Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

The Perfect Beauty Case for a Mini Getaway

October 11, 2016

The Beauty Look Book - Bobbi Brown Beauty Travel Case

Many of you have asked for a review on this year’s edition of the Bobbi Brown Beauty Case ($160, limited-edition) and today I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share what I can fit inside it. This is a new travel case for the holiday season with two zippered tiers and compartments to house anything from makeup, skincare, beauty tools and travel-sized minis.

There have been various launches of the Bobbi Brown train case over the years in different materials, colors and set options. The first one I received was the classic black leather one back in the 2002 time frame and it has special meaning to me. My boyfriend bought it for me when we first started dating (now my husband). He picked it up while in London at the airport and was so excited when he came back to the US that he had found something he knew I would get a lot of use out of. He said “it can hold all your makeup!” It was just so thoughtful and since we had only been dating for under a year I was so surprised he would know to even look for something like that as a gift for me. I was even more touched that he carried it on the plane all the way from London. It’s held up remarkably well and I’ve carried it on the plane (without liquids of course) and also on other occasions packed in my suit case.

This year’s version comes in a rich burgundy faux patent leather material. As with most patent materials it will be on the more delicate side so you will need to be careful about it touching materials that could have color transfer. Fingerprints will show so I’d recommend using clean hands to handle it, but I would recommend that for any type of leather good whether it’s patent or not. It is well made though and very sturdy so I do believe it will hold up well. The color is simply gorgeous.

It’s the exact same in size as the previous cases on the exterior measuring approximately 9 inches wide, 5.75 inches tall and 5.75 inches deep. The configuration inside is a bit different in this year’s version as the top portion has a horizontal separator to help keep items in place and the base has no pockets. The top of the lid does have a pocket to store items. It has another elastic pocket inside which can hold your brushes in place.

If you’ve followed me for a while you will know that I pack a lot with me on travel and even in my daily or weekly bag I tend to accumulate a lot with me. Many of you are amazed that I’m able to pack so much in limited spaces – it does take careful placement and maneuvering like Tetris to make things fit in a way that as little space is wasted, but you can fit a lot inside a suitcase or travel case if you arrange things in a certain way. I’ve included a wide variety of items, brands and products I would actually travel with to see what I could fit in the Beauty Case. As usual I’ve found that this little case can house a lot of items from face and base makeup, blush, highlighters, skincare, brushes, lip color, eyeshadow, powders, mascara, gloss, eyeliner and an eyelash curler. As I’ve used my black travel case on numerous occasions and weekend getaway trips I really find it to be perfect.

A look at the top tier:

In the lid I can fit in quite a few brushes and slim lipsticks (I have two of the Tom Ford Lip Contour Duos inside). In the base of the lid there’s enough depth to stack two compacts where I put the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder and Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Muse Eyeshadow Palette. Two stacked rows of lipsticks will fit as you can see two layers of MAC Liptensity, and the YSL Rouge Volupte Shines stacked on top of two Tom Ford Lip Colors.

A look at the bottom tier, two views from the side and from the top:

What fits inside the base includes the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Surreal Light Palette, Moroccanoil Treatment (the 1.7 fl oz version is shown), Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder (best setting powder ever, I use Shade #2), MAC Blemish Control Gel, various face oils including the Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate and Kate Somerville Dilo Oil, sunscreen, lip gloss, lipsticks, shadow stick, blush, eyelash curler, mini perfumes and more. There’s a bit of a gap in the upper portion so there’s a bit of extra room to fit items in case they are a bit taller than the base. Products shown linked below as well.

Colors shown above: MAC Powder Blush in Prism, Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Color in Neutral Rose, Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold, Chanel Glossimer in Wild Rose, NARS Illuminator in Hot Sand, Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish Powder #2.

If you’ve been eyeing the Bobbi Brown Beauty Case for holiday I hope this gives you an idea of what kinds of things you can fit inside. I think it’s great for travel or mini getaways – especially if you’ll have some trips coming up for the holiday season for family get-togethers you can store a little bit of everything inside. I’ve used mine on mini trips ranging from 3 days to a full week. It’s worked for me on road trips as well. I’m glad she re-launched the case in a new version this year. I would still love for it to be a permanent addition to the line. It is on the pricey side but I’ve gotten a lot of use out of my black leather one (going on 15 years now!) and it’s held up really well.

You can find the Bobbi Brown Beauty Case right now at Nordstrom. Don’t forget to check out the Gift with Purchase page as they do update their special offers section frequently.

This post was sponsored by Nordstrom. Press samples featured include the Armani Prima, Kate Somerville Dilo Oil, Kate Somerville Eye Serum, MAC Liptensity, Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick. As always all opinions my own.

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Uncategorized

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection

October 10, 2016

This year’s first look at holiday beauty highlights the Dior Splendor Color Collection and everything is simply stunning. I received pieces to play with a few weeks ago and have been dying to share the review with you. All items far exceeded my expectations although for me the best items are the two 5 Couleurs Splendor Eyeshadow palettes. They come with the most beautiful embossed sequins-like texture on the surface and every single color works for me in both palette (which is rare). I still have yet to see photos of all the holiday launches coming out this year, but out of the ones I have seen, this is the one I’m the most excited about.

