Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

NARS

NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers Collection Review

May 18, 2018

NARS x Erdem released a beautiful collection of limited-edition pieces called NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers. I was lucky to receive the entire collection for review in a beautiful press box but when the package arrived all the powders were shattered! I ordered replacements and it’s taken me a while to get everything reviewed and swatched so I apologize for the delay. You can still find all the pieces although some things have sold out at a few retailers. All the colors are truly unique and I feel like everything is like a piece of art from the packaging and design. The vibe has more of a fall feel to me rather than spring or summer but the shades are still very wearable pieces that you can pull off right now. In the collection:

Powder Blush in Loves Me and Loves Me Not ($30 each)
Highlighting Multi-Use Pencil in Wild Phox ($29)
Lip Powder Palette in Poison Rose ($49 for 5 shades)
Eyeshadow Palettes in Fleur Fatale and Night Garden ($49 each)
Lipsticks in Moon Orchid, Voodoo Lily, Wild Flower, Bloodflower, Carnal Carnation, Larkspur ($28 each)
Mattifying Blotting Paper ($19)

Up first are the products for the face. The two NARS x Erdem blushes which I think are both just so beautiful! Loves Me Not is a pale lavender pink with finely milled shimmer. On my tan skin it’s almost like a sheer highlighter. It layers nicely with other colors or works to diffuse harsh lines. Loves Me is a warm strawberry pink shimmer. It’s fairly pigmented so I recommend using a fluffy brush to apply and layer. As a quick FYI these seem to be the items selling out the fastest so if you want to prioritize purchases, you might want to start there.

There is also a Multi-Use Highlighting Pencil called White Phox which is a pale white that flashes lavender/opal. It has a nice sheen when blended with a velvety matte finish. I like this on the eyes! (Swatches below, actual product photo of the pencil one section down.)

The Lip Powder Palette in Poison Rose was so interesting to me. I’ve never tried a lip powder and at first I thought they were mini blushes. The palette as a gorgeous peachy pink nude Lip Priming Balm (I wish this was available in full size). I was really skeptical about how these would work but it’s really a beautiful palette with stunning colors. I layered the powders on top of the balm and the result is a soft velvety matte lip look. Almost like a natural lipstick stain with a velvety finish. The other colors include Zira (metallic peach), Calypso (perfect mauve), Damask (magenta) and Ottoman (red).

The two NARS x Erdem Strange Flowers Eyeshadow Palettes have excellent pigment, texture and lasting power. They’re soft and easy to blend. I gravitated towards the softer version Fleur Fatale which has a shimmering ivory, shimmering grey taupe, soft dove grey blue shimmer, soft matte grey-brown, shimmering mauve tan, shimmery wine plum. The other option Night Garden has a shimmering oyster, deep forest green shimmer, bright yellow shimmer, deep matte brown, shimmery navy and dark charcoal. In a beauty world where we seem to be bombarded with warm orange shadows it’s nice and refreshing for us cool-toned neutral lovers to have something else to wear that’s new! (I still love the NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette for a warmish kind of palette.)

Last but not least are the NARS x Erdem Lipsticks which surprised me. At first glance they did not seem like wearable colors for my complexion. Some of them are sheer in finish which makes them look different in the tube than what you see on the face. I love all of the colors except for one. Shades include:

Moon Orchid which is a sheer soft pink
Carnal Carnation which has a sheer bright pink finish
Voodoo Lily is almost clear but gives me a nude lip but better mauve
Larkspur is a sheer magenta mauve, pulls pinkish on me
Wild Flower is the only color I did not like, it’s a sheer deep purple that applied patchy
Bloodflower is a pigmented blood red

Texture is soft and easy to apply. I’ve found that some NARS lipsticks in the regular formula irritated my lips in the past, I am not sure if they changed the ingredients but I had no issue with these. I’ve been able to wear the Audacious lipstick formula without any issue, but at some point in the past the regular lipstick formula changed and I started getting swollen irritated lips. With these no allergic reaction, yay! I was also able to wear last year’s NARS Orgasm lipstick with issue as well. As with most sheers lasting power is going to be average/medium. I found these comfortable and non-drying.

