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Lips Sephora

Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Noble, Muneca, Ophelia, Ludwig, Bow N Arrow and Lolita

February 8, 2017

Kat Von D Beauty launched new nude shades of the popular Everlasting Liquid Lipstick ($20 each for 6.6 ml) and being the neutral lip lover I am, I jumped on the bandwagon the day they launched. Thanks to sneak peeks on social I was able to see swatches and photos before ordering so I knew there might be one shade that wouldn’t work for me but decided to give it a try anyways. What I ordered: Muneca, Ophelia and Ludwig. I already own Noble, Bow N Arrow and Lolita so I decided to swatch them all for you side by side. Lolita is their best selling shade I think virtually everyone has tried so it serves as a good baseline for comparisons.

Many of you have raved about this formula and I’ve tried it and thought it was good but none of the shades really worked all that well for me with the exception of Bow N Arrow. The colors are super edgy and trendy and the conservative ones were too dark for my taste. Two of the new nudes are just absolutely perfect in color.

Left to right:

Noble is a pale peach nude cream it runs pale on me and with the high contrast to my natural lip tone is prone to streaking, but with a bit layering smooths out
Muneca is a pale pink peach, this one is not a good look on me, it’s a color I suspect I could mix with a darker shade or liner, but alone it just clashes with my skintone too much, looks chalky, streaky and emphasizes lip lines
Ophelia is a perfect nude peach, it’s described as a nude chestnut, I don’t really see it as a chestnut kind of color because it has some pink and peach in it, it’s just so perfect
Ludwig is the best one for me in my opinion, it’s a nude fawn shade that doesn’t wash out the complexion and pulls a bit deeper than Ophelia making it more wearable for me
Bow N Arrow is a beige nude that pulls cool toned on me, it looks amazing on fair complexions, I like the color but sometimes it can make me look a little dead
Lolita is a deep rose with cool tones, I have a love hate feel for this, sometimes it’s too dark and cool, right now I’m lighter in skintone and I actually really like it for a more dramatic neutral

Lip swatches on bare lips:

I really love the look of Ophelia and Ludwig – they are similar but for me different enough to justify both. I do favor Ludwig because it’s deeper and easier for me to wear color-wise. Lasting power is typical with these – they literally stay put all day long without budging and a little goes a long way. With these I had a learning curve with application – if you apply too much it can give me the shriveled lip look as many matte lipsticks can. With these apply a thin layer. Sometimes I’ll add a bit of balm or clear gloss on top just to give it a bit of shine – I know that kinda defeats the purpose of a full coverage matte liquid lipstick, but I like what I like. I like that these are unscented and don’t dry out my lips.

You can find the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks and new shades at Sephora and Kat Von D Beauty for $20 each.

Do you have any favorites?

P.S. This may be old news but I just saw travel sizes of the Lock-It Powder and Setting Spray launched so I picked up one of each to try during my last Sephora visit. And I know it’s been a long time since I did my Lock-It concealer swatches but I will review it soon.

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Sephora

Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Nude Lip

January 23, 2017

Mini lip products are my weakness and for spring Sephora launched a new Sephora Favorites set called Give Me Some Nude Lip ($28 for a $88 value). It has six lip colors from different brands with a mix of four minis and two full sized products. To me the color theme seems to have some more mauves and neutral pinks rather than all nude shades but I really like all the colors.

In this set you get:

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Honeycomb (0.05 oz/1.55 g) which is a perfect creamy beige, it has full opaque creamy coverage, also reviewed in this post here
Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme in Slow Burn (0.05 oz/1.7 g) I have the liquid version reviewed here which I adore, I thought I had the lipstick version but after checking my stash I found I did not, this has full opaque creamy coverage
Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian (0.07 oz/1.55 g) is a sheer white beige gloss that plumps up the lips and has a slight tingly sensation, on me it doesn’t sting but I definitely feel the cooling effects and it has a noticeable tingle, this has a high shine and semi-thick texture but isn’t goopy, also swatched here
Too Faced Melted Matte Liquidified Matte Long Wear Lipstick in Queen B (0.08 oz/2.3 ml) is a soft light pink mauve, it’s a formula I had been curious about for a while so this set was the perfect way for me to try it, the color is wearable on me for a cool-toned shade and I liked that it didn’t dry to an overly matte finish
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 1993 Comfort Matte (0.11 oz/3.4 g) comes in a full size, it’s a brown shade with a very slight cool undertone, this did indeed feel comforting on the lips and even though it’s matte, it had a soft looking finish that didn’t feel or look dry, based on this I may give the lipsticks another go (from my first experience I found a different finish very dry)
Estee Edit The Barest Contour Lip Liner in In the Buff (0.009 oz/0.25 g) is a pretty nude rose, I have semi mixed feelings about this one, as a liner it’s medium-sheer so it won’t give full coverage, but it has a smooth texture that is easy to use and doesn’t tug if you line the edges of your lip, I love the color and the finish for a truly bare kind of liner that won’t look too done up, most of my liners though usually have more pigment, but I do think this is one I could get used to

Swatches

Lip Swatches

It can be easy to get suckered into value sets or palettes. I usually try to stick with a rule that if there are 2 shades I don’t think I’ll use then I’ll try to pass. Sets are easier for me to justify because I can always gift away portions to friends. In this case the $28 price point didn’t seem like it would break the bank and the set had items I was interested in trying. I already have Honeycomb and White Russian but didn’t mind having another one of each, especially since they are minis.

For those wondering if you need both the Marc Jacobs Beauty Slow Burn Le Marc Lip Creme Lipstick and Liquid, the colors are identical. The liquid is more opaque with a glossy sheen while the lipstick has a more matte/satin finish. I would say it’s a tough pick – right now I have a slight preference for the liquid version, but they are both excellent.

To me the only real “nude” is Bite Beauty Honeycomb but I know everyone has a different take on what they think the color should look like. Overall I think the set has a great mix of shades that are neutrals but they are all very different from each other.

If these colors are up your alley then I think this is a great buy – you’ll use up all the colors because of the size and it’s a great way to try six formulas and brands at an affordable price. If not then I’d say save the $ for something you think you’ll really love.

The Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Nude Lip can be found online and in stores at Sephora for $28. These sets are limited-edition and usually stick around for a season.

Have you tried any of these formulas yet? What did you think?

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Bronzer + Blush NARS Sephora

NARSissist Unfiltered Cheek Palettes I and II

December 21, 2016

NARS has two new cheek palettes called the NARSissist Unfiltered Cheek Palettes I and II ($59 each for 0.12 oz / 3.5g x6). These launched early at Sephora for as a Cyber Monday sneak preview for spring launches and I ordered them sight unseen. Update: back in stock now at Sephora but you can enter your email for notification for when they are back in stock. Right now you can find both online at NARS Cosmetics. They launch officially at other counters starting February 1st.

I’ve been a long time NARS fan and I love blush and highlighters. Both of these palettes have good-sized pans, pigment and texture is very good across all colors, and the color options in each are excellent. That being said NARS has released quite a few cheek palettes this year so if you already own other palettes or individual shades I suspect you will have a lot of similar colors or dupes and may want to shop your stash. Each palette has a mix of matte and shimmers shades for blush along with a few lighter colors that can be used as highlighters. These have a colorful tinted cover and come in a very sturdy mirrored compact.

