we’re halfway through this week (hooray!) and i have got two birchbox posts to share with you. click through and enjoy:
pretty for a penny: drugstore skincare
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bloggin’ for birchbox (again!): what’s on my desk1
it’s no secret that i love birchbox. for gifting, new product discovery, or just a little monthly self indulgence, no beauty box subscription program holds a candle to their brands, service, and style. i’m thrilled to be guest blogging over on the birchbox blog all week. it’s one of my daily reads and today i’m taking a stab at one of my favorite series, “what’s on the birchbox staffers’ desks.” click on over to see the four products currently in the glossarie test kitchen and what i think of them so far!
leila lou perfume oil19
invoking reactions of the beauty nature from mr. glossarie can be near impossible, so when i get so much as a “why do you smell so good?!” i know i’ve got something blog worthy on my hands (well, more literally, dabbed on my wrists).
meet the adorably sweet and simple leila lou by rosie jane cosmetics. i’m completely hooked on this perfume oil with its notes of pear blossom, fresh-cut grass, and tangerine. i never remember to wear perfume, but i’ve been religiously rolling this scent on my wrists in the mornings and smiling whenever i catch a waft of it throughout the day. it’s that good. there’s something innocent and romantic about the blend and it’s absolutely perfect for summer. the fragrance oil has become a fast favorite because i find that they last longer on me, but i’ll fill you in on a little secret:
i’ve been spritzing the eau de toilette on my mane message hair ties and headbands. it’s a genius way to wear a hint of fragrance (whether they’re on your wrist or in your hair) – even while working out! the cotton elastic grabs onto the scent and keeps me smelling subtly sweet. why didn’t i think of this sooner?
all in all, it’s a love for me.
if you’ve just got to have a little leila lou in your life, you can shop the line here.
faded floral manicure6
the blog and i are not friends at the moment.
i took it upon myself to completely change up my skincare routine over the last 72 hours (for the sake of research, of course) and i think the new product that i added to the routine yesterday morning COMPLETELY FREAKED THINGS OUT. my face resembles that of a newborn at the peak of baby acne. (got that visual in your head? it is. not. pretty.) it’s covered in tiny raised bumps from hairline to chin and they are super itchy.
:(
while i attempt to calm things down and identify the culprit, i’m going to use my time hiding from society wisely and master some nail art. i loved this tutorial from last week on the beauty department and water color florals are probably my favorite seasonal spring trend. the best part is that this particular technique is far less about precision than most other nail art projects (a big win for those of us with unsteady hands!). plus it’s the prettiest one i’ve seen.
i’m using essie marshmallow and watermelon fingers / seafoam swirl / orange solar from the kate spade travel nail polish set to get the look.
what do you think?
ps – make sure to enter my thank you giveaway! there is so much beauty booty up for grabs.
thank you + beauty product giveaways galore!152
the allure contest winner was announced yesterday and the grand prize went to shannon of gloss & dirt. i just wanted to take a minute and thank all of you for all of your time spent voting (so much voting! no more captcha codes :)), tweeting, and facebook sharing the contest over the last five weeks. i really appreciate all of the support and i truly feel the love.
i had a blast being a part of the contest and i’m still completely thrilled that allure took notice of me and the glossarie. i adore writing this blog and having you as my readers makes me feel so lucky! i wanted to do a little something for all of you, so i tapped into the glossarie archives and chose some amazing products for a crazy fun giveaway.
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stephanie johnson mini pouch in malibu royal
stephanie johnson mini pouch in palm springs mint
bite beauty high pigment matte pencil in bramble
trish mcevoy thickening mascara in jet black
physicians formula hydrating eye cream
super by nicholas perricone crinkle eraser firming serum
topshop lips in rio rio
cargo eyebronzer
revlon photoready airbrush mousse makeup in medium beige
revlon photoready concealer in medium
sheswai nail lacquer in babe
any and all of the above are up for grabs! to enter, just leave a comment below (please be sure to include your email address, open to u.s. residents only) with the product you would like to win. you may enter multiple times, but please only once per product. the giveaway closes next thursday, june 7th at midnight your time, and i will announce all of the winners next friday!
i hope you have a fabulous weekend. i’ll be back + blogging for birchbox all next week!
Posted in lara
Tagged bite beauty, cargo cosmetics, physicians formula, revlon, sheswai, stephanie johnson, topshop, trish mcevoy
152 Comments
day to night: lips with bobbi brown10
something about summer’s wicked heat really makes me pare down my makeup routine. i can’t wear a heavy, matte lip color in the humidity or even the opaque gloss that never left my lips all winter. this summer, my mouth is all about bobbi brown and i’ve found the two perfect formulas to keep me looking lovely ’round the clock.
bobbi’s treatment lip shine spf 15 in peach sorbet is my new go-to daytime lip color. the formula is light and moisturizing, depositing just the right kiss of color with ultimate softness. peach sorbet compliments my bronzer and warms up my face in a subtle way and spf 15 keeps my lips protected from the summer sun.
for evenings, bobbi’s lip gloss from her neons and nudes and collection really hits the spot. cosmic pink is my shade of choice and i love the sheer punch of neon color that it delivers. you get a lot of shine without a lot of product and it’s mint-scented. all in all, i find it fresh, light, and non sticky – everything you want in a summer gloss. it goes with everything and won’t wear off while you’re sipping margaritas. so if you’re looking for an intensified tint of pink to don your lips in the warmer months, this is your gloss.
what’s on your lips this summer?
