Flawless Foundation

Foundation is the base of every great makeup look. It can make or break your entire look if not done correctly. Finding out new beauty tricks when it comes to applying your foundation can be great, but once you have the correct beauty tips for applying foundation, you may not need any tricks.

1. Start with a clean canvas: Your foundation will only look as good as the skin underneath, so maintaining a consistent skin care routine is key. Right before applying foundation, it’s important to cleanse your skin to help prevent clogged pores and remove any dirt that may be dulling your natural radiance. Next, gently exfoliate your skin to sweep away any dry, dead skin cells that may cause foundation to go on unevenly or look flaky. Finally, apply moisturizer; foundation sinks best into hydrated skin.

2. Take the time to prime: A primer may add an additional step to your makeup routine, but it will go a long way to ensure that your foundation looks flawless because it turns your skin into a perfectly smooth surface.

3. Be conservative: Always start by applying just a little bit of foundation, and then add more until you have just the right amount of coverage. The goal is to only apply foundation where you need it, so that your skin still looks like skin. If you have to apply foundation all over your face for it to look even, then you’re using the wrong shade.

4. Work from the inside out: Concentrate the foundation in the center of your face where redness and blemishes tend to be more problematic. Apply just a dab of foundation on each side of your nose, and in the center of your forehead and chin, then blend outward. After it is all blended in, pinpoint any other areas of the face where blemishes are visible and apply an additional light layer of foundation in those specific areas.

5. Stipple, don’t rub: Whether you’re using a foundation brush or your fingertips, apply foundation in a stippling motion, which means gently tapping it into your skin. Avoid any wiping or rubbing motions because that will only push the foundation around and cause streaks.

6. Don’t forget your ears!: Often overlooked, your ears are a part of your face, too. If you’re prone to red lobes, lightly sweep your foundation brush over them so that they blend in with the rest of your face.

7.Set it and forget it: Most people associate powder with a matte, cakey look, but dusting a silky loose setting powder, like Blended Loose Powder, over your foundation will ensure it won’t budge without dulling its finish.

Report: Alycia Williams

Lash Out

Marc Jacobs Beauty was founded by Marc Jacobs in 2013. Marc's mark rule-breaking imagination drives his powerful cosmetics vision. For Marc, magnificence contradicts the normal. Not at all like anything you've at any point experienced, he grasps appearing contrary energies to make something totally new, rousing you to push limits and make your very own style. Marc Jacobs beauty has launched a new product just in time for the summer. It is called at Lash’d Lengthening and Curling Mascara. This mascara is a long wear extending and twisting mascara that has a profoundly characteristic full augmentation lash look. With three main ingredients that are Biotin Peptide, Provitamin B5 and veggie wax. Biotin Peptide helps condition and improve lashes. Provitamin B5 assists improve with lashing appearance. Veggie lover Plant Waxes help assemble moment lash volume with a lightweight vibe. Lash'd conveys moment length and twist, in addition to ultra-characterized volume. The mascara is lightweight and has a buildable without making lashes look crunchy or clumpy. The wavy-bristled wand was intended to uniformly cover each lash for faultless application. Use mascara for raised regular look. This golden- package will sure shine all day long on the go- or even at the house. This new product will sure make it into your mascara collection this summer.

Photo Credits: Marc Jacobs Beauty

Report: Tykaia Rose

KKW Beauty Has Officially Partnered With Coty Inc.

Kim Kardashian West is back in the headlines, but this time it’s due to her mega beauty brand, KKW Beauty. West is following in her youngest sisters footsteps as she has sold 20% of her empire to beauty company, Coty Inc.

Kylie Jenner had sold 51% of her two multi-million dollar businesses, Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin, to Coty back in January and it was a shock to many. But, this go around we see West trying to make her own mark in the beauty industry with the help of the big named company. Coty is home to many designer beauty brands such as Balenciaga, Gucci, & Burberry, and now KKW Beauty will be added to the collection.

Wondering why Kim Kardashian West would sell a part of her company? The entrepreneur is looking to expand her beauty brand globally, and with the help of Coty, that dream can become a reality. The new collaboration will focus on the expansion of products and entering a new beauty category. Does this mean KKW Beauty can potentially become a luxury brand?

West is responsible for promotion of products and campaigns on her social media since her following is like no other. Coty will hold the responsibility to share knowledge on its expertise of the industry, expand the brand’s product portfolio, and drive the marketing department.

