Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Haul

July 14, 2021

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 is live for Icon and Ambassador Card Members! I hauled quite a few things and can’t wait to put everything to the test. I haven’t had a chance to thoroughly test anything yet – my priority was to get swatches up for you in case you’re shopping online or don’t want to swatch in stores (I didn’t swatch anything in store).

There are lots of good sets and palettes this year! My NUMBER 1 tip to shop the sale is to take a few minutes to look online at the GIFT WITH PURCHASE page. This is my recommendation every year and in the chaos and wonder of seeing everything in store, I did not follow my own advice. Once I got home I checked online and realized I missed out on TONS of gifts I qualified for. Many are available both online and in store, but some are online only. The associate who helped me was really helpful but when they pull things from the sale section the gifts aren’t really that visible unless you go outside the sectioned off sale area and go to each brand counter.

My store in Tampa had most of the beauty items on my wishlist this year. They did not however have a lot of the clothes or shoes I had favorited so I placed an order online when I got home for the things I did not see. The associates in the clothing area told me there were a number of things they didn’t receive in store because of shipping delays.

I took a few snapshots of the displays in stores in case you don’t have a Nordstrom near you and want to see how they’re setup! For the Early Access everything is sectioned off for sale items.

Quick note though best things on sale this year were the Barefoot Dreams selections. I bought so many blankets (many are priced under $100) but the best thing I bought was the CozyChic Leopard Pet Bed ($98.90 on sale, $168 full price). The only one they had in store was the Large which I thought might be too big but it’s perfect. The cat already loves it. He’s been doing a face plant into the bed for the past couple of days with some major self snuggling!

My BEAUTY HAUL PART 1 below. I will have two more beauty roundup posts with my MAC Purchases and then Hair + Fragrance Selects. If you want any makeup looks or more detailed reviews on any of these let me know in the comments!

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Bobbi Brown Full Size Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick ($34 sale, $68 value) shades include Golden Pink, Shell, Bronze and Peach Mimosa. Love these for the long lasting power once they set! If you don’t own the set colors from Laura Mercier their Full Size Caviar Stick Eye Color Trio with Cocoa, Au Naturel and Nude Rose is a good one too!

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Charlotte Tilbury Full Size Collagen Lip Bath Set ($68 sale, $105 value) shades include Pillow Talk, Walk of No Shame and Refresh Rose. I’m obsessed with this lip formula – it’s one of the best plumping lip glosses that doesn’t have a tingle. There’s a slight fresh scent to them but it’s not overpowering. I already own all the shades but bought this anyways because I use them a lot. The Pillow Talk Collagen Lip Bath is the one shade that always gets me compliments.

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Charlotte Tilbury Sunset Dreamscape Face & Eye Palette Set ($75 sale, $90 value) is in the Instant Look Palette format with 3 eyeshadows (champagne, shimmery copper, matte plum brown), 1 bronzer (light matte tan), 2 cheek colors (darker brown rose and medium matte dusty coral pink) and 1 face highlight (soft shimmery champagne). I haven’t had a chance to compare it to any of her other face palettes but I like the look of this one – all the shades seem very wearable and show up on my medium tan skin. Also comes with a miniature Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes mascara.

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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Essentials Palette ($64) includes Dim Light, Surreal Effect and Eternal Bronzing Light. Dim Light is available in full size. Surreal Effect was in their Surreal Light 2016 Palette and Eternal Bronzing Light was in Hourglass Ghost Holiday 2019. Texture is soft and just like all the other Hourglass powders.

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Tom Ford Cognac Rose Eye Color Quad Set ($88) includes Eye Color Quad in Cognac Rose, two mini lip shades in Casablanca and Fascinator. Cognac Rose is in the finely milled pressed metallic formula similar to Honeymoon. I will try to do swatch comparisons on my Instagram Stories and save them to an NSALE Highlight this week.

Cognac Rose has four shimmery shades including a metallic champagne peach, shimmery wine color, shimmery warm gold and a cool-toned bronze shimmer. First impressions are that they are softer in pigment compared to Honeymoon with a brush, but it is buildable with a dense brush or when applied with a sponge applicator. I think this palette is lovely and I can’t wait to try it out. The two miniature lip colors are creams in Casablanca (classic rose) and Fascinator (pale pink).

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Tom Ford Coquette Eye Color Quad Set ($169 sale, $213 value) with Eye Color Quad in Coquette, Full Size Extreme Mascara I Raven, Full Size Eye Defining Liquid Pen in Deeper, mini Lip Color in Impassioned. Coquette Eyeshadow Palette looks very different from the online stock image and I was kinda hoping it would be more like what you see online.

In real life it has a dusty pale pink satin soft shimmer, a metallic glitter topper with a soft rose base + silver sparkles, soft grey mauve satin and a diffused soft plum shimmer. I did try this one already and texture is soft and medium in pigment level. Colors themselves are on the softer side – if you’re looking for a neutral cool toned palette you will love this.

