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Sabrina

Sales Sephora

Best Makeup To Shop from the Sephora Sale

November 1, 2024

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Ginger

The Sephora Savings Event starts today with first access for Rouge Members! Use code SAVINGS if shopping online! (some exclusions apply).

  • Rouge members 20% off: 11/1 – 11/11
  • VIBs 15% off: 11/5 – 11/11
  • Insiders 10% off: 11/5 – 11/11
  • All Sephora Collection 30% off: 11/1 – 11/11

Here are my Top 3 favorite picks by category.

Primers

NARS Light Reflecting Primer and Setting Spray

I’m not usually a primer fan because it adds an extra layer that I don’t really want. I’m into multi-taskers and these are my top 3 primers.

Foundation Favorites

Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint

Best Skin Tints/Sheer

All of my favorite skin tints are reviewed in this Best Skin Tints for Summer post (note not all of them are available at Sephora, but it has all my shades + swatches listed).

 

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush

Best Medium Coverage

Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Foundation & Stick Foundation Review VI

Best Stick Foundations

Best Concealers

YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Concealer

My top three favorite formulas for concealer are ones that won’t cake or crease:

Setting Powders

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder Medium | The Beauty Look Book

Top three favorites for setting powers:

Bronzer

Armani Luminous Silk Creamy Bronzing Powder

My top three powder bronzer favorites:

Contour Favorites

Rare Beauty Contour Bronzer Stick

The best contour sticks:

Blush Favorites

New Gucci Beauty Launches Blush Shades, Lipsticks and Illuminator

Blush – Powder

I feel like I don’t have new favorites for powders except for those Hourglass Palettes which are sold out online. There are 3 favorites I have with shimmer and 3 more that are more satiny/matte.

Blush – Cream/Liquid

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

Top three favorite liquid/cream formulas:

Highlighter Favorites

Dior Forever Glow Maximizer Longwear Liquid Highlighter swatches

So many highlighter options I love these days, but if I were forced to pick just three:

Eyeshadow Palettes

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

I think Natasha Denona makes the best palettes. I think there is something for everyone and she has a good range of color options!

Eye Shadow – individual/singles

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow (new formula)

If you try one cream shadow formula, I recommend trying the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Cream Eyeshadow – love the new reformulation, review here.

Mascara

Top three mascara formulas:

Lipstick Favorites

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Review via The Beauty Lookbook

Soooo many lipstick favorites! It was hard to narrow down to just three, but here are the best ones I’ve tried:

Tinted Lip Balm/Oil

YSL Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm

 

 

Top picks:

Guerlain KissKiss Bee Glow Oil

Lip Liner

Glossier Lip Liner

There are so many good lip pencil colors, but the formulas aren’t all the same quality, here are 3 I swear by:

The new Tom Ford Longwear Lip Liners are really good too!

Lip Gloss

Dior Lip Maximizers Shimmer Macadamia and Rose Nude

I think Lip Gloss is my favorite beauty category, I could probably list at least 20 I love, but my absolute top 3 favorites

That wraps up my makeup favorites for the holiday savings event! What’s on your list/radar?

I’m going to be hosting several giveaways this holiday season! Kicking it off with a $250 egift card for Sephora (US site) to one Beauty Lookbook reader! It is open to anyone 18+ and to enter for a chance to win, use the widget below to enter. Best if you open this on a desktop browser or Chrome. Giveaway ends 11/5/2024 11:45 PM est. I’ll pick a winner from the entries within 48 hours and announce on this blog post and email them directly from [email protected].

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always thank you for your love and support! xoxo

Westman Atelier

Westman Atelier Holiday Sets 2024

October 30, 2024

Westman Atelier Holiday Sets 2024

Westman Atelier has some beautiful holiday sets this year and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying them this past month! I ordered three sets the day they launched and they’ve been truly perfect for my recent travels. I used every single product throughout my weekend trip in NYC and also for the past couple weeks in Miami Beach.

These sets are quite the splurge but there are holiday sales and savings events coming up. If you haven’t picked one up yet or have your eye on one of these definitely add them to your shopping wish list for the Sephora Sale!

