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June Skincare Favorites

June 29, 2019

Summer Skincare Favorites June | The Beauty Look Book

June has been a transition month for us literally as we’ve moved! We managed to do everything fairly quickly but with moving there’s always a chance things might take longer than planned, especially with the unpacking and getting everything setup. For my just-in-case things take longer scenario I made sure to pack our essentials in a few dedicated boxes that I set aside. In the humid months maintaining a good skincare routine is a must and I did not want to lose track of my essential cleansers, moisturizers and treatments. I packed my must-haves in a few travel cases and these are the items I relied on all month long. I could also call this my skincare on-the-go routine! I have the Truffle Clarity Jumbo Jetset Case featured above which just restocked and launched in new colors. You can see my previous review in this post here too.

Cleanse and Tone

Hydrate

  • Chanel Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream* has made my favorites list two months in a row, I love that it comes with a pump (versus jar) and it has been a great lightweight moisturizer that doesn’t feel too heavy, even on hot humid days, it works with all of my foundations too.
  • Glow Recipe Watermelon Juice Moisturizer is the best lightweight moisturizer I rely on for hot days, I have both the mini and full size.
  • Volition Beauty Strawberry-C Serum* has been a pleasant surprise for a Vitamin-C treatment to help brighten and hydrate, and it doesn’t irritate my skin (full review here).
  • Fenty Beauty Pro Kiss’r Luscious Lip Balm has the best balm packaging I’ve seen in a while, it has both a squeeze tube and sponge applicator so there’s no mess on your fingers from applying! It’s hydrating and soft on my lips (goes on clear).
  • By Terry Baume de Rose Mini* something I got in one of the GWP bags a few months ago, always a favorite for night time, it’s the most lush rich lip balm I’ve tried.
  • Chanel La Creme Main is the best smelling hand cream I own that has a really nice velvety dry down.

Extras/Treatments

  • Glamglow Supermud Activated Charcoal Treatment Mask is one I can never be without, I use this once a week during the humid season, even if it’s sometimes just as a spot mask, the full size is better, but I had minis on hand thrown into my travel bag.
  • GrandeLASH MD Lash Enhancing Serum* is the first lash serum I’ve tried that actually works for me, I started seeing results by the end of the first week of use (even Andrew noticed!), it also didn’t darken or irritate my lids like other formulas did.
  • MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ is a must-have for me as a multi-tasker, either to hydrate bare skin or set foundation/powder and make it look a little less powdery, I did give the new scented options a smell at the counter and bought Peony as it has the lightest scent of the four options.
  • Hero Mighty Patch Original is the best hydro colloid pimple patch I’ve tried, we got these from Amazon early in the year because my bestie recommended them. Since then we’ve tried other brands and I’ve been meaning to review them but Andrew uses them up so fast I rarely have them in stock at our home, I had to order a bunch and hide them from him lol. Full acne treatment post to follow on what we’ve tried, but we really like these.
  • Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Spot Treatment is something I’ve had to use more frequently this past month, even though I’ve been able to maintain clear skin with a good routine, moving this summer in the extreme heat took a toll on my skin. This has helped my skin tremendously for those unwanted spots.
  • Volition Beauty Turmeric Brightening Polish* has been a really good exfoliating treatment for me this past month.

That wraps up June’s most-used favorite skincare items. I had other things in rotation but these were my favorites! Did you have any favorites this past month? Do you switch things up as the weather heats up or stick with staples year round? For those who always want to know what I have on my nails in this photo I have the Olive and June EC Nail Polish* on (with three coats) topped it with the Essie Speed Setter Top Coat and it lasted a full seven days without tip wear or chipping.

 

 

Press samples featured indicated with a *. All other items purchased by me.

 

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Beauty Favorites Roundup

May Hits and Misses

May 31, 2019

May Monthly Favorites, Beauty Hits and Misses

May flew by so quickly! I feel like I blinked and the weeks literally passed by in minutes. I’m rounding up this month’s hits and misses in beauty. I have a little bit of everything from skincare, hair care, complexion products and other makeup items.

