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Sabrina

Beauty Favorites What's In My Bag

Favorite Makeup Bags

July 28, 2020

Best Chic Makeup Bags | The Beauty Look Book

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.

Best Makeup Bags, Ikea Billy Bookshelf, Daily Edited, Cuyana | The Beauty Look Book

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

TDE The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Bag Taupe | The Beauty Look Book

The Daily Edited Large Cosmetic Case Review | The Beauty Look Book

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
  • Measures 5.3″ high, 8.9″ wide and 4.3″ deep
  • Also available in a small size and duo set of small + large

The Daily Edited Clear Cosmetic Case

Best Clear Makeup Bag Beauty Blog Review

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 Travel Case Duo Makeup Bag | The Beauty Look Book

Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set

Cuyana Travel Set Black Makeup Bag

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

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.

Vanity Case $95

  • Measures 9.5″ wide, 5.5″ tall, 3.38″ deep
  • Interior flat patch pocket

Cuyana Vanity Case Blush | The Beauty Look Book

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Tech Case below $65

  • Measures 7″ wide, 3.5″ tall, 2.5″ deep

Cuyana Tech Case | The Beauty Look Book

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Truffle

Truffle Clear Makeup Bags

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

Dior Oblique Pouch | The Beauty Look Book

Dior Oblique Pouch Navy | The Beauty Look Book

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

Hermes Bain New Yachting case, small model

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

Coach Leather Cleaner + Moisturizer, Cuyana Leather Cleaner

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.

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Base Makeup

Summer Base Edit: Tom Ford, La Mer, By Terry + More

July 22, 2020

Summer Base Edit 2020

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 in Dune 5.7

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 Flawless Glow Foundation in Natural 6.0

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 in Sable 6.5

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 in Natural 6

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 in 400W and 400N

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation in 400W and 400N

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 New Radiant SkinTint Light Medium and Medium

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.

For a skin tint with similar coverage, I prefer the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint or the CC Cream (which is thick since it’s a CC Cream, but works much better for my skin in the way it sets and lasts).

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Dior Forever Summer Skin

Dior Forever Summer Skin in Light

Dior Forever Summer Skin in Light

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 in 3 Medium

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.

Medium Skintone Foundation Swatches

With different flash/lighting:

Medium Skintone Foundation Swatches Tom Ford, La Mer, By Terry, Dior

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My Foundation Tools

Best Foundation Brushes and Sponge

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

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.

For other base essentials I don’t use a lot of concealer these days but my absolute favorites are NARS Radiant Creamy (best for under eyes or brightening), Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion (also versatile for brightening + under eyes), Pat McGrath Skin Fetish (best full coverage concealer) and formulas from Cle de Peau.

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.

Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona Bronze Collection

July 16, 2020

Natasha Denona Bronze Collection Summer 2020

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:

Natasha Denona Bronze Collection Review

Bronze Eyeshadow Palette

Natasha Denona Bronze Eyeshadow Palette

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

Natasha Denona Bronze Eyeshadow Palette swatches

Bronze Cheek Face Glow Palette

Natasha Denona 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.

Natasha Denona Bronze Cheek Face Glow Palette

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

Natasha Denona Bronze Cheek Face Glow Palette vs Tan Bronze Glow

Lip Oh-Phoria Gloss Balms

Natasha Denona Bronze Lip Oh Phoria

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.

Natasha Denona Bronze Lip Oh Phoria swatches

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
  • Eyeshadow – Natasha Denona Bronze Eyeshadow Palette
  • Mascara – Lancome Monsieur Big
  • Cheeks – Bronze Cheek Face Glow Palette
  • Lips – Natasha Denona Tan Nude Lip Oh-Phoria
  • Tank – Free People

Natasha Denona Bronze Collection look

Look 2 below wearing Caramel Lip Oh-Phoria

Natasha Denona Bronze Collection look

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.

You can find the Natasha Denona Bronze Collection out now. Available at Sephora, Beautylish and Natasha Denona.

 

 

Natasha Denona Bronze collection provided for review.

