints. I’m a size 9.5 typically and the 40 is my preferred Birks size. Bikini Top – This bikini top isn’t anything too special, but it IS inexpensive and also very cute! Comes in a lot of cute colors and patterns. I love wearing it with jean shorts and an open button-up in the summertime. Obviously great to wear in the water too! Lately, I’ve been tying the top so the straps each connect/tie to the back strap, rather than around my neck, and I love how it looks–slightly more comfy for the girls too. Marlee Overall Summer Style: Sunglasses – I got these sunglasses in the spring and have not worn a different pair since. I’ve always loved Madewell sunglasses, but I think that the quality of them has gone up recently because these feel way less glare-y than pairs I’ve had from them in the past. I love the shape of these – they’re a smaller shape but not too small, wide enough to not feel like you’re wearing glasses made for a toddler! Turkish Towels – I am deeply passionate about swimming as often as possible in the summer, which usually means packing a bag for a Sunday swim, then not unpacking it and just bringing the same bag for a quick river dip on a Monday after work. These towels are my favorite for these swims because they’re incredibly lightweight and they dry FAST. AKA no moldy wet towels in my bag:) They’re also just so fun and come in an infinite amount of colors. Leave In Conditioner – This is also a bag essential – whenever I have wet river hair, I love to spray a few spritzes of this on my hair as it air dries. It smells so so yummy and is a super nice, lighter product that enhances my curls and reduces frizz. Highly recommend for anyone, but especially if you have wavier fine hair. It doesn’t weigh it down like other leave-ins. Body Lotion – This is my favorite favorite summer lotion that I’ve been using for as long as I can remember. It’s such a yummy classic coconut scent and is super lightweight and “watery,” so it’s incredibly easy to layer and absorb. There’s no better feeling than showing after a day in the sun and then putting this lotion on with clean pajamas:) Summer Shoes – These are some of my favorite summer shoes for river days (and just walking around). I have them in white, but they come in SO many fun colors. I feel like they stay on better than flip flops, which is great for trekking down to a swim spot. They’re also waterproof, so you can take them in the water or just hose them off if they get dirty. I’ve had the same pair for at least the last 6 years, and they’re still in amazing condition. Summer Dress – My favorite summer dress is one that I’ve had for 4+ years, so it’s sadly not available – but my love for it is less about the specific dress and more about the shape + vibe. Enter shift dresses! Especially as a swim cover-up. I love how lightweight and breezy they are, and even though it’s so simple and has no shape to it, it screams “berry picking and then getting slurpees after,” which is incredibly specific but exactly what I want my summers to feel like. This one is the most similar to mine (love the ties), but I also LOVE this Doen x Gap dress and this one. Also, this – ah, there’s so many! Hope this was fun and made you think more about your staples. Here’s to a happy and cool summer. Love you, mean it.

Fashion & Beauty

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks (And Some Favorite Non-Sale Pieces On My Body)

Itried to sneak into the Nordstroms Anniversary sale before I was allowed to try things on to show you, but it was a mad house and I didn’t have a card (and then ran into The Daily Tay – I HAD NO IDEA SHE LIVED IN THE PNW!!) and got distracted. So I looked for stuff on sale, but honestly, what I was into was the expensive stuff that was now just less expensive, so I didn’t buy anything on sale. Instead, opting for some pretty dang cute, and mostly affordable pieces. Here are a few if you want to see (and then I rounded up some of the sale items I really liked, too). Also, you are about to see a lot of scarves on my head, it’s a thing for me right now… This dress is a solid 9/10. It’s so comfortable, so drapey, so easy to wear – and for virtually every occasion (work, happy hour, grocery shopping, date night, even a walk and chat – just so easy). It has pockets and a loose waist that is still flattering because the sleeves are big. It’s a cute pattern, but not too loud. My only issue with it is that you need a bra that has straps that are pretty wide (or don’t mind showing off your bra strap – but maybe it’s a sign for me to get some new bras, good lord I go a LOOOONNNG time one the same three super supportive but not terribly beautiful bras). They didn’t have my size in stock, so I bought a size 6, but I think if I had sized down, it would have fit in an unflattering way because my boobs would have pulled up the waist, and it might have hugged or poofed in the wrong places. I think if you are smaller on top, then order your size, but for me, sizing up really worked here as it just drapes really nicely. It’s such an incredibly easy dress to wear, and I hope they make it in a lot of other subtle patterns. This is a “new to me” look that I know is trendy (and admittedly cute). A linen set that is pretty affordable (skirt is $55 and top is $75, sold separately). As you know, I’m stupidly self-conscious about my arms/shoulders, so you may have never seen me in a tank top, but this cut (where it comes really close to the armpits) felt more flattering than most, de-emphasizing the areas that I have dumb sensitivities to. Preppy and cute, fun to wear, and comes in black and white, too. I can’t tell if I really will wear this enough to warrant keeping it, but if I had a job where I