I’m excited to share another handbag review/what’s in my bag post! I’ve been loving the Naghedi for a long time now and have added a few of the St. Barths Totes in the mini size to my collection.
Today I have a closer look at the Naghedi St. Barths Tote in the mini size in the color Cashmere which is one of the newer shades for fall. This one sold out quickly when it launched a few weeks ago and as soon as it restocked I ordered it immediately. I hope they will restock it again! For notifications you can sign up for their newsletter on their website.
These are made of handwoven neoprene which makes them flexible and lightweight. The mini comes with a small dust bag, removable strap and mini zip pouch.Dimensions of the mini are 6” deep, 14” wide and 7.5” tall.
The handle is big enough that you can wear it on the arm or hold it by hand. It’s not big enough for me to wear over the shoulder but that’s where the strap comes in handy.
There are quite a few solid color options (ecru, navy, olive, cashmere, slate, etc.) which retail for $240 each. They also have pretty plaid woven options which also retail for $240, some have a metallic material woven throughout (I think the sunkissed one is so pretty!). I also own one of the woven rope styles which is a little more expensive.
I like both the Mini and Medium. I think they’re versatile and great for a casual look whether you’re going to the beach, park, dog walks, running errands, etc.
Here’s a What’s In My Bag Reel if you want to see it in action:
And I can also fit a small water bottle inside too!
For the St. Barths style size wise they currently have these options (in both solid and plaid colors) and they all come with a matching flat zip pouch:
Mini – measures 6” deep x 14” wide x 7.5” tall (comes with a removeable strap)
Shopper – measures 7” deep x 14” wide x 15.5” tall
I’ve had a few of the medium sizes I wore all summer long and they’ve held up really well. The material is supposed to be easy to clean but I haven’t had any issues getting them smudged or dirty yet and haven’t had to do any cleaning yet. Here’s a quick repost of the Medium size I have in Cocoa.
What’s your go-to bag these days? I’ve been a mini bag lover for a long time now but love the versatility of larger ones. The mini in the St. Barths style is perfect for my 5’3” frame. Mini but large enough to hold plenty of things.
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You can find Naghedi bags at Naghedi NYC, Bloomingdale’s and Shopbop to name a few. I’ve ordered mine from all three of these places.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a What’s In My Bag purse review! I’m still really loving minis and one of my favorites right now is the Celine Belt Bag in the Pico size. Long time readers might remember I used to own the Mini (which wasn’t really mini) when they had only 2 sizes. I was a huge fan of the Belt Bag in the Mini when I owned it. I loved it so much I bought it in two colors! I loved them while I owned them. When Celine came out with smaller options I felt they would be much better for my height and frame but it seemed redundant to own the same bag in multiple sizes. I sold them in one of my blog sales. They’ve since discontinued the largest size and now have it available in the Mini, Micro, Nano and Pico. You can find the size information, colors and pricing on the Celine website under their Belt Bag section.
I splurged on the Pico Belt Bag in the color Light Taupe for my birthday. I purchased it from the Celine store in the Miami Design District and was debating between the Pico or Nano size. At 5’3” it can sometimes be hard to find a good size mini bag that doesn’t overwhelm my height/frame. I love anything with a strap that I can wear crossbody too.
Reposting a photo of the Pico (in grey) vs Nano (in light taupe) from the Miami store in May. I think both sizes are super cute! They had some really fun colors when we were there last October but they were limited-edition and I’m a bit sad they’re no longer available!
The Belt Bag I have is made of grained calfskin. It has a magnetic closure, zipper, removable crossbody strap and a handle at the top. The Pico Size currently retails for $1,850 and measures 6 x 5 x 4 IN (15 x 13 x 9 CM). It fits my iPhone 11Pro with a lot of extra room to spare. There are no pockets inside, it’s one large open compartment.
I’ve only been using this one for a few weeks but love it. The magnetic closure was cumbersome to open and close in the larger size but I think it was because of the weight and size of the larger variation. The Pico (and even the Nano I tried) is still very secure with the zipper and magnetic closure but is easier to get things in and out of.
