i need guerlain's rouge automatique lipstick STAT

The other night after determining that I needed a new lipstick, I concluded that  I had to have Guerlain's Rouge Automatique in Champs Elysees because it was named after one of my favorite streets in Paris. If you contemplate that long enough it makes sense, I promise. Rouge Automatique comes in twenty shades, is housed in a gorgeous gold tube and opens in a Bond-like fashion with one click. Amaze.

I made the mistake of getting on Saks Fifth Avenue's website to purchase it and was met with this: "DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, A CUSTOMER MAY ORDER NO MORE THAN 6 UNITS OF THIS ITEM EVERY THIRTY DAYS"

So do I order my 6 now to be safe?? I am so confused/worried. Then I noticed that ALL of Gurlain's lipsticks are in beautiful containers. Maybe I need Rouge G de Gurlain, a lipstick nestled in a silver case designed by Lorenz Bäumer, a famous French jeweller.

And then there is Kiss Kiss Stick Gloss, a sheer lipstick that comes in 7 very wearable shades and is packaged in yet another fabulous, Art Deco looking container.

To say that I am perplexed would be an understatement. If only they were a bit less expensive (they all run around $30) so that I could just buy all three and be done with it. But I cannot justify that, as much as I have tried. I only need one. .

I guess I'll think about it for a little longer.

who doesn't love love & toast?

As I have mentioned I am a total sucker for cute packaging, so when I first came across Love & Toast I new that we would get along. Not only does the brand have ridiculously cute designs on all of their products, they also refrain from using: parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, mineral oil, propylene glycol, retinol, sulfates, and synthetic color. I would never claim to only use "natural" products, but I do attempt to when they are available and amazing. Love & Toast also does not use ingredients derived from animals, nor do they test on animals.

Did I mention the über-cute packaging?

This is the Clementine Crush Sugar Scrub, a body scrub that smells amaze and is only $10.99. I picked this up at Whole Foods and suggest that you should as well.

I have not tried Love & Toast's shampoo or conditioner, but the bottle is so pretty that I may have to at least have a few on display in my shower. This is the Rich Shampoo with honey and hibiscus. Yum.

A great way to try Love & Toast products is to purchase their Happiness Kit. For $16.99 you can try 10 of their vitamin and mineral rich products. It makes me happy just thinking about it.

 

skincare tips and tricks for fabulous summer skin

I recently had the chance to write a guest post on one of my favorite local fashion blogs, Haute Weekly, regarding summer skincare tips that everyone should consider when the weather gets warmer!

Check out the article here.

pop art gets fragrant: carolina herrera 212 pop

I don't know about you, but I buy my fragrance based on the bottle, not so much the actual smell. Not to say the smell is irrelevant, but if something is going to look fab on my nightstand I will likely give it a whirl..

For that reason (and because it smells great), I may need 212 Pop by Carolina Herrera. The gorgeous pop-art-inspired container makes me think of Exclamation by Coty, a fragrance I wore proudly into the 90s.

Top notes of grapefruit and bergamot that contrast with base notes of musk and sandalwood, perfect for summer. There is also a 212 Men pop if you're looking for a gift for that special someone (and if he won't wear it you can always steal it back).

one minute manicure is a one minute miracle for nails

This is one of my favorite nail products ever. In the winter my cuticles are a mess and my nails start to peel as soon as the temperature dips below 40 degrees. I have done enough manicures in my life to honestly not enjoy sitting in a nail salon for 35 minutes, and at $30 if you have them done monthly that is $360 a year. That is roughly 3 new pairs of shoes. This is where One Minute Manicure comes in. I apply this weekly to my hands and feet, file, apply clear polish, and voilà ~ manicure!

Many similar hand products contain mineral oil because it is less expensive to use (compared to essential oils). Mineral oil does not penetrate the skin though - it just sits on top of the skin. One Minute Manicure contains many essential oils such as walnut, apricot, and jojoba, that penetrate the skin and moisturize. It also contains only Dead Sea salt which has 9 times the mineral content of ocean salt and acts as a natural exfoliant.

It is around $15 for 3oz with shipping. 3oz lasts me about a month, but as I said I use it on my hands and my feet. Larger sizes are available.