I jumped on the Latte Makeup trend as I’ve been seeing it all over my feed and I love it! I don’t know that I would call it a new trend as it has a neutral everyday almost 90s vibe, but I’m loving everyone’s take. I also love that many are picking lip colors that have a bit more pink which gives it more fresh and modern take (vs the 90s deep rose brown).
I did a quick demo on Reels which I’ll link below. I’m wearing so many long-time favorites!
Also wanted to round up a few other favorite in the neutral category since they’re my everyday favorites.
Complexion Favorites
For the complexion I’ve really been loving the Too Faced Born This Way Healthy Glow Tint for my summer base. It has SPF 30, natural medium coverage, evens out the skin and blurs. Holds up really well even in this humid weather!
I still really love the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops and Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter for complexion enhancers. They give the skin a really nice natural glow without being too heavy or looking overdone. Even after trying to find dupes, I still have to say these two are holy grail material.
The best brightening under eye concealer is the YSL Touche Eclat.
Cheeks/Contour
For the cheeks I love a good neutral blush with some peach tones. Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion Ginger and Fresco are probably the best neutral blushes I own. They are neutral with brown undertones but have warmth so they work really well on olive/golden skin.
Victoria Beckham Beauty Cheeky Posh cream blush sticks are really nice too. I love the shade Playground for a neutral tan. The new VBB Contour Sticks are really nice too for eyes or cheeks. I picked up Marble and love it. It has a neutral undertone so it’s not too grey/cool and not too warm.
For a very natural cream bronzer/contour my top three these days are the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream (I use 390 and 392) in the new travel sizes. The formula of the minis is different than the original. The travel sized variations this year have a slightly matte finish with a blurring effect on the skin.
Tower 28 Sculptino in Getty is another great cream bronzer that does not have shimmer. And the Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick is the softest creamy stick I’ve tried that isn’t too dewy in finish.
Last but not least neutral lips – my favorite! I love nearly every variation of a neutral lip. These are some of my favorites right now. In my Reel I paired the Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 in Terracotta with Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Faux Real.
Other favorites include the Kosas Wet Lip Gloss Oils (Revealed is the perfect pink nude, but they have lots of great neutrals). I also think the MAC At First Lipglass Set from the Nordstrom Sale has great neutrals this year, I wish they made Rose Recollection permanent.
Shop the Post
That wraps up my Latte Makeup roundup. Would love to hear about your favorite neutrals you have in rotation right now!
Happy Monday! I’m doing a Q&A from the questions you submitted last week. It was fun reading through all the questions! I’ve picked 10 questions to answer. It has been a couple of years since I last did this type of post, perhaps I should start it up again? Let me know!
1) Have you and Andrew considered relocating to Miami since you visit so much? Would you go back to live in SoCal?
I feel like many of you may have read my mind on this as this is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive! Andrew and I are moving to Miami or San Diego hopefully this year. We’ve actually been traveling to Miami so frequently for this reason. We’ve been looking for a place since December. Currently narrowing down the specific area to move to – there are so many options, each with different pros and cons for what we are looking for. San Diego has also been an option we’ve talked about to be closer to my family and our friends back home.
Currently exploring our options with both cities and we will keep you posted!
2) Favorite current luxury handbag? Best crossbody bag? Best raffia bag? Next splurge?
Oooh this is a tough one! I rotate frequently but would say my top 3 are the Bottega Mini Loop, Loewe Mini Puzzle and Celine Pico Belt Bag (review here). All of these are cross body. Each style is also carried in larger options with straps if super minis aren’t your style.
I think Loewe raffia bags are my favorite. I’ve gotten a lot of use out of the Shell Basket (small). For a larger beach tote I’m in love with the Anagram Basket in Ochre (medium).
What’s my next purchase? I’m very happy with my collection right now. However I have had my eye on the Bottega Arco Tote or Loewe Mini Flamenco.
Bottega Mini Loop in White
Celine Pico Belt Bag in Light Taupe
Loewe Shell Basket (small)
Loewe Anagram Basket
3) Best walking shoes when on vacation?
I love APL Techloom Breeze Sneakers or New Balance 327 (also love these) or the 524. Both are very comfortable and aren’t too thick/heavy so your feet can breathe. Leather sneakers are easier to keep clean/maintain but I try to save those for cooler weather as my feet get sweaty.
4) Favorite travel moment / trip?
So many great travel memories for me! I have two favorites. The best travel memory I have was a trip to Oxford England in 2001. I went to Oxford on a study abroad trip in college one summer and made friends that have become lifelong friends. I met my best friend on this trip (we were roomies) and I also met my future husband on this trip (Andrew was one of the TAs).
I would say the best trip I’ve been on was a month long Europe trip Andrew and I took back in 2015. We would love to go back to Europe for an extended trip. Probably not this year since we are planning a move. Hopefully in 2024!
