MAC Aaliyah Is Finally Here

Releasing today, at the height of a ’90s comeback, MAC Cosmetics’ latest limited-edition collection has been years in the making. Thanks to the relentless petitioning of adoring fans, R&B icon Aaliyah is finally being honored with a 12-piece edit of lipsticks, bronzers and eyeshadows inspired by her very own makeup bag. 

The collection is a perfect representation of the ’90s legend’s signature look (including THE glossy nude lip from the video for the hit song “Try Again”) and also imagines how her approach to beauty may have evolved in 2018. The contemporary edit transcends time and trends to capture the hearts of Aaliyah fans old and new with her timeless, understated beauty. It is her enduring influence that makes Aaliyah a true icon.

To celebrate the launch, we’re breaking down two of our favorite Aaliyah looks with step-by-step tutorials to achieve her “tomboy ingenue” aesthetic. For best results, apply while jamming to this ’90s powerhouse.

A ONE-IN-A-MILLION GAZE:

• Start with a bold brow by applying Fluidline brow gel with a 266S small angled brush. Then, open the Age Ain’t Nothing Eyeshadow Times Nine palette and pop Lovesmoke (top row, far left) on the brow bone to highlight.
• For the eyes, start with Prep + Prime eye base. Then, use a combination of the palette’s two matte browns—Princess of Soul (middle row, far right) and Dance in the Dark (bottom row, far right)—and swipe them gently across the lid. In the crease, use the satin shade That Somebody (center) to impart a subtle golden shimmer.
• Aaliyah’s smoldering lined eyes were paramount to her signature look, which is on full display in her “One in a Million” music video. Take Dance in the Dark, the darkest shade in the palette, on a 239S eye shader brush and trace along the upper and lower lash lines. Lining the eyes with shadow helps to create the diffused, slightly smudged look that the singer was known for.
• Finish the eyes with In Extreme Dimension mascara.
• For the lips, start with Prep + Prime color-free base. Then, using the Fresh Clay lip pencil, trace the shape of the lips with a heavy hand to get that full-on ’90s look. In the center of the lips, use a bit of Try Again lipstick and blot to disperse color. Finish the pout with a swipe of Brooklyn Born lipglass.
• To contour, apply Baby Girl bronzing powder along the cheekbones, temples and the sides of the nose using an angled 168S contour brush.

MORE THAN A WOMAN LIPS:

• Instead of contouring, use Baby Girl bronzing powder in a light dusting across the high points of the face for an overall glow. (The 140S fan brush is perfect for this.)
• Start again with eye base on the lids before brushing on a combination of That Somebody and Dance in the Dark eyeshadows. In the crease, use a 224S tapered blending brush with the soft-brown eyeshadow Princess of Soul to further define the eyes.
• To line the eyes, use Blacktrack Fluidline with a 210 precise eyeliner brush in the upper and lower waterlines. The trick is to stay very close to the waterlines to create the illusion of fuller lashes rather than creating a statement liner. Lastly, apply Bold & Bad mascara to finish off this neutral smoky eye.
• For brows, use the Stud Brow sculpt to get soft yet defined arches. Again, use Lovesmoke on the brow bone for added highlight.
• For the bold lip, start with primer and then fill in the lips using Nevermore and Follow Your Heart lip pencils. The pure black and bluish-red lip liners create a deep warm brick color when combined. Top that with More Than a Woman lipstick to intensify the red color. For “If Your Girl Only Knew” vibes, finish off the lips with lipglass in At Your Best You Are. The finished result is Aaliyah’s brown-berry pout.

MAC Aaliyah

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Selecting Your Bridal Fragrance with Jo Malone London

When asked for wedding day wisdom, brides always say, “The day will be over before you know it, try to enjoy it.” Even so, the day that you have spent months, even years, preparing for is guaranteed to go by in a blur of anticipation and celebration. Your photographer will capture moments and your guest book documents who showed up, but your wedding fragrance is all on you to orchestrate, and those olfactory memories will last a lifetime. The olfactory bulb, which processes smell, has direct connections to the areas of the brain that control our emotions and our memories. With just a whiff of a special scent, you travel through time and space to the very moment where that memory is anchored. Pretty powerful.

Ahead of my own wedding, I visited with Celine Roux, head of fragrance development at Jo Malone London, about the sense of smell and how to scent a wedding.

“When I first started working with Jo Malone, I remember traveling through an airport, familiarizing myself with the scents in a Duty Free,” says Roux. “In the middle of the airport, which was very busy and not at all personal, I was suddenly transported to the arms of my late grandmother. Until then, I hadn’t realized it was her perfume.”

