2018

Dior Lips

Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balms New Shades

January 17, 2018

There are new shades of the Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balms ($34 each) and they are amazing! If you’re like me you probably started jumping for joy as soon as you heard the news that more colors and formula finishes were going to be launching this spring. For those who are new to these, the Dior Addict Lip Glow is a color-changing balm that shifts in color depending on your lip chemistry. This year they’ve added two new finishes in a Matte and Holographic version along with two new shades of the Original Classic formula. Six new shades total.

For the six shades some are retailer specific so you’ll have to shop around to find all the new ones as some are store exclusives. I found Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus have 5 of the new shades, Sephora has 1 exclusive to their store and 2 other options of the new colors. My thoughts and description of the colors and finishes. Since these will adjust to a unique shade on your skin depending on your chemistry the overall look will most likely be different on you.

Pink 001, Coral 004, Lilac 005, Berry 006 are the older shades you can see swatched and reviewed here
Raspberry 007 and Ultra-Pink 008 are both glossy sheer flushed pinks
- Raspberry looks deeper in the tube than Ultra-Pink but for my lip chemistry Raspberry turned into a lighter pink on my lips
- Ultra-Pink looks lighter in the tube but it gave me a deeper more flushed berry pink look
Matte Pink 101 and Matte Raspberry 102 have a matte finish with a nice blurred lip look
- Matte Pink is a soft diffused pink, it doesn’t brighten or deepen like the original on me, it still goes on darker than what you see in the tube which is a soft powder pink, on my lips it’s a pretty soft blurred pink matte
- Matte Raspberry is a cool-toned raspberry pink with a matte finish
Holo Purple 009 and Holo Pink 010 are sparkling shimmers
- Holo Purple 009 gives an iridescent lilac pink that deepens on my lips (Sephora exclusive)
- Holo Pink 010 gives a flush like the original Pink 001 but with iridescent flecks of shimmer

There’s no detectable scent. They are moisturizing with a glossy finish for the regular and holographic shades. The matte ones have a distinct matte finish but aren’t drying. Sometimes the colors will adjust deeper on my lips and give them a pink stain. Other times they’ll give my lips a lighter flush.

A closer look and swatches, below top to bottom:

Matte Pink, Matte Raspberry, Ultra-Pink, Raspberry, Holo Purple and Holo Pink

Foundation worn on my face is NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Vanuatu (all shades of the formula swatched here) with Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation #4 to set. All lip products were swatched on bare lips.

A look at the Dior Addict Lip Glows new shades in direct sunlight:

There are a few other color-changing balms on the market including the new shades of the Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tints (reviewed here) and MAC Tendertalk Balms have made a comeback (review on the original launch here). All have a similar balmy cushiony feel, moisturizing finish and glossy look. My favorites are the Dior although each formula has a similar finish and vibe. The Dior is the most hydrating on my lips and has the softest feel to me. I also like Dior’s colors the best but between the different brands I’ve tried they are pretty similar for formula.

Out of the new shades, my favorites are the Matte Pink, Raspberry and Holo Purple. Out of all the shades available I’d say my favorites are still probably the Coral and Lilac.

This week’s giveaway in the Rafflecopter widget below. One winner will receive the new Dior Holo Pink Highlighter, Holo Pink Addict Lip Glow and Ultra-Pink Addict Lip Glow. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter and qualify. I’ll pick one at random through the widget below. Not sponsored or affiliated. I will e-mail a winner within 72 hours after the giveaway ends. I usually ship prizes within a week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you tried the new shades yet? Or the original ones? Do you have a favorite brand/formula of color-changing balms? You can find the new Dior Addict Lip Glows at all Dior counters now. Do keep in mind you may have to search a few stores for all the shades. I bought mine from Nordstrom and Sephora. Also available at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Dior.