By now I’ve already swatched all three in action on Instagram Reels, but I promised many of you swatches and a review here. Here are the three sets I picked up, I really love that these include some new shades:

Lip Suede Matte Lipstick Trio

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick Trio

I have to say Westman Atelier wins for the best holiday packaging this year. I love the different colors of the pink and green tones for her limited-editions this year. They’re so beautiful and fun! The Lip Suede Matte Lipstick Trio has 3 full-sized lipsticks. I reviewed the formula when she launched the lipsticks earlier this year and I think the formula is excellent although I still don’t know that I’d say they are worth the steep price tag but they are very good.

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick Trio swatches Fluffy, Je Reve and Dash

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick Trio swatches Fluffy, Je Reve and Dash

Shades in this set:

  • Dash is exclusive to the set, it’s a stunning red
  • Fluffy is also exclusive, it’s a nude rose pink
  • Je Reve is a mauve blush nude, on me it pulls a bit dark but I think it’s a very pretty shade

I rarely wear reds but I do love the one in this set. I love it dabbed on the cheeks very lightly for a soft flush. For a matte the formula is top notch. It’s smooth, super creamy and doesn’t apply patchy. It also doesn’t look or feel dry but they still have a velvety finish. For the price I do think that Prada Lipsticks have a better formula, but the Westman Atelier ones perform well. For skintone reference I wear her Vital Skin Foundation Stick in V or VI and Vital Skincare Concealer in M3.

Petite Fete Edition

Westman Atelier Petite Fete Edition Holiday 2024

The Petite Fete Edition is my favorite of the three sets. It has two new cheek shades in minis and a Eye Want You miniature mascara!

  • Bubble Baby Cheeks Blush Stick is a cool toned pink with gold shimmer, it pulls cooler toned but the pigment is VERY good. It’s more pigmented than her cream finish baby cheeks and I can also wear this on the lips.
  • Toast Lit Up Stick is her best one yet, it’s a taupe with a hint of rose pink tones in the sparkle, I love this on the eyes too.

The mascara isn’t the most practical due to the size, but the wand is decent sized and you can definitely coat the lashes, but in general mini mascaras aren’t really my favorite. I do like that you can pack it into a clutch or small pouch if you have limited makeup bag space.

I still think set this is worth the splurge. Below wearing Bubble + Toast on cheeks and Bubble on the lips.

Westman Atelier Petite Fete Edition Holiday 2024

Westman Atelier Westman Atelier Petite Fete Edition and Baby Cheeks Trio swatches Holiday 2024

Baby Cheeks Blush Stick Petite Trio

I ended up liking this year’s Baby Cheeks Blush Stick Petite Trio more than I anticipated. It has 3 existing shades but I really love the size of these and the variation was perfect for my trip. I used every single shade on different days.

  • Mimi is a soft beige nude, this is actually available in full-size format but it’s exclusive to Westman Atelier
  • Petal is a shade I think we’ve seen in nearly every set, I do think it’s a very flattering one that goes with almost everything though
  • Poppet surprised me because it’s a VERY intense bright pink, but it blends out really nicely and the pigment is easy to control for a fun holiday pink

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Trio Holiday 2024

Wearing the Baby Cheeks with the Lip Suedes, textured tank from Frame

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Petal and Lip Suede in Fluffy

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Mimi and Lip Suede in Je Reve

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Poppet and Lip Suede in Dash

Super Loaded Tinted Highlights

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlight Peau de Sante and Peau de Peony

I also wanted to add a quick look at her Super Loaded Tinted Highlights in a couple new shades. These are very dewy cream highlighters. They’re not quite as glossy as her Lit Up Sticks, but they still have an emollient texture and finish. I know some of you are DIE HARD fans of the dewy glow. If you are you will love these. For me I have mixed feelings. I love some of the shades and right now in cooler temperatures I can wear these, but most of the time they are too emollient for me in hot humid climates.

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlight swatches

Peau de Sante isn’t new but still exclusive to her website. This is a stunning pink gold with the prettiest sheen. I think it’s much better than her Peau de Rose since it has some warmth to the shimmer.

Peau de Peony is also exclusive to Westman Atelier’s site. A number of you expressed interest in this and I am sorry it took me forever to post a review. Peau de Peony is a really beautiful cool pink shimmer. The color itself is really stunning but on my olive medium tan complexion it pulls a little too frosted with the contrast and finish of the product. I would 100% wear this if it were in powder format. I have wondered if the Gucci Glow Powder Gel Highlighter in Frosted Lilac would be similar, but I think the Westman Atelier has more visible pink in it. (I have the Gucci one on my Sephora wishlist.)

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlight Peau de Peony

Wearing Peau de Peony on top of Poppet Baby Cheeks with Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in Frosted Pink on the lips.

