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December 2015

Roundup

Holiday Makeup Must-Haves for a Glowing Beauty Look

December 16, 2015

During the holidays the bold red lips and gold sparkles are always in for beauty, but as a neutral makeup lover, I opt for colors that make the skin glow naturally for a fresh-faced look. It’s this time of year that I start to lighten in skin tone so I like to add and layer colors to give the face a little life. Also being someone who likes to wear red clothing during the holidays – I find that neutral makeup goes best with a red dress or sweater (although brighter pinks also complement red outfits). I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share some of my favorite beauty items along with a few new discoveries.

For glowing skin I like to layer bronzer and highlighters. The Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Duos are incredible for adding life to the face. I have both the original Filmstar Bronze and Glow and the newer Medium to Dark version and like both. Either would make beautiful luxe gifts too for any beauty lover – especially the Filmstar Killer Cheekbones Set that comes with the sculpting brush.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, Bronzers and Blushes are in my top picks for a natural glowy look. The Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light is the perfect mix of bronzer and highlighter swirled into one compact. It gives the complexion a radiant bronzed glow. I also really love the Ambient Lighting Blushes, Luminous Flush (shown below) and Incandescent Electra are my favorites. If you don’t own any yet, I highly recommend the holiday Ambient Lighting Edit Palette. It’s oh so gorgeous!!! I own 5 of the 6 shades individually and although it would make an excellent travel companion, I decided to pass this season.

Hands down the best highlighting duo launched this year is the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight. It has a pearly opal color and a medium light tan champagne. Together they give the skin a candlelit glow that’s just so so so pretty.

Armani Fluid Sheers are always a favorite to add a glow on top of the cheek bones (I apply after foundation and powder and dab it onto the cheeks). They’re also great to mix in with foundation to add luminosity in a natural way. #2 is the classic champagne ivory shimmer and #17 is a newer one that’s the prettiest neutral pink. I have a few more shades swatched below.

For eyes, I like to keep things simple and light. I’m all about a champagne base and I’ve finally mastered the liquid liner application (success!). The best neutral quad is Tom Ford Nude Dip (brand new fresh one shown below). It is on the shimmery side but I don’t think it’s over the top. Armani Eye Tints offer a nice wash of color, there are lots of neutrals – many of which look similar but have slight variations in undertone.

Other champagne favorites include NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Goddess (pretty much budge-proof once it sets), Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold (super creamy and easy to blend, if you have oily lids it might be too emollient), Burberry Wet and Dry Glow Eyeshadow in Shell (the perfect shimmer for the lids) and if you want something more glitzy Armani Eyes to Kill in #8 is pretty awesome.
I’ve been experimenting more with different kinds of liquid eyeliners this year. I’ve found so many good ones. Tom Ford Eye Defining Liquid Pen still remains at the top of my list. Burberry’s Effortless Liquid Liner has a felt-tip stiffer tip which is also super easy to use. Both colors are super rich black shades and stay true-to color (some liners I’ve tried dry to a lighter color and look grey on my skin).

To add a bit of definition or color, just add a smudge of something deeper along the upper lash line. I am really loving the Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Rouge Noir that is new for holiday. Charlotte Tilbury Color Color Chameleon Color Morphing Eyeshadow Pencils are super long-lasting. They are creamy enough that you can apply and smudge/blend with ease, but once it sets, it stays put with impressive lasting power.

Reds and berries and plums are always in for holiday. I love a good plum, but as one with full lips, I always feel so self conscious with reds or brights. I feel like they draw extra attention to my lips. I prefer fresh colors that make the face glow. I’ve been obsessed with the Tom Ford Lips and Boys launch this year. There are 25 new shades, I will have swatches of 12 of my picks soon (I promise!). Most of the new colors have shimmer in them, but it’s a luminous shimmer for most. From what I recall there were only a few glitzy colors in the bold range. Demsey is the perfect peachy color (it’s a darker and less frosty version compared to last year’s William). Ansel is a gorgeous bright warm pink shimmer (this fits the gap I’ve seen in the Tom Ford line for something that’s in between pale and super bright). Malik is the most intriguing cool lavender mauve with gold shimmer (not the most holiday-like color, more for spring, but layer a gloss on top and it transforms into a gorgeous mauve). If I found this 10-piece Lips and Boys Set under my Christmas Tree I think I would die of happiness.

