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Sabrina

Charlotte Tilbury Lips

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Luxe Color-Lasting Lip Lacquer // Blondie, Sweet Stiletto, Seduction, High Society and Ibiza Nights

November 12, 2014

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Luxe Color-Lasting Lip Lacquers ($22 each) are high shine lip glosses that have a nice smooth finish with medium-pigment. I reviewed Blondie and Sweet Stiletto back in September and they’ve been regular go-to’s for natural color and shine. I’ve since picked up more colors. I went to the Charlotte Tilbury x Nordstrom Launch at The Grove in Los Angeles where I was able to play with the whole line in person.

The Lip Lustres I have accumulated include:

  • Blondie which is a shimmering champagne pink
  • Sweet Stiletto which is a warm medium pink
  • Seduction is a perfect nude beige cream
  • High Society is a pink rose with a hint of mauve
  • Ibiza Nights is a sparkling gold beige with tiny flecks of glitter
They are all really lovely colors. The ones I opted for were of course the natural shades. I find they have enough pigment to show up on the lips alone, but I really like these layered over her lip liner or lipsticks. Blondie is my personal favorite, followed by Ibiza Nights which has the prettiest sparkle. It has a tiny bit of glitter but it’s not in-your-face glitzy and has a really smooth texture. Seduction is nude perfection and Sweet Stiletto is a nice warmer pink. High Society is sheerer than I had hoped it would be, but it is layerable. It’s a nice warmer mauve but I prefer this one over a lipliner.

Lip swatches of the three newer shades I have (see Blondie and Sweet Stiletto here):

I’m overall really pleased with the glosses. I think the neutrals are well executed and have enough pigment to show up on the lips. The texture is nice and slightly sticky to adhere well to the lips, but they aren’t tacky and feel smooth. In terms of fragrance, there is a very subtle hint of vanilla but it fades after a few minutes.

Huge thumbs up and I highly recommend checking out Blondie. Do note that these seem to have been extremely popular, I’ve seen websites list some shades on back order multiple times, you may have to shop around if you want more than one color.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustres online at Nordstrom (in store at The Grove), Net-A-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman and online at Charlotte Tilbury.

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Diptyque Fragrance

Diptyque Winter Landscapes // Hiver, Épice and Résine

November 11, 2014
Diptyque’s Winter Landscapes Collection for this holiday include three new limited-edition candles in Hiver (Winter), Épice (Spice) and Résine (Pine). The scents this year come in three options: the full 6.5 oz ($68), the mini 2.4 oz ($34) and a trio of 2.4 oz minis ($98). I purchased the full size of each candle. The packaging design is absolutely beautiful this year and all three scents are phenomenal. My favorite is Résine which reminds me of last year’s Pine Bark.


The boxes have an exquisite design, I find them just as beautiful as the actual candle jars:

Up first is Hiver (Winter) which comes cased in a teal blue glass jar, it’s described as a “balsamy world of contrasts, where the biting wind gusts beside the nourishing wood fire.” It’s a unique light and fresh winter scent. This one is the most difficult for me to describe but it smells just like winter. It has a very soft uplifting and soothing feel to it.

Next is Épice (spice) described as “a voluptuous, warm-scented candle filled with vibrant cinnamon rounded with enchanting plum.” This one has a warm spicy cinnamon feel. The plum in it helps smooth and round out the scent with a bit of sweetness. If you don’t like sharper cinnamon spice scents because you find them too strong, this one will be perfect for you. If you want something stronger, I’d recommend you opt for the Le Redoute candle. Epice has a good throw, but it’s not as strong as some of the other Diptyque scents I’ve tried.

Last but not least, my favorite is Résine (Pine) which is described as a “wintery scented candle with notes of generous pine, comfortingly whole amidst bark, crushed needles and resin.” It’s a beautiful scent that I absolutely adore. I stocked up on last year’s Pine Bark but burned through all of them. I was sad when I used up the last one but am thrilled Diptyque released a similar scent. This year’s version of Pine smells a bit softer and greener, more like actual pine. I will be ordering back ups of this one.

All three scents for this holiday are winners in my mind. I find them perfect for the fall and holiday season. The packaging design is absolutely divine this year. I love that they have a packaged trio of minis as a boxed set which will make a luxurious gift. I will be buying back ups and they are for sure on my gift list for close ones I know love Diptyque.

