Armani Beauty launched their Luminous Silk Glow Blushes ($38) earlier this spring. I’m late to the game trying these but after falling in love with 51 Amore I picked up more shades including one of the new colors 11 Warm Nude and thought I’d put these on your radar.
The Luminous Silk Glow Blush is a soft natural looking blush with a silky smooth texture. If you’re looking for a natural blush that is easy to apply with medium buildable coverage these are the ones to check out! Powders have a finely milled texture which makes it blend right into the skin.
Lasting power is excellent (I love powder blushes in general). I have 5 shades now and all of them perform exceptionally well.
11 In Love/Warm Nude is a neutral nude beige, on me it pulls more neutral-cool
30 Offbeat is a bright apricot matte
50 Euphoric is a golden pink, on my complexion it looks more like a highlighter, but if I layer this on top of another blush or cream blush the pink base shows more
51 Amore is the perfect rose pink
52 Ecstasy is a beautiful cool bright pink
My favorite is 51 Amore. I also love layering these together. The peachy ones 30 and 50 layer really nicely together.
If I had tried them all in person before ordering, I would have probably skipped 11. I think it will work nicely on lighter or cooler skin tones. For my medium tan olive skin it pulls a little too neutral. I prefer Laura Mercier Fresco or Charlotte Tilbury First Love for the perfect neutral blush (on my skintone).
A couple more Armani mentions. I still really love the Luminous Silk Foundation formula. Everytime I use it I am just blown away by how smooth and naturally glowy my skin looks with this base. I use the Shade 6.5. The Luminous Silk Concealer is one of the best full coverage concealers I’ve used. I also use Shade 6.5 which pulls a little lighter than the foundation so it’s perfect for brightening. The Luminous Silk Glow Setting Powder is another favorite. It’s a glowy powder but not too glowy for all over the face. However if you don’t like any glow or shimmer all over it may be too much for you in which case I’d recommend trying either the Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Setting Powder or Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (my 2 holy grail setting powders right now).
It’s also been a while since I reviewed the Lip Power Lipsticks and I don’t think I ever swatched all the shades so here is the lineup of what I have. They’re creamy, full coverage, comfortable and have great lasting power.
I wear Shade 103 and 109 the most. I think those are the most wearable and flattering. They’re also the ones I get the most “what’s on your lips?” questions for. Shade 107 is a newer shade which ended up being a little too dark on my complexion. If you’re all about the 90s brown tones I think you’ll love it. For me I’ll probably save it for fall/winter.
Bottom line, love the Luminous Silk Glow Blushes. I wish they had more colors to choose from but I love what they have right now.
There’s a new blush from Makeup By Mario called the Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil ($30) and it seems to have exploded in popularity – it’s all over my Instagram feed! As a fan of many products in his line like the MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum, Ultra Suede Lip Pencil and Master Mattes I knew I had to try these new blushes. The colors looked fresh and easy to wear so I picked up 5 to try.
The Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil is a cream blush with a subtle luminous finish. Not quite shimmery but when swatched on the arm you will see a glow and it’s not just from the creamy texture. They have sheer to medium finish, leaning more towards the sheer side. Finish is dewy but it does have a slight drydown after it sets. It still remains dewy looking on the skin but not as dewy as when you first apply.
I have mixed feelings on cream blush in general so my review is going to be biased. Most cream blushes simply do not last on my skin alone. I always have to set with a powder blush on top to make it last longer than 2 hours and even with a powder on top it doesn’t always stay.
Based on the feed back from many of you over the years, I think most of you love cream blushes and a dewy finish (like the Westman Atelier Lit Up Sticks or Chanel Baume Essentiel). If you’re a cream blush lover I think you will really like these.
Here are my thoughts: I love the colors. I think they’re wearable, fresh, easy to wear and there is a good color range to go with a wide range of looks. Formula wise they’re not my favorite. After testing these I would have skipped all of them except Perfect Pink and Just Peachy. Formula is ok, it’s not groundbreaking or exceptional in my opinion. They have an ok lasting power for a cream but for all day wear I need to touch up at the 3 hour mark or else I look like a dewy glazed donut.
