Yearly Archives

2017

Beauty Favorites Beauty Tools

Best Beauty Tools and Accessories 2017

December 31, 2017

Best Beauty Tools and Accessories | Beauty Look Book

This is the last post of the 2017 where I round up my best beauty tools and accessory finds of the year. Ideally I’d love to find just one brush line that has all the tools I need but I have yet to find one. These are my favorites from this year. Press samples listed with a *.

Best Beauty Tools and Accessories 2017

  • The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Bag –  Taupe shown, I also have it in Black (shown here and here). This is one of my best makeup bag buys. I reviewed it in more depth with my Travel Beauty Cases post and mentioned that while it’s super functional and sturdy the quality isn’t 100%. I still find that for the price, the shape and size is really good and both have served me well this year.
  • Away Mini Suitcase * – These came back this year and sold out super fast! I tried to review as soon as they came out and hope you were able to buy one! It’s not really intended for just beauty, but you can carry pretty much anything small inside. Review and interior shown here. I really hope they bring this back permanently!
  • Glamcor Riki Skinny Vanity Mirror from Beautylish – This mirror is one of the best things I’ve tried, it lights up with adjustable brightness. It also comes with a stand to prop up and the center is magnetized to hold a magnifying mirror and cell phone holder to do lit selfies. I’ve been a longtime fan of simplehuman sensor mirrors, but with the round ones you have to get up close to see your face and often times you can’t see your entire face. This one from Glamcor doesn’t have the same quality magnification as simplehuman, but sometimes all you need is a larger mirror with lights to do your makeup. It’s portable enough that I’ve been taking it with me each move.
  • Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer – Best hairdryer splurge ever. My review here and yes 100% worth every penny.
  • Tatcha Original Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers – The only blotting papers I use as they absorb excess oil without disturbing your makeup. Also love that there’s no powder on it like some others so it won’t leave the face looking dusty or white. In San Diego one would do the trick. In Florida sometimes I needed 3, but even when soaked with sweat they don’t fall apart or disintegrate.
  • Glamboxes Glamboard Tray – This isn’t new to me this year but I’ve found it great to hold beauty essentials that I need in the moment. Sometimes I just want a tray that can hold what I need for a full face and this does the trick. Any small tray will do but this has pull out drawers that can expand across a sink if you do your makeup in the bathroom and don’t want things rolling around your counter.
  • MAC Full Lash Curler – The best lash curler I’ve used for a long time since my favorite one from Chanel was discontinued. The MAC ones perform well without pinching the sides of my eyes.
  • beautyblender original and beautyblender nude – These are the best makeup sponges and I find that they work better than any foundation brush. You can find a better value in their Gold Mine Set which is limited-edition. They often have value sets or packs so I’d recommend you opt for those instead since they can be spendy.
  • Wayne Goss Makeup Brushes * are available exclusively at Beautylish. I’ve been so impressed with every single one I’ve tried. The quality is excellent, they’re super soft, there is never any poking on the face. The sets are expensive but every single brush is well made and very functional for flawless makeup application. They really do perform better than your average brush. Also if you buy brushes from any line individually they’re going to add up in price so if you break it down they’re actually very reasonably priced.
  • Chanel Makeup Brushes * were redesigned this year. I was really impressed with the new sleek design and quality. my favorite three are the Precision Powder Brush, Flat Eyeshadow Brush and Eye Contouring Brush. Full review of the lineup here.
  • MAC Brush 239 (now 239S) – The 239 is a classic but has recently been discontinued. All the brushes are being redesigned/relaunched in a Synthetic Version. Online at MAC the product says “coming soon” but you may be able to find them in MAC stores now. It’s where I found mine and it performs the same as the original version. This is the classic eyeshadow brush for me because of the shape and density!
  • MAC Brush 140S – Best large flat powder brush I tried this year.
  • La Mer The Powder Brush – Best loose powder brush I’ve ever tried as well, worth the splurge to me because it’s sooooo soft and plush!
  • Last but not least, this isn’t really a beauty tool or accessory but I had to include it, the Barefoot Dreams Cozy Chic Throw was the best splurge of the year and a lot of their items are on sale for 20% off right now at Nordstrom (not sure how long this is going on). It’s the softest and warmest blanket I’ve ever bought and so cozy.

