Charlotte Tilbury – Save 20% off orders over $80 with code MAGIC1, Save 25% off orders over $120 with code MAGIC2, Save 30% off orders $250+ with code MAGIC3
Creed Boutique – Free 5ml travel atomizer with purchase $400+
Diptyque – Mini Santal and Baies candles + gold ornaments with purchase of $150+ using code CYBER22
Black Friday deals are here early! Rounding up the best 2022 sales to shop now. Some will start over the next few days but here are the ones to put on your radar. Let me know what you’re shopping this year!
Big Retailer Sales
Anthropologie – 30% off clothes, gifts and home, extra 40% off sale items
Intermix – 48 hour sale, select items marked up to 75% off
Neiman Marcus – Up to 75% off select items here, up to $500 off regular price orders ($50 off $200, $100 off $400 and $250 off $1,000 with code THANKFUL inlcuding beauty and fragrance)
Charlotte Tilbury – Save up to 30% off – 20% off orders $80 with code MAGIC1, 25% off orders $120 with code MAGIC2, 30% off orders over $250 with code MAGIC3
Diptyque – Complimentary gift with $150 purchase (mini Baies candle, mini Santa, 3 ornaments) use code CYBER, they’ve also brought back their limited-edition Citrouille Candle
The Sephora Holiday Savings Event is almost here with first access for Rouge Beauty Insiders on Friday! If you’re shopping online use promo code SAVINGS:
Rouge Members save 20% off 10/28 to 11/7
VIB Members save 15% off 11/1 to 11/7
Insiders save 10% off purchases 11/3 to 11/7
I have my Best in Beauty makeup roundup today sharing my top 5 in each category. I’ll also link reviews + swatches to previous reviews.
I’m also hosting a giveaway! I’m giving away five $100 e-gift cards to Sephora (US site only). Open internationally to readers 18 years and older. To enter follow ALL the steps in the widget below. Giveaway will run through Monday October 31st 11:59 PM EST. I’ll select a winner on November 1st and email the winners. Selected winners must respond via email within 24 hours or another winner will be selected in their place. Not sponsored or affiliated.
Holiday gift sets have already started to pop up and I’m excited to share a first look at this year’s SpaceNK Advent Calendar! This is a stunning gift box with special beauty treats for the 25 days of surprises. It retails for $280 with a total value of over $1,000 and some of the boxes have more than one beauty item! (There’s a total of 31 beauty treats.)
The 2022 Space NK Advent Calendar is limited-edition and sells out every year. They recommend purchasing sooner than later so you don’t miss out. I love that they’ve included a mix of everything in beauty from skin care, makeup, hair care and scented products.
Each box has a number corresponding to the day in December you can open a surprise and I love that they added a little hint as well on each box. Makes it fun!
There are tons of items in the box I have not tried yet – so even the most experienced beauty and skincare junkie will still most likely find things in this box that are new to them.
I love the deluxe miniature sizes of the skincare items. They give you enough product to really sample it! There are also a number of full-sized items like a Rose Inc. cream blush, Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick, Laura Mercier eyeshadow stick, Necessaire Hand cream and more.
The Ordinary: Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (30ml – Full size)
Sisley-Paris: Black Rose Cream Mask (10ml)
Sisley-Paris: Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream (10ml)
Laura Mercier: Caviar Stick Eye Colour Matte in Au Naturel (2g – Full size)
Sol De Janeiro: Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (75ml)
Sunday Riley: C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream (15ml)
Dr Dennis Gross: Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (2.2ml x 3)
Malin + Goetz: Lip Moisturizer (10ml – Full size)
Medik8: Crystal Retinol 3 (30ml – Full size)
Rose Inc: Blush Divine Radiant Lip & Cheek in Heliotrope (4.5g – Full size)
Jo Loves: Snowflake Votive (70g)
Augustinus Bader: The Face Oil (10ml)
Tatcha: The Dewy Skin Cream (10ml)
I think this is a great gift idea that will suit a wide range of tastes and ages. I’m debating whether to keep this for myself or gift it away.
If you’re getting an early start on your holiday shopping I highly recommend checking this one out. SpaceNK is offering a great boxed set for the value!
I’m the ultimate lip balm junkie. I always have at least one in my purse and a couple on my bedside table. It’s been a while since I did an updated roundup of my favorites! Since everyone has different preferences and tastes for what they want in a lip treatment, here are the best treatments I’ve tried. Split into 3 categories: clear treatments, tinted balms/oils and lip plumpers.
Clear Lip Balms & Treatments
I love a good clear lip treatment and there are so many formulas out there, it can be overwhelming. Here are the best ones I’ve tried.
