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Sabrina

Beauty Favorites Packing

Summer Beauty Edit: Travel Favorites

June 1, 2023

Best Summer Travel Beauty and Makeup Calpak Clear Makeup Case

 

Today I’m sharing a roundup of summer beauty favorites I packed for a two-week trip! Covering everything I brought with me and favorites I used!

Travel Cases

I pack beauty items in separate cases to keep things organized: one case for makeup, one bag for brushes and another case for skincare/body/hair care. I wish there was a one-size-fits all packing option where all my cases were coordinated or matched, but I haven’t found the perfect set yet.

The Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case (small) has been my go-to for several trips now and I love how much I can fit inside the smallest one. (It used to be called the mini but is now called the small.) It has two zip compartments that are the same size and it folds and zips to a compact size that’s easy to pack. So far the clear plastic has held up pretty well even though clear plastic can be hard to maintain. You can see WHAT FITS INSIDE here.

I own two luxury vanity from Louis Vuitton. The Nice BB and Nice Mini were quite the splurge but I really love them. I’ve found the BB size to be the most ideal for travel. A number of you expressed concern about keeping it clean from spills or leaks. I haven’t had any issues yet with product leaking (keeping fingers crossed). If I have any liquids I’m super concerned about I’ll pack it in a Ziploc before putting it in the case.

Louis Vuitton Nice BB

For brushes I’ve been using Stephanie Johnson Zip Cases. I’ve tried brush rolls but find they can be bulky and the separators are rarely the right size for what I need. Having a separate slightly longer bag is perfect for me to keep brushes, pencils, mascaras etc. The color I have isn’t made anymore but there are different colorways at Nordstrom and Saks for the same shapes.

Stephanie Johnson Travel makeup pouches

I was just introduced to Cadence and love them! They recently added some larger container sizes and I found them perfect to store my cleanser and some hair serums. They were 100% leak-proof for me and had plenty of space for 2 weeks worth of cleanser and hair serum. I also used some of the smaller sizes for pills. They sent me a set with pre-labeled tops for shampoo, cleanser and a few other symbols. I love these so much I plan on ordering a few more for our next trip. They’re magnetic so they stack together and won’t move around in your beauty case.

You can create your own custom set with different sizes and labels. 100% recommend.

Cadence System Refillable Leak-Proof Containers

Other travel case alternatives you might want to check out for different sizes and options: Mark & Graham, Leatherology, Truffle Jetset Clarity Cases, Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Cases.

Travel Skincare I Packed

Summer Skincare I Packed for Travel

For skincare I tend to pack more than the average person because Andrew also uses my skincare when we travel and he uses a lot. This is what I packed with me:

Quick shout out for Loving Tan self-tanners if you’re looking to self tan before a vacation. I tried Loving Tan for the first time this year and am obsessed. It’s the only self-tanner formula I’ve tried that doesn’t have that terrible chemical smell and it looks super natural. You can see the before and after transformation with their 2 Hour Express Formula in Medium + their Deluxe Applicator Mitt. Application was super easy and effortless. Results were pretty impressive and completely streak free. On me it lasted around 2 weeks before it started to fade.

Loving Tan Self Tanners

 

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For hair I packed my ghd Platinum+ Styler and Dyson Supersonic. The ghd Flat Iron also doubles as a curling tool! In terms of styling products I packed the Kerastase Elixir Ultime (mini) and the Chronologiste Heat Protecting Leave-In Treatment (in one of the cadence capsules). I forgot to pack dry shampoo but picked up the Olaplex and Living Proof formulas at Sephora. Of course also packed the R&Co Dart Stick which is an essential for flyaways. The only complaint I have is that it’s semi-thick so if you’re vacationing in hot humid weather you will have to wash your hair daily but it’s the only product I’ve tried that truly tames my baby hairs that have started to grow near the top of my head.

