Monthly Archives

January 2015

Armani Eye Makeup

Giorgio Armani Eye Tints – Onyx, Cold Copper, Senso, Rose Ashes and Gold Ashes

January 13, 2015

Giorgio Armani’s latest includes a new liquid/cream eyeshadow called Eye Tints ($38 each for 6.5 ml/0.22 fl oz, made in France). These eyeshadows are all shimmery and come in twelve different colors. I ordered several sight unseen and literally gasped when I opened the boxes. They are really beautiful.

The shades above, left to right (note the tubes themselves only have numbers as labels):

  • Onyx 5 is a super sparkly olive green with silver and green shimmers
  • Cold Copper 9 is a smooth shimmer neutral tan
  • Senso 10 is a unique plum brown bronze shimmer
  • Rose Ashes 11 is a warm peachy gold base that flashes pink and rose 
  • Gold Ashes 12 is a super sparkly cool-toned champagne shimmer
These Armani Eye Tints have a fluid texture but aren’t so fluid that they are like liquids. There is a bit of thickness to them which makes them slightly like a cream, but the texture is still on the fluid side. The color sheers out once you blend them but it is easy to build and blend. I’ve been playing with these all last week – my favorite way to apply is straight from the tube onto the lids and then blend on the eyes with a finger.

Onyx and Gold Ashes are extremely sparkly, but not quite as frosted or as pigmented as Armani Eyes to Kill shadows and not as glitzy as some of the Chanel Illusion D’Ombres. I’ve tried Gold Ashes all over the lids and it blends out really nicely for an even wash of sparkle. The other shades Cold Copper, Sense and Rose Ashes have a more finely milled shimmer. In terms of lasting power, I found these dried down to a satiny finish on the eyes after they set and lasted all day without budging. You can layer a powder shadow on top of these but if you do, I recommend working quickly with your shadows – these tend to set and dry quickly, although it’s not immediate which allows you to blend and layer, dry time is on the fast side (at least for me).

For reference, Café Makeup has all the shades swatched and Color Me Loud has a detailed review on Senso #10.

These come with a beveled sponge tip applicator:

Close up of all the shades:

Swiped straight from the tube:

Swiped on a larger area:

Comparison swatches:

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Epatant (review)
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Mirage (review)
NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia (review)
Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color in Twilight (review)
Chanel llusion D’Ombre in New Moon (d/c, review)
By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon (swatches)
Armani Eyes to Kill 9

I really like these, although I am partial to the Eyes to Kill Intense Shadows. I know many have found those too shimmery and too intense so if you’re looking for something softer I recommend you check out the Eye Tints. They have a smooth texture that offers light to medium buildable coverage. 

Armani Eye Tints retail for $38 each. Currently available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Giorgio Armani Beauty. Have you checked out these new shadows yet?
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Bite Beauty Smashed Agave Lip Mask

January 12, 2015

Bite Beauty has a new addition to their line called Smashed Agave Lip Mask ($26 for .52 oz / 15 g) which is a sheer lush berry red. This comes in a squeeze tube and in my experience I’ve found the Agave Lip Masks really easy to use, however I found that packaging this round required less squeezing to dispense product compared to the Champagne Agave Lip Mask (reviewed last August). Smashed is a sheer lush cherry red. It’s ultra hydrating and plumps the lips. There is enough color to provide a sheer tint of color which makes the lips look healthy with a slightly flushed look – but I found it very sheer.

The formula is similar to Champagne in the sense that it on the thick side but feels very smooth on the lips. There is a slight vanilla almond-like fragrance to the product. I know some of you could not stand the way Champagne tasted when some transferred from the lips. I didn’t have issues, but the fragrance and taste of Smashed has improved in my opinion. With these lip masks I have mixed feelings. The formula is really good in terms of how they plump the lips naturally without irritating. They also work wonders for dry or chapped lips. It’s like wearing a soft cushion of moisturizer on the lips, the Agave Lip Masks feel really nice and aren’t sticky.

The pigment and colors are a bit disappointing in terms of how sheer they are on the lips. If you look at the shades in the tube or swatched on the hand they are gorgeous! I understand these are primarily lip treatments with a tint added for fun. I do wish the pigment was richer or more opaque on the lips because the colors look really pretty. The second miss for me is the delicate nature of the packaging. In my last post several of you mentioned that you wanted tips on how to keep the tubes looking fresh and in tact. The pliable nature of the tube makes these easy to use but you can’t just throw these in the makeup bag and hope they retain their shape. I’ve primarily kept mine at home or in a flat cosmetic bag so that it doesn’t get smashed by other products.

