Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Highlighters

Luxury Highlighter Edit: Westman Atelier, La Mer + Tom Ford

October 29, 2019

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.

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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:

Foundation Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
Powder Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light to set
Highlighter Westman Atelier Peau de Peche
Blush MAC Peaches (just added on the right)
Eyeshadow Natasha Denona Mini Nude Eye Palette
Lips Pat McGrath Lip Pencil Done Undone + Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow
Sweater from Nordstrom
Nail Polish Chanel Vamp

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.

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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:

Foundation Armani Luminous Silk 6.5
Powder Hourglass Dim Light
Eyeshadow Tom Ford Nude Dip
Cheeks La Mer Glow Highlighter
Lipstick is Tom Ford Lip Color in Bad Lieutenant
Brush is Wayne Goss #14

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Tom Ford Glow Drops

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.

Above wearing:

Foundation Armani Luminous Silk 6.5
Powder Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
Eyeshadow Tom Ford Cream Powder Duo in Reflection
Bronzer Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer Terra
Left Highlight / Gloss:
- Glow Drops in Reflects Gilt
- Pat McGrath Lip Pencil in Bare Rose
- Gloss Luxe in Wicked
Right Highlight / Gloss:
- Glow Drops in Glacial Rose
- Tom Ford Lip Sculptor in Slash
- Gloss Luxe in Frantic

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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!

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Beauty Favorites Nordstrom

Everyday Makeup Essentials for Fall

October 25, 2019

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.

Eye Makeup Favorites

Four eye makeup staples for me include the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Copper (love this shade for an all over wash or base). Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows in Burnish and Blaze (they add the perfect amount of shine!), Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Duo in Reflection (new) for the perfect bronzey smokey eye and Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Black Wood (for a deep black that isn’t too harsh). In terms of eyeshadow palettes I don’t have a regular go-to as I switch those up frequently, although I do still really like the Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette that I’ve been wearing pretty much all year long.

Cheeks

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.

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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Neige Collection

October 23, 2019

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:

Soleil Eye Color Quad in Soleil Neige and Soleil D’Hiver ($88 each)
Cream and Powder Eye Color Duos in Fleur Neige and Reflection ($65 each)
Glow Drops in Reflects Gilt and Glacial Rose ($50 each)
Soleil Glow Sticks in Soleil Neige, Megeve and Courchevel ($55 each)
Clutch-Size Soleil Lip Balm in Apres Soleil, Paradiso and Baie D’Hiver ($36 each)

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Soleil Neige Eyeshadow Quads

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.

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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.

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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.

Swatches below of Reflects Gilt and Glacial Rose with comparisons to a few other liquid highlighters from Tom Ford. Everything blends out to a very sheer glowy finish. Pigment isn’t rich or intense so if you need a more noticeable glow I’d recommend you try something else like the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duos, NARS Highlighting Powders or Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Sticks. (Note that the Shimmer Shots are discontinued.)

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.

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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?

23 Comments

Fenty Beauty Sephora

Fenty Beauty Minis Haul

October 21, 2019

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.

For holiday:

Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set ($42 for 5 x 5.5 ml glosses)
Mini Body Lava Body Luminizer ($24 for 1 fl oz) in Who Needs Clothes?!
Bomb Baby 2 Mini Gloss and Highlighter Set ($24) in Sweet Mouth and Sand Castle

From the regular lineup:

Bomb Baby Mini Gloss and Highlighter Set ($24) in Fenty Glow and Hustla Baby
Fly Baby Mini Eye Primer and Liner Set ($24)
Pro Filt’r Mini Instant Retouch Setting Powder ($18 for 0.27 oz) in Cashew

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Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set

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

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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?

7 Comments

Chanel Lips

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion, Rouge Allure Ink + Le Rouge Duo Lip Haul

October 16, 2019

I have a new Chanel lip haul with a look at some of the newRouge Allure Ink Fusion colors, a new Rouge Allure Ink shade and additions to the Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Gloss formula. I ordered everything sight unseen as the colors are currently only available at Chanel.com (coming to counters soon). I’m 100% thrilled with every single item and think there are some great additions for fall.

