Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now What's In My Bag

Beach Beauty Favorites

May 23, 2019

We’ve been in Florida for two and a half years now and the best thing we’ve discovered are the beaches! We never really knew what truly beautiful beaches were like until our first trip to Florida three Decembers ago. As beautiful as San Diego is, West Coast beaches don’t compare at all to the ones on the East coast! Here the beaches are so clean, water is warm enough to swim in and the overall atmosphere is more relaxing and friendly. We’ve been exploring more beaches each weekend and finally went to Siesta Key off the coast of Sarasota. So many of you have recommended we visit and it’s one of the best ones we’ve been to! We also love St. Pete Beach and Anna Maria.

With each of our beach trips I try to share a little of what I pack with me on Instagram stories. Our beach days tend to be all day events, or at the very least all afternoon to late evening excursions. We go straight from the beach to run afternoon errands or dinner and even though most of everything in South Florida is very laid back and low key, I still pack beauty products and extra clothes to change into to look a little more polished.

A lot of you have been asking for a beach kit series along with an updated Florida post (ie beauty, towels, umbrellas, clothes, best beaches etc.). Today I have my beach beauty favorites. I’m working on the other ones to post for you soon! Above is The Daily Edited Clear Pouch in Pale Pink (love!). On the nails is Chanel Le Vernis in Purple Ray. Sunnies are from Celine.

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Sunscreen + Sun Protection

favorite sunscreens in the Truffle Jetset Case

I owe you an updated sunscreen post but I have had the worst time with face sunscreen this year and had several severe allergic reactions to new formulas I’ve been testing. The whole testing process is taking longer than anticipated and I’m still going to have an updated roundup with all the hits and misses. The ones I swear by are my long-time tried and true:

Sol de Janiero Bumb Bum Sol Oil with SPF 30 is something we’ve nearly used up entirely! It’s a delicious suncreen oil that has shimmer in side. The shimmer is very subtle and has no gritty feel/texture. We used this during our Miami trip and I’ve been using it here in Tampa too. It does have a very strong sweet smell so if you can’t wear strong scents opt for the Supergoop! Oil instead.
Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen with SPF 50 is my most-used body sunscreen. It helps to prevent burn the best out of all the ones I’ve tried. It’s smooth enough and lightweight to reapply easily without feeling heavy. There’s no scent and it doesn’t feel sticky.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen with SPF 40 is a great transparent face sunscreen for me. It’s invisible and lightweight, I can wear it under makeup or alone!
Supergoop! Sunscreen Oil with SPF 50 is tied in my top two for the body. This was the first Supergoop! product I tried and it was love from the beginning. This one is also lightweight and is super smooth and easy to apply.
Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist with SPF 50 is one of the best ways to reapply face sunscreen without ruining your makeup. I also love their powder but find the mist is something I reach for more often.
Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen with SPF 35 remains one of my go-to’s for the face, it doubles as a primer for me and never clogs my pores. It does adhere to the skin so make sure to double cleanse in the afternoon to wash it off properly!
Chanel CC Cream* with SPF 50 is one of the few CC creams I’ve actually liked. I did a full review here with swatches of all the colors. I hope they expand the color range!
Eric Javits Hampton Straw Sun Hat is one of the best hats I’ve bought for sun protection. From browsing these online I didn’t this was going to be worth the splurge. After seeing it in person though I bought one and feel it was 100% worth the splurge. This prevents the scalp and head from getting burned better than any other hat I’ve tried. The top is woven and also lined to block 95% of the UVA and UVB rays. They have several styles but I opted for the Hamptons one. You can also see it worn in this post here.
Neck masks and arm protectors are something both Andrew and I are looking into. We’ve researched a few online and I can share a better review once we’ve explored more options. There’s no escaping the sun here and it’s quite intense while driving so our arms get crispy. Sometimes I’ll bring a sweatshirt or extra scarf to cover my arms/legs in the car. Andrew bought a couple lightweight options that he’s been trying out the past few weeks. We noticed people who work at the beach here and in Miami are often covered head to toe with these – they wear them with their polos or shorts for extra coverage and still seem to be light enough to wear in the heat.

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Hair Accessories

The humidity, heat, salt and wind at the beach has made my hair look so crazy Andrew asked me to do something about it. I’ve made an extra effort to pack things to look a little more presentable with my hair. Hair scarves and the silk hair ties have been lifesavers. I also pack a little comb or brush as it gets progressively windy later in the day.

Yellow Bandana Madewell, Blue Skinny Scarf Something Navy, White Floral Scarf Rag and Bone, Small Comb Aerin, Long Comb Yves Durif, scrunchies from Slip

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Cheeks

For the face I typically just apply a little bit of bronzer on the cheeks before I leave the house and don’t do anything for touch ups for the rest of the day. A number of you have messaged me telling me you LOVE the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks and I decided to reinvestigate. I’ve found that adding a little bit of cream color after the beach makes me look more alive and I’ve been reaching for them more frequently!

The Sisley Phyto-Blush Twists* have been a favorite for a cream to powder product for a couple years now. They launched two more colors sometime last year and it took me forever to try them but the two new ones are the best ones. Shade 5 Contour can double as a bronzer and Shade 6 Passion is the prettiest coral pink gold. I bought one of the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks for a sheer glow. I had a few several years ago but gave them away in a beauty purge before during our cross-country move. I think Las Salinas is the prettiest pink with gold shimmer. Above I swatched with a heavy hand but all of these blend out for a sheerer wash of color.