I’ve been playing with some of the Burberry Kisses Glosses. They were reformulated along with the Kisses Lipsticks (which I think are the best scent-free lipsticks on the market). Pale Nude is my kind of color – shimmering gold nude. Coral Rose is a sheer but pretty shimmering pink. Antique Rose is a mauve with a hint of silver sparkle. They are scent-free and taste-free. Texture is glossy and smooth. Lasting power is average for a gloss, but I don’t mind reapplying after a few hours.

For holiday fragrance I’ve been loving the Chanel Allure Parfum Bottle which is a concentrated version of the perfume. It comes in a bottle with a dabber. I bought mine which is the larger size in Paris over the summer (which is still compact in size). I was thrilled to see it available in the US in the smaller size. Another layering combination I’ve been loving lately is Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede spritzed over Blackberry and Bay. These minis are in the Cologne Collection Set (5 colognes) which are perfect for putting in your clutch.

I hope you found this roundup helpful if you’re looking for ways to add a natural glow to your beauty routine this holiday. I am always trying to be braver in wearing bold reds and plums on the lips, but I like makeup that makes me feel comfortable and a better version of myself. There are a number of ways to add a bit of color but still look natural and there are tons of options to pick from at Nordstrom (it’s my favorite place to shop because they have the majority of my favorite brands). If you’re shopping for gifts online, take note of their holiday shipping deadlines here.

What’s your beauty routine for the holiday season? Do you like to add bold shades for a glamorous bright look? Or do you like to keep things neutral too? If you have any favorites or go-to’s you’ve been loving please share! I always get such great recommendations and ideas from you 🙂

This Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Rosegold also looks like the perfect glowy gloss, I’ve had my eye on it but haven’t tried it yet – if you have what did you think? Is it a must-have?

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. All opinions my own.

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Molton Brown Holiday 2015

December 15, 2015

It’s crunch time for holiday shopping if you’re ordering items online. Many retailers are offering shipping upgrades for last-minute gifts, but it’s better to be safe than in a panic so be sure to organize your lists and check the cut-off dates today. Molton Brown is still having their 20% off orders $85+ online with code HOLIDAY at checkout (valid until Thursday 12/17). Today is their last day to order for standard shipping (by midnight EST). Express Shipping cutoff is December 18th and Priority Shipping cutoff is December 21st. (Full shipping deadlines listed here.) I have some of their holiday selection to feature today in case you’re looking for some gift ideas.

There are a number of limited-edition holiday scents this season. My favorite is the Vintage 2015 with White Elderflower. The packaging comes with gold colored labels and a gorgeous dove grey bow which is so glamorous with the perfect holiday vibe. The scent is a floral sparkling grapefruit. It’s a soft well rounded grapefruit that smells delicious. I like that it’s soft and not overly sharp or sweet. It has a very cheerful feel to it. I love that the shower gel has shimmer mixed in which makes it so beautiful to look at.

Top Notes: grapefruit
Heart Notes: petitgrain
Base notes: vetiver
Extract: English Elderflower
The options for this scent:

My favorite items from Molton Brown are the stocking stuffers. The holiday Festive Body Wash Ornament Baubles come in 10 scents and are $15 each. The boxes are exquisite! You can also find these in the 9-Piece Festive Bauble Collection ($115) or Festive Bauble Trio ($40) – both expertly wrapped in a gorgeous silver box.

The holiday crackers are always fun. There is one option still available. The Fiery Pink Pepper Cracker ($25) has a mini body lotion, mini shower gel and a full-sized hand cream in the Pink Pepperpod scent which is really hard for me to describe, but it’s a clean peppery scent that’s surprisingly nice even though I’m not usually a fan of wearing spicy pepper scents. Notes are fiery pink pepper, ginger and rich patchouli.

