He Still Surprises Me

Last week was pretty rough. Or at least as rough as it can be when your dog has had surgery on her leg and you feel helpless to take the pain away. Or when you're a complete klutz and accidentally sliced your finger pretty badly on a wine glass of all things. Everyone experiences off weeks and it was time for mine. Still not bad in comparison to what most people endure on a daily basis so I felt childish for feeling sorry for myself. But hey, it happens. I'm human.

Wearing //

Lush "Whitney" dress

Nordstrom clutch, similar here & here

Asos pumps, similar

But then someone does something genuinely kind, and you are once again reminded that life constantly pushes and pulls you in different directions. One second you're down, the next you feel on top. I personally love surprises. I think it's so thoughtful when people you love go out of their way to notice that you're feeling fragile and therefore could use a pick-me-up. It's especially meaningful when my husband does it because let's face it, we've been together longer than most Hollywood marriages last and once you reach a certain point, it isn't always rainbows and butterflies. It's easy to get complacent. Nate's always been good at surprising me though, and Friday night was no exception. He drove us down to San Diego and we had a beautiful dinner at one of my favorite hotels overlooking the bay. A four course meal, gorgeous views, and a chance for me to get a little dressed up. It's amazing what a night out on the town can do when you've been in yoga pants for a week straight.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend :)

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The Estee Edit

These products were sent to me for consideration. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own and I am not being compensated in any way. 

I've used these products consistently for over a month and overall have mixed feelings on two of the four. First, I'll start with my favorite and go down the list to the product I don't think is that unique.

The barest lip color in shade 05 - In the Buff ($22.00): I was a bit timid when I opened the package and saw this color. I loved the sleek silver tube as it looks luxurious, but I was worried that this particular shade was going to be far too dark for my light complexion. However, because this product is a lipstick and lip balm hybrid, I was surprised at just how sheer and buildable it truly is. The first swipe is a nice "my lips but better" but when I do a second coat, the color is a darker nude with hints of berry and brown. Of course it will look different on everyone depending on your skin tone but I love this Fall ready color. The formula itself is soft, buttery, and moisturizing, and there isn't really much of a scent that I can detect. It is definitely a standout from all the products I have tried from the line. I would love to try other shades because the dual formula is so lovely.

Beam Team Hydrate + Glow ($42.00): Another standout from the line and one that I recommend trying because I would also buy this on my own. This is a two-in-one, like many of The Estee Edit's products. Have you ladies heard about the glowtion trend that is popular right now? I think a lot of us like to achieve a dewy complexion, and a great way to go about that is by using a moisturizer with illuminating properties already built in. Think of it as a highlighting moisturizer. I love using this on days where I don't wear makeup! It creates the appearance of beautiful skin without the need for foundation. It evens my skin tone and blurs pores and spots. I have also used it underneath my makeup too, and it's the perfect primer. It adds just the right amount of soft golden color. Again, I was concerned that this product would make my skin look like a disco ball - too shiny. But the illumination is very subtle, even when worn alone. It also has a touch-on shimmer concentrate in the flip cap, which is nice on cheekbones as a targeted highlight. Admittedly, I don't use that option too often but it's a clever addition.

Pore Vanishing Stick ($28.00): This product feels like a silicone primer in a portable stick form. It reminds me of other products I have tried that blur the appearance of large pores. I like this on bare skin because it glides on smoothly. I swipe it across my nose and cheeks which is where most people have noticeable pores. However, when I try to use it underneath or over foundation, the product seems to disappear and no longer serves its purpose. Ultimately, I can't recommend it because the staying power isn't there and it doesn't perform as promised. I think the Beam Team is better at evening and priming the skin. 

Flash Illuminator in Day Light ($28.00): This is a highlighting liquid that really packs a punch. Too much for my taste. I think if I had one of the lighter shades, I would appreciate this product a bit more but because it's so dramatic, I only use it sparingly on my arms and legs mixed with my regular lotion. It does leave a beautiful peachy glow (not glitter, just sheen), but there are a hundred different companies that already do liquid highlighters and because of that, I don't recommend running out and buying this. Just not unique enough!




Swatches (with flash): The barest lip color in 05, flash illuminator in day light, beam team hydrate + glow in sun loving bronze

Let's sum this review up shall we? Would I buy this on my own?

