Nordstrom Archives - The Beauty Look Book

Spring Makeup Haul

March 6, 2020

I’m excited to share another makeup haul with you today! I picked up some new beauty launches recently and discovered quite a few hits. I’ve found the perfect spring cheek palette and my new holy grail nude lip gloss. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share my favorite beauty finds.

Foundation + Concealer

The spring beauty season always brings us new bases to try. I’m still in the process of testing several out but two I wanted to mention include the new Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation and Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer. Both are quite the splurge and I stopped by my local counters to swatch them.

The Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation has SPF 50 and offers medium to full coverage with a dewy finish. It is light reflecting and suitable for my normal skin type. I tested with both a brush and sponge, both work great! It evens out the skin with impressive coverage while still looking natural. I set with a powder to counter the dewy finish and it leaves the skin looking plump and evened out. My match is Natural 06 but I can also wear Dune 5.7 (more neutral in tone). It stays put all day, doesn’t separate, looks great and feels really nice! To me it’s like a more opaque and richer feeling Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.

Below with bare skin and applying Natural 06:

The Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer is a super opaque concealer. My shade is Beech for under the eye or spot concealing. A little goes a VERY long way so I recommend applying sparingly. Three small dots under each eye is more than enough to conceal dark circles and brighten. I also set with a powder (any of my powders work, I love the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural or Laura Mercier Translucent Loose) and it stays put all day. If you’re dry you may need to add some eye cream underneath.

Below Beech applied under the eyes on just one side so you can see with vs without:

Dior Rosewood

From Dior I repurchased the Lip Maximizer in Rosewood. They recently added the Lip Glow Oil and Lip Glow in the same shade and I love the natural rosy flush it gives the lips. The Lip Maximizer gives the lips a super lush glossy look and hydrates all day. The Lip Glow variation will give you more color as it transforms on the lips. The Lip Oil will give you an almost clear shine.

NARS Cool Crush

Nordstrom has a NARS Exclusive Collection called Cool Crush. I hauled the Hot Fix Cheek Palette which has one champagne highlighter and three neutral pink/peach blushes. This has medium to rich pigment but is easy to blend. As a lover of neutral blushes this one is perfect for spring to summer. It’s very natural and easy to wear. There are also new Loaded Lip Lacquers which are full coverage high shine lip glosses. I bought three of the four colors available and they’re all wearable. Playin’ Around is a creamy pale nude, Young Hearts is my new holy grail nude and Foxy is a warmer brown neutral.

Charlotte Tilbury

Also new this year are more Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk extensions. I will have a separate post on everything I hauled but for now the stand outs are the Pillow Talk Medium Lipstick and Lip Cheat Lip Pencil. They’re darker than the original color for a really flattering medium brown rose. I also picked up the Pillow Talk Eyeliner which is a reddish brown and a nice alternative to black or brown when you want something different.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Remover

Last but not least as a fan of the Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil I decided to try the Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover for eyes. It’s a bi-phase makeup remover to remover waterproof makeup with I really like it! It’s gentle and not greasy, doesn’t sting my eyes and is effective.

That wraps up my favorites from my recent Nordstrom Beauty haul! My favorites are the NARS palette and lip glosses which I think are great everyday kind of neutrals. I really love the new Tom Ford foundation. The formula wears really well and I like that it has SPF in it.

You can find all my picks available at Nordstrom. If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase section (they update it regularly).

Have you picked up anything new recently? What did you think?

Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. All items featured purchased by me.

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Hauls Nordstrom

New Beauty Launches to Put On Your Radar

January 16, 2020

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

Charlotte Tilbury Queen of Glow

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

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

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish! Color Corrector

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

New NARS Blushes

above left: Orgasm X, right: Tempted

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

Wearing Tempted + Orgasm X mixed together

New from Bobbi Brown

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

YSL lip love

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

NARS Tinted Glow Boosters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Holiday Gift Guide Nordstrom

Holiday Gift Guide: Best Beauty Sets $50 + Under

December 11, 2019

I cannot believe Christmas is almost here! Today I’m doing my first holiday gift guide of the year featuring the Best Beauty Sets $50 + Under. I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share some of my favorites in case you’re still doing some holiday shopping whether it’s for friends, family or to treat yourself. Nordstrom is truly the best one-stop shop for me. I can find something for everyone on my list. They make it really easy to navigate their Holiday Gift Shop by recipient or price point. I often use the filter Gifts Under $25, Gifts Under $50 and Gifts Under $100. There are tons of options to pick from.

