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2014

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NARS Tech Fashion Lipgloss Coffret

November 26, 2014

NARS has so many beautiful holiday gift sets this year. So far I’ve managed to limit myself to one. I ordered the NARS Tech Fashion Lipgloss Coffret ($39 for a set of 4 mini glosses, 0.12 oz/4 ml each). I’m a major sucker for minis and the lip gloss set was too cute to pass up. The colors don’t have names but are labeled with numbers:

  • Shade I is a super sheer sparkling light peach with silver flecks
  • Shade II is a mix of rose and bronze with gold and silver sparkles, also very sheer
  • Shade III is a cool plum orchid with silver flecks
  • Shade IV is a soft red with a hint of shimmer

Left to right, I, II, III, IV

Shade I and II are both very sheer but still show up on my lips. I think these will be better layered over lipstick if you want a more visible gloss look. Shade III and IV are both medium in pigment. All the colors have some degree of shimmer, I and II are more shimmery, while III and IV are not quite as sparkly on the lips. As far as I can tell there is no detectable scent or fragrance in the glosses. The finish is ultra glossy but not too wet looking. Lasting power is average. They adhere well to the lips but won’t last the entire day without touchups.

These come with an angled sponge tip applicator.

Swatches are shown below applied on the arm with a couple swipes. Lip swatches are also straight from the tube, applied with the sponge tip:

A few comparisons to other colors for reference:

Set 1 with Shade I and II:
Bite Beauty Mix n Mingle Lush Fruit Lip Gloss in Papaya
MAC Cremesheen Glass in Romantic Overture
NARS Lip Gloss in Sweet Revenge
Surratt Lip Lustre in Ensoleille
NARS Lip Gloss in Supervixen (review + swatched)

Set 2 with Shade III and IV:
Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Violet and Orchid
Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Distinction and Seduction (lip swatched)
Burberry Lip Gloss in Oxblood

I have more than enough gloss to last 20 lifetimes but I think this one is a winner. It has a good range of colors to suit a number of needs. The small sizes means I will be able to use them up easily within the next few months and not have to worry about them going bad. I’m a sucker for minis and I’m thrilled with this one. I love each and every shade in the collection which is rare for me when it comes to sets. It is limited-edition for holiday so once the sets sell out, they’re gone.

I give it a huge thumbs up. If you’ve been eyeing this one, you might want to hold off until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to check for deals. I’ll have a roundup in a couple days on deals posted on the blog.

The NARS Tech Fashion Lipgloss Coffret retails for $39. It’s available at Nordstrom, Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Narscosmetics.com.


Did you get any of the NARS holiday sets? Any of them worth splurging for? They look so tempting and I’m trying to resist.

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Uncategorized

Dior Vernis in Lili #121

November 25, 2014

Dior released four new Vernis Nail Polishes in Lili, Star, Diorette and Spring ($25 each) with the launch of the Rouge Dior Baumes. I bought all four shades and have Lili #121 to share with you today. Lili is a cream beige nude with a very slight hint of pink undertone. Many nudes are sheer or have a difficult-to-work-with formula requiring three coats. Lili is one of the most pigmented nudes I’ve ever swatched before. The first coat will look a bit uneven, but it levels out to the perfect nude with the second coat. As Mostly Sunny noted in her review, finding a flattering nude polish can be challenging. My recent swatch testing with Chanel Intention was a fail for my skin tone. Dior Lili on the other hand is a different shade of nude and naturally flattering. It’s not too pale, not too dark and has enough pink in it to prevent it from looking yellowish.

Swatches below with two coats, this week I used Deborah Lippman Rehydrating Base Coat and Chanel Top Coat in conjunction with Dior Lili (my nail care favorites rounded up here).

My order of nail wheels finally arrived (yay!) so I have some comparisons for you, both sets are the same colors, just different lighting.

Shown on the wheel:

Christian Louboutin Nudes in Sweet Charity and Just Nothing
Marc Jacobs Runway Shades in 9 to 5 and Klute (reviewed here)
Burberry Nude Pink (swatched on hand here)
OPI Don’t Pretzel My Buttons
Chanel Django (discontinued)
Tom Ford Sugar Dune (discontinued, review)
Dior Charnelle (discontinued, review)
Dior Yacht (review here)
Dior Incognito (swatched here)

Even though I have a lot of nudes, I’m really happy with Dior Lili. I would say it’s pretty close to Burberry Nude Pink, the Dior is just a bit lighter in color and easier to apply. If you already own Charnelle, you might find it looks identical on the hands although Charnelle is sheerer in formula.

