Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Skincare

Natural Non-Toxic Deodorant from Kopari

October 15, 2018

Using natural deodorants is an essential part of my daily beauty routine and one of my favorites is the Kopari Coconut Deodorant. Since exploring clean beauty this year so many of you have expressed interest in me reviewing more in natural beauty products. As a huge fan of Kopari I’m thrilled to partner with them to share more about their Coconut Deodorant – it’s already a favorite and it’s been featured in a number of favorites and shopping recommendation posts along with their Coconut Melt. This particular deodorant is one of three formulas that I’m very loyal to. As I’ve tested some natural beauty products I’ve found that some formulas can be hit or miss performance-wise, but Kopari products have never let me down. I love this deodorant is aluminum- and baking soda-free, keeps odor away and doesn’t dry out. It’s no surprise so many other people love it as well because it really does work!

I’ve always avoided antiperspirants because of their ingredients. From a young age my mother and aunts always told me not to use them. For those not familiar, note that there is a difference between deodorants and antiperspirants. Antiperspirants are products with ingredients such as aluminum, baking soda and added fragrance to prevent sweating while blocking odor. These include chemicals that block pores to prevent the releasing of sweat. This in turn also prevents you from sweating out the toxins while absorbing aluminum into the body. There have been studies that link these issues to causing breast cancer and while there is a lot of debate about these claims and correlations, it’s a risk I don’t want to take. Deodorants on the other hand have ingredients that block odor but still allow you to sweat out the toxins.

Aside from being natural and non-toxic, the main benefit of using the Kopari Coconut Deodorant for me is that it really does work to keep odor away the entire day. It goes on the skin 100% clear and doesn’t stain white clothes or tees. It has an emollient texture that glides on but doesn’t feel sticky afterwards. It won’t have a powdery or matte dry down because of the formula, but it doesn’t feel thick or greasy. Since it doesn’t contain sweat blocking chemicals I still find that I sweat during a workout but it keeps the odor away even after runs or bike rides in the Florida humidity. For other regular day to day indoor activities it does minimize sweating for me.

It smells like sweet coconuts when you first apply it. The scent is strong but doesn’t interfere with perfume or lotion. I also like that I’ve had a Kopari tube for several months and it has never shown any signs of drying out like some of my other deodorants did way before they were even 1/2 used up. It’s maintained the same consistency and freshness since the day I opened it up.

I’ve been focusing on being more healthy and working on building my strength this past year. Steps have been taken to change our diets to live healthier. I’ve also increased activity with more exercise and weight training to build strength. I’ve taken more care of my body to help cope with stress. Having a more active life style combined with the Florida heat makes me prone to sweating more so having a good deodorant that works is absolutely essential.

I particularly love the fact that there is now a mini version available in the Beauty Besties Set at Sephora. The full size is 2 oz/ 57 g while the mini is 0.9 oz/ 26 g. I had been carrying the full-size around with me from home to my bag to places like the beach or in a bag when we go to the bay to run. The mini size is super convenient to have an extra around to keep in a gym bag or beach bag. So far even in outdoor for extended periods of time heat the stick hasn’t melted in my bag!

I’ve used this Kopari Coconut Deodorant formula for months and like it enough to keep using it consistently. There have been a number of formulas I’ve bought in the past that didn’t work and I tossed after a few tries. I’m really happy with this one. Love that it’s non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without aluminum, baking soda, and silicone.

As always I’d love to hear your thoughts about natural deodorants that you’ve tried. Let me know what worked or what didn’t for you! If there are any other things in natural beauty you’d like to see reviewed please let me know in the comments! You can watch their #TheTruthStinks Video for more information about this new launch. Kopari Coconut Deodorant is available at Sephora and other Kopari retailers. It’s one I highly recommend.

Many thanks to Kopari for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

36 Comments

Base Makeup Charlotte Tilbury Eye Makeup

New Charlotte Tilbury Magic Powder, Magic Away Concealer + Stars In Your Eyes Palette

October 14, 2018

Today I’m covering a few new launches from Charlotte Tilbury including her Genius Magic Powder ($45), Magic Away Concealer ($32) and swatches of the new Stars In Your Eyes Palette ($75). I’ve been the biggest fan of her Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder in #2 for years now. It’s one I still swear by today and I was really excited to put her new face products to the test. I hauled everything from Nordstrom and two of the three products I hauled are hits.