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Chanel Favorites

Chanel Favorites Le Vernis, CC Cream, Camelia Water Cream, Les Beiges Tint

I’ve loved a lot of new launches from Chanel this month. They’ve been on a roll with new releases in makeup, skincare and fragrance. My favorites:

  • CC Cream with SPF 50 * is my favorite CC cream with medium coverage, I wear either shade 30 or 40 (application and review here)
  • Le Vernis in Afterglow, Open Air and Purple Ray* from cruise are the prettiest ones I think I’ve seen in a while from Chanel, I’m really loving the purples! (swatches here)
  • Rouge Coco Flash (my picks here, cruise colors swatched here) are among my most-worn for an effortless swipe and go kind of lip color
  • Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint in Medium (review here) is all kinds of wonderful for a natural glow
  • Hydra Beauty Camellia Water Cream* is probably my favorite moisturizer of the month, it has a lightweight texture and adds hydration and leaves the skin feeling softly refreshed and glowing, it works well with their foundations and after using this regularly skin feels more radiant and plump
  • L’Eau Micellar Water* is a new launch from Chanel, it’s a cleansing water that has a soft refreshing feel to it, it’s alcohol-free and gentle, it is scented similar to their Hydra Beauty line but isn’t irritating or overpowering, I use this as a first step for cleansing

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Hair Care Hits and Misses

Hair Care Hits and Misses

I’m on my third round of highlights and for some reason this time my hair has been so high maintenance. I feel the strong sun, salty ocean water, hard water plus beach time has been giving my hair so much grief. I’ve tried a number of shampoos and conditioners for color treated hair, most have been mediocre at best for color maintenance. I finally found something I love:

  • Hits include:
  • Misses
    • Kerastase Reflection Sulfate Free Shampoo and Reflection Conditioner were recommended to me by a friend, she swore by it! I kept using both until they were finished, but these were among the worst for me. I suspect it just does not work with Florida water. They would not lather well or rinse easily and they did nothing to maintain or protect color.
    • Oribe also came highly recommended. I really love their styling products so I am so sad to report that their Bright Blonde Shampoo and Shampoo for Beautiful Color did not work for me. I also used their corresponding conditioners when testing. The blonde one left my hair on the stringy side and the beautiful color option did not rinse well. I feel like their Gold Lust formula is far superior and I still love the Cleansing Cream. The color shampoos + conditioners (and mask) were an expensive miss for my hair.

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Most-Worn Nail Polishes
(also the ones asked about the most!)

I rotate nail polishes quite frequently but these are my most-worn polishes. Anytime I have my hand showing on Instagram, stories, blog posts I get tons of questions about what I’m wearing. I try to list and label them as much as possible, these are the ones that get the most questions:

Nail Polish Favorites OPI, Chanel, Essie

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Complexion / Glow / Bronzers

May Favorite Complexion Products, Bronzers and Highlighters

I feel like right now everything is still focused on getting that healthy glow. This month was filled with so many hits! I will have a full bronzer/glow post coming up soon, for now the best ones I tried this month:

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Eyes and Lips

May Hits and Misses Eyes and Lips

This month’s favorites for lips and eyes include:

The biggest miss for me was:

  • Dior Addict Stellar Shine in D-Galaxy – hauled this during the Sephora sale and it swatched so pretty on my hand, on my lips it’s a very slippery oily feeling glittery mess, perhaps the other colors are better, this one did not work for me!

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Skincare Hits and Misses

May Skincare Hits and Misses, Tatcha, Kopari, Glamglow, Farmacy

I’ve had so many issues with sunscreens this year on the face and body. I am testing one more formula and then I’m done and will most likely stick with my go-to’s. I can’t deal with the recovery time for allergic reactions. Right now my arms and legs are covered with bumps from my last test. It’s been a painful week for me. I just discovered that some sunscreens will cause a reaction when exposed to sunlight. I’ve also had ones that I’ve had an allergy to just from testing indoors. Full sunscreen post as soon as I’m done testing this one last formula (for those curious I’m testing out a couple from EltaMD).

The biggest misses:

  • Kopari Sundaze Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 30 – some people say that mineral is better than chemical for those with sensitive skin. I’ve tried both types and for me there’s really no guarantee because there are other ingredients to take into account. I’m not entirely sure what caused a reaction in this one, but it left a white cast on my face and within a couple hours tiny red bumps started to appear. Even after washing off it left my skin bumpy everywhere and it took a solid week for my face to go back to normal.
  • Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel Lotion with SPF 50 worked amazingly on my face when I tested it so I thought I found a winner. The day I tested it I was indoors the entire day and had no issues. Our next beach trip I applied it on my arms and legs (rest of my face/body I had something else on to test/compare). By the time we got back home my arms and legs started to develop swelling spots. They turned into red bumps everywhere. It does contain oxybenzone which I suspect could be the culprit for my allergy when exposed to direct sun, but I’ve tried Neutrogena formulas before and never had issues. As I’m writing this post my arms and legs are still recovering.

