Both sets this year come in a zip pouch that has a sparkle black tweed material and gold Chanel Logo embossing on the front. The pouches are the perfect size to carry a lot while still keeping everything compact and tidy. The Beauty To-Go Lip and Fragrance Set ($74) includes a Rouge Coco Baume and a Chance Eau Tender Eau de Toilette Twist and Spray Fragrance (light, floral and fruity).
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Travel Heroes Men’s Essentials Set
This year Chanel included a set for the guys with the Travel Heroes Men’s Essentials Set ($76). Andrew already got a sneak peek at this one and was excited to see one for him this year! It has the Boy de Chanel Lip Balm (which he has and uses) and a travel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum Twist and Spray. It also comes in a limited-edition pouch.
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Both sets contain items that are part of the permanent lineup, so the recipient can always replenish the items once they use them up. I think these sets they make for really nice gifts. The box has a festive holiday design I think is fun too! If you have your eye on them I suggest you act fast! Last year’s sold out almost instantly!
Nail Polish worn in this post is the Le Vernis in Rouge Brun.
The Diptyque Black Friday Baies Candle is back! This year’s 2021 Limited-Edition Baies retails for $74. You can find it in Diptyque stores and online at Diptyque. This year’s candle has a beautiful design with lines of gold, black and white. It’s available for 4 days only while supplies last.
I love the little details including the black colored wax and the 2021 print on the back.
The Standard Baies Candle is one of my favorites with a rich mix of blackcurrant and rose. I have lost count of how many of these I’ve bought over the years in multiple sizes and scent forms. I’m particularly smitten with the Baies Room Spray ($68) as it’s quite strong and lasts a decent amount of time for a spray.
The Baies Hourglass Diffuser ($190 has been on my wishlist for years. I bought this as a gift last year for my bestie’s birthday as she loves all the decorative pieces from Diptyque. She said she loved it! I finally decided to buy one for myself and I love it too. Reviews are mixed but I think it has just the right amount of throw. Scent is diffused when you turn it around for the liquid to fill the room. The diffusion cycle lasts about an hour making it easier to control when you want the scent on.
This holiday Diptyque launched a Reed Diffuser ($190) which comes in a boxed set including a glass diffuser jar, refill bottle, funnel and six rattan reeds. The Diptyque team kindly gifted one and I think it’s a beautiful home accent piece. The throw is very potent and with this one there is a continuous scent that fills the room. Refills are also available for $95.
Some of you asked me which one I prefer and I would say it’s a tough pick. They’re both different and unique in their own way! A few of my readers messaged me saying they have both and prefer the Hourglass version as you can control the scent diffusion time when you turn it and it’s not too overpowering. I think they summed it up perfectly. I prefer the Hourglass too although if you want something more continuous and want to splurge opt for the Reed Diffuser.
I thought I’d highlight a few more of my favorite candle accessories!
One of my favorite things Andrew has gifted me is a Diptyque Photophore. He bought one for me while on a trip and I’ve had it for over a decade! I’ve since added a few more to my collection and love the Coast Photophore in the Large ($106) and Small size ($85). They are made of thick torch-blown glass and I find them very sturdy. A black stand is also included.
Candle Accessories
A Wick Trimmer is essential and I love that more candle companies are making these. The Diptyque Wick Trimmer ($40) is one I’ve owned for many years and it has held up really well. I also bought a few USB Lighters and as one who doesn’t really like matches I find this perfect. There’s less smokey, less mess and it’s easier to use. Also think this one is interesting too!
Many of you may remember this Skeem Design Match Cloche from last year. The glass is on the thin side so I find it delicate but it has held up well and I haven’t had any issues with it breaking. I think it makes for a beautiful accent piece or gift! You can find it in a variety of colors, sizes and finishes.
If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check the Diptyque Special Offers page for the current gift with purchase offer they have! Individual stores and boutiques often have these as well (their offerings vary per store/season).
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What are your favorite candles for the holiday!
Black Friday Baies + Reed Diffuser gifted from Diptyque. All other items purchased by me.
