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June 2014

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Loving Right Now

June 16, 2014

A few things I’m loving right now include pinkish glosses such as Tom Ford Sahara Pink (swatched here) and NARS Belize. I’ve been reaching more for the swipe-and-go pencils and glossy lipsticks these days. I’ve re-fallen in love with NARS Gloss Pencil in Hopi (reviewed here).

For the eyes, I picked up a few more By Terry Ombre Blackstar Cream Eye Shadows and have been thoroughly impressed with the pigment and wear time. NARS has new Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows coming out July, I’ll have two to share with you soon. (Pictured above is Europa). Still making it to my favorites list is Guerlain Maxi Lash Waterproof. It stays put, separates the lashes, thickens, volumizes and holds the curl. Let me know if you want a full review. Topshop Coal Eye Kohl Pencil has become a staple in my weekly makeup routine (review here). I love that it’s a true black, applies very smoothly and stays put.

My skin has been acting up for the past few months because of a number of things. I’ve started running and that combined with weather changes and a bit of extra stress has turned everything upside down. I’ve started experimenting by adding a few extra steps to my skincare routine. I’ve found that using a cleansing oil such as MAC Cleansing Oil helps break down long-wear sunscreens and foundations. I’ve also been mixing up my serum routine with Chanel Le Jour and Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum under my regular moisturizer. I alternate with these and my skin has improved in texture within the course of a week.

Also loving Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet for the perfect amount of coverage and just the right amount of matte finish.
I’ve also found myself reaching for Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream on a regular basis (review here). I alternate hand creams depending on what’s closest to me or what’s in my purse (I have various hand creams scattered around the house, car and desk). I like the fresh scent of Caudalie and the compact size is perfect for putting inside my makeup bag. Last but not least I got a Sephora Beauty Insider sample of the Elizabeth and James Nirvana White which is a pretty light floral. (It’s still available online for redeeming and I spotted it in stores last week.) There’s a new 1000 point perk online for VIB Rouge Members. Seeing as I only have 50 points, I don’t think I will be getting it any time soon.

What are you loving right now? Did you discover anything new or fun over the weekend?

This post features some items sent as press samples from Topshop and NARS for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information refer to my disclosures.

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MAC Sharon Osbourne Patentpolish Lip Pencils | Innocent, Patentpink, French Kiss and Ruby

June 15, 2014
The MAC Sharon Osbourne Collection has four Patentpolish Lip Pencils ($21.50 each for 2.3g/0.08 oz, limited-edition). These are a swipe-and-go kind of lip pencil that come in a twist up packaging. No sharpening needed. Two of the colors are repromotes from the spring release of the Patentpolish Lip Pencils ($20 each) although the ones with the Osbourne Collection come in a special edition red packaging and are slightly more expensive. The four shades include:
  • Innocent (repromote) is a pale nude, it goes on streaky and extremely pale upon first swipe, after letting this one sit for a minute, it warmed up on my lips, it works alone for me but I prefer to add a bit of a darker lipliner to blend and warm up the color 
  • Patentpink (repromote) is another pale pink, another slightly streaky color and upon first swipe looks extremely mod and pale, once it warmed up it looked better
  • French Kiss is an easy to wear brownish warm nude, this one since it’s darker went on smoother in color and has better coverage
  • Ruby was a pleasant surprise, it looks dark and brown in the tube but goes on a natural ruby red with a good shine, out of all four this is my favorite

Swatches show a slightly transparent texture and glossy shine:

I didn’t test out the colors from the original release but the swatches I saw of these from other bloggers looked promising and several were kind enough to e-mail me recommendations to check these out. The Patentpolish Lip Pencils are a unique formula. It’s like a chubby stick with a thicker smooth texture and a slightly glossy finish. They glide on easily and even though there is a good amount of shine, I found they stayed put without feeling super glossy or emollient. They aren’t drying but at the same time I didn’t find them super hydrating either. My lips usually peel a day after using MAC lipsticks if I don’t use a balm underneath. The same happened with these. As long as I moisturize well in the morning and at the end of the day with a good lip balm then my lips are fine.
These are designed as a swipe-and-go kind of product. I like the convenient twist up factor and especially am a fan of the fact you don’t need to sharpen. I didn’t really find them to be a one-swipe kind of lip pencil though. My feelings for these are mixed. For the lighter colors, to get an even application I had to swipe back and forth several times for smooth decent coverage. If you try these you might not like what they lighter colors look like at first swipe. I certainly did not but after letting them sit for about 30 seconds I found they melded to my lip and warmed up to a better more natural looking finish. The darker shades applied easily and flawlessly. French Kiss and Ruby both have very smooth coverage and better pigment. Coverage on these is medium-sheer with a slight transparent look.

Here they are swatched on my lips:

Out of the four shades, my favorite is Ruby and it’s the only one that I would say is a must-have. Good natural looking reds are hard to come by for me. Most either turn fuchsia on me or have too much brown. This is the perfect balance of bright and natural to be flattering for day or night.

