There are certain celebrities I have an inexplicable obsession with, and Kate Hudson is one of them.  Okay, maybe it’s not completely unfathomable that I find a cute, perky, blonde actress the same age as me inspiring (I mean, it’s not like I’m breathlessly idolizing an seventy-two-year old male mechanic from Serbia or something), but for me, Kate can do no wrong.  Recently, I’ve also developed a fascination with Africa, specifically with Tanzania and Botswana, two countries I’m dying to visit.  People.com, it’s like you were reading my mind: photos of a Kate Hudson/Peter Lindbergh shoot in Africa?  And beauty-related (Kate’s partnering with her longtime hairdresser David Babaii to promote his organic haircare line WildAid), to boot??  Two minutes of Jolie-clicking heaven.  (The line, incidentally, is sulfite, paraben and petrochemical free, they don’t test on animals, and ten percent of all profits will be donated to the WildAid global conservation organization.  Good karma!)  I will be enjoying a little quality-time with my iron tonight in an attempt to replicate her fat, glistening curls below, by the way.  Gorgeous.

Photos from people.com

While K. was here, two things were tops on her list: spotting a celebrity (check!) and going makeup shopping at Sephora, a place not yet open in London.  She has a typical English-rose complexion, which is to say she’s fair, sensitive, dry and has a slight case of rosacea.  To further complicate matters (pesky Brit!), she wanted something luxurious…but not too expensive…and she’s gone organic—so no parabens, pesticides, or third-eye-growing ingredients allowed.   “What to do?” I fretted as we wandered through Sephora, me half-heartedly pointing toward lines here (too expensive!) and there (not organic!) and everywhere (gross packaging!) as K. frowned and rejected and denied.  Suddenly, the clouds parted, the birds chirped, and Amy Adams began running around the store screeching—we spotted Juice Beauty!  Organic?  Yes, siree.  Luxurious?  Like buttah.  And the price…very nice (especially for K.’s exchange rate).  Our purchases (which I sampled like mad back at the ranch): Antioxidant Serum, Cleansing Milk, and Nutrient Moisturizer.  I’m also currently coveting the Green Apple Cleansing Gel and Green Apple Peel, but unless the magic beauty fairies drop them off on my doorstep in the middle of the night, will have to content myself with my trusty standbys for now!