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Sales

Hauls Nordstrom

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2017 Beauty Shopping Guide, Haul and Recommendations

July 13, 2017

Nordstrom Anniversary Haul 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is finally here for Early Access! If you have a Nordstrom Card you can shop the sale starting today July 13th through July 20th. It opens up to everyone else on July 21st and ends August 6th. As a beauty lover this is one of my favorite events because this is when Nordstrom launches a ton of their Beauty Exclusives. They offer a little bit of everything from makeup, beauty tools like brushes, hair dryers, face devices, skincare, body care etc. My favorite items are their makeup beauty sets and exclusive colors. They also have a lot of their best sellers in large value sizes so you can stock up on your staples. I stopped by my local Nordstrom to shop the sale (secret tip, if you’re a Level 4 Rewards Member you get a 1 day early access to things like this sale). The Nordstrom here in Tampa has a decent selection however it’s on the smaller side and they didn’t carry all the items for the sale so I’ll be ordering a few things online. Also another tip is to check their Gift With Purchase Page whether you’re shopping online or in store. It’s a good idea to make a list, especially of the GWPs – when you’re in store there’s a lot to browse and you can easily miss out on some great extras especially if you’re stocking up for gifts or spending a good amount with a single brand. Do note some of the GWPs may be online only.

First a quick look at some of the exclusives set up in store. For those of you who don’t have a Nordstrom near you I hope this helps give you a visual idea of what the Beauty Exclusives section looks like. I didn’t get photos of everything in store – these are just some highlights. There are a lot of skincare options and value sets.

MAC Look in a Box Nude Lip Set // Supergoop! Forever Yound Hand Cream Set // Supergoop! SPF50 Anti-Oxidant Sprays // Glamglow Gravity Mud Firming Treatment set // Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment // Glamglow Your, Contour and Glow Set // Slip for beauty sleep Slipsilk

Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Anniversary Sale 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

Mario Badescu The Icons Set // Ouai Hair Care Kit // Sigma Beauty Innovation Duo // Supergoop! Mist Duo // Ahava Special Size Hand Cream // Stila Stay All Day Liner and Lipstick Set // NARS Fox Dancer Mini Multiples Coffret

Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Anniversary Sale 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

T3 Featherweight 2 Dryer // Beachwaver // T3 Single Pass Lux // simplehuman Sensor Mirror Pro // Clarisonic Mia1 and Mia2, accessories // Drybar Tressed to Impress

Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Anniversary Sale 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

Clarins Value Size and Sets // La Mer Revitalizing Collection // La Mer Mini Miracles // Chantecaille Morning Must-Haves // SK-II Trio // Sisley Best Sellers

Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Anniversary Sale 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

The Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Set in Nude Mood and Bright on Brights have existing colors, you can see swatches of all of them here.

Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Anniversary Sale 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

Chantecaille Touch Up Essentials // Sisley-Paris Color Twist Trio // Tom Ford Golden Rose Eye and Lip Set // Armani Glow Duo // Armani Eye Set // Hourglass Diffused Light Palette // Dior Addicted to Nude Lip Set // YSL Pink Lip Set // YSL Nude Lip Set

Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives Anniversary Sale 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

I felt like the shoe and clothing selection in store was pretty lacking in the store near me so I’ll be shopping the sale items online. If I find anything I’ll definitely do a haul post on that. Here’s a quick look at some shoes I saw that were interesting including these Tory Burch Bryce Sandals and a lot of good sales on boots.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Tory Burch Bryce Sandals

For now here’s my Beauty Haul Part 1. I will be reviewing and swatching everything in the upcoming days.

Nordstrom Anniversary Beauty Haul Picks | The Beauty Look Book

What I hauled from beauty, Part 1:

Nordstrom Haul | The Beauty Look Book

On my order wishlist includes the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Set, the Butter London Set, Frederic Malle Carnal Flower, Glamglow Set, Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss Minis, and another Clarisonic Alphafit for my husband because his needs to be replaced.

Wishlist

My top beauty recommendations would also include the Diptyque 5-Piece Set, the simplehuman Sensor Mirror (I love it, I’ve had mine for around 4+ years), any Clarisonic device (I like the Mia Fit the best) and if you’re a fan of nude lips, grab the MAC Look in a Box Set as soon as you see it – it always sells out quickly every year. In previous years some brands also launch their fall beauty collections around this time at Nordstrom. I didn’t see anything out yesterday but it was the pre-early access so they might not have had a chance to put everything out yet.