The Sharon Osbourne Patentpolish Lip Pencils in Innocent, Patentpink, French Kiss and Ruby are all limited-edition. Even though many items from the MAC Osbourne collection have sold out, these pencils are still relatively easy to find in stores, at counters and online. All the colors are limited edition but you can find all the Patentpolish Lip Pencil shades right now at maccosmetics.com, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Bloomingdales.

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MAC Sharon and Kelly Osbourne Mineralize Skinfinish Duos and Satin Blushes

June 14, 2014

I have a few more additions to share from the MAC Sharon and Kelly Osbourne Collections. There are two new Mineralize Skinfinish Duos in Refresh/Sharon and Jolly Good/Kelly ($33 each, limited-edition). Each collection also features a Satin Blush in Peaches & Cream/Sharon and Cheeky Bugger/Kelly ($22 each, limited-edition). If you’re contemplating any of these, act fast. Both of the blushes sold out online super quickly. My sweet husband bought the Satin Blushes for me from a MAC store the day the collection launched in stores. The Mineralize Skinfinish Duos are easier to find but are going fast online. I found the cheek items to be really pretty and naturally flattering to complement bolder eyes/lips.

Sharon’s collection is warmer in tone while Kelly’s is cooler and lighter. I found they both worked for my olive medium skin, I have a slight preference for the items from Sharon’s collection. My thoughts on each item for the cheeks:
  • Refresh Mineralize Skinfinish Duo has a satiny warm bronze and a shimmering champagne peachy pink. The pigment on this one is really good and it shows up well on the skin by itself.
  • Jolly Good Mineralize Skinfinish Duo is more satiny in texture. It has a shimmery finish but not as frosty or shimmery as other MSFs. The color is on the nude side so on my skin it is very sheer similar to Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders. If you’re in want of a more contrasted highlighter you may not like this one.
  • Peaches & Cream is a rose pink satiny texture blush. It has a bit of shimmer in it but on the cheeks it isn’t overly frosty. Even though it has the word “peaches” in the name, it’s not really peachy or warm, it’s definitely more rose.
  • Cheeky Bugger is a cool toned lighter pink. It’s also a satin finish. On me it shows up even though it’s pale in the pan. It gives a natural pink glow.
Refresh/Sharon

Jolly Good/Kelly

Peaches & Cream/Sharon

Jolly Good/Kelly

Here they are swatched on my Chanel B20/30 arm:

Close ups of the Blushes side by side:

Close ups of the Mineralize Skinfinish Duos side by side:

Overall thumbs up. The pigment and texture of these are really good and easy to apply. I like how the Mineralize Skinfinish Duos look naturally flattering on the skin. The Jolly Good/Kelly MSF duo is sheerer and is good as a subtle softening powder. Refresh/Sharon MSF Duo is better in color and pigment to show up on its own. Both Peaches & Cream and Cheeky Bugger blushes are stunning and I wish they hadn’t sold out so quickly but I am happy that I was able to get them. If you can get to a counter or store soon, I highly recommend it. They are both worth the extra work to track down.

Sharon’s Refresh Mineralize Skinfinish Duo is still available online at Nordstrom, Macy’s and Bloomingdales.

Kelly’s Jolly Good Mineralize Skinfinish Duo is available online at Nordstrom.

Both blushes Sharon’s Peaches & Cream and Kelly’s Cheeky Bugger have sold out online but you may still be able to track them down in stores and counters.

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Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel + Giveaway

June 13, 2014

Currently in my rotation for eye care is the new reformulated Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel ($42 for 1 fl oz/30 ml) for night. It’s a clear aqua blue gel designed for night time treatment. This is Ole Henriksen’s new version that just launched this month. The beauty team at Ole Henriksen kindly sent me a sample to try and I’ve been extremely pleased with the results.

For some background on my current eye situation: I’m in my early thirties and I don’t have eye wrinkles yet, nor do I have discoloration or creases around the edges. My under eye area has slight texture issues and is extremely prone to puffiness. I have increased sensitivity eyes around the outer corners and the eyes get irritated every once in a while subject to weather changes. My main concerns for eyes are de-puffing treatments and prevention.

I’ve been testing a few eye creams and gels (more on the others soon) and so far have been really pleased with this new formulation of the Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel. It’s a night eye treatment designed to improve firmness and give the eyes a lifted look. This version has 30% more peptides and 600% more botanicals. It has cucumber for a de-puffing and cooling effect. The texture is a slightly thick gel. It has a slightly sticky and tacky feel once applied so once you have it on, I don’t recommend touching or rubbing the eye area.

It took me a while to get used to the sticky texture since it’s not something I’m typically used to, but I found that I actually prefer this for night. It adheres well to the skin which means it stays put. Many eye treatments have a super emollient texture which is good for the hydration and feel, but for me I find it often feels like it’s sliding off as soon as my head hits the pillow. The tacky texture of the gel helps this stick to the skin well. I’ve been testing the new gel versus the old version for over a month now. I definitely like the feel of the new one better, it has a nicer feel on the skin noticed improvement in my eye area with significantly reduced puffiness.

