Browsing Category

Giveaway

Giveaway

Summer Hauls from Sephora and Nordstrom + eGift Card Giveaway

August 5, 2016

Happy Friday everyone! In the “what would you like to see” survey posted a few giveaways ago, an overwhelming number of you requested I do more haul posts. I tend to buy things in little bits here and there – with free shipping or affordable rush shipping, it’s easy to place several orders as I think about things rather than do a larger one-time haul. Sometimes I’ll see something in store and decide to wait and think about it and then a few days later I decide to buy it. July was a very pricey and spendy month due to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I already did two haul posts on my picks (here and here) – since it only happens once a year and there were so many good exclusives/value sets I could justify the extra haul. I also found a lot of little things at Sephora so I’ve combined my recent picks into a haul post.
Up first are Nordstrom picks, some are non-sale items:

My Nordstrom hauls, mostly from online orders:

  1. Antica Farmacista Santorini Reed Diffuser – I discovered the Acqua Reed Diffuser as shown in this home luxuries post and fell in love. Several of you told me there were a number of options on sale at Nordstrom. I bought five variations of the 8.5 oz version. I haven’t opened any of them yet – for those who use these, do you use one at a time completely before opening another one? Unlike candles, I suspect you can use for a little bit and store away since the reeds become completely soaked with the oils?
  2. Antica Farmacista Reed Diffuser in Bergamot and Ocean Aria because I love the body cream version of this scent.
  3. Ivanka Trump Ellyn Lace Up Sandals in Rich Chestnut suede are super comfortable and I found them to be true to size. The color is just a tiny bit darker than the stock photo but very close, heel is at 2.5 inches which makes them easy to walk in and 100% pain-free (at least for me).
  4. Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Telluride is actually something I ordered from Sephora, but accidentally put it with the Nordstrom haul, it’s a luminous soft pink with a very pearly finish, full review next week.
  5. Louboutin Loubilaque in Akenana and Bikini (not on sale), based on the good performance I saw with the Rouge Louboutin Loubilaque, I decided to order a few other shades, I haven’t tested them on my lips yet because I swatched a number of other lip products the past couple of days and one item ruined my lips so I’m waiting for them to rebalance/recover.
  6. YSL Vinyl Lip Cream in 404, 407 and 412 are items I was really excited to try. I adore the Glossy Stains (reviewed here and here) and a cream version just sounded like a dream come true. 407 and 412 worked perfectly like a lightweight stain but in creamy form. 404 gave me a WTF moment – it was extremely streaky and for some reason turned my bottom lip bright red, almost like a reaction but there was no tingle, sting or odd feeling. It’s now about 24 hours after I lip swatched it and my lip is still red. I tried makeup remover, cleanser and a very gentle rub with a washcloth – it’s the oddest thing!
  7. Vince Camuto Drape Front Blazer is something I stalked the web for the anniversary sale, it went out of stock in Size 0 and 2 but restocked. I’ve been searching for a white blazer for a long time and this has a drapey flowy fabric that feels comfortable. It’s a tiny bit long in the arms for me, but fits the shoulders well – it will need minor alterations for me, but I really like it.
  8. Vince Camuto Feina Booties are items I ordered as well, my local store was sold out, but they found them for me and had them shipped to my home. This is the first time I’ve tried Vince Camuto boots so I don’t know how they size compared to other styles. The sales associate recommended I size down since in her experience they run big. Size 6 fits like a glove with room for thin socks.
  9. Hudson Nico Ankle Super Skinny Jeans are very comfortable and they fit like a glove. The fabric is thick enough to be sturdy but not stiff so these feel good to wear. I’m normally one who opts for Paige, but I was really pleased with these. The raw hem gives them an edgy look. As one who is short, these are the perfect length that I don’t need them hemmed.
A look at the Vince Camuto Drape Front Blazer (Size 2, for reference I’m 5’3″ and 125 pounds) and Hudson Nico Ankle Jeans (Size 27, sized the same as Paige and Citizens, I go up for Frame with 28s).

