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Hauls Sephora

Sephora Haul Picks

August 23, 2019

Sephora Haul Picks Charlotte Tilbury, Fenty, Inkey

I did a couple Sephora hauls online and in store and have my haul picks rounded up! If you’re a ROUGE or VIB Beauty Insider there is still time to shop the Summer Bonus Event through 8/27:

  • Rouge Members will receive 20% off purchases with code SUMMERSAVE
  • VIB Members will receive 15% off with code SUMMERSAVE

Everything I bought for makeup, skin care and hair care listed below! Plus a new makeup bag set I bought (not from Sephora but a lot of you have asked about it so there’s a sneak peek in this post):

 

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Base and Face Products

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer New (Sand), Fenty Hydrating Foundation, Charlotte Tilbury Powder

I received a couple press samples of the newly revamped Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer but the color they sent Bisque 3W1 seemed a little too dark. It is a very sheer formula and I felt like I could definitely pull it off, but I bought Sand 3N1 in store which seems to be a better match. I’ll keep you posted as I test it some more. It is improved and I like it a lot better than the original (I didn’t really love the original formula).

I also bought two shades of the Fenty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation in 235 and 240. Even though sequentially 240 should be darker I felt like the warm tones of 235 make it look darker on my skin. I swatched both in store but the lighting isn’t always the best.

I stocked up on another of my holy grail pressed powder Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish in Shade 2. The little makeup bag is not from Sephora, but a recent buy. I’ve been getting requests to review the Cuyana Travel Set and compare it to The Daily Edited so I finally bought it. More thoughts to follow but I will say that I’m a little disappointed in the monogram font size. I opted for the small one but it seems too small, especially for the larger bag. The quality of the bag seems really good though.

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Makeup

Makeup Haul Picks Anastasia Dipbrow, Pat McGrath lip pencil, Fenty Highlighters Champagne

I bought the Anastasia Dipbrow Mini in Medium Brown as an impulse buy at checkout and can’t wait to try it out! The Pat McGrath Lip Pencil in Done Undone is a pencil I actually already had but forgot that I had it so now I have a backup. The Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks launched in new shades and I seriously wanted all of them but picked two Champagne Heist (warm champagne) and Pink Lemonade (shimmery pink). These have a dry texture/finish vs the emollient feel of a cream stick so in my experience they last longer on the skin.

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Skin/Hair

Skincare Haul Picks Murad, Fresh, Inkey and Olaplex

For skin/hair I limited myself to a few select picks. I’ve had the worst summer with mosquito bites and my legs are covered in mini bruise-like scars from them. They normally go away with time but the swelling I had from the allergic reaction this season damaged my skin. I bought the Murad Acne Control Post-Acne Spot Lightening Gel to see if it will help and am also going to try the Kate Somerville D-Scar Serum treatment to see if it works.

I’ve been wanting to try the Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence for a while but didn’t want to buy the full size. It now comes in a mini so I bought one to try.

The Inkey List is a newer skincare brand that I’ve been really interested in for the past months. Andrew and I have been so impressed with the Salicylic Acid Cleanser we have already gone through two bottles. I hauled another one and think the entire line is priced really well. It’s worth looking into! They have some really interesting sets.

Both Andrew and I really like the Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment for a Salicylic Acid spot treatment. My holy grail from MAC was discontinued and we spent months searching for a good alternative that wouldn’t turn my skin red. This has 2% Salicylic Acid with a few other ingredients to soothe and absorb oil.

For hair I bought the Olaplex Bonding Oil which I’m really excited to try. I have a wish-list a mile long for shampoos I want to stock up on or try, but I just splurged on some Oribe (not at Sephora). I might restock on some Kerastase but am still debating whether or not to.

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Shower Gels

Favorite Shower Gels Fresh

These days I’ve been loving the Dove Body Wash Mousse in Rose for a budget-friendly option but nothing really compares to Fresh Shower Gels. I’ve been obsessed with these for years and wish they still had some of the original scents like their milk ones. These days I love the Fresh Life and Brown Sugar for a clean feel that doesn’t dry out the skin. I stocked up!