Lasting power is definitely improved with a powder blush on top. There is a trend going on right now to apply this cream on top of powder blush and to me it really doesn’t make that much of a difference in terms of lasting power.
Bottom line: Colors are great but formula is ok. I’m not super impressed with the formula and while I don’t think it is bad, it’s not the best for lasting power. Definitely not the best for hot humid weather. If you like the dewy cream blush look I think you will love these.
I’m still working my way through all the new blush launches this season. On my testing list I have the new Gucci Luminous Matte Blushes, Hermes Silky Blush Powder (new shades), Pat McGrath Divine Blush Glow Color Balms and Dior Backstage Blushes coming soon.
Happy Monday! I’m doing a Q&A from the questions you submitted last week. It was fun reading through all the questions! I’ve picked 10 questions to answer. It has been a couple of years since I last did this type of post, perhaps I should start it up again? Let me know!
1) Have you and Andrew considered relocating to Miami since you visit so much? Would you go back to live in SoCal?
I feel like many of you may have read my mind on this as this is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive! Andrew and I are moving to Miami or San Diego hopefully this year. We’ve actually been traveling to Miami so frequently for this reason. We’ve been looking for a place since December. Currently narrowing down the specific area to move to – there are so many options, each with different pros and cons for what we are looking for. San Diego has also been an option we’ve talked about to be closer to my family and our friends back home.
Currently exploring our options with both cities and we will keep you posted!
2) Favorite current luxury handbag? Best crossbody bag? Best raffia bag? Next splurge?
Oooh this is a tough one! I rotate frequently but would say my top 3 are the Bottega Mini Loop, Loewe Mini Puzzle and Celine Pico Belt Bag (review here). All of these are cross body. Each style is also carried in larger options with straps if super minis aren’t your style.
I think Loewe raffia bags are my favorite. I’ve gotten a lot of use out of the Shell Basket (small). For a larger beach tote I’m in love with the Anagram Basket in Ochre (medium).
What’s my next purchase? I’m very happy with my collection right now. However I have had my eye on the Bottega Arco Tote or Loewe Mini Flamenco.
Bottega Mini Loop in White
Celine Pico Belt Bag in Light Taupe
Loewe Shell Basket (small)
Loewe Anagram Basket
3) Best walking shoes when on vacation?
I love APL Techloom Breeze Sneakers or New Balance 327 (also love these) or the 524. Both are very comfortable and aren’t too thick/heavy so your feet can breathe. Leather sneakers are easier to keep clean/maintain but I try to save those for cooler weather as my feet get sweaty.
4) Favorite travel moment / trip?
So many great travel memories for me! I have two favorites. The best travel memory I have was a trip to Oxford England in 2001. I went to Oxford on a study abroad trip in college one summer and made friends that have become lifelong friends. I met my best friend on this trip (we were roomies) and I also met my future husband on this trip (Andrew was one of the TAs).
I would say the best trip I’ve been on was a month long Europe trip Andrew and I took back in 2015. We would love to go back to Europe for an extended trip. Probably not this year since we are planning a move. Hopefully in 2024!
5) How do you find places to travel with your fur babies?
Ollie has been really easy to travel with and we love it! So far we’ve only taken him with us to Miami which is close to us and super dog friendly. We haven’t taken him on a plane yet as we are not sure if he will fit under the seat for a carry on pet. Kitty has come with us to Miami a couple times but he does not like car rides at all.
It was pretty difficult to travel with Jake and Lucy. The Jack Russell breed is very energetic and they don’t always play well with others. They were always very competitive with each other, I had to take them on walks separately. They also couldn’t see one leave the house without the other so I had to distract one pup and quickly sneak out with the other dog. We did take them on a few road trips and we had fun but it was a lot of work.