needed to be in an office or meetings with clients, this is perfect in the summer. The linen is thick, but not wrinkly AT ALL, and the skirt is flattering on its own. I’m wearing a small in both. OBSESSED with these jellies. They are so flattering (elongates my feet and legs) and extremely comfortable (feels like I’m wearing nothing). SIZE UP – I’m a solid size 7 shoe, but wearing an 8 here and can’t imagine going any smaller. Ok, I was on the fence about keeping this (again, unsure I would wear enough to warrant adding it to my already full closet), but after seeing these photos, I’m pretty dang into the outfit. The top is super drapey and I felt flattering for how easy it is to wear, the shorts are tailored but still comfortable. I should have shown you the back because it is more open, which is my only issue. I asked my team what I was supposed to do here, and they said not to wear a bra and try those bra “cakes” instead. So now I want to do a roundup/review of bra “cakes” for larger ladies (and yet, how would we show them on the internet???). Again, the jellies are rad and I think the scarf and aviators are really working with the outfit, if I do say so myself (also trying to not damage my hair as much by styling it so thus the head scarves). This blouse is a solid 10/10 if you don’t mind showing a bit of bra in the middle of the ties. For $65, I think it has a lot of detail (think Doen, but 1/10th the price) and is extremely easy to wear, without being too “pirate-y,” i.e., too much fabric. The longer Bermuda shorts were all I saw in New York (can’t say they are the most flattering – I’m a short-short lady, but I’m embracing the trend and starting to love them, although I love my Gap ones just as much as they are almost 1/3 the price). I think the trend with the bigger Bermuda shorts you are supposed to wear a tiny top (crop, tank, or square neck) and either flip flops, ballet flats, or Hokas, FYI. I don’t know – I want to write a whole post about how fashion is wack right now (New York was extremely uninspiring, TBH. I don’t know what is happening, but I felt like a tourist by just wearing an outfit.) This looks boring, but these are two excellent staples. I was looking for a mid-weight cardigan to layer. Most are either too thin (won’t layer easily over my tops, which are admittedly voluminous) or too thick (too hot). This one is fantastic on its own, but has enough structure, weight, and room to layer on top. SIZE UP if you want to layer (I’m wearing a medium). The shorts are pull-on, drawstring, patterned, and perfect for all your daytime occasions (I think you could even pair them with a t-shirt and blazer for casual Friday office days since they read trouser shorts, not pajamas). I’m wearing a medium, FYI. A cute scarf-style shirt that has a great structure (not flowy, more A-line) with a nice waistline that doesn’t cut in but stays put. I’m wearing a small. Then shout out to Emerson Fry for sending me that cute shirt. I dressed the skirt down with that graphic T, denim around my waist, and classic nude Havianas (which are having a moment, again – flip flops are just everywhere right now). So that’s what I picked up in store and below are the pieces I really want from the actual sale:)

Fashion & Beauty

Could These Be The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Comfortable Rompers?? 7 Women Give Their Honest Reviews

As a “romper” expert, I have had a lot over the years and liked many for different reasons. But once I bought my first Pistola, it quickly became the one I reached for. It’s flattering, while being roomy. Cute while having big pockets for a phone, etc. For us, our job being relatively physical, so having an easy-to-move-in “outfit” that is cool in the summer, always comfortable, and cute (for camera) is a Venn diagram miracle. I find myself telling any stranger who flatters me in it that it’s the best comfortable romper on the market, so I figured I’d see if my team agrees. So today you’ll see their new summer line on a few bodies (yes, I reached out and they sent them to me and my team with no obligation to say anything at all, let alone something positive). Here is what we think: Emily Size: Small (I’m between 4-6 (so I guess a 5, lol) Height: 5’4″ with a short-ish torso True to Size?: I love how it fits and wouldn’t want smaller or bigger, but admittedly I want it to not be tight AT ALL. No body-con rompers for me, thank you. Size down if you are in between, like me. Official Review: MASSIVE fan. They have some structure while being lightweight (some other brands that are canvas are great, but too hot for most months). The cotton is thin enough to be cool, but thick enough not to be cheap poplin that doesn’t keep its shape. It gives more “utilitarian,” which I also want (and is the whole point). The huge pockets are fantastic for work or just for weekend cleaning, so I can keep my phone/podcast on my person as I run around the house. The red one – I’ve worn the red one almost every day since I got it – oh, and it washes great, too. I don’t need to steam it, and they don’t wrinkle up in an annoying way. I have the denim version that drapes/falls really well, too. The green one – This one is new to me and I really like it for a dressier version (great for summer office) but l’ll likely wear it less since it does cinch at the waist (I might have sensory issues, guys!). But it’s really flattering and cute for a slightly dressier/less utilitarian vibe. Jess Size: Small Height: 5’4″ True to Size?: I think so but only if you like a looser fit, otherwise consider sizing down. Official Review: Needless to say, I was so so excited to get a Pistola romper. Em has been wearing them for a while now, and every