Yearly Archives

2013

What's In My Bag

Inside My Makeup Bag

December 18, 2013

Mid-December’s edition of Inside My Makeup Bag. I’ve been lugging around quite a bit of makeup in a medium-sized leather zip clutch from Rebecca Minkoff (Neiman Marcus gift with purchase from a few months ago).

MAC Trace Gold Sheertone Shimmer Blush (1) has been a staple for years. It’s a shimmering golden bronze. These days I find it to be a versatile bronzer/blush/shimmer highlighter multi-use product. Chanel Les Beiges in No. 20 is my go-to all over setting powder these days. (See review of three shades here, swatches here.)
For skin I’ve almost used up my third tube of L’Occitane Amande Hand Cream (2). It has a strong sweet floral fragrance so if your nose is super sensitive you may want to check out their regular Shea version instead. My little travel-sized Caudalie Divine Oil (8) is half-way used up, I’ll need a replacement for my purse soon. (Previous review here.)
For lips, a current staple lip balm is Jo Malone’s Vitamin E Lip Treatment (3). (Reviewed here.) I almost always have a Chanel Glossimer (4) in my bag, right now I have Bon-Bon a sheer light pink gold. Tom Ford Sugar Pink Lip Gloss (5) is a classic hot but sheer pink to add a soft fresh glow to the lips. (Swatched here.) Chanel Rouge Coco Shines are a must-have for everyday swipe-and-go lipsticks. Bel-Ami (12) and Boy (13) layer nicely together.

I’ve been alternating perfumes almost daily, right now I’m smitten with Bond No. 9 Chinatown Bon-Bon (7). 

I’ve just opened up a fresh tube of NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara (6) which is one of my favorites for volume and holding the curl. I rarely touch-up on eyeshadows during the day but they still manage to find their way into my bag. I have NARS All About Eve (9) and Cordura Duos (14), both are staple neutrals. If I could only have 4 eyeshadow colors these would be it. 
Laura Mercier mini brushes from one of her palettes are among the best I’ve tried for minis (10). I wish more brands made short-handled versions of their brushes to be purse-friendly. Le Metier de Beaute Blush Brush (11) is the perfect size for me without being too small.

What’s in your makeup bag right now?

Diptyque

Diptyque Pine Bark, Orange Chai and Indian Incense | Holiday 2013

December 16, 2013

This holiday Diptyque has released three limited-edition scents in special packaging: Pine Bark, Orange Chai and Indian Incense. Each scent comes in two sizes which are slightly more expensive than the regular clear jars. The 2.4 oz/70 g candles are $32 each and the 6.5 oz/190 g candles are $68 each. The jars are made of colored glass – the larger sizes have a metallic sheen to the outside. The packaging is a work of art. The label designs and the boxes have intricate designs that are simply stunning. It’s taken me a while to burn each one long enough to do a review. I first purchased the small size of each scent since I was unsure of how I would like them. I went back after a few burns and purchased the regular size of Pine Bark and Orange Chai.
Indian Incense is described as featuring a “mysterious, dark, floral scent with notes of rose, carnation, incense and myrrh.” It’s one of the darker scents of the three but not too dark or heavy. The strength of this one is very good. I purchased the smaller size and the scent filled the entire room within a few minutes. It’s a spicy floral but not too incense-y which is right inline with my fragrance preferences.
Orange Chai was the one I was most excited about. It’s exactly like orange scented tea. Think the cinnamon teas, but orange scented instead. This one is described as a “mellow blend of orange, quince and a mix of Indian spices.” It has an almost creamy finish to it. I’ve never smelled anything like it. It’s a very unique scent. The strength of this one is also quite strong. I like it but can only take this one in small doses. It can be a bit sweet-smelling.
Pine Bark surprised me. I’ve never been a huge fan of pine scents but this has completely changed my outlook on green scents. For those familiar with Jo Malone’s Pine and Eucalyptus, the Diptyque is similar but a little less sharp. The Jo Malone is slightly more smoky smelling. Both are equally amazing. The Diptyque Pine Bark is described as “a clean, woody, smoky fragrance that combines notes of pine and cedar with hinoki, a Japanese cypress.” I will need to buy a few extras to stock up throughout the year. This one is by far my favorite.

