Ariel Baker

While everything from seasons changing to celebrating a birthday can have you feeling reflective about the past, chances are you're also probably looking forward to the fresh new energy that comes with ringing in a new personal milestone. One of our favorite ways to undergo a little personal refresh? Finding trendy tattoos to add to our collection. Last year, popular tattoos included abstract styles and '90s-inspired designs, including "tramp stamps," but in 2024, the tattoo trends to watch include realistic styles, finger tattoos, and more. You may have a certain celebrity to thank for one of these. "People are switching up the types of tattoos they get because of influence from others, for example, Hailey Bieber," Syd Smith, owner of Syzygy Precision Tattooing, micro tattoo expert, and a member of the Mad Rabbit pro team, tells PS. "Her hand tattoos are some of the most common photos I receive for inspiration, and it has definitely been influencing other people." That said, there are plenty of new tattoo designs that are predicted to be huge. Ahead, PS spoke with a handful of artists to discuss the tattoo trends you need to look out for. Keep reading to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the best tattoo ideas to consider when adding more ink to your collection. Related: 50+ Small Tattoo Ideas That Are Simple and Cool

So, you're a social butterfly who's found yourself with a calendar full of various events over the next few weeks. If you're anything like us, your slightly (OK, very) type A mind will immediately start trying to plan your hair, makeup, and nail looks. While you've mastered the art of a 10-minute glam and have a signature hairstyle that you know you can rely on, the most difficult part of this equation has revealed itself: what are you going to do with your nails? Whether you opt for 3D-nail art or want to keep it simple, one thing you might not expect to have decision paralysis about is your nail shape. There are numerous to choose from, but allow us to wax poetic a little bit about round nails; they're like the chameleon of the manicure world. "Round nails are a cross between squoval and almond nails," manicurist and CEO of Nailing Hollywood Mazz Hanna tells PS. "The nails are filed in a way that follows the natural shape of your fingertip." Round nails can truly work for any occasion you have planned. Ahead, Hanna explains just how easy they are to achieve, as well as nail-art looks best suited for the shape. What Are Round Nails? Round nails are wider than oval nails at the tip. "In addition to following the shape of your finger, use the natural curved shape of your cuticle as a guide when trying to perfect a rounded nail shape," Hanna says. While round nails can look good on anyone, a bit of length won't hurt if you're trying to achieve this look. "I personally love the look of a slightly extended rounded nail," Hanna says. "That being said, they also look really beautiful on a shorter, natural nail and can also make it appear longer because the eye is naturally drawn to the curved area rather than your nail itself." So, whether you're a die-hard extensions wearer or prefer your natural length, this shape can work for you. Nail Art for Round Nails As with any manicure, nail art is subjective and truly varies based on each person's sense of style. Still, when it comes to round nails, Hanna does have a preference. "French or reverse french manicures are perfect for round nails," she says. "A classic red single-color manicure also looks beautiful on this shape." Still need some convincing? Keep reading to see some of the most gorgeous round nails we've come across.

