Beauty Favorites Archives - The Beauty Look Book

Best Skin Tints for Summer

July 27, 2024

In the hot summer months I love a good sheer natural-looking base and many of you do too! By popular request I’ve rounded up my favorite skin tints and sheer-bases for summer.

Here are my top ten favorites right now (in no particular order). I have normal combination skin and live in a very humid area. A lot of you have asked for sweat-proof makeup recommendations and unfortunately sometimes it can be so humid that nothing lasts outdoors. This time of year though I’m indoors as much as I can be, so these favorites hold up very well for me throughout the day.

Chanel Les Beiges

Chanel makes my favorite foundations, in particular the Les Beiges lineup. I love their formulas, shade undertones and the variety of finishes they offer. The Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint ($47 – 70) is available in a travel or full size format. This is the sheerest base I’ve tried that I like. It offers minimal coverage with a gel base and micro-droplets of pigment. It’s the best bare-skin effect base I’ve tried with a lightweight finish that has a fresh glow without feeling greasy. Since it’s so sheer I don’t need an exact match, I can wear either Medium or Medium Plus. Original review from 2019 here.

The Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch ($70) is similar in concept but has more coverage. I love the finish. It has medium coverage and blends out beautifully on the skin. I also love the texture and formula. Coverage is easy to control and layer without ever feeling heavy. I wear B40. Review and look on the skin here.

Summer Fridays

The Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint ($42) is another popular sheer tint and I love it. I do think the colors are limited (I would love to see more colors and more undertone options) but if you can find a match it’s great. I alternate between Shade 4 or 5 and sometimes mix them. Since I’ve bought these they have added a Shade 4.5 but it was warm/pinkish so I’ve decided to stick with my 4 and 5. Coverage is very sheer. It’s lightweight, dewy but not greasy, and natural looking. However if you have oily skin I do think this will be too dewy for you.

Lisa Eldridge

Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint is another very good sheer skin tint. I usually love applying tints with a brush or sponge but I think this one blends best with the warmth of your fingers. In my first order I picked out T7 and T8 based on her foundation shade chart. I tried a few samples of her foundation (wasn’t a fan) and my match was No 14. The color recommendations in the Sheer Skin Tints ended up being too light. I felt T9’s olive undertone would be too yellow so I ordered T10 which is a great match for my tan summer skin. I sometimes mix 8 and 10 though.

This is naturally glowy so you do need to set with a powder. Coverage is very sheer but buildable. It feels comfortable and lightly hydrating on the skin. A little goes a long way.

Supergoop!

Supergoop! Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint with SPF 50 ($44) has been getting a lot of love from me this year. I bought these when I still had my winter skin coloring and I tan easily, so by now I’ve ended up with multiple shades. For me 30W is the best match although I have used 24N and 26W. I’ve added swatches next to their GlowScreen (also love this) for reference. This is a natural looking base that has sheer medium coverage. It’s described as “lightweight” but I don’t know that I would agree with that description. It’s semi thick and you can definitely feel it on the skin. I still really like this for beach days or boat days.

It Cosmetics

The It Cosmetics CC+ tints have reached cult status and for good reason! I’ve tried every formula they have and the It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow ($47) is the best one. It has a thinner texture than most CC+ creams so it’s easier to blend and has a sheerer finish with medium coverage so it looks more natural on the skin. Since it’s not super thick like most CC creams it has a lighter weight feel. Can’t rave enough about this one. I wear Medium Tan.

Fenty + Rare Beauty

If you need something that isn’t too emollient or dewy I highly recommend checking out the Fenty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint ($36) or Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer ($30). Both have a natural finish that is somewhere in between soft glow and satin with a subtle blurring effect. I think both are highly under-rated, they should get more love! I wear either Shade 9 or 10 in the Fenty and in the Rare Beauty I wear 24N. Coverage for both is sheer-medium. Enough to even out redness and smooth out the face without looking or feeling heavy. Skin still looks like skin.

below wearing Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer in 24N (full look details here)

below wearing Fenty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint in Shade 10

Patrick Ta

The Patrick Ta Major Skin Crème Foundation and Finishing Powder Duo ($52) isn’t really a skin tint, but I’ve added it to the roundup because the finish is like that of a skin tint in solid cream foundation form. The finish is SO beautiful for both the cream and powder. The powder doesn’t have full intensity pigment so it doesn’t darken or alter the look of your foundation, it just sets in the most beautiful natural way. I wear Light Medium 2, full review here.

Sisley

Last on my list is the Sisley Phyto-Teint Nude ($110). This is an incredibly pricey option but the formula is impeccable and for me it was worth the splurge. It has a beautiful fluid texture and finish. Glides on with absolute perfection and has a very pretty finish. I prefer this Phyto-Teint Nude to the newer Phyto-Teint Perfection (which is full coverage, matte and isn’t as forgiving if you don’t have an exact match). I’ve repurchased once, but I don’t know that I’ll repurchase it a third time because of the price point, but the formula is exceptionally good. Full review here.

Best Foundation Brushes

For applying liquids and creams I usually love a beautyblender to blend and press everything into the skin, but I do have a few favorite brushes.

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7 is a great dual ended brush. The foundation side is ultra smooth and gives you streak-free coverage and blends everything to perfection. The smaller side is nice for blending out areas around the eyes or nose.

Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush and the Vanish Foundation Brush are also excellent. Both are very smooth on the skin and they blend creams well.

