Space NK has curated a special promotion for Beauty Look Book readers! There is a summer gift with purchase with any online order of $100 or more via the US site. The promo starts today June 3 and runs through June 8 11:59pm EST or while supplies last using code BLBSPACENK at checkout. The gift includes a double zip fold over black clutch which contains:
Kevyn Aucoin Mascara 4 ml
Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer 4.11 ml
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Oil Primer 30 ml
REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial 15 ml
Algenist Firming and Lifting Eye Gel 5 ml
Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser 15 ml
Aqua Revela Satin Bright Soft Water Peel 15 ml
Radical Youth Infusion Serum 8 ml
In case you’re looking for some shopping inspiration, here are a few things I’m loving right now from Space NK:
Eve Lom Brightening Cream is an ultra gentle but hydrating face cream, it brightens and moisturizes, my complexion has been clearer and smoother since using this for a few months
Diptyque anything really is amazing, my top candle picks are Baies and Figuier
By Terry Baume de Rose is a classic favorite, it’s a luxurious splurge but worth every penny
Note, the gift is good while supplies last (I’ve been assured there are a couple hundred). Available according to these Space NK Terms and Conditions: The gift bag offer is available in the US only online (for a limited time only) The promotional code BLBSPACENK must be entered at the checkout when spending $100 or more, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. This offer is only available whilst supplies last and bags will be released throughout the day. The free gift products within the bag cannot be exchanged in stores or online for another product, there is no cash alternative. Images used online may vary – Space NK reserves the right to substitute any other product in the luxury goodie bag for another of a similar shade and of equal value. The gift bag must be returned in its entirety along with any items purchased as part of the promotion, including the container they were originally packaged in. No individual items may be removed or exchanged separately. One gift bag per customer only. Offer expires 11:59 PM EST June 8th, 0215 and Space NK reserve the right to end this offer early without prior notice.
Thanks to Space NK for this gift with purchase offer!
I’m beyond excited to share that I’m leaving for Paris in a few days. I will be traveling for the next month to nine different cities across Europe with my husband – this is our belated honeymoon! We both married while we were in grad school (business and law school) and started working full-time immediately after we graduated. This was nearly seven years ago (time flies!) and this year we decided it was about time we getaway from everything and take a much-needed vacation. As I’ve been packing and preparing for our trip, I have also been busy photographing and swatching as fast as I can to have reviews on new Chanel, Clarins, Dior and more. I fully intend to keep posting while I’m away from the US but I don’t know how frequently I will be able to.
Here’s a quick preview of what I’m packing. My husband has decided that we should try and fit all of our items in carry-on bags. On one hand I agree that we should be minimalists in what we pack but being a woman this has had me in a bit of panic (actually a huge one). We did a lot of research and I found this Pacsafe 32L Daypack that actually fits all my clothes I picked out for our trip: four shorts, three pairs of jeans, six tank tops, four tees, one dress, one skirt, one pair of flip flops, underwear, socks, swim gear, and my liquids bag. The remaining items will fit in a small personal bag which I think will be either the Tumi Voyageur Q-Tote (I have an older color) or this Athens Laptop Shoulder Tote (any thoughts, I have both bags, but am still undecided?).
I’m going through my cosmetics and skincare trying desperately to edit the contents to essentials only. I ordered a bunch of travel-sized Muji Travel Containers and am transferring some cleaners and moisturizers today. All my makeup will be packed in an Anya Hindmarch In-Flight Patent Clear Bag and all liquids are in this Flight 001 Clear Pouch I bought from Amazon.
For day trips, I searched everywhere for an affordable shoulder or crossbody bag that had a zipper but that would also be large enough for my Sony NEX-6 (camera review here). While at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills, I discovered Goyard released a new style of bag in the US (apparently it’s been available since 2014 as a special order item). It’s called the Artois and is slightly smaller than the Saint Louis PM which I have in grey, orange and black (but it’s an open-tote). The Artois comes with a thicker canvas, has some leather detail at the bottom for more structure and most importantly a zipper at the top. Unfortunately you can only purchase this as a special order item and it takes around 5 business days to order so I wouldn’t receive it in time for my trip. I will try to find this one in Paris instead, and I hope the turnaround is faster (more on this style via Goyard threads at The Purse Forum).
