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Nordstrom Sales

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 Shopping Guide + Wishlist

August 3, 2020

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 Shopping Guide | The Beauty Look Book

It’s that time of year again! I’m sharing my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 Shopping Guide since Early Access starts August 4th. This year’s they’ve included a preview online, kinda like a digital catalog. Each day they’re adding new things and I expect the full list of sale items to be live tomorrow. I went through all the different categories to bookmark some things for my wishlist and items I think are great deals. My all time favorite thing of all time the Barefoot Dreams Cozy Throw is part of the sale so if you’ve had a blanket or pillow on your wishlist now is a great time to get one!

I’ll have a full haul post as soon as I’m able to post one! In the meantime I’ve included the highlights by category. They’ve made it really easy to sort and filter multiple ways. I also recommend adding things to your account wishlist so it’s easy to keep things bookmarked in one place.

Dates and Details

Here are the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Details for shopping dates. Early Access starts for cardholders depending on what tier you are for points. I’m sure most of you are familiar with the sale but in case you’re new they have tons of brands marked down. Nordstrom has a mix of current brands marked down, new items created just for the sale, value sizes and sets and exclusives.

Nordstrom Anniversary NSALE 2020 Dates

Beauty Exclusives

The Nordstrom Sale Beauty Exclusives are the things I look forward to the most each year. They have great value sizes to save on shampoos, hair styling products, skin care sets etc. Make sure you check their Gift With Purchase page as they update them frequently throughout the sale! A few things on my radar below.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives 2020 | The Beauty Look Book

Two things I almost always buy every year are the Oribe Set and MAC lip sets each year because they’re a great value. One of my favorite makeup mirrors the Riki Skinny Lighted Mirror is part of the sale this year in a pretty Rose Gold Color. I love that they have an Olaplex Bond Maintenance Trio for $84 ($126 value). There are a good amount of styling tools like brushes, hair dryers, curling irons and flat irons available. As a huge fan of the NARS Oil Infused Lip Tints I’m for sure buying the Mini Duo with new shades Solstice and Beausoleil.

Hair Care + Tools Linked Below

Makeup + Beauty Tools On My Radar

Skincare + Body

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Home and Accessories

If I could recommend you only buy one thing from the sale it would be any Barefoot Dreams blanket. I love them so much! They’re super soft and snuggly. I sleep with one every night. Nordstrom has some super cute sunglasses every year and I have my eye on the options from Tom Ford.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Home and Accessories

A few things on my radar linked below including some home throws, designer sunglasses, marble coasters and more:

 

 

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Staples and Basics: Tops

There are so many cute tops and tees this year! Lots of nice everyday staples from Splendid, L’Agence, Rails, Rag and Bone and more.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Tops

Cute styles for camisoles, tanks, tees and blouses I’ve bookmarked all linked in the widget below:

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Athleisure, Denim, Cute Shoes

Most of my wishlist is in the athleisure department. I’m thrilled to see items from Sweaty Betty this year (adding this Mesh Hoodie to my try-on list). I also find Zella to be pretty good for comfortable sports bras and leggings. The denim selection is always great each year. I’m surprised there weren’t quite as many options from Paige this year but there are lots of other brands to choose from including Rag and Bone, Blank NYC, Mother and AG to name a few. I don’t have much on my wishlist for shoes but think these Tory Burch sneakers are pretty cute!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Athleisure, Sneakers, Denim 2020

A few things I have on my radar to try on in store this week for workout clothes and denim:

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That wraps up my preview and shopping guide for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020! I am hoping they will be adding more items online for beauty like we’ve seen in past years. Haul post will be going live soon as I narrow down my wishlist down to what I decide to buy. What’s on your radar for the sale this year? Do you have anything you’re excited about?

 

Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

Beauty Favorites to Kick Off Summer

June 22, 2020

Summer Beauty Essentials | The Beauty Look Book

above: summer hat / sunnies / lace-up strappy sandals

It’s officially summer so to celebrate I’m rounding up some of my summer beauty favorites to kick off the season! I’ve been putting quite a few new makeup launches to the test for eyes, lips and cheeks. Today I’m partnering with Nordstrom to share my top picks for bronzers, peachy lips and shimmery eyeshadows.

