All Posts By

Sabrina

Beauty Favorites Nail Polish

Favorite Light Pink Nail Polishes

July 26, 2021

Best Pale Pink Nail Polishes

I’ve been on a baby pink nail polish kick lately and have a few favorites I love I wanted to share! So many of my favorite light pinks have been discontinued from Chanel and Dior. Rescue Beauty Lounge also used to make some of the best pale pinks (so sad they’re no longer around!). Here are my favorites right now!

Olive and June Pink Sands ($8, available at Olive and June) – This one is super creamy pale and opaque white-based pink, apply 2 thin coats for full coverage. (If you want something with a little less white base try Olive and June SE.)

Olive and June Pink Sands Nail Polish swatch

_________

OPI Bubble Bath ($10-$10.50, Target and Ulta) – This is one I rediscovered early summer, I remember not liking it before thinking it was sooo sheer it was difficult to get the color to show up. I tried it again and if I apply 2-3 coats I find I get the perfect pale pink manicure.

OPI Bubble Bath Nail Polish swatch

_________

Gucci Beauty Ellen Blush ($30, Nordstrom, Sephora, Gucci) – I just ordered a few of the newly repackaged nail polishes from Gucci. This one has full opaque coverage with one stroke but I still prefer to apply 2. Ellen Blush is the perfect medium light pink to me.

Gucci Beauty Nail Polish Ellen Blush

_________

Essie Fiji ($8.99 at Target) – This will be hit or miss depending on your skin tone or undertone, it’s a cool-toned blue based pale pink with full coverage. It has the tiny skinny brush which I wish they would update. I do think it’s a classic pale pink on me though.

Essie Fiji Nail Polish swatch

_________

Essie Muchi Muchi ($8.99 Target) – Muchi Muchi is a medium pale pink on me. It’s not quite as pale as most lighter pinks which makes it more fun for me.

Essie Muchi Muchi swatch

_________

Essie Gel Couture Polished and Poised ($11.50, Ulta) – A newer to me discovery, love that this is a really pretty light medium neutral warm pink that has full coverage but doesn’t have too much white in it.

Essie Gel Couture Polished and Poised

_________

For those who want a closer look at the brush applicators:

Nail Polish Brush applicators

A few other posts you might find helpful!

Shop the Post:

 

What are your favorite light or pale pink colors to wear?

By Terry Lips

New By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balms

July 23, 2021

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Review and Swatches

My latest love is the new By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm ($38, available at By Terry). By Terry created six perfect neutrals for lips in a tinted balm formula and every single color is perfect. The team kindly sent 2 and after seeing a few previews online I immediately ordered the other 4. I have all 6 swatched today. I think they’re great everyday kind of colors – basic staples without being boring.

The Hyaluronic Hydra-Balms are creamy and have a moisturizing feel without too much slip. Pigment is pretty good in coverage with medium level opacity. Formula-wise they have hyaluronic acid to add moisture and give the lips a full plump look. She also added a water gloss complex to give it a naturally glossy look. They do have a perfumed powdery rose scent but on me I feel like it fades within a few minutes (or my nose gets used to it).

Lasting power is similar to the Chanel Rouge Coco Bloom or YSL Rouge Volupte Shines. You will need to reapply every few hours but if you add a lipliner underneath lasting power is better.

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Review and Swatches

I really love the colors she launched. I would love to see her add more shades to the line in the future too though! Maybe some more pink browns or toffee shades!

  • Shade 1 Sexy Nude is a light cool-toned nude, I thought this would be too pale but it’s really pretty on
  • Shade 2 Nudissimo is a light pink with coral tones, this is the only one I felt too pale for my skin tone, but if I layer it with a lip liner or another lipstick it’s perfect
  • Shade 3 Tea Time* is the perfect tan beige
  • Shade 4 Dare to Bare* is a pretty soft berry neutral
  • Shade 5 Secret Kiss is a brown pink (love this one)
  • Shade 6 is a berry red nude

Swatches below:

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Swatches

Sexy Nude, Nudissimo, Tea Time on the lips also wearing:

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Sexy Nude, Nudissimo, Tea Time

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Sexy Nude

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Nudissimo

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Tea Time

Dare to Bare, Secret Kiss, Love Affair

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Dare to Bare, Secret Kiss and Love Affair

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Dare to Bare

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Secret Kiss

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Balm Love Affair

100% love and the formula is comfortable, hydrating, not too heavy or thick. I also think the colors are perfect for everyday. Highly recommend. You can find them online at By Terry.