Fresh Beauty Picks

Here are my top picks for any beauty lover. Options included even for the girls who have everything or the picky ones too! Up first are some finds from Fresh Beauty. They make my favorite shower gel and their lip balms are great options for anyone. No matter what age, skin type, skin tone – everyone can use a little extra care for their lips. Their tinted Sugar Lip Balms come in some super cute sets.

Top left is the Fresh Enchanted Essentials Travel Soy Face Cleanser and Sugar Lip Treatment Set ($19.50). I find this a unisex option (my brother loves the Soy Face Cleanser). Bottom left is the Charmed Lip Trio with the Fresh Sugar Caramel Lip Balm ($29) which smells amazing. I almost want to keep this one for myself. On the right is the cutest Sealed With Sugar Travel Size Set ($48). It has 6 minis and almost looks like an ornament! Quick note that some of the sets are marked down from the regular pricing.

MAC Makeup Sets + Holiday Collection

I’m so thrilled to find that MAC has tons of gift options under the $50 price point. I bought the Starlit Lip Bag Set in the neutral color option for myself as it has a full size liner in Dervish, lipstick in Aspiring Star and lipglass Among the Stars for a value price. There is a red option too which looks gorgeous! The Lucky Stars Lipstick Kit has 3 miniature sized lipsticks in a zipped pouch. The neutral kit (shown in the top corner) has A Star In Your Name, Once Upon the Stars and Jar of Stars (all new colors). The individual Holiday Collection items come packaged in a festive clear star packaging which makes for great stocking stuffers. They have limited-edition colors of Lipglass, Lipstick, Eyeliner and Opalescent Powder to name a few.

Fun Luxury Gifts

I’m a huge fan of Slip Silk Scrunchies ($39) and think they make for a cute simple kind of gift. I’m never without these – I keep some in my purse and in our car for whenever I need to reach for one to tie my hair up. They also make such beautiful Silk Sleeping Eye Masks ($50) I have a couple of these and love them.

Hand creams are another great universally great gift option. For the person who loves sweet scents the Laura Mercier Tres Riche Travel Hand and Body Cream ($38) is the ultimate treat. L’Occitane also makes a great Holiday Trio ($29) this season and if you have someone who needs something unscented, I highly recommend Kiehl’s. They have a cute Smooth Skin Delights Travel Trio ($35) with one unscented and two scented. You can split them up in stocking stuffers or keep one for yourself!

Hair Care Loves

When it comes to hair care I feel like for shampoo and conditioner it really depends on hair type to pick something as a gift. Styling products are easier to gift because virtually every single girl friend I have is obsessed with dry shampoo, volumizers or texturizers. Bumble and Bumble has some really affordable options including the Reign, Dear Duo ($20) and the More the Merrier Trio ($33). I have the full size thickening shampoo and conditioner on my wishlist to buy when I finish up some bottles. Oribe also makes some great options. I’ve gifted the Dry Texturizing Spray ($22 to $46) numerous times in the full size and travel size option.

NARS Holiday Makeup Sets

I usually feel like NARS is often at the higher luxury price points but am always thrilled when they launch value sets or minis to gift. The All Access Powermatte Lip Pigment Set ($45) has 3 full sized options with American Woman (one of my favorite rose long-wear lip colors), Fly Robin Fly and Funkytown in a bright red sequins zip pouch. For those who want to try minis before committing to full size products, the Past Curfew Travel Size Mascara and Eyeliner Set ($20) is a great stocking stuffer option to try for yourself. For lips/cheeks it doesn’t more classic than their Dolce Vita color and the Travel Size Dolce Vita Cracker Set ($24) is super cute. I’m a huge fan of the Afterglow Lip Balm and they still have the Afterglow Mini Lip Balm Duo ($22) available which I still use on a weekly basis because I bought backups!

