2018

Chanel Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set + My Top 10 Chanel Favorites

November 28, 2018

Chanel launched three Le Voyage Travel Skincare Sets on Cyber Monday and they’re still available for a limited time. For the first time I can remember Chanel has launched miniatures in skincare sets! Most of the time they are full sizes for makeup, fragrance and skincare in the US. I do think there are more options available internationally but in the US we don’t always have access to all the launches. I have a look at the Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set which retails for $120. Online they also have a Le Lift Le Voyage for $185 and a Sublimage Le Voyage for $425. In addition since so many have asked I’ve included my Top 10 Chanel favorites at the end.

The Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set has two miniatures from the Hydra Beauty Skincare line and their classic eye makeup remover. Do note with the Hydra Beauty line everything has scent in it – something you might want to try before you buy in case you’re sensitive. I haven’t had any irritation issues using this line. Everything is available individually in full size form but the set has miniatures:

Hydra Beauty Micro Serum (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) is one of the prettiest lightweight serums I’ve tried, I used this years ago (when I still lived in San Diego), it has product encapsulated in micro droplets and are released upon application. It’s lighweight but helps your moisturizer to absorb better.
Hydra Beauty Creme (20 g/0.7 oz) comes in a super cute black mini compact. It has a seal inside to protect the product and prevent it from drying out and also has a mini spatula. This is so cute and has genius packaging. I’m keeping this and going to refill it when the creme is used up. I have not tried the cream before but did test it over the past week. It’s smooth and has a very lightweight feel.
Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover (30 ml/1 fl oz) is too cute for words. This has been one of my favorite eye makeup removers, it doesn’t work the best on waterproof formulas, but for regular ones it is a staple.

A closer look at the Micro Serum and Mini Eye Makeup Remover:

A closer look at the packaging of the Hydra Beauty Creme:

Ingredients from the box:

Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover: Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil), Centaurea Cyanus Flower Qater, PPF-26-buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methylparaben, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Propylene Glycol, Yriethanolamine, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, CI 42090 (blue 1)
Hydra Beauty Micro Serum: Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Carbomer, PVP, Dipropylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydra Beauty Creme: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Dimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Carbomer, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, PEG-12, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Tocopherol, Propylparaben, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ethylparaben, Sodium Benzoate

My top 10 has changed over the years. So many of my tried and true staples were reformulated. I also found that my skin developed sensitivity to many of their foundations which have a higher alcohol content in some formulas. There are still a few that I can use without issue. My top 10 Chanel favorites. Press samples have a * but many of the items I purchased myself. You can find these at a wide range of retailers, I buy my items either from Chanel.com (because it always comes beautifully boxed and they sometimes have exclusives or early launches) and Nordstrom (because they have the best customer service in store and online):

Les Eaux de Chanel in Biarritz * I love anything citrus and this is a beautiful mix of mandarin and lily, it’s more of a spring summer scent, but in Florida it’s warm almost the entire year so it’s perfect for me anytime, it’s also available in a Body Lotion and Shower Gel version which I have not yet tried
Powder Blush in Foschia Rosa is the prettiest semi bright warm pink blush, review and on the face here
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour Powder in Medium * is my favorite semi bronzer semi highlighter in one, review here
Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base is the best cream bronzer for me, I’ve gone through a few tubs of these
La Creme Main hand cream, review of the 3 options here
Le Vernis in Organdi * is the best everyday neutral pink, review here
Rouge Coco Gloss in 172 Tendresse is the best pink for me, swatches here
Rouge Coco Gloss in 722 Noce Moscata is the prettiest semi-shimmery neutral caramel, swatches here
Hydra Beauty Mist is one of my favorite face mists, it’s super expensive but I really love it
Le Volume Mascara Waterproof is a classic for me

One last look at the travel set:

I hope you found this roundup helpful! The sets are really cute and nice for travel. You can find the Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set for a limited time at Chanel.com. My top 10 picks also available at Chanel and Nordstrom along with many other beauty retailers.

Le Voyage Set provided for review. Additional press samples featured have a * next to them.

13 Comments

Beauty Lips

Christian Audette x Beauty Professor Lipstick Collection

November 27, 2018

I’m thrilled to share a peek at a collaboration between Christian Audette and one of my favorite beauty bloggers Rachel from the Beauty Professor. They launched a Christian Audette x Beauty Professor Lipstick Collection ($60 for the bundle) with three perfect lipsticks in Elle, a gorgeous neutral-cool pink rose, Golightly, a neutral but bright peach and Johanna a flawless peachy nude. I feel fortunate to call Rachel a dear friend – I still remember the day we met many many years ago 🙂 She’s beautiful both inside and out. I think she’s the mix master with neutral lip combos and has quite the eye for layering products for the perfect lip.

The three lipsticks are available exclusively on Christian Audette’s website. This is my first experience trying the brand and I think the best way to describe the formula is that they are classic lipsticks. Elle and Johanna seem more creamy to me while Golightly had a slightly more opaque matte finish. Each one has smooth flawless coverage. It’s medium but buildable. Weightless. No scent or taste. You can see them all on Rachel on her blog post here. Fun fact is that most of the year we are skin twins! We also both naturally tan easily so our coloring changes depending on how much sun we each get even though we are now on opposite coasts. A closer look at each color and then side by sides at the bottom with full face photos.

Elle is truly one of the prettiest cool pinks I’ve ever seen. Anything cool-toned is hard for me to wear (ie Tom Ford Pussycat) with my olive complexion but this has enough warmth that it does not look blue on me. It has a tiny bit of sheen to it but on the lips the shimmer isn’t really visible. It has the perfect creamy finish.

Golightly is a peach that is neutral but pulls a little bright on my olive skin. It’s a really fun mood lifting color I think would be nice to wear year round.

Johanna is a beautiful peach pink nude that has full coverage, doesn’t look streaky and doesn’t wash me out! It’s a solid winner and I think it would suit a wide range of skintones.