When they were young we brought them on a road trip from San Diego to Seattle for Andrew’s work for around 1 week. They had fun in a lot of parks! We also drove Jake, Lucy and Kitty across country from San Diego to Tampa when we moved which took around 5 days. Finding dog friendly hotels on the road was a challenge. All three also travelled from Tampa to Louisville (and back) when we evacuated for a hurricane one year.
6) What is your exercise routine?
I’m embarrassed to admit I have been neglecting my exercise routine for months. It’s currently very sporadic but when we were exercising regularly Andrew and I did weight training 3-5 times per week with cardio mixed in. We found a great a trainer and worked with him for the past 3 years. Our exercises are split by category, one category per workout: Push Day, Pull Day, Leg Day. Sometimes we add in a shoulder day or active recovery day.
We also have a treadmill and assault bike. I’m getting back into it. Right now my chest and triceps are really sore from my last workout a couple days ago. I’ve been interested in trying Pilates but am not sure I have the core strength to do it.
7) What are your favorite make-up looks for a beach day? My eye make-up always runs.
For eyes if I do wear makeup it’s a cream shadow stick like the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick (I wear Golden Amber or Golden Pink the most). Some of the darker shades can be smudged along the lash line to double as liner. I rarely wear liner or mascara because no matter how “long-wear” it is, products simply don’t hold up to REAL humidity or heat.
9) How are you liking Botox now that you’ve tried it? Will you do it again?
I love it. I’m glad I finally did it. I’m still terrified of needles but I know it’s something I can manage. Trolls have been telling me to fix my face for years – well I finally fixed it. It’s not the reason I did it though, it’s been on my list for years. I just nearly pass out at the thought of needles. If you want more I’ve saved the details to my BOTOX Instagram Highlights.
For those who don’t use Instagram I had a Botox injection for the first time ever at age 42. The areas that were done included my forehead and 11s with nearly 40 units. We went to @marissathepa for our first Botox injection ever and I highly recommend her. Andrew got Botox too!
I have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback! So many of you were cheering me on! I am really touched that many of you shared your personal experiences, procedures, frequency, pricing etc. It still makes me a little sad that this is something many of you are not comfortable sharing or talking about openly because of negative judgement from others.
We were both very happy with the results, the feeling and sensation just takes getting used to. The first two weeks I could not move my forehead and it was so relaxed I felt like I had to strain to open my eyes a little. Feedback from many of you was to get 30 units next time for more movement. My deep set lines disappeared on my forehead and in the 11 area.
The one month mark will be this Saturday and I’ll do my next update then. I’m not sure if we will be doing this every 3 or 6 months. Some say they can do it 1x per year. Many of you messaged me that it only lasts 3 months for most of you. If you have any questions please feel free to email or DM me.
10) Best new beauty buy/launch of 2023?
Another tough one! If you count Botox as a beauty buy I think that was my best purchase this year. For new launches I have been really impressed with the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream. They reformulated it this year and it’s been my absolute favorite skincare item. I still have some left of the original formula and definitely notice the new one absorbs better into the skin, feels better and just overall works better.
This year’s Chanel Les Beiges Summer Collection features repromoted summer staples in travel sizes. There are two new lip colors alongside minis of the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Illuminating Oil, Water-Fresh Tint and Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream.
Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint
The Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint Travel Size ($47 each) comes in a .5 fl oz format in 8 shades. Formula seems to be the same as the original Full Size Version ($70 for 1 fl oz). Lightweight, hydrating, glowy with a subtle hint of pigment and glow. I can wear either Medium or Medium Plus. For those who want a natural veil of hydration I think this is perfect.
I always set with a powder since I prefer a matte finish so it’s hard to see the product’s final effect on the skin in photos. This demo will help show the coverage and finish on the skin. I’m applying it with the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush and for my moisturizer underneath I used Chanel’s La Solution 10 De Chanel.
The Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream has been a long time favorite and the new Travel Size ($40 for .5 oz) is available in three colors but the shades in travel size have slight variations and the formula feels different. Colors pull just slightly different but on the skin once blended they look the same. Formula on the travel size has a blurred effect on the skin. It’s not quite matte but it feels a bit more pigmented and matte compared to the full size.
