Chanel launched five new shades of the liquid lipstick Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue ($50 each). I’m not usually a fan of liquid lipstick formulas as they tend to look very dry on me but this one has a good glossy clear top coat on one end to seal the color and add a beautiful shine.
I picked up three of the five shades and think all three are really pretty.
192 Coral Pink is a coral pink, this one applies brighter on my lips with the drydown compared to what I see in the tube
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With these I recommend applying a thin even coat first and letting them dry. If you apply too much on the lips, once it dries the product will look a bit cracked/dry. I let it set for a minute and then add the top coat. For me the top coat is essential otherwise the liquid lipstick underneath feels a bit sticky/tacky feeling. The gloss adds a nice smooth shine to the look.
I swatched a few comparisons below, many of my favorites have been discontinued. I included the numbers on them since it appears they launched a shade Intense Nude 194 in this new launch but it’s different from the Intense Nude 152 from a few years ago. These look dry in the swatches but I can assure you the top coat makes all the difference!
Pink neutrals can be tricky for me to pull of with any cool undertone but this one is perfect. Overall love for a longwear liquid lip. I still prefer a traditional lipstick or gloss format, but in terms of liquid lip formulas these are my favorite.
Available now at Chanel.com. I purchased mine from a boutique.
Fenty launched a shimmer version of my favorite lipstick formula called the Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shimmer Gloss Sticks ($25 each). As a huge fan of the regular Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix (non-shimmer version) I ordered these immediately. They are stunning for sure but they are a little outside of my comfort zone.
Formula is thick and creamy with full opaque coverage. They have a glossy finish and the sparkle is intense. They perform just the same as the non-shimmer version, but the shimmers do have a slightly transparent quality so your natural lip (or lip liner) will show through.
The shimmer is indeed “high” and they’re more like glitter on the lips. I saw a few reviews describe this as a glitter explosion and I think that is a perfect description. The formula is still surprisingly smooth without any texture even though the sparkle is very intense. It has been a while since I’ve tried a lipstick with THIS much sparkle and as much as I love a good shimmer, my first impression was that the shimmer is too much but I put all the shades to the test and some are more wearable than others for my lip tone.
I think they actually photograph better than they look in real life and I think these would be super cute for special or going out occasions where you want a fun look.
I do really love Fu$$y and Fenty Glow the best. I love the undertone of C U in Maui but this one is a glitter explosion on my lips. Icy Amethy$t is fun for a more trendy lavender shift kind of shade, I think it’s really fun.
Overall fun, I’m not sure I can pull them off, but I still think they’re really pretty. I personally prefer the original Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix (reviewed here) but the NEW High-Shimmer colors in the Fu$$y and Fenty Glow are beautiful.
I can’t believe another month has flown by. January felt like the longest month ever but February went by so quickly. I have a roundup of favorites for February! Here are some things I really loved this month.
Chanel Spring Summer 2025
Chanel Beauty’s spring collection has been in heavy rotation (full review here). I still really love every single shade of the Rouge Coco Baume Shines, in particular Tender Peach and Honey Bliss. I still really love the Jeux de Lumieres highlighter palette. It has been a versatile one for me I can use on the eyes and cheeks. I’ve been using the Chanel Brush 107 or 106 with the palette. I am still 100% obsessed with the eyeshadow singles, especially the Peche Glace.
Byredo Mojave Ghost Absolu
I splurged on the Byredo Mojave Ghost Absolu as a gift to myself for Christmas and I really love it. The Mojave Ghost Absolu smells very similar to the original version, but the Absolu has better and longer lasting power. I also find the Absolu variation to be richer and creamier with more depth. I am 100% happy with the splurge. If you already own the original I do think the absolu is too similar to justify both.
Tom Ford Peach Glamour
Tom Ford launched two new eyeshadow palettes in the crème formula and I picked up the lighter/neutral option Peach Glamour. A few of you told me this is actually the powder formula in a new formulation, but quite a few places, including Tom Ford’s website have it listed under the crème formula page. It does have a creamy feel but it’s softer and not as dry as the other cremes making it a lot easier to blend. The colors are light and shimmery but not over the top. Peach Glamour is what I wanted Nude Dip to be on me. I think Nude Dip is a classic, but on someone with my skin tone it almost pulls cool-toned while Peach Glamour is warmer but more neutral.
Two complexion products I’ve been loving are from Dior and Saie. I still cannot get enough of the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick (3N in action demo in action here). Right now I wear 2.5N for my winter color and this is hands down the easiest foundation to apply and travel with. I also love the finish and coverage. It blurs, blends easily, isn’t too heavy, has impressive coverage but looks natural. It has become my most-reached-for foundation this year.
As a neutral lip lover I am always looking for more honey tones to try. There are four I really loved this month.
