Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives Sets for Skin, Hair + Home

July 20, 2018

Today is the day the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens for everyone! It runs through August 5th. I have a few more sale swatches and reviews coming up in the next few days but today I have a roundup of the best beauty sets I hauled for the skin, body, hair and home. There are a lot of great value sets and deals for beauty and as the ultimate beauty junkie I could not be more thrilled. For quick reference, you can see my initial haul post here. Also reviewed so far are the NARS Endless Summer Collection, Charlotte Tilbury sets and the Sisley All Eyes on Sisley Set. Several of the items I bought already sold out, I’m keeping my fingers crossed they will be restocked! I hauled quite a few of the sets this year:

Hair – Moroccanoil The Ultimate Hydration Collection ($74)
Body – Le Labo Body and Hair Travel Set ($55)
Body – Malin + Goetz Jumbo Rum Body Wash ($50)
Face – beautyblender blend.cleanse.carry Set ($35)
Face – Glamglow The Clear Skin Set ($59)
Face – Glamglow x Becca We Know Glow Duo (now online! $32)
Home x Fragrance – Diptyque Floral Candle & Eau de Toilette Set ($72)
Home x Fragrance – Jo Malone Travel Candle Collection ($95)

A look at each set plus thoughts and first impressions. For the hair I always look forward to Moroccanoil sets. They often have jumbo sizes which are hard to find individually for me and I love when they come with a pump. I’m actually pretty stocked on shampoo and conditioner right now so I bought this year’s Moroccanoil The Ultimate Hydration Collection for my mother-in-law to try out. It’s $74 for a $104 value and contains a 16.9 oz Hydrating Shampoo, 16.9 Hydrating Conditioner, 0.69 oz Body Souffle and 0.84 Hair Oil Treatment.

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For the body, I had to buy the Le Labo Body and Hair Travel Set for Andrew so he can have one for travel. Both of us love the Hinoki Shower Gel. It has a really potent unique scent that lingers after the shower. We’ve gone through several of the full size which I need to repurchase again. This particular set has four 2.5 oz sizes of the Shampoo, Conditioner, Shower Gel and Body Lotion.

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The Malin + Goetz Jumbo Rum Body Wash came at a perfect time for me. I discovered it during our stay in Miami and fell in love with it. It has a gentle feel to it but has a really delicious dark rum scent. I usually gravitate towards body cleansers that have a little more strength in terms of cleansing. This one is gentle and works best if I lather with a wash cloth. I’m obsessed with the scent though and it does leave the skin soft. It’s 32 oz and comes with a pump. Win win for me.

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The beautyblender blend.cleanse.carry Set has two pink beautyblenders, a mini solid cleanser and a carrying case. I was really excited about it but have to admit I was hoping it would be a hard storage case instead of a soft silicone case. This was my fault though as I did not read the online description and in store I didn’t take the time to touch it. The price cannot be beat though and I’m excited to put the case to the test.

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Glamglow is always a go-to for me. I was tempted to stock up for myself but decided to stick with what I have and repurchase items I use up later. I did buy the Glamglow The Clear Skin Set for my brother. It’s a $96 value but for the sale it’s priced at $59 for a full size SUPERCLEANSE Clearing Cream to Foam Cleanser, SUPERMUD Clearing Mask (the best in my opinion) and a mini Matte Glow Moisturizer. I also bought the Glamglow x Becca We Know Glow Duo which just launched online. I have not had a chance to try this yet but did hand swatch the powder which applies like a warm gold color on the skin. I hope this comes out in a full size eventually. The pink gravity mud appears to be the same as the current silver version in the purple tube, just a different color.

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The Diptyque Floral Candle & Eau de Toilette Set is a beautiful set with three mini candles in Baies, Roses and Tubereuse. It has the three matching spritzer perfumes in mini sizes which are perfect for me to carry around in my purse. I had been eyeing Do Son for months now although it’s more of a fall scent to me so I’m trying to wait before buying. The mini will get me by for now. It also has Eau Rose and L’Ombre Dans L’eau (also better for fall).

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Last but not least is the Jo Malone Travel Candle Collection which has three 2.1 oz travel candles of Lime Basil and Mandarin, English Pear and Freesia and Peony and Blush Suede. This was an impulse buy for me. The only one I truly love is the Lime Basil scent so I might end up exchanging this for a couple of the full size candles or one of their hand washes instead.

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That wraps up my beauty sets hauls for the skin, hair and home! I will have upcoming reviews on the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, three MAC Sets, YSL Volupté Tint-in-Balm Kiss Set and the Tom Ford Iris Bronze Set (I’ve found some dupes).

