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Diptyque

Diptyque Fragrance Skincare Travel

Diptyque Les Voyages Travel Collection

August 8, 2016

Diptyque is one of those brands that I’m completely in love with. My first items from the line included a Trio Set with Figuier, Roses and Baies candles and it was love at first splurge. It took me probably over a year of debating whether or not to buy one, but for me it was well worth the price and I’ve been happy with almost everything I’ve tried from the line since then. Earlier this summer Diptyque launched a limited-edition collection called Les Voyages Travel Collection which features some of their best selling items in smaller travel-sizes inspired by different regions of the world. The items of interest to me were primarily the perfumes and skincare products because those are packaged in smaller sized options. There are a few candles that have been highlighted in the collection that come in the mini 2.4 oz version. This size is already available in a number of scents. The ones in the travel collection simply have a special-edition designed box which is a slide-off outer sleeve. It does add a special touch for gifting, but the size and design of the jars themselves is the same.

Over the past few months I’ve accumulated a few pieces from two boutiques. You’ve already seen the mini perfumes featured in Florabellio and L’Ombre Dans L’Eau (this is the Baies fragrance equivalent) here and here. Back in June I stopped by the Diptyque store at Grand Central Station in NYC which was a treat for me. The shopping experience is really different than shopping online or at a larger retailer. Each and every store I’ve visited has the best Diptyque reps who are extremely knowledgeable about the product line, very helpful, non-pushy and are really a joy to chat with. The displays are always amazing and inspirational too. To date I’ve been to the following Diptyque stores: San Francisco, South Coast Plaza, Larchmont, Beverly Hills, Paris and now Grand Central Station. Someday I hope to visit all the stores around the world.

The Voyages Travel Collection includes the following. You can find all the items online at Diptyque and other retailers like Nordstrom, Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus. Some pieces have sold out, so you may have to do a bit of searching to find items. They are all limited-edition at this point. You can still find items easily but I do recommend buying soon if you’re contemplating any of these.
  • Skincare and Body Care – travel sized
    • Infused Facial Water $25
    • Vinaigre de Toilette $29
    • Nourishing Cleansing Balm $23
    • Protective Moisturizing Lotion $26
    • Satin Oil for Body and Hair $33
    • Smoothing Body Polish $33
    • Revitalizing Shower Gel $20 (my favorite!)
    • Fresh Lotion for the Body $23
  • Home Fragrance Travel Candles – 2.4 oz each
    • Baies $32
    • Figuier $32
    • Mimosa $32
    • Roses $32
    • Tubereuse $32
  • Perfumes Travel Size – 30 ml each
    • Do Son $65
    • Philosykos $65
    • Tam Dao $65
    • Florabellio $65
    • L’Ombre dans l’Eau $65

A quick look at the beautiful displays, South Coast Plaza:

Grand Central Station in NY:

My picks:

I stocked up on quite a few of the mini candles primarily because of the limited-edition packaging. For the home I prefer the larger standard size but the minis are nice to give as gifts for those who are new to the line or any particular scent. In my early discovery days of Diptyque, I bought a lot of the candles in the mini size or sets to try before buying the larger size. This trio set was my introduction into Diptyque. The ones from the Travel Collection come with a limited-edition sleeve. Other than the box, everything is the same as the regular ones.

For perfumes I bought L’Ombre Dans L’eau which is a blackcurrant and rose kind of scent. It’s the equivalent of the Baies candle which I really love to wear for evening or daily during the fall to winter season. Another favorite is Florabellio which I already have in the full size, but the travel size was too cute to pass up. Size comparison between travel and full size in this post here.

For body care I was gifted a few items. The Nourishing Cleansing Balm is a thick balmy cleanser. When you massage it into the skin it turns into an oil cleanser. Add water and it becomes a lotion-like consistency that you wipe off afterwards. It’s pretty much scent free although there is a very lightweight and faint fresh kind of scent. While adding water and rinsing it does feel like product is still on the skin, but once you wipe it off gently with a washcloth, skin feels clean and well hydrated without any film or residue. I do think this is best for normal to dry skin.

The Protective Moisture Lotion is a lightweight moisturizer that has SPF15. It’s the best smelling face sunscreen I’ve ever smelled before – it has no sunscreen scent and doesn’t leave a white cast. The scent is hard to describe but it’s like a mix of a beachy fresh scent and rosewater. It adds enough moisture for my normal/combo skin but doesn’t feel greasy after it dries down. I would give this one a 100% thumbs up if it had a higher SPF but I do like the way it feels and smells. I will definitely consider repurchasing this in the full size.

Last but not least is my favorite shower gel of all time, the Diptyque Revitalizing Shower Gel for Body and Hair. The only thing that prevents me from buying this more frequently is the high price tag and the fact that it’s so good I go through these very quickly (plus my husband likes it and uses it as well). The travel size is very expensive at $20 for 1.7 fl oz. The full size is also pricey at $38 for 6.8 fl oz. If you’re considering this – the full size is the way to go, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with it.

Although Diptyque is on the pricey side, I do think it’s worth the splurge. I have yet to try everything in the line – I tend to repurchase favorites rather than try new things although I do love their seasonal launches. Out of everything I’ve tried, I’ve found all the candles to be excellent quality and suitable for both men and women. The only one I did not love was Benjoin but I do know a lot of my friends like it.

