Month: June 2021

Crystal Kung Minkoff’s Black Heart Shirt

Crystal Kung Minkoff’s Black Heart Shirt

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Instagram Fashion

Crystal Kung Minkoff took to Instagram in a cute black heart shirt to show her followers how to make avocado toast with jalapeños. And while I’m a huge fan of avocado toast, I totally heart someone else making it for me. But thankfully I have some inspo for a cute top to wear to brunch next time I decide I feel the need to get toasted.

 

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Crystal Kung Minkoff's Black Heart Shirt

Click Here to See her Equipment Slim Fit Heart Shirt

Photo: @CrystalKungMinkoff

Originally posted at: Crystal Kung Minkoff’s Black Heart Shirt

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I Sent Vanessa Hudgens & Madison Beer My DNA In The Name Of Great Skin

Maybe I should have been a little more cautious before swiping the inside of my mouth with a DNA kit and handing it to my UPS guy. But I wanted to do a full Know Beauty review for everyone. So, off it went in the name of science and great skin. My Skin DNA Kit was headed over to Know Beauty, Vanessa Hudgens and Madison Beer’s new skincare line to find out how genetic factors impact might impact my dermis. Then, they’ll send me a personalized routine with their new products. Pretty cool, right? Here’s how it went.

First, you might be wondering how Vanessa Hudgens and Madison Beer teamed up for this project. Beer was friends with Hudgens’ younger sister Stella, so there was a family-friend connection. The duo has been in the public eye since they were young. They have both struggled with specific skin concerns and wanted to start brands of their own. So, they teamed up and enlisted chief medical officer and dermatologist, Dr. Karen Kagha.

know beauty

Know Beauty.

Now, let’s get to giving up my DNA. While you can purchase their skincare online now, if you want a more personalized routine, you can do the confidential DNA Kit ($95 at Know Beauty) and analyze seven core genetic categories, such as skin sensitivity, collegan quality and pigmentation. Then you’ll fill out the (free) Skin Diagnostic Quiz to help the brand get to know your diet, stress level and other lifestyle factors. Finally, you’ll get product recommendations, taking the guesswork out of skincare.

know beauty dna summary

Elizabeth Denton.

Here’s a peek inside my DNA summary. The higher the number, the heathier your skin. As you can see, I’m at low risk for fine lines and wrinkles. “Your results indicate that you carry minimal genetic abnormalities that may speed up the collagen decline process,” reads my report. Yay! But look at that Skin Elasticity number. “Your results indicate that you carry a handful of genetic variations and may be prone to reduced skin elasticity,” my report says. Oops. Each result gave me specific skincare ingredient reccomendations. You can learn a lot from these reports, not just about yourself but about what each ingredient can do for your longterm skin health.

know beauty skin diagnostic

Elizabeth Denton.

My Skin Diagnostic Results are a little more embarassing to look at. These are based off my answers to the quiz so you can see I desperately need to start working out again. I also don’t sleep enough, eat too much sugar and have too much stress. Can anyone else relate?! At least I eat fruits and veggies and stay hydrated.

Based off these two tests, Know Beauty sent me a personalized skincare routine. The company sent me the products for free for this review but you can decide which to purchase from your routine. The collection ranges from $20-$30, so they’re pretty on track with other big skincare brands. (Maybe even more affordable.) Each is cruelty-free and formulated without phalates, sulfates, mineral oil and parabans.

Below is the routine I’ve been using for about two weeks. So far, I’m really liking the line and feel like it is right for my skin type. I can see this saving money in the longterm since there’s less wondering if a product will be too heavy or greasy or drying. You can shop my products now and the rest on Know Beauty’s website.

Know Beauty. cleanser

Know Beauty.

Purifying Cleanser

This cleanser is great for those with balanced/dull skin and who live in warmer climates. (I live in Los Angeles.) It removes dirt and impurities from pores with grapefruit and prickly pear, while hyaluronic acid locks in moisture and Lotus stem cell controls excess sebum.

Know Beauty. eye cream

Know Beauty.

Reviving Day Eye Cream

This hydrating cream contains hyaluronic acid and squalene, as well as vitamins A and E.

Know Beauty. lip mask

Know Beauty.

Hydrating Lip Mask

There’s only one lip mask and it’s this ultra-softening formula with shea butter, safflower seed oil, vitamin C and vitamin E.

Know Beauty. mask

Know Beauty.

