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Back in the day, “good hair” used to be reserved for the girls who were just “naturally born with it.” I grew up thinking: I may not have Jennifer Aniston hair, but there’s other good things about me (I know — kinda optimistic, kinda sad!). But *moment of silence in gratitude for the hair goddesses* nowadays, anyone can have the hair of their dreams — with a strategic cut, some specialized products, and really, really good color.

Color has been the front and center of the haircare world for the past couple years, and for good reason. Hair color can bring out your facial features, accentuate your skin tone, make you look older/younger; or make your hair look more voluminous, shiny, or texturized (depending on your goals). A good set of highlights and strategic coloring can take your hair from flat to Farrah Fawcett. 

 

 

Because of how powerful hair color can be, trends have popped up all over Hollywood and the Instagrams of your favorite beauty bloggers– cold brew, rose gold, bronde, nude hair (yep, it’s a thing!), it seems impossible to keep up with the what’s what of hair color and know what look works best for us.

With the help of our favorite haircare brand, Redken (the experts on all things blonde and the makers of Blondage, our must-have product for maintaining good hair color), we put together a go-to guide for all things highlights, so you know exactly what’s out there, and exactly what will work for you. 

 

 

Balayage

The Hollywood go-to, aka “hair sweeping,” is when color is strategically painted onto parts of the hair (rather than wrapped in big sections, like the foil technique), for a slightly grown-out, more natural effect. Color is softer at the top of hair, and more saturated and concentrated through the ends. It’s best for a more grown-out, beachy, relaxed look.

Upkeep: Since touchups don’t have to happen as often as with standard highlights (one of the greatest appeals to balayage!), it is important to maintain color with salon professional shampoos, conditioners, and treatments at home, or else the color will fade and turn brassy (see below).

Inspo: Chrissy Teigen, Ciara, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sarah Jessica Parker

 

 

Standard Highlights or the “Foil Technique”

There’s a reason one of the oldest go-to hair color technique is still a go-to hair color technique. Foil provides the most control over highlights and helps maintain quality of hair. The results are probably what you’re most familiar with, with color that’s taken right to the root. It’s best for an overall brighter, fresher, and lighter look.

Upkeep: A root touchup every 4-6 weeks is recommended, as the natural color will start to grow out, creating a stark contrast between highlights and roots.

Inspo: Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz

 

 

Babylights

Soft, superfine white-blond highlights that are placed around the hairline, meant to mimic your childhood hair getting lighter from the sun in summertime (sometimes stylists even ask you to bring a childhood photo, so they can match the most natural color). The delicate highlights are brighter at the crown of the head and bottom half of hair. Babylights require foil to separate each strand, but much smaller pieces of hair are used in one foil than in standard highlights. This technique is best for people with fine hair who want noticeable color that’s not dramatic or thick (like balayage and ombré).

Upkeep: Since the highlights are so delicate and subtle, the roots grow out much more naturally than standard highlights, so you can buy some extra time in between salon visits. A full head should be retouched every 8 weeks, and partial highlights can be touched up every 12-14 weeks.

Inspo: Gisele Bundchen, Blake Lively, Jessica Alba

 

 

Ecaille (“Tortoiseshell Hair”)

The newest color technique uses multiple tones for a more dimensional look. Stylists will opt for color at the roots and face framing pieces throughout the hair — like a softer, warmer balayage that incorporates golden brown and caramel tones, rather than ashy tones (like standard balayage). It also adds in other tones like honey for more dimension. Ecaille works for every hair type, but is best for medium to light hair that lifts easily. The overall look is luxurious and subtle, and is best for people who want to go warmer, not lighter.

Upkeep: Minimal upkeep required, especially because the tones of the highlights are warmer, which is more natural for most hair types than ashier tones. Shiny, healthy, hair looks best with ecaille, so make sure to keep hair healthy and use products to increase shine.

Inspo: Jessica Biel, Minka Kelly, Miranda Kerr

 

 

Lowlights

The opposite of highlights, lowlights add depth to hair, especially light hair that looks monotoned. Using the foil technique like standard highlights, a color that’s a shade or two darker than the hair color is strategically placed throughout hair. Lowlights are best if you want to go subtly darker, or if you don’t want to go any lighter, but your hair color is lacking dimension. It also helps thin hair appear thicker.