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There are three sets from NARS I hauled and I think these are among my favorites!

The NARS Pleasure Trip Cheek Palette ($45 sale, $87 value) has three shades in Wanderlust, Lucky Star, Wild at Heart. I also played around with this one and love the colors. The bronzer can swatch a little streaky on the hand, but it applies better with a loose fluffy brush on the cheeks. The highlighter and shimmer blush are both really pretty.

NARS Afterglow Lip Shine Set ($45 sale, $78 value) comes with three shades including Laguna, Orgasm, Broken Glass. I played with the color Orgasm and it has a smooth non-sticky texture with a sheer tint of color. I really love these and think if you are looking for a non-tacky smooth gloss, GET THIS!

NARS Afterglow Mini Lip Balm Duo ($22) in Deep Throat and Fast Lane – love these for the soft wash of color + shine! I already own these in the full size and plan on gifting this so I didn’t swatch them. You can see my review of these two in my NARS AfterGlow Collection Review post.

Mini Duo Set vs Full Size for size reference:

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Based on my quick swatching session at home, I would say that my favorites are the:

NARS Afterglow Lip Shine Set
NARS Pleasure Trip Palette
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath Set, although I wish they had new colors
Hourglass Palette is pretty good too, although I wish they had new exclusive colors for the sale

That wraps up my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Haul Part 1! I will have two more beauty roundups with my MAC Picks and my Haircare/Fragrance Picks. If you want to see any looks or tutorials with any of these let me know in the comments.

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Did you haul anything yet? Any good finds?

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Nordstrom Sales

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Wishlist + Recommendations

July 9, 2021

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 is starting very soon and I have my initial wish list and recommendations roundup for you today! All the items for sale in Home, Women, Men, Activewear, Beauty Exclusives, Kids are up online for preview already. You can start previewing items online by category and start saving items to an online wishlist.

Nordstrom Card Holders have early access depending on tier. Key Dates for access are as follows:

Icon Early Access July 12 – 27
Ambassador Early Access July 14 – 27
Influencer Early Access July 16 – 27
Open to Everyone July 28 – August 8

I’ve gone through the Beauty Exclusives and Home Section and have split all the things on my radar by category. There’s a lot to sort through! I found it helpful to browse by category filter Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance, etc. to help me find things by interest and price.

I’m still in the process of narrowing down my shopping list! A lot will probably change depending on what I see in person in store next week. A number of you have asked me to flag things I find interesting or new/exclusive so I hope this helps!

MAKEUP

One / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen / fifteen / sixteen / seventeen

This area is where most of my wishlist items are with the limited-edition colors, palettes and sets. I always buy the neutral MAC Lip Sets each year because they make the best colors. This year Tom Ford Beauty has two eyeshadow palette sets and I’m nearly certain I’m buying both the Cognac Rose Eye Color Quad Set and Coquette Eye Set.

Charlotte Tilbury has a new Instant Look Palette called Sunset Dreamscape which sounds pretty! Also NARS has an interesting Pleasure Trip Cheek Palette (Wanderlust, Lucky Star, Wild at Heart) and an Afterglow Lip Shine Trio.

I’m personally well stocked on staples from Laura Mercier, MAC and Bobbi Brown – but if you’ve been eyeing anything, they have some good value sets which makes it a nice time to try some luxury beauty!

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HAIR CARE + TOOLS

One / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve

Three things I highly recommend in this category are the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray + Gold Lust Dry Shampoo Set ($64 on sale, normally a $96 value separately), Riki Skinny 10x Lighted Mirror (on sale for $130, normally $210), and the Olaplex Bond Maintenance Trio (on sale for $84, normally $126).

For mirrors I own both the Riki and Simplehuman and I love both. To apply makeup I usually use the Riki because it’s easier to see the entire face while the Simplehuman one is magnified and better to see detail areas. My Favorite Makeup Mirrors reviewed in this blog post for more info/details.

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SKINCARE

One / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve

Skincare value sets are always plentiful during the sale! I’m buying the Kopari Coconut Melt Duo for myself for sure 🙂 If you’re looking to splurge on La Mer or Sisley they often have good value sets where you can get a little more for your $$$. I love the Sisley Black Rose Infusion Cream for a lightweight water cream. They have a pretty good set this year!

If you don’t own a Nuface Device they have some good sets on sale! The NuFace White Trinity Kit is on sale for $199 (normally $339) although if it’s not in your budget right now I will say they usually have good sales and sets available during the holiday season too (so no need to rush).

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FRAGRANCE

One / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve

I love the Diptyque and Jo Malone options this year! They have good variations this round! I love the Do Son Perfume + Hair Mist Duo (looks so cute). Andrew’s favorite hand soap from Le Labo Hinoki is available in a Jumbo Size.

