Sabrina, Author at The Beauty Look Book

Ultimate Glow With the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Collection

May 13, 2019

I think I’ve found my ultimate summer glow with the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Collection! I picked up almost all of the new pieces at Nordstrom and think everything is just so stunning. I’ve been such a long time fan of Charlotte Tilbury from the very first day her products launched in the US. So many of you have asked me, “if there’s one brand that you had to stick with for the entire face, what would it be?” One of my top picks would Charlotte Tilbury – her line has something in every category from base, cheeks, eyes, lips etc. that I love. Today I’ve partnered with Nordstrom to share some beauty looks featuring the new Glowgasm Palettes. I’ve mixed in products from her existing lineup to give you ideas on how to wear everything!

Glowgasm Face Palettes

There are two Glowgasm Face Palettes in Lightgasm and Lovegasm. Each one has four shades for the face including a bronzer, blush and highlighters. They’re absolutely gorgeous and give the skin a very pretty lit from within kind of glow. The formula has a unique almost cream-like gel to powder finish. They’re soft to the touch and are like a solid cream but apply like a powder. You can apply wet or dry, on the eyes or cheeks. Application is smooth, it doesn’t emphasize my pores or skin imperfections, lasting power is excellent and they adhere really well to the skin.

Lightgasm

The Glowgasm Face Palette in Lightgasm is the lighter option of the two and on my medium tan complexion this pulls more like a highlighter palette. It’s really pretty on both the eyes or cheeks. I applied with a lighter hand layering all four shades – you can intensify with a damp brush. Colors are a pale yellow champagne gold, a light shimmering peach, a neutral contour satiny bronze and a duo chrome pink-gold.

Makeup look below wearing the lighter option, since the shades run lighter this is more of a glow palette on my complexion with a little bit of dimension with the deeper colors. It has a nice soft and diffused kind of look on the cheeks.

Full beauty breakdown using the Lightgasm Face Palette:

Base: Light Wonder Foundation in 7
Powder: Airbrush Flawless Finish in 2
Eyeshadows: Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold + Eye Palette in The Dolce Vita
Eyeliner: Rock n Kohl in Barbarella Brown
Mascara: Legendary Lashes 2 in Black
Cheeks: Lightgasm Palette, all four shades
Lips: Prep with the Collagen Lip Bath for shine, then layer KISSING Lipstick in Bitch Perfect with Lip Cheat Liner in Iconic Nude on top

Lovegasm

The Glowgasm Palette in Lovegasm is the deeper one and if I had to pick just one this would be it. It has deeper variations of a yellow gold highlighter, deeper peach shimmer, medium tan bronze and a glimmering coral gold shimmer. This has enough color to look like I’m wearing blush on the face. As a peach lover this couldn’t be more perfect for me.

Makeup look wearing the deeper palette option

Beauty breakdown using the Lovegasm Palette:

Base: Light Wonder Foundation in 7
Powder: Airbrush Flawless Finish in 2
Eyeshadows: Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold + Eye Palette in The Dolce Vita
Eyeliner: Rock n Kohl in Barbarella Brown
Mascara: Legendary Lashes 2 in Black
Cheeks: Lovegasm Palette, all four shades
Lips: Matte Revolution in Sexy Sienna with Lip Lustres in Blondie + Portobello Girl

Glowgasm Beauty Wand Highlighters

There are three new Beauty Wand Highlighters. I bought two of them in Peachgasm and Pinkgasm. Both have enough color that I feel like I could get away with wearing these as a shimmering blush. Both have a twist open cap. Squeeze the tube to dispense product into a sponge applicator and then dab on the face anywhere you want a highlight. They have an iridescent finish and a really nice dry down. The Beauty Wands stay creamy long enough to blend and once they set they stay put on the face. Swatches with two different light settings and angles to show depth and shine.

