Monthly Archives

April 2015

Edward Bess

Edward Bess Matte Artiste Eyeshadow Palette

April 15, 2015

Edward Bess launched a new eyeshadow palette called Matte Artiste which has eight shades of luxurious matte shadows. It comes cased in a large mirrored compact and a small brush. All eight shades are well pigmented and ultra soft making them super easy to blend and layer. There are a few places you can buy it right now, the palette retails for $75 at Neiman Marcus (there’s a GWP going on this week online) and Bergdorf Goodman, but QVC has a special price online for $59.12.

The palette’s eight colors include:

  • Beige is a cool-toned beige cream
  • Mystique is a medium warm camel
  • Allura is a warm deep brown
  • Hypnotique is a cool deep brown
  • Veil is a soft powder pink (this one is quite amazing)
  • Stone is a medium soft grey
  • Mojave is a greyed-black-brown
  • Smoke is a deep smokey black with a soft feel
The texture is extremely soft but the pigment is very good. The soft
texture makes them a bit powdery in the compact. Using a brush will show
a bit of powder kick-up much like those of the Hourglass Modernist
Eyeshadow Palettes (Infinity reviewed here).
However this doesn’t translate to powdery fallout when you apply them
on the eyes. As with any powder shadow, the colors might have a tiny bit
of debris that falls to the cheeks, but I have yet to use a powder
shadow that doesn’t fall out even a little bit. On the lids, the colors
are really very good. Even the lighter neutral mattes show up well but they don’t make my medium olive skin look washed out.

I am usually not a fan of matte palettes because an all-matte palette tends to my lids look flat. I like to mix on mattes and shimmer together, I rarely will wear an all-matte eye with the exception of Urban Decay Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics. Edward’s Matte Artiste has made the cut for me to be an all-matte palette that I can wear without additional tweaking or layering of other colors. Each color is completely matte but they don’t appear flat on the eyes. The colors all work well together, there is a diverse range of options with the eight colors but some good in-between colors for those who prefer less contrast.

Lasting power is quite good. The pigment is ultra rich and they lasted on my lids all day from early morning until the evening. Having eight colors makes for a lot of options in terms of layering and combining. I have played with this one using 3-4 colors at any given time. All perform really well.

Close ups of the colors:

For those who want to know how the Edward Bess Matte Artiste compares to Urban Decay Naked / Naked2 Basics, here are the swatches side by side. I think it’s different enough to justify owning in terms of matte shades. While I really adore the Naked2 Basics, Edward’s offers a darker range of colors for more definition.

Above: Edward Bess Matte Artiste Palette shown with a selection of other Edward Bess favorites

Bottom line: a winner in my book. I’m a huge fan of all things Edward Bess and this one is no exception. If you’re in the market for a good palette of mattes, this is one definitely worth looking into. However if you weren’t a fan of the Hourglass Palettes because of the soft powdery texture, you probably won’t like this either and may want to test this one in person first before purchasing. I personally really liked the Hourglass palette and I really like this one, but I think some people might prefer shadows that aren’t quite as soft in texture. My experience is the shadows are very soft and you will see powder debris and kick up in the palette once you dip a brush in any of the pans, but that is where the powdery-ness ends. On the lids they glide on really nicely without a lot of fallout (there is a tiny bit, but that is to be expected with any kind of powder).
If you’ve tried this one please chime in with your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts, or if you have a holy-grail matte eyeshadow palette, please share! You can find the Edward Bess Matte Artiste now at QVC (where I bought mine), Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.
13 Comments
Uncategorized

Space NK Discovery Promotion $20 off Purchases $75+ Now through 4/26

April 15, 2015
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=MeQoh28EORo&subid=&offerid=211083.1&type=10&tmpid=11586&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fus.spacenk.com%252Fwomen%252F

Space NK is running a promotion online via their US site where you can enjoy $20 off purchases of $75 or more online with code DISCOVER15 at checkout. The promo runs through April 26, 2015. Space NK carries quite a few niche luxury brands like Diptyque, Oribe, Eve Lom, Ellis Faas, Sunday Riley, By Terry and more. If there’s something on your list that you’ve been eyeing, this is a good time to save.

