A Product So Sweet You Can Taste It!

We've witnessed beauty products' transition towards minerals, but recently a new movement has taken effect in response to the alarming scientific studies that shine light on cosmetic preservatives (parabens) possible carcinogenicity. Organic ingredients aren't just on the supermarket shelves; they are increasingly apparent in cosmetic formulas.

The Suki skincare line has become one of my favorite companies on a mission to provide the purest ingredients.Their Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser is a particularly wonderful product! Suki promises that this vegan scrub "accelerates collagen turnover to prevent early signs of aging, improving skin tone, diminishing appearance of fine lines, and deep wrinkles. Gentle exfoliators unclog pores while organic cleansers eliminate excess oils, toxins, and makeup. Ingredients include organic lemongrass extract to purify, natural sugar grains to exfoliate, organic non-gmo rice flour for stimulation, and organic chamomile extract to soothe.

The natural sugar grains are the perfect texture for a gentle, yet powerful, scrub. After massaging the lemon-scented mixture for a moment, the scrub gradually transforms into this light airy constancy that leaves your face feeling velvety smooth! Also great for exfoliating your lips because boyyy does it (accidentally of course) taste good!

Exfoliating the face should only be done once or twice a week as we do not want to strip the skin of it's natural protective barrier. Lucky for us Suki fanatics, a new product called the Sensitive Cleansing Bar has just been developed. This bar is basically the softer twin of the exfoliate foaming cleanser, using a combination of organic lemongrass extract and organic fair trade shea butter. Perfect for daily use!

Suki claims to be the "first to perfect uncompromising, advanced skin care solutions based upon the physiological equilibrium of natural pharmaceutical grade ingredients immersed in purely organic & natural bases". Suki skincare prides itself on the use of an advanced organic science by integrating 100% pure bases, high potency botanic concentrate, standardized extracts and organic extracts, and cosmeceutical grade ingredients. Speaking of pure ingredients, check out the chart below of the various raw materials that go into Suki products. Forget trying to pronounce chemical names; now have you ever seen such beautiful ingredients?

Mascara Got Your Lashes Down?

I have officially eliminated mascara from my daily routine! Between the steep prices, the ever-settling gunky residue, and the lengths I go to avoid waking up with raccoon eyes....I'm just over it! Of course I'll give in to the magic beauty wand for special occasions, but I've discovered a new way to draw attention to my eyes without the daily hassle.

Fellow natural blondes can vouch for the fact that lashes will simply go unnoticed if the hair is too light. You must be wondering how can your lashes stand out without the use of mascara..yes? Introducing lash tinting home kits! You may already be familiar with the lash tinting service provided by select salons. Professional lash tinting is generally priced at around $20-30 plus tip, but at-home kits are around $15 for a full year supply! Oh yes!



Swiss-O-Par has become one of my favorite beauty finds! The European at-home tinting kit can be applied to both lashes and eyebrows. The simple 2-step application process only takes 2 minutes and will last for 4-6 weeks!

If you're willing to venture out in the beauty realm and try lash tinting, I highly recommend using this specific brand because it is the only one I know of that doesn't contain harsh chemicals such as, Hydrogen Peroxide and Coal Tar. This product has also met all European Safety Standards.

This item can be found on Ebay for a "Buy it Now" price of $14.99. Swiss-O-Par kits are available in shades of brown, dark brown, and black. Easily one of my greatest beauty investments!

Escaping Towards the Equator

Glimmer & Glam is taking an extended vacation for the next month! Don't you fret! Once I've stretched my legs and freed my mind, I'll be back to update you on the latest fashion finds and beauty products! Stay beautiful my lovely readers.

Detox Your Way to a Glowing Complexion

As you may have read in my previous posts, I'm mineral makeup's #1 fan; although, I'm rather stubborn about trying any brand other than Bare Escentuals. The other day I ordered a product from Ulta and they were generous enough to send me a free gift along with my purchase, a 1 oz tube of Pur Minerals Mineral Mudd Masque.

Before trying any new skincare product out on my face, I dabble in some online product reviews, just to assure that my face won't resemble a pizza after one use. Good thinking right? This Pur Minerals product boasted 5 out of 5 star reviews, so I gave it a go.

This specific mud mask is made up of a rare calcium bentonite clay called Pascalite, which was formed 30 million years ago at the base of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. Pascalite is actually the only known cure for a poisonous Brown Recluse spider bite. If this unique ingredient has the power to suck out deadly venom from an insect wound, what wonders could it do for my clogged pores? This information intrigued me and within minutes my face was covered in clay. The directions suggested to leave it on for 2-30 minutes, which seemed like an odd amount of time, but reassured me that it must be very gentle.

