Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Instagram Roundup / Loving Right Now

April 12, 2019

Happy Friday! I have an Instagram roundup on some outfits and accessories I’ve been loving lately. A few of you have asked for more info on sizing/scale of the mini bags I’ve posted in a few flatlays so I’m sharing all the details today!

Quick note that a few retailers are having sales going on right now that you might want to take advantage of. Many of my accessories are on sale!

Shopbop’s sale ends April 13th (extended by one day) with code EVENT19 you can save 20% off orders under $500 and 25% off orders over $500
Nordstrom is price matching a lot of the items from the Shopbop Sale (you’ll have to search by brand or product name)
Tory Burch is having a sale event through April 15th, 20% off $200, 25% off $350 and 30% off $500 (there are quite a few exclusions), use code SPRING
J.Crew is having a sale with 50% off sale styles and 40% off everything else, online only with code SALEUPGRADE, ends April 15th (update)

___________________

Ark Bag dupe / Sandals Sam Edelman / Jeans Jcrew Toothpick / Polish Chanel Joyau

I did a quick series on Instagram Stories about one of my Ark Bags. This one shown above was a gifted dupe and it’s a very well made one. The differences between the real Cult Gaia and this one are slight, I wish I knew where it was from but it was a gift and I’m a little embarrassed to ask! A few of you mentioned you think it’s this one from Amazon or possibly this one from Tuckernuck. Based on what I’ve seen for the bamboo/wood ones the dupes are very well constructed. If I knew where my exact dupe was from I would 100% buy it.

My favorite sandals this season are from Sam Edelman. I bought a couple pairs and these Gala Sandals are on sale at Shopbop. They run true to size and are very comfortable.

I recently rediscovered J.Crew denim, I always thought their jeans were pricey but with the sales it makes them 100% worth it. The 9 inch high rise has a good fit where it doesn’t feel like they are falling off like lowrise ones. No belt needed for this style and at the same time they aren’t too high it makes me feel like I’m wearing pants up to my chest. They’re a little stretchy but still sturdy enough to hold everything up and in! My favorites however are still from Paige in the Verdugo Ankle style (any color). Out of all the brands/styles I’ve tried I think Paige has the most flattering cuts and fit.

___________________

Cult Gaia Ark Bag Mini in Natural / Sunglasses Rayban / Lipstick Tom Ford Carriacou (review soon) / Hair Oil Gisou Mini / Bracelet Celine

My curiosity got the best of me and I felt like I just had to know what the original was like. I bought the real Cult Gaia Ark Bag in the Mini Size Natural Color from Nordstrom (also available at Shopbop) and think it’s SO cute. The real ones have the Cult Gaia branding inside the handle and in between the strips are tiny round beads while the dupes usually have a gap with the clear plastic showing. I’m 5’3″ and find minis fit my frame better in general but they aren’t always practical because of how little they hold. The mini measures 6.25 inches tall, 9 inches long, 2.5 inches deep. (Scroll down for a photo of me wearing the mini.) I think it’s the cutest thing ever and it is big enough to hold my wallet, phone, keys, a compact, sunglasses and a couple lipsticks. I do think the bigger sizes, even the small is more practical to hold more things without overwhelming your frame. I’m keeping the mini I bought and my gifted dupe – think both are the perfect summer bag, even years after it originally launched. If you want something more unique opt for the Tortoise or pretty Acrylic Colors, I love the blue and melon colors!

Quick note on my sunglasses from Rayban, the style code I have is RB2185 and I have the polarized options which are slightly more expensive than the non-polarized versions. I did not realize this until after I bought mine. I know people say polarized sunglasses have better protection for the eyes, but sometimes I don’t like the way they shift colors. I still really love mine and I own quite a few polarized sunglasses. Just wanted to tell you in case you wanted to know or wanted something around $50 cheaper opt for the regular versions.

___________________

Bag Staud Mini Shirley / Sandals Tory Burch / Hat Lack of Color / Lips Bobbi Brown Lychee Baby, Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Liner, Charlotte Tilbury Kidman’s Kiss / Perfume Byredo Bal D’Afrique / Earrings Mikimoto / Sunglasses Celine

I’ve had the Staud Mini Shirley bag for a little over a year now and love it! As with the minis vs small, I do like my mini, but the bigger options are going to be a lot more practical. I wish I bought the small size but since I use this for days I only carry essentials. It’s perfect for date nights or quick trips out. It doesn’t have a shoulder strap or long handle to throw over the arm which is the only downside to this style for me. They did just launch another clear option called the Clear Bissett Bag which seems more practical if you need a longer handle to hold over the shoulder or want something a little bigger around.

These style Tory Burch Emmy Sandals run a little small, I’d recommend going a 1/2 size up. I normally wear 6.5 in their millers, with these I opted for a 7. The classic Millers are still the most comfortable as the sole of these are stiffer, but they’re still easy to wear for me.

___________________

Hat Lack of Color / Sandals Tory Burch / Shorts AGolde / Black case The Daily Edited / Sunglasses Chanel (old style) / Polish is Chanel Le Vernis Jaspe

I bought the AGolde Parker Shorts the last time Shopbop had a sale and this was the first time I tried high rise shorts. They’re on the high side as described but it’s a nice change from the shorter lower waist options I’ve tried. Color shown is Swapmeet which is a lighter blue and they have some fun distressing giving them a more casual vibe. I also love the color Rock Steady which is a more traditional classic blue jean color.