One more positive notes include the fact that the lip product doesn’t transfer or bleed. On me it lasted for four hours and through a cup of coffee (although not through snacks). For me it’s important that a lip balm does not slide or feel like it’s sliding off the lips onto the face. This one adheres well to the lips and I like that it stays put.

Swatches:

Some comparison swatches:

By Terry Baume de Rose Cherry Bomb (mini wand version, review here)

If you want more color, I highly recommend checking out Fresh Sugar Cherry or By Terry Cherry Bomb. Overall I give the Bite Smashed Agave Lip Mask a thumbs up for formula but a meh/iffy review on the color. If you don’t mind sheer colors and want a very slight flushed tint, it is a really good one. I don’t always mind sheer lip items but for this one I think I could give it a 100% glowing review if it had more color. Long-time Beauty Look Book readers know I’m a fan of super natural lips, but even with this one, I find myself craving more pigment and color. I do recommend you check out the 150+ customer reviews on Sephora.com. I usually find them helpful.

Bite Beauty Smashed Agave Lip Mask retails for $26. It’s currently an online exclusive at Sephora.com. 

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Rosafolia

January 10, 2015

This spring Diptyque has released a the new rose-themed collection called Rosafolia. It includes three new items including the Rosafolia Candle, Scented Oval and a new perfume called Eau Plurielle. I ordered the candle which comes in a beautiful limited-edition white jar with a lovely rose and ivy design. This year’s special rose scent has a new fresh twist on rose. The best way I can describe it is as a green rose.

Per Diptyque, Rosafolia is “a scented candle whose verdure, enhanced by a touch of galbanum, is gracefully diffused at the heart of Turkish rose absolute, the softness of petals sharpened by the understated vitality from a hint of geranium.” There is a green touch to it which rounds out the floral notes. Compared to last year’s Rosamundi, Rosafloria is clearly more green and with a fresher and slightly sweeter touch. Last year’s Diptyque special rose release was a bit more floral and almost powdery in scent.

Rosafolia is bottom line gorgeous. I highly recommend you check it out. I ordered mine from Diptyque South Coast Plaza. It’s also available now online at Nordstrom and Diptyque.

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Sephora Favorites – The Great Cleanse Set (Limited-Edition)

January 8, 2015

I picked up the Sephora Favorites The Great Cleanse Set ($48 for 12 items) while I was in store the last week of 2014. I went in for one hand cream and of course left with more than I intended. I’ve been putting several new cleansers to the test and when I saw this set had some that I had been wanting to try for a long time I decided to give it a try. This set has deluxe sizes of 11 cleansers, I like that they are larger than the usual freebies you can occasionally find which means you can give each one a serious test drive to see whether or not you like it. There are two items in the set that I’ve already tried, purchased and loved which include the Caudalie Cleansing Water and Ole Henriksen Foaming Cleanser. The remaining items are new to me and in the past couple of weeks I’ve given each item a test 2-3 times.

I have some initial thoughts to share although I will have to do more testing to give a thorough review. Since it does take time for skincare to show how effective it is, how long do you test a face cleanser before deciding whether or not it works for you? For me if there is irritation on the skin or if the scent is unpleasant, I usually don’t go past the first use. In addition to these cleansers, I’m currently testing a few others, I think by the end of the month I’ll be able to have a good idea of how they all work and I’ll have a roundup post on what worked and what didn’t.

Back to the Sephora Favorites Great Cleanse set. Sephora has created a set that has a variety of cleansers to try. They’ve split the items into categories like Remove Makeup, Cleanse Skin and Cleanse and Treat. Some overlap with each other. I’ll list the sizes of each item and my initial thoughts. If you have tried any of these I’d love to hear about your testing experience as well. There are a couple that I know I don’t like – if you love them tell me what you loved so I can figure out what it is that I’m doing wrong. For reference Sephora.com has the ingredients listed for each item in their set in the set product listing.

