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April 2015

Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Lip Color Sheers Skinnydip and Rose Soleil for Summer 2015

April 30, 2015

There are four featured Lip Color Sheers ($50 each for .1 oz/3g) for the Tom Ford Summer Beauty Collection. The two new shades are Skinnydip and Rose Soleil which come alongside Sweet Spot and Paradisio which are repromoted colors from 2014 (previously swatched here). I picked up the two new shades last weekend from Neiman Marcus Northpark in Dallas with Beauty Professor (we took a quick break from the rewardStyle conference to do some beauty shopping). Both of the new colors are to-die-for gorgeous. In my testing experience with Tom Ford Beauty, I find his lipsticks to be the best beauty product in his line and the new Lip Color Sheers are perfect for summer.

Both colors are shimmers, but they are not frosty. If you’re familiar with the Lip Color Sheer formula from last year, you know some of the colors are sheer and glossy while the brights are glossy but rich. The new shades for Summer 2015 have the perfect mix of pigment and gloss with medium coverage. Skinnydip is a light nude rose peach with some gold shimmer. Rose Soleil is complex deeper rose pink with gold flecks mixed in. Swatched on the arms or the back of the hand they may appear sheer, but on the lips they meld with your natural lip tone to give the prettiest wash of color. On my lips they are visible and show up.

There is a soft vanilla scent to these. Lasting power is medium, they will stay put better than most sheer or glossy lip colors (as in they won’t disappear or slide off within an hour). The sheer finish makes any fading more forgiving so you don’t end up with contrasted color around the edges. I find it won’t last through a meal or snacks, but I find that to be the case with most lipsticks or glosses (unless they are ultra long-wear or stains).   

Some more close ups and swatches:

Skinnydip on my lips along with comparisons swatches shown below. I pulled out last year’s Lip Color Sheers in Pink Dune and In the Buff along with the Lips and Boys in William. There is a similar vibe but to me, Skinnydip has more peach and gold compared to last year’s lip color sheers. Compared to William Lips & Boys, Skinnydip has less frost and is slightly more nude.

Indoor natural light:

In direct sun:

Comparison swatches:

Dior Rouge Dior Baume in Milly (reviewed here)
YSL Rouge Volupte Shine 22 Nude Indeed
Tom Ford 2014 Lip Color Sheers In the Buff/Pink Dune (reviewed here)
Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Peter and William (swatched here)

Rose Soleil seems more unique compared to the other lip colors I own. It has a deep rose pink base but has a brightness to it that prevents it from looking dark. The gold flecks add dimension to it. The complexity makes this one look different in the tube depending on the angle or lighting. Sometimes I see more plum and berry, other times I see a darker base with gold flecks. Swatches below.

Comparison swatches below show that Rose Soleil has a unique mix of plum, pink, berry and gold. I find it most similar to MAC Viva Glam VI lipstick but the Tom Ford has more gold, more berry and more shimmer.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in #11 and 7 (swatched here)
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Bel-Ami (arm swatched here)
Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lipstick in Fabulous Rose (lip swatched here)
MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam VI

Quick re-swatch of Sweet Spot and Paradisio for reference:

One last shot of the Summer 2015 Lip Color Sheers in Skinnydip and Rose Soleil:

I’ve been told at the counters that both shades are limited-edition but I haven’t confirmed it yet. Update: I just received confirmation from Tom Ford Beauty that the lip color sheers are permanent this round!! In my opinion both are quite beautiful, soft and fresh. They give the lips a healthy glow with just the right amount of color to show up but still look natural. For me I find both colors to be must-haves and I’ve purchased back ups.
Have you checked out the Tom Ford Soleil Collection for summer yet? In case you missed it:
Cream and Powder Eye Color Duos swatched/reviewed here
Cream and Powder Eye Color Duo comparison swatches here
Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand swatched/reviewed here

You can find the Lip Color Sheers at Tom Ford counters and stores now. Available online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tom Ford.
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Bioderma Sensibio H2O and Sébium H2O from Beautylish

April 29, 2015

I purchased my first Bioderma product back in February when Beautylish launched the Sensibio H2O online. Bioderma is a brand that’s been on my radar for quite some time but I did not know where to purchase it in the US. Koh Gen Do’s Cleansing Spa Water has been a long time favorite of mine out of all the cleansing waters I have tried so I didn’t think to try very hard to look for the Bioderma (I’ve since found out that select Marukai Japanese markets and Amazon carries it too). I ordered the 250 ml size and fell in love immediately as it’s a super gentle no-rinse micellar cleansing water/makeup remover that doesn’t sting. In March, I was able to see the Sébium at The Makeup Show LA. I’ve been testing both formulas for several weeks and finally have a review ready to share with you today.