To this day Tory Burch Millers are still my favorite sandals. The sand patent has lasted the longest for me. I’ve worn my others TO DEATH and they are starting to wear, but they have lasted probably 5 years and I’ve worn them EVERYWHERE so I think they were well worth the splurge. My brown leather ones have seen better days – but they have lived through a lot of travel, rain, humidity and moving. I’m planning to repurchase and replace them soon.

___________________

Bag Clare V Petite Sandy / Card Case Gucci / Polish Chanel Perle de Corail / Sunglasses Celine / Sandals Sam Edelman Beckie

Another sale splurge last month was the Clare V Petite Sandy and I did not realize how small it was going to be even after checking the dimensions online. I still love it and think it’s the perfect size for me! (See one photo down to see how small it is.) The larger Sandy is more of what I envisioned this being like though because it’s bigger and has a longer strap to hold over the shoulder. You can buy a separate shoulder strap from Clare V for a lot of their bags which is something I’m considering for my petite option.

Another pair of Sam Edelman shoes I’ve been loving are the Beckie Style in Natural Raffia (runs true to size for me). They have a similar style called Bay Cutout which has solid/smooth leather but I have not tried those yet. The Beckie options are the woven material and it’s very sturdy and comfortable with a slight cushion like the Gala.

___________________

By request, a few mirror selfies to show scale of the bags. I’m 5’3″ and 118 pounds (I’ve gained weight with our indulgent Miami vacation eating and have also gained muscle weight with our weight training). The struggle to stay fit is real when there are so many tempting good food places to try when you travel. I’ve been fluctuating like a yoyo.

Left photo:

AG Robyn Denim Jacket is the softest denim jacket I’ve bought, I sized up a little wearing a Small
Re/done Ribbed Tank runs super small, I bought a Medium and think I could have sized up even more, but it works
Mother Denim Skirt in Size 25
Cult Gaia Mini Ark Bag in Natural
Sam Edelman Gala Sandals in White, Size 6.5

Right photo:

Re/Done Ribbed Tank in Medium
J.Crew Belt in Size Small
Staud Mini Shirley in White
Madewell Black Sea Denim
Tory Burch Emmy Sandals in Size 7 (runs small)
Celine Round Sunglasses

Below more photos of another mini bag:

Madewell Tie Front Top (also love the short sleeve option)
AGolde Parker Shorts in Swapmeet in Size 24
Celine Round Sunglasses in Black
Stuart Weitzman Nearlynude Sandals in Black (line runs big on me, I size 1/2 a size down, wearing a Size 6)
Clare V Petite Sandy in Natural

___________________

One last post from Instagram! I mentioned the Anthropologie Cloudfleece top a while back and a lot of you wanted to know what it looked like on. I posted a photo sharing the Mint color. It’s super soft and lightweight and hangs nicely for a relaxed fit. I’m wearing the XS here.

You also wanted to know how big/small the Tory Burch Marsden Crossbody is on me. It measures 9.25 by 5.5 and 1.25 deep. Here it is on me over the shoulder and worn as a crossbody. I wish it had an adjustable strap to make it a tad bit shorter but it’s easy to wear and most of you are taller than me so it’s probably going to be the perfect length! I wear it all the time and it has some slots inside to put cards so you don’t need a wallet. I’ve owned it since last July and it’s held up very well even in Florida humidity and rain.

Top Anthropologie / Crossbody Bag Tory Burch / Shoes Converse / Shorts STS Blue / Rimless Aviator Sunglasses Marc Jacobs

___________________

Favorite tops and bottoms mentioned:

Shoes and accessories:

I hope you found this roundup helpful to answer all your questions! Let me know if you have any other ones. If you’re shopping the Shopbop sale it ends today April 13th so make sure to check it out!

23 Comments

Base Makeup

New Base Testing from Hourglass, Armani and Kosas

April 10, 2019

Finding a good makeup base is something I always get questions about and I have three newer formulas to review today. It’s taken me a while to try some of them because I’ve had several allergic reactions to product this year. Testing a number of things on my face on any given week can be tricky so I had to wait for skin to recover and retest just the foundations to check it all out. The good news is that none of these foundations caused my allergic reaction. If you have sensitive skin check the ingredients and do a patch test first. For those curious I was allergic to some of the Dr. Bronner liquid soaps that I used to wash my sponges in and a couple sunscreens I put on my face (more on the sunscreens later because I have a dedicated roundup for those). The three I’m reviewing today include:

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation in Nude ($56 for 25 ml/0.84 fl oz)
Kosas Tinted Face Oil in Shade 6 ($42 for 30 ml/1 fl oz)
Armani Power Fabric Balm Foundation in 6.5 ($64 for 0.32 oz)

___________________

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation ($56) launched earlier this year. So many of you have loved the Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick and were excited about the liquid version. It has very mixed reviews online and I also have mixed feelings. The Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid is an opaque full coverage foundation with a velvety matte finish. I feel any time a foundation is a full matte + full coverage it’s not forgiving because you need an exact match and often times it can emphasize imperfections. This is not an easy foundation to wear but it is workable if you can find a good match. The trick to applying is to use very little and buff with their Vanish Foundation Brush. Most of the time I really prefer sponges but with this one even a damp sponge will pick up too much product. Color matching was tricky for me because a lot of the shades run really yellow/olive. I consider myself yellow/golden but many of the shades are too yellow for me. My best match is Nude which you can see below blends and darkens slightly to give a perfect match right now.