Tom Ford has a Travel Size Soleil Fragrance Atomizer with 3 different scents in Soleil Blanc, Soleil Neige and Soleil Brulant. I think this is going to be one I pick up since I haven’t tried two of them and think it would be nice to have them in travel size format.

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FOR THE HOME

One / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve / thirteen / fourteen

The one brand I get the most excited about every sale is Barefoot Dreams! I live in these blankets. I have one wrapped around me right now as I’m typing out this post. They have such good sales this time of year and I stock up for Christmas gifts. This year they’ve added a number of new patterns and colors which look really fun!

Over the winter we had some pretty cold weather here and Lucy finally got a lot of use out of her Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Dog Sweater (some of you might remember seeing it on stories). She’s a Jack Russell Terrier about 18-20 pounds. They recommend a Medium for her, but when I bought hers there was only Large Available. It works for her with room to spare, but she’s probably more of a Medium. They have a cute Leopard Pattern Dog Sweater and a Solid Version too.

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I’ll have a haul post with swatches in the upcoming days after I’ve shopped the sale!

I’m hosting a few giveaways during the sale (not sponsored or affiliated). This first one I’m giving away three $100 eGift Cards to Nordstrom. Three different people will each win $100. All you have to do to enter is complete at least 3 of the steps in the widget below. The more steps you complete the more entries you receive. Giveaway will run July 9, 2021 through July 14, 2021 11:59 PM EST. I’ll select three winners at random and contact them via email them 1 day after the giveaway ends. Winners must respond within 3 days or another winner will be selected in their place. Open internationally but you must be 18 years+ to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Skincare Suncare

Best Sunscreens for Summer

July 7, 2021

I’m excited to share an updated sunscreen roundup of formulas I am loving and using right now! I’ve split my list into four categories: Body, Face (clear), Face (tinted) and Andrew’s Favorites.

Shiseido x Tory Burch

Two I’ve been loving are from Shiseido x Tory Burch. They partnered to launch two sunscreens in this beautiful limited-edition packaging. Both formulas are also available in the regular permanent lineup as well (packaged in the bright blue bottles).

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen is a lightweight silky formula you can use on both the face and body. I prefer this on the body and it has a slight pink tint to it but has a transparent finish without any residue. It has a pleasant citrus scent. I love this one because it has Shiseido’s WetForce and HeatForce technology. It holds up pretty well with sweat, but you still need to reapply.

Price: $49 for 150 ml, Tory Burch, Shiseido, Nordstrom, Ulta
SPF: 50+
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.3%, Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 10.0%
Other Notes: Water Resistant 80 Minutes

Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+ is a great clear sunscreen stick. I apply this on bare skin. It has an emollient texture when you apply but turns into a semi-velvety drydown. You can apply this under makeup too. It does have fragrance but I found it did not irritate my skin.

Price: $29 for 20 g, limited-edition packaging sold out, regular version at Ulta, Nordstrom Rack, Dillard’s
SPF: 50+
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.5%, Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 10.0%
Other Notes: Water Resistant

Favorite Body Sunscreens

These days I rely mostly on Supergoop! and Sol de Janeiro for body sunscreens. I also really like Sun Bum too.

Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 has been a go-to for years! I loved the original formula and find the new one good too. You can use this on both the face and body, but for me it’s best on the body. Texture is a bit too thick for my face (I prefer the Unseen or City Serum for the face instead). This one helps protect the skin from sun and heat exposure and I really like that it helps moisturize the skin.

Price: $22 – $58, at Supergoop!, Sephora, Nordstrom
SPF: 50
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7.5%
Other Notes: Also available in a lot of sets!

Supergoop! Glowscreen Body is one of the newer launches from Supergoop! and I absolutely love it. It’s a shimmery body lotion with SPF 40 but the glow is subtle with tiny micro sparkles. I think it’s really fun for summer!

Price: $42 for 100 ml, at Supergoop!, Sephora and Nordstrom
SPF: 40
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 7%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 10%

Sun Bum Sunscreen Sprays are great spray sunscreens. We love picking these up at our local grocery store or Target. The original formula comes in SPF 30, 50 and 70. Love that they adhere to the skin really well once they dry. You do need to be super diligent and thorough to wash it off though.

Price: $15.99 for 6 oz / 170 g, at Target
SPF: 30 to 70
Active Ingredients: For SPF 30, Avobenzone 3.00%, Homosalate 10.00%, Octisalate 5.00%, Octocrylene 3.75%

Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Sol Oil Sunscreen with SPF 30 is one of my favorite most-used sunscreens. I love the oil formula and it’s scented with their classic Cheirosa ’62 scent. It has glitter and shimmer in it but I really love it.

