I shared my personal favorite 2014 beauty discoveries earlier this week. Today I have one last roundup post to share this year which includes 2014’s most-loved blog posts by you! Here are the most popular posts on The Beauty Look Book from this year (ranked in order):
Charlotte Tilbury’s holiday collection consists of a mix of new and previously released products for The Supermodel Look. She has a couple pre-made sets where you can purchase all the items in one kit for the entire look but you can also buy the items individually. I decided to purchase most of the items separately and have swatches and thoughts to share with you today.
Charlotte Tilbury’s collection is my favorite out of all the holiday releases. The colors and combination is quite stunning with the mix of a bronze-smokey eye and nude pink lips. Here are the items I ordered:
Fallen Angel Luxury Palette ($65, limited-edition) is a really pretty eyeshadow quad with a soft champagne, cool silvery mauve taupe, warm shimmery bronze and a satiny black. I previously compared this to Chanel’s Rêve D’Orient. I have a slight preference for the Chanel, but the Charlotte Tilbury is just as stunning and more cool-toned. I’ve been wearing this a lot and I like how easy it is to use. The four colors combined are pure genius and I like that you can wear this everyday but dress it up for evening. The texture is soft with a slightly creamy texture. The colors adhere well to the lids, blend nicely, layer really well and last long. I give it a huge thumbs up. I think it is different enough from the Chanel to justify both.
Sex on Fire Cheek to Chic Swish and Pop Blush ($40, permanent) is a luminous blush with a mix of beige and rose and tan. It has a lighter beige-pink on the outer rim with a darker tan-rose in the middle. I’ve accumulated several of Charlotte Tilbury’s blushes and have been really impressed. The texture is super soft with really good pigment. It glides on the skin nicely and layers well if you want more color. The way you are supposed to apply these is to take a brush and swish the outside lighter color and apply to the cheeks. Then take the inner darker color and pop some more color for added depth and pigment. I can’t always get my brush to just get the outside or inside color, so I like to swirl my brush in the entire compact before applying.
Confession K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick ($32, limited-edition) is the perfect color to get Kylie Jenner lips. It’s a good medium-toned nude pink with color. There is a slight hint of shimmer which prevents it from looking flat, but on my lips it’s primarily a cream. The coverage is full and the texture is very creamy. It is medium-to-thick which makes it adhere really well to the lips and I found it lasted quite long without any lipliner. I hope she considers making this permanent.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Lip Lustre ($22, limited-edition) is a light neutral pink beige with silvery champagne shimmer. I really love this lip gloss. The color is the prettiest light pearly beige. It works well alone for me, although I think most people will prefer this one layered over a lipstick. It has a sheer to medium coverage that adds the prettiest shimmery nude sheen to the lips.
Pillowtalk Lip Cheat Lip Pencil ($22, permanent) is a rosy neutral lipliner that matches Confession lipstick. I’m not a lipliner wearer much these days but so many have raved about it I had to check it out. It’s a good long-lasting creamy shade that you can use to line and fill the lips for added volume.
More photos and swatches:
A few quick comparison swatches to some other Charlotte Tilbury nude lipsticks (a more detailed feature on all these shades to follow soon):
If you’re looking for one brand that will give you a complete look for the holiday or new year (or year round) the items in Charlotte Tilbury’s The Supermodel Look is a good one to check out. I researched reviews on a number of blogs before purchasing the items sight unseen and the shades look great on all different skin tones.
I like every single item in the collection and I think they are worth every penny. I could have skipped the lipliner since I rarely wear liners these days, but Pillowtalk is a good nude pink.
Do note the best items in the look are limited-edition. I would recommend ordering soon if you’re interested. The Confession Lipstick and Fallen Angel Quad have sold out numerous times on multiple sites but the good news is that many have restocked over the past week. You can find Charlotte Tilbury Beauty online at Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman, Beautylish, Selfridges and Charlotte Tilbury.
Did you buy any of the holiday items from Charlotte Tilbury?
What was your favorite holiday collection this year?
