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Mujus: Fashionable Conscious Jewelry

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The first thing you notice when meeting Paola Delgado, owner and founder of Mujus, is her effervescent personality. She is excited to tell you about her product, its origin and the dedicated artisans that work for her. It is clear this is no sales pitch. This is pure passion and enthusiasm from taking an entrepreneurial risk and discovering herself in the process. Unlike others who simply source materials from indigenous regions, Paola is returning to her roots in Peru and helping local artisans through her beautiful yet eco-friendly and sustainable jewelry line. My lust item is her Locura statement necklace, featured in London's Fashion Week, that I lovingly refer to as "the goddess" necklace. Paola's journey to entrepreneurship is as beautiful and inspiring as her jewelry.

What is Mujus?
Mujus (pronounced moo-hoos) means seed in Aymara, an ancient language of Peru. Our jewelry is processed from the tagua seed, known as vegetable ivory that grows on palm trees across the Amazon rainforest. Tagua seeds are harvested after they have fallen to the ground, so there is no damage done to the rainforest.

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Is your background as an artist?
I grew up in Peru at a time when the poverty rate was 40%. Although I made jewelry as a child, being creative was not encouraged because it was not seen as financially stable. I received a Fulbright and came to the US for college. I thought that I wanted to work for the IMF World Bank. I double majored in Political Science and Economics. After an internship, I decided that (a) it was slow and (b) I wanted to make money. My junior year I applied for investment banking analyst positions and moved to NYC to work at Goldman Sachs. It was my dream job "creating money out of nothing." It was glamorous and exciting.

How did Mujus come about?
For four years, I worked 90 hour work weeks making good money, but questioning if this was what I wanted out of life. The money was not giving me the happiness that I had attached to it. I was creative, but never explored it because I was scared of financial insecurity. I wanted to explore it and do something for my country. So I hired a career coach to help me "find myself."

Did you "find yourself?"
In 2011, I planned to take a year off to work as an entrepreneur in Brazil and learn Portuguese. However, my sister was graduating from college in Peru and working with artisans there. She convinced me to come home and see what was happening. I moved home after being away for eight years. I started making jewelry myself. My dad became my mentor. He was an entrepreneur in Peru. After years of thinking that I would take care of my parents, I returned home and became a daughter again and my father's mentee. He took me on a seven day - seven city tour of Ecuador to teach me how to source tagua from another country. It was a re-establishing of the father-daughter relationship and passing down of culture and wisdom. I rediscovered my Peruvian roots and myself in starting Mujus.

You seem driven by your heritage and culture.
I always like the linkage with culture and cultures of the world. Life becomes so much richer when we embrace other cultures. I lived a sheltered life in Peru as a child. I was rediscovering it as an adult. As an entrepreneur, I am able to help women and artisans who share my passion and value my design vision. I adore creating beautiful things. It is humbling, scary and frustrating to see the company grow. I can't grow by myself. Fortunately, I have good people. I know every single person that has worked on my designs, and their children.

What have you learned from starting Mujus?
I am learning to be a better boss and have a sense of responsibility. I am listening to my heart to go against the fear of failure because holding on to everything would have drowned me. I have learned in business to respect the process of letting go and knowing that it may not happen the first time. You have to let go of the dream to see if reality works understanding that your design and product is a small portion of your success.

What's your favorite part of being a designer?
Selling wholesale can be disappointing when you do not hear back. However, selling to end customers there is an immediate reward seeing them become excited and happy about their purchase.

If you are looking for something special for a mother, sister, girlfriend or treating yourself, Paola's jewelry can be purchased online, use the holiday discount code "withlovefrompaola". If you are in New York City, visit Mujus at the holiday markets in Union Square and Bryant Park.

"As no two seeds are alike, each Mujus piece is as unique as you are."


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Incredible Skin Care Finds for Winter Dry Skin

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I recently came across two skin care lines -- Amala, and Skinfix. The best part about these brands is that they are both made from natural ingredients that quickly prevent and soothe skin problems. Skinfix makes healing balms and daily care products that treat skin's most vexing conditions and Amala custom distills high potency organic plants for their products. If you are like me, and get a horrible case of winter dry skin then these are skin care products that are definitely worth a try!

Below are some of my favorite skin care products I use to help my skin in these brutal winter months.

Skinfix Cleansing Oil Wash

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I find that regular body wash just doesn't cut it for me in the winter because it tends to leave my skin itchy and dehydrated. This oil wash will foam in the shower to leave you feeling super clean and the added element of the oil has a way of protecting, relieving, and softening dry skin.

Skinfix Daily Lotion

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In the past I always thought the thicker and heavier the lotion, the better it would be for my skin. That is not the case with this lotion. It is incredibly lightweight and non-greasy but still has the ability to greatly moisturize my skin.

Ama.la Hydrate Treatment Oil

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This incredible formula is a concentrated seed oil booster. It contains Jasmine, Avocado, and Pomegranate to help protect the skin from environmental damage. This is a highly concentrated formula and you will only need one drop to cover your entire face. I use this under my moisturizer on a daily basis for protection in the harsh winter months.

Skinfix Lip Repair Balm

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Say goodbye to dry, cracked winter lips. This balm will instantly relieve any discomfort from chapped lips. I love using this repair balm before using my lipstick. It helps my lips to look hydrated, and allows my lipstick glides on smoothly.