Shop the Post:

 

 

Press samples have a * next to them. All other items purchased by me.

 

Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

Top Summer Essentials

July 21, 2021

Summer Essentials Eric Javits Hampton Hat

I hope you have been enjoying your summer! I’m rounding up my Top Summer Essentials and favorites I’ve had in rotation. Also answering a few FAQs you’ve sent over about my favorite slides and peach lip glosses below! Here are my Top 10 Summer Staples:

1. Best Summer Hats

Lucy Jack Russell

You girls know that I’m a huge fan of Eric Javits hats and I am so happy anytime I receive messages from you showing me your hats and visors from the line. It wasn’t until we moved to Florida that I started noticing that most of my hats didn’t have sufficient scalp and brim coverage. We saw these at Nordstrom and Andrew actually picked up one of the Hamptons Hats and said “this will be cute on you, try it.” My jaw dropped when I saw the price tag but we decided to splurge on one in Cream. It’s the best hat I’ve tried and blocks 95% of the UVA and UVB rays. I love that it has a wide brim that isn’t too floppy so it doesn’t cover my eyes. I also really like Helen Kaminski hats and visors too – but find myself wearing Eric Javits more frequently.

They occasionally have good sales on the Eric Javits website or on Nordstrom. I splurged on several more over the past year after. I would say my most-worn one is Cream. I think Bark has the prettiest color mix/weave though.

Eric Javits Hamptons Hat Cream, Natural, Bark and Black

2. Sunglasses

Favorite Sunglasses Celine and Ray-Ban

Sunglasses have been my weakness to splurge on but I’ve been good the past year and stuck with my current collection. My Top 3 Go-To’s are the Celine 48 mm (CL4003IN Mineral 01A) in Black and a Pink Brown shade and the Ray-Ban Phantos 53 mm (RB4305). While in Miami I tried on some of the newer Chanel styles and have the Pantos Sunglassses on my wishlist (round and available in polarized/non-polarized options). I’m soooo close to ordering them online!

Celine Cat Eye 48mm Sunglasses Black

Ray-Ban Phantos 53mm Sunglasses

3. APL Slides

APL Lusso Slide in Pristine

As much as I love beautiful chic sandals, I find that I pretty much live in APL Techloom Slides or the leather Lusso Slide. I wear them so much I have a terrible APL slide foot tan. I prefer the Techloom Slide because they’re the most comfortable and super easy to wash. I’ll soak them in the tub first and they clean up with detergent or dish soap and a sponge then put them in the washing machine. Super easy to maintain, just make sure you air dry them.

They come in whole sizes and I wear a size 6 in the slides (they run a little big). I’m a true 6.5 in shoes and 7 in sneakers. Andrew wears a 12.5 in sneakers and wears the slides in a 12. He says they’re the most comfortable wear-around-the-house things he’s ever tried. My bestie bought a pair for her husband he is also obsessed.

There’s no break in period, super comfortable, I’ve worn them on 5 mile walks, to the beach, to run errands, at home. I buy them from APL’s website, but they sell out pretty fast. You can also find them at Nordstrom, Shopbop and Revolve. For the guys I also recommend East Dane.

Colors shown top left clockwise: Techloom Black, Clay, Lusso Pristine, Techloom Caramel, Warm Silk, Nude, Black

APL Slides Favorites

Favorite APL Slides

4. Best Basic Tops:

Best Basic White Shirts

The three tops I get the most questions about are the basics I wear. My go-to tee is the ATM Schoolboy Tee (runs small, recommend going up one size). They’re quite spendy but I love the fit and they wash well without losing their shape. I usually buy mine from ATM or Nordstrom.

For white button down shirts I love Rails Ellis Gauze Button Down Shirt and one from Treasure and Bond (no longer available, but similar cut in their Classic Drapey Shirt or Dobby Classic Shirt).

