HAIR TUTORIAL: ERIN WASSON'S EFFORTLESS BEACHY WAVES
Yesterday I uploaded my first vlog on YouTube. It's a short one but it gives you a behind the scenes look of what happens on press trips like this one with Herbal Essences. Make sure you hit play below and watch it okay? ;)
In this post I'll be talking to you more about the new Bio:Renew line and go through a new hair styling technique I learned from celebrity stylist, Charles Baker Strahan so keep reading.
Bio:Renew is a new premium line from the Herbal Essences family (price range $6.99 - $9.99). It was created to protect hair from daily harmful elements and helps revive dull hair. The line up includes shampoos, conditioners and styling products made with a blend of antioxidants, aloe and sea kelp.
Something I really enjoy about Bio:Renew is its ability to protect the hair from the daily elements that will eventually deteriorate the hair but also the ability to control frizz and create soft manageable hair. The Bio:Renew technology comes from the antioxidant called Histidine, which works for the hair the way superfoods work for the human body. It purifies and protects and by trapping, neutralizing and removing build-up free radicals that weaken hair.
Since the Herbal Essences brand is built on a foundation of natural hair care, I wanted to know a little more:
Is the Bio:Renew line biodegradable?
The majority of each formula is biodegradable. Each formula has a different levels of biodegradability.
Is it 100% natural? If not, can you tell me the percent of natural ingredients.
The Bio:Renew products are not 100% natural. We use the best of nature and science to craft products with amazing performance. Science can do beautiful things!
I read somewhere that all shampoos and the entire product line is safe for colour treated hair. Can you confirm?
Yes - all shampoos and conditioners are colour-safe. Coloured hair will soak up the antioxidants in Bio:Renew to protect from harmful oxidation.
Is there a heat-protecting product in the line up?
There is no specific heat protectant in the lineup. However, conditioners are your best defense for high heat. Applying the Herbal Essences oil-infused crème (Coconut Milk or Argan Oil) to damp hair will leave hair prepared for heat styling.
I have a lot of thick hair thats highly prone to frizz and only certain high end styling products tame. I was surprised to see that Bio:Renew left my hair with the same results as my $30 shampoo and $50 styling creme. I know it's a lot of money I spend on hair care but in my experience, not a lot of hair care is compatible with my hair type (thick and frizzy. Think Hermione from Harry Potter if my hair is au naturel.) Not gonna lie, I was really surprised and happy to see what a drug store product could do for me.
To give you guys a bigger picture, Bio:Renew was created with different hair types in mind in an array of luxury scents. The three models style here by celebrity stylist Charles Baker Strahan went from wavy hair, thin hair and black hair and all ended up with beautiful, shiny, managable bouncy hair.
If you like perfectly-undone-beachy-waves, pay attention to the mini tutorial below to see how Charles gets those gorgeous waves. He's worked on some of my favourite style icons like Erin Wasson and created a similar look on my hair. Since returning back home I have been using the Bio:Renew Argan Oil of Morcocco shampoo and conditioner and I'm still loving it. I've also been styling my hair the way Charles taught me and I find my style lasts longer and is easier to manage.
Click PLAY to learn how to get textured waves.
Click PLAY to watch my NYC vlog.
Photos and video content by Michael Biro and Nathalie Martin.
Hair by Charles Baker Strahan for Herbal Essences.
This post is sponsored by Herbal Essences. All opinions are my own.
TRAVEL DIARY: 24 HOURS IN NYC
As a full time blogger I'm very fortunate to be my own boss. Occasionally I get to partake in fun PR trips to some cool locations with some of my favourite brands. When Herbal Essences emailed me about a quickie NYC trip to check out their latest assortment of hair care, I was pretty excited, especially since I was accompanied by my very dear blogger friend, Michael, globalgarcon.net. We were there for 24 hours so we made the best use of our time checking out the city between PR appointments.