Upkeep: Since lowlights use dye instead of bleach (like most lightening colors), the hair is much less damaged than with highlights, so you don’t have to worry about repairing the hair or general upkeep as much. Most lowlights don’t need to be retouched for about 3 months, but you should make an appointment whenever you notice your hair color lacking dimension.

Inspo: Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, Ashley Benson

 

 

Ombré

The massive beauty trend that went to nails, lips, and even your Starbucks drink is the hair color technique that started it all. Ombré hair is darkest at the roots and through the mid-shaft, gradually getting lighter from mid-shaft to ends. The dramatic hair color change also helps to highlight your eyes and cheekbones because of where the lightness occurs. If you’re ready to try a dramatic hair trend that’s of-the-moment and fashionable, ombré is for you! Also try: Sombré, which is short for subtle ombré, and is a more blended and soft version of the dramatic ombré trend.

Upkeep: The best part about ombre is that the roots aren’t treated at all — meaning you can let the roots grow out for as long as you want! Just make sure the color through the length stays in tact. Moisturize often, give your hair proper nutrients, and if you opted for an ashier blonde tone, use purple shampoo and conditioner to protect the color.

Inspo: Drew Barrymore, Khloe Kardashian, Lauren Conrad

 

 

 

How to ask your stylist for what you want

• Be clear about the tones you want. Ask for ashy highlights if you want a cooler tone (more flattering if your skin has red, blue, or violet undertones), or warm highlights if you want a more golden tone (more flattering if your skin has yellow undertones).

 

• Talk more about the current problems you have with your hair, rather than what you want your hair to look like. Make sure to explain if you have a problem with color, frizziness, texture, flatness, etc. Your stylist might color differently with these problems in mind.

 

• Bring an inspiration photo of a celebrity or hair photography with the hair you want. It will show the stylist exactly what you’re looking for, better than just talking about it. However, make sure the base hair color (aka hair at the root), thickness, and even hair length is similar to yours. Explain exactly what it is about the picture that you like (the tones, the blending, the highlight placement).

 

• Make sure to discuss the maintenance required before you start. Your stylist will have a better idea about what exactly you need to do for your color, and how to fit it into your lifestyle. Let your stylist know the amount of time and effort you’re willing to commit to your hair, and be realistic.

 

• Ask your stylist what products will best preserve and maintain your blonde. The bad news is that blonde hair color does require some effort–you can’t just use your same shampoo and conditioner all the time, and you need to be conscious of protecting your hair from heat and damage from harsh water, chlorine, and sun. The good news is that the upkeep is made easy through the many products available on the market. Which leads me to…

 

 

 

And the one product you need, no matter what color technique you have…

Whether you have ombré, babylights, or anything in between, you need a purple shampoo and conditioner. Trust me — I learned this the hard way throughout most of my young adult life, when my beautiful bouncy balayage would turn to a brassy-orange in a matter of mere weeks. I later found out it was not the fault of my stylist, or general bad luck with my hair (as I had suspected). It was simply because I continued to use the same drugstore shampoo and conditioner I had always used, instead of specialized products specifically for maintaining blonde.

When hair gets lightened, it naturally has orange-y undertones. To get to a richer, better blonde, stylists will apply a toner to get rid of unwanted undertones. The rich, ashy blonde tone (both in natural hair color and color-treated hair) fades overtime from sun, hard water, and heat styling (basically just living your life).

Purple shampoo and conditioner work as an at-home toner to keep away unwanted yellow, orange, or red undertones, and to extend your color for much longer than it would last on its own. Fresh-out-of-the-salon color for months and extended time between salon visits!? What blonde (or brunette with highlights!) wouldn’t want that!

We love Redken’s Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo and Conditioner because not only is it the best blond extender on the market, but it also has Triple Acid Protein complex to strengthen the hair — the secret to full, luscious, and healthy hair. Use this instead of your regular shampoo and conditioner once or twice a week (depending on how cool you want your color to be).

Say goodbye to lackluster, frizzy, brassy hair, and hello to vibrant, bouncy blonde!

 

This post is sponsored by Redken, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.

The post A Complete Guide to Balayage, Ombre, and Everything in Between appeared first on The Everygirl.