time I think how cute they are. When I first put it on, I immediately felt the quality and loved all the details. But after staring at myself for a minute, I was afraid it might be slightly too big. I even panic messaged Caitlin, who was the one in contact with Pistola, that I might need to swap. I then adjusted the waist to cinch it in, and I was so much happier! As you can see, I went vintage shopping (with Caitlin) and felt great the whole day…although we both forgot to get any good front shots of me in it in the wild, lol. I will mention two things that I think are worth considering. I think the top is a little roomy, in general. Great for maybe tall, longer-torsoed, or bustier people (plus, I do think it’s also just the look). However, with the adjustable waist, it fixes that problem for us shorties. But if you like a more fitted look, I would size down (maybe even 2 sizes). Also, there are snaps AND buttons going down the front! Which is great because you are secure. I just wouldn’t wait too long to go to the bathroom because it’s a 2-step “undoing” process:) Overall, I really love it and will absolutely be wearing it all summer. Recommend! Arlyn Size: Extra-Large Height: 5’3″ True to Size?: Totally. I followed the measurements on the online sizing guide, which led me to an XL, which is typically what I am with pieces like this. (For reference, I waver between a large and XL in tops because I’m very busty, and wear XL bottoms or anywhere between a 14 or 16, depending on the brand.) Official Review: I have a complicated relationship with rompers in general. I always love them on other people, but because I’m petite, on the rounder side, and, again, chesty, it’s very hard for me to ever get a comfortable fit. Either the crotch is too low and rubs in weird places, the shorts ride up, the top is too small for dem boobies, or it has way too much fabric everywhere for the size I need. BUT, I have to say, I did think this was a good fit. However, as Jess mentioned, my goodness, you’re caged up in this thing! There’s an internal layer of snaps and a top layer of buttons. Secure? Yes. Overkill? Perhaps. The fabric is thick and sturdy, so it’ll likely wash really well and last a long time, but it does feel a bit stiff at first, FYI. I may need to break it in a bit to feel more comfortable, but it sure is cute. Caitlin Size: Large Height: 5’8″ True to Size?: True to their size chart? Yes. True to my understanding of my size? No! I almost grabbed an XL here – it’s my go-to size when ordering from any new brand – and am so glad I checked the chart before adding to cart. (I technically could have fit into a medium!) I have a super long torso and normally need to size up, so I was pleasantly surprised by how comfy and roomy the large fits me. Official Review: I LOVE THIS ROMPER. (I love it so much that when it was delivered at my house, I took to Slack and proclaimed “just got my romper and I LOVE IT,” followed by “taking all my restraint not to throw it in the link up this week lol.”) I love that it’s loose and breezy around the legs, a little more formal up top, and that I can tie it as tight or as loose as I’d like. It’s a total blank canvas – easy to dress up, easy to dress down – and it’s one of those rare pieces of clothing that you could wear both to the grocery store and to like, any conservative church on your summer European vacation travels. The fabric is weighty and luxe – I’m just blown away by the quality. Pistola, I see you!!! You have a new fan :) (PS. I was shocked to read the other gals’ commentary on the buttons. This one just hag regular ol’ buttons. I can pee without issue!) Mallory Size: Small Height: 5’7″ True to Size?: Yes! Official Review: This is a solid piece – the quality is great and the fabric is thick. The fit definitely works for a longer torso because the crotch is a bit lower. It also has double-layered buttons so skin doesn’t peek through when you sit down, which I think is a really smart design (but know it will take you a bit to take off during bathroom trips). I also really love the white version of this romper, which I was initially nervous about getting (and ultimately went with the black) because I thought it might be see-through. But now that I know how thick and high quality the material is on the black one, I think the white would be SUPER cute and easy to style too:) Gretchen Size: Large, fits me perfectly Height: 5’9″ True to Size?: I am normally a size L/XL and debated about ordering a size up, but I am super glad I didn’t. While I’d say this romper is true to size, make sure to check your measurements with theirs. Mine lined up best with a size large. But when I first tried the romper on, I was a bit worried it was maybe too loose, wondering if I could’ve maybe squeezed into a medium. I wasn’t totally swimming in it, but I’d wanted it to feel just a tad more fitted in places. HOWEVER, mine now fits perfectly after a wash. The group shot with Marlee, Em, and me was taken pre-wash, and my selfie is the romper straight out of a cycle. I don’t feel like it necessarily shrank per se, but just that it tightened up in all the places I wanted it to, while still feeling plenty comfortable and roomy. Added bonus–these are a breeze to wash! Official Review: I’m absolutely in love with this romper and heading back to buy it in another color–I’m serious. I love just how unbelievably easy, cute, and comfortable it is. Like, it’s so simple to throw on and run around in–a full outfit in one–but more than that, I just look so dang cute and put together wearing it (that, yes, it makes me want to toot my own horn!). I love what the zip front does style-wise, but it also makes it very quick to slip in and out of (for