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2013

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Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy #100, #103, #105 and #508

September 25, 2013

Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy ($34 each for 4.2 ml/4 g, made in France) is the latest lipstick release from the brand with 36 different shade offerings. I reviewed a bright coral in Heat #304 last week. After I fell in love with Heat, I went back to the counter to pick up a few other shades. I must admit while I loved all the color options, I found the number of options a bit overwhelming at the counter. I narrowed down the picks to three colors in Androgino Beige #100, Incognito Beige #103 and Daybreak Pink #508. There was a step-up gift at my counter so I picked out Ambiguous Beige #105.

I’ve been a huge longtime fan of Armani for nude lipsticks for the naturally flattering colors but have always been somewhat disappointed in the almost non-existent lasting power. The latest formula Rouge Ecstasy is a huge improvement in pigment and wearability for the nude color selections. As mentioned in the review on Heat #304, the Rouge Ecstasy has a slightly thicker texture with a tiny bit of a tacky feel. They don’t glide on the lips like most other Armani lipsticks (such as Rouge d’Armani or the sheers), but still apply very easily. The texture helps the lipstick adhere better to the lips. I find you can easily layer by swiping back and forth 3-4 times. It can appear a bit streaky at first (depending on the color) but let the color sit for a little bit, then press the lips together or use a brush to blend and the lipstick smooths out. There is a soft slight floral scent but it’s not noticeable on the lips (at least to me, and I have a super sensitive nose).

Nudes can be hard to pull off for me. Often times they end up being too pale on my lips. I only swatched these lipsticks on my hand in store since I don’t like to use testers on the lips. I knew it might be hit or miss for how they would look on my face.

  • Androgino #100 is the lightest peach beige. It’s a cream without shimmer. First swipes looked too pale, but after I let the color sit and adjust a bit with the warmth of my lips, it changed slightly to look more natural. Love this.
  • Incognito #103 is the prettiest baby pink peach in the tube. On my medium complexion and pigmented lips it turned out to be too cool and pale. It needs layering with a darker liner or gloss for me to wear it. This was a miss for me, but it’s still workable.
  • Ambiguous #105 was a surprise for me. It’s a brown tan beige nude with a bit of sparkle. When I swatched at the counter it looked like death in a tube. It’s surprisingly not quite as nude/greige as I thought on the lips. Still very nude, but naturally flattering.
  • Daybreak #508 is a medium rose pink. I wanted to love all the pinks but they had a lot of blue in them. This was the warmest one that was still neutral.

This is how the colors line up online:


Below is how they look in real life:

Swatched on the arm:

Close ups with lip swatches below. For skintone reference, on the skin I’m wearing Edward Bess Ultra Dewy Complexion Perfector in Medium, Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick in Natural 05, NARS Reflecting Loose Powder. (Usually in the Chanel B30 range.) As always note your mileage may vary depending on your skin and lip tones.

Androgino #100

__________
Incognito #103

__________ 
Ambiguous #105

__________ 

Daybreak #508

__________

One more lineup:

I’m in love with these for good neutrals that have amazing pigment and relatively decent wear time for a lipstick. You do need a smooth lip to wear but they are on the moisturizing side and do help improve the lip texture (at least for me). These kinds of shades are popular neutrals so there’s bound to be dupes
from MAC and Bobbi Brown and Burberry if you want less expensive
options. It would be impossible time wise for me to pull all neutral lip comparisons right now. I’ve pulled what I can fit in swatches in one arm. A comparison post will be posted later this evening to other Rouge d’Armani shades with similar numbers along with a few other brands like NARS, Chanel and Tom Ford.
Armani Rouge Ecstasy Lipsticks retail for $34 each. I found mine in stores. Also online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Giorgio Armani Beauty and all other Armani retailers.

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Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Highlighting Powders: Nude Radiance and Golden Radiance

September 23, 2013

Burberry Beauty released two new powders in their Fresh Glow formula in Nude Radiance 01 and Warm Radiance 02 ($48 each for 10 g/.35 oz, made in Italy). These were part of a small collection for summer which included a new bronze version of their liquid Fresh Glow ($48), two Eye Trios ($47 each) and the two new powders. I’m late to the party with this release – was waiting to test in person but never made it to my nearest counter. I ordered the two Fresh Glow Luminous Highlighting Powders online sight unseen.

