Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Skincare

Skincare Routine + Favorites Right Now

September 23, 2019

I have an updated skincare routine roundup today with everything I use and love right now! I rotate and switch things up as seasons change or as I use products up. Out of all the skincare categories I run through bottles of face wash, makeup removers and face masks up the fastest so there are a lot more formulas I’ve used this year but I’ve rounded up the ones I consider favorites right now. Most of these I’ve bought on my own, any press samples featured have a * next to them.

For a little background on my skin type and routine, I have normal combination skin I consider to be sensitive. There are of course varying degrees of sensitivity – overall I’d consider my skin to be normal. I live in hot climate in Florida but do experience dryness during the dry months, especially being exposed to a lot of air conditioning. Humidity and weather fluctuates on a daily basis here and some months are clearly more wet than others. I am in my late 30s and have minimal wrinkles right now – primarily on my forehead. My main concerns are improving texture and keeping skin clear. I don’t have a lot of acne scars anymore – they’ve faded over time with regular exfoliation and light peels.

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Cleanser and Makeup Removers

I have a different cleansing routine for morning vs night because I add an extra step for makeup removal at the end of the day. For regular traditional face wash my favorite right now is the Farmacy Clean Bee Ultra Gentle Facial Cleanser. I’ve used up so many bottles and love how gentle but effective it is. I recently started trying out some products from Revive and was so impressed so I bought the full size Gel Cleanser Purifying Wash and Foaming Enriched Hydrating Wash. I think both are excellent and 100% worth the splurge, right now I prefer the gel version.

For cleansing waters I’ve tried a number of excellent brands, Bioderma is a classic staple I always keep on hand but I decided to try a few newer ones this year and really love them. The Chanel L’Eau Micellar Anti-Pollution Micellar Cleanser* is a great gentle one that’s alcohol free and refreshing. The Omorovicza Peachy Micellar Cleansing Pads are amazing as well.

For a stronger makeup remover I use the Almay Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads to remove eyeliner and mascara first. For the face my top cleansing oils/balms are Farmacy Beauty Green Clean (best solid remover), Chanel L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil* (super soft and luxurious) and the Bobbi Brown Soothing Face Cleanser Oil.

Exfoliation is super important but I’ve kept it light this summer. Flare ups from allergic reactions to sunscreen, face sweat and heat have made my face more sensitive than normal. The gentlest face scrub I’ve been able to use no matter what condition my skin is in is the Fresh Sugar Face Polish.

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Toners

For toners my top 2 are the Sisley Floral Toning Lotion and Bioderma Sensibio. Since I’m nearly out of my Sisley toner I decided to order something new and bought the Revive Balancing Toner which I’ve really been enjoying. The Bioderma one is the most gentle, Sisley makes the best everyday one for me and Revive’s offers more hydration. I use toner religiously after cleansing the skin to make sure all the soap and any remnants are removed and skin is rebalanced.

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Sunscreen Favorites

This year has been a challenging one for sunscreens for me. I put quite a few highly rated ones to the test but my skin reacted very badly to ones from Dr. Barbara Sturm, Elta MD, Neutrogena and Kopari. My skin had red bumps all over within a few hours which caused a great deal of irritation and flare ups that lasted a week before it returned to it’s normal state. In Florida weather I won’t use anything super thick or super hydrating because most formulas are simply too thick for this heat. I have four that I have in rotation right now that I can use under makeup, don’t have a thick texture, practically no white cast and are easy to remove at the end of the day.

Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30 (lightweight and non-irritating), active ingredients are Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 8%, Octisalate 4%, Octocrylene 2%
Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 is a sunscreen and moisturizer in one, active ingredients are Avobenzone 3.0%, Octinoxate 7.5%
By Terry UV Base with SPF 50 is one of my favorite face sunscreens, this one is currently empty, but I plan on repurchasing again, active ingredients are Avobenzone 3%, Octinoxate 6.8%, Octisalate 4.5%
Chanel UV Essentiel with SPF 50* is the newest Chanel sunscreen that replaced all the other formulas, it is lightweight but not as fluid/thin as previous version, it is highly fragranced but non irritating, it does leave a very slight white cast but blends out well on the skin, active ingredients are Octinoxate 7.5%, Titanium Dioxide 3.8%, Zinc Oxide 17.1%

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Hydrate

For the most luxurious lightweight cream and hydrating beauty oil, the best ones I’ve tried are the Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream* and Black Rose Oil*. Both of these are currently empty and I have not repurchased because I have so many other things to go through. I do think the Black Rose Oil is one of the best oils I’ve ever tried, a less expensive alternative I really like is the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil*.