NARS Laguna + Laguna Matte

NARS Laguna Bronzer and Laguna Matte | The Beauty Look Book

So many of you have asked for bronzer recommendations! I have several tried-and-true favorites but always like playing with the new launches. NARS Laguna Bronzer has been a go-to for years. This year they launched an extensive collection with shimmers and also added a Matte Version. I prefer shimmer in my bronzer for a bit of glow but the NARS Laguna Matte is a really nice true brown/bronze alternative for those who need something without any shine.

Below wearing the classic NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna, Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in Wild Card, Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shade in Lion + Giraffe. Brush is the Laura Mercier Blending Brush (but I also love their bronzing brush for a larger fluffy option).

NARS Laguna Bronzer + Bobbi Brown Crushed-Oil Infused Wild Card

MAC Bronzing Collection Picks

MAC Summer Bronzing Beiging Beauty, Totally Taupeless and Bronzelite

Although I love shimmery bronzers I just hauled the new MAC Radiant Matte Bronzing Powders in Beiging Beauty and Totally Taupeless and think I’ve found my new holy grail mattes. They have a very tiny bit of radiance in the powder but apply on the skin like a matte. The formula is creamy powder with a natural super smooth buildable finish. Beiging Beauty is the lighter slightly warmer option while Totally Taupeless is a deeper neutral-cool toned bronze.

Wearing MAC Beiging Beauty below and Tom Ford Ultra-Shine Lip Color in Veridique

MAC Radiant Matte Bronzing Powder Beiging Beauty and Tom Ford Ultra Shine Veridique

A number of you had the new MAC Strobe Body Lotion in Bronzelite on your radar and when it finally popped up online at Nordstrom I ordered it immediately! I find it challenging to find a good smooth body shimmer that isn’t too glittery. The MAC Strobe Body Lotion has an ultra fine glow so it leaves your skin looking skin is radiant versus looking like a disco ball. It has a soft light peachy glow with a hint of bronze pearl. It’s a lotion so it is hydrating but lightweight and also has the signature strobe cream scent.

MAC Strobe Body Lotion Summer Bronzelite

Peachy Lips

Best Peach + Coral Lip Colors for Summer

I love a good peachy lip of any undertone, intensity and finish. There are so many variations for light peach, coral, shimmer, cream, sheer, gel etc. I pulled quite a few to swatch and compare for you. Everyone seems to have a different color in mind when they think of a peachy color!

Best Peach Lip Colors Swatches Tom Ford, Bobbi Brown, Chanel

Ones I love along with a few new ones:

Below wearing Armani Ecstasy Mirror Gloss in 101 Beyond (pulls peachy pink on my complexion) with MAC Radiant Matte Bronzer in Totally Taupeless

Armani Ecstasy Mirror Lip Gloss in 101 Beyond

Below wearing Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in Wild Card – I find it still has a lot of color even though it’s a sheer tint!

NARS Laguna Bronzer + Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in Wild Card + Celine 50mm sunglasses

Bronze-Gold Luminescent Eye

Best Bronze and Copper Eyeshadows Laura Mercier, Hourglass and Chantecaille

Last but not least, a bronzey shimmery eye for summer is an absolute must-have for me. I love layering and mixing coppers and bronze shades over regular powder eyeshadows for added depth and glow. Sometimes I can just use one of these all over the lid and then add a liner + mascara for an easy everyday look. My favorites include:

  • Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Copper for a nice all over wash of warmth + shimmer, once it sets and dries it does not budge
  • Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows are my most-worn eyeshadows as toppers! I sometimes mix colors together or layer them with other powders, Foil is a metallic gold, Burnish is a pretty bronze, Ray is a sparkling taupe bronze
  • Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shades are some of the prettiest eye shimmers I’ve tried! I like applying these with a finger to pat and blend, Lion is a pretty golden shade and Giraffe is a deeper bronze shimmer (I want to order all of them!)

