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Sabrina

Base Makeup Chanel

Chanel Vitalumière Aqua vs. Teint Innocence

March 3, 2011

Chanel has officially released the new Vitalumière Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 15 ($45) in the US to replace their Teint Innocence Naturally Luminous Fluid Makeup SPF 12 ($47). Long-time readers know that Teint Innocence is my holy grail of foundations and much to my dismay, I discovered it was soon to be discontinued earlier this year.

I completed an extensive foundation review last month in search for a holy grail replacement (linked below at the bottom of this post). After testing a few sample packets of the Vitalumière Aqua, I crowned it as one of my holy grail replacements, but did not have an update on my color selection since counters did not yet have the product in stock. After further testing, here are my thoughts:

Color Selection – I am normally a Chanel Shell 30 in Teint Innocence but am slightly lighter in skin color, although not quite fair enough to be a Cameo 1.0. My best match right now is Chanel’s Lift Lumiere in Cendre 30 (which runs a bit lighter than Teint Innocence). For the Vitalumière Aqua, I tested B20 Beige Tendre and B30 Beige Sable. I could have gone with either shade, but decided on the B20 Beige Tendre shade. The colors with BR have more pink, while the B shades have yellow undertones. I’ve swatched the shades I use below, note that while they are all different swatched heavily, the different formulas blend differently on the skin. Also note, I mix the two Armani shades to get a custom-matched color (so many times I’m in between shades).

* Also note, my forearm is paler than the rest of my sun-exposed areas

Texture – Vitalumière Aqua is thinner and more liquidy while the Teint Innocence is thicker but still very fluid. It is recommended that you always shake your Vitalumière Aqua bottle just like the Base Lumière (also by Chanel).


Product Packaging, Amount, Size – The packaging is a bit deceiving because at first glance, one would assume that Teint Innocence contains a lot more product. However, both contain the same amount of 30 ml/1 fl oz. Vitalumière Aqua comes in a plastic container that requires shaking. The difference can be seen below. I do believe ALL the Vitalumière Aqua shades have the same beige color for the packaging – at the counter, I could not see any difference in the plastic container for the lighter or darker shades (but it could have been something I just did not notice). While the Vitalumière Aqua is more compact and sleek, I prefer the Teint Innocence glass bottle.

Finish – Vitalumière Aqua has a quick setting formula with a slightly matte finish. I find that it needs to be blended with short quick strokes because it dries quickly and can darken in spots if not blended evenly. Teint Innocence is more dewy and more moisturizing.

Coverage – Both have super natural but noticeable coverage, however I find the Teint Innocence more forgiving and a bit more transparent with a more natural look. Neither are as sheer as a tinted moisturizer and both provide decent coverage. I like to apply both with a sponge (just my personal preference). I always set with a powder.

Overall Thoughts – Chanel’s Vitalumière Aqua is a beautiful foundation, but it’s still no replacement for Teint Innocence which will always have my heart. I have purchased 3 back up bottles, although I don’t know the exact shelf life of an unopened bottle of foundation. I know my sister has several back ups accumulated by now. About a dozen women have e-mailed me with cries of despair that their favorite holy grail foundation is now gone. To sum up my thoughts: Vitalumière Aqua is thinner and has a semi-matte finish that’s less see thru, Teint Innocence is not as thin and more dewy with a slightly transparent finish. If you liked TI you will most likely like VA.

Recommendations – If you’re still pining over Teint Innocence, BACK UP NOW! My local Nordstroms only carry two shades at the counters now, all others have been pulled and sent back to who-knows-where. If you’re interested in Vitalumière Aqua and are exact match to Chanel Shell 30, I think your match will be B30 Beige Sable. If you’re slightly lighter than Shell but not quite Cameo, B20 Beige Tendre will be a good match. I do recommend getting a few sample packets to test if you can (Nordstrom counters should have plenty now) and let it sit on the skin to see how it wears after a few minutes. If you’ve tried this foundation and it looks ashy on you, you’ve been matched to the wrong color!

Amy from Café Makeup and Karlasugar have swatched the colors on their skin, both are lighter than me, and I believe I am more olive/yellow than both of them.