That wraps up some of my favorite finds for Holiday Beauty Gifts $50 and Under! There are tons of options for men’s grooming, fragrance, skin care and more at Nordstrom. I hope this gave you some ideas if you’re looking for gift ideas!

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

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Cle de Peau Beaute Nordstrom

Best of Cle de Peau Beaute

November 25, 2019

I have a luxury beauty roundup featuring my favorites from Cle de Peau Beaute. They have so many beautiful high quality pieces many of which I consider to be tried and true staples. Today I’m partnering with Nordstrom to round up my top ten beauty picks I think are worth the splurge. I purchase and restock most of my Cle de Peau products from them and have for years, especially their bases. All of my personal favorites and the shades I use discussed below.

Below wearing the Radiant Cushion Foundation O30 and Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine in Sepia

Above left to right: Brilliant Enhancer, Radiant Corrector for Eyes, Concealer

1) Brilliant Enhancer

The Brilliant Enhancer comes in one shade which is a sheer pearly highlight. It has a click pen applicator with a brush tip and provides the most natural looking liquid illuminator I’ve ever seen. You can use it anywhere you want to add brightness or a highlight. I find using it on the eyes, cheekbones or even under eyes under concealer gives the skin a very soft radiant effect. It’s sheer and glowy and never looks overdone. I will sometimes click dispense product onto the back of my hand first and then use my fingertips to apply on the face although the brush works too!

2) Radiant Corrector for Eyes

The Radiant Corrector for Eyes is ideal for brightening or concealing dark circles under the eye area. It has a brush applicator and has a less opaque formula compared to the stick version making it easier to blend for under the eye area. It goes on smoothly and has good coverage without looking heavy. I use the shade Ochre.

3) Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer

The Concealer in Ochre is the best opaque formula I’ve tried for a full coverage concealer. I’ve used Almond in the past but Ochre is my best match now for my Florida tan. I warm up a little bit from the stick with my finger before patting and blending on the face. It is versatile for spot concealing, to cover redness around the nose or to cover redness under the eyes. It has SPF 25 which was introduced sometime last year. To me this newer version is just as good as the original version.

4) Radiant Cushion Foundation

The Radiant Cushion Foundation in O30 is the only foundation I currently use from the line. I do want to try more formulas but many of my old favorites have been reformulated. This cushion has medium to full coverage with a very natural luminous glow. I love that it looks radiant without being too dewy. Skin looks smoothed out and healthy and stays put all day without budging. It has buildable coverage but still feels lightweight.

5) Cream Blushes

The Cle de Peau Beaute Cream Blushes are newer tries for me. I cannot believe I did not discover these sooner! They’re creamy pots that have the most beautiful powder dry down. I’m not the biggest fan of cream blushes because they’re often too dewy for me but these are hands down the best I have EVER tried. I have two shades right now in 1 Cranberry (one I’m wearing in this post) which is a soft rose and 2 Pale Fig (brighter warm pink). I have the other two on my wishlist to order soon. They blend so beautifully into the skin and are the longest lasting cream blushes I’ve tried. They look natural but give a perfect amount of color. You can apply with fingers easily or a small cream blush brush. A little bit goes a very long way.

6) Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner in Black

I tried some eye makeup basics based on rave reviews and they 100% live up to the hype. The Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner has two tips, one short and one long. It is the best liquid eyeliner I have ever tried to date and has surpassed all my other favorites. I love that you have two options to control the thickness of the line. I also think the formula has the perfect density and fluidity to dry quickly so it doesn’t bleed at all.

7) Perfect Lash Mascara in Black

Another eye makeup product I ordered recently was the Cle de Peau Beaute Perfect Lash Mascara. I purchased it on a whim as I was curious to see if it lived up to the hype. Few mascaras do it all for me but this one worked out perfectly for everything I wanted. It adds volume, holds the curl, doesn’t smudge and the curved brush makes application easy. I like that the brush is dense enough to coat my lashes with just a few coats. I will definitely repurchase!