If you’re looking for some great Travel Sets I brought and used a few from Colleen Rothschild. The Quench and Shine Travel Essentials Set has everything you need for hair care (really loved these and will be purchasing some full sizes soon). The Discovery Collection is also great to take care of everything from your morning to night routine, I have been really impressed with the Radiant Cleansing Balm, Clarifying Detox Mask and Extreme Recovery Cream.

Colleen Rothschild Skincare Travel Sets

I packed so much sunscreen with us and we used everything up in two weeks. If I could only use one for the body the Shiseido Ultimate Protector Lotion is hands down the best. For the face I love the Supergoop! Glowscreen the most right now. The new Chanel UV Essentiel is also excellent.

Best Summer Sunscreens Shiseido

Makeup Favorites for Summer

Summer Makeup Favorites

Summer Makeup Essentials

I overpacked on the makeup but I used every single thing I packed. For a more edited version I’ll list the items I used the most during our trip:

I’m going to be hosting some giveaways on the blog and social this summer! Kicking if off today with a Summer Beauty giveaway with some travel cases, my beauty favorites, skincare minis and more.

Details:

  • Must be US or Canada resident
  • Open to those 18 years or older
  • Will run through 6/7/2023 11:59 PM est
  • Winner will be selected via the widget within 2 days
  • Selected winner will be emailed by me and must claim prize within 72 hours or another winner will be selected and contacted
  • Prize package will ship within one week (US or Canada only)
  • Not sponsored or affiliated
  • To enter complete ALL the steps in the widget below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fashion Florida Packing

What I Packed For Miami

May 29, 2023

What I Packed for Miami Rails Ellis Top and Loewe Anagram Ibiza Basket in Ochre

We had such a great time in Miami Beach this past month! We packed up a few suitcases and drove from Tampa Bay to South Beach and had so much fun we nearly extended our trip another week! This trip we stayed in an Airbnb so we could bring Ollie and also work part of the time. I shared some outfit snaps on Instagram stories and the highlights. I know many of you don’t always catch them since they expire within 24 hours but I’ve saved them to my MIAMI VACAY highlights and tagged all the places we ate and visited.

I’ll have an updated roundup of our favorite places to stay, eat, shop and relax. For today I have a highly requested roundup of what I packed and what I wore during our trip.

 

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Beach Essentials

Summer Beach Essentials

1 sunscreen spray / 2 jack black sunscreen / 3 glow screen / 4 uv essential / 5 sunglasses / 6 water bottle / 7 aloe gel / 8 shiseido spf / 9 clear sunscreen stick / 10 favorite hat / 11 brown oval sunglasses / 12 slides / 13 woven tote medium / 14 yellow basket / 15 green swimsuit & bottoms / 16 ivory one piece / 17 black one-piece / 18 cooler / 19 cooler tote / 20 beach towel / 21 after sun balm

I packed a ton of sunscreen for the beach and for every day. My personal favorite for the body is the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion with SPF 50+ because it’s the longest lasting, stays on the skin the best through sweat, water and heat, and it’s not thick or sticky. Andrew’s favorite is the Jack Black Oil-Free Sun Guard with SPF 45. For him this is the best sweat-resistant sunscreen.

Other favorites include the Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick, new Chanel UV Essentiel, Supergoop! Glowscreen, Vacation Classic Spray (now in SPF 50). We also really love the Vacation After Sun Gel (it’s alcohol free) and I love the new Dior Solar After-Sun Balm (this one does have alcohol but it’s not as high on the ingredient list).

For swimsuits I love Montce Swim and Hunza G for more conservative swim wear that covers a lot. Since we stayed at an Airbnb I packed my own towels from Business & Pleasure and I really love them. They have matching coolers and cooler totes too!