More views on the blazer, for those curious about the home bits, bed is from Crate and Barrel, rug is from Pottery Barn, on the far right the reflection of the white block is an Ikea Alex unit.

Shoes, left are the Ivanka Trump Ellyn Sandals, true to size 6.5, right are the Vince Camuto Feina Booties which I bought in a 6 based on the sales associate’s recommendation that they stretch out.

One more look at the Hudson Nico Jeans (top is an older style silk tee from J.Crew, shoes worn are by Stuart Weitzman which run large on me so I take these in a 6):

Up next are the Sephora haul picks:

Shown above:

  1. Sephora Play! July box contents includes minis of Benefit Dew the Hoola, Ouai Wave Spray, Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer, First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, NEST Citrine Perfume and Beautyblender Blottertazzi, I have yet to try everything in last month’s box, but Dew the Hoola is swatched here
  2. Urban Decay 24-7 Glide On Lip Pencil in Peyote is a cool-toned neutral pink with a tiny bit of shimmer, it’s a great light pinky color that does last a long time
  3. Bare Minerals GEN NUDE Radiant Lipstick in Strip is a medium nude pink beige – finally balmy glossy lipsticks that have pigment! I picked up two shades (yes, they look almost identical) and love love love the way these feel and look, they’re effortless kinds of nude with the feel of Chanel Rouge Coco Shines but more pigment.
  4. Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Trance is a gorgeous pinky mauve shimmer, formula feels a bit thick and dry without a base but it does stay put on the lips, I’ll need to experiment more with bases on this one. It’s not drying, it just looks a bit dry if that makes sense.
  5. Bare Minerals GEN NUDE Radiant Lipstick in Honeybun is a nude beige tan cream.
  6. Formula X Color Curators in Makeup by Rose XOXO Edition in Mahhveous Rose, Puffin! and Acoustick Dreams, these look gorgeous for fall, I’ll have swatches of all three shades soon.
  7. Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation in Nude which is one shade darker than Warm Ivory but too dark for my skintone. Warm Ivory is a better match, but if I mix both shades the match is a 100% exact match.
  8. Kat Von D Lock-It Creme Concealer in M19 and M27 – I matched myself in store and can’t believe I braved using a tester on my face in store. When I applied it my skin was a bit dewy as it was late afternoon and hot. It blended to a flawless finish so I bought two shades. When I got home and tested it the following days I found it looked cakey and patchy under eyes on my regular skin. I’m still testing with other eye creams and primers as a base to see how best to make it work. I’m not ruling it out quite yet, I’m determined to put it to the full test as I really like her foundation.
  9. Becca Champagne Splits in Flowerchild and Champagne Pop – by this point I have Champagne Pop in all the forms possible and I do think it’s a bit overkill. The individual powder and poured cream (both swatched here) are my favorites. I definitely did not need it in a split pan with a blush, but what can I say – I think we all get sucked in sometimes by pretty packaging.
  10. NARS Sculpting Multiple Duos in all three options, review to follow as soon as I can!
  11. Formula X The System Xcel is something that just popped up online, I already own and use the original System (reviewed here a while ago), the Xcel set is designed for a gel-effect so I’m curious to see how it compares to the original!
  12. Beauty Insider Points minis
Lip picks swatched:

I won’t be reviewing everything in this haul in a separate posts, so here are lip swatches for reference. The Bare Minerals GEN Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Swag was one of the Beauty Insider minis (love the color, not a fan of the matte finish). Above Bare Minerals Strip and Honeybun look identical, on the lips you can see the difference. If you click to enlarge the photo you can see how patchy YSL 404 applied on my lips, especially on the lower lip.