Roux, the “nose” of Jo Malone London, creates scent memories as part of her job description. And the London-based fragrance house is known for their bridal appeal, offering a “Scent Your Wedding” service for brides to create their own sensorial escape. 

I wanted to know what components I should consider when selecting my bridal fragrance. I turned to Roux for her fine fragrance expertise before scheduling my own bridal consultation. Ahead, her advice for creating lasting wedding memories.

What are the first questions a bride should ask herself before selecting her wedding fragrance?

First, she should think of what she likes. You want to select something special for your big day, but now is not the time to take big risks. Stay true to who you are and choose a fragrance that is still you. Ask yourself: What kinds of scents do I like? How do I want this scent to make me feel on my big day?

* * *

During my own consultation with Jo Malone London fragrance expert, Allison Landis at the Nordstrom Seattle flagship, I was given similar advice. Just like your first wedding gown try-on, the right one will make you feel confident, romantic and beautiful. Once you’ve found it, you’ll glow.

“I’m waiting for ‘the look,’” Allison said to me as I sniffed through my options. When I smelled the light, citrus-floral notes of Orange Blossom, my face lit up and Allison knew immediately, “that’s the one, isn’t it?”

What are the most popular bridal fragrances?

Peony & Blush Suede is a very popular scent: elegant, but with something a little warm about it. It’s sensual, but still very floral and fresh. English Pear & Freesia is a standout for brides who want something a little fruitier.

Orange Blossom holds special significance in terms of love, as brides since the late 17th century brides have carried it in their bouquets, woven into tiaras, and of course, as perfume, for good fortune and serenity on their wedding day.

Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede cologne | Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia cologne | Jo Malone London Orange Blossom cologne

Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom is the scent that Kate Middleton chose for her own wedding day, layered with the bright notes of Lime Basil & Mandarin. The Duchess of Cambridge even incorporated orange blossoms into her bridal bouquet and throughout her royal ceremony, the romantic scent lingered.

All Jo Malone fragrances tell a story, adding even more of a personal touch to your selection. The peppery, fresh scent of contemporary classic, Lime Basil & Mandarin, is their house scent. Their 154 cologne, a woody but citrusy scent, is named after the street number of the first Jo Malone boutique in London.

* * *

How do you make your scent last all day?

We design our body crèmes and bath oils the same way that we develop our fragrances and the way to get the most from your scent is to wear it in multiple forms.

Take time to pamper yourself on your wedding day and start enjoying your fragrance in the bath with one of our bath oils. They’re very potent and will lay the foundation for your fragrance—not to mention, the bath is going to help you relax and put you in the best frame of mind for your wedding.

Then, moisturize with a body crème and then spritz your bridal fragrance on top. The perfume will last better on top of the moisturizer than it will on bare skin.

Where should I apply my fragrance?

I like to apply on the warm points, especially during summer: on the wrists, on the backs of the knees, the neck and on the inside corner of the elbows. I also like to spritz a tiny bit on my clothes, though do test this out on a small corner of the fabric before dousing your wedding dress.

Another spot to apply that is so romantic: The veil! Gently kiss the veil with a wash of the scent and as you walk down the aisle, your perfume will linger behind you.

* * *

“Some brides choose a second fragrance to wear across the backs of their shoulders,” Allison tells me, “so that they make an entrance with one scent and exit with another.”

“Where you apply your scent is a very intimate choice,” she says. “It may seem like an insignificant detail, but the subtleties are themselves quite romantic.”

* * *

Let’s discuss scenting the rest of wedding: How do I create a sensorial atmosphere without being too much?

Our scents are strong, but not overpowering and will blend into the background of your wedding to add to the overall mood. Anything that is a little bit fruity, citrusy, or zesty will complement the meal at your reception without clashing.

Jo Malone London Blackberry & Bay home candle

During my consultation, Allison and I scrolled through pictures of my wedding venue: Once an early-1900s Wells Fargo bank, the gentlemanly restaurant has a moody energy, perfect for an evening wedding. With that in mind, she walked me through the candle selection.

If my wedding venue was a candle, it would be Blackberry & Bay, with its deep, tart berry scent and the warmth and freshness of the woods.

Then, Allison had me smell it alongside Orange Blossom. The heady, masculine smell of Blackberry & Bay with the light, calming scent of orange blossoms and neroli is the perfect marriage.

* * *

Why is having a bridal fragrance so powerful and meaningful?

