Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Favorite Summer Sandals + Polish Combinations

July 7, 2020

With summer in full swing I thought I’d put together a summer sandal roundup with my favorite nail polish pairings. I’m all about flat sandals for comfort and love how easy they are to wear for a casual summer look. When it comes to shoes I tend to find a couple styles I like and buy them in multiple colors. The basic white, neutral, tan and black colors are the most versatile for me as they’ll go with pretty much any color for outfits.

I’ll make a note on sizing for each style I’ve tried below. I’m usually a 6.5 or 36.5 in most brands for sandals like Tory Burch, Splendid, Joie, Hermes, UGG, Cole Haan. For sneakers depending on brand I usually size up to a 7 in Nike, APL and Saucony. For all of these I either try to shop directly from the brand if I know my size or somewhere like Nordstrom that has an easy return/exchange policy in case the shoes do not fit.

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White Wide Strap Sandals + Bright Red Orange Polish

Sandals: Sam Edelman Gala Two Strap Slide ($59.95 at Nordstrom and Sam Edelman)

Sizing & Fit: Runs true to size (I wear a 6.5). These are comfortable with a slight cushion in the sole. I’ve worn these out for several hours at a time and love them. No break in period. Strap is comfortable and soft with an elastic cutout in the back strap so it can move with your foot. Also worn in my Miami Travel Diary (last year). They’ve held up really well over time!

Polish: Smith and Cult Poppy Papi* ($18 at Smith and Cult, Beautylish) – Smooth opaque coverage with two coats. It has a slight translucent feel as it is more like a jelly. Love how fast it dries and sets. Reminds me of a slightly more red version of Chanel Espadrilles (discontinued).

Other Details: ClareV Petite Sandy Tote and Rayban Phantos Sunglasses.

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White Lace Up Tie Sandals + Baby Blue Polish

Sandals: Marc Fisher Marina Lace-Up Sandals ($65.48 on sale at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: True to size with a squared off toe, thin leather lace up style with a cushioned footbed. I normally don’t like square toe sandals but found these super cute! I’ve only had these for about a month now but I love how they feel. Super comfortable and chic! Also available in a few other similar styles Marg (two straps at the front, one buckled ankle strap) and Monty (no ankle straps).

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Bleu Pastel* ($28 at Chanel.com, left foot) is one of my favorite light blue polishes. It’s like a soft washed baby blue with a warm undertone. Reviewed and swatched on the hands in this post here.

Olive and June Honest and True* ($8 at Olive and June, right foot) is pretty close in color to the Chanel option, the Olive and June one is a bit deeper and more blue in undertone. Full coverage with two thin coats.

Other Details: Towel by Dusen Dusen (old style), Mita Visor is from Helen Kaminski, Black Sunglasses Celine

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White + Gold Splurge Sandals + Orange Polish

Sandals: Gucci GG T-Strap Sandals in White Leather ($520 at Nordstrom and Gucci)

Sizing and Fit: True to size, I wear a 6.5. These were quite the splurge and I had them on my wishlist for so long. I splurged on these for my birthday and love them. They have a couple grips on the sole so it prevents you from sliding around on slippery floors or tiles. I think they’re really well made and they aren’t painful on the feet. However there’s no cushion or padding so your mileage may vary on wear.

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Cruise ($28 at Chanel.com) is part of the Les Beiges 2020 Collection. So many of you loved how bright and summery this orange was. I think it goes best with white or tan sandals. It has full smooth coverage with two coats. It’s the closest match to the color of a real orange – super glossy and shiny in the finish too!

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Tory Burch Millers in Bleach + Classic Coral

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller Leather Sandal ($149 to $198 at Nordstrom and Tory Burch)

Sizing and Fit: The Millers fit true to size on me as well, but I can wear either a 6.5 or 7 – both are really close in fit. My right foot is a little bigger than my left foot and sometimes I will opt for a slightly larger sandal if the fit is really close. The Tory Burch Millers are my favorite sandals that I wear almost all the time. The large medallion helps it stay on the foot better than a traditional flip flop and the leather material makes it a little more dressy.

The Bleach color may be a bit hard to find in your size as it’s been marked down on a number of sites so it sold out really fast. The good news is there are multiple colors available (many also marked down) so if you’ve been eyeing these there’s a good chance you can find it on sale! I saw it restock a couple times – so you may want to check back on sites like Nordstrom or Tory Burch.

Some of you have asked whether the regular leather or patent is better. I’ve found the patent lasts longer and is more resistant to wear, however if you get caught in a rain storm (which happens frequently in Florida) they can get pretty slippery on the foot.

Polish: Dior Vernis in Diorcharm 675 on the toes ($28 at Dior) is a pretty bright red coral with a hint of shimmer. I used to be the biggest fan of Dior nail polishes and still think the formula is phenomenal. The new colors seem harder to find these days, most of the fun colors only launch at Dior.com (at least in the US). The formula is a one-coat wonder and I love the brush.

OPI We Seafood and Eat It* ($5.25 at Ulta) is a fun cream coral red color. I think OPI makes some of the best more budget-friendly colors and the formula lasts a long time on me.

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Light Beige Lace Up Sandals + Neutral Cream Sand

Sandals: Marc Fisher Marina Lace-Up in Light Leather Latte ($65.98 at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: True to size, I wear a 6.5 in these! Details above listed under the white sandals – I had to buy in multiple colors.