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Bobbi Brown Highlighters

Bobbi Brown Extra Glow Collection

January 15, 2018

For spring getting that glowing beauty look is still very much on trend and Bobbi Brown has an Extra Glow Collection that they call “light reflecting and treatment infused.” I think most of the collection is limited-edition, a few pieces have already sold out at stores near me – you may have to shop around online for all the colors. From what I remember the first time Bobbi Brown launched her Extra Lip Tint it sold out extremely fast as well.

Up first is the Extra Glow Skincare Palette which I think is perfect for carrying around with you and throwing in your purse for on-the-go. I normally don’t think of having skincare in palettes but this is really quite genius. It has her Extra Face Oil, Skin Salve and Extra Soothing Balm which are great for lips and cuticles.

It’s been a while since I’ve tried any of her skincare items and I was pleasantly surprised by these. The Extra Face Oil is super hydrating and meant for dry skin. For me I like to put these little travel sizes on my cuticles and the balms on my lips. The Skin Salve and Extra Soothing Balms make for nice lightweight lip treatments.

Also for the face are three Extra Illuminating Moisture Balms that are pearl-infused. They are similar to MAC Strobe Creams but the Bobbi Brown ones are slightly less iridescent in finish once you blend. I received Golden Glow and Bare Glow as press samples but purchased Pink Glow because I wanted to see how different all three were. On my olive/medium skin I find all of them work to give the skin a subtle luminous glow. They disappear into a very subtle glow on the skin. I’m probably on the lighter side now that I’ve lost most of my tan. They have a nice hydrating feel but the hydration is very lightweight so I’d recommend using a moisturizer underneath.

Bare Glow is a pearly color, Pink Glow is a soft pink, Golden Glow is a soft warm skin-toned gold. Above you can see once they’re blended there’s no shimmer or frost, just glow. It’s something that is definitely more visible in person rather than a photograph. You can use these alone as a lotion, as a primer or over makeup for a dewy glow. These have a lightly moisturizing feel. There’s no greasy feel and they don’t make you look oily. I felt these were best on me over moisturizer and under a medium-sheer foundation or mixed in with foundation. If you use a full coverage foundation on top it will pretty much cancel out the glow effect.

There’s a new Highlighting Powder called Opal Glow. It’s highly reflective with a really pretty opal pink iridescent finish. It’s very shimmery and sparkly but you can definitely apply with a light hand for a sheer wash. It’s not quite duo-chrome but almost has that kind of quality. I thought for sure it would be too sparkly but I actually love it. There are noticeably larger shimmer particles but it’s not quite glittery.

Swatch comparisons below to Bobbi Brown Afternoon Glow (cooler-toned and less iridescent with a smoother finish), Tawny Glow (deeper and more mauve), Tom Ford Lavender Lure (highlighter portion), Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Devotion (cooler toned) and Dior Nude Air Luminizer in Holo Pink (a lot lighter).

For the lips there are new shades of her Extra Lip Tint. I have three of them in Bare Pink Sparkle, Bare Melon and Bare Popsicle. These have a little bit of color in them – I can’t tell for sure if these are ones that adjust to your natural lip color or simply have a nice tint. On my arms they look like they have a soft tint that seemed to adjust after a minute. On my lips they mimic what you see in the tube even though they’re sheer. Bare Pink Sparkle seems to have sold out many places (I only see it at Macy’s) and I’m not sure if it’s going to restock. Sometimes this turns a deeper pinkish color on my lips (as shown below), other times it’s just clear on my lips with a soft hint of shimmer. My favorite of the three is Bare Popsicle because it gives the lips a soft pink tint. There’s no detectable scent and they last like a regular lip balm. They are very moisturizing without feeling thick. I have a slight preference for the Dior Addict Lip Glows because I find them more moisturizing and the colors shift more on me.

I’m experimenting with finding different places to get good light in our new home! Quick look without flash, a light wash of the Opal Glow Highlighting Powder on the cheeks, Bare Melon on the lips, Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation in 3W1 Tawny mixed with the Illuminating Moisture Balm in Golden Glow, Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation #4 to set, Diorshow Browstyler in Universal Brown, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger.