For a regular daytime moisturizer I’ve alternated between a super lightweight serum and a regular cream depending on how hot or humid it’s been. My favorite lightweight serums/gels are the Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer, Volition Strawberry-C Brightening Serum* and Tatcha Water Gel (last two not shown).

For more emollient creams that are still lightweight I’ve had a lot in rotation this year, but right now I love the Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream* and Farmacy Honey Drop Moisturizer the most. Drunk Elephant’s Protini Polypeptide Cream is also at the top of my list but both Andrew and I use it up so frequently I don’t have it in stock in our cabinets now. L’Occitane’s Immortelle Divine Cream Grand Cru* is heavier and better suited for super dry skin days or night for me.

For eye creams and treatments I have yet to find THE one but I’ve been enjoying the Fresh Black Tea Firming Eye Serum which has a nice lightweight texture and reduces puffiness. It has a smooth texture so it doesn’t make my under eye feel greasy or heavy. Tatcha’s latest The Silk Peony Melting Eye Cream* is one of the most emollient eye creams I’ve tried, it literally melts into the skin. I’ve been using this for a few weeks now and find it ultra rich so like it at night, a little goes a very long way.

For night time it’s been recommended I use retinol or Vitamin C but my skin simply can’t handle most skincare with these ingredients. The only retinol-based products I’ve tried that I love have been the Kate Somerville RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Cream and RetAsphere MicroPeel. They really help with fine lines and help smooth the skin. I do want to try Botox in the near future, especially for my forehead lines. I’m still building up the courage as I’m deathly afraid of needles.

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Acne and Mask

Acne has been an issue for both Andrew and I this year. I’ve managed to get mine under control but the extra heat, sweat and moving (we did it all ourselves) caused some issues for my face. My absolute favorite acne treatment from MAC Blemish Control with 1% salicylic acid was discontinued years ago so I’ve been trying dozens trying to find a replacement. With acne treatments the best ones will depend on what kind of acne you have.

Salicylic acid is the best to unclog pores. It helps dissolve dead skin and remove excess oil. For us the most effective one has been the Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment with 2% Salicylic Acid. It won’t leave any red marks on the skin and it’s a clear gel. It also has other ingredients to soothe, absorb excess oil and reduce shine. A lighter weight version that I can use on wider areas of my face is the Kate Somerville EradiKate Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment. It has 2% acid but also has other ingredients to offset the dryness that is often caused my pimple treatments.

I recently tried the REN Clearcalm Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel* with 0.5% Salicylic Acid which also is effective but for me the Kiehl’s works better. If you need a lower concentration of the acid the REN is a good option to try. I found it’s name well suited as it definitely is non-drying.

Benzoyl peroxide is another anti-acne ingredient that helps kill bacteria. We’ve loved the Neutrogen Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel with 10% benzoyl peroxide. It’s actually a white gel but will disappear when you blend in and it works to reduce pimple size and redness like nothing else. If I catch a pimple forming quickly and apply this immediately the pimple disappears within hours. The only downside is it will bleach and discolor clothes. If it comes in contact with towels, shirts or anything else it will bleach them! Make sure to thoroughly wash hands/fingers with soap and water. Simply wiping fingers with a towel isn’t sufficient.

Hydrocolloid patches are clear stick on dots that we’ve found are best for white heads. They absorb excess oil and help draw out the center of the pimple by drying out the skin without any harsh pulling or squeezing. We’ve used the Mighty Patches the most and have gone through so many packs I’ve lost count. CosRX also makes good ones and they come in different size dots which can be handy. While they are clear dots they’re not really invisible. Each brand has an “invisible” version but in our experience you can still see them on the face so we use these at night or if we’re at home all day. You can find them at a number of places, we order ours on Amazon. To us they both perform the same.

I used to use face masks and sheet masks religiously. We’ve had a busy year and summer this year and this is one area I’ve neglected. I can’t believe it’s already September! I’ve had more skin clogging issues and acne so my go-to skin clearing masks are the Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment and Drunk Elephant TLC Sukari Baby Facial Treatment to help resurface skin with a light peel. I use both as needed. Sunday Riley’s Good Genes is a good resurfacing lactic acid treatment I used at night for a long time but I’ve used it up and haven’t repurchased. It’s not really a mask, but more of a treatment. I used this maybe 1 to 2x per week so I’ve put this in the treatment section.