5. Peachy Gloss

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 166 Physical

Above wearing Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 166 Physical and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Color in Deep as a bronzer. Foundation shade is the Chanel CC Cream in B40.

The three glosses I rotate between the most are the Chanel Rouge Coco Glosses in peach tones. A number of you asked for swatches side by side as they look similar in stories, I have 166 Physical, 744 Subtil and 782 True.

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Physical, Subtil and True

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Physical, Subtil and True

6. Glowy Bronzer

Chantecaille Bronzer Sirena

I’m still in the process of putting together a bronzer favorites roundup but the one I’ve been most impressed with is the Chantecaille Real Bronze in Sirena. It’s a gel-powder formula with a soft glow to give you that sunkissed look. I think it’s 100% worth the splurge. Lip color shown is the Lip Tint in Beach Rose (reviewed here).

7. Glowy Eyeshadows

Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shades Cheetah, Lion, Giraffe

The eye look that has been getting the most wear this summer has been a mix of the Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shades in Cheetah, Lion and Giraffe. They have the prettiest pearl particles and I love wearing these alone or on top of matte shadows to add some dimension and shimmer.

Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shade swatches

8. Best Summer Bags

Three bags I’ve been loving are the Eric Javits Squishee Isla Straw Bag (gifted) for the beach or boat. Love the quality, size and pockets!

Eric Javits Squishee Isla Tote

Eric Javits Squishee Isla Tote

Loewe Small Square Leather-Trimmed Raffia Basket Bag for a cute summer woven tote!

Loewe Small Square Leather-Trimmed Raffia Basket Bag

Loewe Small Square Leather-Trimmed Raffia Basket Bag

And also the Chloe Small Woody Tote (available at Chloe and Nordstrom, also love the look of the Medium Size with the Beige Trim).

Chloe Small Woody Tote Canvas Brown

9. Summer Sunscreens

Best Sunscreens Summer Shiseido, Supergoop! Sun Bum, Sol de Janeiro

Sunscreen is a must and I did a full updated sunscreen roundup here. I am so impressed with the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ and I am ordering backups since we go through a lot.

10. Bright Red Coral Nails

Best Bright Red Orange Nail Polishes

Last category is bright red/coral nails. I still think the best bright oranges were Chanel Espadrilles and Holiday, unfortunately both discontinued. I currently love Chanel Le Vernis in Arancio Vibrante (worn on the left with Sam Edelman Amy Sandals), OPI Cajun Shrimp and Smith and Cult Poppy Papi.

Shop the Post:

 

 

What are your summer essentials right now?

Hauls Nordstrom Sales

Best Hair Care + Fragrance Sets From the Nordstrom Anniverary Sale 2021

July 16, 2021

Best Hair Care Fragrance Sets Nordstrom Sale Beauty Exclusives 2021

I have my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Haul Round 2 today with my picks in hair care and fragrance! If you have favorites in any of the lines there are some great bundles and savings available in sets. I’ve rounded up the Best Hair Care + Fragrance Sets I’ve found at Nordstrom Sale this year. Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives here. Don’t forget to check out the Gift With Purchase options too!

Anniversary Sale is available to shop for Icon, Ambassador and Influencer Card Members now! Public Sale starts July 28 and runs through August 8th.

HAIR CARE

Oribe Magic Duo Full Size Gold Lust Dry Shampoo & Dry Texturizing Spray Set ($64 sale price, $96 value) is usually available in a value set or travel sizes during this sale and this year they have the full size duo. I love the Dry Texturizing Spray to add soft texture and definition! The Gold Lust Dry Shampoo is one of my favorites.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and Gold Lust Dry Shampoo

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and Gold Lust Dry Shampoo

Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner Set ($90 sale, $136 value) comes with full and travel sizes of the Gold Lust Shampoo + Conditioner! One set for home and another for travel. I usually buy the jumbo sizes when I order this but the set looked really good for travel.

Oribe Home & Away Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo & Conditioner Set

Olaplex Bond Maintenance Hair Care Set ($84 sale, $126 value) my most-used shampoo and conditioner formula for the past year! Has the No 3 Hair Perfector, No 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and No 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner. I relied heavily on this formula when I had color treated hair but it’s still good for those with natural hair.

