Edward Bess has designed a new Ultra Slick Lipstick in Betty named for personal shopper Betty Halbreich, an emblem of style at Bergdorf Goodman since 1976
Urban Decay Naked Basics2 just launched today on Urbandecay.com (it will be available at other retailers later this fall)
Make Up For Ever launched their new Artist Shadows (over 200 shades), I quickly swatched a few in-store a couple days ago but didn’t have time to look in detail, the texture seems super soft and pigmented
Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick is a new formula that comes in over 20 shades, there are a number of stunning soft rose pinks, I have my eye on Fall in Rose, Baby Rose, and Golden Girl
MAC Prep + Prime Finishing Mist is supposed to be the regular Fix+ in upgraded packaging, I’ve been a huge fan of the regular Fix+, I hope the formula didn’t change too much (or at all really), if you’ve seen this, do you think it’s the same?
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate is Shiseido’s latest for anti-aging and skin smoothing, it claims to give your skin the ultimate glow in just one week, I’ll have to investigate and see if I can find a small sample
Bobbi Brown has a new limited-edition Smoky Nudes Eye Shadow Palette, I’ve found these to be hit or miss in the past with formulas, the colors look stunning from stock photos
Bobbi Brown Sandstone Shimmerbrick is a repromote with the Smoky Nudes collection, it is one of my favorites of all the Shimmerbricks, if you missed out before I highly recommend you check this one out
Bobbi Brown has four new Creamy Matte Lip Colors in Nude, Warm Nude, Soft Nude and Pink Nude, all of these colors look like they are right up my alley, although I’m not a fan of matte lips, I might make an exception if the colors are naturally flattering
To apply makeup, I’ve been using either a full length wall mirror from Ikea (similar here) or for close ups an older style Restoration Hardware countertop mirror (similar style here) that measures about 7 inches in diameter, both of which aren’t ideal due to lighting situations where our larger mirror is stored in our house and also because of the small size of the counter top mirror. I’ve been searching for quite some time for a good countertop mirror that is slightly larger than what I have that is sturdy and well designed with a silver steel or satin nickel finish. Having a simple classic look for household items is a must for me so finding the right mirror with the right design, size and overall look has been a challenge for me. When I received press information about the simplehuman Sensor Mirror options, the e-mail couldn’t have come at a better time, especially since I am a huge fan of simplehuman products for their simple, sleek and modern product designs. My favorites are their sensor soap dispenser and dish racks.
simplehuman has several sensor mirror options. The one I received for review is the regular Sensor Mirror ($200, 9.1 inches wide and 15.1 – 18.1 inches tall, approximately 3 lbs) – it’s the larger size option with an adjustable stand which allows you to extend the height. The mirror is adjustable as well so you can bevel it at different angles. These come with an automatic sensor at the top so the lights turn on when your face nears the mirror and stays on as long as your face is relatively close (within the sensor’s range).
The diagrams from simplehuman show the adjustable stand and how the mirror can be beveled:
The entire set contains the 5x round mirror, a USB power cable and outlet adapter and cleaning cloth with a limited 5 year warranty. The product description and benefits of the mirror include:
The tru-lux light system provides 600 lux and a color rendering index (CRI) of 90—more than twice as bright as the next best and more similar to natural sunlight.
The mirror features high-performance LEDs that are rated to perform like new after 40,000 hours—that’s an hour a day, every day, for more than 100 years so you never have to change a bulb.
The light recharges using a standard USB port or wall outlet. (One charge lasts up to five weeks.) No alkaline batteries are required.
There are no cords to clutter up your countertop and the mirror is easy to use anywhere.
The mirror is extremely well designed and also well made. The lighting is impressive and mimics natural sunlight without being blinding. My first impression upon testing this out was, “wow.” The magnifying power is simply incredible. I showed this to several friends and family and they were all incredibly impressed (male and female). Nobody I know gets excited about mirrors so I was really surprised by the reaction people had to this product. Reviews indicate that most everyone who has purchased this really loves this even though it’s really expensive. I love how sturdy the mirror is and the sleek and simple design is aesthetically pleasing.
