Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

On My Radar

On My Radar / New in Beauty

January 6, 2017

Happy Friday! New beauty launches have started to trickle in and there are a few things on my radar this week. Most brands have yet to launch their spring color collections but I’m eager to see what everyone has in store for the season. Chanel launched theirs first with the Coco Codes and I’m loving everything so far.

Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur ($37 each) just launched online at Chanel with eleven color options, these are jumbo crayons for the lips and are retractable, I will have a review and swatches on these in the upcoming weeks
Guerlain Happy Glow Pearls ($74) and Happy Glow Blush ($54) just launched, I think there are a few additional items launching for spring but these are the only two I could find so far, they look so pretty!
Giorgio Armani Powder Fabric Foundation ($64) is Armani’s latest in base launches, I’m really intrigued by this and have high hopes for it to work for my skin type, I’m not sure when it launches in stores but will be keeping my eye out to see if I can find a good color match
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Balm ($18) comes in stick form now! I love the tube version formula in Smashed, so I ordered the stick, it arrived yesterday and the testing will start this weekend
KNC Beauty All Natural Collagen Infused Lip Mask ($24.99 for a 5 pack) from Violet Grey is something my bestie texted me asking, “have you tried this yet???” – I have not but the concept is intriguing so I had to order to test it out, I will definitely keep you posted! I don’t know how I feel about a sheet mask for the lips but I’m super curious!
Tatcha just launched a new product called The Essence ($95) which is a resurfacing softener, when it comes to essence or softening lotions I have to say that I’m 100% confused about what they’re supposed to do, when to use them and what the difference is between the options, I’ve tried the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence which did help improve texture and softness of my skin (I got lazy and stopped using it after I used up my minis), alternatively one of my friends swears by the La Mer Treatment Lotion which is also another softener – if you have any insight on essences or lotions I would love some insight!
Burberry Liquid Lip Velvets ($34) have launched in 14 shades online at Sephora and Nordstrom, I have five that I ordered and will be swatching and reviewing them as fast as I can for you
beautyblender just launched their beautyblender bubble ($20) and micro.mini bubble ($18) as a Sephora exclusive to celebrate their 15th Anniversary, they sent a lovely package over the holiday and I can’t wait to use them!
Diptyque launches a special-edition Rosamundi Candle ($35 to $68) for Spring 2017, review to follow soon on this beautiful launch
Charlotte Tilbury launched four Quick N Easy Sets ($75 each) designed with an edited selection of beauty products to create a look in 5 minutes, I’ll have these reviewed next week and will be hosting a giveaway so stay tuned for the post and details!

Have a wonderful Friday! What’s on your beauty radar right now?

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Fragrance Lips MAC

MAC Shadescents Review and Swatches

January 5, 2017

Over the holiday season MAC launched a Shadescents Collection with six perfumes inspired by six of their most iconic lip colors. They re-launched the lipsticks with special limited-edition packaging in tinted caps to match the lipsticks themselves along with color-coordinated fragrances. The concept is just genius and as soon as I opened up the package I just couldn’t wait to see what Crème d’ Nude or Velvet Teddy would smell like in perfume form. The scents are all Eau de Parfums and run at $57 each for 50 ml/1.7 fl oz. The Lipsticks are $17 each for 3 g / 0.1 oz with special edition packaging.

The six options include Heroine (purple, matte), Ruby Woo (deep red, retro matte), Lady Danger (bright coral red, matte), Candy Yum-Yum (bright neon pink,matte), Velvet Teddy (neutral nude, matte) and Crème d’Nude (pale beige, cremesheen).

Crème d’Nude Lipstick is one I could never wear alone and still can’t. It’s more of a layering color for me whether I mix it with another deeper lipstick, gloss or liner. The Crème d’Nude Scent is described as an amber velvet musk which I find accurate. This one is my favorite and the only one I can see myself wearing on a regular basis. It’s almost like a daytime version of Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black. The throw is extremely strong and lasts all day from morning to late afternoon without fading.