A few of my personal favorites include:

I also recently received the Eve Lom Brightening Cream (detailed review soon) and it’s truly amazing in terms of how it smooths and brightens the skin giving it a blurred look effect without giving a white cast or sheen. I think this could possibly be my go-to spring time moisturizer for day. It’s on the pricey side but this promo makes the price point a lot more appealing.

Be sure to enter code DISCOVER15 at checkout to take advantage of the promo. Online for the US Space NK website only. Refer to the Space NK Terms and Conditions here. Now through 4/26/2015.

1 Comment
Uncategorized

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipsticks and Butter Cream Lipsticks

April 14, 2015

The lipsticks from Bite Beauty have been on my radar for quite some time. There’s something appealing about the simple and basic packaging of their lipsticks that always has me going “ooohh” when I see them online. I picked up a few lipsticks in two of the formulas:

Luminous Crème Lipsticks ($24 each) in Pepper and Musk
Butter Cream Lipsticks ($28 each) in Caramel, Pecan and Heather

Both formulas are rich and creamy with a very natural lipstick-like scent. The texture is on the thick side but they do glide on the lips nicely. The colors are super saturated and cover the lip entirely, although I do recommend a neutral lipliner blended around the edges to help the finish look a bit more natural/blended in with the lip. I bought colors based on recs from my readers – sometimes neutrals with brown or plum undertones can look very dark and drab on my olive skintone (i.e. MAC Spirit and Twig). The ones recommended to me are truly neutral with the pinky-brown base but they aren’t too dark and actually have a lot of color in them.

I personally found both formulas to perform the same on my lips. The Butter Cream formula is slightly glossier and thicker in texture so you have more of a sheen on the lips. The Luminous Creme melds into the lip for a more natural look, but it has enough color so you can still tell you are wearing lipstick.

The packaging and lipstick designs are different. I prefer the traditional angled tip because it makes lipstick easier to apply. The flat tip of the Butter Cream is designed to expose the creamy center, but it just feels awkward to apply and I don’t notice additional creaminess because of the design. The thick texture makes it stick slightly to the lips and I felt like I was going to break the lipstick at the base (luckily I did not on any of them). All of these look fairly similar. In store lighting they looked different but once I got home I realized most of these are really close to each other. On the lips they have slight differences in undertone.

Pepper is a browned pink rose
Musk is the perfect neutral nude pink rose
Caramel is a lovely nude beige flesh color
Pecan is a peachy pink brown nude
Heather is a bright but muted rose pink

Here they are swatched on the lips, for foundation I have on NARS Punjab in some photos and the Chanel CC Cream in Beige 30 in others (still testing this one out):

A few swatch comparisons to other neutral lipsticks:

Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Infamous (swatched on lips here)
Marc Jacobs Sheer Lip Gel in Understudy and Roleplay (reviews here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in First Time (swatched here)
Charlotte Tilbury Lipsticks in Nude Kate and Stoned Rose (lip swatch here)
NARS Audacious Lipsticks in Barbara and Anita (lip swatches here)

The formula of the Bite Beauty Lipsticks reminds me of the NARS Audacious Lipsticks in terms of the coverage and blendability. Both are rich and opaque but don’t look flat on the lips like some full-coverage lipsticks can. I do find the Bite Beauty Lipsticks slightly thicker in texture and you can definitely feel them on the lips – but not in a bad way and they don’t feel like they are sliding off. The thick texture of the Bite Butter Cream Lipsticks makes them feel like you have a veil of moisture on the lips – I found them very hydrating. Out of the two formulas, I have a very slight preference for the Butter Cream because of the color options, but I really prefer the traditional angled shape of the Luminous Cremes.

Bottom line: lots to love about these. I have a few more of the Butter Creams sitting in my online cart but given the fact that they are just slight variations of the ones I have and also combined with the fact that I’m not too thrilled with the flat tip, I will probably pass on more and stick with the ones I have. 

You can find the Bite Beauty Lipsticks online and in select Sephora stores. The Luminous Crème Lipsticks retail for $24 each while the Butter Cream Lipsticks are $28 each. Have you tried any of the Bite Beauty Lipsticks? Which ones?

