This is the time to wear some warm fragrances, and Estee Lauder’s Sensuous fits that bill. Launched in 2008, this fragrance is in a beautiful glass bottle with a heavy rose gold stopper-type cap.
Sensuous is a warm amber fragrance that’s actually nice to wear in the winter because of the amber in the drydown. It’s also got definite floral notes and something peppery that keeps it interesting and fresh.
Find it at the Estee Lauder counter. $118 for 100mL.
It’s been busy on the blog this month, and I posted about so many new products that I tried, so here’s a rundown of what was popular:
I’ve tried a whole bunch of Kevin Murphy products. First up: Hair Resort.
Then this spray which I keep using because it smells amazing.
Also got my hands on Bumble and Bumble’s Thickening Dryspun Texture spray and I love it. In fact, it’s in my hair right now.
New perfume: Miu Miu L’Eau Rosee.
Old perfume: Santal 33 is still amazing.
I tried some new foundations!
Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum Foundation. Great for dry skin. Not so much for oily skin.
Maybelline Urban Dream Cover is perfect for anyone who wants coverage and SPF in one. Watch the video here.
Also, Maybelline Colossal Waterproof Big Shot Mascara review video.
HBC mascara review here.
And it’s winter, so even I have really dry skin at times, and this is what I’m using for it.
Saturday Skin also makes good ones.
Lanolips is amazing for dry lips. You need to try it.
I also tried the whole Fresh Lotus Youth line and loved it for smooth hydrated skin.
I went to Jamaica in December and tried a whole bunch of masks there. Ouai mask. Moroccanoil mask.
Beautyblender Ruby is here.
OPI Mexico City is coming this February.
I have tried a few new foundations and this Bobbi Brown one is one of them. I’d seen some tutorials with them and the finish was very glowy and it seemed moisturizing so I wanted to try this on for myself. I got the color Honey which was warmer than what I normally go with but that’s what I needed after coming back from vacation.
The Intensive Skin Serum Foundation is a moisturizing foundation and has SPF 40 and so it works and applies more like skincare instead of just being regular foundation. That being said, it does stay on your skin and binds so that it doesn’t move too much.
This foundation applies and looks like an oil on your skin. It’s super glossy to the point that it’s impossible to even powder it because the powder just cakes on the foundation. Because it’s so glossy, I find that it does move a bit and you would have to use other cream products with it – a cream blush and a cream bronze because those products will blend in more seamlessly.
I found that this foundation really isn’t for me. I liked the glowy finish but it was just too greasy and moisturizing for my skin. I like a bit of glow but this was just oily looking but without the benefit of actually just being a skincare oil.
Available at the Bobbi Brown counter. $83.
This one is for those of you who want the clay without the tight drying feeling that some masks can leave. The Caudalie Purifying Mask smells wonderfully herby but doesn’t go on as smoothly as some of the other masks that I’ve tried. Applying a thick layer, however, does the trick and since the mask doesn’t dry like others you easily forget that it’s on.
The mask took the day’s grit and grime off quite well but it doesn’t leave you with that squeaky clean feeling. That may be a good thing if you’ve got sensitive or dry skin.
Caudalie also now makes a Glycolic Mask that I’m dying to try, so that’s next on my list.
$51 at Sephora.
And there’s not a neutral in sight. Here is OPI’s Spring collection based on the vibe of Mexico City. 
Top Row Shades: Mariachi Makes My Day, Viva OPI, Suzi’s Slinging Mezcal, Don’t Tell a Sol.
Middle Row: Mexico City Move-mint, Coral-ing Your Spirit Animal, Hue is the Artist, Mural Mural On The Wall.
Bottom Row: Verde Nice to Meet You, Telenovela Me About It, Mi Casa Es Blue Casa, My Chihuahua Doesn’t Bite Anymore.
I’m digging the pastels, especially the mints, in this collection!
Available Feb. 1 where OPI is sold.
Gorgeous packaging and a lighter than air formula is what brought me to this foundation, but I keep turning to it because it also has SPF 25 in it and a powdery finish that works well on my oily skin.
It has a dropper system because the foundation is so liquidy. Dior says that it has oils that evaporate right away, but we know that oils don’t really work like that. It’s more of an oil-free, water-based foundation that turns into powder.
Here’s me applying and the full review. Let me know if you’ve tried it and what you think!
http://www.instagram.com/tv/B7y-ontBrMT/
This is the Complete Salon Manicure formula in Mauve Along which wears like a neutral on me.
I really love the formula of this nail polish. It applies well and stays on.
Espa is a European brand that is available only online and they have some great products for people with very dry skin. My sister swears by their overnight mask, and she had invested in this Pink Hair and Scalp mud, which I also took on vacation with me.
I was hesitant to use this at first because of the word mud in the title. I assumed that it would come out like a clay mask, but actually it’s a pink cream that blends into hair and is easy to use. It’s a thick, creamy mask that’s not watery or oily and smells like a spa – a mix of eucalyptus and other herbs. This smelled so fresh that I really enjoyed having it in my hair!
It left my hair hydrated but it wasn’t an amazing difference than what it was before so I probably won’t be reaching for this mask.
If you’re looking for foundation that is weightless, the new serum foundations are the way to go. They not only deliver good coverage, but because every single brand seems to have a version, you can find the perfect one for you.
Today, I’m using Diorskin Nude Air foundation which has SPF 20 in it. Because I’m a bit tan right now from my vacation, I’m using the colour 40. This foundation is water-based with a powdery mix of pigments in it so it would be great for oily skin, but it leaves a sheer finish in your skin so it’s not great for a lot of coverage. I add powder to the areas that I think need more coverage for me, but most days I’m good with light coverage.
Dior’s Nude Air Serum comes in the typical Dior foundation shades – there are seven shades which means that there are not many options.
The foundation is SPF 20, but despite that it doesn’t seem to have a whitish cast or any chalkiness to it, which is nice. It goes on so smoothly and lightly that I couldn’t feel it on my face. It’s best to use these foundations with your fingertips, and with just a few drops I was able to quickly even out my skin tone and make it look amazing. I like to use the dropper to put the foundation directly on my face, and then I blend it in.
Definitely don’t use a beauty blender for your serum foundations – the sponge will just keep absorbing liquid and you’ll have hardly anything to deposit on your face. It’s best to use your fingers with this foundation.
The Dior Nude Air Serum is one of the most weightless and traceless foundations out there. If you don’t like the feeling of foundation on your face, or if you want something light that can even out your skin, this is a great one to try. It doesn’t even have any shine so it looks quite natural. There’s also the Dior Nude Air Powder which is great for setting makeup and giving skin that matte finish while still being quite light. You might not need it to set this foundation because it sets on its own, that’s how powdery the finish is.
I’m able to use a powder blush on top of this and it lasts the whole day.
Pick up the foundation and powder at department stores. The Nude Air Foundation is $66.
This is a great cream for styling hair that needs extra moisture. It goes in kind of like a conditioner, but you put it into your hair when you’re styling it not in the shower. It gives hair nice slip and moisture but no hold.
This cream is great for curly hair because it leaves your hair moisturized and not crunchy which is a must for me! I like my curls more defined so I would definitely need to combine this with a product that has more hold, but if you don’t need that then you can use it on its own. It’s definitely great for adding and holding moisture in your hair.
$17 for 75mL. Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, and some salons.
