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Sabrina

Cle de Peau Beaute Nordstrom

Best of Cle de Peau Beaute

November 25, 2019

Best of Cle de Peau Beaute

I have a luxury beauty roundup featuring my favorites from Cle de Peau Beaute. They have so many beautiful high quality pieces many of which I consider to be tried and true staples. Today I’m partnering with Nordstrom to round up my top ten beauty picks I think are worth the splurge. I purchase and restock most of my Cle de Peau products from them and have for years, especially their bases. All of my personal favorites and the shades I use discussed below.

Below wearing the Radiant Cushion Foundation O30 and Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine in Sepia

Cle de Peau Favorites

Cle de Peau beauty favorites

Cle de Peau Radiant Enhancer, Concealer Ochre

Above left to right: Brilliant Enhancer, Radiant Corrector for Eyes, Concealer

1) Brilliant Enhancer

The Brilliant Enhancer comes in one shade which is a sheer pearly highlight. It has a click pen applicator with a brush tip and provides the most natural looking liquid illuminator I’ve ever seen. You can use it anywhere you want to add brightness or a highlight. I find using it on the eyes, cheekbones or even under eyes under concealer gives the skin a very soft radiant effect. It’s sheer and glowy and never looks overdone. I will sometimes click dispense product onto the back of my hand first and then use my fingertips to apply on the face although the brush works too!

2) Radiant Corrector for Eyes

The Radiant Corrector for Eyes is ideal for brightening or concealing dark circles under the eye area. It has a brush applicator and has a less opaque formula compared to the stick version making it easier to blend for under the eye area. It goes on smoothly and has good coverage without looking heavy. I use the shade Ochre.

3) Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer

The Concealer in Ochre is the best opaque formula I’ve tried for a full coverage concealer. I’ve used Almond in the past but Ochre is my best match now for my Florida tan. I warm up a little bit from the stick with my finger before patting and blending on the face. It is versatile for spot concealing, to cover redness around the nose or to cover redness under the eyes. It has SPF 25 which was introduced sometime last year. To me this newer version is just as good as the original version.

4) Radiant Cushion Foundation

Cle de Peau Radiant Cushion Foundation O30

The Radiant Cushion Foundation in O30 is the only foundation I currently use from the line. I do want to try more formulas but many of my old favorites have been reformulated. This cushion has medium to full coverage with a very natural luminous glow. I love that it looks radiant without being too dewy. Skin looks smoothed out and healthy and stays put all day without budging. It has buildable coverage but still feels lightweight.

5) Cream Blushes

Cle de Peau Cream Blush

The Cle de Peau Beaute Cream Blushes are newer tries for me. I cannot believe I did not discover these sooner! They’re creamy pots that have the most beautiful powder dry down. I’m not the biggest fan of cream blushes because they’re often too dewy for me but these are hands down the best I have EVER tried. I have two shades right now in 1 Cranberry (one I’m wearing in this post) which is a soft rose and 2 Pale Fig (brighter warm pink). I have the other two on my wishlist to order soon. They blend so beautifully into the skin and are the longest lasting cream blushes I’ve tried. They look natural but give a perfect amount of color. You can apply with fingers easily or a small cream blush brush. A little bit goes a very long way.

6) Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Cle de Peau Liquid Eyeliner in Black

I tried some eye makeup basics based on rave reviews and they 100% live up to the hype. The Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner has two tips, one short and one long. It is the best liquid eyeliner I have ever tried to date and has surpassed all my other favorites. I love that you have two options to control the thickness of the line. I also think the formula has the perfect density and fluidity to dry quickly so it doesn’t bleed at all.

7) Perfect Lash Mascara in Black

Cle de Peau Mascara

Another eye makeup product I ordered recently was the Cle de Peau Beaute Perfect Lash Mascara. I purchased it on a whim as I was curious to see if it lived up to the hype. Few mascaras do it all for me but this one worked out perfectly for everything I wanted. It adds volume, holds the curl, doesn’t smudge and the curved brush makes application easy. I like that the brush is dense enough to coat my lashes with just a few coats. I will definitely repurchase!

8) Radiant Lip Gloss

Cle de Peau Radiant Lip Gloss

For lips one of my favorite gloss formulas is the Cle de Peau Beaute Radiant Lip Gloss. They have a cushiony feel and beautiful shine without that sticky finish. They are sheer so I recommend layering on top of a liner or lipstick if you want more coverage. My favorites are Warm Crystal, Charm, Dream Stone and Star Dust. They have a tiny amount of shimmer to make the lips look lush and full.