For hydrating masks I used to use sheet masks but I’ve used most of mine up and haven’t gotten around to reordering my go-to Tatcha or 111Skin favorites. These days I really enjoy the Sisley Black Rose Face Mask*, Eye Contour Mask for Eyes* and the Fresh Rose Face Mask to hydrate/calm the skin.

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I hope you enjoyed this roundup! I realize it’s a lot but I have a complex skincare routine especially since I put a lot to the test. These are the items I’ve loved the most this year and consider to be products I have in my routine. Both Andrew and I have put in a lot of work to find things that work for us. We both love trying new things even though skincare testing takes a lot of time.

This is more of a roundup rather than detailed review on every item. If you have any questions let me know in the comments! I’ve put a lot more to the test this year than what’s in this post.

What are some of your favorites in your routine right now?

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Loving Right Now What's In My Bag

What’s In My Makeup Bag

September 18, 2019

I’m back with a what’s in my bag post! I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these so I thought I’d share the cute little makeup bag I’ve been loving lately. As much as I love the flat pouches sometimes a regular makeup pouch with a wider base is a little more functional to hold bigger items.

I’ve received so many requests to review more from Cuyana and compare it to other brands I own. I finally ordered the popular Travel Case Set (comes with two bags, small and large) and am so impressed with the quality. It’s much more functional for me compares to the other style I own called the Vanity Case Set (shown here).

Quick look at the large and small bags that come in the Travel Case Set for comparison:

I will have a full review, comparison and roundup of my favorite makeup bags in a separate post. Today I wanted to share what I can fit in the smaller makeup bag for the Cuyana Travel Set which measures L 8” x H 5” x D 2.5”.

Yes, all shown in the above photo fits inside the small makeup bag! I’ll be posting a mini video on Instagram stories today as well:

A few more thoughts and details below:

My go-to touch up powder is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish in Medium. If you’re a long-time reader you know I’ve gone through many compacts! I just bought the foundation which I’ll be reviewing soon and have high hopes for. These days I also have a small retractable brush from lilah b. which is actually a Retractable Foundation Brush but works for pressed powders just fine. I’ve kept a mini NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in my bag but I rarely find the need to touch up my concealer if I’m out all day (it’s for just in case). The Fenty Invisimatte Blotting Papers are so cute and they’re refillable. I bought these recently and like them although I think the ones from Tatcha are actually a lot better.

For lips I rotate picks frequently, so these change on a daily basis! These days I’ve been loving just using a liner and topping with a sheer gloss. Pat McGrath LUST Glosses are among my favorite, left to right is Love Potion, Peach Perversion and Faux Real (swatches here). I like her Permagel Lip Pencils in Done Undone and Bare Rose the most (both swatched here).

Laura Mercier is another favorite, I’ve just started using her new lip pencils and love her Longwear Lip Pencil Baby Lips with Lip Glace in Opal on top.

On the nails, Essie Come Out to Clay

I’ve found the smaller makeup bag in the Travel Case Duo Set fits a small brush at the base. The Aerin Small Brush fits perfectly but it’s quite a splurge. I’ve also really loved the Sephora Collection Mini Brushes in previous styles and just ordered this newer one.

Lip balms are essential for me, I love the Dior Addict Lip Glows and the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm for twist-up stick balms so I don’t have to worry about getting my fingers sticky from pots.

I keep a mini perfume on me at all times because I find spritzing it on mosquito bites helps reduce the swelling and itch. Right now it’s not too much of an issue for me, but there are always out here – even more so at dusk. I love the Byredo Mini Trio Sets because the vials perfect size for a small bag or pouch. There’s a leather case you can buy separately to protect them, but I just keep them in my bag as is, I haven’t had one break yet but they are glass so I would at least keep them in some kind of protective case or pouch. I also adore Jo Malone minis, I wish they kept these available permanently!

Sometimes I keep a hand cream with me other times it’s just a hand sanitizer. I love the Byredo Hand Sanitizers in both Suede and Rose, they smell amazing and they’re ultra luxurious!

What do you keep in your makeup bag? Do you rotate frequently or keep the same staples you use daily?

New posts and review coming soon! I’ve been taking a little time off the blog and social for some me time!