Velvet Teddy is a classic nude lip color. I was interested to see what it would smell like in perfume form. The scent is described as oriental amber with wild honey and creamy musk. This is definitely a sweet honey like scent with a bit of spice. If you like honey scents this will be right up your alley. The spice notes are prominent giving it a velvety feel. On my skin it pulls very strong and very rich. This is my second favorite.

Candy Yum-Yum is a neon pink in color, bright and vibrant. The scent is extremely sweet described as fruity floral gourmand with pink guava. It’s distinctly sweet and when I spritzed it I was 100% sure I would not be able to wear it. Surprisingly on my skin it works for a fun and pretty scent. I still don’t think it’s really my cup of tea due to the sweetness but the times I wore it I was pleasantly surprised.

Lady Danger is a bright coral red. The scent is described as a woody oriental floral with patchouli. It’s very spicy and masculine with a strong incense kind of vibe. It’s too dramatic and rich for my taste. The scent is definitely a head-turner as described.

Ruby Woo is described as a woody floral. This has leather notes that makes it even deeper and more dramatic than Lady Danger. It’s rich, dark and deep – not something I would wear although I do think it could make an interesting home scent in candle form.

Left is Ruby Woo (darker shade), right is Lady Danger:

Lady Danger Lipstick worn below on a full look, foundation shade worn is Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 which is just the slighted bit too dark on my skin as it pulls really olive but many of you have asked to see my MAC shade on my face. On the cheeks is Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish, on the eyes is Honeylust Eyeshadow. You can see swatches and comparisons of NC25, 30, 35 and 37 to other foundation brands for reference in this Tom Ford Face Collection post here:

Heroine is a purple cream lipstick. It’s not one I had ever looked at before as it’s more dramatic and purples really aren’t my thing. The scent is described as woody leather with a primal feel. It’s the most masculine scent out of the lineup, definitely not something I would wear. Although after spritzing it in our house as a room spray in a small area the dry down is interesting and actually pleasant.

Overall a really interesting concept. I do think the creators of this collection managed to capture the lipstick in a scent that made sense. Scents are so personal and everyone has different tastes so I do not think these will be everyone’s cup of tea. My favorite is Crème d’Nude but my husband is not a fan of it on me. If you’re near a MAC Store I’d recommend you definitely give these a look. They’re worth checking out and it’s always fun to play at the freestanding stores. If anything I love the special edition packaging of the lip colors – I’m tempted to buy another Velvet Teddy although I will probably resist because the lipsticks usually last a very long time. The color-coordinated caps and black base are so sleek and pretty!

The collection is available at MAC Cosmetics. Have you checked it out yet? What did you think?

Many thanks to MAC for sending these for review!

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Fashion What's In My Bag

What’s In My Celine Belt Bag Mini

January 4, 2017

Happy Wednesday everyone! I have the first what’s in my bag post of the year. Lately the purse I’ve been carrying the most frequently is the Celine Belt Bag in the mini size (review of what fits inside plus thoughts on style in this post here). I own two of the same style, just in different colors. I alternate between the Light Taupe (shown) and Black. For the spring 2017 season they added another size called the Micro which is smaller, has a longer removable strap and can be worn as a crossbody. I took a quick peek while in LA at one a couple months ago and promptly walked away so I would not be tempted – but I will say it’s really cute!

I picked up some new sunglasses from J.Crew called the Irving Sunglasses in the Smoke Olive color. I love the ones that come in lighter colors because they’re fun and different. These frames are small enough for my face size and shape so I could not resist! The store near me only carried it in two colors otherwise I would have probably bought the light clear pink ones.

I’m currently carrying multiples of the Clarity Clutch in the mini size from Truffle. I ordered the Nude and White last fall during one of their sales and like that they are small enough to throw in most of my purses. They’re just the right size and proportion to fit what a few things and keep contents edited.

As usual I have one too many lip products carried with me. I have my two favorite balms of the moment the Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade and Lanolips in Strawberry. I’ve used them repeatedly for weeks now. The weather has been on the cold side so we’ve cranked up the heater in our place which makes everything dry. Plus I’ve still been trying to get over a cold so my lips have been extra dry. These have kept my lips from peeling and cracking – I’ve been sure to apply on clean fingers instead of directly on the lips to keep them clean and free of germs.