I've tried my fair share of makeup hacks, but like clockwork, the internet continues to churn out more, claiming that the latest is better than the rest. The most recent to hit TikTok? A new way to find your perfect lipstick. Instead of comparing it to your nipple or the inside of your lip, this method uses your finger. "Apparently, this is how women in the 1950s were taught how to find their perfect lipstick shade," content creator Mireya Rios says in a TikTok video. She then squeezes the tip of her finger, and the shade of pink that it turns perfectly matches the Patrick Ta lipstick that she ended up choosing. When she tries the color on at home, it looks like a spot-on ringer for her natural lip shade. I have tried everything from matching my lipstick to my, um, areolas to matching it to the inside of my lip, but if it's as easy as just squeezing a finger? Count me in. Keep reading to see how my version of the hack went. To try it myself, I started by squeezing my finger and holding it up to my MAC Cosmetics Honey Love ($25), a light, beige-toned rose shade. To me, it looked a little light, so I went a little darker and opted for Dumbo from Makeup by Mario ($28), a spiced rose. It felt too red, so next, I went for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Velvet Lipstick ($24) in Crush, which is described as a soft beige, but to me, it looked like the perfect balance of peach and red tones. To make sure, I swatched the color on my hand before applying it to my lips, but I could immediately tell that it was going to look a little too ashy on its own, so I went back to the drawing board. Finally, my assistant (also known as my younger sister) told me to squeeze the tip of my finger for a longer time to see if it changed the outcome. I did so, squeezing for about 20 seconds, and the shade that it turned immediately reminded me of a lipstick that I had: the Ctzn Cosmetics Nudiversal ($29) in the shade Sarajevo, a deep brown. After rummaging through my collection, I confirmed that the color of the lipstick and my fingertip did, in fact, look similar, so I applied it to my mouth. Starting with my bottom lip, I swiped on a few coats, but I was shocked by how dark it was; I was sure there was no way this was my perfect shade of lipstick. However, when I put it onto my top lip, the color was so seamless that it was almost laughable. This process illuminated the age-old dilemma that many people with deep skin tend to have when it comes to wearing lipstick: we have two-toned lips. So, while the brown color did look pretty on my upper lip, overall, I felt like it was a bit too dark. So, did this hack work? Yes and no. As someone with two different lip tones, I didn't feel like this shade did much to brighten up my face, which is the reason why I typically stick to the more peachy-pink hue when it comes to my lip colors. However, I will keep this trick in my back pocket, just in case. There's nothing like risking your blood circulation in the name of beauty. Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.

Image Source: Getty/Ashok Kumar/TAS24 / Contributor In the era of social media, it's pretty easy to figure out your favorite celebrity's most prized beauty products. From their go-to foundations to their must-have mascaras, you're more likely to know what a star wears than what they don't. Still, there is one category that's harder to pinpoint (unless you happen to walk by them on the street): their favorite perfumes. Not only that, but when you're as big of a celebrity as say, Taylor Swift, trying to get any details on their beauty routine is like trying to infiltrate a vault in a maximum security building. While we were able to uncover her go-to red lipstick - spoiler alert: it's by Pat McGrath Labs - figuring out which perfume Taylor Swift wears wasn't as easy. Luckily, she's left a few hints over the years. First, there are the now-discontinued scents that the star created in partnership with Elizabeth Arden: Wonderstruck, which came out in 2011, followed by Wonderstruck Enchanted in 2012, Taylor in 2013, Taylor by Taylor Swift Made of Starlight in 2014, and Incredible Things later that year. Each fragrance had similar olfactive notes, with a combination of fruity, floral, and woody accords. Then, in Swift's 2020 Netflix documentary "Miss Americana," eagle-eyed fans spotted a bottle of Tom Ford's Santal Blush ($195) among a few other beauty products like L'Oreal's Elnett Spray ($13) as well as toothpicks. The eau de parfum contains notes like cinnamon bark, ylang-ylang, and Australian sandalwood, which perfectly lines up with Swift's previous affinity for warmer, more woody fragrances - just in a more elevated fashion. On Reddit, one person, who says they've been to a Secret Session - which is where fans are hand-picked to go to Swift's houses or hotels to listen to songs from her albums before they're public - shared some insights. They wrote that they learned from other Swifties that one of the singer's favorite scents is Flowerbomb by Viktor&Rolf ($180). (This speculation has even gained traction on TikTok, sparking countless videos claiming the same.) The popular perfume has notes of jasmine, rose, vanilla, and amber, once again confirming Swift's affinity for sweet, woody perfumes. Other fans have claimed on social media that she loves the fragrances Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille ($195), Hot Couture from Givenchy ($131), among others. Neither Swift nor any of the brands above have openly confirmed that she wears any of these perfumes - although we did reach out for comment, just in case - so this list is speculative at best. However, at this point, Swifties could rival the FBI with their investigative skills, so if anyone will go on an easter egg hunt to find the right answer, it's them.

