Monthly Archives

March 2014

Uncategorized

Marc Jacobs Beauty | Lola, Role Play and Kissability

March 31, 2014
Marc Jacobs Beauty items from Sephora, accessories Marc Jacobs Sharpies, Heart Notebook and Postcard from Bookmarc located in Los Angeles on Melrose

I’ve recently fallen in love with a few more items from Marc Jacobs Beauty. I’ve been a huge fan of the Hi-Shine Nail Lacquers which I really like for the packaging, color pigment, and price. Today I am featuring three new items I’ve discovered.

  • Lola Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer ($18 for 13 ml) is a flawless bright jelly red, it’s a one-coat wonder nail color that covers the entire nail with one swipe, I’ve only tested for a couple days now but in my experience, Marc Jacobs nail lacquers have decent lasting power with no tip wear or chipping through day 5 or 6 (I use with Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat and Dior Gel Top Coat).
  • Role Play Lip Gel ($30 for 3.6g) is my new holy grail nude pink lip, it’s an interesting formula, not quite like a traditional lipstick, it is a gel lipstick with full coverage and a cushy moisturizing feel. This covered my lip entirely, it’s like a lighter modern version of what I wanted MAC Twig/Spirit to be, it’s a neutral rose pink nude that isn’t too light and not too dark.
  • Kissability Lust for Lacquer ($28 for 5 ml) is a sheer rose with gold and pink shimmers. It comes with a sponge tip applicator. The formula is very sheer so I recommend using this on top of lipsticks for more color, it has a vanilla scent with a cool tingley finish (thank goodness it did not irritate or numb my super sensitive lips).

More photos and swatches:

Lola featured on the hands holding some fun Marc Jacobs sharpies:

Role Play lip gel and lip swatch:

I’m overall impressed with the lip products. I don’t know why it took me so long to try them. I am already looking to try more of the lipsticks. Now that Marc Jacobs Beauty has been out on the market for a while, I’d love to hear what your thoughts are. What have you fallen in love with? What would you recommend passing on? Yays or nays are all welcome.
You can find Marc Jacobs Beauty at select Marc Jacobs boutiques and at all Sephora stores. Online at Sephora.com and MarcJacobsBeauty.com.

16 Comments
Uncategorized

Tom Ford Summer Beauty – Now at Saks.com

March 30, 2014
The summer collection for Tom Ford Beauty has now started to trickle in online at various retailers. The entire collection is now available at Saks.com. The limited-edition items in this year’s summer collection:
I just ordered the palette and lip shimmers, I’m assuming the skin illuminator this year is the same as last year due to the name, but I’m not 100% sure. If you’ve seen it please let me know! Are you planning to order anything from Tom Ford summer?

8 Comments
Uncategorized

Beauty Look Book | Favorite Nude Pink Nail Polishes

March 27, 2014

I’ve been on a natural nude-pink nail polish kick ever since Tom Ford Sugar Dune was released for spring. I’ve since been wearing a lot of light and neutral pinks on the nails. For me light pink is a bit difficult to find, most are either too pale, too sheer or apply unevenly. I’ve still managed to find quite a few variations of light and nude pink with great formulas, application and wear. The colors that made my top picks:



Rescue Beauty Lounge Thank You ($20) is a nude pink with light pearl particles. It flashes blue and pink for a cool-toned sheen but has a nude pink base to prevent it from looking too pale. This color looks good on everyone I’ve seen it on. It’s shown below with two coats.

Tom Ford Sugar Dune ($32) is my ultimate perfect nude pink. As discussed in my review a few months ago, application can be a bit time consuming, it is one of the higher maintenance nudes but once applied is a clean polished neutral light pink. It is limited-edition so if you’re interested I suggest you try to track one down sooner than later.

Burberry Nude Pink and Ash Rose ($21 each) both beautiful polished clean neutrals. Scroll down through the archives (last couple weeks) to see a more detailed review on each shade.

Nude Pink:

Ash Rose:

OPI My Very First Knockwurst can be found at a number of retailers. I either purchase my OPI from Drugstore.com or Ulta. I found this to be the most difficult to apply and it required three coats. However the price of OPI is much more affordable compared to high end brands. Most of the time OPI applies just as well (sometimes better) than other luxury nail polishes. In this case, this one was a bit of a nightmare to apply. It required three coats but I love the color of this shade.

Chanel Rose Cache ($27) is a classic sheer natural pink. It has that secret-shimmer in the bottle that disappears once applied on the nail. It looks different on everyone I’ve seen but is a universally flatting easy to wear/go with everything kind of nail polish.

Dior Incognito ($24) is my favorite classic nude pink. It’s not too dark and not too pale. Just the right in between. Do note this one is coming out in the gel formula (have not tried yet). You may want to wait for that color to be released in stores near you. But for now I’ve been a huge fan of all Dior’s nail polish formulas. The application is smooth and flawless with very good lasting power. Everything from the formula to brush design of Dior’s nail colors makes application very easy.

Zoya Rue ($9) is a classic nude pink with a hint of cool-mauve. I haven’t had much experience with Zoya but the brand has performed well for me on the occasions I have tried it. Rue was part of a recent nude collection. It’s a lovely natural pink cream. Below is Rue shown with three coats.

Comparisons to other lighter pinks: OPI Care to Danse?, OPI Don’t Bossa Me Around, Rescue Beauty Lounge Sheer Nude, Bobbi Brown Pink Pearl, Deborah Lippmann Naked, Deborah Lippmann Fashion, Deborah Lippmann Modern Love, OPI Butterfly Moment, Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire and Tom Ford Show Me the Pink

What’s your favorite nude pink nail polish? Do you have any staple go-to’s? If I were pressed to pick just three, I would narrow down my picks to Tom Ford Sugar Dune, Dior Incognito and Burberry Nude Pink as my favorites.