I think I can make it work with some layering of a powder on top to tone down the shine, but my overall impression is it’s a bit too cool-toned, a bit too shimmery, a little bit too contrasted for my skin tone right now, but I am going to keep playing with it.

Overall lots to love from Westman Atelier. I think she created some stunning sets this year. I thought her Miniature Brush Set was SO stunning with the new holiday colors but I haven’t really fallen in love with any of her full-sized brushes and decided to pass on the mini brushes: they looked a too small to be practical, the set didn’t come with a travel pouch or case to store the brushes (the box doesn’t look travel-friendly) and the price seemed too steep for me.

You can find the Westman Atelier sets out now. I know several of you have already ordered some, but if you’ve been on the fence I hope these swatches help!

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Available now at Sephora, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty and Westman Atelier.

Chanel Gift Guide Holiday Gift Guide

Chanel Holiday 2024 Gift Sets: Maximum Brilliance

October 29, 2024

Chanel Holiday Gift Sets 2024

Long time no see here! What a month it has been! I have been meaning to write a little life update here to check in and say hello, but things have been chaotic these past few weeks. As most of you know, I am located in St. Pete (the Tampa Bay area) and we just went through two back to back hurricanes. I have been more active on social to share updates on life but haven’t had a chance to share much here on the blog. If you want to see what I’ve been up to everything has been saved to my Instagram @beautylookbook October Life and NYC Highlights!

I’m back with a quick Chanel Beauty review! They launched their Holiday 2024 Collection and Part 1 of their Holiday Gift Sets. There are 6 sets online now with the beautiful soft fluffy zippered bags and this year they have 2 sizes of bags, the standard one we’ve seen for years and then a larger one (so fun!).

Chanel Holiday Gift Sets 2024 Maximum Brilliance Rouge Coco Gloss Trio

I picked up one set Maximum Brilliance Lipgloss Trio ($128) as the others I have my eye on aren’t launching until November 4th (I will pick those up on launch day).

This year the boxes are gold and white and the bags have the cutest snowflake detailing on the zipper. I am not sure about the packaging for online orders but if you purchase in store they also have two options for gift wrapping charms, I opted for the snowflake which is super cute.

These gift sets have full-sized items and usually don’t have a price break for buying the set, but they are beautifully packaged and while you can buy the products individually I really love that you know you’re getting full-sized high quality items.

Maximum Brilliance has three Rouge Coco Glosses in Icing (sheer milky white pink), Bourgeioise (classic mauve with shimmer) and Melted Honey (sheer gold shimmer). All three are super glossy with a thicker texture. They’re hydrating and have a beautiful shine.

Chanel Holiday Gift Sets 2024 Maximum Brilliance Rouge Coco Gloss Trio

Chanel Holiday Gift Sets 2024 Maximum Brilliance Rouge Coco Gloss Trio Icing, Melted Honey, Bourgeoisie

Below, also wearing:

Icing Rouge Coco Gloss

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Icing

Melted Honey Rouge Coco Gloss

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Melted Honey

Bourgeoisie Rouge Coco Gloss

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Bourgeoisie

Here’s a quick look at what’s online now, there are lots of other fragrance sets and bundles but these are the sets that come with the beautiful gift bags:

Chanel Holiday Gift Sets 2024

Two other sets I know are coming out include one with the UV essential and another one comes with the baume essential in the set. If you have your eye on any I recommend ordering soon or calling your local boutique as they tend to sell out very quickly!

Available now at Chanel.com.

Life update: Lots of things have happened the last month! We had two back-to-back hurricanes. I also took a weekend trip to NYC right before Hurricane Milton and came back just in time to help prepare our home for the hurricane and pack as much as we could to evacuate. In our eight years of living in Florida this is the first time we had mandatory evacuation orders for our neighborhood. Andrew booked us an Airbnb to Miami for a couple weeks since he knew even if the hurricane didn’t end up hitting Tampa directly, the size and strength was going to be destructive enough that it meant power would most likely be off for a couple weeks if not an entire month. With the grounds being so saturated with storms, a lot of the counties would also most likely shut off the water for a few days.

