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NARS

NARS Skin Deep Eye Palette + Super Radiant Booster Review

January 14, 2019

NARS recently launched a couple new things including their Skin Deep Eye Palette ($59 for 12 x 0.12 oz/ 3.5 g) + Super Radiant Booster ($30 for 30 ml/1 fl oz). I bought them the minute they launched and they are both really lovely. Thoughts, review + swatches on each one below. I think the products and formula are excellent with naturally flattering easy to wear colors.

Super Radiant Booster in Isola Rossa

The Super Radiant Booster in Isola Rossa is a fluid highlighter that is a soft gold shimmer. It’s described as “a universal rose gold” shade but to me it’s more golden on me, I barely see any rose. It has a very lightweight texture, it’s easy to blend and layer and dries fairly fast on my skin. Finish is luminous but dry down leaves little to no moisture which is a plus if you have oily skin. It almost has a powder dry down but it’s not dry or super matte.

I tried this as a highlighter. You can definitely mix it in with foundation but these days I wear medium to full coverage finishes. The added radiance will be more noticeable when mixing if you mix it with sheerer finish formulas. It was really easy to apply and blend with finger tips. I tried it over just foundation and on top of a foundation + powdered face. It applies nicely without disturbing or rubbing away your base which is a plus.

Swatched out of the tube vs blended:

There’s no detectable scent to me. It goes on smoothly, there’s no streaking, no emphasizing of pores, it’s a beautiful color and product. Lasting power is really good, it stays put all day. The only thing I wish is that it came in the same packaging as their regular Illuminators so you can see how much is left/gone. There is a small clear strip at the base which is nice so you can see the color of the actual product. I’m not entirely sure what the difference is between this new Super Radiant Booster versus their original Illuminators. I personally feel this new one has a little more pigment and more radiance, but they seem really similar.

Color swatch comparisons to:

Marc Jacobs Coconut Drops Highlighter in Dew You?
Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer
L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion 902 Light Glow
L’Oreal Visible Lift Serum Tint 803
Fresh Instant Glow Luminizer in Sunset (this looks the closest to the NARS straight out of the tube, but this is heavily scented and more dewy and sheers out on the skin more)
MAC Strobe Cream in Goldlite*

Look wearing just the Super Radiant Skin Booster on cheeks to show you how it looks alone. More color added in the look if you scroll down. Also wearing:

Foundation is Beautyblender Bounce Foundation in 3.60
Concealer is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger
Powder is Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder in 2
Highlight is just the NARS Super Radiant Booster
Brows are Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Taupe
Mascara is NARS Climax Mascara *
Eyeshadow is the NARS Skin Deep Palette
Lip Color is NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Swing applied all over lip with a little bit of Unlaced mixed in
One-Shoulder Sweater is from Abercrombie
Nail Polish worn is OPI Samoan Sand

Skin Deep Eye Palette

Nail polish is Samoan Sand, Eyeshadow Brush is Chanel

Next is the Skin Deep Eye Palette. I ran to my local stores to try and buy this as soon as it launched but none of the counters or stores near me had it. I ordered sight unseen online and it’s swatches a little different than all the promotional photos I’ve seen but I still really love it. NARS launched a few videos showing how this looks on a few different skin tones which I think are great to give you ideas on how to use. I fall somewhere in the middle of skin tone range and this pulls warm but not too warm. If you’re fair this will pull significantly more warm on you. If you’re deeper in skin tone I think this will be a winner and still show up on your skin. A couple of the colors have a similar vibe to the Loaded Eyeshadow Palette from a while ago. This year’s Skin Deep Eye Palette is a more modern rosy version.

This new palette has a mix of new and existing colors. All the shades performed really well with smooth even coverage and good pigment. Blending is easy and even though this pulls warm I still find it very wearable. I’m normally a little irritated when brands repeat a lot of shades but I think these are nice options to own.