That wraps up my Best Beauty Tools and Accessories 2017 roundup for the year! I’m doing one last giveaway for the year, I’m picking 5 people to win one $75 eGift Card to Sephora (US). Enter through the widget below! Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify for an entry. I’ll pick a winner within 48 hours after the giveaway ends by e-mail. I usually ship prizes within a week. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

170 Comments
Beauty Favorites Skincare

Best Skincare of 2017

December 29, 2017

Best Skincare 2017

Rounding up my top picks in skincare this year! I attribute the biggest improvements for my skin to lifestyle changes more than my skincare routine. I’ve made a conscious effort to take better care of my body with more exercise and better eating habits. This year I stopped drinking soy lattes (opting for almond or coconut milk instead in and smaller doses). I also reduced my coffee significantly intake as it was contributing to irregular heartbeats (don’t worry I got checked out and I’m completely ok). I switched to green tea, reduced sugar in everything, cut back on eating bread and over time I saw some pretty amazing changes from the inside out.

Skincare testing has still been a huge part of my life this year – especially as I age I’ve become more conscious of protecting my skin. The strong Florida sun can be brutal and the heat intense even if you’re not in direct sun. Finding good sunscreen and skincare has been essential otherwise I’d be completely fried.

This is a pretty extensive list as I switched things up quite a bit over the year. We’ve traveled from coast to coast and experienced climate changes. As many of you have advised me when I moved here, even though Florida is hot, there is a fairly lengthy dry season. That combined with the water conditions here (plus with swimming in the ocean and pools) has kinda messed with my skin. The weather can change daily! Then there are the late spring to summer months where the humidity is almost unreal and everything feels like it could slide off your face the second you step outside. Finding a routine and re-balancing my skin has been a process and I’m really thankful I’ve found quite a few really great products. You can see my bare skin here and here. Press samples have a * next to them.

Shelf 1, left to right:

  • Sisley-Paris Express Flower Gel Mask * – Best gently hydrating mask for dry or tired-looking skin but without the over emollient feel that some moisture masks have, 100% worth the splurge and I bought a backup tube because I don’t want to be without it.
  • Sisley-Paris Radiant Glow Express Mask – A gentle cleansing glow mask with red clay to remove impurities without drying out the skin, leaves skin feeling super soft.
  • Tatcha The Water Cream – I’d rank this in my top 3 moisturizers of the year, Tatcha seems to have been the first to develop a water cream which is a truly lightweight moisturizer that feels like a refreshing burst of water, it’s been perfect in humid climate, I’m on my second one.
  • Eve Lom Brightening Cream * – A long-time favorite for a soft lightweight cream that over time does improve the brightness of the complexion, it contains anti-oxidants that correct hyperpigmentation and smooth skin, also available in the holiday Perfecting Ritual Set.
  • Tatcha The Water Gel – I’m one who actually hates skincare gels because they’re sticky and don’t typically work with my foundations, this one is just perfect in every way.
  • Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil – Out of all the cleansing oils I tried this one turned out to be my favorite for the year for super soft skin.
  • Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen – This is my ULTIMATE go to for body sunscreen, it was the most effective for me without any scent or sticky feel which is super important to me, it held up well in the Florida humidity without making me feel greasy and even with regular re-application it absorbs well (I’ve also converted my husband to using this one although he still prefers Kiehl’s).
  • Supergoop! Hand Cream – I often forget the hands when it comes to sun protection and I don’t realize how much the sun hits the hands especially when driving, this has been essential and comes in a small size that I can throw in my bag.
  • Sisley-Paris Black Rose Skin Cream * – Best lightweight cream almost feels like a water cream, moisturizes and refreshes the skin lightly in the most amazing way.
  • Shu Uemura Sakura Rose Petal Mask * – Best plumping moisturizing mask that soothes skin, Beauty Look Book readers a special promo of deluxe samples + free shipping on orders $50+ with code BLBXSHU. Deluxe samples include: mini laque supreme sample rd01, maxi:hydrability essence-in cream 13 ml, sakura-rose-petal-mask 13 ml and nutri:nectar sample 15 ml. Valid online at both Shu Uemura US and Shu Uemura Canada.
  • Kate Somerville Exfolikate Gentle – My favorite weekly face scrub to purify and decongest the skin.