To recap the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale runs through August 5th. Beauty Exclusives include a lot of new colors, sets and jumbo sizes at value prices. There are a lot of Beauty Gift With Purchases running for various brands. Some are online only.

As another thank you and my way of giving back, I’m hosting another giveaway! So many of you were really excited when I did this before so I’m going to repeat it. One reader is going to receive a Louis Vuitton Cosmetic Case (PM size). Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Simply enter by completing at least one of the tasks in the widget below. The selected winner will be able to pick their choice of print of Monogram, Damier Ebene or Damier Azur. Giveaway is going to run through end of July 28th. Winner will be selected and announced on this post in the widget below. They will be contacted by me via e-mail and must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Sisley-Paris Skincare

Sisley Paris x Nordstrom All Eyes on Sisley Set

July 19, 2018

I’m continuing my reviews of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives with a look at one of the value sets from Sisley Paris. This year they have two starter/introductory sets for the Anniversary Sale including All Eyes on Sisley ($210) and Introduction to Sisley ($175). The line actually has quite a few starter sets for other products and today I have a look at the All Eyes on Sisley Set which includes two full-sized items of the Sisleya L’Intégral Anti-Age Eye & Lip Contour Cream (0.5 oz) and Eye Contour Mask (1.16 oz). Both are great to help reduce puffiness around the eye area – something my eyes are very prone to.

The Sisleya L’Intégral Anti-Age Eye & Lip Contour Cream is an anti-aging cream that helps firm and lift the eyelids and under the eyes it reduces puffiness. It comes with a small ridoki massage tool which works wonders to help prep and smooth the eye or lip area before you apply the cream. It has a metal plated roller with an amazing cooling and smoothing effect. You massage it in strokes around the eye moving away from the center of the eye. The gentle motions help support circulation and works really well to reduce swelling around the area.

For the cream, a small amount goes a long way. It’s hydrating and in the immediate term reduces the appearance of dryness and fine lines. Skin feels instantly refreshed without any greasy residue. It absorbs into the skin, has a hydrating feel, doesn’t cause breakouts under the eye and has no scent to it. Key ingredients include Persian acacia, yeast and soy protein complex, soy peptide extract, Atlas cedar extract and pomegranate fermented extract. I’ve tried it on both the lips and eyes, I prefer it on the eyes. Full size plus more details listed here.

Full ingredient list per Sisley: SORBITOL, MINERAL OIL, OLEYL ALCOHOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, CETYL PHOSPHATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) PROTEIN, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, TRIETHANOLAMINE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) ROOT EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, SESAMUM INDICUM (SESAME) SEED OIL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PANTHENOL, POLYACRYLAMIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, CARBOMER, C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN, CETEARETH-33, SODIUM METHYLPARABEN, SORBIC ACID, TETRASODIUM EDTA EG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, OCTOXYNOL-13, LAURETH-7, TRISTEARIN, METHYLPARABEN, ACETYLATED GLYCOL STEARATE, FRAGRANCE, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, BHT, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, (CONT. LINALOOL)

The Eye Contour Mask has been a favorite since I tried it from the Beauty Subscription Program (it’s exclusive to the Sisley website). This particular tube is my third one. It’s a mask you leave on for around 10 minutes then wipe off. It also hydrates and depuffs the eye area and soothes the skin. They recommend using 2-3 times a week and I use it around 2 times weekly. It’s one of my favorite things to do mask-wise. Ingredients include Arnica, Chestnut tree, Gingko Biloba, Vegetable Glycerin, Vitamins E and B5, Chlorella, Malachite, Linden, Alpha-Bisabolol, Rose Water. Full size plus more details listed here.

Full ingredient list per Sisley: GLYCERIN, WATER/EAU (WATER), HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ISODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, SODIUM ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ROSA CENTIFOLIA, FLOWER WATER, PANTHENOL, ALLANTOIN, BISABOLOL, TILIA CORDATA EXTRACT, MALACHITE EXTRACT, ARNICA MONTANA FLOWER EXTRACT, GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT, AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM (HORSE CHESNUT) SEED EXTRACT, ALGAE EXTRACT, ROSA DAMASCENE FLOWER OIL, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PEG-40, HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, PHOSPHOLIPIDS, POLYGLYCERYL-10 STEARATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, (cont. citronellol, geraniol.)

For the Nordstrom Sale this set is priced at $210 but the value of both products individually is $355 so it’s like they are adding the eye mask to the set for free. The prices are indeed very steep but I think it’s 100% worth the splurge. I used up and repurchased the Eye Contour Mask which I never want to be without. The eye cream is one I enjoy using and the roller feels really nice on the face. If you have more than a few things on your radar, make sure you check out the Gift With Purchase going on. It also has a step up option.

