A Few Of My Favorite Things

I'm always being asked about my favorite things. 
I was given some amazing products in the lead up to Christmas, and I bought some really great items, and some of it got lost in the holiday madness and didn't make it to the blog, but today I want to show you an assortment of my absolute favorite beauty items of the moment.

I have been hearing so much about Sunday Riley products for a while now. My winter Rachel Zoe Box Of Style had a full size jar of Sunday Riley's uber celebrated Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream.

This is the cream that everyone is raving about and I can totally see why! This is a next generation super hydrating cream that holds water and nutrients to the skin, plumping it up and making it look youthful, all the while brightening it and getting rid of that dull, lifeless winter complexion. It is really, really fabulous.
(Tidal is going to be an amazing product to travel with this year too.)
I seriously want to try out the Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil which I hear is just amazing. It's going to be the next new skin care product that I buy.

You can find Sunday Riley products online at Space NK.

From my Bloomingdale's Beauty Box, which was a birthday gift from Bloomingdale's, I fell in love with the new Tory Burch fragrance, Love Relentlessly.



I have worn it every day for the past month and just adore it. It is pure romance.

Bloomingdale's also gave me my new favorite mascara too. 
It's from Clarins and is called Supra Volume Mascara.

In it's tube it is quite unassuming, and I really thought it would just be a "nice mascara", but this one is an absolute powerhouse lash builder! It makes my lashes huge, but not gunky. They stay defined, separated, long and thick all day long. I am convinced that Supra Volume Mascara is the french girl's secret weapon. 
I was sent so many mascaras last year, most of which I never wrote about as I only talk about the products I love. This one is the real deal.

I am always looking for concealers that I can love. Most either don't hold all day (my days are looooong! I'm constantly leaving home at 8 am and not getting back til 11 pm) or they are too heavy, which just makes you look old and tired, or they don't color correct out the dark shadows well enough.

I am obsessed with Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I bought mine at Nordstrom before Thanksgiving and have worn it every day since. My shade is Honey, but they have tons of them, all calibrated with different undertones to color correct out your under eye demons. (10 I think?) They also have a fantastic color selection, so you can be the palest girl or the darkest goddess and they still have you covered.
They don't crease, have a luminous finish that bounces light off, making your eye look refreshed, last all day long, and frankly are the best concealers I have used in years. Love.

From Stila I have been enjoying Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush. 

The colors are fresh and pretty and the product is buildable. 
I love really glowing, gorgeous complexions so often I find that powder blushes can either look heavy on the skin or deaden the glow. This one breathes life into the skin and gives it a gorgeous radiance.

Lastly, my new favorite lip product is Sephora's Lip Stain.
They have a creamy texture but a matte finish, the colors are fabulous, and they only cost $14!!

image via Modern Maires Blog

Every time I walk past a Sephora I go in and buy another one. They are gorgeous!

Do you follow The Zoe Report?
I get it in my inbox every day. 
And I'm obsessed with the Rachel Zoe Box Of Style, in fact while I am sitting here writing this I am wearing the new lipstick that came in my winter Box of Style, and the chic birch candle that came with it is sitting on my desk smelling all Christmas-sy and reflecting perfect golden light up onto my face, although there is no one here to be wowed by it!

I adore the French girl beauty aesthetic. Frenchies are so effortlessly chic and have far too much panache to ever get on board with any of the manic makeup trends on Instagram, so they never look like cariacatures of themselves - they just look gorgeous!

The following article is from The Zoe Report

7 Beauty Mistakes French Women Never Make

by Stephanie Montes

On the topic of French women, we know we’re not the only ones who wonder how they look so damn flawless, all the time. What we learned is, it’s less about what they do, and more about all the things they don’t do—they are known for being effortless, after all. Ahead 7 things Parisians never do to look c’est magnifique always.

Feeling French?

Don't: Get Lipstick On Your Teeth

French women live in red lipstick, but somehow never get it on their teeth (the ultimate makeup faux pas). The secret? Once you apply it, place your index finger in between your lips, then pucker to blot off excess.