With Kim Kardashian West being one of the most famous women on the planet, and Coty being a powerhouse in the beauty industry, these two can make history. Coty’s new and expensive $200 million investment into West’s beauty business, it seems as if this could be the perfect collaboration to bring KKW Beauty to new heights.

Photo Credits:

https://www.globalcosmeticsnews.com/coty-acquires-20-percent-interest-in-kkw-beauty/

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200601005387/en/Coty-Announces-Strategic-Transformation-Definitive-Agreement-KKR

Report: Kaitlin Gallagher

Makeup vs. Brownie

If you love eating chocolate listen up! There are many different types of chocolates in the world. But there is only one where you eat or wear it. Having second thoughts, no worries. I have just the new product for you. Beauty Bakerie began as a one-lady activity in 2011 after organizer Cashmere Nicole set up herself for school and nursing school, while being a single parent. This new product from Beauty Bakerie is called Brownie Bar. Did somebody order a Brownie Bar to go, coming right up! Brownie Bar presents three new, general shades of Contour, Bronzer, and Highlighter in a pocket-sized palette intended to be smooth and travel benevolent. Consistent with our long-wear notoriety, the blur free recipe keeps going the entire day helping your sweet beat stay pigmented. Fun fact about this product is that it is cruelty, paraben, and vegan free. This product is made for face to shimmer and have a long-lasting natural look on your face all day. This packaging is mini so it perfect for traveling anywhere a night out, during day or evening or a trip around the world to Bail for the weekend. This new makeup product will sure go great in your makeup collection this summer.

Photo Credits: Beauty Bakerie and Nina Kneads to Bake

Report: Tykaia Rose

How to Make Your Beauty Routine Greener

Any changes that improve our well-being and the health of the planet are good steps in the right direction. Another thing is that the number and volume of such changes are different for everyone. For someone to buy a shopper or to hand over batteries to the nearest collection point is already a feat. And someone has fully implemented the principle of zero waste and is constantly looking for new opportunities for a waste-free life.

One of the simple but important ways to become more conscious is to revise your beauty routine. Here is our list with ways to become more beautiful and eco-conscious.

Every day, a dozen disposable cotton pads are sent to the trash. Meanwhile, in the production of cotton pads, natural resources are wasted, the atmosphere is polluted. Go for reusable cotton discs or muslin napkins that can be machine washed.

Replace cotton buds with a plastic base with bamboo or paper. They decompose, which means they will not add dirt to the oceans choking on plastic.

The best beauty behavior is full awareness and buying cosmetics as needed. According to estheticians, the minimum set for skincare looks like this: a cleanser, exfoliant, cream, or serum with antioxidants, protective cream with SPF.

Report: Olha Dzharyha

Sunscreen That Glows!

Protecting you face is very important. Ever gotten a really bad sun burn? A sunburn is a red, swollen, and excruciating skin brought about by overexposure to bright (UV) beams from the sun. It’s worse than laying on a tanning bed for too long. This new product will sure keep your face protected. Tula Skincare was founded in 2013 by Dr. Roshini Raj, who is a rehearsing gastroenterologist and probiotics master. Interested by the intensity of probiotics, she's been reading them for over 15 years. This new product from Tula Skincare is called Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel Broad Spectrum 30. Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel Broad Spectrum 30 is a wide range sunscreen that gives you day by day SPF 30 or more securing you from harming contamination and blue light rays for an unquestionable requirement for inside and outside. Leaves a dazzling gleam that wears well under cosmetics or all alone. The 3 main ingredients inside this product are probiotics to help lock in dampness and reinforce the skin hindrance, Pineapple and Papaya to help advance even skin tone and Wild Butterfly Ginger Root ensures skin against blue light. This product is great for all skin types. This product can be found in stores or online.

Photo Credits: Tula Skincare

Report: Tykaia Rose

The Lips Don't Lie

Need a reset on your lips? You drink water and apply regular chapstick but that isn’t enough. So, you go to the store and look in your own lip collection. But still can’t find anything. This brand-new product will have your lips plump and moisturize. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty was founded in September 2013 by Charlotte she had this to say while launching the company. "I accept that each lady needs to feel excellent, incredible and hot and cosmetics is an extraordinary method to accomplish this," Propelling with a 200-in number product offering and offering a wide scope of skincare and cosmetics things, appropriate for all skin tones, shades and types. This company has been very successful after the launch. With her new product that she just launched it is called Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixar. Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixar is a mystery gem implanted supercharged lip oil for hydrated, delectable lips! This is a lip conditioner by day and a lip cover around evening time. The lip oil has enchantment precious stones and plant separates to help with moisture. This product is just not for women but for men too. If you are looking for a new lip product, please check this product out today. You can find this product online or in-stores.