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Lips

Lip products are something I always bring multiples of everywhere. The best effortless beach colors are ones that have a tint + treatment in one like the NARS Lip Oil or Dior Addict Lip Glow. Ones I’ve had in rotation lately include the ones below. I don’t pack ALL of these with me, I usually have maybe 3-4 in my bag at any given time. These are the ones I have in frequent rotation:

NARS Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint (review and swatches here)
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath (still think it’s way overpriced but really love how it makes the lips look, I just ordered the new tinted ones and will review soon)
Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss* in Aurora (swatches here)
Pat McGrath LUST Gloss* in Peach Perversion (swatches here)
Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color* in Peach and Quiet (swatches here)
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in Hall of Fame
L’oreal Color Riche Shine in Shining Peach, best budget-beauty lip shines! (swatches here)
Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Flash (swatches here)

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Extras

There are a few extra things I keep on hand with me for the just-in-case moments:

Drunk Elephant Beste Jelly Cleanser in the mini is essential for us, we’ll use a water bottle if there’s no sink nearby. I started to develop a severe allergic reaction one day when we were out after testing a sunscreen. It didn’t start surfacing until about an hour after I applied it and my face was suddenly on fire. Andrew had one in his workout bag in the trunk of his car and since we were at a restaurant, I used this in their bathroom to wash it all off. Since that day I’ve always kept an extra cleanser with me just in case. I got mine with the Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday gift, wish they sold the mini! I do really like face wipes but they get really spendy with the amount I’ve gone through, also a regular cleanser just works better.
Byredo Blanche Perfume is another essential, but really any travel size perfume is a must-have for me on the go. There are mosquitos and they love to bite me. They’re usually only out at dusk but depending on season sometimes they’re out more places than others. A spritz of perfume on the bite usually helps reduce swelling and itching. Otherwise my legs or arms can swell up to the size of a golf ball.
Fenty Beauty Blotting Papers were so cute and come in this nifty dispenser I had to buy them. The paper is on the thin side but they seem to do the trick to blot shine. It’s super compact and has a tiny mirror which is convenient. I normally swear by the Tatcha Blotting Papers but wanted to give the Fenty ones a try. I like the Fenty packaging better, but the Tatcha papers perform better for me.
Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour* makes for a quick and easy one and done eye look. Also kept with me just-in-case although definitely not essential.
Other items shown: Truffle Clarity Mini, Rayban Sunglasses, Chanel Le Vernis in Purple Ray on the nails (review here), Aerin Comb and Slip Hair Scrunchie

For those who have been asking, I hope you found this post helpful on some beach beauty favorites! You can keep it as simple as your taste suits you. I do realize some of you don’t wear any makeup to the beach, especially if you swim, but sometimes it’s nice to have a few things on hand to put on afterwards if you don’t want to go bare faced!

If you have any beach beauty favorites let me know in the comments!

I’m hosting a giveaway! I’ve been such a huge fan of clear pouches I’m giving away 3 of The Daily Edited Clear Makeup Pouches. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Simply enter through one of the steps in the widget below and complete at least one of the steps. The more steps you complete the more entries you will receive. Giveaway is not sponsored or affiliated, it will run through Wednesday May 29th, 11:45 PM EST. Three separate readers will be selected at random through the widget to each pick one of the Daily Edited Clear Makeup Pouch (can pick color and monogram letters). Winner will be selected within 72 hours after giveaway ends and emailed directly by me.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Press samples have a * next to them. Other items purchased by me. Giveaway not sponsored or affiliated.

75 Comments

Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

New Tom Ford Eye Color Quads Body Heat, Double Indemnity, Suspicion + Emotionproof Picks

May 21, 2019

Tom Ford Beauty launched new eye makeup with three new Eye Color Quads and a long-wear collection called Emotionproof. I have a look at the three new quads, two of the cream shadows and the new mascara.

Eye Color Quads ($88 each for .21 oz/6 g) in Body Heat*, Double Indemnity and Suspicion
Emotionproof Mascara ($46 for 8 ml)
Emotionproof Eye Color ($46 for .24 oz/7 g) in Brut Rose and Casino

New Eye Color Quads

Tom Ford launched three new Eye Color Quads in Body Heat*, Double Indemnity and Suspicion. I was surprised three new ones popped up since he launched seven late last year. In case you missed it you can see the seven here. For those not familiar to Tom Ford Beauty, there are several different formulas of his shadows. The three new ones have that metallic stiff texture similar to Nude Dip, Honeymoon, Virgin Orchid and Daydream. They’re still powders but have an almost foiled sheen to them.

The three new palettes are a lot more wearable for my medium-tan warm olive complexion. I’m really loving both Body Heat and Suspicion for something a little more fun than your standard everyday neutral.

Body Heat

Body Heat has a shimmering pale rose, shimmering soft reddish rose, medium shimmery coffee brown, shimmery deeper brown. The two browns are very close to my eye, the deepest one does work to intensify the look and is slightly cooler toned. I think this palette goes well with a soft rose or pink lip. Application is smooth, pigment blends and layers beautifully, lasting power is excellent.

Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity is one of the best smokey eye palettes I’ve seen. Most traditional smokey palettes are too cool-toned with silvers and greys. This has a unique mix which makes it more wearable for my olive skin. It has a pale shimmering icy white, a shimmering silver with a hint of sage, shimmery smokey cool brown and a black with silver flecks.

Suspicion

Suspicion has the golden tones that I pretty much live for. It does pull a little yellow and the orangey-gold is pretty vivid. When you layer all the colors together it neutralizes the yellow a little for a more neutral warm gold sheen. This one is the most metallic of the three. If you can’t wear ultra metallic shades you might want to pass on this one and I’d recommend you opt for either Chanel Lueurs Ambrees (so pretty) or the Pat McGrath Sublime Bronze Ambition (for more variety in colors at a better price point)

Comparison swatches to other Tom Ford quads:

Tom Ford Nude Dip, Body Heat, Honeymoon
Titanium Smoke, Double Indemnity, Supernouveau
Golden Mink, Suspicion, Leopard Sun

Looks with each of the three palettes, for skintone reference I wear the Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Natural (usually around MAC NC35):

Look 1: Tom Ford Body Heat, wearing Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk with Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fussy
Look 2: Double Indemnity, wearing Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow
Look 3: Suspicion, wearing Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Sexy Sienna with Lip Lustre in Blondie on top

Three Beauty Looks

Emotionproof Mascara

There’s a new Emotionproof Mascara which seems to have replaced my holy grail Waterproof Extreme. To me they perform the same – it adds volume, holds the curl, does not smudge. The only difference is Emotionproof tends to clump on the brush very quickly after a couple uses. I’m used to some level of clumping with mascara on the brush as it picks up product. I wish the interior had some kind of design to wipe off product a little better. Still anything that won’t smudge and that holds the curl is a winner in my book. I can just clean off the wand every 4 uses or so.

Emotionproof Eye Colors

Last I bought two of the Emotionproof Eye Colors in Brut Rose and Casino. I’ll start with the pros: both shades I bought are really pretty and easy to wear. They set pretty quickly and once they do set they don’t budge. Cons: everyone seems to say these are like overpriced MAC Paint Pots and I pretty much agree. I think they’re nice if you want a long lasting budge-proof cream shadow. However since they dry so fast you have to blend and apply quickly – once they set, layering more cream on tends to make it look streaky and dry. I don’t think they’re horrible like some reviews have said, but I definitely don’t think they’re anything special or splurge-worthy unless you absolutely love the colors. I think Brut Rose is really pretty but it seems pretty dupeable.

Swatch comparisons to Laura Mercier Caviar Chrome Eye Stick in Magnetic Pink, By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Frozen Quartz, Laura Mericer Caviar Eye Stick in Burnished Bronze and Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Mona Lisa

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Overall loving the new quads the most. Based on what I’ve seen from other Tom Ford quads you can find some similar options among different palettes. I really like the look of Body Heat the best. If you want more variety and color range within a single palette but still like shimmer finishes I think you’ll find more of a diverse options within a compact by trying out the Pat McGrath palettes. I think the new Emotionproof Mascara is good, but part of me thinks it’s just Waterproof Extreme with a slightly different tube (because of the clumping issue) and different name.

You can find the new Tom Ford Eye Products out now. I bought mine from Sephora and Nordstrom. Also available at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Beautylish and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Body Heat sent as a press sample. Other items purchased by me.

7 Comments

Hourglass Cosmetics Lips

Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss Review

May 17, 2019

Hourglass launched their new Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss ($30 each for 0.20 oz/ 5.6 g) in 18 shades. I hauled 11 of them during last month’s Sephora Beauty Insider Event. I’ve really loved all things Hourglass for so many years I felt like these could possibly be holy grail material. After testing these for a week I think they’re really beautiful and definitely worth looking into.

The Unreal Lip Gloss is a plumping lip gloss with medium to full coverage. Creams tend to be more opaque and for me the shimmers I tried are medium-sheer. The glosses are hydrating and have a nice smooth feel to them. There is a soft minty scent and slight cooling sensation when you apply. The plumping effect is noticeable after it sets for a few minutes and as one who has ultra sensitive lips I’m thrilled to report there is no tingle and no stinging. I can still feel them plumping my lips but it’s in a gentle way. Since these are hydrating and lush they aren’t weightless. At the same time they aren’t super heavy even though they do have a semi-thick lush feel.

Color selection right now for the most part runs on the neutral side with a few bolder options. The finishes range from creams, shimmers and sparkles. Pigment is medium to me for most of the shades but you can layer for a more opaque finish. As mentioned above the shimmer sparkly options tend to be a bit more transparent (except the plum one).

I initially bought 5 and loved them so much I quickly ordered more to take advantage of the discount last month. At $30 each they are pricey but I’m happy with all the colors except two of them. These come with a flattened sponge tip applicator which makes for easy application. I like that they’re sturdy vs flexible. Sometimes the bendy wands make it hard to get gloss on my lips.