• Lips & Boys, Tom Ford Beauty $36

Don't: Wear The Wrong Foundation Shade

Our favorite Parisians never seem to have that unsightly line of foundation across the jaw that shows just how different their makeup is from the color of their neck. Instead of piling on a thick layer of product, they prefer a dewy, natural-looking complexion. Swap your high-coverage foundation (especially if it doesn't perfectly match your skin tone) for something a bit more sheer. That'll ensure that it blends better and looks impossibly fresh.

• Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer, Chantecaille $72

Don't: Overpluck Your Eyebrows

The easiest way to look more French is to lay off the tweezers for a while. While their brows are usually grown out, that je ne sais quoi is all in the grooming, so make sure to comb strays into place with a spooley brush.

• Essential Eye Tool, Urban Decay $15

Don't: Go Overboard With The Contouring

You'll never catch a French women with a nose contoured to perfection and cheekbones that shine like the sun. They know just how to work with what they've got and highlight their assets in a natural-looking way. Instead of layering multiple highlighters to get a shine, use a face oil on the high points of your face to look like you were born with perfect features.

• Radiant Drops Golden Face Oil, Oribe $105

Don't: Go To Sleep With Makeup On

If you're wondering how our Parisian pals can get away with stepping out in barely any makeup at all, it's because they take really good care of their skin. Think about that the next time you curl into bed with your makeup on.

• The Cleansing Foam, La Mer $85

Don't: Fry Your Hair

Instead of heat styling your hair to death (literally, it kills your hair), embrace your natural texture. Apply hair oil to settle the frizz and your natural curl, wave or straight hair will look trés chic always.

• Luxury Hair Oil, Rodin $70

Don't: Wear A Chipped Mani

Have you ever seen a French girl with chipped nails? Neither have we. Don't take shortcuts when giving yourself a mani. Apply a base coat before your color and a top coat to seal—it'll ensure that your polish stays put and looks shiny longer.

• Hard Rock Top and Base Coat, Deborah Lippmann $20

Check out The Rachel Zoe Jewelry Sale here

The Best Selling Lipstick Shades

Do you follow Rachel Zoe and The Zoe Report?

For the most part she is my favorite reason to open my inbox each day. 

The Zoe Report is always filled with fantastic info, from wardrobe styling to beauty to travel.

 And don't even get me started on the Rachel Zoe Box Of Style - I always get sooooo excited for it to arrive. 




So far each time the Box of Style has come out I have been overseas and I have to wait to get home and open it, but I get so geeked out over it that I have made it into an event. Because let's face it, if you are an average girl like me, how often do you get to open a luxe box of individually wrapped presents, super chic statements for the new season ahead? ( try 4 times per year!)
You can subscribe to the Box of Style here

Anyway, The Zoe Report posted this cool story for National Lipstick Day. They polled the biggest beauty brands from MAC to Charlotte Tilbury to find out their best selling lipstick shades.
It's time to stock up on your lipsticks ladies, and here are the best sellers to choose from:

From MAC 

MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo $17
MAC Lipstick in Velvet Teddy $17
MAC Lipstick in Diva $17
MAC Lipstick in Whirl $17
Available online at Nordstrom.com

From Nars

Audacious Lipstick in Dominique $32
Semi Matte Lipstick in VIP Red $28
Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita $28
Satin Lipstick in Rosecliff $28
Available at Nordstrom.com

From Charlotte Tilbury

Hot Lips in Secret Salma $32
Hot Lips in Kim K.W. $32
Matte Revolution in Bond Girl $32
Matte Revolution in Walk Of Shame $32
Available online at CharlotteTilbury.com

Anastasia Beverly Hills

Liquid Lipstick in Vamp $20
Liquid Lipstick in Vintage $20
Liquid Lipstick in American Doll $20
Liquid Lipstick in Pure Hollywood $20
Available at AnastasiaBeverlyHills.com

Marc Jacobs Beauty

Le Marc Lip Cream Lipstick in J'Adore $30
Le Marc Lip Cream Lipstick in Slow Burn $30
Le Marc Lip Cream Lipstick in Infamous $30
Le Marc Lip Cream Lipstick in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang $30
Available online at MarcJacobsBeauty.com

From Tarte

Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint in Mauve $20
Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint in Namaste Nude $20
Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint in Frenemy Burgundy $20
Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint in Bae Red $20
Available online at TarteCosmetics.com

The Zoe Report has some other brands on their list too. Check them out here