Best Bronze Copper Eyeshadows Laura Mercier, Hourglass and Chantecaille

Summer Beauty Essentials

That wraps up my beauty favorites to kick off summer! I hope you found some inspiration for new beauty launches to try or add to your routine. Do you have any favorite bronzers, shimmery eyeshadows or peachy lips?

You can find all of my picks available at Nordstrom. Don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase page if you’re shopping online!

Shop my summer beauty favorites:

 

Summer sandals, favorite sun hat + sunnies below:

 

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

 

Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

Everyday Beauty Favorites

May 1, 2020

Everyday Makeup Favorites

Today I’m sharing an updated roundup of my everyday beauty favorites! So many of you have asked what my daily go-to picks are for skin and makeup and I’m thrilled to partner with Nordstrom to share my favorites along with a few new recent discoveries I have added to my routine.

Everyday Makeup Favorites

Base + Complexion

Foundation Favorites Charlotte Tilbury and Laura Mercier

My go-to picks for a flawless but natural complexion has been a combination of products. Layering gives me the perfect coverage to even out the skin without making it look too heavy or flat. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand combined with the Flawless Fusion Ultra Long-Wear Foundation in Buff is my combo to last all day. The Ultra Long-Wear Concealer is the most versatile concealer for me – it’s creamy and easy to blend so it works for highlighting or concealing dark circles in a natural way.

To add a more radiant glow to the complexion I’ve really been loving the new Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir for smoother brighter skin. I’ve only been using this for about a week now but love how it helps smooth the skin and prepares it better for foundation. If I could pick one cream highlighter to use the rest of my life, the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter would be it. It’s subtle enough to use on larger portions of the face and makes the skin look more alive with a natural glow. I use Shade 4.

Lip Care

Lip Care

For the lips I’m one of the biggest lip balm and lip plumper junkies! I’ve tried so many but the ones I’ve been loving right now are from MAC, Charlotte Tilbury, Fresh and Laura Mercier. The MAC Prep + Prime Lip is the best lip primer I’ve tried. This is not to be confused with a balm, this is a primer you apply on bare lips before lipstick or liner to help smooth the lip. It extends wear of your lip color and smooths the surface at the same time.

For lip plumpers the best non-tingle one I’ve tried is the Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath. She has a clear option called Refresh Rose, but I also like the tinted versions.

For balms the twist up stick version is what I prefer these days as it’s easy to just swipe and reapply. Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy gives instant relief and long lasting moisture. I recently bought the new Laura Mercier Lip Balm which is also a really nice smooth lip balm that doesn’t feel thick or heavy.

Neutral Lips

Best Nude Lips

I love a good everyday nude lip and the colors I keep reaching for are usually in the same color family but have different levels of pigment and finishes. My top two favorites are the Sisley Phyto Lip Twist #11 and Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine in Sepia. Other favorites swatched below including NARS Sheer Lipstick in Chelsea Girls, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in Pillow Talk and the three best Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pencils. For an oil + tint I’ve really been loving the soft pink color of the NARS Oil-Infused Lip Tint in Reef as well!

Best Nude Lips Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Sisley

Wearing Cle de Peau Sepia below

Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Shine in Sepia

Eye Makeup Favorites

Best Everyday Eye Makeup Tom Ford

For eyes I think Tom Ford Eye Color Quads are among the best and easiest to use for everyday looks. Honeymoon has been one of the few I’ve hit pan on before and used up, it has a great mix for a neutral or warm smokey eye! A lot of you have asked what the best all-over lid colors are and I think the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold is hands down the one I use the most. If you want more color the Tom Ford Cream Powder Eye Duo in Golden Peach is the next best one in my opinion! The best bronzey lid color is Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Bette.

For mascara and liner the two I’ve repurchased the most are the Chanel Le Volume Waterproof Mascara and Tom Ford Eye Defining Liquid Eyeliner (Cle de Peau is also really good and worth the splurge).

Best Everyday Eye Makeup Tom Ford + Charlotte Tilbury Swatches

Cheek, Bronzer + Highlighter

Tom Ford Reflects Gilt and Terra

Cle de Peau Cream Blush 4 and Tom Ford Love Lust

For the cheeks, if I had to narrow down my top favorites to just four, my picks would include Tom Ford Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt (this doubles as a great wash of color on the eyes), Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer in Terra (best neutral matte bronzer), Cle de Peau Cream Blush in #4 (makes for the best neutral beige blush) and Tom Ford Cheek Color in Love Lust (soft peach shimmer).