Celine Oval Sunglasses, Hunza G Domino One Piece Swimsuit, Rag and Bone Hat

Loewe Anagram Paulas Ibiza Medium Basket

Best Summer Sunscreens Shiseido

Accessories and Bags

Vacation Edit

 

1 woven tote (medium size) / 2 shell basket / 3 brown oval sunnies / 4 black sunnies / 5 square sunnies / 6 scrunchies / 7 small jewelry case / 8 mini raffia tote / 9 zip pouches / 10 hat / 11 towel / 12 hair clip / 13 slides / 14 sunscreen / 15 sunscreen / 16 white bag / 17 sneakers / 18 white sandals / 19 chloe slides / 20 fendi slides / 21 black sandals

Best Summer Bags Loewe, Bottega, Prada

Outfits I Packed

I didn’t get outfit snaps of everything I wore on the trip but I here’s what I did get photos of throughout our trip! Also linking what I packed for tops, dresses and bottoms.

Vacation Tops and Tanks

Tops Linked

Dresses & Bottoms

Vacation Dresses and Shorts

 

What I Wore

Reformation Carol Tank, Agolde Parker Shorts, Prada Mini Raffia Bag

Top Reformation / Shorts Agolde / Shoes Chloe / Bag Prada / Sunnies Celine

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Free People Boulevard Tube Top, Agolde Parker Shorts, APL Sneakers

Top Free People / Shorts Moussy / Shoes APL / Bag Loewe / Sunnies Celine

Ollie and Sabrina

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Free People Neighborhood Tank Agolde Parker Shorts Loewe Basket Celine/Chanel Sunnies

Tank Free People / Shorts Agolde / Bag Loewe

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Free People Love Letter Cami, Loewe Shell Basket, Agolde Parker Shorts

Top Free People / Shorts Agolde / Bag Loewe / Sunnies Celine

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Free People Vanda Mini Dress (white) Chloe Woody Sandals Loewe Basket Tote

Free People Vanda Mini Dress (white) Chloe Woody Sandals Loewe Basket Tote

Dress Free People / Slides Chloe / Bag Loewe / Sunnies Chanel

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Free People Where’s Your Tux Top Agolde Parker Moussy Chloe Woody Slides Loewe Basket Celine Sunglasses

Top Free People / Shorts Moussy / Shoes Chloe / Bag Loewe/ Sunnies Celine

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Free People Tank Clean Lines Muscle Cami Isabel Marant Skirt Chloe Sandals Bottega Loop Bag

Top Free People / Skirt Isabel Marant / Shoes Chloe / Bag Bottega / Sunnies Celine

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Favorite Summer Shoes

Shoes Linked

Chloe Woody Sandals

That wraps up my packing post part 1! I’ll have a summer travel beauty edit coming soon with a giveaway this week so stay tuned!

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm + Pinkgasm Sunset

May 25, 2023

Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm + Pinkgasm Sunset

Charlotte Tilbury added some new items in the Summer of Lovegasm Collection with new shades of Jewel Lips lip gloss and a new shade of the Beauty Light Wand. The team also brought back the Glowgasm Face Palette in Lovegasm.

I have a look at both Jewel Lips and Beauty Light Wands today. I passed on repurchasing the highlighter contour palette since I already own the original and found the shades a bit frosty for my taste. (If you search videos on YouTube you will see there are slight variations in color and undertone between the original and newly re-released version.)

I have all 4 items applied in action from Instagram which I’ll link below. For more thoughts, keep reading.

 

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A post shared by Sabrina Shorb (@beautylookbook)

 

Beauty Light Wands

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands Pinkgasm and Pinkgasm Sunset

I really love the Pinkgasm Beauty Light Wand. It’s been one of my favorite shimmery pinks since it originally launched. I often top it with the Dior Rosy Glow Blush for a bit more of a pink pop.

The new Pinkgasm Sunset is a shimmery deeper reddish pink. I really like it because not too deep or dramatic and it’s also not as shimmery/frosty.

Both have a noticeable shimmer finish but blend out easily on the skin. On my skintone (Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation in Shade 6N) these work as a blush with a highlighter sheen.

