PRETTY MOTHERF***ER

Now, don’t get to thinking I’ve gone completely head over heels for myself – the title is a refrain from a few of rapper A$AP Rocky’s songs (as in, “I be that pretty motherf***er.”) What better way to start off my winter beauty post?

It’s been a little while since I last beauty-blogged and I’m sure you’ve all been wondering how my fight against premature aging and general ugliness has been going. Winter brings with it some specific seasonal challenges, such as a permanently running red nose and beanie hair, but don’t worry – I’m coping. My focus has been mostly on moisturizing, though I think I'm shooting myself in the foot a bit with the high acidity of a lot of the products I use. I try to keep my intensely anti-acne stuff for the evening and mix my sunscreen and foundation 75/25 to get a tinted moisturizer for the morning. I succumbed to the ravages of cost-effectiveness and bought a giant thing of St. Ives daily hydrating body lotion with vitamin E. It’s made without parabens or pthalates, which Allure once told me kill baby dolphins or something. So that’s good. Local line Cosmeos makes a multi-purpose salve that I like to think of as organic Vaseline. It comes in a light peppermint-lavender scent and I use it when my knuckles are particularly dry.

My big new new thing is goat’s milk soap. I picked some up as a gift for a friend over the holidays, but then also bought it for myself. Oasis day spa sells my favorite, a line by Sweet Magnolia Creamery that's handmade locally in Covesville, Virginia. Each bar comes individually wrapped in fancy wax paper and tied with a bow! The range of scents is also a plus – I eschewed my customary favorite, lavender, in favor of experimenting with citrus vetiver. I swear I noticed my skin feeling softer after the first use, but I could just want it to work that bad. My post-shower routine, when I’m feeling indulgent, is a heavy dose of Weleda’s sea buckthorn body oil (available at Whole Foods.) Its vaguely tropical scent is a nice winter reprieve and I think I’ve mentioned before that I prefer body oils to lotions – I don’t know, I just feel like they’re better for your skin. Don’t question me.

And I almost forgot! Mon haircut! As you can see, I did indeed get something akin to the hairspiration photos I posted last week of Philip Crangi and Nickelson Wooster – cropped close on the sides with a pompa-hawk (pompadour/faux-hawk fusion) on top. I’m still using Bb Texture to get that swooping action, though a paste would be better. What do we think? C'est bon or c'est bad? And below, some A$AP tunes for the rap aficionado...

ASAP Rocky - Peso by NUEAgency
Wassup [prod. by Clams Casino] by A$AP ROCKY
Bass [prod. by Clams Casino] by A$AP ROCKY

COSMEOS HERBAL BEAUTY

My friend Audrey recently launched her own cosmetics line and asked me if I might have any interest in trying it out. I don’t know about y'all, but a friend of mine launching a beauty line they want me to test is an ultimate fantasy, right up there with guest designing a shoe for Opening Ceremony and Hugh Jackman.

The line, Cosmeos Herbal, is entirely handmade by Audrey here in Charlottesville. Born of Audrey’s studies of herbology and traditional medicines, the product range currently includes herbal facial grains, an organic herbal pillow and lip balm. I’ve been looking for a no-frills facial mask and the herbal facial grains, which can be used as a spot treatment, wash, or mask proved just the ticket. The grains come in two variations, stored in cute little apothecary jars – I got the green clay-based version for normal to oily skin, considering my pores are currently under congressional review as America’s next best oil reserve.

I applied the mask the other night, something that I'm sure will get easier with time as this was my first attempt at using a mask of any sort. I went to mix a teaspoon of the grains with water, per the label’s instructions, but did so in the palm of my hand. Rookie mistake – grains poofed everywhere before I could get them to form anything resembling a paste. I tried again, this time mixing them with water in a little bowl – evolution! The clay and oats formed a satisfyingly green mask that diminished redness – we’ll see after a few uses how effective it is against my T-zone troubles, but I’m guessing the mix of organic calendula, raw almonds and peppermint essential oil will be a welcome ally in the fight against unnecessary shine.

In addition to the grains I’ve been wearing the peppermint lip balm (luscious) and trying to find sweet dreams with the organic herbal pillow, which I pop in the freezer before use - it's wonderful!

Interested? Visit Cosmeos Herbal’s Etsy shop

or stop by Boutique Boutique on the downtown mall to see the products in person!

Herbal Facial Grains $8

Organic Herbal Pillow $12

Lip Balm $3