YSL Gloss Voluptés ($32 each for 0.20 fl oz/6 ml) were released earlier at the beginning of the year. These are sheer lip glosses that have a super lush feel. The colors range from creams to shimmers. I played with them at Sephora on numerous occasions (hand swatching) and spent quite a bit of time deciding which ones to purchase. I picked out three shades:
Rose Satine 102 is a shimmery coral rose, the shimmer is ultra fine
Rose Jersey 202 is a pretty baby pink rose and has a smooth shimmer
Corail Gandoura 203 is a soft coral that’s super sheer, it has a glow finish with a subtle sheen
The YSL Gloss Voluptés come with a unique lip-shaped applicator which I find actually works for application and makes them fun to apply on the lips. These also come with the signature YSL lip scent, a soft candy and grapefruit/mango scent. The ones I picked are on the sheer side. They give a hint of color and for me, I like them best layered over a pencil or lipstick. A close up of the tubes show the lovely shimmery glow each color has.
Below, view of the brush tips (Chanel Secret on the nails)
Swatches:
Due to the sheerness you can probably get a very similar effect with MAC Lustreglasses or Chanel Glossimers. The YSL Gloss Volupté formula feels more hydrating on my lips with a more cushiony feel. I did not have time to pull anything from MAC or Chanel to compare, but I do have some from Fresh and Marc Jacobs Beauty. Below:
Marc Jacobs Overprotected and Heart Shaped (swatches here)
After testing these for almost over a month I can say thumbs up. For me they are more of a layering gloss or for super low-key days when I want just a hint of color. I have pigmented lips so these might be more pigmented on you than they are on me. I’m in love with the formula which I think has a super luxurious feel on the lips.
I bought mine at Sephora, but these are available at all YSL counters and retailers.
Have you tried the YSL Gloss Volupte? What are your favorite shades? Any other colors you think I should check out?
Tom Ford Beauty has released some exciting releases this fall. The first installment includes a new foundation called Traceless Perfecting Foundation ($80 for 1 fl oz, 15 shades) and a cover up Concealing Pen ($52 each, 6 shades). I met up earlier this week with the lovely Beauty Professor for lunch and some beauty shopping. We were thrilled to find both the Perfecting Foundation and Concealer Pens had arrived at the counters and immediately started playing with the new product (be sure to check her comprehensive swatches and descriptions here.)
Having both fallen in love with many things Tom Ford, our first question was, “are the shades of the new Traceless Perfecting the same as the Traceless and Traceless Stick?” I’ve been matched to both Bisque 4 and Natural 5 for the Traceless Stick and currently match Bisque 4 best. I’ve tried the original Traceless Foundation and while it gives a beautiful flawless coverage (especially with the Cream Foundation Brush which is amazing), and while it’s a lovely lightweight smooth finish foundation with beautiful coverage, I always found it slightly too dewy for my taste.
With the new Traceless Perfecting Foundation, I found myself torn between Bisque 4 and Natural 5. I tested both colors, one on each side of my face along the jawline. The artist and I felt I could go either way. I purchased Bisque 4 since Natural 5 pulled a bit more yellow and olive on my skin (but I got a sample of it just to test at home).
I’ve been testing both shades for a couple days. I’ll have a more detailed review with comparison swatches to other foundations I own but I have swatches of all the shades to share. These were taken with my iPhone and it was very bright yet a bit cloudy outside giving a slighty yellow/warm cast to the swatches. The best shot were the ones in the shade.
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Set One includes Cream 1, Ivory 2, Fawn 3, Bisque 4, Natural 5, Sable 6, Rosewood 6.5 and Tawny 7. All of these are yellow/olive with the exception of Rosewood 6.5 which is pink.
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Set Two includes Caramel 8, Sienna 9, Warm Almond 11, Chestnut 12, Buff 13, Linen 14 and Bare Beige 15. I added Bisque 4 as well since some of the higher numbers don’t correspond with darker shades like you might expect. Buff/Linen and Bare Beige have more pinkish tones compared to Ivory/Fawn and Bisque.
I’m overall really pleased with this new foundation. I had been contemplating the Traceless for quite some time due to the perfect coverage it gives but I’m glad I waited. The new Traceless Perfecting Foundation has a bit more coverage but still looks very natural. It has smooth coverage and evens out the skin tone and lasts quite well through warm humid weather, although Southern California is probably considered very mild compared to other areas.
More thoughts to come soon with a full detailed review, but after testing both Bisque and Natural, I’m happy I went with the Bisque (for Chanel I usually use the 30 foundations). Natural also is good match but leans just slightly olive and is a hair darker. Based on my sample that I’ve been testing I can say I really could have gone with either shade. The $80 price tag is very steep and I am relieved to report that I do love this foundation enough to justify the price.
For a quick comparison on textures of the different Tom Ford Foundations and the two shades I tested, here are the Bisque 4 and Natural 5 lined up with the Traceless Perfecting (new one), Traceless, and Traceless Stick. I think this shows the slightly dewy texture of the Traceless.
Note the liquids in Bisque 4 are lighter than the liquids in Natural 5. However, the stick in Bisque 4 is darker than the stick in Natural 5 (more swatches/review here).
The Traceless Perfecting Foundation comes with SPF15 and retails at $80 (this is the most I’ve ever spent on foundation, when I purchased the sticks they were priced at $78 and I think the prices just went up). The Traceless Perfecting Foundation comes in 15 shades, I’m glad to see a diverse range of colors and those with pink undertones will be happy to see some options that aren’t yellow-based.
For a limited time, L’Occitane’s best selling hand cream is available in a trio for $3 (normally $10) in this cute Hand Cream Pouch Set. It has travel sizes of:
Shea Butter Hand Cream 0.3 .oz, Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 0.3 .oz and Almond Delicious Hand Cream 0.3 .oz. (Note the regular hand creams are 1 oz.)
If you’re looking to stock up on L’Occitane favorites, be sure to check their Special Offers. Some other deals and codes to take note of, valid while supplies last:
Enjoy a travel set for $22 with any $45 Purchase, use code GETAWAY, includes travel sizes of Lavender Perfumed Sachet, Verbena Shower Gel, Peony Hand Cream, Bonne Mere Rose Soap, Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo (Valid 7/30 thru 8/19/2014)
Receive a travel ready set free with any $125 purchase, use code DIVINESUMMER, includes 3 Divine Cream Samples, Immortelle Essential Face Water, Rose et Reines Hand Cream, Jamsin & Bergamot mini Eau de Toilette, Divine Eyes (Valid 7/30 thru 8/19/2014)
Enjoy our Provencal jumbo sized shower gels free with any $40 purchase, use code JUMBO (Valid 7/30-8/19/2014)
Receive free tropical sandals with any $35 purchase, use code TROPICAL (Valid 7/31 thru 8/20/201)
Receive a free Ambre & Santal Shower Gel and Body Milk with any La Collection de Grasse Ambre and Santal Eau de Toilette Purchase, use code AMBRE (Valid July 30th thru August 19th 2014)
