I’ve been testing out some luxury lipsticks from Givenchy in the Le Rouge Classic formula alongside their new Le Rouge Deep Velvet and Le Rouge Night Noir options. Given that the Classic is such an iconic formula I cannot believe it has taken me so long to try them out. I’ve teamed up with Givenchy Beauty to give all three formulas a test. You can find them at Sephora ($38 each for 3.4 g/0.12 oz). They’re also available at a discounted price during the Sephora Holiday Bonus Event (now through 11/11) if you’re a beauty insider!
Each lipstick formula has a special case that coordinates with the formula finish. The Classic has a black leather casing, Deep Velvet has a deep red plush velvet case and Night Noir has a fun sparkling glittery black case.
___________
Le Rouge Classic
The Le Rouge Classic is my personal favorite of the three. It’s your classic luxury lipstick with a semi-matte soft satiny finish. Pigment is phenomenal and offers smooth full coverage with a single swipe but isn’t heavy. It feels comfortable and hydrating on the lips (it contains hyaluronic acid for moisture). Lasting power is excellent and stays put for hours without creasing or budging. I was sent three colors to test: 103 Brun Createur is a warm rose pink, 304 Mandarin Bolero is a bright coral cream, 333 L’Interdit is a classic deep red.
___________
Le Rouge Deep Velvet
The Le Rouge Deep Velvet is a modern matte with a lightweight velvety soft texture. It has a very smooth matte finish and is super comfortable on the lips. It doesn’t feel dry or thick. This is now ranked in my top 3 favorite matte lipstick finishes. I put three colors to the test in 10 Beige Nu which is a cool toned pink nude, 33 Orange Sable is a hot bright coral, 42 Violet Velours is a perfect soft plum. With this formula you also get full smooth coverage with one layer – it’s a one-swipe wonder!
___________
Le Rouge Night Noir
Last but not least is the Le Rouge Night Noir which comes in six color options. These are sparkly deep colors you can wear alone or on top of lipstick. It will deepen any lipstick you layer it on top of. There are tiny flecks of micro sparkle in these but there is no gritty texture. They’re 100% smooth and glide onto the lips with a shiny finish. 01 Night in Light is a deep black berry with glitter. 05 Night in Red is a deep reddish glitter with slight plum tones. I think Night in Red is going to be fun for holiday – especially if you want to wear a color that isn’t neutral but isn’t too bright.
___________
A closer look at my favorites from each formula: Le Rouge Classic in N103 Brun Createur, Le Rouge Deep Velvet in N10 Beige Nu and Le Rouge Night Noir in N2 Night in Red.
Out of the three I think the Classic formula is my favorite and if you’re looking to gift one to a friend this is the one to go with! You can find all three formulas out now at Sephora. Have you tried this lipstick formula yet? I’m still new to the line – any other favorites you think I should try out?
Quick reminder for the Sephora Holiday Bonus Event you can save up to 20% off purchases online and in store with code HOLIDAYSAVE (some exclusions apply). Dates and discounts for all tiers are as follows:
The Pat McGrath Labs Obsessive Opulence Collection for Holiday 2019 has launched and I have a look at select pieces today. The launch is similar to last year’s release where there are three different color themes and packaging. The Pat McGrath Labs team kindly sent over a beautiful press package with pieces from all three themes (red, pink and blue) but I decided to review only the pieces I thought I would actually wear (the red and pink themed ones). Everything is true to Pat McGrath’s style for holiday: opulent, glamorous, luxe and bold.
What I’ve included in my review for the Holiday 2019 launch:
You can find the full collection pieces listed on the Pat McGrath Obsessive Opulence Holiday 2019 page. There are other lipstick duos in special-edition packaging however all colors are repromotes from the regular line. There are a number of holiday bundles that are offered at a value price. I skipped reviewing the blue eyeshadow quad, blue packaging lipsticks and blue hi-lite cream.
____________
Blitz Astral Eyeshadow Quad Ritualistic Rose
For the eyes there are new eyeshadow palettes in the form of quads this holiday! I love the more compact size and option (versus the large Mothership Palettes). To date my favorite combinations are still the ones in the 6-pan palettes (reviewed here and here). The new ones for this holiday are glitzy and super fun for party looks. Up first is Ritualistic Rose.
