I just received news that Net-A-Porter restocked their Holiday Beauty Kit, a $360 value priced at $100. You can see my previous post and full list of contents featured here. It sold out the same day I wrote about it back in early November and I suspect it will sell out again very quickly. I know some of my readers were sad they missed out the first round. If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift that is sure to impress, this kit is a great option!
More Net-A-Porter Beauty below:
The beauty kit was provided as a press sample for review consideration.
The latest addition to the Urban Decay Naked series is the travel palette called Naked On the Run ($54, limited-edition). I’m a huge fan of the Naked Eyeshadow Palettes so I jumped on the bandwagon and ordered the newest palette of neutrals which has products for eyes, lips and cheeks.
Naked on the Run has five neutral eyeshadows with a mix of shimmer and matte colors, a mini 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner, a Naked Gloss, Bronzer, Blush, Highlighter and a mini Perversion Mascara. The colors in this palette:
Dive Eyeshadow is a sparkly medium rose pink with a high frost and some gold sparkle
Fix Eyeshadow is a matte light-to-medium tan brown
Resist Eyeshadow is a shimmering warm taupe
Dare Eyeshadow is a matte medium-dark warm brown
Stun Eyeshadow is a sparkling chocolate with gold and brown chunky shimmer
Bronzer is a finely milled soft bronze color
Blush is a cool pink with a slightly satiny sheen
50/50 Highlighter is a satiny pale pink shimmer
Stag 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner is a deep brown with some plum tones, it has a lovely shimmer
Sesso Lip Gloss is a nude plum pink with an iridescent sheen
The Naked on the Run Palette is designed to be travel-friendly or to carry with you on the go. It does have everything you need for a complete look (minus brushes) and the colors are versatile, neutral, extremely pigmented and easy to wear. The compact however is huge. It’s about 5.4 inches by 5 inches and a little over 1 inch thick. For a travel palette I expected something more compact, but the palette is deep to accommodate compartments for the lipgloss and mascara. The mirror is one of the biggest that I’ve seen in a compact which makes it super useful to apply the product whether you’re at home or traveling or on the go.
For size reference next to a medium-sized tote and magazines. You can see that the Naked on the Run is fairly large. It won’t fit in any of my makeup bags, but it does fit into one of the larger compartments in my purse:
For the products, the eyeshadows are richly pigmented and velvety in texture, true to Urban Decay’s signature eyeshadow formula. There is a higher degree of frost with the shimmer shades but I found them very wearable. The colors do seem to be standard neutrals, but with most of Urban Decay’s neutrals, I find they always manage to add a special mix of shimmer or sheen to their neutrals that gives them a new twist making them unique.
The cheek products which include the bronzer, blush and highlighter are finely milled with a very soft texture. The pigment is sheer to medium but buildable. I reviewed two of the Naked Flushed Palettes before and think I might be the only one who cannot wear them on their own. There is something about the texture that makes my cheeks look very dry where pores are suddenly emphasized and skin looks chalky. I had the exact same experience with this palette, but based on reviews I’ve read, it appears I might be in the minority with my thoughts on the cheek products.
Sesso Lip Gloss is a gorgeous plum rose pink but it’s very sheer. You can see the natural lip through the lip gloss but it does leave a very natural rosy tint. It has a smooth texture with a slightly minty scent. I like the Naked Lip Glosses because they make the lips feel hydrated and smooth without that sticky tacky gloss feeling. Lasting power is medium for a few hours before it disappears. This is exclusive to the palette.
Stag Eyeliner is a really pretty dark brown plum shimmer. It leans more plum on me. I believe it’s currently exclusive to the palette, but I hope that Urban Decay adds it to the permanent line or releases a powder shadow version of it. It’s really quite pretty.
Last but not least, the palette includes a mini Perversion Mascara. This is the first time I’ve tried it although it’s been on my radar for months. The 200+ customer reviews on Sephora were mixed so I didn’t know what to expect. I found it lasted all day without smudging or flaking. The color is a rich deep true black and stayed the same rich color once it dried. For application I felt like I had to pack on 3 layers to make it adhere to the lashes. Application was overall easy and clump-free. It defined the lashes and added a bit of volume. The only thing I didn’t like about this one was that it didn’t hold the curl quite as well as other mascaras I’ve tried.