Other staples for lips include NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight which I like to layer with MAC Lip Pencil in Boldly Bare, Whirl or Dervish (neutral nude lip liners swatched and compared in this post here). The Marc Jacobs Le Marc Liquid Lip Creme (c/o) in Truth or Bare and Slow Burn have been worn frequently the past week. The Chanel Gloss Volume is pretty basic but it’s one of my favorite clear lip glosses for the pretty shine it gives and cushiony feel.

For fragrance I’ve been reaching for Byredo options a lot, I’ve been loving Oud Immortel although I probably need to switch things up to something a bit lighter and more cheery to lift the mood. I’ve still been dreaming about splurging on the Unnamed Perfume. It’s one of those scents I spritzed at the counter back in August and it still haunts me even months later. However I have promised myself to save up for the Creed Virgin Island Water before I buy any other perfume. Right now I don’t think it’s quite appropriate for the current weather or season, but in a couple of months I think it will be perfect and by then it will be mine! It’s the ultimate dreamy tropical vacation kind of scent I want to wear all spring to summer.

Last but not least I can’t help carrying the Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette. It’s not really all that practical to carry around but I love the sturdy compact and large mirror makes reapplying lipstick so much easier compared to the tiny mirrors you get in most compacts. If you haven’t checked them out I recommend you do (review on both colors here). They are both 100% worth the splurge.

Hope your first week of the new year is going well! I’ll have some reviews on MAC Shadescents and the Louis Vuitton perfumes coming up next! They’ve been on the to-do list for weeks now – I know many of you have been waiting so thanks for your patience!

What’s in your bag right now?

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Chanel

Chanel Coco Codes for Spring 2017

January 3, 2017

Happy New Year! I’m excited for the new year, new opportunities and new adventures. My first review of the year starts out on a positive note with a post on the Chanel Coco Codes for spring. I ordered a few pieces from spring 2017 sight unseen. Based on the online stock photos I did not really expect to be wowed as the colors looked pretty but fairly basic and almost boring. After extensive testing I am pleased to report that everything far exceeded my expectations! The Coco Codes collection might appear to consist of standard color options but everything performed really well. Quality and textures are great true to usual Chanel quality standards and as a whole, the collection works well for a pretty updated modern but classic look. What I ordered:

Coco Code Blush Harmony ($70)
Joues Contraste Powder Blush Elegance #370 ($45)
Les 4 Ombres Codes Elegants #274 ($61)
Les 4 Ombres Codes Subtils #278 ($61)
Rouge Allure Velvet Libre #62 ($37)
Le Vernis Nail Color Blanc White #548 ($28)
Le Vernis Nail Color Beige Beige #556 ($28)

The cheek colors for this collection run on the neutral warm side on me both the Coco Code Blush Harmony Quad and Elegance Blush look very similar on me, the first is slightly deeper and more luminous because of the red and caramel brown tones. The Coco Code Blush Harmony is the most beautiful item in the collection. It’s a quad with a mix of satin and soft mattes that you can swirl for a warm peachy bronzed cheek. The colors can be applied individually but since each portion is on the small side you’ll need a small detail brush to pick up one color at a time. The colors swirled together give a naturally luminous glow – no frost or overpowering shimmer. They blend nicely for a smooth finish that is easy to layer.

Elegance Blush is a soft peachy nude. It has a slight sheen to it and I’m pleased to find that the one sold in the US is indeed the regular US version versus the baked option you see in other countries. For those not familiar with Chanel blushes there are two versions, most of the time the ones released in the US have a different finely milled perfect smooth texture. Countries outside the US receive blushes that are baked, pull very powdery and chalky on my skin and don’t show up as well.