A closer look:

The colors I bought with descriptions below:

Ignite is a sheer shimmer with gold, this is the only one I didn’t like, it’s too sheer to have any color payoff on my lips so it’s basically clear, if you want a similar color to what you see in the tube I think Charlotte Tilbury Ibiza Nights is a much better option
Child is pale peach cream, this one applied streaky on my pigmented lips, I can blend to smooth out, but for me it’s a tad too pale
Provoke is the most beautiful neutral cool mauve nude, most colors like this look like death on me, this one works perfectly!
Sublime is what I envisioned Child to look like, it’s a much better neutral peach pink nude
Truth is a medium beige nude
Canvas is a nude beige rose, this is really similar to Truth, on me they’re so close I can barely tell the difference
Prose is a baby rose pink cream
Cosmic is a sparkling sheer pink fuchsia glitter, this is smooth without any gritty texture, I think this is one of the more fun shades
Fortune is a pink gold shimmer
Horizon is a perfect coral cream
Impact is a shimmering berry plum sparkle

Swatches:

Lip Swatches, as usual all done on bare lips:

A few full face looks wearing:

Foundation – Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation in Nude (review here)
Powder – Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
Bronzer – Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Nude Bronze Light (swatches here)
Blush – Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush
Brow – Hourglass Arch Brow Gel in Soft Brunette
Eyeshadow – Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in The Dolce Vita + Hourglass Scattered Light in Blaze
Lips – Unreal Lip Gloss in Horizon, Prose and Child

With Horizon Lip Gloss:

Below With Prose Lip Gloss

Last one with Child Lip Gloss:

A number of you wanted to know how these compared to my favorite Pat McGrath LUST Gloss (review and lip swatches here and here) and Fenty Beauty Gloss Bombs (all three worn in this post). Both of these formulas have a softer more cushiony feel. They also run sheerer. The Hourglass Unreal by comparison doesn’t quite have that same soft feel but are still glossy and smooth. The pigment is richer and more opaque with the Hourglass shades as well. All formulas are really nice. I’ve swatched some of the Pat McGrath LUST glosses next to similar colors of the Hourglass options.

I cannot decide which of the three is best. All are excellent for different reasons. I love the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bombs for their lush sheer shimmery glow. The Pat McGrath LUST Glosses have been among my favorite for color selection and formula. Hourglass is more opaque but some of the colors settle into my natural lip lines (this is also the case with some Pat McGrath colors).

If I had to live with just one gloss formula the rest of my life though, right now I’d have to go with the Pat McGrath LUST Gloss. That being said a number of you felt they were too sheer for your liking so if that’s the case then you’ll most likely be happier with the finish of the Hourglass Unreal.

Overall thumbs up. I think they’re beautiful glosses although I don’t know that I would call them truly innovative like their description suggests. To me truly innovative life changing products are more along things like the Hourglass Scattered Light Shadows, Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipsticks and Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter. Still the Hourglass Unreal Lip Glosses are really nice and well made. I’m thrilled to find a nice plumping gloss that doesn’t have a tingle or sting. My top three favorite colors are Horizon, Fortune and Canvas. If I could do the haul over again I’d skip Ignite and Child and would also pick either Canvas (slightly more pink) or Truth (more beige) but not both.

You can find the Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Glosses out now. Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Hourglass Cosmetics and all other Hourglass retailers.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

20 Comments

Chanel

Chanel Cruise 2019 Collection Lumiere Et Contraste

May 15, 2019

The Chanel Cruise Collection for 2019 is called Lumiere Et Contraste and just launched at Chanel.com. There are some stunning pieces for the eyes, lips and cheeks designed to give a luminous radiant glow. Swatches, thoughts + a couple makeup looks featuring the new pieces in today’s post. The collection includes:

Le Vernis Nail Color ($28 each) in Afterglow, Open Air and Purple Ray
Rouge Coco Flash ($38 each) in Lumiere and Contraste
Rouge Coco Gloss ($30 each) in Fraicheur 818 and Aurora 822
Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue ($38) in Warm Beige
Les 4 Ombres Eyeshadow Quad ($65) in Lumieres Naturelles
Stylo Ombre Et Contour ($34 each) in Pure Flesh, Metallic Flash and Vague
Ombre Premiere Gloss ($36 each) in Lunaire and Solaire
Duo Bronze Et Lumiere ($70 each) in Clair and Medium

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Le Vernis Nail Color

There are three new Le Vernis Nail Colors that have that pretty light and airy kind of vibe in Afterglow, Open Air and Purple Ray. Application for all three is ultra smooth. They do run on the semi-sheer side so you’ll need to layer on a few coats to get full coverage.

Afterglow is a sheer neutral nude that has that secret Chanel shimmer in the bottle. On the nails there’s not really any visible shimmer. This is a sheer color so two coats will give you a barely there polish. If I add three I get a clean barely there look. Below is with three coats.

Open Air is a periwinkle purple glossy color. It’s not as sheer as Afterglow, but Open Air is still on the natural sheer-medium side. I applied it with two coats below. This is such a pretty soft blue-toned lilac kind of shade. I’ve been wearing it on the toes and love it.

Purple Ray is another lovely purple. It’s semi-sheer and below is the polish with two coats. It’s a soft light lavender and pulls a little more warm than Open Air.

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Lips

The Cruise Collection has two Rouge Coco Flash shades in Lumiere which is a sheer peachy pink and Contraste which is a soft mauve with hint of pink/rose. Both are sheer to medium in coverage. I can get both to cover my lip entirely but they have a soft sheen. In case you missed the previous Chanel post you can see my other Rouge Coco Flash picks here. Formula is glossy and hydrating. Deeper colors have more color payoff. Since they are shiny and sheer lasting power isn’t going to be as strong as a regular lipstick.