Regular 6.5 oz Pine Bark vs. 1.2 oz Feu de Bois from the 10 piece set (review here)
Out of the three, I would say Pine Bark is the only one I would pick if I had to pick just one. The holiday packaging is absolutely gorgeous. Have you tried any of the Diptyque holiday candles yet? Do you have any other favorite seasonal candles that are new this year?
Pine Bark, Orange Chai and Indian Incense are all limited-edition. Priced from $32 to $68 depending on size. For size reference comparisons, see this post. I purchased all of mine from Nordstrom.
Uncategorized

Holiday Gift Guide Under $100

December 15, 2013

One last holiday gift guide post for my picks of items under $100 to help with your last minute holiday shopping. I’m almost finished with mine (later than expected). Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!
  1. Tory Burch Desk Calendar $75 – such a beautiful desk accessory for the entire year
  2. Nordstrom Solid Woven Cashmere Scarf $65.98 (on sale) – classic scarf in a variety of colors
  3. Diptyque 5 Piece Set $75 – amazing mini set great for trying out a variety of sets
  4. Longchamp Le Pliage Mini $95 – classic tote great for travel or everyday
  5. Tory Burch Robinson Saffiano Leather Coin Purse $95 – love the petite size but functional shape and style
  6. Smythson Notebook $60 – versatile gift that’s appropriate for all ages
  7. Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Marc Disc Skinny Bangle $58 each (3 options available)
  8. Chanel Le Laque Le Vernis Trio $82 – Pirate, Gold Shimmer and the Top Coat (my favorite)
  9. Moroccan Oil Body Collection $65 – this set looks like a steal, I want one for myself
  10. Diptyque Pine Bark Candle $68 – my favorite holiday candle (review soon)
  11. Urban Decay Naked3 $52 (review here) back in stock online at Macy’s!

For other price points and stocking stuffer ideas you can see my other guides $25 and Under and $50 and Under.

Uncategorized

Winter Skin and Hair Savers

December 14, 2013
It’s that time of the year where my skin and hair is in desperate need of that extra boost of moisture to fight dry patches. Finding lightweight moisturizing products can be a bit of a challenge for my sensitive skin. My nose is particularly sensitive so light-fragranced items are a must. My go-to fixes and staples this season right now:
  • Aerin Rose Hand and Body Cream $40 is a lovely light-scented hand treatment, it’s a bit pricey for me to justify using on the body, but it’s a nice moisturizing cream for the hands. It smells like candied roses which is really nice (coming from a person who doesn’t really like strong rose florals).
  • Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Intensive Smoothing Hand Cream $55 is probably the priciest hand cream I own, I was lucky to get this as a gift with purchase one year. It smells like a spa treatment. It’s a bit heavier than most hand creams I use but it dries down to a soft silky finish. It helps diminish those dry lines in the hands upon application. Read the reviews on Nordstrom.com and you’ll see this is well worth the price.
  • L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body $20 is the perfect body lotion for me. I’ve gone through five bottles already and keep one at work and one at home. I’m a huge fan of L’occitane’s Shea Butter line. They have several different options of moisturizing intensity depending on your skin needs. I like this one because it melts into the skin and makes any itchy dryness disappear without being too greasy. I love the lightweight scent – it’s very soothing and comforting. It’s neutral enough to be unisex. My husband and male co-workers always borrow mine.
  • Caudalie Divine Oil $49 is relatively new to me. I’ve written about the mini size that I’ve tried which is perfect for the purse. I loved it so much I bought the full size in the trio set. I spray it on the legs and elbows. It smells fresh and light and feels nice on the skin. It’s also designed for the face and hair – I’ve only tried it on the ends of my hair to add a bit of shine (although I prefer other hair treatments).
  • Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner $25 is one of my favorite lip treatments. Review here. It’s soft, moisturizing and you can feel the results instantly.
  • Jo Malone Vitamin E Vitamin E’ Body Treatment Scrub $90 is the ultimate luxury body scrub. It’s a spa in a tub and smells like a luscious honey dessert. It’s strongly scented and extremely moisturizing – if you visit your local Jo Malone store or counter they should be able to make a small sample for you to try. It’s really REALLY amazing.
  • Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil $20 is one of the first cuticle oils I’ve tried. In the past I’ve tried substituting baby oil but found it hasn’t really helped my dry cuticles. This one is made of pure white jojoba oil, vitamin E and coconut oil (it smells like coconuts). It works well on my cuticles and a little goes a long way. Be careful to keep application to the cuticles as it can feel a bit sticky on the finger tips. The texture is perfect to actually stay on the cuticles (versus some oils that are so liquid/fluid they roll off quickly).
  • By Terry Baume de Rose $60 review here. My holy grail lip treatment, but still a three way tie with the Jo Malone and Hourglass.
  • Drybar The Chaser Shine Pomade $28 is the hair cream of all hair creams. It adds shine without being too heavy or greasy looking on the hair. I find it lasts all day long. I’ve used it a couple of ways. One is right after I shower on towel-dried damp hair. This is the only thing I’ve tried that lets my hair air dry perfectly without any frizz. It makes the perfect pre-heat treatment as well (whether it’s blow drying or straightening). I also find it makes a great finishing product to add a bit of texture and shine. Bonus is that my husband likes it on his hair as a pomade (even though it’s really a cream). The smell is incredible too.

