sephora microfiber hair turban6

i am terrible at sitting still and even worse at waiting. so it may be no surprise to you that the one part of my beauty routine that causes near agony, has always been waiting for my hair to dry the perfect right amount before i can blow dry. we’re talking 10, maybe 12 minutes in the morning, and it’s misery.

it’s mostly misery because when i make a post-shower hair wrap with our bath towels: a) it hurts my neck whilst i attempt to read email; b) it is almost always guaranteed to prematurely fall apart whilst i make my morning latte and c) it is so heavy that i can literally feel it pulling out the hairs around my forehead whilst i pack my gym bag, make my lunch, etc.

no. bueno.

so off i went looking for a solution and what i found was this microfiber hair turban from sephora. i’m probably the last person on earth to discover this little gem (and i think there are probably about 100 other versions out there), but it is a wonder! you just flip your wet head, twist your hair up in its ultra light microfiber softness, button it at the nape of your neck and multitask AWAY.

after a month of use, the turban has literally changed my hair. i swear that it’s smoother, with less frizz and damage plus those 10-12 minutes of waiting are practically cut in half thanks to some kind of microfiber magic. i’m back to my manic multitasking without neck pain, hair rippage, or balancing act to prevent premature breakdown.

i will use it until forever!

do others suffer my towel-wrap woes? is anyone else a fan of the turban? do tell!

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hello, i missed you!8

i’m happy to report that i’ve returned to the states refreshed and full of european vigor. our trip was seriously amazing and just what the doctor ordered to celebrate our wedding and matching mba’s. and while we saw turkish mosques, roman ruins, and island sunsets, each more spectacular than the next, here are a few of my favorite stops along the way:

organic beauty discovered on santorini – lots of olive oil infused products!

(odd, it looks more like a jewelry store than i recall?)

sephora in mykonos, greece – could i be more excited to spot those black and white stripes!?

the amazing carthusia on the island of capri – apparently i was much more composed and sophisticated at this point in our trip

ok so i’m kind of kidding about those being my favorite spots. i mean, i did actually pose in each one of those places and make husband take my photo, but nothing compares to saint peter’s basilica, istanbul’s hagia sophia, and the breathtaking windmills of mykonos.

all in all it was incredible, but i’m back and ready to sink my teeth into summer. there’s lots of excitement ahead including a little blog redesign (eek!) and a BIG job change for me (more details coming, but i’ve accepted an offer to go work for one of my most favorite brands – pinch me!).

and you? how were your two weeks? what are you looking forward to this summer?

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thursday purseday: nila anthony striped bag2

this one is kind of out of my comfort zone, but something about it has got me a little obsessed? not sure if it’s the pink/green/stripe combo, awesome leather chain handle, or the interior compartments (not to mention cute, cute lining!) that i’m so smitten over.

oh, i know. it’s all that quirky, fun style for the insanely cheery $45 price tag!

you’d have to pair it with a somewhat calm and simple ensemble, but what do you think? am i crazy for loving this little satchel?

the nila anthony striped bag is available at south moon under for $45.

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sonia kashuk beautifying blush2

every once in awhile a drugstore product comes along that beats out its pricey designer rivals. if your cheeks are looking for a little “oomph” but your pockets don’t want to pay a lot of moolah, it’s time you met sonia kashuk’s beautifying blushes. chic round compacts house one of five gorgeously natural, matte shades that give cheeks the perfect flush. each powder is finely milled and rich in pigment so color pay off is amazing. i’m especially in love with flamingo’s childlike pink tint! all in all, this is one of those blushes that applies beautifully and lasts all day, worth every one of the 899 pennies you will spend to get your own.

sonia kashuk’s beautifying blush is available at target for $8.99.

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bobbi brown spf 15 tinted moisturizer oil free6

she’s done it again!

this new oil free tinted moisturizer from bobbi brown showcases a brand new gel-based formula that totally rocks my socks. bobbi created this tube of magic specifically for ladies like moi who’ve got oily skin and i am praising her for creating a perfect product that really delivers.

if you’re going for a look that’s clean and fresh, just a pea sized amount or less glides on with ease and provides soft, sheer coverage with the best staying power i’ve found in a TM. my biggest gripe with other similar products is that they break down by mid-afternoon and i’m left looking super shiny. this one sticks around from your morning routine, through the workday and far into happy hour. you will be amazed!

never one to stop at good enough, bobbi added  skin protecting spf 15 along with vitamins c and e to combat premature aging. this product is a grand slam, blowing all other competition out of the water and will become a quick summertime and year-round essential.

bobbi brown’s spf 15 tinted moisturizer oil free is available online and in stores for $40.

