• Skincare
  • Makeup
  • Fragrance
  • Self-Care & Wellness
  • About

The Beauty Gypsy

Luxury beauty * Self care * Sustainability

You are here: Home / Fashion / RIP Munnu Kasliwal, the crown jeweller of India

RIP Munnu Kasliwal, the crown jeweller of India

As I wait for the plane to take off from Jaipur, the memory that beckons is one from my wedding days: Munnu Kasliwal draping and tempting my inner princess with a luscious necklace of Burmese rubies and diamond rondelles the size of quail eggs. “After the wedding, you can simply wear these with a T-shirt and jeans,” suggested the Gem Palace co-owner as I stared in disbelief. A necklace worth US$2.5 million with my Gap denims? Sure!

But that was Munnu Kasliwal for you – full of surprises, eager to show you how to truly enjoy your jewels and skilled at walking the very fine line between traditional opulence and contemporary sophistication. For jewellery connoisseurs, he ranked right up there with Cartier and Harry Winston. Collectors, curators and celebs regularly made the pilgrimage to Jaipur’s Gem Palace as much for its 152-year-old legacy as for Munnu’s 21st century designs. So, when news came of this 54-years-old maestro’s unexpected demise last week, the world suddenly started seeming a lot less lustrous.

Munnu showcases a seven-strand necklace in W
Munnu showcases a seven-strand necklace in W

The man behind the legend

Some would say that Munnu’s success was a natural legacy for an eighth generation descendant of a jewellery House that dates back to 1852 and was court jeweller to the Mughals. Over the years, its clientele has included everyone from the Queen of Sweden and Emperor of Japan to Rajmata Gayatri Devi and Jackie Kennedy.

However, a legacy can only take you so far and Munnu knew that he had to knit the past and the present to ensure a place for his family business in the 21st century. So, he created jewels that one usually sees in paintings of 17th century maharajas: dazzlingly elaborate and replete with precious stones that shimmered and sparkled even in muted candlelight; yet, somehow, they were also right for the 21st century – the cuts and layering perfectly complementing an Alexander McQueen ballgown. Or Gap jeans.

Nicole Kidman wearing a diamond necklace designed by Munnu on the Vogue USA cover
Nicole Kidman wearing a diamond necklace designed by Munnu on the Vogue USA cover

It was this understanding, coupled with his inherent talent, which spearheaded the Gem Palace’s permanent exhibit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (the world’s only jewellery firm to get this honour) and the Neue Galerie. And it was Munnu’s designs that retailed at organisations like Barney’s and Caribou Jewels, where they continue to be much sought after by European royals, Hollywood celebs, Italian fashion designers, German barons, Moroccan royals and Arab sheikhs. Gwyneth Paltrow, Princess Diana, Nicole Kidman, Emilio Pucci… the list of those who swore by this master jeweller’s unrivalled quality and cuts can go on and on and on. And on.

Royal buyers!
Royal buyers!

A private view

The Gem Palace in Jaipur is a historic haveli filled to the brim with Colombian emerald pendants, Burmese ruby cuffs and delicate citrine earrings. But to get a true sense of Munnu, one had to visit (rather, be invited into) his atelier, which was hidden on the building’s top floor.

munnu kasliwal gem palace 5Here, the walls were covered in hand-blocked Indian textiles, while sink-in dhurries zigzagged across the white marble floor in cool blue hues and sequinned pink and orange pillows popped against antique wooden chairs. This is where we usually lounged during hot Jaipur afternoons, feasting on chilled lassi, as Munnu unlocked treasure after treasure. A diamond necklace anchored by a 125-carat emerald pendant; chandelier earrings crafted from aquamarines, topaz and lapis; Burmese ruby rings rimmed with rose-cut diamonds; a pink, yellow and blue sapphire and diamond bracelet… all rare, all delicious, all highly desirable.

If not exactly affordable. I still remember the sindoor box he showed me for the wedding – it was a masterpiece of 927 sparkling rubies that had been cut, polished and set to such precision that they gave the illusion of the finest meenakari. The piece had taken four years to complete and would require the annual revenue of a small country to possess.

