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Sabrina

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Le Labo Fragrance Samples

February 10, 2012

My newest discovery: fragrance samples for purchase, direct from Le Labo online, samples are $5 each for 1.5 ml (0.05 fl oz). I really like their economical creative packaging. Each vial comes packed in a cardboard sleeve/tube with a lab sticker. Even better is the fact that each vial comes with a spritzer for easy application. I love that shipping was included in the price (or rather that I was not charged extra).
More fragrance lines and stores should offer samples for purchase or even a sampler set like this (like Bond No.9 and Lucky Scent). Fragrance testing takes quite a bit of time for me so samples are an economical way to try something to decide if I want to splurge on a full-sized bottle. I have yet to test all these for an extended period of time. I sprayed each on a little card to sniff. My first impressions are these are very green and earthy. These are all very different from what I’m used to. I’m not sure whether or not these types of scents will grow on me. I doubt I will be purchasing a full size anytime soon as I just splurged on L’Artisan yet again for the Barneys Beauty Event. Still these vials are a nice way for me to take my time and play for an extended period of time. Even if I end up not loving any of these, I think it’s time saved from driving over 2 hours to the nearest Le Labo location or money saved from buying a full bottle that I don’t absolutely love 100%.

I’m new to Le Labo but I’ve read all sorts of good things. I’ve been most drawn to Neroli 36 so far, it’s a beautiful and simple, fresh and uplifting – it smells beachy to me. The initial smell is a bit off, but I like the dry down. The others seem a bit raw to my nose. Santal 33 smells intriguing but I much prefer Tom Ford’s Santal Blush instead.
Of course while researching this line, I’m most intrigued by some of the city exclusives. I missed out on their online availability offerings last November. Hopefully Le Labo will make them available for sale again this year sometime as it will not be possible for me to travel to each city to smell each scent.
Have you tried Le Labo? Loves? I feel that I’m still more drawn to L’Artisan and Jo Malone for now but I am excited to try these in the next few weeks or so.

All photos by me.
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Laura Mercier Très Chic Nail Lacquers for Spring 2012

February 8, 2012
Laura Mercier’s new nail polishes from her Très Chic Collection this spring are the perfect mixture of bright and colorful but manage to be soft enough to be appropriate for work. I have a couple nail polishes from past limited collections and wish she would introduce a permanent line (or sprinkle a few more releases here and there for nails). There are 5 new shades for spring, all limited edition and $18 each. The colors come in a square bottle and a perfectly sized brush that is slightly flattened/wide for easy application.

The colors are all creams without shimmer:

  • Oh La La is a soft pastel pink (sheer)
  • Flamingo is a bright pink
  • Cabana is coral-peach perfection with a soft cushy finish
  • Sizzle is a hot coral red
  • Luscious is a bright fuschia purple

The colors are bright and punchy and I love each of them. I could have passed on Oh La La which is the weakest shade, but I find sheer pale pinks weak in general. There are slight streaking problems with this color but evens out with 2 thick coats. The other shades have a decent formula which applies smoothly with 2 coats. I found Laura Mercier’s applied best over Deborah Lippmann’s Moisturizing Base Coat (thanks to Café Makeup for the recommendation, read her review here). I haven’t worn any for an extended period of time (over 2 days) but so far, the results are good. I’m still partial to the formula of OPI, Chanel, Dior and Rescue Beauty Lounge when it comes to nail polish formula, but the Laura Mercier comes quite close. With the proper base coat and a good glossy top coat, the result is smooth, rich and all out gorgeous.

Here are the shades swatched individually, 2 coats each over Deborah Lippmann’s Base Coat, but with no top coat:

Comparisons were difficult to photograph because from my digital camera and iPhone, some of the brights look identical although in person there are distinct differences. As you might suspect with classic brights, there are definitely dupes out there. I personally liked Cabana the best as the perfect soft but bright peachy shade, although there are similar colors, Cabana has the right mixture of softness to prevent it from being too harsh or orangey. As you can see below, there are similar shades, but I really love each of the new ones from LM.

If you’re on a budget, I’m sure there are many OPI shades that will give you a similar effect. I’m personally looking forward to seeing the Holland Collection once it’s launched at Ulta. Still the Laura Mercier shades manage to look classic and polished for brights without looking cheap like some bright shades can.

My top 2 picks: Cabana and Luscious.

