Happy long weekend! Rounding up all the Memorial Day Sales happening this year in one place that I’ve found. If you’ve spotted any other great ones you’re shopping let me know in the comments!
Big Retailer Sales
Anthropologie – extra 40% off sale, up to 30% off indoor and outdoor furniture
Bloomingdale’s – 25 to 65% off selected items through 5/26
Today is the last day of the Sephora sale with code SAVEMORE and I have my full haul to share with some first impressions. There was quite a bit that I had on my list to try and the sale came at the perfect time!
Skincare Haul Picks
My skin has been going through some changes the last month so I’ve been on the search for new moisturizers and serums to try. Here’s what I picked up:
Alpyn Super Peptide and Ghostberry Moisturizer – This was the most recommended moisturizer from all of you! I asked for recommendations on my Instagram Stories and this hands down was everyone’s favorite, I’ve tried it and really like it. Once my skin rebalances or goes back to normal I think this will be one I reach for a lot. Right now my skin is super dehydrated so I’m in need of something heavier.
iNNBeauty Project Extreme Cream and Firming Eye Cream – I’ve been so curious about this brand. I’ve seen it pop up everywhere on my feed too! After some debating and feedback from you I decided to try it and I am 100% in love with both. 100% worth trying even though they are richer formulas. Quite a few of you mentioned you live in hot climates and still love this. I am going to buy the full size of the moisturizer before the sale ends tonight.
Biodance Bio Collagen Mask Set – Another viral skincare product I’ve been curious about. I have yet to try this since they recommend you apply for several hours. I can’t wait to try it.
Andrew and I are on a mission to try as many sunscreens as possible. Now that we’re in Miami where it’s hot and very sunny we’re being more diligent about applying sunscreen every single day and re-applying. Also since it’s hotter here we are trying to find the best sweat-proof one that doesn’t slide off immediately with sweat but that also won’t clog our pores or feel greasy. This has been a challenge since Andrew does not like mineral formulas and doesn’t want to wear anything that feels greasy.
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral SPF60 – This is a new formula and I tried this for the body. Although it’s mineral it blends out nicely. Still has a bit of a white cast but I like that it isn’t thick. I have to test it at the pool or beach to give my full thoughts but so far I’m giving it a thumbs up. I don’t know that I will be able to convince Andrew to try it though.
Ultra Violette is a brand I’ve been so curious about. I bought the Vibrant Screen SPF 50 (for the body) and like it but it is pretty emollient and doesn’t really have a dry down. That said it’s not too heavy.
ISDIN is another line I’ve had on my radar but I’ve been hesitant because the two most popular ones are mineral. I tried the Fusion Water Magic SPF 40 and am not really a fan of the texture. I’m going to test a few more times though. The two mineral formulas are incredible and I think these are the first mineral sunscreens I’ve actually liked.
I bought a few new things to try for the hair. I had high hopes for the Gisou Mini Wildflower Honey Infused Hair Perfume. It’s so cute and perfect for the purse but I’m undecided on the scent.
The Ouai Team sent over their Leave In Conditioner in the St Barts scent and it’s perfect for summer. I was planning to pick one up but thrilled they sent one over!
Verb Ghost Weightless Oil – I used to use this years ago and am not sure why I stopped. I picked this up to try again and LOVE it! I think it’s better than the new Kerastase Oil.
A quick shout out for the Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment Spray. For me this is the best thickening line I’ve tried. I received these in PR a month ago and while it’s not a daily treatment for me, I do love this anytime I want more thickening on the hair without it feeling weighed down.
Kerastase launched a new Gloss Absolu Line and I was 100% convinced this would be holy grail material. I like it but it’s not one I can use daily as the formula is too rich for my hair. I bought the entire line including the Anti-Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Oil and Anti-Frizz Spray. I did not like the Anti-Frizz spray (it’s too thick/heavy) but I do love the oil.
I bought the minis of both the Glossier You Fleur Eau de Parfum and Jo Malone Beach Blossom Cologne to try out first. I decided to go for the full size of the Glossier You Fleur which has a unique floral and salty blend. I’m not usually into osmanthus notes but this one is really nice.
I had the highest of hopes for the Jo Malone Beach Blossom. I loved the list of all the notes and the packaging looks so beautiful. This one unfortunately didn’t go well with my skin chemistry and had zero lasting power. I think the best beachy scent to this day is still Creed Virgin Island Water which is quite the splurge (and unfortunately not available at Sephora) but nothing else compares.
Makeup Picks
I went a little overboard with the makeup haul. I with I could have been able to review everything before the sale ends, but I do have some videos with swatches that might help.
