Loving Right Now

Rounding up my favorites from May today. I usually focus on makeup favorites but so many of you have asked for more skincare and haircare loves so today’s post is all about hair, body and skin.

My hair and skin has been going through some changes since around November with an extended dry season this past winter/spring. We also had some big life changes with our recent move and while both Tampa Bay and Miami Beach are both very sunny and hot, Miami is significantly hotter and I think the excess heat has dehydrated my skin.

I’ve been switching things up for skin and hair. Here is what I’ve been loving.

Skincare Loves

My top two cleansers are still the Chanel L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil and the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser. I tried several other brands but these are the best for effectively removing sunscreen + makeup without stripping the skin. I also really like the new Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Barrier-Hydrating Cleanser too (just as good as the original but more hydrating). FYI Kiehl’s is offering 25% off for their Friends and Family Sale (Members get 30% off). Andrew also uses both Kiehl’s Cleansers.

Out of all the new moisturizers I tried, the InnBeauty Project line at Sephora has been the best for me. The products I tried are richer and more hydrating than I typically use but I really love that they weren’t heavy and they feel so good on the skin. I started with the travel sizes (also love this value trial set here). I ended up travel sizes of the Extreme Cream but purchased full sizes of the Extreme Cream Eye and the Elastic Skin Firming Plumping Serum.

The serum has a really nice light texture and absorbs really well into the skin. I love layering all three together and can happily report they didn’t irritate or clog my pores. 10/10 recommend.

I’ve also experienced texture issues and the clogged pores have been mainly due to lack of exfoliation. I had an amazing facial at one of the local skin clinics here in Miami Beach (included hydrafacial, radio frequency, LED treatment and a few other things). They really helped give my skin a kickstart to clear it up. For exfoliation, two things I’ve found to be game changers are from U Beauty and Dr. Dennis Gross.

I started using the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads again and it has been a game changer. I also love the peel pads/resurfacing options from First Aid Beauty and Elemis but I needed something stronger and the ones from Dr. Dennis Gross are perfect. I’m using them 2-3x per week in the evenings. They also have other options in Extra Gentle or Extra Strength and also come in smaller trial sizes in case you’re new to them and are unsure of what kind to try.

A number of you recommended the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound and I finally decided to try it – it’s also a gamechanger. I bought a mini set and am 100% going to buy the full size. The Resurfacing Compound is a serum with Vitamin C, Retinol, Multi-Hydroxy Acids, Vitamin E and antioxidants. I have been really impressed with how it’s improving texture. Since I don’t want to overdo the acids (especially with the peel pads) I only use this 2x per week as a serum under moisturizer.

Another shout out for the Bliss Clear Genius Acne Spot Treatment because this is holy grail material. It’s hands down the best acne spot treatment with 2% salicylic acid. I can apply it on spots (and reapply 2-3x throughout the day on bigger pimples) and it helps reduce the inflammation and really target the acne. Andrew swears by this too.

Sun Care Loves

I’ve been trying virtually every new sunscreen formula possible since moving to Miami. The sun is so much stronger here and since we are out everyday with Ollie’s walks we’ve been more diligent with sunscreen.

I still really love the Chanel UV Essentiel because of the texture. It’s not too thick or heavy and wears well under makeup.

For a mineral option I love the one from Caudalie and tinted one from ISDIN. You do have to be more diligent with double cleansing if you use a mineral as they tend to adhere more to the skin.

I’ve been a long-time devotee of the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector SPF 60 but decided to give the new Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral version a try. I like it a lot! It has a very slight white cast but when you blend it you can’t really see it. It has a better dry down while the other version is a bit more emollient. I’ve been using the mineral version on my body all month. It does take extra work to remove though. The best combo for mineral body sunscreen removal includes the EcoTools Shower Gloves and Jack Black Turbo Wash.

Body Care

My all-time favorite body oil from Chanel is back! I am so thrilled they restocked it. Chanel body oils are quite the splurge but they are packaged in a beautiful glass bottle and are the most luxurious ones on the skin. Love that they now have a little stopper at the top to control how much oil comes out. The Chanel Huile Douce is a lighter body oil and it smells so fresh and clean. I love how it’s not sticky and it makes the skin soft unlike any other oil I’ve tried.