2014 has been a very exciting year and I feel incredibly blessed in so many ways. I am grateful for each and every one of my readers. Without your passion for all things beauty this blog would not be a possibility for me to keep up. Each week I am touched by the kindness some of you have shown through e-mail and comments. I think the internet and social media is amazing with the way it enables us to connect with each other across the world. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for following me through this blog 🙂
I have a roundup of beauty highlights in 2014. There have been so many great beauty releases and innovations this year. I think the holiday sets this season were the best ones I’ve seen to date. I’ve linked previous reviews of my favorite beauty discoveries for 2014 below. Please let me know what your top beauty discoveries were as well, I’d love to hear what your favorite picks were!
Marc Jacobs Beauty The Skyliner Set – best eyeliner for unique color selection and long-lasting formula (in the top three for best holiday set)
This year marked the year for a number of brand launches and store openings. New beauty brand launches in the US that I was really excited about included Gucci Beauty and Charlotte Tilbury. A number of brands added new stores and boutiques. Diptyque on Larchmont opened in Los Angeles. In Venice Beach Caudalie and Hourglass Cosmetics opened up boutiques. Another highlight for me was finally visiting the NARS Boutique on Melrose (although it opened a few years ago).
Additional highlights include a couple special features for The Beauty Look Book. In January I was really excited to be featured on Barneys New York – The Window. In March of this year I was beyond thrilled to discover that InstyleUK included me in their Top 50 Websites (thank you!!).
The best thing for me this year though was being able to connect with some bloggers and YouTubers in person (in beauty and fashion). Meeting them was incredibly inspiring. There are few things that give me that warm fuzzy feeling like seeing women support other women and I value their friendship, advice, encouragement and positive outlook on life.
I can’t believe that this is the last week of 2014. I will have a year-end roundup/review shortly with some thoughts and reflections soon. For now I wanted to share a few things I’m loving right now. As always I would love to hear what you’ve been loving too!
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes are a current favorite. It has the perfect mix of glow and pigment in one compact. I’ve been reaching for Luminous Flush lately which brightens the complexion and adds a nice healthy glow with the soft shimmer. Review + swatches here and here.
I’m a sucker for cute notebooks and Vianel has small Moleskin Pocket Notebooks that you can have personalized (for now the personalization is free of charge). I like that they give you a choice of engraving on the front or back of the notebook.
Tom Ford Lips & Boys in Peter is a pretty neutral nude shimmer I’ve been really pleased with. Based on reader comments, many of you seemed to like this one most in my recent post here. I like it so much that I bought a backup.
Marc Jacobs O’Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara is seriously good. When it comes to mascara it takes a lot to impress me, most mascaras turn grey on my lashes once they dry or smudge or flake. The Marc Jacobs O’Mega volumizes and separates my lashes without any clumping or flaking. It holds the curl without looking crunchy. Once it dries the color remains a true black. I will definitely be repurchasing it.
So many have raved about the Aesop Parley Seed Cleansing Masque. I have a few loves from Aesop for body products but many of the facial skincare products have a really strong earthy and herbal fragrance which I cannot tolerate. I decided to give this a try and am thoroughly impressed. This mask is amazing. It is gentle on the skin but really works to remove impurities from the pores. What I like about the Aesop mask is that it seems to be perfect for sensitive skin. It has a soothing feel once applied. There’s no tingly or burning feeling. If you have super sensitive skin and want a good clarifying/cleansing mask I highly recommend looking into this one. It has a natural earthy scent but it’s not too strong and actually quite soothing.
With the dry weather I’ve been exploring more in hand creams. I’ll have a roundup of all the ones I’ve been testing later this week. One new discovery of mine is the Eve Lom Hand Cream. For those who cannot tolerate highly fragranced hand lotions this is a good one. It has no added fragrance but still has a nice super lightweight naturally clean scent. It has lightweight airy texture that moisturizes well and absorbs quickly into the skin. A more detailed review to come soon.
For the home, I’ve been obsessed with Diptyque Figuier. In my opinion this is the best fig candle that I’ve tried (it beats Henri Bendel and Jo Malone, although those are very good too). It’s a good holiday candle that gives a warm and cozy feel to the home.
