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?
Happy Friday! Sharing a quick little roundup of some things I’ve bought and loved recently.
For summer I’ve still been really loving the Rare Beauty Tinted Moisturizer ($29). It’s one of the best tinted moisturizers I’ve tried because it’s not too dewy, not too emollient and has enough coverage to even out the skin naturally. My match is 32N. Available at Sephora and Rare Beauty.
A number of you asked if I was going to try the Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer ($29) and I finally did! I ordered 3N and love it. It’s caffeine-infused to help revitalize the under eye area. I haven’t really noticed a huge amount of difference with caffeine but I like this to brighten under eyes and it is a long-wear formula that doesn’t budge on me.
It’s not as creamy or thick as the Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer. I really like both. Shade wise I’m usually a 2.5 or 3 in Dior. For the Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer 3N works for me. I’m getting more color now that we’ve been going out more to the beach and dog parks with Ollie. If they had 2.5N in this formula I think that would be ideal for me, unfortunately they don’t (at least not yet). Available at Dior and Sephora.
I purchased the Vacation Eau de Toilette a few months ago (review here) and still really love it. It’s one of the best vacation scents I’ve tried. If you’re familiar with Bobbi Brown Beach it has a similar vibe but the Vacation perfume is a little less sunscreen-like and more pool-beach like if that makes sense. I love both. The Vacation Eau de Toilette is sold out at Nordstrom right now but you can find it at Ulta Beauty and it’s back in stock at Vacation Inc.
For hair I’ve been struggling with frizz more than usual this year. I lost a lot of hair late last year and this year with tons of shedding. The good news is that it’s started to grow back but I have all these tiny baby hairs growing in that seem impossible to tame. I’ve tried tons of pomades and waxes to try to hold the hairs in place and they only work temporarily. The two best solutions I’ve found are from Dae and Kosas. The Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream has really impressed me. It’s multi-tasking. You can use it on damp or dry hair. It tames flyaways, helps soften hair, adds shine, doesn’t weight down the hair. It smells like bubblegum to me similar to their shampoo and conditioner. (Also love the Mini Wet Brush to throw in my beach bag or purse. Wish it had a small case to keep the bristles from getting smashed in my bag, but I still love it.)
To hold the baby hairs in place on stubborn days I’ll use the Kosas Air Brow Gel (tinted version) because they have shades dark enough to match my hair color. Clear brow gels don’t work well for me. They always leave a crusty looking white film on my hair when they dry.
For mascara I ordered the new Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara and it’s REALLY GOOD! I’m not usually a fan of tubing mascaras but I really love this one. Adheres well to the lashes, doesn’t smudge, holds the curl, defines. I haven’t tested it in the water to see if it’s waterproof but for day to day use I really love it.
I’ve been really loving lots from Patrick TA. I bought the Patrick TA Precision Gel Liner in Deep Bronze a long time ago. Loved it and used it up! I recently picked it up again along with the shade in Black and forgot how much I loved them. I have four shades now swatched below. They’re creamy, twist up, ultra pigmented, long-wearing and intense. You can see Burgundy in action in my reel below.
View this post on Instagram
The Patrick TA Crème Contour and Bronzer Duo in She’s Sculpted has been a winner for me. This surprised me because most cream contours are too creamy or too grey. This one looks cool in the pan but on the face it’s more neutral and it has the perfect texture to blend easily.
Also started using the Patrick TA Major Plumping Lip Glosses again. I bought three earlier this year. Started using them again. Love the texture, plump and shine. The tingle is mild on me and they have a cinnamon scent.
Still really loving the Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Gloss! My favorites are Picante and Bungalow. Review + swatches here in case you missed it.
Last but not least I have a win in new sunscreen tries! Testing sunscreen always makes me so nervous. My skin reacts to so many different formulas and it doesn’t matter whether its chemical or mineral. I’ve relied mainly on Shiseido and Supergoop! for the face but still test a number of new formulas. The Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Mineral Milk Sunscreen with SPF30 is a huge win for me. No pilling, no irritation, no break outs, no clogged pores. It has a pale yellow tint which is nearly transparent when it’s blended. On my medium tan skin I still see a tiny bit of a cast when it’s blended.
As a quick side note/update on some other formulas I tried the Ilia C Beyond Triple Serum did not work for me. It immediately pilled on my skin similar to the Glow Recipe Watermelon Sunscreen which I had high hopes for. I’m currently testing the Kjaer Weis Beauty Tint Tinted Moisturizer in M3. I’m undecided as the first time I tried it, it looked beautiful on the face. Loved the look, coverage, feel and finish. The next few times I tried it, it separated on my face which makes me think it was not compatible with my moisturizer. Will keep testing to see if I can find a way to make it work again.