A quick note on the Blotting Papers, I found them nice and handy to have in my bag. They do work well to blot shine and oil without leaving any powdery white film like some do. At the end of the day I’m still a loyal fan of the ones from Tatcha but the NARS packaging is really pretty.

Bottom line beautiful! The winners to me are the Fleur Fatale Palette, Moon Orchid Lipstick, Poison Flower Lip Powder Palette and both Loves Me and Loves Me Not Blushes. To me these are gorgeous edgy colors that are on trend but not so trendy that I can’t wear them for everyday.

The entire collection is limited-edition. Available online and in stores at NARS Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue.

P.S. Not related to this review, but I’m starting up my weekly giveaways again! Details on this page here.

NARS x Erdem collection provided courtesy of NARS for review. All the palettes repurchased by me.

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Becca Lips

Becca Glow Lip Gloss Review + Swatches

May 16, 2018

My lip gloss loving self is overjoyed these days because gloss seems to be back! Becca launched a new Glow Lip Gloss ($22 for 0.18 oz/5 g) in ten colors. They’re a conditioning lip gloss that has the coverage of a natural medium-pigmented lipstick with a soft shine but cream finish. If you like a gloss that doesn’t have a super high shine but more of a natural shine these are the glosses for you.

The Becca Glow Lip Glosses have a soft mint scent and apply very smoothly on the lips. There’s enough density so they won’t slide off the lips like other glosses but they aren’t super thick and they feel comfortable on. Becca says they have 3D light reflecting pigments and ginger + peppermint oil. The colors were inspired by their best selling Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighters and Luminous Blush shades so you can match your lip and cheek color.

Every single color is perfect. Pigment is natural but rich enough to cover the whole lip. There are lighter nudes in the collection that are wearable and do not wash my complexion out (yay!). All the shades are nice for everyday and there are a few bolder shades that can give a more dramatic look for something more fun. The packaging and design is the same as the Liquid Crystal Glow Glosses from last year, but the Glow Lip Gloss colors are a lot more wearable.

The product comes with an angled sponge tip applicator with a point for precise application. Colors descriptions and swatches below:

Rose Quartz is a soft cool light pink shimmer
Camellia is a cool-toned bright pink
Snapdragon is a medium coral pink
Opal is a nude opal pink shimmer
Foxglove is a perfect berry mauve
Champagne Creme is a shimmering gold
Tigerlily is a coral peach shimmer
Rose Gold is a neutral tan beige
Chocolate Geode is a chocolate sparkle
Dahlia is a plum (plums always look more red on my lips)

Close ups of each shade, let me know if you want me to keep doing these larger lip swatches or if you prefer the side by side better. Rose Quartz:

Camellia:

Snapdragon:

Opal:

Foxglove:

Champagne Creme:

Tigerlily:

Rose Gold:

Chocolate Geode:

Dahlia:

Swatches of the gloss next to the corresponding Shimmering Skin Perfector (also reviewed here) or Luminous Blush (review here).

I cannot pick a favorite, every single color is perfect. I do find myself drawn to Opal, Foxglove, Snapdragon and Tigerlily though. A full look wearing the Becca Glow Lip Gloss + Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed in Opal:

Foundation: La Prairie Skin Caviar Foundation + Concealer in Satin Nude (review here)
Powder: Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation in #4
Cheeks: Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Bronzed Bondi (swatches of all the colors here)
Highlighter: Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal (review + swatch comparisons here)
Eyeshadow: Pat McGrath MTHRSHP Eyeshadow Palette in Platinum Bronze (review here)
Brow: Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in Soft Brunette
Lips: Becca Glow Lip Gloss in Opal
Top: Tie Front Tank by 1.STATE

Bottom line lots to love. The color is perfect, pigment is smooth and flawless, texture is comfortable. Lasting power is average for a gloss but with these I don’t mind reapplying. Moisturizing properties are medium – on the lips they feel good and the formula did not dry out my lips or make them peel the next day, but they aren’t as hydrating as a lip balm. I think these are perfect year round but the colors have that fresh spring to summer vibe that adds life to the face without overdoing the color.

You can find the Becca Glow Lip Gloss out now, available at Becca Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Sephora and Ulta Beauty.

Becca glosses provided courtesy of Becca Cosmetics for review.

