Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Fall Beauty Staples + New Finds

October 21, 2020

I’m excited to share a roundup of my fall beauty staples with some new finds from Nordstrom! I am thrilled to report that I have found a new holy grail hydration duo for hands and lips. Also by popular request I ordered a few of the new YSL lip stains to swatch and try for the season. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom today to share some new favorites along with a few staples that are going to be versatile throughout the year.

Foundation, Concealer and Powder

For my foundation I’ve been reaching for three things recently. For a minimalist natural glow the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is the best I’ve tried and one I’ve repurchased multiple times. For extra coverage or a long-wear formula I love the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion (I wear Dusk 3W1) or the Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation (I wear Natural 6.0 and Sable 6.5). These three are my no-fail go-to’s I think will suit a wide range of skin types.

Concealer-wise I think the Cle de Peau Concealer Stick is the best for full coverage. I currently wear Buff to spot conceal because it’s an exact match for my skin. If I want brightening I’ll go with Ocher. For under eyes the Cle de Peau Corrector for Eyes is an opaque but easy to blend formula with a brush applicator. This is what I’ve been using under eyes recently to conceal dark circles and brighten the under eye area. I think it’s 100% worth the splurge. If you want something more affordable you can’t go wrong with the ones from Laura Mercier and NARS – they’re versatile and have a nice shade range.

For powder long-time readers know that the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish in Medium is my holy grail and I still love it. I’m also a huge fan of the Sisley Blur Expert to give the skin a soft diffused evened out finish. This is my second compact and although spendy I think it’s a great product to give the skin a luminous matte look.

For touch-ups I think the Charlotte Tilbury Air-Brush is one of the softest retractable powder brushes I’ve ever tried. You can use it for bronzer or powder. I like that it has a protective cap.

The Best Cheek Palette

I’ve been really loving the Hourglass Sculpture Ambient Lighting Edit Palette. It’s the one cheek palette I brought with me on a recent trip and I used it the entire time. It has everything I need in one compact! I love how natural and flattering the glow is. I’ve been pairing it with the No 28 Lip Treatment Oil in Bare (also love Adorn and Cameo) for a healthy pink glow.

Eye Makeup Staples

For eye makeup I get so many requests for a good all-matte neutral-cool palette recommendation. This can be harder to find these days as most palettes have warm shades or something with shimmer. The Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Mink Mirage is the best neutral-cool matte quad. It has classic colors that you can wear everyday. Colors are smooth, opaque and easy to blend. I find myself reaching for this a lot! You can dress it up by adding more of the deep brown or black for a smokey look.

For mascara I’ve been really impressed with the NARS Climax Extreme – it gives length, volume and holds the curl with no smudging on me. It has an extreme dark pigment which coats the lashes in a bolder look.

Another product I use weekly is the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold. It’s my go-to all over base color to add a bit of glow. They just launched a Mini Caviar Stick Set for holiday with Au Naturel (cool-neutral beige), Rosegold (shimmery champagne, the color I use almost daily as a base), Intense Moonlight (sparkling taupe) and Magnetic Pink (metallic pale pink). If you’re new to the formula I think the minis are a nice way to try different colors.

New YSL Lips

YSL launched new Water Glow Lip Stains which are a gloss/stain hybrid that lasts long and leaves a glow. I picked four shades to try and think they’re lovely! They do darken and deepen once they set for a bolder color. I am wearing 207 Illegal Rosy Nude in the opening photo of this blog post. Other colors I picked include 203 Restricted Pink (healthy brighter pink), 202 Insurgent Red (brown red) and 211 Transgressive Cacao (plum mauve). They leave a stain on the lips but it’s not impossible to remove at the end of the day. Overall look to me is more glossy than a traditional stain but I really like these. They have that signature sweet YSL lip scent.

While at the counter one of the beauty stylists recommended the Lip Pencil in 04 Rose Fume which is the most perfect pink mauve I think I have ever seen. It’s creamy and smooth and I can’t wait to use it more this season.

Cozy Scents for Fall

The weather has definitely shifted and fall has arrived although it’s still warm here. My go-to citrus scents seem a bit out of place so I’ve been wearing the new Jo Malone Fig and Lotus Flower Cologne (perfect fig scent) and started wearing my Byredo Bal D’Afrique again (mix of bergamot, vetiver and cedar). I think both are unique and long-lasting.

My top two candles for the home are Diptyque Santal (soft creamy sandalwood) and Baies (blackcurrant and rose). They make the home smell cozy and they both brighten the mood in different ways! Holiday sets just launched and the Mini 5 Piece Set is always a great way to sample them if you haven’t tried them before! It also makes the cutest gift.

Must-Have Skincare Treats

I picked up two sets from La Mer and am in LOVE! The Rejuvenating Hydration Set has a mini Hand Treatment which is super silky and hydrating and a full sized Lip Volumizer which is a hydrating lip serum. The Lip Volumizer is more of a plumping product versus a balm but it feels smooth and softens my lips. You can use it under balm or lip color, but for me it feels smooth enough to use as a balm. I have been a huge fan of the La Mer Hand Serum and decided to give this set a try because it has a mini of the Hand Treatment. I think once this is used up I’ll splurge on the full size.

