obsessions

PREPPED+READY

photos: feaverishphotography.com post designed by kristin ess

Spring is here and so are fairs, festivals, flea markets & fiestas! As silly as it may sound, I always keep a bag ready to go by the door for an impromptu day of fun-in-the-sun.

The essentials:

sunglasses
a big floppy hat
sunscreen, spf 30 or higher
tinted lip balm
a camera
a pretty vintage blanket
a good book

Friend thebeautydepartment.com on facebook and you could be selected at random to win the same bag of goodies… to you, from me.

XO Lauren

obsessions

NAILED IT!

photo: tumbler.com post designed by lauren conrad

When packing for a trip and condensing your beauty products into one small makeup bag, only certain items make the cut. Nail polish and lipstick options often fall to the side as foundations and hair spray take priority. This all makes sense, except if you are anything like me and you feel strongly about your polish color coordinating with your look.  Sadly polish changes aren’t always an option on the road (anyone who has had a nail polish bottle break in their luggage knows what I’m talking about!) .  That’s where gold polish comes in. It’s my favorite dressed up neutral.  A muted gold is a great alternative to a pale pink or nude polish (and a little more exciting). So day or night… Go for the gold!

XO Lauren

obsessions

KITCHEN BEAUTICIAN

photo: dan forbes/ny times

Seasons come and go, and as we’re all aware summer is quickly approaching. Spring is the perfect time to get your skin ready for the coming months. My favorite at home remedy for dry skin is simple: coconut butter and a couple drops of olive oil. Coconut butter is an incredible moisturizer and promotes elasticity in skin. Extra virgin olive oil is packed with vitamin E and antioxidants. These two are a mash made in heaven! :) Blend two teaspoons of coconut butter and 10 drops of extra virgin olive oil together in a bowl using the back of a spoon. Apply a thin layer anywhere skin feels dry once or twice a week. I use this on my lips, legs, arms, elbows, and hands. Cover and save the rest in the refrigerator. Due to the coconut craze right now, coconut butter should be pretty easy to find. It’s the perfect summer skin prep!

XO Lauren

hair

OBSESSED

photos: gaultier/jen gotch/thebeautydepartment.com post designed by kristin ess

Um. Call me cray, but I’m completely obsessed with this color palette from the Gaultier Fall 2011 show. I can’t wait to be a little old lady with a blue haired updo… as long as it looks like THIS!

xxkristin

obsessions

POLISHED

Photo: bitznpieces.tumblr.com a-ladys-findings.tumblr.com clo-olv.tumblr.com pattyat.tumblr.com post designed by lauren conrad

After a weekend of easter egg hunts, frosted sugar cookies and lovely springtime bouquets, I’m feeling inspired to bring a little pastel into my life. And since I am lacking the cool points to pull off a streak of pale pink or lavender in my hair, my nails seem like the next best thing.  So why not try a pastel blue, pink, yellow, green or lavender? Or maybe just sport them all at once! It would be like a beautiful muted rainbow. :-)

XO Lauren