All Posts By

Sabrina

Fragrance

Best Summer Perfumes

June 30, 2021

Best Summer Perfumes Chanel, Tom Ford, Diptyque, Molton Brown, Creed

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

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

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

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

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

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 Mini Travel Set

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 Perfume Summer 2021

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 in Aqua Universalis Hair Mist and Body Oil

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 Glowing Body Oil

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

Best Summer Perfumes Chanel, Tom Ford, Diptyque, Molton Brown, Creed

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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Fashion What's In My Bag

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

June 23, 2021

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

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.

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

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!

Miami Design District Shopping Celine

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review via The Beauty Lookbook

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.

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

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.

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

Celine Pico Belt Bag Review

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.

Celine Coin Purse and Gucci Leather Card Case Wallet Review

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.

Celine Coin Card Case White Triomphe

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.

Gucci Card Case Leather Wallet Black Leather

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.

Handbag Essentials: Aesop Hand Sanitizer, Chanel Hand Cream, Fresh Lip Balms

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.)

Pat McGrath LUST Gloss and Dior Nude Look Lipstick

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.

Neutral Lip Liners Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel, Dior, Huda

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

Celine Belt Bag Pico Outfit

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

Best Men's Skincare and Grooming Gift Ideas | The Beauty Lookbook

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 Gift Ideas Fathers Day

Father's Day Gift Ideas from Chanel

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.

Best Skincare for Men Jack Black and Kiehls

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:

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.

Best Creed Colognes, Aventus, Silver Mountain Water, Viking Cologne

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:

Best Father's Day Gift 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.

Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

New Summer Beauty Essentials

June 16, 2021

Summer Beauty Essentials from Nordstrom

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

Summer Beauty Essentials from Nordstrom

Tinted Moisturizers

Best Tinted Moisturizer for Summer

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

NARS Radiant Creamy Color Corrector

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.

NARS Radiant Creamy Color Corrector vs NARS Ginger Concealer swatch

Summer Cheek Palette

NARS Orgasm on the Beach palette review

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.

NARS Orgasm on the Beach palette swatches

NARS Orgasm on the Beach palette Makeup Look

Cream Blush

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Sticks

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.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Sticks swatches No 20, 23 and 24

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

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick No 20

Eyeshadow Favorites

Best Bronzey Gold Eyeshadows for Summer

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 Bronzey Gold Eyeshadows for Summer

Best Lip Tints

NARS Afterglow Lip Tint in Orgasm and Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre

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 Crushed Jelly Stick and Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss

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.

Victoria Beckham Beauty

Victoria Beckham Beauty Matte Bronzing Bricks + New Bitten Lip Tint in Amour

June 15, 2021

Victoria Beckham Beauty Haul

I have some Victoria Beckham Beauty newness to share! She recently added new Bronzer Duos to her line and a new shade of the Bitten Lip Tint in Amour. I also tried out some more of her eye products so I thought I’d add that to the roundup today as well.

Matte Bronzing Brick

Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Bricks Shade 02 and 03

There are five duos of the Matte Bronzing Brick ($58 each) and they also come in a refill format as well. These come in a hefty mirrored compact. If you’re familiar with her Smoky Eye Brick Eyeshadow Palettes, the Bronzers are significantly bigger in compact size.

The bronzers are in a powder formula with two shades. A lighter one to add warmth and a deeper one for contour or mixing. These are matte and smooth. Based on her shade charts I thought I would probably be either Shade 02 and Shade 03. After testing both I prefer the lighter option Shade 02 even though I have medium tan skin tones.

Shade 02 is a more neutral tan duo for light to medium skin tones.

Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Brick 02

Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Brick 02 and Bitten Lip Tint Cherie

Above wearing:

Shade 03 pulls warmer and more tan and pulls a little dark on me for my bronze preference. Wearing the same as above but with the Bitten Lip Tint in Amour.

Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Brick 03

Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Brick 03 and Amour Lip Tint

Powders are matte so they do look flat on my skin alone. They look best when layered with your blush and highlighter for dimension and sculpting. When combined with blush etc. I like how they warm up the complexion.

