Get-Foxy-Ready-For-Fall-Beauty-Guide 2017 + Caudalie Gift Giveaway!

*Post is very content heavy, give it a minute to fully load all media…you won’t regret it!

 

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Greetings gorgeous foxes!

I’m back with my annual juicy listicle of all the latest beauty trends and products, to get you front-of-the-line ready for fall 2017.

You remember fall don’t you?!

But first, a histrionic confessional on the ‘challenges’ of maintaining ones FOXY-ness with age.

*Shouldn’t every fall beauty guide have one?

Cue Beethoven’s spring sonata

Voice Over:Le aging is like a melty ice cream cone in summers dead heat…”

((((RECORD SCRATCH)))))

Cue the Darth Vader theme followed by a random death knell

“…You’re licking up the drip on one side while there’s two other streams on the opposite end already sticky-ing up your new mani?! It’s a NEVER-ENDING dance of attempting to contain THE DRIP, and, AND! with each passing year the pace of THE DRIP is faster and less resistant to licks, serviettes or say, overnight retinols?!

(BDB: Big Deep Breath)

Like a game of carnival whack-a-mole, I am constantly trying to beat Le Aging into submission until a skeevy-looking carnie gives me a stuffed Pokémon doll, but the elation of winning doesn’t last, NO IT NEVER DOES, cause there’s a hole in the side of that stuffed Pokémon doll and now your car is filled with 1000 tiny plastic pellet balls forcing you to start the whole process over again, and, AND! can I tell you, that lately? I’ve started losing tinkle-control? and soon I’m going to have to get myself a pair of old age-y ‘signature’ glasses, and I just can’t keep up this maddening CHARADE ANY LONGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!?!?!?”

Old Age-y ‘Signature’ Glasses

*Clears throat nervously

“And so…FALL BEAUTY! (takes in a dramatic big inhale, letting out a breathy yogi exhale…)

…quite the view, isn’t it?”

SKIN CARE
I’m an absolute fanatic when it comes to skin care. I mean, If the canvas ain’t flawless, no-ones going to be able to appreciate the artwork on top, am I right honey? I’m constantly on the hunt for new products and procedures to keep my skin as foxy as possible—and this falls bounty does not disappoint!

Glossier
Glossier is a highly affordable NY skin care and makeup line with prices ranging from $12 – $35 currently disrupting the online beauty market. Created by Emily Weiss a former fashion assistant at W and Vogue, Glossier offers a simple, yet effective skin care line that promotes a fresh and dewy glow buoyed by its mission statement of “skin first, make up second.” If the long lineups outside its Manhattan flag-ship don’t convince you, nor their throngs of celebrity fans like Kate Bosworth and Alexa Chung— trying the products first hand will!

 

I ‘glowingly’ recommend their Milky Jelly Cleanser $22, Soothing Face Mist $22, Priming Moisturizer $27, their Super Glow Vitamin C Serum $35, and their Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Mask $27

Caudalie

 

Natural skin care doyens Caudalie, are celebrating their 20th year in the beauty biz by launching a limited-edition gold accented bottle of their bestselling face mist Beauty Elixir $59. Spokesmodel Rosie Huntington-Whitley, likes to spray the elixir after she cleanses her face or to set her make up—leaving her skin toned and radiant. Check out my incredible Caudalie giveaway at the end of this beauty guide!

NuFACE

While I’ve never had a weight problem, my Achilles heel since forevs has been my jaw line or my SAGGING JOWELS. Specifically, the fact that they have always been slack in nature unless I’m beaming from ear to smiling ear, which let’s face it is exhausting. I’ve tried everything non-invasive to pull those suckers up from filler to collagen facials, but the results were temporary with LE GRAVITY always winning out.

The solution?

Daily, at-home microcurrent courtesy of NuFACE technology. While you may have seen similar devices on late night infomercials, NuFACE is the first and only FDA cleared, multi-solution handheld device. Known as the “5-minute facial lift” The  NuFACE Trinity® $325 improves, skin tone, facial contour (i.e. lifts those suckers!) and reduces wrinkles on an ongoing, cumulative basis.  

