Merry Christmas! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and safe holiday season as we wrap up the year. Andrew and I spent Christmas Eve at home with just the two of us along with our pup Lucy and cat Calvin.
Calvin turned 9 this year and Lucy is 17! We are grateful for every day we still have with our Lucy girl as she is very old and has lost most of her sight and hearing. She’s still happy, healthy, living for the snacks and belly rubs, just slowing down more and more each day.
Wishing you all the best from the bottom of my heart! Sending you all lots of love! Grateful for the kindness many of you have shown me each as you follow along on my beauty journey. Hopeful and looking forward to the next year!
Merry Christmas!
I’ll be wrapping up the year with some favorites roundups! Also stay tuned a mini home decor haul refresh (you can see a peek at one thing I hauled here) and a look at Chanel Spring first week the new year!
It’s been a while since I’ve done a nail polish roundup so I thought I’d share 10 Holiday Nail Colors that can take you from Christmas into the New Year. I love following all the nail trends and save a lot of tutorials for inspiration! However I still haven’t mastered the hand painting swirl designs myself. I bought a few tools to try at home in the new year, so maybe I’ll be able to do it one day! For now I love bright or bolds. I still wear my everyday neutrals often but love these holiday shades.
All swatches below are with two coats!
OPI Snow Day in LA
OPI Snow Day in LA* (infinite shine formula, also available in the regular formula) is a soft smooth white with a hint of pearl. Applies smoothly without streaks with 2 coats. Love that it’s a bright white without being too stark.
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OPI Intentions are Rosegold
OPI Intentions are Rosegold is a pretty metallic coppery rose gold with a foiled finish. Applies without visible brush strokes and ultra rich pigment!
Hermes Rose Incarnat is a bright fun pink cream, similar to Chanel Turban (the Chanel pulls more warm/peachy). I keep getting so many questions about the Hermes nail polishes and I’m working my way through testing them. I still don’t think they’re worth $45 as I don’t think any polish should be that much. But I am really happy with the formula so far. Has good lasting power, no chips within 1 week, opaque coverage, beautiful colors. I think you can definitely find dupes though!
Hermes Orange Poppy is a vibrant orange cream. I love how bright and vibrant it is!
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Hermes Rose Tamise
Hermes Rose Tamise is one I love in the bottle, dries to a slightly darker finish on my nails. I’d describe it as a muted dusty mauve plum. This one is a bit hard to find, but I’d recommend checking back online to see if they restock at Hermes.
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Essie Topless & Barefoot
Essie Topless & Barefoot is the one classic pale nude pink shade that always gets me compliments. Doesn’t last as long as other formulas but it’s a great neutral!
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Chanel Le Vernis in Interdit
Chanel Le Vernis in Interdit is another classic bold vampy shade. Opaque, smooth, dramatic! Another one that always get compliments more than any other vampy dark shade I own.
What’s on your nails right now this holiday season? Do you do them yourself or go to the salon? Mine are all DIY. I have only been the salon once in the past 3 years for a pedicure. All the others are done on my own at home! For those new to the blog you can check out my Hand + Nail Care Favorites here including hand creams, tools, base + top coat favorites and more.
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Press samples have a * next to them. All other items purchased by me.
The Sephora Fragrance For All Event starts today! Beauty Insider Members can save 20% off full-size perfumes online or in-store anytime from 12/13 through 12/24 with code FRAGRANCE20. Promo code is a one-time use (US only). This year Sephora is also offering free same-day delivery code SAMEDAY to have your orders and gifts delivered (offer also runs from 12/13 through 12/24).
Offer is valid on full-size fragrance purchases of 1.0 oz or larger, excludes sets and Chanel fragrances. Discount is available for one time use online or in-stores. Discount does not apply to taxes, shipping, or other fees. Some limitations apply. See store for details. Available in the US and CA. Discounts cannot be stacked, but Sephora Collection may be used in same transaction.
I love trying new perfumes and I love rotating new ones each season. I’ve put together a roundup of my top favorites from Sephora.
Jo Malone Favorites
Jo Malone was one of my first high-end perfume loves. The scents bring back distinct memories for me! I’ve tried pretty much every perfume and the Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne is one of my most-worn perfumes. It’s such a great earthy woody scent you can wear year round. Notes include ambrette seeds, sea salt and sage.