Unfiltered I has deeper and darker tones with a bold vibe. The top three shades in the palette are easy for me to wear for my medium-toned olive skin (for reference I mix NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tints in Groenland and St. Moritz). The bottom three colors are really dark and bold on my skin and I have to use with a super light hand or blend like crazy otherwise they are too dark for my complexion. Colors include:

Watch Me a shimmering light gold
Me First a shimmering soft peach
Takeover a gorgeous bronze nude shimmer (can they please make this in a single?!)
Out There is a matte deep reddish brown
Chic is a matte plum
Exhibit A is a bright vibrant red

Unfiltered II has lighter cooler tones. Pigment is good but if you are tan to deep these may not show up on you as the colors pull on the lighter side. For me this palette is easier to wear for everyday. Colors are:

Conquest a matte baby pink that darkens after it sets
Undefeated looks like a medium babydoll pink in the pan, on my skin it applies more like a highlighter
Power Play is a medium matte cool pink
Hot Sand is a champagne shimmer highlighter (also reviewed here)
Fame is a satiny peach
Candid is a raspberry shimmer

For size comparison, here is a full size blush pan shown below from the Pro Palette Format, the NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette from Spring 2016, a Chanel Blush Brush and Charlotte Tilbury Powder Sculpt Brush.

Two quick looks:

Foundation is NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland and St. Moritz mixed
Powder is Laura Mercier Candleglow #2
Concealer is Laura Mercier Candleglow #1 and #2 mixed
Brows are the Diorshow Browstyler
Right Look = Unfiltered I Palette with the top three shades mixed in Watch Me, Me First and Takeover with Exhibit A on top, lips are Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color in Pipa (reviewed here and here)
Left look is Unfiltered II with Conquest + Power Play on the cheeks, Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Sensible on the Lips

One last look:

Bottom line both are solid performers. In previously released NARS palettes the texture can be hit or miss with some shades, but with both of the Unfiltered Cheek Palettes colors and highlighters have consistent quality, pigment and are easy to layer/blend. If you already splurged on other NARS palettes this year you may want to shop your stash. My personal favorite this year is still the NARSissist Dual Intensity Cheek Palette (you can still find it at Nordstrom reviewed and swatched in this post here). Still both of these new launches from NARS have a good mix of colors and finishes in a palette which make them convenient for travel.

Both are limited-edition. I ordered mine from Sephora but you can find them now at NARS Cosmetics. Launching everywhere else later this spring starting February.

Did you try these yet? What did you think?

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Lips Sephora

Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Bestie | Sephora Exclusive

December 20, 2016

For the holiday season I’ve partnered with Sephora to feature one of their exclusives the Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Bestie ($20 for 0.20 oz/6 ml) with my real life bestie Laura. She’s been a long-time friend and I literally do not know what I would do without her. We met during our college days in San Diego and were roommates one summer during a study abroad trip to Oxford. We became fast friends and even with all the changes in our lives, careers, relationships and moving, we’ve kept in touch for over a decade. No matter how busy we get, every year before Christmas we have a tradition of getting together for a girl’s day including a fun present exchange, lunch, shopping and girl talk. This past weekend the first stop for our girl’s day out was Alfred’s Tea Shop in Los Angeles. It’s the perfect place to hang with a bestie and I thought it fitting we showcase the Tarteist Quick Dry Lip Paint in Bestie there as well.

This particular color has special limited-edition packaging and is part of the Sephora Holiday Kiss Collection. The formula is quick-drying, full coverage, transfer proof liquid lipstick and stays put for an impressive amount of time which I find fitting for the color name. Friendships that stand the test of time are something I find hard to come by the older I get so I really value those who stick by you no matter what life throws your way.

For those not familiar with this product, the Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint is one of the latest lip launches from Tarte. It comes in 20 other shades but Bestie is the only one with special-edition packaging on the twist-off cap. It comes with a slightly beveled sponge tip applicator and is easy to apply with precision around the edges. Bestie is described as a “deep nude shade” and since the color “nude” pulls different on everyone depending on lip tone and complexion, I found it interesting to see that on me it pulls the tiniest bit mauve depending on the light while on my friend Laura it pulls more true to the tube which is a deep nude with a hint of warmth. I have more medium olive yellow tones while Laura is a bit lighter than me with more pinkish tones (she wears Armani Designer Lift in 4.5 while I’m usually a match to Luminous Silk in 6).