Swatched side by side on the arm and full face:

Below also wearing:

Foundation is Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
Powder is Armani Neo Nude Powder in 4 + 5.5 mixed (review here)
Concealer is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger
Brows are Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil in Soft Brunette
Mascara is L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof
Eyeshadow is Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rose Gold
Cheeks are Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base in Soleil Tan de Chanel + Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra
Nails are Chanel Le Vernis in Rouge Puissant
Rib Knit Henley is from Nordstrom (runs true to size)
Lips top to bottom are Elle, Golightly and Johanna

Overall perfect. The colors are truly flawless as is, you can layer to mix the colors but each tube is perfect alone. I cannot pick a favorite. Each one is unique in its own way. I find the formula is comfortable and non-drying. They’re not really moisturizing lipsticks but I was thrilled to find that they did not dry out my lips at all and that the days after testing my lips felt nice and smooth. Lasting power is average for a lipstick, they’ll last several hours without fading or budging. You can find the Christian Audette x Beauty Professor online at Christian Audette in a $60 bundle. Available for a limited run.

Christian Audette x Beauty Professor lipsticks gifted for review.

11 Comments

Sales

Best Cyber Monday Beauty Deals and Sales 2018

November 26, 2018

Roundup of the Sest Cyber Monday Sales in Beauty, Fashion and Accessories for 2018! There are some nice ways to save on Bobbi Brown, Armani, Truffle along with a lot of gift with purchase options. Chanel has three new limited-edition travel sets that come in a super cute pouch! I was lucky to receive a preview of the Hydra Beauty Le Voyage is shown above.