We stayed at gorgeous Bowery Hotel, which has a warm inviting old school vibe with a contemporary twist. Lucky for us our hotel was located in the Lower East Side which felt pretty central to everything. We were a quick 10-15 minute Uber drive from SoHo where we spent a majority of our last day. BTW - I did film a short vlog during my stay but I can't seem to find the footage so stay tuned for that.
By the time 5pm hit, we were en route to La Guardia and headed back to Toronto. I think most cities can be done in a quick 24 hour trip and it's just a matter of how you prioritize your time to see everything. Just go watch an episode of Richard Ayoade's Travel Man for some inspo (his trips are 48 hours but you get the point).
I hope you enjoy this short NYC Travel Diary! Let me know what your favourite places to visit in NYC are so I can get an idea of where to visit the next time I'm there. As always if you like this pictures, be sure to share the love on Pinterest and leave me a comment if you want to see more like this.
WHERE TO STAY
The Bowery Hotel, 335 Bowery NY, located downtown on the Lower East Side. I had the prettiest sunrise view from my 8th floor room. Make sure you order room service, the pancakes where amazing!
BE SURE TO VISIT SoHo
The iconic architecture is even more impressive in person and every corner is just as photogenic from the next. SoHo is fashion mecca for those who love high end fashion. Each corner is scattered with shops like Isabel Marant, Chanel, Saint Laurent, & Other Stories, The Kooples and so on.
WHERE TO EAT
Be sure you stop by Chloe, 240 Lafayette in SoHo. This vegan joint specializes in "fast food" type fare with burgers, fries, salads, cupcakes and smoothies. Make sure you try the guac burger and the beet ketchup with your fries because they're out of this world.
WHAT TO WEAR
Jeans, a leather jacket and a comfortable shoe for walking around NYC. I opted for my Saint Laurent Candy platform boots and my small cross body. The boots surprisingly comfortable and make a statement.
Photography by Michael Biro and Nathalie Martin.
Special thanks to Herbal Essences for the trip to NYC.
KAT VON D PASTEL GOTH REVIEW + TUTORIAL
I've been a fan of Kat Von D since the days of Miami Ink. I thought she was so damn weird but so cool and man, is she ever talented! Her beauty line is legit and for anyone who hasn't tried it yet, her concealer and contour palette are worth every penny and everything is 100% vegan.
I can't even tell you guys how excited I was when I got a PR package with her latest PASTEL GOTH PALETTE, the BRIGHTENING POWDER and MAKEUP SETTING SPRAY. I tell you guys over and over again that I'm a makeup junkie and the only reason I hadn't already picked up PG palette is because I was reluctant after my disappointment with the SERPENTINA palette. I tried so hard to make it work but the colours were patchy, the colour payoff was awful and the gold glitter in the palette was such a major disappointment. Well good news because the PASTEL GOTH formula is incredible! It's like night and day really and I couldn't be happier to start creating something for you guys.
First of all, I have to tell you that seven of the eight shadows are highly pigmented and have incredible coverage. Just look at the swatch for the yellow shade below. It's sitting right over top of my tattoo and it covered it up completely. The only shadow that doesn't have complete colour pay off is the white but I don't mind. Normally when I use white it's to accentuate an area so I wouldn't use it full strength anyway. I should mention the swatches on my arm where done on bare skin but on my eyes, I did use a primer. In terms of longevity, the formula wears well into the night and I didn't have problems with creasing.
Overall, I love the palette! If you're adventurous with makeup, then this is for you. There's a lot of diversity in this palette and you don't have to look like Rainbow Brite when you rock the colours, but if you want to, go for it and do what makes you happy. If you're more into natural makeup, then skip this one but definitely pick up the BRIGHTENING POWDER. It's on par with Laura Mercier's iconic Secret Brightening Powder and comes in three shades for different skin tones.
I hope you guys like the look I created below. If you do, leave me a comment and let me know if this is the kind of beauty post you want to keep seeing! ;)
Also- what do you guys think of my recent makeup posts? Do you like the graphics I'm creating? Visually I think they're more exciting than a flatlay and also I'm having a lot of fun creating them. It's more work though because I'm taking the individual product shots, editing and putting everything together for you here but I really want to excite you guys when you visit my blog so I hope you like it! Make sure to share my images on Pinterest if you do!
