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Partial Ingredients

Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

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summer look

Tropical Dreams and Last of Summer

September 18, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

It’s warmed back up into the 80’s this week and both myself and the garden are loving it! Fall is still in the air though as the nights get cooler and the leaves are starting to change. For now, the warm temps are inspiring me to post a few more Summer pieces, like this tropical print top from American Eagle. Gotta love those end of Summer sales. I have been in a small love affair with kitsch tropical prints since at least 2015 and I’m afraid 2020 isn’t any different. This top is very light and breezy, with a bit of elastic at the hem on the back and sides. The front was made to be tied at the front, like so many tops these days. The elastic is a neat feature since it makes it easy to tuck in and wear in a more cropped fashion, like with skirts or very high-waisted jeans. It also gives the impression of the shirt being “tucked in” without it having to be tucked in. Kind of a minor feature, but also cool!

Speaking of jeans, I recently picked up these high-waisted distressed jeans from Abercrombie and they are fab! It’s been a while since I’ve worn anything other than Levi’s, but I’m a big fan of these as well. The high waist is flattering with shorter tops and the distressed areas are nicely done, especially with the small details at the end of the leg. The sandals are also from Abercrombie, which seems to be creeping more into my wardrobe, but I can’t help it. They are offering some really nice items at affordable prices, so how can a girl say no!

Top: American Eagle; Jeans: Abercrombie; Sandals: Abercrombie; sunglasses: Ray Ban

High-Low Summer // Demeter Fragrance Review

August 29, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

It’s almost September and I’m feeling a bit ambivalent since I still have a bunch of Summer looks in the pipeline that I haven’t posted yet, waah. It seems to be always the way where Fall kind of catches up with me. That said, I am so excited to get going on all the Fall things which are just around the corner! It has thankfully cooled down a bit lately but the days still reach well into the mid-upper 80’s. For now, I’m still all about the Summer vibes with this vintage high-low asymmetrical midi dress. Also love the classic t-shirt and skirt combo — there’s just something timeless about it and will always look fresh. This combo is a must have for the toasty weather we’ve had all Summer, especially when you add a pair of comfy sandals to the mix, like these flats from Abercrombie. I also like to add a small belt with skirts to tie everything together. While I am looking forward to Fall looks, I want to try to make Summer last as long as possible!

In other news, I recently tried out a bunch of different Demeter Fragrances. I have to hand it to Demeter, they do a great job at recreating some of the more unique scents in life. They have a dizzying amount of varieties but I selected a few of the ones that I was most curious about. Another cool thing about Demeter are all the formats you can choose from. You can buy each fragrance in a variety of sizes, or as a body wash, diffuser oil, roll-on or even lotion! That’s pretty cool. An overall impression of these fragrances are that they simply don’t linger very long on the skin, but they will stay longer on fabrics. A quick rundown of the ones I tried, from left to right:

Laundromat: This one is spooky accurate. If you’ve ever been inside a commercial laundromat, there’s a heady, humid feeling of wet clothes, detergent and dryer smells that fill the air. I would say this scent captures the atmosphere of the laundromat, rather than fresh laundry if that makes sense. It has quickly turned into one of my favorites and I often use this one to freshen up clothing and bedding. 5/5

Tomato: I grew tomatoes in the garden this year and I love their unique, almost spicy smell. This perfume comes really, really close to mimicking that scent but I wish there was just a little bit more green and peppery vibes. I feel like this perfume evokes the leaves of the plant, rather than the fruit itself which is what I had hoped for. Unfortunately this one has the worst staying power out of the five which is a bummer. Overall, this perfume does convey that essential tomatoey-ness so I definitely recommend if you are also a Tomato fan. 4/5

Fuzzy Navel: This fragrance is one of their more popular scents and they threw this into my order for free which was thoughtful! It’s pretty hard to rate this one since I’m not really into gourmand or fruity fragrances, but it has a very fresh, watery peachy orange scent. I guess this one is meant to capture the alcoholic drink, but I don’t get much of the vodka thing from it. Leaving this unrated since fruity fragrances just aren’t my thing but I wouldn’t knock it either.

