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Loving Right Now

Beauty Favorites Loving Right Now

Loving Right Now

May 4, 2017

Loving Right Now, On My Beauty Vanity | The Beauty Look Book

Happy Thursday everyone! It’s almost the weekend 🙂 I have a roundup of some things I’ve been loving right now. So many of you have been asking for lightweight foundation recommendations. I’ve traditionally been a medium to full coverage kind of person and those who have met me in person are usually surprised that I’m wearing full coverage foundation set with a powder foundation. I suppose this is a good thing because that means it doesn’t look heavy or caked on! With the Florida sunshine and heat I’ve found that I have been loving lighter sheerer foundations. I’ve really liked the MAC Next to Nothing Foundation and Powder combination. I do still need concealer since the formula is so sheer but I love the weightless feel. I just bought some cushions from Sulwhasoo and Saturday Skin and also the NARS Hydrating Glow Tint (it was available online at Nordstrom a few days ago but looks like it’s been pulled from the site). I’ll have a warm weather base roundup in the upcoming weeks.

MAC Next to Nothing Foundation Powder | The Beauty Look Book

For highlighters I really can’t get enough of the gorgeous NARS Banc de Sable Highlighting Trio. I love the packaging, the sturdy compact and the finely milled smooth shimmers in this formula. The size of the pans is decent too so it’s easy to dip a cheek brush into them or swirl together. Swatches of this beauty here and here.

NARS Banc de Sable highlighting palette | The Beauty Look Book

I haven’t always been a fan of RMS Beauty but the more I try the more I love. My first product I bought was the Living Luminizer years ago and even though it has cult-status it just wasn’t for my skintone or skintype. The second item I bought was the Solar Eye Polish which is a golden shimmer. It’s a dewy kind of shimmer which I absolutely love. I used it up entirely many years ago and never repurchased until I saw the line pop up at Nordstrom and I’m thrilled to see it available at Sephora now too 🙂 I bought Mix Master a while ago and it’s what I wanted the Living Luminzer to be on my skin. It has a peachy tint which blends in with my skintone to give it the softest dewy sheen. Because I liked it so much I ordered the Magic Luminizer sight unseen which is paler and gives my skin more of a highlight. I think the Magic Luminizer will be better suited to lighter/fair skins but I still really like the glowy effect it gives. If you want glow without the shimmer these are definitely worth looking into.

Tom Ford recently launched a smaller newly packaged version of Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust and I received an overwhelming amount of e-mails asking if it was the same as the second one launched in the square bottle. Having multiples is redundant but I decided to order it for my readers who don’t have access to the brand or want to know. I assumed they would be the same but since so many of you asked I had to find out for myself. Below left is the new Fire Lust 0.5 oz ($50) and right is the original Fire Lust 1 oz ($72).

Swatches below next to the Shimmer Shots in Spin Spin Sugar and Lust for Life. Also the small vs large Fire Lust swatched. I deem them to be almost identical. In the swatches the new small Fire Lust is slightly more peach while the original Fire Lust has more visible gold. However once blended on the face the difference is impossible to see. Formula-wise they have the same feel, same pigment, same texture and finish. Based on the price per oz the larger one is the better buy but you may like the packaging design of the smaller one better. At any rate I hope this saves you money if you already have a Fire Lust from previous years.

For lips neutrals and nudes are always winners in my book. A few favorites include YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil in Stick in Beige Blouse (previously reviewed/lip swatched here). I’ve also been loving the Surratt Lip Lustres in Au Naturelle and Ensoille (both swatched here).

Surratt Lip Lustre and YSL Beige Blouse

Surratt Lip Lustre and YSL Beige Blouse

Last but not least some skincare, fragrance and haircare loves:

Skincare and Fragrance Loves

Some thoughts on the items shown above from left to right:

