I love a good skin refresh this time of year and I’ve recently added a few new things to my routine from Sulwhasoo. I’m always looking for skincare to help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Two things I’ve tried and loved include their First Care Activating Serum and their best selling Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream.
First Care Activating Serum
The First Care Activating Serum is their prepping serum they recommend as the first step in skincare after cleansing. It has a blend of 5 herbs to improve hydration, brightness, radiance and helps reduce the look of wrinkles. Sulwhasoo’s serum has what they call their JAUM ActivatorTM which is a mix of Lotus, White Lily, Solomon’s Seal, Peony and Rehmannia. I love the pump packaging and it has a very lightweight fluid texture to help boost the effectiveness of following skincare steps.
I found two pumps enough to cover my entire face. They recommend using this both morning and night. Skin is left glowing and dewy!
Concentrated Ginseng Renewal Cream
The second product I tried is their Concentrated Ginseng Renewal Cream. This is one of the creamiest moisturizers I have tried! It has a super silky smooth texture that melts right into the skin. They’ve combined Korean red ginseng and retinol to help with visible signs of aging which have started to creep in. It makes my skin feel more supple and bouncy. Complexion is noticeably more plump! I like using this as my night time moisturizer.
You can find both products available online at Sulwhasoo. If you’re new to Sulwhasoo products and want to try things out first they have a Bestsellers Trial Kit which looks really good, it has both the serum + cream in it along with a couple other items I’ve been wanting to try (I will probably order this myself). Also available in minis too here and here.
Do you have any Sulwhasoo favorites? I’ve heard so many good things about their face masks and serums! Would love to know what you love from the line!
The most beautiful makeup collection of my dreams has launched from EM Cosmetics with their new Masterpiece Collection! Everything is absolutely stunning and I highly recommend checking it out. I haven’t been this excited about a new makeup launch in quite a long time. You can find each piece available at EM Cosmetics.
The Divine Skies Eyeshadow Palettes have a beautiful texture, amazing pigment, and ultra smooth texture that is layerable and easy to blend.
Rodin is like the palette of my dreams! It’s a neutral palette with a slight hint of warmth to make it super wearable with shimmers and mattes. It has a Tom Ford Nude Dip kind of vibe but with more warmth, variation and contrast between the shades for a complete eye look (while the Tom Ford shades are cooler toned and a bit more frosty). Their online swatches are very good on different skin tones so definitely check those out! It has a neutral champagne gold, a sparkling champagne opal kind of color, shimmery bronze taupe, matte fawn, matte warm cocoa and matte deeper brown.
Da Vinci is the darker variation with three shimmers in a pale shimmery peachy copper, an olive gold shimmer, copper shimmer, terracotta brown orange matte, warm matte brown, and a deep matte brown.
Heaven’s Glow Radiant Veil Blush
The Heaven’s Glow Radiant Veil Blush is a unique blush that has a beautiful subtle glow. Baroque is a light pale neutral with a hint of pink and beige. It’s hard to see on camera but it does show up as a very subtle pale neutral glow on the skin. In the summertime I think it will make for a beautiful subtle highlight on my skintone.
Rococo is a stunning medium-deeper neutral shade. It’s a glowing mauve brown neutral with a subtle pearl.
Lip Cushion Tinted Lip Luminizer
Last but not least there are two new shades of the Lip Cushion Tinted Lip Luminizer. This is one of my favorite lip formulas for a creamy tinted wash of color. They’re ultra pigmented, have a twist click up applicator and have good hydration. Mona Lisa is a neutral-cool beige and Van Gogh is a terracotta rose.
A few of you asked how this compares to the Tarte Maracuja Lip Balms. I love both formulas for a tinted lip balm. The EM Cosmetics formula is creamier/thicker and more opaque. Tarte’s formula is glossier with a more translucent quality so it looks glossier on the lips.
I love every piece of the collection. If you’re a neutral makeup lover like me I think you’ll love these too. It’s a nice change from the warm red and orange tones that are super popular these days.
