The smashing Sabrina of The Beauty Look Book
Name: Sabrina
Location: Southern California
Day job/current gig: For my day job I currently work as a business analyst for a Fortune 500 company (it’s in the top 100 within the US). My work covers a diverse range of areas for financial and market analyses. My background has always been in finance. Prior to my current job I completed my MBA in Finance and Marketing.
Hangouts online: thebeautylookbook.com, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin’. I’ve also recently started a lifestyle blog called Styled Notes.
Current favorite product: Diptyque Candles — any scent! I love re-using them once they’re burned to hold brushes, flowers, pens, etc. They make a beautiful decorative accent for home.
Beauty inspirations: My favorite local makeup artists from Chanel, the Dolce & Gabbana team from Saks Houston, numerous beauty and fashion bloggers. Fresh cut flowers are always an inspiration for color.
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: That’s hard! I think I see beauty in lots of different things. What I like most about it is playing with the different textures and finishes.
What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?
I can’t live without sheer glossy lipsticks like Chanel Glossimers, YSL Rouge Volupte Shines, Chanel nail polishes and my Edward Bess Daydream Bronzer. I also swear by my Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation. Current cult-classic favorites include Chanel Boy, NARS Fez, Armani Eyes to Kill Stretch Lengthening Mascara, Diptyque Baies Candle and Chanel Particuliere Nail Polish.
When did you start getting into makeup?
I started getting into makeup in high school with Bonne Belle and Jane (mainly clear glosses). I remember my first gloss with color was Wet and Wild Bronzeberry lipgloss (back in the ’90s). My first beauty splurges were MAC lipsticks in Wuss, Pink Glaze and “O”. I didn’t really get into wearing makeup items other than lips until college.
What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?
I’m rarely successful when it comes to time-saving for beauty. Although when I’m short on time, I use a warmer bronzer as a contour/bronzer/blush. My favorite is Chanel Soleil de Tan (the cream bronzer in the big tub). It goes with anything and gives the face a healthy glow, so you don’t necessarily need blush to brighten your look.
What’s your favorite beauty tool?
My top three beauty tools include my Solano Hair Dryer, Shu Uemura Tweezers and Mason Pearson Detangling Comb.
That’s Calvin, but I call him Pumpkin; he’s a ragdoll cat and just turned 1.
What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?
I never knew how to contour until a Trish McEvoy artist showed how to blend in bronzer on the sides of the face in the shape of a “3.” After that — it made contouring easy!
What’s your skincare routine?
Right now I alternate between Dior Purifying Foam Cleanser and SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser (morning and night). To remove long-wear foundations I use Koh Gen Do first before cleansing.
I’m in between toners right now. To moisturize I alternate between Le Metier de Beaute Revitalizing Anti-Aging Day Creme and Chanel Resynchronizing. I don’t always use weekly masks or scrubs, but my holy grail face mask is by Koh Gen Do Macro Vintage Essence Mask. It works wonders for your skin, making it baby soft and leaving you truly refreshed and glowing.
I also use Cle de Peau Eye Cream, but I often neglect eye care (it’s a step I always forget).
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?
Paraffin waxes for hands and feet. The results are amazing but short-lived (and pricey). And they feel pretty weird to me.
Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?
I’m a minimalist when it comes to styling. My look is always evolving as I brave bolder colors, but it’s still typically very natural. I’m also rarely without some kind of bronzer.
Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”
Oh, yes… I’ve cut my own hair before (disaster) and had a perm when I was in grade school. Also, multiple times I’ve asked my hair dresser to cut off “one more inch”, only to regret it afterwards.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Nordstrom by far. They have the best customer service and friendliest sales associates, and you can’t beat their free online shipping. I also like shopping at Neiman Marcus and Barneys (perfume heaven). Other favorites include J.Crew, Banana Republic and Sephora.
Anything else you want to share?
Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog was my inspiration to start blogging back in 2009. She had openings for guest writers, and I submitted an article on Le Metier de Beaute glosses. It was a lot of fun.
I’m Laurie Leopold of 312 Beauty, and This Is My Makeup Life 
I’m Terive Swerts of BellaChique, and This Is My Makeup Life 
I’m Tiffany Nguyen of Will Work for Makeup, and This Is My Makeup Life 
I’m Rae of The RAEviewer, and This Is My Makeup Life 
Oh I didn’t know that you had to blend bronzer doing a 3, thanks for that tip!
It helps me since I have a roundish face – makes contouring easy for me since I don’t have high cheek bones.
I feel you on cutting off one more inch.
hanna recently posted … Behind a Bus, Class, Nap, Class
Glad I’m not the only one, lol!
*waves* Hi Sabrina, and HAAAAAI Calvin! So nice seeing you guys here! You have definitely prompted me to try many things over the years
I have tried paraffin wax on my hands and feet as well! I like how they wrap your hands and feet up with a heating glove thing afterwards. Feels like I’m getting cooked
Waves back
I agree feels like you’re being baked with the paraffin – so un-natural feeling!