The bag fits quite a bit more than I thought it would! Since it has a single compartment without any pockets or separators I can fit in more than I do with the Tory Burch Perry Bombe Bag. Also because the shape isn’t round like the Chloe Mini Marcie I feel like I can fit more inside this Celine style.
A lot of you asked me how durable it is with color transfer. Since moving to Florida I have not worn dark colored denim as much, mainly because of the heat – so I have not had any issues with dark jeans transferring onto light colored bags. That being said I do remember wearing a lot of dark denim while living in San Diego and never had an issue with transfer on the bag I owned back then.
What I can fit inside below. I don’t always carry a lot but I find as the week progresses I usually accumulate a bit more and more items as each day goes on. I empty, clean out and rotate weekly.
Small wallet or card case (Gucci or Celine)
Hand Cream (Chanel)
Hand Sanitizer (Aesop)
Multiple lip products
Lip Balms (from Fresh)
Lip Pencils (swatches below)
iPhone
Sunglasses will fit without the case, although I rarely stick them in a bag without a case because they’ll get scratched
The Celine Coin and Card Pouch has one compartment. It’s a zippered style with a key ring attachment. There are no pockets inside. Also comes in a few other colors. Measures 5 x 4 inches.
The Gucci Leather Card Case Wallet is a classic style and super durable. Closed it measures 4.3” wide x 3.3” high x 1.2” deep. This particular style comes in a few patterns and material options. I love how compact and functional it is! I don’t carry a lot of cards with me so this is perfect for my drivers license and 3 cards (but you can fit a few more cards inside too). There’s a zippered compartment for coins and also room for bills.
I don’t know why I always end up packing in so many lip products but I am thrilled to hear from so many of you that you also tend to carry more than one lip product with you as well. My favorite gloss is the Pat McGrath LUST Gloss. I love so many of the colors, in particular Peach Perversion and Flesh Astral. Dior Nude Look 100 is my perfect everyday nude pink lip for the Lip Pencil and Rouge Dior lipstick. I also ordered the Rouge Forever Liquid Transfer-Proof Lipstick in Forever Nude 100 which is a nice nude rose pink with a matte finish. (I still prefer the lipstick formula.)
Hope you found this review helpful! You can find Celine at their boutiques and online at Celine.com. Also available in stores at select locations for Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Do you have a favorite mini bag right now? Or do you mainly carry larger totes?
By popular request I’m doing an updated roundup of my favorite makeup bags. A number of you wanted a comparison between a few brands like The Daily Edited and Cuyana so after having tested several styles I have a review for you today! Many of these can double as travel bags – I have a separate article on travel packing and travel makeup bags you can read here. You can always click on my Packing Tips tag as well to see what I was able to fit in different cases on various trips. Today’s post focuses more on makeup bags for the purse, to organize essentials at home or day trips rather than travel.
The Daily Edited
The Daily Edited is a line I’ve used since 2017 and I think they have great products! The large cosmetic cases in Black and Taupe have held up really well since I bought them back in 2017. I’ve used them during moves, while traveling across country and on numerous vacations (see what I packed for a San Francisco trip here). Right now my two favorites from the brand are the Large Cosmetic Case and the Clear Cosmetic Case. I order these directly from their website and shipping is usually very fast.
The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case
The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case $100 – I have this style in two colors, Taupe and Black. I love that you can customize the monogram with different styles of fonts or icons! I opted for the blind embossing for a more subtle look with these but love the gold lettering too. The large size has a really wide base which makes it sturdy to stand up on its own without tipping over. It has one large open interior compartment inside. I like this style (versus having pockets) because you can fit more inside.
Made of saffiano leather, fabric lining large open interior
The Daily Edited Clear Cosmetic Case $60 is another favorite. This is smaller than the Large Cosmetic Case and is clear so you can see everything inside. I like that it’s smaller so it is easier to carry around in a tote. The PVC is easy to clean (I like to use Novus Plastic Clean). They make a flat clear pouch too but seem to be frequently sold out of the colors. You can see a side by side of the cosmetic vs flat pouch in this post here.