laura geller baby cakes baked blush palette0
when it comes to baked blushes, there is one authority. laura geller has been swirling the perfect shades together for over 20 years and she has created a rainbow of colors to compliment every outfit and perk up any mood. ranging from warm to cool, with names like golden apricot and sunswept, geller has captured my heart with her fresh and lively foursome, baby cakes.
if you seek a comprehensive blush wardrobe and have always wanted to mix up a made-for-you cheek color with the flair of an artist, you need this palette. geller’s shades possess a touch of shimmer, making them famous for infusing radiance, but this collection includes a matte ‘sugar free’ blush that really rounds out the group, making it suitable for all your blushing needs. i’m loving the way that i can tap and swirl my way to a nearly-new shade of blush everyday and geller’s oil-free formula ensures that my cheeks stay flawless, even while sweating in this holiday weekend heat. if you’ve never given laura’s blushes a try, you will fall in love with their creamy texture. and if you’re already under their spell, then this little lineup would make an excellent addition to your collection.
nab laura geller’s baby cakes baked blush palette for $39.75.
ps – it’s here! the last, last, LAST day of voting in the allure beauty blogger of the year competition. i haven’t yet figured out a way to thank all of your for your tweets, emails, facebook shout outs, comments, and most importantly your VOTES over the last five weeks…but i’m going to cook up something fun – i promise. please take a minute to vote one final time today if you can. thank you, thank you, thank you!
poolside pretty2
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hi lovelies! i hope you’re having a gorgeous long weekend. i’ll be lounging at the pool all day with my kindle (currently loaded up with jane eyre – have you read it? slightly ashamed that i’m just getting to it at age 30!) and a collection of summer day essentials that i blogged over at gina’s tulle & combat boots last week. clickety click on over to learn more! (major holiday weekend bonus, just in time for summer: i scored those marc jacobs sunnies for $60 at the nordstrom half yearly sale yesterday.)
ps – the voting ends TOMORROW. i can’t believe my allure adventure is coming to a close. please vote today if you can!
Posted in link roundups, mixed bag
Tagged bumble and bumble, marc jacobs, murad, sonia kashuk, stephanie johnson, tarte, urban decay
2 Comments
dessange paris12
last week, i was invited to dessange paris salon here in dc for a much needed haircut. i met with cesar carvalho, the very warm and welcoming head of pr before my cut. cesar is portuguese, so we talked for awhile about portugal and my inlaws, it all made me crave a visit to lisbon ASAP! after our chat, i was whisked into the chair of samuel rocher, dessange’s new artistic director.
samuel is so sweet and nice, i don’t know how anyone could not smile through one of his haircuts. i found myself grinning ear to ear because the way he cuts hair is almost magical. he hums while he cuts, he’s french and easy on the eyes. does it get much better? he also tells it like it is. his diagnosis for the current state of my hair? sad. his words – and not at all untrue, it was a sad situation.
he sent me back to shampoo where the lovely lady whose name i did not catch (shame on me! i really hate that.) mixed up lotions and potions with the flair of a big city bartender. i was impressed! she applied a rinse-off clay bath to tend to my oily scalp before she shampoo’ed me. it was like my head got a mini spa treatment!
back in samuel’s chair, i was feeling confident, but terrified…however, at the same time, i was ready for a change and i fully trusted him. he walked me through what he was going to do, gauging my bravery and, with my approval, he said “it’s good! new style!” and away he went:
all clients of dessange are treated to a complimentary makeup touch up after their service. i worked with the lovely mona who walked me through dessange’s complete line of product offerings and made me over. more on this soon! but i thought it was a really nice finishing touch offered by the salon – and so fun to sit and play makeup with mona after a dramatic haircut. play up my eyes more she says? oui madame!
i am in love with this haircut. it makes me want to up my game and i feel like my life needs to live up to its expectations. this cut makes me want to shop, it makes me want to hit the gym, i want to bring my style up a notch and really do this chop justice. if you’ve had a haircut this good, you know what i mean. and, dc girls, if you want a haircut this good, get your head of hair to dessange.
ps – three more days to vote! i can’t believe the five weeks of this contest are almost up and i still can’t thank you all enough for your support. please vote today if you can!! xo
keep it pretty: diy manicure bowl4
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my diy manicure skills are gradually improving! i’ve picked up some tricks and finally found the right products to make painting my nails at home a pleasure instead of a chore. i keep everything on my dresser in this zelenka bowl from anthropologie. here are the steps and tools that have boosted my at-home mani confidence:
1. a soft cuticle pusher really makes it easier to paint polish on without making a mess. this $1 version from elf is a no-brainer.
2. a glass nail file smooths and sculpts nails far better than a classic emery board. it’s better for your nails and works so much faster. i’ve been using this $3 one from sephora.
3. a good base coat is crucial to making your mani last longer. i’m loving deborah lippmann ‘fast girls’ – it creates a smooth canvas and i swear it makes application easier. it’s also super quick drying!
4. i like to add a top coat for protection and extra gloss. deborah lippmann umbrella is high-shine and chip resistant.
5. finally, the cleanup. i *always* end up with polish on my cuticles, but there’s a perfect solution: dip the absolute smallest eyeliner brush (or paint brush) into some acetone remover and drag it along your cuticle to get that super clean edge. the result is almost better than what you can get at a spa!
do you have any diy manicure tips and tricks? where do you keep all of your tools?
ps – allure voting is extended through the weekend! if you think of it in between all of that boating and barbecue-ing, please vote, vote, vote!