The hits:

  • Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen is one of my favorites that won’t irritate my face. It also lasts long on my skin and doesn’t leave a white cast. Since it does adhere well to the face I recommend you be extra thorough with cleansing to fully remove it.
  • Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream* has been really nice as my skin has felt dry for months with the air conditioning I’m in constantly. It has a nice rich texture that is surprisingly not too heavy for my skin type.
  • Glamglow Supertone Exfoliating Acid Toner is the best clarifying toner I’ve tried to keep my skin clear, minimize pores and help control oil on the T-zone.
  • Farmacy Beauty Better Daze Ahead* is the first CBD cream I’ve been able to tolerate the scent of. It still has an earthy kind of scent but it’s not overpowering like other CBD infused creams. It has a lightweight feel and was one of the few creams I could use post-sunscreen allergic reaction without having my face feel like it was on fire. It really did work to help moisturize and calm down my skin.
  • Rodin Luxury Face Cream* is a new launch that is an oil-infused cream for dry skin. I’ve found it pleasantly soothing and hydrating. It does have scent to it but it’s not irritating and smells like licorice and flowers mixed together. It has a lot of different oils mixed in so if you’re sensitive to oils you may want to try or patch test first. I’ve had no irritation issues and will keep on using this!

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That wraps up this month’s hits and misses! Would love to hear what you loved or didn’t like in the beauty world recently. Let me know in the comments!

 

 

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

 

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Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now What's In My Bag

Beach Beauty Favorites

May 23, 2019

Beach Beauty Essentials | The Beauty LooK Book

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

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

Daily Edited Clear Pouch in Pale Pink | The Beauty Look Book

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

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Sunscreen + Sun Protection

Sunscreen Favorites Tatcha, Supergoop! and Chanel | The Beauty Look Book

favorite sunscreens in the Truffle Jetset Case

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

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

Eric Javits Hamptons Hat and Tatcha Sunscreen

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Hair Accessories

Madewell Hair Scarf Bandana | The Beauty Look Book

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

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

Hair Scarf Beach Accessories | The Beauty Look Book

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Cheeks

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

Best Cream Blush Sisley and Charlotte Tilbury | The Beauty Look Book

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

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Lips

Best Summer Lip Gloss Colors | The Beauty Look Book

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

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Extras

What's In My Bag, Clear Makeup Pouch Truffle Mini | The Beauty Look Book

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

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

Beach Bag Essentials | The Beauty Look Book

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

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

 

 

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

 

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Beauty Favorites Sales Sephora

Top 25 Makeup Must-Haves in My Weekly Beauty Routine From Sephora

May 2, 2019

Top 25 Makeup Essentials for Everyday Makeup

The Sephora Beauty Insider Spring Bonus Event opens up to all Beauty Insiders today! It’s available both online and in stores now through 5/6 with the following codes:

  • Rouge Members receive 20% off purchases with code HEYROUGE
  • VIBs receive 15% off with code HEYVIB
  • Beauty Insiders receive 10% off with code HEYINSIDER

If you’re not a Beauty Insider yet you can still join (details here). You’ll get access to events and beauty rewards as you accumulate points with all your purchases. Last week I rounded up my go-to skincare and haircare favorites. Today I’m excited to partner with Sephora to share my Top 25 makeup go-to’s that I use every week. As a beauty blogger I frequently rotate products as I test and review the newest launches. Still many of you want to know what my daily staples are. While I don’t use the same things everyday I do have a handful of products that are in my beauty routine every week without fail. Here are my Top 25!

Best Everyday Makeup Staples

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Base

Favorite Makeup Bases NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, Laura Mercier and Armani Luminous Silk

The base products I use every week include the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (1) for a luminous natural glow, Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation (2) for the longest lasting matte full coverage, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (3) for the best brightening under eye concealer and my beautyblender (4) to give me a flawless seamless foundation application. To add a glow to the base I really love the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (5). I use it both underneath or on top of foundation to highlight places I want a little more glow.