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That wraps up my Sephora haul! I’m doing another giveaway and will start them up again. This one is open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. I’ll pick one winner through the widget below.

  • To enter you must be a newsletter subscriber and enter through at least one of the other steps in the widget.
  • Giveaway will run through 8/27/2019 11:45 PM EST. I’ll pick ONE winner within 72 hours after the giveaway ends. The selected winner will be e-mailed by me directly and MUST reply to confirm from the same e-mail that was used to enter the giveaway, NO EXCEPTIONS. If a response is not received within 24 hours another winner will be selected.
  • Prize includes: full size Eve Lom Cleanser, full size Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder + Puff, Laura Mercier Lip Powder Palette in Paris, full size Caviar Eye Stick in Cobblestone, full size Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara, mini Moroccanoil Treatment, mini Becca Backlight Priming Filter, mini Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder Shade 2, mini Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in Pillow Talk, mini Amika Soulfood Hair Mask.
  • Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sephora

Top Makeup Staples to Splurge on During the Sephora Summer Bonus Event

August 21, 2019

Best Luxury Makeup To Splurge On Sephora Sale

Sephora has surprised us with a Summer Bonus Event for Rouge and VIB Members! The event is happening now through 8/27 to reward top tier Beauty Insiders with a summer bonus discount both in store and online (you can shop and save multiple times throughout the event). If you’re not already a member I highly recommend signing up! As a member you get access to a lot of perks such as discounts, early access to new launches, promotions, free makeovers and more.

  • Rouge Members will receive 20% off purchases with code SUMMERSAVE
  • VIB Members will receive 15% off with code SUMMERSAVE

There are so many great beauty brands available at Sephora and this is a great time to try some new things that have on your wishlist or to stock up on tried-and-true staples. I’ve partnered with them to round up my Top 20 Makeup Staples I’ve used all summer long. Quick note that there are some exclusions: “Not valid on The Ordinary products . Clients are limited to the purchase of one Dyson item, three Drunk Elephant items, five Morphe items, and three Tatcha items per SKU per transaction.”

Face / Base

Best Foundations Laura Mercier and Armani

Top Makeup Bases: NARS, Laura Mercier and Armani

My top picks:

  • Armani Luminous Silk Foundation has been a go-to, the color range matches my skin tone the best as they have good golden/olive tones. This is the most naturally radiant looking foundation I’ve tried and it holds up well even in warm weather.
  • Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation is the longest-wearing semi-matte finish base I’ve tried. It holds up the best in humidity, covers and smoothes, has great coverage, but my skin can still breathe with this one
  • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is forever going to be my holy grail. I love that the colors have been expanded, so if you felt like you couldn’t find a match with the original launch, you might want to check out the colors again. They’ve added a lot of new shades to fill in the gaps. It’s also available in a mini (in all colors)
  • Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Filter Powder in Shade 2 is my holy grail blurring and setting powder in one. I love that it’s in a compact so it’s easy to carry in your purse for touch ups.

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Lip Favorites Right Now

Favorite Summer Lip Oils and Balms

NARS Lip Oil, Afterglow Balm, Fenty Gloss, Pat McGrath, Charlotte Tilbury

I could go on forever about my favorite lip products. There are so many great formulas and finishes – practically something for everyone whether you want gloss, lipstick, a liquid, crayon, shimmer, matte, sheer, etc. The top ones I’ve had in rotation:

  • NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm is a soft hydrating balm that gives the lips the perfect soft pink flush. It’s surpassed my love for the Dior Addict Lip Glow!
  • NARS Oil-Infused Lip Tints are also lovely for a beautiful lip oil. I think all the colors are really nice but I’m partial to Orgasm. It will swatch clear/sheer on your hand, but on the lips give it a minute and it will shift in color to a pretty pink. It’s what I’m wearing in this post!
  • Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow is what I’d call a universal soft rose. I think it’s a must for any skin tone. It has a cushiony non-sticky finish.
  • Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipsticks are the first products I splurged on from her line and it’s been love since the first swipe. These are ultra creamy and opaque. They aren’t weightless but the colors are so beautiful.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk is my go-to rose neutral. If you find it too brown/rose I’d recommend you try Super Cindy (more peach) instead.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk is the best everyday neutral that goes will all of my lip colors. I’ll pair this with the Fenty Glosses on top.