I have a look below with the Pinkgasm – you can see it swatched on the face straight out of the tube and then blended out alone. For a more complete look you can add bronzer, contour, blush or whatever suits your mood. I applied it alone like a face swatch to give you a sense of how it looks on the skin just by itself. Beauty breakdown wearing:

Base: Magic Foundation in Shades 6 + 7 mixed (has fuller coverage compared to Light Wonder)
Powder: Airbrush Flawless Finish in 2
Eyeshadows: Eyes to Mesmerize in Rose Gold + Eye Palette in Pillow Talk
Eyeliner: Rock n Kohl in Barbarella Brown
Mascara: Legendary Lashes 2 in Black
Cheeks: Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm
Lips: Prep with the Collagen Lip Bath, add Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk with Lip Cheat Liner in Pillow Talk on top

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Overall love and I give everything a solid thumbs up. As one who loves a good glow I think you really can’t go wrong with either palette. If you have medium to deep skin, opt for Lovegasm for a more complete look. Lightgasm is really pretty as well but will be more like a highlighting glow palette. I hope the three beauty looks give you ideas on how to coordinate the colors! I think both are very versatile to wear with any kind of lip or eye. Charlotte Tilbury has a wide range of neutral lips alongside bolder bright shades.

I think these will be perfect all summer long. I was initially worried they might be too glowy but the finish is really pretty and easy to blend out. Textures and finishes are going to also be perfect for warm weather months as they adhere to the skin really well and stay put!

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Collection out at Nordstrom now. If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out their Gift With Purchase options as well!

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. All items purchased by me. As always all opinions my own.

56 Comments

Packing

Away Travel Mini Cases Are Back!

May 9, 2019

The cutest Away Mini Travel Cases are back for a limited time! I’ve been writing about these since 2016 and am completely obsessed. The minis are typically launch only during the holiday season and sell out very quickly – if you missed out here’s another peek at them. They retail for $35 each just for the case itself and right now come in the core colors. These are hard zip cases with a mesh pouch in the interior and measure approximately 7″ x 5″ x 3″ – they’re nice to store things you don’t want to get smushed when traveling like small hair brushes, sunglasses, beauty essentials etc. You can find them right now online at AwayTravel.com (under their Gifts and Extras section).

The cases are versatile for a wide range of things. I don’t just use these for travel. I use them for weekend day trips, going to the beach, etc. They’re nice and compact and perfect for carrying inflight essentials. If I’m flying to be safe I put all my liquids I’m carrying on the plane into a quart size zip loc back before putting them into the hard case to make sure it will be within the quart size limit. Pulling one image from the archives below:

A peek at past trips when I brought my Away mini with me. Also shown on a shelfie and with other things for scale. They’re pretty sturdy and easy to clean on the outside – just use a Magic Eraser and warm water and it cleans up perfectly!

A number of you asked me how the Away Mini compares to the Truffle Jetset Clarity Case. They’re both excellent for travel – it just depends on your packing style and preference. The benefit of the Away Mini is that it has a hard shell so it will protect things better than a leather zip pouch. However the Truffle Jetset is a little bigger around and shorter in depth so you can fit longer things.

Away Mini ($35, seasonal)

hard exterior
zip closure
measures 7″ x 5″ x 3″
has one mesh pocket

Truffle Clarity Jetset ($88, permanent)

leather exterior trim with clear top and base
zip closure
softer but still structured
measures 7 1/2” L X 5 1/4” H X 2″ W
one open compartment

Open so you can see the insides:

A few of my favorite travel beauty picks:

I’ve traveled with both on numerous occasions. Each one has their benefits for carrying on the plane or for travel. I do think the Away Mini is more budget friendly and they make really cute gifts. I’ve bought one for so many of my friends and family. It makes me so happy to hear and see how they use them for even just everyday things. My brother keeps his everyday essentials (like contact solution, etc.) in the Away case in his backpack. Some of you have told me you keep your essential travel documents like passport or other papers inside for easy access when you travel.

They just came back in stock for a limited time. If you have these on your wishlist I recommend buying soon! I just ordered a few more colors to stock up for gifts. For now they’re available just with the case alone. I’m hoping they’ll also bring them back during the holiday with sets like they have in the past!

The Away Mini is available only at Away Travel online and in their free-standing stores.

Away mini gifted. Truffle Jetset purchased by me.

