Outfit of the Week (OOTW)

Kimonos are a spring/summer staple. It's a thin light cardigan type clothing that is great for the chillier days when you don't want to just wear a tank top or crop top. This cardigan is great for layering and they're super cute and super affordable. Kimonos are a new fashion trend and are on the clothing racks in almost any store. It is the perfect way to tie an outfit together. They're sold in Target, Forever21, Urban Outfitters, Pacsun, American Eagle, etc. 

Products were purchased from:

Kimono: Hollister

Leggings: PINK

Wig Review

Long black wig review

by Kelly Leem

Ever since I cut my hair to donate it (again), I’ve regretted doing it (again). As a result, I really miss how long hair used to look on me. So, I decided to purchase a good quality wig from ebay from a seller named cdmnwx (if you were wondering). I got it about 2 weeks later in the estimated date time and I was so excited to open it!

Packaging: *****

-It was in a hairnet to prevent the hairs from going all over the place, a free wig cap was provided, and the packaging was pretty secure.

Quality: ****

-The hair didn’t look too shiny and artificial. It actually looked pretty natural in outside and inside lighting. The hair was soft to the touch and when brushing it out, not a lot of hair was pulled out; which means the hairs are secure in the wig cap. It does become tangled, so you need to make sure that you brush it thoroughly. The wig itself doesn’t really shed (few hairs have fallen out) but since it isn’t real hair, it does become staticy when you brush it with a regular hair brush. You can wet it down a bit just to get rid of it, as well as using dryer sheets. Don’t forget to use a steel comb which you can also get on ebay for really really cheap (.89 cents).

It isn’t too thin, or too thick. It has enough hair to cover my entire head and it fits my head perfectly! You can adjust it to your head size if you’d like, but I didn’t have too. You have the option to choose your color, and I chose black because it seemed like a more natural color  (though it looks like a dark dark brown under indoor lighting)

Price: ****

-I don’t really like spending a lot of money. Since this was the first wig that’s ever worked out pretty well for me, the $36.69 is worth it. Just remember, in most cases, cheaper prices mean cheaper made wigs that don’t work well (I know from experience). Keep in mind, long haired wigs usually cost more than shorter wigs

Note: Since this is a long wig, it’s a little harder to handle because of all the hair, but you can tie the wig into different styles as you would with your real hair :)

Wig name: Long natural straight red brown heat resistant women lady girl full wig wigs

Flash Tattoo Trend

Become Flashing with Flash Tattoos

by Yura Shin

Flash Tattoos are temporary metallic tattoos that have been trending this fall/winter. Last summer, henna tattoos were very popular, now it’s flash tattoos.

They usually come in gold or silver and come with cool designs. It is packaged in (a) sheet(s) of tattoo that you put on.

In order to put on the tattoo, you cut out the piece and take off the strip of plastic on top of the tattoo. Then put the piece of paper the tattoo is on facing toward your skin. Place in on the desired location. Grab a piece of paper towel or cloth,  and place in on top of the tattoo. Wait a few seconds, remove the paper, and wait for the tattoo to dry on.

They last for approximately 3-6 days depending on how well you take care of it.

They are sold in Target, Urban Outfitters, Claire’s, etc and retail for about $10. One may be a little hesitant to buy temporary tattoos for $10, but this was a great way to accessorize and glam up a look.

Bun Fun

Bun Fun

by Yura Shin

Putting your hair into a bun is a perfect way to get your hair out of your face while looking cute. A bun is a really fast and easy updo to do when you’re running late to school or work. It is simply so easy, and looks good without looking like you put too much time into it.

There are many different types of buns like a donut/sock bun and a top knot . However, the sock bun is a perfect bun that doesn’t look too messy compared to other buns. A sock bun is a hairstyle that would still be appropriate for more formal events as well as casual outings.

Celebrities like Rihanna, Jessica Alba, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift have been rocking buns, and you can too.

To recreate this look you will need: a brush/comb and a hair tie. A teasing comb, bobby pins, and hairspray is optional.

-Gather your hair and tie it in a ponytail in the location that us desires. (It can be a high bun, low bun, whatever floats your boat) For extra volume, tease the hair in the ponytail.