There are two eyeshadow quads Les 4 Ombres and both are excellent in texture and pigment. They come in the round pans but aren’t the baked version. They are similar in texture to that of Les 4 Ombres in Tisse Rivoli and Vendome – almost creamy in texture with rich beautiful shimmer pigment but still powders. Codes Elegants is the golden option which pulls on the yellow side but is still very wearable even though I tend to prefer more neutral gold colors for my olive skin. Codes Subtils is prettier in person than online stock photos show. It has a unique and pretty mix of soft pink, salmon, bronze and brown.

For the lips I picked one lip color in the Rouge Allure Velvet formula called Libre. It’s been a while since I’ve paid attention to the lip velvets launched so I’m not sure if it’s a new or repromoted shade. It’s new to me and is a perfect flawless neutral rose. It has a velvet matte finish but still looks like it has a very subtle luminous sheen to it – perfect for me as pure matte lips often make my lips look dry. I would have liked to see some glossimers or rouge allure glosses for the launch but if you follow sneak peeks on social it appears they are reformulating the formula sometime in the spring. Back to the lipstick, Libre has smooth medium to full coverage with a moisturizing feel. It feels comforting on the lips and lasting power is pretty good.

Some comparison swatches, to me it looks almost identical in color to MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond:

MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond and Toast and Butter – swatched here
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Stoned Rose – swatched here
Tom Ford Lips and Boys 2016 in Christopher – swatched here
Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Mademoiselle – swatched here
Tom Ford Lips and Boys 2016 in Ashton – swatched here
MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick – swatched here

Last but not least are the Le Vernis nail polishes. I bought two shades, one is Blanc White which is a sheer white cream color. I need three coats to get the color to show up. I think it makes the hands look polished and clean and even though I know it’s supposed to be a sheer I do wish the pigment was a bit more opaque. Beige Beige is a warm beige that looks almost tan. It’s not the most unique color but I like that it doesn’t have too much of a yellow base like some beige colors do which can make olive skin look sallow or sickly. This one seems to have enough peach to give it some life. Coverage on this one is perfect and I get full smooth coverage with two coats.

How the cheek colors will vary depending on your skintone – I found both the face quad and blush have a similar effect on my skin so I wouldn’t call them both must-haves. The blush is more subtle and lighter in color for a more natural look while the cheek quad has more pigment and more color. I don’t favor one over the other however the Coco Code Blush Harmony is more unique and more versatile in the event you want to use individual colors on the eyes or to highlight the cheeks.

Quick look with the Coco Code Blush, Codes Elegants Quad and Libre Rouge Allure Velvet:

For the quads I was really surprised by how wearable Codes Elegants is – especially since it has yellow gold tones that I find usually clash with my already yellow-olive skin. I do favor the other option Codes Subtils for the color selection – the shades are just so pretty and pigmented. If there were two things I would pass on they would be the nail colors I picked – they’re nice and pretty neutrals. Great for conservative work environments for for those who want a natural polished look, but they aren’t must-haves to me. That being said I do think finding a good beige can be challenging, so Beige Beige wins for being wearable without looking too sallow or yellow. Have you checked out the collection yet? What did you think?

You can find the collection now online and in stores. Most of the pieces are limited-edition. I bought my pieces online from Chanel and Nordstrom. Also available at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Beauty Favorites Men's Grooming

Men’s Grooming and Skincare Essentials For 2016

December 31, 2016

This year my husband tested quite a few products, razors, face cleansers and moisturizers in search for the best in men’s grooming. Several of you have sent me e-mails asking for a list of his favorites to share with your husbands and boyfriends. I’ve incorporated men’s grooming bits here and there over the past year and I’m always thrilled anytime I receive feedback from you! Most of these he did the research on his own to pick and purchase what to test out. There are a couple items I bought for him as gifts over past years that he ended up loving and repurchasing. In the past he always used an electric shaver but recently decided to try razors for a better closer shave. Finding the right one along with the right blades was a tedious process for him, as you can imagine one of the biggest challenges with shaving is finding the right items to avoid razor burn. He had quite a few misses for moisturizers and cleansers. Some either were too heavy or greasy feeling, others dried out the skin, some didn’t lather to his satisfaction. For the final cut, here is my husband Andrew’s top 20 for what he considers his grooming and skincare essentials for the year.