What are you winter skin and hair savers? I’m all ears to hear what your favorites are!

Uncategorized

Burberry Oxblood No. 303 Nail Polish

December 13, 2013

Burberry Oxblood No. 303 Nail Polish ($21 for 8ml/.27 fl oz) is one of the eighteen nail polishes just released by Burberry Beauty. It’s a stunning dark red wine shade with a sheerish jelly base. There is a lot of red in the base which prevents it from being too dark. Still it’s dark enough to be vampy. I found it applied well with two coats although a third coat made it look best.

Removeable cap:

Wide and flat brush:

There have been mixed feelings about the formula. I tested this with two different applications. The first was with a professional manicure – my manicurist noted that the brush on this nail polish was poorly designed with rough bristles making it hard to get an accurate finish by the cuticles. Still application was pure perfection with two coats. She expressed her strong dislike for the formula and the design. I tried a second time on my own (photos with own application shown below) and found it slightly more difficult to work with compared to Chanel, Dior and Tom Ford but was still able to get a decent application. Lasting power was quite good. I used my usual go-to’s Deborah Lippmann’s Rehydrating Base Coat and Chanel’s Top Coat – the manicure lasted well over 5 days.

For comparisons, see below: Chanel Vamp, Burberry Oxblood, Chanel Accessoire, Chanel Rouge Noir and Chanel Forbidden (discontinued).

I give Burberry Oxblood a thumbs up for lasting power and color. The brush could use some improvement for easier application. I did have to be more careful to not over-apply the color to the nail and get an even application. It’s currently sold out online but on backorder for another week. You might want to check your Burberry counters to see if they have stock in stores. 
You can find Burberry Oxblood Nail polish online at Nordstrom. If you’re a fan of the oxblood-colored theme, check out the other variations of the Lip Mist, Lip Cover and Lip Glow. (I bought all three.)
Eye Makeup Urban Decay

Urban Decay Naked3 Palette

December 11, 2013

Urban Decay’s latest addition to the Naked family is the Naked3 Palette ($52 for 12 shades, 1.3g each). The theme of Naked3 is rose-gold. It’s a warmer palette compared to Naked and Naked2, but still neutral. I’m a huge fan of the other versions. Urban Decay makes amazing shadows with impressive pigment and wear. Naked3 comes with a double-sided brush and a sample packet of their primers. The brush is very well made however I prefer softer hair brushes for powder shadows (versus synthetic material) mainly because it’s what I’m used to.

The colors in the palette vary from matte to shimmer to sparkle and tiny micro-glitters. I’m on the conservative side when it comes to glitters and find each and every shade in this palette wearable and suitable for everyday. The pigment on all the shades is really incredible. The only color I had issues with is the Blackheart which applied a bit chalky alone but works well when applied over a creamy liner with a tiny detail brush. There was no fallout with any of the glittery colors. Most of the shades in this palette appear to be new colors:
  • Strange is a soft matte ivory pink
  • Dust is a glittery light pink
  • Burnout is a warmer pink shimmer
  • Limit is a matte mauve-pink
  • Buzz is a pink mauve shimmer
  • Trick is a coppery pink glitter
  • Nooner is a matte mauve
  • Liar is a warm taupe
  • Factory is a darker brownish taupe shimmer
  • Mugshot is a neutral taupe shimmer
  • Darkside is a satiny purple brown
  • Blackheart is a dark black with red shimmer
Close ups plus swatches:

After my Instagram picture a few weeks ago many emailed me asking for comparisons to Naked and Naked2. I do think Naked3 is different enough to justify owning if you have either of the other two. Naked3 is the warmest and pinkest of the three options but has the most universally flattering colors. Here are the palettes photographed and swatched:

Swatches:

I really love the Naked3 palette. The color options are simply stunning and combinations endless. It’s priced well for the size and quality. The packaging is well designed and sturdy. I think it’s a definite must-have and will make an amazing holiday gift for beauty lovers.

Naked3 was a quick sellout online at a many locations but keep checking back – they are restocking frequently. You can find it online at Macy’s, Sephora, and Urban Decay.