Swatches, eyeshadows swatched on the arm without a base:
Eyeshadow pigment is richer when swatched over a base (here is a mix of face primer and tinted moisturizer):
Other products with swatches on bare arm:
One last shot:
I’m a huge fan of the Naked series so this is overall a nice addition for me. The cheek products take extra work for me to make them work. I need to add a dewy base or highlighter underneath to make them look less chalky-looking but the colors are nice and naturally flattering. If you already own all the other Naked Eyeshadow Palettes and Naked Flushed Cheek Palettes you may find this has too many similarities to the others to justify owning. Even though this is designed to be a travel palette for on-the-go, I don’t know how I feel about lugging this around in my purse. The compact seems fairly sturdy and while I am usually gentle with purse handling, I’m not sure that I would want to leave this inside for an extended period of time. Also the palette is huge and takes up a lot of space in my purse. I did test it on-the-go with me for a few days and for me it’s just too big to carry around.
I’m happy with mine, but it’s not something I plan on repurchasing. For reference, Naked + Naked2 + Naked3 swatched here, Naked2 Basics swatched here, Naked Flushed featured here.
This year I’ve received quite a few e-mails from new readers who just started getting into higher-end cosmetic brands. Being a beauty junkie and beauty blogger, I put dozens of products to the test each mont. This allows me to offer comparisons in order to help others determine differences or similarities across brands, formulas and product families.
For the makeup newbie it can be a bit overwhelming to sort through all the options. Finding good makeup that works for you often has to be done through trial and error. I think we’ve all been at that place where we bought something that ended up not working so well for our skin tone or skin type. Finding a store with a wide range of brands to choose from with a good return/exchange policy is one of the main reasons I really love to shop at Nordstrom. Today I’ve teamed up with them to create a personal beauty guide on how to start building a makeup wardrobe.
Most of my makeup preferences are for natural colors that will enhance features. New readers frequently e-mail me requesting a customized shopping list of my top beauty picks for them to take to the counter. Picking favorites is almost impossible for me since I really do love a lot of brands, but I’ve compiled an edited list that I think will be good for the makeup newbie. I’ve split my guide into three categories: Lips, Eyes and Cheeks.
For lips, if you’re just starting to get into makeup, my recommendations would depend on what kind of look you want. Even if you want a natural color, texture and finish plays a major part in picking out the right lip product. Do you prefer sheer, glossy, velvety, full-coverage? Are you a lipstick or lipgloss kind of person? Do you like shimmer or prefer creams?
Chanel Rouge Allure Glosses offer rich pigment with high shine and flawless coverage. My favorite soft pink is Sensible 15. If you want a no-fuss medium to full coverage lip gloss that stays put, these will give a really pretty shine while adding a good amount of color. There are naturals and brights in this formula to suit a wide range of skin tones. Another really good full coverage lip gloss is the Dior Addict Fluid Stick. These are a hybrid lipstick + lipgloss and it packs in a ton of color with high shine. Whisper Beige 219 is a good natural beige nude that won’t wash out the complexion.
If you prefer to ease into color and want just a tint of color and shine, Chanel Glossimers are among my favorite out of all the lip glosses in the market. Shades range from sparkling light pinks, bright corals, soft rose, beiges to plums. The holiday Chanel Give It Shine Glossimer Lip Trio has the perfect collection of shades to start your lip wardrobe. It has Amour (soft peach), Sweet Beige (nude beige shimmer) and Wild Rose (the perfect rose pink shine). These have a smooth texture with a naturally glossy sheen.
If you want a more budget-friendly lip gloss, MAC Lipglasses are hard to pass up. These are a bit sticky and tacky, but there are a lot of colors and finishes to choose from. Lovechild Lipglass is one of the most universally flattering colors I’ve seen. It’s a soft plum with pink tones and gold shimmer. On me it pulls very natural, on fair skin it’s the perfect plum, on darker or deeper skin tones it also looks good. Laura Mercier Lip Glacés also offer a wide range of colors with a natural finish. Pink Pop is a bright but sheer pink which brings the complexion to life with a sheer wash of bright color.
If you are more of a lipstick kind of person but want something natural, Chanel Rouge Coco Shines are my favorite no fuss swipe-and-go kind of lipstick. Boy 54 is the best classic rose pink shade that adds the prettiest hint of color and shine. The sheer formula won’t be as long lasting as a regular lipstick but the color is flawless and formula is hydrating. These are really good if you’re timid with bold colors and want something to ease into for lips. The sheer glossy formula is slightly transparent and lets you natural lip shine through.
If you want a full coverage lipstick but still want something that looks natural, the NARS Audacious Lipstick formula is hands down the best that has been released this year. The formula is full coverage with an amazing coverage that melds with the lip. If you have dry lips or peeling flakes you will need to moisturize or prep with a lip balm first, but if your lip is smooth, these are the best I have tried. It has a semi-matte and semi-velvety finish but there is a slight sheen to these which prevents it from looking flat. Raquel is my perfect nude pink. Brigitte is a nude pink beige that has more color but is still very natural.