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Chanel Skincare

Chanel Cleansing Collection Review

May 15, 2018

Chanel just launched a collection of six new cleansers, toners and make up removers in The Chanel Cleansing Collection. Each item is designed to be suitable for all skin types in multiple formula options. I was lucky to get an early sneak peek and have been testing these over the last month. As a cleanser fanatic I was really excited to try these and think there are some really lovely options in this launch.

L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
La Mousse Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream-to-Foam ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
Le Tonique Anti-Pollution Invigorating Toner ($45 for 160 ml/5.4 fl oz)
Le Lait Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
Le Lait Fraicher D’Eau Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Water ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)
Le Lait Doucer D’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Oil ($45 for 150 ml/5 fl oz)

The new skincare is designed to be used with a few different combinations for fresh clean skin. They’re quite versatile so you can mix and match however you want or simply just incorporate one into your routine if you have other skincare you use. After a few weeks of testing I have my favorites. With all the cleansers I found they were thorough without being stripping. They leave the skin feeling very refreshed and clean and soft. The one thing that impressed me the most was the packaging. I’m a huge sucker for good packaging even if it’s simple, the cleansers come with a really well designed pump and the size of the bottles are very generous. I also like that they are sized to fit easily in my small hand.

L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil

Up first is my favorite item in the launch which is the L’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Oil. It’s a silky-smooth cleansing oil which has a soft feel. I’m a huge fan of testing cleansing oils and love the ones that feel ultra silky smooth like the SK-II Facial Treatment Oil or Tom Ford Cleansing Oil. The Chanel has a very light scent to it that did not irritate my skin. If I compare it to other Chanel skincare it has a refreshing smell similar to the Hydramax line but isn’t as potent. It leaves the skin makeup-free and smooth. If you love the Le Blanc Brightening Tri-Phase Makeup Remover which is a cleanser that transforms from a gel to oil to lotion and rinses off to remove makeup you will also love the new L’Huile. The cleansing oil is more fluid while the Le Blanc is thicker so it doesn’t run into the eyes. The Le Blanc line also has brightening ingredients while the L’Huile is your standard cleansing oil.

Chanel La Mousse Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream-to-Foam

Next is the Chanel La Mousse Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream-to-Foam. I’ve tried several of Chanel’s foaming cleansers from past formulations and liked them but did not love them as I typically find mousse cleansers too stripping for the skin. This one is perfect though and especially with the humid weather returning this leaves my skin extra clean. All the cleansers in this collection have what Chanel calls “depolluting blue micro-algae and fortifying marine salicornia extract.” After regular use I do feel like my skin is cleaner and less congested. This is a purifying cleanser that feels like it cleans out all the junk in my pores. If you have normal to oily skin that is acne-prone I think this will be a great option for you. I didn’t use this one morning and night as my skin is fairly decent these days. In general I use different cleansers for morning vs night or after a workout. This one for me is great after a sweating workout or at the end of the day to really cleanse the skin.

Le Tonique Anti-Pollution Invigorating Toner

I haven’t explored much in the Chanel toner world. I did use the Le Blanc Brightening Lotion for a while in place of toner and loved it. I used up several bottles but eventually explored other options as it was more of a moisturizing toner rather than a balancing one. The new Le Tonique Anti-Pollution Invigorating Toner is an alcohol free toner and makes sure your skin is fully clean after you wash with a regular cleanser. I feel like I’m very thorough with my cleansing routine but there are times I don’t get all the dirt or makeup off. This is evident by using a toner afterwards on a soaked cotton pad (Chanel’s Le Coton is among my favorite) and wiping my face. There are times I see remnants of makeup on the pad. In the morning this almost wakes up the skin because of the refreshing feel and at night it will ensure all traces of makeup are gone after you cleanse.

Cleansing Milks

Next are three types of cleansing milks. I have not been much of a cleansing milk fan, I typically prefer for gel, liquid, or foaming cleansers since I have normal combination skin. If you’ve ever had a Chanel makeover you have probably tried one of the milks before. They massage it into dry skin and remove with a damp cotton pad or one soaked with one of their toners. It leaves the skin feeling well hydrated and supple. Over the past year I have experimented more with cleansing milks from other brands as they’re great if you have dry skin. It’s almost like it’s a double-duty product in the sense that it cleanses and moisturizes at the same time. Chanel has 3 different cleansing milks with different textures. The Le Lait Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk is a traditional one in the sense that it is a milky smooth cleanser. To use these in the morning you can apply on dry skin, massage and then remove with a toner-soaked cotton pad. If you use this at night I’d recommend removing your face makeup first with a cleansing water on a cotton pad so it’s less messy. This one feels the most hydrating to me with skin left very moisturized after removal.

