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Hauls Sephora

New Bite Beauty Launches – Haul Picks + Review

January 30, 2020

Bite Beauty revamped their entire product lineup and I have a haul review to share today! I’m still very sad they discontinued and reformulated the best lip balm I’ve tried but I’m happy to report the new Agave+ is very good.

In today’s haul post:

Agave+ Intensive Vegan Lip Mask ($26 for 15 g/0.52 oz)
Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon ($24 for 1.5 g/0.05 oz)
Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer Normal to Oily ($38 for 30 ml/1 fl oz)
Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation in M70 ($39.50 for 30 ml/1 fl oz)
Changemaker Flexible Coverage Pressed Powder in Medium 1 ($36for 7.5 g/0.26 oz)

Agave+ Intensive Vegan Lip Mask

There are two new Agave+ Lip Masks in Clear and Buzzed (rose gold). I bought the tinted version and was pleasantly surprised. I found it hydrating, lush, smooth and lightly scented just like the original just a little less fruity smelling.

Buzzed is a deeper color vs the original Champagne, but it pretty much applies like a very sheer, almost clear shimmer on my lips. I found both new and original formulas worked pretty much the same on my lips. I did not notice any bad taste or bad smell for Buzzed. The only difference is the color and the newer version seems to be slightly thinner in texture, but it’s very very slight.

I’m surprised at all the overwhelmingly negative reviews online at Sephora for the new formula, although most of them seem to be for the Clear Agave color which I did not try. I was full on prepared to hate the new formula, but I don’t. Still I am upset the original was discontinued and wish they had added a new one to the line rather than pull the cult classic.

Buzzed vs Champagne

Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon

I really love the new Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayons although they are heavily scented with a fruity scent. They’re described as matte but they still have a slight creamy sheen to the finish on my lips – which is actually a plus since I prefer it that way. These are twist up lip crayons with ultra rich pigment and long lasting power. They’re one swipe wonders pigment-wise although since they’re in crayon form, you do have to swipe multiple times to fill the entire lip. I went for the neutrals. Many of the colors are already sold out online at Sephora, but you can still find them in store (use the zip code locator on their website) and also at Bite Beauty. Colors I bought:

Sugarcane – pale creamy pink
Amaretto – perfect neutral nude
Leche – nude pink
Calvados – medium brown nude
Glace – mauve
Nonino – soft berry mauve
Honeycrisp – bright coral pink

I didn’t have any of the original lipsticks or pencils to compare. I did a major purge the last move we did over the summer and got rid of a lot of older products I had. Off the top of my head the new Glace looks darker/cooler than what I remember it being and on my complexion it makes me look like death. Sugarcane also feels like it’s lighter/more pastel than what I remember the lipstick being. All the other colors are solid wins for me. My top three favorites are Amaretto, Leche and Nonino.

Below looks wearing Leche and Honeycrisp. Foundation + powder are the new Bite formulas listed below.

Foundation Bite Beauty Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation in M70
Powder Bite Beauty Flexible Coverage Pressed Powder in Medium 1
Cheeks NARS Overlust Cheek Palette (review here)
Brows Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
Eyes Natasha Denona Mini Nude Palette (review here)
Lips Bite Beauty Power Move Lip Crayon in Leche
Sweater Everlane Alpaca V-Neck (wearing XS)

Same products listed above, lip color is Honeycrisp:

Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer Normal to Oily

There are two primers in the lineup called the Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer. I opted for the Normal to Oily version and this is my least favorite product I tried. I used it a few different ways: on bare skin, over the Tatcha Water Cream, over the Tatcha Dewy Cream and over the Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Water Cream. The primer was not compatible with any moisturizer I tried. There was tons of separation from the moisturizer and foundation any time I used the primer.

If you are looking for a good mattifying product that doesn’t add any color to the skin this is a great product. As a foundation primer though it didn’t work for me – it caused the foundation on top to separate no matter how I tried. It also had a silicone feel that sat on my skin in an unpleasant way and made my skin feel a little itchy. Luckily I did not get any allergic reactions but this one was a solid miss for me.

Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation and Flexible Coverage Pressed Powder

For the bases I swatched a few colors in store and decided on M70 for the foundation and Medium 1 for the powder. I found both compatible with my moisturizers (just did not work well with the Bite Beauty primer).

The Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation has smooth medium coverage and is easy to blend with fingers or a sponge. It looks very natural and has a semi-matte finish. There’s enough pigment to cover my freckles and sun spots. I was torn between M65 and M70, I’m probably in the middle right now. Since I’m at my lightest right now and tan easily I opted for M70 which is just a tad too dark but will be an exact match once the sunshine returns.

I found it lasted a long time on my skin, but depending on the moisturizer I used it did have a tendency to settle around my mouth/smile lines a little. Otherwise it performed really well and held up all day without separating or fading. It does have a silicone-like feel to it but it’s not irritating or heavy. I really liked that there was no darkening or oxidation on my skin. I like it a lot but it’s not my favorite formula.

