The Organic Pharmacy is the latest addition to the luxury organic brands at ElementsBeautyShop.com. This line is pricey, so I was excited when this travel/trial kit with their best selling products came in so I could try a bunch of it at once. This kit is $80 and comes with a mini, step-by-step skincare routine.
When Elements started carrying the line, I’d only ever heard of the Carrot Butter Cleanser (talked about in my Beauty In Bloom post). One of my favorite things about our partnership is getting to chat on the phone and Skype with representatives from the brands they carry to learn every little detail about their products and lots of great info about skincare in general. Kerry, a brand representative from The Organic Pharmacy talked with us a few weeks ago and shared some stuff I want to pass along to you!
The Carrot Butter Cleanser is made up of Sunflower, Jojoba, Coconut and Virgin Olive and Seasame Seed oils plus Shea Butter, Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Marigold Extract, Carrot (duh), St Johns Wort, Vitamin E, Rosemary, Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis), Lavender (it smells like lavender!), Essential Oils, Linalool and Limonene. You apply it to dry skin, and only use a tiny amount. I like cleansing balms because I feel like they force you to take your time washing your face and really massage it in. I hop in the shower and remove it with the muslin cloth from the kit. This was my favorite thing in the kit.
Kerry says this balm is a decongestant, removing damaged skin cells and cutting oil without drying out skin. She also said this is one of the line’s best-selling products and that if there was one product she recommend everyone try, it’s this one.
After the herbal toner, these two serums are supposed to be used back-to-back. I’d been having a breakout and my skin had that raw feeling when you know the products you’re using aren’t right for it. These were extremely moisturizing and felt awesome. Kerry told me that the Antioxidant Face Serum and Antioxidant Face Gel are The Organic Pharmacy’s two best-sellers. The last step is the Double Rose Rejuvenating Face Cream.
Overall, the kit is for all skin types.My skin-type is “normal/combination,” but a little bit sensitive and acne-prone. Because I’d been having a breakout, I also picked up the Blemish Gel and the Rose Hip Oil. The Blemish Gel is a spot treatment, but instead of Salycicili acid, sulfur or Benzoil Peroxide, it has Tea Tree, Manuka and Lactic Acid. The Virgin Cold Pressed Rose Hip Oil fades acne scarring with fatty acids.
I talked to Kerry about products that would be good for my specific skin-type, and she recommended switching out the Rose Face Cream for the Manuka Face Cream. Manuka is an antiseptic, and Cedarwood balances. Jojoba and Propolis help normalize oil production and reduce flaky areas.
This is an awesome little kit that let’s you try out some great products all at once. Highly Recommend.
As always, you can use the code TIRAMISU for 10% off anything at ElementsBeautyShop.com
REN Skincare just launched an eye lift version of it’s Instant Firming Beauty Shot. I’m on my second bottle of the original beauty shot, and I love it. I’ve talked about it here, here and here.
The Instant Firming Beauty Shot is described as “A liquid matrix of Hyaluronans instantly supercharge the skin with firming moisture and encourages elastin synthesis to firm and remodel the skin over time. Similar to traditional hyaluronic acid, hyaluronans support increased moisture retention in the skin and reduce trans-epidermal moisture loss. This serum is also formulated with phycocolloids, which form with the hyaluronans to keep skin looking plumped and hydrated for hours.” It’s clear, feels like a thick gel/serum and smells like roses. I use it over my Erno Laszlo Hyra Therapy Serum and usually top it off with a moisturizer (At night, I like this The V Cense Night Cream (also from REN). I recommend this to everyone, and just bought a bottle for my friend, Molly. I used to use a makeup primer before putting on my foundation, but I think this works even better.