  1. Caudalie Make-Up Remover Cleansing Water 3.38 oz is a long-time favorite. It’s gentle but effective at removing face makeup without stripping the skin. I love the soft scent and soothing feel that leaves my skin refreshed and soft. It won’t remove waterproof eye makeup but for the face and lips it’s reached holy grail status for me.
  2. Boscia Makeup-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil 1.7 oz is new to me but has been on my list to try for ages. I was thrilled to see a mini in this set. I found it went on the skin smoothly and emulsified nicely. It removed all traces of makeup (although I did remove eye makeup with a cotton pad and eye makeup remover first because I don’t like oil getting in my eyes). It left the skin feeling residue-free without stripping.
  3. Nude Skincare Perfect Cleanse Nourishing Cleansing Oil 0.5 oz is another one I was really excited to try. I have almost bought the full size on numerous occasions because of all the raves. After trying this one I am glad that I did not. This one didn’t work for me. Several customer reviews indicated this one just sat on the skin and didn’t emulsify. This was what I experienced. I applied it on dry skin and then tried to rinse off with warm water. The oil just thickened and my face was covered with a thick paste of foundation, powder and oil and just sat there. I had to use cleansing water and a second cleanser to remove everything.
  4. Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser 1.5 fl oz is a long-time favorite. It cleans the skin really well and has a lightweight feel. (A more detailed review here).
  5. Origins Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash 1 oz is a foaming cleanser. It has a super lightweight texture and foams up really nicely. It smells minty like toothpaste which I wasn’t a huge fan of. I found it a bit too strong for my skin, it left my face feeling super clean but there was a tight almost dry feeling afterwards. It didn’t make my skin peel, but I suspect for right now with the dry winter weather this will be too strong. If you have oily skin and need something that does a super cleanse, this one is worth looking into. I’ll be putting this to the test a few more times before deciding for sure, but the scent alone is making me not love this.
  6. Glamglow Powermud Dualcleanse Treatment 0.5 oz is one of the newest masks from Glamglow. I tried a sample packet before and it left my face feeling a bit irritated. It didn’t burn, it just felt like there were tiny areas of slight irritation around my face after use. I gave it another try twice (the small tube will last about two, maybe three uses if you use it sparingly). This time there was no irritation, but I found it didn’t really do much for my skin. I prefer the Youthmud and Supermud to this one.
  7. Sephora Collection Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover 1.69 oz is a dual-phase eye makeup remover. It is very gentle and does remove regular eye makeup, but I found that it wasn’t really effective with waterproof or long-wearing cream shadows and mascara. For example it didn’t take off the NARS Velvet Shadow Sticks, By Terry Ombre Blackstar or Guerlain Maxi Lash Waterproof with two swipes of a soaked cotton pad. I’ll keep testing this with other brands of makeup.
  8. Algenist GENIUS Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser 1.5 oz is a unique cleanser that turns into an oil when you massage it into the skin. It is on the thicker side and there is a scent to it that smells almost like almonds. If you have super dry skin this might be a good one to try. I found it a bit too moisturizing and rich for me, but it did take off all traces of makeup and left the skin feeling moisturized after rinsing with water.
  9. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser 1.7 oz has been a miss for me in the past. It was a miss again. If you love this please tell me what I’m doing wrong. I find it is a lightweight cleanser in texture but I don’t find it effective in cleansing and it leaves a film on my skin.
  10. Philosophy Purity Made Simple 2 oz is another popular cleanser that I always thought was over-hyped. I tried it for the first time and think it works ok, but I will have to test it more to see how I really feel about it. It left the skin clean without stripping, irritating or leaving any film. So far it seems to be a good one but I’ll have to test it a few more times.
  11. Boscia Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder 0.36 oz is water-activated powder cleanser. It foams up nicely and lathers well, but as many others have noted, the packaging makes it quite messy. It comes in a jar with a lid, but unlike Tatcha’s Enzyme powders, there is no dispenser or small opening to help control how much powder you pour out. I’ve tried this with bare hands and also tried pouring this over the Boscia cleansing sponge. Either way, it does take a bit of work and I found that it was hard to get just the right amount and I ended up wasting product because of over pour. That being said, it does clean the skin really well. For right now it’s too stripping for morning use (probably because of dry weather) but I do like this in the evening. I’ve tried this as a single cleanser and it does take off all the makeup.
  12. Boscia Mini Konjac Cleansing Sponge is an interesting item. Dry it is quite stiff, but it softens when you rinse it with warm water. I was worried it would be too rough for my sensitive skin but it really is just the right texture to exfoliate the skin. It’s not as harsh or rough as a washcloth but not too soft to feel like your bare hands. The one that comes in the set is small, I’m not sure if the one sold individually is larger but if it is, it’s something I would seriously consider purchasing. 
Have you tried any of the Sephora Favorites sets? This is the first one I’ve tried although I always find them tempting when I see them in stores. The sampler minis are so appealing but I try not to buy unless I think I’m going to try 75% or more of it. I’ll have a more detailed review with thoughts on all the cleansers I’ve been testing recently at the end of the month. For now, I hope you find this introductory post helpful. As always I’d love to hear what you think or if you’ve tried any of these.

