Gorgeous Rose: The Modern & Cool New Rose Scent by Lurk Perfumes, Mun, Osmia Organics and NYL Skincare

Why does rose get such a bad rap?  Well, it shouldn't when we're talking about natural skincare and fragrance.  A real, beautiful rose scent is absolutely gorgeous, a synthetic one?  Not so much.  I've compiled my favorite rose products and hope you'll try them out because ahhh, they smell wonderful!

Lurk Perfumes - I recently wrote about Lurk here.  After writing the review, I became so obsessed with several of the fragrances that I just had to have 'em.  So, I ordered two of the ones that I found myself reaching for most throughout the day, RSW005.  This sandalwood/rose scent is so lovely, it's probably the prettiest perfume I've ever smelled.  Just to be clear, natural perfumes don't last as long as synthetic ones, so you'll be re-applying often.  Honestly, I use Lurk just for myself.  I put a bit on the tip of my nose and walk throughout NYC like I'm in an English rose garden.   Check out Lurk here. $55

Mun - Mun No. Aknari has been getting a lot of buzz lately and it's all well-deserved as this eye and face serum is both effective and heavenly.  Other than the fact that it hydrates perfectly, it smells amazing; a powdery rose that's so modern and pretty.  This serum is 100% organic and contains only three ingredients: Prickly Pear Seed, Argan Oil and Rose Essential Oil.  To read my full review of Mun, please visit here.  Get 10% off now using code:  TGPJMUN $95

Osmia Organics - No one (other than maybe Laurie from 312 Beauty) was more excited about Osmia's new Linden Rose Hand Cream coming out than I was.  I'm always so impressed with how professional, yet completely handmade, all of the products from Osmia are.  Linden Rose Hand Cream is what I would define as the perfect consistency.  It's of medium thickness, dries quickly and leaves your hands really hydrated without that greasy feel (I know you know what I'm talking about). With pure ingredients like aloe barbadensis leaf juice, shea butter and sweet almond oil, you know you're in good hands (ugh..bad pun).  $24

NYL Skincare - NYL's vegan cleanser smells just like a rose.  It's so pretty and light, a true pleasure to cleanse with.  So pure, this formula contains only organic rosewater, organic vegetable glycerin and organic castile soap.  This would be wonderful for super sensitive skin types.  The consistency is water-like and it's very gentle.  I like to use this in the shower with my Japanese Konjac Sponge.   To read my full review of NYL (Know Your Ingredients) visit here.  $28

*All of these products were sent to me for review.  All opinions are my own! 

Beauty Tag!

One of my makeup bins.  There's some RMS Beauty, Intelligent Nutrients, Ilia Beauty, Studio 78 & Vapour

So, every now and again a Green Beauty Blogger will send out a Beauty Tag where they answer some questions and then "tag" us and have us answer them.  This tag, a very cute one I might say, was created by Sonja of Life In Blush.

On my nightstand you'll find:  Sans Lip Balm, Lotus Wei's Inner Peace Serum & KYI Moisturizing Mask (I use it for my hands & face before bed) and my iPad.

The literary character I'm most like is: I'm blanking on this.  You tell me...I'm neurotic, chatty, funny, dramatic and driven.  Go.

I'm currently obsessed with:  Ilia Beauty's Bang Bang (didn't think I could wear red before), Mun's No. 1 Aknari Serum, Lurk's RSW005 perfume (big into rose, here) and Intelligent Nutrients' Plant Stem Cell Science Renewal Complex.  I'm also obsessed with the big plans I have for my blog in the future...can't wait!

My favorite superhero is: Wonder Woman.  Who else is there?  How hot did she look in that little outfit?  And the gold lasso?  She slays me!

Favorite beauty product of 2013: Okay, hardest question ever!  Uhm...oh, I think it's my Studio 78 concealer.  

If I could have dinner with anyone dead or alive:  I haven't met him yet, but he's around 6'2", witty and lives in NYC...and he's adorable.  I'm sure he's out there somewhere...

Winter is coming, how do you prep your skin for battle?  I dip into the SW Basics Moisturizer and start removing makeup with coconut oil.

My perfect date night makeup consists of: Crush by Vapour Organic Beauty on the cheeks, Dr. Hauschka liner and Call Me & Love Buzz by Ilia Beauty.  If I'm feeling really feisty (pretty common) I'll go for Sacred by RMS Beauty on lips and cheeks.

