Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

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.

16 Comments

Uncategorized

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.

12 Comments

Fragrance Men's Grooming

Fall Fragrance Loves for Him and Her

September 30, 2016

There are so many new scents that have launched this season. I usually find one or two new scents each season that I love but this season almost every new fragrance I’ve tested I’ve fallen in love with. I have a roundup of ones I have in rotation right now along with a men’s rotation for my husband. He usually sticks to the same colognes so many of the ones you’ll see here have been featured numerous times. I like to switch things up frequently so some of mine are newer ones.

Up first are my favorites along with thoughts on some others I’ve tested:

The three most exciting fragrance launches this season for me have been from Louis Vuitton, Louboutin and Edward Bess. I will have dedicated reviews coming soon on the launches but wanted to give you a roundup of highlights right now. Shown above:

Chanel N°5 L’Eau (c/o, reviewed here) is a light clean floral that dries down to a slightly powdery musk. Many of you have bought or tried this one too and mentioned that you either love or hate it. I really like it for the clean lively feel. It was a Chanel.com exclusive for a few weeks but you can find it now at all Chanel counters (for those wondering).

Notes include lemon, mandarin, orange, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, cedar and cotton musk.

L’Artisan Mûre et Musc has been a long time favorite. I discovered it thanks to one of my best friends who always smells amazing. L’artisan recently redesigned all their packaging so out of curiosity I ordered one of the new ones and was relieved to find the scent is still the same. Sometimes I worry formulas change when packaging does. In this case it’s the classic berry musk.

Notes include lemon, orange, basil, lavender, blackberry, jasmine, musk, patchouli and oakmoss. It’s one of my husband’s favorites on me.

Molton Brown Pink Pepperpod Eau de Toilette is one of my favorite Molton Brown scents, I discovered it in the hand cream and shower gel and loved it so much I bought the perfume. It’s difficult to describe but it has a pink pepper, patchouli and cedarwood mix with a girly zest. They have a Discovery Set online that has 8 small spritzers of their scents you can order.

Pink Pepperpod notes include pink pepper, tangerine, elemi oil, nutmeg, ginger oil, patchouli and cedarwood oil.
This weekend their Friends and Family 20% off sale is happening through October 3 with code USFF20 at checkout. I won’t have a home fragrance roundup in time before the sale ends, but their Coco and Sandalwood Candle is to die for for fall.

Replica Filter in Glow is a new perfume primer designed to layer with your perfume. It’s an oil based spray and scented so it adheres well to the skin. I like using it alone or layering it with Replica Lipstick On afterwards. It’s a soft warm citrus that feels bright but not sharp.

Notes citrus neroli.

Byredo Bal D’Afrique is one of the few sweet scents I find I can wear. It’s one of the most unique fragrances I’ve tried and to me I smell a slight hint of apricot in it but it’s not really like that at all. For me it’s a bright sweet with a hint of musk, amber and cedarwood mixed in. It’s floral but sweet. I find it impossible to describe. I know many of you also love this one. If you can chime in the comments how you’d describe it I would so greatly appreciate your help!

Notes Bergamot, lemon, neroli, African marigold, bucchu, violet, Jasmine petals, cyclamen, black amber, musk, vetiver, Moroccan cedarwood

Byredo Unnamed (not shown) is a new one that I tried at Barneys over the week. It was truly love at first spritz but I decided to wait on this. I cannot find the notes on this one anywhere but if Gypsy Water and Black Saffron had a baby together this would be it. It’s fresh and modern like Gypsy Water and but not as sweet as Black Saffron. I’m seriously tempted.
Edward Bess Spanish Veil (c/o) is one of three new scents launched by Edward. I’ll have a full review on all three very soon. Right now they are exclusive online to his website. I do believe you can call the Bergdorf Goodman counter to order but they should launch online very soon. Spanish Veil is one of my favorites. It has a Byredo Gypsy Water feel but is less sweet and more woodsy. For some reason I detect a hint of licorice.