The Milani Keep it Full Glossy Plumping Balm is a really good budget-friendly formula. It’s comfortable on the lips, hydrating and plumping without any stinging and I think it rivals the ones from Tarte and Hourglass. The Milani ones are not as thick in texture, but are still balmy and glossy. I shared an application here of Puff (beige) and Bisou (red) in partnership with Target and I truly stand by these. I ended up buying a few more colors and really love them.
The new Hourglass Phantom Glossy Balm shades for spring are so good, I’ve been loving Wander which is a lighter peachy beige shimmer but all of the new shimmers are beautiful. Spring shades swatched here.
MAC added quite a few neutrals in their lipstick and lip liner formulas. I really wanted to love the shades like Cool Spice and Cool Teddy, but they ended up being too cool-toned for me. I did pick up the Lip Pencil in Beige Turner and it’s a perfect beige neutral for me.
Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine in Honey Bliss is such a good everyday neutral. It has a bit of gold shimmer but it’s not frosty. This is my perfect swipe and go polished nude lip look.
One shout out for the Glossier Sharpener. I know it’s not the most exciting thing and it’s kinda spendy for a sharpener, but it is GENIUS with the cover to hold all the pencil shavings so you can travel with it or keep it in your makeup bag without having to worry about making a mess.
Skincare Favorites
My favorite cleanser I keep going back to is the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser I do like to try new ones every now and then. I picked up the Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser and it’s 10/10 love. It’s gentle but effective and I love the creamy gel texture. I find it hydrating and great for this time of year.
This year is the driest my skin has been. I started using the Hydrating Infused Emulsion underneath my regular moisturizer and it was exactly what my skin needed this dry season. It has made a HUGE difference in restoring moisture to my skin. A little goes a long way and I only use one pump to try and maximize every last bit of this product.
I mentioned a month ago that for some reason almost all of my deodorants started causing a rash and allergic reaction for me. I’ve used Native, L’Occitane and Salt and Stone for a while and for some reason I am not able to use them anymore. I gave the Phlur Deodorants a try and they’re a winner for me. Long lasting, no reaction and I love the scents. Vanilla Skin (vanilla) and Father Figure (fig) are both really good. I really hope they consider launching it in Missing Person or Phloria or even Solar Power.
For sunscreen I’ve been really loving the Chanel UV Essentiel. It has worked well with other moisturizers and also makeup on top. I love the texture and finish.
Another shout of for Cyklar body washes is necessary as by this point Andrew and I have used up both the Naked Neroli and Bergamot Bond. This is still the best body wash we have tried in a long time and the texture feels really nice on the skin. Andrew liked it so much he asked me to restock this and I ordered more. By the time of this post we are almost through our second bottle of the Bergamot one. I also tried the Crescent one which is more of an amber blend. It’s also a good one but we love the Bergamot Bond the most.
Rhode launched a new lip pencil called the Peptide Lip Shape – The Contouring Lip Shaper ($24 each). I loved the teasers and as a huge fan of neutrals I was very excited to try these. I shared a try-on in action here and I was really surprised by the feedback! The feedback was very mixed and after trying these for nearly two weeks I finally have my review.
The Peptide Lip Shape is a creamy twist up lip product that I’d say is in between a lip liner and chubby stick. The formula is creamy and glides on with a very smooth application, but it has a semi-matte looking finish.
I think the colors are SO beautiful, but only a few work for me. Lighter neutrals are so difficult for me to wear because I have a darker lip tone and while many look SO good swatched on my hand, they end up looking ashy or dry on my lips because of the contrast (ie MAC Crème Cup, Blankety and Myth or Tom Ford Blush Nude look like white out on my lips).
Shades I hauled:
Bend is a peach brown beige
Twist is a neutral light brown
Lift is a light dusty pink
Lunge is a rosy beige tan
Press is a pink mauve tone
Lean is a medium brown
Balance coffee caramel brown
The biggest complaint I saw was about the lasting power and I semi disagree with the rants that came across the comments and messages about these. These aren’t long-wear lip pencils and I think most of you who were disappointed expected this to be like a lip liner. The texture of the Peptide Lip Shape is softer and the pigment/texture isn’t dense like a pencil so it’s more like a lipstick in pencil form. They’re designed to be more like a contour rather than a definer.
That being said the lasting power isn’t the best but they definitely do not disappear immediately. If I wear these all over the lip, they fade the fastest from the center of the lip, but they do linger around the edges a long time on me.
I really love the idea and concept, but I don’t love the formula. I also don’t hate them. I like these best when topped with a gloss. If I were to do my order over I would have only picked up Lunge and Press. I can make the others work with an added gloss but this makes them more high maintenance than I would like.