In case you’re wondering, my Anniversary Sale fashion wishlist on this page here.

I’m hosting another giveaway and giving away five $100 eGift Cards to Nordstrom. This one starts at 9:00 AM EST today and will run through the 19th and it will be open internationally. You must enter through any of of the entry options in the widget below and be 18 years or older. Winners will be selected at random through the widget and announced in this post. Selected winners will be contacted by me via e-mail and must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be selected. Full terms and conditions in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for Early Access? What’s on your list?

 

Florida Roundup Sales Travel

Weekend Links, Loves and Sales

May 28, 2017

Weekend Loves | The Beauty Look Book

Happy long-weekend! I hope my US readers are enjoying the extended 3-day weekend. I had a bit of an extra long weekend as my in-laws were in town last week so we took time off to spend time with them. We drove to Orlando to spend two days at Disney World at Magic Kingdom and Epcot where the humidity levels were unreal! (My hair and makeup did not last at all.) The four of us had a great time even though we were hit with some showers and small thunder storms. The remainder of the week we took them around to a few of our favorite spots around Tampa Bay and then drove south to Anna Maria to spend the day at the beach. A quick note on a couple of the items I wore over the week.

On the left I found a cute beach cover-up from Madewell a few months ago and it’s now on sale for under $35. I went with an XXS as sometimes their dresses and tops run a bit loose, but with this one I think I could have gone with an XS (I’m 5’3″). It’s gone through a few washes and didn’t shrink too much but it’s a bit on the short side.

With the warm Florida weather I’ve been all about lighter clothes and tanks. I had been eyeing this lace trim camisole from Rebecca Taylor but I found something similar at Abercrombie for under $40 (and it’s now on sale marked down even more). I’m wearing it on the right along with some of the cutest cut-off shorts from Current/Elliott (also here).

Summer Outfits | The Beauty Look Book

A closer look at the outfit items along with a few items I’ve been loving lately:

Loving Right Now | The Beauty Look Book

Shown above with some thoughts:

  • Outfit details same as what’s worn in the second photo, beach cover-up from Madewell, lace camisole from Abercrombie, shorts from Current/Elliott.
  • I think I could live in flip flops, the Joie A La Plage Nice (left tan and black) are on sale here, the Tory Burch Millers are still among my favorites and I have multiple colors – you can wear them for a super casual look or dress them up a little.
  • I recently featured some Delfonics pouches in this post here, a lot of you asked whether I like them more or less than the Truffle Pouches. They’re just completely different in material so I don’t know that I can really compare them. The Truffle pouches are made of a stiffer and more sturdy material and have lining inside the privacy ones. The Delfonics pouches are made of a PVC material that have a textured material to kinda make them feel like leather but they aren’t. The material is thinner making it more flexible. If you need something sturdy that will act more like a solid clutch go with the Truffle pouches. If you don’t mind a thinner material and need something super basic go with the Delfonics.
  • The Ouai Morning After Kit finally launched online at Sephora! It has minis of the Rose Hair Body Oil, Dry Foam Shampoo and Finishing Creme for $22 which I think is a pretty good deal.
  • Coral polishes are always in for me, but for many of you it’s probably more of a summer thing. Dior Coral Crush and Chanel Coralium are almost identical. Review on both summer collections to follow soon. If you want to know my take right now on which one to get, both formulas are really good but Dior has the better brush.
  • Still in love with the Tom Ford Sole di Positano fragrance. Other spring to summer loves here.
  • For those who can’t wait for my sunscreen post and keep asking questions (which I don’t mind), the Supergoop! SuperPower Sunscreen Mousse is indeed a good one. It has SPF 50 and is more of a long-wear sunscreen with moisturizing ingredients. It contains Blue sea kale which provides antioxidant protection and protects the skin from heat damage. It is water resistant and has a super fun mousse texture. The Everyday Sunscreen with SPF50 is a lighter weight one in feel (it’s what my husband prefers out of the Supergoop! line although his favorite is this SPF 50 one from Kiehl’s). Both of these have been good for me in preventing burn and minimizing the tan for me although being in the sun sometimes there’s really nothing you can do to prevent tanning 100%.
  • If you buy one lip moisturizer this season, make it one of the new Clarins Instant Light Lip Oils (reviewed and swatched here in case you missed the post).
  • Sunglasses in the Irving Style from J.Crew.