30 Comments
Boutique California Travel

Diptyque Paris Boutique | Larchmont, Los Angeles

March 26, 2014

Diptyque recently opened another boutique in Los Angeles on Larchmont. The store has an intimate cozy design with a similar vibe to the boutique in Costa Mesa. The store reps were incredibly friendly to everyone even with the store packed with customers. I learned more about the new skincare line and received a few samples with a purchase (still haven’t tested them yet but eager to). I also left with a long wishlist of new candles to try but managed to leave with only two new ones. I love that the boutiques carry some exclusive scents and more accessories – it makes the visit fun with new things to discover and learn about.

I always love visiting a new boutique. Diptyque always manages to style their home candles and fragrances so beautifully in stores. You can find more coverage from The Beauty Look Book visits on Diptyque Boutiques located in San Francisco and South Coast Plaza. Have you visited one of the boutiques?

3 Comments
Uncategorized

Malin + Goetz Apothecary and Lab | Los Angeles

March 25, 2014

I recently tried Malin + Goetz for the first time in February. I discovered their Lip Moisturizer as one of the gift items that came in the Barneys Love Yourself event a month ago. I’ve read so much about this line but never ventured to try it. After falling in love with the lip balm, I put this brand on my list to explore further in person. I stopped by the Malin + Goetz Boutique on North Larchmont Boulevard in Los Angeles a couple weekends ago. The boutique in Los Angeles is one of four in the US so far. I loved the ultra modern simple design of the boutique. Everything was organized and displayed in a simple yet beautiful way. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable of all the items and patiently answered all of our questions. I learned so much about the products – all of which are designed with natural ingredients for sensitive skins. I left with a small purchase of the Mojito Lip Balm and Candle (review to come soon) and they loaded me and my friend up with generous sample packets. After testing the samples I already have a long list of items I want to purchase on my next visit (in particular the Hand Treatment and Neroli Shampoo).

Here is a closer look at the ultra sleek Malin + Goetz in Los Angeles. Everything is clean, simple and easy to understand since everything is categorized by the color of the packaging labels.

Some of the candles come in two sizes, 9oz. / 260g. for $52 and 2.35oz. / 67g for $14.00:

I’m already planning my next trip in a few weeks. If you’re in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend a visit (plus a new Diptyque store opened just down the street). If you can’t get to one of the boutiques (locations here) you can find the line at a number of retailers and online at MalinandGoetz.com, Bloomingdales, Barneys and Beauty.com.
If you’re a Malin + Goetz fan I’d love to hear what your favorites are! Be sure to follow Malin+Goetz on Twitter @malinandgoetz and also Instagram @malinandgoetz
8 Comments
Uncategorized

Chanel Mutine #90 Rouge Coco Shine, Bliss #181 and Tocade #182 Glossimers | Collection Variation

March 24, 2014

I picked out three lip colors from Chanel’s Collection Variation: Rouge Coco Shine in Mutine #90 ($35) and Glossimers in Bliss #181 and Tocade #182 ($29.50 each). There is a mix of repromotes and new shades for this lips collection. Many of the colors seemed very similar to previous releases so I limited myself to a few of the lip items plus the new Coup de Couer #609 Le Vernis  (reviewed here).

Mutine #90 Rouge Coco Shine is a soft shimmering silvery pink. Bliss #181 Glossimer is a warm peach with subtle gold flecks. Tocade #182 Glossimer is a sheer reddish plum. All are on the sheer side but each color can be layered for a bit more color. These are lovely subdued classics.

Here are the colors swatched side by side:

Close up of Mutine #90 to show the pink base with silver sparkles. This one was fairly pigmented for a Rouge Coco Shine, I found it showed up well on my pink lips without washing out my complexion.

Bliss #181 is a sheer peach with gold flecks. The shimmers don’t really show up on the lips. Although Bliss is on the sheer side, I found it covered my entire lip quite well. Tocade #182 looks like a cool-toned plum in the tube but it applies more red on my lips (many plums end up fuchsia or red once applied). It is very sheer but your mileage will vary depending on how much you layer on.

I couldn’t find any duplicate colors with other glossers or rouge coco shines.

Below are comparisons: Burberry Cameo (is more orange), Tom Ford Love Bruise (is more brownish), Burberry Oxblood (is more fuschia/cooler), Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy (is darker), Chanel Parfait (is sheerer and has gold shimmer), Chanel Fetiche (discontinued, is darker).
I’m overall pleased with Bliss Glossimer and Mutine Rouge Coco Shine. Tocade is a lovely plum but I was a bit disappointed it turned more reddish on my lips. As of right now, both Bliss and Mutine are listed as limited-edition colors on Chanel.com (see all the colors in the collection listed there). The Collection Variation should be at all Chanel counters now since it was released over a month ago in stores. I’d recommend researching the color selection online first before going instore – sometimes the items in tester units can get switched around making it difficult to figure out which colors are truly new (versus repromoted colors).
Glossimers retail for $29.50 each and Rouge Coco Shines retail for $35 each. You can find the Collection Variation online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.
9 Comments
Uncategorized

On Instagram

March 23, 2014

I hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend. I took a few days off from blogging but have been busy taking pictures and testing items so I have quite a few posts planned for the next couple weeks. With my full-time job taking up most of my week, I have a limited amount of time to blog but I always try to find time to do what I love (which means waking up super early and sometimes staying up late at night to edit and write). Stay tuned for reviews coming soon, in the meantime you can follow me on Instagram @beautylookbook for sneak peeks of what is coming soon.
4 Comments