Browsing Category

Brand

Chanel Highlighters

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighters for Holiday

November 15, 2023

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighters for Holiday

This holiday Chanel launched stunning Oversize Illuminating Face Powders ($95 each) in their Les Symboles de Chanel collection. There are five stunning embossed patterns to choose from and each symbol has a special meaning for Chanel: The Lion (strength), The Comet (luck), The Camellia (harmony), The Chain (style) and The Pearls (radiance).

There are three colors to choose from each design: Pearly White, Warm Gold and Precious Coral.

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighters swatches

Pearly White

Pearly White is a glittery sparkling white. It has more glitter than most Chanel highlighters. Fun for holiday parties but VERY glittery. To my eye looks nearly identical to the sparkling bottom half of the Duo Lumiere from the Holiday 2023 collection. If I had to pick one I would opt for the Duo Lumiere because the color in the top portion is SO stunning.

Pearly White in The Camellia and The Pearls 

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighter in Pearly White

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighters swatches

Wearing Les Symboles de Chanel in Pearly White on top of Joues Contraste in 72 Rose Initiale and paired with Rouge Coco Gloss in 172 Tendresse. Sweater from Sezane. Nail Polish Olive and June Sandy.

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighter in Pearly White makeup look

Warm Gold

Warm Gold is the perfect shade of warm gold. A little peachy, tiny bits of microsparkles (but not full on glitter) make this beautiful. There is another highlighter in the Poudre Lumiere formula called Warm Gold but the Warm Gold color in Les Symboles de Chanel is different. Noticeably different to justify owning both in my opinion. The holiday version is deeper, more golden and more sparkly/luminous.

Warm Gold in The Comet and The Lion

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighter in Warm Gold

Wearing Les Symboles de Chanel in Warm Gold on top of Joues Contraste in 55 In Love with Lip Liner in 162 Nude Brun + Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue in 166 Timeless Beige. Sweater from Sezane. Nail Polish Olive and June Sandy.

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighter in Warm Gold makeup look

Precious Coral

Precious Coral is my favorite. It’s a beautiful light coral with the most perfect soft sheen to it. I want this shade in literally everything – tops, bags, lipstick, gloss, eyeshadow etc. I think it’s the prettiest color I think I’ve ever seen.

Precious Coral in The Chain and The Camellia

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighter in Precious Coral

Les Symboles de Chanel in Precious Coral on top of Joues Contraste in 55 In Love with Rouge Coco Gloss 166 Physical on the lips. Sweater from Sezane. Nail Polish Olive and June Sandy.

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighter in Precious Coral makeup look

Les Symboles de Chanel Highlighters for Holiday

Overall beautiful and luminous. I collect Chanel highlighters so these were a must for me. I would have loved if the Pearly White were more of a smooth shimmer vs a glitter, but I still think it’s fun for holiday. My favorite is the Precious Coral although the Warm Gold is a very pretty flattering gold shade. It’s hard to pick a favorite pattern. I think they’re all beautiful but I think the Comet and Camellia are my favorites.

Available at Chanel.com and Chanel Beauty Boutiques. All limited-edition.

Press samples gifted from Chanel.

Lips Sephora YSL Beauty

YSL Rouge Pur Couture + Bold High Pigment Lipstick Haul

November 6, 2023

YSL Rouge Pur Couture and The Bold High Pigment Lipstick Review

Today’s the last day of the Sephora Savings Event! If you had anything on your wishlist today is the last day to save for Beauty Insiders! Use code TIMETOSAVE to take advantage of the 10% to 20% savings depending on your tier.

I hauled some of the new lipsticks from YSL Beauty and think the formulas are among the best they’ve launched. I picked out some of the new Rouge Pur Couture Caring Satin Lipstick ($45 each) and a few of The Bold High Pigment Lipsticks ($45 each, not new but there are new shades).