Price: $38 for 90 ml, at Sephora
SPF: 30
Active Ingredients: Homosalate 10%, Octocrylene 10%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 3%

Face Sunscreens – Clear

When it comes to face sunscreens, I’ve used and loved a number of formulas over the years. I still really love the ones from Supergoop! like their Unseen and City Serum but right now are rotating through a few other formulas.

Chanel UV Essentiel Complete Protection Antioxidant Anti-Pollution Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a lightweight fluid. It has a one of the thinnest textures I’ve tried. It does contain alcohol pretty high up on the list so if you have sensitivities to it, you may want to do a patch test. I like that this feels very light and I can wear under makeup easily.

Price: $55 for 1 fl oz, at Chanel.com
SPF: 50
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5 %, Titanium dioxide 3.8 %, Zinc oxide 17.1 %

Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
(details above at the top of the blog post)

Kate Somerville Daily Deflector Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40+ is one of the few mineral sunscreens I like. It has a white tint but has a minimal cast once blended into the skin for my medium/tan skin. I wouldn’t call it weightless but I also don’t find it super heavy. Leaves the skin feeling smooth with a soft dry down. I do wish they made a clear version but I like that this protects my face and is nice on no-makeup makeup days when I just need sun protection at the beach.

Price: $50 for 50 ml/1.7 fl oz, at Sephora, Nordstrom, Kate Somerville
SPF: 40
Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 17%

Tinted Sunscreens

Supergoop! CC Screen 100% Mineral CC Cream SPF 50 is one of my favorite CC Creams, it looks great on the skin once blended it, offers medium coverage and has good sun protection. Makes the skin look super smooth and flawless! I wear the shade 326W. I recommend applying this with a sponge to blend in. Texture is semi-thick like most CC creams so blending is key. If you apply with fingers like regular clear sunscreen it will be too thick on the skin.

Price: $39 for 1.6 oz/47 ml, at Supergoop, Nordstrom, Sephora
SPF: 50
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 4%, Zinc Oxide 20%

Chanel CC Cream Super Active Complete Correction Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is my other favorite CC Cream. This is one I probably wear the most for foundation and sunscreen (I wear 40 Beige). It’s a tinted moisturizer that has perfect medium to full coverage. I also recommend applying with a sponge to blend in. It has really good lasting power and gives the skin a smooth glowing look.

Price: $55 for 30 ml/1 fl oz, at Chanel.com
SPF: 50
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 6.8%, Titanium dioxide 4%, Zinc oxide 15.2%

Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with SPF 36 is another great tinted sunscreen. This is an all-mineral product with a soft beige tint to it. I reviewed this one earlier in the spring and am still really impressed! I find it still works on me when I have a tan, but since it is tinted it may not blend into a transparent finish if you have fair or deep skin. I am really hoping they consider making more shades because this is a really phenomenal sunscreen!

Price: $55 for 74 g/2.6 oz, at Alastin
SPF: 36
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 8.9%, Zinc Oxide 3.4%

Andrew’s Favorites

When it comes to sunscreen for Andrew there are few that will hold up in Florida heat and humidity. The best one he’s tried and his absolute favorite is the Jack Black Oil-Free Sun Guard with SPF 45 ($21, at Nordstrom and Jack Black). It’s the most durable that stays put even with heat, sweat, water etc. He is pretty diligent about re-applying every couple of hours too. It’s one of the few bottles he repurchases. Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide 8%, Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 3%. He also likes the Sun Bum spray to reapply or layer and for the face he also likes the Shiseido sunscreen stick. We are still on the hunt for a good face sunscreen stick he 100% loves though.

That wraps up my current sunscreen favorites! I do rotate body sunscreens more frequently than I do for the face because my skin isn’t as sensitive on my arms/legs. I’ve found a few Neutrogena options that are ok but it’s harder to find Oxybenzone free formulas from the line.

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Would love to hear about what your current favorites are! Let me know in the comments.

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Fragrance

Best Summer Perfumes

June 30, 2021

With summer in full swing I wanted to round up my favorite summer perfumes for the season! I love this time of year for scents – especially anything with citrus or coconut! Here are my top picks for the best summer perfumes. As always I’d love to hear what you are wearing this summer!

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc ($49 – $184, multiple size options available at Sephora) this is in my top 3 most-worn perfumes. It’s a timeless fresh kind of radiant perfume with coconut notes.