5) How do you find places to travel with your fur babies?
Ollie has been really easy to travel with and we love it! So far we’ve only taken him with us to Miami which is close to us and super dog friendly. We haven’t taken him on a plane yet as we are not sure if he will fit under the seat for a carry on pet. Kitty has come with us to Miami a couple times but he does not like car rides at all.
It was pretty difficult to travel with Jake and Lucy. The Jack Russell breed is very energetic and they don’t always play well with others. They were always very competitive with each other, I had to take them on walks separately. They also couldn’t see one leave the house without the other so I had to distract one pup and quickly sneak out with the other dog. We did take them on a few road trips and we had fun but it was a lot of work.
When they were young we brought them on a road trip from San Diego to Seattle for Andrew’s work for around 1 week. They had fun in a lot of parks! We also drove Jake, Lucy and Kitty across country from San Diego to Tampa when we moved which took around 5 days. Finding dog friendly hotels on the road was a challenge. All three also travelled from Tampa to Louisville (and back) when we evacuated for a hurricane one year.
6) What is your exercise routine?
I’m embarrassed to admit I have been neglecting my exercise routine for months. It’s currently very sporadic but when we were exercising regularly Andrew and I did weight training 3-5 times per week with cardio mixed in. We found a great a trainer and worked with him for the past 3 years. Our exercises are split by category, one category per workout: Push Day, Pull Day, Leg Day. Sometimes we add in a shoulder day or active recovery day.
We also have a treadmill and assault bike. I’m getting back into it. Right now my chest and triceps are really sore from my last workout a couple days ago. I’ve been interested in trying Pilates but am not sure I have the core strength to do it.
7) What are your favorite make-up looks for a beach day? My eye make-up always runs.
For eyes if I do wear makeup it’s a cream shadow stick like the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick (I wear Golden Amber or Golden Pink the most). Some of the darker shades can be smudged along the lash line to double as liner. I rarely wear liner or mascara because no matter how “long-wear” it is, products simply don’t hold up to REAL humidity or heat.
9) How are you liking Botox now that you’ve tried it? Will you do it again?
I love it. I’m glad I finally did it. I’m still terrified of needles but I know it’s something I can manage. Trolls have been telling me to fix my face for years – well I finally fixed it. It’s not the reason I did it though, it’s been on my list for years. I just nearly pass out at the thought of needles. If you want more I’ve saved the details to my BOTOX Instagram Highlights.
For those who don’t use Instagram I had a Botox injection for the first time ever at age 42. The areas that were done included my forehead and 11s with nearly 40 units. We went to @marissathepa for our first Botox injection ever and I highly recommend her. Andrew got Botox too!
I have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback! So many of you were cheering me on! I am really touched that many of you shared your personal experiences, procedures, frequency, pricing etc. It still makes me a little sad that this is something many of you are not comfortable sharing or talking about openly because of negative judgement from others.
We were both very happy with the results, the feeling and sensation just takes getting used to. The first two weeks I could not move my forehead and it was so relaxed I felt like I had to strain to open my eyes a little. Feedback from many of you was to get 30 units next time for more movement. My deep set lines disappeared on my forehead and in the 11 area.
The one month mark will be this Saturday and I’ll do my next update then. I’m not sure if we will be doing this every 3 or 6 months. Some say they can do it 1x per year. Many of you messaged me that it only lasts 3 months for most of you. If you have any questions please feel free to email or DM me.
10) Best new beauty buy/launch of 2023?
Another tough one! If you count Botox as a beauty buy I think that was my best purchase this year. For new launches I have been really impressed with the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream. They reformulated it this year and it’s been my absolute favorite skincare item. I still have some left of the original formula and definitely notice the new one absorbs better into the skin, feels better and just overall works better.
This year’s Chanel Les Beiges Summer Collection features repromoted summer staples in travel sizes. There are two new lip colors alongside minis of the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Illuminating Oil, Water-Fresh Tint and Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream.
Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint
The Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint Travel Size ($47 each) comes in a .5 fl oz format in 8 shades. Formula seems to be the same as the original Full Size Version ($70 for 1 fl oz). Lightweight, hydrating, glowy with a subtle hint of pigment and glow. I can wear either Medium or Medium Plus. For those who want a natural veil of hydration I think this is perfect.
I always set with a powder since I prefer a matte finish so it’s hard to see the product’s final effect on the skin in photos. This demo will help show the coverage and finish on the skin. I’m applying it with the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush and for my moisturizer underneath I used Chanel’s La Solution 10 De Chanel.
The Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream has been a long time favorite and the new Travel Size ($40 for .5 oz) is available in three colors but the shades in travel size have slight variations and the formula feels different. Colors pull just slightly different but on the skin once blended they look the same. Formula on the travel size has a blurred effect on the skin. It’s not quite matte but it feels a bit more pigmented and matte compared to the full size.