Cle de Peau Radiant Lip Gloss swatches

9) Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine Liquid Lipstick

Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine Liquid Lipstick Sugar Jelly

Above wearing Sugar Jelly

Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine Liquid Lipstick

The latest lip launch from Cle de Peau Beaute is their Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine Liquid Lipstick. They also launched a matte version which I tried as well (swatches of my picks below) but I’m partial to the shine version. They’re glossy high pigmented liquid lipsticks with the most juicy looking colors. I picked four and hope they launch more colors in this formula! Sepia is a perfect nude, Sugar Jelly is a baby pink, Delicious Dream is a juicy soft red pink, Bird of Paradise is a gorgeous orangey coral. I like mixing the colors as well. (My shine and matte picks swatched below.)

Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Liquid Lipstick swatches

10) Face Cotton

Best Face Cotton Cle de Peau

Last but not least is the Cle de Peau Face Cotton which has been one of my go-to’s for years. They’re thick and plush and hold the shape. They won’t disintegrate with toner or makeup remover and they don’t leave fibers on the skin. I repurchase it constantly and my most recent haul I bought the Cleansing Foam Set which has the cotton in it along with some other skincare products. It is 100% worth the price for me.

That wraps up my Top 10 Cle de Peau Beaute favorites! I have tried some of their skincare items but for me the highlights are some of their makeup products. I really want to try their current Serum since I used to be obsessed with one of the older formulations.

You can find the full line of Cle de Peau available at Nordstrom. They often have nice Gift With Purchases available, especially during Bonus Point Events. I recommend checking it regularly if you plan on stocking up on anything!

What are your favorite Cle de Peau Beaute products? Do you have any tried and true skincare items you recommend?

 

 

Thank you Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. All products purchased and selected by me.

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Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty Palette + New Superstar Lips

November 22, 2019

Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty Palette New Superstar Lips

I have a beauty haul roundup review today featuring her new Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous, Glowing Beauty Instant Look in a Palette ($75) along with some newer shades of her Superstar Lips ($34 each) . I’ve tried every one of her Instant Look palettes, there have been hits and misses in the past and I think this is the best one she’s launched to date! Thoughts, swatches and more on each item below.

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Gorgeous, Glowing Beauty

Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty Palette Review

The Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous, Glowing Beauty Instant Look in a Palette is such a pretty easy to wear palette I think it should be permanent! The formulas in this palette itself are much better in pigment and color payoff significantly compared to the first ones she launched. It’s still a very natural looking but I think colors are deep enough for even medium tan skin tones. It’s neutral in undertone to me making it a lot more wearable than her previous Beauty Glow Palette from 2017. Colors are soft but buildable, I think with the texture it’s easy to blend and impossible to overdo.

The three shades at the top of the palette are eyeshadows which includes:

  • smooth metallic champagne pink
  • smooth medium coverage shimmery plum brown
  • smooth matte neutral-cool reddish brown

The bottom four shades are for the complexion:

  • soft satin light brown (very slight shimmer)
  • soft smooth pale pink highlight
  • soft medium rose blush
  • sheer cool pale highlight

Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty Palette swatches

Wearing below:

Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty Palette look Sabrina

When I previewed shopping the palette in store a lot of you asked how it compares to The Dolce Vita quad (now renamed The Bella Sofia), swatches below. There are definitely similarities in two of the shades, I find the individual quad has more color payoff on the eyes.

Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing vs The Dolce Vita

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New Superstar Lips

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips

I reviewed the Superstar Lips formula last year here. I had mixed feelings because of the price and size of the product. I still do for this reason, but the formula is really nice, especially if you like a glossy lip. Three new shades caught my eye in Glow Kiss, Princess Kiss and Everlasting Kiss (the first two of these are exclusive to Charlotte Tilbury’s website). After hauling all three I decided to give the shimmery ones a try in Pillow Talk Diamonds and Lucky Diamonds as well.

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Glow Kiss, Princess, Everlasting, Pillow Talk Diamonds and Lucky Diamonds

My thoughts:

  • Glow Kiss is a sheer glossy beige, it’s super sheer on my lips but gives them a lips but better translucent glow
  • Princess Kiss is a beautiful soft light pink cream, it’s also sheer but gives a lovely pink tint
  • Everlasting Kiss is my favorite (and available at all counters) which is a neutral medium nude rose
  • Pillow Talk Diamonds is a metallic glittery pink gold, even though it has impressive full coverage with a smooth texture (no gritty feel at all) this one was a disaster on my lips! It looks absolutely horrible, I suppose it could be used as a topper but it’s so metallic I couldn’t wait to take it off.
  • Lucky Diamonds is a metallic warm copper, also smooth with full coverage, this one was a winner for me, I think the deeper base makes it a lot more wearable, it’s very shimmery but still very wearable, I wish it came in a plum or rose version

Overall I’m happy with the way all of them look except for Pillow Talk Diamonds. They are very sheer and I find their online stock photos and model photos very misleading. I find they look a lot more pigmented and opaque online than they do in real life – even with heavy lip layering. For the price I’d expect a lot more product at the very least. Still I really like the texture and finish. As much as I like the colors I think the deeper and brighter options I bought last year make for a better buy. I added a swatch of Pillow Talk at the end for reference.

