It’s that time of year again! I’m sharing my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020 Shopping Guide since Early Access starts August 4th. This year’s they’ve included a preview online, kinda like a digital catalog. Each day they’re adding new things and I expect the full list of sale items to be live tomorrow. I went through all the different categories to bookmark some things for my wishlist and items I think are great deals. My all time favorite thing of all time the Barefoot Dreams Cozy Throw is part of the sale so if you’ve had a blanket or pillow on your wishlist now is a great time to get one!
I’ll have a full haul post as soon as I’m able to post one! In the meantime I’ve included the highlights by category. They’ve made it really easy to sort and filter multiple ways. I also recommend adding things to your account wishlist so it’s easy to keep things bookmarked in one place.
Dates and Details
Here are the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Details for shopping dates. Early Access starts for cardholders depending on what tier you are for points. I’m sure most of you are familiar with the sale but in case you’re new they have tons of brands marked down. Nordstrom has a mix of current brands marked down, new items created just for the sale, value sizes and sets and exclusives.
Beauty Exclusives
The Nordstrom Sale Beauty Exclusives are the things I look forward to the most each year. They have great value sizes to save on shampoos, hair styling products, skin care sets etc. Make sure you check their Gift With Purchase page as they update them frequently throughout the sale! A few things on my radar below.
Two things I almost always buy every year are the Oribe Set and MAC lip sets each year because they’re a great value. One of my favorite makeup mirrors the Riki Skinny Lighted Mirror is part of the sale this year in a pretty Rose Gold Color. I love that they have an Olaplex Bond Maintenance Trio for $84 ($126 value). There are a good amount of styling tools like brushes, hair dryers, curling irons and flat irons available. As a huge fan of the NARS Oil Infused Lip Tints I’m for sure buying the Mini Duo with new shades Solstice and Beausoleil.
Hair Care + Tools Linked Below
Makeup + Beauty Tools On My Radar
Skincare + Body
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Home and Accessories
If I could recommend you only buy one thing from the sale it would be any Barefoot Dreams blanket. I love them so much! They’re super soft and snuggly. I sleep with one every night. Nordstrom has some super cute sunglasses every year and I have my eye on the options from Tom Ford.
A few things on my radar linked below including some home throws, designer sunglasses, marble coasters and more:
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Staples and Basics: Tops
There are so many cute tops and tees this year! Lots of nice everyday staples from Splendid, L’Agence, Rails, Rag and Bone and more.
Cute styles for camisoles, tanks, tees and blouses I’ve bookmarked all linked in the widget below:
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Athleisure, Denim, Cute Shoes
Most of my wishlist is in the athleisure department. I’m thrilled to see items from Sweaty Betty this year (adding this Mesh Hoodie to my try-on list). I also find Zella to be pretty good for comfortable sports bras and leggings. The denim selection is always great each year. I’m surprised there weren’t quite as many options from Paige this year but there are lots of other brands to choose from including Rag and Bone, Blank NYC, Mother and AG to name a few. I don’t have much on my wishlist for shoes but think these Tory Burch sneakers are pretty cute!
A few things I have on my radar to try on in store this week for workout clothes and denim:
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That wraps up my preview and shopping guide for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2020! I am hoping they will be adding more items online for beauty like we’ve seen in past years. Haul post will be going live soon as I narrow down my wishlist down to what I decide to buy. What’s on your radar for the sale this year? Do you have anything you’re excited about?
I ordered some of the new Gucci Poudre De Beaute Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powders ($62 each for 12 g/0.42 oz available at Sephora) recently and have fallen completely in love with them! There are currently five shades available and I decided to try the lightest three options Shades 01, 02 and 03. These Gucci bronzing powders are packaged in the most beautiful mirrored compact with a gold and turquoise design. Each bronzer has a bottom compartment for a small flat brush to apply the product. Although I prefer larger full sized brushes, the mini compact brush is actually functional to apply the product on the face (I normally don’t use the compact brushes).
The bronzer texture is soft and powdery. Pigment is sheer-medium in coverage but buildable. Each color I tried performed well. They didn’t look muddy or turn orange or darken The only semi-negative thing I can say about these is that they have a strong floral powder scent. It’s not a deal breaker for me and after it’s on the skin the scent fades and I don’t notice it anymore.
