Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Summer Self-Care Shaving Routine

June 25, 2019

Summer is officially here which means having a good clean shave is essential for swimsuit season. When things in life get busy or hectic for me having a good wind-down relaxation routine at the end of the day makes all the difference. My self-care time is usually in the bath tub in the evenings (I’ve always been a bath person). I’ll do a little spa time whether it’s a face scrub, face mask, bubble bath soak. Once every other week I’ll add in shaving, sometimes more frequently in summer. I have been experimenting more with different razor brands and shaving gels/foams this year. I truly love that there are more options for women! My latest discovery is the Joy razor line available exclusively at Walmart. They reached out and asked me to try their products and I’ve been pleasantly surprised, especially by the shave gel and shave mousse!

There are currently six items available in the lineup. They have two color razor handle options, Pink or Teal, each one comes with two razor cartridges that are the Gillette five-blades. Blades also come in 4-pack or 8-pack refill options. For the shave products they have the Shave Gel and the Shave Mousse.

The razors themselves are super sharp and give a really close shave. I like the size and weight of the handles. They have a nice non-slip material on the handle which makes holding it easier. There is a strip on the tip to help prevent irritation, but as with any razor using a good shaving cream, gel or mousse is essential to lubricate the skin properly to prevent razor burn.

I’ve always been more of a mousse kind of girl for shaving but hate the way most of them smell with the dry down. I love that foaming action but they usually have a chemical scent! For many years I’ve just used a shower gel to shave (or borrowed some of Andrew’s shaving cream products) because I really cannot stand the way most shaving mousses smell. The ones by Joy are so much better! The Shave Foam is called Summer Lily and it has a beautiful summer fresh floral scent. It has a really amazing foam and helps give you a super close shave. The Shave Gel is called Cucumber Aloe (teal) has a nice cucumber aloe scent, a cushiony feel, and hydrating smooth finish. I love the lather of these products, if I had to pick one to try first I’d recommend the gel as it feels a little more hydrating to me, but both are really nice.

The Shave Foam Summer Lily and The Pink Razor

The Shave Gel Cucumber Aloe and the Teal Razor (dispenser for the gel is different from the mousse, but both are well designed)

I ordered a 4-pack of the refill cartridges, so I’m stocked up for a while now!

Overall love this line, especially for the price (these won’t break the bank). The Shave Gel is something I definitely see myself repurchasing in a near future. I like the way it foams and lathers up, plus is smells like a relaxing sweet cucumber. It’s been a nice added step to my bath routine for summer to get a really close shave without irritation. I think the razor handles are really cute and definitely a step up in aesthetic from the basic plastic handle ones that come in bundles. The grip handle comes in handy too.

You can find the Joy Razor line exclusively at Walmart. Have you tried these yet? Or any of the new razor brands that have launched recently? What did you think?

Many thanks to Walmart for partnering to sponsor this post! And special thanks to each of you who shop the brands that help support this blog.

3 Comments

Beauty Tools

Top Makeup Brushes for the Face + Cheeks

June 24, 2019

It’s been a while since I’ve done a makeup brush roundup so I have an updated one for you this week! I’ve always loved trying new brushes and makeup tools, even long before I started this beauty blog. Over the years I’ve tried a wide range of high-end brushes and because of the product testing and swatching I do I’ve acquired more than the average beauty lover. Many brushes can be multi-taskers these days so there is definitely no need to purchase a lot. I’d recommend building your tool set over time. Try a couple from a few brands and see how you like them, then build from there.

I’ve split the ones I use the most by category to help you find the tools best suited to your needs. Over the years many of my tried-and-true lines have revamped their makeup tools and changed materials to synthetics. Since I do take good care of my tools there are a number of older ones that I’ve kept and still use but in today’s roundup I’ve included ones you can still find.

To care for my brushes I’ve tried a number of brush cleaners: liquid, solid, gels, baby shampoo, etc. To this day I find MAC’s Brush Cleaner to be one of the best as it truly cleans the brushes well, doesn’t leave a residue or lingering scent and doesn’t damage the brushes. However with the frequency I have to wash my brushes purchasing and repurchasing it gets really spendy. I tried Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soaps as there were so many positive reviews about how good these were to clean your brushes. I tried the Unscented and Lavender, unfortunately my skin had an allergic reaction to both from residue that was on the brushes (they didn’t rinse out all the way, even with multiple rounds of warm water rinsing under the faucet). These days I rely on the Dawn Dish Soap diluted a with warm water in a bowl or the Dishwashing Foam and this gets my brushes clean without any residue. For sponges I still rely on the beautyblender solid as the best solid cleanser.