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Fragrance Collection To Date

February 7, 2012

Photographed in one post by request: my fragrance collection. All 15 fragrances I own (minus one from Tocca which I gifted away and not including the little tiny samples I have accumulated). Where reviews are applicable I will link them. All photos were taken with my iPhone 4S Hipstamatic App.

Row 1:
Jo Malone Sakura Cherry Blossom
Row 2:
Row 3:
Row 4:
Row 5:

I rotate my fragrances more frequently than I rotate my foundations. My nose is fickle and tires quickly of the same scent when I wear them. I’ll alternate depending on mood. The longest I’ve worn a single fragrance is 4 days in a row (Jo Malone Wild Bluebell which I consider magical b/c I use it quite liberally and have barely made a dent in usage). I find the Jo Malone fragrances to be the most simple/pure which allows for easy layering. Out of all of these, my Jo Malone Tea Fragrances are my most worn. Have I used up any yet? No … but I’m more than 1/2 way finished with some of my limited edition Jo Malone tea fragrances.
What fragrances do you own? Or have owned/used up? I feel like my fragrance collection grew overnight and I completely blame my friend LJ along with other fragrance bloggers. Can I count some of my Jo Malones as 1/2 a fragrance because of the size? I know my L’Artisan Holiday Trio is getting used up very fast (each are in the miniature sizes which I will count as 1/3 of a full-sized one). I almost always purchase the smaller option for fragrances even though the larger sizes are often a much better buy. I’m curious to know how many fragrances do you own?
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Tom Ford Lip Glosses: Naked, Crushed Rose, Sahara Pink, Peach Absolut & Sugar Pink

February 5, 2012
Tom Ford Beauty is still relatively new in the US. The entire cosmetic line was launched first at select Neiman Marcus stores and Bergdorf Goodman and now appears to be trickling into other retailers. Ever since the launch I’ve searched for reviews, swatches and photos online but to date have not found much on the Lip Glosses by Tom Ford. Perhaps it’s the exclusivity and high price tag of $45 a tube (for .24 fl oz)? Having been impressed by the lipsticks I decided to give the glosses a chance. I ordered 3 glosses online sight unseen in Naked, Rose Crush, and Sahara Pink. Then a few weekends ago I saw the entire line in person at the Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills and came home with 2 more in Peach Absolut and Sugar Pink.

The gloss: These glosses have a similar vanilla scent as the lipsticks in Tom Ford’s line. The texture is thick and opaque with a slightly sticky texture similar to that of Bobbi Brown’s but not quite as sticky. These come in a clear square shaped tube that appears to be plastic (it could be acrylic but I’m not entirely sure). The applicator is a long brush which I find is the right length and thickness to apply the gloss evenly on the lips.

The finish: The finish is a high shine. I find the thickness makes these last quite a long time on the lips.

The pigment: Pigment overall is rich and medium-full coverage. Sugar Pink and Peach Absolut are slightly sheerer with almost a jelly-like finish, but are still rich in finish.

The colors: my descriptions for each shade as they apply on my lips (I find they apply true to what you see in the tube)

  • Naked – a nude flesh beige with a slight pinkish tinge and gold shimmer
  • Rose Crush – a neutral nude pink with brownish/tawny tones and slight shimmer flecks
  • Sahara Pink – a neutral rose pink cream
  • Peach Absolut – sheer soft peach
  • Sugar Pink – bright but sheer pink

Swatches (note that the swatches aren’t in the same order as the product photos above):

I’m limited on time so I decided to do comparisons rather than lip swatches.

Overall thoughts: I really wanted to hate these. $45 a tube is insanity (yet I still caved, gift cards are often used on frivolous things when I should really be saving them up for a bigger better purchase). The packaging is functional and sturdy but a bit cheap feeling. (It’s growing on me though.) I was so excited to see the Tom Ford Counter at Neiman Marcus but the service was a bit lacking (granted I was there on a Saturday afternoon when stores are at their busiest) and the lighting at the displays was horrendous. If you google Tom Ford Beauty at Neiman Marcus you will see beautiful displays. The setup is modern chic and in my opinion really stunning and gorgeous. However, the displays are lit with a neon light that prevents you from being able to see any of the colors as they are in reality. I had to hold the tester tubes several feet away out of the light to be able to see the true color.

