nyc PR girls

10 Things a PR Girl Can Expect on Christmas

By on Dec 23 2011 Beauty, Public Relations No comments

New York is an interesting place in the days before Christmas.   Though it is one of the busiest times of the year, everyone is running around with a permanent smile on their face.   Laughter, hugs and kisses can be felt on every corner.   As much as we love Christmas in the city, there is nothing like returning home from a hard month’s work (the last of 2011!).   Continuing the tradition of giving you a head’s up on what you can expect before any given holiday, we’ve composed a list of social encounters/life realizations PR girls come to expect over the holiday break:

  1. While joining the mass exodus of urban dwellers to JFK, LaGuardia or Newark, find at least small amount of pleasure in securing the “Epic Swarm” badge on Foursquare
  2. Surprised to find that spending $35 on magazines in Hudson News for your wait time does not faze you in the slightest
  3. Feel not so surprised when a flight attendant takes your over-stuffed and contorted bag at boarding to check.   There was no way that thing was fitting in an overhead bin. It could give birth to a rhino at any minute
  4. Almost cry when you finally arrive home to the smell of sugar cookies
  5. Upon entering your old stomping grounds, realize the faux fur vest trend hasn’t really caught on as much as you thought
  6. After a couple glasses of wine, regain confidence that your faux fur vest captures your PR girl je nais se quoi
  7. Eat carbs.   Do not care.   For a whole week.
  8. Remember how comfortable sweats are, and be perfectly happy wearing them all day long
  9. Give yourself an imaginary high-five after nailing the perfect gifts for the fam, yet again
  10. Allow yourself to relax – and appreciate the most beautiful time of year
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Pick of the Week: BeneFit’s High Beam

By on Dec 17 2011 Beauty 1 comment

With all those holiday parties you have in the works, you really want to shine. I’ve been weary of a highlighter product, but was looking for something that would give me a radiant glow, without looking like a disco ball or outshining my Christmas tree.

A lovely sales gal at Sephora introduced me to BeneFit’s High Beam liquid highlighter and I’m simply beaming. My complextion now looks dewy and radiant! Just dab the liquid highlighter on your cheekbones give you a natural afterglow. The  pearlescent  sheen makes you appear more awake and will have you beaming with holiday cheer. I have actually rotated this product into my everyday beauty routine as it’s subtle enough to wear everyday.

With this PR girls hectic holiday schedule, beauty sleep isn’t an option so having a product that can keep me looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is a serious plus! If you don’t already use Benefit’s High Beam I suggest run to your nearest Sephora and try it for yourself, or slip it into a fellow PR girls stocking this holiday.

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nycPRgirls Gift Guide

By on Dec 16 2011 Beauty, Fashion 1 comment

In true PR girl fashion, we have left the majority of our holiday gift shopping to the last minute (and the next pay day).  There is a laundry list of people to dote on, and it can be overwhelming (and expensive) if you don’t organize your list straight away.  Below we’ve outlined some of our favorite gifts, keeping a budget of around $50 to each recipient so you can treat yourself to a manicure when this is all done:


For your office BFF: The office girls love beauty products, even if they work in the beauty practice.  This is what Sephora gift sets were made for.  Choose a chic eye shadow palette (we’re currently obsessed with the Bobbi Brown Ultimate Party Palette) or a collection of nail colors like Essie’s Cocktail Collection.

For your managers:  Something classic and not too campy works best here.  Try a nice collection of bath products, like Crabtree and Evelyn’s Christmas Collections, like their Heritage line.  If you know she has been interested in trying to take a cooking or wine tasting class, look for a nice cookbook or bottle of wine.

For your parents: My parents are always the most difficult to purchase for.  Sometimes it works best to invest in an experience rather than a gift.  Has your dad always wanted to tour the Finger Lakes?  Does Mom love the brunch place or spa downtown?  Buy gift certificates or vouchers to treat them to a day of indulgence.

For your brother, best man friend,  boyfriend: If you’ve known the guy in question for a while (if it’s your brother, that’s a yes), a casual watch is always a nice choice.  We like the Timex Original Camper or Adidas Peachtree watches.  I also like giving concert tickets to boys, so long as you’re 100% confident in their taste in music.

For your sister/Real Life BFF: Aside from giving her some fabulous swag from the office, luxe accessories are my favorite for the women in your life (and you get to dress up your best friend – fun!).  The Michael Kors iPhone Wristlet is pure genius, and his Leopard Fringe Scarf is absolutely divine.

images via laurenconrad.com

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A PR Girl’s Holiday Wish List

By on Dec 09 2011 Beauty, New York City 2 comments

While shopping for my parents, friends and family is definitely on the top of my to-do’s, I can’t but let my mind wander a bit to my own wish list for the holiday season.   I’m not just talking additions to a lovely J.Crew influenced-business casual wardrobe here (as welcome as those gifts may be), but my own set of goals and aspirations to enjoy the end of 2011, and start the new year on the right foot.