But Munnu was almost oblivious to the riches that surrounded him, preferring to focus on the prettiness of his stones rather than their monetary value. Piles of loose stones, kundan bracelets, 200-carat diamond necklaces, gemstone rings and sapphire drops would be casually strewn around the atelier, while a never-ending retinue of domestic staff, international models and drop-by guests glided through the room. You stepped in prepared to be draped with all sorts of pearl ropes and diamond tikkas by the designer, who delighted in decking out guests in millions of dollars worth of baubles – just for fun!

Aladdin’s cave would seem puny beside the treasures opening up here… in fact, fellow designer Marie-Hélène de Taillac once found a runaway ruby buried in a sofa. I never had such luck but even without the treasure hunt, this was an experience not soon forgotten!

munnu kasliwal gem palace 4New York times

Then there were the evenings in the townhouse on New York’s Upper East Side, where Moroccan artists mingled with hedge fund managers while lounging on hot pink chairs and purple velvet sofas – all bathed in the light of violet-coloured David Hicks lamps. Here, the walls were done in scarlet fabric and fitted with coloured Italian glass vitrines – a little Indian but not too Indian – the perfect setting for the contemporary, one-of-a-kind pieces Munnu created for his international buyers.

The jewels, when they arrived, came laden on trays – gold mesh cuffs studded with rose cut diamonds, armbands sprinkled with peridots, crescent-shaped sapphire chandeliers and enormous emerald pendants strung from strands of natural pearls. This is where I met my jewelled soul mate: a necklace of cascading flowers carved from sliced rose-cut diamonds (don’t ask!), the back covered with elaborate enamel-work.

Attention lies in the details

And this is what made Munnu’s work exceptional: one look at his jewellery was enough to tell you how much painstaking detail went into each piece. For example, he would adorn both the front and back of his creations. “I believe,” he would always say, “that beauty is not only about what the eye can see.”

And then there was the relentless hunt for quality. In fact, Munnu sourced all the stones himself – once finding a ruby stuck in a buffalo’s hoof in China (no wonder he claimed to find inspiration “everywhere”). “Jewelry is not for one generation,” he believed. Which was perfectly natural for a jeweller whose family has been associated with jewellery for eight generations. His was the quest for an everlasting beauty – and it showed.

Diamonds & jeans

A page from Le Figaro
A page from Le Figaro

Munnu’s pet peeve was that most people hid away their jewellery, only bringing it out for special events. “Diamonds are not just for special occasions. They are for every day,” was his mantra. To meet him unadorned was to get a lecture in how not to waste those exquisite creations by locking them away in concealed vaults. Once, when I tried putting up a logical (at least to me) argument on how it was unsafe to parade the city streets draped in a couple of million dollars worth of jewellery, he impishly retorted: “When you wear something so ostentatious in such surroundings, no-one will ever dream they’re real!” Could you argue with that?

munnu kasliwal gem palace 7Buying back a legacy

Over the years, the Kasliwal family has collected some important pieces and the private rooms of Gem Palace are like a veritable museum. There is Babar’s magnificent emerald (inscribed ‘Allah is always greater than the greatest emperor’); a 32 piece gold and diamond chess set from the early 19th century; a solid gold plate and spoon studded with diamonds, which was made for the Maharaja of Jaipur in the 18th century; and a 165-year-old, life size gold enameled parrot, inlaid with rubies and diamond. The last is actually a liquor flask – the liquid is poured in the bird’s head and sipped from the rose bud held in its beak.

However, for all the flash and sparkle of his work, Munnu was quietly understated in his own personal style. Usually dressed in a traditional white linen kurta, his simplicity was the antithesis of the luxurious business in which he worked every day, exuding the kind of rare panache that can only come with true brilliance.

And that’s the image of this brilliant jeweller that will live on in my memory forever even as his son Siddharth – the ninth generation of Kasliwal jewelers – steps into Munnu’s prematurely empty shoes at the Gem Palace. And I will be wearing a 120-carat rose cut diamond pendant with faded Gap jeans and a white shirt to watch Ice Age 4 on Saturday night. Because when the time comes to pass on the heritage of stones to the next generation, I want to be able to tell my daughter (or daughter-in-law) about the man who changed the world by bringing fun back into the annals of fashion. Because that, in the end, was Munnu’s greatest gift to the women of this century – the freedom to truly enjoy our small and big luxuries.