Glowing Collagen Mask

You know how I had a high-risk for poor skin elasticity? This mask contains collagen to support skin elasticity, as well as hydrating and plumping amino peptide and squalane.

Know Beauty. moisturizer

Know Beauty.

Energizing Day Moisturizer

With broad-spectrum SPF 30 I get the sun protection I need, while anti-inflammatory green tea and brightening basil extract boost my skin tone and glycerin hydrates.

know beauty night serum

Know Beauty.

Rejuvenating Night Serum

This serum contains a retinoid to resurface the skin, as well as vitamin C to brighten and E to nourish.

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Best of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Beauty

This post is a sponsored partnership between BigBlondeHair.com and Nordstrom, although all thoughts and picks are my own! We may receive a percentage of sales for items purchased from Nordstrom through affiliate links in this post. The celebrity names mentioned are in no way affiliated with this post or endorsing any products mentioned.

Best of Real Housewives Beverly Hills Beauty at Nordstrom

As most of you know, I am a little obsessed with Housewives beauty finds. And a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills beauty find is really like the golden ticket to me! So I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom (my fave place to shop beauty items) to bring you pieces that I’ve spotted this season and a few classics to scoop up. In addition, I’ve included a line up of some of their top summer products that are perfect when switching up your summer beauty routine! After all, hot girl summer is here, and who better to get inspo from than our fave Beverly Hills babes!

 

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

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1. Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick  2. Strum Night Serum 3. Dior Airflash Foundation* 4. Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue 5. Armani Foundation*

*I own and have purchased multiple times

 

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1. Peter Thomas Roth Eye Masks 2. Benefit Hoola Bronzer* 3. Laura Mercier Velour Matte Lipstick

*My next purchase!

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1. Charlotte Tilbury Look of Love Matte Lipstick 2. Aveda Blonde Revival Shampoo

3. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer 4. Cle de Peau Cleansers 5. Chanel Hydra Beauty Toner

 

Originally posted at: Best of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Beauty

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Have You Told Your Assets Where to Go?

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey was written over 15 years ago but is still a best seller for good reason. His timeless advice is applicable across many aspects of our lives, business or personal.

One of his recommended seven habits is to begin with the end in mind. I couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to personal finance and especially as it relates to titling our assets.

A Broken Record

I may sound like a broken record on this topic, and I hope you are not so tired of my soapbox on this matter, but it’s an extremely important part of your planning.

Even if you don’t have estate planning documents in place (60% of Americans die without them) or your documents are outdated (best to review them every 3-5 years), the correct account titling and beneficiary designations alone can save your assets from probate, delay, unnecessary costs, and going to someone you didn’t intend.

Making a List

The best starting point for looking at your situation is to see what homework you have. To start, you need to make a list of your bank accounts, life insurance policies, annuity contracts, non-retirement and retirement investment accounts, and property that you own.

I have found that list to be so important now and in the future that I designed one (that does the math for you) to easily capture it all in one place, including the titling/beneficiary details, My Net Worth Summary.

Now for the Homework

Once you have written a list of assets, look at the detail. This is when you “begin with the end in mind.” Ideally, your estate planning attorney should go through this list with you to recommend titling and beneficiary designations.

Bank Accounts

Does the title of your savings account, for example, tell the bank where you want that account to go after you are gone? If it is not a Joint with Rights of Survivorship account or a trust account, have you added a POD (Payable on Death) designation?

POD is only naming a beneficiary upon death, not giving any authority to use funds right now. A beneficiary designation on any account, non-retirement or retirement, bypasses probate so no delay and no cost to get it to where you wanted it to land.

Non-Retirement Assets

A similar option to a POD is also available for non-retirement investment accounts and property. If those assets are not titled as Joint with Rights of Survivorship or a trust, you can add a TOD (Transfer on Death) designation in order to bypass probate.

This is especially important if you own property in another state outside of your residence. Otherwise, your property may end up going through probate in two states, the state of your residence and the state of its location. Again, consulting your estate planning attorney is the best resource for getting recommendations on your specific situation.

Beneficiary Designations

Then on retirement accounts, annuity contracts, and life insurance policies, you want to be sure your beneficiary designations match what you said you wanted to happen in your estate planning documents. Generally, naming both a primary and a contingent beneficiary (or multiple beneficiaries) is a good practice.