The team also sent one of the Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Glosses in Warm Beige with the press package. I’m not sure if this is a repromote but Warm Beige is a natural lips-but-better kind of neutral beige. One end dries to a matte but slightly tacky finish to adhere to the lips. You add the other end which is a clear gloss as a top coat to seal the color. These stay put on the lips really well. It’s like a liquid lipstick with a gloss as a top coat.

Lastly there are two Rouge Coco Glosses in Fraicheur which is a sheer jelly mint green with gold shimmer and Aurora which is a hot pink with gold and pink sparkles. Both are pretty much clear and give the lips a very slight tint of color. I do see more color payoff with the pink one and it gives the lips a full lush glow.

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Eyes

The Les 4 Ombres in Lumieres Naturelles has smooth blendable textures with medium pigment. There is a sparkling silvery taupe, a matte soft light cool brown, a matte medium brown and a soft shimmering satiny bronze. It pulls like a true neutral on my eyes and the silvery taupe makes it more on the neutral-cool side. By comparison the Les Beiges Les Indispensables has more shimmery options and pulls a little warmer and has a wider range of options from light to deep.

Swatched side by side next to the Les Beiges 2019 Palette reviewed here:

There are three Stylo Ombre Et Contour Shadow/Liner/Kohl sticks in Pure Flesh, Metallic Flash and Vague. I really like using the shadow sticks all over the lid and blended alone or as a base for powder shadows. The three colors are perfect everyday kind of colors that are easy to wear and have really good lasting power. Pure Flesh is a satin light peachy color, Metallic Flash is a shimmering taupe (love this one) and Vague is a satiny brown.

Last for the eyes is a new product called the Ombre Premiere Gloss which is a top coat for the eyes. In general I do not like eye glosses. I’ve tried some from NARS and Tom Ford and just couldn’t get into them. The same goes for these from Chanel. I think the concept is really neat and the effect is beautiful for a gilded high shine look. Lunaire is a gorgeous silver and Solaire is a beautiful gold. They stay glossy on the lids which is why I can’t really wear them – in the Florida humidity I need something with a dry down. Pigment is sheer and glossy but buildable. I really liked the way Lunaire looked – I wish it had a different finish because the color, even though sheer, looked really pretty.

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Cheeks

For Cruise Chanel launched a new cheek duo called the Duo Bronze Et Lumiere. There are two color options with a bronzer and highlighter duo in Clair and Medium. The formula is ultra smooth and has an almost gel like creamy feel but dries down to a powdery finish. There’s no detectable scent and whatever this formula is I hope Chanel makes more products with this texture. Both have a very beautiful finish with textures that melt into the skin in the most gorgeous way. They’re easy to blend and layer – I prefer using a full size individual brush rather than the small brush it comes with.

Clair is an ultra light duo with a neutral peach satin and iridescent pink shimmer. On me this one is more of a good finishing or mixing product on the cheeks. It’s too light to be a bronzer or contour on my skin tone but I did a look with just the duo to give you a sense of how light it is. I absolutely LOVE this one for the eyes. I also love this one mixed or layered with other cheek products including the other duo. Since this one pulls so light I don’t know that it can really be a bronzer for any skin tone even ultra fair but it does make for a very nice finishing/smoothing kind of color.

The duo in Medium has a satiny brown and a gorgeous gold shimmer highlighter. It pulls medium-deep on my skin tone and I wear anything from Chanel foundations in Medium to Medium Deep or 30 to 40 right now. This is a good one for sculpting or contouring.

I hope Chanel makes more of this formula in different colors. If they made this into a setting power, blush colors, more bronzers or highlighters I think it would be amazing.

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Two looks below, Look 1 with the Bronzer and Highlighter Duo in Clair:

Foundation – Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint in Medium with Sublimage Le Teint in 40 layered on top
Powder – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder in 2
Cheeks – both sides of the Chanel Duo Bronze Et Lumiere in Clair mixed together
Eyes – Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour in Metallic Flash + Les 4 Ombres in Lumieres Naturelles
Lips – Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Contraste
Top by Nation LTD
Cheek brush is the Chanel Precision Powder Brush

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Makeup Look 2 with the Bronzer and Highlighter Duo in Medium:

Foundation – Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint in Medium with Sublimage Le Teint in 40 layered on top
Powder – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder in 2
Cheeks – both sides of the Chanel Duo Bronze Et Lumiere in Medium mixed together
Eyes – Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour in Metallic Flash + Les 4 Ombres in Lumieres Naturelles
Lips – Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Lumiere
Top by Nation LTD
Cheek brush is the Chanel Precision Powder Brush

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Overall a beautiful collection for those who want a nice glow without looking overdone. I think the stand outs are the the Bronzer Highlighter Duo in Medium and the three Le Vernis Nail Colors. The Rouge Coco Flash lip colors offer a fresh polished look I think will be easy to wear for any occasion. The Rouge Coco Glosses are both clear but I find myself really loving the look of Aurora because it gives a soft tint of healthy pink to the lips.

You can find the Chanel Cruise Collection at Chanel.com now. As with previous years I suspect it will trickle out to other Chanel counters soon!

Have you checked out the new pieces yet? What did you think?

