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).
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Fluid ($45 for 30 ml/1 fl oz) is a tinted cream that comes in a beige squeeze tube. It has been released in several shades similar to the Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Powders. There are currently five shades in the US in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 (not sure if we will get shade 50). The US version comes with SPF 15 with the active ingredients listed as Octinoxate 2.5% and Titanium Dioxide 6.4%. I swatched both No. 20 and 30 at the counters on my hand and fell somewhere in between. The artist at the counter matched me to the darker end with No. 30 – he described this as a glow product that was designed to give a sheer wash of tinted color to the face to make it look like it has more color.
On my face it did not look impressive upon first application. It has a very sheer coverage and almost disappeared into my skin. However similar to the Sheer Colour Powders, you need to let this sit on the skin for a minute and then you will see it really give your entire face a healthy luminous glow (no shimmer, just glow). I’ve applied with fingers and the Chanel Foundation brush at home this week. My skin isn’t at it’s best right now so I find the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Fluid doesn’t give enough coverage to cover imperfections. It does make a good natural base – I need to layer on concealer or a heavier foundation on the cheeks and chin areas. Once my skin improves I do see this as a good every-day tinted product.
I usually fall within the Chanel 30 range for foundations. Swatching it
compared to other formulas shows that the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Fluid
No. 30 is quite a bit darker than the other No. 30s. The sheer texture
makes this formula more forgiving, blending it on make it match my skin
well. I probably could have gotten away with either 20 or 30, however as
warmer sunny weather approaches, the artist recommended I go with the
30 so I could wear it through summer. I did some photograph testing at
home, the Les Beiges Fluid photographs really well.
Comparing coverage and texture to other foundations, I would say the Les Beiges All-In-One Healthy Glow Fluid is most similar to Edward Bess Ultra Dewy Complexion Perfector (review here). If you have sensitive skin that can react to Chanel foundations or the SPF but want a good glow evening base or tinted product that isn’t too sheer, go with the Edward Bess.
Compared to other Chanel Foundations, the Les Beiges is more glowy with a more transparent finish. Others provide a lot more coverage and you can probably use this in conjunction with other formulas for layering. I definitely need to add other foundations on top of this for more coverage along with a dusting of powder.
Swatch comparisons to some other foundations I have. I don’t use all right now, some are from winter or earlier months when I was lighter in color. I’ll link previous reviews in case you want to read more about the formulas.
I’ve been testing this since Saturday and so far no reactions or break outs from this. It does have a noticeable fragrance similar to the Les Beiges powders and the Hydramax skincare line. I don’t find the fragrance irritating for my sensitive skin but I know others have mentioned to me that their skins couldn’t handle the formula. Ingredients listed below. (Click for larger viewing.)
If I were to rate this on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the high), I would give this an 8.5. I love the way it gives a good healthy glow. I would have liked it to have a bit more coverage, a bit more olive for my skin or a better match. It does blend out to a flawless finish and the sheer texture makes the color more forgiving. The warmth in this is what helps give the skin a bit of healthy color for that perfect summer glow. Often times I end up purchasing two shades of foundation to mix for a perfect match, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy both the 20 and 30 since the coverage is so sheer. At this time I’m still undecided, I’ll investigate when I check out the lighter multi-color powder in person.
If you have near perfect skin or just prefer sheer coverage (but not invisible) this is a good everyday product for you to wear with a sheer dusting of powder. If you’re like me and don’t have perfect skin this is still a good base product to give a healthy glow. Layering this under other foundations will give your face a healthy natural glow from within look without the shimmer or frost that other illuminating products give (I love shimmer but I know many of you do not).
Did you purchase the Les Beiges Healthy Glow fluid or the powders? Do
you find they run dark or close to your normal Chanel shade? If you can
comment on your skin tone matches and experiences that would be awesome for those who can’t get to a counter easily to test in person.
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Fluids retail for $45 each. Available now at Nordstrom, Saks and Neiman Marcus.
This summer Chanel brings us three new stunning shades of Illusion D’Ombre Long Wear Luminous Shadow in Mirage, New Moon and Utopia ($36 each for 4g/0.14oz). All three colors are breathtakingly gorgeous. I think all are universally flattering colors, each with a stunning mix of shimmers. Both New Moon and Utopia are listed as limited-edition, while Mirage is listed as permanent. As with all other Illusion D’Ombres, these are semi-sheer but layer able with intense shimmer.
Swatches:
More pics and swatches:
Mirage is a luminous warm bronze. It seems to have been launched to replace Initiation from Holiday (which is now discontinued, but still available at Neiman Marcus). If you compare the two shades, Mirage has a more refined shimmer while Initiation has more visible silver flecks of sparkle. Both are similar on the eyes.
