Tom Ford launched two new items in the Soleil lineup and I ordered the new Soleil Eye Color Quad in Naked Pink ($89) and Sunlit Rose Lip Balm ($58). I look forward to the Soleil eyeshadow palettes every year as I’m a huge fan of the pretty shimmers for this line. I ordered both from Nordstrom.
Soleil Eyeshadow Quad in Naked Pink
The Soleil Eyeshadow Quad in Naked Pink has a mix of textures unlike the previous year’s First Frost which is all metallic (ie like Honeymoon, Nude Dip, Virgin Orchid etc.). This year’s Naked Pink has a soft shimmery cool pink champagne, a matte soft malted pink, a sparkle topper in a pale rose/mauve glitter and a medium shimmery rose. Pigment is medium soft in this one and on my medium tan skin tone colors look more subdued/natural. Texture is smooth and easy to blend and layer. If you’re looking for super strong pigment this might be too sheer for you. I really like the colors and quality but wish the pigment was a bit stronger/more visible. Still the semi-sheer pigment isn’t a deal breaker for me, I’d rate this a solid B+/A-. It’s one I will wear for the holiday season for a sparkle eye look and I really like it.
Top – Abercrombie Cardigan (older style, similar option here)
______
Closer detail eye look below wearing the Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Naked Pink and different lip combo to add more color with Lip Color in Spanish Pink layered with the Lip Balm in Sunlit Rose.
Soleil Lip Balm in Sunlit Rose
This year’s Soleil Lip Balm in Sunlit Rose also has an overspray on the bullet. Underneath is a soft pink glow. I really love how pretty it is on my arm but on my pigmented lips it looks really pale. Based on what I see on my hand swatch I expected it to look like Spanish Pink but with a glow. I suspect on most of you Sunlit Rose will look more true to tube versus what it looks like on me. I like the texture – it’s smooth and semi-thick, almost like a Tom Ford lipstick but smoother. It works nicely as a layering product with liner or over a lipstick. Not a must-have for me although the packaging and presentation is really pretty.
I love this time of year when we can bring out all kinds of cozy things for fall the season. It’s still quite warm here in Florida but the weather has noticeably started to shift. I’ve started to change our home scents to put us more in the mood for fall. Today I’ve put together a roundup of my favorite cozy fall candles from Nordstrom. I’ve included a few alternatives for diffusers and room sprays as well.
Diptyque Loves
Out of all the home fragrance brands I would say that Diptyque is my favorite. I still remember the first ones I splurged on and to this day my favorite is still Baies. It’s a classic blackcurrant and rose mix that is truly unique. I own this in multiple formats and sizes. The Standard Size 6.5 oz/190 g candle is a classic and has approximately 60 hours of burn time. For a splurge the 3-Wick 600 g comes in a black ceramic vessel and has 90 hours of burn time. The larger size has significantly stronger throw.
If you’re looking for a good gift set to treat yourself or gift as a hostess gift Best of Baies is a great one with a mini candle, mini room spray and scented oval.
Other scents I adore include Ambre which is a warm and creamy woody amber with vetiver, patchouli, aniseed, spices, incense, cistus and tonka bean. Santal is another favorite woody scent wand is probably my favorite sandalwood variation with a mix of velvety spices. Vanille is one of the best smoky vanillas I’ve tried.
The Diptyque room sprays are among the best ones I’ve tried. While they’re not as long lasting as a candle, I find they last longer in our home compared to other brands. I’ve splurged on a quite a few but the ones I like the most are Figuier and Baies.
Byredo
I also have so much love for Byredo. Their candles are really spendy but they have incredibly strong throw. Even their mini ones are quite potent. The ones I keep going back to are Tree House and Woods for fall. Both have a really unique woody vibe. Tree House is a complex scent with cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood and hay and spice, myrrh and labdanum. The first time I visited a Byredo store this was the scent they were burning inside and it was incredible. I splurged on the Room Spray and was really impressed.