bathroom breaks, etc). The waist tie situation is great to cinch you in, and the material is casual, breathable, and hangs so nicely. I also like that you can roll and snap the sleeves up or leave them down. I’m partial to the latter. This piece is very much “ME” and I know I’ll be reaching for it all summer long–heck, I’m wearing it as I type this. I’ll be watching Pistola closely to see if they release it in more colors! Marlee Size: Small Height: 5’8″ True to Size?: Yes! Official Review: I am not typically a romper girl, but I was pleasantly surprised about this one – I feel like my biggest issue with rompers is typically the fact that they “ride up” if you know what I mean… but this one, I did not have to worry about! The length of the shorts was great and was roomy enough in the leg that I didn’t feel constricted, and long enough that I didn’t feel “exposed” (but not too long that it’s an awkward length). The shorts part also has a little cuff with a button holding it in place, so if you wanted them to be longer, there’s some flexibility there. I really like the buttons on the side – it fits true to size in the waist and was perfectly roomy, but if you wanted it to be a little more snatched, you have the option to take it in a little bit. I love the look of the pockets and the utilitarian vibe, but the highlight for me was how soft the fabric was. It’s so cute with sneakers for a casual look, but I think the way I’ll wear this the most is dressed up with some tall boots and a cute purse:) I think it’s fair to say that we all very much approve of these very cute rompers. So if you are in the market, we recommend Pistola hard:)

Fashion & Beauty

Best Supportive Swimsuits For All Budgets On My Real Body

Well, here we are again – another summer where we (the collective WE) shop online for swimsuits, only to be confronted with an increasing lack of body inclusivity, and then hope that our real and unphotoshopped bodies will look good in said suits. I’ve sadly never been immune to body dysmorphia, but a good, flattering suit can make your summer less stressful and fill you with more confidence. And summer should be fun:) So I take one for the team almost every year and shop, try on, shoot, and review my non-photoshopped (but heavily self-tanned, lol) body for the internet. I really try to find the best supportive swimsuits on the market. You’ll see each suit from the front and back (good god), and I’ll break down the level of bust support, cheek coverage, and how I feel inside each of these. You should know that I’m 5’4″, between size 4-6, 34D bust, and stick to one-pieces. I generally want to be comfortable, I err on the side of pretty modest (that’s when I feel most confident and therefore sexiest – I’m a former Mormon ’90s teen, lol). So these won’t be the first choice for all bodies (and some of them aren’t the best on me either, and I’ll explain why), but if you want a one-piece with support, here are some options in a few different budgets. And no “gifting” or trades were involved here. “New To Me” Favorites New to me, but super impressed. Wearing a size 6 (if you are smaller in the chest size down). Here’s what you need to know: FABRIC: The fabric is soft and thick (it’s J. Crew’s new “Sculpt Fabric,” which has some compression but not too much). BUST SUPPORT: 6/10. Not bad at all, good enough in a lot of ways (my standards are low TBH). There is a light shelf that attempts real support, but you aren’t going to want to run around (but lifts a bit for sure). As you can see, they are more smooshed together, which isn’t my favorite shape (see other leopard below). CHEEKINESS: It’s cheeky enough and medium cut. You can see it slightly cuts in on the hip. STRAPS: I love the shape of the back straps and thought it was really flattering. The straps are wide which I thought I liked, but once I compared it with its thinner strapped sister, I realize that with big boobs maybe thinner is actually better on me. PATTERN: The pattern is really busy (not see-through and can hide lumps and bumps) LINING: The lining kinda peeks out as you can see on my left cheek, lol. FINAL THOUGHTS: Very comfortable, soft, easy to wear, and I felt pretty confident in it (but I’m keeping the other leopard suit instead). A solid black suit that I ended up keeping (I have no black suits right now). I still have notes, but I really really, really liked it. I’m wearing a 6 and almost sized down but wasn’t big enough in the boobs. Good to knows: FABRIC: Soft compression fabric (same J. Crew “Sculpt Fabric”) that feels really good and does the job while still being comfortable. BUST SUPPORT: 6/10. There is a shelf with a seam that adds some support, enough for walking/lying and feeling secure, but def not your river rafting suit (Tell me you are an Oregonian without telling me you are an Oregonian). CUT/SHAPE: The cut is flattering – the height of the leg, the location of the straps, the little dip in the front – while it looks basic, it’s thoughtfully designed. CHEEKINESS: Great cut in the butt. The fabric holds in place well enough, but if it pops up (because it will), it doesn’t cut in. STRAPS: I love the back – felt that it was flattering and loved the adjustable straps. FINAL THOUGHTS: I felt really good in this, sexy enough for night time hot tubs with Brian, but still good to daytime with families. A classic suit in a really pretty color. Size 6 (I tried on a four and too tight, cut in and not enough boob space, so if you are in between sizes, size up). FABRIC: Another J. Crew “Sculpt Fabric” – soft and the color is so pretty. I could see my lumps and bumps underneath, which is fine at night, but not what I prefer during the day. BUST SUPPORT: 8/10. Pretty