Notes include Pure Sandalwood, Tonka and Guaiac Wood

Louis Vuitton Apogee is one of seven new perfumes launched. I bought the mini set and owe you a full review. For now my top two include Apogee which is lily of the valley. I normally do not gravitate towards lily of the valley scents but this one is just one of the prettiest florals I’ve ever smelled. It has a powdery feel so if you don’t like powdery scents this may not be for you. It’s fresh and feminine.

Notes include lily of the valley, jasmine, magnolia, rose, guaiac wood, and sandalwood essence.

Louis Vuitton Matiere Noire is my second favorite and is more of an evening night scent. If you like fragrances like L’Artisan Mure et Musc, Byredo Black Saffron or any blackcurrant kinds you will like this one. It’s a woodsy blackcurrant kind of scent that is more of an evening one rather than day to day. There is a floral mix in it which makes it smell rich but feminine.

Notes include blackcurrant, marcissus, jasmine, patchouli, Laos agarwood.

Louboutin Tornade Blonde (c/o) is one of the most luxurious perfumes I own. If you have a current Saks or Neimans catalog you can find a small sampler card inside one of the pages to try. All three are really amazing but I fell in love with Tornade Blonde which is exactly what I think of when I think of a perfume kind of scent. It’s a very strong floral with red rose, violet and cassis along with hints of jasmine. The bottle is just incredible in the design.

Notes Rhubarb, Violet Leaves, Ambrette Signature, Cassis, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmin Sambac Absolut, Orange Flower Petals Firnat, Gardenia from Brazil, Ambregris, Cedarwood, Australian Sandalwood, Patchouli.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon (not shown) is one of two new Nirvana additions. As you can see from my list I like soft florals but also fresh scents. Many of you prefer sweeter more gourmand fragrances and unfortunately for me my husband does not like vanilla at all. As I do not want to repulse him I do not wear it. Nirvana Bourbon is a seductive smoky vanilla. If you like vanilla scents this one is perfect for fall. You can also now find all four in this Nirvana Mini Rollerball Set for holiday which is just so cute!

Notes Vanilla Bourbon. Oakwood. Tuberose.

Viktor and Rolf BonBon (not shown) is one I had high hopes for. As a Flowerbomb fan I thought BonBon could be a great alternative. For me it has a similar vibe but is very very sweet. If you like sweet scents I suspect you might like this. For me it was too sweet, almost like a cookie or dessert.

Notes Tangerine, Blackcurrant, Orange, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Peach, Guaiac Wood, Cedarwood, Caramel.

For a cologne roundup I asked him to pull his favorites for right now. Many of these you’ll recognize from past roundups. For him cologne and scent picks are more a year round kind of thing. He’ll pick one depending on occasion whether he’s looking for an everyday kind of scent or something more dressy for going out:

Chanel Bleu de Chanel is in my husband’s top three favorites. Out of all the colognes he has tried this is probably the one he’s asked me to repurchase for him the most. He prefers using the Refillable Travel Spray version so he can carry it with him in his briefcase or store easily in his desk at his office. It is hard for him to describe scents but he says this is a good everyday cologne that smells clean and modern but a woodsy feel. It’s strong enough without being too strong.

Notes are citrus and wood.

Tom Ford Costa Azzurra is more of a summery kind of cologne. It’s a unisex kind of scent that I adore and would actually wear myself except my husband says it’s too masculine for me. After spritzing it a few times I actually did have to agree it’s clearly more masculine with a woodsy oak with a slight green juniper mix.

Notes Juniper, Herbs, Green Notes, Oak, Warm Woods.

Tom Ford Vert des Bois (c/o) is a new one this season part of the Vert line. This too is another unisex one but still pulls more masculine. I’ve worn this myself this week as my husband has been traveling and it makes me think of him. If you liked Oud Wood you will really like this one. For a more feminine option the Vert Boheme is just lovely. It’s on my wishlist but given my long list for now I’m relying on my mini decant sample.

Notes Poplar Bud. Ouzo. Woods.

Viktor and Rolf Spicebomb is hands down the best hot-guy date night scent I’ve smelled and also is my husband’s favorite. He’s already gone through a few bottles. Since we were such big fans of this I picked up the Viktor and Rolf Spicebomb Fresh thinking it would be a more modern version. We both agree the original is still the best as by comparison the Fresh one almost has a feminine feel which is nice but the original is better.

Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit, Cinnamon Leaf, Pink Pepper, Lavandin, Chilli, Saffron, Elemi, Vetiver, Balsam Fir, Tobacco Accord, White Leather Accord.

Dior Sauvage (c/o) is the third in the top three colognes for my husband. He believes most men like to stick to one or two colognes versus women who like to try lots of things. For the longest time no matter what I bought him to try he stuck with the Bleu de Chanel which works, but he did get a bit bored using the same one everyday. He says if you like the Bleu de Chanel but want something different to switch things up, the Dior Sauvage is the one to go with. This marks the one year anniversary of Dior Sauvage and they launched a larger 6.8 fl oz version. My husband owns and has already gone through a few of the smaller size. He likes the way the bottle is designed with a round sturdy glass jar and magnetic cap.

Notes Reggio Bergamot, Sichuan Pepper, Ambroxan.

Dior Sauvage Deoderant (c/o) is one I think smells amazing for a men’s deodorant and matches the cologne. My husband has sensitive skin under his arms and many will make his skin peel. This one does not and lasts all day for him so it’s a winner. There’s a Deodorant Spray as well which I’ve been trying to get him to try but he’s a creature of habit and uses the stick.
YSL L’Homme Deodorant is another winning scent for him and he says this is the best scented deoderant he’s ever tried. When I bought it he had very low expectations for this because he’s tried a lot and found they either didn’t last or didn’t smell good. The rep at Sephora swore by this one as his favorite and said “your husband won’t be disappointed, I promise.” So I gave it a go and I’m glad I did.

That rounds up our current scent rotation favorites for fall. I have a few others I’ve kept in rotation but I tried to narrow it down to my absolute favorites for right now. If I had to pick three, they would probably be Replica Filter in Glow, L’Artisan Mure et Musc and Byredo Bal D’Afrique. Out of the ones on my wishlist I’m gravitating most towards the Byredo Unnamed perfume but there are some others I still want to smell before deciding on another one.

As always I’d love to hear what you are wearing for fall. I’m also curious to hear how you buy your perfumes. I always find it overwhelming trying to decide. Do you ever buy perfume sight unseen? I try to at least test in store if I can, although sometimes I will order online after thinking about it for a while if I can’t get to a store or if there are no stores that carry a specific brand. (For me no nearby stores carry Le Labo, Byredo, Frederic Malle, L’Artisan.) Let me know in the comments how you go about trying new perfumes or deciding on a new purchase!

Are there any new ones launching that you’re excited about or have anything on your wishlist?

I will have dedicated reviews on the Louis Vuitton, Replica Filters and Edward Bess perfumes soon. If you want any other detailed posts let me know and I’ll see what I can do to fit them in.

Press samples featured have been indicated with “c/o” next to them.

5 Comments

Giveaway

Nordstrom eGift Card Giveaway

September 28, 2016

Happy Wednesday everyone! Many of you seem to get excited about giveaways and they are my little way of giving back and saying thank you. This week I’m giving away 5 $100 eGift Cards to Nordstrom. All you have to do to enter is use the widget below.

Details:

Runs today through 10/3/2016 11:45 PM PST
Open internationally
Must be 18 years or older
Full terms and conditions in widget below
Winners will be selected at random within 72 hours after giveaway ends and contacted by me via email, note the email you use to enter is the only one I will be emailing the eGift cards to if you are the selected winner
5 distinct winners will be selected to receive a $100 eGift Card to Nordstrom (you can use online or instore)

Good luck! Quick disclaimer that this isn’t affiliated or sponsored.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’ll be doing more giveaways in the upcoming weeks as well. I have a few ideas I think could be fun!