Onto my favorite brushes, up first are the ones I love for powder!

Powder Brushes

Above from left to right:

Hourglass Ambient Powder Brush ($38) is one of the softest short-handled brushes I’ve used. It works well to dust any kind of powder evenly all over the face.
MAC 140S ($42) is the best dense powder brush, the fan shape allows you to cover larger areas of your face in fewer stokes.
La Mer Powder Brush ($85) was one of my biggest brush splurges, it’s so soft and plush! Works best for loose powder for me, but can also work with pressed.
Hourglass Veil Powder Brush ($64) has two ends, the larger side is for setting the entire face with loose (or pressed) powder, the smaller is designed for under the eye. I also use the small side for contouring powders. It’s soft and so fluffy.
Laura Mercier Powder Brush* ($52) is one of the nicest flatter wide brushes I’ve tried. A lot of flat/wide brushes I’ve tried in the past aren’t dense enough for my liking and don’t pick up enough product. This one has the perfect density.

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Blush and Highlighters

For me I will use a blush brush for highlighter and vice versa. Some of you may prefer a smaller brush for highlighter and that’s perfectly ok! The first three are ones I reach for the most for cheeks, the last three are smaller and less dense to apply a softer wash of color. Above from left to right:

Wayne Goss 11* ($48) is one he calls a buffing brush, all of his brushes are ultra soft and plush and pick up the perfect amount of product to apply to the face. You can use for powder or cream, I prefer for powder blush for the perfect wash of color.
Laura Mercier Cheek Color Brush* ($46) is a great synthetic cheek brush, it has a classic shape, runs on the flatter side, applies powder really well.
Chanel Blush* ($50) is a super dense and soft plush brush, I love that it’s dense but still flexible.
Laura Mercier Fan Brush* ($32) there are a lot of fan brushes on the market, to me they’re all pretty much the same for the bristles, but the handles are often super skinny and don’t feel hefty enough. Still there are a lot of excellent options to choose but I like Laura Mercier’s the best for dusting highlighter on the cheekbones.
Wayne Goss 14 Cheek Brush* ($33)
Chanel Precision Powder Brush* ($60) is a soft rounded brush perfect for soft contour or highlighting.

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Angled Brushes

Above from left to right:

MAC Angled 168SH and 168 ($35) have been in rotation for as long as I can remember! The short handle one has been discontinued but it comes back every once in a while. You might still be able to find it MAC stores. The current version is called 168S because they’ve changed to synthetics. I have tried the new version and it performs just as well as the originals.
NARS 21 Contour Brush ($42) is the brush I’m asked about the most anytime it’s featured in a blog post, on Instagram or stories. It’s one of the best dense angled brushes I’ve tried. I like that the size is a little wider than most making for easier application. I love a precise brush but sometimes I want something a little bigger for an easier sweeping motion.
Laura Mercier Angled Cheek Contour* ($46) is another great angled brush that’s nice for contouring.

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Skunk Brushes / Blending

These fluffy duo fiber brushes are nice for soft buffing. You can use them for powder or creams. I was surprised to learn you can use these to buff in foundation! Above from left to right:

Laura Mercier Finishing* ($46) is the fluffiest, after washing it fluffs out the most.
MAC 187S* ($42) has changed slightly from the original 187, the S version is more dense vs. fluffy now. It’s still an excellent brush but these days I find it better for foundation or cream bronzers rather than powders.
Chanel Foundation Blending* ($50) I find this to be the best alternative to the original MAC187, it’s soft, fluffy and I prefer it for powders (but you can also use for foundation).

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Miscellaneous

Above from left to right:

Wayne Goss 00 White ($85) is in my top two biggest splurges, next to the La Mer one. This was the first Wayne Goss brush I tried. I bought the black one many years ago and it served me well until I used a new brush cleaner (I can’t remember which one but it was a liquid one I got at a trade show) and it made the black color bleed. Even after it dried it left streaks on my skin. I bought the white one when it came out the next year and it’s one of the softest tapered brushes I own. It is 100% worth the splurge.
Tom Ford Foundation ($72) is also another spendy splurge, I bought this as part of a brush set many many years ago and it’s held up remarkably well. It’s one of the best streak-free brushes I own.
Laura Mercier Bronzer Brush* ($46) is the second most asked about brush I have. Anytime it’s featured dozens of you want to know which brush it is. I’ve gone through so many bronzer brushes and there are a lot of excellent options. My most reached for is this one.
Laura Mercier Blending Brush* ($46) is a smaller denser version of the bronzer option, it’s smaller so better for buffing and blending.
beautyblender Nude ($20) is my favorite foundation tool for any foundation formula. I like the nude the best because the dye never bleeds into the sink. I’ve never had issues with any of the other ones staining the skin, but sometimes with the pink ones you will see pink color run through the sink with the first rinse.

