2018

Pat McGrath Labs LUST: Gloss Review + Swatches

May 10, 2018

Today Pat McGrath launches a new lip formula in her makeup line called LUST: Lip Gloss ($28 each for .15 fl oz/4.5 ml). These are high shine glosses with a cushiony feel. They are super smooth with a glossy balm feel that doesn’t have any tacky or sticky and feel. The glosses are really comfortable and they have a nourishing feel. With the Lust Gloss my lips look full and plump without the tingle. There are 14 shades total with this launch and I was tickled with excitement to be able to get an early sneak peek at 7 of them. I have swatches and some first impressions of the neutrals as I just received these a few days ago. Based on my first round of testing I can’t wait to see the rest of the colors. Scroll down further for the full Pat McGrath LUST: Lip Gloss review.

These glosses come in a tube with a sponge tip applicator. There is a very soft vanilla scent to them which disappears almost immediately after I apply them on the lips. The final look is shiny with all the colors with three different finishes which include creams, sparkles, and soft shimmers. Every one is smooth and chunky-free regardless of how much sparkle there is. Pigment of these glosses is on the soft side which I’d describe as sheer to medium. I can only speak to the neutrals, but with some I can build color without layering too much. I’d say if you like the Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss or Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquers, you will love these. The Pat McGrath LUST: Gloss is cushiony and shiny like the Marc Jacobs glosses but with more a bit more visible pigment. They also have that pretty shine and color the Chanel ones have but aren’t as thick in texture.

If you are one who needs more color and pigment for lip glosses these are going to bee too sheer for you in which I’d recommend you check out the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipsticks, Marc Jacobs Le Marc Liquid Lip Creme or Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses.

Descriptions

Pat McGrath Labs LUST: Gloss neutrals I have include:

Aliengelic is a duochrome pink and white pearl, clear base with sparkles, sheer
Dare to Bare is a sheer milky pink gold duo chrome shimmer, sheer to medium pigment
Flesh Astral is a tan base with gold shimmer, medium pigment
Pale Fire Nectar is a duo chrome pink peach pearl, it swatches on the arm almost clear but the sparkles show up more on the lips with a reflective quality that adds color, sheer
Aphrodisiac is the perfect warm baby pink cream, coverage is medium
Flesh Fantasy is a warm neutral tan with a hint of pink, coverage is medium
Divine Rose is a perfect lush rose with fine shimmer, pigment is sheer medium

Swatches

Another set in direct sunlight so you can see how the shimmer shifts a little:

Lip Swatches:

Close Ups

Close ups of each shade as some of you have asked for bigger lip swatch photos. Note I have naturally pigmented lips. If you see something that looks like a dark line around the edges, it’s not lip liner, it’s just my natural lip color showing through as the finish of these is slightly transparent. Aliengelic:

Dare to Bare

Flesh Astral

Pale Fire Nectar

Aphrodisiac

Flesh Fantasy

Divine Rose

A beauty look below with Aphrodisiac LUST Gloss, also wearing:

Sunday Riley The Influencer Foundation in 190
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder in #2
Kevyn Aucoin Brow Pencil in Brunette
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra
Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Capri Coast
Pat McGrath MTHRSHP Sublime Eyeshadow Palette in Bronze Ambition
On the nails OPI You’ve Got Nata on Me

One more added from yesterday, same base + eyes as above, different items used: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Iridescent Flash + Mood Exposure mixed, Divine Rose LUST Gloss on the lips.

Lasting power is pretty good for a cushiony gloss. They stay put for a few hours and don’t slide around for a long time. They aren’t transfer proof if you eat or drink, but that’s expected. I don’t mind reapplying. The sparkles are very pretty and super wearable. As a gloss lover I’m thrilled. Packaging is sleek and no-fuss with the sponge applicator. The colors are soft and pretty, easy to wear alone or on top of a liner. If you love ultra pigmented gloss or lip products you will find these too sheer but I personally love these. I cannot pick a favorite – all the colors are ones I would wear every single day, but I do have a soft spot for Aphrodisiac, Divine Rose, Pale Fire Nectar. Bottom line love.

These glosses will launch today online at Pat McGrath Labs. They retail for $28 each individually but there are sets available that will give you a nice price break for buying the bundles.

More Pat McGrath love below:

Luxe Trance, Matte Trance and Permagel Eye and Lip Pencil Review
LiquiLUST 007 Skin Show
Lip Fetish Balm, Femmenot, Venus in Furs …
MTHRSHP Eyeshadow Palettes and Liquid Liner Review

LUST: Gloss sent by the Pat McGrath team for review.

