I reviewed the a few items from the Tom Ford Orchid Collection last month and today I have two more to share thoughts on which includes the Velvet Orchid Lip Color ($53) and Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum ($82 to $168). If you recall from my last post I was waiting for the pink highlighter powder in Velvet Bloom to arrive before posting this particular review. Turns out they had a mix up on the website and shipped the wrong color with my order. I went to the store to exchange and it was actually a good thing that I went in store to try it. I’ve read mixed reviews about pink option and the one I tested in store was very sheer with non-existent pigment. It looked chalky with a hard stiff texture and barely any color showed up as I swiped it with a finger and also a brush that was a tester at the counter. As much as I adore Tom Ford cheek products, I decided to pass.
Up first is one of the limited-edition lip colors that comes packaged in a deep violet embossed packaging. Size is the same as the regular lip colors – only the exterior is different. I opted for the lighter option which is called Velvet Orchid. It’s a plum pink with silvery shimmer. It’s medium to full coverage and falls somewhere in between medium to bold in color. It’s not quite dramatic or deep enough to be bold but it’s still not a neutral. The shimmer is visible on my lips but it’s a pretty kind.
Below it’s swatched on bare lips. It pulls neutral to cool on me. With the flash the silvery shimmer shows up more than without a flash.
Dior Addict Hydra-Gel Core Mirror Shine in Sophisticated (on lips here)
It’s a lovely color for fall that pulls mauve, plum and pink all at the same time. If you have the Lips and Boys in Daniel I do think it’s similar enough that you can skip. So Vain is warmer with a bit less shimmer.
Up next is the Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum. I bought the 30 ml version which is a Sephora exclusive (other sizes can be found at all other Tom Ford retailers). I ordered this one without testing it and I must admit the beautiful rose gold packaging was calling my name as soon as it popped up. It’s a warm cashmere floral but it has notes that makes me think of licorice and root beer. Once I had those two in my head I just couldn’t get them out and all I can think of is food when I wear this. I will say this one is just not really my cup of tea. I asked my husband what he thought. He usually likes Tom Ford fragrances on me. His response, “not my favorite, but I don’t hate it.” I feel the same.
Top notes: bitter orange, tuberose, cypress, peppercorns
Middle notes: lily, spider lily, black orchid, clove
Base notes: cashmeran, patchouli, vetiver, ambroxan, sylkolide, vanilla, chestnut cream
I’m still working my way through testing a few new scents that have launched this fall. I hope to review them soon for those curious. I will say that so far I’m head over heels in love with Louis Vuitton Parfums Apogée and Matiere Noire along with the Replica Filters.
Bottom line, both nice to have, but given the comparisons for the lips, I don’t think Velvet Orchid is a must, especially if you own So Vain or Daniel. There are little differences that make them different enough to justify though so if it’s your kind of color I’d say go for it. After all I have dozens of the same neutral pink for lips but will never stop getting excited about new ones that launch. Perfume is so personal I think Orchid Soleil is hit or miss. If you like warm florals with a bit of spice you may want to give this a spritz at the store. For me I’m glad I bought the smallest version so it wasn’t as expensive of a mistake as buying the larger sizes.
I found the 30 ml Orchid Soleil at Sephora. The rest of the Orchid Collection including the Velvet Orchid Lipstick, Black Orchid Lipstick and Nightbloom Powders are available exclusively in the US at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Tom Ford. At this time I believe the lipstick and powders are limited-edition.
Have you tried these yet? I will have reviews of the new Lip Contour Duos and the AW16 collection up as soon as I can! First impressions are very good and I can’t wait to share them with you.
The Barneys Love Yourself Event is back again and runs through September 11th. With any $200 or more purchase online or in stores for beauty you get a choice of a women’s beauty or men’s grooming gift bag filled with minis. If you’re shopping online, no code is needed and once your cart hits the qualifying mark a pop up window should show up on your screen allowing you to pick the women’s or men’s bag. I’ve shopped this event for years and am excited to team up with Barneys to share the gift contents and some recommendations. I love that they’ve kept the bag size and design consistent over the years. I’ve collected quite a few as I’ve found them perfect for travel. Mine have been well loved so unfortunately I’ve had to throw away a few so I look forward to each season’s beauty event.
The gift contents for the women’s bag includes:
Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum .1 fl oz/3 ml
Malin + Goetz Recovery Treatment Oil .06 fl oz/2 ml
Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Masque .5 fl oz/15 ml
The Organic Pharmacy Face Cream Double Rose Rejuvinating .24 fl oz/7 ml
Davines Oi All in One Milk 1.69 fl oz/50 ml
Sisleya Essential Skin Care Lotion .5 fl oz/15 ml
Chantecaille Fruit and Flower Acids Mask .17 fl oz/5 ml
Replica Lipstick On 1.2 ml
By Terry Baume de Rose 3g/.1 oz
Byredo Super Cedar 0.06 fl oz/2 ml
Diptyque 34 Eau de Toilette 0.06 fl oz/2 ml
Rodin Olio Lusso 0.08 fl oz/2.5 ml
Furterer 5 Sens .1 fl oz/3 ml
La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream .24 oz/7 ml
Mila Moursi Lifting Cream .1 fl oz/4 ml
Marvis Whitening Mint .5 oz/10 ml
Deborah Lippmann Physical Attraction Nail Polish .27 fl oz/8 ml
Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Pencil in Basic Black .69 g
3LAB Super Eye Treatment .1 oz/3 ml
Loewe 001 Man and Woman minis 2 ml each
Lilah B Palette Perfection Eye Quad sampler on card
Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl 1.3 g
Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer in Mood Light .10 fl oz/3 ml
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Conditioner 40 ml
Rituals White Lotus & Yi Yi Ren Foaming Shower Gel 1.6 fl oz/50 ml
A few of my favorite things:
Diptyque Eau de Toilette in L’Ombre Dans L’eau is the fragrance version of the Baies candle which is blackcurrant and rose. I have the mini travel size that was limited-edition shown but it’s a go-to for evenings and special occasions. I think it’s a perfect one for fall.