I found the Flexible Coverage Pressed Powder shades odd as a lot of them looked really peachy. Powders tend to darken a lot on my skin so I went with a color I thought would be a little bit lighter. Medium 1 works perfectly for my skin – it’s semi-sheer and applies smoothly with a brush to set/mattify the entire face. It’s very lightweight and I like it a lot! I haven’t tried it with other foundation formulas but I love it with the Bite Beauty foundation.

Bare skin, applying foundation, foundation all over and then set with powder below, wearing Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation in M70 and Pressed Powder in Medium 1. Sweater by Everlane.

Overall I found the new Agave+ Lip Mask and Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayons to be hits for me. I really wanted to love the new base products but it’s not 100% love. The primer is a miss. The foundation and powder are good, but not holy grail material for me. I will continue to reach for them and use both, but they’re not must-haves.

Have you checked out the new Bite Beauty launches yet? What did you think of the new lip mask versus the original?

You can find the new Bite Beauty launches at Sephora and online at Bite Beauty. I hauled my picks from Sephora.

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Hauls Nordstrom

New Beauty Launches to Put On Your Radar

January 16, 2020

I’m excited to share my first beauty haul of the year! I’ve been testing out some new products that recently launched at Nordstrom and I’ve partnered with them today to share my thoughts plus a new year beauty look. Nordstrom is truly one of my favorite places to shop for beauty – I’m constantly checking their New Arrivals page alongside their Gift With Purchase section. I hope you find today’s haul post helpful! Everything featured in this post are items I purchased myself.

Charlotte Tilbury Queen of Glow

One of the newest launches from Charlotte Tilbury is her Queen of Glow Eyeshadow Palette. There were several limited-edition quads over the holiday but I found them too warm for my complexion. Queen of Glow has a better mix of golds and champagnes for my complexion without the red tones. There are 3 shimmers and 1 matte. All the colors are ultra pigmented, smooth and long-lasting. I think it’s gorgeous!

Closer look wearing: NARS Tinted Glow Booster in Simos + Tangsi mixed, Charlotte Tilbury Color Corrector Medium, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder Medium, NARS Blush in Tempted + Orgasm X Mixed, Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brown, Cle de Peau Liquid Eyeliner, Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Palette in Queen of Glow, Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in In the Buff

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish! Color Corrector

I also ordered her Magic Vanish! Color Corrector in Medium which isn’t new, but new to me. It has a brightening peachy look to it and it’s super opaque. I found it a good color for my medium olive tone skin – a tiny little dab on the fingers patted under the eyes conceals any darkness and it blends without caking. Do note that a little goes a very long way so you don’t need a lot. I use this instead of concealer on days I need extra coverage or brightening. It’s very peach in color – it doesn’t match the skin. The colors are designed to counter darkness and pigment in the skin.

New NARS Blushes

above left: Orgasm X, right: Tempted

There are some new blushes from NARS this season. I wanted to order all of them but limited myself to 2 colors in Orgasm X and Tempted. Orgasm X is a deeper brighter version of Orgasm and has that peachy gold shimmer to it. It’s quite opaque but easy to blend. Tempted is a pretty soft nude shimmer, on my medium olive skin it looks like a neutral highlighter with a bit of depth. It makes my skin glow! If you’re fair and are looking for a good nude blush to wear, I highly recommend looking into this one!

Wearing Tempted + Orgasm X mixed together

New from Bobbi Brown

For the lips I picked up some of the new Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Glosses in In the Buff (soft nude pink, one I’m wearing in this post), New Romantic (soft mauve) and Wild Card (bright coral peach). They’re sheer so the color is subtle. They feel wonderfully smooth with a cushiony feel and glide on the lips nicely. I find them hydrating but not heavy.

YSL lip love

YSL also launched a new formula called Rouge Volupte Rock N Shine and as a huge fan of the original Rouge Volutpe Shines I knew I had to try some of the new ones. These have a silvery shimmer in the center in the shape of a star. The shimmer is visible and noticeable making the overall color look a bit lighter and more shimmery than what you see in the tube. 1 Nude Solo is a pale nude pink, 3 Pink Flow is a soft baby pink, 10 Pink Bass is a deeper rose pink. They’re glossy with a high shine finish. Pigment is sheer-medium.

NARS Tinted Glow Boosters

Last but not least is my first look at the NARS Tinted Glow Boosters. There are four shades total and I picked up the two middle shades in Simos (medium) and Tangsi (medium-dark). My foundation match in their Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is usually Vanuatu, but I’ve lost my tan this season and wear Punjab. My best concealer match is still the Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger. The Tinted Glow Boosters sheer glowy skin-toned bases with a very slight shimmer to them. The shimmer is very subtle and almost disappears on the skin.

I’m the closest match to Simos right now, but I tan very easily and to add a bit more color I’ll mix in a few pumps of Tangsi to blend all over.

