Monthly Favorites

Happy April! Rounding up my favorites from March. This year has been flying by! It’s finally started to warm up and we spent the weekend at the beach and boat with Ollie. We just celebrated 2 years with Ollie, he’s been such a joy for us. I can’t believe how fast time truly flies.

Makeup Favorites

For my base favorites I have been really loving the Supergoop! Protec(tint). It’s a lightweight sheer tint with SPF 50. I share a demo Get Ready With Me on Reels wearing 24N which is a good match right now, but I also have 26W which will probably be a better match for summer. It is sheer and natural looking. I like the coverage and finish. I am so happy to report it didn’t pill, clog pores or streak. The Sephora sale is coming up so if you’re looking for a good skin tint with SPF add this to your list!

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The best foundation brush I’ve been using is the Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush. I’ve featured it a few times before but thought I’d give it another shout out since so many of you ask about it when you see it in tutorials. I’m not really sure why it’s not sold everywhere at all Laura Mercier counters but you can find it online at Laura Mercier, Revolve, Bluemercury to name a few.

The best concealer I’ve tried is still the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer. I am using N5 or N7 right now. It’s creamy, opaque but blendable, long lasting and doesn’t crease.

For a glowy base, I’ve been loving the Dior Forever Star Filter in Shade 3 as a primer underneath concealer or foundation but you can also mix it in with your base for a naturally glowy look. They add a really pretty radiance to the skin. I’ve also really loved the Forever Glow Maximizer in Rosy Glow although it’s very similar on my skin to the Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm, so if you already own that one you can probably skip the Dior.

Review + swatch comparisons IN THIS POST HERE.

Patrick Ta Beauty has been in heavy rotation and I really love his Double Take Blush in Not Too Much. I also rediscovered the Laura Mercier Blush in Ginger for a flattering neutral with a tiny bit of warmth.

For eyeshadows I’ve rediscovered the Too Faced Natural Nudes Born This Way & Sunset Stripped palettes. They are both neutral staples that I think everyone should own. They have a really good mix of mattes and shimmers with neutrals that are very easy to wear. Too Faced just launched Mini Born This Way Palettes in Warm Ember Nudes and Cold Smolder Nudes. I ordered them and will be reviewing soon but wanted to put them on your radar.

Below Natural Nudes

Below Sunset Stripped

The Merit Solo Shadow in Vachetta has been a favorite since I bought it. It’s my perfect contour/base shade for the eyes. Just a tiny bit darker than my skin tone for a really good neutral lid color. Left is Vachetta, right is Midcentury.

The Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 056 Frosted Pink is still a favorite. It still appears to be exclusive to Dior.com – it’s the prettiest shimmery pink! Review + swatches here.

Tartelette Tubing Mascara XL has been a favorite this past month. I still really love the regular Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara and actually think the XL version performs pretty much the same, but I use both. It defines, holds the curl, doesn’t flake or smudge. It’s a solid win.

Guerlain Lip Oils are probably my favorite lip product of the month. I cannot pick a favorite as all the colors are really pretty. I have been reaching for the Honey Glow the most.

Charlotte Tilbury added new Pillow Talk Shades in a few formulas. I’ll be reviewing them soon but I am already in love with the Collagen Lip Bath in Pillow Talk Fair. It’s a really pretty and flattering lighter cool toned pink that isn’t too cool.

Skincare

Also wanted to share a few skincare favorites this month. I shared an updated roundup of formulas I’ve been using and love from Nordstrom here. It includes a little something in every category with everything linked here. A few things I wanted to highlight are below.

The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is the best one for me right now. A little goes a long way and it cleans the skin well without stripping it.

The Eve Lom Muslin Cloths are also a must. I think any muslin cloth will work, but I always order the ones from Eve Lom. The gentle exfoliation helps keep the skin clear and it also works to remove every trace of cleanser (oil, balm or regular liquids) from the skin.

For moisturizers I’ve used up yet another jar of the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream and repurchased it again. I’ve also been loving the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream as another go-to daily moisturizer. It’s 100% worth the splurge and I recommend adding it to your list for the Sephora sale!