Polish: OPI Samoan Sand ($5.25 at Ulta) – one of my most worn light beige nude cream polishes. Goes with everything! Swatched on the hands with my other favorite neutrals in my Top 5 Best Nude Nail Polishes post.

Other Details: Bag is the Tory Burch Perry Bombe Bag (color is Perfect Sand which was limited-edition, also have it in Black reviewed here showing what fits inside), Lip Gloss is Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Faux Real* (swatches here), Visor is Helen Kaminski

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Tan Platform Slide Sandals + Bold Reds

Sandals: UGG Kari Sandals in Natural ($109.95 at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: Runs True to Size, I wear a 6.5. These are in my Top 2 most comfortable sandals I have. I love them so much I bought a backup pair just in case they become discontinued. I’ve had these for over a year and have worn them almost to death but they’ve held up really well. They have a platform about 1 inch so it’s not too chunky or hard to walk in. The sole molds to the foot giving you support and making it easy to wear. Also shown in a few outfits in my Miami Travel Diary (from last year).

Polish: Smith and Cult Kundalini Hustle* on the toes ($18 at Smith and Cult) is a pure poppy red with a slight blue undertone. I love that it’s a bright red that doesn’t darken too much when it dries.

Chanel Le Vernis in Gitane* on the tips ($28 at Chanel.com) is a bold bright red. It’s a true neutral red so it’s not too warm and not too cool. When it comes to red polishes I think Chanel does it best!

Other Details: Chloe Mini Marcie (reviewed here also worn here) and Rayban Phantos Sunglasses

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Tan Medallion Sandals + Coral Pinks

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller in Vintage Vachetta ($198 at Tory Burch, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s)

Sizing and Fit: True to size, I usually wear a 6.5 in these. This color and style is the one I’ve worn the most. The quality is exceptional and I love how it goes with everything. I’ve worn these so much I have gone through several pairs already – with most people I do think they will last a lot longer. I’ve shortened the life span by wearing these pretty much everywhere – on trips, while moving, in the rain etc. I try to take better care of my other shoes to make them last longer.

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Coralium 562 on the toes ($28 at Chanel.com) is my most-worn coral nail polish. Anytime you see a peachy coral on my toes, it’s most likely this one. It has a hint of pink to so it’s not a pure peach/orange. (Also reviewed here.)

Chanel Le Vernis in Turban 524 on the tips is similar but has more pink. I think both of these are my perfect go-to’s for summer. (Turban also reviewed here.)

Other Details: Sunnies are Celine, Hat is Helen Kaminski, Beach towel is Tory Burch and Mini Bag is also Tory Burch

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Black Lace Up Sandals + Lilac/Lavender

Sandals: Marc Fisher Marina Lace-Up Sandals ($65.48 on sale at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: True to size.

Polish: Essie U’V got me faded on the toes ($9 at Ulta) is part of the summer Sunny Business collection. It’s a pale lilac color with a white base so it’s pastel. On my fingers it looks paler than on my toes for some reason. If you want a deeper lilac with shimmer the Essie Spring in Your Step is slightly darker.

Olive and June Fierce and Loving* on the fingers ($8 at Olive and June) is a lavender color with a more pinkish tinge. Two coats covers the nail entirely. I love how fresh and pretty this one is!

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Black Miller Sandals + Hot Pinks

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller in Black Leather (also available in patent black)

Sizing and Fit: True to size!

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Camelia* ($28 at Chanel.com) is my most-worn deep pink. It’s a classic go with everything color! I know a lot of you like brighter pinks versus deeper pinks. I think OPI Strawberry Margarita* is a few shades lighter and brighter for the perfect bright summer pink.

Other Details: Cult Gaia Mini Ark in Natural and Celine sunglasses (on the face here and here)

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Rockstud Black Sandals + Off-White Cream

Sandals: Valentino Rockstud Slide Sandal ($675 at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: Varies depending on style. I took these in a Size 6/36 because the straps fit better on my foot for this color combination and it fits my foot as well. These are the fanciest sandals I own and I was debating whether to buy the leather or patent jelly version (cheaper but slightly different style). I’ve only worn these out one time – I have been waiting for a more special occasion to wear these but we have been staying at home more so I haven’t really taken them out. Can’t wait to wear these more! I find they stay on the foot pretty well.

Polish: Essie Talk to the Sand ($9 at Ulta) is a pale cream with a slight peach/pink tinge. I looked up swatches online and I think it’s so interesting how this looks different on everyone depending on your skin tone and undertone. On me it looks more peach on the fingers, on the toes is almost looks like a pink-white, on some others it looks more peach or beige. It has a lot of contrast with my tan skin tone so if you’re fair it will most likely look less white against your fingers/toes.

Other Details: Purse is the Gucci Supermini.

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Comfortable Everyday Wear-Around-The-House Slides

Sandals: APL Techloom Slides ($100 at APL)

Sizing and Fit: These are the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever worn – but they’re more of a casual sport slide rather than an everyday sandal. I have these in multiple colors (like I do with all my shoes) and wear these in a Size 6. They only have these in whole sizes and since I have fairly narrow feet the next size up was too wide for me. In their sneakers I wear a 7 for APL and Nike because I like extra room for movement, socks and swelling with activity. I also bought these for Andrew and he wears a 12 in APL sneakers and the slides – so for him they were True to Size (he’s usually a 12 or 12.5 in most brands).