The full sized candles are priced at $68 each, minis are $34 each, trio of minis is $98. All are limited-edition. You can find them now at all Diptyque boutiques and counters. Online at Nordstrom, Space NK, Neiman Marcus and Diptyque Paris.

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Hauls

Sephora Haul for the VIB Rouge 20% Off Sale

November 11, 2014

Several have e-mailed me asking what I bought from Sephora for the VIB Rouge/VIB 20% off sale which ends tonight at 11:59 PM PST online. I went in store last week with a list of items I wanted to restock. I should have ordered items online because I tend to get easily distracted in store, but it is always fun to play with the items and see them in person.

What I picked up:

  1. Shiseido Eyelash Curler – I used this many years ago, the design appears different from I remember it to be, but I’m not 100% sure if it has changed. I’ve heard good things about this one (the Chanel artists I buy from say they buy the Shiseido ones). I’ve decided to give it another try.
  2. Formula X Delete Nail Polish Remover – I’ve gone through another bottle and needed to replenish. (Review here.)
  3. Phytojoba Shampoo – this is my all time favorite shampoo, I haven’t repurchased in a while, but the sale seemed like a perfect time to buy a replacement.
  4. Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment – this is a replenishment purchase. One jar has lasted me since the August summer surge event and I really like this mask for clearing up the skin. I find it super effective at drawing out dirt. It is gentle enough for my sensitive skin. I bought it back in August because a friend recommended it as the best one out of all the Glamglow masks, I haven’t tried them all yet, but I really like it.
  5. Glamglow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment – this is something I tried 2-3 years ago. I received a sample but the tingle sensation really freaked me out so I removed it immediately and ended up giving my jar to a friend. I received a small sample packet that I tried again recently and found the tingly (slightly burning) sensation disappeared after 30 seconds and didn’t cause a bad reaction like I had expected. The skin was left with a tighter feel and felt refreshed. I will have to do more testing to compare the two masks, but this one works well for me too.
  6. Bite Beauty Mix N’Mingle Lip Mini Lush Fruit Lip Gloss in Papaya – this was an impulse buy I picked up while waiting in the checkout line. It was too cute to pass up. I contemplated the larger Mix N’Mingle Set too but decided to wait.
  7. Marc Jacobs Beauty Twinkle Pop in Volver and Au Revoir – both are cream shadow sticks that come in a twist up tube. Volver is a sparkling peach and Au Revoir is a shimmering taupe. Both are very sparkly but looked really really pretty. I’ve played with these numerous times at Sephora but never caved. I’ll have a review after testing these over the next few days.
  8. Urban Decay Naked Basics – After I did a feature on my Urban Decay favorites, many of my readers insisted that I check out the Urban Decay Naked Basics. I decided to give this a try because of so many raves. I’ll have a report as soon as I have it tested. It does look promising.
  9. NARS Tasmania Lip Gloss – This was an “oops” buy. I already own this color but did not remember that I did. (Swatched here.) Not a problem though, I have a friend I know who will take this off my hands happily.
  10. Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Vertigo – This is a gift for my mom. She likes brighter colors, this is a mix of plum and fuchsia and pink which is right up her alley.
  11. Urban Decay Urban Obsessions 500 Point Perk – this palette has four shadows in Skimp, Bust, Guilt and Oil Slick with a mini Zero Pencil. I believe it was available online as well to redeem points for but I just checked and didn’t see it.

What I also thought about but didn’t pick up: Beautyblenders, NARS Virtual Domination palette and  a couple more of the Dior Rouge Baumes (first round of picks and swatches here). I have them sitting in my virtual shopping cart online, I’m going to probably pass and think about them some more.
If you’re shopping online, the sale ends tonight at 11:59 PM PST, use code GIFTROUGE at checkout if you’re VIB Rouge or code GIFTVIB if you’re a VIB.

