April 29, 2020 at 06:30AM If we had to pick out what we believe to be the biggest beauty movement of the last couple of years, there’s no doubt that we’d settle on clean beauty. More so than ever, we all want to know exactly what it is we’re slathering on our faces. From preservatives like parabens to drying foaming agents like sulphates, as consumers we are increasingly starting to question the purpose (and side effects) of certain ingredients in our skincare and makeup. It’s therefore no surprise that the clean beauty movement has really started to take off. People are starting to switch on to the fact that actually, some of the ingredients in our products might not be necessary. And, while over here in the UK we adhere to strict EU safety laws (at least for now), elsewhere in the world, the levels of potentially skin-damaging ingredients aren’t so heavily regulated. It makes sense then that, while clean beauty is a movement that continues to trickle into the mainstream on UK shores, across the pond it’s a much bigger deal. In fact, the A-list are such strong believers in keeping their beauty products ‘clean’, that their routines are almost exclusively feature natural and organic brands. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a big fan of clean beauty brands. While the verdict is still most definitely out on some of the claims surrounding clean beauty, there’s no doubt that many brands that identify as clean offer some truly impressive products. So, before you write the idea
Tag: CWDaily
I’m a Beauty Editor and I Love Boots—This Is What I Always Buy There
April 29, 2020 at 06:00AM There was a brief, blissful time during the early ’00s when a handful of Sephora stores popped up around the UK. Although I didn’t have any awareness of what a big deal this was at the time, I have vivid memories of my 13-year-old self and my best friends taking a monthly pilgrimage to Brent Cross (the journey involved two buses from our homes in the London suburbs and a dash on foot across the North Circular) to spend hours swatching lipsticks and spritzing perfumes there. To us, Sephora was the height of cool, and although we couldn’t afford a thing, there was something about that shop that made beauty products seem like the most exciting things in the world. Boots, on the other hand, did not. With one on pretty much every high street and in every shopping centre in the UK, it’s fair to say that Boots just doesn’t have the same level of sex appeal as Sephora. Maybe it’s because it’s the shop that your mum dragged you to as a child to buy anti–car sickness tablets for your school trip (just me?) or where your grandma finds the best deals on her toothpaste. Perhaps it’s because a fridge full of limp-looking sandwiches doesn’t help the displays of new lipsticks and nail polishes look their most glamorous. Or maybe it’s because it’s the place you visit every month to stock up on tampons, deodorant and shower gel and then wonder how you’ve spent £50
10 Cosy Co-Ords That Are So Easy to Throw On
April 29, 2020 at 06:00AM Once a multicoloured tableaux of beach-bound bloggers, peacocking street stylers and café-dwelling 20-somethings, since the start of lockdown, Instagram has become an altogether more stripped-back place. Logos have been swapped out for bed linens, extroverted accessories packed away and replaced with shearling slippers and look-at-me gowns transformed into knitted jogging bottoms. What a difference a month makes. Who could’ve predicted that the humble tracksuit would become the fashion girl’s hero item of April 2020? Lo and behold, editors and influencers are positively cooing over cashmere co-ords and fawning over jersey fabrics. Coming off the back of last year’s fascination with all things minimalist, it’s fair to say nothing about these twin sets is reminiscent of the velour sets that were popular in the early 2000s. The styling aesthetic is very much Birkenstocks and gold hoops and nothing else—it seems as though simplicity is here to stay. I personally wear my Vince co-ord when I want to transition out of the working day. There’s something about taking off jeans and slipping on elasticated trousers that is so good for helping the mind to move into relaxation mode. Luckily, there’s plenty of options out there for all price points, but you can also re-create the look at home by pairing your fave joggers with a colour-match tank top or knit, and you’ve got yourself a loungewear co-ord. However, if like me, you’re new to the world of trackies, then feel free to scroll down to see my edit of the best co-ords around right now. Style Notes: If you’re heading to the supermarket,
The Trousers That Look Smart But Feel Just Like Trackies