If you’ve seen my previous reviews on Dior nail polishes, you know I’m a huge fan of the formula for smooth application and high shine finishes. Lili #121 is no exception. If you’re in the market for a pale nude that isn’t too pale or beige, this one is worth looking into.

You can find Dior Lili at all Dior counters and beauty boutiques. It is listed as a limited-edition color but it looks like you can still find it easily now. Available online at Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Dior.com.

What’s your perfect nude nail polish?

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Uncategorized

NudeStix #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit

November 24, 2014

NudeStix has released a few holiday sets this year, today I have the #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit ($49 for 3 x 1.41g/0.05 oz) to share with you. It has three Magnetic Eye Colors in Gilt, Twilight and Night along with a compact sharpener, all cased in a limited-edition tin. You can also purchase each of the shades in the set individually for $24 each at all NudeStix retailers, but the trio set is currently exclusive to Sephora.

The three shades in the set:

  • Gilt – a warm shimmery golden beige
  • Twilight – a silvery taupe bronze mix
  • Night – a super intense black

I reviewed the couple of the Eye Pencils back in July. The Magnetic Eye Color pencils surpass the Eye Pencils in pigment and lasting power. They are longwearing eye color pencils with a creamy texture that glide on lids easily. There are different colors to shade, highlight or define and once the pencils set, they will not budge. These have a nice creamy texture that blends nicely with the fingers. For the lighter shades Gilt and Twilight, I like to apply straight onto the lid from the pencil and then either smudge or blend with the fingers. The darker shade Night is best when smudged with a soft brush for me (I like MAC #239).

According to NudeStix, the Magnetic Eye Color pencils are ideal for oily lids. The formula is waterproof and after testing these, I can say that they did last all day for me and did not budge at all, not even Night.

Close ups and some swatches:

There are a number of creamy pencil shadow sticks I’ve reviewed from different brands. I’m really impressed with the long-wear quality many brands have been releasing. Formulas are improving and lasting power is getting better. The NudeStix Magnetic Eye Colors are in between Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks and Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pops. I would say the Laura Mercier is more creamy in texture with softer shimmer and slightly softer pigment. Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pops are more glitzy and shimmery but have pigment that is just as intense as the Nudestix.

I have three sets of color comparisons:

NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Hollywood Land
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Golden (discontinued)
_________________

Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Moonriver (discontinued)
By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Ombre Mercure #15
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Moonlight (review + eye look)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Suspect (from Naked2)
_________________

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Tuxedo (on the eyes here)
Chanel Stylo Yeux in Black Shimmer
_________________
The colors in the NudeStix #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit are classics that are easy to combine for a no-fuss look. I’m really impressed with the lasting power and pigment. Some creamy pencils disappear on the lids once you blend them out, but the NudeStix doesn’t disappear on my lids. Given that these are classic neutrals, you may find duplicates or colors with similar effects. You may want to shop your stash, but I give these a thumbs up.
The NudeStix #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit is limited-edition and exclusive to Sephora this year, if you miss out or don’t like all the colors, you can buy the shades individually at Sephora and Space NK (they are part of the permanent line).
The NudeStix products were provided free of charge for review consideration.
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Fragrance

Lumira Paradisium Collection

November 24, 2014

Lumira Paradisium Collection c/o, Scarf by Nordstrom, Bracelet by Tiffany T, Clutch by Truffle c/o, Chanel Card Case

Australian-based home fragrance candle designer Lumira has just released new fragrance and body items in their Paradisium Collection. There is an Eau de Parfum ($90 AUD, 50ml/1.7fl.oz), Candle ($40 AUD, 180g/6.3oz) and Hand & Body Cream ($30 AUD, 100ml/3.3oz), each are exquisite and unlike anything else I’ve ever tried. Lumira kindly sent me samples to try and I’m head over heels in love with the Eau de Parfum. Description from Lumira:

“The Paradisium signature eau de parfum opens with the freshness of Bergamot, Grapefruit and Lemon,
developing into a luscious heart of Fig Nectar and Guava before settling with Vetiver, Sea Moss and Cedarwood. Lumira’s Paradisium Collection pays homage to Earth’s natural abundance, seducing with notes of luscious green fig intertwined with fresh bergamot to produce a light, sophisticated fragrance for man or woman, evocative of a verdant Mediterranean nirvana.”