Shelf 2, left to right:

Shelf 3, left to right:

  • Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate – Probably my favorite face oil of the year to hydrate dry skin.
  • Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil – One I use at night to maintain elasticity and moisture, I noticed my skin sometimes feels dry with the water here after I wash it at night, this doesn’t feel greasy although it is emollient.
  • 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Retinol Oil * – One of the most amazing night treatments I’ve tried, it has 1% pure retinol so I use this every other night or every 2 nights because I have sensitive skin, it’s still gentle enough to not burn my skin like many retinol products do, it helps diminish fine lines and spots.
  • Kopari Coconut Melt (mini) – The best body moisturizers for days when my body is so dry, especially since winter hit Florida, I apply it on the body at night before I go to bed. Especially good to restore moisture if skin is dried from summer heat.
  • Sisley-Paris Beauty Subscription Program*  – The only beauty subscription I’ve kept this year, full review here – it’s available in 3, 6 or 12 months options.
  • Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder – Best gentle cleanser that I use as an exfoliator to help get rid of dead skin and polish the face.
  • Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment – In my top 2 for fixing problem skin if I have breakouts.
  • Sisley-Paris Confort Extreme Nutritive Lip Balm – An amazing non-scented and less thick version of the classic By Terry Baume de Rose, moisturizing and works like a charm for dry lips.
  • By Terry Baume de Rose – Always a classic for the thickest rose scented lip treatment.
  • Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist – New to me this year, but it has the finest mist out of the face mists I’ve tried! Beautifully hydrating in a light way which is just how I like it.

Shelf 4, left to right:

  • Caudalie Glow Activating Trio (eye cream not shown because I’ve packed it up) – Truly impressed with this line, I bought it from Sephora this year and like the way it really makes the skin glow and moisturize the skin without feeling heavy, I’m purchasing the eye cream after I use up some others, I feel like the serum + moisturizer have started to really help with fine lines I have on my forehead.
  • Darphin Hydraskin Light – One of the most impressive lightweight creams I tried this year!
  • Fresh Mask Wardrobe from the holiday set, Sugar Face Polish and Rose Mask have become two Fresh staples that I know I’ll have to replenish very soon.
  • MAC Fix+ Lavender – MAC came out with scented Fix+ in Coconut, Rose and Lavender, I’m obsessed with these, I stocked up on so many because they’re so nice to use mid-day and refresh the skin.
  • Kate Somerville Dermal Quench (mini) – This was something I discovered a while back after getting a facial at the Kate Somerville Clinic, the entire line has changed my life in terms of improving my skin, this was the biggest game changer in improving texture and reducing fine lines.

One more shelfie because these couldn’t fit in the photo above:

Best Skincare of 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

Left to right

  • Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist – One of my favorite most repurchased mists even though I really hate the price tag, it dispenses a very fine veil of moisture on the face.
  • Chanel Sublimage La Brume Intense Revitalizing Mist – I’m obsessed with the Sublimage line although I can’t bring myself to repurchase the creams or eye treatments (so I try to find mini samples when I can), I bought the mist because it comes with three refills which seemed to justify the price more to me, this is a super hydrating mist but has a very fine mist – the dispenser is well designed, I love how it revitalizes the skin.
  • 111Skin Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask – This is my ride or die sheet mask, it surpasses all other sheet masks I’ve tried for hydration, plumping and smoothing the skin making it feel like it’s completely new (comes in a pack of 5). I was sent a couple sheets for review, but have since splurged on 3 boxes.
  • Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Cushion with SPF50, this doubles as a light makeup base and lasts all day.
  • 111Skin Space Defense Bright Eye Lift Gel * – The only eye gel I’ve used that doesn’t leave a sticky residue, it makes this compatible with my foundation/concealer and eye makeup, it’s lightweight but you can still feel it on the skin, keeps the eye area hydrated without any greasy feel.
  • L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Eyes * – I love this line for the smooth hydrating feel it gives, I like this at night for a soothing hydrating veil of moisture.
  • Chanel La Creme Main * – This has one of the best dry-downs for a velvety feel while still adding moisture, I love the cute packaging on this as well.