I really love that Chanel brought back the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Illuminating Oil ($63 for 1 fl oz) in travel size. I was able to buy this in one of the boutiques before it launched while traveling and I really loved having it in my travel bag! Having it in a smaller option I can easily hold in one hand or bring with me on travel is much more convenient. (Last year’s bottle was SO big I could barely hold it with my hands.) It smells like a slightly more floral version of the les beiges line with jasmine and it’s just beautiful.
The shimmer is subtle on the skin but more visible in direct sunlight.
UV Essentiel – NEW formula
Chanel reformulated their UV Essentiel with SPF 50 and I picked this up in Miami last month. As a long time fan of the previous formula my first reaction was to panic, but rest assured the new one is better! It has a texture that combines a gel and cream in one so it’s not as fluid/liquid. The formula leaves no white cast on the skin and works well with the Chanel foundations on top. The texture is lightweight and blends easily. I like the newer formula because now it doesn’t creep or slide into my eye corners (sunscreen often does that and it stings!). Active ingredients include Avobenzone 3.0 % | Homosalate 10.0 % | Octisalate 5.0 % | Octocrylene 5.0 %.
Rouge Coco Flash
Last we have a look at the new Rouge Coco Flash shades. Destination is a neutral beige pink. This sometimes pulls a little too pale on my lips and skin tone, sometimes I can pull it off, sometimes I can’t. Escapade is a muted reddish shade – semi bold but not too bold. Both have that glossy finish, smooth texture and hydrating feel. They’re creamy and I love applying these! They don’t have the best lasting power but I don’t mind reapplying.
Swatched below. Also added a couple other shades for reference/comparison.
Overall a very edited collection with mainly repromotes in travel sizes. I would have loved to see new colors for the eyes, nails and perhaps a new blush or highlighter for summer. At the same time I do really like these travel sizes and wish I had them a month ago when I was traveling.
I also think having the smaller options at lower price points might be better for those who don’t want to commit to the full size right away.
You can find these out now at Chanel.com and all Chanel Beauty retailers.
Have you checked out any of the new collection items yet?
Sharing a look at the summer launch from Chantecaille with their Cosmos Collection today! The summer items are repromoted colors in limited-edition packaging. If you’ve been a long-time Chantecaille lover you may want to shop your stash to recreate their summer look. I own two of the items from previous launches and there are slight differences but they are pretty much the same (more below).
Real Bronze and Real Glow
There are two cheek products in this launch. The Real Bronze Bronzer ($84) in Sirena is a gel to powder formula with a super soft texture. It almost feels like it melts into the skin in a really beautiful way. The color in this new launch has a more golden brown undertone compared to the original (in the red packaging). The differences are so subtle though I cannot tell the difference on the face but the original one does pull more neutral/cool. Their bronzers have a subtle glow/sheen that is super flattering on the skin.
The Real Glow Highlighter ($84) in Stella is a soft pearly champagne. It has some slight peachy undertones with a pearlescent golden shimmer. I’ve read that it’s also a repromoted from a previous launch but I don’t have it to compare. This one is smooth, ultra fine in texture, doesn’t emphasize pores and has pretty impressive pigment. You can sheer it out for a more subtle glow and it doesn’t give frosty metallic vibes at all.
Lip Chic
The Chantecaille Lip Chic ($52) formula is well loved by many of you and I 100% agree it’s top notch! The two shades are repromotes as well. Freesia is a soft pink with mauve tones although it pulls warmer and almost rosy beige compared to the previous one (more mauve/cool/muted). Ceylon is a plum orchid shade. This is a new to me color so I can’t compare it to the existing lineup.
Both colors glide onto the lips with absolute perfection. I love the glossy finish, medium buildable pigment and the colors are flattering for year round. They have a soft vanilla scent to them. Formula is hydrating and feels very comfortable on the lips.
