All Posts By

Sabrina

Uncategorized

Monthly Favorites | Skincare, Haircare, Body and Fragrance

August 5, 2014

Several have requested a monthly favorites round up – welcome to The Beauty Look Book’s first monthly favorites feature! I wanted to feature some midsummer beauty favorites for the skin, body and hair. Many of these items are things I’ve been using all summer long.
  • Caudalie Make-up Removing Cleansing Water is a gentle lightweight cleansing water that refreshes the skin. It won’t remove waterproof eye makeup or mascara all the way, but I like this for the face. I have this in the full size as well but like to keep the small travel sizes.
  • Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse has been a favorite this summer for dry body oils. (Three I tested here.) I alternate between this and the Caudalie Divine Oil, but lately I’ve been reaching more for the Nuxe, the fresh floral beach-like scent is perfect for summer. It layers nicely with most perfumes as it’s very gentle and not overpowering. I love that the skin absorbs it quickly.
  • Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is an alternative to dry shampoo. I’ve tried several and don’t like the powdery crunchy look they give to the hair. The Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is the only one I’ve tried that doesn’t leave any residue. It’s more of a texturizing spray that I like to use on days where my hair looks a bit flat. I love all things Oribe that I’ve tried it’s a brand I keep exploring and looking into. The signature Oribe scent is incredible.
  • St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse is a new discovery this year and it is hands down my favorite self tan product. I purchased the mini size to compare it to the Gradual an Everyday Body Lotion from Sephora. I tested each one simultaneously with the mousse on one leg and the lotion on the other. The mousse gives a better tan without being orange. The lotion has a more gradual darkening effect. The tint to the mousse also helps you see where you applied product and helps as a guide for even application. It didn’t stain or transfer to white sheets and after letting it set for 10 minutes I found it didn’t transfer to a white denim skirt. I applied it for two consecutive days and my tan will last about 5 days. I have super sensitive skin and I’ve gotten allergic reactions to spray tans and other self tan products (like Clarins).
  • First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser was sent for review and it is an amazing cleanser. It has red clay which is suppose to draw out toxins, remove oil and unclog pores. It’s designed for combination or oily skin. My skin is slightly combination, dry on the cheeks area and slightly oily in the T zone. I found this to be amazing at unclogging pores. It comes with a slightly gel-like texture that is a reddish pink with a pearly shimmer. It works well with the hands, a washcloth and my Clarisonic Aria. It’s gentle enough for my sensitive skin but very effective. I’m on my second tube.
  • Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi is one of Tom Ford’s latest, it’s one of two new scents that are an extension of the Neroli Portofino line. I can’t wear a lot of orange citrus scents but Tom Ford is the only one I can pull off. It’s the perfect summertime scent with citrus, florals and musk.
  • Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is something I bought from the Flower Power Kit (has the Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream in 1 oz, Rose Face Mask in 1 oz, Sugar Tulip and Rose Floral Toner 0.5 oz). I love this lightweight face cream for hydration. It’s too heavy for me right now for daily use but I like to use it 2x per week during the day and alternate this as a night cream. It has a refreshing cucumber scent and feels amazing on the skin. It makes the skin look refreshed and improves the overall skin tone by smoothing over time and is great for calming the skin.
  • MAC Cleanse Off Oil has been my favorite go-to for removing makeup at the end of the day. I did a roundup of several oils I tested and the MAC is one I keep reaching for because it has the best emulsifying quality and gets everything off without leaving a residue or drying out the skin.
  • Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask is something I tried with the mini pods first. I liked it so much I bought the full size. It’s a mask that really works and clears pores. It has a slight tingly effect the first few minutes but it goes away. The charcoal and white clay both work to draw out pore-cloggers. I’ve used it up to 3x per week when my skin was messed up. I don’t recommend using it if you have broken skin or areas with irritation, but it is a gentle enough mask that won’t sting your skin. 
  • Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturizer is my summer favorite for a relative inexpensive lip balm with a nice lightweight gel formula. It’s super effective without being too rich or heavy for summer.
  • L’Occitane Extra Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body has been a staple for me for years. It’s the only body lotion I’ve repurchased. It has a super lightweight feel that absorbs into the skin. It’s part of the Shea Butter line and is moisturizing and soothing.
  • Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Primer was a Sephora freebie. It’s a pre-styler product that I apply to the hair before blow drying and it helps smooth the hair, decreases frizz and protects it from heat styling. It smells absolutely amazing like coconut and vanilla. It adds softness and shine without weighing down the hair.
  • L’Occitane Frisson de Verveine Hand Cream Gel is a great alternative to regular hand creams for the summer. It’s a unique hand moisturizer that absorbs into the skin really quickly. It has an interesting dry down that’s smooth and soothing with a slight velvety feel. It comes in the new Frisson Verbena scent which is a lightweight summery lime. One tube was sent for review and I’ve already purchased a second one.
  • Tatcha Aburatorigami Beauty Papers are the perfect blotting papers for me. They are compact and easy to carry in the purse. I love how they are super absorbent without having any powdery residue. I use about one sheet with every use and it’s so much better than touching up with powder mid-day or late afternoon. Sometimes with the summer heat and humidity I’ve found adding powder to oily skin can get cakey (at least on me).
  • Chanel UV Essential Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is the only face sunscreen I like to use. It’s lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly. I like to layer serum with moisturizer under my foundation but I don’t like anything that feels heavy. This sunscreen is light enough to wear with both a serum and moisturizer and foundation. It’s suitable for my sensitive skin. It also comes with an SPF 20 and SPF 30 versions as well.