Notes include: Coco De Mer, Ylang Ylang from Comores Island, bergamot, jasmine, tuberose, amber and Moroccan orange flower

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz ($80 – $130, exclusive to Chanel.com and Nordstrom) is the second in my top 3 favorites. It’s the perfect mix of citrus and floral. Notes include Sicilian Mandarin and Lily of the Accord with sea spray, also available in a Shower Gel and Body Lotion

Also shown above, Nails: OPI Bubble Bath, Rouge Coco Gloss 744 Subtil (swatched here, here and here), Eric Javits Hamptons Hat and Squishee Isla Bag

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera ($80 – $130, also at Chanel and Nordstrom) is another amazing citrus, it has Sicilian Orange and neroli with a crisp and bright feel, Andrew loves this one when I wear it 🙂

Also shown above, Gloss Rouge Coco Gloss 744 Subtil, Sandals: Tory Burch Basket Weave Espadrille Tie Sandal (review here), Sisley Phyto-Touch Bronzer, Eric Javits Hamptons Hat in Cream

Creed Virgin Island Water

Creed Virgin Island Water ($310 and up at Creed) is the ultimate summer fragrance! It was my first splurge from Creed and I’ve worn this one for years. I love the mix of bergamot, ylang-ylang and musk. It smells like a tropical vacation.

Top Notes: Jamaican lime, Sicilian white bergamot, Sicilian mandarin
Middle Notes: Indian jasmine, Hibiscus, Ylang-ylang
Base Notes: Tropical Wood, Tonkin Musk

Since Creed is quite the splurge and you might not have a counter near you, I do recommend checking out their Sampler Sets. They rotate them seasonally on their website and you can also create your own. They usually come with a voucher you can use towards a full size bottle as well. Another favorite from Creed is Love in White for Summer if you like crisp white florals, but I still think Virgin Island Water is the best.

Atelier Cologne Lemon Island

Atelier Cologne Lemon Island ($30 – $235, available at Atelier Cologne, Nordstrom, Sephora) as a citrus lover for perfumes I really love the latest from Atelier Cologne in their Lemon Island Cologne Absolue. It has lemon, jasmin and vanilla notes and smells like a citrus dream. I think it’s perfect for summer!

Also shown above: Chanel Le Vernis in Golden Sand (review here), Loewe Square Tote, Vitamin A Swim Wrap

Jo Malone Minis

Jo Malone Blossoms Cologne Discovery Set ($115, available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora) is one of the newest sets with Red Hibiscus Cologne, Yellow Hibiscus Cologne, Frangipani Cologne, Nectarine Blossom and Honey, Orange Blossom. I love these minis for carrying in my purse and I think it’s the best way to try their line. There were 3 I had on my radar I wanted to try and I’m still in the process of testing but I can’t rave enough about these sets. I already love Orange Blossom!

Diptyque Ilio Eau de Toilette

Diptyque Ilio Eau de Toilette ($145 for 100 ml) is new for summer from Diptyque. It’s a unique floral with notes of pear and bergamot mixed and a hint of jasmin. It has a soft fruity feel but the floral notes give it a more green feel so it’s not too sweet. Unfortunately this is limited-edition and seems to have sold out so many places online. You might have luck in stores. Right now at the time of this post it is still available at Net-A-Porter and Bloomingdale’s – I highly recommend trying it if you can!

Notes: Prickly pear, bergamot, jasmin

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Eau de Toilette ($215 – $395 at Nordstrom) is one of the most beautiful clean fresh fragrances I’ve tried. I used to own the Eau de Toilette and used it up and loved it! I also adore this in the Scented Body Oil ($75) and Hair Mist ($65) versions to layer it. I was just about to repurchase a bottle of the perfume when they launched new variations for summer. I have the new Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte Eau de Parfum on my radar.

Notes for the classic version: Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian lemon, white bouquet, light and musky woods

Since this brand is also very pricey I bought their Discovery Fragrance Wardrobe over the holiday but found I still gravitate towards my two favorites, this one and Baccarat Rouge 540.

Molton Brown

Molton Brown Flora Luminare smells like sunshine to me! I have this in the Glowing Body Oil, Hand Cream and Shower Gel. It’s an instant pick me up anytime I apply the hand cream. Notes for the Eau de Toilette version and Body Oil below. The Body Oil is a really nice one, I love Molton Brown body products and find that so many of my friends and family love it too.

Top Notes: orange blossom, mandarin and ylang-ylang
Heart Notes: Polynesian frangipani, jasmine absolute and rose absolute
Base Notes: vanilla, cedarwood and musk

Love this Hand Gift Set with the hand wash, hand lotion and hand cream! I’m still missing the Coco de Mer line they discontinued so many years ago – it was one of the best!

My top 3: Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc, Chanel Paris-Biarritz, Creed Virgin Island Water

That wraps up my favorite summer scents right now! Would love to hear what you wear during the summer months – always eager to discover new options!

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What are you wearing right now?

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Fashion What's In My Bag

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

June 23, 2021

It’s been a while since I’ve done a What’s In My Bag purse review! I’m still really loving minis and one of my favorites right now is the Celine Belt Bag in the Pico size. Long time readers might remember I used to own the Mini (which wasn’t really mini) when they had only 2 sizes. I was a huge fan of the Belt Bag in the Mini when I owned it. I loved it so much I bought it in two colors! I loved them while I owned them. When Celine came out with smaller options I felt they would be much better for my height and frame but it seemed redundant to own the same bag in multiple sizes. I sold them in one of my blog sales. They’ve since discontinued the largest size and now have it available in the Mini, Micro, Nano and Pico. You can find the size information, colors and pricing on the Celine website under their Belt Bag section.