Another favorite is Cotton Poplin which I think is more of a timeless home fragrance. It’s one of the most comforting fresh scents with a mix of chamomile, cedar and musk.
There are so many great options in candles. I also really like Burning Rose and Bibliotheque – both unique, smoky with a lot of depth. If you like the Bal D’Afrique Perfume you will really love Bibliotheque.
Le Labo
Le Labo is another great line I think is universally loved. The Santal 26 Candle is one of their classics. It’s a creamy warm mix of amber, cocoa, vanilla, cedar, musk and sandalwood. It’s quite potent and fills the entire home within minutes.
They have a few mini candle discovery sets which I love. I own the Candle Discovery Set Trio with Figue 15, Palo Santo 14 and Petit Grain 21 (Nordstrom Exclusive) and think it makes for a great gift. They just added a new Candle Discovery Set with Calone 17, Laurier 62 and Verveine 32. I’m super curious about these and have them on my list to smell next time I’m in store.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
One of the most luxurious things I’ve been gifted was the Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Candle. My bestie bought this for me last Christmas and I save it for special occasions. It smells just like the Eau de Parfum – mix of rich amber, floral notes, jasmine, saffron, cedarwood and ambergris. It has such an incredible throw.
Jo Malone
Last but not least is Jo Malone. They have so many timeless classics and I love their holiday editions. The one I love the most is the Lime Basil and Mandarin which is clean, unisex, unique, sharp. I tried the Lime Basil & Mandarin Scent Surround Diffuser and love it.
I know this is a long list but since I work from home I find them worth the splurge. We always have something burning in the home for any kind of mood. I love that Andrew also loves a good smelling home.
Out of all the scents that I’ve purchased and repurchased, I would say my Top 5 for fall:
You can find all of my favorites available at Nordstrom. Don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase page to take advantage of extra minis! If you’re part of the Nordy Club they have 2x points on beauty through October 31st! What are your favorite scents for fall? Do you like more woody spicy scents or do you go for something more floral? Or opt for the sweeter gourmand scents? Would love to hear about your favorites!
Shop the Post:
Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.
Hourglass launched three palettes for Holiday 2021 and today I have swatches of all three. There are two larger palettes with 5 shades each, and one palette in a trio format.
Two of the new palettes are 5-pans, one in a light/medium option, the other in a medium/deeper option. Each one contains 1 Ambient Lighting Powder (for setting/blurring), two blushes, one bronzer and one highlighter. The lighter variation is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Face Universe ($80). Colors in this palette:
Ambient Lighting Infinity Powder – color is a mix of Diffused Light, Dim Light, and Hypnotic Strobe Light, pale sheer ivory (repromote)
Ambient Strobe Lighting Blush in Vibrant Heat – raspberry and light pink swirl
Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Rose – described as a soft plum, but mine pulls more golden peach with the swirl pattern
Colors performed well. The Ambient Lighting Infinity Powder looks really pale for a finishing powder but I find it sheer enough to use even on my medium-tan skin. It has a soft diffused finish I can use to set foundation or use as a very soft glow highlighter/diffuser.
Blushes perform well on my skin although the plum rose shade looks a lot warmer and almost bronzey on my skin compared to what I see in the pan. Overall really pretty, but not entirely unique. You may want to wait for a Friends and Family sale that happens during the holiday season.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Face Universe Unlocked
The deeper variation is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Face Universe Unlocked. This looks like it has deeper tones for medium to tan skin tones. I was surprised to find this wearable for me since the colors looked a bit dark, but the plum and rose blushes make for a really pretty look. I do wish that they had all new colors instead of repromotes, but out of the two palettes I prefer this one.
Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light – soft golden beige bronze (repromote)
Ambient Lighting Blush in Rose Heat – deep berry satin
Ambient Lighting Blush in Coral Flush – bright peony
Last is a look Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette Vol III which is a finishing and highlighting palette for deep skin tones. A deeper palette like this from Hourglass has been long overdue and I’m glad they’ve started to add darker variations. Since this is a deeper toned palette and I have medium-tan skin, the colors are too dark for me to try as a finishing or blurring product but the powders seem smooth and finely milled. I did try as a bronzer but found colors a bit on the warm side for me. I think I could probably use this on the eyes as a deeper brown/bronze palette for my skin tone.
