Poppy King for J. Crew!

via J Crew

So excited to see the geniuses at J. Crew have teamed with Poppy King to produce a version of the super-covetable orange red lipstick we've all lusted after on their models!  I ordered a tube as soon as I heard about it.  Even got on the phone after my computer wasn't being fast enough!  Poor order guy must have thought I was insane.  It's making its way to me right now.  I even dig the chic black tube.
 P.S. Have you heard about her awesome sounding collaboration with Kate Spade, called Supercalifragilipstick? (no lie). It's a little collection of four seemingly perfect lip colors.  Can't wait to check that out as well.

DIY Lipcolor

via vogue.com

Vogue Daily had a piece on Jeanine Lobell, founder of Stila, making lipsticks and glosses in the kitchen with her daughter and friends.  She used mineral pigments, a vitamin E stick, and castor oil, and melted them down in the microwave.  Looks like, good, not-so-clean fun.  Great activity to do at home with a bunch of girls, and you get to customize your own lip product.

The post didn't give many details, but it looks pretty easy.  If the kids can do it, I guess I can.  (Meanwhile, I don't have a cool enough name to hang out with this bunch: Poppy, Wallis, Gray, Esme, Jasper, oh my.)  I was happy to read the little bit of info that she has some upcoming projects, including a collaboration with Opening Ceremony (!)  Will definitely be keeping my eyes open for that one.

I have a bunch of little baggies of mineral color sitting around; samples from ordering mineral makeup.  I just need some little pots and my microwave is going to be very busy. I'm thinking about all sorts of possibilities.  You could add your own essential oils, like mint or lavender, different moisturizers, like jojoba or coconut oil, and mix until you got exactly what your little obsessive heart desired. And think of all the crazy things you could name your finished product.  You could give Mr. Nars  a run for his money in the obscure names department.   I'm getting so excited just thinking about it.  Now, if Jeanine would cough up the secret formula for my dearly departed Stila Natalie lipstick, my happiness would be complete.

Zara

These looks from Zara's March lookbook are killing it.  Love the clean lines and pops of color.  They look so of-the-moment and timeless all at once. Dying for some colored slim pants and a camel jacket.  Such a fresh look for spring.

Speaking of fresh, how great does the model's matte pink lip look?  I'd try Tarte Lipsurgence Natural Matte lipstain.  These seem to have the best color payoff, in my experience playing around with lipstains at Sephora.

100% Pure

via Apartment Therapy

I have a box full of lipsticks that are barely discernible from each other, and barely detectable when I put them on my lips, but like just about everyone else, I'm on a constant hunt for that perfect rosy, dewy natural lip look. The reigning favorite is Nars Dolce Vita- but I'm looking for a natural replacement.

This lip glaze from 100% Pure is made from certified organic avocado butter, organic cocoa butter, and pigments from organic fruits and vegetables, and rose petals.  That's it.  There are a number of great looking colors, but I'm drawn to Rose Petal, for obvious reasons. I have bought their lipgloss in the past, and it was nice, I liked the color and the scent, but the tube was a leaky mess!  Such a bummer.  This looks like it wouldn't leak, so I'm very intrigued. 

Facial Oil?

While perusing the Urban Outfitters beauty department online, I came across this cool looking bottle of face and body oil.  Skin&Bones is an all natural oil that can be used all over, face, knees, cuticles, hair, wherever.  It's made from pure jojoba oil and a blend of essential oils like frankincense, jasmine and cedarwood.  The idea of rubbing oil on my already oily face seems counterintuitive, but it's supposed to balance oil production while moisturizing. The idea of one product for everything is definitely intriguing, in a "look at me I'm so low-maintenance while not actually being low-maintenance" way.  And did I mention the bottle is dark violet glass? Dying to try it out.

Mon Jasmin Noir

via the Scented Salamander

Isn't the ad for the new Bulgari perfume, Mon Jasmin Noir, gorgeous?  Kirsten Dunst and a lion, they couldn't go wrong.  The perfume is a flanker to Jasmin Noir, and it sounds like it's lighter and aimed at a "younger" audience.
   from Nordstrom:
            "BVLGARI Mon Jasmin Noir: A luminous and addictive new floral fragrance, cut like a gem with                  dazzling clarity, offering an undeniably modern and sensual femininity.

            Notes: lily of the valley, sambac jasmine, musky nougatine, vibrant wood."
            Prices: $80 and $105
The original was a nice fragrance, but a little too "lady" for my tastes.  I tend to dislike anything that screams "fancy perfume".  I love Lily of the Valley, so I'll definitely be sniffing this when and if it hits my local Sephora.

Spring Forward

 My hair is waist-length now, patiently awaiting getting chopped and donated to a worthy cause, and when it's not up in a very messy bun with one brave bobby-pin stuck haphazardly in it, it's in an equally messy side braid ala last Spring's Alexander Wang show.  All I need to add is this cool-looking organic lip stain I found on Etsy and a sprinkling of the best-looking jasmine scented hair powder I've ever seen, and I'll be good to go when spring gets here this weekend.

Red Lipstick

photo  via garance dore

I'll be turning the big (gulp) 3-0 in a couple months and one of the things I'd like to finally figure out is how to rock a serious, full-on, grown up red lip.  How gorgeous does this girl look? 

I'm  not talking about  stained, sheer popsicle-mouth color, either.  I'd like to graduate from Benetint and Lipstick Queen Medieval to a good matte classic lipstick.  Like Tom Ford Private Blend Lipcolor in Cherry Lush or Smoke Red.  MAC Russian Red and Nars seem to be the standard go-to, but Mr. Ford's look so much more elegant, no? Since I am all about looking for a greener option, Bare Minerals 100% Natural Lipcolor in Red Delicious might be a good (wallet-friendlier to boot) alternative. 
When the rest of the face is kept minimal, a crimson lip looks fresh and modern.  I'm working up my nerve.