 

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Face + Eye Palettes – Rose Cashmere + Red Harness

July 13, 2020

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Face Eye Palette Review

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

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Palette Rose Cashmere Review

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.

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Palette Rose Cashmere Review

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Palette Rose Cashmere Swatches

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Palette Rose Cashmere Look

Above wearing:

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

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Face Eye Palette Red Harness

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.

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Face Eye Palette Red Harness

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Face Eye Palette Red Harness

Look below wearing Red Harness. Lip color is Tom Ford Lipstick in Spanish Pink with Gloss Luxe in Impulse on top.

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Face Eye Palette Red Harness

Tom Ford Shade Illuminate Face Eye Palette Red Harness Makeup Look

Glow Tinted Moisturizer

Tom Ford Soleil Glow Tinted Moisturizer in Dune 5.7

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.

 

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

 

Lips Sisley-Paris

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss Review + Swatches

July 9, 2020

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss Review and Swatches

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.

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss review

Colors swatched below:

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss swatches

Swatched on the lips below, other makeup details:

Natural Makeup Look Sisley Le Phyto Gloss and Blur Expert

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1 Moon is a sparkly white shimmer

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 1 Moon

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2 Aurora is a shimmery soft light pink with silver sparkles

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 2 Aurora

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3 Sunrise is a shimmery lighter pink, similar to but lighter than Aurora

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 3 Sunrise

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4 Twilight is a shimmering rose

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 4 Twilight

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6 Paradise is a sparkling coral

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 6 Paradise

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7 Venus is a shimmery nude pearl

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 7 Venus

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8 Milky Way is a light milky baby pink (the best baby pink I’ve ever tried!)

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 8 Milky Way

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9 Sunset is a sheer blue based red, almost looks more pink on my lips

Sisley Le Phyto Gloss in 9 Sunset

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Sisley Le Phyto Gloss

 

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.

Fashion Nail Polish Roundup

Favorite Summer Sandals + Polish Combinations

July 7, 2020

Best Summer Sandals + Nail Polish Colors to Try

With summer in full swing I thought I’d put together a summer sandal roundup with my favorite nail polish pairings. I’m all about flat sandals for comfort and love how easy they are to wear for a casual summer look. When it comes to shoes I tend to find a couple styles I like and buy them in multiple colors. The basic white, neutral, tan and black colors are the most versatile for me as they’ll go with pretty much any color for outfits.

I’ll make a note on sizing for each style I’ve tried below. I’m usually a 6.5 or 36.5 in most brands for sandals like Tory Burch, Splendid, Joie, Hermes, UGG, Cole Haan. For sneakers depending on brand I usually size up to a 7 in Nike, APL and Saucony. For all of these I either try to shop directly from the brand if I know my size or somewhere like Nordstrom that has an easy return/exchange policy in case the shoes do not fit.

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White Wide Strap Sandals + Bright Red Orange Polish

Sam Edelman Gala Sandal White

Sandals: Sam Edelman Gala Two Strap Slide ($59.95 at Nordstrom and Sam Edelman)

Sizing & Fit: Runs true to size (I wear a 6.5). These are comfortable with a slight cushion in the sole. I’ve worn these out for several hours at a time and love them. No break in period. Strap is comfortable and soft with an elastic cutout in the back strap so it can move with your foot. Also worn in my Miami Travel Diary (last year). They’ve held up really well over time!

Polish: Smith and Cult Poppy Papi* ($18 at Smith and Cult, Beautylish) – Smooth opaque coverage with two coats. It has a slight translucent feel as it is more like a jelly. Love how fast it dries and sets. Reminds me of a slightly more red version of Chanel Espadrilles (discontinued).

Other Details: ClareV Petite Sandy Tote and Rayban Phantos Sunglasses.

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White Lace Up Tie Sandals + Baby Blue Polish

Marc Fisher Marina Lace-Up Sandal White

Sandals: Marc Fisher Marina Lace-Up Sandals ($65.48 on sale at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: True to size with a squared off toe, thin leather lace up style with a cushioned footbed. I normally don’t like square toe sandals but found these super cute! I’ve only had these for about a month now but I love how they feel. Super comfortable and chic! Also available in a few other similar styles Marg (two straps at the front, one buckled ankle strap) and Monty (no ankle straps).