We packed what we could in our car along with the fur babies and drove to Miami Beach. With all the traffic it took us 8 hours to drive from Tampa to South Beach (it normally takes us 4 max). We made the best of our two week evacuation, did lots of exploring, ate to our heart’s content all the way through all our favorite spots, tried some new places and also celebrated 23 years together (we dated 7 years and have been married for 16). We checked the news daily for updates on our neighborhood and home. Our neighbors had also evacuated so they weren’t home either to report on our house. With the power out we couldn’t check on our home cameras to see if our house survived.

We drove home as soon as we received notice the power and water was back. So grateful our home is 100% ok inside and that we didn’t have any flooding or damage to the actual house. So many trees had broken branches or were blown over completely from the roots. Lots of homes had damage on the outside and inside – we were very lucky! Our backyard and fence needs a lot of work and repair but any damage is minimal and all things are fixable.

I hope to resume regular posting this week! I’ve had lots in the works for reviews and swatches. Also have a couple Sephora sale guides and holiday gift guides coming your way. I’ve been working behind the scenes while I’ve been away! Just haven’t had a chance to edit and put everything together to share with you.

Hope you are all well and that you had an ok October. Ours was chaotic for sure but we survived it and I am happy to be back!

Laura Mercier

New Laura Mercier Caviar Collection Launch

October 1, 2024

New Laura Mercier Caviar Collection Launch

Laura Mercier revamped quite a bit of their makeup recently with the Caviar Collection. The lipsticks, lip liners, cream shadow sticks and mascara have been completely redone with new formulas, colors and packaging. I received the entire launch in PR and have been playing with the items over the past few weeks. Here are my thoughts on each new product with swatches of everything below.

Caviar Stick Eye Shadow (new formula)

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow (new formula)

I’ve been such a long-time fan of the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadows ($33 each) with my top three most-used shades being Rosegold, Copper and Cocoa. They really did improve the formula with smoother application and better pigment. I love that they don’t dry too quickly – I do have enough time to blend before it sets, but once it sets, it does not budge.

A lot of the shades have noticeable improvement in the finish and color payoff. Some of the shades in the original formula like Strapless barely showed up on me. Other more shimmery shades like Sugarfrost or Metallic Taupe were a bit chunky feeling with the sparkle but they have a better smoother texture now.

There are a few of the darker shades that apply patchy like Smoky Quartz, Nuit and Celestial Noir but they can be layered for smoother application – they just take a bit more layering and blending.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow (new formula)

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow swatches (new formula)

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow (new formula)

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow swatches (new formula)

I’m very sad they discontinued Copper but Bobbi Brown’s Golden Amber is similar.

Caviar Extravagant Mascara

The new Caviar Extravagant Mascara ($29) is a hit for me. I don’t know that I could call it a must-have or favorite for my super straight sparse lashes, but I think it’s a great formula. It defines and lengthens without any clumping. The brush does an exceptional job at coating all the lashes. I do wish it had more volume but it didn’t smudge or clump and did a pretty good job at holding the curl. I feel like I have the saddest lashes in the world (even my dog Ollie has better lashes than me and my husband has AMAZING lashes) so if it works for me, I think there’s a high chance it will be a good one for most of you.

Caviar Smoothing Matte Refillable Lipstick

Laura Mercier Caviar Smoothing Matte Refillable Lipstick

I love a good lipstick launch especially one with beautiful packaging. Unfortunately the Caviar Smoothing Matte Refillable Lipsticks ($45) were a miss for me. The pros include beautiful luxe packaging, smooth swatching, opaque rich color payoff, lots of bold colors. Unfortunately these didn’t look so great on my lips. I did not try every single color but I did swipe on 6 of them and all were very dry looking on my lips. I think they could be better if you dabbed them on as a stain but alone they looked very dry. I did love the pigment – they are one swipe wonders. The neutral colors unfortunately do not work with my undertone. I feel like none of neutral shades worked for my olive medium tan complexion. They made me look like death which is too bad because I’ve seen them applied in other videos and they are STUNNING! The bold shades have a better undertone but they are SO bold I would never wear them.

These are also heavily scented with an almost soapy-like floral rose. Granted the scent does fade after a few minutes after applying but it’s a scent my nose does not like.

Laura Mercier Caviar Smoothing Matte Refillable Lipstick

Laura Mercier Caviar Smoothing Matte Refillable Lipstick

Laura Mercier Caviar Smoothing Matte Refillable Lipstick

Laura Mercier Caviar Smoothing Matte Refillable Lipstick swatches

The Caviar Lipsticks are a miss for me, however if you like a matte finish and find it challenging to find shades that are cool-toned enough, check these out. I know a number of you have told me my personal favorites for neutral lips sometime look straight up orange on you if you have fair or cool-toned complexion. This range has a lot of cooler undertones.

Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner

Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner

Last we have a look at the Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner ($29). You girls know I am pretty brutal with lip liner reviews but I want to add a disclaimer that it’s mainly because my lips are on the pigmented side so most of those viral neutrals that look stunning on 99% of you just simply do not show up on me.

I think the new formula is a very nice classic kind of lip pencil. No fuss, nothing fancy, great tones, good pigment. They do feel a little dry on the lips but I really like how they adhere to the lips and they have a relatively smooth looking finish. Lasting power is very good. They aren’t the best but I do like the colors and if you’re looking to try something new I think they are worth checking out since they have a lot of great tones.

Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner

Overall, I am very happy that the reformulated Caviar Stick Eyeshadows are a solid A+ formula still. I plan on taking a few of these with me on an upcoming trip. The mascara is also a solid A formula. I do like the tones and formula of the lip pencils, but I think there are better formulas out there like the new Glossier ones, Chanel, Pat McGrath, Huda Beauty to name a few. Lipsticks are a miss for me because of colors and scent, also I tend to not like matte finishes in general so I may have been a bit biased anyways.

You can find the Caviar Collection out now. Available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Kohl’s, Laura Mercier and all other Laura Mercier retailers. Have you tried any of the new formulas? What did you think?

Caviar Collection provided for review.

Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Papier Collection

September 30, 2024

Diptyque Papier Collection

It’s been a while since I’ve added any new Diptyque launches to my home collection as I have been on a self-imposed candle ban trying to use up all the candles I currently have. The new L’Eau Papier Collection caught my eye and by the time it launched I felt like I had used up enough to justify two more splurges. I love the L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette for a fresh clean mix of white musk, rice steam accord, mimosa and blonde wood accord. They added a Papier (Paper) Candle and Encre (Ink) Candle to the collection along with a few other scented Papier items. I’m 10/10 in love.

L’Eau Papier

Diptyque L'Eau Papier Eau de Toilette and Hair Mist Perfume

The L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette ($130 for 50 ml to $180 for 100 ml) is a unique clean minimalist kind of scent. It’s light, gentle with a hazy feel. It’s hard to imagine what a paper fragrance smells like but when you smell this scent it just makes sense. Diptyque added this in a few other formats. I decided to try one the L’Eau Papier Hair Mist ($72 for 30 ml) and I love it. It has pretty good lasting power although it is still very soft.

Candles

Diptyque Papier Collection - Papier Candle and Encre Candle

There are two limited-edition candles in this launch and I love them both. The Papier Candle smells just like the perfume. It’s a very soft and subtle scent but does fill the entire room within a few minutes. I love it. It has a crisp and clean vibe.

Diptyque Papier Collection - Papier Candle

Diptyque also created an Encre Candle (ink) in this collection. It’s a mix of Indonesian patchouli and black liquorice and has a smokey vibe to it. It’s a softer creamier version of Feu de Bois. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I’m not really liquorice fan, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised! I think it’s a great summer to fall transition kind of scent.

Diptyque Papier Collection - Encre Ink Candle

I’ve been really happy with the purchases, however they don’t really fit the usual Diptyque vibe to me. Most Diptyque scents are more dynamic and a little more complex while this collection is more minimalist and subtle. I still love everything, but if you’re new to Diptyque and these are the first things you end up trying, just know it’s different from most other things Diptyque.

I still think Baies is their best candle.

Scented Matches and Accessories

Diptyque Glass candle holders

As a Diptyque fan I also added a few other items to my home collection. I love their glass candle holders and photophores. They launched a Mini Ribbed Candle Holder ($84) for their minis. It’s so cute! When I decided to order it they were sold out online so I called one of the NY stores to have them ship it to my house. It has since popped up back in stock online a few times. You can set an alert if you want to order it online although I don’t know if it’s a permanent item.

Diptyque Glass candle holders

Mini Candle Holder, Small Candle Holder and Standard Candle Holder.

I also tried two of the Scented Matches Sets ($30 each). These are longer matches in a paper box that were released with their refillable candle collection.

Diptyque scented matches

I asked the New York store which ones were their most popular ones and they told me the Moss and Orange Blossom. They are scented which makes them fun but there is really nothing super special about them to justify the splurge (in my opinion). I do think they’re beautiful and having longer matches is always a plus for me so they ended up being worth it just to have and try them. I don’t know that I’ll repurchase them or buy any of the other scents.