P.S. the Sephora VIB Rouge 15% off is going on now through the 21st with code ROUGELOVE
VIBs get 15% off starting the 16th with code VIBLOVE
BIs get 10% off starting the 17th with code BILOVE

20 Comments
Uncategorized

The Makeup Show LA – March 2015

April 13, 2015

A few weekends ago I attended The Makeup Show in Los Angeles for the first time. The Makeup Show is series of events held for beauty professionals and students. Earlier last month, the team kindly sent over a preview package mid-March to showcase some new items and brands that would be making their debut at the show. I was glad to be able to attend the show in person to experience the event first hand. There will be events held throughout the US this year, check out the details for tickets and exhibits at The Makeup Show and follow them on Instagram @themakeupshow or The Makeup Show Blog to stay up to date with the latest and get sneak peeks of what is to come.

Quick overview of dates for upcoming shows:

  • May 3-4, 2015 NYC
  • June 13-14, 2015 Dallas
  • August 29-30, 2015 Pop-Up Shop in San Francisco (new!)
  • January 30-31, 2016 Orlando
There were over sixty beauty brands that with booths from the show. At the top of my list to visit were the Beautylish and Hakuhodo. The Beautylish booth was setup like a mini pharmacy with shelves of their Bioderma Sensibio and Bioderma Sébium – both of which are currently sold out, but be sure to put yourself on the wait list online. I was beyond excited to see the Hakuhodo brushes in person for the first time ever and limited myself to purchase 4 although I have a very long wish list now. A new discovery for me was the Korean brand MustaeV. The Makeup Show Press package included the Bloom Pouch (also shown here) which is perfect for travel. I picked up some items from the line and will have a review soon. Additional stops included the booths for Make Up For Ever, Nigel’s Beauty Emporium, Kevyn Aucoin, and NARS.

A few quick snapshots from the show that I was able to get in between the crowds of attendees:

Beautylish

MustaeV

Make Up For Ever

NARS

Ellis Faas Gallery

Inglot

Most of the lines offered their items at discounted prices from retail listed prices for those who attended the show. Here is my extensive (and rather expensive) haul. I left with four different kinds of brush cleaner that I’ve been putting to the test. I am eager to see if there is really a difference between the brands or if they all perform the same.

The Make Up For Ever items can be found at Sephora. The only thing exclusive to the show (and perhaps the pro line) was the mini Step 1 Primer Set. There were four small primers in a clear zip bag, but each item was rung up at the register separately. The OCC Creme Color Concentrate in Discipline can be found at Nordstrom. 

The Hakuhodo brushes I bought include the ones with white goat hair. I purchased J501 and J505 (both cheek/powder), G5514 (for eyes), the Fan Brush White H2369 and the Brush Cleaner. Hakuhodo did not have any discounts on their brushes at the show but it was nice to be able to see and touch them in person. Other items I picked up were some Kevyn Aucoin items like the Matte Lip Color in Enduring, The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting in Candlelight and Lip Gloss in Neottiana. After falling in love with the Large Bloom Pouch from MustaeV, I knew I had to stop by the booth at the show. They have an extensive line of brushes but the ones that stood out to me were the travel-sized EasyGo Line. The Blush Brush is the perfect size and shape for travel. They were kind enough to gift a few items to test out. I’ve already put the brush cleaner to use and the Spray is perfect for when I’m swatching a large number of items. It cleans the brushes effectively and but doesn’t make the brushes too wet so they dry quickly.
Last but not least includes the Bioderma Makeup Removers from Beautylish. I already purchased the smaller 250ml size of the Sensibio right when it launched in February thinking the small size would be sufficient. I also prefer smaller sized items so they don’t take up a lot of counter space. However, both of these are so good, I’ve already used up 1/2 of the Sensibio H20. If these are something you think you’ll use daily, I highly recommend that you opt for the larger 500 ml size. You also get the travel sized mini as a bonus when you buy the larger ones. I ordered 1 back up of each of the large sizes online because they keep selling out and this is something I don’t want to be without when I run through the bottles. They’ve sold out online yet again so I highly recommend you add yourself to the wait list. They will shoot you an e-mail once it is back in stock.
One last shot of the Make Up For Ever booth, I didn’t pick up any of the shadows because there were too many people crowded around the items:

Hope you enjoyed this brief recap of The Makeup Show LA! I wish I had gotten more photos of the booths but I got lost in all the makeup goodness. Plus there were so many people in attendance it was difficult to get photos of the booths like Stila, Smashbox, Sephora and OCC. Have you ever been to one of the events before? If so which city?
Be sure to check out the details of upcoming events, ticket information, exhibits and schedules online  at their website The Makeup Show. You can also follow them via social channels for more photos of the events on Instagram @themakeupshow, Twitter @themakeupshow and Facebook.
Many thanks to The Makeup Show for inviting me to the event! The MustaeV and Beautylish items were gifted courtesy for review consideration. All other items purchased by me.
20 Comments
Uncategorized