Diptyque Candle in Baies is my favorite candle right now, I recycle them to use as containers for brushes, glosses, pens and anything that will fit inside (this Mini Trio was my first Diptyque purchase ever).
By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon is the one shadow stick I would say is a must-have, it’s a shimmering bronzey taupe that is versatile for any occasion or look.
NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight is a classic sheer light pink, since it’s sheer I use it to top lipsticks for a bit of a milky shine (I also adore the shade Chelsea Girls).
Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque is hands down one of the best purifying masks that is good for sensitive skin, it sucks out impurities and excess oil and is gentle enough for me to use 4x per week on bad skin weeks (I normally use it 1 to 2 x per week).
Byredo Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum is one of my favorite sweet scents, notes include bergamot, lemon, neroli, African marigold, bucchu, violet, jasmin petals, cyclamen, black amber, musk, vetiver and Moroccan cedarwood (I also own it in the Body Cream).
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Wonder Worker is something I just reviewed yesterday and several readers have also voiced their love for this, it’s a really good hair smoother and primer for heat treatment, it also smells amazing!
Tatcha Balanced Pore Perfecting Water Gel (c/o) has been a go-to all summer long for a lightweight moisturizer that’s good for sensitive skin, it also does indeed smooth out pores like the name implies and works well under all the foundations I have in rotation so I don’t need a primer.
Le Labo x Laundress Detergent in Rose 31 is not shown, but if you’re stocked on everything and can’t think of anything new to try, try the Le Labo Detergent. The price is jaw dropping almost to the point of being ridiculous, but I promise it’s worth the splurge.
Some new items I just started playing with:
NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Rigel (new for fall) is one of the prettiest soft rosey pinks that won’t give you the pink-eye look and is good for an all over wash of color.
NARS Dual Intensity Blush Palette is a blush lover’s dream come true, if you don’t like creams but want something that’s not a traditional powder, the Dual Intensity formula is good because it’s like a hybrid, pigment is excellent and easy to blend with a slightly creamy texture so it adheres really well to the face and stays put all day long.
La Mer The Cleansing Micellar Water is something I’m already 1/3 through, I picked this up a few months ago and really like it. It’s gentle, effective and doesn’t irritate my skin for a makeup remover. I don’t know that I’ll repurchase because it’s pricey but I have no complaints on this one. For a less expensive alternative that’s still really good, the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water has been a favorite for years. The Cleansing Spa Water Cloths are a must for travel or on-the-go.
I don’t have a full list for the men’s bag but you can see both below, Glowing is the women’s bag. Dashing is the men’s grooming bag.
There are also some brands that have step up gifts with purchase online and in store. I do believe stores have different options so if you’re near a store call them or stop by to check out the individual brand GWPs.
The event runs through September 11th online and in stores with any $200 or more purchase, while supplies last at Barneys New York. Based on a comparison of this year’s bag to previous ones it does seem like they’ve mixed it all up quite a bit this season. There are a lot of minis I’ve never seen sampled before. As a sucker for minis I’m excited about having a mini of the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream and By Terry Baume de Rose. I’m also eager to try the Rodin Face Oil.
Have you stopped by Barneys yet? If so let me know what you bought! I love reading about hauls.
Many thanks to Barneys for sponsoring this post. Items that were press samples indicated with a c/o, others purchased by me.
When it comes to hair care creams, serums or oils I have to say that I’m just simply overwhelmed with all the options on the market. However there are so many different hair types and there is so much you can do with styling it does make sense why there are so many options. I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to styling my hair. I either blow dry and straighten or just let it air dry. For me I like to keep my hair on the medium to long side because it’s easiest for me to manage and also tie up in a pony tail or bun. I have medium to thick hair that is prone to frizz. It’s never been color treated although I have always been curious about the process and have been wanting to try it for a long time. My friends who have usually tell me not to though. They say once you start it’s a process you can’t really just say you’ll take a break from and that it requires a lot of maintenance.
Back to the styling. My hair is usually heat treated with a blow dryer and often a flat iron. My two favorites are the T3 PROi (c/o) and HAI Convertible Ceramic Flat Iron. I don’t mind air drying my hair on days where I’m not in a rush but I really don’t like having wet hair for an extended period of time and in the past air drying usually meant it would dry to an unflattering frizz. I would say that my main concerns for styling are controlling the frizz and flyaways without having something that will weigh down the hair or look greasy as the day progresses. Since I heat treat it frequently, finding something to protect or smooth it is also important.
Quick repost from previous articles on what my hair looks like, it varies in length depending how long it’s been in between cuts.
I’ve had a few go-to’s I would call staples but this year I’ve acquired a number of new to me products, some press samples for review and some based on recommendations from people who said “this product is simply the best.” This post has been months in the making. I’ve split the styling products by category and if you’re looking for something new or have been interested in any of these I hope this post helps you. Sometimes I’ll be in a Sephora store standing in front of the hair care section like a deer in headlights. This is going to be a long one and if you’re wondering what I plan on doing with all of these, I’m passing a good portion along to friends.