Weekend Summer Beauty Loves | The Beauty Look Book

Summer bliss at Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach, Florida

Weekend Sales and Deals

Weekend sales rounded up, first are the beauty sales:

  • Benefit Cosmetics – 20% off friends and family sale with code FRIENDS
  • Caudalie – skincare trio minis with Vinoperfect Overnight Renewal Cream, Vinoperfect Serum and Micellar Cleansing Water with orders $90 or more, use code RADIANCE, valid until 6/14
  • Clarins – 15% off orders with code MEMDAY15, valid through 5/29, receive a 7-piece glowing gift with any $100 order
  • Foreo – 17% off top sellers including Luna 2, Luna Mini 2, Iris with code FOREO17off, valid 5/29 to 6/13
  • Glamglow – 40% off any super sexy size product with code GGMEM17, valid until 5/29
  • Kat Von D Beauty – free full size Studded Kiss lipstick of choice with orders $75+, use code STUDDEDKISS, valid until 5/29
  • Kate Somerville – receive 3 summer ski treats with any $65+ order, use code SUMMERTREAT, valid until 5/29/2017
  • L’Occitane – free 3-piece hand cream set + tin with any $55 purchase, use code SUN, valid until 5/30/2017
  • Lancome – 20% off friends and family with code FRIENDS at checkout, valid until 5/30/2017
  • Molton Brown – 3-piece travel set with orders $70+ using code 70coastal, 6-piece travel set with orders $110+ with code 110coastal
  • Omorovicza – 30% off orders $200 or more with code SHINE30 at checkout
  • Origins – 9 piece getaway bag with any $65 purchase, use code GETAWAY, valid until 5/30/2017
  • Shu Uemura Art of Hair – spend $30 and receive free shipping, spend $75 and receive 4 samples + free shipping, spend $100 receive 1 travel-size + free shipping, spend $120 receive 2 travel-sizes and free shipping, use code MEM17, expires 5/31 at 7:30 AM EST
  • Smashbox – spend more, save more tiered savings, valid through 5/30, no code needed
  • Space NK – double N.Dulgence member points on purchases through 5/30
  • Tarte – 15% off the long weekend (enter e-mail at site to unlock code)
  • Tatcha – travel size Water Cream or Water Gel with purchase of $100 or more, use code WATERCREAM17 or WATERGEL17 at checkout
  • Violet Grey – $15 off orders $100+, $50 off orders $250+, $100 off orders $500+, $250 off orders over $1,000, valid until 5/29/2017
  • YSL Beauty – 20% off orders $50 or more 5/26 to 6/1 with code SUMMEREVENT17 at checkout

A few other ones that are on my radar:

  • Anthropologie – extra 40% off fresh cuts
  • Coach – summer sale up to 50% off selected styles
  • J.Crew – 30% off full price items with code SWEET, valid until 5/29
  • Joie – extra 20% off sale items, up to 60% off with code MD2017
  • Neiman Marcus – Designer Sale, save up to 40% off
  • Nordstrom – Half Yearly Sale, save up to 40% off now through June 4th
  • Rag and Bone – up to 50% off select items
  • Splendid – 30% off everything (including sale), use code SUMMER30, valid through 5/29
  • Shopbop – tons of items added to their spring sales section and so many good shoes!
  • Stuart Weitzman – 40% off sale spring styles

Any other good sales on your radar?

Weekend Fun Anna Maria Beaches, Florida

Press samples featured include the Supergoop! Sunscreen Mousse, Clarins Lip Oil, Tom Ford Sole di Positano.

Sales

Cyber Monday Beauty Deals 2016

November 27, 2016

Best Cyber Monday Beauty Deals 2016

Happy Cyber Monday! Here’s a roundup for the deals, sales and codes for beauty. Shown above includes the Birchbox x Oribe Styling Kit (you can receive 10% off, code listed below), Truffle mini clarity clutches, Molton Brown Coco and Sandalwood Hand Cream (color on the nails is not on sale, but for curious minds it’s Chanel Rouge Noir). If you find any other good ones let me know in the comments!

