Chanel launched new shades of the Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color ($36 each). I ordered these from a local Chanel beauty boutique and I believe they are currently exclusive to Chanel.com and individual boutiques.
There are six different shades of radiant shimmers and I am 100% in love with every single one. I think they are all incredibly beautiful and fun for summer. I also appreciate that the ones that pull a little more metallic are smooth and free of any visible brush strokes.
Some of these have a jelly finish so there is a slightly transparent quality to them. I am wearing each one with 2 coats except for the bright pink one which I have with 3 coats.
401 Beach Icon is an iridescent pearly sparkle, this can also be used as a top coat on top of other nail polishes
The Afterglow Lip Shine Lip Gloss* is one of the smoothest glosses I’ve tried and they added new shades which I think are beautiful. The shades run on the sheer side for a barely there kind of tint but they still show up on the lips. I prefer a little more pigment in my gloss but these wear very nicely and feel so smooth and hydrating I really don’t mind them being so sheer. (Other shades reviewed + swatched here.)
Wear time is pretty good if your lips don’t touch anything else. They aren’t the longest lasting though so you will have to reapply after a few hours. New colors are all 10/10 pretty. They are on the deeper side so if you prefer lighter shades these might be too dark for you.
NARS also recently launched a new addition to their Light Reflecting line with a Light Reflecting Luminizing Powder. These are high shine shimmers with a highly reflective finish. The pigment is easy to control but they do pull very metallic on the skin. The shimmer is a little chunky, but if you apply with a finger or dense brush it will smooth out. If you have texture or large pores you might want to pass as these will emphasize them.
I received Heavenly* at a NARS event in Miami (quick peek here in case you’re curious!) and I purchased the others from Ulta. I still think Heavenly is the best one, it’s a really stunning pink.
Eros is a soft cool toned ivory
Electra is a light champagne
Ophelia is a golden champagne
Heavenly is a metallic pink
Total Eclipse is a warm copper shimmer
Since the shimmer and glistening effect is on the intense side I don’t know that I can wear these everyday. They do make for a really beautiful special glow, but I prefer the subtle glow of the newer Prada Highlighters. Also I know the Chanel spring highlighter quad is sold out, but I am still reaching for that one on a regular basis.
Looks wearing each highlighter with a different lip. For skintone reference I wear the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in either Vanuatu or Barcelona right now and the Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger. (My lighter spring time foundation shade is Sahel).
Overall love the lip shines, I am really loving the Heavenly Highlighter. The other shades are stunning but I have some skin texture issues on my cheeks right now so I have to go easy on the highlighter.
There are four shades of the Prada Light Glowing Lip Oil Stick available in the US (I think other countries might have a few more shades). I picked up the tinted ones and love the formula. They’re smooth, comfortable, hydrating and feel ultra luxurious on the lips. The pigment is very sheer though and gives the lips a barely there tint. You can definitely bring out the color with a coordinating lip pencil, but on their own they are so sheer, I don’t know that the lack of pigment justifies the steep price tag. The formula is also very soft. While I didn’t experience any breakage due to the softness, they have shifted from the base a little after application so there are dents on the sides of the lip balm from the packaging.
U016 is a light pink
U018 is also a light pink, but slightly deeper
U019 is a soft brown
I am happy with the splurges although given my darker lip tone I would have skipped U016 if I had known how sheer it would be on my lips. If you prefer something with more pigment the Hydrating Lip Balm has better color payoff (I really like the Shade Guava). Or I would recommend opting for any of the YSL tinted balms like the Candy Glow or Candy Glaze (also still spendy but not quite as expensive).
Since these are balmy oils and sheer the lasting power isn’t going to be long with these but they are easy to reapply without a mirror.
Light Glowing Highlighter Powder
I did a poll on whether or not you were interested in the new Light Glowing Highlighter Powders and most of you were turned off by the steep price tag. I do think the price is outrageous but I was really impressed with these highlighters. The colors are just SO beautiful with the perfect amount of glow. I love all three and think the texture and pigment is SO stunning, I nearly forgot about the sticker shock after swatching these.
1 Champagne is a light cool champagne on my golden olive skin, if you have light or fair skin tones I think this won’t look as pink on you as it does my skin
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2 Pink is a stunning soft cool pink
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3 Deep is a soft bronzed shimmer, it’s a skin but better tone on me
I am still struggling with some texture and dry patches on my face so it did emphasize my texture a little bit, but with a lighter hand and good blending I really love how they look on the skin. Are they worth $90? I don’t think so, but I am still very happy with the splurge. Below wearing the following lip and cheek combos, also wearing:
Light Glowing Highlighter Shade 1 Champagne and Glowing Lip Oil Stick 016 Rose, quick note, I applied the highlighter with a heavier hand to show the color, but for normal makeup wear I would combine this with a regular blush or bronzer and apply the highlighter just as a softer highlight
Last we have a look at the Prada Dimensions Multi-Effect Eyeshadow Palettes. These are super finely milled palettes with an ultra smooth texture. They remind me of the eyeshadows from Surratt and Cle de Peau with the soft powdery almost creamy texture. I think the color combinations are SO beautiful but I have very dry eyelids so this kind of texture tends to look dry on my eyes if I pack the color on. Each palette has a good mix of finishes. I think the tones are beautiful and well thought out.