The Fresh Glow powders are designed to be alternates to the Fresh Glow liquid. I had tested the liquid version when it was released but the foundation along with the liquid both have some ingredient that caused an allergic reaction all over my face. I was disappointed since both products wear really well on the skin in terms of how they make the skin look. I was excited and hopeful that the powders would really be similar to the liquids.

The product description:  Whisperlight texture gives instant radiance and healthy glow while gently protecting skin from the natural elements Ultra-fine illuminators for natural radiance. Compact alternative to Fresh Glow Fluid, for those who prefer a powder texture. Soothing rosa canina fruit extracts Microscopic rose shaped particles absorb oil and intensify light diffusion.

I found Nude Radiance to be a frosted white with a hint of pearl. It looks chalky on my skintone and is rather unflattering. There is a wide brush that comes with these powders which I found quite good at applying the powders to the face. This one however deposits a bit too much pigment to the skin. Even when using a sheer fluffy brush there is just too much chalky frost that applies to the skin. Right now I have olive-medium skin, Chanel B30. 

Golden Radiance was also extremely frosty. It applies lighter than what you see in the compact primarily because there is so much frost. This one was a bit darker but emphasized pores and looked metallic on the cheeks. No amount of blending would make it look good.

I did test these on the eyes though and found they make stunning eye colors. The pigment and shimmer are more forgiving on the eyes and much more flattering. I’ve been looking for a frosted nude for quite some time for the eyes – Golden Radiance just might be my holy grail nude shimmer (although expensive for just one eyeshadow color).

Here they are swatched:

Compared to last spring’s Sheer Summer Glow Powder (limited, but still might be available in stores).

Swatched next to Hourglass Luminous Light, Chanel Poudre Signee de Chanel, Hourglass Radiant Light and Guerlain Terracotta Blondes 02.

Overall thoughts: Overall thoughts: My feelings/thoughts about the powders are mixed. The two new powders from Burberry don’t really fit my ideal for something that is luminous or glowy. While the pigment, texture, blendability are amazing, I found these to be overly frosty/shimmery which resulted in emphasized pores and for the pale one a chalky finish on the face. I tried layering over other colors and under bronzer to sheer out the frost. It was still a bit too frosty for my taste. I was hoping for a slightly more pigmented version of the Sheer Summer face quad. I really wanted to love these! I’m normally fine with larger amounts of shimmer on the face, for reference I can easily and comfortably wear most of MAC’s MSFs and Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks. That being said – I do find they work as shadows. I prefer the Golden shade since it’s not as pale/chalky on me. But in general for highlighters these are not among my top picks.

Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Highlighting Powders in Nude Radiance and Golden Radiance retail for $48 each. Available now at Burberry Beauty counters and online at Nordstrom and Saks.

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Deborah Lippmann Jewel Heist Picks: Fake It Til You Make It, Glitter and Be Gay, Shake Your Money Maker

September 22, 2013
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Deborah Lippmann makes the best glitters. Her line is one of the few that catches my eye enough to brave the glitzy chunky glitters even though I’m very conservative when it comes to makeup and nail polish. Her fall Jewel Heist collection has some beautiful glitzy shades. I was really surprised with myself for caving on Fake It Til You Make It ($17), Glitter and Be Gay along with Shake Your Money Maker (glitters $19 each). Every now and then I’ll try something way out of my comfort zone, determined to make the items work for me. These colors were just so stunning in the bottles I couldn’t pass, but after testing I found these to be extremely glitzy. I’m not sure exactly when I’ll find the right occasion to wear these since I work full-time in a conservative corporate environment. (I’m testing the glitters on the toes this weekend.)

Fake It Til You Make It is a glitzy textured gold-platinum infused with red, green and silver micro glitters. Two coats give a rich super metallic look. It’s the only one of the three I feel comfortable wearing on my fingers but still a bit too glitzy for me to wear to work.