For formula reference, the Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint dries to a matte finish, has full coverage and is super opaque. You only need a tiny bit to cover the entire lip and once it sets it does not budge or transfer for hours. There’s no detectable scent with this formula. For a quick comparison the other lip formulas from Tarte:

Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paints have a more whipped velvety feel and on the lips it feels like it never really sets as it does not dry down in texture. The coverage is the same in the sense it covers the lip entirely and offers full rich color. For those who love the original, no need to worry, Tarte says they’ll keep the original “living on.”
Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints offer full coverage with high gloss shine. All three formulas offer rich color with full coverage.

Bottom line is the new formula = long lasting. Also if you found that the original line was limited for medium shades in the neutral territory, the new formula has a lot more options for those of use who are nude lip obsessed. For both me and Laura it lasted on the lips from early morning to late afternoon (even lasted through lunch, a few macarons and drinks). Also unlike many other liquid lipsticks – the Tarteist Quick Dry Matte formula did not dry out my lips and by the next day my lips were not peeling like they do with most others.

Both of us wearing Tarteist Quick Dry Lip Paint in Bestie:

Below you can see a swatch and a close up of the sponge tip applicator. It has a slight bevel in the center to mold to the curves of your lip, tip has the perfect shape that allows you to get the color right along the outer lines for precise application.

Bottom line is I highly recommend the formula of the Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint. I’ll be checking out the other colors when they launch in stores at Sephora – although I may order a couple more sight unseen as the color Bestie is one of the most perfect nudes I’ve ever tried. Do note that the one shown in this post is a Sephora Exclusive and also limited-edition. I think the bright pink and orange packaging on the cap is fun and festive. I hope you enjoyed this post! Have you tried this formula yet? What’s your favorite liquid lipstick of the moment? If you have any fun holiday traditions you share with your bestie let me know in the comments!

Photos by Jessica Alexander Photography.

Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post and thanks to all my readers who support the brands that help support this blog which allows me to do what I love.

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Sephora

Sephora Beauty Haul + Sephora VIB 20% Off Sale Info

November 11, 2016

The Beauty Look Book Sephora Sale Haul - Holiday 2016

I have my huge Sephora sale haul post for those who wanted to know what I bought during the VIB Rouge sale last week. For those who have VIB Member Status the 20% off Sephora Sale starts today 11/11 and runs through 11/14/2016 with code 20VIB if you’re shopping online at Sephora.com. You can use the code multiple times online and there are no product or brand exclusions. Up first are staples I stocked up on:

Left to right:

Glamglow Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser is something I bought in the 1 oz travel size, I have the full size but it’s nice to have a mini on hand for travel or mini trips, original review here in case you want more details
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish is one of the most gentle face scrubs I’ve used, in recent years I’ve stopped using most scrubs because I have very sensitive skin, this one is a good one!
Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant in Vanilla Coconut is pretty much the only brand of deodorant I use, I don’t sweat a lot so I can’t say how well this holds up for those who do sweat a lot, but it lasts all day, isn’t irritating, smells great and aluminum-free, sometimes on days I’m in a rush it’s all I wear and I get compliments from random strangers saying “you smell really good, what are you wearing?”
Sephora Collection The Cleanse Daily Brush Cleaner is one of my favorite quick-clean kind of sprays, it won’t clean brushes 100% but it’s great for powder shadow or blush brushes (anything powder like bronzer, highlighter etc.) – also available n a mini size
Make Up For Ever Mist and Fix is one of the best makeup setting sprays I’ve tried although I have to say that I have not tried that many, ones I have tried are just ok, but this one is great, it sets makeup, makes powder look less powdery without messing up your makeup, helps extend wear, has no scent, and is also availble in a mini size
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt has been featured here before and a single tub will last a long time, I use it 1x per week to every other week now and am getting close to finishing another one so I stocked up, review here and here in case you’re curious
Sephora Collection Soft Touch Cotton Pads are great basic cotton pads that won’t leave fibers in your eyes, I stocked up on 3 packs because apparently my husband has been using mine although he doesn’t use toner or need/use makeup remover so I’m not sure what he’s using them for, either way they are inexpensive even without the discount and don’t disintegrate
YSL L’Homme Deodorant is a restock for my husband and it’s one of his favorite deodorants of all time, he has sensitive under arms but this one works for him – I bought it because the Sephora sales rep told me it was “the best” he tried and that I would not regret buying it, he was right! My husband loves the smell and I love the smell, it lasts all day on him and is non-irritating, he wants me to tell you that he thinks it will make a good stocking stuffer for guys, lol

Next are some sets that I found interesting and ordered online because of overwhelmingly positive customer reviews. One is being returned.

