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Sephora Haul Picks

August 28, 2018

Sephora Haul Picks Glow Recipe, IGK, Fenty Beauty, Glamglow | The Beauty Look Book

I have a roundup of my Sephora haul picks from the Beauty Insider Appreciation Event for Rouge. I ended up purchasing a little bit from every category for makeup, skincare and hair care. I still have a few things sitting in my online cart but since I did a massive haul I will probably not be purchasing anymore items for the event. I just hauled everything on Friday so I haven’t had time to test everything. Notes and first impressions on the items I have been able to test.

Makeup Base Picks

Makeup Base Haul beautyblender, It Cosmetics, Natasha Denona

There were a few new bases I wanted to try out. Foundation shopping kinda stresses me out with the matching process. Some oxidize to different levels and in store lighting isn’t the best, so it can be a little tricky. There are a few other formulas I’ve been meaning to try but testers weren’t available so I’m going to have to guess sight unseen. Ones I did pick up:

  • beautyblender Bounce Liquid Whip Long Wear Foundation in 3.50 and 3.60, they only had a tester of 3.50 and while it looked good in store it did apply a little on the light side. I bought 3.60 and tried it at home which is a perfect match. I am getting tan though with regular outdoor runs. The next shades up look like a big jump so I may have to mix when I get darker. First impressions are really good, I like the coverage, it lasts all day, it’s not irritating and didn’t oxidize too much. A more detailed review to follow.
  • It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream Oil-Free Matte in Medium Tan – I’ve yet to try any of the It Cosmetics bases even though they’re extremely popular! Medium looked too light in store but after swatching Medium Tan at home I think it may be too dark. I will report back after I give it a test.
  • Natasha Denona Transformatte Pore Vanishing Matte Foundation samples in 27WY, 30W and 31W. These oxidized like crazy in store on my hand, but when I tried this on the face at home they did not. I still need to do more testing, but this is a full coverage true matte. I think my best match is 31W which is more yellow/olive.
  • Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer (mini, beauty insider perk) – excited to try this!

Swatches below. Also included MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 and NC35 for reference.

Foundation Swatches MAC NC30, NC35 vs Beautyblender 3.5 and 3.6 and It Cosmetics Medium Tan

Also not a haul item but since some of you have asked, I wanted to share some swatches of the new First Aid Beauty Concealer. It’s available in 7 shades. I received press samples of this formula but haven’t had a chance to test this out. I will keep you posted. I think my shade match is going to be #3.

First AId Beauty Hello Fab Bendy Avocado Concealer

First Aid Beauty Hello Fab Bendy Avocado Concealer swatches

Skincare Picks

Skincare Haul Picks Glow Recipe, Glamglow, PTR

I have mostly skincare in my online shopping cart, so many things are either online only or not available in my local store. It’s tempting to stock up but for now I picked up:

 

Hair Care Picks

Hair Care Haul Ouai Scalp Scrub, IGK Keratin Spray

I’m in need of a curling iron and had the T3 1.25″ Iron on my list. Part of me wants to wait until holiday to see if there are any sets. Part of me wants to take advantage of the discount and buy it now. Decisions, decisions! I hauled 3 items:

Eye Makeup Picks

I already reviewed and swatched the five Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows a few days ago. I wore Smoke yesterday and loved it! In addition I bought the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette and Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer. I didn’t have time to swatch or test the palette or primer but I did give them a quick look in store and the shadows are super soft and pigmented!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam, Hourglass Scattered Light, Fenty Pro Primer

Lipstick Haul

I’m always a sucker for a good lip. I actually bought the Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipsticks before but they were lost in all our moving last year. I repurchased S1ngle and Spanked, both are ultra smooth with full coverage and aren’t dry looking. I need to try more of these! I also picked up two of the Bite Beauty French Press Lip Glosses in Salted Caramel and Dirty Chai. Both are perfect neutrals. I tried Salted Caramel and think it’s the perfect pink beige. I also bought one of the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses in Estrella which is so sparkly I don’t recommend it. It’s not chunky, it’s very smooth but the shimmer is a little too much (it was an impulse buy). Last but not least the sparkles got the best of me and I picked up the Pat McGrath Lip Fetish in Gold Astral to try.

Lipstick Haul Fenty, Bite, ABH, Pat McGrath Labs

Swatches Fenty S1ngle, Spanked, Bite Salted Caramel and Dirty Chai, Anastasia Estrella and Pat McGrath Gold Astral

Sephora Haul Picks Ouai, Glow Recipe, IGK, Bite Beauty, Glamglow | The Beauty Look Book

That wraps up my Sephora haul! If there are any items you want reviewed first let me know in the comments and I’ll try to prioritize those!