Amala Handbag Essentials

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This adorable little bag holds your skin essentials in your purse. The bag holds treatments for fine lines and dehydrated skin on hands, and chapped lips. The essentials bag contains 1 Hydrating Hand Cream, 1 Rejuvenating Hand Cream, and 1 Soothing Lip Salve. With ingredients like Organic Jasmine, Cocoa Bean, and Dessert Fig, your skin will be back on track in no time at all.

Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter

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I save this lotion for the extra cold and harsh days. It helps my skin when the weather is particularly bad outside and the daily lotion just won't cut it. This lotion is to be used on extremely dry and rough skin. I only use this during times my skin needs some extra care and protection.

Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream

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I keep an extra one of these on hand in my car and at home. It is a wonderful way to treat dry, cracked hands. Our hands are one of the areas that tend to age the quickest on our bodies and keeping them moisturized and hydrated greatly reduces the aging process.



For more tips and tricks follow me on Twitter: @makeupbysana, Instagram: @makeupbysanac and on Facebook: Makeup by Sana

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Top 10 Luxury and Creative Holiday Gifts

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Need some inspiration for fabulous luxury holiday gifts to give this year? Below are some of my favorites to help you select gifts for the very special people in your life! Whether it be for a loved one or someone you work with, there's something here for everyone on your list!

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1.Givency Antigona Mini Leather Satchel 2. Fendi Pom Pom Keychain 3. AmazonBasics Portable Bluetooth Speaker 4. Peloton bike and membership 5. Pai Shau Ritual Box 6. Zoe Chicco Gold Bar Necklace 7. Tory Burch Foundation Seed Box 8. Powerboard by HOVERBOARD 9. Profile Road Rescue Kit 10. Keep Cold Carafe from Tweak

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1. Givency Antigona Mini Leather Satchel is one of the hottest bags this season so chances are the fashionistas on your list already have their eyes on it. It's available in several different colors and sizes but I love the mini size -- the gray color goes with everything!

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2.This Fendi Keychain (pictured above) is a fun luxury accessory that will add flair to any classic handbag. The bright pop of color makes a statement and is a perfect gift for the style maven who has everything. Super chic!

3. Any music lover who needs to listen to their tunes wherever they go will appreciate this AmazonBasics Portable Bluetooth Speaker. The small sleek speaker produces amazing sound and is great for travel. It works 30 feet away from the connected device so can be used anywhere. Available in several colors.

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4. For busy fitness buffs on your list, check out the Peloton bike and membership. Peloton provides an at-home indoor cycle class experience by using a live class stream to coach spinners through the workout. The on-demand classes offer high-energy, cardio workouts from the top spin instructors in the nation. Riders can also choose from different levels of difficulty, ride-lengths and styles. The sleek bike also allows users to race against riders from around the world by using technology to monitor distance, RPMs, calories.

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5. Pai-Shau just released their first luxury haircare line of products in September and they are already loved by celebrities and beauty experts around the world. All Pai-Shau products are filled with antioxidants and vitamins -- they leave hair super soft, silky and shiny due to the "Signature Exotic Tea Complex infusion." These revolutionary hair products are now available in this beautifully packaged Ritual Box that contain a variety of travel size Pai-Shau products.

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6. If you're looking into jewelry for a special someone this holiday season, this delicate gold bar necklace from Zoe Chicco is a perfect choice. This elegant piece looks great layered with other necklaces.

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7.The Tory Burch Foundation Seed Box is a curated box featuring six amazing lifestyle products from women entrepreneurs. It makes the perfect gift for the stylish working gal who loves to give back. 100 percent of the purchase price from the Seed Box will benefit the Tory Burch Foundation, which empowers entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, education and networking events.

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8.Powerboard by HOVERBOARD is one of the hottest gifts to give this season for kids and adults. This fun 2-wheel self balancing scooter looks cool with its LED lights and is easy to ride. Available in white, red, blue, black and is priced well compared to its competitors.

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9. Give a metrosexual man the gift of healthy and younger looking skin. Rob Lowe's new skin care line Profile offers a Road Rescue Kit that includes four travel sized essential skin and shave products for men. Each product is toxic free, has no water added and are held to strict quality standards in order for every man to put his best face forward. My husband is currently obsessed with them!

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10. The Tweak store in LA and its website bestgiftstoreever.com is a great resource for finding the most creative gifts for friends, family, colleagues and teachers. The site also offers a gift concierge for custom and corporate gift giving. Style meets function with this Keep Cold Carafe, one of my favorites from the site. The carafe keeps drinks cool without ice and can also be used as a vase! Stop by the Tweak store in Los Angeles, or check out the wide variety of kitschy gifts on the site.

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Kris Jenner Is Sexy At 60 As She Poses In Swimsuit For Love Magazine Photo Shoot

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As the greatest lyricist of our time, will.i.am, once said, "I got it from my mama."


Well, so did this generation of Kardashians and Jenners because their mom Kris Jenner has been killing the game long before Khloe worked out with Complex or Kylie took a spin in that wheelchair. (Why, Kylie, why?!) 


The 60-year-old reality TV star took a dip on the wild side for Love Magazine's 2015 advent calendar, posing in a black halter bathing suit draped in jewels, while wading in a swimming pool.


The magazine posted a sneak peek of Jenner's shoot on their Instagram account Monday morning, with the caption, "MORNING! Today on THELOVEMAGAZINE.co.uk it's the one and only @krisjenner by @douginglish @anthonyunwin."