Magic Powder + Magic Away Concealer

Up first is a look at her new face products. The Magic Powder is a loose powder for under the eyes and all over the face. It’s a soft light-diffusing powder to blur the skin. I find that the Airbrush Flawless Pressed and Magic Powder Loose colors don’t match with the same numbers. #2 in the pressed is a perfect match for me while #2 in the loose is significantly lighter in color but it does have a translucent feel to me. The powder itself has a really nice matte effect without looking flat or cakey even though the color is pale. The jar seems well made and has a twist lid inside so you can keep powder from flying around when you store it. The only downside is the smell – it has a very strong plastic smell which I thought was the packaging, which could be the culprit. But if it is, it is also in the powder and it’s pretty bad. The good news is that once it’s on the face and sets, the smell dissipates after a while. Still it’s a scent I don’t think any makeup product should have. A quick look at the product description says it’s made of veggie powder and natural oils to absorb oil and condition the skin at the same time. This could be the reason it smells. For now I’m going to stick with the pressed version and other brands of loose powders. My favorites rounded up and reviewed here.

The Magic Away Liquid Concealer is a hit! I ordered two shades 6 and 7 sight unseen based on the fact that I mix the Magic Foundation in 6 and 7. Both concealer shades work for me, 6 is a good brightening color but 7 is an exact match for my tan skin right now. It’s a smooth finish, full coverage concealer with a sponge tip applicator. I actually prefer tube or wand applicators but this one works to blend out the product right on the face without having to use another sponge. I’ve been a die-hard fan of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for under eyes because I need something that is a little bit dewy. This comes in very close second. The Charlotte Tilbury has full perfect coverage, stays put, blends easily and does remove the subtle darkness I have under my eyes some mornings. Shade 6 applied below:

Left is applied heavily straight from the tube, you can apply as much or as little as you want. I did a heavy face swatch so you could see the color and texture. Right side is completely blended out with a sponge. Also wearing a mix of Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 6+7 mixed all over the face, Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown and NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Swing on the lips. Top from Madewell.

I’ve swatched the concealer below next to the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Macadamia and Ginger. I’ve also included one of the new MAC Studio Fix 24 Hour Wear Concealers in NC35, NC38 and NC40 (reviewing these soon, but I find this formula runs a tad bit lighter than the foundations).

Stars in Your Eyes Palette

The Stars in Your Eyes Palette is new for the season and it is one of the most beautiful warm palettes I’ve tried. I still don’t consider myself as really loving the red/warm eye shadow trend that’s been going on for a while, but this one is very wearable, doesn’t look too warm on my skin and has excellent color payoff. There is a mix of matte and shimmers. I think it’s a significant improvement compared to last years which I bought and still use but find high maintenance because it takes me a lot of layering to get the pigment I want. This year’s is perfect in every way for me.

This one has four sets of color-themed trios designed to Prime, Enhance and Smoke, but you can mix and match any of the combinations.

Love Eyes has a matte cream, shimmery rose gold, matte warm rose
Power Eyes has a shimmery soft gold, pale champagne shimmer, shimmery bronze
Happy Eyes has a rosy shimmer, warm soft brown matte, deeper soft brown matte
Confident Eyes has a shimmery mauve, shimmery plum and matte plum purple

Below wearing a mix of Stars in Your Eyes Palette Love Eyes and Happy Eyes, First Love Chic to Cheek Blush and NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Swing, same base as mentioned above:

As much as I love the pretty rose gold packaging it makes photographing product difficult. Colors will look slightly different in photos depending on what you see in the reflection, so I’ve included two photos, one with flash, one without.