Linden: This one is also one of their more popular varieties and there’s good reason for it. Boy, do I love this one. I spray it on my pillow/PJs like every night so yep definitely a fanboy. This fragrance is hard to describe but it’s a little bit greenery, a little bit Summer sunshine with hints of Lily of the Valley. I honestly have no idea what actual Linden blossoms smell like, but this fragrance is absolutely gorgeous. I feel like this one sums up the height of Summer, and I bet I will love this one even more in January to remind myself of warmer and greener times. 5/5

Paperback: I had high hopes for this one and really wondered if they could nail the smell of a fresh paperback book. I pictured this to smell like dust and aged paper (think old book shop) but unfortunately all I got from this was ‘vanilla candle.’ Such a bummer! Maybe I’m missing something, but this fragrance bears no resemblance to a paperback for me. Argh, I am so bummed out by this. I don’t mind the vanilla scent per se, it was just not what I was expecting at all. 2/5

Outfit Details: Shirt: American Eagle; Skirt: Vintage Blue Brand/Thrifted; Shoes: Abercrombie; Bag: LeatherStrata

Green Gingham

July 12, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

It has been an abnormally hot Summer in Northern Colorado thanks to a “Heat Dome” (thanks 2020!) so this post and probably all the ones in the near future will be featuring the most Summeriest of Summer outfits. Give me all the lightweight dresses, tank tops and skirts please — like this gingham patterned dress from Abercrombie & Fitch. Like usual, the quality is up to their standard: it’s made from double-lined 100% cotton and comes with pockets! I am pretty much a loyal Abercrombie customer after they revamped their whole image and brand a few years ago. They have sales so frequently that you can get their items for a very reasonable price. The quality being much better than your average fast-fashion retailer gives you the most bang for your buck. It’s not as cheap as say H&M or Forever21 (this dress was on sale for $39.99), but I’m all about spending a couple bucks extra for better quality. Oh and this genuine leather shoulder bag was also from there and was on sale for like 15 bucks! It’s hard to find faux leather bags for that price, much less real leather.

Sandals and flats are also a must for this freaking hot Summer (I think we have had mid-to upper 90s for a solid week and a half now ughh). These woven flats from LaMar Lifestyle are a perfect lightweight and breathable shoe for your hot feets. Add a sunhat and you’re good to go for the weather, just don’t forget the SPF!

Outfit Details: Dress: Abercrombie; Shoes: LaMar Lifestyle; Bag: Abercrombie; hat: unbranded; necklace: Forever21

In Undertow

June 19, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

I still love festival fashion, even though all festivals are probably canceled for the foreseeable future. For me, festival looks aren’t about showing a ton of skin or getting flashy. I’m all about loose, breezy items that are comfortable to wear on hot days. Of course that means cotton tops, skirts and flats!

This top from Everlane is such a perfect tee for Summer. So lightweight! And I love the fact that it’s sleeveless. It’s been so hot lately (it set a record in Denver last week) that the least amount of fabric as possible is a must. Next up is this fab vintage 80’s skirt found on Etsy. I love Etsy for those vintage finds when you can’t venture into your local thrift store because a certain (ahem) virus has ruined pretty much everything, sigh. One thing great about fashion is that everything worth revisiting usually comes back around again (not you shoulder pads, you’re not allowed). While this pleated floral design is straight out of the 80’s, it seems so new right now!

Destino Flats from Free People
Upslope’s Spiked Seltzer has been a must have drink for Summer!
Outfit Details: Top: Everlane; Skirt: Vintage (Etsy); Shoes: Free People; sunglasses: Ray Ban; hat: unbranded

September Blues & Fall Matte Lip Swatch Review

September 8, 2018 by The Partial Ingredients

Happy post Labor Day weekend! Now that we are officially in September, I am super excited for the upcoming season and can’t wait to get started on more Fall related looks.  The nights and mornings have been getting cooler BUT the days have still been in the mid to upper 80s, so dress season is still a thing! Which is a good thing because this blue floral dress from Zaful has been one of my favorite recent additions.  I really don’t have a lot of anything in powder blue and it’s nice to branch out occasionally with something a little different. Its a color that I just don’t really gravitate towards for some reason, but I really love the color and pattern of this one!  As has been the case recently, this woven bag has made another appearance.  It seems to go super well with so many dresses so it’s hard not to include it in a bunch of looks!

