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2013

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Burberry Beauty Trench Kiss Lip Mist and Lip Glow

December 2, 2013
Burberry Beauty has some beautiful new nudes and golds for the holiday. There are a couple packaging variations for the Trench Kiss Lip Mist, Trench Kiss Lip Glow and Nude Radiance Face Glow. These are available in regular packaging and a special limited gold packaging. In addition there is a new Gold Light Nail Polish available in the gold packaging.

I ordered the new Trench Kiss No. 216 Lip Mist ($30) and Trench Kiss No. 24 Lip Glow ($27) in the regular packaging from Nordstrom (however it seems only the gold packaging is available now online).

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Trench Kiss #216 Lip Mist is a sheer flesh colored beige with a hint of peach. On the lips it applies very pale – almost corpse like upon first swipe. After letting it set for a minute I found it adjusted better to my natural lip color and warmed up a little. It’s still very pale (similar to Nude Honey #211 reviewed here, but the Trench Kiss is just a tad warmer and more beige).

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Trench Kiss #24 Lip Glow is a shimmery sheer gold. It looks more golden and sparkly in the tube compared to the Nude Gold #15, but when swatched they look almost identical.

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Here are the Trench Kiss Lip Mist and Lip Glow items swatched side by side:

Lip items swatched layered together:

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Comparisons below to:

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I’m overall pleased with the two items once layered together. However they are really similar to previously released items which I already owned. I ordered sight unseen since I do not have a Burberry Beauty counter near me. I hope the comparison swatches above help. If you’re unsure about how these would be on you, I would suggest trying in person before buying. I do really like the Trench Kiss Lip Glow – it has such a lovely sparkle and sheen even if it is similar to other golds. 
The Burberry Beauty Trench Kiss items are available at online at Nordstrom, Saks and Burberry. You can refer to this list for Nordstrom Store Locations that have Burberry Beauty. If you know of others I’d love it if you could add it in the comments below.

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Bobbi Brown Sequin Shimmer Brick Eye Palette | Holiday 2013

December 1, 2013
This holiday Bobbi Brown has introduced a new version of her Shimmer Brick Eye Palette in Sequin ($48.50 for .14oz/4g, limited-edition). This palette packs in 10 different high shimmers in pale colors. It’s probably the smallest palette I own at a little over 4 inches long. The pigment is excellent for these shades similar to her regular-sized shimmer bricks. I never purchased her prior shimmer brick palettes for eyes since they either sold out instantly or were a bit heavy on the aqua colors (light greens tend to make my olive skin look too yellow). I was happy to find this holiday’s version contained more neutral colors better suited or my skintone.

The colors apply quite shimmery on the lids. I usually don’t like frosts but find Bobbi Brown shimmers, metallics and sparkles are very wearable for everyday (sparkles are ok for me with a very light hand). Shades from left to right include a pale cool pink, a tan gold brown, bright baby pink, soft mauve, golden oyster, mauve pink rose, platinum blue, mauve purple, silver taupe and cool silver beige. Close ups of each side.
Left side:

Right side:

Application tips I’ve received include swiping your fingers or brush over multiple colors and blending over the lid or picking 2-3 individual shades and layer them one by one. Since each bar of shimmer is very tiny (brushes shown below for size comparison) I find it hard to take a regular sized fluffy brush and only get one color on. I’ve been experimenting with this for a few weeks now and love using 1-2 shades individually or mixing any number of colors. Since most of the colors are neutral you really can’t go wrong with any combination.
Sizing:
 On the nails, Tom Ford Black Sugar (reviewed here)

For size reference to brushes you can see that some of my smaller brushes can barely fit into each block of shimmer. MAC #219 is a pencil defining brush which I usually like to use for smudging darker colors. You can use this one to highlight corners as well. MAC #239 is one of my holy grail basic shadow brushes. The width is bigger than the blocks but you can still fit into one color by tipping it to the side or at an angle. Trish McEvoy’s Smudge Brush is another one of my tiny brushes (shown for size reference).

Swatches below. Note the combination of sunlight with flash and shimmer highlights the frost.

This one shows the color a bit better:

Overall a huge thumbs up. It’s such a pretty petite palette. Although pricey I love the combinations of colors in this set. It’s small but once you open the compact you can’t help but gasp at all the gorgeous sparkles. It’s neutral enough for everyday wear or to add a bit of shimmer to your look.
I bought mine in store at a recent trend show – it should be available at all Bobbi Brown locations now (while supplies last since it’s limited-edition). You can also find it online at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Sephora.