Long time Beauty Look Book readers know I’m loyal to Diptyque, Jo Malone and Henri Bendel when it comes to candles. I’m relatively new to the ones from Molton Brown but I was immediately impressed the first time I took a close look. They come packaged in a hefty glass jar (the thickest I’ve ever seen). They have a split in the outside between frosted and regular glass which makes for a beautiful decorative piece. The scents have serious throw – the tiny ones filled the entire room with scent even before I started burning them. Two shown below are the  Garden Bloom Mini Candle Collection ($58) has 4 candles in Gingerlily, Orange and Bergamot, Ylang-Ylang and Lily of the Valley Violet Leaf scents. For holiday there is the Festive Frankincense and Allspice Single Wick Candle ($49, sold out most everywhere, full size is still available at Barney’s New York also available in the Festive Holiday Candle Mini Trio Set). This one smells just like Christmas with allspice, frankincense and vetiver. It’s strong on all three notes and has a spicy-incense feel that’s all kinds of warm and cozy.

Ylang-Ylang is my favorite for right now. It’s the perfect calming scent. I’m still obsessed with the body scrub and shower gel.

Last but not least, not really a holiday launch, but I have to mention the Alba White Truffle Hand Treatment and Hand Exfoliator Duo Set again ($40 for the duo, or $20 if you buy them separately). Full review on this along with the other Molton Brown Hand Creams in this post here.

Bottom line lots to love. If you’re looking for any last minute gifts that come beautifully packaged and boxed (so no extra work on your part is required), there’s lots to choose from at Molton Brown. You can find their products at a number of different retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Barney’s New York, Saks Fifth Avenue and more. Right now Molton Brown is offering 20% off orders $85+ plus free standard shipping (plus their items come beautifully wrapped when you order from them). Enter in code HOLIDAY at checkout (offer ends 12/17).

If you have any Molton Brown favorites please share! 

Items featured were sent as press samples for review consideration. As always all opinions my own.

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Lip Balm Testing and Recommendations for Winter Weather

December 14, 2015
Winter Lip Treatments Balms

Above: Tray from J.Crew (similar here and here), Clare V Wallet Clutch, Celine Knot Bracelet, Gorjana Crossover Cuff

I’ve been testing a number of new-to-me lip treatments, balms and oils since late fall. I did a roundup of rosy red tinted lip treatments for holiday last month, but it’s been a year since I rounded up what I’ve been testing and loving in the non-tinted version. Today after weeks and weeks of testing, I have thoughts on 16 different lip balms in multiple formulas to share today. I’ve split the lip balms into three categories: the pots, the tubes, and the squeeze tubes.

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Potted Lip Treatments

Fresh Dior Chanel Tatcha Nuxe Lip Balms

Some of my favorite lip balms formulas are in pot format even though I prefer the tube or stick version so I don’t have to stick my finger in. I’ve raved about the By Terry Baume de Rose so many times I thought I’d round up some others I’ve been testing.
  • Fresh Sugar Nourishing Lip Balm Advanced Therapy ($30) – I had high hopes for this one as I really like the stick sugar lip balms but find they can get soft and be prone to breakage. One in pot format seemed more ideal for a soft formula, but this one is actually harder in texture. I had to take a lip brush to break the surface and get enough product for my lips. With just fingers I could barely get anything on and the result was a barely-there veil of moisture. If you dip into the surface and dig out enough of the product to layer on the lips, it makes the lips feel moisturized, smooth, slightly minty and cool but without the tingle. Unfortunately it doesn’t give the lips a long-lasting moisturized feel. I would say the effects are immediate and temporary for fall to winter weather. It would be better suited for warm weather.
  • Nuxe Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm Rêve de Miel ($19) – This is one I bought in the limited-edition packaging, but the formula is the same as the regular pots with the white caps. This is an ultra creamy highly concentrated rich balm that smells like honey and grapefruit. I find it on the thick side of creamy so it really coats the lips with a cushion of moisture. It stays put and doesn’t slide around. It comes in a hefty glass jar. The scent is very natural and barely has any taste. I like this one for an ultra rich and creamy treatment.
  • Chanel Hydra Beauty Nourishing Lip Care ($50) This is one I used up and repurchased. I go back and forth with this one, mainly because it comes with a very high price tag. It’s smooth and lightweight in feel but does moisturize the lips. If you read my post from last year I said I would probably use it to the end but not repurchase (well I ended up repurchasing). It’s a good basic lip balm that works for me, but I think others like the Nuxe or the Clarins Lip Oils have a deeper more moisturizing treatment and more affordable.
  • Dior Crème de Rose ($28) – This has been on my radar for years and I finally bought it and tried it this year. It’s super smooth and creamy without the greasy feel. It has the most lush rose scent, similar to By Terry but slightly less floral/sharp which makes it easier for those with sensitive noses. It’s very hydrating and the effects truly make a difference in the moisture of the lips.
  • Tatcha Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm ($36, also in the Travel Kit and several other holiday sets) This is an extra special lip balm. It’s such a unique formula. The base is a clear jelly-like balm that smells refreshingly sweet. It’s dewy and adds the perfect amount of moisture to the lips and feels lightweight. It’s topped with a thin layer of 24-karat gold leaf that gives it an ultra luxe look. It’s a winner and I really can’t imagine life without it.