Merit launched a new Shade Slick Lip Oil and Signature Sheer Lip Liner. You can see them in action here. Overall vibe of both is that they are very sheer for a minimalist look. The Lip Liners are sheer and glossy which I think are so interesting. They glide on the lips beautifully but are very subtle. The Lip Oil is also subtle but they layer nicely on top of the liner. I don’t know that I would call them must-haves for my makeup preference. I prefer something with more pigment.
New shades of the Fenty Gloss Bomb Oils dropped and as a Fenty gloss addict I hauled all the shades. The only one I didn’t like is Rose Amber (it pulled too cool/grey on me). You can see them in action here and swatched here. I love the smooth texture, they feel thinner than the original Fenty Gloss Bomb. The sparkle looks intimidating but on the lips it’s not as sparkly as they look in the tube. The best ones are Fu$$y and Fenty Glow. Frosted Bunz is a repromoted which I also really like.
Gisou launched new shades of their Honey Infused Lip Oils. They’re fun and I love the formula but the colors are super sheer. See them in action here.
I picked up three powders to try and was able to try two of them. I really love the YSL All Hours Hyper Blur Loose Setting Powder (I bought 02 Fair Medium). I had high hopes for the Kosas Cloud Set Loose Powder but it settled into fine lines and seems to emphasize them. I think perhaps my skin is too dry for it now. I might keep this for when my skin goes back to normal (right now it’s too dry).
I picked up the Givenchy Prisme Libre Matte Pressed Powder in 03 Voile Rose. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet but I am very curious about how it will perform. Quick tip for things that are sold out online. I highly recommend doing the Buy Online Pick Up In Store option. A lot of stores still have stock even if things are sold out online and you can search stores near you by zip code. If you use that option and purchase it online (to pick up in store) they will hold your purchase for a few days in case you can’t make it in right away.
I picked up some Haus Labs. I swatched the Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Stick and they have the prettiest glassy shine. I’m not usually into a glossy/glassy look on the face but these were so pretty I had to try a few shades.
Haus Labs also redid their bronzer in a Powder Sculpt Velvet Talc-Free Powder Bronzer. I’m really trying to love this as it’s SO popular but the texture just doesn’t sit well on my skin and the colors don’t look right on my skin tone. I picked the third lightest shades Terra Sol Light Medium.
As a tubing mascara fan now I picked up the Too Faced Ribbon Wrapped Lash Extreme Tubing Mascara to see how it compared to the Tarte. It’s a nice one and doesn’t smudge or flake, but it doesn’t add much volume to my lashes. I think the Tarte one is much better.
I restocked the Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil in Cool Brown and Warm Brown. Even though these don’t have a ton of product I still really like them. I can wear either the warm or cool versions so I bought one of each again.
That wraps up my super lengthy Sephora haul. If you had been wondering about any of these items I hope this haul + first impressions post helps!
Stay tuned for more reviews and swatches as I get back into my routine! Also have a giveaway planned this week for the blog readers and will also be hosting one on my Instagram.
I’ve been MIA for the past couple of weeks as I just moved from Tampa to Miami! We’ve all been living out of boxes and moving boxes as we packed everything up for our big move. We are finally in South Beach! I’ll share more soon but you can see a sneak peek of our new place on my LIFE UPDATES highlights on Instagram if you’re curious!
We are slowly but surely settling into our new place and getting everything sorted. Lots of reviews and more beauty content coming your way as I get back into the swing of things. I really miss blogging and trying out new beauty products. I can’t wait to get back into my routine.
The Sephora Savings Event is here this month running from 4/4 through 4/14! Rouge gets first access starting this Friday instore or online with code SAVEMORE. Dates for access:
Rouge Members save 20% 4/4 through 4/14
VIB Members save 15% off 4/8 through 4/14
Insiders save 10% off 4/8 through 4/14
All Sephora Collection is 30% off
There are so many great makeup launches these days. I’ll share my absolute tried and true favorites by category and if there’s something new that I tried and loved recently I’ll also list those below.
I also really like the new Supergoop! Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops which is a mineral formula with SPF40. I’ve been testing out the darker shade Golden Hour but might also pick up Sunrise to try.
Best Concealer
Two favorites I will always repurchase are the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer for full coverage (still creamy and very easy to blend) or the YSL Touche Eclat. The other ones shown above are also ones I’ve loved, but right now I’ve been sticking to the Natasha Denona one most of the time.
The Ilia Sunshift Weightless Silky Cream Bronzer is one of my favorite shimmery cream bronzers for the color + finish, but it’s more like a highlighter on my skin rather than a bronzer due to the shimmers. Swatches here.
