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Holiday Gift Guide for the Guys In Your Life

December 8, 2015

 

Today’s gift guide features some ideas on what to get for the men in your life. Holiday brings so many good value sets for grooming. There are lots to choose from suitable for all the men in your life such as your husband, boyfriend, father, brother, uncle or friends. When it comes to grooming, I think men like to keep things simple and they prefer to stick to one brand if possible. There are lots of good options this year! My husband has put a few Baxter of California sets on his wishlist along with a manicure set (so he can stop borrowing my nail tools).
  1. Jack Spade Barrow Leather Portfolio Briefcase ($378) – a nice classic leather briefcase is something nice to give as a gift, this one is the perfect mix of casual and business
  2. Barneys New York The Holiday Grooming Collection ($220, listed as a $748 value) for the man who wants to try a little bit of everything, this is a 19 piece set with skincare, shaving essentials, fragrance and more
  3. Zwilling J.A. Henckels 5 Piece Manicure Set ($179) is on my husband’s wishlist
  4. Tumi Monaco Leather Card Case ($95) is the perfect pocket sized card holder, it’s in between a regular wallet and traditional card case so it’s a good happy-medium but still compact enough to fit in a coat pocket without being bulky
  5. Stripe Scarf ($148, currently on sale for $111) has a good masculine look and neutral enough to go with a variety of different colors of outfits
  6. Bosca Money Clip ($40) has a really strong magnet so it will hold a stack of cash
  7. Clarisonic Alpha Fit ($189) is my husband’s favorite skincare tool, he really likes it, it helps clean his skin well and has made his pores smaller, it’s also helped soften his facial hair and preps it for shaving
  8. Victorinox Swiss Army Knife ($107) comes in a lot of different sizes and variations, this one has a cigar cutter
  9. Tumi Alpha Bravo Riley Travel Kit ($125) I bought my husband another version of this kit (a few years ago) and he really likes it, he takes it on all travel trips, it has a hanger that tucks in the back so you can hang it from a mirror or any rod – it’s sturdy and has a good modern look
  10. Leather Care Travel Kit ($195) comes with 5 items to care for leather goods
  11. Rag and Bone Canvas Baseball Cap ($95)
  12. Harry’s Winston Set ($30) is a great affordable starter set, according to my husband, Harry’s makes the best shaving sets for those who are starting out with razors, he’s a fan of the aftershave lotion, this Father-Son Set ($30) is too cute
  13. Bose Soundlink Color Bluetooth Speaker ($129) I bought this for my husband last year and he keeps it in his office, he likes that it’s portable and compact so it doesn’t take up much space on his desk or shelf
  14. Kiehl’s Manmade Essentials Starter Set ($73, Nordstrom Exclusive) – has the Men’s Starter Kit but also comes with a grooming book
  15. Jack Black 15th Anniversary Turbo Wash ($50) the Turbo Wash is my husband’s favorite shower product, he’s had me buy many bottles of it in the large size that comes with a pump, this year they have a 15th anniversary edition which has neat packaging
  16. Baxter of California Best of Baxter Set ($100) has a little bit of everything from the line
  17. Leather Catchall ($29, also in charcoal)
  18. Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity and Heart Rate Tracker ($149.95) is also on my husband’s wishlist, although there are quite a few different fitbit options – if anyone has recommendations please share in the comments!
  19. Bose Soundsport In-Ear Audio Headphones ($89.95)
  20. Leather Shoehorn ($28)
  21. Hershel Supply Co. Novel Duffle Bag ($80) this looks like a good weekend traveler
My husband is a huge fan of Jack Black skincare sets. It’s the one line he uses the most products from. I’ve also bought him several things from Kiehl’s which suits his skin, although my brother has sensitive and dry skin and found a few items too strong for him (he likes items from Anthony’s, this Essential Traveler Kit is a good one).