I splurged on the Pico Belt Bag in the color Light Taupe for my birthday. I purchased it from the Celine store in the Miami Design District and was debating between the Pico or Nano size. At 5’3” it can sometimes be hard to find a good size mini bag that doesn’t overwhelm my height/frame. I love anything with a strap that I can wear crossbody too.

Reposting a photo of the Pico (in grey) vs Nano (in light taupe) from the Miami store in May. I think both sizes are super cute! They had some really fun colors when we were there last October but they were limited-edition and I’m a bit sad they’re no longer available!

The Belt Bag I have is made of grained calfskin. It has a magnetic closure, zipper, removable crossbody strap and a handle at the top. The Pico Size currently retails for $1,850 and measures 6 x 5 x 4 IN (15 x 13 x 9 CM). It fits my iPhone 11Pro with a lot of extra room to spare. There are no pockets inside, it’s one large open compartment.

I’ve only been using this one for a few weeks but love it. The magnetic closure was cumbersome to open and close in the larger size but I think it was because of the weight and size of the larger variation. The Pico (and even the Nano I tried) is still very secure with the zipper and magnetic closure but is easier to get things in and out of.

The bag fits quite a bit more than I thought it would! Since it has a single compartment without any pockets or separators I can fit in more than I do with the Tory Burch Perry Bombe Bag. Also because the shape isn’t round like the Chloe Mini Marcie I feel like I can fit more inside this Celine style.

A lot of you asked me how durable it is with color transfer. Since moving to Florida I have not worn dark colored denim as much, mainly because of the heat – so I have not had any issues with dark jeans transferring onto light colored bags. That being said I do remember wearing a lot of dark denim while living in San Diego and never had an issue with transfer on the bag I owned back then.

What I can fit inside below. I don’t always carry a lot but I find as the week progresses I usually accumulate a bit more and more items as each day goes on. I empty, clean out and rotate weekly.

Small wallet or card case (Gucci or Celine)
Hand Cream (Chanel)
Hand Sanitizer (Aesop)
Multiple lip products
Lip Balms (from Fresh)
Lip Pencils (swatches below)
iPhone
Sunglasses will fit without the case, although I rarely stick them in a bag without a case because they’ll get scratched
Keys
Mini perfume (love the Jo Malone minis)

My two favorite small leather goods right now are the Celine Coin and Card Pouch in the white Triomphe Canvas and the Gucci Leather Card Case Wallet.

The Celine Coin and Card Pouch has one compartment. It’s a zippered style with a key ring attachment. There are no pockets inside. Also comes in a few other colors. Measures 5 x 4 inches.

The Gucci Leather Card Case Wallet is a classic style and super durable. Closed it measures 4.3” wide x 3.3” high x 1.2” deep. This particular style comes in a few patterns and material options. I love how compact and functional it is! I don’t carry a lot of cards with me so this is perfect for my drivers license and 3 cards (but you can fit a few more cards inside too). There’s a zippered compartment for coins and also room for bills.

I’m almost never without some kind of hand product. I really like the Aesop Hand Sanitizer and Chanel La Crème Main (because it has a velvety dry down). Fresh Beauty makes some of my favorite lip balms and I wanted to let you know they’re having 25% off sitewide SALE with code 25OFF now through 6/29 online at Fresh.com. My favorites include the Rose Petal-Soft Lip Cream, Sugar Lychee and Sugar Advanced Therapy.

I don’t know why I always end up packing in so many lip products but I am thrilled to hear from so many of you that you also tend to carry more than one lip product with you as well. My favorite gloss is the Pat McGrath LUST Gloss. I love so many of the colors, in particular Peach Perversion and Flesh Astral. Dior Nude Look 100 is my perfect everyday nude pink lip for the Lip Pencil and Rouge Dior lipstick. I also ordered the Rouge Forever Liquid Transfer-Proof Lipstick in Forever Nude 100 which is a nice nude rose pink with a matte finish. (I still prefer the lipstick formula.)

I swatched a few other nude lip pencil favorites for reference below: Chanel Le Crayon Levres in Nude Brun and Rose Naturel, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk, Sisley Lip Liner in Beige Naturel, Huda Beauty Lip Contour in Terracotta, Dior Lip Pencil in Nude Look and Pat McGrath Permagel Lip Pencil in Buff.

Outfit wearing: Rag and Bone Tee, Agolde Parker Shorts, Tory Burch Miller Cloud (summer sandals review here)

Hope you found this review helpful! You can find Celine at their boutiques and online at Celine.com. Also available in stores at select locations for Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Do you have a favorite mini bag right now? Or do you mainly carry larger totes?

