Summer Fridays added a few new makeup launches to their lineup with lip pencils! They launched a SoftLine Lip Liner Long-Lasting Lip Pencil ($20 each) and Flushed Lip Stain ($22). These are available now at Sephora and Summer Fridays. I received the full set to try and review and as someone who struggles with lip liners showing on my pigmented lips, I am 10/10 thrilled with this launch!
The standout for me is definitely the SoftLine Lip Liner Long-Lasting Lip Pencil. This is available in 8 shades and what I love about these is that they are really like a traditional lip liner pencil. Lasting power is very good but I appreciate that these aren’t like the gel pencils that are completely budge proof because those tend to look dry on my lips as the day wears on. A more traditional pencil like this one is easier on my lips, especially if they are dry.
Formula is smooth but they don’t glide on like the ones from Merit (which is more glossy). Love the pigment, even the lighter tones show up on my pigmented lips with very good coverage. Love the shade range in this formula. I think every color is flattering!
I swatched these on my entire lip for shade reference although normally I would just line the outer rims and then find a matching gloss or lipstick to coordinate.
Flushed Lip Stain
The Flushed Lip Stains are beautiful and the pigment is exceptionally good. I personally do not like stains because there’s something about my lips that makes liquid lipsticks and lip stains darken to an unrecognizable color. What I see on my lips rarely matches a swatch or what I see in the applicator.
I think the product is excellent and the lasting power is definitely there. I tried to remove the swatches from my arm and the stain lingers even with a bi-phase makeup remover. I wasn’t able to lip swatch all of them because the stain adhered so well to my lips I felt like swatching more would mix colors.
Overall love. I think the combination pairings with the Lip Butter Balms are also fun. I haven’t played around extensively layering different shades together but I think the colors they created are so beautiful.
Rounding up my January beauty favorites for the month!
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in the new formula has been a win for me! Full review here and also a demo here. I’ve been reaching for it a lot and love the coverage and naturally glowy finish. This has been the formula I’ve worn the most this month.
I think an updated skincare routine is in order as it’s been a while since I’ve done one, but I wanted to mention a few favorites this past month.
I’ve been using the LED masks more consistently and really love the one from Currentbody. I still have the original but recently updgraded to the Mask Series 2 which has a better fit to the contours of the face. They’ve since added a couple newer versions with different lights that I’m curious about, but so far I’ve really been loving the Mask Series 2. You can use code BEAUTYLB for 10% off.
La Mer is quite the splurge, but my skin texture has improved drastically after using the Regenerating Serum. I’ve been using this for almost two months and it’s really helpled with fine lines and my skin isn’t as dull anymore. I’ve also used up The Renewal Oil and Moisturizing Soft Cream multiple times and recently repurchased over the holidays. My wallet is not happy about it, but no matter what I try, I keep going back to these two. The oil is my favorite and I love mixing it in with other face creams.
Dior Beauty has my heart for new launches! I stopped by my local Dior Beauty boutique earlier in the year and picked up the new Addict Perfumes, new lip oils and Forever Skin Bronzing Balm Sticks. I haven’t done a review but will soon. By now I’ve already almost used up an entire bottle of the Dior Addict Rosy Glow Eau de Parfum (sweet floral) and bought a second. The new Forever Skin Bronzing Balm Sticks are really good (Shade 03 shown). I like them better than the Contour Sticks. The new Bronzing Balm Sticks are sheerer and the colors are better suited for my skin tone for a more natural look.
The Hourglass Cosmetics Curator Palettes have had mixed reviews. I think there are some hits and misses with these. These are great if you want a more natural eye look or don’t wear eyeshadow a lot because the combinations are great for an effortless look. Some of them pull a little too natural looking which is why I give some of them a miss. However, I rediscovered Futurist which is a beautiful one I have been reaching for a lot. It’s in action in this reel here in case you’re curious.