You can find the All Eyes on Sisley Set at Nordstrom. Today is the last day for Early Access (for cardholders) and the sale officially opens up to the public tomorrow! All the Beauty Exclusives are on their site now. A few of you asked if I had purchased any other skincare sets after my initial haul post. I fell in love with the Malin + Goetz Rum Body wash in our Miami hotel and was thrilled to find a Jumbo Rum Wash available for the sale so I picked it up. I also ordered the Glamglow The Clear Skin Set for my brother. And then not on sale but I repurchased the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Lotion because Andrew ran out and asked for a replacement. There is a nice GWP for La Mer so I added a powder to replace the one I used up to take advantage of the gift.

One last note is the Sisley team is hosting another giveaway for 1 US reader. I’ll be posting it on my Instagram page @beautylookbook later today so be sure to check it out for a chance to win this set.

Do you have any Sisley favorites? Or skincare favorites right now? Let me know in the comments! P.S. The Color Twist Set from last year is still available online and was just marked down.

Many thanks to Sisley for hosting the giveaway! Nordstrom set provided for review.

86 Comments

NARS Nordstrom

NARS Endless Summer Collection for Nordstrom

July 18, 2018

The NARS Endless Summer Collection is a new limited-edition launch exclusively at Nordstrom for their Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives this year. The focus is on sets with four options to choose from. NARS describes the collection as having a smoldering summer vibe. I feel the colors pull more neutral or fall-like but there are still some pretty options that are wearable regardless of season. I have all the colors swatched for you today along with some thoughts. I love seeing what options and deals are available during the sale, but sets can be touch and go if you don’t love all the colors. Also there are frequently repeats. I do think they are great for beauty newbies, especially since they often give you a price break on the sets. If you’ve been a long-time NARS lover or collector you might want to shop your stash or wait for fall. The four items from the NARS Endless Summer Collection include:

The Hot Escape Eye and Cheek Palette has four eyeshadows, one highlighting blush and one regular powder blush. The overall look and feel of the palette runs neutral-cool with sheer to medium finish. If you’re one who wants to wear a minimal eye makeup look with a neutral rose blush this is a great one.

Colors in the palette:

Aurora Eyeshadow is a matte soft cream
Yucatan Eyeshadow is a soft grey taupe satin
Endless Eyeshadow is a sparkling tan (LOVE this color)
Next Wave is a satiny cool grey
Sunstreak Highlighting Powder is a sheer ultra pale pink shimmer
Hot Pursuit is a dusty rose

While the colors are on the soft side you can definitely build if you use a dense or synthetic brush. Overall lasting power was pretty good. Everything stayed put from morning until late afternoon without budging. I do recommend using a creamy base for the eyeshadows. On dry lids the color will be ultra sheer.

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The Sunseeker Lip and Light Duo has miniatures of their Highlighting Powder in Fort de France and Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita. The powder is small like eyeshadow size and the lip pencil is nice for a trial size. Both are classics in the NARS line and I would actually recommend buying the full size versions – I think both colors are going to work on a wide range of skin tones. Fort de France is my favorite highlighting powder of the new shades launched (reviewed here). The Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is smooth and glides on with a very soft velvety finish. It’s a classic warm rose color.

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Then there are two Liquid Lip Sets, each with four colors. Each set has two Velvet Lip Glides which offer natural to medium coverage in a soft velvet finish gloss. Lasting power is medium – there will be color transfer if your lips touch something and you will have to reapply throughout the day. There are also two Powermatte Lip Pigments which are thin liquid lipsticks that dry to a full matte finish. These stay put all day once you apply, no budging at all! The Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1 has neutrals/nudes:

Velvet Lip Glide in Stripped is a pale beige cream, this is an existing shade
Velvet Lip Glide in Cozumel is a pink beige cream, this is a new limited-edition color (love this)
Powermatte Lip Pigment in Antigua is a neutral-cool beige rose, also new and limited-edition
Powermatte Lip Pigment in American Woman, this is an existing shade and to me one of the most perfect everyday neutrals

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The Undressed Liquid Lip Set 2 has rose/pinks:

Velvet Lip Glide in Bound which is the perfect neutral-cool rose with a hint of mauve
Velvet Lip Glide in Cartagena a bright orchid pink, new shade
Powermatte Lip Pigment in Save the Queen is the prettiest cool mauve color on my arm, but when it dries on my lips it turns very blue
Powermatte Lip Pigment in Haze is a deeper mauve rose

Quality and color-wise these sets are just as good as the individuals. Since there is a mix of existing colors within the sets you might want to pass if you already own some of them. Or if you have friends you can split the sets with that might be another option if you had your eye on certain colors anyways. To me the best colors are Bound and American Woman which you can buy individually. I do have a soft spot for neutrals and nudes, I really liked the Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1. Even though I already own 2 of the colors I still love the 2 new ones Cozumel and Antigua. I’ve set aside the duplicates for friends and swatched the colors I already had in my stash. That being said I do want to mention if you’re a nude lip lover you might also want to look into the NARSissist Wanted Velvet Lip Glide Set in Nude Scene which is an Ulta Exclusive. It has six miniature nudes.