I finally have a look at the Chanel Holiday No 5 Makeup Collection! This season I ordered a few pieces from Chanel.com. I had my eye on quite a few of the holiday sets but was surprised how fast they all sold out! Holiday has been out for a while now but in case you still wanted swatches and my take keep reading! I also have a quick look at the Black Friday Set at the end of this post.
Les 4 Ombres No 5
This year’s holiday quad is the Les 4 Ombres No 5 ($65). It has the classic No 5 bottle embossed on each shadow’s surface. The colors are soft and easy to blend. I found pigment to be pretty good although the two pale golds/ivory shades are really similar on my eyes. I wish they had added a bronze or taupe shimmer in place of one of the lighter shades as I think it could have tied the look together. The palette itself is gorgeous, but colors aren’t entirely my vibe. I think it’s missing that warmer shade to make it wearable for me.
Shimmers have the most beautiful sparkle to them though. Almost like fairy dust!
Ombre Premiere Laque
I hauled both Holiday Ombre Premiere Laque shades ($36 each) in 27 Or Ambre and 17 Or Noir. I think the Or Ambre is STUNNING! I love the color and shimmer and it blends out to lovely all over wash without disappearing. The darker shades have been tricky for me to work with and holiday is the same. The Or Noir is nice for a smoky eye look but it takes careful blending to make it work for me. The extra time it takes me makes it an easy pass. I would rather use a smoky deep brown or black powder shadow and blend it out. Lasting power on these is very good though!
Rouge Allure
For this holiday all the shades are variations of red in the Rouge Allure Lip formula and in the holiday spirit decided to I try three of the shades: Rouge Allure in 191 Rouge Brulant is a warm pink red, 147 Emblematique is a bold classic red and 157 Legendaire is a plum red.
I like the plum one the best! Formula is smooth, comfortable, long-wearing and luminous. Color-wise, it pains me to say this but I feel like the options this year are boring. I wish they would consider bringing back some of the old glossimer shades in the new Rouge Coco Gloss formula. Colors like Equinoxe, Seashell, Blizzard etc would have been fun for holiday! If you’re a neutral lip lover like me I still think Or Beige from Holiday 2020 is one of the best shades and it’s still available online (I just ordered a backup). Below wearing the holiday collection with lip swatches:
Cashmere sweater is from Nordstrom (On sale! Wearing an XS)
191 Rouge Brulant is a warm pink red
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147 Emblematique is a bold classic red
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157 Legendaire is a plum red
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Fluide Enlumineur in Or Ivoire
Chanel launched a new liquid highlighter in Fluide Enlumineur ($48) in Or Ivoire and I think this is the star of the collection. It has a sheer subtle finish like the Les Beiges Highlighters (reviewed here) but with a little more bigger shimmer particles that have a more reflective sheen. I love this on top of the cheek bones. It is sheer so your mileage may vary depending on how you like your highlighters. I am considering ordering a backup since it’s limited-edition and I think the color is so lovely.
Last I have a look at the Le Vernis in 913 Rouge Intemporel ($28). This is a classic red cream. It’s a one-swipe wonder, but Chanel has so many beautiful reds already. If you already own a lot of reds I think you can safely skip this one.
Sublimage Le Coffret Fondamental
Most of the sets have sold out online but the Sublimage Le Coffret Fondamental ($570)* is still available! This is the ultimate splurge gift in skincare with their Redefining Serum (designed to tighten and firm the skin) along with a limited-edition Massage Tool (quite hefty!). I have not tried the serum but I love the Sublimage line and am really excited to be able to try this out.
Chanel Les Beiges Swipe and Glow
For Black Friday Chanel will be releasing their Les Beiges Swipe and Glow Set ($77) which includes the Baume Essentiel in Sculpting (swatched here) and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Lip Balm in Medium (swatched here and all shades swatched here). This was available as an exclusive to Nordstrom a while back but sold out in a day. I was lucky to get it back then and if you missed out you can Pre-Order it now online at Chanel.com. It is supposed to officially launch online on Friday.
