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Eye Makeup

Mascara Hits and Misses

August 4, 2017

I have a new updated mascara roundup. I’ve been trying a few new formulas and have some hits and some misses. The humidity in Florida is pretty high and the sun feels a million times stronger here than it did in San Diego. Finding one that holds up to the humidity has been a process.

Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara is a formula I had purchased from a duo over last holiday. I had it sitting in the box waiting for my other tubes to get used up. I was pleasantly surprised because the reviews with this were mixed. It had zero clumping, defined lashes, volumized, coated evenly, held the curl and had no smudging. For me this is a hit.
Sisley-Paris So Intense Mascara is one I tried from the Nordstrom Color Twist Set (review here). Huge hit with this one even though the comb is so tiny it looks like it won’t grab lashes. It allows you to get right at the base without touching the skin. This usually isn’t a big deal for me if the mascara is good because a quick clean up with a Q-tip fixes it after application. However this one makes application easier. It volumizes, holds curl and doesn’t smudge.
L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof is the first drugstore mascara I’ve actually liked. I’ve tried dozens and end up throwing them all away after 2 uses because they either dry to a grey looking black, smudge or don’t hold the curl. This literally was WOW with the first try. It’s everything I want in a mascara – volume, definition and holds the curl. I absolutely love the waterproof version because there is zero smudging. Blackest Black is the color I tried and it’s a true rich black. It does take more work to remove at the end of the day but is completely worth it. Huge hit.
Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme Mascara has to be mentioned again even though it’s not new to me because it’s my favorite waterproof mascara. No smudging, holds the curl, volumizes – huge thumbs up. I’ve repurchased this one the most in the past year.
Chanel Le Volume Waterproof is another classic. The regular Le Volume is good, but I prefer the Waterproof version because it holds up better in the humidity. This is one of the few rubberized applicators I like – most other brands just don’t do it for me. A classic one for me.
Dior Pump N Volume Mascara was a big miss. The first application was decent for volume, holding the curl and having a true rich black color. Every application after that was a clumping disaster – even when I removed excess from the tube by cleaning it. When there’s buildup, every once in a while I’ll take the wand and run it in between a folded piece of paper. It’s just like you would do with a tissue or paper towel but using paper makes it so those cotton fibers from tissue won’t get caught in the bristles. The volume on this one is really good and there are quite a few rave reviews on this one, if it didn’t clump all the time it would be perfect.
Serge Lutens Comb Mascara is another miss for me. I had such high hopes for this one as it came highly recommended and the online reviews on the formula were stellar. It has a similar applicator to the Sisley-Paris one. For some reason this Serge Lutens one made my lashes look spidery. It took a while to dry and smudged with a few blinks. After it dried down it had decent staying power but didn’t hold the curl and didn’t have as rich of a black finish as other ones. It wasn’t the worst but there are much better formulas for me out there.

A few notes on other mascaras I’ve loved but didn’t feature in this roundup. Other long-time favs have included the By Terry Mascara Terrybly, Chantecaille Faux Cils, Stila Huge Lash and Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara. Most of these still work for me in the humid hot weather, I’ve just been rotating through different options recently. If you’ve had your eye on the Chantecaille one I highly recommend you check out the Touch-Up Essentials Set while it’s still available for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because it’s a great deal. The only one that doesn’t work so well for me in humid weather is the By Terry option, but they do have a waterproof version which I want to investigate.

For makeup removal longer lasting formulas and waterproof ones are going to be more difficult to remove in the evenings. Most of these I have to use a multi-step process to take them off in the evenings. Regardless of whether I double cleanse with a cleansing oil or cleansing water, I always use a cotton pad and soak it with eyemakeup remover first. My favorite formula used to be the Chanel Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover but these days I’ve found it’s just ok. Some of the longer lasting formulas don’t come off anymore with this one and I don’t know if the formula of the makeup remover has changed or if I’m simply finding formulas with better lasting power. Some thing goes for the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. It used to be a long-time go to but my last bottle didn’t perform as well as I remember it did in past years. My current go-to is the Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover (available in this value set from Nordstrom here and here). For cotton I’ve tried a number of brands but my favorites are from Chanel and Sephora.

