Month: April 2023

Find a New Signature Scent With the Best Spring Fragrances


If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I’ve never really been a “signature” scent girl. It sounds like a cool idea but I wear fragrances depending on my mood. Some days I want an uplifting citrus scent, other days I’m hopping on TikTok’s “vanilla girl” trend with gourmand perfumes and some nights I want something a little spicier. Luckily, Spring 2023 fragrance offerings have all of that and so much more. Seriously, there’s something for everyone to update their scent for the warmer weather.

I didn’t expect to discover so many scents this season, from brands we all know (think Diptyque and Tom Ford) and love to up-and-comers I’ve never tried before (like Ourside). I stuck to body fragrances for this list but had to add in the yummiest room spray I’ve ever smelled from Courtney Cox’s brand, Homecourt. Take inspo from this list and find your new favorite scent, below. Go outside your comfort zone. You just might surprise yourself.

Diptyque LEau Papier Eau de Toilette  Find a New Signature Scent With the Best Spring Fragrances

Diptyque.

Diptyque L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette

I’ve never met a Diptyque scent I didn’t love. This woodsy one is so intriguing with its notes of steamed rice, luminous mimosa and a deep blonde wood accord.

 Find a New Signature Scent With the Best Spring Fragrances

Kayali.

Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato

Pistachio ice cream fan? Same! You’ll love this warm and spicy gourmand perfume from Mona Kattan.

Homecourt,

Homecourt.

Homecourt Neroli Leaf Room Deodorant

There isn’t once scent from Courtney Cox’s Homecourt line I don’t love. Seriously, my counters have never smelled better now that I use the brand’s Surface Cleaner. This is my new fave, a Room Deodorant that promises to neutralize odors and not just cover them up. What’s left is a blend of sparkling apple and neroli blossoms, crushed basil leaves and jasmine petals.

 

 Find a New Signature Scent With the Best Spring Fragrances

Henry Rose Smyth Eau de Parfum

You might be surprised to learn Michelle Pfeiffer started this luxe, clean fragrance brand. Don’t dismiss it as just another celebrity brand, though. Scents are high-quality and last on the body a long time. This new one is perfect for spring with notes of granny smith apple, watery notes and melon-pineapple sorbet.

Tom Ford Electric Cherry

Tom Ford.

Tom Ford Electric Cherry

Morello cherry is mixed with the warmth of musk and sultry jasmine for this flirty new scent.

 

Ellis Brooklyn

Ellis Brooklyn.

Ellis Brooklyn Florist Eau de Parfum

This is not your grandma’s floral. There are notes of tuberose petals, golden gardenia and honeysuckle for a light and intoxicating scent.

 

laura mercier perfume

Laura Mercier.

Laura Mercier Eau de Parfum

The makeup icon just got into body and fragrance and we’re so glad she did. This rich scent features vanilla orchid, vanilla liqueur, vanilla musk, heliotrope, daylily, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood and amber.

 

Phlur solar power

Phlur.

Phlur Solar Power Eau de Parfum

Phlur is back with another sure-to-go-viral perfume with Solar Power, a spring-ready fresh scent with citrusy bergamot and red mandarin.

vera wang princess

Vera Wang.

Vera Wang Rock Princess Eau de Toilette

It’s been since a while since Vera Wang blessed us with a new scent. Princess Noir debuted in in 2018 and Embrace French Lavender and Tuberose in 2017! The new Rock Princess has a seductively sweet scent with notes of juicy peach and Lily of the Valley.

valentino donna born

Valentino.

Valentino Donna Born In Roma Intense Eau de Parfum

Add to your Valentino fragrance collection with this floral-amber fragrance featuring vanilla and jasmine. Yum.

 

 Find a New Signature Scent With the Best Spring Fragrances

Sol de Janeiro.

Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance Perfume Mist

This warm floral scent has notes of solar tuberose, Leite de Coco and creamy vanilla — in a subtle, wearable way.

by far daydream

By Far.

By Far Daydream Of Passing Clouds Set

I told you about By Far’s fragrances back in September 2022. I can’t stop wearing Passing Clouds, a spring-ready white musk and patchouli essence that easily goes from day to night.