Made of clear PVC, leather bottom/edging
Measures 4″ high, 8″ wide, 2″ deep
Cuyana
So many of you have asked for more reviews on Cuyana bags. I think they make beautiful classic staples that will last a long time. Before I ordered my first item I didn’t think they would live up to the hype or be worth the price. However after buying several pieces I’ve fallen in love with the simple and minimalist designs! They’re well made and functional. The overall composition of the Cuyana bags is thicker than The Daily Edited. Shape, designs, material and sizes are also different. I cannot say that one is better than the other, they’re both different and special in their own ways.
Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set
Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set $120 (additional for monogram) – This is the set so many of you asked me to review. I like it a lot more than I expected to – I actually love it. The leather is thick and sturdy, I love the lining which is easy to wipe clean. The small one is perfect for on-the-go and the large one is nice for travel or larger bottles. I opted for the smaller font monogram but wish I had picked the larger option. (All sales are final for monogram pieces so I couldn’t exchange it.) Also a part of me wishes the monogram feature was included in the price like The Daily Edited, but I’m still happy with my purchase.
Made of a thick durable pebbled leather
Microsuede interior, large one has a flat pocket inside, small is open without a pocket
Large case measures 12″ wide, 7″ tall, 3.5″ deep
Small case measures 8″ wide, 5″ tall, 2.5″ deep
Cuyana Vanity Case and Tech Case
Two additional items I have are the Cuyana Vanity Case $95 and Tech Case $65. These are available individually and made of the same material as the Travel Case Duo. I’ve actually featured the Vanity Case in the Ecru color before but it seems they’ve recently updated it so it no longer has an exterior pocket and pouch. The Blush featured above is the current version. I like the Tech Case as a makeup bag but it’s also really nice to carry cords, chargers etc because of the compact size.
Long time readers know I’m a huge fan of the Truffle Clarity Jetset $88 and the Clarity Clutch Mini $40. Both are great for travel or for packing up essentials on-the-go. Having a clear pouch makes it easier to see everything inside so there’s not as much digging around trying to find things. The jetset option is compact enough to fit inside a medium tote or beach bag. The flat clutches won’t hold as much since they’re flat but it’s perfect for holding a few essential items and keeping things more compact/organized.
There are other variations and sizes available for travel. You can see other Truffle options I’ve used for travel in this post here.
Luxury Splurge: Dior
Last two are splurge items! I bought the Dior Oblique Jacquard Pouch in the blue variation and I love it! It’s made of a canvas material and has an interior pocket for cards if you want it to double as a clutch. It’s relatively small and petite so I can use it either as a super fancy makeup pouch or clutch. It measures 15 cm high by 19 cm tall and 5 cm deep. For reference I believe it’s similar in sizing to the Louis Vuitton Toiletry Case 19. This was more of a recent splurge purchase so I haven’t had a chance to use it very much but I love the print and think it’s just so beautiful!
Luxury Splurge: Hermes
The last splurge I want to share is a flat canvas pouch. I ordered the Hermes Bain New Yachting Case in the small size in Navy and Red (one for Andrew, one for me). They’re approximately 9″ wide by 6 inches tall, flat, made of canvas and perfect to carry small on-the-go things like a mini camera, small sunscreen, lip balm, mini perfume etc. It’s made of cotton canvas so I don’t know how long it will stay clean or last but I thought they were so cute!
Leather Care
I don’t usually use any product to treat or clean my leather goods, but I just started looking for some cleaners and moisturizers. Three options I’ve tried on a few makeup bags are from Coach and Cuyana – I really like the Coach set. I also tried the Cuyana Cleaner and it worked well to clean up small makeup smudges I had on the exterior of a few bags. I haven’t put them to an extensive test yet but plan on using them more. Many years ago I used to use Apple Guard and remember liking it but haven’t repurchased in a long time.