Fenty Foundation Brush 145 is a really nice one. It has a slightly wider shape and it’s angled which blends everything out smoothly.

Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush is one of the best ones for me. If I had to pick just one this would be it. It’s wider and angled without being too short/dense. I love the pointed tip to help blend in creases like around the nose.

I clean the brushes with warm water and Dawn Dish Soap. For stubborn creams I’ll do a double cleanse and after rinsing with warm water + dish soap, I’ll spritz some of the Sephora Collection Daily Brush Cleaner which is the best at dissolving cream products. A brush cleaning pad is essential. I’m using the Sigma Brush Cleaning Mat and love it.

For those of you who have been asking for an updated skin tint roundup I hope you found this helpful! If you want to share your favorite skin tints for summer, let me know what they are in the comments!

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Beauty Favorites

Monthly Beauty Favorites: May Hits and Misses

June 1, 2024

Happy June! I can’t believe yet another month has flown by. Today I’m rounding up the things I tested in May.

Base Products

There were a few new base launches that I really loved this month. I’ve been a huge fan of the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer and she launched a new Hy-Glam Powder Foundation which has an incredible formula. The packaging is beautifully designed with a compartment for a puff. I wear her concealer in Shades N5 through N9 depending on how much brightening I want vs spot concealing. In her Hy-Glam Powder Foundation I can pull off a few of the shades, right now I like NP7 or Y5-7. It’s a really nice blurring powder that looks like skin but has really good coverage. Even though it’s a powder foundation I prefer to use this as a setting powder.

Fenty added new complexion products. I really like the Soft’Lit Luminous Foundation in Shade 260 (see it in action here). It has nice medium to full coverage and the Foundation Brush 145 is a must-have for smooth streak-free application (although you can use any brush or sponge). If you want something more like a skin tint the Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint is a really nice one especially for summer. It’s lighter weight but still has pretty good coverage. I wear Shade 9 or 10 in the Skin Tint.

Makeup By Mario launched a new SoftSculpt Bronzing Shaping Serum and it took me a few tries to figure out how best to use it. As a liquid bronzer on top of foundation I found it a little too sheer but it does give the skin a very natural looking sunkissed glow. I like mixing it in with foundation to add warmth or using it as a base to warm up/tan the skin – kind of like a self tanner drop for the face. It is on the emollient side so I don’t know how those with oily skin will like it (I think it will be too dewy). There’s a new Double-Ended brush launched for this product and it’s a nice one to work with the liquid.

For a more traditional bronzer to add warmth I think the the SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer is better and easier to use/blend.

I really like the look of the new Bronzing Serum, but I’m not sure I’m quite hooked. I love the packaging style. It has a pump to dispense product but if you twist off the lid there’s also a sponge tip applicator to use. It has a similar effect to the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops but the Makeup By Mario has a slightly thicker more emollient finish. I’ve added swatches to compare the undertone.

Bottom line, it’s not really a hit or miss for me. I’m still a bit undecided.

New SPF Formulas

I’ve put a few new sunscreens to the test. I really love the Origins Ginzing SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer Sunscreen for the texture and consistency. It’s white but does not leave a white cast and I love the moisturizing feel. It’s hydrating without being too thick or greasy feeling and it does not pill.

Peter Thomas Roth launched a tinted SPF called the Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Sheer Tint Moisturizer with SPF45. I really love this as a moisturizer with SPF. The tint is a beige but it’s really sheer so once blended it pretty much looks clear on my skin, but I like that they have a tinted option as so many white sunscreens end up having some kind of white cast even if they blend well. I like this under foundation. The coverage/pigment isn’t rich enough to wear as a tinted moisturizer.

Caudalie launched a sunscreen in the US called the Vinosun Protect Brightening Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF50 and this is one of the first mineral sunscreens I truly love. It’s tinted but it’s pale so it does leave a very slight white cast. I love that it blends nicely without pilling on my skin and it has a semi-matte finish that adheres well to the skin.

Kosas DreamBeam is a formula I keep wanting to love and I keep trying. It has SPF 40 and the new color in Sunlit is a deeper tone than the original DreamBeam. Color-wise I think I would be somewhere in between the two shades, but even if they had more color options, I just don’t like the formula. It’s thick, doesn’t blend well and after putting it on, I really can’t wait to wash it all off. If you want a luminous glowy sunscreen the Supergoop! Glowscreen is a million times better.

Eye Makeup

I keep looking for a new eyeshadow palette to love these days but I keep going back to my staples like the Too Faced Born This Way, Patrick Ta Major Dimension, Natasha Denona everything. Something new that I did love were the new shades from Bobbi Brown. They added new shades of the Long-Wear Cream Shadows and I’ve been really loving Bronze for an iridescent bronze shade. Swatches below of the shades I love for summer. Bronze and Golden Light are new.

Coral Crush Lips + Cheeks

I love coral and peach tones and could not be more thrilled about all the colors that have come out this season! The Dior Poppy Coral tones are such great summer orange/corals. I shared a demo of the Rosy Glow Blush, Addict Lip Maximizer, Addict Lip Glow and Lip Glow Oil in action here and I’ll have swatches + review soon.

The Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tints have been a hit with me. For peach tones they have two in 50.5 Rosy Peach and 31 Vivid Coral. I think they’re so pretty on the skin and easy to blend. Demo of Rosy Peach here.

NARS reformulated their blushes into a Talc-Free formula. I think Orgasm and Orgasm X have been such long-time cult classics, but I really love Orgasm Edge which is the same peachy undertone but without shimmer. You can see it in action here.