Favorite Foundation Armani Luminous Silk and Beautyblender

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Prime

Tatcha Silk Canvas Full vs Mini

For primers I often rotate depending on what base I use. Whenever someone asks me “what’s the best primer?” my answer is dependent on what base you use. It’s best to use something that’s compatible, ie oil free primers with oil free bases etc. My most-used primer is the Tatcha Silk Canvas (6). It helps keep everything in place on my face and works with most of my foundations. They now have it in a mini size which I just bought! I’m restocking on the full size because I’m nearly out of my larger one.

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Set

Best Setting Powders La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury, Laura Mercier and Hourglass

Long-time readers can guess what my favorite setting powders are because you will usually see the same powders used in every single makeup breakdown. For loose powder my top picks are Laura Mercier Translucent Loose (7) and Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (8). Both work to set every kind of liquid or cream foundation without looking cakey or heavy. They keep everything looking soft and matte without looking dry. For pressed powders I swear by the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish (9) for a perfect blurred finish and the La Mer Pressed in Light or Medium (10) for a sheer natural finish.

Best Setting Powder Charlotte Tilbury

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Blush

Best Natural Glowy Blushes Hourglass and Charlotte Tilbury

I like to keep things glowy and soft for blush on most days so I prefer blushes that have a little shimmer and glow mixed in. For the person who is afraid to wear blush the Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic (11) blushes are really perfect. They have two shades in each compact to give you depth and dimension without looking overdone. My most-worn shade is Love Glow which is a perfect pinky peach. If you want a nude opt for First Love (best nude blush ever) or Pillow Talk for that perfect pinky brown flush. I also love layering Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes (12) on because they have highlighter and pigment in one. Incandescent Electra is my go-to soft coral.

Best Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in Love Glow

 

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Eyes

Favorite Eye Makeup Staples

My go-to eye makeup products are the ones that are easy to use. For brows I alternate between the Diorshow Brow Styler (13) in Universal Brown or Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (14) in Medium Brown or Caramel (depending on my highlights). They come with a spoolie at the end to brush out. I love that they have a twist up format so no sharpening required! I also use the Hourglass Arch Fiber Brow Gel (15) on a regular basis to groom and fill in brows without looking too heavy.

For eyeshadows I swear by the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks (16). I use these almost daily as an all over base for powder shadows or just on easy makeup days for an all over wash. Rose Gold and Copper are the best shades for me! I also really love the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Shadow (17) in Bette. It’s the perfect shimmering gold for a lid color.

For eyeshadow palettes my go-to’s have changed over the years from neutral to more neutral warm. Since moving to Florida and getting more tan I find I’ve gravitated towards warmer colors! My top two palettes are Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Honeymoon (18) which is my second one because I’ve used it so much and hit pan and the new Natasha Denona Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette (19) which I’ve used every week since discovering it. Both offer a complete eye look with light and deep shades.

The best shimmer shadow is the Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows (20). Anytime someone asks me what my shimmer shadow is, it’s usually one of these layered on top of powder shadow for that added glow! I think every color is a must-have. I bought every single one and love them but the two colors that get the most compliments are Blaze and Smoke.

Eye Makeup Essentials

 

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Lips

Best Everyday Lip Colors

I’m a neutral lip lover at heart and prefer gloss for a shiny luminous glow. My most-used colors and products include the Pat McGrath LUST Gloss (21) in Faux Real (although all of her shades are really incredible), Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow (22), Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip in Lychee Baby (23), Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk (24) and the Lip Cheat Lip Pencil in Pillow Talk (25).

Below wearing the Pillow Talk Liner, adding Fenty Glow on the right:

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk and Fenty Glow Gloss Bomb

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Sephora Makeup Must-Haves

That wraps up my most-used go-to makeup products that I have in rotation every single week! Some product categories are missing because I rotate each week and can’t commit to just one or two! For example I probably alternate highlighters the most frequently because sometimes I like liquid, other days I prefer powder. Same goes for eyeliner, mascara, etc.

I hope you enjoyed this makeup roundup! I can share what I ended up hauling if you’re interested (let me know in the comments)! In the meantime here is what I plan on hauling during the Beauty Insider event. I already picked up a few things but will probably make one more stop for some more things to try.

To recap, event is going on both in stores and online at Sephora:

  • Rouge Members receive 20% off purchases with code HEYROUGE
  • VIBs receive 15% off with code HEYVIB
  • Beauty Insiders receive 10% off with code HEYINSIDER

Shop my favorites in this post, face, cheeks and eyes:

Favorites for lips:

 

Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post! Press samples featured include the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose, Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip, Pat McGrath LUST Gloss, Hourglass Veil Powder. As always all opinions my own.

