NEW Redken Brews

INTRODUCING NEW REDKEN BREWS!

INSPIRED BY BEER, CRAFTED FOR MEN

January 2018 (NEW YORK) – In 2004, Redken introduced its first professional grooming line for men, Redken for Men. Staying true to our heritage, the next generation of men’s essentials is here: Redken Brews. The complete collection includes stylers formulated for endless looks, beer-inspired, malt-infused hair care formulations, skin solutions for shavers and non-shavers, beard care and no foil, no fuss color services for men.

Sent to me by REDKEN for review and joining a shower filled of REDKEN for him!

With repackaged iconic products, the haircare range upgraded to include malt, and an expanded portfolio to include six new products (noted with a * in their name) Redken Brews is now the complete destination for every man’s grooming needs. To celebrate the launch, Redken Brews actually has its own Instagram! Please follow us on Instagram @barbersandbrews 

Fingerlings Real vs. Fake

FINGERLINGS: REAL VS. FAKE

DON'T BE FOOLED

Goodness, these cute little Fingerlings. The cause of so much joy and grief, yet it's still an entire month before Christmas arrives. If you recall, I posted an article featuring my ToysRUs Gigi the Unicorn Fingerlings on November 20th (see it here), and since then she made an appearance on Pix11 News on the 22nd How? My social media posts of the unicorn. I got the call for the story just as I was heading out to the Macy's Balloon Inflation. Story? Fake Fingerlings (relax, my Gigi Unicorn is real). With demands high, supply short and tempers flaring; parents are going crazy trying to find a Fingerlings for their kids in time for Christmas. I even had a parent try to snatch mine off my finger! She nearly broke my finger!

Go Gigi 🦄

I'm having a blast testing toys this holiday (marketing). Which brings us to fake Fingerlings. Sure you may have seen the reports, warnings and I know it may be impossible to find a Fingerlings in stores at this point (but don't give up). A friend of mine ordered a monkey Fingerlings from Amazon, which turned out to be a fake - so she gave it to me for this article. Now my Finn the Monkey Fingerlings (black with blue hair) is a Walmart exclusive, which came with a bonus base. If you see one online (eBay) and it doesn't have one, don't assume it's a fake. Also, you may purchase it as a gift for Christmas, which only means they won't be opened UNTIL December 25th. So what to look for?  (read on to see my pics...)

Front of packaging

Packaging - **Disregard the "Bonus Stand!" sticker, unless it was purchased at Walmart, an exclusive from Walmart, which is REAL.** Fingerlings are manufactured by WowWee, so look for the logo on the front AND back of the package. You can see it on the REAL one, right, lower, right-hand corner in the pink heart, under the word "sounds" (looks like a monkey with two eyes). It says "Baby Monkey" in the lower middle, to the left of the heart, by my thumb. The FAKE only says Baby Monkey, NO LOGO. This fake only worked about 12 hours, with the sounds on a recorded loop. Then it stopped working. Except for the eyes. This thing binks non-stop as if it's possessed! My advice? REAL fingerlings have a swirly logo/tattoo on their right buttock (colors vary by Monkey - Gigi the Unicorn has a horseshoe on her left cheek, which you can see from the side of the clear packaging even before opening it. Fake packaging varies, and different languages does not necessarily mean it's a fake. The true test is once you open it. 

A REAL Zoe the Monkey Fingerlings. Not the best pic, but you CAN see the purple swirly logo on its backside through packaging. **Logo color matches the hair.** 

Evcurlgurl.com 4th Anniversary

CELEBRATING 4 YEARS

My how time flies. It was exactly four years ago today, though it was Thanksgiving morning, that after much debate about going solo as an editor (and sleep deprived from the cooking and fighting with a 20 lb. turkey - I won), I sat down and launched my baby: Evcurlgurl.com. Just like that! Fast-forward to 1,000 articles, thousands of products (I had to turn my spare bedroom into a product room) and hundreds of amazing events. What have I been up to? Beauty, events - still an Editor - Real Estate (got my license in February after only eight days of studying) and more marketing. 

Wonder X Funoogles movie premiere, November 16, 2017 

In the meantime, I have a few fab events that I attended the past couple of weeks: Birchbox X Arm & Hammer Spinbrush, Inner Orange Beauty X Dr. Smood (Smart Food), Nerium 2018 Launch Preview, the grand opening of Shobha Brow in Brooklyn and Wonder Movie X Funoogles Preview. Busy, busy bliss. Being the foto-freak that I am, check out some pics from the events:

Here are a few more (same events from the past month)

Yes, I know I took some time off, and I STILL have my Fashion Week posts to share with you guys, but I was not feeling well for a while. BUT I promise that there is so much in store for you (with a few surprises....) 