Cleansing Milk-to-Water

Le Lait Fraicher D’Eau Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Water has a lighter and less dense texture as you can see in the swatch below. It has the lightest feel out of the 3 cleansing milks. This was my favorite of the three. It leaves the skin feeling very smooth and ultra soft.

Cleansing Milk-to-Oil

Le Lait Doucer D’Huile Anti-Pollution Cleansing Milk-To-Oil has a slightly thicker texture than the Milk-to-Water but isn’t as dense as the Cleansing Milk. This transforms into an oil once you massage it into the skin. They recommend you remove with just a cotton pad but I’d recommend soaking it with a toner or cleansing water to help remove it.

Ingredients from the boxes:

My favorite three items are the new Le Tonique, L’Huile and the Cleansing Cream-to-Foam and have already started incorporating them into my daily skin care routine. If you try one item I’d recommend you try the L’Huile Cleansing Oil as it’s really lovely! I think the three cleansing milk formulas are really interesting and unique based on the different textures. I’m still not sure that I’m a cleansing milk kind of person but they do leave the skin feeling very soft and hydrated. If you haven’t tried the Chanel Coton I recommend you do, it’s pricey but has been my favorite face cotton for as long as I can remember.

The Chanel Cleansing Collection is available now at Chanel.com and all Chanel counters.

Cleanser Collection provided courtesy of Chanel for review.

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Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Haul: Star Gold, Rose Gold, The Duchess, English Beauty and American Sweetheart

May 13, 2018

I did another Charlotte Tilbury haul and ordered a few items that are online exclusives. Many of you have been asking about some of the limited-edition lipstick exclusives and I resisted for months but finally caved. I’m still loving the Beauty Filters Collection for Eyes very much but as a fan of her Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadows I knew I had to buy the new Star Gold and Rose Gold Shades even if it was going to be sight unseen. What I hauled:

Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Star Gold (online exclusive)
Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadow in Rose Gold (online exclusive)
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in The Duchess (online exclusive)
Matte Revolution Lipstick in English Beauty (online exclusive)
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in American Sweetheart (online exclusive)
K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Bitch Perfect (repurchased)

The new Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadows in Star Gold and Rose Gold do not disappoint. Star Gold is the prettiest warm coppery bronze shade. In case you haven’t tried these (they’ve been out for a few years now), the formula is creamy and emollient with pretty shimmers. I find the pigment, texture and lasting power to be really good on my lids. I like to wear them alone, 2 shades layered together or as a base for any powder eyeshadow.

To compare them to other brands they are most similar to the Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes. Chanel Ombre Premieres are not as emollient with a drier texture and they have a more opaque base. Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks are a little bit more emollient, but the Charlotte Tilbury cream shadows have more buildable pigment.

I use her shades Bette and Marie Antoinette on a weekly basis. I was really excited to find she launched more. For comparisons Star Gold is a true coppery gold which I find unique in my collection of cream shadows. Rose Gold is almost identical to Tom Ford’s Pink Haze. The difference is noticeable with Charlotte Tilbury’s being a bit warmer and Tom Ford’s a little more pink, but once blended I think they are really close. Shown below:

Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Color in Copper
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette, Norma Jean (now just called Jean), Marie Antoinette
Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Pink Haze
Tom Ford Cream and Powder Duo for Eyes in Paradiso (cream shade swatched, also shown here)
Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Platinum
Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Copper

There are several online exclusives for lipsticks. I ordered the K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula in The Duchess which is a medium cool-toned mauve rose, Matte Revolution in English Beauty which is a perfect nude pink, and K.I.S.S.I.N.G in American Sweetheart which is a warm peachy neutral rose. I also repurchased K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Bitch Perfect which used to be more pinkish on me and to my surprise my tan has now made it where this is a lighter neutral peachy pink rather than a medium pink. I still had remnants from an older tube to compare and made sure the color is indeed the same, my 2-3 shades deeper skintone compared to when I was in San Diego makes a difference with lighter lipsticks!