The Mini Miracle Broth Set is another one I picked up, mainly for a recent vacation as it has 4 minis of the Cleansing Foam, Treatment Lotion, Regenerating Serum and Moisturizing Soft Cream. It worked well for our trip and I think it’s a great starter set to try their products. There are different variations during the holiday, so I’d recommend finding one with the lotion or moisturizer formula you prefer. I really like the Soft Cream or Soft Lotion so this one was perfect for me.

That wraps up my fall beauty staples post! I have quite a bit in rotation right now but wanted to put together an edited roundup of the things I’ve been reaching for the most. As always I’d love to hear what you have in rotation right now! Or if you have any new beauty finds let me know in the comments! If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out the Gift With Purchase page.

Shop the post:

Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. All items purchased by me. As always all opinions are my own.

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Lips Victoria Beckham Beauty

Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Lipstick Review

October 19, 2020

Victoria Beckham Posh Lipsticks recently launched and I could not be more excited! She launched nine colors of hydrating lipsticks and I ordered six of them from her website Victoria Beckham Beauty. The lipsticks seem to be an exclusive on her website for the time being, but you can also find her products at a few other places like Violet Grey and Net-A-Porter. Her Posh Lipsticks come in a slim twist up tube and retail for $38 each.

The formula is ultra smooth and creamy. They glide on the lips in a beautiful way and have a slight waxy feel. I would say coverage is sheer-medium with most of the colors except the darker ones which have medium pigment. A few swipes back and forth covers the lip entirely with a natural sheen. Finish-wise I would say they’re somewhere in between lightweight and heavy – but they are really comfortable. Lasting power is ok – they fade within a few hours but these days I don’t mind something that doesn’t last super long since I have to take off lip color anyways anytime I wear a mask. To extend the wear or have more pigment, I’d definitely recommend layering with a lip pencil.

I skipped the lightest shade, the red and one of the browns. All the colors are creams (no shimmer). I think they’re beautiful everyday kinds of classics! I have a lot of natural pigment in my lips so if your lips aren’t as dark, these will show up a lot better on your lips/complexion. While I was able to get full coverage I still feel like my natural lip showed through a little.

Colors I hauled:

Girl is a light pink beige cream
Spice is a brown beige ginger
Pout is a sheer light pink peach
Pose is a muted mauve
Sway is a soft mauve berry
Play is a deeper wine plum

Swatches in different lighting, top is with full flash. Bottom photo with different lighting also next to the Victoria Beckham Beauty Lip Pencils I have (you can see the review in this post here):

Full face swatches, also wearing:

Foundation – Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion in Dusk 3W1
Powder – Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder in Honey *
Blush/Bronzer/Highlight – Hourglass Sculpture Collection Palette (review here)
Eyeshadow – Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Honeymoon + Victoria Beckham Beauty Lid Lustre in Mink
Mascara – EM Cosmetics Pick Me Up Mascara *
Liner – EM Cosmetics Illustrative Eyeliner * (mascara + liner also in one of their Holiday Cozy Essentials Sets)
Tee – ATM Schoolboy Tee (my favorite basic tee that doesn’t shrink in the wash)
Nail Polishes – Chanel Le Vernis in Egerie (pink peach) and Organdi (nude pink) – I shot these photos over the course of a few different days and had switched up the polish

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Below top to bottom: Spice, Girl, Pout, Sway, Pose and Play

Girl and Pout are both a bit too light for my natural lip color but if I wear a lip pencil underneath and blend first I can make them work. I love the look of Spice even though it pulls a bit brown on my skin. My favorites are Pose and Sway. Based on my swatching experience I think Fringe (a brown shade I skipped) might have been a good one too!

Overall experience is positive for me and I’m happy with my haul picks. I love the sleek slim packaging and even though these are on the spendy side I do think they were worth ordering. I would have liked to see more color options in the medium color range (versus the pale or deep end) – but I think this is a great start to the lineup. They perform well, texture is beautiful, pigment is sheer but lovely. They’re a great no-fuss kind of classic lip that offers hydration and sheer medium coverage.

Formula-wise I wouldn’t call these the best of the best simply because I prefer colors with a little more pigment but I think they are very good. For me my heart still belongs to the Pat McGrath lineup because of the color selection and pigment. I also prefer the Chantecaille Lip Veils (for pigment and color selection).

You can find the Victoria Beckham Beauty Lipsticks available online at her website Victoria Beckham Beauty. Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think?