 

 

Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama Fragrance Find a New Signature Scent With the Best Spring Fragrances

Louis Vuitton.

Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama Spell on You

This limited-edition fragrance was inspired by one of the Japanese artist’s favorite themes: flowers filled with recurring dots. It has notes of iris, rose, Sambac jasmine, Acacia flower and musk.

bbe fragrance mist

Bath & Body Works.

Bath & Body Works Emerald Mist Fine Fragrance Mist

New to the Fine Fragrance Mist fam is this pear and blonde woods scent that feels fresh for every day.

 Find a New Signature Scent With the Best Spring Fragrances

Ourside.

Ourside Dusk Eau De Parfum

This WOC-owned business doesn’t mess around when it comes to sustainability and community. It’s not surprising founder Keta can barely keep her three fragrances in stock. My favorite is Dusk, a blend of juicy berries and fig, green floral intertwined musk and warm amber and frankincense.

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Shoppers Prefer This $9 Eyeliner to High-End Options Because There’s ‘No Bleeding, Fading or Smudging Throughout The Day’


If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

If you can apply eyeliner quickly and precisely, you are truly gifted and I am forever envious. Drawing on liner takes what feels like 50 years for me to do, so I usually just avoid this step altogether. However, I recently stumbled upon an ink pen that seems to be the best of the best for any and all eyeliner lovers, especially beginners like me. 

Maybelline’s Tattoo Studio Ink Pen Eyeliner has officially entered the chat. It’s waterproof and resistant to fading, smudging and flaking. Not to mention, it’s formulated to last you for up to 24 hours, per the brand. It manages to do all of this with its special brush tip that’s made from 350 bristles. You shouldn’t experience any skipping, dragging or mess because this waterproof eyeliner is quick and easy. You should be able to draw one, continuous line in one swift motion. Plus, its jet black color creates a beautiful, bold, dramatic look. 

One five-star shopping wrote, “The color is jet black with a glossy finish. It’s easy to use and build up and go over lines without any flaking or anything like that. I experienced no bleeding, fading or smudging throughout the day. It is also pretty waterproof.”

After all, there’s a reason why the product has the word, “tattoo,” in its name! This is great news for those with eye shapes that are prone to smudging. Another reviewer wrote, “A lot of times with my hooded eyes, liners will end up transferring on my hood throughout the day when I sweat. But this stayed [put] well. It didn’t smudge or transfer.”

The case is closed when it comes to the most long-lasting and precise eyeliner. Incorporate this Maybelline eyeliner into your makeup routine so that you no longer have to spend 30 minutes on nailing the perfect wing. Make sure you check out ASAP, while the ink pen is on sale for $9 instead of $11 during Amazon’s Spring Beauty Premiere Event. And if you want to get in a regular cadence for purchasing this liner—while saving money, might I add—select the Subscribe & Save option on the product page.

RELATED: The $12 TikTok-Viral Mascara That Has Shoppers Canceling Lash Appointments Sold Out on Amazon—Here’s Where It’s Still In Stock 

Maybelline Tattoo Studio Ink Pen Eyeliner Amazon

Photo: Maybelline.

Sometimes eyeliner can be a headache and a half to remove. Sure, you want liner that doesn’t budge throughout the day, but you also don’t want to be scrubbing your lids for minutes at a time. Leave it to the Tattoo Studio Ink Pen Eyeliner to be easy to wipe off with micellar water and a gentle face cleanser. No more tugging or pulling your sensitive eye area! 

With a 4.4-star overall rating, another shopper wrote, “Probably the best eyeliner I’ve ever used and I’ve used liners from high-end makeup lines and they still smudge and run! This DID NOT at all!! Very happy and will use it from now on!!”

And in case you’re wondering about the pen itself, “The tip of the liner is slightly longer than my older ones, but that makes it so much easier to line the eyes while keeping the brush sideways. The tip does not move around and gives the most perfect line. I am not a beginner, I would say lining isn’t hard for me, but this is really good for beginners as well. It’s super easy to use,” They added, “Coming to the performance, it’s budge-proof, once it’s down it doesn’t move unless you are taking it off. I usually have it on most of the day and it does an excellent job staying in one place.”