Below left, one pump of Simos (top) and one pump of Tangsi (bottom)
Below right on the face, Simos

You can use these a number of ways but I like it best mixing Simos and Tangsi together then applying with a beautyblender all over like you would a sheer foundation. It offers minimal coverage and glow, almost like a tinted moisturizer without the moisturizer aspect.

I have mixed in equal pumps of the Tinted Glow Booster with foundation like the Armani Luminous Silk (I wear 6.5) or NARS Natural Radiant Foundation to give it a more translucent look. I have some swatches below to a few other shades. It’s thicker in texture than the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, it’s not nearly as luminous or opaque as the Hollywood Flawless Filter.

I hope you enjoyed this haul post with some of thoughts and swatches! Have you tried any of these new launches yet? What did you think?

You can find all my haul picks now online at Nordstrom.

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

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Hauls Sephora

Sephora Haul Picks

August 23, 2019

I did a couple Sephora hauls online and in store and have my haul picks rounded up! If you’re a ROUGE or VIB Beauty Insider there is still time to shop the Summer Bonus Event through 8/27:

Rouge Members will receive 20% off purchases with code SUMMERSAVE
VIB Members will receive 15% off with code SUMMERSAVE

Everything I bought for makeup, skin care and hair care listed below! Plus a new makeup bag set I bought (not from Sephora but a lot of you have asked about it so there’s a sneak peek in this post):

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Base and Face Products

I received a couple press samples of the newly revamped Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer but the color they sent Bisque 3W1 seemed a little too dark. It is a very sheer formula and I felt like I could definitely pull it off, but I bought Sand 3N1 in store which seems to be a better match. I’ll keep you posted as I test it some more. It is improved and I like it a lot better than the original (I didn’t really love the original formula).

I also bought two shades of the Fenty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation in 235 and 240. Even though sequentially 240 should be darker I felt like the warm tones of 235 make it look darker on my skin. I swatched both in store but the lighting isn’t always the best.

I stocked up on another of my holy grail pressed powder Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish in Shade 2. The little makeup bag is not from Sephora, but a recent buy. I’ve been getting requests to review the Cuyana Travel Set and compare it to The Daily Edited so I finally bought it. More thoughts to follow but I will say that I’m a little disappointed in the monogram font size. I opted for the small one but it seems too small, especially for the larger bag. The quality of the bag seems really good though.

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Makeup

I bought the Anastasia Dipbrow Mini in Medium Brown as an impulse buy at checkout and can’t wait to try it out! The Pat McGrath Lip Pencil in Done Undone is a pencil I actually already had but forgot that I had it so now I have a backup. The Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks launched in new shades and I seriously wanted all of them but picked two Champagne Heist (warm champagne) and Pink Lemonade (shimmery pink). These have a dry texture/finish vs the emollient feel of a cream stick so in my experience they last longer on the skin.

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Skin/Hair

For skin/hair I limited myself to a few select picks. I’ve had the worst summer with mosquito bites and my legs are covered in mini bruise-like scars from them. They normally go away with time but the swelling I had from the allergic reaction this season damaged my skin. I bought the Murad Acne Control Post-Acne Spot Lightening Gel to see if it will help and am also going to try the Kate Somerville D-Scar Serum treatment to see if it works.

I’ve been wanting to try the Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence for a while but didn’t want to buy the full size. It now comes in a mini so I bought one to try.

The Inkey List is a newer skincare brand that I’ve been really interested in for the past months. Andrew and I have been so impressed with the Salicylic Acid Cleanser we have already gone through two bottles. I hauled another one and think the entire line is priced really well. It’s worth looking into! They have some really interesting sets.

Both Andrew and I really like the Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment for a Salicylic Acid spot treatment. My holy grail from MAC was discontinued and we spent months searching for a good alternative that wouldn’t turn my skin red. This has 2% Salicylic Acid with a few other ingredients to soothe and absorb oil.

For hair I bought the Olaplex Bonding Oil which I’m really excited to try. I have a wish-list a mile long for shampoos I want to stock up on or try, but I just splurged on some Oribe (not at Sephora). I might restock on some Kerastase but am still debating whether or not to.

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Shower Gels

These days I’ve been loving the Dove Body Wash Mousse in Rose for a budget-friendly option but nothing really compares to Fresh Shower Gels. I’ve been obsessed with these for years and wish they still had some of the original scents like their milk ones. These days I love the Fresh Life and Brown Sugar for a clean feel that doesn’t dry out the skin. I stocked up!

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That wraps up my Sephora haul! I’m doing another giveaway and will start them up again. This one is open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. I’ll pick one winner through the widget below.