32 Comments

Bronzer + Blush

La Mer Summer 2018 Color Collection: The Bronzing Powder + Lip & Cheek Glows

May 9, 2018

This summer La Mer has three new limited-edition color pieces including The Bronzing Powder ($85 for 13 g/0.43 oz) and Lip and Cheek Glows in Coral Glow 01 and Pink Sands 02 ($55 each for 7 g /0.24 oz). This is the first time I’ve tried their summer color items. La Mer has released several limited-edition bronzers in the past but I never splurged. This year I did. The whole look and feel of these colors are sheer and light. If you like that subtle undone glow you will love these. If you crave more pigment and noticeable color you might want to pass.

Up first is The Bronzing Powder. There are several colors swirled into a beautiful wave pattern of champagne shimmer, soft pink shimmer and warm tan matte. Swirled you get a luminous bronze that is very soft with a natural glow. Pigment is medium but natural looking and for this one the tones are close to my skin so it almost blends in with my skin. It is scented with this amazing beachy resort-like scent in a subtle way. I would love it if they bottled a stronger version of it in a body lotion or oil.

If you are light or fair and find most bronzers turn orangey on you, I highly urge you to check this one out. It will be subtle and light enough in color to give your skin a soft sunkissed glow. If you’re my skintone it will look almost like skin, just a subtle warm shimmer. If you’re darker than me this may look more light a soft highlighter. To me this is similar to the Chanel Les Beiges Multi-Colour in Medium that launched this year, the La Mer is just a slightly touch more bronzey.

Swatches of the individual shades vs. swirled:

Swatch comparisons below to:

Becca Sunlit Bronzers in Bali Sands and Capri Coast (reviewed and face swatched here)
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour 2018 Light, Medium and Deep (review here)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer Luminous Bronze Light (review here)

Next there are the two Lip and Cheek Glows for which I have very mixed feelings. As one with normal/combination skin I find these too dewy and too sheer for the cheeks. It will indeed add a glow, but it’s a very glossy glow which I don’t really want on my face. Add hot humid climate and it’s a no-go. That being said it does give the skin a fresh glow just like the name implies. On the lips these are very sheer but I can get the color to show up with a few swipes. I like the way these look on the lips – they make the lips look healthy with a tint of color, but I can’t help but feel these are just super expensive sheer lip balms. They do nourish the lips and although I know you’re not supposed to taste test these, I did lick my lips while testing these and they taste amazing. Like a delicious sweet mint. So I like these for the lips, I don’t think they are worth the price for how sheer they are. With some layering you’ll see color.

Coral Glow 01 is a soft coral, on my skin once blended it almost disappears. Pink Sands is also extremely sheer but has a little bit more color. On my cheeks all I see is a dewy shine with a VERY SLIGHT hint of color. On my lips these show up. Your mileage will vary depending on your skin tone, but to sum these sticks up in two words I’d say these are sheer and glowy.

On the nails, Chanel Resplendissant

La Mer Summer 2018 Swatches, all three items swatched with a heavy hand. Once blended the color is very sheer!

On bare lips, swiped back and forth in layers around 3-4 times:

Swatch comparisons:

NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm (review here)
Chanel Les Beiges Blush in No 23 (review here)
NARS Liquid Blush in Luster (review here)
Sisley Phyt0-Blush Twist in Papaya (review here)
Tom Ford Cream Blush in Pink Sand (discontinued)
Sisley Phyto-Blush Twist in Petal (review here)
Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff (more swatches here)

On the face:

Also wearing:

Foundation: Sunday Riley The Influencer 190
Powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder #2
Brows: Kevyn Aucoin Precision Brow Pencil in Brunette
Eyeshadow: Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Nude Dip
Top Photo: Lips + Cheeks is the La Mer Lip and Cheek Glow in Coral Glow 01
Middle Photo: Lips + Cheeks is the La Mer Lip and Cheek Glow in Pink Sands 02
Bottom Photo: Lip color is Coral Glow, Cheeks color is The La Mer Bronzing Powder 2018

One last note, a lot of you had asked about my pink sunglasses. Most of the time I’ve shown old pairs, in particular one of my favorites are these pink Gucci sunglasses from several years ago. It’s almost always impossible for me to find smaller frames, but I’ve since found an almost identical pair by Kate Spade for a fraction of the price. They aren’t 100% the same but close enough for me!