Top knot bun: Twist the ponytail and wrap it around in a circle.

Donut/ Sock bun:

Material: Sock/ donut bun

-Insert the donut into the ponytail.

-Wrap the ends of the ponytail around the donut and stick your thumb from underneath and through the top of the bun.

-Push your thumbs up into the donut and continue rotating the donut into your head.

-Style and bobby pin any flyaways if necessary.

Face Natural Products from The Face Shop

The Face Shop Review

by Yura Shin

The Face Shop is one of Korea’s hottest skin care and cosmetic retailer and they are taking over the world. The Face Shop understands the value of health and nature, and combines science and the perfection of nature to deliver their flawless products that benefit our skin.

The Face Shop uses nature as their key component to formulate their products to protect your health and beauty.

“The Face Shop focuses on targeting customers who want healthy and natural skin. Our products only use the best ingredients as possible and some customers think its a bit pricey, but it’s because they're organic products with no chemicals,” employee Jennifer said.

Not only do they sell skin care products, but they also sell makeup, cleansers, masks, body care products, (Lotion,  body cleanser, body scrub, etc) hair products, (Damage repair cream, shampoo, conditioner, wax, gel, etc) and perfume/aroma.

The Face Shop is for everyone and has products for people of all ages. They have products for babies such as baby lotion, and for older adults to prevent wrinkles. They also have a line for teenagers and men.

One of their best sellers is their chia seed line. Their Chia Seed line is made from organic chia seeds and has absolutely no chemicals. It’s a 70-80% water base formula. It focuses on giving the user moisture, but doesn’t make them oily. Therefore, it’s perfect for all seasons.

"I love products from The Face Shop because they make my skin feel more light and fresh. I have sensitive skin and since the products from The Face Shop are natural, the products don't break me out," customer Joanna said.

The Face Shop was first launched December 2003 in Myeong Dong, Korea and within six months, the franchise business opened its 100th Face Shop in Korea. As The Face Shop spread overseas, and into U.S.A, China, Japan, and other countries, there are now over 2,300 stores in 29 countries around the world.

One of those stores are located in Flushing, Queens NY. They recently relocated into a bigger, and better area. They are located on 136-53 Roosevelt Avenue Flushing, NY 11354. Go check out their products for better and healthier skin!

Hair coloration is here to stay… semi-permanently (Part 2)

Hair Dye causing a Manic Panic among everyone - part 2 the struggle and the color 

by Adva Fuchs

The trend is here to stay and everyone is buzzing from luscious lavender locks to bright blue braids, and now its your turn. Coloring hair, especially to extreme shades like green, blue, and pink, is not a one step process and in fact requires strenuous amounts patience and time. But even before the actual hair dying process one must pick a color (or two) and a brand which they trust.

First and foremost: Buy your hair dye from a reliable source. Many times people get cheated by buying dye they think is “Brand Name” for a lower cost only to later find it circling their drain after the first wash.  Stores like Ricky’s NYC and Hot Topic will always have the official Brand Name dye or if you’re lazy (like me) buy it off a reputable site like the brand website, Sally Beauty, Ulta, Sourpuss, or Hair Crazy.  

The Hair dyes I trust the most:

Special effects for its long lasting ability and beautiful shade variations

Manic Panic for its amazing color combinations and pastelizor

Sparks for their innovative color technology and shade intensifier/pastelizor

NEVER EVER USE SPLAT HAIR DYE!!! Sorry guys I know that Splat is the easiest to find, as well as the cheapest, but it’s really not worth your time! Splat causes breakage and damages hair (without even using the bleach!!).

The two rules to great hair dye; number one, always listen to the punk kids (they know their stuff!), and number two, if it SMELLS like a fruit because of the color (like cherry for red dye and grape for Purple dye) IT’S A FAKE DO NOT USE IT!!

What color is right for your life style?

Many people out to copy this trend assume that picking a dye is as easy as picking your favorite color. Unfortunately for them, they have a whole lot of disappointment coming their way. Although in theory any one can just pick their favorite color, it really all depends on the life style you have. Do you exercise constantly, whether a sport or going to the gym? Do you spend a lot of time outdoors in sunny conditions? The results of these activities can lead to a hair color massacre if one isn't safe about the color they pick.