The Barest Lip Color: Yes. Smooth buttery formula and buildable color

Beam Team Hydrate + Glow: Yes. Multipurpose product that creates a beautiful complexion with little effort

Pore Vanishing Stick: No. Doesn't work as promised

Flash Illuminator: No. Not unique to really any brand. It's been done to death

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Nobody's Perfect

Wearing //

1. State top

Halogen skirt (old) but similar here & here

Sole Society heels, similar here & here

Banana Republic bag

Kendra Scott bracelet 

After camping in a tent this past weekend, using baby wipes to take a "bath", and going without makeup, I was looking forward to coming home and dressing up for my mom's 64th birthday dinner. Don't get me wrong. I'm quite proud of myself for roughing it. I haven't really camped in years. Usually Nate and I borrow his parents trailer which has all the amenities you could possibly ask for. A shower, a toilet, a mirror. But there is something liberating about not having these things and therefore not worrying about your general appearance. I think we all get so caught up in the way we look on a daily basis. Is this outfit okay? Are my eyebrows perfectly in place? Is someone going to ask me if I'm pregnant because my tummy isn't flat? Is my hair frizzing? I don't know about you, but it can be mentally exhausting! Even taking blog photos can turn my smile into a frown if the pictures don't come out the way I envisioned and then that inevitably leads to me questioning everything about myself. But it's alright. I don't have to look perfect because I'm not perfect, nobody is. If there is one takeaway from camping this go around, it's that I am grateful to just be clean again, not have that campfire smell stuck in my hair, and be able to use the restroom in peace. A real restroom, not a bucket. Yes, I did that. I actually did that. It's called a portable loo if you want to look it up on Amazon. Fancy. So of course I love stuff. I blog about them. Clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags, forty different sheet masks. Sometimes I have to take a step back. Just forget about shopping, sales, and the like and live without focusing on the superficial if only for a weekend camping trip.

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But then I came home and entered my closet, pulled out one of my favorite skirts, and told Nate to get the camera ready before mom's celebration on Monday...back to blogging!

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Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt

I've walked by Jo Malone counters in higher-end department stores for years, but never felt worthy enough to stop and take a look. I always assumed that the price point was out of my range, and the sales girls looked intimidating to me. But now that I'm older, a bit more confident, and a self-proclaimed beauty enthusiast, I decided to let go of my misgivings and pop into Bloomingdales. I made a beeline for Jo Malone, and to my surprise, the SA was not only extremely kind and helpful but she also allowed me to test, spray, and basically annoy her with my questions and requests.

When I was in high school and even into my twenties, I gravitated towards sweet and fruity fragrances. You know, the kind that all your friends wore and that could be easily found at any department store counter. Usually it was celebrity endorsed (I'm talking Jessica Simpson and J Lo). I don't regret my choices back then because I didn't know what I was doing and I just bought what smelled good on other people. Needless to say, I cannot stand those scents now! Too sickly sweet and artificial smelling. I'm not a perfume snob, but I went into this purchase with the intention of smelling REAL. A scent that can be found in nature and not in a chemist's lab.

Wood Sage & Sea Salt

Wood Sage and Sea Salt was love at first whiff. And trust me, I smelled them all, coffee beans firmly against my nostrils after each test. This will come as a shock to no one who regularly reads here, but I LOVE the ocean and anything that reminds me of a day (or night) at the beach will instantly draw me in. The notes are fresh, light, but with a little musk. As quoted directly from the Jo Malone website, I feel this is the perfect description: "Escape the everyday along the windswept shore. Waves breaking white, the air fresh with sea salt and spray. Alive with the mineral scent of the rugged cliffs. Mingling with the woody earthiness of sage. Lively, spirited, and totally joyful." Damn. Well I couldn't have written it better myself, so there it is. This cologne in all its glory.

Notes: Sea salt, Ambrette seeds (whatever those are), sage, red algae, and grapefruit.

Price Point: 1 oz. for $65 dollars. A little steep yes, but worth it in my opinion especially considering the price of perfume in general these days. The larger bottles are $130. Yikes.

Lasting Power: I wouldn't say that it lasts a full day, but my trick is to spray my pulse points as well as my actual clothing so that you get the true scent. It fades rather nicely and settles very clean on my skin. Of course this will be different on everyone according to your body chemistry. Another thing I didn't realize when I was younger. However, I highly recommend this and will definitely be trying others from the line in the future. I'm hooked.

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