It’s described as a base that doesn’t need primer, but I 100% think it needs one. It works well with the Hourglass Veil Primer and less than 1 full pump is enough to dot my face and apply all over. Once buffed and blended with their brush it covers my skin entirely. Most of my sun spots and freckles aren’t visible. It looks seamless but matte. Setting with a power is essential and the best one to use with this is their lightweight Veil Translucent Loose Setting Powder. Since it’s opaque and matte adding some other matte powders can make it look too matte.

For me it lasted all day without budging – I did need to use a primer and buff with the brush. Without a primer or applied with a sponge it started to look very cakey within a few hours.

Bare skin vs. Vanish Seamless Liquid Foundation in Nude (no concealer or powder). A few other makeup products added including the Hourglass Arch Brow Gel in Soft Brunette, L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara, Confession Lipstick in I Woke Up, Tee by Reformation.

Swatches of a few shades, plus Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion in Buff (to show how yellow the Hourglass colors run):

Ingredients from Sephora:

Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Isoamyl Laurate, Caprylyl Methicone, Mica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Quaternium-90 Bentonite, C10-18 Triglycerides, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Hexylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, Polyglycerin-3, Propylene Carbonate, Quartz, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Iron Oxides (Ci 77891, Ci 77492, Ci 77491), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77499).

___________________

Kosas Tinted Face Oil

The Kosas Tinted Face Oil ($42) has received a lot of attention from you! It’s very fluid as it is an oil so I apply straight to a sponge. Applying on the back of my hand or fingers results in a very runny drippy mess. I didn’t know what to expect from an oil as a foundation, especially living in humid Florida and having combination skin I was pretty skeptical about this. My match is Shade 6. It has surprisingly decent coverage given how sheer and fluid it is. It’s not as sheer as the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, but the Kosas is still sheer-medium. Once on the skin it will look very dewy. I have to set with a powder otherwise it’s too dewy. I like to use this on no-makeup makeup days or for the beach when I need just a little coverage. Most days I feel like I need and want coverage so for me this is not an everyday kind of product. Being an oil it’s not really budge-proof and it will require touch ups if you’re outdoors. On me it will last for hours without issue if I’m indoors for most of the day. I do need to set with a powder and a couple of touch ups are necessary. I can layer concealer on top for more coverage and it does make the skin look very nice and fresh, but I need powder otherwise it’s really too dewy for my preference.

Bare skin on the right. On the left added brows and mascara with Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Jour but the skin has just the tinted oil on it, no concealer or powder.

Ingredients from their website:

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Silica, Kaolin, Mica, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Tocopherol, Limnanthen Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera (Tea) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, May Contain [+/-] Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77499, 77491, 77492)

Some swatches of shades 5, 6 and 7:

___________________

Armani Power Fabric Foundation Balm

The Armani Power Fabric Foundation Balm ($64) came highly recommended by several friends. I would like to test it more but I’ve received so many questions I thought I’d give you my first impressions. Initial thoughts are that it is very good, but I think other formulas are better. It’s a solid balm foundation that has a semi-velvety matte finish. Coverage is very good. On me it’s nearly full coverage but still manages to look like skin. I ordered the color 6.5 which is a pretty good match, it pulls a little more on the neutral side versus the Luminous Silk or Power Fabric Liquid 6.5 (both are more golden). I would have preferred it to be a little more golden but it works one blended. Pros are that it makes the skin look really nice, even and smooth with good coverage. I applied with the sponge applicator it comes with and it doesn’t absorb too much product. It looks like skin but a lot better. The downsides for me are that it can emphasize dry patches or texture and after 5-6 hours or so it separates if I don’t set with a good powder. I need to experiment with different primers but with either the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream or Drunk Elephant Polypeptide Moisturizer it looks good on the skin. I really do like the way it looks, covers and blends. All that said I prefer the liquid Power Fabric Foundation a lot more in terms of coverage and lasting power – on me it just looks better. First impressions are that it’s worth checking out. It’s a nice solid formula foundation and photographs well. I just prefer their Luminous Silk and Power Fabric Liquid for lasting power and finish and color.

Two close ups wearing the Balm Foundation on the face, no powder or concealer. On the lips is By Terry Lip Expert Shine in Bare Flirt.

Swatch comparisons:

Ingredients from Nordstrom:

Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isohexadecane, Polyethylene, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Arachidyl Propionate, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Hydroxide, Parfum/Fragrance, Perlite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, [+/- May Contain Ci 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499/Iron Oxides].

Quick note on the Power Fabric Concealer. I reviewed it in a roundup earlier but I’m still really loving it! I use Shade 6.5 and it has good coverage and an easy to blend texture. It’s described as a full matte finish concealer but to me it’s not really a full matte and I find it more of a natural middle of the road finish (I consider the Cle de Peau Concealer to be a true full matte). Definitely give it a swatch at the counter as the dry down feel will vary depending on your skin type. If you need something creamy I think the best one is still the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.

___________________

I hope you found this foundation roundup helpful! I ended up liking the one from Hourglass the best out of the three formulas but the shade range makes it challenging for me to find a good match since it pulls very yellow and colors oxidize/darken. Nude works for me now and I’m hoping Beige will work as spring/summer progresses and I tan. I try to stay covered as much as I can but there’s no avoiding the sun in Florida! The Kosas Tinted Face Oil is a nice product that gives the face that fresh dewy glow but if you have oily skin it will most likely make you look too dewy. I’m still undecided about the Armani Power Fabric Balm. I really want to 100% love it and think it’s a good one, but it did emphasize some dry patches and I feel like the Power Fabric Liquid is better in terms of how it blends and sits on my skin.