It was a bit difficult for me to capture the differences with a flash, the shimmers blinded my camera so I have two sets of swatches. The one with flash is more accurate with color.
This one is without any flash, under artificial light, it makes the colors look a bit green, but shows the difference in undertone and texture better.
New Moon is my favorite of the three. It’s a complex burgundy, gold, brown, red mix. It can appear reddish when swatched on the arms or hands but it applies much more neutral on the eyes.
Utopia is a gorgeous lavender sparkle. It’s one of the few lighter pink/purples I can actually pull off without looking like I have pink-eye. Medium or dark purples are easy for me to wear (as long as the red in them is minimal), lighter purples tend to clash with my olive skin and make me look sickly. Utopia has the perfect mix of pink and purple.
Below comparisons swatches to Armani Eyes to Kill 30 (hard to find but swatches/review here), Bobbi Brown Cool Lilac, Chanel Utopia, Chanel Illusoire, Chanel Impulsion (review here) and Armani Eyes to Kill 8.
These are must-haves for summer in my book – especially for Chanel fans. For those who avoid dupes/similar colors, I think you’ll find these shades particularly unique. I’ve had a lot of fun playing with these over the last week. They are extremely versatile and easy to wear for any occasion (day or night). Lasting power is quite good as long as you’re not one who rubs your eyes frequently throughout the day.
The Illusion D’Ombres are $36 each, now at all Chanel counters in the US. Currently online at Nordstrom, Saks and Chanel.com.
The NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette ($79 for 0.03oz x 15 shades) is a glorious palette of 15 neutrals. It comes in a large mirrored compact and includes a wide range of colors, textures and finishes. I’m late to the party with the NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette (it launched back in January). I thought long and hard for months about purchasing this one because I already owned many of the colors individually and also thought the Urban Decay Naked eye palettes might be duplicates. The Sephora VIB sale earlier this month pushed me over the edge. I put it to the test for several weeks. It was also the only powder eyeshadow palette I brought with me on my recent trip to Dallas. I’ve been really happy with this palette, the versatility is impressive. This one palette has all the colors you need for a multitude of looks: natural, smokey, bronzey, etc. It will take you from day to night.
The colors in the NARSissist Eye Palette include (from left to right, from top row to bottom)
All About Eve (1 side) – shimmery champagne
Madrague (both sides) – matte cream and matte tan
Fez – shimmery copper
Bali – matte soft brown
Coconut Grove – matte brown
Nepal – shimmery peachy pink
Ashes to Ashes – soft grey shimmer
Brousse – shimmery soft plum
Mekong – dark blackened brown with gold flecks
Bellisima – white base with gold sparkle flecks
Lhasa – shimmery light grey mauve
Bad Behavior – shimmery gunmetal
Dogon – darker blue-grey metallic
Pandora – matte sheer black
There have been mixed reviews about the palette, some have reported a different quality and texture of the palette shades compared with individuals colors. Overall I found the palette to be very good quality on par with the individual colors. There were a couple shades I found to be sheerer in texture and harder to work with (my personal experience). Colors I found to perform different in this palette included:
the matte colors of Madrague (the regular duo applies smoothly, this palette’s version was a bit chalky)
Ashes to Ashes (the singles I have are more pigmented and smoother in texture, but the palette applies ok, just different texture)
Dogon (individual is creamier in texture while the palette is drier)
The palette still worked well with no issues for application from what I tested. The colors I noticed differences for still applied well, it just took a little bit more work for me. Close ups and swatches below of the NARSsissist Eye Palette:
Many have asked how this compares to the Urban Decay Naked and Naked2 Palettes. There are similarities in the concept – all have a mix of shimmer and matte neutral-ish colors. I find that my Naked Palettes (1, 2 and 3) are the ones I reach for the most frequently out of any of the eye shadows that I own. The differences between NARS and Urban Decay are mainly in packaging and texture. Both brands have distinct shadow formulas, I can’t say one is better than the other, they are just different.
I’ve swatched them below for your reference. There wasn’t enough room for labeling the swatches but the colors are in the order of the palettes. (To have enough room on my arm, I skipped one of the Madrague shades from the NARS palette because it didn’t show up on my skin in the photograph.)
Overall love. As you can see above there are similarities between the NARSissist and Urban Decay Nakeds. Your preference will depend on a number of factors, such as packaging preference, if you own a lot of the individual colors already, texture preference (Urban Decay is softer and more buttery, NARS is more like traditional shadows in texture with more complex shimmers).
I believe the NARSissist Palette is limited-edition. It may take a bit of hunting to find it in stores, but you can still find it now online at Sephora, Beauty.com and Saks.
Did you buy the NARSissist Palette? What did you think?