It’s not hard to see why the reviews section is chock-full of praises. This eyeliner is everything and more, whether you’re a beginner, have hooded eyes or need to cut down the time it takes to do your makeup. Give this affordable and on-sale Maybelline eyeliner a go. It’s available at Amazon for $9 and also offers a Subscribe & Save option.

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Reviewers Have Seen ‘So Much New Growth’ & ‘Sparse Spots Filling In’ Within 3 Weeks of Using This On-Sale Hair Serum


If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

If you’ve been scouring the Internet for the best possible hair growth treatments out there, you’ve likely landed on the name Minoxidil. The topical medication is meant to stimulate new growth on balding patches and slow shedding, and while it’s mostly been used by folks 40 years and up in the past (Rogaine, anyone?) that hasn’t stopped users of all ages attempting to reap its benefits lately. In fact, one search on TikTok will serve you up countless videos of people speaking on the matter. 

Minoxidil works in several ways to transform thinning scalps; it increases blood flow around hair follicles, it extends each follicle growth phase and it increases the strength of future follicles. Basically, the potent ingredient ensures future strands come back healthier and stronger, resulting in fuller locks.

There are several places on the web to purchase a Minoxidil serum, but for those seeking affordability and fast delivery, Amazon has plenty of options available. The Elevate Minoxidil 5% Hair Growth Spray is a prime example; it has a 4.3-star rating and is currently 40 percent off.

ELEVATE 5% Minoxidil Hair Growth Spray

Elevate

Elevate Minoxidil 5% Hair Growth Spray

The spray-on serum contains 5 percent Minoxidil, vitamin B5 and ginseng that bring fast-working results to thinning areas. It’s been clinically proven to show changes within 12 weeks of use on those with brittle strands, pattern baldness and strands with low elasticity. The brand recommends using it twice per day by spraying it directly onto areas of loss or all across the scalp and letting it dry before styling—shoppers confirm it doesn’t leave a greasy film on the hair. 

If you want a visual of just how well the spray works, one person left a before-and-after photo alongside their review which read “This product works great for me. Just be patient and use daily. I was using 2x daily as directed by my doctor, and now I’ve cut back to once daily. I’ve seen the most significant improvements in the last 30 days (see pics!), about 1.5 months into treatment. It’s a great price for the peace of mind of hair regrowth.”

RELATED: People Call This Madagascar Vanilla Body Oil ‘Heaven In a Bottle’ For Its Long-Lasting, ‘Impeccable’ Scent

A second reviewer wrote that after experiencing “hair loss and thinning due to previous health issues,” they’ve witnessed “so much new growth and sparse spots filling in already” after three weeks of using the Elevate spray

“I have two spots on the side of my temple that seem to be getting fuller, and my part in the middle doesn’t seem as wide,” shared a third person.

If no other hair growth treatments have offered the results you’ve wanted, consider giving Minoxidil a go. Scoop the Elevate Minoxidil Hair Growth Spray while it’s down to $30 right now.

 

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Things to Watch Out for in a Divorce

divorce tricks

Divorce can be a traumatic experience for both parties involved. Not only does it entail the end of a relationship, but it also requires dividing assets and agreeing on living arrangements, among other things.

8 Common Dirty Tricks During Divorce

Unfortunately, some spouses use dirty tricks during a divorce to gain an advantage. If you’re going through a divorce, here are some common tricks to watch out for and how to avoid them.

Hiding Money

Everyone worries that their spouse is hiding money. The best way to avoid this dirty trick is to hire a forensic accountant to analyze your financial records and look for evidence of missing money. If you find evidence, bring it up in a joint collaborative session so you can resolve the issue.

Spying on You

There are several ways a spouse can spy on you. They can hack your computer or smartphone, hire a private detective, or install a “keystroke program” on your computer. There are two ways to thwart this tactic. Never put anything compromising on your computer and have your equipment checked by a technician.