8) Radiant Lip Gloss

For lips one of my favorite gloss formulas is the Cle de Peau Beaute Radiant Lip Gloss. They have a cushiony feel and beautiful shine without that sticky finish. They are sheer so I recommend layering on top of a liner or lipstick if you want more coverage. My favorites are Warm Crystal, Charm, Dream Stone and Star Dust. They have a tiny amount of shimmer to make the lips look lush and full.

9) Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine Liquid Lipstick

Above wearing Sugar Jelly

The latest lip launch from Cle de Peau Beaute is their Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine Liquid Lipstick. They also launched a matte version which I tried as well (swatches of my picks below) but I’m partial to the shine version. They’re glossy high pigmented liquid lipsticks with the most juicy looking colors. I picked four and hope they launch more colors in this formula! Sepia is a perfect nude, Sugar Jelly is a baby pink, Delicious Dream is a juicy soft red pink, Bird of Paradise is a gorgeous orangey coral. I like mixing the colors as well. (My shine and matte picks swatched below.)

10) Face Cotton

Last but not least is the Cle de Peau Face Cotton which has been one of my go-to’s for years. They’re thick and plush and hold the shape. They won’t disintegrate with toner or makeup remover and they don’t leave fibers on the skin. I repurchase it constantly and my most recent haul I bought the Cleansing Foam Set which has the cotton in it along with some other skincare products. It is 100% worth the price for me.

That wraps up my Top 10 Cle de Peau Beaute favorites! I have tried some of their skincare items but for me the highlights are some of their makeup products. I really want to try their current Serum since I used to be obsessed with one of the older formulations.

You can find the full line of Cle de Peau available at Nordstrom. They often have nice Gift With Purchases available, especially during Bonus Point Events. I recommend checking it regularly if you plan on stocking up on anything!

What are your favorite Cle de Peau Beaute products? Do you have any tried and true skincare items you recommend?

Thank you Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. All products purchased and selected by me.

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Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

Everyday Makeup Essentials for Fall

October 25, 2019

Happy Friday! I have an updated everyday makeup post today with my top go-to’s that I use on a regular basis. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share some favorites for the season. I purchase a lot of my makeup staples (and Andrew’s grooming picks) from there – they carry most of the brands we both love and use.

Base Favorites

I’m frequently asked what my top foundations are. I rotate depending on how much coverage I want but the line I reach for the most is Laura Mercier. They have a wide range of formulas for any coverage and finish preference! For me the best medium to full coverage matte foundation of all time is the Flawless Fusion Foundation Ultra Long-Wear Foundation (I wear either Buff or Dusk). It smooths out the skin, covers spots, lasts all day in hot weather and even though it’s matte doesn’t look flat. If I had to use one base the rest of my life this would be it.

For a glowy more hydrating finish the Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere is one I reach for frequently tied with Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation (I wear 6.5). Both offer a natural luminous finish that is perfectly dewy without being too glowy. Coverage is also medium but buildable and they come in a wide range of shades.

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating formulas were revamped and improved this year. I love both for weekend or no-makeup makeup days. Sometimes if I have a good skin day I can wear just one and layer some concealer on top. If you like a super sheer base with just a hint of coverage I think the new formulas are among the best!

One formula I just rediscovered is the La Mer Luminous Lifting Cushion (I wear Shade 33 Warm Bisque). It’s one of the best cushions I’ve tried that has medium coverage and looks like skin but better. It’s hydrating but not too heavy. It’s very natural looking and makes the skin look radiant. I am thrilled I have a good match.

For pressed powders I love the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in Medium and the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus or Medium Golden. Both will add a soft blurring effect to the skin and smooth/set your foundation. Pressed is my preferred choice since it’s easier to carry in the purse, easier for touch-ups and less messy.