La Mer The Lip Volumizer Lip Serum ($85 at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus) is my most-worn lip treatment. It’s technically a lip volumizer, but I wear this as a balm. It has a smooth cushiony feel. Love that it has a wand/sponge applicator. I wear this at night when I’m sleeping because it hugs the lips nicely and smoothes them. Has a slightly minty scent. No tingle.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter ($23 at Sephora) is my second-most worn lip balm. I love the clear and tinted formulas. They perform equally well for a softly scented vanilla treat to the lips. Hydrating and smooth. Not sticky. Doesn’t feel like it will slide off the lips. Highly recommend.
U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound ($68 at U Beauty, Saks, Nordstrom) was gifted to me by a friend. This is the first U Beauty product I’ve tried and it’s the ultimate splurge for the lips. It has a cushiony feel to plump and contour the lips. The metal applicator has an incredibly smooth cooling effect when you apply. It gives you that glass skin look for the lips. This one is unscented.
Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask ($28 at Sephora and Tatcha) is my favorite lip mask. It’s one I’ve used and loved for years. It’s one of the few in pot form that I’ll still use. These days I’m all about having a squeeze tube, wand or some sort of applicator instead. Hydrates, makes the lips soft, love the beautiful packaging too.
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm ($17 at Sephora) is the best flavored lip balm I’ve tried (one in the squeeze tubes). It is much better and more effective than the popular Lip Sleeping Mask which I’ve tried multiple times and just can’t fall in love. The Lip Glowy Balm is smoothing, hydrating, love the flavor options in Grapefruit and Gummy Bear.
Biossance Squalane+ Rose Vegan Lip Balm ($14 at Sephora and Biossance) this was an impulse buy at Sephora. After reviewing their skincare a number of you told me this was a favorite of yours from the line. It’s a really great thicker balm. If you’re looking for something that has a good thick texture this is a nice one to try.
Tinted Balms and Oils
For tinted options there are tons of great tinted balms out there. Most of them to me are more of a makeup product versus having skincare properties which isn’t bad. Sometimes I’m more focused on color, other times I want more hydration. These are some options I think excel equally for color + hydration.
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss ($32 at Sephora and Nordstrom) are my most-worn lip oils. They’re a oil-gloss with tint and the best colors are Free Spirit (left) and In the Buff (right, it’s the one that always gets me compliments). They’re medium in pigment with a glossy finish. Love how they feel and look. Swatches here.
NARS Afterglow Lip Balms ($28 at NARS, Sephora, Nordstrom) if I had to pick one tinted balm formula to wear the rest of my life it would be the Afterglow Lip Balms from NARS. I have every single color and love them. They add the perfect amount of color and shine. Color featured is Dolce Vita. These are the ultimate lazy girl lip tints. Review here.
Hermes Hermesisitble Infused Lip Care Oil ($55 at Saks, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus) these still remain my favorite lip oil for the fun scents, beautiful colors and hydrating formula. The applicator could be improved but the formula is so good I’m not going to dock points off. Review and swatches here.
Makeup By Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum ($22 at Sephora and Makeup By Mario) love these for the hydrating soft balm formula and color. Every single color is beautiful. I’ve been ordering all of the Makeup by Mario exclusive colors that have been dropping Mondays this summer on their website. Will review + swatch soon.
Lip Plumper Treatments
I rarely use lip plumpers because I already have full lips. I’m also very sensitive to tingles so I tend to only use plumpers that have a more smoothing effect.
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath ($35 at Sephora) is my favorite plumping lip product. It smooths lips, adds a lovely shine, adds volume. Refresh Rose and Pillow Talk always get compliment’s anytime I wear them alone or on top of a liner. Swatches here.
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss ($38 at Sephora and Dior) are also staples in my routine. I almost always have one of these with me in my bag. They’re smooth without any sting. Love the color range for a sheer wash of color. My favorite is Rosewood which I’ve used up and need to restock.
Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumper Line Smoothing Gloss ($25 at Sephora) in Cherry Vanilla is 100% worth the hype. This formula has so many mixed reviews. Some love it, others hate it. I’ve tried a wide range of colors and like some of them, others are too pale and thick. Cherry Vanilla is the best one for both the formula and color. It’s a sheer red that gives you the most luscious glass like pink red pout. It’s what I wanted the Fenty Gloss Bomb Heat to look like (but that one stings my lips too much).
Patrick TA Major Volume Plumping Gloss ($24 at Sephora) are really nice! Love these for a glass like shine, smooth texture, soft hint of color. These have a subtle cinnamon scent to them.