If you’re new to the line or looking for beautiful gift options, I think the Voyages Collection is a great option. I can’t get over how adorable the perfumes are and they are small enough that you can carry them on the airplane.

Have you tried anything from the Voyages Collection yet? If not, do you have any Diptyque favorites? All the items in the line are limited-edition. You can find them in stores at Diptyque and other retailers like Nordstrom, Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus.
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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors Lifestyle

Scented Luxuries for the Home

July 28, 2016

I love little home accents to add a bit of luxury whether it’s something as simple as a nice hand wash or a beautiful candle. Little details can add a bit of life to the home or give it a more personal touch. As many of you know, I’m beyond obsessed with Diptyque (my favorites in this round up here). There’s nothing quite like a good scented candle to set the mood and since Diptyque has a wide range of options, there is something for everyone. They are quite the splurge but worth every penny.

I’ve rounded up a few more home fragrance options that I love including items that aren’t candles. All of these can double as great hostess gifts – or really gifts for any occasion. I always have extra Diptyque candles stocked up for those moments I need a last minute gift, or when my husband needs a gift. Of course as one of my friends and I discussed, there are some people who won’t appreciate the special nature of a Diptyque candle in which case we both agree great alternatives are hand creams.

Up first is a line that I just discovered called Antica Farmacista. I’ve seen it at Nordstrom and other retailers and after trying a few items I can’t believe it took me this long to try it out. They’ve been kind enough to offer Beauty Look Book readers a mini body butter with any order, simply use code ANTICABLB at checkout.

I’ve tested out three products so far and a few of you have e-mailed me a few additional recommendations after seeing it featured on my social last week. Their Platinum Round Candles come in a 9 oz size with 60 hours of burn time. They’re cased in a glass jar with a platinum leaf pattern. I’ve been burning Cucumber and Lotus Flower and scent fills the whole room even without burning. The throw is very good once burned and this is such a calming scent. It has a mix of Crenshaw melon, green apple, olive, coriander, heliotrope, rose and jasmine with cucumber. For something that has a lot of notes it smells very streamlined and clean. It is a green scent but a cucumber green versus a leafy green. I highly recommend it, especially with the hot summer heat – it gives the home a cooled effect.

The Reed Diffusers are beautiful. I’ve been using Aqua which is another fresh and clean scent. As with most diffusers the effect is softer than burning a candle or using a room spray but the scent is definitely noticeable. It’s more prominent in smaller rooms like a bathroom, but I’ve placed this in our living room and it gives the entire room a soft clean scent. It’s a huge plus for us since we have 3 furry critters at home (thank God for roombas). We bathe them frequently but and added help with scents is a life saver.
Last but not least are the Body Butters which are ultra luxurious. I normally prefer unscented body products or dry oils (the L’Occitane Extra Gentle Shea Butter is my go-to) but the Bergamot and Ocean Aria is one of the most incredible to die for clean scents I’ve ever tried. It leaves the body feeling silky smooth – no greasy residue left behind. I found it moisturized the body well and didn’t irritate my super sensitive skin (I blow up in bumps if I use Kiehl’s lotions, although I can use their shower gels just fine). Unlike other body butters, the scent lasted all day but was soft enough that it didn’t give me a migraine. I was sent a couple minis, Orange Blossom, Lilac and Jasmine is a sweet orange blossom kind of scent. Prosecco is a citrus floral with black currant, apricot and passionfruit – it smells like a spa.

Next up includes the cutest travel sized set I think I’ve ever seen. I had to replenish on some shower gels from Molton Brown last month and browsed the site for a few things to add on to my order. I came across the Best Sellers Travel Hand Wash Set and immediately ordered. I literally squealed when they arrived in the mail because I’m a sucker for minis and these each come with a pump. They’re bigger than the tiny baby shower gels which makes them a good trial size but more than a 3x use kind of product. They clean the hands nicely without drying them out and there’s no film leftover after rinsing. My favorite is Pomegranate and Ginger.

These are 100 ml each compared to the full sized Hand Washes that are 300 ml each. Shown hand held also to show scale. I can’t get over how cute these are! They are a little spendy if you break down the set price of $45, it comes out to a little over $11 per mini bottle. There are a few good promos offers online right now though. You can get a free 3.3 fl oz body wash when you spend $70 with code 70WASH at checkout (you get a choice from 15 options) and if you spend $150 you get a 4-piece Travel Set + Luxury Luggage Tag with code GETAWAY150.

Acrylic Tray by West Elm, on the nails Marc Jacobs Resurrection

Other favorite home luxuries include the Lumira Darsana Candle (review here). For those new to Lumira, they are an Australia-based candle company and their scents are incredible. My husband has the Cuban Tobacco in his office. My personal favorite is Tahitian Coconut. Darsana is part of their limited-edition Collezione Bianca launch and I love the clean white packaging.

Diptyque Baies and Figuier are my top two favorites from the line. They have a special limited-edition box in the mini size as part of their summer voyages collection. I splurged on the Large Scented Candle in Figuier once – it cost me an arm and a leg, but my husband wanted one for our home so I didn’t resist. It lasted us for months because I burned a little at a time. We’ve since recycled it and I use it for large flowers or to chill champagne. If you shop at Club Monaco stores they often burn the large Baies candles there and it always smells great in the stores.