I also love the Basil and Neroli for a fresh and bright earthy green kind of scent. This one is one of Andrew’s favorites on me. It has a mix of basil grande vert, neroli and white musk. It’s fun and bright.
Fig scents are beautiful for the home but are hard for me to wear. The Jo Malone Fig and Lotus Flower is one that I can actually wear that still has that lovely fig scent. It has fig leaf, lotus flower and vetiver for a juicy green kind of floral.
Tom Ford
If you’re looking to splurge Tom Ford is the way to go. My absolute favorites are the Eau de Soleil Blanc and Soleil Blanc for white floral, bergamot, ylang ylang + Coco de Mer notes. These are more spring to summer time scents but I still wear them year round. Other loves include his Tobacco Vanille, Oud Wood, Santal Blush and White Suede to name a few.
Last but not least is the Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb. To me this is one of the best classic date-night spicy scents. It’s sweet, spicy and floral with a mix of jasmin, orange blossom and patchouli.
I have a few on my wishlist I might splurge (and save) on during this event! I have been trying some mini samples I have of Tom Ford Soleil Neige and Maison Louis Marie No. 04 and plan on purchasing the full sizes!
Would love to hear about your perfume favorites from Sephora! What are your absolute must-haves?
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Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.
If you’re still doing some last minute shopping for gifts I have one last Holiday Gift Guide with some ideas for you!
A few of these I own myself and love. The Aesop Protector Trio ($82) has all of my Aesop favorites for the home. I think this makes for the perfect hostess gift! Their Adventurer Roll Up Hand Trio ($56) is another one I love with their hand sanitizers and hand cream.
I’m a minimalist when it comes to jewelry but if you’re looking for some nice classic pieces I love the Mejuri Bold Hoops Earrings ($160) that come in 14k Yellow Gold and White Gold. These are solid gold pieces and I wear these almost every day. I splurged on the Pave Diamond Bold Hoops version ($495) earlier this year and love them. Also love this dainty diamond necklace (worn here).
Lululemon is a favorite at our home. Both Andrew and I use or wear something from Lululemon nearly everyday. I love their Everywhere Belt Bag ($38). It’s the perfect size to carry just the essentials. I bought a bunch of these to give as stocking stuffers this year. I also really love the Everywhere Fleece Belt Bag ($48) which sold out super fast but I have seen it restock a couple times.
The Jewelry T Bar Stands I have that many of you ask about from stories are from Kendra Scott. I have both the Large ($85) and Small ($80) and think they’re really well made. I think these would make super cute gifts, also shown in this Reel here.
Last one I want to highlight is Skinstore! They have lots of great gifts at all price points, great sales and sets. I shared four sets on Instagram in this post here including the Holiday Edit Box ($75), 111Skin Jetsetter Pouch with my favorite Eye Masks ($30, available in Rose and Black), and the NuFace Fix Set ($139). US readers might be really excited to know they carry Nuxe which is so hard to find these days. I’m really happy to have been able to buy their Huile Prodigieuse Trio Set ($66.75) so I can have their body oil in my life again.
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Sending you all lots of love and good vibes during this holiday season. I know it can be extremely stressful this time of year! I’m hosting another giveaway! ONE reader will be selected to win a selection of my favorites! Open to US and Canada readers, 18 years or older. To enter:
complete ALL the steps in the widget below
open to US and Canada residents, 18 years or older
giveaway runs through 12/14/2021 11:59 PM EST
winner will be selected by me and emailed directly within 48 hours of giveaway end time
winner must email me back within 48 hours or another winner will be selected
prize will ship within one week
not sponsored or affiliated
giveaway includes: Lululemon Fleece Belt Bag (black), mini Diptyque candles (x2), Bobbi Brown Enriched Face Base + Eye Cream, Bobbi Brown Sweet Indulgences Lip Set, Cobblestone Lane Eye Palette, Tarte Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe Maracuja Lip Set, Fresh Lip Balm, Glossier Balm Dot Com, Aesop Adventurer Hand Trio Roll
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to have a one-on-one interview with one of the co-founders of Omorovicza, Margaret de Heinrich. Omorovicza has been a long-time favorite for years and it was so great to connect with the brand founder and learn more about her skincare philosophy, background behind the brand and her own self-care routine.