What have been your summer favorites this past month?

12 Comments
Uncategorized

Sephora Summer Surge Beauty Insider VIB Rouge Event

August 4, 2014

On Sunday I attended my first Sephora event for VIB Rouge members. Receptions were hosted across the US at select Sephora locations for 4x points on purchases, gifts, samples and access to brand experts and specialists. I brought a friend with me to the reception at South Coast Plaza we showed up bright and early at 9 AM.

We spent nearly the full two hours of the event browsing all the aisles. I was really happy Sephora had brand experts from different vendors on site. There were reps from a number of brands, we chatted with some super friendly reps from Hourglass, SK-II, Glam Glow and Nude. My friend works in the beauty industry and we’ve both been long time beauty addicts (she’s my go-to for recs on hair care and skincare and perfume, so pretty much everything). I really liked that there was no pressure from anyone to buy anything which made our shopping experience very enjoyable. Some shots of the Sephora store, some are a bit blurry, but we were really excited so in the rush, I didn’t get the best photos.

The South Coast Plaza store we went to had a Lip Bar, Brow Bar and Foundation Bar where you could get tips on application or color suggestions. We had too much distracting us to sit at any of the beauty booth areas.

There was a small gift bag with samples offered with any $35 purchase. VIB Rouge Members also received a red tote. Our bag included minis of Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, Dr. Jart Beauty Balm, Benefit Watt’s Up, Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5 in 1 Cream, Buxom Mascara, Algenist Eye Renewal Balm, Escada Born in Paradise Perfume.

As we walked around the store several reps handed out a few extra samples if we purchased an item or two from their line. Here’s the loot by the end of our shopping trip for me. We both had so many things on our wish list and literally had to say to each other “we need to go now” before we did more damage to our wallets.