For lip balms I’ve been rotating between Summer Fridays and the Bobbi Brown Lip Serum. They just added tinted versions of the Bobbi Brown formula here which I am really excited to try. I have Lilac, Rose and Blossom in my cart right now.

That wraps up my favorites for March! What were your favorites?

I’m rounding up my September beauty favorites! Fall is officially here although I feel like we’re skipping this season and going straight into holiday with the beauty sets and holiday launches rolling in already. I’ll have some on new beauty launches soon but for now here is what I loved in September.

New Favorite Foundation Brush

My favorite discovery of the month is the Laura Mercier Real Foundation Brush ($46). For some reason this brush doesn’t seem to be available everywhere even though it was launched with their new Real Flawless Foundation (I wear the shade 3N1 Buff). This is hands down THE best foundation brush I’ve tried. It’s even better than the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Brush.

The Laura Mercier Real Foundation Brush has a very unique shape and the perfect density. The brush is angled and made in a tear drop shape so it glides along the angles of your face for flawless foundation application. The teardrop shape makes it easy to get product in the detail areas or corners perfectly – I wonder why nobody else has made a brush like this before.

Foundation application is smooth and streak free. I like the length of the brush bristles too – it’s not too short and not too long. You can find it at Laura Mercier or Macy’s (if you’ve spotted it at other places let me know!).

Budget Beauty Favorites

I have some budget beauty favorites this month! They’re not new (a few of them I’ve reviewed before) but I wanted to put them on your radar because they’re too good to miss out on.

The Elf Halo Glow Liquid Filter is one of the best glowy complexion enhancers I’ve tried. They recently added more shades so you might find a better match now. I wear Shade 3 or 4 so when they added 3.5 Medium Neutral Olive I ordered it to try thinking it would be a good in-between color. I still find Shade 4 best for me right now because 3.5 is very olive, but I don’t mind having another shade in the mix.

The glow isn’t too glowy. I can definitely wear it alone or mix it with a foundation all over the face. Right now the new shades appear to only be at Elf Cosmetics and Ulta Beauty. I suspect they’ll roll out the new shades to Target etc. soon.

Maybelline has quite a few products that have gone viral on TikTok and after falling in love with the Sky High Mascara and Lifter Gloss I’ve been trying more from the line.

Their Super Stay 24H Skin Tint Foundation 100% lives up to the hype for a long-wear fluid foundation. I haven’t explored much in budget/affordable foundations because most of them run too pink or peach in undertone. The good news is more brands are offering better shade options and ranges these days. I was happy to find a good match with Shade 310. Quick note though for those sensitive to alcohol in foundations, take note this one has it pretty high on the list. Luckily this did not irritate my skin.

Lasting power is really impressive, even in humid weather. I did not put it to the test for a full 24 hours, but it did last a solid 12 pretty well. It’s a fluid formula with medium coverage but you can layer it. Coverage is natural looking with a subtle glow and has enough pigment to cover the skin nicely.

I also really like the Super Stay Matte Hybrid Powder Foundation (in the same shade). It has pretty good coverage but I like to use it as a setting powder with a brush. Demo of the product in action HERE.

Lip Loves

Dior Addict Lip Maximizers are always in my bag. Shimmer Rose, Rosewood and Rose Nude are my most-worn colors with (Rose Nude gets the most compliments). Dior just launched 3 NEW SHADES for the holiday online and I posted a quick reel with them here. In case you missed it I’m sharing it here on the blog too. Nude Bloom is the prettiest peachy pink nude with a slight golden sheen, Pure Copper is a stunning sparkling copper (glittery and super sparkly but texture is smooth), Holo Silver is a sheer sparkling silver.

Swatch comparisons below:

Three other formulas I have been loving include:

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 162 Pulsing Rosehip (one of the best healthy flushed pinks I’ve tried) and 150 Nude Lingerie (warmer pink shimmer, almost looks peach next to 162, but I can assure you it’s pink).

Tarte added new shades of the Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump. I need to share an updated swatch post, but the newest shade Rosebud is SO pretty. It’s the best one they’ve made yet. Also available in some sets like this duo.

