I’ll be testing the new S.W. Basics Hibiscus Mask this weekend. Did you know hibiscus has a reputation as “nature’s Botox?” I have a feeling this one is going to be really good.
RMS’ Buriti Bronzer is on its way! I snatched it up on Spirit Beauty Lounge yesterday because I could not wait ANY longer. Seeing it on Taylor sold me.
I loved Megan’s series on Aster & Bay this week – it’s a “new to me” line of skin care that is natural and affordable.
I got these ankle boots at Target this week. Such a good deal!
The first looks at Chanel’s holiday beauty collection. The platinum bronze Illusion d’Ombre shadow is on my wish list.
Do you use your makeup bag as a clutch? You’ll be inspired to after seeing this.
Green ice cubes? Yeah, my morning smoothies are about to get that much better.
I can’t decide if this Boston Terrier wall mount is creepy or perfect for my living room. What do you think?
Chicago is a shopping destination and beauty boutiques are plentiful. 312 Shops features my favorite places to shop in the city and explores new territory as well. Consider this your guide to Chicago, by way of beauty. If unique and hard-to-find is your flavor, you’re going to love space519.
Tucked away in the Bloomingdale’s building off of north Michigan Ave. is one of my favorite shops in the city, space519. It’s uber-curated with something special for everyone. Men’s and women’s apparel, beautiful jewels, books just screaming for a place on your coffee table, home décor, furniture and…you guessed it, a killer beauty section. The apothecary housed in space519 is well-stocked with organic beauty that you almost never see in brick & mortar locations. Frankly, we need more places like space519 who have a unique POV in the very crowded Magnificent Mile.
Well-stocked RMS display. I picked up the Lip Shine in Sacred during my last visit!
Best.mascara.ever.
It’s really tempting to just order up this entire display
The Look… Not your average boutique, there’s quite a bit of square footage here. It’s open and airy with a modern feel. Products are housed on glass and stainless counters and inside brass cabinetry. Nearly everything is for sale inside – even the furniture, props and art used for décor and merchandising.
My second favorite area of the store
The Brands… Natural beauties, prepare yourself. space519 stocks RMS Beauty, Kjaer Weis, Jin Soon, HippxRGB, ILIA and Rahua. Oh, and that’s just to name a few. There’s also an excellent selection of fragrances to sniff – Strange Invisible, MCMC and Apothia.
I’m obsessed with that light fixture
Accessories tucked around every corner
The Perks… Look for guest appearances of brand owners from time to time. Kirsten Kjaer Weis made an appearance last year and Astro Wifey (a.k.a. her royal nail art highness) is working her genius artwork to create one-of-a-kind manicures one Saturday each month.
The Experience… Take your time here. There’s nothing cookie cutter about this store, so you might find yourself getting lost in a sea of books about Paris and other travels.
This week has been packed to the brim with summer beauty! All of my favorite trends and products that help me feel my prettiest during the summer – beach waves, dewy skin, a flawless faux tan and more. I may have saved the best for last, though. I’m super sweet on RMS Lip Shine in a pink so adorably bubblegum, called Sublime. Doesn’t the look of it just scream summer? RMS, a.k.a. Rose Marie Swift, makeup artist to supermodels everywhere, created a raw-inspired line of organic beauty products and packaged them up uniformly in these frosted glass containers. Everything in her line is filled with nourishing oils that heal and protect skin. Coconut oil is a signature ingredient of hers, and the Lip Shines also contain Moringa Oil to provide extra antioxidant protection for the lips. Sublime feeds the lips with moisture and the color can be what you want. A light app is subtle and just a pinch of pink whereas a heavier blend of product gives you bright, and really shiny, bubblegum lips. Makes for a fresh look, brightening up an otherwise bare face (bronzer aside!) I’ve already made a sizeable dent in my tub of Sublime, which I bought from Birchbox. Redeeming points for products as pretty as this is the best kind of treat!
7 Days of Summer Beauty is officially a wrap! Catch up on the rest here.
Are you ready for eco everywhere today? Honestly, you can’t not love Earth Day. Because even though every day should be eco-minded, every day is not Earth Day. So let’s cheers to the official with a chat about green beauty! Admittedly, I am not 100 percent clean with my beauty routine but I am very ingredient-conscious and the balance is tipping more and more green for me. Especially with skin and body care. There’s no excuse for mineral oil and parabens anymore, ya know? The green beauty industry has majorly upped its game. And many other brands are cleaning up their formulas as well. The paradigm is shifting. In addition to spending some of Earth Day with nature, make it your mission to check out some of my favorite clean products and brands below! An Earth Day clean-up doesn’t necessarily have to be about planting trees and picking up trash…
RMS “Un” Cover-Up. An incredibly effective concealer, made with coconut oil and a blend of cocoa seed butter, jojoba and beeswax. This can be used all over the face on the areas that need a little coverage. Blend with your fingers to warm up the product and watch it melt into your skin. Don’t underestimate the magical powers housed in this tiny little pot. And also don’t fear the oils. Promise! It works wonders (even on oily complexions!)
ILIA Lipstick. The company responsible for making my favorite lipstick. In My Room is my perfect neutral. It’s pinky, with a hint of peach, and enough brown tones to balance it out.
Kahina Toning Mist. I’m in the middle of testing a few Kahina products, and in the process have become reliant on this moisturizing mist. It’s made with more than 90% organic ingredients and smells ever so slightly of roses. It calms skin, tones and replenishes moisture throughout the day. And, 25% of profits of this product are set aside to the women in Morocco who harvest and produce Kahina’s organic argan oil.
Vapour. Oh, just everything from this line. Seriously, it’s one of the best all-around organic beauty lines I’ve tried. Everything is consistently good, and made from organic plant-based ingredients, minerals and vitamins. This foundation rivals many of my “unclean” favs as do the Aura Multi-Use Blushes. Oh, and I adore the Siren Lipstick in ‘Au Pair’ — it’s definitely getting some use this spring as I can’t enough of rosy pinks.
Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm.A brand I’m interested in getting to know more of, based on my positive experience with the Freedom Glow in ‘Blushed’ – a super hot pink that is sheer and dewy on cheeks. The ingredient list makes me smile — coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera and it goes on. The more I embrace these nourishing oils in my beauty routine, the more my skin behaves.
For more Earth Day fun, the ladies at La Bella Figura will be hosting an #EarthBeauty Twitter chat tonight at 7pm central. I’ll be joining in and hope you can tweet along as well!
*note: I received a sample of the Kahina Toning Mist.
Well-stocked RMS display. I picked up the Lip Shine in 
Best.mascara.ever.
I’m obsessed with that light fixture