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Bleu Pastel* ($28 at Chanel.com, left foot) is one of my favorite light blue polishes. It’s like a soft washed baby blue with a warm undertone. Reviewed and swatched on the hands in this post here.

Olive and June Honest and True* ($8 at Olive and June, right foot) is pretty close in color to the Chanel option, the Olive and June one is a bit deeper and more blue in undertone. Full coverage with two thin coats.

Other Details: Towel by Dusen Dusen (old style), Mita Visor is from Helen Kaminski, Black Sunglasses Celine

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White + Gold Splurge Sandals + Orange Polish

Gucci Leather T-Strap Sandal White

Sandals: Gucci GG T-Strap Sandals in White Leather ($520 at Nordstrom and Gucci)

Sizing and Fit: True to size, I wear a 6.5. These were quite the splurge and I had them on my wishlist for so long. I splurged on these for my birthday and love them. They have a couple grips on the sole so it prevents you from sliding around on slippery floors or tiles. I think they’re really well made and they aren’t painful on the feet. However there’s no cushion or padding so your mileage may vary on wear.

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Cruise ($28 at Chanel.com) is part of the Les Beiges 2020 Collection. So many of you loved how bright and summery this orange was. I think it goes best with white or tan sandals. It has full smooth coverage with two coats. It’s the closest match to the color of a real orange – super glossy and shiny in the finish too!

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Tory Burch Millers in Bleach + Classic Coral

Tory Burch Miller Sandals in White

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller Leather Sandal ($149 to $198 at Nordstrom and Tory Burch)

Sizing and Fit: The Millers fit true to size on me as well, but I can wear either a 6.5 or 7 – both are really close in fit. My right foot is a little bigger than my left foot and sometimes I will opt for a slightly larger sandal if the fit is really close. The Tory Burch Millers are my favorite sandals that I wear almost all the time. The large medallion helps it stay on the foot better than a traditional flip flop and the leather material makes it a little more dressy.

The Bleach color may be a bit hard to find in your size as it’s been marked down on a number of sites so it sold out really fast. The good news is there are multiple colors available (many also marked down) so if you’ve been eyeing these there’s a good chance you can find it on sale! I saw it restock a couple times – so you may want to check back on sites like Nordstrom or Tory Burch.

Some of you have asked whether the regular leather or patent is better. I’ve found the patent lasts longer and is more resistant to wear, however if you get caught in a rain storm (which happens frequently in Florida) they can get pretty slippery on the foot.

Polish: Dior Vernis in Diorcharm 675 on the toes ($28 at Dior) is a pretty bright red coral with a hint of shimmer. I used to be the biggest fan of Dior nail polishes and still think the formula is phenomenal. The new colors seem harder to find these days, most of the fun colors only launch at Dior.com (at least in the US). The formula is a one-coat wonder and I love the brush.

OPI We Seafood and Eat It* ($5.25 at Ulta) is a fun cream coral red color. I think OPI makes some of the best more budget-friendly colors and the formula lasts a long time on me.

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Light Beige Lace Up Sandals + Neutral Cream Sand

Marc Fisher Marina Sandals Nude

Sandals: Marc Fisher Marina Lace-Up in Light Leather Latte ($65.98 at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: True to size, I wear a 6.5 in these! Details above listed under the white sandals – I had to buy in multiple colors.

Polish: OPI Samoan Sand ($5.25 at Ulta) – one of my most worn light beige nude cream polishes. Goes with everything! Swatched on the hands with my other favorite neutrals in my Top 5 Best Nude Nail Polishes post.