After more searching, I decided the Longchamp Small Shoulder Tote would work perfectly. I picked one up from Nordstrom, all the colors were so pretty but black seemed like it would be the most versatile. I like how they fold up so I can fit in my carry-on easily while I’m flying. As a quick update to this post, since many have commented on shoes, I’m bringing along these suede sneakers or these ones from Puma both which are super comfy. I’ll buy flats while in Paris.
I have my packing 90% complete. I’m still in the process of editing my packing contents. I’m leaving behind my hairdryer and straighteners, one of my first stops in Paris will be Sephora to pick up those items.
If you have any travel tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! I’ll be sharing more about the cities we will be visiting over the next month. I will say now we will be staying in Paris and Rome for several days each city – I have a list of places I want to see and visit as this will be my first time visiting those areas. If you have any recommendations of must-see places, shops or museums, I’m all ears!
This month Tom Ford Beauty has relaunched several previously limited-edition items. If you missed out on Nude Dip Eyeshadow Quad, the great news is that it is back and now permanent! This is one of my favorite shimmery neutral eyeshadow palettes. I am beyond thrilled that it has been re-introduced.
Here’s what has been brought back and added to the permanent Tom Ford Beauty lineup:
Sugar Dune Nail Lacquer – review here, I haven’t confirmed if the new one comes with the mahogany or white cap, I saw the display in Beverly Hills with the darker one, online it appears it’s white but I’m not sure if it is because the stock photos haven’t been updated
Dior has some new shades of the Dior Vernis Gel-Shine Long Wear Nail Lacquer out this summer. I have four that I picked out and have swatches to share today. Two of the shades are from the Tie-Dye Collection for Summer 2015 in Sunkissed #239 and Sunwashed #319. The other two are Dior.com exclusives from the Peter Philips Collection called NYC Peach #130 and BKLYN Pink #560 (all $27 each for 10 ml/.33 fl oz).
The four shades are all on the lighter or neutral side, I ordered all of these sight unseen although by now the Summer Collection shades should be readily available at all Dior counters.
NYC Peach is a light medium peach cream with a very tiny hint of shimmer
BKLYN Pink is a medium neutral rose pink that pulls slightly cool-toned
Sunkissed is a soft light peach with a subtle brightening effect
Sunwashed is a light summery yellow cream
On me, NYC Peach is very similar to Sunkissed. They are almost identical. NYC Peach is darker by maybe 1/2 to 3/4 a shade. By comparison Sunkissed almost looks pinkish when you put them side by side. Of course, I can’t pick between the two. They both go on super smooth and give the hands a brightened effect which I find is rare with peachy cream shades. They are both beautiful colors, I don’t think you need both.
A few close ups along with finger swatches. All swatches have two coats of the nail polish:
A full nail wheel of comparison swatches:
Chanel Rose Confidential (discontinued)
Chanel Mimosa (discontinued, from summer 2011)
Chanel Les Beiges Le Vernis shades in Beige Rose, Beige Pur, Precious Beige and Lovely Beige (new, review will be posted soon)
I’ve never been a fan of yellow nail polishes, but Sunwashed is a fun color that’s different and light. It is unique and I think appropriate for summer even for the nail polish wearers that wear neutrals – I think it’s fun on the toes. For peach colors, both Sunkissed and NYC Peach are phenomenal colors. If you’re like me, you probably find many peach colors pull brown or warm on the skin and can make the hands look sallow. Both of the new Dior shades have a good mix of white and bright in them that bring life to the hands while still looking peachy. BKLYN Pink didn’t impress me as much when I first applied it. It grew on me as the week progressed. I think it’s a fairly standard pink rose color. I would have loved it if it had some shimmer mixed in or if it was a bit brighter in color. In direct sunlight it looks lovely and bright. In regular light it’s a bit dull-looking (at least on me).
Although Sunkissed and NYC Peach are very similar, I give them both a huge thumbs up. In terms of formula, all of these performed true to Dior’s classic high quality style. Two coats will cover the nail fully and the formula is ultra smooth free of any streaks. Lasting power is very good on me, similar to that of Chanel which lasts 5+ days without tip wear as long as I use a good base and top coat. (My favorite tried and true here.)