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Eye Favorites + Staples

Best Brow Pencil Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Best Eye Makeup Staples for the Sephora Sale

What I love right now:

  • NARS Wanted Mini Eyeshadow Palette has been surprisingly versatile for such a small palette! It has the perfect mix for a soft rosy neutral eye look.
  • Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks are still forever my favorites. I use these as eye bases for powder shadow. Rosegold and Copper are my most-used colors
  • Anastasia Brow Wiz is one of the best brow pencils I’ve ever tried. Since I got highlights last year I had to change my brow pencil color as my usual browns from Dior were a bit too dark. I alternate between Anastasia Medium Brown, Caramel and Taupe.
  • Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel is the best brow gel to fill in and define the brow. I still love the Hourglass option for a cheaper alternative but I feel like the Tom Ford one fills in the gaps better.
  • Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows count for 2 of my picks because I have two favorite colors: Ray and Burnish. I thought the original 5 were amazing but I’ve really been loving Burnish and Ray layered together.
  • Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen is the best liquid liner. It’s so expensive but out of all the ones I’ve tried I feel it’s truly worth the extra price because it doesn’t bleed, it dries fast when you apply, and it does not dry out as quickly as other brands do. I also love that it’s double sided with two sizes for the tips.

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Cheek Favorites

Natasha Denona Bloom and Blush Glow Palette

Natasha Denona Tan and Bronze Glow + Fenty Bronzer

Last but not least, the three cheek products I feel are extra special include:

  • Natasha Denona Bloom and Blush Glow has the prettiest mix of shades for the ultimate glow. It has a combination of powders and creams. I feel like this is such a unique palette!
  • Natasha Denona Tan and Bronze Glow is so good I’ve kept my backup so I won’t be without it once I use mine up. I think this has the most flattering mix of colors for highlight and bronzer for medium to medium dark skin.
  • Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer in Shady Biz is a really good natural matte bronzer. I love everything about from the packaging to formula. It has the perfect texture to blend easily and doesn’t darken on the skin once it sets.

Best Luxury Makeup Armani, Charlotte Tilbury, Laura Mercier and NARS

That wraps up my Top 20 Makeup Favorites! There are so many other things I also love but I tried to narrow down my recommendations list to the top 20.

The Sephora Summer Bonus Event is going to be for Rouge and VIB Members only this round, it runs through 8/27. I’m stocking up on some hair care and skin care favorites. I’ll probably buy a couple more of the Charlotte Tilbury pressed powders because I go through those frequently!

Shop the post:

 

 

Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post.

Becca Nordstrom

Becca x Nordstrom Rose Glow Kit

August 2, 2019

Becca Nordstrom Rose Glow Set

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.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter Mini

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!

Becca Hydra-Mist Set Refresh Powder Full vs Mini

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.

Becca Spanish Rose Glow Highlighter

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.

Becca Spanish Rose Glow Swatches

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).

Becca Glow Gloss Rose Quartz

Becca Spanish Rose Glow and Rose Quartz swatches

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

Lip Gloss swatches

Look wearing the Becca Rose Glow Kit along with:

Becca Rose Glow Kit Spanish Rose Glow and Rose Quartz Makeup Look

Becca Nordstrom Rose Glow Set

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!

Hauls Nordstrom

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Outfit + Shoe Haul

July 19, 2019

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Haul Picks Tory Burch, Paige, Madewell

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is finally open to the public today! I have a roundup of my fashion and shoe picks that I hauled with a few try-on photos and hits or misses. I kept my fashion picks edited since most of the offerings are for pre-fall and fall season. I absolutely love the leather and faux leather jackets but living in Florida it’s only cold enough a handful of days to wear. Contrary to popular belief we do get some cold days, in the winter it hits around the 40s or 50s. I suppose it’s all relative since in the same time it’s much much colder elsewhere! I found some cute camisoles, picked a few longer sleeve tops and some jeans.

