luxe & organic: Vapour Organic Beauty

hello beauties!

as another month is coming to a close {yikes, this month flew by!} and the spring season slowly blooms, i'm excited to share some gorgeous products from Vapour Organic Beauty i've been using over the past several weeks.

lovely and luxe, each of these products not only make you look good, but are also made with organic ingredients so they're good for you!

oh, and just as a little pop culture/celeb side note, Jessica Alba recently gushed over a few of these products...

the first product i have to share is Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation {swatched below with and without a flash}. the shade sent to me for this review is a tad too dark, but worked gorgeously as a liquid bronzer thanks to its natural skin luminizers. the finish is dewy and pretty, the formula feels light, and {when used as a foundation} is buildable so you can add more product to places that you may require more coverage.

creating flawless skin typically requires a concealer, and for this the Beauty Illusionist is fabulous. it easily covers imperfections, blending away dark spots and blemishes and is housed in a sleek tube, making it purse and travel-friendly.

Luxe Organic Lip Conditioner treats lips with jojoba seed, beeswax and coconut oils. one of my new lip-loving faves, i like to apply this when i begin my makeup application. by the end of it, my lips are soft and ready for whatever lip color i choose to apply. one to try...Siren Lipstick.

another lippie standout is the Elixer Plumping Gloss. of course, let's be honest, my lips aren't in need of plumping, but i simply j'adore this gloss! the non-stinging formula contains antioxidants, lip-loving skin-hydrators and has a gorgeously glossy, not-too-sticky finish. the shade pictured is called Vivid, a stunning fuchsia with silver flecks.

let's not forget the eyes! Vapour Organic Beauty's Mesmerize Eyeliner & Smoky Eye Tool applies and blends beautifully. whether i used it to create a defined cat-eye or {with help from the built-in smudger} a glamorous, smoked-out finish, the result lasted for hours and never irritated my eyes.

be sure to visit Vapour Organic Beauty's website for more info on these products. find them on facebook & follow the brand on twitter!

products sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

video: how to get the perfect salon manicure at home

doing my own manicures at home not only saves me money {and since i like to change my polish 2-3 times a week, i guess you could say a lot of money}, but is a way for me to relax, pamper myself and end up with a result i'm more than happy with...

these days nail polish is like lipgloss, a must-have, low-cost beauty indulgence that makes it easy to change up your look. but if you're not confident in your diy mani skills, i have something for you...

this video from Mary of A Love Tart was brought to my attention by my blogging friend, Ashley, who herself is a nail polish lover {butter london and deborah lippmann are among her fave brands} and gives herself amazing manicures frequently...

so of course, i had to pass this on!

this tutorial features splendid tips, tricks and product recommendations {CND Stickey, Seche Vite and Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover are all featured, and happen to be my personal faves} to teach you how to give yourself a better-than-salon manicure. this is a must-see, beauties!!

enjoy and leave a comment to share your thoughts...



p.s., Mary mentions in this video how to do a post-manicure clean-up on cuticles ~ check it out here! :)

pic taken by me :)

currently loving...the website edition

there are so many things to love when it comes to beauty, fashion and lifestyle. from new collections and collaborations, to the latest color palettes and design ideas, there's so much online to see and read and it's so inspiring...

at the same time, i confess, it sometimes overwhelms me. just the mere thought of all the info that exists on one lone topic out there is beyond my imagination! sometimes i find myself thinking, why didn't i think of doing that?, or i wish my blog was more like xyz's, and when i do, i have to take a step back...

in doing this, i allow myself to either unplug completely or limit my time online. blogs and websites are to be enjoyed; exploring and appreciating {rather than comparing myself to} what others have to share, makes for a better blog/website visit.

if you're a blogger {or any other creative type for that matter}, you know what i mean, right? :)

we all have something fabulous to share and can all contribute our view of the the things we love and want to talk about.

{i love this fun hairstyle...find out how to do it yourself }

all of this rambling is to say that the following are just a handful of sites that share fabulous style & beauty inspiration, encourage creativity and celebrate the beautiful things in life that we all find pleasure in...

please visit them very soon and enjoy!!

The Glitter Guide {i also j'adore the site's founding editor, Taylor Sterling's blog, Sterling Style
79 Ideas
Lace & Tea
Houzz.com
The Beauty Department
A Girl, A Style
Beeyond Yoga
Design Seeds

tell me: what are some of your favorite blogs and websites to visit?

image source; hair image source

nail color of the week: L'Oreal Owl's Night

this week i dressed my nails in a fabulous shade i purchased last year from the L'Oreal Project Runway collaboration, Owl's Night.

this dark olive green nail polish is loaded with gorgeous gold, rust and green micro-glitter and is a dream to apply. i love this deep shade ~ it's perfect for the current chilly-weather season and will be a daring color to rock when it begins to warm up!

what nail color are you wearing this week?

pic taken by me :)

skincare fave: Kate Somerville Daily Detox Cleanser

if you're looking for a refreshing cleanser that will leave your skin looking fabulous, i highly recommend you consider one that has quickly become my favorite: Kate Somerville Daily Detox Cleanser.

full of yummy ingredients {phytic acic, salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids} to gently exfoliate and detox skin, Daily Detox also washes away dirt, oil and makeup, and nourishes skin without stripping it of essential moisture. the tangerine-citrus scent makes me oh-so happy, and because it's concentrated, a little goes a long way!

for more info and to order Kate Somerville Daily Detox Cleanser, visit katesomerville.com

product featured sent to me for review consideration; pic taken by me :)

Banana Republic Mad Men spring '12 collection

to add to my extreme excitement over the fact that Mad Men is finally returning this month {march 25th ~ mark your calendars!}, Banana Republic has once again collaborated with the show's costume designer, Janie Bryant, to create a new collection for spring 2012.

Simon Kneen, Banana Republic's creative director says, "spring delivers a whole new palette and gave us an excuse to draw from different scenes and wardrobe from the show as inspiration. Janie's perspective was invaluable in helping us create a collection that is both chic and modern, while remaining true to the aesthetic of the 1960s era."

everything from clothing to accessories is included in this 60's country club-inspired collection. the women's line features lovely color and floral prints in each lady-like piece: dresses nipped in at the waist, full and pencil skirts, capri pants and cardigans; the men's line offers pants, bold-color polo shirts, argyle vests and blazers.

the Mad Men collection is now available in stores and online at bananarepublic.com.

what do you think?

images courtesy of banana republic; source