Lasting power is quite good. I think these are solid winners even though they are fairly expensive. The bronzing powder also come with a small pink pouch so you can protect the compact from getting scratched if you want to put it in a makeup bag.
Shade 01, 02 and 03:
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Gucci Bronzer Shade 01
Shade 01 is a matte lighter cooler-toned brown with pinkish undertones (similar to Tom Ford Terra).
Last I wanted to share a look at two lip formulas in the color No More Orchids. Gucci launched this color in a Satin Formula to coincide with the launch of the bronzers. It’s a vibrant hot pink with a medium coverage creamy finish. There’s a soft shine to it like a classic lipstick. I actually prefer the No More Orchids Balm Formula which is a sheer hot cool pink. It’s not quite as blue-based or sharp on my medium tan olive skintone and works better for my complexion. To me the colors are pretty much the same but the pigment changes how it looks on the lips.
I ordered a few other colors a while ago but haven’t had a chance to test them. I do have and love the shade The Painted Veil in the sheer finish for a warmer pink (also worn in my Gucci Mascara review here).
Overall I really like the bronzers I hauled! If you’re like me and don’t really like true mattes you’ll love these. They have a subtle glow to them so they won’t look flat on the skin. They’re easy to wear and don’t look muddy on the skin. I like that they’re soft in texture and easy to build/blend. I have no regrets with my purchases although I can’t say the colors must-haves since they aren’t super unique. I see similarities with other brands and formulas so I do think they are easy to dupe. Still I think they performed well and were worth the splurge. I love the packaging and if you don’t mind the floral scent, I think you will probably like them too.
Have you checked out the Gucci Bronzers yet? What did you think? I bought mine from Sephora the day they launched. They’ve since sold out and restocked (once I think) and some colors have sold out again. You can also find these at Gucci and Selfridges.
By popular request I’m doing an updated roundup of my favorite makeup bags. A number of you wanted a comparison between a few brands like The Daily Edited and Cuyana so after having tested several styles I have a review for you today! Many of these can double as travel bags – I have a separate article on travel packing and travel makeup bags you can read here. You can always click on my Packing Tips tag as well to see what I was able to fit in different cases on various trips. Today’s post focuses more on makeup bags for the purse, to organize essentials at home or day trips rather than travel.
The Daily Edited
The Daily Edited is a line I’ve used since 2017 and I think they have great products! The large cosmetic cases in Black and Taupe have held up really well since I bought them back in 2017. I’ve used them during moves, while traveling across country and on numerous vacations (see what I packed for a San Francisco trip here). Right now my two favorites from the brand are the Large Cosmetic Case and the Clear Cosmetic Case. I order these directly from their website and shipping is usually very fast.
The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case
The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case $100 – I have this style in two colors, Taupe and Black. I love that you can customize the monogram with different styles of fonts or icons! I opted for the blind embossing for a more subtle look with these but love the gold lettering too. The large size has a really wide base which makes it sturdy to stand up on its own without tipping over. It has one large open interior compartment inside. I like this style (versus having pockets) because you can fit more inside.
Made of saffiano leather, fabric lining large open interior
The Daily Edited Clear Cosmetic Case $60 is another favorite. This is smaller than the Large Cosmetic Case and is clear so you can see everything inside. I like that it’s smaller so it is easier to carry around in a tote. The PVC is easy to clean (I like to use Novus Plastic Clean). They make a flat clear pouch too but seem to be frequently sold out of the colors. You can see a side by side of the cosmetic vs flat pouch in this post here.
Made of clear PVC, leather bottom/edging
Measures 4″ high, 8″ wide, 2″ deep
Cuyana
So many of you have asked for more reviews on Cuyana bags. I think they make beautiful classic staples that will last a long time. Before I ordered my first item I didn’t think they would live up to the hype or be worth the price. However after buying several pieces I’ve fallen in love with the simple and minimalist designs! They’re well made and functional. The overall composition of the Cuyana bags is thicker than The Daily Edited. Shape, designs, material and sizes are also different. I cannot say that one is better than the other, they’re both different and special in their own ways.
Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set
Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set $120 (additional for monogram) – This is the set so many of you asked me to review. I like it a lot more than I expected to – I actually love it. The leather is thick and sturdy, I love the lining which is easy to wipe clean. The small one is perfect for on-the-go and the large one is nice for travel or larger bottles. I opted for the smaller font monogram but wish I had picked the larger option. (All sales are final for monogram pieces so I couldn’t exchange it.) Also a part of me wishes the monogram feature was included in the price like The Daily Edited, but I’m still happy with my purchase.
Made of a thick durable pebbled leather
Microsuede interior, large one has a flat pocket inside, small is open without a pocket
Large case measures 12″ wide, 7″ tall, 3.5″ deep
Small case measures 8″ wide, 5″ tall, 2.5″ deep
Cuyana Vanity Case and Tech Case
Two additional items I have are the Cuyana Vanity Case $95 and Tech Case $65. These are available individually and made of the same material as the Travel Case Duo. I’ve actually featured the Vanity Case in the Ecru color before but it seems they’ve recently updated it so it no longer has an exterior pocket and pouch. The Blush featured above is the current version. I like the Tech Case as a makeup bag but it’s also really nice to carry cords, chargers etc because of the compact size.
Long time readers know I’m a huge fan of the Truffle Clarity Jetset $88 and the Clarity Clutch Mini $40. Both are great for travel or for packing up essentials on-the-go. Having a clear pouch makes it easier to see everything inside so there’s not as much digging around trying to find things. The jetset option is compact enough to fit inside a medium tote or beach bag. The flat clutches won’t hold as much since they’re flat but it’s perfect for holding a few essential items and keeping things more compact/organized.
There are other variations and sizes available for travel. You can see other Truffle options I’ve used for travel in this post here.
Luxury Splurge: Dior
Last two are splurge items! I bought the Dior Oblique Jacquard Pouch in the blue variation and I love it! It’s made of a canvas material and has an interior pocket for cards if you want it to double as a clutch. It’s relatively small and petite so I can use it either as a super fancy makeup pouch or clutch. It measures 15 cm high by 19 cm tall and 5 cm deep. For reference I believe it’s similar in sizing to the Louis Vuitton Toiletry Case 19. This was more of a recent splurge purchase so I haven’t had a chance to use it very much but I love the print and think it’s just so beautiful!
Luxury Splurge: Hermes
The last splurge I want to share is a flat canvas pouch. I ordered the Hermes Bain New Yachting Case in the small size in Navy and Red (one for Andrew, one for me). They’re approximately 9″ wide by 6 inches tall, flat, made of canvas and perfect to carry small on-the-go things like a mini camera, small sunscreen, lip balm, mini perfume etc. It’s made of cotton canvas so I don’t know how long it will stay clean or last but I thought they were so cute!
Leather Care
I don’t usually use any product to treat or clean my leather goods, but I just started looking for some cleaners and moisturizers. Three options I’ve tried on a few makeup bags are from Coach and Cuyana – I really like the Coach set. I also tried the Cuyana Cleaner and it worked well to clean up small makeup smudges I had on the exterior of a few bags. I haven’t put them to an extensive test yet but plan on using them more. Many years ago I used to use Apple Guard and remember liking it but haven’t repurchased in a long time.
I had a recent mishap and accidentally splashed some nail polish remover on a leather wallet. Even though I wiped it immediately it still left some marks and made the leather look dried out with a slight white cast. After some research I decided to try the Coach Leather Moisturizer on it and thankfully it restored it back to normal! If you have any that you love let me know in the comments.
That wraps up my current favorite makeup bag roundup! Hope you found it helpful. Out of all the ones I own I can’t pick a favorite. I think the quality and look of the Cuyana bags are the most luxe with the thick pebbled leather, but I also love how durable and sturdy the saffiano is with The Daily Edited.
Do you have a favorite makeup bag or bags? Let me know in the comments!
Shop the Post:
I’m hosting a summer giveaway! Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. ONE person will be selected from the entries in the widget below to win a $200 eGift card to either Cuyana or The Daily Edited. Simply use the widget and complete ALL the entry steps (partial entries will not qualify). Giveaway runs through August 1, 2020 11:45 PM EST. I’ll select a winner within 72 hours after the giveaway ends and email them directly. Selected winner must respond within 72 hours or another person will be selected in their place. Not sponsored or affiliated.