15 Comments

Chanel

Chanel Les Beiges 2019 Collection Review

May 7, 2019

Chanel’s 2019 edition for their Les Beiges Makeup Collection has launched and it has some beautiful pieces for the beauty lover who wants a natural look. Focus is on a barely there tint for the complexion with a new face tint and powder along with new shades for eyes and lips. In this launch:

Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint ($65 for 30 ml/1 fl oz)
Les Beiges Exclusive Creation Healthy Glow Sheer Powder ($58 for 12 g/0.42 oz)
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm ($25 for 3 g/0.1 oz), new shade Intense
Les Beiges Natural Eyeshadow Collection Les Indispensables ($70 for 9 shades)

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Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint

I’ve been getting so many questions about this new base called the Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint! It’s a very sheer clear gel base with tiny pigment droplets suspended inside. It comes with a pump dispenser and brush. When you buff it into the skin the droplets burst to feel like a water burst and this gives the skin a barely-there glow. This is a lightweight hydrating gel that feels fresh like skincare but isn’t sticky. It has a subtle scent to it much like the Hydra Beauty Skincare Line does but isn’t overpowering.

Finish is sheer and very glowy to give the skin a luminous finish, much like a glowy moisturizer. Chanel suggests using it three ways: as a primer underneath foundation, alone for a bare-skin effect, or as a touch up over foundation to add glow or even out the complexion. Below a closer look at the product straight out of the pump. The right side has 2 pumps and I lightly smoothed it out with fingers so you could get a better sense of how the pigment is suspended – once you actually buff it into the skin the pigment drops blend out.

I tried it a few different ways: alone with powder to set and also as a primer with their Sublimage Le Teint on top. I think it gives the skin a beautiful very natural glow and even though it’s a gel it stays put all day without sliding off the skin or separating. I think it’s going to be a great one for hot humid months to follow. The brush is a really nice one to use for this!

There are six shades available and I found Medium is the best for me right now although it’s so sheer I can also get away with using Medium Plus although it is noticeably deeper on my face and gives me a sunkissed glow.

If you need any coverage this is not going to be the product for you. My freckles and sun spots show through completely even with layering. The formula in the beige rectangular packaging Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Moisturizing Tint will offer more coverage but still be very sheer/natural on the skin. If you want more coverage but want that dewy finish their CC Cream is excellent. Since this tint is a Gel I only tried it on top of lotion-like sunscreens like the Tom Ford one. I’m going to have to experiment with it more, but I feel like it will not layer well on top of matte finishes. I’m going to re-order the Chanel UV Essential at some point to test on top as well.

Just the tint in Medium all over on the face (also have brow powder on, but everything else is my bare face):

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Les Beiges Exclusive Creation Healthy Glow Sheer Powder

There are seven shades of their new Les Beiges Exclusive Creation Healthy Glow Sheer Powder. I’m not entirely sure if this is supposed to be the same as the original Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour just in different packaging or if it’s truly different. The original has SPF 15 labeled on the product while the new 2019 version does not. I have three colors of the new formula that I tested and swatched.

The new 2019 version seems to have a stiffer texture with a more powdery dry finish while the original feels softer. Both are similar in finish and corresponding color although I do notice the new ones seem to have a more matte feel. Color-wise the shades are really close. When applied with the brush or any powder brush it has a sheer enough finish so the new vs original colors will look the same. When swatched with a heavy hand using an eyeshadow brush I see very slight color variations between the original and 2019 version.

Both perform well to give that barely there smoothed out glow look without being overly powdery. It has a satin semi-matte finish and I use these as setting powders. You can use the brush it comes with for a softer glow or for touch ups. I prefer a larger fluffy powder brush to set or contour. My shades are 20 and 30 mixed for setting (I’m in between colors). 40 is a good one for me to warm up the skin or contour. You can still find the original ones online. If I had to pick which one I think is better I feel like I prefer the original.

The new ones take a little bit of breaking in to get going. I’ve used older Chanel powder brushes and the MAC 140S works well too.

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Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm

The Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm is a tinted glossy balm with pretty good color payoff. There are three shades that launched last year which you can see reviewed here. This year they added a new shade called Intense which is a deeper berry red. To me this feels more like a fall shade, but it’s still a classic kind of Parisian chic kind of color. These are really nice on the lips. Hydrating, smooth, glossy and they don’t slide off or feel heavy. Lasting power is very good for a balm, you will need to reapply and they will transfer but they fade nicely.