Comments

  1. junoesque says

    September 2, 2012 at 23:06

    lovely piece. made munnu come alive. 120 carats ? gulp….

    Reply
    • anubha says

      September 3, 2012 at 17:56

      That was my wedding purchase from Munnu – and he was so right. Nobody batted an eyelid when I wore it to the movies with the most casual jeans. They all thought it was costume jewellery :))))

      Reply
  2. junoesque says

    September 3, 2012 at 23:36

    phewwwwwwww

    Reply
    • anubha says

      September 4, 2012 at 18:46

      🙂

      Reply
  3. Dessy says

    September 6, 2012 at 17:58

    Lovely piece of writing about an incredible and inspirational man. such a shame to loose him so young.

    Reply
    • anubha says

      September 7, 2012 at 02:13

      Inspirational is the perfect word to describe him Dessy. He was always so full of life that it’s hard to imagine him not being here, paying with his sparkly gems like one does with jellybeans!

      Reply
  4. himadri says

    September 6, 2012 at 19:43

    Thanks for the article, met him last year for the first time while visiting the store- he had so much to teach about stones and jewellery- we chatted about Italy- something in common that we both had and then he went on to show me his collection of vintage cars. It was one of the most memorable afternoons in Jaipur to feel instantly connected over so much- felt like a school girl in a museum shop. Glad to have met him in his lifetime.

    Reply
    • anubha says

      September 7, 2012 at 02:11

      So true – he could make anyone feel at ease within minutes!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next Post >

RIP Prabuddha Dasgupta… the beauty maverick who defined a “new” India

About me

Hello... I am Anubha. I am a former Beauty Director at Marie Claire and current global wanderer. I have a soft spot for beauty products that are super-effective, sustainable AND create a luxurious self care experience. Read More…

Search

Trending on the blog

elizabeth arden eight hour cream

Cult classic: 12 ways to use the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream

monthly beauty subscription box

The top 8 luxury beauty subscription boxes you need in your life!

yoga for beginners

Yoga for beginners: Everything you need to know about how to start yoga

hey there!

I am Anubha... a former Beauty Director at Marie Claire and current global wanderer. I have a soft spot for beauty products that are super-effective, sustainable AND create a luxurious self care experience.

Beauty

  • Skincare
  • Acne
  • Product reviews
  • Hair
  • Makeup
  • Fragrance
  • Nails

Lifestyle

  • Self-Care & Wellness
  • Candles
  • Fashion
  • Just me!
  • Privacy Policy for The Beauty Gypsy