Shown above:

Peter Thomas Roth masks have been raved about by so many I decided to finally try the Mask-A-Holic 5 Piece Kit ($75 for a $230 value), there is also the Mask Vault ($225 for a $352 value) but the 5 piece set seemed like a much better value/deal – if you’ve tried them let me know what you think or if you have favorites!
Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil 7 Piece Body Butter Collection is something I bought for stocking stuffers, I tried Gingerbread Vanilla and had a friend over and asked her to take a whiff to make sure it just wasn’t me, these are very strong in scent and very very sweet, if you like sweet or vanilla you’ll love these, me and my friend found them too strong so it’s going back, I don’t think my friends will like these
Elizabeth and James Find Your Nirvana Set has four 0.10 oz/ 3 mL Eau de Parfum mini rollerballs in Nirvana Black, Nirvana White, Nirvana Bourbon and Nirvana Rose, it’s a great way to try all four or keep one in a clutch
Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear Trans-Foam Clay Trio has a lot of positive reviews, they are clay masks that are supposed to transform into a foaming cleanser when you add water, I haven’t tried it yet but have high hopes!
Skin Inc. Prep + Peel Set is something I bought to try the peel described as “non-abrasive” – will keep you posted as I try these, I may wait until after Thanksgiving to try these just in case I have an allergic reaction to anything

Elizabeth and James launched two candles in Nirvana Black and Nirvana White, both are online only (at least for the moment). They also have a couple sets with the candle like the House of Nirvana Black Gift Set. I haven’t burned it yet but it smells amazing from just opening the box. The Nirvana Black is my favorite and I think having this as a home scent will be incredible. The Find Your Nirvana Set minis shown next to candle for scale.

The Beauty Look Book Sephora Sale Haul Elizabeth and James - Holiday 2016

Makeup picks where I went for minis and stocking stuffers:

The Beauty Look Book Sephora Sale Haul Minis - Holiday 2016

Shown above:

Buxom 6 Degrees Below Sexy Mini Full-On Lip Polish Collection is just too cute and I love the formula of these polishes, this one is a gift so I didn’t swatch them, I’m really tempted to get another one for myself even though I won’t be able to use the discount code
Too Faced Passport to Bronze Deluxe Bronzer and Flatbuki Brush Set is also to die for cute, the minis this year are soooo good! This one is only $25 and was requested by another friend for a stocking stuffer, I’ve never tried Too Faced Bronzers before but they always get rave reviews – if you’ve tried them let me know what you thought
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick Duos are back for the holiday with a metallic foiled top coat finish on one side and a cream on the other, post will be updated with swatches later today of these two
Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme in Slow Burn is a light neutral pink that the original launch was missing, will swatch and update this post later as well
Guerlain Pearly Pink Illuminator is new for holiday, I haven’t had a chance to try it yet but have high hopes that it will be as pretty as the meteorites!
Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating Pearls for Holiday 2016 were too pretty to pass up, these are sheer but have a bit more sparkle in the shimmer than some other ones I have, they smell like powdered violets

Last but not least, I did buy the Laura Mercier Iconics Holiday Box Set. I went back and forth debating whether to buy it as there are a number of other Advent Calendar/Box Beauty Sets that are tempting this year. At the $170 retail price the 12 items in the box average to about $14.17 per item. With the 20% off the set price is $136 which makes each item about $11.33 (not including sales tax). The presentation is gorgeous and even though the box appears to be cardboard it’s very well made. I said I would review this earlier but after looking at it and seeing as I have already tried 8 of the 12 items I am going to save this as a gift for a very special someone although I don’t want to say who because it’s supposed to be a surprise. Everything is individually wrapped but if you want to see real life photographs I can carefully open the box to photograph for this post. Here’s the stock image as a place holder for now.

