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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

What to Eat for Beautiful, Healthy, Shiny Hair

Feed your hair, it's hungry!


Your Best Year Ever continues into 2016! Take your hair to the next level with tutorials from none other than Kardashian-Jenner hair guru and founder of OUAI haircare Jen Atkin every Monday, all month long. 
Last week, we learned how to make a twisty topknot, which, in addition to looking great, can hide a multitude of flaws. This week, it's all about promoting beautiful hair from the inside out. Throughout the years, my clients have seen such dramatic changes in their hair when they're not only taking care of it externally, but internally. Here are my go-tos when it comes to edible supplementation for gorgeous hair.

Walnuts 


Rich in Omega oils, walnuts also contain a wealth of biotin and vitamin E, which can prevent cell damage (think natural sunscreen for your hair). Walnuts also contain copper, which is a natural mineral that keeps hair color looking rich. Sprinkle them on fruit, or keep a small bag of them in your purse to snack on. 

Avocados 


Avocados have an abundance of omega oils that our bodies don't produce naturally. These oils are essential for creating shiny, strong hair that grows rapidly. In addition, don't be surprised if your skin starts looking younger when you start eating avocados regularly. And Avocado toast makes an amazing breakfast, as you might have heard!

Eggs


Hair is made up of keratin protein, much like the protein converted from eggs. In addition eggs contain iron, a nutrient that carries oxygen to hair follicles, vitamin D (which can help with hair growth), and healthy fats that maintain suppleness and shine in the hair.

OUAI Treatments

And here are my OUAI treatment supplements, specially formulated for different hair issues.
OUAI Oily Scalp Supplements 
For those with hair that tends to get greasy early, these are a beauty-boosting dose of evening primrose, niacin, and biotin acting together to restore the scalp's natural balance, accelerate natural hair growth, and regulate oil glands while working to reduce sebum production. These are literally like an oil blotter for the scalp, meaning you can skip the shampoo one extra day.
OUAI Dry Hair Supplements 
A combination of vitamin E, iron, biotin, and silica, these feed the hair follicles with hydrating nutrients. Take regularly to replenish moisture to hair, while strengthening and preventing breakage.
OUAI Thinning Hair Supplements 
Combining biotin, black currant seed oil, and amino acids, hair is strengthened while preventing breakage. Packed with essential fatty acids that combat hair loss and the building block of healthy keratin production, when taken regularly, the supplements add volume and density to fine or limp hair.
It will take a few weeks or even months to see a difference in your hair from treating it internally with food and supplements, but once you get into the habit of feeding your it, you'll be rewarded with stronger, shinier, healthier hair.
Article published on http://www.elle.com/

Monday, May 16, 2016

Black Crossbody Bags That Work With Everything


If you've been searching for a black cross body bag free of frills—we get it. The perfect leather purse can be surprisingly hard to find. But let us help you out. While we've found options at every price point, from Victoria Beckham's luxe purse to a $13 one by H&M. Consider the search for your everyday bag finished.


Cos Soft Rounded Leather Bag

Elizabeth and James Scott Moon Shoulder Bag

H&M Small Shoulder Bag

Everlane The Petra Crossbody


DKNY Medium Flap Crossbody

A.P.C Half-Moon Bag


Building Block Petite

Cambridge Satchel The Medium Push Lock

Zara Circular Fastening Cross Body Bag

Cuero & Mor Bucket Bag

Article published on http://www.elle.com/

Sunday, May 15, 2016

What to Wear This Spring No Matter What You're Up to


We're more than ready to slip on our favorite minis, midis, and maxi dresses after a long, cold winter. Here, we take seven of our favorite spring dresses and show you just how to style them for whatever you may be doing. So, are you ready for a boozy picnic or what?

FOR A SEASIDE STROLL


FOR AN OUTDOOR BRIDAL SHOWER

FOR A ROOFTOP HAPPY HOUR


FOR A BOOZY PICNIC


FOR A TRIP TO THE FARMER'S MARKET


FOR A SUNDAY BARBECUE


FOR A CAFE DATE

Article published on http://www.elle.com/





Saturday, May 14, 2016

7 Effortless, Parisian-Inspired Outfit Ideas That Always Work - A cheat sheet for looking like you didn't try



1. Find inspiration in the classic Breton stripe. A lined, fitted jersey dress paired with two-tone slip-on mules is as elegant a combination as it is easy.