Full haul linked below:

 

Try On 1: J.Crew and Madewell

Nordstrom Jcrew Tippi Sweater Multistripe in Navy

I found a cute sweater from the sale from J.Crew! It’s called the Tippi Sweater in Multi-stripe in Navy Sapphire. I opted for a size up from my normal size in Small for a more relaxed look. On the left I tried on the Madewell 9-Inch Raw Hem Ankle Skinny Jeans (also on sale) which I really loved, but own a pair almost identical so I passed on these. On the right I have my Agolde Parker Shorts (not on sale) and my fav summer Sam Edelman Sandals (true to size, also not part of sale).

Outfit Try On 2: Leith and Madewell

Nordstrom Leith Camisole and Madewell Denim

Above I have on the Leith Side Drape Camisole for something red and drapey from the sale. I could have gone with an XS or S, I’m wearing the Small above and it’s what I bought. Denim is Madewell Ripped 10-Inch High Waist Crop Skinny Jeans which ran a little too short for my taste. I opted for a different pair from Paige (see below).

Outfit 3: Rag and Bone

Nordstrom Rag and Bone Anniversary Sale Try On

I really love all things Rag and Bone! I bought a pair of jeans from the sale a couple years ago and even with regular wear and washing they held up really well and don’t stretch out with wear. Above I’m wearing the Astrid Polka Dot Camisole in XS and the Raw Hem Ankle Skinny Jeans. I bought both!

Outfit 4: Treasure and Bond x Rag and Madewell

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Treasure and Bond

I love blue and white stripe shirts but finding one with a loose weave and good drape that doesn’t consume my petite frame is hard. My favorite ones are from Joie (super spendy) but this Treasure and Bond Dobby Stripe Boyfriend Top is a nice cheaper dupe. I find the line runs big and often have to wear XXS (as shown above). Also paired with the Madewell jeans I tried on in Outfit 1.

Try On 5: Blank NYC

Nordstrom Blank NYC Record Breaker Collarless Faux Leather Moto

Someday I will be live in a city again where I can wear leather jackets. I thought this Blank NYC Record Breaker Collarless Faux Leather Moto Jacket was so cute. I love the crop style and color. This is in an XS. I thought it was a steal at $64.90 but since it would not get much wear here I decided to pass. I did seriously consider it for fall for upcoming travel though!

Try On 6: Paige and Frame

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Paige and Frame Denim

I think the Nordstrom sale has the best designer jeans available! I buy a pair from Paige every year. Out of all the brands I think it’s the best and most flattering. On the left is the Paige Hoxton Ripped High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans (true to size but relaxed fit, I bought these in 26). On the right are the Frame Le Skinny Chew Hem Ankle Jeans (size 27), I also decided to buy these and love the length.

Shoe Picks: Tory Burch and Adidas

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Shoe Haul

I bought four pairs of shoes from the sale. One I’m undecided on. I love Tory Burch sandals and of course fell in love with the Everly T-Strap Sandals. I found they ran true to size and bought my usual 6.5 size in the black and red. I wasn’t going to buy the red but both Andrew and the sale associate said it looked good and that it was still neutral enough to not be crazy bright. Most of my shoes are black, tan or some kind of neutral! These are bold for me.

I thought the Everly Sandal was a good moderate heel sandal at 2.5 inches and bought them in Tan/Gold. I found my regular size 6.5 fit well but I’m undecided about these. I feel like my Ugg Kari Sandals (worn here) are a lot more comfortable and easier to wear. Granted the styles are completely different, but for a nice tan sandal I love the Uggs a lot more.