I had a recent mishap and accidentally splashed some nail polish remover on a leather wallet. Even though I wiped it immediately it still left some marks and made the leather look dried out with a slight white cast. After some research I decided to try the Coach Leather Moisturizer on it and thankfully it restored it back to normal! If you have any that you love let me know in the comments.
That wraps up my current favorite makeup bag roundup! Hope you found it helpful. Out of all the ones I own I can’t pick a favorite. I think the quality and look of the Cuyana bags are the most luxe with the thick pebbled leather, but I also love how durable and sturdy the saffiano is with The Daily Edited.
Do you have a favorite makeup bag or bags? Let me know in the comments!
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I’m hosting a summer giveaway! Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. ONE person will be selected from the entries in the widget below to win a $200 eGift card to either Cuyana or The Daily Edited. Simply use the widget and complete ALL the entry steps (partial entries will not qualify). Giveaway runs through August 1, 2020 11:45 PM EST. I’ll select a winner within 72 hours after the giveaway ends and email them directly. Selected winner must respond within 72 hours or another person will be selected in their place. Not sponsored or affiliated.
I hope you are all well! We are staying inside for the most part now although we have enjoyed some short walks and the beaches where people are still very far apart. Today I think I ate my weight in donuts and doritos while being cooped up inside. I have a loving right now roundup featuring some new beauty splurges. Would love to hear about what you are loving right now too!
The Daily Edited Clear Cosmetic Case
I’ve been a huge fan of The Daily Edited and so many of you have loved their items as well. I love their Large Cosmetic Case, Transparent Cosmetic Case (original style), and the Clear Pouch (flat). My latest recent splurge is the Clear Cosmetic Case in Pale Pink which I had monogrammed with my initials. I think it’s a great compact size which measures about 8 inches wide, 4 inches tall and 2 inches deep.
Here’s a quick comparison for size reference to the Flat Pouch (measures 8.5 inches wide by 6 inches tall):
Also shown next to the Cuyana Tech Case (meant for cords etc, but I use it as a makeup bag – measures 7 inches wide, 3.5 inches tall and 2.5 inches deep):
Hand Care
I’ve been rationing my hand sanitizers I have on hand. By now everything has sold out even in stores near me. I’ve been loving the Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash and the Byredo Hand Sanitizers – unfortunately they also seem to be sold out everywhere! One of my favorite skincare Youtubers Gothamista suggested a DIY option on her Instagram which I found really helpful! For hand cream I’ve still been loving the Chanel La Creme Main.
Lip Loves
Always a neutral lip lover, I had a lot of questions on lip colors I’ve been wearing on Instagram Stories. One recent favorite is the Sisley Phyto-Lip Twist Balm in 11 Litchi. I own almost all the colors and love them for the nice shine and balmy feel. It’s a twist up one so there’s no sharpening required. This one pulls more nude/beige on my lips even though the swatch looks more pink because of the deeper natural lip pigment.
My holy grail neutral gloss right now is the NARS Loaded Lip Lacquer in Young Hearts (also worn in this post here). At this point I’ve stopped buying backups but this one is SO good I’ve considered one.
If you’re in search of a good lip primer, MAC has their Prep + Prime Lip in a special limited-edition packaging for the Petal Power collection. It’s pink so I had to buy it! I use the one I have in the black tube quite frequently.
Dior Addict Stellar Gloss
I’ve been trying Dior lip gloss for as long as I can remember. By this time I’ve lost count of how many times they’ve reformulated and revamped the colors. I hauled quite a few of the new Addict Stellar colors and will have a separate dedicated review. This is the thickest one I have tried from Dior. It’s not too thick but has a cushiony thick shine and smells of sweet vanilla cake. I swatched the nudes I hauled for reference which include D-Way, Diorsolight, J’Adior, and D-Light. Some of the colors are harder to find (I could only find some shades on the Dior website). Finishes range from creams to shimmers to sparkles. Pigment on the lighter shades is medium-sheer. I really love the way these look on the lips!