For the eyes, there are a lot of different eyeshadows and liners that I adore. If I were pressed to pick my current top three favorites for eyeshadow, they would be Urban Decay Naked3, Chanel Tisse Rivoli and Dolce & Gabbana Smoky.
The Urban Decay Naked3 Palette is my most reached-for palette. It has 12 shades of neutral rosy-toned neutrals that can create a wide range of looks. There are shimmers, sparkles and mattes all of which have really incredible pigment. The texture of Urban Decay eyeshadows is buttery smooth and this particular palette doesn’t have any glitter shades which is a huge plus for me (and any neutral makeup lover). This is the one palette that goes with me on almost every trip. It’s a palette I find can go with everything. Pink shadow can be hard for me to wear (it often gives me a pink-eye look) but Naked3 is neutral enough to be very wearable. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing rose-colored shadow the next best option is Naked2 which is more neutral and taupe-based.
If having 12 shadows to play with in one palette is too overwhelming and you need something more edited, Chanel Tisse Rivoli is my favorite neutral quad. The texture adheres well to the eyes and layers well. The colors are smooth and pigmented. For something with more dramatic color, Dolce & Gabbana Smoky (swatched here) is my holy grail smoky eyeshadow quad.
For a cream shadow that is a good over wash shadow the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Rosegold is a good pick. It’s a soft shimmery champagne with rose and gold tones. It is creamy and blends easily on the eyes. You do need to let it sit for a minute or so to dry and then afterwards they last pretty well. It also works as an eye base for powder shadows and helps bring out the pigment.
For liners and mascara, a simple classic black is a good place to start. Not all black eyeliners are good though. Some pull grey in undertone or can smudge easily. Finding good eye makeup that you don’t have to worry about throughout the day is essential. My favorite mascara is the Armani Eyes to Kill Stretch because it grabs every little lash and volumizes, holds the curl, doesn’t smudge, doesn’t clump and defines the lashes really well. For me this one lasts all day without budging.
For liners, the Tom Ford Liquid Eyeliner is hands down the best liquid liner I’ve tried. It’s extremely pricey but it is worth every penny and will last you a very long time. There are two ends with different sizes of tips which allows for precise application and complete control. If you’re new to liquid liners, this hands down is the best one I’ve tested. It makes applying liquid liner super easy. If you prefer a pencil liner, Burberry’s Effortless Kohl Eyeliners were just released this year. Jet Black is one of the deepest and richest black liners I’ve tried and it stays put all day from morning to night. It comes in a twist up pencil format with a built in sharpener at the end which I find very convenient (especially if you carry it on the go or when you travel).
Out of all the beauty products I own, I would say blush, bronzer and highlighters dominate my makeup collection by far. Picking out a few favorites was a difficult task. For the face I’ve narrowed down my recommendations to a few items that will multi-task.
If I could only wear one blush palette for the rest of my life I would pick out the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette. It has three shades in a mirrored compact that cover all the shades you could need to go with any look. Luminous Flush is a coral pink, Incandescent Electra is a soft peach, Mood Exposure is a plum rose. The colors are very pigmented with easy to control buildable color. There is a bit of highlighter mixed into each blush which gives these a luminous glow. Those who don’t like shimmer need not fear with this one. The shimmer is finely milled and very natural on the face. It’s impossible to overdo but the pigment is rich enough to add visible color.
For a bronzer and highlighter, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow offers both in one convenient mirrored compact. The bronzey shade can be used as a contouring powder, although I like it as a bronzer on me. The highlighter is a pale warm gold champagne which has a high frost but looks very natural on the skin. The two combined can be used on the cheeks, temples and eyes.
Liquid illuminators are also something I consider in a makeup wardrobe. They can be used as highlighters on top of powder/foundation to add a glow or they can be used under blush to help color adhere better. I like to use these on the eyes occasionally to highlight. If you need a bit of shimmer in your foundation these can be mixed in. My favorite liquid highlighter is the Soleil Tan de Chanel in Sunkissed. It’s a pale golden champagne that dries to a semi-matte finish which means it stays put all day long. If you want more color options or want something more dewy, Armani Fluid Sheers are classic staples that will give you that glow from within look.
I hope you found this introductory guide useful! Whether you are new to higher-end makeup or want to know what my current favorites are, I hope this provides an edited list of recommendations for you to start exploring. If you could recommend your top 5 beauty picks to a makeup newbie, what would they be? I would really love to hear what your favorites are!
This post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All opinions are my own. For more information please refer to my Disclosures.
