Balue/Co.

case envy

A recent upgrade to an iPhone 5C means I'm back in the market for a cute case. And since I tend to buy one case and use it until the phone inevitably breaks, it needs to be something I won't mind looking at for a good few years. Loving Julia Kostreva's pretty new designs, this cool white marble look, Eva Black's patterns, and this cheeky plaid number from Madewell.

autumn uniform

With my new commute (hello crowded bus and frigid mornings waiting at the stop), I am finding myself reaching more and more for a select number of tried and true basics that I know are comfortable while also looking at least somewhat put together. Gone are the days of any sort of shoe masquerading as a heel, let me tell ya. And while the mornings here in Seattle are getting cooold, once I get to work I'm inside almost all day... hence layers are key so I'm not overheating all day in the office.

Above, a few pieces that make up my (dream) autumn wardrobe, along with a cozy cardigan and my trusty Blockshop scarves. Pretty basics in neutral colors that go with everything, yep... that's what it's all about.

/ coat, sunglasses (similar to these ones for sale), denim hat, statement ring, booties, grey jeans, and basic t

loving lately

Though I regularly apply a multitude of less-than-natural cosmetics (working on that...), I keep my skincare routine firmly rooted in the natural side. Here, a roundup of a few items I've been loving over the past several months, as well as a trio of lovelies for the perpetual wishlist

A note on raw organic honey: this stuff is amazing for skin. Full of antioxidants, it acts as a natural antibacterial agent and helps minimize and heal acne/scarring while it moisturizes. I like using it as a light scrubby face wash after removing the bulk of my makeup (raw honey typically crystallizes, hence its much thicker and grittier than refined honey), or as an intensive moisture mask by spreading a layer on clean skin for an hour or so. Oh, and you can (and should) scrub your lips with it too. Seriously, get yourself a jar.

Japanese skincare brand DHC is a line I dabbled in about a decade ago but haven't tried recently. Their Mild Soap and Deep Cleansing Oil are raved about and currently tops my wishlist, along with the incredible-sounding candles from Neom.

/ Raw organic honey, Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Sweet Violet, Schmidt's Deodorant, DHC Mild Soap and Deep Cleansing Oil, Neom candles

dreaming of...

Doing a little window shopping on the recently-discovered (have I been living under a rock?) Beauty Habit. The trick is to load up your shopping cart with all of your dream products, look at the total, and then click the window closed and walk away very quickly before you rationalize anything. It's kind of like actually shopping, right? Right?

/ John Masters Organics Sea Salt Spray, Mox Botanicals Lip Butter, Diptyque Eau Moheli, Chantecaille Les Fêtes Eyeshadow Trio, Paul & Joe lipstick case, Steamcream, Bioderma

skincare wishlist, spring edition

Let's keep this skincare train rollin, shall we? As we all know, I'm a full-blown beauty blogger video addict. And as it happens, almost all of the bloggers I watch are in the UK. And then there's Caroline Hirons. The woman flat-out knows her skincare. Seriously, watch this. While the foundation of my routine is firmly rooted in the all-natural camp (see love letter to S.W. Basics, below), these cult-favorite products are the ones buzzing on my radar as of late. Most are more readably available on the other side of the pond, which annoys me to no end, but that doesn't stop me from adding them to my virtual wishlist (all the links below do ship internationally, as well).

1. Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum
This one is widely available in the States, and has a rabid following for it's lightweight, refreshing feel, and deeply hydrating results. This is my most-wanted for summer.

2. Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm
A ridiculously long name for a beautiful cleansing balm, this stuff is apparently worth it's weight in gold for gentle, hydrating cleansing.

3.  Jade facial roller
I'm not sure if I buy into the hype on these, but the idea of storing one in the fridge and pulling it out to run over your hot-ass face (as in, sweaty) in the dead of summer makes my heat-averse senses tingle.

4.  Alpha-H Liquid Gold
This glycolic acid-based serum is meant to be an overnight treatment that sloughs off dullness and reveals glowing skin in the morning. I've used products with similar claims, but this one's devoted fans have swayed me to want to add this one to my nighttime routine.

5. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre
Anything known for being a staple in most makeup artist's kits instantly goes on my want-list. This basic cream is known for being a multi-use, moisturizing wonder for a range of skin types.

 6. Hydraluron
Probably my most-wished-for item of the moment, a thin layer of this hyaluronic acid-based gel serum before anything else makes your moisturizer/serum 1,000 times more effective. No, really. Bonus that it's 100% animal-product-free (something hyaluronic acid normally is not). 

What's on your skincare wishlist lately?
Have you tried any of these? If so, what'd you think?

inspired by him, made for her

If my ideal style and life could be condensed down into one single shop, it would have to be Mill Mercantile, unquestionably. Not only are they stocking almost the entire line of Aesop, but they're also big fans of the clog as The Universal Shoe (and I love. me. some. clog.).

Their brick and mortar is in San Francisco (of course), which just makes my near-daily yearning for that city all the more palpable. Until then, I'll be burying myself in their site, dreaming.