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2018

Empties Roundup Skincare

Empties

March 2, 2018

Beauty Empties via The Beauty Look Book

I’m starting a new series on empties which I’ll be doing every 2-3 months. As a beauty blogger, I test a lot of product and it’s pretty much impossible to use up everything. A lot of you have asked what I do with all the stuff I review or receive. I have favorites I use on a regular basis, I have tried-and-true products I don’t always feature on repeat because they’ve sold out or are limited-edition. Some items I keep on hand for comparisons. I also share a lot with friends, family and readers too! And of course as much as I’d hate to admit this, often times product expires before it gets used up so it gets tossed.

Things I use up or toss on a regular basis such as mascara, liquid eyeliner, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. that I probably won’t share unless you’re interested. In today’s post I’m showing you most of what I used up in January and February of this year. I say “most” because I actually did a huge purge of near empties when we moved. Andrew rescued some of these from our bathroom trash bin and said I should save them for an empties post because he was sure a lot of readers would want to know what I’ve used up. Press samples have a * next to them.

Part 1: Cleansers and Removers

Beauty Empties March | Beauty Look Book

I am obsessed with cleansing waters. I often use them as part of a multi-step process to clean my skin or to remove makeup in between swatches.

  • Almay Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads are pretty much the only makeup remover that will remove my waterproof mascara – thanks to all my readers who recommended this to me via Instagram, also if you buy these in store note there are two variations, the one with the oil is the one you want to get!
  • La Roche Posay Micellar Water for Sensitive Skin – there are several variations of this, I think mine is an older version because the current ones are called Micellar Water Ultra – you can find at a wide range of locations like Target and Ulta, I ordered mine direct from their website
  • Elemis White Flowers Eye and Lip Make-Up Remover is something I used up but won’t repurchase, it takes at least 3 soaked pads for me to remove my waterproof mascara (I have to soak, press onto lids for a few seconds and remove, then repeat)
  • Deborah Lippmann The Stripper Polish Remover is my favorite nail polish remover that won’t dry out the nails or make them peel, it’s gentle enough for me to use frequently especially when I’m swatching nail product
  • MAC Brush Cleanser is something I go through a lot of, and yes you can use baby shampoo, but I actually don’t like it because it always leaves a film on my brushes
  • Bioderma Sensibio Lotion is a gentle toner that I love, I also have the larger size but keep minis on hand for travel
  • Bioderma Sebium H20 is one of my favorite cleansing waters, it won’t remove waterproof makeup but is great for the face (this one still has a tiny bit of product left, probably about 1/2 inch which is why you still see liquid inside)
  • Sephora Collection The Cleanse Daily Brush Cleanser is something I use for a quick clean when I’m swatching, it’s also great for travel if you just need something to do a surface clean
  • MAC Gently Off Wipes + Micellar Water * is gentle to multiple times over when I’m lip swatching or face swatching
  • beautyblender cleanser solid is pretty much the best thing to clean beautyblender sponges

 

Part 2: Hair Products

March Empties Oribe, Moroccanoil, Christophe Robin

Some hair styling products I’ve used up:

 

Part 3: Bath and Shower

Beauty Empties | Beauty Look Book

I go through a lot of bath and shower products. I would say that it’s this category that is missing a lot of my empties because I threw out a ton of used up product a couple weeks ago.

  • Fresh Sugar Lychee Sugar Bath Cubes are my favorite to make the bath smell amazing, these are spendy and the rate I use these up is pretty expensive, but I love them!
  • Verb Ghost Shampoo (large size) I love this shampoo, it’s hard to find product that works well in Florida water! I also bought the conditioner but I don’t condition as much as I shampoo so they always last at least twice as long
  • Le Labo Shampoo and Conditioner are both ones I have mixed feelings on, I like the way they perform and the smell is amazing, but they’re not sulfate free, I don’t know if this is necessarily a bad thing, in Florida I think it’s almost essential to make things lather, the water here is very different from other parts of the US! My husband loves this formula though
  • Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser is a thin formula for body wash but very gentle on the skin
  • Sisley Phyto Blanc Lightening Foam Cleanser * has ingredients to lighten the skin, but I didn’t see much change in my skin, I find it gentle and brightening but not really lightening if that makes sense
  • Jack Black Face Buff is the best face scrub of all time according to Andrew, we both use this so we go through it pretty fast
  • Saturday Skin Rise + Shine Purifying Cleanser is a soft foaming cleanser that is good at removing excess oil without stripping the skin
  • Glamglow Supercleanse Clearing Cream-to-Foam Cleanser is one of Andrew’s favorites as well, I like and use it a lot, I prefer the original version but this is more gentle and I can use it daily or just on oily skin days

 

Part 4: More Skincare

Beauty Empties | Beauty Look Book

More face and body products that were used up:

