If you’re on TikTok, there’s no doubt that Laura Mercier’s Real Flawless Foundation has been all over your FYP recently – and with good reason. It’s currently going viral (major understatement) and receiving glowing reviews from those in the beauty community. Huge beauty influencers such as Nikki Tutorials, GlamZilla and Jeffree Star (to name just a few) have been raving about the cult new product this week, and we’re here to tell you why…

Featuring the Perfecting Color Technology to lift sallowness and dullness for cake-free, color-true wear, the Auto-Balancing Technology instantly hydrates for smoother skin and helps reduce shine throughout the day. Giving the look of perfect photo shopped skin! ($48.00)

This long-wearing foundation blurs the line between makeup and skin to reveal a healthier-looking complexion. The skin-loving formula provides perfecting medium buildable coverage so weightless, you’ll forget you’re wearing anything at all. 

The formula blurs the look of imperfections, pores and fine lines. It helps combat redness and uneven skin tone and is infused with Camelia Seed, Vitamin E, Cacao Extract – an anti-oxidant rich formula to help defend against pre-mature aging and protect skin from damage caused by environmental and blue light stressors. Good for your skin and looks flawless? Count me in.

It’s weightless, waterproof, buildable, fade proof and has 12 hours of wear.. could it be any better? Shop your shade now at Laura Mercier and join the hype.

The post We Need to Talk About the Absolutely Viral Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation appeared first on theFashionSpot.

The viral TikTok (or #BeautyTok, to some) trend, “retinol sandwiching,” is one of the hottest trends in the beauty industry…over 22.5 million views and counting.

But how does it work and how do we do it?

Janna Ronert, IMAGE Skincare founder and esthetician, describes the skincare technique as “using a layer of moisturizer before and after you apply retinol so it’s ‘sandwiched’ between two other layers of product.” The idea is to limit irritation to the skin, which can sometimes be caused by retinol.

Ronert recommends always choosing a lightweight moisturizer to ensure you don’t deplete the effectiveness of the retinol too much and to reach for an encapsulated retinol. “Even before you add the sandwiching technique, an encapsulated retinol is already less likely to cause irritation. I usually recommend including the moisturizer after retinol because without the added layer of hydration, the risk of sensitivity is higher. In addition, I always find that retinol can be drying on the skin – even for those with oily skin – so most people need to load up on moisture when using it to avoid dry or flaky skin.”

Is this trend new?

While this trend might seem new to many, it’s actually a commonly recommend one in the beauty space. “Estheticians and skin experts have been recommending laying retinol with moisturizer for years to prevent the negative effects of irritation, dryness and flaking that retinol can cause,” says Ronert.

And it’s certainly a worthy trend.

“I’m a fan of retinol sandwiching because you can get a big dose of retinol for plumping collagen and a super dose of hydration in one program,” says Ronert. “It can help alleviate any irritation – such as flaking or dryness – that can sometimes be caused by retinol. It acts as a barrier between the active ingredient and the skin. In addition, moisturizing after using retinol helps seal in moisture which can help limit any sensitivity.”

The key is to choose the right formula for your skin and to stick with it. “Pick a retinol with an enhanced delivery system such as the aforementioned encapsulated retinol. This type of retinol means the active ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin layer before being activated, so it is highly effective but still gentle on the skin. The IMAGE Skincare AGELESS total retinol-A crème is the ideal intensive blend of encapsulated retinol, glycolic acid and lactic acid. Even before you add the sandwiching technique, an encapsulated retinol is already less likely to cause irritation.”

The post The Viral Retinol Sandwiching Trend Is Expert Approved appeared first on theFashionSpot.

Last year one of the major social media driven beauty trends was skin cycling – a less is more approach to skin – 2023 is seeing that trend expand to haircare. In fact, at the time of writing this article there are about 6.5 billion views for videos tagged with “hair cycling” on TikTok!

So, what exactly is hair cycling?

“Hair cycling is alternating the cleansing and conditioning products you use to address the specific needs of your hair more strategically,” explains Steve Waldman, the artistic/technical director and a product consultant for Hair Cuttery. “Instead of using a jack of all trades/master of none product every time you shampoo or prioritize one hair need over the others, cycling allows you to comprehensively address the health of your hair in steps to ensure it feels, looks and is its best in every way.”