April 29, 2020 at 06:00AM It’s fair to say that the novelty of leggings has officially worn off—or perhaps for you it wore off one week into lockdown. Of course, we are strong proponents of the “if it makes you feel good, then wear it” approach to dressing, so if the thought of your Lululemons is the only thing that gets you out of pyjamas in the morning, then all power to you. However, if you’re craving a bit of a style shake-up without compromising on comfort, then I have the perfect solution. Don’t worry. I’m not going to apply tough love and drag you kicking and screaming into your corporate suit and heels in order to feel work-ready. Rather, I’ve come across the perfect amalgamation that combines polish with and comfort. Introducing tailored joggers. On me: Arket Elastic Waist Wool Trousers (£79) This hybrid isn’t exactly new on the scene, yet it feels like the ideal compromise for our current WFH wardrobes. Most importantly, like classic joggers, it features an elastic waistband—a small yet significant detail that is far more appealing than any high-waisted jeans or restricted button fastening. However, the point of difference is the fabric and the silhouette. Countless brands have delivered stretchy-waist trousers in smart fabrics such as wool-blend, silk, herringbone and crêpe, transforming this loungewear go-to into a polished staple. The chicest styles come with a wide-leg fit that is tailored at the waist and tapers out at the thigh. It offers a beautiful slouch that will
39 Spring Buys From the Coolest Independent Brands
April 29, 2020 at 06:00AM Whether you’re a shoe hoarder or a jacket fanatic, a dress lover or a bag addict, it’s safe to say that there is an independent brand to cater to your wardrobe needs.Thanks to word of mouth and the power of social media, theever-diversifying fashion industry is finally allowing niche labels to come to the fore. Big brands don’t have a monopoly over the landscape, as many customers are wanting to invest in original design and lesser-known styles. Sadly, some of these labels are being hit by the current crisis, and as a publication, we’re doing our very best to support the talent we love in any way possible. That’s why we’ve dedicated our end-of-month shopping gallery to these independent brands. Honestly, we were spoilt for choice, and we wish we could include every brand we came across online (although that would turn into a long article), but we managed to whittle it down to 39 spring-ready pieces. Of course, we understand that many of you are tightening the purse strings right now, but we would love for you to show your support by giving your favourite independent brand some airtime on social media, posting a nice comment on its feed, or even just giving it a like—every little bit helps! But if you happen to be in need of a little fashion-based pick-me-up this month, scroll down to see the 39 pieces we’re loving this spring. Enjoy! Up Next: We’ve Overlooked Cameron Diaz’s ’90s Style for Far Too Long Opening Image: @lucywilliams02 Author Joy Montgomery | Whowhatwear Selected by CWC
4 Outfits I Wore With Just One Pair of Leggings
April 29, 2020 at 05:00AM Working at home right now, my priority is comfort, but if I’m being honest, I’ve felt like I’ve been in a bit of a slump by wearing the same athleisure looks day after day. Fashion is something that makes me happy and gives me a mental boost, so I’ve been challenging myself to dress up a little bit each morning, which has returned some moments of fun to my days at home. This week, I used black leggings as the building block to my outfits. Black leggings are a wardrobe staple I wear on the regular, but in the past, I have reserved them for workouts. Recently, though, as they have become a core staple in my wardrobe, I’ve come around to the idea of wearing leggings as trousers. Yes, as trousers. Moving away from my workout-only looks, I added in some of my regular wardrobe essentials like button-down tops and oversize blazers to make the outfits feel more polished. (I found it was easy to dress them up.) Trust me—I would wear each of these looks outside the house in the future. Consider my outlook on leggings forever changed. Scroll on to see my black-legging outfits here. These black leggings have a high-rise silhouette and perfect fit that makes them great for a workout, yes, but also to wear as trousers as I did here. One of my favourite ways to style a button-down top is by wearing it unbuttoned from the waist. I think it lends any outfit
The Most “Fashion” Shoes, Dress and Top of Summer 2020
April 29, 2020 When writing our spring summer 2020 trend report, we could have never anticipated the way life as we know it would change. While many of the buyers’ predictions about holiday clothes and wedding guest outfits are now irrelevant to the current climate, there are several items that are proving to be just as popular, despite not being able to be worn outside. “The large majority of the runway collections have been incredibly wearable, the brands have showcased the ultimate wardrobing heroes in a new and interesting way: the suit, the Bermuda short, the white shirt, the tank top…” said Elizabeth von der Goltz, Global Buying Director at Net-a-Porter, back in December. There has been a shift towards simplicity rather than anything too attention seeking within fashion circles, partly driven by the industry’s heightened focus on sustainability. There are three classic items in particular that editors, buyers and influencers are still embracing for the summer, and are still easy to wear inside and for daily walks—platform flip flops, puff-sleeved dresses and elegant polo shirts. Keep scrolling to see and shop the “fashion” shoes, dress, top and of summer 2020. When it comes to sandals this year, the ‘fashion’ shoe of the year is without a doubt the platform flip flop. We can thank Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for the return of this ’90s shoe, thanks to The Row’s ‘Ginza’ flip flop. Puff-sleeved mini dresses were the silhouette of 2019 and it’s staying firmly put for 2020. As our lifestyles have all rapidly changed we
Who on The Internet Can You Trust to Give You Truthful Beauty Reviews?
