All Posts By

Sabrina

Uncategorized

Burberry Beauty Runway Nail Collection Pink Tones – Hydrangea Pink, Bright Coral Red and Pink Azalea

March 22, 2015

Burberry released a couple nail polish trios featuring new shades from the Prorsum Spring/Summer 2015 runway show back in September. There is a Pink Tones Trio with Hydrangea Pink, Bright Coral Red and Pink Azalea and a Blue Tones Trio with Stone Blue, Aqua Green and Imperial Blue ($66 each trio). Both are exclusive to Burberry.com but you can buy the colors individually at Nordstrom and Saks. I ordered the Pink Tones not realizing it included a color I already owned Pink Azalea which is a re-promoted color from Summer Showers collection. I have swatches of all three to share today plus some comparisons.

Hydrangea Pink is a really pretty medium-toned rose pink. Sometimes I find it odd that finding the perfect classic medium pink is difficult to come across, many are too warm, too coral, too red, too pale, too deep. Hydrangea Pink has reached holy grail status for me as a perfect feminine medium soft rose pink. It’s in the perfect in-between mark of warm and cool making it a good neutral flattering pink. The formula on this is really good. The brushes are on the wide side but the pigment and coverage is smooth and flawless. Two coats are needed to cover the nail entirely but the finish is glossy with perfect coverage.

Bright Coral Red is my second favorite and it’s pretty bright coral red (just like the name implies). It has enough brightness to give it life and prevent it from looking dark like some reds can. At the same time it has enough red to prevent it from looking orange. Formula and coverage on this is also flawless. If you already own Lucky, Glory or some of the other corals from Dior you may want to skip this one, although the Burberry is quite bright making it slightly different from the others.

Third is Azalea Pink which is a raspberry berry pink cream. This is a re-promoted color. In case you missed the original post with the Summer Showers collection, I’ve added the swatch here again. It mimics a raspberry with just enough blue undertone to give it a pink touch.

Comparisons swatched below:

Quick closeup of the brush & bottles:

Overall beautiful classics that are easy to wear. Hydrangea Pink is the most neutral of the three options and it’s the perfect medium rosy pink. If you want something with more color Bright Coral Red is the most vibrant option that has a summery vibe. Azalea Pink is a classic raspberry cream that has a lovely blue undertone, although it’s very similar to Chanel April. In my experience lasting power is quite good with these. I can get around 5 days of wear without any tip wear or chipping. I had on Hydrangea Pink this weekend however I did ruin my nails playing frisbee this weekend and ended up chipping and breaking 3 nails (inserts a big sad face). It’s a good thing I had done a lot of nail swatching before hand (I have some exciting new polishes to share with you in the next few days).

You can find all three pinks in a 3-piece boxed set for $66 at Burberry.com. Also individually for $22 each at Burberry, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

8 Comments
Uncategorized

On Instagram

March 20, 2015

Happy Friday everyone! The past few weeks I’ve been testing some new haircare and skincare items. There are several items I’ve already fallen in love with. I’m particularly smitten with the Nuxe Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo and Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum. I hope to have roundup features and reviews in the upcoming weeks on some tried and true plus new favorites.

One thing I’ve been on the hunt for is a good eye cream for day and for night. I’ve accumulated a few sample packets and minis from gift with purchases and samples from online orders (I’ve been testing La Mer, Tatcha, Fresh, Chanel, First Aid Beauty and more). If you have any favorites I’d love to hear what you use and love. The Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream is the best one I’ve tried but I’m trying to find something less expensive (although at the end of the day I think that one is the one for me). If you’ve tried the Le Lift version, what did you think?

If you follow me on Instagram @beautylookbook you’ll notice a wave of flowers filling my feed. There’s nothing quite like having simple fresh cut flowers in the home to change the mood and refresh the look of any room. To all those who follow me and take the time to comment throughout the day, thank you!!! It means so much that you take the time out of your busy lives and schedules to comment and like 🙂

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

30 Comments
Uncategorized

Yves Saint Laurent Pop Water Collection: New Glossy Stains and Nail Lacquers

March 19, 2015

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty and Nordstrom have an exclusive beauty release called the Pop Water Collection. It’s a release of new shades of Glossy Stains, Nail Lacquers and a new Metallic Eyeshadow Formula for spring to summer. The collection is currently available only at Nordstrom until mid-late April.