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I hope this roundup with side by side photos helps give you a reference point on size and density! While there is no single brand that has all the tools I want, if I had to pick one brand of face brushes to use for the rest of my life it would either be Wayne Goss or Laura Mercier.

When it comes to travel a lot of you want to know how I pack my brushes. There’s no hard set rule I go by when packing tools. I’ve tried a number of brush pouches like the MustaeV Bloom Pouch, Make Up For Ever Pouch, the Clearly MAC Rectangle etc. For the past few trips I’ve thrown my tools into the Truffle Clarity Jetset Case and it’s perfect for my needs (see it in action here). I fit everything shown below into the pouch without any issue. If you’re worried about the debris getting the case dirty just layer in a little tissue. The plastic cleans easily from powder contact. If you use anything cream based though I recommend you wrap those tools in tissue if you can’t clean it before you pack.

That wraps up my favorite brush tools post! What are your favorite tools?

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

10 Comments

Skincare

Brightening Radiant Skincare with the Best of Volition

June 21, 2019

I’m so excited to share some new skincare that I’ve been using from Volition Beauty. Their products are clean and cruelty-free! I also think it’s so interesting that they create products based on ideas submitted by consumers. Skincare is made based on what real people need and want. You can read more about their Clean Beauty Philosophy on their website (I found it really interesting!). These days I’m all about getting that radiant glow so I was thrilled to give their three best sellers a test because they’re designed for brightening, exfoliating and hydrating. I’ve partnered with them to give you a closer look at The Best of Volition Kit ($64). It’s is an online exclusive with their cult favorites (currently 30% off). It includes:

Turmeric Brightening Polish 4 fl oz / 120 ml
Strawberry-C Serum 1 fl oz / 30 ml
Apple Cider Vinegar Resurfacing Pads 3 pads (individual packets)

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Turmeric Brightening Polish

I love a good scrub to exfoliate and keep the complexion smooth and clear. I feel like out of all the skincare steps this is one of the most important to keep my skin smooth and healthy. The Turmeric Brightening Polish is a gritty scrub that can be used on both the face and body. I gently massage it into wet skin and leave it on for a couple minutes to let it sink in. This one has Turmeric Extract to brighten, Olive and Sesame Oil to hydrate and soften, Sandalwood Extract to reduce inflammation and micronized Walnut Shell to exfoliate. I tried on both the face and body and really love it for the face. It did noticeably reduce some inflammation I had and did an excellent job at making my skin feel smooth afterwards.

Full ingredient list here.

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Strawberry-C Serum

The Strawberry-C Serum is a brightening serum with 20% strawberry Vitamin C. It has ingredients to reduce dark spots over time and minimize pores. I could not detect any heavy scent to it but it smells like a hint of fresh cucumber. Most Vitamin C treatments are too strong for my skin to handle but this one was a pleasant surprise and gentle enough for my skin to tolerate use on a daily basis. It has a gel-like texture and after a few minutes it absorbs into the skin for a smooth finish dry down. I don’t have a lot of dark spots except for a couple of fresh red/brown acne scars from recent breakouts that are healing. I was really surprised to see that they have reduced in color significantly and already started to fade faster than normal with this serum.

This also contains Kakadu Plum to add a glow and reduce redness, Hyaluronic Acid to plump, Cucumber Fruit Water to soothe skin. They recommend using this morning and might and under your regular moisturizer. I tried this alone and applied my regular foundation on top during the day and it worked really well. It helped regulate my oil with the humid weather right now too! I will definitely keep you posted on how this works over the longer term.

Full ingredient list here.