Coral Crush Nails

I love a good peachy coral bright polish for summer. OPI Infinite Shine in On a Mission is the perfect softer peach while Megawatt Hot is a brighter deeper coral. Both are opaque with a glossy finish.

Hermes does the best orange tones for summer. I have really loved Orange Poppy for a super bright electric orange red. They launched Orange Tonique earlier in the spring and it’s similar but pulls more orange.

For a more budget-friendly option I am obsessed with Olive and June, in particular the Quick Dry formulas in Cape and Picante.

Also wearing Cape below on the toes, outfit details here.

Lip Serum

I love Chanel skincare and lip care so I was really excited to try the new Hydra Beauty Micro Lip Serum. It’s packaged in a rubber squeeze tube similar to the L’Huile Camelia Nail Oil (love this). The Hydra Beauty Micro Lip Serum has tiny micro droplets just like the serums in the Hydra Beauty Line. I had high hopes unfortunately have to call this a miss. The formula is so thin it feels like water. It does absorb nicely for an ultra thin layer of moisture but for me it’s not enough to hydrate the lips and it feels like there is no added hydration after application.

Perfumes

I will have a perfume roundup soon, but there are three I really loved this month. I splurged on another Parfums de Marly in Valaya which is the perfect floral musk for hot summer months. I couldn’t stop thinking about it from the sampler set I bought and decided this was the one for me. I think this is my signature scent this year. Notes include: Bergamot, mandarin, white peach, orange flower, nymphea, vetiver, akigalawood, ambrofix musk.

Ouai St. Barts is one of the best tropical scents and I love it in the body wash and scrub. They launched a Hair and Body Mist which is a really nice lightweight fruity tropical kind of scent that isn’t too sweet or too strong.

Last but not least Chanel launched new body oils in a few of their Les Exclusifs perfume scents. These are quite the splurge priced higher than all of the other body oils in the Chanel lineup for $350 each. I shared a peek on stories and was overwhelmed by the response and questions! I had no idea so many of you were loyal fans of the Les Exclusifs line. I’ve owned and love Beige. I’ve always had my eye on Gardenia and 1957 but never splurged as my signature Chanel scents have been from the Les Eaux de Chanel lineup.

The Chanel beauty team generously gifted me the Les Exclusifs de Chanel Body Oil in Gardenia and it is heavenly. I layered it with the Beige perfume and the combination is the most luxurious combo I’ve ever tried. Scent lingers all day for me but it’s not as potent or as strong as the perfume.

I think if you have a special signature scent that you love from the Les Exclusifs line you will most likely find the body oil worth the splurge. Right now the oils is available in 1957, Beige, Gardenia and Coromandel.

That wraps up my May hits and misses! What did you love and try this past month?

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Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

April Beauty Favorites

April 30, 2024

It’s time for another monthly favorites roundup! Weather is warming up and I have been on a kick to find some new fragrances for the spring to summer season. Here’s what I loved the most this month.

Top 3 Perfumes

I’ve been exploring more perfume brands that have caught my eye with several perfume influencers I started following on YouTube. I feel like I am a total perfume novice watching so many new videos with their detailed descriptions and comprehensive reviews. I ordered a few discovery sets from Kilian, Parfums de Marly, Mizensir, Giardini di Toscana and Ex Nihilo to name a few (some are still in transit on their way to me).

I’m new to Parfums de Marly and ordered the Feminine Discovery Set. I ended up loving nearly all the scents. My top 3 from the set were Delina La Rosee, Meliora and Valaya. They’ll send you an eGift Card code where the price of the set can go towards a full-size purchase. I ended up buying Meliora which is so different for me because it’s fruity and floral. I’m not usually into fruity scents but this is so bright and summery I fell in love. You can also find them at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

Meliora Top Notes
Red Berries, Raspberry, Lemon essence

Heart Notes
Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine Tea

Base Notes
Vanilla, Musk, Cedarwood

I bought the Kilian Discovery Set from Sephora last month. I liked 3 but it wasn’t quite love yet. They have some beautiful options but I am more into lighter and brighter scents. I ended up really loving their new Sunkissed Goddess which so many have described as very different from what Kilian usually launches. If you love Tom Ford Soleil Blanc of Eau de Soleil Blanc I think you will really like the Kilian one. It’s a bit more floral compared to the Tom Ford ones. I actually like layering Sunkissed Goddess and Eau de Soleil Blanc together.

Sunkissed Goddess Notes: Ylang-ylang, Tiare Flower and Coconut.

I pulled out Dioriviera and forgot how much I loved it. It is one of the few fig scents I can wear. I love a good fig candle for the home but wearing it on my skin has never worked well for me. This is a beautiful fresh fig with rose. It smells expensive, lush and like a fancy vacation in a bottle.

Dioriviera Notes: Fig + rose

April Makeup Favorites

For the complexion I’ve rediscovered my Armani Luminous Silk Foundation + Concealer combination. Everytime I start using it again I forget why I stopped using them. The foundation is a timeless classic for medium coverage, natural glow and beautiful finish. The concealer has been hit or miss for me in the past, but my skin loves it right now. I wear Shade 6.5 in both formulas.