MORNING ! Today on THELOVEMAGAZINE.co.uk it's the one and only @krisjenner by @douginglish @anthonyunwin

A photo posted by LOVE MAGAZINE (@thelovemagazine) on




Love also shared this behind-the-scenes video to celebrate the seventh day of the calendar, featuring Jenner in all her glory. 




Kendall, the resident model in the family, kicked off the calendar in a sneak peek shared by Editor-in-Chief Katie Grand earlier this month. Someone has clearly been watching old episodes of "America's Next Top Model" because the 20-year-old was dressed in a hammerhead shark costume.






We hope Kendall is a #prouddaughter.  





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42 Gifts For Anyone With Wanderlust

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Have you been bit by the travel bug? Is your sister, or best friend, a globe-trotting fairy person? Whether you're looking for stylish décor for yourself or practical travel gadgets for others, this is the ultimate gift list for explorers. May we just add, bon voyage!



 


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How is your family celebrating the holidays? Share with us on WhatsApp! 


To send us images and stories:


1. Download WhatsApp on your phone. 


2. Save this number, +1 646 522 3114, in your phone’s contacts. 


3. Send us photos of your celebrations with a short description via WhatsApp.


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The Right Way To Wash Activewear

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By Lisa Elaine Held for Well+Good
Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd know a little something about laundry. And your sweaty workout clothes.

The pair founded luxe, eco-friendly cleaning line The Laundress in 2004 and just debuted the brand's first retail store in the US, on Prince Street in Soho, where detergent, stain solution, and mops are presented in a way that makes them covetable and Instagrammable (seriously).

But its the product formulations, not the store design, that really set the company apart.
Detergents are made with plant-derived ingredients and hard-working enzymes instead of potentially harmful chemicals like sodium laurel sulfate, dyes, or chlorine bleach.

RELATED: 8 Better-For-You Household Cleaning Products

"Everything we make is very highly formulated for exactly what we want it to do," explains Whiting, showing me products made specifically for wool and cashmere, whites, activewear, and pit stain removal. ("We didn't want to become The Laundress if we couldn't conquer the pit stain," she says.)
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Naturally, we asked the fresh-and-clean experts to weigh in on how to properly wash activewear, so that those $150 luxe leggings you splurged on last a good, long while and don't smell like a sweaty spin studio when you wear them with a baggy sweater to dinner later. Here are their three key tips:

1. Ditch the dryer. First, the most basic tip you're hopefully already following: "We recommend hanging [your workout pieces] to dry as the heat and agitation in the drying cycling can change the fit, reduce elasticity overtime, and alter the performance," say Whiting and Boyd, providing you with more reasons beyond a little pilling to break out the drying rack.

Head to Well+Good to see the rest of their tips for washing your activewear so it doesn't smell (or fall apart)

More Reading from Well+Good:
10 Pairs of Essential Yoga Pants
7 gorgeous plants that can survive in your tiny apartment
How to choose a cleaner cleaning product

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25 Gifts For People Who Can't Live Without Coffee

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Some people can't carry on a conversation, or mumble two words, before their third cup of coffee in the morning. If you are one of these people, or your roommate is one of these people, or perhaps your "special someone," we have just the holiday gift. Java lovers, unite!



 


Also on HuffPost:




How is your family celebrating the holidays? Share with us on WhatsApp! 


To send us images and stories:


1. Download WhatsApp on your phone. 


2. Save this number, +1 646 522 3114, in your phone’s contacts. 


3. Send us photos of your celebrations with a short description via WhatsApp.


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Woman's 'Authentic' Take On Kylie Jenner's Wheelchair Shoot Proves An Important Point

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After Kylie Jenner caused a stir by posing in a wheelchair for a photo shoot, Erin Tatum decided to use the opportunity to spread an important message.


On Dec. 3, Tatum responded to Jenner’s controversial cover for Interview magazine by posting it on Tumblr alongside a photo of herself reenacting it. The 24-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, said she wanted to make the photo of Jenner "more authentic."


"I tried my best to create a more authentic version of Kylie Jenner’s Interview cover, given that I’m, you know, actually disabled and a real life wheelchair user," Tatum wrote in the post.




In an email to The Huffington Post, Tatum described her first reaction to the cover and pointed out the problem with celebrities mimicking people with disabilities and the message they send.


"I thought, 'I'm in a wheelchair every day, and as soon as Kylie Jenner does it, it's suddenly cool?!'" she said. "It's ridiculous that people with actual disabilities get no attention in the media, but as soon as a celebrity imitates, it's provocative and profound."


She said she decided to recreate the photo to make a point about using disabilities as mere fashion accessories.


"Disabled people aren't sitting in wheelchairs because we think that they're cool or because we think we'll get attention, we're using them because they are a fundamental aspect of our daily lives and the key to maintaining our freedom and quality of life," she said. "Also, it's worth noting that Kylie's photo is very sexualized, whereas real disabled women are desexualized specifically for being disabled."


Since being posted, Tatum’s post has been reblogged and liked more than 120,000 times. Other Tumblr users have also shared their takes on Jenner's photo, further emphasizing Tatum's crucial message about the representation of people with disabilities. 






Tatum clarified that the motivation behind her post had nothing to do with "attacking" Jenner. She said she recognized the conversation around the cover and wanted to use the opportunity to highlight the need for the visibility of people with disabilities.