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wands Pinkgasm and Pinkgasm Sunset

Jewel Lips

Charlotte Tilbury Jewel Lips Pinkgasm and Pinkgasm Sunset

There are two new shades of Jewel Lips lip gloss and as a gloss lover, I really love these. Pinkgasm is a pretty baby pink with subtle shimmer and Pinkgasm Sunset is a sheer jelly red. They both have a sheer finish – to me they apply a lot sheerer than what I see on the models. I love both colors as they are but kinda wish they had the pigmentation you see on the stock swatches and on the model lips. Even with layering I cannot get the level of brightness or vibrancy as what I see online, but both are still stunning.

They both have some level of shimmer in the tubes but on my lips I don’t really notice any shimmer. Texture is smooth and glossy. Lasting power is pretty good for a gloss. They’re supposed to be plumping but I really didn’t notice any plumping effect or sensation.

They have a soft sweet vanilla-like scent to them. It’s pleasant and not overpowering.

Charlotte Tilbury Jewel Lips Pinkgasm and Pinkgasm Sunset

Below looks wearing:

Pinkgasm below

Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Beauty Look

Pinkgasm Sunset below

Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Sunset Beauty Look

Overall love the new additions. I think they’re pretty shades I’ll reach for often. I don’t usually wear reds but I love a good jelly red gloss for some color, especially during the summer months.

The shades appear to be exclusive to Charlotte Tilbury’s website for now. I’m not sure if we will see them at other retailers at a later date.

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Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Chanel Nail Polish

New Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colors

May 22, 2023

New Chanel Le Vernis Shades

I’m back! We’ve been away on a two-week vacation in Miami. We had so much fun with Ollie. He was such a good boy! I’ll be sharing more on the blog soon but if you want to see more from our trip, you can find more on my Instagram Miami Vacay highlights. I’ll share more soon but first wanted to share a look at the new Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colors.

Chanel revamped their Le Vernis Nail Colors ($32 each) with an updated brush and new colors. Some of the classics are still in the collection but there are lots of new shades. There are 24 total. The Chanel PR team sent a handful of beautiful colors for me to try. While in Miami I stopped by one of the beauty boutiques to check out the rest of the shades and picked up the new La Base Camelia and Le Gel Coat to try.

New Chanel Le Vernis launch Spring Summer 2023

Also tried on these sunglasses and was tempted but did not pick them up this trip.

Chanel Pantos Sunglasses Try On

The new Le Vernis formula has definitely improved with better pigment, coverage and application. I think it’s actually just as good as the original version but the new brush makes application much easier with just a few brush strokes. According to Chanel they’ve made the pigment more concentrated. I wore my favorite shade Premiere Dame while we were on our trip and it lasted nearly a full seven days on the tips and on my toes they look fresh like the day I applied.

Chanel Le Vernis Original vs New Brush

Normally on trips my nail polish is destroyed within a couple of days because of all the sunscreen I apply. It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of formula I use, sunscreen can be fairly destructive to clothes, polish, the car seat etc. The gel coat and new nail polish formula combination held up remarkably well for me this trip though!

I did quick swatches in this video linked here (in case you want to see them in different lighting or in action). Each one applies with full perfect smooth coverage with two coats. Ballerina has significantly improved this round but for me still requires 3 coats.

101 Insomniaque is a pure neutral white

Chanel Le Vernis 101 Insomniaque

111 Ballerina is a beautiful sheer milky pink

Chanel Le Vernis 111 Ballerina

103 Legende is a pale beige brown

Chanel Le Vernis 103 Legende

113 Faussaire is a neutral creamy nude pink

Chanel Le Vernis 113 Faussaire

121 Premiere Dame is a pink coral

Chanel Le Vernis 121 Premiere Dame

125 Muse is a cool toned sky blue

Chanel Le Vernis 125 Muse

135 Immortelle is a stunning lilac

Chanel Le Vernis 135 Immortelle

137 Sorciere is a beautiful purple

Chanel Le Vernis 137 Sorciere

139 Activiste is a plum mauve

Chanel Le Vernis 139 Activiste

147 Incendiaire is a warm red

Chanel Le Vernis 147 Incendiaire

155 Rouge Noir is a blackened plum (new version seems a little bit deeper in the base color)

Chanel Le Vernis 155 Rouge Noir

131 Cavalier Seul is a beautiful soft sage green

Chanel Le Vernis 131 Cavalier Seul

So many of you wanted to know how Faussaire compares to Organdi so I’ve swatched it on a nail wheel below. They are similar but on my fingers Organdi is lighter in color while the new Faussaire matches my skintone more. I pulled what I could find in my stash to compare below.