For bases I tried the new Ilia Skin Rewind Complexion Stick and it’s one of the best foundation sticks I’ve ever tried. It’s like a skin tint in foundation stick form. No other stick glides onto skin as seamlessly as this one. It blends really well and great for a wide range of skin types. I think it’s best for normal to dry skin. It wears well (I have to set with a powder). My match is 18W and it’s a perfect match. It will be coming with me on an upcoming trip. Coverage is pretty good but still looks like skin but better. The Complexion Brush is also very good. Small but surprisingly good.

I partnered with them to share a demo here and they’ve given me a promo code to save 20% off orders from Iliabeauty.com with code THEBEAUTYLOOKBOOK20 (valid thru 5/10).

A few other complexion loves are two bronzers and a highlighter. I have a love/hate relationship with most cream bronzers because so many pull foundation right off your face, look too greasy or don’t have flattering colors. I finally tried the Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (Medium) and it’s a really good one. I love the color, texture, finish and way it looks on the skin. It’s much better than the Saie or Anastasia Beverly Hills ones – the Makeup By Mario is easier to work with, blends well and isn’t too heavy.

I picked up two of the new Armani Luminous Silk Bronzing Powders. They’re HUGE compacts and the formula is so beautiful. It has a soft silky texture, subtle shimmer and beautiful natural looking finish. I bought 100 and 110. Right now I like 100 better but I can still wear 110 without it looking too dark. I will have a review + swatches soon but you can see them in action here.

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I picked up the new Dior Forever Glow Maximizer in Nude (they added this shade after the initial launch) and I love the color. It’s a champagne that isn’t too pale and the undertone is so pretty on the skin. I would say out of all the shades for a highlight I like Nude and Peachy the best. I updated my review + swatches in my original review here if you want to see all the colors swatched.

For the lips there were lots of new launches this month. So many good formulas to choose from these days! My two most-used lip colors though were previous purchases. I loved the Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 051 Nude Bloom and NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine in Breathless the most (also love Orgasm and Voyeur, review + swatches here and here).

That wraps up my April favorites! What did you love this past month?

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Beauty Favorites Sales Sephora

Best Makeup to Shop During the Sephora Sale

April 5, 2024

The Sephora Savings Event starts today for Rouge Beauty Insiders! By popular request I’m sharing an updated roundup of the best in makeup for every category. Use code YAYSAVE if you’re shopping online to save:

Rouge members 20% off: 4/5-4/15
VIBs 15% off: 4/9-4/15
Insiders 10% off: 4/9-4/15
All Sephora Collection 30% off: 4/5-4/15

This is a pretty large list but I’ve split it by category for face, eyes and lips. Here are the best things in makeup I’ve tried in each category.

Base Makeup Favorites

Best Primer – Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base is a great multi-tasking moisturizer and primer in one, wears really well under makeup and a formula I’ve repurchased numerous times

Best Glowy Primer – Tie between Dior Forever Glow Star Filter and Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. I think the thinner texture of the Dior Forever Glow Star Filter makes it easier to wear all over the face if you layer on foundation + concealer etc. The Charlotte Tilbury is still a classic I think I will be using forever though

Best Tint Moisturizer – Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer – I love this sheer Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 because it’s not too dewy. Has sheer to medium coverage that isn’t too sheer. I wear 24N.

Best Tint with SPF – Supergoop! Protec(tint) SPF 50 – This is another great skin tint with sheer medium coverage and high SPF. Has sheer coverage and great lasting power. I have 24N and 26W.

Best Natural Looking Tint – Fenty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint – This is a great no-fuss skin tint without SPF. Coverage is similar to the Rare Beauty, just slightly more coverage. Looks very natural and sets beautifully. I wear Shade 9 or 10.

Best Medium Coverage Glowy Foundation – Armani Luminous Silk Foundation – Best medium coverage glow foundation I’ve used. I wear Shade 6.5.

Best CC Cream – It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow – Best CC+ Cream with medium coverage and a natural glow. I wear Medium Tan.

Best Foundation Stick – Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick – My go-to foundation stick perfect for everyday, and also really convenient for travel. Depending on how tan I am, I wear Shade V, VI or VII.

Favorite Classic Finish Foundation – Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation – Another classic formula you can’t go wrong with. Love this for an everyday staple. My match is Light Medium 14.

Great for Travel – Patrick Ta Major Skin Creme Foundation Powder Duo has a great natural looking finish for both the foundation and powder, I use the Shade Light Medium 2.

Best Concealers

Best Brightening Concealer – YSL Touche Eclat hands down is the best of the best. I use Shade 3.

Best Medium-Coverage – NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (Macadamia or Ginger) is a cult classic and even to this day still is the best creamy under eye formula for me. I also still really like the Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Concealer for a creamier finish and a little more coverage.

Best Full Coverage – Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer is the best of the BEST for concealers. It’s creamy, opaque, easy to blend, long lasting and does not crease. I wear N6, 7, 8 or 9 depending on how much I want to match or brighten. The Armani Luminous Silk Concealer is another great option, I wear 6.5 or 7.

Best Powders & Setting Products

Best Setting Spray – Two way tie between the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.

Best Pressed Powder – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish in Medium or the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder

Best Under Eye Setting Powder – Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Powder

Best Loose Setting Powders – Givenchy Prisme Libre or the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (also available in a Talc-Free Blur version)

Best Contour/Bronzers

I am currently looking for a new bronzer since the ones I’ve used I’ve used for YEARS. I’m ready for something new but nothing has caught my eye yet. I’m hoping new formulas and shades will pop up this summer!

Best Cream Bronzer/Contour – Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick in Happy Sol or Always Sunny are great shades and the formula is easy to blend. Also love Westman Atelier Face Trace Cream Contour Stick in Truffle.