Anastasia Beverly Hills – limited restock on the Amrezy highlighter at 9:00 AM PST, weekend sales event with markdowns on select products
AmorePacific – for a limited time, 50% off select gift sets, valid through 11/27
Antica Farmacista – 25% off your order with code CYBER, valid through 11/27
Bare Minerals – 25% off plus free standard shipping on every order with promo code CYBER2018, plus receive a full-size bronzer and highlighter palette ($34 value) with $75 purchase, valid 11/25-11/26
Beautylish – tbd
Becca Cosmetics – 30% off sitewide with code CYBERGLOW
Benefit – 25% off all orders with code BENESAVE, valid 11/25-11/27
Bite Beauty – Cyber Monday special 20% off sitewide + free standard shipping on all orders, valid 11/26 only, GWP offer Bag + Mirror, Mini AB Cayenne, Mini AB Fig, with any $35 purchase using code MONDAY4
Blissworld – 25% off sitewide with code THANKS, valid through 11/26
Bluemercury – earn a promo card with purchase, spend $100 and get a $20 promo card, spend $250 and receive a $50 promo card, offer runs 11/26
Bobbi Brown – 25% off sitewide and 6-piece minis with a $50 purchase
Briogeo – 20% off sitewide with code HOLIDAY on 11/26
Buxom – 25% off sitewide with code AFFCM18, plus free holographic top coat in Crystal with orders $50 plus, runs through 11/27
Byredo – receive a free 70g candle with any order above $75 and enjoy free shipping, choose between six options at checkout, while supplies last through 11/26
Caudalie – online exclusive gift with purchases:
- Spend $100 and receive a Beauty Elixir 30 ml, Instant Foaming Cleanser 50 ml, Lip Conditioner and a Hand Nail Cream 30 ml, use code CYBER100
- Spend $200 and receive a Beauty Elixir 30ml, Vinoperfect Serum 10ml, Vinosource Sorbet 15ml, Premier Cru Eye Cream 5ml, 1 French Kiss Innocence, and a Caudalie Tote Bag gift, use code CYBER200
Chanel – three Cyber Monday Limited-Edition exclusive travel sets, one shown above!
- Hydra Beauty Le Voyage ($120) includes a mesh zip pouch, 0.5 fl oz Hydra Beauty Micro Serum, 0.7 oz Hydra Beauty Creme (in the cutest mirrored compact), 1.0 fl oz Demaquillant Yeux Intense (this is the one shown above)
- Le Lift Le Voyage ($185) mesh zip travel pouch, 0.5 fl oz Le Lift Serum, 0.7 fl oz new Le Lift Creme, 1.0 fl oz Le Lait Douceur D’Huile and 1.0 fl oz Demaquillant Yeux Intense
- Sublimage Le Voyage ($425) zip mesh pouch with 1.0 fl oz Sublimage Essential Comfort Cleanser, 0.5 oz Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale, 0.7 oz Sublimage La Creme and 1.0 oz Demaquillant Yeux Intense
Clarins – Up to 25% off sitewide, 15% off 1 item, 20% off 2 items, or 25% off 3 items, valid 11/26 only
Clarisonic –20% off Holiday Gift Sets, the Winter Brush Head Collection and the Anti-Aging Brush Head Collection, plus receive a FREE ITC Confidence in a Cleanser GWP with purchase of any device, use code CYBERMON18, valid 11/26 only
Cle de Peau Beaute – complimentary 5 piece bonus with orders $300+, valid through 11/27, also running a deluxe sample offer, spend $75 and receive 1 deluxe sample, spend $150 and receive 2 deluxe samples, spend $200+ and receive 3, Cyber Monday only
Clinique – 25% off everything with code 25OFF, plus 6-piece gift with purchases $65+ and free full size product with any $75 order
CoverFX – 30% off everything, ends 2:oo PM EST with code CM30, full size blurring primer with $50+ orders
Decorte – Decorté Lip Palettes – originally $95.00, marked down to $47 today only
Dermstore – save up to 30% off with code CYBER, brand exclusions apply
Diptyque – Limited-edition Black Friday launch in their iconic Baies candle with special design and black wax, limited run while supplies last, they’re also running some GWP promos throughout the weekend, receive a 3-piece gift on orders $100 with code CHEER, or a mini mystery 35 g candle with orders $50 or more using code SPIN
Elemis – 25% off full size products, plus free gift with orders $100+, use code CYBER
Farmacy Beauty – free shipping on all orders plus up to 30% off site wide with code CYBER at checkout, 20% off or 30% off orders $120+
First Aid Beauty – 30% off your order with code FUNDAY
Foreo – select devices on discount through 11/30
- UFO and UFO mini at 25% off
- Luna2 at 30% off
- Luna mini 2 at 25% off
- Issa 2 and Issa mini 2 30% off
Fresh Beauty – spend $40 and receive a to-go size of their best selling Lotus Cream plus free shipping
Giorgio Armani Beauty – 20% off with code ARMANI20 plus a complimentary lipstick with orders $125 or more, add a palette with orders $200 or more, valid through 11/29
Glamboxes – 35% off plus a FREE makeup bag and FREE lipstick holder with code CYBER18
Glamglow – 30% off site wide plus pick a free gift when you spend $59+, no code needed
Glow Recipe – 20% off Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, Pink Juice Moisturizer Jelly Mask and Blueberry Cleanser
Hourglass Cosmetics – holiday savings event with $20 off orders $125+, $30 off orders $150+, $50 off orders $200+, valid 11/23 through 11/26
IT Cosmetics – enjoy 25% off any $30+ order with code CYBER25
Kate Somerville – save 30% off plus receive a free gift with a $95 purchase, use code CYBER30 at checkout
Kerastase – 20% off any order plus complimentary hair oil sample duo and free shipping, use code CYBM18 at checkout
Kiehl’s – spend $75 and receive an 8 piece gift, spend $60 and receive a 7 piece gift, use code CYBER at checkout
L’Occitane USA – 20% off full priced items with code CYBER, online and in stores
Laura Mercier – 5 piece best sellers gift with purchase with any $85 purchase using code CYBERGLOW at checkout
La Mer – 4 piece gift with purchase with any $200 purchase using code CYBER18
La Roche Posay – 30% off all orders plus 5 deluxe samples with $75+ orders using code CYBERWEEK2018 at checkout
Lancome – 20% off + free shipping on any order, use code FRIENDS, valid 11/19-11/27
Laneige – 30% off Water Bank products, one day only
MAC Cosmetics – 25% off for MAC Select members, sets are excluded, free eyeshadow with purchase $50 more online, valid through 11/26
Macy’s – Cyber Week sales and specials sitewide
Marc Jacobs Beauty – 20% off sitewide, no code needed, runs through 11/27
Molton Brown – 25% off all purchases (excludes Advent Calendar and Luxury Fragrance Collection), valid through 11/26
NARS – 20% off site wide with code TAKE20, valid through November 27
Neiman Marcus – earn a $50 to $750 gift card with a regular price purchase using code GC4YOU, plus 30+ beauty sample GWP with any $250 purchase using code NMBEAUTY while supplies last
Nordstrom – Spend $250 on Nordstrom.com and receive a $50 egift card in January, valid Cyber Monday only, plus up to 60% off select styles, valid through 11/27
Ole Henricksen – 20% off sitewide and a 4-piece gift including a Mini Balance Hydrator, a Mini Balance Cleanser, a Mini Cold Plunge, and a Mini Sauna Scrub with any $50 order, use code CYBER2
Omorovicza – 30% off all skincare with code BLACK, valid on full size products only excludes sets, offer runs through 11/27
Ouai – buy two full size products, get third 50% off with code HALFOUAI
Pat McGrath – Private Vault Sale, Lust 004 Everything Kit marked down to $110, Metalmorphosis 005 Kits $45, other previously limited-edition items marked down, her LuxeTrance Lipsticks are marked down to $26 each, MTHRSHP 6 Pan Palettes marked down from $55 to $41
Peach and Lily – 30% off sidewide with code PEACH2018, exclusions apply, ends 11/27
Philosophy – 40% off your purchase plus full size bonus gift, use code CYBER2018
QVC – Cyber Week savings and markdowns and value beauty sets
REN Skincare – 30% off site wide with code CYBER
Revive – buy one get one 50% off with code CYBERMONDAY50 at checkout, valid on select products
Saks Fifth Avenue – get $50 off every $200 you spend with code MONDAY18, also receive a special beauty gift with purchase with any $225 purchase in beauty or fragrance using code VERGE5 at checkout
Sephora – Cyber Monday savings up to 50% off
Shu Uemura – extra 25% off sale items with code SHUCYBER at checkout
Shu Uemura Art of Hair –15% off any order plus free shipping with code CYMON18
Simplehuman – Top 10 Best Sellers marked down up to 25% off including their Sensor Mirror with Touch-Control Brightness for $150 (marked down from $200) and Sensor Mirror Mini $97 (marked down from $130), plus other home accessories marked down
Shiseido – 20% off your purchase with code HOLIDAY18
Sisley-Paris USA – limited offer pricing Double Tenseur plus full size Express Flower Gel Mask
Smashbox – 25% off plus free mini gift set on purchases $50 or more, use code MONDAY18
Space NK USA – buy one get one half off event, exclusions apply
Sulwhasoo – 20% off sitewide
Supergoop! – 25% off plus free shipping with code HOLIDAY
T3 – 25% off with code MONDAY18
Tarte – Cyber Monday beauty blowout with up to 60% off, plus 25% off site wide with code CYBER at checkout
Tatcha – 20% off sitewide with code CYBER18, valid through 11/26
Too Faced – 30% off sale items plus mystery bag for $42
Ulta Beauty – $10 off qualifying online purchase of $50+ with code CYBERMON18, various gift with purchase options and beauty markdowns like the MAC Pretty Shiny Things Lip Kit marked down on sale
Velour Lashes – Cyber Monday savings, save from $10 up to to $70
Violet Grey – $15 off purchases $100 or more, $50 off $250 or more, $100 off $500 or more, $250 off $1,000 purchases

