Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Glosses

April 9, 2018

Urban Decay has launched a new lip gloss formula called the Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss ($20 each for 0.23 oz/ 7 mL). There are 20 shades total with creams and sparkles and shimmers. Urban Decay describes these as ultra-shiny, cushiony soft, long-lasting and not tacky. I’d say the description is on point on all counts. The color range is quite wide with something for everyone. The formula has a smooth finish and cool-plumping effect without the sting. They have vitamin E and peppermint oil and on my lips while they weren’t really hydrating they did not dry out the lips or make them peel.

These come with a sponge-tip applicator that is flat and skinny:

Up first are the cream colors which are non-shimmers. Pigment varies from sheer to medium. Most of them have a smooth finish in the color but there were a few I found streaky. Left to right: Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Lip Glosses Fuel, 1993, Obsessed, Beso, Rapture, Backtalk, Savage, Snitch, Bang, Jawbreaker.

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Lip Glosses in cream shades:

Fuel is a neutral pink beige
1993 is a medium tan sheer brown
Obsessed is a pale pink (slightly streaky)
Beso is a deep plum
Rapture is a medium pink
Backtalk is a perfect mauve
Savage is a bright hot cool pink
Snitch is a peachy coral
Bang is a bright coral red
Jawbreaker is a streaky purple violet

The shimmers are also smooth in texture. Some have some intense sparkle but none are gritty. Below left to right: Midnight Cowgirl, SPL, Fireball, Naked, Big Bang, Dirty Talk, Shadow Heart, Goldmine, Candy Flip, Snapped:

Swatched below left to right:

Midnight Cowgirl is a sheer beige with gold flecks
SPL is a clear base with light purple-pink sparkles
Fireball is a clear base with duo chrome pink and orange sparkles
Naked is a super sheer mauve shimmer
Big Bang is a hot pink sparkle
Dirty Talk is a copper sparkle
Shadow Heart is a deep brown wine
Goldmine is an unflattering yellow gold sparkle
Candy Flip is a clear base with violet sparkles
Snapped is a streaky purple base with blue sparkles

My favorites in general are the creams. Top five shade picks include Backtalk, Fuel, Snitch, Rapture and Fireball. I’ve been really impressed with the formula. They’re smooth but don’t slide around. The texture is indeed cushiony and comfortable to wear right now. It’s something I think I’ll appreciate even more once the humidity returns.

Overall thumbs up. There are a lot of fun colors to wear and a big enough range of neutrals that are different from each other. I like that a lot of these are natural looking without looking the same. Urban Decay did a great job at launching a diverse range. They do have a minty scent to them but it’s soft and not overpowering.

You can find the Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Lip Glosses out now in stores and online. Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Ulta Beauty and Urban Decay. If you’re a Sephora Beauty Insider mark your calendar as their savings event starts this week for Rouge. More details and recommendations coming soon!

Urban Decay glosses provided courtesy of Urban Decay for review.

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Skincare

Spring Skincare Face Cleanser Favorites

April 6, 2018

I’m back with a spring skincare post. I did an extensive overview back in November of my favorite face cleansers, cleansing waters and toners. Out of all the beauty products I use I think I go through face wash the most. I feel like having clean skin and finding a product that effectively removes dirt, makeup, residue and pollution makes all the difference in having good skin. I get asked a lot for recommendations on products that will smooth pores but I think the first step to reducing pore size is to look at your skincare. A good place to start is with cleansers.

Quick note that I do use more face wash than the average person. I often wash my face multiple times per day. I start each morning with a cleanse whether it’s at the sink or in the tub or shower. Anytime I work out I follow again with a face wash. When I’m swatching a lot of foundations or product on my face I wash it again. If I’m in a pool or at the beach, once I’m back at home, I wash again. For times I’m out and about and don’t have access to my home sink I bring wipes with me (more on these soon as I’m still testing a bunch). And I end the days washing my face as well. Finding a good cleanser that is effective but gentle is essential so my skin doesn’t become irritated or dried out.