Image Source: Getty/ Edward Berthelot / Contributor Be prepared to take your obsession with butter - yes, butter - to new heights. On March 18, celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik posted a picture to Instagram of one the many looks he's done on Selena Gomez. "Trend alert: Butter Manis for Spring," he captioned the photo, in which you can see the singer's nails painted a soft, buttery hue. The pastel yellow shade is perfect for spring and that's exactly why the duo chose it. "The inspiration behind the look was Selena suggesting a happy color," Bachik tells PS. "The butter yellow manicure will definitely be hot for spring." As for the nail shapes that look best with a butter manicure, Bachik has a favorite. "My signature soft, round shape is perfect for this trend," he says. "The longer, the better." To get the look Bachik used the Tweezerman & Tom Bachik Nail Care Travel Set ($29) to perfect the shape of the nail, followed by two coats of Mia Secret's Gelux Gel Polish ($13) in Butter. While your nail art preferences are your own, Bachik does suggest keeping it simple for this look. "A little shimmer never hurts anyone, although I do think the color speaks for itself," he says. You know what they say: know the rules to break them, so if you're more of a maximalist who likes 3D designs, Baroque motifs, and more, feel free to let your creative juices run wild. Take a closer look at Gomez's manicure below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝙏𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙠 Nails (@tombachik) Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.

If you've been keeping up with fashion it-girls like Cardi B or Ah-Niyah Gold, then you've likely noticed a new hairstyle making its rounds in their circles: the hime haircut. The look may be all over social media lately, but it's actually been around in Japanese culture for centuries. So what is it, exactly? "The hime haircut is a hairstyle that consists of three distinct levels," hairstylist Philip Wolff tells PS. "It usually starts with a heavy fringe, then goes to a fairly abrupt and sharp bob length near the cheek or jaw. The rest is worn long down the back." The look is reminiscent of other styles that rely on sharp differentiations like the "jellyfish" cut, but it's worth noting the cultural significance behind this one in particular before trying the trend. Ahead, Wolff explains everything you should know about the hime haircut, including how to achieve the style. What Is a Hime Haircut? In ancient Japan, the hime cut was a status symbol. "Back in the day, [it signified] Japanese royalty and nobility," Wolff says. "It is said to be a hairstyle rooted in tradition and believed to be the court style among noblewomen during the Heian period. Hime is the word for 'princess' or a lady of higher birth." Though he acknowledges the style has become popular in high fashion circles, it's important to know its origins. "Anyone can and should be able to wear their hair any way they choose," Wolff says. "In some cases, it's probably a good idea to know the history and meaning behind certain styles [as well]." How to Get a Hime Haircut When considering the hime haircut, it's best to go to a professional. "To get this look, go to your hairstylist with pictures of the tri-level haircut and they will be able to help shape the different lengths to suit your face," Wolff says. "It's important to remember that this includes a full fringe of some sort, a bob length, and longer length in the back with each being very distinct from the other." Also of note: the hime haircut will look different on every hair type and face shape. Though it is usually worn straight, this can look incredible on textured, layered, or curly hair. Wolff's best advice? Have fun with it. At its core, the hime haircut is an elegant hairstyle with a rich history. "Its comeback shows how timeless Japanese beauty and fashion is," Wolff says. "It's always good to know a bit of the history behind things you wear and represent, but regardless of if you use wear it literally, use it as inspiration, or evolve it into something new, wear it with confidence." If you're interested in trying it for yourself, keep reading for some hime haircut inspiration.

Image Source: Maekaeda Gibbons For Maekaeda Gibbons, fragrance has always been a way for her to feel connected to her mother. "I grew up in Trinidad and my mother first moved to the United States before we could follow her," Gibbons tells PS. Though she would visit, Gibbons distinctly remembered how sad she was every time her mother would leave again, but there was one way she could temper the feeling. "She would leave behind her clothes that had her perfume on it, and it would always remind me of her." That experience taught Gibbons how fragrance affected her mood - a fact that she would come to lean on as she ventured into corporate America. "By trade, I'm a financial analyst, and I was a loan officer for Bank of America," Gibbons says. "A few years into my career, I realized that I was extremely stressed during my day-to-day, but perfumes often helped to combat that. If I had a difficult customer or interaction at work, I'd apply my favorite scent to my wrists, and it would instantly calm me down." Noticing each formula's effects on her, Gibbons decided to play around in the space by creating her own concoctions. "I started formulating oils that were well-documented for having calming and relaxing effects, and my coworkers would beg me to make them some. I started selling them, and it all kind of snowballed from there." Though the beginnings of Brown Sugar Babe were born out of a need for self-care, the name of the company comes from Gibbon's love of a certain genre of music. "When naming the company, I started remembering some of the happiest times that I had as a teenager and it was in high school when 'Brown Sugar' by D'Angelo was popular," she says. "For me, fragrance and music have always gone hand in hand, likely because they both can evoke memories, but I leaned heavily on my love of music when first starting Brown Sugar Babe. You can see the influence of my love for popular R&B songs from the '80s and '90s in the names of some of my earlier creations." Over the years, Gibbons's understanding of fragrances has evolved from a simple form of stress relief to a powerful business that other people can enjoy. "I've realized that fragrance is very subjective, but this company has always been one that listens to its customers," Gibbons says. "Every so often, we put a call out there for what people want to see from us or any scents that they'd like for us to create our versions of, and that's how we continue to come out with such a varied amount of fragrance oils." In the future, Gibbons hopes to expand Brown Sugar Babe into other cosmetic categories. "I can't say too much, but we're getting into home fragrance and the hair space," she says. "There are going to be some changes to our existing body-care lineup, as well. I'm just really excited to continue being able to use fragrance to impact people that people's lives." Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.