The Pop Water collection includes:

I picked up some of the items for lips and nails – all of which are fresh juicy bright colors really pretty to brighten up the mood for spring to summer. Here’s a quick look at what I ordered and have been testing this week:

First up are the new Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains. If you’re a YSL fan you are probably already familiar with the previously released colors of the Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains (original colors here, also rebel nudes colors here). I’ve had a couple of these over the past few years recommended highly by one of my best friends. She said these give the lips a juicy wash of color and feel really lush once you apply them. I’m not usually a fan of lip stains because they tend to look so dark on me, but I’m glad I tried these. The YSL Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains have the right mix of gloss and stain so they are like a lipgloss but have enough pigment in them they look like a soft stain of color on the lips. At the same time they don’t look dark like traditional lip stains. The Pop Water Collection features slightly different packaging with the black YSL logo (versus the red in the older versions). It gives these a new updated edgy look.

The sponge tip is perfectly shaped to get precise application around the edges while the flat beveled parts allow you to fill in and cover the entire lip. It’s something you have to test in person to really see how well designed the applicator is.

There are two versions of the Glossy Stain this season. The Plump Up 200 is a hydrating plumper for the lips. It comes in a very pale soft pink shimmer but on the lips it’s basically clear. It is incredibly hydrating and does give the lips a pretty long-lasting shine. It makes the lips look full without making the lips tingle or go numb (huge plus for me). 

Then there are the tinted versions. All are variations of bright summery colors but still very wearable (even for neutral lip lovers) The remaining 8 colors of the Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains are all brighter colors. 203 Eau de Corail is a warm coral peach with a hint of pink, 204 Onde Rose is a medium red rose pink, 205 Pink Rain (my favorite) is a cool-toned bright pink, 207 Juicy Peach is a warm orangey peach, 208 Wet Nude is a soft peachy color.

I really like how these apply like a semi-thick gloss to adhere well to the lips. It transforms into a smoother feeling gloss once you let it sit. It has texture which keeps the lips hydrated and soft. One swipe gives a soft tint. Adding more swipes will intensify the color.

Swatches + close ups:

Lip Swatches:

For quick reference and comparison to other YSL products, the Glossy Stains are what I wanted the Volupté Tint-In-Oils to be (which turned out to be too sheer for my liking). By comparison, the Babydoll Kiss & Blush is creamier with an opaque finish making them suitable for lips and cheeks.

Next up are the new Pop Water La Lacque Couture Nail Lacquers (four translucent shades). Although I’m a huge fan of the YSL La Lacque Couture Nail Polish formula, I picked out two of the translucent ones to test out before splurging on all four. 63 Rouge Wet is a sheer jelly red, 64 Fuchsia Rain is a sheer jelly pink. Both have a see through formula which requires 3 coats for me to get a glossy smooth finish. The result is very interesting but I’m undecided on how I feel. I tried these layered over soft pinks and they transform the colors into brighter deeper versions and add a super glossy finish. I like the high shine these have. I wish all nail polishes had a finish this shiny.

Rouge Wet with 3 coats:

Fuchsia Rain with 3 coats, it looks very similar to Rouge Wet, but this one is slightly more pink:

Here is Fuchsia Rain layered over Rouge Pablo on the right side shows how it has a lush glossy wet shiny finish (which I really love):

Click icons below to shop:

Bottom line I’m in love with the Pop Water Glossy Stains. My favorites are Pink Rain and Wet Nude. These are scented with a soft sweet grapefruit scent but it’s not too overwhelming and actually is really pleasant (at least for me). I’m undecided about the Pop Water Nail Lacquers. They are definitely unique and fun for summer and I like the high shine they offer.

You can find the Pop Water Collection now at Nordstrom. Have you checked out this collection yet? If not are you a fan of the Glossy Stains? Which colors are your favorites? P.S. Nordstrom has Triple Points going on with gift with purchases online and instores. The online gift includes samples of Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara (0.06 oz.), Forever Youth Liberator Serum (2 packets), Gloss Volupte in 3 shades and Touche Éclat in 3 shades with your $125 Yves Saint Laurent beauty purchase.


