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Beauty Favorites Fragrance

Best Scents of Summer

July 31, 2023

Best Summer Perfumes Phlur, Chanel, Diptyque, Byredo

Rounding up the best summer perfumes I’ve been loving this year. I love a good citrus perfume and often wear it year round. My go-to’s are still from Chanel and Creed, but I have some new favorites this year!

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz and Paris-Riviera

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Riviera

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz and Paris-Riviera Eau de Toilette Sprays ($98 to $142, Chanel.com) still remain at the top of my list for my most-worn fragrances. They’re fresh, bright and come in both full size and travel sizes (perfect for my bag).

RIVIERA NOTES: Sicilian orange, Petitgrain, Jasmine, Neroli, Sandalwood and Musk

Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Biarritz

Biarritz pulls a little softer while Riviera has a sharper more crisp feel.

BIARRITZ NOTES: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Lily of the valley accord, Vetiver and White Musk

Celine Parade

Celine Parade Perfume

NOTES: Bergamot, Neroli, Vetiver, Musk, Oak Moss

Celine Parade Eau de Parfum ($280 to $410 at Celine) is one I discovered over Christmas and it’s my favorite of all the Celine perfumes. Full review of all the scents here. This one could definitely be considered unisex. To me it’s like a dressier more edgy variation of the Chanel Les Eaux perfumes I love.

Sample sizes are not available in this one they offer a Discovery Coffret ($385).

Celine Fragrance Collection Review

Dior Dioriviera

Dior Dioriviera Perfume Review

NOTES: Rose and Fig

I bought Dioriviera Eau de Parfum ($150 to $450 at Dior) without testing it as I do not have a Dior counter near me that carries the La Collection Privee scents. I watched a few videos on this before buying and based on their descriptions it was very difficult for me to be able to tell if I would like this or not.

Based on the name I expected a citrus sunshine kind of scent but it’s very different. It’s a lush mix of fig and rose. Sweet and bright – it smells like the scent you would smell in a very expensive five-star luxury hotel. I was very happy that I ended up loving it.

If you’re like me are unsure about this, if you order online at Dior they offer samples at checkout with orders which change often. They have Dioriviera as one of the samples right now.

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc and Eau de Soleil Blanc

Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc Perfume

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc ($295 for 1.7 fl oz) and Eau de Soleil Blanc ($155 for 1.7 fl oz) are also two long-time favorites. I cannot pick a favorite between the two. They both smell really close to me for that white flower coco de mer mix. Both are available in a smaller 50 ml travel size formats if you want to try/test a smaller option before committing to a full-size bottle.

Soleil Blanc Notes: Coco de Mer, Cardamom, Ylang Ylang

Eau de Soleil Blanc Notes: Coco de Mer, Ylang Ylang from Comores Island, Bergamot Flower

Loewe Paula’s Ibiza Eclectic

Loewe Paula's Ibiza Eclectic

I currently own both of the Loewe Paula’s Ibiza perfumes and my favorite is Eclectic Eau de Toilette ($110 for the full size, $42 for the travel mini). It’s one of the most unique summery woody floral scents I own. I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea as it’s very complex but I find it very different and I love it. If you like sandalwood scents I think you will like this one. I think it can also be worn in fall.

NOTES: orange flower absolute, jasmine sambac, Madagascan mandari, black pepper, incense essential oil, frankincense, coconut, vanilla, ylang ylang, musk and sandalwood

Creed Virgin Island Water

Creed Virgin Island Water

NOTES: Lime, Bergamot, Tropical Fruits, Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Jasmine, White Flowers, Tonka Bean and White Musk

If I could only wear 1 perfume for summer Creed Virgin Island Water ($345 to $1,205) would be it. It’s a luxurious summer vacation in a bottle and to me nothing else compares. It makes you feel like you’re on a tropical cruise vacation. Has an aquatic vibe with tropical sweetness mixed in.

If you do not have a Creed counter or boutique near you they offer Customizable Sampler Sets online at Creed along with some pre-made sampler sets too.