That wraps up my list of the Best Skincare 2017. I realize this is a very long list of favorites. Obviously I don’t recommend using all of this at once – I’ve spent months testing and rotating depending on location, season and skin needs. I moved from San Diego to Tampa Bay. I’ve also done quite a bit of traveling back to California, to New York, Texas, further south to Miami Beach and even north up to Georgia and Kentucky. Because I know many of you will ask, here are my ABSOLUTE top picks by category:

  • Best cleanser: Kate Somerville anything
  • Best moisturizer: four-way tie between Darphin Tatcha Water Cream, Sisley Black Rose Cream and Eve Lom Brightening Cream
  • Best night treatment: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil
  • Best toner: Sisley Floral Toner
  • Best exfoliator: weekly is Kate Somerville, daily is the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder
  • Best purifying mask: Glamglow Supermud and Aesop Parsley Seet Mask
  • Best moisture mask: Sisley-Paris Express Flower Gel Mask and 111Skin Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask
  • Best face mist: tough pick, but tie between Chanel Sublimage and Omorovicza Queen of Hungary
  • Best sunscreen for the face: Diorskin Cushion
  • Best sunscreen for the body: Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen
  • Best eye treatment: still searching for THE one
  • Best body moisturizer: Kopari Coconut Melt
  • If you splurge on 3 things, I’d recommend: Sisley Beauty Subscription, 111Skin Sheet Masks and stock up on Supergoop! Sunscreen
  • My best skincare tips: Double cleanse at a minimum if you wear makeup or triple cleanse to add an exfoliator on a regular basis.

I’m doing another giveaway! One person will be selected through the widget below to win::

  1. Fresh Mask Wardrobe (includes Sugar Face Polish, Rose Face Mask, Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask, Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy Boosting Mask – all 1 oz)
  2. Nude Lips Duo
  3. Deluxe sampler pack that I got as a GWP.
  4. Full Size Sugar Cream Lip Treatment in Blush

Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway will run through January the 6th. I’ll pick someone within 48 hours after it ends. I usually ship prizes within a week. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What were your skincare favorites of the year?

151 Comments
Beauty Favorites

Best of Beauty 2017: Makeup Favorites

December 28, 2017

Best Luxury Makeup 2017 | The Beauty Look Book

Today I have my Best of Beauty Roundup for 2017 with my makeup favorites of the year. I feel like I always say this but I cannot believe another year has flown by! Beauty, skincare and fragrance testing has been a challenging process as we transitioned from the mild climate of San Diego to humidity and different water conditions in South Florida. Many things that worked for me in California suddenly didn’t work the same way for me once I landed in Florida. With seasonal changes I had to switch things up in skincare but the good news is for makeup most everything still worked for me. My best of beauty for makeup this year includes my top picks of the year with a mix of old and new launches. Items that were press samples have a * next to them. As always I’d love to hear about your makeup favorites this year!

Face/Cheeks

Eyes

  • Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Nude Dip –  one that has remained a classic staple for years, also among the few I’ve hit pan on before and repurchased (original review and swatches here)
  • Chanel Les 4 Ombres in City Lights – best neutral with shimmer discovery this year, it was limited-edition and may be hard to find now, a close more neutral option is Tisse Rivoli (swatches here)
  • Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown – most natural easy to wear pencil that’s pretty much goof-proof, it’s pretty much the one I’ve worn in most of my beauty looks on this blog
  • Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel * – favorite brow gel that adds definition, fills in sparse areas naturally and lasts all day (review here)
  • L’Oreal Lash Paradise in Waterproof Blackest Black – best mascara of the year that holds the curl, doesn’t smudge, stays put all day and actually makes my wimpy lashes visible (review here)
  • Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope in Flash Phenomenon – best glowy eyeshadow palette of the year (swatches here)

Lips

Nails

I’m doing a few giveaways before the end of the year. One person will be selected at random through the Rafflecopter widget to win a selection of my favorites including: Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Nude Dip, Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Rose Gold, Blossom and Halo, L’oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof and MAC Lipglass color of their choice. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Simply enter through the widget below. I’ll pick a winner within 48 hours after the giveaway ends and e-mail them directly. I usually ship prizes within a week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That wraps up my Best of Beauty Roundup favorite makeup picks of the year! What were your top makeup picks? Let me know in the comments whether they were tried and true staples or new discoveries that you tested.

192 Comments
Base Makeup NARS

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review + Swatches

December 26, 2017

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review and Swatches

I’ve been putting a few new foundation formulas to the test! The newest one is the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation ($49 for 1 fl oz/30 ml). I’m thrilled to have been able to swatch all 33 shades of the foundation. An artist from the NARS team matched/guessed three shades they thought would be my closest match and the team sent miniature samples of the entire collection for review. I wish they would sell the minis because it would be so much easier for us to find out perfect match! Unfortunately at this time samples aren’t for sale but I hope these swatches help you with your foundation matching if you’re buying or guessing online.