I only lasted 10 minutes because the mask became incredibly tight. Once I finished removing the mask with warm water, I immediately saw a difference. The visible pores on my nose COMPLETELY disappeared and my skin was left soft and glowing. This product is a must-have for sure!!

The Pur Minerals Mineral Mudd Masque is available for $25 on Ulta. The site is also offering free shipping on orders over $25 now until October 11th. Use the secret code: FALLFREE25

Vintage Ebay Find!

Ebay is the ultimate used clothing store. I believe a unique vintage find is pure bliss in the fashion realm. The older the item, the longer the story behind it. Vintage shoes are particularly interesting because someone literally stepped through life within their soles.

Check out these Dexter burgundy leather riding boots with four decades of living and loving on its stacked wooden heels. These knee-high boots are perfect for autumn and the color would certainly compliment the color changing leaves.

This auction ends on October 12th and the starting bid is just $9.99! Happy bidding!!

Size: 6.5M
Heel to Toe - 10"
Across Ball of Foot - 3.25"
Heel Height - 2.5"

(click to enlarge thumbnail)

All Sorts of Wonderful

Yes yes, it's true! John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Hair Serum is all sorts of wonderful! I love getting more bang for my buck and this product certainly does just that. The small 50ml pump contains some powerful beautifying ingredients that provide multiple benefits for your hair. Whether you have straight or curly locks, this specific serum creates a layer of protective gloss with its Thermal Shield Complex. Not only does this protect the hair against styling heat from your hairdryer/straightener, but it also battles against UV exposure. With double the fighting power, your hair literally transforms, cause frizz is no more!

I especially love this product because I just recently went from blonde to brunette. I quickly learned that brunette locks are not fond of sunshine due to it's extreme fading effects. After using this serum, my color stays true and vibrant for much longer. Did I mention the shine? It will make your hair super silky, smooth, and oh so touchable! Just remember that you only need a drop for it to be effective. Any more or less, well..you'll be questioning this positive review. The bottle is quite small, but trust me, a little goes a long way.

John Frieda's Thermal Protection Hair Serum is received a 4.8 out of 5 stars on the Buzzillions product review site. Check out some of the honest reviews:

Sweet, Fresh, & Juicy

Nanette Lepore


Nanette certainly picked an incredible color palette for her spring 2009 collection. It's as if she selected only the juiciest of both warm and cool tones. While bright shades of poppy, lime, and turquoise popped, they were also contrasted with rich olives and chocolates. Each design was quite flirty and unmistakably girly with the use of over-sized ruffles and flouncy hemlines.

Matthew Williamson




I must admit that this is the first time I'm head over heels for every single piece that walked in a runway show. Matthew Williamson summed up all that is sexy, sweet, and chic. The fabrics...the textures...the amazzzzing prints...all of it was just delicious! He developed some powerfully intricate patterns that ranged from geometric, to abstract florals, to psychedelic starbursts. Oh, and the embroidery detailing...just lovely!

Monique Lhuillier



I love Monique Lhullier for her ability to keep elegance alive and looking fresh. When asked about her spring 2009 collection, she said "it's about tropical-island getaway, but for the chic Monique woman." Her designs consisted of the lightest, most delicate fabrics, silk and chiffon. Each gown flowed like water as the model walked down the runway. Various extravagant neckline styles appeared in her spring collection including a sheer chiffon encased in crystal embellishments and a keyhole draping over a gold encrusted circle neck. Along side the light creams and beiges were hints of mango, butterscotch, and tropical ocean blue.

I'm am 100% embracing this movement towards complex prints and bright pops of color.

Goddesses, Sizzling Oranges & Eye-Popping Prints Kick Off Fashion Week

Diane von Furstenberg




DVF never fails to impress the runways' wide-eyed audience. I'd consider her the "Queen of Fashion Week". For spring 2009, DVF described her latest collection as "an homage to Diana Vreeland who taught us we could be goddesses and rock stars".

Models were adorned in smock tops, tunics, and peasant blouses. No piece went without some sort of vibrant and elaborate detailing, from stone beading to flowing ruffles. Overall, the runway show told a very whimsical/ethereal story with the ribbon headdresses and delicate fabrics. DVF held a tight grip on purples for this season, but definitely incorporated shades of burnt orange from Pantone's latest color report.

Twinkle by Wenlan



Designer Wenlan Chia caught my eye with her adorable collection for spring 2009. Wenlan stated that her inspiration for this season was "the free spirit of Jean Seberg. There are idealistic schoolgirl and bohemian details that exist both in her and in my spring line.The blend of colors, textures, vintage-inspired prints and tailored silhouettes give my collection a classic, romantic quality-reminiscent of Jean's legacy."