Vacation Eau de Toilette

Vacation Inc Perfume

NOTES: Petitgrain essence, Coconut water, Coconut milk, Bergamot, Solar Musk, Banana, Pineapple, Pool Water, Swimsuit Lycra, Sea Salt

The Vacation Inc Eau de Toilette ($60, on sale at Ulta Beauty for $39 right now) has a classic pool like scent. Like pool water, sunscreen and salt mixed together. It’s light but fresh. Reminds me of childhood summers.

Diptyque L’Eau Papier

Diptyque L’Eau Papier

NOTES: White musks, Mimosa, Blonde woods accord, Rice steam accord

Diptyque L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette ($125 – $175) was a new splurge for me and very different from most Diptyque perfumes I’ve tried. It has a natural skin like vibe, like fresh clean linen but cozy and crisp at the same time. Has a soft skin musk like feel. The scent feels really nice in the summer heat.

Byredo Loves

Byredo Bal D'Afrique and Mojave Ghost

I’m a die hard Byredo fan. My favorites are the ones I feel like can be worn year-round. You can find lots of Discovery Set Trios or Sampler Sets available if you do not have a counter near you. Bal D’Afrique is one of the most unique creamy scents. It’s lush and sweet and has very long lasting power.

NOTES: Bergamot, African marigold, Bucchu, Violet, Cyclamen, Vetiver, Moroccan cedarwood

I also really love Mojave Ghost which has a fresh summery crisp feel to it.

NOTES: Ambrette, Jamaican nesberry, Violet, Sandalwood, Magnolia, Chantilly musk, Crisp Amber, Cedarwood

Phlur

Phlur Missing Person

Phlur is my second-most worn perfume line and I feel like I’ve fallen in love with so many of their scents. They have an updated Discovery Set with 10 scents online at Phlur. You can also find the perfume line at Sephora. Missing Person is still my favorite for a nice skin-like floral musk you can wear year round.

MISSING PERSON NOTES: Skin Musk, Bergamot Nectar, Sheer Jasmine, Fresh Cyclamen, Neroli Blossom, Orange Flower, Sandalwood Australia Oil, Blonde Wood, White Musk

Phlur Solar Power Perfume

Solar Power was launched in the spring and I love it for the floral sunny vibe it has. It’s like sunshine in a bottle. I feel like this one was made for me!

SOLAR POWER NOTES: Italian Red Mandarin, Sun-Drenched Bergamot, Jasmine Absolute, Neroli, Orange Flower, Driftwood, Solar Musk, Sea Salt

Phlur Father Figure Perfume

Their latest launch was a pleasant surprise, Father Figure is a beautiful fig. It is very rare that I can wear fig scents – I almost always love them for the home, but they usually turn on my skin. I love that this one isn’t too sweet on my skin. Feels like a fresh juicy burst of fig + summer.

NOTES: Waterlily, Lush Fig, Cassis Buds, Orris Root, Iris Flower, Jasmine Dew, Skin Musks, Vanilla Madagascar, Patchouli Leaf, Sandalwood

Best Summer Perfumes Beauty Lookbook

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What have been your favorite scents this season?

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Beauty Favorites

Latte Makeup

July 19, 2023

Latte Makeup Trend

I jumped on the Latte Makeup trend as I’ve been seeing it all over my feed and I love it! I don’t know that I would call it a new trend as it has a neutral everyday almost 90s vibe, but I’m loving everyone’s take. I also love that many are picking lip colors that have a bit more pink which gives it more fresh and modern take (vs the 90s deep rose brown).

I did a quick demo on Reels which I’ll link below. I’m wearing so many long-time favorites!

 

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Beauty breakdown:

Also wanted to round up a few other favorite in the neutral category since they’re my everyday favorites.

Complexion Favorites

Summer Base Favorites Charlotte Tilbury, Drunk Elephant and Too Faced

For the complexion I’ve really been loving the Too Faced Born This Way Healthy Glow Tint for my summer base. It has SPF 30, natural medium coverage, evens out the skin and blurs. Holds up really well even in this humid weather!