Acccessories and Fashion

AG – 25% off almost everything plus free shipping
Anthropologie – 30% off everything plus free shipping on $100+ orders
Banana Republic – 50% off everything, discount applied at checkout
Barneys New York – designer sale with up to 40% off
Bloomingdale’s – Cyber Monday offers:
- Take 25% off a large selection of items for a total savings of up to 60% at Bloomingdales.com, plus free shipping, valid 11/25 – 11/27
- Take 10% off almost all cosmetics at Bloomingdales.com, plus free shipping, discount applied in bag, valid 11/25 – 11/27
Coach – up to 50% off 200+ added styles online
Equipment – 30% off your entire purchase with code THANKS, valid through 11/26
J. Brand – Cyber Monday is 30% off (+ sale) with 15% of profits going to ACLU, use code GIVEBACK
J.Crew – extra 60% off sale styles and 50% off everything else with code CYBER
Joie – 30% off entire purchase with code THANKS, valid through 11/26
Loft – 50% off your purchase and free shipping with code CYBER
Lululemon – Cyber Monday mark downs and sale
Madewell – 25% off with code SHOPALLDAY
Nike – Cyber Monday flash sale, save 25% on select styles with code CYBER
Nordstrom – Spend $250 on Nordstrom.com and receive a $50 egift card in January, valid Cyber Monday only, plus up to 60% off select styles, valid through 11/27
Paige – 30% off with code CYBER30, select styles excluded
Revolve – take an extra 20% off final sale with code CYBER20
Senreve – spend $500 and receive a free monogrammed limited-edition smooth bracelet pouch
Shopbop – save an additional 30% off sale items with use code WOW18
Splendid – 40% off site wide with code WINNING, valid 11/26
Staud – all bags 25% off with code HOLIDAY25
The Daily Edited – 10% off all orders, discount automatically applied at checkout
Tory Burch – take 30% off $250+ orders, also up to 60% off sale items with code THANKS, ends 11/26
Truffle –25% off sitewide with code CHEER25, valid through 11/26

Happy shopping! I ended up ordering some things from Diptyque and some cute sweaters from LOFT. I’m still on the hunt for good lightweight sweaters and tops because the sales look really good for the places I like to shop!

P.S. This isn’t a Cyber Monday deal, but I just saw that the Tom Ford Iris Bronze Set popped up back online at Nordstrom in case you missed it in July, hope it’s back for a while! Wanted to let you know 🙂 Review + swatches here.

5 Comments

Diptyque

Diptyque Black Friday Baies Candle 2018 Edition

November 25, 2018

For Black Friday Diptyque launched a special limited-edition Black Candle in their classic Baies variation ($72 for 6.5 oz). It’s available online through 11/26 while supplies last and comes in a special black and white glass jar. I was so lucky to get an early preview to share in my Black Friday roundup and wanted to give you a closer look.

Baies is Diptyque’s best-selling candle with a mix of rose and blackcurrant leaves. It’s my favorite and I think it’s one of the most unique scents I’ve ever burned in candle form. The Black Friday Baies comes in the same size as the Standard Candles, 6.5 oz, approximately up to 60 hours of burn time. The wax is black like their Tinted Colored Glass Candles and 3-Wick Candle. It also comes with a 2018 stamp on the side which I think is super fun.

In case you’re new to the brand many of the scented candles come in multiple sizes and also other formats in case you cannot burn candles. I’ve purchased almost all the different forms over the years, my favorite is still the candle form.

Above from left to right. You can find these at a number of places, but I usually buy mine from Diptyque stores, Diptyque online and Nordstrom:

Three Wick Candle, 21 oz ($165) only comes in the Baies form right now, there’s actually a larger size Outdoor with Five Wicks that have 51.3 oz, the jar is a matte glass black and is a lot stronger than the standard or minis
Room Spray, 5 fl oz ($68) is a potent kind of room spray, it’s very strong and scent lingers for at least several hours and fills a decent size room with a few spritzes, it still won’t last quite as long as a candle but we’ve bought a few of these over the years and every scent we’ve tried is amazing
Tinted Glass, 10.2 oz ($95) comes with approximately 90 hours of burn time, their best sellers come in different colors of glass and matching wax which make it more fun and unique
Extra Mini 1.23 oz typically come in the 5-Piece, 10-Piece Holiday Sets or Advent Calendar. This year it’s also available in the Treat Cones in the Do Son and L’Ombre Dans L’Eau versions.
Standard Candles 6.5 oz ($65 and up) come with approximately 60 hours of burn time, most are clear glass with the white and black sticker label. Limited or special editions have different colors of exterior and are usually a little more expensive.
Mini Candles 2.4 oz ($35) have around 30 hours of burn time. They make nice gifts. After I burn and clean out the interior I fill them with Q-tips or long match sticks.
Scented Oval ($48) is the only format I’m really not that crazy about since the strength isn’t as potent as the room spray or candle.
The perfume version of Baies os the L’Ombre Dans L’Eau which has really good lasting power on me. It smells exactly like the candle. I’ve tried the Eau de Toilette version but they also have an Eau de Parfum as well. One shown is a travel size which was limited-edition. Current sizes are larger.

In addition they have a few diffuser variations which I have not tried yet. There are currently three different options for home diffusers and each one is very expensive. They’re beautifully designed but for now I’m sticking with the candles.

Some of you asked for more thoughts and a closer look at the Carousel. Each holiday there are usually two options. This year they have the Full Size Carousel ($60) which fits the standard candles. It sold out multiple times on the Diptyque website but just restocked so I ordered it on Black Friday. In addition they have the one that fits the minis available in a Baies + Tubereuse Carousel and Candle Set ($125). In my previous post I had photographed it without the ornaments attached. Below I have it with the ornaments attached and I also uploaded a quick video on my Instagram @beautylookbook. You can check it out in action in this post here.

Overall I think the Black Friday Candle is perfect for Diptyque lovers. I ordered a second one as a backup along with the full size carousel on Black Friday. Diptyque is an expensive luxury brand for sure and if you’re new to the line it can be a little overwhelming to pick one. I still recommend the mini sets if you can’t smell or try in person. They’re the perfect way to sample a wide range.

For the size options I hope the side by side photo helped. I’ve purchased a number of these over the years. The Three Wick was a newer launch last year and Andrew bought it for me as a birthday gift (by my request).