Today I have a new summer base edit! I’ve been putting quite a few new foundations and tinted moisturizer formulas to the test. I have my thoughts on all the formulas for you today. Side by side swatches included at the end along with a summary of my hits and misses.
For those new to my blog a quick overview on my skin type and skin tone. I have medium-tan skin with a golden undertone. Since I live in Florida I tan easily with the intense sunshine and so I fluctuate between shades frequently. My MAC equivalent is usually NC35 or NC37. For Chanel I’m typically B40 and sometimes B50. I have normal combination skin. I prefer medium to full coverage.
I’m covering thoughts on 8 formulas today. Thoughts on each one by brand and formula below.
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Tom Ford
Tom Ford foundations used to be my favorites for the color and quality. I still find some hits with the new launches but the color shades and options aren’t consistent across formula which makes it tricky to find the right match. I’m usually Natural 6.0 or Sable 6.5.
Tom Ford Soleil Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
Tom Ford Soleil Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($70, at Nordstrom) in Dune 5.7 – I have mixed feelings about this formula. This is a very sheer barely there tint. It currently does not come in my usual shade, the closest ones are Dune 5.7, Cool Dune 6.2 and Tawny 7.0. I opted for Dune (ordered sight unseen) because in some formulas it’s a good match. This one is too light for me but does adjust/oxidizes a bit. Once blended disappears into a glow, like basic moisturizer. Alone it’s too dewy so I have to set with powder which counters any glow it has. Formula has minimal hydration to me, just feels dewy and balmy. Lasting power is decent. You can see this one on my face here. I just don’t think it’s worth the price given the limited shade options and sheer coverage. It’s good but not amazing to me.
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Tom Ford Soleil Glow Flawless Glow Foundation SPF 30
Tom Ford Soleil Glow Flawless Glow Foundation SPF 30 ($88, from Nordstrom) in Natural 6.0 is a formula I’ve reviewed before. It’s not new but I wanted to highlight it again as I think it’s one of the best sheer-to-medium glow formulas I’ve tried. It has medium coverage and looks very natural on the skin. It comes with a dropper and is very fluid in texture so it’s lightweight and not heavy. You can see it worn here and on the face here.
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Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Cushion
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Cushion SPF 45 ($132, available at Nordstrom) in Sable 6.5 is one of the formulas that comes in a limited range of colors. The deepest one available is Sable which I ordered and it pulls a bit lighter than most other formulas in the same color which I attribute to the sunscreen ingredient. It has beautiful coverage with a nice light reflecting glow. It is dewy so I need to set it with powder to make it work for me. Above I’m wearing just the foundation (no powder or concealer although I do have some gloss and eye makeup on). You can buy the refills for this separately at $88. I think the formula is great but the color range is terrible.
I do think the liquid pump Shade and Illuminate Foundation is just as good with a better color range, slightly more opaque coverage with a more consistent color. I opted for Natural 6.0 which I found slightly darker than other formulas with the way it dries down, but it works for me with my tan. You can see the Shade and Illuminate Liquid Pump version in Natural on my face here. If you find formulas usually oxidize on your skin you may want to try half a shade lighter than your usual color.
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Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation
Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation ($88, from Sephora) in Natural 6.0 – I couldn’t have been more excited to see this one launch! I ordered it immediately in Natural 6.0 and Sable 6.5 from Sephora. This is one of the best formulas I’ve tried, although I don’t think I would call it a true matte. It’s more of a classic soft finish with medium to full coverage. Application is best with a sponge to press and blend into the skin. Texture is very fluid but fairly opaque. Blends in seamlessly and has perfect coverage and excellent lasting power. I used it over the Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream (review + promo code here) alone without any primer and it performed exceptionally well. Natural is a good match for me right now. Sable pulls a little more olive/warm but I wanted a darker shade to mix since I tan easily.
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By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation SPF 30 ($59, available at By Terry) in 400W – This is my second favorite launch I’ve tried. I don’t have a By Terry counter near me so I ordered 400W and 400N sight unseen based on the shade chart. It looks lighter in the bottle but has a good dry-down and adjusts slightly once it sets. This is a fluid lightweight dropper style foundation. It’s hydrating but has a beautiful soft dry down with a natural glow. I love how light it feels on the skin and it offers natural coverage. There are 5 color options and each color option is available in Cool, Neutral or Warm. I do hope they expand the color range. I’ve been testing some of the Tinted Powders recently and like 300 for my skin. Review on this one soon. P.S. If you’ve had your eye on anything from the line the By Terry website is having a really good summer sale right now!