For spring-summer, Burberry Beauty has released 6 shades of Lip & Cheek Blooms ($28 each for 3.5 g / 0.12 oz, made in France). These are unique mousse-gel-cream products that have a super cushiony bouncy feel. They look like creams but feel more like a gel mousse in the pots. Each color has a soft but buildable formula that looks velvety on the skin. They swatch much better on the face compared to the way they swatch on the hands or arm. The colors are easy to blend and streak-free on the cheeks. They come in super sturdy glass pots with a nickel twist off cap. I really like the hefty feel of the pots. They feel like they are well made but aren’t too heavy. Burberry sent three shades for review:
Rose No. 01 is a soft pale pink
Orange Blossom No. 07 is a muted orange peach
Poppy No. 09 is a bright red
I stopped by the counter to see all the shades in person. I fell in love with Purple Tulip and Peony but limited myself to one I knew I would get frequent use out of, Peony No. 05 is a bright warm pink. Hydrangea No. 03 is a cooler-toned pink, Purple Tulip No. 11 is a deep vibrant purple. All the shades are swatched below on my arm. The colors are super vibrant in the pot, but they go on lighter and sheerer in color. My arm was quite dry so the Lip & Cheek Blooms didn’t adhere like they do on the face or lips. Here are the colors blended out. You can definitely layer them.
The four colors I have now and swatches:
Rose No. 01 is very light on me. All the colors are non-shimmers. The velvety texture blends beautifully on the cheeks for a stained look. Rose does not show up on my cheeks but it does give the lips a nude pink lip look. My lips have been particularly dry the past week, but I swatched them on bare lips anyways. I also tried mixing these with a bit of Chanel Hydra Beauty Lip Balm which seemed to give them a more creamy glossy look.
Peony No. 05 is my favorite. It has just enough brightness and warmth to make the complexion come alive. I like this on the cheeks because it gives just the right amount of color to give a barely-there flushed look without looking overdone. On the lips I blended it out so you can see how it gives a velvety stain.
Orange Blossom No. 07 is very light on me. It looks bright and juicy in the pot, but on my skin it seems to go more nude. My skin tone is right at the place where this color blended out seems to almost disappear on the lips and cheeks. It is buildable and if you’re fair and want a good peachy color that won’t be too dark or orange, this is something I think you’ll adore. It’s impossible to overdo.
Poppy No. 09 is the only color I didn’t like out of the bunch. It looks so beautiful in the pot but on my olive skin, it pulls warm and just clashes with my skin tone making my whole face look very sallow when I apply it on the lips. Even my husband commented that the color wasn’t working for me. On the cheeks it’s a different story. It gives a hint of flushed red but I rarely wear reds on the cheeks so I’m not sure how much use I will be getting out of this one.
I’ve been playing with these for a few days now. I am particularly impressed with the way you can build the color. They swatch super streaky on the arms but on the face and lips it interacts with the skin in a completely different way. The finish is a velvety blurred matte but still manages to have a brightening effect that isn’t flat like some mattes look. Lasting power is particularly good on the cheeks, Peony and Poppy lasted on me from morning until mid-afternoon without budging. Rose and Orange Blossom did have fading that happened earlier but I suspect it is because they are lighter in color and don’t leave a stain like the brighter colors do. The formula is unlike anything I’ve tried before. You can layer the colors together as well for more dimension or pop. I like Peony + Orange Blossom on the cheeks.
In summary, I like these. If I had to pick 2 I would go with Peony and Purple Tulip (which I don’t have but think is gorgeous). I would have skipped Rose and Orange Blossom because they are light for my skin tone, but I suspect those with fair skin will find them perfect.
For many years I was a loyal user of Shiseido Face Cotton. Even though it’s more expensive than the cotton pads you find at drug stores, I found it significantly softer in texture, relatively thick and dense and didn’t disintegrate with makeup remover. I like to use it on the face to remove makeup or for skin toners. For nail polishes I mainly use drug store rounds from Rite Aid although quality isn’t consistent among all the options, many leave tiny bits of fibers on the face, so I save them for polish removal. Out of curiosity and raves from friends, I started exploring more options over the past few years. Today I have a roundup of the five cotton pads I like to rotate between. I’ve stocked up on several since I go through these quickly.