YELLOW + BLUE GRAPHIC EYE MAKEUP
1.
Using your favourite eye primer, prime your lids from lash line to brow bone.
2.
Get those eyebrows on! Mine are sparse AF and look crazy without brow pencil.
3.
Use a flat fluffy brush and apply SKULL, the matte white, from your lash line to brow. Then using a smaller brush apply it to the bottom lash line.
Now taking a flat eyeshadow brush and apply STAR, the yellow shade, to the eye lids by using a pressing motion. You'll need to do this a few times to build up the colour intensity but it doesn't take long.
4.
Now using a fluffy crease brush, take LAZARUS, a cool light brown shade, from the SHADE & LIGHT EYE PALETTE and apply it to the crease.
Add more STAR to the lid if the colour transfers.
With a small smudge brush, apply DOOM, the vibrant blue colour, along your bottom lash line.
To make the colour pop more I used Make Up For Ever's Aqua XL waterproof eyeliner in M-26, a matte pastel blue.
5.
Using Kat Von D's TATTOO LINER in TROOPER draw a thick graphic cat eye. I find the thick line balances out the pastels nicely.
6.
Curl your lashes and coat them with your favourite mascara. If you're a falsies girl, go for it! I'm shit at applying lashes so I skipped them.
That's it for the eyes!
For face contour I used Kat Von D's SHADE & LIGHT CONTOUR PALETTE which is one of my favourites! For blush I used her DUO BLUSH in SAMSON & DELILAH, a pretty pink-coral shade which has been sadly discontinued.
For under eye, I used her LOCK-IT CONCEALER CRÉME in shade M17 WARM and set it with the new LOCK-IT BRIGHTENING POWDER in shade GOLDEN. I have pretty medium-dark under eye circles and I find this combo does an amazing job at covering them up and it's not cakey or dry and wears beautifully through out the day!
For lips I wanted something more natural so the attention could stay focused on the eyes. I used LOLITA II, one of my favourite nude liquid lipsticks for Kat's Everlasting lippie collection.
Finally I set my face with Kat's new LOCK-IT MAKEUP SETTING MIST.
All artwork, photography and makeup by Nathalie Martin.
Kat Von D Pastel Goth Palette, Brightening Powder and Makeup Setting Mist where provided as PR samples.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
NYC STREET STYLE
I love NYC! Who doesn't? While I was only there for a short 24 hours I made the best of my time there and made sure to explore SoHo and stop by vegan hot spot, by Chloe. OMG was that bean guac burger ever amazing! I'll be putting together a mini NYC travel diary together for you guys as well as pics of the Bowery Hotel where I stayed with Herbal Essences.
I also have to shoutout Michael, aka Global Garçon, for taking these pics. I don't know what it is but whenever he gets behind the camera I turn into a different person. I smile more in pics and feel freer in photos. It's probably because we're such goofs when we're together and we're always laughing like two little school girls. If you haven't already, make sure you check out his blog. His personal style is very similar to mine so I know you guys will dig it. Can I just say, if I was a dude, I'm pretty sure I'd dress like him. (Except I'd show more chesticle. LOL) Love you Michael!
I'm wearing: The Kooples leather jacket, Zara jeans, Frank & Eileen plaid Grayson shirt, black v-neck tshirt from my private collection (available on my shop here), Saint Laurent Candy platform boots and small cross body bag, Holt Renfrew beanie, Valentino Rockstud bracelets, David Yurman bracelet and Ray Ban aviators.
SHOP MY LOOK
Photography by Michael Biro, globalgarcon.net
Special thanks to Frank & Eileen for the plaid shirt. All opinions are my own.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
EDITOR'S FAVOURITES: JANUARY EDITION
This January has been incredible! Between travel opportunities to Montreal and New York and working on special projects that will soon be revealed, life has been crazy and hectic but in the best of ways. My go-to beauty items are hard working, reliable and TSA approved cuz I'm the kind of girl who prefers traveling with a carry-on.
