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Sabrina

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Soleil Collection – Ultra-Rich Lip Color

April 1, 2016

 

One of the new lip color formulas this summer in the Tom Ford Soleil Collection is called the Ultra-Rich Lip Color ($52 each). These are packaged in the white and gold tubes with a similar lipstick shape to the Lip Color Sheers but the Ultra-Rich Lip Color formula this summer is more creamy with fuller coverage and more of a moisturizing feel.

 

These are described as, “A vivid and high-shine lip color that moisturizes lips instantly. Over time, lips appear smoother, softer and suppler. This luminous and vivid lip color collection lasts up to 6 hours.”

 

After playing with 4 of the 6 shades over the past week I have found they do indeed offer instant moisture to the lips. On my lips they feel like a hybrid between the regular Lip Color and Lip Color Sheers with a smooth and creamy feel. Coverage is very impressive – it’s basically flawless with medium to full coverage that is easy to build without looking or feeling heavy. Lasting power is very good – I didn’t test for up to 6 hours per the description but the colors lasted for 4 hours without fading or budging.

 

The four shades I have shown in the below photo from left to right:

 

 

  • Le Mepris (my press sample says Le Mepris but online it’s labeled Les Mepris) is a bright reddish coral color. I’m normally drawn to neutrals but this one stands out as a knock out summery coral red. It has the perfect mix of red in it so brightens the complexion without looking garish.
  • Revolve Around Me is one of the most perfect flawless nudes I’ve ever tried. As many of you know I love nudes but because I have pigmented lips so many look like concealer on my lips or look patchy. Revolve Around Me has amazing full coverage on my lips and covers the surface with a smooth veil of color. It’s clearly a beige nude on me but has enough color that it does not wash out my lips like Nude Vanille, Blush Nude or the SS16 Lip Shine.
  • Temptation Waits is a medium brown cafe shade. My press sample was labeled Sex Oyster. I confirmed with the Tom Ford team that they changed the name to Temptation Waits so if you see that around on other blogs or websites know they are the same shade, the actual name is Temptation Waits. This one has a semi-sheer to medium finish but you can swipe and build for full coverage. It has a tiny bit of rose in it so it’s not a pure brown.
  • Solar Affair is a peachy coral. I thought this one would be my favorite since I’m drawn to coral shades. The color has a bit too much warmth and orange so when combined with my olive skin it makes my skin look more yellow, almost sallow. It’s a lovely color – when I compared Solar Affair next to Le Mepris, the red one won me over.
Swatches:

 

 

More close ups and lip swatches, for reference I’m wearing the Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque 4 in these swatches. Up first is Les Mepris:

 

 

Revolve Around Me:

 

 

 

Temptation Waits:

 

 

 

Solar Affair:

 

 

Two sets of swatch comparisons below, Set 1 includes the neutrals:

 

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Honeycomb (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Nude Vanille
Tom Ford Lip Color Sable Smoke (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer Skinnydip (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sweet Mystery (aka Lips and Boys Peter, lip swatch here)
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Chai + Molasses (lip swatch here)
Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Creme J’Adore (lip swatch here)

 

 

Set 2 for the corals:

 

Tom Ford Lip Color Naked Coral (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer Sweet Spot (lip swatch here)
Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer Paradiso (lip swatch here)
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Gingersnap, Persimmon + Gazpacho (lip swatch here)

 

 

 

The formula is a winner in my book. I didn’t think they could make a better lip color formula, but these new Ultra-Rich Lip Colors far surpass the regular Lip Color formula because it has a softer slightly more creamy feel which makes them glide easily on the lips. The Ultra-Rich Lip Colors do have a bit of shine to them which makes them look a bit less opaque than the regular Lip Colors. I think the formula is definitely worth checking out this summer.

 

You can find the Ultra-Rich Lip Colors at all Tom Ford Counters now for $52 each. My top 2 favorite shades include Le Mepris and Revolve Around Me. I haven’t checked out the other shades yet (there are 6 total), but right now I have plenty to play with.

 

Available in stores and online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora and Tom Ford.

