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Fall 2013

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Tom Ford Ombré Eye Color Trio: In the Pink

August 23, 2013
Tom Ford In the Pink Ombré Eye Color Trio is a beautiful palette of warm neutral pinks ($60 for .16 oz/4.5g, limited-edition). The packaging comes in a medium-sized mirror compact with an applicator that has a sponge on one end and a small brush on the other. These trios are the same size compact as their blushes. In the Pink has three neutral colors, each with a different finish. There is a soft satiny-matte light pink (this blends in with my skintone leaving a soft sheen). The middle shade is a frosted warm pink. The last is a sheer but buildable high-sparkle glitter. Each shade is velvety soft with good pigment and coverage. I applied the shades from left to right, layering each additional shade on top of each other. I was really surprised to find the glittery color wearable and that it adhered very well to the lids (even on top of other powder shadows). Application for the last glittery shade was a pat then blend – but blending was very soft and minimal. I had no fall out issues. The trio goes well with a black liquid liner and rich black mascara for a subtle but glowing eye. I’m normally not a fan of glitzy eyeshadows but In the Pink can be worn for everyday and at the office if you make sure to apply the glitter with a light hand.

The colors can look neutral to warm in the pan depending on how the light catches the shimmer. On my skin it applies warmer, but still pink. Your mileage will vary depending on your undertones.

Swatches, two ways:

Swatched heavy over a base darkens the colors:

Although In the Pink is a neutral with similarities to many other pink shimmers, the combination of pinks in this palette are just gorgeous. There’s enough pigment in each shade and enough warmth/color so they do look different on the skin. Some mono-chromatic palettes tend to have colors that look different in the pan but all the same on the skin. In the Pink has enough variance with each color to stand out (at least on my skin). You can get a similar effect with other colors. I pulled a few to compare, below you can see Chanel Sillage, NARS Silk Road, Nars All About Eve, and Chanel Complice (all still available).

Update: Per request, here’s a quick comparison of the MAC Pressed Pigments in Spot Lit and Warming Trend (both discontinued, but other Pressed Pigment shades here) compared to the glittery shade in Tom Ford In the Pink. While the shadows are similar in concept, the Tom Ford is a bit more wearable because it has a sheerer base. The MAC Pressed Pigments have more frost and pigment in the base which gives a more glitzy eye look. There can be some fall out with the MAC pressed pigments while I personally experienced no fall out with the Tom Ford trio.

If you already own any of the shades above you can probably get a similar effect. I do think Tom Ford In the Pink is a must have though. It’s versatile enough to take from day to night. The sparkle is pretty on my skin and not too over-the-top. The Tom Ford fall collection should be arriving at counters now. I found the collection at Bergdorfs.

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Tom Ford Ombré Eye Color Trio Preview: In the Pink and She Wolf

August 22, 2013
Tom Ford Beauty has a beautiful understated collection this fall. Items are expected to arrive at Tom Ford counters and online early September, but Bergdorf Goodman has the items right now. Here’s a quick preview of the star products the new Ombré Eye Color Trios in She Wolf and In the Pink ($60 each for .16 oz/4.5g, made in Italy). Detailed reviews to follow for each. For now check out these other features:
Some more photos to preview:

Swatched with flash:

Swatched without flash:

Stay tuned for reviews on each shade with more swatches, comparisons and overall thoughts!

Shop now at Neiman Marcus:

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Chanel Affinité 65 Le Blush Crème de Chanel

August 12, 2013

Chanel Affinité 65 Le Blush Crème de Chanel ($38 for 2.5 g/0.09 oz) was one shade missing from most counters near me. Stores had received testers but no product to sell. Chanel.com had the color available for a few days before selling out. I had my name on the waitlists and was thrilled to find it arrived in stores at Nordstrom and online Nordstrom.com. Affinité #65 is a hot cool-toned pink. It’s quite pigmented and visible on the skin – it’s one of the brighter shades out of the six that were released for fall. Other Blush Crèmes in Destiny, Presage, Revelation and Inspiration were reviewed here. Out of all the shades, my top three picks are Présage, Révélation and this one Affinité.

Since Affinité is very pigmented, it does require blending on the skin for a more natural look. I’ve found either a foundation brush or regular blush brush work fine. My favorite is Tom Ford’s Cream Foundation brush but any brush will do. I don’t recommend applying over dry skin. It does work ok over a powdered face, but for easier blending, apply a sheer illuminator first to the cheeks. The slightly emollient base helps the color blend easier. Swatches, heavy and blended:

Comparisons below to Chanel Revelation (warmer), Edward Bess Love Affair (the EB has more blue and is dewier), MAC Dollymix Powder blush (similar in undertone):

Overall love. It’s a beautiful bright pink shade that is easy to wear and coordinate into looks for both day and evening. It’s layerable so you can adjust the intensity to your preference. I’m happy I was able to find it. I’m not sure why it’s one of the hard to find shades, perhaps it was just one that sold out very quickly – the good news is that Affinité is not listed as a limited item on Chanel.com even though it is sold out. If you had difficulty finding this the past few months, know that you can find it now at Nordstrom.

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Diorshow Mono Mordoré 653 and Gris Montaige 047

August 9, 2013
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Dior released four single shadows as a Nordstrom Exclusive with the fall collection. These are new in the US, although available in other countries (see swatches on Front Row Beauty). I picked up two of the shades Mordoré 653 and Gris Montaigne 047 ($29 each for 2.2g/0.07 oz, Nordstrom.com). Both are in the Diorshow Mono formula which has allows either a wet or dry application. This was my first time trying these shadows even though the formula was released months ago with other shades.