These days, it feels like there’s ALWAYS some ~hot new beauty treatment~ that everyone’s buzzing about — and honestly, I can’t keep up. I had just gotten the hang of a classic no-chip manicure, and then I was told I just HAD to switch to powder dip. I was in a routine of facials (and by that I mean I got one once — who am I, Rockefeller?), and then suddenly the world wouldn’t shut up about the Kardashian-approved vampire facials instead.

Whether you keep up with beauty trends or not, it can feel REALLY overwhelming to hear about all the different beauty treatments available to us. There’s waxing, threading, lasering, filling, massaging, polishing, extending, scrubbing, cleansing, extracting, curling, tightening, dipping, coloring, bleaching, taming, trimming, tanning, spraying… how is anyone supposed to keep up with all that!?

Thankfully, it’s 2018, and there’s no right or wrong way to define beauty. You could go treatment-free for life, as long as you feel confident and true to yourself. As much as I admire that, though, that ain’t me — I loooove a good beauty treatment, and I love learning about new ways to look and feel my best.

But of course, once you’ve decided what treatments you want to commit to, the number one fun-sucker of our lives jumps in: money. How does one pay for the maintenance and upkeep? Honestly, expensive beauty treatments have never been in my budget — until I discovered the ultimate hack.

You already know about Groupon as a way to buy restaurant gift cards, book an escape room night out with your coworkers, or even find cheap fitness classes — but Groupon is also a one-stop destination for making expensive beauty treatments WAY more affordable.

I made a list of beauty treatments I’m interested in trying, then I scoured Groupon to see where I could try each treatment in my city — and the results were INSANE. You want to try microdermabrasion? There’s a Groupon for that. You’ve been hearing about salt caves and want to know what all the fuss is about? There’s a Groupon for that, too. You’ve been getting your eyebrows waxed for the last 10 years and want to finally try microblading instead? You guessed it — there’s a Groupon for that.

This month, I tried four beauty treatments at various salons and studios around my home city of Chicago — and I saved almost $1,500. Here, I break down what I picked, how my treatments went, if I’d pay for them again, and how you can save some serious hard-earned cash too.

 

Laser Hair Removal (Brazilian Bikini)

 

I should probably start by telling you that I tend to be a tad high-maintenance. I am a creature of habit and comfort, and the thought of removing hair from the most sensitive part of my body has never appealed to me. I’ve been a lifelong shaver, I’ve never had a bikini wax, and I had genuinely never considered laser removal — I thought it would be way too expensive and way too painful. WRONG.

The Groupon I found was for three laser hair removal sessions on a medium-sized area (there were also Groupon options for small and large areas as well — Groupon had a handy chart to tell you which body parts count as which size area). I made a lot of jokes about how I was excited to turn into a hairless naked mole rat — but on the inside, I was insanely nervous for the treatment.

I honestly had no idea what to expect, so I ended up doing a lotttt of research on laser Brazilians — how to prepare, what it would feel like, etc. I read a lot of conflicting reviews about what it feels like, but I was expecting a forceful zap of hot pain (along with some rubbing… not sure why I expected rubbing).

For more info on the safety and effectiveness of laser hair removal, I recommend this article from Medical News Today.

 

How I Prepared

 

The day before your laser appointment, you HAVE to closely shave the entire area. Laser hair removal only works on fresh shaved skin. The laser seeks out the contrast of the follicle (it’s looking for the pigment of each individual hair), so it’s imperative that you come in prepared (Some places will make you reschedule if your shave isn’t clean enough). Additionally, I read that you should calm yourself down so you won’t tense up physically. Therefore, I also prepared by taking a shot and a half of whiskey. Do I recommend this? Honestly, yes — it helped ease my nerves a lot.

 

 

How It Went

 

The spa I went to (SpaDerma in Lincoln Park, Chicago) was incredibly clean, professional, and comforting. I had to fill out some paperwork (this is a medical procedure, after all), then I was taken to a private room that looked a lot like a doctor’s examination room. The technician told me to remove everything from the waist down (“Can I keep my socks on?”) and cover myself back up on the table with a sheet. I did as I was told, then she returned and told me exactly what to expect. She gave me one of those stress ball things to squeeze, then I laid back so we could get started.