 

Ultra-Rich Lip Colors provided courtesy of Tom Ford for review consideration.

 

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Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Color Collection for Summer 2016 – Sneak Peek + Swatches

March 31, 2016

Tom Ford just launched their summer beauty items in the Soleil Color Collection and it’s absolutely breathtaking. Everything is cased in the white and gold packaging for this season with new formulas for lips and beautiful items for the skin and cheeks. I have a quick sneak peek and wanted to list all the items that are available for reference. I received some press samples and purchased additional items to review which made a serious dent in my bank account but I don’t mind one bit because everything is gorgeous. Personal first impressions are all very good. Some items that were limited-edition in previous seasons have been repromoted this season such as the Cream and Powder Eye Duos, Pink Sand Cream Blush and Firelust Skin Illuminator. Also on a great note is that Tom Ford Beauty has now launched online at Sephora (yay!). The items in this year’s Soleil Color Collection:
Also not part of the color collection, but the Soleil Blanc Eau de Parfum and Shimmering Body Oil (previously reviewed here with other spring launches) have launched at all retailers (it was an early exclusive to Neiman Marcus for a while). Several of you have asked if this year’s oil is the same as last year’s – it unfortunately is not and I find this year’s version a bit sticky/tacky. I personally would recommend you skip the oil.

 
Quick swatches of what I have including some of the repromotes. Note I don’t have the entire summer collection swatched but here is what I have:

Fire Lust Skin Illuminator (press sample)
Pink Sand Cream Blush
Pieno Sole Cream Blush
Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo (press sample)

Gold Dust Bronzer
Terra Bronzer
Bronze Age (press sample)
Soleil Contouring Compact

Moisturecore Lip Color in Scandola
Moisturecore Lip Color in Carriacou (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in Mustique (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in  Pipa (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in Cala Di Volpe (press sample)
Moisturecore Lip Color in Otranto
Ultra-Rich Lip in Les Mepris (press sample)
Ultra-Rich Lip in Temptation Waits (press sample)
Ultra-Rich Lip in Revolve Around Me (press sample)
Ultra-Rich Lip in Solar Affair (press sample)

Cream & Powder Duos in Golden Peach and Naked Bronze (original review here):

Most of the summer collection has launched in stores and online. The only item that is a bit hard to find right now is the Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo which is on backorder at many places. I bought some of my items (non-press samples) from Nordstrom. The collection is also available online at Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. 

Stay tuned for individual reviews! I hope to have the Ultra-Rich Lip Color review up later this afternoon!

Some items featured include press samples and others purchased by me. Press samples indicated above next to the swatches.

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Uncategorized

MAC All the Right Angles Contour Palettes

March 30, 2016

MAC just launched four new contouring trios they call All the Right Angles Contour Palettes ($40 each). Each palette has three products cased in a two-tiered mirrored square compact to contour, shape and highlight with one Cream Color Base (4.5 g/0.15 oz) on the bottom, and on the top one Sculpting Powder (2.5 g/0.08 oz) and one Shaping Powder (2.5 g/0.08 oz). All the colors in this launch appear to be available for purchase individually with the exception of one of the Cream Color Bases in the Medium Dark Palette (Naked Universe) – so you may want to keep that in mind before buying one. MAC sent me Light as a press sample which I found too pale for my medium olive skin so I ordered the other three to review – partly because these are perfectly packaged for travel and also because I’m a huge fan of the cream color bases. Many of you have asked me what makeup items I’ve used up. At this point it’s hard to remember every single thing I’ve used up and repurchased, but I have used up several cream color bases in the past (Hush, Tint, Improper Copper, Virgin Isle). I think they make great bases for powder eyeshadow or as a blush highlighter.