I still really love the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops and Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter for complexion enhancers. They give the skin a really nice natural glow without being too heavy or looking overdone. Even after trying to find dupes, I still have to say these two are holy grail material.

The best brightening under eye concealer is the YSL Touche Eclat.

Cheeks/Contour

Laura Mercier Fresco and Ginger Blush

For the cheeks I love a good neutral blush with some peach tones. Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion Ginger and Fresco are probably the best neutral blushes I own. They are neutral with brown undertones but have warmth so they work really well on olive/golden skin.

Victoria Beckham Beauty Cheeky Posh cream blush sticks are really nice too. I love the shade Playground for a neutral tan. The new VBB Contour Sticks are really nice too for eyes or cheeks. I picked up Marble and love it. It has a neutral undertone so it’s not too grey/cool and not too warm.

For a very natural cream bronzer/contour my top three these days are the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream (I use 390 and 392) in the new travel sizes. The formula of the minis is different than the original. The travel sized variations this year have a slightly matte finish with a blurring effect on the skin.

Tower 28 Sculptino in Getty is another great cream bronzer that does not have shimmer. And the Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick is the softest creamy stick I’ve tried that isn’t too dewy in finish.

The brush I use for most of my cream products is the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush.

Best Cream Contour and Neutral Blush Shades\Best Cream Contour and Neutral Blush Shades

Latte Eye Makeup Favorites

Makeup By Mario Master Mattes

For the eyes I don’t think it gets more classic than the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Palette. It’s been in my Top 5 for a long time and I still wear it every week. Natasha Denona’s Mini Nude Palette is another favorite and one I think is perfect for the latte makeup look trend.

Latte Makeup Eyeshadow Favorites

Best Neutral Lips

Best Neutral Lips

Last but not least neutral lips – my favorite! I love nearly every variation of a neutral lip. These are some of my favorites right now. In my Reel I paired the Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 in Terracotta with Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Faux Real.

Other favorites include the Kosas Wet Lip Gloss Oils (Revealed is the perfect pink nude, but they have lots of great neutrals). I also think the MAC At First Lipglass Set from the Nordstrom Sale has great neutrals this year, I wish they made Rose Recollection permanent.

Best Neutral Lips 90s nude

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That wraps up my Latte Makeup roundup. Would love to hear about your favorite neutrals you have in rotation right now!

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Beauty Favorites Packing

Summer Beauty Edit: Travel Favorites

June 1, 2023

Best Summer Travel Beauty and Makeup Calpak Clear Makeup Case

 

Today I’m sharing a roundup of summer beauty favorites I packed for a two-week trip! Covering everything I brought with me and favorites I used!

Travel Cases

I pack beauty items in separate cases to keep things organized: one case for makeup, one bag for brushes and another case for skincare/body/hair care. I wish there was a one-size-fits all packing option where all my cases were coordinated or matched, but I haven’t found the perfect set yet.

The Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case (small) has been my go-to for several trips now and I love how much I can fit inside the smallest one. (It used to be called the mini but is now called the small.) It has two zip compartments that are the same size and it folds and zips to a compact size that’s easy to pack. So far the clear plastic has held up pretty well even though clear plastic can be hard to maintain. You can see WHAT FITS INSIDE here.

I own two luxury vanity from Louis Vuitton. The Nice BB and Nice Mini were quite the splurge but I really love them. I’ve found the BB size to be the most ideal for travel. A number of you expressed concern about keeping it clean from spills or leaks. I haven’t had any issues yet with product leaking (keeping fingers crossed). If I have any liquids I’m super concerned about I’ll pack it in a Ziploc before putting it in the case.

Louis Vuitton Nice BB

For brushes I’ve been using Stephanie Johnson Zip Cases. I’ve tried brush rolls but find they can be bulky and the separators are rarely the right size for what I need. Having a separate slightly longer bag is perfect for me to keep brushes, pencils, mascaras etc. The color I have isn’t made anymore but there are different colorways at Nordstrom and Saks for the same shapes.