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review and Swatches

Shown above Punjab, Vanuatu and Barcelona

The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is a full coverage opaque liquid foundation. It’s probably the thickest formula of all the NARS foundations I’ve tried and takes a bit of experimentation to get a smooth application. Since it’s so opaque I’d recommend using only a little bit at a time. If you’re skin isn’t flawless or completely smooth using a primer is essential. I’ve tried around five different bases with this formula and find that the NARS primers work best with this one. My favorite is the Radiance Primer. I also recommend applying with a damp beautyblender or fingers to blend. Setting is also essential even if it’s just a lightweight powder. These come in a clear bottle which is always great so you can see exactly how much you have left. I also love that these come with a pump.

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review and Swatches

Color range is pretty impressive with different undertones. If you’re like me you probably find there aren’t enough yellow or olive based foundations on the market. NARS completely has you covered and shades like Punjab, Stromboli are very olive. Long time readers may remember I used to use the NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Punjab (formula is thinner than the new one). I’ve darkened quite a few shades and have since found the best matches to be Stromboli or Barcelona. With the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation my matches are Stromboli, Vanuatu or Barcelona. Living in Florida I’ve found my coloring changes on a weekly basis depending on how much sun I’ve been exposed to. There’s no escaping it here and even with sunscreen, hats and trying to stay in the shade I still tan easily.

Lasting power is pretty good even in Florida heat. The humidity levels in Tampa are low right now so I can’t report how it holds up in humid climates. Right now on me it lasts all day but it’s not transfer-proof if you touch your face (ie fingers or to sunglasses). It photographs well and goes on smoothly as long as you apply with light layers. I didn’t experience any oxidation. Finish is naturally radiant and glowy.

Below I have Vanuatu applied. I’ve also shown my bare skin below (eeps!). I have a lot of freckles which most people don’t realize until they see me without any makeup on. I think the photos below show how well the foundation covers without looking too thick or cakey. I didn’t need any concealer under the eyes or around the nose to reduce redness because the foundation covered it all.

  • Top left: completely bare makeup-free skin, I just have a little bit of moisturizer on
  • Top right: a thin layer of NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Vanuatu on the face all over applied with a beautyblender (no concealer)
  • Bottom photo:
    • NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Vanuatu
    • Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation in Shade 4
    • Tom Ford Large Ultimate Bronzing Powder in Gold Dust
    • NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette (review here)
    • Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
    • Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel in Espresso
    • NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anna blotted
    • NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Bound

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Vanuatu Medium 3.5

Swatches of all the colors below in four sets. Set 1:

  • Oslo – Light 1
  • Mont Blanc – Light 2
  • Yukon Light 2.5
  • Gobi – Light 3
  • Salzburg – Light 3.5
  • Deauville – Light 4
  • Vienna – Light 4.5
  • Fiji – Light 5

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Oslo, Mont Blanc, Yukon, Gobi, Salzburg, Deauville, Vienna and Fiji

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Oslo, Mont Blanc, Yukon, Gobi, Salzburg, Deauville, Vienna and Fiji

_________________

Set 2:

  • Punjab – Medium 1
  • Patagonia – Medium 1.2
  • Vallauris – Medium 1.5
  • Santa Fe – Medium 2
  • Sahel – Medium 2.5
  • Stromboli – Medium 3
  • Vanuatu – Medium 3.5
  • Barcelona – Medium 4

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review and Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review and Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

_________________

Set 3:

  • Valencia – Medium 5
  • Aruba – Medium 6
  • Syracuse – Medium/Dark 1
  • Tahoe – Medium/Dark 2
  • Moorea – Medium/Dark 2.3
  • Huahine – Medium/Dark 2.6
  • Cadiz – Medium/Dark 3
  • Caracas – Medium/Dark 3.3
  • Belem – Medium/Dark 3.6

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Swatches Valencia, Aruba, Syracuse, Tahoe, Moorea, Huahine, Cadiz, Caracas, Belem

_________________

Set 4:

  1. Macao – Medium/Dark 4
  2. Marquises – Medium/Dark 5
  3. Manaus – Dark 1
  4. New Caledonia – Dark 2
  5. Iguacu – Dark 3
  6. Namibia – Dark 4
  7. Zambie – Dark 5
  8. Mali – Dark 6

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Swatches

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Swatches Macao, Marquises, Manaus, New Caldonia, Iguacu, Namibia, Zambie, Mali

A quick comparison between a few shades I use in the NARS range including the All Day Luminous Foundation in Stromboli and Barcelona and Velvet Matte Skin Tint in St. Moritz. I’ve also included the Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger for reference. Two of the NARS primers shown for size comparison.

