wanting mor2

mori’m not sure i could do these lip delights the justice that their creator, mor cosmetics has done:

“brightly colored tins, filled with delectable glosses, beckon to be sampled like sweet confections. kaleidoscopes of colour, like the plume of the regal peacock, recall bollywood nights and harmonious fantasy. like music to the mouth, the sheerest of sheens provides rich indulgence for lips that dream of being quenched.”

whew! quite the sexy intro.

enticing flavors include french vanilla, blood orange, peach nectar, honeysuckle, sorbet, passionflower, violetta, green tea, lychee flower, rosebud, apples, and cassis noir. each one comes individually packaged in its own romantic antique tin and inside lies a light, nongreasy glossy balm perfect for taking part in your nighttime ritual. (and one of these tins looks adorable on the nightstand!)

i’m a big fan of unique, lesser known brands and i love pulling out a pretty product for my besties to ooh and ahh over. that being said, i’m absolutely dying to stick one of these in every coat pocket i’ve got for whenever this dc humidity finally turns to wicked winter.

want your own? there are currently six flavors of mor lip delight available on hello gorgeous.

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BE swirls, taps & buffs its way back into my routine0

matte
it all started with bare escentuals. my makeup obsession, that is. one infomercial, a starter kit under the christmas tree, and i was gone. lost in the world of silky soft brushes, jars of all shapes and sizes, and a hopeless addiction never to be cured. alas, things between BE and i ended rather suddenly, and on a bad note, when i developed a horrible allergic reaction to one of its key ingredients, bismuth oxychloride. as did many other women, i would come to learn. i turned to an expensive substitute which has worked wonders but has never been easy on the wallet.

well, fellow former BE followers rejoice, because CEO leslie blodgett and her team of scientific wizards have found a way to formulate the beloved BE without the dreaded bismuth. the newly introduced bare escentuals matte is made without the chemical which gave the original version its sheen. matte is extra gentle but still includes the skin-loving benefits we come to expect from BE (spf 15, flawless finish thanks to pore minimizing minerals, and protection from environmental damage).

they’ve also improved the packaging to alleviate the frustrations of the open sifter. as all loyal BE fans can attest, the foundation literally takes over you life, ending up all over your makeup bag, drawer, car, you name it. the new “click, lock, go” feature eliminates leaks and spills. so BE is back in a big way and just in the nick of time, as i’ve recently hit bottom with my halo.

will you give new bare escentuals spf15 matte foundation a swirl?

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olivina napa valley0

olivina
today i bring you a skincare line inspired by california wine country. i can’t think of anything much for fabulous than that! each product is bursting with all natural botanicals (like olive, lavender, fig, and meyer lemon) and is formulated without chemicals and preservatives. olivina is simple, gentle, effective and truly GREEN. products range from gorgeous boxed bath soaps to body butter, bubble bath, scrubs, and the most amazing hand creme ever created.

our friends at beautyhabit are running a gift promotion to receive a free travel hand & body wash in classic olive with $40 pruchase. not sure what to buy? if you’re new to the brand, i suggest the travel kit or anything from the subtly citrus new meyer lemon range. happy shopping! and be sure to let us know what you try.

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solid.1

scrub
our ever-popular friends at lush have revolutionized skincare yet again with the release of two solid sugar scrubs. these little domes are tightly packed grains of sugar perfect for targeting knees, elbows, cellulite, you name it! at first glance, i had hoped they’d be less delicate and more apt for multiple uses, but alas lush recommends one per shower (though, you can definitely break it up into pieces for at least 2-3 scrubbings). sugar babe, on the left, is made of fair trade sugar, mimosa blossom, extra virgin coconut oil & ylang ylang. on the right is vegan sugar scrub teeming with fennel, ginger, and lavender. i recommend stocking up on either at $4.95.

may the skin glowing commence!

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a summer scent that sticks0

crazystick-colognemy all-time most favorite scentmaster, crazylibelulle & the poppies, has proved its brilliance yet again. the whimsical creator of these babies brings us the first eau de cologne in a solid stick! isn’t the package simply stunning? all vintagey and romantic touting my beloved mom’s birthday, nonetheless. pop the top and things get even better inside, revealing the quintessential scent for summer: soft notes of orange, plum, rose, and peach for a truly sexy combination that won’t overwhelm. fans of crazysticks will happily notice a newly transparent and smooth formula that’s a bit less waxy than previous ‘sticks. i believe c & the p have really outdone themselves on this one. can it be that a $16 solid can take the place of my luxury signature? time will tell!

june 26th, ile d’yeu comes online any day now, but in the meantime, dash over to our besties at beautyhabit and receive an adorable free tote with any crazylibelulle & the poppies purchase!