Have you bought anything yet for the Sephora Beauty Insider Appreciation Event? What did you haul? You can use the Sephora Beauty Insider Appreciate promo code once online and unlimited times in store. Valid in both US and Canada, dates for each tier:

  • Rouge Members: 20% off with code YESROUGE, valid 8/24 through 9/3
  • VIB Members: 15% off with code YESVIB, valid 8/30 through 9/3
  • Beauty Insiders: 10% off with code YESINSIDER, valid 8/30 through 9/3

First Aid Beauty concealers provided for review. Other items purchased by me.

 

20 Comments
Sephora

Sephora Beauty Insider Appreciation Event Details, Dates + Recommendations

August 24, 2018

Best Beauty Buys from Sephora | Beauty Insider Event Recommendations

Sephora is having a special event to celebrate their Beauty Insider Program revamp and they’re offering discount savings for all of their Beauty Insider Members! The event officially starts today for Rouge Members. Other tiers will also be able to shop the event as well. Details, dates and codes for tiers below. Note for this event you can redeem your offer with promo code once online, but you can use it in stores an unlimited amount of times. Valid in both US and Canada:

  • Rouge Members: 20% off with code YESROUGE, valid 8/24 through 9/3
  • VIB Members: 15% off with code YESVIB, valid 8/30 through 9/3
  • Beauty Insiders: 10% off with code YESINSIDER, valid 8/30 through 9/3

I have a list of my recommendations today and I’ll be posting a haul in the upcoming days. This came at the perfect time as there are quite a few things I’ve been wanting to try and my list has been growing! Shopping-wise I’m going to do one visit in store, but I have a feeling most of my haul is going to be an online order. I really like that Sephora lists when things are online only – makes shopping easier so I have to do less searching. For my recommendations I’ve split it into three categories for Skincare, Makeup and then Hair/Fragrance. Any press samples listed are indicated with a *.

Skincare

Best in Skincare Kate Somerville, Omorovicza, La Mer, Kopari | The Beauty Look Book

My favorites lately, I feel like skincare is the best to save on for this event. This is a rather lengthy list. If you have any questions let me know in the comments! I’m going to be stocking up on Fresh because I go through their skin and body care so quickly:

Makeup

Best Makeup Finds Sephora from Bobbi Brown, Sunday Riley, Laura Mercier and Hourglass | The Beauty Look Book

Sephora has so many good makeup items, it was difficult to narrow down my top picks, but these are what made the cut. I didn’t include any highlighters because I feel at this point EVERYONE should own a good highlighter by now. I do think the NARS Change of Sheen Highlighters, Natasha Denona Glow Powders and Hourglass Vanish Flash sticks are standouts. My recs for makeup:

Hair/Fragrance/Misc.

Favorite Hair Products and Fragrance Christophe Robin, Moroccanoil, IGK and Jo Malone

What I’ve been loving lately:

Quick note on the Sephora disclaimer: Offer valid for Rouge members on merchandise purchases made from 12:01am PT on 8/24/18 through 11:59pm PT on 9/3/18 and for both VIB and Insider members from 12:01am PT on 8/30/18 through 11:59pm PT on 9/3/18 in Sephora US stores, Sephora Canada stores, Sephora inside JCPenney stores, and online. Offer not valid on jcp.com. Online offer valid for one-time use only; in-store offer may be redeemed multiple times. Not valid on purchases of customizable sets online or through Sephora’s customer service. Clients are limited to the purchase of three Drunk Elephant items per SKU per transaction and three Tatcha items per SKU per transaction. Not valid on Dyson, previous purchases, purchases of gift cards, FLASH, PLAY! by Sephora, gift wrapping, packaging, taxes, or shipping & handling charges. Return of discounted merchandise will be for the price actually paid. Sephora is not responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen promotion codes or barcodes. Promotion offer has no cash value and may not be altered, sold, or transferred. Relevant Beauty Insider status must be attained prior to redemption. No minimum purchase required. Due to heavy demand, Sephora FLASH delivery times cannot be guaranteed for this promotion. Not valid on orders shipping outside the US or Canada. Cannot be used in conjunction with other promotion codes. Sephora and JCPenney employees are not eligible for this offer. Offer is subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora at its sole discretion at any time.

