Pantone Color 2016: How To Incorporate Serenity & Rose Quartz Into Your Beauty Routine

As the end of the year quickly approaches, the possibilities for the New Year are endless. What are some of your goals and desires for 2016? Lets start the New Year off right with Serenity and Rose Quartz! These are the Pantone colors of the year; will you be on top of the latest trend? These are said to be the IT colors for the upcoming year, we will see these colors in everything from fashion, home décor, nails and our favorite makeup. This is the first time that Pantone has ever chosen two colors of the year. We're not alone in the excitement of these shades; some of your favorite brands have already started coming out with products in these trendy colors.

Lets start with nails; Sally Hansen and Smith + Cult Lacquers already have colors in these nail shades. For Rose Quartz options, you can try Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Petal Pusher or Smith + Cult in Pillow Pie. For Serenity options, you can try Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Sugar Fix or Smith + Cult in Cut The Mullet.

It Cosmetics has also come out with their Pantone inspired lip glosses. These Vitality Lip Blush™ Hydrating Gloss Stains are extremely hydrating and infused with oils and butters for the most luxurious feeling on lips (no stickiness)! Try shades Je Ne Sais Quoi and News Anchor Blue. Smith + Cult's Life in Photographs is also a light and gorgeous lip lacquer with a hint of shimmer. If you're not much of a gloss girl, KORRES Lip Butter in Jasmine is the way to go! It's a small jar packed with luxurious butter to leave lips smooth and slightly rosy.

One of our favorite brands, Hourglass Cosmetics, has a beautiful Ethereal Glow blush that gives off that rose quartz glow. We can't forget eyes - Sonia Kashuk's Fair & Square Eye Shadow Quad brings different shades of the rose color we all adore and offers textures of sparkle or matte without breaking the bank. Elizabeth Arden also offers new staple colors in Innocence (rose quartz) and Sky (Serenity). These two shadows can be worn lightly and eventually be built up for a evening look.

Last but certainly not least, Sephora has teamed up with Pantone to create the Pantone Color of the Year 2016 Collection! This collection will highlight Rose Quartz and Serenity for eyes and lips. For lips, the collection will include a Layer Lipstick, which will have a velvety smooth rose finish, and a Matte Color of the Year Lipstick in Serenity, which will be a lovely pastel blue. Some of you may be thinking, "how can I incorporate blue into my daily routine?" Don't worry! This lipstick can go from subtle to bold. We obviously can't have a collection without some fabulous lip-glosses, so the color of the year Modern Watercolors Lip Gloss Set will feature six pastel shades. Lastly, you'll want bold and beautiful eyes. The Modern Watercolors Eyes Palette will contain 24 shadows. Staple shades will be included as well as bold colors. This collection is available now at all Sephora locations.

Will you be picking up any of these Pantone inspired products?

This is a guest post written by Imani Wood-Rodriguez.

Dove Launches Curly Hair Emojis & Encourages Women Everywhere To #LoveYourCurls

We have exciting news from Dove! The time has finally come for curly-haired girls to be recognized on the emoji spectrum. That's right ladies - you will finally have an emoji that looks like you with curly hair and all. Not only do these emojis have curls, Dove offers a variety of skin tones and curl patterns. We can finally, truly connect with our emojis. I personally use emojis quite a bit, and as an iPhone user myself, they have become a part of my daily routine. For my Twitter friends out there, if you tweet using hashtag #LoveYourCurls an adorable curly hair emoji will immediately appear after the hashtag. According to research, 72% of curly-haired women would love to see an emoji that looks like them. Now that you have heard the news, go spread the word and download the app! It is available on Google play and the App Store.

This is a guest post written by Imani Wood-Rodriguez.

Case of the Mondays - 7 Beauty Products To Help Tackle The Week

Can you believe the Holidays are over? Christmas came and went so fast. I can't believe it's already time to say goodbye to 2015. This week, I'm gearing up for my annual New Year's Eve party. Family and close friends usually stop by my place for a night of games, food, fun, and laughs. Every year I vow to go out and every year we end up having a party at home. NYE is good time to reflect on the past year with family after-all. Did you guys have a good holiday? Any exciting beauty gifts to share?

For this week's Case of the Mondays, I'm testing a few new products and adding a few of these favorites to my New Year's routine. Keep reading for more info!