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Lip Balms in Squeeze Tubes

Amore Pacific Laura Mercier Lip Balm L'Occitane First Aid Beauty Bite Beauty Malin+Goetz

Squeeze tubes are the best format for lip balms in my opinion. They’re compact, easy to use and don’t require fingers. Many come with angled applicators which makes it easier to apply these days. A few new ones along with tried-and-true favs:

  • Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment ($35) This is something I tried because so many of my readers raved about AmorePacific. This is a tiny tube of balm but the formula is excellent. It offers instant relief to super dry lips. There were a few days my lips were painfully dry and this helped restore them to their natural state. I would say that it’s almost entirely scent and taste-free. I can’t detect any scent but it’s possible there’s a slight natural scent to it. Out of all the tubes, this is in my top 3.
  • Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Lip Balm ($24 or in the Rose Infusion Set* for $110) This is a new launch from Laura Mercier. It was first exclusive to the Rose Infusion Set, but you can purchase it separately now at Laura Mercier. It’s a nourishing lip balm that smells like soft roses. It has Rosehip Seed, Kukui, and Macadamia Seed Oils helps soothe and comfort lips – I really like the way this feels on the lips. There is a slight floral taste to it – it’s not bad or too strong, but definitely noticeable. I really like the way it hydrates the lips.
  • L’Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm * ($25, from the Hugs and Kisses Set) is one of the most gentle lip treatments for super sensitive skin that’s still hydrating. Since it’s lightweight the lasting power isn’t as long as some other treatments, but it still does the job at adding moisture and soothing the lips. Many lip treatments make my lips go numb (like Kiehl’s and almost all the drugstore brands), whenever I’m in doubt I go with L’Occitane.
  • L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Pamplemousse Rhubarb Lip Balm ($25 from the Voyage Trio Set) is part of the Pierre Hermé Collaboration. It has the most delicious grapefruit scent to it and adds a tiny bit of moisture. As a quick fix it’s good, but the formula is pretty light in terms of moisture and texture. If you don’t mind reapplying the scent is heavenly, but if you’re looking for a deep treatment, you may want to pass.
  • First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy* ($12, or in the FAB to the Rescue Sampler Set $32 and Freshen Up Duo $15) This is a life-saver for dry lips. It’s got a minty scent which I’m not the biggest fan of, but it’s a pleasant mint. It’s super smooth and emollient and has just the right texture of creaminess to it. It gives the lips instant relief and really helps with dry lips.
  • Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne ($26, swatched here, Smashed swatched here) is a tinted treatment, but it’s pretty much clear. This is one of the best lip treatments I’ve tried. It’s super plush and hydrating. I use it on no-makeup days and it fixes dry lips like magic.
  • Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm ($12) is a long-time favorite. There are two formulas of lip balm, both are equally good. I think the Mojito one is fun because it’s scented in a fun mojito flavor. It has a clear almost gel-like consistency. I like the way this feels on the lips the best out of all the lip balms. It’s moisturizing and you can feel it, but it’s not heavy or greasy.

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Twist Up Sticks and Oils

lip oil clarins hourglass nuxe lip balm caudalie lip balm

Last but not least, a few others in oil and stick format:

  • Clarins Instant Light Lip Confort Oil in Honey* ($24) Lip Oils were really popular this time last year. I tried a few different brands and found I didn’t really like the concept of oils because many just felt too runny and thin. The Clarins is phenomenal though. It does offer instant comfort and a natural shine. Honey is pretty much clear on the lips but it has a thickness to it which prevents it from feeling like it will slip off your lips. Cafe Makeup did a review on the pink version. I think her thoughts and review are excellent.
  • Hourglass No. 28 Tinted Lip Treatment Oil in Icon* ($42, review here) is also tinted. I’ve tried both the original clear and tinted version. Both have a really good nourishing formula I find unique and extremely hydrating. The red one is fun for holiday and pretty sheer/natural so if you’re a neutral lip lover like me, it’s definitely wearable. It’s one of the deeper treatments I’ve tried for lips – it has a press pump to dispense product. I think it’s definitely worth the splurge.
  • Nuxe Lip Moisturizing Stick Rêve de Miel ($9) is something I’ve loved and used up. The stick for right now is probably too light in the sense that it doesn’t give me enough moisture. If you’re a Reve de Miel fan, go for the pot instead.
  • Caudalie Lip Conditioner ($12, also in this Winter Favorites Set or Winter Duo) this is my favorite twist up tube balm. It has a really nice fruity fresh scent and taste to it. It glides on the lips easily. It hydrates my lips nicely. I used up the tube from last year’s post and repurchased it in one of the duos.

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If you’re looking for a new lip treatment I hope this roundup helps give you some ideas of what to try. My bottom line:

Top Formula Picks for Fall/Winter Weather

Most hydrating formulas:

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment
Bite Agave Lip Mask (any of the colors)
Dior Creme de Rose
Nuxe Rêve de Miel (pot)
Clarins Lip Oil

Best for everyday, lightweight but still moisturizing:

Caudalie Lip Conditioner
Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm
Tatcha Camellia Lip Balm

Best in luxury:

Hourglass Lip Oils

Ones I’d pass on if I could do it over:

L’Occitane Pierre Herme Pamplemousse Rhubarb – nice but not hydrating enough
Fresh Sugar Nourshing Lip Care – just not what I expected

As always, I’d love to hear about your favorites! If you have any tried and true – please share in the comments. 

Some press samples included in this post indicated with a * from L’Occitane, Tatcha, First Aid Beauty, Hourglass, Clarins.
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MAC Online Exclusives for Lips: All I Want Lipstick and Berry Black Friday Patentpolish Lip Pencil

December 13, 2015
MAC Berry Black Friday Patentpolish Lip Pencil and All I Want Lipstick

MAC launched a couple online exclusive limited-edition lip colors and it’s a miracle both are still available online (at least at the time of this post). On Black Friday, MAC launched an exclusive color of Patentpolish Lip Pencil called Berry Black Friday ($20). On December 3rd, MAC released the highly anticipated MAC x Mariah Carey Collaboration Frost Lipstick called All I Want ($17). I thought I’d share swatches while both were still available to purchase online in the US. I do really like both and am glad I was able to buy them.

Close ups and swatches of both colors, a few details + comparisons:

MAC Berry Black Friday and All I Want

Berry Black Friday is a glossy plum color. It’s a neutral plum purple
and quite different from most plums I own because there’s hardly any red
undertone. There’s still a little in it which prevents it from being a
straight purple color which is nice. It’s got a vampy feel to it, but
the glossy sheer texture makes it a little softer and feminine (versus a
bold harsh vamp). Texture is just like the other Patentpolish Lip
Pencils – it’s a twist up stick that’s hard but glossy. It glides on the
lips easily and offers layerable coverage. I wouldn’t say it goes up to
full coverage but you can swipe it back and forth to get medium-high
color.

Berry Black Friday

Swatch comparisons to:
NARS Velvet Gloss Pencil in Club Mix (swatches here)
MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Ruby (swatched here)
Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Distinction (on the lips here)
Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes in Blow and Scandal (swatches here)
Burberry Kisses Lipstick in Oxblood (review here)
Buxom Bold Gel Lipstick in Vampy Plum (review + swatches here)

All I Want Lipstick is a frost formula. It takes me back to the 90’s
when this kind of color was popular. I remember all the cool girls in
high school had Wuss or Pink Glaze lipstick. It’s a high frost pearl
champagne. On the lips alone it’s pure metallic frost and on my
pigmented lips it looks almost like pink tinged foil. Add any gloss on
top though and it softens the color and transforms it into a gorgeous
champagne shimmer. Of course if you apply it sheer with a soft touch it’s not quite as metallic alone.