If you’re stumped on what to get the guys in your life for the upcoming holiday, I hope this guide gives you some ideas that has a mix of grooming, leather goods and tech. If you have any ideas that you’d like to share, please let me know in the comments! I know many of us could use help and any inspiration for guy gifts! Whenever I’m stumped I know restocking on my husband’s favorite colognes never fails – although I do think buying cologne for someone who isn’t your signficant other can be a bit awkward. I hope this guide helps give you other ideas!

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Diptyque Fragrance Gift Guide Home / Interiors

Diptyque Advent Calendar – Holiday 2015

December 8, 2015
Diptyque Advent Calendar 2015 Christmas

Beauty Advent Calendars have been around for years in Europe, the ones launched in the UK have been on my radar for many holidays and much to my dismay the good ones have never been available in the US. This year, Diptyque launched an Advent Calendar which sold out at lightening speed. By the time I called my local store they had sold through all the ones they received, but they put my name on a waitlist. I was thrilled to find they were able to find one for me and will be doing a reveal of the contents each week.

 

The Diptyque Advent Calendar this year is priced at a jaw-dropping $390, but the set is quite impressive. It contains a mix of 25 mini-sized Diptyque items including candles, fragrance and body products. A huge part of me cannot believe that I splurged so much on a single beauty set, but another part is giddy with excitement. The Advent Calendar comes in a beautiful large box and black bow. It’s taken a lot of self control for me to not open all the little doors at once time. They did list all the contents online, it contains:
  • 15 (1.2 oz) mini candles in Ambre, Feu de Bois, Santal, Genevrier, Opoponax, Vanille, Cypres, Noiseter, 34, Oud, Geranium Rosa, Pomander, Figuier, Rose, Benjoin
  • 1 (2.4 oz) small candle in Baies
  • 6 (0.34 fl oz) perfumes in Oud, Florabellio, Do Son, Tam Dao, Philosykos, 34
  • 1 (15 ml) mini Precious Oil
  • 1 (15 ml) mini Rich Body Butter
Here’s a look at the box with two items for scale:

Diptyque Advent Calendar 2015 Holiday
A look inside the box, each day has a little perforated door to open:

Holiday 2015 Diptyque Advent Calendar

Contents of Days 1 through 7:

Breaking down the price of the set versus individual items is a bit of a challenge since the minis aren’t usually sold separately. At $390 this Advent Calendar is the ultimate splurge. This is for the person who is a Diptyque lover, or for someone who wants to try a little bit of everything in mini-sizes. For a few reference points:
  • The 5 Piece Set is $75 and 10 Piece Set is $130. Both contain the baby candles that are also in the Advent Calendar, so the price per candle is either $13 or $15
  • The Eau de Parfume Set is $115 for 5 mini fragrances, although the size of each is 0.25 oz while the ones in the Advent Calendar are 0.34 oz
  • The 2.4 oz Baies is priced individually at $32
2015 Diptyque Advent Calendar

If you find this confusing, don’t worry, I did too, but bottom line is there doesn’t appear to be any price break by purchasing the calendar. Since it’s sold out and probably very difficult to find at this point, I would recommend the 10 Piece Candle Set as the next best alternative for someone who wants to experience as much Diptyque as possible for the best price.

Even though this Advent Calendar cost an arm and a leg (and then some) I do think it’s extra special. It has minis of candles and scents that you can’t usually buy separately at such a small trial size. I’m anxious to try them all over the next few months. I think it’s fun that they included so many different fragrances to try as well.

For fun, I’m going to be doing a few giveaways in the next few weeks. I’ll have a new giveaway with each weekly reveal. Ideally I wanted to giveaway a gift card to Diptyque so the winner could pick their own items, but their website doesn’t appear to sell them, so the next best thing is one to Nordstrom. For this one, I’m giving away 1 $100 e-gift card to Nordstrom. It’s open internationally, but you must be 18 years or older to enter. If you’re a selected winner via the Rafflecopter widget and are located outside of the US, you can opt to receive $100 via Paypal. Entries will be collected through the widget – you can comment below in the blogger comments, but note valid entries are through the widget only.

Terms and conditions are listed in the widget below – selected winner will be chosen randomly via the Rafflecopter widget and announced below. I will e-mail the winner directly. Entries will be collected through 12/12/2015 11:59 PM PST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Good luck!