Did you buy anything during the Sephora sale? I’d love to hear about your picks!
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Uncategorized

Marc Jacobs Beauty Lovemarc Lip Gel in Have We Met? and Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheer in Pink Diamond

November 10, 2014

I have two Marc Jacobs Beauty lip products to share today that I’ve been obsessed with for a few weeks now. The Lovemarc Lip Gel in Have We Met? ($30 for 3.6 g / 0.12 oz) is a medium rose pink with a bit of gold shimmer. The formula of the Lovemarc Lip Gel is really nice and smooth. It’s become a favorite lipstick formula of mine, I think they are highly under-rated. The lipsticks are a unique gel formula with a slightly glossy finish. The shades I’ve tested adhere well to my lips and give medium to full coverage. (Other reviews on blog on Role Play, Serevine and Cabaret.) The Lip Gels have a slight vanilla scent but it is very soft and subdued making it wearable for me even though I have a super sensitive nose.

There are several new shades of the Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheers and I ordered Pink Diamond online sight unseen ($28 for 0.15 oz). It’s a soft sheer pink gold with a super smooth shimmer. It is on the sheer side like most of the other Marc Jacobs Lip Glosses I’ve tried. Alone it gives a soft pink glow to the lips, but I did find the gold shimmer seemed to emphasize lip lines as it settled into the creases a bit. I like this one layered over a lip pencil or lipstick better than wearing it alone. It has a slightly minty tingle to it but it doesn’t numb the lips.

Swatches on lips:

I give the Love Marc Lip Gel in Have We Met? a huge thumbs up. It’s smooth, feels moisturizing, has decent medium lasting power and is a medium bright pink that has enough color to show up on the lips but still natural enough that it isn’t fuchsia. The Lust for Lacquer in Pink Diamond is something I think will be either hit or miss. I have some of the glosses that I really like in this formula, but there are some shades that tend to be just too sheer and settle into lip lines. That being said, I do really like the way it feels and if you have a smoother lip surface you shouldn’t have issues with it settling. It does wear really nicely over other lipsticks.

You can find both items online and instore at Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty.

P.S. The Sephora VIB Rouge and VIB 20% off promotion ends today at 11:59 PM PST, if you shop in store you can use the coupon they mailed to you or they should be able to look up your Beauty Insider account. If you’re ordering online, use code GIFTROUGE at checkout for the discount if you have VIB Rouge status. If you’re a VIB member you can use the code GIFTVIB at checkout. Be sure to check the terms and conditions on your mailer or e-mail coupon.
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Uncategorized

R29 + Rescue Beauty Lounge

November 10, 2014

Rescue Beauty Lounge has partnered with Refinery29 to release a stunning collection of seven new nail lacquers this month. The colors in this collection were inspired by the seven teams at Refinery29, each of which put together color inspirational boards to create their dream color of nail polish for Ji to mix up and create. I’m thrilled to share the colors with you today. They are available for purchase now online at Rescue Beauty Lounge, all are limited-edition. The seven shades include:
  • Elvis in the Cloud (inspired by the R29 technology team)
  • All About Yves (inspired by the R29 fashion group)
  • Sunny Skies (inspired by the R29 health and wellness team)
  • Better Than Boyfriend Jeans (inspired by the R29 shopping team)
  • Pretty Gritty (inspired by the R29 beauty team)
  • Bubblegum Punk (inspired by the R29 news team)
  • Galaxy Glue (inspired by R29)

Elvis in the Cloud is like a red sunset. It has a mix of orange, iridescent purple, gold and some green in it. This is a metallic but applies smoothly and the brush strokes are minimal. The texture is really beautiful with a slight transparent quality. Two coats will give you full coverage. It has a complex mix of colors making it very unique. I normally don’t like orangey nail polishes (unless they are creams) but this one has completely changed my outlook on orange colors.

All About Yves is a bold blue cream with a high gloss finish. You get full coverage with two coats and the texture is phenomenal. It’s quite bright – almost electric but it’s still deep in color. If you want a statement nail color, this is it. Even though it is opaque, there is a slight jelly quality to it giving it a cushiony look and feel.

Sunny Skies is a richly pigmented sea green + teal mix. This one applies smoothly on the nails as well with two coats for full coverage. This one will be fun to wear on the toes. These kinds of colors can be hard to pull off without looking too pastel or chalky sometimes. Rescue Beauty Lounge always has the best sea-green/teal colors.

Better Than Boyfriend Jeans is a baby blue cream. I love this one for the name. Most pastel blues tend to be sheer in formula on the nails and this one is no exception. I need three thin coats for full coverage with this shade. It will take a bit more time with application but it is worth the wait. Baby blues are also difficult for me to pull off but this one is just perfect. It has the right mix of white and blue to be very flattering on medium skin tone.