April 28, 2020 at 10:22PM Last year, cult favourite skincare brand Sunday Riley settled an investigation with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after it was revealed that the company’s employees had been posting fake positive reviews of its products on Sephora’s website to help boost sales. In October 2018, a former employee shared a leaked email from the company on Reddit that encouraged employees to write positive reviews and disapprove negative ones. “We need to make sure the reviews for clients stay positive and help generate confidence in the products,” read the directive. “If you notice someone saying things like I didn’t like ‘x’ about it, write a review that says the opposite.” The email went viral after a screenshot was also shared by social media watchdog Estée Laundry, which is considered the beauty industry’s version of Diet Prada. In the end, the FTC banned the company from posting fake reviews but didn’t impose any fines. Given how much consumers rely on product reviews—a seemingly sacred space for getting honest feedback—this social media snafu invites the question “Whom should people trust in the beauty industry?” In an age where consumers value authenticity and demand transparency, the proliferation of fake product reviews and “sponcon” has created a certain level of mistrust. Add to that a few self-styled experts with questionable or no credentials and you’ve got a murky landscape that’s difficult to navigate for the average beauty consumer. It’s precisely this environment that has given rise to Estée Laundry. The
Healthy Cashew Chicken Casserole
April 28, 2020 at 09:36PM Make this Cashew Chicken Quinoa Bake for a high-protein, one-dish meal that the whole family will love! Meal prep at its finest. Can’t get enough of our delicious chicken casserole recipes? Check out this easy orange chicken casserole or this easy southwestern chicken casserole! Make Your Own Healthy Chinese Takeout … The post Healthy Cashew Chicken Casserole appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds. Continue Reading… Author Lee Funke | Fitfoodiefinds Selected by CWC
How to Monetize Your Closet, According to Resale Experts
April 28, 2020 at 09:50PM There’s no shortage of memes circulating right now speaking to the different stages of quarantine. There is of course the filmed workouts stage, the banana bread phase, the TikTok dance phase – the list goes on. Also included in the round-up of quarantine activities is a closet clean out, à la Marie Kondo. Whether you’ve already sorted your clothes into those that bring you joy and those that don’t, or you’re planning on tackling your wardrobe in the weeks to come, we’ve rounded up the top tips on how to monetize your closet. As it turns out, there are plenty of ways to turn the clothes you no longer need into cash. We tapped expert sellers from The Fashion Edit, I Miss You Vintage, VSP Consignment and Poshmark to answer your burning questions and give you all the intel you need to get started. Here’s a breakdown of the basics for how to monetize your closet from some of the best in the biz: What to Sell The consensus is that pieces in very good to excellent condition sell best. Zeina Esmail, founder of The Fashion Edit, explains, “The condition should be what you would expect a piece to be if you purchased it resale.” Any needed cleaning or repairs can effect the value and sale price of the item. Designer brands like Chanel, Gucci and Hermès are highly sought after. “More and more women today think about the future resale value of an item