Chanel Le Liner de Chanel
Chanel launched a new Eye Collection with some products for Liquid Eyeliner, Brow Duo Compacts and a new Volume Stretch Mascara. I’ve been really loving the Le Liner de Chanel which is an ultra fine precision liquid liner and it’s long wearing. I’m still experimenting with all the colors but I love that there are shimmers in this launch! As one who like brown liner I think Ultra Brun is a really nice longwearing brown that doesn’t smudge. Full review to come soon! Above swatched left to right: Rouge Noir, Bleu Cobalt, Noir Profond, Mauve Metal, Bronze Dore, Gris Argent and Ultra Brun.
More Neutrals
For nails Essie launched a new quick dry formula called Expressie. I picked up a few colors to try and the first one I’ve swatched is Buns Up. It’s a creamy beige nude with a semi-sheer finish. I can get full coverage with 3 coats although 2 coats is sufficient. It does dry a lot faster than other polishes but to prevent tip wear a top coat is absolutely essential. To me it’s a slightly cooler-toned more pigmented version of OPI Samoan Sand.
Last but not least I finally ordered the two Pillow Talk Beauty Light Wands and think they are INCREDIBLE! I love Pillow Talk light for the lighter rose pink tinge and Pillow Talk Medium is more of a bronzey color on me but still very wearable. I think both are absolute musts. I added swatches of the other Beauty Light Wands in Spotlight (REVIEW), Peachgasm and Pinkgasm (REVIEW) for reference.
That wraps up my loving right now post. I focused primarily on makeup picks. I am testing out some new skincare although I most of what I’ve been using is my tried and true. I might do an updated skincare routine soon if you’re interested. New launch reviews to follow with Chanel, Dior and Charlotte Tilbury!
Also quick FYI Nordstrom is currently offering 25% off sitewide on most items on their website (exclusions apply). Neiman Marcus has a large selection of items at 20% off.
What are you loving right now?
Chanel liners provided for review. All others purchased by me.
I’m back with a what’s in my bag post! I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these so I thought I’d share the cute little makeup bag I’ve been loving lately. As much as I love the flat pouches sometimes a regular makeup pouch with a wider base is a little more functional to hold bigger items.
I’ve received so many requests to review more from Cuyana and compare it to other brands I own. I finally ordered the popular Travel Case Set (comes with two bags, small and large) and am so impressed with the quality. It’s much more functional for me compares to the other style I own called the Vanity Case Set (shown here).
Quick look at the large and small bags that come in the Travel Case Set for comparison:
I will have a full review, comparison and roundup of my favorite makeup bags in a separate post. Today I wanted to share what I can fit in the smaller makeup bag for the Cuyana Travel Set which measures L 8” x H 5” x D 2.5”.
Yes, all shown in the above photo fits inside the small makeup bag! I’ll be posting a mini video on Instagram stories today as well:
A few more thoughts and details below:
My go-to touch up powder is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish in Medium. If you’re a long-time reader you know I’ve gone through many compacts! I just bought the foundation which I’ll be reviewing soon and have high hopes for. These days I also have a small retractable brush from lilah b. which is actually a Retractable Foundation Brush but works for pressed powders just fine. I’ve kept a mini NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in my bag but I rarely find the need to touch up my concealer if I’m out all day (it’s for just in case). The Fenty Invisimatte Blotting Papers are so cute and they’re refillable. I bought these recently and like them although I think the ones from Tatcha are actually a lot better.
For lips I rotate picks frequently, so these change on a daily basis! These days I’ve been loving just using a liner and topping with a sheer gloss. Pat McGrath LUST Glosses are among my favorite, left to right is Love Potion, Peach Perversion and Faux Real (swatches here). I like her Permagel Lip Pencils in Done Undone and Bare Rose the most (both swatched here).
Laura Mercier is another favorite, I’ve just started using her new lip pencils and love her Longwear Lip Pencil Baby Lips with Lip Glace in Opal on top.