Kosas Tinted Face Oil and Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Liquid provided for review.

20 Comments

Beauty Favorites Packing What's In My Bag

Travel Makeup Pouches I Never Leave Home Without

April 8, 2019

If you’re in search of a good travel makeup bag I have a few favorites I’m sharing today! I’ve put quite a few to the test over the years and I’m rounding up the ones I swear by to haul around my makeup for travel. I’ve tried so many different brands, sizes and styles over many trips. I’m constantly testing different shapes in search of the best ones to pack my makeup. Finding the best makeup bag for me depends on trip length and destination. I like to have different options for makeup vs. skin and hair as I keep things separated by product type so it’s easier for me to find things. I also like flat zip or snap closure pouches to carry around with me as well. Today I’m sharing the three travel pouches I brought with me on my most recent trip along with more thoughts and comparisons on a few different styles/shapes.

_________________

The Daily Edited

The Daily Edited makes some of my favorite travel makeup cases. They functional, chic, well made and I love the personalization options! I really love their Large Cosmetic Case. It’s roomy with a wide base so I can fit quite a bit inside. I own this in a couple colors and I’ve brought this one on every single trip since I purchased it in fall 2017. It has a saffiano textured finish and both have held up really well. Another one of my favorites is their Transparent Cosmetic Case for an affordable option to the Anya Hindmarch Inflight Bags. You can read the review plus comparison in this post here. Quick note that since I bought mine The Daily Edited has changed the design slightly of the trim which you can see on their website. I usually bring the transparent one with me as well but there was a new bag from Truffle that I wanted to try this trip.

Closer look at The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case in Black ($100). I picked the smaller font option with blind embossing. It measures 5.3″ high x 8.9″ wide x 4.3″ deep.

Skincare and haircare I packed inside the bag this trip:

_________________

Truffle

Top: Clarity Jumbo Jetset 9″ W X 3″ H X 6″ D
Bottom: Clarity Jetset 7 1/2” W X 2″ H X 5 1/4” D

Truffle has been a long time favorite as well – I carry their flat pouches with me pretty much everywhere I go. I have them in my purse, in my gym bag and they are always part of my travel uniform. I’ve used these for years and found that their plastic material and leather has held up really nicely even with regular use. Similar to any clear material the plastic will get get dirty with smudges but it’s easy to clean. I clean mine with Novus Plastic Clean and Shine every once in a while and it removes all the sand, debris and smudges. For travel I always pack their Clarity Jetset Case with me. They’re small enough to throw in my tote for day-to-day. They’re also good for bringing some inflight essentials with you. For ideas on how to use it, you can see what I packed inside for our California trip last year in this post here. I also pack my on-the-go fitness beauty essentials inside it for when we go out and run. Truffle just launched a Clarity Jumbo Jetset Case which is a larger version and has two zip around compartments. It’s longer and deeper so can fit more things like longer makeup compacts (I put my Naked Reloaded inside and it fit perfectly!). One half has an elastic band to help hold things in place.

A closer look at the Clarity Jumbo Jetset Case ($125). Measures 9″ W X 3″ H X 6″ D

What I fit inside the Jumbo Jetset:

_________________

Clear Envelope /Flat Pouches

The third thing I never leave home without is a flat clear pouch. Ouai also makes some of my favorite clear envelope pouches. Every time I feature one I’m asked by everyone where it’s from! There are two sizes, a Mini Envelope Clutch ($15) and a Larger Envelope Clutch ($25). They are so convenient to travel with because you can see everything inside it! I’ve found them on their website, unfortunately they’re frequently sold out, the larger one is in stock right now on the US site, mini is available on their UK site. I’ve seen them restock a number of times in the past on the US website so I’d recommend keeping an eye if you have this on your wishlist. I also really love the Truffle Clarity Clutches in Small and Mini sizes to throw in my travel bag. Long time readers know these are always with me!

Inside the Ouai Mini Envelope that I brought to Miami with me (I also carry it with me to the beach at home as well):

Here’s a side by side of the Truffle Clarity Mini ($40), measures 8″ L x 5″ H
Ouai Large Envelope Clutch ($25), measures 11.5″ L x 8.25″ H
Ouai Mini Envelope Clutch ($15), measures approx. 6.5″ x 6.5″

_________________

I really love having a clear makeup bag so I can see what is inside. Flat pouches are easier to pack into a tote because they’re slimmer and keep things compact, but if you have larger compacts or bottles they tend to stretch out the clear plastic options. Some additional thoughts:

The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic bag is my favorite makeup bag for traveling. It’s quite roomy and the shape works well for my travel style and needs. It can hold a lot of minis, compacts, lipsticks etc. The only downside is there isn’t really a separate compartment for things like brushes. If you like a large open compartment style bag this is the best one I’ve tried.
For the clear zip bag options:
- Truffle’s Clarity Jumbo Jetset Case is the largest option I own. It’s long enough to hold compacts like Urban Decay’s Naked Palette with extra room. The elastic strap in the bottom is handy but pretty stretchy. I like that it has a handle on one end but that still lies flat against the bag. Since it’s bigger it can hold more liquids and stack more products inside. The price is on the high side but it’s very well made.
- The Daily Edited Transparent Cosmetic Case is the middle of the road option for size. It’s been a great one for me on many trips and I still think it’s worth the splurge. This one is long enough to hold the Urban Decay Naked Palette as well, but the Truffle Jumbo option is larger. If you travel with carry-on suitcases or smaller soft bags this is going to be a better option as it’s more compact and won’t take up as much luggage space.
- The Truffle Clarity Jetset is the smallest single compartment option I have. The size is perfect to throw in your gym bag or put in a small tote/travel bag for under the seat. It can hold small chargers, cords, passport, notebooks, etc. for easy access. Since it’s smaller it’s easy to fit into a carry on bag or tote. I’ve found it very versatile!
Do you need more than one? I like to have different pouches to separate items by category when I travel so it’s easier to find things. I keep skin/hair care in one pouch, electronics/chargers in another, makeup in a different bag, etc.
Pricing is high for both The Daily Edited and Truffle, but I’ve found them 100% worth it. They occasionally do flash sales or holiday sales so I’d recommend signing up for their newsletter or follow on social for notifications on special offerings. I just ordered some more Daily Edited pieces because they had a site-wide sale for 2 days last week, can’t wait to show you what I bought!
I’ve linked a few other more affordable clear bag alternatives below. You can definitely find other clear bag alternatives at lower price points but I still think Truffle and The Daily Edited have exceptional quality for the price! MAC also carries some clear bag squares and pouches online that I’ve tried in the past and liked. They didn’t hold up quite as well and I had to throw a few away though.

Hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know if I can answer any other questions about these cases! What makeup cases do you like to travel with? Do you usually go on shorter trips or longer ones?

Truffle Jumbo Jetset gifted. All other items featured purchased by me.

24 Comments

Fashion Florida Packing

What I Packed for a Miami Getaway / Travel Diary

April 5, 2019

We had so much fun in Miami I almost didn’t want to come back home! Last weekend Andrew told me he wanted to go to Miami for a spontaneous getaway trip – spontaneous as in “let’s go tomorrow.” I’m normally one who prefers more advance notice but all he had to do was mention The Salty Donut and I did not hesitate to immediately start throwing things into a suitcase. I don’t think I’ve ever packed so fast in my life! If you haven’t tried The Salty Donut in Miami add it yo your list. They have the best donuts I’ve ever had and if I lived in Miami I think eating there would be a weekly habit.

Since moving to Florida so many of you have asked me about packing tips for your vacations. You want to know what to wear, how hot it gets, what sunscreen wears the best, etc. I’ve also received so many questions about the Away Luggage and other accessories like their packing cubes, everywhere bag and backpacks. I’ve put together a travel diary to share exactly what I packed, what I wore and thoughts about everything we’ve tried from Away.

This trip we stayed at the Loews Miami in South Beach. We’ve stayed in a few different areas in Miami before and we really love staying by the beach areas. Other neighborhoods also have their benefits but being in South Beach is so fun. You can literally just stay at a hotel in the area and have everything you need for a fun vacation without a car. We like to get around and since we live in Florida we drove 4 hours from Tampa to Miami. We had a pleasant stay at the Loews! Staff is really attentive, rooms were clean, pool and beach area were really nice. The food and coffee bar were spendy but that is expected in South Beach. We tried breakfast at their Preston’s Market which was pretty good – we ate outside on the covered patio which was really beautiful and relaxing.

Tank – J.Crew / Shorts – 7 ForAll Mankind / Sandals – Sam Edelman Beckie runs true to size / Belt – J.Crew / Mini Crossbody Bag – Chloe Mini Marcie (review here) / Sunglasses – Rayban 55 mm round (love these!!)

This is our fourth trip to Miami and each time we plan a mini vacation. We leave feeling like we should have stayed longer! We’ve already found some favorite eats but force ourselves to try something new each time. That being said, my ride or die must-eats for every trip are The Salty Donut and Panther Coffee in Wynwood. We bought a box of four Salty Donuts and walked over to Panther Coffee down the street for a perfect snack. This round we tried the Guava and Cheese, Coconut Lychee, Chocolate Marshmallow and Traditional Glazed Donuts. They’re AMAZING!

Sunglasses – Rayban / V-neck Tee – J.Crew / Short – AGolde Parker Shorts in Rock Steady / Sandals – Sam Edelman Gaia (runs true to size and comfortable enough for walking around in all day) / Card Case – Gucci / Lips – Dior Addict Lip Glow

For shopping we stopped by the Glossier Miami Pop Up which was a few blocks away, also in Wynwood until April 28th. Full recap plus haul in this post. If you’re in town definitely visit – it’s super cute!

Just around the corner, Wynwood Walls:

During our trip we did a tiny little bit of shopping. We did a quick stop in the Miami Design District to walk around, window shop and browse. I splurged on a pair of Celine Round Sunglasses which I’m really excited about! There’s also a tiny Aesop Store and Andrew bought a few skincare items to try including the Control Anti Blemish Gel and another bottle of Mouthwash. I had my eye on the Sao Paulo Kit for travel but decided to think about it.

Tank – Nation LTD / Shorts – L’Agence Zoe Shorts / Sandals – Sam Edelman / Purse – Chloe Mini Marcie / Sunglasses – Rayban / Necklace – Nordstrom

There’s a really cute Taco Truck inside the Miami Design District called La Pollita which has cute snacks and drinks. We were stuffed from food earlier in the day otherwise would have tried the tacos, we took a few sneaky peeks at what other people were eating and it looked and smelled delicious.