It links your memories and your emotions to a single scent, or combination of scents. Sometimes the memories are good, sometimes they’re not, like the smell of an ex-boyfriend [laughs]. Scent is powerful. At your wedding, you might have beautiful flowers or cutlery and you will remember those things with your photographs. Your scent will help you remember not just how beautiful your wedding looked, but how you felt on the day.

I heard somebody in the fragrance house saying, ‘you can live without hearing and seeing, but you can’t live without breathing.’ We smell things, we breathe them in, and they transport us to the most special moments in our lives. In the years after your wedding, wherever you may find yourself, you will smell that combination of scents, and it will take you back to your special day, instantly.

Jo Malone London

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On the 2018 Tony Awards Red Carpet

Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish attends the 72nd Tony Awards.

Streaming (and binging) may now be our preferred mode of entertainment consumption, but the continued allure and relevance of the theatre was undeniable during the 72nd Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Comedians, rockers, TV actors, a former member of parliament and movie stars assumed roles this year in some of Broadway’s most celebrated productions.

Bruce Springsteen netted an award for his sold-out one-man show Springsteen on Broadway, a melding of his memoir and songbook. Tina Fey’s screen-to-stage adaptation of Mean Girls received 12 nominations. The 82-year-old actress and erstwhile British MP Glenda Jackson grandly walked away with the night’s award for Best Leading Actress in a Play (Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women)–this was her fifth Tony nomination. Her cast member, the formidable television and movie actress Laurie Metacalf, took the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Angels in America‘s Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield won awards for Best Featured Actor and Best Leading Actor in a Play, respectively.  And the cast of SpongeBob Squarepants brought down the house with “(I am Not a) Loser,” performed by actor Gavin Lee and written by the titans of American alt rock, They Might Be Giants.

Hosts Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban, hosts of the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child star Hailey Kilgore attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Katy Weaver attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Nominee Condola Rashad attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Tituss Burgess and Kerry Washington (in Atelier Versace) attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Actress Tiffany Haddish and designer Michael Kor attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Bee Shaffer and Anna Wintour attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Alex Ebert (L) attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards.

Nominee Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Zac Posen and Tavi Gevinson attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Indya Moore and Joseph Altuzarra attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Best Actress in a Musical winner Katrina Lenk attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Bruce Springsteen attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Tina Fey (in Thom Browne) and Jeff Richmond attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Nicolette Robinson and Lamar Odom Jr. attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Carey Mulligan attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, and Jim Parsons attend the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions.

 

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Beauty Packing List: Here’s What Almost 30 Podcaster Krista Williams Is Taking on Tour

Wellness and lifestyle blogger/podcaster Krista Williams is ready to go on tour: “I’m all about growth, learning and transformation, so having the opportunity to be surrounded by new environments, people, places and things fills me up.” She and her Almost 30 podcast cohost, Lindsey Simcik, have packed their bags for a whirlwind trip across the country, where they will have a chance to meet their enthusiastic listeners and share insights on health, wellness, spirituality, relationships and careers.

It came as no surprise to us that Williams, our most trusted lifestyle guru, is also a masterful traveler. Her packing tips and pre-flight health rituals teach us that turbulent travel can be avoided with simple preparation. Ahead of her tour, we caught up with Williams to get the nitty-gritty on how she stays organized, calm and moisturized while jet-setting. As usual, she keeps it 100.

So tell me, how do you like to arrive for a flight?

This really depends on my mood. Sometimes I enjoy getting completely ready for the airport, because nothing makes me feel more like a Victoria’s Secret model than departing my flight in a black leather jacket, motorcycle booties, great denim and a white, rag & bone T-shirt.

But realistically, I wear these black joggers that I love, cute adidas—the Deerupt runners are dope and good for walking around—a long black T-shirt and my favorite moto jacket by BLANKNYC, which is really affordable. And you’ll never see me wearing makeup on an airplane—I cannot deal. I am already putting my skin through so much that letting it breathe is really the least I can do.

Do you do any exercise beforehand?

Yes! I like to tire my body out so that sitting is much more tolerable. If I don’t have much time before a flight, I’ll try my best to stretch on the floor of my apartment and foam roll for 20 minutes to show my body some love before I stuff myself on a plane.

Another thing I do is go to the front or back of the plane and stretch. If they don’t let me in that area, I will take a few minutes to stretch in the bathroom. Truly. Just a few movements—bending over to release my lower back, twists, shoulder rolls, small squats—really help to get blood flowing and make me feel way better during the flight and when I land.

What do you keep in your hand luggage? 