  • Glamglow Gravity Mud Firming Treatment (sample size) is a firming peel off mask, I did have the full size at some point and used it up, it’s suggested you leave on for 20-30 minutes for it to dry and work it’s magic, I don’t usually have that kind of patience but it does work well to firm the skin
  • Glamglow Supermud is the best mask to clear out clogged pores and reduce excess oil, I have lost count of how many I used up
  • Tatcha Pore Perfecting Water Gel is the only face gel I’ve liked, most are too sticky or tacky, I’ve since switched to the Water Cream * which is more lightweight and thinner in texture
  • La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Sunscreen is one Andrew likes for the fluid texture
  • Kiehl’s Facial Fuel UV Guard SPF is Andrew’s favorite face sunscreen, it’s thin and liquid so it absorbs into the skin and doesn’t feel greasy
  • Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen minis I always keep on hand, in the purse and in the car – it’s my favorite body sunscreen that I can reapply regularly without it ever feeling greasy

 

Part 5: Makeup

Beauty Empties | Beauty Look Book

A few makeup empties I kept and one almost there! I throw out mascara every month. There were some lip balms I used up recently as well but I didn’t keep the tubes.

 

Part 6: Fragrance

Beauty Empties | Beauty Look Book

I burn candles on a regular basis and often keep them to recycle for storage. At some point I accumulate too many so I’ve given away quite a few. In February I finished Diptyque Tomas Maier Palm Beach and Baies. I also used up a ton of the miniatures but didn’t keep those.

Creed is a favorite in our house these days. Much to my wallet’s dismay though, Andrew loves Aventus so much he has used up 3 bottles since we discovered it last year. I ended up buying him the flacons for Valentine’s Day and he has a black leather atomizer that he refills. I used up Virgin Island Water in the small size a few months ago but kept the bottle, I think it’s just so pretty I want to keep it!

I also used up Tom Ford Soleil Blanc in the small 5o ml size. Rather than repurchase it I bought the Travel Set (it comes with 3 vials) so I can carry it around with me in my purse. I have the new Eau de Soleil Blanc on my wishlist as well.

Beauty Empties | Beauty Look Book

That wraps up my empties! Will do another one in a couple of months and I’ve made a mental note to keep all things I use up and not toss so I can share for the next post.

Do you use up beauty products frequently? What did you use up in the last month that you can remember? Hope you have a wonderful weekend! I’m going to try and go through all the comments and answer your questions. New post on Sunday!

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Eye Makeup

The Natural Brow Part 1: Best Tinted Brow Gels

March 1, 2018

Best Natural Tinted Brow Gels, Hourglass, Tom Ford, Sisley, Glossier, Anastasia Beverly Hills

This two-part series has been months in the works. I initially drafted one roundup of my most-used brow products then all of a sudden more came on my radar and I decided to split this into two parts. I’m not an expert when it comes to brows, I actually often neglect them. The process of applying pencil or powder had been so intimidating to me for years! After reading through several comments and numerous reader e-mails I’ve been thrilled to find many of you are just like me. One of things I love most about this blog is finding other beauty lovers who get me, you too want a groomed but natural looking brow.

The three biggest challenges I’ve had with brow products include: my brow shape, finding a good color and also finding a formula that isn’t too dramatic. At first glance it looks like I have black hair but also woven in is a natural red and brown undertone. Traditional black or deep browns often either look to harsh or too red. Also my brow shape is just odd. The hairs aren’t really evenly distributed and the lengths are different. My husband has amazing brows and lashes, it kills me that he doesn’t even care about them and I wish I had ones like he did, lol!

Two brow products changed my life: Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown and the By Terry Tinted Eyebrow Mascara. To this day those two are still ones I consider classics. I’ve used up and repurchased both numerous times. They’re easy to use and always look natural.

Part 1 covers brow gels. If you’re a brow novice or just want something to groom the brows a little, a tinted brow gel is the best way to start. Clear brow gels are great too, my favorite has been the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. But sometimes with powder and foundation application – the brows can get a little washed out if your brush goes over them. These days there so many amazing brow gel formulas that have fibers blended in to help fill them in more than just tinting.

First three include ones from By Terry, Tom Ford and Dior. I use different variations of taupe and brown. Sometimes taupe shades can look like in the tube but they will dry down to a darker finish. This gives a more natural looking brow compared to a deeper shade.

By Terry Eyebrow Mascara, Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel, Diorshow Bold Brow Mascara Review

Thoughts on these three, also some places you can purchase for reference:

  • By Terry Eyebrow Mascara in Dark Brown ($38, available at Barneys, Beautylish, Nordstrom and Space NK) – this is actually the first By Terry product I tried. I wandered up to the counter at Barneys and was instantly drawn to their shadow sticks but when I discovered the price almost fainted. The girl asked if I had tried anything from the line before, I said no. She said her favorite thing in the entire line was the Eyebrow Mascara. A quick demo had me impressed and so I bought it. I’ve loved it ever since. Out of all the brow gels I’ve tried this is the easiest to wear and also one of the most natural ones.
  • Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel in Espresso ($49, I buy mine from Nordstrom) is in my top picks. I reviewed this a while ago here. It has easily become a regular staple for me especially when I travel. I’ve repurchased it twice. It adds volume, defines and Espresso is the perfect shade for me. It’s darker but not too dark.
  • Diorshow Bold Brow Mascara ($27, available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Sephora) is one I had high hopes for since I really love the Diorshow Brow Styler pencil. The shades in this lineup are very limited. This one works nicely to groom and tint the brows while filling them in. I will use it to the end but most likely will not repurchase.