Last but not least, I’ve been loving the Faux Fur Throw from Williams-Sonoma Home (used in the background of the photo above). It’s super soft and thick and warm.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I have my third holiday giveaway launching today. I ordered some extras of the Tom Ford Lips & Boys and have one 3-piece set to giveaway which includes: Flynn, William, Holden + a Tom Ford case to go along with them.
To enter, simply login to the Rafflecopter widget and perform any of the tasks provided. Entries will be collected today 12/27/2014 through 01/02/2015 at 11:45 PM (Pacific Time (US & Canada). One winner will be selected at random after the entry period ends. Please refer to the terms and conditions listed in the widget for more information. All entrants 18 years or older are eligible to enter, it is an international giveaway. Internet entries must be made by the entrant through the Rafflecopter widget in this post, no exceptions will be made. Please note I cannot create entries for anyone and comments to this post will not be considered valid entries. After the giveaway ends, one winner will be announced on the widget in this post be contacted by me directly via e-mail.
The latest addition to the Elizabeth and James Nirvana line is the Solid Perfume Compact ($48 for 3.9 g / 0.14 oz). I’m a huge fan of the Nirvana Black in both the Eau De Parfum Spray and Mini Rollerball version (previous review can be found here). It has a mix of violet, sandalwood, vanilla making it a warm deep scent I like for date nights and going out. The solid perfume comes in a small but very sturdy mirrored compact. It has the signature Elizabeth and James Nirvana packaging in either black or white with the gold edging. The compact itself is quite beautiful. It comes with a soft black protective pouch you can store it in before placing it into a clutch or pouch if you carry it on-the-go.
The scent of the Nirvana Black Solid is identical to the Eau de Parfum versions although it has a slightly softer feel and not quite as strong throw. It’s still noticeable and lasts just as long as the liquids (at least in the few days I’ve tested it). I think it’s perfect for touch ups and the subtle nature of the solid makes it where you don’t have to worry about your fragrance being overwhelming if you apply in public.
For size reference, in the palm of my hand:
The Solid Compact shown below next to the 1 oz Eau de Parfum Spray and the Nirvana White and Black mini 0.24 oz rollerballs (previously Beauty Insider 100 point exclusives, but you can buy them for a limited time as a Rollerball Set for $20 at Sephora)
I like all three versions, but am slightly partial to the mini rollerballs because they are so cute and easy to carry around with me. Perfume is something I usually forget in the mornings so having something I can have with me in my purse to spray on in the car is really handy for me. The Solid Perfume is cased in a beautiful compact which makes applying perfume a really nice experience. If you’re new to the Elizabeth and James Nirvana line I highly recommend looking into the Mini Rollerball Duo as soon as you can – it’s a great way to try both fragrances at a fraction of the price for the full sized bottles.
The Elizabeth and James Solid Perfumes in Nirvana Black and Nirvana White retail for $48 each and are both limited-edition. Right now they exclusive for purchase to VIB/VIB Rouge Members on Sephora.com but will be available for everyone to purchase online starting next week and expected to be available in stores starting January 2015.
The Elizabeth and James Solid Perfume was provided as a press sample for review consideration. All other items purchased by me, roller ball minis redeemed by me with my own Sephora Beauty Insider Points.
Tom Ford launched 50 shades of clutch-sized lipstick last month with the Lips and Boys collection as an online exclusive for a very short period of time. Ordering the colors I wanted was a bit tricky for me since many of the colors sold out on different sites almost instantly. They are making a comeback though, while supplies last, online now at Nordstrom, Saks and Bloomingdales. They are expected to launch again on December 26th at select Tom Ford counters and boutiques, also online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman. I have my neutral picks to share with you along with swatches and thoughts.
The Tom Ford Lips & Boys are clutch-sized lipsticks priced at $32 each for 0.07 oz/2 g. They are in between the sizes of the full sized Lip Colors and baby gift with purchase Lip Colors. For size reference here are all three options lined up side by side.