Other Details: Bag is the Tory Burch Perry Bombe Bag (color is Perfect Sand which was limited-edition, also have it in Black reviewed here showing what fits inside), Lip Gloss is Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Faux Real* (swatches here), Visor is Helen Kaminski

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Tan Platform Slide Sandals + Bold Reds

Ugg Kari Sandals Tan Chloe Mini Marcie

Sandals: UGG Kari Sandals in Natural ($109.95 at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: Runs True to Size, I wear a 6.5. These are in my Top 2 most comfortable sandals I have. I love them so much I bought a backup pair just in case they become discontinued. I’ve had these for over a year and have worn them almost to death but they’ve held up really well. They have a platform about 1 inch so it’s not too chunky or hard to walk in. The sole molds to the foot giving you support and making it easy to wear. Also shown in a few outfits in my Miami Travel Diary (from last year).

Polish: Smith and Cult Kundalini Hustle* on the toes ($18 at Smith and Cult) is a pure poppy red with a slight blue undertone. I love that it’s a bright red that doesn’t darken too much when it dries.

Chanel Le Vernis in Gitane* on the tips ($28 at Chanel.com) is a bold bright red. It’s a true neutral red so it’s not too warm and not too cool. When it comes to red polishes I think Chanel does it best!

Other Details: Chloe Mini Marcie (reviewed here also worn here) and Rayban Phantos Sunglasses

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Tan Medallion Sandals + Coral Pinks

Tory Burch Miller Sandals Tan Brown

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller in Vintage Vachetta ($198 at Tory Burch, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s)

Sizing and Fit: True to size, I usually wear a 6.5 in these. This color and style is the one I’ve worn the most. The quality is exceptional and I love how it goes with everything. I’ve worn these so much I have gone through several pairs already – with most people I do think they will last a lot longer. I’ve shortened the life span by wearing these pretty much everywhere – on trips, while moving, in the rain etc. I try to take better care of my other shoes to make them last longer.

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Coralium 562 on the toes ($28 at Chanel.com) is my most-worn coral nail polish. Anytime you see a peachy coral on my toes, it’s most likely this one. It has a hint of pink to so it’s not a pure peach/orange. (Also reviewed here.)

Chanel Le Vernis in Turban 524 on the tips is similar but has more pink. I think both of these are my perfect go-to’s for summer. (Turban also reviewed here.)

Other Details: Sunnies are Celine, Hat is Helen Kaminski, Beach towel is Tory Burch and Mini Bag is also Tory Burch

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Black Lace Up Sandals + Lilac/Lavender

Marc Fisher Strappy Marina Lace Up Sandals

Sandals: Marc Fisher Marina Lace-Up Sandals ($65.48 on sale at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: True to size.

Polish: Essie U’V got me faded on the toes ($9 at Ulta) is part of the summer Sunny Business collection. It’s a pale lilac color with a white base so it’s pastel. On my fingers it looks paler than on my toes for some reason. If you want a deeper lilac with shimmer the Essie Spring in Your Step is slightly darker.

Olive and June Fierce and Loving* on the fingers ($8 at Olive and June) is a lavender color with a more pinkish tinge. Two coats covers the nail entirely. I love how fresh and pretty this one is!

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Black Miller Sandals + Hot Pinks

 

Tory Burch Black Leather Miller Sandals

Sandals: Tory Burch Miller in Black Leather (also available in patent black)

Sizing and Fit: True to size!

Polish: Chanel Le Vernis in Camelia* ($28 at Chanel.com) is my most-worn deep pink. It’s a classic go with everything color! I know a lot of you like brighter pinks versus deeper pinks. I think OPI Strawberry Margarita* is a few shades lighter and brighter for the perfect bright summer pink.

Other Details: Cult Gaia Mini Ark in Natural and Celine sunglasses (on the face here and here)

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Rockstud Black Sandals + Off-White Cream

Valentino Rockstud Slide Sandals Black

Sandals: Valentino Rockstud Slide Sandal ($675 at Nordstrom)

Sizing and Fit: Varies depending on style. I took these in a Size 6/36 because the straps fit better on my foot for this color combination and it fits my foot as well. These are the fanciest sandals I own and I was debating whether to buy the leather or patent jelly version (cheaper but slightly different style). I’ve only worn these out one time – I have been waiting for a more special occasion to wear these but we have been staying at home more so I haven’t really taken them out. Can’t wait to wear these more! I find they stay on the foot pretty well.