I’m rounding up my January favorites for the month! Here’s the edited list of what I’ve been loving!
I’ve been loving the Necessaire Body Oil for a really nice body oil that’s hydrating and fragrance-free. It absorbs nicely into the skin and leaves the skin feeling super hydrated. I still really love the Sisley Velvet Body Cream and La Mer Body Cream I featured in my Self-Care Favorites, but sometimes it’s nice to have an unscented option! Also one that is more affordable but still has that luxe feel.
I hauled a few of the Hermes nail products last year, one was on backorder and the Les Mains Hermes Nourishing Oil finally arrived! It’s quite an expensive cuticle oil but I really love it. It’s hydrating and effective. This formula is one that keeps selling out and has been a little hard to find but I pre-ordered it from Saks a while ago and it finally came in the mail. Currently available at Hermes, Selfridges and Saks (pre-order) but I do see it pop up on other retailers every once in a while when it restocks.
For foundation I reviewed three new ones recently and out of all of them the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin has been my favorite formula in 6 Neutral (on the face here). It has just the right amount of glow, coverage, texture and finish that I like. Similar to the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation but the Charlotte Tilbury seems just slightly more opaque. Some shades have sold out so you may have to do a bit of searching to find your match. Available at Charlotte Tilbury, Nordstrom and Sephora.
For color my go-to neutral blush is Laura Mercier Fresco. It’s been featured here before many times and I love it for the color and slight hint of shimmer. It’s the perfect neutral tan blush with some peach tones to give you a bit of natural color. Swatches + comparisons in this post here.
I found the perfect opaque baby pink nail polish with Dior Rose Quartz. It has the perfect undertone: pale, not too chalky, not too blue. It’s also opaque and smooth with 2 coats. I ordered it from Dior.com and it’s pure love.
For the lips I have so many loves but if I had to narrow it down to my top four, I’ve been loving the Dior Lip Maximizer in Bronze from holiday (review here). It’s a limited-edition color and I bought a backup. It’s a sheer bronze sparkle lip plumper. The Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath in Gold is similar if you can’t find the Dior one.
My love for the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balms continues! I’ve been loving Grapefruit for a nice juicy soft peach. (Currently on sale at Tarte!)
I bought the Byredo Young Rose as soon as it was available in the 50 ml size. It’s such a pretty spring time perfume and even though it’s named Young Rose, I don’t really detect a lot of rose notes. It’s a fresh sweet floral kind of scent, but not in an overpowering overly sweet way. Notes include Sichuan Pepper, Ambrette Seeds, Damascena Rose, Orris, Musk, Ambroxan.
For the hair, I’ve been loving the Olaplex Bonding Oil + Bond Smoother mixed for a smooth frizz-free blowout. A lot of you have been so kind to comment on how smooth my hair always seems to look. The reality is it takes a lot of work to maintain as I have naturally frizzy hair which requires a lot of smoothing, styling and extra help to keep smooth! In case you want to see my routine you can check out the Reel I did with Ulta Beauty.
A few other staples I’ve been loving. Long-time readers know I’m a huge fan of APL! I did a Roundup Review of the styles in an older post that I reference anytime I get questions about comfort, sizing, style favorites. I still wear them nearly everyday. They wash easily in the washing machine although I give them a soak first in the tub. Scuff marks and stains come out easily with some dish soap and a sponge. I throw them in the washing machine and then air dry them.
Last mention is the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag. I’ve loved this for so long but don’t think I’ve done a full review. They had a few cute fleece options over the holiday which have sold out, but I also love the classic nylon material. The size is perfect for on-the-go kind of use. I use this whenever Andrew and I go on long walks. I also used it to walked Lucy too (RIP). It’s nice to carry just the essentials without having to carry a full purse.
I have it in multiple colors. Everywhere Belt Bag colors top to bottom is the light grey (older color), Pastel Pink, Mulled Wine and Black. Sweatshirt is Lululemon, biker shorts are Free People.