Full Size is .1 oz / 3 g priced at $50 each
Lips & Boys are 0.07 oz / 2 g priced at $32 each
Baby Gift with Purchase is 0.03 oz / 1 g
After playing with the shades for several weeks I can say that my overall impressions are positive. I think the lip colors are the strong point of Tom Ford’s beauty line and have been impressed with pigment, coverage and feel ever since the first launch back in 2011. The Lips & Boys have two different finishes. There are shimmery shades and then there are cream shades. Some of the creams have a tiny bit of shimmer in the tube but on the lips they apply more like a true cream. Pigments range from sheer to medium to full depending on color. Closeups and arm swatches below:
Photographing 15 lipsticks on one arm was a bit tricky because of my arm curve and also because many of the colors have this natural glossy sheen. I have several shots to try and capture the colors and show you the difference between the nudes:
Close ups and lip swatches with descriptions of each shade:
Addison is a creamy full coverage medium neutral pink, the coverage is perfection, Addison is reported to be a repromote of Pink Dusk – I find Addison about a 1/2 shade darker than Pink Dusk
Alexander is a full coverage bright pink with cool tones, on my lips it pulls very blue, this one emphasizes dry patches and lip lines
Beau is a full coverage creamy nude, it’s almost flesh-tone on me, it’s reported to be a dupe of Blush Nude, in the tubes Beau is slightly more pinkish, Blush Nude is a tiny bit lighter and more beige
Cary is a full coverage deep mauve pink, it pulls brighter on my lips
Flynn is a baby pink with medium coverage
Henry is full coverage shimmering brown, on my lip/complexion it pulls very orange
Ian is a sheer shimmery light pink nude
Orlando is a sheer frosted mauve nude tan
Patrick is a bright medium coverage coral pink, texture was patchy on this one
Peter is a shimmering medium coverage neutral pink with pale champagne shimmers
Rory is sheer shimmering pale gold, it goes on patchy if your lips aren’t well prepped
William is a medium coverage shimmering warm nude peachy pink, this is reported to be a repromote of Pink Dune, I don’t find them similar, Pink Dune is more beige and glossy, William is a lot warmer almost peachy gold by comparison
Julian is a full coverage medium cool pink
Luca is a medium to full coverage coral with contrasted pale champagne frost mixed in
Olivier is a medium coverage cool pale pink
Swatching 15 lipsticks was extremely harsh on my lips with all the wiping and re-applying so some of the swatch photos may look a bit dry. I found that the shimmery shades have a high level of pale frost in them which ended up emphasizing lip lines with a camera flash or super dry lips. I think prepping the lips and making sure they are hydrated is key – but I do think extra moisture is needed right now with the dry winter weather. The creams performed the best for me with the exception of Patrick which I found applied patchy and uneven (it took extra work). Still with the creams you need a well hydrated or smooth lip because the pigment is rich and creamy with full coverage.
My favorite shades include William, Peter, Addison, Ian, Orlando and Luca. I personally don’t like Alexander, Julian & Olivier because cool-toned pinks just don’t work well with my skin although they are very pretty pinks. I had application issues with Rory and Patrick (at least straight from the tube). Henry for some reason turns very orange on me.
Overall my thoughts are thumbs up on most of the colors. The clutch size is just so adorable – I can never resist a mini. The price point is still a bit steep but I have an easier time justifying $32 vs $50 on a lipstick (even if the size is small).
If you’re not able to see these in person before purchasing, I highly recommend researching swatches and reviews online. I won’t have time to do comparison swatches but there are many resources that have helpful reviews you can find on other blogs. The Tom Ford Beauty discussion thread on Specktra.net is extremely helpful, many have chimed in on their thoughts, added swatches, photos and have additional shopping tips.
If any of these interest you at all I recommend you order sooner than later because I think it’s a good assumption that these will sell out very quickly. You can find the Tom Ford Lips & Boys online now at Nordstrom, Saks and Bloomingdales. Available for pre-order at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Expected to launch at Tom Ford counters, boutiques and online this week on December 26th.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. I will be taking a few days off from the blog to enjoy time with loved ones. Merry Christmas from me to you!