Earlier today I finally finished editing all photos and swatches for the 25 new shades of Tom Ford Lips and Boys. I know many of you have been asking and I took a few days off to enjoy with friends in town and family, so thanks for your patience! Post will go live first thing Tuesday morning 🙂

In case you’re still not seeing updates right away on the home page, follow me on Bloglovin, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for direct post links. Keeping fingers crossed issues can be fixed soon.

Sales

Black Friday Beauty Deals – Holiday 2016

November 24, 2016

black-friday-beauty-2016

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We had warm sunny weather here in Southern California and it almost feels like summer! I’ve rounded up the Black Friday beauty deals for this year, if you have any other good ones you’ve spotted, let me know in the comments!

  • Beautylish – Black Friday Bioderma Beauty Bundles
  • Benefit Cosmetics – spend $50 and get 3 minis, spend $85 and get 6 deluxe minis with code FABFRIDAY, valid thru 11/27
  • Birchbox – Everything. Is. On. Sale. (Including Subscriptions) 10% off for all with code 10FORALL, 15% off for subscribers with code 15FORSUBS, 20% off for Aces (Birchbox VIPs) with code 20FORACES, valid 11/25-11/29
  • Bobbi Brown – pick a free 6-piece holiday gift set with any $50+ purchase, ends 11/26
  • Caudalie – Black Friday gift set with a $50 purchase using code FRIYAY, valid 11/25
  • Chanel Ombre Lamees de Chanel officially launches Cyber Monday but beauty look book readers get early access by clicking here and can receive overnight shipping with code GOLDEN valid through 11/28
  • Charlotte Tilbury -Weekend of Makeup Magic, 4 days, 4 deals
    • Buy one get one free for Nocturnal Cat Eyes, valid through 11/25
    • Buy a Matte Revolution Lipstick in Red Carpet Red and receive a complimentary Lip Clutch valid 11/26
    • Buy a luxury makeup bag and receive minis of Magic Cream, Wonderglow, Goddess Ski Clay Mask, Multi-Miracle Glow and Night Cream, valid 11/27
    • Purchase the 3rd Edition Makeup Bag and receive a mini Magic Cream and mini Wonderglow, valid 11/27
    • Shop a mystery makeup bag filled with skincare and makeup essentials, available 11/28
  • Clarisonic – 20% off all devices, plus a free Deep Pore Brush Head and Beauty Bag with orders of $175 or more, enter code BLACKFRI at checkout, valid 11/25
  • Diptyque – with any $50 purchase, receive a 35g Baies and 35 g L’Ombre Dans L’eau Soap with code GIFT, valid through 11/27
  • Foreo – 25% off everything site wide except Holiday Gift Sets, ends 11/28
  • Giorgio Armani – 20% off all orders with code ARMANI20, receive complimentary shipping with your order of $75 or more, and receive a complimentary Rouge D’Armani Lipstick in Shade 601 with orders of $150 or more, valid through 11/29
  • Glamglow – buy one full sized product get the same one free with code BOGO2016, valid through 11/29
  • Glossier – 20% off sitewide through the weekend
  • Kat Von D Beauty – receive a 5-piece mini set + vegan leather makeup bag when you spend $100 or, ends 11/28
  • Kate Somerville – save 20% off your entire order with code THANKS2016, receive a bonus holiday survival kit with orders $120 or more, ends 11/28
  • Kerastase – 15% off $100+ and free shipping + 3 deluxe samples, use code KERBF16 at checkout, ends 11/27
  • Kiehl’s – pick 4 deluxe samples of your choice plus free shipping with any $25+ order, applicable on gift sets, enter code BFRIDAY at checkout ends 11/27, plus enjoy or Black Friday Doorbuster Gift Set, only $35 ($62 Value), while supplies last
  • L’Occitane – 30% off Black Friday sets with code FRIDAY, valid 11/25
  • Laura Mercier – 25% off purchases $100 or more with code BLACKFRI, ends 11/28
  • MAC Cosmetics – Black Plum Friday Kit for $35 ($64 value), while supplies last
  • Marc Jacobs Beauty – #Blacquer Friday Sets online, ends 11/28
  • Molton Brown – 25% off sitewide + free shipping with code USBF25, ends 11/28
  • NARS – 20% off Give and Take Event – enter your email for exclusive code to use at checkout
  • Neiman Marcus – $50 off your $200+ purchase, includes beauty with code THANKFUL ends 11/26
  • Nordstrom Beauty – Black Friday Beauty Deals and 80+ Gift With Purchase options
  • Omorovicza Cosmetics – 30% off their order. PLUS, all orders over $330 will receive a complimentary Perfecting Lip Balm, worth $45, ends 11/29
  • Sephora – Black Friday Beauty deals and gift sets starting at $10, while supplies last
  • Shu Uemura – 20% off orders $50+ or 25% off orders $99+, use code BF16, ends 11/25
  • Shu Uemura Art of Hair – 15% Off $125 or More, Free Shipping & a Murakami Beauty Bag, use code BFR16 at checkout, ends 11/27
  • Smashbox – 25% off orders $50+ with code HOLIDAY16, ends 11/27
  • Space NK – spend $150 or more and get $25 off, spend $250 or more get $50 off, discount automatically applied to bag, valid through 11/27
  • Tarte – 25% off orders with code FRIYAY, ends 11/25
  • Tatcha – 20% off all orders at with code THANKS2016, includes free shipping through 11/28
  • Ulta Beauty – Black Friday Beauty Busters and value sets
  • YSL Beauty – 20% off any purchase of $75 or more, plus complimentary shipping, additionally, receive a YSL Signature Brush Set gift with purchases $150 or more, enter code PRIVATESALE2016 at checkout through 11/28