Dior Sauvage Eau de Toilette – in his top three for everyday light and fresh men’s fragrances, his brother stopped by smelled this one and promptly asked for me to buy one for him as well
Dior Sauvage Deodorant tied with the YSL L’Homme for best smell and lasting power
Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette – a long time staple, by now I’ve lost count of how many bottles I’ve repurchased for him (he also likes the travel sized versions)
Tatcha Pore Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 35 – loves this because it dries to a matte finish
Gilette Silver Blue Razor Blades – these have a medium sharpness so there is no razor burn, others he tested were too sharp
Muhle Closed Comb Double Edge Safety Razor, R89, Chrome Plated Metal – Andrew tested 10 different razors this year, this was the best for weight, balance and angle of blade for control and ease of shaving
Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Facial Wash – energizing and deep cleaning, he tried approximately a dozen face cleansers over the year designed for men, this is his favorite
Jack Black Epic Moisture MP 10 Nourishing Oil – an essential product to help moisturize the skin and create a proper barrier between the razor and the face
Art of Shaving Unscented Shave Cream – really rich lather
Baxter of California Shave Tonic – soothing aftershave without alcohol or burn
Clarisonic Alphafit – he’s dedicated to using this daily and has improved texture of his skin, reduced the number of breakouts drastically and helps exfoliate
Mangroomer Ultimate Pro Back Shaver – the back shaver can reach anywhere
Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20 – most days he doesn’t need any added moisturizer, but when he does use it, this is his favorite because it’s not oily or greasy feeling
Fresh Sugar Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 – has the best and most effective coverage
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush – best sonic toothbrush that gets all the hard to reach places, he says it is worth every penny
Wahl Professional Half Pint Travel Trimmer – for around the ears and back of the neck
Viktor and Rolf Spicebomb Eau de Toilette – best date night scent for him
Hermes Terre D’Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche – has an earthy raw quality
Baxter Grooming Lotion – favorite hair grooming product to add a tiny bit of shine and it’s also weightless and doesn’t get greasy or heavy as the day progresses
Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser – exfoliates and tightens skin, also doubles as a mask and sometimes I borrow this for myself too

A quick note on the sequence of products and steps used for shaving for those who don’t know when to use the items. His shave process to get a clean shave and avoid razor burn is:

Clean the face with the Kiehl’s Facial Fuel + Clarisonic Alphafit to exfoliate and smooth skin
Sometimes double cleanse with the Jack Black Deep Dive Facial Cleanser to tighten the skin and draw out impurities
Apply the Jack Black Epic Moisture Nourishing Oil to hydrate the skin and help create a good barrier for shaving, allow this to absorb and dry
Apply the Art of Shaving Cream
Shave
Use the Baxter Shave Tonic as an aftershave to tighten pores, tone skin and seal in moisture

If your husband, boyfriend, brother or any of the men in your life have grooming favorites you know of, please share in the comments! Always love hearing what you recommend, in particular if you have any eye cream recommendations for men let me know.

That wraps it up for 2016! I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful New Year!

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Beauty Favorites Haircare Skincare

Best Skincare and Haircare Discoveries 2016

December 30, 2016

Today I’m rounding up my top picks in skincare and haircare for the year. I discovered a lot of great items for my sensitive skin – it was a challenge to narrow it down to such an edited list. I used up quite a bit over the course of the year – to do a post listing all the items I used and repurchased in the last 12 months would be quite extensive. Part of me wanted to do a favorites roundup for every category, perhaps I’ll do one in the new year, but for now here’s are my top picks:

Haircare

Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Oil (review and on the hair here) is currently my favorite new discovery for hair oil to add shine, reduce frizz and smooth
Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray is something I bought based on recommendations from readers, it’s worth every penny to protect hair from heat and smooth for a perfect blow out
Shu Uemura Ample Angora Volumizing Mousse (review here) has been the best to add serious volume at the roots
Shu Uemura Wonder Worker (review here) is another favorite pre-heat treatment to smooth and detangle hair, you can still find it in the Limited-Edition Murakami packaging at Barneys