Last but not least are Le Labo x The Laundress Detergent. These are extremely pricey so I use them sparingly but they are worth every penny. I can’t decide which one I prefer, Santal has that amazing musky sandalwood and cedar mix which I love. Rose on the other hand smells incredible for sheets and it’s not too girly. On the last special gifting occasion we had my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I asked for a Le Labo Detergent lol! He got me something else instead, he said, “I am not getting you laundry detergent for your birthday – even if it’s fancy.”

That wraps up my roundup of scented luxuries for the home. As always I’d love to hear about your favorites! I think the Antica Farmacista Reed Diffusers are nice alternatives to candles – especially since you don’t have to worry about flames or smoke.

What ways do you add little touches to your home to give it an extra special touch? It doesn’t have be something fragranced! I love adding little decorative objects but it usually takes me ages to find ones that I like. Flowers or candles are the easiest for me because they are so simple. I’d love to hear ideas from you!

Press samples include items from Lumira and Antica Farmacista. All others purchased by me.

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Sales

Space NK Explore Promotion – Early Access for Beauty Look Book Readers 7/17 to 8/2

July 17, 2016

Space NK is hosting their Summer Explore Promotion again and they’re offering Beauty Look Book readers early access a week before the offer starts for everyone else. For those new to Space NK’s Explore Offer, every season they offer either a gift with purchase or savings deal to explore something new. This round you can save $20 off orders $100 or more at spacenk.com/us with code BEAUTYNOW at checkout. The code is valid now through 8/2/2016. Offer valid online only.

Several of you asked for a detail of what I hauled during my recent New York trip. You can find a full recap of their Prince Street store here in this post. There was a lot to explore from a wide range of brands. I was particularly impressed with the haircare selection in the store and picked up a couple things from Ouai and R+Co. I made a mental note of what I wanted to try so I could order when I got back home (I didn’t want to carry a lot of liquids back home with me, however I did end up shipping a big box home).

First a quick look at their amazing haircare selection. It’s literally Oribe heaven. Travel sized minis galore of multiple brands and formulas too.

Another look at more brands to choose from including Sachajuan, Gloss Moderne, Malin + Goetz and more (you can click to view a larger image):

Featured in the top picture are a few staples along with a couple new items I’ve tried in case you need recommendations or thoughts:
  • Diptyque Baies is not a haircare item, but it’s one of my favorite home scents, since Diptyque rarely goes on sale, these savings promotions are always a nice time to splurge on something and save a little.
  • Oribe Cleansing Cream (repurchased) is one of my favorite weekly shampoos to help restore moisture and cleanse at the same time
  • R+Co Park Ave Blow Out Balm is a product you work through damp hair before you use a blow dryer, I’m always eager to try new products like these because I heat dry my hair most of the time, this smells light and fresh and did give my hair a better look after blow drying, hair was left thicker, fuller and frizz-free and very smooth, the ends still needed a touch up, but for the rest, I really like how this works
  • Ouai Finishing Creme is described as a lightweight lotion for your hair that you can use as a heat protectant from styling, smoothing cream for dry ends or to add texture, I found it has a strong floral scent with a slightly thick texture, it gives the ends a more polished look with a tiny bit of shine but definitely helps add texture to the hair, by comparison the Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream has a thinner texture and adds weightless shine to the ends with a more glossy looking finish
  • Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is a favorite, even though the full size is a better buy, I always end up repurchasing the travel size because it’s easier for me to store or carry with me
  • Ouai Treatment Masque comes in a pack of 8 individually sealed packets, it has a rich perfumed kind of scent, I used it as a mask, left it on for about 10 minutes then rinsed it out, it left the hair feeling super soft and shiny (after drying), I’m not the biggest fan of the packets for packaging, but it’s perfect to take one with you for travel or to the gym vs a huge tube, the product is a thumbs up, would love if this came in a large jar or squeeze tube

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=MeQoh28EORo&subid=&offerid=417140.1&type=10&tmpid=11586&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.spacenk.com%252Fus%252Fen_US%252Fhaircare-1%252F

Terms and conditions as follows:

‘Explore Something New’ offer comprises $20 to spend on any product on the website www.spacenk.com/us. Your order must total $100 on full price/non-sale products before delivery has been added. Promo code BEAUTYNOW must be entered in the promo code box on the shopping bag page, before checkout, for the offer to apply. One use per customer and promotional codes cannot be applied retrospectively. The $20 discount will be applied at checkout where the order total equals $100 or more. This offer can be used in conjunction with our free shipping over $50. This offer is only available online between 12am Sunday July 17th, 2016 to 11:59pm Tuesday August 2nd, 2016 EST. This offer applies online only on the us.spacenk.com site, not the UK site and is not available in-store. We reserve the right to end it early or extend it without notice. Please note that all sale items, gift card purchases and promotional items are excluded from this promotion. The offer is not refundable and there is no cash value/alternative. The offer cannot be exchanged in-store or online for another product. This offer applies online only and is not available in-store. The offer is restricted to one per customer.

Many thanks to Space NK for extending this to Beauty Look Book readers. If you have anything on your radar whether it’s new haircare, skincare, beauty, fragrance from Space NK – let me know! I’m always eager to try new haircare products to help tame my naturally frizzy hair. I’m looking for a good wave spray, the Oribe Apres Beach Spray has been a good one that I just used up, debating whether to repurchase or try something new. Any recs greatly appreciated!

Update: Code now works! Sorry for the delay!

