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Eye Makeup NARS

NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows | Dione, Callisto, Himalia and Subra

July 11, 2014
I picked up four more NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows in Dione, Callisto, Himalia and Subra ($29 each). I’ve been using the more natural Europa and Andromeda on a regular basis for a natural glowy eye. The other shades in the line are more intense in color and sparkle. It was hard to narrow down my picks and I will probably pick up at least one more shade sometime in the future. All the colors are phenomenal in texture, pigment and lasting power. They have a sort of creamy finish but act like a powder. The texture makes these adheres well to to the skin and while I wouldn’t call them budge-proof, they last quite long without fading. 
  • Dione is a sparkly silvery taupe, it pulls very cool on my arm but on the lids it’s more neutral
  • Callisto is a very sparkly cool lilac champagne, it’s similar to Dione, but on me Callisto is more pinkish/lilac and paler in color
  • Himalia is a neutral warm and cool kind of gold, it has a warmish base but the shimmers are cool, on me it’s a neutral tan-nude golden color, it’s shimmery but not frosty
  • Subra is a dark purple, red, brown shimmer, it also has a subtle shimmer finish
Dione and Callisto are similar on my arm and in the pan but the difference is noticeable on the lids. Both have a high shimmer factor that borders on frost but aren’t too frosty. I was really happy to see that there was no fall out on the face during application or throughout the day. Himalia and Subra are shimmers as well but the shimmer is more subtle in finish.

Here they are swatched next to Europa and Andromeda. They are swatched dry with fingers.

Close ups of each shade show how they have a good base color and different colored shimmers. It gives these shadows a multi-dimensional look.

 
Some comparisons, two sets with:
MAC Coco Pigment (discontinued)
Tom Ford Platinum Cream Color (discontinued)

Chanel Magic Night Eyeshadow (discontinued)

Huge thumbs up. The Dual-Intensity shadows have a really smooth pigmented finish. They apply easily with fingers or a brush. I’ve found them extremely versatile – you can wear these alone with a liner, layered together, under or over powder shadows. The uses are really endless. Applying with a damp brush intensifies the color. Between Dione and Callisto, I prefer Dione because it has less contrast with my skin and therefore looks less frosty.
The Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows retail for $29 each. There are currently twelve color options and every color looks amazing. I bought mine from Nordstrom.
Have you purchased any yet? What are your favorite colors?
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Bronzer + Blush Urban Decay

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palettes – Native and Streak

July 6, 2014

Earlier in the spring, Urban Decay released some new shades of their Naked Flushed Palettes ($30 each for 14g/0.49 oz). These are well-packaged face trio compacts with a bronzer, highlighter and blush. I’m a huge fan of their Naked Eyeshadow Palettes (#3 is my fav) and thought these had a lot of promise. I purchased Native (pink) and Streak (peach) in store at Sephora after reading an overwhelming number of rave reviews (4.5 stars out of 5 average rating with 600+ reviews).  
  • Native is a pink option with a medium-dark bronzer with a soft shimmer, a opal pinkish champagne highlighter and a matte pink blush
  • Streak is a warmer option with a lighter shimmery bronzer, a pale peachy shimmer highlighter and a stunning coral matte blush 
Swatching them in store on my hands revealed a soft well pigmented texture that seemed easy to blend. Testing at home with a variety of brushes has me less than pleased. I purchased these late May/early June and have been desperately trying to make these work for me.

The texture is finely milled and soft which is easy to pick up with brushes but the bronzer and blush are both very powdery resulting in a lot of debris/powder kick-up. They don’t show up well on lightly powdered skin. Right over foundation the color picks up more but the colors look muddy and look like they just sit on top of the skin. The highlighters are creamier in texture (although they are powders) and blends easily but the frost factor highlights imperfections and after softly applying on the cheeks, I suddenly have large visible pores. I’ve tried both with a large variety of brushes, cream highlighters, foundations, dewy cheek products as a base even. With the right amount of creamy base underneath I can get the bronzer and blush to apply ok sometimes (I like Tom Ford Fire Lust and Armani Fluid Sheer #3 or #10 the best), but I cannot wear the highlighter on the cheeks at all. That being said, the highlighters are pretty on the eyes. Half of the times I’ve applied these I ended up taking them off immediately after putting them on the face.

