FASHION Magazine

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com or ask away in the comments below.

What’s a summer beauty product I can splurge on?
Treating yourself doesn’t have to mean splurging on something that serves little to no purpose. Instead, get major bang for your buck and buy something that can be used in multiple ways. Aerin Beach Cream ($50, esteelauder.ca) can be used as a post-sun body hydrator, leaving behind a hint of bronze tint with incredibly subtle shimmer, or it can be applied to hair as a conditioning treatment while you’re still in the sun, as heat activates the treatment, leaving hair soft and shiny. If you’re in a pinch, a tiny dab can be used on cheekbones for a bit of radiance. The cream is infused with rose-based floral fragrance that will help you freshen up after a day in the sun.

Find out which celebrity ponytail hairstyle you should try »

Like braids, the ponytail has been around for as long as we can remember. While this look may seem like the boring option when it comes to choosing a updo (after all, it is a go-to hairstyle for bad hair days and the gym), celebrities have shown us that this ‘do is anything but boring. Find it hard to believe? We’ve rounded up 10 celebrity ponytail hairstyles that work for everything from running errands to going all-out glam. And to show you that there is a ponytail for everyone out there, we went ahead and matched a personality to each style, because we care.

For the bombshells out there, Laura Vandervoort’s sleek ponytail is the look you should go for when you’re heading out for date night. Invited to a high school reunion and want to show off your unbelievable confidence? Who better than to channel Blake Lively’s Amazonian braid and ponytail hybrid for the ultimate professional-chic look? And if you just want to take a cue from Cara Delevingne and work an It Girl attitude, then her messy high pony is one you need to try. Whoever coined the term “let your hair” down clearly never laid eyes on any of these chic and easy hairdos. Here are 10 celebrity ponytail hairstyles we love.

I have never loved summer. Growing up as a chubby teen bookworm with an as-yet-undiagnosed sun allergy, I dreaded it. It’s a time when nerds will invariably be forced into outdoor physical activity, summer camp and other allegedly halcyon seasonal staples we are just not very good at. I just wanted to hang out in the shade, reading or chatting to other dorks who, like me, were easily winded and didn’t like mosquitos.

Back then, summers made me feel deficient: I never had enough enthusiasm, speed, energy or sunscreen. Counselors and parents would offer their well-meaning but ultimately, to me, horrifying encouragement from the side of the pool or on the trail, or wherever else: “Come on, it’s fun!” “You’re doing great!” Or, worst: “Good try!” And I did, eventually, kind of try. I got used to carrying SPF65 everywhere I went and figured out the kind of gentle camp activities I could get behind: canoeing, archery, arts and crafts. I felt like an interplanetary explorer, boldly going where to be honest everyone else already had been and was enjoying themselves. Like a chubby Neil Armstrong in Northern Getaway, I was exploring summer.

But as our bodies changed and their meanings changed with them, so did the meaning of the season. All of a sudden I wasn’t lacking; I had too much. Too much stomach, too much leg hair, too much ass. The enthusiastic (if demoralizing) screams of well-meaning camp counselors encouraging me to be more, do more, try more were replaced with a more insidious whisper: be less, wear less, take up less space. I was doing it all wrong again, for entirely different reasons.

Check out our favourtie swimwear trends » For those who’ve grown tired of the itsy bitsy polka dot bikini, there’s a new swimwear game in town. Well, actually there are several. From the runways at swimwear fashion week in Miami to celebrity poolside #selfies, swimwear designers are upping the ante on a new season of […]

The post Swimwear trends 2014: 5 styles that will ensure your booty is trending this summer appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Hot days call for tank tops and destroyed denim, but what happens when your summertime destination is more deskside than beachside? The perfect weekend outfit may be fun to style, but deciding what to wear to work this summer takes a little more thought. And although it may be humid outside, our workplaces often come with air conditioning on full blast! What’s a temperature-confused girl to do? Figuring out what balances staying cool in the heat yet warm in the office, is no easy feat. And because crop tops and short shorts will probably get you sent home, we asked our Style Panel to give us the scoop on solving all your officewear dilemmas.

Click here to see our summer beauty updates »

With summer in full force it’s safe to say we’ve all resorted to our classic beauty routines to keep our faces looking golden and our lips pouting a perfect shade of pink. The warmer season has always called for neon nails and beachy waves, right? Right…until now. We’ve put together 5 awesome summer beauty updates that are sure to keep you looking fresh (and on trend) day and night. Don’t worry, we kept your favourite colours and ‘dos in mind, but we’ve just stepped them up a notch—or down in some cases.

See Fall 2014 Couture-inspired outfits for everyday wear »

Fall 2014 Couture week has officially wrapped in Paris, and we’ve been daydreaming of the Pinterest-worthy dresses ever since. Although there are times when the designs are truly too outrageous for everyday wear and at a price point that is way above an average person’s budget (mainly the latter), we can’t deny our love and lust for these runway masterpieces. Thanks to celebrities and some very lucky street style stars, we can get a glimpse of couture in all its high-fashion glory. But before you raise your white flag and think couture is only for the elites, we’d like to let you know that you too can get on the action. How? As we round up our 10 favourite dresses from Fall 2014 Couture week, we scour our fave e-commerce sites and tracked down 10 couture-inspired designs for everyday wear. You’re welcome.