My absolute favorite brand for face cleanser is Kate Somerville. Her line of cleansers have been the most reliable for me no matter what condition my skin is or what the weather/season is like. Her skincare line in general has been life changing for me. If you are ever in Los Angeles and can make a trip to the Kate Somerville Clinic on Melrose I highly recommend you book a visit. There’s a new cleanser out called the Cold Cream which is really amazing. I also wanted to highlight all the ones I’ve tried as I know I’ve done roundups here and there but some of you wanted a comprehensive post. I feel like the price point of her cleansers is very reasonable.

From top to bottom:

ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash is a very gentle exfoliating wash that has glycolic and lactic acids and natural fruit enzyme. There are is a slight hint of texture but it’s not anything like a scrub. Unlike her ExfoliKate Scrub, the Cleanser doesn’t have any tingle. If your skin feels congested this is a great option. I can use it daily without it irritating or drying my skin.
Gentle Daily Wash is a gel based wash for sensitive skin. My brother uses this often and it’s gentle enough for his ultra sensitive skin. This was my go-to when I was in San Diego. In Florida I need something stronger but I still find this great for days I’m sensitive or just want something really soft.
Detox Daily Cleanser is best for normal or oily skin. I am obsessed with this for Florida weather. It doesn’t dry out my skin and leaves the skin feeling smooth. I would say that in normal weather conditions I liked to use this post work out.
EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser for Acne Treatment is Andrew’s favorite. This is for acne-prone skin and has 3% Sulfur which targets acne and clogged pores. This helps him with excess oil and rebalances his skin. It’s helped to minimize his pores when he uses this and exfoliates on a regular basis. I also use this frequently. It helps during times I feel like my skin is congested.
Cold Cream Moisturizing Cleanser is the latest from Kate Somerville. It’s for all skin types but does have the nicest moisturizing feel once wiped off. It’s a creamy cold cleanser with white Kiawe honey, jasmine, rose and daisy extracts. You apply on a dry face and wipe off with a warm wash cloth. It’s a cleanser + makeup remover in one. For me it removes all my face makeup and for eye makeup it does a pretty good job at removing it. I still prefer using a makeup remover on a cotton pad for eyes first as it’s less messy. Skin is left noticeably smooth after use. I actually like using this in the morning because it feels refreshing and smooth.

Next are a couple Fresh favorites. Everyone raves about the Soy Face Cleanser and I might be the only person who did not like it. I decided to try the Peony Brightening Foam Face Cleanser instead and love it. It’s a very lightweight almost airy like cleanser that foams up nicely. I haven’t noticed any brightening effects but skin does feel really fresh and clean after use. I also have really been loving the Fresh Sugar Face Polish. The one I have below is an empty mini but I have it on my wishlist to restock during the upcoming Sephora Beauty Insider event although there is a tempting Fresh GWP going on at Nordstrom right now.

Last some Japanese beauty cleansers from Shu Uemura and Tatcha that I’ve had in rotation from Tatcha. I did a roundup of the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oils last year in this post. I repurchased the PoreFinist and Blanc Chroma after using those up. They have a soft fresh floral scent but it’s non-irritating. They both have a very smooth feel to them and do an excellent job at cleansing the skin. Tatcha is another favorite for sensitive dry skin but they have expanded their line to include items for normal/combo. The Deep Cleanse is a great everyday cleanser for normal skin. You only need a tiny amount and a little goes a long way to cover the face. Their Camellia Cleansing Oil is a classic you really can’t go wrong with. For a double cleanse I’ll often use the Rice Enzyme Powder to gently exfoliate and cleanse the face.

My favorites change on a regular basis. I keep multiples on stock as I like to rotate weekly. I also keep different ones in the bath vs. shower vs. bathroom counter around the house. My current favorite go-to’s are the Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash, EradiKate Wash, Cold Cream and all three items from Tatcha. If you’re in the market for a spring cleanser I hope these give you some ideas!