You can find the Diptyque Black Friday 2018 Baies online at Diptyque through 11/26 while supplies last. They are running a Cyber Weekend promo with a 35g mini Figuier candle, a mini Philosykos soap and a set of decorative ornaments with a purchase $100 or more using code CHEER until 11/27 or while supplies last. If you’re shopping be sure to check the Exclusive Offers Promo page in case they have a new one for Cyber Monday.

Black Friday candle gifted by Diptyque. All other items purchased by me.

5 Comments

Roundup Sales

Black Friday Beauty Deals + Exclusives 2018

November 23, 2018

Happy Black Friday! I’m rounding up the best beauty deals and steals I’ve found for this year’s sale season. There are a few really neat limited-edition exclusive launches I think are worth checking out. If you have any more to add let me know in the comments!

Anastasia Beverly Hills – value sets marked down, individual items and palettes up to 50% off
Bare Minerals – 20% off $100 purchases with code SHINE, Black Friday Exclusive: Solar Spectrum 10-piece full-size face collection for only $49. A $183 value, while supplies last, valid 11/22-11/23
Beautylish – Jeffree Star special launches, Bioderma beauty bundles, Charlotte Tilbury 30ml Scent of a Dream with $100 Charlotte Tilbury purchase, 30% off select Jouer favorites
Becca Cosmetics – select palettes, brushes and blushes are marked at 50% off
Benefit – Get 25% off everything, plus free shipping with code BENEBINGE – valid 11/20-11/24
Bite Beauty –
- Black Friday Special, 20% off sitewide + free standard shipping on all orders, no code needed, 11/23 only
- Black Friday GWP: Bag + Mirror, Mini Lip Pencil #34, Mini MCLC Leche, Mini AB Gazpacho with $35 purchase (code: FRIDAY5, can be used with 20% off and free ship, valid 11/22 to 11/24
Blissworld – 25% off sitewide with code THANKS, valid through 11/26
Bluemercury – Receive 12 FREE deluxe beauty samples with your $100 or more purchase, no code needed, valid through 11/24
Bobbi Brown – 25% off everything + free shipping on any order, plus a free full size Black Friday gift with any $75 order, use code BFGIFT
Buxom Cosmetics – 25% off site wide with code BFW25, valid through 11/25
Byredo – receive a free 70g candle with any order above $75 and enjoy free shipping, choose between six options at checkout, while supplies last through 11/26
Caudalie – 50% off select merchandise plus bonus gift with any purchase of $50 or more, use code FRIYAY, ends 11/28
Chanel – special Black Friday limited-edition launch Les 4 Ombres in Legerete Et Experience, swatches + review here
Charlotte Tilbury – save up to 40% off select kits and value sets
Clarisonic – 20% off holiday gift sets with code GIVETHANKS18
Cle de Peau Beaute – complimentary 5 piece bonus with orders $300+, valid through 11/27
Clinique – 25% off any order with code 25OFF (exclusions apply) plus a free full size with with any $75+ order
CoverFX – save 25% off with code THANKS25, plus full size custom enhancer drop with $50+ order
Decorte – special Black Friday deals and offers:
- 50% off Kate Moss Favorites Makeup Collection
- Color Kaleidoscope marked down to $70
Dermalogica – get up to 5 free travel sizes when you spend a certain amount, valid through 11/25 while supplies last, spend tiers are from $50 to $200+
Dermstore – save 30% off select brands with code FRIDAY at checkout, valid 11/23
Diptyque – Limited-edition Black Friday launch in their iconic Baies candle with special design and black wax, limited run while supplies last, they’re also running some GWP promos throughout the weekend, check on their Exclusive Offers Promo page, current one is with a $100 purchase using code CHEER (while supplies last)
dp Hue – 25% off everything with code HOLIDAY plus free shipping
Elemis – 25% off purchase with code BF25 at checkout
Farmacy Beauty – 20% off site wide or 30% off purchases $120+ with code CYBER, valid 11/23
First Aid Beauty – 4 free minis on all orders$35+ with code FABFRI
Foreo – Black Friday sale with select items marked off, valid 11/22 through 11/27
- 30% off Luna 2, Issa 2 and Issa Mini 2
- 25% off Luna Mini 2, FOFO, UFO and UFO mini
Fresh Beauty – gift with purchase deluxe sample options with a $75 purchase receive 4 deluxe samples, or $125 and receive 6 deluxe samples, valid through 11/24
Giorgio Armani Beauty – 20% off with code ARMANI20 plus a complimentary lipstick with orders $125 or more, add a palette with orders $200 or more, valid through 11/29
Glamglow – 30% off everything plus get a free full-size powermud with orders $79+, no code needed
Glamcor/Riki – 25 to 55% off sitewide plus holiday bundles, or use code BOGO50 for 50% off second Riki
Glow Recipe – 25% off sitewide with code BLACKFRIDAY25, exclusions apply
Hourglass Cosmetics – holiday savings event with $20 off orders $125+, $30 off orders $150+, $50 off orders $200+, valid 11/23 through 11/26
Impressions Vanity – Black Friday sale, select items marked down
IT Cosmetics – 20% off sitewide with code ITFRIDAY
Kate Somerville – 25% off sidewide with code CYBER25 plus free full-size Dermalquench with purchases $150+
Kerastase – 20% off orders of $100, plus free shipping & Hairstyling Comb Gift, use code THXFF18, valid 11/22-11/23 (7AM EST)
Kiehl’s – Your choice of 4 deluxe samples and free ground shipping on orders of $25, PLUS a Limited Edition canvas pouch on orders of $45+ with code BFRIDAY, valid 11/23-11/25
Kopari – 20% off with code STEALS at checkout
L’Occitane USA – doorbuster deals 50% off and various GWPs with $100 or $165 purchase, use code THANKFUL at checkout
La Mer -Personalize a 4-piece set in your choice of cosmetic pouch with a complimentary set of embroidered patches. Make it yours with any $150 purchase.
La Roche Posay – 30% off all orders with code BLACKFRIDAY2018, valid 11/23 only
Lancome – 20% off + free shipping on any order, use code FRIENDS, valid 11/19-11/27
Laneige – 30% off best sellers + free shipping on orders $35+, open for 6 hours 12 PM through 6 PM est, 11/23
Laura Mercier – limited-edition Smokey Eye Set + free shipping with any $75+ order using code SMOKEY
MAC Cosmetics – 25% off for MAC Select members, sets are excluded, valid through 11/26
Marc Jacobs Beauty –
- Black Friday Pre-launch Exclusive (11/22 – 11/25) exclusive new collection: Eye-conic in Flamboyant and 5 shades of Le Marc Lip Crème
- Black Friday GWP (11/22 – 11/24): Mini Velvet Noir, mini Highliner in Blacquer, and mini Lip Crème in Slow Burn + makeup pochette with orders over $75
Molton Brown – 25% off all purchases (excludes Advent Calendar and Luxury Fragrance Collection), valid through 11/26
NARS – 20% off sitewide with code TAKE20, valid through November 27
Neiman Marcus – $50 off $200 orders, select items qualify, includes beauty and fragrance, use code THANKFUL at checkout
Nordstrom – Over 80 Beauty GWPs available, while supplies last
Ole Henricksen – 20% off sitewide plus 4-piece GWP with any $50 order, use code CYBER2
Omorovicza – 30% off all skincare with code BLACK, valid on full size products only excludes sets, offer runs through 11/27
Ouai – buy any two full-size products get the third one 50% off with code HALFOUAI
Pat McGrath Labs – Black Friday Private Vault Pieces on sale
Peach and Lily – 30% off sidewide with code PEACH2018, exclusions apply, ends 11/27
Philosophy – 40% off sitewide with code blackfriday40, valid 11/23
QVC – Black Friday beauty bundles, value sets and mark downs
REN Skincare is running a few promos and GWPs:
- 25% off site-wide starting 11/23 until 11/25
- 20% off Holiday Sets on 11/24
- November 23: Spend $85 and receive a FREE full-size Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk
- November 24: Spend $75 and receive a FREE full-size & Now To Sleep Pillow Spray
Revive – $50 off $300+ purchases with code BLACKFRIDAY50, valid through 11/24
Saks Fifth Avenue – earn a $75 gift card with $150 purchase, use code THANKFUL
Sephora – Various items are marked down for a limited time:
- 11/23 Black Friday Only! Deal today, gone tomorrow! 50% off Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette. Online and in store.
- 11/23 After the turkey comes the shopping! These picks are $15 and under. Online and in store.
- 11/24 – 11/26: 10 free trial sizes with $90 purchase! Use code GOBIGGER at check out. Valid online only.
- Sale page of all sale items here.
Shu Uemura – 20% off $50+ orders, 25% off $100+ orders, plus bonus gift on orders $120 or more, use code SHUBF
Shu Uemura Art of Hair – 25% off orders of $100, plus free shipping & designer travel case ($98 value), use code THX18, valid 11/22-11/23 (7 AM EST)
Simplehuman – Top 10 Best Sellers marked down up to 25% off including their Sensor Mirror with Touch-Control Brightness for $150 (marked down from $200) and Sensor Mirror Mini $97 (marked down from $130), plus other home accessories marked down
Sisley-Paris USA – exclusive Black Friday duo set, for a limited time get the Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream plus free full size Black Rose Cream Mask
Smashbox – 30% off $30+ orders for Smashcash Members, 25% off $30+ Orders for non-members, no code needed
Space NK USA – Buy one, get one half off, exclusions apply, valid through 11/26
Supergoop! – 25% off with code HOLIDAY, ends 11/26
T3 – 25% off with code FRIDAY18, ends Sunday 11/25
Tarte – 30% off with code FRIDAY30, valid on 11/23
Tatcha – Play to win Black Friday Mystery Offers including special offers, complimentary treasures, and more. New offers available every day! Valid through 11/25
Too Faced – 30% off site wide plus free shipping with code PINK30
Ulta Beauty – Black Friday Beauty Busters sale
Velour Lashes – Black Friday Lash Out Bundle for $49 with code LASHOUT at checkout
Violet Grey -$15 off purchases $100 or more, $50 off $250 or more, $100 off $500 or more, $250 off $1,000 purchases
Zoeva USA – 25% off all items starting 11/23 through 11/24