Hope you enjoyed this haul post! To recap, if you have VIB Member Status you can save 20% off purchases starting today 11/11 and through 11/14/2016 at Sephora. Use code 20VIB at checkout if you’re shopping online at Sephora.com.

P.S. I am expecting my Tom Ford Winter Soleil Eye and Cheek Palettes to arrive today so I hope to photograph, test and swatch everything for my VIB readers before the sale ends even if it will be a first impressions kind of post.

Are you hauling anything during the sale this weekend? Or did you already shop last weekend for the VIB Rouge?

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Nordstrom Skincare

Body Care Staples for Soft and Smooth Skin

October 18, 2016

The Beauty Look Book - Body Care Routine for Soft Skin

As the weather has started to shift to cooler and dryer temperatures I’ve felt the need for some extra skincare boosts when it comes to body care. I have extremely sensitive skin so I usually stick to a few select brands for body lotions, scrubs and shower gels. There are some lines that cause an allergic reaction for me (scent or fragrance isn’t always the issue) so I always try to do a patch test first. Today I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share some tried-and-true body care staples I use to keep my skin smooth, itch-free, and hydrated.

I usually prefer light weight lotions or dry oils because I don’t like things that feel thick or heavy. Three I swear by include the L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body, Kate Somerville Dry Skin Saver, and L’Occitane Foot Cream. You can click on the icons in the images below to shop the products directly from Nordstrom.

My most repurchased lotion is the L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body because it’s truly gentle but still effective. I love the Shea Butter line from L’Occitane for the soft soothing scent it has that’s truly comforting. It absorbs into the skin well, leaves skin feeling soft, and I can wear this at night while I sleep without sticking to my sheets or blankets.

Kate Somerville previously had their Eczema Cream which has been renamed Dry Skin Saver. This has a slightly thicker texture compared to the L’Occitane Lotion but is unscented and helps give instant relief for dry skin. It’s suitable for face, body and lips. I gave one of these to my brother who is in his early 20’s, has dry skin that is probably more sensitive than mine and he really likes this one.

I tend to neglect my feet as I find that my 2x a month pedicures are usually enough to keep them looking decent. There are a number of foot creams I’ve tried but they usually feel greasy or smell horrible. I tried the L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream from a small travel size I received from a gift with purchase years ago and was immediately hooked because it’s not thick, it absorbs quickly, instantly soothes any dry spots and has a slight lavender oil scent which is really relaxing.

Next are a few bath products and scrubs. I almost could say that I’m one who lives for bubble baths. There are few things that I enjoy as much as a long bath. It really does help melt away stress and helps me relax.

Fresh Bath and Shower Gels are one of the few shower gels where the scent actually lasts bath the shower or bath. There are a wide range of options and my current favorite is the Fresh Life which is a bright sweet citrus kind of scent. It lathers up really well with a wash cloth or loofa and leaves the skin clean.

In one of my previous shower gel posts a few of you told me to try the Le Labo Santal 33 Shower Gel. I’m all for trying new luxury products but the $50 price tag prevented me from buying for a long time. I eventually did and was instantly hooked. This is a truly luxurious splurge – but I’m one who loves sandalwood scents that aren’t too woody or earthy and this one is just perfect. I’m on my third bottle and the price is indeed very steep so I will be using this sparingly.

For scrubs, my favorite body scrub formulas have all been discontinued (from Clinique, Estee Lauder, Kiehl’s). They’ve either brought new formulas out or discontinued the items completely which has made me very sad. The one favorite that I’ve found hasn’t changed is the Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub which leaves the skin revitalized and super smooth. It has an emollient base which makes it easy to move over areas of the body in the shower but doesn’t leave the skin with a greasy film.