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Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in Daisy #102

November 29, 2013

My latest from Marc Jacobs Beauty is the Nail Lacquer in Daisy #102 ($18 for 13 ml/0.43 fl oz). It’s been on my radar for months and I finally caved and purchased it. Daisy is a pearly ivory pink. It’s a shimmery color that is slightly transparent for a soft pearly finish. The formula requires two coats. The first coat will apply a bit streaky but it evens out with the second. Note you need to let the first one dry completely before applying the second. The result is a pearly color that brightens the skin. Lasting power is extremely impressive with this color. I saw no chips, tip wear or peeling by day 5 and only removed it to play with other shades. I give this polish a huge thumbs up for quality, wear and price.
The bottles have a removeable cap:

Closeups to show the soft pearlescent quality:

Here it is swatched with two coats, in sunlight it glows:

I pulled Chanel Island (discontinued), Chanel Django (discontinued), Rescue Beauty Lounge Pink Shimmer and Deborah Lippmann Sarah Smile to compare. All shades with two coats except for the Deborah Lippmann which has 4 coats to achieve full coverage.

In low light the colors look very similar so I hope these descriptions will help highlight the differences. Chanel Django is more beige/yellow. Rescue Beauty Pink Shimmer is more beige. Deborah Lippmann requires at least 4 coats to get the same coverage as 2 coats of the Marc Jacobs.

You can find Marc Jacobs Daisy online at Sephora and Marc Jacobs (also in stores). I’m really impressed with this color. It’s polished, demure, feminine and subtle enough for everyday wear but contrasts with the skin enough to be visible on the hands. It gives a lovely polished look. For other features on Marc Jacobs Nail Lacquers you can see the posts from August for Petra here, Gatsby here, and Le Charm here.
Have you tried Marc Jacobs beauty yet? What are your favorite nail colors? I’m still eyeing a few more colors! Any rants or raves on any of the other products? I just bought my first lip gel (still testing) but haven’t bought anything else yet.
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Black Friday Deals, Coupons and Sales | 2013

November 28, 2013

I’ve compiled a list of the Black Friday deals and sales for your reference. If you know of any other good deals or sales please share in the comments below. All promotions and gifts are good while supplies last or through the listed expiration dates. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!
  • Anthropologie – 20% off all items, Black Friday only (discount reflected in checkout)
  • Barneys NY – up to 40% off select designer items
  • Beautyhabit – free USA standard ground shipping on any order, use code THANKFUL, ends 12/1
  • Becca Cosmetics – Save 20% off your purchase of $50 or more, enter code FAMILY13, ends 12/2
  • Blissworld – 20% off bliss, elemis & remede, use code 20HOLIDAY; 30% off various sets, free holiday gift bag with $125 purchase or more, use code GIFT13, additional promos on their website
  • Bloomingdale’s – Save 20% off your purchase of $75 – $149, save 30% off purchase order over $150 (exclusions apply) valid through 12/1
  • Bobbi Brown – Receive a full-size Black Extreme Party Mascara and travel-sized Instant Long-Wear Makeup Remover with any order, use code TGIBF (plus free shipping on all orders), offer ends 12/1/13
  • C. Wonder – Save 30% off 3 items or more, full price or sale + free ground shipping, use code GIFTS30, valid through 12/1
  • Clinique – Receive 4 FREE Makeup minis with any $25 purchase + FREE shipping on every order, use code PRETTY, valid 11/29 & 11/30
  • Diptyque Paris – Receive two mini candles with any order, use code HOLIDAY2013, valid through 12/2 or while supplies last
  • Giorgio Armani – Enjoy 20% off any order of $75 or more with complimentary shipping, spend over $125 and receive an additional 5 deluxe minis (subscribe to Giorgio Armani emails to receive code)
  • Henri Bendel – Save 25% off your order over $100 or 30% off your order over $300 and receive a $20 Splurge Card with every purchase, use code TURKEY25, valid Nov 29 – Dec 1
  • Jo Malone – Receive two fragrance samples of your choice plus free standard shipping with a $150 purchase or more, use code FRIDAY, valid Black Friday
  • Jcrew – Receive 30% off purchase with code HOLIDAY, valid through 12/1
  • Kate Somerville – Save 30% on all orders, use code HOLIDAY2013, valid through 12/2
  • Kate Spade – Spend $250 and get $75 off, spend $500 and get $150 off, spend $750 enjoy $225 off, valid through 11/30 
  • Kiehl’s – Receive 3 deluxe treats with every order, use code BIGTREAT, ends 12/1; Receive $20 off purchases of $65 or more, use code CHEER, ends 12/3
  • L’Occitane – Buy 2 get 1 free stocking stuffers
  • Lulu and Georgia – Receive 30% off orders over $50, use code THANKS30, expires 12/2 
  • Madewell – 25% off your entire purchase, use code FEAST25, valid through 12/2
  • Molton Brown – 25% off everything, use code FESTIVEJOY, valid through 12/3
  • NARS – enjoy 20% off your order, use code NARSFRIENDS, starts 11/29/13 at 12:00 am ends 12/2/13 11:59 PM EST
  • Neiman Marcus – Scent Event Beauty Event Gift with a $100 purchase, individual offers here
  • Nordstrom – Black Friday deals and Beauty Gift With Purchases instores and online on Black Friday 11/29
  • Nuxe Paris – Receive 30% off all orders + free shipping with any $60+ order (no code necessary), valid on Black Friday
  • Saks – Up to 60% off select styles online through 11/29
  • Sephora – 3-day Shipping Free over $50 orders, Black Friday $10 Dealtopias here, Weekly Specials here
  • Shu Uemura – 20% off orders over $50, 25% off orders over $100 + free shipping, use code SHUJOY, valid through 12/2, 11:59 PM EST
  • SpaceNK – Spend $200 and receive a complimentary beauty bag containing Diptyque Candle in Tubereuse, Caudalie Premier Cru, Radical Skincare Youth Infusion Serum, Colbert MD Heal and Sooth Night Cream, Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray, Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Oil, By Terry Baume de Rose, Rahua Conditioner, Diptyque Mini Shot Candles, NIA skincare samples, Chantecaille Faux Cils, REN Skincare sample, use code THANKS20, ends 12/2 or while supplies last
  • The Body Shop – Black Friday deals to Mix and Match 3 for $30, $25 Tote with any $30 purchase
  • Tory Burch – Save 20% off orders over $300, 25% off orders over $500, 30% off orders over $750, use code HOLIDAY, valid 11/29 through 12/2; complimentary sticky note set with a $150 purchase while supplies last
  • YSL – 20% off any order of $75 or more, 5 extra deluxe minis with $125 or more (must subscribe to emails for code), valid through 12/1/13