I was a little bit prepared to not love the three online exclusives. I did search online but couldn’t find swatches that would tell me what they’d look like on my lips. The reason why is that the colors look almost identical in the tubes, on the arm they swatch warm and dark, but on the lips they look a lot better and aren’t as dark as arm swatches go. I’m relieved to report that my money was well spent. All three are perfect. The Duchess is a gorgeous creamy pink. English Beauty is my perfect nude for my medium tan skintone right now. It’s a bit more neutral compared to Pillow Talk which was my previous favorite. American Sweetheart is nice, but if I had to skip one it would be this, it’s warmer which isn’t a bad thing, just on me more peachy and I already own a ton of peachy lip colors.

For those who have missed my previous reviews on the Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick formula, her K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick is creamy and opaque with full coverage. They have a nice shine finish but aren’t glossy. Lasting power is excellent although they sometimes get on my teeth because they are so creamy. Her Matte Revolution Lipstick is among the few matte lipstick formulas I actually like because in general I hate matte lipsticks (they make my lips look shriveled like raisins!). Her mattes are modern mattes with a velvety finish but soft sheen. It’s hard to describe but they are amazing.

Swatches:

Comparison swatches below to:

Pat McGrath LuxeTrance in Sextrology (swatches here)
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hot Lips in Liv It Up (review here)
Tom Ford Lip Color in Pink Dusk (lip swatch here)
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hot Lips in Kidman’s Kiss (swatch on lips here)
Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipstick in Valletta (swatches here)
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Hot Lips in Super Cindy (review here)

Bottom line this was a very happy haul. I’m 100% happy with everything, the lipstick colors are perfect and quality/pigment is excellent. If you already own Tom Ford Golden Peach Duo or Pink Haze, you can probably skip Charlotte Tilbury’s Rose Gold if you want to avoid dupes.

Right now Star Gold, Rose Gold, The Duchess, English Beauty and American Sweetheart are all exclusive online at Charlotte Tilbury. I’m not sure if they will launch elsewhere eventually, I know the lipsticks have been out for some time and haven’t popped up anywhere else (they are limited-edition). K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Bitch Perfect can be found at all other Charlotte Tilbury retailers like Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and Net-A-Porter.

Have you tried any of these online exclusives? What did you think?

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Lips Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Labs LUST: Gloss Review + Swatches

May 10, 2018

Today Pat McGrath launches a new lip formula in her makeup line called LUST: Lip Gloss ($28 each for .15 fl oz/4.5 ml). These are high shine glosses with a cushiony feel. They are super smooth with a glossy balm feel that doesn’t have any tacky or sticky and feel. The glosses are really comfortable and they have a nourishing feel. With the Lust Gloss my lips look full and plump without the tingle. There are 14 shades total with this launch and I was tickled with excitement to be able to get an early sneak peek at 7 of them. I have swatches and some first impressions of the neutrals as I just received these a few days ago. Based on my first round of testing I can’t wait to see the rest of the colors. Scroll down further for the full Pat McGrath LUST: Lip Gloss review.

These glosses come in a tube with a sponge tip applicator. There is a very soft vanilla scent to them which disappears almost immediately after I apply them on the lips. The final look is shiny with all the colors with three different finishes which include creams, sparkles, and soft shimmers. Every one is smooth and chunky-free regardless of how much sparkle there is. Pigment of these glosses is on the soft side which I’d describe as sheer to medium. I can only speak to the neutrals, but with some I can build color without layering too much. I’d say if you like the Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss or Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquers, you will love these. The Pat McGrath LUST: Gloss is cushiony and shiny like the Marc Jacobs glosses but with more a bit more visible pigment. They also have that pretty shine and color the Chanel ones have but aren’t as thick in texture.

If you are one who needs more color and pigment for lip glosses these are going to bee too sheer for you in which I’d recommend you check out the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipsticks, Marc Jacobs Le Marc Liquid Lip Creme or Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses.