Overall I highly recommend the Magic Away Concealer. I think it’s worth a look if you want a full coverage, smooth creamy concealer. It doesn’t cake or crease on me under the eyes and it also has enough pigment that you can use it to cover spots like sun spots or dark circles. I find it has better coverage than her other formulas. The Stars in Your Eyes Palette was a pleasant hit given last year’s formula was just ok for me. I’m thrilled that even though it’s warm toned it’s not too red or warm and easy to wear. The Magic Powder was something I had such high hopes for. The shades are a bit odd to me because the numbers don’t match in different formulas and the smell is so bad, but as a product it works on my face just fine. For now if you’re in the market for a new loose powder I’d say my top picks are the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder and Laura Mercier Translucent Loose (both compared here).

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Concealer, Powder and Stars in Your Eyes Palette at Nordstrom. Also available online at Charlotte Tilbury.

Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think?

15 Comments

Eye Makeup

Fall Mascara + Base Roundup: Chanel, NARS, By Terry, L’Oreal + Glossier

October 11, 2018

I have a roundup of mascaras and primers I’ve tried over the past few months. A few I’ve already reviewed but thought a comprehensive lineup post might be more helpful. My top three tried-and-true have been Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme, L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof and Chanel Le Volume Waterproof. Since I have straight lashes waterproof works best to hold curl after using a lash curler and also helps prevent smudging in humid weather. I’m always looking to try new ones to volumize and define. Often times I find mascaras excel in one or two areas but rarely hit all the marks for volumizing, adding definition, holding the curl, no smudging, no flaking, and being easy to remove. So please keep in mind I’m super picky and have difficult lashes.

Mascara + Primer Roundup in today’s post includes:

Chanel La Base Mascara ($32 for 0.21 oz/6 g, made in France)
Chanel Le Volume Revolution de Chanel ($35 for 0.21 oz/6 g, made in Italy)
By Terry Lash-Expert ($30 for 0.28 oz/8.3 g, made in Italy)
NARS Climax Mascara ($24 for 0.21 oz/6.2 ml, made in Italy)
Glossier Lash Slick ($16 for 0.29 oz/8.5 g, made in France, save 10% off your first order)
L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base ($9.99 for, made in USA)

Chanel La Base Mascara + Le Volume Revolution de Chanel

I think it’s hard to top the regular Le Volume Mascara or the Le Volume Waterproof for me. This formula was the first I tried from the brand that I liked for the true black color and the fact that the waterproof version didn’t look or feel crunchy on my lashes. I reviewed the new Chanel La Base Mascara over the summer and thought it was ok but didn’t really do much. When used in conjunction with their latest Le Volume Revolution de Chanel it makes for an excellent combination.

The new Le Volume Revolution de Chanel Mascara has a chubby brush that is 3D printed. It’s designed to give volume in a single stroke. I initially thought it would be identical to the Le Volume, but when I tried each one on each eye, side by side and the Le Volume Revolution does indeed give significantly more volume and intensity with one stroke. With the regular Le Volume I layer a couple times and brush it on to apply to get intensity. I do this with most mascaras. I think the new Le Volume Revolution de Chanel is excellent – I didn’t experience any smudging or racoon eyes, but of course your mileage may vary depending on how oily your skin is under the eyes. It was easy to remove with their Gentle Bi-Phase Makeup Remover. If this came out in a waterproof formula eventually I think I would love it even more. When in doubt, I really just prefer waterproof formulas in general. To sum up, the new mascara is great. It volumizes, doesn’t clump, stays put and is a true black.

By Terry Lash-Expert

This By Terry Lash-Expert Mascara is one of the most highly rated mascaras of the year. It has a wand you can twist to control how much volume/intensity you want applied. I reviewed this formula back in the spring and gave it an ok review since I preferred the L’Oreal and Tom Ford for holding the curl. Since then I’ve been experimenting with it more and find that for me this works best when layered over a waterproof formula. This is a trick many of you have shared with me to apply a waterproof version first, then layer with a more volumizing formula on top. This makes this version work for me 100%! I’ve tried it over the Maybelline Total Temptation and L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof.

NARS Climax Mascara

NARS Climax Mascara is the latest from NARS. I used to love their volume formula that was discontinued years ago. I stopped using their mascaras after they discontinued it. This one gives mega volume and doesn’t smudge on me although several of you have reported it does. I think your mileage may vary, but this one gives me good volume without any clumping. The bristles are well separated in this brush which makes it less prone to clumping for me. I do think the Chanel Le Volume Revolution de Chanel gives more volume with one stroke. However you can build it up with the NARS without caking it on.