20 Comments

Eye Makeup

Kevyn Aucoin The Making Eyes Kit x Space NK

September 27, 2016

Kevyn Aucoin Making Eyes x Space NK Exclusive

Every once in a while I’ll try a product and wonder what took me so long to try it. Kevyn Aucoin eyeshadows fall into that category (along with some of the blushes reviewed here). For the longest time I’ve avoided many items from the Kevyn Aucoin beauty line simply because of the price points. So many of his products have been widely raved about, and rightly so due to their good quality and solid performance. Kevyn Aucoin recently launched a set exclusive to Space NK called The Making Eyes Kit ($125, a $160 value if you purchase items separately). This kit includes:

The Essential Eye Shadow Set Palette #2 (0.04 oz)
The Precision Brow Pencil Brunette (0.03 oz)
The Expert Mascara Black (0.4 oz)
The Eyelash Curler
The Eye Pencil Primatif Basic Black (0.04 oz)

Space NK kindly sent the set for me to try and part of me was really excited to try things I’ve always been curious about. The other part of me wondered if this would live up to the hype as the items look incredibly basic. I love beauty basics and classics but sometimes there are products that just simply seem a bit too basic to justify the splurge when less expensive options will work just as well. I was really impressed with the Eye Shadow Palette, Brow Pencil and Eye Pencil. More thoughts on each item below.

Quick look at the box. The set comes cased in a large black box with a mirror. I like that everything has it’s own individually molded compartment so if you have this shipped to you, items stay in place. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the box at the moment. I suppose I could use it for travel by taking out the insert. The larger mirror is nice to have when you’re on the go. However the box is made of cardboard so I don’t know how well it will hold up traveling.

First a look at the items swatched:

For me the winner of this set is The Essential Eye Shadow Set Palette #2 which has a mix of cool tones. The set comes with a little instruction card on how to apply the colors but I took one look and decided to apply them my own way. I have no crease in the lids so most of the time I need to apply shadows differently from most other women anyways in a gradient. Since I have no fold or crease I don’t usually do the outer corner or v-shape blending.

Colors in this palette include a shimmering soft but pigmented black, lavender purple shimmer, beige satin, white frost, bone satin. All of the colors have some degree of shimmer but it is very soft on the skin. If you’re a no-shimmer kind of person for eyeshadows I think this will still work for you as the finish is VERY very soft.

The pigment is medium but buildable. Texture is very soft and looks natural on the eyes. As one who does not really like cool tones (especially white frosts) because they often look sharp or contrast with my olive skin I was surprised to find this one worked really well with my skintone for a cool-toned smoky eye with a hint of purple. The black looks like it could be chalky if you swatch it on the hand or arm. With a brush it’s intense and very pigmented but not too sharp. It’s a very good one to apply along the lash line and easy to blend and smoke out. Below shows all the items in the kit applied including the mascara, liner and brow pencil.

The only other added product was the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rose Gold all over the lids used as a base.

Next are The Precision Brow Pencil Brunette and The Eye Pencil Primatif Basic Black. The Precision Brow Pencil is very easy to use and Brunette is a good neutral to cool toned brown that works for my dark hair. For me I like that there is no red undertone which I find some brow pencils have, yet there’s not too much grey which can sometimes cause my brows to look ashy. I like that if you twist product up you can also twist it back down.

The Eye Pencil in Basic Black is one of the deepest black pencils I’ve tried. It has a smooth and super creamy texture. In terms of lasting power it stayed put on my eyes all day without any smudging or budging. I used it along upper lashes and waterline. That being said, I will usually also see how it holds up on the arm. When I test liners, let it sit for about 30 minutes on the arm, then take my finger and swipe it across the arm swatch to see how much it smudges. On the arm it smudged while some other liners set and don’t budge. That being said I tried this on a few different days and on my eyes it lasted all day without any budging so for me it’s a winner.

Last but not least are The Expert Mascara Black and The Eyelash Curler. Both of these have been raved about by many people. To date I have only tried the mascara in mini forms that usually come with the Space NK gwps and had not really been that impressed. The full size does perform better but my heart still belongs to the Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara and Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascaras for volume, curl-holding and lasting power. The one from Kevyn Aucoin is a deep black, doesn’t clump or smudge. It does a good job at coating each lash but for me it simply does not hold the curl and doesn’t give me the volume the other two do. Do note that I have incredibly skimpy straight lashes so I need a miracle mascara to make it look like I have any.

The eyelash curler works well too. I was relieved to find there was no pinching (for me the Shiseido one everyone raves about just doesn’t work for me at all). It has a very lightweight feel which makes it easy to use but I prefer something with a bit more weight to it. That being said it performs well and I am happy to own it.