Since we stayed in South Beach we spent the rest of our time near the beach areas. This time of year it’s warm but not too humid and the water temperature is so nice to swim in! We love the blue shallow water, it’s one of the nicest places to swim. We rented lounge chairs and an umbrella at the beach. You can also rent them even if you’re not a hotel guest. Policy might be different depending on hotel, but we’ve also found in Tampa a lot of the hotels will rent their beach chairs and cabanas to anyone.

Tank – Nation LTD Dakota Henley / Shorts – 7 For All Mankind / Hat – Eric Javits / Belt – J.Crew

Tank – Nation LTD / Shorts – 7 For All Mankind / Hat – Eric Javits (love this because the top has enough material to have it rated SPF50 and it prevents your scalp from getting burned, it really works!) / Swimsuit worn underneath not shown is the Tory Burch Costa Top and Bottom

A few more new eats we tried this time included Yardbirds on Leonox Ave and Havana 1957 on Espanola Way. We enjoyed both immensely! If you’re new to the Miami South Beach area, quick note that some restaurants automatically include tip in the bill labeled “Service Charge.” We didn’t realize this at one of the places we ate until after we left and looked at the bill and realized we ended up leaving a seriously hefty tip because we tipped on top of the tip. A few people had mentioned this to me before but I had forgotten about it! I feel like I still have yet to really explore Miami enough to find the best eats. I’d love to explore more of Wynwood though.

Since first discovering Away I’ve now tried their Carry-On, Bigger Carry-On, Medium Suitcase, Everywhere Bag, Packing Cubes and Backpack. Everything has exceeded our expectations in quality and function. I’m an Away Ambassador so the items I’ve featured were gifted but I stand by everything 100%. I have also bought many suitcases on my own to gift to family and it’s been well received, even among the most skeptical and picky ones. Everything has held up really well. My thoughts on each item:

Suitcases:
- Carry-On Suitcase is best if you’re a light packer or traveling on international flights with smaller suit case carry on restrictions
- Bigger Carry-On is our favorite to fly with and travel with in general. Works on flights we’ve flown with Delta, United, American Airlines. It’s roomier than the Carry-On but still fits in the overhead compartments for the listed airlines.
- Medium Suitcase makes more sense for us for longer distance trips. We brought this with us on our California trip over the holiday and think it’s much more convenient to have something larger vs. carry ons for our needs. I plan on buying a second one soon.
Everywhere Bag is the best travel bag I’ve ever tried. I normally use my totes and end up stuffing them full. These bags have well thought out storage zippers and pockets as well as a roomy interior. It fits perfectly under the airplane seat in front of you but is roomy enough to carry a laptop and other essentials you might need for on the plane. There is an exterior pocket to store documents for easy access before you get on the plane. It also has a pocket to attach onto your suitcase handle.
Packing Cubes have gone through a couple design changes, the current ones with mesh top are a lifesaver to organize your clothes, underwear, shoes etc and keep them in place. I bought a set for Andrew and he didn’t want to use them. I begged him to try and he’s now convinced it’s one of the best things invented. He can organize all his clothes by type and he loves how they truly keep things in place without shifting.
Backpack is the larger option of the two they carry, this one has three main compartments to store things that allow you to be truly hands free. We love that it’s cushioned and that the base is flat so it can actually stand up on it’s own if you set it down. There are a couple nicely hidden compartment zippered pockets for things like your passport etc. It fits a lot more than we anticipated!

A closer look at the Backpack which now has a personalization option! There are some more of their soft goods you can personalize with 3 letters which I think is so fun. I have my initials on the backpack. We brought it with us to the beach both back home in Tampa and in Miami. It has really well thought out pocket placement so there’s a place for everything. This one can fit a laptop inside as well.

Tank – Nation LTD / Hat – Eric Javits / Shorts – 7 For All Mankind / Sunglasses – Rayban / Sandals – UGG Kari Sandal (runs true to size) / Backpack – Away

My full pack list linked below, makeup and beauty to follow in a separate post! We each packed a Bigger Carry-On, an Everywhere Bag and shared the Backpack space. Our trip was open ended – we didn’t know how long we’d be away when we left Tampa.

What I packed (including a couple things I didn’t wear but brought just in case):

You always love reading my thoughts on what I brought and what I missed so I’m doing it again! For a very casual laid back last minute getaway I had everything I needed. I still need to find a good beach coverup and an updated beach tote (although our backpack works better than any beach tote I’ve used). I didn’t pack a nice dress for a just-in-case occasion. Some of the restaurants are dressier and require something other than shorts. This round we were ok with everything very casual. I packed a denim jacket and some long denim pants just in case but didn’t end up wearing them. The three pairs of sandals I brought worked perfectly! I probably could have gotten away with just 1 pair of sandals but I like having options for a few days.

If you’re going to be in Florida know the weather can be unpredictable. Bring a few extra sets of clothes packed with you just in case you need to change if you get rained on or sweat too much. When we’re going out to the beach even in Tampa Andrew always reminds me to bring an extra set of clothes to change into. I feel like it’s a bit of a hassle but I’m always really happy when I do have that extra dry clean set to change into. Aside from the obvious good sunscreen and sunglasses, a good hat is a MUST. I really am so impressed with the Eric Javits one I bought – it is large enough to cover the face and has the perfect amount of flop/stiffness with the brim. I’m going to buy one in black too.

Our other Miami Florida trips:

Hope you enjoyed this packing post and mini travel diary! We’ve been in Florida for a little over two years now and there’s still so much more to explore. I still want to go to Palm Beach and perhaps Key West again. If you’ve been to Florida what are your favorite areas?