Glossier Lash Slick

I could not resist the cute pink Glossier Lash Slick tube for this one. It has a rubber applicator with larger gaps in between the spikes. I think this is a decent formula. It defines, lengthens and darkens the lashes nicely. It doesn’t give as much volume as other formulas do, but for the price I was pleased. It did not smudge on me and it held the curl pretty well. (Case shown is by The Daily Edited.)

L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base

I’ve been the biggest fan of the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara. I know so many of you love a good drugstore mascara but this is the only one I’ve tried that impressed me for EVERYTHING it claims. They recently launched the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base and I reviewed it in my budget beauty roundup here. I think it’s one of the best mascara bases I’ve tried. It works best if you don’t let it dry completely before applying mascara. Given how good the mascara is I don’t think the primer is essential, but it does help nourish the lashes and help mascara adhere better.

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All the mascaras lined up so you can see the length of brushes:

In summary, my top three are still the top three. I think the Chanel Le Volume de Revolution is a winner for fall, but I’m really hoping it will come out in a waterproof version eventually. By Terry works when combined with another waterproof version. And for a mascara primer I still think this isn’t essential but I’m smitten with the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base formula.

For those who missed my previous roundups, my favorite removers and tools:

Almay Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads are the only removers that truly remove waterproof formulas for me
For non-waterproof versions I still love the Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover and Chanel Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover
For a lash curler my go to’s are the MAC Full Lash Curler or Surratt Relevee Lash Curler (I really loved the Chanel one but think it’s discontinued)

That wraps up my fall mascara rotation review. I’d love to hear your thoughts on any formulas you tried! Mascara can be so tricky, it’s truly hit or miss depending on your lash type and length. Mine don’t hold the curl and are naturally straight so what works for me might not work for you if you have fuller lush lashes!

Press samples include the NARS Climax and Chanel Le Volume Revolution de Chanel. I also purchased the Le Volume Revolution de Chanel on my own so I have two.

36 Comments

Shu Uemura

Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat Collection

October 9, 2018

Holiday collections have launched early this year and my first look at holiday beauty focuses on the Shu Uemura chocolate-inspired launch called Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat Collection. I have most of the pieces swatched for you which I hope will help those in the US since the brand is available online only. Everything is limited-edition. I’ve found some hits and misses. My thoughts on each beauty product that I tried below.

There are two Ganache and Praline Eyeshadow Palettes ($99 each) called Dark Cacao and Framboise Berry. Both have eight shades in a mirrored compact that resembles a chocolate gift box. They are scented like a sweet candy, I don’t really smell chocolate but it does have a sweet scent. The fragrance luckily did not irritate my eyes.

Framboise Berry has a palette filled with pinks and reds that are super popular today. Pigment and texture wise the palette performs well, but I cannot wear these kinds of colors on my olive skin. The top row has a matte red brown, matte cream, shimmery red, shimmery cool pink. The bottom row has warm shimmery rose, shimmery mauve, sparkling rose gold and a deep matte cranberry.

Dark Cacao has chocolate browns and neutrals. The top row has a matte brown, a shimmering taupe, a satiny shimmer plum, a matte ivory. The bottom row has a shimmering silver brown, a shimmery deep plum taupe, a bright yellow gold shimmer and a chocolate matte. The colors are smooth but pigment is medium. They’re not high impact shadows but you can definitely build and layer to intensify color. I think the mattes are excellent. The overall palette runs cool and deep on my skin tone.

Up next are the cheek products which include two Shimmery Powders ($36 each) in Luster Gold Dust and Luster Rose Dust. Both come in a sifter jar with a sponge applicator. The powders are very sparkly and very lightweight so it’s prone to flying with a loose brush, I recommend a denser brush. The shimmer is really beautiful but these are too sparkly for me to wear on the face. I prefer them on the eyes but they’re still very sparkly and glittery. The glitter is superfine. but they look pretty on the eyes if you apply over a creamy base to help the product stick to the skin. I like using them over a cream shadow patted on then blended with a dense brush. For the cheeks there is also a cute Creamy Dome Blush ($30) which has the most perfect cream to powder texture. It glides onto the skin and blends beautifully. The color Passion Fruit Macaron unfortunately isn’t for my skintone – it looks like a straight orange even with blending.

