On Thursday, June 26, Shop TODAY hosted our first-ever beauty and lifestyle event to celebrate women of all ages and stages in life. Fellow viewers, fans, TODAY talent, celebrities and more gathered in New York City for a day of information, inspiration and conversations on how to look and feel their best — and now we're pulling back the curtains on this one-of-a-kind experience.
After breakfast, guests made their way to the stage to see TODAY style correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi sit down with Naomi Watts and Cara Kamenev — co-founders of the menopause (and perimenopause) solutions brand, Stripes Beauty. The women spoke about the process of building the brand and Watts talked about some of her own experiences with menopause and the impact of opening up about it and creating solutions for women going through the same thing — even though people had warned her against it.
“It would be a bummer if my career is over, but I feel like if I could make a difference to one person ... then that is the kind of purpose I’m looking for in my life,” Watts shared.
In fact, when Roberts Rassi asked Watts what her favorite stage of life was so far, she quickly answered that it was her 50s. (The one she'd never go back to? Her 20s.)
"Midlife is not a crisis, it's a celebration. And you are hotter than ever — yes, that could mean hot flashes, fine. But you are also hotter than ever," Kamenev shared with the crowd.
As for when she feels her hottest, Watts said, “When I get out of the bath, my temperature is up and I’m ready, I feel most in my body. I love to dance, that makes me feel hotter than ever, intimate conversations ... and who doesn’t love a little sexy vacation where you can just forget about where you are and all the struggles in life?"
Next up, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry moderated a conversation with behavioral sleep medicine specialist Dr. Shelby Harris, integrative medicine physician Dr. Taz Bhatia and assistant clinical professor of medicine and rheumatology at NYU Langone, Dr. Natalie E. Azar. Between debunking common health myths — including how much beauty sleep you should really be getting (between seven to nine hours) and how gut health plays into menopause — and answering audience questions (like what even is GLP-1?), The Docs Are In panel became a doctor's appointment you didn't want to miss.
After a sunny lunch break out on the terrace, attendees stopped by Shop TODAY’s Brand Bazaar to explore top beauty, wellness and lifestyle brands through a variety of on-site activations — including a manicure bar, dry blowouts and a skin analysis.
Then, guests got to hear an inspiring conversation with brand founders Laura Geller of Laura Geller Beauty and Julissa Prado of Rizos Curls, moderated by TODAY lifestyle and commerce contributor Jill Martin, where they discussed everything from the perfect curly girl hair care routine to turning pain into purpose — you can be sure we were taking plenty of notes!
Our editorial director, Adrianna Brach, sat down with superstar moms, including model and Covey co-founder Emily DiDonato, beauty expert Julee Wilson and Shop TODAY Lifestyle & Fashion Contributor Melissa Garcia, to get real about the many highs and lows of motherhood and how they navigate it all in the age of social media. One of our favorite moments was hearing from each of them about how motherhood influenced their careers — and how they make time for each.
“Being a mom is just being generally a much more intentional person,” DiDonato said. “I think it just forces you to prioritize, in the most intense way possible. And I think that becoming a mom has at least allowed me to be a bit more cutthroat about what I choose to use my time on, whether that be work, activities, people. I feel like I’m a bit more allowed to be like, ‘No, and that’s not worth my time or my energy.’”
Garcia, whose kids are in their teens and early adulthood, stressed that what works for one mom may not work for another, but for her, checking in with her kids is an important aspect. “I ask them, ‘Am I present enough for you right now? Is there something I could have done better as a mom? I make mistakes, I’m human, I’m going to make mistakes. How could I have done that differently?’ And they’ll be honest. Like, they will tell you. And listen to them, even if you don’t agree with them, their perspectives are truly what they’re perceiving, so I really try to make sure that I’m present for those moments, even if it’s those small moments, you know, that you don’t think are important, like driving them to their friend’s house or are those little things really wind up being the big things.”