Swatches:

By Terry, Tom Ford, Dior Brow Gel Swatches

Next is the Glossier Boy Brow ($16). It comes in clear and three tinted shades Blond, Brown and Black. This has been such a popular brow product and I find Brown is the shade for me. It has the tiniest end to really get a detailed application. I think this one is good but it’s not my favorite. It grooms and thickens nicely and lasts all day, but it doesn’t hold my stubborn brows in place and the brush is so tiny I often get product on my face. I do think it’s decently priced to justify trying. It is a really good product, it’s great that it’s compact and goof-proof. I use it often, I just have others I prefer.

Glossier Boy Brow Review and Swatches

Glossier Boy Brow Review and Swatches

My love for Sisley continues. I tried their Phyto-Sourcils Fix Thickening and Setting Brow Gel ($52) in Miami during the store opening. My husband watched as the artist applied it and said, “WOW you have brows now. You definitely need to get that.” These also have very tiny brushes which takes a bit of a learning curve to apply. The product is loaded with tiny nylon fibers though so they fill in the sparse areas. Use tiny strokes to fill in the brow. The colors are limited to two options and surprisingly #2 darkens enough to work well for my hair color. Scroll down to the bottom and you’ll see how it looks applied. Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Beautylish, Saks Fifth Avenue and Sisley.

Sisley Phyto-Sourcils Fix Thickening & Setting Gel for Eyebrows

Glossier Boy Brow Review and Swatches

Hourglass Cosmetics launched their Arch Brow Collection with pencils and a Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel ($28). It comes in six shades shown below. My matches are either Warm Brunette or Soft Brunette. Dark Brunette matches my hair exactly but for me it’s a little too bold and dramatic. Having a bit of brown softens the look more. There is also a Clear Version. This formula is in my top picks for brow gels. The brush is styled in a way that has both short and long bristles so you can control application. I like the longer side and apply in a sweeping motion. There are micro fibers to fill in brows and the formula is strong enough to hold them in place.

Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel Review + Swatches

Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel Review + Swatches

Last but not least is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel ($22, available at Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, Anastasia Beverly Hills). These are so unique to me because of the wide range of shades and also due to the fact that these have shimmer in them. It doesn’t show up like shimmer on the brows but you do get more dimension. My best shade is Espresso. Chocolate is the one that dries the darkest. It appears also they have since changed the brushes to be more along the lines of the style Hourglass has. Two of mine have the newer brush while the rest have the traditional one shown below. I actually like the older style better, but both work well.

The best thing about Anastasia’s line is her color range. She probably has the widest range out of all the beauty brands. At Ulta in stores there is usually a chart somewhere to help you find the best color match. You can see it online here. I found it immensely helpful as when you’re looking at dozens of brown pencils, they all kinda look the same!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel Review and Swatches

Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel Review and Swatches

My bare brows and then three shown below including:

Tinted Brow Gel Look Hourglass, By Terry and Sisley-Paris

Best Natural Tinted Brow Gels, Hourglass, Tom Ford, Sisley, Glossier, Anastasia Beverly Hills

That rounds up the best natural Tinted Brow products I’ve tried and found! My top four include: By Terry (easiest to use), Tom Ford (best all around for volume, definition and filling in), Hourglass (for the brush and color range) and Sisley-Paris (best fibers). Part 2 to follow next week with my favorite pencils, powders and tools. I hope this helps give you an idea of what to look at if you’re in the market for a new brow gel. In terms of lasting power, all of them last all day on me and hold brows in place (with the exception of the Glossier).

P.S. A lot of you have asked about the Charlotte Tilbury Brow Gel. I did a review a long time ago on The Supermodel Brow Lift Kit here. Her products are amazing and I’m a huge fan. I used mine up and was happy with it. Over the years I’ve found I like different combinations a lot better, and my brows prefer the Tom Ford and other brands.

If you have any favorites let me know in the comments! Would love to hear about what you use 🙂

Don’t forget to check out this week’s blog giveaway here.

Press samples include the products from Hourglass, Sisley-Paris, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Marc Jacobs Blush, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation.

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Florida Home / Interiors Lifestyle

Instagram Roundup

February 27, 2018

Miami Weekend Wear | Beauty Look Book

Rounding up some FAQs from my Instagram feed! The sunshine is finally back in South Florida and everything is starting to warm up. I’ve been so lucky to live in a city that has warm weather but from New Year’s Eve through a couple weeks ago we had some low temperatures down to the mid 40s. I finally got to wear my leather jackets again! Now that we are back to warm weather I’ve been shopping around for new sandals and spring weather clothes.

Two weekends ago we drove to Miami for the day to see the Miami Boat Show. We’ve now been in Florida for almost a year and with all the water, keys and beaches around us are looking to buy a boat. I’m not familiar with boats at all so it was really incredible to see all the different models, sizes, types and designs. We did not buy anything but had the best time taking the day to browse and explore. We were in Miami last December for Art Basel and it was so packed and busy we were not able to see everything I wanted to. This trip I made sure we had some time to see the Bal Harbour Shops so I could visit the Diptyque store there. This was hands down the most luxurious shopping center I’ve ever seen in the US. I bought several of the Miami Candle (you can buy them in the two Diptyque Miami stores, the other is at Brickell City Center). They will also ship if you order over the phone.