For the skin they’ve launched their best-selling Ultime8 Sublime Cleansing Oil in special-edition packaging. There is a 150 mL ($43) and 450 mL ($91) version of the cleanser. Formula is the same, the only difference is the packaging which has the Maison du Chocolate pattern and color themes. If you’re curious about all the cleansing oil options they have now you can read my Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil review. The formulas have changed and been revamped over the years so this may help as a guide in case you haven’t kept track of them.

For lips there are a few items to pick from. There are two shades of Metallic Lip Liner ($30 each) which come in a Star Dust Gold shade (bright yellow gold metallic) and Star Dust Rose (shimmery pink gold). These come with a brush applicator which resembles a liquid liner applicator for eyes but thicker. I couldn’t get a smooth application with the gold shade. The rose shade applied smoother. Concept to me is a little strange – they are very foiled-looking and metallic. I don’t see how you would use this just as a liner without smoothing it over the entire lip, either alone or mixed with lipstick.

Last but not least are the lipsticks. Since Shu Uemura pulled the line from US stores I haven’t explored their lipsticks. There are two formulas in the chocolate collection called the Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte and the Rouge Unlimited Lipstick ($31 each). All the colors are chocolate inspired so everything is deep and dramatic with a fall vibe. All the colors are creams/non-shimmers. For those who want to see something other than neutrals on the blog, these swatches are for you! The formula of both the matte and regular lipsticks is ABSOLUTELY amazing. They’re one swipe wonders that glide on the lips with perfection. I’m still a neutral lip lover, or pink/peach/plum wearer so all of the shades fall way outside my comfort zone. Still I can appreciate the lipsticks for their phenomenal formula and I know a lot of my readers wear these kinds of colors. As we go into fall these colors are more in style, although summer doesn’t really end here in Florida until maybe end of November. I am truly amazed at how good these are, I really want to look into other color options in the regular lineup for these because the formula is flawless.

Rouge Unlimited Supreme Mattes include:

Ripe Cherry matte deep brown red
Raspberry Syrup matte bright red with blue undertones
Cassis Berry purple lilac matte
Deep Cranberry deep warm red
Black Berry deep vamp berry

Rouge Unlimited Lipstick shades include:

Raspberry Puree bold red raspberry
Framboise Sorbet warm red brick
Caramel Toffee warm orange tan
Hazelnut Ganache deep brownish chocolate with a hint of red

Quick look with the Shu Uemura Dark Cacao Eyeshadow Palette, Passion Fruit Macaron Dome Blush and Raspberry Puree Lipstick. Foundation worn for skintone reference is Armani Luminous Silk Shade 7. Tee by Reformation.

Bottom line pretty for fall with all kinds of dark chocolate vibes. The colors run deeper, warmer and more dramatic than I’m used to wearing but the formulas are nice and everything is really well made. I think the lipsticks are the standouts in the entire collection.

You can find the Shu Uemura La Maison du Chocolat Collection available online at Shu Uemura USA and Canada. If you’re shopping for a few things they’ve offered a promo code for you to use: BLBXSHU at checkout will give you 15% off any order + free shipping.

Do you have any current Shu Uemura favorites?

Chocolate collection provided courtesy of Shu Uemura for review.

16 Comments

Chanel Skincare

Chanel Hand Cream Review: La Creme Main, Texture Riche and No 5 L’Eau

October 8, 2018

I’ve been a little absent on the blog and Instagram catching up on some things at home, doing some de-cluttering and also fixing up things at our house. I have a lot to share with you in beauty this week and today I have a review of the three Chanel Hand Creams that have launched over the past year. Chanel launched their first version La Creme Main Hand Cream last year in the cutest egg shaped packaging I’ve ever seen. The second launch was in a scented version called the On Hand Cream in the No 5 L’Eau which is a soft powdery version of the perfume. Most recently this fall Chanel released yet another formula called La Creme Main Texture Riche which is supposed to be a deeper richer texture that offers eight hours of hydration. I have thoughts on all three for you today.