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips swatches

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Glow Kiss_____________

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Princess Kiss_____________

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Everlasting Kiss_____________

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Pillow Talk Diamonds_____________

Charlotte Tilbury Superstar Lips Lucky Diamonds_____________

 

Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty Palette New Superstar Lips

Overall lots to love for easy everyday kind of makeup. I think every color in the Gorgeous Glowing Beauty palette is wearable and great for the more conservative beauty lover or for those who feel like they don’t know how to wear makeup. It’s truly easy to wear with easy to follow steps for a full face look and I do think it’s beautiful! At $75 it is fairly spendy, I bought mine during the Sephora Holiday bonus event for some savings.

For the Superstar Lips I still have the same mixed feelings: love the formula, don’t like the price, still feel online stock/promotional marketing photos are misleading. My dislikes won’t stop me from trying new shades if they’re launched in the future though.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Gorgeous Glowing Beauty Palette out now. I do believe it’s limited-edition like all of her other palettes. I bought mine at Sephora and it’s sold out there online, but still available at other places like Nordstrom, Charlotte Tilbury, Bloomingdales and Beautylish to name a few.

The Superstar Lips in Everlasting Kiss is available at all Charlotte Tilbury counters. Glow Kiss and Princess Kiss appear to be exclusive to Charlotte Tilbury’s website.

 

 

The Pillow Talk shades are still my favorite so I’m doing a giveaway with a Pillow Talk Lip Cheat, Matte Revolution and Superstar Lips. ONE person will be selected to win – all you have to do is enter via the widget below and complete at least 2 of the steps. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Runs through 11/25/2019 11:45 PM EST. One winner will be selected within 48 hours after giveaway ends and announced on the widget below. I’ll e-mail them directly and they must respond within 24 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected in their place. I usually ship prizes within one week. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Skincare

5-Step Korean Skincare with Soko Glam

November 20, 2019

Korean Skincare 5-Step Routine with Soko Glam

I’m excited to share some new skincare I’ve been incorporating into my routine over the past few months! A number of you have expressed interest in seeing more Korean skincare reviews on the blog and I’m thrilled to partner with Soko Glam to put one of their 5-Step skincare routines to the test. I have a full review of all the products I tried. They’ve curated some great sets to help you address your specific skin concerns by skin type.

I took their Skin Quiz and connected with one of their Soko Experts for a skincare consultation to find the best products for my normal but sensitive late 30’s skin.

Korean Skincare from Soko Glam

The 5-Step Normal Skin Set was recommended for my skin type and it was very easy to incorporate into my regular routine. It’s priced at $95 (valued over $139) and includes things you can use both day and night:

  1. Oil Cleanse AM/PM with the Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbert
  2. Water-based Cleanse, AM/PM with the Acwell Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser
  3. Toner AM/PM with the Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner
  4. Essence AM/PM with the Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist
  5. Moisturizer AM/PM with the SkinRX Lab MadeCera Cream

If you have different concerns or skin type, they also have other 5-Step Bundles (and 10-Step) for Brightening, Combination Skin, Dry Skin, Oil Control and more.

My thoughts on the 5-Step Normal Skincare Routine below! You can find the full list of ingredients on each specific product page.

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5-Step Korean Skincare | Step 1: Oil Cleanse

Soko Glam Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbert

I love solid makeup removers and the Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbert is one that contains rice, rice bran and soy bean to gently break down makeup for cleansing. It melts like butter into the skin! I found it super gentle but effective and it left my skin super soft.

Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbert Solid

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Step 2: Water Cleanse

Soko Glam Acwell Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser

The Acwell Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser is a gentle gel cleanser that is lightweight, effective and calming. I had a few skin flare ups over the past month and this helped calm down the skin. It has a hydrating finish and leaves the skin feeling clean and soft. The texture has no foaming/bubbling action which is really nice!

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Step 3: Toner

Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner

I use toner religiously and have a few staples I rely on. Trying new formulas always makes me nervous with my sensitive skin. The Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner was mild enough to use 2x per day after cleansing and left the skin brighter, more even and softer. It contains their fermented yeast extract to help cellular turnover. I will definitely repurchase this one after it’s used up!

Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner

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Step 4: Essence

Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist

I often neglect essence but anytime I add it, I find my skin is significantly more balanced. With the cold dry weather here for the fall/winter adding the Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Essence Mist has been a lifesaver. It dispenses a super fine mist (one of the finest I’ve seen!) to evenly spritz the skin. It’s fragrance free. I also find it makes a nice setting spray for makeup.