I’ve found the smaller makeup bag in the Travel Case Duo Set fits a small brush at the base. The Aerin Small Brush fits perfectly but it’s quite a splurge. I’ve also really loved the Sephora Collection Mini Brushes in previous styles and just ordered this newer one.
Lip balms are essential for me, I love the Dior Addict Lip Glows and the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm for twist-up stick balms so I don’t have to worry about getting my fingers sticky from pots.
I keep a mini perfume on me at all times because I find spritzing it on mosquito bites helps reduce the swelling and itch. Right now it’s not too much of an issue for me, but there are always out here – even more so at dusk. I love the Byredo Mini Trio Sets because the vials perfect size for a small bag or pouch. There’s a leather case you can buy separately to protect them, but I just keep them in my bag as is, I haven’t had one break yet but they are glass so I would at least keep them in some kind of protective case or pouch. I also adore Jo Malone minis, I wish they kept these available permanently!
Sometimes I keep a hand cream with me other times it’s just a hand sanitizer. I love the Byredo Hand Sanitizers in both Suede and Rose, they smell amazing and they’re ultra luxurious!
What do you keep in your makeup bag? Do you rotate frequently or keep the same staples you use daily?
New posts and review coming soon! I’ve been taking a little time off the blog and social for some me time!
My newest bag addition is the cutest crossbody I think I’ve ever seen from Tory Burch called the Perry Bombe Mini Bag. Last month I received an email alert about the new launch saying it was an in-store exclusive for a few weeks. This happened to be right around my birthday and Andrew thought it would be the perfect gift for me. This is probably one of my smallest bags but it’s so perfect! It has two zippered compartments and a pocket on the bag which is large enough to hold my iPhone X. The length and size is perfect for my 5’3″ frame and I love it to bits!
It’s now available online at Tory Burch and also in other stores like Nordstrom and Shopbop. The Perry Bombe Mini Bag runs at $248 for the leather version. It measures approximately 6.25 inches wide by 4 inches tall and 2.75 inches deep. There is a removable strap that has a 22 inch drop. There are five colors available in Black, Bright Indigo, Daylily, New Cream and Pomander. Some have different colored straps than the body. They also have a few more color/materials in this style. There’s a super cute Perry PVC Mini option and a Canvas Fil Coupe Mini with letters. I opted for the one I felt would be most versatile.
Here’s a closer look at the details and also what I can fit inside.
There are two zippered compartments which run about the same size. On the back there is a flat opening with a magnetic closure. I can fit sunglasses in one side without the sunglasses case plus some lip glosses. Alternatively I can fit in a powder compact with a few small makeup items in one side. One of the compartments has an interior flap on the side that lies flat.
I have a small card case from Gucci (also shown open here in this post) that fits inside perfectly with extra room for a lipstick or perfume. I think it would be more ideal to have a flat card case instead for this style of bag.
How it wears on me below as a crossbody, I’m 5’3″. Wearing ribbed tank from Reformation and Parker cutoff shorts by AGolde (color is Swapmeet). Sunglasses are Celine. The strap is adjustable (and removable) to make it longer or shorter. I left it as it came which is hooked in the middle buckle opening.
There are so many good options from Tory Burch right now, especially if you love minis! I also really loved the look of their Gemini Link Canvas Camera Bag (lower price point with fun prints) and Kira Chevron Small Camera Bag (a more dressy option). I’ve added so many things to my wishlist!
I’ve been using this mini bag for almost a month now. I’m really pleased with the quality, size and shape. The pebbled leather seems sturdy and even though it’s soft it has a rim around the edges to make it seem like it will retain it’s shape well. Even though it’s tiny it works for me when I just need the basic essentials: wallet, phone, keys, lipgloss and sunglasses. I had my eye on the Mansur Gavriel Double Zip Bag for a long time but wanted to see it in person first. The colors that appealed to me the most are in the lamb but it seemed too soft for my preferences. I still haven’t seen it in person yet so can’t really say how soft it is (if you’ve seen it maybe you can chime in). The Tory Burch Mini Perry seems similar but more sturdy with a different finish.