Rouge Pur Couture

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick Review

above left to right: N1, N3, N5, N8 and N12

The YSL Rouge Pur Couture Caring Satin Lipstick is one of the best lipstick formulas I’ve tried. They are scented like the fruity lipsticks from YSL but it’s not quite as strong. I posted an Instagram Reel last week with a try-on haul of this formula and you girls seem to LOVE these tones! To me they are like a more pigmented less glossy version of the Rouge Volupte Shines. The new Rouge Pur Couture is creamy, smooth and opaque.

Based on the online swatches and stock photos, these look very different on me compared to what I see swatched online. N8 and N12 pull a lot warmer on me. Out of all of these I like N3 and N5 the best.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick swatches

Also please keep in mind these may look very different on you if you’re cool or warm, lighter or darker. Neutrals are tricky with undertone and lip tone. I have a neutral golden undertone with pigmented lips.

N1 is a neutral beige nude
N3 is a pinky peach beige
N5 is a light cool pink
N8 is a warmer pink
N12 is a nude with slight mauve tones

Swatches on the lips, also wearing:

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick N1

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick N3

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick N5

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick N8

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick N12

A lot of you wanted swatch comparisons to the Rouge Volupte Shine so I pulled what I still have to swatch for you below. Some of them have been discontinued and I don’t remember the shade names but I have listed the numbers. Also added a couple of the Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick.

Swatch comparisons:

YSL neutral lipstick swatch comparisons

The Bold High Pigment Lipsticks

YSL The Bold High Pigment Lipstick Shades 12, 13 and 1968

I picked up a few of The Bold High Pigment Lipsticks and really love the formula. It’s a satin almost matte finish (not quite matte). Super opaque and full coverage. Shades are indeed bold and more on the dramatic side. 12 Nu Incongru looks like a soft pink online but it’s a bold cool pink and I kinda love it. 13 Nude Era is a neutral-cool tone beige nude and kinda makes me look like a corpse but if I added darker liner I think I could make it work. 1968 is described as a nude pink but it’s really more of a warm pink almost reddish.

I swatched 2 of them on the lips below.

YSL The Bold High Pigment Lipstick Shades 12 and 13

Overall lots to love. If you like neutrals I think you’ll like some of the Rouge Pur Couture shades. They do have a slip to the texture and shiny finish so the lasting power isn’t going to be as long as The Bold High Pigment. Rouge Pur Couture does last longer than the Rouge Volupte Shines though.

I did a Sephora haul online and in store! I received most of the items (one package is still in transit) and while I won’t have time to test or review them before the sale is over, I’ll share them below. Some of the items have sold out or are only available in store but if you missed out not to worry – I think there will be plenty of great holiday sales coming up soon!

Sephora Sale Haul Picks Huda Beauty, Merit, La Mer, Charlotte Tilbury

Haul Picks Linked

 

I’m pretty excited to try the new Huda beauty picks and the Urban Decay moondust shadows! Did you splurge on anything exciting during the Sephora sale? What did you pick out?

Shop the Post

 

I bought the lipsticks at Sephora. Also available at YSL Beauty, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

Holiday Gift Guide Westman Atelier

Westman Atelier Holiday Sets 2023

October 31, 2023

Westman Atelier Holiday Sets 2023

I did a mini haul and picked up two items from the Westman Atelier Holiday launch. This year Westman Atelier has four limited-edition sets cased in a festive warm holiday red.

The four makeup sets include:

Clean Glow Trios

Westman Atelier Holiday Clean Glow Trio II with Truffle, Brulee and Dou Dou

They brought back the Clean Glow Trio in two variations ($75 each) which I think is a great way to try three cream formulas. The minis are 2.5 g per stick while the full size options are 5 or 6 g each. I picked up the Clean Glow Trio II for the fun packaging even though I already own all the colors. Sets are SUPER mini in size but I think they give you enough product to really get a sense of how the product performs. They’re also great for travel.