One last look:

Bottom line: a hefty dent to my wallet. I simply couldn’t resist the pretty pearly packaging and the swirl pattern on the bronzer is gorgeous! The La Mer Bronzing Powder this year is beautiful and so natural, but it’s similar to others I have I’m not sure I’d call it a must-have. As you can see from the above swatches, it’s going to look slightly different in swatches depending on how much pink vs. champagne vs. matte tan you swirl onto the brush. On my skin it’s very very natural, which isn’t a bad thing. I love a good natural bronzer! In a month’s time I’m going to be a lot darker and this will probably match my skin tone.

The La Mer Lip and Cheek Glows are going to be hit or miss. I suspect it is going to be similar to the Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush in concept, better for lips, ok for the cheeks. I really love the Pink Sands color for a soft baby pink. Still these are really pricey and very sheer. I’m kinda luke-warm on my feelings for these.

You can find the La Mer summer collection out now. Items are limited-edition. Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s.

30 Comments

Bronzer + Blush Eye Makeup Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Coconut Fantasy Collection

May 7, 2018

Marc Jacobs Beauty has launched a new Coconut Fantasy Collection this year to continue the coconut theme. There are three new items and one repromote, everything is selling out quickly. A few restocks have occurred online at Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty but if you have your eye on anything and see it, I recommend grabbing it fast. The Coconut Bronzer was hard to find last year as it went quickly, this year it also seemed to go fast. I’m hoping it will restock as it’s such a great bronzer (last year’s review here). Today I have a review of the three new items that launched. You can find these at Marc Jacobs Beauty, Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Net-A-Porter.

Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in Fantasy – a warm rose gold shimmer with a semi-matte finish
Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder – translucent matte finishing powder
Eye-Conic Eyeshadow Palette in Fantascene – warm-toned eyeshadow palette in white limited-edition packaging

Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in Fantasy

Above: Fantasy vs Dew You? Sunglasses from Nordstrom

My favorite item is the Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in Fantasy and the good thing is that this is the one item that is still relatively easy to find. Fantasy is a rose gold shimmer, it looks bronzey in the frosted bottle but once I blend on my skin I see more rose tones. If you missed last year’s champagne gold shimmer in Dew You? you can still find it available. Formula remains the same – shimmer finish with a gel texture that is easy to build, dries down to semi-matte finish but retains the shimmer. The dry down makes this highlighter last a long time on the skin, once it sets it is pretty much budge-proof. It has the most wonderful coconut scent. 100% worth the purchase.

Swatches:

Swatch comparisons:

Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo Moodlight (review here)
Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Rose Gold (review here)
Tom Ford Sheer Highlighting Duo Reflects Gilt (review here)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Rose Gold (review here)

Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder

Next is the Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder which also has an amazing coconut scent. This is a setting powder that sets foundation or tinted moisturizer to matte finish. It has a mesh interior to help dispense just the right amount of product to the brush. I found this to give a very matte finish, but in a soft and natural way. It’s translucent and even on my tan skin has no white cast. If you have super dry skin or prefer matte finish foundations you may want to give your face a quick mist with something like MAC Prep+Prime Fix+ first. I found that this over a very matte finish foundation made my face look too matte. It did work on all my other bases that have a soft finish or slightly dewy finish. It does last a long time keeping the makeup on my face from morning to late afternoon. If you’re a coconut fan I’d recommend layering the MAC Prep and Prime Fix+ Scented in Coconut for extra coconut goodness 🙂

Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette

Last but not least is the Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Fantascene (sold out most places, but still available at Marc Jacobs Beauty). The shadows in this palette have a super soft pigmented texture. There is a mix of mattes, sparkles and shimmers which layer together beautifully. For me they apply well with or without a base. The colors overall are very warm with a soft cream matte, soft warn grey matte, soft rose matte, shimmering pink, sparkly copper, matte plum brown and coral satin. I love shades like these in the pan, on my complexion the overall feel is a little too warm for my coloring. I find Scandalust more wearable for me. Still Fantascene is a gorgeous palette, just one I’ll need to cool-down with a bit of mixing with other neutrals.

Swatches + close ups:

Close up 1:

Close up 2:

Close up 3:

Fantascene vs Scandalust:

Two looks wearing:

Sunday Riley The Influencer Foundation 190
Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick in Golden to conceal
Marc Jacobs Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Powder to set all over
Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Eyeshadow Palette in Fantascene
Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink + Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer in Cream and Sugar on top
Cheek Colors:
- Photo 1: Just the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops in Fantasy on the cheeks
- Photo 2: Marc Jacobs Dew Drops in Fantasy + Air Blush in Kinks and Kisses
Top from Madewell

Overall perfect for summer! I think the Fantasy Dew Drops is a must, it has a pretty soft shimmering rose gold gleam that isn’t overly frosty. I think the Setting Powder is going to be perfect for hot summer days when you need a long-lasting matte powder that won’t caked. The palette isn’t for me color-wise but I can make it work with some blending. If you’re like me and can’t wear warm shades easily, I’d recommend you opt for Marc Jacobs Scandalust, NARSissist Wanted or NARSissist Loaded instead.