How’s the pain, you may ask. It’s interesting. It honestly DID hurt more than I was expecting — it kind of feels like a very hot suction cup is sucking on your skin (but not in like, a sexy way). The bursts of pain are VERY quick — it’s literally just a zap from a laser, repeatedly. I’m incredibly ticklish, so the whole experience made me very squirmy. Thankfully, though, it was super quick — I was in and out of the treatment room in under 10 minutes.

You can only get lasered about every 6 weeks (as the hair follicles need to go through their ~growth cycle~ again before you can zap them), so I still have two more appointments to go out of my three. Will the three treatments be enough to rid me of hair-down-there? Maybe — some people see complete results after just a few treatments, but some (with light hair, in particular) require up to about nine treatments. Your technician will be able to consult with you about how many sessions you’ll need based on your skin type, hair color, and hair texture.

That being said, I haven’t technically seen results yet, but the growing-back-in hair IS noticeably softer and much easier to shave.

 

Would I recommend?

 

HECK. YES. Like I said, I can’t technically speak to an end result — but the quick amount of pain was absolutely worth the results I’m sure I will see after a few more sessions. It does hurt, but it’s certainly not unmanageable — and since it’s so quick, you can ALMOST forget it happened (just in time to go back and be reminded again). Would I pay full price for this? Probably not. But $119 to forget about shaving for awhile? Count me in. What body part can I do next!?

 

 

Gel Manicure

 

I know you love getting your nails done — so do I. There’s just something about a fresh manicure that makes me feel about 10 times more put-together — but bimonthly trips to the nail salon can take a real toll on your wallet. Thankfully, it doesn’t HAVE to be like that. SO many salons offer Groupon deals on gel, powder dip, and acrylics — so there’s no need to pay full price.

 

How I Prepared

 

I am literally addicted to gel manicures, so I already had one on my nails when I went in. Gel is hard to remove on your own, but the professionals make it look easy. I honestly did nothing to prepare (except get myself excited for some discounted pampering!!).

 

How It Went

 

Like I said, gel manicures are nothing new for me. You go in, pick a color from the specific gel colors (they’re different from the bottles you have at home), and then sit down. The technician first files, removes cuticles, and buffs your nails, then he or she will start applying the color. Typically, a gel mani consists of one coat of clear gel, two to three coats of color, then another top coat of clear gel. After each coat, you place your whole hand under an LED light for 60 seconds — I don’t understand the science of how this works, but it dries your nails so quickly and effectively. Once all your coats are done, there’s ZERO drying time — you can go back to your normal life/routine the second you walk out of the salon.

 

 

Would I recommend?

 

YES. You already know you love manicures — there’s NO reason to pay full price for them. For me, a gel manicure usually lasts almost three weeks — and that time limit comes from nail growth, not from chipping.

 

 

Hydrafacial

 

I’ve only ever had one facial before in my life — after a lifelong battle with my skin, I’ve been afraid to mess with it too much (and afraid to allow someone that close to it without makeup). I used to feel like facials were designed for rich people who already had good skin, but upon further research, that assumption is obviously wrong. I have hormonal cystic acne and some severe subsequent scarring — problems I honestly didn’t believe could be solved by the holistic hands of a facialist. Thankfully, though, there are people who DO make it their mission to effectively treat all kinds of skin types — meaning there is truly a facial out there for everyone.

Hydrafacials are relatively new forms of your classic facial. Basically, a high-tech hydrafacial tool is simultaneously infusing your skin with various serums AND sucking gross stuff out of your pores. I had seen videos of people getting it done on Instagram, and I wondered if it would help my poor congested pores.

 

How I Prepared

 

I use a prescription Retin-A-Micro daily, but I had to stop using that for three days prior to my appointment. Additionally, I was advised against at-home exfoliation for the days leading up, and I was told to overall be gentle to my skin. The morning of my facial I was thankfully working from home, so I wore cozy sweats and zero makeup. ~pampering~

 

How It Went

 

First of all, the woman who performed my hydrafacial was one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable women I have ever met. She is so very passionate about skincare, and I would honestly trust her with my life after meeting her. She asked me in-depth questions about my skin, my routine, my past routine, my needs, my desires, my dreams and goals, and just about everything else relating to my skin that you can think of. I love meeting people who are so clearly doing what they were meant to do — Crystal at SkinSmartRX is one of those people. She explained to me that while a hydrafacial is an incredible procedure and would help my active pimples, the scarring on my face could benefit from microneedling instead. I appreciated her honesty — but was glad to hear that she thought my skin could benefit from the treatment.