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Les Beiges Natural Eyeshadow Collection Les Indispensables

This Les Beiges Eyeshadow Palette is the star of the collection in my opinion and I think it’s a must-have. It has all the perfect neutrals in one palette and having 9 shades makes it super easy to wear. I’m hoping they make it permanent because it’s truly perfect for everyday. It has a mix of satins and shimmers. Pigment is excellent and smooth. Colors layer beautifully and I feel like there is enough variation so the colors look different on the lids when you apply.

Colors include a shimmering champagne, soft satiny warm brown, soft neutral brown, shimmery deeper champagne, sparkling silver, satiny soft grey brown, shimmering gold, deep shimmery brown, shimmering deep brown copper.

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Application of the Water Fresh Tint and Healthy Glow Sheer Powders

Final look wearing:

Les Beiges Eau de Teint in Medium all over face
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No 20 (new version) all over to set
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No 40 (new version) to bronze
Brow Powder Duo in Brun
Les Indispensables Eyeshadow Palette on Eyes
Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Intense
Linen Tank from J.Crew
Nail Polish is Le Vernis in Afterglow (part of the Cruise Collection, review soon!)

One last look:

Overall a solid thumbs up. There are some staple pieces that are nice for everyday. I think the eyeshadow palette is a must even with all the other neutral palettes out there right now. It’s a beautiful one with easy to wear neutrals for a soft or smokey neutral eye look.

I really like the look and finish of the Water Fresh Tint but love it as a primer for fuller coverage foundations like their Sublimage Le Teint. It gives the skin a glow but to me feels more like a skincare gel with a slight tint rather than a base. If you are looking for any kind of coverage this is going to be too sheer for you. I’m always surprised at the split in foundation preference from my readers. Some of you absolutely need medium to full coverage bases while others tell me you really don’t wear any foundation at all!

I’m undecided about the new 2019 Les Beiges powders. I think they perform well and are going to be nice just like the originals but the texture is different. I’m just a little confused on whether or not they are the same or different just without the SPF. The difference in the finish and color is almost indistinguishable – the newer ones just feel a little more stiff in the pan and more matte.

In case you missed it don’t forget to check out my Mother’s Day Gift Guide if you need gift ideas! Other reviews coming up soon on the blog including Cruise 2019, the New Eye Collection and Matte Match as well.

You can find the Chanel Les Beiges 2019 collection out now, available at Chanel.com and all Chanel beauty counters.

Have you checked out this collection yet? What did you think?

Some pieces featured are press samples including Water Fresh Tint in Medium Light, Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Intense, Sheer Powder 40 and Les Indispensables Eye Palette. All other colors purchased by me.

23 Comments

Hauls Sephora

Sephora Haul Picks Skin, Hair + Makeup

May 6, 2019

I have a quick haul post for what I picked up from Sephora! I still have some things in my online cart for products we could not find in our store but these are the skincare, hair care and other beauty picks both Andrew and I bought during the spring bonus event. It ends today Monday May 6th so there’s still time to shop! Details for the tiers on their Beauty Insider page for details on how to join. Discounts as follows:

Rouge Members get 20% off, 4/26 through 5/6 with code HEYROUGE
VIB Members get 15% off, 5/2 through 5/6 with code HEYVIB
BI Members get 10% off, 5/2 through 5/6 with code HEYINSIDER

With the exception of our restocks I haven’t been able to test most of the makeup products. Reviews to follow as soon as I can but I have a lot already pre-planned to post for this week so the swatches for the lip products most likely won’t be up until sometime next week.

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Skin + Hair Picks: Sabrina’s and Andrew’s

I still remember distinctly when Andrew refused to go into Sephora with me. Anytime we were shopping together he would see me walk towards the store and say, “meet me at (x place) when you’re done.” He’s always been a well-groomed person but I can’t express how happy it makes me that in the past couple of years he has taken a bigger interest in skincare and taking care of our health and wellness. These days he goes in the store with me to shop the skincare areas and wanders off to do his own browsing.