Up first are some items I am always happy to test out and try which includes blow dry treatments, primers and smoothers. I really believe adding a treatment before heat helps tremendously in detangling the hair and giving a good smooth finish.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer (c/o, available at Space NK) is a pre-heat styler to condition, smooth and protect hair from heat breakage. I’ve used this one for years in the minis that you find with GWPs. It’s one of the best heat primers and smoothers I’ve used. It spritzes product evenly through the hair and doesn’t weigh it down. It is on the sweet smelling side like a mix of fruit and vanilla which is very strong when you spray it. The good thing is it does fade after your blow dry is finished. Leaves hair feeling silky, smooth and healthy looking.
Moroccanoil Blow Dry Concentrate (c/o, available at Morocccanoil and Nordstrom) is a new concentrate that can be used pre and post heat styling. For me it had a similar consistency and texture to the regular Moroccanoil but this new one comes with a pump dispenser which is genius. It comes in a glass bottle and works to smooth hair and add shine. As a huge fan of Moroccanoil I give this one a thumbs up.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Wonder Worker Air Dry/Blow Dry Perfector (available at Shu Uemura Art of Hair and Barneys New York) has had so many rave reviews and I had to try it out. It was a bit hard for me to find in stores near me so I ordered it online. It works to prevent frizz and smooth hair. It is scented almost like a Byredo Gypsy Water kind of vibe but a lot lighter and sheerer. Their website claims that it instantly hydrates, detangles, smoothes, conditions, boosts radiance, tames frizz, and add silkiness. It does all of them. For my hair I still need to add a finishing product on ends for shine. Other than that it’s awesome.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Satin Design Polishing Milk (available at Shu Uemura Art of Hair and Barneys New York) is another one that many love. I was torn between Satin Design and Wonder Worker so I ordered both to see what the difference. The Satin Design can also be used as a blow dry pre-treatment. Main difference is texture and consistency. This one is more like a fluid cream versus spray. It’s easy to work through the hair. Leaves hair feeling soft. Doesn’t leave hair greasy and holds up well in hot weather but it is thicker in consistency compared to the spray of Wonder Worker.
R+Co Park Ave Blow Out Balm (available at Birchbox) is amazing. I bought this in store at Space NK but it’s not listed on their website anymore. I love the way this smells and R+Co packaging is always so creative. It has a smooth fluid texture with a bit of thickness like a smooth cream.
What do you do when all the blow-dry products you’ve tried are amazing and have limited bathroom and storage space? Since I blow dry my hair very frequently and go through product fast, I can justify keeping all of these. I would say my recommendation for you would be based on your preference for consistency and packaging – do you like a spray, cream, pump or tube? If I were forced to pick one I would say kill me now. Just kidding – I have to give it a three way tie between the Shu Uemura Wonder Worker, Moroccanoil Blow Dry Concentrate and Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Primer.
Next are beachy wave sprays or what some call surf sprays. I never thought beachy wave sprays were any good because some I’ve tried in the past left my hair crunchy feeling. I do know the point of a beachy spray is to give it that tousled slightly messy undone beach look, but having hair that feels soft is still essential for me.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray (c/o, available at Space NK) is the best surf spray I’ve tried. I love the entire Surf Line and this spray gives that sea salt beachy kind of look with texture and volume. With heat treatment it does give that windswept look like it claims. I love the way the line smells which is rare for me when it comes to beach/salt sprays. It smells lightweight fresh and what I’d think of as soft and beachy.
Oribe Apres Beach Spray (available at Birchbox and Space NK) has been my go-to beach spray for years. I spray it on my hair and let it air dry and hair dries to a soft natural wave without any frizz. The only downside is the price – Oribe is very pricey and with aerosols I feel like you get less bang for your buck. This one gets used up quickly by me, but I know the point of product is to be used.
Ouai Wave Spray (c/o, available at Birchbox and Space NK) is a decent spray similar to the others in the sense it’s a mist that adds texture and a natural wave. It does hold the hair in place to give it that undone look. It also has the same floral scent as the Finishing Creme, which I’ll say again isn’t bad, just something I’m not a huge fan of. Performance wise it works. Scent wise, I prefer the Oribe or Bumble products. This one has a slightly heavier feel on my hair.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion (c/o, available at Space NK) is now tied with the Oribe Apres Beach spray for me. I love that you shake it up to mix contents of oil and salt. It gives a softer feel to the hair compared to the Surf Spray which I really really love. The oil adds a very natural sheen. A little can go a long way. I hands down recommend this. Works well to air dry the hair to a natural finish and look.
Top two favorites are the Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion and Oribe Apres Beach Spray.
Up next are hair oils and serums. Most of these can be multi-use products to use as a pre-heat treatment and also finishing product. I usually don’t like oils because I find they are easy to overdo and once you apply too much, it’s not like a blush that you can tone down. For me if there’s too much oil I simply just have to rewash my hair or put it up in a pony tail and hope that it helps cover a bad hair look.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil (c/o, available at Space NK) is described as a lightweight oil to add shine. Reviews are mixed and I’m in the batch that finds this too heavy and greasy looking. I will say that a little goes a very long way so the quick fix is to simply use less. If you have very dry hair or have days your hair just looks like it’s had too much heat styling this is a great fix. For me it’s best as a once in a while treatment because it is very rich. For everyday it’s too much for me and easy to overdo. If you can manage how much you dispense and apply it’s very good to restore the hair’s shine and gives it a heathly look.