Here is a side by side of the palettes Vol 1, Vol 2 and Vol 3:
I ordered my 5-palettes Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Face Universe and Universe Unlocked from Nordstrom. Also available at other retailers like Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Space NK and Ulta. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette Vol III seems to be available only at Hourglass Cosmetics right now.
Shop the Post:
Have you checked out the Hourglass Holiday palettes yet? What did you think? Are there any other palettes you have on your radar?
By popular request I have an updated Hair Care Roundup! Today’s roundup is Part 1 focused on shampoos, conditioners, and masks. Part 2 (coming soon) will have my favorites for styling. I have thick hair strands but with age I’ve noticed some thinning. My hair hasn’t been highlighted or bleached for at least a year since I tried to grow out my natural hair color and also get rid of the damaged sections. This year I noticed a lot more white hairs start to pop up and started to do root touch ups. I might go back for some color at some point soon.
For hair care since I have thick naturally frizzy hair I look for smoothing products. I wash my hair either daily or every other day. Here are my favorite brands right now.
Hair Rituel by Sisley
The best of the best that I’ve tried is from Sisley with the Hair Rituel line. There is really nothing quite as good in my experience and 100% worth the splurge. I try to stock up during sales or good gift with purchase options. Saks is having their Friends and Family event with 15% off beauty (on most brands, now through 10/4) and the Sisley-Paris Hair Rituel website often has good bundles and offers.
I love that the line has a very natural soothing scent with each product so it’s not heavily perfumed and won’t interfere with my fragrances. My favorites:
Revitalizing Smoothing Shampoo ($79 for 200 ml) – I have thicker hair strands that is frizz prone and this helps the best to smooth my hair. It has macadamia oil which adds a nice shine. It’s comforting to the scalp and lathers well. (Also available in a Jumbo 500 ml Bottle which I have splurged on before.)
Restructuring Conditioner ($79 for 200 ml) – Another favorite to help hydrate hair, restore shine and works well to smooth and detangle.
Regenerating Mask ($100 for 200 ml) – I use this once a week or alternate with my other hair masks. It has four botanical oils including Shea, Macadamia, Camellia and Hazelnut. Adds shine and feels nice when massaged into the roots.
Nourishing Balm* ($120, apply as needed) – A unique pre-shampoo treatment I apply on ends and leave in for 30 minutes before rinsing out. Works well when ends feel ultra dry or brittle.
Soothing Rebalancing Shampoo with Sage Extract* ($79 for 200 ml) – This is the latest from Sisley for scalp care to be used in conjunction with their new Soothing Rebalancing Cure for a 3 week intensive program to rebalance the scalp. I have a pretty healthy scalp so I use this as a clarifying treatment 1x per week to help rebalance everything. It works to help reset everything for my scalp as needed.
As an intensive program treatment, they recommend using this 3x per week for 3 weeks. After they recommend alternating with your regular shampoo.
Pre-Shampoo Purifying Mask ($100 for 200 ml) – a unique mask that absorbs excess oil, dirt and impurities in a White Clay form. Love that it has a tip applicator so you can squeeze it right into the scalp. Helps to rebalance and clean. One of the few scalp treatments I can use because others don’t rinse easily or are irritating on my sensitive scalp.
Shop My Hair Rituel Favorites:
___________
Oribe
Another long-time favorite, I really love Oribe Hair Care and Styling Products. My go-to formulas for cleansing include the Gold Lust Repair Shampoo ($49 for 8.5 oz) and Conditioner ($52 for 6.8 oz). This line is great for shiny healthy hair. I love that both help hydrate and add shine without weighing it down. I also have used and loved the Gold Lust Transformative Masque ($66) but usually end up repurchasing other formulas.