Tom Ford Blush in Love Lust

Body and Fragrance

Best Body Care and Fragrance Necessaire and Jo Malone

Body care and fragrance are so personal as we all have different skin types and preferences. I’ve really been loving the Necessaire Body Serum as an alternative to body lotion. It’s fragrance free and lightweight but adds a nice veil of moisture on the skin. They have a Fragrance Free Body Wash which I’ve been obsessed with and plan on stocking up on. For hands it doesn’t get more chic than the Chanel La Creme Main hand creams. I like the Texture Riche formula for my dry hands these days. It has a nice drydown so fingers aren’t left sticky!

For perfume, I rotate depending on season, but my go-to’s these days are light and citrus options. The ones I wear the most for spring include the Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber (fresh bergamot, cucumber and sweet), Jo Malone Basil Neroli (white musk and neroli) and Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel in Biarritz (fruity soft mandarin).

Best Everyday Makeup Favorites

Best Everyday Makeup

Makeup Favorites from Nordstrom

I hope you found this roundup helpful if you’re looking for some great everyday makeup that’s easy to wear and incorporate into your routine! You can find all my picks at Nordstrom – don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase page as well, they update offers on a regular basis!

 

More favorites here:

 

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

Hauls Nordstrom

Spring Makeup Haul

March 6, 2020

Nordstrom Spring Makeup Haul

I’m excited to share another makeup haul with you today! I picked up some new beauty launches recently and discovered quite a few hits. I’ve found the perfect spring cheek palette and my new holy grail nude lip gloss. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share my favorite beauty finds.

Spring Makeup Haul Picks NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford

Foundation + Concealer

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Foundation and Hourglass Airbrush Concealer

The spring beauty season always brings us new bases to try. I’m still in the process of testing several out but two I wanted to mention include the new Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation and Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer. Both are quite the splurge and I stopped by my local counters to swatch them.

The Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation has SPF 50 and offers medium to full coverage with a dewy finish. It is light reflecting and suitable for my normal skin type. I tested with both a brush and sponge, both work great! It evens out the skin with impressive coverage while still looking natural. I set with a powder to counter the dewy finish and it leaves the skin looking plump and evened out. My match is Natural 06 but I can also wear Dune 5.7 (more neutral in tone). It stays put all day, doesn’t separate, looks great and feels really nice! To me it’s like a more opaque and richer feeling Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.

Below with bare skin and applying Natural 06:

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Foundation Natural

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Foundation Natural 06

The Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer is a super opaque concealer. My shade is Beech for under the eye or spot concealing. A little goes a VERY long way so I recommend applying sparingly. Three small dots under each eye is more than enough to conceal dark circles and brighten. I also set with a powder (any of my powders work, I love the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural or Laura Mercier Translucent Loose) and it stays put all day. If you’re dry you may need to add some eye cream underneath.

Below Beech applied under the eyes on just one side so you can see with vs without:

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer in Beech

Dior Rosewood

Dior Rosewood Lip Maximizer, Lip Oil and Lip Glow

From Dior I repurchased the Lip Maximizer in Rosewood. They recently added the Lip Glow Oil and Lip Glow in the same shade and I love the natural rosy flush it gives the lips. The Lip Maximizer gives the lips a super lush glossy look and hydrates all day. The Lip Glow variation will give you more color as it transforms on the lips. The Lip Oil will give you an almost clear shine.

Dior Rosewood Lip Maximizer

NARS Cool Crush

NARS x Nordstrom Cool Crush Collection

Nordstrom has a NARS Exclusive Collection called Cool Crush. I hauled the Hot Fix Cheek Palette which has one champagne highlighter and three neutral pink/peach blushes. This has medium to rich pigment but is easy to blend. As a lover of neutral blushes this one is perfect for spring to summer. It’s very natural and easy to wear. There are also new Loaded Lip Lacquers which are full coverage high shine lip glosses. I bought three of the four colors available and they’re all wearable. Playin’ Around is a creamy pale nude, Young Hearts is my new holy grail nude and Foxy is a warmer brown neutral.