I had such high hopes for Peony but the colors match my skin tone so closely I cannot see any color payoff on my eyes. Pansy shows up better but still gives a very natural eye look. Primula has the best color payoff. I really wanted to love at least one of these for an everyday look but in the time I’ve had them I haven’t reached for very much.
Based on the feedback I’ve received from most of you it appears I’m in the minority with my eyelid area being dry, so if your eyelids are normal or oily I think these should wear very well on you.
06 Pulp has a rosewood matte, shimmery champagne, satiny yellow beige and sheer reddish pink matte
07 Peony has the most beautiful mix of soft neutrals, I really wish these showed up on my skin tone
08 Pansy has a dusty rose pink, soft satin tan, light warm pink, shimmery champagne with a duochrome shift
09 Primula has a dusty caramel tan, deep brown, brick brown and brown with green shift
Overall really love the highlighters, lip oil sticks are really pretty but so sheer I don’t know how I feel about the splurge. Eyeshadows aren’t bad, but the formula and colors aren’t something I am super in love with.
Dior revamped their Backstage Rosy Glow Powder Blush again and added some new additions with a Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick and Addict Lip Butter. I hauled nearly all the shades to review and try and after testing these extensively I finally have my review. I think there are some hits with the new launch but I also think there are some definite passes. You can find these launches out now at Dior, Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty and all other Dior Beauty retailers (the blush stick is exclusive to Dior and Sephora right now).
Backstage Rosy Glow Powder Blush
The Backstage Rosy Glow Powder Blushes ($40 each) have been reformulated a few times already but I have to say I’m really impressed with the latest version. I didn’t have any issues with the previous variations but the newest one has a much better texture that’s easier to blend with better color payoff.
001 Pink is still one of the best baby pink blushes I’ve tried. It’s supposed to be ph-reactive but it really doesn’t shift in color on my skin. It’s a cool toned pink I think works well layered on top of other creams.
103 Toffee is a new shade in the lineup and it’s another winner. The powder has some gold shimmer which I kinda wish they didn’t add, but I do really love the neutral beige tone on the skin. The shimmer isn’t frosty but it is noticeable on the skin.
012 Rosewood is a dusty rose color. I think of this more along the lines of a fall/winter shade but I think it’s a great rose neutral that will work with a wide range of skintones. This one has a tiny bit of glow but isn’t very shimmery.
077 Candy is a coral pink with gold shimmer. It almost reminds me of the NARS Orgasm blush with the pink/gold shift. I love this one. Out of all the shades I think this is my favorite.
063 Pink Lilac is a soft lilac pastel. I really wanted it to work but with my tan skin it pulls a little chalky. I think I can make it work with some layering on top of other cream blush colors but for now, I prefer the older formula over this new one in this particular color
015 Cherry is well outside of my comfort zone for a blush, but I decided to be adventurous and try it anyways. I think it can work with a light hand. I prefer this color on the lips versus the cheeks but it’s still a very pretty one and fun for summer.
Backstage Rosy Glow Stick
I have mixed feelings about the Backstage Rosy Glow Sticks ($44 each). I think the concept is a nice one but they are too dewy for my skin to wear in hot humid weather alone without setting with some kind of powder. All of these match the coordinating powder versions but once blended they are very sheer on the skin. There is enough pigment that you can see them (except for Toffee which matches my skintone).
They are also heavily scented like root beer. It’s a fun kind of scent and doesn’t irritate my skin or nose, but if you’re sensitive to fragranced products this is a definite no. I would have loved these if the formula wasn’t dewy or more long wearing.
If you have dry skin or love a balmy glow for the cheeks I think you will love these. For me, I can only wear them if I layer a powder on top. I usually wear some kind of powder blush on top of creams anyways but I don’t see myself reaching for these often.
Out of all the shades I think Rosewood and Candy are the best ones.
Addict Lip Butter
Last we have a look at the Addict Lip Butters ($40 each). I think I could have easily given these an A rating if they gave us more product or something more special. A number of you had some serious rants about these being 1/2 filled. I do think there needs to be some kind of gap in the squeeze tube to accommodate the product from causing the tube to explode but I also think Dior could have done better and given us more product. I rarely look at ounces or grams etc. for makeup products but I agree with the rants on this one. With these tiny tubes I can easily see it being used up in a matter of a few weeks.
