Posts Tagged ‘archana ram’
In search of a won’t-kiss-off-on-my-boyfriend lip color
By Archana Ram
The contenders, CoverGirl Outlast All-Day, Lipstain, and Illamasqua
I’ve been pretty proud of my minimal makeup routine of eyeliner plus concealer for years (12 to be exact), but once I hit my mid-twenties, I wanted to step up my game. Eyeshadows quickly proved to be too tricky, leaving me looking like I got a black eye. And with my already-rosy complexion, too much blush makes look like I’m trying to channel Bozo. Instead, I’ve recently become enamored by lipstick. But with a voracious appetite and a boyfriend I’m not afraid to smooch in public, I needed one that was long-lasting (for food) and wouldn’t rub off (for him).
And so was my mission. I tried three highly recommended lip colors: CoverGirl’s Outlast All-Day Lip Color, CoverGirl’s Outlast lipstain and lipstick by U.K. brand Illamasqua. For all three, I wore them for about four hours, which included a dinner.
Talking men, hair, and Valentine’s with Pantene at Beauty and Essex
By Archana Ram
Beauty and Essex in the Lower East Side
Our host, Pantene
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there are tons of primping, polishing and beautifying going on right now. And while most of us girls think guys focus only on a big chest, long legs and tight clothes, you may be surprised to find out that a gorgeous head of hair can actually be his biggest turn on.
Inside the Pearl Lounge at Beauty and Essex
Lounge area at Beauty and Essex
I learned that and plenty of other hair-raising facts at a Pantene cocktail party held in the Pearl Lounge of the new and decadent Beauty & Essex in the Lower East Side. Before things kicked off, we got to feast on tons of goodies like whipped ricotta toasts, lobster bisque dumplings and oven-braised chicken meatballs.
Whipped ricotta toasts
Lobster bisque dumplings
Chicken meatballs
Seasoned shrimp
Sliders
Pizza
Spring rolls
After filling up on appetizers, Pantene stylist Hallie Bowman gave us advice on maintaining healthy, shiny locks, while matchmaker Steve Ward – you may recognize him as the host Vh1’s Tough Love – doled out blunt truths about physical attraction. For example, “You got butt guys, leg guys, but all guys are hair guys,” he said.
Hallie Bowman and Steve Ward
And he wasn’t kidding. A Pantene-conducted study found that 74% of men said they notice a woman first because of her hair. Other fun facts?
*44% of men surveyed said that hair is the first thing they notice about a woman
*82% of men indicated that sexy hair is a key element to a woman’s overall sex appeal
*60% of men say they would rather date a woman with great hair than a woman with big breasts and 78% of men surveyed consider healthy hair to be a turn-on
To help us look our best, Bowman shared tips on keeping that mane in tip-top shape:
* Deep conditioning once a week repairs damage and provides plenty of moisture for a smooth look. Perfect as a pre-date regimen!
* Most men love a hairstyle with movement, wave and texture. Pantene Fine Triple Action Volume Mousse is the perfect solution for women with straight hair and Pantene Curly Hair Light Conditioning Detangler works to soften tight curls. (Apparently, tight curls can intimidate men!)
* It’s always important to set your hairstyle before a date or special event. Hair has memory and using a product beforehand gives it a good foundation.
* Carry travel-size hairspray in your purse and, if you need it, a pocket-size Mason Pearson brush for touch-ups.
Nail polish peeler confessional: How I made my manicure last
By Archana Ram
With the sheer number of cheap nail salons in New York City, I wish I could say I get manicures all the time. It’s fun, looks polished (no pun intended) and can make accessories like rings and bracelets really pop. But I’ve been plagued with the totally non-medical syndrome of nailpolish peeling, meaning any time I get the least bit fidgety I peel. (Clearly, my nails are pretty fragile.) So my mid-year resolution was to stop the peeling insanity, and I figured the best way to do that was to get a nice manicure, which would, hopefully, make me realize what I’ve been missing out on.
Table Decorating Tips from Oneida
By Archana Ram
Dinnerware company Oneida hosted an elegant party last week at their Gramercy design studio, where Shyema and I got to check out the brand’s new line of dinnerware and learn about creating inviting spaces for dinner parties. Being huge dinner party/potluck fans, you can imagine how excited we were!