Onto the products in each palettes – the quality and texture of the products in the palette is the same as the individual options. For those new these products, I’ll give a mini review on each in case you haven’t tried any of the items before. Cream Color Bases retail for $22 (or $14 in Pro Palette Form). These are emollient solid cream based products that gives a soft dewy finish of color or highlight. They are extremely versatile and can be used on eyes, lips or cheeks and work well on bare skin or over powder/foundation. If you have oily skin you may find they get a bit shiny by mid-day. For my normal combination skin they last all day without fading or budging.
Sculpting Powders are available in several different formats as well. In the past they have been available separately similar to the MAC blushes. As of now they are mostly available in Pro Palette Form for $17 each or in Sculpt and Shape Duos for $22. These are semi-sheer matte powders that are darker in color designed to create natural looking shadows. I find these are best applied with a light and loose fluffy brush and also with a light hand – they go on the skin smoothly but as with any darker colored powder you want to lightly sculpt and build to create natural dimension.
Shaping Powders are lighter in color compared to the Sculpting Powders. They are are available individually in similar formats to the the Sculpting Powders with most of the Shaping Powder shades available in Pro Palette Form. The Shaping Powders have an ultra fine shimmer in them – but on my skin they have more of a satiny finish. The shimmer gives the powders depth and dimension. Finish is semi-sheer but buildable.

When it comes to contouring I’m a less is more kind of girl. I can definitely improve my technique and take more time to carefully contour the face or nose for a more polished look – but in the mornings when I’m in a rush I feel like contouring is an extra step I don’t have time for. I often do add a bit of a darker powder or bronzer as a soft contour applied in loose soft sweeping motions around the edges of my face to add depth, but I rarely take the time to do an actual contour along the cheekbones, nose or eyes. I think proper contouring takes time to blend – it’s something I’m just honestly too lazy to do on a daily basis. If you already own a number of contouring powders (ie from MAC, NARS or Kat Von D) I will say up front that you probably don’t need the new MAC All the Right Angles Contour Palettes as they will replicate what you have. I do appreciate that MAC has launched these in travel-friendly packaging and that they have created four options for different skintones. It simplifies the contour/highlight options based on your skintone to three key shades rather than having a large palette of several colors you may never use.

Onto swatches of the palettes side by side and then close ups of each option:

____________________

Light has:
Cream Color Base in Luna which is a pale white pearl
Shaping Powder in Emphasize a soft white cream shimmer
Sculpting Powder in Bone Beige a soft warm-toned brown

____________________

Medium has:
Cream Color Base in Hush which is a champagne peach pearl
Shaping Powder in Accentuate is a peachy cream
Sculpting Powder in Sculpt is a soft brown taupe matte

____________________

Medium Dark has:
Cream Color Base in Naked Universe which is a tan gold shimmer
Shaping Powder in Lightsweep is a medium beige pearl
Sculpting Powder in Shadester is a deep medium warm brown

___________________

Dark has:
Cream Color Base in Improper Copper which is peachy copper shimmer
Shaping Powder in Warm Light is a medium peach
Sculpting Powder in Definitive which is a neutral deep brown

____________________
Many have asked what my MAC shade is – if you’ve read my blog over the years you know that I cannot wear MAC foundations or powder foundations because I’m allergic to their formulas. It’s been at least 5-6 years since I’ve last tried a MAC foundation and depending on what time of year it was that I was matched, I’ve been anywhere from MAC NC30, NC35, C3, C30, C35 to C40. Bottom line is I really have no idea what MAC shade I am – but I’m usually within the medium olive tone range. Right now I’m in between NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland and St. Moritz or a Becca Aqua Luminous in Beige and for the MAC All the Right Angles Palettes, the best one for me is Medium. In Chanel I’m the Velvet Perfection Lumiere in 30 Beige. For Tom Ford I’m best matched to the Traceless Perfecting Foundation in 04 Bisque.
For tools, I like to apply the Cream Color Base with fingers on the eyes or cheeks – it can be a bit messy but it’s what I like best. For the Sculpt or Shaping Powders – the compact is on the small side so taking a large fluffy brush will most likely mix the colors. I’ve found the MAC 116 Blush Brush, MAC 118 Small Duo Fibre or Wayne Goss Brush 02 work best of you want to apply on the cheeks. If you want more detailed highlighting or eye contour – any eyeshadow brush works.