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Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

10 Things I’m Loving Right Now

April 19, 2019

Loving Right Now | The Beauty Look Book

Happy Friday! Hope you had a great week. I’ve been busy testing and swatching lots of newness from NARS, Tom Ford Beauty and Laura Mercier which I hope to post soon. In the meantime I have a beauty roundup of some things I’ve been loving right now!

  1. Glossier Play Niteshine Highlighter Concentrates have been something I’m really impressed with! These are super tiny concentrated highlighters. They recommend applying in a few dots on the cheeks or eyes and blending anywhere you want a highlight. Deep Copper is the prettiest medium copper nude for my skin tone. They have a nice natural dry down and stay put on the skin.
  2. I’ve been on the hunt for more travel hair brushes and ordered the Aerin Travel Comb and think it’s really nice! It’s a bit spendy for a mini brush but it’s sturdy and works perfectly for my hair type and needs. Aerin Beauty also has matching combs in two sizes and different colors which I think are really beautiful. For those wondering, I still really love the Yves Durif Petite Brush I reviewed a while ago. Just wanted to try another travel friendly option!
  3. Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold and Star Gold are now permanent. Right now they’re still only available on her website but should trickle out to other retailers later this spring. If you haven’t checked them out I highly recommend you do.
  4. Glossier Milky Oil is something I tried while in Miami at the Pop-Up. I was so impressed by how well it removed the eyeliner testers I had to order it immediately. It does a very good job at removing my waterproof mascara (although the Almay Remover Pads are better at removing it faster). I apply it to a cotton pad and let it soak on my eyes for about 5 to 10 seconds and it removes eye makeup really well. You can use this referral link to save 10% off your first order.
  5. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc is one of my favorite perfumes ever. I’ve worn it for years! It launched in a Travel Size Atomizer (0.3 oz) last year and kept selling out but relaunched this year and is back in stock. I carry this with me everywhere. The pen spray is also available in Tobacco Vanille and Neroli Portofino. The cap is magnetic and stays on really well.
  6. Slip Beauty Sleep Slipsilk Skinny Hair Ties are my latest obsession for hair. There’s no tugging or pulling with these. They’re stretchy and so far don’t lose their stretch even after a lot of use. So many hair ties end up breaking apart or break/tear my hair. These don’t. They come in a pack of 6 in different color variations.
  7. NARS Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint is one of the prettiest soft rosy pink lip tints. It will look different on you depending on your lip chemistry like their Orgasm Afterglow Balm. Review on this soon along with the full new Orgasm collection.
  8. Out of curiosity I ordered The Daily Edited Pale Pink Clear Pouch to see how it compares to my other clear pouches. I really love the design and personalization. The pale pink color is so pretty. I’ll have to test it to see how it holds up but so far I really love the way it looks!
  9. I bought the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Creme in search for a blow dry product. I’m thoroughly impressed at how smooth it makes my hair with the blow dryer. I have high hopes it will prevent frizz once the humidity returns in Florida. So far I love how it’s lightweight and truly works to smooth the hair without looking greasy. I did not realize that they have an entire Farewell Frizz line and I’m going to look into it this weekend.
  10. I’m always asked what this brush is when it’s featured in a flatlay and it’s the Laura Mercier Bronzing Brush*. I’ve accumulated so many brushes over the years and this one is my favorite for bronzers. It’s soft, plush, large and applies bronzing powders and mineral baked powders perfectly.

Quick swatches of the color items I featured in the post: Glossier Niteshine in Platinum Rose, Pale Pearl and Deep Copper. Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Rose Gold and Star Gold. NARS Orgasm Oil Infused Lip Tint (how the color looks after a few minutes).

Glossier Play Niteshine, Charlotte Tilbury Rose Gold and Star Gold, NARS Orgasm Oil Tint

Full review on the NARS Orgasm collection to follow. Tom Ford Soleil 2019, Chanel Les Beiges and more coming your way soon as well! A number of you asked if I’m going to review the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm collection and I’m undecided. Part of me thinks it’s going to be too glowy for me. Another part of me thinks it’s a knock off of the NARS. Let me know what you think and if you want a review!

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Laura Mercier Bronzing Brush was a press sample. All other items purchased.