If I had to pick one mascara to use for the rest of the summer that would be a hard choice. I would be able to narrow it down to three: Sisley-Paris, L’Oreal and Tom Ford.

What are your favorite mascaras for the summertime?

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Loving Right Now

A Few Things I’m Loving Right Now

July 27, 2017

Happy Thursday! Quick roundup post today of some things I’ve been loving lately. Summer is in full swing here and the humidity levels here in Florida keep rising. I’ve experienced summer thunderstorms for the first time and so much here is completely new to me as I’ve lived in Southern California for most of my life. Even with the heat, we’ve been loving the sunshine and seeing real weather although lately we’ve stayed indoors to avoid sweating from the heat. At this point in my life fall fashion is something I cannot even start to think of and there are times I wonder if I will ever wear a leather jacket again while in Florida. Seven things I’ve been loving lately:

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger is the best for me these days with this warm weather. It works for under eyes and redness. The creamy texture melds well with my skin and blends easily with other foundations. For my under eye area it definitely works to give a brightening effect and I like that it doesn’t crease as long as I set it with a good powder. Swatches of Custard, Macadamia and Ginger here.
Sisley-Paris So Intense Mascara in Deep Black is just so amazing. I bought it from the Nordstrom Sale reviewed here. I love it for the thickening and deep black color it has. No smudging and it holds the curl. It has the tiniest comb I think I’ve ever seen but it allows me to get the lashes right at the base without touching the skin around the eye area.
Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara is another winner. I had a tube I bought from a set a while ago still sitting in the box. I was waiting for my other mascaras to hit the 3 month mark to toss them and try some new formulas. This one has no smudging. It lengthens, holds the curl, defines and doesn’t clump. Huge thumbs up.
Replica Beach Walk Dry Body Oil Spray is summer in a bottle! A little goes a long way and even with a lot of spritzing I’ve barely made a dent in this one. The spritzer dispenses the perfect amount of product and sprays it evenly. I use a couple sprays on each leg to cover them entirely. It smells like the perfect beachy vacation. Compared to the perfume this one is almost identical, the oil just has a slightly salty scent to it making it more beach like. It’s just perfect for warm weather.
Tatcha The Body Mist (Limited-Edition) is a new lightweight hydrating body spray. It smells like the Indigo line with a lightweight feel. I’ve used face mists before for moisture but haven’t really explored body mists unless they are oils. This one has a cooling feel and nice lightweight finish. The scent has a calming effect and I love the way it absorbs into the skin in a light way. I wish it weren’t limited-edition as I’d probably like to restock when this is finished, unfortunately by that time it will probably not be around anymore.
Sisley-Paris White Ginger Contouring Oil for Legs is one of the most luxurious and most expensive body products I own. I tried this in a sample packet from one of the subscription boxes, fell in love and ordered the full size. The sample packet lasted several days for both legs. I found it had enough uses for me to decide I needed it. At $190 per bottle this is insanely expensive but it feels amazing on the legs and has an energizing feel. Right after I ordered one, the Sisley team sent one in a press package so now I’m double stocked on this. I don’t know how this works in terms of the contouring effects – there are quite a few body creams and lotion on the market that claim to have this effect. I feel like you would have to use this for months to notice results. For me the finish, scent and feel is enough to justify the price. It’s the best silky feeling oil I’ve used on the legs ever. It is emollient but it does absorb into the skin after a few minutes. If you’re looking for an oil with a dry down, this may be too emollient for you.
Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil is something I’ve rediscovered. I’ve been experimenting with the Shu Uemura cleansing oils again and will do a roundup review of all of them in a couple weeks. Right now I’ve been loving the Balancing One as it’s designed for sensitive skin and for me it leaves the skin clean and soft and removes all traces of makeup. There is also a new one called nutri:nectar cleansing oil in emulsion which has a thicker almost gel-like texture so it won’t run into the eyes like most fluid oils. It’s very gentle and effective. A more detailed review to follow on both – but these days double cleansing and starting with a cleansing oil for me is a must. The Shu Uemura team is offering Beauty Look Book readers a promo of 5 deluxe samples and free shipping on orders $50+ with code BLBXSHU (samples include mini laque supreme rd01, mini maxi:hydrability essence-in cream, sakura-rose-petal-mask, ultime8 cleansing oil mini, nutri nectar sample) – promo is valid online at both Shu Uemura USA and Shu Uemura Canada.