Acccessories and Fashion

AG – 25% off select items
Anthropologie – 30% off everything (some exclusions apply)
Banana Republic – 50% off regular priced items, no code needed, card members receive extra 10% off when you use your Gap Inc. Credit card, use code BRCARD, valid through 11/24
Barneys New York – limited time designer sale up to 60% off savings
Bloomingdale’s – Buy More Save More Event on items labeled “Buy More, Save More”, discount applied in cart, valid through 11/25
- Take 15% off when you spend $100 to $249.99
- Take 20% off when you spend $250 to $399.99
- Take 25% off when you spend $400 or more
Coach – select bags are 50% off
Equipment – 30% off your entire purchase with code THANKS, valid through 11/26
Free People – select items 50% off, discount taken at checkout
J Brand – 30% off with code FRIDAY30, valid through 11/25
J.Crew – 50% off your entire purchase for most items with code TGIF, valid through 11/24
Joie – 30% off entire purchase with code THANKS, valid through 11/26
Lululemon – Black Friday sale markdown on select items
Madewell – 25% off purchase with code DEALWITHIT, valid through 11/25
Nike – extra 25% off select styles with code THANKS
Nordstrom – savings up to 60% off on items throughout site
Rag and Bone – 25% off everything with code TAKE25, ends 11/26
Revolve – up to 50% off select items
Paige – 30% off most items with code CYBER30
Senreve – spend $500 and receive a free limited-edition smooth bracelet pouch at checkout
Shopbop – buy more save more event:
- 15% off orders $200+
- 20% off orders $500+
- 25% off orders $800+
Splendid – 40% off everything, no exclusions with code BLACKFRIDAY, ends 11/25
The Daily Edited – updated, 10% off all orders, discount automatically applied at checkout
Tory Burch – take 30% off $250+ orders, also up to 60% off sale items with code THANKS, ends 11/26
Truffle – 25% off sitewide with code CHEER25, valid through 11/26

I have a couple things I’ve been wanting from Violet Grey that I might finally buy. I’m also super tempted by all the L’Occitane sets for the season.