  • Finally print photos of family and friends for my desk
  • Bake cookies for the girls in the office
  • Leave the office at 6pm at least twice a week before the holiday
  • See some pure, white NYC snowflakes in the park
  • Have a cozy tea or coffee with close magazine editor contacts
  • Master the Spotify Holiday Playlist
  • Give back to New York through Salvation Army or Toys for Tots
  • Secure the perfect national broadcast placement for a client
  • and, okay, finally find the perfect pair of black stilettos

What’s on your PR girl wish list?

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PR Girl PRowess: How to Find Your Calling

By on Dec 06 2011 Beauty, Fashion, New York City, Public Relations 2 comments

As we’ve said before, PR is not for the weak of heart.  It takes patience and thousands of hours logged in before you feel you “own” your job.  A large part of that is finding your “calling” within the vast world of public relations and representation.

Public relations may feel like the natural job choice, whether you’ve been in the game for five days or five years, but it can take quite a while to figure out which area of PR you want to focus your career on.  For me, it happened somewhat on accident.  As an intern, I was spread across many accounts in many different areas – beauty PR, consumer brands, magazine and publication representation, even some healthcare.  Having a taste of all these different specialties lead me to my “expertise” today.  Here’s a look into some of the top concentrations within PR, to help you determine where your calling may be:

Beauty PR – Working primarily with beauty brands, makeup artists or haircare.  If you are a product junkie or love women’s magazines and can talk your way through anti-aging regimens and pleat skirts, give Beauty or Fashion a try.  Must LOVE talking to media on a daily basis, learning about and testing beauty products, creative writing for releases.  Must be able to stand beauty awards, industry events, networking and doing giftbags and mailers well into your senior levels.

Consumer brand PR – Similar to beauty, working with large corporations to represent their lifestyle brands, whether that be in sports, food, wine, liquor, toys, video games, you name it. Must LOVE speaking on behalf of a large company, learning the ins-and-outs of your client and monitoring for industry trends.  Must be able to stand client relations, teaching the media about new products, a unique blend of products (one day it could be Nike, the other day it could be Land O’Lakes.  Both special in their own way).

Healthcare PR – Representing healthcare agencies or pharmaceutical brands.  Must LOVE feeling as though you are making a difference, helping others and educating the media.  Must be able to stand late nights/early mornings per FDA announcements, intense media monitoring, sometimes stressful client-media relations/crisis

Fashion/Entertainment PR – Representing a celebrity, fashion house or entertainment business to the national and short lead media.  Write and speak primarily on behalf of your individual client, whether that’s Brad Pitt or Marc Jacobs.  Must LOVE crazy days, spontaneity and whirlwind lifestyle.  Must be able to stand laaaaate nights, admin tasks, celebrity requests.

Financial PR – Similar to healthcare, representing a financial firm to the national media, in times of crisis and in times of prosperity.  Must LOVE a regimented schedule, tactical writing and planning, crisis management.  If you are a Type A (as I am, I swear Financial PR was my second calling!), Financial might be the best PR for you.  Must be able to stand sometimes dry writing or program development, pushy or just-plain-mean media.

 

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Pick of the Week: Red Lips

By on Dec 03 2011 Beauty No comments

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and nothing is more festive than a gorgeous crimson pucker. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect shade of red for a while now, and it has eluded me for years. Until this week! Thanks to Pinterest, I stumbled upon Julia from Gal Meets Glam. Not only did I love her style, and add her blog to my daily fashion blog rotation, but I lusted a similar signature pout.

Julia of Gal Meets Glam

 

I immediately ran to Duane Reade and picked out Revlon’s Really Red lipstick, which is the shade Julia wears, and rushed home with fingers crossed.  I’m pretty fair-skinned and typically stick with glosses, so even though I lusted for a chic  red stained kiss, I needed a shade that was not too drastic. I’m happy to report that Really Red fit the bill and I can’t wait to wear it, along with some sequins, to all my upcoming holiday engagements!

Glamour girls, all wearing Red-Orange lipstick – NARS Heatwave

Along with this vibrant red shade, I’ve also seen some reddish pink and red orange shades popping up in fashion magazines and catalogs. Particularly J. Crew. So if you are daring enough to go with a  more vibrant lipstick shade this holiday season, but not keen on a full-out red pigment, emulate the lovely J.Crew models and try an orange-red shade like NARS Heatwave (which a Glamour editor claims to look good on everyone).

image via Gal Meets Glam

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How to Look PR PRetty

By on Nov 11 2011 Beauty 1 comment

It really is in the eyes of the beholder.   According to a recent study from P&G, the first impression women give to others is directly connected to amount of makeup they wear.   Researchers found that makeup makes women more attractive, competent and trustworthy as opposed to their bare-faced peers.   Those who wore too much, however, seemed overconfident and unapproachable.   Those who wore too little?   Well, kind of sheepish and (dare we say it), old-maid-ish.   The study deemed the ‘œperfect amount of makeup’ to be somewhere between ‘œglammed up’ and ‘œall natural.’   In other words ‘“ PROFESSIONAL.

Our girl LC has it down to a science.   Do you?