Best Powder Bronzers – Gucci Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer in Shade 3, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light, Dior Forever Natural Powder Bronzer (best matte formula), Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Duo in She’s Bronzed

Best Blushes

There are so many good blush formulas these days!

Best Powder Blushes

Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion (love Ginger, Peach and Rose)
Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic (all the shades are wearable)
Gucci Beauty Luminous Matte Beauty Blush are really pretty for a soft matte finish and fresh colors that will go with any look/occasion.
new Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blushes are STUNNING!

Best Cream Blushes – Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks (sheer-medium) and the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand (medium coverage)

Highlighters

Best Golden/Bronzey Highlighters – Tom Ford Soleil Glow Highlighter in Oasis or the Soleil Glow Highlighters are really stunning

Favorite Shimmer Liquid Highlighter – Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Highlighter Wands are always a win, I love Peachgasm, Pinkgasm and Pillow Talk Light the most

New Favorite – Dior Forever Glow Maximizers are really stunning, I like Peachy and Rosy the best (new shade Nude just popped up online, I just tried it and it’s almost identical to Gold, Nude is just more champagne in undertone)

Best Eye Makeup

The best eyeshadow palettes and formulas are from Natasha Denona, Too Faced and Pat McGrath. Here are my favorites right now.

Best Eyeshadow Formula – Natasha Denona I Need a Nude, Glam or My Dream Palette for her larger options, for the minis I love the Mini Starlette or Mini Biba.

Best Everyday Palettes – Too Faced Born This Way Natural Nudes or Sunset Stripped are in heavy rotation and have been for years! I really love the new mini Born This Way Palettes too.

Best Mix of Matte + Shimmers – Pat McGrath is quite the splurge and some of her sparkles are really glitzy but I love them.

Best All Matte Palette – Makeup By Mario Master Mattes is the best all-matte eyeshadow palette for me.

My Most Used Palettes – Patrick Ta Major Dimension and Major Dimension III are also ones I use all the time.

Mascara

Best Mascaras: Tarte Tartelette Tubing and Tartette Tubing XL

Lip Liners

My go-to lip liners remain the same, I keep hoping I’ll find something new and exciting, but I still love my staples I’ve loved for years:

Lip Gloss

My top three gloss formulas are the Pat McGrath LUST Gloss, Fenty Gloss Bomb and Dior Addict Lip Maximizers.

I also really love the Refy Lip Glosses (they have great neutrals), Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath (new shades added!) and the new Huda Faux Filler Gloss (swatched here).

If you like a jelly gloss the new Armani Prisma Glass lip gloss is a nice sheer formula. I swatched 3 of the colors here.

Lip Balms

A lot of the balms I use can double as gloss. My top 5 favorites:

Lipsticks

I feel like I could write an entire series on the best lipsticks. There are so many that I love it is challenging to narrow down my top picks.

Best Glossy Lipstick – Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump, Shimmer Glass and Juicy Lip Balm
Best Shine Lipsticks – Gucci Care Shine or the NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipstick
Best Classic Lipstick – Tom Ford Lip Color, Armani Lip Power, Makeup by Mario SuperSatin or the YSL Rouge Pur Couture
Best Colors – Charlotte Tilbury KISSING or Matte Revolution
Best Matte – Pat McGrath Matte Trance, the Prada Soft Matte or Hyper Mattes are amazing, I’ve only tried mini samples but I ordered a bunch and cannot wait to try them

That wraps up my Sephora Makeup Favorites roundup! Use code YAYSAVE if you’re shopping online to save:

Rouge members 20% off: 4/5-4/15
VIBs 15% off: 4/9-4/15
Insiders 10% off: 4/9-4/15
All Sephora Collection 30% off: 4/5-4/15

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Beauty Favorites Haircare Sephora

Best Hair Care + Tools to Shop During the Sephora Sale

April 4, 2024

The Sephora Savings Event starts on April 5th for Beauty Insiders and I’m rounding up my absolute favorites in every category starting with my Hair Care favorites. Dates and details for the event, use code YAYSAVE if you’re shopping online:

Rouge members 20% off: 4/5-4/15
VIBs 15% off: 4/9-4/15
Insiders 10% off: 4/9-4/15
All Sephora Collection 30% off: 4/5-4/15

A little background on my hair: I have thick unruly hair prone to frizz from humidity. I color treat with root touch ups every 2-3 months. I almost always blow dry as air drying leaves my hair frizzy. Even though my strands are thick I had a lot of hair loss and shedding about 2 years ago. The shedding has thankfully stopped and it’s started to grow back in baby hairs (natural growth).

I’ve split my recommendations of things I tried and loved by category to help you sort through my list. There are lots of great HAIR CARE SETS available and a wide range of items are available in MINI SIZES which are great to try.

Hair Tools

I love really love the Dyson Supersonic and Airwrap. I’ve had the Supersonic since 2017 and it still works perfectly just like the day I got it. I’ve used the Airwrap since 2020 and really love it too. I think they’re game changers for the way I style and dry my hair. Yes they’re a huge ouch to the wallet, but they were both well worth the splurge. They recently added a Ceramic Pink and Rose Gold color (limited-edition) and I decided to upgrade both my tools with this new color.

The Dyson Airwrap has been updated since I bought it the improvements have made it noticeably better! Attachments have slight changes in the design to make them multi-functional.