Beauty Look Book Sephora Shelfie | The Beauty Look Book

Event detail recap, code valid online at Sephora for one use, in-store multiple uses:

  • Rouge Members: 20% off with code YESROUGE, valid 8/24 through 9/3
  • VIB Members: 15% off with code YESVIB, valid 8/30 through 9/3
  • Beauty Insiders: 10% off with code YESINSIDER, valid 8/30 through 9/3

To celebrate even more I’m hosting a giveaway (not sponsored or affiliated). I’m giving away three $100 eGift Cards to Sephora. Open internationally – simply enter through the widget below. I’m running this through 8/29 and will pick a winner the following day. Winners are announce via this widget and also e-mailed by me. You must respond to my e-mail within 24 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Note for this giveaway the first five entry options are mandatory.  You must complete ALL five entry steps. Then there are more options for bonus entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

144 Comments
Bobbi Brown Nordstrom

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye + Cheek Set and Nude Lip Color Trio Review

August 4, 2018

Bobbi Brown x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Sets Deluxe Eye Cheek Set and Nude Lip Color Trio Review

I have some quick first impressions on two of Bobbi Brown x Nordstrom Anniversary Sale sets. I picked up the Deluxe Eye + Cheek Set ($98) and Nude Lip Color Trio ($84). Both offer classic everyday colors for the conservative beauty lover. The sale ends on August 5th so I wanted to swatch these for you quickly in case they were on your radar.

The Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye + Cheek Set has an impressive offering for eyes and cheeks. It’s priced at $98 but they value it at $380. I’m not exactly sure how they came up with that value but it is still a good deal since you get 12 eyeshadows and four cheek products in a sturdy mirrored compact. There is a small eyeshadow brush I think is pretty worthless (to be frank) but to be fair when is the last time we got a decent brush in a palette anyways? It’s not a deal breaker for me, it usually isn’t plus I prefer my full size individual brushes anyways.

Bobbi Brown x Nordstrom Sale Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set Review

The eyeshadows run neutral to cool toned. Textures and finishes range from matte, to shimmer to sparkle but none have glittery chunks. There are some colors that are in the individual line you can buy full sizes of but there are also some shades that appear to be exclusive to the palette.

Bobbi Brown x Nordstrom Sale Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set - eyeshadows

Bobbi Brown x Nordstrom Sale Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set - eyeshadow swatches

There are two matte blushes in Nectar (peach pink) and Desert Pink (cool muted dusty mauve) which are medium in tone. They can darken a little on oily skin but they are soft and easy to blend. There’s a Medium Bronzing Powder which is a matte as well – it’s a cool-toned brown. They’ve added a pretty Golden Pink highlighting powder which is a light golden pink frost. This is my favorite color in the entire palette.

Bobbi Brown x Nordstrom Sale Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set - bronzers and cheeks

Bobbi Brown x Nordstrom Sale Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set - bronzers and cheeks

Quality-wise everything applied smoothly and flawlessly. It definitely has a fall vibe for conservative everyday wear. Cheek colors have to be applied with a soft hand for me since they do darken a little but mixing the highlighter in helps soften the color. Eye-color wise I prefer the MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Palette but the option from Bobbi Brown will give you more options.

For the lips I picked up the Nude Lip Color Trio which to be seems to have a 90’s-ish vibe but slightly softer. It has Beige Lip Pencil (pale beige), Bare Crushed Lip Color (medium warm beige pink) and Sandy Beige Lip Gloss (sheer gold champagne shimmer). The Lip Pencil and Crushed Lip Color are items you can purchase individually. The Lip Gloss is exclusive to the set but the name seems familiar to me – it may have been launched in the past. Colors are fairly standard basics but when layered together it gives the perfect everyday nude lip. It’s been a while since I layered liner + lipstick + gloss but I love the look it gives.

Bobbi Brown Nude Lip Color Trio Review

Bobbi Brown Beige Lip Pencil, Bare Crushed Lip Color and Sandy Beige Lip Gloss swatches

It comes in a cute flat zip pouch, one side is clear and I’m the biggest sucker for clear pouches:

Bobbi Brown Beige Lip Pencil, Bare Crushed Lip Color and Sandy Beige Lip Gloss swatches

The Bobbi Brown Beige Lip Pencil, Bare Crushed Lip Color and Sandy Beige swatches on bare lips below. I did two sets of swatches where colors were layered. The lipstick alone is very warm on me, but when you layer it on top of the pencil or add the gloss it’s toned down a lot. The MAC Nude Lip Trio I reviewed yesterday has more neutral options.