You can find the cleansers available at a wide range of retailers. Ones I shop at frequently listed below:

Tatcha can be found at Sephora and Tatcha.
Kate Somerville available at Sephora, Nordstrom and Kate Somerville.
Shu Uemura online at Shu Uemura USA.
Fresh at Sephora, Nordstrom and Fresh.

What’s your favorite cleanser right now?

Press samples include the Kate Somerville Cold Cream, EradiKate Cleanser, Tatcha The Deep Cleanse, Tatcha Rice Powder.

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Home / Interiors

Be Right Back

April 5, 2018

Sorry I’ve been MIA. I had an entire week of content planned and ended up spending this whole week sick in bed. This has been the worst I’ve been in years. Meant to update everyone earlier as I know I had promised lots of new posts. But lots of sleep, liquids and extra care was required. I’m finally starting to get better and my strength is coming back. Last night I finally started to feel like a real human again. Andrew and the fur kids were by my side each day watching over me.

New skincare post tomorrow! Lots more coming in skincare, foundations, primers and lips. Will respond to e-mails and DMs as soon as I can.

xoxo

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Eye Makeup Marc Jacobs Beauty Natasha Denona Urban Decay

Warm Eyeshadow Palettes from Marc Jacobs, Urban Decay and Natasha Denona

March 30, 2018

Happy Friday! Quick roundup today of three warm-toned eyeshadow palettes that some of you have been curious about. I’m more of a neutral lover when it comes to shadows although I do love warm bronze and golds and soft peachy shades too. The warm eyeshadow trend has been super popular for a few years now and I’ve learned to embrace it. There was a day I though I’d never wear an orange or warm brown shadow but I’ve found with some layering they can make some really nice eye looks.

Today I have a review and swatches of three palettes including the Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Palette in Scandalust, Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat and Natasha Denona Mini Sunset Palette. Also shown in top photo is a miniature Louis Vuitton perfume, Wayne Goss Brushes #7 and #4 from his Anniversary Set Volume 2, Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush in 410 Corail Naturel.

A quick look at them all in direct sunlight where you can see the shimmer a bit better:

Up first is the Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Palette in Scandalust. I’ve had this one for a while since the new palettes launched. My go-to is still the neutral option Glambition (review and swatched here) for a perfect everyday kind of look. Scandalust is a lot warmer but still very wearable for me. I like to mix the shades from both palettes sometimes. Scandalust has ultra smooth rich pigment that feels like velvet. Pigment is really good and easy to layer.

Shades include from left to right:

Hot Pants is a soft shimmery cream
At the Office is a medium mauve-nude matte
Cause a Fuss is my kind of shimmering peach with champagne shimmer
That’s Why is a matte brown
They Call Her is a shimmering copper orange
Little Miss is a matte plum brown
Scandalous is a wine pink red matte

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Next is the Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat. I’ve always thought that the Urban Decay matte shadows in their Naked Basics and Naked2 Basics Palettes have been among the best. The Naked Petite Heat also has excellent texture and pigment although some of the shades aren’t quite as pigmented as the other two. The color payoff is still really really good with smooth application. Alone it’s a bit too warm for me but I like to mix in a little from Naked Basics to neutral things out a little. The soft mattes are perfect layering and blending shades for days where you feel your eye color might be too neutral or cool. The warmth adds depth and life to the look.

Shades include:

Inhale pale ivory shimmer
Vibrate light-medium beige
Hot Spell soft warm brown
Wild Thing matte orange
Heist matte warm brown
Strike deep cocoa matte

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Finally the Natasha Denona Mini Sunset Palette which is probably he cutest eyeshadow palette I have ever seen! It’s miniature size with tiny pans. This one has excellent color payoff on all the shades. It has a mix of mattes and shimmers with no glitters (yay!). It is very warm and alone too warm for me to wear. I do like it for layering with other palettes though. To some I know this may be too complicated but I find for the most part I’m layering shadows anyways so I don’t mind pulling from a couple palettes.