"I wanted to use the incident as a flashpoint to open a dialogue about why we don't see more people with disabilities in media and why able-bodied models, actors and other celebrities routinely appropriate our narratives for the sole purpose of shock value," she said. "People with disabilities deserve to be authentically represented. We deserve to speak for ourselves and be heard without constantly shouting over able-bodied people."


H/T Mic


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Why I Joined The Hollywood Beauty Detective Movement

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Beauty terrifies me. I think it terrifies almost everyone, especially women. Sometimes we forget about beauty, but it's this murky undercurrent in many of our lives. The undercurrent rises at certain points in life. For example, when we become moms to little girls, we can't help at some point to think, "Oh shit...that beauty thing...I hope it doesn't fuck her up like it did me." I'm going to share with you my thoughts on beauty, why it terrifies me, how I am doing my best to unravel the beauty knot for my little girl, and why I joined the revolution started by Holly Fulger who is better known as The Hollywood Beauty Detective.

Beauty frightens me because it is subjective, but we live in a society that tries hard to make it objective. Beauty is subjective in that it's an opinion. Society tries to make it objective, a fact. Yes, mass media and advertisers are to blame for some of this, but they are not the only ones. We do it too. It's our human nature to try to turn subjective things into objective ones.

The ocean is beautiful. This is not a fact. It's an opinion. The ocean just is.

That Victoria Secret supermodel is beautiful. This is not a fact. It's an opinion. The Victoria Secret supermodel just is.

Advertisers and marketers, and the companies behind them, like to be the spokespeople for beauty, but we individual humans like to be too. Unfortunately this can cause a fucked up mess in society as we inadvertently create standards, benchmarks and blueprints for what beautiful is. No harm no foul when we try to set the standard for beauty when it comes to things, like the ocean. The ocean doesn't care what we believe about it. It just is. The real harm is when we set the standard for human beings.

Since society is so insistent on creating a standard of what beautiful is, it's important that we empower the right people with that privilege. That's why I'm so excited about the work of Holly Fulger, The Hollywood Beauty Detective.

My beauty issues started when I was around 15 years old, because this is about the time when middle school became high school and kids and friendships became exclusionary rather than inclusionary. The so called popular kids interestingly looked very much like the TV ads we would see in between The Brady Bunch and The Facts of Life. They were the kids wearing make-up and dressed in Benetton. They were the kids who looked like the people on TV; tall, skinny, long hair, perfect white teeth. They were the beautiful ones. Everyone else slowly became excluded, forming their own little rat packs based on common interests like band, sports and drama club, since they couldn't hang their hats on beauty.

I was a short, chubby kid through middle school. By high school, I was a diet obsessed, exercise fanatic who fought constantly with my mother about food. I was no longer the kid that would devour munchkins on Sunday mornings while watching cartoons, but had become the teenager who would put one munchkin in my mouth, chew it and spit it out so I wouldn't gain an ounce, heaven forbid. My mom would make home-cooked meals every night and we'd fight because I didn't want to eat because I didn't want to be fat, because fat was ugly and ugly meant non-acceptance at school. Sometimes I'd win these fights, and sometimes I'd lose. Since losing was unacceptable, I became best friends with Jane Fonda. Literally, I'd work out 2 or 3 times a day so that if my mom made me eat, I'd burn the calories. I would weigh myself constantly and if I went above 105 pounds, I'd simply stop eating. I'd go an entire day with just eating a bagel to humor my family. Sadly, I had tried Bulimia, but throwing up was not my forte, so I simply stuck to obsessive observance of my weight, a pre-occupation with my scale, an infatuation with calories and a neurotic exercise routine. Why? I just wanted to be accepted.

So, beauty has been the undercurrent of my life for more than 20 years. Having realized many years ago that acceptance of ourselves is far more important than acceptance from others, I've come a long way. I no longer care if anyone believes I'm beautiful. It doesn't matter to me anymore, because I've come to see that, just like the ocean, I'm just me. Some love me. Some don't. Some see beauty. Some see a dark, dirty, seaweed filled crater of muck. It doesn't matter. I'm just me. Subjectively anyone is entitled to their opinion. Objectively nothing changes that I am still me.

Beauty scares me for my daughter and for future generations of girls who I fear will have to learn the hard way that acceptance must come from within first, and that beauty will always be subjective to the beholder.

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I recently joined a movement called The Hollywood Beauty Detective started by Holly Fulger. Since society seems so hell bent on creating a spokesperson for beauty, I feel 100 percent confident in leaving it to her and the other beauty detectives who have figured out how to redefine beauty whereby aesthetics are no longer the emphasis. Right now, she's our best hope for a future of young women who realize that greatness has nothing to do with their face, their figure or the opinions of anyone other than themselves. She's redefining beauty in such a way that when my 6 year old daughter grows into a young woman and asks, "What is beautiful?" I can explain to her that The Hollywood Beauty Detective has laid out all of the clues. Furthermore, I feel like I have a partner on my own beauty journey, a site that I can go home to when my own insecurities return from time to time.

Here are some facts from The Hollywood Beauty Detective site: By the time the average American girl reaches the age of 17, she's seen more than 250,000 commercial messages aimed at shaping her appearance. Over 80 percent of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat and according to a statistic from Dove, only 4 percent of women consider themselves beautiful. If this doesn't scare you, it should. Beauty has become an epidemic that will take a toll on future generations who should be more concerned with how they can achieve their dreams of becoming philosophers, doctors, astronauts, artists, and the like, more than they care about their physical appearance. Today we can each take a stand, we can become part of a movement that is based on inclusion, and it all starts here with Holly Fulger, The Hollywood Beauty Detective. I hope you will join me.

