2018

By Terry Sun Designer Palettes Hippy Chic + Happy Sun and UV Base Sunscreen Cream SPF 50

May 25, 2018

There are new launches from By Terry and today I’m rounding up three of them including her two new Sun Designer Palettes in Hippy Chic + Happy Sun ($55 each for 15 g/0.53 oz) along with the new UV Base Sunscreen Cream SPF 50 ($55 for 1 fl oz/30 ml). After a few recent launches I felt were a bit meh, I’m thrilled to report these three items are excellent on all counts.

Up first are the two new Sun Designer Palettes. This is her third launch of these palettes previously reviewed here and here. The two options fall into the medium category – not too pale and not too deep. For me both are perfect for my complexion now and will work well into the summer when I become more tan. I purchased both sight unseen and I think these are easily the best ones she has launched yet. The pigment and color payoff is the same as previous palettes even though the price point has dropped drastically. The formula seems to have changed slightly and the powders have an almost creamy feel. The shimmers are very finely mixed pressed together. Since the pans are all close together it’s going to be nearly impossible to not mix shades – but that is how I apply them for the face. For more detailed color pick-up I use the Laura Mercier Fan Brush or Wayne Goss Air Brush.

Hippy Chic is the brighter more rosy option. It has a mix of shimmers and mattes.

Colors include:

Shimmering pale pink
Shimmering pink gold
Pale baby pink
Rosy coral matte
Shimmering peachy orange
Matte cool pink rose

Above also wearing Chanel Sublimage Le Teint in 40, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden, Hippy Chic Palette on the cheeks, Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Golden Mink, Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme Mascara, Pat McGrath Luxetrance Lipstick in Valetta + LUST: Gloss in Flesh Astral on top. Top from Free People. As you can see the colors can be blended out for a softer look. You can also layer them for more intensity but the overall finish is going to be more natural.

Happy Sun is like my dream neutral palette come true with tan and beige and soft warm gold tones.

Colors include:

Shimmery sand champagne
Shimmery medium tan
Shimmering golden beige
Matte brown tan
Soft matte pink beige
Soft matte warm neutral peach-tan

Some swatch comparisons to two other Sun Designer Palette launches, By Terry Hippy Chic vs. Savannah Love (still available here):

By Terry Happy Sun vs. Light and Tan Vibes:

Up next is the By Terry UV Base Sunscreen Cream with SPF50. I’ve been testing several face sunscreens this spring and this is one of them. Roundup to follow soon. This is described as an invisible sunscreen primer and it truly is that. It has a white almost gel-like texture and once blended disappears completely into the skin. When brands say their sunscreen is “invisible” I find around half the time they are not. Since I have tan skin most still leave a white cast. This one truly disappears 100%. It has no flash back in photographs. Active Ingredients are Avobenzone 3%, Octinoxate 6.8%, Octisalate 4.5%. Rest of ingredients listed here and here.

The sunscreen does have a fragrance to it which is hard to describe but it’s a soft floral non-sunscreen like scent. I want to say it smells a little like a floral almond but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s fairly strong but not irritating to the nose or skin. As one who is sensitive to sunscreens I found this did not irritate or clog my pores. It layered well over moisturizer without pilling and worked with a wide range of foundations.

Swatches below, left to right is straight from the tube, blended a little, then blended even more:

Items also shown in top photo and rest of the post: Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 786, Laura Mercier Fan Brush, Wayne Goss Air Brush, Tory Burch Sienna Sandals (I’d recommend going up 1/2 a size from your normal Tory Burch sizing), sunglasses from J.Crew (old style), sun hat from Nordstrom (old style, similar here), By Terry Lash Expert Mascara (review here, I’ve made this work by layering it on top of a waterproof mascara), Byredo Blanche Perfume.

Overall thumbs up on all three new items. I’m happy with both of my palette purchases and was thrilled to get a sample of the new sunscreen. I highly recommend all three.

You can find By Terry online at Nordstrom, Space NK, Bloomingdale’s, Barneys New York, Beautylish.

Sunscreen is a press sample. Palettes purchased by me.