Overall a lovely collection for that soft glow. I’m really liking the Illuminating Moisture Balms for a very natural radiant finish that isn’t greasy and doesn’t get oily as the day progresses. If I had to pick just one it would be a tough call between Golden Glow or Pink Glow. The Extra Lip Tints are really nice as well – I love the slim white packaging because it has a tiny bit of pearl. Opal Glow is also stunning – it does have more of an iridescent sparkly flash than the beauty look shows because I applied with a super light hand for a wash of shimmer. If you can’t do super sparkly I’d recommend you try before you buy if you can because it’s extra glowy.

Available now at Bobbi Brown counters, also online at Bobbi Brown, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Most of the collection appears to be limited-edition.

Have you tried the Bobbi Brown Lip Tints before? Or anything else from the spring line? What did you think?

Extra Glow Collection provided courtesy of Bobbi Brown for review. Pink Glow purchased by me.

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Dior Highlighters

Dior Spring 2018 Glow Addict Collection Picks

January 12, 2018

Dior Spring 2018 is here with a beautiful collection of feminine pinks called Glow Addict. A handful of items have made their way to counters at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue etc. but a number of things appear to be exclusive online to Dior.com. You may have to do a bit of shopping around to find all the pieces if you’re in the US. International countries often get slightly different variations. Today’s post is Part 1 of Dior Spring. I’ll have a separate post on the new Addict Lip Glows.

What I hauled from the Dior Spring 2018 Glow Addict Collection. Everything swatched in today’s post is limited-edition:

Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Holographic Sculpting Powder $56 each
- Holo Pink #001 and Holo Gold #002
5 Couleurs Glow Addict Eyeshadow Palette $63 each
- Flirt #667
Rouge Dior Matte $35 each (Dior.com exclusive)
- Idyllic Matte #641
Dior Vernis Scented Nail Lacquer $28 each (Dior.com exclusive)
- Love #557, Desire #674, Thrill #787 and Flirt #993
New Dior Addict Lip Glows $34 each (will be reviewed and swatched in a separate post)
- Raspberry 007, Ultra Pink 008
- Matte Pink 101, Matte Raspberry 102
- Holo Pink 010, Holo Purple 009 (purple is a Sephora exclusive)

Up first are the two new Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Glow Addict highlighters. I’m obsessed with the four other Nude Air Luminizers and the holiday Precious Rocks version is pretty as well. Nothing would have stopped me from getting both of the new ones. A few of you expressed a bit of concern about the “holographic” quality but I assure you these aren’t really like true holographic shimmers. They’re Dior’s version of the holographic trend and to me they’re very wearable and un-unicorn like compared to the trendy ones. Both Holo Pink and Holo Gold have highly reflective particles making them more sparkly than the regular ones (which are more metallic).

Holo Pink is a cool shimmering pink. Holo Gold is more glitzy with bigger chunks of sparkle and more iridescent with a pretty gold peach pink opal-like sheen. I prefer Holo Pink for everyday wear as it has a more finely milled shimmer. Holo Gold is a lot more sparkly with more visible chunks of shimmer, to me this is a bit much for everyday but that’s just my take.

Swatch comparisons to the Nude Air Luminizers, Holiday Precious Rocks, Bobbi Brown Sunrise Glow and Laura Mercier Indiscretion:

Next is the 5 Couleurs Glow Addict Eyeshadow Palette in Flirt. There are two options and I picked the one I thought would be less pink, but it’s still on the pink side. Pigment is medium but buildable and finish of the shadows have a natural sheen. Quality overall is very good and if you like these kinds of colors then it’s a great pick. I broke my palette buying rule as this one had 2 shades I didn’t think I’d wear but thought I could still make it work. For me it’s still too pink so it will probably be regifted to a friend. Lasting power is good over an eyeshadow base, finish is smooth and easy to blend.

