So in my month long quest to find a new foundation I've ended up trying a bunch of new to brands, with some hits and misses along the way. Am I super devastated I don't match a color in Sisley's $170 tinted sunscreen? Not really, but at the same time there are moments when this undertone vs color battle has me ready to leap off the deep end and I'd love to just have *one* thing that worked. Still, in the pages of Neiman Marcus's beauty section I came across a new to me brand with a CCC cream that came in actual colors, deeper end of the spectrum colors, and what few reviews I could find seemed very positive. And with one click of the button (thanks free shipping) I picked up a few products to talk to you about today!


First up is a little bit about the brand. From the website,

"CLĒ is a team of artists, designers, and professionals dedicated to the belief that true beauty lies in embracing your natural self. We are not beauty insiders, experts, or cosmetic industry veterans; we are real women.

Guided by the belief there is truth in imperfection and freedom in fluidity, CLĒ Cosmetics is a minimalist lifestyle brand designed to support the contemporary woman with self-care basics pursuing the fullest expression of her personal power and sensuality.

Our skincare and makeup are created with safe, wholesome ingredients, the latest Korean beauty technology, and understated design. Intended to nurture the beauty of a woman's body, our effortless daily rituals focus on supporting the purity of your most natural state."

**I can't find where the brand itself is located, so I'm not sure if "Korean beauty inspired" is the same as actually being K-Beauty, but I've decided to just go with that label for now. Sorry if there's any confusion! 

Sounds nice, right? I didn't read this until after I bought the products but hey. Still sounds nice, lol.

But as I mentioned before, part of the reason I wanted to try this brand out was because their CCC Cream (color, control & change, SPF 50, $31/ 1oz) came in a much wider variety of shades than most brands, but especially for Korean beauty brands. At my time of purchase NM had 5 shades to choose from, but if you buy directly from the brand there are ten! Ten shades from light to dark, and apparently, for beige and yellow undertones! What I'm able to share with you today are my thoughts on Medium and Medium-Deep.


To skip to the end a little I have to admit that I didn't keep either shades, but honestly there is very little to complain about it. This is exactly as it's described, a medium-to-full coverage tinted complexion product, one that starts off white-ish and only shows its true color once you start rubbing it in with your hands. The finish is beautifully radiant, and ultimately too much for my oily skin, but the true deal breaker was the beige/gray-undertone to the medium shade. I think if I'd ordered Warm-Medium I'd find an almost perfect match, but while this formula wasn't too too dewy in the depths of winter, once summer arrives in DC I'm pretty sure there's no way it would stay put. Oh and my one con? The huge shade jump from Medium to Medium-Deep. This provides enough coverage that even with a light hand I'm not sure the shade could adjust enough to match the majority of people, but it's a great start from a smaller brand.

Now the winner? The winner is this amazingly beautiful, over the top Essence Moonlighter Cushion ($30) in Copper Rose.


This is a wonderful combination of "blinded from space" and "subtle skin sheen". I don't have other cushion highlighters to compare it to, only powder and cream, but this goes on BLINGY but somehow also sheers out to subtle incredibly easily, and even dries to the touch (it kind of makes me want to try this foundation over color trick). I don't know how many more colors I'd buy, there are three total, but I think Copper Rose is perfect for my medium/olive skin tone and I'm looking forward to using it as I pick back up my summer tan! Also, I'm now officially intrigued by the idea of their Essence Air Cushion, despite the fact that is sounds also too radiant for me.

1) When the weather is determined to flip flop between Winter and Spring it's best just to go with it and hope that your allergies forgive you later.

2) Sometimes you get through an entire set of photos before you get home and realize that your spiffy camera decided that the parked car behind you was *actually* the reason for each shot and focused accordingly. So no bother squinting, except for that last shot all of these really are just that bit soft focus. FML.

This is probably more a test of concept than anything else but...they don't suck. Also taking pictures with a tripod in the icy rain is not recommended, lol.

I realize it's a little ridiculous to have more than one puffer jacket, but I feel like now, with the three I have, I'm done buying them (face palm). I have one "sport" puffer (Eddie Bauer) and two "fashion" puffers (H&M and Oysho) and that seems to be what I reach for. Today is a bit of a chill outfit, but looking out at the ice and snow I know that just by switching out the boots for a waterproof variety, I'd be ready for pretty much anything.