  1. VIB Rouge Gift Bag with $35 Purchase (contents shown in above detail photo)
  2. Amore Pacific Natural Protector SPF 30 – sample 1 ml packet
  3. Sephora Age Defy Moisture Cream SPF15 – sample 2 ml packet
  4. Glam Glow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment – sample 3 g packet
  5. Glam Glow Brightmud Eye Treatment – sample 1 g packet, we were told this is supposed to be the best for reducing puffy eyes and brightening the under eye area with 6 different caffeines
  6. Glam Glow Powermud Dual Cleanse Treatment  – sample 3 g packet – I tried this last night and it stung for 1 minute, afterwards the stinging went away and it seemed to by gentle yet effective, will report more on these after testing more
  7. Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer – 5 ml sample
  8. Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment – deluxe 10 g tube
  9. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Cream – 10 ml sample packets
  10. Make Up For Ever HD Powder – Beauty Insider 100 point perk
  11. Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in Ro(coco) – Beauty Insider 100 point perk
  12. The Original Beautyblender (purchase)
  13. YSL Volupte Sheer Candy 15 and Gloss Volupte 10 (purchase)
  14. Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment (purchase)
  15. SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser (purchase)
  16. Living Proof No Frizz Smoothing & Frizz Fighting Travel Kit (purchase)
SK-II also had a few minis available, I gave them to my friend since she had never tried the line before. This was my first Sephora event so I did not really know what to expect. I found it to be a fun and relaxing/laid back shopping experience. I liked that they let us bring a guest that didn’t necessarily have to be a Sephora Beauty Insider. The staff was really patient and friendly. The reps were so helpful in answering questions. The store was very busy but not over-packed so there was plenty of room to wander without having others bump into you or try to knock you over. The only things I would have liked to have would have been to include a map where the brand reps were and their special stations, the Sephora at South Coast Plaza is the largest I’ve ever seen and it was easy to get lost. I also think it would have been great if there were step up gifts available although everyone was very generous with samples and the 4x points is (in my mind) huge.
If you missed out, Sephora is still offering the tiered points on purchases through August 10 online and in stores.
Have you ever been to a Sephora event? Did you go to the VIB Rouge Event on Sunday at your local Sephora stores? What did you end up splurging on? Did you learn anything new?
15 Comments
Uncategorized

By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur Mandarina Pulp #2

August 4, 2014
By Terry’s famous rose balm now comes in six different tinted versions of the Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur ($56 for 7 g/0.24 oz, made in France). Right now the availability of colors is a bit limited, but they should all be at By Terry counters soon. Three of the shades in Rosy Babe 1 (a baby pink), Mandarina Pulp 2 (fresh mandarin coral) and Cherry Bomb 3 (a lush cherry red pink) are available now exclusively at Space NK. The other three Bloom Berry 4, Fig Fiction 5 and Toffee Cream 6 are currently available at Barneys.

I checked the first three shades out last week at Space NK with the Beauty Professor. We’re both fans of the regular Baume de Rose (my thoughts here and here). Below are the three shades we saw in store at Space NK in Bloomingdales (taken with an iPhone in store with bad lighting):

For the tinted colors, I picked out Mandarina Pulp 2. It’s a lush orangey shade that gives a rich but soft tint of coral. There’s no shimmer in it but it has a slightly transparent quality and a shine that gives the lips a luscious glow. 

Here it is swatched on me:

The tinted Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleurs are $56 and smaller in size at 7g compared to the regular Baume de Rose priced at $60 for 10g. The circumference of each tube is the same but the tinted ones are a bit shorter. In case you haven’t seen my previous review on the original Baume de Rose, it’s one of my favorite lip balms. It took me several years of thinking about it before I decided to splurge on a $60 lip balm. My lips are normal but sensitive and prone to drying out with certain lipsticks (like MAC). It usually takes a couple days for my lips to restore to the normal state (for some reason I still can’t resist MAC lipsticks). With the By Terry Baume de Rose, if I use this at night my lips don’t peel the next day. It’s rich, lush and I find it amazing for my lips although it’s definitely not a must-have. There are other lip balms that work well without the high price tag, but I have no regrets and love it. The tub is quite large and it will last a long time. My other favorite lip balm picks reviewed here and here.

The By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur vs regular Baume de Rose:

Some other coral lip shades to compare:

A definite splurge but the Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleurs give a luscious color with a super hydrating feel. You can find three of By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleurs now at Space NK. Some are on pre-order at Barneys.
28 Comments
Uncategorized

Links I Love / Weekend Reads

August 2, 2014
http://instagram.com/beautylookbook
On the toes from a few weekends ago, NARS Paros

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I’m spending the day editing and swatching. I have quite a few new things to share with you this upcoming days including some new discoveries from By Terry, Cle de Peau, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Bite and Chanel.

