Author: lauren

The Base Drawer | Long Standing Foundation Favorites

Published by lauren

I feel like I became officially apart of the beauty club when I brought my first set of acrylic Muji drawers. When they’re neatly organized, freshly cleaned of finger smudges and the light from my window sneaks across the clear plastic, I feel like a good damn Into the Gloss editorial. Well anyways- ever since I lugged these small towers home I’ve been doing pretty frequent switch outs depending on what I want to focus on makeup wise. The bottom has been the least cycled out since I’ve gotten myself into a steady routine with my selection of base products. It’s an assortment that helps create a glowy, healthy, long lasting, perfected, but natural face. Here’s the round up: Glossier Priming Moisturizer: This is great for layering. I use this after my morning skincare, so this tops everything off, post SPF of course, and gives a nice light weight added bit of moisture that isn’t sticky but makeup can build well off of.  Milk Makeup Blur Stick: This guy I try to concentrate on my …

Falling for Tracy Reese’s Beautiful Floral Prints

Published by lauren

Floral prints have a special place in my heart, as evident by my choice of bridesmaids dresses. I find a good floral pattern to actually be rather timeless, especially when the fit is on point. I’ve been slowly growing my wardrobe garden with a bevy of all to similar looking midi skirts, as event here, here, and well here. But I’ve been hitting some luck with some full length numbers, that off the hanger, fit my short of stature frame. This is where the Isla Floral Dress from Tracy Reese comes in. And my excuse to share these photos of me frolicking around the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Tracy Reese, the women, is a Detroit native, with a wonderfully inclusive mission statement ‘to make every woman feel beautiful.’ Her various ready to wear items evoke a retro, almost bohemian femininity, that embraces playful patterns, and beautiful bright colors. (Oh and she’s also dressed Michelle Obama too) I’ve been loving a number of items from Tracy’s, I believe Anthropologie exclusive line, Plenty. Each items silhouette is said too ‘complements its wearer’s …

Testing Out Bite Beauty’s Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick

Published by lauren

I am regretting not making a beauty predictions post at the start of the year! I outlined it and everything! … and low and behold a slew of my predictions are coming true. One such prediction: a bevy of not so dry liquid lipstick launches. I know, with the abundance of matte formulas dominating the market for the last few years it was pretty obvious that it would start to swing in the other direction. Well Bite Beauty has joined in on the not-matte-but sorta glossy-liquid lipstick bandwagon with the Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipsticks. We saw the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestros, Burberry Liquid Lip Velvets and the Marc Jacobs Liquid Lip Creams earlier this year but Bites new launches have even more sheen. The brand just launched 12 (13 if you are VIB rouge) rather stunning colors in this new formula. True to Bites nature, they have the edible, food grade formula, lemony scent, and of course nod to cuisine with cheekily named colors. This time with names that are more of an ode to …

The Vogue Birchbox

Published by lauren

It’s sorta crazy to think that Vogue is 125 years old! I was an avid Vogue reader from a young age, well to be honest, an avid picture looker-at-er. I was always drawn into the interesting editorial images that would spark my imagination and middle school outfit choices. Funny now that I am more at the target age for Vogue that I haven’t thumbed one of its pages in years. I think YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram probably play a role in that, but I am still nostalgic about my dear vogue. AND as you may know a bit of a beauty freak and deal hound, so after hunting down a coupon code, I just had to get my hands on the Vogue 125 Anniversary box in collaboration with Birchbox. I’ve steadily made my way through the boxes mainly rose themed offerings, and I’d say I am pretty damn pleased. The millennial pink box comes with an assortment of beauty items: from skincare all the way to nails. With some exclusive products from brands like NARS and …

Art and a Wide Leg

Published by lauren

Last week Jeff and I finally got a chance to check out the much buzzed about 14th Factory: a multi-media interactive art experience tucked away just outside of Downtown. It’s a massive space, with something new around every corner. I’ve been wanting to expand my blog- It’s mainly beauty on here, but I want to incorporate more happenings in and around Los Angeles, Travel and yes, a bit of Fashion too. So having husband in tow, I had him document these new (er) jeans I’ve been living in from Madewell. So here is a strange hybrid post: part longwinded art rambling and part superficial enjoyment for a pair of pants. About those Pants… I am happy wide legs and culottes are finding their way back into style. Skinny Jeans can feel a bit suffocating, and, well, revealing. I’ve always had great luck with Madewell Jeans, even being short of stature, I can usually find something that works by them. These Wide-Leg Crop Jeans have a hip hugging high waist, that on me sits just above …