Ouai Hair Oil (c/o, available at Space NK) is a lightweight oil to tame frizz and seal ends. If the scent of most Ouai products didn’t have that floral scent I think I would be more inclined to use them more frequently. It’s a great lightweight oil so if you’re one who has been wanting an oil that is truly lightweight but adds shine, this performs well. I like the packaging and the dispenser works well. The bottle is sized perfectly to fit easily into my hand and for that I give the line a huge thumbs up on all their styling products.
Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil (c/o, available at Shu Uemura Art of Hair) is in my top two for hair oils because of the lightweight texture and almost-camellia like scent. I can use this as a finishing product after styling and sometimes put it on at night as an overnight treatment. Lots of love for this one and no complaints. The one I have is part of a limited-edition collaboration hence the packaging, but you can buy it in the regular clear packaging.
Moroccanoil Moroccanoil (available at Nordstrom) is the other oil in my top two. It’s a classic and I am beyond obsessed with the way it smells. I’ve gifted lots to friends and family and they all love this regardless of hair type.
Kerastase Elixir Ultime (available at Kerastase) has high ratings and raves which is why I ordered it. For me it’s excellent but also has a slight floral powdery scent that actually fades after a few minutes so it’s not a huge problem. For me it was not life changing but it’s a solid oil you can use before styling, on wet or dry hair, after styling. It’s multi-purpose and comes in a sturdy glass jar with a pump. People who’ve bought it seem to really love it. I have no complaints about it, it’s just on my favorites list.
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil (available at Space NK) is another long-time love. I feel like this is a good oil to add natural shine and make the hair look healthy. It comes in close third behind Moroccanoil and Shu Uemura. I’ve never been let down by anything Oribe and think it’s very good.
Finishing creams and serums can perform similar to the oils listed above in the sense they add shine, give texture or smooth the hair.
Gloss Moderne High-Gloss Serum (c/o, available at Sephora) is one I received from SpaceNK but it’s no longer listed on their website. Out of all the products I tested this is one of the few where my reaction was “I don’t like it.” The words “gloss” and “serum” made me think this would be a clear product. It’s a beige cream. It’s also very sweet smelling like a vanilla cake which I’m not a fan of. Texture was thick and felt sticky. It did work well to add shine and once on the hair it did not leave my hair feeling sticky. Scent is important to me and this one I just did not like. If you’re a vanilla fan though you will probably like it.
Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream (available at Birchbox and Space NK) was previously in my Top 2 shine creams tied with Drybar’s Chaser. I still love this one for soft shine and moisture. If you have super dry hair or ends that need some love this is a great one. I love the way it smells. It adds shine and makes hair look soft and healthy with a sheen. Doesn’t get greasy or feel heavy.
Oribe Creme for Style (c/o, available at Space NK) is new to me but not a new product. This has replaced the Supershine Cream as my favorite cream. I like this one because it adds more texture and has a softer looking finish. If you like shine stick with the Supershine. If you feel like you want a softer yet textured look, the Creme for Style is it.
Drybar The Chaser (available at Sephora) has been such a long-time favorite I’ve lost count of how many tubes I’ve gone through. I’ve used this pre-heat styling and post styling. My husband has taken several of my tubes and claimed them as his own putting them in his drawers on his side of the bathroom. It adds just the right amount of shine while taming flyaways. LOVE.
Ouai Finishing Creme (c/o, available at Birchbox and Space NK) is a lightweight finishing cream to give what they call a “lived-in” look. It does exactly what it claims. I prefer something that looks a bit more polished so this one isn’t really for me. It also has a floral scent that is super feminine. I’m not a huge fan of the scent but it isn’t unpleasant.
Bottom line is I stand my point of view that everyone needs a little Oribe in their life, although the Drybar Chaser has never let me down.
These aren’t really styling products but more treatment masks.
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt (c/o, available at Net-A-Porter and Sephora) is something I tried late last year. I’ve gone through two tubs already. Earlier this year I had the privilege of meeting Christophe Robin in person to learn more about his line and hair care philosophy. It was a joy to meet him and chat with him about hair care. I’ll say up front the Cleansing Salt is probably best suited for those with thick hair like me. I use it once a week as a purifying treatment to rebalance and cleanse the scalp and hair. I use in place of shampoo on the days I use it. For color-treated hair it helps to soothe scalp irritation caused from chemicals. Leaves the hair and scalp feeling squeaky clean. He did suggest after a look at my hair that I follow with a rinse out conditioner since I have normal hair. I do follow occasionally with a conditioner on the ends.
Christophe Robin Cleansing Mask with Lemon (c/o, available at Net-A-Porter and Sephora) is another cleansing mask. It’s softer in finish and a bit less stripping than salt scrub. It has lemon and is suitable for color-treated hair. The trick to using this is for me to apply on dry hair/scalp. Let it sit for a few minutes and slowly add water to emulsify into a foam. Rinse and hair is left clean and soft and moisturized. I’m almost done with a tub and need to replace very soon.
Ouai Treatment Masque (available at Space NK) is one I reviewed before in my shampoo/conditioner post. I didn’t really like the packaging design of these but after using them more frequently I have found I can look past it because this is one of the best restoring masks for the hair I’ve tried.
Last but not least, for texture and volume:
Edward Bess Black Sea Hair Hero (c/o, available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and QVC) is the best all around do-it-all hair product for me. I use it pre-heat stying or after to add shine and texture to ends. It’s the best smelling hair product I’ve ever tried which is hard to describe but fresh. My brother helped me shoot this a couple years ago (time flies!) and to this day it’s still a go-to. The bottle is huge and a little goes a long way.