There are lots of new bronzer formulas I have on my list to try. They’ve been packed away in moving boxes but I hope to review them before the sale ends! I do have the Dior Forever Nude Jumbo Bronzer in 20 and 30. I am curious about the new Haus Labs Powder Sculpt Velvet Powder Bronzers, hoping that one of the new shades will work for me!
Best Blush Formulas
I think I could write an entire series dedicated to blushes. I’m still 100% a powder blush lover. If I could only pick 3 powder blushes to recommend I think the YSL Make Me Blush Powder Blush (review + swatches here) is one of the best new powder blush formulas. I also still really love the Gucci Luminous Matte Beauty Blush (reviewed here and here) and Dior Rosy Glow Blush is also a favorite (swatches here).
Out of the newer blush launches I think the new Tower28 GetSet Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush (swatched here) and Saie SuperSuede Powder Blushes (tried on here) are solid wins. Formulas wear beautifully. I don’t love all the shades they launched but I do really love the colors I tried. The Tower28 is a true matte finish but doesn’t look flat. The Saie SuperSuede has more of a satin finish and it’s easy to layer and blend, but overall has a soft vibe.
I’ve been more into glowy blush for a glow rather than a traditional highlighter, but I really love the Dior Forever Glow Maximizers (Nude and Peachy are my favorites, swatches here). The Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tint Peau de Peche highlighter is also a staple – champagne bronzey tones are hard to find for me and this one is just perfect. Swatches in this post here.
If I had to pick just one eyeshadow brand to wear Natasha Denona wins hands down. Her palettes are the ones I reach for nearly every single day.
For single shadows I still swear by the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize (I wear Rose Gold the most) and the Armani Eye Tints in 44S Blush or 22M are my favorites. I think I might pick up a couple more colors during the sale.
Eye Makeup Staples (Liner, Brow, Mascara)
My favorite eyeliners actually aren’t available at Sephora (they’re from Sisley or Victoria Beckham Beauty). But for brows there are TONS of great options at Sephora.
I love Benefit Precisely My Brow (I wear Shade 3), Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (Caramel) and Glossier Boy Brow Arch Pencil (Cool Brown) the best for brows. My most-used pencils are from ABH because Caramel is the best color for me. My natural hair color is almost black but my brows are a lot lighter so matching something to my hair usually ends up looking too harsh but Caramel is the best color for me. As much as I love the Glossier one there’s not much product in the pencil and I think I used an entire pencil in 3 weeks.
Best Lip Liners
Now onto my favorite category: lips! I love a good lip pencil and layering lip products are always fun, but these days I have been so low maintenance I usually wear 1 product on my lips at a time.
If I could only recommend 2 to try during the sale, I’d say splurge on the Tom Ford or Fenty options. I did pick up some of the Merit Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liners but with my life in moving boxes this past month I haven’t had a chance to try them.
YSL makes some of the prettiest tinted lip balms, I love all the formulas, but my favorite is the Candy Glaze (review here and new shades here) or Candy Glow (swatches here) for the best lasting power, pigment and shine.
For a tinted lip balm or oil I have so many favorites. For a squeeze tube format balm the Summer Fridays Lip Butter is always in my bag. I have all the colors but love the Vanilla Beige the most (swatches here). The Gisou Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oils are super fun but the pigment is ultra sheer (new shades in action here).
For lip gloss I’m still sticking to my top 5 go-to’s! The Fenty Gloss Bomb is still a favorite and I plan on picking up the new Gloss Bomb Oil shades tomorrow! The Dior Addict Lip Maximizer is my most-worn and most-reached-for gloss. I’ve been really impressed with the Huda Faux Filler Lip Gloss (swatches here), I think all the colors are flattering and wearable. Pat McGrath remains a favorite for the best smooth non-sticky gloss although so many shades are out of stock, I don’t know if it’s just sold out or being phased out.
Tools/Misc
For tools I wish there was just one brand I could find all my favorite brushes from, but unfortunately I have to mix tools from different brands. Overall I think the Hourglass brushes are top notch for both powder and cream products. I really love the No 15 Blush Brush for cream brushes and the Vanish Foundation Brush for bases and the Concealer Brush is excellent. I splurged on the travel brush set during a previous sale a few years ago and it was 100% worth the splurge.
I think the Glossier Lip Liner Sharper is a must. The design to catch the shavings is large enough that you don’t have to empty it every single time. It’s also great for travel.
