Fashion Pulse Daily - Part 107

July 20, 2015

Hat Tricks

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julia dinardo as a baby

[I’m not squinting at the sun; instead, I’m surly that my mom made me wear a hat!]

All my life, my mom has tried to convince me, or rather, force me, to be a hat person. She’s a hat person, and thus, that trait must transfer to me, right? Not exactly. I’ve sheepishly worn them to make her happy for festive or mandatory occasions, such at Easter or to the beach, but I’ve never been pleased with the way that I look. Until now. It’s not that I think I look awesome in a hat, but have grown to appreciate its practicality and benefits, which outweigh the way I feel that I look in them.

julia dinardo
Here’s a few of the hat tricks that I’ve learned that help achieve, in my opinion the optimal look:

1) You’ve got to have some hair sticking out. As you can see from my various looks over the past year, my hair has been at different lengths, but you can still gather that I have some locks sticking out. That way, you have a natural frame around your face, and the object on your had seems to be less of a foreign object, and more of a friend.

2) It’s arguably the best way to conceal a bad hair day. Sure, you can be ultra generous with the dry shampoo, or pull your locks up into a messy bun or ponytail, but usually when your hair looks crazy or is visibly greasy/dirty, this isn’t going to make that much of a difference. With a hat though, you conceal the worst part, the roots, and none is the wiser that underneath that hat is something you’d rather not show to the public.

3)  You’ve got instant sass. There’s just something so cool about someone that pulls of a hat with confidence, and it can be become a quick and easy statement to an otherwise basic look. Depending on your hair style, it may give the impression that you’re stylish, quirky, or fun, and all of those things are certainly okay with me!

Here’s a look at the past year of me in hats, with a special last one; a custom-made fascinator that I opted to wear, instead of a veil, on my wedding day.

Mom, you win — I do finally like hats!
julia dinardo 2 julia dinardo -1
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July 15, 2015

Heyday Hits the Spot with Quick & Targeted Facials for Manhattanites

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Heyday nyc

[Heyday’s treatment area – images courtesy of Heyday]


Taking care of your skin should be of the utmost importance, but it should also be easy and convenient to consistently receive professional skincare services. Enter Heyday, essentially the blow out bar concept of facials, that specializes in this particular niche offering of quickly and efficiently taking care of your skin. Located in the Flatiron neighborhood of New York City, the well-designed, modern space feels like your cool friend’s living room, while products (available for purchase) from independent and specialty brands casually adorn the waiting area.

The services are straightforward and streamlined, while being affordably priced: a 30-minute targeted treatment is $60, while a more extensive, 50-minute facial is $95. Add-ons are also available for $35 each, such as microdermabrasion, peels, or beard therapy, and monthly memberships and packages are an option so that you stay on top of your skincare on a regular basis. Booking is easy too, and can be done through the website or its app.

Heyday NYC-1

[The Heyday waiting area]

In order to experience Heyday, I received a complimentary 30-minute facial, which was as relaxing and thorough as some 60-minute ones that I’ve had in the past. I was also introduced to new products that I was previously unfamiliar with, and loved that I received a great service in a short amount of time, ideal for a quick lunchtime getaway, or after-work treat. Speaking of…Heyday understands how difficult it can be to accommodate work schedules, and hence, have extended hours, open 7am-10pm on weekdays, 9am-8pm on weekends. Click here to book a facial at Heyday.

July 14, 2015

Estée Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge Fragrance

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modern muse le rouge estee lauder

“Holy smokes, do you smell incredible,” a passerby told me on the subway. Kind of creepy, but hey, I’ll take it, and the comment was especially apropos, since it was the first time I was wearing Estée Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge out and about. The scent is a new fruity floral oriental, a sensuous take on the brand’s popular Modern Muse scent, going in a sultry, sophisticated direction without becoming overpowering. It includes two contrasting accords found in the fragrance — ripened roses accord, which includes Bourgeon de Cassis, Raspberry, Pink Pepper, Saffron, Bulgarian Rose, and Rose Centifolia, and on the other end, velvet cream accord of Madagascar Vanilla, Ambrette, Vetiver, Patchouli, Magnolia Flower, and Jasmine.