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion + New Shades of Rouge Allure Ink

I’ve never really been a fan of liquid lipsticks or the Chanel Rouge Allure Ink formula. I found the original formula looked great in hand swatches with so many gorgeous colors. On my lips the colors didn’t show up well and I found the finish too thin/streaky. I was willing to take some extra effort to make some of the colors work. The deeper/bold colors performed better but the neutrals were too sheer for me. The new Rouge Allure Ink Fusion is much MUCH better in terms of color payoff and pigment. It has similar packaging in the tube but the applicator is beveled. The new Rouge Allure Ink Fusion is more of a fluid liquid that dries to a matte finish. It’s lightweight and has a similar feel/effect to the NARS Powermatte Pigments, only the Chanel does not dry down or shrink like the NARS does.

I ordered four Rouge Allure Ink Fusion shades to try them out. Swatches are tricky with liquid lips for me since the dry down often darkens the color and they always look SO different on my lips compared to others who have lighter pigment in lips or a cooler complexion. The olive in my skin also makes them look completely different than what I’ve seen online for lighter skin girls so please take note your mileage may vary. Formula is lightweight, has no scent, dries down to a soft matte finish without making the lips look like they’ve shriveled.

802 Beige Naturel is a pale beige cream, on me this turned more neutral/peach and while on others I’ve seen it swatched on, it looks more yellow-beige. 804 Mauvy Nude is a cool toned mauve rose, also darkens on my lips but perfect for fall! 806 Pink Brown is more of a deeper brown-rose on me than a pink brown, also lovely for fall. 814 Coral Peach is a bright vibrant coral.

There are also some new additions to the regular Rouge Allure Ink lineup. There are some mattes and also new metallic finishes. I bought 216 Legerete which is the most beautiful rose pink color. The formula is still the same as the Rouge Allure Ink, slightly streaky but I can make it work. The color is beautiful!

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion vs Rouge Allure Ink applicator:

Swatches below:

Some comparison swatches, I didn’t find dupes but thought this lineup might help you compare and contrast how light/deep the colors are. The Rouge Allure Ink Fusion has a similar fluid texture and dry town to the NARS Powermatte. By comparison the newer Cle de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge Mattes have a more whipped matte finish.

Three of the colors in full face looks, Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion 802 Beige Naturel, for skintone reference I’m wearing Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet in B50:

804 Mauvy Nude:

Pink Brown 806

Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue – New Shades

Chanel also added some new colors of the Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Gloss which I just rediscovered. They changed the packaging and formula a little while ago but I think it’s pretty much the same as the original. I picked 2 of the new colors in Intense Nude 152 which a gorgeous soft cool pink and Intense Caramel 154 which is a medium neutral beige. There is a liquid lipstick side that you apply all over the lips and then top with the gloss top coat. These are super long lasting and I think I need to check out more colors soon.

Since I’m a huge fan of neutrals I added other shades from my collection above and swatched below for reference. I have two other Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue colors in Merry Rose and Warm Beige alongside Rouge Coco Gloss neutrals in Caresse (discontinued), Caramel and Noce Moscata:

The new Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Gloss in Intense Nude and Intense Caramel on the lips:

Full face look wearing Intense Nude:

Overall some solid wins and a successful haul. I wish Chanel would reformulate all the Rouge Allure Inks into the Rouge Allure Ink Fusion formula – I think it’s SO good!. Based on the color selection I think I would have also loved a plum color but for now am happy with the colors I bought. I may splurge on one more down the line once they hit counters and I can see them in person.

You can find the new Chanel lip launches available now at Chanel.com – I suspect they will be at counters soon in the US. Have you tried any of the new shades yet? What did you think?

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Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Ghost Holiday 2019 Collection Review

October 10, 2019

I hauled the four of the five items from the Hourglass Ghost Holiday 2019 Collection and have swatches of everything today. There are two new Ambient Lighting Palettes and they’re absolutely gorgeous but I have some mixed thoughts about them. Right now there are two Confession Lip Duos and I opted for the one with a neutral nude pink + plum. For the eyes Hourglass has a Scattered Light Trio with minis of their scattered light shadows (two repromotes and one new shade). Overall I find the launches easy to wear for my medium-tan skin, if you’re swatching in store note that the powders can look more glittery than they are in normal everyday lighting. The store lights emphasize the tiny sparkles and make them look like they could be a glitter bomb. Rest assured that while they are indeed glowy – both palettes are wearable for everyday even for those who are super conservative on the shimmer. In today’s post:

Ambient Lighting Edit Ghost Palette ($80)
Ghost Ambient Lighting Blush Quad ($58)
Ghost Confession Refillable Lipstick Duo ($36) I Cherish and You Inspire
Scattered Light Glitter Shadow Collection ($46) Ray, Foil and Molten

Hourglass Ghost Ambient Lighting Edit Palette

The Ambient Lighting Edit Ghost Palette has three repromotes and three new shades. I ended up loving it more than I thought I would, but I think at this point most of us can agree that we would like to see all new shades and more options for tan to deeper skin tones. I’m more on the tan side and find the colors show up well. The palette as a whole gives the skin a soft diffused glow. I really love the concept of Dim and Diffused Light as soft light reflecting setting powders but have always wanted those powders in darker color options. I was surprised to find that both still work for my tan skin to set and they did not make my face look chalky even though they are pale. Shades include:

Finishing Powder in Dim Light – pale peach pink with a satin shimmer
Finishing Powder in Diffused Light – ultra pale yellow finishing powder
Strobe Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light – pale shimmery pink
Bronzer in Eternal Bronze Light – the softest bronze I’ve seen from Hourglass, a satiny soft non-orangey bronze
Strobe Blush in Iridescent Rose – the prettiest iridescent healthy looking pink glow, I would LOVE this in a full size individual option
Blush in Sublime Flush – soft light-medium rose pink shimmer

Below wearing: Tom Ford Flawless Glow Foundation in 6.5 / Ambient Lighting Palette Ghost with Dim Light to set, Sublime Flush + Iridescent Rose on cheeks / Confession Lipstick in I Cherish

Application is smooth, soft, easy to blend and stays put all day. For the three new shades the Eternal Bronze Light bronzer is the most neutral soft bronze I’ve seen from Hourglass, it can double as a neutral contour. The Iridescent Rose is a beautiful shimmering rose it’s on the sparkly side with tiny gold flecks. Sublime Flush has a similar but paler/cooler compared to Surreal Effect (in the Ambient Quad and also in Surreal Light 2016). Overall I think it’s a beautiful palette complete for a full face look. I would give it 10 out of 10 stars if it did not have Dim/Diffused Light. They’ve repeated these shades in so many palettes and have them available individually, I would have really liked to see new colors.

Ghost Ambient Lighting Blush Quad

The Ghost Ambient Lighting Blush Quad is a new format which I really like! It’s small and more compact – I really like the concept. It’s still fairly expensive but I think the colors are gorgeous.

Blush in Surreal Effect is a repromote from the Surreal Light Palette 2016, it’s a medium soft pink shimmer swirled with a deeper magenta pink
Strobe Blush in Brilliant Nude is a repromote, available individually, this is a shimmering champagne swirled with a tan bronze sparkle
Strobe Blush in Lucid Glow is a shimmery coral swirled with a soft gold
Infinite Flush is a soft pink swirled with a mauve

Below I’ve swatched with a heavy hand to show the color but they apply sheerer on the face and blend out easily for a soft glow.

Wearing: Tom Ford Flawless Glow Foundation in 6.5 Sable / La Mer Pressed Powder in Medium / Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Quad with Lucid Glow + Brilliant Nude mixed / Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette / Hourglass Scattered Light in Foil / Hourglass Unreal Lip Gloss in Truth

I like Lucid Glow the best in this palette, I’m a sucker for any coral peach blush because I think it brightens up the complexion beautifully. The other shades are also lovely, I do like Brillant Nude for a nice highlight that isn’t your traditional pale champagne. Application is smooth and easy to layer/mix.

Ghost Confession Refillable Lipstick Duo

I bought the Confession Lip Duo as an impulse buy and kinda regret it mainly because I have similar colors already. The colors are beautiful and easy to wear though. I Cherish is a pretty nude pink and You Inspire is a beautiful deep plum that doesn’t turn red (a lot of plums look too red, blue or pull too vamp on my skin). I really have nothing to complain about as the colors are wearable, require no tweaking and glide on the lips beautifully. I feel like I could have definitely shopped my stash.