Ouai Dry Shampoo (c/o available at Birchbox and Space NK) I rarely use dry shampoo. I’ve tried a number of brands and at the end of the day I think the concept is a bit gross. I wash my hair daily and I know some do not have the time to wash and dry it daily or find it is too stripping for the hair, but for me washing daily is a must. Still there are occasions where I’m just dead tired or didn’t wake up early enough to wash and dry my hair. The Ouai Dry Shampoo is the best one I’ve tried. It doesn’t leave a white film or cast on the hair and absorbs oil.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Spray (c/o, available at Space NK) is the best volumizing product I’ve tried. I’ve mentioned before even though I have thick hair, finding a product that will actually add volume has been almost impossible for me. Most just don’t add any volume. This one adds noticeable volume. It’s a blow dry mousse and works. Leaves the hair thick and volumized all the way through.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (available at Birchbox and Space NK) is hands down one of the best texturizers I’ve tried. I love the way it smells and adds volume. I use it as a dry shampoo occasionally to give a lift to roots.
Shu Uemura Ample Angora Volumizing Light Foam (available at Shu Uemura Art of Hair) is another winner for the volumizing category. Perhaps it’s really only the foam kinds of products that work on thicker hair to really add volume. It’s a bit more lightweight compared to the Bumble and Bumble product so there’s a bit less volume with the Shu Uemura one. It smells great, volumizes, combs through hair easily and isn’t sticky.
Christophe Robin Instant Volumizing Hair Mist with Rose Water (c/o, available at Net-A-Porter and Sephora) is one of the best smelling hair sprays I’ve tried. I’ve mentioned I do not like the florals from Ouai, this Christophe Robin has rosewater so it smells like roses but it’s the good kind of rose. On my thick hair it doesn’t add a ton of volume but it smooths everything out and leaves the hair looking and smelling amazing.
In sum, I tested about 30 hair styling products. With the exception of the tried and true favorites like the Drybar Chaser, Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and Edward Bess Hair Hero, the remaining new to me items have been tested for several months. Summer humidity is relatively mild in Southern California so I can’t comment on how these hold up in extremely hot or humid weather. While traveling last summer through Europe and also earlier this year in New York, I barely used any styling product – it was so hot my hair air dried very quickly and it felt too hot to wear any serums or creams. After extensive testing, my top picks would include the following:
Best finishing product: Oribe Creme for Style and Edward Bess Hair Hero
Best oil: Moroccanoil and Shu Uemura Essence Absolue
Best heat pre-treatments for blow drying: Shu Uemura Wonder Worker, Moroccanoil Blow Dry Concentrate and Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Primer
Best volumizer: Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Spray and Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ample Angora
Best beachy spray or air-dry sprays: Oribe Apres Beach Spray and Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion
Best lightweight shine products: Oribe Supershine and Moroccanoil
Note if you have fine, color treated or even thicker or curly hair, some of the ones that worked for me may not work for you. As always I’d love to hear about your favorites regardless of hair type! Please share in the comments 🙂 I’m pretty stocked up on hair care for the moment but it’s something I tend to use up relatively fast.
Don’t forget that Space NK is having their Autumn Beauty Edit (huge GWP with any $250+ purchase), Barneys New York Love Yourself is going on (GWP bag with any $200+ purchase) and also next week Bergdorf Goodman will have their Rewarding Beauty event so if you have things on your list you may want to group your purchases to take advantage of the events this month. Also not on sale or part of any events, but Net-A-Porter has a Christophe Robin Essentials Travel Size Set which is nice if you want to try out items before splurging on the full size.
If you have any questions let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them. I’m not an expert with styling in any sense and I know some of you are probably better versed when it comes to hair care. For those who are like me I hope this post helps from the perspective of a beauty junkie who really doesn’t know much about hair care products.
September is a big month for beauty events and Space NK’s Autumn Beauty Edit is happening this week online and in stores. With any $250+ purchase, Space NK is giving away a gift bag filled with 29 beauty fragrance, skincare and makeup minis. If you’re one of the N.Dulge members you can shop the event early September 7-8th. There is an online code for N.Dulge members in case you can’t make it to the store, simply enter ESSENTIALS16 at checkout. The gift will be open to the public on September 9th in stores and online, while supplies last.
A peek at what’s inside this season’s gift bag. This is not your typical ordinary gift with purchase. In past seasons sometimes I’ve seen a number of repeats. While it’s nice to sample classics, I’m always looking to try new items. This year they have quite a few new items.
Space NK Limited Edition Cosmetic Bag
containing:
111SKIN Space Anti Age Day Cream NAC Y2 (15ml)
Aquareveal Satin Bright Soft Water Peel for Face (15ml)
By Terry Baume de Rose Crystalline (2.3g)
Derm Institute Anti-Oxidant Hydration Gel Masque (2 x 3ml)
Diptyque Eau De Toilette (10ml, assorted scents)
Diptyque Le Redouté Scented Candle (35g)
Dermarché Labs FullFill (2g)
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum (0.16oz)
Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser (50ml)
Goldfaden MD Brightening Elixir (5ml)
Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon (1g)
Juara Candlenut Body Crème (1.5oz)
Kat Burki complete b Bio-Correcting Face Crème (5ml)
Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Mascara (4g)
Lipstick Queen Medieval Lipstick (1.5g)
Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer (1oz)
MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 (0.25oz)
Mila Moursi Lifting Serum (4ml)
Miriam Quevedo Platinum & Diamond Serum (50ml)
Natura Bissé The Cure Cream (5ml)
Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask (5ml)
Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo (15ml)
Ouai Finishing Crème (0.5oz)
Philip B. Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Crème Rinse (2oz) or Maui Wowie Volumizing & Thickening Beach Mist (2oz)
R+Co Dallas Thickening Spray (1.7oz)
Ren Flash Hydro Boost (10ml)
Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer (5ml)
Smith & Cult Lip Gloss in Life in Photographs (0.08ml)
Sunday Riley Good Genes (10ml)
There’s plenty to browse and shop in all categories for makeup, fragrance, hair care and skincare. This post from my summer NY visit might help give you a visual on brand selection. They just started carrying Surratt Beauty. There’s a new Face Oil and Lip Balm from Diptyque and the By Terry Rouge-Expert Click Sticks launched as well (although I have not yet tried them).