I like to think of them as adorable Despicable Me minions that make my face foxy.

 

But my absolute favourite, is their Trinity Ele attachment ↑ $149 which, among others feats of magic, lifts! lifts! LIFTS a hooded brow! I’ve been doing Botox for years, mainly for the lifting effect because my brow area is like a Parisian café awning. Alas→ ‘BO no more, ‘Bo No ‘Mo!

Honourable Non-Endorsing Mention: MDMA SKIN

Yup, Madonna’s skin care line MDMA Skin previously only available in Japan, is now available as of last Tuesday, September 26th at Barneys.com

Always cognizant of staying relevant with ‘the cool kids,’ Madonna shot a promo vid with The Fat Jewish, whose millennial audience—let’s be clear, won’t be able to afford her gimmicky $600 magnet removing mask?! No offense but no sooner would I endorse a celebrity’s skin care line, than I would purchase any of their perfume lines?! And while I’m certain Madge’s skin is space age perfection, she needs to back the EFF up on that filler needle, as she’s lookin’ exactly like my childhood Cabbage Patch doll preemie as of lates!

 

↑Spot the difference?

 

Hey Madonna, I love you to infinity, but you need to get Jane Fonda’s derm + co. on your speed dial. Whoever her team is, they are performing Le Aging skin sorcery, sans Cabbage Patch cheeks!

MAKE UP
Everyone knows I’m a devout follower of the church of ARMANI foundations, but choosing their products every year would be lazy, mais non? So, while I firmly believe no one will ever do a better job at make up coverage, texture and their diaphanous finishes (their sheer fluids are heavenly)—the marketplace is still brimming with contenders who are making their very best attempts to compete.

 

Milk makeup recently launched their 1st full-coverage foundation after their famed blur stick and skin tint became a cult favourite with top beauty bloggers. The new matte oil and silicone-free formula comes in 16 shades and will run you around $50. Rihanna’s new line Fenty Beauty is for women of all shades, cultures and races and is disrupting the beauty space in a huge way. Her Pro Filtr Soft Matte Longwear Foundation $34 comes in 40 shades, ushering in a new era of beauty inclusivity for all.

CONCEALER

Besides my sagging jowls, another beauty malady of mine are dark circles under my eyes. No matter how much sleep I get (and let’s face it, I’m a professional napêur) I still can’t get rid of the bags under mes yeux. To date, the best undereye cover up I’ve ever tried is Bye Bye Undereye from it cosmetics, a line that originally started on QVC, eventually bought by L’Oréal , and just recently starting selling at Sephora’s worldwide. Promising 8 hours of sleep in a tube, their magic potion costs $32 and covers like a dream.

Honourable mentions go to Glossier’s stretch concealer $22 and Josie Moran’s argon oil infused creamy concealer crayon $23 that goes on like cashmere and covers amazingly. I can totes endorse Josie Moran cause she’s a former top model and those bitches really know skin care!

 

*Don’t even pretend you haven’t ordered Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty backed by Dr. Sebag’s (pronounced Se-BAHH) proven melon extract found ***ONLY*** in France during a late-night infomercial coup!

EYES

It gets considerably more difficult to reinvent the wheel when it comes to fall eye makeup, but the following runway looks managed to do just that for fall 2017.

Best in Show: Alberta Ferretti

I was full-on mesmerized with Alberta Ferreti’s fall 2017 eye makeup when I wrote about the red eyeshadow trend back in the spring. Makeup artist Tom Pecheux created a baroque eye that combined a pop of red in combination with black shadow and liner, finishing off the look gold highlighter in the corners of these unknown models eyes below. Amateurs, Pfffft!