Photos and swatches:

Swatches side by side:

Closeups of each palette, up first is Native:

Streak

One last view, Streak (left) and Native (right):

I’m overall disappointed. I’ve tried numerous times to make these work, and with extra tweaking I can only make them work 1/2 the time. They look so beautiful in the compacts and when swatched on the hands or arms. On the face the pigment and texture don’t quite translate the same. Given the overwhelming number of rave reviews, I suspect I’m in the minority with my thoughts. I’ve mentioned in recent posts I’ve had skin issues and breakouts – my skin issues aren’t on the cheek area in case you’re wondering if it’s skin problems causing the issue in application. For additional reference, Temptalia has detailed thoughts on Native, Streak and Strip, my experiences are similar to hers.

Based on the price, packaging and convenience, if you’re at a Sephora or Urban Decay counter I think you should still give these a try. If there are clean brushes available, ask a makeup artist or sales associate to apply it on you.
If you’ve tried these, I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you have these which shade do you have and who do you apply them?
The Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palettes retail for $30 each. I found mine at Sephora. They come in four options, Naked, Native, Streak and Strip.
11 Comments
Eye Makeup NARS

NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow | Andromeda and Europa

June 19, 2014
There’s been a lot of buzz about the new Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows ($29 each) from NARS. There will be twelve shades launching July 1st on narscosmetics.com (update, these launched this morning). These are a new dual-application formula where you can apply them dry for a sheer wash of color for a luminous glow or apply with a damp brush for more intense color. You can see all the shades listed at The Non-Blonde and swatched on Temptalia. There is a diverse range of options from natural barely-there colors to dramatic navy and black. I have half a dozen on my wishlist to check out when they officially launch. Today I have two of the neutral romantic shades to share with you, Andromeda and Europa.
Both of these shades are on the lighter neutral side. They have a lovely glowy sheen rather than an intense shimmer or sparkle. The texture is slightly creamy but they act more like a dry powder shadow. I found lasting power to be very good without any eye base. The dry finish helps these adhere well to the lids.

Andromeda is a pale ivory pink with golden shimmer. It has a lovely sheen in the shimmer which gives a really lovely all over wash to the lids. I suspect this one will go nicely with any of the darker shades. Pigment is easy to control, I was able to apply with my fingers and a brush for a nice soft wash of color. For my light-medium skin it gives a nice neutral wash of color giving the lids a nice highlighted glow. When you  hold this in the sunlight you can see how there is a slight multi-chrome finish to the shimmer which gives your lids some depth in the glow.

Europa is a medium neutral-warm peach pink with a pearl sheen. I’m at the right skintone where this one looks like a barely-there color. I can definitely see the color on the lids but it’s very natural making it a soft no-makeup kind of eyeshadow. It gives a hint of color to the lids and makes the eye glow. On either paler or deeper skintones this will be more visible. My skintone almost matches this one. Applying this with a damp brush intensified the color with more pink, but it’s still very natural looking. This one also has a good mix of cool and warm in it. I would say the base is a warmer pink-peach while the pearl has a cool-toned sheen. It’s not a pure duo-chrome but the combination of the base and shimmer gives it a very subtle duo-chrome effect.

Swatches applied with a damp brush and dry with my fingers:

I’ve been playing with these the past week. I like to layer them together, the pale Andromeda color first, then applying the darker Europa on top with a dense brush and packing it onto the lids. Add a simple black eyeliner and mascara and you have a super polished glowy lid to go with a dramatic bronzer or lip.

What I like about these is that they are not the typical high-frost pale shimmers. If you’re in want of dramatic color you might find yourself wanting more. The good news is that the Dual-Intensity line will have plenty of other dramatic shades to choose from. I personally love these for that no-makeup look for a no-fuss easy swipe and go application that gives the eyes a nice polished look.

A few comparisons to some other light pink neutral shimmers:
NARS Nepal Eyeshadow (one of my favorites)
Tom Ford Pink Haze Cream Color for Eyes (discontinued, swatched here)

One last photo, left is Andromeda, right is Europa:

First impressions are a thumbs up for this neutral makeup lover. I can’t wait until July 1st because there are so many other pretty dramatic shades that I can’t wait to check out. Update as of June 20th, the shadows are now available for purchase on narscosmetics.com, Lord & Taylor and Beauty.com. Have you been able to swatch or see the NARS Dual-Intensity Eye Shadows yet? Do you have any on your wishlist?

The Dual-Intensity Eye Shadows were provided courtesy of NARS for review consideration. For more information see my Disclosures.

11 Comments
Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Oyédo Candle

June 17, 2014

Each time I visit the Diptyque boutique or counter I discover something new. I discovered Diptyque Oyédo Candle ($60 for 6.5 oz) several months ago but just started burning it this past week. Oyédo is a light and citrus scent that smells like a sweet blend of grapefruit and mandarin oranges. It is significantly sweeter and lighter than most Diptyque candles I’ve tested but I like that it’s not too sweet. The scent itself seems on the subtle side once it burns but it is definitely noticeable and has decent throw. There is a refreshing uplifting feel to this one. It’s supposed to have an awakening feel due to the citrus notes, I find that it’s a more subtle citrus making it soothing. It’s very different from other Diptyque candles in the sense there is no earthy, herbal or spicey feel to it. Just straight citrus.