All of them are packaged the same way in a white squeeze tube shaped like an egg. The cap is removeable and I’m really happy to report it always clicks back on even when in a handbag. They run at $50 each for 1.7 fl oz/40 ml, made in France.

La Creme Main

I reviewed the original La Creme Main when it launched last year and still love it to this day. It’s hit or miss for some. I like it because it has a velvety dry down without any sticky or emollient residue. It smells like a soft sweet floral with a clean linen-like feel. It’s formulated to soften, smooth and brighten the hands. One I apply it, I do notice that my hands experience instant relief from dryness and they also look smoother (probably due to the silicone). The overall texture and feel is very lightweight, easy to blend and absorbs fast. If you have extremely dry hands or cuticles you will need something stronger like L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Cream or Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve.

Shown above, Le Vernis in Organdi, Le Vernis in Nuvola Rosa, Le Rouge Crayon Discretion, Rouge Coco Gloss in Melted Honey and Bourgeoisie, my kitty is obsessed with the shape as well, whenever he sees it, he guards it like it’s his lol! I have gotten quite a few scratches trying to grab it back.

Ingredients:

No 5 L’Eau On Hand Cream

The second version is the No 5 L’Eau On Hand Cream scent which is a soft powdery version of the perfume. I really love the Eau de Toilette but the hand cream has a more powdery feel to it. The scent lingers a long time and is fairly strong for a hand cream. It also offers light moisture with a soft emollient finish like a lightweight lotion. It does dry down nicely but doesn’t quite have the same velvety feel as the others do. Since I wear other perfumes this isn’t one I reach for often unless I’m wearing the Chanel No 5 L’Eau as the hand cream is pretty strong.

On the nails, Organdi, review of the perfume here, review of the body spray here:

La Creme Main Texture Riche

The newest version is the La Creme Main Texture Riche. This has a noticeably thicker feel than the original and also has more moisture while still having that velvet dry down feel. Chanel reports that this offers eight hours of hydration. I can’t say for sure exactly how long I felt it on the skin, but when I apply it in the morning I don’t feel the need to reapply anything throughout the day. It’s thicker with a product called May Rose Wax so it creates a veil of moisture on the skin that stays put without being heavy. It has a similar scent to the original hand cream which I noticed stayed there for hours.

Shown above, Rouge Coco Gloss 172 Tendresse and Stylo Ombre et Contour in Contour Clair, perfume is Les Eaux de Chanel Biarritz (review soon)

On the nails, Rouge Noir

Another look at the packaging:

Packed into the cutest little zip pouch I ordered from The Daily Edited (top also shown here).

I really love all three. I’m partial to the original version just because it works so well for humid weather conditions, night or day. I keep one by my bed and often one on my desk to apply as needed. It works well at night because there’s no greasy residue so if I touch my pillow or face it doesn’t feel sticky. The scent is pleasant as well so it doesn’t interfere with perfume. Going into the dry winter season I think I’ll really like the Texture Riche. It does make the hands feel softer and has a thicker feel without being too thick.

I’m going to start up giveaways again! I’ll be doing one per week either on the blog or Instagram @beautylookbook. This round, one person will receive all three Chanel hand creams. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older. See terms and conditions in widget for all the details. Runs through Friday October 12th. Winner will be selected within 48 hours after giveaway ends and must respond to e-mail from me within 24 or another person will be selected in their place. To qualify for a chance to win you must complete ALL THE STEPS in the widget. Partial entries will not be considered. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the Chanel La Creme Main, La Creme Main Texture Riche at all Chanel retailers. Also available online at Chanel.com. All purchased by me. Have you tried any of these yet? Did they work for you?

67 Comments

Sales

Fall Blog Sale Closet Clean Out

October 4, 2018

If you’re a newsletter subscriber you’ve already seen that I’m doing another round of a blog sale for some of my accessories. I’m making room for new things! I’m the original owner of all items listed and everything is authentic. Each item was purchased directly from the brand retailer or a major retailer like Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, Hermes, etc. I have receipts of most of the items which are listed on each product – if you purchase an item from me I will be including the original or photocopy in the package with my personal information marked out.

