Chanel launched a new lipstick formula called the Rouge Coco Bloom and I have swatches of almost all of the colors today! This is a glossy hydrating plumping lipstick with lots of shine and color. If you love the Rouge Coco Flash formula but want more coverage and pigment you will love these! They’re currently available now at Chanel.com.
There are 20 shades available in the US. I have 19 of them swatched today. I wasn’t able to get all of them lip swatched but can do in a separate part 2 post if you are interested. The formula of these lipsticks is beautiful! There is a noticeable plumping effect on my lips without the tingle. They have a creamy smooth texture that glides on the flawlessly with full coverage. They’re comfortable with a moisturizing feel. Scent-wise there is a very subtle almost skincare-like scent to them, it’s not noticeable to me unless I put the tube right on my nose and on the lips I don’t notice it at all.
Colors swatched below in numerical order by their names. They’re mostly creams with a few that have a shimmer. The only one I don’t have is 112 Opportunity (it was back ordered in the initial launch but is not available to order at Chanel.com):
110 Chance – creamy beige
114 Glow – medium brown with a hint of plum
116 Dream – soft warm pink
118 Radiant – mauve with hint of plum
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120 Freshness – medium plum
122 Zenith – soft coral
124 Merveille – pink coral
126 Season – hot pink
128 Magic – warm coral red
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130 Blossom – bright coral
132 Vivacity – coral with hint of red
134 Sunlight – orange
136 Destiny – bright bold pink
138 Vitalite – blue based pink red
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140 Alive – bold classic red with a subtle shimmer
142 Burst – deep bright rose pink, has a subtle shimmer
144 Unexpected – deeper red
146 Blast – plum berry
148 Surprise – deeper plum brown
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Some of the shades swatched on bare lips below. They’re full coverage with one-swipe and I love them! There are only a small handful of neutrals in this launch. I feel like most of the colors pull bold pink and red. My top three so far are Chance, Dream and Zenith. For skintone reference I wear Chanel B40 in the foundations, wearing:
Bottom line love. The formula is excellent – everything I want in a lipstick! Glossy, good coverage, hydrating, not heavy, doesn’t slide off the lips and flattering.
You can find these at Chanel.com now. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
I have a look at some new liquid lipstick colors today with swatches of the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLUST Legendary Wear Matte Lipsticks. She launched 2 shades in Divine Nude and Divine Rose earlier this year (review + swatches here) and just added 6 more colors to the formula lineup. Available online at Pat McGrath and Sephora.
These are long-wear liquid lipsticks with a matte finish. Once they dry they have a matte budge-proof finish. They stayed put on the lips. Being a matte finish they do have that dry matte lip look but they did not feel drying on the lips. I like the color range and if you’re looking for a matte liquid lip I think these are worth checking out! I am not the biggest fan of matte lips since I’m more of a glossy lipstick person. I prefer the look of her MatteRevolution Lipsticks on my lips but those aren’t transfer or budge proof like these LiquiLUST.
All the colors applied smoothly with full coverage. Since I have a darker lip than the lightest shade I did have to swipe a few times to get an even layer. These come with a pointed sponge tip applicator.
New colors side by side (Divine Nude and Divine Rose reviewed here):
You can find all the colors of the LiquiLUST available online at Pat McGrath and Sephora. If you’re shopping more than one color Pat McGrath has bundles available on her website including the Everything Kit, LiquiLUST Duo and LiquiLUST Trio. Bottom line a solid formula, beautiful colors and long lasting power.
One of my go-to brands in skincare is having a Friends and Family sale and I’m excited to share an early access code for you a few days early! Kiehl’s is offering 25% off sitewide this week through 3/24 with code EARLY25 (public sale starts 3/25). I’ve partnered with them to share a closer look at a couple of skincare staples I’ve added to my routine.
Ultra Facial Cream
The Ultra Facial Cream is one of their classic skincare staples. It’s a lightweight cream suitable for all skin types (even my sensitive skin). It absorbs well and never feels heavy. It contains Glacial Glycoprotein to add hydration and prevent water loss from the skin and Squalane to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. The formula layers well with their serums and sunscreens too. I especially love that there is no fragrance or scent to it. (Full ingredient list on their product page.)
Ultra Facial Cleanser
A new discovery for me is the Ultra Facial Cleanser. Out of all the skincare products out there, I love testing cleansers! This is a really nice foaming cleanser that is gentle, effective but won’t strip the skin. It has Squalane, Apricot Kernels and Avocado Oil. I really like this one because it cleanses the skin well without leaving it super tight. Available in two sizes including a 2.5 oz ($12) and 5.0 oz ($22).