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Gift Guide Men's Grooming Skincare

Father’s Day Gift Guide

June 18, 2021

Happy Friday! I have a last-minute Father’s Day Gift guide in case you’re looking for ideas to gift this year. I have a roundup of some new things from Chanel that I’m completely obsessed with and I’ve also included a lot of Andrew’s favorite things.

Chanel has some classic timeless gift ideas for Father’s Day. They recently launched the Bleu de Chanel Shaving Kit ($350) and I am so impressed. The shaving brush (made of synthetic fibers) has a hefty magnetic stand that is so well made. It comes with a soft zip pouch and Bleu de Chanel Shaving Cream. Quite a splurge but this is such a beautiful gift idea. The Bleu de Chanel was one of Andrew’s favorites many years ago. He still wears the Eau de Parfum ($98 – $165). Also now available in a new All-Over Spray ($80), Twist and Spray Set ($130) and other product variations here.

The latest Les Eaux de Chanel is Paris-Edimbourg ($80 – $130) and they kindly sent a bottle for review. I’ve been a huge fan of the Les Eaux de Chanel line and this new one is unisex but pulls more masculine. A few readers raved about this as a lovely masculine scent that can still be worn by women. I know fragrance is so personal, but I feel this almost ties with Creed Aventus in a universally pleasing scent for men. It’s clean, smoky, warm with bergamot, cypress and juniper.

For Chanel skincare, I really love the new Hydra Beauty Micro Eye Gel ($68) for a refreshing smoothing eye product. I might end up keeping this for myself or order another one. Hand cream is an overlooked product for men and I think the La Creme Main ($50) has a really interesting unique packaging fun to catch any eye regardless of gender.

If you’re looking for good skincare sets I highly recommend Jack Black and Kiehl’s. Both lines have skincare that actually works. I find myself using a lot of his products as well. The top must-haves from Jack Black for Andrew:

Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser for Hair and Body – one of the few shower products that works for hair and body and the only thing he’s tried that truly gets the skin clean (from sunscreen, sweat, etc.)
Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather – Andrew says that most men don’t know what a good shaving cream is until they use one, this is one of the few that really helps him get a close shave with a good lather
Black Reserve Body and Hair Cleanser – just as good as Turbo Wash, just has a different scent
Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser – can double as a mask
Sun Guard Water Resistant Sunscreen with SPF 45 – the best body sunscreen he’s tried because it’s the longest lasting and most effective, he still reapplies frequently, but most others slide off in the water or with sweat

Kiehl’s also makes great products and sets. He recommends any of the men’s line or regular line, especially the Facial Fuel Cleanser or the Blue Herbal Spot Treatment.

The best of the best in fragrance is from Creed. The colognes are quite the splurge and much to my wallet’s disappointment, my husband mainly want to wear or try Creed when it comes to cologne, but I do think they are so unique and high in quality it makes them worth the splurge if in your budget.

Aventus is a universal classic I think every guy should try. I know it sounds odd to think there is such a thing as a universally appealing fragrance, but I think this it! I cannot count how many times people have stopped him to ask what he is wearing when he wears this one (both men and women). The latest addition to the Creed lineup is the Viking Cologne. It pulls more masculine but still fresh with bergamot, pink pepper, patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver to name a few of the notes. He also really loves Silver Mountain Water for a more clean fresh scent.

Whether you’re shopping for someone else or yourself if you haven’t tried the line before or can’t get near a counter I highly recommend checking out their Sampler Sets. They sell quickly but often get restocked. They usually come with a voucher you can use towards the purchase of a full size bottle too.

A few more ideas:

1 Shaving Kit / 2 Theragun Elite (we gifted one to our trainer and he loves it) / 3 Lululemon Hat / 4 APL Slides (Andrew loves these, my bestie’s husband loves these too!) / 5 Manscapped Lawn Mower 3.0 (one of the best and most practical grooming tools he owns) / 6 Kiehl’s Set / 7 Portable Speakers / 8 Eye Gel / 9 Water Bottle / 10 Body Wash / 11 Hand Cream / 12 Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel / 13 Creed Viking Cologne / 14 Matte Sunglasses / 15 Theragun Mini / 16 Jack Black Set

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Viking Cologne and Chanel products provided for review.

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Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

New Summer Beauty Essentials

June 16, 2021

Summer beauty season is one of my favorites for makeup launches. I love the colors brands usually launch this time of year and have some new discoveries to share from Nordstrom today.