Overall some nice options if you end up liking all the colors or have been wanting to try NARS products I think this is a great time to start. The prices are really good, especially for the lip sets considering each lip color full size is $26, so 4 of them individually would cost $104 and the sale set price is only $49.

You can find the Endless Summer Collection now at Nordstrom for their Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives. Everything is limited-edition. Did you pick up anything from the sale yet or are you shopping it this week? More swatches and reviews of my haul picks to follow soon!

NARS Endless Summer collection provided courtesy of NARS for review.

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Packing Travel What's In My Bag

The Daily Edited Transparent Cosmetic Case vs. Anya Hindmarch Inflight Cosmetic Case

July 16, 2018

I’ve owned and loved the Anya Hindmarch Inflight Cosmetic Case for several years now. It was quite the splurge for me and I’m thrilled at how well it has held up over many trips. It’s been a travel companion across the world. The Anya Hindmarch Inflight cases run from $275 to $425 depending on color and material. Due to the high price tag many of you have asked for a recommendation for a cheaper dupe. I’ve finally found one for $70 from The Daily Edited. I spotted and hauled a couple of their Transparent Cosmetic Cases in Black and Taupe during my summer New York Trip while visiting their beautiful store on Bleecker Street. I wanted to give it a proper test before reviewing it and I’m happy to report it’s every bit as good as the Anya Hindmarch one. As soon as I got home I ordered a few more online from The Daily Edited. I like to have some on hand for last minute gifts and have also decided to try and have an on-the-go bag packed with a few staples so I’m not frantically scrambling at the last minute for trips. By now a few of the colors have sold out and are on pre-order again. If you have your eye on these I highly recommend doing a pre-order if you can. They are perfect for travel and in my experience they are really efficient and timely. They have always shipped product by the pre-order date listed (from my personal ordering).

I’m going to give you a side by side comparison of the Anya Hindmarch Inflight Cosmetic Case and The Daily Edited Transparent Cosmetic Case. First a few details and specs:

Anya Hindmarch Inflight Cosmetic Case
- Price range $275 to $425ish (I’ve been told some have spotted these in airports at duty-free for less)
- Color options – mine is a Black Patent, color options are often seasonal, most on the Anya Hindmarch website
- Materials – clear plastic and various leather finishes and colors
- Dimensions – approximately 4.7″ H x 3.2″W x 8.7″D
- Compartments – two, larger zippered top and smaller zippered bottom
- Where to buy: Anya Hindmarch, Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-A-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman
The Daily Edited Transparent Cosmetic Case
- Price – $70
- Color options – Taupe, Pale Pink, Black, Ink Navy
- Material – PVC and saffiano leather
- Dimensions – approximately 4.5″ x 3″ x W 8.5″
- Compartments – two, larger zippered top and smaller zippered bottom
- Where to buy: The Daily Edited online, NYC Bleecker Street Store also available inside the Saks Fifth Avenue Store in NYC

Both brand options are really close in size. By now with regular use and wear the Anya Hindmarch Inflight case isn’t quite as rigid and has become a little squishy but still retains its shape pretty well. Both also have two zippered compartments with the smaller end having an elastic band to hold things in place (I rarely use this function). The logo and detailing are different with The Daily Edited only having their branding on the interior. The exterior portions on the top center are left blank so you can custom monogram them with initials or emojis! You can have the print be gold or blind. For lettering you can also customize font size and type options. I usually leave mine blank or opt for the blind initials.

Some side by sides:

Side detailing:

What they look like opened:

Black, Pale Pink and Taupe:

Below is a look at what I was able to fit inside my Daily Edited Transparent cosmetic case. It takes some playing around to make items fit as efficiently as possible to waste as little space. I was able to fit all this without any bulging. Since the material is a clear plastic I try not to over stuff it as prolonged stretching could possibly stretch and ruin the material. I haven’t had any issues with the plastic shifting on either the Anya Hindmarch or The Daily Edited but do take care of my leather goods.