Colors:

Taunt is a medium matte cream beige
Sophia is a warm soft brown
Whipped is a reddish matte brown
Undressed is a soft cool matte light brown taupe
Bali is a matte neutral brown
Icon is a shimmering champagne
Basic Instinct is a shimmering soft rose
Coconut Grove is a deep matte brown
Centerfold is a shimmery metallic grey
Calender Girl is a shimmering bronze gold
Faster Pussycat is a warm copper red shimmer
Unbuttoned is a shimmery deep brown

I really love this one. I think I could probably find similar colors in the palette in my existing stash but I love the overall look and feel of this one, it’s easy to wear and I love the pigment. Since this runs on the dark side I would have loved it if they had other variations like a Light or Medium palette. This one will suit a wide range of skin tones and I think it will show up even on deeper skin tones. I do think if you’re fair you might find this too deep. My favorite neutral eye palettes are still Urban Decay Naked2 and Naked3 but I get a little bored with using the same colors over and over again so this is a nice variation.

Wearing same colors as listed in the above makeup look photo, only difference is this one has the Hourglass Incandescent Electra blush added on cheeks for more color. Top is the One-Shoulder Sweater from Abercrombie.

Closer detail photos of the eye makeup. I’m wearing the colors Taunt all over the eye as a base, Icon and Basic Instinct Mixed applied 1/2 way up the lid, Sophia + Faster Pussycat mixed and applied closer to lash blended up, Faster Pussycat + Coconut Grove applied along lower lash line, Coconut Grove used as a liner.

Bottom line is I love both. The formulas perform really well for me and I’m really liking the overall look and vibe of the palette. Colors for both the eye palette and highlighter aren’t super unique but they work as is without any added mixing required. I think it’s really challenging for brands to create color palettes that are truly “universally” flattering but based on the videos I’ve seen I was really impressed to see how these perform on a wide range of skin tones.

I don’t know that I’d call these must-haves. I own a lot of other palettes and neutrals and I suspect you do as well. If I did some digging I could most likely find dupes. I am really happy with these purchases and have no regrets. The palette applies better than I anticipated. Looking at the compact straight out of the box I thought it would be a little boring and too dark but it turned out to be very wearable for me! I also don’t think we need any more highlighters but I don’t think there’s going to be any slowing down with the new launches. The Super Radiant Booster is really lovely. I love that it adds glow in a visible way without being too frosty. I love the dry down and color. It won’t disrupt your base if you apply on top. It’s a flattering color on my skin tone. So even with the million options I own I think this is a good one, but at this point it’s very hard for me to call any a must given all the other options that have been previously launched.

You can find both the NARS Skin Deep Palette and Super Radiant Booster out now. Both are limited-edition. I bought mine from Nordstrom and Sephora. Also available at NARS Cosmetics, Ulta Beauty, Bloomingdale’s, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus and all other NARS retailers.

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By Terry Holiday Gift Guide

By Terry Gem Glow Holiday Collection Review + Swatches

December 12, 2018

By Terry launched some beautiful pieces for the season with the Gem Glow Holiday Collection. There are a couple new individual products and a number of beauty sets to choose from. Today I have a look at their Gem Glow Trio Highlighter ($65 for 5.5 g/0.19 oz), Gem Glow Brightening CC Serum ($91 for 30 ml/1 fl oz), Mini Baume de Rose ($24 for 3 g). In addition I’ve added swatches of some eye makeup including the Eye Light Palette Terrybly Paris 2 ($49 for 9 g/0.31 oz) that launched earlier in the fall plus some swatches of the Ombre Blackstar Cream Shadows since they usually have a few shades in one of the holiday sets. My thoughts on each product below.

Up first is a look at the Gem Glow Trio Compact Highlighter. It’s a stunning mix of pink, pearl and soft peach shimmers. The little yellow spots are overspray but it’s very soft so what you see in the compact is pretty true to what you will find underneath. I swatched each portion individually and swirled.