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Apple Cider Vinegar Resurfacing Pads

Last but not least are the Apple Cider Vinegar Resurfacing Peel Pads which are amazing! The Best of Volition Kit comes with 3 or you can also buy 3 separately in their Try-Me Pack. (Also available in a 30 pack). I’ve been reading about incorporating apple cider vinegar into one’s skin care routine as a toner to reduce breakouts and inflammation but wasn’t keen on the idea of applying it straight from the bottle or the potent smell. The Volition ACV Resurfacing Pads are the perfect alternative and they also contain AHAs, Lemon and Orange Extract to remove dead skin, Witch Hazel to remove dirt and excess oil that may still be on the skin even after washing, and Glycolic Acid. The first time I used it I only applied on half my face to see how much of a difference there would be – there was a noticeable difference by morning! These do have an apple cider vinegar scent to the pads but it’s not as overpowering as I anticipated and it dissipates after a few minutes. I do have sensitive skin but these had a very moderate and gentle tingle. Quick note that I haven’t used any other acids, peels, retinols or vitamin C products on my face in a few weeks now so if you have those in your routine your skin may be extra sensitized and you’ll find the tingle a little more intense.

These pads are described as being gentle enough to use daily but I would probably use it 1 to 2 times per week max. Skin is noticeably more toned and it evened out some texture issues I had. I really like the anti-inflammatory properties ACV has to prevent breakouts. I’ve already ordered the full size box (has 30 pads). The packets are super convenient for travel and also keep the pads well soaked/protected but I would also love to see this in a bottle form.

Full ingredient list here.

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First impressions with this brand are that I’m impressed! The Best of Volition Kit is available only online at their website but you can also find their individual products at Sephora. Volition offers free shipping and returns in the US and they’ll also send samples with every purchase for you to try out. I’m really interested in trying out their sunscreen and have their Grab-n-Go Trio in my cart right now (looks super cute).

Have you tried anything from Volition yet? What are some of your favs?

Many thanks to Volition Beauty for partnering to sponsor this post.

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Barneys New York GWP

Barneys New York Beauty Bag Event June 18-22

June 18, 2019

Barneys New York is running their Summer Beauty Bag Event from June 18-22 (online only)! With any $200 purchase in cosmetics, skincare, fragrance and grooming you will receive a beauty bag with samples valued at around $360. I’ve teamed up with Barneys New York to share a peek at the gift bag along with a few recommendations plus what’s on my beauty radar. There are also 50+ individual brand gifts available online.

Beauty Bag Event Gift with Purchase

Inside the bag they have over 20 minis:

MMM Replica Under the Lemon Tree 2 ml
Harmonist Magnetic Wood 2 ml
Mila Moursi Refining Lotion 10 ml
MDNA Finishing Cream 0.1 oz
Sisley Phyto Blanc Buff and Wash 10 ml
Starskin Lace Revamping Mask (2 sheets)
Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste 10 ml
Oribe Supershine Cream 15 ml
Harry Josh Carbon Tail Comb
Malin Goetz Stem EDP Vial .75 ml
Shiseido Bio Performance Lift Dynamic Eye Treatment 12 ml
Lab to Beauty CBD Lip Balm .5 oz
The Laundress Wash and Stain Bar Classic
Hourglass Caution Mascara .12 oz
By Terry Mini Baume de Rose 3 g
La Mer Regenerating Serum 5 ml
Byredo Perfume (assorted) 2 ml
Diptyque Eau de Minthe 2 ml
YSL Matte Pore Refiner 5 ml
JINSoon Nail Polish (assorted)
Baxter Skin Concentrate BHA 5 ml
Foria Awaken 1.5 ml

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Top Recommendations / On My Radar

There are so many great brands available at Barneys I don’t think it’s hard to find something good to splurge on. In case you need some recommendations, some things that I love include:

Byredo La Selection Set has six miniature 12 ml perfume vials, it’s perfect to sample a wide range of scents, I also carry these in my purse
Tom Ford Beauty Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight is one of the best highlighter duos
Tom Ford Beauty Traceless Foundation Stick is one of the best full coverage foundations, I use this on top of regular foundation as a concealer
Aesop Redemption Body Scrub is the best body scrub I’ve ever tried
Hourglass Confession Lipstick is one of the best formulas even though it’s ridiculously expensive, full lineup swatched here, Barneys appears to have an exclusive called I Hope
Hourglass Unreal Lip Gloss is a really nice formula that’s new, swatches of my picks here
Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder is one of the nicest loose formulas I’ve tried, review here and here
Hourglass Arch Brow Gel in Soft Brunette is my go-to for brow gels
Diptyque Baies Candle is my favorite scent of all time
By Terry Lip Expert Shine offers some of the prettiest gloss colors, I love Bare Flirt and Peachy Guilt, swatches here (they are fairly strong in the rose scent)

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The gift with purchase is offered from June 18 to the 22nd while supplies last. Gift will be automatically added to your cart at checkout once you’ve reached the minimum $200 beauty spend. Available online at Barneys.com.