Limiting Access to Money

Another favorite dirty trick is to drain the joint bank accounts and place common funds in a separate account. Many jurisdictions have standing orders limiting behavior. To avoid the problems, withdraw half the common funds and place the money in a separate account.

Stripping the House

Some spouses move everything out of the house before they file for divorce. This may feel really good, but will make your spouse angry and set up a reimbursement claim for the personal property you took. You will end up with stuff you don’t want and have less cash.

Cancelling the Credit Cards

If you don’t have your own credit cards, but rely on being a signatory on your spouse’s credit cards, he/she can cancel them and leave you out in the cold. To avoid this problem, take out credit cards in your own name prior to filing for divorce so you won’t be left without credit when you need it. This will also help you to establish credit if you haven’t already.

Cancelling the Utilities

A common dirty divorce trick is to ask the utility companies to shut off water, electricity, phone, and TV before leaving the home. This is annoying, childish, and easy to fix. To avoid the problem, call the utility companies and warn them that you are in the middle of a divorce and ask them not to turn off the utilities without checking first.

Monopolizing the Top Attorneys in Town

In every county, there are only a handful of really first-rate divorce attorneys. If your spouse makes appointments with all of them and spends an hour sharing confidential information, you won’t be able to hire any of these top attorneys to help with his/her divorce. To avoid this problem, call some top attorneys at the first sign of marital trouble and make an appointment with two or three.

Running Up Debts

Just before they file for divorce, your spouse might go on a shopping spree and buy new clothes, that sports car he always wanted, or a special piece of jewelry for his paramour. The debt will be a common liability, but the buyer can keep the property because it belongs to them personally.

Other debts to watch out for are unusual tax bills. A spouse can make decisions to cash in retirement accounts and/or note report income that could create a huge tax liability that you might be responsible in part for.

Use These Tips to Protect Yourself in Divorce

So, what can you do to protect yourself? Here are some tips:

Get Everything in Writing

Verbal agreements are not legally binding, and they can be easily manipulated or misinterpreted. Whenever possible, get everything in writing, including agreements about property division, custody arrangements, and support payments. This will help prevent any misunderstandings or disputes down the road.

Keep Emotions in Check

Divorce is an emotional time, but it’s crucial to keep your emotions in check during negotiations and discussions. Don’t let anger or hurt feelings cloud your judgment or lead you to make decisions that are not in your best interest. Take a step back and try to approach the situation with a clear head.

Work with a Skilled Divorce Team

According to a well-known attorney, mediator and podcast host, Susan Guthrie, Esq. says, “the first person you should call when you decide to get divorced is a divorce coach. The divorce coach can help you evaluate what type of divorce is best for you, educate you to the divorce process, help you work through your emotions, and help you decide on which of the various divorce professionals you should have on your team and prepare you with interview questions.” 

Guthrie also says, “the next two professionals on your team should be a certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) and an experienced divorce attorney.”

Having these skilled and experienced professionals on your side can help you navigate the complex process and avoid common tricks. This team works together to help you reduce the time and cost of your divorce, and to help you make the best decisions for yourself in the short and long term.

Don’t Make Big Decisions Too Quickly

It’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and make big decisions without fully thinking them through. Avoid making any major decisions until you’ve had time to think about them carefully and consult with your attorney. Rushing into decisions can lead to regret and financial consequences.

Divorce is a difficult process, but it doesn’t have to be made worse by dirty tricks. It’s important to note that the majority of divorces do not involve tricks like these, but by being aware of these tactics, and taking steps to protect yourself, you can avoid these problems and make the process go as smoothly as possible so you may move forward to a new and vibrant life.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you been through a divorce? What dirty schemes did you endure from your ex-spouse? How did you combat them?

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How to do Makeup on Mixed Undertone Skin

makeup black skin

What do you do when you have, say, warm or golden undertones in one area of your face, and cool or blue undertones on your jawline, or any mixture of this? Or maybe you have melasma and find it hard to cover skin discolorations? How can you tell what your undertones are? Do helpful staff at a cosmetic store get your foundation shade wrong all the time, and how can you know what works on you?