Photo Credits: Charlotte Tilbury

Report: Tykaia Rose

A Post-Lockdown Personal Tuneup Guide

After a global pandemic and sweeping political upheaval you can be forgiven for feeling a little worn out from this year already. However, while lockdown was a vital measure for many understandable reasons, it’s important to note that you needn’t have to feel that sense of weariness and fatigue for longer than necessary. Now that lockdown is starting to slow, and things are beginning to return to however we’re supposed to define normal right now, it can be helpful to develop your own post-lockdown treatment plan.

But how does this work, and what might it look like? It can be very worth asking these questions, because otherwise we may stumble in the dark trying to feel like our past selves but struggling from the effort.

So, where do we begin? Well, let us start off by first suggesting that you are enough, and that you’re merely restoring your beauty through the following guides, not adding to it. Furthermore, doing what feels good and having fun with this process should be mandatory. If you feel put-out by this process, something is wrong! With that being said, let’s consider the following advice:

Great Dental Work

Great dental work can be a great starting point, as deep cleaning teeth can help you enjoy a whiter smile, feel more confident, and also uncover other dental issues you may wish to have worked on. Great dental work also allows us to start feeling more confident in our style, as when issues with our teeth cause us pain or a lack of confidence, it can be hard to feel your usual radiant self.

Stretching & Yoga

Stretching and yoga can not only help remove some of your physical cobwebs that grow in lockdown, but you’ll remove some of your mental fatigue, too. It’s a meditative act to engage in either one of these practices regularly, and if you can do that you’re much more likely to feel confident, and peaceful in a given day. This will also help you feel a little less culture shock returning back to normality, as you’ll have given your body the practiced warm up it needs every day to function well. As far as that’s concerned, you’ll be on the right track.

Massages & Spa Experiences

A good massage and spa experience can help you remove all of your stress from your shoulders, take a little time for you, and for some people, enjoy some peace and quiet at long last! This is not an overly indulgent treat to invest in, we’d say you deserve it after many months in lockdown. Relaxing and spending time with a friend in these surroundings, or simply going solo, can help you take stock of your life, reflect a little, feel more comfortable in your physical body, and generally feel renewed and refreshed. You could do much worse than this.

With this advice, we hope you can go through the best post-lockdown tuneup guide.

The Beauty Industry Stands With, And For, The Black Community

We continue to see black owned businesses gaining more and more support, as they should, and the beauty industry is definitely involved. Sephora and Estée Lauder are, in particular, paying a great tribute to the BLM movement. In a time of such drastic change, it’s amazing to see our favorite brands standing up for equality in all forms.

Sephora is partaking in Aurora James’ 15% Pledge which allows their shelves to hold 15% of stock from black owned businesses. Actually, Sephora plans to dedicate at least 15% of their shelves, which not only brings in a bigger market, but shows how much they value equality. Seeing the necessary steps being taken from a major beauty platform will hopefully inspire smaller beauty companies to build off this Pledge as well.

Estée Lauder is also contributing to the Black Lives Matter movement. They are planning to have complete equality for all black employees, at each level of employment, regarding salaries over the next 5 years. They are also in search of black owned factories as well as increasing their donations to the black community from $1 million to $10 million. These statements were publicized after an internal petition was being sent over, so the companies Board decided to help the cause. It’s definitely a little concerning that the company only took a stand after the petition was in act, but at least they got their head in gear and are helping the cause!

The beauty industry is definitely diversifying their brands, and they have, in the past, diversified their shades to include all forms of skin color. As we continue to fight for equality, for all colors, I hope to see not only the beauty industry, but all industries show their support for Black Lives Matter. The BLM movement is far from over, and I hope the inclusivity of all colors continues.

Photo Credits:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQyEN5ljJg/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3mlcxFADP/

Report: Kaitlin Gallagher

Date Night Makeup Looks to Match Your Style

When date night finally comes along and you have your outfit picked out and your hair is done, it can be hard to find the right makeup look to match. Whether you want a full face of makeup or a fresh faced look, it all depends on your style.