It seems as though a lot of my go-to powder puffs have changed and aren’t as soft as they used to be (I’m talking about repurchases not being the same). I really love the Makeup By Mario Master Pro Puff though. It’s big enough to cover a decent amount on the face without having to dab a million times and it’s ultra soft.
Another must-have I swear by is the Sephora Collection Daily Brush Cleaner. Since it’s on the spendy side I usually wash my brushes with Dawn Dish Soap and a scrubbing pad. But for cream products can be difficult to remove all the way. After I give them a rinse with warm water and dish soap. I’ll spritz the Sephora Brush cleaner to soak the brush. If you try it will be AMAZED at how much foundation, cream blush or eyeshadow come out, even AFTER washing it with soap + water.
That wraps up my makeup favorites and staples! If you’re shopping the sale let me know what you plan on picking up! I’m hosting a giveaway here on my blog. I’m going to send FIVE readers each a $100 eGift card to Sephora. Open to everyone 18+ but do note that the gift card will be to the Sephora US site only. Follow the steps in the widget below for a chance to win. I’ll pick a winner on Wednesday April 9th and email the winners directly.
Ulta Beauty’s 21 Days of Beauty Event is live and runs through March 27th with 50% off tons of items with different beauty deals every day and also weekly steals. I shared a come shopping with me video on Friday with the deals on my radar. In case you missed the first day there are still lots of new sales coming every day. I think this is the first time I’ve seen such big discounts of 50% off.
Ulta has their upcoming deals listed on their website so you can preview the sale and also plan your shopping in advance. Here are some I have on my radar (there are tons more online):
Also wanted to let you know I will be co-hosting a Webinar with LTK and Ulta Beauty on March 11th. We’ll be talking about my creator journey, some industry insights and I’ll be sharing favorites for a spring makeup refresh. I know some of you have followed along from the very early days before I even showed my face online! But if you’re new, are thinking about becoming a creator and want some tips on how to get started you can RSVP here.
Black Friday is here! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday. We had an early Thanksgiving lunch at our home and then went to see Wicked in theaters. It’s been forever since we’ve been to the movie theater and we all thought the movie was very cute. Loved it!
The sales this year are some of the best I’ve ever seen. I already shopped some early sales and wasn’t planning on shopping more, but the sales are SO good I can’t help but keep browsing. Here’s a roundup list of the best ones I’ve found to save you some time from clicking and searching around.
Ulta Beauty – new Black Friday deals added everyday
30% off Urban Decay
20% off Estee Lauder
$12 select mascaras
30% off select MAC Lipsticks and Foundations
30% off Olaplex
20% off Supergoop! (just added)
$12 select lips
30% off Too Faced Eye
Up to 30% off select Shark Beauty
BEAUTY SALES & Gift With Purchases
Bluemercury – Black Friday special 20% off no minimum purchase, 25% off $800+ and 30% off $1,500. Lots of luxury brands included like La Mer, Augustinus Bader, Osea, The Harmonist, Hourglass, Chantecaille, Sisley and more
Bobbi Brown – 24 hours only 30% off sitewide and 50% off select favorites, plus create a 5-piece mini set bag when you spend $80+
Byredo – Complementary 70g candle with orders $225 or more. Your choice of Cotton Poplin, Bibliotheque, Tree House or Burning Rose. In addition, orders $320 or more will receive a 12mL Eau de Parfum with Travel Leather Case. Select your fragrance at checkout.
Chanel Beauty – new High Points Makeup Set launches today with a fluffy pouch, Baume Essentiel in Lilas, Rouge Coco Baume in My Rose and Noir Allure Mascara
Black Friday has arrived early and tons of retailers have already launched their Black Friday and Cyber Week sales early. My inbox has been overflowing with alerts so I’ve put together a roundup to help save you some time! Here’s what has caught my eye. We already did a little shopping yesterday in person at our local mall. I found lots of cute sweaters and jackets at Madewell. Lots of bigger retailers like Nordstrom also have limited-time markdowns on a wide selection of items like Vince, home decor and more. The Dyson Airwrap (and other hair tools) is currently marked down $100 off at a wide range of retailers. Definitely a lot of places to save this year!
BEAUTY SALES
Bluemercury – Holiday Shopping Party with major savings, 20% off purchases $200, 25% off purchases $800+ and 30% off purchases $1,500 (love these two scents I recently tried, part of their sale!)