Overall thoughts are a bit mixed. The products are beautiful and perform well. I think they’re easy to wear for an effortless polished look. If you splurge I don’t think you’ll be disappointed – I splurged on Sirena in the previous red compact format and while my wallet was not happy, I really enjoy using that bronzer still. The colors are so wearable and naturally flattering I think they are shades you’ll reach for frequently.
I will 100% use these (especially the Sirena bronzer and Freesia lipstick) because I think the shades are beautiful, quality is excellent and the colors are easy to use for a polished look. That being said I’m not sure I would call any of these must-haves given the extremely high price points and the fact that they’re repromotes. I usually love Chantecaille’s aesthetic for something fresh, new and polished. I would have really loved to see new colors alongside their best sellers instead of just repromotes.
Shop the Post
You can find the collection out now at Chantecaille. Have you checked out the new collection yet? Do you already own the other colors?
I have a roundup of some new things I’ve been testing from NARS. It seems as though brands are doing more mini launches versus seasonal looks/collections and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I love the smaller edited launches but kinda miss having a more cohesive look for each season.
NARS launched a mini Laguna Collection with extended shades of their Laguna Bronzer in a talc-free formula and new eyeshadow quads. I picked up the two Eyeshadow Quad Palettes ($49 each) and think those are both worth checking out. It’s rare that I find new eyeshadow palettes where I truly love ALL the shades or that are unique enough to really like.
Laguna Eyeshadow Quad has the perfect mix of neutral tan bronzy tones. This quad has the colors I think of when I think of a good summer eye. It has a sparkling white champagne, a tan shimmer, soft warm tan matte and a soft deeper bronze. If you don’t wear a lot of eye makeup or want something super easy to apply for a soft polished look, GET THIS ONE. It’s neutral and slightly warm on my arm but on my eyes and skin tone it pulls more neutral.
Laguna Sunset has all sparkly shades I think are just beautiful. I was a little worried it would be too metallic or have tons of fall out. It pulls warm but it’s really very wearable and does look like a beautiful summer sunset. On my eyes there is minimal fallout with application but the shadows stick well to the eye lids.
Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipstick
The Afterglow Sensual Shine Lipsticks ($32 each) have quickly become a favorite in my makeup stash. Formula is smooth, hydrating, glossy in finish. They have the perfect amount of pigment in them. I love that they’re not too sheer but at the same time they don’t look or feel thick. I reviewed a couple shades from a Sephora haul earlier this year. I immediately bought more colors. I do think they’re very small (product wise) for the price. They only have 1.5 g of product for $32 while the Afterglow Lip Balms are 3 g for $28.
Colors I have include Breathless (beige nude), Orgasm (pink gold), Devotion (mauve brown), Dolce Vita (rosy brown) and On Edge (bright coral).
Afterglow Liquid Blush
Last we have a look at the Afterglow Liquid Blush ($32 each). There seems to be a blush explosion on the beauty market right now. This is the first new formula I’ve tried but I will be testing out the ones from Pat McGrath and Makeup By Mario soon.
I really like the Afterglow Liquid Blushes but they will be hit or miss for you depending on how much pigment you prefer. These have a similar vibe to the Tarte Maneater Blushes which I love. They have a sponge tip applicator, they’re super easy to apply, blend and layer. They do sheer out quite a bit when you blend but I actually like the pigment level. They aren’t quite as sheer as the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks (swatched here). If you’re a blush wearer that needs more pigment or color payoff the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blushes (review here) are more pigmented and the original NARS Liquid Blush formula also has a lot more color payoff.
Lasting power has been pretty good on my skin. It doesn’t fade or slip off quickly. On me it stayed put and lasted all day.
Behave is a pretty soft pink (on me it doesn’t really show up once blended out), Brazen is a coral peach (my favorite), Orgasm is a pretty pink gold, Dolce Vita is a plum brown.
Today I’m sharing a roundup of summer beauty favorites I packed for a two-week trip! Covering everything I brought with me and favorites I used!