I laid back in an examination chair (like at the dentist) while Crystal first steamed my pores, then began. She used the hydrafacial tool to perform various steps of the routine — double cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and treating. The tool gives a weird sensation — I had read that it felt similar to a cold paintbrush on your skin. That’s not necessarily wrong, but I do think it’s a little harsher than that. The tool is really digging in to your skin, so it’s not exactly a pleasant sensation. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s not super comfortable either. Overall, however, it was a very relaxing experience.

The best part? When Crystal let me see the result of the treatment. Basically, the solution that is used to suck the crap out of your pores goes into a beaker, so there’s a beaker full of used solution and gunk leftover at the end. Looking at it was similar to looking at the results of a pore strip — super gross, but super satisfying.

 

 

Would I recommend?

 

Yes and no. First of all, I left the treatment VERY red. I was just going back home to work, so I’m glad I didn’t have to try to cover it. Thankfully, however, the redness was very short-lived. The treatment itself is incredible — but I would highly recommend chatting with an aesthetician and/or dermatologist beforehand to see if it’s good for your skin type. After having my pores sucked, I felt a bit like some excess oil was brought to the surface — I woke up the next morning with a smattering of new whiteheads.

This could be a PMS-induced coincidence, and my coworkers all assured me the next day that I looked GLOWING. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from the treatment, but I would encourage some careful consideration to decide if it’s worth the time and money (but if you’re interested in trying it out, at least Groupon offers the option of a much cheaper first try!!).

 

 

Eyelash Extensions

 

My natural eyelashes are COMICALLY short. I’ve never loved them — and I’ve also never loved having heavy mascara on them either. I have bad allergies (I am really airing all my bodily dirty laundry here, aren’t I?), so I rub my eyes A LOT. I also physically hate the act of taking off eye makeup — why is it so damn hard!?

All of that adds up to mean that I am a PERFECT candidate for eyelash extensions — longer, fuller lashes without any makeup!? I couldn’t hit “Purchase Groupon” fast enough.

 

How I Prepared

 

You’re not supposed to wear eye makeup or contacts to the appointment, so I strolled into Milita Advanced Skincare wearing sweats and my glasses (#hot).

 

How It Went

 

If I’m being honest, I was a real hot mess for this appointment. The night before had been filled with wine and tacos, so I was running a taddd bit late — only to discover that the spa had just moved locations, and I had gone to the wrong one. After I finally arrived at the correct location, my technician had me fill out some paperwork, then walked me through the process.

How did it feel? Huh, funny you should ask — I literally don’t know how it felt, because I fell SOUND asleep on the table. You lay on your back in a cozy warm room, and the technician has you close your eyes. She taped down my lower lashes, then with the soft touch of a unicorn kitten from heaven, she gently applied my extensions. It was so intensely relaxing, I fell asleep almost instantly. It was like the best nap I ever took — I fell asleep slightly hungover with short little lashes, and I woke up with gorgeous Gisele-worthy fringe and a newly reduced headache. Thank you, Milita.

My lashes should last about two to three weeks, at which point I’m supposed to go back in for a fill. I had told myself that this was a one-time thing, but I love the results so much that I just might have to make a habit of it.

 

 

Would I recommend?

 

You better freaking believe it!! I cannot overstate how big of a difference these lashes made. I had originally signed up for just a normal full set, but the technician recommended a volume partial set — she said it would give me a nice big difference while still appearing natural. I think she’s right, and I can’t wait to take these bad boys out on the town.

 

 

Moral of the story: there are WAY too many beauty treatments out there for one person to keep up with — but a tight budget shouldn’t be the reason you don’t try. I highly recommend scouting out the Groupon beauty section to find affordable EFFECTIVE treatments in your hometown — you’re going to find a new favorite, give yourself a fun upgrade, and save some cash in the process (score!).

 

 

This post is sponsored by Groupon, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. 

The post I Thought I Couldn’t Afford Expensive Beauty Treatments… Here’s How I Hacked It appeared first on The Everygirl.

Even before any visibly noticeable effects are seen, facials just feel luxurious. Unfortunately, this luxury often comes with quite the price tag, especially in New York. Read on for a roundup of five of the best facials in the city, each for $80 or less.