By Terry makes some of the most beautiful complexion products but they’re all very expensive. I do really love their Compact Expert Dual Powders (I still do) even though they cost an arm and a leg. This holiday season I found myself truly overwhelmed with all the highlighter options and for the first time in many years I did not review or purchase the holiday ones from Chanel or Tom Ford. After trying the options from NARS, Hourglass and Marc Jacobs combined with the dozens launched this year alone I feel like they’re all starting to look the same. I probably would have not purchased this By Terry Gem Glow Highlighter as I’m really set for life with highlighters in general, but out of all the ones I’ve seen this year this one has the prettiest presentation. Like many of her other face products there is more than one color in the pan with a small divider in the compact. The small spacing makes it virtually impossible to get individual colors which I don’t mind. But you will most likely have to swirl or mix shades with a regular face brush.

The pigment and color payoff are excellent. On my skin this translates into a beautiful pearly glow. It performs well, applies smoothly, stays put and doesn’t emphasize my pores. I find it has enough sparkle to be perfect for holiday. The shimmer is truly stunning on the skin making this a beautiful option I think will suit a wide range of skin tones. I do really love this one but the color can probably be duped.

Next is a look at her Gem Glow Brightening CC Serum. It’s a pearly rose gold that is very sheer. I’ve purchased several of her CC Serums in the past and they are extremely expensive but beautiful. They are sheer enough to use all over the face for a very soft subtle glow. It’s rose scented and it does not irritate my skin.

I do like the way it gives the skin a lit from within glow without any greasy emollient finish. The dry down has a soft almost velvet feel which is nice because any added shine with a shimmer product can often translate into a greasy look. If you’re looking for a liquid highlighter this is not the product for you, it’s too sheer to be used as a highlight. If you want something more glowy or visible I’d recommend Armani Fluid Sheers or a stick cream highlighter like the Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighter sticks.

As beautiful as this product is I think you can get a nearly identical effect with the Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow or Brightening Youth Glow Primer for a fraction of the price. I know ingredients aren’t the same so it might not be fair to compare them, but effect is similar. I do think the By Terry Brightening CC Serum is a beautiful product. I love that it comes with a pump and the bottles I owned in past years lasted for a long long time.

Swatched on the hand straight from the pump and then blended out you can see how it just adds a luminous sheen to the skin with barely any color.

For holiday she usually launches a Mini Baume de Rose packaged in a cute ornament form. It took me many years to bring myself to splurge on the full size but it’s 100% worth it. The minis are $24 each which is easier to justify as a splurge even though it’s tiny. I think it’s one of the best treats you can gift yourself. A look at the mini vs full size:

Next are some swatches of her Eye Light Palette Terrybly Paris 2. I haven’t tried any of her shadow palettes before as they’re usually out of my price range. This one retails for $49 and I’ll say up front it doesn’t swatch well on the arm or hand but on the eyes it’s MUCH much better. For those who are tired of the red, orange, pink or glitter palettes that seem to have taken over the beauty world today, you’ll find this one different for the neutral lover. It is very natural but has a nice range of colors for a polished muted classic eye. The colors are soft but they do give a beautiful wash of color you can layer or mix. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I think it would look really nice especially on fair skin tones. They have varying degrees of sparkle but the overall feel is very soft, airy, lightweight and has a subtle sheen.

Last but not least she has some of her Ombre Blackstars in a Trio this year with Blond Opal (shimmery pale champagne gold), Misty Rock (metallic purple) and Bronze Moon (shimmering bronze taupe) for $95. They usually retail for $38 each so you do get a little price break. For some reason I remember these being more expensive individually, I’m not sure when the price changed. Most of her colors have an intense shimmer pearl. These are some of the prettiest cream shadows that stay put on my lids without any issue. I’ve included swatches of a few other colors that I still have.