Not on sale, but 25 new shades of Tom Ford Lips and Boys have launched early on Sephora.com! I have all new 25 shades swatched and photographed, post and review will go up soon!

A few other steals and deals on my radar in fashion:

  • AG Jeans – 30% off sitewide and in store, use code BF16, ends 11/28
  • All Saints – 30% off sitewide, use code CYBER
  • Ann Taylor – 50% off sitewide and in store, use code CELEBRATE ends 11/25
  • Banana Republic – 50% off 5 regular-priced items sitewide, ends 11/26 online, 11/28 in store
  • Coach – receive 30% off select styles ends 11/27
  • Express – 50% off everything, ends 11/25
  • Frame Denim – 10% off $200, 15% off $350, 20% off $500 and 25% off $750 select styles, ends 11/28
  • Jcrew – 40% off select items with code HOLIDAY, valid through 11/28
  • Joe’s Jeans – 25% off everything with code THANKS25
  • Joie – 25% off your order with code THANKS, ends 11/28
  • Madewell – 25% off your order with code THATSALE
  • Rag and Bone – 25% off everything with code BLACKFRIDAY25, ends 11/26
  • Shopbop – Buy more save more, spend $200+, get 15% off; spend $500+, get 20% off; spend $800+, get 25% off with code GOBIG16, ends 11/28
  • Splendid – 30% off with code TGIF30 at checkout, 50% off sale items

Happy shopping!

P.S. In case you missed recent updates, I did move to a new platform for the blog last Tuesday and I’ve had a few technical difficulties with the site. While most of you are able to see new posts now, a few of you have reported that you’re still experiencing a delay in seeing new posts on the home page and I’m doing everything I can to fix these (to the point of tears). Some browsers have issues while others do not. You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and direct links to new posts. I hope to have these fixed ASAP!

Sales

Sephora VIB Rouge 20% Off Sale Event Recommendations for Holiday 2016

November 4, 2016
Sephora VIB Rouge 20% Off Sale Event Recommendations for Holiday 2016

Beauty junkies rejoice because the VIB Rouge 20% off sale at Sephora starts today. This is the annual holiday sale for those who have VIB Rouge Point Status. If you’re shopping online use code 20ROUGE at checkout, it will be valid 11/4 through 11/7. It’s valid on Sephora.com, in Sephora US Stores, Sephora Canada and Sephora stores inside JCPenny locations. You can use the code or coupon multiple times in store and online from the dates of the sale. I have a roundup of recommendations along with some items I have on my wishlist.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16

I’ve split the recommendations by category to help organize everything by type. There’s a lot to explore and I always find something new to try everytime I shop in store or even online. Out of all the online beauty retailers I find the Sephora site easiest to navigate and search whether I’m looking for a specific brand, product, sets or basically anything.

Up first are face products. I have quite a few foundation favs, my top three picks at Sephora include the NARS Velvet Skin Tint (I mix Groenland and St. Moritz), NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation (I use Punjab) and Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick (my best match is #123).