I bring Serene House essential oils: one that’s calming and one that wakes me up so that I can bring myself back to the present or relax a bit. I like to think that the people around me enjoy them too. I’ll also carry Four Sigmatic teas for when I land, or in case I need a little sweet treat in flight. My favorite is the mocha coffee in the morning and the reishi cacao in the evening with water or a nut milk.

I keep it all in my Block-T leather bag by Tory Burch. It’s my favorite to travel with because it makes everything easy to reach. It is not too deep and the top stays open—and I love that it sits! Perfect for personal and professional travel.

The flight attendants are reciting the safety instructions—what are you putting on first?

When I sit down, get settled and get off my phone, I usually pull my hair out of my face and then put lotion on my hands, arms and face so that I don’t get too dry. I love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer; I’ll put it on my whole body. Then I’ll swipe on my favorite Kiehl’s mango lip balm because it tastes so good.

I also carry a scarf or something blanket-like so I can stay warm and relax. I love this one from Gucci, which is more like a shawl. I got it as a gift years ago and it’s been one of my favorite things ever since.

SHOP KRISTA WILLIAMS’ TRAVEL BEAUTY BAG:

How do you keep hydrated?

I bring my bKr water bottle and drink water before and during the flight—and I get water when flight attendants come by with beverages. When I fly, I’ll also have coconut water and drinks with electrolytes too. These give me some salt and sugar so all that water I drink doesn’t just pass through me.

I also try to eat my water. I’ll bring pineapple, watermelon, blueberries or have a salad with me so that I am staying hydrated with what I eat, in addition to what I drink.

Any non-beauty in-flight essentials? 

I always bring selenite and black tourmaline when I travel. (I get my crystals from Energy Muse.) They are perfect for me to put in my bra, or to wear on a necklace as discrete jewelry.

I’ll take HUM Nutrition’s Air Patrol to help me stay healthy, especially when traveling. Similarly, I like to have The Honest Company’s hand-sanitizing spray and use it a few times throughout travel to keep myself as clean as possible.

I also pack pantry products from Moon Juice. I really love their green, rainbow and mango crisps. It’s key to have healthy snacks on deck because it’s really hard to find fresh and healthy options at the airport or on the plane.

Secrets to beat jet lag?

Sleep on the plane—it’s my favorite thing. I don’t care if it messes up my sleep schedule because it seriously helps me to just get more rest overall. Melatonin really helps too—it’s a natural way to get you to sleep. [Or try HUM Nutrition’s Beauty zzZz supplement to help you snooze.] If I’m well rested, well fed and hydrated, then I most likely can sail right into the trip without jet lag.

Tell me about your in-flight entertainment. Which episodes of Almost 30 do you recommend for a flight?

I genuinely love listening to podcasts: Rich Roll is one of my favorites, as well as Tim Ferriss. Tara Brach has a really great spiritual podcast with meditations and teachings for your soul. 

And, of course, at Almost 30 we keep it really fun, light and interesting, and we never take ourselves too seriously. Here’s what I recommend listening to on your next flight:

Manifesting Your Dream Life with Lacy Phillips – Episode 80

Genius Foods with Max Lugavere – Episode 108

Chakra Balancing and Energetic Healing with Millana Snow – Episode 103

From $600 to a Multi-Million Dollar Company with Daina Trout of Health-Ade – Episode 115

Keep up with the Almost 30 podcast by listening on iTunes. You can find their summer tour dates here.

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The Power of Dad’s Cologne: We Honor Father’s Day with Our Favorite Scent Memories

Some of our most potent scent memories can be traced back to childhood events. Whether it’s Mom’s homemade cookies, fresh from the oven—the aroma of vanilla and chocolate still wending its way along the neurotransmitters in our brain—or the smell of a mowed lawn after a spring rainstorm, the fragrant recollection of wet cut grass lingering heavy in our nostrils even now. So when we think of Dad, it’s only natural that we instinctively recall his personal scent at the same time we remember curling into his lap to read a book or pressing into the crook of his neck for a much-needed hug. While not every dad wears cologne, it’s an easy marker to identify—and much easier to package and give to the man on Father’s Day than, say, the formative smells of a tobacco pipe or summer sweat.

Since Father’s Day is June 17, the Nordstrom Fashion Office is celebrating the men who helped raise us by sharing some of our favorite dad cologne memories. Ahead, a tabulation of olfactive flashbacks of our fathers and their fragrances.

 

Nichole Metcalf, Principal Creative Designer

on Her Dad, Jerry Metcalf

To this day, I can’t smell Calvin Klein Obsession without thinking of my dad. He wore it pretty much every day, so the scent brings back memories of waking up to get ready for school while he got dressed for work. My dad would drive my sister and me to school every morning, which we loved. My dad was pretty stylish—just look at that tie, glasses and ’stache! I think it was when I was in high school that he started adding Ralph Lauren Polo Blue to his scent collection, which also still reminds me of him.