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Nail Polish

Favorite Essie Polishes Right Now

September 13, 2019

Happy Friday! I hope you all had a great week. So many of you have loved the recent nail polish posts (especially my top 5 neutrals) I thought I’d do another roundup of some Essie shades I’ve hauled recently. I’ve actually been more of an OPI kind of girl when it comes to nail polishes for lasting power and color range, but I’ve been exploring more from Essie outside of my go-to Topless and Barefoot and found quite a few nice neutrals that aren’t nude. Ever since trying out the Speed Setter Top Coat I’ve now been able to make Essie polish last on my nails. I still want to try out the Gel Couture Top Coat but haven’t yet.

It can get a little overwhelming with all the options – so I’ve picked a small handful. Some look really similar in the bottles (almost identical) but there are variations in undertones so there’s a lot to pick from.

Lighten The Mood is one I bought over the summer. It’s a really pretty off-white pale pink cream. Finish is not the most opaque so I need three coats.

Come Out To Clay is part of their Rocky Rose Collection for fall which is the perfect light peachy cream. I can get away with 2 coats, but sometimes apply 3.

Princess Charming is a Gel Couture formula with a wide brush and excellent coverage. It’s a medium neutral rose cream.

Into The A-Bliss is also from the Fall 2019 collection, it’s a medium cool-rose pink cream with mauve undertones. This applies more like a pink but dries down to a mauve.

Eternal Optimist is also a pick I hauled earlier in the summer, it’s a pretty medium-neutral rose pink.

Stitch by Stitch is a soft baby pink that isn’t too pale or too blue in undertone. I think it’s a fun color to wear that isn’t too bubble-gum like if you’re looking for a more neutral pink.

In case you missed it, you can check out my tips and favorites in my Hand and Nail Care Routine post that I posted recently. It’s an updated list of my go-to products for a DIY manicure.

What are some of your favorite Essie nail polishes? Do you recommend any of their base or top coats? What should I try next?

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Base Makeup Chanel

Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation

September 11, 2019

There are so many new foundation formulas out this season and today I have a review of the Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation ($50 for 30 ml/1 fl oz). It comes in a small black squeeze bottle with SPF 15 and is available in 13 shades. There are three undertones, B for beige (usually what I wear), BR beige rose (has pink undertones) and BD for beige dore which is the first time I’ve seen this color name but it might not be new. The active ingredients are Octinoxate 5% and Titanium Dioxide 3.1%.

The Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation seems to have replaced the Perfection Lumiere Velvet which I used and loved many years ago. It’s been a long time since I’ve used the older formula so I can’t really compare the new to old but from what I recall it has a similar effect. The new Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation has a lightweight oil-free fluid texture and smooth blurring effect on the skin. It feels very lightweight and glides on nicely offering medium coverage. It has a powdery feel with the dry down but isn’t too matte. I’ve found it sets quite nicely with a semi-velvet matte finish but not dry or cakey like some matte base formulas have. On my combination skin it lasts nicely all day requiring only a small touch up on the nose mid-day.

I have swatches of a selection of the colors, I didn’t have all the colors to swatch, B40 is swatched twice with both sets on the top and bottom:

A few comparisons to other Chanel base formulas: Les Beiges reviewed here, CC Cream reviewed here

My color match back in San Diego and earlier days of blogging was almost always B30. Since moving to Florida I’m exposed to intense sun and am outdoors more so I’m now a B40 or B50. With this Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation formula I found I can get away wearing either B40 or B50 right now. I tried both on my face, 40 on one side and 50 on the other. I can barely tell the difference when it’s blended out even though from swatches there is a clear difference between the colors.

Below is a look at B50. Once applied it adjusts/warms up slightly but there isn’t a huge amount of oxidation or darkening. I would recommend picking your regular Chanel shade with this formula. For application, I tried three ways: with the fingers, with a Chanel foundation brush and with a beautyblender sponge. My favorite way is the sponge method, but the formula is really easy to blend with fingers or a brush.

Top left: bare skin (just have brow makeup on)
Top right: a swatch of B50
Bottom: B50 applied all over with a brush

Full look with the Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation in B50, also wearing:

Foundation: Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation in B50
Powder: La Mer Pressed Powder in Medium
Bronzer: Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel
Blush: Chanel Joues Contraste Quintessence
Eyeshadow: NARS Wanted Eyeshadow Palette
Brow: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
Mascara: Le Volume
Lip: Chanel Rouge Allure in Rouge Angelique + Rouge Coco Gloss in Noce Moscata
Sweater: Reformation
Nails: Chanel Le Vernis in Pure White

Full list of ingredients from the box below for the US formula. It does contain alcohol and dimethicone but neither irritated my skin. There are some foundations that have a high concentration of alchohol that irritate and dry out my skin. If you have sensitives your mileage may vary but this one works well with my skin which makes me believe it’s in a smaller quantity than others like the L’Oreal Infallible line (which looks great on the skin, but causes a lot of irritation for me).