Don’t forget there’s still a few more days to enter my Charlotte Tilbury giveaway. Coming up next are reviews on new launches from Chanel and Bobbi Brown. What are you loving right now? Any favorite body care products you rely on during the summer months?

Press samples include the Tatcha Body Mist, Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils and Sisley-Paris Ginger Contour Oil.

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Sisley-Paris

Sisley-Paris Color Twist Set

July 24, 2017

The Sisley-Paris Color Twist Set from Nordstrom has three items from the line that I’ve been dying to try but couldn’t bring myself to splurge on. It contains three full-sized Sisley items in the Phyto-Eye Twist in #1 Topaze, Phyto-Lip Twist in #2 Baby and the So Intense Mascara in #1 Deep Black. The set from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is priced at $100 which is steep, but individually the items retail at $167 so you do get a nice price break with this trio. The price break pushed me to splurge and I’m glad I did. I’ve looked at Sisley makeup for quite some time but the price points have deterred me from splurging sooner. Earlier this year I was able to get my first look at the makeup with the Phyto-Blush Twists and fell in love with them for the classic natural look they give. These items in this set were worth the splurge for me and I was happy to explore more of the line.

The Phyto-Lip Twist is a Tinted Balm. Baby is a light neutral-cool baby pink. It goes on a bit lighter in color compared to what I see in the tube itself but has a smooth very hydrating feel. The finish is like a rich cushion-like balm on the lips. Coverage with Baby is medium to full – one swipe gives a sheer-medium veil of color. A few more strokes gives full coverage. Compared to other tinted balms this one has a thicker feel. A more weightless balm for me is the YSL Volupte Tint in Balms. I think this one is the perfect baby pink color – it felt emollient but stayed put longer on the lips compared to other tinted balms. I usually don’t mind reapplying lip colors especially if it’s a balm or glossy formula. This one stayed on longer than most. There’s a very faint scent if you closely smell the product but I couldn’t detect it while applying on the lips.

The Phyto-Eye Twist is a one of those multi-tasking eye products. You can use it as a base, a shadow or liner. It’s a twist up formula so once the tip wears down I’m not sure how easy it will be to apply as a liner, but as a shadow I really like it. Topaze is one of those perfect neutral lid colors. If you blend it sheers out quite a bit but you can re-layer on top for more color. It glides on easily without tugging and on me it lasted all day without sliding off or fading. Topaze is the one color I had my eye on so it was perfect that it happened to be in this set.

The So Intense Mascara has also been on my radar for ages. When I finally saw the brush in person I was concerned it would not work for me as the ones with the super fine combs usually do nothing for my lashes. The applicator is not like your typical mascara wand – it has very tiny comb. The description says that it has vitamin-rich peptides designed to lengthen and thicken within two weeks. I have not yet had a chance to use it for that long, but I have tested it 5 times now and am extremely impressed. It is quite an impressive formula. It coats the lashes evenly without clumping and the tiny wand gets the lash even at the base easily without touching the skin. I find it gives volume, has an ultra black finish, dries relatively quickly and holds the curl. On me it did not smudge with regular activity, however there was one morning I was outside in extreme heat and sun for about 15 minutes and started dripping with sweat everywhere. It’s not sweat proof to that level of sweating, but on all other tests: dinner outside in humid weather, being indoors most of the day, and also being outside during the weekend for lunches/exploring – it held up remarkably well.

