All That Glitters

YAHS!  Word has spread that MAC Cosmetics will release a Holiday 2016 collection collaborating with none other than the Queen of sparkle, Mariah Carey.  This line is scheduled to hit the market on December 15 this year, and released previews of the products show just how fabulous the line will be.  The entire line is focused around the component of glitter, sparkle, diamonds and glam, from packaging to product!  The iconic black MAC packaging will be replaced by pure silver glitter below Mariah's signature, while the actual product inside is engraved with her brand butterfly symbol.  The collection includes lipsticks, lip glass, lip pencils, blushes, bronzers, shadows, and highlighter.  

As if the glitter packaging is not fun enough on its own, products will be taking on the names of things that encompass the star, fun phrases to song titles of hits.  Images of the decorative packaging and new products are included below, and set a feel for how this products will appear.  A few of these products will most definitely be on my holiday shopping list, make sure to add it to yours!

Election Saturates Social Media

It's Election Day!  No matter how you feel about this years election process, we can all agree that we are witnessing history.  This cycle has seen many firsts, including the saturation of social media platforms.  Over the past few months, Snapchat stories and Saturday Night Live skits have covered the political storm, but today, the campaign has bombarded every channel.  On Snapchat alone, you will notice that there are over four filters referencing the candidates, America and pushing users to go vote.  Most all paid publishing stories on Snapchat are writing on this topic, including multiple crowd sourcing stories of people voting all over the nation.  Cosmopolitan's and Vogue's entire stories are completely focused on the election, even urging viewers to vote for a certain candidate. Instagram is no different, the infamous "I Voted" selfie will be ever present on your timeline today.  Both brands and celebrities are using their influence to get people out to the polls.  On your Facebook feed you will likely come across multiple videos referencing the either Clinton or Trump in positive and negative lights, hoping to persuade your decision today.

Any way you slice the cake, it's pretty special that we can all communicate in the context of this election as a nation, in a digital space that we partake in everyday.  It brings a fun aspect to this serious election and is effective in encouraging citizens to get excited, care, and take action.  Below is a sample of posts I have seen today!

A snap on Vogue's Story

Halloween Costumes/Makeup Ideas seen on Instagram

     T minus 6 days till Halloween!  What will you choose to be this year?  Fear not, if you are STILL completely clueless (like me), the Instagram beauty community has been blowing up with all types of creative costume ideas.  Some extremely simple, and some looks that are very very extravagant, but fun to pretend we could imitate them none the less.  The great thing about the majority of these looks is you most likely have products required to make these costumes come together in your makeup bag already!

Something Fishy- The Mermaid

ellie35x

chuaahh

monicarosemua

     The necessities for this look are simple to create the impact you want.  Pick up (from the drugstore, or your personal collection) some frosty loose powder pigments in the cool shades you wish to use.  Color schemes about use electric blue, teal, purple, deep hot pinks, and a light white to use as a highlighter.  The basic technique to create the iconic scales of this look is to use a fishnet stocking around the area where the scales will go.  From there just lightly tap the powder in place.  To make sure these precious scales do not brush off throughout the night, spray some facial setting spray over the art.

Clown Crazies

halloweenmakeupideas

ella_ess_

scaredy_kat_sfx

amaleeuh

     So... this is a fun one with the recent clown outbreak across the nation.  The look can take any form, with no one specific way to do this right.  Common features incorporated in this look are shapes and colors around the eyes as shown about, a very light powdery complexion, and a painted mouth and nose.  Get creative with this look and use any colors you desire!  But do be careful out there...

     For a huge library of halloween ideas, go check out Instagram for yourself!  I did a simple tag search of "halloween ideas" and the results are incredible.  Use this social resources and have a WICKED Halloween.

Falling for Kylie Lip Kits

Fall's here!  With it comes comes a change of pace, a change of weather, and a change of color schemes.  As you watch the leaves change colors to gold, crimson, and burnt orange, you can bet your candy apple bottom that Kylie Jenner will release some season inspired shades that follow suit.  This past Saturday, the successful reality star released a sneak peak of her new fall shades on SnapChat, a platform she frequently uses to spread news about her cosmetic company.  She will be releasing four total shades that perfectly encompass the feel of the warm and flavorful season.