  • Chanel Huile de Jasmin is a beautiful face oil. It has Camellia Oil, Limnathes Alba Oil and Jojoba Oil. It’s wonderfully lightweight and has a beautiful soft floral scent. I’ve been loving this at night but find it also wears well during the day under foundation. My personal preference is to not wear oils under foundation because sometimes they can break down makeup. My super sensitive skin loves this for one of the more lighter weight oils that offers nice hydration without any heavy feel. I received this as a press sample and it’s pricey but I would have no regrets splurging on this and will definitely repurchase once mine is used up.
  • Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt is something I finally splurged on and I’ve been obsessed. It’s perfect alone and for layering. It’s a great year-round scent and I love it as a great alternative to spring florals. I know that not everyone loves florals and it can be tricky to find a scent that isn’t floral, spicy, or beachy. This is a unique option that’s different.
  • Verb Ghost Oil has been a favorite for months. I’ve already gone through one bottle. I love the size, the pump and it’s the best smelling fresh hair oil I’ve smelled. I love that it’s lightweight and won’t make the hair look greasy. Review of this one along with other hair oils in this post here.
  • Last but not least I’ve discovered some new favorites from Tatcha. The Essence is something I’ve already featured and I love it. I’ve also loved the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence but never repurchased due to the price. The Tatcha is similar in concept but it feels just a tiny bit more lightweight and doesn’t leave a film on the skin like some other essence products do. I know the point of some essence is to feel it, but I’m all about weightless and the Tatcha is one I’ve been using daily for several weeks now and it really helps other skincare absorb better into the skin. There were two new creams that they launched including The Silk Cream and Water Cream. I didn’t know which one to try for my skin type so I bought the Starter Ritual Set for Normal to Oily Skin and love it. I brought these along with me on recent trips and the size is just perfect. For Tatcha moisturizers I’ve only found one that I love for my normal combo skin which is the Pore Perfecting Water Gel Moisturizer. I love their serums and sheet masks but in general the line seems more geared towards those with dry skin. The Water Cream has a more lightweight feel that almost has a water like feel on the skin. Tatcha describes this as being a unique water-burst cream that breaks upon application and it does just that. It’s so lightweight it feels like it might not do anything but I put it to the test and absolutely love this one. It’s the lightest cream I’ve ever tried and it offers just the right amount of hydration for my normal skin. If you’re unsure of which moisturizer to try they have four different Ritual Starter Sets for Normal to Dry Skin, Dry Skin, Sensitive Skin and the one I bought for Normal to Oily Skin. I’m buying more for upcoming trips as they’re great for travel.

Loving Right Now | The Beauty Look Book

Shown in top and bottom image, mirror from Anthropologie, black marble trivet from Willams-Sonoma, table from Crate and Barrel. Rose-gold eyelash curler from Charlotte Tilbury. Card case by Gucci. Recycled candle by Byredo (color is limited-edition).

That wraps up my Loving Right Now roundup for this week! What are you loving right now? P.S. I’m doing a fun giveaway on Instagram with Antica Farmacista – details on how to enter here.

Press samples featured include MAC Next to Nothing, Tom Ford Fire Lust (larger size), Chanel Huile de Jasmin Oil.

Loving Right Now

Loving Right Now + Instagram Roundup

March 13, 2017

Nordstrom Beauty Favorites | The Beauty Look Book

Happy Monday lovelies! I hope you all had a great weekend. So many of you have sent me the sweetest notes, comments and messages about my recent move. We’ve all adjusted quite well and are loving the Florida sunshine. I’m still on west coast time internally and with the recent time change now I’m even more confused about timing. The first couple days we arrived in South Florida were the hardest for me. I didn’t realize how homesick I’d get – but I am adjusting and each day we love exploring the Tampa Bay area. We’ve driven all over the place in search for cute places to visit, explore and also have found some really amazing food places. My mother in-law flew in to visit us for a week and having her here was the best. We’ve also found that the Bahamas are only a little over an hour flight away so we have already started planning some fun weekend getaways!

I have upcoming reviews from Tom Ford, Chanel, MAC, Sisley and more coming this week, but first I wanted to do a quick post of what I’ve been loving right now and an Instagram roundup as there are some things I don’t want you to miss.

Loving Right Now | The Beauty Look Book

First, in the top image has a mix of long-time favorites and new items. The MAC Work It Out collection has three new scented Prep + Prime Fix+ Sprays that come in the mini size. They launched scented versions a long time ago (I missed out) and have brought back Lavender, Coconut and Rose. I received Lavender as a press sample and loved it so much I bought the other two. These are setting sprays to make your makeup look a little less powdery. Or you can spray it before you start the makeup process to add a bit of hydration. There are also new eyeshadow palettes from MAC in the x9 version or a x15 version called In the Flesh. I prefer the larger palettes with the full size pans as they’re a bit easier to use and dip a brush into.