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Winter Holiday Collection 2015

December 7, 2015
Diptyque Candles Holiday © 2015 The Beauty Look Book

This holiday Diptyque launched three limited-edition scented candles in Sapin, Liquidambar and Oliban. The packaging is breathtaking and the special designs this year are the best ones to date. Diptyque partnered with painter Julien Colombier who lives and works in Paris to create this year’s holiday candle designs. As with previous holiday launches, there are several options in sizes and sets for the holiday scents. The price of these are slightly higher than the standard clear glass jar candles, but this is usually the case with any special-edition release. The options this year:

All 3 individually in the Small Size 2.4 oz / 30 hour burn time – $35
All 3 individually in the Standard Size 6.5 oz / 60 hour burn time – $70
Boxed Trio of Small Candles 2.4 oz x 3 – $100

If you are near one of the Diptyque boutiques, I highly recommend you visit one this time of year. The visual displays during Christmas are my favorite – everything is so beautifully put together and very festive. I stopped by the one at South Coast Plaza a couple weeks ago and every time I visit, I never want to leave.

Diptyque South Coast Plaza
Out of the three, my favorites are tied with Sapin and Liquidambar. I’m a huge fan of all the Diptyque pine scents. I started collecting a few years ago – as you can see below the packaging gets better and better every year. Below shown is Pine Bark (2013 edition), Résine (2014 edition) and Sapin (2015 launch). For inquiring minds, yes I bought backups each year and miraculously still had one of each kept in the original box. Out of all the holiday scents out there, I think Diptyque makes the best pine ones each year. Comparing the three, I do find the notes similar between the seasons. Pine Bark is the perfect mix of pine needles and bark, it’s earthy. Last year’s Résine is more green and smells more like the pine. This year’s Sapin is sweeter with noticeable citrus – the description says it has mandarin in it and it gives this an interesting sweet twist. Throw is very good on this one.

Diptyque Pine Bark, Résine and Sapin Candles © The Beauty Look Book

Liquidambar is another really good one. The packaging is simply stunning. This one is described as “liquid amber is spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, then cloaked in the scent of muscovado sugar.” Compared to the regular Ambre candle, the Liquidambar is sweeter, not as spicy and has less of an incense feel. The sugar and cinnamon of the holiday candle makes for a festive but warm feel. Throw is really good on this one as well.

Diptyque holiday candle

Oliban is described as having ” sweet oriental vapors of incense and woody accents set against fresh notes and balmy tones.” It definitely has that balmy feel, almost like a misty ocean-like scent. There is wood and incense mixed in. It has a refreshing feel. This one has the weakest throw of the three. It does give the room a clean subtle lift, but compared to the other two, it’s more on the subtle side. Shown below next to the Oiseaux Photophore (boutique exclusive, also reviewed here).

Diptyque Oliban Candle Holiday 2015

One more look at the displays at the South Coast Plaza boutique:

Diptyque Boutique Display

Once again Diptyque has launched a beautiful collection for holiday that’s not to be missed. I’m always eager to see the special edition packaging with every launch and the designs get better and better every year.

Being the Diptyque fan that I am, I bought the Holiday Trio along with the full size options in each of the three scents. Before the season is over I will be backing up the Liquidambar and Sapin for our home. For holiday there are a number of other nice sets that have regular candles which include:

My husband asked me to buy him a few of the 5 Piece Mini Sets + several wick trimmers to give out as business gifts. I’ve posted comparisons before but in case you missed it, here’s a quick look at the size comparisons. The mini sets have the smallest candles that you can’t buy individually (at least note yet) and are usually the ones given in gift with purchases.

You can find Diptyque at a number of retailers now. I am really happy to see they’ve expanded over the past few years. My favorite place to shop for Diptyque is the South Coast Plaza store even though it’s a bit of a drive for me to get there. They have the best customer service and visiting the store is always a treat. The lovely people who work at the boutiques are also very knowledgeable about all the products in the line which is always nice if you have questions or need recommendations. Not to mention everything is always wrapped up beautifully if you have gifts to give. You can also find Diptyque online at Diptyque, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Space NK, Barneys New York and Net-A-Porter.