On the nails Pure White (review here)

Overall it has performed really well for me. I’m relieved the SPF and alcohol content in this base did not irritate my skin as I’ve had a really rough summer testing sunscreens. I give it a solid A+ for me and think the undertone works just right for my skin.

I’m still in the process of trying out a few other foundations including the new Fenty Beauty, Natasha Denona, Charlotte Tilbury and Zoeva formulas. I’ll have a roundup to come as soon as I get through all of them. First impressions are the Charlotte Tilbury one has the most similar effect with the matte finish but isn’t quite as lightweight in feel.

You can find the Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet Foundation out now at Chanel.com, coming soon to all Chanel counters (your store might already have it!). Have you tried this yet? What did you think?

Chanel foundations gifted and provided for review.

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L'Occitane Skincare

Glowing Skin with L’Occitane

September 9, 2019

I’ve been such a long-time fan of L’Occitane skincare and I’m excited to partner with them to share a look at their Immortelle Divine Cream Grand Cru Edition. They’ve created this special launch to celebrate 10 Years of this classic cream. Bigger and better than the original Divine Cream, this limited-edition product packs in even more anti-aging power thanks to the use of highly concentrated Immortelle essential oils.

The L’Occitane Immortelle line has been one of my favorites for years. I love the cleanser and oil and think the line is especially good for the fall and winter season or if you have dry skin.The Immortelle Divine Cream is one of the most beautiful luxury creams I’ve tried for restoring hydration, firmness and improving elasticity of the skin. It has been a go-to for many fall seasons for me and a single jar lasts a long time. What makes the Immortelle Divine Cream Grand Cru Edition so special is that it contains essential oils from 800 Immortelle flowers that were harvested in a limited batch during the summer solstice. This provides the highest concentration of anti-aging ingredients and I find that a little goes a very long way!

For me this is a great anti-aging cream to help smooth fine lines, replump the skin, restore hydration and glow. The texture is super smooth, blends into the skin flawlessly, absorbs quickly and dries down to a soft finish where I can still feel the moisture but not in a super heavy way. I can use this day or night, it’s perfect anytime my skin feels super dry and it is easy to incorporate and switch it in or out of your skincare routine anytime.

If you’re looking for a new moisturizer to try for the upcoming fall season I highly recommend you check out the Immortelle Divine Cream Grand Cru Edition.

Ingredients: AQUA/WATER – C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE – CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE – GLYCERIN – OENOTHERA BIENNIS (EVENING PRIMROSE) OIL – DIMETHICONE – ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE – CETEARYL ALCOHOL – TAPIOCA STARCH – GLYCERYL STEARATE – HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER – CAMELINA SATIVA SEED OIL – CETYL ALCOHOL – HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM EXTRACT – HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM FLOWER OIL – MYRTUS COMMUNIS OIL – BORAGO OFFICINALIS SEED OIL – ECHIUM PLANTAGINEUM SEED OIL – MENYANTHES TRIFOLIATA LEAF EXTRACT – BELLIS PERENNIS (DAISY) FLOWER EXTRACT – ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS (ROSEMARY) LEAF EXTRACT – HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL – MEL/HONEY – SODIUM HYALURONATE – ADENOSINE – PEG-100 STEARATE – CETYL PALMITATE – PHENOXYETHANOL – SUCROSE PALMITATE – CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE – TOCOPHERYL ACETATE – SODIUM CITRATE – CHLORPHENESIN – SODIUM HYDROXIDE – ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN – GLYCERYL LINOLEATE – PALMITIC ACID – STEARIC ACID – DISODIUM EDTA – SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE – POLYSORBATE 60 – CITRIC ACID – MAGNESIUM ASPARTATE – ZINC GLUCONATE – POTASSIUM SORBATE – COPPER GLUCONATE – SODIUM BENZOATE – TOCOPHEROL – PARFUM/FRAGRANCE – LIMONENE – CITRAL – LINALOOL – BENZYL SALICYLATE – GERANIOL

You can find the Immortelle Divine Cream Grand Cru Edition available at L’Occitane now. Also available in a Immortelle Divine Collection Set. Have you tried anything from the Immortelle line before? Or any other of the L’Occitane skincare collections? What did you think?