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Step 5: Moisturizer

SkinRX Lab MadeCera Cream

The SkinRX MadeCera Cream has such a high number of rave reviews and I was interested in seeing if it lived up to the hype. It 100% does! I was so impressed by this – especially for winter! It’s a great moisturizing cream that is perfect for sensitive or normal-dry skin. It sinks into the skin nicely and hydrates, soothes and reduces redness. On super tender skin days it helped calm the skin. There is also a Sheet Mask Pack available from the same line which I want to try next!

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Korean Skincare from Soko Glam

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Additional skincare tries

Soko Glam Pimple Patches CosRX Missha

I tested a few other things from Soko Glam for acne. I’ve really loved the CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patch for a hydrocolloid treatment so I restocked! They come with different sized patches which is convenient since I usually have different size pimples whether it’s a whitehead or blackhead. I find these work best on whiteheads to absorb excess oil and pull the debris to the surface. The Missha Speedy Solution Anti Trouble Patches were recommended to me by a few readers so I bought a pack to try. These contain salicylic acid and tea tree oil and work to reduce redness and penetrates the skin to dissolve the debris that is clogging your pores.

5 Step Korean Skincare Routine Normal Skin Set

Overall I’ve really enjoyed the 5-Step Normal Skincare Set. All 5 products are winners and easy to incorporate into my routine. The SkinRX MadeCera Cream is the highlight for me. For cleansing I also love solid makeup removers and the Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbert has been really nice to use for an effective cleanser. If you have any skincare lovers you’re looking to gift skincare to, I think either the cream or sherbert cleanser would be great for any skin type.

You can find all the products I reviewed at Soko Glam. They have a wealth of information on their blog and you can easily navigate recommendations by skin concern or skin type! They’ve started Cyber Week early with some savings! From 11/15 through – 12/1 @ 11:59 PM EST save 30% off most things with code: SGBF19. In addition all orders $135+ will receive a Soko Glam branded jade roller Note: Code SGBF19 is valid between 11/15/19 at 12:00PM EST through 12/1/19 at 11:59PM EST. Exclusions apply: not applicable on purchase of sets (including 5- and 10-Step sets), gift cards, Then I Met You products and The Little Book of Skincare. Not valid with other promotions or discount codes. Gift with purchase available while supplies last. Purchases of $135+ after 30% discount applied.

Do you have any Korean Skincare favorites? Have you tried anything from Soko Glam? What do you recommend?

 

Sponsored by Soko Glam.

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Chanel

Chanel Holiday 2019: Les Ornements de Chanel

November 17, 2019

Chanel Holiday 2019 Makeup Collection The Beauty Look Book

The Chanel Holiday 2019 Les Ornements de Chanel collection has launched and it has some beautiful pieces I want to wear for the rest of the holiday season! The powder products have the prettiest embossed patterns that look like ornaments. Texture, quality, pigment and lasting power are impressive with all items. I have swatches of everything today plus some beauty looks featuring:

Chanel Holiday 2019 Les Ornements de Chanel

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Eclat Magnetique de Chanel Illuminating Powder in Metal Peach

Chanel Highlighter Metal Peach

Up first is the new holiday highlighter Eclat Magnetique de Chanel Illuminating Powder in Metal Peach is one of the most sparkly intense highlighters I’ve tried from Chanel – but it does apply with a smooth sheen. It has a complex metallic peach champagne color that pulls a bit pinkish on my olive tan skin. If you’re lighter in skintone (ie lighter than a Chanel Beige 40) this will pull more peach rather than a paler sharp highlight like it does on me. It’s quite pigmented but blends easily. I had to be careful and use only a tiny bit on the brush. Even though it has a sparkly finish it’s very smooth and didn’t emphasize pores. Lasting power was excellent. I love the embossed pattern on the surface. I feel like Chanel is always really creative with the embossing!

Swatch comparisons below to other Chanel highlighters. The texture is creamier than the Poudre Lumiere which is harder/stiffer. It has a similar texture to the Le Signe du Lion formula.

Chanel Highlighter Swatches

Full face look wearing:

Chanel Holiday 2019 Makeup Look

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Holiday Eye Makeup

Chanel Holiday 2019 Eye Makeup

The eye makeup is unique for a holiday look to me. It feels more like fall to me but if you’re tired of the warm/red/pink eye palettes that dominate the market, these are going to be a refreshing change. The Les 4 Ombres in Lumiere Et Opulence quad gives a smokey olive eye on me. Colors are ultra smooth and buttery. They all have some degree of shimmer and are easy to layer. Colors include a deep olive shimmer, a shimmery pale pink, shimmery light olive and shimmering brown plum. They swatch a lot prettier than they look in the pans! Lasting power is excellent and I feel like pigment is better than their usual quads.