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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Lip Lacquer Extreme and Lip Lacquer Review

May 23, 2018

Tom Ford Beauty launched some new lip gloss formulas this year. This first round included Lip Lacquers in three finishes in Mattes, Patents and Metals ($54 each for 0.09 fl oz/2.7 ml). The second round of launches included a very different kind of foiled metallic formula called the Lip Lacquer Extreme ($54 each for 0.09 fl oz/2.7 ml). The formulas are very different in all the finishes but all of the glosses come in a small sleek tube with a sponge tip applicator. First a quick look at all the colors side by side then more details and descriptions below. Left to right: Panty Pink, Cameo, Torch, Slicker, Hot Rod, Pink Sabre, Universal Appeal and Pussycat.

Lip Lacquer Extreme

Up first are the Lip Lacquer Extremes. These are exclusive to Neiman Marcus along with the rest of the Extreme Collection. The products come in silver packaging. They don’t have a strong scent to them but they do smell like makeup.

These lacquers are very trendy and metallic. There are some purple shades that I received as part of a press package but felt they were too trendy for me so I’m reviewing the ones I think are more wearable. The formula is very thin and dries like a liquid lipstick. The trick to applying these is similar to what I think applying nail polish is – you have to do it in layers letting the first layer dry completely before applying the next. It’s also similar to if you’re painting your house – do it in layers. If you apply like a regular lip product, the brush will pull color from the center. I find two layers gets full smooth coverage, otherwise it will be streaky. Out of all the colors I think Hot Rod is the best – it reminds me of MAC “O” lipstick but a little softer and more rose. Once they set they stay put all day long without budging.

Panty Pink is a bright neon pink
Cameo is a pale metallic peach
Torch is a hot orange neon
Slicker is a bright red
Hot Rod is a perfect metallic rose

Lip Lacquer

Up next are three of the Lip Lacquers in one Metal Pink Sabre and two Mattes Universal Appeal, Pussycat. So many of you asked me to review these and I wasn’t going to because none of the colors looked neutral enough for everyday. Once I received a dozen DMs and e-mails I decided to investigate picking the ones I felt were most neutral. I did swatch them at the counter as well and love the Patent and Metal finishes. I hope they expand the color range to include lighter shades, if they did a Pink Dusk or Sable Smoke lip stick in gloss form I would be SO happy. The Lip Lacquers smell just like the lipsticks and have a soft vanilla scent.

My picks:

Pink Sabre is a metallic rose with a thick opaque high shine, this one looks darker on my complexion than it looks in the tube
Universal Appeal is the perfect nude, it’s sold out almost everywhere I looked so I ordered it online, currently still available at Saks and Bloomingdales, on back order at Neiman Marcus
Pussycat is a perfect everyday rose but it does darken on the lips since it’s a matte finish, I wish this came in the patent formula as the color is so perfect but I’m not a fan of mattes

Overall pros are lasting power and pigment. The Lip Lacquer Extremes are going to be tricky to apply as they’re very metallic and I don’t think they’re everyday kind of colors. I do think the exception is Hot Rod. For the regular Lip Lacquers I think the mattes are going to be great for those who like liquid lipsticks. I find them to be among the better formulas for mattes as they don’t make my lips shrink or look like raisins. The metallic formula is pretty thick although it’s not too tacky, I think it has great color payoff and wear. It’s going to be nice for going out for me, but it’s too thick for everyday especially in hot South Florida weather. In testing all the colors I found that they did not dry out my lips.

Bottom line is there are good things about the glosses but in general I find that I like Tom Ford’s regular lipsticks a whole lot more. For gloss I prefer other formulas like the Becca Glow Lip Gloss or Pat McGrath LUST Glosses although comparing them isn’t really like comparing apples to apples. The formulas are too different.

Still because certain colors are so perfect, I’m giving Hot Rod and Universal Appeal a huge thumbs up.

You can find the Tom Ford Lip Lacquers at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue and other Tom Ford counters. The Lip Lacquer Extreme is a Neiman Marcus exclusive.

Extremes provided courtesy of Tom Ford for review. Lip Lacquers purchased by me.