good! I liked the scoop neck on me, and it gave cleavage, but in a way I’m feel comfortable about. CUT/SHAPE: The shape is pretty great; there is some stitching in the back that creates a nice hourglass shape. It does however, cut in at the hip, which I don’t love. CHEEKINESS: Mid-coverage. Higher cut on the thighs for sure. FINAL THOUGHTS: I passed on this one for me, but it’s a really solid suit. While this suit isn’t very “me” (feels too preppy for me), I thought it was flattering and great for a coastal/Hamptons vibe. I’m wearing a size 6, which fit as well as it could: FABRIC: It looks expensive (and it is) – great for fancier pool parties. BUST SUPPORT: 4/10. While it has some, the V flattens more than lifts. I think better for those C cups and under, IMHO. I like cleavage, but not the big, flat kind of line that this gave me (thus passing on it). CUT/SHAPE: The scoop back is so pretty! I thought the back was so flattering. CHEEKINESS: Pretty cheeky, without being too high. I really like the white trim on the suit – a detail without garnering too much attention. PATTERN: The color blocking is super flattering. The dark navy is slimming, then the pops of white delight your eye and keep you looking tanner next to it. FINAL THOUGHTS: Better if you have smaller boobs, otherwise pretty great for a modest suit that doesn’t scream “mom”. Highly Rated Affordable Amazon Dupes As a total swimsuit snob, I tried hard this time to order some that were truly affordable to try – maybe my snobbery is off base and there are some really supportive swimsuits for $35?? Well, no and maybe. After trying on many, I found a few worth discussing. I ordered medium, which was a mistake (I also have a short torso), so in all of these, I would size down if you are in between sizes. These are solid, affordable options for sure, with a lot more cheek coverage. They don’t have compression fabrics and are thinner, so they don’t conceal as much, but I was surprised by how much I liked the tops of a few of these, so I’m showing you the 3 out of 10 that I tried (some were god-awful). This floral number (size M) is for those who want more coverage in the butt, and a busy overall pattern. What you need to know: BUST SUPPORT: 5/10. Not the worst, for sure (they say “supportive” on the site, and I was like “I’ll be the judge of that”). It has a shelf and you won’t fall out, but it doesn’t lift or shape like others. CUT/SHAPE: I liked the top – felt like I could throw on some shorts and cruise around on a bike. No compression, sculpting, or shaping (the things you pay $$ for with the higher-priced suits). CHEEKINESS: Full cheek coverage. STRAPS: Adjustable straps – always a plus. PATTERN: The busy pattern makes it so you can’t see underneath lumps and bumps, if that’s your preference. The colors are pretty and modern (i.e., some of the Amazon patterns are SOOOOO questionable). FINAL THOUGHTS: I think this is a great affordable suit that I personally would wear cute swim shorts with at, say, the local pool or public splash pad. It’s fun, family-friendly, and affordable. I was very curious about this Andie Swim dupe, and it measured up exactly how I thought it would (wearing a Medium and should have sized down): BUST SUPPORT: 6/10. Good enough for most things because even though it’s not going to lift and shape, you get enough coverage to never worry about falling out. There is a shelf inside that does the job just fine. CUT/SHAPE: The top and snaps are pretty cute. CHEEKINESS: Full coverage. Stays put because, well, it’s full coverage. STRAPS: The straps feel casual and cool. FINAL THOUGHTS: While the OG Andie is far superior, this felt like a solid dupe. I’m a small and should have ordered a small (sizing on the internet is just so weird!). I liked the color, and while I didn’t feel sexy at all in this, it’s a great “add shorts and run around” kind of suit that still feels youthful while being solidly modest. Ok, this one, FULL, full coverage, was actually really cute! Great for trips with in-laws if you know what I mean. I wore a medium and should have sized down to a small (doesn’t run big but it’s not tight). BUST SUPPORT: Fine, like a 5/10 (zero is no support where boobs are just flying blind inside). But the coverage makes you feel supported in a way, but no lifting. CUT/SHAPE: There is rouging in the stomach area, which I have mixed feelings about – sometimes it gives maternity, and I’d rather a suit help compress instead. Also, Too much with the sleeves, IMHO. CHEEKINESS: Full butt coverage. PATTERN: The pattern is bold. I liked it more with a sarong as shown (just too much coverage on the butt for me). FINAL THOUGHTS: Sure, it gives “mom,” but it’s also cute and fun and family resort appropriate. The sleeves are cute and fun, and the back has some style. If you are in between sizes like me, size down for sure. This Amazon suit was highly rated, so I ordered it in a few patterns/colorways. I liked this one the most because of the colorway (lighter/pattern on top). I didn’t keep but I did feel it was good enough to talk about. BUST SUPPORT: Pretty good! The back strap helps keep the ladies up there, and you aren’t going to fall out. The shape of the front flattens boobs more than I’d like rather than lifting. CUT/SHAPE: Good if you want to feel like you are wearing a two piece without actually wearing a two piece (the cut out in the midsection. And also great if you want attention up above, but less so on the bottom. It felt pretty booby :) CHEEKINESS: Full, but I still thought it was flattering from the back since it was black on the bottom and lighter on the top. PATTERN: Comes in a ton of patterns and colors. FINAL THOUGHTS: All in all, more solid, comfortable, and