Blitz Astral Eyeshadow Quad in Ritualistic Rose is a very sparkly glitzy option. Colors include Antique Gold 002 (glittery yellow gold), Astral Rose Orchid (sparkling duo chrome pink with gold glitter), Rose Quartz 005 (beautiful sparkling plum with tiny micro flecks) and Beyond Bronze 003 (shimmery bronze with gold sparkles). The top two shades seem to be more sparkly top coats while the bottom two have more pigment in the base. All the colors have some degree of sparkle/glitter in them making this super shimmery.
Blitz Astral Eyeshadow Quad Ritualistic Rose Iconic Illumination
Blitz Astral Eyeshadow Quad in Iconic Illumination is a warm toned quad with one glitter and four smoother shimmers. In this quad you have Astral Gold Allure (champagne gold glitz), Blitz Bordeaux (metallic deep red), Blitz Brown (deep brown shimmer) and Bronze Gold 003 (warm metallic copper). The pigment in the metallic shades is excellent – smooth, pigmented, easy to blend and layer. The glitter adheres if pressed into the lids and it applies evenly as a topper. This one turned out to be easier to wear – especially if you layer the deeper shades on top of each other.
There will be some fallout during the application process if you use a fluffy brush – the glitters will stick better with a dense brush or if patted on with fingers. However once they’re on the eyes they stay put for me!
____________
MatteTrance Lipsticks
The Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipstick is my favorite matte lipstick formula of all time. I’ve purchased several on my own and think they’re 100% worth the splurge. They’re smooth mattes that glide on flawlessly with full coverage. The color range is perfect with neutrals, rose colors, plums, reds, orange shades, browns etc. I think the holiday color packaging is always fun. The pink is the prettiest shade of soft pink and I love the bright bold red. Colors are repromotes though so if you already own them then shop your stash!
MatteTrance Lipsticks in 1995 and Deep Orchid come in the pale pink packaging. 1995 is a neutral rose nude, Deep Orchid is a perfect plum. MatteTrance Lipsticks in Omi and Guinevere come in the bright red packaging this year. Omi is the perfect medium rose and Guinevere is a bold red. They’re one-swipe wonders, have excellent lasting power, don’t dry the lips and don’t make them look shriveled.
I swatched them on the arm, also included the colors in the blue packaging as well:
____________
Chromaluxe Hi-Lite Cream
For the cheeks there is a new product called the Chromaluxe Hi-Lite Cream which is an ultra concentrated sparkle cream that comes in a tiny tube. It’s not a product I see myself wearing, even for parties or holiday. The product comes out a white gold cream but once blended the white gold disappears and you end up seeing a yellow gold sparkle. The color of the yellow sparkle on my already yellow/golden skin isn’t the best combination. It will blend out nicely and adhere well to the skin for an added highlight. Once blended all I see is tiny flecks of gold glitter. I applied it on my brow bone and on the highlight points of cheeks – using it sparingly because the tube is quite tiny!
Heavy swatch above on the hand but once you blend it out, all you see is tiny glitters. A closer look on the face below. I’m not sure if it’s easy to see in photos – it’s something that is more visible in real life versus a photo.
____________
Overall I’m loving both of the quads, even though they’re outside of my comfort zone. I still don’t really love the warm red eye trend that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, but I find Iconic Illumination is really easier to wear with layering. It’s a lot easier for me to wear compared to the pink tones from Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk, and I fully expected the Pat McGrath to be hard for me to pull off.
Ritualistic Rose is a glitzy one for a more sparkly eye, I think the plum and bronze colors are so beautiful – they have the right undertone to be flattering on a wide range of skin tones.
Since I already own most of the MatteTrance Lipsticks in the holiday collection I don’t think any of them are must- haves just for the packaging. Although I’m a sucker for anything pink! Even though the colors are repromotes I always think it’s fun to see which colors Pat McGrath focuses on for collections – helps give me ideas of what combinations to try with the palettes or what to revisit for the season. Most of her mattes are timeless classics you can wear anytime of year though!
I’m not sure what to think about the Hi-Lite cream. It’s not really my vibe and I usually can’t wear yellow gold glitters on the face or eyes. The packaging is super tiny. I feel like for a good golden sparkle the Hourglass Scattered Light in Foil or Burnish are better options that are easier to wear.
You can find the full Pat McGrath Obessive Opulence Collection at PatMcGrath.com. Select pieces also available at Sephora.
Have you tried anything from the holiday launch yet? What did you think?
Pat McGrath Obessive Opulence Collection kindly provided courtesy of the Pat McGrath Labs team for review.