Latest on Instagram

View
Open
And to all a good night… 🌲🎄

#elfontheshelf #elfontheshelfideas #elfonashelf #merrychristmas
View
Open
In memory of all the summer evenings spent looking up at the sky. #cloudspotting is sometimes the best form of self care. Who agrees?⁣
⁣
☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️⁣
⁣
⁣
#joyinthesmallthings #skiesofinstagram #headintheclouds #cloudslovers #cloudappreciation #cloudysunset #sunsetlandscape #sunsetcolors #sunsetloversgram #skypainting #goldensky #sunsetclouds #cloudscapes #sunsetaddict #cloudformation #cloudsphotography #skyoftheday #cloudsofinstagram #cloudart #cloudyskies #sunrise_sunset #colorfulsky #crazyclouds #skylove #viewoftheday #sunsetvibes #moodynature #skystagram #skyphoto
View
Open
Do you know that Vaseline was used for baking? ⁣
⁣
That Shiseido also makes ice cream? ⁣
⁣
That Listerine made cigarettes to counter bad breath?⁣
⁣
That Ponds cream was called “cold” because it was the world’s first moisturiser that did not require refrigeration? ⁣
⁣
That Yardley is not only the world’s oldest registered beauty brand but also sponsored the British Racing Motors team in the Formula 1 Grand Prix? ⁣
⁣
That each of these beauty brands are almost older than time?⁣
⁣
Do you know why some brands stick around for a few centuries? ⁣
⁣
Because they are already so perfect that nobody felt the need to tinker with their formula AT ALL. ⁣
⁣
And they still continue to sell… with competence, efficacy and well proven results.⁣
⁣
These then, right here, are the world’s oldest beauty products. ⁣
⁣
Save the reel for your next shopping trip because each of these products is a cult formula that EVERYONE should try at least once.⁣
⁣
And click on the link in bio for more products that go back centuries.⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#perfumehistory #beautyhistory #skincareproducts #skincareproductsthatwork #oldestperfumery #yardley #yardleylondon #oldestsoap #santamarianovella #nostalgia #nostalgiacore #acquadiparma #acquadiparmacolonia #timelessbeauty #beautyinfluencer #makeupknowledge #vintagebeauty #beautytrivia #beautytalk #aboutbeauty #beautyproducts #beautycommunity⁣
 ⁣
⁣
View
Open
Looking for an anti-stress fragrance? ⁣
⁣
A fragrance that pulls you from the chaos into a sense of calm. Which can drop your blood pressure and make your body feel less wound up. 💚💚⁣
⁣
Want to know more about it?⁣
⁣
First we need to talk about “forest bathing” — scientifically proven for reducing stress and bringing our mind and body into balance. 🌳🌿🌱🍃⁣
⁣
In fact, the Japanese are even known to medically prescribe shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, which is about spending time in a forest. ⁣
⁣
There's no jogging, no hiking (and no bathing)... only immersing yourself in nature.⁣
⁣
Science establishes that this practise has very real benefits, including:⁣
— Stress reduction⁣
— Decreased inflammation⁣
— Drop in blood pressure⁣
— Increased positivity⁣
— Heightened immunity⁣
— Better sleep⁣
— Better skin⁣
⁣
Unfortunately though, this is becoming impossible in the chaos of city living.⁣
⁣
Which is why I have been LOVING The Nue Co’s Forest Lungs. Inspired by forest bathing, this is literally the next best thing to walking in a forest. 💚🌿🌿💚⁣
⁣
Green, woody, citrus and smoky, it mimics the effects of nature in more ways than one. ⁣
⁣
There is, of course, the fragrance itself — a blend of bergamot, vetiver, cedarwood and pine.⁣
⁣
But more important are the phytoncides: the  organic compounds produced by trees, which when inhaled, are both physically and emotionally healing.⁣
⁣
You will find me spraying it liberally on high stress days or when I need some centering. In about 15 minutes, I feel myself sinking into a state of calm… a state of relaxation.⁣
⁣
It’s like walking deep into the woods, under a canopy of lush green trees, feet sinking into the leaves and moss and fallen flowers. 🍀☘️🌿🍃⁣
⁣
It helps me just breathe easier, be less on the edge, have more bandwidth to focus. ⁣
⁣