Many thanks to Barneys for partnering to sponsor this post!

15 Comments

MAC

MAC Electric Wonder Collection Review + Swatches

June 17, 2019

MAC launched the perfect color palette of neutrals with their Electric Wonder Collection for summer and it’s truly beautiful! I think everything is stunning from the pink marble electric packaging to the actual product colors. If you’re looking for an updated palette of neutrals with shimmer there are some great value options in this collection. I have most of everything swatched today including:

Lipsticks ($19.50 each) in Feelin’ Sedimental, Let’s Mesa Around, Life in Sepia and Natural Born Leader
Lipglass ($18.50 each) in Marble Faun, Nature Freak, Coral of the Wild and Rock Starz
Ignite Wonder Face Palette ($40.50) with 6 shades
Next to Nothing Bronzer ($30 each) in Canyon Dreamin’ and Sun-Soaked Strip
Iridescent Powder ($36 each) in Serenity Seeker and Into Eternity
Brush 126SE ($43)
Eyeshadow x 12 Desert Lightning ($48) with 12 neutral cool shades
Eyeshadow x 12 Natural Vice ($48) with 12 neutral warm shades

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Eyeshadow Palettes

There are two eyeshadow palettes in a warmer option Natural Vice and a cooler option called Desert Lightning. Both have 12 shades and are offered at a really great value price. 12 pans are hit and miss with some shades being patchy/sheer and others being more pigmented. Both of these seem to be a significant improvement across the board with every color applying with smooth easy to layer pigment. I cannot pick a favorite and I usually gravitate towards the warmer ones, but both are really beautiful. Color adheres well to the lids and pigment is very very good.

Desert Lightning has a mix of matte, satin, shimmers. There are a few repromoted shades but most of the colors are newer.

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Natural Vice is the one I think feels more like a neutral summer palette. It has mattes, shimmers and satiny colors. Everything applies beautifully.

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Lipstick and Lipglass

There are five Lipsticks and five Lipglasses in this launch and I have four of each swatched today. I really love Let’s Mesa Around and Natural Born Leader. The other shades are ok quality-wise but on me require mixing and layering for my skin tone.

Let’s Mesa Around Lustre Lipstick is a glossy mauve semi-sheer (looks deeper on my lips because I have naturally pigmented lips which show through)
Feelin’ Sedimental Satin Lipstick is a pale beige peach
Life in Sepia Matte Lipstick is a cool toned brown
Natural Born Leader Matte Lipstick is a plum
Marble Faun Lipglass is a sparkly white
Nature Freak Lipglass is a sparkly yellow gold
Coral of the Wild Lipglass is a milky pale peach
Rock Starz Lipglass is a shimmery silvery taupe

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Cheek Palette

The Ignite Wonder Cheek Palette has six almost creamy feeling powders. They apply with a natural sheen on the skin if you use a lighter/fluffy brush like the 126 SE brush but you can layer for more color and pigment. I love that these aren’t too frosty on my skin and because they’re almost cream like they adhere to the skin but don’t feel emollient. It’s very glowy and most of the palette is highlighter material, even the deeper shades, rather than blush.

They swatch frosty on the arm but on the face they apply with a more smooth soft and subtle finish. Colors include a pale champagne shimmer, pale ivory gold shimmer, medium peach tan, pale pink shimmer, medium peach and soft metallic rose.

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Bronzer + Highlighter

There are two Next to Nothing Bronzing Powders which feel like smooth skin but better. I’ve loved their regular Next to Nothing Face Powders and am not sure if this is the first time they launched the formula in bronzer form but the texture is lovely. Canyon Dreamin’ is a cooler toned bronze and Sun-Soaked Strip is a warmer matte option. I think these make for lovely contour powders. You only need a soft swipe with these.

There are also two new Iridescent Powders which have a swirled marble finish. Upon swatching these on the fingers and arms I thought both would be glittery messes on the face. They surprised me! They’re a lot more wearable than I anticipated and have this beautiful multi-dimensional sheen. Serenity Seeker is a soft champagne and Into Eternity is a warmer rose shimmer.

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Brush

There are two brushes in a split fiber form with this collection, I received 126 SE as a press sample and it’s so soft it feels like a soft cloud brushing against your skin. I think it’s a beautiful well made brush for soft powder application.

Look below wearing Natural Vice Eyeshadow Palette, Next to Nothing Bronzer in Sun-Soaked Strip, Ignite Wonder Face Palette highlighters in Any Wonder and Girl Wonder, Matte Lipstick in Natural Born Leader.