I have dealt with this issue many times in my career as a pro makeup artist in CNN and FOX national and international live news. In fact, some ethnic groups are more prone to it than others, and can become very savvy at using foundation in a creative and playful way to accent their best features.

With that in mind, I’m including a video where I make up my fun-loving good friend, Tahisha, who is blessed with gorgeous skin, as well as mixed undertones. In this video, I show how to use her undertones to best flatter her face, and also bring out her eyes and lips so that, trust me, no one notices her uneven complexion! But more on self-esteem and sparkles later, let’s get to undertones.

What Are My Skin’s Undertones?

One of the best ways to figure out your undertones is to look at the inside of your wrist. If your veins are green, you probably have warm undertones, and if the veins are blue, you are more in the cool range, but even this isn’t fool-proof.

I’ve seen women and men who have one undertone on their jaw, another on their neck, and another on their wrist. No wonder it’s a challenge to find the correct foundation! As a rule of thumb, I match the shade around the eye area first, and then try to match the jawline to the neck, rather than starting with the jawline.

The idea with multiple undertones is to have your skin look seamless so there is no demarcation line anywhere, and everything blends together. As I show in the video, Tahisha is a perfect example of having a warm undertone around her eyes, and a blue undertone on her jaw and neck.

I decided to use two different foundation colors to match both undertones, blending them together so that they looked pretty.

Having said that, I could’ve just as easily used one foundation shade around her eyes, and not used any foundation on her jawline and it would’ve looked great. There is no law that states you need to have foundation all over your face, no matter what that influencer on YouTube said. In truth, I rarely use foundation all over, and usually focus on my T-zone and under eye area.

What Type of Foundation Should You Use?

When you are trying to either cover discoloration on the face, melasma, brown spots, or any mis-match, you have to consider several factors with your skin and the type of foundation you use.

  1. What is your skin type? In other words, do you have oily, dry, or combination skin?
  2. Do you need a full coverage foundation, or can you use a light to medium coverage?

To the subject of skin type, oily skin requires a matte foundation and if you are especially blessed with oily skin, get an oil free foundation. For the most part, some oil in foundation makes it blend better and look natural, and most foundations have a greater or lesser quantity of oils.

Do you have dry or combination skin? Stick with a hydrating foundation or one that states it has hydrating serum or extra hydration included in the formulation. This will help with it not setting in fine lines, blending better, and looking natural on the skin. Which brings us to the second point of using a medium or full coverage foundation. In general, I prefer a light to medium coverage with mature skin. It tends to not set in fine lines and looks like skin.

Admittedly, the issue comes when we try to hide or neutralize inconsistencies in the skin. On Tahisha, I used a medium coverage foundation on both undertones, and it covered beautifully and looked natural. If you need greater coverage, spot cover using products like Dermablend or Vanish Airbrush Concealer.

I find that using medium coverage foundation automatically minimizes the varying undertones and demarcations, and that using a separate product to cover specific areas helps the skin to not look to caked up. If this is a challenge for you, please write down below and I can create content on how to do this like a pro.

Ashy Skin and Other Pitfalls

When you start messing with undertones and blending, you can easily get an ashy look. On Tahisha, I was careful to blend the edge of the warm and cool foundation shades so that nothing took on that ashy hue, and you might have to become adept at product placement to manage this.

In some cases, using a skin tint can do wonders, but this is a wider discussion that I don’t have room for in this article. Suffice to say, neutralizing concealers can really help with this issue, and with practice, you can even out any discoloration in minutes.

Love Yourself

The last pitfall I want to address is the belief that your different undertones, or uneven eyes, or booty size, or protruding belly button, or slight lisp when you say the word statistician is not anywhere near as bad as you think it is.

A friend recently asked me if she should get a tattoo on her upper lip to hide the fact that her lips are crooked. As observant as I am, I had not noticed anything of the sort and told her so along with the absolute truth that she is a beautiful, inspired, and wonderful human.

Embrace your so-called imperfections, love your uniqueness, and spread the love and sparkly effervescence that is never undervalued, even with weird undertones.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have uneven undertones? How do you cover them? Is there any product that has worked particularly well for you?

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