1. Lise Watier Blush in Libertine
I love blush so it's hard for me to pick just one shade to travel with! This blush warms up my complexion and makes the apples of my cheeks look rosy and youthful. I lurve it.
2. Sephora Pro Featherweight #90 Complexion Brush
This universal brush is great for applying foundations but it's my favourite for applying my Libertine blush.
3. Laura Mercer Secret Brightening
Can they just call this Magic already? Seriously! It brightens and sets under eye concealer to perfection AND it never looks cakey!
4. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
The OG! It's the first thing I apply before my morning makeup routine because I find it helps my lipstick stays on longer. It's also the last thing I do at night to keep my lips hydrated and from getting chapped. It's well worth the $30 and a tube should last a year.
5. Kaia Naturals The Takesumi Detox travel deodorant
It's made with bamboo charcoal which is known for its detox properties and fights odor causing bacteria. Best of all, its' 100% natural and 100% easy to carry in even the smallest handbags.
6. SBT Seabuckthorn Sensative Skin Soothing Salve
This salve is vegan and 100% natural packed with good-for-your-skin essential oils like seabuckthorn seed & fruit oils, pomegranate oil, rosehip, helichrysum, rice bran, geranium and lavender. I've been using it on my dry nose, hands and elbows all winter long. Best of all, it's safe for those with eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and seborrhea.
7. Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Perfume Oil
I get so many compliments when I wear Nirvana Black! It's mysterious, feminine and warm with notes of vanilla, sandalwood and violet. When I travel I prefer the oil instead of the roller ball because I find it lasts longer.
8. Garnier Moisture Bomb The Antioxidant SuperMoisturizer in SPF 30
This lightweight lotion has Hyaluronic Acid and is jam packed with glycerin! If you didn't know, glycerin acts as a makeup primer and seals in moisture. Best of all this lotion contains SPF 30 to keep you protected from the suns rays.
9. Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation
I find it's a bit heavy for everyday use but it's my absolute favourite foundation for traveling and when I'm in front of the camera. It's hydrating, lightweight and offers medium-to-full buildable coverage and applies beautifully with a Beauty Blender. Best of all, even without a primer this foundation lasts all day.
10. Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick
My go-to lipstick for life! It's long wearing and won't dry up as long as you moisturize your lips before hand. I find the Agave Lip Mask to be this liquid lippies best companion. My favourite shades are Out Loud, a brick red shade, and Driver's Seat, a medium rosy-brown with a neutral base that's excellent for olive and yellow skin tones.
11. Oribe Signature Shampoo
It's a tad pricey but it's gentle enough for coloured hair and everyday use (though I wash my hair 2-3 times a week). It tames my naturally frizzy hair and leaves it smooth, shiny and manageable.
Artwork and photography by Nathalie Martin.
Some items were provided as PR samples. All opinions are my own.
Affiliate marketing links in this story are used as form of compensation.
YO, IS MY HAIR BRASSY?!
Hello! I have returned to life after being hit with the worst cold that ran six days straight! In that time I probably watched more Tana Mongeau videos than anyone should ever admit so now I'm going to tell you what I learned. For those who don't know Tana, she is an 18 year old YouTuber based out of Las Vegas with over 2.5 million subscribers who has recently being accused for being racist for her use of the N word and lying about having a stalker. Look her up.
I first watched Tana out of intrigue and then out of frustration and confusion because she doesn't doesn't give two fucks about what she says or does, on YouTube. She has a video with fellow YouTuber Shane Dawson (7.9 million subs!) where she pees, farts and gets period blood on him in addition to talking about all sorts of vile stuff for us all. In the follow up video, Tana spits a loogie into Shane's wide open mouth after crying about a Ouija board. Insert side eye emoji here.
So imagine me, sick in bed with a fever, snotty tissues, drooling off the side of my face sick, watching this stupid girl called Tana performing vulgar acts and saying vile things and thinking to myself, "shit, this kid has guts". I can't imagine being her age, or any age for that matter and having my parents, family and friends see me do such things on screen because wait, I am not vulgar or vile and I have something called integrity. On the other hand I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, I'm too closed off. I mean, for fucks sakes, I wear sunglasses in every post!
