Stephanie Montes
Bio
Stephanie is a Fashion and Beauty Writer at Elite Daily, where she writes about her adventures in testing the latest trends in skincare, hair, and makeup, and explores the latest trends in clothes and accessories. She's not afraid to stick needles in her face or straighten her hair on an airplane (True story!), and she gets a rush from copying the best celeb outfits on a budget. Stephanie's bylines have also appeared on Hello Giggles, Brides.com, MyDomaine, Elle.com, Byrdie, Well + Good, and more. She's based in the valley of Los Angeles and received a bachelor's degree in fashion design from The Art Institute of California-Hollywood (proof that not all paths are straight). When she’s not exploring the latest beauty invention, you can find her hitting up her local taco stand — just look for the girl wearing heels and a cat eye — and enlisting the help of her husband to get all her angles.
I Tried Clip-In Bangs & They Looked So Natural, I'll Never Regret Wanting Bangs Again
By Stephanie MontesThe amount of options out there to manipulate the look of your natural hair — tape-in extensions, clip-ins, wigs, faux ponytails, and so many more — is great than you think. As normalized as wearing any type of faux hair has become, there's one…
I Tried Every Product In Lady Gaga's Haus Laboratories & Here's What Went Down
By Stephanie MontesFrom Kylie Cosmetics to Fenty Beauty, there are few celebrities who don't have their name attached to a makeup line. But when I heard Lady Gaga was next in line to release a makeup collection, that hit differently. Since hitting the music scene with…
I Tried Ardell's Magnetic Liner & Lashes & Figured Out A Prime Hack For Easy Application
By Stephanie MontesA wise person once said, "I love the look of thick, full, and super long lashes, but the road to falsies is usually a sticky one." It was me; I said that. I had tried everything to figure out how to apply falsies without the mess or the glue residue…
6 Halloween Makeup Looks That Don't Require Buying An Actual Costume
By Stephanie MontesI do this every year: I start thinking about my Halloween costume by June (at least) and I come up with some really good ideas. But before I know it, it's October and I've already forgotten what I wanted to dress up as. And it always ends days…
I Went To SEPHORiA, Sephora's Huge Beauty Festival, & I've Never Experienced Anything Like It
By Stephanie MontesAs a beauty editor, I'm inundated with beauty products, event invites, and Insta-worthy photo opps to an overwhelming degree. But before I became a writer, I would've killed to try products before they hit stores and rub elbows with the industry…
I Wore Huda Beauty's Life Liner Eyeliner For 2 Days Straight To Test Its 48-Hour Claim
By Stephanie MontesWith my beauty look, I work hard on my cat eye, so there's nothing that upsets me more than seeing my hard work go to waste just hours later when the liner inevitable fades, smudges, or straight up disappears. I've tried at least a hundred eyeliners…
I Got Hair Extensions On My Hairline To "Grow Out" My Bangs After I Didn't Want Them Anymore
By Stephanie MontesTwo months ago, I did The Thing. You know, the thing where I was feeling bored with my hair, and on a whim, I asked my stylist to give me bangs. My friends told me it was only a matter of time before I googled "how to hide bangs," but against my…
I Went Swimming In A Full Face Of Makeup To See If These Products Were *Actually* Waterproof
By Stephanie MontesI live in Los Angeles, so there are two things guaranteed to happen every summer: 1) I'm going to sweat. I'm the type that can even get a little misty during the coldest months, so my makeup usually doesn't stand a chance in 100-degree weather. 2) A…
I Tried 3 Different Sunscreens Under My Makeup To See How They Affected The Look Of My Complexion
By Stephanie MontesI take really good care of my skin, but I'm a makeup junkie first and foremost. While I religiously indulge in at-home facials and am strict about washing my face before bed, my skincare routine comes second to a perfectly beat face. I always opt…
I Got The Full Kim K Wig Treatment From Her Hairstylist & Convinced ALL My Friends It Was Real
By Stephanie MontesWorking in the fashion and beauty industry, my job is all about keeping on top of the latest beauty news — and that includes trying to figure out what color Kim Kardashian's hairstylist is changing her look to on any given day. Know that this is no…
Here's Exactly What To Know When You're Getting Bangs, According To A Hairstylist
By Stephanie MontesWhen it comes to plotting your next haircut, it's normal to come prepared with tons of inspiration in hand, but can you name a worse scenario than walking into a salon with a reference photo and leaving with a look that doesn't suit you at all? With…
YouTuber Molly Burke Is Using Beauty & Fashion To Be The Role Model She Never Had — EXCLUSIVE
By Stephanie MontesWorking in beauty and fashion, I’m surrounded by people who, more often than not, draw beauty inspiration from what they see, both in the famous faces that grace our screens and on social media. However, I recently met one influencer who doesn't…
I Tried Tatcha's The Satin Skin Mist & It Convinced Me To Cool It On Baking My Makeup
By Stephanie MontesA year ago, I baked my makeup for the first time and became obsessed. In case you're not familiar, baking entails applying a thick layer of setting powder over your foundation to set it and keep it oil-free for hours. While you can lightly dust it…
I Tried To Recreate Lily Collins' Met Gala Beauty Look & It Was Surprisingly Easy To Pull Off
By Stephanie MontesOn the heels of Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile's debut, actress Lily Collins stepped out at the Met Gala in a look that brought similar retro vibes from her character to real life. Admittedly, while everyone watched the wicked, evil, and…
These Are The Biggest Swimwear Trends Everyone Will Be Wearing This Summer, According To Lyst
By Stephanie MontesWhen I was a teenager, you could never catch me in a one-piece bathing suit. Back then, Blue Crush was everyone's summer movie anthem, and mismatched two-piece bikinis with extremely tiny, low-rise bottoms sprinkled beaches everywhere. Then, a few…
Kylie Cosmetics Just Announced An Eyebrow Collection, So Get Ready For Most Stunning KyBrows
By Stephanie MontesA little over three years ago, social media royalty and heir to the Kardashian throne Kylie Jenner introduced the world to Kylie Cosmetics. It started with the super popular Lip Kit and has since become a major makeup line, complete with eyeshadows,…
Kiehl's Friends & Family Sale Is About To Have EVERY Single Product On Sale
By Stephanie MontesIf you're anything like me, you have an overflowing medicine cabinet full of almost-empty face creams, old bottles of face wash, and a selection of products you don't really like, but refuse to throw out. I get it! My beauty-hoarder tendencies get…
I Used This Light Therapy Device For A Month & My Freckles Are Disappearing
By Stephanie MontesMy childhood was made up of a whole lot of extracurricular activities and zero sunscreen. I had a schedule packed with mid-day softball games (sometimes two, played back-to-back), where I stood in the blaring sun for hours without sunscreen.…
Trust Me, This Fenty Beauty Sun Stalkr Bronzer Is *So* Much Better Than A Vacation
By Stephanie MontesI (like every other beauty junkie) contour with darker shades of concealer and foundation, but admittedly, I don't use powder bronzers a whole lot. I have tan skin with olive undertones, so I never think to add more color to my complexion. On the…
This Cordless Straightener Is So Good, I Straightened My Hair On An Airplane
By Stephanie MontesEvery time I plan a trip, I have these grand plans to get a blowout and do my makeup before I take off — all in the hope I can arrive at my destination looking all kinds of fabulous. But amidst packing (sometimes minutes before my Uber picks me up),…