I’d recommend reading the sizing reviews on their website if you’re a half size. They’re so comfortable I’ve been able to walk long distances in them without any issues. To clean them you can put them in the washing machine or hand scrub the sole if they get super dirty. Just make sure you air dry (don’t put in the dryer).

Polish: Olive and June Honest and True on the left, Chanel Resplendissant on the right

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I hope you enjoyed this sandal review and polish swatch roundup! A lot of you have asked for DIY pedicure tips – unfortunately I haven’t found anything that I’ve loved. All my mani/pedis these days are DIY. While I have my hand care routine down, I don’t have a good pedicure routine. I’ll link my tools, top and base coat below. But for scrubs and pumice stones I haven’t found any really good ones yet.

What is your favorite polish color to wear for summer? I think I need to try more purples and perhaps a yellow.

Shoes and Accessories:

Polish Colors:

Press samples have a * next to them. Other shades purchased by me.

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Westman Atelier

Westman Atelier Haul Review + Swatches

July 2, 2020

By popular request I have a Westman Atelier beauty haul review + swatches. I love the Superloaded Tints (reviewed last year here) and think Peau de Peche is one of the most beautiful unique colors I’ve tried! The most recent launch from Westman Atelier is the Eye Pods. They were kind enough to send Les Nuits for review and I loved the look so much I tracked down the Les Jours before the trio sold out (hoping it will restock soon). You can find Westman Atelier online at their website. I’ve also ordered things from Violet Grey, Credo Beauty and Net-A-Porter.

In today’s review:

Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer in Coup de Soleil ($75)
Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal ($50)
Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose ($75)
Eye Pods in Les Jours and Les Nuits ($88 each)
Eye Shadow Brush I ($58)

Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer in Coup de Soleil

The Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer comes in one shade called Coup de Soleil. It’s a matte powder bronzer that is super soft and smooth. Color is a neutral-warm matte soft brown with a slight pink tinge – it does show up on my medium tan skin (I’m usually around MAC NC35-40). It has a super soft powdery texture and blends in smoothly without oxidizing or looking muddy. I think it’s a nice one for a wearable lighter-toned bronzer. By comparison Tom Ford Terra is the closest and it’s a tiny bit lighter in color and MAC Radiant Matte in Beige-ing Beauty is close but a little more brown.

Wearing the bronzer on the cheeks, beauty breakdown:

Foundation – By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation in 400W
Powder – By Terry Hyaluronic Tinted Hydra-Powder in No 300 Medium Fair
Bronzer – Westman Atelier Bronzer in Coup de Soleil
Brows – Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
Eyeshadow – Westman Atelier Eye Pods in Les Jours
Lips – Pat McGrath PermaGel Lip Pencil in Suburbia + Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil Infused Gloss in In the Buff
Tee – Alexangerwang.t Striped Boy Tee
Nail Polish – Essie Gel Couture in Gossamer Garments
Brush – Wayne Goss Powder 00

Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal

I have such a love/hate relationship with cream blushes because most don’t work for me in hot humid Florida. The Baby Cheeks Blush Stick is one of the better formulas I’ve tried with a creamy almost waxy formula that has a nice dry down. It is easy to blend and once it sets on the skin it does not feel super emollient or too dewy but still looks like fresh glowing skin. Petal is a medium rose pink that sheers once blended. Lasting power is around 4 hours on me before it starts to fade.

I also tried it on the lips and it gave them a soft washed matte glow. Below wearing Petal on lips and cheeks.

Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose

I love the Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose is a complex shimmery pink rose with white pearl. To me it has a more dewy creamy feel compared to the Peau de Peche/Soleil but is still easy to blend. It gives a shimmery glow to the skin and has a soft coconut scent to it. I think the Hourglass Vanish Flash Stick in Pink Flash or Rose Gold Flash have a similar effect on the skin.

Swatches of Peau de Peche, Peau de Soleil and Peau de Rose. You can see the other two on the face in this post here.

Below wearing the Westman Atelier Eye Pods in Les Nuit, Baby Cheeks in Petal on lips and cheeks, Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose, Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in $weetmouth.

Eye Pods in Les Jours and Les Nuits + Eye Shadow Brush I

Last I have a look at the new trios called Eye Pods. These are individual eyeshadow pots with twist lids. The packaging is magnetic so you can stack them as well. The Eye Pods have luminous formula with a velvety cream-powder hybrid – they feel like bouncy creams with a powdery dry down. Pigment is sheer to medium – they have a soft look on the eyes but you can build and layer for more color.

The formula adheres well to the skin making the lasting power is very good. Les Jours has a softer look with Neige (sheer pearly white), Tabac (metallic golden-bronze sand) and Chocolat (plummy bronze shimmer). On me this is very natural and glowy looking for a nice everyday look.

My favorite of the two is Les Nuits which has Champagne (iridescent soft pink), Vin Rouge (warm reddish shimmer) and Noir (softwash faded deep grey black shimmer).

I also picked up the Eye Shadow Brush I which I need to play around more with. This is larger than I’m normally used to so I found it a little awkward to apply and blend eye colors for my eye size and shape. It is well made of nylon fibers. If it were smaller or shorter I think it would be easier for me to use.