Also the weather in Florida is quite a bit warmer than what we’ve experienced this winter in Southern California so I’ve had to experiment with different moisturizers, foundations and bases. Two I’ve really been liking are the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation (Bisque) and the Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation (Bisque, all shades swatched here). My go-to setting powders are still the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (Medium Plus) and Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder (Shade 2) – but I suspect I’m going to have to do more testing with my other formulas to see what will last the best in warmer humid weather.

The first thing I did when we arrived in our new home was to burn candles to try and make it smell like home. We went from a 1,100 sq foot loft to a 3,000+ sq foot home and we love all the space we have now! I also ran around spraying a different room spray in each room. I’m still hoping that Diptyque will launch all the scents in the US eventually. Baies and Figuier reviewed here. Gingembre and Fleur D’Oranger reviewed here. I usually buy mine from Nordstrom.

Diptyque Room Sprays Baies, Figuier, Lavender | The Beauty Look Book

One of the things I’m most excited about is the Away x Popsuki Collaboration. I’m a huge fan of their carry-ons and so is my husband. We’ve used ours in the Carry-On size for many trips and are obsessed. The latest is a limited-edition pink in all their sizes. Since I first discovered them last summer they’ve since added more sizes. They have a new Bigger Carry-On which they sent over and I can’t wait for our next getaway so I can use them. You can see my review of the carry-ons in this post here from our New York trip (save $20 off your first order by clicking this referral link).

Away x Popsuki Pink Luggage | The Beauty Look Book

Next is a sneak peek at two new-to-me brands. I just started testing the Sisley cosmetic line with the new Phyto-Blush Twist. I had used a few sample packets of their skincare before and it’s just SO amazing. I do love and use the Radiant Glow Express Mask. Based on raves from many of you I found a few packets at my local counter before I moved and my wallet is crying that I now love their Black Rose Mask and the Creamy Mask with Tropical Resins. I also started testing out some Maison Francis Kurkdijian – Aqua Celestia is amazing!

Maison Francis Kurkdijian and Sisley Twist Blush | The Beauty Look Book

Many of you asked for a close up and more thoughts on the Stuart Weitzman Nearlynude Sandals. They are pricey but for me well worth the splurge. Different retailers have different colors and finishes so you may have to shop around to find the exact combo you want. At 5’3″ I am high-heel challenged. Most are too high for me to wear. These are just the right height and there’s no pain or break in period. They do run large so I recommend sizing a 1/2 size down. In most American brands of shoes I’m a 6.5, but with Stuart Weitzman I go down to a size 6. Below is the Naked Suede from Nordstrom.

Outfit Celine Belt Bag and Stuart Weitzman Nearlynude Sandals | The Beauty Look Book

Another close up shot taken by Jessica Alexander of the Black Nappa Leather:

Stuart Weitzman Nearlynude Black | The Beauty Look Book

Last but not least a sneak peek of some upcoming Chanel goodness. I bought a few of the Rouge Coco Glosses before I moved. My favorite is Tendresse. I just started testing more of the colors and will swatch what I have as soon as I can. I know many of you have asked for comparisons of old colors to new ones. I’m still unpacking (it’s going to take me forever) and we are planning some remodels to a few rooms, so for now I’ll most likely only be able to review the new colors for you. Cute eyelash mug below is from Etsy. Many of you asked when the Le Blanc Energies Et Puretes collection would launch in the US – it’s finally here! Currently only available on Chanel.com and this will be reviewed in tomorrow’s post.

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss | The Beauty Look Book

One last note, I splurged on a couple new leather goods and a few of you also asked whether I prefer the Gucci Marmont Card Case in the fold over wallet style or the traditional Card Case. I prefer the fold over larger one as it holds more but is still compact. You can fit cash inside and there’s plenty of room for ID, bank cards, credit cards without having it feel like it’s stuffed (I usually carry around 5-6 cards including ID). The leather is soft and plush but has held up remarkably well so far, both are great though.

That’s a wrap for my Instagram roundup/sneak peek! A Chanel post will go live tomorrow 🙂

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Loving Right Now

November 18, 2016

Flatlay Desktop Decor Beauty Look Book

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you had a great week. Some of you may have noticed I switched up the design of the blog and my site went through some updates. A few of you have been kind enough to message me and let me know you aren’t able to access new content from the home page, I hope everything is fixed now! Kindly shoot me an email if you can’t see the Glossier Black Tie Set review or the Holiday Beauty Gifts and Stocking Stuffers Under $50 guide. Or if you’ve posted comments but don’t see them show up also let me know via [email protected].