Glitter and Be Gay is a mesmerizing gold glitter infused with smaller chunks of multi-colored sparkles. Like many other glitters, this one requires careful application to get glitter on the nail. Two rounds of dabbing and then brushing get the nail covered evenly with still a bit of the bare nail showing through underneath. It looks pretty layered on top of a red or another gold. Extremely glitzy though.

Shake Your Money Maker has a sheer transparent green base, large chunks of gold glitter and then smaller chunks of green glitter. It has a festive holiday feel. I love the color but still have no idea when I’ll actually be able to wear it.

Here they are swatched, two coats each:

Fake It Til You Make It is the only one I’ve tested so far for a full manicure. Here it is swatched and another set with comparisons to prior limited-edition shades (unfortunately no longer available):

Definitely out of my comfort zone but irresistibly gorgeous. I can’t stop staring at the bottles! As a business/financial analyst – I don’t think I can pull these off at work (call me boring but I just can’t do it). Do you like glitters for nails? Can you wear them easily or are you more on the conservative side for nails? 

I found these at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

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Dior Vernis Nuit 1947 #970

September 19, 2013

I spotted Dior Nuit 1947 ($24 for 10 ml/0.33 fl oz) on This That Beauty’s Instagram here and here and fell in love. I ordered it as soon as it popped up online. Dior Nuit 1947 #970 is a dark vamp with a jelly finish. The texture makes it on the sheer side. It applies with a see-through finish that can be a bit streaky with two coats. Applying a third coat seemed to be a must for me to achieve a rich dark even finish.

If you look closely at the bottle you will see very subtle shimmers. It’s not really visible on the nail except at certain angles.

Here it is swatched with two coats:

Here it is with three coats:

More with three coats:

I’m out of nail wheels so I wasn’t able to do a lot of comparisons. Among the vamps I pulled I did find Dior Nuit 1947 to be the deepest richest vamp with three coats. The look is very similar to many other vamps though. Unless you have direct sunlight shining on your nails, most of the vamps look identical in natural light. Here are a few comparisons I pulled to Chanel Diabolic (d/c), Chanel Western Light (limited), Chanel Rouge Noir (d/c) and Chanel Strong (d/c).

With flash:

No flash, under artificial light:

I really like Dior Nuit 1947. It is a bit high maintenance since it definitely needs three coats. The finish is rich and glossy though. If you have a lot of vamps I don’t think the new Dior is a must-have. It’s very similar to other classic vampy nail colors.
You can find Dior Nuit 1947 now on Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Sephora along with all Dior retailers.

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Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy – Heat #304

September 16, 2013

Armani has released a new formula of lipstick called Rouge Ecstasy ($34 each for 4.2 ml/4g). There are 36 different shades encased in a drop-dead gorgeous bright red magnetic-capped tube. I was drawn to all the peaches the first time I tested these. The first color I picked up was Heat #304 a bright coral-pink. The Rouge Ecstasy lipsticks are thick in texture with a slight tacky feel when you apply. They don’t glide on easily but they don’t really tug at the lips either. The texture makes the color adhere well to the lips helping it last longer than most Armani lipsticks. The color is easily layerable. Swipe the tubes on the lips a few times, allow to sit and then press the lips together to blend the color and the lipstick then feels weightless but moist. There is a very soft lipstick rose scent – it’s not noticeable when you apply though.
Heat #304 is a bright coral-pink. There is a slight transparent quality since there is a glossy finish to the shade. There is a bit of shimmer in the tube which is on the subtle side. It’s noticeable but very very subtle. It adds dimension and brightens the color. I love how you can adjust the look with the color. One even swipe gives a healthy glow. Multiple swipes brightens the color to a vibrant coral.

Here it is swatched, on the lips it pulls more pink on me:

For lips I have tons of nudes and peaches. Often times corals and peaches look the same in the tubes or swatched but apply differently on the lips depending on undertone, pigment and shimmer. I found Heat #304 most similar to Chanel Mystique. I prefer the Armani since it’s not quite as dry and appears a bit more natural on the lips due to the subtle sheen. More comparisons below to NARS Lodhi, Tom Ford Insidious (swatched here), YSL Rouge Volupte #30, MAC Coral Bliss, Chanel Mystique (reviewed here), Chanel Flirt (reviewed here) and Edward Bess Forbidden Flower.