You can find these in travel sizes individually or in the Oribe Obsessed Set ($49). Also available in the Liter sizes which are a much better buy value-wise in the jumbo bottles (I have bought in the larger sizes and think it’s 100% worth it). During the holiday they often have sets or bundles that give you a price break.
Shop my Oribe Favorites:
___________
Olaplex
It was love at first wash with Olaplex. So many recommended it and I found perfect when I had color-treated hair. It is one of the few bonding/strengthening formulas that I’ve tried and truly liked. With color treatment + heat styling I noticed my hair became more sensitive and prone to breakage. Olaplex really helped prevent breakage for me. I still use it on non-color treated hair and love it. I would say this formula is probably my most repurchased in hair care.
If you’ve never tried the line I 100% recommend getting their Healthy Hair Essentials Set ($60, for an $84 value) to try their best sellers at a price break.
I tried the No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask and thought it was just ok. A bit small for the price and the pump wasn’t easy to use (kept getting stuck).
I buy mine from Sephora or Nordstrom. Shop My Olaplex Favorites:
___________
dpHue
dpHue is a great line for hair care I feel is unique in the hair care industry. Their Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse ($35 for 8.5 oz, or $57 for 20 oz) is a great cleanser you can use instead of shampoo to clean the hair without stripping it. The Apple Cider Vinegar scent is pretty potent when you have it on the scalp, but once rinsed out I don’t smell it.
They recently launched an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Lite* ($35 for 8.5 oz) which is better suited for fine hair. I tried this and liked it but since I have thicker hair, I prefer the original.
The Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Masque* ($42 for 9 oz) is a new favorite. I just started using it and think it’s a great medium-nourishing hair mask. I like that it works on the ends but doesn’t feel too heavy. It also doesn’t have the same Apple Cider Vinegar scent the rinse does. The masque is more floral scented. Will 100% repurchase.
I tried each one and was really impressed with the Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner formula. It contains Camomile to soothe and restore hair. Left my hair smooth and cleansed. I also really like the Intense Repairing Mask for added hydration. Highly recommend checking it out! Available at Molton Brown.
___________
Other Loves
A few other loves I wanted to mention that I’ve loved. The Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Reparative Hair Mask is the best deep hydration mask I’ve tried. I use this once a week and love it. I am currently out but just repurchased.
Christophe Robin makes some great masks as well (also currently out but on my list to repurchase once I use other products up). The Christophe Regenerating Hair Mask with Prickly Pear Seed Oil is also a phenomenal product to restore shine and moisture. It is on the thick side so I recommend you avoid putting it directly on the scalp because it can be a bit difficult to rinse out. For color-treated hair the Shade Variation Masks were life savers for me. I used the Warm Chestnut one and loved it!
Also really like the Kerastase Resistance lineup as well, just haven’t repurchased in a while but it’s the one formula I keep going back to with Kerastase.
Shop My Favorites:
If you’re looking for a new shampoo or conditioner to try I hope you found this roundup helpful! Since the holiday season is a few months away I already see a lot of mini value sets out. I always try minis before buying the full size.
Let me know what your favorites are right now! Would love to hear about your hair care routine! Stay tuned for styling favorites soon!
Press samples indicated with a *. All others purchased by me.
One of my latest skincare loves is the L’Oreal Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Serum, available at Walmart. Packed with antioxidants, Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid it works to help renew the skin’s surface for smoother and more radiant skin.
The L’Oreal Midnight Serum comes in a 1 fl oz dropper bottle and one pump is enough to cover my entire face. I love that it has smooth lightweight feel that absorbs easily into the skin. It has a nicely hydrating feel and I love that it’s not sticky and non-greasy. The serum helps lock in moisture during the night and skin and after consistent use for several weeks, my skin is noticeably smoother, fine lines are starting to soften, skin is refreshed in the morning.