The line was founded in Budapest where Margaret and her husband Stephen met. They were impressed by the healing properties and benefits of the Hungarian mineral rich waters and began their quest to capture these ingredients into their own skincare line. You can read more about their brand history and the inspiration behind their skincare line here. I love that she has so much passion for her brand! Also truly appreciate that she understands the seasonality of skincare as well.
I’ve used quite a few things from Omorovicza over the years. Long-time readers know that I’m a huge fan of the Queen of Hungary Face Mist. It’s made my favorites list countless times and they’ve since added a few more formulas to their lineup! For those new to the brand I thought it would be fun to share my Top 10 favorites!
Cleansers
Readers know I love trying cleansers. I think having a good cleansing routine is essential to having clear healthy skin. I’ve tried nearly every cleanser Omorovicza has!
Moor Cream Cleanser ($82) is the first cleanser I tried and it’s one I’ve kept repurchasing. It has such a unique cream mud texture that works to purify the skin while moisturizing. It has Moor Mud with calcium, magnesium and a blend of essential oils to cleanse and purify.
Cleansing Foam ($82) is a sulfate free cleansing foam. This has been formulated for all skin types but for me I find it best suited for normal-oily skin or combination skin. It’s gentle and non-stripping but works to help remove excess oil. Key ingredients include Copper Gluconate, White Lupin Extract, Apple Pectin and their patented Healing Concentrate.
Queen Cleanser ($95) is one of the newest additions to Omorovicza and I love it! It’s like a cold cream cleanser and works well to clean the skin gently while calming the skin. Calendula extract calms the skin. It contains evening primrose oil, Vitemin E and linseed oil to smooth and protect the skin. This cleanser leaves the skin feeling soft and well balanced.
Peachy Micellar Cleansers ($52) these cleansing pads are among my favorite from the line. I use it as a first step cleanser to remove makeup at the end of the day. It has a super fresh feel to them. These contain natural Olive Oil Ester to draw out oil and impurities, Damask Rose Flower Water to soothe and soften and a gentle Patchouli + Peach fragrance.
Mask/Treatments
There are several masks and peels from Omorovicza. I have not tried them all yet but two I really love are the Blue Diamond Resurfacing Peel and Deep Cleansing Mask. The Blue Diamond Resurfacing Peel ($200) is an ultra-gentle exfoliating and brightening peel with AHA and Lactic Acid. This is one of the few peels I can use that is gentle enough for my sensitive skin. You leave it on for a couple of minutes and rinse off. It’s recommended to use 2-3 times per week.
The Deep Cleansing Mask ($125) Is a great purifying mud-mask. It has a slight cooling effect and works to reduce pore size and clarify the skin without stripping it. It contains their Hungarian Moor Mud rich in calcium and magnesium to clear the skin. I’ll use this 1 time per week or every other week. I like that this one is soothing and not too strong.
Queen Cream
For moisturizers I’ve really loved the mists from Omorovicza but haven’t really explored the other creams or lotions yet. One that I have tried is their new Queen Cream ($249). It is phenomenal! Margaret describes it as a cloud cushion for the skin and I couldn’t find a better way to describe it. It has a unique balm texture that glides onto the skin and doubles as a makeup primer. It primes and preps the skin for foundation. Love that it has a nice blurring effect!
Face Mists
I’ve saved the best for last! I’ve loved the Queen of Hungary Mist for years. It’s a gentle hydrating mist that works to refresh the skin without being too heavy or oily. It has a mix of orange blossom, rose and sage. It’s the best skin refresher I own.
The Magic Moisture Mist ($99) is a bi-phase formula that also acts as a liquid moisturizer. It has oil and water that gives the skin a nice fresh glow.
The newest addition is their Queen of Hungary Evening Mist ($84). This is designed to help soothe the skin overnight and has lavender oil to relax, melatonin to repair the skin overnight and CBD to calm and reduce any inflammation. I keep this on my nightstand and I love it. It’s the perfect skin treat to end the day.
You can find all of my favorites at Omorovicza. There’s a lot to explore by skin type and collection. They also have some items in travel size as well.
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The brand has kindly offered to host a giveaway to one US reader (18 years and older)! Giveaway will run from 12/6 through 12/9/2021 11:59 PM EST. To enter follow all the steps in the widget below. They’re giving away:
Today I have a look at the new Natasha Denona Glam Face and Eye Palettes ($59 each). I hauled both a few weeks ago from Sephora and have been playing around with both.