To enter you must be a newsletter subscriber and enter through at least one of the other steps in the widget.
Giveaway will run through 8/27/2019 11:45 PM EST. I’ll pick ONE winner within 72 hours after the giveaway ends. The selected winner will be e-mailed by me directly and MUST reply to confirm from the same e-mail that was used to enter the giveaway, NO EXCEPTIONS. If a response is not received within 24 hours another winner will be selected.
Prize includes: full size Eve Lom Cleanser, full size Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder + Puff, Laura Mercier Lip Powder Palette in Paris, full size Caviar Eye Stick in Cobblestone, full size Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara, mini Moroccanoil Treatment, mini Becca Backlight Priming Filter, mini Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder Shade 2, mini Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in Pillow Talk, mini Amika Soulfood Hair Mask.
Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Hauls Nordstrom

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Outfit + Shoe Haul

July 19, 2019

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is finally open to the public today! I have a roundup of my fashion and shoe picks that I hauled with a few try-on photos and hits or misses. I kept my fashion picks edited since most of the offerings are for pre-fall and fall season. I absolutely love the leather and faux leather jackets but living in Florida it’s only cold enough a handful of days to wear. Contrary to popular belief we do get some cold days, in the winter it hits around the 40s or 50s. I suppose it’s all relative since in the same time it’s much much colder elsewhere! I found some cute camisoles, picked a few longer sleeve tops and some jeans.

Full haul linked below:

Try On 1: J.Crew and Madewell

I found a cute sweater from the sale from J.Crew! It’s called the Tippi Sweater in Multi-stripe in Navy Sapphire. I opted for a size up from my normal size in Small for a more relaxed look. On the left I tried on the Madewell 9-Inch Raw Hem Ankle Skinny Jeans (also on sale) which I really loved, but own a pair almost identical so I passed on these. On the right I have my Agolde Parker Shorts (not on sale) and my fav summer Sam Edelman Sandals (true to size, also not part of sale).

Outfit Try On 2: Leith and Madewell

Above I have on the Leith Side Drape Camisole for something red and drapey from the sale. I could have gone with an XS or S, I’m wearing the Small above and it’s what I bought. Denim is Madewell Ripped 10-Inch High Waist Crop Skinny Jeans which ran a little too short for my taste. I opted for a different pair from Paige (see below).

Outfit 3: Rag and Bone

I really love all things Rag and Bone! I bought a pair of jeans from the sale a couple years ago and even with regular wear and washing they held up really well and don’t stretch out with wear. Above I’m wearing the Astrid Polka Dot Camisole in XS and the Raw Hem Ankle Skinny Jeans. I bought both!

Outfit 4: Treasure and Bond x Rag and Madewell

I love blue and white stripe shirts but finding one with a loose weave and good drape that doesn’t consume my petite frame is hard. My favorite ones are from Joie (super spendy) but this Treasure and Bond Dobby Stripe Boyfriend Top is a nice cheaper dupe. I find the line runs big and often have to wear XXS (as shown above). Also paired with the Madewell jeans I tried on in Outfit 1.

Try On 5: Blank NYC

Someday I will be live in a city again where I can wear leather jackets. I thought this Blank NYC Record Breaker Collarless Faux Leather Moto Jacket was so cute. I love the crop style and color. This is in an XS. I thought it was a steal at $64.90 but since it would not get much wear here I decided to pass. I did seriously consider it for fall for upcoming travel though!

Try On 6: Paige and Frame

I think the Nordstrom sale has the best designer jeans available! I buy a pair from Paige every year. Out of all the brands I think it’s the best and most flattering. On the left is the Paige Hoxton Ripped High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (true to size but relaxed fit, I bought these in 26). On the right are the Frame Le Skinny Chew Hem Ankle Jeans (size 27), I also decided to buy these and love the length.

Shoe Picks: Tory Burch and Adidas

I bought four pairs of shoes from the sale. One I’m undecided on. I love Tory Burch sandals and of course fell in love with the Everly T-Strap Sandals. I found they ran true to size and bought my usual 6.5 size in the black and red. I wasn’t going to buy the red but both Andrew and the sale associate said it looked good and that it was still neutral enough to not be crazy bright. Most of my shoes are black, tan or some kind of neutral! These are bold for me.

I thought the Everly Sandal was a good moderate heel sandal at 2.5 inches and bought them in Tan/Gold. I found my regular size 6.5 fit well but I’m undecided about these. I feel like my Ugg Kari Sandals (worn here) are a lot more comfortable and easier to wear. Granted the styles are completely different, but for a nice tan sandal I love the Uggs a lot more.

Adidas are new to me as I’ve been more into Nike and APL. I bought the Swift Run Sneakers (they run large, I sized down 2 sizes from my normal sneaker size) and think they’re really nice! Andrew got matching ones in the men’s and we both are really impressed with how stable they are for weight training. I am looking for other non-sale colors to haul this weekend.

Try on 7: Sunglasses

I usually find at least one pair of sunglasses from the sale that I love. This season all the Kate Spade offerings were really similar to ones I already own. I loved these Burberry Check 57MM Polarized Gradient ones thinking they’d be a good dupe for the Tom Ford Lauren ones I’ve been eyeing for months. I did think they were super cute but they felt a little loose in the fit (I tried on several pairs to make sure). I decided to save for the Tom Ford ones or opt for another pair of Ray Bans.