This was worth the splurge for me. Out of the three items I’m most impressed with the mascara. At the price points I don’t know if I’ll be buying more from the lip or eye formulas. I do think they are 100% worth it – but the price points are still very expensive. As much as I like the Phyto-Lip Twist formula I’m a bit hesitant to check out the other shades in person because I think I’ll have little will power to resist buying a couple. For now I’ll most likely be sticking with what I have for tinted balms. I may wait until the fall to splurge on a few more.

Bottom line, Sisley-Paris proves to be excellent in quality and finish again. If you are ok with splurging I think these are really good. The colors are great for that classic understated look in that natural Parisian kind of way. For those who have been wondering about the Phyto-Blush Twist in Glow I reviewed in the spring, it finally restocked online at Neiman Marcus! It’s one of those shades that was available and sold out immediately but it’s back! I don’t know if it will pop up other places but if you missed out keep checking 🙂

You can find the Sisley-Paris Phyto Color Set at Nordstrom for a limited time during the Anniversary Sale. All the shades are available individually as well in case you are only interested in one or two of the items.

Have you tried any of the Sisley-Paris makeup line? What are your favorites?

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Skincare

Sisley-Paris Beauty Subscription 6 Months

July 11, 2017

Sisley-Paris is one of those beautiful skincare lines with cult-status products and extremely expensive prices. I’ve tried a small handful of things to date and splurged on a few face masks which are really quite amazing. Due to the price points I haven’t looked at the line in detail even though many readers recommend the Black Rose Precious Face Oil. They launched a beauty subscription program which allows you to sample five things a month at a pretty reasonable price. The Beauty Subscription service is exclusive to the Sisley-Paris website in either a 6-month subscription for $60 or 12-month subscription for $100. The cost is like you are essentially paying for postage. I’ve been lucky to receive it for a few months now courtesy of Sisley. However since my move across country, other skincare projects, having to adjust to new surroundings and weather, and also other things happening in life I haven’t had a chance to try most of the items. The good news is that I saved up six months worth of boxes to be able to share with you today what 6 months looks like. Sometimes seeing more than one month’s worth makes it easier to decide whether or not to sign up for a subscription program.

Each month you receive a little black box, small drawstring bag, five skincare, fragrance or makeup samples, a little card explaining each product and a promo code for extra points if you purchase anything from the box. I’ve never ordered anything direct from their site as I used to buy my Sisley-Paris items from my Neiman Marcus back in San Diego, however they do have a rewards program. Gold and Platinum members receive the subscription for free. Here are the box contents from January through June 2017, US:

What was in each box by month. Each month has a different theme to add a fun twist. Notes on what I tested below:

January – The Detox
- Ecological Compount
- All Day All Year
- Botanical D-Tox
- Phyto-Blanc Buff and Wsh
- Eau du Soir Shower Gel
February – The At-Home Spa
- Buff and Wash Facial Gel
- Facial Mask with Linden Blossom
- Moisturizer with Cucumber
- Energizing Foaming Exfoliant for the Body
- Eau de Champagne Lotion
March – The Instant Beautifiers
- Eau Efficace
- Sisleya L’Integral Anti-Age
- Double Tenseur
- Sisleya Le Teint
- Izia Eau de Parfum
April – April Showers
- Phyto-Blanc Lightening Cleansing Mil
- Hydra-Flash Mask
- Hydra Global
- White Ginger Contouring Oil for Legs
- Restorative Body Cream
May – May Flowers
- Lyslait Cleansing Milk
- Sisleya Radiance Anti-Aging Concentrate
- Black Rose Precious Face Oil
- Phyto-Teint Eclat Foundation
- Eau Tropicale Eau de Toilette
June – Long Weekend
- Sisleya Essential Skincare Lotion
- Supreyma Cream
- Eye Contour Mask
- The Neck Cream
- Eau de Champagne Body Lotion