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What Ever Happened To The Body Shop?

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Jeremy Schwartz had an epiphany last February on the banks of the Amazon River.


The chief executive of the Body Shop -- which pioneered ethical, natural beauty products in 1976 -- wanted to find a way for the L'Oreal-owned cosmetics chain to reclaim its place as a corporate leader in environmental consciousness. With a cadre of colleagues, he flew down to South America, hoping to find inspiration there.


“It’s taken me about two years to crack, I’ve been on an intellectual journey to ask the simple questions: What does the future hold? And how can we be an original, progressive company?” Schwartz, the company boss since 2013, told The Huffington Post in a recent phone interview. “That trip to the Amazon was an enlightening ah-ha moment, standing on the edge of the river.”


The simple fact is that the Body Shop, which once pushed most of Europe to ban testing on live animals, has lost its edge over competitors. To reclaim its position as an activist firm, the company is focusing on campaigning for legislative change. Currently looking at areas where it believes it could make the most impact, the chain plans to remain tight-lipped about the effort until sometime next year.


In the meantime, the store this week kicks off an advertising campaign focused on biodiversity, at least 10 percent of which can be found in the Amazon Rainforest. This rejuvenated focus on the environment comes after nearly two decades of decline for the company, which turns 40 next year.



Under the 26-year stewardship of late founder Anita Roddick and her husband, T. Gordon Roddick, the Body Shop set a new standard by “retailing with a conscience” on a large scale. The company sourced the ingredients in its products to indigenous farmers in developing countries. It enforced eco-friendly growing methods in its supply chain.


In 1993, the firm banned any products tested on animals. Three years later, the Body Shop gathered 4 million signatures on a petition to ban cosmetic testing on animals in the European Union. By 2004, the ban went into effect.


Back then, the company focused on making change by targeting Europe and North America.


But Schwartz realized, standing before the lapping 4,000-mile river earlier this year, that companies have an incomplete vision for the ideal ethical consumer. So the thinking goes, the tote bag-slinging urbanites of New York, Paris or Tokyo care about sustainability, while folks in Lagos, Sao Paulo or Mumbai just want to lift themselves out of poverty, whatever the environmental cost.


Yet, as more rural Nigerians, Brazilians and Indians migrate to their countries’ big cities, memories of the nature they left behind are fresh.


“These people are incredibly passionate about it,” Schwartz said. “The reason they are, in my humble view, is that they’re the first generation of people from the countryside.”


How this will factor into the company’s future campaigns remains unclear. Schwartz wants to try something edgy. Something that harkens back to company’s glory days.


“How can we do something which, 20 years from now, people will say, ‘God, they were a bit crazy,'” Schwartz pondered. “People said Anita was crazy to come out against animal testing.”


But, by 2000, the company had lost its way.


Bigger, deeper-pocketed rivals jumped on the natural products bandwagon and devoured the Body Shop’s share of the market. The Roddicks ceded control over the company to its new chief executive, Patrick Gournay, who quickly cowed to profit-hungry investors. The store, which once uniquely offered products you could feel good about buying, suddenly was focused more on products its new leaders thought people were more likely to purchase -- ingredients be damned.


In October 2000, Anita Roddick -- a devoutly antiestablishment environmentalist -- said she would be “out the door” if the Body Shop released an anti-aging cream. Nowadays, it offers plenty.


“The Body Shop is now really a dysfunctional coffin,” Roddick said at a book festival in Scotland in 2001. “The market controls everything, but the market has no heart.”


She and her husband resigned as co-chairs a year later. 


In 2006, a year before Anita Roddick died of a brain hemorrhage, French cosmetics giant L’Oreal paid more than $1 billion to buy the Body Shop. The move initially sparked calls for boycotts from animal welfare activists, who feared the behemoth would erode what remained of the Body Shop’s eco-friendly ethos.


It's normally the case that multinational companies swallow small, ethically driven competitors, in part, to transfer some of their environmental knowledge and skills into their own global supply chains.


Unilever, for example, took radical steps to become a corporate leader in sustainability after it acquired Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont-based ice cream brand certified by the business nonprofit B Lab as an environmentally friendly vessel of both profit and positive social change.


Campbell Soup Company has rolled out new, more healthful foodstuffs since buying Plum Organics. The baby food startup not only certified as a B Corporation but also incorporated -- within the larger Campbell’s corporate structure -- as a public benefit corporation, a relatively new designation that lets companies enshrine their social missions in the their charters.


But what L'Oreal was surprised to find after the acquisition was how poor the environmental systems were at the Body Shop. Sure, the retailer sourced its materials from farmers in developing countries, but L’Oreal had, by this point, developed better mechanisms for monitoring its supply chain and working toward environmental goals.


L’Oreal’s brimming coffers -- annual operating profits rose past $4.1 billion last year -- helped, too. The Body Shop opened about 110 stores in its first year with L’Oreal. It now has more than 2,500 stores in more than 60 countries.


“We are seeking to leverage all that L’Oreal can bring us, for example, by leveraging the fact that they are sourcing from our [supply chain] and we can benefit from where they source their ingredients, too,” Schwartz said. “But to have our own voice is crucial, because you have to be able to say how you feel.”