Diptyque Papier Collection

Overall love. Have you tried these yet? If not what kinds of scents are you loving for the home this time of year?

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You can find the Papier Collection out now. Available at Diptyque, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and all other Diptyque locations.

P.S. Thank you for everyone who has messaged me about the recent hurricane. We were very fortunate that only the edge of the hurricane hit Tampa Bay. Our area in St Petersburg still experienced massive storm surge (this was the biggest storm surge in over 100 years in our area).

Andrew and I were not located in an evacuation zone so we stayed put and the counties here have been very proactive about warnings, alerts and providing resources for help. So many of the beaches, waterfront areas and many neighborhoods had life changing flooding and damage. We lost power for 3 days but no flooding to our home. So many have been very working hard 24/7 to repair broken power lines, clean up fallen trees. The storm surge was so bad many cars and boats floated to very odd places.

My in-law’s place is by the water and they had a lot of flooding inside their home and there is a lot of damage there. Their place is in a mandatory evacuation zone so nobody was there when the hurricane hit, but the damage is devastating. Andrew and I spent a few days cleaning everything out for them. Still, we have been very fortunate and we are grateful. Thank you everyone for your kind wishes and for checking in on me over the past week.

Lips

Tarte Holiday 2024 Lip Sets

September 25, 2024

Tarte Holiday Lip Sets 2024

Holiday beauty is already starting to trickle in and every year they seem to launch earlier and earlier! As the ultimate fan of the Tarte Maracuja lip lineup, I picked up four of the holiday sets that launched this year and the ones I picked up have all brand new shades.

It’s also been a while since I reviewed and swatched the Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump or Lip Liners. Tarte has been adding new shades to almost all of the Maracuja formulas and I’ve accumulated so many I thought I’d swatch them here.

Quick note that there are a lot more Tarte sets, bundles and variations for this holiday season. Also every retailer seems to have slightly different offerings (Sephora and Ulta have different sets). Some have duos with their best selling shades popular shades while some of the sets have new colors.

Best of Maracuja Juicy Lips Set 2024

Tarte Best of Maracuja Lips 2024 Holiday Set

Best of Maracuja Juicy Lips Set 2024 ($45, available at Tarte, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Macy’s) has four new colors and I am 10/10 in love. They’re all neutrals and I love every single shade. The set has:

  • Maracuja Juicy Lip Vinyl in Spiced Pink, a super opaque and lush medium rose with full coverage and high shine
  • Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump in Rose Quartz Shimmer Glass, a high sparkle pink rose quartz shimmer shade
  • Maracuja Juicy Plumping Lip Oil in Cool Mauve, a cool mauve with a glossy finish
  • Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump in Buffed Rose a tan beige rose

Tarte Best of Maracuja Juicy Lips 2024 Holiday Set

Tarte Best of Maracuja Juicy Lips 2024 Holiday Set swatches

I really like all four formulas. This is my first time trying the oil and while I really love the formula, I’m not sure how long the cushiony sponge tip applicator will last. It’s not flimsy by any means, but it just seems like it could potentially wear down quickly.

Maracuja Juicy Lip Icon Duos

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Icon Duos 2024

There are three new holiday Maracuja Juicy Lip Icon Duos ($26 each, Tarte, Ulta Beauty, Dermstore). Each set has a Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump Shade and matching Lip Liner.

  • Rosy Neutrals is my favorite with Rosy Beige shades, both are soft rose pink beige
  • Spiced Neutrals has Spiced Ginger Lip Liner and Ginger Lip Plump, both are variations of tan/beige/brown
  • Rich Neutrals is the darkest option with an Rich Brown Lip Liner, a blackened brown and Truffle Lip Plump which is a deep mahogany brown shade

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Icon Duos 2024 swatches

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Icon Duos 2024 swatches

Out of the three sets Rosy Neutrals is the most flattering. Spiced Neutrals is pretty but pulls very flesh-toned on me. I’m not a fan of the Rich Neutrals mainly because the liner is so dark on my lips and the lip plump is a little streaky in finish.

Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump Review and Swatches

I am obsessed with the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump ($26 each). I love the shades, glossy finish, formula and click up balm style applicator. You can find this formula at nearly every Tarte retailer, but Tarte has the most shades available and they often have sales and bundles that you can mix and match for super savings. The formula is glossy and semi-thick with a gentle plumping formula. It tingles a little but doesn’t sting on me. It almost has a minty cooling sensation on the lips.