A Look at the Kypris Moonlight Catalyst & Antioxidant Dew

Published by lauren

This has been a post I’ve been meaning to write for months now. I’ve been testing Kypris Moonlight Catalyst and Antioxidant Dew on and off since Christmas time and just can’t really put a finger on how I feel about them. I am about a 2/3 done with the Moonlight Catalyst and just reached a little more then half way with the Antioxidant Dew. So with that stated lets get into it… and why not just go ahead and start with the superficial. These are fucking beautiful looking. Big round of applause for who ever came up with the packaging. From the white boxes with silver details these come in to the midnight blue bottles with dreamy graphics, they really made me want these for that alone. Now the company itself is very natural with its ingredients but has a strong emphasis on green science with its formulations. They are known for using high quality ingredients, but at very high prices. Their products start in the mid 60’s and go all the way up to over …

the lovely lilah b.

Published by lauren

A few weeks back I received a package from new makeup company lilah b. This is a brand I’ve been stalking for months on Instagram, so I was ecstatic that they sent a couple things my way. This luxurious minimalistic brand just screams elegance. Their products are, at least from what I have played with, high performing and multi functional. And of course, beautifully packaged in hefty waited ‘stones,’ that slide open to reveal what’s inside. I’ve been using both the Bronzed Beauty and the Divine Duo in b. true pretty much every day since their arrival. The Bronzed Beauty Bronzer Duo* gives a natural sin kissed glow, and is just the perfect shade for my fair complexion. I like to swirl the two shades together, and have even gotten into the habit of draping the powder from my cheeks bones to my eyelids. It’s the perfect touch of added depth to my eyes that looks as chic as it is easy. The Retractable Bronzer Brush* is designed for the bronzer formula, and they do indeed pair …

New Beauty | A Look Inside My Mailbox

Published by lauren

I am a self confessed beauty junkie. I get that itch when it’s been a while since something new has come across my metaphorical desk (still working on my home/office set up…) I’ve been super lucky lately and had a lot of stuff sent my way (as well as a few bits I picked up myself). So I thought why not give a bit of a run down on some of the things I’m jazzed to come my way recently. Makeup wise I was thrilled to hear from Axiology. They are a sustainable organic luxury lipstick brand that is committed to supporting environmental causes. The lipsticks are packaged in gorgeous golden pop out bullets, with highly pigmented colors inside. I received two of their top sellers: Worth, a warm autumn leaves orange red and Instinct a brown toned nude with a touch of sandcastle glitter. Speaking of glitter. I qualified for the new Influnetser voxbox in partnership with Marc Jacobs. They complementary sent over the new Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter.  It’s part of their expanded …

Give Back with W.ANT Skincare

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Based in Singapore W.ANT Skincare makes a curated collection of skincare focused on non toxic and multi tasking products. They have a lovely mission statement of giving back, and of helping marginalised women in different countries. So with each purchase of W.ANT you are contributing to local communities of women in Bali, Indonesia and Benin, Africa. W.ANT also focuses on sustainability, they do not have any box packaging, instead the product comes in a hand woven reusable bag made using a Balinese traditional method. I was super happy to test out there Cleansing Trio of this newer brand that has such lovely ingredients and an ethos to match. The Beet This Honey Cleanser was my favorite product in the line up. I am a sucker for anything honey, so this was probably a sure thing from the get go. It is made with over 60% raw honey, and you can taste that. I’ve always found honey to be very soothing on my skin and great for break outs. I’ve been busting this cleanser out when my skin has …

Introducing Nylon Bee & My Favorite LA Work Outs

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There’s two things I want to talk about in todays post – Nylon Bee and My Favorite LA Work Outs. Both fitness, which is a departure for me, but I’ve been aching to stretch my content so here we go… (nice puns right?!?) Lets start with Nylon Bee. You might have seen the skincare brand Lyeska mentioned around these parts a few times… here, here and well here. The Brooklyn based skincare line was founded by the lovely Katya Hegg, the line is full of great, antioxidant rich, natural products. Katya reached out to me a few weeks back letting me in on a new business venture she was working on. She’s partnered with Carla Susanto to launch a curated activewear website geared toward busy ladies like myself who want to look top notch while working out with out paying a premium. I loved the concept. They sell an awesome selection of colorful basics and muted staples to get your work out on with. The two pieces I tested out are honestly the nicest work out wear I’ve …