Travel Cases
I pack beauty items in separate cases to keep things organized: one case for makeup, one bag for brushes and another case for skincare/body/hair care. I wish there was a one-size-fits all packing option where all my cases were coordinated or matched, but I haven’t found the perfect set yet.
The Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case (small) has been my go-to for several trips now and I love how much I can fit inside the smallest one. (It used to be called the mini but is now called the small.) It has two zip compartments that are the same size and it folds and zips to a compact size that’s easy to pack. So far the clear plastic has held up pretty well even though clear plastic can be hard to maintain. You can see WHAT FITS INSIDE here.
I own two luxury vanity from Louis Vuitton. The Nice BB and Nice Mini were quite the splurge but I really love them. I’ve found the BB size to be the most ideal for travel. A number of you expressed concern about keeping it clean from spills or leaks. I haven’t had any issues yet with product leaking (keeping fingers crossed). If I have any liquids I’m super concerned about I’ll pack it in a Ziploc before putting it in the case.
For brushes I’ve been using Stephanie Johnson Zip Cases. I’ve tried brush rolls but find they can be bulky and the separators are rarely the right size for what I need. Having a separate slightly longer bag is perfect for me to keep brushes, pencils, mascaras etc. The color I have isn’t made anymore but there are different colorways at Nordstrom and Saks for the same shapes.
I was just introduced to Cadence and love them! They recently added some larger container sizes and I found them perfect to store my cleanser and some hair serums. They were 100% leak-proof for me and had plenty of space for 2 weeks worth of cleanser and hair serum. I also used some of the smaller sizes for pills. They sent me a set with pre-labeled tops for shampoo, cleanser and a few other symbols. I love these so much I plan on ordering a few more for our next trip. They’re magnetic so they stack together and won’t move around in your beauty case.
You can create your own custom set with different sizes and labels. 100% recommend.
For skincare I tend to pack more than the average person because Andrew also uses my skincare when we travel and he uses a lot. This is what I packed with me:
Quick shout out for Loving Tan self-tanners if you’re looking to self tan before a vacation. I tried Loving Tan for the first time this year and am obsessed. It’s the only self-tanner formula I’ve tried that doesn’t have that terrible chemical smell and it looks super natural. You can see the before and after transformation with their 2 Hour Express Formula in Medium + their Deluxe Applicator Mitt. Application was super easy and effortless. Results were pretty impressive and completely streak free. On me it lasted around 2 weeks before it started to fade.
For hair I packed my ghd Platinum+ Styler and Dyson Supersonic. The ghd Flat Iron also doubles as a curling tool! In terms of styling products I packed the Kerastase Elixir Ultime (mini) and the Chronologiste Heat Protecting Leave-In Treatment (in one of the cadence capsules). I forgot to pack dry shampoo but picked up the Olaplex and Living Proof formulas at Sephora. Of course also packed the R&Co Dart Stick which is an essential for flyaways. The only complaint I have is that it’s semi-thick so if you’re vacationing in hot humid weather you will have to wash your hair daily but it’s the only product I’ve tried that truly tames my baby hairs that have started to grow near the top of my head.
If you’re looking for some great Travel Sets I brought and used a few from Colleen Rothschild. The Quench and Shine Travel Essentials Set has everything you need for hair care (really loved these and will be purchasing some full sizes soon). The Discovery Collection is also great to take care of everything from your morning to night routine, I have been really impressed with the Radiant Cleansing Balm, Clarifying Detox Mask and Extreme Recovery Cream.
I’m going to be hosting some giveaways on the blog and social this summer! Kicking if off today with a Summer Beauty giveaway with some travel cases, my beauty favorites, skincare minis and more.
Details:
Must be US or Canada resident
Open to those 18 years or older
Will run through 6/7/2023 11:59 PM est
Winner will be selected via the widget within 2 days
Selected winner will be emailed by me and must claim prize within 72 hours or another winner will be selected and contacted
Prize package will ship within one week (US or Canada only)
Not sponsored or affiliated
To enter complete ALL the steps in the widget below