Polish: Essie Talk to the Sand ($9 at Ulta) is a pale cream with a slight peach/pink tinge. I looked up swatches online and I think it’s so interesting how this looks different on everyone depending on your skin tone and undertone. On me it looks more peach on the fingers, on the toes is almost looks like a pink-white, on some others it looks more peach or beige. It has a lot of contrast with my tan skin tone so if you’re fair it will most likely look less white against your fingers/toes.

Other Details: Purse is the Gucci Supermini.

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Comfortable Everyday Wear-Around-The-House Slides

APL Techloom Slides

Sandals: APL Techloom Slides ($100 at APL)

Sizing and Fit: These are the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever worn – but they’re more of a casual sport slide rather than an everyday sandal. I have these in multiple colors (like I do with all my shoes) and wear these in a Size 6. They only have these in whole sizes and since I have fairly narrow feet the next size up was too wide for me. In their sneakers I wear a 7 for APL and Nike because I like extra room for movement, socks and swelling with activity. I also bought these for Andrew and he wears a 12 in APL sneakers and the slides – so for him they were True to Size (he’s usually a 12 or 12.5 in most brands).

I’d recommend reading the sizing reviews on their website if you’re a half size. They’re so comfortable I’ve been able to walk long distances in them without any issues. To clean them you can put them in the washing machine or hand scrub the sole if they get super dirty. Just make sure you air dry (don’t put in the dryer).

Polish: Olive and June Honest and True on the left, Chanel Resplendissant on the right

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Favorite Summer Sandals + Polishes to Try

I hope you enjoyed this sandal review and polish swatch roundup! A lot of you have asked for DIY pedicure tips – unfortunately I haven’t found anything that I’ve loved. All my mani/pedis these days are DIY. While I have my hand care routine down, I don’t have a good pedicure routine. I’ll link my tools, top and base coat below. But for scrubs and pumice stones I haven’t found any really good ones yet.

What is your favorite polish color to wear for summer? I think I need to try more purples and perhaps a yellow.

Shoes and Accessories:

 

Polish Colors:

 

Press samples have a * next to them. Other shades purchased by me.

Westman Atelier

Westman Atelier Haul Review + Swatches

July 2, 2020

Westman Atelier Makeup Review

By popular request I have a Westman Atelier beauty haul review + swatches. I love the Superloaded Tints (reviewed last year here) and think Peau de Peche is one of the most beautiful unique colors I’ve tried! The most recent launch from Westman Atelier is the Eye Pods. They were kind enough to send Les Nuits for review and I loved the look so much I tracked down the Les Jours before the trio sold out (hoping it will restock soon). You can find Westman Atelier online at their website. I’ve also ordered things from Violet Grey, Credo Beauty and Net-A-Porter.

In today’s review:

Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer in Coup de Soleil

Westman Atelier Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer Coup de Soleil

The Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer comes in one shade called Coup de Soleil. It’s a matte powder bronzer that is super soft and smooth. Color is a neutral-warm matte soft brown with a slight pink tinge – it does show up on my medium tan skin (I’m usually around MAC NC35-40). It has a super soft powdery texture and blends in smoothly without oxidizing or looking muddy. I think it’s a nice one for a wearable lighter-toned bronzer. By comparison Tom Ford Terra is the closest and it’s a tiny bit lighter in color and MAC Radiant Matte in Beige-ing Beauty is close but a little more brown.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Petal and Powder Bronzer Coup de Soleil swatch

Westman Atelier Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer Coup de Soleil

Wearing the bronzer on the cheeks, beauty breakdown:

Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Petal

I have such a love/hate relationship with cream blushes because most don’t work for me in hot humid Florida. The Baby Cheeks Blush Stick is one of the better formulas I’ve tried with a creamy almost waxy formula that has a nice dry down. It is easy to blend and once it sets on the skin it does not feel super emollient or too dewy but still looks like fresh glowing skin. Petal is a medium rose pink that sheers once blended. Lasting power is around 4 hours on me before it starts to fade.