The new Eye Lift version is described as “A light gel-serum that instantly lifts and dramatically brightens the delicate eye area. Visibly diminishes dark circles and puffiness. A liquid matrix of Hyaluronans lifts and tightens. Regular use will reduce the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet, improving the overall look of the eye contour.” It’s iridescent white and and reminds me of the Illuminating Eye Serum from La Mer. It’s light and doesn’t irritate at all. I don’t have too many issues with lines or circles, but I like the idea of brightening my under eye area. If you’re looking for a nice, gentle eye cream, I’d recommend this one.
If you’re interested in trying out either of these, be sure to use the code TIRAMISU at ElementsBeautyShop.com for 10% off your entire purchase. If you’re here in Richmond, mention my blog in the Carytown store for the same deal :).
It’s that time again! My lovely clients at Elements Beauty Shop are hosting their spring skincare event, Beauty In Bloom on Tuesday, April 19th at 5:30pm. Erno Laszlo’s skincare rep, Julie Glazer, will be traveling from NYC to give skin consultations. You’ll also be treated to mini manicures,sales, snacks and best of all, the Elements Beauty Bloggers.
My favorite part of preparing for this event has been the excuse to buy flowers for myself 🙂 Kitty loves it too, I think.
A few new things are in since the last event, like The Organic Pharmacy line. I took this bath milk home to photograph and it smells amaaaazing (and looks gorgeous, obviously). I didn’t get to try it because my condo doesn’t have a bath tub – only shower :(.
Cleopatra’s Milk Bath | $75 | The Organic Pharmacy
I did get to try (and bought a bottle for myself) the new Bohemian Rose line from 80 Acres. You all know I love rose scents, so I was excited about this launch from 80 Acres.
80 Acres Bohemian Rose Hand and Body Wash and Lotion | $22 and $28
Elements has the latest Spring launch from Deborah Lippmann, including the new gel colors. Ny favorite is I also love Blue Orchid and Lady Is A Tramp.
Deborah Lippmann polishes | $18
Elements has carried the popular LAFCO candles for a while, but just introduced the hand creams and soaps. These could be fun little gifts. The one pictures below is Watermint and Neroli.
LAFCO lotion and soap | $12-$28
Joanna Vargas launched a few new products and revamped the packaging for her whole line. She now has two different sheet masks, a “miracle” bar soap and an eye cream.
A few weeks ago, we had a Skype date with Joanna herself and she told us sooo much good stuff about her products and about skincare in general. I took frantic notes and plan to translate them into a somewhat legible blog post soon. My favorite is her exfoliating mask. This actually is really great for clearing up your skin and making it feel super soft.
Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Memory Sleep Mask | $90 (Enter to win it here!)
Exfoliating Mask | $75 | Joanna Vargas
Here are my top five picks for shopping this event:
- Erno Laszo Hydra Therapy Serum. This is my favorite serum of all time. I think I’m on my third bottle and I sue it everyday before my moisturizer. It smells SO good and is very light on the skin.
- The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser. I’m so excited to try this. I saw it in one of Lisa Eldgridge’s videos so I know it has to be good.
- REN Instant Firming Beauty Shot. I got my first bottle of this for free from a REN rep and just repurchased my second. I use this on top of the Erno Serum. It smells like roses and I think it makes makeup stick to my face better.
- NKD SKN Self Tan Mousse in Dark. The best self tanner I’ve tried. Even though I’m pretty pale, I use the dark shade. I have details on how to use it in this post. (Don’t forget the mitt!)
- Deborah Lippmann Polishes. It’s always fun to pick up a new polish. Blue Orchid is such a cool looking color that I think will look awesome with a tan.
Last but not least, a GIVEAWAY! Post your favorite spring skincare product or tip in the comments for the chance to win a full-size Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Memory Sleep Mask – a $90 value! (USA only) I’ll pick the winner on Tuesday, April 19th!
Kristen Ziegler is the owner of Minima, a home/office organization company. She’s been featured in Richmond Home magazine several times and consistently wins in the Best Of issues. She’s worked with Ledbury, Need Supply Co and Quirk; I’ve seen her speak and she’s even helped me organize my crazy closet. I wanted to find out how she applies her famous minimalistic philosophy to beauty and fashion.