Mordoré 653 is a beautiful warm bronze metallic. It has a lovely shimmery finish to it. On me it pulls very warm but not red. Swatched on the arms it looks identical to Armani Eyes to Kill #5, but Dior Mordoré is easier to wear with less yellow/orange and slightly more bronze. The pigment is very rich but smooth and easy to layer. Blending with this color is easy – some coppers and warm bronzes blend out to look reddish or yellowy on the skin, this one stays true to color.

Gris Montaigne 047 is a classic metallic grey silver. There is a blend of different kinds of silvery shades which prevent it from looking too metallic or foiled on the skin. Silvers can be hard for me to pull off – this one has enough grey to not turn blue on the eyes. I could not find a dupe for this one.

More photos and swatches:

Comparisons below to Urban Decay Half Baked, NARS Fex, Chanel Le Bronze, Armani Eyes to Kill #5, Burberry Pearl Grey, Chanel Furtif, Chanel Infini, Armani Eyes to Kill #21 and Armani Eyes to Kill #17.

In the US you can find both Dior Mordoré and Gris Montaigne at Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com. I’m new to the Diorshow Mono formula but so far am pleased with the two shades I tried. Are there any other colors you’ve fallen in love with that I need to try?

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Dior Mystic Metallics: Constellation 864 Couture Color Eyeshadow Palette (Nordstrom)

July 16, 2013
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Dior Constellation 864 Couture Color Eyeshadow Palette ($61, limited-edition, Nordstrom exclusive) is the second quint release for Dior Fall this year. It’s a stunner in the compact and the colors translate onto the skin true to pan. If you can pull off cool-toned colors and brighter plums or purples on the eyes you will love this. For me, some purples appear too blue against my olive skin leaving me with a punched-eye or pink-eye look. This is one of those purple palettes – it requires a bit of layering with a warm terracotta or sheer bronze (Le Metier makes some nice ones from their limited kaleidoscope kits, NARS Fez works well as does Urban Decay Lost). The lighter shades pull very cool on my skin, if you’re very warm or tan you may find this one pulls very cool-toned on you, more so than when you swatch on the arm.

The colors include a pale mauve, a frosted silvery-platinum, a cool pink opal, a plum with silver flecks and a purple satin. Most of the colors pull very shimmery. Each color is very pigmented. I liked that the colors applied very well on the eyes and stayed put well throughout the morning and afternoon.

Overall, not my favorite … at least for now. Part of me thinks it’s the warm summer weather that is making me crave warmer colors for eyes (versus cool purples). Once autumn arrives I think I’ll like this more as is. For now, it will be reserved for days I have extra time to get ready in the morning or evening. It’s going to be a higher-maintenance palette that requires some warm color layering to make it work for me.
Constellation is available now at Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com as an Early Access item to Nordstrom Cardholders. It will be available to all this Friday when their Anniversary sales starts. Do note it’s a limited-edition product. You may want to call your local Dior counters to pre-sell if you don’t have a Nordstrom card. They can reserve one and set it aside for you.

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Dior Mystic Metallics: Bonne Étoile 384 Couture Color Eyeshadow Palette

July 14, 2013

Dior Bonne Étoile 384 Couture Color Eyeshadow Palette is this season’s star product for eyes ($61, limited-edition, at Nordstrom). The palette has the most beautiful embossed star patterns. Each color is richly pigmented with varying degrees of shimmer and sparkle. Even those who avoid shimmers will love this one. I am not usually brave enough to wear bright teals or greens on the eyes but the colors in this palette are deep enough to not be over-the-top. The colors include a deep rich khaki olive gold, a chocolate brown with gold flecks, a sparkly silvery-taupe, a deeper green-teal sparkle and a soft seafoam green shimmer. The shimmers adhere well to the eye, but you still need a good primer to avoid fall out from the teal and taupe (I experienced just a slight bit). Five colors on one eye can be challenging to pull off, but the colors layer nicely together. I played with this today and found the combinations to be endless. Applying the darker shades with a slightly damp brush intensified the colors nicely for a more dramatic look.

Swatched:

I don’t own any other palette similar, although I suspect each shade is similar to other individual colors. I think you can probably achieve a similar effect with some Urban Decay or even MAC singles, although I do think this Dior palette will be a bit more conservative and easier to wear for those who prefer neutrals. I don’t own many teals or greens so this was perfect for me. I’m still testing out the other option Constellation 864, but I can say right now that I definitely prefer this Bonne Étoile 384.
You can find Bonne Étoile 384 in stores at Nordstrom now and also online at Nordstrom.com.

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Dior Bonne Étoile 384 and Constellation 864 (Preview)

July 14, 2013
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Dior has released two stunning quints for fall this year in Bonne Étoile 384 and Constellation 864 ($61 each, limited-edition). Both are listed as exclusive to Nordstrom (for now). You can purchase Bonne Étoile now in stores and online, however Constellation is listed as an Early Access item for Nordstrom cardholders only (available to everyone on July 19th). I picked up both of mine in store today so I haven’t had time to play with these extensively. I did have my Dior artist apply Bonne Étoile on me, and although greens usually aren’t my thing for eyes, I’m already in love with this one (it’s a bold pick for me). The teal and green layer beautifully with the khaki and bronze shades. Detailed swatches and photos to come very soon. For now, check out these awesome bloggers for swatches and details:

Bonne Étoile 384

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Constellation 864

Some more preview photos of both side by side:

With flash:

In direct sunlight, no flash:

In direct sunlight with flash:
 

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