If you’re looking for a simplified contour palette with a shaping powder, sculpting powder and cream highlighter that’s versatile and travel-friendly, these are great. If you already own a lot of contouring products these will probably replicate many of the colors you already own. In terms of contouring powders go I think MAC is on par with the Marc Jacobs Beauty #Instamarc Duos for quality and having a natural look – the Marc Jacobs powders are softer and have a more velvetly matte finish while the MAC is harder in texture with a slight shimmer in the Shaping Powders. I feel the texture of the Marc Jacobs is more velvety and powdery and some of the light shades can almost be used as a setting powder for under eyes while the MAC has a more natural less matte look if that makes sense.

You can find the MAC All the Right Angles Contouring Palettes for $40 each at all MAC counters. Online at MAC, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s.

Have you checked these out yet? If not – have you tried any of the Cream Color Bases, Sculpting Powders or Shaping Powders from previous launches?

Light sent as a press sample. Other shades purchased by me.
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Highlighters

Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight and Starlight – The Celestial Skin Liquid, Celestial Powder and Lip Gloss

March 28, 2016

A couple weekends ago I stopped by the Kevyn Aucoin booth at The Makeup Show LA and picked up the new Lip Glosses ($30 each for 5.04 ml) in Candlelight and Starlight along with the Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting ($52 for 30 ml) in Starlight. I already own the Celestial Liquid in Candlelight which I really like and was curious about the pink version. I did a review on the Celestial Powders a little over a year ago in this post here but I thought I’d feature all the Candlelight and Starlight products for the Celestial Skin Liquid, Celestial Powder and Lip Gloss in a single post to swatch them side by side in case you were wondering how the colors looked in different formulas.

Candlelight is the champagne-gold option while Starlight is the pink-tinged color. In my initial review about the powders, I mentioned that color of the Candlelight Celestial Powder was a slight miss for my skintone. I still stand by that opinion because the color is a bit too pale and too cool toned for what I like on the face. It’s still a very well made product and high quality (I like it as eyeshadow, just not on my cheeks). I personally prefer the color of the Celestial Skin Liquid which is deeper and more golden. It gives the skin a very soft luminous glow – those who are afraid of too much shimmer on the face should check out the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Liquid because it gives the skin a very natural glow without the frost or shine. You can use it mixed in with foundation to add a nice luminosity or on top of cheekbones as a natural highlight. The Candlelight Lip Gloss is a gorgeous sparkling gold in the tube but it’s pretty much clear on the lips. It’s pretty when layered on top of lipsticks but I would have loved to see more pigment in the base.
For Starlight, I loved the Starlight Celestial Powder and still do. It’s a beautiful seashell pink shimmer that I find difficult to find in highlighters from other brands. It works well on cheeks as a highlight or the eyes as an all over wash. The pigment is very good and shimmer visible but not frosty. The Starlight Celestial Liquid is almost identical in color but has a more subtle finish compared to the powder. If I had to pick one, I would pick the powder mainly because it shows up more on my skin, but both are very good. The Starlight Lip Gloss is stunning. I’ve swatched both on the lips (scroll down) and it was hard to capture the depth of the shimmer but if you are in search of a soft seashell pink shimmer gloss that shows up the Starlight Lip Gloss is perfect. 

I won’t repost the images of the Celestial Powders since I already reviewed them here and swatched them above, but here are close ups and swatches of the Celestial Liquids and Lip Gloss in Starlight and Candlelight.

The glosses look identical in the lip swatch photos – the shimmer was difficult to capture, but Starlight shows up more on the lips closer to the arm swatch above. Both have a semi-thick texture but it’s not tacky. They are scented with a fruity scent but it’s pleasant and fades after a few minutes. Lasting power is like the average gloss – they will stay on the lips a while without fading or budging as long as you don’t touch the lips. They will transfer if you drink anything like cups of tea or coffee (or any other kind of drinks).