In the collection for the US:

5 Couleurs Splendor Eyehadow ($63 each) in Smoky Sequins 066 and Precious Embroidery 776
Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow ($31) in Infinity 751
Diorific Matte Velvet Color Lip and Cheek Fluid ($38 each) in Pleasure 001, Marvel 002, Treasure 003 and Luxury 004
Diorific Matte Velvet Colour Lipstick ($63 each) in Golden 065, Charm 440, Ravissement 560, Fascination 880 and Splendor 950
Diorific Vernis ($28 each) in Nova 001, Golden 328, Splendor 850 and Cosmic 899
Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder ($56) repromoted from fall

Up first are the eye shadows. The two 5 Couleurs Splendor Eyehadow Palettes which have beautiful shimmer shades. Smoky Sequins is the cooler toned version with greys and whites for a more traditional smokey eye and Precious Embroidery is more on the warmer plum side but still pulls neutral on my skin. The colors have a soft texture that melds in with the skin. They are easy to blend, easy to layer and stay put with medium pigment. If you use a damp brush it will intensify the pigment and shimmer.

I did a quick look with Smokey Sequins. It’s cool-toned but still easy to wear on my olive skin:

Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in Infinity is a gold/bronze/taupe lovers dream come true. It has the perfect mix of gold, taupe, silver, bronze all in one for the all over shade you can wear alone on simple days to add a bit of color to the eyes.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Infinity

Next up are the Diorific Matte Velvet Color Lip and Cheek Fluids. I have not tried these on the cheeks as the texture and consistency seem best suited for the lips (at least on me). Pleasure 001 is a warm pink, Marvel 002 is a fuschia pink, Treasure 003 is a mauve lilac and Luxury 004 is a classic bright red. These have a unique formula which is best worn when layered. One swipe will give you a stain. I recommend applying in a couple layers and you’ll see full coverage on the lips. They dry to a matte finish but do not look or feel dry which I really liked. Once on the lips the staying power is excellent. They do have a soft scent like a makeup kind of scent but it’s not overpowering. They come in a stunning ornament-like bottle with a sponge applicator.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Fluid

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Fluid Swatches

Top by Joie

There are five Diorific lipsticks launching in the US for holiday. If you see press releases online you may see other shades, but I believe they are the colors Europe and Asia received. I have one of the Diorific Lipsticks in Golden and four of the Diorific Mat Lipsticks to share (the one I’m missing is the red matte). Formula is full coverage, smooth and flawless. The mattes have a soft weightless texture that’s almost airy like on the lips. They are scented with the regular Dior lipstick scent. The holiday ones come in special edition gold packaging. The mattes do have a soft very subtle luminous sheen. Note the flash on my camera makes them look a bit more glowy than they do in real life.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Lipsticks

Golden is a shimmering metallic gold. Ravissement is a medium bright pink. Charm is a peachy coral. Fascination is a classic plum.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Lipstick Swatches

The Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer is repromoted for the US so if you bought it for fall you can shop your stash for the cheeks. I still think this is one of the prettiest most natural highlighters I’ve tried. Even though I have enough highlighters to last probably 100 lifetimes I think it’s a must. I’ve re-posted the photos from the Fall Collection review.

Dior Nudeskin Air Luminizer Powder swatch

Last but not least are the Diorific Vernis nail polishes. Dior makes some of the best polishes formula-wise. They have the best brush out of all the ones I own and the formula is glossy with rich smooth coverage. By now I’ve bought almost all the colors because they always work really well. For holiday they’ve brought back the little bauble style packaging. I believe some may be similar (or even repromotes) from previous years. My favorite is the red Splendor and the glitter Nova. I rarely find that I like glitters because they look chunky or are simply to glitzy for everyday wear. Nova is one I think is subtle enough to wear. It looks pretty layered over other shades too. Swatches below with two coats.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Diorific Vernis Nail Colors

Nova is a like a party in a bottle with white crystal looking sparkles. Golden is a neutral warm metallic gold. Splendor is a perfect holiday red. Cosmic is a deep vamp purple with tiny gold flecks.

Dior is also bringing another GWP option for Beauty Look Book readers for a complimentary Rouge Dior Matte deluxe mini and J’adore Eau Lumiere deluxe mini with a $100 purchase at Dior.com. Valid 10/10-10/21 while supplies last with code BLBHoliday at checkout. Note that all $100 orders already receive a deluxe sized sample plus two minis so the code will get you extra goodies.

Bottom line I love everything. Favorites for me are the eye products (palettes and single) and the repromoted
highlighter. I’m not a huge matte lip fan but the lip and cheek fluids
are really unique and the packaging is just so pretty I can’t help but
also fall in love with those. If you’re one who likes color for the lips there are lots of shades to choose from that are what I’d call modern classics. They’re wearable for right now and for the upcoming holiday season whether you like the traditional festive red or other brighter shades.