That wraps up my favorites of the moment! Excited to share more soon! Bought some things for the home I really love. Also have some summer favorites coming up. Been putting a lot of things to the test in beauty, home and life!
What have you been loving lately?
Another month has flown by and I can’t believe it! This has been one of the best months Andrew and I have had in a while, especially with the addition of Ollie to our family! Rounding up April’s Top 10 Favorites. Would love to hear what you loved this month too!
I discovered Naghedi this year and love the woven neoprene material. I ordered a few of the St Barths Medium Totes in a few colors. I have from Dove, Capri and Cocoa (color featured). They come with a matching flat zip pouch and I absolutely love them! It’s the perfect size for me. Roomy and large but not too large. I can wear it over the shoulder or on the arm. Cocoa seems to be only available at Bloomingdale’s right now.
\
I just ordered a few of their makeup pouches too. They just launched a Waste Not Collection which includes pieces that use materials and scraps from previous launches. They have some really fun colorful variations! You can also find their products on their website Naghedi NYC.
Ollie is 14 weeks old!
I splurged on another pair of Celine 50mm Gradient Cat Eye Sunglasses in Milky White. I had a gift card to use so I happily used it on these white sunglasses. I have the same ones in Havana/Green. They’re more on the trendy side for me but I love them! Available at Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom.
A quick look at some of my favorite Celine Styles
Top to bottom: 50 mm in Milky White / 50 mm polarized in Havana/Green, 48 mm Black/Smoke, 48 mm in Brown (light)
I love mini bags and have been loving the Bottega Cassette Belt Bag. I bought this in Miami and wear it cross body style. It fits my phone too! I filmed a Reel of what fits inside. It has a soft leather which feels super luxurious. Already plotting my next Bottega purchase!
View this post on Instagram
Obsessed with all things Lululemon! Both Andrew and I wear things from them almost daily. I love the Everywhere Belt Bags and have collected them in multiple colors. They recently launched a Mini Belt Bag style which I think is super cute. I’m wearing it below!
The best eye palette this month for me was the Too Faced Born This Way Sunset Stripped Palette. Love all the colors, the texture, formula and finish. Swatches and review in this post here.
My favorite lip product this month was the Hermes Lip Oils. Still highly recommend them! Review + swatches here.
My favorite blush this month was the Tom Ford Eclat Nu Blush Duo. I wish they would launch more colors in this formula because it works so well with my skin type. Looks natural, has a subtle glow, blends perfectly right into the skin. Review + swatches here.
I tested a lot of new foundations this month and I really love the Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer in 32N. It looks natural, has a slightly dewy finish (but not too dewy), has enough pigment to even out the skin, and it lasts a decent amount of time for a tinted moisturizer.
I have so many spring fragrance loves and will have a roundup soon. If I had to narrow down my absolute top picks this month though, it would be the Sol de Janerio Beija Flor Elasti-Cream for it’s sweet rich mix of jasmine and pink dragonfruit.
For perfumes I was pleasantly surprised by Mizensir Vert Empire*. It’s one of their new launches and it’s such a beautiful fresh green earthy scent. The notes include orange citrus, cardamom, sandalwood and sage. You can use my promo code SABRINA15 to save 15% off purchases at Mizensir (US).
That wraps up my top ten! What did you love this month?
Press samples have a * next to them. All other items purchased by me.
Happy November 1st! It feels like the holiday season will be here in no time so I will have my holiday gift guide recommendations up soon! Rounding up my October favorites with a little bit of everything!
These Chanel Pantos Sunglasses had been on my radar ever since I visited the Chanel Beauty Boutique in Brickell, Miami. I finally splurged on them in late September and absolutely love them. They’re more on the plain side for Chanel but I think they’re a classic I will wear forever. You can find them online and in boutiques in the regular or polarized option.
Quick tour I did on Reels!
View this post on Instagram
Although I didn’t try this until the end of the month, the Sisley Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation is a new favorite for a sheer, lightweight, dewy base. Full review of 3W1 Warm Almond here.
I’ve been really into creamy brightening concealers to help me look more alive in the mornings. Two that I really love are the Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer (swatches here, I wear 2.5N) and the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Concealer (review here, I wear 3W0 Latte).
For neutral nail polish, the one everyone keeps asking me “what color are you wearing?” is Gucci Anabelle Rose. It’s a polished neutral with smooth opaque coverage. Highly recommend it!
My tried and true Charlotte Tilbury Bella Sofia has been on repeat along with the Dior Lip Maximizers in Pink or Rosewood for an effortless swipe of color + moisture + shine in one.