Chosungah 22 24H Raybeam Highlighter, $28

I'm all about glowing skin and this product from Chosungah 22 helps create the perfect glow. You can apply under or over makeup for bright, radiant-looking skin. It even comes with a puff to lightly apply.

Carol's Daughter Sacred Tiare Combing Creme, $10

I used this Carol's Daughter product on Christmas Eve and my family couldn't stop raving about my curls. I had washed my hair prior to dinner and my curls were completely frizz-free and pretty perfect. My hair looked unbelievably healthy and smelled divine. At only $10, I might be buying this in bulk very soon.

Colgate® Optic White® PLATINUM™ Express White Toothpaste, $3.99

Who wants dull teeth right before New Year's Eve? Not I. I've been using this toothpaste for about two weeks and can see a noticeable difference in my teeth shade. It's kind of like an instant whitening treatment without the dentist visit.

Amopé Pedi Perfect™ Extra Coarse Electronic Foot File with Diamond Crystals, Varies

Once upon a time, I had baby soft feet. My mother always said my feet were the softest as a child, and then, life happened. My feet are far from baby smooth anymore, but thanks to this product from Amope, it's pretty close. The brand is known for their Pedi Perfect, which buffs away hard skin in minutes. This version comes with diamond crystals. I'm sold.

Herbal Essences Naked Volumizing Souffle, $6.99

A boost of grapefruit & mint lifts hair, so it doesn't fall flat. Who doesn't need this during a New Year's Eve party?

Molton Brown London Vintage 2015 Body Lotion (Limited Edition), $44

There's nothing better than champagne-inspired packaging. I'm planning to apply this scented lotion for NYE and then leave on display for everyone to see. It's that pretty!

Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in Champagne, $4.99

Champagne will be on my body (in body lotion form as stated above), on my lips, and in my glass this NYE, of course!

What are your plans for New Year's Eve?

Holiday Gift Guide: Last Minute Gifts For The Skincare Obsessed

Looking for the perfect gift? Take a peek at Beauty in New York City's 2015 Holiday Gift Guides.

We all have those family and friends that are obsessed with their skin. They're always trying the newest products and constantly looking for the next best thing. Christmas is only two days away, but here are 12 last minute skincare gifts that would be perfect for them.

Philosophy Glowing Days Ahead Set, $89

Get ready to have glowing skin for the New Year! This set from Philosophy includes many of their best-sellers and is an excellent value.

L'Occitane La Crème De La Crème Divine Gift, $375

I live for L'Occitane's Divine Youth Oil (seriously, it's that good) and the entire Divine line is a must-have for anyone who is concerned with anti-aging. This set comes with the full Divine collection, including oil, toner, eye cream, serum, and best-selling Divine Cream. The perfect gift for any skincare maven.

Eve Lom The Perfectors Gift Set, $125

Cleanse, hydrate and smooth skin with this luxurious set from Eve Lom. It even comes with a  Muslin Cloth!

Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders + Cleanse, $72

A morning and evening daily system developed for an effective, easy, and healthy skincare routine to treat all major skin concerns.

Holiday Wishlist: The Gifts I'd Give Myself

Looking for the perfect gift? Take a peek at Beauty in New York City's 2015 Holiday Gift Guides.

As a beauty editor, I love a good beauty set just as the next person. My favorite time of the year for beauty shopping is definitely the holidays. From the beautiful packaging to the insane discounts, it's the most exhilarating time to shop for new beauty. Here are the beauty gifts on my holiday wishlist, including a few non-beauty items!

Violet Grey Iconic Nudes Set, $65

I love a good nude lip and this set includes one of my favorites from Charlotte Tilbury. Violet Grey has a great collection of holiday gifts and this set is my dream! The Iconic Nudes Set comes with a nude lipstick, nude nail polish from YSL, and a sleek white pouch to carry it all around.

La Prairie 'Reflections of Radiance' Set (Limited Edition), $870

La Prairie is another brand I fell in love with in 2015. Their skincare products are super luxurious and I can feel a difference in my skin immediately after using. The Reflections of Radiance Set includes my favorite Cellular Radiance line. This gift has a steep price point, but it's worth it.

Fresh Nude Lip Lover, $42

It's important to prep lips before you apply a lip product. I love using fresh's sugar lip treatment prior to lipstick. These are nude, rose, and honey tinted!

Nordstrom 2015 Holiday: Beauty Gifts Galore

Need a last minute gift? Nordstrom is my go-to online shopping destination for all things beauty and fashion. They offer some of the most luxurious brands from Tom Ford to Chanel. This year, I'm coveting many of their holiday gift sets. You can shop in store or online and online orders will arrive in in time for Christmas Eve. Shop my top must-haves below!