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Loving Right Now Roundup

Loving Right Now

June 7, 2016

 

Right now it’s sandal season and I’ve been on the hunt for cute new sandals. I splurged on a pair of the Tory Burch Miller Flip Flops and am beyond obsessed. They are super comfy and I found them to be true to size. For the toes I usually love bright corals and reds but I’ve been wearing Tom Ford Sugar Dune and it’s always so perfect. You can see the sandal + polish combo shown on the toes here, original review here. (P.S. The image above is interactive so you can shop the products by clicking the icons on the image.)

 

A few of you have asked about the sunglasses I’ve been featuring lately – if you remember posts from last year, I discovered the Marc by Marc Jacobs Rimless Aviators which were the perfect small frames and I bought like 5 of the colors because they were so affordable and the size was just right. Since the Marc by Marc Jacobs line has been discontinued the style I had sold out eventually as the line was phased out. I bought newly listed ones by Marc Jacobs called the 59MM Semi Rimless Sunglasses and found that they are identical with the exception of the frame sides. They have a slightly different look and now say Marc Jacobs. Aside from that they are a bit more expensive but the same small size and they fit me perfectly.

 

Makeup wise I tried the Anastasia Liquid Lipsticks in Stripped and Crush both of which are perfect neutrals but look really dried out with the matte look. I add a clear gloss like the Chanel or a balm like the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic on top to give it a bit of shine and the color lasts all day without caking, creasing or budging. Balms help prevent them from drying out my lips a bit more but overall they are still like MAC lipsticks to me in the sense that they dry out my lips by the next day they are peeling. Still the colors are beyond perfect and adding a balm makes them more wearable.

 

I also picked up some of the Anastasia Eyeshadows and OMG they are incredible! The size of the pans are same to MAC’s but the texture of the Anastasia shadows are rich and velvety with impressive pigment payoff. The quad above has colors Sateen (cream shimmer), Chiffon (olive shimmer), Warm Taupe (soft matte taupe) and Chocolate (shimmering cool brown). You buy the pans individually and there is a 4-pan palette you can buy separately to put the shadows in. Review to follow soon. The Glossier Boy Brow also makes grooming brows super easy.

 

For the face I just rediscovered Becca Mineral Blushes. Wild Honey is the perfect warm nude neutral. I still think the Luminous Blushes (reviewed here) are beyond amazing but if you need something less shimmery the Mineral Blushes are the way to go. The Estée Edit Flash Illuminators are a pretty close dupe to the Tom Ford Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust in terms of finish. I picked up two shades, Day Light is shown above and is the closest to Fire Lust. They aren’t identical – but pretty close and the Estée Edit version is a lot cheaper.

 

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint is my go-to base of the season and I’ve been reaching for the Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer a lot because the color is a good match and it really does stay in place without creasing or separating as the day progresses. I picked up the concealer during my color correcting makeover back in March. For those curious about what I think about the whole color correcting trend months after it was seen everywhere – I think it’s been life changing. The green corrector has been a life saver for covering dark spots for me. The Algenist Color Drops in Blue help brighten the overall complexion. Out of all the tips I learned – I would say I use the green corrector the most frequently. The other steps I use on a weekly basis depending on what my skin needs.

 

Scent of the day is Diptyque Florabellio in the limited-edition travel size although I’ve been rotating scents on a daily basis. Summer fragrance roundup to follow soon as well.

 

What have you been loving these days? Do you have any sandal favorites?
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Fragrance

Bright + Fresh Fragrance Favorites for the Spring to Summer Transition

May 19, 2016

I have another fragrance roundup of a few new perfumes I’ve been trying out combined with a repeat of a few favorites I’ve been loving right now. I have summer on my mind but it’s still spring so I don’t feel quite ready to wear full-on summer scents yet. I did my first round up earlier this year here (for him and her). Here are a few more to check out if you’re in the market for something new as we transition from the spring to summer season.

Up first are two from Diptyque. The Eau de Sens is the latest fragrance release from Diptyque (my favorites from the brand rounded up here). It’s one of the few orange blossom scents I feel I can wear. The combination of orange and floral is usually too powdery for me to wear although I do love orange-based fragrances. Many are great as a home fragrance whether it’s a spray or candle but I simply cannot wear a lot of them. Eau de Sens is the first one I’ve fallen in love with – it’s bright and lifts the mood.

Florabellio isn’t a new fragrance, but it was recently launched in a Travel Size 30 ml size as part of the Voyage Collection and is cute beyond words. There are select items available in the collection, a few perfumes include Philosykos, Do Son, L’Ombre Dans L’Eau and Tam Dao. There are a few small size candles available in the special print boxes (jars are still clear glass) and a few minis of the body products. As of right now the entire collection is limited-edition and at most Diptyque retailers if you purchase any 3 items from the travel line you can get a complimentary travel zip pouch. More on the travel collection in a separate post but Florabellio is the most unique sweet floral with apple that I’ve ever tried. I would have never thought to wear something with apple blossoms, apricot, fennel, sea salt, coffee and toasted sesame – but it’s really quite nice, especially for spring.

In general Diptyque fragrances have a medium lasting power. I have a very sensitive nose and can usually detect remnants of the scent many hours later even though often times others around me cannot. The scents do start to fade by hour 4-5 of wear.