Let's rewind for a sec. BTC (before the cold) I had a call with someone who runs a well known agency. You know what they said to me, "Had you not been recommended by the brand, I wouldn't have picked you for the campaign based on your Instagram." OUCH!! It's shitty to hear but man, did I need to hear it! Turns out my innocent little act of wearing sunnies in every posts is actually hurting my reputation!
- People don't know what I look like and therefore brands who I want to work with are reluctant to cast me.
- My IG feed is "too perfect" therefore "lacking personality".
FUCK. SHIT. FUCK.
So Tana Mongeau, the lewd 18 year old YouTuber with her millions of subbies, taught me that being yourself is better than hiding behind a pair of designer sunglasses. Because now I'm at a point where brands (who pay my bills ultimately because I am a freelance blogger) know me as the chick with cool style (or at least I hope) but they don't know who I am therefore why cast me????
So who am I?
I'm a 36 year old hispanic chick who immigrated to Canada when I was six, I'm a wife to a Canadian man who is the kindest most patient person I know, I'm a cat mommy for two domestic black cats who where strays, I'm a former vegan, now vegetarian who wears leather because I gave up meat and fish in hopes of doing my part to save the planet, I'm an avid recycler who loves nature and hiking and would rather spend a holiday discovering Yosemite than going to New York, I'm a crafter and DIY-er and I love to cook, I'm a music lover - the Beatles, Soundgarden, Jimmy Eat World, Arianna Grande (yup!) The Weeknd, I love music so much I subscribe to SiriusRadio so I'm never without it and finally, I'm a person who has to be up at 5 am tomorrow to film a TV spot tomorrow so BOOYA, life works in mysterious ways so I'm thankful for Tana's weird antics (not the racism) and the person who told me I lacked personality online.
I'm wearing: Givenchy boots and Pandora bag, Mackage leather skirt, Aritzia hoodie (for ages ago), Dior glasses, Kate-Cate star strap, Rachel's Box tights.
* Special thanks to kate-cate.com for the awesome star strap and giving my Givenchy bag new life!
#newin TOO FACED X KAT VON D, IGK, BITE AGAVE LIP BALM & GARNIER MOISTURE BOMB
It's a new year and a new(ish) month and I don't know about you guys but I'm feeling pretty optimistic about 2017. The beauty world is proving to be just as exciting and there are plenty of amazing new launches out there. Here are some just some of the favourites that have made it's way to the WoahStyle beauty closet recently.
I'm going to keep the #newin section short and sweet to show case new items but please let me know if you guys want reviews on any of these products and I'll whip something up for you. For the Too Faced Sweet Peach collection, you can find my review here.
IGK Smoke & Mirrors Conditioning Cleansing Oil, $33
It's a lightweight and effective cleansing oil that replaces your everyday shampoo. It's gentle enough for everyday use and it seems nice.
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm, Lip Scrub & Agave Lip Mask, $20
Bite's iconic Agave lip mask now comes in a convenient tube that's perfect for traveling. For dry lips, there's a scrub that leaves your lips feeling fresh as new.
Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb The Antioxidant Super Moisturizer
The newest addition to the SkinActive family, the Moisture Bomb line does not disappoint and it's become a quick favourite after just one use! Best of all, it's a drug store item which means drug store price!
Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant, $79
Gentle enough for everyday use, this powder exfoliator just needs a bit of water so scrub away daily impurities and keeps your skin glowing.
TOO FACED SWEET PEACH GLOW PALETTE, $52
This pretty tin comes with a flattering peach blush, a highlighter and shimmery bronzer that's perfect to travel with. Best of all, it smells like peaches! Click here for my review on the Sweet Peach collection.
Cake Beauty Heavenly Cream Intensive Hand Repair Balm, $22
It smells like cake batter but it protects your hands against the cold winter months. Best of all, it's vegan and cruelty free!
maybelline matte lipstick in Brown Blush, $10
The right nude lipstick will do wonders for your complexion. This one is flattering to most skin tones and the formula wears comfortably.