If you have an IRA, for example, and name your spouse as primary beneficiary but are both killed in a car accident together, then who would you want to receive that account? The contingent beneficiary designation on that IRA would apply in that case.

The importance of getting your beneficiaries correct really hits home when you realize that a beneficiary designation is like a mini-will on each account. I can’t tell you how many times I have had people tell me “I am not sure how my beneficiaries are listed on each account, that was so long ago I can’t remember. But it doesn’t matter since I have it all spelled out in my will/trust.” Wrong, wrong, wrong!

The bank, insurance company, investment firm, or whoever the custodian is that’s holding the account will NOT consult your will/trust (unless you listed your estate or trust directly as your beneficiary, which may not be the best advice). They will distribute to whoever is listed as the beneficiary on that account, period.

The Consequences

Because beneficiary designations act as mini-wills, a recent widow watched her deceased husband’s 401(k) go to his brother. For the same reason, one adult child received an IRA (and owed all the taxes on it at her tax bracket) with the deceased parent’s assumption that she would then distribute it “fairly” to her siblings.

With the right beneficiary designations, unnecessary probate, often a one year or more process, is avoidable.

Let’s Begin!

Beginning with the end in mind, ask yourself where you want each asset to go in the end. It is truly an exercise that will save your family much misunderstanding, time, and cost in the end. Check out my free chapter on this exact topic.

This is a way to express your wishes now in writing for clear distribution later. You worked hard for what you have, so put some time into assuring the final landing spot for the fruits of your labor!

Have you had experiences related to titling and beneficiaries that can help others in our community? What have you found helpful to address this topic? Please share your thoughts.

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This Crème de la Mer Dupe Is Only $13 Right Now As a Post-Prime Day Deal

La Mer’s iconic and beloved Crème de La Mer cream has long been touted as one of the best skincare products to ever exist by countless celebrity fans, including Crissy Teigen, Jennifer Lopez, and Kim Kardashian West. Naturally, it’s also been named a holy grail skincare staple for a laundry list of notable makeup artists and beauty editors who maintain that the luxe formula’s unrivaled performance undoubtedly justifies the lofty price tag.

The $190+ face cream is known for delivering next-level hydration to repair the skin’s barrier while leaving behind a velvety-soft canvas that sits beautifully under makeup. Other loyalists have taken to Reddit to wax poetic about the rich cream’s ability to soften fine lines, heal acne scars, and cure chronic dry patches in just a month or so. Of course, given the luxury cream’s steep price point, the vast number of queries I encountered searching for an affordable alternative to help break the “La Mer habit” is pretty understandable.

Thanks to La Mer’s proprietary concoction of soothing and active ingredients including seaweed extract that undergoes a special fermentation process — also referred to as their “miracle broth” — this “healing elixir” not only offers corrective benefits, but it also soothes topical inflammation and calms redness, not to mention the fact that it softens the skin like a literal dream.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

weleda skin food la mer dupe

Courtesy of Weleda.

Weleda Original Skin Food Cream

Frankly, it’d be pretty hard to find an exact replication of this iconic cream, but after scouring the web for skincare junkie-approved dupes, it looks like the budding cult-favorite, Skin Food by Weleda comes pretty damn close. While Skin Food lacks fermented Sea Kelp, La Mer’s all-star ingredient, it is infused with a slew of plant-powered ingredients including Beeswax (a natural exfoliant and humectant), as well as Pansy extract, which helps to soothe redness and boost microcirculation.

Buy: Weleda Original Skin Food Cream $12.60

Skin Food has a super thick—almost balm-like—texture and a little goes a long way, whereas Creme de la Mer is more creamy and easier to blend. However, once applied, the two products yield a similar finish—a healthy, dewy glow that can be intensified or played down depending on your skin type. Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes even likes to use it as a natural-looking highlight on her clients, adding a touch of the product to the high points of the face.

Weleda skin food light amazon

Courtesy of Weleda.

Weleda Skin Food Light Nourishing Cream

Some find the original Skin Food to be a little too heavy—especially if you have oily skin—but fortunately, there’s a light version to try if you find this to be the case. There’s no doubt that people seem to love Creme de la Mer for a good reason (myself, included) but you just can’t fathom dropping $200 (you can get the travel size for just $95, but still) on skin cream (and hey, we definitely don’t blame you) this inexpensive, all-natural, and multipurpose product is probably the next best thing.

Buy: Weleda Light Nourishing Cream $12.60

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