If you like subtle sweeter citrus scents that aren’t overpowering or too
sweet this one is a good one to check out. I’ve been loving it this
week and think it will be perfect for warmer summer weather.
At this time I’m not sure if it’s discontinued or just simply just one of those hard-to-find scents. I saw it several times at local counters but haven’t seen it in a while. It’s currently out of stock on the Diptyque website. I know you can still find it in boutiques and online at Saks, Lucky Scent and SpaceNK (UK).
6 Comments
Diptyque

Diptyque Aubépine / Hawthorn Candle

June 3, 2014
Diptyque Aubépine and Large Photophore

My latest Diptyque discovery is the Aubépine Candle ($60 for 109g/6.5 oz). My husband brought me home two candles from the Diptyque Maiden Lane Boutique from a recent business trip along with one of their Photophore covers. Aubépine translates to Hawthorn. It’s described as a delicate wild flower with round and powdery accents. I’m normally not drawn to powdery florals but this one has a lovely mix of sweet almond and vanilla notes. It’s unique and fresh with almond hints making this my new favorite by Diptyque. It’s very soothing and brightens the mood. My husband picked a good one.

It’s a well rounded scent. The powdery aspect can seem quite strong when you first take it out of the box, but Aubépine burns quite nicely with the floral and almond blending in well. I find it to be more on the feminine side but it’s not quite as girly or floral as Roses or Rosa Mundi.

Above featured Lumira Persian Rose (reviewed here)

I absolutely adore it and was so impressed with my husband’s picks. Aubépine is one of the Diptyque Boutique Exclusives in the US so you won’t find it anywhere in stores except in their boutiques. It is available online at Diptyque, Lucky Scent, Beauty Habit and SpaceNK (UK).

Have you visited a Diptyque store? I always try to visit one when traveling as I adore the store layouts, creative decor and accessories they have. In case you missed it, check out my features on Maiden Lane, Los Angeles and South Coast Plaza.

What’s your current favorite from Diptyque? I feel another store visit coming soon for me.
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Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty Exclusive Runway Nudes | Klute, 9 to 5, Tootsie, Charlie and Julia

June 1, 2014

Marc Jacobs released five new shades of nail polish designed for the runway shows in Klute, 9 to 5, Tootsie, Charlie and Julia ($18 each, exclusive to Marcjacobsbeauty.com). Based on the previews and promotional images I expected pinkish nudes, they turned out to be a bit warmer and with more of a beige base in real life, but these still proved to be chic neutrals. All the colors are creams without shimmer. They are on the opaque side with full coverage after two coats. Some nudes can be a bit finicky to apply and often streak on the first coat, I found application with these shades to be a bit mixed.
Klute is a warm beige with yellow tones, 9 to 5 is a neutral cream beige with a hint of pink, Tootsie is a mauveish cool-toned nude, Charlie is a warm/neutral latte color, Julia is a dusty purple-brown. My top three favorites are 9to5, Tootsie and Julia.

All photos by me, as usual, please do not republish or use content or photos without express written permission.

I thought there might be similarities between some of the current Marc Jacobs Nail Polishes from Sephora to the new ones, I took my nail wheel into the store and swatched a few of the colors to see if they were similar. Nail comparisons to other beiges, nudes, browns and greys include:

Chanel Khaki Rose (discontinued)
Dior Trench (limited-edition, swatched here)
Dior Grege (limited-edition, swatched here)
Dior Nude Chic (discontinued)
Dior Gris Trianon (discontinued)
Dior Yacht (still available, swatches here)

With flash:

Same set, but without flash:

Overall pleased with the wear and lasting power after two coats. I had application issues with 9 to 5 and Tootsie but not anything out of the ordinary with some nudes. It just took me a few re-do’s to get an even application. It took me a few tries to figure out the right amount of polish to load onto the brush to get smooth coverage. Even though they were a bit harder to apply, I really liked the final result and those two are in my top color picks for nudes.
I’m personally not a fan of Klute or Charlie – I found they had a bit too much yellow which makes my already olive skin look a bit sallow.
Julia is almost identical to Delphine (which I don’t own). If you already own Delphine you can skip Julia.
For more Marc Jacobs Nail Lacquer reviews you can see features on this blog on Petra, Le Charm, Gatsby and Daisy. I’ve overall been really happy with the formula and color options. This was my first time trying non-shimmers from the line.
The five runway shades Klute, 9 to 5, Tootsie, Charlie and Julia are
currently exclusive to Marc Jacobs Beauty. All other Marc Jacobs shades
are also available at Sephora.