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Nail Polish

Smith and Cult Nail Polishes for Spring

May 21, 2018

There have been some new launches from Smith and Cult and I had three from earlier in the spring that I’ve been meaning to review so today I have a roundup of six new colors. I’ve used the nail polishes from Smith and Cult for a few years now and love the formula and lasting power. Their Basis of Everything Base Coat and Above It All Top Coat are also in my favorites for how they keep my nails looking healthy and shiny. If you’ve been reading my blog since the early days you know I used to review new nail polishes almost weekly. For the past year I feel like I’ve been in a nail rut sticking with the same basic go-to’s mainly OPI Be There in a Prosecco, Chanel Camelia, Chanel Sea Whip and Chanel Resplendissant. These new Smith and Cult shades have been among the few launches that have me excited about nail color again. Smith and Cult nail polishes for spring that I hauled this year from Nordstrom and Beautylish:

Peaceful Paranoia is a sheer pink beige that flashes iridescent pink, this one requires three coats for full coverage
Powder Posse is a pale lilac pink with grey/beige tones, I had high hopes this would be a dupe for Dior Lady that was discontinued years ago, it’s not, this one is more grey/lilac, coverage is full/opaque
A Short Reprise is a purple creme, it has sheer-medium coverage with a slight transparent finish so three coats are needed
Mail Order Bride is an opaque pale baby pink, it’s not too pale that it looks white, coverage is opaque
Forever Fades Fast is a perfect medium peach, coverage is sheer-medium, two coats works, but I prefer three
5th Ave Fortress is a metallic silvery purple, on my olive skin it looks more silvery than what I see in the bottle, it has full opaque coverage and is relatively brush-stroke-free

A quick look at the bottles, the silver caps pop off and there’s a twist off applicator. The brushes are flat and short. For me these are really easy to apply on the fingers.

First a look at the three shades that launched earlier in the spring several months back:

Shown below: Peaceful Paranoia, a pink-beige base with flashes of iridescent pink, this one was sheer, shown applied with 3 coats

Shown Below: Powder Posse, two coats

Shown below: A Short Reprise, three coats

Newest launches for spring-to-summer:

Shown below: Mail Order Bride, two coats, this is more pink and not quite as pale/white as Chanel Nuvola Rosa

Forever Fades Fast is the perfect peachy color, it’s not too orange or beige or yellow, two coats

Shown below: 5th Ave Fortress, two coats, it shows minimal brush strokes for a metallic

For those who frequently ask about my favorite base and top coats, I’m always trying to test new things, but these are what I have in rotation right now:

My full hand and nail care routine in this post here. Staples, DIY tips and favorites all listed.

Bottom line I love all the six newest shades from Smith and Cult. Forever Fades Fast is my favorite of the launches. I was pleasantly surprised by Powder Posse even though it didn’t turn out to be a dupe for Dior Lady. The application is smooth and easy to apply, lasting power is up to a week if I’m not swimming in the pool or ocean (the water here is rough!). I ordered all of these sight unseen and was thrilled that all the colors ended up working with my medium tan olive skintone.

You can find Smith and Cult Nail Polishes at Beautylish, Dermstore, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Space NK and Net-A-Porter.

Have you tried anything from Smith and Cult yet?

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NARS

NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers Collection Review

May 18, 2018

NARS x Erdem released a beautiful collection of limited-edition pieces called NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers. I was lucky to receive the entire collection for review in a beautiful press box but when the package arrived all the powders were shattered! I ordered replacements and it’s taken me a while to get everything reviewed and swatched so I apologize for the delay. You can still find all the pieces although some things have sold out at a few retailers. All the colors are truly unique and I feel like everything is like a piece of art from the packaging and design. The vibe has more of a fall feel to me rather than spring or summer but the shades are still very wearable pieces that you can pull off right now. In the collection:

Powder Blush in Loves Me and Loves Me Not ($30 each)
Highlighting Multi-Use Pencil in Wild Phox ($29)
Lip Powder Palette in Poison Rose ($49 for 5 shades)
Eyeshadow Palettes in Fleur Fatale and Night Garden ($49 each)
Lipsticks in Moon Orchid, Voodoo Lily, Wild Flower, Bloodflower, Carnal Carnation, Larkspur ($28 each)
Mattifying Blotting Paper ($19)

Up first are the products for the face. The two NARS x Erdem blushes which I think are both just so beautiful! Loves Me Not is a pale lavender pink with finely milled shimmer. On my tan skin it’s almost like a sheer highlighter. It layers nicely with other colors or works to diffuse harsh lines. Loves Me is a warm strawberry pink shimmer. It’s fairly pigmented so I recommend using a fluffy brush to apply and layer. As a quick FYI these seem to be the items selling out the fastest so if you want to prioritize purchases, you might want to start there.

There is also a Multi-Use Highlighting Pencil called White Phox which is a pale white that flashes lavender/opal. It has a nice sheen when blended with a velvety matte finish. I like this on the eyes! (Swatches below, actual product photo of the pencil one section down.)