Have you checked out the holiday offerings at Diptyque this year?

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Fragrance

L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe for Holiday 2015

December 5, 2015

This holiday L’Occitane and Pierre Hermé teamed up to launch an exquisite collection of the most delicious smelling products for lips, hands and body. Both brands have a special place in my heart. I’ve been a long-time L’Occitane fan and this past summer I was able to try Pierre Hermé macarons for the first time when I visited Paris (they are truly out of this world). A partnership between the two brands is heaven sent and I have fallen head over heels in love with both fragrances launched for holiday in Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe. Today I have a review on both fragrances along with a few of the gift set options. Do note some of the online sets are online exclusives, also different countries have slight variations in the options and packaging.

Out of the two it’s hard to pick a favorite. I initially thought I would
favor the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe because I love grapefruit scents. The
Pamplemousse Rhubarbe is a sweet grapefruit but there’s some cedar mixed
in to balance it and round it out so it’s not quite as sharp as a
regular citrus. The rhubarb adds more warmth to it. Everything is so beautifully packaged and colorful.

According to L’Occitane: “When Pierre Hermé places Grapefruit at the heart of a creation, he means to celebrate all its facets. And that includes the slightly bitter, white inner skin – its character underlined by the green and crisp aromas of Rhubarb. This beautifully balanced note is soon ruffled at its heart by sensual, piquant spices. In this original composition, woody notes of Cedar conjure up the sensation of mischievous Grapefruit cutting through the tartness of Rhubarb stalks.”

The items in the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe collection include:

The perfume is really pretty. It’s sweet but not too sweet.  Lasting power is pretty good on me. With three spritzes I find it lasts from early morning until around 3:00 pm before it’s completely faded. Layering the lotion helps extend the scent. The lotions are lightweight and absorb quickly into the skin and hydrate the skin nicely. The shower gel lathers up well in the bath or shower although I find the shower gels aren’t quite as strong in scent as the lotion/perfume. All the body and hand items are identical in scent. The Pamplemousse Rhubarbe Lip Balm is clear and lightweight. It hydrates the lips nicely. Online it’s only available in a couple of sets. I haven’t checked to see if it’s available alone in stores (if you’ve spotted it please share in the comments). The hand creams of course are incredible and not to be missed.

The Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli is actually my favorite of the two options which surprised me because Jasmin is one of those scents I like for the home but don’t usually like to wear. The mix of jasmin, immortelle flower, citrus of neroli make for me the most interesting combination. The scent is very soothing and feminine. According to L’occitane this one is described as “luminous, angelic, sensual…” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s so beautiful I am doing something I have only done once before, I am backing up the perfume.

Per L’Occitane, “Floral and absolutely feminine, the jasmine scented fragrance of pastry chef Pierre Hermé balances the white notes of gardens at dawn with the gold of a flower that still flourishes throughout the Corsican maquis. Sparkling head notes bring an unexpected sensation. In one deep breath, Lemon and Petit grain tantalize the palate as they come into contact with Pink Pepper and offer up a breeze of fresh air. The exhilarating heart of this bouquet blends the floral note of Jasmine and the softness of Orange Blossom with the wild, honeyed and aromatic scents of an armful of Immortelle from Corsica. This is a floral fragrance that captures the scent of the Island of Beauty, swept up in woody and musky notes.” 

Options in the Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli are the same as for the other fragrance with one slight variation for the lips:
The lip product for this collection is a tinted lip gloss. It is scented just like the other items in the line and goes on a sheer glossy pink (almost clear). It tastes surprisingly good – surprising to me because the scent doesn’t seem like something that would taste good, but it does. At the same time it should be expected that Pierre Hermé and L’Occitane would take extra care to make sure the lip products taste just as good as they look and smell.