 

Mario Badescu (320 East 52nd Street, Manhattan)

This brand’s Drying Lotion (only $17!) has been a cult favorite for some time now, and the Mario Badescu spa in Midtown East offers similar bang for your buck. Book the European Facial ($65) and get ready for a deep-cleaning experience — including a detoxifying steam, extractions, and a basic face and neck massage. Finally, a combination of the company’s signature masks will be applied to your face, in accordance with your skin type and specific concerns.

 

Heyday (five locations throughout Manhattan)

The millennial favorite beauty store offers a 30-Minute Facial ($65) that’s perfect for those with sensitive skin types that are easily irritated by extractions (this treatment skips those entirely). With five locations throughout the city, you’re sure to find one that’s near you, and with all spas boasting weekday hours of 8am to 10pm, and weekend hours of 9am to 8pm, scheduling should be a breeze. Although this particular treatment may only last 30 minutes, all Heyday facials include a skin analysis, deep cleanse, exfoliation, mask, hydration, and some SPF protection. As if that didn’t sound amazing enough, all products and techniques used are also customized to your skin.

 

Skin Spa New York (seven locations throughout Manhattan)

Personalization is the key word when it comes to the SKIN SPA Custom Facial ($60) which is offered in two different variations — both of which include a cleanse, tone, and steam extractions. The Gua Sha customization is best for those with normal to combination skin types, and incorporates the ancient Chinese method of Gua Sha massage, which is said to promote better circulation and remove toxin build-up. The Gua Sha customization of this particular facial is advertised as having anti-inflammatory and anti-aging benefits.

For those with oily to combination skin types, the Hi-Frequency customization option features deeper extractions coupled with hi-frequency technology to keep bacteria and environmental toxins at bay.

The convenience factor is also a huge plus at Skin Spa New York, as the brand has seven different locations all over the city.

 

Shen Beauty (315 Court Street, Brooklyn)

Located on one of the main streets in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood, Shen Beauty emphasizes high-quality, natural beauty products. The Milia Removal ($65) lasts only 30 minutes and is advertised as having no downtime, so it’s perfect if you have a big event coming up. Plenty of skin nourishment is packed into the 30 minute time slot of this treatment — including cleansing, extractions, and a mask. Please note when booking that a brief consultation beforehand is recommended to determine if this treatment will work for your skin’s needs.

 

Silver Mirror Facial Bar (862 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan)

The team at this Upper East Side spa specializes solely in facials and peels, and their expertise shows. Formulated for all skin types, the Signature Facial ($80) features a deep cleanse, manual or enzymatic exfoliation, extractions, a revitalizing treatment, and oxygen therapy filled with vitamins. Congratulations, your skin just won the lottery!

The post The Best Facials in NYC Under $80 appeared first on The Everygirl.

To say that Kristin Ess’s stellar career has been riding a wave (pun intended) in recent years would be a severe understatement. Ess is undeniably one of our favorite self-made Lady Bosses — her unstoppable determination carried her from being a 16-year-old apprentice learning the ropes in her hometown hair salons, to inspiring the biggest celebrity hair trends on our Instagram feeds for the last several years. Now, she’s expanding her ever-growing empire even further with the launch of her personalized line of hot tools — yes ma’am, you read that correctly!

 

 

Our showers and medicine cabinets have been lined with her ultra-budget friendly line of haircare and styling products since they launched at Target in January of 2017. The chic packaging paired with the line’s signature lightly-floral, super-crisp scent completely changed the way we viewed “budget” hair products. Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, Ess has blessed us once more with another hair miracle. Let’s take a moment to unpack this new collection, shall we?

Because the launch is so new and Target stores can take up to two weeks to get them on the shelves, your best bet is to order online and have it sent to your house or choose “pickup in store”.

Kristin Ess didn’t stop there. In addition to her new line of hot tools, she’s rolled out five new gift sets with a little something special for all of the women on your holiday shopping list. She brought back her signature French Pin alongside a satin frizz-reducing pillowcase or a full-sized dry shampoo, and the Rose Gold Temporary Tint with some embellished bobby pins, (perfect for planning that NYE outfit).

 

The post Kristin Ess Just Expanded Her Collection at Target and We Are Freaking Out appeared first on The Everygirl.