An easy holiday look wearing:

Primer is the By Terry Brightening CC Serum in Gem Glow
Foundation is Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion in Buff
Powder is La Mer Pressed Powder in Light
Blush is By Terry Compact Expert in Sun Desire
Highlight is By Terry Gem Glow Trio Compact swirled
Eyeshadow is the Eye Light Palette in Terrby Paris
Brows are the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Caramel
Lip Color is Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk, Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk and Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow
Convertible Sweater from Nordstrom 1State

Overall I think these are beautiful quality pieces that are well made. If you splurge I think you’ll be happy with any of these items although I do think there are more affordable alternatives just as good to pick with other brands. The highlighter is such a beautiful piece to look at especially with the design and I think it’s a really pretty color with excellent pigment. Photos cannot do the swatches justice – the sparkle is so gorgeous and mix of colors a sight to behold. I do think you can get a similar effect with other shades though.

You can find the By Terry holiday pieces out now. Everything is limited-edition and you may have to shop around for some of the value sets. By Terry is available at Beautylish, Dermstore, Space NK, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York.

Have you checked out any of the By Terry holiday items? What has been your favorite holiday launch this year? For those curious additional items featured in the opening image: Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Pro 8 Inch in Rose Gold, simplehuman Compact Mirror and a Cuyana Vanity Case that I just ordered and will review in the near future.

By Terry Gem Glow Highlighter, CC Serum, Baume de Rose and Eye Palette provided for review. Ombre Blackstars are from my own collection.

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Christian Louboutin Eye Makeup

Christian Louboutin Tape a l’Oeil Metallic + Matte Nude Eye Colour

December 7, 2018

Christian Louboutin launched new eye shadows in two finishes called the Tape a l’Oeil Metallic Eye Colour and Matte Nude Eye Colour ($50 each for 7 ml/0.23 fl oz). These are eye colors with intense pigment color payoff. I received four colors to test and also purchased two additional shades to review.

Above from left to right: Lola, Zefira, Carnelian, Andalusite, Morganite and Pyrite

The Matte Nude Eye Colour shades come with an oil-based gel formula which goes on like a fluid, dries and sets quickly to a matte finish. I have Lola which is a pale pink peach nude and Zefira which is a deeper brown. These are intended to be skin-matching or contrasted for a brightening or contour effect. I will be frank to say I had low expectations for the matte shades as most fluid or cream mattes tend to look very flat on my skin, but Lola is the best all over base I’ve ever tried. It sets quickly but I only need to dab a little and blend all over the lid for a perfect canvas. Since it is matte I do need to make sure that whatever I layer on top isn’t too dry, slightly creamy powders or shimmers layer nicely on top. These are very opaque and since they dry quickly I recommend blending with a small brush quickly after you dab it on the eyes. Zefira is a deeper brown which I can use as a liner or a soft smokey eye. Since it’s really intense I can blend it out but I have to do so in sheer layers and move quickly. I would like to see if there is a shade one shade darker than Lola, it’s hard to tell online but I have these on my list to check out the next time I’m at a counter.

The Metallic Eye Colours are also excellent. These are intense pigments that have a mix of water and metallic color for a reflective finish. I tried four of the colors which vary slightly in finish. Three of them are more smoother metallics while one has more intense sparkle. Andalusite is a smokey metallic olive green, Carnelian is a beautiful metallic red, Pyrite is the most perfect medium tan gold. The sparkly one is Morganite which I love, it’s a warm pink sparkle. Like the mattes, the metallics also dry quickly so blending fast is key. I can dab and brush with the applicator for Pyrite and Morganite and since they’re lighter in color I can also blend with fingers. The deeper ones require a little more precision so I use the brush applicator and a separate detail brush to blend.

The deeper colors I tested are so beautiful but just not my vibe. I find anything olive or green challenging for me to wear, so Andalusite requires a smokey black or deep brown liner to make it work. Carnelian is one of those stunning reds I cannot pull off, but the color and pigment is really nice though.

A closer look and swatches:

Aside from the steep price the only other downside I see is that the packaging is not super convenient for putting in your everyday makeup bag or for travel. The long spikes are typical of the Louboutin design – ornate like a lavish piece of art or ornament. The long handle is nice to have with application and it felt comfortable in the hand in the width and length. The brush applicator is decent. I like it a lot more than I would have if it were a sponge applicator, but I have individual brushes that I prefer using instead. Still it is slim so it won’t take up too much room if you want to take it with you on a trip.