Bath and shower oils are items I try every now and then. I know many of my readers love them because they leave the skin feeling super hydrated and soft. I’m still more of a shower gel kind of person but the ones from Jo Malone are very good. They come in a number of scent options and they have both bath oils and shower oil options. I bought the Blackberry and Bay Bath Oil and it’s amazing. It also comes in the smaller travel size and also the shower gel format.

One more shower gel that deserves a mention is the Diptyque Revitalizing Shower Gel for Body and Hair. This is probably my favorite one of all time but I go through it so quickly I’ve tried to find cheaper alternatives because it gets spendy. I have yet to find one I like as much as I like this one though.

Last but not least two items I think we usually associate with summer beauty routines but I still find suitable for year round use.

The Soleil de La Mer Face and Body Gradual Tan Lotion is the only one I’ve liked enough to use on a regular basis. The formula is gentle so it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction on my skin (many other formulas do). The scent is pleasant and doesn’t have that strong chemical odor you find in self tanners. It also doesn’t turn my skin orangey or yellow which is a huge plus. I see a tan start to develop by the second day of use. There’s no streaking or transfer to clothing. It’s expensive but worth the splurge.

I alternate between body oils and find I gravitate towards different ones depending on season. The Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil is one I found too heavy during the summer but I love it for right now. It has that signature Moroccanoil scent which I find natural, earthy and soothing all at the same time. I love that this comes with a spray dispenser – I think all body oils should come with one. It absorbs quickly into the skin. The scent has a warm and cozy feel which was probably why I didn’t really use it a lot over the summer time but now that it’s cooler, it’s perfect.

For those who like body care products I hope you found this post helpful in case you’re looking for items to soothe dry skin that are also suitable for sensitive skin (and noses). As always I’d love to hear your favorites! Many of you have asked for a roundup on face moisturizers and serums I use since I have sensitive skin. I’m in the process of testing a few brands but will have a post up in the next few weeks.

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

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Barneys New York GWP

Barneys Love Yourself Event – September 7 to 11

September 9, 2016

The Barneys Love Yourself Event is back again and runs through September 11th. With any $200 or more purchase online or in stores for beauty you get a choice of a women’s beauty or men’s grooming gift bag filled with minis. If you’re shopping online, no code is needed and once your cart hits the qualifying mark a pop up window should show up on your screen allowing you to pick the women’s or men’s bag. I’ve shopped this event for years and am excited to team up with Barneys to share the gift contents and some recommendations. I love that they’ve kept the bag size and design consistent over the years. I’ve collected quite a few as I’ve found them perfect for travel. Mine have been well loved so unfortunately I’ve had to throw away a few so I look forward to each season’s beauty event.

The gift contents for the women’s bag includes:

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum .1 fl oz/3 ml
Malin + Goetz Recovery Treatment Oil .06 fl oz/2 ml
Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Masque .5 fl oz/15 ml
The Organic Pharmacy Face Cream Double Rose Rejuvinating .24 fl oz/7 ml
Davines Oi All in One Milk 1.69 fl oz/50 ml
Sisleya Essential Skin Care Lotion .5 fl oz/15 ml
Chantecaille Fruit and Flower Acids Mask .17 fl oz/5 ml
Replica Lipstick On 1.2 ml
By Terry Baume de Rose 3g/.1 oz
Byredo Super Cedar 0.06 fl oz/2 ml
Diptyque 34 Eau de Toilette 0.06 fl oz/2 ml
Rodin Olio Lusso 0.08 fl oz/2.5 ml
Furterer 5 Sens .1 fl oz/3 ml
La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream .24 oz/7 ml
Mila Moursi Lifting Cream .1 fl oz/4 ml
Marvis Whitening Mint .5 oz/10 ml
Deborah Lippmann Physical Attraction Nail Polish .27 fl oz/8 ml
Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Pencil in Basic Black .69 g
3LAB Super Eye Treatment .1 oz/3 ml
Loewe 001 Man and Woman minis 2 ml each
Lilah B Palette Perfection Eye Quad sampler on card
Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl 1.3 g
Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer in Mood Light .10 fl oz/3 ml
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Conditioner 40 ml
Rituals White Lotus & Yi Yi Ren Foaming Shower Gel 1.6 fl oz/50 ml