Colors from left to right:

175CM Guava is a matte soft brown
176M Apollo is a metallic deep red
177 CM Dirty Mars is a matte warm brown
178M Sun Beam is a metallic warm gold
179M Halo is a sparkling ivory champagne shimmer

Overall thoughts are that the quality, pigment, color payoff, blendability and lasting power on these palettes are all excellent. That being said, Scandalust is the only one I can wear on it’s own. The other two I need to layer with others but for me the Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat is just what I need to warm up an eye look.

In terms of comparisons to other warm-ish palettes, I find the NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette to be more wearable for me although it’s a different kind of warm. It’s got a warm rose vs a warm orange theme. The NARS NARsissist Loaded Eyeshadow Palette is the perfect warm neutral palette for me as it has a wide range and includes enough neutrals for me to layer with warm colors. I also find the Pat McGrath Eyeshadow Palette in Bronze Ambition to be more in the warm-neutral category which I really adore.

For those who want to know which eye brushes I like the best, a comprehensive roundup of my favorites in my Favorite Eye Makeup Brushes and Tools post.

You can find the three palettes out now at all counters and online.

Marc Jacobs available at Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Marc Jacobs Beauty.
Urban Decay available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Urban Decay.
Natasha Denona available at Sephora.

The three palettes featured were press samples sent for review consideration. As always all opinions my own.

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Base Makeup

Tarte Shape Tape Foundation and Concealer Review

March 28, 2018

By popular request I have a review of some items from the Tarte Shape Tape family. I’ve used the Shape Tape Contour Concealer for a few years now in Light-Medium and Medium. So many of you have asked for a review of the foundations so I stopped by my local Ulta and bought both the Shape Tape Hydrating and Shape Tape Matte foundations. I also picked up the Quickie Blending Sponge to test out and today I’ll add some thoughts on a few primers from the brand as well.

My shades in the foundation are Medium Sand. My concealer shades are Light Medium and Medium.

Up first is a look at the Tarte Shape Tape Hydrating and Matte Foundations. I found my best match was Medium Sand. These come with a large sponge tip applicator like the concealer. The colors in each formula are the same name but the shades are slightly different.

The Matte version runs a lot lighter but it worked out for me as it oxidizes and warms up on the skin after application. I would have preferred a formula that is in the middle of hydrating and matte, but out of the two I prefer the Hydrating Foundation one by far. It’s medium in coverage with a smooth glowy finish. It has some plumping ingredients which I found did seem to make the face look smoother than normal and minimized fine lines. I found it worked well over a variety of primers. Since I have normal combo skin it can get a little dewy looking after a few hours so a couple touch ups were definitely needed, but otherwise it lasts all day on me without fading or budging.

The Shape Tape Matte Foundation did not work for me. I found the coverage and finish was always patchy. It emphasized texture, it looked extremely flat and it did not work well with my moisturizer or base routine. I did try with some oil-free primers since the formula is oil-free as well and was able to get it to work well with the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer and it did ok with the Tatcha Silk Canvas. It didn’t work with the Tarte primer for me. It was like applying matte on top of matte and looked like sand paper. For me it worked best with the Laura Mercier Oil-Free primer but I still wasn’t a fan of the finish and felt it looked cakey and creased around my smile lines and forehead. This being said I am going to hold onto it and retest in the summer.

Bare skin vs both formulas on the face without any powder/concealer added. Lipstick worn is Pat McGrath Labs LuxeTrance Sextrology. Application is with a sponge. You can definitely layer for more coverage. Below I have one layer blended all over the face. If you use a tinted powder it helps even everything out more.

