Welcome to Magical Moda, the column that specialises in the latest fashion gossip. I’d love to go on for pages and pages, but alas I am restricted only to these four sections below: new makeup launches, trends of the month, seasonal fashion, and last but not least, the magical happenings on the beauty scene! This column will reveal double the content, as the June and July editions were merged.

So sit back and relax, dear Hogwarts students, and let’s dive straight into the tome of trends.

NEW MAKEUP LAUNCHES:

June 3rd - E.L.F. Cosmetics - Soft Glam Satin Foundation
Described as: “A long-lasting, hydrating liquid foundation that delivers just-right, medium buildable coverage and a satin finish.” with berry extracts and 36 shades for inclusivity, Elf is really gearing up to be one of the best brands of the summer! A light, long-lasting foundation is just what I need in this sun.

June 7th - E.L.F. Cosmetics - Sun Boss Gloss SPF 25
Described as: “A tinted lip gloss infused with moisturising Vitamin E plus hyaluronic acid that delivers broad spectrum SPF 25 sun protection, buildable colour and a high-shine finish. ” I love the idea of the coconut scent. My lips are also really dry (who’s aren’t in this summer?) so something that looks good while still moisturises is a must!

June 7th - Huda Beauty - Blush Filter
Described as: “a lightweight liquid blush with buildable pigments and finely milled micro-pearls for a soft-focus, high-impact glow.” It sounds so wonderful. Plus, the shades look absolutely divine and from the swatches and promotional content, I can see that this blush really does blend as well as a filter!

June 20th - Rhode - Pocket Blush
Described as: “wakes up cheeks and lips with a satiny, diffused flush that melts on smoothly and stays all day. It’s a lightweight formula that hydrates skin for baby-soft cheeks and leaves a glowy finish without a greasy feel.”, Hailey Bieber is taking the world by storm, combining Skincare with Makeup! Six beautiful shades. What a pity they’re all sold out already at the time of writing!

June 26th - Tarte Cosmetics - Creaseless Concealer
Described as: “Full-coverage, skincare-infused concealer.” Tarte is SO GOOD with its concealers! Their shade range is wonderful and this concealer clocks in at a 4.2 on their website. Plus, they literally have a whole list of reasons why the concealer is so great on their product page!

July 11th - Hourglass Cosmetics - Unreal Liquid Blush
Described as: “A liquid blush that visibly plumps with hydration and delivers unreal, buildable colour for a natural finish that stays in place for up to 12 hours. ” It’s supposed to be silky and melt into your skin, leaving a natural long-lasting light finish. Sounds so luxurious!

July 12th - Fenty Beauty - Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick
Described as: “A glossy, medium-pigment lipstick with luscious shine and a big dose of vitamin E and shea butter to lock in moisture for up to eight hours.” I love Gloss Bomb from Fenty and Rihanna absolutely killed it with this one! It looks so hydrating while still providing the perfect coverage and pop that Gloss Bomb is known for.

July 24th - Kylie Cosmetics - Skin Tint Blurring Elixir
Described as: “a weightless, fluid tint with light to medium coverage and a second-skin finish. formulated with hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), it improves skin hydration and smooths pores, fine lines, and texture with up to 12 hours of wear that doesn’t separate or get patchy.” 24 shades, too! Guys, I’ve totally been skimping on Kylie Cosmetics. You go, Miss Jenner!

July 25th - Bobbi Brown Cosmetics - Weightless Skin Foundation
It seems everyone and their mother is creating foundations this summer. However, one brand we can definitely trust to do it right is Bobbi Brown! Founded all the way back in 1991 and owned by Estee Lauder, so many people love the luxurious feel of their products.

July 30th - R.E.M. Beauty - At The Borderline Eyeliner Marker
Described as: “ari’s go-to liner is powered by flexible film formers to deliver all-day comfort and fluid application. the easy-to-use tapered tip deposits blackest-black ink pigments that lock onto lids without fading or feathering." That boy is mine? No, that EYELINER is mine! This marker looks really good, even for someone like me who is a total liner newbie.

TRENDS OF THE MONTH:

BROOKIE BLONDE:
Another day, another blonde! This months’ highlight is Brookie Blonde. Basically, as you could probably infer from the name, it’s a mix between Cookie-like tones and blonde shades. It gives the subtle depth of a brunette colour while offering the sunkissed blonde look we all know and love. Celebrities like Beyonce, Rita Ora, and Emilia Clarke have all pulled off the look, in different shapes and styles. For me, though, it’s Rita Ora’s classic beach waves that look the best in Brookie Blonde.

Brookie' blonde is achieved by subtly blending highlights and lowlights in both blonde and brown tones, creating a seamless transition that mimics the effects of natural sun exposure. You would ideally blonde the areas that you want to highlight, while adding dimension through a darker brown colour to the roots and underside of your hair. This gives your hair loads of depth, but while looking seamless, since Brookie Blonde is all about subtlety rather than outright contrasting.

FRUITY NAILS:
Fruit nails, according to Glamour magazine, have seen about a 250% spike in Google Searches. We already know that Citrus and Cherry nails trend almost every summer. With Strawberry Girl Summer set to make a comeback, I guess we should’ve expected even the oddball Blueberry and Grapefruit nails to introduce themselves! This classic fun manicure is easy to complete, with a variety of different styles.