A few of my favorite things:

Diptyque Eau de Toilette in L’Ombre Dans L’eau is the fragrance version of the Baies candle which is blackcurrant and rose. I have the mini travel size that was limited-edition shown but it’s a go-to for evenings and special occasions. I think it’s a perfect one for fall.
Diptyque Candle in Baies is my favorite candle right now, I recycle them to use as containers for brushes, glosses, pens and anything that will fit inside (this Mini Trio was my first Diptyque purchase ever).
By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon is the one shadow stick I would say is a must-have, it’s a shimmering bronzey taupe that is versatile for any occasion or look.
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick in Nude and Warm Ivory (c/o) are in my top three for foundation sticks (reviewed here).
NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight is a classic sheer light pink, since it’s sheer I use it to top lipsticks for a bit of a milky shine (I also adore the shade Chelsea Girls).
Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque is hands down one of the best purifying masks that is good for sensitive skin, it sucks out impurities and excess oil and is gentle enough for me to use 4x per week on bad skin weeks (I normally use it 1 to 2 x per week).
Byredo Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum is one of my favorite sweet scents, notes include bergamot, lemon, neroli, African marigold, bucchu, violet, jasmin petals, cyclamen, black amber, musk, vetiver and Moroccan cedarwood (I also own it in the Body Cream).
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Wonder Worker is something I just reviewed yesterday and several readers have also voiced their love for this, it’s a really good hair smoother and primer for heat treatment, it also smells amazing!
Tatcha Balanced Pore Perfecting Water Gel (c/o) has been a go-to all summer long for a lightweight moisturizer that’s good for sensitive skin, it also does indeed smooth out pores like the name implies and works well under all the foundations I have in rotation so I don’t need a primer.
Le Labo x Laundress Detergent in Rose 31 is not shown, but if you’re stocked on everything and can’t think of anything new to try, try the Le Labo Detergent. The price is jaw dropping almost to the point of being ridiculous, but I promise it’s worth the splurge.

Some new items I just started playing with:

NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Rigel (new for fall) is one of the prettiest soft rosey pinks that won’t give you the pink-eye look and is good for an all over wash of color.
NARS Dual Intensity Blush Palette is a blush lover’s dream come true, if you don’t like creams but want something that’s not a traditional powder, the Dual Intensity formula is good because it’s like a hybrid, pigment is excellent and easy to blend with a slightly creamy texture so it adheres really well to the face and stays put all day long.
La Mer The Cleansing Micellar Water is something I’m already 1/3 through, I picked this up a few months ago and really like it. It’s gentle, effective and doesn’t irritate my skin for a makeup remover. I don’t know that I’ll repurchase because it’s pricey but I have no complaints on this one. For a less expensive alternative that’s still really good, the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water has been a favorite for years. The Cleansing Spa Water Cloths are a must for travel or on-the-go.

I don’t have a full list for the men’s bag but you can see both below, Glowing is the women’s bag. Dashing is the men’s grooming bag.

There are also some brands that have step up gifts with purchase online and in store. I do believe stores have different options so if you’re near a store call them or stop by to check out the individual brand GWPs.

The event runs through September 11th online and in stores with any $200 or more purchase, while supplies last at Barneys New York. Based on a comparison of this year’s bag to previous ones it does seem like they’ve mixed it all up quite a bit this season. There are a lot of minis I’ve never seen sampled before. As a sucker for minis I’m excited about having a mini of the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream and By Terry Baume de Rose. I’m also eager to try the Rodin Face Oil.

Have you stopped by Barneys yet? If so let me know what you bought! I love reading about hauls.

Many thanks to Barneys for sponsoring this post. Items that were press samples indicated with a c/o, others purchased by me.

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