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Chanel

Chanel Holiday 2020 Collection Les Chaines D’Or de Chanel

October 14, 2020

Happy Wednesday! I’m finally back with a new post featuring the Chanel Holiday 2020 Collection Les Chaines D’Or de Chanel. We have been away on a mini getaway to celebrate our Anniversary. If you want to check out a few snippets you can check out my Instagram Highlights under the Miami section @beautylookbook. I played with and swatched Chanel Holiday before we left town. I think the colors are really beautiful and luminous for a glowing look. You can find the entire collection online now at Chanel.com – in today’s review:

Les Chaines de Chanel Illuminating Blush Powder ($70)
Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Eyeshadows ($36 each) in Or Blanc, Or Antique, Cuivre Rose and Cuir Brun
Rouge Allure Luminous Lip Color ($45 each) in Or Beige, Or Cuivre, Rouge D’Or and Pourpre D’Or
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in Chaine D’Or ($28)

Les Chaines de Chanel Illuminating Blush Powder

This holiday Chanel has one illuminating blush called Les Chaines de Chanel. It’s a luminous copper bronze rose with a super smooth sheen. On my skin it warms up the complexion in with a pretty soft pink glow. Pigment is medium with smooth coverage. It’s easy to apply as a soft wash but also buildable. The shimmer is ultra-fine so on my skin it’s not frosty at all. It comes in a black mirrored compact with brush and a stunning embossed chain design. I give this a solid A+. It is definitely a powder formula but has a soft silky almost gel-to-powder like feel. Lasting power is excellent and stays put without darkening. Color shifts depending on how the light hits the pan so don’t let the intensity intimidate you if it looks dark from certain angles.

Swatches below of the Illuminating Blush vs the Rose Cuivre Eyeshadow in this collection:

Comparison swatches below to a few other highlighters and blushes:

Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Eyeshadows

There are four new Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Eyeshadows. They’re metallic with tiny flecks of sparkles for a shimmery festive look. I ended up liking these a lot more than I anticipated. In the compacts they looked a little dull but on the skin they’re really flattering and easy to wear. I’m super picky with gold undertones and on my arm/hand the golds looked like they would not work on my tan olive skin. They are very wearable. There is no fallout on me when I apply these, they stay put like the other colors in this formula. Pigment is medium when applied dry. You can apply with a damp brush to intensify pigment.

Or Blanc is a shimmering antiqued white gold
Or Antique is a sparkling antique deeper gold
Cuivre Rose is a pretty metallic rose shimmer (LOVE this one)
Cuir Brun is a soft smokey shimmery deep cool brown

Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color

For the nails Chanel launched one Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color in Chaine D’Or. It’s a metallic antique gold. Coverage is smooth and although metallic applies easily with minimal visible brush strokes. On me this is a one-coat wonder although I applied it in two coats. As pretty as it is I don’t find it flattering on my skin and undertone. It’s a little too brassy on my fingers. I feel it will be better suited for those who are lighter or deeper in skintone than me. Quality wise it’s excellent though.

Rouge Allure Luminous Lip Color

Last is a look at the four Rouge Allure Luminous Lip Colors for holiday. These all have varying degrees of shimmer and are a little more shimmery than most other Rouge Allures I’ve tried. Application is smooth and comfortable. They have a super soft almost almond-like scent like the Rouge Allure formula but it’s VERY subtle and I barely notice it once it is on the lips.

Formula is creamy and offers full coverage with a luminous sheen. They feel nice on the lips like a traditional lipstick. For me lasting power is pretty good!

Or Beige 107 is a soft beige with gold shimmer
Or Cuivre 117 is a nude plum shimmer
Rouge D’Or 127 is a bold warm red with shimmr
Pourpre D’Or 137 is a deeper plum (almost looks identical on my lips as Or Cuivre)

Looks below wearing:

Foundation – Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation in B40
Powder – Poudre Universelle Libre Loose in 30 and 40
Blush – Chanel Les Chaines de Chanel
Eyeshadow – Ombre Premiere in Cuivre Rose and Cuir Brun
Liner – Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Noir Intense
Mascara – Le Volume Mascara in Noir
Nails – Le Vernis is from the fall collection in Egerie (also reviewed here)
Tee – Reformation Alex Slim Tee

The stand outs to me are the new Les Chaines de Chanel highlighter and Rose Cuivre Eyeshadow. I also love a good smokey brown so Cuir Brun is another new favorite for me. I hope you found this review and swatches helpful! You can find everything available now online at Chanel.com. I suspect it will launch soon at other retailers and counters as well.

Have you checked out anything from the new Chanel launches yet? What did you think?

Chanel holiday 2020 collection provided for review.

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Skincare

Fall Skincare Routine + New Tries

October 7, 2020

I have an updated fall skincare routine with a full breakdown of what I’ve been using and used up over the past few months! The weather turned here for a few short days and I almost thought we were going to have colder cooler weather but then it popped back up to the high 80s! The weather still has shifted for fall so I’ve changed up some of my moisturizers and serums. This is what I’ve been loving lately by category.

Cleansers

I’ve been a bit obsessive with cleaning my skin multiple times a day. I always cleanse in the morning. Right before a workout and right after a workout. And then in the evening before I go to sleep.