Overall the Holiday Collection offers quality well-made pieces that perform true to Chanel’s standards. I love the extra embossed detailing on the eyeshadows and lipstick caps. Stand out to me is the Fluid Enlumineur Liquid Highlighter.
If you’re like me and missed out on all the holiday sets, keep an eye out for Cyber Monday. They have 2 sets available in the black sparkle tweed pouches. Also Spring Collection will be launching in a few weeks! I already have some of the product and cannot wait to share it with you! Review, swatches and everything will be up as soon as it launches online.
Did you check out the Chanel Holiday collection this year? What did you think? You can find everything available online at Chanel.com.
Sublimage Set gifted. All other items purchased by me.
Now that the holiday season is in full swing I’m excited to share some holiday looks featuring some new beauty tries from Dior. New bronze and plum tones launched in the Dior Backstage Line at Sephora and I think they’re perfect for a glowing look.
Backstage Face and Body Foundation
A long-wear natural looking base is essential for me this time of year. I want something that stays put, feels lightweight and lasts all day. I love a number of Dior foundations but my go-to this holiday will be the BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation (my shade is 3N).
For extra coverage and brightening I love the Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer (my shade is 2.5N). It’s the one I’ve been reaching for non-stop to help with dark under eye circles. It makes me look more alive and awake. Love the creamy opaque texture that’s easy to blend. Doesn’t cake or crease. 100% love.
New Backstage Makeup Shades: Bronze + Plum
For color Dior launched new colors in the Backstage lineup in Bronze (more natural) and Plum (more glam). If you want a polished look for the holiday, definitely check these out.
The BACKSTAGE Eyeshadow Palette in Bronze Neutrals is a 9-pan palette. It has a creamy base color you apply all over the lid as a primer. I love that it has a mix of shimmers and metallics with a soft blendable texture. The golds add a nice glow with a brightening effect that I love.
Dior also added a Bronze Lip Glow and Bronze Lip Maximizer to compliment the eyeshadow palette and I love them both. The Bronze Lip Glow has a soft gold look in the tube but it’s color enhancing and on my lips it gives me a soft flushed pink glow with a subtle sheen. The Bronze Lip Maximizer is a stunning sparkling copper bronze. It has a smooth finish (no texture even with the shimmer). I love it alone or layered on top of the Lip Glow.
Bronze Lip Glow Look
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Bronze Lip Maximizer Look
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For a more glam look the Plum color palette has some nice neutral-cool tones. The BACKSTAGE Eyeshadow Palette in Plum Neutrals has a mix of pink, gold, plum and grey. You girls know I gravitate towards bronze tones and neutrals, but I really love the purples in this one!
The Lip Glow and Lip Maximizers in Plum are both stunning. They look ultra deep in the tube but on the lips they give a more sheered out plum look. The Lip Maximizer is more of a true plum while the Lip Glow gives my lips a more flushed stained plum look.
Plum Lip Glow Look
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Plum Lip Maximizer Look
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Nude Look
For the neutral lip lover I can’t rave enough about the Rouge Dior in Nude Look. It’s been my go-to neutral nude rose lip this year, love that it has a soft velvety finish.
Last I have a look at the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet and Lip Glow Gift Set. It’s perfect to gift to the beauty lover or yourself. The Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet has a really pretty floral vibe perfect to lift the mood and spirits.
This holiday By Terry has some beautiful sets out including one of the best Advent Calendars I’ve seen this year! I have a look at some of the sets along with their new VIP Expert Eyeshadow Palette.
VIP Expert Bonjour Paris Palette
This holiday By Terry has launched the eyeshadow palette of my dreams with their VIP Expert Bonjour Paris Palette ($56). It has all the tones I love with a mix of bronze, gold, pink, chocolate and warm coppers. The palette is mostly shimmery with a few satin shades. Colors are blendable with really good pigment and are easy to blend. They have a nice velvety feel that adheres well to the skin. I absolutely love it.