Drop a 💚 if you could use some stress relief as well right now!⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#thenueco #fragrance #foresttherapy #forestlover #forestbathingtherapy #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #perfume #stressrelief #natureheals #intotheforest #aromatherapy #naturetherapy #forestlovers #natureaddict #functionalfragrance #wellness #antistress #stressrelief  #bringtheoutsidein #forestlungs #selfcare
View
Open
Are you a sexy red? Or a demure ballet pink? Or maybe a bold and daring black? Fact is that whether they’re glammed up with sparkly polish or left unadorned, nails can tell a lot about a person. ❤️💙💜💛🖤💚⁣
⁣
Try to remember for a moment, what’s your instant assessment when you see someone wearing black nail polish? Now do you see my point? And does it make you wonder exactly what secrets your own nails are spilling?⁣
⁣
Swipe to see the scoop from colour psychology experts, who explain how your choice of nail polish could be making that first impression for you. 😎😻⁣
⁣
So, what nail polish color do you typically wear? And don’t cheat and say clear! Personally, I am all about a burnished gold or a soft glitter. You?⁣
⁣
PS: Click on the link in bio for more nail polish colors — including black and nude — and what they are secretly revealing about you.⁣
⁣
AND save this post for your next nail polish pick!⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#nailpolishcolor #blacknailpolish #rednailpolish #pinknailpolish #nudenailpolish #bluenailpolish #glitternails #glitternailart #glitternailpolish #nailpolishcolors #nailpolishlover #blacknails #nailpolish #nailpolishlove #nailsofinstagram #nailgoals #nailsonfleek #nailtrends #nailonpoint #bluenails #greennails #colorfulnails #glitternails #nailsinspo #trendynails #purplenails #nailstagram #whitenails #nailpolishaddict #nailpolishjunkie
View
Open
Tell me you’re falling for the autumn vibes without telling me you’re falling for the autumn vibes 🍁🍂🥮⁣
⁣
Double tap if you love Fall as much as I do ❤️🧡🧡❤️⁣
⁣
⁣
#fallcolours #changingseasons #autumnlight #autumnfood #autumnalvibes #iloveautumn #seasonschange #fallcolors #autumncollection #leaveschanging #autumnlook #fallphotography #fallfashion #favouriteseason #autumndays #cozyfall #favoriteseason #autumnfeels #autumninspiration #autumnleaves #autumnwalks #autumvibes #autumncolors #autumnaesthetic #autumnoutfits #fallvibes #coloursofautumn #autumnvibes #falldecor
View
Open
Happy happy happy happy first wedding anniversary to the most gorgeous, amazing, special, insane, crazy and cool couples I know. May you hold each other forever, hands and hearts ♥️ ⁣
⁣
#happyweddinganniversary #weddinganniversary #anniversary #happyoneyearanniversary
View
Open
A flower a day keeps the gloomies away 🌸🌹🌻🌼⁣
⁣
Do you love fresh flowers as much as I do?? Which ones are your favourites??⁣
⁣
#bouquetofflowers #flowers #floraldecor #flowerseverywhere #flowervase #flowersphotography #flowershot #prettyflowers #cutflowers #flowerphotos #cottagecoreaesthetic #flowersgram #floralinspiration #flowersinstagram #flowerofinstagram #flowerslover #floweraddict #floralstyling #flowerarrangements #flowerdecoration #flowersmakemesmile ⁣
⁣
View
Open
Close your eyes and imagine you are stretched out on a freshly made bed. A bed layered with clean, crisp linen sheets that have been drying in an idyllic, rural backyard all day. ⁠⁣
⁠⁣
There’s the lingering warmth of a languid summer day. ⁠☀️☀️☀️☀️⁣
⁠⁣
The cooling freshness of the sheer breeze blowing off dewy grass. ⁠🌾🌾⁣
⁠⁣
The embrace of wildflowers. ⁠🌻🌹🌸🌼⁣
⁠⁣
And the coziness of putting on clothes straight from the dryer after you step out of a long, languid bubble bath. ⁠🛁👚⁣
⁠⁣
That’s Clean Classic’s Soft Laundry eau de parfum: Clean, cool, comforting.⁠⁣
⁠⁣
With top notes of bergamot, pear and a marine accord that bring a burst of freshness the second you spritz on the fragrance. A middle of jasmine, waterlily and iris to bring home sun-drenched meadows. And a base of musk, amber and sandalwood to envelop you in a sense of well being.⁠ 🥰🥰⁣
⁠⁣