Descriptions

Pat McGrath Labs LUST: Gloss neutrals I have include:

Aliengelic is a duochrome pink and white pearl, clear base with sparkles, sheer
Dare to Bare is a sheer milky pink gold duo chrome shimmer, sheer to medium pigment
Flesh Astral is a tan base with gold shimmer, medium pigment
Pale Fire Nectar is a duo chrome pink peach pearl, it swatches on the arm almost clear but the sparkles show up more on the lips with a reflective quality that adds color, sheer
Aphrodisiac is the perfect warm baby pink cream, coverage is medium
Flesh Fantasy is a warm neutral tan with a hint of pink, coverage is medium
Divine Rose is a perfect lush rose with fine shimmer, pigment is sheer medium

Swatches

Another set in direct sunlight so you can see how the shimmer shifts a little:

Lip Swatches:

Close Ups

Close ups of each shade as some of you have asked for bigger lip swatch photos. Note I have naturally pigmented lips. If you see something that looks like a dark line around the edges, it’s not lip liner, it’s just my natural lip color showing through as the finish of these is slightly transparent. Aliengelic:

Dare to Bare

Flesh Astral

Pale Fire Nectar

Aphrodisiac

Flesh Fantasy

Divine Rose

A beauty look below with Aphrodisiac LUST Gloss, also wearing:

Sunday Riley The Influencer Foundation in 190
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Powder in #2
Kevyn Aucoin Brow Pencil in Brunette
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra
Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Capri Coast
Pat McGrath MTHRSHP Sublime Eyeshadow Palette in Bronze Ambition
On the nails OPI You’ve Got Nata on Me

One more added from yesterday, same base + eyes as above, different items used: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Iridescent Flash + Mood Exposure mixed, Divine Rose LUST Gloss on the lips.

Lasting power is pretty good for a cushiony gloss. They stay put for a few hours and don’t slide around for a long time. They aren’t transfer proof if you eat or drink, but that’s expected. I don’t mind reapplying. The sparkles are very pretty and super wearable. As a gloss lover I’m thrilled. Packaging is sleek and no-fuss with the sponge applicator. The colors are soft and pretty, easy to wear alone or on top of a liner. If you love ultra pigmented gloss or lip products you will find these too sheer but I personally love these. I cannot pick a favorite – all the colors are ones I would wear every single day, but I do have a soft spot for Aphrodisiac, Divine Rose, Pale Fire Nectar. Bottom line love.

These glosses will launch today online at Pat McGrath Labs. They retail for $28 each individually but there are sets available that will give you a nice price break for buying the bundles.

More Pat McGrath love below:

Luxe Trance, Matte Trance and Permagel Eye and Lip Pencil Review
LiquiLUST 007 Skin Show
Lip Fetish Balm, Femmenot, Venus in Furs …
MTHRSHP Eyeshadow Palettes and Liquid Liner Review

LUST: Gloss sent by the Pat McGrath team for review.

32 Comments

Bronzer + Blush

La Mer Summer 2018 Color Collection: The Bronzing Powder + Lip & Cheek Glows

May 9, 2018

This summer La Mer has three new limited-edition color pieces including The Bronzing Powder ($85 for 13 g/0.43 oz) and Lip and Cheek Glows in Coral Glow 01 and Pink Sands 02 ($55 each for 7 g /0.24 oz). This is the first time I’ve tried their summer color items. La Mer has released several limited-edition bronzers in the past but I never splurged. This year I did. The whole look and feel of these colors are sheer and light. If you like that subtle undone glow you will love these. If you crave more pigment and noticeable color you might want to pass.

Up first is The Bronzing Powder. There are several colors swirled into a beautiful wave pattern of champagne shimmer, soft pink shimmer and warm tan matte. Swirled you get a luminous bronze that is very soft with a natural glow. Pigment is medium but natural looking and for this one the tones are close to my skin so it almost blends in with my skin. It is scented with this amazing beachy resort-like scent in a subtle way. I would love it if they bottled a stronger version of it in a body lotion or oil.

If you are light or fair and find most bronzers turn orangey on you, I highly urge you to check this one out. It will be subtle and light enough in color to give your skin a soft sunkissed glow. If you’re my skintone it will look almost like skin, just a subtle warm shimmer. If you’re darker than me this may look more light a soft highlighter. To me this is similar to the Chanel Les Beiges Multi-Colour in Medium that launched this year, the La Mer is just a slightly touch more bronzey.