I really love that Chanel brought back the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Illuminating Oil ($63 for 1 fl oz) in travel size. I was able to buy this in one of the boutiques before it launched while traveling and I really loved having it in my travel bag! Having it in a smaller option I can easily hold in one hand or bring with me on travel is much more convenient. (Last year’s bottle was SO big I could barely hold it with my hands.) It smells like a slightly more floral version of the les beiges line with jasmine and it’s just beautiful.
The shimmer is subtle on the skin but more visible in direct sunlight.
UV Essentiel – NEW formula
Chanel reformulated their UV Essentiel with SPF 50 and I picked this up in Miami last month. As a long time fan of the previous formula my first reaction was to panic, but rest assured the new one is better! It has a texture that combines a gel and cream in one so it’s not as fluid/liquid. The formula leaves no white cast on the skin and works well with the Chanel foundations on top. The texture is lightweight and blends easily. I like the newer formula because now it doesn’t creep or slide into my eye corners (sunscreen often does that and it stings!). Active ingredients include Avobenzone 3.0 % | Homosalate 10.0 % | Octisalate 5.0 % | Octocrylene 5.0 %.
Rouge Coco Flash
Last we have a look at the new Rouge Coco Flash shades. Destination is a neutral beige pink. This sometimes pulls a little too pale on my lips and skin tone, sometimes I can pull it off, sometimes I can’t. Escapade is a muted reddish shade – semi bold but not too bold. Both have that glossy finish, smooth texture and hydrating feel. They’re creamy and I love applying these! They don’t have the best lasting power but I don’t mind reapplying.
Swatched below. Also added a couple other shades for reference/comparison.
Overall a very edited collection with mainly repromotes in travel sizes. I would have loved to see new colors for the eyes, nails and perhaps a new blush or highlighter for summer. At the same time I do really like these travel sizes and wish I had them a month ago when I was traveling.
I also think having the smaller options at lower price points might be better for those who don’t want to commit to the full size right away.
You can find these out now at Chanel.com and all Chanel Beauty retailers.
Have you checked out any of the new collection items yet?
Hermes just launched their Plein Air H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Bronzing Powders ($105) and Iridescent Powders ($105) in the US and I am so excited to have a review to share today. I fell in love almost immediately with the product description and demo video on the Hermes website. The powders looked perfect for that effortless healthy sunkissed glow and I was eager to put these to the test.
Given that these are extremely expensive I was surprised to find that many of the shades have sold out at a lot of retailers. Depending on which shade you want you may have to do some shopping around but they are available at Hermes, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus to name a few places.
These powders have 3 shades in one compact in a beautiful embossed H pattern. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised to see the compacts are larger than the other Hermes powders with 18 g of product. They are scented similar to the Rose Hermes blushes (reviewed here) but the scent dissipates after a while and I don’t notice it when it’s on the skin.
Plein Air H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Powder
There are 5 shades of the Plein Air H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Powder and I ordered three shades to try. These have a beautiful silky texture with very good pigment, no excess powdery kick up, no hard-pan and apply beautifully on the skin.
I was really impressed with the level of pigment – they show up really well but at the same time are really easy to blend and sheer out. There is a tiny bit of shimmer in these but it’s more like subtle flecks of shimmer spread out on a matte base so on the skin they really look more matte.
02 Atlas is a warm light bronze, this pulls warm on my skin when used as a bronzer, I like this better as a soft contour to warm up the skin instead, wearing this with the Hermesistible Lip Oil in 02 Corail Bigarade (swatched here) on the lips
There are two variations of the Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder. Both have three different shades of highlighter in one compact. I swatched them individually and swirled and also next to the Plein Air Powder I just reviewed in Mirage.
On my medium tan skin these pull very light/pale. Pigment is medium but easy to control so you can get a sheer glow or a more intense highlight. These are very powdery and there was a lot of powdery kick up all over (even in my hair). I would recommend applying with a light hand. Both seem to have sold out everywhere except the Hermes website.
01 Rose Atacama
01 Rose Atacama is a mix of icy white, medium soft nude pink and a cool pink. On my skin this pulls very frosty since it’s contrasted with my skin. Since there is such a sharp contrast I found it highlighted my pores and texture. The Charlotte Tilbury Glow Glide Highlighter in Pillow Talk Glow is better suited for my skin tone as it’s not as white/icy (review here). Wearing it on top of the Bronzer Shade 02 Atlas and Hermesistible Lip Oil in 02 Corail Bigarade.