The Eau de Parfum is a wonderful refreshing and bright scent. The mix of all the notes is really incredible. There is a hint of fig which I adore in candles and shower gels but have never been able to wear in a perfume until now. I’ve found scents like fig to be good for the home, but not wearable. Lumira Paradisum is perfect. The mix of cedar wood and vetiver helps tone down the sweetness and gives it depth and edge. There are bursts of citrus with the Grapefruit and Lemon which make this a fresh lightweight scent. It’s not too youthful nor is it too mature, it’s right in between and although I do believe picking a fragrance is an extremely personal depending on tastes, mood, age, gender, Lumira Paradisium seems to be a fragrance that I feel can suit many. 

I would have never thought the mix of Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Fig Nectar, Guava, Vetiver, Sea Moss and Cedarwood would be a good mix. It seems extremely complex and complicated with so many different notes combined. Paradisium is a complex scent but it’s blended perfectly in a way that it’s not overpowering at all. The strength of the Eau de Parfum is really really good, lasting all day and into the evening.

I found the scent of the Body Cream and Candle to be identical to the Eau de Parfum. The Hand and Body Cream is luxuriously moisturizing but not greasy. It has Shea Butter and Macadamia Seed Oil. It makes the hands feel very smooth. I haven’t used it on the body yet, mainly because it’s so incredible on the hands and I want to make it last.

The Paradisium Candle comes cased in a matte ebony black jar with a gold interior. It’s quite luxe. I found it took about 10 minutes of burn time for the initial burn before I could smell the scent fill the room. There’s something classic about the black jar and subtle glossy embossed lettering that makes this very elegant looking. It makes a good decorative accent to the home without being distracting.
Paradisium is more of a spring fragrance for me, but I still think it’s perfect for right now. In Southern California we are wondering if winter will ever arrive. Our summer came very late, it seems winter is stalling here as well – not that I’m complaining. All three items in the new collection are winners. I hope they are not limited-edition because I know I will be burning through the candle very soon and need to replenish. 
You can find Lumira products on atelierlumira.com (they do ship internationally). Additional stockiest listed here. Have you tried Lumira before? If so, what are your favorites?
Many thanks to Lumira for sending me samples for review.
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Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Guide: For Those Who Already Have Virtually All Things Beauty-Related

November 23, 2014

I’m usually really good at finding gifts for close friends and family. I like finding new things for people to try in beauty, food, home and various accessories. I do have a few friends who are a bit more challenging to shop for. Many of my friends are beauty lovers themselves, these are women very much in-the-know with all the latest and greatest so they own virtually all the cool things beauty-related. I’ve put together a gift guide for the beauty lover who already owns virtually all things beauty, but these really could suit a number of different tastes. I do have some friends who like beauty items but aren’t really into them. Here are some options for them as well.
  1. Charlotte Tilbury Holiday has literally just launched in the US, chances might be that your friend might not have these yet, the Fallen Angel Eyeshadow Quad and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds Lipgloss look amazing.
  2. Diptyque has a Full Sized Photophore + Feu De Bois Set this year, I’ve featured some photophores before, they are usually a boutique exclusive, but for the first time you can get these at Diptyque counters like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, any of the three new holiday scents in Spice, Winter and Pine are beautiful as well (review here) and would make good gifts even if they are duplicates of what someone already owns these scents.
  3. Gray Malin makes some really fun iPhone cases (5, 5S and 6 options) with some of his amazing photos printed on them, I have the pink umbrellas one and really love it, I’m constantly asked about it from random strangers.
  4. 2015 Desk Calendars are always a nice gift, this Sugar Paper Black and Gold version is super chic but simple and elegant.
  5. A super soft scarf is always a welcome gift, I adore the Nordstrom Tissue Weight Wool + Cashmere blends for myself, but I’ve given at least one as a holiday gift every year for many years, they come in a multitude of colors.
  6. Tatcha Deep Hydration Lifting Mask is the ultimate luxurious gift for the skin, I’ve purchased several boxed sets in the past and split them with friends to try and they send me selfies with the mask on (also with raves). You can purchase individual packets or a set of four. It’s also available in a number of holiday gift sets and travel sets.
  7. Kate Spade has a number of coaster sets during the holiday like this Silver Street Set of 4. They are fun to pair with a bottle of wine or champagne.
  8. Truffle just released some new colors for clutches. There is a new Nude, Black and limited-edition Metallic Rose Gold for holiday. (There are new color additions for the Clarity Clutches too.)
  9. Tory Burch has a number of metallic Rose Gold and Silver stocking stuffers. This Measuring Tape is just too cute. The Lipstick Case and Cheers Key FOB also look really fun.
  10. Garance Dore Stationary is always a hit when I send out cards. The card set or notepad set can make easy no-fuss gifts.
  11. Smythson makes some of the most luxurious leather covered notebooks. The pink Inspiration and Ideas or navy Notes books are classic and chic.
  12. For the coffee lover, Nespresso machines are amazing. The year the Pixie Machines came out, I purchased four (one for myself and my husband, three as gifts). The new Inissia Espresso Machine is more compact and modern looking. It is perfect for small spaces and the espresso lover who is particular about flavor and intensity.
  13. Clare V Flat Clutches are always a chic and fun option to give as a really nice splurgy gift.
  14. Urban Decay Naked on the Run was just released online last week, it’s not yet available in stores, so if you have a beauty-lover friend, this one might not have made their radar yet.
  15. This Fashion Memoires Book Set can make a nice addition for the home, coffee table or workspace decor. I have many of these book sets on my wish list and have been slowly adding more and more fashion books into my collection.
Shop more ideas:

Also check out:
What do you usually get friends or family who already own almost all things in the beauty world? Or who maybe aren’t beauty lovers at all? I’d love to hear your ideas. I’m always looking for creative options that are different and new.
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Base Makeup Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide

November 21, 2014

The latest foundation innovation from Laura Mercier is her new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation. She’s well known for her “Flawless Face” concept which includes four easy steps to achieving the most natural and smooth complexion for your skin type. The main steps include Prime, Cover, Conceal and Set. I used to use the Tinted Moisturizer religiously many years ago when I was in college with near-perfect skin. These days my face needs more than sheer coverage. I have some acne scars and areas I need medium to full coverage, but I still want something that looks natural. The new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide offers medium to full coverage that looks like skin. It comes in 24 different shade options with a multitude of undertones which made me very excited.

I had an appointment with a Laura Mercier artist last month to tested the new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide. The artist swatched several shades of the foundation along my jawline and on other areas of my face to find a good match. The foundation comes in a sleek tube that requires shaking to mix the formula inside. It’s very fluid but blends nicely on the skin to give medium coverage. If you try this at the counter, you will need to smooth it out with a finger to see how it wears on your skin – the color adjusts as you blend. I was matched to Honey. The foundation is designed to offer 12 hours of wear. It’s described as humidity-proof, sweat-proof, water resistant, oil-free, non-comedogenic, non-greasy and non-drying. It’s formulated to be suitable for all skin types (including sensitive skin). I found that it worked well with my sensitive acne-prone skin.

Since it had been a while since I had used any of the Laura Mercier foundations, the artist walked me through the Flawless Face process as a refresher.

  1. After cleansing and moisturizing my face, she used the Radiance Primer to prep the skin. There are multiple types of primers. My main concern was that I wanted a medium to full coverage foundation but didn’t want it to look too matte. The Radiance Primer was suggested to give a glow-from-within look.
  2. Next she followed with a thin layer of the Tinted Moisturizer in Sand. For good skin days she recommended the Tinted Moisturizer all over and then using a more pigmented foundation on areas I needed more coverage. She used the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide in Honey on the forehead and cheeks for more coverage.
  3. For spot coverage and under the eye brightening, she mixed the two shades of the Secret Camouflage Concealer in SC-3. Concealer was set under the eyes with the Secret Brightening Powder.
  4. The final step was to set with the Loose Setting Powder in Translucent (a classic that I’ve never stopped using).

At home, the same Flawless Face look was easy for me to replicate. I added some color to the cheeks for a natural glow with the Matte Radiance Baked Bronze Powder in Bronze 02. For the eyes, I’ve been layering the cream shadow Caviar Stick Eye Colors. Three easy-to-use colors for a classic no-fuss look include Rosegold, Amethyst and Tuxedo. Rosegold highlights the entire lid naturally Amethyst gives a nice medium contour and is layer able for a natural or smokey look. Tuxedo doubles as a smokey liner. All the shades are blendable and layer well together. For the lips, a thin layer of the Lip Glacé in Pink Pop brightens the face with a sheer wash of color.