It’s that time of year again and the Sephora Holiday Bonus Event starts today for Rouge Beauty Insiders! Sephora Rouge Members have early access starting today 11/1 through 11/6 and can save up to 20% off purchases online and in store with code HOLIDAYSAVE (some exclusions apply). Dates for all tiers are as follows:
Rouge Members can save 20% off 11/1 to 11/11
VIBs can save 15% off 11/7 to 11/11
Beauty Insiders can save 10% off 11/7 to 11/11
I’ve been a Beauty Insider for years and highly recommend you sign up if you’re not one already. As a member you will get access to perks such as early access to events, launches, promotions and more. You can sign up in store or online. The discount is available for multi-use both online and in stores. Does not apply to taxes, shipping and some exclusions (listed at end of post).
I’m rounding up my top makeup picks for eyes, lips, cheeks and complexion. I have so many tried and true favorites it was a challenge to edit down my list but I’ve narrowed down my list to my top picks.
________________
Lip Favorites
I’ve been using the NARS Afterglow Lip Balm and Oil-Infused Lip Tints in Orgasm religiously for months. If you are in search of a pretty flushed pink with hydration I highly recommend both! You can find both in minis in the NARS Orgasm Mini Set (has a blush/highlighter duo, lip balm and lip oil). I think it would make a great gift for holiday. Any of the tinted Oil-Infused Lip Tints are nice as well – I really love Primal Instinct.
Pat McGrath is another favorite and I love every single formula she has launched for lips. The best formula for me is her BlitzTrance Lipstick in Skin Flixx for a pretty everyday neutral. Her Permagel Ultra Lip Pencils in Done Undone and Bare Rose are super long wearing and great lips but better colors. Her LUST Gloss is the best for a smooth cushiony non-sticky gloss (also available in two mini sets).
Charlotte Tilbury is a brand I always have in rotation. You can’t go wrong with her Lip Lustre, Lip Cheat or Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk. They’re the perfect everyday rose neutrals. I’m also really obsessed with her Collagen Lip Bath in Rosy Glow which makes the lips look super full and luscious!
The one lip set I think everyone needs is the Fenty Glossy Posse set. It has 5 minis of the Gloss Bomb and every single color is beautiful. They are sweetly scented like cherry candy and they all have shimmer. Colors include Confetti (iridescent opal), Fu$$y (soft light mauve pink), Pretty Please (shimmery hot pink), Cheeky (hot coral), Hot Chocolit (perfect cocoa shimmer).
________________
Cheek and Highlighter Favorites
The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette Ghost Edition has been in heavy rotation ever since I bought it. I’ve worn it a lot more than I anticipated and it’s so easy to use for everyday. Since it’s a pricey item I think the Sephora Holiday Event is a great time to save. I also really like the Ambient Lighting Ghost Blush Palette as well for more color.
For palettes the Natasha Denona Biba Palette and Mini Nude Palette are 100% worth the splurge. It’s rare that I like every single color in a palette but both of these are pure love for me. The Biba palette has the most beautiful creamy like powder texture to blend and layer.
For a quick and easy eye the NARS Mini Wanted is also still in frequent use for me. It’s convenient with the mini size. The colors layer beautifully for a full eye look. If you want to go for a splurge you can’t go wrong with any of the Tom Ford Eye Color Quads. I like Honeymoon, Nude Dip and Body Heat the most.
________________
Base Favorites
Foundation and powder favorites remain the same for me. This time of year is a time when I’ll stock up on a concealer or powder to replace what I run out of. Laura Mercier has been the line I’ve used the most these days. I think the reformulated Tinted Moisturizer is excellent for no-makeup makeup days. I really love her Flawless Fusion Longwear Foundation (it’s my favorite!) and her Flawless Fusion Concealer in 2W and 3W are perfect for under eyes and to highlight.
The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Pressed Powder in Medium is my holy grail setting powder for a truly perfect blurring effect. I’ve started using the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders again in Dim Light and it’s a nice one to layer on top of my foundation for a subtle glow or to blend out the edges of blush or bronzer for a more diffused look.
In terms of foundation application I swear by the beautyblenders for the best application and blending. Many of you want to know what I recommend for a brush and the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush works to buff and blend liquids or creams.
________________
That wraps up my top makeup picks! To recap the Sephora Holiday Bonus Event starts today for Rouge Members online (with code HOLIDAYSAVE) and in store as well for savings up to 20% off purchases. A separate skin/hair post to follow. Let me know if you want a haul post too!
