What's new beautiful? The expert's guide to this week's best beauty
March has shaped up as a pivotal period for beauty enthusiasts to update their routines, as the world's biggest brands have continued to roll out a steady stream of showstopper innovation to kick start the spring season.
As the month draws to a close, here are the most exciting and noteworthy drops of this week.
I caught up with Emma Lewisham last Wednesday, as she nipped over from New Zealand for a whistle-stop UK business trip. It's always a joy to hear her latest thoughts on the beauty industry and all that's new in skincare. She explained that this mineral sun cream is her most ambitious (and by all accounts challenging), innovation yet.
No less than eight years in the making, it incorporates 65% skincare benefits - so you can do away with your moisturiser should you wish - and features an advanced dispersion technology to evenly distribute its 20% zinc oxide content and prevent the chalkiness and white cast associated with mineral sunscreens.
£46 (emmalewisham.co.uk)
Armani Beauty makeup formulas are cult favourites for their luxurious textures which translate into cool, modern makeup looks, and this new mascara is no exception.
With a silky smooth, smudge-proof formula, and clever super-fine brush it scoops up, separates and stretches out each and every lash for sculpted, clump-free definition and up to 5mm extra length.
£30 (armanibeauty.co.uk)
Warmer times are coming, but if you are still struggling with tricky, transeasonal skin then do consider these new drops from Barbara Sturm.
Formulated with skin-identical ceramides derived from natural Oat Lipids, Argan, Evening Primrose and Sweet Almond Oils, plus Phytosqualine, it works to strengthen and revitalise the skin barrier.
£125 (en.drsturm.com)
Zara's hair styling range is formulated and designed by the global hairstyling and backstage runway royalty that is Guido Palau. Responsible for producing much of the most influential hair in fashion over the last decades, Palau is an omniscient backstage presence at the world's biggest runways, while his work features on the covers of every global fashion glossy. Part of a new capsule curl collection, this excellent finishing serum enhances curl definition, while softening hair mid-lengths and ends without weighing them down.
£15.99 (zara.com/uk)
Givenchy Parfums has announced Alpine's F1 racer Pierre Gasly as front-man of their new Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambrée. 'It makes me feel great,' he told Madeleine Spencer for The London Standard last week.
'It also has a nice touch of sensuality to it, so I think it's very well rounded. I wear it morning and night, putting it on after training everyday, and right before bed because I like to smell good when I get into bed.' Expect Vetiver, Peruvian Balsam and Madagascan Vanilla in this heady, opulent and addictive spritz.
From £85 for 60ml at boots.com
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Wall Street Journal
19 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
Six Ways to Overhaul Your Wardrobe—Without Spending More Than $100 or Buying Anything New
When Tanya Amini, 48, soured on an orange wool Marni coat she had worn for a decade, she didn't get rid of it. Instead, she turned to her tailor. 'It's probably sacrilege, but he transferred the fur collar to a black Zara coat I owned, and suddenly, something plain became unique,' said the New York fashion consultant and magazine publisher. The cost? $60. Clothing prices are largely inaccessible now, says Amani. 'It's important to make use of the pieces we have.' Amini is part of a growing group of fashion-lovers choosing creative clothing and accessory upgrades over new purchases. On TikTok, over 490,000 posts bear the #diyfashion hashtag, says a spokesperson for the platform. Amid the current anxiety about tariffs and the threat of a recession, 'it's kind of lame to post about the newest, most on-trend pieces,' said Mandy Lee, a trend forecaster in New York. Instead of shopping hauls, Lee frequently shows off her dyed dresses and transformed shoes using the hashtag #mendedhaul. In uncertain times, she said, 'people invest in little luxuries rather than expensive ones.' Kristine Frailing, the founder and creative director of the New York Sewing Center in Manhattan, recently opened a Brooklyn outpost in response to the 'huge increase in people aged 20 to 60 wanting to learn how to sew, upcycle and embroider,' she said. In addition to saving money, the old tradition of crafting is therapeutic and promotes well-being, she explains. 