There are a number of luxury beauty sets out this year with her best sellers packaged in giftable format. The Jewel Fantasy Tree Deco Baume de Rose ($19, 2.3 g) has a mini Baume de Rose in her tube format. The Full Size is 100% worth the splurge even though it’s quite pricey but if you’re unsure about committing to it, the mini is a nice way to try it out first.
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Jewel Fantasy Baume de Rose Duo Set ($39, 75 g for hand cream, 2.3 g for mini balm) is a pretty good deal considering the hand cream alone is $50. Both are scented in By Terry’s classic rose scent.
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Jewel Fantasy Ombre Blackstar Trio ($68) has three of her best-selling shimmery cream shadow sticks. These have crushed Tahitian Pearls for a multi-dimensional sheen. The colors are beautiful and adhere to the lids once they set, so once they dry, they are pretty much budge-proof. Frozen Quartz is a shimmery pale pink, Misty Rock is a gorgeous plum purple with silver shimmer, Bronze Moon is a shimmering taupe bronze.
Swatches of the 3 shadows below along with the color items from the Advent Calendar:
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Jewel Fantasy CC Serum Set ($91) comes with a full size + mini CC Serum in Sunny Flash. Their CC Serums are multi-tasking illuminators. I can use Sunny Flash as a liquid bronze illuminator, I can mix it in with foundation or moisturizer, it adds radiance to the skin in a super natural way with skincare mixed in. The full size is $91 individually (available in 4 colors) so with this set you get an extra mini added in.
Advent Calendar
I’ve saved the best for last and I’m thrilled to share a look at the Jewel Fantasy Advent Calendar ($205). This is the ultimate luxury gift and based on what I’ve seen this year, it’s one of the best ones out there. It’s stocked with 14 makeup items, 10 skincare essentials and a few beauty tools. It has a mix of full size items and the minis are large enough to get a good sampling of the product.
Inside you have Full Sizes of the Baume de Rose Lip Care Stick, UV Base (one of my favorite sunscreens), Baume de Rose Hand Cream, Lash Expert Mascara, Lip Expert Matte in 6 Chili Fig, Lip Expert Matte in 8 Red Shot, Lip Expert Shine in 3 Rosy Kiss, Crayon Khol Terrybly in Brown Stellar, Ombre Blackstar in Black Pearl. (The 9 full size items alone retail individually for $343.)
Minis include Travel Sizes of the Baume de Rose Bi-Phase Makeup Remover, Baume de Rose Micellar Water, Brightening CC Serum, Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon, Mascara Terrybly, Hylauronic Hydra-Primer, Tea to Tan, Hydra-Pressed Powder, Hydra Powder, Baume de Rose Glowing Mask, Global Face Cream, Mini Kabuki Brush, Double Ended Eye Brush, Beauty Sponge and small flat Cheek Brush.
Wearing the three Lip Expert Colors in the Advent Calendar: Lip Expert Shine in Rosy Kiss, Lip Expert Matte in 8 Red Shot and 6 Chili Fig
Overall love the look of this year’s holiday offerings! There are some really great items for the luxury beauty lover. The Eye Shadow Palette is a winner for me. If you haven’t tried much from her line I think the Advent Calendar is an excellent way to try a wide range of makeup and skincare. Available online at ByTerry.com.
The Sephora Holiday Savings Event starts tomorrow for Rouge! I’ll have a recommendations post up later today and another one tomorrow!
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By Terry Holiday launches provided by By Terry for review. As always all opinions are my own.
Dior has some great everyday makeup staples and I wanted to do a blog roundup for those of you who still prefer detailed blog posts versus video or social media posts. I’ve done a few tutorial videos on my Instagram which I will include below for reference. Many thanks to each of you who took the time to leave a nice comment on the video or messaged me! I truly appreciate the support!
I love Dior for their beautiful limited-edition collections but today’s roundup focuses on staples that are part of their more permanent collection. I usually shop for Dior at Sephora because they have the Backstage Line or Dior.com because they often have great deluxe samples available with your purchase. I love getting those little samples of their La Privee fragrance line to try! Also the Dior website usually stocks the entire collection for limited-edition launches while it seems like other retailers don’t always have everything.