I hauled a few items from the latest No 1 de Chanel Skincare collection and have a review with some thoughts to share today! The lineup has products with their Red Camellia extract and oils to refresh and hydrate the skin. You can find the collection now at Chanel.com and Ulta Beauty. What I hauled:
The No 1 de Chanel Revitalizing Foundation is a fluid illuminating foundation with sheer-medium coverage. It’s very lightweight with a nice glowy finish. On its own it’s very glowy but I liked that it wasn’t greasy feeling. It has a plumping smoothing effect on the skin with the Red Camellia Oil. Finish has medium lasting power even when set with a powder. Since it’s dewy/luminous adding a powder on top will cancel out the shine and glow with most formulas. I found the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder added on top helped set and tone down the shine but still allowed the glow to show through.
I picked B40 and BD41 and my perfect shade match now is BD41. I also picked up B50 for summer.
Overall feels and looks nice on the skin. If you have oily skin it may be too hydrating for you. Right now it works for me but in the summer months I suspect I will gravitate more towards the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation or CC Cream.
There are six shades of the Revitalizing Lip and Cheek Balms. I picked three to try knowing that there would be a chance I would not like these on the cheeks and I was right. These are luminous tinted balms. Applied with the fingers you will get a more lightweight tint but if you apply them with a lip brush you will get more pigment.
I have mixed feelings about these. They’re not bad, the quality and performance is quite good. But they are too dewy for my personal taste on the cheeks and I found they had no dry down which makes them have a sticky texture. They have a more sticky/tacky feel compared to the Baume Essentiel sticks but have the same amount of glow/shine in the finish.
On the lips they’re more comfortable and easier to wear but I would have preferred something in a twist up stick format instead.
Healthy Pink is a medium nude pink color, applied on lips (with lip brush) + cheeks
Wake-Up Pink is bright coral pink on lips + cheeks
Lively Rosewood is a mauve plum (on lips + cheeks)
No 1 de Chanel L’eau Rouge Fragrance Mist and Revitalizing Serum-In-Mist
The last two items I hauled are my favorite! The No 1 de Chanel L’eau Rouge Fragrance Mist was a huge surprise for me. It has a soft refreshing soothing kind of scent to it. To me it’s hard to describe, it has a similar vibe to the Hydra Beauty skincare line and also smells like some of the Shiseido skincare line. Chanel describes it as:
“Opening with an energetic burst of citrus and red berries, the scent unfurls into a heart of jasmine and rose, the iconic signature of the House’s fragrance, along with comforting iris and musk notes.”
To me this is a must-have but I know scent is so personal it might not be for everyone. It’s currently sold out at Chanel but still available at Ulta and I am ordering a backup.
I also really adore the No 1 de Chanel Revitalizing Serum-In-Mist. It’s a bi-phase formula with Red Camellia Oil and camellia water for a dewy refreshed mist of moisture. The oil is noticeable on the skin but it’s still lightweight. If you don’t like the emollient feel I’d recommend their Hydra Beauty Essence Mist instead for a more lightweight feel.
Overall some nice pieces in the collection. I think the foundation is beautiful but it’s not my favorite simply because I prefer something with more coverage and something less dewy. The stand outs are the L’Eau Rouge and Revitalizing Serum-In-Mist. I like the concept of infusing makeup with skincare.
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Available now at Chanel.com and Ulta Beauty. I suspect it will be available at other stores soon! Have you checked out anything from the collection? What did you think?
The latest from NARS is their Light Reflecting Foundation ($49, available in 36 shades) and new shades of the Light Reflecting Setting Loose Powder ($39, now in 4 shades). I posted a video on my Instagram Reels showing the application of the foundation in Sahel and so many of you had more questions about the formula I thought I’d do a full review!
The new NARS Light Reflecting Foundation is a foundation with skincare benefits described as a formula that will blur, smooth, conceal and maintain moisture. According to NARS the formula is 70% skincare. The NARS team sent a few shades and I found my best match to be either Santa Fe M2 or Sahel M2.5. I’m at my lightest right now, most of the year I’m usually a match to Vanuatu M3.5 or Barcelona M4.