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La Mer Radiant Skintint
La Mer Radiant Skintint with SPF 30 ($95 at Sephora) in Light-Medium and Medium (above wearing Light-Medium) – I had high hopes for this but it was a huge miss for me for the formula and color range. I initially ordered Medium 42 which I found slightly too dark. It felt fairly thick and heavy on the skin which I expected based on the description. It also darkened on my skin once it set. I was determined to make it work but decided to try Light-Medium 32 since I used to love the Lifting Cushion in Shade 33 Warm Bisque.
Here’s the 411: Light-Medium is very pink/peach and once it dries turns orange/pink on my skin. Medium has the right undertone but darkens slightly so doesn’t match my neck. Coverage is sheer to medium. Texture is thick. Once it sets it looks like a greasy mess on my face. It feels very thick and uncomfortable – especially if I go outdoors at all. I think it would probably work better for those with super dry skin.
Dior Forever Summer Skin ($52, available at Dior.com) in 002 Light – my friend Rachel of @BeautyProfessor put this on my radar for summer during one of our chats. It’s super limited and so far I’ve only been able to find it at Dior.com. Colors run VERY dark. It’s been a long time since I’ve worn Dior for foundation but am usually in the 30 range. I initially ordered Medium 003 which I expected to work but it was much to dark. They had an ok return policy so I returned it and ordered the Light 002 which works much better.
It still looks really dark in the tube but it’s semi sheer and blends out nicely. Light works for my skin tone and gives the complexion a healthy glow – like the Chanel Les Beiges but with a more fluid texture. I suspect they made these darker in color to give the skin a more bronzed sunkissed glow, but I still think they should have offered this in a wider shade range. Coverage is sheer enough to be forgiving if you don’t have an exact match. I feel lucky to have found a color that works for me but if you’re on the light or fair side I think these will be too dark.
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Lunasol Glowing Watery Oil Liquid
Lunasol Glowing Watery Oil Liquid* ($55 via Beautygypsy Recommends) in 03 Medium – one of my beauty friends Wafaa of @BeautyGypsy has a shopping site Beauty Gypsy Recommends where she offers custom purchases of a wide range of hard to find Asian beauty brands and products. She was kind enough to send me an amazing care package of foundations and sunscreens to try – and she picked them out all on her own! The Lunasol Glowing Watery Oil Liquid was first on my list to try and it BLEW MY MIND. It’s what I wanted the Kosas Face Oil to be, but this one from Lunasol is so much better. It’s a tinted fluid that offers beautiful medium coverage, it doesn’t even feel like an oil! Coverage is so flawless and naturally glowy without being to heavy.
It has SPF 25 and has a unique dropper dispenser at the top to control how much you pour out. Wafaa picked Medium 03 for me as we are both similar in skin tone. This one is just a tad bit to light for me and I plan on ordering Dark 04 from her website. I can make it work with a bit of bronzer but am really curious to see if the darker color will be a better match because the formula is SO good. * QUICK UPDATE ON ORDERS – I just heard from Wafaa that Beauty Gypsy Recommends is currently not taking orders until end of August. She’s working on updating her site with a note so in case you have not been able to check out on her Shopify that may be why. I’d recommend contacting her if you have any questions, she’s really friendly and helpful!
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Swatches below side by side of all the new shades/formulas I tried. Both photos have the same colors, just different lighting out doors.
With different flash/lighting:
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My Foundation Tools
With any foundation I feel like a sponge is the best way to go for smooth seamless application. Beautyblenders are the best sponges I’ve tried (and I’ve tried to find a dupe but cannot). The motion of pressing and blending the liquid into the skin with a sponge always gives me a better even coat of foundation even if it does soak up a lot of product. Brushes tend to apply too much product or look streaky. However I do have a few brushes I do use quite frequently for blending.
Zoeva 135 Petite Face Definer Brush* is a versatile brush you can use for cream contour or detail foundation. I use this to blend foundation in the nose creases or under the eyes. You can also use to blend concealer or set powder under the eye area as well.
Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush* is the best dense flat top liquid blending brush I’ve tried. It’s synthetic but ultra soft and smooth. It blends product into the skin in a seamless streak-free finish and is easy to clean.
Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush is a classic, also synthetic but ultra smooth and soft. Works on fluid and cream stick foundations.
Tom Ford #01 Foundation Brush has held up for so long I literally cannot believe it. I bought it as part of a set back in 2012 (I checked my order history) and it has not shed one single bit. It’s one of the best ones I’ve tried.
Tom Ford #02 Cream Foundation Brush was also part of the set, but available individually. It’s versatile for cream, fluids, cream blushes, cream bronzer etc.
Chanel 2-in-1 Foundation Brush* is another favorite for an angled dense smooth foundation brush. Quick note the one I have is the last variation from 2017. I believe they just revamped the brushes this summer but it looks the same based on online photos. I have a planned order soon and will update this post once I have the current version.
beautyblender Nude is the one sponge I repurchase over and over again, it’s the best one I’ve tried.
Summer Base Edit overview: Out of all the new bases I tried, my Top 2 favorites are the By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation and Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte. The Dior Summer Skin comes in close third but I’m docking points because of the super limited shade range. Much to my disappointment the La Mer was the worst for me.
I will have an updated powder roundup to follow soon. I’m testing a few new launches and wanted to include those in the review! If you want to see which other foundations I’ve reviewed you can always click on my BASE MAKEUP tag or search by formula name in the search bar.
What is your go-to summer base right now? Are you wearing makeup? Sticking with your tried and true? Let me know in the comments! I hope this review helps you in case you’re curious about any new formulas and foundations. Especially since I suspect most of us cannot test anything in store right now.
Press samples/gifting indicated with a *. Most items featured here were purchased by me.
The Natasha Denona Bronze Collection just launched with some of the most beautiful summery bronze shimmers I think I’ve ever seen. She created some truly beautiful colors for this collection and I think everything is just so stunning and unique. In the collection we have:
The Bronze Eyeshadow Palette has 15 colors with a mix of mattes, sparkles and shimmers. This one comes in one of the smaller-pan size options and is priced at a lower price point of $65 (versus the larger 15-pan variations like the Biba Palette or Gold Eyeshadow Palette which retail for $129). Her eyeshadow palettes are on the more expensive side, but when you break it down to price per pan I think her prices are pretty reasonable given the fact you get 15 shades in a large sturdy mirrored compact.
Color-wise I find there is quite a bit of variation among the colors which makes for an endless amount of combinations. I am particularly smitten with the bottom row of shimmers – they have the prettiest mix of colors with a beautiful sheen. It’s hard for me to find a palette where I like every single color – this is one of those palettes. The sparkles in this one are wearable – they aren’t too glitzy or sparkly for me. Mattes are buttery smooth. Shimmers layer and blend beautifully.
Colors include:
True Copper – sparkling warm copper
Suntan – matte warm brown
Sundown – medium yellow brown matte
Deep Dive – deep eggplant brown shimmer
Rhodium – gorgeous purple shimmer with silvery violet flecks
Magma – matte reddish brown
High Degree – red copper shimmer
Alloy – sparkling bronze shimmer
Ridge – matte mustard
True Bronze – shimmering bronze gold
Gloaming – shimmery red with gold shimmer
Palladium – warm pink taupe shimmer
Bliss – duo chrome red pink gold shimmer
Silk – sparkling glittery champagne
Beach – warm matte sand nude
Bronze Cheek Face Glow Palette
The Bronze Cheek Face Glow Palette is a 4-pan cheek palette. To me this one is all about glow. It has two cream colors called Bounce Creams. The Bounce Cream Glow is an iridescent duo chrome opal gold shade and the Bounce Cream Blush is a medium tan shimmer. These have a very soft almost semi-matte feel (similar to the Westman Atelier Eye Pods). They’re creamy but not too creamy. Shimmer is ultra fine and smooth with the creams and give the skin a smooth glow.
The Super Glow Bronze is a shimmery warm bronze. It’s too shimmery to be a bronzer and too warm to be a blush.The Super Glow Nude is a shimmery metallic sandy gold. I think it makes a stunning glow palette for summer. You can wear it on the cheeks or eyes anywhere you want a highlight.