Stephanie Johnson Travel makeup pouches

I was just introduced to Cadence and love them! They recently added some larger container sizes and I found them perfect to store my cleanser and some hair serums. They were 100% leak-proof for me and had plenty of space for 2 weeks worth of cleanser and hair serum. I also used some of the smaller sizes for pills. They sent me a set with pre-labeled tops for shampoo, cleanser and a few other symbols. I love these so much I plan on ordering a few more for our next trip. They’re magnetic so they stack together and won’t move around in your beauty case.

You can create your own custom set with different sizes and labels. 100% recommend.

Cadence System Refillable Leak-Proof Containers

Other travel case alternatives you might want to check out for different sizes and options: Mark & Graham, Leatherology, Truffle Jetset Clarity Cases, Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Cases.

Travel Skincare I Packed

Summer Skincare I Packed for Travel

For skincare I tend to pack more than the average person because Andrew also uses my skincare when we travel and he uses a lot. This is what I packed with me:

Quick shout out for Loving Tan self-tanners if you’re looking to self tan before a vacation. I tried Loving Tan for the first time this year and am obsessed. It’s the only self-tanner formula I’ve tried that doesn’t have that terrible chemical smell and it looks super natural. You can see the before and after transformation with their 2 Hour Express Formula in Medium + their Deluxe Applicator Mitt. Application was super easy and effortless. Results were pretty impressive and completely streak free. On me it lasted around 2 weeks before it started to fade.

Loving Tan Self Tanners

 

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For hair I packed my ghd Platinum+ Styler and Dyson Supersonic. The ghd Flat Iron also doubles as a curling tool! In terms of styling products I packed the Kerastase Elixir Ultime (mini) and the Chronologiste Heat Protecting Leave-In Treatment (in one of the cadence capsules). I forgot to pack dry shampoo but picked up the Olaplex and Living Proof formulas at Sephora. Of course also packed the R&Co Dart Stick which is an essential for flyaways. The only complaint I have is that it’s semi-thick so if you’re vacationing in hot humid weather you will have to wash your hair daily but it’s the only product I’ve tried that truly tames my baby hairs that have started to grow near the top of my head.

If you’re looking for some great Travel Sets I brought and used a few from Colleen Rothschild. The Quench and Shine Travel Essentials Set has everything you need for hair care (really loved these and will be purchasing some full sizes soon). The Discovery Collection is also great to take care of everything from your morning to night routine, I have been really impressed with the Radiant Cleansing Balm, Clarifying Detox Mask and Extreme Recovery Cream.

Colleen Rothschild Skincare Travel Sets

I packed so much sunscreen with us and we used everything up in two weeks. If I could only use one for the body the Shiseido Ultimate Protector Lotion is hands down the best. For the face I love the Supergoop! Glowscreen the most right now. The new Chanel UV Essentiel is also excellent.

Best Summer Sunscreens Shiseido

Makeup Favorites for Summer

Summer Makeup Favorites

Summer Makeup Essentials

I overpacked on the makeup but I used every single thing I packed. For a more edited version I’ll list the items I used the most during our trip:

I’m going to be hosting some giveaways on the blog and social this summer! Kicking if off today with a Summer Beauty giveaway with some travel cases, my beauty favorites, skincare minis and more.

Details:

  • Must be US or Canada resident
  • Open to those 18 years or older
  • Will run through 6/7/2023 11:59 PM est
  • Winner will be selected via the widget within 2 days
  • Selected winner will be emailed by me and must claim prize within 72 hours or another winner will be selected and contacted
  • Prize package will ship within one week (US or Canada only)
  • Not sponsored or affiliated
  • To enter complete ALL the steps in the widget below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Beauty Favorites Skincare

Best in Skincare at Sephora

April 17, 2023

Best Skincare to Shop at Sephora: La Mer, Kate Somerville, Drunk Elephant

Rounding up my favorites in skincare at Sephora for their Spring Savings Event Sale! My skin has improved so much over the past few weeks and I think it’s due to the shift in weather. Warmer temperatures are better for my skin and I’ve noticed that it’s more balanced and less dry these days. I’ve put together a list of my Top 5 in each category right now. For the Sephora Sale use code SAVENOW. Savings and access dates will depend on your Beauty Insider Tier:

  • 4/14-4/24: Rouge Early Access: 20% off
  • 4/18-4/24: VIB Preferred Access: 15% off
  • 4/18-4/24: All Tiers: 10% off
  • 30% off Sephora Collection for everyone

BEST CLEANSERS

Best Cleanser Kiehl's La Mer Dior Dermalogica

The cleanser category is one that I love exploring the most. I think the key to my best skin is to properly cleanse it. A lot of skincare and makeup with silicones are often hard to remove so double cleansing is a must to ensure you remove every last trace. These are cleansers I love:

If you have dry skin the best cleanser for Dry/Sensitive Skin is a cream one like the Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser or Goat Milk Cleanser.

Best Makeup Removers / Oils / Balms

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm with Charcoal

I love to double cleanse and my favorite removers at Sephora include:

TONERS

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser and Toner

There are two toners I use available at Sephora.

SERUMS & MASKS

Drunk Elephant Skincare Favorites Protini Polypeptide Cream and Serum

I typically stick with just one moisturizer on my face for day except on dry skin days. I’ll add a serum as more of a treatment to target skin issues like when it’s feeling extra irritated, extra dry or needs some soothing.

MOISTURIZERS

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream, The Concentrate and The Eye Concentrate

So many great moisturizers these days. I rotate formulas depending on season. Here are my favorites and why:

EYE CREAM

Biossance Beauty Favorites

I started using Eye Creams more in the last two years and here are my three favorites:

BEST SUNSCREENS

Shiseido Sunscreen Favorites

I’m incredibly picky when it comes to sunscreen I’ll use on a regular basis. As a beauty blogger I try a lot of formulas but so many irritate my skin. Two brands I swear by are Shiseido and Supergoop!. There are so many new formulas I have not tried them all – but here are a few favorites right now. Bottom line is I don’t think you can go wrong with anything from these two brands.

LIP BALMS

The best lip balms I’ve tried from Sephora:

That wraps up my Skincare Favorites! I know I covered a lot but I wanted to be thorough! Let me know if you have any questions! I’m hosting another giveaway! One reader (US or Canada only) will be selected to win a Surprise Box of beauty goodies. I have so many extras I want to pass them along to another beauty lover. I’ve included 20+ full size items along with a bunch of fun minis.

To enter:

  • Open to Residents in US or Canada
  • You must be 18 years or older
  • Enter via the widget below
  • Winner will be selected on 4/21 and emailed same day by me
  • Selected winner must respond within 72 hours or another winner will be selected in their place
  • Not sponsored or affiliated

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

10 Things I’m Loving Right Now

March 16, 2023

10 Things I'm Loving Right Now

Happy Thursday! Rounding up some things I’ve been loving so much I wanted to put them on your beauty radar.

Dior Solar Oil

I’ve been obsessed with finding new body care items and have two new favorites. Dior Beauty just launched new items in their Solar Collection. In the US we have three items and I ordered the Solar Sublimating Oil ($70) which is a stunning glittery shimmery body oil. It smells like a sweet tiare flower – similar to the NARS Body Glow Oil but not as strong or sweet. The Dior Solar Oil is like a vacation bottled up in the most beautiful oil with four different pearl particles of bronze, copper, gold and white. Shimmer is subtle on my skin as the sparkles seem to match my skin tone. It absorbs nicely into the skin and leaves it feeling very smooth.

The glitter sparkles settle to the bottom half of the bottle. You will need to shake it up to mix up the glitters.

On me it’s somewhere in between a super emollient oil and one that has a dry down. It’s not super oily as it sets but it is still emollient if that makes sense. I just ordered the After-Sun Balm ($52).

Dior Solar Sublimating Oil

Dior Solar Body Oil

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream

Charlotte Tilbury launched her new Magic Body Cream ($65) and as a huge fan of her Magic Cream for the face I ordered it immediately. I shared a sneak peek on stories and I absolutely love it. It’s a really nice smoothing body cream with a silky smooth dry-down. I wouldn’t say that it has a fragrance but it has a similar scent/vibe to the Magic Cream. Also available in a smaller Travel Size* ($30) which is incredibly expensive for the size but I will be keeping with me in my purse at all times.