Here at the Everygirl, nothing makes us more excited than women helping other women — it’s what we’ve dedicated our careers to and we love to pick the brains of women who have dedicated their careers to it, too! Which is why Katie Sturino, founder of The12ishStyle and Megababe Beauty (aka the newest it-girl beauty line taking over your Insta feed), has a special place in our hearts.

This inspiring #girlboss started out as a PR powerhouse and, after noticing the age-old clothing size gap and seeing a lack of size inclusivity in the fashion industry, she started her blog — with size inclusivity as her mission. But her desire to make a better world for women did not stop there. She wanted to “give women what the beauty industry wasn’t” and Megababe was born. Read on to learn about Katie’s career, natural beauty products, the advice she would give to her younger self (it’s good!), and how she is helping women find their confidence. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you might just catch the confidence bug, too.

 

Name: Katie Sturino, Founder of The12ishStyle and Megababe Beauty
Age: 35
Location: New York, NY
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

What was your first job out of college, and how did you land it?

 

During college I had two internships in the Chanel Fashion PR Department. I will say that coming from Wisconsin with zero connections in the fashion industry, it was really my persistence that got me in the door. With Chanel on your resume, it’s easier to land interviews, so after college I worked in the PR department of Dolce & Gabbana.

 

How did you discover your passion for PR?

 

I love talking to people and I get really excited to share brand stories. I am a natural entrepreneur, so people’s businesses are very exciting to me. It’s always cool to watch someone go after their dreams.

 

 

In 2005, you founded your own fashion PR company, Tinder PR. How did you know it was time to go into business for yourself?

 

Looking back I was way too young to start my own company — but that’s the benefit of being naive, you don’t know enough to be scared. I also named my company Tinder before Tinder the dating app launched! I was really hoping online dating wouldn’t take off so that I wouldn’t have to change my name, but alas, it was a thing!

 

Tell us about day-to-day life at Tinder PR. What did you love about it?

 

No day was the same for me, and that is still something I love about what I do today. I also worked with mostly female business owners, and I formed some real friendships with my clients over the years. With a small business, your PR person becomes a sounding board for everything, and I loved helping women succeed! I have also chosen to work from home for a long time. At first it was out of necessity, but when I finally did rent a space, I hated the commute, I missed my dogs, and I preferred working at home! So employees and all, I headed back to the dining table.

 

 

Looking back I was way too young to start my own company — but that’s the benefit of being naive, you don’t know enough to be scared.

 

 

In 2012, Man Repeller asked you to share your style tips for women who are “stuck in the middle of fashion markets” — women who are neither a plus size OR a size 2, but fall more in the middle. Why were you excited to work on this project?

 

Well, that is really a market that I feel I have been in my entire life — not big enough to feel included in the plus space, and too big to be desired by the “fashion world.” Size purgatory is real, and as designers start to expand their lines size-wise, it’s still the middle sizes that have the most awkward fits. Designers are just still figuring that out.

 

The popularity of that article led to a super exciting move — the creation of your blog, The 12ish Style. Why’d you decide to start The 12ish Style?

 

Yes, before I did this article, I had struggled with feeling “fat,” or just bigger than everyone else in the room all the time. I could never fit into the clothes that I wanted to wear, and I had to find my own way of participating in trends and high fashion. When I read the comments of the Man Repeller article, there were women who were excited to see similar body types as their own on a fashion blog. It hit me that I was so not used to seeing my body type that I had demonized my body and had been punishing myself for being wrong for so many years. This moment broke it all wide open for me and I knew my new mission was to help women feel good about themselves.

 

 

Size purgatory is real, and as designers start to expand their lines size-wise, it’s still the middle sizes that have the most awkward fits.

 

 

It hit me that I was so not used to seeing my body type that I had demonized my body and had been punishing myself for being wrong for so many years. This moment broke it all wide open for me and I knew my new mission was to help women feel good about themselves.

 

 

What’s the message of The 12ish Style? After a visit to your blog or Instagram, what do you hope people take away as the message?

 

The first thing you should put on is your confidence. I am heavier than I was when I started the 12ish, and certainly bigger than I was when I was punishing myself for not fitting into the clothes of my counterparts. Once I accepted my body and realized how much we punish ourselves as women, I wanted to help others find peace. When people visit my page I hope they find positivity, humor, and maybe some style tips.

