Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue Summer Soirée Recap + Fragrance Reviews

I was fortunate enough to attend the beautiful Dolce&Gabbana x POPSUGAR Summer Soirée this weekend, so I wanted to share some pictures from the rainy yet beautiful event! There was an incredible turn out despite the weather, and I found it quite generous that the manicure bar was offering free nail art services. I especially love the sophisticated, stacked gold design!

Fragrances and samples were displayed all over the venue, so it was absolute heaven for a beauty blogger like me! In case you haven't tried it, Dolce&Gabbana's Light Blue Pour Femme is a timeless fragrance that's especially well suited for warmer weather. I always think of my best friend Tammy every time I see a bottle because it's her signature scent. It is captivating and feminine but modern. I love that it's a fruity floral that isn't overly sweet or heavy. Light Blue has top notes of crisp apple balanced by Sicilian cedar. The heart notes are bamboo and jasmine with white rose. The base notes are citron wood, amber, and musk.

There's also a Light Blue Pour Homme in case you wanted to wear matching scents with your significant other! I adore the energizing top notes of juniper, grapefruit, and mandarin. It has a hint of pepper with oak in the base, so it dries down less citrusy. It is intoxicating yet lively. 

There are two new limited edition Light Blue Eau de Toilette releases this year, one for women and one for men. Sunset in Salina Pour Femme ($77 for 50mL) and Swimming in Lipari Pour Homme ($88 for 125mL) are now available at Sephora in case you're looking to change up your summer scent!

The rich amber orange color of Sunset in Salina is a fitting tribute to the Mediterranean's scorching hot sun. The vine leaves and yellow freesia have a strong presence in the bright opening, while the white musky notes allow it to dry down with more elegance and posh. The lasting power is quite strong for an EdT, approximately 4 hours. I like that Sunset in Salina feels more sensual and less floral than the original Light Blue because I can justify owning and wearing both!

Swimming in Lipari feels more masculine than the original Light Blue Pour Homme thanks to the sea salt and fragrant woods. It still feels easy to wear but just like Sunset in Salina, a little more grown up. They're both wonderfully different takes on the Light Blue saga. Pick up samples to see how they wear on your skin!

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Dolce & Gabbana through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select.

While I was compensated to write a post about Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue all opinions are my own.

TOP 10 | Best of SS15 Beauty Review! What's In My Makeup Bag

This episode is a slightly different take on the standard What's In My Makeup Bag review! Since I change the contents of my beauty bag fairly often, I wanted to create a seasonal Spring/Summer 2015 edit to highlight both trendy and classic products that I'll be keeping on hand for the next several months. I am constantly testing and reviewing the newest releases, but these 10 phenomenal goodies featured below are the best of the best! I am enjoying them so much. I hope you will give them a try, too!

Products Reviewed:

Dior Rouge Brilliant in Bonheur and Swan

Marc Jacobs #Instamarc Contour Powder in Mirage

Chanel Nail Polishes in Lavanda and Mediterranée

Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino Eau de Parfum

Phillip B White Truffle Conditioner

MAC Wash and Dry Powder in Freshen Up

em cosmetics Lengthening Mascara

First Aid Beauty Sunscreen Moisturizer

La Mer Reparative Skin Tint in Light

Mentioned: Iope Cushion in N23

Tom Ford Shimmering Body Oil

Makeup Worn:

La Mer Reparative Skin Tint in Light

Burberry Nude Powder in Ochre Nude

Cle de Peau Concealer in Beige

Lancome Brow Pencil in Blonde (ON SALE)

By Terry Eye Palette in Smoky Nude

em cosmetics Scribble Liner in Black

em cosmetics Lengthening Mascara

Dior Rouge Brilliant Gloss in Bonheur

Dollywink Lashes in No. 1 Sweet Dolly

Shirt:

Jcrew Perfect Linen (now on sale)

Hair:

T3 Micro Bodywaver

Nails:

Dior 239 Sunkissed

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October 2014 Beauty Favorites [Hits & Misses] feat. Cle de Peau, Burberry, Chantecaille, LORAC, and more!

October has proven to be a tough skin month due to hormonal imbalances, but I have discovered a couple new Holy Grail makeup products! I am so excited to reveal my favorite new mascara as well as the brow pencil I've been loving. I also share a potential candidate for best eyeliner pen, too! Furthermore, I've discovered a gentle but effective skin care duo that helps to calm my temperamental, blemished skin while reducing the chance of scarring. And in case you forgot that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I included my pink GLAMGLOW mask to remind you + a nifty 30% OFF promo code to encourage you to support the cause by shopping your way toward better skin!

Products Reviewed:

Cle de Peau Perfect Lash Mascara

Burberry Effortless Eyebrow Definer

GLAMGLOW YouthMud Mask

*30% OFF all full-size GG + deluxe size sample with promo code RRGG3

Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cream

SK-II Skin Refining Treatment

Dr. Dennis Gross Moisture Cushion

LORAC Front of the Line Pro Eyeliner

LORAC POREfection Baked Powder in PF3

Burberry My Burberry Eau de Parfum 

Armani Si Eau de Parfum [Review + Photos HERE]

Nails:

Dior Pied-de-Poule

Earrings:

DailyLook

Shirt:

Banana Republic (old)

Makeup Worn:

Tom Ford Foundation in Fawn

Cle de Peau Concealer in Beige

Burberry Effortless Eyebrow Definer

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Terra

LORAC POREfection Baked Powder in PF3

Cle de Peau Luminizing Face Enhancer in Sand Beige

Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Palette in The Rebel

LORAC Front of the Line Pro Eyeliner

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Hepburn Honey

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in Seduction

Velour Lashes in Lash in the City

*Use code RAEVELOUR to get 15% OFF

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Armani Si Eau de Parfum Review, Photos

As the year transitions into Fall, my choices in fragrances have also evolved. I've been loving the fruitchouli trend, namely with the Armani Si Eau de Parfum. I generally gravitate toward the same scent profiles, but I love Si despite that it is a departure from what I tend to wear. Si is positively distinctive and memorable. More details after the jump!