Westman Atelier Holiday Clean Glow Trio II with Truffle, Brulee and Dou Dou

I swatched the holiday set next to my existing stash to see if there were any variations in colors and there are. Colors are extremely close and variations are so slight you can’t really see them in photographs. Also since Westman Atelier products tend to run on the sheer natural side of pigment, once blended on the face I don’t think you can see any difference in the colors.

For those curious, my mini Dou Dou in this year’s holiday set pulls a little cooler toned than my other mini Dou Dou. I have 3 different Petal Blush Sticks and they all look just the slightest bit different in undertone. Also some of the Lit Up sticks in the minis look a bit lighter/sheerer in color compared to my full-sized options, but once blended color is so sheer you can’t really tell the difference.

Westman Atelier Holiday Clean Glow Trio I with Biscuit, Nectar and Petal Set II with Truffle, Brulee and Dou Dou

Clean Glow Trio Set I has Nectar Lit Up Highlight Stick, Biscuit Face Trace Contour Stick and Petal Baby Cheeks Blush Stick.

Clean Glow Trio Set II has Brulee Lit Up Highlight Stick, Truffle Face Trace Contour Stick and Dou Dou Baby Cheeks Blush Stick. I’m wearing the Clean Glow II Set below with the Vital Skin Foundation Stick in VI, Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette and Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Ma Puce.

Westman Atelier Truffle, Brulee, Dou Dou and Ma Puce

I really love these although I don’t think they will be for everyone. If you like minimal makeup pigment for a super natural look or love dewy emollient products these are for you! I know a lot of you are HUGE fans of the minimalist super dewy look.

However if have oily skin, these creams will most likely not last long on you unless you set with a powder on top. Also if you want bold color payoff and pigment, these will be too sheer.

Les Étoiles Lip, Blush & Highlighter Edition Set

Westman Atelier Holiday Set 2023 Les Étoiles Lip, Blush & Highlighter Edition Set - Biscuit, Nectar and Petal

I really loved last year’s Petal Edition Set and anytime there are new colors I’m instantly like YES PLEASE – SIGN ME UP. This year Westman Launched the Les Étoiles Lip, Blush & Highlighter Edition Set with all new limited-edition colors and a new blush formula. Swatches of the set next to other products/formulas with the same names.

Westman Atelier Holiday Set 2023 Les Étoiles Lip, Blush & Highlighter Edition Set - Biscuit, Nectar and Petal swatches

 

The set has a new powder blush called the Baby Cheeks Powder Blush and she launched it in Petal. This pulls very similar to the cream version, but the powder pulls a little more muted and dusty in color. Pigment is beautiful! Right along the lines of Westman Atelier’s sheer style but it is buildable which I LOVE. I hope she launches every single product in a powder form eventually.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Powder Blush in Petal

above Baby Cheeks Powder Blush in Petal

The set has a new Lit Up Highlight Stick in the shade Biscuit. I swatched it below next to her contour stick in Biscuit. Undertone is the same. The Lit Up Stick in Biscuit is a very sheer cool-toned flesh brown with a pretty sheen. It’s very sheer and gives the skin a natural glossy sheen.

Westman Atelier Biscuit Lit Up Highlight Stick

above Biscuit Lit Up Stick on top of the Petal Powder Blush

We also have a new gloss shade in the Squeaky Clean Lip Balm formula called Nectar. This is almost identical to the Lit Up Stick in Nectar – sheer, luminous, soft and peachy. On my lips it’s very sheer but layered on top of a coordinating pencil and it’s perfection! I love it on top of Pat McGrath’s Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Nude Venus.

Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Nectar

above just the Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Nectar

Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Nectar + Pat McGrath Nude Venus

above Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Lip Balm in Nectar + Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil Nude Venus

Overall vibe is natural looking, fresh, dewy and glowy. I love everything even though the items pull on the sheer side. I would really love if she increased the pigment by maybe 10-15% but I love what she’s created.