Overall love. I’ve also been eyeing the cream and yellow but for now I’m really happy with the black leather as a versatile option. If you like the idea of a small bag but think this will be too small for your needs I’ve linked a few alternatives at similar price points (ie under $500). They have the McGraw Leather Camera Bag which is a little bigger. They also just launched the Perry Triple Compartment in a small version (really want this!) and a Mini Miller Bucket. I feel like Cuyana also has some beautiful classic options as well, I’m still waiting for our next trip to LA or NY to see the pieces in person.
Do you have or love mini bags? What are your favorites?
We’ve been in Florida for two and a half years now and the best thing we’ve discovered are the beaches! We never really knew what truly beautiful beaches were like until our first trip to Florida three Decembers ago. As beautiful as San Diego is, West Coast beaches don’t compare at all to the ones on the East coast! Here the beaches are so clean, water is warm enough to swim in and the overall atmosphere is more relaxing and friendly. We’ve been exploring more beaches each weekend and finally went to Siesta Key off the coast of Sarasota. So many of you have recommended we visit and it’s one of the best ones we’ve been to! We also love St. Pete Beach and Anna Maria.
With each of our beach trips I try to share a little of what I pack with me on Instagram stories. Our beach days tend to be all day events, or at the very least all afternoon to late evening excursions. We go straight from the beach to run afternoon errands or dinner and even though most of everything in South Florida is very laid back and low key, I still pack beauty products and extra clothes to change into to look a little more polished.
A lot of you have been asking for a beach kit series along with an updated Florida post (ie beauty, towels, umbrellas, clothes, best beaches etc.). Today I have my beach beauty favorites. I’m working on the other ones to post for you soon! Above is The Daily Edited Clear Pouch in Pale Pink (love!). On the nails is Chanel Le Vernis in Purple Ray. Sunnies are from Celine.
I owe you an updated sunscreen post but I have had the worst time with face sunscreen this year and had several severe allergic reactions to new formulas I’ve been testing. The whole testing process is taking longer than anticipated and I’m still going to have an updated roundup with all the hits and misses. The ones I swear by are my long-time tried and true:
Sol de Janiero Bumb Bum Sol Oil with SPF 30 is something we’ve nearly used up entirely! It’s a delicious suncreen oil that has shimmer in side. The shimmer is very subtle and has no gritty feel/texture. We used this during our Miami trip and I’ve been using it here in Tampa too. It does have a very strong sweet smell so if you can’t wear strong scents opt for the Supergoop! Oil instead.
Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen with SPF 50 is my most-used body sunscreen. It helps to prevent burn the best out of all the ones I’ve tried. It’s smooth enough and lightweight to reapply easily without feeling heavy. There’s no scent and it doesn’t feel sticky.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen with SPF 40 is a great transparent face sunscreen for me. It’s invisible and lightweight, I can wear it under makeup or alone!
Supergoop! Sunscreen Oilwith SPF 50 is tied in my top two for the body. This was the first Supergoop! product I tried and it was love from the beginning. This one is also lightweight and is super smooth and easy to apply.
Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist with SPF 50 is one of the best ways to reapply face sunscreen without ruining your makeup. I also love their powder but find the mist is something I reach for more often.
Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen with SPF 35 remains one of my go-to’s for the face, it doubles as a primer for me and never clogs my pores. It does adhere to the skin so make sure to double cleanse in the afternoon to wash it off properly!
Chanel CC Cream* with SPF 50 is one of the few CC creams I’ve actually liked. I did a full review here with swatches of all the colors. I hope they expand the color range!
Eric Javits Hampton Straw Sun Hat is one of the best hats I’ve bought for sun protection. From browsing these online I didn’t this was going to be worth the splurge. After seeing it in person though I bought one and feel it was 100% worth the splurge. This prevents the scalp and head from getting burned better than any other hat I’ve tried. The top is woven and also lined to block 95% of the UVA and UVB rays. They have several styles but I opted for the Hamptons one. You can also see it worn in this post here.