Tatcha Rice Wash is a newer gentle exfoliating cream cleanser. There are tiny rice powder particles that I feel are gentle enough that I don’t feel any grit on the skin. It’s creamy when you add water and is good for normal to dry skin. (Also available in this mini duo.)
Kate Somerville Cleansers – all Kate Somerville cleansers in general are well loved in our home, I’ve tried all of them and always have a backup stash, for family who visit and have skin issues, I always recommend and gift them one of these when they shop/raid my beauty closet!
- Eradikate is the best to deal with acne issues, it’s the one that has effectively prevented maskne by cleaning out the pores and any clogged areas, the 3% sulfur + oat extract helps absorb excess oil. I can rarely use anti-acne skincare because it’s often too drying or harsh and ends up stripping my skin. The entire Eradikate line is one of the few I can use that does not irritate my skin.
- Exfolikate is best for normal to oily skin. This one has exfoliating ingredients including glycolic and lactic acid to help resurface the skin and fruit enzymes that also help with natural exfoliation. It’s not harsh even though it’s an “exfoliating cleanser”.
- Delikate Cleanser* is the best calming cleanser I’ve tried. I will often use this in the morning and then one of her other cleansers at night.
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser is a great everyday cleanser that is gentle but effective. It has a creamy almost foaming texture when you add water. Andrew loves this, my brother loves this, I love it too. I think it’s reasonably priced!
Sisley Triple Oil Balm Makeup Remover and Cleanser* – best makeup remover balm-oil in one, gentle and non-stripping (tied with the Farmacy Green Clean for a more budget friendly option and one that is just as good).
Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover – best eye makeup remover, takes of my liner and mascara!
Good Molecules Facial Cleansing Mitt – I almost always use a washcloth to wash my face, but I often ruin them with makeup or mascara remnants. I ordered a few of these face mitts to use just for when I have makeup to remove or wash off and they’re small but really nice! I want to look into other brands of reusable washable cleansing cloths like this. I bought a pack of three and really like them.

Toners

The top three toners I have in rotation:

La Mer The Tonic – this is another formula I’ve used for years that is a great no-fuss refreshing kind of toner to balance and purify the skin. (La Mer’s website also has this in a smaller travel size version.)
Sisley Floral Toning Lotion – this is one I’ve written about so many times. It’s alcohol free, gentle, hydrating and refreshes the skin beautifully. It’s very expensive but 100% the splurge (I have bought several bottles of this to replenish my skincare cabinet).
Farmacy Clean Sweep 2% BHA Pore Cleaning Toner – I’ve been using this on and off for a few weeks now and really like it! I find most toners with any kind of acid either are too strong or too sticky. This is one of the few I’ve tried that doesn’t turn my skin beet red or sting. I feel it’s gentle enough for my skin to not have any tingle but still effective enough to clean out my pores. (I tried the Paula’s Choice BHA toner and my face felt like it was on fire! It turned horribly red and irritated for a solid week before it finally calmed down.)

Serum Moisturizers

I’ve tried to improve my serum and moisturizer routine as the weather turns. I’ve included a few new items I’ve added to my routine and also wanted to mention a few Andrew uses.

Sisley Pure Bright Activating Serum* – this is Andrew’s favorite brightening serum. He has permanently “borrowed” this from my beauty cabinet and uses it religiously (LOL!). For his skin he’s struggled with darker sun spots on his cheek bones since we moved to Florida. This is the only product that he finds that works to brighten dark spots over time. He like that it feels lightweight, it’s simple to use and it works.
Sisley Hydra-Global Hydration Booster Serum* and Gel Cream Moisturizer* – the Sisley Hydra-Global line is a great one for normal to dry skin. Andrew uses these on whenever he feels dry and likes that they’re both hydrating without that greasy overly heavy feel.
La Prairie Skin Caviar Liquid Lift* – this is the newest serum I’ve tried and it BLEW MY MIND. It’s a lifting and firming serum with two chambers. One has a milky emulsion serum and the other has encapsulated caviar beads. To activate the serum there is a pump to mix the products together for a beautiful smoothing serum. Skin is left firm and smoother and softer. I’ve just ordered a few more La Prairie items I’ve had on my wishlist from the line and cannot wait to try them.
Kate Somerville Delikate Recovery Serum* and Recovery Cream* – this has been my most frequently used duo all through summer and now in the fall. It’s a great everyday calming duo that smooths the skin. I initially used it on only dry-skin days but have found it’s really versatile for me. Sometimes I will skip the serum and only use the cream.
Kate Somerville Peptide K8 Power Cream* – this is my second most-used moisturizer. I feel like everything Kate Somerville just works without any extra effort of fuss.
Kate Somerville Dilo Age-Defying Oil* – I started incorporating a few oils into my routine and have used this one again every other night. It’s my favorite!
Chantecaille Rose de Mail Face Oil* – This is a new to me oil which is designed to soften fine lines and brighten the skin. It has a floral rose scent but compared to other rose oils I’ve tried it has a more botanical vibe rather than straight up rose. It feels a little thicker in texture while other oils I’ve tried are more fluid but it absorbs into the skin beautifully. I just started using this so I can’t really report on the effects yet, but it’s like a veil of protective moisture.
Sisley Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid – this has been my go-to eye treatment for a few months. I loved it for its lightweight feel and the applicator has a beautiful cooling sensation which helps with puffiness in the mornings. It’s nearly used up and I will be trying a different eye cream soon!
For my night time treatment, I’ll use the Kate Somerville RetAsphere Micro Peel 2-3x per week to help with gentle resurfacing and smoothing.