 

 

When people visit my page I hope they find positivity, humor, and maybe some style tips.

 

 

Most recently, you’ve championed the #MakeMySize movement — encouraging brands to expand their range of sizes to be more inclusive. Tell us more about this, its importance, and how we can all get involved. How can we ALL be more body positive?

 

I am tired of having women feel bad in a dressing room because nothing fits them in the store, when really, sizing of certain brands has gotten smaller and smaller. In some cases, they don’t even make over a size 10. A SIZE 10! What kind of message does that send to women?

At my thinnest I was a 10 and I had to exercise obsessively 6 days a week and eat just over 1,000 calories a day to maintain that size — not healthy. But a brand is going to say they don’t want to make clothes for my frame? No matter what? I think it’s a dated business idea to say that you are going to ignore 70 percent of the female population when retail is struggling so much.

 

You’ve received backlash from critics who say the #MakeMySize movement encourages unhealthy standards — what do you say to those critics, and how do you protect yourself from feeling personally attacked by them?

 

One cannot tell by looking at someone whether they are healthy or not (to a certain degree). Our society values thinness above all, so when we see a woman who doesn’t eat and doesn’t exercise, we praise her. Our society has way too many opinions about women’s bodies to begin with, but the assumptions that are made at every size need to stop. Let’s focus on something else as a people!

 

 

I think it’s a dated business idea to say that you are going to ignore 70 percent of the female population when retail is struggling so much.

 

 

In addition to all the other amazing career accomplishments you have under your belt, you’re also the founder of Megababe Beauty — a beauty brand that creates safe, non-toxic body products. Why did you want to create Megababe?

 

Megababe is my everything. After using solutions made for men for years to solve my thigh chafe issues, I decided to try and find a brand that was more for me, and I couldn’t. I decided that I was going to give women what the beauty industry wasn’t and make a line of solutions-based products that aren’t embarrassing or cheesy, and Megababe was born! The reaction has been incredible and I get messages every day from women who are wearing dresses or skirts for the first time in years because of your anti-chafe stick.

 

 

I decided that I was going to give women what the beauty industry wasn’t and make a line of solutions-based products that aren’t embarrassing or cheesy, and Megababe was born!

 

 

Your Megababe natural deodorant was sold out and had an INSANE waitlist — congratulations on such a successful product! Why should everyone be using natural deodorant, and why are you passionate about spreading that message?

 

My mom survived breast cancer twice and that really woke me up to the realities of cancer in my family. This experience combined with information about the toxins we are taking in through beauty products made me want to switch away from aluminum and harmful chemicals in my armpits that are so close to my lymph nodes. The problem was that I am a really stinky human, so none of the aluminum-free deodorants on the market worked for me. I also discovered I am sensitive to baking soda, so the popular natural deodorant brands out there do not work for me either. I basically had to make this deodorant for myself, ha!

 

 

What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

 

When I get messages from women telling me they spent years feeling bad about themselves, but are finding a new confidence by following me. That is life changing.

 

What’s next for you, your blog and brand, and Megababe? We want more Katie!!

 

You’re gonna get it! I wont stop until I am helping women across the world have easy access to Megababe — especially the thigh chafe stick because it’s such an instant solution. And I am working every single day to try and change the way that we market to and make clothing for women.

 

 

Having a smaller body will not make you happy. Having a boyfriend will not make you happy. Your life begins when you decide to make an effort to find out who you are!

 

 

What advice do you have for today’s women?

 

Let’s learn to be more direct while being more compassionate to other women in general.

 

What advice do you have for your own younger self?

 

Having a smaller body will not make you happy. Having a boyfriend will not make you happy. Your life begins when you decide to make an effort to find out who you are!

 

 

Katie Sturino is The Everygirl…

 

Favorite Megababe product?
Thigh Rescue

Favorite show on Netflix?
Big Mouth

Most-played song on your Spotify?
She’s the One by Bruce Springsteen

Best thing about having pets?
Staring at them while they sleep (like a psycho)

If you could have lunch with any woman, who would it be and why?
Oprah. Duh.

 

Bring Katie’s Magic Home

 

all images via @the12ishstyle and @megababe

The post “It’s Time to Stop Feeling Bad About Yourself”: How Megababe Katie Sturino Is Transforming the Fashion & Beauty Industry appeared first on The Everygirl.