Merry Christmas! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday with lots of love from Ollie, Kitty, Andrew and me! This is Kitty’s 11th Christmas and Ollie’s 2nd. Thank you for following along on my beauty journey. Thankful for all of you.
It still feels like summer here but the fall season has arrived! I’ve rounded up some beauty favorites with plum tones for the upcoming fall months. Most of these are from my current stash but I have a couple new things I’ve tried plus lots of swatches. If you’re a neutral-makeup lover like me but still want to try something a little more bold, here are some things I find really wearable.
Plum Bordeaux Lips
I posted a Reel on Instagram sharing six plum tones I think will easily suit a wide range of skin tones so you can see them all in action!
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Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in Berry 006 is probably my favorite out of all the shades. It’s a brighter purple plum making it more wearable (not as vampy). More shades + full review here.
U Beauty Lip Plasma Compound has been a favorite for a while and I’ve been really enjoying the tinted colors. Cassis is a sheer dark plum. Since it’s a balm/gloss style it will wear off within a few hours but the beauty of this is the fading is more forgiving on the lips.
Clinique Black Honey is a classic. The Pop Plush Gloss applies semi-thick but blends out nicely. The Almost Lipstick swatches really sheer on the hands but give the lips that bitten plum look.
Bobbi Brown Luxe Lipstick is one of the most under-rated classic lipstick formulas. Bond is the perfect opaque plum tone that feels super glam.
Hourglass Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balms are beautiful for a sheer glossy lip. Impulse is a plum red and Lure is a classic plum.
Chanel Rouge Coco Baumes are among my favorite for a sheer plum lip. If you’re usually not a bold-lip wearer but want to try more color, I think these are the best ones to try. Fall For Me is a beautiful reddish plum (swatched on lips here) and Sweet Treat (on the lips in this post) is a really pretty wearable berry.
Eye Makeup Picks
I like a warmer eye to coordinate with plum lips so the purple tones don’t overwhelm the whole look. If you want to add a bit of a warm color that isn’t too dark I think the Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows in Blaze and Rapture are beautiful. I bought these years ago and use them frequently but have still not hit pan.
Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Honeymoon remains one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes of all time. I still adore it to this day. I also really like the Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes and Mitzah is a close option to Honeymoon. I’ve swatched the new formula and think it’s ok, colors are still very pretty although I think the original formula was better.
Mauve/Plum Blushes
Plum tones are difficult for me to pull off on my skintone, so I usually opt for something mauve instead.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes are really beautiful, I love Mood Exposure and At Night.
A number of you missed out on the Chanel Fall Doucer D’Equinoxe Beige Rose Et Mauve blush and asked for a dupe. I couldn’t find an exact match but the Gucci Beauty Blush in Beige Rose is close (pulls a little lighter with more of a sheen, review of more Gucci blushes here and here).
For the true plum/purple blush lover I’ve also swatched the Victoria Beckham Beauty Cheeky Posh in Fame and Tarte Maneater Blush in Raspberry for comparison.
If you’re looking for some plum tones to try I hope you found this little roundup helpful!
Happy Friday! Wanted to share some things I bought and loved recently. I’ve posted a lot of these on Instagram but know some of you mainly read the blog (or may have missed my stories).
Marble 2-Tier Tower
I love repurposing home decor trays and marble cheese boards for beauty displays. I spotted this Marble and Brass 2-Tier Stand and thought it would be perfect to display perfume and products I reach for frequently. It’s reasonably priced especially for the hefty marble slabs it comes with.
It is very sturdy but very heavy so I recommend finding a more permanent place for it because it is not easy to move. Mine did not come with feet protectors and I think the stand could potentially scratch your table or counter if you move it. I plan on ordering a few felt or rubber stick-ons for the bottom.
Storage ideas in action here!
Jewelry Cleaner
I have been cleaning my jewelry with a tiny soft brush and jewelry cleaner for years. I spotted this Ultra Sonic Jewelry Cleaner on TikTok and ordered it immediately. I love it. I don’t know if it’s the best one out there as I didn’t do much research on the options out there. I love that it’s compact and doesn’t take up a lot of storage or counter space. It’s super easy to use.
Simply put warm water (I put in hot water, but not boiling) in it and push the button and it does it’s thing. Jewelry looks super sparkly. I was really surprised how much debris was at the bottom. You can also put in glasses, sunglasses etc. I put in some hair clips and they had so much residue from product and my fingers in the grooves. They came out perfectly clean.