flattering than so many of the other affordable Amazon suits I tried on. Not very me, but a good, affordable dupe. Another Amazon number with a cute top and a lot of coverage. I have mixed feelings. FABRIC: It is double layered, but as you can see, it still shows more underneath than I would like (this is a deal breaker for me as I’m stupidly self-conscious about that). BUST SUPPORT: Fine! Like a 6/10. You aren’t going to fall out, but it’s not lifting and supporting necessarily. There is a shelf for sure, so you aren’t flying blind. CUT/SHAPE: The scoop/square neck with the snaps is cute and flattering. CHEEKINESS: Full coverage STRAPS: I like where the straps hit. FINAL THOUGHTS: It has rouging on the stomach, which isn’t my favorite, but great if you want more room. My #1 Go-To This is my #1 because it’s so flattering, comfortable, and versatile. It is my perfect “family, active, snorkeling, river hiking, then to lunch” suit. I literally where it most days on our family adventure vacations or when with other families. They have it in other types of fabric (ribbed and gingham), which I don’t love as much, so I stick to the classics (and just ordered the navy, too). I wish it came in a black and white stripe in the same fabric (hint, hint, Andie, folk). I’m wearing a small, classic torso. FABRIC: It has two light compression layers, so it is flattering without being too compressing (like some below). It is thick enough to hide lumps and bumps but not so thick to be uncomfortable or hot. BUST SUPPORT: Is an 8/10 in boob support (which is enough, without being uncomfortable). You are so supported and won’t ever fall out (it’s what I wear snorkeling or running around at a splash pad). It lifts and doesn’t smoosh or flatten (creates a nice rounder shape, imho). CUT/SHAPE: It doesn’t flatten, but it does conceal enough in a comfortable way. Two of my friends with very different body shapes (smaller on top and hippier) also have it and love it. Seems to be a universally great casual suit that I think still looks stylish. CHEEKINESS: It’s the perfect level of cheeky and stays in place. FINAL THOUGHTS: It reads more like a tank top if you throw on shorts (thus perfect at a beach or poolside restaurant). You can button it up and down (can still be sexy). I have worn it for three years (one broke a snap, and I bought it again). 10/10. Love this suit. Oh, and the navy color is currently 25% off!! The Most Flattering And Supportive Well, you simply can’t beat TA3 for flattery, support, and shape – made for curvier ladies to feel hot. I’m obsessed with these suits and feel so good in them (while sometimes wishing the colors weren’t so bright – they have black in a lot of the shapes, don’t worry). These are corseted suits, designed to be extremely flattering, tailored, and give you an hourglass shape while lifting and flattening. They are expensive for a reason, but my goodness, they are a game changer. FABRIC: Super compression fabric – great for being flattering, and you can see NO bumps or lumps – just a smooth flat tummy. But these are not comfortable for all-day wear (like at all). And remember, if you cinch somewhere, it often comes out in other places, so you might find yourself adjusting more than other suits. BUST SUPPORT: 10/10. You are lifted and sculpted and supported. It’s so awesome. CUT/SHAPE: Undeniably flattering, compared to most suits. Designed to give you an hourglass shape. However, not as great for smaller boobs or more lanky ladies – two of my less curvy friends tried mine on and while they looked good in them, they simply didn’t need what this suit specializes in. We all agreed that while good, if you don’t need support or want stomach flattening, this suit might not be for you. CHEEKINESS: They have a lot of different cuts, but this one is mid-cheek (I can not do a thong YET despite Brian begging me) FINAL THOUGHTS: This one doesn’t have the corsetted tie back, instead this mesh number (it’s newer, which I LOVE. I would buy this suit in many colors and patterns – it’s expensive and you can’t wear it all day, but as far as feeling great in a suit, this is it for me. A decidedly “non-friends and family” suit, for me at least, y’all. This suit is low cut, high cut and demands attention (and you have medium to big boobs, you’ll get it). It’s what I pull out on vacation with Brian, and more so at night, but I feel GREAT in it. I’ve had it for three years and still pull it out when I need a boost (mentally and physically). I’m desperate for a collaboration with them to create more patterns, so I’m putting it out there in case they are reading. FABRIC: The TA3 technology creates that hourglass shape while compressing and smoothing underneath. It’s magical, truly. It boosts where I wanted boosting and flattens where I want flattening. BUST SUPPORT: 10/10. Yes, it’s very low cut, but it has a shelf and lifts and shapes – again, magical. My boobs look and feel fantastic in this suit despite being 45 years old (they aren’t that perky, y’all). They also strangely aren’t smooshed together – it’s designed to give enough room to create a really pretty rounder shape, instead of just flattening them down or smooshing them together. CUT/SHAPE: High cut – be prepared to get a wax – this suit is super super high cut (which is why I wear it more at night, lol). The back corset will create back cleavage, at least it does on me – you just have to be ok with it. CHEEKINESS: Pretty darn minimal, and while it stays in place OK, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart/cheek. STRAPS: Adjustable straps – great! COLOR: The color is so fun – electric blue, which demands attention, but they have other colors, too. FINAL THOUGHTS: If