'Once you've felt that dopamine rush, you'll want to create more.' Ahead, six ways to reinvigorate the existing pieces in your closet—from DIY projects to clever upgrades you can request at the cobbler and tailor. The best part? Nothing here costs over $100. Annie Cobb, 51, routinely takes a needle and thread to her dresses. Since the Brooklyn interior designer hates spaghetti straps, she swaps them for 'thicker grosgrain or silk ribbon ties that are more flattering.' She likes to hunt for the vintage trimmings, which cost less than $15 per pair, at Paris flea markets. For trickier projects, Cobb calls on New York tailor Magie Lochard. The seamstress recently added ribbon drawstrings to one of Cobb's bell-sleeve dresses that now 'gathers prettily at the wrists,' Cobb said. The cost? $70. 'There's new life hidden in every garment,' said Lochard. Having a tailor on speed dial is imperative, says Tanya Amini, a fashion consultant. Her golden rule? 'Get it altered and make it work.' For $100, Fabrics, a dry cleaner in Manhattan, recently added darts to Amini's amorphous jacket by the Row. With a few simple nips to the waist, it no longer 'looks like it belongs to my dad,' she said. Swapping the plastic buttons on a blazer to gold or fabric-covered ones—found at notion or vintage stores—is an easy DIY entry point for dilettantes. The payoff can be surprisingly effective. 'Nicer buttons make a garment look more expensive,' Lochard said. If a pair of boots feels too tight around the calf, consider stretching them, says New York cobbler Life Levi. He charges around $40 for the service. Pinched toes? You 'can't stretch a size eight to a 10, but it is possible to add a half size.' Instead of parting with towering old heels, shorten them for $20 to $40, says Levi. Holes may be considered an inevitable part of your knitwear's life cycle. But when a sweater belonging to Flora Collingwood-Norris falls prey to a 'moth incident' or a dog with 'a taste for sleeves,' the Scottish 39-year-old knitwear designer turns to a repair strategy dubbed 'visible mending.' The process, unlike darning, covers the tear with colorful embroidery intentionally left visible. Those aspiring to re-create the sprawling floral scenes Collingwood-Norris is know for (seen below) can book a prerecorded video workshop for around $100 ( Neophytes might consider simply adding bold slapdash stitches in contrasting colors to a holey cardigan. Think of the outcome as 'an impressionist painting,' urges Collingwood-Norris. 'The aim is to repair the hole and make sure it doesn't get worse.' For statement-making denim fixes, Lauren Gonzalez-Johnson, founder of San Antonio repair business Socorro Society, offers wash-away 'stick and stitch' templates ($10 to $85 at Choose from nature scenes or graphic stitches inspired by a Japanese reinforcement method called sashiko. 'Denim has so much elastic in it now that it disintegrates in the wash,' she said. 'When you wear out that one perfect item, this is how you keep it going.' Designer items with flashy logos increasingly induce sticker shock. Consider pivoting instead to monogramming. Lochard will stitch custom initials on a shirt cuff for between $30 to $50, depending on the size of the letters, she says. Embroidery classes can be found at sewing schools across the country. At the Sewing Center in New York, a class costs $95. (You bring the shirt; they'll supply the tools and know-how.) Adding a singular touch to a handbag that has seen better days is another personalization option. Chicagoan Helena Kim, 33, prolonged the usefulness of a nylon Longchamp tote—a graduation gift from her aunt—by slicing out the damaged sections with a craft knife and patching them up with printed fabric swatches ($2 each on Etsy). Vintage dealer Sarah Hidalgo, 42, suggests adding adornments to a basic carryall. She recently jazzed up an old black handbag by pinning brooches, sourced at thrift stores, to its smooth exterior. 'If the hardware is gold, choose gold brooches to match,' she said. When it comes to scouting the best ornaments, she advises seeking out 'something that invokes a memory or reflects you in some way.' She has paid more for talking points like dachshunds and mermaids (around $7), but you can find cheaper options if you 'buy in bulk on eBay or take the time to hunt in flea markets,' Hidalgo said. Another tip? Avoid hard-to-pierce coated-canvas bags. Dunking tired clothes into a steamy sink of fabric dye might seem intimidating, but Mandy Lee, a New Yorker in her 30s, says that it elicits the same rush as 'adding to cart.' Her shopping pause—partly prompted by tariff-related shipping costs—led her to plunge a blush-toned slip dress into an inky black bath. 'It's now a critical layering piece in my wardrobe,' said Lee. Kim, who posts upcycling videos as @Yooon_ie on TikTok, says to 'wear gloves, cover your counters and thrift a big pot if you're worried about your sink.' Before dipping the whole garment, she suggests cutting off and submerging a bit of the inner seam to test the color. Dyes retail for under $10 at Michaels craft stores, but not all are created for the same task. Ask yourself: 'Is the fabric makeup of your garment natural or synthetic fiber?' directs Lee. Select your dye accordingly and employ a little common sense. 