January Refresh: Luxe Skincare and Beauty You Need This Minute

As the new year gains momentum, refreshing your routine makes perfect sense. Here are some fresh products–from vacation inspired fragrance and intensely moisturizing formulations for skin and body to a newly reformulated concealer icon and rosy lipstick for all pink loving proclivities.

Kindly scroll on for more details, swatches and images of everything in action as well as the Bottom Line…

January Refresh: Luxe Skincare and Beauty You Need This Minute

// SKIN + HAIR //

The dry winter air a force in January and I’ve been combatting its effects by embracing extra hydrating formulas including the gloriously rich, highly rated *Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask with 10.5% Squalane, which, as the name implies, can be worn overnight for pronounced effects. Upon waking my skin is plump and revitalized. When skin gets out of balance and decides to act out (often a bi-product of temperature fluctuations and indoor heating) the*Kate Somerville EradiKate Clarifying Acne Gel Cleanser and *Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Mark Fading Gel do a masterful job of reducing blemishes and rebalancing the canvas while encouraging healing.

For hair, I’ve been reaching for the velvety *Oribe Conditioner for Magnificent Volume, which leaves my hair bouncy and full. When even more moisture is required, the *Oribe Moisture and Control Deep Treatment Hair Masque takes care of business in a single application, adding silkiness and manageability while making heat styling (I used my trusty T3 Rollers in the images in this story) a safe endeavor.

If you’ve been dreaming of a warm vacation but can’t hope on a plane to Saint Barts right now, (I sure cannot) the next best thing is the wildly nostalgic Vacation Perfume. With notes of coconut water, petitgrain essence, coconut milk, solar musk, and banana. It also has pineapple, sea salt and pool water, a single spritz instantly transports me to warm beach environs in a simpler time. It may be marketed as a summer fragrance. But I feel like I need it more than ever in the dead of winter.

// Clé de Peau Beauté The Concealer //

Many of you reached out the moment the news broke that the iconic *Clé de Peau Beauté The Concealer was being reformulated. I am happy to be able to share swatches. Note: 01 Ivory is missing but images will be updated the moment it arrives. My first impressions of this superb formulation update.

The concealer now comes in 13 shades and features SPF27 protection. It has an extremely smooth and silky texture. This concentrated gem has always been creamy. But the new iteration is next-level in terms of blendability and coverage. It glides onto the skin, expertly covers and then resists creasing for up to 16 hours. It is skincare and color in a single tube with an apropos match for every complexion.

In sum, if you loved the original CdPB concealer, you will be over the moon for the reformulated version; the brand was able to increase smoothness without compromising coverage or lasting power and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

FYI, my match for the entire year is Buff…let me know if you have any questions about shade matching. You know I’m happy to help!

// FACE + EYES //

For the past three weeks, I’ve been diligently testing the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation and am ready to weigh in on this new formula! In terms of packaging, this foundation comes in a tube with a pump top; I actually love this casual presentation as it’s purse friendly as it’s lightweight and break-proof). You can get every last bit out of the tube (less waste). The foundation itself–which is smooth and moisturizing without feeling heavy–yields medium coverage. In a single pump (one full pump is almost too much for me) and the finish is very natural.

I find that when I wear this foundation (which I prefer to apply with a beauty sponge), my skin looks better over the course of time. It gets a touch dewy but not oily and the formula resists creasing or pooling. I get 8+ hours of touchup-free wear time and find it to be a very effortless formula. My best matches are 7N and 8N (I can wear them interchangeably). I will likely wear 8W in the summer (all three shades are swatched below). Overall, this foundation exceeds my expectations and I know I’ll be reaching for it regularly this year.

More Face and Eyes Makeup

To refine, I added a touch of the *Clé de Peau Beauté The Concealer in the under eye region and it really helps to banish darkness while smoothing everything out. For contouring in a snap, the UOMA Double Take Sculpt and Strobe Stick in Honey Honey is a gem. The creamy brown contour has exceptional color payoff and blends into for a seamless finish and the luminous highlighter is a champagne gold that looks gorgeous on the high points of the face. I finished my complexion by adding a bit more warmth in the hollows of my cheekbones with the *Sisley-Paris Phyto-Touche Sun Glow Gel-Powder Bronzer ; it’s truly a worthy splurge that you will want to use daily.

For eyes, I swept the extra incandescent Bobbi Brown Luxe Eyeshadow in Melting Point, which is a finely milled and interesting mix of bronze and gold with a touch of pink. The formula is crease resistant with minimal fallout…now I want to try other shades! I blended a bit of the budge-proof Sisley-Paris Phyto-Eye Twist in Rose Bronze for some taupe dimension in the crease and finished the look with a baby wing via the indelible Byredo Eyeliner (my absolute favorite liquid formula these days) along with a bit of the Too Faced Brow Wig in Medium to enhance and set my brows.

// LIPS //

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I rounded up an array of pink and rose options with lovely opacity and creamy finishes. First, I’ve been prepping my lips with the genius *111 Meso Infusion Lip Treatment, which features a hydrating, volumizing serum on one side and a pinky balm  to seal in the goodness on the other side.

In the images throughout the post, I am wearing the divine YSL Rouge Volupte Shine 150 Nude Lingerie which is a delicate mix of pink, nude and coral that can be built up to medium opacity. The formula is infused with oils for maximum hydration and the cellophane shine is so fresh and flattering.

More Lipsticks

I also have been reaching for the creamy peachy pink Estee Lauder Seduce…the color payoff is insane and the lush finish stays in place for hours. Some other rose hues I’m in enjoying include the Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Moisturizing Cream Lipstick in French Tea (a reddish brown), Coquette (a luminous rose with gold undertones), French Touch (a classic matte red…major impact), One Last Night (a mauve nude cream) and Blush Classique (a true medium pink). These lipsticks feature a sleek click case (akin to Chanel Rouge Allure but round…so satisfying) and an extremely hydrating formula.

Which one is calling to you? Let me know in the comments!

The following images reflect all products in action in natural lighting…

// STYLE NOTES // I like to refer to this combination as “casual yet elevated”

• Off the Shoulder Top: Under $50 and fits like a dream, this very comfortable off the shoulder top in a harmony of neutral hues is lined so you can skip the underpinnings.
• Agolde Jeans: High waisted with a slightly cropped straight leg, these non stretch jeans are timeless and hold everything in. I’m wearing a 26 and they fit like a glove.
• On Running Shoes: I would wear these everyday if I could (and sometimes I do). These shoes are wildly lightweight yet supportive and feel like nothing on, even if you’re walking/standing all day. They come in an array of color combinations…now I’m on the hunt for my next pair. Wearing a size 7 1/2.
• Pearl and Gold Earrings: Mine are vintage Chanel clip ons (last woman on earth without pierced ears) but I found an adorable pair that are pierced and give off the same elegant vibe.
• Joey’s Uggs: She has been wearing these consistently for the past year…such a staple in her toddler wardrobe.

–Shop the P0st–

Bottom Line:

I hope you enjoyed this look at some ways to refresh your routine for January and found the abundance of swatches helpful. I  would love to know what caught you eye.

Good things ahead, including an upcoming brand collaboration announcement, a fresh video on my channel, a look at the before an afters for the two bathroom renovations we’ve been doing this month and a host of new product procurements. Cannot wait to share!

Stay strong, seek wisdom, much love and more soon,

xx

–The Beauty Professor

**Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. PR samples provided for review denoted by an asterisk (the rest purchased by me); however, as always, all of my opinions are expressly and unequivocally my own. © 2012-22 Beauty Professor® All Rights Reserved. Do not copy, reprint or republish content and/or photos without author’s written permission.