Masks/Treatments

My masks have been the same for months now. I’m really interested in trying new formulas but for now have stuck with what works. For hydration I alternate between the Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask (lush and thick) and the By Terry Baume de Rose Le Mask* (love how this bubbles/foams, will 100% repurchase). For a sheet mask my latest love is the La Mer Treatment Lotion Hydrating Sheet Mask. It leaves the skin feeling soft and refreshed.

For acne issues or pore clearing my Glamglow Supermud has been my go-to – I only use this when I feel like my skin needs a pore clean out.

For eye masks my go-to is still the 111Skin Sub Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask or the 111Skin Rose Gold Illuminting Eye Mask. I prefer the depuffing version. Also thanks to the recommendation of many of you I ordered a box of the Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Masks and am OBSESSED! I love how these masks hydrate and brighten. I read you can use them on smile lines but haven’t tried it there yet – I may put a few on my forehead area to try.

For acne I’ve finally gotten any spot acne under my chin under control. I think the influx in stress and hormonal issues caused skin issues for me earlier this year. For the occasional pimple I still rely on Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment (Andrew uses this religiously and has me buy him multiple tubes at a time) and the Kate Somerville Eradikate Acne Treatment.

Tools

I’ve been neglecting almost all of my beauty tools except for a couple things. I really still like the Le Mieux Skin Perfector* which I’ve had for many many years! It’s a great gentle pore cleaner that has tiny pulses from ultrasonic waves. There are different variations and models out there from other brands but this is one that has worked for me for years so I’ve stuck with it. I have also been really liking the Mount Lai Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool in the Jade or Rose Quartz options. They both really has helped improve my circulation and radiance of the skin.

That wraps up my current fall skincare routine! As always I’d love to hear about what you’ve been loving lately! Let me know in the comments! I love getting ideas from you to see what you’re using and loving.

Press samples indicated with a *. All others purchased by me.

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Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Cosmetics Sculpture Holiday Collection

October 2, 2020

The Hourglass Cosmetics Sculpture Holiday Collection launched recently with two new palettes and a lipstick duo. I have a review today with some beauty looks to share! The new launches are beautiful and perfect for giving you that gorgeous lit from within kind of holiday glow. However, if you’ve been a long-time Hourglass collector and still have a lot of product left in your palettes, I think you can shop your stash to get the same look. The collection is available at Hourglass Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Sephora and all other Hourglass retailers.

In today’s review:

Ambient Lighting Edit Sculpture Palette ($80)
Ambient Lighting Edit Mini – Sculpture Unlocked ($58)
Sculpture Confession Refill Lipstick Duo with shades At Dawn and At Dusk ($48)

Ambient Lighting Edit Sculpture Palette

The Ambient Lighting Edit Sculpture Palette has quite a few repromotes from the existing Hourglass lineup. In the palette we have:

Dim Light – a soft finishing powder in a pink beige satin
Diffused Light – another finishing powder in a pale yellow
Glistening Strobe Light – a smooth metallic warm peachy champagne (new)
Natural Bronze Light – a satiny warm neutral bronze (new and limited to this palette)
Vibrant Flush – a coral shimmer blush (new and limited to this palette, deeper than Incandescent Electra)
Mood Exposure – a soft mauve rose satin

I ended up liking this one a lot more than I had expected! Part of my initial disappointment was that it’s half repromotes – I have more than enough of Dim Light and Diffused Light to last me several lifetimes. I do understand they are versatile finishing powders to soften the look and add a glow to the skin but I really hoped they would create new colors – especially tones for medium-tan to deep skin tones.

Quality-wise I think the palette performs exceptionally well. Even though I’m medium-tan all the colors show up on my skin and the days I’ve been wearing this palette I’ve gotten tons of compliments on how good my skin looks. It makes you glow in a very natural way. I hope they consider adding the new shades in full size. For those who haven’t tried the Hourglass powders before – these blend into the skin beautifully without emphasizing fine lines or pores. They add a really stunning glow without looking frosty.

Ambient Lighting Edit Mini – Sculpture Unlocked

The Ambient Lighting Edit Mini – Sculpture Unlocked is a 4-pan version of previous Unlocked palettes (reviewed here). If you missed out on the palette last year it’s a good time to try this one in a more compact version. If you’re like me you might be a bit disappointed they didn’t come out with a different variation. I’ve seen a number of other beauty bloggers say they wished they had launched were more options for different skin tones. I 100% feel the same. Quality and color-wise the colors in this year’s version perform the same as last year’s.