'Don't try to dye a dark blue dress light pink, it's not going to work,' she said. Another option most people don't consider? 'You can dye shoes, too. It's easy,' said Kim. Most cobblers will do it; the brave can opt to tint at home. When a seasonal color is trending (such as pale yellow this summer), 'instead of going out and buying new clothes, [you can] just dye a whole new wardrobe,' said Kim. When Kim happened upon a Coach crossbody bag during a rummage at her local thrift store, it dangled uncomfortably around her knees. 'Some people think it is wrong to punch holes in designer bags, but to me, it is your bag, your life, your rules—why not customize it to your body shape?' This season, short-strap bags that rest in the crook of the armpit are on-trend. To quickly shorten a long strap, Kim recommends a basic leather hole punch ($12 on Amazon). The process, Kim says, is the same as using a paper hole puncher. 'You don't [even] have to know how to sew.' The risk-averse can take their handbags to a cobbler. Levi will extend too-short straps or replace a handle entirely for as little as $60. Should your handbag require significantly more TLC, there is likely still hope. 'Most people think, if a part is missing, then it's not repairable,' said Levi. 'But I can change the whole lock system—even if it's not exactly the same one.' The service costs between $30 and $100. If you're simply looking to mend an errant thread or loose buckle, Levi suggests acting at the first sign of trouble. 'Take care of your repairs sooner than later—smaller repairs are cheaper.' A pair of grandpa's cuff links that hasn't seen daylight in decades can be converted into earrings at a surprisingly low cost. Jeweler Tommy Guthrie at Gem Rock Collective in Houston said he recently turned a pair of stone and silver cuff links into stud earrings for $100 by soldering them onto silver posts. (An earring-to-cuff-link swap is also possible.) Another transformation Guthrie says he sees 'almost daily?' Clients asking him to bring a contemporary feel to an heirloom pearl necklace. 'They'll add beads to spice it up a bit.' At his store, re-knotting a 16-inch necklace will cost $64, while the beads he sells start at $2, 'depending on how fancy [the client] wants to get,' Guthrie said. Cobb, meanwhile, had a pair of fringed 1980s Chanel earrings, passed down from her stepmother, converted from clip-ons to posts for $80. To transform costume clip-on pairs at home, Hidalgo advises using a wire-cutter to remove the original backs and gluing on gold-plated post ones ($4 on Etsy). Have fun with your vision, but 'just make sure there's a big enough area to anchor a new post,' she said. The Wall Street Journal is not compensated by retailers listed in its articles as outlets for products. Listed retailers frequently are not the sole retail outlets.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Gen Z Shows Her Sister Her Outfit—Unprepared for Her Reaction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Generation Z woman has gone viral for sharing an account of her older sister's reaction to her vacation outfit, and internet viewers are howling with laughter. Sophia Bamford (@sophiabamff), 22, had been excited to debut a new look while on a family trip. The outfit—a brown, loose-fitting linen set from Zara—was a step away from her usual travel attire. Normally opting for an oversize sweatsuit on travel days, she wanted something that felt just as comfortable but more polished. Bamford told Newsweek that the set struck the perfect balance between "relaxed and refined" and was ideal for both the flight and meeting up with family afterward. "When I finally put it on and stepped out of the bathroom to show my sister, she gave me a disappointed look and said, in that classic older-sister tone, 'Well, as long as you like it, that's all that matters,'" Bamford said. "It instantly struck me as hilarious because if you have sisters, you know exactly what that means. Sisters are brutally honest, often without any filter." Bamford added that, while the comment initially made her second-guess the outfit for a moment, the feeling didn't last. She reminded herself of the effort and intention behind her choice and how excited she had been to wear it. It wasn't "just an outfit"—it was part of her effort to elevate her wardrobe and feel like the most-confident version of herself. She wasn't offended by her sister's reaction, though. Bamford said it came from a place of love and that their bond is one rooted in honesty and humor. She added that only people with siblings could truly understand the kind of unfiltered feedback that comes from someone who knows you best. Bamford and her sister, Emilee, 27, are six years apart in age. While they weren't especially close growing up—Emilee often seeing Sophia as the "annoying little sister"—that changed after Sophia graduated high school. Since then, the sisters have chosen to become not just siblings, but also best friends. Now, they share everything from deep