To that, Wilson responded, “You’re brave. I’m not asking them, I do not want to hear the answer.” Wilson added, “Balance is not a word I use, because I don’t have it, I tell people it’s non-existent for me … it’s a constant hustle. I’m constantly going, going, going because I want to make them proud, right? I want to make sure that they one day [say] ‘My mom’s a bad***’"
But as for her secret to how she manages to keep up with everything? “Jesus and tequila.”
We loved hearing reality star Kristin Cavallari's open and honest conversation with TODAY style editor Bobbie Thomas. She spoke about being the founder and CEO of Uncommon James and Uncommon Beauty, raising three kids, hosting a podcast and so much more. She kept it real while answering audience questions about everything from navigating complicated family relationships to how to support friends going through divorce and how she maintains her identity outside of being a mom.
"It is really hard," Cavallari said. "Because I pretty much always worked, that was sort of my little identity that I could keep, but it’s [about] finding time, making time, leaning on people, even asking a friend to watch your kids for an hour so you can go get your nails done. The little things that make you feel like you and bring you happiness, I think are really important."
Cavallari has been in the public eye from a young age, so naturally, one audience member was curious about how she’s managed to remain so open and honest, even with everything that life has thrown at her, and she had the perfect response.
“Change never scared me, which I think is probably the biggest thing. I always knew that with change, good things could happen." She continued, "As I continue to get older, I hope to continue to evolve, but I’ve just always known how to be me — that’s it. I’ve never known how to put on a show or go on a TV show with an agenda. I’ve just always gone into every situation just being me, and I’m like, you can love me or hate me, but that’s OK.”
We couldn't have imagined a better way to wrap our day of inspiring conversations than with actress and Homecourt founder Courteney Cox. She spoke about her favorite "Friends" moments (like all of us, she's a fan of the Thanksgiving episodes), the time she played piano with Elton John (of course, it was "Tiny Dancer") and how she creates community in Los Angeles — a city where it can feel like everyone lives so far away.
“I want people to feel at home at my house. That’s really, really important to me," says Cox. She ties this desire back to her grandmother, who hosted family gatherings every Sunday evening while growing up in Alabama. But Cox has adopted her own ways to carry on this tradition with a few new rules. First, that any guest can bring a plus one, as Cox subscribes to the idea that a friend of a friend is a friend of mine. Second, that guests aren't expected to bring anything — Cox provides the good food, often times from her wood-burning pizza oven, and good drinks. And third, she practices what she calls "scent-scaping," or filling each room with a different candle so that the scents (like her signature scent, Cece) flow through her home in a complementary way.
We ended the day with a happy hour featuring wine from Avaline and custom cocktails. Guests of all stages of life mingled over food and drinks and met new friends who had come from all across the country, from California to Texas!
What is Shop TODAY Stages?
Shop TODAY Stages is a one-day beauty and lifestyle event in New York City, hosted by Shop TODAY. The event featured panel conversations with TODAY talent and editors, as well as experts and celebrity guests of all ages and stages. Breakfast, lunch and evening cocktails were provided.
Who Attended Shop TODAY Stages?
We had a slate of celebrities, brand founders, TODAY talent, dermatologists and more lined up to share their wisdom and expertise with you. Our audience was filled with viewers, readers and familiar faces like Vicky Nguyen, Siri Daly and more. See the complete list of guests below.
Celebrities and Brand Founders
- Courteney Cox, Actress and Co-Founder of Homecourt
- Naomi Watts, Actress, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Stripes Beauty
- Kristen Cavallari, TV Personality, Founder and CEO of Uncommon James and Uncommon Beauty
- Emily DiDonato, Model and Co-Founder of Covey Skincare
- Cara Kamenev, President of Stripes Beauty
- Laura Geller, Founder of Laura Geller Beauty
- Julissa Prado, Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls
TODAY Talent and Editors
- Jill Martin, TODAY Lifestyle and Commerce Contributor
- Bobbie Thomas, TODAY Style Editor and Author
- Zanna Roberts Rassi, TODAY Style Correspondent
- Adrianna Brach, Shop TODAY Editorial Director
- Julee Wilson, Beauty Expert
Doctors and Experts
- Dr. Michelle Henry, Board-Certified Dermatologist and TODAY Contributor
- Dr. Shelby Harris, Licensed Psychologist and Board-Certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine
- Dr. Taz Bhatia, Integrative Medicine Physician and Certified Nutritionist
- Dr. Natalie Azar, Rheumatologist and NBC News Medical Contributor
- Dr. Dendy Engelman, Board-Certified Dermatologist and RoC Skincare Ambassador
- Gina Edwards, Celebrity Manicurist and Morgan Taylor Ambassador
What Did Guests Go Home With?