MAC All I Want Lipstick

MAC All I Want Lipstick

MAC All I Want Lipstick

Swatched comparisons to:
Tom Ford Lip Color in Sweet Mystery (swatched here)
MAC Frost Lipstick in Blonde on Blonde (discontinued)
MAC Lipstick in Wuss (discontinued)
MAC Lustre Lipstick in High Tea
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme d Nude
MAC Lipglass in Oyster Girl

One last closeup:

MAC All I Want Lipstick Berry Black Friday Patentpolish

I really like both. Berry Black Friday makes for a true dramatic plum while All I Want is the perfect champagne frost with a tiny bit of gloss added. I’m eagerly anticipating the Ellie Goulding launch – I have quite a few items on my wishlist.

Both Berry Black Friday Patentpolish Lip Pencil and All I Want Lipstick are exclusive online to www.maccosmetics.com, both limited-edition and available while supplies last. If you have your eye on either I suggest you order very soon.

Did you buy either of these? What did you think?

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Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Skincare Sets

December 11, 2015

Out of all the beauty sets this year, the skincare sets this year give you the biggest bang for your buck. I think shopping for skincare for others can be tricky because we all have different skin types, needs and texture but three lines that come to mind that I think you can’t go wrong with include First Aid Beauty, Tatcha and Kate Somerville. All three have a good selection of excellent products suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. Sets also have a sampling of products for you to try so it’s a nice way to try a lot of products at a value price.
I’ve been recovering from a bad allergic reaction to Neosporin for 3 weeks It was bad enough that I felt like I couldn’t go out in public, but not bad enough that a prescription was needed. All I could do was wait for it to go away. I stopped using most of my skincare with the exception of items from the three lines listed above. The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask in the FAB to the Rescue Kit* was a lifesaver in calming down skin once I could put product on my face. The Tatcha Indigo line* was instrumental in helping my skin stay moisturized and heal. Kate Somerville’s Dermal Quench Retinol* helped my skin at night in the regeneration process. If you can find sets with any of these I recommend trying them.

Onto the sets – I’ve tried items from all these lines and think there is something for everyone to love. If you treat yourself this holiday, skincare is a great area to splurge on. If you’ve been eyeing a Clarisonic – there are lots of skincare sets and values with other brands of cleansers to choose from. I really like mine and wish I had bought one of the sets during the holidays. This Mia3 + K-Beauty Set ($199) comes with two sheet masks, cleansing oil, enzyme peel and moisturizer. The Smart Profile Face and Body Set ($265) comes with two brush heads and two skincare products.

6. Jack Black All About Face Set $75 (my husband loves the Beard Lube)

Here’s another giveaway as a thank you and my way of giving back. One lucky winner will receive a $50 gift card to Sephora. It’s open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. If you’re a non-US selected winner you can opt to receive $50 via Paypal. Please refer to terms and conditions listed via the widget for all the details. Selected will be selected and announced via the Rafflecopter widget below and will be contacted via e-mail by me directly. Entries will be collected through 12/16/2015 11:45 PM PST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 


What’s your current favorite skincare line? Have you found any really good sets this holiday season?

A few more ideas to shop from:

Have a great weekend!

Some items mentioned were sent as press samples indicated with a *.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Fun Gifts For Hard to Shop For

December 11, 2015

Happy Friday everyone! It’s hard to believe it’s already December 11th – I still haven’t finished my Christmas shopping but I’m trying to wrap up everything to make the shipping deadlines. Luckily there’s still plenty of time at this point and many places are offering complimentary shipping upgrades or rush shipping options. I’ll be wrapping up my gift guides by early next week for those in need of last minute ideas. Stay tuned for another one this afternoon (plus a giveaway later today).

This gift guide roundup is for the person who is hard to shop for. I like to think these are the good gift ideas that are unique, practical and fun. If you saw my camera guide from last year, you know how much I like the Fujifilm Instax Cameras. I have the Instax Mini 25 but the Instax Mini 8 is the most popular version. Another alternative is the Instax Share Printer – you can print stored photos from your phone or tablet. It’s super fun and allows you to print multiples while the cameras are a one-shot deal.

For the coffee or espresso lover, I can’t rave enough about the Nespresso Machines. I bought the Pixie the year it launched (around 2011ish) and was so impressed with how easy it was to use. It makes a consistently good cup of espresso everytime. The holiday it was released, I bought quite a few as gifts and to this day it’s still being used and loved (it lasts a long time!). The Inissia Espresso Maker is a more compact and less expensive version – it’s super cute and almost identical in function to the Pixie.