19 Comments

Florida Glossier

Glossier Miami Pop-Up Shop

April 3, 2019

I’m back from a mini vacation! We took a few days off to visit the other side of Florida and drove to Miami for some good food, more sunshine, more beaches and shopping. Several of my readers let me know about the Glossier Pop Up Store in Miami so we stopped by to check it out. It is one of the cutest pop up installations I’ve ever seen! It’s located in Wynwood on 222 NW 26th Street, open until April 28th. Hours are listed on the Glossier website. There are a lot of testers for you to play with, helpful staff and it’s basically an Instagram dream come true. Cute displays, mirrors for makeup application and selfies, postcards and the entire Glossier + Glossier Play line. Weekends can get pretty crowded and busy with a line but they move fairly quickly. We went to the pop up on two separate days because our first time there it was so crowded I didn’t want to wait to check out and purchase product.

Mini haul below including the Glossier Zit Stick, new Mango Balm Dot Com, Lash Slick, Glossier Play Niteshine in Pale Rose and Deep Copper, High Shine Lip Lacquers in Pony and Blow Up. I also tested their Milky Oil which seemed pretty impressive in taking off the eyeliners from the back of my hand. Unfortunately they were sold out so I ordered it online. I haven’t had a chance to test the makeup but the highlighters are tiny – they girls at the store explained they are dab and blend kind of highlighters and that does seem the best way to apply. A little goes a long way. I did try the new Mango Balm Dot Com and it has the most delicious sweet mango scent to it. I didn’t think I would like it because it’s really sweet, but I actually really love it.

Swatches of the makeup items I bought. I actually had a third highlighter on my list but they accidentally gave me two of the same shade. I’m giving away my extra (details in the widget at the end of the post).

We also saw the cute Mango Pop Up cart in the Miami Design District! You can check their Instagram to see where it’s going to show up next. On our second trip to the Pop Up we saw they had moved these to the actual store in the hallways but they might move again.

Definitely worth checking out! It’s super cute and fun to see all the items in person. If you’re not near a store you can always order online (that’s how I’ve always bought their products). If you want to use my referral link you can save 10% off your first order. I have some extras that I picked up so I’m giving away some goodies to 1 lucky reader. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Enter through the widget below. Giveaway entries are going to run through April 7th, 2019 11:59 PM EST. ONE winner will be selected within 72 hours after giveaway ends and emailed by me. Prizes ship within one week. Not sponsored or affiliated.

Giveaway items:

Glossier Mango Balm
Glossier Lash Slick Mascara
Glossier Play Niteshine in Pure Copper
Assorted Miami Pop Up Post Cards
Zip Pink Pouch
Stickers I got at the store

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To recap, the Glossier Miami Pop Up is going to be open in Miami through April 28th. Hours are on their website. Have you been to any of the Glossier Pop Ups before? If yes which ones?

More on our Miami trip, packing + outfits to follow! Lots of you have been asking about all the sandals I’ve been wearing and I’ve promised to share everything I wore with size info soon.

113 Comments

Beauty Favorites

Best of March Beauty Favorites

March 31, 2019

It’s been a while since I’ve had a monthly favorites roundup but today I have one for those who have been asking for this series to return and want to know what I’ve been loving lately!

Cover FX Water Cloud Primer* is one of the new primers from Cover Fx. They repackaged and reformulated a few and launched a couple new formulas. This one is my favorite to cool and refresh the skin and also defend from blue light. It makes their foundation apply smoothly and last all day.
Cover FX SPF 30 Booster Drops* and Brightening Booster Drops* both work to enhance a foundation with different properties. The SPF 30 one is sold out everywhere but I love being to add sun protection to foundation. It’s clear and applied smoothly once mixed with their Power Play Foundation* (review here). The Brightening Drops are supposed to help brighten skin and reduce dark spots. I haven’t noticed a brightening effect just yet but it makes foundation look smoother and feel easier to apply.
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc + White Suede Eau de Parfum* layered makes for the most amazing combination. Since wearing this for the past month I’ve been getting stopped frequently asking what perfume I’ve been wearing. Soleil Blanc is one of my favorites anyways and when layered with White Suede it adds more depth and power.
Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base is one of the best cream bronzers I’ve loved for years, still love it!
Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere Radiance-Perfecting Foundation* (review here) is the most-worn foundation this month.
IGK Jet Lag Invisible Dry Shampoo (mini shown) is my favorite dry shampoo, I often keep the mini with me on-the-go.
Dior Lip Glow in Coral and Rose Gold have been my most-worn tinted balms this past month.
Natasha Denona Mini Nude Eye Palette* (review here) makes for the prettiest neutral warm eye look.
Glamglow Supertoner Exfoliating Solution is the only liquid acid product I’ve actually really liked and felt like I could use. I use it as a toner and it’s helped clear up clogged pores and kept breakouts away.
Lancome Eau Micellare Cleansing Water is one of my most repurchased cleansing waters.
Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist is my favorite face mist for a lightweight hydrating feel. I have this in a mini that I also like to keep in my purse sometimes.
Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks in Rosegold, Copper and Sand Glow* are the best all over lid kind of shimmers for an effortless eye.
NARS Super Radiant Booster (review here) has been my favorite soft liquid illuminator this month.
Chanel Le Vernis in Organdi* (swatched here) and Jaspe*(swatched here) were my personal favorites, Bleached Mauve was a reader favorite (swatched here).
Kosas Tinted Face Oil* in Shade 6 (review soon) is a nice lightweight tinted face oil that adds a very natural amount of coverage and glow.
Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash is a great thing to have in my bag when I’m on the go, it also smells amazing!
Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows in Smoke, Foil and Reflects (review here) are prettiest lid sparkles to add dimension and shimmer.
Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Flash (review here) is the best brightening coral pink lip I’ve tried this year.