On my desktop I have the new Coveteur Book and Capture Your Style – both which I’ve been able to peek at here and there over the past few busy days. I can’t wait to dive in as I’m such a huge fan of both blogs.

Five things I’m loving right now include:

I wanted to thank everyone for entering my giveaway a few weeks ago – I’ve enjoyed reading all of your questions you have and will pick a few and answer them in a fun get-to-know-me post after Thanksgiving. A quick note on upcoming posts:

  • I did a teaser on Instagram of the new Tom Ford Lips and Boys – there are 25 new shades and 25 repromoted colors that will launch at Sephora.com on November 24th and the rest of the stores will receive them on Black Friday, I’m busy doing lip swatches right now and will have the post up soon in case you’re ordering online, this year there are mattes!
  • Many of you wanted swatches of the MAC Extra Dimension Finishes and Strobe Creams from the In the Spotlight Collection. Post scheduled to go live tomorrow (Saturday!)
  • More holiday gift guides to be posted in the next week!
  • I have an exclusive coming up on Wednesday the 23rd that I’m dying to share with you but can’t yet. It’s something that Beauty Look Book readers are going to get early access to and I’m really really excited!
  • And yes the Louis Vuittons Perfume post is going to happen, I just don’t know when I’ll be able to fit it in, but I’ll review all the scents as I bought the mini sampler set

I hope you all enjoy your Friday and have a wonderful weekend! If you have anything you are loving right now I’d love to hear about them. Hopefully the comment function will resume working soon! xoxo

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Loving Right Now

Weekend Links and Loves

September 11, 2016

Happy Sunday lovelies! I hope you had a great weekend. I wanted to share a little sneak peek of what’s coming up on The Beauty Look Book and also a few loves. Four classics that never let me down include the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Duo (review here), Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in Ibiza Nights (on the lips here), NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint (swatched here) and Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Opale (swatched here). With so many new items launching weekly I rotate through items frequently, but these are items I find to be among my tried and true.

For this upcoming fall season I’ve been really excited about the fragrances that are launching. I was able to test and see all the scents Louis Vuitton launched in the Les Parfums line. I bought the Miniatures Set which has all 7 in 10 ml mini bottles. Unfortunately they are not sprays or else I would think they are absolutely perfect. I could not decide on one so this set was the best way for me to sample them all. I’m almost finished testing each one and will have a review soon.

The Maison Margiela Replica Filters in Glow and Blur were on my radar last month. I’ve been lusting over these for weeks now but after my last perfume mishap ordering sight unseen, I told myself to wait. In this case I could have ordered blind and been completely safe because I finally smelled both last week and it’s pure love. I will have a more detailed review soon, but both are perfume oil sprays designed to be a perfume primer to layer with their regular scent. The effect is lighter than a traditional perfume, but for me both are suitable to wear on it’s own. I’ll be testing and layering against the other Replica fragrances I own in the upcoming days. So far I have spritzed and worn them alone. I could pick one scent that I feel is really truly me in a bottle, it would be either one of these. Glow is a bit more citrusy while Blur is more like a cotton musk.

Tom Ford Lip Contour Duos launched in eight shades for the regular lineup and an AW16 shade that was featured on the runway last week. I’m working as fast as I can to have my picks up and swatched for you. First impressions on the AW16 shade is that it’s very light and pale. I feel as though the online stock photos are misleading because it looks like a wearable peachy nude but in real life it’s a pale pale nude. For me it has a similar in effect on my lips to the SS16 Lip Shine, so alone the liner/lipstick combo simply looks horrible. Like a concealer on the lips. I’ve heard it’s best to use with other colors as a layering kind of product. To test it out I just put NARS Vida Loca and Chelsea Girls on top as a test and the look was dramatically improved. I think layering can be fun but at $53 a pop I’m not sure I want a lip product to be high maintenance color-wise. The regular lineup is much easier to wear though.