For other face products, five of the best things I can think of include:

Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder (review here) is a new launch I think has reached holy grail status for me. I can use either Shade #1 or #2 and both give a very lovely naturally glowy set look.
Tom Ford never goes on sale and items are pretty spendy. I really like the Fire Lust Skin Illuminator and Sheer Cheek Duo in Bi-Coastal (reviewed and swatched here). I have a back-up of Bi-Coastal because it gives the prettiest glowy sheen in two pink tones.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit in Surreal Light has to be the prettiest face palette I’ve seen this year. Swatches and review here.

For concealers, I’m loving the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I can use Custard, Macadamia or Ginger (swatched here). It’s been a staple for years and continues to be a reliable one for under eyes and spots.

For lips the options are easy because there are tons of great brands, formulas and colors. My most reached-for formula is the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine (fav shades are #8, #9, #44 and #47, swatched here).

The Armani Lip Magnets are among the best matte finish liquid lipsticks that I’ve tried because they aren’t drying. Six of the colors swatched and reviewed here. I have 3 more on my wishlist but want to try and see them in person first.
For moisture, I really adore the Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade. This one doesn’t change my lip color, but I know it does on some others. I like it for the packaging and great feeling formula. For those who can’t do anything scented the AmorePacific Moisture Bound has been the best unscented unflavored balm I’ve tried.
NARS Velvet Lip Glides I think can be hit or miss for some. I like Stripped and Bound for colors. It doesn’t really feel velvety as it does glide on the lips. It doesn’t give full coverage in one swipe but needs a bit of layering. I still think they are worth checking out.

For neutral eye makeup, I really think it just doesn’t get better than the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, in particular Naked2 and Naked3 (both swatched here). For this holiday the Marc Jacobs Style Eye Con No. 20 in About Last Night is quite incredible as well – I find it a bit more versatile as it contains more than just neutrals.

My top two mascaras are the Stila Huge Extreme Lash and Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara.

I’ll have a review of the NARS Give In Take Palette as soon as I can. Hopefully either today or by this weekend the post with swatches will go live along with some other items from the Sarah Moon Collection. I’ll say right now the palette is gorgeous!

For hair there are so many options and the value sets are seriously tempting. The Drybar Let It Blow Travel Set with a mini Buttercup dryer along with some other minis. The Sake Bomb Shampoo and Conditioner are great options for dry hair and I use the Hold Me Hair Clips on a daily basis. They’re bright yellow which makes them easy to find.
For volume and clarifying I like the Bumble and Bumble Surf line. They have a cute Big Beachy Hair Anywhere Surf Travel Set that is great to try the items if you’re unsure.

Sephora Favorites have lots of options I featured the Ready, Set Style! Set yesterday. I think it’s a great value for the price and seems like a set that anyone any age would like.
For skincare I like the Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation is the best lightweight moisturizer cream for everyday. It’s got a cream texture so it has substance but it has a lightweight lotion feel so it’s not heavy. There’s no scent or added fragrance and is great for normal combination skin.

On dry days the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is the way to go and never stings. It offers instant relief for dry skin. In terms of beauty skincare tools I’ve found the Clarisonic Mia Fit to be better than the ones with the handles. It’s compact, easy to use and comes in a cute pink color which I love.

For eyes I’ve use the Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum for day and Kate Somerville Retinol Firming Eye Cream for night because it has retinol. Both have helped with puffiness and smoothed texture. There’s no irritation and they don’t sting the eyes.
Kate Somerville is in my top 3 skincare brands. She has three classics in her Cult Favorites Kit – I’ve tried all three separately and they are great. I swear by her face cleansers, in particular the Goat Milk Cleanser and Gentle Daily Wash. I’ve gone through so many tubes of the SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser which is excellent but for the past year I’ve pretty much stuck with the ones from Kate (it’s more affordable).

Last but not least are a few fragrance recommendations. Fragrance is so personal it can be hard to give recommendations because we all have different opinions on what smells good. There are lots of value sets out during the holiday for men and women like Louboutin, Chloe and Elizabeth and James. Since perfume can be pricey if you have a favorite, the sale is a great time to stock up on full sizes.

I’m still in the process of finalizing and narrowing down my list. I do have the Laura Mercier Iconics Set on my wishlist and the sale would bring the price down quite a bit. There’s still quite a bit of other things though such as Tom Ford Winter Soleil (which isn’t online at Sephora, at least not yet), skincare I want to stock up on (this Peter Thomas Roth Mask Vault looks amazing!).