conversations to outfit critiques, and moments like the one captured in the viral video reflect just how real and playful their relationship is. "I think there's something powerful in showing the small, everyday moments that people can relate to," Bamford said. "Sometimes, the funniest, most-honest content comes from just being yourself and letting your sister roast you a little bit along the way." The video resonated with thousands, garnering more than 244,200 likes and over 2.1 million views on TikTok. In the comments, viewers posted with their own takes on sisterly dynamics. "No that's a younger sister move in my opinion," commented one user. "I'm that older sister and I ain't sorry," wrote another. A split image of Sophia Bamford recounting her sister's less-than-enthusiastic response to her outfit. A split image of Sophia Bamford recounting her sister's less-than-enthusiastic response to her outfit. @sophiabamff/@sophiabamff "My older sister would say wait can I wear that instead," shared Gabs. "The amount of times I've changed my outfit so my sister can wear what I was wearing lol [laugh out loud]—but she'd do the same for me." "As someone with 4 sisters … I do not care what you wear. Good or bad. Don't care enough," posted another commenter. One user summed it up perfectly: "Many of us older sisters truly would not wear what our younger, non-road-paving sisters would wear. But the same is true the other way around, yes?" Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
18 Elevated Zara-Style Pieces That Are Flying Off Amazon Shelves — Starting at Just $9
Zara's summer collection is particularly swoon-worthy — especially the tops, blouses and dresses. But if you're on a budget, there are alternative spots to get a similar look for less, like say, on Amazon. After all, a few pieces at Zara can easily turn into a thousand-dollar venture. Luckily, we found some stellar Amazon picks that won't break the bank, starting at just $9. There is a wide selection of linen-looking tops, silky button-up blouses and billowy dresses that scream "old money" on Amazon right now. We rounded up 18 of the best, most Zara-looking pieces to give you an effortlessly put-together look wherever you go. By the way, several picks on this list are on sale, so snap them up fast! 1. CEO Energy: This double-layer chiffon blouse comes in endless colors and patterns, giving you a millionaire aesthetic. 2. Silky Satin: You'll want two (or three) of these chic button-front blouses with a plunging V-neckline and a classy lapel collar. 3. Yacht Wife: Stripes, cap sleeves and knit materials are a few telltale signs of a yacht wife aesthetic. Give all the signals in this comfy tee! 4. Halter Tank: Everything about this high-neck tank is classy. It features bow tie, pleated detailing and a luxe-looking material. These 18 Tummy-Hiding Sundresses Channel a European Boutique Aesthetic for Less 5. Layering Essential: Look no further for a fitted cap-sleeve top that makes your waist and arms appear slimmer. 6. Pretty Princess: Embroidered material and ruffle sleeves make this cotton top a must-have for brunch, barbecues and everything in between. 7. Classy Grandma: Button-front sweaters are ultra-trendy for transitional temps and cool summer nights. However, the gold buttons definitely give this pick an elevated look. 8. Trendsetter Alert: Puff sleeves, a relaxed fit and a creamy beige hue are just a few highlights to love from this sophisticated knit top. 9. Modest Lace: This lace-embellished shirt pairs beautifully with a tank top, white jeans and strappy sandals for everyday errands and dinners alike. 10. Hamptons Boutique: Hey there, Miss Confident! This knee-length dress looks expensive with its embroidered material and banner hems. 11. Classy Act: Get ready to be the center of attention while wearing this solid-colored short-sleeve maxi. It has puff sleeves and a billowy, tiered skirt that flows nicely as you walk. 12. Everything Outfit: Look no further! This simple and dainty dress is perfect to throw on when heading to the office or patio parties. 13. Swiss Dots: This ultra-flattering mini dress has lantern sleeves, a square neckline and designer-like ruching. Hidden pockets are just a bonus. 14. Center of Attention: Don't be surprised if heads turn. You'll look model-tall and extra expensive in this sleeveless satin maxi. 15. In Tiers: We're grabbing this versatile stretchy tank maxi in two colors (with a third in the cart). 16. Delicate Era: Give your upscale aesthetic a boho twist with this flutter-sleeve midi. 17. Tummy-Hiding Design: Have you ever seen such a flattering dress? This casual mini has a front tie detail to discreetly cover your midsection. 18. Wedding Guest: Ruffles, pleats, bows, oh my! This cocktail dress will have you glowing from the inside out. Channel European Style in These 17 Loose Blouses That Are Surprisingly Under $20 Us Weekly and Yahoo have affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