2. Go monochrome. Layering crisp shades of white makes a look instantly elegant.

3. Accentuate with bold, classic colors. A simple sweater and skirt combination feels fun yet elevated with cheery red sunglasses and sandals.

4. Borrow from the boys—and play with proportion. An oversized boyfriend button-down and soft, loose trousers feel relaxed yet polished when paired with lacy heels and edgy accessories.

5. A button-down blouse and short shorts combo looks chicer when it's all tied together with a trench.

6. Smarten up a sweatshirt and jeans combo with a boyfriend button-down layered underneath, and cool flatforms on your feet.

7. When in doubt, always go ladylike in pink on pink. 

Article published on http://www.elle.com/

Friday, May 13, 2016

7 Types of Clothing You Should Get Rid of Immediately

Here's the truth: You don't need more clothing. You need less.


Do you ever find yourself staring at your closet full of clothes and feeling like you've got absolutely nothing to wear? During those dark times, it might seem like the only logical course of action is to go shopping—inject a little newness into that tired, old wardrobe of yours—but shopping is the last thing you should do. 
The very fact that you just looked at a wardrobe bursting with clothes and said to yourself, "There is nothing here," proves that you are not thinking straight. Walk into a store with that kind of logic, and you're almost guaranteed to walk out with a bunch of crap you neither need nor actually want. 
Here's the truth: You don't need more clothing. You need less. And not so you can make room for all the new stuff you are going to buy afterwards. That's how you got into this mess in the first place. Instead, think of your closet as a block of marble. Inside that big, awkward hunk of rock is a beautiful sculpture—your ideal wardrobe, whole and intact—just waiting to be revealed. All you have to do is chisel away the excess.
But first you're going to need a few things: some paper and a pencil for writing down notes about the items you are purging from your closet, and a brutally unforgiving eye. The tougher and more honest you are with yourself now, the easier things will be for you later. 
Here you go.
1. Clone Clothing—anything you have multiples of
Underwear and T-shirts are one thing, but if you notice that you've got six of the same floral dress, that should raise a red flag, especially if you tend to favor one or two heavily above the others. Lay them all out and think about exactly what it was that made you think these pieces were so different to begin with. Now that you look at them all together, do those differences really hold up? Are you sure? What was it that compelled you to buy these things when you already had nearly identical pieces in your wardrobe? Were there specific circumstances in which you bought these clothes? Were you shopping with friends? Were these pieces on sale? Identifying the pieces and the circumstances under which you bought them will help you to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future. It's not just enough to make a mental note. Actually writing them out will help you internalize the information and give you with physical document to refer to later.
Pick your favorites from each group and hang them back in your closet—clearly these are things you are really drawn to so having a backup isn't a bad idea—before moving on to the next step.
2. Virgin Clothing—pieces you've either never worn, or only worn once
Are many of them from the same store? Were they bought for special occasions? Was there some unbelievable discount involved? Do they share common design details like ruffles or bright colors? Do they fit a certain way? Even if just two or three of the items share a distinctive trait, it's worth writing it down, especially if it's something you noted previously. The more often one of these traits pops up, the more important it is for you to be wary of them in the future.
3. Comfort-Porn Clothing—super-comfy house clothes you only wear when you are feeling schlubby
This is the kind of stuff your wouldn't be caught dead in outside the house—worn out sweatshirts, oversized, stained T-shirts, saggy-bottomed yoga pants. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Who gives a shit what I wear when I'm just hanging out at home?" 
You're right. 100 percent. But this isn't about anyone else. It's about you. Whether you want to admit it right now or not, what you wear has a profound effect on how you see yourself. If you've ever got dressed up and felt a rush of excitement and confidence, then you know what I'm saying is true. Yeah, no one is going to see you in those dingy cotton pajama shorts but you, but isn't that enough? And as comfy as those shorts may be, can you really say that wearing them makes you feel good, or do they just reinforce for you that the day you where them is a schlubby day where you will see no one and do nothing?
Now, I'm not saying that throwing out your lazy-day wardrobe will suddenly cure you of your shut-in tendencies. The clothes themselves are just a trigger. But a big part of this closet clean-out is identifying the triggers within your wardrobe that are holding you back or compelling you to make bad choices and eliminating them. Besides, it's not like you won't still have comfy clothes after all this is said and done. It's just that now you'll have one or two nice loungey sweatshirts that you can also wear out of the house, instead of a whole menagerie of broken down sad-sack pieces. 
