Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

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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Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

Beauty Favorites I’m Loving Right Now

June 11, 2020

I’m back with a loving right now favorites post! I hope you are all well and safe – I’ve been taking some time offline. Many thanks to those who have e-mailed me to check in – we are well! Experiencing some serious heat, humidity and storms but well and safe. Our two fur babies send you some snuggles and hugs from our home! Several of you have asked for an updated spring-to-summer favorites list so I’ve put together a list of beauty favorites I’m loving right now for you today.

Hand Care

Augustinus Bader recently launched The Hand Treatment ($50 for 50 ml) and of course I had to try it! I ordered it online and it shipped relatively fast. It doesn’t have any fragrance but has a sterile kind of smell to it. I found it smoothing and nourishing. It has a semi-thick feel and almost has a velvety dry down. The first few times I used it I felt it was too thick for me – but I was using too much. A little goes a long way. Since I’m indoors most of the time now it’s perfect, especially since my skin gets dried out from constant air conditioning.

They also have a Hand Sanitizer (50 ml) with 68% alcohol that is available online where they only charge shipping (one per household, while supplies last). I ordered mine a few weeks ago but it still has not shipped but if it’s still in stock by the time I receive it I will definitely review!

Chanel La Creme Main and La Creme Main Texture Riche are still my favorites for the formula, packaging and drydown. If you need something more hydrating L’Occitane remains one of the best tried-and-true lines for me. I love their limited editions, in particular the Ultra Light Hand Creme in Violet (also available in this cute set on sale). I find the L’Occitane prices more budget-friendly too.

Lip Care

These days I’m all about balms, especially since we are at home most of the time. The lock down has been lifted in phases and things have slowly started to open up but it varies by area. I feel like all I’ve been wearing for months now is lip balm or gloss balms! The creme de la creme of balms is the By Terry Baume de Rose. They have a cute limited-edition packaging option this year for summer. It’s thick, lush, hydrating and while extremely expensive will last a long time. The next best more affordable alternative I’ve found is the Fresh Petal-Soft Rose Lip Cream. I’m also love the Sugar Advance Therapy Lip Balm (I keep this on my night stand) and the flavored Coconut Sugar Hydrating Balm is another delicious favorite.

For a tinted balm I’ve been reaching for the NARS Afterglow Tinted Lip Balms the most (still). Review + swatches here. My most-worn colors are Torrid, Dolce Vita and Fast Lane but they’re all really nice.

111Skin

For some more self-care indulgence I’ve been loving 111Skin. The Rosegold Line has been in heavy rotation. I started using the Rose Gold Set which includes the Rose Gold Radiance Booster and Sheet Masks last Christmas and love them for adding a beautiful glow. The Radiance Booster Serum has a super fine rose gold shimmer to it which I think is so beautiful. It’s not like a highlighter so it’s definitely something I feel like I can wear or mix in with moisturizer on a daily basis. I love the Eye Masks as well. You can find these at a wide range of retailers like Nordstrom, Revolve, Space NK etc. If you order on the 111Skin website they offer the masks in singles (versus the packs).

Fragrance

The humid hot weather is here which means I feel like I can wear my summery citrus scents more! I was able to track down some GWPs with mini samples of the Jo Malone Blossoms Collection and the one I fell in love with is Yuja. It’s a citrus orange with some sage and amber. To me it’s like a sweeter less sharp version of the Lime Basil and Mandarin. I ordered the travel size and am obsessed. I may order the larger one too since it’s limited-edition.

Other Jo Malone favorites are the Basil and Neroli (sweet floral citrus) and Wood Sage and Sea Salt (woody unisex). I started ordering some things from the Jo Malone website as they have really good gift with purchase options. Nordstrom also has good ones as well (they have the minis of the Wood Sage and Sea Salt + Poppy Barley right now). I rediscovered their Body and Hand Wash and have stocked up on several scents. They last really long on my skin!

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel in Biarritz has been a favorite for a very long time now. It’s one of the best fresh citrus + lily scents I’ve tried. I love that it also comes in a travel mini size. The Shower Gel is a super luxurious splurge that’s on my repurchase wish list.

Glow Makeup

Three glow makeup loves I’ve had include are for that natural glow. I’ve rediscovered the Tom Ford Soleil Glow Foundation in Natural 6.0 and really love how naturally radiant it looks on the skin. It’s marked down at 30% off at Nordstrom which makes me a bit worried it’s going to be phased out. It’s a gel-serum formula with medium natural looking coverage that adds some natural glow to the skin.

To add warmth and shimmer to the complexion I’ve been using the By Terry Brightening CC Serum in Sunny Flash almost like a bronzer (or I’ll mix it in with foundation).

For eyeshadow my absolute favorites this season are the By Terry Ombre Blackstar shades in Immaculate Light, Rose Elixir and Sunny Flash. I’ve ordered a backup set which I rarely do anymore but I think these colors are perfect! Swatches of all three here.