~Evelyn Lugo

Fingerlings Unicorn

HOLIDAY 2017 MUST-HAVE:

FINGERLINGS GIGI THE UNICORN

It's been a while, but I'M BACK! If you follow me on Instagram, you'd see that I wasn't totally out of sight, just a bit busy (but I promise you it is worth it). Let's get to it. With the holidays upon us - Thanksgiving is THIS WEEK - that only means one thing: holiday shopping for one of the season's hottest toys, and it seems that Fingerlings is one of them. Don't ask me how, because I won't tell you, but I will say that mine CAME DIRECT FROM TOYSRUS. I was very fortunate to snag not just one, but FOUR Fingerlings, three of the extra elusive Gigi the Unicorn (I also have Finn the Monkey, as seen on Ellen, which I will share with you shortly.) I'm either really loved, or truly hated at the moment, but I plan to make to amazing kids happy this holiday with Gigi the 🦄🦄. 

What is it? "Friendship at your fingertips", Fingerlings are these cute interactive Monkeys that cling to your finger and interact with you, responding to sound and touch with the cutest sounds: hello, giggles, kisses, sneezes - even burps and farts (sorry, but they do) and more. #GigiTheUnicorn is only available at ToysRUs - and for the time being is really as impossible to track as the actual mythical creature. 🌈

All my Gigi the Unicorn Fingerlings came directly from ToysRUs

*NOTE: Please be careful of MANY fakes being sold via third party. There are things to look for when purchasing a Fingerlings, such as packaging, logos, name and distinctive markings. Gigi the Unicorn has a horse shoe decal on her left cheek and is ONLY sold at ToysRUs! There are a few articles out regarding fake Fingerlings. 

LashFood

LASHFOOD FOR LONG LUSH LASHES
& BOLD BROWS WITH BROWFOOD

Three years ago, I began my journey to regrow my brows back (a process which took 13 months), but I did it. This is where BROWFOOD Eyebrow Enhancer ($88) would've come in handy. I also tried a few popular lash growth serums - for the no make-up look sans mascara - but those would always sting my eyes (no surprise as one brand even changed the color of many blue/green-eyed gals to brown!) Well I found amazing eyelash & brow enhancing products for you, and they're vegan. 

LASHFOOD press event, August 10, 2017

I was introduced to LASHFOOD when I attended the press event back in August, and have been using it every night since (takes about 16 weeks time, so I'm still testing. So far so good, my lashes look amazing - so stay tuned). Another plus?, it's vegan! Patented Phyto-Medic Complex delivers nutrients to feed lashes with nature’s most powerful ingredients. LASHFOOD is safe, effective and no prescription is required. Its distinction lies in its drug-free cosmetic alternative category, providing users with results without the side effects.

The world’s first and only EcoCert Certified lash enhancing serum was created by a team of cosmetic scientists. LASHFOOD Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer’s ($78) breakthrough, powerful formula is clinically demonstrated to provide the appearance of longer, thicker lashes and to support frail and brittle lashes to appear healthy and strong.

IT Cosmetics Fall 2017 Launches

NEW IT Cosmetics Fall 2017:

Secret Sauce, Miracle Water 
& #ExhibITBeauty Event Recap

Guess which "IT Girl" can't get enough of A-L-L the NEW Fall 2017 IT Cosmetics launches? Me of course! Since the stellar #ExhibITBeauty event in July, where we previewed 52 NEW additions to the IT lineup (yes, an arsenal of products, NOT including Secret Sauce and Miracle Water); with a larger-than-life beauty playground (brush swings, spoolie, see saws and a slide.) What took me so long? I took my time trying each and every one of the products in the line-up - test driving skincare goodies til my heart was content. My top picks? Confidence in a Cleanser, Secret Sauce and Miracle Water 3-in-1 Glow Tonic. Check out all the pics from July's stellar event, as well as every single new item launched by IT Cosmetics. Hope you enjoy IT as much as I do.

NEW IT Cosmetics Secret Sauce ($68) and Miracle Water 3-in-1 Glow Tonic ($38)

Wait, there's more (waaaaay more)

NOW, CHECK OUT THE FALL 2017
IT COSMETICS LAUNCHES:

Panasonic x Yankees

PANASONIC: OFFICIAL SHAVERS & TRIMMERS OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES

If you didn't already know, Panasonic proudly announced back in July that they are the Official Shavers and Trimmers of the New York Yankees, unveiling three new trimmers launching for fall *(available early October.) I had the pleasure of attending the #GameDayGrooming press event with Panasonic this summer, enjoyed the Yankees vs. Tigers game in their private suite and I almost shaved my head accidentally. Once there, it took me a few seconds to eyeball the trimmer I would get for babe: the ER-SB40-K ($149.99, "Beard, Mustache and Hair Trimmer- cordless/corded, waterproof and he loves it!) 

I kept the Yankees cap, babe got the ER-SB40-K trimmer!