Acrylic Round Organizer
I shared these spinning organizers before but just ordered a couple more from Target. I like them for mascara, pencils, those Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lips (my collection is out of control), brushes, etc.
Hair Clips
You girls know I love those Balmain Hair Couture Clips. I think they’re really well made, streamlined and the quality is SO much better than the average clip but they’re very expensive!
My bestie messaged me and asked if I had any from Emi Jay. I did not but she said I needed them so I ordered a few. The quality is exceptionally good. I do wish they had more small or medium sizes available as most of the clips are in the Big Effing Claw Clips Size but I think they’re really well made.
I also ordered some Machete Clips to try. I love the clips although they’re not all the same thickness/quality. The Midi, Grande or Twin Heirlooms are really well made and thick/sturdy. I love the size of the Minis but they’re thinner which is still very good but not as good as the others.
Tissue Box / Tray
These two aren’t new but I get asked so often about them I thought I’d link them again. I love these simple Tissue Box Covers to elevate the look of your home. I have them in the white and grey and think they’re really well made.
This Quartz Catchall is one of the most beautiful trays I own. We have several around the home (night stands, living room, my office). Anytime I share something on stories I get dozens of messages asking for a link.
Sunglasses
I’ve been meaning to do a sunglasses roundup but haven’t gotten around to it. I still really love the ones from Tom Ford I bought from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The Alistair 56 mm Gradient Sunglasses in the Red Havana are my favorite. The Milla 59 mm Gradient Aviators are the ones you girls have loved the most (I bought them in the brown and blue lens). Sale ends on the 6th.
For designer sunglasses the Celine Triomphe 52 mm Oval Sunglasses in the Black and Brown are my most-worn sunnies. For a more classic look I splurged on the Celine 3 Bold Dots Style 50 mm size and really love them. If you want a bigger lens they also have it in a 54 mm size but I have not seen/tried those in person for comparison.
Favorite Shoes Right Now
It seems like it’s always sandal season in Florida but this year I haven’t really been wearing sandals that much. I’ve been living in sneakers – probably because of walkies with Ollie. They’re more comfortable and it’s easier to walk in grass or the dog park with sneakers vs open toe shoes.
I tried to find a dupe for the Celine Low Top Trainers and the New Balance 480s are pretty good (they run TTS). They’re not as cushiony or comfortable in the sole but for the price they’re great. (For me they are definitely walking shoes and not running shoes.)
I also shared a few other styles a few weeks ago and thought I’d post them here.
- Top Row: New Balance 327 (runs TTS), Dior Walk N Dior (runs TTS), Veja Venturi (go a 1/2 size down)
- Middle Row: Celine Low Top Trainers (I went with a 36 and am a true 36.5/37), New Balance 574 (runs TTS), APL Techloom Breeze (I go a 1/2 size bigger for a 7)
- Bottom: New Balance 480 (runs TTS)
Lash Combo Primer + Mascara
One last shout out for recent buys is a beauty find. I have tried so many mascara primers which are great for thickening and volume, but I haven’t found one that holds the curl until now. I bought the Too Faced Better than Sex Foreplay Mascara Primer and I love it. It’s a thinner formula so you only need a thin coat but it really helps mascara adhere and holds the curl. I’ve been pairing it with the YSL Lash Clash Mascara.
July Beauty Favorites
Last but not least, I did not have time to blog my July Beauty Favorites but I did a roundup with everything linked here including my favorite base, favorite concealer and more. Everything is also linked here.
What have you been loving lately?
Happy Thursday! Rounding up some things I’ve been loving so much I wanted to put them on your beauty radar.
Dior Solar Oil
I’ve been obsessed with finding new body care items and have two new favorites. Dior Beauty just launched new items in their Solar Collection. In the US we have three items and I ordered the Solar Sublimating Oil ($70) which is a stunning glittery shimmery body oil. It smells like a sweet tiare flower – similar to the NARS Body Glow Oil but not as strong or sweet. The Dior Solar Oil is like a vacation bottled up in the most beautiful oil with four different pearl particles of bronze, copper, gold and white. Shimmer is subtle on my skin as the sparkles seem to match my skin tone. It absorbs nicely into the skin and leaves it feeling very smooth.
The glitter sparkles settle to the bottom half of the bottle. You will need to shake it up to mix up the glitters.