Bobbi Brown Beige Lip Pencil, Bare Crushed Lip Color and Sandy Beige Lip Gloss swatches

Overall classic staples that have excellent quality and wear. I personally don’t think either set is a must-have for me since I already own a lot of other colors that are similar. I really like the look of the lip colors layered but Bare Crushed Lip Color pulls very warm on my complexion and it’s a shade that will definitely need to be layered for me. For the eyeshadows I adore these kinds of shades but from the Nordstrom Sale Beauty Exclusives this year I found the MAC options better suited for my taste and skin tone. That being said I do think the Eye and Cheek set is as complete as it gets for giving you everything you need for a day to night look, it’s sturdy, has a nice large mirror and will last you a long time.

With fall beauty trickling out now and holiday launches in the future there are bound to be more palette and set options. So depending on what you already own or what you’re looking for you may want to wait and see what launches later in the year.

You can find both the Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set and Nude Lip Color Trio available exclusively at Nordstrom. Both are limited-edition. There are a few more options available that I didn’t pick up. You might want to browse them if you love her line.

Don’t forget to check the Gift With Purchase options if you’re shopping online. On multiple occasions I shopped in store I was told they didn’t have them available.

Did you check out the Bobbi Brown sets? What did you think? If you passed what are your favorite Bobbi Brown items? I used to be the biggest die hard fan of her line!

 

4 Comments
MAC Nordstrom

MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set, Lip Trio Nude and Lip Trio Pink Review

August 3, 2018

MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set, Lip Trio Nude and Lip Trio Pink Review

MAC always has some of the best beauty sets for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. With how much has sold out this year I’m thrilled that most of the MAC sets are still in stock online. I did stop by my local Nordstrom yesterday and a lot of the sets were sold out in store. I’d recommend checking online if you’re interested in any of the Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives. You can always use their Buy Online Pick Up In Store feature too. I use it to search for each item (on beauty, clothes and accessories) to see if my local store has items in stock. All you have to do is enter in a ZIP code and there are mile / distance options you can input. Saves a lot of time and trips in case they don’t have it in store! I hauled 3 of the MAC Nordstrom sets. Each one is priced at an incredible value for what you get:

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale ends August 5th so there are still a few more days to shop the sale before prices go up. In the past they sometimes keep the beauty sets at the sale price until they sell out. I’m working as quickly as I can to also swatch some of the Bobbi Brown sets as some of you have asked which neutral sets are the best.

MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set

The MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set has one of the prettiest neutral-cool colors I’ve seen in a long time. It’s like it’s a different variation on the Urban Decay Naked 2 which I love but get bored of sometimes. As one who is a little meh about all the warm orange tone palettes that have flooded the market, I’m beyond thrilled about this one. There is also a MAC Nordy Girl Matte Set which I was really tempted by but I opted for the Metallic version and am 100% happy about it.

MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set Review | The Beauty Look Book

This palette has eight eyeshadows. Two are matte and the rest are gorgeous shimmers in soft silvers, muted rose shimmer, tan shimmer, grey and ash pearls. The pigment on every single color is perfect and they layer together nicely. The cheek color is a pale light pink with gold pearl. On me it’s a highlighter that gives a barely there diffused look. It highlights and brightens my skin tone without adding too much frost and I think it’s perfect. With palettes I rarely love all the colors and with this one EVERY SINGLE COLOR is perfect for me. It also comes with a full size Technakohl Liner in Graphblack (pure black) and In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara in Black.

MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set Review | The Beauty Look Book

MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set Review | The Beauty Look Book

Above wearing:

 

Lip Trio Nude + Pink

There are two lip sets that I picked up from the sale: Lip Trio Nude and Lip Trio Pink. Both sets have 2 full-size lipsticks and 1 full-size creamy lip glass color. I always pick up the nude set each year as they have different limited-edition exclusive colors you can’t find in their regular line. This year all the colors in these 2 sets are new.

MAC Lip Trio Nude and Lip Trio Pink

MAC Lip Trio Nude and Lip Trio Pink swatches

The Lip Trio Nude has two full-size lipsticks in Pretty Natural (a perfect nude pink peach, cremesheen finish) and Love Drought (a metallic rose champagne). It also has a full-size lipglass in Body-Con (creamy nude beige). I love the colors in this set although the metallic color is very metallic. For me it’s best toned down with the lipgloss or any clear lip gloss. Texture and finish is creamy and just as good as individual full size MAC items.