Swatches of the lip balm and lip gloss that we received in the US:

A quick look at a few of the other sets that launched this holiday. There was a Pierre Hermé hand cream trio available online but appears to be sold out right now. I didn’t see it in stores a month ago but you may want to check to see if it popped up. It has the Mandarin Miel (warm citrus honey) as well which is still available for purchase separately online and in stores. The set offered a slight price break compared to purchasing the hand creams separately. Since everything is limited-edition I don’t think this one will be coming back online.

Also available are these cute Hugs and Kisses Duos that have a lip product with a hand cream packaged together. The sets are $20 each ($24 value) and come in a variety of options. I didn’t see these in store either – but if you’ve spotted them please share in the comments. I ordered the Pierre Hermé ones online.
Above: the Hugs and Kisses Hand and Lip Duos ($20 each) in Pamplemousse Rhubarbe, Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli, Shea Butter*, Delightful Rose*, also available in Zesty Lime.

There are lots of different gift sets at L’Occitane. My favorites are the Pierre Hermé ones. One more item I wanted to highlight because it’s so cute are the Holiday Baubles. These are only $14 each and make the perfect stocking stuffer. The Shea Butter Holiday Bauble comes with minis of the Shea Butter Hand Cream, Extra Gentle Milk Soap, Ultra Rich Body Lotion, Ultra Rich Shower Cream all packed into a cute ornament. There’s also a Shea Verbena Holiday Bauble option (also $14), or both in a Duo Pack Set for $28.

Bottom line: so much to love. The only downside is that a lot of the holiday items are limited-edition and some sets have already sold out online, my hope is that they restock, but I don’t suspect the popular items like the sets. If you have anything on your wishlist I suggest you visit your store sooner than later.

Out of all the items in the Pierre Hermé collection, I think the stand outs are the Eau de Toilettes and Hand Creams. The Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli Lip Gloss is special because it’s a surprisingly pretty pink shimmer even though it goes on pretty clear on my lips, it smells amazing and makes the lips feel smooth and glossy without any tacky feel.

This is perhaps my favorite holiday launch this year (or at least in my top three). You can find the collection online at L’Occitane and most items in stores as well. Some sets are online exclusives.

Did you check out anything from L’Occitane this holiday? My husband has some of the men’s skincare sets on his wishlist for Christmas and I just ordered a few today.

Some items featured include press samples indicated with a *. Press samples include the Body Lotions, Shower Gels, Eau de Toilettes, Shea and Rose Hugs and Kisses. All other items and sets featured purchased by me.
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Gift Guide

Holiday Beauty Gifts To Treat Yourself

December 3, 2015

There’s a lot to do during the holiday season and if you’re like me you probably find life a bit hectic if not extra busy. With all the things going on with friends, family and year-end wrap ups, I think it’s important to not forget you! Today’s gift guide focuses on some of my favorite beauty items from Nordstrom to consider treating yourself with. Sometimes just one simple thing like a new candle or lipstick can be a nice treat.

I’m a huge fan of home fragrance. The right scent can shift the mood and help you unwind or lift the spirits. Mini candles are always so cute to have around the house. Diptyque Baies is of course a favorite. Vanille is another nice one for the holiday or cold weather as it’s a warm and cozy scent. (It also comes in the 5 Piece Mini Set and 10 Piece Mini Set.)

For a little bit of glam, a new scent to wear is also a mood lifter. If you want a sampling of lots of scents, the Jo Malone Cologne Collection has 5 mini clutch-sized perfumes in Lime Basil and Mandarin, Pomegranate Noir, English Pear and Freesia, Peony and Blush Suede and Wood Sage and Sea Salt. If you like stronger scents, there’s also the Cologne Intense Collection with 5 minis.

For color, hands down my most favorite highlighter launch this year is the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo. I liked it so much I bought a backup (although it appears to be permanent). Another cute mini set is the Laura Mercier In The Glow Trio which has small sizes of the Matte Radiance Highlight Powder, Bonne Mine Face Color Stick in Peach Glow and a mini Rose Gold Caviar Eye Stick.