Bottom line a solid set of good eye basics. I am already plotting another eyeshadow palette purchase because this one is just so good. If you have any recommendations for the palettes or duos let me know! You can find all the items in this set individually if you prefer to pick and choose items on your own. However the Kevyn Aucoin The Making Eyes Kit as a set is a Space NK exclusive.

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

The Making Eyes Kit was provided courtesy of Space NK for review.

4 Comments

Uncategorized

On My Radar / New in Beauty

September 26, 2016

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 /

7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

Hope you all had a great weekend! Just when I started to get in the fall state of mind the weather decided to take a turn after a week of clouds and rain. We had a bit of a heat wave over the weekend and this week’s forecast looks like it’s going to be hot all week. Even though it’s going to feel like summer this week, fall is in full swing with pumpkin-flavored drinks and treats everywhere I look. Holiday collections and sets are starting to trickle in and it’s not even October yet but it’s fun to see what’s coming out in the next few weeks.

First, Bobbi Brown has some lovely sets and gifts for holiday. This faux-patent leather Beauty Case (1) just popped up and it appears to be the same size as the black leather one I’ve had for years. Many of you asked me to let you know if I ever saw something similar from her line pop up. It appears this season there is! Bobbi Brown also has some beautiful cases that house multiple products. The Golden Eye Shadow and Mascara Palette (2) looks like it could be clutch-sized. As does this Glow to Go Duo (3).

I’ve been looking for a new leather jacket. Many of you were kind to recommend some for petite frames on Instagram. I’ve checked out some from All Saints, Joie and Club Monaco which are all gorgeous but I’m still trying to find the one. I have my eye on this Motorcycle Jacket (4) from Madewell which also comes recommended from a number of you. The search continues and I’ll let you know which one ends up working out 🙂

Chanel launched an online preview of their Collection Libre 2016. It’s scheduled to launch in stores late October. I’m not sure if this is their holiday collection or if a separate launch will follow. The only items that are calling my name are the nail polishes. There are two Le Vernis shades in Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass (5) and one Velvet Nail Color in Pink Rubber (6).

Armani launched a travel size of their Crema Nuda Tinted Cream (7) in a smaller version with a pump. Thanks to the recommendation from another beauty lover, I decided to check it out and I’m glad I did. My local counter gave me a small sample to try at home and I have never been so impressed or blown away by a foundation before. I’m Shade #3 for reference.

Armani also launched a new lip treatment product called Him and Her Lip Care (8). There is one clear shade and four tinted options. I picked up three to test out and will let you know the verdict. It’s been a while since I ventured to the Armani counter and these caught my eye. If you’ve tried them already let me know what you think. The colors are very sheer.

Kevyn Aucoin and Space NK have an exclusive set called The Making Eyes Set (9). They kindly sent one for me to try and I’ll be reviewing it tomorrow. This is the first time I’ve tried Kevyn Aucoin powder shadows even though they have been widely raved about for like forever. Apparently I’ve been missing out for many years because the quality is excellent.

Jo Malone launched their Basil and Neroli Cologne (10). It’s a stunning green, basil, pepper mixed with floral and a bit of musk. I adore the Candle which I purchased and have been burning this past weekend. The perfume smells fresh, modern and very pretty. It’s on my wishlist.

Oribe finally launched a dry shampoo called the Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (11). I ordered the small travel size and it’s good. If you’re a dry shampoo lover I think you should try it. There is no white film or cast, it smells amazing and absorbs excess oil for a quick touch up.

Last but not least this year’s holiday Guerlain Météorites Perles de Légende Light-Revealing Pearls of Powder (12) looks stunning. I cannot resist. It was in my online shopping cart and I’m about to hit submit. They usually sell out every year fast so if you have this on your wishlist I suggest you act soon.

P.S. There are some individual GWPs up at Nordstrom (I think it was for Triple Points) and also at Saks Fifth Avenue (for beauty week) right now. I took advantage of a few including the Armani one from Saks and Jo Malone one from Nordstrom. Be sure to check for codes listed on each GWP option, sometimes there are codes you need to enter.