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This Model Just Became The First Openly Trans Person To Wed On Reality TV

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Transgender model Carmen Carrera will make history this week when she becomes, according to a press release from VH1, the first transgender person to wed on reality TV.


The broadcast of the wedding will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 10 p.m. EST/PST during the season finale of "Couple's Therapy With Dr. Jenn." During the broadcast, all five couples involved in this season of "Couple's  Therapy" will be a part of the festivities, opening up about what they've learned during the process and where these conversations will take their relationship.


"I was so eager for the ceremony," Carrera told People. "Honestly, knowing that I was going home a married woman gave me a sense of peace... This wedding has given us a sense of freedom to be proud of what we have and who we are. Celebrating our love and what we call our 'modern, modern family,' lets us know that we belong here and that we also have a place to raise a family of our own on our terms. We feel truly blessed."


The transgender model has been with her new husband Adrian Torres for the past ten years


Carrera first rose to fame on season four of "RuPaul's Drag Race," eventually transitioning to live as her authentic self after the season aired. She is also the inspiration for a viral petition calling on Victoria's Secret to make her the first openly trans model to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.


Check out some photos of the ceremony below courtesy of People.





 


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I Tried Spray-on Nail Polish, and the Results Were Crazy

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By Jenna Rosenstein, Allure

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Nails Inc. practically broke the Internet (at least, the beauty-centric parts of the Internet) last week when it announced a new product: Nails Inc. Paint Can nail polish, a nail polish that you spray onto your fingers, like spray paint. It was released last week in the U.K. and has since sold out, and there's now even a waitlist for fans in the United States. It doesn't launch over here until March 2016, but lucky for you (and me), I got one of the first samples to play with. So how does it work?

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First, paint a basecoat on clean, dry nails just as you normally would. But be extra careful not to have any of the basecoat touch your cuticles. This is critical in order to make sure that the color does not stick. Nails Inc. recommends you use their 2 in 1 Base and Top Coat, but any formula would work.

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OK, now you're ready to paint. Please, for the love of furniture and your relationship with your mom/landlord/significant other, place a sheet of paper down on any surface you're using. The paint can get messy. Shake the can really well and then hold it 12 to 15 centimeters away from your nails (that's about six inches, Americans). I held mine a little closer though, and it worked just fine. Do one quick, even coat all over your nails. You really only need one coat, since the formula is very pigmented. Don't worry if the color gets all over your fingers.

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Wait about two minutes, and then paint a topcoat over your nails. Again, be careful not to get sloppy and drag it along your cuticles. Wait another minute or two for the topcoat to dry.

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Now for the cool part. Head over to your nearest sink and, with hot soapy water, wash your hands. The pigment on your fingers will soak right off. And with a little scrubbing and rubbing, all you'll be left with is a perfectly even manicure. The one caveat: The longer you wait, the more the excess paint will stick to your skin, and the harder it will be to remove it.

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So, did it work? Yeah--and it's really freaking cool. A few minor adjustments (being careful about the basecoat, hauling to the sink sooner rather than later) made the results even better. But I do have two minor complaints: It has a really strong, but familiar, paint scent (that fades pretty quickly), and there are only two shades. I want more! Give me more! I used Shoreditch Lane, a metallic silver, and there's also Hoxton Market, a hot pink. But the brand promises that more shades are on the way soon. I've only had on the polish for a few hours, but I'll report back with an update on how well it wears.

Have any questions about the polish? Leave them in the comments below, or tweet me @JennaRosenstein.

Photos: Kelly Sherin

More from Allure:
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35 Hairstyles to Try in 2015
The 10 Best Drugstore Mascaras Under $20
Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger
The 15 Best Contouring Kits for Newbies and Pros
The 6 Prettiest Haircuts for Long Hair

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Home Décor Pieces That'll Make Your Place Pinterest-Worthy

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Take advantage of the holiday season to ask Santa for some beautiful new pieces to spice up your home. (You can also tell Santa many of these won't break his bank ... a lot can be done with $100 in budget!)



 


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How is your family celebrating the holidays? Share with us on WhatsApp! 


To send us images and stories:


1. Download WhatsApp on your phone. 


2. Save this number, +1 646 522 3114, in your phone’s contacts. 


3. Send us photos of your celebrations with a short description via WhatsApp.


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Mobile Dating Apps to Help You Find a Hanukkah Date

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Chanukah HatThe latkes are cooking and the candles are being lit. It's time for Hanukkah and this year, Jewish singles have many options to fill their date cards while looking for love online.

Singles can join traditional online dating sites such as Match and OkCupid and select their religious beliefs and for those they seek to meet by checking off box in the profiles, or sign up for the long-time favorite JDate, where you can select just what branch of Judaism you practice, if any at all.

These days, it's easier to find a Jewish mate with some of these mobile dating apps to help fill your calendar for the eight days of Hanukkah and beyond.

Grab your latkes and light some candles. It's time to get ready to start swiping.

JSwipeJSwipe - Now a favorite among Jewish millennials, JSwipe has users in 70 countries. JSwipe is free to join and has been called the "Tinder" for Jews. You can select which sect of Judaism you practice and just how Kosher you are. Once you're matched with someone, there's an 18 day countdown before your match expires, so you're encouraged to start communicating. Eighteen, is the number for good luck in Judaism. The bonus is if you swipe left by mistake, your match still appears at the bottom of the screen. Just tap on him or her and he will return for you to review the profile again, without a charge.