So bottom line, if you ask me are these worth the purchase? I would say they’re ok, but there are better formulas out there and I prefer a regular lip pencil than a chubby stick. I do think the Ilia Lip Sketch for a similar concept (chubby stick) is better, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the finish. The Pat McGrath Dramatique Lip Pencils are much better for lasting power, but these also pull matte and I think in general I just feel better with a glossy lip vs something that is matte. Chanel had the most incredible Lip Crayon back in the day, they’ve since discontinued it, but it was the best lip crayon I tried.
The Glaze Craze Tinted Lip Serums are donut-inspired and each one has a different sweet gourmand scent. I really love the scents they created – they’re sweet but not too sweet. They smell like chocolate to me.
Formula is smooth, non sticky but still balmy/glossy feeling. They feel very hydrating on the lips and the pigment is just perfect for a tinted balm. The colors show up but they still have a natural looking tint to them. I think each color they created is 10/10 beautiful and very flattering.
There are a few features of the serums that I’m a little iffy about – none of these are deal breakers for me, but several of you mentioned these in your DMs to me so I thought I’d point them out too. Texture can be a little thick if you apply too much product, but they are easy to blend out.
I’m undecided about the applicator they made for these balms. The Glaze Craze Lip Serums come with a cushiony donut-shaped applicator. It’s soft and squishy and I give Laneige five stars for innovation, but it can be cumbersome to use as it makes precise application challenging. Also the tip can get very messy and a little goopy over time with the product oozing.
There was one shade that seemed to settle and separate into my lip lines on bare lips (the Peach Glaze), but this can be fixed if I apply a lip liner underneath.
Overall I am happy with the purchase especially since the pigment level is exactly what I want in a tinted balm. I love that they’re not too sheer. A lot of you wanted to know how these compared to Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balms and I feel like they are very different. The Summer Fridays balms are a little thinner in texture with just a sheer hint of color while the Laneige serums is thicker and more opaque. If you like the concept of a tinted lip product that is hydrating but want something more budget-friendly, I also recommend checking out the e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oils. While the formulas are not really the same, I have been a big fan of them for a tinted lip hydrator and I think they also have really great colors.
I pulled some swatches to some other balms/oils and a few glosses to compare for color.
Available now at Sephora, Kohl’s and Laneige. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
Natasha Denona launched a new cheek duo called the Hy-Blush Cloudy Cream Cheek Duo ($42 each, available at Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Natasha Denona). These have an ultra creamy blush with a cream highlighter combined in one compact. The shades are very easy to blend and build depending on how much color you want. I love that they have a nice fresh glow.
The new Hy-Blush Duos are very lightweight on the skin and I love how easy they are to blend with fingers or a brush. Every single color Natasha created is 10/10 beautiful. I love how each highlighter has a different undertone, some are pink, others are gold while some have a peach base.
The creams are all non-shimmer shades and I have to say I was really surprised they all showed up on my skin tone since some lighter shades don’t really show up on me. The highlighters have a smooth shimmer so they’re not ultra frosty and they don’t emphasize texture on my skin.
Lasting power has been pretty good for me but I will say that the weather is warm but not humid yet. It lasted all day through two 30 minute walks without budging or fading. By late afternoon it did look a little dewy.
Hourglass added four new shades of their Phantom Volumizing Glossy Lip Balm ($38 each) and they are incredibly beautiful. Three of them are shimmers and one is a new red. Out of all the Hourglass lip formulas this is probably my favorite, especially since I love a glossy lip.
Above left to right:
Secret is a rose with gold shimmer (think MAC Sophisto vibes, but not as frosty)
Invite is a medium tan brown with gold shimmer
Wander is a light peachy pink with golden shimmer
Red 0 is the most perfect wearable red for those who don’t like to wear red
Every single color of the new Phantom Glossy Balm is wearable and even though Wander is on the lighter side it still shows up on my lips – the pigment is perfect. The regular non shimmer shades are very soft and almost melty feeling once they’re on the lips. The shimmer version is smooth without texture but they have a slightly stiffer feel which I actually like better.
Since these are glossy balms lasting power isn’t going to be long, but they don’t slide off easily and I really like that the finish is forgiving so it fades nicely. They are nicely hydrating and smooth without feeling thick.
The Hourglass team sent a beautiful press box with the new shades and also included three from the permanent lineup. I’ve reviewed them here, here and here but thought I’d add them here too including Desire (rose mauve), Lure (plum) and Sense (the best nude pink).
Overall love. Every single color is one I think could be universally flattering. I’ve finally found my new holy grail red. I was hoping the peach orange shade Mystic in the Holiday 2024 Duo would be out individually but it looks like it’s only available in the set (still in stock). I might end up buying the set before it sells out since I love peachy coral shades.