REVIEW: Diptyque Home + Personal Fragrances Collection (Candles, Ovals, Spray, EDT, EDP, Roll-On, Solid Perfume + Accessories)

I love Diptyque. I love the aesthetic, the branding, and the products themselves. So a few years after my first Diptyque splurge, I have amassed quite a collection. Now, I normally shy away from home and lifestyle content, but I figured it was time to open up and share how I make my home more cozy. Home Fragrances are split into candles, room sprays, and scent ovals, so we will tackle one category at a time after the jump. I will also share my Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Solid Perfrume, and Roll-On personal fragrances, so make sure to read on if you're interested! 

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Review and Photos

Marc Jacobs has released a new member of the iconic Daisy family, and it captured my imagination as soon as I laid eyes on the lovely studded bottle! Daisy Dream is a light and ethereal fragrance. It is a fruity-floral scent that is ideal for day wear since it is feminine yet airy, which is why I have been wearing it diligently this summer. The fresh elegance of the blackberry and white woods combination is utterly irresistible and truly dreamy. I also love that Marc Jacobs embodied the dream theme in all aspects, even creating a Daisy Dream microsite dedicated to encouraging the dreamer in all of us.

My Daisy Dream Capsule

While creating a dream capsule, I was reminded of my own personal goals to travel and explore the world. It rejuvenated my aspirations to visit the south of France to run through the endless rows of blooming flowers and to visit the opposite end of the world to watch a concert on the water in Sydney, Australia. Help your dreams come to life by curating your own dream capsule here, and upon creation and submission, enter the Marc Jacobs Dream Daisy sweepstakes! There are weekly prizes of Marc Jacobs fragrances, accessories and of course, the grand prize — a Marc Jacobs experience of a lifetime.

P.S. To capture the spirit of the fragrance in music, Marc Jacobs curated this Pandora play list and titled it Daisy Dream! I love to listen to it in the evenings when my work day is winding down.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select.

While I was compensated to write a post about Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, all opinions are my own.

Tom Ford Plum Japonais Eau de Parfum Review, Photos

Tom Ford Plum Japonais ($210 USD for 1.7 fl oz.) is one of the four scents that launched with the new Atelier d'Orient collection for Fall 2013. This is a very sensual, slightly smoky scent that can be worn by ladies and gentlemen alike. Discover all the details after the jump!

My Top 5 Summer Fragrances

Summer may be waning for some, but here in sunny Southern California, summer is still in full swing. I wanted to share with you my favorite fragrances this for warm season. We must treasure the bright days while they last, so I hope you enjoy these scents as much as I do!

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey ($60 for 1 oz or $115 USD for 3.4 oz) is a mild clean floral on my skin. It seems to pull much sweeter on everyone else who I have sniffed while wearing it. Though it would have been nice for my body chemistry to highlight the nectarine note, I really do love how crisp and clean this honey fragrance wears on me. This scent is a proven crowd pleaser and ideal for any occasion since it is safe yet memorable, but I do recommend layering it over the Body Crème for prolonged lasting power. 2 SPRITZES

Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea ($29.50 USD for 1.7 oz or $39.50 for 3.3 oz) for is perfect if there is a budget to be respectful of or if or you would rather try your luck with a discount perfume before committing to more expensive fragrances. Green Tea is a mellow citrus that has a soothing dry down of the tea without any bitterness. It smells like sweet rain in a cool green meadow. This does require a couple spritzes throughout the day since it is a subtle scent, but each spray feels refreshing, making it ideal for summer. 2 SPRITZES

DKNY Be Delicious ($68 USD for 1.7 oz or $85 for 3.4 oz) is the very first department store fragrance I ever picked up as a wide-eyed adolescent. Be Delicious is bright and refreshing, though women in their late twenties and up may find it too young and fruity. I might not eat American apples, but I still love the green apple scent's lasting tartness and freshness. The sweet notes of the fruit do not come into play since it is balanced by the grapefruit and sandalwood, making it perfect for a summer brunch or beach day. 1 SPRITZ

Serge Lutens Nuit de Cellophane ($120 USD for 1.7 oz) is one of the tamest aka most wearable scents by this powerhouse fragrance house. The name of this perfume is to reference the smell in the Parisian markets when fresh flowers are wrapped up in cellophane and bursting with concentrated floral fragrance. This sweet and refined floral lasts a good six to seven hours. There is a hint of musk mid-wear, but I find that makes this feminine fragrance more sensual. It is the more 'powerful' version of Jo Malone's Nectarine and Honey Blossom without being too cloying. 1 SPRITZ

Kenzo FlowerbyKenzo ($78 USD for 1.7 oz or $99 for 3.4 oz) is one of my favorite powdery scents, and that says a lot considering I refused to wear anything powdery until encountering Flower. It starts off as a musky floral and quickly dries down to a soft powder that reminds me slightly of baby powder. Rest assured, it is not offensive at all and manages to last all day. Powders tends to be hit or miss, even this tender one, so try it on in stores before splurging. 1 SPRITZ

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