So many of you asked questions about my outfits from Instagram stories. For reference on sizing I’m 5’3″ – top is from O’Neill (XS, true to size), shorts are from STS Blue (Size 25, shorts in general run big on me, I usually wear a 26 or 27 in denim), sandals are the Tory Burch Millers (true to size, I wear 6 1/2). Tote is the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM which is the medium size. Straps have a lot of patina since it’s been exposed to a lot of humidity, oil and rain. It holds a lot of items and is quite sturdy.

Diptyque Miami Bal Harbour and Miami Beach

This past weekend we had family in town so we rented a boat for the day. We also wanted to get a feel for what a small boat would feel like. We rented a small 20 foot motor boat and WOW when boats are in the water they look and feel so much smaller compared to what they look like when they’re above ground. Four of us took the boat for a spin around Tampa Bay. It was my first time driving a boat in open water.

What I packed with me included: Straw Tote Bag from Revolve, miniature R+Co Dry Shampoo, Supergoop! Mousse Sunscreen, new Invincible Setting Powder * (review soon), Everyday Sunscreen * (my favorite), Sisley Phtyo-Lip Twist in Shade#11, Tory Burch Foldable Sunglasses, Defense Refresh Spray + other minis from this Meet the Minis set. Leica Sofort Instant Print Camera, same Tory Burch sandals I wear almost all the time.

The boat had a cover but we were in the sun a good portion of the day. I touched up once while we were out and got a little color but no burn, yay! Some of you asked why I had so many sunscreens with me. When I’m out and about I bring more than one kind of sunscreen because everyone I’m with usually has different preferences for what formula and finish they like. My husband has his fav and I have mine too. I try to buy the smaller travel sizes so it doesn’t weigh down my bag.

Tampa Bay Boating Essentials

Outfit details: top is from LA Made Aria Top, shorts are from O’Neill (size 3)

Weekend Boating Tampa

A few snippets from home. I found this simple bath tray from Amazon. We have a really wide tub and this was one of the few that would expand wide enough to fit. It comes with a removable book stand as well but I’m never in the bath long enough to read. I searched through dozens of options and reviews. I’m pretty happy with the quality and sturdiness of this one!

Also shown includes the Kate Somerville Exfolikate Face Scrub (I use this once a week because it’s pretty strong), the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask (a great five minute soothing, cooling and refreshing face mask), Shu Uemura POREfinist Cleansing Oil (all formulas reviewed here), Glossier Shower Oil (yes I know it’s for the shower, but I still use it in the bath), Aesop Geranium Body Cleanser from the Sway Set (I usually get the larger size with the pump) and Herbivore Botanicals Calm Bath Salts.

Bath Essentials Fresh, Aesop, Herbivore Botanicals

For those who don’t know you can always tap my Instagam photos for brand tags. I still received so many questions about this clothes rack. I bought several different options from Ikea to test them out. This one is Rigga Clothes Rack and it was only $12.99! It was very easy to put together and is fairly sturdy. I also bought a few of the Mackapar Coat Racks to try out. I’m still putting everything together so I’ll do a more detailed review and room tour later.

Bench is from Wayfair, rug is from Pottery Barn, mirror is from Anthropologie.

Beauty Look Book White Clothes Rack

Details about some of the shoes I had on display as well. My most-worn shoes are the Hermes Oran Sandals and Tory Burch Millers. I tend to find a couple styles I love and buy all the colors. Details below and some notes on sizing in case you’re ordering online. Sometimes if I can’t try in person I’ll buy two sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit. Most places are good about returns as long as you don’t wear them or ruin the soles. I make sure to always test on a rug!

Top row from left to right: Splendid Knotted Sandals in White Leather 6.5, Hermes Oran Sandals in 36 1/2, Tory Burch Millers in 6.5, Avec Les Files in size 6, Splendid Knotted Sandals in Dark Blush Suede 6.5

Bottom row: Stuart Weitzman Nearlynude Ankle Strap Sandals in Size 6, the best comfortable heels I’ve tried with no break in period and no pain for me!

Favorite Sandals from Splendid, Hermes, Tory Burch, Stuart Weitzman

Another look below at the Avec Les Files sandals in white. On me they run similar in size to the Stuart Weitzman (which is big). They have a slight cushion sole which makes them comfortable to wear. Other items shown include OPI Lisbon Wants Moor OPI, Byredo Eau de Parfum in Mojave Ghost, NARS Lip Cover in Embrasse Moi* (review here), Marc Jacobs Shameless Foundation in Y320*, Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray mini size, Chanel La Creme Main * (review here), Sisley Brow Gel * (review soon), Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Glow Stick (review soon).