Tiramisu For Breakfast: How do you apply your organized/minimalistic approach to your beauty routine?
Minima: I keep it as quick and simple as possible. Everyday I apply the same products, with the exception of special occasions when I might add a red lip or dark brown eyeliner.
TFB: What’s in your makeup bag?
M: 
1. Physician’s Formula translucent mineral powder
2. Maybelline coverstick concealer (I’ve used this brand since I was a teenager)
3. Burt’s Bees chapstick
4. CoverGirl ExactEyelights
5. MUJI powder brush, eyebrow brush and tweezers
6. Sonia Kashuk concealer brush
TFB: How have you paired it down over the years? Did you used to have a complicated routine or a lot of things?
M: I wouldn’t say my routine has ever been complicated, but I have definitely pared it down over the years. As I get older, I’m more comfortable in my skin and tend to wear less and less make-up as time goes on. I focus on keeping my skin clear so that I don’t have to.
TFB: Why do you practice minimalism?
M: I can’t imagine not living the way I live. As busy as I am, I still have time for decompression and reflection. I also love feeling “on top of things.” It helps keep stress to a minimum and time to a maximum. My home is my sanctuary, so I love being there to recharge after a long day.
TFB: How do you apply minimalism to your wardrobe?
M: I only buy pieces that I love, that fit perfectly off the rack, and that are useful to my lifestyle. They also need to be of high quality. Those qualifiers almost always guarantee that a piece will get a lot of use. I realized a year or so ago that I didn’t enjoy wearing color, so I’ve also switched over to a visually minimal wardrobe with only neutrals.
TFB: Does it make it easier to get dressed in the morning?
M: Definitely! I feel good in every piece I own, so no matter what I pick it’s a win.
TFB: What’s one tip you like to give your clients about beauty/fashion minimalism.
M: I usually share my three qualifiers: love it, perfect fit, useful to your lifestyle. Those pieces ARE out there regardless of your body type, so why settle for less?
What do you think? Are you a minimalist when it comes to beauty and fashion or do you love to collect?
Have you all heard of Influenster? Basically, you sign up, fill out a few surveys about yourself and sync your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. Then, they match you up with brands to send you free products. You don’t have to be a blogger or even have a ton of followers to get free stuff. Anyway, I’ve gotten a few things over the years, and these lipsticks are the latest.
I’ve heard a bunch about Bite Beauty on YouTube, so I was excited to get these. They sent me a red, berry and a pink/nude. The berry is SO bright; I’d save it for special occasions. They smell like the Fresh Sugar lip balms. The pink/nude shade, Pepper, is my favorite because it’s the most subtle.
Did you get these too? What did you think?
When I was younger, I remember wanting Seventeen but only being allowed American Girl. These days, I take a lot of care in the types of things I read and watch, because I know that it shapes my thoughts and perspectives. I have a lot of favorite sites, blogs and books, but I also appreciate a good magazine. One of my favorite ways to spend a weekend morning is flipping through new issues.
I used to only buy them when I was getting on a plane or sometimes for beach trips. After I started blogging, I found that I was pulling a lot of inspiration for posts from magazines and buying more and more of them. Here are my favorite magazines and a little about what I like about them:
Allure/Glamour: This one’s all about beauty, so of course it’s one of my favorites. I flip through and find out about new products that are coming out, like the new waterproof version of my favorite mascara from Too Faced. I especially loved the cover pictured above and bought purple eyeliner to copy Salma’s makeup look. Glamour’s similar to Allure, but covering a more wide range of topics. I loved this article they did on confidence with Mindy Kaling.
Better Homes and Gardens/Good Housekeeping:
O: I love Oprah’s Favorite Things and she has a really great set of contributors. Everything is positive and helpful.