The shades will be formally released for purchase tomorrow, October 12th!

Pumpkin: This is a burnt orange shade to rival a real pumpkin!

Trick:  This one I want to try!  Its definitely bold, but great for halloween.

Moon: This shade is said to be a mauve purple-grey.

Spice:  My favorite!  I love the deep berry pink color because its classic and eye-catching.

These can all be purchased on her website https://www.kyliecosmetics.com/ and more pictures of the fabulous shades can be found on the Kylie Cosmetics Instagram page! 

The Danger in Being Too Social

These days, it is common to continually post on social media platforms throughout the course of an average day.  Posts consist of breakfast foods, restaurants, moments on campus, people you are with, and your current location.  It's fun to see what people are doing, and can even foster creative ideas for activities you wish to participate in come future, or places to visit.  However, with this constant knowing of others personal lives, comes a danger that many of us do not see upfront.

The way we post our daily details leaves a trail of where to find us, and this "map" has the reality to put us in serious danger to those with cruel intentions.  Such was the case this past weekend with the robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris.  Her continuous story on Snapchat gave her culprits a timely schedule of when she could be found at her temporary residence, and therefore where and when she would be made victim of an 11 million dollar heist.  The police are concluding that her continual posts showcasing her expensive jewelry and clothing is what made her target to such an act.

Are we common people subject to a repeat of what happened to the reality star? Maybe not of that magnitude, but there is some consideration to be had on what we choose to post, and to monitor who we allow to view our posts.  A suggested safety tip would be to make your social media accounts accessible to only those you know and trust, or to save posts revealing your location to a later time once you have left said location.  Keep in mind that social media is a powerful tool to reach audiences and loved ones alike, and that being said, we should not fear it, but use it in a smart way. Reason before you post, and stay safe kiddos.

Color Me...Rainbow?

Move over basic fall hues and highlights! Make way for one of the season's most fun hair trends: hidden rainbows.  This idea was first introduced during the summer, but has gained momentum in popularity as we approach the upcoming fall season.  The emerging coloring concept is built on the idea of having fun outrageous hair when you desire, yet still having the ability to rock a professional appearance in the office.  

The look is created by pinning the outer strands of hair out of the way, then proceeding to bleach and color the under layers of hair.  Color can be done in a variety of shades to reflect personal tastes and style.  This allows the hair owner to wear all hair down, for a classic, one color look, but then pull her hair up to unleash a vibrant rainbow a unicorn would be jealous of in her free time.  A modern business/party approach, minus the awful Billy Rae Cyrus mullet memories.  For those who tend be risk adverse when it comes to hair (i.e. ME), no worries, the look can be constructed by adding colorful clip ins the under layers of hair.

But who thought of this? The trend is known to have emerged in London as a continuing remnant of the 1960’s Youthquake movement.  The movement was coined by then Vogue editor-in-chief, Diana Vreeland, and was defined as spirited, youthful, and colorful.  Some even say that the rainbow Snapchat filter may have been a source of inspiration for the creative outbreak.  Hidden rainbows have since gained a lot of media attention, as the trend was featured on the Today show with Kathie Lee and Hoda earlier this September. 

 Is this a trend you would get behind? 

6 Beauty Trends in Spring/Summer 17 Fashion Month

Wine Eyes

• WHO: Anna Sui, Tadashi Shoji
• HOW: A wine stained lid with inner eye and brow bone highlights, optional to pair with a burgundy stained lip

• 

Minimalism with a Bold Lip

• WHO: DKNY, Mary Katrantzou, Jason Wu
• HOW: Deep wine lips with gold highlight, Chocolate lips with glitter accents, bold orange lips

Statement

• WHO: Desigual, VFILES, Preen
• HOW: Creativity! Snapchat filters, social issue depictions, and floral designs