Some link love:

  • NYFW has been in full swing and I’m living vicariously through others via Instagram and Snapchat and am seriously missing New York City right now. I find so many fashion bloggers inspirational and so so creative! Their looks and styling tips have so much more meaning to me than a magazine. A few favorites include @pamhetlinger, @andeelayne, @hellofashionblog, @extrapetite, @9to5chic and @brooklynblonde1.
  • MAC is launching a new lip formula called Liptensity on September 20th. Fall is always a huge season for new lipstick shades and formulas. I did a little sneak peek on Instastories @beautylookbook which was only up for 24 hours so by now the preview is gone but you can see a snapshot here. For now if you can’t wait to see my review, I recommend you check out Temptalia for swatches of all the colors.
  • One of my favorite bloggers Tamira Jarrel has been nominated for the Bloglovin’ Awards for Best Beauty Blog. I want to give her a shout out and hope you’ll support as well by voting for her! Link to the place to vote in her Instagram @tamirajarrel 🙂
  • I finally gave the Bite Beauty Multisticks a test at Sephora and bought two shades to try out (review soon). I found the swatches Karen did at Makeup and Beauty Blog super helpful because she swatched them all side by side.
Hope you enjoy the last bits of your weekend! Lots of posts coming up soon on the blog including the new No 5 L’Eau from Chanel, Le Teint Ultra Tenue Powder Foundation, swatches of all the lipsticks from Edward Bess, a look at the new Rouge Dior and thoughts on the Louboutin Loubi Nail Care Kit.
Any recent finds from the past week’s beauty events? Did you order anything new or stock up on some beauty loves from Space NK or Barney’s? In a moment of weakness I ordered the Chantecaille Faux Cils mascara. I hope I’m not disappointed. Don’t forget the Barneys Love Yourself Event ends today!
Monthly Favorites Roundup

August Beauty and Skincare Favorites

September 1, 2016
1   /   2   /   3   /   4   /   5   /   6   /   7    /
8   /   9   /   10   /  11  /  12  /  13  /  14   /  15

Quite a few of you have asked that I bring back my monthly favorites roundups so I have one for you today. Many of you like the rotation and roundup kind of posts, I still have the nail/hand care, foundation, hair styling and skincare ones in the work. For those who can’t wait I’ll say that my top three favorite foundations still remain the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint (still Groenland + St. Moritz mixed), Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (I use 125/Y315, all shades also available online in this value set now) and the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation (my best match is 123/Y365).