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

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Home / Interiors

Cleaning FAQs: Recycling Diptyque Jars, Favorite Brush Cleansers + Clear Bag Care

September 6, 2019

I receive cleaning questions quite frequently even though truth be told I’m a messy person. The struggle to keep things organized is very real and it requires a lot of constant re-organizing to prevent things from just staying in piles on the desk or floor. I thought I’d cover some frequently asked questions for beauty cleaning tips. I’m asked almost daily about Diptyque candle jars, brush cleaning and clear bags I thought I’d cover those in a roundup today.

How to Clean Out Diptyque Jars Without Ruining the Sticker Label

There are many ways to clean out the excess wax from candle jars but with luxury candles like Diptyque, Byredo or Jo Malone you need to take a little extra care to keep the labels in tact. I’ve found the clear glass jars from Diptyque have the most sturdy labels so if you get them wet it will still stay in tact. If you have a Byredo or Jo Malone candle or anything with a label that has a paper surface or doesn’t have that coating make sure you don’t get the exterior wet. What I do is quite simple! All you need is Dawn Dish Soap (although any dish soap will probably work), a small butter knife and paper towels or a small sponge.

If there are large chunks of wax in the bottom around the end of the wick you can scrape it out with a small rounded butter knife. I bought a set of four from Amazon and they work perfectly to get excess wax off the base and sides. Having a beveled tip makes it easier to hold and maneuver than a flat knife. If the wax is too hard you can soften it by adding hot tap water and let it sit for a few minutes.

To clean out the sides and excess wax pour a small amount of dish soap into the jar and add hot tap water to soften the rest. Let it soak for a few minutes for it to soften then wipe out with a paper towel or re-scrape the sides (depending on how much wax there is). If all the wax doesn’t come off just repeat until it all comes clean. Sometimes stubborn remnants won’t come off the first round.

For candles that had a clean burn:

If you didn’t have a clean burn you might have to repeat the steps a few more times, this one didn’t have quite a clean burn:

Others have suggested freezing the wax out. You can definitely try it but freezing will only pop out the wax if you have a large chunk at the base. It won’t clean out the excess stuck on the sides and if you have any burned remnants it won’t come clean with freezing. Some like to add boiling water but I’ve had the sticker labels melt off the sides from burning candles too long so I avoid using water that is extra hot.

How to Clean the Plastic on Clear Makeup Bags

If you have any clear makeup bags you know they are finger print prone and it’s just a matter of time before you will see smudges from brushes or just dirty fingers in general. My favorite cleaner I’ve used is the Novus Plastic Clean and Shine spray to clean makeup bags and acrylic makeup boxes and drawers. It works on Truffle Pouches and The Daily Edited Clear Bags as well. You can use a soft cloth to wipe it off but I find paper towels work just fine. They have a few other products that helps remove fine scratches from plastics but I haven’t tried it. It’s relatively easy to find at a lot of places like Amazon or the Container Store. Even though the bottle says ok to use on plastic I won’t recommend using them on sunglasses – I’ve found the best way to clean those is just warm water and soap, that way you don’t ruin any protective coatings! If in doubt on what you can use this on, I recommend a small patch test. But on plastic makeup organizers and all my clear bags it’s worked like a charm.

Favorite Brush Cleansers

My favorite brush cleanser is actually the MAC Brush Cleanser because it doesn’t leave a film and isn’t scented but it’s really pricey! With the rate I clean brushes repurchasing it constantly isn’t really cost effective. I’ve tried so many things over the years like baby shampoo, body wash, other brands of brush cleansers etc. trying to find a dupe but haven’t. Many recommended Dr. Bronner’s – I tried the Unscented and Lavender options and while they do clean brushes nicely, the residue gave my skin an allergic reaction (I did rinse them out well, but there were still remnants on the brushes and the scented oil versions didn’t mesh well with my skin). I still think they’re good for other things, just not on my face but your mileage may vary. Same goes for a lot of other popular liquid brush cleansers, so many are heavily scented my skin can’t tolerate any residue. Baby shampoo never washes/rinses out 100% for me but I wish it did.

For me the best is a mix of hot water and Dawn Dish Soap (original one). I let brushes soak a little to loosen the makeup from the brushes.

You can use your hands to massage the cleanser into the brush but I’ve found rubbing them across a brush cleaner mat is much more effective and easier on your hands. I had a Sigma Express Cleaning Mat before and really liked it but eventually tossed it during our last move. It’s one you put in the bottom of your skin and run the brushes across it and it’s really effective! When it came time to replace it I opted for a smaller version when I spotted the Real Techniques Brush Cleaning Palette in store (shown below) and love the smaller size and handle on the back so you can hold it. Both work equally well, I’d recommend you pick based on your preference for format and size. I like things that are more compact but this one might be too small for your needs.