The Fresh Face: Now the fresh face doesn’t mean you aren’t wearing any makeup at all. If you’re looking for a natural and clean face for your date night, then this is your look. A groomed brow, a sharp line of liquid liner, defining mascara and a nude lip stick or lip gloss, can leave your face looking refreshed.

The sun-kissed look: This look is all about using warm tones. Anything from a peachy tone to a bronze tone for eyeshadow with heavy black eyeliner and mascara. Along with some bronze hue on your cheeks, a shimmery golden lipgloss, and a golden highlight on your cheekbones.

The bold lip: Regardless of the color that you choose, you should prep your lips beforehand by outlining your lips with a matching pencil to really give it that “wow” factor. Then, match the look with neutral eyeshadow tones and a strong defined brow. A winged eyeliner always compliments the bold lip.

Classic smokey eye: The smokey eye is the go to for any candlelit dinner. Since this look is all about drama it’s important to accentuate the outer part of the eye with a dark eyeshadow and the inner part with a lighter eyeshadow to create the ombre effect. Having a strong brow is important for this look as it outlines the eye. Finishing it off with subtle lashes and glossy lip gloss.

The glittery look: Choosing the right eyeshadow is crucial as this will be the prime focus of the look. The color could be nude or it could be a vibrant purple, as long as it has glitter, gloss, or shine it works for the look. Matching that with a soft brow, and over the top lashes will seal the deal. You can also top it off with a strong highlight on your cheekbone to give your face some more glimmer.

The rosy monochrome: This looks light, airy, and flirty. A light pink works perfectly for the eyeshadow, keeping it subtle is key for this look. Along with rosy cheeks and a soft pink lipstick or lipgloss. Keep the eyebrows and lashes subtle and not overdone and you can even skip eyeliner for this look.

Bold liner: Using bright colors for eyeliners is a great way to keep all eyes on you, so this is a great date night look. The eyeshadow could go a little off the nude palette but not too far keeping everything moderate. No matter what color you choose, it should be applied to either the top of the lid or as under liner, but it shouldn’t be both. To complete this look you’ll just need gentle brows and mascara.

Report: Alycia Williams

Beauty Bakerie Now Recognizes Juneteenth as Their Company's Independence Day

In an effort to do their part in addressing years of systemic racism beauty brand, Beauty Bakerie will no longer celebrate the 4th of July. Instead, the brand will recognize Juneteenth (June 19th) as its independence day. This is a bold move and a huge stride in addressing the deletion of black people in American history. After talking about this with many of my friends they questioned why it mattered.

So what is Juneteenth? And why is it so important to celebrate this day? Although the United States was freed from British control on July 4th, 1776, black people were not yet independent. It was not until nearly 100 years later everyone in this country was truly free. Juneteenth, also known as the “Black Independence Day”, signifies the day the last slaves were freed. The Emancipation Proclamation was implemented on January 1st, 1863 but remote states like Texas were not really affected by the proclamation. It actually wasn’t until after the Civil War in 1963 that ALL black people were freed from slavery.

Right now, Juneteenth is not celebrated as a national holiday. Communities still observe this day as the holiday it is! And while many group celebrations have been put on hold there are still ways to enjoy this day on your own. These include using social media to inform your followers about the history of Juneteenth. You could also support black-owned businesses the entire day. Finally, purchase Juneteenth signages and drape them outside and throughout the house to educate your household guests.

Photo Credits: beautybakerie.com, gvwire.com

Report: Lauren Tucker

Various Scents of the Mediterranean

This fragrance collection has been around for many years. It’s only getting bigger by adding a new scent and color to the collection. This collection is very popular in I have no doubt that this scent will be a hit! Sky, Light and Acqua all unique and unforgettable names. This brand-new scent I am willing to share with you will make you fall in love. The Armani design house was established in 1975 by Giorgio Armani. Giorgio entered the style of business as an visual merchandiser however before long settled himself as a fashion designer. Throughout the years, Armani has developed to turn into a worldwide brand equivalent with exquisite effortlessness and refinement, an ethos that has kept on spurring and move Giorgio and is obvious in everything from Armani apparel, jewelry, and accessories, home décor and cosmetics. With this new perfume from Di Gioia Eau De Parfum Collection it is called Ocean Di Gioia Eau Parfum.