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Diptyque

Diptyque Candle Size Comparison Breakdown

November 27, 2013

With all the different candle variations and holiday set offerings, a few have found it a bit challenging to make sense of the different Diptyque candle sizes (myself included). A few have asked for a breakdown comparison of the various Diptyque candles. I’ve pulled the three sizes for the regular clear glass candles to show you today and photographed some ideas for how to re-use the jars after they finish burning. For the standard clear jars with white and black sticker labels, there are three sizes: mini 1.2 oz, small 2.4 oz and regular 6.5 oz.



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Mini Size is 1.2 oz/35 g

  • 2″ height
  • 12-hour burn time
  • these aren’t sold individually – Diptyque sometimes gives these away
    in promotional gift with purchases, right now they are available in
    various holiday sets such as the 10 Piece Set $130 at Nordstrom and 5 Piece Sets for $75 at SpaceNK and Barneys
  • the 10 piece $130 set breaks down to a cost of $10.83/oz
  • after burning the emptied baby candles will fit large paperclips, I haven’t found any other ideas of what to store in them yet

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Small Size is 2.4 oz/70 g

  • 2 3/4″ height
  • 30 hour burn time
  • retail for $28 each or sometimes combined into trios for $84 here
  • not all scents are available in the small size, free standing boutiques and DiptyqueParis.com have a larger selection for the small sizes individually compared to department stores
  • the small sizes at $28 each break down to a cost of $11.76/oz
  • recycle ideas include storing Q-tips

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Regular Size is 6.5 oz/190 g

  • 3 1/2″ height
  • 60 hours burn time
  • retail for $60 each (special edition jars are sometimes a bit more expensive)
  • cost breakdown is $9.23/oz
  • recycle ideas are endless for storing pens, brushes, makeup pencils, chubby sticks, mascaras, flowers, scissors etc.
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A few more size comparisons side by side:

One more shot of the baby mini 1.2 oz:

For more Diptyque reference and styling ideas:

I hope this helps clarify the different sizes and options! I know it can be hard to tell the differences online for those who don’t have access to Diptyque easily. I’m really thrilled they released the baby mini sizes in sets this year for the holiday. They make a good introduction into the brand allowing anyone to try a variety of scents for at a more affordable price rather than buying each one individually to test them out.
You can find Diptyque at a number of select retailers. I like to buy mine from the Diptyque Boutiques, Nordstrom, Barneys and Space NK.