Tarte
Last but not least I had to give a shoutout to Tarte. You girls know I’m a huge fan of the Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm ($21 at Tarte, Sephora, Ulta Beauty) for a tinted balm. They’re the perfect effortless swipe and go kind of lip balm. The best shades are Grapefruit and Rose.
I also really love their newer Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump ($21). The colors are all very wearable. These have a noticeable plumping effect on the lips with a tiny bit of tingle. 100% recommend both.
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What are your favorite lip treatments, plumpers or oils?
By popular request I have my summer sunscreen roundup with all the formulas I’ve tried and loved recently! I have mainly used formulas from Supergoop!, Shiseido and Chanel but finally put more formulas to the test. My skin is very sensitive to extreme heat and sunscreen so I test with extreme caution. Here is what I’ve tried and thoughts. Up first are formulas for the body!
This is my all-time favorite sunscreen for the body. It’s the best I’ve tried that has a velvety dry down, longest lasting even in water and easy to spread even over wet skin (although I recommend applying on dry skin). It also helps protect against heat. It’s also formulated to use on the face but I use this one only on the body, neck, arms, legs. Love this value duo at Sephora.
I’ve loved and used this formula since the day it launched (have also repurchased numerous times). It has superfine light reflecting particles (it’s smooth, no chunky texture) and adds the prettiest shimmer and to the skin. Love that it’s smooth and hydrating.
This was one of my latest splurges – for me it was hard to find as it was almost always sold out but seems to be back in stock a few places. It’s one of the most expensive sunscreens I’ve tried and it is pure love. It glides on the skin smoothly. Has an anti-oxidant complex to nourish and hydrate the skin. Has a very subtle sunscreen scent which smells like summer to me. Love that it has a pump applicator. There is also a Soleil Superieur face version which I’ve used and loved before but it’s also quite expensive.
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (2.5%), Homosalate (10%), Octisalate (5%), Octocrylene (8%)
This formula wins for the best scent. It has a nice smooth application. No pilling. Smells like a fun summer vacation. I love how the formula wears and performs. Two things though: I do wish it had a higher SPF and it doesn’t apply well on wet skin. If you’re in the water or super sweaty you will need to towel off before applying otherwise it doesn’t adhere. It has coconut oil, aloe vera, banana extract, Vitamin E and Niacinamide.
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 3.0%, Zinc Oxide 8%
This formula is Andrew’s favorite and the only body sunscreen he uses. It’s the longest lasting even in water and with sweat. It’s one I order in bulk because Andrew goes through so much. Anytime we have guests in town we give them a bottle of this Jack Black formula (or Supergoop!) to use while they’re here because it’s the best at protecting skin and preventing sunburns.
It’s also available in 3-Pack of Minis at Jack Black. The only downside is that it’s so effective it is very hard to remove at the end of the day. You’ll have to give your body multiple scrubs with a washcloth or sponge. I’ll sometimes have to use a cleansing oil all over and let it sit to break down the formula before using a regular body wash. Andrew’s favorite is the Jack Black Turbo Wash (which I also borrow from time to time). The Big Sir Body and Hair Cleanser is also pretty good.
If you’re looking for the men in your life to up their grooming game, I highly recommend Jack Black. They have some good starter sets. I’ve bought this for Andrew, his brother, my brother, etc.
Sun Care Face Formulas
For the face I have stuck with a very small select group of formulas for the past three years. I am very sensitive to heat and sunscreen. With the wrong formula my face often reacts with red spots and flare ups when exposed to extreme heat. I still get review requests every week to review/test different formulas from you! This year I finally branched out and tried more after careful research and am thrilled to report that I have some new winners.
I’ve loved and used La Roce-Posay for a long time. It’s one that most of you love and use too. Three formulas I started using recently include the following:
The Anthelios Ultra-Light SPF 60* ($30.99) has a lightweight texture and semi-matte finish. It’s a white fluid but has no white cast on my skin. Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5% and Octocrylene 7%.
The Anthelios Mineral Tinted SPF 50* ($34.99) is an excellent mineral formula I actually like and love. I find most mineral formulas don’t work for my skin type with the texture, but this is a really good one with a brown-beige tint. It disappears into the skin. Active Ingredient is Titanium Dioxide 11%.
The Anthelios Melt-In-Milk SPF 60* ($24.99 to $36.99, face & body, chemical sunscreen) is a great formula for the body. 100% recommend. Has a high SPF, melts into the skin, absorbs quickly. Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 10%, Octisalate 5% and Octocrylene 7%. See them in action below!