You can find everything now at Dior counters and online at Dior.com. If you’ve picked up anything from the collection already let me know what you thought!

Holiday collection provided courtesy of Dior for review.

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Cover FX Highlighters

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powders

October 7, 2016

Cover FX has brought us yet more ways to glow with The Perfect Light Highlighting Powders ($34 each for 8 g /0.28 oz, made in Canada). There are three shades available in Moonlight, Sunlight and Candlelight with are talc-free highlighters that come in a mirrored compact. The colors do have the same undertone and effect as the Custom Enhancer Drops by the same name but the powder version is a lot softer in overall effect when worn alone. Currently available at Sephora and Cover FX.

On my medium olive skintone:

Moonlight is the lightest and offers the most highlight/shimmer because it contrasts with my olive medium skintone color
Sunlight
looks really close in the compact to Moonlight, but on my skin it’s a
medium champagne with a hint of gold and for me looks the most natural
Candlelight is a soft bronze copper glow on my skin and for me this one is the most shimmery

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder swatches

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder Review

To show the depth and pigment of the shimmer, I pulled the corresponding Custom Enhancer Drops (all previously reviewed here). To quote Cover FX, in order to “take your glow to the max” they recommend starting with the Illuminating Primer to give your skin that soft lit-from-within glow to create a smooth canvas for your foundation. Follow with the Custom Enhancer Drops to create a buildable highlight for a strobe effect or blended out glow. Add depth by layering the Perfect Light Highlighting Powder on top.

For those conservative with the shimmer you may find layering a bit too intense. I tried with all the colors on the face and eyes. I can layer Sunlight or Candlelight together and not feel like a golden statue. Moonlight is a bit too pale for my skintone which causes a more sharp highlight/shimmer.

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder and Custom Enhancer Drops

Moonlight:

Sunlight:

Candlelight:

Note this one was applied with a heavy hand but you can sheer and blend it out for a softer look:

A quick beauty look below with all three shades worn. If you follow @coverfx on social or look at the tags other beauty lovers use for looks you will be able to see some seriously intense glow and glam strobe effects. I wanted to create a softer look that I would feel comfortable wearing everyday and also to show you that these powder can be blended for a more conservative look. If you like more shimmer you can definitely layer more or apply over a cream highlighter to pull more pigment.

Foundation worn is MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC37.

On the eyes is Cover FX Sunlight Custom Enhancer Drop blended all over the lid with Sunlight Powder blended on top of the eyes for an all over wash. A tiny bit of Cover FX Candlelight Powder along eyes as well but in the photo I don’t think you can tell.

On the cheeks is Tom Ford Gold Dust Bronzer applied like a blush with Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighter Powder in Candlelight on top blended. Cover FX Moonlight Powder is applied to highlight.

On the lips is MAC Huggable Lipstick in Bare Hug.

Top by Splendid.

Texture wise these are smooth and soft. The pigment is excellent and easy to blend without emphasizing pores or skin imperfections – however with most highlighters, the color and finish will depend on your skintype. I really like all three and find them easy to wear on cheeks or eyes. As one who owns dozens of other highlighter powders I will say that I think you can probably find similar colors if you want to shop your stash. That being said these powders from Cover FX perform well. I like that there’s no irritation on my sensitive skin, they don’t emphasize pores and the shimmer is truly easy to control whether you want a soft highlight or more pigmented strobe effect. I find Candlelight to be a very wearable warm bronze which is hard for me since many bronzey shades can pull orange on my skin and the one from Cover FX does not.

The Cover FX team has been kind enough to offer Beauty Look Book readers a chance for a giveaway! Three winners will be selected to win:

1 Full Size Illuminating Primer
1 Full Size Bottle of Custom Infusion Drops – Radiance
1 Perfect Light Highlighting Powder of choice (either sunlight, moonlight, candlelight)

Giveaway details:

Open to US and Canada residents
Must be 18 years or older
Enter via the widget below
Entries will be collected for 3 days (ends 10/10/2016 at 11:45 AM PST)
3 distinct winners will be selected via the widget and contacted by me
Prizes will be shipped directly from Cover FX

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you tried the Cover FX highlighters yet? I’m still really loving the liquid drops and can’t believe how quickly they keep selling out but I hope they will restock again soon.

You can find the Perfect Light Highlighting Powders now at at Sephora and Cover FX.

Cover FX powders and giveaway items provided courtesy of the Cover FX team.

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Armani Base Makeup Skincare

Armani Beauty Prima Skincare, Crema Nuda and Him/Her Lip Care

October 6, 2016

I’ve been testing out some items from Armani Beauty in skincare and just purchased a newly packaged foundation from the line. After a few misses over the spring I’ve been very nervous to test anything even though I’ve used many items from their line for over a decade. I used their Crema Nera cream in the original version for quite some time and absolutely loved it (I believe it’s since been reformulated or repackaged). I have three items from the Armani Prima Skincare line that I’ve been testing for a few months now, the new travel-size Crema Nuda Supreme Glow Reviving Tinted Cream and additional thoughts on the Him/Her Lip Care.

