Category Archive

beauty products

Makeup basics from a makeup artist: 5 ways to prep for fall

Makeup-wise, fall is a time of transition between the easy breezy days of summer and the deeper tones of winter. It is also likely that you’ll need to start tweaking your skincare routine a bit. Here are a few things I am loving going into fall…

Makeup basics from a makeup artist: the 6 best sunscreens that you should definitely be using

We all know we’re supposed to wear sunscreen, but do we? In parts of the country where it’s not as constantly sunshiny as my home in California, it’s easy to think you don’t need it until summer rolls around. Well, study after study says that we do. Now is the time to develop the habit of wearing sunscreen regularly. Here are some of my fave sunscreens as well as some interesting newcomers…

Makeup basics from a makeup artist: The top 10 mascaras (both new and classic)

Without. A. Doubt. the number one product I am asked about is mascara. All the folks who ask about it — laypersons and fellow makeup artists alike — seem to be on the eternal quest for the perfect mascara. All I can do is offer my advice as someone who — because of my work as a makeup artist — has tried a lot of different mascara on a lot of different eyes. In no particular order, here are the top 10 best mascaras…

Feel like a spellbinding witch queen with Rituel de Fille makeup

Rituel de Fille is a make-up brand founded by three sisters who were inspired by the magical side of natural ingredients, and the ritualistic, ceremonial power of pigment. If that evokes the image of three Macbethian witches, you are not far off: this make-up is perfect for bringing out your inner witch queen, no matter who you are.

How the color-depositing conditioners of oVertone changed my hair routine forever

Remember when I introduced you to our sponsor oVertone? It’s the vegan, and cruelty free color-depositing conditioners that comes in six different colors. The ladies of the Empire were so stoked on this product that we forced them to send us conditioners in all our various colors. Let’s talk more about what happened when the ladies behind oVertone hooked up the ladies of the Empire with their awesome color-depositing conditioners…

Help I’m cracked-out on chapstick: How to ditch your lip balm habit in 5 steps

I used to have a serious lip balm habit. I had to have lip balm in my purse at all times. I also had a couple of sticks around my apartment, and I would have a minor panic attack if there wasn’t a Chapstick in arm’s reach. For someone like me whose lip “dryness” doesn’t arise from any actual medical condition or symptom, I realized lip balm was unnecessary. Here are some recommendations for cutting out lip balm, and simplifying this one tiny aspect of life…

How to dye your armpit hair

I work at Vain, one of Seattle’s most beloved salons. I have always wanted to color someone’s pit hair. I have actually done it once, but It was a late night with too much wine and without the proper tools available. I asked my co-worker Rain if she would be down to let me dye her pit hair blue to match her hair color and she agreed, heartily. (OR should I say pitily.) We both knew that we were jumping into uncharted territory, but we felt that Vain was just the place to pioneer some pit color. Here is how it went…

Let’s talk about all the skin gloops in my medicine cabinet

It recently occurred to me that I have a shit-load of skin creams, oils, washes, and various other gloops in my medicine cabinet. Like, way more than I should have. Some of them should be cycled out because I never use them, but I have surprisingly strong opinions about others of them. Like, it’s just gloop. Why am I so obsessed with these gloops? I cannot tell you, but I figured that if I’m obsessed with my gloops, you might be obsessed with yours, and maybe we can discuss our gloops. Ready?