For hand care my favorite cuticle oils are the Chanel L’Huile Camelia and Hermes Nourishing Oil. Both are spendy but I’ve repurchased both and I think they are 100% worth the splurge.

I mentioned a while back having some challenges finding a deodorant that didn’t irritate my skin. I had a major skin flareup from bug spray last year that resulted in hives. It took about 3 months to fully recover. Ever since then my skin has experienced sensitivities to deodorant, even the ones I had been using for years (such as Native, Salt and Stone, L’occitane). So far Saltair and Phlur formulas have been the only ones I can use without irritation. I’ve been reaching for the Saltair one more as the Santal scent doesn’t interfere with my perfumes as much as a vanilla option.

Back on the exfoliation topic, while I won’t use a physical scrub on my face I can definitely still use it on the body. We started using the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser and we love it. It’s cleared up all of Andrew’s body breakouts and I like using this on my legs. I have just ordered the KP options from Saltair and Naturium to try too. Will keep you posted!

Also been really loving Osea Malibu. I also started using this line with minis a while ago and fell in love. I just restocked all my favorites including travel sizes. I love the Undaria Algae Body Oil, Lotion and Body Serum. 10/10 recommend trying one of their travel kits if you’re new to the line.

Hair Care

Last I have some hair care loves for the month. My hair has been feeling dry on the ends so I switched things up. My favorite line has been the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Urban Moisture Deep Hydration Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask. I loved this line so much I repurchased everything after using it up. It’s a great hydrating line that doesn’t weigh down my hair and I love the way it smells.

After still experiencing dry ends, I started using the Kerastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum again. I had forgotten about this and can’t rave about it enough! If your hair doesn’t seem to be improving with leave-in conditioners, masks or oils, I highly recommend trying this serum. You apply it at night and I can’t tell you how big a difference it makes.

The R&Co Dart Stick gets another shout out. This is something I cannot live without for my flyaways at the roots. I’ve still been getting regrowth and my thick hair will not stay put with hair spray. This is the best option I’ve found to keep them in place. While it won’t make your hair super greasy, if you sweat you will find you need to wash it out at the end of the day.

I love a good purse sized brush but most of them end up getting smashed in my bag. I love the ghd mini brush for a hard one that won’t bend easily in your bag. The Hair Rituel by Sisley Brush comes in a mini Pocket Brush size and I love it. I do wish I had a mini case for it to protect it better, but it’s still very sturdy and durable. I love that it’s mini but still big enough to be effective.

That wraps up my May favorites! If you had any loves please let me know! I always love reading about the things you’ve discovered and have fallen in love with.

I can’t believe another month has flown by. January felt like the longest month ever but February went by so quickly. I have a roundup of favorites for February! Here are some things I really loved this month.

Chanel Spring Summer 2025

Chanel Beauty’s spring collection has been in heavy rotation (full review here). I still really love every single shade of the Rouge Coco Baume Shines, in particular Tender Peach and Honey Bliss. I still really love the Jeux de Lumieres highlighter palette. It has been a versatile one for me I can use on the eyes and cheeks. I’ve been using the Chanel Brush 107 or 106 with the palette. I am still 100% obsessed with the eyeshadow singles, especially the Peche Glace.

Byredo Mojave Ghost Absolu

I splurged on the Byredo Mojave Ghost Absolu as a gift to myself for Christmas and I really love it. The Mojave Ghost Absolu smells very similar to the original version, but the Absolu has better and longer lasting power. I also find the Absolu variation to be richer and creamier with more depth. I am 100% happy with the splurge. If you already own the original I do think the absolu is too similar to justify both.

Tom Ford Peach Glamour

Tom Ford launched two new eyeshadow palettes in the crème formula and I picked up the lighter/neutral option Peach Glamour. A few of you told me this is actually the powder formula in a new formulation, but quite a few places, including Tom Ford’s website have it listed under the crème formula page. It does have a creamy feel but it’s softer and not as dry as the other cremes making it a lot easier to blend. The colors are light and shimmery but not over the top. Peach Glamour is what I wanted Nude Dip to be on me. I think Nude Dip is a classic, but on someone with my skin tone it almost pulls cool-toned while Peach Glamour is warmer but more neutral.