So many of you ask what my favorite Byredo is. It changes with each season but my top two are Mojave Ghost and La Tulipe. I think most of us can agree that perfume is something we should all smell in person first before buying, but some brands aren’t easily accessible for us all. You can purchase the 6-Piece Discovery Set at a number of retailers with 12 ml vials. This runs at $220 for 6. There are also trios available. This is still very spendy and online at Byredo they have a Small Discovery Service Set set for $20 with six 2 ml spritzers which I think all perfume brands should have.

Flatlay Byredo, Marc Jacobs Shameless, Avec Les Files Sandals

I posted a snapshot of my vanity and everyone had two questions:

  1. What Nail Color is shown – it’s Chanel Organdi Le Vernis (swatched and reviewed here)
  2. My thoughts on the Lawless Soft Matte Liquid Lipstick – shades I bought include George, Leo and Brad, I’ll have a separate review but first impressions are they are super soft, they have a whipped lightweight texture, lasting power is pretty good and there’s a fruity scent to them. They don’t dry out the lips or leave them looking like raisins but the finish is definitely matte.

Beauty Counter, Marc Jacobs Coconut Dew Drops, Darphin Oil, Glossier Balm, Lawless Liquid Lips

Last but not least, every time my fur babies make an appearance I get questions of how I deal with the fur and keep everything so clean. First, my husband Andrew is OCD with cleaning. Second our house require constant vacuuming + Swiffers. Third, our clothes require that we keep a stockpile of lint rollers. We have three pets with white fur – it wasn’t intentional, it just happened. They do shed quite a bit especially with the warm weather. Every time we rented an Airbnb or VRBO home over the last year, we spent the last two-three days of our stay vacuuming and cleaning every nook and corner. The cat leaves a poof of fur everywhere he goes. When we lived in San Diego we had a Roomba 980, but with regular daily use multiple times a day it died. We haven’t bought another one since since the ones that work best for us are of course the most expensive ones. I love the fur babies like crazy but I wish they didn’t shed so much!

Ragdoll Kitty

Hope this covers all the questions I’ve received! I do my best to answer Direct Messages but I get so many I can’t always get to all of them. Press samples featured indicated with a *. Stay tuned for more beauty reviews to follow!

 

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NARS

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palettes Reve Sale and Coucher de Soleil Review and Swatches

February 26, 2018

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palette Reve Sale and Coucher de Soleil

NARS has two new products for cheeks called the Easy Glowing Cheek Palettes ($49 each for (0.12 oz/3.5 g x 3) in two options Reve Sale and Coucher de Soleil. Images surfaced on social a few weeks ago and I have been stalking them online for days! Right now they’re exclusive to Nordstrom but they’ll launch at other retailers later this spring. As a huge fan of Banc de Sable and Bord de Plage I knew these two new ones had to be mine.

Both Reve Sale and Coucher de Soleil palettes have the same formula as the Banc de Sable/Bord de Plage palettes. Some of the colors have some similarities to previously launched palettes but to me I do think they are different enough to justify purchasing. The shimmer is really pretty with a smooth high sheen. You can wear the colors wet or dry. I prefer them dry so the shimmer becomes more diffused. Lasting power is the same as the previous launches. They’ll stay put on the face all day long without getting greasy looking. The deeper one also does not darken or oxidize on my skin which is a huge plus.

Reve Sale

Reve Sale has a pale soft light apricot shimmer, pale soft rose and peachy tan. The shimmer in this one looks a lot softer on my face than Banc de Sable. It doesn’t emphasize my pores. To me this is a highlighter palette, those with fair skin tones will probably find this more of a blush palette rather than highlight.

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palette Reve Sale review and swatches

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palette Reve Sale review and swatches

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palette Reve Sale review and swatches

Coucher de Soleil

Coucher de Soleil is the deeper option with a medium tan gold, deeper peachy tan and a soft plum shimmer. It looks darker but doesn’t oxidize or look muddy on the skin for me. This one definitely has more color, on my skintone it has one highlight and two colors that can pass more for shimmery blush.

NARS Coucher de Soleil Easy Glowing Cheek Palette review and swatches

NARS Coucher de Soleil Easy Glowing Cheek Palette review and swatches

NARS Coucher de Soleil Easy Glowing Cheek Palette review and swatches

Both next to each other below:

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palette Reve Sale and Coucher de Soleil

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palette Reve Sale and Coucher de Soleil

Shown on the face left is Reve Sale, right is Coucher de Soleil.

In both photos I’m wearing the Marc Jacobs Beauty Shameless Foundation in Y320 and Y360 mixed together (I ordered Y340 to see it it will be my perfect match). On the lips is YSL Tint in Balm #7 (reviewed here). On the nails is OPI Lisbon Wants Moor OPI. Top from Revolve.

NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palette Reve Sale and Coucher de Soleil swatches

Comparison next to Banc de Sable. The new palettes are slightly bigger in size and weight:

NARS Cheek Palettes Reve Sale, Coucher de Soleil and Banc de Sable

NARS Cheek Palettes Reve Sale, Coucher de Soleil and Banc de Sable

NARS Coucher de Soleil Easy Glowing Cheek Palette review and swatches

I’m obsessed. Both are must-haves for me. If I had to pick one I could not, because they’re both different in their own unique way. I stopped buying backups years ago and even bought back-ups of these. I thought the Natasha Denona Diamond and Blush Palettes were going to be my must-have palettes this year. They still are amazing, but these NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palettes are just as gorgeous, just in a different way. The formula is among my favorite – they’re a unique powder that almost has a slight creamy texture so it melds into the skin. I can wear these on both the eyes and cheeks. You can use any cheek brush you have in your beauty stash, I really like the Chanel Precision Powder Brush because it’s the perfect size for the pans and also lets me give a wash of color and build.