The Lip Powder Palette in Poison Rose was so interesting to me. I’ve never tried a lip powder and at first I thought they were mini blushes. The palette as a gorgeous peachy pink nude Lip Priming Balm (I wish this was available in full size). I was really skeptical about how these would work but it’s really a beautiful palette with stunning colors. I layered the powders on top of the balm and the result is a soft velvety matte lip look. Almost like a natural lipstick stain with a velvety finish. The other colors include Zira (metallic peach), Calypso (perfect mauve), Damask (magenta) and Ottoman (red).

The two NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers Eyeshadow Palettes have excellent pigment, texture and lasting power. They’re soft and easy to blend. I gravitated towards the softer version Fleur Fatale which has a shimmering ivory, shimmering grey taupe, soft dove grey blue shimmer, soft matte grey-brown, shimmering mauve tan, shimmery wine plum. The other option Night Garden has a shimmering oyster, deep forest green shimmer, bright yellow shimmer, deep matte brown, shimmery navy and dark charcoal. In a beauty world where we seem to be bombarded with warm orange shadows it’s nice and refreshing for us cool-toned neutral lovers to have something else to wear that’s new! (I still love the NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette for a warmish kind of palette.)

Last but not least are the NARS x Erdem Lipsticks which surprised me. At first glance they did not seem like wearable colors for my complexion. Some of them are sheer in finish which makes them look different in the tube than what you see on the face. I love all of the colors except for one. Shades include:

Moon Orchid which is a sheer soft pink
Carnal Carnation which has a sheer bright pink finish
Voodoo Lily is almost clear but gives me a nude lip but better mauve
Larkspur is a sheer magenta mauve, pulls pinkish on me
Wild Flower is the only color I did not like, it’s a sheer deep purple that applied patchy
Bloodflower is a pigmented blood red

Texture is soft and easy to apply. I’ve found that some NARS lipsticks in the regular formula irritated my lips in the past, I am not sure if they changed the ingredients but I had no issue with these. I’ve been able to wear the Audacious lipstick formula without any issue, but at some point in the past the regular lipstick formula changed and I started getting swollen irritated lips. With these no allergic reaction, yay! I was also able to wear last year’s NARS Orgasm lipstick with issue as well. As with most sheers lasting power is going to be average/medium. I found these comfortable and non-drying.

A quick note on the Blotting Papers, I found them nice and handy to have in my bag. They do work well to blot shine and oil without leaving any powdery white film like some do. At the end of the day I’m still a loyal fan of the ones from Tatcha but the NARS packaging is really pretty.

Bottom line beautiful! The winners to me are the Fleur Fatale Palette, Moon Orchid Lipstick, Poison Flower Lip Powder Palette and both Loves Me and Loves Me Not Blushes. To me these are gorgeous edgy colors that are on trend but not so trendy that I can’t wear them for everyday.

The entire collection is limited-edition. Available online and in stores at NARS Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue.

P.S. Not related to this review, but I’m starting up my weekly giveaways again! Details on this page here.

NARS x Erdem collection provided courtesy of NARS for review. All the palettes repurchased by me.

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Becca Lips

Becca Glow Lip Gloss Review + Swatches

May 16, 2018

My lip gloss loving self is overjoyed these days because gloss seems to be back! Becca launched a new Glow Lip Gloss ($22 for 0.18 oz/5 g) in ten colors. They’re a conditioning lip gloss that has the coverage of a natural medium-pigmented lipstick with a soft shine but cream finish. If you like a gloss that doesn’t have a super high shine but more of a natural shine these are the glosses for you.

The Becca Glow Lip Glosses have a soft mint scent and apply very smoothly on the lips. There’s enough density so they won’t slide off the lips like other glosses but they aren’t super thick and they feel comfortable on. Becca says they have 3D light reflecting pigments and ginger + peppermint oil. The colors were inspired by their best selling Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighters and Luminous Blush shades so you can match your lip and cheek color.

Every single color is perfect. Pigment is natural but rich enough to cover the whole lip. There are lighter nudes in the collection that are wearable and do not wash my complexion out (yay!). All the shades are nice for everyday and there are a few bolder shades that can give a more dramatic look for something more fun. The packaging and design is the same as the Liquid Crystal Glow Glosses from last year, but the Glow Lip Gloss colors are a lot more wearable.