Sunscreen

slides from APL, sunnies Ray-Ban

So many of you have asked for an updated sunscreen roundup since the one I did a few years ago. Several of my usual go-to’s have been reformulated so I started trying new formulas. Unfortunately it seems that I’ve developed more sensitivities to various formulas and I’ve had so many allergic reactions I’m scared to try anything new. Right now my favorite sunscreen brand is still Supergoop! – I’m really happy to report most of their new and improved formulas still work for me.

For the face I rely on their Unseen Sunscreen with SPF40 or their Glow Screen with SPF40. For the body I like their Glow Oil because it works well in humid weather for me.

Bronzer

Last but not least a bronzer update. I still really do love the Chanel Les Beiges 2020 collection that launched earlier in the spring. Many of you have asked,”which formula is better: the Chanel bronzers or new Charlotte Tilbury bronzers?” I always love a little bit of glow so for me Chanel wins hands down. After months of wear time, the Les Beiges Soleil Tan Bronze cream bronzer has not irritated my skin even though it has coconut oil and many of you were concerned about this. Your mileage may vary though depending on your skin type. For those who missed out, it has restocked several times online at Chanel.com. I don’t have any info on when/if it will launch at Nordstrom, Neimans, etc. – it has in past years, but given the current climate with COVID-19, I’m not sure if it will.

That wraps up my beauty favorites that I’m loving right now. I’ve kept things minimal but still have been enjoying things that spark joy. As we transition to warmer weather I’ve been changing my skincare so I’ll have an updated skincare routine soon. There are some more summer launches I’m excited to share including Chantecaille summer and new Westman Atelier. I have some more fun roundups in the works which I think you’ll love.

Sending you my best wishes for health, safety and calm during this time. If you have any beauty favorites you’ve been loving now whether it’s a new discovery or tried and true favorite, let me know in the comments!

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I’m doing a giveaway including some of my favorite things.

Running from June 11th to June 14th, 2020 11:59 PM EST.
Due to shipping restrictions this is for US Only, 18 years or older.
Simply complete at least 1 of the steps in the widget below. The more steps you complete, the more entries you will receive.
ONE person will be selected via the widget below to win: (1 sheet) 111Skin Rosegold Sheet Mask, (1 sheet) 111Skin Rosegold Eye Mask, The Daily Edited Flat Pouch (almond), Chanel La Creme Main Texture Riche, Fresh Sugar Lip Balm (mini), MAC Lipstick in Mocha, MAC Mini Strobe Cream, Pat McGrath MTHRSHP Golden Opulence Palette.
Winner will be selected and e-mailed within 72 hours after giveaway ends. They must respond within 72 hours or another person will be selected in their place.
Prizes usually ship within a week.
Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Press samples featured include the By Terry CC Serum, By Terry Ombre Blackstar, Fresh Petal-Soft Rose Lip Cream, Supergoop! Sunscreens and NARS Afterglow Lip.

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Charlotte Tilbury

New Charlotte Tilbury: Airbrush Bronzer, Air-Brush and Desert Haze Quad

May 28, 2020

I’m back with a new Charlotte Tilbury haul post featuring the new Bronzer, Retractable Brush and Eyeshadow Quad. I ordered everything online from Charlotte Tilbury as they had an early product launch. The products are now starting to appear on other retail sites like Nordstrom, Sephora and Beautylish. I also have a swatch lineup of a couple other products by popular request as some colors have now appeared at Sephora, Nordstrom, etc.

Airbrush Bronzer ($55 each for 16 g/0.56 oz) in Fair and Medium
Air-Brush Retractable Bronzing Brush ($40)
Desert Haze Luxury Palette Matte Eyeshadow Quad ($53 for 4 g/0.14 oz)
Collagen Lip Bath ($35 each for 7.9 ml/0.26 fl oz)
Beauty Light Wands ($38 each for 12 ml/0.40 fl oz)

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Airbrush Bronzer

There are four shades of Airbrush Bronzer in Fair, Medium, Tan and Deep. These are large refillable matte bronzing powders (pans are magnetic and there’s a hole on the bottom to pop out the pan). Online they have shade recommendations based on your Charlotte Tilbury foundation match. I am a match to the Airbrush Foundation in 7N and 7.5N (when I’m not as tan, reviewed here) so the best bronzer shade for me according to Charlotte Tilbury is Medium. I also ordered Fair out of curiosity also because often times “fair” isn’t always truly light in color, but rather just a light tan.

Formula-wise these are easy to blend and very smooth. There’s no patchy texture and it is easy to layer for a truly natural blurred bronzed look or soft contour. Lasting power is good – it stayed put without oxidizing or looking muddy.

Fair 1 Airbrush Bronzer

The Fair 1 Airbrush Bronzer is a close match to the Medium 2 Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder. On my skin the Fair Bronzer looks like powder. I was hoping because of the size that it would be a good alternate for the Pressed Powder since I hit pan frequently on the setting powder (it’s one of my holy grails!). I tried it as both a bronzer and setting powder since the ingredient lineup is pretty similar. The formulas are very similar in the fact that they blend well. The pressed powder is a little heavier in coverage on my skin while the bronzer seems a tad bit more lightweight. Color-wise the Fair 1 Airbrush Bronzer has a bit more cool tones with more olive so on my skin it looks a little more olive/greenish when applied all over the face. It works as a setting powder, but I prefer the regular pressed powder for all over.