This post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All items purchased by me, all opinions my own. For more information refer to my disclosures.

21 Comments
Fragrance Home / Interiors

Cire Trudon Odalisque

March 18, 2015

I purchased my first Cire Trudon candle a few weeks ago at Barneys in Beverly Hills. I have @wendyg_nyc to blame for this splurge (or rather thank) as she has been pleading that I check out Cire Trudon for months. I don’t have close access to the brand and although it’s been on my list for quite some time, every time I stopped by Barneys all the distractions on the beauty floor prevented me from looking into these candles.

If you’ve seen Cire Trudon candles in person at Barneys you will see they are all displayed on the counter covered with a glass dome to help retain the scent. These are the strongest candles I’ve ever smelled or burned and seeing all the options was quite overwhelming. Thanks to Wendy I had a list of three to narrow down my first purchase and I picked out Odalisque ($95 for 270 g / 9.5 oz).

Cire Trudon candles are made of vegetable-based wax. They come in several sizes, the Classic Size is a large brown-tinted class jar. The one I picked out has a mix of orange blossom and cinnamon. It’s quite complex and is extremely rich. It smells so rich it almost smells holy, like it belongs in a cathedral.The official description of Odalisque is:

“Enclosed in citrus and wood bark, the orange blossom weaves a painter’s dream from which escapes the pale volute of smoke from a narghile. As an orientalist painting, furiously romantic, the vigorous scent of the case, and solar splinter of citrus fruits, come out as a thin blade in the silky shadow of vanilla. Top notes of lemon and orange, heart notes of orange blossom, and base notes are cade and vanilla.”

top note : lemon, orange / middle : orange blossom / base : wild juniper, vanilla

The candles have a small label on the back:

Odalisque is a classic orange blossom scent amped up with spice and wood. I find traditional orange blossom candles to be very light and airy, there is a hint of citrus but there is a good mix of florals to prevent it from smelling too fruity. Odalisque is a unique orange blossom because the mix of wood bark and juniper add depth to it that is hard to describe but makes it complex.


This is my first time burning something from Cire Trudon and it’s pure love. Odalisque proved to be one of the strongest home scents I’ve burned, the scent fills the entire room within a few minutes and the scent lingers for a while even after you blow out the flame. It is a luxurious splurge so if you’re unsure about ordering sight unseen at all I highly recommend you try to visit a store first (locator by region here).

I bought mine at Barneys New York. Cire Trudon is also available online at Saks Fifth Avenue, Beautyhabit, Net-A-Porter, Lucky Scent and Ciretrudon.com.

Have you tried Cire Trudon yet? What are your favorites? Do I need the fancy scented matches?

19 Comments
GWP

Nordstrom Triple Points March 18 – 22, 80+ Beauty Gifts With Purchase

March 18, 2015

Nordstrom Triple Points starts today March 18th through March 22nd. Card holders will receive triple points on all Nordstrom card purchases in store and online (restrictions apply). There are also a number of gift with purchase offers for beauty with individual lines while supplies last. Some gifts are online only, but be sure to check your store for special offers too. (You don’t need to be a Nordstrom card holder to take advantage of the gift offers.) I just placed an order for some Charlotte Tilbury for the gift of the mini magic cream + lipstick charm.

A few of the gifts that caught my eye that look interesting (there are 80+ offers online):

I might stop by my store to stock up on some skincare items I’m running low on. Do you have anything on presale already or plan on picking anything up?
4 Comments
Uncategorized

Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour

March 17, 2015

Chanel relaunched their classic Rouge Coco Lipsticks in a new formula with new and re-promoted colors ($36 each for 3.5 g / 0.12 oz, made in France). I ordered several online last month and have been playing with the shades for a few weeks. I’ve been a fan of all the Chanel Lipstick formulas (back to the days of the Aqualumieres and Hydrabase) and each time Chanel discontinues one my heart breaks a little. The good news is that the Rouge Cocos that launched this year are indeed improved from the previous formula. The new ones are more hydrating with a smoother texture that glides on the lips. The main difference to me between the old and new is that the revamped version has a more luminous look that doesn’t tug when you swipe them on the lips. According to Chanel the Rouge Cocos “are made with jojoba and mimosa butters, sunflower wax and silicone for lasting hydration and luminous results.”