I have some new Sisley launches to review today! They recently added a few things to their makeup line including the new Sisley Le Phyto-Blush ($80 each) and So Stretch Mascara ($72). With anything Sisley you can expect that the price points will be extremely high but the quality is always exceptional. I personally really love their skincare and hair care line. I have a few favorites in their makeup but haven’t tried a lot.
So Stretch Mascara
The So Stretch Mascara is a lengthening mascara that performs well for me. It lengthens and defines and does not smudge. It does a pretty good job at holding the curl even though it’s not waterproof. The applicator is perfect for my lashes – it did a good job at coating them all evenly while defining them. No clumping at all! I have low expectations for most mascaras and I like this one enough that I will repurchase in a few months.
Le Phyto Blush
The Le Phyto Blush is a powder blush with a soft texture that blends beautifully into the skin. I purchased two from Nordstrom and the Sisley team also sent a couple for me to try. There are some matte finish colors that have a soft satin matte and then there are a couple of shimmers that act more like highlighters on my skin. I like that they add a nice chic flush of color to the face. For my skin tone I think the colors I ended up with are best when layered together but I swatched them and applied them on my face below just by themselves. These come in a beautiful mirrored compact that is super sturdy.
I found lasting power to be pretty good! For the shimmers I noticed it emphasized some texture when I applied them alone like a blush. For me the shimmery colors are best as a soft highlighter. Formula-wise these are excellent. Color-wise I think they can be easily duped with other brands. While the quality, pigment, texture and packaging are beautiful I have a hard time saying these are worth the $80 price tag.
Colors I have below, 1 Pink Peony is a soft matte baby pink
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3 Coral is a matte coral
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4 Golden Rose is a peachy rose pink in the pan, on my skin it looks more like a soft gold shimmer
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6 Shimmer is a light champagne colored shimmer
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Swatches below, along side comparison swatches to some of their Phyto Blush Twist:
Overall solid launches and quality-wise everything is excellent, true to Sisley’s usual standards. Performance is good for everything and I think you will love them if you try. I don’t know that I can say I think they are worth the steep price tag when you can find colors that have a similar vibe for the blushes.
Have you tried these? Or any other makeup items from Sisley? What did you think? You can find these available at Nordstrom and Sisley as well as at all other Sisley counters.
Pink Peony and Coral and Mascara provided for review. Other shades purchased by me.
I’m late to the game in reviewing these NARS launches but thought I’d review them in case you still haven’t tried these and wanted more thoughts! NARS released several new products this year in mini collection launches. Reviews I’ve read have been very mixed and based on what I’ve tried, I think there are some hits and misses.
Air Matte Blush
The Air Matte Collection features a mix of matte finish products for lips and cheeks. I had high hopes for the Air Matte Blush as many of the YouTubers and bloggers I follow loved this! The formula is a soft whipped matte with a bouncy texture. The concept is really interesting to me but I found they weren’t easy to work with. The size of the pot made it difficult to dip my finger in without getting my nails in the product and they’re a little to small in circumference for a cream style brush applicator. Once applied on the skin the product didn’t really show up well on my skin (with the exception of a couple colors). Any blending caused product to drag and then disappear as it tugged with my foundation + powder. I tried these with fingers and a brush.
A couple of the colors were hits for me including Gasp (tan brown) and Darling (pink). I had high hopes for Orgasm as I love the powder blush version but it barely showed up on me.
Color-wise I think NARS created beautiful naturally flattering colors and I really wish the formula was easier to work with! They swatched nicely on the arms – I wish they blended nicely on the face for me.
There are eight colors total in this formula. I have five that I tested and swatched:
Hushed is a pale peach nude, it did not show up on my skin tone
Orgasm is a pale peach with gold shimmer, also did not show up on me
Darling is a soft cool matte pink
Rush is a coral peach
Gasp is a tan brown, looks dark in the pan, but shows up a tan nude on my skin
Air Matte Lip Color
For the lips NARS launched the Air Matte Lip Color, similar in concept to the blushes in a whipped matte finish. These have a weightless mousse-like texture with saturated pigment. The finish was smooth and blended nicely without drying out the lips. If you don’t mind reapplying every few hours these are nice. Color selection seemed limited to me with a lot of super bright bold colors and only a handful of neutrals. I like the look of All Yours (peach nude) and Shag (medium pink brown). The others weren’t really my cup of tea. If you’re looking for a long-wear matte finish lip, this isn’t the formula for you.
All Yours is a peale peach nude
Shag is a pink brown with mauve tones
Knockout is an electric coral
Total Domination is a neon red
Power Trip is a bold red
Three of them on the lips below: All Yours, Shag and Power Trip
Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balms
Last we have a look at the Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balms. I ordered these from Sephora sight unseen. I bought nearly all the colors and they are a huge hit for me! They are a smooth matte lip balm with a diffused wash of color. Although lasting power isn’t long since it’s a balm, I love the way these feel and the pigment level is perfect. Neutrals and nudes can be tricky because the undertones don’t always work on me but I love every single one.