One popular option are monochrome fruit french, which are basically when you choose one singular fruit - for example, strawberries - and paint a couple of them on two or three of your nails on each hand. On the other hand, you complete classic French tips with the main colour of your fruit - so, Cherries would be dark red, Lemons would be yellow, et cetera et cetera. Would you try this? I’ll definitely have to give it a thought!

SUNSET BLUSH:
Sunset Blush, different to all the other blush trends of the year, mimics the beautiful picturesque glow of nature’s soothing warmth at the end of the day. First created by TikToker Alissa McJain, I believe, the technique involves layering two blushes with a highlighter to create a glowy look akin to the iconic sunset view.

To create the look, layer up bright colours. You’ll want a bright tangerine-like orange beneath your cheekbones, while a bright pink should rest comfortably above on your cheekbones near your temples and a highlighter should be to the left of those near the outer corner of your eye. You should use the same formula for all the blushes - if your orange blush is liquid, so should be your pink and you should have a liquid highlighter. This is essential for a clean blend.

SEASONAL FASHION:
June and July. Two of the hottest months of the year, eclipsed only by the reigning queen of heat, August. This isn’t technically true if you’re in the Southern hemisphere, though. But I digress - last issue, I helped you all get ready for June and July. But now, we have to face the final boss: August. So come along and let me organise your summer wardrobe.

So, for all my fellow Northern hemisphere people, we have to look chic without melting into a puddle of gooey human-ness. One of the best ways to do this is to have long shirts. “But Sara,” you may ask. “Aren’t long shirts for winter? We’re in the Northern hemisphere!” and yes, my loves, I do know! However, there’s been a good trend for mesh tops lately. They look adorable and give your outfit a cute touch. But if mesh isn’t your style, which I completely understand, there are a variety of long-sleeved tops with very thin fabrics making up the sleeves. There are also long-sleeved tops with billowy sleeves to allow air, though I would only recommend these if the heat isn’t severe in your country. If you have long-sleeved tops, I’d also recommend rolling sleeves up to the elbow - prevent overconsumption of clothing while giving off a lovely summer vibe!

Now, I’m also going to follow up my advice from the last issue and clap right in your face. Invest in a pair of shorts! And even if you’d like to feel a bit more feminine, grab a skort or a skirt that won’t ride up in your face with the uncommon breeze passing by. Light denim, dark denim, and white are your basics. I’d also recommend, just to give your ‘fit a little edge, to get shorts with patterns on the hem. Lacy shorts or ragged shorts are really cute and floral designs are also very summer-themed and in season. If you can grab pastel or vibrantly-coloured accessories, you will shine as bright as Rihanna’s songs! Remember, Summer is also all about that glowy, natural, look. Gold, dewy makeup, sandals or flip-flops, and beachwear is all the rage.

Don’t you worry, Southern peeps- I’ve got you! You can also wear long-sleeved tops in the winter. Something I personally love is the billowy sleeve look - it just looks so chic and elegant. Other styles can be form-fitting or rib tops, rib fabric is especially good because it is stretchy so it can accommodate most figures and can be adjusted depending on how you wish to style. Wear long feminine bottoms as well - jeans, thick leggings, swishy skirts with stockings.

While I’d recommend short hair styles, or putting your hair up for the Northern chickies, it’s the South’s time to invest in braids, half-up half-downs, and chic chignons at the base of your neck. Being cold is not an excuse not to look good, mon cherie! For accessories - I always think of winter as silvers and greys. Neutrals and cool-toned colours will go beautifully with the weather. White sneakers, stockings, Mary Janes, and chunky lace boots are the way to go here. Furthermore, for both hemispheres, wear large and outstanding earrings. Chunky accessories, especially jewellery, is making its way straight back into the heart of fashion and you want to match the trend!

MAGICAL MODA:
Striking graphic eyeliner, paired with feminine florals, to elicit the most daring and yet completely, utterly, outrageously, fashionable looks. Think 2021 Baroness Elegance, but with black-and-white Cruella’s flair planted into a forest aesthetic. Witches and wizards everywhere are leaning back into that bold and bright look. It's dangerously dashing - if I see one more curly-haired Slytherin boy with winged eyeliner and green highlighter, I may just swoon!

On the other side of the page, however, Valentines has arrived in a flurry of pink and red…five months overdue. Oh well - they tried! Still, some witches are embracing their feminine and flaunting their rose-coloured robes. Now, the only thing that would do it for me is to see Minerva McGonagall in a pink dress robe, fully outfitted with lace and roses. Minnie is said to have been quite a catch in the day!

And for the last of it all…everyone seems to be going for the Summer Bob! Witches and Wizards, as the Magical World becomes more integrated with Muggle Technology, also is seeming to catch onto seasonal trends and fancies. This includes the infamous summer chop transitions that always seem to make it to the front of my For You page - and you would be surprised how many witches are rocking Sydney Sweeney-style cowgirl bobs!

Okay, okay…I think that even my computer keys are screaming at me to stop typing. Enjoy your August, ladies and gentlemen!

Written by: Sara Rowan
Edited by: Hazel Antler
Proofread by: Lena Hunt