Phlur Newness

Phlur Solar Power Perfume

Phlur added a new scent called Solar Power* ($96) and it’s another winner. As a citrus perfume lover this is HUGE hit for me. I think the Phlur scents just keep getting better and better. This might just be my favorite in the line and one I will definitely be wearing non-stop. Solar Power is a warm floral citrus. It has a mix of neroli, jasmine, orange flower, musk, driftwood, sea salt. All of my favorite notes. Available at Phlur and Sephora.

Hair Oil Love

For the hair I received a few samples from the Virtue Haircare line and have been really impressed. I’m adding a bunch of items to my online shopping cart for the upcoming Sephora sale. I tried the Virtue Healing Hair Oil* ($26 to $44) and am obsessed. This is one of the best hair oils I’ve tried It comes with a small stopper at the top to control how much you dispense. It’s hydrating, not heavy, has really helped with my split ends. Give the hair a healthy shine and doesn’t weigh it down. You can also buy both the Full + Travel Size in the Hair Oil Duo for $49.

Glowy Sunscreen

So many of you ask for sunscreen recommendations and I’m due for an updated roundup. I have am really sensitive to sunscreens and it doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s chemical or mineral but I have loved pretty much everything from Supergoop! especially their Glowscreen which now comes in four colors. The team sent over a restock of their original shade Sunrise* (champagne) and Golden Hour* (bronze). I just started using Golden Hour and it gives me the perfect sunkissed glow. I love it for a bit of a bronzed glow for beach days. Also still love the Glow Screen Body.

Supergoop! Glowscreen Golden Hour

Supergoop! Glowscreen Golden Hour

Lip Favorites

Dior Lip Maximizers Shimmer Macadamia and Rose Nude

For the lips I’ve still been loving the Dior Addict Lip Maximizers (reviewed and swatched here). I love pretty much every single color but my two most-worn shades are 14 Shimmer Macadamia and 38 Rose Nude.

Sisley added a new shade of Phyto-Rouge Shine in 13 Sheer Beverly Hills ($63, Neiman Marcus Exclusive). This formula is hands down the best shine lipstick formula I’ve tried. Other shades reviewed and swatched here. Beverly Hills is a beautiful light beige. Love that it’s hydrating, adds shine, has good coverage even though it has “sheer” in the name.

Sisley Phyto Rouge Shine Sheer Beverly Hills

Sisley Phyto Rouge Shine Sheer Beverly Hills

NYX Lip Pencils and Butter Gloss

For some budget beauty finds I’ve been loving quite a few things I’ve hauled from Target and Ulta Beauty. NYX comes highly recommended by many of you. I’ve loved the Lip Pencil in Natural and recently hauled a few more shades in Nude Pink, Peekaboo Neutral and Brunch Me. Love them for a naturally defined lip.

The NYX Butter Glosses have also been pure love. They don’t have the best lasting power on me but I love the colors and don’t mind reapplying. Formula is very comfortable on the lips.

Halo Glow Liquid Filter

Elf Halo Glow Liquid Filter Shade 4 and 3

Last but not least I tried the viral ELF Halo Glow Liquid Filter and it’s really good. I wouldn’t call it a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter since the ELF ones aren’t as glowy. I can wear the Elf Halo Glow all over the face as a glowy base with sheer-medium coverage and then set with powder. Or I’ll use it under foundation. I’m in between Shades 3 and 4 so I mix the two. You can see Shade 3 in action here. I think it’s 100% worth checking out.

 

That wraps up my favorites right now! What have you been loving lately?

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Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

January Favorites Roundup

February 2, 2023

January Favorites

Rounding up my favorites for the month of January! I have a mix of beauty and a few other favorites I’ve been loving. I have my Top 10 in beauty and Top 5 in fashion/accessories.

The biggest hit in January was Ollie! He turned 1 year old on the 21st and I cannot believe how fast time has flown with this little fluff ball in our life. We are so happy to have him. We think he’s full grown now at 21.5 pounds but some say they keep growing past the 1 year mark.