(new demo with the new airwrap coming soon, but here’s the original below)

If you don’t curl your hair I’d recommend sticking with the Supersonic. It has stronger air flow with the nozzles for faster more efficient drying. It’s easier to travel with (if you don’t use the case).

That being said I think the Airwrap is amazing. It allows you to do so many different things in styling and drying. I will say that the curls take more time than a regular curling iron because you’ll need to use it on damp hair, use the heat and cooling options and add hair spray. For me it’s easier to use than a regular curling iron for me because of the wrapping feature. With the Airwrap I can get more relaxed beachy waves which is what I prefer, but with a hot curling iron your curls will definitely last longer.

The ghd Platinum+ Styler is my go-to hot tool for straightening and curling. It is technically a flat iron but I use it to curl my hair. The temperature is set to a constant 375 degrees and has sensors to maintain constant heat. This leaves my hair looking smooth and sleek. It goes with me on every single trip. I’ve done a few reviews and demos with this tool. 100% recommend. Smooth sleek hair in action HERE. Easy waves HERE.

Shampoo + Conditioner

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Oribe and Kerastase lately. They’re the formulas I keep going back to.

Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo and Conditioner are the best formulas I use and repurchase the most. I have splurged on the liter bottles and refills. They’re quite expensive but the larger sizes are a better buy. If you’re new to this formula I recommend trying this #Oribeobsessed Mini Trio or this Gold Lust Ritual Set (value priced).

Kerastase Premiere Line is new and incredible! It is exactly what I needed to help clarify and clean my hair of buildup from hard water in Florida. Even with water softeners the water is still very harsh on my hair here. Most detox and clarifying shampoos almost always strip my hair or cause my scalp to become irritated. This Premiere line is the formula I have been looking for to clarify and restore my natural shine.

I do think you need the full system to see the best benefits. I tried this with just the shampoo and conditioner but the Pre-Shampoo Treatment made a HUGE difference. My hair hasn’t felt this healthy and clean since I left California. If you don’t want to splurge on the entire line, I would say stick with the Pre-Shampoo Treatment, Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner. The Serum is incredible for smoothing and protecting from heat and humidity. Since this is a repairing line I don’t think I would use these everyday, these would most likely be a 1x per week routine.

I’ve tried nearly every Kerastase formula on virgin hair, hair with bleached highlights and now on hair that has root touch ups. They have a formula for every hair type.

Nutritive is the line great for dry hair and I really loved it.
Resistance is great good to help strengthen weak hair from heat styling
Discipline is their anti frizz smoothing line
When I had bleached hair and highlights the Blonde Absolu was my go-to line

I also still think Olaxplex and the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair formulas are great. I just used up some bottles of Olaplex. I haven’t used Briogeo in a while but it’s one I would repurchase in a heartbeat.

Best Masks

My favorite formulas for hair masks:

Color Wow Money Mask is a great hydrating treatment

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask is the best for smoothing

Kerastase Resistence Strengthening is great for split ends and weakened hair, also smells amazing

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In is a leave in mask, but I still really think it’s 100% worth the splurge

Best Hair Oils / Leave In Conditioners

Kerastase Elixir Ultime is one of the best hair oils I’ve tried

Virtue Hydrating Healing Oil is great for smoothing and repairing

Olaplex No 7 Bonding Oil is great for split ends

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue is another great hair oil for added shine, but it can feel a little heavy if you use too much

Best Heat Protectant / Blow Dry Primers

I’ll mainly use a primer heat protectant on damp hair for blow drying. There are other heat protectants designed to use on dry hair for heat tools like irons.

Oribe makes a lot of heat protectants. I really like their Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray or Imperial Blowout Styling Cream.

Kerastase makes tons of primers in all of their formulas. I’ve really loved Resistance, Chronologiste or Nutritive the most.

Olaplex Blow Dry Mist is another great option that also adds volume.

Best Dry Shampoo

Three formulas I really like that don’t add any white cast to my dark hair include the Olaplex No 4D Clean Volume Dry Shampoo (probably my favorite right now), the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day PhD and PhD Advanced (both are great) and if you want to splurge the Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo is excellent.

Misc/Others

For other miscellaneous styling products, here are three I really like:

Best Volumizer – Tie between Oribe Maximista Spray and Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Mousse
Best Leave-In/Styling Cream – Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream
Best Hair Spray – Living Proof Style Lab Flex Hair Spray
Best Detangler – Oribe Detangling Spray

That wraps up my hair care favorites post! I know there’s a lot but I hope this helps give you some recommendations if you’re looking for any new hair care.

If you have any ride or die favorites, let me know in the comments! Stay tuned for a roundup on the best makeup and skincare.

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Beauty Favorites

March Beauty Favorites

April 1, 2024

Happy April! Rounding up my favorites from March. This year has been flying by! It’s finally started to warm up and we spent the weekend at the beach and boat with Ollie. We just celebrated 2 years with Ollie, he’s been such a joy for us. I can’t believe how fast time truly flies.

Makeup Favorites

For my base favorites I have been really loving the Supergoop! Protec(tint). It’s a lightweight sheer tint with SPF 50. I share a demo Get Ready With Me on Reels wearing 24N which is a good match right now, but I also have 26W which will probably be a better match for summer. It is sheer and natural looking. I like the coverage and finish. I am so happy to report it didn’t pill, clog pores or streak. The Sephora sale is coming up so if you’re looking for a good skin tint with SPF add this to your list!