Adidas are new to me as I’ve been more into Nike and APL. I bought the Swift Run Sneakers (they run large, I sized down 2 sizes from my normal sneaker size) and think they’re really nice! Andrew got matching ones in the men’s and we both are really impressed with how stable they are for weight training. I am looking for other non-sale colors to haul this weekend.

Try on 7: Sunglasses

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Burberry Sunglasses

I usually find at least one pair of sunglasses from the sale that I love. This season all the Kate Spade offerings were really similar to ones I already own. I loved these Burberry Check 57MM Polarized Gradient ones thinking they’d be a good dupe for the Tom Ford Lauren ones I’ve been eyeing for months. I did think they were super cute but they felt a little loose in the fit (I tried on several pairs to make sure). I decided to save for the Tom Ford ones or opt for another pair of Ray Bans.

Last but not least I did try on a bunch of workout fitness tops and bottoms. I found the vast majority of the tops either weren’t fitted well or ran super long. I did buy the Zella Zip Go To Hoodie because it’s lightweight and super soft! They didn’t have my size in store, it runs big, I bought both the nude and grey in XXS and love them. I had high hopes to find some good deals for fitness but no matter where I look, I always go to Lululemon for quality staples.

I hope you enjoyed this haul post! More beauty reviews to follow soon from the sale. I did place another online haul and bought a new Barefoot Dreams blanket which I think is the best thing I bought! Did you haul Anything yet?

 

Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit + Easy Smokey Eye Palette

July 17, 2019

Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives

Charlotte Tilbury has two limited-edition sets for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I posted quick swatches here but have a more detailed look at both today. There’s a Pillow Talk Full Size Lip Kit ($60) and an Easy Smokey Eye Palette Mini ($55 for 6 shades). Both are beautiful and I highly recommend them!

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Trio and Easy Smokey Eye Palette

Above wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Easy Smokey Eye Palette, Pillow Talk Lip Kit (all 3 layered), Pillow Talk Cheek to Chic Blush, Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in Shade 7, camisole from Leith

Pillow Talk Lip Kit

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit Nordstrom

The Pillow Talk Lip Kit has three full size colors of her Lip Cheat Lip Liner, Matte Revolution Lipstick and a Lip Lustre Lip Gloss all in her cult classic shade Pillow Talk. I’ve been a huge fan of her lip pencil and lipstick! I’ve reviewed and featured them many times before and wear both often. Anytime I gift something to a close friend who’s new to luxury beauty or wants a good everyday lip, I give them the lipstick and gloss. It’s universally flattering in my opinion and although it will look different on different skin tones it’s easy to wear for a good everyday rose pink.

The Lip Lustre Gloss is currently only part of this set, I’m hoping it will launch separately eventually. The color matches the lipstick and liner in undertone, but on my skin it pulls about 1/2 to 1 shade lighter compared to the lipstick. It’s still a good neutral that doesn’t wash me out, but since I’m tan now with the summer sun, it’s a lighter nude pink. Coverage of this gloss is opaque full coverage with a high shine finish, yet does not feel thick. It has a slightly tacky feel like many glosses do, but it’s not the stickiest I’ve tried. If you can’t do traditional gloss the smoothest cushiony shines are still going to be the ones from Marc Jacobs or Pat McGrath.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit Nordstrom

I was 100% certain I’d find a dupe, I could not. Swatches of some neutrals I was able to dig out of my boxes while I still unpack below including:

Swatch comparisons neutral lip glosses

Easy Smokey Eye Palette

Charlotte Tilbury Easy Smokey Eye Palette Mini Nordstrom Review

The Easy Smokey Eye Palette has six colors in warm rose tones. There’s a mix of matte and shimmer and the pigment is phenomenal. It has an ivory shimmer, rose gold shimmer, matte rose, shimmery rose copper, matte warm terracotta, soft matte warm brown.

Charlotte Tilbury Easy Smokey Eye Palette Mini Nordstrom Review

I compared it to the Holiday 2018 Stars in Your Eyes here and I don’t think you need the one from Nordstrom if you already own the holiday version. They are not identical but are similar.

Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom x6 Eye vs Holiday 2018 Palette

A few of you asked how this compares to her Pillow Talk Eyeshadow Quad reviewed here. I think I’m one of the few who did not like her Pillow Talk quad – the colors give me a horrible pink-eye look, it’s worse in real life! I was truly surprised to find the Nordstrom Easy Smokey Eye Palette works because it pulls warmer, but I think it’s the variation in undertone that makes it easier to wear. I love mini 6 pan palettes like this one because it has enough for a full eye look while still being compact and easy to store or travel with. Pigment of the Nordstrom version is a million times better too.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk vs Nordstrom Eye Palette

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Trio and Easy Smokey Eye Palette

Overall I think both are beautiful sets to own. Quality is great, colors are easy to wear, both are solid winners. You can find them available as part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Beauty Exclusives offerings while they last. If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out the Gift With Purchases page.

 

Have you tried either yet? What did you think?

Nordstrom Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford x Nordstrom Eye and Mini Lip Set 2019

July 15, 2019

Tom Ford x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Set 2019 White Suede | The Beauty Look Book

This year I picked up one of the Tom Ford x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives in the Eye & Mini Lip Set ($88 on sale, $126 value) which has the White Suede Eye Color Quad and two miniature Lip Colors in Paper Doll and Autoerotique. There is also variation with the same quad but with two full size eye products + mini lip called the Eye and Lip Set ($155 on sale). I opted for the less expensive version with the neutral/lighter lips.

The Eye & Mini Lip Set comes in a silver box, there’s a separator/insert inside to keep everything in place:

Tom Ford x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Set 2019 White Suede Set | The Beauty Look Book

Eye Color Quad White Suede

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad White Suede | The Beauty Look Book

The Tom Ford White Suede Eye Color Quad from Nordstrom is slightly different from the one launched last year from Neiman Marcus, but both have a very similar vibe and effect. I don’t think you need both. I swatched them side by side here. The Nordstrom White Suede has a glittery pale pink, a sandy beige shimmer, a warm bronze satin shimmer and a blue-dove-grey silvery color. Layered together I get a soft smokey eye. I really like the look and effect. It’s neutral cool which is a nice alternative to the super warm eye trend that’s been going on for a while.

Lasting power is excellent and true to Tom Ford style. Colors pull with medium pigment on me, I’ve found in the Tom Ford line that other quads have stronger more intense pigment (like these three reviewed here). White Suede colors do layer nicely though.

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad White Suede | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad White Suede | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad White Suede | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Eye Color Quad White Suede swatch | The Beauty Look Book

Reposting my swatches of the White Suede Neimans (white compact) vs White Suede Nordstrom (brown compact):

Tom Ford White Suede Neimans vs Nordstrom swatches

Mini Lip Colors

Tom Ford Nordstrom Mini Lip Paper Doll Autoerotique | The Beauty Look Book

For the lip colors you will get two minis in Paper Doll (baby pink) and Autoerotique (pink-nude peach). Both are creams with full creamy coverage and a soft shine finish. They’re ultra small and bound to be used up at 0.03 oz/1 g each. I found both to have a nice high quality texture: smooth, creamy, non-drying and long lasting.

Tom Ford Nordstrom Mini Lip Paper Doll Autoerotique swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Nordstrom Mini Lip Paper Doll Autoerotique swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Nordstrom Mini Lip Paper Doll Autoerotique swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Full look wearing:

Tom Ford x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Set

Overall love. I’ve bought the Tom Ford x Nordstrom Anniversary sets for the past three years and think they’re all phenomenal. If you already own White Suede from last year in the white compact I don’t think you need this one unless you’re a die-hard fan. I do think though if you’re lighter in skin tone compared to me I think you’ll see a more noticeable difference on your eyes. There are a few other Tom Ford sets available for the sale this year. I’ve linked them below in case you’re interested. Everything is limited-edition for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, while they last.

I’m really happy with my purchase and I highly recommend.