Even with all these issues (they might just be me) I have to admit that the quality and finish of these are excellent. The glosses are made in Italy and the colors I picked just work – no tweaking required. They are perfect alone, with a liner or over any lipstick. I personally prefer them over a neutral lipliner to help even out the edges. The colors might not be all that original but in my stash I could not find any exact dupes. I wish I could recall the other shades but the lighting wasn’t the best and I didn’t swatch them all on my hand. The big question of whether or not they are worth the $45 depends on the individual person. I am inclined to say no, even with the excellent quality, finish and color selection, $45 is still extremely steep and I think you can get a similar effect with other brands that are more wallet-friendly.
More ramblings on my thoughts for Tom Ford Beauty products: At the counter I only tested the glosses, eyeshadow quads and blushes. I eyed Cognac Sable but decided to pass, most of the quads have at least 1 extremely shimmery/glittery shade which I’m not used to wearing on an everyday basis. I was particularly impressed by the blushes (I have 3 so far, but have not reviewed them, see Karla Sugar for swatches), they have a beautiful rich finish and soft blendable textures with gorgeous finely milled shimmer (why couldn’t all the quads be like the blushes?). My friend eyed the clear sparkly gloss which I also thought was interesting but did not try personally. Having a number of lipsticks already I didn’t check out the other shades. I passed on trying the nail polishes at the counter too. I have 2 that I purchased online and was less than impressed with the finish and the cap leaks nail polish around the top even when closed. At the counter, I the colors looked extremely ordinary.

That’s it. I didn’t make the most of my counter visit, but given the high price tag I was a bit scared to check everything else out, so perhaps it was for the best that nobody was available/willing to help me at the counter. That combined with the horrible lighting … I lost interest quickly. Maybe I’ll have better luck next time.


Overall I’m pleased with the glosses and I think if it’s in your budget you should definitely splurge on 1. I still prefer the lipsticks over the glosses though. (To see Tom Ford Lipsticks I’ve reviewed, click on the Tom Ford tag at the bottom of this post.)

Have you tried anything from Tom Ford Beauty? Been to a counter in person? I’d love to hear about what you’ve tried, liked, disliked, splurged on or passed.
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L’Artisan L’Été en Douce Eau de Toilette

February 3, 2012

Continuing my Barneys obsessions with my newest fragrance discovery is a feature on L’Artisan L’Été en Douce Eau de Toilette ($100 for 50 ml/1.7 fl oz). L’Artisan says that L’Été en Douce is “all about purity and light” and I couldn’t agree more. After having fallen in love with the holiday trio (featured here), I was determined to pick up something full-sized from L’Artisan at Barneys. This particular trip was my first experience with the L’Artisan line and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the experience. High-end department stores can sometimes be extremely intimidating and a hit or miss, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I had my fragrance-expert friend with me to help, but luckily we were both assisted by a wonderful specialist named Lily.

I’m still new to fragrance shopping but I’m slowly but surely venturing into more brands. When asked “what do you like?” I still am not exactly sure how to answer. I feel as though it’s more of a “I know it when I smell it” kind of thing. Lily started by asking what other scents we liked and disliked and after a few minutes of questioning was able to pick out some amazing choices. I thought it was incredible that she knew exactly what to select for each of us. I personally narrowed it down to Vert Violette, Navegar (even though it’s for men), Thé Pour un Été, and L’Été en Douce.

Both my friend and I each left with the 50ml version of L’Été en Douce. (Twinsies!) It’s the perfect skin-perfume that is gentle, soft and subdued. It is clean and refreshing with a slight mixture of floral and green. The notes include orange blossom water, green hay and white muscs. Lasting power is decent on me, I’ve read some reviews that say this one disappears on impact, but I tend to prefer scents that fade nicely. It’s soft and very subtle, perhaps too gentle for some, but perfect for me. I can wear it to the office or anywhere without feeling self conscious. My only regret – that I didn’t purchase the 100ml size instead.

My fragrance collection has been growing! Those wanting to know all the fragrances I own can simply click on the Fragrance Tag below this post. I’ve reviewed all the ones I have that aren’t minis/samples. I plan on doing a comprehensive fragrance summary soon. Many thanks to those who offered wonderful L’artisan recommendations to me a few months ago. If anyone else has more, I’m all ears!
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Sunday Riley Blushing and Honest

January 31, 2012

Sunday Riley Blushes have me thoroughly impressed. While at Barneys I thought all the blushes looked amazing but limited myself to just two. (After all I caved on four of her eyeshadows, reviewed a few days ago here.) I purchased Blushing, a soft light natural glowing pink on the left, and Honest, a shimmering tawny peach on the right ($30 each for 0.1 oz/3 g). Both come packaged in a sturdy square mirrored compact in a little black pouch embossed with Sunday Riley’s name and logo on top.