MAC Lip Trio Nude Nordstrom: Pretty Natural, Love Drought, Body-Con review

MAC Lip Trio Nude Nordstrom: Pretty Natural, Love Drought, Body-Con review and swatches

The Lip Trio Pink has cooler-toned lip colors. It contains two full-size lipsticks in Petalhead (matte creamy rose) and Pink Addict (perfect metallic pink rose). It also has a full-size lipglass in Sweet as Pie (cool-toned pale rose pink). Alone the lipglass is a little too cool-toned. I prefer Cultured Lipglass or All Things Magical for a cool-pink.

MAC Lip Trio Pink Nordstrom: Sweet as Pie, Pink Addict, Petalhead review

MAC Lip Trio Pink Nordstrom: Sweet as Pie, Pink Addict, Petalhead swatches

I’m really happy with my haul picks. I will say if you haven’t seen or bought any of the sets yet, I’d recommend you head to your Nordstrom soon as the sale ends and so many of the sets have sold out. By comparison the Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye and Cheek Set looks similar in tone to the MAC Nordy Girl Metallic. I’m swatching and playing with it today to let you know by tomorrow first impressions but I looked at it in store and the quality looked really good. For neutral lip comparisons, I feel the MAC ones are more trendy. The Bobbi Brown Nude Lip Color Trio has more beige colors with a more everyday vibe. Also the Laura Mercier Nude Lip Collection has great options with a more neutral-pink vibe. I’m going to try and have that one swatched by Sunday but note the Laura Mercier set has existing colors you can buy anytime if you’re trying to decide on one.

MAC Nordy Girl Metallic Set, Lip Trio Nude and Lip Trio Pink Review

Bottom line lots to love at an affordable price. I find the colors excellent and wearable but think they would suit a wide range of ages. I think they’re nice for beginners too.

You can find the MAC Nordy Girl Metallic, Lip Trio Nude and Lip Trio Pink at Nordstrom as part of their Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives this year.

 

8 Comments
Nordstrom Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Iris Bronze Eye and Lip Set Review + Swatches

July 24, 2018

Tom Ford Iris Bronze Eye and Lip Set Nordstrom review + swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford launched a new eyeshadow quad with two mini lipsticks in the Iris Bronze Eye and Lip Set ($87) for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It sold out the very first day of early access and I have been checking the site daily to see if it has been restocked. No luck yet but I am hopeful it will be. The set features Iris Bronze Eyeshadow Quad which is new and two miniature lipsticks in Casablanca and Spiced Honey. Since it has sold out I’ve tried to dupe both the eye and lip colors and have found some!

Tom Ford Iris Bronze Eye and Lip Set Nordstrom review + swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Iris Bronze has the same smooth and creamy texture that all of the regular Eyeshadow Quads do. The colors are velvety, blend nicely and layer perfectly on the lids. This quad has a pale cream shimmer, a shimmering light tan champagne, soft warm bronze satin and a deep wine with a tiny hint of sparkle.

Tom Ford iris Bronze Eyeshadow Quad Review | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Iris Bronze Eye and Lip Set Nordstrom review + swatches | The Beauty Look Book

In search for dupes:

Tom Ford Iris Bronze, Cocoa Mirage, Honeymoon, Private Shadow swatch comparisons

The colors are practically identical to his Private Shadow Singles in Hush, Body Double, Iris Bronze and Videotape. I own all of these except for Iris Bronze (but I have seen it in person). There are very slight differences that I can see when I look super close but on screen and from a distance the colors look like dupes. I’ve added Fire Sign and Warm Leatherette as I have those colors. In case you missed it you can see my Tom Ford Private Shadow swatches here. I also felt Iris Bronze had a similar vibe to the MAC x Patrick Starrr Glam AF Eyeshadow Quad from holiday, swatching side by side proves it’s kinda similar but still distinctly different.

Tom Ford Iris Bronze, MAC x Patrick Starrr Glam AF, Tom Ford Hush, Body Double, Warm Leatherette, Fire Sign and Videotape swatches

In addition I’ve added Eyeshadow Quads in Cocoa Mirage and Honeymoon swatched for comparison. Similar undertone but colors and finishes are different.

Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quads Iris Bronze, Cocoa Mirage and Honeymoon swatches | The Beauty Look Book

The Lip Colors in Spiced Honey and Casablanca in this set are available in full-size individual form. The minis in the set are sample size so they’re a lot smaller than even the Lips and Boys. You will most likely get more than a few uses but they will be used up fairly fast. They’re a nice way to try the formula in case you’ve been holding out on splurging as the individuals are very pricey. Spiced Honey is a pale nude pink but on my lips it washes out my face and clashes with my olive skintone. It’s workable if I add a deeper liner like Edward Bess Natural or MAC Boldly Bare. For a nude I really prefer colors like Bad Lieutenant or Autoerotique (both swatched + reviewed here) or the Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Bradley (review here). Casablanca is a classic medium-deep rose that darkens on my lips. I prefer Indian Rose as it’s a tad bit softer and for me easier to wear for everyday (reviewed in last year’s set here).

Tom Ford Miniature Lip Color Spiced Honey and Casablanca

The Tom Ford Lip Colors are full coverage creamy lipsticks. They have a semi-thick finish but aren’t heavy feeling. There is a slight soft vanilla scent but it’s subtle and fades after a few minutes. Lasting power of the lip color itself is very good.

Tom Ford Lip Color Spiced Honey swatch

Tom Ford Lip Color Casablanca swatch

Swatch comparisons: Nude Vanille, Spiced Honey, Sable Smoke, Pink Dusk, Bad Lieutenant, First Time, Autoerotique, Pussycat, Casablanca and Indian Rose

Tom Ford Lip Color swatches Nude Vanille, Spiced Honey, Sable Smoke, Pink Dusk, Bad Lieutenant, First Time, Autoerotique, Pussycat, Casablanca and Indian Rose

Overall I give the set a thumbs up even if the lip colors need a tiny bit of adjustment for me. Sometimes it’s nice to have minis and I don’t always mind mixing or layering lip colors. The eyeshadow quad is really beautiful – I prefer it to the singles for convenience, I would have preferred that Tom Ford launched new eyeshadow quads or at least a system similar to the MAC Pro Palettes where you can create your own palette with singles. I am hoping that Nordstrom will restock the Tom Ford set, my mind is still blown that it sold out the first day! Or at the very least I hope new quads will be launched in the fall. If you own the singles, I don’t think you need the quad but I am really happy to own it.

The Tom Ford Iris Bronze Eye and Lip set is exclusive to Nordstrom. You can still find the individual Private Shadows and Lip Colors at all Tom Ford counters. Available online at Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Beautylish and Tom Ford Beauty.

Were you able to purchase the set for early access? If so what did you think?

P.S. There are a few new lip products out including a Lip Lock Priming Balm and 20 shades of Lip Sculptors. I will be reviewing the balm and a few of the lip pencils soon! Also the Glamglow x Becca We Know Glow Duo finally launched online!!

 

16 Comments
Nordstrom Skincare

Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives Sets for Skin, Hair + Home

July 20, 2018

Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives Sets | The Beauty Look Book

Today is the day the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens for everyone! It runs through August 5th. I have a few more sale swatches and reviews coming up in the next few days but today I have a roundup of the best beauty sets I hauled for the skin, body, hair and home. There are a lot of great value sets and deals for beauty and as the ultimate beauty junkie I could not be more thrilled. For quick reference, you can see my initial haul post here. Also reviewed so far are the NARS Endless Summer Collection, Charlotte Tilbury sets and the Sisley All Eyes on Sisley Set. Several of the items I bought already sold out, I’m keeping my fingers crossed they will be restocked! I hauled quite a few of the sets this year:

A look at each set plus thoughts and first impressions. For the hair I always look forward to Moroccanoil sets. They often have jumbo sizes which are hard to find individually for me and I love when they come with a pump. I’m actually pretty stocked on shampoo and conditioner right now so I bought this year’s Moroccanoil The Ultimate Hydration Collection for my mother-in-law to try out. It’s $74 for a $104 value and contains a 16.9 oz Hydrating Shampoo, 16.9 Hydrating Conditioner, 0.69 oz Body Souffle and 0.84 Hair Oil Treatment.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Moroccanoil The Ultimate Hydration Collection

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For the body, I had to buy the Le Labo Body and Hair Travel Set for Andrew so he can have one for travel. Both of us love the Hinoki Shower Gel. It has a really potent unique scent that lingers after the shower. We’ve gone through several of the full size which I need to repurchase again. This particular set has four 2.5 oz sizes of the Shampoo, Conditioner, Shower Gel and Body Lotion.