I ordered one of the Rouge Dior Lipsticks in Idyllic Matte 641 which is a velvety medium but bright matte pink coral. This one I added on accident as I meant to order the nude one Poetic Matte 525. These appear to be Dior.com exclusives as I haven’t seen them anywhere else so there’s no place to test in person. As far as matte lipsticks go it’s very comfortable, non-drying and has a smooth velvety finish without making the lips look like prunes or raisins. Lasting power is like a regular lipstick, there will be transfer and it will fade after a few hours but with the Dior lipsticks I really don’t mind reapplying.

Quick look featuring:

Foundation is the Diorskin Forever Undercover 24 Hour Full-Coverage Water-Based Foundation in 21 + 31 mixed
Concealer used under eyes is the Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer in 31
Powder to set is Armani Luminous Silk Powder in #4
Highlighter is Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer in Holo Pink by itself
Eyeshadow is the 5 Couleurs Glow Addict Eyeshadow Palette in Flirt
Lipstick is Rouge Dior Lipsticks in Idyllic Matte 641

Last but not least are the four Dior Vernis Scented Nail Lacquers which also appear to be exclusive to Dior.com. They’re supposed to be scented with a floral fragrance but to me they smell just like regular nail polish and once they’ve dried I can’t detect any smell. All four are opaque. You do need two coats with each shade but application is smooth and flawless and I think each one is perfect. Love is a bright warm pink, Desire is a cool-toned pink mauve, Thrill has a semi-sheer finish but still has full coverage with two coats, this one is a muted purple mauve, Flirt is a pretty deep shimmering purple (it’s deep but doesn’t look black on the nails, you can still tell it’s purple). The colors don’t appear to be the most unique that I’ve seen but they have the right mix of pink and purple to look really pretty and the formula is one of the best that I’ve tried in terms of application, shine and lasting power.

Overall after testing these for a few weeks now I 100% love Holo Pink and the four nail polishes. The other items are exceptional in terms of quality and pigment but not quite must-haves for my personal taste. Holo Gold is a bit too glitzy, Flirt is definitely too pink and the lipstick is pretty but I’ll probably feel more in the mood for brighter coral pinks once the sunshine returns and weather warms up. Addict Lip Glows to be posted soon!

You can find the entire Dior Spring 2018 Glow Addict Collection online at Dior.com. Select pieces also available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Have you checked out the collection yet? What did you think?

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Diptyque Home / Interiors

Diptyque Rose Delight Candles and Scented Oval

January 11, 2018

There’s a new beautiful limited-edition rose collection from Diptyque called Rose Delight. I’ve been collecting their special edition releases for a few years now and each spring I look forward to their new creation. I missed out many years ago on Rose Duet and have regretted it ever since so now I don’t hesitate to buy them as soon as they launch. This year’s Diptyque Rose Delight comes in a few different forms: a Standard 6.5 oz size ($68), a Small 2.4 oz size ($35) and a Scented Oval ($50). It’s also available in a Scented Drawer Liner box that’s exclusive to their stores and websites but appears to have already sold out online. I’ll say up front that I think the full size candle is the best buy. If you like soft feminine kinds of scents you will love this year’s version.

Rose Delight is a sweet soft rose that smells like honey with a bit of a well rounded powdery vibe. It smells like candy to me, inspired by Turkish Delight and it does have that kind of feel to it. I’m always surprised how many variations of rose scents there are. This one is supposed to have a bit of honey with lemon zest and I can definitely detect the sweetness in the jar and when it is burning. The throw is really good with this one!

The mini ones have launched for the third time in row this year. I think they make for the cutest gifts for girlfriends or to treat yourself. The small sizes usually sell out the fastest so if it’s on your list I’d recommend you buy very soon. Below is the mini Rose Delight held for scale.

The Scented Ovals make nice gifts as well. They last longer than a candle but over time they do fade. They’re supposed to last for a minimum of 3 months. I wish I could report on how long they actually last but I’ve broken a few on accident by dropping or knocking them over on concrete floors. I did have them approximately 2 months each and the scent does linger and progressively fades over time. I love that this year’s Diptyque Rose Delight Scented Oval version has a pretty pink patterned loop at the end to hang it. The regular ones have the standard black ribbon.