What do all these clothes have in common, besides being soft. Are they covered with little flowers? Do they have lacy bits that have grown gray and dingy over time? Are these design details you see popping up throughout your wardrobe, or do you have a special blind spot when it comes to things that are soft and stretchy? 
4. Ghosts of Bad Outfits Past—pieces you once loved and wore all the time, but now hate
No over-stuffed closet would be complete without a few shameful fashion skeletons hidden in the back. It's time to confront your old bad style habits head on and learn from them. 
You once loved this stuff. Why? What changed? Were you just copying a style you thought looked cool on someone else? Were you distracted by some tacky, bedazzled flourish you only now see for the horror it truly is? What was it that first drew you to this cloth abomination and what was it that finally forced you to retire it altogether?
5. "Other You" Clothing—anything that doesn't fit or would fit if you were a different you (skinnier, fatter, taller, shorter, whatever)
Lay out all the stuff you own that no longer fits. Where exactly are the problems? Is it the buttons? The cut of the hips? The shoulders? Is it too long? Too short? Are these problems that always existed or are they issues that developed over time? 
Pay special attention to items that are particularly difficult for you to imagine giving up. Maybe it's a designer piece you spent a bunch of money on or it was once the key component of your favorite outfit. What is the specific issue that made this piece unwearable? Put stars next to any pre existing fit issues that you somehow convinced yourself to overlook at the store. Once you identify what those are, it will be harder for you to ignore them in the future.
It's also worth noting any fit issues that are the result of fluctuations in your weight. If your changing weight means you often find your pants either too big or too small, you might want to consider switching to something with more stretch or a different style of bottom altogether that can better adapt to your changing body. If not all the time, then at least when you are looking to invest in a more expensive item. 
6. Junk—anything that is stained or damaged beyond repair (which is to say, you are never actually going to repair it)
Okay. What's the deal? Are you a messy eater? Do you snag all you sweaters? Are you particularly hard on your bags or shoes? Some clothes just aren't for everyone. That's cool. Better to know your limitations before you buy something. 
7. Filler—anything remaining that you just plain don't like 
What is about these pieces that is turning you off, even though they don't fit into any of the other six categories? More likely than not, you will find a lot of overlap between this and all your lists.
Take some time to distill everything you've written down into one, smaller, cohesive list that you can carry with you to remind yourself of the major pitfalls you are likely to face the next time you go shopping—styles that you are drawn to but never wear, colors you think are pretty, but not on you, stores and sales where you tend to make your worst choices, even people who compel you to buy things you don't actually want.
Now, look upon your new, tightly edited wardrobe and try not to have a panic attack. 
I know, this is way less stuff than you had before. You may even feel like you have nothing to wear, but I promise that you do. In fact, you can probably pull more good outfits out of the remaining pieces than you could have before because now every item in your closet is a legit winner. And if you're worried about people noticing that you've started wearing the same clothes over and over again, don't. No one will notice. You're not a Kardashian. You can wear the same red sweater 10 times a month if you want. If it looks good on you and you feel good in it, the only thing anyone is really going to notice is how good you look in red sweaters.
Give yourself a day or two to get used to your new wardrobe and then, when you're ready, start a new list. 
Now that you've edited out all the bad from your closet, the good should finally be able to show through. What is it about these clothes that you like? What do they have in common? Are there particular colors or silhouettes that have taken over following your ruthless edit? These are the elements of your personal style—something you probably had difficulty articulating before. Now that you know what they are, you know what to look for the next time you go shopping. And, armed with your trusty triggers list, you should be able to stop yourself from making the same shopping mistakes that forced you to embark on this epic closet cleanse in the first place. Oh, the money you'll save and the stress you'll avoid. It's gonna be smooth sailing from here on out.
Article published on http://www.elle.com/

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Cate Blanchett Talks Red Carpet Beauty and Dates With Destiny


"The less one can think about oneself, the more interesting and attractive one becomes."