The piecess were also a modern take on the 40's tailored menswear look. High waistlines, structured bodices, and button detailing were read loud and clear in this collection. Designs truly grasped the powerful curves of a woman's body and had successfully shown them off in the most flattering way possible. Shades of gray remained the core, but pops of orange, yellows, and cobalt blue livened things up.

Hervé Léger by Max Azria



Max Azria is truly gifted when it comes to recreating Hervé Léger's signature curve-hugging bandage dresses. While staying true to the original texture and form fitting design, Azria decided to tweak the detailing by creating optical illusions through color gradients and the pattern placement. Shades of color delicately glided from light to dark in an airbrushed manner. He also worked to incorporate a lot of asymmetrical detailing. Bandaged swimsuits were a site to see! The sun bronzed beauty's tan lines after wearing one of them...well, that's another story.

Miss Sixty



Miss Sixty Group Co-Founder and Creative Director, Wichy Hassan, certainly maintained the line's signature sky-high level of sexiness for its spring 2009 collection. My eyes felt like there were taking a trip through a kaleidoscope, and I loved every second of it. There was definitely a hippie chic/bohemian undertone, but patterns were kept fresh and playful. The latest Miss Sixty designs were quite youthful with its inclusion of high-hemmed rompers and jumpers and pairs of stripe knee-high stockings.

On a quick side note, I very much appreciated these designers' selection of healthy happy models. While reviewing the recent shows, more often than not, the new fashions hung on waify life-less bodies that beared empty expressions. The shockingly visible rib cages and gouging collar bones diverted my attention away from the new fashions and onto my great concern for the models' well-being. These runway photos are examples of how lively/charismatic models can conspire with each piece to help achieve a more positive outlook on the line as a whole.

Beauty Find of the Day!

I was running some errands today and decided to do some window shopping at Urban Outfitters, you know the kind that extends much farther than just the outside window display. I typically browse the selection and wish to the stars and the moon that I had enough money for all the cute items I come across.

Well look what I found...the most amazing emerald green nail lacquer from LA Girl USA. By the very fact that you can clearly see me holding it in my hand, you know that I bought it. Hell yes I bought it! I had to; it was only $5.00!

So I was bit reluctant to post an actual picture of my self-manicured nails, not only because I enjoy my mysterious status, but I had to apply it perfectly for the public's viewing pleasure (hence the fact that you can only see my left hand's application....cause I'm not much of an ambidextrian).

I'm queen of Google Search, but I honestly could not find this specific color on any online site. Urban Outfitters doesn't even sell it on their website yet, so I suggest you stop by your local store if you're totally diggin' this fresh shade of green that can counterbalance fall's dying leaves.

ps! While I was waiting in line, I dabbled in the UO 'Try Me' section, and I must say that Gwen Stefani's latest "L" L.A.M.B. Fragrance is the sweetest thing I've smelled in long time. Just to name a few of it's notes: Fresh Pear, Violet Leaves, White Freesia, Jasmine Petals, Rose, and Peach Skin. Delish!

Shout Out to the Creative-Impaired

I've always been of creative nature. I assume it all began when my mother taught me how to sew buttons on when I was 5 years old. Now a days, I turn to my creative skills when I simply have too much time on my hands. Turning vintage pieces that are 3 times too big for me into the perfect fit is just one of my specialties. I just can't pass up a good find if it's not available in my size...I'll make it my size! Recently I've been escaping boredom by making feather earrings for my friends. It's fun to see them enjoy some of my craft and well... who doesn't mind free jewelry?

Anyways, others often tell me that they wish they could think more creatively and see things in a different light, but just don't have the time or patience. No worries! I recently came across this site, Etsy, which is perfect for the creative-impaired.

Etsy is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell all things homemade. The site states that their mission is to "enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers". Their vision is to "build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade".

Etsy has been rising in popularity since their launch in June 2005. Now if you're thinking this is just an artsy take on Ebay, drop that thought. You can leave your auction fears behind too, because Etsy is hassle-free with instant purchasing; no bidding experience needed! So there are absolutely no feelings of intimidation in this crafty community.

I've browsed through the site and there really are some amazing pieces. There's also that genuine factor that comes along with each item you purchase. The artists' personal time, hard work, and inspiration went into it.

A clear example of how talented and innovative Etsy artists can be is The Broken Plate Pendant Company , an Etsy shop that specializes in making pendants and over-sized rings out of broken pieces of vintage plates. Yup, ceramic dinner plates!

Some items on Etsy are, in fact, not homemade, but that's okay because I have to tell you that their collection of vintage clothing and accessories is i-n-c-r-e-d-i-b-l-e.

And now for a slightly related, yet hilarious, picture for your enjoyment..

Illustration: Emily Golden Twomey