Chanel Le Vernis comparisons

I’ve been such a long time fan of Chanel nail polishes. I know they can be hit or miss for some of you, but I’m really loving the new formula and brush. The base and top coat are listed as “new” but I’m not sure I can tell the difference from the previous formulas. They do have the newer wider brush. I really like how they perform.

Overall lots of pretty colors to choose from. A few of you commented on my video you’re happy to see more bright colors in this launch and I agree! It’s nice to see some brighter shades especially for summer. I still have my eye on a few more shades but I have so many to play with I think I’ll be set until the next seasonal launch.

Out of all the ones I tried I’d say my top 5 favorites are Premiere Dame, Muse, Cavalier Seul, Immortelle and Incendiaire.

You can find the shades out now at Chanel.com. Have you tried any of these new colors yet? What did you think?

Chanel Le Vernis nail colors gifted from Chanel for review. A few select shades purchased by me as well.

Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Labs Divine Bronze Collection

May 5, 2023

Pat McGrath Labs Divine Bronze Collection

Pat McGrath launched new bronzers in her Divine Bronze Collection and everything is stunning. I ordered these sometime last month but there was a delay in shipment of some pieces. I just finally received everything and am happy to report the collection is beautiful.

There are some discounted bundles available online at the Pat McGrath website so if you’re shopping multiple pieces I highly recommend checking those out. A few pieces are available at Sephora as well but the full range seems to be exclusive to her website for now. A lot of her products are also on sale.

Skin Fetish Divine Bronzer

Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Divine Bronzer

Above: Bronze Dawn, Bronze Nirvana and Desert Glow

I picked up a few shades of the Skin Fetish Divine Bronzer ($39 each or $70 for a duo) and they’re ultra smooth. It looks like most of them are soft mattes, one has a tiny bit of shimmer. At first glance the shades I ordered looked really light in color in the pan. They apply a little darker on the skin but have a very natural look.

For my skin tone I like both Bronze Dawn and Desert Glow. Bronze Nirvana pulls a little too red/warm on me right now. For skintone reference I’m a Light Medium 14 in her foundation (review here).

Initially I wasn’t planning to try or swatch the lighter shade in Nude Honey because it looked so light in the pan I didn’t think it would show up. But based on how tan Bronze Dawn looked on my skin I decided to add it to the swatch mix. It’s a cooler tone and still shows up but looks more natural.

Overall formula is smooth, soft, easy to blend and matte. The shimmer in Desert Glow is very subtle. I really like these!

Pat McGrath Divine Bronzer swatches Bronze Dawn, Bronze Nirvana and Desert Glow

Pat McGrath Divine Pat McGrath Bronzer swatches Bronze Dawn, Bronze Nirvana and Desert Glow

Skin Fetish Divine Blush

Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Divine Blush in Divine Rose and Divine Rose III

above: top Divine Rose, bottom Divine Rose III

There’s a new shade of the Skin Fetish Divine Blush ($39) in Divine Rose III. I added a swatch of Divine Rose to the mix. The new one Divine Rose III is a warm rose with almost coral tones. If you like a soft wash of color Pat McGrath makes some great blushes. They’re almost a little too sheer/soft for me but I think they’re easy to build, have a nice demi-matte finish and look very natural.

Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Divine Blush ($39) in Divine Rose III

Divine Bronze Luxe Quad

Pat McGrath Divine Bronze Luxe Quad In Venusian Sunrise

I’m completely obsessed with the Divine Bronze Luxe Quad in Venusian Sunrise ($62). This palette has all the tones I gravitate towards with a shimmery champagne, two matte browns and a gold glitter topper. You can also see the application in action in a look here.