Per Sephora, here are the exclusions: Valid on merchandise purchases made in Sephora US stores, Sephora Canada stores, Sephora inside JCPenney stores, and on sephora.com and sephora.ca. Offer not valid on jcp.com. On Friday, 11/1/19 in stores only, Rouge client and one guest of Rouge who is a member of the Beauty Insider program and is present at the time of redemption will be eligible for 20% off all merchandise purchases. Not valid on The Ordinary and MAC Cosmetics VIVA GLAM products. Clients are limited to the purchase of one Dyson item and five Morphe items per SKU per transaction. Not valid on in-store services, previous purchases, purchases of gift cards or eGift cards, FLASH, PLAY! by SEPHORA, gift wrapping, packaging, taxes, or shipping & handling charges. Return of discounted merchandise will be for the price actually paid. Sephora is not responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen offer materials or barcodes. Offer has no cash value and may not be altered, sold, bartered or transferred. Rouge status must be attained prior to redemption. No minimum purchase required. Due to heavy demand, Sephora FLASH delivery times cannot be guaranteed for this offer. Not valid on orders shipping outside the US or Canada. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offer or reward. Sephora and JCPenney employees are not eligible for these offers. Sephora may modify or cancel offer at any time.
Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.
I have a mini luxury highlighter edit today with some new to me formulas from Westman Atelier, La Mer and Tom Ford Beauty. I have swatches and makeup looks for all five colors in today’s roundup. At this point I have enough highlighters to last me multiple lifetimes! There are quite a few new launches out from many brands. I narrowed down my picks to the colors and formulas that interested me the most. For a quick roundup of my favorite existing ones to date, scroll down to the end and I’ll summarize my top picks compared to the new ones I tested.
________
Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tint Highlight
For months SO MANY of you have been begging me to review products from Westman Atelier. The packaging and rave reviews had me intrigued along with the small edited range. I held off for so long because I was hoping to see everything in person but decided to order the Super Loaded Tints ($75 each for 4 g/0.14 oz) in Peau de Peche and Peau de Soleil sight unseen because curiosity got the best of me and I could not be happier. I bought mine from Barney’s.
As everyone has mentioned about the line the packaging is exquisite. These come in a hefty mirrored compact that feels luxurious and special when you hold it. The highlighters are a lovely cream to powder finish that have the most lovely shimmer and glow with an easy to blend finish. They are both deeper than traditional champagne colored highlighters which I love. Peau de Peche is a multi-dimensional soft rosy bronze pearl on my skin and if you’re fair it will look more rosy/bronze. I love this on the cheek bones or eyes. It’s absolutely stunning and I cannot rave enough about it.
Above left wearing just the highlighter on the cheeks, on the right added MAC Peaches, full breakdown:
Peau de Soleil is a newer color that launched in the summer. I’m a sucker for anything bronze and this one has a golden bronze shimmer with visible yellow gold flecks. On my olive skin it pulls a little yellow with the sheen so I can’t wear it alone on my cheeks. I have to pair it with something pink or peach as a blush, but I ADORE this one on the eyes.
Lasting power is excellent. Finish is shimmery but make the skin look radiant. For application I’ve been using either my fingers, the MAC 133S brush or Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Brush. I’m seriously tempted to buy one of her brushes but I would rather save for another one of her makeup products like the foundation or bronzer.
________
La Mer The Glow Highlighter
I’m 100% thrilled with the La Mer The Glow Highlighter ($105 for 5 g/0.17 oz). It took my breath away the second I spotted in store but with the $105 price tag I didn’t know if I’d have buyers remorse after. After playing with it I still don’t know that I think it’s worth the price but it is beautiful, I love it to bits and I have no regrets buying. It has a sheer smooth shimmery white cream on one side and a peachy pearlescent powder highlighter on the other. I love that it has a separator inside to protect the cream from powder debris. I could probably find something similar from MAC, Anastasia, Tarte etc. but I think the cream and powder formula is so good. The shimmer factor is perfect for me as well, it’s not too frosty and it’s not too sheer. If Tom Ford’s Shade and Illuminate products were the same as this La Mer cream I would 100% love it (for me the TF is too dewy).
I swatched it next to the Tom Ford Skin Illuminator in Moodlight which is probably my favorite. The colors are similar but not the same. Also the Tom Ford has a much higher sharper shimmer finish.
On the face, cream is just on the left photo, on the right I layered the powder on top:
I already reviewed the Tom Ford Soleil Neige Collection a few days ago but wanted to give you a closer look at the product on the face. The Glow Drops in Reflects Gilt and Glacial Rose are sheer once blended so it’s hard for me to capture the true finish on camera. I applied both over Tom Ford Bronzer in Terra to hopefully give you an idea on the difference in sheen. If you want a natural highlight that isn’t glaring or too sharp these are really beautiful.