Wearing on the left: Tom Ford Flawless Glow Foundation in 6.5 / Ambient Lighting Palette Ghost with Dim Light to set, Sublime Flush + Iridescent Rose on cheeks / Hourglass Confession Lipstick in I Cherish

Wearing on the right: same base, on the cheeks Ambient Lighting Palette Ghost with just Eternal Bronze Light / Hourglass Confession Lipstick in You Inspire

Scattered Light Glitter Shadow Collection

The Scattered Light Trio has miniatures of the Scattered Light Eyeshadows. I already own two of them but did not mind having repeats as I plan on regifting the minis to friends. The trio shadows are smaller at 0.07 oz each versus the 0.12 oz of the full size. I don’t normally don’t mind minis but I like to apply these with my finger and found the smaller size a little bit tricky to stick my finger in without getting product under my nail. It’s not impossible and you can definitely get a brush in there. Foil is a beautiful gold shimmer, Ray is a sparkling taupe and Molten is a beautiful shimmering plum. I really wish they had Molten individually in the full size because that one is beautiful!

Other individual colors swatched here and here.

Below look wearing Scattered Light in Molten:

Overall I’m pleased with my haul picks. Quality-wise everything performs well. As irked as I am that the 6-pan palette has 1/2 repeats I think it is lovely and I do think it was worth the splurge. If I had to pick one palette between the two I think the 4-pan quad is the more unique option although I’m so smitten with that Iridescent Rose Strobe Blush in the 6-pan palette. The Confession Lipstick is among my favorite lipstick formula for a creamy opaque lipstick. Color-wise the new launches are very wearable but not unique.

I think the Scattered Light Trio is a nice way to try three shades at a more affordable price although I do prefer the individual larger sizes because I can apply them easier with my fingers. I also like picking my own colors. Out of all the colors I own I wear Blaze the most, followed by Ray these days.

You can find the Hourglass Holiday 2019 Ghost Collection out now. I hauled my picks from Nordstrom and Sephora. Also available at Hourglass Cosmetics.

Have you tried anything from the collection yet? I have some more holiday I’m working on including selects from NARS holiday and I just ordered most of Tom Ford Soleil Neige. There will also be some new lip posts coming up!

12 Comments

GWP Haircare Nordstrom

New Haircare Loves

October 7, 2019

I’ve been trying some new things in haircare the past few months and have a roundup of my top picks right now. I really love trying new things and am always in the market for good hair masks or anti-frizz products to restore moisture and add shine. It’s been nearly a year since I’ve had color-treated hair and I’m currently in the process of trying to grow out my natural color. My haircare routine has changed since getting highlights and I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share some of my top go-to picks right now. They carry most of the brands and products I use on a regular basis.

I also love shopping there because they have good Beauty Gift With Purchases year round. In my most recent haul I restocked on some of my favorite hair care items for the Nordstrom x SPACE.NK.apothecary gift (available while supplies last) which includes:

A cosmetics bag and deluxe samples of PHILIP B® Weightless Conditioning Water (2.5 oz.), R+Co Balloon Dry Volume Spray (1 oz.), Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (0.9 oz.), Verso Hydration Serum (0.35 oz.), 111SKIN Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel (0.25 oz.), By Terry Blackstar Eyeshadow in Purpulyn Gem (0.04 oz.), Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment (0.17 oz.), REN Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen (0.34 oz.), Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation in Medium (0.18 oz.), Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream (0.23 oz.), Clark’s Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask (0.03 oz.), ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder (0.05 oz.), Rodial Pink Diamond Magic Gel Day Cream (0.3 oz.) and Derm Institute Antioxidant Hydration Gel Masque (2 sachets, 0.1 oz. each) with your $175 SPACE.NK.apothecary purchase. A $278 value. Online and in selected U.S. stores.*

There are a lot more Beauty Gifts going on right now online. There’s a cute one from Lancome right now, also some good options for minis from Dior, Hourglass, Diptyque, Fresh and more. I always love the Fresh skincare minis.

My Go-To Shampoo and Conditioner

I’ve been on the hunt for a good shampoo and conditioner combination for what seems like AGES now. My hair is more prone to breakage with each highlight treatment and Florida water isn’t the best for all formulas. Many formulas are hard to rinse out so finding something that is hydrating but doesn’t weigh the hair down has been tricky. I’ve really loved Olaplex for some time but wanted to try something new. Some Oribe formulas have been hit or miss but I decided to re-try the Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo and Conditioner and my hair loves them! I’m on my third bottle of both and think I need to buy the supersized versions. They both hydrate, add shine and make the hair soft. The formula rinses out nicely and doesn’t weigh my hair down.