Pretty Gritty is an orchid purple base with gold shimmer mixed in. It’s a really pretty color, one I find is well executed with the mix of purple and gold. It applies smoothly with two coats. The gold is very fine so there are no visible brush strokes with this one. The way it’s mixed in is impressive. It gives the effect of a soft veil of gold dust on the nails.

Bubblegum Punk reminds me of bubbles. I also like the name of this one. It’s a sparkling color that has tiny micro sparkles of clear iridescent glitters but it’s not a glitter nail polish. This one looks good alone with two coats but it’s also nice as a layering color. The shimmer particles are visible like micro glitters but the formula is very smooth and not chunky at all.

Galaxy Glue is a beautiful sea green iridescent mix. It has a mermaid-like feel and the colors change as the light hits the nail. In some light it looks more green, while in others it has more blue. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a nail polish as pretty as this one. I am going to need a backup.

All the R29 + Rescue Beauty Lounge shades lined up:

The R29 + Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes are available for purchase now online exclusively at Rescue Beauty Lounge ($20 each). All the shares are limited-edition and in my mind each color is a stunner. All winners in my book. If you asked me to pick a favorite, it would be impossible. I love them all, but my top three picks are Bubblegum Punk, Galaxy Glue and Better Than Boyfriend Jeans.

For more swatches, you can check out these awesome bloggers who have also featured the collection today, some with comparison swatches too:

You can read more about Ji’s inspiration on the Rescue Beauty Lounge Blog and get the 411 on the the inspiration from each team also at Refinery29.

Thank you Rescue Beauty Lounge for sending me a preview of these shades to share with you.
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Base Makeup

Concealers In Rotation

November 9, 2014

For years I’ve stuck to concealers from two lines: Clé de Peau Beauté and By Terry. I’ve never had much need for concealer but my skin changed this year. These slightly dark circles under the eyes started to appear and I’ve needed a lot more coverage in certain areas of the face with scars and blemishes. Both of my go-to concealers still work really well for me, but I’ve been experimenting more with other brands and products. I thought I’d share a round up of the ones I have in rotation right now plus what tools I use.

My personal preference for blending concealer is for rounded brushes made of synthetic materials. My most reached-for tools include the MAC 252, Chanel Concealer Brush #10 and Trish McEvoy Medium Laydown #40. All of them are about the same medium size which works best for me. I’ve tried smaller detail brushes during makeovers and while they are good for precise application, I usually find larger brushes for cream products work better for me. They blend concealers well and also double as cream shadow brushes. Some days I will use fingers or a sponge, but my preference these days is for the brush.

Concealers I use right now:

  • Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer in Almond is my current skin tone match. The Cle de Peau Beaute concealer is the best stick formula I’ve tried. It covers the skin very well but looks natural. It works well under the eye area when dabbed on with fingers to warm up the product and doesn’t look cakey. The color selection is limited but they recently added two shades (all shades swatched here). This is one of the best I’ve tried, it’s pricey but performs well and a tube will last you a very long time.
  • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard and Ginger are new discoveries for me. I’ve had several of the older formulas in gift with purchase compacts in the past but wasn’t impressed with the formula so I never thought to try the new formulas. A NARS artist recommended I try this during a makeover when I asked for a foundation with full coverage. She suggested the Radiant Creamy Concealer and it really does cover incredibly well and blends out to have a soft velvety looking finish. It comes with a sponge wand tip. I use both Custard and Ginger and mix them depending on what area of the face I am trying to cover. I’ve found this to live up to all the hype.
  • Edward Bess Extreme Cover Cream is a full coverage creamy concealer in a pot. This one is definitely the most creamy that I’ve tried. It’s also the most pigmented but blends nicely to cover areas completely. Since the pigment is really intense, I recommend using only a tiny bit, otherwise it will be too heavy. The container is tiny but the formula packs a punch so it will last a very long time. All the shades swatched and review here. The color selection is a bit limited, but Medium is a good match for me. This one has a slightly dewy finish but does not get oily as the day wears on.
  • By Terry Touche Veloutée in Beige #3 is a highlighting concealer in a click pen type of packaging. This one gives a brightening effect even though the color Beige matches my skin tone exactly. I like it best under the eyes to cover dark circles and brighten the skin. It’s also good on days you have a bit of redness around the nose. This one has a smooth medium coverage and dries to a semi-matte but natural finish.
Swatches of the shades below (with Clé de Peau Beige for reference):

If you ask me to recommend just one concealer, I would say that I think picking a good one depends on where you want to use it and what you want it to do: eyes, spots, cover completely or brighten? For me, a concealer for under the eye won’t necessarily be suitable for spot coverage along the jawline or cheeks.