The standard size mirror is designed for you to be able to see your entire face. After testing this, I felt that I could indeed see the entire face, but only when I was up close to the mirror within 4-6 inches of the surface. Seeing my entire face up close in that much detail was a little too uncomfortable, but this mirror has made a world of difference when it comes to eyes and lips. It’s great for tweezing brows and applying eye makeup. Applying eye liner and eye shadow is so much easier now that I can really see what I’m doing. Also applying mascara and curling lashes is easier now that I can see where to place the wands/tools better. It’s good for getting a precise lip as well. For face makeup this works, but I tend to step back and see how my blush and bronzer are applied from a distance to make sure it’s subtle and blended well.The sensor is good at sensing movement. However I found it turned off too quickly if I moved my head away to pick up something. I didn’t find it too troublesome to be an annoyance, but having an extended timer for a shut-off delay is an option I would have liked.
Left side unlit vs Right side with light on:
Without the light sensor on:
With sensor light on:
Cleaning cloth and charging tools, plug in area is at the base of the stand, I love the design so it’s really subtle and blends in well with the base. It’s great that this doesn’t require cords for use so there’s no messy look to it and your counter or desktop will remain clutter-free. One charge is supposed to last up to 5 weeks, but I haven’t had this long enough to see if it really does last that long.
There is also a clever on/off button located on the base so in case you need to move it but don’t want the sensor to keep flashing on and off as it gets close to objects, you can force turn it off:
Side views:
Some close ups of the lighting and magnifying power:
I’ve been using this for a week and now I don’t ever want to be without one. My brother already asked if he could have it if I ended up hating it. For me I love it. There’s no more squinting or straining eyes to see exactly where I’m putting my eye makeup on. I can apply mascara so much better now and see where to apply it precisely to my lashes. The $200 price tag is extremely steep for a mirror but it’s a quality product that is well designed and extremely well made. There’s nothing I’ve seen or tried that comes close to the design and quality. The lighting is bright and white so it doesn’t distort color like some lights can. If you’ve tried simplehuman products you know that everything is extremely well made. I am a huge fan of all the products I’ve tried from the line.
On pricing, for reference, the older Restoration Hardware mirror I have was around the $100 price range when I bought it several years ago – it was the only sturdy metal mirror I could find with a simple no-fuss sleek design. It has a regular mirror on one side and a magnified side on the other with a brushed nickel stand. For the simplehuman Sensor Mirror, I would probably be more willing to buy it at full retail price without hesitation if it were around the $150 range. At the $200 price, it’s a bit steep, I probably would have shopped around to see if I could find a way to save on the price or wait until there were double/triple points event. Still, the mirror is built with a sturdy base and is well constructed with unique details I would have never thought of.
One of the things I love about blogging is connecting with readers who are even more passionate about beauty, cosmetics and fragrances than I am. I’ve learned so much from others who have taken time out of their day to write me about their latest discoveries and loves. Clé de Peau Beauté is one brand that gets frequently mentioned in my inbox. I’ve avoided most of the items from the brand due to the high price points but after so many raves, I couldn’t help but finally check out the Luminizing Face Enhancers ($95 each for the compact+case, or $55 for just the refills). The Luminizing Face Enhancers are powder highlighters that come in a refillable prism-like covered gold mirrored case. There are currently four shades available in a pale white, silvery pink, gold and peachy-bronze.
I picked out #13 Sand Beige and #14 Delicate Pink at Neiman Marcus. The Luminizing Face Enhancers are finely milled super soft pressed powders each containing multiple shades of shimmer pressed together in a jewel-like pattern. It’s difficult to tell exactly how many different shades there are per compact, but there are at least four different colors pressed together. These come with a sheer veil of glitter overspray (which I’m not fond of) but once you dust it off you get a luminous powder underneath. Once applied on the skin the shimmer is visible but it provides a natural glow. I’ve applied on the cheeks, temples and eyes. These blend in with the skin extremely well. Some powder products can look like they just sit on the skin, but the Clé de Peau Beauté highlighter melds quite well giving a natural look.
For me these are too shimmery to apply all over the face, but they are not frosty. I like them as traditional highlighters. I would say the shimmer factor is light-medium, somewhere in between the shimmer of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders in Dim Light and Luminous Light, but with larger shimmer particles infused throughout.