I’m really hoping she extends the colors in powder formula. I think it layers beautifully on top of the cream. I’m still waiting and wishing for her to launch lip pencils or lipsticks (or even a chubby stick).

I passed on her Mini Brush Set as I have a couple of her brushes and while they’re very well made, they’re just not my favorite. If you’re looking to splurge big on a brush set I think the Hourglass Travel Brush Set is a better buy. The brushes are full-size and I use them all the time (I bought it last year during the Sephora sale).

You can find these sets out now at all Westman Atelier retailers. Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Violet Grey and more. If you’re shopping the Sephora sale use code TIMETOSAVE to take advantage of the discount now through 11/6.

Shop the Post

 

Did you check out the new holiday sets? What did you think?

Chanel

Chanel Holiday 2023 Collection

October 26, 2023

Chanel Beauty Holiday 2023

The Holiday 2023 Collection from Chanel has arrived and it is absolutely stunning. I’ve looked forward to Chanel’s holiday launch every year as they always go the extra mile to create something special and unique. The collection highlights a smokey eye with lots of bold reds for lips. They have a stunning highlighter compact, three new nail colors and a few neutral lip options too. Here is a look at what I’ve tested from this year’s holiday launch.

Duo Lumiere Illuminating Powder Duo

Chanel Duo Lumiere Illuminating Powder Duo

The Chanel highlighters never fail to impress, especially with their beautiful embossed patterns. This year they launched a Duo Lumiere Illuminating Powder Duo ($70). It’s a glimmering pink champagne and crystal white. The sparkle and shimmer is a bit chunkier than what we are used to seeing from Chanel but it’s beautiful and the sparkles look like what I think fairy dust would look like if it existed.

The colors seem similar to Tom Ford’s Moodlight but the texture and colors of the Chanel Duo are more modern and have more dimension while the Tom Ford offers more of a frosted glow by comparison.

Because it’s on the sparkly side there will be fallout from the brush when you apply, but once on the cheeks it stays put with pretty good pigment and coverage.

Chanel Duo Lumiere Illuminating Powder Duo swatches

Look below wearing:

Chanel Duo Lumiere Illuminating Powder Duo look

Lumiere Graphique Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Lumiere Graphique Eyeshadow Palette

For the eyes Chanel launched a 5-pan eyeshadow palette and I’m a huge fan of this style. I wish Chanel would launch more palettes like this! Lumiere Graphique Eyeshadow Palette ($88) has a beautiful sequins print on the surface. All the shades are shimmery and one is a sparkly glitter top coat shade. Texture is soft and pigment is easy to build and layer.

Chanel Lumiere Graphique Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Lumiere Graphique Eyeshadow Palette swatches

Chanel Lumiere Graphique Eyeshadow Palette look

Overall tone pulls more on the smokey cool side. There is one peach shade which I suspect will show up more peach/gold on fair skin tones. On my medium tank skin (Chanel B40) it pulls more champagne. Shimmers are on the sparkly side so there is a lot of powder kick up with an eyeshadow brush. I didn’t experience any fallout on the cheeks when applying though except for a tiny bit with the glittery white topper.

Shades are stunning for a holiday smokey eye. I like the mix of the taupe, peach and olive gold to make it different from your standard grey/black/silver smokey eye palette. It does pull more cool-toned that I am used to wearing these days, but I think it’s beautiful.

Holiday Le Vernis

Chanel Holiday Le Vernis 2023 White Silk, Tuxedo and Sequins

There are three Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colors ($32 each) this season. They fit the holiday smokey glam theme. 167 White Silk is a sheer creamy white (requires 3 coats for full coverage, but it’s worth the extra effort and dry time). 169 Tuxedo is a beautiful shimmering brassy gold. It’s very metallic and I love that the brush strokes are not visible, it applies very smoothly with 2 coats. 171 Sequins is a soft black with super fine silvery white sparkles suspended throughout. This one is also shown with 2 coats.