In case you missed the tutorial you can watch it below:
The foundation finish has a natural glow and an easy to blend formula with medium coverage. I found it covered most of my sun spots and freckles without looking too heavy. I really don’t need concealer with this foundation! It has a lightweight feel I don’t feel it on my skin.
I would say texture is the biggest difference between this one and other NARS foundations. It has a more natural look and lighter texture compared to the Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (reviewed a few years ago here).
A lot of you also asked how it compared to the Sheer Glow Foundation formula and I wish I could compare but can’t. I used it for a while when it launched, loved it, and then suddenly developed an allergic reaction to it so I stopped using it. I have no issues with the new Light Reflecting Foundation though.
I haven’t used this new formula enough to notice skincare benefits but I like the way it looks, blends out and feels on the skin. It does have a natural light reflecting quality to look like my skin but better. It is a long wear foundation that adheres to the skin so I find it essential to double cleanse at the end of the day. It’s not challenging to remove like a waterproof mascara but with all newer longer wearing foundations and powders these days you will need to take a little extra care at the end of the day to remove all of it at night.
Bare Skin vs a swipe of Sahel below
Side by side with Foundation vs No Foundation (applied with a beautyblender)
The Light Reflecting Loose and Pressed Powders used to be in heavy rotation when they first launched in the translucent Crystal shade. Both are stark white in the compact but smooth and set foundation without adding any white tint. I’m thrilled they decided to add more shades which I think will be better for tan to deeper skin tones.
Both the pressed and loose powders have NARS’ light reflecting complex. It diffused light, blurs out fine lines and has a soft look without any flashback in flash photos.
You can see the Light Reflecting Pressed Powder in Crystal in action in my Reel (linked above). I highly recommend giving it a try! It has a very stiff texture in the pan. If you swipe a brush you will almost think no product is being picked up on the brush but once you apply to the face you will see the transformation!
Here’s a closer look at the Light Reflecting Loose Powder in Shore for medium to medium-deep skin tones. It looked a little dark in the jar but I am pleased to report it doesn’t darken my foundation. This one has a mesh sifter cover and a lid to prevent spilling/leakage. It has a superfine light feel, almost like air.
One more quick look at one of my favorite concealers in the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger. Right now I find Macadamia a better match for spot concealing/brightening. I could probably use Custard too, but most of the year I’m either Macadamia or Ginger. In the summer I go as deep as Praline.
Overall I really like the new NARS foundation! I like how it blends, wears and feels. You can find it now at Sephora and NARS Cosmetics. Have you tried this one yet? What did you think?
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NARS Foundation + Powder provided for review. Press samples also have a * next to them.
Continuing my home features with a roundup of some of my organization and storage favorites! As a beauty blogger I go through a lot of product testing and keeping everything organized is quite the challenge! I keep the vast majority of products in a beauty closet in Ikea Alex drawers and shelves with clear storage bins. I also have storage in my bathroom.
There are staples and things I use frequently that I like to have quick and easy access to. Being able to see things displayed also helps me find things faster when I’m pulling things for a makeup look, tutorial or comparisons (versus having things stored in a drawer). If you’re looking for some ideas on how to display or store your products, I’m rounding up storage solutions I love.
Rotating Beauty Tower
I ordered one of the Rotating Makeup Organizers on Amazon. There are tons of options from a wide range of brands and I picked up this one. It comes flat packed and is super easy to assemble. Quality is decent for the price, but it’s not the most sturdy or thick compared to the pricey acrylic organizers. This one has adjustable insert shelves for each side and also comes with small locking rings to hold the shelves in place. It holds a lot of product although I wouldn’t put super heavy things on the shelves. I like it! It’s functional, very affordable and lightweight.