Up first are three items from the Armani Prima Skincare line. This line was designed to keep the glow in your morning makeup look fresh and stay put all day long and the three items that first launched really do work. They smooth the skin, give it a very natural glow without the greasy feel and work well with my makeup (all brands including NARS, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Hourglass).

I’m one who finds that my face makeup does indeed disappear or absorb into the skin and requires a little touch up mid-day. Foundation and powder usually stay put pretty well but I hate layers of product on my face so while I’ve tried and liked a lot of primers, I don’t think I’ve ever found one I absolutely love. Something is always wrong with primers I test, either it just doesn’t do anything for the foundation I wear, isn’t compatible with my skincare, causes an allergic reaction or it works but has that silicone feel that I really don’t like.

The Armani team sent three items over the summer and after a few bad skin reactions to their Maestro Glow Foundation and UV Primer I was terrified of trying these. I waited several weeks before being brave enough to test them and reminded myself that I had used a number of serums and creams from the line before and had great success with them. (I stopped repurchasing because of the high price points.) I’m glad I did. Thoughts on each.

Glow-On Moisturizing Balm is a moisturizer that is designed to give skin a natural glow, plump and smooth the skin. It does all the things it claims and has a very unique texture. It’s hydrating but has a very lightweight texture, almost airy and dries to a semi-matte finish. There is a very slight scent to it but it’s pleasant and disappears within a few minutes. For me it has enough hydration to use in place of moisturizer. I have normal combination skin and find it is odd that it gives skin a glow yet has a matte looking effect. Kinda like how Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks are luminous mattes. For me this is what I had hoped the Natasha Denona Face Glow Primer Hydrating Underbase to be (which turned out to be a bit too rich for my skintype).

If you’re more on the oily side or normal for that matter and find foundation disappears within hours the Armani Prima Day-Long Skin Perfector is the best makeup primer I have ever tried. It smooths out the skin and really does make foundation look fresh longer. I have not tested it in hot humid weather but I wish I had this a year ago during our summer trip to Europe to try. Last year there were days in Paris and Rome where I just gave up on wearing any makeup because the heat and humidity caused everything to slide off within minutes. In warm California weather the Day-Long Skin Perfector really does smooth the skin and prime it well for your base makeup. It has a lightweight texture that glides onto the skin. I use it over my moisturizers (La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream, La Mer Moisturizing Soft Lotion, Kate Somerville Nourish Moisturizer etc.) and it’s compatible with all of them. I have small but noticeable-to-me sized pores and this works well to smooth them out. It’s supposed to help absorb excess oil and it does help to keep the shine at bay for me.

The Lip and Eye Contour was featured earlier this week and works to smooth out lips and give them a slightly plumped effect. I have not tried it on the eyes yet. It does indeed smooth out the lip and help prime them for lip color. It does come at a very steep price tag. It’s a nice one that I like but given the price I do not know if it’s something I will repurchase once used up. It does smooth out lip lines and I suspect it will do the same for eyes. With the eye area and skincare I’ve tried a number of items (still testing quite a few). I feel like eye creams are hard to test because they take so much time to see results. If you’ve tried this on the eye area let me know what you thought.

Up next are the Him/Her Lip Care tinted shades in 2, 3 and 5. These were also featured in this week’s lip basics roundup so I won’t recap the full review. A few of you asked for lip swatches even though I felt they all looked pretty much the same and sheer on my lips. I have pigmented lips but they do seem to be darker on some days compared to others. I managed to get lip swatches on a day where my lips were on the lighter side. I swatched them heavily so you could see the color but I normally would not wear them this thick on the lips. They have a nice moisturizing balmy feel. They aren’t lightweight and you can feel them once on the lip area. If you need something weightless these will be too heavy for you. I also swatched all the colors at the counter for reference.

Armani Him/Her Lip Care - The Beauty Look Book

Shades I bought, 2 is peachy, 3 is a lilac, 5 is a plum:

On the skin is MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation shade NC37:

All the options, swatched at the counter:

Last but not least is the Crema Nuda Supreme Glow Reviving Tinted Cream which now comes in a travel sized version with a pump. When the original version came out in the large tub with a $200 price tag my jaw literally dropped and I told myself “I can’t check it out, I just can’t do it.” The most I’ve spent on a foundation before was for Cle de Peau and I did love it but never repurchased. When I saw a travel size of the Crema Nuda for $120 pop up online I was also debating the new Cle de Peau Beaute Radiant Cream Foundation which is $125. It turned out to be too pink for me (I tried O30 too pink and O40 was too dark) and at the price tag I needed an exact or pretty exact match so I passed.