NARS Foundation Swatches Stromboli, Barcelona and St. Moritz

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation Review and Swatches

In summary I think the new NARS foundation performs really well for my skin type. It will give nearly full coverage and covered under eye dark circles and redness around the nose. It was a little tricky to get the coverage to look natural since it is so opaque. The first time I applied it I dabbed on way too much. A little goes a long way. As far as I can tell there is no detectable scent, no irritation on my skin, no white flashback with a camera flash. It will look dewy if you don’t set with powder. I wasn’t able to put it to the test for a full 16 hours, but I have worn this for around 12 hours on several occasions and it holds up pretty well both in doors and outdoors in the sun and at the beach. I do get a little dewy looking around the T-zone by the end of the day so I keep my Tatcha blotting papers with me to help absorb shine without messing up my makeup. My favorite formula from NARS is still the Velvet Matte Skin Tint because I like something that feels more weightless without any dewy look.

My other foundation shades I alternate between and use in my Summer Base Edit post (Tom Ford, Laura Mercier and MAC shades I use). I’m currently testing some formulas from Estee Lauder which I just bought. Review on those picks soon!

You can find the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation at online at Sephora, Ulta and NARS right now. Have you tried this yet?

NARS foundations sent courtesy of the NARS team for review.

32 Comments
Florida

Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2017

Merry Christmas Diptyque Minis

Merry Christmas to everyone! Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday and a happy new year. This is our first Christmas in Florida and our pups Jake and Lucy are living their best lives in the warmth and sunshine. (They actually turned 13 this year but they’ll forever be my pups.) We are thrilled to have some family in town on two separate occasions this season. We’ll be spending time at the beaches here.

Beauty Look Book Puppies

Jack Russell Pups

Lucy

New posts, best of the year roundups and giveaways to resume tomorrow! In the meantime I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Hope Santa brought you something good!

 

 

37 Comments
Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Private Shadows and New Mascara Launches

December 22, 2017

Tom Ford Private Shadows, Spike Lash Mascara, Shutter Lash Mascara, Fullscreen Lash Mascara Review and Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

By popular request I have a review with swatches of the new Eyes of Tom Ford Collection. This is Tom Ford’s first eyes-only launch with new Private Shadows ($36 each), three new mascaras in Spike Lash, Shutter Lash and Fullscreen Lash ($45 each) and an Eye Gloss ($36).

Up first is a look at the Private Shadows which are individual shades of eye shadow. These come in the cutest mirrored compact with a snap lock closure versus the magnetic style the Eye Color Quads. There are five different finishes:

  • Ultra Suede – intensely pigmented matte shades formulated without pearl
  • Suede – matte shades formulated with subtle touches of pearl
  • Sateen – high shine shades with a pearl luster finish
  • Vinyl – pearlized shades with a metallic chrome finish
  • Paillette – pearlized shades with a sequin glitter finish

I’ve tested all formulas and find they are rich and smooth in pigment. I personally find the finish between the Suede, Sateen and Vinyl to be similar in the colors I tested. They have a smooth pearl quality that feels extremely soft to the touch. They glide on the lids flawlessly. The Paillette shades are glittery, but true to Tom Ford glitters in the sense that I don’t experience fall out once they are on the lids and they are semi-sheer in the base with more pigment in the glitter flecks. I received 7 shades as press samples and purchased 5. Out of all 12 shades there are only 2 I’m not crazy about. Vertigo is a fairly basic grey-taupe (too basic for the price) and Videotape was fairly stiff and hard in texture (color payoff wasn’t as good as the other shades).

I’ve split the shades by color family rather than formula:

Tom Ford Private Shadow Eyeshadow Singles | The Beauty Look Book

A closer look at each row with descriptions:

Tom Ford Private Shadow Eyeshadow Singles swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Top Row, left to right:

  • Hush (suede) is a soft champagne neutral with a sheen
  • Breathless (paillette) is a sparkling glitter pale silver
  • Vertigo (ultrasuede) is a matte soft grey
  • Burnt Suede (suede) is a soft taupe shimmer

____________________

Tom Ford Private Shadow Eyeshadow Singles swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Middle Row, left to right:

  • Exposure (sateen) goes on lighter than what I see in the pan, it’s a light pink shimmer
  • Loveshade (suede) is a beautiful soft medium salmon pink shimmer
  • Body Double (vinyl) is my favorite, I live for shades like this! It’s the perfect all over lid color in a neutral shimmer beige
  • Warm Leatherette (vinyl) is another favorite, it’s a warm shimmering amber gold

____________________

Tom Ford Private Shadow Eyeshadow Singles swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Bottom Row, left to right:

  • Fire Sign (paillette) is a warm copper sparkle
  • Smoked Opaline (sateen) is a soft olive shimmer
  • Tempte Bleu (paillette) is a glittery blue, it’s surprisingly wearable and the only blue shadow I’ve tried that I feel like I could wear
  • Videotape (suede) is a deep maroon

____________________

Swatches:

Tom Ford Private Shadow Eyeshadow Singles swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Tom Ford Private Shadow Eyeshadow Singles swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Next are three new mascaras in Spike Lash, Shutter Lash and Fullscreen Lash and an Eye Gloss. I tried all three mascaras to see how they held up throughout several days. I could not bring myself to test the Eye Gloss on my eyes for more than five minutes. I swiped and swatched it on my hand, dabbed it on my eyes and immediately removed it. This is one product I don’t think I could ever bring myself to wear on the eyes. It has a smooth non-tacky texture but did not feel comfortable on my lids.

For the mascaras, my favorite is still the classic Waterproof Extreme. The new ones aren’t completely smudge-proof because my lashes simply don’t hold the curl well. My thoughts on each one:

  • Spike Lash is my favorite of the three for the most volume and least smudging. It has an almost wet look to it when you apply so make sure you give it a few seconds to dry before you blink. This has a rubbery looking applicator with tiny spikes. This gives volume in a dramatic way.
  • Shutter Lash has more dense applicator with bristles and it’s slightly flattened. This gets all the lashes from the base and gives a full coat to everything without clumping. Unfortunately this smudged on me.
  • Fullscreen Lash has a swirled applicator. It’s great at separating the lashes and lengthening. I didn’t have any smudges on this one.
  • My favorite is still the Waterproof Extreme in Florida heat it’s one of the few that won’t budge or smudge. All three new ones held the curl pretty well. Spike Lash did the best for intense looking lashes and Fullscreen Lash did the best in lengthening for me.
  • For reference, you can see a roundup of my Mascara Hits and Misses from this summer.

Tom Ford Spike Lash, Shutter Lash, Fullscreen Lash Mascara and Eye Gloss

A closer look:

Tom Ford Spike Lash, Shutter Lash, Fullscreen Lash Mascara and Eye Gloss

In summary I think the new eyeshadow singles are really good and worth the splurge. The quality, texture and pigment is excellent. I swatched some of the other matte shades in store and they’re quite smooth and soft. I was tempted to buy some but felt more compelled to go with the shades I felt had some shimmer because they looked more unique. I do wish they had made these like MAC Pro Palettes where you can make your own quad or palette because I find them more convenient than singles. I’m a huge fan of the Tom Ford Eye Color Quads (in particular Nude Dip, Honeymoon and Disco Dust) and almost always bring one with me when I travel because they’re so versatile. Still these don’t take up a lot of space and they’re compact enough to bring several along with you.

I’m really not sure what to do with the Eye Gloss as it’s just not my thing. If you wear eye gloss let me know how and when you wear it!

Mascaras are nice but I would have preferred to have waterproof options. I have lashes that usually don’t hold the curl with a lash curler unless the mascara is waterproof. Waterproof Extreme does everything I need in a mascara. That being said I really like the different applicators in the new formulas.

You can find the Eyes of Tom Ford Collection at all Tom Ford locations now. Online at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Beautylish, Sephora and Tom Ford Beauty.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Press samples include Hush, Breathless, Vertigo, Warm Leatherette, Smoked Opaline, Tempete Bleu, Videotape, 3 New Mascaras and Eye Gloss.

18 Comments
Laura Mercier Lips

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick

December 20, 2017

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick Review and Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

There’s a new lipstick formula from Laura Mercier called the Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick ($28 each for 1.4 g/0.035 oz, made in Germany). They launched 24 shades in a wide range of colors from pale beige to dark purple. They come in a slim twist up tube similar to the Caviar Sticks Eye Colors which I adore. I feel fortunate to be able to share swatches of all the colors with you today!