Nordstrom Le Labo Body & Hair Travel Set

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The Malin + Goetz Jumbo Rum Body Wash came at a perfect time for me. I discovered it during our stay in Miami and fell in love with it. It has a gentle feel to it but has a really delicious dark rum scent. I usually gravitate towards body cleansers that have a little more strength in terms of cleansing. This one is gentle and works best if I lather with a wash cloth. I’m obsessed with the scent though and it does leave the skin soft. It’s 32 oz and comes with a pump. Win win for me.

Nordstrom Malin + Goezt Jumbo Rum Body Wash

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The beautyblender blend.cleanse.carry Set has two pink beautyblenders, a mini solid cleanser and a carrying case. I was really excited about it but have to admit I was hoping it would be a hard storage case instead of a soft silicone case. This was my fault though as I did not read the online description and in store I didn’t take the time to touch it. The price cannot be beat though and I’m excited to put the case to the test.

Nordstrom Beautyblender blend.cleanse.carry Set

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Glamglow is always a go-to for me. I was tempted to stock up for myself but decided to stick with what I have and repurchase items I use up later. I did buy the Glamglow The Clear Skin Set for my brother. It’s a $96 value but for the sale it’s priced at $59 for a full size SUPERCLEANSE Clearing Cream to Foam Cleanser, SUPERMUD Clearing Mask (the best in my opinion) and a mini Matte Glow Moisturizer. I also bought the Glamglow x Becca We Know Glow Duo which just launched online. I have not had a chance to try this yet but did hand swatch the powder which applies like a warm gold color on the skin. I hope this comes out in a full size eventually. The pink gravity mud appears to be the same as the current silver version in the purple tube, just a different color.

Nordstrom Glamglow Anniversary Sale Sets

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The Diptyque Floral Candle & Eau de Toilette Set is a beautiful set with three mini candles in Baies, Roses and Tubereuse. It has the three matching spritzer perfumes in mini sizes which are perfect for me to carry around in my purse. I had been eyeing Do Son for months now although it’s more of a fall scent to me so I’m trying to wait before buying. The mini will get me by for now. It also has Eau Rose and L’Ombre Dans L’eau (also better for fall).

Nordstrom x Diptyque Floral Candle & Eau de Toilette Set

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Last but not least is the Jo Malone Travel Candle Collection which has three 2.1 oz travel candles of Lime Basil and Mandarin, English Pear and Freesia and Peony and Blush Suede. This was an impulse buy for me. The only one I truly love is the Lime Basil scent so I might end up exchanging this for a couple of the full size candles or one of their hand washes instead.

Nordstrom Jo Malone Travel Candle Collection

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Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives Sets | The Beauty Look Book

That wraps up my beauty sets hauls for the skin, hair and home! I will have upcoming reviews on the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, three MAC Sets, YSL Volupté Tint-in-Balm Kiss Set and the Tom Ford Iris Bronze Set (I’ve found some dupes).

To recap the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale runs through August 5th. Beauty Exclusives include a lot of new colors, sets and jumbo sizes at value prices. There are a lot of Beauty Gift With Purchases running for various brands. Some are online only.

As another thank you and my way of giving back, I’m hosting another giveaway! So many of you were really excited when I did this before so I’m going to repeat it. One reader is going to receive a Louis Vuitton Cosmetic Case (PM size). Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Simply enter by completing at least one of the tasks in the widget below. The selected winner will be able to pick their choice of print of Monogram, Damier Ebene or Damier Azur. Giveaway is going to run through end of July 28th. Winner will be selected and announced on this post in the widget below. They will be contacted by me via e-mail and must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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NARS Nordstrom

NARS Endless Summer Collection for Nordstrom

July 18, 2018

NARS Endless Summer Collection for Nordstrom

The NARS Endless Summer Collection is a new limited-edition launch exclusively at Nordstrom for their Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives this year. The focus is on sets with four options to choose from. NARS describes the collection as having a smoldering summer vibe. I feel the colors pull more neutral or fall-like but there are still some pretty options that are wearable regardless of season. I have all the colors swatched for you today along with some thoughts. I love seeing what options and deals are available during the sale, but sets can be touch and go if you don’t love all the colors. Also there are frequently repeats. I do think they are great for beauty newbies, especially since they often give you a price break on the sets. If you’ve been a long-time NARS lover or collector you might want to shop your stash or wait for fall. The four items from the NARS Endless Summer Collection include:

The Hot Escape Eye and Cheek Palette has four eyeshadows, one highlighting blush and one regular powder blush. The overall look and feel of the palette runs neutral-cool with sheer to medium finish. If you’re one who wants to wear a minimal eye makeup look with a neutral rose blush this is a great one.

