Pride Beauty

Photographer: Paul Tirado
Makeup: Jean Baez

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Top 10 Products to Keep You Safe Under the Sun

By: Alexis Schroeder

Beautiful sandy beaches, diving through ocean waves, swinging from a rope into a lake, enjoying the company of friends, and the summer sun are all components of these three long awaited months.  However, sometimes we overlook the summer weather’s ulterior motives, which can be dangerously damaging to our skin.  To keep you enjoying the summer months, we have compiled a list of our favorite top 10 products to keep you safe under the steamy summer sun.

One of the first things on our summer check list – get rid of that pasty winter paleness!  Lying out in the sun builds a lustrous summer glow, but it can be extremely damaging to your skin.  Sunscreen is an absolute must!  Sun exposure, especially without sunscreen increases the chances of skin cancer, wrinkles, and sunburn.  Bracing your body for multiple sun exposures decreases many of these risks, but are you effectively protecting each area?  For example, your lips are exceedingly vulnerable to sun damage because of their reduced amount of melanin – skin pigment.  Therefore, a lip balm containing protection from UVA/UVB rays is necessary.  Apply Anthelios Lip Stick SPF 50+ for approximately $20, which is water resistant and soothing.

A common myth – obtaining a radiant tan is impossible with the use of sunscreen.  This erroneous belief can cause unbelievable sun damage.  This is why we love Banana Boat’s Protective Dry Oil UltraMist with SPF 25.  Infused with coconut and grape seed oil, it provides UVA and UVB coverage while attracting those rays!

Believe it or not, your hair also suffers from UV damage.  Lathering a small amount of sunscreen through your hair will protect your tresses from chlorine and salt.  Generously mist your locks with Ouidad Sun Shield and Sport Leave-In Spray.  This light weight spray conditions and protects hair from chlorine, wind, sun, and salt.  As an alternative, don’t be afraid to comb through the sunscreen you applied to your body.

Skin hydration defeats the summer sun’s drying and aging effects.  During these few intensely heated months, do yourself a favor and moisturize.  Try AHAVA Mineral Suncare Sun Protection Anti-Aging Moisturizer, $26.  Not only does it contain a sun protection factor, SPF, but it revitalizes skin’s moisture and fights premature aging.  For more intense hydration, apply directly after showering while pores are dilated and wrap in a warm towel for five minutes amplifying the skin’s suppleness.

Even though simple, hats’ shielding qualities dramatically help combat harmful rays.  However, with all the oils and products applied to our faces as a result of sunscreens, our hairline and foreheads become the perfect forum for pimples.  Use an antibacterial wipe to prevent these unwanted blemishes.  Dermalogica Skin Purifying Wipes, $18.

With all the tips and tricks provided, sometimes we still find ourselves with nasty and painful sunburn.  If the summer sun does claim you, try Solarcaine Aloe Extra Burn Relief Spray, $8.  With cooling and soothing properties it draws heat away from the body, providing instant reprieve.

Just like our wide brimmed hats, don’t forget to pack sunglasses for the beach!  People with lighter eyes are more prone to sun damage, than those with darker eyes.  Not all sunglasses are created equal, therefore when picking out the perfect pair of sunnies make sure it protects against both UVA and UVB rays.  Also, close fitting sunglasses offer further protection, blocking harmful rays.  Aviators are an excellent summer warrior!

Building a base before extreme sun exposure slows harmful sun penetration.  Try a self-tanner in the beginning of the summer, preferably one with moisturizing qualities and SPF.  Jergen’s Natural Glow & Protect Daily Moisturizer with SPF 20 does just that.

As a part of most of our daily routines, consuming some sort of caffeine jolts us into action.  However, we are constantly reminded to curtail excessive consumption, which most of us are guilt of.  Instead of ingesting this stimulant, new studies suggest using caffeine topically promotes anti-aging.  Also, fewer skin cells are damaged when exposed to excessive ultraviolet rays.  Try 100% Pure Cosmetics Organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream, $20.

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Gilded Age S/S 2013 “Get The Look”

photo credit: Javier Romero,Top 5 Management

Hair by Eric R Williams
1. Curl hair away from the face in different directions using the T3 Singlepass Twirl 1.25 iron.
2. Once you finish curling the hair use  REDKEN Rewind 06 Styling Paste to give hair texture and definition and control using your fingers to shape and mold the style.
3. Finish your style with a mist of REDKEN Shine Flash 02 glistening mist along with a mist of Forceful 23 for hold.

*photo credit: Juan Carlos Parra, Metrovelvet

Makeup Javier Romero
1. Try Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Conceal and Brighten under the eyes and to cover spots around the face using Revolution Flat Concealer brush from Royal & Langnickel.
2. Use Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Mascara to make lashes look longer, thicker and fuller without clumping, smudging or flaking.
3. Apply Peter Thomas Roth Max Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel on T-Zone using a Beautyblender sponge.
4.Too Faced Lava Gloss Eyeliner in Hot Chocolate can be used around the eyes applied by the Master Pro Sponge Smudger brush from Royal & Langnickel to created a soft grunge look.