For a quick brush clean I’ve used the Sephora Daily Brush Cleaner (spray version) for years. It doesn’t irritate my skin even though it’s now scented but I would try the small version if you have extra sensitive skin. For sponges the best is hands down the Beautyblender Solid Cleanser. I also like the Liquid Blendercleanser, but just like the MAC Brush Cleanser, it’s super spendy for the amount you get!

Vacuum for Pet Owners

One side note is I also get asked how we keep our house so clean with all of our fur babies. My secret is that Andrew is the clean one and vacuums constantly. We’ve had several Dyson vacuum cleaners over the years and just replaced ours with the Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and it’s AMAZING and totally worth the splurge. It gets all the pet fur off the couches and carpet. There are two strength settings so it’s good on wood/tile floors and also rugs/carpet.

I hope you found this roundup helpful! I wanted to do a roundup I could send to those who ask because so many ask on a weekly basis. I will be doing a separate beauty organization post in the upcoming weeks so stay tuned!

Do you have any brush cleaner or plastic cleaner favorites? Let me know if you do!

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Base Makeup Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer New Formula Review

September 3, 2019

Laura Mercier just revamped her Tinted Moisturizer and Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating into new formulas and I’ve been testing them for the past couple of weeks. The original was considered a cult-classic for that dewy no-makeup makeup look and while it was wildly popular I found it hit or miss for me with the colors and formula. The new versions now come with higher SPF 30, new packaging and new ingredients. The active ingredients for the sunscreen include Octinoxate 7.49%, Avobenzone 2.5%, Octocrylene 2% and Oxybenzone 1%. You can find the new versions out now at Laura Mercier and Sephora.

If you were a fan of the original I’d recommend you buy a tube or two sooner than later as they usually pull them from stores and counters when new formulas are released. You can still find it online at a few places right now but I suspect they will be pulled eventually.

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New Tinted Moisturizer – Sand 3N1

It has been a long time since I’ve worn her original Tinted Moisturizer. I reviewed it numerous times over the years and have always had a love/hate relationship with it. In San Diego I could only wear it in winter and even though the formula was sheer I never found the colors to be a good match. Sand is what I wore back in the day but it was always a touch too warm and oxidized just slightly giving my skin a peach look that didn’t quite go with my yellow/golden neck. The new Tinted Moisturizer works much better for my skin type and skin tone right now. Your mileage may vary depending on what your skin can tolerate for sunscreen ingredients but I had no issues, irritation or clogging of pores. There are 20 shades and she has three different color undertones C for Cool, N for Neutral and W for Warm. I find the colors work better for me now with my sunny Florida tan.

The Tinted Moisturizer has a dewy look with a very sheer finish. Coverage is barely there but it does a decent job at evening out the skin in the most natural fresh way. I fully expected it to be too dewy for me and did not think it would last the day in Florida humidity but it surprised me! Indoors it holds up pretty well. Outside even at the beach it holds up ok, it stayed put even after some swimming, but it does get more dewy looking when you sweat. Since I don’t have perfect skin and need more coverage I find layering her Flawless Fusion Concealer and setting with her Translucent Loose Powder or Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder on top gives me a good look.

I was sent the color 3W1 Bisque which I can definitely wear but I felt it warmed up just a little when it set and was a bit too dark so I bought 3N1 Sand at Sephora. I have a look below with bare skin vs. tinted moisturizer vs. full makeup look below. Coverage is very very sheer. I’ve tested it over bare skin and also over other moisturizers and it works well either way. Moisturizers I’ve tested it with include the Chanel Camellia Water Cream, Farmacy Honey Drop Moisturizer and Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream.