The product comes with an angled sponge tip applicator with a point for precise application. Colors descriptions and swatches below:

Rose Quartz is a soft cool light pink shimmer
Camellia is a cool-toned bright pink
Snapdragon is a medium coral pink
Opal is a nude opal pink shimmer
Foxglove is a perfect berry mauve
Champagne Creme is a shimmering gold
Tigerlily is a coral peach shimmer
Rose Gold is a neutral tan beige
Chocolate Geode is a chocolate sparkle
Dahlia is a plum (plums always look more red on my lips)

Close ups of each shade, let me know if you want me to keep doing these larger lip swatches or if you prefer the side by side better. Rose Quartz:

Camellia:

Snapdragon:

Opal:

Foxglove:

Champagne Creme:

Tigerlily:

Rose Gold:

Chocolate Geode:

Dahlia:

Swatches of the gloss next to the corresponding Shimmering Skin Perfector (also reviewed here) or Luminous Blush (review here).

I cannot pick a favorite, every single color is perfect. I do find myself drawn to Opal, Foxglove, Snapdragon and Tigerlily though. A full look wearing the Becca Glow Lip Gloss + Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed in Opal:

Foundation: La Prairie Skin Caviar Foundation + Concealer in Satin Nude (review here)
Powder: Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation in #4
Cheeks: Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Bronzed Bondi (swatches of all the colors here)
Highlighter: Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal (review + swatch comparisons here)
Eyeshadow: Pat McGrath MTHRSHP Eyeshadow Palette in Platinum Bronze (review here)
Brow: Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in Soft Brunette
Lips: Becca Glow Lip Gloss in Opal
Top: Tie Front Tank by 1.STATE

Bottom line lots to love. The color is perfect, pigment is smooth and flawless, texture is comfortable. Lasting power is average for a gloss but with these I don’t mind reapplying. Moisturizing properties are medium – on the lips they feel good and the formula did not dry out my lips or make them peel the next day, but they aren’t as hydrating as a lip balm. I think these are perfect year round but the colors have that fresh spring to summer vibe that adds life to the face without overdoing the color.

You can find the Becca Glow Lip Gloss out now, available at Becca Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta Beauty.

Becca glosses provided courtesy of Becca Cosmetics for review.

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Chanel Skincare

Chanel Cleansing Collection Review

May 15, 2018

Chanel just launched a collection of six new cleansers, toners and make up removers in The Chanel Cleansing Collection. Each item is designed to be suitable for all skin types in multiple formula options. I was lucky to get an early sneak peek and have been testing these over the last month. As a cleanser fanatic I was really excited to try these and think there are some really lovely options in this launch.

L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
La Mousse Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream-to-Foam ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
Le Tonique Anti-Pollution Invigorating Toner ($45 for 160 ml/5.4 fl oz)
Le Lait Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
Le Lait Fraicher D’Eau Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Water ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
Le Lait Doucer D’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Oil ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)

The new skincare is designed to be used with a few different combinations for fresh clean skin. They’re quite versatile so you can mix and match however you want or simply just incorporate one into your routine if you have other skincare you use. After a few weeks of testing I have my favorites. With all the cleansers I found they were thorough without being stripping. They leave the skin feeling very refreshed and clean and soft. The one thing that impressed me the most was the packaging. I’m a huge sucker for good packaging even if it’s simple, the cleansers come with a really well designed pump and the size of the bottles are very generous. I also like that they are sized to fit easily in my small hand.

L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil

Up first is my favorite item in the launch which is the L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil. It’s a silky-smooth cleansing oil which has a soft feel. I’m a huge fan of testing cleansing oils and love the ones that feel ultra silky smooth like the SK-II Facial Treatment Oil or Tom Ford Cleansing Oil. The Chanel has a very light scent to it that did not irritate my skin. If I compare it to other Chanel skincare it has a refreshing smell similar to the Hydramax line but isn’t as potent. It leaves the skin makeup-free and smooth. If you love the Le Blanc Brightening Tri-Phase Makeup Remover which is a cleanser that transforms from a gel to oil to lotion and rinses off to remove makeup you will also love the new L’Huile. The cleansing oil is more fluid while the Le Blanc is thicker so it doesn’t run into the eyes. The Le Blanc line also has brightening ingredients while the L’Huile is your standard cleansing oil.