Size issues aside, I do think the gloss formula is a really nice one. It feels smooth and comfortable on the lips. Pigment is on the sheer side but the colors are pretty, however the only shade I think really stands out to me is the Glazed Lavender. The others I think can be easily duped by e.l.f., Maybelline, Summer Fridays, Fenty and so many other brands at a much better price point with quality and performance that is just as good if not better.
Here are the colors on with each color family. Some of them I swatched both the blush stick and powder separately, some I layered together. I am still a match to the Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick in 3N.
Overall I think the Backstage Rosy Glow Powder Blush is a winner for formula, but if you already own the colors in the older formulas I don’t think you need to get the new ones. I think Candy and Toffee are the best shades.
For me the blush sticks are more novel than practical. I will most likely wear one for date nights or special occasions but I don’t see them as being everyday blushes for me.
The Lip Butters will be used up entirely but I get way more excited about lip launches from other brands like Summer Fridays or Laneige.
Rounding up my favorites from May today. I usually focus on makeup favorites but so many of you have asked for more skincare and haircare loves so today’s post is all about hair, body and skin.
My hair and skin has been going through some changes since around November with an extended dry season this past winter/spring. We also had some big life changes with our recent move and while both Tampa Bay and Miami Beach are both very sunny and hot, Miami is significantly hotter and I think the excess heat has dehydrated my skin.
I’ve been switching things up for skin and hair. Here is what I’ve been loving.
Out of all the new moisturizers I tried, the InnBeauty Project line at Sephora has been the best for me. The products I tried are richer and more hydrating than I typically use but I really love that they weren’t heavy and they feel so good on the skin. I started with the travel sizes (also love this value trial set here). I ended up travel sizes of the Extreme Cream but purchased full sizes of the Extreme Cream Eye and the Elastic Skin Firming Plumping Serum.
The serum has a really nice light texture and absorbs really well into the skin. I love layering all three together and can happily report they didn’t irritate or clog my pores. 10/10 recommend.
I’ve also experienced texture issues and the clogged pores have been mainly due to lack of exfoliation. I had an amazing facial at one of the local skin clinics here in Miami Beach (included hydrafacial, radio frequency, LED treatment and a few other things). They really helped give my skin a kickstart to clear it up. For exfoliation, two things I’ve found to be game changers are from U Beauty and Dr. Dennis Gross.
I started using the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads again and it has been a game changer. I also love the peel pads/resurfacing options from First Aid Beauty and Elemis but I needed something stronger and the ones from Dr. Dennis Gross are perfect. I’m using them 2-3x per week in the evenings. They also have other options in Extra Gentle or Extra Strength and also come in smaller trial sizes in case you’re new to them and are unsure of what kind to try.
A number of you recommended the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound and I finally decided to try it – it’s also a gamechanger. I bought a mini set and am 100% going to buy the full size. The Resurfacing Compound is a serum with Vitamin C, Retinol, Multi-Hydroxy Acids, Vitamin E and antioxidants. I have been really impressed with how it’s improving texture. Since I don’t want to overdo the acids (especially with the peel pads) I only use this 2x per week as a serum under moisturizer.
Another shout out for the Bliss Clear Genius Acne Spot Treatment because this is holy grail material. It’s hands down the best acne spot treatment with 2% salicylic acid. I can apply it on spots (and reapply 2-3x throughout the day on bigger pimples) and it helps reduce the inflammation and really target the acne. Andrew swears by this too.
Sun Care Loves
I’ve been trying virtually every new sunscreen formula possible since moving to Miami. The sun is so much stronger here and since we are out everyday with Ollie’s walks we’ve been more diligent with sunscreen.
I still really love the Chanel UV Essentiel because of the texture. It’s not too thick or heavy and wears well under makeup.
For a mineral option I love the one from Caudalie and tinted one from ISDIN. You do have to be more diligent with double cleansing if you use a mineral as they tend to adhere more to the skin.
I’ve been a long-time devotee of the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector SPF 60 but decided to give the new Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion Mineral version a try. I like it a lot! It has a very slight white cast but when you blend it you can’t really see it. It has a better dry down while the other version is a bit more emollient. I’ve been using the mineral version on my body all month. It does take extra work to remove though. The best combo for mineral body sunscreen removal includes the EcoTools Shower Gloves and Jack Black Turbo Wash.
Body Care
My all-time favorite body oil from Chanel is back! I am so thrilled they restocked it. Chanel body oils are quite the splurge but they are packaged in a beautiful glass bottle and are the most luxurious ones on the skin. Love that they now have a little stopper at the top to control how much oil comes out. The Chanel Huile Douce is a lighter body oil and it smells so fresh and clean. I love how it’s not sticky and it makes the skin soft unlike any other oil I’ve tried.