#13 Sand Beige is my favorite. It’s the darkest option which might look more like a bronzer on fairer skins (anything lighter than a Chanel B20). On my medium olive skin the Clé de Peau Beauté #13 is the perfect natural golden honey highlight. It’s similar in color to Chanel Dentelle Precieuse not quite as shimmery as the Chanel (swatch comparisons below). The brush that comes in the compact is quite good, I’ve used it for touch ups, it’s soft and dense and picks up product well. I do wish it was bigger, but for a compact brush, it’s the best I’ve tried.
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#14 Delicate Pink is a cool-toned silvery pink on me. It’s on the pale side which contrasts with my olive skin. I’ve seen it on fairer skin tones and it makes the entire face glow. For me it’s something I use with a very light hand on the temples, on the nose, under brow bone (applied very softly) and it gives dimension to the face. It’s difficult to capture the luminous shimmer in photographs but this one gives the skin a perfect glow.
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Swatches below. The flash and light emphasized the shimmer particles, in real life they are more subtle on the face, I swatched these with a heavy hand to show the color and shimmer. When applied normally, the shimmer isn’t quite as pronounced as shown in the detail shot.
Many have reported these Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancers to be the best powder highlighters on the market. For me, there are so many different types of highlighters, I think finding the “best one” will depend on what you are looking for. Some highlighters offer intense shimmer or color like Mineralize Skinfinishes from MAC or Shimmer Bricks by Bobbi Brown. Others like Chanel Poudre Douce (discontinued shades like Rosee or Peche Tendre) or Dolce & Gabbana are highlighting powders that are designed to be use over the entire face. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders have a wide range of shimmer finishes and textures created for different skin tones to either warm up and bronze the skin, give a candlelit glow-from-within look, or create a diffused glow. There are also different skin types that look better with certain highlighters. There are highlighters that some will find enhance their pores, but on others that same product won’t. Depending on your skin tone, if you’re fair, certain shades will flatter you more than if you are darker.
So for me, when someone asks me “what is the best powder highlighter?” My answer would be “it depends.” I’ve been partial to Chanel, Edward Bess and Hourglass for highlighting powders. I’ve also always been a huge fan of MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes (even the frosty ones) for different looks.
To sum up my thoughts on the Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancers, I do think they are amazing highlighters. If you’re looking for a natural luminous glow that makes the skin radiate, adds dimension to the face, isn’t frosty and doesn’t emphasize pores, these fit the bill. They do come with a steep price tag which is why I’m reluctant to give a 100% glowing review. The quality of the product and packaging is there and I don’t see any other product on the market that can provide that same glow. The texture is finely milled and it glides onto the skin blending in perfectly. The $55 price tag for the refills is reasonable for me, but the $95 price for the powder + compact is just too much for me no matter how good the product is.
That being said, I’m very happy with both and I know I will be using both regularly. These are highlighters you have to try in person to really see how good the glow is. Have you tried Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancers? What did you think?
I hope everyone has been enjoying their weekend! I took a couple days off blogging to run errands, spend time with out-of-town guests, and took a trip to Beverly Hills to check out the new NARS Audacious Lipsticks (they are incredible). I also made a quick stop to the Edward Bess counter at Neiman Marcus and left with a couple goodies I’ve had on my to-buy list for ages. A few quick snapshots from Instagram over the past week or so, you can follow me @beautylookbook.
Some weekend reads and beauty news I’m loving:
Edward Bess will be launching his Hair Hero on QVC starting September 5th – Harper’s Bazaar
Digital Art Director at Barneys Erica Choi from @eggcanvas on Instagram launched an amazing blog, follow her! – Egg Canvas
A first look + swatches of the stunning Tom Ford Nude Dip Eye Color Quad – Temptalia
NARS Audacious Lipstick swatches of the nudes/neutrals in Jane, Julie, Anna, Barbara, Anita, Raquel, Brigitte and Vanessa – Makeup and Beauty Blog
Marc Jacobs Beauty has two new Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyls (Sheer) in Magic and Superstar ($28 each for 5 ml/0.16 fl oz). Magic is a sheer champagne gold nude shimmer and Superstar is a sparkling mauve pink with silvery shimmers. Both are very sheer like other shades in the same formula (reviews of Kissability, Heart Shaped and Overprotected). In case you haven’t seen the previous reviews and are new to Marc Jacobs lip glosses, the Lip Vinyl Sheers have a flexible sponge tip. There is a soft vanilla-cake scent to these but they have a slight cooling sensation and plump the lips. I found them gentle enough for my sensitive lips. The texture is smooth and shiny.