To compare a few others, Roses is the classic more traditional kind of rose. Baies is more of a berry blackcurrant kind of scent mixed with some rose. For previous limited-edition releases Rosaviola is less sweet and a bit warmer with cedar and musk. Rosamundi has a more green vibe with Damask Rose and Centifolia combined with a bit of currant, bergamot, lychee and geranium.

I cannot pick a favorite, although the Rosaviola x Olympia Le Tan had the best packaging and Rosamundi is one I like anytime it’s re-released. Rose Delight has a sticker exterior design that feels quite substantial but it has a matte almost thick paper-like finish. It’s not like the glossy labels their standard candles have – the only thing I wish it did have because if I recycle them, I don’t have to worry about getting the label wet or ruining it when I clean out the wax. A quick look at the previous years’ limited-editions in the small sizes. I buy backups each year.

Below: Diptyque Rosaviola (discontinued), Rosamundi (discontinued) and Rose Delight

As a Diptyque lover I think Rose Delight is a must. I don’t like all variations of rose scents because some have a really strong powdery vibe. Diptyque always makes ones that are beautiful and this one is amazing. Quick apology that I’ve been MIA for a week now but we been moving! We moved out of our last vacation home on the 30th of December into a temporary Airbnb while we continued our search for a more permanent place to live. After literally months of searching we finally found a place and moved again, but are thrilled to finally be able to settle down for at least the next year! At the moment we are waiting on furniture deliveries (I had forgotten how long it takes!) but in the meantime there’s nothing like burning a good Diptyque candle to make a place feel more like home.

For those who love the Diptyque rose line, they’ve also re-launched their Eau de Rose in a few other products including an Eau de Toilette, Eau de Toilette-Roll On, Soap, Shower Foam, Hair Mist, Hand and Body Lotion and Hand Cream. I bought the hand cream many years ago and loved it. I’m not sure if I’ll buy this year’s version as I have a few other formulas I want to use up. For now I’m smitten with the candles.

You can find the Diptyque Rose Delight Collection now at Diptyque stores and online. Also available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Space NK, while supplies last and they usually sell out every year.

Have you smelled Rose Delight yet? What did you think?

Based on positive feedback I’m continuing weekly giveaways for at least the first quarter of 2018. You can check my Weekly Giveaway Page for the latest giveaway. They’ll be different each week! For example sometimes they will be on a specific blog post, other times on social or for newsletter subscribers. The first one of the year is going to be on this blog post!

I’m giving away 3 limited-edition Diptyque small candles from my backup stash in Rosaviola, Rosamundi and Rose Delight. One winner will be selected to receive all three. It’s open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Simply enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. I’ll pick a winner within 72 hours after the giveaway ends and contact them via e-mail. I typically ship prizes within a week. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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On My Radar

On My Radar / New in Beauty

January 4, 2018

Spring launches are trickling in and I’m so excited to see what will be launching in the next few weeks! A few new spring items that have caught my eye – highlighters still make my heart sing. I will have reviews of everything in this roundup in the upcoming weeks.

Bobbi Brown Extra Glow Collection looks beautiful with three new Illuminating Moisture Balms, Opal Glow Highlighting Powder and new shades of the Extra Lip Tint including a Bare Pink Sparkle
Dior Glow Addict for Spring has two new Nude Air Luminizers in Holographic Sculpting Powder shades, six new Addict Lip Glow Reviving Balms including two new shimmers with Holographic Pink and Holographic Purple (purple is a Sephora exclusive) and two new Eyeshadow Palettes and a new Water-Based Foundation
Chanel Spring-Summer Collection has launched and I have my eye on the new Rouge Coco Glosses in Parthenope, Aphrodite, Poppea and Sibylla, Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colors in Nuvola Rosa, Verde Pastello, Giallo Napoli and Arancio Vibrante and new blush in Foschia Rosa
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask is a five minute mask for brightening and radiance, I’m tracking this down this week!
Diptyque Rose Delight has a full collection for spring with a candle, scented oval and other Eau de Rose repromotes this year, I already ordered the candle and can’t wait to smell it!
Smith and Cult has three new soft polishes in Powder Posse, A Short Reprise and Peaceful Paranoia, I’m hoping that one of them will be a close dupe to my long-discontinued favorite Dior Lady
Tarte Park Avenue Princess Contour Palette is on my testing list, it seems to have enough warmer shades that I can wear versus some of the cooler greige mattes that make me look like death!