The Velour Extreme Matte Lipsticks are matte full coverage lipsticks. All have a cream finish without any shimmer. In general I hate matte lipsticks and matte lip products. I find they make my lips look dry, shriveled, colors darken and everything looks aged. The few exceptions have been the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution, Louboutin Matte Lipstick and Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipsticks. The Laura Mercier Velour Extreme the formula is ultra matte. Formula is opaque and long lasting, but smoothness is hit or miss. Most of the colors have extremely good flawless coverage, but some have a patchy finish like Ruthless (pale pink), Extreme (deep plum) and Goals (light peach). They do have a very matte finish – I found applying a balm underneath helps smooth the finish but they still last long.

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick Review and Swatches

For reference on my skintone and foundation, I currently use the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion in Buff, Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer in Natural + Tawny, NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in St. Moritz, MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC35 and NC37. Swatches of what I rotate between in my Summer Foundation and Base Edit post. For the new NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation I’m still testing out the colors but I’m swatching Stromboli or Vanuatu or Barcelona.

____________________

Respect, Ruthless, Vibe, Fresh, Fierce and Rock

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Nudes - Respect, Ruthless, Vibe, Fresh, Fierce and Rock

Up first are the lightest shades and neutrals:

  • Respect is a light beige
  • Ruthless is a pale powdery pink
  • Vibe is the perfect neutral pink
  • Fresh is a neutral pink rose mauve
  • Fierce is a brown neutral
  • Rock is a deeper brown

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Nudes - Respect, Ruthless, Vibe, Fresh, Fierce and Rock swatches

All swatches are done on bare lips.

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Nudes - Respect, Ruthless, Vibe, Fresh, Fierce and Rock

 

____________________

Cool, Stylin, On Point, Fire, Control and Dominate

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Cool, Stylin, On Point, Fire, Control, Dominate

Next are the orange and reds. These are high impact shades all on the bold side. As with most reds there are similar options but each one has a different undertone. I like that these are true to what you see in the tube. Often times with reds they go on brighter or pinker than what I see.

  • Cool is a bright mod peach
  • Stylin is a bright coral peach
  • On Point is a vibrant orange
  • Fire is an orange red
  • Control is a deeper brick red
  • Dominate is a bright red

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Swatches Cool, Stylin, On Point, Fire, Control, Dominate

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Swatches Cool, Stylin, On Point, Fire, Control, Dominate

____________________

Goals, Bring It, Clique, It Girl, Fab and Power

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Goals, Bring It, Clique, It Girl, Fab and Power

Up next are the bright pinks.

  • Goals is a powder pink
  • Bring It is a fuchsia pink
  • Clique is a bright red pink
  • It Girl is a bright deep peony pink
  • Fab is a hot cool pink
  • Power is a deeper pink red

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Goals, Bring It, Clique, It Girl, Fab and Power

Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Goals, Bring It, Clique, It Girl, Fab and Power LIP SWATCHES

____________________

Queen, Fatale, Hot, Boss, Dare, Extreme

Laura Mercier Queen, Fatale, Hot, Boss, Dare, Extreme

Last are the deeper pinks and purples. For some reason the deeper shades were pretty patchy on my lips. There is a sharp contrast between my natural lip color and many of these.

  • Queen is a bright cool pink
  • Fatale is a plum red
  • Hot is a bright deep red
  • Boss is a patchy violet
  • Dare is a muted mauve brown plum
  • Extreme is a deep streaky blackened purple

Laura Mercier Queen, Fatale, Hot, Boss, Dare, Extreme

Laura Mercier Queen, Fatale, Hot, Boss, Dare, Extreme Lip Swatches

Lasting power is quite impressive. They do have a dry texture/feel in the tube so there is going to be slight tugging when you apply on the lips. If you have a balm underneath they’ll glide on better. Once on the lips they feel weightless and very comfortable. I love the packaging style and hope they launch this in cream or shimmer shades because I can see myself wearing those more than mattes. For a matte lipstick these are good. I still prefer other matte formulas like the ones from Pat McGrath, and in general like cream or gloss finishes for lipsticks.

The best thing about these is the lasting power. They stay put and don’t bleed at all. There is going to be transfer to cups or napkins if you drink but otherwise they stay on the lips for hours without budging. I liked that they worked well with balms too. No detectable scent on these either. Do you have a favorite matte lipstick formula?

My top five picks: Vibe, Fresh, Fierce, Fatale and Power.

You can find the Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipsticks available now at Sephora.

Lipsticks sent courtesy of Laura Mercier for review.

9 Comments