To recap on dates, N.Dulge Members can shop early today Sept 7 to 8. Promotion is open to public on September 9. Available online at spacenk.com (US only) and in stores, while supplies last.
Are you checking out the Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit event this year? Or are you shopping other events? Let me know if you have any recommendations for skincare that you’ve been loving.
Many thanks to Space NK for sending over a preview of the gift!
Charlotte Tilbury has launched a few new items this fall including a new perfume Scent of a Dream and new look called The Dreamy Look. A few months ago she also launched a new brow gel in a few shades and I have been testing out the clear one to include in today’s review. What I have a look at includes:
The Dreamy Look features a new eyeshadow palette and a few other repromoted items including the mascara, bedroom black kohl and Secret Salma Lipstick. You can buy the items individually or in the Dreamy Look Gift Box Set. While browsing the site I did not realize the featured lipstick in Secret Salma was a repromote from the Hot Lips launch until the moment I hit submit on my order. So now I have two.
Up first is the new perfume called Scent of a Dream. I received the 50 ml as a press sample for review and it is exactly what I envisioned Charlotte Tilbury to launch for a fragrance. It’s a very complex kind of scent that has a rich and seductive feel. To me it’s very much an evening date night kind of scent rather than everyday. Lasting power is quite strong and I was able to smell it late in the afternoon from the morning spritz. It’s a dark woodsy floral but has some light notes mixed in at the same time.
Top notes include lemon, peach, black pepper, saffron, mandarin and bergamot.
Heart notes include tuberose, jasmine, frankincense, hedoine, violet, muget, orange flower, rose oil, tea rose, green ivy and magnolia.
Base notes include fire tree, Iso E Super, patchouli, ambroxan, precious woods, amber, castoreum, musks.
According to Charlotte Tilbury, the top notes develop after 15 minutes after warming up on the skin and heart notes develop after five hours. I do find it shifts on the skin after a few hours but still smells very much the same. Had I spritzed and tried this in store on my own I don’t know that I would have bought it for myself – it’s quite a bit more seductive and rich compared to what I typically wear and to this day I still feel like my best date-night scent is Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb although Edward Bess is coming out with three fragrances next month which are incredible and Louis Vuitton launched seven new scents which are also quite amazing which might move Flowerbomb off the favorites list to a three-way tie (more details and review soon but I still have a lot of testing to do). Bottom line the Scent of a Dream is indeed dreamy and lovely, just not quite me.
Next up is a quick reswatch of Secret Salma which is a gorgeous raspberry pink color. It’s the matte revolution formula which is matte but luminous at the same time. Full review and lip swatches of all the Hot Lips Lipsticks in this post here but here’s another look for reference.
The Legendary Brows Brow Gel in Clear is a brow gel that comes with a very tiny brush wand. I am not a fan of clear brow gels because of two reasons. First is they rarely do anything for my brows and second they often leave that white chalky cast. I am very low maintenance when it comes to brows and I am well aware that I need to up my brow game. To date my go-to’s are the Diorshow Brow Styler (review here) and the La Palette Sourcils de Chanel (review here) – they’re the best no fuss impossible to overdo brow products for brow dummies. I’ve tried a number of brow gels in clear and tinted and try to use them but often forget to. The Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows Brow Gel performs well to actually hold brows in place. There’s no white film or chalky look once it dries. I will say that a little goes a long way. The first time I tried it I applied way too much and it left my brows very sticky. I’m really pleased with it – it holds brows in place after combing them upwards.
Last but not least is the new Legendary Muse Luxury Palette. This is limited-edition and has the same exterior star designed packaging as last year’s Fallen Angel Eyeshadow Palette. This year’s Legendary Muse texture is not like the limited-edition from last holiday but rather like her regular palettes in powder form for 3 shades and 1 glitter finish color. I last reported that the MAC Pressed Pigments were too glittery for me. The ones from Charlotte Tilbury and Tom Ford though are ones I find more wearable even though I’m very conservative for eye looks.
I have fallen head over heels for the Legendary Muse Luxury Palette. It’s a warmer palette of neutrals but still very wearable. Charlotte labels them 1 thru 4 on the back for application order but I apply this one in a different order. I like applying the darkest shade first and then follow with the top two layered on top and glitter topped as the last part. Pigment is medium to full. Colors match my arm so they look a bit sheer here but they do show up well on the eyes.
Colors are a soft pinky shimmer, warm coppery gold shimmer, light gold glitter and mauve shimmer.
A quick eye look in indoor lighting, no flash. Still working on getting the right lighting for face and eye swatches and beauty looks. I would say in real life the palette isn’t quite as reddish/mauve looking as the photos show below.
Comparison swatches below show that you can definitely find dupes for the palette, but the texture and combination just works so well. There are subtle differences in the shimmer and texture is soft and blendable. I bought my palette sight unseen so I did not know what to expect based on the online stock photos. I did know it would be on the warmer side and am thrilled at how it turned out.