Holiday Lips

Chanel Rouge Allure L'Extrait Holiday 2023

It seems like Chanel Beauty had a holiday party theme in mind when creating their lip colors this season. They repromoted a few shades of the Rouge Allure L’Extrait which I think is one of the best formulas out there. They’re slim and small but the formula is creamy, smooth, hydrating, and pigmented. 812 Beige Brut is my perfect everyday beige neutral (repromoted), 854 Rouge Puissant is an electric bold red (also repromoted), 857 Midnight Red is new with a metallic finish but it’s a flattering deeper red metallic.

Chanel Rouge Allure L'Extrait swatches

Beige Brut

Chanel Rouge Allure L'Extrait Beige Brut

Midnight Red

Chanel Rouge Allure L'Extrait Midnight Red

They have two new Rouge Allure Laque shades this season. I have one in 90 Golden Beige ($45) which is a very metallic gold shimmer. On me this is best as a topper on a neutral lipstick. Alone it pulls a bit too frosty. I think the undertone of the color is beautiful – I would have loved to see this in a gloss, eyeshadow, highlighter or blush color.

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque Golden Beige

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque Golden Beige

Chanel Beauty Holiday 2023

That wraps up my Chanel Holiday 2023 review. I think everything is beautiful. The stand out to me is the Duo Lumiere Illuminating Powder Duo. I already own the Rouge Allure L’Extrait in 812 Beige Brut and I love it so much am already on my second tube (they are refillable). I rarely wear red lips but I think Midnight Red is beautiful.

For the nail colors I think White Silk is a really flattering shade of off-white. It does take a bit more work with the layering but I think the undertone is perfect. It’s creamy but not yellow. Tuxedo is beautiful. I think Sequins is a shade we’ve definitely seen before in a number of lines but I really like that the shimmer is visible on the nails in a subtle way that makes it glow.

You can find everything out now available at Chanel.com and all other Chanel retailers. Have you checked out the holiday launch yet? What did you think?

Press samples provided for review from Chanel.

Chantecaille

Chantecaille Holiday Precious Metal Collection 2023

October 23, 2023

Chantecaille Holiday Precious Metal Collection 2023

Holiday beauty is here in full swing and today I have a look at the Chantecaille Precious Metal Collection for Holiday 2023. I picked up four of the items from the collection and have a review + swatches today. I believe everything is in limited-edition packaging although you can find the gloss shade in the regular standard packaging. I haven’t paid much attention to previous holiday collections so I’m not entirely sure if any of these are repromotes but they’re all new to me.

Chantecaille Holiday Precious Metal Collection 2023 swatches

Precious Gold Illuminating Powder

Chantecaille launched a beautiful gold highlighter this season called the Precious Gold Illuminating Powder ($102). It has a super fine shimmer with a soft gold champagne glow. I think it’s just absolutely stunning – it blends beautifully on the skin for a flattering radiant look. Pigment is easy to layer and blend. The finish is very smooth and doesn’t emphasize pores. The color itself looks like it can be easily duped but I love the undertone and finish. I’m not in love with the price, even with the special limited-edition packaging. I do think it’s one I can see myself wearing a lot.

Chantecaille Precious Gold Illuminating Powder

Chantecaille Precious Gold Illuminating Powder

Above wearing:

Radiant Gold Eye Shimmer in Gold Leaf

Chantecaille Radiant Gold Eye Shimmer in Gold Leaf

The one product that seems to have the most buzz is the Radiant Gold Eye Shimmer in Gold Leaf ($68). In the compact it has a stripe pattern with a pink and gold shimmer. The pink is an overspray and underneath you have a duo-chrome pink, gold, orange kind of shimmer. It has a stunning pink gold shimmer perfect for a party look.

I love a good sparkle topper shadow and have quite a few favorites that are even more glitzy than this one. For some reason I find this one a little too sparkly and glittery for my taste. It photographs beautifully and on camera it looks absolutely stunning. In real life it’s too glitzy for me, but I may be the only person who thinks this. Every review I’ve seen and read is glowing – so if you love a good sparkly pink gold eye look, definitely check it out at your local counter if you can.