Now to change gears a bit–over the years, I have tried a bunch of different matte lip colors and I wanted to showcase which ones have become my regular favorites.  Many of these I use daily, especially the ones with more of a nudey mauve tone that look great for casual everyday looks.  As a certified pale person, I can also vouch that all of these colors look great with fair skin. This post might get long and it’s all about makeup so just a warning!  If you’re a fellow pale person looking for the best lip colors for you, keep on reading! I would rate these lip colors on three different scales: affordability (1-5, 5 being most affordable), color tone (1-5, 5 being best color tone) and durability (1-5, 5 for most durable/longest lasting).  Scroll down for a full review!

Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Dress: Zaful, Bag: eBay, hat: eBay, shoes: Free People

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

I wear these ALL the time.  Zurich and Stockholm are similar, however Stockholm has a bit of an orangier tone.  Cannes has been one of my go-to dusty rose colors and is nearly a perfect dupe for the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita. Rome on the far right is a bit of a darker berry color so I wear it more for nights and going out.  It looks darker on lips than on the swatch. Rome has a more vintage 90s look if you’re looking for that too.  As you can see in the final photo, these wash off the most easily but because they are so affordable and the colors are great I can let that one go.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 1

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink

This one gets high marks because of it’s affordability, durability, and the color Poet is a perfect nude that isn’t super washed out.  I tend to like more pinky nudes and this one fits the bill.  The more beige it is, the more washed out I tend to look so this one is a great nude for pale folks.  It goes on a bit wet but dries fairly quickly.  It’s also one of the most durable and longest lasting ones that I’ve found.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 5

ColourPop Ultra Matte *WINNER*

This one is really impressive in terms of durability and just overall value.  Platform goes on fairly light but somehow turns into a darker dusty pink.  It’s probably the MOST matte above all of the others and is by far the most durable.  I can wear this all day, drink coffee, water, you name it.  It does not come off! The application is lightweight and dries the fastest.  As you can see in the below photo, this one outperformed the others after washing with soap and water.  It’s also one of the most affordable so this one is the winner in my book!

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 5

MAC Liptensity

This color is absolutely gorgeous for Fall.  Smoked almond is a gorgeous deeper rust red that is slightly less matte than the others.  It goes on like a more traditional lipstick but you still get that overall matte look.  Since it’s MAC, affordability isn’t great and I was surprised by how much it washed off in my soap and water test.  However, it’s a beautiful, rich color so it gets an overall good rating from me!

Affordability: 2, Color: 5, Durability: 3

ColourPop Metallics

This one isn’t a true matte but it’s not really glossy as advertised.  It goes on very dry and has a matte feel, even though it does have a bit of shimmer.  Growing up in the early 2000s I think I’ve been traumatized by wet lip gloss so I really like this one being dry, while at the same time offering a little shine and shimmer.  Tight Fit is a beautiful metallic with slight orangey pink tones.  It reminds me a little bit of a pink grapefruit skin and looks beautiful on! Slightly less bold of a pigment but that’s okay for me. One of the top performers in durability and affordability.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 4.5

Sephora Luster Matte Lip Color

For all that rich pigment, it sure isn’t durable which is kind of surprising.  I would have thought it would have some staying power.  I wouldn’t call this an every day color for me, but it is beautiful.  It’s a very rich, pigmented orangey red, and looks great if you want a bold look for the evening.  I would call this a semi-matte since it’s not as quick drying as the others.  It is not long lasting at all and tends to smear so I’m careful not to use too much of it at once.  While it’s nice for specific looks, I probably wouldn’t purchase this one again.

Affordability: 3, Color: 4, Durability: 1

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

I really like this pencil.  It’s a true matte and goes on very smooth and dry.  The color Dolce Vita is fantastic and is a rich dusty rose, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option, try NYX’s lip cream in Cannes.  As you can see in the swatches, these colors are nearly identical.  However, it’s not very long lasting and its affordability is so so.

Affordability: 1, Color: 5, Durability: 1

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About Emily

I'm an analyst by day and part time blogger by night living in the Denver area. I'm into everyday style, traveling, soap making and playing drums/vocals in a band. I love spicy food, wide open spaces, beautiful colors and strong coffee. You'll find everyday fashion inspiration, tasty food recipes, and a smattering of whatever I'm into at the moment. Welcome!

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