_________
02 Corail Mojave
I found 02 Corail Mojave more unique and better for my skin tone. This also pulls very shimmery with an icy white champagne, pale gold and orange copper shimmer. When swirled it’s more of a soft champagne gold. I didn’t have time to swatch comparisons but color is somewhere in between Charlotte Tilbury Glow Glide Highlighters in Champagne Glow and Gilded Glow (the CT ones have more pop to them, more swatches here). Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Peach Glow is more sparkly. Dior Nude Glow is more complex and slightly warmer.
Below wearing it on top of 03 Sahara Bronzer.
Overall I think the bronzers are the stand out for me with a silky smooth texture, natural finish and large compact size. I like Sahara the best for my skin tone.
The highlighters are stunning, but not a must for me. Shade 01 is too pale for my skin tone, even with a light hand. Shade 02 is beautiful but given the vast number of highlighters I own, I don’t think I could call it a must-have.
If you’ve been looking at these online and don’t have a counter to try, I hope you found this review helpful!
Happy New Year! Rounding up the best of 2022 with my Top 5 picks in every beauty category! There are a couple of categories I went a bit over but here were my absolute favorites this year. Thank you for following along this year! Wishing you all an even better 2023!
Foundation/Concealer
I love a natural looking base that can hold up to the Florida heat and humidity. I had so many favorites I tried this year but here were my top five:
This year my #1 favorite though was Ollie. It’s been a full year now since we lost Lucy and my heart was so broken I thought it would never be whole again. The pain of losing a loved one was so intense I didn’t think I could ever get another dog but as soon as Andrew said, “I think we should get another one,” I instantly said yes. We found Ollie and picked him up in March. Our lives and hearts have been filled with joy. It makes me so happy that Kitty finally warmed up to the new pup in the house and even happier that they actually play together.
Thank you for following along on here and on social! Looking forward to a brand new year!
Happy Friday! Christmas is just around the corner and we’ve nearly made it through the entire year! If you’re in search of some makeup looks for the holiday season I have three to share with you today with favorites from Nordstrom. These are all super easy to recreate in under 15 minutes!
First a quick look at my base staples. Long-time reader will already be able to guess what’s on my go-to list! While the weather is mild here in Florida things still feel dry and my skin is feeling it! I like mixing the Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick and Vital Skin Care Complexion Foundation for a well hydrated base. I use Shade VI in both formulas.
I’ll start with the look I feel the most comfortable in, neutrals! Bobbi Brown revamped the Luxe Lipstick and added new shades. These are super creamy and opaque with a natural sheen. The formula is a satin finish and I love the shade Almost Bare which is a beige peach. I topped it with a little bit of the Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Bare Sparkle.
For this look I tried to recreate the cold girl makeup trend with the flushed pink cheeks and lips and frosted eyes. Getting that perfect flushed pink look depends on your skin tone so I pulled a few different shades of pink to try it out.
For pink cheeks I layered the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Petal and Poppet, applying the lighter pink first and then adding a pop of the bright shade on top. To add a bit of glow the Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Quartz Glow adds a soft candlelit glow.
That wraps up my holiday look roundup! Would love to hear what you’ve been wearing this holiday season! You can find all of my picks available at Nordstrom. Don’t forget to check their Gift With Purchase page too!
If you are shopping online Nordstrom has a little note next to each item to show if it will arrive before Christmas. Many items will still arrive with expedited shipping.
Shop the Post
Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post.
Westman Atelier has some beautiful sets this year. The Squeaky Clean Vault ($228, available at Westman Atelier and Bergdorf Goodman) is quite the splurge with six new shades of the Squeaky Clean Lip Liquid Balm, all exclusive to this set. Today I have a look + swatches.
The six colors include:
Parla – sheer sparkling gold
Biscuit – neutral cool beige
Ma Biche – cherry red
Lou Lou – plum brown
Snowy – sheer sparkling white
Rudey Nudey – perfect nude pink
The Squeaky Clean Lip Liquid Balms are smooth and non-sticky. They have a nice moisturizing feel with a natural glossy look. They adhere well to the lips though without feeling like they’ll slide off. Colors pull on the sheer side in terms of pigment for the lighter and neutral colors. Deeper bold shades have more color payoff.
I really like the set and most of the colors. The lighter shades pull really sheer, especially the two sparkly ones – if they had more pigment or sparkle color payoff I would have absolutely 100% loved it. Parla and Snowy still give the lips that glassy gloss shine which I think is pretty – would have liked to see more pigment.
Whether or not it’s for you depends on if you can see yourself wearing all the shades or if you think it’s worth the splurge. It can be difficult to justify a set if you don’t like all the colors. I think it’s lovely and would make a great WOW gift. That being said if you only like certain shades I think you can find dupes in other lines.
If you’ve been eyeing this set I hope the swatches help you! I have a review of the Petal Edition Set here along with swatches of all the Baby Cheeks and other Squeaky Clean Lip Balms I own.
\