Neck masks and arm protectors are something both Andrew and I are looking into. We’ve researched a few online and I can share a better review once we’ve explored more options. There’s no escaping the sun here and it’s quite intense while driving so our arms get crispy. Sometimes I’ll bring a sweatshirt or extra scarf to cover my arms/legs in the car. Andrew bought a couple lightweight options that he’s been trying out the past few weeks. We noticed people who work at the beach here and in Miami are often covered head to toe with these – they wear them with their polos or shorts for extra coverage and still seem to be light enough to wear in the heat.
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Hair Accessories
The humidity, heat, salt and wind at the beach has made my hair look so crazy Andrew asked me to do something about it. I’ve made an extra effort to pack things to look a little more presentable with my hair. Hair scarves and the silk hair ties have been lifesavers. I also pack a little comb or brush as it gets progressively windy later in the day.
For the face I typically just apply a little bit of bronzer on the cheeks before I leave the house and don’t do anything for touch ups for the rest of the day. A number of you have messaged me telling me you LOVE the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks and I decided to reinvestigate. I’ve found that adding a little bit of cream color after the beach makes me look more alive and I’ve been reaching for them more frequently!
The Sisley Phyto-Blush Twists* have been a favorite for a cream to powder product for a couple years now. They launched two more colors sometime last year and it took me forever to try them but the two new ones are the best ones. Shade 5 Contour can double as a bronzer and Shade 6 Passion is the prettiest coral pink gold. I bought one of the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks for a sheer glow. I had a few several years ago but gave them away in a beauty purge before during our cross-country move. I think Las Salinas is the prettiest pink with gold shimmer. Above I swatched with a heavy hand but all of these blend out for a sheerer wash of color.
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Lips
Lip products are something I always bring multiples of everywhere. The best effortless beach colors are ones that have a tint + treatment in one like the NARS Lip Oil or Dior Addict Lip Glow. Ones I’ve had in rotation lately include the ones below. I don’t pack ALL of these with me, I usually have maybe 3-4 in my bag at any given time. These are the ones I have in frequent rotation:
There are a few extra things I keep on hand with me for the just-in-case moments:
Drunk Elephant Beste Jelly Cleanser in the mini is essential for us, we’ll use a water bottle if there’s no sink nearby. I started to develop a severe allergic reaction one day when we were out after testing a sunscreen. It didn’t start surfacing until about an hour after I applied it and my face was suddenly on fire. Andrew had one in his workout bag in the trunk of his car and since we were at a restaurant, I used this in their bathroom to wash it all off. Since that day I’ve always kept an extra cleanser with me just in case. I got mine with the Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday gift, wish they sold the mini! I do really like face wipes but they get really spendy with the amount I’ve gone through, also a regular cleanser just works better.
Byredo Blanche Perfume is another essential, but really any travel size perfume is a must-have for me on the go. There are mosquitos and they love to bite me. They’re usually only out at dusk but depending on season sometimes they’re out more places than others. A spritz of perfume on the bite usually helps reduce swelling and itching. Otherwise my legs or arms can swell up to the size of a golf ball.
Fenty Beauty Blotting Papers were so cute and come in this nifty dispenser I had to buy them. The paper is on the thin side but they seem to do the trick to blot shine. It’s super compact and has a tiny mirror which is convenient. I normally swear by the Tatcha Blotting Papers but wanted to give the Fenty ones a try. I like the Fenty packaging better, but the Tatcha papers perform better for me.
Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour* makes for a quick and easy one and done eye look. Also kept with me just-in-case although definitely not essential.
For those who have been asking, I hope you found this post helpful on some beach beauty favorites! You can keep it as simple as your taste suits you. I do realize some of you don’t wear any makeup to the beach, especially if you swim, but sometimes it’s nice to have a few things on hand to put on afterwards if you don’t want to go bare faced!
If you have any beach beauty favorites let me know in the comments!
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