Yayyyy one of my favorite bloggers! Love your nail color reviews and comparisons…and Styled Notes too
Thank you Rads
Awesome, one of my favorite bloggers featured on one of my favorite blog sites!
Between the two of you, I have tried soooo many new products. Love it!
Seriously happy to see you featured here. I have total admiration for the fact that you had the courage to show your face–I’m not sure it’s something I could do. I’ve learned so much from you and you’ve been one of the biggest inspirations to me–thank you so much. Diptyques are my favorite too–couldn’t live without them! Anc Calvin is so adorable!
Jenny recently posted … Marc Jacobs The Lolita 206, Style Eye-Con No.7, Plush Eyeshadow, Swatches and Review
Yay, it is such a nice surprise to see Sabrina here. I am such a fan of her blog, one of the first beauty blogs that I was following. Love her comparisons and all styled photos, such an inspiration.
Sara@colormeloud recently posted … YSL La Laque Couture #40 Sepia 7E Art from Fall 2013 City Drive Collection
Sabrina, it’s so nice to see you here! Like others, I am also a frequent visitor of your blog and my favorite posts have to be the ever so pretty Chanel nail polishes. Also, I’d like to thank you for letting us see a bit more of your face
Lastly, thank you Karen for introducing many others to Sabrina’s beauty blog, it’s top-notch like yours!
Calvin is TOO CUTE! I love Ragdolls and he’s absolutely gorgeous. That face is just darling.
Thank you Danii – I love him but he’s so naughty! Of course I melt just looking at his fluffy face, lol.
As others have said, how nice to see you here Sabrina
Congratulations on both your beautiful blogs…
I also wanted to say *thank you* Karen for organizing this guest bloggers series. It is fun, instructive and quite wonderful to see women collaborating around all things beauty-related!
Thank you Tigerlily – and yes, a huge thanks to Karen for coordinating interviews with bloggers who love all things beauty.
Oh my I remember Wuss and “O” I had both! Calvin is too precious for words, I totally get why you call him Pumpkin!
Icaria recently posted … Simple Eye Make-Up Remover / Review…
I absolutely LOVE the beautylookbook! You’re one of my favorite beauty bloggers
Thank you Nazih!
Sabrina, you are positively gorgeous! I know how reluctant you are to show your face, so thank you for including a portrait shot–even if you are partially hidden behind your sunglasses
You look stunning and every bit as beautiful as you come across in your blog. As for your little Pumpkin, what a scene stealer. He’s adorable.
Karen, thank you for the This Is My Beauty Life posts. It’s been such a pleasure to learn a bit about some of my favorite beauty bloggers and to discover some new and delightful ones. Great concept!
Thank you Eileen – you are too kind.
Sabrina recently posted … The Beauty Look Book featured on Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi Karen,
I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see Sabrina featured here! She has such a gorgeous sense of style and great class — an inspiration to beauty lovers and bloggers everywhere
Love the photos of fresh cut flowers, delightful Diptyque candles, and Calvin (what a cutie)!
I’ve been following her for quite some time and I just love her! Glad to see her here
Vesna recently posted … Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs Les Noirs paleta sjenila, slike & swatchevi
Thank you so much Karen for featuring me and for your daily inspiration to all of us beauty and kitty lovers
How amazing seeing Sabrina from one of the classiest beauty blogs out there! You are so talented at combining products and shades for looks. I miss when you used to do more swatching and comparison photos back in the day! Your choices have always been perfect. (I purchased a lot of Bobbi Brown thanks to you!!!) Thanks for your blog, and thanks, Karen, for *yours*, and this feature.
Love the Beauty LookBook. Been following for eons. But what lip colour are you wearing in your photo, Sabrina?
Hi Claire – the photo was taken a several months ago, I’m not 100% sure what it was, I have a feeling it was YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in #8 Pink in Confidence.
love thebeautylookbook.com! i always turn to your blog for advice on high-end makeup
I love Sabrina and her blog and it was nice to see her here. I think she has an impeccable taste and style
Marina(Makeup4all) recently posted … Avene Very High Protection Emulsion 50+ SPF UVA UVB Review.Rave
I did not start regularly reading Sabrina’s blog until recently, when I started to try more higher end makeup items. Her blog is really a pleasure to read, with its clean styling and extensive comparison swatches.
Echoing others, kudos Karen, for this series.
Congrats and well deserved! As a beauty blogger myself, I think you are one of the best out there. Your images, comparisons and nail reviews are hard to beat. Keep up the good work;)))
One of my favorite bloggers to date!
Thank you for featuring the stunning Sabrina! Gosh – a business analyst at a Fortune 500 company – HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME TO BLOG! Amazing!!
Thank you Shari – I haven’t been blogging as frequently as I’d like, it’s definitely a challenge to do both!
Your cat is absolutly BEAUTIFUL.
Sabrina, you are one of my favourite beauty bloggers! I love your style – it seems so effortless and chic. I aspire to get my website up to your level of quality!
xx McKenzie
Love your entire look and style. Nice trends i will try to include your styles in ma fashion room.