 The sporty girls (or guys):You guys love the feeling of adrenaline rushing through your veins and sweat trickling down your neck. You tend to do a lot of hard core activities which, of course, leads to those long hot showers at the end of your work out. If this is you, BE AWARE; all that sweat on your scalp and in your hair is going to need a good rinse and if you exercise daily or more than 3 days a week, those are at least 3 hot showers that can cause your nice expensive color to go swirling down the drain. Hair dye and hot water don’t mix and can cause that beautiful saturated color you want to become a pale, streaky mess.
Suggestions: pick darker colors like dark vampire reds or midnight blues to help keep your color as long as possible. If you have a color in mind, go with brands that have amplified color dyes. These will usually hold out for longer periods of time.

$ALES: 

·         Amplified Cream - Manic Panic

§  Vampire Red

§  After Midnight Blue

§  Purple Haze

Outdoorsy Types: You're the type of people who love being in the fresh air and blazing sun. Unfortunately that means the big STD, Sun Time Damage. Although the sun’s rays are good for your skin (to a certain extent), the sun is not your hairs friend! With certain hair dyes exposure to the sun too soon after coloring can result in breakage and lightened streaks (which is why so many dyes have instructions to stay away from sunlight after bleaching or dying hair).
Suggestions: I order to avoid streaks try to pick a color with different hues like turquoise greens and violets. The different hues in the dye will create variations of color in your hair shading sun caused streaks and causing them to go unnoticed!
$ALES:

·    Special Effects

§  Fish bowl Blue 

§    Wild Flower 

·    Sparks 

§    Green Envy  

·     Punky Colour

§  Violet

§   Turquoise 

§  Red Wine 

Blondes: For those of you with light, natural, “platinum” color you’re in luck. You can choose any color you want! Having light hair is a plus, the lighter and less brassy your hair is, the easier it is to dye it and get the color you want.

Suggestions: Although with some products, the dye can “stick” better to damaged hair. So if your blonde hair just isn't cutting it, or if you want a less brassy tone (whiter) before you dye use a platinum blonde hair dye on the areas you want to color later, or a hair toner to create a more silvery color. This allows better color saturation and the whiter your hair is the more the dye will look like the color you want.

$ales:

·         L’oreal Paris – Feria Absolute Platinum in Extreme Platinum

·         Manic Panic Virgin Snow

·         Special Effects Mixer Toner 

Brunettes and Bleaching:

Sorry Brunettes, we got the short end of the stick on this one. Hair coloring is SO much easier on `blonde hair and because of this, if you want saturated, bright, crazy colors you’re going to need to bleach! All those horror stories you’ve heard about bleach, hair becoming brittle, broken and falling out are all true! Which is why us brunettes need to be EXTREMELY careful when dying hair. First its important to mention that no matter what bleach you use, it will cause damage! the good thing is after you bleach you can use any color you want because the bleached hair will allow all the color to absorb. 

Suggestions: read the instructions on the bleach carefully and then pick any color to apply.

$ales:

·         L’oreal Paris – Feria Absolute Platinum in Extreme Platinum 

·         Manic Panic Virgin Snow 

·         Special Effects Mixer Toner 

·         Manic Panic 30 Volume Flash Lightning HairLightening Kit 

·         Salon Care Blue Flash Powder Lightener 

Get Ready to get Gorgeous

Ready, Set, Gorgeous foundation review

by Yura Shin

Get ready to get gorgeous with Covergirl’s new Ready, Set Gorgeous foundation. An oil free foundation that is one simple step for a flawless, natural look that lasts all day. The formula is suppose to blend easily to even skin tone and reduce shine all day.

When I was first applying the foundation, I was surprised at how thin the consistency was compared to other foundations. It feels very light, almost as if it’s a tinted moisturizer. When it is applied, it does not feel like you are wearing any foundation. It does look natural like it says it does, and evens out your skin tone. I have a lot of discoloration on my face, and this foundation covers it all while making my makeup look natural. This foundation also, does not make your makeup look cakey.

The foundation does last all day long. But because I have oily skin, I’ll still need to touch up my makeup throughout the day. However, it lasts longer than other foundations I’ve used.