Chanel cruise collection gifted by Chanel.

60 Comments

Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom

Ultimate Glow With the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Collection

May 13, 2019

I think I’ve found my ultimate summer glow with the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Collection! I picked up almost all of the new pieces at Nordstrom and think everything is just so stunning. I’ve been such a long time fan of Charlotte Tilbury from the very first day her products launched in the US. So many of you have asked me, “if there’s one brand that you had to stick with for the entire face, what would it be?” One of my top picks would Charlotte Tilbury – her line has something in every category from base, cheeks, eyes, lips etc. that I love. Today I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share some beauty looks featuring the new Glowgasm Palettes. I’ve mixed in products from her existing lineup to give you ideas on how to wear everything!

Glowgasm Face Palettes

There are two Glowgasm Face Palettes in Lightgasm and Lovegasm. Each one has four shades for the face including a bronzer, blush and highlighters. They’re absolutely gorgeous and give the skin a very pretty lit from within kind of glow. The formula has a unique almost cream-like gel to powder finish. They’re soft to the touch and are like a solid cream but apply like a powder. You can apply wet or dry, on the eyes or cheeks. Application is smooth, it doesn’t emphasize my pores or skin imperfections, lasting power is excellent and they adhere really well to the skin.

Lightgasm

The Glowgasm Face Palette in Lightgasm is the lighter option of the two and on my medium tan complexion this pulls more like a highlighter palette. It’s really pretty on both the eyes or cheeks. I applied with a lighter hand layering all four shades – you can intensify with a damp brush. Colors are a pale yellow champagne gold, a light shimmering peach, a neutral contour satiny bronze and a duo chrome pink-gold.

Makeup look below wearing the lighter option, since the shades run lighter this is more of a glow palette on my complexion with a little bit of dimension with the deeper colors. It has a nice soft and diffused kind of look on the cheeks.

Full beauty breakdown using the Lightgasm Face Palette:

Base: Light Wonder Foundation in 7
Powder: Airbrush Flawless Finish in 2
Eyeshadows: Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold + Eye Palette in The Dolce Vita
Eyeliner: Rock n Kohl in Barbarella Brown
Mascara: Legendary Lashes 2 in Black
Cheeks: Lightgasm Palette, all four shades
Lips: Prep with the Collagen Lip Bath for shine, then layer KISSING Lipstick in Bitch Perfect with Lip Cheat Liner in Iconic Nude on top

Lovegasm

The Glowgasm Palette in Lovegasm is the deeper one and if I had to pick just one this would be it. It has deeper variations of a yellow gold highlighter, deeper peach shimmer, medium tan bronze and a glimmering coral gold shimmer. This has enough color to look like I’m wearing blush on the face. As a peach lover this couldn’t be more perfect for me.

Makeup look wearing the deeper palette option

Beauty breakdown using the Lovegasm Palette:

Base: Light Wonder Foundation in 7
Powder: Airbrush Flawless Finish in 2
Eyeshadows: Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold + Eye Palette in The Dolce Vita
Eyeliner: Rock n Kohl in Barbarella Brown
Mascara: Legendary Lashes 2 in Black
Cheeks: Lovegasm Palette, all four shades
Lips: Matte Revolution in Sexy Sienna with Lip Lustres in Blondie + Portobello Girl

Glowgasm Beauty Wand Highlighters

There are three new Beauty Wand Highlighters. I bought two of them in Peachgasm and Pinkgasm. Both have enough color that I feel like I could get away with wearing these as a shimmering blush. Both have a twist open cap. Squeeze the tube to dispense product into a sponge applicator and then dab on the face anywhere you want a highlight. They have an iridescent finish and a really nice dry down. The Beauty Wands stay creamy long enough to blend and once they set they stay put on the face. Swatches with two different light settings and angles to show depth and shine.

I have a look below with the Pinkgasm – you can see it swatched on the face straight out of the tube and then blended out alone. For a more complete look you can add bronzer, contour, blush or whatever suits your mood. I applied it alone like a face swatch to give you a sense of how it looks on the skin just by itself. Beauty breakdown wearing:

Base: Magic Foundation in Shades 6 + 7 mixed (has fuller coverage compared to Light Wonder)
Powder: Airbrush Flawless Finish in 2
Eyeshadows: Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold + Eye Palette in Pillow Talk
Eyeliner: Rock n Kohl in Barbarella Brown
Mascara: Legendary Lashes 2 in Black
Cheeks: Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm
Lips: Prep with the Collagen Lip Bath, add Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk with Lip Cheat Liner in Pillow Talk on top

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Overall love and I give everything a solid thumbs up. As one who loves a good glow I think you really can’t go wrong with either palette. If you have medium to deep skin, opt for Lovegasm for a more complete look. Lightgasm is really pretty as well but will be more like a highlighting glow palette. I hope the three beauty looks give you ideas on how to coordinate the colors! I think both are very versatile to wear with any kind of lip or eye. Charlotte Tilbury has a wide range of neutral lips alongside bolder bright shades.

I think these will be perfect all summer long. I was initially worried they might be too glowy but the finish is really pretty and easy to blend out. Textures and finishes are going to also be perfect for warm weather months as they adhere to the skin really well and stay put!

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Collection out at Nordstrom now. If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase options as well!

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

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Packing

Away Travel Mini Cases Are Back!