Chanel La Mousse Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream-to-Foam

Next is the Chanel La Mousse Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream-to-Foam. I’ve tried several of Chanel’s foaming cleansers from past formulations and liked them but did not love them as I typically find mousse cleansers too stripping for the skin. This one is perfect though and especially with the humid weather returning this leaves my skin extra clean. All the cleansers in this collection have what Chanel calls “depolluting blue micro-algae and fortifying marine salicornia extract.” After regular use I do feel like my skin is cleaner and less congested. This is a purifying cleanser that feels like it cleans out all the junk in my pores. If you have normal to oily skin that is acne-prone I think this will be a great option for you. I didn’t use this one morning and night as my skin is fairly decent these days. In general I use different cleansers for morning vs night or after a workout. This one for me is great after a sweating workout or at the end of the day to really cleanse the skin.

Le Tonique Anti-Pollution Invigorating Toner

I haven’t explored much in the Chanel toner world. I did use the Le Blanc Brightening Lotion for a while in place of toner and loved it. I used up several bottles but eventually explored other options as it was more of a moisturizing toner rather than a balancing one. The new Le Tonique Anti-Pollution Invigorating Toner is an alcohol free toner and makes sure your skin is fully clean after you wash with a regular cleanser. I feel like I’m very thorough with my cleansing routine but there are times I don’t get all the dirt or makeup off. This is evident by using a toner afterwards on a soaked cotton pad (Chanel’s Le Coton is among my favorite) and wiping my face. There are times I see remnants of makeup on the pad. In the morning this almost wakes up the skin because of the refreshing feel and at night it will ensure all traces of makeup are gone after you cleanse.

Cleansing Milks

Next are three types of cleansing milks. I have not been much of a cleansing milk fan, I typically prefer for gel, liquid, or foaming cleansers since I have normal combination skin. If you’ve ever had a Chanel makeover you have probably tried one of the milks before. They massage it into dry skin and remove with a damp cotton pad or one soaked with one of their toners. It leaves the skin feeling well hydrated and supple. Over the past year I have experimented more with cleansing milks from other brands as they’re great if you have dry skin. It’s almost like it’s a double-duty product in the sense that it cleanses and moisturizes at the same time. Chanel has 3 different cleansing milks with different textures. The Le Lait Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk is a traditional one in the sense that it is a milky smooth cleanser. To use these in the morning you can apply on dry skin, massage and then remove with a toner-soaked cotton pad. If you use this at night I’d recommend removing your face makeup first with a cleansing water on a cotton pad so it’s less messy. This one feels the most hydrating to me with skin left very moisturized after removal.

Cleansing Milk-to-Water

Le Lait Fraicher D’Eau Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Water has a lighter and less dense texture as you can see in the swatch below. It has the lightest feel out of the 3 cleansing milks. This was my favorite of the three. It leaves the skin feeling very smooth and ultra soft.

Cleansing Milk-to-Oil

Le Lait Doucer D’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Oil has a slightly thicker texture than the Milk-to-Water but isn’t as dense as the Cleansing Milk. This transforms into an oil once you massage it into the skin. They recommend you remove with just a cotton pad but I’d recommend soaking it with a toner or cleansing water to help remove it.

Ingredients from the boxes:

My favorite three items are the new Le Tonique, L’Huile and the Cleansing Cream-to-Foam and have already started incorporating them into my daily skin care routine. If you try one item I’d recommend you try the L’Huile Cleansing Oil as it’s really lovely! I think the three cleansing milk formulas are really interesting and unique based on the different textures. I’m still not sure that I’m a cleansing milk kind of person but they do leave the skin feeling very soft and hydrated. If you haven’t tried the Chanel Coton I recommend you do, it’s pricey but has been my favorite face cotton for as long as I can remember.

The Chanel Cleansing Collection is available now at Chanel.com and all Chanel counters.

Cleanser Collection provided courtesy of Chanel for review.