Out of the colors my favorites are the two I purchased, Morganite and Pyrite. Up first a look at Morganite worn below. Also wearing the Laura Mercier Flawless Foundation in Buff, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder, Lip Color is Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in First Time.

Pyrite with some added mascara and liner in the bottom photo:

Left side is blended, right side has more layered. You can layer more for more pigment and even combine the different colors together for a different (or more complete) look. I try to swatch colors alone so you can get a sense of what they look like by themselves.

Overall I think Louboutin has created some excellent formulas for eye color. They exceeded my expectations formula-wise. Based on the fact that I did not like their mascara that much I though I might have luke-warm feelings towards the eyeshadows as well, but I really like them. I do think that Pyrite has a vibe to other golden tan shades like Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Bette or Marie Antoinette and Morganite looks like Bobbi Brown’s Long Wear Cream Shadow in Golden Pink on me, but the Louboutin formula is different. Since it’s more of a fluid with metallic pigments it stays put on the skin significantly longer on me. Once it sets and dries I feel like it’s budge-proof on me. The shimmer is also a little more intense without being too glitzy. For the holiday season I think long-wear makeup you don’t have to worry about moving through long parties or events is a must which make both of them worth the splurge for me.

Performance and quality wise I give these a solid A+ but I do think you can get a similar effect with other cream shadows out there. Granted they might not be the same formula-wise as I do think the fluid texture is unique. I do think some of the colors can be duped – maybe not the red one, it does seem rather unique to me for a cream/fluid product.

You can find the Christian Louboutin Tape a l’Oeil Metallic + Matte Nude Eye Colour available now. There are six metallics and six mattes to choose from. Available at Christian Louboutin, Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue.

Lola, Zefira, Carnelian and Andalusite gifted. Morganite and Pyrite purchased by me.

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Cle de Peau Beaute

Cle de Peau Beaute Haul: Radiant Cushion Foundation, Highlighters + Lips

December 3, 2018

I have a Cle de Peau Beaute haul roundup today with some hits and misses on what I’ve been testing. I’ve been a long time fan of their Concealer Stick (both original and new formula) and some of their lip products but this is a brand I haven’t explored much recently. Much of the makeup I’ve purchased over the years has been reformulated over the years including the twist up click lipsticks, some eyeshadows, foundations etc. With all the other launches and new brands popping up I haven’t kept up with this line although I really did like their Radiant Lip Gloss and splurged on all the colors at the beginning of the year. In today’s haul roundup:

Radiant Cushion Foundation in O30 ($90 for 12 g/0.42 oz)
Radiant Corrector for Eyes in Ocher ($65 for 2.2 ml/0.08 oz)
Luminizing Face Enhancer in 15, 16 and 17 ($95 each for 10 g/0.35 oz)
Stick Highlighter (Holiday) in Light Me ($70 for 4 g/0.14 oz)
Lipstick Cashmere in 504 Follow Me (holiday, $65 for 4 g/0.14 oz, sold out everywhere)
Lipstick Cashmere in 101 Pouty, 102 Song Bird ($65 for 4 g/0.14 oz)
Lip Glorifier ($40 for 0.1 oz, also sold out everywhere)

Up first is a look at two of the Cle de Peau Beaute bases, the Radiant Cushion Foundation and the Radiant Corrector for Eyes. I give both of these a thumbs up, I think these are probably the only two items I hauled I think are truly worth the splurge.

The Radiant Cushion Foundation is a beautiful medium coverage cushion with a natural slightly luminous finish. It’s lightweight but has a hydrating feel. Coverage is perfect for me: medium and dewy but not greasy looking. There is a puff that comes with the compact designed to apply just the right amount of product, but I still prefer using a beautyblender. I was thrilled to find a match with O30 because the shade range is limited to just 6 colors. It does pull a little more on the neutral side and I’m more olive, but it works for my skin right now without any adjusting needed. It oxidizes slightly which actually works in my favor right now. I’m quickly losing my tan this winter but I still have some color.