Armani Beauty Crema Nuda Review - The Beauty Look Book

Before trying the Crema Nuda I did reach out to a few beauty friends asking if they tried it. One confirmed it was good but the original price was too much. I went to investigate and a quick hand swatch had me worried because I thought I’d be in between shades. #3 looked very pink and peach when blended on my hand and #4 was clearly too dark. A kind associate gave me samples to try and said to give it whirl on my skin because they blended out differently on the face because of the unique texture.

I had a serious OMG moment when I tried #3. It did indeed look a bit peachy-pink at first swipe but a beauty blender smoothed it out and after a minute it adjusted to a perfect match. I’ve never tried anything that made my skin look so blurred and smooth as the Crema Nuda. I do wish that it came in the same shades as the Luminous Silk because the colors in that line are perfect for my skin undertone but formula is too rich. At any rate, the Crema Nuda works for my normal combination skin even though I thought it would be too moisturizing and heavy. It looks very natural with medium coverage. I do still need to layer on a bit of concealer on spots and under eyes but it’s pretty near perfect.

I thought I had mini samples of all the shades but turns out I’m missing the darkest one #6. But for reference here are the colors I did get samples of at the counter. There is a new one #4.5 which once it sets looks darker than #4 even though they look pretty close with a fresh swatch.

Here is how Armani Crema Nuda #3 looks on my face with a bit of Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder #2 to set (no concealer or other foundations added to the mix). On the lips is Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick.

A few comparison swatches for reference. As I’ve mentioned in a few recent posts I went to investigate what my MAC shade was because so many of you have asked. In the past years I’ve been anywhere from NC30, NC35, NC40, C3 and C4 depending on how tan I was. I stopped using the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation because I found I was severely allergic – this was in my college days that I stopped which was over 10 years ago. I was also allergic to their Face and Body and a number of other formulas. Since then many years have gone by and I don’t know if the foundations have been reformulated but I did give the Studio Fluid Fix Foundation a try.

The girls at the store said I was an NC35 but I felt NC37 was a better match (in this formula it’s a bit lighter and less olive). I bought both so I could test and swatch them for you. As my skin gets lighter though I suspect I might be able to pull off NC30 – but I’ll have to investigate further. I still promise to have my base foundation and concealer roundup as soon as possible.

For now here are some swatch comparisons for reference, Set #1:

Armani Crema Nuda #2, 3, 4 and 4.5
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation (right now if I use this I have to mix shades, formula reviewed here)
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizers in Groenland and St. Moritz (swatched here)

Set #2:

Armani Crema Nuda #2, 3, 4 and 4.5
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC35 and NC37 (I’m wearing NC37 on the face in the lip swatches above so you can see how it blends into the skin seamlessly for a good match even though it looks very olive/yellow below)
La Mer Reparative Skin Tint #3 (too dark for me right now but I’ve still kept mine, swatched here too)
Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick in Ivory and Warm Ivory (reviewed and on face here), I’ve since added Nude which is a bit darker

At the $120 price tag it’s still very expensive but easier for me to justify compared to $200. Plus I really like that it comes in a pump and wears well on my skin. Color options in the Crema Nuda line are limited but since it’s not a full covearage foundation I do think the shades are more forgiving. If you try it I do suggest letting the color sit on the skin as it won’t oxidize but it will adjust.

Bottom line, lots to love from the line. I’m slowly rediscovering bits – I used to be a die hard fan until they started reformulating everything and I’m still upset they discontinued some of the most amazing blush colors and the original formula. I know some will say the new one is better but I stocked up on some of the originals because in my mind those were the best on the market for a long long time.

For the skincare items, I like the Day-Long Skin Perfector the best. Even though it’s the best primer I’ve used I still don’t use it everyday simply because it’s an extra step I just am too lazy for on most days. When I do use it though it does not let me down. I highly recommend it.

Have you tried any of the Armani Prima skincare line? Or the Crema Nuda? I just saw they added more to the Prima skincare line but have yet to investigate. If you have any skincare favorites from the line let me know – it’s been years since I used their serums and creams. I suspect what I used to use no longer exists as new products have most likely taken their place.

Prima items provided courtesy of Armani for review. Other items purchased by me from Nordstrom.

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Beauty

Maison Margiela Replica Filters in Glow and Blur

October 4, 2016

Replica Filter Blur and Glow - The Beauty Look Book

Maison Margiela recently launched two new oil-based fragrance primers designed to nourish skin and layer with the Replica Eau de Toilettes to create your own mix of scents. There is a Replica Filter Glow and Replica Filter Blur ($55 each for 50 ml/1.7 fl oz, made in France). I have been obsessed with both. These launched as an online exclusive to Sephora months ago and I waited patiently for weeks until they were released in store so I could smell in person first. With these two I would have ended up being perfectly happy ordering sight unseen as both are right up my alley. I’ve been wearing them alone for a more natural effect that is like a soft fragrance but one that works really well with your own skin, like you but better. They also do work well layered with the other Replica scents. Many have asked if they extend the wear of perfume as the description “primer” implies that it might. I do find they do as the oil adheres to the skin and although I have no scientific proof or studies to back up this thought I feel like it helps pull the scent from the layered perfume and extend the wear. At any rate, I find Replica fragrances last quite long on me anyways.