In terms of loose options there are a wide range of amazing formulas to pick from. I’m partial to Laura Mercier’s Translucent for everyday and on going-out nights I’ll add the Translucent Glow option on the cheek bones for added radiance.

Lip Rotation

Lips are my favorite thing to rotate during fall. There are always so many new formulas and colors launched this season. I’m hard pressed to pick favorites but these four are the ones I’ve been reaching for the most the past couple of months.

NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm is my daily go-to balm for a soft pink flush. It applies clear on the lips but give it a minute or so and it will transform color into a soft pink glow. The Dior Addict Lip Glow Balms are also still really excellent for more of a flushed deeper color, but I’ve been reaching for the NARS a lot more.

NARS Lipsticks were completely revamped this year. My favorite color is Chelsea Girls which is a neutral pink, but on my lips it pulls more pinkish. It has a semi glossy finish. Dolce Vita is also a really nice and easy to wear rose.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shines used to be in heavy rotation for me a long time ago. I just checked them out again and discovered they discontinued some colors but also added some newer shades. Rose Nu 88 is a pretty rose (worn here).

For a lush hydrating gloss it doesn’t get more classic than the Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss. 119 Bourgeoisie is a classic soft rose plum with a hint of shimmer.

Eye Makeup Favorites

Four eye makeup staples for me include the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Copper (love this shade for an all over wash or base). Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows in Burnish and Blaze (they add the perfect amount of shine!), Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Duo in Reflection (new) for the perfect bronzey smokey eye and Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Black Wood (for a deep black that isn’t too harsh). In terms of eyeshadow palettes I don’t have a regular go-to as I switch those up frequently, although I do still really like the Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette that I’ve been wearing pretty much all year long.

Cheeks

My two most reached for cheek products lately are the Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel for the best cream bronzer ever and the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette this season. I’m wearing both in this post! The two combined are perfect for everyday and pretty much go with everything I typically wear. Creams don’t always work for me in Florida due to the heat but this Chanel bronzer has a good dry down that lasts all day and doesn’t oxidize.

I hope you enjoyed this roundup! Let me know in the comments if you have any everyday makeup favorites right now for fall or if you keep the same rotation year round. You can find all of my favorite makeup staples at Nordstrom.

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

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GWP Haircare Nordstrom

New Haircare Loves

October 7, 2019

I’ve been trying some new things in haircare the past few months and have a roundup of my top picks right now. I really love trying new things and am always in the market for good hair masks or anti-frizz products to restore moisture and add shine. It’s been nearly a year since I’ve had color-treated hair and I’m currently in the process of trying to grow out my natural color. My haircare routine has changed since getting highlights and I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share some of my top go-to picks right now. They carry most of the brands and products I use on a regular basis.

I also love shopping there because they have good Beauty Gift With Purchases year round. In my most recent haul I restocked on some of my favorite hair care items for the Nordstrom x SPACE.NK.apothecary gift (available while supplies last) which includes:

A cosmetics bag and deluxe samples of PHILIP B® Weightless Conditioning Water (2.5 oz.), R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray (1 oz.), Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (0.9 oz.), Verso Hydration Serum (0.35 oz.), 111SKIN Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel (0.25 oz.), By Terry Blackstar Eyeshadow in Purpulyn Gem (0.04 oz.), Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment (0.17 oz.), REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen (0.34 oz.), Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation in Medium (0.18 oz.), Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream (0.23 oz.), Clark’s Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask (0.03 oz.), ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder (0.05 oz.), Rodial Pink Diamond Magic Gel Day Cream (0.3 oz.) and Derm Institute Antioxidant Hydration Gel Masque (2 sachets, 0.1 oz. each) with your $175 SPACE.NK.apothecary purchase. A $278 value. Online and in selected U.S. stores.*

There are a lot more Beauty Gifts going on right now online. There’s a cute one from Lancome right now, also some good options for minis from Dior, Hourglass, Diptyque, Fresh and more. I always love the Fresh skincare minis.