In case you missed some of this past week’s posts, here are a few highlights:

Some posts I’m loving this weekend:

Have a lovely Saturday afternoon!
6 Comments
Uncategorized

YSL Gloss Volupté | Rose Satine 102, Rose Jersey 202 and Corail Gandoura 203

August 1, 2014

YSL Gloss Voluptés ($32 each for 0.20 fl oz/6 ml) were released earlier at the beginning of the year. These are sheer lip glosses that have a super lush feel. The colors range from creams to shimmers. I played with them at Sephora on numerous occasions (hand swatching) and spent quite a bit of time deciding which ones to purchase. I picked out three shades:
  • Rose Satine 102 is a shimmery coral rose, the shimmer is ultra fine
  • Rose Jersey 202 is a pretty baby pink rose and has a smooth shimmer
  • Corail Gandoura 203 is a soft coral that’s super sheer, it has a glow finish with a subtle sheen

Clare Vivier Clutch, Gorjana Mila Cuff c/o, Gucci Sunglasses (old, similar here)
The YSL Gloss Voluptés come with a unique lip-shaped applicator which I find actually works for application and makes them fun to apply on the lips. These also come with the signature YSL lip scent, a soft candy and grapefruit/mango scent. The ones I picked are on the sheer side. They give a hint of color and for me, I like them best layered over a pencil or lipstick. A close up of the tubes show the lovely shimmery glow each color has.

Below, view of the brush tips (Chanel Secret on the nails)

Swatches:

Due to the sheerness you can probably get a very similar effect with MAC Lustreglasses or Chanel Glossimers. The YSL Gloss Volupté formula feels more hydrating on my lips with a more cushiony feel. I did not have time to pull anything from MAC or Chanel to compare, but I do have some from Fresh and Marc Jacobs Beauty. Below:

Fresh Sugar Shine Rosé (reviewed here)
Marc Jacobs Overprotected and Heart Shaped (swatches here)

After testing these for almost over a month I can say thumbs up. For me they are more of a layering gloss or for super low-key days when I want just a hint of color. I have pigmented lips so these might be more pigmented on you than they are on me. I’m in love with the formula which I think has a super luxurious feel on the lips.

I bought mine at Sephora, but these are available at all YSL counters and retailers.
Have you tried the YSL Gloss Volupte? What are your favorite shades? Any other colors you think I should check out?

11 Comments
Base Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Traceless Perfecting Foundation SPF15 Swatches

August 1, 2014

Tom Ford Beauty has released some exciting releases this fall. The first installment includes a new foundation called Traceless Perfecting Foundation ($80 for 1 fl oz, 15 shades) and a cover up Concealing Pen ($52 each, 6 shades). I met up earlier this week with the lovely Beauty Professor for lunch and some beauty shopping. We were thrilled to find both the Perfecting Foundation and Concealer Pens had arrived at the counters and immediately started playing with the new product (be sure to check her comprehensive swatches and descriptions here.)

Having both fallen in love with many things Tom Ford, our first question was, “are the shades of the new Traceless Perfecting the same as the Traceless and Traceless Stick?” I’ve been matched to both Bisque 4 and Natural 5 for the Traceless Stick and currently match Bisque 4 best. I’ve tried the original Traceless Foundation and while it gives a beautiful flawless coverage (especially with the Cream Foundation Brush which is amazing), and while it’s a lovely lightweight smooth finish foundation with beautiful coverage, I always found it slightly too dewy for my taste.

With the new Traceless Perfecting Foundation, I found myself torn between Bisque 4 and Natural 5. I tested both colors, one on each side of my face along the jawline. The artist and I felt I could go either way. I purchased Bisque 4 since Natural 5 pulled a bit more yellow and olive on my skin (but I got a sample of it just to test at home).

I’ve been testing both shades for a couple days. I’ll have a more detailed review with comparison swatches to other foundations I own but I have swatches of all the shades to share. These were taken with my iPhone and it was very bright yet a bit cloudy outside giving a slighty yellow/warm cast to the swatches. The best shot were the ones in the shade.