Today's outfit is a bit of a funny one. When I first pulled all the pieces together I felt a little too "dressed up" for a Sunday, but after a few minutes of thinking about it I realized that if these are just pieces I have in my wardrobe, lying around to be worn, then I'm not dressing up. I'm just dressing as me.

Now this very coordinated approach might be some of the best I can do dressing as me, hahaha, but it's not special just because of that fact.  It's hard sometimes to push back against DC's kind of rigid sense of style, and my own recently developed love of athleisure, but this was a look I felt cool in, and was comfortable to wear, so I'm proud to share it.

It became quite clear to me, while I was trying to take not-shitty clothing haul pictures, that not only do I need some sort of light reflector, I think a better background might be in order too. I'm just not currently set up for that sort of thing, so I apologize if these aren't up to my usual standards. What I *am* happy to say is that I found many more of the items on line than I had initially thought I would, so while my flatlays could use some work, if you click through to the website you'll get a much better idea.

I had actually gone to Paris with an idea of I wanted to buy, and I tried on a selection of blazers when I saw a good pattern, and combed through a few racks of scarves. But in the end I found success in neither of those areas, instead buying pieces that were comfortable. Stylish (for the most part), but comfortable (the loungewear set may never be seen outside my home though). I also 100% went over budget, so.. shrug. Not proud of it, but it is what it is, and I'm excited about all the ways in which these new pieces will shine in my wardrobe (through multiple seasons).

Oh, and one last thing. You'll notice that quite a few of the items I bought were either O/S (one size) or XS/S, and my body is most assuredly not either of those sizes. Shopping off and on at brands like The Frankie Shop has taught me more about how useless brand size delineations are than ever before. While it makes it almost impossible to shop online, I'm kind of at the place where I'll hold up a garment and make a judgement call from that, rather than strictly adhering to a size. I'm still riding that inbetweenie line, but the current style to make so many pieces SUPER oversized has definitely benefited me.

Well everyone, I'm back from Paris. It was a whirlwind 5 days, and every one of them was filled with all-the-things from pretty much the moment I opened my eyes. But, and I hope you won't get too disappointed with me here, it wasn't filled with a lot of skincare. I was super under the weather before we left and I just didn't have the mental energy to devote to research and making a list of things I just "had to have". I went in to a lot of pharmacies, and shops that seemed to specialize in organic/"ethical" products, but I just couldn't convince myself to jump on a lot (especially since some of the things I wanted most would have involved paying to check my bag on the way back). So today I present to you my mini skincare haul, with products I've developed no opinions on yet, hahahaha. Where I've got initial thoughts I'll include them, but long term you'll probably have to poke at me for updates.

Also, I now accept I need some sort of reflector to be able to take pictures of product with even light. Any suggestions?!


From the website: Organic Youth Charm is a certified organic facial oil made from selected Icelandic herbs that help maintain the freshness and youthful glow of your skin. Keeping your skin well moisturized and hydrated, the Charm also fortifies the skin and enhances the beauty of your natural skin tone. Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Apply to face, neck and décolletage morning and evening.


Ingredients (taken from the bottom of the bottle, see picture): Oleum Olivae (olive oil), Stellaria Media (chickweed), Chamomilla Suaveolens (pineapple weed), Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin orange), Lavandula Angustifolia (English lavender)


From the website: ALGA MARIS SPF50 Face Sunscreen is both an effective sunscreen and moisturizer. It provides high natural protection thanks to its anti-UVA/UVB mineral screens and its patented red seaweed extract, Alga-Gorria®, a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals to prevent cell damage and skin ageing caused by the sun.  The non greasy formula has genuine moisturizing and matifying effects. It makes the skin beautiful, relieved and soft.

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coconut Alkanes, Zinc Oxide, Aqua, Titanium Dioxide, Talc, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Prunus Domestica Seed Oil*, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin**, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Magnesium Sulfate, Gelidium Sesquipedale Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*, Potassium Olivoyl PCA, Maris Aqua, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide

*Ingredients from organic farming

**Processed from organic ingredients