He goes on to explain that the first step in the cycle is usually a detox and clarifying shampoo or scrub to get rid of product that builds up on the hair, dulling it over time. This allows you to start fresh. Next, Waldman recommends a shampoo and conditioner that repairs any damage and adds strength to maximize its structural integrity of the hair. Opt for one formulated for your daily styling needs (think volumizing, smoothing, etc.). Finally, he says, moisture is essential in the third part of your cycle for shine, softness and manageability, so you’ll want to opt for a hydrating leave-in product.

Is hair cycling actually expert approved? Spoiler: Yes!

While TikTok has put the spotlight on hair cycling, it’s actually a practice that has been around for awhile. “It’s a great way to address your hair’s multiple needs without ‘over-correcting’ a single issue with one product, while neglecting any other conditions that might need attention,” says Waldman. “It’s also perfect for people who like to shampoo their hair frequently.”

The post The Latest TikTok Craze: What To Know About Hair Cycling appeared first on theFashionSpot.

“Aura nails have taken trends for nail art to a whole new level by integrating the concept of your specific aura colors into a fabulous manicure,” explains Rianna Basurto, a marketing associate at Bellacures. The look is literally sweeping TikTok. At the time of writing this story “aura nails tutorial” has a whopping 22 billion views.

So, what are aura nails, exactly?

“The style itself is meant to emulate the look of an aura photo that showcases your aura colors in a circular ombre design,” says Basurto. “While there are various takes on how to achieve this look, our newest service at Bellacures takes a unique approach to the aura nail design. Our Spiritual Reawakening service highlights the aura nail style by cleansing your aura, setting your intentions, and engaging your senses. This service is intended to help heal your inner self, by taking your typical nail care routine, and elevating into an experience that speaks to your higher being.”

Basurto goes on to note that to achieve the trend you’ve been seeing on your socials, you will likely need to have the look airbrushed onto your nails by a professional manicurist to achieve the signature gradient/faded look – even on the off chance you have an airbrush, it’s not as easy as it looks (and frankly, if you watch many TikTok videos it looks pretty messy…). “Oftentimes this look will need to be done on Gel-X or acrylic as it requires a bit more nail bed space to deposit the proper amount of color to create the gradient circular effect.”

What’s great about this style of manicure is that it takes nail art to a new personalized level – and it has good juju vibes, and who can’t use more of those?

If you don’t have the chance to opt for an in-salon treatment, a home hack is to use a wedge sponge to create the signature center fade. Apply polish in color A to your nails and then apply a small drop in a circular shape of color B surrounded by color A to the sponge and press down. Here’s a quick video to illustrate.

The post Here’s What To Know About Aura Nails appeared first on theFashionSpot.

We’ve all come across the seemingly endless viral skincare TikTok trends like “sunscreen contouring,” “face taping” and the ever-present, “this product will cure your acne.” While these trends can be helpful (and often even fun) they’re not always backed by science and can sometimes lead to widespread misinformation. To separate fact from fiction we turned to Jewel, Woodhouse Spa’s lead esthetician and corporate trainer.

Can toothpaste make a pimple go away?

“Using toothpaste can cause a skin reaction and make a pimple worse. Before 2016, toothpaste had an ingredient called Triclosan, which could help dry out pimples; however, this ingredient has been banned by the FDA since 2016 and is no longer found in toothpaste. Instead, treat with one of these: Benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic acid, or Adapalene.”

Is “sunscreen contouring” dangerous?

“Do not follow this trend. To intentionally ‘tan’ contour lines on your face is unsafe.  Any skin darkening from UV exposure is a sign of sun damage; therefore, contour lines are sun damage markings and can lead to melanoma.”

Does taping your face prevent wrinkles?

“Putting tape on your face essentially just reminds you to not elevate your brows or crinkle the face, so it limits facial movements. However, putting tape on your face is not going to prevent wrinkles or crinkles; it simply acts as a reminder to make fewer facial movements.”

Can Neosporin be used to treat acne scars?

“Neosporin is not dermatologist-recommended because it carries the risk of an allergic reaction to its neomycin ingredient. Neosporin is not advised to treat the bacteria that causes acne. Acne scars are essentially inflamed blemishes that developed discoloration when healing. To treat acne scars, look for ingredients like vitamin C to reduce the appearance of post-acne dark spots, and salicylic acid to help diminish scar texture.”