Below with one layer of the cushion foundation applied all over the face with a beautyblender sponge. It lasts for hours on me, I do need to touch up with some powder mid-day but I didn’t notice any separating on my normal skin. I have not tried any of the other Cle de Peau foundation formulas in years so I cannot compare the cushion. It’s very lightly scented but did not irritate my skin (AmorePacific and Sulwhasoo by comparison are heavily fragranced).

I already featured the Radiant Corrector for Eyes in Ocher in my recent Concealer Roundup but wanted to mention it again because I think it’s an excellent formula for concealing and brightening. It’s not as opaque or matte as the Stick Concealer which makes it more ideal for under eye concealing. I highly recommend it!

Up next are the Luminizing Face Enhancers. I had some shades from years ago but I believe they are now discontinued. I splurged on a few more (all at different times). 15 Golden Apricot is a light peach, 16 Almond is a mix of champagne and soft light brown, 17 Lavender is a cool-toned mix of pale ivory, lavender, pale pink and mint. I have such mixed feelings about these because they’re so sheer and natural looking, I can barely see them on my skin. They meld nicely with the skin and once applied skin truly looks radiant in the most natural way possible. For the price of $95 per compact I don’t think these are worth the price. I do understand they’re meant to be natural and enhancing, but for me $95 for sheer and barely visible just isn’t worth it to me. I don’t know why I talked myself into buying again because I originally thought they were too expensive when I first bought these.

For holiday they launched a Stick Highlighter in Light Me. I ordered it sight unseen because the packaging looked so beautiful! This is a similar concept to the RMS Living Luminizer which I am not a fan of (I might be the only one on the planet who doesn’t like it). The Cle de Peau Stick Highlighter gives a very natural luminous sheen. It’s light and sheer and makes the skin glow, but once you blend out with the fingers the color pretty much disappears. The price is also steep. I think I might just be too tan/dark in skin tone to be able to wear this one. If you have fair skin I can see it being more visible or flattering on. If you have this on your wishlist I’d recommend ordering soon, it’s sold out almost everywhere but still available at Bloomingdale’s and Cle de Peau.

For the lips I tried the new Holiday Lipstick Cashmere in Follow Me #504 and two of the regular Lipstick Cashmere colors in #101 Pouty and #102 Song Bird along with the Lip Glorifier which is pretty much sold out everywhere and a little hard to find. I have two semi-hits and two misses with these.

The Holiday Lipstick Cashmere in Follow Me is also sold out pretty much everywhere, but I hope I can ease your mind if you really wanted it and missed out. It’s a gorgeous peachy pink neutral with a creamy velvety feel but it was semi streaky. The color did not last long on me at all and since it sold out I did try to dupe it. I found quite a few similar options which I’ve swatched below. Lasting power was pretty mediocre with this color – I kept it on while arm swatching other products and in 30 minutes it had already faded noticeably and started to separate. Not ok for a $65 lipstick!

The good news is that the regular Lipstick Cashmere lineup is better for lasting power and finish. #101 Pouty is a pretty neutral nude pink and #102 Song Bird is the perfect medium rose. Both glide onto the lips smoothly like soft velvet and they have a semi matte finish. If I had not tried Pat McGrath’s MatteTrance Lipsticks I would have given the Cle de Peau lipsticks an A rating, however Pat McGrath has set the bar so high for me – I don’t think it gets better than her mattes for pigment, texture and lasting power. The formula between Cle De Peau and Pat McGrath aren’t quite the same though so I don’t know that a comparison is fair. I do think hands down you should save your budget for anything Pat McGrath because the quality of her line is phenomenal and she’s also having a sitewide sale on her website. Because her lipsticks are so good I feel like almost everything else I’ve tried ranks a B to B- or lower by comparison.