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Chanel Le Coton ($20 for 100 pads) are the largest cotton pads I’ve bought. I purchased a box of the Chanel at a makeover event to qualify for the gift with purchase they were offering and fell head over heels in love. The Chanel is larger and thicker in size compared to the Shiseido. I find it sturdier but still very gentle on the skin. The square is large enough that I can use one half for my dual-phase eye makeup removers and the other half for cleansing water for the rest of my face. Just when I found my holy grail of luxury cottons, Chanel discontinued it for a while which broke my heart. Thank goodness they brought it back. The thickness allows for just the right amount of toner or makeup remover to be absorbed and apply to the skin. This is by far my favorite. These come in a white box which helps keep the shape in tact and protects the cotton from getting smashed.
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A few friends told me to try the face cotton from Clé de Peau Beauté ($20 for 120 pads) stating it was the best thing they’ve ever used. A couple readers had e-mailed me too saying they thought I should try it so I did. It’s really quite amazing. It’s the thickest of all the cotton pads I’ve tried but still has a relatively tight weave making it sturdy. In terms of size it’s larger than Shiseido but smaller than Chanel. I like that these come in a box so they keep the shape.
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Shiseido Facial Cotton ($9.50 for 165 pads) is a classic staple. It’s soft but firm and won’t fall apart easily. One pad is sufficient for the entire face. It is thinner than Chanel or Cle de Peau Beaute though. These come in a soft plastic casing without any support so make sure you store them away from things that can smash the package or else they will become smushed.
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Rite Aid and CVS have cotton pads that I buy frequently. Below are the Premium Cotton Rounds from Rite Aid. I prefer the ones with a vertical line weave at the top versus the honeycomb because I find those softer in texture and they also don’t leave any fibers on the face but I can’t always find those specific ones. These run around $3-$4 depending on the store and what sales they have going on.
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Sephora Collection Soft Touch Cotton Pads ($4 for 70 rounds) are softer than most drug store brands. Since they are smaller and thinner I usually need 2-3 rounds to remove my makeup entirely. For the price if you can get away with one pad these are really good although they are significantly thinner and not as plush as the Chanel, Shiseido or Cle de Peau. I had hoped these would be the same as the other luxury cotton rectangles at a cheaper price. They just aren’t the same.
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In summary, my top two picks are Chanel and Cle de Peau Beaute – it’s impossible for me to pick between the two. Shiseido is the next best option but still not as thick or plush and the smaller size means I have to use 2 pads on occasion. A quick reference on pricing and availability of each. You can find the cotton at a number of retailers, I’ll list places I’ve bought mine before:
Clé de Peau Beauté Cotton Pads are $20 for a box of 120 pads = $0.17/pad
For spring, L’Occitane has launched a collection of skincare, body and lip products in a Peony Collection called Pivoine Sublime or “Sublime Peony.” I was able to get a preview of the entire line at an event last month and am so impressed with the way the creams, serums and mists hydrate the skin in a gentle way. I’m still in the midst of testing out the skincare, but today I have a review prepared for the Peony Tinted Lip Balms ($16 each for 4 g / 0.14 oz) all come with SPF 25 and are formulated with shea butter and L’Occitane’s unique peony extract. There are options of lip balm, three are tinted. These come in cute metal twist up tubes with a peony petal print on the outside.
Rose Amber is a reddish nude beige, this one has a velvety looking finish, not quite matte, not shiny, but lush and almost muted
Rose Nude is a brighter pink but gives the lips a soft pink tint
Rose Plum is a deep plum, on my lips it turns almost red, but many plums tend to pull very blue, red or bright on my pigmented lips
The lip balms have an ultra smooth and hydrating feel when applied to the lips. L’Occitane’s tests have shown these provide 8 hours of hydration to the lips. I haven’t tested any of them for a full eight hours untouched to see if the moisture remains. I usually wipe off lip products during meals or snacks and re-apply frequently. I did find the moisturizing feel lasted until I touched the lips. The darkest color Rose Plum had a visible stain that remained on the lips past several cups of coffee, lunch and a snack. The other two were closer to my natural lip tone and lighter in color so the stain wasn’t as visible as the plum, but lasting power of the tints seems to be decent for a lip balm.