The Sephora Favorites Great Cleanse Set retails for $48. Online and in stores now, it is listed as limited-edition. 
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Charlotte Tilbury Lips

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks and Lip Lustres – Neutral Lip Perfection

January 7, 2015

If you’re like me and are obsessed with neutral lipsticks and glosses, you might be very curious about the Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks and Lip Lustres. The line is currently available at select counters and stores right now so you may not have easy access to the line. Buying nudes lip colors sight unseen can be a bit risky – not all nudes are wearable and everyone has a different definition of what they consider nude or neutral. I ordered Bitch Perfect, Nude Kate, Blondie and Sweet Stiletto sight unseen last August. I was really pleased with these but wanted to wait to see the rest of the colors in person before ordering more. In October, I was thrilled to be able to attend the Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom launch at The Grove last year and took that time to look at all the nudes in person. They all looked phenomenal and I made a wish list. Even after seeing them all in person it took me a few weeks to decide whether or not to jump and purchase more (after all I have enough nude lipsticks to last multiple lifetimes).

Today I have six of the K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks and five of the Lip Lustres to share with you. All of them swatched side by side to show you the differences and similarities with comparisons and photos of how they look on my lips.

First up are the neutral K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks ($32 each). Left to right is Nude Kate, Hepburn Honey, Penelope Pink, Bitch Perfect, Confession and Stoned Rose. All of these lean neutral or on the warm side which I think make them easier to wear and more naturally flattering on the skin. Some of them look remarkably similar in the tubes side by side. I’ll add my descriptions on the differences below. With the exception of Confession, all are permanent and have cream finishes (without shimmer). These are high in pigment and full coverage. Fragrance wise there is a very soft nice vanilla scent, it fades after a minute. They have a creamy finish with a slight sheen. Lasting power is quite good and the colors adhere really nicely to the lips. Due to the pigment, I do think you need to have a well-prepped lip before applying otherwise they will emphasize lip lines. While they aren’t really moisturizing, they do have a nice cushiony feel and I was happy to find that they did not dry out my lips. For recs on lip prep, check out this post Lip Primers and Lip Balms in Rotation.

Nude Kate is a flesh-toned beige nude cream, this for me is a true nude
Hepburn Honey is a honey-toned neutral nude beige
Penelope Pink is a pink-nude beige, leaning more pink than Nude Kate
Bitch Perfect is a pinky-peachy medium pink neutral
Confession is a medium rose-nude with golden shimmer
Stoned Rose is a warm almost terra-cotta nude rose cream

Swatch comparisons to other neutrals below:

Tom Ford Lip Color in Nude Vanille
Tom Ford Lip Color Sable Smoke (review)
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara and Brigette (review)

The Lip Lustres Lip Lacquers ($22 each) range from creams to sheers to shimmers to sparkles. Out of all the neutrals, I don’t own Bardot Beige or Portobello Girl, but here are the ones I do own. The coverage is sheer to medium on these. I find them pigmented enough to wear alone, but for the shimmers I think they work best layered over other lipsticks to add dimension and shine. They are a bit sticky but not tacky. I really love these glosses.

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds is a sparkling light beige nude pink
Seduction is a creamy beige nude cream
Ibiza Nights is a super sparkly sheer golden champagne
Blondie is a pink base with cool-toned champagne frost
Sweet Stiletto is medium warm neutral rose

High Society is a medium plummy color, it’s not a neutral/nude but I added it for comparison purposes below:

Comparisons below:

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bare Baby (swatch mislabled)
MAC Lipglass in Bijou (discontinued, review here)
Tom Ford Tawny Pink (discontinued)
NARS Lipgloss in Belize
NARS Lipgloss in Dolce Vita (review)

I hope you found this roundup and swatch lineup helpful, especially if you can’t see the Charlotte Tilbury beauty line in person before purchasing. For the lipsticks, I hate to say this, but I think every single one is perfection for a neutral lip. I think Nude Kate is the truest nude in the sense that it is a flesh-toned nude. I was worried it would be too pale but it has enough color to not wash out the complexion. That being said, I think Hepburn Honey and Penelope Pink will be easier to wear for a nude color since there is more pigment and depth. If you want more color but still want something natural Bitch Perfect and Stoned Rose are good to look into.