Overall I love the look of the Eye Pods! I think Les Jours makes for a really nice everyday kind of look although I think Les Nuits is more unique and prettier! I’m pleasantly surprised by the Baby Cheeks cream blush although I still prefer powders. The new Peau de Rose highlighter is quite stunning but it is very shimmery and I think can be duped with the Hourglass Vanish Flash Sticks which have longer lasting power on me and a better dry down.

For those who have been asking for a review I hope you found this helpful! I do not have a counter near me so I have been relying on other reviews on beauty blogs and YouTube. Although the in-person beauty shopping situation has completely changed with Covid-19. They started to open up stores in Florida and limit the number of people that can enter a store. We are required to wear masks in our area (although I think it varies by county). I stopped by the mall for the first time in a long time last week. Nordstrom has all the testers covered with a plastic sheet (like a plastic wall!) so you can’t touch anything. In Sephora they have signs everywhere saying “Do Not Touch” for the testers. If you want to see anything an associate will help you and they swatch product for you on a tissue. I haven’t even tried shopping at any other beauty place and most of my purchases (except groceries) are online.

More beauty reviews coming next week! I have a lot of nail polishes I’m excited about. More NARS newness coming soon to the blog. I just ordered the new Gucci Bronzers and Lipstick (they arrived today and look beautiful!). If you’ve followed me on IG stories I’m trying to figure out my right shade for the new La Mer Radiant Skin Tint (Medium is slightly too dark, so I’m giving Light Medium a try).

Going back to my post, you can find Westman Atelier online at their website. I’ve also ordered things from Violet Grey, Credo Beauty and Net-A-Porter.

Eye Pods in Les Nuit provided for review. All other items purchased by me.

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Skincare

Summer Skincare Routine + Testing

June 29, 2020

I have an updated skincare routine and testing roundup today! Summer is here so I’ve changed some things in my daily and weekly routine. This year has been a challenging one for all of us. For me added stress, hormonal changes and wearing face masks has definitely taken its toll on my skin. In May my face had a total freak out – I was breaking out in places I’ve never had issues with, I had texture issues + redness and increased sensitivity. Part of the reason why I haven’t been posting as many makeup reviews lately is that I’ve been trying to let my skin breathe and recover – thank goodness by now it has!

For some background on my skin type. I have normal combination skin. I do feel I run on the sensitive side although I can handle some acid treatments in moderation. My main skin concerns are keeping a smooth skin texture, depuffing the eye area in mornings and anti-aging. This year I turned 39 and fine lines have kept creeping into my forehead. I have not had Botox although I’ve talked about wanting to try it for a couple years now. I’m deathly afraid of needles and a few of you have emailed me and assured me it’s quite tolerable. I’ve never had bad acne issues until this year with some hormonal issues which caused bad painful breakouts around the chin although this could have also been due to wearing a face mask. I’ve since gotten it under control.

Many of these things you’ve seen on the blog before – I have a lot of tried-and-true products. There are some new items I’ve incorporated and tested. I’ve split everything by category and given my thoughts for the new items I’ve tried. For example, I think some are better for dry skin vs. oily skin so I’ve put notes below on each product I’ve tested.

Makeup Removers + Cleansers

Out of all the skincare categories I go through cleansers and makeup removers the most. I love testing different formulas but I typically use only 2-3 at any given time.

For makeup removal I almost always remove eye makeup separately from the rest of my face. I find long-wear mascara and liners are easiest to remove when soaked with a pad or bi-phase remover first. My top 2 are Bobbi Brown Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover and Almay Longwear Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads. Both have an oil in the formula but do not sting my sensitive eyes.

These days I’m all about solid balm cleansers to remove makeup and my go-to is the Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. It’s one of the few that will rinse off completely and does not leave a greasy film on the skin. Another good option is the Sisley Radiance Foaming Cream*. It’s an effective one-step cleanser that removes makeup but won’t strip the skin. They just added two more items to this line and I just tried their new Triple-Oil Balm Makeup Remover* and it is quite amazing! It has Babassu, Shea and Macadamia oils, melts into the skin and rinses off nicely.

For a traditional rinse-off cleansers:

Best gel cleanser is the Drunk Elephant Beste No 9 Cleanser (nice gel option)
Best dry skin cream cleanser the Cle de Peau Softening Cleansing Foam is nice for dry skin
For super oily skin the Saturday Skin Rise and Shine Cleanser is a good purifying option (also nice for post-workout)
Best calming cream cleanser is the Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser*

My latest try is the new Kate Somerville DeliKate* line which I think is phenomenal. I’ve been using the DeliKate Soothing Cleanser in the morning or before bed and it really works to calm stressed out skin. It’s a cream formula and super gentle. The Kate Somerville team has offered my readers a special offer, if you order from their website, use code SABRINA20 at checkout to save 20% off sitewide now through 9/30.

Regular exfoliation is essential but I try to do this in moderation with scrubs. The best daily gentle scrub I’ve tried is the Fresh Sugar Face Polish because it melts into the skin and isn’t harsh or too gritty (also available in a mini if you want to try it out first).

Toner

My go-to toner is the Sisley Botanical Floral Toning Lotion. It’s alcohol free and leaves the skin fresh and soft. I have also used and really enjoyed the Revive Balancing Toner for another soothing option. Other formulas I’ve tried include the Eve Lom Rescue Toner* which I think is a nice gentle option and La Mer Tonic. My favorite out of all of these is the Sisley formula.