Swatches below to some other Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shades and also a couple similar options in cream format to the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eyeshadow in Incandescent and Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Sunlit Gold.

Chantecaille eyeshadow swatch comparisons

Lip Cristal in Rose Quartz

The Lip Cristal in Rose Quartz ($52) also has so much buzz it’s pretty much sold out everywhere. This one is a beautiful frosted mauve shimmer with a sparkling overspray on the exterior. It’s beautiful for sure and the color is pigmented and eye catching with the frost. I found this one too frosty for my taste and I’m can’t really pinpoint the exact reason why I’m not a fan of this on me. I think the metallic finish is a bit too sharp and harsh on my skin and lip tone. It reminds me of a cooler-toned version of MAC “O” Frost Lipstick. You can definitely soften the frost by adding a bit of gloss on top.

Chantecaille Lip Cristal in Rose Quartz

Chantecaille Lip Cristal in Rose Quartz

Brilliant Lip Gloss in Blithe

Chantecaille Brilliant Lip Gloss in Blithe

Last we have a look at the Brilliant Lip Gloss in Blithe ($40). This is available in the regular standard packaging for their gloss. It’s a very sheer milky pink with golden shimmer. It offers high shine with a smooth texture. Pigment is barely there but you can get a subtle milky pink glow with this.

Chantecaille Brilliant Lip Gloss in Blithe

Chantecaille Holiday Precious Metal Collection 2023

Overall I think the collection offers a beautiful cohesive look for holiday. The stand out for me is the Precious Gold Illuminating Powder even if it’s not super unique and incredibly expensive. I think it’s very flattering in the undertone and shimmer.

The other items are beautiful, especially for any upcoming holiday parties or if you want to add some extra glam and sparkle to your life. For me the gloss pulls too sheer to justify the splurge. The lipstick is a pass for me. The eyeshadow is something I feel I can save for special dressy occasions but not a must for me.

Have you checked out the Chantecaille Holiday collection? What did you think? I’m curious to hear what you thought about the shimmers in this launch!

Shop the Post

 

I bought mine from Nordstrom. Also available at Chantecaille, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Soleil Neige 2023

October 17, 2023

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Holiday 2023

For the holiday season Tom Ford launched their Soleil Neige 2023 collection featuring a new eyeshadow quad, two highlighters and three repromoted lip glosses. Everything is cased in their limited-edition holiday white and silver color packaging.

The theme feels like a winter wonderland theme with cooler tones and metallics. Today I have a look at the items for eyes and cheeks as it appears the lip glosses have not yet arrived in the US . The limited-edition packaging is available on pre-order at this time, although you can still find the colors in the standard gold/mahogany packaging.

Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad in Lumiere D’Hiver

The Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad in Lumiere D’Hiver ($90) is beautiful. It has a creamy almost velvety pigmented pale cream matte, a complex sparkling taupe topper, a neutral silvery shimmer and a deep cool black-brown matte. The quality and pigment of this quad is just outright stunning. The shimmers are very finely milled – the shimmer is almost glittery but there isn’t really that glitter texture as they feel more on the smooth side. The mattes perform so well, I wish every Tom Ford matte eyeshadow had this level of creamy opaque blendable pigment.

At first glance I was incredibly underwhelmed. In the pans these shadows looked like your standard grey, cream and brown. On the eyes and swatched on the arm the colors come to life, especially with the shimmers. The best way to wear them is to apply the matte cream all over and then the darker matte on the lids. Top with the shimmers and you’ve got the perfect smokey eye. Performance wise A+.

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad in Lumiere D’Hiver swatches

Swatched below next to Nude Dip for reference.