Intimate is the lightest shade, a your lips but better beige nude
Brief Encounter is a medium nude
Unrestricted is a cool light pink
Whip Lash is a medium brown nude
Touch Me is a cinnamon plum
Four of the lip balms colors on the lips with some of blushes applied as well:
Overall for me I found the Air Matte Collection a miss for the blushes. I think the Air Matte Lip formula is a nice one, but there are better colors with other brands. The Soft Matte Lip Balms are a hit for me. I really like the formula and colors!
You can find the Air Matte Collection available at most NARS counters now (many of the colors are limited-edition). Available online at NARS, Ulta, Nordstrom and Sephora.
The Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balms are available online at NARS and Sephora.
Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
Select items provided for review. All Yours, Shag, Gasp, Hushed, and all the lip balms purchased by me.
By popular request I have an updated hand and nail care routine roundup! My last one was a few years ago (time flies!) and while many of the things have stayed the same, I have stopped using a few things. I’ve been doing my own nails on my own for several years now – pretty much since we moved to Florida. I still haven’t tried gel nails, dip powders, acrylics or press ons. I usually keep things simple and use regular nail polish formulas.
Cuticle Care
I feel like a lot of the Deborah Lippmann formulas changed! I bought several replacements of the Cuticle Remover and Nail Polish Remover and they didn’t work the same. Recent reviews still seem positive but the bottles I bought had chunks of white product floating in the bottle. I decided to look for an alternative. My tools remain the same tried and true go-to’s! I did replace the cuticle trimmer recently, over time the tools become dull with a lot of use and just need to be replaced.
Tweezerman Pushy and Nail Cleaner is my favorite tool to push back cuticles so they can be trimmed. The size is perfect for my nail size and I prefer the flat tip versus the curved ones of other styles.
OPI ProSpa Nail and Cuticle Oil is my favorite hand oil for the cuticles. It comes in a range of sizes and formats (like a bottle or brush pen). Definitely helps dry fingers!
For nail polish removers and tools, my all around favorites are from Olive and June. You can buy their items from their website and they have also expanded their line at Target! I love the nail files, nail buffer, clean up brush and their nail polish remover! I recommend shopping their website for the best selection and customizable Manicure Systems and box sets. (I use their boxes to store a lot of my essentials to keep them all in one place!)
My next favorite polish remover is Zoya. It’s one that doesn’t make my nails peel or fingers dry out. It’s effective on regular polish and doesn’t feel harsh on the skin.
My favorite clippers and on-the-go tools are also from Tweezerman. I love this Mini Nail Rescue Kit for everyday use and love that it also travel friendly.
Hand Creams
above, clear stackable box in the last photo from amazon
I’m the biggest hand cream fanatic and always love trying new formulas. My current top 5 include:
L’Occitane Solidarity Hand Cream – is one of their new limited-edition formulas, it has a soft hibiscus sent which is really pleasant! I bought 2 but am going to order a few more backups since it’s limited-edition and I really like the scent and cause it supports. Every year they make a product where 100% of the profits help fund projects for women in Burkina Faso for education and professional development
Molton Brown Flora Luminare Hand Cream – I love a lot of the Molton Brown hand creams but this one smells like sunshine to me, it has a bright happy kind of sent with orange blossom, mandarin, ylang-ylang, frangipani, jasmin, rose, vanilla, cedarwood and musk. The formula is nice and not too heavy, I also adore this scent in the Shower Gel and Glowing Body Oil.
Guerlain Repairing and Youth Hand Balm is one of the best new discoveries I’ve had, the balm is pretty spendy, especially for the size, but I’ve found it to be the best for ultra dry skin, it has a balm-feel with honey concentrate and really does work to smooth and hydrate super dry hands, it’s lightly scented (not overpowering).
Base and Top Coat
For base and top coat, I stopped using Essie’s Quick Dry Speed Setter. It worked so well to dry the nails fast and create a long lasting manicure but the formula was harsh on my nails and hands. If any product came in contact with my skin (even if I removed it with remover) it caused cracking and hardening wherever it touched.
OPI Natural Base Coat is the best product I’ve tried that doesn’t hurt my sensitive nails and prevents yellowing from the polish. I also use the OPI Top Coat to extend wear.
Chanel Le Gel Coat is another favorite I use on Chanel polishes. Gives the nails the glossy gel effect without the gel formula.
That wraps up my hand and nail care routine favorites! I hope you found this helpful! A number of you have also asked for my favorites for feet care. I still haven’t found my favorites to replicate a salon pedicure, although I really like the Spongables Pedi-Scrub and Tweezerman Sole Smoother Stone.
Let me know your favorites in the comments!