 

Best in Show: La Perla

Makeup artist Erin Parsons created an exotic fairy-maiden look on an array of brunette models from refreshingly diverse backgrounds. This sultry + glossy burgundy eye was paired with a metallic pink that brought out the model’s darker eyes and prominent bushy brows. The lips highlighted the au courant floating lip liner trend which you can read about in the lips section below. All in all, it was a highly covetable, gorgeous eye that also deserves a Best in Show nod.

 

Get the glossy effect courtesy of  Kevin Aucoin’s The Exotique Diamond Eye Gloss $46

Get in Line…

Lining the eye CREASE in inventive ways is a mammoth trend for fall 2017. Theirry Mugler displayed a variety of preciously-thin graphic lines that added a striking, futuristic modernity to his runway show.

 

…And a half-moon line directly in the crease was shown at TomeEmilio De La Morena.

*Spot the floating lip liner on the Emilio De La Morena model ↓

 

I personally prefer the usage of a liquid liner and highly recommend the spanking new smudge proof Beauté Couture Liquid Eye Liners by YSL $38.00

They come in 8 amazing shades (I love the green!) and in 3 different finishes matte, satin or shimmer for a bevy of different looks.If your preference is a pencil liner, just make sure the tip is HELLA sharp, and remember practice makes purrrfect foxy kittens!

Powdery Blue Lilac

Powdery, bluish lilacs placed in unexpected nooks of eye real estate is all the rage for fall 2017 as seen at Derek Lam, Prada and Mary Katarantzou

 

If you want to replicate this fall trend I highly recommend Pat McGrath Labs Mothership I Subliminal Palette $125. Mix up the 2 right bottom and top shades for an intoxicating blue lilac eye wash.

  
Monochromatic Metallics

Sizzling monochromatic metallic eyes are everywhere for fall 2017. Whether you choose to use a cream or shadow appliqué, just make sure that no one dares to dim your sparkle!

 

Get the Look:

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership III Subversive Palette $125, Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder Eye Foil in Blond Gold $52, Huda Beauty Rose Gold Textured Eye Palette $85   

Contour + Highlight

Whether your contouring, highlighting, strobing or just wanna get glowing, the ever-competitive landscape of the contour/highlight space has never been so beautifully abundant!

 

1.Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Shape Shifter is a 3 in 1 set of contouring creams, colour correctors + highlighting powders is a master class in the aforementioned. $66 2. Ciaté London’s 3 shade Dewy Sticks give off a wet iridescent high shine sans glitter or pigment worthy of its name!$26. 3. Fenty Beauty’s assortment of Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks (I adore Unicorn + Chili Mango) $31 and Killawatt Freestyle Highlighters $41 can be used universally on the face from eye shadow to a cupids bow highlight! 4. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Prismatic Amethyst highlighter will give you that sparkly all-over unicorn glow $41.

LIPS

Best in Show: H&M Purple Reign

The biggest news out of the fall 2017 beauty cognoscenti was makeup artist Mark Carrasquilo’s purple/pink mixture of two $5.00 lipsticks (Manic + Triangle by LA Matte Flat Velvet Lipstick) that looked incredible on every model.  

 

Inspired by the gorge purple hue, here are my top picks for fall 2017 that unfortunately aren’t as affordable as the H&M “big win,” but are IMHO worth every cent!

Tom Ford

Nobody and I mean N.O.B.O.D.Y performs lipstick magician-ship like Tom Ford Beauty. His collections always bring to mind a slow drip of sexuality and new monied lamé. Standouts from his new GIRLS collection in ultra rich + sheer colours are Georgie,
Isamaya (so fun to say!) Loulou & Nico $44

 

 Pat McGrath

Pat McGath’s MatteTrance™ is a richly pigmented formulation that adorns the lips in a lightweight veil of opaque colour $38. Favourites are Magenta Violet & Deep Void—a deep blacked purple.