This new perfume is made up of a crystalline flower aroma that pays tribute to the exuberant, cheerful nature of the sea. It's worked around the sea-going newness of water jasmine, the delicious notes of shining pear, and facetted by a woody musk base. This new scent will sure take you to the beach or island of your choice!

Photo Credits: Giorgio Armani Beauty

Report: Tykaia Rose

Longer, Fuller, You Know the Rest......

False lashes come in all kinds of types from synthetic, human hair and mink fur lashes. False lashes can come in different sizes. False lashes have become very popular over years because of their dramatic look. But sometimes false lashes can cause irritation and redness. If you need a break from false lashes, I have a new mascara that you must try out.

Huda Beauty was founded and launched by Huda Kattan in 2013. It grew quickly due to her popular YouTube channel and celebrity’s. She is a self-taught makeup artist which makes it better and her is ran by herself. This amazing new product that she has launched this summer is called Legit Lashes Double-Ended Mascara. This product is a dependable, matte dark, double finished mascara that conveys significant volume, sensational twist and crazy length without burdening your lashes. It has two full size mascaras in one double finished pack. It volumize, extend, lift, and twist lashes. The mascara highlights two custom brushes and equations intended to give you the ideal lashes. Regardless of whether you utilize the two sides together or discrete, this mascara permits you to alter your look as indicated by your state of mind!

Photo Credits: Huda Beauty

Report: Tykaia Rose

Pull Up for Change: Beauty Brand Transparency

Companies all over the country have been showing their support for the protestors, standing on the side of justice for George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, and many of the lives lost to police brutality. Some posted statements or blacked out their pages for #BlackoutTuesday using their social media platforms to show where they stand. Sharon Chuter, the founder and CEO of UOMA Beauty, is asking for the receipts! Launching the Pull Up or Shut Up 72-hour challenge, Chuter demands that beauty brands that have publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement be transparent about their diversity in corporate offices. If they cannot “pull up” she wants brands to retract their statements. The mission of the challenge is to bring awareness to the underrepresentation of black people in corporate, more specifically leadership positions. As a part of this challenge, Chuter asks consumers not to purchase anything from their favorite beauty brands until they release its numbers of black employees.

As a result of this challenge, many brands have pulled up with their percentages. UOMA, The Crayon Case, Mented, and Makeup Addiction have reported that they are 100% black! Other brands like CoverFX and Versed have revealed that they employ less than15% of black employees with corporate or leadership positions. This challenge forces companies to take accountability for their hiring practices. CoverFX plans on using the remainder of its 2020 social budget working with Black, Indigenous, and other people of color influencers and creators in hopes to diversify their company.

For more details about this challenge and the brands who have participated check out this link:

https://www.instagram.com/pullupforchange/

Photo Credits: @pullupforchange, coverfx.com, UOMA.com makeup addiction.com and Refinery29

Report: Lauren Tucker

Why Supporting Black-Owned Beauty Brands is So Important

Amidst the incredible surge of attention the Black Lives Matter movement has amassed, now more than ever it is essential to support Black-owned businesses. All over the internet you can find lists upon lists of Black-owned restaurants, shops, start-ups, personal brands, and more. If you support the movement, people say, put your money where your mouth is: show your support with cold, hard cash. So, you might be asking yourself, why? What does supporting Black-owned businesses do, and why is it so important? Below is a look into how supporting Black beauty brands can make a difference.

Like many things, it’s helpful to start with the history of the beauty industry to understand why Black people deserve support. For years, the makeup industry has ignored Black women with products neither designed for nor marketed toward people of color. Foundation and concealer shades often never come close to matching those with darker skin, and products like eye shadow or lipstick are often not pigmented enough to show up on darker skin. Additionally, makeup and hair artists are rarely trained on how to work on those with darker complexions or textured hair. This exclusion not only prevents Black women from access to products they may need or desire in order to foster confidence, but it also sends a clear message about America’s ideal form of beauty. What does a young, Black girl make of the fact that she looks nothing like any of the faces in beauty magazines, or those hailed as beautiful on television?

Thankfully, important steps have been taken to combat this whitewashing of the beauty industry in the past few years. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line lead the way on this path with over 40 different shades of foundation, which has now become somewhat of a norm for other foundation lines. But more work needs to be done. This inclusion need not be trendy but a conscious, ongoing process. That’s where you come in. Supporting Black-owned makeup and beauty brands can help make up for this long-term exclusion of women of color in the beauty industry. Giving Black women the recognition they deserve in one the fastest growing industries in the world is one of the many ways we can keep the momentum going on the Black Lives Matter movement. Whether that be by buying from Black-owned brands, showing support to brands that make a purposeful inclusive effort, or speaking out against those who don’t, the inclusion of Black people in the beauty industry has the power to create a domino effect on how society envisions ideal beauty.