The Tatcha formula works under makeup nicely and it has a velvety feel. The packaging could use a bit of work as the product sometimes will squirt out of the top once you open it. I haven’t had any flaking issues that you see online (not yet). This is more fluid in texture compared to their Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen with SPF 35.
The Summer Fridays formula is a really nice one I found works with me. Reviews seem to be mixed – definitely try a patch test first. I don’t think it’s the best long-wear formula if you’re outside for an extended period of time.
The Chanel UV Essentiel SPF 50 ($55) and CC Cream ($55) have been in my top picks for years. I love the ultra lightweight texture of the UV Essentiel and I don’t sweat a lot on my face so this works for me (it didn’t work for Andrew, he sweats more). Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Titanium dioxide 3.8%, Zinc oxide 17.1%.
My most-worn sunscreen is the Chanel CC Cream with SPF 50. It’s a tinted product with medium coverage and wears so well on my skin. Lasts all day. It is on the semi-thick side so application is key. It’s not one I recommend applying with fingers. Use a sponge to work it into the skin and blend. This method works best for me when applying any CC cream. So many of you have told me you have kept referring to my review from 2018!
Active Ingredients: Active ingredients: Octinoxate 6.8%, Titanium dioxide 4%, Zinc oxide 15.2%
Supergoop! is one of my favorite brands for sunscreens in general. I love all of their chemical formulas and one mineral. My recommendation for formula would be based on your skin type and preference. Each one has a different texture and purpose.
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30* ($30 to 42) was one of the highest rated/most loved formulas from you based on messages I received on social. So many of you love this skincare line and after finally trying it this year I 100% agree. No white cast on me (although there is a very subtle white tint), no pilling, lasts on the skin. Definitely reapply every hour (as with all formulas) but love that it’s not sticky or goopy and it doesn’t have any smell or weird sunscreen scent.
Both are great formulas for the face. The Shiseido Urban Environment Fresh-Moisture Sunscreen has a beautiful hydrating feel. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture. Leaves the skin feeling smooth and slightly plump. It has enough moisture that I can use this as a moisturizer.
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 2.3%, Homosalate 10.0%, Octisalate 5.0%, Octocrylene 5.0%.
The Shiseido Urban Environment Sun Dual Care Oil-Free Sunscreen is also a recent winner. It has a more fluid thin texture with a velvety dry down. Super lightweight, long lasting, has a slight pale peachy pink tint when you apply it on the skin but disappears after blending.
NARS launched a few new items recently including their Summer Unrated Collection with an eyeshadow palette, three cheek duos and a lip balm called the Orgasm Lip Mask. I have swatches for you today!
Summer Unrated Blush & Bronzer Duos
There are three Blush and Bronzer Cheek Duos, each with a blush and bronzer in a large mirrored compact. I have the Orgasm + Laguna and Orgasm X + Casino variations. Colors are repromotes and quality with these palettes is very good (just like the singles). They’re nice for a summer glow. Texture is smooth, pigment is medium but buildable, lasting power is great.
Orgasm is a peachy pink with gold shimmer and Laguna is a medium tan. Below wearing:
Orgasm X is a deeper coral pink with gold shimmer and Casino is a deeper bronze. Wearing the same base as above but with different eyeshadows in the lighter/golden/bronze tones instead and with the Orgasm Lip Mask on lips (goes on clear).
Summer Unrated Eyeshadow Palette
The Summer Unrated Eyeshadow Palette is a stunning one! It has a beautiful mix of mattes and shimmers with a couple sparkle shades. Every single color performed well on me. They’re smooth, pigmented, apply beautifully and are buildable. I love that there are warm shades but they don’t look too warm or red on the skin. There are enough neutrals to balance it all out and with 16 shades the combinations are endless!
Orgasm Lip Mask
Last we have a look at the Orgasm Lip Mask. I hauled this from Sephora and like it, but don’t think it’s a must-have. It’s better than the Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask (which didn’t work for me) but you can find other balms that give you the same hydration. It’s thick but not too goopy. It does hydrate but I get better results from the Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask or Summer Fridays Lip Butter.
The NARS Orgasm Lip Mask has a pale pink tint to it, but it pretty much goes on clear.
Overall everything performed really well. The cheek duos are nice to have if you don’t own any of the colors already. I love the eyeshadow palette. The lip mask is ok for me, but didn’t wow me.
You can find the NARS Summer Unrated Collection out now. Available at NARS, Nordstrom, Sephora and all other NARS retailers.
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Did you check out anything from this launch yet?
Summer Unrated Cheek Duos + Palette provided for review. Lip Mask purchased by me.