My Go-To Shampoo and Conditioner

I’ve been on the hunt for a good shampoo and conditioner combination for what seems like AGES now. My hair is more prone to breakage with each highlight treatment and Florida water isn’t the best for all formulas. Many formulas are hard to rinse out so finding something that is hydrating but doesn’t weigh the hair down has been tricky. I’ve really loved Olaplex for some time but wanted to try something new. Some Oribe formulas have been hit or miss but I decided to re-try the Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo and Conditioner and my hair loves them! I’m on my third bottle of both and think I need to buy the supersized versions. They both hydrate, add shine and make the hair soft. The formula rinses out nicely and doesn’t weigh my hair down.

Heat Protectant and Texturizer

I blow dry my hair on a regular basis to smooth it and prevent frizz. Most of the time air drying isn’t the best for me. I’ve tried dozens of heat styling sprays and creams. There are a lot of great options out there but the one I keep going back to is the Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray. It doubles as a detangler for me and smooths out the hair. This is also lightweight and helps minimize frizz. I spray it on towel dried hair.

Even though I want to smooth out the hair, I also sometimes want more volume at the roots. The Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is my favorite and a nice alternative to dry shampoo because it’s not white or powdery like dry shampoo formulas are.

Olaplex Styling Products

I’ve been so eager to try everything that Olaplex launches. I bought the No. 6 Bond Smoother and No. 7 Bonding Oil the second they both launched. A little goes a long way for both.

The Bond Smoother is a white cream that is a leave-in styling cream that strengthens and moisturizes the hair to prepare for blow drying. I found it lightweight and it did work to fight frizz. It’s nice on my brittle hair and does protect from heat. For me I like this on damp hair.

The Bonding Oil is an even more lightweight product that’s ultra concentrated. It offers heat protection up to 450 degrees. Since I have thicker hair I found my damp hair soaked it up super fast. I prefer applying this on my blow-dried hair to add shine and add more protection if I’m straightening it with a flat iron. It’s super tiny but a little drop goes a long way. The dispenser is designed so that only a tiny bit of product comes out with each drop.

Hydrating and Frizz Treatments

Last, my two latest discoveries from Christophe Robin are his new Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk with Shea Butter and the Hydrating Melting Mask with Aloe Vera. Both are 100% worth the splurge. For a no-frizz product his Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk is a nice effective product that glides through damp hair easily for a nice blow out. I’m normally not a fan of milky hair products because they can feel too thick or sticky. This one absorbs into the hair nicely without any sticky feel and for me it’s like the cream/milk version of the Oribe spray. I also love that it’s fragrance free.

The Hydrating Melting Mask is also quite phenomenal to add moisture to my ends in a lightweight way. I’m a fan of all of his aloe vera products – they have a really nice lightweight scent that’s calming and soothing. Color treatments for my hair have made it more tangle-prone after it’s wet. This one makes the tangles go away and allows a comb or brush to glide through more easily after I rinse it out.

I’m really happy to have rediscovered the Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner. My next purchase will be the large pump sizes of both. For a good hair mask I’ve been so pleased with the Christophe Robin Hydrating Melting Mask. I think the Oribe Royal Blowout Spray will forever be a go-to for me, but I almost like the Christophe Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk a little better right now.

If you’ve been in the market for some new hair care I hope this roundup helped you! I’d love to hear about your hair care loves right now. Does your routine stay the same year round or now that we’ve transitioned to fall do you switch things up?

You can find all my haul picks at Nordstrom. If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out the Beauty Gift With Purchase page, it’s updated on a regular basis!

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

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Becca Nordstrom

Becca x Nordstrom Rose Glow Kit

August 2, 2019

The Becca Rose Glow Kit is a Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusive this year ($48 for the sale, $90 value). For some reason it didn’t pop up online or in stores until a few weeks after the sale start date but I bought one as soon as I saw it. It contains full sizes of Shimmering Skin Perfector in Spanish Rose Glow + Glow Gloss in Rose Quartz along with two mini complexion products of the Backlight Priming Filter (15 ml) and Hydra-Mist Set and Refresh Powder (2.5 g). You can buy the lip gloss and highlighter individually along with full sizes of the powder/primer. I think the Becca sets are a nice way to try product at a discounted price, especially with the minis, it’s nice to try before committing to the full size.