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The best foundation brush I’ve been using is the Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation Brush. I’ve featured it a few times before but thought I’d give it another shout out since so many of you ask about it when you see it in tutorials. I’m not really sure why it’s not sold everywhere at all Laura Mercier counters but you can find it online at Laura Mercier, Revolve, Bluemercury to name a few.

The best concealer I’ve tried is still the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer. I am using N5 or N7 right now. It’s creamy, opaque but blendable, long lasting and doesn’t crease.

For a glowy base, I’ve been loving the Dior Forever Star Filter in Shade 3 as a primer underneath concealer or foundation but you can also mix it in with your base for a naturally glowy look. They add a really pretty radiance to the skin. I’ve also really loved the Forever Glow Maximizer in Rosy Glow although it’s very similar on my skin to the Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm, so if you already own that one you can probably skip the Dior.

Review + swatch comparisons IN THIS POST HERE.

Patrick Ta Beauty has been in heavy rotation and I really love his Double Take Blush in Not Too Much. I also rediscovered the Laura Mercier Blush in Ginger for a flattering neutral with a tiny bit of warmth.

For eyeshadows I’ve rediscovered the Too Faced Natural Nudes Born This Way & Sunset Stripped palettes. They are both neutral staples that I think everyone should own. They have a really good mix of mattes and shimmers with neutrals that are very easy to wear. Too Faced just launched Mini Born This Way Palettes in Warm Ember Nudes and Cold Smolder Nudes. I ordered them and will be reviewing soon but wanted to put them on your radar.

Below Natural Nudes

Below Sunset Stripped

The Merit Solo Shadow in Vachetta has been a favorite since I bought it. It’s my perfect contour/base shade for the eyes. Just a tiny bit darker than my skin tone for a really good neutral lid color. Left is Vachetta, right is Midcentury.

The Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 056 Frosted Pink is still a favorite. It still appears to be exclusive to Dior.com – it’s the prettiest shimmery pink! Review + swatches here.

Tartelette Tubing Mascara XL has been a favorite this past month. I still really love the regular Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara and actually think the XL version performs pretty much the same, but I use both. It defines, holds the curl, doesn’t flake or smudge. It’s a solid win.

Guerlain Lip Oils are probably my favorite lip product of the month. I cannot pick a favorite as all the colors are really pretty. I have been reaching for the Honey Glow the most.

Charlotte Tilbury added new Pillow Talk Shades in a few formulas. I’ll be reviewing them soon but I am already in love with the Collagen Lip Bath in Pillow Talk Fair. It’s a really pretty and flattering lighter cool toned pink that isn’t too cool.

Skincare

Also wanted to share a few skincare favorites this month. I shared an updated roundup of formulas I’ve been using and love from Nordstrom here. It includes a little something in every category with everything linked here. A few things I wanted to highlight are below.

The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is the best one for me right now. A little goes a long way and it cleans the skin well without stripping it.

The Eve Lom Muslin Cloths are also a must. I think any muslin cloth will work, but I always order the ones from Eve Lom. The gentle exfoliation helps keep the skin clear and it also works to remove every trace of cleanser (oil, balm or regular liquids) from the skin.

For moisturizers I’ve used up yet another jar of the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream and repurchased it again. I’ve also been loving the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream as another go-to daily moisturizer. It’s 100% worth the splurge and I recommend adding it to your list for the Sephora sale!

For lip balms I’ve been rotating between Summer Fridays and the Bobbi Brown Lip Serum. They just added tinted versions of the Bobbi Brown formula here which I am really excited to try. I have Lilac, Rose and Blossom in my cart right now.

That wraps up my favorites for March! What were your favorites?

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Beauty Favorites Skincare

Winter Skin Care Essentials – Body Care Loves

January 16, 2024

It’s been a dry winter this year in Florida and colder than usual although I suspect it’s usually very cold and dry for most of you in the winter. I’ve had a few things in rotation I’ve been loving that I wanted to share to combat dry skin focusing on body care. I have picks at multiple price points.

Body Lotion and Creams

There are so many great body creams and lotions on the market but scent is something I am so picky about that I feel like I am missing out on a lot of great formulas. I usually prefer something unscented or very lightly scented when it comes to body moisturizers. I also need something to feel smooth and not sticky so anything “balmy” is usually a no-go for me.

My favorite body cream right now is the Herbivore Botanicals Cloud Milk Firming Body Cream ($40, at Herbivore, Sephora and Nordstrom). It’s what I wanted the Kopari Ultra Restore Body Butter ($36) to be which felt a little too thick and smelled too sweet for my taste. The one from Herbivore Botanicals has a soft cushiony velvety creamy texture hat melts into the skin. It’s scented with coconut and vanilla but isn’t too strong. Has a very hydrating feel that absorbs well and doesn’t pill.

Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion ($14.99) is a great budget-friendly option that is fragrance free, semi-thick but doesn’t feel greasy. It does take a little work to massage into the skin fully but I really like it. I brought the travel size with me on a trip.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream ($30 – $65, also in this Duo Bundle Set) is one of the more expensive options I’ve tried. If you like the Magic Cream for the face I think you’ll like this one. I love both. It has a super luxurious feel and texture. There is a subtle scent like face version but it’s light and fresh. It has shea butter and is very soothing. Also has a smoothing effect. I do think it’s incredibly overpriced but I think the formula is really good.