Also been really loving the Diorskin Forever Natural Powder Bronzer (I wear Shade 3 or 5) for a natural look and the Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 in Pinky Brown. Reposting others I love.
For skin, I’ve been loving the Eve Lom Cleansing Oil Capsules and Cleanser for months now. I find it essential to double cleanse and will use one of these as my first step and then follow with a regular gel or liquid cleanser. With all the ingredients in makeup that make it longer lasting I find that one cleanser just won’t remove everything properly (especially sunscreens!). The Eve Lom Cleansing Capsules come in biodegradable capsules, one is enough to cover the entire face. I love the Eve Lom Cleanser (you must use with a muslin cloth which comes with the cleanser, you can also buy extras) which really works to remove makeup well and hydrate the skin. It also helps with redness for me.
Other skincare loves include the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream*. I tried the reformulated version recently and my skin loves it! Including a skincare video I did in partnership with them below.
View this post on Instagram
Another tried and true love is the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist*. The PR team kindly gifted another full size. I am never without this – I keep one on my night stand along with a few of their other mists. I’m really excited to try their newer Evening Mist!
The Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Retinol* has been a success for me! I’m one who cannot use most retinols but this one is gentle enough for me to use without any redness, irritation or peeling. Still since I have sensitive skin, I use this every other day.
For hair, I’ve been really loving the Kerastase Discipline Fluidissime Anti-Frizz Spray and Discipline Primer to help with frizz pre-blowout. This month I used up the entire tub of the Molton Brown Hair Mask* (also reviewed here). It’s the one I have kept reaching for even though I have other favorites.
My top two most-worn perfumes have been Diptyque Eau Duelle (nice vanilla) and Byredo Bal D’Afrique (forever a favorite).
If you’re looking to treat yourself with a good splurge, try the La Mer Lip Volumizer or La Mer Hand Cream. For the body the best body cream I’ve tried is the Sisley Velvet Nourishing Body Cream*. I’ll be crying tears when it is used up but will be 100% be repurchasing it.
What did you love this past month?
Press samples have a * next to them. All other items purchased by me.
Another month has flown by and I cannot believe it! I hope your summer has been going well! I haven’t been as active on the blog as I would have liked to be the past few weeks. I’ve made some changes to my setup at home office for photography + video content and learning how to use everything has been a process! I am working on new fall beauty reviews though so stay tuned (lots I’m excited to share!).
In the meantime here are the products that made my Top 10 list for August. I’d love to hear what you loved this past month too!
I finally tried the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Bronzing Drops and love this! I love this mixed with a moisturizer or foundation to add a bit of warmth and color with a natural bronze glow. It’s worked well with my go-to Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Foundation and a number of other formulas too.
Two loves from YSL include the Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Concealer and new NU Bare Look Tint. I’ve found myself reaching for the Touche Eclat in Shade 3 almost daily for brightening and under eye concealing. I ordered the new YSL Nu Bare Look Tint in Shade 9 from Sephora and am in love! It took some guessing to pick a shade as the numbers/shade names are completely different from their other bases (which I found a bit confusing). Shade 9 is a bit yellow in the tube but the finish is sheer so it’s forgiving. I ordered it sight unseen and it’s a good match for me although I might order another shade to try. It has a natural sheer lightweight finish – similar to that of a tinted moisturizer or the Touche Eclat All-in-One Glow Foundation but without the super dewy finish.
Swatches below of the Touche Eclat Shade 3, NU Bare Look Tint 9, Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow B40:
I’ve been loving all things Charlotte Tilbury lately (Super Nudes Collection review coming soon!). I cannot live without the Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder in Medium (just hit pan again and started using a new fresh compact) and the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in Shades 3 and 4.5 for the best natural glow product. Reposting swatches below for reference. The standard size is 100% worth the splurge. The mini size is available at Sephora and Charlotte Tilbury in select shades.
For the eyes I’ve been reaching for 3 palettes (more on this soon) but the one that gets the most compliments and questions for “what are you wearing” has been the Patrick TA Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette. It has 2 brown creams you can use as a contouring base and then a mix of mattes, shimmer and sparkles – all in neutral shades. The mattes blend well and I think the color mix is perfect! For the shimmers there is one iridescent shimmer and the rest are sparkle toppers.
Another love is the Patrick TA Major Dimension Precision Gel Eyeliner in Deep Bronze. This is a twist up pencil that has smooth rich pigment. It’s long wearing on me and I am always on the hunt for good deep bronze colors for the eyes. It’s a nice alternative to black or brown and the shimmer adds a more interesting vibe while still looking natural.