Onto my favorites for this month which was difficult for me to narrow down. I’m still enjoying these Molton Brown mini hand washes and these lip treatments. In addition these liquid lips are really very good. I have managed to narrow down a list of my top favorites for this past month though even though a lot of loves have gone unmentioned:
  1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadows have been in heavy rotation because of their silky smooth texture, rich pigment, blendable finish and easy to wear shades. You can pick and choose your own colors to create quads, the one shown above has Sateen, Chiffon, Warm Taupe and Chocolate. To date I’ve accumulated quite a few you can see swatched here and here.
  2. Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara is something I discovered in a set from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I love this because it thickens, volumizes and holds the curl. It also looks super dark on the lashes. I will repurchase this.
  3. Dior Vernis in Minimal (c/o) is my current perfect pale polished nude. Review + swatch here.
  4. Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder (c/o) is relatively new to me but it is hands down the most naturally luminous highlighter I’ve tried this year (out of the new ones launched this year). I think it’s a must, swatches here.
  5. Anastasia Glow Kit in Sundipped is one of the prettiest palettes I think I’ve seen in a while. If you don’t mind a good shimmer this is a great one for eyes and cheeks. I like mixing and swirling colors before applying to the eyes. Review + swatches here.
  6. MAC Eyelash Curler is something I picked up recently and was pleasantly surprised. My go-to Chanel lash curlers have seen better days after years of use and I don’t think they’re carried in the US anymore. The one from MAC comes in close second for my eye shape.
  7. Tom Ford Ultra Rich Lip Color in Revolve Around Me (c/o) best nude for me right now (actually since April of this year). You can see it swatched on my lips in this post here.
  8. Edward Bess Deep Shine Lip Gloss in French Lace is a pretty soft pink. All of his lip glosses reviewed in this post here.
  9. Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Kidman’s Kiss (shown) and Super Cindy are both pretty close neutral peachy colors, I think the entire Hot Lips Lipsticks have been a knock out success, especially for those who like matte lips (she has the best matte lipstick formula in my opinion). The entire launch reviewed and swatched here.
  10. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk and Iconic Nude are my most reached for liners. Pillow Talk is a deeper pinky color while Iconic Nude is a brown nude. Both swatched here.
  11. Bumble and Bumble Surf Shampoo wins for best shampoo to clean the hair well with a squeaky clean feel but won’t dry out the hair. It has a mild but fresh beachy kind of scent. Leaves the hair feeling soft and fluffy (but not frizzy). Even my husband likes it. September beauty events are just around the corner. I recommend putting this on your shopping list. I will repurchase this.
  12. Bumble and Bumble Surf Conditioner also is a winner. I rarely am in love with both shampoo and conditioners of the same formula/brand and typically have to mix and match. This combo is pure love. More in this review here.
  13. Tatcha Pore Perfecting Water Gel (c/o) is something I received earlier in the spring. It took me a long time to get into testing this because frankly I don’t like face gels. They’re often sticky or tacky and just don’t absorb well into my skin. This one does indeed have a gel like consistency but if you massage it into the skin it melds in nicely and doesn’t leave a film like other brands. I’ve been alternating this with Kate Somerville Nourish, both of which are lightweight for warmer weather. Neither will get greasy but have enough for my normal-combination skin. They wear very well under foundation too. The Pore Perfecting Water Gel is also available in a mini travel size. I love the packaging, the pump and the way it feels on the skin. Huge thumbs up. It also helps to smooth out pores.
  14. Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask remains my tried and true clarifying mask that is gentle, even when my skin has flare ups. It sucks up excess dirt and oil. I have finally lost count of how many tubes I’ve bought and used up.
  15. Kate Somerville RetAsphere™ Micro Peel (c/o) is a leave-on treatment for night that helps with skin uneveness and really works to improve texture. It’s very gentle but I use it once a week. It’s a micro-peel that infuses skin with retinol with 10% glycolic acid and lactose to help resurface skin. Out of all the skincare lines I’ve tried, I feel that Kate Somerville has truly been one of the game changers for my skin as I transitioned from my 20’s to 30’s. During that transition I went through a lot of stress and my skin suffered a lot with texture issues and repeated break outs. While I’ve worked to manage the stress, finding the right skincare has played a major role in improving texture. I’ve tried so many lines and out of all the ones I have tried, Kate Somerville all around has worked the best for me. I don’t use a night treatment every night because I sometimes just want to let the skin breathe. The RetAsphere™ 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream is one of the best most gentle yet effective night treatments I alternate with the Micro-Peel. The Micro-Peel makes the favorites list though because just using this once a week has improved my skin texture tremendously.
What are you loving right now? Do you have any favorites from the past month? As always I love reading about what you’ve tried, love and recommend. Even if something you tried hasn’t worked for you, I still love reading about those experiences as well. Are there any colors or collections you’ve been smitten with as we transition to fall beauty?
Press samples featured indicated with a “c/o”. As always all opinions my own.
Giveaway Loving Right Now

Loving Right Now + Gift Card Giveaway

July 22, 2016

Happy Friday everyone! It’s been one of those weeks I thought would never end and I am relieved that it’s almost the weekend. Thank you to everyone who shared what you wanted to see on The Beauty Look Book blog in my last giveaway post. It’s always great to hear feedback on what you’ve liked and also what you would like to read more about. There were a lot of requests for features on a wide range of topics and I am beyond flattered so many of you want to know what I think about well basically anything! Most popular requests were for higher end skincare (I did not realize you guys liked the skincare posts!), budget-friendly cosmetics, full skincare routine, current hair care routine, more hauls, favorites roundups, inside my purse posts, shoe features, tutorials, makeup storage, more travel (so happy many of you loved this), time management, exclusive promo events and videos!

Since reading your requests, I’ve started to pull items for a full summer skincare routine and hair care routine post. I do tend to test a lot of products on myself to review for you so my routine changes frequently – but I will pull my favorites and include items I’ve used up. A few notes:
  • Nordstrom Anniversary Sale hauls posted on the blog, makeup picks here and fashion and skincare items hauled here
  • Exclusive promo savings for readers via Space NK US here – my apologies for those who were not able to use the code on Oribe, after several e-mails to the team, they’ve fixed the code and it works on all Oribe items (full size and travel sizes)
  • Antica Farmacista is doing a special online promo code, enter code ANTICABLB at checkout for a mini body butter with any online order!
  • Summer bronzer edit posted here (many of you have been asking for this for weeks!)
  • On videos I am hoping to do some in the future!
  • Loving right now/favorites in this post here today!