Bare

• WHO: Tommy Hilfiger, Tibi, Alexander Wang, Lacoste, Burberry, Peter Pilotto, Ralph Lauren, Rodarte, Proenza Schouler
• HOW: Perfecting the skin, opening the eyes, incorporating slight bronzer, and attention to brows

Wet Hair

• WHO: Av Robertson, Julien MacDonald
• HOW: slicked back on top to create a "just showered" look, paired with glam makeup

Color

• WHO: Marc Jacobs, Mimi Wade, Vera Wang
• HOW: Rainbow dyed pieces, all pink hair, and colorful dreadlocks

Digital Filters Star in NYFW

Last Thursday, designer, Desigual, made news by incorporating infamous Snapchat filters into their New York fashion week show.  The show displayed the Spanish brand’s upcoming spring/summer 17 line.   However, all eyes were on the face as MAC cosmetics took over the makeup and to transform the models to the likeness of puppy, bumble bee, flower crown and butterfly filters.  Powders and pigments were used to form the facial components of the filters, while non-facial objects were created with the help of the Cutler/Redken team.  

This goes to prove just how far Social Media has penetrated the veil of our everyday life.  The filters are universally popular and tools that most use on a daily basis.  It is the new “fresh face”, so what a unique and creative approach to a ready to wear line in today’s digital age.  With the headlines made, the show is expected to have huge influence for Halloween costume ideas.  Which filter will you choose this October?  I’m thinking the deer filter…  

Check out all the looks below!

Queen Beyoncé Reigns...over Snapchat

Labor Day weekend came and passed, and with it went the last days of summer.  But backup…was there an even more important holiday this past weekend?  I argue yes.  Sunday was none other than Queen B’s 35th birthday, and the world celebrated with her.  Social media only fed the frenzy, as a public Snapchat story (normally reserved for national holidays and festivals) was created just for Beyoncé’s big day.  The app allowed users to take pictures and videos while adding Bee filters and captions in reference to the singer.  Fans were able to send in well wishes with postmarks from all over the world while B spent the day with husband, Jay Z at his annual Made in America Festival.  

No arguments here!  I loved getting to see how many people across the world admire the talented singer just as much as I do.  Snapchat made the right choice in creating a space where people everywhere could come together and relate on a similar interest.  Happy Birthday Beyoncé! #BeyforQueen

How Social Media can Help you Make Smarter Beauty Buys

The concept of purchasing a beauty product online and not in store used to seem absolutely insane to me.  You want me to order something I am going to put on my FACE without first testing it out in person? Nope.  However, I found increasing incentives of online shopping as I became busier with school and work.  Yes, I still enjoy and even prefer to make that in person trip to Sephora (a certified “happy place” of mine) but sometimes, that is just not going to happen.  However, fear not, I found 3 major hacks for purchasing the right beauty products online that even I trust.

1. Search Instagram
1. It's hard to know which shades of a product will either A. compliment you entirely, or B. wash you out completely.  This is what makes online purchases in this department so risky.  To help counteract the fate of looking like casper the ghost, I suggest using Instagram's tag search.  If the product you are looking to buy is somewhat popular and belongs to a big brand, chances are that people have used the product, taken a picture, and tagged the name int that posted photo.  Voila! I search the shade I’m interested in and see if any of my results look as if they have similar skin tones to mine.  You get real products on real people.  This helps me to get a better idea of what would ultimately look best on me.

   

   I searched "hang up lipstick" into the "Tag" search to get multiple results for Mac's Hangup lipstick shade, all on different skin tones.

   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Find Honest Reviews
1. Use youtube to research reviews posted beauty bloggers who have tested out the products. Most reviews are honest, but look out for those who may be sponsored.  A lot of time you will get to witness a bloggers initial reaction to the product.  They may comment under their breath “That is a thinner consistency than I thought it would be..”  I always watch multiple vlogs before making a purchase.  You can even go a step further to read comments in response to a video for feedback from users just like you who don’t blog (a.k.a should not be biased)!
3. Watch Tutorials
1. You can also watch tutorials on how to use certain products so that you are not disappointed when something doesn’t work exactly like you had imagined.  It’s even more important view these tutorials to learn the best way, or multiple ways to use a certain product to get its full benefit and your money’s worth.