Does face rolling help slim down your face?

“Face rolling focuses on complexion and reducing puffiness. This is not a permanent fix and will not alter your jawline or face contour. Three ways for facial slimming are Masseter Botox, chin filler, and/or cheek filler.”

The post An Expert Debunks Viral Skincare TikTok Trends appeared first on theFashionSpot.

If you love trying new makeup looks then it might be time to give the “siren eyes” trend a try. This seductive eye look has over 315 million views on TikTok!

It’s a creative way of doing eyeliner and gives an elongates, lifted effect creating a mysterious gaze without having to try too hard. You just need an eyeliner pen/pencil and black shadow to get the look. While it may have started as a big TikTok trends a ton of celebs, like Megan Fox and Bella Hadid, have also been spotted sporting this eye look.

“Siren eyes are all the rage right now and rightfully so,” says Kristen Fortier, makeup artist and product innovation lead for Crunchi Cosmetics. “The process to create siren eyes is actually pretty simple and can be achieved with just a few staple products.”

Keep reading for a look at Fortier’s step-by-step guide.

Step 1: “Create a smoky but natural eyeshadow look that elevates the eyes. Use a palette that is already curated to create this look like Crunchi’s  Shadow Bar Vol. II. Focus on placing the shadow in and slightly above your natural crease while blending up toward the end of the brow bone. The goal is to give the eyes a lifted, elongated appearance.”

Step 2: “Use a pigmented black eyeliner pencil to create a winged liner from the outer corner of the eyes to just above the crease. An easy way to make sure your wing is right for your eye shape is to line up your lower lash line and the end of your brow bone.”

Step 3: “Use a dark brown or black eyeshadow to smoke out the wing to give it a very sultry finish. Using an angled brush or small eyeshadow brush is best for this.”

Step 4: “Apply a black eyeliner on your upper and lower water lines. This will help create the illusion of a thick lash band and play up the smokiness of the eye look. If you have smaller eyes, I recommend only applying the black eyeliner halfway across the lower waterline.”

Step 5: “Take your dark brown or black eyeshadow and smoke out the lower lash line. This will help take away any harshness of the waterline eyeliner.”

Step 6: “Apply several coats of a volumizing mascara to the top and bottom lashes. If desired, you can also add a few individual lashes to the outer corner of the eyes to emphasize the wing.”

Step 7: “Keep the inner corner of the eyes looking clean by placing highlighter like Crunchi’s Luminescence Highlighter or a shimmer eyeshadow to reflect light and keep the eyes looking sultry but bright.”

The post Siren Eyes: One Of TikTok’s Favorite Trends appeared first on theFashionSpot.

If you haven’t read about TikTok’s viral Revlon Volcanic Roller trend, you’ve definitely seen it if you follow beauty influencers – there are literally endless videos in which women rave about the Revlon Oil-Absorbing Volcanic Face Roller. It retails for $14 and while it may not be enough to save the company after they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, there’s no denying the efficacy of the product.

“The volcanic stone roller helps remove excess oil on the points of the face that it is rolled over,” explains Nicole Martino, director of marketing & innovation for PPI Beauty. “The volcanic stone picks up oil without removing makeup and is reusable, making it a more sustainable option than blotting papers.” Plus, these properties make it easy for touch-ups on-the-go.

But it’s far from the only option out there.

The EcoTools Oil-Absorbing Roller, for example, is also made of natural, volcanic mattifying stone and is reusable, but also has a recycled plastic handle.  And, like the Revlon one, it works to remove excess oil without smudging makeup or leaving a white cast on the skin. It retails for $9.99.

In both cases all you do is massage the ball on the skin to give it a boost and prevent clogged pores.  

These rollers work for all skin tones and types. “They’re best for anyone who is looking to remove excess oil in a more sustainable way and they’re perfect to use throughout the day and can be thrown in your bag since they have caps.”

To boost efficacy Martino suggests pairing it with Miracle Airblend Sponge, which Real Techniques launched last year. “It’s made with memory-foam technology to hug your skin and provide a matte, fuller coverage. The Miracle Airblend Sponge has our unique three-point application technique like our Miracle Complexion Sponge, but is meant to be used dry with liquids or creams to achieve that mattified finish. It can be paired with our Miracle Powder Sponge to add any powder products for a finish that lasts.”

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