On me it’s somewhere in between a super emollient oil and one that has a dry down. It’s not super oily as it sets but it is still emollient if that makes sense. I just ordered the After-Sun Balm ($52).
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream
Charlotte Tilbury launched her new Magic Body Cream ($65) and as a huge fan of her Magic Cream for the face I ordered it immediately. I shared a sneak peek on stories and I absolutely love it. It’s a really nice smoothing body cream with a silky smooth dry-down. I wouldn’t say that it has a fragrance but it has a similar scent/vibe to the Magic Cream. Also available in a smaller Travel Size* ($30) which is incredibly expensive for the size but I will be keeping with me in my purse at all times.
Phlur Newness
Phlur added a new scent called Solar Power* ($96) and it’s another winner. As a citrus perfume lover this is HUGE hit for me. I think the Phlur scents just keep getting better and better. This might just be my favorite in the line and one I will definitely be wearing non-stop. Solar Power is a warm floral citrus. It has a mix of neroli, jasmine, orange flower, musk, driftwood, sea salt. All of my favorite notes. Available at Phlur and Sephora.
Hair Oil Love
For the hair I received a few samples from the Virtue Haircare line and have been really impressed. I’m adding a bunch of items to my online shopping cart for the upcoming Sephora sale. I tried the Virtue Healing Hair Oil* ($26 to $44) and am obsessed. This is one of the best hair oils I’ve tried It comes with a small stopper at the top to control how much you dispense. It’s hydrating, not heavy, has really helped with my split ends. Give the hair a healthy shine and doesn’t weigh it down. You can also buy both the Full + Travel Size in the Hair Oil Duo for $49.
Glowy Sunscreen
So many of you ask for sunscreen recommendations and I’m due for an updated roundup. I have am really sensitive to sunscreens and it doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s chemical or mineral but I have loved pretty much everything from Supergoop! especially their Glowscreen which now comes in four colors. The team sent over a restock of their original shade Sunrise* (champagne) and Golden Hour* (bronze). I just started using Golden Hour and it gives me the perfect sunkissed glow. I love it for a bit of a bronzed glow for beach days. Also still love the Glow Screen Body.
Lip Favorites
For the lips I’ve still been loving the Dior Addict Lip Maximizers (reviewed and swatched here). I love pretty much every single color but my two most-worn shades are 14 Shimmer Macadamia and 38 Rose Nude.
Sisley added a new shade of Phyto-Rouge Shine in 13 Sheer Beverly Hills ($63, Neiman Marcus Exclusive). This formula is hands down the best shine lipstick formula I’ve tried. Other shades reviewed and swatched here. Beverly Hills is a beautiful light beige. Love that it’s hydrating, adds shine, has good coverage even though it has “sheer” in the name.
For some budget beauty finds I’ve been loving quite a few things I’ve hauled from Target and Ulta Beauty. NYX comes highly recommended by many of you. I’ve loved the Lip Pencil in Natural and recently hauled a few more shades in Nude Pink, Peekaboo Neutral and Brunch Me. Love them for a naturally defined lip.
The NYX Butter Glosses have also been pure love. They don’t have the best lasting power on me but I love the colors and don’t mind reapplying. Formula is very comfortable on the lips.
Halo Glow Liquid Filter
Last but not least I tried the viral ELF Halo Glow Liquid Filter and it’s really good. I wouldn’t call it a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter since the ELF ones aren’t as glowy. I can wear the Elf Halo Glow all over the face as a glowy base with sheer-medium coverage and then set with powder. Or I’ll use it under foundation. I’m in between Shades 3 and 4 so I mix the two. You can see Shade 3 in action here. I think it’s 100% worth checking out.
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That wraps up my favorites right now! What have you been loving lately?
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Press samples indicated with a * next to them.
Rounding up my favorites for the month of January! I have a mix of beauty and a few other favorites I’ve been loving. I have my Top 10 in beauty and Top 5 in fashion/accessories.
The biggest hit in January was Ollie! He turned 1 year old on the 21st and I cannot believe how fast time has flown with this little fluff ball in our life. We are so happy to have him. We think he’s full grown now at 21.5 pounds but some say they keep growing past the 1 year mark.
This month’s top 10 beauty favorites include:
Dior Addict Lip Maximizers ($40) are of course in this month’s favorites. I’ve been wearing Rose Nude 38 the most this month. All the swatches in this blog post here.