Sculpture Confession Refill Lipstick Duo

The Confession Refill Lipstick Duo has two new shades in At Dawn (a soft neutral-warm pink rose) and At Dusk (deep cranberry red). I think both shades are going to be versatile on a wide range of skin tones. They have full opaque smooth coverage with very good lasting power. Formula is ultra creamy and has a natural shine to them. I do think they are over-priced given the size. Quality-wise they are really good.

Dupe-wise At Dawn is similar to their individual lipstick I’m Addicted. At Dawn is warmer and a little bit lighter. It’s also a warmer version of Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk on my skin. If you found Pillow Talk too dusty/ashy on your lips you might want to give the At Dawn color a try.

Three looks below wearing:

Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation in Sable 6.5 (I’m half a shade darker than I was when I initially reviewed it)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light all over to set (I have this in the full size, but it’s also in the 2020 palette)
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
Natasha Denona Mini Glam Palette (review here)
Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadow in Aura (swatches here)
NARS Climax Extreme Mascara*
Victoria Beckham Kajal Eyeliner in Black

Look 1: Hourglass Sculpture Palette in Dim Light, Glistening Strobe Light, Natural Bronze Light and Vibrant Flush + Confession Lipstick in At Dawn

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Look 2: Hourglass Sculpture Palette in Dim Light, Glistening Strobe Light, Natural Bronze Light and Mood Exposure + Unreal Lip Gloss in Prose (part of the regular lineup)

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Look 3: Hourglass Sculpture Palette Mini Quad all 4 shades, Confession Lipstick in At Dusk

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Overall a solid collection of beautiful launches. Quality-wise and color-wise everything performs well and I think they give a beautiful natural glow you can wear all seasons. If you already have a lot of Hourglass palettes and still have plenty of product left, I think you can safely shop your stash if you want to avoid dupes. That being said I do love the look of the Ambient Lighting Edit Sculpture Palette given the number of compliments I’ve gotten wearing it – it works for everyday and I also think it photographs well.

Have you checked out the holiday Hourglass launches yet? Or are you waiting for other collections? I’m really excited about the new Chanel and Charlotte Tilbury launches this year.

You can find the Hourglass Cosmetics Sculpture Holiday Collection for 2020 out now. Available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Hourglass Cosmetics and all other Hourglass retailers.

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Beauty Lips

Hermes Lipstick Haul

September 29, 2020

I have a Hermes Lipstick Haul to share today! The launch of three new limited-edition colors combined with numerous messages about this formula pushed me over the edge to splurge on these lipsticks. After extensive testing I have a review and swatches of the Rouge Hermes Lipsticks in three formulas: Satin, Lip Shine and Matte. I ordered all of these sight unseen and am very happy with all the colors I picked.

The Rouge Hermes Lipstick retails for $67 each in the US, however the new limited-edition shades for fall are priced at $72. The lipsticks are refillable and the refills are available at the Hermes website and stores. Each lipstick is cased in a bright orange box and mini canvas-like pouch.

Most of the colors I bought far exceeded my expectations. The colors are really pretty, formula is comfortable and lightweight in feel. To me these are unscented but I put them close to my nose and can smell a tiny bit of sweetness but it’s really subtle – I did not notice anything when I applied them. Lasting power is pretty good too! I love the simple and sleek packaging.

I bought 7 shades total in Rose Ombre (satin), Rose Pommette (satin), Rose Nuit (matte), Poppy Lip Shine, Rose Boise (matte), Rose Encens (satin), Beige Tadelakt (satin).

Swatched below, Rose Nuit and Rose Boise look similar on my arm. Rose Ombre and Rose Encens also are close. The difference is more noticeable on the lips (scroll down for face photos).

Rouge Hermes Fall 2020 Shades

I think the three colors for fall are the stand outs for me. They are priced higher than the colors in the regular lineup and have different colored bases for the packaging:

Rose Ombre (Satin Lipstick) is the prettiest soft pink with a hint of mauve tones, it’s very wearable even though it pulls more cool-toned, I wish they would make this one permanent. It’s a super flattering natural rose color with medium coverage.
Rose Pommette (Satin Lipstick) is a brighter rose pink, formula has a subtle sheen to the finish.
Rose Nuit (Matte Lipstick) is a velvety warm pink. It’s both muted and bright at the same time on my skin.

The satin formula feels smooth and like second skin. They have a slight sheen to the finish and make the lips look like they have a little gloss/shine to them. The matte in the fall collection has a lightweight feel to it but has full coverage. It glides on seamlessly and has good lasting power.

Fall colors on me, also wearing the Cle de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation Matte in O40 and Hourglass Mini Unlocked Sculpture Palette.

