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Time and time again, hair maintenance has fallen to the end of my priority list. Restocking on drug store shampoo serves convenience, but we fail to give our scalps the same treatment as the rest of our skin, which lays a pretty rough foundation for what should be shiny, strong hair. Many of the hair brands we're most familiar with contain parabens (preservative known to be a factor in disrupting hormone function) and sulfates (cleaning agent that promotes sensitivity which can trigger scalp itch and dandruff), which if you shop around long enough you can find alternatives for, but might be pricey.

Once you've found a seemingly luxurious product that's sulfate and paraben-free, the safety of cute fluffy bunnies comes to mind. If you're in need of cruelty-free enlightenment, Leaping Bunny has a product search available with most brands out there. Not finding what you're looking for? Try skimming through a brand's FAQ and About pages or ask a representative before purchasing.

To save you some trouble, I've put together a list of companies and select products that meet all the good hair and moral requirements.

As a new year is born, we sit on the cusp of desire for transformation to some degree. If you're looking for a change less drastic than becoming a bodybuilder overnight, but effective enough to fuel a surge of confidence or even just your sense of control, this is the post for you.

Serums are concentrated substances designed to deliver a packed punch of ingredients meant to target one or more skin concerns. They vary in viscosity i.e. essences that are more watery and reminiscent of toners versus ampoules that contain thicker, stickier serums meant for limiting to 2-3 drops per use.

If you're looking to add a serum to your skin regime, remember the following:

1) Make sure to research thoroughly; everyone's skin is different and may not react well to the same ingredients as someone else with their skin type

2) After purchasing, spot test a product on a small patch of skin (preferably your forearm) before making the mistake of applying to your entire face in case of allergic reaction

3) DO NOT combine acne medications (salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide) with AHA/BHA chemical exfoliants (salicylic acid, lactic acid and glycolic acid), vitamin c products with AHA/BHAs or benzoyl peroxide, and benzoyl peroxide with retinol

4) The order in which you use products to achieve maximum absorbency is toners - essences - serums - moisturizers and eye creams - oils

5) Taking time to massage your skin with either a jade/rose quartz roller or your hands helps with both lymphatic drainage (makes your face brighter and depuffs because of improved blood circulation) and absorption of products



P.S. If you're dying to try Drunk Elephant's products but are scared to commit to the big price point, fear not! Sephora has two sample size combos for Day and Night.

A healthy, glowing version of The Corpse Bride, the 28-year-old American actress only made her silver-screen debut last year, but has made a lasting impact on beauty brands, fashion houses, and adoring fans from all over. Doe eyes, plump pout, and diamond-cutting cheekbones set on the body of a seasoned runway model make Laura the ideal woman of the late 2010's, along with an endearing personality pushing for diversity and the fight against colorism in Hollywood.

Citing Angela Davis as her dream dinner guest, Sade and 90's Kate Moss as her top style icons, and SZA her most played artist of late, she isn't that far off from being someone you'd see as a killer best friend. After deferring acceptance to NYU for art and signing up for William Esper's Studio for acting only a decade ago, Laura's got the heart of a college-grad and the soul of a 70's activist.

In her latest film project, a huge leap in genre from her role as a high school sweetheart in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Harrier portrays the president of the Colorado College Black Student Union in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman. After receiving a lovecall from the director himself, she speedily got to studying up on the classics: Coffy, Cleopatra Jones, and The Black Power Mixtape documentary, along with hours of Soul Train to completely immerse herself in the 1970's. Laura had a series of emotional moments on set, given the context of the script and its allusions to the current administration, to which she points out without reservation in her interview with Flaunt Magazine.

As a biracial woman, Laura is fully aware of both how her blackness is an integral part of her identity and how her whiteness plays a factor in her being privileged in a number of situations her dark-skinned counterparts are not so lucky. She told The Daily Beast all about how she feels about how black women, especially those with darker skin are depicted in films and TV, and how drastically it needs to be changed:

"The depictions that we’re now seeing of black women in media and film, it’s a very narrow swath of the black experience. My experience as a black woman is very different than a lot of others’. Everyone’s path is unique. I think it’s really important that we’re representative of all women of color. And, you know, it is disappointing when you look at the actresses of my generation right now. Most of us are light-skinned and biracial and there’s a lot more people who need to be seen and represented. So yeah, it’s definitely something that I’m aware of. I think most of us are aware of that and can hopefully speak out about it and start to change things as well."

When she's not gallivanting around sets for movies or her many Bvlgari and Louis Vuitton campaigns, Harrier likes to get deep into self-care, with an extensive list of natural skincare products like manuka honey for a blemish-free face, rosewater, and oils like almond, prickly pear, and orange blossom. She also gets into high-end buys as well such as retinol, Tata Harper moisturizer, exfoliating wipes, oil-free sunscreens, and clinical serums. Laura cites Tom Ford, Glossier, and Nars as her most often used makeup brands although she mostly sticks to skin maintenance when her MUAs aren't around. For her ever-changing, luscious chameleon hair, she dedicates time to deep conditioning with Olaplex and Shu Uemura products to keep her curls from drying up into the sun. She also partakes in morning meditation after her coffee and toast, followed by a cermaics classes when she's got a true day off.  

You can keep up with Laura on her Instagram while awaiting news on her next gig or if you haven't already, go watch her as Patrice in BlacKkKlansman!

Yes, I very well understand how atrocious of a pun the title is, but it's worth the stay. With a monotonous droll in the music scene I thought it'd be gracious of me to freshen up your playlists with artists I've grown fond of, returned to, or newly discovered in the past few months.

After most unfortunately plucking to hell what I wouldn't know until years later was a genetic gift, I've had to gradually re-learn how to treat my brows. These odd forehead-eye socket borders we all have upon our faces can be a hindrance or a blessing. Some grow like vines on an abandoned castle and others struggle to so much as exist. Whichever category you may fall into, unless you're an esthetician yourself, you require a bit of guidance as to what your options are in the brow realm. I've gathered all my research from pencils to serums to procedures you can try out for the best eyebrow maintenance.

Surely everyone can attest to the overwhelming desire for a brain nap this season. Especially as the air continues to go into a temperature decline, our beds grow more tempting to stay in and I'm gonna give you more reasons to do so. I've been lacking attentiveness for what's good in the streaming sphere myself, but have taken my much needed nightly downtime to catch up on a few and took the liberty of compiling them for you all to peruse.

Nicolas Ghesquière is a chameleon fashion genius. I've been following his work for years like a lapdog eager for whatever he'll put out next, and at Louis Vuitton he's brought the fountain of youth to a nearly two centuries-old house.


And now he dares to start designing these obnoxiously adorable bags I really really want to get my claws on.

Astrid Leong-Teo has been the catapult of a lifetime for London-born actress, Gemma Chan, into a sea of international recognition. Law graduate, model, and major series scene stealer. At 35, Chan is on her way to becoming a role model and girl crush on global scale.

Since my last playlist share faired well with you all and the impending doom of holiday stress is on the horizon, I thought I'd expand on the mood brightening selections to give you all a pick-me-up this week.