Left to right below:
MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch
Anastasia Glow Kit in Sundipped, Moonstone shade (review)
Anastasia Glow Kit in That Glow, Golden Bronze shade (review) Anastasia Eyeshadow Single in Amber (review)
Tom Ford Cream Powder Duo in Naked Bronze, glitter shade (review here)
Anastasia Glow Kit in Sundipped, Tourmaline shade (review)
I really love the eyeshadow palette and think it’s a great one to wear for any occasion. Although I really don’t do lots of glitter makeup, the Charlotte Tilbury glitters are easy to wear and layer on top of other powder shades for a little glitz without going over the top. If you’re looking for a classic raspberry pink lip, Secret Salma is a gorgeous option that I think would suit a wide range of skintones. The brow gel is a good one but as I’m not really a brow aficionado I don’t think I’d call it a must-have but it is one of the few clear ones that actually hold my brows in place. The perfume is a beautiful one, but as perfume is very personal I think it’s a bit bolder than my personality and I only see myself wearing it for evening.
You can find the new Charlotte Tilbury launches online at Charlotte Tilbury. Right now the eyeshadow palette and perfume are also available at Nordstrom.
Have you tried any of these new launches yet? What did you think?
Perfume and brow gel provided courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury for review. Palette and lipstick purchased by me.
Marc Jacobs Beauty launched five shades of blush called the Air Blush Soft Glow Duo ($42 each for 8 g / 0.282 oz, made in Italy). I bought three of the shades back at the end of July and have been obsessed ever since. It was literally love at first swipe. I was just about to post my review when a surprise press box of all the colors arrived so I re-photographed and re-swatched everything all together for a comprehensive post. There are five colors total and although not new, they recommend the Angled Blush Brush ($38, reviewed here) for application.
The Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush has a similar concept to that of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes (reviewed here) in the sense that both contain two colors in each compact, one being a lighter softer shade and the other being a deeper or brighter blush color. The Hourglass blushes all have a highlighter color swirled in so they have a more luminous shimmer on the skin while the Marc Jacobs Beauty ones have a more satiny finish with less shimmer.
At $42 each I was expecting to be slightly disappointed because they are very expensive and I thought there might be a chance that they would not live up to my expectations because of the price. After testing these though I am pleased to report a thumbs up. They are indeed everything others have been raving about. The texture is indeed silky soft like they claim with a finish that looks like skin (not powdery) and they add a nice radiant natural glow to the cheeks. If you’re one who avoids shimmer blush at all costs but have been wanting something that glows this is it. It has a similar finish on the skin to that of Chanel blushes (US versions) that have a soft shimmer. I’m still not really thrilled about the price but I have no complaints as the quality, finish, packaging and colors are really superb.
The three shades I picked out were Kinks and Kisses, Lush and Libido and Flesh and Fantasy. After testing out the other two shades, I still think my first picks were the best ones for my skintone. These are striped with alternating colors which makes blending the two shades perfect. I really love the fact that each end has a slightly larger area of color so you can actually customize the intensity or color. Swirl the brush more on the left side for a lighter finish or dip it into the right side for more pigment and deeper color.
Colors described as I see them:
Kinks and Kisses is the perfect peachy pink mix
Flesh and Fantasy is a neutral nude, it has enough warmth so it’s not like a contour powder
Night Fever and Hot Stuff is the deepest option, I thought it would be too dark but it’s a very pretty plum with hint of cherry pink
Lines and Last Night is a peachy tangerine glow
Lush and Libido is a cool-toned orchid pink
Swatched side by side:
A look at each shade individually, up first is Lush and Libido. First two swatches are individual colors, last one is swirled. This is the same for all the other swatches below:
Lines and Last Night:
Kinks and Kisses:
Flesh and Fantasy:
Night Fever and Hot Stuff:
A few comparison swatches to show the difference in pigment, undertone and shimmer. What I like about the Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush is that they look soft and luminous on the skin, but the luminosity is diffused unlike other glowy products so if you photograph with a flash there’s no glare like with other strong shimmers.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta (reviewed here) is warmer than MJB Lush and Libido (I have a very slight preference for the Hourglass one just because I like warmer colors, but both are very pretty)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra (review here) is lighter, cooler toned, and more glowy than MJB Lines and Last Night or Kinks and Kisses
Becca Luminous Blushes in Foxglove and Dahlia (reviewed here) are a lot more pigmented and intense and offer a more dramatic glow
Two looks, left shows Lines and Last Night on the cheeks, right shows Lush and Libido:
Bottom line thumbs up. These have the perfect in between mix of satin and shimmer. They are luminous in a very natural sense so there’s no glare from shimmer or frost, yet there’s enough glow to give the skin that soft sheen. They are powdery so there is kick up like with most powder blushes. There’s no detectable scent in these which is a huge plus for someone like myself who has a sensitive nose. Even better – these don’t emphasize pores or imperfections on the cheeks. No irritation either. They do warm up on the skin very slightly but don’t darken a lot. In terms of lasting power I found these did stay put from morning to late afternoon without fading or sliding. I still am unsure how I feel about the $42 price tag but then I have paid more for Chanel, Tom Ford, NARS Dual Intensity Blushes to name a few. In my mind I still think of blush as something that should be in the $18 to $35 range at most but I like the decent sized compact and the fact that they don’t waste compact space on a mini brush which I usually find useless in most powder or blush compacts.