All the Kat Von D Lock-It Creme Concealer shades swatched, if you’re NARS Ginger the closest match is M25 and M27:

That concludes my haul picks from July from Nordstrom and Sephora. There are still a few more days left for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (prices go back up Aug 8th). I’m hosting one last giveaway for the summer and giving away three $100 eGift Cards. The selected winners will have a choice of getting an e-gift card to either Nordstrom or Sephora. Details:

Enter via the widget below, there are several ways to enter:

  • You must be 18 years or older
  • Open internationally
  • Three distinct winners will be selected at random via Rafflecopter
  • Winners will be selected at random on Sunday afternoon and contacted via e-mail by me
  • If you’re a selected winner you must send me a response confirming within 48 hours or another winner will be selected, prizes will be sent by the following business day

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!
204 Comments
Giveaway

Philosophy x QVC Classic Shower Gel Collection + Giveaway

July 24, 2016

I’m the type of person who lives for bubble baths. Many beauty lovers say that on a bad day there’s always lipstick (which I agree with) but for me there’s nothing that helps me relax and unwind like a good bubble bath to melt away stress. Philosophy makes some of my favorite shower gels – many of them are multi-tasking products that you can use for the hair, body wash and bubble bath (and they actually work for both hair and body). My go-to for years has been the Amazing Grace Shower Gel and I’ve lost count of how many bottles I’ve used up. QVC has a lot of value sets and I’m excited to team up with them to share Today’s Special Value in the Classic Collection which has four super-sized 32 fl oz shower gels in Lemon Custard, Orange Pineapple Smoothie, Fresh Cream and Cinnamon Buns. The set is offered at a value price of $79.96 for today only and QVC is also giving away one set via The Beauty Look Book.

When I first opened the box – I intended on splitting this up into gifts as each bottle is huge! On a few previous philosophy posts, several readers have mentioned that they buy the large sets and split them up as party favors for girl friends or just give them as gifts with a special note. I think that’s such a sweet thing to do. After testing a couple of these though and don’t know that I will be able to bring myself to give them away because they are really really good. At first sniff these smell incredibly rich and sweet. In the shower or bath they do soften up quite a bit – Cinnamon Buns smells just like Cinnamon Buns which seems like it might be an odd scent bathe in, but it’s amazing. Fresh Cream is a sweet mix of vanilla and cream which is also another one I’ve fallen in love with. I mixed two pumps of Fresh Cream with a cap of Amazing Grace and the mix was quite interesting. I think I need to experiment more with mixing the scents in the tub because it gives you an entirely different kind of experience. The other two fruity options I’ve taken a quick smell at – still deciding whether to keep or gift away, but they smell like fruit smoothies.

If you’re the type who prefers something fragrance or scent free, philosophy makes their Purity Made Simple Body Cleanser which is one of the best fragrance free gentle body washes I’ve tried. It also comes in the super size version which lasted me well over six months. Most of the scents are available for purchase separately as well. You can find Cinnamon Buns, Lemon Custard and Fresh Cream in the large versions (they all come with handy pumps) and also in a number of other set options. Based on what I’ve tried – all the body cleansers leave the body feeling squeaky clean and softly scented. For stronger fragrance it’s best to layer with a lotion or body cream, but I prefer my shower gels to leave the skin with a soft hint of scent.

A few snapshots of the ingredients listed on the back of each bottle (you can click for larger viewing):

The 4 Piece Classic Collection Set is offered at a value price for today only (there’s a handy countdown clock on their product page). The Classic Collection has Lemon Custard, Sweet Cream, Cinnamon Buns and Orange Pineapple Smoothie. There’s also a Summer Collection Option which contains Vanilla Coconut, Beach Party, Senorita Margarita and Cabana Girl.

QVC is giving away 1 Classic Collection as shown in the post to 1 lucky winer. You can enter for a chance to win through the widget:
  • Giveaway is US only
  • Open to readers 18 years or older
  • Enter via the widget below
  • Entries will be collected through Wednesday the 27th
  • 1 winner will be selected randomly via widget and contacted via e-mail within 48 hours
  • QVC will ship the prize directly to winner
  • Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to QVC for sponsoring this post and giveaway. 
115 Comments
Giveaway Loving Right Now

Loving Right Now + Gift Card Giveaway

July 22, 2016

Happy Friday everyone! It’s been one of those weeks I thought would never end and I am relieved that it’s almost the weekend. Thank you to everyone who shared what you wanted to see on The Beauty Look Book blog in my last giveaway post. It’s always great to hear feedback on what you’ve liked and also what you would like to read more about. There were a lot of requests for features on a wide range of topics and I am beyond flattered so many of you want to know what I think about well basically anything! Most popular requests were for higher end skincare (I did not realize you guys liked the skincare posts!), budget-friendly cosmetics, full skincare routine, current hair care routine, more hauls, favorites roundups, inside my purse posts, shoe features, tutorials, makeup storage, more travel (so happy many of you loved this), time management, exclusive promo events and videos!