I think I may have just found pink perfection in Blushing. The Non-Blonde and Product Doctor can confirm how wonderful this color is (and both lovely ladies have completely different skintones than I do). Soft natural pink blushes are a dime a dozen, but Sunday Riley’s Blushing is a cut above. It has a natural undertone and enough pink with a hint of shimmer to look like a perfect natural light blush. It doesn’t turn muddy or darken with brown tones on the skin. It doesn’t apply ashy or too pigmented. It really is as good as it gets. I wasn’t able to get comparison shots before the sun went down, here are a few lined up to compare. I thought it resembled Bobbi Brown’s Antigua the most, but on the face, BB’s can darken a bit and look muddy if you get the slightest bit oily. Sunday Riley’s Blushing holds up better without darkening.

Honest is equally stunning. It’s a shimmering peach with a hint of nude tones. In the compact it looks quite shimmery but on the face it applies beautifully and natural. Peach lovers, take note, I think it’s something you must try on in person if you’re near a Barneys. Both blushes are rich in pigment with a soft blendable texture. There is a slight powdery scent but it’s not very noticeable.

Side by side, Blushing and Honest, plus swatches below:

I couldn’t fit all the blushes and comparisons on one arm, so I only picked a few to swipe side by side. Do take into account that my swatches tend to look more shimmery due to the flash than these apply in real life. Swatching is hard work, please take these with a grain of salt and check other blogs for different views/angles/lighting:

Overall, I’m in love. These blushes are truly amazing in the sense that they apply beautifully and flawlessly on the skin without changing color as the skin warms up. No tweaking required at all with either of these. They have just enough color to be visible and brighten the face but they are also natural enough that they won’t overpower or overwhelm your look. Both shades can be easily worn year round for a number of looks and occasions. Although I’ve only tried a few shadows and blushes, I adore what I’ve bought. Many thanks to Gaia from The Non-Blonde for helping us all discover Sunday Riley’s cosmetic line. I have a few sample packets of her skincare which I can’t wait to try. My next trip to Barneys can’t come soon enough.
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Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Royal Kaki 454

January 29, 2012

Dior Royal Kaki 454 is another quint that has been released as part of Dior’s New Look Collection. I purchased this sight unseen hoping it wouldn’t be too cool-toned. Some websites show this labeled as “Royal Khaki” but I looked at the compact, and it’s named “Royal Kaki.” The colors in the quint on my skin:

  • Sharp shimmery cool white
  • Yellow-tinged gold shimmer with slight olive tones
  • Khaki green (army green) matte with small flecks of sparkle
  • Matte black (applies a bit satiny, but leans more matte)
  • Cool gunmetal silver shimmer

In the compact, the combination of colors is beautiful, but odd. The white and black and khaki green are a bit harsh in my opinion making this quint a bit tricky to pull off. So far I’ve tried this 2 ways:

  • Method 1: Use the left shades + middle, gold shimmer + khaki green + black, I found this to work ok, but the gold in this quint plus the khaki are a bit too green for my olive skin and make my eyes look a bit tired.
  • Method 2: Use the right shades + middle, the white is too sharp for my medium skin, even when the other colors are layered on top.
More close ups and swatches below:

Right now I’m undecided about this one. I prefer Dior’s Smoky Khaki trio (reviewed here) by far, even though it has a khaki/greenish tinge, I find the trio easier to pull off than the new Royal Kaki Quint. I am scheduled to attend a Dior event soon at my local Nordstrom. Perhaps I will ask for tips on how to apply this, although I’m not sure that this will be one that is workable for my medium olive skintone. Lesson learned to wait for Dior items to arrive in store to try before buying. With so many successes with Dior I thought I would be safe!

Have you purchased/tried Royal Kaki? Did it work for you? Whether it did or did not, please share your thoughts and skintone.

A special note: Many have brought to my attention that the Numbers/Names on Sephora.com do not match my reviews and asked that I double check my labeling. I’ve added photos of the backs of my quints to show the corresponding number and name and believe I have them correct in each post, at least based on the packaging labels. At this time I believe that Sephora.com has the incorrect labeling but if you plan on only ordering 1, I suggest you contact their Customer Service if you’re at all unsure. Since I ordered both I figured I’d find out which was which once I received my package. As labeled on my quints:

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