Hello, my friends! It’s September 1st! Let Pumpkin Spice Season begin! Around here September 1st through September 30th is when the comfy leggings come out, the Uggs are slipped on, and all the damn things Pumpkin Spice come into play.

Fun fact.

I don’t drink coffee. I’m not a big fan of it. I’ll grab the occasional macchiato when I need a little buzz but it’s rare. I do get the mandatory PSL in though when September 1st rolls around because dude, it’s just that time of the year yanno?

Of course, as we roll into pumpkin spice season we need to get up the traditional post to celebrate here on Musings of a Muse!

Here’s a few things you’ll need to get your basic bitchery on.

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I was discussing bringing out some of my older Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Fragrances for Fall 2021 and I realized a bottle of Annabel Lee that I had stashed away is quite rare. Who knew? Annabel Lee was introduced with A Demon in my View Collection that ran for several months on the Lab’s website back in 2005. The collection was a tribute to the late, great Edgar Allan Poe and obviously, no collection would be complete without a fragrance called Annabel Lee right?

Someone is selling a bottle of Annabel Lee on eBay for $150. What?! My head about exploded when I saw this. I’d personally never sell my bottle as I do cherish it but wow, talk about greed.

Since the start of Spooky Season is upon us (FIGHT ME! It’s September 1st! Let the Halloween festivities begin!) my thoughts came to Annabel Lee and I scanned my laptop and brought up a picture of her bottle that I had stashed away. I closed my eyes and I thought of how she smelled and this article came to be at 4:50 AM as I listened to the gentle breathing of my boyfriend at rest, as a cloud engulfed our hotel room and surrounded us with an eerie fog so far above the city of Seattle, as images of spooky things entered my head….!

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Beauty M&A’s continue as we grow near the fourth quarter of the year. As you know the biggest news of the year was Estee Lauder’s deal to acquire the rest of Deciem (finally and valued at 2.2 billion) and of course, the most recent news that Shiseido was Laura Mercier, Buxom, and Bare Minerals was sold to a private equality firm. The amount was finally revealed as being 700 million which is two thirds below the original price tag.

This is a major shift for Shiseido as they continue to push forward with concentration on skincare in Asia. It almost feels like they are seeking to exit the Western market completely at this point.

Other M&G’s this year include Coty’s investment in KKW at a 20% stake, L’Oreal interesting acquisition of Takami (a Japanese skincare brand), Skin Inc’s successful attempt to raise 7 million dollars to sink into a new line of custom skincare, and WestBiz Brand’s acquisition of franchise rights of Drybar.

And of course, the sad news that Becca leaves us this September and bids a fair well some rumors that Smashbox or another brand may be buying out their formulas! Will Pressed Highlighter live on to see a new day?

What’s next for the remaining few months of the year?

I’m scared to ask!

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Hopefully, you snatched up the Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Eye Shadow Palette today which is on sale at Ulta.com! If you’re dropping a little change at Ulta today you can snag one of two different gift sets.

Spend $60 and choose one of the following sets:

9 Piece Day Makeup SamplerStila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner deluxe sample
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer deluxe sample
Lanc�me R�nergie Multi-Lift Ultra deluxe sample
Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder deluxe sample in Light
Erborian Pink Primer & Care deluxe sample
L’Or�al Rouge Signature Lip deluxe sample
Ardell Precision Mascara full size
Lorac Eyeshadow Refill full size in Sand Dune
Buxom Power Line Plumping Lip Liner deluxe sample

9 Piece Night Makeup SamplerStila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner deluxe sample
Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick deluxe sample in Audition
MAC Magic Extension Mascara deluxe sample
Lanc�me R�nergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra deluxe sample
Milani Lip Crayon deluxe sample in Can’t Even
NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Spray mini
Nudestix Gel Color Lip & Cheek Balm mini in Siren
Maybelline Falsies Lashlift Mascara deluxe sample
e.l.f. Luminous Putty Primer deluxe sample

Enjoy!

Where to buy

Ulta

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Charlotte Tilbury joins the cruelty-free club with the Leaping Bunny Approval seal that was approved by Cruelty-Free International. Although the seal is new the brand has apparently always been classified as cruelty-free and never tested products on animals this is just one extra step to reassure customers of the brand’s ethics and stance on animal testing in the beauty industry.

As with all brands that have Leaping Bunny approval Charlotte Tilbury cannot conduct animal testing on any products or ingredients or purchase from suppliers that do so and the brand must monitor their suppliers directly and to make these standards remain in good standing with the Leaping Bunny seal of approval.

Charlotte Tilbury will likely update their site with the seal shortly.

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