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Beauty Favorites Bronzer + Blush

Beauty Favorites For That Post-Vacation Glow

April 15, 2019

Vacation Glow Makeup Essentials | The Beauty Look Book

Fresh glowing makeup has been a huge hit with so many of you! I’m frequently asked what I recommend for that refreshed and glowing back-from-a-tropical vacation look. Living in Florida does sometimes seem like I should be on a permanent vacation with the sunshine here. My actual glow is mainly from a few go-to bronzers and complexion products that help boost luminosity. Today I have a roundup of my favorite beauty essentials to help you fake that post-vacation glow without the sun. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share what I think is the best from eyes, lips and cheeks. If you’re in need of some extra glow and warmth to the complexion I hope you find this roundup helpful!

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Bronzers

Best Bronzers from Armani, Hourglass, Sisley and Chanel

above: hat / sunnies

I think before moving to Florida bronzers were my favorite makeup item to try. I’ve always loved having a warmed up bronze glow! I still really love trying new ones but find that I keep going back to my tried-and-true favorites. Ones I really like:

  • Armani Neo Nude Compact Powder is the best all over glow powder I’ve tried. It’s subtle enough to use all over my face to set. I also love using a darker shade as a subtle contour/bronzer to add a natural looking glow.
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light is a great option to add a subtle glow, especially if you’re on the fairer side. It’s not too shimmery and has a soft glow.
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers are more intense with a mix of highlighter and intense bronze pigment swirled in one pan. There are four shades total. I like Luminous Bronze Light the best but if you want something that pulls more neutral tone opt for Diffused Bronze Light.
  • Sisley Phyto Blush Twist* is a newish discovery for me. I’ve tried the blush colors but #5 is newer to me. It’s a warm sheer contour color which is perfect for me to add life to the skin. It blends out nicely and smoothly with a soft dry down finish.
  • Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Makeup Base is probably the best cream bronzer I’ve ever bought. I’ve actually gone through an entire tub of this (it does last for a long long time though). No matter what skin tone I am light to super tan this never fails to add the perfect amount of natural warmth to the skin. It’s 100% worth the splurge. I apply with a cream foundation brush or any blush brush.
  • The best bronzing brushes I use are the Laura Mercier Blending Brush* (smaller one above) and her Bronzing Brush* (larger one shown below). They’re ultra soft and smooth.
  • If you’re ultra fair and feel like every bronzer turns orange on you, I recommend looking into the Becca Sunlit Bronzer, Benefit Hoola Lite Matte Bronzer or one of the Armani Neo Nude Powders in a color 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone.

Best Glowing Bronzer Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer

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Fresh Glowing Lips

Best Summer Fresh Glowing Lip Colors Bobbi Brown, NARS and Chanel

A good neutral but brightening lip color can work wonders on your complexion. I think anything with a peach or fresh pink under tone can make for a universally flattering shade on any skin color. A few of my favorites for fresh glowing neutrals:

  • Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip Colors* are still in frequent rotation. I love mixing Lychee Baby and Peach and Quiet together for the perfect pinky peach lip.
  • Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint is a nice alternative to the Dior Addict Lip Glow, Melon is the ultimate juicy summer vacation peach. It swatches sheer on the arm but on the lips it transforms to a bright melon.
  • NARS Lip Gloss* has so many amazing color options with new shades out this spring. Outrage gives the perfect milky peach and Sexual Content is a fresh hot pink that screams vacation without being too bright.
  • NARS Lusted Lip Tint Trio has three fresh neutral minis. Color is sheer in finish but glowing in the best way possible. It’s so good for the neutral lip lover and small enough to fit inside the tiniest of clutches.
  • Chanel Rouge Coco Flash offers a nice fresh balmy shine in a stick. My favorites are Flash and Jour for that peachy glow.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Lip Pencil in Pillow Talk is my go-with-everything pencil. It helps extend wear of gloss and lipstick if I put this on my lips underneath and blend the edges.