May 9, 2019

The cutest Away Mini Travel Cases are back for a limited time! I’ve been writing about these since 2016 and am completely obsessed. The minis are typically launch only during the holiday season and sell out very quickly – if you missed out here’s another peek at them. They retail for $35 each just for the case itself and right now come in the core colors. These are hard zip cases with a mesh pouch in the interior and measure approximately 7″ x 5″ x 3″ – they’re nice to store things you don’t want to get smushed when traveling like small hair brushes, sunglasses, beauty essentials etc. You can find them right now online at AwayTravel.com (under their Gifts and Extras section).

The cases are versatile for a wide range of things. I don’t just use these for travel. I use them for weekend day trips, going to the beach, etc. They’re nice and compact and perfect for carrying inflight essentials. If I’m flying to be safe I put all my liquids I’m carrying on the plane into a quart size zip loc back before putting them into the hard case to make sure it will be within the quart size limit. Pulling one image from the archives below:

A peek at past trips when I brought my Away mini with me. Also shown on a shelfie and with other things for scale. They’re pretty sturdy and easy to clean on the outside – just use a Magic Eraser and warm water and it cleans up perfectly!

A number of you asked me how the Away Mini compares to the Truffle Jetset Clarity Case. They’re both excellent for travel – it just depends on your packing style and preference. The benefit of the Away Mini is that it has a hard shell so it will protect things better than a leather zip pouch. However the Truffle Jetset is a little bigger around and shorter in depth so you can fit longer things.

Away Mini ($35, seasonal)

hard exterior
zip closure
measures 7″ x 5″ x 3″
has one mesh pocket

Truffle Clarity Jetset ($88, permanent)

leather exterior trim with clear top and base
zip closure
softer but still structured
measures 7 1/2” L X 5 1/4” H X 2″ W
one open compartment

Open so you can see the insides:

A few of my favorite travel beauty picks:

I’ve traveled with both on numerous occasions. Each one has their benefits for carrying on the plane or for travel. I do think the Away Mini is more budget friendly and they make really cute gifts. I’ve bought one for so many of my friends and family. It makes me so happy to hear and see how they use them for even just everyday things. My brother keeps his everyday essentials (like contact solution, etc.) in the Away case in his backpack. Some of you have told me you keep your essential travel documents like passport or other papers inside for easy access when you travel.

They just came back in stock for a limited time. If you have these on your wishlist I recommend buying soon! I just ordered a few more colors to stock up for gifts. For now they’re available just with the case alone. I’m hoping they’ll also bring them back during the holiday with sets like they have in the past!

The Away Mini is available only at Away Travel online and in their free-standing stores.

Away mini gifted. Truffle Jetset purchased by me.

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Chanel

Chanel Les Beiges 2019 Collection Review

May 7, 2019

Chanel’s 2019 edition for their Les Beiges Makeup Collection has launched and it has some beautiful pieces for the beauty lover who wants a natural look. Focus is on a barely there tint for the complexion with a new face tint and powder along with new shades for eyes and lips. In this launch:

Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint ($65 for 30 ml/1 fl oz)
Les Beiges Exclusive Creation Healthy Glow Sheer Powder ($58 for 12 g/0.42 oz)
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm ($25 for 3 g/0.1 oz), new shade Intense
Les Beiges Natural Eyeshadow Collection Les Indispensables ($70 for 9 shades)

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Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint

I’ve been getting so many questions about this new base called the Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint! It’s a very sheer clear gel base with tiny pigment droplets suspended inside. It comes with a pump dispenser and brush. When you buff it into the skin the droplets burst to feel like a water burst and this gives the skin a barely-there glow. This is a lightweight hydrating gel that feels fresh like skincare but isn’t sticky. It has a subtle scent to it much like the Hydra Beauty Skincare Line does but isn’t overpowering.

Finish is sheer and very glowy to give the skin a luminous finish, much like a glowy moisturizer. Chanel suggests using it three ways: as a primer underneath foundation, alone for a bare-skin effect, or as a touch up over foundation to add glow or even out the complexion. Below a closer look at the product straight out of the pump. The right side has 2 pumps and I lightly smoothed it out with fingers so you could get a better sense of how the pigment is suspended – once you actually buff it into the skin the pigment drops blend out.

I tried it a few different ways: alone with powder to set and also as a primer with their Sublimage Le Teint on top. I think it gives the skin a beautiful very natural glow and even though it’s a gel it stays put all day without sliding off the skin or separating. I think it’s going to be a great one for hot humid months to follow. The brush is a really nice one to use for this!

There are six shades available and I found Medium is the best for me right now although it’s so sheer I can also get away with using Medium Plus although it is noticeably deeper on my face and gives me a sunkissed glow.

If you need any coverage this is not going to be the product for you. My freckles and sun spots show through completely even with layering. The formula in the beige rectangular packaging Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint will offer more coverage but still be very sheer/natural on the skin. If you want more coverage but want that dewy finish their CC Cream is excellent. Since this tint is a Gel I only tried it on top of lotion-like sunscreens like the Tom Ford one. I’m going to have to experiment with it more, but I feel like it will not layer well on top of matte finishes. I’m going to re-order the Chanel UV Essential at some point to test on top as well.