I thought this trimmer was purely ornamental (was fully charged!) #CloseCall

Panasonic: ER-GK60-S Body Groomer, ER-SB40-K Beard, Mustache
and Hair Trimmer & ER-SC60-S Hair Clipper

Sally Hansen CRAYOLA

SALLY HANSEN x CRAYOLA

INSTA-DRY COLLECTION

School's long in session, so sharpen those pencils, pack that apple, and add the final touch to your back-to-school look in an instant! The new Sally Hansen + Crayola Insta-Dri Collection transports you back to that care-free time of coloring with crayons, sketching out vibrant creations, and jumping back into the September back to school season. Color authorities Crayola and Sally Hansen joined forces to offer a bright, bold, and fun suite of hues that dry in just 60 seconds - so no time is wasted for the woman on the go. With a 60 second dry time, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri® Nail Color’s 3-in-1 formula features a built-in base and top coat to provide shiny, extended wear in a single step in just one stroke. These color specialists did their homework: From a saturated red to a marvelously mod white, here are the 12 new, specially designed shades inspired directly by the Crayola crayon colors we all know and love.

Redken SS2018: Calvin Klein

REDKEN'S NYFW RECAP:

CALVIN KLEIN

Let's kick off the NYFW "backstage beauty" recaps with my loves REDKEN (many more "get the looks" from Redken coming right up, so stay tuned dolls.) This season, Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau capitalized on trims and texture at Calvin Klein’s SS 2018 Show.

“This season at Calvin Klein, it’s all about the individual. We’ve trimmed some of the girls’ hair to be reminiscent of Mia Farrow. There is an ease to the hair. We’re using Redken No Blow Dry Cream throughout the lengths to enhance individuals’ natural texture.” – Redken Global Creative Director Guido Palau.

Guido Palau

GET THE LOOK:

1. Prep hair with Redken Clean Maniac Clean-Touch Micellar Shampoo and Redken Clean Maniac Clean-Touch Conditioner.

2. While hair is damp, apply a small amount of Redken No Blow Dry Cream to your lengths and ends.

3. Apply a little extra Redken No Blow Dry Cream around the crown for extra hold.

4. Allow hair to air-dry.

Stila Fall 2017

NEW STILA COSMETICS

LOVE YOUR SELFIE COLLECTION

Currently I'm running all around NYC from events, to backstage at the NYFW shows, covering backstage beauty with my beloved brands (stay tuned for all my recaps and posts as soon as I catch  my breath). My biggest bliss is the honor to hang with Stila Cosmetics backstage at a few shows along with Sarah Lucero - Stila Global Executive Director of Creative Artistry - and testing their NEW 2018 collection (patience dolls, I will share as soon as I get the go-ahead from Stila). Yesterday, I visited  the Stila Prep Suite at The Gansevoort Meatpacking for a quick and minimal make-up touch-up, and I cannot wait to share with you the highlighters Stila used on my eyelids! So what can I share with you now? NEW Stila Love Your Selfie Collection, the must-have products sure to put a pep in your step! I guarantee you that before NYFW ends, I will be using all of these concealers! #NoSleepTilFashionWeekEnds

Stila NYFW Prep Suite with Sarah Lucero,
Stila Global Executive Director of Creative Artistry

STILA ONE STEP PRIME ($36 at Sephora, Ulta & stilacosmetics.com) Get primed for a close-up with this mega multi-tasking helix serum primer! Featuring Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex (a proprietary blend of 15 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants), this all-in-one lightweight serum primer provides major benefits to smooth and condition the skin. The crystal clear, water-infused base boasts a lighter, more refreshing feel than most silicone-based primers, and is oil-free and fragrance-free.

STILA STAY ALL DAY® COVER POWDER FINISH FOUNDATION & CONCEALER ($36 at Ulta & stilacosmetics.com) Stick with Stila, we’ve got you covered with our new Stay All Day® Foundation & Concealer…coverage you love, now in a perfectly portable stick form. The creamy, weightless texture glides on effortlessly, blends seamlessly and dries to a soft, powder finish. Includes a perfectly paired concealer in the cap to neutralize under-eye circles and hide imperfections.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

• All-in-one complexion wardrobe – a foundation and concealer with a powder finish

• Foundation contains Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex™, a proprietary blend of 15 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants

• Concealer has peach undertones to neutralize discolorations, making it easier to conceal imperfections with less product

• 12-hour wear; water-resistant; fragrance-free

STILA STAY ALL DAY® FOUNDATION & CONCEALER ($40 at Sephora, Ulta & stilacosmetics.com) The foundation of Stila – Stay All Day® Foundation has been reunited with its coordinating concealer! Face the Day™ with Stila’s lightweight, high-definition, buildable-to-full coverage, soft matte foundation. Conveniently housed inside the cap is a creamy, full-coverage, refillable concealer that blends seamlessly to instantly neutralize under-eye circles and imperfections.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

• One package, two products

• Silicone coated pigments provide a lightweight, smooth, natural-looking finish

• Foundation contains Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex™, a proprietary blend of 15 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants

• The foundation dish dispenser creates the perfect pro palette for mixing and formula pickup with fingers or a brush

• Concealer has peach undertones to neutralize discolorations, making it easier to conceal imperfections with less product

• 12-hour wear; water-resistant; oil-free; fragrance-free

• 16 skin-perfecting shades

Stay tuned for my follow-up, FULL Stila launches. In the meantime, I will wrap up my fashion week marathon so that I may then bring you all my amazing backstage beauty recaps. 

September 7, 2017 - Backstage at NYFW with Stila covering backstage beauty 

~Evelyn Lugo