you want sexy and supportive, this could be for you. Like, if I had to go on Love Island and be in a suit, this is what I would choose (what a sentence). I LOVED this suit (and so glad I tried it on – I was very doubtful it would look great on me). I was so happy to find something new (outside of the red Andie and the TA3s) that felt both daytime and sexy. Wearing a size 6, which fit great. FABRIC: The fabric is soft and sculpt-y (some compression but you can wear all day – V. comfortable). BUST SUPPORT: 7/10, but I felt GREAT in it. I’m not going to go river rafting in it, but they are lifted, and I felt properly supported. Doesn’t flatten or squish together, just allows for boobs to be supported yet full. CUT/SHAPE: Thigh cut – perfect. Not too high (like the blue TA3 that is extreme) but flattering. Remember, the higher the cut, the longer the leg, if you are into that. CHEEKINESS: PERFECT, i.e., the amount that I like. Enough that you can see some bum, but not a thong. STRAPS: V neck and little straps are so flattering. PATTERN: The leopard pattern is busy, fun, stylish, and feels on-trend. FINAL THOUGHTS: I really, really loved this suit and am so happy to add it to my repertoire. 9/10 Hopefully, this helps you make some decisions with more confidence. It’s hard out there, but my suggestion is to pick yourself up some self-tanning lotion (I love Loving Tan, Coco and Eve and St. Tropez – don’t forget to use the mitt!), and save for one good suit, versus trying out suits that don’t make you feel 100% great. While at 45, I’ll likely never be that girl who struts around the pool in front of people I know with full confidence (which is so dumb), but a good suit has made a huge difference in my summer pool confidence. Hoping to not pass down my body dysmorphia to my daughter, but that’s another story for another day (and she lives in the same messed-up world full of outrageously high expectations for women, so we’ll just do our best, right?). It’s all about highlighting what you love about your body while finding silhouettes, fabrics, and cuts that make you feel your best. May we all just do the best we can, right?

Fashion & Beauty

20 Summer Office Outfit Ideas You’ll Be Excited To Wear (Professional And Casual Options)

Last week, I went on a hike with a friend who was lamenting about trying to find good summer office clothes, or even just some good summer office outfit ideas. She works in a creative field, so it's less blazers and slacks and more fun but modest, and yet it's still been a struggle. Clearly, dressing a bit more conservatively is required in most workplaces, but also sweating to death is not what anyone wants. So I thought maybe some of you might also be struggling as well, since more jobs are requiring in-office attendance, and I could offer my online window shopping services. I created 20 outfit combos for both more formal workplaces and more casual workplaces. And don't worry, I ran these all by my best friend, who has primarily worked in non-casual offices, and I got her stamp of approval. We spend A LOT of time working, and there's no reason that you can't look forward to dressing for the office. The "Professional" Looks Starting strong with a very affordable Old Navy short-suit combo paired with an airy white blouse from Everlane. The light oatmeal color is so pretty and summery while still looking professional. The shorts have a 5" inseam, so they are on the longer side depending on how long your legs are:) While Emily didn't try on this exact set, she did do an Old Navy try-on last year with similar pieces and loved them. What's also great about the top is that it's interesting and chic AND modest enough to wear without the blazer. Then for the combo on the right, I'm pretty in love with that short-sleeved vest top. It's so refined yet cool! Gives a suit look, but much better for hot weather. It also comes in black. Then I wanted to pair it with a light-colored colored pant and these were extra perfect because of the subtle pinstripe that complements the white top. Throw a cute little pump heel on, and you are so set. Both of these combos are each under $200 total. I love a neutral look as much as the next person, but a little color and pattern never hurt anyone...especially in the summer! Let's start with the combo to our left. When I saw that belted green gingham blazer, I knew I had to build an outfit around it (FYI it's under $80). It's so fun but not "too wild" and looks just as good open, which is why I included a fitted tank. I chose a more cropped tank because those navy pants are stretchy and super high waisted, so tucking in a long top probably isn't going to look the best. I just think this is fun, but modern and gives "cool powerhouse". That blazer would also be so cute with jeans and flats. Now, for a more loose-fitted look, I equally love both of the pieces in the look on the right. The top is just edgy enough with the double belts and modest enough with the capped sleeves. No jacket needed with this one. Oh, and how great are those blue and white striped pants? Fun, breezy, and office-approved. Ok, so this little short-sleeved blazer is the most expensive piece in this post, but it's also MAJORLY discounted from its original price. Plus, it's so good that I was practically forced (by my heart) to include it. And while you could easily pair it was a cute pair of trousers or jeans, I love the idea of mixing it with this airy midi skirt. It's elevated, cool, and a little unexpected. One of my favorite of these summer office outfit ideas :) These two lean the most casual of the professional looks, but still feel dressier to me, so here goes! First off, THOSE RED STRIPE PANTS. I'm obsessed. So chic, so