Sephora Beauty Insider VIB Rouge 15% Off Event Starts Today: 4/12 through 4/21/2015

April 12, 2015

The Sephora Beauty Insider event is happening this month! VIB Rouge Members get early access starting today where you can get 15% off your purchases online at Sephora.com with code ROUGELOVE and in stores by showing the mailer or copy of the e-mail you received with the barcodes 4/12 through 4/21. VIB and other Beauty Insider Members will have access at later dates (will update as more as I receive more info).

I placed an order online this morning to avoid the crowds, although quite a few of the Surratt Beauty items I had on my wish list sold out already. I’ll have my haul to share with you in the next week (my package is expected to arrive Tuesday or Wednesday).

In the meantime if you need some recommendations here is a list of items I’ve reviewed from the past few years that are good to save on. Sales on mid to high-end luxury products rarely occur except with the occasional friends and family discounts. In the mix a few splurges along with classic staples.

Row 1, left to right:

Row 2, left to right

Row 3, left to right:

Row 4, left to right: 

Did you buy anything for the VIB Rouge Beauty Insider sale at Sephora? If you’re shopping online be sure to enter in the code ROUGELOVE at checkout. If you’re a VIB/Beauty Insider Member, what’s on your wish list or in your shopping cart?

16 Comments
Bronzer + Blush Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers

April 11, 2015

Last week I was lucky to get a preview of the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers ($50 each for 0.39 oz / 11 g) at the Abbot Kinney store in Venice Beach. There are two additions to the Ambient Lighting collection. There are two options of bronzer infused with highlighter combined into one mirrored compact:
  • Luminous Bronze Light is described as a medium tan shade fused with Luminous Light, a champagne pearl powder, for a softer candlelit warmth, ideal for fair/light complexions
  • Radiant Bronze Light is the darker option described as a warm bronze shade fused with Radiant Light, a golden beige powder, to mimic a summer glow, ideal for medium/deep complexions
Both are available now exclusively at Sephora.com for VIB/VIB Rouge Members. For the official launch details and dates:
  • April 7 – 14 the bronzers will be available to Sephora’s VIB Rouge customers
  • April 15 the bronzers will launch wide on Sephora.com and HourglassCosmetics.com
  • May is when the bronzers will hit stores
A quick peek at the Hourglass store + event before I get into the review:

Ambient Lighting Bronzers and Blush (blush review here)

Incandescent Electra which is currently exclusive to the Ambient Lighting Blush Palette will be available separately Sephora.com on 4/15 and HourglassCosmetics.com on 4/23, and will also hit stores in May, also shown below the Hourglass Brushes

Another reason to visit the Hourglass store: you can create your own custom Ambient Lighting Palette with any of the highlighter options

The two new bronzers are absolutely stunning. As a huge fan of the Ambient Lighting Powders and Blushes, I could barely contain my excitement when I was able to see the new bronzers in person. Both are on the warm side and are extremely pigmented. Although they have the highlighter aspect mixed in, I found them to have a more satiny glow with a very soft luminous shimmer. As with the blushes, the color portions and swirls are rich and super saturated so a little goes a long way. The colors are easy to blend and layer.

The Ambient Lighting Powder Brush is super soft and plush which will dispense just the right amount of product for a soft glow. If you want more color, use the tip to contour the cheeks or a denser blush brush. The texture is soft and airy which makes them glide on the skin in a soft smooth manner. Each one is hand blended so the swirls will be different in every compact.

Close ups of each Ambient Lighting Bronzer, Luminous Light has a mix of champagne and soft tan, it looks neutral in the pan but applies warmly on the skin.