You really can’t go wrong with anything from Williams-Sonoma. I worked there while I was in grad school and it was such a fun place – so fun I stayed there for 5 years working part time while also working a full-time corporate job. So many great tools and the holiday season brings the best foods, treats, cookies and drink mixes. I love their Hot Chocolate – the classic one is always the best but each year they bring out new flavors.
1. Gray Malin iPhone Case $50 – I adore his prints!
4. The Laundress x Le Labo Detergent Duo $84 – Santal and Rose
6. Fur Pom Pom $48
9. All in Good Taste by Kate Spade $27.50
15. Zoku Iced Coffee Maker $29.95 – I want this for me!
18. Sugarfina But First Cocktails Candy Bento Box $65 – the gummies are delicious!

Do you have any gifts you give every year that work for the hard to shop for person? Or the person who already has everything? Please share!

Some more fun ideas:

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Eye Makeup Urban Decay

Best of Urban Decay Cosmetics

December 9, 2015
Urban Decay Nordstrom The Beauty Look Book

If I were stuck on a desert island and could only have one makeup palette with me, it would be any of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes. I’ve been such a huge fan of Urban Decay for years and out of all the makeup I’ve bought, tried and tested, the Naked2 and Naked3 Eyeshadow Palettes are hands down my favorites – ever. I’ve done quite a few reviews on each palette in the past but I don’t think I’ve ever rounded them all up in one post. Today I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share my favorites from the line along with swatches and thoughts on their latest launch the UD x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette.

The Naked, Naked2, Naked3 and Naked Smoky Palettes all have a mix of beautiful neutrals. Each palette offers a diverse range of colors and textures ranging from matte, shimmer, frost, glitter and satin. The texture of the shadows are amazingly smooth, rich and super easy to blend. They last all day on my lids – although some of the glitter shades will have some fallout. I would say Naked has the most diverse range of neutrals from light, medium to dark. It has a split mix of warm and cool shades. Naked2 is the most neutral option with colors that will make any taupe lover go crazy. It has 2 of my favorite colors in YDK and Suspect (also available individually). Naked3 is the rosy pink neutral option, as one who rarely wears pink eye shadow, it was a huge surprise to me at how wearable the colors in this one are. The colors are absolutely perfect. The latest Naked palette is the Naked Smoky which I adore but is hit or miss for many. It’s the darkest and most dramatic mix of neutrals – the texture of the shadows is slightly harder than the other palettes, but I find pigment to still be excellent and easy to blend.

Urban Decay Naked Palettes

Urban Decay Naked Palettes

Urban Decay Naked Palettes swatched

The best matte eyeshadow palettes on the market are the Urban Decay Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics. I passed on the Naked Basics one for the longest time because I thought the colors would be too light for my skintone. Thanks to the extra push from my readers, I bought it and have been really happy. I don’t usually like matte shadows because I find they are either too sheer or too intense. Sheer ones just don’t show up on my skin, intense ones are too powdery or creamy and make my lids look wrinkled. The ones from Urban Decay are the perfect texture to just melt into the skin but at the same time the pigment shows up really well. The colors are easy to blend with each other. I like using these alone or mixed with shimmer colors. If I had to pick one, I would say Naked2 Basics is my favorite for my medium olive-toned skin, but both are really good.
Urban Decay Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics

The 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencils come in a wide range of colors. I of course prefer the neutrals (there are tons of options in this range), but there are lots of bold brights and shimmers that are really fun. I always have Bourbon on hand, I have a few actually. One is a mini from a holiday set, and I also have the full size. It’s a shimmering dark chocolate brown. Rockstar is a classic deep plum. I like that it’s deep but not so dark that it looks black. The Naked Double-Ended Pencils are nice to have for travel because you get 2 shades in one stick.

If you’ve used Urban Decay for a long time, you are probably aware of the lipstick changes over the years. The formulas have changed numerous times (they used to have their glosses in a squeeze tube, anyone remember Midnight Cowboy?). Right now three current lip formulas I like include the Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss, Revolution Hi-Color Lipgloss and Revolution Lipstick.

The Ultra Nourishing Lipglosses are cushiony shiny glosses. They are on the sheer side, so many of them end up looking very similar once on the lips with slight variations. My favorite is Naked because it has the prettiest sheen and shimmer that makes the lips look full but not too full.