Swatch comparisons:

Left to right:

Tarte Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation in Medium Sand
Tarte Shape Tape Matte Foundation in Medium Sand
NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland and St. Moritz (I’m often in between)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude in 3W1 Tawny (more swatches here)
YSL Touche Eclat All in One Glow in B40 (review here)
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Vanuatu (more swatches here)

Next is a look at the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. This one is among the most popular concealers in the beauty world. I have found I really like it but there are formulas I like better. This one is full coverage and very opaque. I have to make sure my face is well primed and slightly dewy (ie not completely matte) otherwise the opaque texture cakes on me. Sometimes a quick spritz of MAC Fix+ after foundation is enough to add some more hydration to my skin under the eyes for this. I’ve gone through a tube of Medium. Sometimes I am between Light Medium and Medium. On spots it works really well to cover. I always set with a powder. I use this regularly but still find myself reaching for NARS or Cle de Peau more.

Swatch comparisons:

Shown above left to right:

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Macadamia and Ginger
Urban Decay All Nighter Concealer in Light-Medium Neutral and Medium Neutral
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in Light Medium and Medium
Cle de Peau Concealer in Ochre
By Terry Stylo Expert Click Stick Concealer in #8

Finally a quick look at some primers and a sponge from Tarte. Some are exclusive to Sephora, others are available only at Ulta so you may have to shop around. I’ve had a few minis of the Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer and think it’s just ok. It does a nice job at giving the skin a soft illuminating glow but I’ve tried better glow bases from Charlotte Tilbury, Sisley and Erborian to name a few. The Timeless Smoothing Primer is one of my favorites to make makeup last long and gives it smoother better application. The only downside is it is on the thick side and has that silicone feel. Still it does a great job at smoothing the skin for even looking makeup. The Double Duty Beauty Quickie Blending Sponge fell short of my expectations to be on par with the beautyblenders. The Tarte tool is a decent sponge but doesn’t have as much bounce as the beautyblender which makes it better to blend foundations or creams.

Two primers I like with the Tarte Foundations include the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer and Tatcha Silk Canvas. I’m typically not a primer person but living in south Florida I’ve experienced some very humid days. I’ve been experimenting more with primers to help extend the wear of makeup.

Overall thoughts: some hits and misses. I really like the look, feel and finish of the Tarte Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation. If you have dry skin I think it’s definitely worth looking into. The Matte version is a miss for me right now, but once the real heat is back I’m going to give it another try. The Tarte Shape Tape concealer is definitely worth looking into. Right now at Ulta they have a promo if you purchase a Tarte Double Duty Shape Tape Foundation you can get the Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer for $15 (offer valid 3/18/18-4/7/18). For the sponge I don’t think it’s worth the price savings to buy over the beautyblender. I was really hoping it would be a dupe but it’s not.

You can find the Tarte Shape Tape foundation and concealer available exclusively at Ulta and Tarte. Have you tried these yet? What did you think of the formulas?

84 Comments

NARS

NARS Narsissist Wanted Cheek Palettes and Power Pack Duos

March 27, 2018

More NARS newness out right now with two palettes for the cheeks and three duos for the lips! NARS launched a NARSisisst Wanted Cheek Palette Volume I and Volume II ($59 each for 0.13 oz/3.9 g x 6) and NARSisisst Wanted Power Pack Lip Kits ($22 each for 2.8 ml each) in Cool Nudes, Warm Nudes and Hot Reds. These are currently exclusive to Ulta Beauty and NARS online. I’m a huge fan of the NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette (I use it weekly) so I was really curious to check out the collection for lips and cheeks.

The two NARSisisst Wanted Cheek Palettes are similar to last year’s Unfiltered Cheek Palettes. The colors aren’t identical and there were a lot more shimmers in last year’s versions. However the color scheme and finish are similar. If you already own those and still have a lot of product left you may want to skip the new ones. The palettes both have a mix of mattes and shimmers. They are powdery and have sheer to medium pigment. I find Volume 1 (pinks) easier for me to wear. Volume 2 (red and coral) is very dark on my skin and the deep shades are ultra pigmented and darken on my skin.