Pat McGrath Divine Bronze Luxe Quad In Venusian Sunrise

Pat McGrath Divine Bronze Luxe Quad In Venusian Sunrise

Nude Venus Lips

Pat McGrath Nude Venus Lips

Last we have a look at her Nude Venus lip lineup. She added a MatteTrance Lipstick ($39), LUST Gloss ($29) and Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil ($29). (I purchased the Lip Trio Bundle.) All three have that peachy nude vibe.

A number of you asked for comparison swatches of the MatteTrance Nude Venus to 1995 and Christy. The undertones are different – the Nude Venus Lipstick is warmer. Coverage is full, smooth and creamy. They do have that slight vanilla like scent to them but it’s not overpowering.

Pat McGrath Nude Venus Lips

I love her LUST Gloss so the new Nude Venus shade was a definite must for me. I love the color. It has sheer medium coverage. To get a color true to tube it’s best when layered over the lip pencil.

Pat McGrath Nude Venus Lips swatches

As a huge fan of her Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil I added a bunch of comparisons. I love that peachy pink nude shade and I own so many. There are a number of similar color options.

Pat McGrath Lip Pencil swatches

Overall a beautiful launch with colors I can see myself wearing everyday. I like that you can dress up the quad with the glitter, although I know glitter on the eyes isn’t everyone’s thing. I’m really happy with everything I purchased.

One last quick mention, I ordered the Blush Brush ($39) which is nice and well made, but not a must-have if you already own a good blush brush you love.

You can find everything available now at Pat McGrath Labs.

 

 

Did you check out anything from this collection? What did you think?

Gift Guide

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

May 2, 2023

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

1 beach towel / 2 cooler / 3 raffia tote / 4 pink candle / 5 roses / 6 sweet treats / 7 lipstick / 8 mini hand creams / 9 shimmer body oil / 10 lip tint / 11 cream shadow stick / 12 sunglasses / 13 lip plumper / 14 lip glow / 15 jo malone duo / 16 lip gloss / 17 raffia bag / 18 cream tote

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you’re looking for some last-minute gift ideas here are a few! I love putting together little gift baskets or bags. I shared a fun basket I’ve put together here. Here are some more ideas if you need some inspo!

For the Beauty Lover

You can’t go wrong with a luxe lipstick like a Tom Ford Lip Color (I love Pink Dusk and Indian Rose). Dior Beauty has some great options like the Addict Lip Glow or Lip Maximizers (shades like Rosewood or Raspberry are great options).

Bobbi Brown is a great line to pick from. I think the Dual Ended Long-Wear Cream Shadows are great for anyone and any age. Also love the Extra Lip Tints and the Extra Lip Tint Serum.

I still think the Westman Atelier Petal Edition Set is one of the prettiest makeup sets I’ve tried.

 

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Fragrance Finds

A restock on one’s favorite fragrance is a no-brainer. There’s a good chance her favorite scent is available in a gift set, travel size or discovery set. This Jo Malone Mini Hand Cream Trio is super cute and I love the look of this Wood Sage Sea Salt Duo. Also think this Little Luxuries Travel Set is nice. I’ve been on a Phlur kick lately – so many favorites from the line. They have a lot of nice bundles on their site!

 

 

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Spring to Summer Gift Ideas

Warmer weather is here so you can always gift a chic beach bag, beach cooler, cute beach towels. New sunglasses are always fun!

 

 

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Luxe Gifts

If you want to go all out you can always splurge on a beautiful tote (love this Tory Burch Perry Tote) or designer wallet (love this YSL one). The Venus et Fleur flowers are absolutely stunning. They have excellent and reliable customer service every time I’ve ordered from them. They also carry a selection at Nordstrom.

A few times I’ve splurged on a Sugarfina Trunk as a gift and it is ALWAYS a huge hit! They have smaller bundles too which are just as fun in my opinion.