I just applied the colors from the palette on the face without any added bronzer or blush so you could get an idea of how it looks on the skin by itself. For a complete look or everyday wear this is more of a highlighting palette to be rather than a bronzer palette like the Tan Bronze and Glow Palette she launched last summer (reviewed here).
Swatches side by side
Lip Oh-Phoria Gloss Balms
There are three new shades of Lip Oh-Phoria Gloss and Balms. Tan Nude is a beige tan with subtle gold flecks (on my lips it turns more milky/peachy). Caramel is a sparkling caramel brown with gold shimmer. Chestnut looks like the perfect color for fall – it’s a deep brown with a hint of shimmer. Pigment and coverage is medium with these. They have a high shine and smooth finish. Similar to the other colors in this formula they have a minty scent and subtle taste. Since they’re balms the lasting power isn’t going to be super long. They’ll fade but they’ll fade nicely.
Look 1 below wearing Tan Nude Lip Oh-Phoria
Foundation – Tom Ford Soleil Glow Foundation in Natural 6.0
Powder – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Medium
As a huge Natasha Denona fan I think the Bronze Eyeshadow Palette is the stand out in this collection. It’s warm but not too warm for me (no matte reds). I think the deeper shades pull the look together. I personally love the new Bronze Cheek Face Glow Palette but I have a slight preference for her original Tan Bronze and Glow. The Lip Oh-Phoria colors are all on the brown side which can be tricky to pull off sometimes. I like the look of Tan Nude although it surprised me because it turned more peachy on my lips than it looked in the tube.
I finally got my hands on two of the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Face Eye Palettes – they’ve been nearly impossible to find as they sold out quickly earlier in the year. They finally popped up online at Nordstrom last week and I ordered two of them in Intensity 0.5 Rose Cashmere and Intensity 1 Red Harness. Quick note that I’ve seen some color options sell out and restock online a few times. If you’ve had these on your radar and don’t see the color you want, check back online.
I just received my order in the mail so I have a first impressions review. I wanted to get up some quick swatches and thoughts for those who have been curious about them. I’ve also been testing out the Soleil Glow Tinted Moisturizer in Dune 5.7 and will have a more detailed look soon, but wanted to give you a quick preview here.
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Face Eye Palettes come in four shade options. At $155 each they are crazy jaw dropping expensive. Each palette has 4 eyeshadows, 1 highlighter and 1 contour powder. The eye colors are all shimmery and have a similar soft metallic pressed texture to the eyeshadow quads like Nude Dip and Honeymoon. Contour and highlighter powders are softer similar to the texture of the Sheer Cheek Duos (current one Lissome reviewed here) and not as intense/frosty as the Skin Illuminating Duos (all 3 swatched here in case you’re curious). Quality wise these are excellent – the texture is smooth, color is easy to build, pigment is medium. Lasting power is really good as the powders adhere well to the skin.
Rose Cashmere / Intensity 0.5
Intensity 0.5/Rose Cashmere is the lightest color palette option and also the most neutral. The highlighter is a pale yellow shimmer with a soft sheen and the contour powder is a soft tan satin. On my skin the highlighter looks yellow and the tan powder is just slightly darker than my skin tone. The four eyeshadows are like my dream palette with a pale metallic ivory champagne, satiny rose peach, a shimmery mauve tan and a shimmery deeper light tan/taupe. I think the colors make for a beautiful soft wash of color and glow but there aren’t enough shades for a complete eye look – you will still need to add a deeper color for liner or contouring.
Normally I would add a blush for more color but I wanted to show just the palette on my medium/tan skin.
Red Harness / Intensity 1
Intensity 1/Red Harness surprised me – it’s warm but very wearable! There is more contrast with the eyeshadows in this palette for a more complete look. The eyeshadows include a shimmery pale cool moonlight, shimmery warm copper/orange, shimmering red/pink and a softwash metallic plum. The highlighter is a beautiful soft peachy shade with a hint of champagne and the contour is a cool medium brown.
Look below wearing Red Harness. Lip color is Tom Ford Lipstick in Spanish Pink with Gloss Luxe in Impulse on top.