Neutral Satin and Matte

From the regular lineup:

Beige Tadelakt (Satin Lipstick) is a peachy soft coral neutral, it’s a creamy warm color that is bright but not too bright.
Rose Encens (Satin Lipstick) is a soft muted pink, it is similar to Rose Ombre on my skin, the difference is Rose Encens is more neutral and warmer in color while the fall Rose Ombre pulls more mauve/cool.
Rose Boise (Matte Lipstick) is a medium rosewood, this pulls darker and cooler on the skin than Rose Nuit even though the arm swatches look close. For me this one had a little bit of texture in the tube, on the lips it’s still a lightweight smooth matte, I felt the fall matte formula felt a lot better than this one.

Poppy Lip Shine

Last but not least is a look at the Poppy Lip Shine. This one was sold out for ages and when it popped back online I ordered it immediately. It’s a bright orange in the tube but on my lips it goes on clear with shimmer. Part of me thinks this is an overpriced shine lipstick with shimmer particles. Another part of me loves how it feels lush and semi thick on the lips. The texture is smooth even with the shimmer, I don’t feel any particles or glitter. It does leave a noticeable shine with the shimmer but it’s not over the top. I like it! I just don’t know that I think it’s super special or worth the price.

That wraps up my Hermes Lipstick review! As many of you have messaged me I do think these are beautiful and splurge-worthy. I actually thought I had ordered a couple brighter shades and one of the reds, but in the process of moving things around in my cart it seems I ended up with all neutral-ish shades. Every color worked for me. If I had been able to see them in person I would have skipped Rose Boise and the Poppy Lip Shine, although I do think they’re lovely. I like the refill concept – I do wish that the fall colors weren’t limited though, I think they’re the prettiest ones they’ve launched!

If I had to pick my top three, it would be Rose Ombre, Rose Nuit and Beige Tadelakt.

I ordered my lipsticks from Nordstrom and Hermes. Also available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales. Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think?

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Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

10 Things I’m Loving Right Now

September 22, 2020

Today I have a 10 Things I’m Loving Right Now post and I’m rounding up my top beauty favorites right now. Narrowing down the list to ten items was a bit of a challenge as there are quite a few things I have in rotation. Here is the edited version! I had a couple questions for comparisons so I’ve added some notes below.

Lip Favorites

1. Chantecaille Lip Veil in Plumeria* has made it to my favorites for the perfect medium-sheer formula with a lovely shine. On the face and swatched in this post here.

2. MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lip Color in Date Maker is one of the newer formulas from MAC. They made their Powder Kiss formula into Liquid Lipstick form. I bought a couple colors but Date Maker is my favorite – it has impressive lasting power, doesn’t look too dry on the lips even though it’s matte and I love the color.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath in Walk of No Shame is the latest addition to the lip plumper gloss formula from Charlotte Tilbury. It’s a pretty soft reddish tint. This formula is amazing in all the colors – it’s actually the one that gets me the most compliments and questions when I wear it on IG Stories! I swatched the new Collagen Lip Bath in Walk of No Shame next to Pillow Talk and Rosy Glow below for reference. It’s a nice plumping gloss that has minimal tingle. (Also added swatches of the new Jewel Lips glosses below which are more pigmented and have some sparkle.)

4. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is worth the hype! It makes my lips soft and moisturized. I had some bad flaking and peeling going on and after using this it helped tremendously. I’m not the biggest fan of the packaging style since the tube doesn’t retain its shape when you squeeze it. But I really do like the formula.

Body Care

5. Chanel Huile Douce Gentle Oil for Hair and Body* this has been a favorite for nearly a year now (featured photo is an older one I took) and it is barely half used up because a little goes a LONG way. I love it soft fresh scent it has, it absorbs into the skin nicely, doesn’t feel too greasy or heavy. If I use it overnight on the body I wake up with baby soft skin. I haven’t used it much on the hair but love it as a body oil all over.

Some of you have asked about other body recommendations so I’ve added them in this post to leave a few notes:

Augustinus Bader Body Oil was a recent splurge and I do like it but find it a bit sticky in the finish. It is richer in formula than most oils I’ve tried and is super hydrating. It leaves a veil of moisture on the skin and makes the skin feel like it’s protected. I like that it is not scented, it didn’t irritate my skin at all, left legs and arms hydrated, but I don’t like the sticky feel. It doesn’t have a dry down or smooth feel like other oils do. It has a little hole in the top to control how much oil drips out. I think it’s good and really does hydrate, but I prefer the Chanel feel and formula.
Kate Somerville Dry Skin Saver is one of the best unscented body creams I’ve tried. I’ve used it for years and it helps on days I have irritated skin. I think it’s reasonably priced and absorbs into the skin nicely. It’s a great no fuss no gimmick kind of product that does what it says it will do. Andrew likes this one as well! (You can still use my code SABRINA20 to save 20% off at Kate Somerville until 9/30)
Necessaire Body Lotion is another great unscented option. In terms of how rich/thick it is I would say this is one of the lighter weight lotions for the body. For me that’s a huge plus as it absorbs quickly and nicely into the skin without feeling greasy or heavy. This is a nice unisex option as well. I felt this might have been one of those overhyped products as the ads are everywhere on my feed. I do think it’s worth the hype.