 

Lumira Paradisium is also another one I adore. This is the perfect spring to summer kind of scent that makes me feel very much put together. It has bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, fig nectar, guava, vetiver, sea moss and cedarwood. It’s a fig scent I can actually wear. I love fig scents for the home but whenever I try it in perfume form I feel like I’m wearing a sweet dessert. The bergamot, vetiver and cedarwood give this a slightly raw feel that balances out the sweetness. I’ve been wearing this one for a couples years now and I hope it’s here to stay forever. In terms of lasting power this is one of the best and longest lasting. It’s up there with Tom Ford and Frederic Malle.

Maison Margiela Replica scents are simply incredible. I first tried Beach Walk in a rollerball and it’s definitely one of those perfect summertime scents. Lipstick On is a classic feminine blush kind of scent that smells like vintage makeup. If you don’t really care for the makeup-like vibe Lipstick On has but do like the level of intensity/feminine quality it has, you might want to check out Flower Market or Promenade in the Garden. Both florals that are very wearable.

Flower Market smells just like a flower market. It’s a soft bright floral that has freesia, sambac jasmine, Egyptian jasmine, tuberose, rose, peach, cedarwood and oak moss. To me it smells primarily of jasmine and with a hint of tuberose and moss.

Promenade in the Gardens is more green and less floral. It has a mix of green accord, freesia accord, coriander oil, turkish rose oil, peony accord, sambac jasmine, patchouli, vetiver and Australian sandalwood. It’s clearly feminine to me, but it’s not girly like Flower Market or Lipstick On if that makes sense.

The Replica scents are medium to long lasting on my skin. They’re strong enough to notice hours after but aren’t overpowering when you first spray them which is nice.

 Beautiful floral arrangement created by Hessney & Co @chrishessney

If you like to layer bright spring florals with shower gels and body lotions, Molton Brown is always a good idea 🙂 The Dewy Lily of the Valley Star Anise Collection has everything covered including Hand Creams. If you’re one is really particular about florals and wants something that isn’t too strong, too powdery or too mature, this one is a good one. Notes are as follows:

Top notes: star anise, magnolia, green mandarin
Heart notes: lily of the valley, peony, white tea
Base notes: ylang-ylang, sandalwood and white musk

To me it resembles a more green + lily version of Diptyque Florabellio so it’s no surprise this is one I like as well. I can smell the white tea and green mandarin and lily of the valley. It has a refreshing bright feel like jasmine even though there aren’t any jasmine notes. If I had to describe this one in one word it would be fresh. You can buy items individually but they have a few sets that are beautifully packaged. The Fragrance Gift Set has the shower gel, body lotion and perfume at a value price. Lasting power of the Eau de Toilette is medium to long.
Last but not least is the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc which I know many would designate as a summer fragrance. It’s a white floral that has beachy summer vibes but it’s not so summery that I can’t wear it right now (I’ve actually bought this months ago and have been loving it). In my experience Tom Ford fragrances are among the ones that last the longest on me from morning until late evening – but it does vary a little bit per scent. Some are stronger than others, but even the lighter ones still last a long time.

If you’re looking for a new fragrance I hope you found this roundup helpful! I don’t know if many of you are like me – but I feel the need to rotate scents frequently. I have some close friends who stick to 2-3 signature scents each season. I like to play around with different ones each season.

Do you have any favorites in rotation right now? If yes please let me know! I always love to read about your loves – especially when it comes to fragrance, layering etc.

Press samples featured include the Lumira Pardisium, Diptyque Eau de Sens, Replica and Molton Brown. Other items purchased by me.

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Roundup

My Favorite At-Home Pamper Essentials

April 22, 2016

I have a roundup of things I wanted to share that I find best for at-home pampering. I try to take care of my skin on a daily basis but try to give it extra care on the weekends – kinda like doing a DIY at home spa session for a good reset or cleanse. There are a few body products I’ve been meaning to write about for a while – ones I found well worth the splurge. I’ve included several recommendations by category – there’s no one product fits all so I’ve tried to cover a variety of options in case you’re looking for something specific whether it’s to purify skin, firm the skin, etc.

Cleansers


  • Cle de Peau Beaute Synactif Soap is probably one of the most expensive face cleansing products I’ve ever bought. I’ve gone through 4 of these – I probably would have purchased more if it came with a cheaper price tag. It gives the skin a very thorough cleanse without leaving a film. It cleans out all the pores and leaves skin feeling squeaky clean. When I feel like my face is getting clogged this helps clear up the complexion. With daily use 2x a day a single bar lasts about 4 months.
  • Kate Somerville Exfolikate Cleanser has been mentioned before in my spring cleanser roundup. I really can’t rave enough about this – I used mine up so I stocked up on a few more during the Sephora sale earlier this month. It cleanses the skin and helps keep it clear but gentle enough for daily use.
  • Ole Henriksen Empower Foaming Milk Cleanser (c/o) is a super gentle milk cleanser that won’t leave a film. I really don’t like milk cleansers because I often find them too rich for my skin type and they rarely leave my face feeling fully clean. A few of you mentioned you have really sensitive skin – this is a good one to try. It does give the face a good cleanse without drying it out. I still do a double cleanse with this one in the evenings (I remove all my makeup first with a cleansing oil or cleansing water), but in the morning it’s perfect to use alone.
  • Glamglow Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser is one of my favorite purifying cleansers. I’ve gone through several bottles and it’s one I keep going to. In hot summer months I can use this daily (usually in the late afternoon or evenings, or post work out), for now I like to use it weekly to help give the skin a thorough cleanse. It helps reduce redness and irritation too.