Recap & links for your reference below …

  • Foundation Search Part 1: Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15, Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation, Chanel Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup, Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Invisible Skin Foundation
  • Foundation Search Part 2: Chanel Pro Lumiere, Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF 10, Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation, Laura Mercier Crème Smooth, Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe Tinted Treatment, Make Up Forever Face & Body Liquid Makeup & Chanel Vitalumière Aqua
  • Foundation Search Part 3: Summary
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New Dior Vernis Shades from Dior.com & Saks

March 1, 2011

Dior has been revamping their nail polish formula and brushes for a while, but apparently on stealth mode as I have not seen or read any press releases communicating the new changes. I heard about the changes word of mouth from another Dior/Chanel nail polish friend who emailed me that Saks had an exclusive to release new colors first (you can see some on saks.com). I ordered City of Gold some months ago and ever since purchasing the Gris City colors online (see my reviews here), I have been checking in on Dior.com to see if anything new would show up.

Those of you who have been dying over Nude Chic (seen here), good news, it’s been re-released under a new name 219 Safari Beige on Dior.com. At this time I do not know if or when these will be released on counter (with the exception of City of Gold from Saks).

What I ordered left to right: 453 Flapper Pink, 428 Sienna, 211 Beige Lotus, 563 Cabaret Pink, 668 City of Gold (Saks)




Updated with thoughts & descriptions: Overall love the formula and finish. All the swatches were applied with 2 thin coats and went on the nails without any issues. These all have the tapered brush, which I am getting the hang of for application. Descriptions:

453 Flapper Pink – cool iridescent bubblegum pink
428 Sienna – cream, non shimmer beige-pink
211 Beige Lotus – luminous nude with silver & beige sparkles
563 Cabaret Pink – bright warm pink
668 City of Gold (Saks) – frosty warm gold

Comparisons to come in the future weeks.

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NARS Illuminators Copacabana, Laguna & the Original O

February 28, 2011

The new illuminators in Copacabana, Laguna and Super Orgasm arrived online at narscosmetics.com last week and I decided to order Copacabana and Laguna to compare them to the original release of Orgasm from last February (see my post The Neverending NARS “O” Series). I was also anxious to see how these compared to the other NARS products with similar names, mainly the Copacabana Multiple & Laguna Bronzing Powder.

I have not tried the newly packaged Orgasm to compare to the new one, but I can provide some initial thoughts on the original O versus the two new shades I bought in Laguna and Copacabana. Both the old and new versions are similar in product amount and texture. Both retail for $29 USD. What are the differences? First I’ll compare the difference in packaging:

  • Original packaging is skinnier, taller and has slightly less product inside
  • New packaging is shorter, wider and comes with a flip open lid




Another difference I noticed is that the first version of Orgasm Illuminator is sheerer in finish compared to the new Copacabana and Laguna. Here is Copacabana swatched close up on the skin. The left is heavily swatched, the right is sheered out. Perhaps it’s just contrasted with my skintone because Copacabana is more white, while Orgasm is more peach.

NARS Laguna Illuminator is a warmer almost orangey bronze with gold micro glitter. It also shows up more visible on my face in a warm golden bronze shade.

NARS Illuminators old and new in Orgasm, Copacabana & Laguna all swatched together:

Heavily swatched and sheered out:

Comparisons: Edward Bess Sunlight, NARS Copacabana Multiple, NARS Copacabana Illuminator

NARS Laguna Bronzer, NARS South Beach Multiple, NARS Laguna Illuminator

The comparisons swatched plus some thoughts. The Copacabana Illuminator is whiter and brighter than the Multiple version. The Illuminator is more contrasted with my skin in color but less sparkly and more glowy. I think Edward Bess’s Sunlight Cream Highlighter works better for a natural glow on my skin.

The NARS Laguna Illuminator is warmer and almost orangey next to the original Laguna Bronzing Powder but blends out beautifully on the skin. I swatched it next to South Beach Multiple for your reference.

I haven’t had time to experiment with the new Illuminators much, but so far I’ve used Laguna Illuminator on the cheeks by itself and then also layered under a bright pink blush. It works just like a regular liquid highlighter but dries quickly so I recommend blending quickly. I tested Copacabana Illuminator on the eyes near the browbone to highlight and it gave a lovely glow without the greasy feeling that Multiples can sometimes have when applied on the eyes. So far after a few uses, no irritations or break outs. I find them to be relatively long lasting, but natural in finish.

I assume you can mix these with foundation for a glow but haven’t tried it with Laguna or Copacabana. Overall thumbs up – I wasn’t too keen on the gold glitter in Laguna at first but when blended with a foundation brush the result is subtle enough.

A special thanks to Karlasugar who posted an awesome online discount code for us last week!