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eye Color Quad in Lumiere D’Hiver vs Nude Dip

That being said I do think these colors are ones we’ve seen before in a number of brands. I think the Natasha Denona Glam or I Need a Nude Palette are better options for price and color variety but with similar quality.

Soleil Neige Glow Highlighter

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Glow Highlighter Rose Irise and Gran Paradis

There are two shades of Soleil Neige Glow Highlighter this season ($90 each). They’re multi-dimensional highlighters with an ultra-smooth glow that almost gives the skin a wet look effect with how glassy they shimmer is.

Photo swatches do not do these justice. Rose Irise is an iridescent icy pink that flashes an opal like shimmer depending on how the light hits. To my eye the color is very similar to the pink side in Peachlight Highlighter Duo. Also swatched next to Moodlight below.

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Highlighter swatches

Look below wearing:

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Highlighter Rose Irise beauty look

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Highlighter Rose Irise beauty look

Gran Paradis is a soft pale gold champagne. Both are really beautiful – like take your breath away beautiful! I don’t know that I would call either must-haves though, especially at the steep price point. Also at this point I haven’t checked out any of the other holiday highlighters yet to compare.

Below with the gold Gran Paradis Highlighter just on top of the Tom Ford Gold Dust Bronzer (no blush added).

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Highlighter Gran Paradis beauty look

If you’re not a fan of the really metallic highlight these may be too glowy for you. I will say that I really like the smooth finish and texture (even if it is very glowy).

Overall beautiful and exceptional in quality. Must haves? I don’t think I can say they are. I am really happy with the splurges. They exceeded my expectations. Everything is very wearable which surprised me since I usually don’t wear cool tones.

If shimmers or cool tone greys aren’t your thing, Tom Ford also launched a few pieces in their Private Garden Collection with two eyeshadow quads, two pink satin matte lip colors, and a clear rose lip oil. I didn’t pick any of the pieces up but wanted to put them on your radar. They look really pretty!

Tom Ford Soleil Neige Holiday 2023

You can find the Tom Ford Soleil Neige Collection out now. I bought mine from Nordstrom. Also available at Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and all Tom Ford Beauty retailers.

SHOP THE POST

 

Did you check out anything from Tom Ford’s recent launches? What did you think?

Base Makeup Gucci Beauty

Gucci Beauty Multi-Use Long Wear Concealer

October 3, 2023

Gucci Beauty Multi-Use Long Wear Concealer

Gucci Beauty launched a new concealer called the Concentre de Beaute Multi-Use Longwear Concealer ($47 each). I really love the new formula it and did a demo on my Instagram in partnership with Sephora. A lot of you had questions about the formula and color selection so I wanted to review it in more detail and include an updated roundup of their base products.

Multi-Use Longwear Concealer

Gucci Beauty Multi-Use Long Wear Concealer

The new Gucci Multi-Use Longwear Concealer is a medium coverage concealer with a lightweight texture and natural finish. It has enough pigment to cover my freckles and even out the under-eye area but still looks like skin (just better). I really like the wear and how it sets If you watch my video here you’ll see how it blends in seamlessly to look like skin. I applied it with the Fenty Concealer Brush which I recently bought and love.

The new concealer comes in wide range of shades with different undertones. According to their shade breakdown:

  • C is for cool – skin rarely tans, with pink hues
  • N is for neutral – skin tans sometimes, with both pink and golden hues
  • W is for warm – skin tans easily, with yellow or golden hues

For a shade match I found Shade 34N to be my best match under the eyes. It’s neutral, medium and just the slightest bit lighter than my skin, but very close. I usually prefer concealers close to my skin tone rather than having something 2-3 shades lighter for under eyes.

Gucci Beauty Multi-Use Long Wear Concealer review 28C to 35W

Gucci Beauty Multi-Use Long Wear Concealer review 28C to 35W swatches

I ended up ordering multiple colors, mainly because I wanted to try them and also swatch them for those who are my skin twins. I did try all six and my first pick 34N ended up being the best. I also really like 28C or 31W for brightening. 35W can also work as an exact match for spot concealing.