Overall thoughts are that I have 5 out of 5 that are winners. I purchased them all myself and I think the Westman Atelier Peau de Peche is the best one out of the colors I tried. I really love the La Mer Glow Highlighter but I don’t think the colors are really unique. I’m still really loving both of the Tom Ford Glow Drops. To date I would say my top 5 highlighters that have been previously released include the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight, Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Indiscretion, Hourglass Vanish Flash Stick in any color, Fenty Killawatt Highlighter in Afternoon Snack/Mo Honey and MAC Mineralize Finish in Global Glow.
Have you tried any of the highlighter I reviewed today? What did you think? Do you have a favorite you keep reaching for right now? Are there any other holiday highlighters you want me to review? The new Chanel holiday review is coming soon and I’ll be in including that one for sure. Let me know in the comments!
Happy Friday! I have an updated everyday makeup post today with my top go-to’s that I use on a regular basis. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share some favorites for the season. I purchase a lot of my makeup staples (and Andrew’s grooming picks) from there – they carry most of the brands we both love and use.
Base Favorites
I’m frequently asked what my top foundations are. I rotate depending on how much coverage I want but the line I reach for the most is Laura Mercier. They have a wide range of formulas for any coverage and finish preference! For me the best medium to full coverage matte foundation of all time is the Flawless Fusion Foundation Ultra Long-Wear Foundation (I wear either Buff or Dusk). It smooths out the skin, covers spots, lasts all day in hot weather and even though it’s matte doesn’t look flat. If I had to use one base the rest of my life this would be it.
For a glowy more hydrating finish the Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere is one I reach for frequently tied with Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation (I wear 6.5). Both offer a natural luminous finish that is perfectly dewy without being too glowy. Coverage is also medium but buildable and they come in a wide range of shades.
The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Tinted Moisturizer Illuminating formulas were revamped and improved this year. I love both for weekend or no-makeup makeup days. Sometimes if I have a good skin day I can wear just one and layer some concealer on top. If you like a super sheer base with just a hint of coverage I think the new formulas are among the best!
One formula I just rediscovered is the La Mer Luminous Lifting Cushion (I wear Shade 33 Warm Bisque). It’s one of the best cushions I’ve tried that has medium coverage and looks like skin but better. It’s hydrating but not too heavy. It’s very natural looking and makes the skin look radiant. I am thrilled I have a good match.
For pressed powders I love the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in Medium and the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus or Medium Golden. Both will add a soft blurring effect to the skin and smooth/set your foundation. Pressed is my preferred choice since it’s easier to carry in the purse, easier for touch-ups and less messy.
In terms of loose options there are a wide range of amazing formulas to pick from. I’m partial to Laura Mercier’s Translucent for everyday and on going-out nights I’ll add the Translucent Glow option on the cheek bones for added radiance.
Lip Rotation
Lips are my favorite thing to rotate during fall. There are always so many new formulas and colors launched this season. I’m hard pressed to pick favorites but these four are the ones I’ve been reaching for the most the past couple of months.
NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm is my daily go-to balm for a soft pink flush. It applies clear on the lips but give it a minute or so and it will transform color into a soft pink glow. The Dior Addict Lip Glow Balms are also still really excellent for more of a flushed deeper color, but I’ve been reaching for the NARS a lot more.
NARS Lipsticks were completely revamped this year. My favorite color is Chelsea Girls which is a neutral pink, but on my lips it pulls more pinkish. It has a semi glossy finish. Dolce Vita is also a really nice and easy to wear rose.
YSL Rouge Volupte Shines used to be in heavy rotation for me a long time ago. I just checked them out again and discovered they discontinued some colors but also added some newer shades. Rose Nu 88 is a pretty rose (worn here).
For a lush hydrating gloss it doesn’t get more classic than the Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss. 119 Bourgeoisie is a classic soft rose plum with a hint of shimmer.
My two most reached for cheek products lately are the Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel for the best cream bronzer ever and the new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette this season. I’m wearing both in this post! The two combined are perfect for everyday and pretty much go with everything I typically wear. Creams don’t always work for me in Florida due to the heat but this Chanel bronzer has a good dry down that lasts all day and doesn’t oxidize.
I hope you enjoyed this roundup! Let me know in the comments if you have any everyday makeup favorites right now for fall or if you keep the same rotation year round. You can find all of my favorite makeup staples at Nordstrom.
Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions are my own.
I hauled practically everything from the Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Neige collection for the season and have swatches for you today. In today’s post is a look at each piece with swatches and three makeup looks at the end of the post. There’s quite a bit to cover just with swatches and comparisons alone!
In testing everything I have mostly hits. Formula-wise everything performed as I expected. I did have some misses color-wise which I’ll note below. In addition I see quite a lot of repeats/similarities to previous and existing colors so if you already own a lot of Tom Ford beauty products you might want to shop your stash. In today’s post:
I bought two of the three Soleil Eye Color Quads in Soleil Neige (silvery smokey tones) and Soleil D’Hiver (neutral peachy shimmers). The formula for these quads is the same as Nude Dip/Honeymoon/Body Heat where it’s pressed metallic pigments with a smooth texture and rich shine.
Soleil Neige has the traditional pale ivory/grey/gunmetal shades you’d find in a smokey eye quad. While the color combination isn’t the most unique, I do think the pigment and shimmer is quite phenomenal and striking for a good smokey eye. It’s really beautiful, but if you own other smokey quads I don’t think it’s a must-have. It has a pale white frost, a shimmery warm silver, a deep blue with silver flecks and a deep smokey metallic grey-black with flecks of sparkle. Application is smooth, easy to layer and very shimmery.
Soleil D’Hiver made my heart sing the second I saw it! It has all my kinds of colors with the prettiest mix of neutrals and shimmers. In the pan it looks significantly more peachy than it swatches on my skin. On my medium-tan complexion the colors pull more pink and neutral-cool than warm peach (as I had hoped). Still I have no complaints at all though as it’s one of the most beautiful neutrals I’ve ever swatched. It is very metallic and pigment is ultra rich with a dense brush or over a cream base. You can get a more sheer effect if you apply with a loose fluffy brush. Colors include a sparkling pinkish white, a shimmery metallic peachy pink, a metallic rose mauve and a shimmery cool brown.
Swatch comparisons below to a few other Tom Ford quads including Double Indemnity, Titanium Smoke, Nude Dip and Suspicion. (Double Indemnity and Suspicion reviewed here.)
For a smokey eye quad I prefer Double Indemnity because it applies warmer on my skin. For the neutrals I thought Soleil D’Hiver would be like Suspicion but it pulls more like Nude Dip, just warmer.
___________
Cream and Powder Duos
There are also two new Cream and Powder Duos which are both brand new colors and I love both. Fleur Neige has a sparkling platinum white top coat and a shimmery grey brown cream. Both shades perform like the other Cream + Powder Duos from Tom Ford. I ended up loving this a lot more than I anticipated, it gives the perfect fall cool-toned silvery taupe eye with some sparkle but it’s not too cool-toned or blue-based like some greys can be.
Reflection on the other hand is different from most of the other Cream/Powder Duos. Most of the ones I’ve tried have a creamy medium-pigmented base and an almost clear top coat that just has colored glitter flecks. The base usually doesn’t have a lot of color, and they’re more toppers. Reflection’s cream base is a beautiful sheer golden color that almost matches my skin tone. It applies on the sheer side and acts more like a creamy base for the bronze powder. The top is a deep bronze powder with gold flecks and to me it’s more of a traditional eyeshadow rather than a true glitter top coat.
___________
Soleil Neige Complexion/Face
I was so excited for the Glow Drops this season (I missed out last year!). These are fluid gel liquid highlighters with a subtle sheen. Reflects Gilt which is a pale shimmering champagne gold and Glacial Rose a bronzey shimmery rose. The texture is fluid-like with a dropper similar to the NARS Orgasm Liquid Highlighter, but the Tom Ford ones aren’t quite as watery – they’re a little thicker with more density/substance so they don’t drip down the hand like water.
The Glow Drops have an ultra fine smooth shimmer. The pigment when blended out is sheer and gives the skin a very natural glow. They dry down to an almost powder-like texture and stay put all day long. On my skin they pull very sheer but the glow is visible in real life (not so much in photos). I like that they actually do dry down so they don’t get too dewy looking or greasy by mid-day.
For cheeks are three new Glow Sticks this year. These are creamy twist up sticks with one shimmer side and one non-shimmer side. These are very emollient and dewy – you can layer for more color but on my skin once they’re blended I find the color sheer and subtle. While I don’t find them super greasy they don’t dry down at all on my skin and for Florida weather I think they would be a no-go most of the year. It’s finally started to cool down a little but we’ve had some tropical storms which makes everything humid. The weather changes daily here so some days it feels like fall, other days it feels like a wet sauna outside.