 

In terms of cream or liquid highlighters, the Edward Bess All Over Seduction highlighters are still hands down my favorites for adding a nice visible but natural glow to the face. I think the Celestial Skin Liquids from Kevyn Aucoin perform well – they are great for mixing in with foundation or adding a luminous glow to the cheeks in a very natural way. Lasting power is pretty good for a liquid (I find they last longer than Armani Fluid sheers). I know they have reached cult status for many, I think they are very good but for me I can’t personally say I find them must-haves. I will use mine up to the end but I don’t know that I will repurchase due to the high price tag combined with the fact that I prefer powder highlighters. Starlight Celestial Powder is still one of my favorites for pink highlighters. For the lip glosses, I would say that the Starlight gets a thumbs up from me. Candlelight is nice to have but not a must because of the sheerness – although there are times when I want a sheer sparkly gloss to add shine instead of color so in those cases this one fits the bill.


You can find Kevyn Aucoin products at a number of different retailers including Nordstrom, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Space NK and Beautylish.

Do you have any Kevyn Aucoin favorites?
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Marc Jacobs Beauty Uncategorized

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquers in White Snow and Resurrection

March 27, 2016

There are a few new shades of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquers ($18 each for 13 ml/0.43 oz) for spring and I picked up two from Sephora in White Snow and Resurrection. White Snow is a sheer milky cloud white and Resurrection is an opaque powdery pink cream. For those curious about the other new colors, there are 6 total in pastels and creams. The other four shades include Sundays Cool (lavender), Good Friday (mint), My Peeps (cool pink) and Confession (grey).

I find pastels can be hit or miss for my medium olive skintone. I love the look of white polish on other girls but on me it often looks like white out. Marc Jacobs White Snow has a sheer finish which requires 3 coats for me, but the sheerness helps make it more wearable on my hands compared to a pure white polish. Opaque pastel pink creams are often streaky or look too powdery on my hands. Marc Jacobs Resurrection is a high-maintenance pink in the sense that the first coat is a streaky mess, but it evens out to a smooth finish with the second or third coat. Each coat dries faster than most other polishes so I don’t mind the extra work and the color has just the right mix of white and pink so it’s not too contrasted with my skintone.

I just bought these and applied them so I didn’t give them a week-long test run to see how long they lasted. However in my experience with other Marc Jacobs Nail Lacquers – lasting power is very good and I can get up to 7 days of wear without any tip wear or chipping. I usually combine the Marc Jacobs Nail Lacquers with the Formula X Base Coat and the Nails Inc. 45 Second Top Coat. A closer look at both shades.

White Snow:

Above: Sweater by Rag & Bone, Bag by Celine, Jeans by J.Brand

Resurrection:

Both are fairly standard classic colors so I suspect they can be easily duped however I’m always on the hunt for a classic sheer white that isn’t too sheer and that also isn’t too opaque. White Snow is pretty darn good if you don’t mind layering more than 2 coats. Resurrection is nice but not a must – especially if you already own a lot of pale pink cream colors.

You can find Marc Jacobs Beauty Nail Lacquers online and in store at Sephora. Also online at Marc Jacobs Beauty. Have you tried any of their nail polishes before? If so what are your favorites? A few of mine include Daisy, Wine-Not and Petra.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
23 Comments
Base Makeup

Kat Von D Beauty Lock-It Foundation and KVD + beautyblender® Customizable Complexion Set

March 25, 2016

I’m a bit late to the game in trying out the Kat Von D Beauty Lock-It Foundation ($35 for 1 fl oz/30 ml) and I’ve been clearly missing out for quite some time. The line just launched a special limited-edition set called the KVD + beautyblender® Customizable Complexion Set ($46) which includes your choice of Lock-It Foundation, a full size beautyblender® pro and minis of the liquid blendercleanser® and Lock-It Featherweight Primer (set valued at $55). I received several shades to try out and was immediately impressed by the flawless full coverage velvety finish the Lock-It Foundation had. This is a high pigment full-coverage foundation that gives the skin an almost porcelain doll-like look. The formula is very concentrated, but if blended properly has a smooth streak-free, cake-free, perfect finish. Lasting power is excellent with or without a primer, however I did feel the primer sample made a difference in application. With the primer nothing settles into fine lines. Without a proper base if you have any dry patches the foundation is prone to settling into tiny crevices, but as long as your skin is properly moisturized you can probably skip the primer. That being said I’m so impressed with the primer I’ve added it to my shopping list for this weekend.