Bobbi Brown – Early access with 30% off sitewide for BBAcess members (no code needed)
Foreo – Save up to 50% on Early Black Friday Deals and use code SABRINAS10 to save an extra 10% off (can stack on top of Black Friday deals), absolutely love the LED Face Mask
Glossier – Save 25% off and unlock 30% off orders $100+ (sets and kits are excluded)
Guerlain – Special gift with purchases and step up options thru 12/2
Spend $100 and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml)
Spend $275+ and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml) + Gift Set with Abeille Royale minis and pouch with code THANKS24
Spend $500+ and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml) + Orchide Imperiale Sampler Set with code MERCI24
Spend $1,000+ and receive an Abeille Royale Night cream (7ml) + Orchide Imperiale Sampler Set + 3 wick luxury candle with code MERCI24
With the Sephora sale in full swing I’m sharing my favorites in skincare, body care and fragrance today. As a beauty creator I am fortunate to be able to try a wide range of products. I love trying new skincare but to keep my list edited I’m focusing on my tried and true staples, ie products I repurchase over and over again. Dates and details below, use code SAVINGS if shopping online! (some exclusions apply):
Rouge members 20% off: 11/1 – 11/11
VIBs 15% off: 11/5 – 11/11
Insiders 10% off: 11/5 – 11/11
All Sephora Collection 30% off: 11/1 – 11/11
Makeup Removers and Cleansers
For removing makeup double cleansing is still a must to effectively remove all traces of makeup or sunscreen. I love a good cleansing oil but my favorite isn’t sold at Sephora (it’s this one from Chanel). I do have several solid balm makeup removers I love which I’ll list below.
Farmacy Green Clean is one of the best makeup remover balms. I love the classic one and this is the one I always keep stocked at home, but their limited-edition scented ones are always so fun for me to try.
Elemis and Clinique also make great solid cleansing balms, but I feel like the Farmacy one is the best and most effective.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser is the best everyday cleanser for me and Andrew. After trying dozens of cleansers over the years I have to say this has the best consistency to clean the skin without drying it.
Serums and Moisturizers
I’ve been neglecting essence treatments this year but I think I need to start using one again since they really make a difference! I just repurchased the La Mer Treatment Lotion for the sale.
I would rank the La Mer and Charlotte Tilbury in my top 2 right now. Those are the two formulas I packed with me in October. While La Mer is quite the splurge, I do think it has been worth it for me. I have repurchased the Moisturizing Soft Cream multiple times and also bought one to gift to my sister-in-law for Mother’s Day and she loves it.
With any of these formulas I highly recommend checking out a travel set or value set to try first. I always find it helpful to try something in a smaller size to sample before committing to the full size. Some great options:
Several of you asked me if I use retinol or tretinoin – I do not. I have really loved the Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Retinol Serum in the past but haven’t repurchased in a while. Right now I’ve been loving La Mer’s new Rejuvenating Night Cream. I’ve been using this for several months now and every other night (it is suitable to use nightly though) and I 10/10 love it.
Eye Treatments
I have a few eye treatments I love from Sephora. The La Mer Eye Concentrate Cream is my go-to right now. It has the best consistency and texture for me – not too thick and not too thin. It helps with fine lines and hydration.
I have used pore clearing and detox masks the most this year out of any face mask or treatment. I have three I think are 100% worth checking out. Innisfree Super Volcanic AHA Pore Clearing Clay Mask is one of the most gentle pore masks I’ve tried and I’m obsessed. Caudalie Pore Minimizing Instant Detox Mask is also excellent but it’s on the stronger side (absorbs a LOT of excess oil). A few readers recommended the La Mer Deep Purifying Mask to me earlier this year. I decided to give it a try and it 10/10 lives up to the hype from you! It is quite the splurge and currently sold out online but you can always add the notification restock alert to your account if you’re interested.
I love trying different body washes and shower creams. I don’t have any loyalty to a particular formula or brand as I love trying new ones all the time. I will say I gravitate towards ones that can be unisex or have that clean smell because Andrew likes to use them too. Our top three most repurchased formulas are the Ouai Dean Street Body Wash, Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Play Body Wash and Jack Black Turbo Wash. I will say that for winter the turbo wash is a little too drying so we’ve switched it out for the Necessaire Body Wash in Santal (love this Body Wash Discovery Set they’ve launched this year).
For a shower oil Andrew loves the L’occitane Almond Shower Oil. We used to love the Shea Shower Cream but they changed the formula/scent recently and it has an unflattering floral scent to it now.
That wraps up my current skincare and body care favorites! I know finding the best skincare can be overwhelming as it really takes time to try and see if something works for your skin type or needs. I really wish there was 1 single brand I could use all of my skincare from. If I had to pick just one I think Drunk Elephant has the best variety and range.
If you’re looking for recommendations I hope you found this post helpful!