If you have super oily skin or can’t do creams these will most likely be too emollient for you. I do think every color option is very easy to wear for a natural look. The shimmer is very fine without any texture (it’s very smooth!).
Soleil Neige has a pale gold shimmer and peach cream, Megeve has a medium pink cream and medium coppery pink shimmer, Couchervel has a deep plum brown with a slight hint of shimmer and a shimmery lighter rosy copper brown. I found that if I applied the Glow Drops first and let it dry/set, it made the Glow Sticks last longer if I then applied them on top.
Lasting power is very good as long as you don’t touch your face! I swatched these with a heavy hand so you can see the color. Also included the original Glow Stick in Sunstruck (I think it’s now discontinued though). You can see below at the bottom of this post how natural they look once blended out on the face. Of course if you have lighter/fairer skin than me these will show up with more color. I’m still fairly tan! For skintone reference I’m a match to Tom Ford Sable, MAC NC35, Armani Luminous Silk in 6.5 or 7, Pat McGrath Foundation in 14 or 15.
___________
Lip Balms
I decided to try 3 of the 4 Clutch-Sized Lip Balms this season. I have mixed feelings about these. I love the formula – texture is smooth, easy to apply and they feel hydrating without being thick. I don’t love the colors.
Apres Soleil is a nude beige which pulls too pale on my complexion – worn alone it doesn’t give me the best look (almost deathly), but if I apply a pinkish liner first then top with the balm, it looks great!
Paradiso is a gorgeous bright semi-sheer coral pink-peach. This one is the best color for me but as much as I adore this one I can’t help but feel like it’s a little boring because they repeat Paradiso in different variations pretty much every year.
Baie D’Hiver is a plum brown which has pretty good coverage and pigment for a balm. It’s a straight purple plum without any pink or red tones. Purple lips aren’t really my thing – my olive complexion doesn’t go so well with purples. Formula-wise they feel great. Lasting power is average for a balm, you will need to reapply more than a lipstick, but it’s comfortable so I don’t mind.
Three looks wearing the following:
Foundation is Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 7
Powder is MAC Mineralize Natural in Medium Golden
Brows are Anastasia Brow Wiz in Taupe
Three looks as follows:
Top look: Tom Ford Soleil D’Hiver Quad, Megeve Glow Stick (both sides) blended, Apres Soleil Balm
Middle look: Tom Ford Cream Powder Eye Duo in Reflection, Soleil Neige Glow Stick (both sides mixed), Paradiso Balm
Bottom look: Tom Ford Soleil Neige Quad, Courchevel Glow Stick (both sides), Baie D’Hiver Balm
My top favorites are both the Fleur Neige and Reflection Cream Powder Duos, Soleil D’Hiver eyeshadow quad and both of the Glow Drops. The cream blush sticks are beautiful but I prefer powder products for better lasting power.
If I could do this spendy haul all over again I would have skipped all of the lip balms and glow sticks. They’re nice but not must-haves for me, especially since I usually find cream cheek products too creamy for Florida weather. As beautiful as the smokey quad is I don’t think it’s a must-have for me, although I was really curious about it and think performance and color-wise it’s really pretty!
A few notes on the other items in the collection that I did not haul: there is another eyeshadow quad Soleil Et Lune which looked so pretty in store, but it had only 1 shade I was interested in (the peachy one) and therefore wasn’t worth it for me to try out. I passed on the sparkling white balm as it didn’t really interest me. As a huge fan of the Soleil Blanc perfume I was eager to try the new Soleil Neige perfume and sprayed it on my wrists in store. It wasn’t really my cup of tea as I found it really powdery and it didn’t mesh well with my body chemistry. I might try it again next time I’m in store just to see .
You can find the Tom Ford Soleil Neige collection out now. Some pieces have sold out already at certain stores so you might have to shop around. I bought everything from Sephora and Nordstrom. Also available at Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and all other Tom Ford Beauty counters.
Have you checked out anything yet? What did you think?
Holiday sets are starting to catch my eye and the cutest ones I’ve seen are from Fenty Beauty! As a huge lover of the Gloss Bomb I immediately added the Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set to cart along with some other new holiday launches. I’ve actually accumulated a few previous launches from the line in mini sizes but never did a full review. I think minis are such a fun way to try product before committing to the full size. I thought I’d do a roundup of all the minis I’ve hauled to date from Fenty.