Overall thoughts: I think the collection is beautiful! Easy to wear pieces with just the right amount of shimmer and glow. Stand outs are the eyeshadow palettes, Next to Nothing Bronzers and the duo fiber brush for me. A number of you have been asking for recommendations on non-shimmer bronzers and I think these Next to Nothing options are beautiful, I love the deeper one. I do wish they came in a couple lighter shade options for light to fair skin tones though.

I’ve been a bit MIA recently because we just moved! I’m so exhausted as we’ve been up packing non-stop but am so excited we’ve moved to St. Pete. We were in the area nearly every weekend and lived in several beach houses when we did our moving around our first year here. We spent the last week packing and moving and did most of it ourselves (eeps!). We are nearly done but it’s been quite intense. I have lots of new beauty posts I’ve been working on in the meantime to share with you soon. Posting was put on hold for a little while as we have been moving furniture and boxes etc. The fur babies are settling in well 🙂

You can find the MAC Electric Wonder at all MAC counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Ulta Beauty, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and MAC Cosmetics.

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

MAC Electric Wonder provided courtesy of MAC for review.

27 Comments

Chanel Fragrance Tom Ford Beauty

Favorite Perfumes for Summer

June 12, 2019

Summer is almost here and today I’m rounding up my favorite perfumes perfect for the upcoming season. We are lucky to have warm weather most of the year but perfume is definitely seasonal with different months. I love this time of year when we’re transitioning from spring to full on summer. The heat is rising and there are so many scents that I love for warm weather. For me there are everyday summer perfumes and then there are summer perfumes that make you feel like you’re on vacation. I’m focusing more on the everyday ones for this round up but will list a few vacation vibe scents at the bottom of the post too. As always I’d love to hear about what you’re wearing right now!

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Tom Ford

Above: Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case / Diptyque Large Outdoor Candle recycled

I would say that my most-worn perfumes recently are the ones from Tom Ford. I think he’s best known for the deeper rich and spicy ones, but my personal favorites are the lighter options. Soleil Blanc and Eau de Soleil Blanc have been must-haves for me for years now. Both are white florals that perfect fresh summery vibe. I also really love White Suede layered with either of the Soleil Blanc perfumes for a softer vibe. All the Tom Ford perfumes are available in multiple sizes, I’ve listed the ones I have below. I love that more of these are now coming in individual travel size sprays so I can carry them in my purse!

Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum ($148 for 50 ml, also available in a .33 oz travel spray) is the perfect white floral! I carry the travel spray with me almost everywhere I go.
- Notes include bergamot, cardamom oil Orpur, pistachio accord, ylang-ylang Comores Islands, benzoin extract Orpur, coco de mer accord
Eau de Soleil Blanc ($125 for 50 ml, 10 ml travel size here) is a brighter more citrus version that has a little more warmth with more noticeable amber and it’s not quite as strong on the floral notes as the original, both smell really similar
- Notes include Vert de bergamot, orange bitter Orpur, petitgrain bigrade Orpur, ylang-ylang, pistachio accord, coco de mer accord
White Suede* ($235 for 50 ml) is one of the few soft musk perfumes I can wear that don’t turn on my skin, I love the way this mixes with the white florals. It’s a soft clean and warm kind of scent. The clear bottle is exclusive to Neiman Marcus but you can find it in the traditional brown at all other counters.
- Notes include saffron, thyme, mate, suede, olibanum, musk
Runner ups from past: Sole di Positano, Fleur de Portofino, Neroli Portofino Acqua

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Byredo

Above: Tray West Elm /On the nails Essie Topless and Barefoot

Byredo has some of the longest lasting perfumes I’ve tried. Sometimes I notice my nose gets used the scent quickly and they seem to fade, but anytime I wear these, I get compliments and questions even hours after I’ve first applied. Andrew also notices them late in the day. I know purchasing a fragrance in person isn’t always possible (even if it’s the best way to buy them). In the event you don’t have a Byredo counter near you to smell, they have a La Selection Set with six minis which are a nice way to sample the scents. There are a number of trios available as well.