As PR girls, we’re pretty keen on striking the perfect balance.   Working in beauty PR myself, sometimes I think I could be wearing even more makeup to the office to be sure I’m setting the right statement and representing my clients in the best way possible.   But then I take a look at some of the girls caking it on, and I quickly change my mind.   There are simply other ways of showing your makeup prowess and trendy style than slapping on rainbow shades for your cubicle.

-Try a hot new nail color to show your funky sides.   We like teal, bright pink, all natural nude and chocolate brown.

-Try wearing lipstick rather than lip gloss.   It’s more cleaned up and less “ready for the high school dance?!” than some lip glosses can appear.

-Cat eye eyeliner, a la the lovely Lauren Conrad, is a due.   Full-on theatrical cat eye makeup?   A don’t-you-dare.

 

What are your favorite ways to gussy up for the office?

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Cold Weather Beauty: Don’t Be an Ice Queen

By on Oct 28 2011 Beauty No comments

An unmistakeable sound was heard in my apartment last night – the heat clicking on (er, clunking on in my old NYC apartment).  It’s a chilling 37 degrees this morning in New York, and there are rumors of first snow upstate.  It’s safe to say now our indian summer is over.

This week we asked you guys how you best like to amp up your beauty routine in the winter.  Here are some of our top tips:

Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!: Can’t say it enough.  Especially if you have sensitive skin like me, you cannot put on enough hand cream/body lotion/face cream/cold cream to keep your skin from being tight and dry in the freezing months.  Try Clinique’s Moisture Surge or LaseResults AM Repair & Protect for your face to keep it baby soft.  A trick for you ladies who can’t lose the scalding hot (and skin-drying) showers?  Add your body moisturizer BEFORE you towel off.  It locks in the water – and I swear, it works!

Achieve the “snow bunny” glow: Sadly, our bronzing days are gone – an orange face just does not match our cashmere scarves.  For that sweet, “just got back from sledding” look, try using a matte foundation like Bare Minerals SPF 15 Matte Foundation and a pretty pink blush.  Nars Orgasm is my go-to, but a cream foundation like Too Faced Full Bloom Lip & Cheek Color in Tea Rose will stay in place in the late-fall sleet.

For some spice, go to the dark side: Almost all of you came back to us on twitter saying you love to use dark colors on your lips when it starts getting cold out.  How sultry of you!  Our top picks, MAC Matte Lipstick in “Russian Red” and Maybelline’s “Are You Red-dy”  for classic, sexy reds.

 

image via thebeautydepartment.com

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Where in the World to Get a Haircut

By on Oct 20 2011 Beauty, New York City 2 comments

I’ve had my same hair stylist since I was 15 years old.   I’ve trusted him with almost everything – how to get me over a bad breakup, how to make me look hot, how to polish me up for a new job.   I love being able to sit down in a chair and let the man do whatever he would like to my head of hair.

Living in New York for the past six years, it hasn’t been the easiest to commute back to upstate New York for a trim and some color.   Last week, I asked you where you like to get your hair done in NYC – a common question of young women living in this metropolis where there’s literally a salon on every corner.   And I took your advice!   Below please find some top options for cut and color in the city, at every budget:

Oh to have this kind of hair all. day. long.

Rita Hazan Salon – The top-of-the-heap, premier location for a color.   Celebs frequent Rita Hazan and trust the staff with their constantly-photographed heads, so why shouldn’t you?   But prepare to unload your wallet for that kind of treatment

Shampoo on Avenue B – @catybennett recommended this reasonable and eclectic salon via Twitter, and guess what – I went!   Jennifer game me the exact color I wanted, and the cut is just what the doctor ordered.   I’m hooked!

Bumble & Bumble - Believe it or not, a signature Bumble & Bumble cut can be right in your price range.   Sign up for their model program to receive notices for free cuts and color (with an additional spend).

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What a PR Girl Still Wishes She Could Do…

By on Oct 11 2011 Beauty, Fashion, New York City, Public Relations 1 comment

While the PR girl is absolutely multi-talented and supremely knowledgeable, there are a few certain everyday tasks or trends that for whatever reason, we have a hard time with while other girls seem to master.   I, for one, can not work the chic, just-got-out-of-bed wave (it looks like I fell in a lake and let the pond scum dry in my hair, I swear).   A cannot keep the dates of the month straight (despite having a fabulous day calendar).   For girls who can score a placement in a national publication or daytime talk show, we’re a little bit challenged in some areas.

Lately I’ve been looking everywhere for inspiration to lead a little bit more of a glamorous life.   Here are a few of the items I just WISH I could do:

  • Rock more jewelry than my every day chunky watch and bracelets
  • Enjoy blockbuster movies without analyzing the product placements within each scene
  • Pull off multi-colored eyeshadow
  • FINISH A BOOK!
  • Perfect the puposefully-messy bun without it turning into a ponytail at the end of the day
  • Get to the gym BEFORE work
  • Run in a pair of heels without tearing up the heel/falling on my face/scuffing them up
  • Write thank you notes, not just emails
  • Give myself frequent manicures
  • Remember to wear lip gloss
  • Don a statement jacket, like Blake’s above

What do you wish you could master to take your inner PR Girl up a knotch? Tell us at @nycPRgirls

 

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