Case of the Mondays - 7 Products To Help Tackle The Week

Are you feeling the Christmas cheer? I hope your Monday blues aren’t getting in the way of your holiday excitement. It's a short week either way! Here are some special products to jump-start your entire week and possibly stuff in someone’s stocking!

Fiji Water 700 ml, $2.29

Water is an essential part of everyone’s daily routine. For a New Yorker on the go, FIJI brings you a new and improved 700 ml water bottle. This sleek water bottle is designed to fit anywhere without any trouble. Although the bottle has changed, the quality of the water that we all love is still unique tasting and hydrating! This new water bottle is now selling in stores nationwide.

Keep Calm and Lip Balm from Rimmel London, Varies

We've had a pretty warm winter considering it's December, but you can already feel the winter chill approaching. If you are anything like me, you hate dry, brittle, and chapped lips that the cold weather brings! I have just the remedy for you, Keep Calm and Lip Balm from Rimmel London. Not only are these lip balms super hydrating they also keep your lips supple and soft. This product is available in 5 different shades from clear to bold!

Aveda Be Curly Intensive Detangling Masque, $68

This one is for all my Curly Sue’s out there; Aveda has come out with a product that caters to every single curl pattern there is. This product is wonderful if you are looking to rule out frizz and bring in hydration to your curls. This product is also sulfate free. Wash and go curls on a Monday? Sounds good to me!

Holiday Gift Guide: Best Beauty Gifts for $50 & Under

Looking for the perfect gift? Take a peek at Beauty in New York City's 2015 Holiday Gift Guides.

With Christmas quickly approaching, it's crunch time to purchase those last minute gifts. I find that $50 and under is my sweet spot when shopping for gifts. Here are my top $50 and under picks for the season.

Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition 4pc Brush Set - Starstruck, $29.99

Super smooth brushes with gold encrusted handles? Sign me up.

Frank Body Sweet Cheeks, $49.95

A complete face range wrapped in a reusable canister.

Glossier Mask Duo Set, $38

Glossier is easily my new favorite brand of 2015. I adore the packaging and the products are getting better and better. This set includes six single serving pods of their best-selling detoxifying Mega Greens Galaxy Pack and six of their Moisturizing Moon Mask. Special bonus: a Glossier embroidered headband!

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Studded Kiss Lip Set, $42

A lip set with Studded Kiss lipsticks, featuring new limited-edition shade Gold Blooded and seven mini lip colors. Plus, the studded bottoms are perfect to find at the bottom of your purse.

Skyn Iceland Saving Face Kit, $50

I recently met with the founder of Skyn Iceland and I was really impressed by how much time and effort goes into creating this unique brand. Many trips to Iceland and ingredients later, the brand continues to innovate. This kit has two of my favorite products - Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels & Icelandic Relief Eye Pen. Whenever my eyes are looking too tired and need a bit of a boost, these are my go-to products.

Hum Nutrition Red Hot Holidays Set, $50

A special-edition holiday set that combines HUM's popular Red Carpet for glowing skin and fuller shinier hair, and Skinny Bird, a unique weight loss program.

beautyblender® pretty.posse Set (Limited Edition), $45

The holy grail of makeup sponges now comes in a limited edition set for the holidays. The set features the new micro.mini beauty blender (perfect for under eyes), bling ring dry stand, solid cleaner, and the rehydrator. 

Josie Maran Whimsical Wonder Argan Oil Color Essentials Set, $44

A five piece collection of Josie's Argan-infused color essentials-housed in a whimsical, pop-up style box for the holiday season.

bareMinerals The Regal Wardrobe, $29

bareMinerals never disappoints for holiday and this set is right on par. The shadows are smooth and the shade range works for day or nighttime looks.

Stella McCartney 'Stella' Eau de Toilette 1 oz, $48

The new Stella Eau de Toilette is inspired by the idea of a fresh, dewy rose captured in the morning sun. Underscored by sparkling green notes, this bright and bold composition embodies a young, fresh fragrance.

What's your price point sweet spot during the holiday season?

Holiday Gift Guide: Top 10 Gifts Under $25

Looking for the perfect gift? Take a peek at Beauty in New York City's 2015 Holiday Gift Guides.