"Good vibes" is more than just a saying. For some, it's an entire practice. It's not uncommon to hear the words "vibes" and "aura" used interchangeably, but the latter actually has its own meaning. An aura is an energetic force that all human beings radiate, and this energy is understood through different colors, according to Healthline. There are a few ways to "see" your aura. The most common method has been going to professional readers and having a picture taken. Another has been to soften and slightly squint your eyes while looking in a mirror. One of our favorite ways? Painting them on your nails. To note, aura nails don't have to feature your actual accurate reading, but the trend that mimics the look has skyrocketed in popularity recently. "Aura nails recreate the colors of the body's chakras and energy color fields," Rita Pinto, founder of Vanity Projects nail salon, tells PS. "It's very New Age meets Gen Z because the colors of the manicures are way more interpretive and expansive than the usual aura-chart colors. I've also heard them be referred to as 'color trips' in the salon by clients." Aura nails started popping up in 2021 and have since been seen everywhere from Instagram to Coachella, but Pinto believes there is a reason they're so popular now. "Aura nails are really bright and colorful, so they give off a great energy and match almost everything in your closet," she says. With the recent rise in dopamine dressing - where wearers opt for bright, eye-catching clothing - it only makes sense that manicures would follow. To get the trend at home, Pinto has a few tips. "Get a dotting tool and various colors of polish. Gently apply the colors to the surface of a prepared nail, which should include base coat and one sheer color," she says. "Then build your preferred design from there using a clear topcoat to dilute the potency of the color and add that blended effect." If you want to give aura nails a try for yourself, we rounded up some of the best designs on Instagram to give you some inspiration.

For those of you who may not know this about me: I love a good makeup hack. From concealing my brows to giving myself a faux-bleached look to strategically placing my concealer to fake a facelift - I'll try almost anything. That's why when I saw makeup artist Huda Kattan's latest hack for getting the "poutiest, most juicy-looking lips" (her words, not mine), I had to try it. The process includes over-lining your lips and shading in the sides before adding any color. Kattan's steps are aptly titled: cuff it, blend it, link it, fill it, and gloss it. Her results? Deliciously glossy lips that I couldn't wait to recreate - so I did just that. My products of choice were the Dibs Beauty No Pressure Lip Definer ($14, originally $16) in Dark, the Made Beauty Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick in Cookie Butter ($22), and the Huda Beauty Faux Filler Lipgloss ($19) in the shade Sugar Baby. Like the makeup artist, I started outlining my lips, making sure to fill in the corners of my mouth with the dark-brown liner. After rubbing the liner in with my finger to blend the color into the rest of my lip, I connected the right and left edges (just like my normal lip-lining technique). I then filled in the space with the pink lipstick, and topped it off with the lip gloss. As to whether or not my lips looked the "juiciest" they ever have, I'd have to say no, as I typically find that tacky formulas like MAC's Clear Lipglass ($23) tend to give that effect. But those formulas also typically feel a bit sticky as a tradeoff. The Huda Beauty gloss does not provide that shine or tack, so depending on your preferences, you'll either want to go in with another layer or clear gloss for that shiny effect. When it comes to the technique, however, especially the "cuff it" portion, I'd say that this hack is a winner. I've never been good at contouring any part of my face or body, but that's exactly what this is - playing with shadows and light to achieve a desired outcome. I noticed an upturn in the shape of my lips. Though the edges of my mouth typically tend to fold inward, making that area look a bit more pulled down when my face is at rest, I noticed that it wasn't as prominent after using this technique. When I smiled, my eyes immediately went to the lighter part of my mouth: the middle. So, is this a technique that fundamentally changes your lips or makes them look super juicy? No, but it is a lesson in what a proper contouring technique can do for you. So in that sense, it's still a win for me. Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.