I also tried it on the lips and it gave them a soft washed matte glow. Below wearing Petal on lips and cheeks.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Petal - lips and on cheeks

Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tint Peau de Rose Review

I love the Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose is a complex shimmery pink rose with white pearl. To me it has a more dewy creamy feel compared to the Peau de Peche/Soleil but is still easy to blend. It gives a shimmery glow to the skin and has a soft coconut scent to it. I think the Hourglass Vanish Flash Stick in Pink Flash or Rose Gold Flash have a similar effect on the skin.

Swatches of Peau de Peche, Peau de Soleil and Peau de Rose. You can see the other two on the face in this post here.

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tint swatches

Below wearing the Westman Atelier Eye Pods in Les Nuit, Baby Cheeks in Petal on lips and cheeks, Super Loaded Tint in Peau de Rose, Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in $weetmouth.

Westman Atelier Peau de Rose Super Loaded Tint makeup look

Eye Pods in Les Jours and Les Nuits + Eye Shadow Brush I

Westman Atelier Eye Pods

Last I have a look at the new trios called Eye Pods. These are individual eyeshadow pots with twist lids. The packaging is magnetic so you can stack them as well.  The Eye Pods have luminous formula with a velvety cream-powder hybrid – they feel like bouncy creams with a powdery dry down. Pigment is sheer to medium – they have a soft look on the eyes but you can build and layer for more color.

The formula adheres well to the skin making the lasting power is very good. Les Jours has a softer look with Neige (sheer pearly white), Tabac (metallic golden-bronze sand) and Chocolat (plummy bronze shimmer). On me this is very natural and glowy looking for a nice everyday look.

Westman Atelier Eye Pods Les Jours

My favorite of the two is Les Nuits which has Champagne (iridescent soft pink), Vin Rouge (warm reddish shimmer) and Noir (softwash faded deep grey black shimmer).

Westman Atelier Eye Pods Les Nuits

Westman Atelier Eye Pods swatches

I also picked up the Eye Shadow Brush I which I need to play around more with. This is larger than I’m normally used to so I found it a little awkward to apply and blend eye colors for my eye size and shape. It is well made of nylon fibers. If it were smaller or shorter I think it would be easier for me to use.

Westman Atelier Makeup Review

Overall I love the look of the Eye Pods! I think Les Jours makes for a really nice everyday kind of look although I think Les Nuits is more unique and prettier! I’m pleasantly surprised by the Baby Cheeks cream blush although I still prefer powders. The new Peau de Rose highlighter is quite stunning but it is very shimmery and I think can be duped with the Hourglass Vanish Flash Sticks which have longer lasting power on me and a better dry down.

For those who have been asking for a review I hope you found this helpful! I do not have a counter near me so I have been relying on other reviews on beauty blogs and YouTube. Although the in-person beauty shopping situation has completely changed with Covid-19. They started to open up stores in Florida and limit the number of people that can enter a store. We are required to wear masks in our area (although I think it varies by county). I stopped by the mall for the first time in a long time last week. Nordstrom has all the testers covered with a plastic sheet (like a plastic wall!) so you can’t touch anything. In Sephora they have signs everywhere saying “Do Not Touch” for the testers. If you want to see anything an associate will help you and they swatch product for you on a tissue. I haven’t even tried shopping at any other beauty place and most of my purchases (except groceries) are online.

More beauty reviews coming next week! I have a lot of nail polishes I’m excited about. More NARS newness coming soon to the blog. I just ordered the new Gucci Bronzers and Lipstick (they arrived today and look beautiful!). If you’ve followed me on IG stories I’m trying to figure out my right shade for the new La Mer Radiant Skin Tint (Medium is slightly too dark, so I’m giving Light Medium a try).

Going back to my post, you can find Westman Atelier online at their website. I’ve also ordered things from Violet Grey, Credo Beauty and Net-A-Porter.

 

 

Eye Pods in Les Nuit provided for review. All other items purchased by me.