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goof-proof: kiss premium false eyelashes1

i can count the number of times that i’ve worn false lashes on one finger. aside from the fact that i have few glamorous occasions that call for strip falsies, they’re just so darn difficult to apply! beauty brand kiss has heard my (and many other frustrated shaky-handed ladies) cry and attached genius guide strings to their new line of premium eyelashes. those looking for fuller fringe at under $5 will be thrilled at how easy these are to apply – just add adhesive to the top edge, use strings to position exactly at your lash line, give it a few seconds to dry, then slip the strings out.

kiss premium eyelashes are available in nine styles for $3.99 at walgreens and other drugstores.

move over, bambi.

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jack black pure clean daily facial cleanser + intense therapy lip balm2

if the men in your life are not hip to these blue bottles, boy am i about to make you look good.

jack black’s line of men’s skincare and grooming is the best of the best and a husband favorite in my household. their products have all the right stuff to take care of his special manly needs. here are two of our shared favorites:

pure clean daily facial cleanser is the ultimate combination of gentle and effective. this 2-in-1 face wash and toner leaves rugged skin clean, hydrated and fresh. it’s all thanks to ingredients like chamomile and aloe that work especially well for frequent shavers who need a little something to soothe and heal. best of all, at $18 this tube is huge and lasts for eons.

and now onto my personal favorite: intense therapy lip balm. this thick and yummy soother softens to perfection and it’s ultra-moisturizing with spf 25 to protect against those damaging uva and uvb rays. at $7.50 a pop, it packs a ton of relief for dry, chapped lips. bonus? if you stock your man up with any of jb’s five delightful flavors, you can totally steal them when he’s not looking (or heck, just buy them for yourself!). no wonder this one’s a cult fave.

so, now you know jack. go introduce your guy!

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Posted in lips, skin | Tagged | 2 Comments

mouth off: new revlon super lustrous lip balm0

this may be some of the smartest package design that i have seen in a long time. not only has revlon filled the elusive drugstore lip balm gap (which used to be occupied by my favorite l’oreal hip jelly balm, sadly no longer available) but they’ve done it in the most brilliant way.

first, let’s talk color and formula: the watermelon jolly rancher flavored balms come in three shades – peach crystal, pink crystal, and clear crystal (which looks almost blue). all are very sheer with a vaseline-y texture and have the added bonus of spf 15. they don’t pack a lot of punch in the pigment department, but if you’re looking for a sheer glossy gloss, this is it.

the little jar has a flip top lid which i really like (screw tops always end up getting dropped on dirty floors, eww) and revlon also added a tiny lip brush to pop in and out of the lid – SO VERY SMART! why has no one else thought to do this?! i hate applying balm with my fingers but carrying a lip brush around just seems so high maintenance. brilliant stuff, revlon. you have won me over in a big way with this little beauty.

revlon super lustrous lip balm is available at drugstores for around $8 – $10.

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vacanza!5

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for the next two weeks the husband and i will be honeymooning our way through italy, turkey, and greece. while i’m so excited to tour rome and hike around the greek islands, want to know what i’m secretly looking forward to?

popping into the flagship locations for two of my favorite brands! korres (in athens) and carthusia perfumes (on the island of capri). hope the husband doesn’t mind a pretty detour!

i’ve scheduled a handful of posts for you, but in my absence, please visit the following ladies for your daily dose of pretty:

alright beauties, catch you on the flip side of this adventure! i plan to return tanned, refreshed, and inspired.

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thursday purseday: nelle chevron tote2

i stumbled upon nelle when i was investigating clutches as gifts for my bridesmaids and i’ve tried to keep a pretty close eye on what’s coming out of their camp since it typically oozes gorgeousness. they’re even on trend with bows like we discussed earlier this week!

it’s tough to narrow it down when perusing so much pretty, but my thursday purseday pick is this chevron tote (released in december of last year) and i can’t stop thinking about it. the blush on black geometric pattern is made out of ribbon and totally cool. i also die over the leather handles and long shoulder strap. isn’t it so amazing?

the nelle chevron handbag is available online for $190.

link up your thursday purseday finds below!

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