It was a tough one but I managed to narrow down my August favorite lips to just three products. I’ve been really loving the Chanel Le Crayon Levres Longwear Lip Pencil in Nude Brun 162 for a good neutral brown beige that goes well with a wide range of neutrals I love (more swatches of all the other lip pencils from Chanel here).
For lip balms the new Summer Fridays Lip Butters in the new packaging have been in heavy rotation. I love both the Clear version and Vanilla Beige.
My go-to everyday beige nude lip has been the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine 123 Nude Transparent. It’s effortless! I can just swipe and go and it works for every occasion. (Review + swatches of the newer shades from spring here.)
I had a lot of other favorites in skincare and hair care loves but I am saving those for separate posts. I’m in the process of putting together an updated skincare routine and hair care favorites round up.
What were your favorites this month? I’d love to hear about what you have been loving this summer!
Sharing a roundup of some recent favorites I’ve been loving lately. I have a mix of some things for the home, hair plus a few beauty items as well.
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic – Quick reminder today is the last day for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (8/8). They still have a lot of Barefoot Dreams Blankets colors available in the CozyChic Throw (on sale for $97.90) and In The Wild Throw Blanket ($119.90).
The CozyChic Leopard Pet Bed is also available in both colors in the Medium Size (on sale $98.90). I own the large for our pets but just ordered a second in the Medium Size before the sale is over. They’re both obsessed!
Jo Malone Scent Surround Diffuser in Lime Basil and Mandarin ($100) is a full-priced item and I decided to give their diffusers another try. I remember trying them many years ago and thought they were just ok, but so many have been asking for diffuser recommendations (over candles and sprays) I decided to try them. It will take a few hours for the fragrance to fill the reed sticks but I am so impressed. It’s strong enough to fill our kitchen and living room area.
Nest Bamboo and Grapefruit Diffuser Set ($67 on sale, $100 value) is another brand that has been highly recommended. I love their candles (especially during the holiday) but never really looked into the diffusers. These caught Andrew’s eye in store because of the Nest Gray Malin Collaboration (the glass jars come in different colored stripes). They were sold out of the one we wanted in store so we decided to try the Nordstrom Sale Set with Bamboo and Grapefruit.
These are even stronger and more potent than the ones from Jo Malone and both are really pleasant and fresh. The glass jar is very sturdy and large. I found it also took about an hour or two before the oil was soaked up into the reeds.
Chanel L’Huile Vanille Body Massage Oil ($230) is quite the splurge for the body but one of the best ones I’ve tried. I love the soft vanilla scent and it smells just like the Sublimage skincare line. It is a fluid lightweight oil and feels super luxurious on the skin. I do wish it came with a dropper or had a stopper at the top for easier application but I think the formula is really nice. I’ve been tempted to try the other scents too but the bottle is so large it will take me a long time to use it up so I’m sticking with one for now.
Diptyque Do Son is another unique favorite for me right now. I love the Do Son Hand Cream ($45) as it comes with a pump dispenser in a sleek tube. I also really love the Do Son Eau de Toilette Hair Mist Travel Size Duo ($90 on sale at Nordstrom). It’s a unique floral scent with a mix of tuberose, jasmine and orange blossom.
Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette ($48) is officially my favorite matte eyeshadow palette now. I initially thought it was over-hyped and to be frank the colors in the pan looked a little boring to me. After trying it for several weeks though I am really impressed. It’s so versatile and the colors are perfect for a wide range of looks. Texture is smooth, application is easy, lasting power is excellent.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks ($30 each) have been something I’ve used on and off for many years now. I’ve always gravitated towards the shimmer shades but they just added some more cream neutrals that are perfect for priming or evening out the lids. If you’re like me you’ve probably used a creamy concealer to even out the lids. If looking for a cream shadow with longer lasting power, I highly recommend checking out the newer shades. I like either Cashew or Sand Dune for my lids/skin tone.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm ($22) has finally been repackaged into a more user-friendly tube and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The original packaging always seemed to ooze product out with the metal tube. It’s now a squeezable plastic. They have the original one (clear) and also added a tinted beige pink called Vanilla Beige. I highly recommend checking it out, available at Sephora and Summer Fridays.
Gucci Nail Polish in Annabel Rose ($30) last but not least a number of you have been asking how the Gucci Nail Polish has held up. My latest love is Annabel Rose which is a neutral beige with a hint of pink. I’m pretty impressed! Two coats gives full coverage and it has held up with no chips or tip wear by Day 7. I used the Essie Gel Setter Top Coat on top. Colors seem to be selling out at a number of places but at the time of this post it’s available at Nordstrom and Gucci.
What have you been loving lately?
More soon including a look at some newness from Chanel, current hair care favorites and some more items I’ve hauled recently that I’ve been loving.