Blanche ($175 for 1.7 oz, shown is the .4 oz available in this trio) is a floral that has a mix of aldehyde and violet, it has floral notes with noticeable white rose and a hint of musk. It almost has a clean linen feel.
- Notes include aldehyde, pink pepper, white rose, neroli, peony, violet, blonde woods, musk and sandalwood
Mojave Ghost ($175 for 1.7 oz) is the most unique fragrance I’ve ever smelled. It’s a soft fruity floral with violet and magnolia. There is a mix of musk, sandalwood and amber to give it a little warmth.
- Notes include ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, violet, sandalwood, magnolia, chantilly musk, crisp amber, cedarwood
La Tulipe ($175 for 1.7 oz) is one of the scents I get the most compliments on! This is clean floral with noticeable freesia.
- Notes include:<rhubarb, cyclamen, freesia, tulip, blonde woods and vetiver/li>
Rose Rinse Free Hand Wash ($35 for 1 fl oz) makes for a super fancy hand sanitizer, it has a beautiful soft rose scent with pink pepper and raspberry notes mixed in
- Notes includepink pepper, raspberry, rose petals, magnolia, exotic patchouli, white musks

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Jo Malone

Above: Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip Lychee Baby / bracelet Celine

Jo Malone was one of the first perfume lines I started using when I got into perfume. I think they make so many beautiful florals! Unfortunately most of my favorites have been discontinued or were limited-editions. I was so sad when they pulled French Lime Blossom and RIP Vanilla Anise. They used to have a pretty one called Sweet Milk which was such a unique one. I feel like perfume should never be limited-edition or discontinued, it’s so sad to find one you really love and then not be able to buy it when it’s used up! The same thing goes for foundation – all my HOLY grail foundations are now no longer made. The one I love right now for summer is Basil and Neroli, it doesn’t smell like basil at all!

Basil and Neroli ($68 for 1 oz) is the perfect neroli scent, it’s a fresh and fun lively kind of perfume. Andrew likes this one on me.
- Notes include basil grand vert, neroli and white musk

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Chanel

Above: Simplehuman Mirror / Tray / CC Cream swatches / Perle de Corail Le Vernis swatches

Chanel has so many classic perfumes but the Les Eaux de Chanel line stole my heart when they launched last year. These are Eau de Toilettes and are lightweight in feel. They give more of a splash of scent rather than a super long-lasting potent perfume. Living in humidity and heat makes the lightweight feel perfect for me. They launched three Eau de Toilettes last year first Paris-Biarritz, Paris-Venise and Paris-Deauville ($130 each for 4.2 fl oz). Shower gels and body lotions followed for each. I have not yet tried the body products, I’m worried I’ll fall in love and my wallet will hate me for it.

I’m thrilled to let you know that the three originals are now available in a 1.7 fl oz travel size individually for $80 each or as a trio in Le Voyage Set ($240 this one comes with a cute pouch). I ordered the mini of my favorite Paris-Biarritz the second it launched online. Right now the minis are available only at Chanel.com. The minis have a spritzer spray too! I feel like I had seen images of the minis for the European and Asian websites – I’m so happy they’re now available in the US.

Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz ($80 to $130) is my favorite of the three original ones. It’s perfect for the citrus scent lover. It has notes of Sicilian Mandarin and Lily of the Valley. It has a very soft almost garden like feel to it. It’s refreshing and bright!

This past week they just launched a fourth scent Paris-Riviera* which is lovely for those who love citrus scents. This one has vacation spa resort like vibes. It’s sweeter and a little more juicy the Paris-Biarritz.

Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera* ($130 for 4.2 oz) comes in one size right now. I asked if there were plans to add more body products or a travel size and they don’t have any information right now. It takes me away to a place where I feel like I’m away at a spa.

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That wraps up my favorites right now. I rotate frequently! Top three favorites right now are the new Chanel Paris-Riviera, Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc and Byredo La Tulipe. Runner ups for perfumes that smell like a summer vacation include Replica Beach Walk, Creed Virgin Island Water and Bobbi Brown Beach. But for now I’ve had the ones in this roundup in my spring to summer rotation.

What are you favorite summertime perfumes? Do you change things by season or do you have something you wear year round?

Press samples include Tom Ford White Suede, Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel in Paris-Biarritz (full size) and Paris-Riviera (full size). Others purchased by me.

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Lips Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Labs BlitzTrance Lipstick New Shades for Summer

June 10, 2019

This summer Pat McGrath Labs brings us nine new shades of BlitzTrance Lipstick ($38 each for 3.9 g/0.13 oz, made in USA). These new summer colors have a different finish and formula compared to her original holiday BlitzTrance Lipsticks last year. The original ones had an intense sparkle finish with bold colors. This month’s release has the same name “BlitzTrance” but the finish is more of a smooth refined satiny shimmer creme. These new summer BlitzTrance colors are everyday kinds of colors and every single one is phenomenal. You can find them now at PatMcGrath.com.