So many of you love Sarah Creal and I have also fallen in love with her products. Her makeup has been in heavy rotation and I find myself reaching for her No Further Questions Glosses and Eyes Up Creamy Kajal Longwear Eyeliners. So many of you have raved about her eyeliners and I agree they are 10/10! They glide on easily without tugging and I love the pigment. I didn’t expect to love the Today’s Highlights Balm Luminizer as much as I do. I think these have the perfect amount of pigment and glow for me. I like blending them on top of a cream or powder blush whenever I feel like the blush color is too saturated. This gives the cheeks that pretty glow.
Tatcha used to be one of my favorite skincare brands but with all the new launches and skincare testing they kind of fell off my radar. I recently rediscovered some things thanks to some recommendations from you and love the Rice Enzyme Powder for a gentle exfoliant. I also love the Kissu Lip Mask for these dry winter months. I tried the Kissu Lip Serum and have to say while I love the packaging and applicator, the Lip Mask is a million times better at hydration (at least for me).
For perfume, aside from the Dior, I also have been obsessed with Creed Pure White Cologne. It’s a fresh clean scent that has Grapefruit, Petit Grain, Bigarade, Jasmine, Orris Butter, Watermelon, White Musk, Ambroxan and Cedarwood. This is the most expensive perfume I’ve ever purchased, but it’s the best clean fresh scent I’ve ever tried and also happens to be Andrew’s favorite scent on me. I personally find it fresh, unique and makes me so happy. I really love the Refillable Atomizers (also here) to fill with my go-to scents and carry them in my purse. These make really beautiful gifts too.
Also not beauty related but I get asked about my jewelry almost daily! I have saved the details on everything I wear to my JEWERLY highlights, let me know if you want an updated jewelry tour! My wedding band and tiny T Wire Diamond Ring is also from Tiffany. The ring on my index is from Mejuri.
My link bracelet is an older style from Tiffany & Co. They don’t make this particular style anymore but it’s one of my favorite gifts from Andrew and I think I’ve had it for over 10 years.
The tennis bracelet was a splurge last year from James Allen and I love it! Some of you might remember from my Instagram stories that I had been on the hunt for one for probably over a year. My wrists are very small so most everything I’ve seen online needs to be custom made which means it will take longer to create and ship. I had planned to visit a few jewelers in NYC but given all the other fun things to do in New York, I never made it to those shops.
After reading a lot of reviews I decided on James Allen last July and I’m 100% thrilled with this purchase. I also have some earrings from them which I really love. My bracelet is s a lab diamond tennis bracelet in the 6 inch length, 5 carats with 14K Yellow Gold. I was able to buy this with a good promo code so the price was very reasonable. Loved that it was in a 6 inch length (my wrist is 5.5 inches) so I didn’t have to get it resized. It did take a little over 30 days for them to make and ship it. The clasp is very strong and it’s a little hard to get on and off on my own, but I think it was 100% worth the splurge. If I had been able to try it on in person I probably would have opted for a larger carat option, but I think this is a great size to start.
That wraps up my favorites this month! I’m working my way through new concealer formulas. You can see the demo of Chanel Ultra Le Teint in BD31 and B40 here (this is the first Chanel concealer formula I’ve actually liked) and also a demo of Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Concealer in 6.5, 7 and 7.5 here. I’ll have a roundup of Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury, RMS, Victoria Beckham Beauty and Prada as soon as I can!
Armani recently reformulated their cult classic Luminous Silk Foundation ($69, Nordstrom and Sephora). As a longtime fan of the original I have to admit I was in a panic over the news and purchased a few backups just in case the new one ended up being completely different. After nearly a month of testing I am happy to report the new version is just as good as the original and my shade match 6.5 is still the same.
Armani added more shades in the lineup and changed the formula to include niacinamide. The two formulas are almost identical on my skin. You can see a demo of the new formula in action here with the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush. In my experience there is a slight difference in the coverage with the new one being just the slightest bit thinner and a bit sheerer, but the differences are barely detectable. A few of you noticed from my video though that the new one seems to have a little less pigment.