The Maybelline Lifter Gloss is a formula I feel like all of you already know about but I’ve rediscovered it and it made my favorites list this month. I picked up the jelly shades from the summer launch and love them. Peach Ring and Gummy Bear are so pretty. I also restocked a few I had used up – Reef is the perfect light neutral.

Bath & Body Care

Two body care items I’ve been loving are from Ouai and Herbivore Botanicals. We’ve been using the Ouai Fur Bebe Pet Shampoo on Ollie and he always smells so good after we wash him with this. I had hoped there was a human option in the same scent but there is not.

I’ve tried Melrose Place before (and loved it) but wanted to try something new so I ordered Dean Street. It’s a really nice fruity floral that isn’t too sweet. It has linden blossom and a little bit of amber to balance it out. Smells clean, fresh and I’ve loved it enough to buy a few refills.

Herbivore Botanicals sent over a few things to try for a project. I really love their Nova Serum and now am curious about the other serums they have in their lineup. The stand out to me is their Cloud Milk Coconut Firming Body Cream. I have been obsessed with their Coconut Bath Milk Soak for the longest time and was really excited for a body cream.

It’s a silky buttery smooth cream that feels lightweight like a cloud when you apply. It is lightly scented with coconut and vanilla but isn’t overpowering. For a quick reference, if you like the texture of Kopari creams but aren’t a fan of the strong scent or super thick texture, I think the Herbivore is a better option. It’s creamy and hydrating but fast absorbing, not sticky and isn’t overpowering in scent.

Fall Nail Polish

I’ve been in my neutral-nail polish era for so long I feel like it’s time for a change. I pulled out the Chanel Le Vernis in 165 Bois des Iles again (reviewed here with the fall collection) and have been really surprised by all the compliments and attention it’s getting!

Other Makeup Loves

For the cheeks (blush, bronzer, highlight) the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palettes (reviewed here) have been in heavy rotation. I keep going back and forth between Jellyfish and Leopard as my favorite. Even with repeat shades or similarities I find myself reaching for these the most and think they’re very versatile. They’re now available at all retailers like Nordstrom, Sephora, Bluemercury and Ulta Beauty.

I’ve filmed looks with all three:

Jellyfish here
Leopard here
Snake here

I also have a few repeats that have made the favorites list again. I think the Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder and Concealer are holy grail material. You can read the full review here, but nothing really compares to the airbrushed look or lasting power that Prisme Libre has.

The Gucci Illuminator is one of the prettiest liquid highlighters I’ve tried. I don’t know why it’s not raved about more! Review + swatches in this post here. (PS I’ll be posting my review + swatches of the new Gucci Concealer very soon.)

Perfume Favorite

Celine Parade has been in heavy rotation. It’s a beautiful citrus scent I think is super unique and different. You can read my review of all their perfumes in this post. I’ve tried the others over the past year and Parade still remains my favorite.

Hair Care

Last but not least, I wanted to give the ghd Platinum+ Hair Styler another mention. It’s my number one go-to hair styling took for sleek smooth hair or waves. As much as I love the Dyson Airwrap for easy waves, the curls just don’t last as long as with a hot tool. (I do use it regularly as a blow dryer though.) The ghd flat iron goes with me on every trip and it’s a life saver to style hair. I was thrilled to partner with them again to show a how-to demo of how to curl my hair with it. For me it’s particularly useful because I’m not the best at curling my hair with a curling iron – I almost always burn my fingers or forehead and a few times I’ve sizzled off hair because the irons were too hot.

 

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The ghd Platinum+ Styler stays at a constant 365 degree temperature. It has sensors inside to maintain that constant heat.

That wraps up September’s favorites! What did you love this past month?

I’m rounding up my January favorites for the month! Here’s the edited list of what I’ve been loving!

I’ve been loving the Necessaire Body Oil for a really nice body oil that’s hydrating and fragrance-free. It absorbs nicely into the skin and leaves the skin feeling super hydrated. I still really love the Sisley Velvet Body Cream and La Mer Body Cream I featured in my Self-Care Favorites, but sometimes it’s nice to have an unscented option! Also one that is more affordable but still has that luxe feel.