You can find Marc Jacobs Beauty at Marc Jacobs Beauty, Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Net-A-Porter. The eyeshadow palette, bronzer and dew drops are listed as limited-edition.

Have you bought anything from this year’s Coconut Fantasy Collection? What did you think?

27 Comments

Chanel

Chanel Les Beiges Collection 2018

May 4, 2018

The Chanel Les Beiges Collection 2018 has finally arrived and I’m thrilled to be able to give you a look at everything from this year’s launch. This is one collection I look forward to each year for natural glowing makeup. I’ve used the original Les Beiges Powders in No 20 and 30 for as long as I can remember! They usually launch some of the prettiest bronzers and this year they have Luminous Multi-Colour Powders with stripes of different colors mixed in. There are also new shades for eyes and lips. Covered today:

Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint ($40 for 30 ml /1 fl oz) available in 6 shades
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour Powder ($58 for 11 g / 0.38 oz) available in 3 shades, Light, Medium and Deep
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick ($45 for 8 g / 0.28 oz) new shade this year is No 25
Les Beiges Health Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette ($65 each for 4.5 g / 0.16 oz) two new shades in Light and Deep
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm ($20 each for ) new shades this year are Light, Medium and Deep

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Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint

Up first is a look at the Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint which comes in 6 colors: Light, Medium Light, Medium, Medium Plus, Light Deep and Deep. These are sheer tints that have SPF 30 and have enough coverage to even out the skin for a truly luminous glow.

I tested these twice on separate beach days and also at home. I love these for the beach! They add just the right amount of sheer coverage so skin looks natural. They are very dewy so I absolutely need to set with a powder. I tested this with the Les Beiges Powder No 20 and Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Powder #2 and it stayed put all day. I did need a few touchups at the beach and it actually lasted well through a swim in the ocean. If you have very oily skin this is not the product for you. I have normal combination skin and found these worked for my skin type. It has a similar finish and coverage to that of the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfectors and is slightly more opaque/thicker and more gel-like compared to the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizers (which I find super sheer and thin). For me best application was with a damp beautyblender.

Swatches below. The color is very forgiving so I can get away with Medium or Medium Plus.

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Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour Powder

I always look forward to the new Les Beiges powders! Sometimes they’ve done striped versions of light or bronze shades. Last year’s were a total fail for me as I couldn’t get the texture to work with my skin. This year’s formula has improved significantly in texture and I’m 100% obsessed. The Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour Powder comes in 3 shades that look like your skin but better in a glowing way. These were nearly impossible to capture on the face as they have a subtle glow. They powders are striped with different colors mixed in and when swirled you get the prettiest PERFECT soft luminous glow.

They are somewhere in between highlighters, finishing powders and bronzers (at least for Medium and Light). For my skin they’re a bit too luminous to use all over the face but I love them in place of where I’d use highlighter or a soft bronzer. In this beauty world we are bombarded with extra glow which I love, but sometimes it’s really nice to have something more natural and easier to wear for everyday.

Light is more of a highlighter on my skin, Medium is my perfect match, Deep is the prettiest subtle bronze. I’ve collected every limited-edition Les Beiges powder over the years and this year’s are the best ones I’ve tried.

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Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick

For the Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick this year they have 1 new color No 25. It looks scary bright in the tube but it sheers out to the perfect watermelon flush. It has a waxy feel so it’s not dewy and dries to a soft semi-matte finish. I was able to apply on top of powder and foundation without it disrupting my base.

Swatches compared to last year’s launches (which are still available):

Three looks:

Look 1 I’m wearing :
- Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint in Medium Plus
- Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Light
Look 2 I’m wearing:
- Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint Medium Plus
- Les Beiges Powder No 20 to set
- Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour Powder in Deep
- Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette in Deep
- Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Medium
Look 3 I’m wearing
- Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint Medium Plus
- Les Beiges Powder No 20 to set
- Healthy Glow Sheer Color Stick No 25
- Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette in Deep
- Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Medium
On the nails is Le Vernis in Camelia

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Les Beiges Health Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette

There are two new Les Beiges Health Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palettes in Light and Deep. Light has a mix of cool pink, purples and plums with a soft iridescent sheen to them. Pigment is really good and this reminds me of one of the older 5 pan palettes Chanel launched years ago. Deep has a mix of satin and sparkle shades. The mattes are brown based and the shimmers are golds. I’d recommend using a super dense cream shadow brush or fingers to apply the gold colors – otherwise you’ll get sparkle everywhere! I still think Medium is the best option for classic mattes (review here).