Press samples include: OPI Cuticle Oil, Guerlain Hand Balm, Olive and June tools.
Happy Friday – I’m excited to share a roundup today with 10 new spring beauty launches I think are worth the splurge! I have a mix of makeup for eyes, lips and cheeks that I’ve been testing out recently and have teamed up with Nordstrom to share a look at some of my favorite haul picks.
(Top photo wearing MAC Studio Fix Tech in NC35, Gucci Pressed Powder in Shade 5, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown, Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow Palette in Golden Nudes, Laura Mercier Blush in Fresco + Bellini, Charlotte Tilbury HappiPeach)
Foundation + Powder
MAC recently launched their new Studio Fix Tech Cream-To-Powder Foundation and it is amazing! It’s a solid cream foundation described as a lightweight sweat and humidity-resistant foundation with medium coverage and a natural matte finish. It’s like a foundation dream come true! Coverage is medium and it smooths the skin in the most beautiful way. This one lasts all day, melts beautifully into the skin, covers my imperfections and dark spots. I like that it doesn’t cake or crease and looks nice and fresh all day. Shade-wise I picked up both NC30 and NC35, I can wear either shade (wearing NC35 in this post).
Bare skin vs MAC Studio Fix Tech in NC35:
As a lover of cushion foundations, I couldn’t be happier to learn that Chantecaille launched a new one. The Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation is a water based formula with medium dewy coverage and long lasting power. I like that it is both blurring and smoothing at the same time – when you press it into the skin it melts in nicely and is easy to blend. Once it sets it stays put and does not budge. The Shade in Wheat is my perfect match.
The Gucci Poudre de Beaute Mat Naturel Pressed Powder has finally arrived in the US! It’s a sheer medium powder that is lightweight powder that sets foundation in a very natural way. You can use the sponge for more coverage but I like applying with a brush. It’s nice for touch ups and feels comfortable on the skin. It has a floral scent but it did not irritate my skin. I have been using Shade 04 or 05 and both work for my skin tone.
Cheeks
I’ve written about a number of different blush favorites from NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel and a few other brands, but my latest obsession is the Laura Mercier Blush Color Infusion Powder Blush. I’ve been loving Fresco for a perfect natural soft tan with a hint of shimmer. I recently bought Ginger which is lighter and it gives the prettiest soft tan peach glow. There are four newer shades that are perfect for that natural glow. Guava is a light pale peach, Bellini is a pretty bright light peach, Watermelon is a pale pink with a light pearl finish, Passionfruit is a softer pink. If you want a good soft natural blush that won’t oxidize or look muddy, I highly recommend checking out the colors from Laura Mercier.
A number of you have asked for a smudge-proof eyeliner and I think I’ve found a new favorite. The Gucci Stylo des Yeux Eye Pencil in Noir is smooth, ultra pigmented and once it sets it does not budge. I picked one shade in black to try, but based on how long it lasts I think I’m going to try a couple more shades.
Neutral Lips
You girls know I’m such a huge nude lip lover! I picked up some new shades to try. The new Rouge Dior Lipstick in 100 Nude Look (matte) combined with the matching Contour Lip Liner in 100 Nude Look is my perfect everyday neutral. The matte lipstick is a full coverage weightless matte that has a smooth finish (no tugging!). The lip pencil is a long wear formula that helps extend the wear of the lipsticks.
Bobbi Brown added some new shades to the Crushed Lipstick formula and I picked up Buff which is a lighter neutral pink beige. It has smooth medium-to-full coverage and it comes in a wide range of shades and undertones. I really like this one! I swatched these next to a few others from MAC for reference including the classic Matte Lipstick in Velvet Teddy, new Powder Kiss Lipstick in Teddy 2.0, Powder Kiss Liquid Lip in Date Maker, and Lip Pencil in Subculture.
If you’re looking for a tinted balm with lots of pigment, definitely check out the Charlotte Tilbury Hyaluronic Happikiss Lipstick Balms. This a rich glossy balm with lots of color. Crystal Happikiss (soft pink) is one of the sheerer ones but still shows up on my lips. Happi Peach is a pretty pigmented peach. Pillow Talk is a soft rose (this formula is warmer than the lipstick version). Enchanting Kiss is the prettiest rose pink. Lasting power is medium since it’s a balm but if you add a lip liner underneath you can extend the wear. They’re comfortable and hydrating with a subtle vanilla scent.
Makeup looks wearing MAC Studio Fix Tech in NC35, Gucci Pressed Powder in Shade 5, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown, Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow Palette in Golden Nudes, Laura Mercier Blush in Fresco + Bellini.
That wraps up my new beauty roundup! If you’ve been looking at any of these newer launches I hope you found the swatches and review helpful! You can find all of my picks at Nordstrom.
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Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions my own. All items featured purchased by me.