Shopping for someone on a budget can sometimes be a struggle, so I rounded up my top ten favorite gifts under $25.




1. Dove Shea Butter Gift Set, $15
Who wouldn't love to receive Dove for the holidays? I love this set because it contains their best-selling body wash, 2 Shea Butter beauty bars, nourishing shampoo, conditioner, bath pouf, and comes in a convenient travel bag. This set is exclusive to Walmart, but Dove Beauty Bars make an excellent gift as well.

2. Tarte Deluxe Amazonian Butter Lipstick Set, $21
Tarte's butter lipsticks are just that - smooth as butter! This set comes with 4 shades that will work on every skin tone.

3. Lush Cosmetics Joy To The World Wrapped Gift, $19.95
LUSH gift sets are the perfect gift to give for the season. Not only do their gifts smell delightful, the packaging is an easy hit and comes already gift wrapped.

4. Sara Happ 'The Lip Slip®' Lip Balm, $24
Slip into this glossy, hydrating balm (no color) and wear all day and night.

5. Fresh Suga(RED) Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15, $22.50
A limited-edition Sugar Lip Treatment wrapped in red to support the fight against AIDS.

6. Compartes x Kelly Wearstler Marbleized Chocolate Bar, $12.95
You can't go wrong with this limited edition chocolate bar designed by Kelly Wearstler. It's even studded with edible 24karat gold leaf!

7. LORAC Pocket PRO Palette, $18
One matte and two shimmer eye shadows are just a beauty girl needs on the go. This product palette is a great gift for someone who travels often and wants to carry a small palette in her bag.

8. Lipstick Queen Galactic Gorgeous Lipstick, $24
Take your lips into a fuller dimension with this travel-sized selection of Big Bang glosses formulated with light-reflecting shimmer particles for an otherworldly shine.

9. Wildflower by Drew Barrymore, $16.66
I'm a huge Drew Barrymore fan, so I was very excited to hear she was releasing a new book on her life. The book just launched, but it's already a New York Times Bestseller!

10. e.l.f. Endless Eyes 100 Color Eyeshadow Palette, $15
100 color eye shadows for only $15? Say no more.

Holiday Gift Guide: Best of Makeup Palettes

Looking for the perfect gift? Take a peek at Beauty in New York City's 2015 Holiday Gift Guides.

Like any beauty lover, I'm a huge fan of palettes. They're compact, offer a variety of options, and are generally more affordable than purchasing individual products. Here are my top 11 picks this holiday season.

1.  Zoeva En Taupe Palette (seen above), $28

Taupe is the new black.

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Self Made Palette, $35

What I love about this palette is the wide variety of shades. You can still create a simple natural eye, but you can also add a pop of color if desired.

3. Urban Decay Vice 4 Palette, $60

Go bold or go home, according to Urban Decay's new Vice 4 palette.

4. Jane Iredale 'In The Blink Of A Smokey Eye' Kit, $50

A great gift for smokey eye beginners - it even contains a five step-by-step booklet to help create your desired eye look.

5. Dior Couture Creations Palette - Face, Eyes & Lips, $89

Luxurious Dior is sure to impress.

6. Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Eyeshadow Palette, $59

This beauty sold out extremely fast, but you can still find a few floating around eBay and Amazon. The color payoff on these shadows are some of the best I've ever seen. Kat Von D definitely knows color and this palette is the proof! 

7. Tarte Greatest Glitz Collector's Set & Portable Palettes, $49

Three removable eye and cheek palettes are just any beauty girl wants during the holiday season. Palettes in neutral, rose gold and smokey help create any look. Set also contains Tarte's best-selling mascara and silky LipSurgence Lip Crème.

8. Tyra Smoky Smize Palette, $39

Tyra Banks' new makeup collection is actually quite good! I first tried the setting spray and knew I need to try more. The Smize Palette for holiday season has is just what you need for classic smokey eyes. My favorite part? The See Your Smize Brush ​it comes with has a unique angled design.

9. Tory Burch Marrakech Eye Shadow Palette, $65

A Tory Burch Palette with shades of soft metallics in earthy taupe, gold and silver mix with smoky blue. 

10. Honest Beauty Everything Makeup Palette, $35

All you need to show your true colors.

11. Smashbox ART. LOVE. COLOR. Master Class, $65

A set of 40 Smashbox must-haves for cheeks and eyes in packaging inspired by groundbreaking artist Yago Hortal. 

Any of these palettes on your holiday wishlists?