The Backlight Priming Filter is a luminous fluid highlighter I find a hybrid between a serum feel and cream. It has a lightweight texture and blends in seamlessly to the skin for a soft luminous glow. I used this a long time ago and went through a couple tubes. It’s a nice basic luminizer that works well under foundation. These days I’m more into the ones from Laura Mercier or Tatcha Silk Canvas.

The Hydra-Mist Set and Refresh Powder is a cooling powder that has a very lightweight feel. It has a similar effect to the Prescriptives Magic Powder from many years ago, minus the iridescent glow. I really love this powder and it was a staple when I used it regularly. These days there are so many powders available I rotate more between the Laura Mercier and Hourglass ones when I use loose powder, but after rediscovering this one I plan on adding it back into my routine. It’s compatible with Florida weather!

The Shimmering Skin Perfector in Spanish Rose Glow was a limited-edition rosy pink that flashes a hint of violet. It’s borderline duochrome on my skin, but only because it feels slightly cooler-toned on my warm olive skin. I find it pretty unique compared to my other pink highlighters. I usually opt for warmer pinks but this is a nice change from my usual champagne or warmer colors. On my skin it’s definitely highlighter material, I think it goes well with blushes like MAC Powder Blush Breath of Plum, Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in Pillow Talk or Sex on Fire. This was launched a while ago at select sites, you can find it right now individually at Becca and Beautylish.

Swatch comparisons next to Rose Quartz, Lilac Geode, Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powders in Opal, Tawny Glow and Afternoon Glow. The Becca pulls more blue/cool toned on my face while the ones from Bobbi Brown are more on the neutral side.

The Glow Gloss in Rose Quartz is a pale soft cool light pink. It has some shimmer and feels smooth with a moderate tacky sticky texture. It’s not the smoothest gloss I’ve tried, but at the same time it’s not super sticky. I reviewed all the Becca Glow Glosses here. Back when I was a shade or a shade and a half lighter this was easier for me to wear alone. Right now it’s best when paired with a slightly deeper liner or lipstick (ie Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk or MAC Boldly Bare).

Some swatch comparisons for the gloss in case you like the tone but find it too pale for your lips (like me right now). I’ve linked the reviews/swatches for the colors I have reviews on: Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fussy, By Terry Lip Expert in Baby Beige, Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Love Potion, Laura Mercier Bare Baby, Becca Glow Gloss in Rose Quartz and Opal, MAC Lipglass in Cultured and All Things Magical, Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip in Hippy Shake, Patrick TA Lip Gloss in She’s an Influencer, NARS Lip Gloss in Color Me

Look wearing the Becca Rose Glow Kit along with:

Foundation – Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Foundation in Medium 15* (review soon, if you’re normally my skin twin go with Light-Medium 14, I’m more tan right now and use 15)
Powder – Becca Hydra-Mist Set and Refresh
Blush – Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in Sex on Fire
Highlighter – Becca Spanish Rose Glow
Eyeshadow – NARS Mini Wanted* (review here)
Brow – Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
Mascara – L’Oreal Lash Paradise
Lips – Becca Glow Gloss in Rose Quartz

Overall I like the look of Spanish Rose Glow but I don’t think it’s a must-have for me. The rest are repeats I already have but I’m gifting them away to family. All that said I think Spanish Rose Glow is pretty unique from what I’ve seen compared to other colors. If you want something a little less cool-toned or neutral/warm opt for any of the Bobbi Brown Highlighting powders.

You can find the Becca Rose Glow Kit now at Nordstrom while supplies last for the Anniversary Sale. Have you tried this color yet? What did you think? If not what’s your go-to pink highlighter of the moment?

This will be the last Nordstrom Beauty Exclusive I review this year. I apologize but most of the items I hauled sold out really quickly before I was able to post swatches and a review. I am currently working on testing the Pat McGrath foundation, new Chanel sunscreen and will be swatching the new NARS lipsticks!

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