The application is pretty straight forward. Apply under the eye in an upwards motion extending towards the temples. A little goes a long way but I like to apply generously.

In the mornings right after I wake up (before I cleanse the skin) the area under and around the eyes absorb the product completely and eyes look more hydrated. I’ve applied this as instructed on the actual product, under the eye and upward extending slightly past the temples. Doing this has hydrated the skin making the skin less tight in the mornings. I haven’t noticed any lifting but there isn’t really anything under my eye area that needs lifting. I really like this for the help it gives me with de-puffing.

Application and ingredients:



The new reformulated Ultimate Lift Eye Gel comes in several different sizes and options right now at Ole Henriksen. They have the Full-Sized 1 oz jar ($42), Roll-On .5 oz ($28) and an Ultimate Eye Lift Kit with both ($35).

The Ole Henriksen team was kind enough to send me one extra of the full-size for me to giveaway to one lucky US reader. The giveaway is eligible for US residents only, ages 18+. Entries will be collected through June 22, 2014. There are up to four ways you can enter to win. One winner will be selected at random via the Rafflecopter widget the week following June 22nd and contacted by me via e-mail. Please refer to terms and conditions within the widget to see how to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This product was provided courtesy of Ole Henriksen for review along with an extra for a giveaway to US readers of The Beauty Look Book. For more information refer to my disclosures.
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Reflect Your Style Dream Vanity featuring One Kings Lane

June 13, 2014

One Kings Lane asked me to collaborate with them in their Reflect Your Style campaign. Their challenge: create a mood board of your dream vanity with decorative accents centered around one of their statement mirrors. I picked out the Vevey Oversized Gold Mirror (1) as my inspiration piece. I love the rich color and intricate details around the edges. The Cosmo Table Lamp (3) also has a beautiful brass finish to complement the details of the Vevey mirror.

A couple accent pieces that caught my eye included a small Clam Plate With Gold Starfish (2) perfect for small safety pins or small rings, and another sea-themed larger Bronze Coral Bowl (8) for additional color. There are a number of beautiful art pieces available at One Kings Lane, so many fun prints. I like to have some kind of photograph or art piece in our home to add color and life to each room. The abstract piece by Amy Donaldson, Playful Dance (4) caught my eye.

I’ve incorporated a few of my beauty loves right now as well including: Chanel Glossimers (5) for added shine and shimmer, Frederic Malle Carnal Flower (6) my favorite fragrance of the week (yes, it changes weekly), The Little Dictionary of Fashion (7) love the details in this one, various Dior Gel Shine Nail Polishes (9), Chanel Le Jour (10) adding this under regular moisturizer has helped my skin tremendously and Diptyque Baies (11) always a classic. West Elm Lacquered Trays (12) they are so versatile – they come in a number of colors and size options. I use the large one in our kitchen for our coffee bar area, one in our living room on our coffee table, and I have a number of square ones I use on my own vanity dresser and also in my home office.

Last but not least, my husband and I both love having fresh flowers in our home. We don’t always manage to get them on a weekly basis but it’s something we always look forward to. His favorites are tulips, mine right now are peonies. I’m loving the look of these Faux Peonies (13) for soft color.
After perusing all the lovely home decor accessories at One Kings Lane, I’m inspired to find a few new accent pieces to add to our home. For a few other fun collages, check out the dream vanities at Fab Over Forty and The Daily Nest.

For more inspiration be sure to check out One Kings Lane’s Home Decor Resource Guide. You can sign up to become a One Kings Lane member here.

 
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Sephora Formula X Wunderkind

June 12, 2014
If you visit a Sephora store soon a massive redesigned nail bar featuring their new Formula X is bound to catch your eye. It’s a hard-to-miss wall of color stocked with tester, pull out clear adhesives for swatches along with nail polish remover and cotton. I’ve featured Push the Limits Nail Lacquer and The System / Delete. Today I’m featuring a new shade that was released for summer Wunderkind Formula X ($10.50 for 12 ml/0.4 fl oz).

Wunderkind is a dark shimmery blue with a slight purple tint. It caught my eye at the store and I swatched it immediately. The first coat is very very sheer but the formula is smooth and easy to apply. The second coat transform the color into a full coverage smooth slightly milky blue pearl. I like that it’s a dark blue with a hint of purple but that it’s not so dark that it turns black on the nail. The blue actually shows through making it more true to what you see in the bottle.

Here it is on me with two coats along with the Formula X Base Coat and Top Coat. The manicure looked fresh through Day 5 without any tip wear or chipping (I took it off on day 5 to swatch other colors). Here’s quick snapshot of the brush as well – the white cap pulls off.

A few comparisons to other blues: Deborah Lippmann Ray of Light, Chanel Blue Satin, Chanel Bel-Argus, Guerlain Riviera (discontinued) and Chanel Blue Rebel (discontinued).

Overall love for the formula, wear time, color and in particular love the reasonable price point. Wunderkind ($10.50) is part of The Cut Summer 2014 collection. Available now at Sephora.
Have you tried anything from the Formula X line? What did you think?
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