Both of the NARS Easy Glowing Cheek Palettes are available now at Nordstrom.

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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty SS18 Runway Color Collection

February 23, 2018

Tom Ford Beauty SS18 Runway Color Collection Review

Tom Ford launched three minimalist beauty pieces for their SS18 runway collection. All three are limited-edition that come in special edition silver packaging, two repromoted products and one new:

  • Shade and Illuminate Intensity One SS18 is the classic shade and illuminate in a limited-edition silver packaging. Colors are a sheer glossy white pearl and cream tan.
  • Eye Gloss was launched last season with eyeshadow singles but has been repromoted with silver packaging.
  • Shadow Extreme SS18 is a new product of intense shimmer shadow in a silver case. Color is a metallic gunmetal silver loaded with tons of sparkle.

Everything has pretty mirrored-like packaging that looks modern and sleek. The only downside is fingerprints show up like crazy.

Tom Ford Beauty SS18 Runway Color Collection Review

The Shade and Illuminate has been a longtime classic and I can’t believe that I have never tried it. Cream products for cheeks can be hit or miss and contour colors need to have some warmth for my complexion so I never looked into this. I’m glad I did because it lives up to the hype for a natural dewy contour and glow. I would pretty much die of happiness if Tom Ford launched this in a powder form, but for now these two give a very natural contoured effect. Cream finish does have a natural dewy glow but it’s not overly shiny and stays put pretty well throughout the day. I applied on top of my powdered/foundation face and had no issue with it disturbing the base.

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Intensity One SS18

A closer look:

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Intensity One SS18

The Eye Gloss has been relaunched in the special packaging. I reviewed it back in December when I reviewed the Tom Ford Private Shadow singles. I wasn’t a huge fan of it then and I’m still not. Eye gloss just isn’t my thing. I do like the packaging design though and think if this were to be used for regular cream shadows with a sponge tip applicator it would be perfect.

Tom Ford SS18 Eye Gloss

Last but not least is the Shadow Extreme SS18. This is a new eyeshadow formula Tom Ford describes as, “light-reflective, long-wearing shadow that mimics the look of melted metal in two distinct finishes—micronized glitter, which gives a lustrous, opulent finish, while a bolder, shinier look is achieved with a foil finish. Longwearing polymers ensure each shadow glides an ultra-thin, water-resistant gloss of color effortlessly onto lids.”

Tom Ford Shadow Extreme SS18 review and swatches

SS18 is a gunmetal silver with lots of sparkle. One swipe gives a medium wash but you can layer it for more intensity. This color is quite trendy for me. It’s hard to tell in the eye look I’ll show below, but I hope the arm swatch will show just how sparkly it is. I think it would be fun for a date night out if you did a smokey eye. I wore it alone to show the color, but normally I would layer and blend with a black liner. This is the first color in the Shadow Extreme formula, based on the snippets on social – more to come in March.

Tom Ford Shadow Extreme SS18 review and swatches

Swatches of everything in the collection:

Tom Ford Beauty SS18 Runway Color Collection Review swatches

Wearing the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate, Shadow Extreme SS18 and Bad Lieutenant Lipstick (reviewed here). Foundation shade worn is Estee Lauder Doublewear in Tawny 3W1.

Tom Ford Beauty SS18 Runway Color Collection Review

Tom Ford Beauty SS18 Runway Color Collection Review

Overall thoughts: I’ve been a long-time die hard Tom Ford fan ever since he launched the lipsticks. The quality is usually on point and texture, pigment, lasting power etc. is phenomenal. These three items were no exception and performed very well. That being said I can’t call any of the items in this collection must-haves.

The Shade and Illuminate is indeed a classic, but the color already exists and I suspect many of you already own it. As happy as I am to now own it, I would have been more excited about something new or different. If you haven’t tried this yet though, I highly recommend you check it out because it’s a product that I think will become a regular beauty staple in my routine.

The Shadow Extreme is very sparkly and I did experience fallout with the glitter falling off the brush, even a densely packed one. It’s best applied in a patting motion. Once on the eyes it stayed on all day. I did apply over a cream shadow base to help the glitter adhere. I’m lukewarm about this one because the particular color just isn’t for me. I do love a glitter shadow, I adore his Powder Cream Duos and the Natasha Denona Crystal Top Coats are amazing. SS18 is too trendy for me for everyday wear with the sparkle and glitter color-wise. I’m looking forward to the other shades because if this comes in a lighter champagne or bronze or nude than I will be all over it.

I am however super excited about the Spring-Summer launches which have already popped up online at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. I ordered the Soleil Contouring Compact in Nude Glow and one of the new Ultra-Shine Lip Colors. I plan on seeing if anything else is in stores this weekend.