I hauled a few of the Hermes nail products last year, one was on backorder and the Les Mains Hermes Nourishing Oil finally arrived! It’s quite an expensive cuticle oil but I really love it. It’s hydrating and effective. This formula is one that keeps selling out and has been a little hard to find but I pre-ordered it from Saks a while ago and it finally came in the mail. Currently available at Hermes, Selfridges and Saks (pre-order) but I do see it pop up on other retailers every once in a while when it restocks.

For foundation I reviewed three new ones recently and out of all of them the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin has been my favorite formula in 6 Neutral (on the face here). It has just the right amount of glow, coverage, texture and finish that I like. Similar to the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation but the Charlotte Tilbury seems just slightly more opaque. Some shades have sold out so you may have to do a bit of searching to find your match. Available at Charlotte Tilbury, Nordstrom and Sephora.

For color my go-to neutral blush is Laura Mercier Fresco. It’s been featured here before many times and I love it for the color and slight hint of shimmer. It’s the perfect neutral tan blush with some peach tones to give you a bit of natural color. Swatches + comparisons in this post here.

My go-to eyeshadow palettes have been the Natasha Denona Biba (review + swatches here) and Too Faced Natural Nudes (review here).

I found the perfect opaque baby pink nail polish with Dior Rose Quartz. It has the perfect undertone: pale, not too chalky, not too blue. It’s also opaque and smooth with 2 coats. I ordered it from Dior.com and it’s pure love.

For the lips I have so many loves but if I had to narrow it down to my top four, I’ve been loving the Dior Lip Maximizer in Bronze from holiday (review here). It’s a limited-edition color and I bought a backup. It’s a sheer bronze sparkle lip plumper. The Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath in Gold is similar if you can’t find the Dior one.

My love for the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balms continues! I’ve been loving Grapefruit for a nice juicy soft peach. (Currently on sale at Tarte!)

The Makeup By Mario Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil Johnny (swatched here too) has been a go-to for the perfect neutral pink. It’s not too dark, not too light, just the perfect in between kind of rose pink.

I love a good tinted lip balm and love the Chanel Rouge Coco Baumes from their Spring-Summer Collection, Flirty Coral is my favorite, but I love all the colors.

I bought the Byredo Young Rose as soon as it was available in the 50 ml size. It’s such a pretty spring time perfume and even though it’s named Young Rose, I don’t really detect a lot of rose notes. It’s a fresh sweet floral kind of scent, but not in an overpowering overly sweet way. Notes include Sichuan Pepper, Ambrette Seeds, Damascena Rose, Orris, Musk, Ambroxan.

For the hair, I’ve been loving the Olaplex Bonding Oil + Bond Smoother mixed for a smooth frizz-free blowout. A lot of you have been so kind to comment on how smooth my hair always seems to look. The reality is it takes a lot of work to maintain as I have naturally frizzy hair which requires a lot of smoothing, styling and extra help to keep smooth! In case you want to see my routine you can check out the Reel I did with Ulta Beauty.

 

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A few other staples I’ve been loving. Long-time readers know I’m a huge fan of APL! I did a Roundup Review of the styles in an older post that I reference anytime I get questions about comfort, sizing, style favorites. I still wear them nearly everyday. They wash easily in the washing machine although I give them a soak first in the tub. Scuff marks and stains come out easily with some dish soap and a sponge. I throw them in the washing machine and then air dry them.

Favorite sneaker style is the Techloom Breeze.

Sizing, style info, etc in THIS POST HERE.

Also love the APL Slides!

Last mention is the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag. I’ve loved this for so long but don’t think I’ve done a full review. They had a few cute fleece options over the holiday which have sold out, but I also love the classic nylon material. The size is perfect for on-the-go kind of use. I use this whenever Andrew and I go on long walks. I also used it to walked Lucy too (RIP). It’s nice to carry just the essentials without having to carry a full purse.

I have it in multiple colors. Everywhere Belt Bag colors top to bottom is the light grey (older color), Pastel Pink, Mulled Wine and Black. Sweatshirt is Lululemon, biker shorts are Free People.

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What was on your favorites list this month?