Spinning Acrylic Lipstick Tower
I have a ton of lipsticks stored in these 24-Lipstick Acrylic Organizers in drawers but I found Impressions Vanity Lipstick and Powder Spinner with Drawers more functional. Sold out at Impressions Vanity but still available at Wayfair ($89.99). It’s more expensive than what you’ll find at Amazon but the quality is really good and I think all their acrylic organizers are well made and worth it. This one has holders on the side for pencils or brushes. It also has horizontal slots for compacts (which I use for more lipsticks) and also drawers.
Ikea Godmorgon Box
I purchased the Ikea Godmorgon Box with Compartments a few years ago and love it. Mine is the clear version which is no longer available but they still carry it in a clear smoked color. I love the quality – it has held up a lot better than I anticipated! I like that the compartments are removable. I like their other products in the Godmorgon lineup too.
Snapware Snap and Stack
My little Olive and June box for storing hand and nail essentials has been a tried and true for a long time but I’ve found I needed something bigger. I saw this Snapware box on @overglowedit’s highlights and ordered it immediately! The box comes in a few size options. Mine is the 2 tier Snapware Snap and Stack Portable Organizer (14.1 x 10.5 inches size) and I absolutely love it. I put in a few iDesign Shallow Organizers inside to separate products (I also use these in my bathroom drawers and Ikea drawers).
I keep my hand and nail essentials and tools here like my clippers, cuticle pusher, cuticle trimmers, nail oils, favorite base and top coats etc. All of my nail polishes are stored in my beauty closet but I keep the basics in these snap boxes for easy access since I switch my polish a lot with testing etc.
Plastic Hinged Lid Containers
I ordered a few mDesign Plastic Storage Boxes (they come in a few size options and in different colors). I like storing my lash curlers, perfume samples, beauty sponges and small things inside to keep them dust-free. These come in a set of 2 and I like that they’re stackable too. I ordered some of the larger ones for Andrew’s grooming products to store under his bathroom sink.
Acrylic Tiered Stand
This riser display stand is another Amazon find I’ve featured before. I like this functional tiered stand which helps me see product like perfume (or foundations) easier on my shelf. I have the smaller version.
Marble Acrylic Storage
Still loving this Marble + Acrylic Storage Unit from CB2! Including it in the roundup in case you missed it! Several of you have messaged me you purchased this too and love it! I’m thrilled!
Jewelry Storage
Last mention is a couple of jewelry storage solutions I have. I get so many questions about these brass T-Bar stands. These are from Kendra Scott in the Large and Small size. They’re perfect for hanging necklaces so they don’t get tangled. Also available in silver and rose gold colors. I’m really happy with the quality.
I’ve received a few questions about how I travel with jewelry and store it at home. I bought the Mejuri Travel Case about a year ago and had my initials embossed on the surface. It’s a delicate kind of leather they describe as grained but it has a smooth touch/feel to me. I’ve only traveled with it once and it worked well for my earrings and rings but necklaces became a tangled mess. It’s still functional and I like the quality. Since the leather is on the softer side I do see it getting scratched if it’s thrown into a luggage bag or suitcase.
I also ordered the Jewelry Box to organize my jewelry and just received it in the mail. I’m still in the process of organizing my earrings and other pieces of jewelry. I think it’s a beautiful case! You can also have this monogrammed/embossed with up to 3 letters. I have the larger size (also available in black leather).
One last note is that I still really love the heavy duty acrylic organizers I’ve purchased in the past from Muji, Original Beauty Box and Glamboxes. It seems like several of the acrylic storage makers and brands are no longer around though. I had a feature of some units in our Home Loft Tour from several years ago when we lived in San Diego in case you’re curious.
So many of you seem to love these organization posts. I plan on doing more in the future! What are your favorite ways to organize your beauty products?
New spring beauty launches have started to trickle in and I am always so excited to see what the new year brings us! I hauled quite a few of the new launches to try out and have a Sephora makeup haul to share with you today. If you’re a Beauty Insider you have early access to a lot of the beauty launches. I also love the rewards and perks they offer for events and savings! If you’re not a Sephora Beauty Insider yet I highly recommend signing up.