Replica Filter in Blur is a described as having Cotton, White Musk Accord, Gray Amber Accord.It does have a slight powder cotton like feel but it’s not too powdery and the musk rounds it out. It has a Byredo Blanche kind of feel with the lightness but sometimes Blanche can feel a bit sharp on me. Replica Filter Blur is softer with a more well rounded feel. Granted it’s an oil-based spray versus a full strength perfume so I don’t know that I should really compare the two. I like layering the Blur one with Replica Beach Walk the most.

Replica Filter Blur - The Beauty Look Book

Replica Filter in Glow has citrus notes and neroli. This one is my favorite of the two (if I had to pick one). It sounds odd to describe this scent as sunshine but it feels like that to me. It’s a bright but mellow citrus that smells like skin to me. I love this one with anything – Replica Beach Walk, Lipstick On (c/o), Flower Market (c/o) and alone.

Replica Filter Glow - The Beauty Look Book

Both are winners and the price points aren’t too bad in my opinion. I think fragrance is so personal – so many factors go into what one thinks smells good. If you ask me what kinds of scents I like I always have a hard time pointing out notes or kinds of scents so I have to simply name a few that I like to give one an idea. I like to switch things up quite frequently – I don’t think I really go more than 2 days wearing the same scent while my husband sticks to 2 or 3 regular colognes in his routine.

A few past rotations by season here:

Fall 2016 for Him and Her

Summer 2016

Spring to Summer Transition 2016

Spring 2016 Rotation for Him and Her

Spring 2015 Rotation

A few of my favorites below, also not shown but Flower Market is love for me – it’s one of the best pure but modern florals that won’t make you smell like potpourri. If you’re one who thinks “I don’t like straight up florals” but have always wanted to try one I think you should give it a spritz the next time you see it at Sephora or Nordstrom.

Replica Fragrances - The Beauty Look Book

Today I’m wearing Filter Glow + Flower Market and it did some serious mood shifting for me by lifting my grumpy morning mood. This morning was one of those times where I simply did not want to get out of bed and thought about staying there for the entire day. I pulled myself together and while fragrance almost always lifts the mood or gives you that finishing polished touch, I am really surprised at how much more awake yet calm I feel with this scent combination.

As you might be able to tell from the rotations linked above there is a lot that I’ve explored. Out of all the scents I’ve tested, I feel like the Replica Filters are the ones that feel most like me. I like that they are softly nourishing on the skin too. Since they are oil-based they will feel emollient and I spray and massage in the skin like you would any other body oil. To date I haven’t really experimented layering these with other perfumes. I’m having a hard time thinking about what I would else I would combine them with because the Replica perfumes are just so perfect with these.

Bottom line is that I highly recommend and I’m very pleased with both. You can find them for $55 each at Sephora and Nordstrom.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

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Beauty Favorites Lips

Lip Basics: Primers, Balms, Oils and Favorites for Fall

October 3, 2016

Lip Basics, Primers, Treatments and Oils - The Beauty Look Book

Lip products are among my favorite things in the beauty world. Something as simple as a nice lipstick or great lip balm can give that little pick-me-up boost. Lip products are great whether you need to feel a little more polished or if you need a bit of soothing hydration. I’ve done quite a few roundups on lip treatments, primers, favorite lipliners and versatile glosses in the past but thought it might be time to do an updated version for fall. I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to roundup some of my favorites. I’ve picked out a wide range of options as I know everyone has different tastes and preferences for formula, texture, packaging and scent. There are a couple new items that I’ve tested and have been really excited about – so if you’re looking for new lip basics to add to your routine, I hope you enjoy this post!

Up first is the MAC Prep + Prime Lip which is my favorite lipstick primer. It’s a smooth easy to use primer that helps reduce lipstick feathering. It also smooths fine lines and really does make lipstick go on smoother. It’s oil-free and fragrance free so those with sensitive noses don’t need to worry about scent. While it doesn’t add hydration I find it works to help lipstick adhere better – especially if you wear matte lipsticks. If you’re more of a glossy finish/shine lipstick kind of person, this won’t really help the lipstick adhere as those have a lot of slip in them. But for regular cream, satin or mattes this is a must.

MAC Prep + Prime Lip - The Beauty Look Book

On the nails, Chanel Vamp

Next are lip treatments that come in tube format. There are quite a few good potted balms but I prefer a sponge tip or squeeze tube as I find it’s less messy on the fingers. I have very sensitive lips and some balms like the one from Kiehl’s and C.O. Bigelow (along with a number of drugstore brands) make my lips go numb and swell – I’m not sure what the ingredient is that causes sensitivity for me, but the ones below are super sensitive lip approved.