Real Simple: I like that the tips and shopping suggestions are always attainable. There are recipes too, but I skip over those and look for home decor, fashion and beauty. In the latest issue, I loved the dresses they picked out for spring. The blush sheath I just bought from Ann Taylor was featured. It’s very cool to see things you have in your closet in a magazine.
Richmond Magazine/R Home: My favorite part about these is seeing my friends and people I admire featured in the content. I met Carey of Corks and Caftans through work and it was very cool to see her feature in their BVLD insert.
I’m also a huge, huge fan of Young House Love. I first heard about them when they spoke at an AIGA Conference and was so absorbed in their story about leaving their careers in advertising in New York and building a business together here in Richmond. I even got a photo with them that night. R Home featured them and their new book (I bought one one but two copies – I guess I thought I needed a backup?) a few months back.
My friend Olivia (@lovebrooksy) curated an art deco piece for a summer issue.
And my friend and fellow Elements Beauty Blogger Caroline of Sweet Caroline RVA writes for their bridal issues.
Shape/Women’s Health: WH is an interesting one. They cover fitness and recipes, obviously, but also mix in some fashion and beauty. I don’t subscribe to Shape but I pick it up at the grocery store when the cover looks interesting. They have great features on workout clothes that have introduced me to some new brands. How fun is this bikini from a summer issue?
I try to get my magazines through Amazon so I can manage all of the subscriptions in one place. For a few of them, I’m also subscribed to the digital versions, which I really enjoy. I get an email when the new issue comes out and download it to my iPad. When you read the issue through the Newsstand app, the formatting is a little different and more interactive than print, which I like. A lot of times you can also click through directly to buy what you’re reading about.
Which magazines are your favorite?
PS: The best part of magazines are OBVIOUSLY the free sample/perfume inserts, am I right?
I’m so, so excited to share that R Home did a feature on me (and Kitty) in their March/April issue. Here are the details:
First, Julie Young, a contributing writer, came to my house to interview me. We chatted for a few hours about VCU, my career and my home. A few weeks later, Sarah Walor came by to take photographs based on the story Julie had put together.
I had to give Kitty about 50 treats that day, trying to get her to pose for the camera.
Sarah, Julie and the team did a beautiful job and it was such a fun experience! Check out the article here.
I took over the Virginia Bloggers Instagram for a week and had a blast. It was fun sharing a little piece of each day. Here are a few of my favorite shots.
(Click through for the captions)
I think it’s fun to give a friend something special at Valentine’s Day. Here are a few things I’ve given in the past and some ideas!
Flowers from Amanda Burnette: I’ve ordered flowers from Amanda several times and they’re ALWAYS beautiful. They’re so much more unique than something you could get at a national chain or at the grocery store. TODAY (2/10) is the last day to place your order to get these in time for Valentine’s Day!
Deborah Lippmann Nail Polishes: All of these polishes are gorgeous. As a fun little bonus, they’re all named after songs. I’m partial to Respect and Sarah Smile. They’re also free of harsh chemicals and cruelty-free. Get them for 10% off AND in time for Sunday if you order by tomorrow at elementsbeautyshop.com. If you’re in Richmond, you can even stop by their store in Carytown. Elements also has my FAVORITe perfume, the Elixr of Love from Caswell-Massey. I can’t imagine anyone not liking this scent. It smells SO good.
Candy Valley Cake Company Cake Pops: Keya Wingfield makes the most beautiful intricate and creative desserts I’ve ever seen! I was introduced to her work when she made these gecko cake pops for one of my clients back in 2010. She also made these awesome and super realistic pops for my clients at Elements. You still have time to get these heart cake pops if you order today!
Buxom Lip Polish: These are one of my favorite lines for lip gloss, and they’re all named after women! I was first introduced to them when I worked at a bareMinerals boutique in college and they had only Krystal, Dolly, Bambi and a few others. They’ve since expanded the collection to include Jessica, Elizabeth, Christina (!), Kristen, Kelly and more. I gave my friend Sophia her namesake shade when I did her makeup for her wedding last summer. My personal favorites are Erin, Krystal and Dolly.