My go-to skin-beautifying snack/drink is: Wheatgrass.  God, I detest it, but it works.

My TV boyfriend is: Hmmm...the guy who plays Peter Russo on House of Cards (not conventionally gorgeous, but he does it for me) and uh...the main guy from Walking Dead.  Sure, I'd date him...who wouldn't?

If my evening clutch could hold only one beauty item it would be:  Time to get a new evening clutch.  No, okay, I'll play along...whatever my gloss was for that night.  I don't leave the house without some kind of lipstick or gloss.

One beauty tip I would pass on to my fictional daughter is:  "Be just like your fictional mother.  She's adorable."  Kidding.  Beyond confidence and telling her how cool she is all the time, I would pass on natural sunblock and lead-free lipstick.

The most nostalgic item from my childhood is: My doll Noo-Noo (she was the blond doll in pink that was called "Drowsy").

My favorite show of the moment is:  Well, now that Breaking Bad is over (RIP), I'm going to say I like House of Cards, although I lose the plot whenever Robin Wright saunters on the screen, hot damn!

My favorite quote is: "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.  Be kind.  Always."  Hits home every time I read it.  

I tag:  Alexis from The Green Beauty Bunny, Kasey Michelle from Plein Vanity and Marcella from Naturally Marcy

hand blended lurk natural perfumes are beautiful and wickedly alluring

I couldn't even get near it.  When I went to the Night of Green Beauty event here in NYC, I got to meet so many of the creators of my favorite natural skincare and makeup lines, but there was just one little area that I couldn't get near for the life of me due to the crowds of women reaching for these pretty little bottles.  I finally asked someone, "Who the heck is over there, Buddha?" "No," she answered, "that's LURK."  I cocked my head to the side, "Hmmm...Lurk, you say?"  Duly noted.

Why Lurk?  Everyone has their own taste in perfumes clearly, but I think there's something everyone will love here.  The descriptions on Lurk's site capture the essence of the scents perfectly. Currently, they have five perfumes, all hand blended and made using only essential oils in organic jojoba.  Naturally, there's no chemical preservatives or additives.  At $55 a bottle, I also found Lurk to be really affordable.  I'm pretty obsessed with RSW005 - a rose scent that is so calming and pretty, I just keep inhaling.

Who's lurking behind LURK? 
Anne Sanford of Lurk is very cool.   On her site it says she's a perfumer, product development specialist, interior designer and creative director with a background in beauty marketing branding and brand development.  Well!  Way to make everyone else on the planet feel like we are devoid of the Talent Gene, there, Anne.  Sheesh!

   Q & A: 

Why make natural perfumes?

I have been really into oils for about a decade now and really wanted to create perfumes for a while before I jumped into it.  I like the challenge of “all natural” and I also felt that the market needed something a little bit different. Itʼs fun and def not always easy, but I like aspects of it.

Whatʼs your typical outfit for a day? (You seem to have a great look.  If you were wearing mom jeans, Iʼd leave this one out.)

Def no mom jeans here ;).  My typical outfit is jeans (Iʼm obsessed with denim), Vans Old Skool Slip Onʼs or high tops (Isabel Marant), T-shirt, army jacket or sweater wrap.  I love jewelry so I tend to jam a bunch of crazy stuff on my wrists, fingers etc.

How do you come up with a new scent?

It always starts with a image in my mind or something that I have seen.. I identify scent with imagery so once the flow starts I generally start writing down thoughts, ideas and the scents I am attaching to that process. Then I start getting into the oils and seeing how they flow together. Itʼs really fun and the outcome is not always what I think it will be.

I see a luminizer product in your line now, are you planning on getting into makeup and/ or skincare?

Yes, I am currently working on re-formulating the Luminosity Stick (making it more green) and I am also working on skincare for 2014.

What makes Lurk awesome?

Wow, thatʼs a tough question ;).  I think that LURKʼs commitment to keeping things outside of the box yet really simple and straightforward at the same time is cool.  I also really love LURKʼs commitment to purity and doing things our way.   Weʼre not afraid to take chances and that can be very rewarding. 

*I received samples to test.  All opinions are my own.  Try LURK…this is the real deal, Neil.