What’s on your radar this new year?

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Skincare

Quick Dry Skin Fixes

January 3, 2018

If you’ve been experiencing extra dry skin since winter arrived I have a roundup of skincare I’ve tried in search for some quick fixes. There are hits and misses for me and I hope this might help you find something to try for instant relief. I’ve suddenly had a renewed obsession with trying all kinds of face mists (full dedicated post on that soon). I’ve also finally tried a few beauty oils that have cult status – oils are always tricky for me as I have sensitive skin and some can cause an allergic reaction on my skin.

Face Oils

Face oils are great for instant relief of dry skin but I prefer to wear them on weekends or evenings when I don’t have a lot of makeup on. There are so many beauty oils on the market that I want to try but they tend to make me a bit nervous because I have sensitive skin. I finally tried a couple of Rodin face oils. The Jasmin and Neroli Oil is the original classic version which is the richest out of the two that I tried but too heavy in finish and fragrance for my skin type and preference. Geranium and Orange Blossom was better suited for my skin with a slightly lighter feel to it and beautiful scent. There’s also a Lavender version for calming which I have yet to test. These oils are very expensive running at $170 for 1 fl oz, but they also have a smaller version of .5 fl oz for $89. If you’re unsure of splurging this much on an oil and don’t have a counter near you to try, there is a Couture Kit which is a sampler for $60. I just ordered it and am in the process of trying each item. Let me know if you want a more detailed review.

Darphin has some amazing body oils so I ordered the holiday Essential Elixir Set for the face. The holiday version came with four miniatures of the 8 Flower Nectar Oil, Jasmine Aromatic Care, Chamomile Aromatic Care and Tangerine Aromatic Care. These are miniature oils which I think are the perfect size for sampling. I’ve only had a chance to sample them for three weeks but Tangerine and Chamomile feel the best on my skin, 8 Flower Nectar is the most aromatic and emollient, Jasmine has the most pleasant smell for a jasmine-based oil (usually it’s way too strong). My favorite is Tangerine. Their holiday set is now sold out, but you can find another one with different options here.

Bottom line, I still like my Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate, Kate Somerville Dilo Oil, L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil best. I have also had the Sisley Black Rose Oil on my wishlist as it’s the best oil I’ve tried. I’m waiting for a good gift with purchase to purchase it. For the most sensitive skin days the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream works better compared to oils for me.

Face Mists

I’ve always liked face mists but had a renewed love for them this year. The best ones I tried were the Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist, the Sublimage La Brume and Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist. All three have enough moisture but aren’t heavy. They also have really well designed mist dispensers so your face doesn’t get drenched or splotchy. They dispense a really fine mist! L’Occitane’s Immortelle Precious Mist has always been an affordable favorite, I stopped by the store back in November and discovered they actually have other options! I bought all of them in the Reine Blanche Illuminating Mist, Peony Perfecting Mist and the Shea Butter Comfort Mist. My favorites are Immortelle and Reine Blanche and I definitely want to try more of the brightening line now!

A sad miss for me was the Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol spray. I really love all things Aesop but this was disappointing. The spritzer didn’t dispense a fine mist and it left my face feeling covered with a thick somewhat sticky feel. It felt hydrating but not in a good way. The best thing is the scent but for the face the formula didn’t work out for me. A quick look at the ingredients shows that this one has the bad kind of alcohol too.

I’ve been testing quite a few – a comprehensive roundup to follow once I’ve finished the testing process. A sneak peek is that I’ll be including Chanel, REN, L’Occitane, La Mer, Omorovicza, Saturday Skin, SK-II to name a few – if there are any others you want me to try or thin I should add let me know in the comments!