Bobbi Brown Extra Plump Hydrating Lip Serum ($35) for lip balm. This comes in one color Bare Pink which is a shiny milky pink that goes on clear. Feels ultra smooth, cushiony and hydrating. It has a very subtle citrus kind of scent to it. I do think it’s a little pricey for what you get but I’ve been really enjoying the formula.
Celine Parade Eau de Parfum ($255 for 3.4 fl oz, also available in a travel refill vial size) is the scent of the month. I love all things citrus and this one is pure love for me. A look at 10 of the scents in this Celine Fragrance Review roundup.
Balmain Hair Couture Hair Clips ($89 to $114) are quite the splurge but I really love the ones I ordered. I have a couple different sizes including the small and medium (ones shown). They’re pretty sturdy and well made. If you’ve been looking for them they are restocked at Saks in both the White Medium, Tortoise Medium (and some other sizes too).
Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Foundation ($139, comes with a refill) is a rediscovered favorite this month. I love how it melts right into the skin to look like skin but better. I use the Shade Nude right now. In summer I also wear Wheat.
Static Nails in Milky Pink ($16) so many of you have told me to try Static Nails for over a year and I finally did. I love both Mademoiselle and Milky Pink for that sheer jelly pink. They’re easy to apply and there’s no streaking. I can use 2 or 3 coats to get smooth sheer pink perfection.
L’Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara ($10.99 at Target) was a recent impulse buy. I can never resist checking out the new mascara launches while at Target! I really liked the original Telescopic Mascara (in the gold tube) because the ultra skinny wand grips all of my lashes. I picked up Carbon Black which is deeper and slightly more thickening on me. I really love it. (Wearing Olive and June Quick Dry Polish in Picante on the nails.)
Lawless Forget the Filler Winter Beach Set ($27) has 3 minis of the Forget the Filler Lip Gloss in Bitten, Blushed Sand and Rose Pearl. The shades are so beautiful and I wish they were permanent. I rarely buy backups these days but I bought an extra set because the set is limited-edition. I love the tones and think they wear nicely alone or layered on top of a lipliner.
Tarte Maneater Blush in Coral ($27) is a favorite for the second month in a row. I really like the liquid blush formula because it has a nice dry down. There’s a bit of shimmer to these so it’s almost like a blush and highlighter in one. There are several shades to choose from, I hope they keep launching these in more shades!
NARS Orgasm Rising Eyeshadow Palette ($49) made my favorites this month. I love the colors and have been reaching for it a lot. I did just order the new Pat McGrath Love Collection palettes though which look beautiful if you’re looking for something newer. Review coming soon. I’ll let you know if any of those palettes top the NARS one.
I have quite a few new things in the non-beauty category that I’ve been loving this month. I might do a more detailed review on some of them in an upcoming post but here’s my Top 5 Edit – 3 different sneakers, 1 new bag and 1 new wallet.
You girls know I love APL sneakers. I’ve been wearing them almost exclusively for the past several years but recently tried New Balance sneakers last fall and absolutely love them. They run true to size for me. I’m a 6.5 and wear the New Balance in a 6.5. I’ve tried two styles so far and love the 574 Sneaker in Nimbus Cloud/White and Grey/White. I even bought a pair for Andrew and he really likes them.
The New Balance 327 style is the one I tried after seeing it on Instagram. I bought the Sea Salt and Sea Salt with Black and also love these. The neutrals seem to be the most popular and sell out quick but I’ve seen them restock at New Balance, Free People and Jcrew to name a few places.
Loewe Small Puzzle was a holiday treat over Christmas. I have the Mini Puzzle which I really love and use all the time. I had my eye on the Small which is larger, comes with an adjustable strap and is more practical. It can hold more and I like that the strap allows you to wear it over the shoulder or as a cross body. I bought it in the grained leather which softens and has more of a slouch as it wears over time. I purchased mine from the Loewe store but you can also find this style at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Net-A-Porter.
Loewe Anagram Small Vertical Wallet was another splurge. I really love my other card case in the pink shade (exact style has been discontinued) but wanted something a little bigger but still small enough to fit in my mini bags. I’ve looked at several beautiful options from other brands but they ended up being too thick/bulky. This one from Loewe (shade is Nude) is perfect.
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That wraps up my January favorites! What did you love this past month?
Merry Christmas! We are celebrating Christmas at home today after spending a week in Miami. Wishing you a holiday season filled with peace and joy. Ollie and Kitty send you all lots of hugs and kisses. Kitty turned 10 years old this year and Ollie is now 11 months old!