As you can see I had saved all the packets but was able to test some of them over the past few weeks. With skincare I like to take my time anyways so I have these saved in a box that I can try at my leisure. Things I really loved:

Buff and Wash Facial Gel is a very gentle facial scrub suspended in a gel wash, this was very gentle but still effective, I find most scrubs too harsh for my skin and this one is among the most gentle that I’ve tried.
Facial Mask with Linden Blossom is designed for the most sensitive skin, it has a very soft and soothing feel to calm and smooth the skin, you leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse off, it’s an excellent calming mask.
Energizing Foaming Exfoliant for the Body is such an amazing body scrub, I’ve mentioned that I’m a die-hard loyal fan to Aesop, this one is more gentle with a more feminine spa-like feel, I’m adding this to my buy list for when I see a good GWP.
Eau de Champagne Lotion is a lightweight cream that smells like a bright citrus champagne green scent, it has a light enough scent that it’s not overpowering, I love how it absorbs quickly, I’m more of a body oil kind of girl now, but would consider using this in humid weather as it’s quite refreshing.
Izia Eau de Parfum is a lovely soft rose scent, I’m more into green or white florals, but this is one of the most wearable rose scents I’ve tried.
Black Rose Precious Face Oil is the most raved about item and most recommended from my readers, I’ve been a long-time devotee to Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate and Midnight Recovery Oil. I tried the Black Rose Oil twice (each sample is a 1-time use and I had an extra one from another GWP) – both at night. It’s a richer oil but a little goes a long way, it’s beautifully hydrating and when I use it overnight I wake up with super soft skin.
I’ve also tried all the milk cleansers, I’m more of a liquid or gel cleanser person but these have been nice to try.

I’ve featured a few other beauty subscriptions on the blog that I signed up for including this one from Sephora and this one from Birchbox. I cancelled both before I moved from San Diego. The monthly cost was reasonable but the contents were hit or miss. I’ve discussed beauty subscriptions with a few friends – some say they think subscriptions aren’t really worth that $10 to $25 per month because they’ve gotten things they just don’t care about. Others have said it makes more sense for a luxury skincare line because you’d have a better idea of what you’d be sampling from rather than a bunch of random brands or colors of lipstick or highlighter you’d never wear. I agree with both sides. For the Sisley Subscription Program you can find a lot of these in GWPs and I’ve definitely accumulated quite a few sample packets over the years. I had a good relationship with one of the sales associates at my local stores and they would often pull samples of what they could find. The nice thing about the subscription is you don’t have to spend $100 to $300ish for the minimum for just a few samples – it’s a lot more affordable this way.

A few last thoughts: The size of the packets and tubes you get are most of the time a single or two-time use. Some of the larger bottles of cleanser or makeup remover you can definitely get more use out of (I’ve used some 5 times and there’s still a lot left). With skincare I do feel like more product would definitely be helpful in testing these items – so whether or not this would be useful or worth it to you will depend on your preferences. There are some discovery sets with larger sizes available to purchase at retailers like Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom to give you a better sampling. Still at the price point of this subscription program this is a nice way to try new things each month.

You can find the Beauty Subscription Program exclusively online at Sisley-Paris. Full size items and sets also available at Beautylish, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter.

Have you tried anything from Sisley-Paris? What are your favorites?

Beauty subscription provided courtesy of Sisley-Paris.