Base Favorites
There are two foundations I love from Dior. If you like medium to full coverage with a glow, the Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation ($52) is a nice one with SPF 35. I use either the Shade 2.5N or 3N. It has a natural radiant finish with good lasting power. I do find the color oxidizes and darkens slightly once it sets.
For a more fluid lightweight finish the BACKSTAGE Face & Body Foundation ($40) is a popular one you can use to blend out imperfections and uneven tones. It’s a sheer natural finish but has buildable coverage. It’s waterproof and sweat resistant. I love the BACKSTAGE Customizable Set that’s a Sephora.com exclusive. It’s the same price as the individual foundation but comes with a large mesh zip pouch and a mini primer.
Another product I love is the Dreamskin Fresh Perfect Cushion, but this is more of a skincare SPF product with a tint in one versus a foundation. I love the formula and wear but the shade range is horrendous. I love cushions but they still haven’t seemed to taken off in the US.
Concealer
The Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer ($36) has been a cult classic for quite some time but I never tried it until recently. It 100% lives up to the hype and is now in my Top 3 formulas for multi-tasking. It’s creamy, opaque, easy to blend and makes me look more alive. I ordered quite a few shades since I wasn’t sure how it would perform color-wise. Shade 2.5N is my favorite for my skin tone but for brightening 2N or 2W work for me too.
If you try one thing from Dior I would recommend that you try the concealer.
The Backstage Powder is a pressed blurring powder with a sheer finish. It still has enough color that you need a good match. I picked one shade lighter than my usual tone because I found the colors run dark. (Also on the face in this Dior Lip Glow post here.)
The Forever Loose Cushion Powder is cased in a beautiful compact with a mesh cover and powder puff. This is a sheer matte finish powder that sets the makeup really nicely. I like that it’s matte but not overly matte. I would say the main downside is the price. It’s expensive for the amount of product you get.
I recently ordered a few beauty tools from Dior and really like the Dior Backstage Kabuki Brush 17 ($57). There are a lot of good retractable brushes out there so if you already have one I’d recommend sticking with what you have. I do like having a cover on some of my brushes as it makes it easier for touch ups on the go or for travel.
Cheeks
Dior blushes and bronzers have also gone through multiple reformulations and revamps over the years. I really love the blushes and wish there were more colors! Rouge Blush ($44) in Charnelle 459 is a really nice brownish neutral with a satin glow. Formula is soft, blendable and melts into the skin beautifully!
The Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush ($37) in 001 Pink is like the Lip Glow but for cheeks. Your mileage may vary depending on your skin tone but I like this for a really natural light pink flush. It does adjust on my skin a few minutes after application. It’s almost always sold out at Sephora, but still available at Dior.com.
For bronzer the Dior Forever Natural Bronze ($48) is one of the best matte bronzers I’ve tried. Looking at the pan it’s not 100% matte. I would call this a radiant matte. I use Shade 05 Warm Bronze but can also wear 03 Soft Bronze. It warms up the complexion in a natural way and I like the color tones. This is another example of a product where Dior.com has more shade options available than other retailers. If you’re ultra fair 01 Fair Bronze looks like one that won’t be too dark for you.
Eye Makeup
The 5 Couleurs Couture Eyeshadow Palettes ($62) are palettes I think I’ve tried in every re-formulation since the 2000s. This current formulation has the softest most finely milled texture out of all the Dior eyeshadows I’ve tried. They can be on the delicate side so I’d recommend being a little more careful with the palettes. Dior.com has the most color options available. To track down other shades you might have to do a bit of shopping around. Four I really like are New Look, Nude Dress, Mitzah and Poncho. They have a good mix of finishes with mattes, shimmers, satins and sparkles. Even the mattes have a luminous subtle glow.
Pigment is medium to full and buildable. The soft texture makes it easy to blend and layer.