See our favourite self-tanners »

Growing up in my family, tanning was pastime, pleasure and competitive sport. Pale was pejorative. My parents, both great tanners in their youth, lived in East Africa in the early ’70s, before I was born. That time in their lives seemed to me fabulously glamorous—never mind the fact that my sister, a baby then, contracted malaria and nearly died—because for two years, they were tanned. Deeply tanned. Not the amateur-hour suntan you might obtain after a week in Fort Lauderdale, the kind of profound, layered tan that makes you look like another person—an exceptionally well-leisured one.

I remember the four of us in the ’80s, lying on a quartet of loungers and passing the Hawaiian Tropic SPF 4 down the line like a familial baton. If my friends enjoyed splashing around in swimming pools and lakes, I liked lying down next to them, and nowhere in the vicinity of a sun-blocking parasol. Parasols were meant for other people, the ones who took long luncheons in the shade during prime UV time. (I preferred to feast on rays.)

When my sister and I had a productive tanning day, we’d high-five each other as the sun sank into the horizon and our freckles settled into our still-warm cheeks. A tan, like the travel that furnished it, was an escape from our regular selves, a gilded (if short-lived) costume.

Lately, we’ve been inspired by summer hairstyles, from effortless beach waves to gorgeous braids for every event on your calendar. But now that we’ve got our go-to hairstyle under control, we’re faced with the question of how to wear makeup to the beach. Achieving the perfect beach look is no easy task, because a) you’re out in the sun all day, which means makeup is prone to melting and b) you’re going to the beach to relax, so naturally putting so much effort on your face seems a bit much. But before you skip makeup altogether for your summer outing, we asked the ladies of Beauty Panel for their advice and their tips on how to wear makeup to the beach without looking over-the-top. Thanks to these experts, we’ve got the solution on how to work the “no makeup” makeup look to the beach.

Challenge 69: How do you wear your makeup at the beach? See the answers now! »

Where to wear these drool-worthy celebrity braids »

Braids and summer seem to go hand in hand. Sure, you can opt for other summer-worthy hairstyles but somehow we keep going back to sweet, sweet braids, time and time again. What’s better is that celebrity braids have been getting more glamorous and unique each season, leaving us mesmerized and needing to try them out.

Braids have been a part of our lives forever, from sporting cute pigtails during our elementary school days to trying out the latest trend (Waterfall! Fishtail! Mermaid!) for prom, the look is one hairstyle that just never gets old. Casual or glam, you can always count on a good braid or two to take you from day to night.

In the spirit of summer, we’re all about experimenting with new hairstyles, and up next on our list is each and every one of these celebrity braids. So if you’re tired of the same old French braid, fear not. We’ve rounded up 15 of the best celebrity braids (from Blake Lively’s ponytail hybrid to Rihanna’s Amazonian braid) and shared where to wear each one this season. Whether you’re looking for a braided hairstyle suited for a dinner date or something quick and easy when you’re biking around the city, we’ve got the celebrity braid for you. So for nostalgia’s sake, it’s time to call up your besties for a night of braiding and gossip. Don’t believe us when we say there’s a braid for every event? Check out the gallery below and see for yourself! 

See what you can win in the 12 Days of Summer Contest »
Enter today’s giveaway »

We’ve got exciting news! Our 12 Days of Summer Giveaways Contest is coming at you full-force this week with twelve days of amazing summer prizes. We have to say, this is definitely our best giveaway yet. One glance at any of these could-wins and you’re sure to be jumping up and down, even in the most striking heat wave.

The premise of this contest is just like our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway, and is easy as pie: we have twelve amazing prizes and starting this Thursday, July 10th, we will be giving one away every weekday for twelve days. That means you’ll have twelve days to try your luck at winning some of the most stylish summer products! But remember, you’ll only have 24 hours to enter before we move on to the next prize. From a one stop shop for sun protection to OPI nail polish sets that might just last you a lifetime, plus major goodies from Nespresso, Benefit and more, you could totally hit the summer style jackpot!

Swimwear has made its way from the beach to the runway, and has now become full-on inspiration for everyday dressing. Thanks to the likes of Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger and DKNY (to name a few), swimwear hit the Spring 2014 catwalks hard, taking beachwear to a whole new level of street chic. No longer is swimwear only paired with towels and beach bags; it can add subtle–or not-so-subtle–sexy detailing to your getup, whether you’re heading to the beach or not. However, we know the thought of wearing a bathing suit anywhere other than the beach may be a bit daunting, so we got our Style Panel to weigh in on how to style swimwear for everyday.

All of our Style Panel gals agree that layers and staying casual are key to styling swimwear for everyday. Kayla Short of Short Presents and Emma Walker of With A City Dream both focus on the bikini top as an accent piece. Wearing one under a tank or a sheer top makes styling swimwear for everyday totally practical. Sandy Joe Karpetz of The Pretty Secrets keeps her swimwear look casual by pairing a bikini top with loose, high-waisted denim, while Becky Kung of Velvet & Vino brings sexy back in her monokini layered underneath an open chambray shit and denim cut-offs.

Question 110: How do you style swimwear for everyday? Read the answers now! »