I’m a huge fan of the way peonies smell, but usually not in fragrances or body products. L’Occitane’s Peony Collection is more of a sweet candied peony. While it’s clearly a floral scent that mimics that of a natural peony, the sweetness makes it less floral and I find the scent absolutely divine. You might be able to taste the lip balms if you lick your lips, snack or sip any drinks. I find the taste is exactly like the smell and it’s actually quite pleasant.
Swatches and more photos:
How each shade appears when applied on my lips, for skin tone reference, I’m wearing a combination of NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Santa Fe and Punjab (swatches here):
Below you can see Rose Plum pulls very red and bright on my lips, your mileage may vary depending on how you lips interact with plum-pinks. Left is straight from the tube. Right is after 5 hours of wear after drinking two cups of coffee, lunch and a few snacks in between.
Many of you have been asking for a comparison to the Fresh Sugar Lip Balms. I did a few comparison swatches to show the difference and similarities in some of the colors. The concept is indeed similar. Based on my testing, here’s what I see:
Packaging is very similar in both. They both have metal tubes and caps that twist off at the base. size of the tubes is almost identical, L’Occitane’s appear to be slightly chubbier.
Size/Price of each is as follows: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments retail for $22.50 for 4.3 g while L’Occitane Peony Lip Balms retail for $16 at 4 g.
SPF is different in each, Fresh has SPF 15, L’Occitane has SPF 25.
Pigment is similar yet different. I find the pigment of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments different depending on the color, lighter ones have a sheerer finish while the darker bright ones are more pigmented. L’Occitane’s are consistent among all three shades sheer-to-medium.
Finish is very similar in that these give the lips a natural healthy sheen that looks very subtle. They make the lips glow without looking shiny. The only exception is L’Occitane’s Rose Amber which for some reason looks more velvety on my lips rather than shiny.
Scent is different in each. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments are a lot stronger and lemony sweet with strong sugar notes. L’Occitane Lip Balms have a strong noticeable scent but it’s more natural even though it is still on the sweet side.
Texture is different. Fresh has a thicker softer texture making them noticeably thick on the lips (not something I mind, I find it quite pleasant), L’Occitane is firmer and smoother with a weightless feel.
Density/composition is different. Fresh Sugar Lip Balms often break on me if the tubes get too warm. I haven’t seen a tester at Sephora or Nordstrom that wasn’t broken at the base. I have to be uber careful when I apply them to avoid them breaking on me (or put them in the fridge for a few minutes on occasion). L’Occitane’s is firmer in texture which makes it easier for me to apply without having to worry about breakage.
Swatch comparisons:
For comparisons and previous reviews, you can see how each color looks on the lips below:
If you’re looking for a nice lip tint, I think the new ones from L’Occitane are definitely worth looking into. I know the clear one might seem boring but I really like it. It hydrates the lips and makes them feel petal-soft smooth. Out of the three tinted options, my favorite is tied between Rose Nude and Rose Amber. My heart gravitates towards soft pinks like Rose Nude, but the Rose Amber is such a pretty nude brown pink that makes the lips look velvety smooth and lush. I like that the texture of these is smooth and non-sticky. You can also use these as cheek tints, although I personally think the look is a bit too dewy for my skin type. Bottom line a winner in my lip balm book. I don’t think you need all of them. Rose Nude and Rose Amber are pretty close on me, I suspect they will look similar on many lips. Rose Plum is different from the other two being brighter and deeper, I’m a neutral lip lover so this one is a bit out of my comfort zone. I really like the clear one for touch ups or at night.
You can find the L’Occitane Peony Lip Balms at all L’Occitane stores now, also online at usa.loccitane.com. Each one retails for $16. Have you checked these out yet?
The Peony Collection was provided courtesy of L’Occitane at a press event for review consideration. As always, all opinions my own.