Last but not least I did try on a bunch of workout fitness tops and bottoms. I found the vast majority of the tops either weren’t fitted well or ran super long. I did buy the Zella Zip Go To Hoodie because it’s lightweight and super soft! They didn’t have my size in store, it runs big, I bought both the nude and grey in XXS and love them. I had high hopes to find some good deals for fitness but no matter where I look, I always go to Lululemon for quality staples.

I hope you enjoyed this haul post! More beauty reviews to follow soon from the sale. I did place another online haul and bought a new Barefoot Dreams blanket which I think is the best thing I bought! Did you haul Anything yet?

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Hauls Nordstrom

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Beauty Exclusives Haul

July 12, 2019

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 is officially live online and in stores for all Nordstrom Cardholders! Early Access starts today and runs through the 18th and then opens up to the public.

July 12 – 18 Early Access for Nordstrom Cardmembers
July 19 – August 4 Anniversary Sale for Public

I shopped the Icon Pre-Shop in stores and found some really cute things! I’ll be sharing the full haul over the next couple of days. Today’s post is a look at my Beauty Exclusives haul picks, swatches, first impressions along with top recommendations. This is just a preliminary post since I just hauled these items, most of them are new makeup colors/palettes. Full review to follow on each group I’ve hauled.

Top Recommendations for Everyone

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has a lot of new products curated specifically for the sale. There are tons of palettes, limited-edition sets, special value sizes etc. I love scoping out the new launches but every year they have certain items that are on sale repeatedly that I 100% think are worth checking out:

Simplehuman Round Sensor Mirror Pro ($150 sale, after sale $250) – is one of the best beauty tools I own, even Andrew and my brother each have their own and love them. It has 5x or 10x magnification with the best lighting system I’ve tried. One of mine is the original back from 2014 and it still works. The model has been upgraded and improved over the years and now you can control the lighting.
Sensor Mirror Pro Wide View ($250 sale, $400 after sale) – another splurge-worthy item, this one is more ideal for those who want larger panels to see your entire face. It has a small magnetic 10x mirror attachment, but the panels themselves do not have magnification detail like the round one.
Barefoot Dreams anything! I splurged on the CozyChic Throw and CozyChic Ribbed Throw at the full price a few holidays ago. It has made the “things Sabrina cannot live without” list. It’s the softest most plush blanket and even though it’s meant to be a throw, I sleep with it every night for the best deepest kind of sleep. It’s what I imagine sleeping in a cloud would be like.
Diptyque Miniature 5 Piece Candle Set ($48 for 5 x 1.23 oz candles) is the best way to try Diptyque if you don’t have a store or counter near you. I promise you won’t be disappointed but if you find it hard to commit to the full size without being able to smell them, these are the best way to try.
Le Labo Hinoki Hand Soap ($38 for the jumbo size) is Andrew’s favorite scent for the home. We’ve bought this in shower gel form several times as well and are obsessed. It’s so unique and very soothing. If it were made into candle form I think we’d burn it all the time.
Also don’t forget to check their Beauty Gifts With Purchase page!

My Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Haul

What I hauled and added to my shelfie! Full review, more swatches and thoughts to follow as I’m able to test but I wanted to get info up as quickly as I could with first impressions since my Instagram DMs have been flooded with tons of questions!

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Easy Smoky Eye Palette ($55 on sale) has six shades of neutral warm tones with excellent pigment. I love the size, colors and formula but this has a very similar vibe to last year’s Stars In Your Eyes Palette (scroll down for quick swatch comparisons).

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Full Size Lip Kit ($60 on sale, $78 value) has one of my favorite lip shades in liner and lipstick (I don’t mind having backups because I’ve used up the liner several times). It has the added matching Lip Gloss which I absolutely adore.

Comparison swatch of the Nordstrom Palette (6 shades) to Holiday 2018 Stars In Your Eyes (swatched a portion of the similar shades, 7 of the 12 shades in the palette I found most similar):

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Eye Quad and Mini Lip Set ($88 on sale) has a new White Suede Eyeshadow Quad and miniature lipsticks in Paper Doll (light pink) and Autoerotique (perfect nude on me). The quad has a beautiful mix of light and medium-deep for a really interesting soft smokey eye with some sparkle. So many of you wanted to know if this Nordstrom White Suede in the same as the White Suede that was launched last year in the white compact at Neiman Marcus. It’s similar but not identical.

Top is the Neiman Marcus launch in the limited-edition white compact, bottom is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale version in the traditional mahogany packaging.

Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Tres Chic Face Palette ($52 on sale) has six shades for blush, highlight and bronzer. The colors have a soft wash to them in what appear to be universally flattering tones. It looked so stunning in store it took my breath away! I need to play with this more. My first impressions are that it’s very soft and extremely powdery. It felt ultra sheer, almost a little too sheer. It promises 10 hour wear and it did last all day without budging or darkening. I’m undecided but my first impressions are that I might just be too dark/tan for this one. I swatched with a super heavy hand below and it’s still very soft looking.