Moisturizers

My favorite daily moisturizer has probably been the Drunk Elephant Polypeptide Cream but I’ve used it up and decided to try something new. The Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Serum* and Recovery Cream* are really nice for normal to dry skin and work to reduce redness and soothe the skin. I’ve been using this on dry skin days or at night and it really does work to soften and help redness. For daytime my latest obsession has been the Kate Somerville Peptide K8 Power Cream*. It’s a great smoothing moisturizer that blends in nicely and has really helped even out tone after regular use.

I’m not the most diligent when it comes to using eye creams and after trying so many I still haven’t found THE one. I don’t have eye wrinkles yet and my main concerns are with puffiness. Three I have tried recently include the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Eye Cream (nice lightweight hydrating option), Chanel Le Lift (does noticeably help with lifting) and the Sisley Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid. Quick note that I don’t look for super rich or thick eye creams this time of year. I only need a light amount of moisture and these 3 all were light enough to work for me. Out of these three the one I like the best is the Sisley option. It was quite the splurge but I like the cooling applicator which helps depuff and makes application a fun process. The formula works nicely to smooth and hydrate the skin.

Hydrating Masks

For hydrating masks I really like formulas with rose for their soothing, calming and gentle plumping properties. The Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask is the best splurge to hydrate and plump. For a more budget friendly option the Fresh Rose Face Mask is a beautiful calming one that leaves the skin feeling super fresh. The newest one I’ve tried is the By Terry Baume de Rose Glowing Rose Mask* which is a brightening and clarifying option. It bubbles on the skin and when rinsed off leaves the skin supple and smooth.

The 111Skin Eye Masks are the ultimate indulgence for me. I love the Sub Zero De-Puffing Eye Masks in the mornings to help cool and depuff. The Rose Gold ones are nice for brightening and soothing.

Retexurizers + Acne Treatment

Since I live in sunny Florida I cannot avoid sun exposure so I try to keep acid treatments and retexturizing treatments to a minimum. They are essential to help get rid of dead skin and keep pores clean. Your mileage will vary depending on skin type and tolerance to acid treatments.

The best exfoliating treatments that are like leave on masks are the Drunk Elephant TLC Baby Facial and Kate Somerville ExfoliKate. I use as needed 1x a week or every other week.

For acne or clogged pores treatment depends one what kind of acne you have. Most of the time I find the Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment with salicylic acid works best for blackheads and whiteheads. It helps reduce inflammation and exfoliates the dead skin to unclog the pores. Another good mask to help clear out pores is the Glamglow Supermud Charcoal Mask. Sometimes I will only use it on the T-zone or chin area where I have clogging.

My favorite night time treatments have been the Sunday Riley Good Genes, an effective lactic acid treatment, best for removing top layer of dead skin or the Kate Somerville RetAsphere Micro Peel, the only Retinol Glycolic treatment my skin has been able to tolerate, best to stimulate collagen and cell turnover. I don’t use these at the same time as I either use lactic acid or retinol. I’m currently using the one from Kate Somerville and only use it 1-2x per week.

An interesting peel product I’ve tried is the Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Peel Gel. It has fruit enzymes and exfoliates the skin in a peel gel. You leave it on the skin for a few minutes so it dissolves dead skin. It’s very mild and gentle so it’s not harsh. It does contain alcohol denat though so if that is irritating to your skin you may want to pass.

Sunscreen

My go-to sunscreens are from Supergoop!. The Unseen Sunscreen with SPF 40 is my go-to choice for everyday. I also really liked their City Sunscreen Serum with SPF 30 but keep forgetting to re-order it.

I know I covered a lot! To help simplify the roundup, here is my current routine and favorites:

Morning Routine

Cleanser: Drunk Elephant Beste or Kate Somerville DeliKate
Toner: Sisley Floral Toner
Moisturizer: Kate Somerville Peptide K8 or Drunk Elephant Polypeptide Cream
Eye Treatment: Sisley Black Rose Fluid
SPF: Supergoop!

Afternoon (pre-workout)

Remove makeup with a balm cleanser: Farmacy Green Clean
Double cleanse with a gel cleanser: Drunk Elephant Beste

Night Time

Eye Makeup Remover: Bobbi Brown most days, if I’m wearing waterproof mascara I’ll use the Almay Pads
Cleansing Balm (if I’m wearing makeup): Farmacy Green Clean
Face Cleanser: depends on how skin feels, most of the time it’s Drunk Elephant or Kate Somerville
Night Toner: Revive Soothing Toner
Night Treatment: Kate Somerville Retasphere Micro Peel (1x per week) on dry skin nights I’ll use a light moisturizer, most of the time I let my skin breathe
Acne Spot Treatments: Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment

As Needed

1x per week or every other week acid, pore cleaning masks
2x per week hydrating masks as skin needs it
2-3x per week eye masks

I hope you found this helpful! Would love to hear what you use right now or if you transition your products as the weather gets warmer! If you’re looking into any of the Kate Somerville products don’t forget to use my code SABRINA20 for 20% off sitewide now through 9/30.