Masks


  • Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment is hands down one of the most effective clearing face masks. It does have a tingle feeling when you apply it but it’s not too strong and doesn’t irritate the skin. It sucks out impurities and leaves the skin feeling super firm and tight.
  • Glamglow Gravitymud Firming Treatment is one of the newer masks from Glamglow. This one you leave on the face for 20-30 minutes and peel off. I normally don’t like masks that require more than 15 minutes of application because I’m super impatient with skincare, but this one is worth the extra time. It is more on the gentle side for a firming mask and I feel like the effects are more immediate vs. long-term, but it does leave the skin feeling super firm and lifted.
  • Aesop Parsley Seed Mask is the best purifying mask for my sensitive skin. It dries up the gunk in your skin and leaves it feeling thoroughly clean and tight. Many have mentioned to me that their skin cannot handle the Glamglow because they find it too harsh. If that is the case and you still want a purifying mask to draw out impurities, try the Aesop.
  • Kate Somerville Eradikate is one of the most gentle acne-clearing masks. It works in a similar way to the other clarifying masks mentioned above but is super gentle and non-irritating. It won’t leave the skin feeling tight. It’s gentle enough to use daily – I wouldn’t recommend using it every single day, but on weeks where I have some breakouts, I use this nightly for about 4-5 nights and it really helps clear up the skin.
Body

I usually don’t splurge on body products. I typically keep things simple with L’Occitane or Nuxe, but I’ve discovered some new-to-me things that I am really excited to share with you.


  • Chanel Fresh Body Cream is something I’m beyond obsessed with. It’s one of the most expensive body products I’ve ever bought and it’s a bit hard to find (you can’t find it at all counters). You can basically find this at any store or counter that sells the Exclusifs Fragrances. It’s a super gentle body cream that smells really fresh but won’t interfere with perfumes. I like to use this at night before bed because I have a sensitive nose and scents sometimes prevent me from falling asleep. This one is soothing enough that it doesn’t interfere with my sleep. It’s hydrating and non-greasy. I will keep repurchasing this one for as long as they make it.
  • Byredo Bal D’Afrique Body Cream is another pricey splurge but I adore the Bal D’Afrique scent I had to try it in the body cream. This one is super emollient and has a body butter feel which is super lush. A little goes a long way and the moisture lingers for an emollient feel. You can definitely feel the moisture after you apply but it’s not greasy. That being said if you need a body product to have a dry-down you may find this too rich.
  • L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body is another favorite. I’ve featured this a few times in past years. It has all the moisturizing and soothing qualities of items from the regular Shea line but it’s lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly. Anytime I have irritation or flare ups – I use this and skin is instantly soothed. I love that it’s non greasy, gentle, but effective.
  • NARS Monoii Body Glow II is the ultimate scented tiare body oil that makes you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation. It lifts the mood instantly and absorbs quickly into the skin. There’s no greasy feel or residue after it’s absorbed into the skin. I’m about 99% happy with this one – if it came with a pump dispenser it would be perfect.
Home Fragrance


  • Lumira Travel Candles (c/o) are super compact and cute, I love having a few scattered around the house to burn. To date I don’t think I’ve brought a candle with me while I travel but there are times when I have traveled that I wish I had one with me. I’m trying my best to save the mini ones for my next trip. My favorite from their line is the Tahitian Coconut.
  • Lumira Mini Destinations Box Set (c/o) launched over the holiday a boxed trio of the most popular scents from the line in Tuscan Fig, Cuban Tobacco, Persian Rose. I just finally started burning Tuscan Fig today – it’s amazing and smells of sweet figs (Diptyque’s Figuier by comparison is greener). Top notes are fig leaves and fig tree, middle notes are blackcurrant and cedarwood, base is iris and musk.
  • Diptyque Gingembre Room Spray (c/o) was reviewed a month ago (I can’t believe an entire month has gone by). I won’t repeat the review but it’s a really nice bright and cheery kind of home scent.
  • Diptyque Colored Candle in Baies (c/o) is a classic. The larger size gives this one a stronger throw compared to the smaller ones. Don’t forget if you have any Diptyque on your wishlist you can save online at Space NK US by using my special promo code through May 1st.

Lips
I have very sensitive lips when it comes to lip treatments. There are quite a few very popular options that make my lips go numb (Kiehl’s, CO Bigelow, Chapstick etc.) so that may give you an idea of just how sensitive they are. The ones below are Beauty Look Book approved. Of course it’s not a list of all the ones I’ve tested or like, but ones I like most for right now.


  • Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm is a great lip treatments that is also affordable. It’s emollient and I love the simple classic squeeze tube packaging.
  • Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Smashed is my current favorite for the most moisturizing lip treatment to help with dry or cracked lips (swatched in this post here and here).
  • AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment is one I just used up (review from winter in this post here), it’s the best scent and taste-free lip treatment I’ve tried. Most others have some kind of scent or flavor. If you’re really sensitive to any scent, I’d recommend you try this one.
  • By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur in Coral Stellar is one of the prettiest tinted lip treatments I’ve tried. Review + swatches here. It’s worth the splurge.
  • Chanel Hydra Beauty Nourishing Lip Care is a good lip treatment but I do think it’s overpriced for what you get. That being said I’ve never regretted buying this one and if you’re willing to splurge it’s a good gentle one that always soothes my lips. (More on this compared to others in this post here.)
If you’re looking for something to help reset the skin, calm the complexion or give your body an extra boost of moisture, I hope you found this roundup helpful! I have super sensitive skin and there are some body lotions and creams that cause an immediate allergic reaction (I always do a patch test first). If a good purifying mask is what you have been looking for but want something suitable for sensitive skin I hope the recs above help you find something gentle enough for your skin type!