By popular request I also pulled comparisons to Tiger Eye (crème formula reviewed here) and Suspicion (powder, reviewed here discontinued).

Complexion Favorites

Two complexion products I’ve been loving are from Dior and Saie. I still cannot get enough of the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick (3N in action demo in action here). Right now I wear 2.5N for my winter color and this is hands down the easiest foundation to apply and travel with. I also love the finish and coverage. It blurs, blends easily, isn’t too heavy, has impressive coverage but looks natural. It has become my most-reached-for foundation this year.

I also really love the Saie Glowy Super Gel in Roseglow. It’s so good mixed in with foundation or as a base. I have another demo of it in action here.

Neutral Honey Beige Lips

As a neutral lip lover I am always looking for more honey tones to try. There are four I really loved this month.

The Milani Keep it Full Glossy Plumping Balm is a really good budget-friendly formula. It’s comfortable on the lips, hydrating and plumping without any stinging and I think it rivals the ones from Tarte and Hourglass. The Milani ones are not as thick in texture, but are still balmy and glossy. I shared an application here of Puff (beige) and Bisou (red) in partnership with Target and I truly stand by these. I ended up buying a few more colors and really love them.

The new Hourglass Phantom Glossy Balm shades for spring are so good, I’ve been loving Wander which is a lighter peachy beige shimmer but all of the new shimmers are beautiful. Spring shades swatched here.

MAC added quite a few neutrals in their lipstick and lip liner formulas. I really wanted to love the shades like Cool Spice and Cool Teddy, but they ended up being too cool-toned for me. I did pick up the Lip Pencil in Beige Turner and it’s a perfect beige neutral for me.

Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine in Honey Bliss is such a good everyday neutral. It has a bit of gold shimmer but it’s not frosty. This is my perfect swipe and go polished nude lip look.

One shout out for the Glossier Sharpener. I know it’s not the most exciting thing and it’s kinda spendy for a sharpener, but it is GENIUS with the cover to hold all the pencil shavings so you can travel with it or keep it in your makeup bag without having to worry about making a mess.

Skincare Favorites

My favorite cleanser I keep going back to is the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser I do like to try new ones every now and then. I picked up the Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser and it’s 10/10 love. It’s gentle but effective and I love the creamy gel texture. I find it hydrating and great for this time of year.

This year is the driest my skin has been. I started using the Hydrating Infused Emulsion underneath my regular moisturizer and it was exactly what my skin needed this dry season. It has made a HUGE difference in restoring moisture to my skin. A little goes a long way and I only use one pump to try and maximize every last bit of this product.

I mentioned a month ago that for some reason almost all of my deodorants started causing a rash and allergic reaction for me. I’ve used Native, L’Occitane and Salt and Stone for a while and for some reason I am not able to use them anymore. I gave the Phlur Deodorants a try and they’re a winner for me. Long lasting, no reaction and I love the scents. Vanilla Skin (vanilla) and Father Figure (fig) are both really good. I really hope they consider launching it in Missing Person or Phloria or even Solar Power.

For sunscreen I’ve been really loving the Chanel UV Essentiel. It has worked well with other moisturizers and also makeup on top. I love the texture and finish.

Another shout of for Cyklar body washes is necessary as by this point Andrew and I have used up both the Naked Neroli and Bergamot Bond. This is still the best body wash we have tried in a long time and the texture feels really nice on the skin. Andrew liked it so much he asked me to restock this and I ordered more. By the time of this post we are almost through our second bottle of the Bergamot one. I also tried the Crescent one which is more of an amber blend. It’s also a good one but we love the Bergamot Bond the most.

What did you love this month?

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

Top 3 Perfumes

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

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

Meliora Top Notes
Red Berries, Raspberry, Lemon essence

Heart Notes
Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine Tea

Base Notes
Vanilla, Musk, Cedarwood

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

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

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

Dioriviera Notes: Fig + rose

April Makeup Favorites

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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