Last but not least is the Lip Glorifier. It’s marketed as next level amazing but I think it’s just ok. It’s good but has a very similar concept to the Dior Addict Lip Glow. It’s a light pink balm that has a slight tingle and slightly pink tint. It adds a pink glow and color to the lips but in a very natural way. It made my lips full and smooth and lush. I do think the Dior Lip Glow is a classic that can’t be beat, if you’re going to find a color transforming balm Dior is the best one I’ve tried. Cle de Peau’s is also very nice but for the price and size Dior wins hands down. I give this a semi-miss because of the super small size and the fact that I don’t think it’s quite as revolutionary or unique as I expected.

For those who like Follow me and are bummed it’s sold out, swatch comparisons below to a few similar options. The finish isn’t going to be the same because the Lipstick Cashmere is velvety, but you can get a similar color by trying any of these options:

Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipstick in Bitch Perfect
Tom Ford Boys and Girls in River (swatched here)
Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink
Tom Ford Lip Color Matte in First Time
Pat McGrath LuxeTrance in Valleta (review here)
MAC Lipstick in Patisserie
MAC Powder Kiss in Sweet, No Sugar and Scattered Petals (swatched here, press samples)

Two looks wearing the Cushion Foundation and other pieces I hauled, full breakdown listed below:

Left photo wearing:

Foundation is Cle de Peau Radiant Cushion Foundation in O30
Powder is Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder
Cheeks have the Cle de Peau Luminizing Face Enhancer in 15 + Highlighting Stick on cheekbones
Eyes have the Louboutin Tape A L’Oeil in Pyrite (review soon!)
Brows are the By Terry Brow Mascara 4
Mascara is By Terry Lash Expert Mascara
Lipstick is the Holiday Lipstick Cashmere 504 Follow Me

Right photo wearing:

Same base + eyes
Cheeks have the NARS Hot Tryst Cheek Palette blush in Adrenaline (review here, press sample)
Highlight is Cle de Peau Luminizing Face Enhancer in 17
Lipstick is the Lipstick Cashmere in 102 Sweet Song

Button cuff sweater worn from Loft (runs true to size).

Overall I do think Cle de Peau offers some beautiful high quality products. I know many fans are die hard loyal to the products and skincare so I hope I don’t offend fans with my less than stellar review. I think there are definitely good solid items to choose from. I think their Facial Cotton and Face Puff are excellent and worth the splurge even though there are cheaper alternatives that are just as good. I found prices for this line too high for me and I do not feel this haul was not worth what I spent. I’ve happily purchased and splurged on many things to review for this blog but in this case I feel the $800+ cost would have been better MUCH spent on things like the simplehuman large pro wide sensor mirror or Diptyque Advent Calendar instead. Or even the Dyson Air Wrap Styler that many of you have been asking me to review (however it seems to be sold out everywhere).

The Cushion Foundation was my favorite out of all the things I tested but the extremely limited shade range is so disappointing, not to mention the fact that it doesn’t even come with a refill. There are other brands that have expensive cushions but I do appreciate that some of them come with a refill which makes the splurge feel a little better. I think the Radiant Corrector for Eyes is excellent but also think the shade range could be improved.

I had high hopes for the lipsticks and while they’re not bad, I think there are superior formulas out there at lower price points. Same goes for the highlighting powders and highlighter stick. I’m going to keep trying with the highlighter stick – I keep reading so many good reviews on it, I’m determined to make it work for me. All this said I do think they offer some good pieces perfect for the beauty lover who wants something very understated and naturally glowy. I know not everyone wants super bold or intense shimmer, sometimes it’s nice to have more natural options. I’m all about natural but found these too natural even for me.

If you love the brand I’d love to hear about your favorites! It’s been a while since I’ve looked into the new launches so if there’s anything you think is an absolute must let me know in the comments.

You can find Cle de Peau Beaute at a wide range of retailers. I bought my items from Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. Also available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney’s New York and Cle de Peau Beaute. If you’re shopping a lot of Cle de Peau there’s a GWP going on right now at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom you might want to check out!

All Cle de Peau items featured purchased by me.

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Eye Makeup NARS

NARS Ignited Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

November 29, 2018

NARS just launched a new eyeshadow palette today called the NARS Ignited Eyeshadow Palette ($59 for 0.05 ox/1.2 g x 12, made in Canada). It’s available exclusively at Sephora.com and NARS online for now, expected to launch in stores on 12/10/2018. I have a look plus swatches of this palette today!