Dior

Dior Addicted to Glow Lip Set Light ($70 on sale, $93 value) has a full size Addict Lip Glow in Pink, Addict Lacquer Stick in Bliss (pale peachy beige) and a miniature Lip Maximizer. I bought this primarily for the exclusive lip shade which turns out to look ultra pale on me. I can make it work with a liner. I love the Addict Lacquer Stick formula but only a few shades work for me. If I could do this one over I’d pass on this set, but I don’t put store testers anywhere near my lips!

NARS

I hauled almost all the NARS x Nordstrom offerings but have only had a chance to try one of them. Full detailed review on the collection to follow. I had my eye on the Afterglow Lip Balm Duo which has minis of Orgasm (shifts to a healthy pink) and new Hidden Pleasure (changes to a rose mauve). I really hope they make Hidden Pleasure in the full size! I also bought the Motu Tane Face Palette ($42, pink variation), Hot Tropic Lip Gloss Set ($39, seems sheer based on hand swatching), and the Naked Paradise Satin Lip Pencil Set ($39, I have high hopes for these colors!).

A quick peek at 2 of the lip sets (more photos, swatches, etc. coming soon).

Other haul picks

I bought all the MAC lip sets, they’re usually solid performers and I love the minis because they get used up all the way quickly. The neutrals usually go really fast so if you have your eye on any I recommend buying them sooner than later. A few other picks from Diptyque, Le Labo, Kiehl’s, Oribe and Bobbi Brown linked below.

Shopping in-store beauty highlights:

Shoe/clothing/home haul to follow but in case you want to know now what I bought, you can scroll through the widget below. I’m a huge fan of Tory Burch so I picked up some of the shoes for the sale! What did you end up hauling? Do you have anything on your wishlist/radar?

Per tradition I’m hosting a giveaway! Three winners will be randomly selected via the Rafflecopter widget below to each win a $100 eGift Card to Nordstrom US. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. To enter simply complete at least 1 of the tasks in the widget below. All entries will be subject to verification. Giveaway entries will be collected through July 16th, 11:45 PM EST. I’ll pick winners within 24 hours after giveaway ends and email them directly. A confirmation e-mail response must be received within 48 hours to claim prize. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Hauls Sephora

Sephora Haul Picks Skin, Hair + Makeup

May 6, 2019

I have a quick haul post for what I picked up from Sephora! I still have some things in my online cart for products we could not find in our store but these are the skincare, hair care and other beauty picks both Andrew and I bought during the spring bonus event. It ends today Monday May 6th so there’s still time to shop! Details for the tiers on their Beauty Insider page for details on how to join. Discounts as follows:

Rouge Members get 20% off, 4/26 through 5/6 with code HEYROUGE
VIB Members get 15% off, 5/2 through 5/6 with code HEYVIB
BI Members get 10% off, 5/2 through 5/6 with code HEYINSIDER

With the exception of our restocks I haven’t been able to test most of the makeup products. Reviews to follow as soon as I can but I have a lot already pre-planned to post for this week so the swatches for the lip products most likely won’t be up until sometime next week.

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Skin + Hair Picks: Sabrina’s and Andrew’s

I still remember distinctly when Andrew refused to go into Sephora with me. Anytime we were shopping together he would see me walk towards the store and say, “meet me at (x place) when you’re done.” He’s always been a well-groomed person but I can’t express how happy it makes me that in the past couple of years he has taken a bigger interest in skincare and taking care of our health and wellness. These days he goes in the store with me to shop the skincare areas and wanders off to do his own browsing.

Above left are my picks which includes restock on Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen, Christophe Robin Shade Variation Hair Mask in Warm Chestnut (love love love this!), Olaplex No 6 Bond Smoother and Tatcha Silk Canvas mini. I bought the Glamglow Bubble Sheet Mask because I had one before but lost it and never tried it. I also picked up the Smashbox Studio Flawless Concealer in Light Medium Warm and the Farsali Rose Gold 24K Skin Mist – it has gold flecks inside! I used some points for an Amika Perk Up Mini Dry Shampoo.

Above right are what Andrew picked out including the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream (mini), First Aid Beauty Acne Clearing Pads, Farmacy Clean Bee Cleanser (this one is for both of us), Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior Serum (his second bottle because it’s one of the few serums that doesn’t have a thick or sticky finish), Fresh Black Tea Eye Serum, Sephora Collection 3-in-1 Extractor and Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment (another restock for him).

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Fenty Beauty Picks

I’ve been really loving Fenty Beauty the more and more I try from the line. I bought two highlighters in the Killawatt Freestyle in Afternoon Snack/Mo Hunny and Foil Freestyle Highlighter in Penny4uthots. I tried the duo today and think it’s so so pretty. I also picked up the two lightest matte Sun Stalk’r Bronzers in Inda Sun and Shady Bix. I haven’t had a chance to try them yet but took a quick peek at them in store. I’ve been really interested in the Pro Filter Powder but the testers look so chalky in store on my hand. I opted for a mini in Cashew which I have on my face right now and it’s too dark but could possibly work in the summer for me. I’m not sure if I’ll go back for the lighter shades. From Charlotte Tilbury I bought one of the Glowgasm Highlighters in Peach (ordered the rest online).