Body Oils and Hand Creams

I love a good body oil and unfortunately my favorite from Nuxe is no longer carried in the US. I received a gorgeous gift of the the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Body Oil over the holiday and it’s amazing! It’s way better than the Dry Oil Spray I tried earlier this year (perhaps the only thing I do not like from Tom Ford). If you love the Soleil Blanc scent like I do this is the perfect layering oil to use with the perfume. It’s hydrating, non greasy after a few minutes (you have to give it a little time to absorb) and the smell is to die for!

I already mentioned my love for the Chanel La Creme Main for the best velvety hand cream in my best of 2017 post. Other favorites include the Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm and By Terry Baume de Rose Hand Cream. Kiehl’s is always a classic as well, my husband swears by the Ultimate Strength Hand Salve and I love the scented ones, right now they’re still available in this limited-edition Disney x Kiehl’s Hand Cream Trio. I didn’t have them to shoot for the post as everything is packed up in boxes again and we are house hunting this week.

Lip Treatments

This year I’ve really loved the Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviving Balms and Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade (review and swatches of Pink, Coral, Lilac and Berry here). I’m so excited there are tons of new shades this year including holographic ones. Review to follow soon. The By Terry Baume de Rose in the pot and tube have both been in constant rotation. Later in the year I decided to splurge on the Sisley Confort Extreme Nutritive Lip Balm. It’s more expensive than the By Terry but really really good! If you don’t like the rose scent or want something that isn’t quite as thick, the Sisley is a one well worth the splurge that I’ve found very hydrating and smooth on the lips.

What are your dry skin fixes? Any tips on beauty oils or favorite face mists you want to share?

Press samples include the Rodin Oils, Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Body Oil.

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Florida

Happy New Year! Hello 2018

January 1, 2018

Happy New Year from Florida! We had a few days of sunshine the last week of the year and today I woke up to rain and cold weather. A first for us since moving to Tampa Bay! I wrote months ago wondering if I was ever going to wear a leather jacket again and here I am wearing layers, jackets and more. The past year I have been all over the place (literally) and my one true constant has been this beauty blog. Thank you for following along on my weekly beauty discoveries and testings. Being able to share what I love and having your support means more than I could ever express. A few highlights I wanted to share from the past year and some thoughts looking forward for 2018.

Your Favorite Blog Posts

The top five posts of the year were about bases and lips:

I’m currently testing a few new bases that many of you have been e-mailing me about. It’s quite a process to test these but I’ll have them up as soon as possible! Stay tuned for reviews on Estee Lauder, Dior, Erborian, Tarte and more.

Your Favorite Instagram Posts

You girls went nuts over my #shelfies! I had no idea these would be so popular. I hope once we find a more permanent place to live that I’ll be able to do a beauty setup and organization post. The past few months I’ve been living out of bankers boxes and suitcases. I was lucky to have a good shelf in our last place.

Current #shelfie situation ✨ putting a lot of face mists to the test!

A post shared by Sabrina | the beauty look book (@beautylookbook) on Nov 29, 2017 at 9:09am PST

Moving and Travel

This has been the year of moving and it’s been very stressful for me. In August we no longer had a home and since then we still haven’t found one. Details why we moved so much in my Six Months in Florida post and yes I’ve had a couple melt downs in the process. Since August we’ve made a move every month and this year we moved a total of six times. We had no idea how BIG Florida was! Each area has it’s own unique character, pros and cons. The beach areas are very different from the places closer to city center. Then there are suburban places which are quite dense with huge homes but traffic is pretty bad. We’re not quite ready to buy as we have plans to travel and possibly move again in the next year so finding a place to rent has been a huge challenge. We have pets and the areas we would like to live places go really fast. We’ve come close to finding a place several times but others have beat us to it! Right now we are in a temporary place (yet again) and hope to find a more permanent place soon. Fingers crossed! For those who have asked, our moves this year:

San Diego Home

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Apollo Beach

In Florida we first stayed at our in-law’s home in Apollo Beach. They bought their home to retire in within 1-2 years and asked us to rent it so they wouldn’t have to find strangers to rent. We thought we’d have plenty of time to settle in, explore and find our own place. They changed their plans, decided to retire early in July of this year and gave us a week’s notice that they were moving. This is one of the Apollo Beach neighborhoods – in a canal district where houses all have their own dock!