The two Ombre Premieres for holiday in Grandeur (warm gold) and Poupre Brun (deep plum) are creamy to the touch which is new to me. Most of this formula seem more like powders. These have a slightly creamy soft feel and dry to a powder. Pigment is excellent and easy to blend. Colors aren’t my top picks but are nice to layer and mix with other colors.

The Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Khaki Intense was a hit for me. I love the deep khaki moss green look and I normally do not like olive shades on me. It’s a nice softer alternative to black. It glides on smoothly and lasts all day.

Chanel Holiday 2019 Eye Makeup swatches

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Holiday Rouge Allure Shades

Chanel Holiday 2019 Rouge Allure Lipstick

The Rouge Allure Lipsticks are all luminous creams for the season. They’re ultra creamy without any tugging (like some other shades pull). Every single color is beautiful and I think if you’re looking for a classic bold holiday lip, Chanel has it all sorted out for you. The coverage is full and they have a glossy shiny finish. Lasting power is excellent and they feel ultra smooth and hydrating on the lips without feeling heavy.

  • 807 Rouge Delicieux is a rose pink
  • 817 Rouge Splendide is a bright coral pink
  • 827 Rouge Magnifique is a bright orange
  • 837 Rouge Spectacuaire is a bold red
  • 847 Rouge Majestuex is a bold plum
  • 857 Rouge Noble is a deeper plum

Chanel Holiday 2019 Rouge Allure Lipstick swatches

Chanel Holiday 2019 Rouge Allure Lipstick swatches

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Holiday Rouge Coco Gloss

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Holiday 2019

For gloss Chanel has two ultra pigmented reds in the Rouge Coco Gloss finish. These pack in a lot more pigment and coverage compared to many of the other glosses in this formula. They’re super shiny with a hydrating feel. 824 Rouge Carmin is a bold classic red, 826 Rouge Grenat is a deeper wine red. I truly appreciate that they launched reds that don’t turn fuchsia or bright pink on my lips.

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Holiday 2019 Rouge Carmin and Grenat

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Holiday 2019 Rouge Carmin and Grenat swatches

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Holiday Le Vernis

Chanel Holiday 2019 Le Vernis Richness Deepness

Chanel Holiday 2019 Le Vernis Richness Deepness

For the nails I’ve been wearing the Chanel Le Vernis in Richness which is a deep red in the bottle but pulls to a deeper brown red on the nails. It’s the color I’ve been getting TONS of messages and DMs about because I’ve been wearing it on Instagram Stories. There is another deep olive green shade called Deepness which is an olive almost black color. Both are creams with excellent coverage. They apply smoothly and I prefer 2 coats.

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Overall some lovely pieces for the classic beauty lover. If you want something new but not too trendy to wear for the holiday season Chanel has lots of beautiful options. The Rouge Allure lipsticks are the stand outs to me. As a Chanel highlighter collector and lover I think Metal Peach is quite lovely if you apply with a light hand. For eyes I really love Khaki Intense for a deep smokey liner that isn’t as basic as your regular black or brown pencil.

Chanel has also launched all of their Holiday Beauty Sets, Skincare Sets and Fragrance Sets online. I’m still in the process of putting together holiday gift guides so I’m not sure which ones I will be reviewing but if are interested in any specific ones let me know and I’ll try to add them to my review list! In other Chanel newness though they’ve added some amazing pieces to their Sublimage Skincare Line which I’ve been testing and will review soon. I’ve also been using their new Les Exclusifs de Chanel Gentle Oil for Hair and Body and it’s the most amazing body oil I’ve ever tried. I’ve been a huge fan of the Body Cream for years so it’s no surprise that the oil is just as amazing!

You can find the Chanel holiday makeup collection out now. Available at Chanel.com and all Chanel counters. Have you checked out anything from the collection yet? What did you think?

Chanel holiday gifted by Chanel.

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Packing

Away Minis for the Holiday

November 14, 2019

Away Travel Minis Holiday 2019

I’m so excited to share the news that the Away Minis are back for the holiday! Individual minis launch on their website Away Travel and in their stores today (with more holiday goodness launching very soon). I’ve gifted these every year they’ve launched and they are always well received – even by the picky ones! These are my favorite cases to travel with and I also carry them to the beach and to the gym. The hard exterior is perfect to protect things from getting squished in your bag or luggage (like sunglasses and squeeze tubes).