Bronzer

6. Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder in Shade 3 has made my favorites list for powder bronzers. I have gotten SO many questions about this bronzer asking

which shade is my favorite? Shade 3 is my favorite (all three swatched and reviewed here)
do I recommend Gucci or Charlotte Tilbury? I prefer the Gucci because I like a tiny bit of shimmer and glow. The Charlotte Tilbury options (reviewed here) are matte and have a more flat matte look to them which isn’t bad, I just prefer the ones from Gucci.

Rose Blush

7. Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush in Walk of No Shame is one of the prettiest soft warm rose glow blushes I’ve tried! This is a newer color in her blush formula which I LOVE for the subtle glow and color (I own all the shades). Many of you have asked whether I would recommend the Charlotte Tilbury Walk of No Shame or Hourglass Blush in At Night and I think it’s a tough pick! On my complexion the Charlotte Tilbury has a warmer finish with more glow to it while the Hourglass is a little bit more flushed cool-toned and has a more dressy feel (see At Night on my face here). If I had to pick one I would pick the Charlotte Tilbury option for everyday.

New Cle de Peau Beaute

8. Cle de Peau Beaute Radiant Fluid Foundation Matte launched recently and I think it’s amazing. It’s currently available at Nordstrom and Cle de Peau. I ordered two shades O40 (more golden/beige) and BF50 (darker and more olive) to try. I tan easily and at this time of year I’m normally more tan. However with everything going on in the world we have been limiting our beach trips and with hurricane season here we’ve had a lot of wind and rain so we haven’t been out as much as we’d like. Right now O40 is a great match for me. I can make BF50 work but it’s very olive and is a little too dark on me.

Formula is one of the best soft matte foundations I’ve tried. It has medium to full coverage, has minimal oxidizing when it sets/dries down, lasts all day, doesn’t look dry or cakey. I think it’s a winner! I haven’t tried other Cle de Peau foundation formulas in a long time so I can’t compare, but I really like this matte one.

Side notes: Cle de Peau also added new shades of the Concealer Stick and Radiant Corrector for Eyes. I ordered both in one of the new shades Buff which is a good match for concealing. I still like Ocher for some brightening on my skin tone. I will have a separate and more detailed review on this in an upcoming foundation roundup. For now I hope this helps you!

Swatches:

Quick look at the Cle de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation Matte in O40 on my skin at the top. Bottom photo I’m also wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in Walk of No Shame on the Eyes, Cheek to Chic Blush in Walk of No Shame, Collagen Lip Bath in Walk of No Shame along with their Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Mascara. Tee shirt is from Madewell.

Fragrance – Jo Malone and Le Labo

9. Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne is one of my favorite perfumes! It’s a unique unisex scent that has a mix of ambrette, sea salt and sage. It’s hard for me to describe but it’s the best year-round scent I own. I own it in multiple sizes in the 100 ml size and 50 ml size because I love it so much. The minis are harder to find but you can find it in a Wood Sage Sea Salt + English Pear Duo or Wood Sage + Peony Blush Suede Duo at Sephora. If you wait until holiday they usually have 5-piece mini sets as well.

10. Le Labo Another 13 is one I bought in the Nordstrom Travel Spray Duo with Santal 33 and Another 13. As with most of their perfumes you can find it in a wide range of size options and sets. Another 13 is a musky mix of amber, moss and jasmine. For me it is another hard one to describe but it feels fresh and musk but not too powdery. If you’re hesitant about buying perfumes without smelling them and don’t have a store near you – they have some discovery set options on their Le Labo website. If you’re a Le Labo fan can you tell me if I need to try any of their city exclusives?

Shown above: Clear black travel case from The Daily Edited, Nail Polish is OPI Let Me Bayou a Drink

That wraps up my Top 10 this month! Let me know if you want another one for skin, hair or home. Would love to hear about what you’re loving right now. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe and sane. We are hanging in there!

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

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Sabrina

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Cozy Scents for Fall

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Chanel Holiday 2020 Collection Les Chaines D’Or de Chanel

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Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color

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Fall Skincare Routine + New Tries

Cleansers

Toners

Serum Moisturizers

Masks/Treatments

Tools

Hourglass Cosmetics Sculpture Holiday Collection

Ambient Lighting Edit Sculpture Palette

Ambient Lighting Edit Mini – Sculpture Unlocked

Sculpture Confession Refill Lipstick Duo

Hermes Lipstick Haul

Rouge Hermes Fall 2020 Shades

Neutral Satin and Matte

Poppy Lip Shine

10 Things I’m Loving Right Now

Lip Favorites

Body Care

Bronzer

Rose Blush

New Cle de Peau Beaute

Fragrance – Jo Malone and Le Labo

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