My favorite out of all the minis is the holiday Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set which has 5 mini lip glosses in the most beautiful luminous smooth shimmers. These have a smooth cushiony texture that isn’t sticky. They’re semi-thick depending on how much you put on but it’s comfortable and lasting power is pretty good for a gloss. They are scented with a sweet candy cherry like scent which might be hit or miss depending on how much you can tolerate sweet scents. There’s no detectable taste as far as I can tell. These make the lips look full and lush, I love layering on top of a liner like Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk, Pat McGrath Done Undone, MAC Boldly Bare, MAC Stripdown or Kevyn Aucoin Minimal. The glosses are on the sheer side but have enough color to show up. Colors include:
Confetti is an opalescent glow
Fu$$y is a soft pink shimmer
Pretty Please is a bright sheer hot pink
Cheeky is a gorgeous sheer bright orange coral
Hot Chocolit is a shimmering sheer chocolate
__________________
Mini Body Lava Body Luminizer
The Body Lava Body Luminizer had mixed reviews online. It has been on my list to try in store but everytime I go in there are so many other things that manage to distract me I never remember to try it. I decided to try the mini and it comes in one color option Who Needs Clothes?! which is a sheer rose gold but on my skin is more golden. The pros are it smells so amazing and gives the skin a beautiful shimmery sheen. It is quite sparkly but it’s really beautiful. The downside is pretty much a deal breaker for me to wear which is that it has a tacky sticky finish that never dries down. I tried applying to places on the body I thought would not come in contact with other things but it’s virtually impossible to do so. If they could reformulate this to have a better dry down I think it would be amazing.
__________________
Bomb Baby Mini Gloss and Highlighter Sets
The first Bomb Baby Set has the classic Fenty Glow Gloss Bomb (universal warm rose shimmer) and 1/2 of one of their Killawatt Freestyle Highlighters in a mini called Hustla Baby (yellow champagne gold). There’s a new Bomb Baby 2 Mini Gloss and Highlighter Set with a new gloss shade called Sweet Mouth (pale pink shimmer) and Sand Castle (pulls silver metallic on me). Pigment on the highlighters is quite intense and they will show up on any skin tone with an almost blinding sheen. You can sheer it out for a more subtle glow but they are on the high shimmer side. I found both better on the eyes for my complexion. For the cheeks and my skin tone the Killawatt Highlighter in Afternoon Snack/Mo’ Honey is better suited for my coloring since it is deeper and not quite as contrasted in color with my skin.
Left is the Bomb Baby Set, right is Bomb Baby 2 Set:
Lip swatches:
I do think both are excellent and easy to wear. They’ll be super fun to wear for the upcoming holiday season.
A look at Bomb Baby 2 on Eyes and Lips:
__________________
Pro Filt’r Mini Instant Retouch Setting Powder
The Pro Filter Loose Powder is something that immediately popped on my radar when it launched but after swatching it in store it seemed a bit dry and chalky. It has that talc/silica feel which does a great job at blurring but if you have any dry patches it ends up making the skin look even more dry. I bought the mini in Cashew but really would have a better match with Banana but it wasn’t available in the mini. I’ve used the mini numerous times over the past few months and can’t get consistent results. If have a well moisturized and creamy base the powder looks ok. If I have any matte finish base or dry patches the powder just doesn’t set right with my skin. The super matte effect makes my skin looked tired in an unflattering way sometimes. I didn’t like it enough to investigate the larger size or other shades.
__________________
Fly Baby Mini Eye Primer and Liner Set
The minis always get me at checkout in store. I picked up the Fly Baby Mini Eye Set as an impulse buy and have mixed feelings. The Flyliner Longwear Liquid Liner provides a super deep satiny black line. I love the packaging and the applicator for an easy to apply precise line. I found that it stays wet longer than other liquid liners I have so it transfers if I open my eyes or blink right after applying it. With a primer the product sets faster but I still have to keep my eyes semi-shut for at least a minute for it to dry completely otherwise it smudges and never really fully sets. The Eye Primer is ok – it has a semi-sticky feel when I blend it on the lids but it does help powder shadow adhere well. I don’t think it’s essential or holy grail material but it was nice to try and it does work to help shadow stay on the lids longer. After I tried it though I discovered I had already bought the full size months ago and completely forgot about it!
Overall I’ve had some hits and misses. I think my absolute favorites from the line are the Gloss Bomb lip glosses. I hope they will add the new minis in full sizes eventually because I love the formula and new colors. I hauled everything from Sephora.
Have you tried any of the new holiday minis yet or anything else from the line? What are your hits or misses?