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Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colors SPF 12: Bare Pink, Heather Pink & Lilac

February 27, 2011

When news surfaced that Bobbi Brown was coming out with a new full color lipstick formulation in cream colors I wasn’t too interested. I thought the colors would be too opaque and boring but was proven wrong. One swipe of Bare Pink at the counter and I was in love with the smooth lightweight texture that gave full but not-too-thick coverage. I took advantage of the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event (still going on) and picked up some shades for myself and my mom.

These lipsticks are $22 each with a lightweight cream texture. They are full coverage like her regular lipsticks but glide on easier & smoother with a moisturizing feel. They’re described perfectly on BobbiBrownCosmetics.com, “Lightweight, yet intense, Bobbi’s latest formula combines pigments with a clear base to deliver pure, crisp color with just one swipe.” There’s a slight sunscreen scent when you first apply it on the lips but it fades. I tested Lilac this afternoon and it had excellent lasting power without any liner. The finish is semi-matte and the packaging is semi-matte with a glossy black middle. I love her packaging of individual items because they are great size for the price, conveniently packaged with sleek and simple classic designs. As much as I appreciate her palettes, I really love her individual items more.

The colors I ended up with for myself:

  • Bare Pink is a beige nude with slight pinkish tones
  • Heather Pink is a medium nude brown-pink
  • Lilac is a cool pink

Swatched on the arm:

Swatched on the lips, FYI on the skin is Chanel Teint Innocence in Shell (liquid):



The cute GWP from Neimans with a $150 purchase is two credit card sized palettes the brushes are really crummy in these, but the actual product is a good sample size.



Overall very impressed with the texture and coverage. I really love the way these feel on the lips. The smooth full coverage finish is superb without any feathering, streaking or unevenness. There are many other reviews on these lipsticks from other fabulous bloggers.

A few reviews I found very helpful:

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New From Saks: Laura Mercier Premier Beauty Collection

February 27, 2011

It’s that time of year when Laura Mercier releases several limited edition value sets at Nordstrom (here), Neimans (here) and Saks (here). Each store has their own special kit with exclusive items including a mix of full size products plus minis for $68. This year, the Saks Premiere Beauty Collection appealed most to me with the following items:
  • Brown zippered bag with a paisley lining
  • Full sized Tightline Cake Eye Liner in Ground Espresso
  • Full sized Lip Glacé in Pink Lilac (sheer milky lilac pink)
  • Eye Colour Duo in Dusk (shimmery pink-lilac) & Chocolate (shimmery brown)
  • Mini Black Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara
  • Double-Ended Pony Tail/Flat Eye Liner Brush
To break down the cost per full sized items: Liner $22 + Eyeshadow $22 + Lip Glacé $22 = $66. For the additional $2 you get a decent sampling of other items not to mention a nice travel brush (I’ve collected a number of mini brushes from LM sets over the years and rely on them when traveling).

I purchased this sight unseen online, mainly for the new Lip Gloss, Eyeshadow Duo & Brush. I plan on regifting the other items. I’ve had the Cake Eyeliners used on me on multiple Laura Mercier makeover events but I prefer pencil or gel liners to liquid or cake (so this item won’t be swatched). Dusk/Chocolate is a gorgeous combination – I already have Dusk in a mini sample size and like that it’s lilac and cool-toned but not too purple. I find that lilac/lavender eyeshadows can sometimes look dated.



Pink Lilac is beautiful in the tube but very sheer and practically invisible on the lips. I think it will make a good enhancing color for sheer pink and lilac colored lipsticks.

Overall a great value and nice combination of colors. I would have preferred something other than the cake liner since there is already a dark shadow (Chocolate) – like a blush or lipstick, but I know it will be easily regift-able. The lip gloss is pretty but sheer and light, perhaps it will show up better on girls with lighter lips or lighter skintones. I know I’ll get a lot of use with layering it, but I would have preferred more pigment and color. The set also comes with a mini instruction card but I found it very basic.

Have any of you checked out any of the Special Edition sets at Saks, Neimans or Nordstrom? Did any of you pick one up? Thoughts/rants/raves?

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Jo Malone Tea Fragrance Blends: Fresh & Light

February 24, 2011

Jo Malone has released a limited edition collection of five tea inspired colognes perfectly described as “tempting, refreshing and engagingly unexpected.” There are three tea inspired fragrances Assam & Grapefruit, Earl Grey & Cucumber and Fresh Mint Leaf ($55 each for 30 ml). The other two colognes Sweet Milk and Sweet Lemon are the layering scents designed to be spritzed and combined with the other tea fragrances to reflect the actual tea drinking experience. Each scent in this collection is amazingly delicious and I ended up with four of the five.