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Bronzer + Blush Sisley-Paris

Sisley-Paris Phyto-Blush Twist

March 16, 2017

I’ve been exploring more from Sisley-Paris and my latest discovery is the Phyto-Blush Twist ($68 each for .19 oz/5.5 g). This is the first I’ve tried from Sisley makeup-wise and it was love at first swatch. These Phyto-Blush Twists are twist up cream to powder sticks for the cheeks. They have a soft creamy feel but dry down to a powdery finish when you blend. As far as scent goes it has a very soft light makeup kind of scent but it’s not noticeable to me unless I actually try to smell it straight from the tube (huge plus for me). They are enriched with Camellia and Shea oils to keep the skin hydrated, yet they remain powdery feeling with a fresh look for an impressive amount of time. There are four colors, unfortunately one seems to be sold out everywhere. I received these as a press sample with one of the most fun boxes I’ve ever seen, it came with game board of tic tack toe.

1 Petal is a pale baby pink cream, it has no shimmer and even though it’s pale, it still shows up on my medium skin, I suspect if I get any darker though it will be best worn as a base for other powder blushes because alone it might be too light
2 Fushia is a bright pink, it’s very pigmented but can be sheered out for a more subtle look
3 Papaya is a coral peach, this one also can pull bright but it’s easy to blend
4 Glow (the one that’s sold out everywhere) is a sheer champagne shimmer, it’s sheer-looking on my skin because it almost seems to match my skintone (see it swatched on Beauty Professor where it looks a bit more visible with the contrast to tan skin, often times we are the same foundation shade, but right now she is darker than me)

At $68 each these are very expensive but readers have been telling me for over a year now to explore the line and have sung praises of their skincare. I’ve splurged on a couple skincare items and really loved them. For the makeup line I this is the first I’ve explored from the line. I did not expect these to last as long as they did. Right now in South Florida we have a cooler week but even back on the West Coast with cool or warm weather I found it rare that cream blushes last all day without getting dewy. I was particularly impressed with the fact that these do indeed last a long time. They look good from morning to afternoon without getting dewy. Below is how they look on my medium complexion, I’m wearing Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in 125/Y315 with the Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder (I just discovered this and love it).

Lip colors with each blush swatch:

1 Petal is paired with Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Douglas (review here)
2 Fushia is paired with Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Tendresse (review soon)
3 Papaya is paired with Tom Ford Clutch-Sized Balm in Pure Shores (review tomorrow!)
4 Glow is paired with Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Bradley (review here)

I’m usually a lover of peaches and coral blushes, but with this formula I find myself drawn more to the pink ones when I’m lighter in skintone. I like mixing the light and deep pink together for an in-between shade, but really all the colors are good. Glow is a nice one for that super natural looking sheen – it matches my skintone right now so it appears to just give the skin a glow rather than a sharper highlight. If you need a visible highlight this may be too sheer for you. Since it’s sold out I did a quick swatch comparison at home to find a dupe.

NARS Sheer Pop Multiple in Navagio Beach is the most similar (review here)
Marc Jacobs Beauty Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter is more golden (review soon, but I LOVE THIS)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Champagne Pop is a lot more golden (review here)
Tom Ford Shimmer Shot in Spin Spin Sugar is more glowy and paler (review here)
NARS Hot Sand Illuminator is paler but has an almost identical effect with more glow (one of my favorites, really one of the best natural looking highlighters that doesn’t look frosted but also isn’t invisible and great for normal/oily skin, review here)

Bottom line very pretty, well made, long lasting and classic. They have a very chic French kind of feel in the sense that they can be worn for a natural barely there look, yet at the same time they can definitely be layered for more color. I like that there are two colors bright or deep enough that will show up on medium to tan skin tones. The pigment is good!

You can find the Sisley-Paris Phyto-Blush Twists at all counters now. Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s and Sisley-Paris.

Have you tried these before? If not do you have any Sisley-Paris favorites?

Phyto-Blush Twists provided courtesy of Sisley for review.

12 Comments

Loving Right Now

Loving Right Now + Instagram Roundup

March 13, 2017

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.

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.

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).

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!

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.

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

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.

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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