comfy, and if you wanted the whole set, it does have a matching blazer. But if you want to keep the costs down, I love this cool, boxy button-up to pair with it. You will be the coolest-dressed person in your office for sure. You could pair this look with either a heel, a pretty sandal, or a sleek sneaker. It all depends on your office's dress code. Then, for the look on the right, I really liked the mix of brown tones with a pop of blue to add some more excitement. Those trousers have a crazy high rating and are currently on sale for $28 (originally $40). I really love that jacket, and while summer is hot, the mornings can be chilly, so why not have a cute jacket on the way in:) Onto our casual options! The "Casual" Looks Let me first say that if you haven't checked out the Loft in a minute, may I suggest you take a peek, as both of the trousers above are from there. Cute, right!? They each have a little something fun about them. Caitlin told us that Loft was having an "Abercrombie-like" renaissance, and I have to agree. For the look on the left, I love the seam down the front of the legs. Just adds a simple pop. Plus, the color is beautiful, and paired with the cool, loose, denim-like striped top, it's a slam dunk. Then, for the look on the right, the pants are really the showstoppers with those pockets, so a simple tee is a great pairing. But what is clearly special about this tee is the side ruching. Such a little detail that makes the whole piece. Ok, so most of the outfits going forward, I think are also just great summer outfits. Wear them to the office, wear them to brunch, or wherever else you fancy. For the outfit on the left, that wildly cute top is under $20. Yes, you read that right. It hugs all the right spots, while not being too revealing, and giving that wonderful loose fit around the waist. The jeans are also on a truly great sale ($25!!) and have such a fun high-waisted, wide-leg cut. An easy and non-boring outfit. Now, the look on the right screams "Emily Henderson". That blouse is under $50 and so pretty — the color, the detailing, the cut. Then those are Em's favorite barrel jeans that aren't too "barrel-y". The pockets and the little dart above the knees make them look so cool. Let's layer a bit, shall we? First off, I know these lightweight cargo pants might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you are looking to step outside your normal style a little, I think they are so great...and look extremely comfortable. Then, for a slightly more elevated tank, I really love this wine colored, cinched option. Flattering and modest. But if you want a little extra pattern and fun (or if you have a chilly office), I love this cropped striped button-up! Layer it over or wear it by itself, you have options. Oh, you knew I was going to include some striped tees. It's EHD law. For the look on the left, it's all in the details. That side-tie tank is so fun yet feels classic. Those jeans (from my go-to denim retailer, Everlane) are pretty standard until you get to that freaking cool seam at the calf. Throw on that boxy green Oxford, opened as a little jacket for a little warmth in the AC, and baby, you have a stylish little look. But if you want to lean more into that coastal, nautical style, then the combo on the right could be for you. A truly classic striped tee, CUTE long white shorts, and a little cardigan. What's not to love? This is where I got a little wild:) So not sure what's come over me, but I am extremely into the look on the left. I used to dabble more into leopard years ago, but not until recently have I felt the urge to dip my toe back in. Emily and photographer Kaitlin have leopard denim, and they look so cool in them. So when I saw these ultra-soft jeans from Gap, I thought maybe it's my time. But for a work outfit, I do think that pairing these pants with a more tailored top is a great contrast that elevates the whole look. This light pink vest is such a fun pop of color and makes me want this whole outfit even more. And since playfulness is the essence of these two looks, I really loved the idea of this vacation-inspired look on the right (that you could also very much wear on a summer vacation). Those striped shorts are amazing and a little fitted, which is great to pair with that slightly oversized fruit shirt. I mean, if you've been wanting to try out the fruit fashion trend, there isn't a better time than now:) The Dresses Since dresses are less of a combo situation, I thought I'd just add a few at the end. First up is that beautiful reddish coral dress from Sezane. You could wear it for almost any occasion, and it would be perfect. That side tie is so chic. It comes in other colors, too. Then the linen maxi with those sweet puff sleeves is also extremely versatile. Cute, modest, flattering, and looks so comfortable. It also comes in other colors and patterns. Quince really does have beautiful clothes for great prices, and the dress on the left is a perfect example of that. It's under $70, comes in a ton of colors, and the cut would look amazing on anyone. Lastly, the sleeveless dress on the right is new from Madewell, and I love it. Again, great for summer because it's sleeveless and breezy. The colors are chic, and the pattern makes it interesting. Big fan and would look perfect with a jean jacket:) I truly hope these were helpful summer office outfit ideas, as we are officially in summer. That 90 weather is here but that doesn't mean we have to suffer in office clothes we don't love. I also think so many of these pieces can easily mix and match with each other so have fun if you are on the hunt. Love you, mean it.

fashion and beauty

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