The new Rouge Cocos are medium in coverage but the pigment is buildable. Each color has varying degrees of shimmer, most have some shimmer mixed in which gives them that luminous glow, but most of them do not have a frosty finish. What remains the same is the sleek packaging design and rose scent. Some of the colors like Mademoiselle, Legende and Teheran are re-promoted colors. Based on my old vs new Mademoiselle, the colors appear to be almost 100% identical, the new version isn’t quite as dark and has a more luminous finish giving it a modern updated look.

For the color range, there is a lot to choose from. If you like neutrals there are several beautiful options. There are five main color categories with names that inspired Coco Chanel:
  • Lovers – passion reflected by dramatic reds
  • Family – a tribute in understated nude shades
  • Best Friends – celebrated by romantic pinks
  • Muses – an homage in bright corals
  • Artists – honored by deep plum shades  

Shown above: Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle, Catherine, Cécile, Vera, Suzanne
Glossimer in Sweet Beige (swatched here)
Le Crayon Levres in Beige Innocent and Beige Satin
Cire Trudon in Odalisque

I ordered eight colors, all neutrals of course. The closeup below shows the luminous shimmer mixed into each of the colors. The finish on the lips is soft and glowy without being frosty at all.

Ingredients listed on the box (clickable for larger viewing):

On to the colors I picked out with swatches and descriptions:

Note the glow in the swatches below is simply the luminous glow these give off when photographed with a flash, they aren’t frosty or overly glossy, but the finish does make them look a bit shimmery:

_________________

Louise is a flesh beige nude with silver and gold flecks of shimmer. This one is closest on me to a true nude color. It has a luminous finish that covers the lip entirely.

_________________
Adrienne is a medium neutral beige with a very slight hint of peach that gives it warmth. If I had to pick one favorite, this would be it.

_________________
Julia is another medium nude caramel color (it’s darker than Louise). It has some brown tones in it so if you’re one who can’t wear super pale nudes, this is a good alternative because it has color in it and won’t wash you out.

_________________
Catherine is a sheer soft peach. With a few swipes it almost looks like a baby pink. More swipes will bring out the peach in it. It’s one of the sheerer ones I tried so based on this, I think Catherine will look very different on different skin/lip tones. It reminds me of one of the older Hydrabase Lipsticks in Lola (long discontinued).

_________________
Vera is a soft pale baby pink. This has sheer to medium coverage that needs several swipes to build up color. If you have pigmented lips like me, I recommend wearing a lipliner with this one to prevent the outer rim of the lip from showing thru making it look like you have a dark lipliner with a light lipstick.

_________________
Cécile is a medium neutral-cool rose pink. This is one of the more shimmery ones I tried. I think the frost can be softened by a lipliner (like Chanel Nude or Natural or MAC Boldly Bare) or by adding a bit of sheer gloss on top.

_________________
Mademoiselle is a warm rose. The new one seems slightly lighter in color compared to the original version, but to me they are almost identical once on the face.

_________________
Suzanne is a medium plum with sheer to medium coverage. This one looks almost glossy on the lip because of the sheerness. It is buildable but the luminous sheen on the lips gives it a slightly sheer look.

_________________
Because all of the Rouge Coco colors have a luminous hydrating finish they won’t last all day or for super-extended periods of time like the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes but they do last longer on the lips compared to sheer lipsticks like Chanel Rouge Coco Shines or YSL Volupte Shines. I would say lasting power is average for a lipstick. You can get several hours of wear without it fading or budging as long as you don’t touch the lips with a cup of tea, coffee, water or snacks. Out of all the Chanel Lipstick formulas my favorites are still the Rouge Coco Shines and Rouge Allures, but the new Rouge Coco is pretty fabulous too. I have a super sensitive nose but have always been able to wear the rose-scented Chanel lipsticks. Some have commented they cannot wear anything fragranced so if you are one with an extra sensitive nose, I’d say stick with the Rouge Allure or opt for one of the new Burberry Kisses Lipsticks.
I’ve been a Chanel fan for as long as I can remember using beauty products. The new Rouge Cocos do not disappoint. I think the diverse color range is one of the strengths of this release. There is a good selection of colors for neutrals, lights, mediums, deeps, brights. If you’re a neutral lip lover like me you will be happy to see there are neutral, cool and warm-toned options.
My top three picks: Adrienne, Louise and Suzanne
The Chanel Rouge Cocos retail for $36 each. In the US there are 29 shades all currently available for purchase at Chanel counters and boutiques. Also online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.
Have you checked out the new Rouge Cocos? Which colors did you pick out?
30 Comments
Uncategorized