Above: Radiance Foundation Primer, Spiced Rose Creme Lip Color, Tinted Moisturizer in Sand, Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide in Honey, Lip Glace in Orchid, Bare Baby, Pink Pop and Nectar, Matte Radiance Baked Powder 02, Secret Brightening Powder and Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold

What I used at home for a flawless face with a very natural look:

I’ve been really pleased with the way the Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation in Honey wears.  At first swatch I thought it would be too warm but it blends in flawlessly with my skin. The warmth in it adds a bit of color to my face but is still an exact match. It has a thin fluid texture but isn’t too runny as long as you shake the bottle properly before use. It blends easily onto the skin and covers dark spots and uneven areas quite well while still looking natural. I’ve been using the fingers to apply or a damp sponge and the coverage is quite nice. Those sensitive to fragrance will be happy to know that there is no detectable scent in this foundation. As a plus, it photographs well with a flash. Lasting power is quite good when set with the Translucent powder, I was able to get 10 to 12 hours of wear each time I tested without any touch ups required mid-day.

Have you tried the Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation? What shade do you wear? If you haven’t tested it, I highly recommend you give it a look the next time you’re at the counter.

Shop the post:

Special thanks to Laura Mercier for sponsoring this post. For more information, refer to my Disclosures page.

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Uncategorized

Marc Jacobs Beauty Twinkle Pop Eye Sticks in Au Revoir and Volver

November 21, 2014

I recently bought two of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Twinkle Pop Eye Sticks ($28 each for 1.6 g/ 0.05 oz, made in Italy) in Au Revoir and Volver (my recent Sephora haul here). I’ve been playing with the Twinkle Pop Eye Sticks for months in store but never pulled the trigger to purchase. These are twist up cream shadow sticks with intense color and shimmer. On the skin they have a slightly cool feel when you first apply them. The packaging mimics a large crayon which I think is really fun. The tips have colors that match the color of the shadow which makes it easy to identify if you store them upright in jars.

Au Revoir is a shimmery medium taupe silver color. The shimmer is quite intense but it blends out nicely on the lids. I did find with this shade I had to blend quickly because they set and dried a bit fast on the lids. If you have oily lids, you will really like how these stay put a long time. My lids aren’t oily, they tend to be on the dry side (but relatively normal). With this one I needed to make sure my eyes were well prepped with a tiny bit of eye cream. The pigment is so rich and the formula is a bit thick straight from the tube, so any dry areas will be emphasized with this one.

Volver is a warm golden champagne peach shimmer. This one is also very shimmery, but not quite as frosty as Au Revoir. I found this color a bit easier to work with and blend on the lids. It didn’t dry quite as fast as Au Revoir did (at least based on the ones I bought) but it still dried pretty fast. Volver has a golden sheen to it but the base is still light-to-medium champagne so it’s not too gold.

I’ve been using these a couple different ways. I like incorporating one of the Twinkle Pops into an eye look with 2 other powder shadows. Since the ones I picked are neutrals they are very easy to mix with other eyeshadow colors. I’ve tried layering them together as well. It gives a nice simple polished look, but for me the two of them combined is a bit too frosty for my personal preference.

Swatches straight from the tube, these are heavy unblended swatches:

Comparisons below, note that the flash enhances the shimmer. These are on the high frost side, but for me they aren’t so frosty that they are over the top (the MAC Pigments are discontinued shades I thought might be similar, but turns out they are very different):

I’m in love with Volver. It’s a really nice warm peachy champagne color and the gold shimmer gives it dimension without being too frosty. I can never resist taupe shadows so I give Au Revoir a thumbs up, although it is on the more shimmery side and takes some blending for my dry lids. If you have normal to oily, it will probably blend easier on your skin compared to the way it does on mine. 

These are both shimmery, but still wearable for my conservative makeup-loving self. If you like neutral shimmers but want something more subtle, I’d recommend opting for the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks (especially the mini set reviewed here).

There are currently nine different shade options of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Twinkle Pop Eye Sticks. They retail for $28 each. Available at Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty.

Have you tried these? What did you think?

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