Swatches of the individual shades vs. swirled:

Swatch comparisons below to:

Becca Sunlit Bronzers in Bali Sands and Capri Coast (reviewed and face swatched here)
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour 2018 Light, Medium and Deep (review here)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer Luminous Bronze Light (review here)

Next there are the two Lip and Cheek Glows for which I have very mixed feelings. As one with normal/combination skin I find these too dewy and too sheer for the cheeks. It will indeed add a glow, but it’s a very glossy glow which I don’t really want on my face. Add hot humid climate and it’s a no-go. That being said it does give the skin a fresh glow just like the name implies. On the lips these are very sheer but I can get the color to show up with a few swipes. I like the way these look on the lips – they make the lips look healthy with a tint of color, but I can’t help but feel these are just super expensive sheer lip balms. They do nourish the lips and although I know you’re not supposed to taste test these, I did lick my lips while testing these and they taste amazing. Like a delicious sweet mint. So I like these for the lips, I don’t think they are worth the price for how sheer they are. With some layering you’ll see color.

Coral Glow 01 is a soft coral, on my skin once blended it almost disappears. Pink Sands is also extremely sheer but has a little bit more color. On my cheeks all I see is a dewy shine with a VERY SLIGHT hint of color. On my lips these show up. Your mileage will vary depending on your skin tone, but to sum these sticks up in two words I’d say these are sheer and glowy.

On the nails, Chanel Resplendissant

La Mer Summer 2018 Swatches, all three items swatched with a heavy hand. Once blended the color is very sheer!

On bare lips, swiped back and forth in layers around 3-4 times:

Swatch comparisons:

NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm (review here)
Chanel Les Beiges Blush in No 23 (review here)
NARS Liquid Blush in Luster (review here)
Sisley Phyt0-Blush Twist in Papaya (review here)
Tom Ford Cream Blush in Pink Sand (discontinued)
Sisley Phyto-Blush Twist in Petal (review here)
Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff (more swatches here)

On the face:

Also wearing:

Foundation: Sunday Riley The Influencer 190
Powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder #2
Brows: Kevyn Aucoin Precision Brow Pencil in Brunette
Eyeshadow: Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Nude Dip
Top Photo: Lips + Cheeks is the La Mer Lip and Cheek Glow in Coral Glow 01
Middle Photo: Lips + Cheeks is the La Mer Lip and Cheek Glow in Pink Sands 02
Bottom Photo: Lip color is Coral Glow, Cheeks color is The La Mer Bronzing Powder 2018

One last note, a lot of you had asked about my pink sunglasses. Most of the time I’ve shown old pairs, in particular one of my favorites are these pink Gucci sunglasses from several years ago. It’s almost always impossible for me to find smaller frames, but I’ve since found an almost identical pair by Kate Spade for a fraction of the price. They aren’t 100% the same but close enough for me!

One last look:

Bottom line: a hefty dent to my wallet. I simply couldn’t resist the pretty pearly packaging and the swirl pattern on the bronzer is gorgeous! The La Mer Bronzing Powder this year is beautiful and so natural, but it’s similar to others I have I’m not sure I’d call it a must-have. As you can see from the above swatches, it’s going to look slightly different in swatches depending on how much pink vs. champagne vs. matte tan you swirl onto the brush. On my skin it’s very very natural, which isn’t a bad thing. I love a good natural bronzer! In a month’s time I’m going to be a lot darker and this will probably match my skin tone.

The La Mer Lip and Cheek Glows are going to be hit or miss. I suspect it is going to be similar to the Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush in concept, better for lips, ok for the cheeks. I really love the Pink Sands color for a soft baby pink. Still these are really pricey and very sheer. I’m kinda luke-warm on my feelings for these.

You can find the La Mer summer collection out now. Items are limited-edition. Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s.