Just the tint in Medium all over on the face (also have brow powder on, but everything else is my bare face):

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Les Beiges Exclusive Creation Healthy Glow Sheer Powder

There are seven shades of their new Les Beiges Exclusive Creation Healthy Glow Sheer Powder. I’m not entirely sure if this is supposed to be the same as the original Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour just in different packaging or if it’s truly different. The original has SPF 15 labeled on the product while the new 2019 version does not. I have three colors of the new formula that I tested and swatched.

The new 2019 version seems to have a stiffer texture with a more powdery dry finish while the original feels softer. Both are similar in finish and corresponding color although I do notice the new ones seem to have a more matte feel. Color-wise the shades are really close. When applied with the brush or any powder brush it has a sheer enough finish so the new vs original colors will look the same. When swatched with a heavy hand using an eyeshadow brush I see very slight color variations between the original and 2019 version.

Both perform well to give that barely there smoothed out glow look without being overly powdery. It has a satin semi-matte finish and I use these as setting powders. You can use the brush it comes with for a softer glow or for touch ups. I prefer a larger fluffy powder brush to set or contour. My shades are 20 and 30 mixed for setting (I’m in between colors). 40 is a good one for me to warm up the skin or contour. You can still find the original ones online. If I had to pick which one I think is better I feel like I prefer the original.

The new ones take a little bit of breaking in to get going. I’ve used older Chanel powder brushes and the MAC 140S works well too.

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Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm

The Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm is a tinted glossy balm with pretty good color payoff. There are three shades that launched last year which you can see reviewed here. This year they added a new shade called Intense which is a deeper berry red. To me this feels more like a fall shade, but it’s still a classic kind of Parisian chic kind of color. These are really nice on the lips. Hydrating, smooth, glossy and they don’t slide off or feel heavy. Lasting power is very good for a balm, you will need to reapply and they will transfer but they fade nicely.

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Les Beiges Natural Eyeshadow Collection Les Indispensables

This Les Beiges Eyeshadow Palette is the star of the collection in my opinion and I think it’s a must-have. It has all the perfect neutrals in one palette and having 9 shades makes it super easy to wear. I’m hoping they make it permanent because it’s truly perfect for everyday. It has a mix of satins and shimmers. Pigment is excellent and smooth. Colors layer beautifully and I feel like there is enough variation so the colors look different on the lids when you apply.

Colors include a shimmering champagne, soft satiny warm brown, soft neutral brown, shimmery deeper champagne, sparkling silver, satiny soft grey brown, shimmering gold, deep shimmery brown, shimmering deep brown copper.

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Application of the Water Fresh Tint and Healthy Glow Sheer Powders

Final look wearing:

Les Beiges Eau de Teint in Medium all over face
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No 20 (new version) all over to set
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No 40 (new version) to bronze
Brow Powder Duo in Brun
Les Indispensables Eyeshadow Palette on Eyes
Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Intense
Linen Tank from J.Crew
Nail Polish is Le Vernis in Afterglow (part of the Cruise Collection, review soon!)

One last look:

Overall a solid thumbs up. There are some staple pieces that are nice for everyday. I think the eyeshadow palette is a must even with all the other neutral palettes out there right now. It’s a beautiful one with easy to wear neutrals for a soft or smokey neutral eye look.

I really like the look and finish of the Water Fresh Tint but love it as a primer for fuller coverage foundations like their Sublimage Le Teint. It gives the skin a glow but to me feels more like a skincare gel with a slight tint rather than a base. If you are looking for any kind of coverage this is going to be too sheer for you. I’m always surprised at the split in foundation preference from my readers. Some of you absolutely need medium to full coverage bases while others tell me you really don’t wear any foundation at all!

I’m undecided about the new 2019 Les Beiges powders. I think they perform well and are going to be nice just like the originals but the texture is different. I’m just a little confused on whether or not they are the same or different just without the SPF. The difference in the finish and color is almost indistinguishable – the newer ones just feel a little more stiff in the pan and more matte.

In case you missed it don’t forget to check out my Mother’s Day Gift Guide if you need gift ideas! Other reviews coming up soon on the blog including Cruise 2019, the New Eye Collection and Matte Match as well.

You can find the Chanel Les Beiges 2019 collection out now, available at Chanel.com and all Chanel beauty counters.

Have you checked out this collection yet? What did you think?

Some pieces featured are press samples including Water Fresh Tint in Medium Light, Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Intense, Sheer Powder 40 and Les Indispensables Eye Palette. All other colors purchased by me.

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Sabrina

Beach Beauty Favorites

Sunscreen + Sun Protection

Hair Accessories

Cheeks

Lips

Extras

New Tom Ford Eye Color Quads Body Heat, Double Indemnity, Suspicion + Emotionproof Picks

New Eye Color Quads

Body Heat

Double Indemnity

Suspicion

Emotionproof Mascara

Emotionproof Eye Colors

Hourglass Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss Review

Chanel Cruise 2019 Collection Lumiere Et Contraste

Ultimate Glow With the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Collection

Glowgasm Face Palettes

Lightgasm

Lovegasm

Glowgasm Beauty Wand Highlighters

Away Travel Mini Cases Are Back!

Chanel Les Beiges 2019 Collection Review

Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint

Les Beiges Exclusive Creation Healthy Glow Sheer Powder

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm

Les Beiges Natural Eyeshadow Collection Les Indispensables

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