10 Tips for Stellar Marketing Interns

"Be here by 8am!" "We do casual Fridays." "This summer your project is..."

All of the above are extremely important bits of information, however, there is much more to know.  Below I have compiled my top 10 tips for interning.  These are the things I inevitably learned in time, but would have loved to of known from the start.  Some seem obvious, but trust me, in the midst of a busy internship, you WILL need to be reminded.

Disclaimer: These tips are written from the experience of a marketing internship, but can be seamlessly applied to other areas of study.

1. Emailing
• Keep your emails simple, and use bullets where you can.  Short and to the point emails have a much higher response rate, swear.
• Be Direct, not rude.  There is a difference. This rule also stands for emails you receive. People do not hate you just because they failed to include the term "LOL" or left out the classic "haha".
• Try to avoid words that sound unsure/weak.  These are guidelines, not commandments.  If you are clearly at fault, apologize, but in a professional manner!  Confident emails exclude these words:
• just
• hopefully
• actually
• kind of
• sorry 
• so
2. Keep things moving
• Do what you need to keep the ball rolling on your projects.  They are ultimately YOUR deliverables, take ownership and be assertive.  Think multiple steps ahead.  Who should you email to get what you need? Can it be instantly resolved by "pinging" or sending an IM? Yes? Do it.
3. Get stuff done
• Think big picture; efficient solutions that live on.  But make no mistake, GET STUFF DONE.  Little steps produce big results.  Use your time wisely.
4. Ask for Feedback
• Asking for feedback is hard.  Asking for feedback is critical.  Asking for feedback is the best way to learn.  Bottom line, ask for feedback.  Take this feedback constructively, not personally.  Remember to also give feedback when appropriate.  Your eyes are fresh, it's an advantage to the company.
5. Reach out
• DO not hesitate to reach out. There are so many quick ways to do this, especially in this instant digital age. Send a ping, send an email, be old fashioned and walk to their desk.  Most big companies even have their own form of social media for employees, Yammer being one for example.  Create a profile and send out those follow requests! What's the worst that could happen?  People are here to help you and want to see you succeed.  Take advantage of your resources and collaborate towards your goals.
6. Ask questions
• People want you to ask questions, even if just to clarify.  This implies that you listen, pay attention to detail, and are engaged.  Curiosity indicates intelligence and demonstrates you thought process.
7. Make timelines
• Make a timeline and hold yourself to it.  Within that timeline, develop measurable milestones.  Revisit this timeline everyday to see how you are tracking and set daily priorities.  Share this information with you manager.  Make use of online tools like outlook calendars or XMind programs to map timelines.  You will not regret this extra effort.
8. Love technology
• This tip is key to any marketing internship, especially those involving social media and digital marketing.  Marketing goes where the people are, and these days, people are digital.  That being said,  technology is your friend. Say it with me.  Technology is your friend.  All together now!  TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR FRIEND.  Be open to building new skills and using new programs.  Research innovative methods of completing ordinary tasks.  Become a digital wizard.  If the company already stakes claim to numerous online platforms, how can they be improved?  If they are not yet there, how can you get them started?  Everything in this industry is moving to online platforms, you best know how to use them if you want to be successful.
9. Presenting
• Whether its a conference call, a WebX, a traditional presentation, or all three, prepare and give it your best.  Do research on presentation structure and speaking tips.  Practice makes perfect.  Remember, everyone works differently, if you need to prepare more than others, do it.  Be cool, calm, collected and confident.  Remember to be you, a professional you, but do not lose sight of that marvelous personality.
10. Keep it high level
• Keep your presentation material top level.  Know the details to their core, but don't word vomit them.  Be aware of your audience's knowledge and understanding, then accommodate to that level.  Select a few impactful statistics instead of flooding the presentation with numbers.

Remember:

• An internship is what you make of it.  Introduce yourself.  Put yourself out there.  Observe and gain all the knowledge you can.  This is an investment in YOUR future.