I liked that they didn’t darken too much on the skin (a lot of matte bronzers do). Lasting power is very good. In terms of all the bronzing powder formulas I’ve tried, I still prefer the texture and wear of Tom Ford, NARS or Hourglass because they have a little bit of shimmer or glow.

Swatches below next to Tom Ford Gold Dust and NARS Laguna:

Victoria Beckham Matte Bronzing Brick swatches 02 and 03

I applied mine with the Chanel Powder Brush No 106 (one of my favorites). Overall I think they are just as described. They’re good, but I wouldn’t call them the best.

Bitten Lip Tint

Victoria Beckham Bitten Lip Tint in Amour

I reviewed the Bisou Bitten Lip Tint ($36) when the line launched (review here). I really liked the concept but the color didn’t work for me. She recently added a new shade in Amour* which is much better for me. It’s a 90s like soft peachy brown with an almost diffused watercolor wash finish. I decided to also give Cherie a try which is a lighter variation of Bisou. Cherie is a sheer rose but darkens on my lips to an almost berry color. I think it’s a classic kind of berry rose.

Both will stain the lips and has better lasting power than a lipstick. You can layer them with a lip pencil for more color or depth. These have a gel-like finish and texture that has a dry down. I’m still not the biggest fan of lip stains but I really do like Amour.

Victoria Beckham Bitten Lip Tint Cherie and Amour Swatches

Smoky Eye Brick

Victoria Beckham Smokey Eye Brick in Silk and Honey

There have been so many raves about the Smoky Eye Bricks ($56) I decided to try two of them. They didn’t live up to the hype for me but the quality and pigment is still pretty good. Silk has a mix of gold shimmers and one plum shimmer. I really love the multi-dimensional quality, texture and color payoff but the gold had too much yellow for my skin tone. Tweed is an all-matte palette with some lovely everyday kind of mattes. I love tones like these – it has a similar vibe to the Chanel Candeur Et Experience. The texture of the Chanel quad is better and smoother while the Victoria Beckham matte is a little bit dry but I can make it work.

Overall fun to play with. If you can wear yellow golds Silk is beautiful! I wish they made something with a little bit more warmth or something more neutral with the same shimmers. I just ordered the Patrick TA Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette which I think will be more of what I’m looking for.

Victoria Beckham Smokey Eye Brick in Silk and Tweed swatches

Lid Lustres

Victoria Beckham Lid Lustres Honey and Tea Rose

In my initial haul I really loved the Mink Lid Lustre ($36) and I was really looking forward to seeing new colors. The newer shades were released sometime last year in Honey (shimmering honey gold) and Tea Rose (plum gold rose shimmer). Both of these are beautiful! You can wear them alone or layered. These have pearl pigments in a pressed powder format. In my experience they apply best with fingers in a patting motion. They are easy to blend and layer and stay put pretty well on the lids. Swatches below, also next to a few of the Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows (still my favorite sparkly toppers).

Victoria Beckham Lid Lustres Honey and Tea Rose swatches vs Hourglass Scattered Light

Overall love the new Lid Lustres and Bitten Lip Tints in Amour and Cherie. The quads didn’t live up to the hype from what I’ve seen in other reviews. I didn’t know what to expect from the Matte Bronzing Bricks as I’m usually not a huge fan of matte bronzers. I like the concept and will wear Shade 02 to warm up the complexion and add some depth. I still prefer something with a bit of glow when it comes to powder formulas, but if you’re looking for a matte option to try, this might be just the one for you.

That wraps up my Victoria Beckham Beauty haul! Have you tried anything from the line? What did you think so far? Available online at Victoria Beckham Beauty, Violet Grey and Net-A-Porter.

 

 

Amour Lip Tint provided for review. Everything else purchased by me.

Fashion Lifestyle

Favorite Summer Sandals from Tory Burch

June 10, 2021

Best Tory Burch Sandals | The Beauty Lookbook

Sandal season is here even though it feels like it’s always sandal season in Florida! I’ve rounded my current favorites from Tory Burch. I own a number of different brands and styles for flat sandals, but the ones from Tory Burch always end up being the ones I wear the most frequently.