With her new short hair look and dreamy Armani Privé gown, Cate Blanchett owned the red carpet at last night's Academy Awards. For Oscar night, makeup artist Jeanine Lobell laid the foundation for Blanchett's ethereal realness by layering SK-II's new super-charged R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Essence and R.N.A. Power Radical New Age Cream to bring her skin to life. "I started using SK-II when I was pregnant with my first child, who is now 14, so I've been using it for 15 years very consistently," Blanchett tells me when we meet before Oscars night. "Obviously, if I'm going out, I'll use the facial treatment masks or the facial treatment oil, but my routine doesn't change very much." Here, the Carol star discusses confidence and getting past the pressure to look a certain way on the red carpet.

WHAT'S YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE IN REAL LIFE? 

In my life, I get thrown a lot of stuff—stuff that says, 'This is the product that is going to change your life!' That's the stuff I tend to ignore because SK-II has worked for me so well. The new products have an amplified amount of Pitera. My feeling is that they're going to the root of my skin and working on a deeper level than a lot of moisturizers. 

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD BEAUTY IN GENERAL? 

It's less is more. The less one can think about oneself the more interesting and attractive one becomes. If you think about Audrey Hepburn, I think she became more beautiful when she stopped being an actress and started working with humanitarian campaigns. The more engaged you can become the more you can shed your self-consciousness. 

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL SO BEAUTIFUL?

I don't think about being beautiful or not being beautiful. I think my kids are beautiful. It's more about feeling confident inside your own skin really and thinking about yourself as little as possible. Every single pore—not on the men, but on the women—is scrutinized, so I am really grateful that I feel very confident in my own skin. I am the age that I am and I am trying to do the best with what I got. I'm not dressing for anyone else. I don't really subscribe to other people's idea of what is beautiful. I just want to feel good. 

WHEN IT COMES TO A BIG EVENT LIKE THE OSCARS, WHAT'S YOUR GETTING READY RITUAL LIKE? 

Take a bath. Have a massage. Put on a facial mask and lie down. I am watching Making a Murderer, which is a very cheery thing to watch on the day of the Oscars, but I've got to finish it! That's probably what I'm going to do on Sunday morning. But it's like New Year's Eve. If you over plan New Year's Eve it's going to be a disaster so you have to be alive to changes.

SPEAKING OF BEING ALIVE TO CHANGES, AND YOU'RE HERE FOR THE SK-II CHANGE DESTINY FORUM TODAY, DO YOU BELIEVE IN DESTINY? 

The notion of fate and destiny is a very Greek concept. Working in the theater you do think a lot about that, because as a storyteller you do think, 'At what point was this always going to happen and what part have I got a hand in being able to change things?' I'm not a big believer in linear paths. I would always have these sort of five-year plans and think, 'Ok, I wouldn't mind to try to get here in five years.' I remember when I was 26. My father died when I was young and my mother didn't have a lot of money, so I thought, 'I want to own a flat by the time I'm 26.' So I worked towards that, literally trying to scrimp and save. But sometimes those plans don't go as you expect. 

DO YOU THINK THOSE MOMENTS ARE ALWAYS  LIFE'S CROSSROADS OR CAN IT BE IN A SIMPLE CHOICE LIKE TAKING A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO WORK?

I think so. My husband jokes that when I'm driving in London I'll always say, 'We haven't been down this road!' Literally and metaphorically, I will always do that. And it doesn't always work, you know? So you have to go 'Well, that didn't work,' but you don't beat yourself up about it because you don't learn a lot by success. You learn an enormous lot through failure. It's not that one tries to fail but they're the bits that I find useful—confronting but useful!

ARE THERE MOMENTS THAT HAVE CHANGED YOUR DESTINY?


Certainly meeting my husband and leaping off together into that unknown place that is marriage. And deciding to run the theater company. Also, I feel like I'm at a fork at the road at the moment. I think 'What's the next challenge for me?' I can continue to do this thing called acting or are there other adventures alive to me? So I'm kind of looking for those. 
Article published on http://www.elle.com/

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

You Can Now Officially Pretend You Went to the Beyoncé Concert


Beyoncé has a treat for all those unable to get tickets to her Formation world tour: She has opened a Lemonade merch shop on her site, where "Boy Bye" tanks"I Twirl on Them Haters" sweatshirtslemon dad hats, and "You That Bitch When You Cause All This Conversation" iPhone cases are available for all to buy. Hooray! 


Noticeably missing from this selection are those infamous "Boycott Beyoncé" tops on sale at her concerts. But who wants those, anyway? 
Items range from $25 to $70; purchase them at shop.beyonce.com.

Article published on http://www.elle.com/