Hope you have a great start to the week! Stay tuned for the Kevyn Aucoin review tomorrow and some more fragrance reviews in the following days.

12 Comments

Lips MAC

MAC Liptensity Lipsticks

September 23, 2016

MAC’s latest is the Liptensity Lipstick ($21 each for 3.6 g/0.12 oz) which is an intensely pigmented lipstick with a satin finish. The pigment in these lipsticks is so good they are what I’d consider one-swipe wonders. If you’re like me and love the rich pigment and saturated color of matte lipsticks or liquid lipsticks but hate that dried out matte look, the Liptensity lip colors will give you that full coverage without looking fake or dry. There are 24 shades total, all with a satin finish and no shimmer. The range is quite impressive and they seem to have covered a large number of colors from neutrals, corals, plums, reds, pinks and some bold edgy colors. I lip swatched the ones I could see myself wearing and every single color performs well.Texture is smooth and creamy. They have a full coverage without feeling thick although they aren’t necessarily weightless. There’s no hydrating feel but they did not dry out my lips and feel comfortable once on. Lasting power is among the best I’ve tried and they stay put for a long time without fading as long as you don’t touch your lips.

I split the colors by color group for swatches. All except the last category have also been lip swatched (I just couldn’t bring myself to put on blue lipstick lol). In the photos I’m wearing the Prolongwear Foundation in NC35. (Still testing the formula to see if my skin can handle it.)

Neutrals include:

Driftwood which is a pale mauve nude pink
Doe is a light medium neutral beige brown
Toast & Butter is a medium brown
Medium Rare is a soft creamy pink
Smoked Almond is a medium peachy rose

By request I’ve brought back larger lip swatches but will also have side by sides at the bottom. Not sure that I will keep doing the individual lip swatch photos as they take up the entire page! I also feel self conscious that enlarging the photos allows you to see every imperfection on my skin 🙁

Next up are the reds and oranges. They’re similar with slight variations in undertone:

Lobster is an orange red
Habanero is an orange
Fireworks is a bright red
Life’s Blood is a blue-based red
Mulling Spices is a a deeper red

Next up are the browns and plums. These surprised me the most because they go on the lips different from what you see in the tube. These have a vamp feel.

Dionysus is a plum red
Cordovan is a reddish plum
Double Fudge is an intense brown
Burnt Violet is a deep vamp plum

Up next are the pinks and mauves. Even though I’m a neutral lip lover at heart I really have a soft spot for Claretcast and Marsala.

Gumball is a bubblegum pink
Eros is a cool-toned bright pink
Post Modern is a warm bright pink
Claretcast is a fuchsia mauve
Marsala is a mauve plum

Last but not least are the bold edgy colors. These are shades I could never feel comfortable wearing but arm swatched for reference.

Ambrosial is a vibrant fuchsia plum pink
Galaxy Grey is a grey lilac
Hellebore is a purple
Blue Beat is a navy
Stallion is a deep black

One last roundup and lip swatches side by side:

An impressive lipstick launch. The formula performs well and I love the sleek colorful packaging. The caps match the lipstick color and the lip product is one that fills the entire tube. I love that the tips are beveled which makes application easier than the flat top ones you see from some other brands. Most MAC lipsticks make my lips peel by the next day as they are a bit drying. I lip swatched all the colors in a single day and by the next day my lips were fully in tact without any peeling or dry patches. So while they aren’t necessarily moisturizing I do think they have a non-drying formula. If you have dry lips with patches you might want to consider using the MAC Prep + Prime Lip or Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade as a base first. Both will smooth out the lip without making them too emollient where the lipstick will slide off.

Out of the ones I lip swatched I’m really hard pressed to pick a favorite because they are all good. If I had to narrow down my picks to 5 it would be: Doe, Postmodern, Claretcast, Smoked Almond and Burnt Violet.

Bottom line definitely worth checking out. You can find them now online at MAC and Nordstrom. (I spotted them yesterday at my local Nordstrom counter.) At this time I do believe they are limited-edition.

Have you checked these out yet? What colors did you end up getting if you bought these?

Many thanks to MAC for sending me all the shades to play with!

17 Comments