Coverage is still the same medium naturally glowy finish. I love that it glows but isn’t too emollient/dewy. It evens out the skin nicely in a natural looking way. Coverage is still natural so your skin does show through and I have a few dark spots (healing acne scars) that still show through underneath on my chin area. This can be fixed with concealer (I like Natasha Denona’s Hy-Glam Concealer for the best coverage with a creamy formula). I always set with a powder and lately I’ve been loving the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Loose Powder Shade 30 or Laura Mercier Translucent Loose (love this in multiple shades, the Rose Talc-Free Ultra Blur Version is also good too).
Most of the shades seem to be the same but there are a handful that have changed. They have a helpful shade chart to show which shades are different and the new recommended match (Shades 1.5, 4.25, 4.75, 7.5, 7.75 and 8 are different now).
Chanel Beauty Spring 2026 has arrived and seems to be selling out fast! I ordered everything sight unseen as soon as it launched online. I shared swatches here and after testing these for the past week I finally have my review. The collection is out now at Chanel.com and Nordstrom.
If you’re still looking for anything that’s sold out online at Chanel each product page has a “Find in Boutiques” option link. I clicked and it brings up a list of the Chanel beauty boutiques that have things in stock. Nordstrom also has the store locator per product page, so I recommend using the tool to check your local counters.
As a long time Chanel beauty lover I expected to love everything in this collection but I feel there are some big misses.
Rouge Noir Confidence Eyeshadow and Blush Palette
I had the highest hopes for the Rouge Noir Confidence Eyeshadow and Blush Palette ($95, Chanel and Nordstrom) but have mixed feelings based on application. The two lighter colors apply well with a smooth pretty finish, but they disappeared from my skin almost the second I applied them. The two darker shades go on the skin very patchy and unevenly. Even with a lot of blending they did not blend well. I tried this multiple ways since my skin is on the dry side now and I could not get this to work for my skin type even with extra moisturizer and a hydrating foundation underneath.
I haven’t read other reviews yet but a number of you messaged me about this. Half of you love it, the other half also said you also had some application challenges.
Swatched next to Tendresse:
The colors are for sure beautiful and perfect for a pretty Valentine’s Day theme. For me this is a pass. If the application is not perfectly smooth or easy to blend, I’m going to say this is a miss.
Ombre Essentielle
There are two new Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow Singles ($42 each, Chanel and Nordstrom) and for me these are the stand outs. I expected to love Brun Rose (a coppery rose shimmer) more but Gris Rose (a lavender, grey, pink almost multi-chrome shimmer) surprised me with the way it flashes pink! I swatched these next to a few other shades. They do have a similar vibe to last year’s collection but they are still different enough to justify. I think these are worth tracking down!
Rouge Noir Mascara and Eyeliner
I love a monochromatic color theme and I think the Rouge Noir packaging is beautiful! The Noir Allure Rouge Noir Mascara ($45 at Chanel) is a nice one but I think the Volume de Chanel Mascara is the superior formula in terms of Chanel mascaras. The burgundy tint of the Rouge Noir shade doesn’t really show up on my lashes, it pretty much looks black.
The Stylo Yeux in Rouge Noir ($36 at Chanel) I received in my order might be a dud, but this one also is on the dry side, applies patchy on the arm and tugs the eyes to the point that it’s painful to apply.
Les Pinceux Rouge Noir Brush Set
I was the most excited for the Les Pinceux Rouge Noir Brush Set ($153 at Chanel) as I love the accessories Chanel beauty launches. This is a beautiful set with brushes that are well made. They do look more machine cut than the full sizes but they’re very smooth and I really love them. There are two eyeshadow brushes which I actually already own in the full sizes. The cheek brush looks like a new one and it is very VERY small. I do think it is useable but a bigger fluffier brush is much easier to use for blush.
Spring Lip Colors
The lip colors in this launch are very bold and dramatic. They are all outside of my comfort zone but I wanted to try something new. Formulas are 10/10 for the Rouge Allure Velvet ($53 at Chanel and Nordstrom). I picked up a mauve shade Irreverente and a bold fuschia berry Effrontee. Unfortunately I feel both are too cool toned for my skin tone but the formulas are a solid A+ as these are some of the best velvet lipsticks I’ve tried.