I hauled a little bit of everything for eyes, lips, cheeks and complexion. Here is what I’ve been testing out the past few weeks!
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury just launched her new Beautiful Skin Foundation ($44) and it is beautiful! It’s a medium coverage liquid base with a natural glow. It has a smooth semi-dewy finish that looks like my skin but better. It evens out my skin and lasts all day (truly impressive). My match is 6 Neutral right now and I love it.
NARS Afterglow
NARS launched their Afterglow Collection for spring with a new cheek palette and glosses. The Afterglow Blush Palette ($59) has gorgeous colors to bring life to the complexion. There is one pale pink highlighter and five blushes. Pigment is excellent and buildable. I’m always a little timid when it comes to super bold bright shades for the cheeks but their Exhibit A blush makes for a really stunning flush.
They also added new shades to their Afterglow Lip Shine Lip Gloss lineup ($26 each). These are some of the smoothest glosses I’ve tried with a comfortable finish and mirror-like shine. I love the hydrating formula and the colors are stunning. Swatches of all the new shades below and another look wearing the Afterglow Lipshine in Orgasm which is a pretty pink gold peach shimmer.
Afterglow Lip Shine in Orgasm below
New Natasha Denona
Natasha Denona always brings us the prettiest palettes and highlighters! I hauled her Mini Biba Palette ($25) which has the perfect mix of colors for a complete eye look. She also launched a Mini Rose Cheek Duo ($19) with a cream rose blush and soft highlighter. I love the texture and colors. Everything is perfect for an elevated everyday kind of look.
I hauled a few Makeup by Mario lip products over the holiday and think there are some winners! The Ultra Suede Lipstick ($24) in Brielle is one of my favorites for a pretty mauve pink shade. These have a nice a velvety matte finish and long lasting power. Coverage is smooth with a diffused kind of look.
The Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencils ($22) are also really good! They’re smooth, pigmented and come in a wide range of shades. I picked three in Daniel (spiced brown), Hugh (nude pink) and Johnny (rose pink) and think they are super wearable alone or with a coordinating lipstick.
Rare Beauty
I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve tried from Rare Beauty and have fallen in love with the Soft Pinch Liquid Blushes ($20). I like that they have both dewy and matte finishes. I love Happy for a bright healthy pink. Hope is a pretty everyday kind of neutral. Encourage is a pretty deeper rose mauve. They are super pigmented so a little goes a long way. They’re easy to blend and have pretty good lasting power.
New Kosas
Kosas launched their new 10-Second Eye Gel Watercolor Eyeshadow ($15) which replaced their liquid formula. I think the new one is a huge improvement in wear and ease of application. I ordered all the shades sight unseen and think every single one is wearable for an all over wash as a one-and-done kind of eyeshadow. I love them layered/mixed especially Heat and Blaze. Lasting power is really good with these. Once they set they don’t budge.
New at Sephora
Last three things I wanted to share from my haul are from YSL, Dior and Chloe. I think the new YSL Lash Clash Extreme Mascara ($29) is the best one they’ve launched to date. It’s volumizing, ultra dark in pigment, doesn’t flake and doesn’t smudge. It’s a winner for me!
Dior launched a new Lip Maximizer Serum Intense and I love it. It has a completely different texture and finish compared to their Lip Maximizers. The new Lip Maximizer Serum has a serum feel, like a face serum, but for the lips! It has a vanilla mint kind of scent, no tingle on me, and coats the lips with a veil of moisture.
It might be a little early for spring fragrances but I spritzed the new Chloe Naturelle Eau de Parfum and fell in love with it. I decided to buy the mini size to try it out. It’s fresh and green, similar to the original Chloe perfume, but with a fresh clean vibe.
That wraps up my spring beauty haul from Sephora! Hope you found the swatches helpful! Have you hauled any new items yet? Let me know what you’ve been testing out!