For the holiday, the best beauty pick-me-up is a new lipstick or lipgloss. The Charlotte Tilbury Mini Lipstick Charms Set has made a comeback with Penelope Pink, Bitch Perfect and So Marilyn. For a little more glitz the MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus Lipglasses are surprisingly wearable even though they are on the sparkly side. I have last year’s and this year’s versions and even though I’m a neutral lip lover at heart – I find I can wear both without feeling like the shimmer is over the top. If you’re looking for a double-duty tint and hydrate lip, the Hourglass Lip Oil in Icon (c/o) is a splurge but worth a look. It feels super hydrating on dry lips and gives a glossy natural red tint.

For eyes, Charlotte Tilbury’s Fallen Angel Palette is still available even though it was launched last year. This is one of my most-worn palettes and since it is limited-edition I did buy a backup because the colors work so well without having to think about how to coordinate them. The shades are versatile enough to go with any lip and cheek color. 

If you’re feeling extra spendy – the Louboutin Nail Polishes are the ultimate splurge in luxury beauty. I own quite a few and really like them for the rich colors. I also find they last a long time on my nails. All the Nudes are swatched in this post here.

I hope you are all having a great week – the weekend is almost here! With all the busy aspects of the last month of the year, I hope you don’t forget to take a moment or two and treat yourself. I love the phrase, “on a bad day there’s always lipstick,” because sometimes a little extra bit of glam can really make me feel better or more put together, even if it’s just for a moment 🙂

What do you like to do to treat yourself during the holidays? Do you have any beauty tips, tricks or traditions to share? 


Many thanks to Nordstrom for teaming up to sponsor this post. As always all opinions my own.
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Travel

Travel Gift Guide for the Girl on the Go/Jetsetter

December 2, 2015

Today’s gift guide is for the traveler and girl on-the-go. I’ve done a few travel posts before focusing on travel beauty which have been well received so I’ve included some favorites for gift ideas. I love that so many of you have given me recommendations in the past, I think they are so helpful to see what’s really useful and worked. If you have any to add it would be greatly appreciated!
  1. Wool and Cashmere Scarf – Nordstrom makes my favorite classic wool and cashmere blend scarves, they come in a lot of colors. These makes great gift for those who travel a lot because it’s compact and easy to store in your bag or purse.
  2. Frends Layla Headphones in Rose Gold/White – These have to be the prettiest headphones I’ve ever seen, I have and love the Bose Quietcomfort 25 Noise Cancelling ones – you don’t know how good they are until you use them on the plane, they are super pricey but well worth the splurge if you travel a lot.
  3. Canon Powershot G16 Camera – I have and love the Canon G16. I use it for a lot of blog photos and travel. It’s easy to use and works really well in low light situations. Another popular option is the Canon Powershot G7x which has a flip screen.
  4. Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope Kits – I love these because they are so versatile and the well-coordinated colors make them super easy to use. Full Stream swatches + review here.
  5. West 57th Luggage Tag – I love Henri Bendel for cute and affordable accessories. This one is affordable chic option made of Saffiano leather.
  6. Passport Case – this one comes in a variety of colors and you can also personalize it!
  7. Mophie Powerstation Charging Unit – Maybe not the most exciting gift, but I have several of these and find them essential for last minute recharging on-the-go.
  8. Clemency Silk Sleeping Mask – This is so pretty I want one for myself. Also available in this pink floral option.
  9. L’Occitane Hand/Foot Cream Duo  – I think hand creams are usually on hand for most women I know, but often times foot creams are forgotten! It’s something I always wish I had while traveling so I end up using hand lotion on my feet instead.
  10. Anya Hindmarch Inflight Travel Case – This is my favorite travel accessory. It makes packing so much easier because it really helps you limit your beauty items to just the essentials. It has two compartments which allows you to flip it over and have easy access (no digging around). You can see what I fit inside mine in this post here.
  11. Byredo Bal D’Afrique Roller Ball Perfume  – I think buying perfume as a gift can be tricky unless you know the person well. For the traveler – if you know what her favorites are, pick up a travel size option. My friends who frequently have to travel at a last minute’s notice usually appreciate having a purse-size travel option on hand to throw in their bag.
  12. Kowonhye Easy Go Compact Brush Set from MustaeV – A good brush set is essential for any traveler. There are so many options these days it’s easy to find one. I’ve really liked the MustaeV Easy Go brushes and the Kowonhye Set has six very well made brushes for eyes, cheeks and face. It comes in a sturdy zip pouch that protects all your tools as well.
  13. Truffle Clarity Clutches – I think those who read this blog could bet $$$ that I would include this in my travel gift guide. I use these on a daily basis. Last year I stocked up on quite a few during their sale. They make really good quick and easy gifts for anyone.
  14. Longchamp Expandable Travel Tote (21″) – My husband and I bought this while in Paris because our carry-on situation wasn’t quite working (full story here). We found it to be the most affordable option that would allow us to carry a little bit more while still working as a carry on. The associate assured us when fully zipped it would pass all airline size requirements for under the seat. We were able to use it without any issues. Another good tote option for travel is the Tumi Just-In-Case Tote. It folds up into a compact square that you can put in your suitcase for those just in case moments.
  15. Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist and Sheet Mask – Anyone who travels frequently knows how easy it is for skin to become dry and parched with air travel. I hands down recommend Tatcha gifts – especially the travel sized versions. (Friends and family sale is still going on for 20% with code FF2015 at checkout, valid until 12/6.)
  16. T3 Featherweight Compact Folding Dryer – I bought one during the Nordstrom sale over the summer and really like it. Although most hotels these days have hair dryers, unless you stay at the same hotel in every city you travel, you never really know what kind of dryer will be in your room (or how old it is). This one folds so it fits nicely into your suitcase or bag. Review in this post here.