Since reading your requests, I’ve started to pull items for a full summer skincare routine and hair care routine post. I do tend to test a lot of products on myself to review for you so my routine changes frequently – but I will pull my favorites and include items I’ve used up. A few notes:
  • Nordstrom Anniversary Sale hauls posted on the blog, makeup picks here and fashion and skincare items hauled here
  • Exclusive promo savings for readers via Space NK US here – my apologies for those who were not able to use the code on Oribe, after several e-mails to the team, they’ve fixed the code and it works on all Oribe items (full size and travel sizes)
  • Antica Farmacista is doing a special online promo code, enter code ANTICABLB at checkout for a mini body butter with any online order!
  • Summer bronzer edit posted here (many of you have been asking for this for weeks!)
  • On videos I am hoping to do some in the future!
  • Loving right now/favorites in this post here today!

Right now for skincare, hair care and the home, I’m loving the following:

  1. Chanel Fresh Body Cream is a summer go-to for body lotions. It smells lightweight and fresh and even though a tub is pricey. I use it sparingly but it has lasted a long time. It hydrates without feeling sticky and won’t interfere with perfume. My wallet is crying at the thought of having to buy again but I think it is 100% worth the splurge.
  2. Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover is what I use right now to remove mascara and eye makeup, its gentle but effective and doesn’t feel greasy. You can find it in two sets for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in the Chubby Lash Set and Take the Day Off Set
  3. Antica Farmacista is a line I just discovered and I really don’t know how this has passed my radar for so long, I received a few samples and the line is exquisite! My favorite item is the Cucumber and Lotus Flower Candle which is the perfect cooling relaxing scent for the home, I am going to need this one in all formats, detailed review next week – if you have any favorites from the line let me know! If you order online they’re offering a free mini body butter with any order, use code ANTICABLB
  4. Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ample Angora Volumizing Mousse is something new to me, I will say up front I typically hate mousse products because they’re usually sticky and make my hair hard to comb/brush, this one is really good though. I have naturally thick hair and find most volumizing products don’t really add that much volume to my already thick hair (I have tried dozens of sprays, creams, lotions, shampoos etc.) This one combined with heat styling of the T3 PROi Dryer (best dryer ever, thanks RaeView for recommending to me!!) gives serious volume all the way through from roots to ends.
  5. La Mer The Tonic is a toner I alternate with the SK-II Clear Treatment Lotion, I like both but reach for the La Mer more these days to help remove impurities after cleansing and rebalance the skin. The formula has been a go-to for years and often times I try others in attempts to find a more affordable option, but this one never fails me.
  6. Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash is a favorite for every day multiple times a day. It’s one of the few I can use frequently without it stripping my skin. I’ve tried and repurchased all her cleansers and this is the only one that won’t irritate my skin on tender skin days. My brother has acne-prone skin that is even more sensitive than mine. I bought him this one to try and it’s one of the few he says is gentle enough for his skin (he’s in his early 20s). Also available in a larger 16 oz size with a pump and her Clinic Solutions Kit (I bought this for travel).

For makeup and fragrance:

  1. Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light Palette is nothing but pure love, it’s a Nordstrom Beauty Exclusive for this year’s Anniversary Sale and I think it is perfect. If you already own the palette from last holiday or the individual colors you can skip this one. Also there’s a new marble palette that’s coming out for holiday that you might want to wait for as previewed on @gossmakeupartist’s Instagram (it looks dreamy but I think the colors are different!). My review + swatches in this post here.
  2. Chanel Aqua Glossimers for summer are sheered out glossimers new for summer. Review on all the shades in this post here. These are nice for an effortless wash of shine and a hint of color.
  3. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Sugarcane is a perfect baby pink that covers the lip entirely, I also like Honeycomb which is a perfect nude, swatches + review of the neutrals in this formula can be found in this post here
  4. MAC Sunblessed Cremesheen (in the Nordstrom Sunblessed Kit) is a great pinky nude on me even though it looks more peachy in the tube. Swatched on my lips here.
  5. Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips are almost too hot to handle. I adore her Matte Revolution formula and was thrilled to see more neutrals and brights launched in her Hot Lips Collection. All the shades purchased by me and swatched in this post.
  6. NARS Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette (review soon) is an exclusive to NARS online and boutiques. This has great neutrals deep enough for medium to tan skintones. I’ll review and swatch this soon.
  7. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc is the perfect white floral summer fragrance. I love it. Review here.
  8. YSL Glossy Stain 07 is a ripe juicy peach that has enough color to be more than a neutral but isn’t too bright so it will suit neutral makeup lovers (also in the Nordstrom Rebel Nudes Set)
I’m hosting one more Nordstrom eGift Card Giveaway! I’m giving away 3 $100 USD eGift Cards to Nordstrom. Details as follows:
  • Open internationally
  • You must be 18 years old or older
  • Enter through widget
  • Entries will be collected through Sunday 7/24/2016 11:30 AM PST
  • Winners will be selected at random via the widget, emailed Sunday evening

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What are you loving right now? Did you haul anything good from the Nordstrom sale or any other places recently?

Press samples featured include Shu Uemura, Antica Farmacista, Bite Amuse Bouche.
25 Comments
Giveaway

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2016 Wishlist + Gift Card Giveaway

July 14, 2016
http://rstyle.me/n/buqbkrubf6
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts today for Nordstrom card holders! If you’re like me you’ve probably been wondering if there will be any additional beauty exclusives that aren’t been listed in the catalog. I took a quick look online to create a wishlist of what to check out. Some I’ve ordered online but I hope to browse the sale in store today or tomorrow. I will have a full report on what I end up hauling. In the meantime here’s what’s on my radar.

Above 1  /  2  /  3  /  4  /  5  /  6  /  7  /  8  /
9  /  10  /  11  /  12  /  13  /  14  /  15

I find the best way to shop the sale is to sort things by category, make a wish list of what to check out and then narrow down final picks from there. For the sale there are so many cute shoes and boots – walking through the shoe section in store is always overwhelming for me so I find sorting/filtering online first is the best way to help me figure out what to look for.

For beauty the Nordstrom sale always has a lot of sets, palettes and large value sized products as Beauty Exclusives. Be sure to check the available Gift With Purchase options as well to plan your buying for qualifying min buys. Some are online only. I’m thrilled to find that the catalog gave us a teaser and that the actual list of products for the sale is a lot bigger.

For makeup, there are tons of palettes and sets. I have the Hourglass Ambient Luminous Palette in my cart right now. Charlotte Tilbury launched a new Instant Beauty Look Palette set called The Dolce Vita. If you’ve been eyeing the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil in Stick in Beige Blouse it’s in the Rebel Nudes Lip Set at a value price. If you’re like me wondering what Chanel would offer as an exclusive, this year they have the Take Shape Brow Set with the Brun Duo (reviewed/swatched here). NARS has four exclusives with three survival kit sets and one Nordstrom’s Best Cheek Palette.

The fragrance department always has value priced sets. If you have any favorites and want to stock up, it’s best to search during sales or holidays to get more bang for your buck. Diptyque has a 5-Piece Mini Candle Set for $55 which would be a great way to try out the line if you’re new at a more affordable price. I think it would also make a cute gift!

Skincare and body care are also about value buys and sets. If I could recommend one set, it would be this Kate Somerville 3 Steps to Glow Set. The Retinol Dermal Quench is life changing and the moisturizer option is a good one to smooth and comfort skin. If you’ve been contemplating a Clarisonic, the sale is one of the best times to buy one. The Mia Fit (previewed here) is on super sale in three colors and the Alpha Fit for men is also on sale.