This foundation doesn’t clog up my pores nor does it cause me to break out. Since it is a drugstore product, I was first hesitant in using it because of the fear I have for breakouts. However, my skin loves this foundation and it’s perfect for any occasion.

The foundation does everything it says it does. It is by far one of the best drugstore foundations I’ve ever tried out. It retailed for about $7-$9. It can be purchased from any where that sells beauty products like Target, or Ulta, or any drug stores like Walgreens, CVS, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, etc.

Spook people with your halloween nails

DIY- Spooky Eye Nails

by Yura Shin

Painting spooky eyes on your nails is a perfect and simple way to participate in Halloween spirit without being too dramatic. The design only consists of two colors, making it very calm and subtle.

Materials: Black nail polish, white nail polish, top coat nail polish, dotting tool, and any plastic or cardboard to put the nail polish on.

-Paint all your nails black. Double coat your nails if needed.

-With your white nail polish, pour some out onto any plastic or cardboard. Take your dotting tool and dip it into the poured out white nail polish. Dotting tools can be purchased from any beauty supply store, or you can use the end of a needle and/or use the eraser of a number two mechanical pencil.

-With the dotting tool that is dipped in the white nail polish, make eyeballs on the upper side of each nail. Make sure to have two eyeballs for each nail and make sure to have some space in between the eyeballs. You don’t want your eyeballs to be stuck to each other. Continue this step on both hands.

-After the white is completely dried, take your black nail polish and pour some out on any plastic or cardboard. Then take a smaller dotting tool, or the same one, and dip it in the black nail polish. The black polish is going to be the pupils. With the dotting tool, dot your eyeballs. You can dot it on the inside or on the side of your eye dot. Each eye does not need to look the same. Be creative. You can have cross eyed nails or wacky eyes.

-After your nails are semi dry, apply your top coat.

Hair Coloration is here to stay... Semi-Permanetly (Part 1)

Hair Dye causing a Manic Panic among everyone - part 1 history of coloration

by Adva Fuchs

From the customary blondes, reds, brunettes, and blacks, hair dye has created a major splash in the adolescent, and now young adult, scene. Deriving from the original natural shades (blonde,red,brunette,and black), new hair dyes from companies such as Manic Panic, Splat, Special Effects, and Punky Colour have become permanently (or in some cases “semi-permanently”) in style as the old school punk rock trend comes back once again.

Although hair coloring dates back to ancient times, when ancient Roman men knew the allure of colored hair (and beards) way before any woman, its appeal didn’t really sink in with the american female society until the early 1950s when only 7 out of every 100 women colored their hair.

“I use Tehina in my hair to revitalize the natural color of my hair and keep it healthy...it’s not hair dye and its been used for years,” hair color enthusiast Sary Fuchs said.

Fast forward 50 years and by the 21st century L’Oreal and Clairol aren't the only hair dyes around anymore. Today about 50 percent of women in America over the age of 25 color their hair and over 2 billion dollars is spent on hair color products annually, and not just on the natural shades.

What was once considered the sign of the outcast is now as chic and trendy as a Prada purse. Crazy colored hair is as popular as ever and thanks to interactive sharing sites like Tumblr and Pinterest, the trend continues to grow and grow as pictures, videos, and tips circulate the web catching everyone's attention.

“I think the trend of hair coloring is growing & being accepted more...because it gives everybody that sense of individuality, appearance wise. It's a way of self expression that can be an eye catcher & an attention grabber,” junior Noah Parris said.

Continuing the growing craze are celebrities such as Ke$ha, Rita Ora, Lily Allen, and Demi Lovato, who constantly change up their hair color choices, designs and keep the trend fresh in every beauty bloggers mind. Even YouTube has caught up with the fad as internet famous youtubers such as AlisonLovesJB and JennaMarbles spread the color coated love with how-to videos and color commentary.

“I prefer natural because it shows who you are and doesn’t hide it. People should be more proud of there natural hair,” sophomore Gustavo Mendez said.

Although this colorful chaos is not adored by everyone, colored hair is certainly a trend that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. As more and more men and women continue to color, the look seems to be gaining acceptance and a following once again not only among young adults but among all enthusiasts of the creative and bold.