Glow Tinted Moisturizer
Last is a quick look at the Soleil Glow Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15. The shade range isn’t as comprehensive as the foundations and they don’t have my usual shades Natural 6 or Sable 6.5. However in some of the formulas I can get by using Dune 5.7 and since it’s a sheer finish I decided to try it. It’s visibly lighter than my skin tone when I swatch it on my hand or face but it did oxidize a full shade on my skin so it ended up working for me color-wise. The formula is a sheer finish. When blended it pretty much disappears into a natural glow. I wish I could give this a rave review – I’ve been a fan of many Tom Ford base formulas in the past. I can’t though. The Tinted Moisturizer in this formula is not special enough, unique or pigmented enough to make a noticeable difference on my skin. I do like how it gives a natural glow but I think the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer does the same thing for my skin for a more reasonable price – and I actually like the coverage better (review here). In the Tom Ford range I think the Soleil Glow Foundation is a much better option for the same glow, more coverage and a better shade selection.
Above are swatches of the Tom Ford Soleil Glow Tinted Moisturizer in Dune 5.7, Soleil Glow Foundation in Natural 6.0 and Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in 3N1 Sand.
That wraps up my Tom Ford haul review! I am still in a bit of sticker shock over the steep price tag of the Shade and Illuminate Palettes. I’ve splurged on many in the past and have loved most of the ones I’ve bought. I am happy with both of the palettes I hauled and will get a lot of use out of them. I have no regrets purchasing them – they perform really well and I love the soft washed glow they give. I don’t know that I can say they’re $155 worth it – but I do like them. I am trying to really love the Tinted Moisturizer and while I think it performs ok, I definitely don’t feel it’s worth the steep price.
You can find the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Face and Eye Palettes at Nordstrom. I also hauled the Soleil Glow Tinted Moisturizer from Nordstrom as well.
Sisley launched a new gloss called Le Phyto Gloss ($55 each) and I’ve fallen completely in love with the formula and colors! These are hydrating lip glosses with a mix of oils including macadamia, shea and Vitamin E to help soften and nourish the lips. There are 10 shades total – 5 have a reflective micro sparkle shimmer and 5 are more of a non-shimmer shine. The Sisley team sent four colors and I was so enamored with them I ordered four more.
The Sisley Le Phyto Gloss comes with a sponge tip applicator. They are smooth and cushiony with a slightly sticky feel but not overly tacky. I cannot detect any scent or taste. They adhere well to the lips without feeling like they’ll slide around and last a decent amount of time for a gloss. I’ve been wearing these alone but you can also layer over a liner or lipstick. The glitter/shimmers have a tiny bit of texture to them but it’s not too chunky or noticeable after it sets on the lips.
These glosses are thicker in texture with more coverage compared to the Phyto Lip Delight Lip Oils. The new Sisley Le Phyto Glosses also have a little bit more pigment – coverage wise I’d say they’re medium. Not quite super sheer, but definitely not full-coverage opaque.
I think every single color is easy to wear and beautiful. After testing these I found myself drawn more to the deeper and brighter shades although I’m still a neutral lip lover.
2 Aurora is a shimmery soft light pink with silver sparkles
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3 Sunrise is a shimmery lighter pink, similar to but lighter than Aurora
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4 Twilight is a shimmering rose
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6 Paradise is a sparkling coral
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7 Venus is a shimmery nude pearl
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8 Milky Way is a light milky baby pink (the best baby pink I’ve ever tried!)
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9 Sunset is a sheer blue based red, almost looks more pink on my lips
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Overall I think these are a solid A+. At $55 each these are quite the splurge but I think they perform really well. There’s no settling into my fine lip lines, they don’t slide around off my lips, they feel nice and cushiony, colors are right up my alley.
My favorites are Milky Way (because it’s so hard for me to find a good wearable milky pink) and Paradise (because I love a good coral). If you’re super sensitive or picky with texture I do want to note that you can feel the glitter/sparkle slightly if you smack your lips together. But other than that it’s pretty subtle texture-wise.
You can find the Sisley Le Phyto Gloss out now. Available at Sisley-Paris, Beautylish, Saks and all other Sisley retailers. Have you tried these yet? If not what’s your current go-to favorite for gloss?
Press samples indicated with a * in the post. 4 shades of Le Phyto Gloss provided for review and 4 purchased by me.