The Rouge Allure Laque in Rouge Noir ($53 at Chanel) is a very dark color and requires some layering for a smooth finish. Since it’s very contrasted with my natural lip tone, one coat results in a very patchy uneven finish. Two coats will even it out to a smooth application. This shade is also not my shade, but given the cult status of the Rouge Noir Le Vernis I wanted to try it.
Baume Essentiel
There’s a new Baume Essentiel in Cute ($50 at Chanel and Nordstrom). It’s a beautiful lavender pink color but pulls very sheer. I swatched it next to Lilas from a few years ago. Cute is clearly a lot more pink, but since it’s so sheer it doesn’t really give much color payoff on the skin. I wish they would have made this into a lip gloss because the color is so beautiful! Similar to all the other previous Baume Essentiels, this is balmy, dewy and does not dry down.
New Le Vernis Shades
Last we have a look at the three new Le Vernis ($34 at Nordstrom) shades. Performer is a bright raspberry pink, Moderniste is a deep cool grey and Rouge Noir is a dark burgundy. I swatched these all with two coats. They’re beautiful creams but don’t really feel like a spring color story and with the exception of Rouge Noir, I don’t really see myself wearing these colors.
That wraps up my Chanel Spring Beauty haul. Overall mostly misses for me. Primarily due to the fact the color story isn’t really me since I tend to wear warmer and brighter shades. The two eyeshadow singles were the only items I was truly impressed with formula and color-wise, but I do know many of you were excited about this launch so if you love it, please don’t let my review ruin it for you!
Online now at Chanel.com and Nordstrom. If you tried anything from this launch I’m curious to hear your thoughts!
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season! I’ve been MIA on the blog this past year as this has been a year of big changes and transitions for me. Back in the spring Andrew and I finally moved to our dream city and I am so thrilled that we found a place that truly feels like home. Those of you who have been following me for a long time know we moved a lot since 2017 and for me nothing ever quite felt like a place I wanted to stay long-term. Moving to Miami Beach has been one of the best things we’ve done and we are so happy to be here.
I hope to pick up blogging this year. I’ve neglected the blog as my focus shifted to Instagram for social media content. A lot of you have asked if I’ll be blogging more as you seem to enjoy reading the detailed reviews and I hope to be more organized to focus more on what I love most which is this blog.
Here were the things I loved the most in 2025. Many of them are my tried and true and the ones I think I’ll be taking with me well into the new year.
Base Makeup Favorites
There are always a lot of new foundation and concealer launches every year but my favorites were my long-time tried and true.
Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick – This was my most-used foundation this year. I alternate between 2.5N and 3N. Love everything about it from the coverage, color, finish, blendability and lasting power.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation – This was my second most-used foundation. Armani did reformulate the classic recently. I’ve been testing the new one for a couple weeks now and will review soon but so far it seems to be just as good as the original. I picked up my usual shade 6.5 in the new formula and it works for me! A few of the shades have changed (I recommend using their shade chart to check your shades).
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powders – I’ve always been a pressed powder girlie but this year I started using loose powders but with a puff and the lasting power is SO much better. I really love all the Laura Mercier loose powders. I alternate between her original Translucent Loose and the Ultra-Blur in Rose which gets the most compliments!
Saie Glowy Super Gel – My skin has been going through changes this past year and a half or so. I’ve experienced dry skin as I age and suddenly so many foundations end up looking cakey my skin. This glowy gel mixed in with foundations has helped tremendously! I love the Rose Glow shade.
Cheeks
Armani Luminous Silk Liquid Blush (review + swatches here) – This is the best liquid blush for the best wear time. I really hope they expand the colors! I tried both the matte and radiant finishes, I have a slight preference for the mattes but both are very good.