Too Faced x Kat Von D Better Together Cheek & Lip Makeup Bag, $47
I had been going crazy for this collaboration since I learned about it in the summer. This cute bag features two limited edition cheek items from Too Faced and two limited edish lippies from Kat Von D that are beyond amazing. And hi, how cute is this two faced makeup bag? ;)
Too Faced x Kat Von D Better Together Ultimate Eye Collection, $79
Featuring 12 limited edition eye shadows and a full sized Better Than Sex Mascara and Tattoo eye liner in Trooper, this kit is a dream come true!
L'Oréal Butterfly Sculpt Mascara, $13
L'Oréal never disappoints with mascara! This one beefs up lashes and separates them without clumps or smudging!
Annabelle Eye Primer, $9 and matte eyeshadow, $6
Is there anything better than finding amazing drug store items that work? I think not. LOL. This primer has become a quick favourite. Eye shadows last and appear more vibrant. Use the Annabelle matte shadow following the primer application to seal in the primer.
*Disclaimer: Some of the items listed in this post were provided as PR samples. All photos and opinions belong to woahstyle.com.
VINTAGE COFFEE, IS IT WORTH THE HYPE?
Like fine wine and hard to find limited edition Chanel bags, somethings just get better with age and yes, coffee is one of them. That's right, add vintage coffee to your favourites list because I promise, this one is all sorts of next-level-amazing.
If you're like me, you'll have to leave the non-dairy creamer in the fridge because Nespresso's very limited Selection Vintage 2014 roast, 3 year aged beans, (available for both VertuoLine and Original Line) is best enjoyed black. I normally prefer a level 3-4 (light roast) and the Vintage 2014 is a level 7 (medium to dark roast) but because it has such a smooth taste, I don't miss the almond milk one bit. You don't need to dilute the flavour and you wouldn't want to either. Coffee connoisseurs will hate me for saying this but the Vintage 2014 almost has a chocolatey taste. I'm not too far off because the aromatic profile is described as a "complex taste with elegant woodiness and soft fruity notes".
Like a fine wine, this coffee is perfect for pairing with a slice of chocolate cake or aged cheddar. If you ask me, it would have to be with cake.
Let me summarize Vintage 2014 for you in the best, most honest way I can:
This coffee is like a treat you keep in the back of your cupboard where your significant other won't find it and you can have all of it to yourself. It's like a treat that you save for last and don't share with the guests. (Sorry mom!) And if you like them as much as I do, you're going to have to stock up before they're gone because when Nespresso says limited edition, they mean it.
Nespresso Selection Vintage 2014 is a complex taste with elegant woodiness and soft fruity notes.
QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE TRUST IS GONE?
I have a question for you guys and maybe you can help me shed some light on to the topic. What do you do when you no longer trust someone? When it's so bad that it keeps you up at night and you have nightmares about this person hurting you. What do you do?
I think the answer is pretty obvious, break up. Sometimes it's easier said than done though because there are ties and at the end of the day, I'm afraid fomo will set in. What would I miss out on if we break up and would I be better in the long run if I stick around and wait for things to get better? I think that's seldom that case in a dysfunctional/ no trust relationship and things either remain the same until they get worse or maybe they eventually fizzle out? Maybe they get better? I don't know anymore.
Give me your honest opinions guys and don't hold back. As you can tell I'm at a total loss. Part of my brain is telling me to get out, the other part is telling me to suck it up. Help!
WHAT I'M WEARING
Sanctuary Clothing leopard print coat. Isabel Marant endings t-shirt. Ray Ban sunglasses. Rag & Bone zippered jeans. Saint Laurent leather Candy platform boots. Givenchy Pandora bag, small size. Cashmere beanie from Holt Renfrew. Beaded necklace from Lisbeth Jewelry. Brave leather belt. Felony Case iPhone case.
In collaboration with Sanctuary Clothing. All photos and opinions are my own.