Face Cleanser and Toner

Bioderma Sensibio Tonic Lotion is a toner I discovered a few months ago, it’s gentle and perfect for sensitive skin to balance and soothe, it’s available in two sizes and I bought the full size as well – wish I had discovered it sooner! Now I don’t have to spend $90 to replenish my La Mer The Tonic because I’ve found a great alternative
Glamglow Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser (review here) is a mud to foam cleanser, it’s the best clarifying one that helps absorb excess oil, reduce redness, and prevent breakouts, in the summer I use this daily in the evenings or post-workout, during non-hot months I use this 2-3x per week
Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash (reviewed here) is the cleanser I reach for the most and have repurchased the most, best gentle everyday cleanser I’ve tried that doesn’t dry out the skin but still leaves it clean, I’ve tried all of her cleansers and they are all great (yes ALL of them) but this one is the best for me for daily use (my brother loves this one as well), she just launched an EradiKate Cleanser and I rarely say this these days but this is something I absolutely feel the NEED TO TRY, it’s in my shopping cart right now

Face Mask

Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask (reviewed here) one of my favorite purifying masks that’s still gentle
Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment (reviewed here) a stronger option but draws out all excess oil and helps clear up the skin, if you have broken skin or extremely sensitive skin, I’d recommend using this as a spot treatment or patch test first

Moisturizers

La Mer Moisturizing Soft Lotion (reviewed here) is the best moisturizer I bought this year although the Chanel La Solution 10 comes in close second for my sensitive skin
Tatcha Pore Perfecting Water Gel Moisturizer (reviewed here) is the best gel moisturizer I’ve used, I usually don’t like gels because they’re often not compatible with foundation, this one works for me with the foundations I use while minimizing pores and smoothing the skin

Night Treatments – as someone who has extra sensitive skin, I cannot use most creams with any Vitamin C or Retinol without peeling or redness, Kate Somerville is one of the best lines for me in terms of night treatments

Kate Somerville Mega-C Dual Radiance Serum is something new I discovered this year, I alternate with the RetAsphere at night to help improve texture and brightness of the skin
Kate Somerville RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream (review here) helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, makes the skin look smooth while adding hydration
Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift with Retinol (review here) helps firm the skin, over time it makes the skin feel noticeably more lifted

Extras

Armani Prima Day-Long Skin Perfector (reviewed here) best primer I tried this year and I’m kinda an anti-primer girl because they usually don’t do anything for my skin to extend makeup wear time
Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover (reviewed here) is the key product I use to keep my cuticles looking groomed and healthy, I know an updated hand and nail care post is long overdue – I’ll do a 2017 version in the new year
Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade (also featured here and here) one of the best nourishing treatments, it’s so good I bought a second one to keep in my purse and one to keep at home
Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift (review here and here) combines hyaluronic acid and oxygen to help prevent wrinkles and give the skin a more even looking texture, this is probably the best thing I have discovered in skincare
Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment is the best pimple treatment, the key is to use it the minute you feel something start to surface and don’t use it on open wounds or broken skin, my husband uses this and it makes me giggle when we have matching pink spots on our faces at night because it looks so ridiculous, but it works!
Kiehl’s Scented Hand Cream Trio 2 of 3 shown is part of a limited-edition set exclusive to Neiman Marcus, you can find the three scents available in larger sizes individually as well or in the original unscented-version
Lano Lips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm in Strawberry (reviewed here) is tied with the Dior Pomade for best lip balm discovery of the year
Lavanila Deodorant is the only deodorant I’ve used for the past two years, I don’t sweat a lot so I can’t report on that aspect, but I love that it’s natural, keeps odor away and lasts all day long for me, I’ve tried around 4 different scents by now and all of them were great, the travel-sized ones are perfect to throw in the purse or to travel with

In the upcoming year I plan to be more diligent about testing and using eye creams. I’ve gone through a few this year but did not use them on a regular basis (mainly because I was lazy). I know with the eyes, wrinkle prevention and sun protection are key so I need to stop procrastinating and start acting now! If you have any recommendations for someone who is 35 years old (me) let me know in the comments and I will be forever grateful.

