FASHION Magazine

The results are in! You voted and we listened: From perfume and mascara to sunscreen and shampoo, we reveal the beauty products you voted top of the vanity in our 11th Annual Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards. This year more than 65 products make the cut across six categories, including nails, fragrance, makeup and hair. And as always, the Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards rewards products in a range of prices, allowing you to find favourite new products regardless of budget. Ready to see who made the cut? Pick a category below or read on to browse all the winners.

See how to do the halo braid with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

Braid enthusiasts, this one’s for you! The halo braid (otherwise known as a milkmaid braid or braided updo) takes practice but is beyond impressive once it’s mastered. From Erdem to Valentino to Emerson, halo braids keep showing up on the runways season after season, and the red carpet has followed: Keira Knightly, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Olsen and Elle Fanning have all embraced halo braids. So when it comes to holiday hair (think: New Year’s Eve hair!), this style is certainly a showstopper.

If you’re confident in your French braiding skills this will be an easy holiday hairstyle to master. But newbies, don’t fret! Our step-by-step guide was developed in conjunction with Toronto-based hairstylist Margot Keith and takes all the confusion out of this complicated style. If you dream of doing a halo braid for New Year’s Eve, dedicate one of your lazy holiday afternoons to practicing your braiding skills. After a few test rounds we promise you’ll get the hang of it. And, like all of the styles in our series of holiday hair tutorials, the halo braid works well beyond Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve parties. (So be sure to right-click save our handy one-page guide for future reference!) Ready to start braiding? Read on to see how this holiday hairstyle is done.

See how the chignon twist is done with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

If the word “updo” is something you normally associate with a visit to the salon, think again! While there are indeed complex styles that require the assistance of many hands, many updos are simple to do at home and take only a few minutes to master. The chignon—which can refer to any gathered hairstyle that sits at the nape of your neck—is ideal holiday hair because, based on your skill level and the event you’re attending, it can be perfectly polished or left loose and messy. But however you style it, compliments are sure to follow. (And isn’t that what holiday hair is all about?)

See how to do the fancy ponytail with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

The ponytail is a classic hairstyle that has a seemingly endless number of variations. In fact, by changing the part, adding some curl or positioning the final pony in a different spot, it’s a style you could likely wear seven days a week without anyone being the wiser. While quick ponytails are often associated with going to the gym or casual dressing, it only takes a few modifications to make it work as a holiday hairstyle. It’s a trend that’s supported by A-listers and designers alike: Gwyneth Paltrow wore a structured ponytail on the red carpet at this year’s Academy Awards and Joe Fresh and Jonathan Saunders (to name just a few) had models in polished ponytails on the Fall 2012 runways.

While tales of six figure wedding costs can make any bride-to-be nervous, a little resourcefulness can go a long way to keep a budget under control. For instance: doing your own makeup on your wedding day! (And, as a way of getting in extra practice, for all the related events leading up to your big day!) Consider that even Kate Middleton DIY’d her bridal look—and who can argue that they’ll be more scrutinized than a Queen-to-be? After all, while we all dream of looking like a princess, there’s nothing better than looking like a super-pretty version of yourself. From bridal hair tips to wedding-ready looks that can go from day to night, this week’s Beauty Fix has all the answers.

Read on for all the answers! »

In need of a beauty fix? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

We’ve all been there: Just when you think you’ve worked out the perfect beauty routine, something changes. It could be the season, it could be age, or it could just be time to try something new. But when you’re used to your tried-and-true favourites, how do you decide what makes another product worth the switch? This week, we have the answer to five questions that ask just that—from exfoliation troubles to curling iron frustrations, we’re here to help you make the switch.

Read on for all the answers! »

In need of a beauty fix? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

See our editors’ picks for grooming »

It might not seem like an obvious issue, but I’ve got dark skin in the creases of my underarms. Is there anything I can do to lighten it?
Underarm pigmentation is an infrequently discussed beauty woe, probably because of its inherent embarrassment factor (even though we all suffered through sweaty and possibly smelly teenage years). If you’ve got dark skin beneath your arms, it’s simply a result of shaving your ‘pits—no shame there!

My ponytail tends to fall flat and look too slick only a few hours after I’ve put it up. How can I secure the messy, voluminous pony I’m going for?
My favourite ponytail is textured and bouncy with some height at the crown, a look the Olsen sisters and Kate Beckinsale tend to pull off quite well. The best aspect of that style is that it takes mere moments to execute and should only demand a few tweaks to your regular routine.

Here’s the thing about award shows: you don’t realize how versatile a starlet’s hair and makeup are until you see all the photos the next day. Because after the show ends, the parties begin—and while changing an outfit between events is common, hair and makeup usually stay the same. Not only that, it’s always impressive […]

The post Get the look! We have the secrets behind Lea Michele, Emma Stone, Kristen Wiig, and Zooey Deschanel’s hair and makeup from the Golden Globes red carpet! appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

From perfume and mascara to sunscreen and shampoo, we reveal your favourite beauty products. Plus, after a decade of divulging what you can’t live without, we introduce FASHION’s Beauty Hall of Fame to pay special tribute to your most-loved products from the past 10 years.

See all the winners »

Elisabetta Gucci, great-granddaughter of Gucci’s founder, is facing legal action by the now French-owned luxury house for trying to use her family name (albeit, her already-taken, billion dollar family name) to open a chain of luxury hotels. [The Independent]

These Louis Vuitton neck tattoos make the Chanel tattoos from earlier this year look like wimps. [Refinery 29]