______________________
Set One includes Cream 1, Ivory 2, Fawn 3, Bisque 4, Natural 5, Sable 6, Rosewood 6.5 and Tawny 7. All of these are yellow/olive with the exception of Rosewood 6.5 which is pink.

______________________
Set Two includes Caramel 8, Sienna 9, Warm Almond 11, Chestnut 12, Buff 13, Linen 14 and Bare Beige 15. I added Bisque 4 as well since some of the higher numbers don’t correspond with darker shades like you might expect. Buff/Linen and Bare Beige have more pinkish tones compared to Ivory/Fawn and Bisque.

I’m overall really pleased with this new foundation. I had been contemplating the Traceless for quite some time due to the perfect coverage it gives but I’m glad I waited. The new Traceless Perfecting Foundation has a bit more coverage but still looks very natural. It has smooth coverage and evens out the skin tone and lasts quite well through warm humid weather, although Southern California is probably considered very mild compared to other areas.

More thoughts to come soon with a full detailed review, but after testing both Bisque and Natural, I’m happy I went with the Bisque (for Chanel I usually use the 30 foundations). Natural also is good match but leans just slightly olive and is a hair darker. Based on my sample that I’ve been testing I can say I really could have gone with either shade. The $80 price tag is very steep and I am relieved to report that I do love this foundation enough to justify the price.

For a quick comparison on textures of the different Tom Ford Foundations and the two shades I tested, here are the Bisque 4 and Natural 5 lined up with the Traceless Perfecting (new one), Traceless, and Traceless Stick. I think this shows the slightly dewy texture of the Traceless.

Note the liquids in Bisque 4 are lighter than the liquids in Natural 5. However, the stick in Bisque 4 is darker than the stick in Natural 5 (more swatches/review here).

The Traceless Perfecting Foundation comes with SPF15 and retails at $80 (this is the most I’ve ever spent on foundation, when I purchased the sticks they were priced at $78 and I think the prices just went up). The Traceless Perfecting Foundation comes in 15 shades, I’m glad to see a diverse range of colors and those with pink undertones will be happy to see some options that aren’t yellow-based.
You can find the Tom Ford Perfecting Foundation now at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman.
27 Comments
Uncategorized

Deal Alert: L’Occitane Hand Cream Trio (Limited Time Offer)

August 1, 2014
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=MeQoh28EORo&subid=&offerid=311548.1&type=10&tmpid=14033&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fusa.loccitane.com%252Fhand-cream-pouch%252C82%252C1%252C29479%252C523286.htm

For a limited time, L’Occitane’s best selling hand cream is available in a trio for $3 (normally $10) in this cute Hand Cream Pouch Set. It has travel sizes of:
Shea Butter Hand Cream 0.3 .oz, Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 0.3 .oz and Almond Delicious Hand Cream 0.3 .oz. (Note the regular hand creams are 1 oz.)

If you’re looking to stock up on L’Occitane favorites, be sure to check their Special Offers. Some other deals and codes to take note of, valid while supplies last:
  • Enjoy a travel set for $22 with any $45 Purchase, use code GETAWAY, includes travel sizes of Lavender Perfumed Sachet, Verbena Shower Gel, Peony Hand Cream, Bonne Mere Rose Soap, Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo (Valid 7/30 thru 8/19/2014)
  • Receive a travel ready set free with any $125 purchase, use code DIVINESUMMER, includes 3 Divine Cream Samples, Immortelle Essential Face Water, Rose et Reines Hand Cream, Jamsin & Bergamot mini Eau de Toilette, Divine Eyes (Valid 7/30 thru 8/19/2014)
  • Enjoy our Provencal jumbo sized shower gels free with any $40 purchase, use code JUMBO (Valid 7/30-8/19/2014)
  • Receive free tropical sandals with any $35 purchase, use code TROPICAL (Valid 7/31 thru 8/20/201) 
  • Receive a free Ambre & Santal Shower Gel and Body Milk with any La Collection de Grasse Ambre and Santal Eau de Toilette Purchase, use code AMBRE (Valid July 30th thru August 19th 2014) 
Have a great Friday!

 

1 Comment