I hope you enjoyed this roundup! I feel as though I left out quite a few good discoveries but tried to keep the list to under 30 products so I wouldn’t end up regurgitating the entire year of blog posts for hair care and skin care.

What were your 2016 favorites in skincare and hair care?

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Beauty Beauty Favorites Roundup

Best Beauty Discoveries 2016

December 29, 2016

I can hardly believe another year has flown by! Thank you to each and every one of you who followed me along on my beauty journey this past year. Today I have a round up of my 2016 favorites in makeup (skincare to follow in a separate post). As a long-time nail polish junkie I was surprised to find this past year was pretty light on the nail polish features and reviews – I remember in past years going through tons of nail wheels and bottles of polish remover. Perhaps by now I simply have collected all the possible colors? 2016’s focus seemed to be all about lips and highlighters for me. As always I’d love to hear what your favorite makeup discoveries were for the year! I picked out items that were new in 2016 (they’re listed in alphabetical order by brand):

Lips

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche wins for creamiest most opaque lipstick launch, the colors I reached for the most were Honeycomb and Sake
Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Nude (review here) is one of the prettiest wearable nudes, it’s limited-edition and I bought a backup
Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Lipcare in Conte (all colors review here) is my favorite formula launch of 2016
Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Super Cindy was part of one of the best lipstick launches of the year, I splurged on all the colors (and swatched them in this post here)
Dior Addict Lip Glow in Lilac (review here) could possibly go under skincare as it’s more of a balmy kind of product, the lilac color is just so pretty
Dior Rouge Dior in Grege 1947 wins for best neutral feminine pink for me
MAC Liptensity Lipstick in Doe, Smoked Almond and Medium Rare (review here) is one of my favorite lipstick launches of 2016, I loved the colorful packaging and intense opaque smooth color
MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande II Lipglass (review here) is one of the best nude mauve neutrals ever
NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Bound (review here) is another great everyday rose mauve cream
Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Bradley and Douglas (review here) is a nude-lip lover’s dream come true, all the new colors this year were amazing
Tom Ford Soleil Moisturecore Lip Color (review here) wins for best color collection
YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil in Stick in Beige Blouse #47 (swatches here) is another great nude, after my review quite a few of you e-mailed me saying you picked up the same color and finally found your HG nude – yay!!

Face and Cheeks

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Sun Dipped (review here)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush in Camellia (review here) was my favorite pink shimmer
Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder (review here) was the best highlighter launch of the year for me
Edward Bess Threads of Silk Powder in Ciao (review here)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Surreal Light Palette (review here) favorite face palette of the year
Laura Mercier Candleglow Perfecting Powder in #1 or #2 (review here) best setting powder discovery
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer (review here) works wonders for concealing dark under eye circles
NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland and St. Moritz (review here) wins for natural looking coverage foundation
Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Bi-Coastal (review here) prettiest glowy pink + highlighter colors
Tom Ford Shimmer Shot in Spin Spin Sugar (review here) favorite liquid highlighter of the year
Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation (review here) best full coverage foundation that lasts all day long

Eyes

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadow Singles (review here and here) colors shown above are Sateen, Chiffon, Warm Taupe and Chocolate
Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara is something I discovered earlier this year, it adds volume, hold curl and doesn’t smudge
Tom Ford Eye Shadow Quad in Honeymoon (review here)

Nails

Chanel Le Vernis in Organdi (review here) was my most-worn color this year
Louboutin had the best colors and formulas for me this year, I loved Miss Mars and the Hawaii Kawai Trio minis were so fun to shoot, there were three Red Nail Extensions that I was able to play with back in May to swatch for you, months later I ended up buying Jazzy Doll and Edgypopi

What were your makeup favorites this past year? They can be new launches, rediscoveries or new-to-you products! I love reading about your favorites so please feel free to share in the comments below. Several of you have asked that I bring back the monthly roundups on a regular basis, some have asked for a hits and misses roundup as well. I’ll be starting a monthly review series in the new year!

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