Some of the W shades pull more yellow/olive than others. 32W pulls very yellow while 31W and 35W both pull more golden/neutral. Out of the 2 C undertone shades they look consistently pink in undertone. I only tried one of the N neutrals so I’m not sure how the other neutral shades run, but 34N is indeed very neutral.

Wearing 34N below with their Glow Care Shine Lipstick in Sally Soft Honey.

Concealer is unscented and lasting power is pretty impressive. It did not crease or cake and I like that it sets on its own pretty well. The texture/pigment is similar to the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer with a slightly more matte dry down. If you need something more creamy and opaque this one may be too sheer for you in which case I’d recommend the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam, Givenchy or Tarte Shape Tape Radiant.

Concealer Swatches Armani, Tarte, NARS, Gucci, Natasha Denona

Swatches compared to:

Luminous Matte Foundation

Gucci Luminous Matte Finish Foundation 305N

Gucci has launched several foundation formulas in recent years and the current formula available now is the Luminous Matte Finish Foundation ($69). My best match is 305N although it runs just a tiny bit light in color. I can make it work since it adjusts/oxidizes just slightly.

The next shade up is 310N and there is a pretty big gap (looks like at least 3 shades darker). This foundation has one of the best matte finishes I’ve tried. I typically do not like matte foundations because they often feel too thick and look flat. This one however has a really nice finish and great lasting power. I would wear this one more often if I had an exact shade match. I adjust this one with one by mixing in one of the Elf Halo Glow Filters (usually Shade 5 or 7).

It is floral scented which might be a deal breaker for those sensitive to fragrance in foundation. Luckily it did not irritate my skin. Before/afters below, also wearing the Gucci Satin Lipstick in The Painted Veil and Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Dreams Eyeshadow Palette.

Matte Beauty Powder

Gucci’s Matte Beauty Powder is cased in one of the prettiest compacts I’ve ever seen. There’s a compartment for a puff which I love. It’s described as “matte” but there are actually some shimmer particles in it but once applied on the face the shimmer isn’t really visible on the skin. I wear Shade 4 (seems to be discontinued now) or Shade 5.

Gucci Matte Beauty Powder Shade 5

It’s a nice powder but there are a few downsides. One is this is heavily fragranced. It’s not unpleasant but I find it on the strong side. The other is that it’s prone to hard-pan but this happens when there is oil on your powder brush whether it’s oil from touching your face or moisturizer residue or even your fingers.

Gucci Matte Beauty Powder Shade 5

I’ve managed to keep mine clean but I am really careful with what brushes I use. I’m a little OCD about having clean brushes and am constantly washing them so I almost always have a clean powder brush when I use this. Overall nice and performs well, but it’s not my favorite. I have used a few compacts up entirely and just bought a fresh one. I like it, but I think there are better formulas out there.

Brume de Beaute Mist

Gucci Beauty Face Mist

The Gucci Beauty Face Mist is another great product. It’s a multi-tasking product you can use to prep the skin or set your makeup. It’s a bi-phase formula with Black Rose Oil and hyaluronic acid. The top dispenses a super fine mist and feels super refreshing on the skin. I think it makes for a really nice luxurious splurge, but it does have a floral scent to it. If fragrance is a no-go for you I think the MAC Fix+ or Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Sprays are great options.

Multi-Use Illuminating Drops

Gucci Beauty Illuminator Drops

Last but not least is another look at their Illuminateur de Beaute Multi-Use Drops. This is one of the prettiest liquid highlighters I’ve tried. It’s glowy with the perfect amount of pigment & glow for me. The color is a peachy champagne which I really love for medium/tan skin but I think it will work for any skin tone.

Gucci Beauty Illuminator

Gucci Beauty Illuminator Drops

Shop the Post

 

 

That wraps up my Gucci Beauty Concealer review! If you’re around the same skin tone as me I hope you found the swatches helpful!