Above left are my picks which includes restock on Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen, Christophe Robin Shade Variation Hair Mask in Warm Chestnut (love love love this!), Olaplex No 6 Bond Smoother and Tatcha Silk Canvas mini. I bought the Glamglow Bubble Sheet Mask because I had one before but lost it and never tried it. I also picked up the Smashbox Studio Flawless Concealer in Light Medium Warm and the Farsali Rose Gold 24K Skin Mist – it has gold flecks inside! I used some points for an Amika Perk Up Mini Dry Shampoo.

Above right are what Andrew picked out including the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream (mini), First Aid Beauty Acne Clearing Pads, Farmacy Clean Bee Cleanser (this one is for both of us), Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior Serum (his second bottle because it’s one of the few serums that doesn’t have a thick or sticky finish), Fresh Black Tea Eye Serum, Sephora Collection 3-in-1 Extractor and Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment (another restock for him).

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Fenty Beauty Picks

I’ve been really loving Fenty Beauty the more and more I try from the line. I bought two highlighters in the Killawatt Freestyle in Afternoon Snack/Mo Hunny and Foil Freestyle Highlighter in Penny4uthots. I tried the duo today and think it’s so so pretty. I also picked up the two lightest matte Sun Stalk’r Bronzers in Inda Sun and Shady Bix. I haven’t had a chance to try them yet but took a quick peek at them in store. I’ve been really interested in the Pro Filter Powder but the testers look so chalky in store on my hand. I opted for a mini in Cashew which I have on my face right now and it’s too dark but could possibly work in the summer for me. I’m not sure if I’ll go back for the lighter shades. From Charlotte Tilbury I bought one of the Glowgasm Highlighters in Peach (ordered the rest online).

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Lip Haul Picks

I spotted two new Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lips and picked the lighter shade East Coast Slay. It’s a pale nude yellowish beige cream. I also saw the new Hourglass Unreal Lip Glosses and wanted every single color. I bought 5 in Ignite, Truth, Prose, Canvas and Cosmic. I tested Truth yesterday and really like it – it’s smooth and not sticky with good coverage. Has a minty scent to it but not really plumping on me (no tingle). I’ll keep you posted! I also opted for one of the Dior Stellar Shine in D-Galaxy. I had high hopes for these but none of the other colors really spoke to me. If you think there are any that I should check out let me know in the comments!

My haul picks:

Still in my cart:

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That wraps up my Sephora haul! I think I might order a few more of the Hourglass Lip Glosses even though I don’t need anymore. The Sephora Beauty Insider Event ends tonight – what did you end up hauling?

11 Comments

Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona Biba Eyeshadow Palette Review

May 5, 2019

Natasha Denona launched her beautiful Biba Eyeshadow Palette ($129) and it’s a beautiful! It’s an all neutral 15-pan eyeshadow palette with a mix of satins, shimmers and mattes (no glitters). It has a very unique powder texture that feels satiny and soft to the touch. Pigment is excellent across the board with very easy to blend textures. Biba pulls neutral but still has a mix of warm neutral and cool neutrals – there are enough colors in here to give you a wide range of complete eye looks. You can find it now at Sephora and Beautylish.

I’ve played with this palette for about a week now and think it’s a beautiful option for those who want a little bit of everything in a neutral palette. Lasting power is really good – stays put on top of a cream shadow base, doesn’t budge and layers beautifully.

Colors include:

Rustic is a metallic bronzey shimmer (LOVE this one)
Prairie is a matte mustard brown
Coco is a satin matte brown
Freckle is a neutral peachy matte
Shine shimmery champagne gold
Pasha is a matte reddish brick brown
Monroe is a shimmering champagne
Rayon is a satiny soft pink
Buff is a matte satin warm antique pink
Tone is a warm brick matte satin brown
Seed is a matte chocolate deep brown
Tor is a soft matte grey
Sculpture is a pale light grey matte
Spot is a matte deep black smokey color
Tusk is the perfect light beige matte

I swatched the palette and just realized I forgot to include one shade Coco (dark matte brown, third one on top row). I’ll re-swatch larger swatches once I receive my replacement camera flash in the mail (that was the item that broke), but you can scroll down for all 15 shades in the comparison photo.

