Beauty Buzz | WhyDid.com

Would You Wednesday: Fresh Shave

By Kirsten|March 6th, 2013|Beauty Buzz, Why Did or Why Don't?|

Recently, I’ve noticed quite a few songstresses and celebrities with a very daring hairstyle created by shaving one side of their heads and leaving the rest of their locks long. I must admit it, it’s an undeniably edgy look that the average wallflower couldn’t pull off, but it makes me a little nervous. I’m pretty attached (both literally and figuratively) to my tresses and if you think bangs are hard to grow out, I can’t imagine what kind of fun ensues when trying to even out your follicles once one tires of the look. On the upside, I suppose it’d cut drying time in half.

So would you try the look?

Chop, chop.

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Love Me, Love Me Not

By Kirsten|February 7th, 2013|Beauty Buzz|

Before there was a Christian Louboutin next to the deli on my block (before a bag of chips cost $10), there used to be an art gallery with big glass windows. Inside this gallery was a huge neon sign, a beacon of glowing red ligt in the night, that said, “Love Me.” I wished so badly I had the wall space and cash to acquire this piece of art that’s basically my life’s motto. Little did I know, this was from the same street artist who has made his mark all over New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo with his signature, “Love Me” campaign. You may have seen it scribbled on everything from the side of a building to the side of a meat truck. The man behind this beautiful mantra? Curtis Kulig. Not only is his message beautiful, he’s not too bad to look at, ladies.

But alas, as all artists know, these bills won’t pay themselves. His “Love Me” logo gained so much momentum that everyone from Vans to Urban Outfitters has tapped him to add a little love to their products. And just in time for Valentine’s Day, he’s also teamed up with Smashbox, which may seem like an odd collaboration, but might be the most fitting as makeup application is actually a form of art. These are the perfect little items to treat yourself or a friend to for Valentine’s Day and, of course, to spread a little love.

Love Me Paint Pen Eyeliner, $24, Love Me Eyeshadow Palette, $34, Love Me Be Legendary Lipstick, $19, Love Me Blush, $28,

You know you love me.

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

By Kirsten|January 10th, 2013|Beauty Buzz|

Manicures played a HUGE role in beauty last couple of years and I get the feeling thist trend isn’t going to lose momentum anytime soon. I do, however, think they’ll get toned down a bit (buh-bye pointed talons). That said, keeping your phalanges fully decked out can start to add up, so beauty brands started to wise up with clever ways to DIY your digits. One of the first on the scene was Sally Hansen Salon Effects. These fun designs were great, but still didn’t quite have the lifespan of the popular and ever shiny gel manicure. Well, that Sally sure did use her noggin when coming up with the latest installment of at home manicures. Combine the ease of applying Salon Effects strips and the staying power of a gel manicure and you’ve got Sally Hansen Insta Gel. I strolled passed a display of these one afternoon at CVS and figured, “Wine Not?” (That was the color I chose- complete coincidence).

Honestly, I think it’s a brilliant idea and I was really hoping for the best since I love all of the fun patterns that can’t be recreated in your standard nail salon, but I think for me… I will stick to letting the professionals go to work. I just really am not good at at home “manual labor.” However, if you’re someone who’s a bit more meticulous or you don’t have access to a salon offering gel manicures. The starter kit was $29.99 and the refill kits (love this one) are only $14.99 (half the price of a salon manicure). In the meantime, I won’t be quitting my day job.

xx,

WhyDid

Gift Guide: The Beauty of Giving

By Kirsten|December 14th, 2012|Beauty Buzz, Gift Guide|

Call me crazy (wouldn’t be the first time), but I don’t think I know one girl on this planet who wouldn’t be totally psyched to receive a little bit of beauty for the holidays. And wouldn’t you know… the cosmetics industry seems to have caught on since they come up with the raddest palettes right around this time of year. I wouldn’t venture to call it a coincidence. And one might think that makeup is a bit of a personal gift, it’s really hard to go wrong with palettes featuring assorted shades that are sure to be flattering on everyone from Snow White to Pocahontas. So, if you’re looking for a gift sure to be a hit, might I suggest makeup?

1. NARS Makeup Your Mind: Express Yourself Eyes, $85, 2. Philosophy Ginger Hot Salt Scrub, $25, 3. Urban Decay Naked Basics, $27, 4. Benefit She’s So… Jetset!, $36, 5. Laura Mercier Le Petit Patisserie Travel Quartet, $50, 6. MAC Perfectly Plush Advanced Brush Kit, $49.50, 7. Tarte The Jewelry Box Limited Edition Palette, $45, 8. Lipstick Queen Liptropolis Set, $48, 9. Nails Inc. Bling It On Rocks Kit, $25

Pucker up.

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Clean Slate

By Kirsten|November 15th, 2012|Beauty Buzz|

So, this probably isn’t going to win me any extra credit points with cosmetic companies round the globe, but that’s the chance you take when spreading the good word. For years and years, basically since I was permitted to play in the makeup aisle at the drugstore, I’ve been fascinated with makeup. I’ve gone through the phases of cake face, glitter shadow, frosted lips, and all the other makeup calamities that are a woman’s rite of passage. We are taught and then it is pounded into our pretty little heads that makeup is the key to fixing any flaw and without it, we are just plain Janes not glamorous goddesses. And while I do enjoy playing around and experimenting with different lotions and potions (that’s half the fun, afterall), it recently came to my attention that I’ve been wasting a lot of money and time fudging with my face.

On one particularly hilarious evening in, a friend saw a photograph in a frame on my (alphabetized) bookshelf from when I was living in LA and said, “Wow! You look like a real whore! So much makeup! And so blonde!” I wanted to be insulted, but he was right. I looked like a different person, a Barbie. It’s not that I looked bad, per se, but by doing “so much” to look good, I ended up looking just like everyone else.

When I met a girlfriend out one evening haven’t having had time to spruce myself up, she informed me that I’d never looked prettier. I was confused at first and wondered how many cocktails in she was already, but I started toning down my look and received the same compliments about my fresh face. And while I won’t reveal my actual age (today), most people’s guesses include me still being a co-ed. Funny thing is you know how we wear makeup as pre-teens to look older? Well, it works, doesn’t it? So when we actually are of legal drinking age, we probably don’t want to look any older, right?

Here’s a little secret I’m going to let you in on: less is, in fact, more. In my old(er) age, I’ve toned down the bright white highlights (aka, I haven’t colored my hair in over a year), and given up all the extra beauty products. My hairdresser leaving the US is probably the best thing that’s ever happened to my tresses. I actually know what color my natural hair is and it’s never been healthier. Turns out the shade I was given suits my skin tone (without heaps of self tanner and sun), which only brings out the blue eyes that are luckily and thankfully God given. It’s like I’d been fighting against mother nature all these years and finally gave in. My best guy friend is somewhere smirking to himself saying, “Told you so.” Speaking of which: another bonus, guys who are actually of value (as in you may actually want to hub them up), prefer a woman with a natural face. They don’t wanna worry about washing oompa loompa off their sheets or holding their breath in fear of what may wake next to them.

So, what’s the key to a clean polished fresh face? Other than starting with a serious skincare routine (your dermis is the most crucial part of the look), here it is in four steps (five when I’m feeling fancy):