The summer BlitzTrance has medium to full coverage. They have a soft creme feel and the shimmer has an almost velvety dry down look to them. There’s a shimmer and sheen to them but they’re not really glossy in finish like I expected. They adhere well to the lips, there’s no detectable scent, application is smooth without any tugging. With a few of the shades I could feel a tiny bit of texture from the shimmer applying to the lips, but once on the lips they feel 100% smooth. Lasting power is excellent – there is no sliding around and I did not need a lip liner to help the color stay in place.

There are nine colors in this launch. The range has 5 very similar neutral nude-pinks, 1 nineties brown-rose, 1 plum, 1 red and 1 coral rose. At first glance the neutrals look remarkably similar. Even on the arm they look close. After lip-swatching them though I can see the differences are in undertone which I can really appreciate because finding the perfect neutral nude pink can vary so much depending on skin and lip tone. For example a few of my red hair friends look amazing in MAC Twig and Spirit lipsticks. Both look like great neutrals on my hand but on my complexion make me look like I’m 100% dead. Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk is one of my favorite neutral rose lipsticks but a number of you find it too cool/dusty looking on your lips and complexion. Finding a perfect “neutral” truly depends on so many things!

Close ups, descriptions and swatches:

Skin Flixx, Naked Kiss, Lady Stardust
Skinsane, Full Fantasy, Love Train
Flesh3, Blood Rush and Emmanuelle

Descriptions as I see them, quick note that the shimmer is more visible in the lip swatches:

Skin Flixx is a neutral warm rose pink neutral with a satiny shimmer
Naked Kiss is the lightest one but not pale, this is a light peach pink with gold pearl
Lady Stardust is a medium neutral-cool rose pink nude pearl, pulls more blue toned compared to the others
Skinsane is a neutral medium pink-beige with a slight hint of pink (looks almost identical to Naked Kiss on me, Skinsane is just a little deeper)
Full Fantasy is a warmer neutral nude peach pink shimmer
Love Train is a perfect plum shimmer
Flesh3 is a brown rose shimmer, almost like a brick shimmer
Blood Rush is a bold classic red with shimmer
Emmanuelle is a pretty coral rose with a metallic sheen

All swatched on bare lips, for skin tone reference I’m wearing Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff (equivalent of Tom Ford Soleil Glow Natural and MAC Studio Fix in NC35):

Details shots below, starting with Skin Flixx:

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Naked Kiss

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Lady Stardust

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Skinsane

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Full Fantasy

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Love Train

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Flesh 3

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Blood Rush

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Emmanuelle

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We are in the midst of packing for another move so I only pulled a couple to compare. Overall the BlitzTrance neutrals run lighter and almost brighter compared to her LuxeTrance and MatteTrance neutrals. I have one in LuxeTrance Realness swatched below. I also have Tom Ford Lip Color in Autoerotique and Spanish Pink side by side. I included both of the neutral-ish ones from the original BlitzTrance launch as well:

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Two full-face looks with Emmanuelle (left) and Blood Rush (right), also wearing:

Foundation is Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion in Buff
Powder is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden
Brows are Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
Eyeshadow is Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Lueurs Ambrees
Eyeliner is Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Brun Agape
Top from Free People
Cheeks/lips:
- Left is Pat McGrath BlitzTrance in Emmanuelle and Charlotte Tilbury Lightgasm Palette
- Right is Pat McGrath BlitzTrance in Blood Rush with CoverFX Monochromatic Blush Duo in Warm Honey

Overall the formula is excellent across the board. Colors wear well and apply perfectly. I can get full coverage with one swipe and even after doing 9 lip swatches in a row my lips have not peeled or dried out. They’re not hydrating but at the same time they don’t dry out my lips which is a huge plus. If there is one thing I think is a little confusing, it’s the name. I think the new summer formula is different enough from the holiday launch to justify a different product name, but BlitzTrance still suits it. The new summer formula is a lot more wearable compared to the holiday colors. Summer ones have a beautiful reflective quality that shines as the light hits your lips from different angles. Even though the neutrals look remarkably close I can appreciate that they launched variations with different undertones to suit different skin and lip colors.

I think they’re all really perfect but my favorites are Skinsane, Love Train and Emmanuelle.

You can find the new Summer BlitzTrance Lipsticks out now online at Pat McGrath Labs. As usual you can shop these in bundles and lip kits on her website which give a nice price break.

Have you tried these yet? Are any on your radar?

BlitzTrance provided courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs for review.

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