NARS Hot Fix Cheek Palette with Foxy Gloss

NARS Hot Fix Loaded Lip Lacquers

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Extensions

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Medium

Also new this year are more Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk extensions. I will have a separate post on everything I hauled but for now the stand outs are the Pillow Talk Medium Lipstick and Lip Cheat Lip Pencil. They’re darker than the original color for a really flattering medium brown rose. I also picked up the Pillow Talk Eyeliner which is a reddish brown and a nice alternative to black or brown when you want something different.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Remover

Bobbi Brown Makeup Remover

Last but not least as a fan of the Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil I decided to try the Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover for eyes. It’s a bi-phase makeup remover to remover waterproof makeup with I really like it! It’s gentle and not greasy, doesn’t sting my eyes and is effective.

Spring Makeup Haul Picks NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford

That wraps up my favorites from my recent Nordstrom Beauty haul! My favorites are the NARS palette and lip glosses which I think are great everyday kind of neutrals. I really love the new Tom Ford foundation. The formula wears really well and I like that it has SPF in it.

You can find all my picks available at Nordstrom. If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase section (they update it regularly).

Have you picked up anything new recently? What did you think?

 

Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. All items featured purchased by me.

Hauls Nordstrom

New Beauty Launches to Put On Your Radar

January 16, 2020

New Spring Beauty Launches at Nordstrom

I’m excited to share my first beauty haul of the year! I’ve been testing out some new products that recently launched at Nordstrom and I’ve partnered with them today to share my thoughts plus a new year beauty look. Nordstrom is truly one of my favorite places to shop for beauty – I’m constantly checking their New Arrivals page alongside their Gift With Purchase section. I hope you find today’s haul post helpful! Everything featured in this post are items I purchased myself.

Charlotte Tilbury Queen of Glow

Charlotte Tilbury Queen of Glow Eyeshadow Palette

Charlotte Tilbury Queen of Glow Eyeshadow Palette

One of the newest launches from Charlotte Tilbury is her Queen of Glow Eyeshadow Palette. There were several limited-edition quads over the holiday but I found them too warm for my complexion. Queen of Glow has a better mix of golds and champagnes for my complexion without the red tones. There are 3 shimmers and 1 matte. All the colors are ultra pigmented, smooth and long-lasting. I think it’s gorgeous!

Closer look wearing: NARS Tinted Glow Booster in Simos + Tangsi mixed, Charlotte Tilbury Color Corrector Medium, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder Medium, NARS Blush in Tempted + Orgasm X Mixed, Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brown, Cle de Peau Liquid Eyeliner, Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Palette in Queen of Glow, Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss in In the Buff

Charlotte Tilbury Queen of Glow Eyeshadow Palette

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish! Color Corrector

Charlotte Tilbury Color Corrector Medium

I also ordered her Magic Vanish! Color Corrector in Medium which isn’t new, but new to me. It has a brightening peachy look to it and it’s super opaque. I found it a good color for my medium olive tone skin – a tiny little dab on the fingers patted under the eyes conceals any darkness and it blends without caking. Do note that a little goes a very long way so you don’t need a lot. I use this instead of concealer on days I need extra coverage or brightening. It’s very peach in color – it doesn’t match the skin. The colors are designed to counter darkness and pigment in the skin.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish! Color Corrector in Medium

New NARS Blushes

New Nars Blush Orgasm X and Tempted

above left: Orgasm X, right: Tempted

There are some new blushes from NARS this season. I wanted to order all of them but limited myself to 2 colors in Orgasm X and Tempted. Orgasm X is a deeper brighter version of Orgasm and has that peachy gold shimmer to it. It’s quite opaque but easy to blend. Tempted is a pretty soft nude shimmer, on my medium olive skin it looks like a neutral highlighter with a bit of depth. It makes my skin glow! If you’re fair and are looking for a good nude blush to wear, I highly recommend looking into this one!