Right now for skincare, hair care and the home, I’m loving the following:

  1. Chanel Fresh Body Cream is a summer go-to for body lotions. It smells lightweight and fresh and even though a tub is pricey. I use it sparingly but it has lasted a long time. It hydrates without feeling sticky and won’t interfere with perfume. My wallet is crying at the thought of having to buy again but I think it is 100% worth the splurge.
  2. Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover is what I use right now to remove mascara and eye makeup, its gentle but effective and doesn’t feel greasy. You can find it in two sets for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in the Chubby Lash Set and Take the Day Off Set
  3. Antica Farmacista is a line I just discovered and I really don’t know how this has passed my radar for so long, I received a few samples and the line is exquisite! My favorite item is the Cucumber and Lotus Flower Candle which is the perfect cooling relaxing scent for the home, I am going to need this one in all formats, detailed review next week – if you have any favorites from the line let me know! If you order online they’re offering a free mini body butter with any order, use code ANTICABLB
  4. Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ample Angora Volumizing Mousse is something new to me, I will say up front I typically hate mousse products because they’re usually sticky and make my hair hard to comb/brush, this one is really good though. I have naturally thick hair and find most volumizing products don’t really add that much volume to my already thick hair (I have tried dozens of sprays, creams, lotions, shampoos etc.) This one combined with heat styling of the T3 PROi Dryer (best dryer ever, thanks RaeView for recommending to me!!) gives serious volume all the way through from roots to ends.
  5. La Mer The Tonic is a toner I alternate with the SK-II Clear Treatment Lotion, I like both but reach for the La Mer more these days to help remove impurities after cleansing and rebalance the skin. The formula has been a go-to for years and often times I try others in attempts to find a more affordable option, but this one never fails me.
  6. Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash is a favorite for every day multiple times a day. It’s one of the few I can use frequently without it stripping my skin. I’ve tried and repurchased all her cleansers and this is the only one that won’t irritate my skin on tender skin days. My brother has acne-prone skin that is even more sensitive than mine. I bought him this one to try and it’s one of the few he says is gentle enough for his skin (he’s in his early 20s). Also available in a larger 16 oz size with a pump and her Clinic Solutions Kit (I bought this for travel).

For makeup and fragrance:

  1. Hourglass Ambient Luminous Light Palette is nothing but pure love, it’s a Nordstrom Beauty Exclusive for this year’s Anniversary Sale and I think it is perfect. If you already own the palette from last holiday or the individual colors you can skip this one. Also there’s a new marble palette that’s coming out for holiday that you might want to wait for as previewed on @gossmakeupartist’s Instagram (it looks dreamy but I think the colors are different!). My review + swatches in this post here.
  2. Chanel Aqua Glossimers for summer are sheered out glossimers new for summer. Review on all the shades in this post here. These are nice for an effortless wash of shine and a hint of color.
  3. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Sugarcane is a perfect baby pink that covers the lip entirely, I also like Honeycomb which is a perfect nude, swatches + review of the neutrals in this formula can be found in this post here
  4. MAC Sunblessed Cremesheen (in the Nordstrom Sunblessed Kit) is a great pinky nude on me even though it looks more peachy in the tube. Swatched on my lips here.
  5. Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips are almost too hot to handle. I adore her Matte Revolution formula and was thrilled to see more neutrals and brights launched in her Hot Lips Collection. All the shades purchased by me and swatched in this post.
  6. NARS Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette (review soon) is an exclusive to NARS online and boutiques. This has great neutrals deep enough for medium to tan skintones. I’ll review and swatch this soon.
  7. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc is the perfect white floral summer fragrance. I love it. Review here.
  8. YSL Glossy Stain 07 is a ripe juicy peach that has enough color to be more than a neutral but isn’t too bright so it will suit neutral makeup lovers (also in the Nordstrom Rebel Nudes Set)
I’m hosting one more Nordstrom eGift Card Giveaway! I’m giving away 3 $100 USD eGift Cards to Nordstrom. Details as follows:
  • Open internationally
  • You must be 18 years old or older
  • Enter through widget
  • Entries will be collected through Sunday 7/24/2016 11:30 AM PST
  • Winners will be selected at random via the widget, emailed Sunday evening

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What are you loving right now? Did you haul anything good from the Nordstrom sale or any other places recently?

Press samples featured include Shu Uemura, Antica Farmacista, Bite Amuse Bouche.
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?