Everything I was able to fit inside with some stacking and maneuvering:

3 Tom Ford Compacts
NARS Large blush in Orgasm
NARS Highlighting Powder
4 Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks
2 Laura Mercier Velour Extreme
Tom Ford Skin Illuminator
Eyelash Curler
Armani Face Fabric
Diorskin Forever Undercover
Jo Malone small perfume
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc atomizer
NARS Orgasm Lip Balm
Glossier Lash Slick
Chanel Les Beiges Tint
4 Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss
Dior Lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick
Sisley Phyto-Lip Delight
Becca Be a Light Palette
Flat comb
A few skincare minis wedged in the nooks

A couple other mentions of similar alternatives. One is from Mecca which is an Australian company and they have launched a couple colors of their Jet Set Travel Bag. I really wanted to try this last holiday but the problem for me is that purchases from the website can only be delivered in Australia. Any international orders have to be done over the phone which was a hassle for me. The next is the Truffle Clarity Jetset Case ($85) which I own a few colors of. You can buy these on the Truffle website but this style is also now available at Nordstrom! This style has a clear top and base with leather but only has one compartment and is also smaller measuring 2″ H X 7 1/2” W X 5 1/4” D. If you need something smaller or more compact this is a great alternative. Truffle has been a long-time favorite for their flat clear pouches. I carry them constantly. I’ve bought every one of my close friends and family one and it always makes me happy when they send me pics of them using them!

Quick peek at some packing things I did for Miami recently (plus one newly hauled item). I’ll have a full Miami recap soon as many of you have been asking me about food recommendations! We found some really great new places and I’m putting everything together in a roundup. Also shown is the Away Bigger Carry-On Suitcase, hat from Lack of Colour, Chloe Mini Marcie Bag (will also review this soon), Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Atomizer (back individually!), Kate Spade Sunglasses (on sale at Nordstrom), Tom Ford Firelust Skin Illuminator, Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Concealer, Armani Neo Nude Powder, Chanel Les Beiges Tint, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (just hauled, will also review soon), Tory Burch Sienna Sandals, Celine knot bracelet.

A look at some of other items from The Daily Edited that I own. I purchased all of these myself. I’ve reviewed the Large Cosmetic case a number of times before. You can see it in a few travel packing posts like this one here.

Left to right: Transparent Cosmetic Case in Black, Taupe and Pale Pink, Travel Case in Taupe, Large Cosmetic Case in Black. One last look below of The Daily Edited Transparent Cosmetic Case vs. Anya Hindmarch Inflight Cosmetic Case and one tip on how to clean the plastic. As with any clear material it’s going to get finger prints if you have oils on your fingers whether it’s from makeup, skincare or dirty hands. I use the Novus Plastic Clean and Shine Spray or the Fine Scratch Remover to clean my plastics and acrylic containers. You can find it at places like on Amazon or The Container Store. It’s pretty versatile but before you use it on anything ALWAYS make sure you do a patch test first!

One thought on how to store these and keep their shape. The ones I ordered online came with foam cut stuffing shaped perfectly to the interior of The Daily Edited cases. This seemed to help keep their structure. The ones I bought in store did not but I could have probably asked if they had any on-hand to put inside. As with any soft material, it’s going to have a little bit of squishing if it’s not propped up with some kind of hard stuffing material. I’m going to keep the cases stuffed when not in use. As you can see with the Anya Hindmarch, it’s softened a little bit around the edges where the plastic sides are, but I’ve never stuffed it and it has still retained its shape nicely.

Overall I’m really loving The Daily Edited Transparent cosmetic cases. At $70 each I think they’re reasonably priced for the quality and design. I especially love that they have regular metal zippers rather than the tassels. The extra tassels can be fun but when you’re trying to pack and get everything to fit inside a suitcase they can get in the way because they’re a bit bulky. I’ve only used The Daily Edited Transparent cosmetic case on one trip so far so I can’t report on how long it will hold up compared to the Anya Hindmarch which I’ve had for around 3 years now. I have owned some of the other Daily Edited products for over a year, they’ve gone through some travel and lots of moving and have held up 100%.

Hope this review helps! Do you have any favorite clear makeup bags or clear travel case favorites? If you have any other questions let me know in the comments below.

56 Comments

Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom

Charlotte Tilbury Glowing Pretty Skin Palette + Pretty Pink Lipstick Set Review

July 14, 2018

Charlotte Tilbury has a few sets and palettes available for this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I hauled two of the items! I picked up the Glowing Pretty Skin Palette ($75) and the Pretty Pink Lipstick Set ($60). As a long-time Charlotte Tilbury fan I was thrilled to find some new color options for the sale and think both picks are worth checking out.