Radiant Bronze Light is the deeper option and is a few shades darker than the Luminous version:

Swatches with different light and angles, first in natural light without any flash:

In direct sun with a flash:

Detailed close up:

Comparisons to the highlighter counterparts:

Two sets of swatch comparisons to other bronzers:

Hourglass Radiant Light (reviewed + swatched here)

Chanel Les Beiges Multi Color (from Summer 2014, reviewed here)

One last shot: left is Luminous Bronze Light, right is Radiant Bronze Light

I’ve been alternating between the two since the event and am partial to the lighter option Luminous Light. On my medium olive toned skin they add just the right amount of warmth and glow. They are both warm without being orangey. There is just the right amount of shimmer and glow to give the face depth and dimension without emphasizing pores like some highlighters do. I like these layered on top of blush or alone for warmth. Even though Luminous Light is designed for light to fair skins, I think it will still show up on medium skin tones like Chanel B40s (I’m a Chanel B30/NARS Punjab). These last all day long without fading or darkening, although I suspect if you are extremely fair these may be too warm for your taste. If that is the case and you are in search of a new bronzer, I recommend the Edward Bess Daydream, although the Hourglass ones are very different in finish and concept.

I give both a huge thumbs up. They both are similar on me so I don’t think you need both, although I am happy I do have one of each color. They are different enough from the highlighters to justify both. Even though they come with a hefty price tag at $50 each, I think they are well worth every penny.

You can buy the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzers at online at Sephora now if you’re a VIB/VIB Rouge. Starting April 15th which is just around the corner for everyone else. In stores starting May. Have you checked out the latest from Hourglass? If not what are your favorite Hourglass items?

The Luminous Bronze Light and Ambient Lighting Powder Brush were gifted at the press preview. 

23 Comments
Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Room Sprays in Baies and Figuier

April 10, 2015

Diptyque is my all time favorite for home fragrance. They are quite a splurge but once I tried one, nothing else seemed quite as good. I have quite a few loves from other lines including Henri Bendel, Jo Malone, Byredo and Cire Trudon, but my heart belongs to Diptyque. In addition to the candles, there are a number of other ways to enjoy Diptyque scents. I’ve been enamored with their room sprays which come in a selection of fragrances. Right now I have the Room Sprays ($65 each for 150 ml / 5.1 fl oz) in Baies and Figuier in rotation.

Both come in a sleek and sturdy glass jar with a black spray top. The scents are almost identical to the candle versions. The room spray version of Figuier is a bit more green compared to the candle and a bit stronger in scent. I find this one perfect year round but especially love it for spring. It lifts the mood and makes the entire room smell like lush sweet figs with just one spray. It’s very strong so you only need two spritzes.

The room spray version of Baies is slightly sharper and sweeter compared to the candle but still also very strong (in my experience it’s stronger than the candle). This one is more feminine to my nose but is still neutral enough that I can spray this without having to feel like it’s too girly. This one is has a more afternoon or evening feel. It’s not deep or dark, but it’s not quite as light as Figuier. I love this one and am on my third bottle.

The Diptyque Room Sprays are both strong in scent. The fragrance won’t last as long as burning a candle but the sprays will fill the entire room with just one spritz for a quick refresher and in my home I find the scent will linger and last for a few hours. Right now being a Diptyque fan, I can’t pick between the sprays or the candle, they are both quite beautiful. I do think the scent of a burning candle will last longer but the sprays are quite strong so they do last surprisingly well.

For those new to Diptyque, many have asked what my favorites are. My top picks for Diptyque rotate on an ongoing basis. Figuier remains at the top of my list almost always, but right now I’m also loving the Tomas Maier + Diptyque Palm Beach (review here), Cuir (boutique exclusive, reviewed here) and the classic Baies.

There are a number of different places to buy Diptyque. I purchase mine from several different stores depending on promos, gift with purchases or availability of special edition releases. My top picks to shop Diptyque are Nordstrom (for quick and reliable shipping) and also any of the Diptyque Boutiques because the staff at the stores I’ve visited are really helpful and know the line well. The customer service at the boutiques is truly phenomenal. They are always patient, very friendly and can answer any questions you have. Features on a few stores I’ve visited linked for Maiden Lane, South Coast Plaza (my favorite) and Larchmont. Each time I visit a store I always discover new things. I like that they don’t pressure you to purchase anything (although I always manage to leave with a purchase) and everyone is always pleasant to chat with.

If you’re a Diptyque fan I think you will really like the Room Sprays. I hope that Diptyque will carry more scents eventually, I know they did a long time ago. Right now you can find the room sprays in Baies, Figuier, Amber and 34. Available at Diptyque Boutiques and Diptyqueparis.com and Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Space NK.

What’s your favorite home fragrance right now?

8 Comments