For lips I love the Lip Maximizers ($35) for a nice plumping gloss that doesn’t have the sharp sting. Colors adjust on my lips with a subtle tint. I have quite a few shades but find I reach for 001 Pink, 012 Rosewood or 016 Shimmer Nude the most. I also really love Ultra Pink (limited-edition shade).
I still love the Lip Glows but already did a full review. In case you missed it you can see the review and swatches of the New Lip Glow Formula here.
For lipstick and lipliners I have to admit I find the color options a little overwhelming, especially when counters like Nordstrom, Sephora or Neimans don’t always have the full color range. I picked Nude Look 100 in the Rouge Dior Lipstick ($38) and Lip Contour Lip Liner ($31) and LOVE the color. For a liquid lip the Rouge Dior Forever Liquid Transfer-Proof Lipstick ($38) in Forever Nude 100 is a close match with a lightweight finish.
Wearing the lipstick below:
That wraps up my Dior favorites roundup! If you’ve watched my videos and wanted a blog roundup with more detail I hope you found this helpful! Many of you have mentioned it’s more helpful to see application in a video format so I’m linking the videos below for reference.
Always excited for Sisley-Paris newness and today I have swatches of the new Phyto Twists for fall along with a look at the new Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation.
Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation
The Sisley Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation ($95 for 1 oz) is the newest base launch from Sisley. So many of you have raved about their Phyto-Hydra Teint Tinted Moisturizer which I really wanted to love but found the shades too pink (so I never purchased it). I am thrilled the Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation is available in multiple undertones C for cool and W for warm. Some of the colors are available in N for neutral.
The Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation is a fluid skincare + foundation in one. It’s oil free, sheer to medium coverage, hydrating and plumping. On my skin it is sheer but still has noticeable coverage. A lot of you have already messaged me that you’re loving it for your dry skin. I have normal combination skin but it still works for my skin type. It has a lovely natural glow that isn’t too dewy but I do need to set with a powder. I set it with their Blur Expert which I always try to keep a backup of on hand. It’s one of my favorite blurring pressed powders.
Shade wise I am in between shades 3W1 and 4W1. However, because the formula is on the sheer side it is forgiving, and it does adjust slightly after it sets on the skin. It blends in beautifully and I had no irritation or issues even though alcohol seems to be high on the ingredient list. I picked 3W1 Warm Almond and I think it’s a really good match.
Phyto-Lip, Phyto-Eye and Phyto-Blush
There are new shades of the Phyto Twist color items for eyes, lips and cheeks. These are on the expensive side and I still remember the first ones I bought feeling a bit of an ouch to the wallet. I do think they’re worth the splurge though. They’re the effortless kind of makeup you can swipe and go for a classic kind of beauty look.
Phyto-Lip Twist Tinted Lip Balms ($53) are some of my favorite twist up lip crayons. They have buildable pigment, have a glossy finish, add a nice glow and have a hydrating feel. My most-worn colors are 2 Baby and 11 Litchi. The new colors for fall are gorgeous! 24 Rosy Nude is a sheer nude rose, 25 Soft Berry is a pretty plum, 26 True Red is a bold bright red.
There are two new Phyto-Eye Twist ($53) in 16 Taupe (mouse grey) and 17 Rose Bronze (soft mauve pearl). These are cream shadows in a pencil form you can swipe and smudge. Colors blend out to a sheer finish with the first layer you apply. They are buildable. I really like Taupe for an effortless wash. Lasting power is pretty good on my eyes – once they set they have a budge-proof finish on me although I use them more as shadows vs liners.
Phyto-Blush Twist ($72) in 7 Berry is the best shade they’ve launched to date. The price is outrageous but I’ve never found anything quite like it. These are soft silky cream blushes in a twist up form. Colors are easy to blend out and layer for a natural look. Since they are creams they won’t last as long as a powder but I still find they have decent lasting power. Berry is a warm berry color. They’re great especially if you have dry skin since they have Shea Oil and Camellia Oil to add hydration.
Swatches of all the Twist Blushes:
I really like everything. I particularly love the new Phyto-Teint Nude foundation!