The 2019 edition has a couple of updates to the design. The size and dimension are the same with an open interior and mesh pocket on one side. This year they’ve added a small hook on the top front to attach a key ring and on the inside they’ve added another elastic band for those who want something extra to hold products in place. They are available in 9 Core Colors, Aluminum and a few limited-edition shades as well.

Double zip, zipper matches the polycarbonate shell, new ring attachment at top this year:

Away Mini Suitcase 2019

Away Minis

On the nails is Chanel Le Vernis in Richness from the holiday collection (review soon)

The Away Minis measure 7″ x 5″ x 3″ and come with a double-zip closure. They’re small but I can fit quite a bit inside! I always get questions about TSA restrictions and liquids. I’ve never had any issues but I usually put everything into a quart size bag at home first to make sure I’m not over the limit.

What I travel with varies depending on season. We’re getting ready for some holiday travel before the end of the year so I’m starting to put together a packing list. Some things I’ll probably check like face wash, moisturizer, etc. But for reference to get an idea of what you can fit, this is what I can fit inside mine:

Away Travel Mini Suitcase

His and hers travel favorites, Andrew is partial to Kiehl’s and Jack Black for skincare:

His and Her Travel Essentials

 

If you haven’t checked out their products recently they just launched their Luminous Collection for holiday. They have new colors of luggage, everywhere bags and a few more accessories. In addition many of you have asked about the pink nylon Everywhere Bag that I have from last year. There’s a pink leather version available right now if you’ve been holding out for pink!

This post is about the minis but I always get questions about Away products so I thought I’d do an FAQ. I’ve reviewed Away luggage in several posts over the years. Simply click on my PACKING travel tag to see what I’ve packed on previous trips. Top questions I receive about their products:

  • Which size do I recommend?
    • I’m usually a carry-on traveler and typically travel within the US. I prefer the bigger carry on because it will fit in the overhead bins (except for the smaller commuter flight planes).
    • On one of our trips last year we used the Medium and loved it. I feel like now I’ll always travel with the Medium.
    • To find out if it will fit on your airline there’s a helpful FAQ section on the Away website. Measurements include the wheels which is super helpful.
  • What are the stand outs about their luggage over other brands?
    • The design is streamlined and well made. The wheels have 360 spinners which makes it SO easy to maneuver upright, at an angle, to rotate etc. The handle is designed well so it doesn’t take up a lot of room on the inside. You can still fit a lot in between the handle bars. Quality is also excellent.
  • Does it get scratched? How do the light colors hold up?
    • If you check it, it’s only a matter of time before you get scratches. Both Andrew and I have checked ours (even the carry on size sometimes). They hold up pretty well! The scuff marks can be cleaned up with warm water and a Magic Eraser.
  • How does the Everywhere Bag compare to other travel totes?
    • It’s thoughtfully designed with REALLY good pockets for easy access and separation. It’s easy to carry on the shoulder even when full. I’m 5’3″ and I am an over packer but was able to carry it without any issue. It is easy to sling over the handle of your suitcase as well. Andrew has one in black leather and likes his too. He was 100% convinced it wasn’t going to be better than his briefcase which he also uses for travel to carry his laptop and electronics. After one use he’s a convert.

Snapshot of previous minis in action from past travels:

The Beauty Look Book Away travel minis

Away Minis launch individually today. Available in 9 core colors, Aluminum and 5 limited-edition colors. Starting at $45 each.

Be sure to follow @away on Instagram or sign up for their newsletter for new launch alerts. There are more things launching for holiday gifting very soon! For now individual minis are available in all of their core colors on the AwayTravel.com.

 

Minis gifted by Away.

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Patrick TA Sephora

Patrick Ta Beauty Haul Review + Swatches

November 11, 2019

Patrick Ta Beauty Haul Review

I have a Patrick Ta Beauty haul to share today! I’ve accumulated quite a few things I’ve purchased from Sephora over the past few months. As a neutral nude makeup lover I was really interested in his Monochrome Moment collection and so I’ve put together a roundup of everything I’ve tested to date. Overall I think there are some really nice pieces, but I don’t think they’ll appeal to everyone. More thoughts on why for each product below.

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Major Glow Lip Shine

Patrick Ta Major Shine Lip Glosses

Up first are the Patrick Ta Major Glow Lip Shines ($22 each) in three colors. These are smooth non sticky glosses with a minty scent. There’s no tingle sensation as one might expect with the mint and they feel smooth without any gritty texture even with the sparkle. These have a clear base even though they look tinted in the tubes. The sparkles are different colors. These are pretty alone or on top of lipstick, but I wish there was more visible color payoff rather than just sparkle. Lasting power isn’t the best – they feel like they disappear from lips fairly quickly. I prefer Pat McGrath and Hourglass glosses for texture, color and lasting power.