The packaging is well designed. It comes with a clear case so you can see the product inside. The top of the pump is flush with the top of the bottle which makes it convenient for travel. There’s a small black cap to place on the actual dispenser itself which acts as a lock so you don’t accidentally dispense product if you press on the top. For me a little goes a long way, I only need 2 pumps to cover the entire face. Foundation needs very little layering to get full coverage – you just need to apply and blend.

For application, I tried this with a few damp beautyblenders® in the Original (pink) and Pro (black) (both reviewed here) along with several foundation brushes including the Marc Jacobs Beauty The Face III Buffing Foundation Brush and Sephora Pro Full Coverage Airbrush #53 (both reviewed here). I still stand by my original review that the Original Pink beautyblender® is better than the beautyblender® Pro, but I found with this particular foundation both sponges worked equally well. I’m not sure if the Pro version has changed at all over the years but this round of testing had black sponges that seemed softer with more bounce than what I remember. Either way – a dampened sponge helps control the amount of product you apply. Since the Lock-It Foundation is a very concentrated and full coverage finish foundation, you want to make sure you don’t apply too much up front (it will just end up looking cakey). Dab, blend and build and the finish will be perfect.
Color selection was a bit tricky for me. I did find some colors swatched to a perfect match on the skin but they oxidize immediately (within 5-10 minutes) to a half shade darker. Medium 54 was a perfect match when I applied it but it darkened so my face did not match my neck – it’s close and I doubt anyone but me would notice but I’m picky when it comes to matching my face shade to my neck. I tried two additional shades lighter. Medium 53 has amazing golden undertones (I wish more foundation lines had undertones like this one) but it also darkens on my skin right now. Medium 52 looks too pale when I first apply it but darkens to the perfect match. After the initial oxidizing which I found happens very quickly it stays the same shade once it sets and dries and doesn’t darken further. My best match right now is Medium 52.

A look at the ingredients:

Some comparison swatches to other formulas and brands for shade reference. right now my perfect match is Becca Aqua Luminous Foundation in Beige – but do note the formula is not as opaque as the Kat Von D Beauty Lock-It Foundation and has some sheerness to it which makes it more forgiving.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Groenland
Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation in Beige (review here)
Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque and Natural (review here)
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz

If you do try this in store or get a sample, I highly recommend testing out a few shades and see how it sets. I normally would have given up on finding a match if I tested one and found it oxidized, but the formula of the Kat Von D Lock-It is so good taking the time to test different shades is well worth the effort. I’ve been playing with this formula for a few weeks now – no break outs and no irritation which is a huge plus for my sensitive skin. I have normal combination skin and it holds up very well without budging or getting shiny all day long. I wouldn’t say it’s 100% transfer resistant (if you rub your sleeve or anything on your face it will come off) but it does stay put very well. I always set foundation with a powder and found this performed best when set as well (my favorites rounded up in this post here).

If you’re debating whether to buy the individual or spend a little bit more to get the set, I would say try out the set. Even though the beautyblender® pro isn’t my favorite out of all the beautyblender® options (I think the Original Pink and Nude are the best), I still think it’s a good tool the set is a nice way to the minis of the primer and liquid sponge cleanser. The liquid cleanser is a one-time use (it was for me) but the primer sample can last 3-4 uses (it lasted 4 days for me).

Bottom line, definitely worth checking out. You can find the KVD + beautyblender® Customizable Complexion Set for $46 at Sephora and Kat Von D Beauty. Do note it’s limited-edition, but you can always buy the full-sized items included in the separately.

Have you tried this foundation before? What did you think?

KVD + beautyblender® Customizable Complexion Sets provided courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty for review consideration.