The Glowing Pretty Skin Palette is a mirrored compact with six powders. Each powder is 2.8 g/0.09 oz and the texture is very soft but pigment is visible and smooth. If you’re familiar with her Instant Look Palettes you know they tend to have sheer/natural color payoff. For many of you her first Natural Beauty was really nice in concept but didn’t have enough pigment or color to show up on your skin (it didn’t show up on me). The good news is that this Glowing Pretty Skin Palette is MUCH better and has everything I want in a face palette.

In this palette you get:

Airbrush Powder #2 – a neutral skin-tone matte powder that covers very well
Pretty Blush – a soft peachy flush satin
Illuminating Glow – champagne soft pink shimmer
Bronze and Contour – neutral-cool soft grey tan matte
Summer Blush – a peachy coral with a hint of sheen
Highlighting Glow – a soft yellow gold shimmer

Both blushes swatch almost identical on the arm. At first glance I felt it was almost a waste to have 2 of the same color in a palette. You will notice a difference on the face though. The bottom one is more shimmery and a tad more vibrant while the top one is more matte. The overall effect is soft but still noticeable on my medium tan skin. By comparison to the Becca Be a Light Palettes this Charlotte Tilbury one runs more neutral in undertone for the powders and the blushes have more color. Texture and finish of course are completely different.

Swatched next to the Filmstar Bronze and Glow and Filmstar Blush and Glow (reviewed here):

Quick side by side comparison for size reference to her Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow Palette and the Beauty Filters Compact Duo:

Next is the Pretty Pink Lipstick Set which has three full-sized products in a K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Blushing Dream, Matte Revolution Lipstick in Rose Kiss and Lip Cheat Lip Pencil in Pillow Talk. The lipsticks are new and exclusive shades but the lipliner is a repromote of one of her best selling colors. Texture and formula of everything is really good.

I’ve reviewed her lipsticks many times before but in case you missed the reviews or are new she has a few different formulas. The K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick is a full coverage, super creamy and very opaque lipstick formula. It can pull on the thick side but all you need to do is blot. They have a natural shine finish and stay put really well. Blushing Dream is a pretty soft pink. She also has a Matte Revolution formula which is one of the few matte lipsticks I love. They’re a luminous matte in the sense they have a matte finish but it doesn’t look or feel dry and they don’t make the lips look like shriveled raisins like some mattes do. I absolutely love them! Rose Kiss pulls very rosy on my lips and on the warm side.

Swatches:

Swatch comparisons to some of her other lipsticks below:

One beauty look wearing:

Foundation – MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC35 (swatched here) + Hollywood Flawless Filter in #4 to highlight and add glow to the face (all of them reviewed/swatched here)
Powder – Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder #2 all over
Brows – Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Eyeshadow – Urban Decay Palette in Naked2
Mascara – Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme
Cheeks – Glowing Pretty Skin Palette, all shades
Lips – K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Blushing Dream
Top – Madewell Boxy Sweater Tee (lighter weight alternatives here, here and here)

Overall thumbs up. I have medium-tan skin and the palette still shows up on my skin in a natural way. If you are lighter than me it will for sure show up and is neutral enough that it won’t pull orangey on your skin. If you are 1-2 shades darker I think it will still show up on your skin but it will definitely be a lot more neutral/flesh toned. I hope she makes more of these because I love the soft natural texture and finish.

For the lips nothing would have stopped me from buying the set, but I do think Blushing Dream is really close to The Duchess (reviewed here). Rose Kiss is warmer than I’m used to but I still think it’s a very wearable pretty romantic shade that has color without being too bold. I already own a few of the Pillow Talk Lip Liners, I would have preferred a new shade but the set is priced at a value price. I’m gifting the liner to a friend.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Glowing Pretty Skin Palette ($75) and the Pretty Pink Lipstick Set ($60) both exclusively at Nordstrom for the Anniversary Sale. Early Access for the sale is going on until the 20th and then it opens to the public.

There is also a set called The Gift of Glowing Skin Set ($75) and Supermodel Body XL Shimmer Shape, Hydrate & Glow ($75). Her body shimmer is one of the prettiest ones I’ve tried but since I rarely wear body shimmers I did not buy this one. Also be sure to check the Beauty Gift With Purchase page!

Have you checked out these sets yet? Are they on your radar?

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Nordstrom Sales

Quick Look: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Haul Picks

July 12, 2018

Hello from Miami! We are currently traveling for a mini summer getaway but per request I have a quick preview of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale haul picks and a giveaway! I will be reviewing and swatching everything as soon as I get back home to Tampa so stay tuned. This sale is usually one of the top events I look forward to every year for fashion deals and beauty finds. I shopped in store while on my vacation for early access as a Level 4 card holder.