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Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balms

Last but not least are the three Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balms in Light, Medium and Deep. These give the lips that perfect effortless flush of color for summer!

At first glance I have to admit I thought they looked extremely boring. Swatched on the hand or arm you barely see color. Give them a chance because they are perfect on the lips. I think these are much like the Rouge Coco Shines where they apply better on the lips than arm swatches! Light is a pretty bright soft pink, Medium is a rosy pink, Deep is the perfect flushed plum pink. They are hydrating, soft, feel nice on the lips and don’t slide around. You will need to reapply after a few hours but I like the finish. They are very good for a tinted balm.

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One last look, Chanel Les Beiges Collection 2018:

Overall I think the Chanel Les Beiges Collection 2018 is perfect. The Chanel team was amazing to send everything for review but by the time I received it I had already bought the three powders. I’m really happy to have backups now because they are some of the prettiest luminous powders I’ve seen in a long time. They are somewhere in between highlighters, finishing powders and bronzers (at least for Medium and Light)!

I can’t pick a favorite in the collection but I highly recommend the Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powders, Healthy Glow Lip Balms and the new Cream Blush stick. The tints are going to be hit or miss depending on your skin type and coverage preference. I really like them but I don’t think they’re going to be good if you need coverage or if you have very oily skin. The eyeshadow palettes are stunning, I love Deep but I love the shimmers of Light. My recommendation for the palettes are going to be based on your color preference as I know palettes can be tricky if you don’t love all the colors.

Overall a huge thumbs up. I’ll be wearing the powders in Medium and Deep all summer long.

You can find the Chanel Les Beiges collection at Chanel.com now. Also available at all counters by now. As I’m finishing this post I’ve noticed their beautiful Cruise Collection just popped up online too!

I hope to have more reviews soon but I have a lot to work through in testing and swatching!

Les Beiges kindly sent from Chanel for review.

35 Comments

Empties Haircare Men's Grooming Skincare

Beauty Empties

May 2, 2018

As promised I have another round of beauty empties of things Andrew and I have used up in the last couple months! (Round 1 here.) As usual most of our empties are skincare-related but I have a mix of everything from makeup, hair care, skincare and men’s grooming. If you have any recent empties let me know in the comments!

Skincare

I’ve been experimenting more with makeup wipes but at the end of the day my favorites are still the Koh Gen Do and MAC Gently Off. Skincare I used up in March and April:

Bioderma Sensibio H20 mini – Always a fan of this gentle cleansing water, it doesn’t remove all my long-wear makeup or waterproof mascara, but it’s a good first pass on low-key makeup days (I always double or triple cleanse).
Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes – I might be the only one who did not like these, they had an odd scent to me, even though they’re designed for sensitive skin, I also felt like they didn’t have enough moisture in them.
Clinique Take The Day Off Micellar Wipes – I bought the mini 10 pack to try, another one I think is just ok, but not amazing. The liquid bottle of Take the Day Off is superior by far. Wish the wipes performed the same.
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water (All-In-1 Waterproof) – A great drugstore cleansing water, I have another mini and full size I keep in different rooms for easy access when I’m swatching.
Glossier Coconut Balm Dot Com – Obsessed with anything coconut!
Kate Somerville Eradikate Cleanser – One of my favorites (and Andrew’s favorite from Kate Somerville)
Kate Somerville Eradikate Mask – A great gentle anti-acne foaming mask that doesn’t sting.
Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Wipes – Probably the best I’m ever going to find, wish they just weren’t so pricey! I also love these post-workout if I’m out away from home (ie running or outdoors).
Kopari Coconut Mini Melt – This was a mini from an older version of their Multitasking Kit, I had a little bit left over and used it in the bath! I’ve since restocked on more!
Sephora Collection Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes – These were decent, but not as good as the Koh Gen Do version, definitely a great affordable option and very gentle on the skin.
Tatcha The Watercream (mini) – I had several of these partially used ones, I went through 3 of them (only 1 is shown) – also available in this duo set.

Andrew’s Empties

Andrew’s empties from the last couple months include:

Aesop Mouthwash – This is his second bottle and he put it on his list to repurchase a third one this week.
Baxter Grooming Cream – A gentle and not overly greasy grooming cream for the hair.
Jack Black Turbo Wash (not shown) – This is his favorite body wash + shampoo in one with a good lather and cleanses the skin well. (I often borrow it.) We buy the largest size with a pump. I think I might have purchased this over 50 times since we discovered this.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve – This is his favorite hand cream because it’s the most moisturizing one he’s used and he likes that it’s not really scented.
L’Occitane L’Occitan Roll-On Deodorant – He just went through 2 of these and we just stopped by L’Occitane today and bought him two more, he likes that it doesn’t irritate his sensitive under arms and lasts all day. He loves the natural way the L’Occitan line for men smells (they also have shower gels, cologne etc.).
Le Labo Shower Gel Mandarin – He discovered the Le Labo shower gels that I ordered and is obsessed with the scent, it’s really strong in the shower or bath, he thinks Hinoki and Mandarin are the best ones. Note these are the newer ones which I think smell a lot stronger and better than the ones that coincide with the perfumes.
Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen – Our favorite, but if you read this blog you already know that!

Home

Home candles I burned up and a fancy detergent I’ve become obsessed with:

Boy Smells Candle in Gardener – Most of these come in the black jar, I found the white jar as a limited-edition release sometime last year, this smells like a fresh garden that isn’t too floral or too green, it’s the perfect in between of sweet and fresh.
Diptyque Baies Candle – Always a favorite! Burned up another full size and small size.
Diptyque Tomas Maier Palm Beach – Smells of a tropical vacation with iris, jasmine, lemon, salt and grass (Diptyque boutique exclusive). Aside from Baies this is probably the one I’ve burned the second most. I stocked up the last time I was at boutique!
Diptyque Holiday 2017 Incense Tears Phoenix – Limited-edition release, previously reviewed here, I have plenty of other candles to explore but wish I had bought a backup of this one!
Diptyque Miami Candle – Another great fresh tropical scent that smells of lime, magnolia, citrus and a hint of vanilla (available only in Miami boutiques).
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Laundry Detergent – This comes in three forms that are currently exclusive to Neiman Marcus, there is one for light clothes, dark clothes and a fabric softener, the detergent smells like a more fresh grown up version of the perfume, it has enough strength to be noticeable on the clothes and sheets, we can smell it on our sheets for several days before it fades, I used up the Light version first and immediately bought it again along with the other two. I highly recommend these.

A Little Bit of Everything Else

Other items:

Drybar On The Rocks Shampoo and Conditioner – I really loved both of these for a clarifying shampoo and gentle conditioner, I’m considering buying again but currently experimenting with other formulas and brands.
Oribe Cleansing Crème for Moisture and Control – One of my favorite cleansing creams to re-hydrate dry hair, I’ve gone through so many bottles I’ve lost count!
Sisley Hair Rituel Regenerating Hair Care Mask – Full review on Sisley Hair Rituel soon, but this is the best hair mask I’ve ever tried, it’s designed to nourish both the scalp and hair, it leaves hair soft and tangle free and shiny!
Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold (mini) – My most-used cream shadow base for an all over wash or base for powder shadows.
L’Occitane Lavande Lavender Foaming Bath – Creates the best bath bubbles EVER! Also love the relaxing scent.
Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara Regular and the Total Temptation Mascara Waterproof – I was really underwhelmed by both of these, I had really high hopes they would work but they fell short of my expectations. The waterproof version is decent and makes for a great layering mascara, but I feel there are much better ones out there on the market for me.
Beautyblender Liquid Beautycleanser – I need to find this in a supersize version or cheaper alternative because I go through this way too fast. I know so many of you like baby shampoo, I don’t like using it because it always leaves a film on the brushes no matter how much I rinse.
HUM Hair Sweet Hair Gummies – When I bought these in March they were a Sephora exclusive, but now they’re available elsewhere like Nordstrom, I found they tasted AMAZING but results were just ok. My hair did grow a little over 2 inches within 1 month and I noticed it was stronger with less breakage. However I don’t typically measure my hair growth so I don’t know if this was more than usual. I didn’t see any added shine or bounce so I’ve now switched to trying Nature’s Bounty (will report once those are finished).

That wraps it up for the last couple months of empties! As usual let me know what you’ve used up recently, would love to know what you’re using! Do you use any biotin supplements that you love or have any favorite hair masks/face wipes?

The only press sample featured is the Sisley Hair Rituel mask. All other items purchased by me.

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Highlighters MAC

New MAC Launches: Strobe Collection, Mineralize Blush and Galactic Glitter

April 30, 2018

I’m catching up on some recent new MAC launches – there are so many I feel like you can literally blink and miss them! Today I’ve rounded up three launches with the Strobe Collection, Mineralize Blush and Galactic Glitter.

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Strobe Collection

Up first is the Strobe Collection which brings us new ways to glow. MAC is truly one of the leading trendsetters – I feel like they were the first to launch amazing highlighters and glow creams! In this collection we have:

Strobe Body Lotion in Opalite ($33 for 3.4 fl oz/100 ml) is a soft thin lotion with a beautiful pink iridescent gleam. If you’re looking for something that has a more natural sheen versus glitter/sparkle this is the one for you! It has the prettiest soft pink glow without being overdone. It’s also lightweight and not sticky which is going to be a plus for me in Florida heat.
Prep + Prime Fix+ Shimmer in Pinklite and Goldlite ($26 each for 3.4 fl oz/100 ml) is the Prep + Prime mist with shimmer added! There are little metal balls in the bottles to stir up the shimmer since it settles. These add a very natural sparkle to the face when you set. On me it’s very very natural, Pinklite has pink flecks while Goldlite has a warm gold sheen.
Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Whisper of Gilt and Show Gold ($34 each) are both repromotes, I feel like Whisper of Gilt is the classic soft gold champagne everyone needs to try! Show Gold has a duochrome sheen and is more glitzy on the skin. The formula in general has a high shine shimmer frost finish.

I have all the other Extra Dimension Skinfinishes so I swatched them below in case you haven’t seen them before. Left to right: Whisper of Gilt, Show Gold, Beaming Blush, Double Gleam, Glow With It, Oh Darling, Soft Frost, Superb.

Strobe Lotion swatches were hard to capture. Once you blend it disappears into the skin to give the most beautiful gleam! I swatched it straight out of the tube along with the Strobe Creams (for the face):

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Mineralize Blush Matte

The Mineralize line has been a favorite of mine for their highlighters and powders. Mineralize Skinfinishes in Global Glow and Lightscapade are my favorites in the shimmer finish and I use the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus and Medium Golden to set makeup. I’ve collected a number of the blushes over the years but this launch they added a matte version. They are on the sheer side and are very natural. If you want a natural blush these are amazing! There are also four highlighters each with 4 shades in the pan. I picked up one. The MAC highlighters usually last all day long on me, the blushes are sheer and faded by afternoon. I still like them for the natural look – they are easy to touch up without looking muddy.

Mineralize Skinfinish in Nuanced ($34 for 8 g/0.28 oz) is a soft quad with neutral pink tones, when swirled it gives a soft pink sheen to the skin, it is on the shimmery side but on me it did not emphasize pores or texture (your mileage will vary depending on your skin type)
Mineralize Blush Matte ($29 for 4g / 0.14 oz)
- Humour Me is a dusty brown neutral
- Naturally Flawless is a soft nude peach
- Hey Coral Hey is a soft coral pink, I initially thought this would be a dupe for Chanel’s Foschia Rosa, but the MAC one is a lot sheerer and lighter
- Like Me Love Me is a light medium peach
- Sweet Enough is a mauve pink neutral

Two beauty looks with the Mineralize Skinfinish in Nuanced (left) and Mineralize Matte Blush in Hey Coral Hey (right). Base worn is Sunday Riley The Influencer Foundation 190, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus, Hourglass Arch Brow Gel in Soft Brunette, Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Quad in Transformeyes.

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Galatic Glitter – New Lipglass Shades

I almost skipped the Galactic Glitter launch just because of the word “glitter.” There are new glitters in the small pigment glitter jars which I don’t wear, but what caught eye were the new Lipglass shades ($ for)! There are a number of new colors along with a few repromotes. If you’re new to MAC lipglasses they have a wide range of colors. Last year they redid the packaging to what you see above. My original haul and picks here. They are semi-thick with a high shine and slightly sticky. This makes them last a long time on me and they don’t budge. If gloss is prone to sliding around on you, I’d recommend adding a liner first. New ones I bought:

Very Go Lightly is a sparkling pale champagne
Mystic Powers is an iridescent pink opal glow
Elemental Forces is a warm beige
Good Juju is a pretty warm pink shimmer
All Things Magical is a perfect mauve pink shimmer
Magically Delightful is a medium-warm pink
Soar is a classic mauve (repromote in this collection but it was always sold out when I stopped by the counters near me!)

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Overall lots to love with MAC. I can always find something new that catches my eye. Since I’ve been collecting MAC since my high school days I’ve accumulated a lot of their products so it’s only natural that one begins to see similarities between launches.

