There is no denying the glamour of Fashion Week (our coverage starts this Thursday, February 7th!), however it takes some necessary behind-the-scenes prep, largely in the beauty department, in order to keep up with the daily grind of heading to shows, trekking to and from the subway, and camping out on a floor and crossing my fingers for a steady wifi connection.
Since I’ve been covering Fashion Week for nine years now, I’ve learned a few tricks, and the most important one is knowing my own needs. See below for my pre, during, and post-fashion week go-tos!
I KNOW I won’t wash my hair every day, so a dry shampoo or amazing styling product is essential. This season, I will be using this handbag-size Ojon full detox Rub-Out Dry Cleansing Spray (courtesy of my friends at Birchbox) to keep my tresses residue and oil-free, looking, and smelling fresh, so when someone comes in for a cheek or air kiss, the fact that I only had 15 minutes to get ready and leave the house that morning will be undetectable.
Speaking of undetectable scents, above I have the new Secret Outlast Clear Gel as my deodorant, as it offers 48-hour protection with no marks — essential for me since I tend to borrow some pieces to wear during the week, and can’t afford to get fragrant in the wrong way, or have any deodorant rub off onto the borrowed clothing.
Since I spend some time on camera and conducting interviews throughout the week, I can’t afford for my manicure to look worn out, so I will be giving my digits the gel treatment with the SensationNail Gel Polish, available in 48 shades (favorites of mine include the french manicure and mauve maven) and offers an ultra-shiny, chip-free manicure.
This Land’s End Linen and Leather Tote is my be-all,end-all “official bag of fashion week;” I can’t wait to stuff it full of my weekly essentials, including some of the products mentioned in this post! The supple yet sturdy leather straps will see me through the ambitious schedule of 60+ shows in style, while permitting me to jam even more goodies from my adventures into its roomy interior.
I tend to work impossibly long hours around fashion week, so having an amazing concealer and bronzer to infuse some color and a flawless complexion back into my life is essential. Luckily, I just got these two beauties – the Benefit Fake Up Hydrating Crease-Control Concealer (available in March)which has an outer hydrating ring of Vitamin E and apple seed extract that works up to six hours(!!), and the concealing inner core that will hide my certain dark circles while smoothing the skin. Second is the Physician’s Formula Bronze Booster Glow Boosting Shimmer Veil a pretty little atomizer that mists out a loose powder that can be used all over for an awesome glow featuring antioxidants, moisturizers, and vitamins.
In the evenings, and post-New York Fashion Week I will need to treat and heal parts of my body that may be overworked from the week, and I plan on finishing the day with the Earth Therapeutics Anti-Stress Microwavable Comfort Wrap which when heated, will provide instant relief from my sore neck, shoulders and back while relaxing me with its aromatherapeutic blend of lavender, chamomile and citrus.
Remember VO5? I have such found memories of the brand from the ’80s, and am going to give the Hot Oil Therapy a go on my surely damaged tresses, post-fashion week. Plus, you only have to leave it on your head a minute – score! The Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Serum features the new vitamin technology of microencapsulation to more thoroughly penetrate into the skin and achieve great results by way of minimizing the signs of aging. Since I feel like the stress of fashion week ages me beyond my years, I better work this serum into my usual routine.
When the week is through, I will also need to ensure good nail health, so the new and improved essie nail care line will certainly come into play! A favorite of mine is the apricot cuticle oil, followed by a protecting layer via a base coat, the polish, then sealing off the look with a top coat. When I sometimes skip these steps, it certainly shows via the condition of my cuticles and nail color that has imprinted onto my nail bed.
-Julia DiNardo
Full Disclosure: all of these products mentioned in the post were given to Fashion Pulse Daily for editorial review.