I Just Got Back From Rome—14 Beauty Items I'm Buying to Keep the Italian Vibe

I recently returned from Rome, and when I tell you that I had the time of my life, I mean it. I'd always dreamed of visiting the Eternal City. When it became a reality, I went all in. I drank cappuccinos, wine, and Hugo spritzes. I ate my weight in pizza and pasta. I visited as many ancient historical sites as I could. In other words, I experienced my own little Roman holiday.
I didn't stop there. I am a beauty editor, after all. I made sure to shop in local pharmacies for popular skincare products and observe the beauty looks of people passing by on the street. After a couple of weeks, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on what I'll hereby refer to as the Italian beauty aesthetic—think fresh-faced skin with pops of color and breezy, voluminous hair. Obviously, I wanted in on it, so I decided to shop for relevant skincare, makeup, and fragrance products. Ahead, check out all 14 items I'm buying. (PS: Some are on sale during Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale.)
After drinking an undisclosed amount of limoncello whilst in Italy, I put this zesty scent at the top of my beauty-buying wish list. Notes of cold-pressed lemon, green mandarin, and blood orange mingle with earthy balsam, oakmoss, and musk. One spritz will transport you to the Amalfi Coast.
Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation is a staple among makeup artists and beauty editors alike. With medium coverage and a naturally radiant finish, it's basically Italian vacation skin in a bottle. Yeah, I'll be wearing this, and only this, until further notice.
You'll never convince me to turn my back on matte lipstick. Well, not modern matte lipsticks at least. Formulas like these look soft and velvety on the lips without compromising hydration and comfort. It doesn't hurt that I feel like Sophia Loren whenever I wear this vibrant shade of classic red, dubbed Goldie Red.
A soft swipe of silky, powdery blush is the best way to look like you've been lounging at a Roman café all day (even if reality is much different). Valentino's Eye2cheek Blushes have a good pigment payoff and create a natural-looking effect. If you want to take it a step further, dust it on your eyelids for a monochromatic flush of color.
If you want to smell like you're walking around in a lush, Italian garden, I can't recommend Gucci's Bloom Eau de Parfum enough. Sweet floral notes of tuberose and jasmine do the trick. Right now, this perfume-and-body-lotion set is on sale as part of Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale.
One of my all-time favorite designer fragrances, this perfume reminds me of wandering through Rome's Trastevere neighborhood. Notes of blackcurrant, bergamot, jasmine, bourbon vanilla, and guaiac wood essence are fresh yet sophisticated. IMHO, it's the ultimate alluring scent.
Okay, I know this is the third mention of Armani Beauty Luminous Silk products, but I can't help it. They're that good. These liquid bronzer drops create the most natural-looking glow—like your skin has been kissed by the Italian sun. Wear them alone, on top of makeup, or mix them into moisturizer, sunscreen, or primer. The options are endless.
There's no way I could leave out Versace, especially not the brand's iconic Bright Crystal fragrance. It combines notes of yuzu, pomegranate, peony, and lotus flower with a grounding musk base note. The result is a bright, floral, and traditionally feminine scent.
If you're not familiar with Acqua di Parma's Rosa Nobile scent, let me try to describe it. Imagine walking through a Tuscan rose garden at golden hour. There, I think I summed it up. So while this hand cream smells incredible, it also offers skin-boosting benefits. Jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E moisturize and protect the hands from the drying effects of cold, heat, and environmental aggressors.
I'll be prepping, setting, and refreshing my skin with Gucci's Brume de Beauté Beauty Mist until further notice. The lightweight mist uses hyaluronic acid and black rose oil to hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin. I see petal-soft skin in my future.

Kaitlyn McLintock is a Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. She has 10 years of experience in the editorial industry, having previously written for other industry-leading publications, like Byrdie, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and others. She covers all things beauty and wellness-related, but she has a special passion for creating skincare content (whether that's writing about an innovative in-office treatment, researching the benefits of a certain ingredient, or testing the latest and greatest at-home skin device). Having lived in Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas, she has since relocated back to her home state, Michigan. When she's not writing, researching, or testing beauty products, she's working through an ever-growing book collection or swimming in the Great Lakes.
-
TBH, I'm in Shock These 15 Hair Tools Are Still Available From Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale
You won't want to miss these.
-
I Always Get Compliments on Zara Perfumes—These 14 Could Easily Pass for Designer
It's time for my seasonal restock.
-
I Saved $1540 on 16 of My Favorite Big-Ticket Beauty Products During Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale
This is major.
-
I'm Super Picky About Perfumes, But I'll Fold for These 10 Buys on Amazon Prime Day
*Adds to cart*
-
I'm a Scent-Obsessed Editor, and I Recommend These 15 Nordstrom Perfumes to Anyone Who Will Listen
They're the foundation of my fragrance wardrobe.
-
My Entire K-Beauty Routine Is on Sale for Amazon Prime Day, and I'm Wasting No Time
*Wallet sheds a small tear.*
-
I Hope You Saved Up Because These 36 Early Beauty Deals From Nordstrom Are Worth Every Penny
Shop Tom Ford, L'Occitane, Parfums de Marly, and more for less.
-
WWW Beauty Editors Just Discovered Each Other's "Twin Flame" Fragrances
Smells like success.