 

 

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Gift Wrap & Baskets

If you’re looking for some cute and creative ways to dress up the gifts, I’ve linked a few pretty gift bags or baskets I’ve found. I bought several affordable finds from Target and think they’re super cute!

 

Bobbi Brown By Terry Eye Makeup Hourglass Cosmetics

New Cream Shadows from Hourglass, Bobbi Brown and Victoria Beckham Beauty

April 28, 2023

New Cream Shadows from Hourglass, Bobbi Brown and Victoria Beckham Beauty

There are some new cream shadows that have launched from a few brands I really love and I have a quick roundup review. There are new shades from Bobbi Brown and new formulas from Hourglass and Victoria Beckham Beauty.

New Bobbi Brown Shades

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks

I’ve been a long-time lover of the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks in the shimmer and matte formulas. The pigment is great, easy to layer and once they set and dry they are pretty much budge-proof. I saw some new limited-edition shades pop up online in Sun Pearl, Bronze, Soft Bronze and Sunlight Gold and ordered two.

Bronze is more of a neutral taupe shimmer while Soft Bronze is a slightly lighter neutral (both listed on-sale at Bobbibrowncosmetics.com). Both shades are really pretty and slightly different variations of their Golden Bronze (which isn’t really golden or bronze on me but still stunning).

I added a swatch of Smoky Topaz (cooler taupe shimmer) to compare. Also had to give Peach Mimosa a shoutout because when it launched last year it was a bit hard to find but it’s back in stock at Nordstrom and Ulta Beauty.

They also added some new variations of the Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick at Sephora and I have one in Cashew/Pink Copper which I’ve been really loving. I hope they make Pink Copper in the full size eventually.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks swatches

Hourglass Voyeur Eyeshadow Stick

Hourglass Voyeur Eyeshadow Stick

Top to bottom: Equinox, Prism, Phoenix and Solstice

So many of you expressed interest in the new Hourglass Voyeur Eyeshadow sticks and the shades looked so beautiful I had high hopes. After testing these for a few weeks now I feel I am among the very few that did not like these.

I found the color payoff and formula very disappointing. They swatch beautifully on the hand. The colors, shimmer and texture are just beautiful. However, on the eyes the color does not show up. The formula feels dry so if I pack it on to get the color payoff I want it looks very creased and caked.

A few things to note: I have dry eyelids and I think these were formulated for more oily lids. Also I think I may just be the skintone that the shades blend in – if you have lighter skin or deeper skin the colors may contrast more and show up better. Last – I’ve received a number of messages from new followers who found my account and like to wear foundation/blush but don’t wear a lot of eye makeup and have asked for a recommendation on a light eyeshadow they can swipe on without a lot of effort.

Hourglass Voyeur Eyeshadow Stick swatches

If you’re one who wants a more minimalist wash of color I think these will be right up your alley. I found these missed the mark and still 100% prefer the Scattered Light Eyeshadows.

Available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and all other Hourglass retailers.

Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wear

Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wear

Last is a look at two of the new Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wear Cream Shadow ($34 each) and these are pure love. I think the formula is really nice for a cream shadow. I wish there were more shades to pick from in the initial launch but I’m happy with both.

Formula is creamy but long-wearing, easy to blend and work with. I like layering on Pecan (matte brown) first as a base and blending it out they adding Caramel (shimmery bronze) on top. I can’t wait to see more colors in this formula.

Available at Victoria Beckham Beauty and Violet Grey.

Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wear swatches

I swatched some other browns I own including her Lid Lustre in Mink. Also included the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Chocolate Brown, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadows in Cinnamon and Espresso, Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Cocoa, the creams from the Patrick Ta Major Dimension Palette and By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon.

New Cream Shadows from Hourglass, Bobbi Brown and Victoria Beckham Beauty

Overall my favorite cream shadow stick formulas are still Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier. They’re easy to work with, they have the right amount of color payoff for me, they set well and they have a good range of colors + finishes to work with.

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Have you tried these new colors or formulas? What did you think?

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