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A Day in the Life

Paintbox Founder Eleanor Langston

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As an editor for a host of magazines, from Cosmopolitan to Self, Eleanor Langston spent over a decade covering the insider beauty scene—and the enviable nail designs at runways shows the world over. Which led, naturally, to the inevitable question: Why aren't these manicures available to the rest of us out in the real world? Back then, nail-salon service was divided into the same-old, same-old, or kitsch. No one was making nail art cool and modern.

Langston decided to do something about it.

In 2014, she launched Paintbox, now a New York-based nail studio with its own line of chic polish, including the "Power Couple" series of complementary colors for a fool-proof mani with a high fashion quotient. To celebrate her latest outpost, on 20 East 69th Street, Langston recently launched a special Uptown Collection of colors and nail designs in collaboration with 10 neighboring brands, from The Mark Hotel to our friends over at La Ligne to—you guessed it—Veronica Beard.

Starting today you can shop the collection at all our stores nationwide and, for the New Yorkers in the audience, we have a lucky treat for you: Stop by our Madison Avenue, Greene Street or Americana Manhasset locations on Saturday, February 29th, from 1 PM to 4 PM, and you'll receive a free Paintbox manicure featuring the exclusive VB design seen here.

And to learn how this powerhouse female entrepreneur—who did the career pivot, much like the Veronicas—does it all, keep reading. Langston takes us through her busy day, from sunrise to sunset to… her myriad manicure moods.

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In the Morning

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You start the day by…
Coffee first always, hanging with my two boys (7 and 4), sometimes New York Pilates or Forward Space, and a quick meditation with Naturopathica essential oils.

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Your morning routine…
Daily Harvest for breakfast (love their oat bowls and smoothies!), and I always take my youngest son to school while my husband takes my oldest son. For beauty, I air-dry my hair overnight so I quickly add in loose waves with a curling iron. For makeup—I swear by the power of brows, so I fill them in with Benefit brow pencil, add in Kosas eye shadow with Marc Jacobs eyeliner in my waterline, and then finish with IT Cosmetics CC cream.

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How do you decide your outfit for the day?
It totally depends on how far I’ll be walking—I’m usually in dark jeans, loose blouses, and then booties with a slight heel.

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And how do you decide on your mani color-combo and/or pattern?
Oh—my mood is always changing! I rotate with foils, glitters, mattes, and metallics, but I almost always have a design with negative space to elongate my nails. I’ll seriously try any color and love experimenting with Paintbox manicure—they give me more confidence instantly!

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During the Day

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What's in your bag?
Cuticle oil, Glossier coconut Balm Dotcom, Nars concealer, laptop, AirPods, YSL sunglasses, and Coola lip balm with SPF. Also, I have a wheel of all the Paintbox nail-polish colors that will be launching in 2020—so exciting.

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What's a typical day at work like?
Usually a morning networking breakfast, meeting with Mabelyn Martin, our creative director, to go over nails for the year (we shoot 350 nails once a year so we have mini deadlines to make this happen), writing content for our blog, website, and marketing e-blasts, brainstorming photography direction for our street-style shoots, picking selects from past shoots, and then off to pick up my boys and hang as a family.

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Favorite part about your job…
Our team is truly the best in the biz, and they all inspire me daily! I love having a positive work atmosphere, as well as bringing confidence and self-expression to women via nails. It’s so rewarding to see the connections that form at our studios with our clients and artists, as well as watching women step outside their comfort zones with their manicure colors and designs.

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When you need an afternoon pick-me-up…
An extra coffee or a funfetti cookie from Gasoline!

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In the Evening

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Your nighttime routine…
Usually family dinner (out or in) and then I chill by watching TV (Bachelorette, Catastrophe, Working Moms, Unbelievable—all recent faves) or reading (into Carole Radziwill’s What Remains now). I slather on Drunk Elephant Protini and try to be in bed by 10 PM every night.

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Bedtime rituals…
Reading or watching mindless TV, like SNL.

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And what gets you motivated to start it all over the next day?
My family and my team! I’m endlessly inspired by color theory in our world, and I always am thinking about new creative ideas. My family drives me to be the best person I can be, and I want Paintbox to grow and reach even more women to bring them confidence.

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Reminder: You're getting an extra day of pampering on Leap Day, 2/29. Stop by any Veronica Beard store in New York, from 1 PM to 4 PM, for complimentary Paintbox manis!

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Discover More on VB Edit

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