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

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Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Ultra-Shine Lip Colors – New Shades

June 24, 2020

There are new shades of the Tom Ford Ultra-Shine Lip Colors ($55 each) and I hauled five of them sight unseen online. As a long-time Tom Ford lip lover I’m always excited to see new colors launch. The Ultra-Shine Lip Color formula is a super saturated glossy lipstick. These are one-swipe wonders on me with an emollient balmy almost gloss-like finish. I ordered based on the online stock swatches and have to say none of the ones I picked look anything like the stock photos. The undertone is spot on, but all the shades I picked are significantly lighter in color. I was expecting brighter vibrant colors but I still like all but one of the lipsticks I ordered.

Quick note that some of the shades aren’t available at all sites so you may have to do a bit of shopping around. I found the ones I wanted from Nordstrom and Sephora. All the colors are creams – meaning they have no shimmer.

L’Amant is a neutral nude pink
Veridique is a bright but lighter coral peach (also shown here)
Du Ciel is a pale blue based pink
La Notte is a medium pink rose in the tube, on my lips it pulls more pink-brown
L’Eclisse is a soft plum mauve

Swatches:

Swatch comparisons:

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Close ups + lip swatches of each color starting with L’Amant:

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Veridique

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Du Ciel

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La Notte

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L’Eclisse

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My favorites are L’Amant, La Notte and Veridique. I applied them in the above swatch photos on bare lips but you can adjust the depth or tone with a slightly deeper lip pencil. The only shade I did not like was Du Ciel – blue based light pinks don’t really work on my complexion by themselves. Still the shade was smooth and I didn’t experience any streaking/patchy issues like I do with some paler lipsticks.

Based on a quick look at my existing Tom Ford lip stash I wouldn’t call any of the ones I hauled must-haves as I have a lot of colors in the same color family. I do think the quality of the Ultra-Shine Lip Color is excellent and true to Tom Ford’s typical standard. There are some fun shades for summer for an easy to wear look. I do really love the formula and think if you try one you won’t be disappointed with the quality and wear. In case you missed the last review a couple years ago, existing colors are swatched in my Summer 2018 post.

Part of me was looking forward to new bronzers and or cheek duos for summer but maybe all they planned was launched back in October for the Soleil Neige collection. I did order the new Soleil Summer Glow Tinted Moisturizer in Dune 5.7 but have not tried it yet. I will keep you posted as I put it to the test though!

Have you tried any of the new lip color launches this spring/summer? There were new shades of Lip Color and Lip Color Matte that launched too. I haven’t looked into those but if you’ve tried any, I would love to hear what you thought!

I hauled my Tom Ford Ultra-Shine Lip Colors from Nordstrom and Sephora. Also available at Tom Ford and Beautylish.

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Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

Beauty Favorites to Kick Off Summer

June 22, 2020

above: summer hat / sunnies / lace-up strappy sandals

It’s officially summer so to celebrate I’m rounding up some of my summer beauty favorites to kick off the season! I’ve been putting quite a few new makeup launches to the test for eyes, lips and cheeks. Today I’m partnering with Nordstrom to share my top picks for bronzers, peachy lips and shimmery eyeshadows.

NARS Laguna + Laguna Matte

So many of you have asked for bronzer recommendations! I have several tried-and-true favorites but always like playing with the new launches. NARS Laguna Bronzer has been a go-to for years. This year they launched an extensive collection with shimmers and also added a Matte Version. I prefer shimmer in my bronzer for a bit of glow but the NARS Laguna Matte is a really nice true brown/bronze alternative for those who need something without any shine.

Below wearing the classic NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna, Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in Wild Card, Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shade in Lion + Giraffe. Brush is the Laura Mercier Blending Brush (but I also love their bronzing brush for a larger fluffy option).

MAC Bronzing Collection Picks

Although I love shimmery bronzers I just hauled the new MAC Radiant Matte Bronzing Powders in Beiging Beauty and Totally Taupeless and think I’ve found my new holy grail mattes. They have a very tiny bit of radiance in the powder but apply on the skin like a matte. The formula is creamy powder with a natural super smooth buildable finish. Beiging Beauty is the lighter slightly warmer option while Totally Taupeless is a deeper neutral-cool toned bronze.

Wearing MAC Beiging Beauty below and Tom Ford Ultra-Shine Lip Color in Veridique

A number of you had the new MAC Strobe Body Lotion in Bronzelite on your radar and when it finally popped up online at Nordstrom I ordered it immediately! I find it challenging to find a good smooth body shimmer that isn’t too glittery. The MAC Strobe Body Lotion has an ultra fine glow so it leaves your skin looking skin is radiant versus looking like a disco ball. It has a soft light peachy glow with a hint of bronze pearl. It’s a lotion so it is hydrating but lightweight and also has the signature strobe cream scent.

Peachy Lips

I love a good peachy lip of any undertone, intensity and finish. There are so many variations for light peach, coral, shimmer, cream, sheer, gel etc. I pulled quite a few to swatch and compare for you. Everyone seems to have a different color in mind when they think of a peachy color!