Summer Fresh Lip Color from Nordstrom

bag / sunnies / swim suit top and bottoms

NARS Lusted Lip Trio Makeup Look

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Easy to Wear Neutral Eyeshadows

Best Neutral Eyeshadows Urban Decay, Tom Ford, Laura Mercier

new mascara (still testing!) / hat / travel case / sandals

There are so many eyeshadow options on the market these days and while some of you are experts at doing that bronzed smokey eye, many of you are intimidated by the options and want to know what’s best for the beginner who wants just 1 to 3 products to start. I’ve rounded up a few I consider easy to wear staples. These are the eye makeup colors I always get compliments on when you see me on Instagram stories:

  • Urban Decay Naked Reloaded has the prettiest mix of warm colors and neutral shades. It has everything you need for a complete eye look and is super easy to wear. Any of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes are great for beginners, I’d opt for either this one or Naked2 if you’re looking for something super versatile.
  • Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Golden Mink and Nude Dip are the quads I get the most questions about whether or not it’s worth the splurge. I think yes. Golden Mink has two shimmer neutrals and two sparkles which add a really lovely glow to the eyes. If you can’t feel like you can pull of glitters Nude Dip is the best easy to wear neutral-cool shimmer palette I’ve tried.
  • Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks* are worn every single week (almost daily) by me. I wear Rose Gold the most as an all over base. Some days I can just layer 3 for a complete effortless eye look. They’re creamy, easy to travel with, easy to blend and on me they stay put really well. My top most-worn shades are swatched below.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Cream in Bette and Marie Antoinette are also easy one-and-done kinds of eyeshadows. I can apply either shade all over the lid, add a liner and have a simple no-makeup-makeup eye look with either. They’re emollient and blend nicely with the prettiest shimmer!

Neutral Eyeshadow Swatches Urban Decay Naked Reloaded, Tom Ford Golden Mink, Nude Dip, Laura Caviar Eye Sticks

 

Wearing the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff, Armani Neo Nude Powder in 5.5 to set, Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base, Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light Bronzer, NARS Lusted Lip Tints in Escape Plan and Hot Memory mixed

NARS Lip Tint Escape Plan Tory Burch Costa Bandeau Bikini Celine Round Sunglasses

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My Go-To Makeup Bases

Best Foundations and Powders fo Summer Armani, Laura Mercier, La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury

I feel like I could do an entire post about my favorite makeup bases and setting powders. When it comes to having glow on the cheeks, bronzer, eyeshadow or lips a lot of times it’s best to have a matte to semi matte looking base so your overall look isn’t too glowy. When I’m asked, “what’s the best foundation or powder to splurge on?” my answer really depends on your skin type and coverage preferences and also time of year. Still many of you want to know what I personally feel are the best options. Ones that never fail me:

  • Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation* and Concealer* both have the longest wear time for me even in Florida humidity. While nothing I’ve tried is truly sweat proof if you’re in humid climates, this pair is the best performing for me. I wear Buff 3N1 for the foundation and 3W for the concealer.
  • Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is the best natural looking foundation with a luminous finish. It has medium coverage and always looks good on the skin. I like that it feels lightweight and isn’t heavy or greasy looking. You do need to set with a powder and if you have super oily skin you might want to opt for the Power Fabric formula instead.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder is my holy grail setting and blurring powder. I use Shade #2. It’s the best at evening out the skin while still looking natural and flawless.
  • La Mer Pressed Powder in Light or Medium are also in my top five most used powders. I’ve hit pan several times and it’s crazy expensive but I really love the natural finish. It’s amazing for touch ups too.

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Vacation Mode Makeup Tory Burch Costa Bikini Top Celine Round Sunglasses

Best Makeup for that Post-Vacation Glow

Best Makeup for that Post-Vacation Glow

I hope you enjoyed this glowy makeup favorites roundup! I always get questions about what I recommend so I picked a little from each category to share today. I’d love to hear about your favorites for the complexion, eyes and cheeks!

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Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. Press samples featured have a * next to them. As always all opinions are my own.

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Beauty Favorites Packing What's In My Bag

Travel Makeup Pouches I Never Leave Home Without

April 8, 2019

Best Travel Makeup Bags | The Beauty Look Book

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.

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The Daily Edited

The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case Review | The Beauty Look Book

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.

The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case Review | The Beauty Look Book

Skincare and haircare I packed inside the bag this trip:

 

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Truffle

Truffle Clarity Jumbo Jetset vs Regular Jetset Small

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

Truffle Clarity Jumbo Jetset review via The Beauty Look Book

Truffle Clarity Jumbo Jetset review Via The Beauty Lo

What I fit inside the Jumbo Jetset:

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Clear Envelope /Flat Pouches

Ouai Mini Envelope Clutch Review via The Beauty Look Book

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″

Truffle Mini Clarity Clutch, Ouai Envelope Clutches

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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.

 

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