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Lip Haul Picks

I spotted two new Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lips and picked the lighter shade East Coast Slay. It’s a pale nude yellowish beige cream. I also saw the new Hourglass Unreal Lip Glosses and wanted every single color. I bought 5 in Ignite, Truth, Prose, Canvas and Cosmic. I tested Truth yesterday and really like it – it’s smooth and not sticky with good coverage. Has a minty scent to it but not really plumping on me (no tingle). I’ll keep you posted! I also opted for one of the Dior Stellar Shine in D-Galaxy. I had high hopes for these but none of the other colors really spoke to me. If you think there are any that I should check out let me know in the comments!

My haul picks:

Still in my cart:

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That wraps up my Sephora haul! I think I might order a few more of the Hourglass Lip Glosses even though I don’t need anymore. The Sephora Beauty Insider Event ends tonight – what did you end up hauling?

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Fashion Hauls Lifestyle Lips

Best Red Holiday Lips + Cozy Sweater Try On Haul

December 17, 2018

I’m so excited it’s finally sweater weather here! We have hot humid weather almost year round here in Tampa making it too hot to even wear denim jeans most of the time. While I love the sunshine I’m thrilled that it has cooled down enough to haul some cute sweaters. By popular request I’m combining two topics today that many of you have been asking for: best holiday red lips plus a sweater try-on haul.

I’m a neutral lip lover so I was actually really surprised to find how many red lip products I own. I sorted through around 35+ colors and formulas to narrow down my absolute top picks for the best color, pigment, lasting power and a few budget friendly options. I’ll discuss each color with the sweaters I paired below.

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Everlane Cashmere Crew + L’Oreal Color Riche Shine

I did my first Everlane haul and picked three styles to try out. I haven’t tried the line before so I relied on online customer reviews for height and weight to decide on XXS and XS depending on style. I lucked out because I’m really happy with what I ordered. For sizing reference I have been losing weight but also gaining a little bit of muscle with our weight training. I’m 5’3″ and currently 114 pounds. I usually wear XS in most sizes, sometimes XXS because I’m on the shorter side.

It’s been a long time since I’ve invested in anything cashmere (again because it’s simply TOO HOT to wear here) so I can’t compare to current styles of other brands. I have tried J.Crew, Vince and Theory to name a few which I’ve loved in previous years. I think the styles I ordered from Everlane are just as good. For the Everlane Cashmere Crew ($100) I picked Light Oatmeal in XS and it’s a PERFECT fit. This is my favorite one of my purchases. It’s soft, lightweight but not tissue thin. I plan on getting a couple more colors. Denim worn are the Paige Verdugo Ankle (for me ankle jeans are the best because I usually don’t have to hem them!).

I’m wearing the L’Oreal Color Riche Shine in Enamel Red which is one of the best medium glossy lipsticks I’ve ever tried. I swatched all the colors of this formula in this post here.

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Everlane Cashmere Rib Round Crew + NARS Powermatte Pigment

Up next is the Everlane Cashmere Rib Round Crew ($145) in Heather Grey in XXS. I would have bought XS but one of the models on the website was wearing that size and quite a bit taller than me. I’m happy with the fit of XXS. This is a nice soft semi thick ribbed sweater. It’s one of the ones I was wearing on stories.

I paird this one with the NARS Powermatte Pigment in Starwoman. There are a lot of reds in this formula this one seems the most classic to me (Vain is warmer, Light My Fire is brighter and there are options with either more blue or deeper tones too). This is one of the nicest liquid matte lipstick formulas that is matte but doesn’t shrink my lips to look like raisins. It has excellent staying power and doesn’t transfer on my teeth. (If you want a neutral option American Woman is the best chestnut neutral rose out there.)

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Leith + Everlane with Tom Ford Dylan

Tom Ford Lips and Boys Dylan isn’t a new color but remains a favorite for a semi-matte finish. It’s a classic bright bold red with a warm undertone. I’m wearing it below with two sweater colors. A soft nude pink fitted Metallic Pullover from Leith ($49, XS is pretty fitted) that I bought at Nordstrom and the Everlane Cashmere Waffle Crew in Black ($150, XXS) which is boxy but I think has a nice hang to the sides. I like the side slit detail too which makes for a little more interesting sweater.

Another look at the Everlane sweater so you can see the neckline, it’s hard to see the detail but check out their website for close ups which you can see better.

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1.State + Pat McGrath Lip Fetish in Wild Cherry

In terms of red lips I don’t think it gets better than Pat McGrath. I could have done an entire dedicated post to swoon over all her lipsticks but wanted to give some other brands and formulas some love. If you feel like you can’t wear full on red lips, opt for a sheer gloss or balm. The Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Balm in Wild Cherry is a great sheer but buildable red. I reviewed it in this post here.