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Bronzer + Blush Eye Makeup Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Coconut Fantasy Collection

May 7, 2018

Marc Jacobs Beauty has launched a new Coconut Fantasy Collection this year to continue the coconut theme. There are three new items and one repromote, everything is selling out quickly. A few restocks have occurred online at Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty but if you have your eye on anything and see it, I recommend grabbing it fast. The Coconut Bronzer was hard to find last year as it went quickly, this year it also seemed to go fast. I’m hoping it will restock as it’s such a great bronzer (last year’s review here). Today I have a review of the three new items that launched. You can find these at Marc Jacobs Beauty, Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Net-A-Porter.

Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in Fantasy – a warm rose gold shimmer with a semi-matte finish
Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder – translucent matte finishing powder
Eye-Conic Eyeshadow Palette in Fantascene – warm-toned eyeshadow palette in white limited-edition packaging

Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in Fantasy

Above: Fantasy vs Dew You? Sunglasses from Nordstrom

My favorite item is the Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter in Fantasy and the good thing is that this is the one item that is still relatively easy to find. Fantasy is a rose gold shimmer, it looks bronzey in the frosted bottle but once I blend on my skin I see more rose tones. If you missed last year’s champagne gold shimmer in Dew You? you can still find it available. Formula remains the same – shimmer finish with a gel texture that is easy to build, dries down to semi-matte finish but retains the shimmer. The dry down makes this highlighter last a long time on the skin, once it sets it is pretty much budge-proof. It has the most wonderful coconut scent. 100% worth the purchase.

Swatches:

Swatch comparisons:

Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo Moodlight (review here)
Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Rose Gold (review here)
Tom Ford Sheer Highlighting Duo Reflects Gilt (review here)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Rose Gold (review here)

Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder

Next is the Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder which also has an amazing coconut scent. This is a setting powder that sets foundation or tinted moisturizer to matte finish. It has a mesh interior to help dispense just the right amount of product to the brush. I found this to give a very matte finish, but in a soft and natural way. It’s translucent and even on my tan skin has no white cast. If you have super dry skin or prefer matte finish foundations you may want to give your face a quick mist with something like MAC Prep+Prime Fix+ first. I found that this over a very matte finish foundation made my face look too matte. It did work on all my other bases that have a soft finish or slightly dewy finish. It does last a long time keeping the makeup on my face from morning to late afternoon. If you’re a coconut fan I’d recommend layering the MAC Prep and Prime Fix+ Scented in Coconut for extra coconut goodness 🙂

Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette

Last but not least is the Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette in Fantascene (sold out most places, but still available at Marc Jacobs Beauty). The shadows in this palette have a super soft pigmented texture. There is a mix of mattes, sparkles and shimmers which layer together beautifully. For me they apply well with or without a base. The colors overall are very warm with a soft cream matte, soft warn grey matte, soft rose matte, shimmering pink, sparkly copper, matte plum brown and coral satin. I love shades like these in the pan, on my complexion the overall feel is a little too warm for my coloring. I find Scandalust more wearable for me. Still Fantascene is a gorgeous palette, just one I’ll need to cool-down with a bit of mixing with other neutrals.

Swatches + close ups:

Close up 1:

Close up 2:

Close up 3:

Fantascene vs Scandalust:

Two looks wearing:

Sunday Riley The Influencer Foundation 190
Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick in Golden to conceal
Marc Jacobs Finish-Line Perfecting Coconut Powder to set all over
Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Eyeshadow Palette in Fantascene
Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink + Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer in Cream and Sugar on top
Cheek Colors:
- Photo 1: Just the Marc Jacobs Dew Drops in Fantasy on the cheeks
- Photo 2: Marc Jacobs Dew Drops in Fantasy + Air Blush in Kinks and Kisses
Top from Madewell

Overall perfect for summer! I think the Fantasy Dew Drops is a must, it has a pretty soft shimmering rose gold gleam that isn’t overly frosty. I think the Setting Powder is going to be perfect for hot summer days when you need a long-lasting matte powder that won’t caked. The palette isn’t for me color-wise but I can make it work with some blending. If you’re like me and can’t wear warm shades easily, I’d recommend you opt for Marc Jacobs Scandalust, NARSissist Wanted or NARSissist Loaded instead.

You can find Marc Jacobs Beauty at Marc Jacobs Beauty, Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Net-A-Porter. The eyeshadow palette, bronzer and dew drops are listed as limited-edition.

Have you bought anything from this year’s Coconut Fantasy Collection? What did you think?

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