For this round I have all the items I’m selling listed on one of my Instagram profiles @stylednotes for you to swipe and view. I’ve added a few more items since my initial listing. If you’re interested please e-mail me at [email protected] – to manage all the requests and questions this is the only e-mail I’ll be responding to and sending invoices from. I will not be responding to DMs.

Check my Instagram profile @stylednotes for listings, I’ll be updating status as they sell there as well. Listings will be deleted once they are sold.

Blog Sale details, please read all the notes below:

If you’re interested in buying an item, please e-mail me the Item Letter + color name so I can make sure I know which item you’re interested in
Will ship to anyone in the US
Prices listed include standard shipping
Payments will be accepted via PayPal only – please do not send any payments until we correspond and confirm via e-mail
All packages will require a direct signature (no PO Boxes)
No holds on any items, payment must be received within 1 hour after Paypal request is e-mailed or it will be re-listed
I ship items by the following business day and e-mail a tracking number to you
ALL SALES FINAL – no returns

Some product notes:

For the Hermes bracelets please measure your wrist in advance. Sizes are all listed, the ones I buy are either PM and XS, I’ve included suggested wrist sizes which are from the Hermes website. All sales are final, so please make sure you know your sizing as there are NO returns. Boxes and brown dust case included.
Sizing details can also be found on the Hermes site, search by product name such as Clic H, Kelly Double Tour etc.
- Enamel jewelry https://www.hermes.com/us/en/women/jewelry-and-fashion-jewelry/enamel-jewelry/#||Category
- Leather bracelets https://www.hermes.com/us/en/women/jewelry-and-fashion-jewelry/leather-jewelry/#||Category
Items are all used and worn so signs of wear are apparent but everything is in good condition. I’ve included video clips to show amount of wear. Happy to answer additional questions if you have any via e-mail.
I’ve included the price I paid for items, note on the bracelets Hermes did change the pricing over the years.
Receipt copies will included where applicable (check each listing).

If you’re interested please e-mail me at [email protected] – this is the only address I’ll be checking for purchase inquiries. Thank you!

0 Comments

Eye Makeup NARS

NARS Eyeshadow Singles and Duos Relaunch Review

October 3, 2018

NARS just redesigned their Eyeshadow Singles and Duos in a new formula and packaging. Some shades have been repromoted and new colors have been introduced. The formula is softer and smoother with a more buttery feel and now comes with magnetic removable pans. I still have yet to find a palette to put them into so I’m keeping them in the original compacts for now. Today I have a review of the following items:

Single Eyeshadows $19 each for 1.1 g/0.04 oz
Single Eyeshadow Mattes $19 each for 1.1 g/0.04 oz
Hardwired Single Eyeshadow $22 each for 1.1 g/0.04 oz
Duo Eyeshadows $35 each for 1.1 g/0.04 oz per pan
Tinted Smudge Proof Eye Base $26 each for 8 g/0.28 oz
Climax Mascara $24 for 6 g/0.21 oz

The new shadows are improved over the original but I really liked the original formula. Differences are in packaging design and texture. The revamped version is softer and velvety with a texture that seems to glide on the skin better. Pigment and color payoff is similar to me, I do think with the shimmers the softer velvety texture makes for a richer finish. All the colors layer and blend with each other beautifully.

First a look at the new vs old packaging. I like the concept of removable pans to make my own palette. I think all brands should have this option with singles! I’m still trying to find a good palette solution for these – they do have one they launched a while ago but it hasn’t held up the best for me.

The Single Eyeshadow comes in 42 shade options. There are a different finishes of matte, shimmer, satin. Some retailers split these into Soft Essentials for Mattes, Precious Metals for shimmers and Pops for bright colors. The ones I tested were all excellent in color payoff, texture and smoothness. I’m partial to the shimmers for their buttery soft texture that glides onto the lids perfectly. Color I have include a mix of press samples and ones I purchased on my own.