For the Lip Lustres, your mileage may vary depending on what kind of gloss you are looking for. If you want a full coverage high pigment gloss, you might not like these. They have medium pigment and a natural shine which I find really flattering on the lips.

Have you tried Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty items yet? What are your
favorites? I’m still working my way through testing out items from the
line but so far I’ve really liked most of what I’ve tested. Would love
to hear about your favorites!

You can find Charlotte Tilbury online at Nordstrom, Beautylish, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter, Selfridges and Charlotte Tilbury.

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What's In My Bag

Inside My Bag

January 6, 2015

Here’s a peek at what’s inside my bag this week (another shot here @beautylookbook). Truffle  Clutches are keeping my bags streamlined and organized. I like to use the Clarity Clutches for makeup because I can see what’s inside (nude is shown). The Privacy Clutches for me are used to keep card cases, wallets, notecards and keys in (blush shown). I ordered a bunch of these for Christmas and gave them out as gifts to friends. They put them to use immediately and it brought a smile to my face seeing that they were well received – everyone has been sending me pictures of their pouches in action.

As usual, I have too many lip products in my purse. Left to right is NARS Dolce Vita Lip Gloss (review), Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre in Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (swatched), Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Étourdie (swatches), and Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne (review).

I’ve been carrying the Tatcha’s Original Aburatorigami Beauty Papers to blot. They are packaged in a slim compact sturdy paper case making them easy to carry with me, although the new Travel Sized Papers-To-Go Tube is now on my wish list. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder in 20 stays with me these days for refreshing makeup although I often forget to bring a powder brush with me so having it in my bag is kinda pointless.

Two last beauty items I’ve been carrying with me include Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black mini and L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Cream (from the limited-edition holiday L’OcciBox).

What’s in your bag this week?

The Truffle Blush Clutch and L’Occitane Hand Cream were press samples. All other items purchased by me.

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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Benjoin and Cuir

January 6, 2015

Beauty Look Book readers know I’m a dedicated fan of Diptyque. So far I’ve loved every candle from the line that I’ve bought or received as a gift. There are some scents that are harder to find because they are either boutique or online exclusives. I have one of each to share with you, one hit and one miss.

Benjoin ($60 for 6.5 oz) is an online exclusive described as “somewhere between vanilla and caramel” with notes of patchouli and Indian cypriol. I had high hopes for this one expecting a well rounded sweet vanilla and caramel candle, something along the lines of Henri Bendel Vanilla Bean (my all time favorite vanilla candle).

When I opened the box I was a bit thrown by the smokey and woody notes that had a slight floral and powdery feel. The good thing about this candle is that it has a very good throw and fills up the room with the scent quickly. In the jar it does smell like a mix of caramel and vanilla, but in a synthetic way that has a plastic feel and the woody notes makes it turn a bit. Since this was an online exclusive, I ordered 2 and burned through an entire candle to test it and see if if would grow on me. My friends really like this one but for me this was a miss – mainly because I was expecting something sweeter and more rounded. I just started to burn my second one to see once again if I could grow to love it, for me all I smell is powder and smokey wood with a very slight hint of vanilla. I think it’s going to be re-gifted very soon.

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Another one I’ve been testing is Cuir ($60 for 6.5 oz) which is a Diptyque Boutique exclusive. It is occasionally listed online but it always seems to be sold out (I’ve bought mine in stores). The description from Diptyque is “this candle evokes the scent of tanned leather with birch bark,
characteristic note of Cuir de Russie.” They say it is “perfect for an
office.”

For me this one has been pure love since the first time I smelled it in store. It does have a leather and birch bark feel but with a very clean feel. It has a freshness that almost reminds me of soap, although the candle isn’t really soapy – it’s hard for me to describe, but if you can visit one of the Diptyque stores, I highly recommend smelling it. It’s very unique and different from most candles. I bought it for my husband’s office, but ended up borrowing it (permanently) from him and have repurchased it twice.

If you haven’t been to a Diptyque store, I highly recommend you put it on your list for the new year. They are beautifully designed with exclusives you can’t find at other retailers. (They have the full range of large and small photophores which are beautiful, one featured here). See my coverage on South Coast Plaza, Maiden Lane and Larchmont.

Have you tried or bought any of the Diptyque online or store exclusives? What are your favorites? If you bought Benjoin online, what did you think?

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