14 of the 15 shades (will be updated, my apologies!)

I did a poll on Instagram stories asking which palette you wanted me to review, this one or the new Chanel. It was really close and most of you preferred a review of the Chanel Les Beiges Les Indispensables instead. I will have a full Les Beiges review coming up very soon but here are quick side by sides if you want a look:

Some of my camera equipment broke this past week so I wasn’t able to shoot detailed looks. I managed one on the eyes with a layered mix of Shine, Pasha, Coco and Buff.

Also wearing:

Natasha Denona Transformatte Foundation in 30W (review here)
Hourglass Veil Translucent Powder
Natasha Denona Diamond Blush and Glow Palette in Darya on cheeks (review here)
Hourglass Unreal Lipgloss in Truth (review soon)
Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown

Bottom line a solid A+. It’s beautiful, performs well, blends and layers with perfection and has every color you can think of for any neutral eye look. There are also enough colors that can take your neutral look to the next level for a smokey neutral too!

The Natasha Denona Biba Eyeshadow Palette runs at $129 for 15 shadows. You can find it now at Sephora and Beautylish. If you’re shopping the Sephora Beauty Insider Event this is a beautiful one to splurge and save on!

It ends tomorrow May 6th with the following codes:

Rouge Members receive 20% off purchases with code HEYROUGE
VIBs receive 15% off with code HEYVIB
Beauty Insiders receive 10% off with code HEYINSIDER

Have you tried any of Natasha Denona’s eyeshadow palettes? If you’ve been waiting for a neutral non-glittery one this is a great one to check out!

Natasha Denona Biba provided for review. One also purchased by me.

7 Comments

Beauty Favorites Sales Sephora

Top 25 Makeup Must-Haves in My Weekly Beauty Routine From Sephora

May 2, 2019

The Sephora Beauty Insider Spring Bonus Event opens up to all Beauty Insiders today! It’s available both online and in stores now through 5/6 with the following codes:

Rouge Members receive 20% off purchases with code HEYROUGE
VIBs receive 15% off with code HEYVIB
Beauty Insiders receive 10% off with code HEYINSIDER

If you’re not a Beauty Insider yet you can still join (details here). You’ll get access to events and beauty rewards as you accumulate points with all your purchases. Last week I rounded up my go-to skincare and haircare favorites. Today I’m excited to partner with Sephora to share my Top 25 makeup go-to’s that I use every week. As a beauty blogger I frequently rotate products as I test and review the newest launches. Still many of you want to know what my daily staples are. While I don’t use the same things everyday I do have a handful of products that are in my beauty routine every week without fail. Here are my Top 25!

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Base

The base products I use every week include the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (1) for a luminous natural glow, Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation (2) for the longest lasting matte full coverage, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (3) for the best brightening under eye concealer and my beautyblender (4) to give me a flawless seamless foundation application. To add a glow to the base I really love the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter (5). I use it both underneath or on top of foundation to highlight places I want a little more glow.

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Prime

For primers I often rotate depending on what base I use. Whenever someone asks me “what’s the best primer?” my answer is dependent on what base you use. It’s best to use something that’s compatible, ie oil free primers with oil free bases etc. My most-used primer is the Tatcha Silk Canvas (6). It helps keep everything in place on my face and works with most of my foundations. They now have it in a mini size which I just bought! I’m restocking on the full size because I’m nearly out of my larger one.

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Set

Long-time readers can guess what my favorite setting powders are because you will usually see the same powders used in every single makeup breakdown. For loose powder my top picks are Laura Mercier Translucent Loose (7) and Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (8). Both work to set every kind of liquid or cream foundation without looking cakey or heavy. They keep everything looking soft and matte without looking dry. For pressed powders I swear by the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish (9) for a perfect blurred finish and the La Mer Pressed in Light or Medium (10) for a sheer natural finish.