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder (Travel Size)

March 16, 2015

Tatcha’s latest is the new Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder, available in two forms: $65 for the Full Size Version (60 g / 2.1 oz.) or $15 for Travel Size Mini (10 g / 0.5 fl. oz). This is the most gentle rice enyme powder they’ve released to date with rice bran, indigo extract, colloidal oatmeal + HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex. Based on my testing of the Classic, Gentle and Deep, the new Indigo is the best one yet. It’s strong enough to give the skin a proper cleansing but gentle enough for days when your skin is extra sensitive. Even though it seems like the winter season never really arrived in Southern California (it’s in the high 70s this week), the weather has been dry making my skin react like a roller coaster. The Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder is the perfect exfoliant for those who don’t like traditional scrubs. If you’re like me they are almost always too harsh or if they are gentle they leave a film on the skin. The Tatcha cleans the skin well leaving it soft and residue free.

In case you are new to the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powders, these are soft powder exfoliant cleansers that are activated with water. They come in a sturdy canister with a clever opening that helps dispense small amounts of powder into your hand. It prevents the product from getting all over the place when you use it and also makes sure that the product stays inside the container in case you travel with these. There are three types of the Polished Rice Enzyme Powders designed for different skin types: Classic is for normal skin, Gentle is for dry skin and Deep is for those with oily skin. You can see my previous review on all three here.
I use these as a double cleanse. First I use a cleansing water or oil to remove all traces of makeup. Then I follow with a regular cleanser or one of the Rice Enzyme Powders. These are the perfect mix between a cleanser and exfoliator. For me traditional face scrubs often end up tearing the skin and cause break outs (no matter how gentle they are). There is a learning curve to figure out the right mix of water to powder to create the right thickness in texture. I usually have one hand wet with water, then I’ll sprinkle about a tablespoon of powder into the palm. I’ll take the other hand (also damp) and rub together to create a paste.

Some more close ups of the Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder, featured here is the travel size:

Classic Full Size vs Indigo Travel Size:

Ingredients: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Myristate, Polygonum Tinctorium (Japanese Indigo) Leaf/Stem Extract, Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin (Pearl) Protein, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Mica, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol.

The Indigo line is created for sensitive skin. I’ve been a huge fan of the Body Butter and Hand Creams because they really do work wonders for the skin when it’s dry or irritated. I love that they’ve added more to the Indigo line because the items smell incredibly good (although the Rice Enzyme Powder has no detectable scent). I’m secretly hoping they will release a shower gel or body lotion in the future.

If you’re new to Tatcha they have a large selection of Travel/Trial Sized items which makes it nice to try things out at a lower price point before investing in the full sized options. Out of all the Rice Enzyme Powders the Indigo is my new favorite followed by the Classic version. Tatcha kindly sent me the travel size to try out. I have the full size version in my online shopping cart right now and will be purchasing it after I hit publish on this post. The travel sized version will be traveling with me on a few trips I have in the upcoming months.

Bottom line highly recommend. You can find the Tatcha Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder in two sizes. The Full Size (60 g) retails for $65 and the Travel Size (10 g) retails for $15. Note there is still a promo code available: receive complimentary Aburitorigami Beauty Papers ($12 value) with any order over $20. Use promo code TREAT2015 at checkout to redeem. Offer may not be combined with any other promotions. Valid 3/5/2015 to 3/31/2015.
The travel sized Indigo rice powder was provided courtesy of Tatcha for review consideration.
13 Comments