Shoes are mainly focused on styles for fall. Lots of boots but there’s a lot to choose from for sneakers and fitness. These Stuart Weitzman Perfection Booties boots are marked down to $349.90 from $595. I am hoping they won’t be too tall in the heel because I love the style/color.

For clothing I’m all about stocking up on denim or finding good deals on leather jackets (real or faux). Paige makes the best jeans in my opinion (they hold everything up) and the Transcend line has the softest fabric that holds shape with minimal stretching. The Verdugo Ankle Style is perfect for petite girls so you don’t have to get them hemmed.

Accessories and bags have lots to choose from as well. This Sole Society Tote is super affordable, looks sturdy and perfect for travel.

As a thank you and a way to give back, I’m hosting a giveaway for my readers. I am giving away five $100 eGift Cards to Nordstrom.com. Entries will be collected through the widget at the bottom of the page. Note since I’m giving away eGift Cards, the selected winners will receive the prize by e-mail. Here’s the rundown:
  • Open to anyone 18 years or older, international too!
  • Submit entries through the widget below (there are multiple ways to enter)
  • Entries will be collected through Sunday 7/17/2016 10:45 AM PST
  • Winners will be selected at random through the widget, contacted by me via e-mail by Sunday evening and must confirm/respond within 24 hours or another winner will be selected
  • Five distinct winners will be selected and be sent a $100 USD eGift Card to Nordstrom (you can use it online or in stores) 
  • Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you have anything on your radar for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale? Eager to hear what’s on your wishlist! Are you shopping the sale for early access or will you be shopping on the 22nd? P.S. If you have any of the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors I reviewed yesterday there’s a pretty awesome Nordstrom x Clarins GWP for early access!

186 Comments
Giveaway

Tatcha x The Beauty Look Book Giveaway

October 29, 2015
https://www.tatcha.com/giveaway/tatcha-the-beauty-look-book-giveaway

Long-time readers of The Beauty Look Book know that I’m a huge fan of skincare from Tatcha. Many of my readers love the line too and I’ve tried things based on your recommendations as well. The Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm was the first item I tried from the line, followed by their Indigo Line which is hands down the best thing I’ve tested for dry sensitive itchy skin. It’s rare that I like everything I’ve tried from a single skincare line, so the fact that I’ve fallen in love with everything in Tatcha’s lineup is huge. I’ve restocked on their sheet masks, enzyme face powders, and hand cream many many times. If you’ve ordered anything from them you know how beautifully they package and wrap everything. If you haven’t yet, you need to, their customer service is excellent.

One of my favorite parts of Tatcha is that they offer a wide selection of their full sized products in Travel Sizes. It’s a nice way to try something small before committing to the full size. They are travel essentials for me. Other loves include the Pore Perfecting Sunscreen which really does make pores disappear. The Beauty Papers are in my purse at all times – they are really the best blotting papers to absorb shine without making the face look powdery.

Tatcha has teamed up with The Beauty Look Book to giveaway. 10 lucky winners will selected to each receive a travel sized Dewy Skin Mist. It’s one of my favorite mist sprays that adds the perfect amount of hydration and has a fresh feel.

Details to enter by clicking on this link here:

Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary to enter.  A purchase does not increase your
chances of winning.  Void where prohibited.  US legal residents only.  1
entry per person and per email address, entry by 1 person from multiple
email addresses may be disqualified from winning.  Entry begins
10/29/15 at 12:00AM PST and ends 11/2/15 at 11:59PM PST.  Winners will
be notified by email.  Prizes will be mailed within 30 days of end of
giveaway.  By submitting an entry you agree to receive emails from
Tatcha, you may unsubscribe at any time.

Be sure to follow Tatcha on Facebook and Twitter. They have good promotions every month, sometimes you can get the news via their social channels. I was able to get a sneak preview of their holiday sets coming out soon, there are really good ones this year!

P.S. There’s a promo going on right now where you can enjoy a complimentary Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask with any purchase over $75 (use code MASK75), or a four-pack with any purchase over $150 (use code MASK150) at TATCHA.com. Valid 10/29-11/2.

Do you have any Tatcha favorites? If yes, please share in the comments!