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Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Haul: Star Gold, Rose Gold, The Duchess, English Beauty and American Sweetheart

May 13, 2018

I did another Charlotte Tilbury haul and ordered a few items that are online exclusives. Many of you have been asking about some of the limited-edition lipstick exclusives and I resisted for months but finally caved. I’m still loving the Beauty Filters Collection for Eyes very much but as a fan of her Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadows I knew I had to buy the new Star Gold and Rose Gold Shades even if it was going to be sight unseen. What I hauled:

Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Star Gold (online exclusive)
Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Rose Gold (online exclusive)
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in The Duchess (online exclusive)
Matte Revolution Lipstick in English Beauty (online exclusive)
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in American Sweetheart (online exclusive)
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Bitch Perfect (repurchased)

The new Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadows in Star Gold and Rose Gold do not disappoint. Star Gold is the prettiest warm coppery bronze shade. In case you haven’t tried these (they’ve been out for a few years now), the formula is creamy and emollient with pretty shimmers. I find the pigment, texture and lasting power to be really good on my lids. I like to wear them alone, 2 shades layered together or as a base for any powder eyeshadow.

To compare them to other brands they are most similar to the Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes. Chanel Ombre Premieres are not as emollient with a drier texture and they have a more opaque base. Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks are a little bit more emollient, but the Charlotte Tilbury cream shadows have more buildable pigment.

I use her shades Bette and Marie Antoinette on a weekly basis. I was really excited to find she launched more. For comparisons Star Gold is a true coppery gold which I find unique in my collection of cream shadows. Rose Gold is almost identical to Tom Ford’s Pink Haze. The difference is noticeable with Charlotte Tilbury’s being a bit warmer and Tom Ford’s a little more pink, but once blended I think they are really close. Shown below:

Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Color in Copper
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette, Norma Jean (now just called Jean), Marie Antoinette
Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Pink Haze
Tom Ford Cream and Powder Duo for Eyes in Paradiso (cream shade swatched, also shown here)
Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Platinum
Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Copper

There are several online exclusives for lipsticks. I ordered the K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula in The Duchess which is a medium cool-toned mauve rose, Matte Revolution in English Beauty which is a perfect nude pink, and K.I.S.S.I.N.G in American Sweetheart which is a warm peachy neutral rose. I also repurchased K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Bitch Perfect which used to be more pinkish on me and to my surprise my tan has now made it where this is a lighter neutral peachy pink rather than a medium pink. I still had remnants from an older tube to compare and made sure the color is indeed the same, my 2-3 shades deeper skintone compared to when I was in San Diego makes a difference with lighter lipsticks!

I was a little bit prepared to not love the three online exclusives. I did search online but couldn’t find swatches that would tell me what they’d look like on my lips. The reason why is that the colors look almost identical in the tubes, on the arm they swatch warm and dark, but on the lips they look a lot better and aren’t as dark as arm swatches go. I’m relieved to report that my money was well spent. All three are perfect. The Duchess is a gorgeous creamy pink. English Beauty is my perfect nude for my medium tan skintone right now. It’s a bit more neutral compared to Pillow Talk which was my previous favorite. American Sweetheart is nice, but if I had to skip one it would be this, it’s warmer which isn’t a bad thing, just on me more peachy and I already own a ton of peachy lip colors.

For those who have missed my previous reviews on the Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick formula, her K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick is creamy and opaque with full coverage. They have a nice shine finish but aren’t glossy. Lasting power is excellent although they sometimes get on my teeth because they are so creamy. Her Matte Revolution Lipstick is among the few matte lipstick formulas I actually like because in general I hate matte lipsticks (they make my lips look shriveled like raisins!). Her mattes are modern mattes with a velvety finish but soft sheen. It’s hard to describe but they are amazing.

Swatches:

Comparison swatches below to:

Pat McGrath LuxeTrance in Sextrology (swatches here)
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hot Lips in Liv It Up (review here)
Tom Ford Lip Color in Pink Dusk (lip swatch here)
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hot Lips in Kidman’s Kiss (swatch on lips here)
Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipstick in Valletta (swatches here)
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hot Lips in Super Cindy (review here)

Bottom line this was a very happy haul. I’m 100% happy with everything, the lipstick colors are perfect and quality/pigment is excellent. If you already own Tom Ford Golden Peach Duo or Pink Haze, you can probably skip Charlotte Tilbury’s Rose Gold if you want to avoid dupes.

Right now Star Gold, Rose Gold, The Duchess, English Beauty and American Sweetheart are all exclusive online at Charlotte Tilbury. I’m not sure if they will launch elsewhere eventually, I know the lipsticks have been out for some time and haven’t popped up anywhere else (they are limited-edition). K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Bitch Perfect can be found at all other Charlotte Tilbury retailers like Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and Net-A-Porter.

Have you tried any of these online exclusives? What did you think?

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