I prefer a lightweight texture in my night time skincare so just the serum alone is perfect for night. It also works well layered under moisturizer if you need extra hydration. They recommend applying the Midnight Serum nightly on clean skin and then pairing it with their Cell Renewal Night Moisturizer which I just started using and love. I also started incorporating the Age Perfect Cell Renewal Eye Cream to help with anti-aging and fine lines. It has a nice creamy texture with good hydration, smooth texture, good dry down (works well under makeup too!).
If you’re looking for a good moisturizing serum for your night time routine, you can check out the L’Oreal Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Serum available at Walmart. Other skincare items in their Age Perfect lineup also available here. I’m a huge fan of L’Oreal Makeup but am relatively new to their skincare line. If you’ve tried any other skincare from L’Oreal let me know your favorites!
The overall look and vibe is dramatic eyes and lips with a neutral muted blush. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up liking the fall Le Vernis Nail Colors since they run very deep in color. Swatch comparisons added for the blush + lips per request too!
Joues Contraste Blush
The Joues Contraste Blush ($45) in 608 Ombre is a neutral matte light tan brown. This kind of color seems hard to come by and I wish Chanel had kept this as a permanent item. On my medium tan skin (Chanel B40/BD41) this gives me a barely there neutral hint of color. If you’re light to fair it will show up better on your skin. Pigment is pretty good, it just matches my skin tone very closely so you might not be able to see it in photos.
If you’re my skin tone or deeper, Ombre will most likely not show up well on your skin. A few others I wear that show up better include Chanel Alezane or Jersey. Laura Mercier Ginger is similar but a bit warmer.
Stylo Ombre Et Contour
There are four new Stylo Ombre Et Contour ($34 each). I have three of them in 19 Contour Beige, 15 Contour Marron, 13 Contour Kaki. You’ll either love or hate this format. It comes in a twist up pencil style. I love these creamy sticks to swipe and blend for pigmented color. Since it’s semi-chubby you won’t get a super precise line once the tip wears down. I like to swipe and blend. Or for the darker colors I’ll use a detail eyeshadow brush to apply color to the tip and then smudge on the eyes.
19 Contour Beige is a warm brown beige (if you blend it makes for a good contour color), 15 Contour Marron is a deep plum, 13 Contour Kaki is a blackened deep khaki green. Texture is smooth, pigmented but blendable to sheer out, lasting power is very good on my eyes.
Ombre Premiere Laque
I loved the Ombre Premiere Laque ($36 each) from a few years ago so I was excited to see new shades for fall. Three of the four new shades include 39 Lame Ivoire (pale gold), 35 Lame Pourpre (shimmery red), 37 Lame Acier (metallic grey olive khaki). Application is tricky with these. If I apply in a traditional swipe on the lid and blend with a finger, the color blends out so sheer it’s barely noticeable. For me the best way to get these to show up is to apply with a separate eyeshadow brush (like the MAC 242) and layer/dab on the lids. I have Lame Pourpre layered on top of Contour Beige + Contour Marron blended.
Le Vernis
The four new Le Vernis ($28 each) shades are perfect for fall. These are opaque creams, they apply nicely with 2 coats for full coverage. 909 Beige Cendre is a pale warm grey, 905 Brun Fume us a deep khaki, 907 Rouge Brun is a deep plum and 911 Terre Brulee is a deep red.
Rouge Allure Velvet
Last is a look at the two new Rouge Allure Velvets ($40 each). Shade 74 Low Key is a warm pink (similar warmer/deeper option to Charlotte Tilbury Super Cindy) and 75 Mode is a classic bold warm red. This is a “velvet” formula but it’s a luminous matte with smooth flawless coverage. A few swatch comparisons below.
Same items above, wearing Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in Mode
Overall everything performs well quality wise. I think the nail colors are the stand outs for me for fall. I love the Rouge Allure Velvet in Low Key but it does seem similar to other shades I own. I’m currently testing the new Ultra Le Teint Foundation and Concealer! Review coming soon.
You can find the Fall-Winter Makeup Collection at Chanel.com.
Have you tried anything yet? What did you think?
Chanel Fall-Winter collection provided for review.