Top Row:

Cabo San Lucas* is a sheer mauve with a soft satin sheen
Noumea* is a warm matte red brown
Bengali* is a matte cool deep brown

Middle Row:

Virgin Gorda is a shimmering rose nude
Ashes to Ashes* is a soft satiny shimmer taupe grey
Fez is a warm bronze shimmer

Bottom Row:

Verona* is a cool purple silvery shimmer
Isla Bonita* is an ultra pale minty silver
Lahore* is a shimmering taupe grey

Swatches below, to me Ashes to Ashes and Lahore almost look identical on my skin. Lahore has more pigment and shimmer, but the colors look really close. If you have a pink undertone you will probably see the difference more. I’m tan olive.

The Hardwired Eyeshadow Singles are ultra shimmery and metallic. I had my eye on a few so I stopped by the store to see them. The ones I wanted looked ultra glittery while the ones I had were more of a refined metallic. I may go check them out again as my experience with the four I have blew me away. They’re so pigmented and non-gritty like you’d expect. The shimmer is ultra fine and adheres to the skin really well. Photos can’t capture how beautiful these are.

Earthshine is a pale lavender with green, blue and violet flecks
Stud is the perfect silver taupe shimmer
Lunar* is a high shine lavender
Eclipse* is a duo-chrome purple that flashes pink

The Duo Eyeshadow has been relaunched in a lot of repromoted shades. Based on a comparison of old vs new, the colors with the same names are very similar but I see slight differences. Pigment wise the newer ones adhere better to the skin and have a softer smooth texture. Color payoff is similar though, my experience is that the color is really good and lasts a long time.

Colors I bought include the following below. I did receive some press samples but they weren’t colors I felt like I’d use so I gifted them away and bought ones I knew I would:

Kalahari* is the perfect neutral medium tone plum and bronze
Alhambra has a shimmering pink and shimmering gold
Cordura has a shimmering bronze and deep chocolate with gold flecks
St Paul de Vence has a perfect soft pink and warm pink matte (I feel like since I missed out on the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk quad this could be a good alternative)

The Tinted Smudge Proof Eye Base now comes in tinted form. I ordered both Light and Medium as I wasn’t sure what color I’d be. Medium is my match and I’ve swatched it next to a few Radiant Creamy Concealers in Custard, Macadamia and Ginger for reference. I wasn’t a fan of the original clear base simply because it’s not meant for my skin type. I know many love matte bases for eyeshadows but I don’t have oily lids so most tend to dry out my skin. I prefer something creamy and emollient. These new Tinted Bases are ultra pigmented and a little goes a long way. They have a velvety matte dry down so while it will help the shadow stay put all day long I found them too dry for my skin type. It is an excellent product to even out the lids and help create a nice canvas for powder eye shadow and once it sets it is indeed smudge-proof.

Last but not least a quick mention of the Climax Mascara*. I’m going to do a roundup soon of mascaras I’ve been trying and this one is excellent. It volumizes, doesn’t clump, holds the curl and is almost smudge-proof. Indoors in air conditioning it does not smudge on me. But outdoors for extended periods of time here in Florida we are still having humid weather with temperatures in the high 90s sometimes exceeding 100. In those cases minor smudging occurs. But overall this is an excellent formula.

A quick look at some of the originals I still have versus new version. I think the colors are really close but there are slight differences. The original Alhambra is a tiny bit peachier. Original Kalahari is cooler-toned. Original Ashes to Ashes is the slightest bit warmer in undertone.

Overall thoughts are positive. I think there has been an improvement in the new formula although I never had issues with the original ones. I really like that the pans are removeable and hope they come out with a large empty palette like MAC does that I can use to put the shadows in for travel or to make my own palette. I’m going to give the Hardwired shades another look, especially Pattaya because the formula is really good. I personally don’t love the Eyeshadow Bases but they aren’t bad – they’re just not what I like to use because of the matte finish.

You can find the NARS Eyeshadow Singles and Duos out now. Some shades seem to have been selling out quickly so you may have to shop around to find the colors you want. Available at NARS Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora and all other NARS retailers.

Some items featured are press samples, others purchased by me. Press sample shades have a * next to them.

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Sabrina