Olaplex Bond Maintenance Hair Care Set

BODY CARE

Kopari Coconut Melt Duo Set Nordstrom Sale

Kopari Full Size Coconut Melt Set ($35 sale, $56 value) it’s been a while since I restocked on the Kopari Coconut Melt and I forgot how nice this is to have for dry skin days. It’s so versatile to use as a moisturizer or in the bath. I love the Tropical Coconut scent, it’s similar to the original just a little more sweet.

FRAGRANCE + CANDLES

I picked up some goodies from Diptyque, Tom Ford, Jo Malone and Boy Smells for the sale.

Diptyque Travel Size Scented Candle Set ($60) I always get these every year, mainly for gifting away. This year’s variation has Baies, Figuier, Roses, Feuille de Lavande and Feu de Bois. If you’ve never tried Diptyque and don’t want to commit to the full sizes before trying I think this is a great way to sample scents!

Diptyque Mini Candle Set Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021

Diptyque Do Son Eau de Toilette and Hair Mist Set ($90 sale, $125 value) has two mini sizes of the Do Son Eau de Toilette and Hair Mist. This one is such a unique scent and I would say is one of Diptyque’s signature scents. It has a mix of tuberose, orange blossom and jasmine. These both come in the 1 oz size. Full sizes are 1.7 oz – 3.4 for the perfume and 1 fl oz for the hair mist.

Diptyque Do Son Hair Mist Perfume Duo Set Nordstrom

Jo Malone Travel Size Wood Sage and Sea Salt Set ($40) this is another great gifting set, it has three minis in a pouch of the Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne (0.3 oz), Peony and Blush Suede Body Cream (0.5 oz) and English Pear and Freesia Candle (1.2 oz). The sizes are super minis so they’re mainly trial size but the set makes a nice chic gift that won’t break the bank.

Jo Malone Wood Sage Mini Set Nordstrom

Tom Ford Travel Size Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil Set ($72) has two mini Shimmering Body Oils in the Soleil Blanc set. I already own the regular classic Gold color and have bought several of the mini sets in the past (love them!). This year’s has Rose Gold and Bronze – both don’t really show up color-wise, but your skin glows with tiny micro sparkles in the Soleil Blanc scent.

Tom Ford Travel Size Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil Duo Nordstrom

Tom Ford Travel Size Soleil Fragrance and Atomizer Set ($164 on sale, $205 value) comes with three Soleil scents in:

  • Soleil Blanc (coco de mer, ylang-ylang from the Comores islands and cardamom)
  • Soleil Neige (bergamot, jasmine and lemon)
  • Soleil Brulant (warm and spicy orange flower, amber, black honey)

Several of you have asked me to review/try the newest Soleil scent in Soleil Brulant. I had a feeling I would not like it as several other beauty bloggers tried it and said it smelled like a spicy herb. I would say that description is spot on. It’s not terrible but it’s not something I could ever envision myself wearing. I spritzed on Soleil Neige which I know a lot of you love – it smells fresh and floral with lemon notes, I’m still undecided. I think my heart still belongs to Soleil Blanc, Sole di Positano or Neroli Portofino.

Tom Ford Soleil Travel Atomizer Set

Boy Smells Late Bloomer Votive Candle Set ($56) has five small 3 oz candles in Prunus, Cameo, Petal, Les and Gardener. I’ve tried a few of the candles in the past and really liked them! I can’t recall if I tried any of the scents that are in this particular one but I think they smell really pretty. There’s another Moody Woods Variation you might want to check out if you like woody scents. My store did not have this available but it’s still available online.

Boy Smells Late Bloomer Votive Candle Set

Boy Smells Late Bloomer Votive Candle Set

OTHER SALE ITEMS TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR

A note on a few things on sale I already own and love that you might want to check out!

Simplehuman and Riki both have their mirrors on sale. I use both nearly everyday and think this is a great time to save on them. You can see my Favorite Mirrors roundup post if you want more details. Riki Love Riki Skinny is on sale for $130 ($200-$210 after the sale) in both the White and Rose color. The Simplehuman 8-Inch Sensor Mirror is on sale for $140 ($200 after the sale).