As always, when fragrance is layered with an ancillary product, the scent gets extra locked in and lingers; a shimmering body lotion is available to hydrate the skin and highlight the scent.  A unique addition to the fragrance launch is a Le Rouge-inspired makeup collection, with a lipstick, eyeshadow, and nail lacquer that compliments the vibe of the scent and available for a limited time, so that you can fully complete the Le Rouge look with products housed in packaging similar to the fragrance flacon.

Modern Muse Le Rouge is available at Estée Lauder counters nationwide and at EsteeLauder.com starting at $62 for the1 oz  eau de parfum, $50 for the 6.7 oz body lotion, and from $21-50 each for the makeup.

Full Disclosure: Fashion Pulse Daily received a sample of this product for editorial consideration.

July 14, 2015

Soften & Glow with Bliss Products, Now Available at Kohl’s!

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bliss at kohl_s products
[Three Fashion Pulse Daily favorites from bliss]

In my opinion, there isn’t much that beats an in-spa experience, but the next best thing is bringing it into the home to enjoy at your leisure! I’ve been thrilled to garner many great experiences and services at several blissspa locations in New York City over the years, but for those times when my schedule doesn’t allow it but I still crave a satisfying treatment with great results, I can turn to bliss’ line of products that address everything from skincare, lip care, and anti-aging to body firming and toning, hair removal, and bath and body.

Starting now, you can shop a deep selection of bliss products both online and in-store at Kohl’s, making the spa’s popular items more accessible than ever before! If you’re new to bliss or curious about Fashion Pulse Daily’s recommendations, I thought I’d highlight a few of my favorite bliss products that can be found at Kohl’s.

With a focus on an enhanced texture, softness, and glowing of the skin, I picked several blockbuster products from bliss to share with you. Plus, I feel that foot care and lip care are, unfortunately, areas that are overlooked, but nonetheless crucial and craving a little TLC from time to time.

bliss fabulips sugar lip scrub
[The Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub in action, modeled here by my fabulous friend Laurie Sharpe]

Starting with the lips, the bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub features a hint of vanilla and orange flavor as it delicately removes dry flakes and dead skin while hydrating, conditioning, and softening with natural oils and butters. Start with a tiny amount, and buff within the lip line, making tiny circles on your top and bottom lips, dabbing it off with a tissue or washcloth. Next, add a touch of extra moisture and fullness with the bliss Fabulips Lip Plumper, that smooths, enhances, and leaves behind a delectable, minty scent. If you’re big on lip care, I recommend the Fabulips Treatment Kit, a tremendous value which includes these two items plus two more.  The Fabulips Foaming Lip Cleanser is great for getting rid of leftover, stubborn lipstick stains, and the Fabulips Softening Lip Balm nourishes and moisturizes in a super soft formula while imparting the benefits of jojoba, grapeseed, Vitamin E, and Shea butter.
bliss spa socks
[It’s the season to bare your feet; prep to show them off with these bliss Softening Socks]

Now that we’ve got the lips covered, let’s head on down to the feet! The bliss Softening Socks are one of those exceptional items that you’ll reach for time and time again, and are the epitome of bringing the best of the spa, home. Containing olive oil, grape seed oil and vitamin E, the gel-lined socks can be worn for about 20 minutes once or twice a week or overnight for more dramatic results in order to have the softest feet around. The socks’ effects last for up to 50 uses, and can be enhanced by adding in some lotion or cream, like the bliss Foot Patrol or bliss body butter. Slip them on while settling in for the night with a good TV show or a book, or multitask with bliss Glamour Gloves, basically the same thing, but for your hands.

Total well-being and the gateway to smoother, softer skin is only a few clicks away with these innovative and relaxing bliss products; no spa visit required!

Full Disclosure: Fashion Pulse Daily received product and compensation for this sponsored post.

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