Magic applies virtually clear on my lips adding shine. I was hoping there would be a visible golden iridescent glow on the lips but on me it’s almost invisible. I expected Superstar to be really frosty based on what it looks like in the tube but it’s actually not. It’s a less frosted version of Chanel Blizzard Glossimer (which is a classic but very shimmery). I was surprised how pretty this one was.
Close ups and lip swatch of Magic, it’s a sheer gloss that will be nice to top lipsticks, but if you’re anything like me, you probably have plenty of sheer glosses in your arsenal:
I expected to fall in love with Magic but ended up liking Superstar much more. Even though these are intended to be sheer glosses I can’t help but wish they had more pigment. Still, I’m loving the look of Superstar on the lips.
Both are currently available now at Sephora for $28 each. Have you tried any of the Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinlys? What were your thoughts? Any favorites?
I have an obsession with clear makeup pouches and flat clutches, so when I discovered a brand called Truffle that combined the two into one product I was beyond thrilled. I fell in love with this clear one by Bobbi Brown which was part of a GWP one year, I haven’t been able to find anything similar that I liked enough to purchase (Make Up For Ever
has similar ones but you can’t buy them online). The Truffle pouches
come pretty close but with a different design twist which I love. Truffle carries a number of different flat pouches that range in size, design, color and shape. I was particularly smitten with the shape and size of the Small Clarity Clutch ($42). It measures 7 1/2” tall X 9 1/2” wide and is designed with a luxe textured leather trim and gold plated hardware, and it’s size is TSA approved making it the perfect companion for any carry-on. Truffle kindly sent a white one for review, I loved it so much I bought another one in grey.
The small Clarity Clutches are compact enough to fit the essentials for makeup: compact, mini hand cream, lipgloss, eyeshadow stick, eyeliner, mini perfume and a lipstick. The plastic case is well made so it’s thick and sturdy yet flexible. The leather trim is well designed, it has a textured surface that is also extremely sturdy and holds the shape of the bag well. I’ve found these really good for organizing accessories and makeup. The small size helps me keep a well edited makeup bag. Those who have seen past Inside My Bag posts know I tend to have an overpacked makeup bag (even on the go).
When it comes to my purses or totes, I like bags that are flat so they slip in easily and don’t bulk up my bag. I like that these keep everything slim and compact. Here’s the Small Clarity Clutch next to my Prada Saffiano Tote which measures approximately 8 1/2″H x 13″W x 5″D for size comparison with makeup essentials stored inside:
These are also great for the pool or beach to carry a few things with you. The clear pouch makes it easy to find things in your bag. Below is the Small White Clarity Clutch with beach and pool essentials tucked inside. For the beach the larger size would be more ideal to carry larger sunscreens, hair ties, a small comb etc.
Overall a huge thumbs up. Even though the $42 price tag seems a bit steep for a small makeup bag, they are extremely well made clutches – the quality is definitely there in the material and design. The leather is thick and sturdy and the hardware is also very good. You can find out more about Truffle on their website www.onetruffle.com. Also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for new on the latest releases, occasional promo codes and Truffle inspiration. There are a number of different pouch and clutch options to suit your personal taste.
I’d love to hear what your favorite makeup bags are. Do you have any favorites that are clear?
One clutch courtesy of Truffle for review consideration, the other clutch was purchased by me. For more information see my Disclosures.
I have exciting news for The Beauty Look Book readers. Lumira is offering a giveaway of a glass and travel candle of choice to one lucky winner. You can enter the contest via the Rafflecopter widget below. There will be up to four ways to enter (some entries will give you more entry points).
No Purchase is necessary to win.
Promotion Description: This is a Beauty Look Book Giveaway of 1 Lumira Signature Candle and 1 Travel Candle. One winner will be selected at random via the Rafflecopter widget. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Giveaway entries begin today August 13th and ends August 20th, 11:59 PM PST.
Eligibility: Open to entrants 18 years old or older. Open to entrants internationally.
There are up to four ways to enter, see terms and conditions in widget below:
For more information on Lumira and their candle collections, you can check out their website www.atelierlumira.com (my personal favorites are Tahitian Coconut and Persian Rose). Many thanks to Lumira for this kind offer 🙂 Good luck!
