beauty shopping

Before Nyakio Face Oil ($49), I was skeptical about putting oil on my face (despite being schooled on all the beauty benefits). But a few drops left my skin soft for hours, and the shiny forehead I was expecting never showed. This new brand is fueled by African beauty recipes passed down through founder Nyakio Grieco's family, with the star product being the face oil. Scented with chamomile and lavender, the lightweight oil is made with caffeine-rich kola nut extract from Africa to give skin a lift. While the price may seem steep, one bottle will go a long way. You can even use it on your hair and nails. So long, weighty creams and lotions.

Forget blatantly white eyeliners, cakey concealers, and facial illuminators that make you look more greasy than glam. NYX has devised a way to bring the benefits of eye brightening, pimple covering, and facial highlighting together with its Wonder Pencil ($5). Creamy yet slip-resistant, this multifunctional pencil enables you to dot a minute amount of product on to effectively cover up blemishes. And because it's easy to blend, a little goes a long way.

The pencil can also be used to trace your eyes' waterlines for a more perked-up appearance. You can even use it as a lip liner to keep lipsticks long-lasting and prevent them from bleeding. Dab a bit under the brow bone to enhance, and tap on with your fingers to mask dullness under the eyes. What other products do you have that conceal, brighten, and line — all for under five bucks? Available in light, medium, and deep.

At long last, The Great Gatsby has finally hit theaters across the country, and we cannot wait to see the latest version of this classic story. The main reason? The incredible beauty looks that came out of the '20s. Headbands and hair pieces were huge components of the hair looks of that time, and Daisy Buchanan, played by Carey Mulligan, sports a bevy of them throughout the film. Looking to add a little Gatsby flair to your hairstyle? Learn how to create a faux bob, get inspired by celebrities wearing Roaring Twenties-era styles, and shop our picks for perfect headbands below.

Like it or not, bikini season is around the corner, and that can mean red bumps around the bikini line after waxing or shaving. Before you head to the store for relief, take a look inside your medicine cabinets and pantries. We've gathered together some of the more unconventional remedies that can be applied post-hair removal. Find out these DIY treatments after the jump.

Clad in a spiderweb-inspired frock by Topshop, Julianne Hough's Met Gala hairstyle was set to mimic the latticework design of her ensemble. In fact, celebrity stylist Riawna Capri used over 100 visible black bobby pins to secure the star's pompadour updo. The effect was edgy and modern, with the dark pins providing a striking contrast to Julianne's flaxen strands.

To achieve the style, Capri began by prepping Julianne's wet hair with Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Foaming Air Mousse ($5). Her strands were then blown out with a round brush, and a small dose of firm-hold gel was applied throughout. Next, Capri took one-inch sections to create a series of three ponytails on each side of Julianne's head. Loose pieces of hair were secured with the bobby pins in a creative fashion to form a tight style. To finish, Capri molded Julianne's bangs into a pompadour, securing at the back in a crisscrossed pattern. A few spritzes of Vidal Sassoon Extra Firm Hold Hair Spray ($5) to finish lent the perfect amount of punk rock lasting power.

While Alterna's Bamboo Style Boho Waves Texture Mist ($22) does indeed deliver that coveted just-from-the-beach tousle, what makes it stand out is what it doesn't do. The spray, which came in this month's Glossybox, adds a touch of shine to hair. So instead of the typical matte finish, you get the perfect balance of texture and fullness with just a hint of gloss. In fact, I love using this beach-wave fixative prior to straightening with a flat iron, further proving that this type of product doesn't have to be used just for creating casual-cool curls. Organic bamboo extract nourishes, and blue yucca root gives weightless texture. With waves like these, there won't be anything dull about your Summer style this year.