Today, I'm teaming up with Nordstrom to share some of my "holy grail" beauty favorites. My tried and true and the products and fragrances I've continued to repurchase, or plan to repurchase, over again.

1. Philosophy Amazing Grace:  On days when I want something light, fresh and not overpowering, this is my go-to. I've been wearing this for over a decade and it still remains my favorite.
2. Clarins Liquid Bronze Facial Self Tanner: Yet another product I've been using for over ten years. Whenever I'm feeling drab and need a physical pick-me-up, a little facial self tanner always makes me feel way prettier. I've tried some other brands and versions, but always comeback to this one.
3. Yves Saint Laurent Temps Majeur Eye Cream:  If I were to splurge on any luxury eye cream, it would be this one. I've tried other 'fancy' eye creams from La Mer, La Prairie and a bunch of other brands, but this ones my favorite. It gets rid of puffiness and keeps any fine lines away. Yes, I know it's super expensive, but a little goes a long way, so it lasts a pretty long time. I have this in my eye cream rotation and use it whenever I need a little extra help.
4. Shiseido Sun Protection For Face : I already mentioned that this was my favorite face sunscreen in my FAQ's, but it deserves to be mentioned again. I've been using this for years and it has never broken me out, blends easily and never leaves me feeling greasy, even when I wear it under makeup. {Reminder: whenever wearing an SPF on your face, be sure to properly cleanse your face using a muslin cloth! Water and cleanser alone just wont cut it! Ideally, you want to do a double cleanse when wearing a lot of makeup and/or SPF}
5. Diptyque Eau Duelle Perfume:  I once read someone describe this scent as "vanilla, all grown up." Agreed! Normally, vanilla scents give me a headache after 15 minutes, but never with this one. This also happens to be Keith's favorite and whenever I wear it, he comments at how good I smell.
6. MAC Red x MAC Ruby Woo: My ultimate, go-to holy grail red combo. I love both of these colors on their own, but for me, they're even better when paired together.
7. Urban Decay Naked Basics: "Basic" matte colors, with absolutely no shimmer, in the best possible way. The pigmentation is top notch and the staying power is even better, especially paired with their primer. I can put it on at 8AM and 15 hours later, I still have it on.
8. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate: Normally, I opt for chemical exfoliators over manual or anything with little beads in it, but this stuff is a major exception. Whenever I use this stuff, my skin feels like glass and any product I use right after, just melts right in. I wash my face, apply and leave on for 4-6 minutes and then wipe off with a wet warm cloth. I'm left with a smooth, glowing complexion. {Tip: my skin can handle leaving this on for awhile, but if you're first starting out, I recommend going with their suggested 2-3 minutes to see what you skin can handle. Also, I wouldn't use this AND an acid toner during the same routine. It's one or the other!}

The post {Beauty} My Tried & True appeared first on Brooklyn Blonde.

OLD TOP, SIMILAR HERE and HERE  ||  JEANS (my favorite boyfriend jeans, and only $88!)  ||  HEELS c/o BORN  ||  SIMILAR JACKET  ||  SIMILAR CLUTCH  ||  LIPSTICK (color: "please me")


As you build your wardrobe, the key to a successful closet is finding pieces that are versatile. It's one of my main shopping criteria, and I'm always asking myself "how many different ways can I wear this?" before I purchase.

But shoes are usually a little less versatile because a casual shoe is harder to dress up, and a fancy shoe is harder to dress down. So I was so excited to find this pair of chunky heeled sandals from Børn that are a perfect in between and can easily be worn both during the day and for date night! And the best part is that you can actually wear them all day because they're made of high quality leather and constructed with special cushion that makes them insanely comfortable.

The other day I wore them with boyfriend jeans and a lace top for an easy day look for running errands and hanging at the park with my boys, and then the look was so easy to dress up for date night with just a few little additions -- pulling my hair down, adding a little color on my lips, swapping out my purse, and adding a jacket. It's an easy little formula for transitioning a look from day to night, and even easier with a pair of shoes that lets me go all day long!

Created in partnership with Born Shoes  ||  photos by rad and happy