This is a perfume I can wear every day. Mornings, afternoons, evenings. ⁠⁣
⁠⁣
And while it’s not technically a nighttime, “going out” fragrance, I have had so many compliments whenever it’s remained on my skin for a party (because it has great longevity — so, if I have sprayed it on in the morning, there’s still a flicker late in the evening!). ⁠⁣
⁠⁣
It’s just so comforting and fresh and casual — light and perfect for layering.⁠⁣
⁠⁣
And, like all Clean’s fragrances, it’s made up of clean, sustainable ingredients. Even the corn-derived cellophane wrapper is biodegradable and compostable.⁠ 🌿🌱⁣
⁠⁣
In short: It’s pure love for me. The hug I need as the day begins. The freshness that cools down my afternoons. The trail of comfort that goes with me through the day.⁠⁣
⁠⁣
What’s YOUR favorite daytime scent?⁠⁣
⁠⁣
⁠⁣
⁠⁣
@cleanbeauty_collective #myclean #cleanbeautycollective #cleanatsephora #cleanreserve #nontoxicbeauty #ecobeauty #nontoxicfragrance #cleanfragrance #cleanperfume #cleanreservesoftlaundry #freshfragrance #freshperfume #sustainableperfume #sustainablefragrance #sustainablebeauty #freshlinenscent #scentoftheday #fragrancelover #fragranceoftheday #perfumelover #summeryperfume #perfumelovers #perfumecollection #perfumeoftheday #perfume #joyinthesmallthings ⁠⁣
View
Open
Starting the week with some Van Gogh vibes 🌻☀️☀️🌻⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#sunflowers #sunflower #flowers #yellow #sunshine #flowersofinstagram #summervibes #flowerstagram #sunflowerlove #flowerpower #yellowflowers #sunnyday #vangogh #sunflowersofinstagram #freshflowers #sunflowerlover #goldenhour #wildflowers #summerflowers #sunflowergarden #sunflowerseason #sunflowerbouquet #flowerlover #flowerlovers #sunflowerfield #yellowflowers #flowerphotography #sunflowerfields #igreels #findingjoyinthesmallthings ⁣
View
Open
Yes. And Yes. But you need to keep some things in mind for skin icing to be safe AND effective. (Plus, how gorgeous are these flower ice balls that are super-simple to make at home)? ⁣
⁣
Benefits of icing your face:⁣
⁣
🧊Reduces puffiness and inflammation⁣
🧊Helps minimize acne⁣
🧊Reduces redness⁣
🧊Makes pores look smaller⁣
🧊Tightens the skin⁣
🧊Soothes a sunburn⁣
🧊Reduces dark circles and puffiness under the eyes⁣
🧊Boosts blood circulation to gives you an instant glow⁣
🧊It’s super-refreshing!⁣
⁣
⁣
How to ice your face — safely and effectively:⁣
⁣
🔹If you have sensitive skin, don’t apply ice to it directly. Instead, wrap the ice cubes in a soft towel or muslin cloth.⁣
🔹Don’t hold the ice to one area of your face… keep moving it around constantly in small circular motions.⁣
🔹Don’t ice more than once a day.⁣
⁣
⁣
As for these gorgeous ice cubes you see here. Simply pop a few small flowers, leaves and herbs into your ice tray along with the water… they will freeze into utterly gorgeous pieces of art. 🌸🌼🌿🌱⁣
⁣
You can even use them for some super-cool looking beverages, if you can get your hands on some edible flowers.⁣
⁣
The easiest way to elevate your skincare and turn it into a self care experience, right? 💙💙💙💙⁣
⁣
Save this reel for your next skincare/self care moment.⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#joyinthesmallthings #faceicing #facialicing #skinicing #icefacial #icemassage #coldtherapy #skincaretips #icetherapy #beautyhacks #cryotherapy #floralicecubes #underthefloralspell #flowersofinstagram #flowericecubes #icing #iceyourskin
View
Open
The perfect red lipstick doesn’t exi—. But it does! ⁣
⁣
Red lipstick is my love language and after going through about 54738648957868768 of them in my 15-year career as a beauty editor, let me tell you that GXVE Beauty’s Original Me Matte Lipstick and I'm Still Here Matte Liquid Lipstick are real thing 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻⁣
⁣
Let’s say that again: The. Real. Thing.⁣
⁣
@gxvebeauty — the makeup brand by @gwenstefani — could have been just another one of those celeb launches with all the form and none of the function.⁣
⁣
With one small difference: Gwen has some serious real world makeup experience. ⁣