NARSisisst Wanted Cheek Palette Volume I has lighter pink shades, soft pinks and a matte watermelon pink color. There are some shimmers but the overall effect is more satiny matte. Colors include:

Unlimited sheer light pink shimmer
Buzzed soft matte peach
Notorious cool matte pink
Kingpin is a soft light rose matte
Bumpy Ride is a medium warm bubble gum pink shimmer
Crave is a watermelon matte pink

Makeup worn above:

Tarte Shape Tape Matte Foundation in Medium Sand
MAC Next to Nothing Pressed Powder in Medium Plus
NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette
Velour Effortless Lashes in Short and Sweet
Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in Soft Brunette
NARS Power Matte Lip Pigment in American Woman
Cheeks on the left are the top 3 palette shades layered in Unlimited, Buzzed and Notorious
Cheeks on the right are Kingpin, Bumpy Ride and Crave layered

NARSissist Cheek Palette Wanted Volume II has deeper shades with a bronze, orange, red and bold tones:

PYT is the perfect shimmering soft bronze
Ambition is a bright orange
Taos is a bronzed amber red
Exposed is a soft rose matte
Penthouse is a deep cranberry matte
Queen is a matte red

Wearing same makeup as the photo above. Cheeks on the left are PYT, Ambition and Taos. Cheeks on the right are PYT, Ambition and Queen layered.

There are three NARSissist Wanted Power Pack Lip Kits which are mini Power Matte Lip Pigments. I’m already a fan of American Woman (a few more neutrals reviewed here in my Neutral Lip Testing post). I think these are great to try a couple shades to see if you like the formula. Liquid lips can be tricky and although these are very matte, if I wear a balm underneath they don’t look as matte. They last a really long time on the lips and the color selection is really good. I have two of the kits in Cool Nudes which has Le Freak (pale pink nude) and American Woman (perfect rose) and the Hot Reds with Don’t Stop (bright red) and Cherry Bomb (blue based red). On my lips both of the red colors pretty much look identical on my complexion.

Overall thoughts: Everything performs well and I think the products are priced just right to give you a good value of product for price. As one who doesn’t really like mattes I still find the palettes to have a good mix of shimmer and matte to make them versatile. Compared to last year’s palettes there are quite a few similarities so I don’t find them must-haves. If you’re looking to expand your blush collection though these are nice options to do at a more affordable price compared to buying individual shades. The powders layer nicely together and you can create a wide range of looks to suit your mood. I’ve always been more into the glow so for spring I’m favoring the Natasha Denona Diamond and Blush Palettes and Tom Ford Soleil Summer collection more.

For the lips I think the Powermatte Lip Pigments are really good for liquid lips and long-time readers know I am not a fan of liquid lips in general. I still need a balm to make them less matte, but I like that they will stay put all day and that they have full coverage without making the lips shrink. They are among the few that I actually like and will wear. American Woman is a classic universal shade I think everyone should try. That being said if you prefer a less matte lip try the Velvet Lip Glides. I adore the shade Bound and new colors just launched online at NARS which I’m dying to check out.

You can find the NARS NARSissist Wanted Cheek Palettes and Wanted Power Lip Kits at Ulta Beauty and NARS. P.S. Ulta is having their 21 Days of Beauty Event where each day they have something different available at a discounted price. It runs through April 7th.

Have you checked these out? What’s your current favorite cheek palette? Or do you prefer individual products?

NARSissist Wanted collection products provided courtesy of NARS for review.

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Highlighters NARS

NARS Change of Sheen Highlighting Powders

March 23, 2018

NARS has launched yet more highlighters with new shades of their Highlighting Powder ($38 each for 14 g/ 0.49 oz, made in Italy) in the Change of Sheen Highlighting Powder Collection. There are six shades total described as having a “second-skin luster” and I’d say that is pretty much on point of what the finish is like. They’re powders with a soft glowing texture that doesn’t emphasize pores or fine lines. Colors come in a pretty range of classic options from pale opal to bronze. If you’re in the market for a soft highlighter that will last on the face all day and looks natural these are great options. However if you already own a ton of other highlighters you will probably find color-dupes in your stash.