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Uncategorized

The Makeup Show LA March 2016 Event Recap + Haul

March 24, 2016

I attended The Makeup Show LA last weekend and it was one of the best makeup events I’ve attended. This year they had over 150 brands at the show – I love events like these that support beauty professionals in so many aspects. If are able to attend one I highly recommend you do. In recent years they’ve expanded their stops to some additional cities with pop-ups. Full calendar and list of upcoming shows on their website The Makeup Show. This was my second year attending although they’ve been making an appearance in LA for ten years now.
Urban Decay Cosmetics made an appearance this year with their full line available (items were offered at a 30% pro discount). Most of the brands offered generous discounts during the show for professionals to stock their makeup kits or explore new launches (some like Kevyn Aucoin offered discounts of 40% off). In the excitement of being able to swatch and play with so many things I neglected to take as many photos of the show as I had hoped, but here are a few I hope you will enjoy.

In the morning I attended the Press Preview where The Makeup Show Director of Artist Relations and Education James Vincent gave us an overview of show highlights, new product launches along with some inspirational thoughts about the business of beauty, building your own brand and the importance of knowing how to merging art and commerce.

A look at some of the booths, first is Kevyn Aucoin. They had the new Featherlight Collection for spring available along with the full line of makeup and brushes. I had their Sensual Skin foundation on my wishlist to try out but did not want to wait to get matched at the show.

Inglot booth:

Sephora Collection booth was very busy with lots to explore, pro discount offered at the show was 30% off so I picked up another of my favorite foundation brush and a few of the matte lip products:

Scott Barnes was showcasing their new Multi Media Liquid makeup, based on the raves from several of you, I did get a color match and picked up the shade Creme Fraiche. I haven’t tested it yet, but will have to see in natural light if the match was indeed correct. They also had mini Body Blings which I wish I had picked up one to try out, but since I don’t usually use body shimmers, it’s probably not a huge miss.

I’ve been a huge fan of the MustaeV Lustrous Cream Base and Skinny Tint Foundation. They are expanding their color selection for the foundation since it only comes in three colors right now.  I was hoping they would have the new shades available at the show, but they won’t be launched for a few more months. If you’d like a review now of what I do have – let me know in the comments.

Nigel’s Beauty Emporium is a beauty supply store – at the show they had some of the best values and discounts. I stocked up on beautyblenders last year and did again. They had a Beautyblender Propack of 6 pink (or white) beautyblenders + the solid cleanser for $64 at the show (listed price on their website is $80). Individual blenders were on discount for $16 each. They also had a large number of mixed sets. If you’re in the LA area they have a store in West Hollywood and carry a wide range of brands like Anastasia, Ben Nye, Artis, Becca, Black Up, Make Up For Ever etc.

 

NARS also had their own booth with the full line. The Laguna Tahiti Collection was available for purchase at the show so I picked up several of the new items as they were available at a pro discount (I can’t locate my receipt at the moment but it was either 30 or 40%).

Kat Von D Beauty had amazing bundles at discounted prices on their Shade + Light collection, but the line was insanely long, I took a few photos from outside the line area:

Viseart has three new eyeshadow palettes launching exclusively at MUSE Beauty Pro at the end of the month called Theory Palettes ($45 each). I was hoping they would have these available for purchase at the show, but they only had the testers to play with. The texture and pigment is amazing. You can pre-order them from their website now (estimated ship date is end of March). MUSE Beauty Pro has the exclusive for 3 months on these palettes. I’ve never tried any of the Viseart palettes before – the pro discount at the show was 30% off so I was thrilled to buy my first two last weekend.

Beautylish had some of the Natasha Denona items on display. I was hoping they would have the entire line available to play with like they did at IMATS Los Angeles, however the selection was a bit more limited this round. A look at all the Natasha Denona Blush Duos.

For those curious about what I hauled, here is the loot. I did haul more than I had planned – some of the 30% to 40% off discounts were just too good to pass!

Items shown above listed below, items purchased by me except for a few press samples noted:
I’ll be reviewing items as I work my way through testing them. I did pre-order the new Viseart Palettes at the show and will be swatching as soon as they arrive (estimated ship date is 3/30). I’m always looking to try new brush cleansers so I’m excited to try some of the ones I picked up at the show – I know many of you love baby shampoo, I used to use it, but I feel like these days it just leaves a film on my brushes that I cannot rinse off properly. 

Did you visit The Makeup Show LA last weekend? Or do you have plans to attend on in another city later this year?
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