⁣
Before the Grammy-bedazzled music career, she worked as a makeup artist. And to date, she continues to do her own makeup for the stage. 🎙🎙⁣
⁣
AND she spent 4 years formulating her makeup line along with some of the best brains in the business.⁣
⁣
The result? High performance formulas that deliver.⁣
⁣
My favorites are the red lipsticks, an obvious starting point as Stefani made it her signature look in the 90s. 💄💄💄💄⁣
⁣
‘I’m Still Here’ is a budge-proof liquid lipstick that’s intensely pigmented, dries down to a matte finish and is super lightweight.⁣
⁣
‘Original Recipe’ is Gwen's signature true red — a luxurious, velvety matte that will stay on for hours without drying out your lips.⁣
⁣
Both shades have the happiness of those rare reds that work with all complexions, so you don’t need to play guessing games with undertones and overtones 💋💋💋⁣
⁣
And both are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free.⁣
⁣
So, yes… the perfect red lipstick does exist. With GXVE. Which, by the way, is pronounced as “give" and was inspired by how Gwen’s signed her name forever — Gx. That’s Gwen with a kiss 💋⁣
⁣
Are you Camp Red Lipstick? Or Camp Subtle? C’mon… SHARE!⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#gxvebeauty #redlips #redlipstick #gwenstefani #makeuplover #makeupoftheday #glammakeup #liquidlipstick #mattelipstick #redlips #redlip #lipstickswatch #lipstickmatte #makeuplook #lipstickjunkie #makeuponfleek #lipsticklover #lipstickaddict #lipstickoftheday #redlipsticks #redlipstickday #redlipsticklover #redlipsticklook #gxve #cleanmakeup #cleanmakeupproducts #veganmakeup #veganmakeupproducts #lipstickday⁣
⁣
View
Open
Lipstick? Sculpture? Something to casually swipe across your lips? Or a pure work of art?⁠⁣
⁠⁣
Somehow @florasis.official is the rare unicorn that manages to combine all these opposites into one GORGEOUS makeup offering that looks just as dramatic on your vanity as it does on your lips. 💄💄💄💄💄💄⁠⁣
⁠⁣
Scratch that actually... what it needs is its own glass box and spotlight. Get the lips out of the way!!!!!⁠⁣
⁠⁣
This modern Chinese brand is bringing to life heritage Asian legends and crafts for makeup products that have an instant heirloom quality. I mean, hold this intricately engraved lipstick in your hands and you will feel regal. I promise!⁠⁣
⁠⁣
And it's not a superficial feeling. It's one borne from an authentic mastery of the crafts. ⁠⁣
⁠⁣
Florasis has assembled some of the best artists in China — including Zhou Chunyi, a Master of Miniature Carving, who has collaborated on these carved lipsticks that are inspired by Chinese relief sculpture. 💋👨‍🎨👨‍🎨💋⁠⁣
⁠⁣
The brand also sources local floral essences and medicinal plant extracts for its color cosmetics. These Love Lock lipsticks, for instance, contains extracts of Dendrobium Nobile (an orchid native to southern China) and lotus flower — two beauty ingredients that were highly prized by indigenous Chinese beauties. 🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷⁠⁣
⁠⁣
I still haven't swatched this one because it's just too pretty to touch but I promise to get there soon 😭😭 ⁠⁣
⁠⁣
Till then, I will just take it out every once in a while and soak up the pure joy it brings me ❤️🥰⁠⁣
⁠⁣
However, other friends who have been able to get around to actually using them (heartbreak city!) tell me they are super pigmented, lightweight and wear for a long, long time without fading or feathering. ⁠⁣
⁠⁣
AND you don't need a passport to get your hands on one — they are available on Amazon (link in bio). 🗺️🌏️⁠⁣
⁠⁣
Would you buy a product and then tuck it away because you can't bear to spoil the way it looks? Or is that just me 🫣😳😵🥶⁠⁣
⁠⁣
#florasis #lovelocklipstick #lipstick #lipstickaddict #makeupfinds #engravedlipstick #instabeauty #redlipstick #lipsticklover #makeupphotography
View
Open
Buy a perfume and save the earth? Sounds lofty and no one product can actually undo the mess we have made of our planet. But kudos to brands that are trying.⁣
⁣