The Revolution High-Color Lipgloss is a rich pigment gloss that is almost like a liquid lipstick. The two neutrals in the line are Kinky and Liar, I almost bought both but they are really similar. Liar is deeper and more pink, while Kinky is more beige and peachy.

For the lipsticks, I’ve only bought one formula. There are three formulas of lipstick. The Revolution Lipstick is the classic version which offers creamy pigmented coverage with a bit of a sheen. Lasting power is really good. There is also the Revolution Sheer Lipstick and Revolution Matte Lipstick as well which I haven’t tested on my lips, but when swatching them in store, the sheers are just that – sheer. The mattes are full coverage velvets.

For the face, the Naked Skin products have often received high ratings and raves. I have tried two items and really like them. The Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation is a smooth powder that gives natural medium to full coverage. I use the shade Medium Light Warm. I like to use it to set liquid foundation or for mid-day touch ups on the T-zone. As a foundation it lasts pretty long and looks very natural. I like that it doesn’t cake even if you use the sponge. The Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer is a great concealer for both under eye and spot coverage. It’s full coverage without looking cakey. My match is Medium Neutral and I like how it really covers but blends well into the skin so it looks like your skin.

Swatches of all the concealer shades:

Last but not least, the latest from Urban Decay is a celebrity collaboration. They just launched the UD x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette (limited-edition). Being a fan of both, I knew had to buy it even though at first glance there were 2 shades I thought might be questionable. Here’s a quick snapshot below to show you the size/scale of the packaging compared to the other palettes. It has 15 eyeshadows in a large mirrored compact (Naked palettes have 6 to 12 shades). I love the little detailing on the mirror.

 

UD x Gwen Stefani Palette

The 15 shades are mostly neutral with 3 colors that offer a bit of pop. There is a good mix of matte, shimmer and satin with one glittery shade and two colors that are on the sparkly side. I’ve been playing with this for only a few days but initial thoughts are thumbs up.

UD x Gwen Stefani Palette

Descriptions of the colors in the UD x Gwen Stefani Palette:

  • Blondie is a shimmering pale cool-toned cream
  • Bathwater is a frosted yellow champagne
  • Skimp is a satiny soft pale cream with pink tones
  • Steady is a shimmering beige pink
  • Punk is a matte warm brown
  • Baby is a shimmering neutral mauve pink taupe
  • Anaheim is a matte fawn beige
  • Stark is a matte warm beige
  • Zone is a matte tan
  • Serious is a satiny grey brown with shimmer, goes on more matte
  • Pop is a glitter champagne sparkle
  • Harajuku is a cool-toned blue based pink shimmer
  • Danger is a sparkling bright navy
  • 1987 is a sparkling gold
  • Blackout is a matte black
Pigment on all the colors is really good. There is some fallout with a few of the shimmering sparkles like Harajuku, 1987 and Baby, but once on the lids they stay put. The only color I wasn’t thrilled with is Pop mainly because it has crazy fall out with the glittery chunks unless you pat on the lids with a finger (over cream shadow to help it stick). I thought Danger would be a mess but it actually stayed put and didn’t fall all over the face when I applied with a detail brush. I thought Harajuku would give me a pink-eye look but it’s actually a very wearable pink.

Quick eye look with six colors layered and blended. The camera flash washed out the colors but I included a snapshot of the colors lined up together I used to help show the mix:

That rounds up my favorites from Urban Decay. There are a lot of single shadows that fall in the shimmer neutral category that are staples in my weekly makeup routine but the palettes are so much more convenient to use. Many times I find palettes have a few shades that I don’t like but with the Naked ones, I like every color in every palette.

If you’re looking for a versatile palette, you can’t go wrong the Naked Palettes. My top 3 favorites are Naked2, Naked3 and Naked2 Basics – they are good for everyday, great for travel and have enough color to create a look for evening or special occasions. The colors are timeless and you can wear them any time of year.

Do you have any Urban Decay favorites? I’m curious about the Naked Skin Foundation, Loose Powder and Afterglow Blush – if you have any thoughts please let me know, I’d be interested to hear what you think.

Thanks to Nordstrom for teaming up to sponsor this post. As always, all opinions my own.

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