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump Review and Swatches

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump Review and Swatches

I have swatches below of pretty much every neutral they launched. Some of these I just received in the mail so I haven’t tried every shade, but I do know I love White Peach, Peachy Beige, Rosebud, Mixed Berries and Coral Pink. I included shades from the holiday sets in the swatch lineup too.

Maracuja Juicy Lip Liner

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Liner review and swatches

The Maracuja Juicy Lip Liner ($22, Tarte, Sephora, Ulta Beauty) is another favorite. These are in a twist up style with a removeable tip sharpener at the end. There are quite a few pretty neutrals and what I love about these is they don’t tug too much when you apply and they also do not budge once they set. My favorite is Nude or Dusty Rose, but I think the new Rosy Beige from the Rosy Neutrals Duo is my favorite.

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Liner review and swatches

That wraps up my Tarte lip haul roundup! I think the Best of Maracuja Lips is the best one for the colors and price. They come packaged in a way that you can separate the colors if you want to split it and gift. I ordered all of mine from Tarte (they had some promos going on) but you can definitely find these at your local Ulta Beauty or Sephora. QVC also has great value sets that are often limited-edition so be sure to check them out too if you’re shopping for holiday bundles.

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Have you started to check out any of the holiday launches yet? What’s on your radar?

Bronzer + Blush

Liquid Blush Roundup Review

September 18, 2024

Best Liquid Blushes

By popular request I’m rounding up the liquid blushes I’ve tried. The blush trends and new launches are coming at us with full speed with no signs of slowing down. In general I tend to gravitate towards a powder blush formula for lasting power and pigment control. But since liquid blush seems to be so popular right now, I’ve rounded up the ones I’ve tried at all price points. Scroll to the end to find out my Top 3 favorites!

Armani and YSL

Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint

Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint ($39, Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus) is the best formula for me for lasting power, blendability and look. These have a nice soft matte dry down that doesn’t set too fast making it easy to blend without having to rush. Colors are easy to build without looking or feeling heavy. I do think the color range is limited and wish they had more options, but the four I have are lovely. The lightest baby pink shade 53 may be hit or miss for you, but it really surprised me how wearable and brightening it is on my medium tan skin. Demo with 50.3 here.

Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint

YSL Make Me Blush Liquid Blush ($39, Sephora) is the newest formula I’ve tried. These have an angled sponge tip applicator like a flat angled sponge which I’m not the biggest fan of, but it’s not terrible. The colors are limited, much like the range from Armani or Charlotte Tilbury. On my skin the shades tend to darken/oxidize slightly but I’m not sure if that will be the case for everyone. I thought the peachy shade would not show up at all but a few seconds after blending it shows up to a darker (but still light) peach. I think the lasting power and nice dry down are both excellent. For some reason though they take a little more blending effort to get an even application that isn’t too strong. Even after blending I would recommend taking a clean brush and buff out the edges for a smoother look. Demo of the shades I tried here.

YSL Make Me Blush Liquid Blush review

Chanel

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush ($52, Chanel.com) is the sheerest option of all the liquid blushes. These are going to be the best for someone who doesn’t want to wear a lot of makeup and wants something ultra lightweight. The finish is natural and fresh. The lighter colors pulled very sheer on my skin (they barely show up) but the 3 deeper ones have better pigment for medium-tan skin. I really liked the formula but to be frank I haven’t been reaching for them since they do take a bit more time to blend. Full review + swatches here.

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush Intense Coral

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush swatches

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand ($42, Charlotte Tilbury, Sephora, Nordstrom) has an excellent soft matte formula I found easy to blend and layer without looking overdone. Lasting power is very good. Only downside is the limited color range. Demo here.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wands

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand Pillow Talk

Hourglass

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush ($36, Sephora and Nordstrom) wins for best color range. I think the colors they launched are the most flattering for a fresh look. They do stay dewy looking on the skin and the lasting power isn’t as good as other brands – but that is expected with any dewy looking blush. Full review + swatches here.