One of my favorites is @guerlain, which supports the super-endangered bee population through its Guerlain for Bees Conservation Programme. Through this weekend, 20% of the brand's sales will go to the Programme, which runs bee schools, sustainability initiatives & supports beekeepers through the year.⁣
⁣
A great fit, given the beauty brand's long association with bees — ever noticed that their iconic perfume bottles are adorned with a myriad of bees? ⁣
⁣
[Scroll through for closeups — and click the link in bio for whole history of Guerlain and the bees. Trust me, it's FASCINATING.] ⁣
⁣
But why are bees so important? Aren’t they just a pain? And can’t we just live without honey? 🤷🏻‍♀️⁣
⁣
Well, when you consider that 90% of the world’s flowering plants & more than 35% of the food crops rely on these tiny, buzzy workers for pollination — and hence survival — do you still think we can live without them? ⁣
⁣
It’s not just honey, it’s about EVERYTHING. The food we eat, the flowers we love, the life we enjoy. Basically, bees may be the third most important thing for humans after the sun & water. 🐝🐝⁣
⁣
As Einstein said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” 🌾🌺🥀🌻⁣
⁣
And these bees ARE disappearing at a frightening rate. Think pesticides, deforestation, WiFi signals, mono-cropping… it’s all causing bees to die out. 🌍🌏⁣
⁣
The problem is so serious that the United Nations has designated a World Bee Day (it’s today!). So, how can we help? Some of the easiest ways:⁣
⁣
🐝 Buy raw honey from local farmers ⁣
🐝 Reduce the use of pesticides, fungicides or herbicides⁣
🐝 Get bee-friendly plants for your garden⁣
🐝 Leave a water bowl outside for the pollinators⁣
🐝 Support bee-conscious brands — my other favorites are @burtsbees, @trudon and @gisou ⁣
⁣
And share this post to raise awareness... the decline of bees affects us all!⁣
⁣
Drop a 🐝 in the comments if you agree!
View
Open
#currentvibes⁠⁣
⁠⁣
Or, as Lorelai Gilmore would say: "I can’t stop drinking the coffee. I stop drinking the coffee, I stop doing the standing, and the walking, and the words-putting-into-sentences doing.”⁠⁣
⁣
⁣
⁠⁣
#coffeeisinspiration #coffeeisselfcare ⁠⁣
#coffeelover #coffeeaddict #coffeegram #coffeelovers #coffeelove #coffeeislife #butfirstcoffee #coffeeholic ⁠⁣
#bossbabe #inspirationalquotes #positivethoughts ⁠⁣
#entrepreneurlife #mood #vibes ⁠⁣
#motivationalquotes #happiness @gilmoregirls #gilmoregirlscoffee #coffeequotes #coffeevibes #coffeeoftheday #coffeepeople #coffeeislove #coffeecommunity #coffeeplease
View
Open
If, like me, you think of perfumes as one of life’s little joyful luxuries, Lancôme’s new Oui, La Vie est Belle is a fragrance that will tick all your boxes. ⁣
⁣
Oui, La Vie est Belle… Yes, Life is Beautiful. 💖💝⁣
⁣
So beautiful that it’s like a shower of dazzling fireworks… etched in gold on the iconic bottle. ✨✨✨✨⁣
⁣
So beautiful that it’s like the bottle which evokes the rounded imprint of a smile at the heart of a crystal square. ⁣
⁣
So beautiful that it’s dressed with the juiciness of raspberries, underlined with uplifting patchouli and overflowing with happy, gorgeous flowers like the powdery Iris, seductive jasmine, opulent Damascene rose and spicy ylang-ylang. 🌹🏵🏵🌹⁣
⁣
So beautiful that it makes me want to sparkle from the inside out. 🌟⭐️🌟✨⁣
⁣
Oui, La Vie est Belle. Yes, life is beautiful. And this perfume has become my reminder of that uplifting, reaffirming fact every single day. It inspires me to take pleasure in the little moments. It lifts my spirits when things get tough. It shines and sparkles when I slip into a silk dress for a night out with friends. And it radiates pure bliss when I don my oldest PJs and snuggle up with a good book for a night all to myself.⁣
⁣
Life is joyfully, utterly beautiful. So is this limited edition fragrance. I promise.⁣
⁣
@lancomeofficial #Lancome #LaVieEstBelle #lancomeofficial #lancomeperfume #lancomeparis #lancomelavieestbelle #lancomebeauty #lancomehappiness
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 The Beauty Gypsy · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...