Above wearing: TEE Rag and Bone / BASE Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free in 3N1 / POWDER Sisley Blur Expert / CHEEKS NARS Orgasm on the Beach Palette / EYES NARS Eyeshadow Quad in Singapore / MASCARA NARS Climax Extreme / LIPS NARS Afterglow Lip Tint in Orgasm + Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Lip Gloss in Wild Card on top

Tinted Moisturizers

One of the most frequently asked question I get is, “What is the best tinted moisturizer for summer?” My top picks include:

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (I wear St Moritz) for the best tinted moisturizer that really doesn’t feel like a tinted moisturizer, has medium coverage and SPF30

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (I wear 3N1 or 3W1, has SPF 30) for the best glowy natural looking tint to even out the skintone in a natural way, I also love that they re-introduced this in the Oil Free Formula as well (has SPF20) . I like both variations, but find myself loving the regular version the best – sometimes it is nice to have options!

Chanel Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint with SPF 30 is my go-to for no-makeup makeup days or beach days when I want just a little glow and subtle coverage (I wear Medium or Medium Plus)

New Color Correctors

The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger has been a holy grail go-to for me for as long as I can remember! It’s the best versatile concealer for under eye brightening and natural coverage. NARS just launched their new Radiant Creamy Color Corrector designed to counter discoloration. I have pink-red tones around my nose area and occasionally mild blue-purple tones under the eyes. I tried both Light and Medium and found they worked well for my needs. I apply on top of moisturizer, top with my foundation and it does not alter my base color. They have a shade chart recommending which color to use:

Light to counter pink-red or blue-grey
Medium for red-brown, yellow-brown, blue-purple
Medium Deep for purple-brown, blue-grey
Deep for blue-brown and blue-black

Texture is creamy, opaque but easy to blend. It stays put when set with a powder just like their Radiant Creamy Concealer.

Summer Cheek Palette

I have so many cheek palettes at this point I did not know whether or not the new NARS Orgasm on the Beach Palette would be a repeat of what I already own. They’ve once again managed to create a beautiful palette with gorgeous glowy shades in highlighter, blush and contouring colors. It’s glowy but not too glowy and I think it was 100% worth the splurge. They have that finely milled metallic texture but it’s a smooth shimmer. Colors blend right into the skin seamlessly and I absolutely love every single shade (even that bold red one!).

My favorite brush to use with this is the NARS Angled Brush (discontinued) but I also love the Laura Mercier Angled Cheek Brush for this palette.

Cream Blush

For cream blushes I rediscovered the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Sticks and I love these for a very natural glowing look. I have owned a number of these in past years and repurchased No 20 (soft beige brown color I’m wearing below), No 23 (soft pink) and No 24 (soft peach). These are sheer to sheer-medium in coverage so they’re going to give you a subtle flush of color. They have tiny bits of shimmer in them to give you a glow, but they’re not too shimmery.

Below wearing Shade No. 20 and Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Lip Gloss in Sweet Talk

Eyeshadow Favorites

I love bronzey shimmers year round, but especially during the summer. I shopped my stash and started wearing the NARS Eyeshadow Palette in Singapore which has the perfect summer mix (similar vibe to Tom Ford Honeymoon). As a topper I would still say after all these years the Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows are absolute must-haves. For cream shadows that stay put once they set, I recommend Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks in Golden Pink or Golden Bronze. And of course my holy-grail all over wash shimmer the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Color Stick in Rosegold.

Best Lip Tints

For an effortless kind of lip you can wear to the beach, pool, or anywhere you are this summer, I would say that my top must-have is the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm. This is a color shifting product so it will enhance your natural lip color and hydrate at the same time. This is one of the most flattering shades I’ve tried and even though it looks slightly different on everyone, it’s holy grail material for me.

I also love the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustres to add shine and glow to any lip pencil or lipstick. Ibiza Nights or Blondie are my favorites to add shimmer and dimension to your lip.

Bobbi Brown makes some of my favorite natural colors for lips. I picked up one of the Crushed Shine Jelly Lipsticks in Honey and love how creamy and opaque it is. It’s the perfect swipe and go kind of lipstick with really good coverage. I wish they had more colors in this formula! For those of you who like an oil, I am still really loving the Crushed Oil-Infused Lip Glosses as well. The peachy color Wild Card is the one I think is the prettiest for summer. It’s a good hybrid lip oil and lip gloss, not too slippery and has a nice cushiony feel without being sticky.

That wraps up my first look at some summer makeup must-haves! You can find all of these at Nordstrom. If you’re shopping online also don’t forget to check out their Gift with Purchase Page. They rotate the gifts frequently!

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Sponsored by Nordstrom. As always all opinions are my own.

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HAIR CARE + TOOLS

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Face Sunscreens – Clear

Tinted Sunscreens

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Best Summer Perfumes

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel

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Father’s Day Gift Guide

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New Summer Beauty Essentials

Tinted Moisturizers

New Color Correctors

Summer Cheek Palette

Cream Blush

Eyeshadow Favorites

Best Lip Tints

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