Riki Skinny Vanity Mirror review via The Beauty Look Book

Skincare Favorites from Sisley, Fresh, Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown:

Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, Bobbi Brown Enriched Face Base

For skincare I’m pretty stocked on my favorites right now so I didn’t buy anything. Moisturizer-wise I really love the Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream for a really nice lightweight water cream and they have a Black Rose Skin Infusion Set with a full size cream and minis of the Mask and Oil to try ($155 on sale, $268 value, the cream by itself is $210).

I love the Fresh lip treatments and the Rose Petal-Soft Lip Cream Set includes a full size Petal Soft Lip Cream and mini Advanced Treatment Lip Balm (my stick balm shown is the full size, but sale set comes with the mini) ($25 sale, $37 value).

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream is available in two sets including the Magic Cream Set ($160 sale) and Setting Spray and Magic Cream Set ($75).

The Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base is one of the best priming moisturizers I’ve tried that doubles as a foundation primer + moisturizer in one. They have a Face Base Primer Set on sale for $62 ($139 value).

If you had the NuFace Trinity on your radar they have mega savings in the NuFACE White Trinity Facial Toning Kit – available for $199 sale, $339 value.

NuFace Trinity Toning Kit

Also one thing I wanted to mention is that Nordstrom started carrying the minis of Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances. They put them out on display for the sale, BUT they’re not a sale exclusive or on sale. I just wanted to mention it since the mini sizes have been so hard to find in the US but I’m really happy they’re now available in select scents! Minis are in the 1.1 oz size and are either $135, $165 $180 depending on the scent. I already own the Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum in the small one and love it.

Mini Maison Francis Kurkdjian

SHOP THE POST:

 

 

Did you haul anything yet from the Nordstrom Sale? I know many of you mentioned you were shopping starting today! Let me know if you found anything good 🙂

Hauls Nordstrom Sales

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Haul

July 14, 2021

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives Haul

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).

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives Haul

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.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives

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!

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Leopard Pet Bed

 

 

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!

_________

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!

Bobbi Brown Full Size Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick

_________

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.

Charlotte Tilbury Full Size Collagen Lip Bath Set

_________

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.

Charlotte Tilbury Sunset Dreamscape Face & Eye Palette Set

Charlotte Tilbury Sunset Dreamscape Face & Eye Palette Set swatches Nordstrom Sale

_________

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.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Essentials Palette Dim Light, Surreal Effect and Eternal Bronzing Light Nordstrom Sale 2021

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Essentials Palette Dim Light, Surreal Effect and Eternal Bronzing Light Nordstrom Sale 2021

_________

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).

Tom Ford Cognac Rose Eye Color Quad Set + Lip Color in Casablanca and Fascinator

Tom Ford Cognac Rose Eye Color Quad Set + Lip Color in Casablanca and Fascinator

_________

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.

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad Set Coquette Eyeshadow Quad

Tom Ford Coquette Eyeshadow Quad Swatches + Impassioned Lipstick

_________

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

NARS Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Sets

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 Pleasure Trip Cheek Palette swatches + Afterglow Lip Shine Set

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:

NARS Afterglow Mini Lip Balm Duo ($22) in Deep Throat and Fast Lane

_________

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

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.

SHOP THE POST

 

Did you haul anything yet? Any good finds?

Nordstrom Sales

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Wishlist + Recommendations

July 9, 2021

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Wishlist Beauty Exclusives

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

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives

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!

 

___________

HAIR CARE + TOOLS

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives Hair Care and 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.

 

___________

SKINCARE

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives 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).

 

___________

FRAGRANCE

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Beauty Exclusives 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.

 

___________

FOR THE HOME

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021 Home Exclusives Sale

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.

___________

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

Skincare Suncare

Best Sunscreens for Summer

July 7, 2021

Best Sunscreens for Summer

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.

Best Sunscreens Summer Shiseido, Supergoop! Sun Bum, Sol de Janeiro

Shiseido x Tory Burch

Shiseido Tory Burch Sunscreen Summer 2021

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

Best Sunscreens Body Shiseido, Supergoop! Sun Bum, Sol de Janeiro

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

Best Face Sunscreens Chanel, Shiseido, Kate Somerville

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.

Tinted Sunscreens

Best Tinted Face 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

Best Sunscreen for Men

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.

Shop the Post:

 

 

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