Happy Shopping!

12 Comments

Chanel Eye Makeup

Chanel Black Friday Exclusive: Legerete et Experience

November 22, 2018

This year Chanel’s Black Friday Exclusive is a special limited-edition Les 4 Ombres in Legerete et Experience ($61 for 2 g/0.07 oz) and I’m thrilled to share a sneak peek today. It officially launches on Black Friday but Chanel has offered my readers early access through this link. This is an all matte eyeshadow quad with four light-textured smooth shades with medium buildable pigment. There have been a few matte variations of the eyeshadow quads and they are among the smoothest mattes I’ve tried. The Black Friday Exclusive Creation in Legerete et Experience comes encased in a slightly different compact. Instead of the classic white CC the black compact has a deep classic red to match the vibe of the quad. Colors include soft warm tones with a medium peach, soft camel beige, matte deep reddish brown and a medium soft brown.

A look at the compact:

Layered together you get a soft peachy pink gradient look with a subtle smokey red-brown. It has the softest texture and feel, pigment is smooth and applied well although I do recommend applying over a base or creamy shadow stick. There’s no fallout, it stays put, doesn’t look dry even though it’s matte. If you gravitate towards warmer shades this one is lovely.

This new Legerete Et Experience might remind you of another matte eyeshadow quad called Candeur Et Experience. The overall theme and vibe is similar, especially with the two bottom shades but I feel they are different. I bought it as soon as I received the Black Friday quad because I knew a lot of you would want me to compare them for you. I do think they are different enough to justify owning both. The new Legerete Et Experience gives a softer peachy pink look while the Candeur Et Experience has a noticeably deeper brown tone for all the colors.

They are all mattes, but they are satiny mattes – the finish isn’t totally flat and there is a very subtle slight natural sheen to them. Swatches taken with a flash so there is a little bit of light reflecting below.

Look below wearing the new Chanel Black Friday Quad. Also wearing all Chanel including the Sublimage Le Teint Foundation 40 Beige, Les Beiges Multi-Color (2018 version) in Medium to contour softly, Joues Contraste Blush in Foschia Rosa on cheeks, lips have the Rouge Coco Gloss in 722 Noce Moscata and 738 Amuse-Bouche mixed for a muted bright pink. Mascara is the Le Volume Waterproof in Black. Nail polish worn in this post is the Le Vernis in Rouge Puissant.

Overall a solid A+, the texture is smooth, finish is even, pigment is natural but medium with buildable coverage. It’s perfect for a soft gradient eye – just add liner or a cream shadow as a base and mascara and you have an easy polished eye look. I think it’s a versatile one even though it’s warm toned. I highly recommend giving it a look.

The Legerete Et Experience Les 4 Ombres is available exclusively at Chanel.com while supplies last.

Many thanks to the Chanel beauty team for providing an early sneak peek and my readers early access!

11 Comments

Diptyque Holiday Gift Guide Home / Interiors

Favorite Luxury Candles for Holiday

November 21, 2018

I’m getting in the holiday spirit more and more as the days go by! Burning warm and cozy home scents are one of the best ways to put me in the mood for the holiday season so I’m rounding up my favorites. Many are these are same tried and true year over year. I tend to stick to a few brands because I’ve ordered some sight unseen (they weren’t available near me) and while I’ve had mostly hits I had a few misses which made my wallet grouchy enough to shy away from trying too many new brands.

Diptyque always has the most beautiful offerings each Christmas season. I just bought the holiday Legende Du Nord Candle Set in the minis but will review in a separate post if you’re interested! Each year they make the best Pine scented candle called Sapin that is fresh and green, but not too green. This year they have the Sapin de Lumiere Candle with Room Spray in a set.

The carousels have been launched a few times past holidays, but this is the first time it seriously caught my eye. The full-size has restocked and sold out several times but the small one in the Carousel and Candle Set can still be easily found. I absolutely love it! It comes with the smaller size to fit the 2.4 oz candles and the set comes with Tubereuse and Baies. The heat from the flame makes the carousel twirl and I’ve been playing with it non-stop since I bought it.

Out of all the questions I receive, the ones I probably receive the most are, “what are your favorite Diptyque scents?” and “which one do I need to try first?” I haven’t come across one I didn’t like, but I have not tried them all. Someday I hope to. If you haven’t tried the brand before I 100% recommend you buy either the 5 Piece Mini Set or 10 Piece Mini Set. They come with miniatures in 35 g which give you just enough burn time to sample the scents.

My favorite picks change based on season. I always have back ups on hand as I burn through a lot. For fall to winter my most-burned through candles are Baies, Vanille, Ambre and Noisetier. I have several of the size options below to show scale and variation:

Baies is the classic rose and blackcurrant mix which is my favorite, I have it in the 3-wick below with 21 oz which is pretty spendy for a candle but I love recycling the jars afterwards, this also comes in the Standard Clear Glass Jar 6.5 oz, Small 3.2 oz, Room Spray, 10.2 oz Colored Candle Jar, and the extra large 51.2 oz outdoor version
Vanille is a good smoky smooth vanilla
Ambre is a nice well rounded woody scent with vetiver and patchouli, incense and Tonka bean, I splurged on the colored glass version which is larger priced at $95 for 10.2 oz size versus the standard 6.5 oz size which currently run at $65 each
Noisetier is the warmest creamy fruity hazelnut I’ve tried

Byredo is another brand I have so much love for. I asked Andrew for the Woods candle for Valentine’s Day and I’ve been rationing it to make it last longer, lol! Notes include raspberry, jasmine, Tuscan Leather, ambroxan and white cedarwood. I love the mix of the fruit, floral and cedar for an earthy mix. To me this is better than the traditional firewood or wood scents. For fall I absolutely love Tree House. I visited the Byredo store in Soho for the first time last year and this was burning in their store. Notes include bamboo, pimento, hay, labdanum and leather. It’s so hard for me to describe but it has a good leather + sandalwood mix.