Quick recap of details, Early Access for the sale officially starts for all card holders today. The sale opens up to the public on July 20th and ends August 5th.

A few notes and thoughts. The catalog gives a small sneak peek at what they offer and this year I have a feeling that a large chunk of the sale is online only. This particular year I was really surprised to find the in-store clothing selection very limited. Different stores of course might vary on inventory and brands but the selection wasn’t quite like I remember it being in past years. For the Beauty Exclusives I found most of what I had on my wish list, however were a few beauty items I was told were online only and GWPs were a bit sparse in store. Whether you’re shopping in store or online I’d highly recommend you check out their Beauty Gift With Purchase Page first so you don’t miss out in the event you’re spending a lot for yourself or gifts.

Full reviews and swatches to follow in the upcoming days but here is a look at my in-store haul. I’ll most likely be adding a few more things from online that I couldn’t find in store. The beauty sets for the home are really nice to stock up on for housewarming gifts! Some of the associates told me they bought some of the tools as gifts for their nieces or grandchildren going to college in the fall which I think is super sweet. There are some really good prices for simplehuman, T3 and Clarisonic.

My fashion and shoe picks:

Rebecca Taylor Tie Neck Silk Top (also available in black)
Treasure and Bond Print Pleated Top (line runs big in my experience, I’d recommend sizing down, had to order an XXS online)
Leith Sweater Tank (wish this came in more colors!)
7 For All Mankind b(air) Denim High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans
Madewell Off the Shoulder Eyelet Blouse
Tory Burch Marsden Flat Thong Sandal in Calf Leather (Tan, also available in white and black) – I took my regular size in 6.5
Robine Piccone Halter Bikini Top and Tie Bottoms (separates)
La Blanca 1-Piece Swimsuit

Quick look at the Madewell top which I wore last night! Also wearing non-sale items including the STS Blue Distressed Denim shorts and Tory Burch Sienna sandals.

My beauty haul picks:

Shown above numbered:

Charlotte Tilbury The Pretty Pink Lipstick Duo with Matte Revolution Lipstick in Rose Kiss, K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Blushing Dream and Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk
Charlotte Tilbury Glowing, Pretty Skin Palette – I’m dying to wear this but am trying to wait and photograph before I swatch it!
YSL Tint in Balm Set with Volupte Tint in Balm #9 and #13
Diptyque Assortment with three mini candles in Rose, Baies and Tubereuse and three spray perfume minis of Eau Rose, L’Ombre Dans L’Eau and Do Son
Jo Malone Travel Candle Trio with Lime Basil and Mandarin, English Pear and Freesia and Peony and Blush Suede
Le Labo Body-Hair Hinoki Travel Set – 2.5 mls of the Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Shampoo and Conditioner, both Andrew and I are obsessed with this scent!
Tom Ford Iris Bronze Set – has an Iris Bronze Eyeshadow Quad which has the same formula as their regular quads (not like Nude Dip or Honeymoon), and two mini lipsticks in Casablanca and Spiced Honey
Beautyblender Blend, Cleanse and Carry Set – LOVE this idea and so excited to have it for travel now
MAC Lip Trio in Nude – has three full-sized lip colors with Love Drought, Pretty Natural and Bodycon Lipglass
MAC Lip Trio in Pink – has three full-sized lip colors with Metallic Lipstick in Pink Addict, Matte Lipstick in Petalhead, Lipglass in Sweet as Pie
MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Palette with a Technakohl Liner in Graphblack and Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash Mascara
Moroccanoil The Ultimate Hydration Collection – Best set ever with the large pump size of Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner along with minis of their Body Souffle and Moroccanoil Hair treatment
NARS Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1
Chanel Rouge Coco Set Coral Trio has Rouge Coco Lip Blush in Corail Naturel, Rouge Coco in Adrienne, Rouge Coco Gloss in Sibylla
Glamglow x Becca We Know Glow Duo – has a mini Gravitymud and mini Becca Rose Glow Shimmering Skin Perfector Powder (can’t find this online at the moment but will update with link once I do)

Other things I bought and ordered:

Kiehl’s Exfoliating Body Soap
Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap
Jack Black Supersized Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser (284 g)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting (ordered online)

Also on the review list are the NARS and Sisley options. I have the Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown palettes on my maybes list. The colors are SO good this year but I really don’t need anymore palettes! La Mer sets are always such a great value as well but I have individual items I’ve been wanting to try that aren’t in the sets this year but they’re always so expensive.

Quick in-store look at some of the other beauty exclusives, Charlotte Tilbury Palette and quick swatches of the Pretty Pink Lips Trio:

Super value on simplehuman sensor mirror and skincare sets, Diptyque and Jo Malone.