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Blush

I like to keep things glowy and soft for blush on most days so I prefer blushes that have a little shimmer and glow mixed in. For the person who is afraid to wear blush the Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic (11) blushes are really perfect. They have two shades in each compact to give you depth and dimension without looking overdone. My most-worn shade is Love Glow which is a perfect pinky peach. If you want a nude opt for First Love (best nude blush ever) or Pillow Talk for that perfect pinky brown flush. I also love layering Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes (12) on because they have highlighter and pigment in one. Incandescent Electra is my go-to soft coral.

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Eyes

My go-to eye makeup products are the ones that are easy to use. For brows I alternate between the Diorshow Brow Styler (13) in Universal Brown or Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (14) in Medium Brown or Caramel (depending on my highlights). They come with a spoolie at the end to brush out. I love that they have a twist up format so no sharpening required! I also use the Hourglass Arch Fiber Brow Gel (15) on a regular basis to groom and fill in brows without looking too heavy.

For eyeshadows I swear by the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks (16). I use these almost daily as an all over base for powder shadows or just on easy makeup days for an all over wash. Rose Gold and Copper are the best shades for me! I also really love the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Shadow (17) in Bette. It’s the perfect shimmering gold for a lid color.

For eyeshadow palettes my go-to’s have changed over the years from neutral to more neutral warm. Since moving to Florida and getting more tan I find I’ve gravitated towards warmer colors! My top two palettes are Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Honeymoon (18) which is my second one because I’ve used it so much and hit pan and the new Natasha Denona Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette (19) which I’ve used every week since discovering it. Both offer a complete eye look with light and deep shades.

The best shimmer shadow is the Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadows (20). Anytime someone asks me what my shimmer shadow is, it’s usually one of these layered on top of powder shadow for that added glow! I think every color is a must-have. I bought every single one and love them but the two colors that get the most compliments are Blaze and Smoke.

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Lips

I’m a neutral lip lover at heart and prefer gloss for a shiny luminous glow. My most-used colors and products include the Pat McGrath LUST Gloss (21) in Faux Real (although all of her shades are really incredible), Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow (22), Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip in Lychee Baby (23), Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk (24) and the Lip Cheat Lip Pencil in Pillow Talk (25).

Below wearing the Pillow Talk Liner, adding Fenty Glow on the right:

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That wraps up my most-used go-to makeup products that I have in rotation every single week! Some product categories are missing because I rotate each week and can’t commit to just one or two! For example I probably alternate highlighters the most frequently because sometimes I like liquid, other days I prefer powder. Same goes for eyeliner, mascara, etc.

I hope you enjoyed this makeup roundup! I can share what I ended up hauling if you’re interested (let me know in the comments)! In the meantime here is what I plan on hauling during the Beauty Insider event. I already picked up a few things but will probably make one more stop for some more things to try.

To recap, event is going on both in stores and online at Sephora:

Rouge Members receive 20% off purchases with code HEYROUGE
VIBs receive 15% off with code HEYVIB
Beauty Insiders receive 10% off with code HEYINSIDER

Shop my favorites in this post, face, cheeks and eyes:

Favorites for lips:

Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post! Press samples featured include the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose, Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip, Pat McGrath LUST Gloss, Hourglass Veil Powder. As always all opinions my own.

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Highlighters NARS

NARS Orgasm Collection – Summer 2019 Review + Swatches

May 1, 2019

NARS launched another Orgasm Collection this year with new additions to the line. I have swatches of everything plus a few makeup looks to share today! The collection is available at Sephora and NARS Cosmetics:

Orgasm Blush ($40) in an oversized metallic rose compact
Orgasm Liquid Highlighter ($30) a sheer shimmery illuminator in liquid drops form
Oil-Infused Lip Tint ($26) a color adjusting lip oil that adds a lush pink glow
Endless Orgasm Palette ($49) six satiny creams that have varying degrees of shimmer for an ultra dewy look, can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks

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Orgasm Blush 2019

This year’s Orgasm Blush is similar to last year’s version in the sense that it has a slightly deeper rosy sheen than the regular compact. It also looks a little more glowy on the face but isn’t overly frosty. For me this kind of rose warm gold color is really easy to wear to add warmth and glow to the face. I’ve swatched 3 different powder Orgasm blushes and to me they’re all slightly different in color and shimmer. When viewed at arm’s length they may look pretty much the same. If you can’t do the NARS blush texture (some of you have told me you’re allergic) you might want to check out Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in Ecstasy which is similar but slightly warmer (also softer in texture and not as shimmery).