NARS Orgasm X, Orgasm and Tempted Blush swatches

Wearing Tempted + Orgasm X mixed together

NARS Blush Orgasm X + Tempted

New from Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss

For the lips I picked up some of the new Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Glosses in In the Buff (soft nude pink, one I’m wearing in this post), New Romantic (soft mauve) and Wild Card (bright coral peach). They’re sheer so the color is subtle. They feel wonderfully smooth with a cushiony feel and glide on the lips nicely. I find them hydrating but not heavy.

YSL lip love

YSL Rouge Volupte Rock n Shine

YSL also launched a new formula called Rouge Volupte Rock N Shine and as a huge fan of the original Rouge Volutpe Shines I knew I had to try some of the new ones. These have a silvery shimmer in the center in the shape of a star. The shimmer is visible and noticeable making the overall color look a bit lighter and more shimmery than what you see in the tube. 1 Nude Solo is a pale nude pink, 3 Pink Flow is a soft baby pink, 10 Pink Bass is a deeper rose pink. They’re glossy with a high shine finish. Pigment is sheer-medium.

NARS Tinted Glow Boosters

NARS Tinted Glow Booster vs Ginger Concealer and Vanuatu Foundation

Last but not least is my first look at the NARS Tinted Glow Boosters. There are four shades total and I picked up the two middle shades in Simos (medium) and Tangsi (medium-dark). My foundation match in their Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is usually Vanuatu, but I’ve lost my tan this season and wear Punjab. My best concealer match is still the Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger. The Tinted Glow Boosters sheer glowy skin-toned bases with a very slight shimmer to them. The shimmer is very subtle and almost disappears on the skin.

I’m the closest match to Simos right now, but I tan very easily and to add a bit more color I’ll mix in a few pumps of Tangsi to blend all over.

Below left, one pump of Simos (top) and one pump of Tangsi (bottom)
Below right on the face, Simos

NARS Tinted Glow Booster in Simos + Tangsi

You can use these a number of ways but I like it best mixing Simos and Tangsi together then applying with a beautyblender all over like you would a sheer foundation. It offers minimal coverage and glow, almost like a tinted moisturizer without the moisturizer aspect.

I have mixed in equal pumps of the Tinted Glow Booster with foundation like the Armani Luminous Silk (I wear 6.5) or NARS Natural Radiant Foundation to give it a more translucent look. I have some swatches below to a few other shades. It’s thicker in texture than the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, it’s not nearly as luminous or opaque as the Hollywood Flawless Filter.

NARS Tinted Glow Booster swatches Simos and Tangsi

Nordstrom Beauty Haul Picks via The Beauty Look Book

I hope you enjoyed this haul post with some of thoughts and swatches! Have you tried any of these new launches yet? What did you think?

You can find all my haul picks now online at Nordstrom.

 

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

Holiday Gift Guide Nordstrom

Holiday Gift Guide: Best Beauty Sets $50 + Under

December 11, 2019

Best Holiday Beauty Gifts $50 and Under | The Beauty Look Book

I cannot believe Christmas is almost here! Today I’m doing my first holiday gift guide of the year featuring the Best Beauty Sets $50 + Under. I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share some of my favorites in case you’re still doing some holiday shopping whether it’s for friends, family or to treat yourself. Nordstrom is truly the best one-stop shop for me. I can find something for everyone on my list. They make it really easy to navigate their Holiday Gift Shop by recipient or price point. I often use the filter Gifts Under $25, Gifts Under $50 and Gifts Under $100. There are tons of options to pick from.

Best Holiday Beauty Gift Ideas from Nordstrom $50 and Under

Fresh Beauty Picks

Here are my top picks for any beauty lover. Options included even for the girls who have everything or the picky ones too! Up first are some finds from Fresh Beauty. They make my favorite shower gel and their lip balms are great options for anyone. No matter what age, skin type, skin tone – everyone can use a little extra care for their lips. Their tinted Sugar Lip Balms come in some super cute sets.