I’ll be doing a haul post once I finalize my order and receive everything. Posts to go live on NARS, Le Metier de Beaute, and Surratt Beauty soon (he has new blush colors out!). Let me know which one you prefer first. I’ve taken all the photos and completed swatches – just need to edit them all and gather my final thoughts for the reviews.

To recap, the 20% off sale at Sephora is on everything for VIB Rouge members. It starts today 11/4 and runs through 11/7/2016. If you’re shopping online use code 20ROUGE. Let me know what you end up hauling or what you have on your wishlist!
Sales

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Haul – Skincare and Fashion Picks

July 21, 2016

By request, I’ve rounded up my skincare and clothing haul picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Today is the last day for early access and the public sale starts tomorrow July 22nd. Although I did shop the sale early, many items sold out in stores near me so I ordered a few items online. My husband did not want to go in store (like most men I think) and since he knows his sizes, he gave me a list of things to order online for him. He tends to stick with classic staples.

First up are my picks. For clothes I had a lot on my list to check out but ended up getting only a few items including:

I tried on a few more items in store including the Trouve Drape Front Leather Jacket in Black and Brown Saddle. I found the XS fit perfectly across the shoulders and the arm length was good (rare for me with leather jackets, they’re always so long!). It’s definitely one of the more affordable jackets with super soft leather. It’s still on my wishlist but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I fell in love with the Whiskey color of the Marc New York by Andrew Marc Felix Stand Collar Leather Jacket but they didn’t have my size in store to try and the collar was on the large size for my preference. In terms of leather jackets, Vince makes my favorite ones but they are quite the splurge and since I don’t think I could keep anything suede nice for long I will save for a regular leather one.

A quick look at the Trouve Drape Front Leather Jackets in two colors and the Rag and Bone Split Back Tank (ordered once I got home).

Rest of what’s on my radar/wishlist:

For skincare I picked up the Foreo Luna Play which comes in one color at Nordstrom. I thought it was an Anniversary Sale Exclusive but appears that it’s not (you can also get it at Sephora and other retailers in different colors). It’s a mini sized device that has 100 uses and is non-rechargeable but at the price I think it’s worth it. I have yet to test it out, but it was too cute to pass up. I’ve shown it next to my Clarisonic Mia Fit (c/o) which I received a few weeks ago but is currently on sale at Nordstrom marked down on mega sale. The Pink Mia Fit is currently on backorder online but Nordstrom.com will still let you put it in your cart at the sale price. White Mia Fit and Blue Mia Fit are both still in stock online.

La Mer has a Gift With $350 Purchase so I bought the new Cleansing Micellar Water to try out along with the Revitalizing Collection set. I did not realize the Nordstrom set had the regular Creme de La Mer instead of the Moisturizing Soft Cream that I typically use. I haven’t used the set yet so I’m debating whether to give the regular cream a go or exchange it for my Moisturizing Soft Cream. If you have normal/combo skin let me know if you’ve tried the regular cream and what you thought.

I look forward to the Moroccan Oil offerings each year. Last year they had supersized shampoos and conditioners and I stocked up on a few. This year’s Moroccan Oil Hair Care Set has the dry oil, moisture shampoo and conditioner and moroccan oil. These are among my favorite shampoo and conditioner products out of all the ones I’ve tried. My husband likes the smell so much he decided to use it to wash our dogs and I almost died when I found out.

Husband’s fashion picks that have arrived so far include the Cole Haan Owen Sport Sneakers (which aren’t on sale but hubby wanted them) and the Ted Baker London Alex Slim Fit Bomber Jacket. He’s usually a Large (he’s 6’3″) and we found Size 5 worked best.

Other items we are waiting for in the mail, he stocked up on jeans from AG (he likes the Protege fit), Joe’s (classic fit) and 7 for All Mankind (Austyn fit). Image is interactive so you can click directly on the icons to shop them on Nordstrom.

For those curious about my skincare and fashion picks, I hope you enjoyed this roundup in a his and hers edition. If you have any input in the La Mer I’m all ears! It looks like there’s a new Moisturizing Soft Lotion that just launched at Nordstrom too. I’m torn between keeping or exchanging the set because it’s such a good deal, but I suspect the regular creme might just be too heavy for my skintype.

Did you haul any skincare or fashion goodies during early access or are you shopping the sale tomorrow? Let me know what you found!
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!