What are your favorite at-home pampering products? I really love hearing about your favorites. So many of you have recommended some great things for me to try. I’m pretty set on masks but I do have my eye on a few sheet masks. I’m intrigued by mainly the two from La Mer – if you’ve tried them should I go for the Brightening Facial Masks or Hydrating Sheet Masks? Or should I wait for the Eve Lom Brightening Sheet Mask to launch in the US?

I hope you had a great week! Enjoy the weekend 🙂

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

The Beauty Look Book Diptyque Favorites

April 18, 2016

I’ve been a long-time Diptyque lover and many of you have seen that their candles and fragrances are a huge part of my everyday life. This post has been highly requested as many of you ask me for recommendations on a regular basis. I think fragrance shopping can be overwhelming if you’re new to the line or don’t have in person access to smell their products. When I first discovered Diptyque it was hard to find – only a few stores carried it and they were at least a 2 hour drive away from where I lived. Sometimes it took me several trips that happened over a few months before I could decide to splurge on one. You know the drill – sometimes you have to smell something and think about it before deciding whether or not to buy a scent whether it’s perfume or for the home. In the past 5 years they’ve expanded their offerings to more retailers which I’m thrilled about and have also opened up quite a few new free standing boutiques. I thought it was time I did a roundup of my favorites and a mini guide on the brand in case you’re new to the line and want some ideas of where to start exploring.

For me fragrance is seasonal and home scents are no exception. I’ve tried to include non-seasonal launches that will work for right now (spring to summer). Diptyque occasionally launches limited-edition seasonal options typically in the spring with a rose-theme (the latest one was Rosaviola) and also options during the holiday.

In terms of home fragrance brands in general, my favorite lines of the moment include Diptyque, Henri Bendel and Byredo. I do enjoy items from Malin + Goetz, Cire Trudon, Le Labo and Jo Malone as well – but my most-burned candles are hands down from Diptyque. Fragrance preference is so personal and for me Diptyque remains at the top of my list for adding a special touch to the home. I find the scents to be beautiful and love how well designed the packaging is. I love the way they burn and how the scents can lift one’s mood. I truly think they are worth the splurge.

Standard Candles and Size Options
Up first is a breakdown of the standard scent options and sizes. Shown below from left to right are the standard options you can buy individually.

Colored Glass Candles $90 for 10.2 oz
Estimated Burn Time 90 hours
Available in Baies, Figuier,
Tubereuse, Ambre, Feu de Bois
Standard Glass Jars $62 for 6.5 oz 
Estimated Burn Time 60 hours
Available in the widest range of scents in the line

Large Scented Outdoor Candles $290 for 51.2 oz
(shown repurposed as a flower pot)
Estimated Burn Time 190 hours
Available in Baies, Figuier,
Tubereuse, Feu de Bois

Mini $32 for 3.2 oz
Estimated Burn Time 20 hours
Available in a smaller selection of 15 scents

Standard scents are split into categories like Fruity, Woody, Spicy, Herbal, and Floral. Most of the scents can be easily found at a wide range of retailers. You can also find the Collection 34 options at most retailers too. These come in a slightly different jar that is a matte porcelain jar currently available in 3 options (all shown in this post here, also priced slightly higher than the standard options).

For the standard options my top four picks include:
  • La Prouveresse (from Collection 34) – pulls on the masculine side with notes of fig, cypress and cedarwood with an earthy and raw feel
  • Feuille de Lavande – strong lavender with an earthy feel
  • Baies (black colored version c/o) – mix of blackcurrant and rose
  • Figuier – the best warm fig I’ve ever tried

Boutique Exclusives are scents that are exclusive to Diptyque stores and their website. In my experience their website frequently goes out of stock on a number of these options but they do restock frequently. Stores tend to have more stock compared to their website and although I find ordering online is what I prefer, their boutique have excellent customer service. My top picks on the boutique exclusives include:
  • Cuir – leather and birch bark with a very clean feel
  • Aubepine – hawthorn, powdery floral that has an almond feel
  • Tilleul – sweet linden scent with a hint of lime, floral fresh and green
  • Tomas Maier Palm Beach – mix of citrus and floral, with noticeable hints of jasmine, iris and sea salt with a green touch
Also shown below is a pair of the Wick Trimmers which I’ve found invaluable in trimming and catching burnt wicks. They can be found at all Diptyque retailers.

Photophores are decorative accessories and come in several options. For the most part these are exclusive to the boutiques. Here’s a quick snapshot I took of the glass options lined up in Printemps when I visited Paris last year. They are on the pricey side but they make beautiful decorative accents for the home. In recent holiday seasons they’ve started offering the Large Photophore + Baies or Large Photophore + Feu de Bois as a set (one with straight lines) at multiple retailers.

If you’re curious on which ones I own, I have the Large Full Twist (shown here), Small Full Twist (shown here) and Oiseaux Photophore (shown here).

