Every year around the holiday season, I always gift Molton Brown. For me it’s a no brainer because there is always something for everyone – even those that are hard to shop for!
I’m the biggest fan of their Bath & Shower Gels which have the most refreshing scents. Each year Molton Brown launches a limited-edition scent for the holiday season. This year they introduced the new Muddled Plum Collection which is perfect for those who want something different from the traditional spice or pine scent. I’m thrilled to partner with the brand to give you a peek!
Muddled Plum is a warm and cozy scent with a fruity feel that mixes rum, saffron and plum into one delicious fragrance. They describe it as “a celebratory aroma featuring rich notes of oak-aged rum, saffron and plum” which couldn’t be more perfect because I love anything with sandalwood during this time of year.
Top notes: orange, saffron and elemi. Heart notes: plum, davana and oak-aged rum. Base notes: sandalwood, benzoin and musk.
The Muddled Plum Collection is composed of 6 different products, all great for gifting. Everything is beautifully packaged that looks like a gift in itself. The collection includes Body Lotion ($44 for 10 fl oz) and Bath & Shower Gel ($35 for 10 fl oz). I prefer to use the shower gel as my bubble bath after a long day as it lathers nicely, has a strong scent and leaves my skin feeling soft. The Body Lotion is perfect to apply after a long bath and leaves your skin feeling deeply hydrated.
A perfect stocking stuffer is the Festive Body Wash Bauble ($15 each). This item is shaped like an ornament so you can also hang it from your tree!
The collection also includes an Eau de Toilette ($65 for 1.7 fl oz) which has really good lasting power on the skin. This one makes for a nice warm fall scent with the mix of sweet and a little bit of spice.
My ultimate fave product from the collection has to be the Scented Glitter ($45) which I’ve never seen before! This is such a cute idea – you can sprinkle it on your tree, gifts, your dinner table or letters you send. It’s purple and silver to match the festive plum color theme.
Lastly, from the collection we have the Single Wick Candle ($50). It burns beautifully and fills the entire room within minutes. It has a soft mellow burn so it’s not overpowering.
There are so many gift options for the holidays at multiple price points! The new Muddled Plum Collection is a great option if you’re shopping for the person who already has everything as there’s a good chance they haven’t tried it yet! I typically buy their Hand Creams or one of their Holiday Crackers to give away, but this year they also have an amazing Opulent Infusions Advent Calendar as well!
You can find the Molton Brown Holiday gift sets and Muddled Plum Collection at MoltonBrown.com. The collection is limited-edition for the season and can also be purchased with gorgeous gift box options.
Happy Monday! I have a roundup of gift ideas for the guys in your life including some of Andrew’s favorite things I’ve gifted him. We’re in the process of putting together our best of skincare posts which I hope to have up soon, but for now here are some things we both think would make great gifts for any of the guys in your life.
Jack Black makes some of the best skincare options and sets for guys. I think these are no-fail sets for anyone regardless of age. I even borrow some of the products from the line as well. Andrew thinks it’s best to buy individual items to pick and choose the best, but since everyone has different skin types I think the sampler sets are the nice way to start. His top picks are the Turbo Wash (only body wash he swears by), Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser (leave it on a few minutes and it doubles as a mask), Face Buff (is his go-to face scrub).
He’s been trying some other things in skincare and has been really impressed with the Drunk Elephant Polypeptide Cream and Baby Facial. He also uses the Kate Somerville Eradikate line almost as religiously as I do. We both think those are no-fail options for a wide range of skin types. I think everyone we know has to deal with breakouts every now and then, the Eradikate Cleanser is one of the best ones to help with preventing acne.
For body care, aside from almost exclusively using the Jack Black Turbo Wash, Andrew also swears by the Aesop Redemption Body Scrub and their hand washes. There are a number of Aesop Gift Sets that are great unisex gifts regardless of age and skin type. After trying my Aquis Hair Towels he looked more into the line and found some things on Amazon. He bought the Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber and says it’s one of the best ones he’s tried.
Fragrance is something I think can be tricky and very personal, but the best scent we’ve ever smelled for men is Creed Aventus. After going through several bottles very quickly I bought him one of the Flacons last year. It was such a splurge but buying it saved me so much money as it lasted him an entire year (it’s down to the last drop now). If you’re unsure of what scent to buy you can always opt for a refillable atomizer. I’ve gifted Andrew a couple and he uses them all the time. Other nice options include Chanel Bleu de Chanel or Dior Sauvage which are nice, fresh and modern.
For the sporty guy in your life you truly cannot go wrong with an Apple Watch, sport headphones or anything from Yeti. Andrew’s two “can’t live without” things are his Yeti Tumbler and his Jaybird True Wireless Headphones. The headphones are the one item he bought himself after doing a lot of research. They’re small enough that they fit inside the ear, they’re truly wireless and work best even through a sweaty run.
Since Andrew already owns everything here I’m putting together my gift list for him. Apple came out with a new version of the Nike Watch and we plan on trading his current one in for a newer one (love how they will give you some store credit for trade ins!). Louis Vuitton’s L’Immensite has been on my list for a few months after smelling it in store, but he would probably be happy with another bottle of Creed Aventus. He’s a big fan of Cole Haan shoes and Nike running shoes too so I’m browsing through the newer options this season. Since we’re more active with weight lifting and running he’s been more into active wear so Lululemon is also something on his wishlist.
Hope you found this men’s gift guide helpful! One of my girl friends was telling me her hubby seriously needed to up his grooming game and she couldn’t convince him to use better skincare. When it comes to the guys in my life I think the best way to have them try new things is to buy it for them and put it on their counter or send it in a cool looking package. So if the guys in your life need some help in the grooming or skin care department, I hope this gives you some ideas!
I’m wrapping up gift guides this week but in case you missed the previous ones:
I’m sharing something a little different today with a look at some of our home decor pieces for the holiday along with some fun gifting accessories. An overwhelming number you requested a home decor post in a recent poll and so I have a peek at a few things we’ve done to make our place a little more cozy. We have one holiday themed corner in our living room to get in the spirit and everything is fairly simple and minimalist. I do love the beautiful elaborate wreaths and garlands I see everywhere else and maybe when we find our forever home someday we will go all out. For now I’m really just happy to keep things simple with a few key accents. Fur babies are included below. Our two Jack Russells Jake and Lucy are 13 years old this year! Kitty turned 6 in August.
Our tree is a 7.5 foot Flocked Tree we bought at Home Depot. We considered getting a real tree but after some thought we opted for an artificial one and I love it! It’s pre-decorated so it already has lights and pine cones. The tips are flocked which give it a festive feel. I particularly love that we don’t have to water it and we can use it again in the future!
We did add some ornaments to it. Over the years we’ve found some pretty ones from Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and other places but when we moved a couple years ago we didn’t bring a lot of our little things (we gave a lot away). This year we stopped by Target to get some wrapping paper and I was so thrilled to find a wide range of beautiful affordable ornaments. They have a wide range of colors for the ornament balls. We also stopped by Michael’s which I find has even more affordable budget options, for the quality and price Target has better ones.
Left Silver, Clear, White, Blue set (42 pieces) from Target, middle silver ornaments from Michaels, right red and gold mini ornaments from Target. 20 mm silver bells from Michaels. String star twinkle lights are Philips Lights from Target. Throw from West Elm.
As much as I love beautiful wrapping paper for gifts I feel like it can often times be so wasteful as it always gets thrown out! Target had some really nice budget options from their Wondershop and their Sugar Paper line. Ribbons and string are also from Target and Michael’s. If you need a specific color of ribbon Michael’s literally has every thickness, material and color you can imagine. Most of them were on sale for the holiday too.
For the gifts we are putting together ourselves that require a box we found some nice sturdy simple options at Michael’s. They come in a wide range of colors including the basic brown tan which can be easily dressed up with a simple ribbon, gift topper or cute gift tag. Target Sugar Paper has some nicer pre-decorated options as well. I can’t find the cute North Pole gift tags online but I did find them in store at Target.
Other fun things include these Gold Jingle Bells from the Sugar Paper Line. I found some cute take-out boxes also at Target which you can fill with candies or use to send guest home with baked goods.
Perhaps the easiest and simplest way to add some holiday cheer to the home is with candles. My favorite holiday ones already rounded up in my Favorite Luxury Candles for the Holiday post. I was able to buy the full-size Diptyque Carousel when it restocked, but it sold out again. The small one is still available in the Carousel and Candle Set with Baies + Tubereuse.
I’ve really been loving Byredo as their scents are so unique and the candles have amazing throw. Chai is new this season, I don’t know if it’s limited-edition or not but it smells just like chai tea and it’s so cozy! I think Woods and Tree House are also amazing options for Christmas but versatile enough to burn year round as well.
I hope you enjoyed a peek into our holiday decor! If you’re still in the process of picking up things to decorate a quick tip is to always check online for items first, even if you’re going in store. So many places like Target and Michael’s have a store stock locator option which is so helpful! Sometimes you can reserve online to pick up in store. Other times if you just want to go in yourself but want to check to see if they have things in stock it will tell you which aisle items are located. It’s super handy so you don’t end up driving all over the place searching for things!
The Christmas countdown is on and my goal is to have everything wrapped by tomorrow. I do think the best and most efficient way to shop for gifts is to simply order online and have things shipped directly. But if you have gifts you’re giving in person I hope you found these ideas helpful!
Do you decorate your home for the holiday season? Any tips or tricks or traditions you want to share? Let me know in the comments! Two notes:
I’ve started up Instagram giveaways again are announced every Wednesday on stories. In case you missed the announcement last week this week’s giveaway is a Diptyque Miami + Vanille Candle. All you have to do is follow me @beautylookbook, comment on at least 2 posts during the week and like my posts! Super easy 🙂 I announce winners and contact via DM on Instagram.
I’ve also decided to start up my blog giveaways again. Every Sunday on the blog I’ll announce a new one. For the blog this week I’m giving away two Diptyque Candles to one reader! Simple enter through the widget below and one person will be selected on next Saturday to receive one Miami City Candle and one Tomas Maier WDR candle (both purchased by me). Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Not sponsored or affiliated.
Christian Louboutin launched new eye shadows in two finishes called the Tape a l’Oeil Metallic Eye Colour and Matte Nude Eye Colour ($50 each for 7 ml/0.23 fl oz). These are eye colors with intense pigment color payoff. I received four colors to test and also purchased two additional shades to review.
Above from left to right: Lola, Zefira, Carnelian, Andalusite, Morganite and Pyrite
The Matte Nude Eye Colour shades come with an oil-based gel formula which goes on like a fluid, dries and sets quickly to a matte finish. I have Lola which is a pale pink peach nude and Zefira which is a deeper brown. These are intended to be skin-matching or contrasted for a brightening or contour effect. I will be frank to say I had low expectations for the matte shades as most fluid or cream mattes tend to look very flat on my skin, but Lola is the best all over base I’ve ever tried. It sets quickly but I only need to dab a little and blend all over the lid for a perfect canvas. Since it is matte I do need to make sure that whatever I layer on top isn’t too dry, slightly creamy powders or shimmers layer nicely on top. These are very opaque and since they dry quickly I recommend blending with a small brush quickly after you dab it on the eyes. Zefira is a deeper brown which I can use as a liner or a soft smokey eye. Since it’s really intense I can blend it out but I have to do so in sheer layers and move quickly. I would like to see if there is a shade one shade darker than Lola, it’s hard to tell online but I have these on my list to check out the next time I’m at a counter.
The Metallic Eye Colours are also excellent. These are intense pigments that have a mix of water and metallic color for a reflective finish. I tried four of the colors which vary slightly in finish. Three of them are more smoother metallics while one has more intense sparkle. Andalusite is a smokey metallic olive green, Carnelian is a beautiful metallic red, Pyrite is the most perfect medium tan gold. The sparkly one is Morganite which I love, it’s a warm pink sparkle. Like the mattes, the metallics also dry quickly so blending fast is key. I can dab and brush with the applicator for Pyrite and Morganite and since they’re lighter in color I can also blend with fingers. The deeper ones require a little more precision so I use the brush applicator and a separate detail brush to blend.
The deeper colors I tested are so beautiful but just not my vibe. I find anything olive or green challenging for me to wear, so Andalusite requires a smokey black or deep brown liner to make it work. Carnelian is one of those stunning reds I cannot pull off, but the color and pigment is really nice though.
A closer look and swatches:
Aside from the steep price the only other downside I see is that the packaging is not super convenient for putting in your everyday makeup bag or for travel. The long spikes are typical of the Louboutin design – ornate like a lavish piece of art or ornament. The long handle is nice to have with application and it felt comfortable in the hand in the width and length. The brush applicator is decent. I like it a lot more than I would have if it were a sponge applicator, but I have individual brushes that I prefer using instead. Still it is slim so it won’t take up too much room if you want to take it with you on a trip.
Pyrite with some added mascara and liner in the bottom photo:
Left side is blended, right side has more layered. You can layer more for more pigment and even combine the different colors together for a different (or more complete) look. I try to swatch colors alone so you can get a sense of what they look like by themselves.
Overall I think Louboutin has created some excellent formulas for eye color. They exceeded my expectations formula-wise. Based on the fact that I did not like their mascara that much I though I might have luke-warm feelings towards the eyeshadows as well, but I really like them. I do think that Pyrite has a vibe to other golden tan shades like Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Bette or Marie Antoinette and Morganite looks like Bobbi Brown’s Long Wear Cream Shadow in Golden Pink on me, but the Louboutin formula is different. Since it’s more of a fluid with metallic pigments it stays put on the skin significantly longer on me. Once it sets and dries I feel like it’s budge-proof on me. The shimmer is also a little more intense without being too glitzy. For the holiday season I think long-wear makeup you don’t have to worry about moving through long parties or events is a must which make both of them worth the splurge for me.
Performance and quality wise I give these a solid A+ but I do think you can get a similar effect with other cream shadows out there. Granted they might not be the same formula-wise as I do think the fluid texture is unique. I do think some of the colors can be duped – maybe not the red one, it does seem rather unique to me for a cream/fluid product.
By popular request I have my holiday gift guide with ideas for the girls who have everything. I’m “that person” in my circle of friends and family and most of the time people think I’m hard to shop for. It’s actually not the case at all! If you have someone in your life who seems like they have the latest and greatest of everything there are plenty of gift options you can pick from. Restock them on their favorite things they’ll for sure use up like sheet masks, lip balm, hand cream or dry shampoo. Sweet treats are a no-fail option and I’m going to list my favorites below. There are also lots of practical things you can buy like a cozy throw or something nice for the home.
Universal Gifts for Any Age and Skin Type
The top brands I think have the best and most universal to gift are L’Occitane, Molton Brown and Fresh Beauty. They have such a wide range of things to choose from. L’Occitane and Molton Brown make the best affordable stocking stuffers that won’t break the bank with plenty to pick from the $25 and under mark. They also have the luxury sets if you want to splurge. In my opinion Fresh makes the Best Face Mask Set for the holidays (also love this Rose Set) – it’s one of those things you don’t have to worry if someone says “I already have that” because you really can never have too many of these. I sent my brother a few masks and he has super sensitive skin but loves them. He told me, “I feel like a brand new person” after using one of the Black Tea masks. L’Occitane has the cutest hand creams and ornament sets. You can’t go wrong with Molton Brown’s hand wash, lotions or shower gels. They’re among the best!
Other sets I love for body and hands are from Kiehl’s, Le Labo and Chanel. There are a number of cute options this season. The Le Labo Hinoki scent is one of the most unique and best ones I’ve tried. We have their hand wash in one of our bathrooms and it’s always so nice to use. The best base and top coats I’ve tried are from Chanel so their Perfectly Polished Manicure Set is super luxe and chic for gifting.
I think the best bubble baths are the L’Occitane and Laura Mercier. The L’Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath is something I wish I could buy by the gallon. Laura Mercier makes some of the most sweet fancy bath soaks you can find. Other stand outs are from REN Skincare and anything from Susanne Kaufman (her hand cream is amazing!).
Best of Home Scents
All of my favorite candles for the holiday rounded up in this post here. Giving a beautiful candle set or a single luxury candle is a no-fail gift for the person who has everything. If you’re really dead set on gifting something they don’t have, there’s a pretty good chance they don’t have Byredo Chai because it’s new this season. There are also some pretty stunning candles by Overose Paris including a brand new purple wax candle (you’ll most likely have to order online because they’re a bit hard to find).
Cozy and Fun Gift Ideas
The best thing I’ve ever bought for the home was the Barefoot Dreams Throw last year. It was meant to be a gift but it was so plush and soft I kept it for myself. Andrew nearly fainted when I told him the price, but when I started sleeping with it at night he noticed how soft it was and tried to share it with me. The one I bought isn’t big enough for two so I bought him his own lol. We both love them, it regulates body temperature in the most perfect way ever so you’re just the right amount of cozy. If Barefoot Dreams isn’t within your budget UGG also makes some really amazing throws at lower price points. West Elm also has some super affordable throws (many are on sale!) that are chic and super soft. For things that are fun or practical, you can’t go wrong with simplehuman. Their soap dispenser is a must for hands-free application. It’s so useful in the kitchen! I plan on getting one for my mother-in-law. The Compact Mirror is also a really nice item I think would make an amazing gift.
For sweets the best holiday candies, hot chocolates and marshmallows are hands down from Williams-Sonoma. I used to work there many years ago while I was in grad school. The Peppermint Bark is for sure one of the best classic holiday treats. They have a lot of other options too if peppermint isn’t your thing. I’m also a huge fan of Sugarfina for cute candies.
Best in Skincare
There are so many great skincare sets to choose from! I might do a separate gift guide on the best skincare sets. I know it might seem overwhelming to pick one because everyone has different skin types. I’ve linked a few I think are great regardless of skin type. I still think the Drunk Elephant Big Reveal set I bought during the Sephora sale is one of the best finds this year (it’s online only). You can also never go wrong with a face mist or sheet masks – everyone I can think of can benefit from this!
Hair Styling Products
Last but not least you can’t go wrong with a mini dry shampoo or set of hair care products. Every single one of my friends loves dry shampoo and they’re always looking to try ANYTHING! A few that I’ve tried plus some great sets linked below. I also still really think the Aquis Hair towels are great!
I hope this roundup gives you lots of ideas for those who are hard to shop for! Maybe some ideas to hint for yourself too 🙂 I tried to include a little from every category because I know everyone has different tastes and favorites!
I have a Cle de Peau Beaute haul roundup today with some hits and misses on what I’ve been testing. I’ve been a long time fan of their Concealer Stick (both original and new formula) and some of their lip products but this is a brand I haven’t explored much recently. Much of the makeup I’ve purchased over the years has been reformulated over the years including the twist up click lipsticks, some eyeshadows, foundations etc. With all the other launches and new brands popping up I haven’t kept up with this line although I really did like their Radiant Lip Gloss and splurged on all the colors at the beginning of the year. In today’s haul roundup:
Lip Glorifier ($40 for 0.1 oz, also sold out everywhere)
Up first is a look at two of the Cle de Peau Beaute bases, the Radiant Cushion Foundation and the Radiant Corrector for Eyes. I give both of these a thumbs up, I think these are probably the only two items I hauled I think are truly worth the splurge.
The Radiant Cushion Foundation is a beautiful medium coverage cushion with a natural slightly luminous finish. It’s lightweight but has a hydrating feel. Coverage is perfect for me: medium and dewy but not greasy looking. There is a puff that comes with the compact designed to apply just the right amount of product, but I still prefer using a beautyblender. I was thrilled to find a match with O30 because the shade range is limited to just 6 colors. It does pull a little more on the neutral side and I’m more olive, but it works for my skin right now without any adjusting needed. It oxidizes slightly which actually works in my favor right now. I’m quickly losing my tan this winter but I still have some color.
Below with one layer of the cushion foundation applied all over the face with a beautyblender sponge. It lasts for hours on me, I do need to touch up with some powder mid-day but I didn’t notice any separating on my normal skin. I have not tried any of the other Cle de Peau foundation formulas in years so I cannot compare the cushion. It’s very lightly scented but did not irritate my skin (AmorePacific and Sulwhasoo by comparison are heavily fragranced).
I already featured the Radiant Corrector for Eyes in Ocher in my recent Concealer Roundup but wanted to mention it again because I think it’s an excellent formula for concealing and brightening. It’s not as opaque or matte as the Stick Concealer which makes it more ideal for under eye concealing. I highly recommend it!
Up next are the Luminizing Face Enhancers. I had some shades from years ago but I believe they are now discontinued. I splurged on a few more (all at different times). 15 Golden Apricot is a light peach, 16 Almond is a mix of champagne and soft light brown, 17 Lavender is a cool-toned mix of pale ivory, lavender, pale pink and mint. I have such mixed feelings about these because they’re so sheer and natural looking, I can barely see them on my skin. They meld nicely with the skin and once applied skin truly looks radiant in the most natural way possible. For the price of $95 per compact I don’t think these are worth the price. I do understand they’re meant to be natural and enhancing, but for me $95 for sheer and barely visible just isn’t worth it to me. I don’t know why I talked myself into buying again because I originally thought they were too expensive when I first bought these.
For holiday they launched a Stick Highlighter in Light Me. I ordered it sight unseen because the packaging looked so beautiful! This is a similar concept to the RMS Living Luminizer which I am not a fan of (I might be the only one on the planet who doesn’t like it). The Cle de Peau Stick Highlighter gives a very natural luminous sheen. It’s light and sheer and makes the skin glow, but once you blend out with the fingers the color pretty much disappears. The price is also steep. I think I might just be too tan/dark in skin tone to be able to wear this one. If you have fair skin I can see it being more visible or flattering on. If you have this on your wishlist I’d recommend ordering soon, it’s sold out almost everywhere but still available at Bloomingdale’s and Cle de Peau.
For the lips I tried the new Holiday Lipstick Cashmere in Follow Me #504 and two of the regular Lipstick Cashmere colors in #101 Pouty and #102 Song Bird along with the Lip Glorifier which is pretty much sold out everywhere and a little hard to find. I have two semi-hits and two misses with these.
The Holiday Lipstick Cashmere in Follow Me is also sold out pretty much everywhere, but I hope I can ease your mind if you really wanted it and missed out. It’s a gorgeous peachy pink neutral with a creamy velvety feel but it was semi streaky. The color did not last long on me at all and since it sold out I did try to dupe it. I found quite a few similar options which I’ve swatched below. Lasting power was pretty mediocre with this color – I kept it on while arm swatching other products and in 30 minutes it had already faded noticeably and started to separate. Not ok for a $65 lipstick!
The good news is that the regular Lipstick Cashmere lineup is better for lasting power and finish. #101 Pouty is a pretty neutral nude pink and #102 Song Bird is the perfect medium rose. Both glide onto the lips smoothly like soft velvet and they have a semi matte finish. If I had not tried Pat McGrath’s MatteTrance Lipsticks I would have given the Cle de Peau lipsticks an A rating, however Pat McGrath has set the bar so high for me – I don’t think it gets better than her mattes for pigment, texture and lasting power. The formula between Cle De Peau and Pat McGrath aren’t quite the same though so I don’t know that a comparison is fair. I do think hands down you should save your budget for anything Pat McGrath because the quality of her line is phenomenal and she’s also having a sitewide sale on her website. Because her lipsticks are so good I feel like almost everything else I’ve tried ranks a B to B- or lower by comparison.
Last but not least is the Lip Glorifier. It’s marketed as next level amazing but I think it’s just ok. It’s good but has a very similar concept to the Dior Addict Lip Glow. It’s a light pink balm that has a slight tingle and slightly pink tint. It adds a pink glow and color to the lips but in a very natural way. It made my lips full and smooth and lush. I do think the Dior Lip Glow is a classic that can’t be beat, if you’re going to find a color transforming balm Dior is the best one I’ve tried. Cle de Peau’s is also very nice but for the price and size Dior wins hands down. I give this a semi-miss because of the super small size and the fact that I don’t think it’s quite as revolutionary or unique as I expected.
For those who like Follow me and are bummed it’s sold out, swatch comparisons below to a few similar options. The finish isn’t going to be the same because the Lipstick Cashmere is velvety, but you can get a similar color by trying any of these options:
Button cuff sweater worn from Loft (runs true to size).
Overall I do think Cle de Peau offers some beautiful high quality products. I know many fans are die hard loyal to the products and skincare so I hope I don’t offend fans with my less than stellar review. I think there are definitely good solid items to choose from. I think their Facial Cotton and Face Puff are excellent and worth the splurge even though there are cheaper alternatives that are just as good. I found prices for this line too high for me and I do not feel this haul was not worth what I spent. I’ve happily purchased and splurged on many things to review for this blog but in this case I feel the $800+ cost would have been better MUCH spent on things like the simplehuman large pro wide sensor mirror or Diptyque Advent Calendar instead. Or even the Dyson Air Wrap Styler that many of you have been asking me to review (however it seems to be sold out everywhere).
The Cushion Foundation was my favorite out of all the things I tested but the extremely limited shade range is so disappointing, not to mention the fact that it doesn’t even come with a refill. There are other brands that have expensive cushions but I do appreciate that some of them come with a refill which makes the splurge feel a little better. I think the Radiant Corrector for Eyes is excellent but also think the shade range could be improved.
I had high hopes for the lipsticks and while they’re not bad, I think there are superior formulas out there at lower price points. Same goes for the highlighting powders and highlighter stick. I’m going to keep trying with the highlighter stick – I keep reading so many good reviews on it, I’m determined to make it work for me. All this said I do think they offer some good pieces perfect for the beauty lover who wants something very understated and naturally glowy. I know not everyone wants super bold or intense shimmer, sometimes it’s nice to have more natural options. I’m all about natural but found these too natural even for me.
If you love the brand I’d love to hear about your favorites! It’s been a while since I’ve looked into the new launches so if there’s anything you think is an absolute must let me know in the comments.
NARS just launched a new eyeshadow palette today called the NARS Ignited Eyeshadow Palette ($59 for 0.05 ox/1.2 g x 12, made in Canada). It’s available exclusively at Sephora.com and NARS online for now, expected to launch in stores on 12/10/2018. I have a look plus swatches of this palette today!
NARS Ignited has a mix of mattes, shimmers, glitters and intense sheen shadows. It think it’s very much on trend with the pink and red eyeshadow colors that are “in” right now. If you already own a lot you may want to shop your stash. I find it similar to the Urban Decay Naked Cherry but the NARS Ignited Palette has more intense shine and sparkle with the shimmer shades. They have that same unique finish as some of their hardwired shadow singles.
Colors all have really phenomenal pigment in this palette. I appreciate that especially since not all previous NARS palettes have had consistently good pigment or color payoff across all shades. The colors as I see them are:
Hammamet 1 is a soft peach tan matte
St Paul de Vence 1 is a satiny warm peachy pink with a sheen
Light Up is a glitzy pale pink
Atomic glittering pale pink
Sophia matte neutral brown
Supernova shimmery warm pink
In Heat duo chrome shimmering mauve
Ignition sparkling pink with glitter
Noumea matte warm brown
Fired Up shimmery red pink
Fuse sparkling glittery purple
Pointe Noir shimmery deep plum sparkle
I believe all the mattes in this one are available individually, the shimmers all look new to me. There will be some fallout with application on the sparkles when you apply, but once on the lids they stayed put all day without any budging. I did not need to use a shadow base or cream shadow stick to make them adhere although adding one will help if you have dry lids.
Larger swatches:
This is the same size compact and pan size as last year’s NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette. The mix of textures and finishes is similar but color scheme is different. I have a side by side of the palettes below but could not fit them all on one arm to swatch side by side. I swatched them last year and the colors are a lot warmer or more neutral while this years’s NARS Ignited is more pink and plum.
Overall solid performance for color payoff, pigment, smooth finish and lasting power. It has some beautiful finishes for the shimmers that have intense sparkle but apply nicely without having fall out after it sets. That being said I think it’s very similar to a number of other palettes out right now. I love more neutral tones so between Ignited and Wanted I prefer the Wanted, but they are different in overall undertone and color scheme. If you already own Urban Decay Naked Cherry I think you’ll find this one very similar. A quick look at both shows that NARS Ignited has more intense shimmer and pigment with the sparkles while the Urban Decay has softer shimmers. The one for NARS has more of a wow factor with the glitz and sheen, but it’s not too intense that I felt uncomfortable wearing it. It’s beautiful for sure – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed because it’s easy to wear and quality is on point, but check your stash to see how many pink/plum palettes you have if you’re concerned about dupes.
You can find the NARS Ignited Eyeshadow Palette available exclusively at Sephora.com and NARS online for now, expected to launch in stores on 12/10/2018. If you’re shopping at Sephora they’re having their Holiday Hooray event now for Rouge! Details and codes are as follows, offer is a one time use:
Rouge Members November 29 through December 12 receive $25 off $75 purchases or more with code 2018HOORAY
VIB Members November 30 through December 12 receive $20 off $75 purchases or more with code 2018HOORAY
Insiders November 30 through December 11 receive $15 off $75 purchases or more with code 2018HOORAY
What do you think about the palette? Do you like pink tones for eyeshadows?
NARS palette provided for review. Additional press samples have a * next to them.