New this season is Chai which is the perfect Masala Chai scent. I don’t think I’ve ever burned anything chai scented in my home and this one smells just like the perfect spicy chai tea latte. It does have a very seasonal feel to it, so if you want something more neutral I’d opt for Woods or Tree House.

For this season they’ve brought back the minis! You can buy a few of them individually or in a 3-box set with La Selection Violette Mini Candle Trio with Fleur Fantome, Bibliotheque and Burning Rose or La Selection Bois with Bohemia, Cotton Poplin and Tree House. With the minis I was gifted a set and am so excited to burn through them. I’ve bought and used up Bibliotheque and Fleur Fantome before. This was my first time trying Burning Rose.

Burning Rose is one I have not yet burned, it smells like a smoky leather with rose notes
Bibliotheque has peach, plum, violet, peony, patchouli, leather and vanilla, to me it smells similar to the Bal D’Afrique perfume
Fleur Fantome is a soft floral with rhubarb, lemon, violet, tulip, galbanum, heliotrope and suede

Lumira is another brand that I’ve had a long love affair with. The Tahitian Coconut is the best coconut and the Persian Rose is the best rose in my humble opinion. The line is based in Australia but their website does offer international shipping. This year they recently launched at Barneys New York in the US and Selfridges in the UK so if you have a store near you I’d recommend checking them out. It’s rare that I like all the scents in a brand but with Lumira, Almira the founder has created exquisite variations in every single candle.

For the holiday season she launched Nuit de Noel which smells like Christmas. Notes include black pepper, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, aniseed, pear, cumin, rose, lavender, coriander, clary sage, oriental, amber, labdanum, sandalwood, tonka bean, cedarwood, patchouli. I really adore her accessories. She has the prettiest Glass Dome (shown below) along with the best Wick Trimmer I’ve tried (it has an angle which makes it easier to get into smaller jars without tilting the trimmer part) and a Candle Snuffer which I’ve never invested in before but am really happy to own one.

Many of you love classics from Jo Malone and Le Labo. I’ve burned through a few scents in each line but still keep going back to Diptyque and Byredo. From Jo Malone right now I’m burning Wood Sage and Sea Salt which is a nice option for fall if you don’t want your house to smell like cinnamon, pine or spice. From Le Labo the Santal Candle is my favorite for a strong sandalwood kind of scent, notes include amber, coco, vanilla, cedar, spices, musk and sandalwood. I bought the Violet Grey x Le Labo Santal candle and stocked up when it was in stock. It’s the same as the clear glass version just with black glass.

Senreve Mini Maestra (c/o) shown above. I still really love it! Full review here. I’m also ecstatic I found peonies at Whole Foods!

Cire Trudon is my most expensive splurge for candles. One of my readers messaged me on a weekly basis for months urging me to buy Ernesto. I finally did and there is no going back. It’s one of the best ones out there. I know scent is so personal but so many of you have told me you also love this. It has a masculine vibe with notes of leather and tobacco. Because it’s so expensive I’ve only burned through a small handful of these (and a few minis). Sometimes they’ll do this one in special packaging so I bought the Rose Gold Ernesto which is a little more pricey but really beautiful. Notes include rum, grapefruit, bergamot, clove, oak wood, patchouli, labdanum, tobacco, moss, leather and amber.

The entire line is available at a local store near me and I smell them all every time I visit. Nazareth is the most Christmas-like smelling candle I’ve ever smelled. I really want to buy their Six Candle as well but the steep price tag is pretty hard to justify.

Other brands that I love that are more affordable and have great gift options include Nest Fragrances and Henri Bendel. The Nest Fragrances Holiday candle is a classic that comes in a wide range of size options. I’ve tried several of the mini ones and the throw is pretty impressive! For the sizes the prices are very reasonable. Henri Bendel makes some really amazing options for the price and the scents are nice – not overly sweet or saturated. Their Vanilla Bean is one of the best not-too-sweet vanillas I’ve ever burned.

For those who cannot burn candles, diffusers and room sprays are nice alternatives. I haven’t tried many diffusers although I have loved the ones from Antica Farmacista. In terms of room sprays Molton Brown makes amazing ones. Andrew is obsessed with the Coco and Sandalwood one. Diptyque also makes some amazing ones, unfortunately if you’re in the US you don’t have easy access to all the scents, but I’m happy they have at least a few. I’ve been drooling over the Byredo ones for months now but haven’t taken the plunge to splurge. Putting it on my Christmas Wish List though!

For me, a key accessory for candle care is a wick trimmer. You can definitely use your regular scissors but having one just for candles is nice because the tip is beveled so you can cut the wick straight. It also prevents your scissors from getting burnt remnants on them and the tip catches the cut off end.

The Diptyque Wick Trimmer has been one of the best things I’ve ever bought but I think Lumira makes a better one. It’s sleeker and the angle of the wick trimmer makes it easier to trim wicks straight. Also the angle of the handle makes it easier to hold for me. I never felt the need to invest in a candle snuffer but Lumira sent over their Candle Snuffer and I think it’s really nice.

I hope you enjoyed this holiday candle roundup! With all the options out there I think mini sets are the best way to sample candles, especially if you can’t smell them all in person. It can be overwhelming with all the options out there. I think it’s nice to treat yourself to a small handful at a time. They set the mood for the home in such a nice way.

I’ve linked the accessories shown in the post in case you want to know the details of the trays, books and lights for your own home decor. What are your favorite holiday candles?

Press samples include Byredo Mini Trio and all Lumira products shown. Senreve Bag also gifted. All other items purchased by me.