Shopping most cosmetic websites can be a jumbly-fumbly experience. Even the classy ones like Sephora and the recently-defunct Reflect.com can feel as vast and characterless as a virtual WalMart--shopping Sephora's site has never equalled the sensual adventure of browsing their physical stores. While comprehensiveness is good, there's been a dearth of boutique-scaled sites catering to the makeup afficionado.
Now, however, you can go straight to b-glowing.com to peruse a distinct, beautifully designed and easily browsable website that is the online equivalent of walking into Fred Segal Beauty. The first thing I noticed is that they carry some of my favorite boutique lines, like Two Faced and Three Custom Colors, a company whose every eyeshadow shade comes in a "warm" and "cool" version for different skin tones--how cool (or warm if you will) is that? b-glowing carries a carefully edited number of lines, so chances are, if you love one of them, you'll want to try some of the others. It's like getting a recommendation of a book to read by a friend who shares your taste.
Founder Lisa James lists her title as "Chief Beauty Junkie," and hers is definitely a site
by and for addicts. But the same things that make the site is a conoisseur's playground also serendipitously make it idiot-proof for chippers. There doesn't seem to be a single product here that isn't fabulous, and there's a "concierge" service if you need help.
I already have a wish list, which includes:
- Rose Poivree from the Different Company. A scent containing damascus rose, rose bay, pepper, coriander, vetiver and civet. b-glowing also sells sample vials of all scents for $3.
- Mojo Cosmetics' Lip Bullet in a fire-engine red called Conviction. Amazing color, even more amazing packaging.
- Aromapharmacy "Coldex" Candle. Just what it sounds like--a therapeutic candle in a votive designed to look like a prescription bottle. I'd also like the "Ritalert" and "Valiumello" candles to cover the bases.
Look for an interview with Lisa James here soon.....
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