Under $50 section:

Quick side by side of the MAC Nordy Girl Metallic vs Matte and cute Kopari Set!

To kick off the sale I’m giving away 3 $100 eGift cards to Nordstrom to 3 different blog readers. It’s open internationally but you must be 18 years or older. Simply complete at least one of the tasks in the widget below. Giveaway runs through July 16th 11:45 PM EST. I’ll pick a winner within 48 hours and e-mail them. They must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Selected winners are going to be announced on the widget below. I’ll also be hosting more throughout the rest of the month so be sure to follow along! Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tell me what’s on your Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Wishlist! Are you shopping in store or online?

225 Comments

Chanel Eye Makeup

New Chanel Eye Makeup Review

July 10, 2018

Chanel has some new eyemakeup out right now as a mini-release. I ordered some things from Nordstrom and Chanel including some eyeshadows, a lash primer and new eyeshadow base. After testing I think there are some hits and misses. By now their Fall-Winter Collection has already launched online with the Le Mat de Chanel. What I hauled:

Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Shadow in High-Profile
Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in Ultra Flesh
Stylo Ombre Et Contour Eyeshadow-Liner-Khol in Nude Eclat, Electric Brown and Rouge Noir
La Base Ombre Paupieres Longwear Eyeshadow Primer
La Base Mascara Nourishing Mascara Base

There were also two new Eyeshadow Quads which I passed on because I didn’t love all the colors in each palette and knew there was a good chance they would be neglected.

Up first are the two eyeshadows in the Ombre Premiere Powder High-Profile and Ombre Premiere Cream Ultra Flesh. I reviewed the Ombre Premiere formula nearly a year ago. The formulas are indeed long wearing, the creams are particularly good to last in hot humid weather. With this launch High-Profile is a soft satiny nude gold that looks like skin but just a tiny bit lighter. The shimmer is ultra soft, a lot softer than Flesh or Ray (both of which pull more pinkish). Ultra Flesh has a pink peach shimmer finish. I was worried it would be too pink but it actually is light enough in color that it works for my skintone to give a soft peachy wash. Color is shimmery as well but in a natural way. To me these are both hits although High-Profile matches my skin so closely it almost looks like nothing on my lids.

Next are the Eyeshadow-Liner-Khols which I think are both hits and misses. I expected these to be like their previously launched twist up shadow sticks. They’re still twist up but a lot skinnier than I expected. Also there’s no sharpener and as many of you have commented in the past, this kind of packaging isn’t ideal for long term use. Once you wear down the tip it’s going to be difficult to line with the same precision as you can with a pointy tip. It has a smooth creamy texture that glides on the eyes like a liner. The lighter shade Nude Eclat (shimmery champagne) is easier to blend over the lid, but the other two Electric Brown (soft shimmery brown) and Rouge Noir (deep reddish plum) are best used if smudged slightly along the lash line. You can apply more and blend but blend quickly as they set fast. The best thing is once they’ve set there’s no smudging. My solution for when the tip wears down is to use a detail brush and swipe it along the top then apply on the eyes with the brush. I appreciate the design intent to be an all-in-one kind of product but I think it’s not going work well as both a liner and shadow if you can’t sharpen the tip.

Next are two base products. The Longwear Eyeshadow Primer seems to be only available at Chanel.com right now. It’s a pink tinted cream but applies to a clear finish on the lids. It dries down to a smooth soft matte and is designed to improve wear of shadows. This is one product I could not tell if it worked to improve wear or not. My shadow stayed put the same. What it does do is smooth out the lid surface and makes it stay matte all day. For me I prefer cream shadows as a base or liner because of the emollient texture. Since this is matte it doesn’t really help shadow apply richly like other bases. But it did keep my lids matte all day so if you have oily lids this is worth a look. The La Base Mascara also launched. I am not 100% sure if this is a new formula or relaunch. It’s labeled on the bottom as Volume and Care which to those aspects it does both. It’ a white base you coat onto the lashes and it does indeed add volume but nourishes them as well. The only downside for me is that once applied it straightens my lashes immediately even if I curl them. For me almost all mascara bases have straightened my lashes.

Overall some nice additions. The most interesting things to me were the two bases but I think your mileage will truly vary depending on your lash type or eye primer preference. I have difficult straight lashes so most formulas are hard to work with for me. The eyeshadow base is something I’m going to continue to try – right now I’m not convinced it improves my shadow but at the same time I do like how it smooths the entire eye area without adding any color.

You can find the new Chanel Eye Makeup Collection out at all counter right now. I bought mine from Nordstrom and Chanel. Have you checked these out yet? What did you think?

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