First, on prices and sizing. There are multiple size options for Bioderma. Beautylish currently carries three size options with different pairing options. If you shop elsewhere via Amazon or local markets, prices will have a wide range depending on size. I like shopping via Beautylish because their customer service is excellent, shipping is fast, tracking is easy and prices are consistent:
  • 250 ml retails for $13.95
  • 500 ml + travel size bonus retails for $19.95
  • Pro Pack with 500 ml x2 + 250 ml x1 bonus retails for $39.90
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The Sensibio H2O is a gentle makeup remover micellar cleansing solution that is designed for sensitive skin. It’s fragrance-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free and hypoallergenic. This is good for extremely sensitive skin. I like that it doesn’t leave any residue on the skin. In terms of how well it removes makeup, in general cleansing waters are best to use for face makeup. The gentle nature of cleansing waters makes it good for the face, but not so great for eye makeup. No matter what kind of face cleanser I’m using, I always use dual-phase eye makeup removers to remove eye makeup first (my favorite is from Chanel Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover). I like using cleansing waters in conjunction with a traditional gel, cream or soap cleanser to make sure all makeup is removed. I’ll use the cleansing water first, followed by a regular face cleanser to make sure there is no trace of makeup left on my face. Cleansing waters are also good for quick touch ups in the event you have a bit of shadow fall out on the cheeks or under eyes.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Bromide.

The Bioderma Sébium H2O is a purifying cleansing micellar water designed for oily skin. I don’t have super oily skin (it’s more on the combination side) but I actually prefer this one to the sensitive skin version. This one is slightly scented with a fresh almost cucumber-like scent but it’s very gentle. Since this one is designed for oily skin I was worried it would be drying but it didn’t strip the skin. You can really feel it clean the pores and it contains ingredients to help clear the skin. I personally found this removed face my face makeup better than the Sensibio version, but both perform really well. This one is also paraben-free, alcohol-free, soap-free and hypoallergenic.

Ingredients:Aqua/Water/Eau. PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sodium Citrate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Sulfate, Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract, Manitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Bromide, Fragrance (Parfum).

Here’s a quick comparison of the size options to two sizes of the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Waters. I believe there is an extra large size of the Koh Gen Do as well, but I have not seen it in person.

In terms of cleansing waters I’ve tested a lot. I have used up the NARS Makeup Removing Water, Dior Instant Cleansing Water, Lancome Eau Fraiche Douceur, Koh Gen Go Cleansing Spa Water, Clarins Water Purify One-Step Cleanser, and the Caudalie Cleansing Water. My most repurchased ones include the Koh Gen Do (I like this formula the best), Lancome (I think this has the best packaging because it comes with a pump) and Caudalie (I love the Caudalie fragrance in this but I know some do not like it). The two I’ve tested from Bioderma are by far significantly more gentle on the skin, which is noticeable during super sensitive skin days. I am still a die-hard fan of the Koh Gen Do because it’s the most effective at removing makeup while still being very gentle, but sometimes it’s nice to switch things up. Bottom line I give Bioderma a thumbs up. I’ve stocked up on multiple sizes and think it’s definitely something I will be using up entirely.

Bottom line: good for quick touchups to remove makeup in detail areas, or as a makeup remover for face makeup. For mascara, eyeshadow, or eyeliners, I still recommend using a bi-phase makeup remover. My top two favorites and most repurchased removers for eye makeup are the Chanel Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover and Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover.

Shelves filled with Bioderma at The Makeup Show LA:

Have you tried the Bioderma Makeup Removers? If so which ones? What did you think? If not, do you have a current cleansing water favorite? You can find the Bioderma Sensibio H2O and Sébium H2O online now at Beautylish. They’ve sold out a few times but have just restocked.
The Beautylish team was kind enough to gift one of the 500 ml Sensibio and one of the 500 ml Sébium cleansing waters, but I purchased a second set online in order to get the travel sized minis. All other items purchased by me.

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Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Summer 2015 Cream & Powder Eye Color Swatch Comparisons

April 28, 2015

As promised I pulled some other cream shadows to compare to the Tom Ford Beauty Summer shadow duos. Many thanks to my savvy readers who already knew some of the creams were duplicates (or repeats) of prior limited-edition shades. There are a couple colors that keep selling out online but are available for back order. If you want all shades, you may have to shop around. My local counter had all of their Naked Bronze and Golden Peach reserved via pre-sales. I’ve compiled a list to help save you time from clicking around (note this is subject to change as items sell out):

Above shown Top Row, left to right:
Bottom Row, left to right:
Swatches:
My conclusion is that the new summer duos do indeed include repeats of previously released cream shadows from Tom Ford. If you already own Spice, Pink Haze and the Golden Mink Quad (I don’t own this but I swatched in store to compare), you can skip Golden Peach and Naked Bronze if you want to avoid dupes. The Spring 2015 Cream Shadow is really close to Midnight Sea but not an exact dupe when you look at it in person. The summer duo is slightly lighter in color while the spring shade is a bit deeper. I really like the concept of the new summer Cream & Powder pots because of the packaging and having two shades in one compact for convenience (plus the mirror to apply if you’re on the go or need to touch up before going out).