Prequel Barrier Therapy Skin Protectant Cream ($18) is a soothing body cream with 1% colloidal oatmeal. It’s what I wanted the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream to be in body lotion form, although in looking at their website I just found out they actually do have an Ultra Repair Body Lotion ($38) that seems to be exclusive to their website. The Prequel Barrier Cream worked to help calm down some dry skin flare ups I’ve had this winter season. Some areas of my hands and arms became so dry they started to crack and turn red and burn to the point I couldn’t sleep. A mix of Vaseline and the Prequel cream helped calm everything down and restore moisture. On normal days I love this on the body just by itself.

A number of you recommended Osea, in particular the Anti-Aging Body Balm and Body Butter. I had a mini sample of the Anti-Aging Body Balm to try and the formula is incredible! It is on the balmy side with some slip in the finish so it doesn’t really have much of a dry down. I am trying to decide if I can wear this even with the balmy texture because it feels incredible but I don’t like sticking to my clothes. I think I may order their Glow to Go Starter ($32) set to try a few other things.

Body Oils

I love a good body oil but this is another category where I am really particular with scents and texture. Thick ones will most likely help hydrate the best but I prefer ones that are not thick or sticky.

The Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil ($120, available at Tata Harper, Bluemercury, Nordstrom and Sephora) came highly recommended by over a dozen of you in a poll I did over the holidays. It is heavily scented but in a pleasant way. It smells like a spa treatment – green, fresh and definitely revitalizing. Absorbs beautifully into the skin and hydrates. I plan on trying the Resurfacing Body Serum or Smoothing Scrub next.

Celine Huile Celeste ($195) was quite the splurge but I love it mainly for the scent. It’s one of three new additions to the Celine perfume lineup in the Cologne Celeste scent. It’s a beautiful fresh citrus, notes include ANGELICA, SWEET LEMON ESSENCE, PETITGRAIN, NEROLI ACCORD, AMBRETTE BUTTER AND ORRIS BUTTER. This is a pour out style kind of bottle and I wish it had a stopper or spray. I managed to get an extra spritzer cap for the top in store although I don’t know how long it will work as it’s designed for the cologne. Texture is dreamy and beautiful. Just like you’d expect of a massage oil. I bought this for the scent which is very light compared to the cologne, but I really love it and will use every last drop. I don’t think I will repurchase due to the price but it was a beautiful splurge.

Chanel L’Huile Vanille ($230) is another splurge that I think was 100% worth it. The Chanel Body Massage Oils come in four scents for now and I would love to own them all but Vanille is my favorite. It smells just like the Sublimage Skincare line which is very unique. It has the most beautiful texture with a soft scent. I love the way it feels and absorbs into the skin. The only downside is the large glass packaging. It’s so beautiful and very substantial but a bit difficult to hold because of the size. Also the top has no stopper so it’s a pour style so you have to be careful not to pour too much out. Formula is 10/10 though.

Shower Care

For the bath and shower there are three I’ve been loving lately. Saltair has a great lineup of affordable body and hair care items. I really loved their Golden Hour Oil-Infused Nourishing Body Wash ($15). It has a pineapple + coconut scent that is sweet but isn’t too sweet. It has a gel like texture for a body wash. Moisturizing level is medium, not as hydrating as an oil, but more than a regular shower gel. I really liked the texture and formula.

Bioderma Atoderm Body Cleansing Oil ($29.99) is great for soft hydrated skin. Works wonders on dry skin and leaves the skin feeling silky smooth. I do wish the packaging was a bit more aesthetically pleasing but the formula is great. They also have it in a small 3.4 fl oz travel size which is nice to try before you buy the full size.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel ($26 to $56) is probably my most repurchased shower cream. It is very strong in the scent but I love it. It’s a cream shower product that really does hydrate the skin well without leaving any film or residue. After going through this so much we decided to start buying the Value Size 33.1 oz which comes with a pump. They also make this in a large refill pack now.

I love a good body scrub but I haven’t found anything I really love right now. Most are either a little too gritty or the oil-based scrubs leave the skin feeling too oily if that makes sense. For now I’ve been just using a good wash cloth to exfoliate.

Hand and Cuticle Care

I used up a bunch of hand creams and cuticle oils over the past few months and right now have been sticking to my tried and true. I love the Chanel La Crème Main ($55) or Le Lift La Crème Main ($70) because they have the best dry down and are not sticky. For me they have the perfect amount of moisture.

For ultra dry hands/skin I think L’Occitane is the best. I just placed an order to restock the Shea Butter Hand Cream ($13, new packaging looks great!) and the Cuticle Oil ($22).

For the cuticles I finished up the OPI ProSpa Cuticle Oil which I really loved. I will probably repurchase. Right now I am working my way through my second bottle of the Hermes Nail Oil which I really love but is almost always out of stock. Chanel’s L’Huile Camelia ($32) is another luxury option which is quite the splurge but incredibly nourishing and works. I bought the Dior Huile Abricot ($30) which has been repackaged. I used to really love it, I still like it but not as much as the OPI or Chanel because I don’t find it as hydrating.

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That wraps up my body care loves for winter! Would love to hear about your favorites or hits and misses!

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New SPF Formulas

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April Makeup Favorites

Best Makeup to Shop During the Sephora Sale

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Best Hair Care + Tools to Shop During the Sephora Sale

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Best Dry Shampoo

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March Beauty Favorites

Makeup Favorites

Skincare

Winter Skin Care Essentials – Body Care Loves

Body Lotion and Creams

Body Oils

Shower Care

Hand and Cuticle Care

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