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Tom Ford Trophy Wife Nail Lacquer Comparisons

November 25, 2013

Tom Ford Trophy Wife Nail Lacquer ($32 for holiday) was last featured a few weeks ago here. I finally pulled some colors to compare and was surprised to find that I didn’t have many dark pink-red shimmers. Below left to right: YSL Rose Baby Doll (swatched here), Chanel Rouge Carat (swatched here), Chanel Tentation (reviewed here) and OPI Pretty and Privileged.

Due to the shimmer and neon quality of the pinks in these colors I found it a bit difficult to photograph accurately. I found Tom Ford Trophy Wife to be most similar to Chanel Rouge Carat. The difference is very slight from arm’s length. The Tom Ford is more pink. Chanel is more red and more frosted.

In sunlight

Under artificial light 

Hope this helps!

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Diptyque Nordstrom

Diptyque Candle Set x10 | Nordstrom Exclusive

November 23, 2013

Diptyque has some wonderful holiday offerings this year. There are a number of gorgeous sets along with three new holiday scents (review to come soon). This year Nordstrom has an impressive exclusive 10 Piece Set ($130 for 10 candles). The set contains Diptyque’s iconic scents from the line’s 50-year history that includes two signature scents created each decade. Each candle is in the set comes in the baby size usually only found in gift-with-purchase events (I’ve never seen the baby sizes sold for sale individually). The candles are 1.2 oz each with approximately 12 hour burn time. While the set is expensive, it makes a stunning luxurious gift for the holidays. Sometimes you can’t really tell if you’ll like a scent until you burn it. This set offers a way to sample a wide range of scents without having to buy the full sizes.

The ten scents in the set include: Thé, Cannelle, Roses, Jasmin, Baies, Tubereuse, Figuier, Feu de Bois, Ambre and Patchouli.

There is a beautiful handout included with a timeline highlighting each scent featured in the set.

I haven’t had a chance to try each candle yet (I’ve been busy burning the three holiday ones). It will most likely take me weeks to try each one to see if I like them enough to buy individually. I will however provide an overview of the scents.

I’ve purchased all the floral scents individually in the past.

  • Baies is a floral scent (one of their best sellers) which is a mixed bouquet of roses and blackcurrant leaves
  • Jasmin is a soft jasmin scent (smells like the real thing)
  • Roses smells like soft roses without being too harsh or floral
  • Tubereuse smells like the tubereuse flower
  • Patchouli is the best Patchouli scent I’ve smelled, it’s not too herbal or woody, it’s a warm earthy scent that seems to have a slight hint of soft vanilla
  • Figuier is a warm fig-wood scent, it’s a fresh fig and one of my favorites in the line
  • Feu de Bois is a smoky firewood scent with a hint (very slight) of blackberry
  • Ambre is a warm incense-like scent with a mix of wvetiver and patchouli,
    enhanced with radiant anise seed, insolent spices, mysterious incense,
    cistus and tonka bean, it’s not my favorite but I will have to burn to really tell
  • Cannelle has a mix of warm, dry, spicy, and aromatic bark from the East, it has a fresh scent
  • Thé is a dark strong tea smelling scent with a herbal feel

Overall a lovely and impressive set. It would make the ultimate gift for fragrance aficionados. You can always break down the set and use the baby candles as add-ons or stocking stuffers for the holiday as well. I’m enamored with the whole boxes set and can’t wait to try each in the upcoming months. Diptyque candles are among my favorite, although priced at the high end for scented candles worth every penny. It’s something you have to try to really see what the fuss is about. Once you try these there is no going back to other brands (although I still adore lower priced candles from Henri Bendel and still love Jo Malone and Fresh for higher end candles).

Here’s a quick comparison of the sizes of the candles in this set. (I’ll call them the baby size.) The baby sizes in this set are also sometimes found in gift with purchases which is the 1.2 oz size. The small size is the 2.4 oz ($28 each). Regular sized candles are 6.5 oz ($60 each). More detailed comparison to come in a follow up post.

The 10 piece set is exclusive to Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com (limited for the holidays). You can’t beat free shipping and beautiful packaging. If you have a Nordstrom near you with Diptyque, you may want to call the fragrance department to check if they have any upcoming events. I received a mailer for their yearly customer appreciation night. There are usually events in early December at stores and they often have gift with purchases so it will be a good time to take advantage of the gift offerings if you have a list of items you’ve been saving up for. In my experience minimum buys tend to be around $100 to $150ish.

Have you purchased any Diptyque sets this year? Diptyque fans – what are your favorite scents?

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