NARS Endless Sumer Hot Escape Palette Review

Colors in the palette:

  • Aurora Eyeshadow is a matte soft cream
  • Yucatan Eyeshadow is a soft grey taupe satin
  • Endless Eyeshadow is a sparkling tan (LOVE this color)
  • Next Wave is a satiny cool grey
  • Sunstreak Highlighting Powder is a sheer ultra pale pink shimmer
  • Hot Pursuit is a dusty rose

While the colors are on the soft side you can definitely build if you use a dense or synthetic brush. Overall lasting power was pretty good. Everything stayed put from morning until late afternoon without budging. I do recommend using a creamy base for the eyeshadows. On dry lids the color will be ultra sheer.

NARS Endless Sumer Hot Escape Palette Review via The Beauty Look Book

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The Sunseeker Lip and Light Duo has miniatures of their Highlighting Powder in Fort de France and Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita. The powder is small like eyeshadow size and the lip pencil is nice for a trial size. Both are classics in the NARS line and I would actually recommend buying the full size versions – I think both colors are going to work on a wide range of skin tones. Fort de France is my favorite highlighting powder of the new shades launched (reviewed here). The Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is smooth and glides on with a very soft velvety finish. It’s a classic warm rose color.

NARS Sunseeker Lip and Light Duo - Fort de France and Dolce Vita | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Sunseeker Lip and Light Duo - Fort de France and Dolce Vita | The Beauty Look Book

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Then there are two Liquid Lip Sets, each with four colors. Each set has two Velvet Lip Glides which offer natural to medium coverage in a soft velvet finish gloss. Lasting power is medium – there will be color transfer if your lips touch something and you will have to reapply throughout the day. There are also two Powermatte Lip Pigments which are thin liquid lipsticks that dry to a full matte finish. These stay put all day once you apply, no budging at all! The Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1 has neutrals/nudes:

  • Velvet Lip Glide in Stripped is a pale beige cream, this is an existing shade
  • Velvet Lip Glide in Cozumel is a pink beige cream, this is a new limited-edition color (love this)
  • Powermatte Lip Pigment in Antigua is a neutral-cool beige rose, also new and limited-edition
  • Powermatte Lip Pigment in American Woman, this is an existing shade and to me one of the most perfect everyday neutrals

NARS Endless Summer Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1 | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Endless Summer Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1 swatches | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Endless Summer Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1 swatches | The Beauty Look Book

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The Undressed Liquid Lip Set 2 has rose/pinks:

  • Velvet Lip Glide in Bound which is the perfect neutral-cool rose with a hint of mauve
  • Velvet Lip Glide in Cartagena a bright orchid pink, new shade
  • Powermatte Lip Pigment in Save the Queen is the prettiest cool mauve color on my arm, but when it dries on my lips it turns very blue
  • Powermatte Lip Pigment in Haze is a deeper mauve rose

NARS Endless Summer Undressed Liquid Lip Set 2 swatches | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Endless Summer Undressed Liquid Lip Set 2 swatches | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Endless Summer Undressed Liquid Lip Set 2 swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Quality and color-wise these sets are just as good as the individuals. Since there is a mix of existing colors within the sets you might want to pass if you already own some of them. Or if you have friends you can split the sets with that might be another option if you had your eye on certain colors anyways. To me the best colors are Bound and American Woman which you can buy individually. I do have a soft spot for neutrals and nudes, I really liked the Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1. Even though I already own 2 of the colors I still love the 2 new ones Cozumel and Antigua. I’ve set aside the duplicates for friends and swatched the colors I already had in my stash. That being said I do want to mention if you’re a nude lip lover you might also want to look into the NARSissist Wanted Velvet Lip Glide Set in Nude Scene which is an Ulta Exclusive. It has six miniature nudes.

Overall some nice options if you end up liking all the colors or have been wanting to try NARS products I think this is a great time to start. The prices are really good, especially for the lip sets considering each lip color full size is $26, so 4 of them individually would cost $104 and the sale set price is only $49.

You can find the Endless Summer Collection now at Nordstrom for their Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives. Everything is limited-edition. Did you pick up anything from the sale yet or are you shopping it this week? More swatches and reviews of my haul picks to follow soon!

NARS Endless Summer collection provided courtesy of NARS for review.

 

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