 

Pat McGath’s MatteTrance™ is a richly pigmented formulation that adorns the lips in a lightweight veil of opaque colour $38. Favourites are Magenta Violet & Deep Void (a deep blacked purple)

Steal This Lip

Montreal make up artist Leslie-Ann Thomson recently performed this maquillage opus on model Diane Chiu, and I’ve got the insider intel on how to get this covetable grape lip!

 

 

Line the lips with Dirty Mind Velvet Matte Lip Pencil from Nars $27 and then fill in the lips, add Burgundy Lip Mix Mac $19 with a lip brush and highlight with Fenty Beauty Killawatt in Trophy Wife $42

Now strut you FOXY thing!

Best in Show: Floating Lip Liner

Another trend that seemed to permeate fall 2017 beauty was the nomenclature of ‘floating lip liner.’ Roughly translated, it means some rando beauty editor created a highly clickable moniker for the very antiquated usage of pencil and highlighter in the outer corners and rebranded it as a bona fide THANG. The cupids bow and top of the lip has always been a hot bed for perfectly placed highlight, but this fall, the look was paired with a finger blotted or barely-there lip with some interesting icy white accents.

 

From L to R: Erin Featherstone (first 2) + Emilio De La Morena

Gradient Lipstick

A similar looking trend that has been all the rage in Korea for the last 2 years is the The Gradient Lip (aka the ombré or two-toned lip)

 

The can be performed DIY style with either foundation or a highlighter (or combo of both!) all over the lips, drawing the lip colour on the top and bottom inner lip and blend/blot with finger tips ↓

Laneige pronounced ‘La Neige” like snow in French, is a south Korean beauty brand sold at Sephora. Their two toned lipstick $35 combinations are incredible but availability may differ from store to store, and some Sephora’s are fazing out the lipstick line—so if you want them all, you’ll have to go to the direct source! 

 

NAILS

While I normally get the crux of my nail art inspo from Korea, this year I’ve focussed mainly on the work of expat Jin Soon Choi, owner of 3 nail salons in New York and the famed polish line Jin Soon.

From the Prabal Gurung runway, nail maestro Choi, was inspired by the idea of nails dipped in paint using the new colour “Toff” $18. It’s a great transitional shade and I’m a big fan of the French Mani done with colour as you can get an extra week of grow out!

 

Julie Kandalec for Essie created a twist on the modern French manicure at Tanya Taylor using colours “Go Overboard,” “Bahama Mama” + “Smokin’ Hot.”

 

Choi also did a smoky teal nail at Phillip Lim with her nail colour “Charade,” but I also love “Beau” and “Heirloom” as alternates.

 

And lastly, I have no idea who makes either of these colours, but I find this caramel hue to be deliciously inspiring and quite apropos for fall. If you have any clue what either of these colours are, or something similar, do reach out lover heads! Rhianna’s nails were done by celebrity nail artist Maria Salandra @redhotnails but my request for colour intel went ignored.

 

 

And there you have it my foxy lovelies, fall beauty à la LONG READ. I don’t begrudge you if you needed to use the facilities for 2-3 tinkle breaks during this extensive list. As for myself I took 100-127 tinkle breaks writing this.

In fact I’m tinkling right now…

Wait…did somebody say CONTEST ALERT

I’m giving away a Caudalie gift package worth aprox $300.00 In fact the following goodies are spokesmodel Rosie Huntington-Whitley’s must have, can’t live without Caudalie products. Who says I don’t get you up close and personal with the STAHHHHHH’s?!

From left to right: Instant Foaming Cleanser, Glycolic Peel, Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, VineActive 3 in 1 Moisturizer, and the 20th anniversary gilded bottle of their famed Beauty Elixir!

Contest Rules

To Enter You Must be 18 Years or older and be a Canadian resident. To repeat this particular contest is for Canadian residents only.

You must follow me on either Twitter @popcultrainman or in Instagram renee@popculturerainman or follow my blog the Pop Culture Rainman popculturerainman.com and if you are not a wordpress user there is a convenient email sign up on the main right hand page. On either Twitter, Instagram or in my blogs comment section you must post “I want to win the Foxy Caudalie Giveaway from” (give me credit) from Twitter → @popcultrainman or Instagram renee@popculturerainman and hashtag #PCRBEAUTY.

1 lucky winner will be randomly chosen by lottery bot Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 at 7pm eastern standard time. The winner will be announced here and on my social media channels.

CONGRATULATIONS BRENDA PENTON from NL, CANADA! 👍🏻 You’ve Won! 🎁

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments, and please enter the contest FOXES!

Ohhhhh Shut Your Gorgeous!

XOXO,

Spring 2017 Unicorn Trends: Unicorn Food, Unicorn Beauty and Style Inspo!

 

Unicorns are having a BIG moment.

One would have to be pop culturally myopic to have not clocked in on the Instagramable boom of unicorn-everything as of late. From #UnicornFood to the stand alone #Unicorn hashtag signifying the originality of someone or something—this trend is currently flying through the digital landscape by the nanosecond.

Humans have long been fascinated with the mystical & mythical (or is it?) tale of the unicorn dating back to The Bible. As one legend describes it, the fiercely dangerous and exotic hybrid animal could not be caught unless “a virgin held it to its bosom“—which strikes me as rather PERVY?!

Personally, I’m much more inclined to evoke a childhood Hello Kitty/Hello Pony-esque version of the unicorn. I want to go on a Never-Ending-Story ride on one or French braid their hair, even though a straight braid is all I’m capable of. I also like the idea that it could be male or female, or ideally—genderless. 

…Also, in my flight of fantasia, unicorns tinkle glitter rainbows and poop FUNFETTI…ummm ’cause they can!

Wait a minute, now that I think about it—I totally need all unicorns to be GIRLS!

#AllUnicornsareGirls #SorryNotSorry

Being a unicorn can simply lend itself to magical thinking, to being undefinable & ageless, to a visual of Drew Barrymore giggling as she sneaks extra popping boba on her cotton candy FROYO ← I mean how presh is that last one?

However you interpret the legend of the unicorn, enjoy this seminal pop culture list of the latest trends and inspo that you can incorporate into the ***magic*** of your everyday life! 

UNICORN FOOD

While the “unicorn trend” surfaced back in 2016, the culinary #UnicornFood trend has been exclusively a 2017 phenom!

As you can see, the emphasis here is on the sweetest of confections—from macaroons to the Insta famous #UnicornCake to my personal favourite a healthy blue algae #UnicornLatte from The End Brooklyn.

I’m convinced this is what Zsa Zsa Garbor’s orgasms would have looked like through Kirlian photography ↓ 

*Maybe that last joke was more of a ‘grower and not a show-er?’…”WELL THATS WHAT SHE SAID!” (oh lord help me I cannot be stopped.)

…Serve your unicorn delights with an ‘electroplated’ flatware set courtesy of Urban Outfitters and this party train is just getting started!

UNICORN HAIR

I’ve always been super clear that when a trend ends up on the shelves of your local pharmacy—it’s simmering towards oblivion, if not sudden death.

That being said, there’s always the exception to the rule—and the #UnicornHair colour trend just isn’t letting up.

While I would always recommend a colourist before a DIY job, for those of us on the aging accelerant train towards hair BREAKAGE (totes opposite of a party train!) I would recommend the ease and convenience of a wig!

Wearing a wig these days ain’t no big THANG—think Gwen Stefani, Rhianna and that obscure-unknown Kylie Jenner for modern day touch points.

Unicorn Hair Totally Care…

Plastik Magazine’s Plastik Store has some super fun versions.  Left: The Unicorn (natch!), Top: Cotton Candy & Bottom: Pastel Dream

And, AND…all of the STAHHHH‘s and Hair & Beauty Bloggers swear by UniWigs. They have an enormous assortment of human and synthetic hair wigs, extensions, toppers and pieces that can be easily shipped all over the world.