I’m all about flats since they’re the most comfortable and casual for my taste. The Miller Sandal has been a classic favorite for so long, but I look forward to newer styles each season. I think this year they’ve made some of the best ones I’ve seen!

I do think these are quite the splurge but I’ve always been happy with the quality and versatility so I’ve found them worth the price.

Miller Sandal

Tory Burch Miller Sandal Review via The Beauty Look book

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller / Hat: Eric Javits / Bag: Eric Javits / Sunnies: Celine / Tips: OPI Bubble Bath / Toes: Chanel Arancio Vibrante

The Miller Sandal ($198) is a classic I think great for any age or style. The ones I’ve worn the most are the classic black leather or vachetta leather. I am a true size 6.5 but in these I’ve worn both the 6.5 and 7 and these days I like the bigger size better. I’d recommend going up 1/2 a size. They come in a wide range of colors.

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Miller Sandal Patent

Tory Burch Miller Patent Sandal Review Tan

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller Tan / Bag: Cult Gaia / Scarf: Tory Burch / Sunnies: Celine

Miller Sandal Patent ($198) these are also really cute and I love the look. These have held up longer for me even in rain, but do note if your feet get wet they can get slippery. The ones I have right now are the Patent Tan. Runs the same sizing as the classic miller in regular leather and comes in a wide range of colors.

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Miller Cloud

Tory Burch Miller Cloud Review

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller Cloud / Bag: Tory Burch Perry Bombe Bag (reviewed here) / Hat: Eric Javits / Sunnies: Celine

I was finally able to try Miller Cloud ($228) a few weeks ago! They’ve been sold out for quite a long time in a lot of the colors and sizes but just started to restock (you can pre-order on some sites). The Miller Cloud is a padded sandal described as lightweight and ergonomic with a molded footbed.

I found my usual size 6.5 ran a little big in store but ordered a 6 as soon as I saw it pop up. For me going down a half size worked perfectly. They run wider than the regular Millers but it still does hug the feet with the molded cushion and edge. The only downside is they do make a squishing noise when you walk (at least for me) but it’s not a deal breaker. I really like these!

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Double T Sport Slide

Tory Burch Double T Sport Slide review

Sandals: Double T / Bag: Loewe / Wrap: Vitamin A Swim / Sunnies: Celine / Toes: Chanel Le Vernis Arancio Vibrante

Double T Sport Slide ($198) is what I wore pretty much our entire trip when we went to Miami in May. These are so comfortable and I 100% recommend them. There’s no break in period, sole has a cushion (although it is flat), and comfortable to wear even in the heat. I like that they’re not a flip flip style making it a little more dressy.

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Basket Weave Slide

Tory Burch Basket Weave Slide review

Shoes: Basket Weave Slide / Bag: Loewe / Scarf: Tory Burch / Sunnies: Celine / Hat: Eric Javits (see hat worn here) / Toes: Chanel Le Vernis Arancio Vibrante

The Basket Weave Slide ($258) is another favorite. I picked these in white and think the weave is so pretty. My bestie messaged me that she got the same pair as well. These run true to size on me for an exact fit. They’re super flattering. Comfort wise I find they are comfortable, but not as comfortable as the Double T or APL Slides.

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Basket-Weave Espadrille

Tory Burch Basket-Weave Espadrille review

Shoes: Basket Weave Espadrille Tie Sandal / Bag: Chloe Small Woody / Sunnies: Rayban

The Basket-Weave Espadrille ($228) is another style with the woven design. This has a large strap in the front and a leather string tie. They run true to size and I also love these. Wear is about the same as the slide version, the sole on this is slightly more comfortable (but still flat).

Best Tory Burch Sandals | The Beauty Lookbook

That wraps up my favorites summer sandals from Tory Burch right now! For me they were 100% worth the splurge. I will put together a part two with some more favorites from other brands. What are your favorite sandals to wear for the summer? Do you also wear flats or something with a heel?

You can find Tory Burch at Tory Burch, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and more.