Right now Sephora is having a special Beauty For All Savings Event for Beauty Insider members! From 12/3 through 12/12 use the code GIFTEASY to save 20% off your entire purchase. The code is a one-time use, Sephora Collection gets 30% off.
The Natasha Denona Glam Face and Eye Palette in Light is more natural on my skin. Blush is a soft warm rose with a velvety cream texture. Highlighter also has that interesting hybrid powder-gel texture with an intense glow with finely milled shimmer. It’s not as sharp as some of her others but you can definitely build and layer for a more intense highlight.
The eyeshadows are a mix of mattes and sparkles. They’re soft, smooth, easy to blend and come in perfect neutral tones! For me the lighter shadows still need 1-2 more deeper colors for liner or definition, but I love the entire look.
The Natasha Denona Glam Face and Eye Palette in Dark is actually my favorite of the two. The tones are beautiful with warm neutrals. It has a similar vibe to the Light Palette but the Dark one has darker more dramatic tones. I would actually love it if she had combined both into one palette. Shimmers are very sparkly but apply smoothly. There will be some fallout with application but once on the lids I found shades stayed put well.
Overall lovely palettes for an almost-complete makeup look. I do think the Dark Palette has enough colors for me to create a complete look. The Light Palette is one I think fair to light skintones will find suitable for a complete look. For me I need one more darker shadow color, but it’s not a deal breaker since I almost always add a pencil liner anyways.
Color palette, quality, texture, wear is all excellent. Pigment is easy to build and control with layering and blending. I love how these wear and think they’re perfect for holiday! I find them reasonably priced and with the Sephora promo it makes them even better!
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You can find them available now at Sephora. Have you tried these yet? Do you have a favorite face and eye palette or do you find yourself mixing and matching to create your go-to makeup look?
I’m all about that ultra-clean feeling when it comes my skin and I’m a firm believer in double cleansing to keep the skin clear and healthy. These days so many makeup brands have formulated their products to last longer throughout the day which I love, however it also means you need make a little extra effort to remove it all the end of the day. Cleaning your skin thoroughly is must for me to maintain healthy glowing skin.
I’ve loved Dermalogica for years for their easy-to-use no-fuss skincare staples. I love their philosophy and that all their formulas are fragrance-free, alcohol-free and cruelty-free as well. If you’re looking for some skincare sets there are some great ones from Dermalogica this season. I’ve partnered with them to share a look at their Best Cleanse + Glow Set ($95) which includes full-sizes of the PreCleanse (5.1 oz). Special Cleansing Gel (8.4 oz), and Daily Microfoliant (2.6 oz). The cleansers will remove makeup, oil and dirt without stripping the skin.
I’ve been really loving the Best Cleanse + Glow Set because it offers a simple cleansing routine. Step 1 is their PreCleanse which is a cleansing oil that works to break down and melt away makeup, excess oil, sunscreen and waterproof makeup. Apply on dry skin and massage it over the face, then wet hands and then work the emulsified oil into the face. Finish by rinsing with warm water.
Step 2 is to use the Special Cleansing Gel. I’ve used and repurchased this several times in the past and love that it’s a lightweight but effective cleanser. It’s soap-free with a gel formula that lathers well. It’s gentle and also has Balm Mint to calm the skin and Lavender Extract to soothe.
The final step in their Cleansing Routine is to use the Daily Microfoliant which is a gentle rice-based exfoliating powder. It’s activated with a little bit of water and has papain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes to gently polish the skin. It’s been a while since I’ve used a face scrub as I found most too harsh for my skin. I still know it’s important exfoliate and this is a gentle option that really makes a difference in texture and tone. It also has colloidal oatmeal to calm the skin.
I also love their masks! I’m always on the hunt to try a good detoxifying mask that helps clear out pores and clears skin while still calming it. I tried their Charcoal Rescue Mask ($49) around the areas I have congestion and it works really to refine pores and brighten the skin. I apply it on the nose and T-zone area along with some trouble spots on my cheeks but you can apply it all over as well.
If you’re looking for some other sets check out their Skin Kits and Sets page.
You can find the Best Cleanse + Glow Set available online at Dermalogica. Have you tried the line before? If you have what are some of your favorites? If not, do you double cleanse? What products do you have in your routine right now?
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Many thanks to Dermalogica for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.