Fresh Beauty Sets for the Holiday

Top left is the Fresh Enchanted Essentials Travel Soy Face Cleanser and Sugar Lip Treatment Set ($19.50). I find this a unisex option (my brother loves the Soy Face Cleanser). Bottom left is the Charmed Lip Trio with the Fresh Sugar Caramel Lip Balm ($29) which smells amazing. I almost want to keep this one for myself. On the right is the cutest Sealed With Sugar Travel Size Set ($48). It has 6 minis and almost looks like an ornament! Quick note that some of the sets are marked down from the regular pricing.

MAC Makeup Sets + Holiday Collection

MAC Beauty Sets

I’m so thrilled to find that MAC has tons of gift options under the $50 price point. I bought the Starlit Lip Bag Set in the neutral color option for myself as it has a full size liner in Dervish, lipstick in Aspiring Star and lipglass Among the Stars for a value price. There is a red option too which looks gorgeous! The Lucky Stars Lipstick Kit has 3 miniature sized lipsticks in a zipped pouch. The neutral kit (shown in the top corner) has A Star In Your Name, Once Upon the Stars and Jar of Stars (all new colors). The individual Holiday Collection items come packaged in a festive clear star packaging which makes for great stocking stuffers. They have limited-edition colors of Lipglass, Lipstick, Eyeliner and Opalescent Powder to name a few.

Fun Luxury Gifts

Slip Silk and Laura Mercier

I’m a huge fan of Slip Silk Scrunchies ($39) and think they make for a cute simple kind of gift. I’m never without these – I keep some in my purse and in our car for whenever I need to reach for one to tie my hair up. They also make such beautiful Silk Sleeping Eye Masks ($50) I have a couple of these and love them.

Hand creams are another great universally great gift option. For the person who loves sweet scents the Laura Mercier Tres Riche Travel Hand and Body Cream ($38) is the ultimate treat. L’Occitane also makes a great Holiday Trio ($29) this season and if you have someone who needs something unscented, I highly recommend Kiehl’s. They have a cute Smooth Skin Delights Travel Trio ($35) with one unscented and two scented. You can split them up in stocking stuffers or keep one for yourself!

Hair Care Loves

Best Styling Products

When it comes to hair care I feel like for shampoo and conditioner it really depends on hair type to pick something as a gift. Styling products are easier to gift because virtually every single girl friend I have is obsessed with dry shampoo, volumizers or texturizers. Bumble and Bumble has some really affordable options including the Reign, Dear Duo ($20) and the More the Merrier Trio ($33). I have the full size thickening shampoo and conditioner on my wishlist to buy when I finish up some bottles. Oribe also makes some great options. I’ve gifted the Dry Texturizing Spray ($22 to $46) numerous times in the full size and travel size option.

NARS Holiday Makeup Sets

NARS Holiday Makeup Sets

I usually feel like NARS is often at the higher luxury price points but am always thrilled when they launch value sets or minis to gift. The All Access Powermatte Lip Pigment Set ($45) has 3 full sized options with American Woman (one of my favorite rose long-wear lip colors), Fly Robin Fly and Funkytown in a bright red sequins zip pouch. For those who want to try minis before committing to full size products, the Past Curfew Travel Size Mascara and Eyeliner Set ($20) is a great stocking stuffer option to try for yourself. For lips/cheeks it doesn’t more classic than their Dolce Vita color and the Travel Size Dolce Vita Cracker Set ($24) is super cute. I’m a huge fan of the Afterglow Lip Balm and they still have the Afterglow Mini Lip Balm Duo ($22) available which I still use on a weekly basis because I bought backups!

Holiday Gift Guide Beauty Look Book

Holiday Gift Guide Beauty Look Book

That wraps up some of my favorite finds for Holiday Beauty Gifts $50 and Under! There are tons of options for men’s grooming, fragrance, skin care and more at Nordstrom. I hope this gave you some ideas if you’re looking for gift ideas!

 

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

Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

Everyday Makeup Essentials for Fall

October 25, 2019

Everyday Makeup Favorites

Happy Friday! I have an updated everyday makeup post today with my top go-to’s that I use on a regular basis. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share some favorites for the season. I purchase a lot of my makeup staples (and Andrew’s grooming picks) from there – they carry most of the brands we both love and use.