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Nail Polish

Fun Nail Polish Colors to Try This Summer

June 6, 2021

Summer Nail Colors OPI: 3 Coats of OPI Bubble Bath, then (thumb to pinkie) Don’t Tell a Sol, That’s Hula-Rious, It’s a Girl, Gelato On My Mind, Got Myself Into a Jam-balaya

I’ve been getting back into colorful nail polishes, especially the colorful French tips with a neutral base for fun! I have so many colors that I’ve been playing with and thought I’d do a roundup of some favorites right now. Last week I posted a fun manicure combination with picks from Target on Instagram. I love these colors by themselves too so I thought I’d share full swatches on the blog along with a few others.

Rainbow Manicure

3 Coats of OPI Bubble Bath (base), then (thumb to pinkie) Don’t Tell a Sol (yellow), That’s Hula-rious (mint), It’s a Girl (pink), Gelato On My Mind (aqua), Got Myself Into a Jam-balaya (coral) – all available at Target

Rainbow French Tips OPI 3 Coats of OPI Bubble Bath, then (thumb to pinkie) Don’t Tell a Sol, That’s Hula-Rious, It’s a Girl, Gelato On My Mind, Got Myself Into a Jam-balaya

Yellows

OPI Bee-Hind the Scenes – softer almost pastel yellow, opaque, shown with 2 coats (from Ulta, but sold out, still available in Infinite Shine formula)

OPI Bee-Hind the Scenes swatch

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OPI Don’t Tell a Sol – vibrant yellow, opaque, 2 coats on tips, Passion as the base

OPI Don’t Tell a Sol on tips, Passion as base

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Essie You Know the Espadrille – warmer sunflower/mustard like yellow, 2 coats

Essie You Know the Espadrille

Peach and Coral

OPI Got Myself Into a Jam-balaya – perfect fun bright coral peach, opaque, 2 coats

OPI Got Myself Into a Jambalaya

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OPI PCH Love Song* – electric coral orange with gold shimmer, smooth, opaque, 2 coats

OPI PCH Love Song swatch

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OPI We Seafood and Eat It – pretty coral pink-red cream, 2 coats (also available in Infinite Shine)

OPI We Seafood and Eat It Nail Polish swatch

Pinks

OPI Mod About You* – white based pale pink, opaque, 2 coats

OPI Mod About You swatch

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OPI It’s a Girl – soft pale pink, sheerer finish and not as white/pastel as Mod About You, wearing It’s a Girl with 3 coats

OPI It’s a Girl swatch

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Olive and June Grateful and Kind* – pretty medium rose pink, opaque, cream, 2 coats (available at Olive and June and Target, ombre pink and yellow tumbler from Target)

Olive and June Grateful and Kind nail polish swatch, pink

Nail polish comparisons side by side:

Yellow, Coral, Pink Nail Polish Wheel swatches

Mint

OPI Mexico City Move-Mint – pale mint blue cream, opaque, wearing 3 coats

OPI Mexico City Move-Mint swatch

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OPI Gelato On My Mind* – fun aqua color, opaque, 2 coats

OPI Gelato On My Mind

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More mint polishes on the hands: OPI Mexico City Move-Mint, Essie Mint Candy Apple, OPI That’s Hula-rious, OPI Gelato on my Mind

Mint Nail Polishes OPI Mexico City Move-Mint, Essie Mint Candy Apple, OPI That’s Hula-rious, OPI Gelato on my Mind

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Louboutin Batignolles – long time readers will recognize this swatch from many many years ago! One of the prettiest aqua colors to date

Louboutin Batignolles Nail Polish swatch

 

More mint swatches:

Mint Nail Polish swatches, Essie, OPI, Chanel

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For those curious, my go-to base and top coats are the OPI Natural Base Coat and Top Coat. More on my current Hand and Nail Care Routine in this post here.

What are you wearing on your nails for this summer? Any fun ones you’ve pulled out recently? I’m already working on part two with some baby blue shade, lilacs and corals. Let me know what you want me to swatch next! Peach? Lavender? Purples? Neutrals? Shimmers? Any other brands you want me to swatch?

I usually buy my OPI and Essie nail polishes from Target or Ulta. Olive and June has sent a number of bottles for press samples but I also buy from their website Olive and June and Target.

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Press samples indicated with a *.