Wearing below:

Foundation – Tom Ford Soleil Flawless Glow Foundation in Natural 6.0
Bronzer – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer Fair 1 on the cheeks (looks like my skin)
Eyeshadow – Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Quad in Desert Haze
Mascara – Chanel Le Volume Waterproof
Brows – Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
Lips – Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips 2 In Love with Olivia + Collagen Lip Bath in Peachy Plump
Tank by Re/Done
Nail Polish is OPI Samoan Sand

Medium 2 Airbrush Bronzer

The Medium 2 Airbrush Bronzer is a truly natural looking soft matte bronze. Normally I think I might be able to go one shade darker but there seems to be a huge jump in between colors so the next shade up will most likely be too dark for me.

Same beauty breakdown as above except with Airbrush Bronzer in Medium and Lip color combo is Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Medium 2 + Collagen Lip Bath in Pillow Talk on top.

Swatches next to the Filmstar Bronze and Glow Palettes in Fair-Medium and Medium-Dark.

Also swatched next to a couple Fenty Sun Stalk’r Bronzers and Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer in Terra.

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Air-Brush Retractable Bronzing Brush

The Air-Brush Retractable Bronzing Brush is a super soft plush white fluffy brush for the bronzer. It’s well made and I think it’s perfect for packing in your makeup bag since it has a cap. I do worry it might be a bit tricky to wash but I really like it and think it’s worth the splurge.

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Desert Haze Luxury Palette Matte Eyeshadow Quad

The Desert Haze Luxury Palette Matte Eyeshadow Quad is yet another warm eyeshadow palette from Charlotte Tilbury. It has all matte shades with a beige cream, matte orange brown, deeper warm matte brown and terracotta. Pigment on this one is amazing and when applying it from light to dark I thought it was for sure going to be too orangey. The deepest shade however pulls it all together for a more complete warm smokey sunset eye look and I really like it! Pigment is really smooth and easy to blend with a rich finish.

If you can’t do warms but want a good matte neutral palette I think Tom Ford Mink Mirage is the best one available right now.

Swatches below next to Charlotte Tilbury’s The Sophisticate and Transformeyes (currently discontinued, but it has made a comeback a few times, hoping it might return someday)

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Collagen Lip Bath

The Collagen Lip Bath is one of my favorite lip plumpers that doesn’t have an intense tingle. I wanted to swatch all of them side by side for you since all the colors are now available at Sephora and Nordstrom! (Pillow Talk was previously exclusive to Charlotte Tilbury.) Also added a couple other neutrals from the Lip Lustre formula lineup which I also love.

Left to right: Collagen Lip Bath Refresh Rose, Peachy Plump, Rosy Glow, Pillow Talk and Lip Lustre in Pillow Talk and Sweet Stiletto

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Beauty Light Wands

Last but not least is another look at the Beauty Light Wands as the two Pillow Talk Light and Pillow Talk Medium colors have finally arrived at Sephora. I don’t think I’ve done makeup looks with all of them on the blog, but you can see Spotlight on the face here. Pinkgasm on the face here.

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That wraps up my Charlotte Tilbury bronzer haul! Hope you found this helpful. I really like the things I ordered. The bronzing powders are smooth and easy to blend for a natural look. I don’t know that Fair will show up as a bronzer even on truly light/fair skin tones as it looks pretty light to me. If you are fair and tried it let me know what it looks like on you! Medium works for a natural bronzer on me right now. As the summer progresses I know I will get more color from the sun so I’m not sure if it will still show up in a month’s time. As much as I don’t like warm or matte eyeshadows I was surprised to find I really love the look and finish of Desert Haze quad. It’s one I think I’ll reach for a lot this summer!

You can find all of the new beauty launches now online at Charlotte Tilbury. Some retailers like Nordstrom, Sephora and Beautylish have the bronzers. I haven’t seen the quad pop up anywhere else yet but I suspect it will launch at other retailers eventually.

Accessories in the post: Beach Towel Tory Burch / Sunglasses Tom Ford / Clear Zip Pouch The Daily Edited (similar here) / Nail Polish OPI Samoan Sand on Tips and Chanel Coralium on Toes

Have you tried the new Charlotte Tilbury launches yet? What did you think?

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Summer Skincare Routine + Testing

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Sunscreen

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Lip Tint Hydrating Balms

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Hand Care

Lip Care

111Skin

Fragrance

Glow Makeup

Sunscreen

Bronzer

New Charlotte Tilbury: Airbrush Bronzer, Air-Brush and Desert Haze Quad

Airbrush Bronzer

Fair 1 Airbrush Bronzer

Medium 2 Airbrush Bronzer

Air-Brush Retractable Bronzing Brush

Desert Haze Luxury Palette Matte Eyeshadow Quad

Collagen Lip Bath

Beauty Light Wands

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