Perfumes from the line are tricky for me. I adore the way many of them smell but there’s something with my body chemistry that doesn’t work the best with Diptyque perfumes. Others work well as a home fragrance like fig or vanilla but aren’t scents I feel comfortable wearing. Three that I really love:
  • L’Ombre Dans L’Eau is the Baies equivalent in perfume form. It’s a heavier blackcurrant kind of scent that I think is perfect for special occasions. For me it’s not one I can wear everyday although my husband really likes it on me. (I have this one in a couple of the mini vials.)
  • Eau de Sens (c/o) is the newest fragrance from Diptyque. It’s the best orange blossom I’ve found that works with my chemistry. Most turn too sweet or have a bitter dry down, this is just perfect as an in between kind of scent. It has orange blossom, bitter orange, juniper berries, angelica and patchouli.
  • Florabellio (c/o) was last spring’s launch and to this day it’s one of the most unique scents I own. It’s description makes me think it would be the last scent I would ever wear as it has a mix of apple blossoms, apricot, fennel, sea salt, coffee and toasted sesame. It’s sweet and summery.

Room Sprays – I just did a post on the two new ones Gingembre and Fleur D’Oranger (c/o) here so I won’t repeat the review. Figuier and Baies reviewed here. I think they are all really good so I can’t pick a favorite but I would say right now it’s a tie between Baies and Gingembre. Thoughts on the difference between the candles and room sprays in both review posts linked above. (Note the lavender one isn’t available in the US.)

Frequently asked questions:
  • Where is the best place to buy Diptyque? 
    •  You can find these at a wide range of retailers. My preference is to shop in the free-standing stores/boutiques because they have the best customer service in my experience and also have the widest selection. Since I don’t have one near me though I also order online from Nordstrom and Space NK.
  • Do these ever go on sale?
    • I’ve never seen them go on sale, although they do offer occasional gift with purchase minis, these are unfortunately hard to find. Check Nordstrom during their Double or Triple Points Events, Neiman Marcus during their Incircle or Beauty Weeks, individual free standing stores often have promotions too.
  • I’m going to be buying my first Diptyque candle? Which one should I start with?
    • Oooh, tough one! I would say that it really depends on what kinds of scents you like but the three I’ve gifted the most frequently include Baies, Figuier and Roses – I don’t think you could go wrong with any of these. You might want to consider the Mini Candle Trio to start. Some retailers still have the 10 Piece Holiday Candle set from the holiday season too.
  • How long does a candle last?
    • For me a standard candle can lasts months – I don’t know why but it takes me forever to finish burning a candle! Notes on burn time near the top of the post next to each sizing. I haven’t actually timed the burn time from start to finish though.
  • Are there any tips on how to care for candles?
    • Yes, lots of tips in my Candle Care Tips post – be sure to trim the wicks after each burn, also note the timing of the first burn is important to make sure you avoid tunneling.
  • The sides of my candle start burning and turn black with the residual burn, is this normal?
    • Sometimes wicks can migrate so you need to push them back to the center if they start to move. Be sure you trim the wicks before you burn – having long wicks can make them smoke and burn the sides.
  • Is the wick trimmer worth the price?
    • Yes I do think it is. You can use regular scissors or nail clippers or anything sharp to cut the wick too – but it is nice to have a dedicated tool so the wick doesn’t smudge other things you have. The beveled tip also makes it nice to catch the trimmed portion.
  • Is there a difference between shopping at a retailer like Nordstrom or Space NK vs shopping at the individual stores?
    • Yes – individual stores have exclusives, offer beautiful gift wrapping and often have promotions that larger retailers don’t. In my experience the staff at Diptyque stores are very knowledgeable, friendly and I’ve never felt pressure to buy. I’ve done a few stories on boutiques including South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa), Maiden Lane (San Francisco), Larchmont (Los Angeles), 34 Boulevard Saint Germain (Paris).
  • What about their body products? Any thoughts on those?
  • Best way to clean out residual wax once the burn is finished? 
    • There are a number of different ways to remove remaining wax. I have a tutorial in my Diptyque Candle Jars Recycled post. My favorite way is to use warm water and dish soap in repeated steps to soften the wax and help clean the edges. Although others recommend freezing or boiling, I wouldn’t recommend those methods which I find can make the glass prone to cracking or can damage the sticker labels.
  • What do you do with all the empties?
    • I recycle or repurpose most of them! You can use them to store pens, makeup brushes, beauty minis, roller-ball perfumes, q-tips, etc.

I hope you found this round up guide on Diptyque helpful! I’ve been a fan for years and still haven’t tried every scent they have. For me everytime I visit a boutique I learn something new. I’ve tried a lot more than I’ve featured in the recommendations above but as a starting point I wanted to share the ones that were my absolute favorites. I get asked on a weekly basis what my top picks are and I think there is so much to explore and preferences depend on the season, but if I were to narrow down my top five favorites right now, they would include Baies, Figuier, Cuir, Gingembre Room Spray and Tomas Maier Palm Beach.
You can find Diptyque at a wide range of retailers these days. I’m always thrilled when I find they’ve expanded their distribution because it makes it easier for me to find. Available at Nordstrom, Space NK (special TBLB promo code valid through May 1st), Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Net-A-Porter and Diptyque.

Some items featured include press samples indicated with “c/o.”
Most items featured purchased by me.
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