Hope this helps! Did you buy or test out any of the Tom Ford summer duos yet? If yes, which ones and what are your thoughts so far?

The Tom Ford Summer Duos were provided as press samples for review consideration. All other items purchased by me.

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Bronzer + Blush Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Cream Cheek Color Pink Sand for Summer 2015

April 27, 2015

Tom Ford Beauty has released a Cream Cheek Color for summer called Pink Sand ($65 for 0.17 0z/5 g, made in Canada). It’s a luminous soft pink gold blush that gives my medium/olive skin a soft glow that comes cased in a small white and gold mirrored compact. There is enough color that you can see the pink color but on my complexion I find it performs more like a highlighter shade rather than a traditional blush. The effect is similar to the glow NARS Orgasm gives minus the frost and minus the peachy tone. Pink Sand is multi-dimensional so depending on how the light hits it sometimes you will see more of the pink base, other times you will see more of the gold shimmer. I love how it gives a natural glow to the skin.

It has a soft creamy feel with a dewy glow finish. On the cheeks it stays dewy but as the day progresses remains dewy but not greasy. I’ve been experimenting with this for two weeks now and like this either alone for low-key makeup days, as a base for powder blush or bronzer to give cheeks dimension and help color adhere to the face, or topped on top of cheek bones over blush/bronzer for a highlight. It’s really versatile. I’ve also tried this on the lips. It looks pretty topped with a clear gloss or dabbed in the center to add a bit of shimmer. As far as I can tell there is no detectable scent or taste.

A few more close ups and swatches:

Swatched with a heavy hand, once blended it sheers out:

A few comparison swatches to other cream and liquid highlighter/blushes. Most of these were either limited-edition or were discontinued (previous features and reviews will linked below):

Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand

Pink Sand offers a radiant no-fuss easy to use glow to my medium skin (I use Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque 4, swatches to other foundations in rotation here). On lighter skin tones the pink will show up more and probably make this look more like a pink blush. If you’re medium to dark this will probably perform more like a highlighter on your skin tone. Lasting power on my normal combination skin was very good, from morning to afternoon without fading. If you have super oily skin you may find the dewy factor increase into the afternoon. Being a huge fan of Tom Ford Beauty I really love this one. It’s quite a splurge at $65 so if you’re unable to test in person I hope you find the swatches and comparisons in this post helpful.

The Tom Ford Soleil Collection for summer is starting to trickle in stores and online. You can find Pink Sand now online at Nordstrom and Saks. Available for pre-order at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Tom Ford (while supplies last as it is a limited-edition item).

The Tom Ford Pink Sand was provided courtesy of the PR team for review consideration.

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Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Cream and Powder Eye Colors Summer 2015

April 25, 2015

Summer collections are starting to surface and the color offerings this year seem like the perfect mix of natural + fresh color. I was thrilled to get an early sneak peek at some of Tom Ford’s summer collection. First up I have the Cream and Powder Eye Colors ($60 each for 0.24 oz. base/ 0.07 oz for top).

The Cream and Powder Eye Colors come packaged in a double-tiered pot shadow with a flip top lid that has a small mirror. You simply twist the bottom to get to the cream, while the powder glitter is on top. Being a glitter-phobe, I was really worried how these would perform but I’ve had really good experiences with some of the quads like Seductive Rose and the limited-edition Ombre Eye Color Trios from a couple years ago so I had high hopes for these new summer duos.

Each color is really quite stunning and perfect to wear alone. The cream shadows are creamy and emollient but don’t slide, budge or fade after application. I’ve been playing around with each duo, I like to apply the cream shade first on the lids, blended into a soft gradient. Then I take my finger and dip it into the glitter powder and dab onto the lids on top of the cream shadow. For a glitter product I was really impressed to find there was no fallout and that they lasted a long time (from morning until afternoon). If you use a brush for the powder there might be a tiny bit of debris that will fall onto the cheeks or under the eyes, I was able to get no fall out a couple times, but then some others there was a tiny bit. For this reason I prefer using the fingers to pat them on.