Thankful for all of you and wishing you all the best! Travel guide coming soon!
xoxo
Sabrina, Andrew, Ollie and Kitty
I can’t believe another month has flown by! Rounding up my favorites for the month of August. Would love to hear about your favorites too!
Chanel has been hitting it out of the park these days! My go-to base is the Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch (still wearing B40). I’m nearly finished with my first bottle. Below wearing the Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch in B40 + the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No 20. Full review here.
The new Rouge Allure Lipsticks have been solid winners for me too. I’ve been loving shades 194 and 196 the most. Below wearing 194. Swatches of all the colors I hauled here.
I’m still a neutral nail lover at heart these days. Out of all the new neutral shades that launched Harmonie is by best beige neutral. Swatches here. Stay tuned for more Chanel newness on the blog! I have the Tweed Palettes and new mascara review coming soon!
For more color I think the Gucci Glow and Care Shine Lipstick in They Met in Argentina is the perfect healthy warm pink color. I love this formula in general – other great shades include Sally Soft Honey, Julie Blush, My Cousin Rachel and Call It a Day.
For eyes I rediscovered my Charlotte Tilbury Exaggereyes Eyeshadow Palette after buying the Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Exaggereyes. The color theme is the same between the palette vs. single cream pot. Both make for a lovely neutral polished eye look.
The Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Eyeliners are pretty much the only eyeliners I wear these days. I love the buttery soft texture to line the eyes. The colors are ultra rich and pigmented. Since they are creamy I set with a powder shadow on top to help extend the wear. I use Cocoa and Black.
I received a PR package with the Phlur Missing Person mini perfume along with the Shower Gel and Body Lotion and fell head over heels in love. I ordered the full size Missing Person perfume from Sephora and have been wearing it non-stop. It’s a lovely floral musk you can wear year round. Has a natural almost skin-like vibe to it.
For added hydration I’ve been really loving the U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound for a lip treatment. I’ve been using the Biossance Squalane+ Vitamin C Rose Firming Oil at night and absolutely love it. Skin is noticeably more radiant and hydrated! They carry some good travel/trial sets I highly recommend checking out (like the Rapid Radiance Set for $35 or the Radiantly Rose Duo Set for $25).
The Hermes Les Main Hermes Nourishing Oil has been in heavy rotation for my cuticles for months now and I think it’s 100% worth the splurge. It has been hard to find as it sells out frequently but is currently in stock at Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Hermes.
The Yves Durif Vented Brush now comes in a petite size and I ordered it recently from Saks. It’s just a tiny bit smaller than the regular version but just as good. I like having smaller options to travel with so this is perfect for me.
A lot of you shared lots of love for the Balmain Hair Clips I featured a couple months ago. I ordered the Medium size from Neiman Marcus and it sold out immediately. I just saw the Medium Tortoise pop up at Saks Fifth Avenue and ordered another Medium in Black and a couple Small Clips in White and Tortoise. These are really well made. I still don’t know how I justified the steep price tag in my mind but they’re really beautiful and I love them.
A few style loves this month I wanted to highlight! My love for mini bags continues although since upgrading my iPhone to the 13 Pro I’ve now found a few of my bags don’t fit my phone. The Bottega Veneta Mini Loop Bag luckily still fits my phone! This was a summer splurge and I still love it. The leather is soft and I love the woven design. I’m really beyond surprised I’ve managed to keep it clean (no stains or smudges!) without any effort. The leather has held up really well. They have this same style in a larger option which seems more practical.
Unboxing and mod shots here. You can see what fits inside here.
My obsession with Celine sunglasses continues and my favorite pair are the 52 mm Oval in Blonde Havana (ones in the middle below). I ordered mine from the Celine website.
I feel like I live in sandals and slides here in Florida, but I do also love comfortable sneakers. A number of you asked if I found the Veja Venturi Sneakers comfortable and I do! They’re chunky but not too chunky. I read reviews and went with a Size US 6/37 EUR (I’m a true 6.5 or 7 in other shoes). They fit well and there was no break in period. Available at Revolve, Free People, Shopbop.
Ollie is now 7 months old! We are still wondering if he’s full grown yet. It’s 15.7 pounds and they say he will be anywhere from 14-20 pounds.
That wraps up this month’s favorites! What did you love this month?
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