Base Favorites

Favorite Foundations Laura Mercier, Armani and La Mer

I’m frequently asked what my top foundations are. I rotate depending on how much coverage I want but the line I reach for the most is Laura Mercier. They have a wide range of formulas for any coverage and finish preference! For me the best medium to full coverage matte foundation of all time is the Flawless Fusion Foundation Ultra Long-Wear Foundation (I wear either Buff or Dusk). It smooths out the skin, covers spots, lasts all day in hot weather and even though it’s matte doesn’t look flat. If I had to use one base the rest of my life this would be it.

For a glowy more hydrating finish the Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere is one I reach for frequently tied with Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation (I wear 6.5). Both offer a natural luminous finish that is perfectly dewy without being too glowy. Coverage is also medium but buildable and they come in a wide range of shades.

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating formulas were revamped and improved this year. I love both for weekend or no-makeup makeup days. Sometimes if I have a good skin day I can wear just one and layer some concealer on top. If you like a super sheer base with just a hint of coverage I think the new formulas are among the best!

La Mer Cushion Foundation Warm Bisque 33

One formula I just rediscovered is the La Mer Luminous Lifting Cushion (I wear Shade 33 Warm Bisque). It’s one of the best cushions I’ve tried that has medium coverage and looks like skin but better. It’s hydrating but not too heavy. It’s very natural looking and makes the skin look radiant. I am thrilled I have a good match.

For pressed powders I love the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in Medium and the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus or Medium Golden. Both will add a soft blurring effect to the skin and smooth/set your foundation. Pressed is my preferred choice since it’s easier to carry in the purse, easier for touch-ups and less messy.

In terms of loose options there are a wide range of amazing formulas to pick from. I’m partial to Laura Mercier’s Translucent for everyday and on going-out nights I’ll add the Translucent Glow option on the cheek bones for added radiance.

Lip Rotation

NARS Chelsea Girls Lipstick

Fall Lip Rotation NARS, YSL and Chanel

Lips are my favorite thing to rotate during fall. There are always so many new formulas and colors launched this season. I’m hard pressed to pick favorites but these four are the ones I’ve been reaching for the most the past couple of months.

NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm is my daily go-to balm for a soft pink flush. It applies clear on the lips but give it a minute or so and it will transform color into a soft pink glow. The Dior Addict Lip Glow Balms are also still really excellent for more of a flushed deeper color, but I’ve been reaching for the NARS a lot more.

NARS Lipsticks were completely revamped this year. My favorite color is Chelsea Girls which is a neutral pink, but on my lips it pulls more pinkish. It has a semi glossy finish. Dolce Vita is also a really nice and easy to wear rose.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shines used to be in heavy rotation for me a long time ago. I just checked them out again and discovered they discontinued some colors but also added some newer shades. Rose Nu 88 is a pretty rose (worn here).

For a lush hydrating gloss it doesn’t get more classic than the Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss. 119 Bourgeoisie is a classic soft rose plum with a hint of shimmer.

Lip Rotation for Fall

Eye Makeup Favorites

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick, Hourglass Scattered, Tom Ford Reflection and Chanel

Four eye makeup staples for me include the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Copper (love this shade for an all over wash or base). Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows in Burnish and Blaze (they add the perfect amount of shine!), Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Duo in Reflection (new) for the perfect bronzey smokey eye and Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Black Wood (for a deep black that isn’t too harsh). In terms of eyeshadow palettes I don’t have a regular go-to as I switch those up frequently, although I do still really like the Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette that I’ve been wearing pretty much all year long.

Cheeks

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzer and Hourglass Ghost Palette

My two most reached for cheek products lately are the Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel for the best cream bronzer ever and the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette this season. I’m wearing both in this post! The two combined are perfect for everyday and pretty much go with everything I typically wear. Creams don’t always work for me in Florida due to the heat but this Chanel bronzer has a good dry down that lasts all day and doesn’t oxidize.

Beauty Look Book Beauty Shelfie Favorites

I hope you enjoyed this roundup! Let me know in the comments if you have any everyday makeup favorites right now for fall or if you keep the same rotation year round. You can find all of my favorite makeup staples at Nordstrom.

 

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions are my own.