What are your favorite travel essentials that you would recommend gifting? P.S. I’m hosting a giveaway via Instagram – if you’re interested you can enter here.

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Uncategorized

Lately On Instagram

December 1, 2015

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! Did you score anything good for Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Please share! I drove to the mall on Black Friday thinking everything would be less busy in the afternoon. I saw the parking situation was really bad and left immediately. I did venture to do a little shopping on Saturday but didn’t really pick up much that was on sale.

A few highlights and news bits from my Instagram feed. Since the holiday season is upon us, if you’re wanting to wear a red lip but are a neutral makeup lover like me, I rounded up 9 sheer red balms that are more natural looking than the traditional bold red.

For neutrals, I did a B2M for a few MAC Lipsticks in Koi Coral, Velvet Teddy and Patisserie. MAC lipsticks still make my lips dry out and peel, but the colors are so good I can’t stop wearing them.

Chanel relaunched the Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink – full review in yesterday’s post here. Did you end up purchasing it? Or are you waiting for spring to arrive at counters?

Last week I was thrilled to attend the Tom Ford Lips and Boys preview at the Beverly Hills store with Rae from The Raeviewer. We had so much fun and swatched up a storm. I’m waiting for a few to arrive this week and also my face is recovering from an allergic reaction – so thanks for your patience while waiting for the swatches. First impressions are that this year’s new colors are almost all shimmery. The one cream that stood out was Austin which is a nude pink cream. My heart belongs to Jake which is the perfect natural pink shimmer. I can’t wait to share the swatches of my picks.
Right now my favorite perfume is the L’Occitane Pierre Hermé Jasmin-Immortelle Neroli Eau de Toilette. I’m seriously considering a backup even though I’ve almost never backed up a perfume (I did it once for a limited-edition Jo Malone one).

My latest discovery is the Le Labo x The Laundress Detergent and I’m in trouble with this one. I bought Rose 31 and used it to wash our sheets and pillow cases and it’s amazing! I haven’t bought any Le Labo fragrances although I have smelled them at Barneys on numerous occasions. If you’re a Le Labo fan – please let me know what your favorites are!

Last but not least, if you’re a Nespresso lover, the holiday variations are out in three flavors: Vanilla Cardamom, Vanilla Amaretti and Ciocco Ginger. I ordered all three and my favorite is the Ciocco Ginger. I need to restock before they’re gone!

Hope your week is going well so far!
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