Download on Google Play

Download on iOs

JfiixJfiix - Created by JDate's original founder, Joe Shapira, Jfiix initially launched in Israel and caught on quickly. They launched over the Jewish New Year in the U.S. and we have high hopes for this app. Singles can sign up for free and either "like" or "skip" on a potential match that is sent to them. The matches revolve on a carousel type (360) feature so you're presented with a bouquet of potential dates to view without having to swipe left or right. You can start also chatting without becoming a mutual match. Jfiix has about 25,000 users in the U.S. and is growing by about 400 a day. The app boasts about 250,000 chat conversations every day. The biggest benefit is, it's completely free.

Download on Google Play

Download on iOs

 

JCrush MobileJCrush - To join JCrush, you can sign in with Facebook. When you see a match, you can click on the "Star" icon or swipe right as a "Crush" if you're interested or the tap the X icon or swipe left for an "Oy Vey" for a digital thumbs down. Once you have a mutual crush, you can start communicating. There's a "Maybe" option if you want to think about it before sending your potential match into the permanent delete file. Just maybe, your date wasn't so great last night and you might want to revisit that standby.

Download on Google Play

Download on iOs

 

J Date MobileJDate Mobile - With the tagline of "Find Love Anywhere You Go," JDate's mobile app mirrors their website and makes it easy to find love on your mobile phone. The app lets you find members of the Tribe nearby and lets you chat instantly. They'll send you your top matches, as well as let you conduct your own search. It's the best of both worlds. If you're already a JDate member, your mobile profile will grab the information from the desktop version. You can then edit your profile if you like on the app. Under Activity, you can see who has viewed your profile, so I recommend using this feature to reach out to someone who has viewed you to improve your chances of connecting. If you want to send a message, you must subscribe to be a premium member.

Download on Google Play

Download iOs

Wishing you a Happy Hanukkah in cyberspace, or wherever you may roam. Xo

Julie Spira is America's Top Online Dating Expert and Mobile Dating Expert. She's the founder of Cyber-Dating Expert and has been helping singles find love online for over 20 years with her Irresistible Profiles coaching programs. Follow @JulieSpira on Instagram and Twitter and sign up for the Free Weekly Flirt newsletter.

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Palm Trees and Leopard Spots -- Italy's Affair With the Exotic

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Italy's flora and fauna reveals stories of conquests and exotic animal hunts that continue to inspire fashion, design and art.

My five day holiday in Rome was a feast for the senses; cappuccinos by the Spanish Steps, walking past the majestic Pantheon in the midst of orchestral symphonies and experiencing the joy of taking a blind turn into a picturesque piazza. Apart from scenic settings, historical walks and shopping for souvenirs, Rome's architecture was indeed a marvel. Visually however there was always something off, that got me rather quizzical, and I could not put a finger on it. It was all made clear when I was at the Colosseum and got a view of Palatine Hill. There was a road lined with pencil thin trees and greenery gathered on top like gigantic broccoli. These trees were of African origin, I was sure of it. In fact, I was half expecting to witness a gazelle being chased by a cheetah with the Nat Geo theme song running in the background. Then it struck me, half the horticulture that surrounded the great Roman monuments were exotic plants.

Living in India, I am used to seeing palm trees by lagoons bending against stone temples and plantain leaves peeping out of tropical homes with brick walls. It just seemed like a mismatch attuning myself to the same plants against geometric structures, Corinthian pillars and purple marble. It turns out my hunch proved right, the 'broccoli' shaped trees by the Colosseum were of the Stone Pine variety, a native to North Africa. Rome -- the great empire not only showcased its glory by building magnificent monuments but also displayed their victories through exotic species of plants from the colonies they invaded and traded.

Walking around Palatine Hill, you would pass Apricot trees that were originally from Armenia, next to Fig trees from Persia. While the vicinity of Roman structures were given great detail right up to the shape of every shrub, the city landscape had an array of varieties. The reason plant species organically dispersed has an interesting take -- wild exotic animals. For generations' kings captured leopards, elephants, horses, panthers and even giraffes which were used as game for hunts. The eco-system took over as the animals were natural carriers that facilitated pollination and hence attributed to the exotic diversity.

The obsession with botany holds true for Italy, and has made its way through art and fashion. The upcoming fashion trends reports Versace, Dolce & Gabanna and Gucci -- the holy trinity of Italian fashion will come out with a variety of botanical prints. A copy of 'Gardens of Silk' by Giuliana Atlea that I picked up from the Gucci Museum in Florence narrates the tale behind their most signature scarf -- Flora. Intended for the iconic Grace Kelly, Rodolfo Gucci entrusted artist Vittorio Accornero who created a dazzling scarf depicting flowers that bloomed in all Florentine seasons.

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The Gucci scarf -- Flora, which was gifted to Grace Kelly as featured in 'Gardens Of Silk'.
Photo Credit: Michele Secchi


By the end of the trip -- I could not have enough of it -- there was something spectacular about passing dome shaped buildings by the Tiber River (Fiume Tevere) and having delicate palms cast their shadows over the mustard -- colored walls. My gaze would always move to the exotic foliage on display, rather than observing the building itself.

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Hello Bling Bling!

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When King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in 1922, gold sequin-like disks were found sewn onto the Egyptian royal's garments. It's assumed they'd ensure he'd be financially and sartorially prepared for the afterlife.