I have a beauty haul roundup with some new launches from Nordstrom! Tom Ford Beauty recently launched some new products in the Shade and Illuminate lineup and new lip colors. I’ve been putting the new Concealer and Blush Duos to the test and have a closer look today.
Shade and Illuminate Concealer
I’ve been a long-time fan of Tom Ford foundations and one of the best splurges I’ve made is the Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation (I wear either 5.7 Dune or 6 Natural). Tom Ford launched a new concealer called the Shade and Illuminate Concealer ($90, currently exclusive to Nordstrom) and I ordered a couple shades in 3W0 Latte and 3W1 Golden.
It’s quite the splurge but I really like the super creamy opaque formula. I’ve found it has phenomenal coverage for under the eye and is crease-proof. Coverage is medium but buildable. It has some skincare elements infused to add a glow and smoothing effect. I prefer concealer to be slightly lighter than my skintone for brightening but try to keep it as close a match as possible.
With this formula I feel 3W0 Latte is a great match for me. There wasn’t any oxidizing or darkening so the color works perfect for me.
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Blush ($90) is a new formula of blush. There are currently four shades available at Nordstrom. These have a silky smooth texture with sheer to medium coverage. On my skin they have a satiny finish. Each duo has one matte and one shimmer shade but I found the shimmer to be very subtle (almost barely there). So if you love non-shimmer blushes these will be perfect for you!
These apply flawlessly on the skin. If you remember the original Tom Ford blushes they had a subtle micro pearl with a subtle sheen. These pull more on the matte side but have the same beautiful buildable soft texture. I swatched these with a heavy hand on the arm, but you’ll see in the face beauty looks below they look quite natural.
02 Explicit Flush has a beige peach shimmer + coral matte
03 Peach Poison has a matte peach + deeper brown with some gold shimmer
04 Cherry Blaze has a soft pink + peachy coral with a slight shimmer
05 Sundrunk has a pink beige matte and a soft rose pearl
Lip Color
I noticed a few new shades of Lip Color ($58) and decided to order 2 of them in Pink Charade and Neutral Party and love them both. Pink Charade is a neutral cool toned pink and Neutral Party is a medium neutral pink brown shade. Both are creams and have smooth full coverage.
Gloss Luxe Moisturizing Lip Gloss
Last I have swatches of the four new Gloss Luxe Moisturizing Lip Glosses ($58 each). These run on the sheer side so they’ll add a soft wash of color. They feel really comfortable and hydrating. I find they work best layered over a pencil or lipstick.
21 In the Buff is a pale sparkling champagne gold
22 Sunrise Pink is a pretty pink rose (my favorite!)
23 Bare Assed is a shimmery cool rose-plum with gold shimmer
24 Honeyed Coral is a berry plum with gold shimmer
Look 1: Shade and Illuminate Blush in Explicit Flush, Lip Color in Pink Charade + Gloss Luxe in In The Buff
______
Look 2: Shade and Illuminate Blush in Peach Poison, Gloss Luxe in Honeyed Coral
______
Look 3: Shade and Illuminate Blush in Cherry Blaze, Gloss Luxe in Sunrise Pink
______
Look 4: Shade and Illuminate Blush in Sundrunk, Gloss Luxe in Bare Assed
______
I’m really pleased with everything. The concealer is quite the splurge but performs exceptionally well. It has that same creamy feel as the formula from Laura Mercier and NARS but with better coverage. Out of the blushes my favorite is Cherry Blaze with Sundrunk in close second. I’ll have to play around with the lip colors more to see if they’re dupeable with other shades but I think Pink Charade is a nice neutral-cool pale pink. For the glosses I think Sunrise Pink is the perfect medium rose pink I’ve been looking for!
You can find all the items available now at Nordstrom. Have you checked out any of the new launches yet? They just added Byredo Makeup and Westman Atelier to Nordstrom too! I may splurge on one of the Byredo lip colors or balms soon.
SHOP THE POST:
Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions my own.