In terms of the brushes to use, any blush brush will do. I tried this with the recommended Marc Jacobs Beauty Angled Brush (which I had from holiday) and this gives the most sheer and natural finish on the cheeks. The bristles are soft and while they do pick up color, they dispense a sheer wash of color. I also tried this with the Chanel Blush Brush and MAC Angled Contour Brush #168 (both my most reached for blush brushes) and both worked equally well. They did pick up more color than the one from Marc Jacobs. I like those two because the size is perfect for my cheek shape and face size.
Although these are spendy I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you splurge on one. There’s nothing bad I can say about these. Formula and packaging are both on point. There seems to be a wide range of colors to suit anyone’s taste and I do think they are shades that are versatile no matter what skin tone or undertone you have.
Blushes and brush gifted by the Marc Jacobs Beauty team for review, although I did also purchase three of the shades to test out long before I discovered a press box was on it’s way.
Quite a few of you have asked that I bring back my monthly favorites roundups so I have one for you today. Many of you like the rotation and roundup kind of posts, I still have the nail/hand care, foundation, hair styling and skincare ones in the work. For those who can’t wait I’ll say that my top three favorite foundations still remain the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint (still Groenland + St. Moritz mixed), Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation (I use 125/Y315, all shades also available online in this value set now) and the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation (my best match is 123/Y365).
Onto my favorites for this month which was difficult for me to narrow down. I’m still enjoying these Molton Brown mini hand washes and these lip treatments. In addition these liquid lips are really very good. I have managed to narrow down a list of my top favorites for this past month though even though a lot of loves have gone unmentioned:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadows have been in heavy rotation because of their silky smooth texture, rich pigment, blendable finish and easy to wear shades. You can pick and choose your own colors to create quads, the one shown above has Sateen, Chiffon, Warm Taupe and Chocolate. To date I’ve accumulated quite a few you can see swatched here and here.
Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara is something I discovered in a set from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I love this because it thickens, volumizes and holds the curl. It also looks super dark on the lashes. I will repurchase this.
Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Powder (c/o) is relatively new to me but it is hands down the most naturally luminous highlighter I’ve tried this year (out of the new ones launched this year). I think it’s a must, swatches here.
Anastasia Glow Kit in Sundipped is one of the prettiest palettes I think I’ve seen in a while. If you don’t mind a good shimmer this is a great one for eyes and cheeks. I like mixing and swirling colors before applying to the eyes. Review + swatches here.
MAC Eyelash Curler is something I picked up recently and was pleasantly surprised. My go-to Chanel lash curlers have seen better days after years of use and I don’t think they’re carried in the US anymore. The one from MAC comes in close second for my eye shape.
Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Kidman’s Kiss (shown) and Super Cindy are both pretty close neutral peachy colors, I think the entire Hot Lips Lipsticks have been a knock out success, especially for those who like matte lips (she has the best matte lipstick formula in my opinion). The entire launch reviewed and swatched here.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk and Iconic Nude are my most reached for liners. Pillow Talk is a deeper pinky color while Iconic Nude is a brown nude. Both swatched here.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Shampoo wins for best shampoo to clean the hair well with a squeaky clean feel but won’t dry out the hair. It has a mild but fresh beachy kind of scent. Leaves the hair feeling soft and fluffy (but not frizzy). Even my husband likes it. September beauty events are just around the corner. I recommend putting this on your shopping list. I will repurchase this.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Conditioner also is a winner. I rarely am in love with both shampoo and conditioners of the same formula/brand and typically have to mix and match. This combo is pure love. More in this review here.
Tatcha Pore Perfecting Water Gel (c/o) is something I received earlier in the spring. It took me a long time to get into testing this because frankly I don’t like face gels. They’re often sticky or tacky and just don’t absorb well into my skin. This one does indeed have a gel like consistency but if you massage it into the skin it melds in nicely and doesn’t leave a film like other brands. I’ve been alternating this with Kate Somerville Nourish, both of which are lightweight for warmer weather. Neither will get greasy but have enough for my normal-combination skin. They wear very well under foundation too. The Pore Perfecting Water Gel is also available in a mini travel size. I love the packaging, the pump and the way it feels on the skin. Huge thumbs up. It also helps to smooth out pores.
Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask remains my tried and true clarifying mask that is gentle, even when my skin has flare ups. It sucks up excess dirt and oil. I have finally lost count of how many tubes I’ve bought and used up.
Kate Somerville RetAsphere™ Micro Peel (c/o) is a leave-on treatment for night that helps with skin uneveness and really works to improve texture. It’s very gentle but I use it once a week. It’s a micro-peel that infuses skin with retinol with 10% glycolic acid and lactose to help resurface skin. Out of all the skincare lines I’ve tried, I feel that Kate Somerville has truly been one of the game changers for my skin as I transitioned from my 20’s to 30’s. During that transition I went through a lot of stress and my skin suffered a lot with texture issues and repeated break outs. While I’ve worked to manage the stress, finding the right skincare has played a major role in improving texture. I’ve tried so many lines and out of all the ones I have tried, Kate Somerville all around has worked the best for me. I don’t use a night treatment every night because I sometimes just want to let the skin breathe. The RetAsphere™ 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream is one of the best most gentle yet effective night treatments I alternate with the Micro-Peel. The Micro-Peel makes the favorites list though because just using this once a week has improved my skin texture tremendously.
What are you loving right now? Do you have any favorites from the past month? As always I love reading about what you’ve tried, love and recommend. Even if something you tried hasn’t worked for you, I still love reading about those experiences as well. Are there any colors or collections you’ve been smitten with as we transition to fall beauty?
Press samples featured indicated with a “c/o”. As always all opinions my own.