I have two different kinds of applicators: two have a flat sponge tip and one has an angled sponge tip. I’m not sure if they changed it at some point or if there are different applicators for different colors.

Patrick Ta Major Shine Lip Glosses swatches lips

I’ve added swatches of other sparkle glosses below including Pat McGrath LUST Glosses in Pale Fire Nectar, Aliengelic, Earth Angel, Hourglass Unreal Gloss in Cosmic and MAC Dazzleglass in Sugarrimmed.

Glitter Gloss Swatches Patrick Ta, Pat McGrath, Hourglass and MAC

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Monochrome Moment: Silky Lip Creme and Precision Lip Crayon

Patrick Ta Beauty Silky Lip Creme

As a neutral lip lover the Monochrome Moment had me so excited. The colors ended up being a lot different than promotional stock photos and swatches but I still really like the concept and colors. I bought 3 of the Silky Lip Cremes (the lightest one was too light for my skin tone) in She’s Independent, She’s Secure, She’s Confident and they’re all warmer and lighter than I anticipated. To get a better sense of the undertone I included swatches of other colors I thought would in the same color family including Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion in Beige Naturel, Tom Ford Lip Lacquer in Universal Appeal, Lawless Soft Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Leo and George, NARS Velvet Lip Glides in Swing and Xenon, NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in American Woman and Fenty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncuffed.

Nude Liquid Lip Swatches

She’s Independent is a neutral pink beige nude, She’s Secure is a warm peachy pink nude, She’s Confident is the darkest option which is a warm nude rose. I anticipated them being more rosy and cool-toned. On me they all pull warm.

Texture wise they’re like liquid cremes that don’t dry down to a matte finish (which I really love). They’re super creamy and opaque and give full coverage with a tiny bit of shine. They will transfer if you touch your lips, in particular I found they stuck to my teeth easily. Lasting power is decent as long as you don’t touch your lips. If you’re looking for a neutral rose I recommend passing on the colors he has out right now.

Patrick Ta Precision Lip Crayon

The Precision Lip Crayons are click-up pencils with an angled flat tip. They’re creamy and easy to apply for full coverage. I recommend feathering as they’re very opaque and have a matte finish. Once they set they are super long wearing. You can definitely pair these with the Silky Lip Creme but the lip cremes are so pigmented and opaque the liners won’t show through. I bought three: She’s Humble is a neutral nude pink and She’s Proud is a slightly deeper rose and She’s Strong is a cool-toned brown.

Swatch comparisons to other neutrals I have: Pat McGrath Permagel Done Undone, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude and Pillow Talk, Marc Jacobs Poutliner in Nudist and Primrose, MAC Lip Pencils in Stripdown, Whirl and Boldly Bare.

Neutral Lip Pencils Patrick Ta, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC

Lip swatches of 2 of the lip pencils and 3 lip cremes:

Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment Lip swatches

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Velvet Blush

Patrick Ta Velvet Blush Review

I hauled all four the Monochrome Moment Velvet Blushes and think these will be hit or miss depending on how much color payoff you want in a blush. The texture is stiff/hard but not so hard that it’s impossible to pick up color. The texture makes it so the product is buildable and will give you a natural blushed look without being overdone. Swatching on hand in store won’t give you the true sense of how these apply on the face. Fingers barely pick up any powder or pigment. Using a brush and swatching on hand as well won’t show you much color. Sheer/hard texture doesn’t necessarily mean bad – they do show up on my skin, I just wish it had a softer and easier to apply formula.

Swatches on the arm with a heavy hand and then below applied on the face, She’s Adorable has the best color payoff/pigment:

Patrick Ta Velvet Blush Swatches

For skintone reference I am wearing the Milk Flex Foundation Stick in Golden Sand, equivalent of Armani Luminous Silk in 6.5, MAC NC30-35, Pat McGrath 14 or 15, Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet in Beige 40. I’m starting to lose my tan slightly and I’ve also gone back to 100% dark hair as I’m trying to grow out my highlights. My colorist added a dark toner that almost matches my natural hair color last week.

Blushes are packed on pretty heavily on the face to show the color differences. With regular application of just one or two swipes the color is a lot more sheer.

Patrick Ta Velvet Blush Face Swatches

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Major Glow On the Go Duo

Patrick Ta Major Glow On the Go Set

The last thing I wanted to review was the Major Glow on the Go Duo with the Glitter Body Oil in A Dream and Major Glow Lip Shine in She’s Expensive. I really like the body oil finish and texture – it has a spritzer applicator and the oil itself smells like sweet candy. I’m not the biggest fan of the scent but it’s not a deal breaker and it fades after a few minutes. The Lip Shine isn’t a must for me but if you’re looking for a subtle glitter gloss this is a nice one to try.