Rich Bitch: A lot of my friends are in similar industries and we talk a lot about our careers, professionalism and give each other advice and share resources. I think a book that’s really helped you is an awesome gift. My friend Sara gave me Cheryl Strayed’s ‘Brave Enough’ for Christmas, and I thought it was just the perfect gift. Last month, my friend Jevata and I hosted an Inspiration party and invited some women we admire and care about to share their favorite books. You can check that list out here.
Experience gifts are always awesome too. Nobody hates a gift certificate for a mani/pedi. I like Heather at Canvas the Salon. SHE DID OLIVIA POPES NAILS, people! She’s right here in Richmond but she was called in to do a VIP manicure for Kerry Washington in DC. You can read about how it happened here. Of course I IMMEDIATELY ordered the shade she used. It’s available in this kit at HSN. I ordered several to save as gifts!
Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Mask | $90 |ElementsBeautyShop.com – The biggest difference I notice is that it makes the skin very soft and plumps it up. I love the way it smells and this is one of my most luxurious-feeling masks. You sleep in it too!
Boscia Tsubaki Deep Hydrating Sleeping Mask – I got a sample of this in one of my Sephora orders and just ordered a full-size. Here’s what Sephora has to say about it: Tsubaki (Camellia) Oil firms, hydrates, and protects against free radical damage. Allantoin provides hydration and supports natural cell renewal with natural anti-bacterial and deep-cleansing benefits. Wakame prevents fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness by replenishing protein, helping to support natural collagen production. Rice Bran Oil reduces dark spots and increases micro-circulation for soft, glowing skin. I say, it smells amazing and gives you super soft, moisturized skin to wake up to.
REN Instant firming Beauty Shot | $54 | ElementsBeautyShop.com – I like to carry a sample-sized version of this in my makeup bag to pat on whenever my makeup creases (usually between my brows). This smells like roses and the little bottle is so cute. I recently tried it all over my face, patting it on before moisturizer, and I loved how it felt and made my foundation look. They hyaluronic acid in this is meant to plump up your skin and hold in moisture. It also smells like rose.
La Mer Soft Cream $85 – $465 | Nordstrom – obviously a classic. I got this as a Christmas gift and then re-purchased when it ran out about eight months later. I use this sparingly because it’s so pricey, sometimes just as an eye cream.
Fresh Rose Mask $62 | Sephora – This mask feels SO fancy and it’s super gentle. The texture is somewhere between a liquid and a gel. It smells soooo good. When my face feels dry and irritated, this os the one I use.
byTerry baume de rose $60 | Beauty.com – I got this on a Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal and combined used some birchbox points. This is VERY similar to Dior’s Creme de Rose, and I’ve been using it throughout the day whenever my lips get dry. If you’re looking for something similar but less expensive, try Benefit’s Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm. They smell like roses and come in a few different colors. “Lollibalm” is my favorite and reminds me of the new lilac Lip Glow Dior came out with for spring.
Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Serum | $90 | ElementsBeautysShop.com – A long time favorite. I went into detail on this one here. Basically, it’s super light and I like to add it underneath another moisturizer for winter.
GlamGlow ThirstyMud Mask | $69 | Sephora – This one smells like coconuts and is SUPER moisturizing. You can either leave this one on for a few minutes or sleep in it (I usually wash it off). I use this one when my face is extra, extra dry but not irritated or sensitive. If you’re going to get this one, make sure to get the kit. (same proce as the mask but has some extras).
Ole Henriksen Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask | $34 | Sephora – When I’m not sure which my skin needs more – moisture or exfoliation – I use this one. It smells like lavender and feels calming and nice for irritated, dry skin.
Post your favorites for winter in the comments. I want to try them all!
PS: Use the code TIRAMISU for 10% off any purchase at ElementsBeautyShop.com
