Favorites: Vanilla Bean Noel at Bath & Body Works

Vanilla Bean Noel Ultra Shea Body Cream & Shower Gel

Vanilla Bean Noel is back!!! This is my all-time favorite scent. I wait all year for this to return at Bath & Body Works and I stock up on all things Vanilla Bean Noel. Candles, lotions, shower gels, oh my! If you haven't tried a Vanilla Bean Noel product, you're seriously missing out and I suggest you run, not walk, to your nearest Bath & Body works to sniff these!

B&BW recently had a sale on all their body creams. $4 lotions? Yes, please. Needless to say, I stocked up on some for myself and also for gifts and stocking stuffers. If you're still doing some last minute holiday shopping or you're in need of some stocking stuffers - these are your answer. The ultra shea body cream is creamy and silky without being greasy and it really hydrates dry skin. I use this as both a body and hand cream. If you've already finished shopping but love this scent (or want to love this scent) I would highly recommend hitting the shops after Christmas. The candles are to die for and I hoard them so I can burn them all year.

I actually discovered this scent on accident. I love B&BW scents and I've always been a fan of theirs, but I don't exclusively shop for candles there - I like a good variety. I stumbled upon some brand new Vanilla Bean Noel candles at Goodwill while I was looking for some vintage thrift items to repurpose. I smelled them (because I can't pass a candle without giving it a sniff) and immediately fell in love. I'm a sucker for anything vanilla but these take plain ol' vanilla to a whole new level. The key notes (according to the back of the lotion bottle) are: fresh vanilla bean, warm caramel, sugar cookies, whipped cream, and snow-kissed musk. Vanilla, sweetness, and musk - a perfect combination. 

As a little side bonus, B&BW does not test on animals. There is always some kind of sale or bundle deal going on, especially online and they are the BEST at sending out coupons. Get your hands on some coupons and hightail it to your nearest store to get your hands on any Vanilla Bean Noel product. You won't be sorry!

Happy holidays! I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday break.

Until next time! xoxo

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation - Review

I finally jumped on the bandwagon and purchased my first NARS Sheer Glow foundation. I was especially interested to try this formula because of its claims that "sheer glow." I like lighter coverage foundations that you can wear daily but also build up to add more coverage. Also, since I have dry skin, I tend to stick to brightening foundations. I chose the shade "Siberia" and it's a good match, but I was surprised at how yellow it looks. At first, I was afraid it would be way too yellow on my skin - I have pink undertones and usually go for more neutral shades. I've been using the NARS concealer for a while and it is very yellow-toned as well, but I appreciate that for the under eye area to counteract any blue/purple bags. 

Once I applied the foundation, the first thing I noticed was that it blends really well. It's very thin and light and a little bit of product goes a long way. I used less than a dime-sized amount and it was plenty. The yellow works really well to counteract any redness from blemishes, dry patches, etc. It also helps conceal any dark areas or bags under my eyes. Once it's blended into the skin, it doesn't seem too yellow, it matches well and helps neutralize the color of my skin. 

This is definitely a good everyday foundation - it's light and doesn't stick to dry patches. It gives a nice healthy glow and blurs imperfections without looking like a heavy, full-coverage foundation. You can apply an additional layer for more coverage, but I found that it wasn't really necessary. A light layer of the foundation and some additional coverage from the concealer is plenty to give a flawless foundation look. 

I apply this with a damp beauty blender (the concealer as well) and set my under eye area with a translucent powder. I've been using this daily and it seems to be agreeing with my skin. It doesn't have any scent (that I can tell) and doesn't irritate my skin or cling to dry patches. Definitely one of my favorite high-end foundations!

Let me know what you think of this combo in the comments below...