For hand care my favorite cuticle oils are the Chanel L’Huile Camelia and Hermes Nourishing Oil. Both are spendy but I’ve repurchased both and I think they are 100% worth the splurge.
I mentioned a while back having some challenges finding a deodorant that didn’t irritate my skin. I had a major skin flareup from bug spray last year that resulted in hives. It took about 3 months to fully recover. Ever since then my skin has experienced sensitivities to deodorant, even the ones I had been using for years (such as Native, Salt and Stone, L’occitane). So far Saltair and Phlur formulas have been the only ones I can use without irritation. I’ve been reaching for the Saltair one more as the Santal scent doesn’t interfere with my perfumes as much as a vanilla option.
Back on the exfoliation topic, while I won’t use a physical scrub on my face I can definitely still use it on the body. We started using the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser and we love it. It’s cleared up all of Andrew’s body breakouts and I like using this on my legs. I have just ordered the KP options from Saltair and Naturium to try too. Will keep you posted!
Also been really loving Osea Malibu. I also started using this line with minis a while ago and fell in love. I just restocked all my favorites including travel sizes. I love the Undaria Algae Body Oil, Lotion and Body Serum. 10/10 recommend trying one of their travel kits if you’re new to the line.
Hair Care
Last I have some hair care loves for the month. My hair has been feeling dry on the ends so I switched things up. My favorite line has been the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Urban Moisture Deep Hydration Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask. I loved this line so much I repurchased everything after using it up. It’s a great hydrating line that doesn’t weigh down my hair and I love the way it smells.
After still experiencing dry ends, I started using the Kerastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum again. I had forgotten about this and can’t rave about it enough! If your hair doesn’t seem to be improving with leave-in conditioners, masks or oils, I highly recommend trying this serum. You apply it at night and I can’t tell you how big a difference it makes.
The R&Co Dart Stick gets another shout out. This is something I cannot live without for my flyaways at the roots. I’ve still been getting regrowth and my thick hair will not stay put with hair spray. This is the best option I’ve found to keep them in place. While it won’t make your hair super greasy, if you sweat you will find you need to wash it out at the end of the day.
I love a good purse sized brush but most of them end up getting smashed in my bag. I love the ghd mini brush for a hard one that won’t bend easily in your bag. The Hair Rituel by Sisley Brush comes in a mini Pocket Brush size and I love it. I do wish I had a mini case for it to protect it better, but it’s still very sturdy and durable. I love that it’s mini but still big enough to be effective.
That wraps up my May favorites! If you had any loves please let me know! I always love reading about the things you’ve discovered and have fallen in love with.
Valentino Beauty launched a new plumping gloss called the Puffer Lip Gloss ($38 each, Nordstrom and Sephora). I received a couple shades in PR but also picked up three as the shades looked really pretty in store.
These are sheer to medium in coverage although some of the shades have more coverage than others. The plumping effect is pretty visible and the tingle and stinging sensation is strong although I didn’t get numb lips and I was able to wear these without issue.
On a scale of 1-10 for tingle I would rate these a 7.5 to 8 for stinging. They’re not quite as strong as the YSL or Charlotte Tilbury ones but still strong enough that I feel them. If you have sensitive lips I recommend proceeding with caution.
I think the colors are really pretty. Out of the shades I tried there was only one I wasn’t a huge fan of (mainly because it was so sheer).
00R Dazzling Mermaid is a sheer sparkling holographic shade, this was almost clear on my lips
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300R In My Glowing Era is SO beautiful, I wish it had a little more pigment, but I love the iridescent pink shimmer and glow in this
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302R Extra Pink is a bright baby pink cream, I think it’s a flattering one and really pretty, I am now on a mission to find a lipstick this color since most baby pinks pull too pastel on me, but this one is perfect
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103R Don’t Be So Nude is a peachy nude rose with a tiny bit of shimmer, this pulls sheer so it’s almost like my lips but better, I would LOVE this in a pigmented gloss or lipstick form
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122A Warm Up is a pretty milky brown toffee shade, it also has a tiny bit of shimmer but the shimmer isn’t really visible on the lips
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Overall I really like them. Since they do sting/tingle I don’t know how often I will be reaching for them although if I apply a lip primer underneath it acts like a buffer in between my lips and the product.
Happy long weekend! Rounding up all the Memorial Day Sales happening this year in one place that I’ve found. If you’ve spotted any other great ones you’re shopping let me know in the comments!
Big Retailer Sales
Anthropologie – extra 40% off sale, up to 30% off indoor and outdoor furniture
Bloomingdale’s – 25 to 65% off selected items through 5/26