Image Source: Getty/Delmaine Donson Occasionally, someone on the internet says something that either makes me question why I share space with them on this planet or nod feverishly in agreement. When it came to a recent video from vlogger Evelyn Ngugi, I found myself in the latter camp - and feeling slightly ashamed to admit it out loud. In the video, Ngugi explains that she feels like her natural, type-four hair doesn't go with the personal aesthetic she is trying to create as an adult. She makes it clear that while she loves her hair, it can feel equal parts juvenile and too mature. As someone who shares her hair texture, I have been struggling with the exact same thing. When the natural hair movement was at its height in the mid-2010s, while I experimented with a few styles like Bantu knots, twist-outs, and wash-and-go's, I never quite found my signature look. As a result, I stuck with protective styles like braids or silk presses, peppering in a few sew-ins here and there. When I hit college, I tried everything, but I realized that I didn't like the way my natural hair looked unless I spent hours manipulating it with product before leaving for classes. Still, I figured that as soon as I got my "big girl" job and could have someone style my hair for me regularly, I would be all set. Except that never happened. @myinternetcousin a little ramble 🥲 #naturalhair #personalstyle #zoekravitzbraids stitch with: @Goldynaps ♬ original sound - ✨evelyn✨ When I could afford the convenience of getting my hair professional done at a salon regularly, I still found myself opting for box braids and other, more convenient styles. Whenever I'd try to do my natural hair in a new way that I thought I'd love, I always ended up feeling childish - and anything but the grown woman that I was trying to portray. No matter what I did, I did not feel like the adult I was envisioning in my head if my hair was in its natural state. It didn't help that the fictional women that I looked up to growing up, like Monica (played by Sanaa Lathan) from "Love and Basketball" or Isis (Gabrielle Union) from "Bring It On" typically also used straightened or relaxed hairstyles to portray maturity - and to be frank, attractiveness. This is the subtle message that has been sent to young Black women for decades. Without me realizing it, the media that I have been consuming for the better part of my life is likely where I got this notion that my natural, coily hair is juvenile. Black hair in this country has long been politicized. The Afro was a big part of the "Black Is Beautiful" movement by the Black Panthers, aiming to shift the narrative around naturally coily hair in the '70s. Then, the dominant belief was that whiteness - and, therefore, the phenotypical features typically associated with white people - was the pinnacle of beauty. Because of movements like this, one of the dominant narratives about Blackness - and, by extension, Black beauty practices and traditionally Black features - is that it is born out of defiance. The ability of enslaved people who were forcibly brought to this country to fight for equal rights was first seen as audacious before it was applauded. By extension, the gumption that it took to openly celebrate Black features - like wearing an afro in the '60s at a time when racism and segregation were still overtly practiced - has been the throughline that connects every Black beauty aesthetic that has emerged since then. Long, bejeweled nails, faded haircuts, and even locs were once seen as too "urban" for most of America. Except over the years, I've come to realize that whiteness and white features are not the backdrop for which I need to compare my Black features - whether I'm doing so subconsciously or not. This realization that I don't particularly love the way my natural hair looks has been one that I've been trying to work through by myself as I mature. Still, it's always affirming to hear that I'm not alone in my experience. Struggling so much with the hair that grows out of my head has, at times, felt guilt-inducing. Still, like anything else in life, this is a journey. Instead of speaking negatively about myself or my hair, I will continue to do what works best for me and my lifestyle - whether it's continuing to wear protective styles or, one day, committing to wearing my natural hair fully. As a handful of comments on Ngugi's video expressed, the goal is hair neutrality. Until then, I'm trying to fix the way I regard my natural hair, and that's just going to have to be enough. Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.