Report: Grace Carlos

The Undervalued Beauty of Black Fashion

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Black fashion businesses are brimming with underrated talent, and this period of revolutionary racial solidarity only further proves how deserving they are of financial support. Countless black fashion creators have crafted such fascinating, awe-inspiring designs, which makes purchasing these products a particularly rewarding form of equal rights advocacy amidst ongoing racial injustices.

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The most noteworthy of these businesses are those that infuse black pride and Afrocentric aesthetics into their creations. Brother Vellies is a purveyor of handcrafted shoes and handbags from South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco, and AFRA’s hair jewelry is modeled after that of ancient Egyptian royalty. Blk Mkt Vintage is the most brazen example of cultural pride, as it is a collection of artifacts of black history, including a t-shirt that reads, “Fight the Powers That Be with Black Unity.”

BLK MKT Vintage

With the nation in the midst of mass revolt, time will only tell what sort of systemic change will result from all this unwavering activism—and subsequently, how living through such a historic time will influence future black art.

Brother Vellies

Report: Nia Hunt

Jackie Aina Urges Fashion Brands to Break Silence on Black Injustices

Jackie Aina took to Instagram this week to call out fashion companies that have remained "dead silent" about the struggles and issues facing the black community. The outspoken beauty and lifestyle YouTuber tagged three popular brands in her stories and accused them of failing to support the very culture from which they profit. Aina said, “There are a lot of brands who love capitalizing on black culture, black music, black aesthetic, but are dead silent when it comes to talking about black issues and black struggles in our communit. So just as much as y'all love hanging out with Ty Dolla Sign and Saweetie and Blac Chyna, can y'all at least say something when people are being brutally murdered by cops? Donate to the families affected by this stuff? Revolve, PrettyLittleThing, Fashion Nova. The memes that you guys are posting on your pages are not gonna cut it. Do more. Don't just be present when it's time to be lit on the 'gram."

Aina went on to say she was calling out these three specific brands because they push a distinct aesthetic that is clearly influenced by elements of black life and culture. Aina then urged the brands to not only acknowledge, but also help combat the problems plaguing the African-American community. She said, "I know that, like, black people dying isn't aesthetically pleasing for the feed. I understand that. But I do feel like it's the least that you can do. You can't just take, pick, and choose the parts of our culture and not embrace all of it ... Guys, I understand sometimes philanthropy does not have to be announced, but right now more than ever, considering how much influence these brands specifically have, it's very important that you say and do something. Like it's the least you can do." Following her comments, Aina took to Twitter to announce that some of the brands had viewed her stories, but not all of them had responded. She then told her followers she had a phone call with Fashion Nova's CEO on Friday to discuss "an extensive course of action.”

Aina's comments come amid nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was killed during an arrest. On Friday, an ex-Minneapolis officer was arrested and charged with third-degree murder in connection to Floyd's death.

Report: Amanda Lou

Spirited Away to a New Realm of Beauty

Now, more than ever, makeup artists and beauty lovers alike are in places where they need to take inspiration from the comfort of their homes. One source of inspiration, streaming services, provides a platform in which artists of all kinds can take away ideas from a wide range of movies and tv shows. Dropped on Netflix and HBO Max in recent times, Studio Ghibli films have become the latest trend in creating beautiful looks that are both awe-inspiring and serve as a reminder of the times currently experienced. A world-renowned movie studio, Studio Ghibli has ultimately one goal: to dive into the human soul and to show audiences the intricacies transcribed through their imaginative stories.

Studio Ghibli was formed in the early 1980’s when Japanese animators Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki decided to create a work that would serve as a film that not only contained animations, but also kept the narration quality. The term Ghibli was coined by Miyazaki, taking inspiration from the World War II aircraft Caproni Ca. 309 Ghibli and hot Sahara desert air, exemplified through the air blown about in the studio’s animations. Once they realized they could be successful, they set up a studio in Tokyo along with publishing company Tokuma Shoten’s help.