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Liquid Highlighter

There’s a new product called the Orgasm Liquid Highlighter. It’s a warm rose gold shimmer in the bottle but on my face applies more neutral – the sparkles show up more making it a little more neutral. The shape of the bottle is similar to the Orgasm Liquid Blush, but the highlighter comes with a dropper and is quite sheer. It has a thin texture that is very fluid. One drop applied with fingers will give you a very pretty shimmery soft glow. I really love this on the face for that barely there glow. Some of you will find it too sheer in which case I’d recommend you try a few other colors I’ve swatched below including the NARS Highlighting Powder, CoverFX Custom Drops or Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighter. Colors aren’t quite the same but I found the closest ones I could.

Extra glow with the Liquid Highlighter and Orgasm 2019 blush layered together. For a more wearable look with less intense glow all you need to do is take a clean powder brush and buff/blend out the color. Also wearing the:

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder in 2
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
Endless Orgasm Palette on eyes
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero
Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint
Top from J.Crew (actually a beach coverup)

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Oil-Infused Lip Tint

My favorite item in the collection is the Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint. This applies clear on the lips but adjusts to a really pretty pink within 2-3 minutes. I have it shown on the arm after a few minutes and also applied on the lips. There’s no scent or taste. It has a very slight gold shimmer but isn’t frosty. It transforms into such a pretty flushed pink on my lips. I love that it is super hydrating without feeling like it’s going to slide off the lips.

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Endless Orgasm Palette

Finally I have a look at the Endless Orgasm Palette. There are six cream shimmers that are sheer and emollient giving a very dewy finish. To the touch these creams feel very slippery. I have such mixed feelings about this palette. It looks so so pretty on the skin if you apply it with the right touch. I tested it on both the face and eyes alone and then layered with powder products. Alone it feels so emollient I don’t think it would last on my skin more than an hour without getting super dewy and sweaty looking. The products give a wet skin effect with how creamy they are. As soon as I swatched it I knew I would have to add powder to set and tone down the glow. I can improve the look when layered with any kind of powder blush or eyeshadow. The powder helps set the product and makes it grab onto the skin better. Indoors the product with powder layering lasted for a good 4-5 hours without budging but this makes it higher maintenance than I prefer.

I think it’s workable and beautiful as a soft dewy finishing highlight for either the eyes or cheeks. But it’s going to be either a strong hit or very strong miss for most of you. If you’re one who adores dewy products like the RMS Living Luminizer or the Chanel Baume Essentiel Stick I think you’ll really enjoy this palette. As much as I love the colors I don’t think it will be an easy one to wear outdoors for me especially in the Florida heat.

Colors include a shimmering pearl, shimmery rose mauve, shimmery pink, frosted pale pink, frosted copper and rosy gold shimmer.

Wearing the entire 2019 collection on the face, eyes and cheeks. Same breakdown for base, liner etc. as listed in the above makeup look photo.

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Overall really pretty, but formulas aren’t going to be for everyone. The liquid highlighter and palette will especially tricky for those with oily skin. The liquid highlighter has a nice dry down but it does have a glowy finish which I think will emphasize oily skin’s glow. The palette is so creamy and if you can’t do that extra dewy look this will be too glowy for you.

I really like this year’s Orgasm Blush although if you have previous launches it’s not a must-have. The Lip Oil is my favorite item in the whole collection. It gives a more flushed look compared to the Afterglow Balm for me (which I still love).

You can find the NARS Orgasm 2019 collection out now. Available at Sephora and NARS Cosmetics. Quick note I took a look online and a lot of items are sold out on Sephora’s website but if I click the store locator option and type in my zip code there’s still a lot of stock in stores near me. I’m hoping they restock online soon for those who don’t have a store near them!

Have you checked this collection out yet? What did you think? By popular request I will be reviewing the Charlotte Tilbury collection to test and compare. I’m ordering the products as soon as they hit the Sephora website!

NARS collection provided for review.

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NARS Orgasm Collection – Summer 2019 Review + Swatches

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