There are four colors which are some of the prettiest duos I’ve seen. The glittery powders are semi-sheer in terms of color but there is still a lot of pigment. When layered over the cream shadows they enhance the color of the creams and add dimension.
  • Naked Bronze has a deep warm bronzey cream and a sheer gold shimmer/glitter for the powder
  • Golden Peach has a warm pinky peachy metallic with a sheer warm peachy glitter powder
  • Black Oyster has a deep complex charcoal cream shimmer with a silvery grey glitter powder
  • Midnight Sea has a complex khaki/bronze/brown shimmer cream with an aqua teal glitter/powder

The cream in Naked Bronze reminds me of Spice, the peach in Golden Peach reminds me of Pink Haze and the cream in Midnight Sea reminds me of Spring 2015 Cream. I’m currently traveling so I don’t have my makeup stash with me to compare the creams, but once I return home I will update this post with comparison swatches of the creams.

Close ups of each color plus swatches of the shades individually, then layered:

I’ve played with each of the colors and am so impressed. Midnight Sea had me a little worried since I rarely wear blues or aquas but layering the teal on top of the deep brown shimmer creates a really interesting look. My favorites of course are Naked Bronze and Golden Peach – they add enough color to the lids to give your complexion a summery glow but aren’t over the top. As a neutral and conservative makeup lover, to say that I am afraid of glitter would be an understatement (I am almost anti-glitter). So for me to say that I really like these is huge. I think they are wearable for everyday although if you work in a conservative office environment you may want to go very light on the application of the powder shadows because the glittery is glitzy but not over the top (at least in my opinion).

Both Golden Peach and Black Oyster have held up really well in the Dallas humidity this week and I’m very impressed. If you’re a Tom Ford fan these are definitely must-haves even with the high price point. If you like color and want something new and different, these are worth looking into. 

You can find the Cream and Powder Eye Colors for $60 each. Online at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom (pre-order), Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue (pre-order) and Tom Ford (pre-order).

The Cream and Powder shadows were provided courtesy of Tom Ford for review consideration. Book featured from my own personal collection and was purchased by me. 

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Rescue Beauty Lounge Je t’aime, Je’ t’aime! Part 2

April 24, 2015

Today I have Part 2 of the Rescue Beauty Lounge Je t’aime, Je’ t’aime! Collection to share. Part 1 was swatched and reviewed here with four shades. Two additional colors have arrived and I’ve been dying to share them with you for a few weeks but had to wait patiently to reveal them until today.

Combien? is a metallic gold-beige with flecks of champagne and silver shimmers. It dries to a semi-matte finish but still has some sheen to it once applied. There is a good mix of warm and cool making it a very wearable gold shimmer. There is a slight rosy hue to it which gives it warmth and prevents it from being too yellow. At the same time the silvery champagne colored shimmers add a complex twist and cool undertone to make it more neutral and refined.

Ji describes this as “Elegant and neutral, this beige-gold with a slight rose cast is not too shy to ask how much. This color is jammed-packed with sugary shimmer, but dries down to a matte for a tasteful bling-ness. Add a swipe of topcoat to amp up the bling factor.”

Swatched in direct sunlight below. Two coats will give you full opaque coverage. Application is very smooth and almost 100% streak free. There is some texture that is visible. This is applied without any top coat. Even though it has a more matte finish, I like that it’s not 100% matte.

In natural light the texture is more visible:

Trois Oignons Rouges is a jelly fuchsia purple that also has a matte finish which is really unique. Two coats will let the nail show through a little underneath but application is still very smooth and even. If you’re a fan of jelly cremes this will be right up your alley. It has a brightness to it which reminds me of summer, but it’s not screaming bright.
Ji describes this as “This was the first French phrase I strung together. Like the inside of red onions, this color is a cross between magenta and a toned-down fuchsia that dries to a chic matte. This application is so easy that you might want to try all of our other crème jellies. For ultra shine, use our legendary topcoat.”

Here’s a quick collage of the entire Je t’aime, Je’ t’aime! Collection (Part 1 Swatched here).

The colors will be available for pre-sale/early access today if you are signed up for the newsletter you should receive an early access link to buy. Colors will be available for everyone to purchase on Tuesday the 28th online via Rescue Beauty Lounge. Each polish retails for $20.
Did you order any of the colors from Part 1? Do any of the two remaining colors catch your eye?

The polishes were provided courtesy of Rescue Beauty Lounge for review.

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On Instagram

April 23, 2015
https://instagram.com/beautylookbook/

Today I’m bound for Dallas for the rewardStyle conference. I’m flying out this morning for the remainder of the week but have some planned posts on new spring releases. I can’t wait to share some new beauty items from Tom Ford and NARS. The colors are to die for! If you’re going to be attending the conference send me a quick note here, via Instagram or Twitter. I would love to meet you! In the meantime here’s a quick overview of what I’ve been up to via Instagram @beautylookbook.

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