Lip Oils and Treatments - Clarins, Dior, Armani, Diptyque and Hourglass

The Clarins Instant Light Lip Confort Oil in Honey is probably my favorite lip oil. This one is clear so it won’t add color but truly does add instant comfort. As far as oils go this one is easy to to apply, doesn’t migrate off the lips and is great for everyday wear. Sometimes I’ll add a bit of liner on top smudged on the lips for color. (Some of my favorites listed below.)

The Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade Color Reviver Instant Oil-Gel Care has been in frequent rotation lately. I’ve read it’s hit or miss on whether this will change color like the regular Addict Lip Glow (ones in the stick). For me the stick version turns my lips bright pink and this one in the tube doesn’t add any color but I’m willing to overlook it because it adds the perfect amount of moisture to my lips. It has a beveled tip to mold more to the round curves of your
lips. It’s smooth and isn’t sticky. I would say this is my go-to lip treatment of the moment.

Armani Prima Eye and Lip Contour is a multi-purpose product. When used on the lips it smooths, plumps and helps create a base to help lipstick stay put. The texture is very unique, it almost has a whipped velvet texture but blends like a cream. Once on the lips I can feel the plumping effect immediately but there’s no tingle. It’s creamy but feels matte. It’s incredibly unique and while extremely pricey does prevent lipstick feathering. It is slightly scented but in a soft sweet way and it’s not noticeable after a couple minutes. Over time with use the lip texture and surface becomes more smooth.

Diptyque Nourishing Lip Balm has been on backorder for a while but Diptyque repackaged their lip balm in a squeeze tube. I’ve been using it for almost a month now and it’s a thicker balm that adds a veil of hydration on the lips. If you don’t like thicker products you may find this too thick in which case I’d recommend an oil, a stick balm or the AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment (which I’ve run out of and don’t have to show in this roundup).

Hourglass No. 28 Lip Oil is one of the most luxurious lip oils I’ve tried. It comes with a gold-plated applicator which adds a soothing cooling effect to the lips. It is scented with an herbal kind of scent. I find it to be like a spa treatment for the lips but if you can’t tolerate any kind of scent you may want to see if you can try before buying. It contains:

14 essential oils: bois de rose, lavender, geranium, petitgrain, lemon, rosemary, vanilla, clove, amyris, orange, ylang-ylang, eucalyptus, cedar, rose geranium
10 lipid-rich plant oils: hazelnut, kukui nut, rose hip, borage, olive, green tea, cherry pit, sweet almond, jojoba and evening primrose
vitamins A, B5, C and E

Next are some tinted balms that I’ve been playing with. Clarins and Dior are my favorite but many of you have been asking about Burberry and the new ones from Armani. I’ve had the ones from Burberry for ages but don’t think I’ve ever swatched them all.

Armani Him Her Lip Care and Burberry Firs Kiss Fresh Gloss Balm

Armani just launched a new lip treatment called the Him/Her Lip Care. There are 5 options total (4 tinted, 1 clear). I bought three of the shades and on my lips the color is pretty much clear but I’ve swatched them below to show you the colors. They are medium thick and you can
feel them on the lips so they’re not weightless. They do make the lips softer and the tints give a very slight hint of color.

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors are my favorite tinted balms of all time. They do have a scent to them which is like a soft sweet vanilla scent but it’s not overpowering. The colors are sheer but have enough pigment to show up on the lips. I love the slim sleek packaging and they feel great on the lips.

Burberry First Kiss Fresh Gloss Balm which are pretty much clear on the lips. They come with a special applicator that gives the lips a cooled effect. Texture is very smooth and emollient. These are a hybrid gloss and balm in one but the color is very very sheer. If you’re a low-key kind of person when it comes to lips and just want comfort and shine these are great to add moisture. Color-wise though the pigment has little to no payoff except for the red and plum versions. Scent is almost non-detectable – I have to try really hard to detect a scent in these.

Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm in Coral is my favorite stick balm of the moment. The color will react and change depending on the chemistry of your lips. This one gives my lips a healthy very natural flushed glow. It’s an easy no fuss kind of balm and since it adds the perfect amount of color for me it’s great for on-the-go or for days where I don’t want to think about what makeup to wear because it works with everything.

Swatches of my picks from Armani Him and Her Lip Care. The other two tinted ones were almost a taupe and taupe purple greige. There is also a clear version. There is a very soft skincare like scent to them but it’s faint.

All the Burberry First Kiss Fresh Gloss Lip Balms swatched. They go on the lips very sheer and all look the same on me so I did not lip swatch them. The last two Crushed Red and Sweet Plum give my lips a very slight hint of color, but effect is very slight.

All the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors reposted as I’ve reviewed them in depth before. Love every single one of these!

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector Swatches - The Beauty Look Book

For color you all know I love my nude lipsticks, but for those who find nudes and beiges boring, the next best thing for me is a soft mauve because it’s one of those shades I think is a universally flattering color.

NARS Bound, Chanel Wild Rose, MAC Lip Pencils - The Beauty Look Book

Many of you have been asking for my thoughts on the NARS Velvet Lip Glides. I picked up four shades and will review them soon, but the shade in Bound is hands down my favorite. It’s the prettiest soft mauve pink cream that is great for everyday wear or even for nights out.