Dreamy, detailed worlds and heartwarming stories embody what makes Studio Ghibli the animation company it is today. Their films contain beautiful, colorful visuals that evoke a wide range of emotions and animations that relate to the human psyche. Some of the most famous Studio Ghibli films have inspired many, including the beauty realm, to show the chromatic, introspective world that the studio has created. Studio Ghibli’s "My Neighbor Totoro" provided the unofficial face of the company: Totoro, a tree spirit taking the form of a rabbit. In this film the spirit shows nature and humanity working together, a message that can be taken in real life and presented through art. "Only Yesterday", another well-known work of theirs, explains the life of a young Japanese woman as she comes across the countryside, visualized through idealistic landscapes and yellow flowers adorning the land. "Spirited Away", the Oscar winner and the most acclaimed of all the studio’s repertoire, provides astounding visuals as the main character travels through the spirit world and encounters many fantasies one can only dream of. No matter what the Studio Ghibli film may be, there won’t be trouble in finding one shot that can provide artistic awakening.

Another Studio Ghibli project is currently in the works and is set to be released in 2021. Based on Genzaburo Yoshino’s novel, How Do You Live? will be the next film that will add to the extraordinary range of films created by the company.

Photo Credits: Carla Lopez, Film School Rejects, Aysha Nicole.

Report: Charlene Piccio

Is Jeffree Star's New "Cremated" Collection Worth It?

Jeffree Star has recently released his new makeup collection called “Cremated.” It consists of a palette with 24 new eyeshadow shades ranging from black and white to grey and brown. Some of the names of the colors are “Angel of Death,” “Death Certificate,” and “R.I.P.” This Palette allows for beauty lovers to create the perfect smokey eye. It retails for about $58 on his website. Alongside the Palette, he released new lip glosses, makeup bags, metal straws and a liquid lipstick. The collection sold out in the matter of minutes and I could understand why.

There has been a lot of talk about his new collection as it has caused controversies. People have mixed feelings about it as they felt it was insensitive or tone-deaf to name the collection “Cremated” during a pandemic. However, Star has spoken out about these comments saying that he has been working on this Palette before the COVID-19 outbreak. Producing makeup takes months to create. It’s not a quick and easy process. In a youtube video, Star said, “For me, this is art and I never come from a negative place, you guys.” Star has also said that if he kept pushing off the release the makeup would have expired.

Many beauty influencers went on to test the Palette and lip glosses for themselves. One YouTuber who reviewed it was NikkieTutorials, with over 4 million views on it. She made sure to give her honest opinion about how she felt about the collection despite the controversy. She agreed with the people saying the timing is a little off. However, she thinks this would have hurt people regardless of timing. Nikkie went on to say that “if you focus directly on the quality, it is golden.” I am not surprised because Jeffree Star is known for releasing eyeshadows with incredible pigment formulas.

It’s really up to you what you want to spend your money on. If you can get over the theme of it and focus solely on the collection, you won’t be disappointed. It is perfect for anyone who loves to play with grey tones. The collection is said to be back in stock, mid-June.

*Photo Credits to Jeffree Star’s Instagram*

Report: Anna Levitus

Influencers Hold Over the Marketing World

In today’s world influencers are the next versions of celebrities. From nano-influencers to mega-influencers, they each build a brand and a loyal following that is being used by all industries but mainly fashion. When it comes to the industry, many companies heavily rely on influencer reviews to reach the social media generation. Most consumers are more likely to purchase an item from a word of mouth review than an advertisement.About 86% of companies are going to dedicate a portion of their budget to influencers.

Example Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line. Rhianna is a big named celebrity yet many wouldn’t be so likely to just go and buy her product. So her public relations team will send out boxes of the products to select beauty influencers to get them to do a review on the products. The consumer would then tune into their favorite influencers and would get to have an idea of what it would look like on someone that looks like them. See influencers became a big part of the marketing system because of the allure of relatability. When it comes to the use of social media, B2B businesses mainly use Facebook by 89%, Twitter by 75% and LinkedIn by 81% and Instagram is only used at only 33%. When you see someone like you trying something and liking it you are most likely going to want to buy the product as well. Many influencers also decided to purchase the products themselves so that they can keep that trust between them and their audience. When it comes to which social media platform is important, 79% find Instagram important for their influence marketing campaigns. Authentcity is what is selling these products.

Fenty Beauty PR Box - Pintrest

Jackie Ania Review - Plat4om.com

Report: Maya Howard