Ollie Cavapoo Turns 1 Year Old

Ollie Cavapoo Turns 1 Year Old

This month’s top 10 beauty favorites include:

Dior Addict Lip Maximizers and Bobbi Brown Plumping Lip Serum

Dior Addict Lip Maximizers ($40) are of course in this month’s favorites. I’ve been wearing Rose Nude 38 the most this month. All the swatches in this blog post here.

Bobbi Brown Extra Plump Hydrating Lip Serum ($35) for lip balm. This comes in one color Bare Pink which is a shiny milky pink that goes on clear. Feels ultra smooth, cushiony and hydrating. It has a very subtle citrus kind of scent to it. I do think it’s a little pricey for what you get but I’ve been really enjoying the formula.

Celine Eau de Parfum Parade

Celine Parade Eau de Parfum ($255 for 3.4 fl oz, also available in a travel refill vial size) is the scent of the month. I love all things citrus and this one is pure love for me. A look at 10 of the scents in this Celine Fragrance Review roundup.

Balmain Hair Couture Clips in Medium

Balmain Hair Couture Hair Clips ($89 to $114) are quite the splurge but I really love the ones I ordered. I have a couple different sizes including the small and medium (ones shown). They’re pretty sturdy and well made. If you’ve been looking for them they are restocked at Saks in both the White Medium, Tortoise Medium (and some other sizes too).

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Compact in Nude

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Foundation ($139, comes with a refill) is a rediscovered favorite this month. I love how it melts right into the skin to look like skin but better. I use the Shade Nude right now. In summer I also wear Wheat.

Static Nails in Milky Pink

Static Nails in Milky Pink ($16) so many of you have told me to try Static Nails for over a year and I finally did. I love both Mademoiselle and Milky Pink for that sheer jelly pink. They’re easy to apply and there’s no streaking. I can use 2 or 3 coats to get smooth sheer pink perfection.

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black

L’Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara ($10.99 at Target) was a recent impulse buy. I can never resist checking out the new mascara launches while at Target! I really liked the original Telescopic Mascara (in the gold tube) because the ultra skinny wand grips all of my lashes. I picked up Carbon Black which is deeper and slightly more thickening on me. I really love it. (Wearing Olive and June Quick Dry Polish in Picante on the nails.)

Lawless Forget the Filler Winter Beach Set

Lawless Forget the Filler Winter Beach Set

Lawless Forget the Filler Winter Beach Set ($27) has 3 minis of the Forget the Filler Lip Gloss in Bitten, Blushed Sand and Rose Pearl. The shades are so beautiful and I wish they were permanent. I rarely buy backups these days but I bought an extra set because the set is limited-edition. I love the tones and think they wear nicely alone or layered on top of a lipliner.

Tarte Maneater Blush in Coral

Tarte Maneater Blush in Coral ($27) is a favorite for the second month in a row. I really like the liquid blush formula because it has a nice dry down. There’s a bit of shimmer to these so it’s almost like a blush and highlighter in one. There are several shades to choose from, I hope they keep launching these in more shades!

NARS Orgasm Rising Eyeshadow Palette ($49) made my favorites this month. I love the colors and have been reaching for it a lot. I did just order the new Pat McGrath Love Collection palettes though which look beautiful if you’re looking for something newer. Review coming soon. I’ll let you know if any of those palettes top the NARS one.

NARS Orgasm Rising Eyeshadow Palette

I have quite a few new things in the non-beauty category that I’ve been loving this month. I might do a more detailed review on some of them in an upcoming post but here’s my Top 5 Edit – 3 different sneakers, 1 new bag and 1 new wallet.

New Balance Sneakers 327 and 574

You girls know I love APL sneakers. I’ve been wearing them almost exclusively for the past several years but recently tried New Balance sneakers last fall and absolutely love them. They run true to size for me. I’m a 6.5 and wear the New Balance in a 6.5. I’ve tried two styles so far and love the 574 Sneaker in Nimbus Cloud/White and Grey/White. I even bought a pair for Andrew and he really likes them.