Formula X has quite a few cute holiday sets out this year. One of the most impressive value nail sets is the Paint the Town Can (on sale in stores for $39) which has 22 mini nail polishes (4 ml/ 0.13 fl oz each). The set has a mix of creams, shimmers and glitter polishes. It just sold out online yesterday after it was marked down from $55 to $39, but I spotted stock at my local Sephora store today. If you’re making your shopping rounds and doing some last minute holiday shopping this is a really fun gift for nail polish addicts. It has enough colors to keep you busy for months and the colors are suitable for teens and grown ups (even the glitters are fun for the holiday season).
The polishes come in a fun plastic paint can:
They’re all stored in a plastic sleeve that rolls up into the can:
All 22 shades ranging from nudes to pinks to reds to purples and glitters:
I swatched these on some nail wheels to get a post up quickly for those still looking to shop for gifts in store. The colors are pretty much true to what you see in the bottle. The Formula X nail polishes have really good pigment and coverage. All the shades are available for purchase individually with the exception of the sparkles and glitters which seem to be exclusive to this set.
A+ is a pink raspberry cream
Gemini is a bubblegum pink
Pyrotechnic is a classic bright red
Ignite is a deeper red cream
Fathom is a creamy medium blue
Wunderkind is a sheer but build able deep metallic blue
Dark Matter is a dark grey
Dramatic is a lavender purple cream
Umph is a shimmery purple-grey
Pedal to the Metal is a metallic violet
White Matter is a pure white cream
Need for Speed is a metallic silver chrome
Illusionary is a cloud-white-grey shimmer
Perfection is a mauve taupe cream
Monumental is a creamy nude
Astronomical is a creamy beige
Shock Wave is a fuchsia pink glitter
Absolute Zero is a mix of silver, beige and black sparkles
Moon Sign is a mix of teal blue, baby blue and silver sparkles
Stratosphere is a blue and purple glitter mix
Luminosity is a gold and copper sparkle glitter
Starlight is a slightly chunky gold glitter
On the thumb is Monumental with Starlight on top
Spotted in store today at Sephora (there were about half a dozen cans scattered around the store, smaller Paint Party Press Pods is also on sale and still available online, also available is the Press Pods Gift Tags Set):
Overall a really fun set to play with. It’s a great introductory set to the Formula X line at a value price. I tested a few of the glitters and found them pretty easy to remove with nail polish remover which is a huge plus for me (most glitters take forever to remove). If you’re heading to a Sephora store in the next few days I highly recommend looking into this as another gift option.
Have you finished your holiday shopping? What has been your favorite set so far this season?
The Paint the Town set was provided as a press sample for review consideration.
It’s crunch time for holiday shopping, many retailers have cut-off shipping dates for delivery by Christmas today or in the next few days. I have one last gift guide to share with you. Today’s gift guide is on the luxurious splurge options.
1 / NARS The Vault ($500) comes with 10 full-size Audacious Lipsticks and 10 Nail Polishes
By Terry has released a limited-edition Baume de Rose Collection Set ($89 for 5 mini tinted rose balms, each 2.3 g/0.08 oz, made in France). This is a luxurious beauty set cased in a small pink box and ribbon. There are five mini lip balms in a tube format. One is of the items is the classic Baume de Rose which is clear with a slightly milky pink tint. The others include some Baume De Rose Nutri-Couleurs in wand format including Rosy Babe 1, Cherry Bomb 3, Fig Fiction 5 and Toffee Cream 6. Even though I already own the full size versions of three of the five items, I was intrigued by the compact packaging and wand format of the rose balms and ordered a set from Net-A-Porter.
The balms in this Baume de Rose Set come with angled and beveled sponge tip applicators. The little balms are miniature in size making them perfect to store in a small clutch or purse. These are tinted balms so it’s only natural to expect them to be on the sheer side. There is still quite a bit of pigment in them so they do show up on my lips. The texture is medium to thick. They feel like a balm on the lips and go on smoothly, but they don’t slide off like some lip balms do. The slightly thick texture helps them stay on the lips – however since these are balms, these won’t stay put on your lips all day long.
The colors in the Baume de Rose Set this year:
Baume de Rose is a sheer milky pink that goes on clear
Rosy Babe 1 is a baby pink cream
Cherry Bomb 3 is a luscious pink red
Fig Fiction 5 is a sheer purple plum
Toffee Cream 6 is a warm nude pink tan
With any flash or sunlight, the balms reflect their naturally glossy sheen. Once applied, they give the lips the most luscious natural sheen and they feel quite amazing on the lips.