 

More swatches and review of my haul picks coming tomorrow!

Hauls Nordstrom

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Beauty Exclusives Haul

July 12, 2019

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives 2019 Haul Picks | The Beauty Look Book

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 is officially live online and in stores for all Nordstrom Cardholders! Early Access starts today and runs through the 18th and then opens up to the public.

  • July 12 – 18 Early Access for Nordstrom Cardmembers
  • July 19 – August 4 Anniversary Sale for Public

I shopped the Icon Pre-Shop in stores and found some really cute things! I’ll be sharing the full haul over the next couple of days. Today’s post is a look at my Beauty Exclusives haul picks, swatches, first impressions along with top recommendations. This is just a preliminary post since I just hauled these items, most of them are new makeup colors/palettes. Full review to follow on each group I’ve hauled.

Top Recommendations for Everyone

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has a lot of new products curated specifically for the sale. There are tons of palettes, limited-edition sets, special value sizes etc. I love scoping out the new launches but every year they have certain items that are on sale repeatedly that I 100% think are worth checking out:

  • Simplehuman Round Sensor Mirror Pro ($150 sale, after sale $250) – is one of the best beauty tools I own, even Andrew and my brother each have their own and love them. It has 5x or 10x magnification with the best lighting system I’ve tried. One of mine is the original back from 2014 and it still works. The model has been upgraded and improved over the years and now you can control the lighting.
  • Sensor Mirror Pro Wide View ($250 sale, $400 after sale) – another splurge-worthy item, this one is more ideal for those who want larger panels to see your entire face. It has a small magnetic 10x mirror attachment, but the panels themselves do not have magnification detail like the round one.
  • Barefoot Dreams anything! I splurged on the CozyChic Throw and CozyChic Ribbed Throw at the full price a few holidays ago. It has made the “things Sabrina cannot live without” list. It’s the softest most plush blanket and even though it’s meant to be a throw, I sleep with it every night for the best deepest kind of sleep. It’s what I imagine sleeping in a cloud would be like.
  • Diptyque Miniature 5 Piece Candle Set ($48 for 5 x 1.23 oz candles) is the best way to try Diptyque if you don’t have a store or counter near you. I promise you won’t be disappointed but if you find it hard to commit to the full size without being able to smell them, these are the best way to try.
  • Le Labo Hinoki Hand Soap ($38 for the jumbo size) is Andrew’s favorite scent for the home. We’ve bought this in shower gel form several times as well and are obsessed. It’s so unique and very soothing. If it were made into candle form I think we’d burn it all the time.
  • Also don’t forget to check their Beauty Gifts With Purchase page!

 

My Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Haul

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives 2019

What I hauled and added to my shelfie! Full review, more swatches and thoughts to follow as I’m able to test but I wanted to get info up as quickly as I could with first impressions since my Instagram DMs have been flooded with tons of questions!

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Easy Smoky Eye Palette ($55 on sale) has six shades of neutral warm tones with excellent pigment. I love the size, colors and formula but this has a very similar vibe to last year’s Stars In Your Eyes Palette (scroll down for quick swatch comparisons).

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Full Size Lip Kit ($60 on sale, $78 value) has one of my favorite lip shades in liner and lipstick (I don’t mind having backups because I’ve used up the liner several times). It has the added matching Lip Gloss which I absolutely adore.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Charlotte Tilbury

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Charlotte Tilbury

Comparison swatch of the Nordstrom Palette (6 shades) to Holiday 2018 Stars In Your Eyes (swatched a portion of the similar shades, 7 of the 12 shades in the palette I found most similar):

Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom x6 Eye vs Holiday 2018 Palette

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Eye Quad and Mini Lip Set ($88 on sale) has a new White Suede Eyeshadow Quad and miniature lipsticks in Paper Doll (light pink) and Autoerotique (perfect nude on me). The quad has a beautiful mix of light and medium-deep for a really interesting soft smokey eye with some sparkle. So many of you wanted to know if this Nordstrom White Suede in the same as the White Suede that was launched last year in the white compact at Neiman Marcus. It’s similar but not identical.