Several of you have asked about the Eau de Soleil Blanc and Soleil D’Ambre Eye and Cheek Palette. I did check out both last week. The new fragrance smelled almost identical to the original Soleil Blanc but when I was in store I had smelled several other items so my nose may have been confused. I’ll have to smell it again. At this time I decided to pass on the Soleil D’Ambre Palette. It is really beautiful but I really preferred the previous launches from other seasons. I decided to see what summer would bring instead.

That wraps up my Tom Ford SS18 Colour Collection review. All three pieces are limited-edition. You can find the items now online and in stores at Neiman Marcus and Tom Ford. Did you check out anything from this launch? What did you think? Is Shade and Illuminate on your favorites list or is there another contour product you love?

Tom Ford SS18 item provided courtesy of Tom Ford Beauty for review.

 

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Chanel

Chanel Dernieres Neiges de Chanel Collection

February 22, 2018

Chanel Dernieres Neiges de Chanel Collection Review

There’s a new collection out for spring called Dernieres Neiges de Chanel. For the moment the entire collection appears to be a Chanel.com exclusive but you may be able to also find the pieces at Chanel boutiques. At this time I’m not sure if the items will trickle into retail stores and counters. I ordered a few pieces online and after testing these for several weeks now I’m about 50/50 on this collection. Everything is limited-edition.

At first glance all the colors look right up my alley with soft pinks. What I ended up with:

Premiere Fleurs Harmony of Powders and Les Tissages de Chanel in Evanescent

Chanel Premiere Fleurs Harmony of Powders and Tweed Evanescent Blushes

Premiere Fleurs Harmony of Powders ($70 for 13 g) is a highlighting powder with three colors of powdery white, light peach and pink. The white has an overspray of glitter and underneath is a sheer satiny powder. I had high hopes for this as I’m usually a huge fan of the limited-edition highlighter powders. This ended up being chalky, fairly pale and barely had any glow. I’m not sure how it would look on fair skin, but on medium tan or darker I’m pretty certain this would be almost non-existent. It swatched so well on the arm but on the face it pretty much disappeared into the skin.

Les Tissages de Chanel in Evanescent ($45 for 5.5 g) is a medium-deep pink. It has a lovely shimmer in the pan and if you swipe it on your fingers. Once applied either on the arm or face the shimmer almost disappears into a soft semi-matte looking blush. It seems a little darker than most pink Chanel blushes I’ve tried, many are often brighter or more blue based. This one is so pretty on the skin.

Chanel Premiere Fleurs Harmony of Powders and Tweed Evanescent Blushes

One look with the Premiere Fleurs Harmony Powder packed on heavily and the Rouge Coco Shine in Dernier Givre. Foundation worn is the Diorskin Forever Undercover in 21 + 31 mixed together set with MAC Next to Nothing Pressed Powder in Medium Plus.

Chanel Premiere Fleurs Harmony of Powders and Magnolia Rouge Coco Gloss

Below wearing Chanel Tweed Evanescent and the Rouge Coco Gloss in Camelia. Same base as above.

Chanel Tweed Evanescent Blush and Camelia Rouge Coco Gloss

Rouge Coco Gloss, Rouge Coco Shine and Rouge Coco Stylo

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Magnolia and Camelia

 

Rouge Coco Gloss in Magnolia ($30 for 5.5 g) is a very sheer light warm pink with lots of sparkles. The color is so sheer on my pigmented lips there is practically no color. If it had enough pigment to look more like what you see in the tube I’d give it a thumbs up. For me I’ll use it up as I think it is pretty, but it’s not unique enough to justify if you already own a lot of sheer shimmering glosses.

Rouge Coco Gloss in Camelia ($30 for 5.5 g) is a deeper pink, this one is also very sheer but the brightness gives this more color payoff than the lighter option. There is a lot of sparkle in this shade as well but it’s smooth and cushiony in the shine.

Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Poesie and Rouge Coco Shine Dernier Givre

Rouge Coco Stylo in Poesie ($37) is a medium nude pink cream. Coverage is medium with this one and it has a semi-sheer shiny finish. Since it’s a glossy lipstick lasting power isn’t going to be long. It’s like the Rouge Coco Shines where you will have to reapply every few hours.

Rouge Coco Shine in Dernier Givre ($37 for 3 g) is a pale sheer pink opal shimmer. Color payoff is also very sheer but the iridescent quality makes it actually show up on the lips. It has a smooth hydrating feel and adds a pretty sheen.

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Magnolia, Camelia, Rouge Coco Stylo Poesie, Rouge Coco Shine Dernier Givre

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Magnolia, Camelia, Rouge Coco Stylo Poesie, Rouge Coco Shine Dernier Givre swatches

Le Vernis Aurore

Chanel Le Vernis AuroreChanel Le Vernis Aurore swatches

Le Vernis in Aurore ($28 for 13 ml) is a warm pink with a hint of blue undertone. It has a very subtle hint of pearl if you look closely in the bottle. On the nails it acts more like a cream. Coverage is full and opaque. Above applied with two coats.