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Overall I really love the lip liners for the lasting power, texture and packaging! The lip cremes have a nice texture but the colors weren’t anything like I expected. The ones I bought still work for a nude lip look on my complexion but they’re very warm toned so may not work for all skin tones. I would like them more if they didn’t transfer to my teeth so easily. The blushes are nice for a subtle everyday kind of blush but the stiff texture and sheer color payoff will most likely make it a miss for many. While I don’t think they’re bad I do think other brands and options are better. The lip shines are just ok for me – I had higher expectations and hopes with the pretty sparkle, on my lips they’re so sheer and the lasting power isn’t there.

 

 

Have you tried anything from Patrick Ta Beauty? What did you think?

 

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Sephora Skincare

Beauty Favorites for Skin, Hair + Body from Sephora

November 7, 2019

Best Skincare for Winter Favorites

The Sephora Holiday Bonus Event opens up for all beauty insider tiers today! I rounded up my top makeup favorites last week. Today I’m rounding up the skin, hair and body care favorites you can find at Sephora. The weather is still warm here but has definitely shifted to cooler temperatures. My skincare routine has changed up a little with more hydrating creams and lotions. If you’re shopping online use code HOLIDAYSAVE (some exclusions apply). Details for all tiers are as follows:

  • Rouge Members can save 20% off 11/1 to 11/11
  • VIBs can save 15% off 11/7 to 11/11
  • Beauty Insiders can save 10% off 11/7 to 11/11

Press samples featured have a * next to them below. All others purchased and often repurchased by me.

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Cleansers + Makeup Removers

My favorite brands are Kate Somerville, Farmacy and Tatcha. I also really like SK-II but haven’t restocked on them in quite some time as I’ve found more affordable alternatives.

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Toner + Face Mists

I always use a toner after every cleanse to balance the skin and make sure every trace of residue is removed. I love a good face mist – there are so many good ones!

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Face Moisturizers + Oils

This is the area I’ve switched up the most. My face is noticeably more dry and combination. I’ve used up quite a few of these so I don’t have them all right now – but favorites I’ve had in rotation.

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Night Time Treatments

  • Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil – the best night time oil to help replenish moisture and repair skin overnight, I just discovered Andrew uses this too (he “borrowed” mine and put it in his bathroom cabinet, lol) – also available in this Midnight Must-Haves Set which I hauled yesterday
  • Kate Somerville RetAsphere Micro Peel – one of the few night time peels I can use without it irritating my skin, a gentle but effective resurfacing treatment
  • Sunday Riley Good Genes – probably the best lactic acid night resurfacing treatment I’ve tried, I use it sparingly though, around 1x per week, sometimes 2x! For those who don’t want to splurge on the full size, I highly recommend you try in smaller trial sizes available in the holiday sets like the Power Trio (just ordered), Power Couple or the Flash Fix Kit

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Treatments: Mask, Acne, Resurfacing

Treating spot acne is something we’ve had to do more frequently over the summer. I stopped using any kind of acid over the summer but occasionally do a light peel.

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Hair Styling Favorites

I’m obsessed with Living Proof and IGK for hair styling products. Shampoo loves have been Olaplex, Briogeo and Christophe Robin in the past but these days I’m really obsessed with Sisley and Oribe (which aren’t available at Sephora):

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Bodycare Favorites

This is the category I use up the most frequently as Andrew and I share a lot of our body care products.

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Lip Treatments

I’m a lip balm junkie but am so picky with texture and scent. My favorites right now:

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Andrew’s Favorites

Andrew’s most-used brands are a tie between Jack Black and Kiehl’s. His top five:

That wraps up my lengthy favorites list for skin care, hair care and body care! I realize it’s a lot – but I put a lot to the test and rotate frequently. I hope this gives you some ideas by category if you’re in search of something specific. Always happy to answer questions if you have any. The skincare sets are so good this year – it was hard for me to narrow down my picks but I stocked up on some Kiehl’s, Farmacy Beauty and First Aid Beauty.

Let me know what you ended up hauling!

 

 

I’ve put together a giveaway with some favorites. To enter use the widget below and complete at least THREE of the steps in the widget below. It’s open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway will run through Monday 11/11 11:59PM EST. I’ll email the winner within 24 hours and they must respond within 24 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Not sponsored or affiliated.

One winner will be selected via the widget to win: Kosas Wet Lip Oil in Fruitjuice, Urban Decay On the Run Palette, ABH Glow Kit in Sweets, Pat McGrath Mini MatteTrance Trio, Pat McGrath MatteTrance in Guinevere, Tatcha mini Water Cream, Tatcha mini Dewy Cream, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Glow Powder + Brush, Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick Cocoa, Laura Mercier Primer, Urban Decay Setting Spray, Hourglass Minis x4.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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