VIB Sale Picks at Sephora + Weekend Sale Links

Sephora's big VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) member sale begins today! This is one of my favorite sales of the year because I can stock up on all the beauty products I love at a rare 20% off with no exclusions at all. This year's holiday gifts sets have also debuted, so I'm also picking up a couple Christmas gifts early. This weekend, VIB Rouge members--those at Sephore's highest rewards level--get first dibs with code ROUGE20, and next week, all of the VIBs get access to the sale. I'll update this post with the VIB code for next week once I have it.

I've included a couple of my all-time favorite beauty products above. I've previously written a review about the NARS Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer, which is oil-free, light, moisturizing, and fantastic at helping makeup stay put all day. I've also reviewed the Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder in a prior post.

Also in my collage above are my "Holy Grail" lip products: the Fresh Sugar tinted lip balms and the NARS lip crayons (in satin, matte, and gloss). I wear one or both of them on my lips every single day. I'm pretty thrilled that there's a value set of every color of the Fresh Sugar balms available since I'm almost out of most of the colors I own. (Note: the collage I've made above is clickable, so anything you click will take you right to that product on Sephora's site.)

There are a couple other great sales going on this weekend: Nordstrom has its Fall Clearance with up to 40% off, J.Crew has 30% of its sale items and 25% off many full-price styles, and Saks Off Fifth has tons of designer fall items discounted even more than usual (I'm swooning over this pair of Stuart Weitzman's coveted OTK boots). I'll try and post some picks from these sales over the weekend.

Happy Friday!

x, Tam

Overalls for Fall

Tee: Topshop | Overalls: Topshop | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Bag: Reed Krakoff | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Scarf: Arden B. | Watch: Michael Kors | Lips: NARS 'Yu'

As a petite person, I'm always wary of styles that make me look too young or babyish. I've been hesitant to try incorporating overalls into my wardrobe, especially since the last time I wore a pair was probably in elementary school. I recently found this pair at Topshop and decided to give them a try, especially since the fit was slimmer and more sophisticated than many others I've debated ordering. I was pleasantly surprised by how flattering they were right out of the box and decided to keep them.

If you're still waiting to hop on the overalls train, I'd recommend this pair--it's less expensive than many other available options, and the quality is good. My only piece of advice/word of caution is that if you're my height (4'11") or taller, go for regular sizing rather than petite. I'm wearing the petite size here, and you can see that the straps are all the way extended. I have a short torso, and even with the extended straps, the top is still a bit snug on my shoulders. As I wore these, they stretched a bit, but I think I probably would have been more comfortable ordering the same numerical size in regular sizing. I haven't tried washing them yet, but I plan to wash in cold water and air dry since any shrinkage would probably make them unwearable.

In styling these overalls, I intentionally choose more feminine and elegant accessories for a more grown-up, chic look. I liked the contrast of bright stiletto heels with the more casual denim and tee. I'm hoping this won't be the last time I get to wear these teal suede shoes this year, but it looks like Denver will see some snow later this week (I think I'm equal parts excited and bummed about the prospect!).

Hope your week has been wonderful so far!

x, Tam

Fall Mornings with St. Ives (and Tips to Soothe Your Winter Skin)

The weather in Colorado is finally beginning to feel like fall. Cooler temperatures here mean lots of cold, dry air, and my sensitive skin gets red and chapped quickly if I don't moisturize religiously. With the advent of fall and pear season, St. Ives has introduced their new Refresh & Revive Pear Nectar & Soy products. Last week, I received the pretty package below from St. Ives skincare with a request to test out a couple items from the line.

Over the last week, I've incorporated the body wash and lotion into my morning routine along with my favorite fluffy robe and daily soy latte. The pear scent smells just like the real fruit (not too sweet or overwhelming) and is perfect for the autumn season. The Pear Nectar & Soy line is formulated with pear extract, soy, and other natural hydrating ingredients, and it's gentle on sensitive skin. My skin will often react to harsher formulas, but I've had no issues with any of these products while testing them, and the natural moisturizers have kept my skin hydrated and soft all day long after using both products in the morning.



If you're looking to give this product a try, the body wash is available online and in stores, and it looks like the lotion will be available soon. The size of these bottles is such a great value--I can see mine potentially through the whole upcoming winter, which is no small feat. I thought I'd also include some tips here for my fellow sensitive-skinned ladies who might be reading.

• Don't slack on moisturizing. Slather some lotion on every day, twice a day, especially after you've just gotten out of the shower.
• Use a gentle exfoliator to get rid of flaky skin (gentle being the operative word there!). I've been using this St. Ives scrub for years, and it does the trick nicely.
• Use a hydrating body wash like the one I'm reviewing today to make sure your soap isn't stripping you of your natural moisture and making your skin feel tight and dry.
• Invest in a humidifier and try to remember to run it every night. I had a bad attack of eczema last year, and the humidifier made my nights so much better.

Do you have any tips for keeping your skin in great shape during the winter? What's your favorite way to stay hydrated? Let me know in the comments below!

x, Tam

Thanks to St. Ives for sponsoring this post. Opinions and content are all mine.