Their Trendy Wigs selection can give you the unicorn hair of your dreams, plus I love the idea that many of them come with realistic roots + prestyled textures and layers! From L to R: ‘Lucy‘, & ‘Tonya‘. 

UNICORN MAKEUP

While there are bounties of unicorn makeup examples on the web here’s some brand new products + a whole ‘lotta inspo to get that ethereal glow.

Anastasia Beverly Hills “Moon Child” kit can be used all over your GORGEOUS self and Tarte Cosmetics just launched their “Unicorn Collection” of playful horned make up brushes, ‘lights’ mascara and highlighter compact.

…These Unicorn Tears products are absolute staples for the worlds hottest beauty bloggers. Too Faced Lip Crème in you guessed it “Unicorn Tears,” Farsali Primer in “Unicorn Essence” and JUST ANNOUNCED Pat McGrath will be launching this “Cyber Clear” eye gloss (also for cheekbones and lips) on April 11tth, 2017 exclusively at PatMcGrath.com

But truly the Farsali product shot does little to show off the sorcery of what Unicorn Essence can do, so I give you this demo by YouTube juggernaut Isabel Bedoya.

*Please excuse the “Night at the Roxbury” sounding ear-hemorrhoid playing in the background.

And lastly for some full makeup inspiration check out the following examples for next-level incandescence. L: Instagram’s beauty doyens @johannaherrstedth and R: @ohmygeeee (also wearing a Uni Wig!)  *Notice the highlight on cupids bow and nose.

UNICORN NAILS

Truth be told there’s far too many literal translations of #UnicornNails out in the digital ether, and the bulk of examples are painfully tacky. Nails in the shape of stiletto swirling unicorn horns?

…I’d prefer the swallowing of my own vomit, thank you very much.

Instead, I offer up the Spring 2017 nail swatches from Soho New York’s titans of nail art Paint Box Nails with enough INSPO and variety to last you throughout the entire summer!

nail inspoPaintBox Nails

UNICORN STYLE

Are we there yet? Were just rounding the corner to our last installment, which is Unicorn STYLE.

Again, any lazy hack could point you towards boardwalk tees with iron-on unicorn EVERYTHING, but this is a piece of about tapping into the radiance of your own imagination.

LITERAL has no place here.

Instead, I do what the best trend spotters in the industry do, make connections and introduce previously untapped ideas.   

A huge trend that is taking shape for Spring 2017 is the HOLOGRAM sneaker. All of these examples conjure up the fantasy and alchemy of the unicorn, and look at YOU SUPERSTAR, YOU’RE SO ON TREND! 

VANS

Vans Classic Slip Ons in Holographic Silver

Urban OG

MisBehave Holographic Rainbow Lace Urban OG

 

converse

Converse Paradise Party Hi Top *Sold  at Free People

 

…Should the hologram sparkle not suit your strut, these new Nike Air Max  LD-Zero in baby pink should do the trick!

for summer brides-to-be who see themselves more as a show stopping ingénue, how drop dead G-g-g-g-orgeous is this Marchesa tulle gown? Add on those sparkly Chuck Taylor’s and you’ve got yourself a ‘Unicorn Bride!’

Kimonos are still coasting on a trend high and Montreal expat Rita Ghanimé infused her design expertise & undeniable sensual allure to her custom Made with Love line. This season Ghanimé’s kimonos are inspired by Anäis Nin and moonlight refracting sequins that she will ship from her home base in Los Angeles.  

…and lastly accessorize like a boss with these go-big-or-go-home Gucci dazzlers, a suggestive unicorn top-knot bun (the scarf need not be Gucci ladies) and Kate Spade’s Jeff Koonz inspired Unicorn Balloon Clutch!

That’s it for me, now please excuse me as its time to lay down for a ***Unicorn Dream***…which is essentially me frolicking around with Charlie Hunnam in an sea of Lucky Charms marshmallows set to Enya’s “Orinoco Flow…”

Ohhhhh shut your gorgeous…

XOXO,