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

Hourglass Future Unreal Liquid Blush + Dove Unlocked Satin Lipstick + Lucid Phantom Glossy Balm

L’oreal

L’Oreal Lumi Le Liquid Blush ($11.99, Target) is an impressive formula for pigment, color and lasting power. If you’re looking for a longwear formula, this is it! I had to scrub the formula off my arm to remove although any cleansing oil would have made the removal easier. They have 3 cream finishes and 3 glowy finishes. I think the colors are really beautiful and easy to blend. You can find these at a wide range of places but Target usually has the best prices. The only downside is the packaging isn’t quite as luxe as some of the other brands.

L'Oreal Lumi Le Liquid Blush

NARS

NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush ($32, Nordstrom) is another favorite, but to be completely honest it’s a formula I’ve neglected. If you want a natural look these are outstanding. The formula has a slightly translucent quality making it look more natural on the skin. They almost feel like a creamy gel. They don’t really ever dry down to a matte finish so they remain slightly dewy looking but on me they last long. Full review here and here.

NARS Afterglow Liquid Blushes

NARS Afterglow Liquid Blushes

Rare Beauty

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($14 – $23, Sephora) seems to be the most popular liquid blush out there. I love the color range but the pigment is SO intense that I would not recommend this for a natural look. A tiny dot is enough to cover each cheek. They are easy to blend, but also very easy to over-do. For a blush novice I recommend dabbing on the back of the hand first and then dipping your brush into the product. They launched a Holiday Mini Blush and Luminize Trio ($35) which I think has pretty shades for fall. More swatches + looks in this blog post here.

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush swatches

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oils

Ciele and Saie Beauty

Ciele blush and PROTECT SPF 50 Liquid Blush ($34, Sephora) is a formula a lot of you recommended I try. I picked up 3 shades to try and love the formula, applicator and lasting power. These have a nice soft dry down that isn’t too dewy or emollient. They’re easy to blend and a little goes a long way. Pigment isn’t as intense as the Rare Beauty ones making the Ciele blush easier to wear and they look more natural.

Saie Dew Blush Liquid ($25, Sephora) is another popular one that I’m sad to say I do not love. These are also well loved by so many. I find the formula thick and way too dewy looking, but I know that is the way they are meant to be. I’ve tried a few and the packaging doesn’t look or feel good to be. The applicator attachment to the cap is a little wobbly on all the ones I have.

Saie and Ciele Liquid Blush swatches

Tarte

Tarte has 2 formulas of the liquid blush: the Maneater Blush and Glow Cheek Plump ($29, Tarte Cosmetics and Ulta Beauty) which I LOVE and a newer Maneater Satin Blush Cheek Plump ($29, Tarte Cosmetics and Ulta Beauty) which is also nice, but I prefer the glow version. I love the formula, color range, finish and lasting power. These come with a sponge tip applicator and they’re super easy to blend.

The Glow formula is a little more natural looking but isn’t too shimmery. I would say out of all the blushes I’ve worn these always get the most compliments. The Satin formula is a little more pigmented but not as intense as the Rare Beauty ones. I don’t know that I really notice a plumping effect on the skin, but the liquid formula is really nice and gives the cheeks a healthy look.

Tarte Maneater Blush review and swatches

Tarte Maneater Blush review and swatches

Here are my top picks out of the formulas:

  • Overall best: Tarte Maneater Blush and Glow for color range and formula (Tarte has a lot of bundle sets like this Duo or this 4-Piece Set)
  • Best formula: Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint
  • Best color range: Hourglass

Tools

Favorite Brushes for Cream Liquid Blush

One last tip on tools. I think you can use any cheek brush in your stash to blend. I’ve used a number of powder blush brushes for liquid. I’ll often use a foundation brush for a cream or liquid blush too. If you’re looking for a new one to try, here are a few that I love.

Hourglass No 15 Blush Brush is my favorite right now. It’s not too dense so it’s a little fluffy at the tips. The Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush is also excellent for blushes.

Love the Laura Mercier Blush Brush as it’s a synthetic one. Works well to blend powders and liquids, this is my most-used cheek brush.

It Cosmetics tools are also very good. They launched a Heavenly Luxe Cream Blush Brush #3 to go with the Cream Sun Blush earlier this year, but it seems to be sold out everywhere except in a set on QVC. Their Brush #7 is for foundation but it also works well with liquid blushes.

For a good budget friendly option Real Techniques is the best. I love their 449 Tapered Cheek Brush ($7.99).

That wraps up my liquid blush roundup! There are dozens more that I haven’t tried and I haven’t even covered cream finishes. If you love a liquid blush let me know what your favorites are!