Ones I love along with a few new ones:

Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Color in Veridique is a bold full coverage shiny bright coral peach
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in Wild Card is a pretty bright but sheer peach with a nice shine and moisturizing finish
Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 744 Subtil and 166 Physical are two peachy shimmers, Subtil has more of a pink/gold undertone while Physical has a more orange/gold tone
Armani Ecstasy Mirror Lip Gloss in 101 Beyond is like a jelly gloss liquid lipstick, this is a pink peach with buildable coverage, once it sets it is budge-proof like a liquid lipstick but with the shine
Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine in Bird of Paradise is the best bold coral gloss I’ve tried
Givenchy Le Rose Perfecto Liquid Balm in 30 Vital Glow is a soft peachy orange balm
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath in Peachy Plump is a sheer peach infused with gold shimmer to plump and hydrate the lips

Below wearing Armani Ecstasy Mirror Gloss in 101 Beyond (pulls peachy pink on my complexion) with MAC Radiant Matte Bronzer in Totally Taupeless

Below wearing Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in Wild Card – I find it still has a lot of color even though it’s a sheer tint!

Bronze-Gold Luminescent Eye

Last but not least, a bronzey shimmery eye for summer is an absolute must-have for me. I love layering and mixing coppers and bronze shades over regular powder eyeshadows for added depth and glow. Sometimes I can just use one of these all over the lid and then add a liner + mascara for an easy everyday look. My favorites include:

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Copper for a nice all over wash of warmth + shimmer, once it sets and dries it does not budge
Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows are my most-worn eyeshadows as toppers! I sometimes mix colors together or layer them with other powders, Foil is a metallic gold, Burnish is a pretty bronze, Ray is a sparkling taupe bronze
Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shades are some of the prettiest eye shimmers I’ve tried! I like applying these with a finger to pat and blend, Lion is a pretty golden shade and Giraffe is a deeper bronze shimmer (I want to order all of them!)

That wraps up my beauty favorites to kick off summer! I hope you found some inspiration for new beauty launches to try or add to your routine. Do you have any favorite bronzers, shimmery eyeshadows or peachy lips?

You can find all of my picks available at Nordstrom. Don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase page if you’re shopping online!

Shop my summer beauty favorites:

Summer sandals, favorite sun hat + sunnies below:

Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

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Home / Interiors

10 Things I’m Loving for the Home

June 18, 2020

So many of you liked the my last home decor post I decided to do another one! I’m rounding up 10 things I’m loving for the home including a few favorite home accents, my favorite hand washes and a few countertop organizers to help keep things more tidy.

We’ve been loving nice hydrating hand washes for the home as we’ve been washing our hands more frequently! Molton Brown sent over a cute care package with their Delicious Rhubarb and Roses Liquid Hand Wash (1) and Hand Lotion (2) and I love how fresh and floral it smells! You can also find these in a Duo Set (nice for gifting) and also Travel Sized Minis (love that these come with pumps too).

Another long-time favorite is the Aesop Resurrection Hand Wash (3) for a nice cleansing gel that won’t strip the skin. It’s invigorating and is easy to rinse. We love the rinse-free version too, but my favorite is the one you can wash off.

For the bathroom I’ve been trying to find some countertop solutions for my hair dryer/brush. I decided to try the Haircare Holder (4) from West Elm which is made by Yamazaki Home. It’s small and compact so it won’t take up a lot of counter space. It’s made with a powder-coated steel. (Also available in black). It works for the hair dryers I alternate between which include the Dyson Supersonic (reviewed here) and the Harry Josh Ultra Light (review here). The stand itself fairly small and compact so if you own a larger hair dryer it probably won’t work for your needs. So far it’s held up really nicely over the past few months since I bought it.

Also below shown with the Harry Josh Ultralight dryer in the larger opening. You can also put curling irons or flat irons inside. There is an attachment that comes with this for you to hang on the cabinet door/under the sink if you want to store it a different way.

I’ve also been loving these Wood Handled Bathroom Caddies (5 and 6). You may have seen these several times on the blog or on my Instagram as I use them to store sheet masks. I ordered these from West Elm in the Small (base is 5″ wide, 3.25″ tall, 5″ deep) and the Large (base is 10.25″ wide, 3.25″ tall, 5″ deep). These are the same material and brand as the Hair Dryer holder – made a powder coated steel. They are on the small side so they won’t hold larger items but to keep smaller things in place they’re perfect!

Below the small vs large:

As a huge Diptyque fan I’m obsessed with their Photophores in all the sizes! I have both small and large sizes (7 and 8). The ones I own have an opening at the top so you can burn the candle inside it. However sometimes the flames get too high/strong so I mainly use the glass ones for decorative purposes these days. The Large Glass twist version is an older style which you might still be able to find in boutiques, but for now they the Full Twist with a black stripe. The Coast Glass is still available in the small and large options. They come out with sets and new variations during the holiday season so if you don’t see one you 100% love, I would recommend waiting until later in the year for the limited-edition launches.

Below small coast vs. full sized twist:

I’ve been looking for some candle covers to keep some opened ones dust-free. I ordered a few Glass Cloches (9) from Crate and Barrel which is on the small side. It will fit a standard size Diptyque candle inside but for anything larger it’s a snug fit. Target has a similar style that’s slightly larger but I have not seen/tried it. I do like the look and feel of the ones I ordered though!

Last but not least are the Mini Countertop Trash Cans (10) from simplehuman. These are small at 1.5 liters but perfect for things like counter tops, small spaces or even an at-home coffee bar area for sugar packets/stirrers etc. I ordered mine from simplehuman online but you can find these at a number of places like Target, Amazon, etc.