Each Stages ticket-holder left the event with an exclusive, curated giveaway bag filled with Shop TODAY-approved beauty and lifestyle essentials.
General Admission Giveaway Bag
Those with General Admission tickets received a bag of 39 products, valued at over $1,300 — that's eight times more than the cost of a single ticket!
Inside the bag was an incredible assortment of products from beloved brands, such as BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Blonzer, Beachwaver B-Series Curling Iron, Josie Maran Sugar and Argan Oil Body Scrub and Whipped Body Butter, BlenderBottle Shaker Tumbler, Merit Shade Slick Lip Oil, Nest Votive Candle, Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump and Lights, Camera, Action 4-in-1 Mascara and so much more.
VIP Admission Giveaway Bag
VIP ticket-holders received a total of 53 products, which included all items on the General Admission list, as well as a VIP-exclusive selection. This bag was valued at more than $1,700 — over six times the cost of entry!
In addition to the items above, VIP attendees found Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, Owala 32-Ounce FreeSip Water Bottle, Kendra Scott Gold-Plated Huggie Earrings, Fenty Travel-Size Start’r Set with Mineral SPF, Kistch Hair Perfume, Vera Bradley Large Pouch, Westman Atelier Lip Shape Lip Liner, Tymo Iconic Mini, the Necessaire Body Essentials Mini Kit and more.
For more information on our brand sponsors, visit the Shop TODAY Stages website.
What Activations Were There?
In addition to panel conversations and product giveaways, Shop TODAY Stages featured a number of beauty and lifestyle activations to help guests make the most of their days. For the beauty mavens, there was a John Frieda styling bar where guests were treated to a pre-weekend blowout, as well as a manicure bar led by celebrity manicurist Morgan Taylor and sponsored by Nail Alliance. Additionally, Visia offered an in-depth skin analysis, giving people a deeper look into their skin health (and revealing their skin age), which was provided by RoC Skincare. Anyone looking for a new pair of sneakers was treated to a 3D foot scan from Fleet Feet, where experts helped our guests find their proper shoe fit and gave them a coupon to grab a new pair of Asics. But that's not all! Think: a shade matching session with Laura Geller, a photo booth provided by Leesa Mattress and more.
What Was Included With Tickets?
There were two ticket varieties, VIP Admission and General Admission. For complete details on both ticket options, see below.
VIP Admission
- All-day Programming: Guests got the opportunity to hear from our TODAY talent and contributor-led panels featuring experts and special guests.
- Food & Beverages: We savored fresh meals and refreshing drinks from some of our favorite brands throughout the event.
- Access to the Shop TODAY Brand Bazaar: Guests explored and sampled top products and experiences from Shop TODAY’s most beloved brands.
- Giveaway Bag: Everyone took home a curated bag of premium giveaways from our gifting sponsors worth more than the price of your ticket!
- Cocktail Hour: We closed out the day by joining us on the terrace at sunset for a cocktail hour and light bites.
- VIP Treatment: Expedited priority check in and reserved priority seating was available to our VIPs.
General Admission
- All-day Programming: Guests got the opportunity to hear from our TODAY talent + contributor-led panels featuring experts and special guests.
- Food & Beverages: We savored fresh meals and refreshing drinks from some of our favorite brands throughout the event.
- Access to the Shop TODAY Brand Bazaar: Guests explored and sampled top products and experiences from Shop TODAY’s most beloved brands.
- Giveaway Bag: Everyone took home a curated bag of premium giveaways from our gifting sponsors worth more than the price of your ticket!
- Cocktail Hour: We closed out the day by joining us on the terrace at sunset for a cocktail hour and light bites.