*photo credit: Juan Carlos Parra, Metrovelvet

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FARAH ANGSANA f/w 2012 – Beauty

By: Alexis Schroeder
Images by: Frank Rocco

Christo, of Christo NYC and a seasoned stylist to Fashion Week has been contributing his genius hair expertise for more than ten years now.  Having worked with designer, Farah Angsana for the past five years, he has “built a lasting and strong relationship” with her as he explained.  Not only has he bridged a friendship with Ms. Angsana, but he is also no stranger to his team.  I asked Christo if he had any special traditions before a show; he smiled and said, “I like to get my team together and go out to a nice breakfast.  We look at the style we want to achieve and talk about how we are going to do that.  Once the preparations for the show begin, I gather the team and show them a trial, explaining exactly what to do. Then, GO!”

The show’s inspiration transpired from the “international travel woman.”  To create the look desired, Christo had several of the models’ hair in a low chignon or left down.  “A lot of it has to do with texture.  If the model’s hair is a little wavy, we work with her natural hair structure.”  No two hair styles were exactly alike.  Very few hair tools and products were used to create each look.  “Very clean and natural is the main emphasis.”  To create the looks, Curlisto Systems Shaping Spray and Curlisto Systems Glow and Shine provided a flexible hold and luster.  The only styling tool used was Curlisto Tools Ozone Dryer, which is notable for healing scalp and skin conditions, such as dandruff and seborrhea.  The hair was moveable and “if they take their hair down, it’ll still be nice, clean, and refreshed.”  And that’s exactly what we all want after a long flight, right? Low maintenance.

Thirza Johanna, head make-up artist expounded upon the techniques for the make-up application.  The look requires a luminous 50’s glow.  A slight cat eye lined the lids, a luminous, peachy shade made their way onto the apples’ of the cheeks, and finished with a red matte lip for a clean, fresh look.  Each make-up artist used their own shadows, foundations, and mascaras; the only thing absolutely uniform was the scarlet red, matte lip by NARS Dragon Girl.  Each and every model looked slyly sexy.

As for nails, Patricia Yankee of Dashing Diva kept them short and rounded, applying peachy nudes.  Toes were done in the same color, as most of the shoes were open-toed.  Dashing Diva’s Boarding School and Season Tickets were the colors of choice, complementing each outfit.

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FARAH ANGSANA f/w 2012

By: Alexis Schroeder
Images by: Frank Rocco

In the 1940s and 50s air travel was of the utmost sophistication and class.  The public was fascinated with the glamorous and exotic career as a pilot or stewardess.  Designer and world traveler, Farah Angsana tells her collection’s story through a high glamour and cultured woman, who travels the globe herself and appreciates the fine detail of luxury.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Angsana about the collection’s inspiration.  “It’s the woman who loves to travel.  She can travel anywhere from Paris, Rome, New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Dubai.”

As the music began to seduce the audience before the show began, a sly, sexy, “catch me, if you can” vibe echoed throughout.  The colors chosen as Ms. Angsana described were, “I started with black and white, then silver, gray and also red, violet, and tangerine.”  The silhouettes were kept simple.  A corseted top attached to a long, lofty skirt, tapered pant, suit, or long train were all catwalk sightings.  Her clothes were made for that confident woman who is not afraid to sit alone at the airport’s lounge, sipping her cocktail.

Each outfit had just the right amount of embellishment to catch your eye and keep you guessing for days who that woman was.  Most of her ensembles included a leather biker-like glove, which gave a fresh attitude.  The fabrics ranged from lace, silk, chiffon, silk wool, wool crepe, and tweed lurex featuring crystal and sequin embellishments, ruching, and lace detailing.

A stand out, the tangerine silk chiffon satin gown with crystal and sequin embellishment details was magnificent.  I have never seen this color look so sexy before.  Another beauty was her scarlet red silk crepe long sleeved gown.  Almost as if a character out of a James Bond movie, I wondered if she had a dagger up her sleeve.  I could go on and on extensively about each piece, but the best in show was the Shanghai blue dragon scale embellished tulle gown. TO DIE FOR.  It was totally see through except for those parts that need to be left to the imagination.

With so many different outfits each creating their own mysterious story, I had to know which outfit she enjoyed the most to design.  “I really had fun doing all of them.  Each one speaks a little of its own story.  I loved it all.”  This was the first show that I have been too that I could tell a detailed story for each and every piece and loose myself in the details.  She definitely set a new standard for air travel attire!  Brilliantly sexy and marvelous.

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