Chanel Dernieres Neiges de Chanel Collection Review and Swatches

Overall I love the Aurore Nail Polish, Tweed Evanescent Blush and Camelia Rouge Coco Gloss. The others I like but don’t think are must-haves due to the sheerness and fact that they seem very easy to dupe from previous Chanel launches. That being said I did find myself reaching for the sheer Rouge Coco Shine quite a bit in the past week.

Everything from the Dernieres Neiges de Chanel Collection is limited-edition. Available now at Chanel.com. If you’ve spotted it at counters or know if it will launch in stores at a later date let me know in the comments.

Have you tried anything from this launch? What did you think?

 

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MAC

MAC Roundup: Hyper Real Glow, Mineralize Skincare, Prep + Prime Fix+ and New Brushes

February 20, 2018

MAC Newness, Scented Fix+, Mineralize Skincare, Hyper Real Glow Palettes, Synthetic Brushes

MAC has launched quite a few new things this year and I feel I blinked and almost two months have already passed by. New products roll out at lightening speed which I can barely keep up on so today I have a roundup of several launches.

Hyper Real Glow Palettes

MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette

Up first are two new highlighter palettes called Hyper Real Glow ($39.50 each). There is a warm gold option called Get it Glowin’ and a cool pink option Flash + Awe. They come in cardboard packaging with a magnetic closure and mirror inside. Both seem pretty sturdy in packaging. The shimmer is very smooth and doesn’t emphasize pores or imperfections on the skin. They can be built to a high shine frost but if you layer them over blush or bronzer the shimmer effect is smoother and not quite as intense. The colors in each palette aren’t the most unique – if you own a lot of highlighters these will probably be similar to other MAC shades. The formula is really good and I think these are a pretty good value for the price.

MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette Review and Swatches

Get it Glowin has two golds that look really similar on my skintone, the variations are slight once on the skin. Then there is one warm bronzey shade. At the moment I’ve just started to get back a little of my tan after being in Miami over the weekend. Right now Get it Glowin adds a lot of warmth and glow to the skin. As I get darker I suspect it will be more of a highlighter.

Flash + Awe surprised me because I was almost certain this would look white on my olive skin. The shades are pale and definitely highlighter material but they aren’t as pale as I anticipated. The colors are similar on my skin but I really love the soft diffused pink glow these give. Lasting power is really good with these powders and there is very little powder fall out.

MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette Swatches Get It Glowin' and Flash + Awe

Both palettes applied the face on two separate occasions:

Left with Get it Glowin’:

MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette Swatches Get It Glowin' and Flash + Awe

Right with Flash + Awe:

New Brush Launches

Next are the new brushes. MAC redesigned all their Makeup Brushes with synthetic materials. Some of the classics have remained but there are also new shapes and options. If you want a more detailed review of their brushes I can do a separate post on them. For now here’s a quick look at some of the new ones alongside a few others I had purchased before.

Some brushes like 125S, 128S and 127S are split fibers which gives two different effects. The one side you’ll see below is the brown fibers for powders and the other side is a different material more ideal for creams.

All the brushes are very well made with smooth and super soft tips. My MAC brushes have lasted a long time over the years, some I think I’ve had since 2003 and they’ve held up without any issue. So far the synthetic version seems to perform just as well as the originals.

My top 4 MAC brushes are the 239S, 219S, 140S and 217S.

In addition MAC has also started carrying beautyblenders in their stores and on their website. These are the best makeup sponges I’ve tried. Nothing really quite compares to them!

MAC New Brushes Synthetic Launch

Mineralize Skincare Additions and Fix+ Scented

MAC Mineralize Reset & Revive Charcoal Mask, Mineralize Charged Water Charcoal Spray, Fix+ Scented

Last but not least are some new additions to skincare. There are two new products in the Mineralize Skincare Line. They launched two new charcoal infused products which are designed to detox the skin. The Mineralize Reset and Revive Charcoal Mask ($31 for 100ml) is a gentle purifying mask that removes excess oil without stripping the skin. On the face it feels really soothing. It will shrink a little as it dries but not so much that it feels overpowering. Skin is left feeling a lot more clean and less oily. They’ve launched a Mineralize Charged Water Charcoal ($26 for 100ml) spray with you can use before moisturizer or to set makeup. To me this has a similar feel to the MAC Fix+ on my skin. I do like to use it as a freshening product before I apply moisturizer, but to me the effect is almost identical to the MAC Fix+ just a tad bit more moisturizing.

Perhaps my favorite launch is the MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Scented Mist ($26 each for 100ml) . These came in the mini sizes last year in Rose, Lavender and Coconut. I stocked up on TONS of these since the minis were limited-edition. I’m beyond thrilled that they launched these in the full size. I love these to set makeup, refresh the skin or even to prime before moisturizer and foundation. I find them really versatile and the scents are soft and not overpowering.

That wraps up my MAC roundup! Of course as I’m finishing this post more launches have already arrived. I’ll be reviewing more in the weeks to follow.

You can find the new MAC launches out now. Available online at MAC, Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty and Saks Fifth Avenue.

MAC launches provided courtesy of MAC for review.

 

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