The New Balance 327 style is the one I tried after seeing it on Instagram. I bought the Sea Salt and Sea Salt with Black and also love these. The neutrals seem to be the most popular and sell out quick but I’ve seen them restock at New Balance, Free People and Jcrew to name a few places.

Loewe Small Puzzle in Grained Sand

Loewe Small Puzzle was a holiday treat over Christmas. I have the Mini Puzzle which I really love and use all the time. I had my eye on the Small which is larger, comes with an adjustable strap and is more practical. It can hold more and I like that the strap allows you to wear it over the shoulder or as a cross body. I bought it in the grained leather which softens and has more of a slouch as it wears over time. I purchased mine from the Loewe store but you can also find this style at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Net-A-Porter.

Loewe Small Vertical Wallet

Loewe Anagram Small Vertical Wallet was another splurge. I really love my other card case in the pink shade (exact style has been discontinued) but wanted something a little bigger but still small enough to fit in my mini bags. I’ve looked at several beautiful options from other brands but they ended up being too thick/bulky. This one from Loewe (shade is Nude) is perfect.

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

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Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

Self-Care Favorites I’m Loving Right Now

January 18, 2023

Self Care Beauty Favorites from Nordstrom

Happy Wednesday! Sharing an updated self-care roundup today with some favorites to unwind and relax at the end of the day. I’m still in that new year reset and refresh mindset. It’s super dry this time of year and my lips and hands definitely feel it! Here are some things I’ve been loving lately from Nordstrom for my nightly beauty ritual.

Self Care Beauty Favorites from Nordstrom

I just restocked one of my favorite body washes which is the Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser. It’s been a staple for as long as I can remember. It’s a citrus mix of mandarin rind, bergamot and geranium leaf – all of my favorites. Definitely unisex (Andrew loves it too).

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser

The Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub is also great but right now I’m loving the Kate Somerville Exfolikate Body Scrub. It’s a great one to smooth and brighten the skin. Helps get rid of dead skin and even though it has a mix of physical and chemical exfoliants it doesn’t dry out the skin. I use it 1-2x per week.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Resurfacing Body Scrub

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Candle

For the ultimate relaxing scent I think the Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Candle is one of the best to create an at-home spa like vibe. It’s one of the most potent candle scents I’ve ever burned. I also love the Lime Basil & Mandarin Room Spray which is really nice to layer with the candle.

Too Faced Hangover Pillow Balm

Favorite Clear Lip Balms U Beauty, La Mer and Too Faced

For lip balms I have three go-to’s right now for clear lip treatments. I keep these in my nightstand and apply right before I go to sleep. The Too Faced Hangover Pillow Balm comes in a clear version and tinted options. It really does feel like a pillow cushion for the lips.

If you are willing to splurge the La Mer Lip Volumizer or U Beauty Lip Plasma are also excellent. The La Mer is formulated to be a lip plumper but I use it as a regular balm. Both are smooth and non-sticky.

Skincare Favorites La Mer, Fresh and Sisley

For the skin I did a skincare roundup last week if you want some more details on my routine. I really love the La Mer Cleansing Foam for a cleanser that leaves the skin squeaky clean but still well hydrated. A number of you asked for recommendations on the best face scrub and the best gentle option I’ve tried is the Fresh Sugar Face Polish. It has a hydrating finish and the scrub particles melt into the skin as you massage it.

The best lightweight face mist I’ve tried is the Sisley Floral Spray Mist. Quite the splurge but there’s really nothing like it that has that superfine mist dispenser and lightweigh refreshing feel. I also love the La Mer Facial Mist Spray and everything from Omorovicza too.

Necessaire Body Oil and Jo Malone Vitamin E Hand Cream

Last but not least I have to give another shout out for the Jo Malone Vitamin E Hand Lotion and Necessaire Body Oil. This dry season has taken its toll on my skin. Both of these have been in heavy rotation and I would call these must-haves for dry skin savers.

You can find all of these at Nordstrom. Let me know what your favorite self-care items are! I’m currently looking for a new face oil to try – let me know if you have a favorite!

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Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

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