The origins of the word "sequin" have always referenced wealth: The Arabic word sikka means "coin." During the 13th century, gold coins produced in Venice were known as zecchino. For centuries, variations of sikka and zecchino were used in Europe and the Middle East.

With the festive season around the corner, store windows are filled with sequined items filling our eyes with visions of sexy outfits for all those celebratory evenings. But why keep sequins for evenings when we can still have fun with their wonderful bright shine during the daytime? It can be fun and a great way to upgrade our routine with a touch of glamour without going overboard and staying politically sartorially correct. Which brings us to Michael Jackson one night in 1983 when he performed "Billie Jean" and premiered the moonwalk. He wore a black sequin jacket along with his iconic rhinestone glove or that other time when he met the president of the United States in 1984 wearing a military-style, sequin jacket? Or on the History world tour when he wore a white sequin number? He created an unprecedented trend and rose his fans curiosity to the point that these sequined items became iconic and classic pieces.

However, I agree it's not given to wear sequins and flaunt oneself without being too conscience about the bling bling effect we're carrying. If you're not the type that feels comfortable under peers eyes and scrutiny, then I suggest following those easy steps:

For those who are seriously timid, opt for one easy item in your look, a sequined scarf, a clutch, a pair of flats or even a tee with sequined details.

For more daring souls, the list is longer but same rules apply.

Always make sure to have one sequined item per look. And team the sequined item with everyday items to tone it down. It should be the only focal point in your look. Keep your makeup minimal, hair simple and cut down on accessories. Avoid big sequins and black ones. Opt for colorful sequins and keep it monochrome.

With a sequined skirt, wear a denim shirt or a sweater. Depending on the skirt length and legs thickness, you can wear stilettos or sneakers.

With a sequined tee, a boyfriend jeans are a must. If the top is long enough then a leather legging would do combined with booties to give it a rock edge.

With sequined trousers, a simple tee, white or grey, with a parka or a jacket along with stilettos or sneakers and a backpack is the perfect combo.

With a sequined dress, a denim jacket is the best way to de-bling bling it. Brogues will add to this super feminine piece an interesting masculine touch or booties and a crossbody bag for a modern touch.

With a sequined jacket, a cute light dress or jeans with a crisp white shirt. Another alternative would be an A-line skirt or a fun full skirt. And for a bolder look, why not team the jacket with track pants.

No excuses any more to keep those sequined items in your closet and take them out only for big occasions. Use and abuse them and let your days be glamorous and fun, no need for sewn coins to reach happiness in the other world, few sequins and a positive attitude will do in this world.

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Jenna Dewan Tatum Wears Totally Sheer, Sexy Dress For Movie Premiere

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Leave it to Jenna Dewan Tatum to show up her handsome husband on his red carpet. 


Tatum ensured all eyes were on her at the premiere of "The Hateful Eight" by wearing a sexy, totally sheer gown. The gorgeous lace dress, which resembles a corset, is straight from Marchesa's Spring 2016 ready-to-wear collection. 



The 35-year-old actress paired her gown with a nude lip and a smoky eye and added a black clutch to her ensemble. 




The actress also posed with husband Channing Tatum and "Hateful Eight" writer/ director Quentin Tarantino on the red carpet. 




 "The Hateful Eight" stars a nearly unrecognizable Channing Tatum. The movie gained a lot of notoriety after its script was publicly leaked, forcing Tarantino to change certain parts. 


To get an idea of what the film is about, check out the trailer below: 





"The Hateful Eight" comes out Christmas Day.


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25 Gift Ideas Perfect For The Nubian Queen In Your Life

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It's kind of hard to shop for magical black girls especially since they have been pretty much killing the game all year. But we want to make it a little easier for you!


From hair care products to skin exfoliants, we've rounded up some gift inspiration that can help make shopping for the black girl you love -- or yourself -- a bit easier this holiday season. These items will definitely help her maintain her flawless beauty regimen all while making her holidays that much more special.


Check out our beauty gift guide below!


Hair Care



 


Skin Care



 


Make-Up



 


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23 Gifts For Those Who Love Pizza And Aren't Rats

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There's no denying that pizza is bae. Whether you're a fan of the ooey gooey cheese, thin crust, crisp pepperoni, perfectly chewy olives, fragrant onion, spicy meatballs ... sorry, we lost our train of thought. Oh! Right. We guarantee you'll find something to showcase your Pizza Love on our list!


Warning: This gift guide may cause drooling.







 


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How is your family celebrating the holidays? Share with us on WhatsApp! 


To send us images and stories:


1. Download WhatsApp on your phone. 


2. Save this number, +1 646 522 3114, in your phone’s contacts. 


3. Send us photos of your celebrations with a short description via WhatsApp.


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Here Are The Gifts That Men REALLY Want For The Holidays

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Sometimes men have a hard time saying what they really want. If you ask your brother what he wants for the holidays, for example, don't be surprised if he just says, "Cash."


While a guy probably won't turn down cash, there are things you can get him that will totally blow him away. Think about things that might be just out of his price range or that he wants but can't really justify buying for himself -- these are the perfect gifts for the holidays.


We asked our newsroom what they, or the men in their life, wanted more than anything, and here were the most common replies. Consider it a cheat sheet to what men really want, like really really want (dream about even) but will probably never get for themselves, because life.



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