Another classic is Chanel Glossimer in Wild Rose. It has a soft silver shimmer and to me it’s the most classic mauve pink rose color you can find. If you’re new to Chanel Glossimers and want to know which one I’d recommend starting with, Wild Rose is it!

To extend the wear of your lipstick or lipgloss adding a good liner can help a lot. I am rather lazy when it comes to lipliner so I usually skip it. I have accumulated dozens of pencils but the ones I find most versatile include the MAC Lip Pencils. For me my favorite shades are Boldly Bare, MAC Dervish and MAC Whirl. For those wanting a more mauve pink color Kevyn Aucoin Hyacinth is the perfect in between. As far as neutral nude rose pinks Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk is as perfect as it gets in my opinion.

(MAC Stripdown added for comparison purposes to show how pink/mauve the other shades are.)

Swatched on the lips:

NARS Bound, Chanel WIld Rose, MAC Lip Pencil Swatches - The Beauty Look Book

One last look:

Lip Primers, Oils and Treatments - The Beauty Look Book

If I had to pick three to stick with, it would be the MAC Prep+Prime Lip for primer, Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors for tinted balms and the Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade for everyday moisture. Although I’m a lip balm/lip oil junkie and it would be very difficult for me to just stick with one for the rest of the season or even the rest of my life. If you can’t take any scent whatsoever, the AmorePacific MoistureBound Lip Treatment is among the best for very dry lips. If you can tolerate a little bit of scent the Clarins Lip Oil is also a very good one for instant relief.

That rounds up some of my favorites and thoughts on some newly launched items. I’m really liking the Armani Him and Her Balms although the color doesn’t really show up on my lips the formula is really good and I like the sleek packaging.

What are your favorite lip treatments and primers? I know there are quite a few other primers and clear lipliners people like to use to help extend lipstick wear but the MAC one is so good I haven’t looked into others for a while. If you have a favorite let me know! Always love trying new lip products.

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. Press samples include the Clarins Lip Oil, Clarins Lip Perfectors, Armani Prima Lip Care.

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MAC Selena Collection

October 1, 2016

Today MAC launches the Selena Collection as a tribute to Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla. The collection has been curated by her sister and items are available online at MAC Cosmetics starting October 1st and will be available in stores starting October 6th. If you are a MAC Select Member you may have already been able to shop the items early. I received a few pieces as press samples for review which I have thoughts and swatches to share today.

Swatches:

Up first are the eye products. I received two in Fotos Y Recuerdos a soft warm satin pink and Selena a stunning violet ($17 each). Both are shades I wouldn’t normally wear but I have been experimenting with purples by layering it with other neutrals. Both are sheer to medium in coverage with a soft sheen.

In addition there is a repromoted Liquid Liner ($21) in Black Boot. I’m not a liquid liner expert. I would actually call myself liquid liner challenged. I’ve pretty much stuck with the same brands for a few years (roundup + comparisons from a couple years ago here). I would say for me the easiest ones for me to use are the Tom Ford Eye Defining Liquid Liner Pen and the Club Clio Waterproof Pen Liner (also shown here). Back to the MAC liner – the tip is short and stiff and after trying it a few times I found it challenging to get an even line without having it bleed. It’s possible I’m applying too much or need to change the application method (I tried feathering and also dabbing). If you know how to use this let me know, I would greatly appreciate tips.

Two of the three lipsticks are shown below in Dreaming of You (Matte) and Como La Flor (Amplified) $18 each. Dreaming of You is a deep matte red. Como La Flor is a striking creamy red with a slight sheen. Both are smooth and full coverage.

Last but not least is the Powder Blush in Techno Cumbia ($29). I’m one of the biggest suckers for MAC cheek products and I think I’ve collected almost all the Mineralize Skinfinishes (shimmer ones) to date. This one has no shimmer and has a brown portion on the top and soft pink brown on the bottom. I have mixed feelings about this one because of the color. Texture is smooth and applies well with a blush or duo fiber brush. Pigment is pretty rich. On the arm it applied patchy but for the face it goes on smooth without issues for me. The color is fairly dark on my skin making it almost too deep and almost muddy looking as a regular blush. For me it works better as a very soft contour almost bronzer color. I suspect if you have tan to deeper skintone this will match your skintone more to actually look more like a natural blush. I’m a NC35 or NC37 in the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation and a 3.0 in Matchmaster and this is too dark to wear as a blush.

Overall a fun collection and I am happy to have tried a few pieces. I would have liked to try the neutrals as that’s what I wear everyday – there are a few neutral eyeshadows, a neutral lipstick and a sparkly lipglass. I’m going to try and track them down. Collection is available online at MAC Cosmetics starting October 1st and will be available in stores starting October 6th.

Do you have your eye on anything from the MAC Selena collection?

MAC Selena items featured sent as press samples for review.

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