Rhode Pocket Blush in Freckle and Piggy (review + swatches here) – Another favorite this year! Love these for the convenience, pigment and lasting power too. I brought Freckle with me on all my trips for the best everyday neutral hint of color.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palettes (2025 palettes reviewed here) – I really loved all the holiday palettes this year, even with the repeat shades. The color range was 10/10 perfect for me. I love the fun designs they launch every year. Really surprised they sold out so fast this year.
RMS ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush in Crystal Slipper – This was my most-worn blush of the year. It’s one of the best everyday glowy neutral tan blushes I’ve tried.
Chanel Jeux de Lumieres Highlighter Quad (review here) – My favorite highlighters were from this stunning palette! I think this particular collection was my favorite in the entire year.
YSL Make Me Blush (review here) – This was the best powder blush formula of the year. I think 44 Nude Lavalliere is the best color but I also really love 23 Rose Haze. Formula is super smooth and silky. Love that they have mattes and shimmers. More colors in 2026 please!
Eye Makeup
I really tried to branch out for my eye makeup this year, but nothing new really caught my eye.
Natasha Denona hands down wins for the best of the best. The I Need a Warm Palette (swatches + review here) is still my favorite although I really love her My Dream Palette too (swatches here).
Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Original – No matter how many other matte neutral palettes are launched this one remains my favorite. For some reason this is also the palette that gets me the most compliments.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Eyeliner – This is still my favorite eyeliner formula but it MUST be set with a powder eyeshadow on top to make it last. Otherwise it will smudge. I love this for the creamy formula and super rich pigment.
Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara XL – This is my most worn mascara formula of the year. It doesn’t smudge or clump. Removes easily with warm water. I wish it lengthened my short stubby lashes more but out of all the formulas this is the best one I’ve tried.
Lip Favorites
I have so many lip favorites this year!
Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine (review here) – Chanel launched a shine version of the Rouge Coco Baume this year and I wish they would launch this in more colors! I loved every single shade in this formula, but the best one for me is Honey Bliss 752.
Chanel Le Crayon Levres Longwear Lip Pencil – Chanel’s lip liner remains my favorite although I will say the formulas from Dior, Tom Ford and Maybelline are close rivals. I think the Chanel shades in Nude Brun and Rose Naturel are the best ones.
Prada Monochrome Lipstick in B101 Tiepolo (in action here) – This is one of the shades you loved the most on me. I love the Prada matte lipsticks and I think this one is also one of my favorites.
Dior Lip Glow Balm – This was reformulated yet again and I still don’t quite understand why they keep changing this, but I do think this latest formula is the best one yet. It’s not as waxy as the previous versions and is indeed more hydrating. My favorite shade was 077 Candy which transforms into a warm pink but doesn’t shift too much.
Dior Rouge Dior On Stage Lipstick (review here) – I really love this formula and the slim sleek design of this lipstick. Iconic Rose is the best shade and I really hope they add more lighter neutrals or peach tones in this formula because it’s absolute perfection!
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer – This is still my all time favorite lip gloss formula. It’s a plumping gloss but I really like that it’s not too plumping and on me there is zero tingle or sting.
Tom Ford Lip Color (review + swatches here) – Part of me really misses the old Tom Ford Beauty days. I feel like the innovation isn’t what it used to be but I really did love the new formula of the lip colors from a couple years ago and last year I used Spanish Pink a lot.
Maybelline Lifter Gloss – This is the best budget-friendly gloss. Love all the colors I’ve tried. Gummy Bear is the best baby pink. Also love the shimmers and pigmented shades too.
Nails
My two most complimented nail colors this year were quick dry formulas. Olive and June Quick Dry in Puffball was a favorite since my usual go-to sheer pinks seem to have been discontinued.
I wear the Essie Speed Setter as a top coat but I’m currently testing a few other formulas to see if there is one that lasts longer.
This year I felt like I skipped concealer and bronzer most of the time. I did wear these occasionally but they didn’t seem like they were part of my regular routine.
That wraps up my makeup favorites for the year! Would love to hear about yours in the comments!