Good luck! This giveaway is brought to you by Tatcha.

11 Comments
Giveaway

Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Collection + Giveaway

September 17, 2015

I’ve been a huge fan of Molton Brown for many years going back to the days of their Coco de Mer (now reformulated into their Coco and Sandalwood). Their shower gels have been a long-time luxurious splurge for me – a few years back they changed some of the items in their line. They renamed and revamped a number of their scents. A regular go-to is the Gingerlily Body Wash for a super brightening uplifting scent. The Molton Brown recently sent me samples of the Ylang Ylang Collection to try featuring the one of the new Body Polishers, Body Lotion and Body Wash.

The items featured from the Ylang Ylang Collection:

Body Polisher $50 for 9.7 oz
Body Wash $30 for 10 fl oz
Body Lotion $42 for 10 fl oz

This is the first time I’ve tried their body scrubs. There are four options inspired by world destinations. Ylang Ylang is inspired by Madgascar with Magadascan black vanilla grains inside. It’s like a super relaxing spa in a tub the texture is emollient in a thick gel base with micro-fine grains suspended inside. It’s a hard scent for me to describe – it has notes of ylang-ylang and cedarwood with a tiny bit of vanilla.

Here’s a close up of the scrub below, it’s the best scrub I’ve tried. It exfoliates really well and is super hydrating. It makes your legs glow and look well nourished and smooth. I hope they expand the line to other scents in their lineup – it’s truly incredible.

The shower gel and body lotion are really nice layering products. The scent is very strong – not as strong as perfume but lingers on the skin for quite a while which is nice. I love the shower gels because they lather up really nicely and double as a good bubble bath. The skin is left feeling ultra clean but not dried out. The lotions have a thin texture which makes it feel weightless on the skin. It absorbs quickly. The body products in the Ylang Ylang line are very floral – but I don’t find it overly so. The items have a calming relaxing effect – it really does make me feel like I’ve been to a spa after I use the scrub and shower gel.

The Molton Brown team sent an extra set for me to giveaway to one lucky winner. There are several ways to enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. See Terms and Conditions for details. The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada who are 18 years or older. You must enter via the widget to qualify for the drawing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Do you have any Molton Brown favorites? I love that the look of their hand creams – the packaging looks ultra sleek and pretty with the different colors. If you have any recommendations I’m all ears. It’s been a while since I’ve visited a boutique but I think a trip is in order very soon.

You can find Molton Brown at a number of retailers. Online at Molton Brown, Nordstrom, Birchbox and Neiman Marcus.

Many thanks to Molton Brown for sending a set for review and a set for a giveaway.

6 Comments
Giveaway

Sephora Collection Festival Favorites Giveaway

April 17, 2015

This year Sephora celebrates its second year as the exclusive beauty sponsor of the 2015 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They’ve created a special selection of beauty products inspired by the Palm Springs landscape with curated picks from their SEPHORA COLLECTION. If you are able to attend the festival this weekend from April 17-19, be sure to check out their DIY Beauty Bar, Fiber Mask fire pit lounge, panoramic images, faux grass, and live plant life installation, all inside a massive 40’ by 40’ tent located next to the Mojave Stage.
For those able to attend, Sephora encourages you to share your experience to earn a surprise reward at the SEPHORA COLLECTION Instagram Vending Machine by tagging @Sephora #SephoraCoachella.

I will not be attending this year, but the Sephora team was kind enough to send over a package of select Sephora Collection items for me to giveaway. One winner will be selected at random via the Rafflecopter widget below. There are multiple ways to enter in, this will be for US only and you must be.

Inside the giveaway pack will include the following items, all Sephora Collection items:
Face Mask in Rose and Pomegranate
Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color in Electra Pink and Nude Pink
Colorful Shadow & Liner in Let it Snow and Fresh Limeade

I’ll be collecting entries through the Rafflecopter widget below now through April 24, 2015. You must submit your own entries through the Rafflecopter widget to qualify. One winner will be selected the last week of April 2015 and be contacted via the e-mail address entered in the widget.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Items in this giveaway were provided courtesy of Sephora.

 

3 Comments