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St. Pete Beach – such a cute beach house with pool and near the beach! We found all our places on VRBO and Airbnb. In general we had better luck finding places with VRBO although for the beach areas there are a lot of added fees which can add up. We also used a property manager to rent one of the places below and we will probably never do that again. The process was such a hassle and they had an inconvenient application process even though we paid everything up front.

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St. Petersburg Cottage – the smallest place we’ve ever stayed at with only 740 sq ft, surprised we survived in this with out pets but it was so well put together and super cute! The location was so good, our favorite restaurants and coffee shops are all in Saint Petersburg!

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St. Pete Beach – house on the water which was SO amazing, we would have stayed here permanently but it was booked solid for months! We were lucky to find it when we did. The owner of the property was so nice, she restocked us the day we moved in with all the basic living essentials. New towels, sheets, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, laundry detergent etc. With some of the vacation rentals they will have living essentials stocked, others are on the more sparse side as it’s really meant for short term like a vacation or getaway.

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The last house of the year was a cute beach house, also in St. Pete Beach – beach house away from the water but still central to everything in the beach town. We stayed here for a couple of months.

This year alone from the time we left our home in San Diego we went from San Diego, California to Tuscon, Arizona to El Paso + Houston, Texas, Pensacola, Florida. Once in Florida we were in Apollo Beach for a few months, then moved to St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg and South Tampa. For travel I did trips to Dallas, NYC, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Miami and Los Angeles. When we evacuated we made stops in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Perhaps this isn’t a lot for those who travel, but it’s the most I’ve ever traveled in a single year!

Most Impressed By

The most impressive thing this year has been the box of Venus Et Fleur roses Andrew gifted me on Valentine’s Day. They’re supposed to last an entire year (and yes they stay IN the box – details are all on their website). I’ve been documenting how they held up and they still smell fragrant and look incredible. They lasted the entire road trip in the back of a hot moving truck from San Diego to Tampa. Starting in the fall I haven’t been photographing them as they’ve been in storage with all of our other belongings. I just checked on them and they’re still good!

Best Beauty Finds of the Year: Sunscreen

I’ve never been as diligent with sunscreen as I have this year and it’s all due to the Florida sun. I should have been better in San Diego but the climate is mild and I felt like I stayed indoors so much. Even indoors I know we still need it. I am excited to test more this year. Body Sunscreen Testing here. Face Sunscreen Testing here. My favorite sunscreen brand review on Supergoop! here.

Most Disappointing Beauty Buys

I’ve been a long time die hard Diptyque addict and this was a very disappointing buy. They came out with a car diffuser called Diptyque Un Air de Diptyque. I was so excited I ordered it immediately. For me it was a total fail. For one it comes with just the case for $60 and you have to buy the scented refills separately for $38 each. I tried two scents in Baies and 34. Lasting power is probably good for only a week at best . The back has a rubber grip to insert into your vents and it warped into an odd shape so it would not hold it’s grip. I do understand the Florida heat can be intense but there are many things inside the car part of the actual design that do not melt, I felt Diptyque should have made a better grip. Ranked second biggest fail was the Jouer High Pigment Lip Gloss. These are so popular on the web, if you like these keep on loving them. For me I had such high hopes but they were all pretty much streaky with really bad lasting power.

Looking Forward

I’m looking forward to the new year. I’m personally glad 2017 is over because it was the most exhausting year of my life. Looking forward I hope to start video this year. Let me know in the comments what you’d like to see more of! I tried to mix it up this year – focusing still on beauty and skincare, but also adding some more of my life and travels.

Happy New Year to you! New beauty posts and reviews to resume very soon!

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