Have you tried any of the nudes? What did you think?

16 Comments
Diptyque Fragrance

Diptyque Geranium Odorata and Eau de Lavande Eau de Toilette Roll-On Fragrances

May 28, 2014

Diptyque recently introduced two new fragrances additions to the Les Eaux Florales line in Geranium Odorata and Eau de Lavande. Both fragrances are available in a Full Size Spray Bottle ($98 for 3.4 fl. oz/100 ml) or Travel Sized Roll-On ($48 each for 0.68 fl. oz/20 ml). I have the roller fragrances to share with you today.

These are the first roller ball fragrances I’ve tried from Diptyque although I own a sample size version of 34 Eau de Toilette and Solid Perfumes for L’Ombre dans l’Eau and Eau Duelle. I find the fragrance from the roller balls to have better lasting power than the solids and equal lasting power to the spray versions. I like the simple compact design and the fragrance ball dispenser is super easy to use. The intricate floral designs on the roll on bottles as well as the boxes is absolutely stunning.

Geranium Odorata is sweet woody floral that smells like spring. The notes included are: bergamot, geranium bourbon, rose geranium, pink peppercorn, tonka bean, Haitian vetiver, cedar. For Geranium Odorata, there is a blend of geranium from two different geographical origins: the African Geranium from Egypt and the Bourbon Geranium from Réunion Island. According to Diptyque:
“The first reveals lively, floral aspects, the second highlights its woody notes. One, in the top and core notes, is bright and delicious with a slight hint of citrus, while the other is denser and more subtle. Bergamot, green cardamom, cedar, Tonka bean and pink pepper- corns, together with Haitian vetiver, add a few touches here and there to complete this faith- ful picture, a beautiful harmony between flower and wood.”
This blend gives Geranium Odorata a well rounded floral feel with a warm undertone. I really like this one for a soft feminine spring-like scent. It’s a good one that will transition well into summer.

Eau de Lavande is a unique spicy, earthy floral scent with a complex nature. It has strong lavender notes with a warm undertone. Notes include: absolute lavender, coriander seed, cinnamon leaf, nutmeg, essential oils. It’s a unisex scent but I find it leans more masculine. According to Diptyque:

“Although it is a flower, when it is dried by the sun, it has a distinctive aroma which is more sombre and woody. We have therefore blended three different French lavenders. Provencal lavender essence, rarely used as it is so precious, forms the base
note, sustained by a few drops of incense and sandalwood, followed by a more floral essence from the Vaucluse, and a more aromatic hybrid lavender from Valansole. Coriander seeds, nutmeg and cinnamon add spice to the composition, a vibrant incarnation
of sublime nature. The fragrance is warm and subtle, alive and delicate.”

For me there are some fragrances that I prefer as home fragrances rather than as a perfume and Lavender is one of them. I didn’t like this one on me as I found it a bit too herbal-feeling although I do love lavender scented candles or shower gels. If you like Lavender fragrances you will like this one, it has a complex blend of notes to make it unique and the effect is very therapeutic and soothing.

For me Geranium Odorata was a pleasant new discovery. The bottles (true to Diptyque’s creative style) are absolutely gorgeous with the intricate floral designs that have a pop of color in each. I like that they come with a small black sleeve for storage which makes it easy to carry for travel or in your purse without worrying about it getting scratched or breakage (as long as you are on the careful side with your purses). I was really excited to try Eau de Lavande – trying new fragrances outside of my usual comfort zone is something I’ve been working on, however I found my preference to be with something more feminine and spring-like.

Both Diptyque Geranium Odorata and Eau de Lavande Roll-On Fragrances retail for $48 each. You can find them at all Diptyque counters and boutiques now. Online at Diptyqueparis.com (promo of a complimentary Deluxe Tam Dao 12mL EDP and free shipping with any $75 order, using code FATHER14, valid until 9 June 2014 while supplies last), Nordstrom, Space NK, Saks, Neiman Marcus.

Have you tried Diptyque fragrances? What are your favorites? Have you sampled the new Geranium Odorata and Eau de Lavande yet? I know there were various online promotions for samples earlier in the month when they first launched, were you able to try anything?

Roll ons were sent to The Beauty Look Book courtesy of Diptyque for review, all opinions my own, for more information refer to my Disclosures.
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