Nordstrom Anniversary 2019 Tom Ford Set White Suede Quad

Nordstrom Anniversary 2019 Tom Ford Set White Suede Quad, Paper Doll + Autoerotique Lipstick swatches

Top is the Neiman Marcus launch in the limited-edition white compact, bottom is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale version in the traditional mahogany packaging.

Tom Ford White Suede Neimans vs Nordstrom swatches

Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Tres Chic Face Palette ($52 on sale) has six shades for blush, highlight and bronzer. The colors have a soft wash to them in what appear to be universally flattering tones. It looked so stunning in store it took my breath away! I need to play with this more. My first impressions are that it’s very soft and extremely powdery. It felt ultra sheer, almost a little too sheer. It promises 10 hour wear and it did last all day without budging or darkening. I’m undecided but my first impressions are that I might just be too dark/tan for this one. I swatched with a super heavy hand below and it’s still very soft looking.

Nordstrom Anniversary 2019 Laura Mercier Tres Chic Palette

Nordstrom Anniversary 2019 Laura Mercier Tres Chic Palette swatches

Dior

Dior Addicted to Glow Lip Set Light ($70 on sale, $93 value) has a full size Addict Lip Glow in Pink, Addict Lacquer Stick in Bliss (pale peachy beige) and a miniature Lip Maximizer. I bought this primarily for the exclusive lip shade which turns out to look ultra pale on me. I can make it work with a liner. I love the Addict Lacquer Stick formula but only a few shades work for me. If I could do this one over I’d pass on this set, but I don’t put store testers anywhere near my lips!

Nordstrom Dior Addict Light Set Anniversary 2019

Nordstrom Dior Addict Light Set Anniversary 2019

NARS

I hauled almost all the NARS x Nordstrom offerings but have only had a chance to try one of them. Full detailed review on the collection to follow. I had my eye on the Afterglow Lip Balm Duo which has minis of Orgasm (shifts to a healthy pink) and new Hidden Pleasure (changes to a rose mauve). I really hope they make Hidden Pleasure in the full size! I also bought the Motu Tane Face Palette ($42, pink variation), Hot Tropic Lip Gloss Set ($39, seems sheer based on hand swatching), and the Naked Paradise Satin Lip Pencil Set ($39, I have high hopes for these colors!).

A quick peek at 2 of the lip sets (more photos, swatches, etc. coming soon).

NARS x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019

Nordstrom Anniversary 2019 NARS Hot Tropic and Afterglow Duo

Other haul picks

I bought all the MAC lip sets, they’re usually solid performers and I love the minis because they get used up all the way quickly. The neutrals usually go really fast so if you have your eye on any I recommend buying them sooner than later. A few other picks from Diptyque, Le Labo, Kiehl’s, Oribe and Bobbi Brown linked below.

 

 

Shopping in-store beauty highlights:

Nordstrom Anniversary sale beauty exclusives haul

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 beauty exclusives MAC Palettes

 

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 beauty exclusives Jo Malone

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 beauty exclusives Moroccanoil Oribe

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 beauty exclusives Bobbi Brown

 

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 beauty exclusives Diptyque

 

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 beauty exclusives Tom Ford

Shoe/clothing/home haul to follow but in case you want to know now what I bought, you can scroll through the widget below. I’m a huge fan of Tory Burch so I picked up some of the shoes for the sale! What did you end up hauling? Do you have anything on your wishlist/radar?

 

 

Per tradition I’m hosting a giveaway! Three winners will be randomly selected via the Rafflecopter widget below to each win a $100 eGift Card to Nordstrom US. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. To enter simply complete at least 1 of the tasks in the widget below. All entries will be subject to verification. Giveaway entries will be collected through July 16th, 11:45 PM EST. I’ll pick winners within 24 hours after giveaway ends and email them directly. A confirmation e-mail response must be received within 48 hours to claim prize. Not sponsored or affiliated.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway