Brand Archives - The Beauty Look Book

Hourglass Phantom Blur Balm + Lip Liner Shade Extensions

August 5, 2026

Hourglass launched a new matte lip formula called the Phantom Blur Balm ($38 each) and shade extensions for their Shape and Sculpt Lip Liners ($29 each). They sent the new items for review and I think there are some shades definitely worth checking out.

Phantom Blur Balm

I’m please to report the Phantom Blur Balms are ultra smooth on the lips and for me they don’t emphasize lines. The colors did darken a little on my lips but I think the tones on most of the shades are smooth and great for everyday wear. I am not always a fan of matte or velvet lip formulas but the Blur formula and tones are beautiful for sure. Since I’m a gloss girl at heart, I still prefer the Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balms for that lush glossy shine.

Spell is a warm nude beige

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Whisper is a mauve pink

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Echo is a pink neutral (my favorite)

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Enigma is a tan brown rosewood shade

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Mirage is a brown berry (this one pulls a little uneven on my lips)

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Also wearing:

Foundation – Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint Shade 9
Powder – Veil Translucent Loose Powder
Blush – Unreal Liquid Blush in Scene (review also here)
Eyeshadow – YSL Couture Mini Clutch Luxury Eyeshadow Palette 710 Over Brun
Eyeliner – Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Obsidian
Mascara – Hourglass Unlocked Mascara
Nail Polish – OPI I’m a Bubble Bunny

They don’t seem to have the same volumizing plumping factor the glossy version does yet for some reason the blurred matte finish makes my lips look full. Coverage is medium but layerable. They have a comfortable weightless feel on the lips, almost like a whipped airy texture but in a balm form.
I tried these over the lip liners which definitely extend the wear time as the pencils are very long wearing.

Shape and Sculpt Lip Liner (New Shades)

When the Shape and Sculpt Lip Pencils originally launched I wasn’t a fan of the shades I bought (review here). I have naturally darker pigmented lips and most lip pencils simply don’t show up on my lips. Also the shades I originally picked up all pulled very warm and I am really happy to see a few more neutral colors. These are ultra long-wear on the lips. I swatched Phantom Lip Blur + Lip Pencil pairings on the lips on Instagram here, but for the blog here are the swatches of the new shades alongside a few from the current lineup.

Tease 1.5 the perfect pink rose
Obsess 4.5 a deeper berry mauve
Strut 8 is a deep brown

You can find the new lip launches now at Hourglass Cosmetics, Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty and all Hourglass retailers.

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Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona Newness: Tan Eyeshadow Palette, Hy-Gloss + More

July 1, 2026

I’m catching up on some Natasha Denona launches! She launched some beautiful things this year and I did a few quick features on Instagram but wanted to add a few more thoughts and more swatch comparisons here.

Tan Eyeshadow Palette

The Tan Eyeshadow Palette ($72) is my dream palette come true! These are the exact colors I want to wear every single day. It has a stunning mix of soft beige tones, bronze taupes, sparkly toppers and rich browns. I’ve been wearing this nearly a month and it’s the one I’ve been reaching for EVERY SINGLE DAY.

A lot of you wanted swatches next to I Need a Warm and her Glam Palette. I have side by sides below. I Need a Warm is definitely a lot warmer in undertone but what surprises me is that on my medium tan skintone I don’t find it warm. I actually find it pulls neutral on my complexion. Tan by comparison is definitely more neutral, almost cool-toned on me. A lot of you asked for a side by side to her classic Glam palette which I always found pulled very cool-toned on me.

Tan vs I Need a Warm

Tan vs Glam

This year my top 2 palettes have been the Natasha Denona Tan and YSL Nude Hours which I was really sad to learn was limited-edition. I bought it when it launched and it sold out before I even had a chance to review/swatch but I really hope they bring it back.

If you want a more edited smaller version I also love the YSL Couture Mini Clutch in 710 Over Brun and just bought the 310 Exotic Mirage to try. But quick note: the YSL quads are $69 each for 5 g while the Natasha Denona Palette is $72 for 17.75g and has more variety.

Hy-Gloss Launch

Earlier in the spring Natasha Denona launched her Hy-Gloss Tinted Lip Gloss Balm ($28 each) along with coordinating Lip Liners ($25 each) and two new shades of Hy-Blush Duos ($42).

The Hy-Gloss was recalled because of an issue with the scent in the formula. According to their PR team “Our signature vanilla scent was affected during the production process in which the bulk was overworked and resulted in a burnt scent, which was not intended.” So they recalled the affected shades. They have since fixed the issue although I did not detect any weird smell in them.

The Hy-Gloss is a thick cushiony gloss formula that feels very lush on the lips. While I didn’t find it super tacky or sticky, it is on the thick side. I really love the formula and the shades are beautiful.

Below are side by side swatches of the gloss and her recommended pencil pairings. I think her Lip Pencils are highly under-rated. They’re creamy and glide on the lips and once they set they are SUPER long lasting.

She also added two new Hy-Blush shades in Lush Lila which is a really pretty unique lilac duo. Nude Muse is the most perfect nude combo. Each duo has a cream highlighter and a cream blush. While I really love these they’re not long lasting in the hot summer months as they are dewy and very creamy. I can extend the wear if I set with a powder and they will wear nicely through a date night or dinner out. But if you live in a humid or hot area these will end up looking extra dewy within a few hours.

Overall the Tan Eyeshadow Palette is a solid win for me. I love the neutral tones and after playing with this extensively I can say that I have used every shade in the palette and every single one performs exceptionally well.

You can find these out now at Sephora, Kohl’s, Revolve and Natasha Denona.

Chanel

Chanel Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss

June 21, 2026

Chanel revamped their iconic gloss into a new formula called the Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss ($45 each). As a long time Chanel fan I was thrilled to be invited to preview these at the Chanel Beauty Boutique in Brickell Miami.

OG beautylookbook readers might remember that Chanel sparked my very first blog post back in 2009 with the Celestial Lights Glossimers (RIP). Chanel Beauty will forever hold a special place in my heart. For those who have stuck around thank you so very much! My 20-something self would have never dreamed that this would turn into my career.

I shared some more from the event here. If you’re in Miami this summer I think it’s a super cute pop up to visit!

The new Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss is better than I could have imagined! I didn’t think they could top the last formula but somehow they have. It’s bittersweet to have so many beautiful shades discontinued and I still keep hoping they bring back some of the original shades from many years ago (ie Seashell, Unity, Blizzard, etc.) The new formula is close to the last one but definitely upgraded. It’s somehow smoother with a slightly thinner texture. Very hydrating but doesn’t slide off the lips. Glossy with a high shine. I personally find the pigment to be slightly more opaque with most of the shades I tried.

The Chanel team gifted us three shades in a pouch at the event, but because I have no self control I ended up buying quite a few to bring home with me. I think every single color is wearable. I still have a few more on my wish list, but for now here is a look at what I bought.

Lip swatches below, also wearing:

Foundation – Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation BD41
Concealer – Chanel Les Beiges Serum Concealer in B30
Bronzer – Chanel Health Glow Bronzing Cream 392
Blush – Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Blush in Sorbet
Eyeshadow – Les Beiges Eyeshadow Palette in Soft
Mascara – Chanel Les Beiges Mascara in 30 Black
Nail Polish – Chanel Le Vernis in 415 Solstice (3 coats)
Dress – Reformation Demi Linen Dress

Cristal is a sparkly semi sheer iridescent pink, no texture of gritty feel with the sparkle

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Charms is the perfect baby pink, it’s medium-sheer but shows up well

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Impertinente is a caramel shade (Accessoire is close but more nude)

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Bijou is the shade the ROUGE COCO HYDRA GLOSS Voice Analyzer said was my match based on my voice, I really love this one!

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Reflet is a pale sheer lavender pink

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Superposition is the prettiest peach with some gold shimmer

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Solaire is a reddish coral

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Fabuleuse is the sheerest one, it’s a pale yellow, but looks like clear gloss

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I didn’t have time to lip swatch them all but I hope this gives you a good sense of what the colors look like!

I am 100% obsessed. I already can’t wait for more colors to be released for future collections. They also have new Le Vernis nail colors and the Summer Nights Collection out. I don’t know how soon I’ll be able to swatch or review but I think the nail colors are really beautiful.

You can also see the new Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss in action on the lips here.

If you have an SA you can purchase from or a Chanel Beauty Boutique near you they are selling a gloss case separately that fits 2 lip glosses inside.

Available now at Chanel.com, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Ulta Beauty and all Chanel retailers.

Dior

Dior Backstage Makeup – New Shade Extensions

May 23, 2026

Dior added new shades in their Backstage Makeup Lineup and I think every single color is a 10. There are four new coordinating colors in the Addict Lip Glow Butter ($42), Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick ($44) and Backstage Rosy Glow Blush ($42). New shades available now at Dior.com and Sephora.

There is also a new Backstage Glassy Glow Stick ($44) which I passed on for now – but if you’ve tried it let me know your thoughts!

There are four new shades in each formula:

106 Pomelo is a light soft peachy pink
107 Dragonfruit is a light mauve pink lilac
108 Guava is a hot bright warm pink
109 Goji is a berry with brown tones

Addict Lip Glow Butter

The Addict Lip Glow Butters are beautiful in the new shades. I still stand by my original review that the formula, pigment and color with this gloss is outstanding, but I do wish they would give us more product for the price.

Out of all four shades I like Guava the best. The lighter ones are really sheer on me and I find the need to constantly remind readers or new followers that I have naturally darker pigmented lip tone so a lot of sheer or lighter tones look drastically different on me.

Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick

The Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Sticks are ultra bold and bright with a swatch straight out of the tube but if you’ve played with this formula before, you know that it sheers to a softer finish once you blend it. These are balmy and glowy with very little dry down. They remain dewy looking but out of all the dewy cream blushes, this one is my favorite.

I usually set with a powder blush on top to make it last longer. I also find that the cream blush sticks help bring out the pigment in some powders. So many of you asked for swatch comparisons, so here they are in the stick formula.

Backstage Rosy Glow Blush (Powder)

I prefer the Backstage Rosy Glow Blush formula over the Blush Stick for lasting power. The colors are buildable so you can have a softer cheek look or more pigmented finish if you layer. The Powder vs Stick colors are close but they’re not quite identical mainly because of the color payoff but also the undertones are just the slightest bit different.

I really love every single color in the powder. I love that they have the tiniest bit of shimmer which gives it a pretty glow.

Four coordinated looks below with the matching lip and cheek. Also have a look with the powder vs the stick on the cheeks.

Pomelo

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Dragonfruit

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Guava

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Goji

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Bottom line LOVE. New shades available now at Dior.com and Sephora.

Bronzer + Blush Westman Atelier

Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Creme

May 18, 2026

Westman Atelier launched a new cream bronzing duo called the Sun Tone Bronzing Creme ($75 each) along with a Blender Brush II ($85) designed specifically for this formula. I’ve been playing this for over a month now and can say this is the bronzer I’ve been reaching for the most these past few weeks. Available at Westman Atelier, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, Sephora.

There are four shade options available now. I picked up Soleil Parfait 1 and 2. The shade charts recommended 2 for me, but after swatching in store I decided to try multiple options. For her Vital Skin Foundation Stick, I still alternate between V, VI and VII – right now I am in between V and VI (always in between foundation shades!).

This is a hydrating cream bronzer that has a nice satin finish, so it glides on the skin nicely but doesn’t have that dewy finish (which I prefer). Formula is very easy to blend and while I really love the Blender II Brush, I think any brush will work. I usually like the Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush or Fenty Brush 195 to apply cheek products.

I know a lot of you really loved the Sun Tone Bronzing Drops. I have this in Soleil Parfait 2 and while I really like them, they aren’t always easy for me to blend. I think the Crème Duos are much easier to work with, they blend better and I like the solid cream compact style more.

Soleil Parfait 1 pulls more neutral/cool but still warms up the skin.

Soleil Parfait 2 is a deeper variation and warmer.

Right now I am just starting to get my summer tan back, so while I’ve been reaching for Shade 1 the past month, I think I will start using Shade 2 soon. If you’re my skin twin I think you can really opt for either one.

Swatches next to a few other cream bronzers (note that my arm is a lot lighter/cooler than my face). I was really surprised to find how warm some other bronzers pull compared to the Westman Atelier options.

Linking reviews for the other options swatched:

Chanel Les Beiges Cream Bronzers reviewed here
Westman Atelier Face Trace in Truffle on the face here
Dior Forever Skin Bronzing Balm review here

Overall love and I do think it’s worth the splurge. I still think the Dior Bronzer stick is a close tie in terms of ease of blending and exceptional formula but they are scented and I know a lot of you can’t do fragrance in your face products.

I do have the new Sarah Creal Just Like Paradise Bronzer Shade 2.5, Summer Fridays Bronzer Butter Balm and something new coming from Refy to test/compare. So if you’re debating between all the new launches this year, I will have a few more I’ll be testing soon.

You can find the Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Creme available at Westman Atelier, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, Sephora.

Chanel

Chanel Les Beiges Coastal Summer 2026

May 6, 2026

Chanel Beauty summer has arrived with their Les Beiges Coastal Summer Collection. I picked up a little bit of everything however I wasn’t able to find the Les Beiges Summer Essentials basket set before it sold out.

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Eyeshadow Palette

I think my favorite piece in this collection is the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Eyeshadow Palette in Soft ($77). It has the prettiest neutrals for just a hint of color, definition and glow. Pigment is on the softer side but I love the soft look! The texture is super soft.

Rouge Coco Flash

The Rouge Coco Flash is my favorite lip formula from Chanel right now and the three new summer shades have exceptionally good pigment! The new shades include Sweet (a neutral, my favorite), Zesty (tomato red) and Fruity (plum). Based on your feedback on this preview post, most of you seem to love the purple shade!

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Blush + Highlighter

I love trying new complexion glow products, especially things from the Les Beiges line for that no-makeup-makeup kind of effortless glow. However I am undecided about the new Les Beiges Healthy Glow Blush in Sorbet and the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Highlighter in Summer Gleam ($56 each). I absolutely LOVE the concept and colors but I found these a little difficult to apply and blend without wiping off my foundation.

There are 3 Les Beiges Healthy Glow Blush shades (one exclusive to that sold out set) and 2 individual options. I opted for Sorbet the pink which is the most beautiful shimmery pink.

There is one Les Beiges Healthy Glow Highlighter in Summer Gleam which is a pearlescent pale frosty pink shimmer. On me the color is pale so it looks almost white but in person you can see a subtle pink shift when the light hits.

I do like them if I apply just the blush, or if I mix the blush + highlighter on the back of my hand and then apply to the face. The blending effort is a little too much for me, but I think the colors are stunning.

New Le Vernis

There are two Le Vernis shades and your feedback surprised me! So many of you are in love with Garconne which matches my skin so close it gives mannequin hands. I’m personally not a fan but you girls love it! I think Baigneuse is such a fun blue! I will try it on the toes for my next pedicure.

Les Beiges Serum Concealer

Another new launch is the Les Beiges Serum Concealer ($53 each). This isn’t technically part of the Les Beiges color collection, but it is new for summer. I think this is one of the most beautiful glowy concealers I’ve ever tried. I tried both B30 and B40 in action here, I prefer B30 for my BD41 Chanel skintone. Quick swatches next to the Chanel Ultra Le Teint Concealer too, Ultra Le Teint shades in action here. I’m still working on my concealer roundup!

If you had your eye on anything everything I reviewed is out now at Chanel and all Chanel retailers like Nordstrom, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. The basket set appears to be sold out everywhere so if you were able to find it you are very lucky!

Did you pick up anything from this collection? What did you think? Do I need to try the Les Beiges mascara?

Dior

Dior Beauty Summer Collection 2026

April 23, 2026

Dior Beauty has my heart these days and the summer collection literally took my breath away. It seems that most of the pieces are limited-edition and by now the daisy compacts have sold out many places (I recommend checking your local counters or boutiques if you’re still searching for them).

Here are the details on everything I hauled with hits and misses.

Forever Nude Bronze Glow

The Forever Nude Bronze Glow Bronzing Powders ($60 each, Dior, Sephora and Selfridges) come in the most beautiful compact I think I have ever seen. The detailing on these is well worth the splurge in my opinion.

Both shades this season are very similar and also appear to be repeats with the names (and numbers). I don’t have Coral Bronze from previous seasons but I do have Pink Bronze and it looks identical on my skin.