If you’re a MAC junkie like me and already own a lot, I’d say my top picks to check out are the Strobe Body Lotion, Nuanced Mineralize Skinfinish and Matte Mineralize Blushes. I’m obsessed with Lipglasses in general and am happy with all the new shades. My top 3 favorites are Elemental Forces, All Things Magical and Magically Delightful.

One last thing that I wanted to mention is that the MAC Gently Off Wipes + Micellar Water are now available in the small travel size. This makes them more travel-friendly as the full size is HUGE! I bought two of these the last time I was at the store. They’re not as emollient as the Regular Wipes.

You can find the MAC launches out now. I usually purchase mine in store or online at MAC Cosmetics or Nordstrom.

Press samples include the MAC Strobe Collection. All other items purchased by me.

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Charlotte Tilbury Eye Makeup

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Filter Collection Bigger Brighter Eyes

April 28, 2018

Charlotte Tilbury has a new Beauty Filter Collection with her Bigger Brighter Eyes launch. In this collection she has two new limited-edition eyeshadow palettes called Exaggereyes and Transformeyes ($53 each for 5.2 g/0.18 oz) and a new mascara called Legendary Lashes Volume 2 in Black Vinyl ($32 for 8 ml/0.27 fl oz). The items launched early online at Charlotte Tilbury but are now available at Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman. I ordered everything sight unseen and when I opened the boxes my heart sank a little. Even though I’m a neutral shadow lover, the colors looked very boring and fairly basic to me, but I’m happy to report that upon swatching and testing – the palettes turned out to be a lot prettier on the eyes than I had anticipated!

The two eyeshadow quads are part of her Beauty Filters collection because the palettes have been designed to create the illusion of wider and brighter looking eyes. I was skeptical that the shades could be that good but they do just that. At first glance the colors look really dupeable. I think they can be, but the undertone, texture and pigment have the perfect amount of neutral + warmth to naturally enhance the eyes. It’s rare that a quad has all colors covered for me – I usually need to add at least one shade to warm up the look or add depth. These do everything I need for an eye look with the exception of liner + mascara.

Exaggereyes is the more neutral rose gold option. It swatched a lot warmer than I thought it would based on what I saw in the pan. It’s warm but not too warm. Colors include a pale warm champagne, shimmering tan rose, sheer sparkling silver mauve and warm tan rose brown.

Transformeyes has a warm gold shimmer, warm copper, matte warm red brown and matte deep brown. I thought this would be way too warm for my complexion but it’s a lot more wearable than it looks in the pan.

Swatches:

Eye look with the Exaggereyes Palette. Also wearing:

NARS All Day Luminous Foundation in Stromboli + Barcelona mixed
MAC Next to Nothing Pressed Powder in Medium Plus (review here)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra (review here)
Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush in Tender Rose (all shades here)

A few sets of swatch comparisons, first to Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quads in Seductive Rose, Orchid Haze and Honeymoon:

I didn’t have time to photograph all the palettes below but did do some more swatching to compare. Transformeyes also next to Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat Eyeshadow Palette (review here), Pat McGrath Bronze Ambition (also reviewed here):

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Glow Palette (eyes, look on the face here) vs. Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita vs. a custom made Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadow Quad with Sateen, Amber, Golden Copper and Chocolate:

The Legendary Lashes Volume 2 is the best mascara she has launched to date. I’ve liked both of her formulas for the color, but they didn’t hold the curl. This one thickens and volumizes and holds the curl a little bit better. It’s still not as good as some others like Stila Huge Lash, L’Oreal Lash Paradise, Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme or Chantecaille’s Faux Cils but I think it’s good because it didn’t smudge or flake on me.

Overall lots of love. Lasting power is excellent, pigment is smooth and easy to build, colors are perfect for everyday wear. They’re also versatile enough to wear with any lip/cheek combination! You may want to shop your stash if you already own a lot of neutrals. The colors are similar to other brands out there. Still I find them excellent just as they are. No tweaking required for me. I rarely do backups anymore, but both of these are so perfect for me I just ordered backups.

You can find the collection available now online at Charlotte Tilbury, Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman. Everything is limited-edition. There is also supposed to be a Part 2 of her Beauty Filters Collection focused on lips and cheeks coming out later in the spring. Will keep you posted as I find out more!

Are these on your radar? What’s your current go-to neutral everyday eyeshadow palette?

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A Little Bit of Everything Else

New MAC Launches: Strobe Collection, Mineralize Blush and Galactic Glitter

Strobe Collection

Mineralize Blush Matte

Galatic Glitter – New Lipglass Shades

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Filter Collection Bigger Brighter Eyes

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