Mimmi Samsel, Art Director

on Her Dad Sven Erik Nilson

I am a child of divorce, but through it I gained two amazing fathers! The first image must have been taken by my mom who never got right the concept of lining up your camera with the horizon. My dad, Sven Erik Nilson, was an illustrator and this bugged him to no end. Sven Erik was a traveling man and wore Old Spice (I think he got it in Denmark on his trips). The second image is also of my biological dad. It was taken in March 1973. I remember it well. He was then divorced and would have weekend visitation with us. This was a special day—it was my birthday and I had just received my first camera, a little Kodak from my mom and stepdad. Sven Erik took me outside to the park and showed me how to use it. He calmly coached me through the f-stops and focus as he smoked his pipe that cold day.

I vividly remember the scent of the pines, Dad’s tobacco and his cologne as my frozen little fingers stumbled around the fabulous little mechanism that would mean so much in my life. My stepdad, Bengt, later helped me develop the image in our bathroom darkroom. My fathers were not friends but they had great respect for each other. They always put their best foot forward. My dads both passed away with Alzheimer’s, but their sense of smell never left either one of them.

Sarah Magbee, Associate Fashion Forecaster

on Her Dad, Chuck Magbee

My dad works as a contractor and does not normally wear cologne. Most of the time he is in head-to-toe Patagonia on a job site in Atlanta. But the smell of Ralph Lauren Polo reminds me of when my dad would clean up and take my family out in Atlanta to celebrate something.

Michelle Lyman, Copyeditor

on Her Dad, Dr. Ronald Hind

Back in the day, English Leather Lime was our go-to gift for my dad. It came in a frosted rectangular bottle with a tall, green wooden cap and the scent is something I still strongly associate with him. Just thinking about it takes me back to Father’s Days, birthdays and our family trips to Cannon Beach, where this photo was taken. I can’t find a bottle of English Leather today—it’s been discontinued for ages—but you can still find us walking on that beach!

Natalie Siderius, Senior Designer

on Her Dad, James Siderius

Calvin Klein Obsession. The memory of that circular bottle and logo alone is absolutely indelible, because I was fascinated with how it seemed so grown-up and cool (like my dad). I’ll always be a little endeared by that scent, since it’s associated with the best childhood memories—like how my dad could carry both my brother and me at the same time across sharp beach rocks and swim hours in the pool with one of us hooked onto his neck. Even though CK Obsession is gone with the ’90s, my dad is still true today to those childhood recollections: kind and strong, with a knack for making us laugh and a spirit of play that seldom tires.

Netter Hansen, Copyeditor

on Her Dad, Arnold Hansen

When I was a kid, my brother and I would always give my dad Old Spice for Father’s Day. It was the old kind, with a brush and a bar of shaving soap. Before he shaved, he would chase me around and rub his stubbly chin on my face and I’d laugh and scream. After he shaved, he’d rub his chin on me again, and it would be smooth and he smelled good, and I’d wrap my arms around my dad and give him a big hug. To this day, I like a man who smells like Old Spice.

Emma Zaratian, Senior Copywriter

on Her Dad, John Zaratian

My father rarely ever wore deodorant, let alone cologne. As an engineer, he worked outside a lot, mostly on construction sites in hot-weather places like Venezuela, Algeria and southern Idaho. After baking in the sun all day, he’d come home in the evenings and read to us in his big La-Z-Boy chair. His smell is strongly seared in my brain as one of sweat. But occasionally, when my parents would go out for a nice dinner date, my mother would insist he dab on the Aramis for Men she’d bought him—so to this day I have two dueling nostalgic associations with Dad’s smell.

Corrie Walters, Senior Designer

on Her Dad, Lawrence Walters

My dad was stylish, cool and loved literature and acting. He would read us Mark Twain and other stories every evening, doing each voice in character, while we listened intently. He was a Marine so my mom and he would dress up and go to the Marine Corps Ball and other parties where he wore his dress blues and she would wear a gown, often one that she made. He wore Aqua Velva when I was young, and I can still smell it when thinking about him. It was a familiar and fresh scent, and I associate it with him being in a good mood and silly with us kids after a refreshing shower and long day at work or after a workout. I tried to buy him Ralph Lauren Polo as a gift once when I was in high school, but I don’t think he ever used it. Now I think he uses Hermès fragrance. If I were to buy him a fragrance today it would be Hermès or Mr. Burberry.

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