Without flash:
I’ve reviewed the full sizes of the Baume de Rose, Mandarina Pulp, Boom Berry/Fig Fiction/Toffee Cream before on the blog. The colors in the Holiday Baume de Rose Set are identical in undertone to the full size in pots, however I found the colors in this set to be a bit sheerer in pigment and slightly thinner in texture. I suspect a part of the sheerness is due to the applicator. The sponge picks up less color compared to a lip brush that I dip into the pots. I’ll show swatches of the set vs individual pots below.
First, some packaging comparisons. The full size Baume de Rose Gloss ($53 for 7 ml/0.23 fl oz) versus the minis ($89 for the set divided by 5 equals $17.80 per balm for 2.3 g/ 0.08 oz):
The full size Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur ($56 for 7 g/0.24 oz) pots versus the minis ($89 for the set divided by 5 equals $17.80 per balm for 2.3 g/ 0.08 oz):
Comparison swatches:
Lip swatches:
I’ve been a huge fan of By Terry Baume de Rose (for the original, gloss and tinted pots). They are extremely pricey so I would call these a super luxurious treat versus a must-have. There are quite a few other lip balms I adore that are more affordable but none of them compare to the By Terry. If you’ve tried a Baume de Rose you know that these are luscious balms that have a beautiful rich but soothing rose scent. The formula is creamy and smooth making it feel like your lips are getting a spa treatment when you apply it.
The Baume de Rose Set is also a luxurious splurge. If you have been wanting to try the tinted Baume de Rose colors but don’t want to spend $56 on a full size pot, this is a much more affordable way to try multiple colors. My favorite color out of all the tinted options is still Fig Fiction (it’s the one of the prettiest plum lip colors I’ve tried).
I give this a thumbs up although I have a slight preference for the full size pots. It is a really good intro set to By Terry’s Baume de Rose, but will also make a really beautiful gift this holiday for someone special.
If you’re looking for this set, I recommend purchasing it soon – it has already sold out on Space NK and Barneys (although you might still be able to find them in stores). Online you can find this set at Net-A-Porter and Beauty.com, while supplies last (it is limited-edition).
In case you still haven’t finished your holiday shopping and need some ideas for gift ideas, here’s a gift guide for the ladies in your life. I’ve picked out some items I think would be great for your mom, aunt, or BFF. This year there has brought us some of the best sets I’ve seen to date. They are so good, many of them are already sold out. As of today, I’ll be sharing some things you can still get today, but if you see something you like, I’d recommend you get it fast. There are a number of things I had in my shopping cart over the last week that disappeared before I could check out due to them selling out.
A soft simple scarf (1) is my Number 1 no-fail holiday gift idea and you can find scarves almost anywhere in stores and online at all price points. My favorites colors to give include ivory or black because they will go with everything, but for those who like color, there are still a wide range of stunning shades and patterns to pick from.
For the nails, you can never go wrong with luxury nail polishes like Chanel or Dior – the formula is phenomenal, colors are rich and a nice luxury polish is sure to please. Chanel has their Les Rouge Culte Collection (2) on Chanel.com which has three beautiful reds (do note that polishes ship ground). MAC Cosmetics has three reds in their Red Red Red Collection (9) called Red, Red, Red, Rouge Combustion and Impassioned.
The Diptyque Holiday 5 Piece Coffret (5) has been selling out very quickly. You can still find it online at Saks Fifth Avenue, Beautyhabit and Diptyque. I ordered a few of these sets as gifts. They are boxed beautifully and the presentation is quite stunning. Nordstrom has the exclusive on the luxurious 10 Piece Set. For other brands, Jo Malone, Henri Bendel and Byredo also have lovely sets this year.
Philosophy Amazing Grace is one of my favorite feminine scents. The Rollerball (6) and Bath and Shower Gel (7) have this girly pink tint to them. You can find a number of good Philosophy Gift Sets this time of year. Dolce & Gabbana Dolce (3) is another beautiful feminine scent. It’s a lovely floral that comes in a wide range of sizes. The full sized bottles are capped with a white rose. It looks lovely on the dresser and also smells very good. There are a number of fragrance value sets this year. Rollerballs are good stocking stuffer ideas too.
For the lips, there are so many good lip sets this year. By Terry (8) has a Baume de Rose Collection of 5 minis and it is really quite incredible (review soon). NARS Tech Fashion is another favorite (review here).
Last but not least, a leather zip clutch or pouch is another no-fail idea. Truffle Privacy Clutches (10) come in a wide number of colors and are relatively affordable options for a leather accessory. I ordered multiples of the Nude and Black as gifts this year (see them in action here, here, here and here). You can use them to store makeup or as an on-the-go clutch. more ideas below.