Below is the small white one we have in our kitchen next to our coffee machines.

What are you loving for the home these days? Any organization favorites or boxes you love? I would love to hear how you store your hair appliances whether it’s in the drawer, on counter or some other storage solution! I’m always looking for ideas and inspiration.

Molton Brown hand wash + lotion provided for review. Other items purchased.

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Highlighters Lips

Chantecaille Vibrant Oceans Collection – Summer 2020

June 15, 2020

I’m so excited to share a look at the Chantecaille Vibrant Oceans Collection for Summer 2020. The limited-edition highlighters were created to support WildAid to help protect endangered species. You can read more about their journey and partnership on their Saving The Ocean’s Gentle Giants story.

There are two color options for the Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duos ($84 each) and four shades of their Lip Tint Hydrating Balms ($34 each). The Chantecaille team was kind enough to send the whole collection for review so I have swatches for you today.

Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duos

The Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duos each have a smooth almost cream to powder highlighter and a soft satiny blush. The texture has a similar to feel to Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duos where they are smooth hydrating powders that have a unique finish. Both have a beautiful wave pattern embossed on the surface.

Chantecaille Coral Radiance is the brighter/peachy version with a smooth metallic peachy champagne highlight and a coral blush. On the nails is OPI Lisbon Wants Moor Opi.

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Rose Radiance has a lighter yellow/white gold highlight and a soft light rose pink blush.

You can wear these layered on top of each other or swirl a brush and mix the shades together. Pigment is medium and soft but buildable and easy to blend. They adhere to the skin and feel weightless once blended. I want to say that Coral Radiance has a similar vibe to Tom Ford’s Paradise Lust but I’ve searched my stash and can’t find it to compare.

Right now I’m medium-tan and both show up well on my skin tone. I think even as I get darker with the summer sun both will still be visible on my cheeks. Lasting power is pretty good. They stayed put all day without fading or sliding around as they have a powder finish. I’m partial to the coral shade although the pink one is lovely too.

Lip Tint Hydrating Balms

Beauty Look Book readers know I’m a sucker for a good tinted balm, especially in the summer. I think this is the first time I’ve tried a tinted balm from Chantecaille (I used to own a number of their Lip Chics and Lipsticks but haven’t tried the balms). These are lovely! They are on the tiny side and expensive for the amount of product similar to the Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips (reviewed here). The Chantecaille Lip Tints are sheer but bright in color so there is a nice wash of pigment on the lips. Even the lightest one still showed up on me!

These are nicely hydrating, smooth and creamy. They have a hint of shimmer in them and come in four pretty shades perfect for the upcoming season. Left to right: Beach Rose, Calendula, Madeira and Verbena.

Beach Rose is a light soft petal pink, Calendula is a bright but sheer orange, Madeira is a soft rose-red and Verbena is a soft plum with shimmer.

All four lips and both cheek duos worn below. Other makeup details:

Foundation is Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff + Golden mixed
Powder is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden
Eyeshadows are Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shades in Giraffe and Lion mixed/layered
Mascara is Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara
Eyeliner is Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner in Black
Tank by Reformation

Look 1: Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm in Beach Rose + Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duo in Rose Radiance

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Look 2: Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm in Verbena + Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duo in Rose Radiance

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Look 3: Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm in x Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duo in Coral Radiance

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Look 4: Chantecaille Lip Tint Hydrating Balm in x Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duo in Coral Radiance

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Overall a beautiful launch to with some easy to wear colors for a soft wash of color. I like the effortless vibe it gives and think the lip balms are perfect to brighten the face. You can find the Chantecaille Vibrant Oceans Collection available now at Chantecaille. I’ve seen some products start to pop up online at Blue Mercury, OliveLA and Space NK US.

Do you have any Chantecaille favorites? What are some of the things you’ve tried and what did you think?

Chantecaille summer collection provided for review. Other items featured purchased by me.

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Sabrina

Favorite Summer Sandals + Polish Combinations

White Wide Strap Sandals + Bright Red Orange Polish

White Lace Up Tie Sandals + Baby Blue Polish

White + Gold Splurge Sandals + Orange Polish

Tory Burch Millers in Bleach + Classic Coral

Light Beige Lace Up Sandals + Neutral Cream Sand

Tan Platform Slide Sandals + Bold Reds

Tan Medallion Sandals + Coral Pinks

Black Lace Up Sandals + Lilac/Lavender

Black Miller Sandals + Hot Pinks

Rockstud Black Sandals + Off-White Cream

Comfortable Everyday Wear-Around-The-House Slides

Westman Atelier Haul Review + Swatches

Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer in Coup de Soleil

Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal

Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose

Eye Pods in Les Jours and Les Nuits + Eye Shadow Brush I

Summer Skincare Routine + Testing

Makeup Removers + Cleansers

Toner

Moisturizers

Hydrating Masks

Retexurizers + Acne Treatment

Sunscreen

Tom Ford Ultra-Shine Lip Colors – New Shades

Beauty Favorites to Kick Off Summer

NARS Laguna + Laguna Matte

MAC Bronzing Collection Picks

Peachy Lips

Bronze-Gold Luminescent Eye

10 Things I’m Loving for the Home

Chantecaille Vibrant Oceans Collection – Summer 2020

Radiance Chic Cheek and Highlighter Duos

Lip Tint Hydrating Balms

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