Heat Protectant and Texturizer

I blow dry my hair on a regular basis to smooth it and prevent frizz. Most of the time air drying isn’t the best for me. I’ve tried dozens of heat styling sprays and creams. There are a lot of great options out there but the one I keep going back to is the Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray. It doubles as a detangler for me and smooths out the hair. This is also lightweight and helps minimize frizz. I spray it on towel dried hair.

Even though I want to smooth out the hair, I also sometimes want more volume at the roots. The Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is my favorite and a nice alternative to dry shampoo because it’s not white or powdery like dry shampoo formulas are.

Olaplex Styling Products

I’ve been so eager to try everything that Olaplex launches. I bought the No. 6 Bond Smoother and No. 7 Bonding Oil the second they both launched. A little goes a long way for both.

The Bond Smoother is a white cream that is a leave-in styling cream that strengthens and moisturizes the hair to prepare for blow drying. I found it lightweight and it did work to fight frizz. It’s nice on my brittle hair and does protect from heat. For me I like this on damp hair.

The Bonding Oil is an even more lightweight product that’s ultra concentrated. It offers heat protection up to 450 degrees. Since I have thicker hair I found my damp hair soaked it up super fast. I prefer applying this on my blow-dried hair to add shine and add more protection if I’m straightening it with a flat iron. It’s super tiny but a little drop goes a long way. The dispenser is designed so that only a tiny bit of product comes out with each drop.

Hydrating and Frizz Treatments

Last, my two latest discoveries from Christophe Robin are his new Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk with Shea Butter and the Hydrating Melting Mask with Aloe Vera. Both are 100% worth the splurge. For a no-frizz product his Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk is a nice effective product that glides through damp hair easily for a nice blow out. I’m normally not a fan of milky hair products because they can feel too thick or sticky. This one absorbs into the hair nicely without any sticky feel and for me it’s like the cream/milk version of the Oribe spray. I also love that it’s fragrance free.

The Hydrating Melting Mask is also quite phenomenal to add moisture to my ends in a lightweight way. I’m a fan of all of his aloe vera products – they have a really nice lightweight scent that’s calming and soothing. Color treatments for my hair have made it more tangle-prone after it’s wet. This one makes the tangles go away and allows a comb or brush to glide through more easily after I rinse it out.

I’m really happy to have rediscovered the Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner. My next purchase will be the large pump sizes of both. For a good hair mask I’ve been so pleased with the Christophe Robin Hydrating Melting Mask. I think the Oribe Royal Blowout Spray will forever be a go-to for me, but I almost like the Christophe Anti-Frizz Rescue Milk a little better right now.

If you’ve been in the market for some new hair care I hope this roundup helped you! I’d love to hear about your hair care loves right now. Does your routine stay the same year round or now that we’ve transitioned to fall do you switch things up?

You can find all my haul picks at Nordstrom. If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out the Beauty Gift With Purchase page, it’s updated on a regular basis!

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions are my own.

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Sabrina

Luxury Highlighter Edit: Westman Atelier, La Mer + Tom Ford

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tint Highlight

La Mer The Glow Highlighter

Tom Ford Glow Drops

Everyday Makeup Essentials for Fall

Base Favorites

Lip Rotation

Eye Makeup Favorites

Cheeks

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Neige Collection

Soleil Neige Eyeshadow Quads

Cream and Powder Duos

Soleil Neige Complexion/Face

Lip Balms

Fenty Beauty Minis Haul

Glossy Posse Mini Gloss Bomb Set

Mini Body Lava Body Luminizer

Bomb Baby Mini Gloss and Highlighter Sets

Pro Filt’r Mini Instant Retouch Setting Powder

Fly Baby Mini Eye Primer and Liner Set

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion, Rouge Allure Ink + Le Rouge Duo Lip Haul

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion + New Shades of Rouge Allure Ink

Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue – New Shades

Hourglass Ghost Holiday 2019 Collection Review

Hourglass Ghost Ambient Lighting Edit Palette

Ghost Ambient Lighting Blush Quad

Ghost Confession Refillable Lipstick Duo

Scattered Light Glitter Shadow Collection

New Haircare Loves

My Go-To Shampoo and Conditioner

Heat Protectant and Texturizer

Olaplex Styling Products

Hydrating and Frizz Treatments

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