Shown Below:

Bare Skin
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand 3N1 and Bisque 3W1 swatched
Sand 3N1 applied all over
Full look wearing:
- Base: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand
- No concealer
- Powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Shade 2
- Blush: Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in Sex on Fire
- Eyes: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer Diffused Bronze Light + Scattered Light in Blaze
- Brows: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
- Lipstick: Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel in Beige Intime

Ingredients Tinted Moisturizer: ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: AVOBENZONE 2.5%, OCTINOXATE 7.49%, OCTOCRYLENE 2.0%, OXYBENZONE 1.0%

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE, PEG/PPG-14/7 DIMETHYL ETHER, HYDROGENATED POLYDECENE, PEG-5 GLYCERYL STEARATE, ISODODECANE, SILICA, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, TREHALOSE, PHENOXYETHANOL, TOCOPHEROL, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, ALEURITES MOLUCCANUS SEED OIL, RHUS VERNICIFLUA PEEL WAX, TAMARINDUS INDICA SEED GUM, SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, ISOSTEARIC ACID, GLYCERYL STEARATE SE, POLYSILICONE-11, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, BEHENIC ACID, STEARIC ACID, BATYL ALCOHOL, HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE STEAROXY ETHER, PEG-30 PHYTOSTEROL, DISODIUM EDTA, SODIUM METAPHOSPHATE, CARBOMER, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, BHT, SODIUM CITRATE, CITRIC ACID, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE, IRON OXIDES.

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New Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating – Warm Radiance

The new Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating formula comes in 6 shades and has a soft shimmer. It adds radiance all over. As long as I set with a powder the shimmer/dewy effect is cancelled out just enough that I don’t end up looking too shimmery. This has a similar effect to the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter on my skin, but the Laura Mercier is sheerer, more dewy and not quite as pigmented. Below is an application demo, the color sheers out when blended.

Bare Skin
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Warm Radiance cheek swatched
Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Warm Radiance blended on part of face (cheeks to jaw)
Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Warm Radiance blended all over the face
Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Concealer 3N added for more coverage and blended (blending step not shown)
Added Laura Mercier Translucent Loose setting powder with brush and Rouge Essentiel Lipstick in Nude Nouveau

Closer look at just the Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Warm Radiance applied/blended all over:

Versus full makeup look with added concealer + powder etc. Wearing Kosas Color and Light Pressed Powder Duo in Papaya 1972 on cheeks and Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Nude Nouveau + Lip Glace in Opal on top.

Illuminating Ingredients: ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: AVOBENZONE 2.5%; OCTINOXATE 7.49%; OCTOCRYLENE 2.0%; OXYBENZONE 1.0% INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, MICA, DIMETHICONE, PEG/PPG-14/7 DIMETHYL ETHER, HYDROGENATED POLYDECENE, PEG-5 GLYCERYL STEARATE, ISODODECANE, TREHALOSE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE, SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE, ISOSTEARIC ACID,SILICA, GLYCERYL STEARATE SE, POLYSILICONE-11, BEHENYLALCOHOL, BEHENIC ACID, STEARIC ACID, BATYL ALCOHOL,HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE STEAROXY ETHER,PEG-30 PHYTOSTEROL, SODIUM METAPHOSPHATE, CARBOMER,POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE,CITRIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL, DISODIUMEDTA, BHT, PHENOXYETHANOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE.MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CARMINE, IRON OXIDES.

Swatches next to some corresponding color names in other formulas, left to right, all Laura Mercier:

Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Warm Radiance
Tinted Moisturizer 3N1 Sand
Flawless Fusion Concealer 3N
Flawless Fusion Foundation in 3N1 Buff
Tinted Moisturizer 3W1 Bisque
Flawless Fusion Concealer 3W
Flawless Fusion Foundation in 3W1 Dusk

A few swatch comparisons:

Chanel Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Tint in Medium and Medium Plus (review here)
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating Warm Radiance
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand and Bisque
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz (too yellow for me now)
YSL Touche Eclat All-in-One Glow in B40 (too warm for me now)

Overall I like both formulas a lot more than I anticipated. I have normal combination skin most of the year, although it does get quite dry with the weather changes here and non-stop AC. I almost always prefer medium to full coverage on most days so the Tinted Moisturizer formula isn’t something I feel like I’d gravitate towards on most days. I really love the fresh look it gives but I do need to add concealer and a tinted powder on top to even out my skin the way I want. If you have super oily skin I do think it might be too dewy for you. I like the new formula a lot better than the original.

Compared to other tinted sheer coverage bases I still love the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer but don’t have a good color match at the moment. The YSL Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow in B40 is too dark for me but I haven’t looked to see if the next shade down is a better match since I like other foundation formulas better.

I think it’s worth looking into if you don’t want or need a lot of coverage. You can find the new Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizers out now at Laura Mercier and Sephora. Some other stores still have the original but I suspect they’ll be pulling them soon.

Have you tried the new formula yet? What did you think?

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizers provided for review.

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Vacuum for Pet Owners

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer New Formula Review

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New Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating – Warm Radiance

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