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royal highness0

ombre
every once in awhile a product strikes me that is so gorgeous, so unbelievably charming that i want to buy it and then hide it away untouched. guerlain has taken my breath away with this gold and champagne laced eyeshadow palette inspired by the dresses worn by russian princesses. it’s rich and enchanting, super luxurious, and stunningly pigmented. muted orange, brick red, old rose, and aubergine create an intense combination designed to bring out the clarity of all eye colors. guerlain’s shadows are velvety smooth and perfectly applied with the sculpted brushes included in the black lacquer compact. at $58, this quad is an investment, but perhaps one that’s worth the splurge!

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you spoil me, ted0

tedgibson
i’ve got one of those magical friends. you may know the kind i mean. she does big brand beauty PR in The City and showers me in the goodness of her clients’ amazing products. on a recent visit, she gifted me the daily duo up above. truth be told, i’ve always been a drugstore shampoo & conditioner kind of girl, but ted’s got me converted. first of all, his trademark scent is wild orchid which makes my hair smell heavenly! daily cleanse shampoo adds silk proteins for shine and silicone for strength & shape creating your best hair yet. daily nourish conditioner follows suit leaving hair so soft and smooth, increasing elasticity to reduce breakage. while the pair costs nearly $50, i will say that i can get away with using lots less for better results. so while my first round was on the house, it’s safe to say i will most definitely reinvest because my hair has never looked or felt better!

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tarte lifted + too faced absolutely flawless1

i love a product that works overtime. you know, serves its purpose but has a little something extra to go the distance and really knock my socks off. this glossarie post honors two such wunderkinds of the beauty market that are sure to earn a spot in your makeup treasure trove.

lifted

up above is new lifted by tarte, a natural eye primer that’s clinically proven to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. it locks your shadow in place while lifting your lids, tightening and smoothing. not only has tarte created a natural way to grab onto my favorite pigments but they’re solving my mid-20’s crease crisis?! three words: sign. me. up.

herbal

so now that we’ve got your eyelids covered, let’s chat about that ever sensitive undereye area that just loves to get puffy and dark circle-y (at least, i know mine does). too faced has created absolutely flawless, a soothing, therapeutic herbal eye concealer. it feels refreshing and cools the skin instantly waking up tired eyes and creating a base to keep makeup lasting all day. the formula color corrects and blends easily so you can fake eight hours even if you saw the sun rise.

so tarte and too faced make it possible to party on a school night and skip the eye cream! you can thank them later.

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game. set. perfect match!0

Pomegranate Balmer

did you watch the amazing tennis this weekend? i was on the edge of my seat during the gents’ final but it’s the ladies of the court who never cease to amaze me. is there nothing those williams sisters can’t do? serena williams has recently announced her own active beauty line to be sold on qvc. serena worked with the dermalogical wizards at mission skincare to create a full range of products from body butter to scrub, facial cleanser to lip smacking spf 15 balmers in flavors like pink lemonade and pomegranate (above). each product is loaded with tons of vitamin-y goodness for all to enjoy, even if our overhand serve leaves much to be desired. keep an eye out for serena’s product launch on july 23rd & 24th and, as always, be sure to let us know if you score any of her new stuff!

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namaste0

crisp champagne
so, here’s a little something you might not know: this beauty blogger is newly engaged(!). it’s thrilling, don’t get me wrong, but boy is it ever just the teensiest bit (ok, it’s insanely) stressful. it’s as if people actually think my engagement ring came complete with its own wedding date. you know, kind of like one of these guys with a birth certificate. not so, my lovelies. not even close. so to de-stress and remain sane, i’ve been keeping close company with a delightful crisp champagne scented pedestal candle from voluspa. it’s both fitting for the occasion (bubbly, wedding, you get the idea) and i swear it goes right to my head calming my frazzled pre-bridal nerves. i only wish i could burn it at my work desk without my fellow cubicle mates thinking i’m nuts. and whilst it’s not totally beauty related, mental health is of the utmost importance as the source of one’s inner glow.

now tell me, beauties, how do you keep calm and carry on?

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