I’m overall very pleased with Heat #304. I just picked up a few more of the nudes which I’ll be testing this week. The Armani Rouge Ecstasy Lipsticks have a very nice moist feel on the lips without being too moist. I like that the texture is thick but still a bit shiny. The lasting power is quite good considering most of my other Armani lipsticks tend to fade quickly due to the sheerness. All Armani counters should have received the testers and product for sale. I found mine at Neiman Marcus. You can also find them online now at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and GiorgioArmaniBeauty-USA.com.

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Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Orchid Haze Eye Color Quad

September 16, 2013

Tom Ford Orchid Haze Eye Color Quad ($78 for .35 oz/10g, made in Italy) is my favorite new release for eyes from Tom Ford. It’s a beautiful palette neutrals with rich smooth pigment. There are three shimmery shades in a frosted ivory, shimmery tan, and shimmery mauve pink. The fourth shade is a matte in a deep plum brown. Orchid Haze is a must-have for any neutral lover. The shimmers are very shimmery in the frosted finish. It’s not over the top though and the colors are naturally flattering.

After the preview I posted on Instagram, many requested it be compared to Chanel Raffinement (reviewed here). I didn’t think it would be similar but pulled it by request anyways. Below I’ve compared it to NARS Kalahari, Guerlain Les Fumes (reviewed here) and Giorgio Armani Quad #2 (swatched here).

Compared to most other neutral palettes Tom Ford Orchid Haze is the winner in my book. The pigment is incredibly smooth and rich with excellent lasting power. Definitely worth the splurge and a good excuse for you to visit your nearest Tom Ford Beauty counter to try in person. Tom Ford Orchid Haze is available now in stores at Tom Ford counters. Also online at Neiman Marcus.

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Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Seductive Rose Eye Color Quad

September 13, 2013
Tom Ford Seductive Rose Eye Color Quad ($78 for .35 oz/10g, made in Italy) is new to the US but already released in Asia. The quad is a stunning palette with two textured sparkles and two finely milled shimmers. I am usually not a fan of sheer glitter sparkles and when I swatched this palette on the arm, I was disappointed to see how sheer the rose and purple were. Layering the sparkles resulted in simply more sparkle (versus color). The other colors swatched perfectly: a soft pink shimmer and a aubergine/plum shimmer. Even though hand/arm swatches were a let down, the good news with this palette looks much better on the eyes than on the hands or arm. The colors apply on the eye beautifully. The trick is to layer the glittery shades on last by softly pressing and then blending gently. The sparkles in this palette coordinate and layer beautifully with the shimmer colors. If you’re normally not a shimmer kind of person when it comes to makeup you will find this over the top. I like to wear shimmers, occasionally frosts, rarely do I wear high-sparkle shadows, but I fell completely in love with Seductive Rose. It’s one of those palettes you have to try in person on the eyes to see just how lovely it is.

A closer look at the beautiful textures:

Here it is swatched, you can see that the glitters apply very sheer:

I couldn’t find anything like Seductive Rose. When I saw photos when this was released in Asia I suspected this was a more sparkly version of Enchanted (limited-edition from the fall 2012 jardin noir collection). Swatching the two side by side show that the two are very different.

The sparkles in Seductive Rose seemed similar to those in the Tom Ford trios for this season. A comparison to She Wolf and In the Pink are below. The colors are similar in concept and sheerness, but I prefer the sparkles in the Seductive Rose quad – I find them a bit more wearable.

Swatched without flash:

Swatched with flash:

I think Seductive Rose is a must-have for me. It’s a definite splurge but the colors are unique and I love the way the colors look on the eyes. Even though it’s on the glitzy side I still find it wearable for everyday if the glitters are applied with a soft hand. At this time I’m not sure if it’s limited or permanent. I am happy it was released in the US. Seductive Rose should have arrived at all Tom Ford Beauty counters by now. You can find it online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks.

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