Packaging is similar to that of the NARS Sunwashed Bronzers, it’s bigger than the regular eyeshadow/blush compacts. Colors as shown below:

Albatross is a pale opal yellow gold shimmer
Capri is a soft pale pink glow
Fort de France is a light champagne shimmer
Ibiza is a soft yellow gold
Maldives is a medium soft rose shimmer
St. Barths is a warm soft bronze

On my skintone Capri and Fort de France look very very close. The difference is slight with Capri being more pink and Fort de France being more beige. I’m right at that skintone though where they look pretty much identical. If you are fairer or deeper the contrast will show up more.

Albatross

Close ups and swatches of each one on the face, starting with Albatross. This pulls very yellow on my skin. It seems similar to the original version in color/shimmer. Makeup worn below is the same in all photos except for the lips + cheeks:

NARS Natural Radiant Foundation in Punjab + Barcelona mixed (swatches of all shades here)
MAC Next to Nothing Pressed Powder in Medium Plus (review here)
Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil and Brow Gel in Soft Brunette (swatches here)
Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Duo in Paradiso (review here)
Pat McGrath Permaglide Liquid Eyeliner in Black (review here)
NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Bound for the pink rose lips (review here)
Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in 716 with NARS Lip Cover in Embrasse Moi layered on top for the nude beige lips (swatches here and here)
Tee by Joie

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Capri

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Fort de France

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Ibiza

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Maldives

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St Barths

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Comparison swatches to the Easy Glowing Palette in Reve Sale (Nordstrom exclusive) and Highlighter Trio in Banc de Sable (discontinued). The trio palettes have a different formula with more glow and shimmer to them. If you’re looking for a softer effect the individual Highlighting Powders are better. If you don’t mind a more intense glow opt for one of the palettes.

Comparison swatches to the MAC Hyper Real Glow Palettes. The MAC palettes are significantly more glowy with the ability to build more for an intense almost wet look.

NARS Change of Sheen Highlighting Powders

One last look, from top left clockwise is Albatross, Fort de France, Ibiza, St. Barths, Maldives and Capri:

Bottom line: easy to wear, glowing, doesn’t emphasize pores, long lasting, soft but easy to build and natural. While these are distinctly powder formulas I do feel like NARS hit it right on point when they said these are like second-skin. They are very smooth with a semi-firm texture. It’s very easy to blend and build. On my skin they stayed on all day from morning until late afternoon without budging or getting too dewy looking. Initially I thought St. Barths was for sure going to be orange on me, but it’s not! If you are an OG NARS fan though you might remember they had a St. Barths Multiple stick that was the best shimmering beige taupe with silver shimmer. I do wish they would launch the original St. Barths in powder form – I’ve never found any color quite like it.

Thumbs up on quality, color selection, finish and long-lasting power. That being said you may want to shop your stash if you already own a lot of highlighters. I do find Maldives to be unique for a rose-shimmer. I think it’s hard to find a good medium pink rose highlighter that isn’t too dark or too pale. My favorite of the bunch is Fort de France, I suspect it’s the most dupeable but it has the prettiest beige undertone that gives the skin a natural glow.

You can find the NARS Highlighting Powders right now at NARS Boutiques and online at NARScosmetics.com. Also available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora and Ulta Beauty.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

NARS highlighting powders provided courtesy of NARS for review.

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Older Posts

Newer Posts

Sabrina

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Glosses

Spring Skincare Face Cleanser Favorites

Be Right Back

Warm Eyeshadow Palettes from Marc Jacobs, Urban Decay and Natasha Denona

Tarte Shape Tape Foundation and Concealer Review

NARS Narsissist Wanted Cheek Palettes and Power Pack Duos

NARS Change of Sheen Highlighting Powders

Albatross

Capri

Fort de France

Ibiza

Maldives

St Barths

NARS Change of Sheen Highlighting Powders

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