For under the under eye area, I look for colors that either brighten or have a bit of warmth. Many artists want to go lighter than my skintone to “brighten” the area, but it really just ends up looking ashy if it’s too pale. If they insist on using one that is 1-2x lighter than I think they should I usually ask them to try 2 shades on me just to make sure I can see it for myself. I think all the concealers I listed above will work for under the eyes because they have a good blendable formula, but my favorite for under the eye area is the By Terry Touche Veloutee. It has a slightly sheerer coverage compared to the others which prevents the area from looking flat.

For cover up on spots or acne scars, the Edward Bess will give the most opaque coverage followed by the NARS and then Clé de Peau Beauté.

My top two picks include the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Clé de Peau Beauté, but there are a few downsides. If you test the NARS concealers at the counter or store, you may find it difficult to find an exact match and might be in between colors (like myself). When it comes to foundations, powders and concealers I want to find an exact match, but it’s not always possible. There are times I have to buy two shades to mix which can get pricey. If I can’t find a almost exact match for concealer, I will skip it all together, but I’ve made an exception for the NARS. I found the price of the NARS reasonable and the formula is really amazing so I did not mind splurging on 2 tubes to mix colors. The downside for the Clé de Peau Beauté is also a limited color selection and price of $70 is very steep. That being said, I do think if you can find a good match I do think formula is well worth the price. A tube should last well over a year even if you use it on a regular basis as a spot cover. 

I hope you found this round up helpful! Do you have a favorite concealer?
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Uncategorized

NARS Laced With Edge Lip Gloss for Holiday 2014 | Soleil D’Orient, Corsica and Burning Love

November 7, 2014

For the holiday Laced With Edge Collection, NARS has three new Lip Glosses in Soleil D’Orient, Corsica and Burning Love ($26 each for .18 oz/6 ml, limited-edition). All the items in the holiday collection have a unique twist on the packaging design. Each item adapts architectural designer Chris Kabatsi’s digitally-rendered Nebula print with a black gloss embossing. It represents a modern take on lace.

The three glosses have a perfect holiday vibe.

  • Soleil D’Orient is a sparkling cool-pink champagne
  • Corsica is a warm pink raspberry with a slight hint of shimmer
  • Burning Love is a deep but bright ruby cream, it also has a slight hint of shimmer

The glosses come with a beveled sponge tip applicator which is sturdy but still soft to the touch. The angled tip allows for precise application. Views of the top, side and base:

While these glosses might seem familiar in color to many other shades, there is a multi-dimensional feel to each color. The swatches below will show how the base shifts depending on light. Soleil D’Orient has cool-toned shimmer mixed in with warmer champagne sparkles which prevents it from looking like white frost on the lips. Corsica is both warm and cool, it’s a pigmented pink with visible color but still soft. Burning Love is both deep and bright. There is a slight hint of sparkle in it but on the lips it’s mostly a cream. 

Lip swatches on bare lips, for skin tone reference I’m wearing Dolce & Gabbana Caramel Perfect Reveal Lift Foundation 110 with the Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation in Warm 100.

A few comparison swatches below:

I already own quite a bit of lip gloss. The one that is most unique for me is Burning Love because it’s a brighter color than what I normally wear. Reds are still fun for the holiday season and I am continuously getting requests to review bolder colors for lips on the blog. Soleil D’Orient is my personal favorite because it’s a warm and cool champagne. Many lip items this color are extremely cool on my lips/skintone and end up looking like white frost. Soleil D’Orient has enough warmth in it, I wish it came in eyeshadow format too.

All the colors are limited-edition. You can find them now at all NARS counters and boutiques. Have you checked out the NARS holiday collection yet? I haven’t been to the counters in a couple weeks, but am hoping to have time soon to see all the holiday offerings this year in person.

Corsica was sent by NARS for review consideration. I purchased Soleil D’Orient and Burning Love.

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