That wraps up my March beauty favorites! What were some of yours this past month?

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

17 Comments

Eye Makeup Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Labs EYEdols Eyeshadow Review + Swatches

March 29, 2019

Pat McGrath Labs launched eyeshadow singles called EYEdols Eye Shadow ($25 each for 1.1 g/ 0.04 oz, made in USA). There are 17 shades total, 11 are repromotes from previously launched palettes and 6 are brand new shades. For those who prefer to pick individual colors I think this is the perfect way to try a few before committing to a full size palette. In my experience all of her eyeshadow palettes are among the best out there. I tend to be more conservative with my eyeshadow but since playing with her bold options have found myself experimenting more with different textures and colors, and I love it!

I was lucky to get an early preview of the eye shadows and have been playing with them for days now. In the interest of time I wasn’t able to get any makeup looks photographed for you but can if you’re interested. I swatched all the colors but have only been able to fully test 10 of them on the eyes so far. Everything is excellent in quality, color payoff and pigment. There are varying textures/finishes: mattes, shimmers, sparkles and metallics. Lasting power is really good, there were only some fall out issues with a couple of the sparkles (application-wise) which I’ll note below.

The EYEdols come in a clear plastic case and the pans are not removable. Size-wise they look to be the same in circumference as the palettes but they have less product than the MTHRSHP Palettes which have 12 g/ 0.42 oz for 6 shades which breaks down to 2 g / 0.07 oz each. The 6-pan palettes run at $55 each which make for a better buy. But sometimes it’s nice to just pick the colors you want individually.

First a look at all the colors and as many swatches as I could fit on one arm, then a closer look at all the colors plus descriptions and thoughts.

______________________

Up first are the neutral shades, for reference I’ve linked the previous palette reviews:

Celestial (from MTHRSHP Sublime Bronze Temptation) is a shimmering champagne
Telepathic Taupe (from MTHRSHP Platinum Bronze) is a medium shimmering neutral taupe
Statuesque (new) is a matte soft brown
Sextrovert (from MTHRSHP Platinum Bronze) is a shimmering warm brown

______________________

Next are the warm golden colors:

Gold Standard (from MTHRSHP Subversive Metalmorphosis) is a bright yellow sparkle gold, this had some fall out with the chunky sparkles with application, once applied and on the skin fallout is minimal
Enraptured (from MTHRSHP Subliminal Dark Star) is a more neutral brassy gold shimmer
Corrupt Copper (new) is a warm metallic copper orange gold

______________________

Next are the rosy warm tones:

Rose Venus (new) is one of the prettiest sparking rose pink shimmers with a metallic sheen
Pale Fire (from MTHRSHP La Vie En Rose) is a satiny shimmering soft baby warm pink
Burnished Honey (new)
Crimson Fire (new) is a shimmering warm red
Deep Velvet (from MTHRSHP Platinum Bronze) is a deep cool matte brown

______________________

Last are the set of bolds and deep colors:

Synthetica (new) is a sparkling bright purple violet with chunky sparkles
Purple Reign (from MTHRSHP La Vie En Rose) is a satiny deep bright bold purple
Dark Matter (from MTHRSHP Subliminal Dark Star) is a black satin
Divine Mink (from Mothership IV Decadence) is a metallic silvery greyed brown
Lapis Luxury (from Mothership IV Decadence) is a metallic teal sparkle

______________________

My favorites are actually the ones that are already in the previously launched palettes which include: Telepathic Taupe, Sextrovert, Deep Velvet, Dark Matter and Divine Mink. I also did really like the matte neutral in Statuesque for a soft brown crease color. Rose Venus which is new is also a really stunning warm pink color.

Overall excellent quality and color payoff. I like that the packaging is simple and no-fuss. The fact that it comes in a clear case makes it easy to see the color inside. For me I still prefer her palettes but singles are a nice way to try one or a few shades you really want rather than having to purchase colors you may never (or rarely use). Price-wise I do think these are on spendy but they seem to be similar to what other luxury beauty eyeshadows other singles are priced at. I feel like palettes are always going to be priced better for price per oz versus individual shades.

You can find the Pat McGrath Labs EYEdols on her website PatMcGrath.com. She also has a few kit bundle options that come with a price break.

Have you checked these out yet? Or any of her palettes? What did you think?

Pat McGrath EYEdols provided courtesy of the Pat McGrath Labs team for review.

19 Comments

Older Posts

Newer Posts

Sabrina

Instagram Roundup / Loving Right Now

New Base Testing from Hourglass, Armani and Kosas

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation

Kosas Tinted Face Oil

Armani Power Fabric Foundation Balm

Travel Makeup Pouches I Never Leave Home Without

The Daily Edited

Truffle

_________________

Clear Envelope /Flat Pouches

What I Packed for a Miami Getaway / Travel Diary

Glossier Miami Pop-Up Shop

Best of March Beauty Favorites

Pat McGrath Labs EYEdols Eyeshadow Review + Swatches

Follow @beautylookbook