Coral Bronze is just the slightest bit warmer on my skin while Pink Bronze is more neutral. Both have a luminous finish on me. There is an overspray on the surface but underneath is still a little bit glowy. I swatched them next to some existing Dior Forever Nude Bronze shades (review here).

I really love these and have no regrets with the splurge, but if you already own Dior bronzers from past seasons I think you can skip if you want to avoid duplicates/dupes.

Forever Glow Luminizer + Glow Maximizers

There are two highlighters in this launch. The Forever Glow Luminizer in Sun-Kissed is a luminescent champagne gold with micro sparkles ($60, Dior and Sephora). I think it’s beautiful even if I find the color and finish similar to other Dior highlighters.

Sun-Kissed pulls less sharp in the frost compared to Nude Halo (champagne) and also because Sun-Kissed is more peachy/golden it’s softer on my tan skin tone.

The Forever Glow Maximizer in Sunburst ($47, Dior, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s) is another stunning champagne gold. This one pulls sheerer in the frost/shimmer compared to others in this formula. I pulled the neutrals to swatch side by side. Sunburst is warmer and the sheererst. It has tiny glittery specks on the skin but it’s subtle.

Eyeshadow Palettes

There are two eyeshadow palettes in this collection. I picked up the neutral one 670 Sunset Bronze ($75, Dior, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s)and it is absolute perfection. You can see swatches of the blue one in my highlights here. 670 Sunset Bronze has all shimmers. They’re smooth in the finish, easy to blend and and the colors truly look like a sunset.

Diorshow Flash Stick

The product you have all been the most curious about is the new Diorshow Flash Eyeshadow Stick ($42 each, Dior, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Ulta Beauty). I have mixed feelings but I want to say first that I have very high standards for eyeshadow sticks and how they compare to Laura Mercier or Bobbi Brown, especially shimmers.

For some reason a lot of the cream shadows from other brands simply do not show up well on my lids. Once I blend, they almost always seem to disappear. This is the case with these new Dior Shadow Sticks for my eyes. They swatch SO beautifully on the hands but once on my eyes, they sheer out. They do show up on my eyes, they just don’t have the same impact once blended out.

I do really love the Beige Tulle which is a shimmery champagne (very sparkly). I prefer more impact or color. I do think these are worth checking out though, just because they didn’t wow me doesn’t mean they’re bad. I just usually can’t wear a lot of cream shadow sticks.

Addict Lip Maximizer

There are five new Addict Lip Maximizers ($42 each, Dior). Some of the shades appear to be exclusive to Dior.com but you can find some colors at other retailers like Nordstrom and Macy’s.

I think they’re all beautiful but I would say 053 Golden Hour and 072 Cerulean are a pass for me. Golden Hour is incredibly frosty and pale in an unflattering way and Cerulean is fun and trendy but also not the best look for my lips.

Nail Polish

Last we have a look at two new Dior Vernis Nail Colors ($34 each, Dior, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom) for summer.

Sunset is a shimmery champagne gold. It pulls more gold than champagne and matches my skin tone closely. I think it’s a pretty shade!

Azur is a fun pool blue with a tiny bit of shimmer in the bottle, but it applies more like a cream.

Overall a beautiful collection. I really love that after all these years Dior still continues to launch full seasonal beauty collections along with their mini launches.

Did you pick up anything from this launch? What did you think?

Older Posts

Brand

Hourglass Phantom Blur Balm + Lip Liner Shade Extensions

Phantom Blur Balm

Shape and Sculpt Lip Liner (New Shades)

Natasha Denona Newness: Tan Eyeshadow Palette, Hy-Gloss + More

Tan Eyeshadow Palette

Hy-Gloss Launch

Chanel Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss

Dior Backstage Makeup – New Shade Extensions

Addict Lip Glow Butter

Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick

Backstage Rosy Glow Blush (Powder)

Pomelo

Dragonfruit

Guava

Goji

Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Creme

Chanel Les Beiges Coastal Summer 2026

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Eyeshadow Palette

Rouge Coco Flash

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Blush + Highlighter

New Le Vernis

Les Beiges Serum Concealer

Dior Beauty Summer Collection 2026

Forever Nude Bronze Glow

Forever Glow Luminizer + Glow Maximizers

Eyeshadow Palettes

Diorshow Flash Stick

Addict Lip Maximizer

Nail Polish

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