In looking through my closet I find that I own a lot of white tops and sweaters. It’s funny because in San Diego I used to wear all black and grey, or stripes. Since moving to Florida I’ve suddenly found my closet has changed. So many of you have been asking about all the white tops I’ve been wearing. This is a cute one from 1State Convertible Zip Neckline Sweater ($109). This is an XXS and runs big but slouchy. It’s cute to tuck in or belt. I’m not 100% sure I love this style. The zipper is adjustable which makes it so you can wear this a number of ways. A similar option that I have really liked in a tee form is the Free People Nikala Tee which I find has a better fit.

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Frame + NARS

My favorite purchase is the Frame Stripe Crewneck Merino Wool Blend Sweater ($235) and it’s one of my most expensive sweater splurges in a long time. I’m a huge sucker for anything with stripes, so much so that I tried to ease up on wearing and buying them. This was too cute to pass up. It’s soft, thin and I love the fit. I really love everything I’ve bought from Frame. Prices prevent me from splurging more. I paired it with the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Rebel from the holiday collection from the Riot Lip Pencil set. Unfortunately it’s sold out but Pat McGrath MatteTrance in Elson is close (reviewed here). Denim worn is also from Frame Le Skinny.

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Loft + Pat McGrath

For affordable sweaters that aren’t itchy or scratchy I’ve found some amazing deals from Loft. They have cute cable knit basics. I tried two styles. One is the Loft Textured Button Cuff Sweater in XS ($49.50 but I got mine 50% off, they have online holiday sales so check their site for current code). At $20 it was a steal. This one is a little long for me but on most people I think it will be just the right length. I’m wearing it with the Pat McGrath BlitzTrance Lipstick in Rebel Red which is one of the most fun sparkly blue red lip colors I’ve tried. Full review here.

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Loft + Em Cosmetics

Another Loft find is the Cable Knit Trim Sweater in Silvered Heather Grey (XS, $49.50). I could have sized down for a shorter fit but this one is super cute and easy to wear as well. I paired this with the Em Cosmetics True Gloss in Scarlett Knight which is one of the best red plumping glosses I’ve tried. I need to review this formula for you, I have been sitting on all the colors for a while now. It’s been on my to-do list! They have some cute sets for the holiday I think are worth checking out. I have all the colors individually otherwise I would have ordered one.

Tucked vs. untucked

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BP + MAC Grand Illusion Glossy Lip

MAC Grand Illusion Glossy Liquid Lip in It’s Just Candy is a nice blue-based red shimmer. It’s called a liquid lip but is more along the lines of a full pigment gloss. It has great lasting power and a really pretty sheen. Full review on all the colors in this formula here. If you want a matte metallic long-wear version try the Retro Matte Liquid Lip Color in In Retrograde instead.

Sweater worn is the BP Heritage Stitch sweater in XXS. It’s so soft and plush. Unfortunately it just sold out online, but you might want to check in stores to see if they still have some near you. It does run on the large side, I ordered an XXS and it’s very roomy!

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Lipsticks worn/featured in this post (all shades are press samples):

L’Oreal Color Riche Shine in Enamel Red (review here)
Pat McGrath BlitzTrance in Rebel Red (review on lips here)
Em Cosmetics True Gloss in Scarlett Knight
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Rebel (swatched here)
Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Balm in Wild Cherry (on lips here)
NARS Powermatte Pigment in Starwoman
MAC Grand Illusion Glossy Lip in It’s Just Candy (review here)
Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Dylan

Swatches alongside a few other options:

Hourglass Confession Lipstick in My Icon Is (on lips here)
MAC Retro Matte in In Retrograde
NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquer in Red District (review here)

Pat McGrath and Tom Ford options swatched next to two of the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution colors. I used to think the Charlotte Tilbury formula was the best, I still think it’s very good, but Pat McGrath’s formula wins 100%.

Makeup breakdown worn in all other photos include:

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger
Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Honeymoon
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero
some photos I tried on the Velour Effortless Lashes in Would I Lie?
Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Glow Powder + Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light on cheeks
The best red nail polish I’ve tried is from Christian Louboutin’s Red, although OPI is also a favorite of mine, I just don’t own any reds from them at the moment

I hope you enjoyed this sweater try-on haul and red lip roundup! If you love a good red lip let me know what your favorites are in the comments. I love cozy sweaters and I would haul more if we had cooler weather in Tampa.

I didn’t have time to post yesterday but did not forget my giveaway for the week! One reader will win four Pat McGrath lip products including: Opulence 1995, Opulence Flesh3, winner’s choice of two other lips formulas. Not sponsored or affiliated. Open internationally to those 18 years or older. Simply enter via the widget below. Giveaway runs this week and I’ll pick a winner within 48 hours after giveaway ends and contact via e-mail.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’ve linked all the details in this post above, but you can also shop the post below:

Lip colors featured are press samples. All sweaters purchased by me.

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