Assam & Grapefruit citrus grapefruit with a spicy herbal undertone, mate, cardamom, almond and patchouli: Reminiscent of the Lime Basil and Grapefruit scents because of the citrus undertone, but overall more spicy and herbal with a musty smell. One of the more complex scents in the tea collection, but still simple and pure.

Earl Grey & Cucumber top notes are bergamot with cucumber, vanilla & musk undertones: Earl Grey is actually one of my least favorite teas to drink simply because it reminds me of a flower. The scent of Earl Grey is very soothing and delicious, I just am not a fan of flowery teas. Put into a bottle combined with cucumber and a hint of vanilla translates into a fresh and light cologne. Those who are familiar with Aqua di Parma’s Mirto di Panarea Eau de Toilette is similar in undertone (the bergamot) however, the Jo Malone Earl Grey & Cucumber is a lighter, milder and less spicy and overall less complex version of the Aqua di Parma.

Sweet Milk creamy sweet blend of star anise, almond and vanilla: This smells like a scrumptious tea cookie. Sweet creamy vanilla scents are hit or miss for me. There’s something calming about milk based scents but sometimes on the skin the fragrance can turn once mixed with one’s natural body chemistry. The result is sometimes nauseating. At a first spritz of Sweet Milk on the small paper strip, I almost gagged. My Jo Malone rep assured me it was not as sweet on the skin and he was right. I layered this with the Earl Grey and it turned out to be a surprisingly nice combination. Still, I don’t think this scent is for everyone, if you get a chance to smell this, try this on the skin rather than just on the paper.

Sweet Lemon lemon, sugar, pineapple, peach and fresh green cypress: A fresh sweet lemony scent that smells like something picked fresh from a garden. The peach undertones evoke a slight pear-like scent (very slight). The cypress gives this a slightly earthy smell which prevents this from being overly citrus.

Fresh Mint was absolutely delicious but I simply couldn’t picture myself wearing the scent. I think it would have made a lovely candle. The intensity of these colognes is soft which, unfortunately, makes lasting power only about 4 hours. After 4 hours, I can still smell remnants of the cologne on my wrist, but it is significantly faded. Still, I prefer more natural scents. It would be great if these were upped in intensity a few notches to last longer, but I love each of these for their pure and simple quality. Other than the intensity, the only other things I wish were different: why limited edition and why not in other forms like candles, body creams, and bath gels?

Have you tried Jo Malone Colognes before? $55 for the amount seems extremely pricey, but the exquisite clean packaging along with the luxe boxes make these irresistible to at least pick up and try. Neiman Marcus currently has a gift with purchase instore and online. The top photo features two mini colognes in Grapefruit and Orange Blossom in a small leather case with a $150 purchase.
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Neutral & Bright: Zoya Naomi, Rescue Beauty Lounge Pink Shimmer, Chanel Enthusiast

February 21, 2011

Nails of the day (from Sunday):
  • On the fingers = 1 coat of Zoya Naomi + 1 coat of Rescue Beauty Lounge Pink Shimmer on top
  • On the toes = 2 coats of Chanel Enthusiast


Yesterday I featured Zoya Naomi and mentioned how I felt it was a bit too warm for my olive-beige skintone. I experimented layering different sheer and glittery shades on top to see what different effects I could make and decided adding a coat of a sheer white-opal-pink shimmer created a nice neutral. The winner was adding one coat of Rescue Beauty Lounge Pink Shimmer (previously reviewed here). Here is the final result:


I decided to go super bright on the toes with Chanel Enthusiast 377 (Part of the London Madness mini collection from Summer 2009 & a Neimans Exclusive). It was a limited edition shade but extremely close to Chanel Coromandel, previously reviewed here (scroll down for comparisons). The difference is that Enthusiast is more vibrant, more orange, and has no shimmer.

The mani & pedi combo:

L to R comparisons: Rescue Beauty Lounge Ani, Zoya Naomi, Rescue Beauty Lounge Pink Shimmer, the mixed shades, Chanel Enthusiast, Chanel Dragon, Chanel Coromandel


I sometimes get off the wall comments – just an FYI, I’m in Southern California where wearing sandals this time of year is do-able. We’ve had on and off rain, but the sun peeked out enough for me to slip on the flip flops and not freeze my toes off.
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