NARS Ignited has a mix of mattes, shimmers, glitters and intense sheen shadows. It think it’s very much on trend with the pink and red eyeshadow colors that are “in” right now. If you already own a lot you may want to shop your stash. I find it similar to the Urban Decay Naked Cherry but the NARS Ignited Palette has more intense shine and sparkle with the shimmer shades. They have that same unique finish as some of their hardwired shadow singles.

Colors all have really phenomenal pigment in this palette. I appreciate that especially since not all previous NARS palettes have had consistently good pigment or color payoff across all shades. The colors as I see them are:

Hammamet 1 is a soft peach tan matte
St Paul de Vence 1 is a satiny warm peachy pink with a sheen
Light Up is a glitzy pale pink
Atomic glittering pale pink
Sophia matte neutral brown
Supernova shimmery warm pink
In Heat duo chrome shimmering mauve
Ignition sparkling pink with glitter
Noumea matte warm brown
Fired Up shimmery red pink
Fuse sparkling glittery purple
Pointe Noir shimmery deep plum sparkle

I believe all the mattes in this one are available individually, the shimmers all look new to me. There will be some fallout with application on the sparkles when you apply, but once on the lids they stayed put all day without any budging. I did not need to use a shadow base or cream shadow stick to make them adhere although adding one will help if you have dry lids.

Larger swatches:

This is the same size compact and pan size as last year’s NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette. The mix of textures and finishes is similar but color scheme is different. I have a side by side of the palettes below but could not fit them all on one arm to swatch side by side. I swatched them last year and the colors are a lot warmer or more neutral while this years’s NARS Ignited is more pink and plum.

A quick look below. I’ve already lost my tan in the past week or so and have lightened a full shade, I used to wear the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Vanuatu, I’m now Punjab*. Wearing the Foundation in Punjab, Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger, Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil in Soft Brunette, Ignited Eyeshadow Palette*, NARS Climax Mascara*, NARS Hot Tryst Cheek Palette* in Swindle and Untamed mixed on the cheeks, NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Roseland on the lips.

One last look:

Overall solid performance for color payoff, pigment, smooth finish and lasting power. It has some beautiful finishes for the shimmers that have intense sparkle but apply nicely without having fall out after it sets. That being said I think it’s very similar to a number of other palettes out right now. I love more neutral tones so between Ignited and Wanted I prefer the Wanted, but they are different in overall undertone and color scheme. If you already own Urban Decay Naked Cherry I think you’ll find this one very similar. A quick look at both shows that NARS Ignited has more intense shimmer and pigment with the sparkles while the Urban Decay has softer shimmers. The one for NARS has more of a wow factor with the glitz and sheen, but it’s not too intense that I felt uncomfortable wearing it. It’s beautiful for sure – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed because it’s easy to wear and quality is on point, but check your stash to see how many pink/plum palettes you have if you’re concerned about dupes.

You can find the NARS Ignited Eyeshadow Palette available exclusively at Sephora.com and NARS online for now, expected to launch in stores on 12/10/2018. If you’re shopping at Sephora they’re having their Holiday Hooray event now for Rouge! Details and codes are as follows, offer is a one time use:

Rouge Members November 29 through December 12 receive $25 off $75 purchases or more with code 2018HOORAY
VIB Members November 30 through December 12 receive $20 off $75 purchases or more with code 2018HOORAY
Insiders November 30 through December 11 receive $15 off $75 purchases or more with code 2018HOORAY

What do you think about the palette? Do you like pink tones for eyeshadows?

NARS palette provided for review. Additional press samples have a * next to them.

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Chanel Skincare

Chanel Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set + My Top 10 Chanel Favorites

November 28, 2018

Chanel launched three Le Voyage Travel Skincare Sets on Cyber Monday and they’re still available for a limited time. For the first time I can remember Chanel has launched miniatures in skincare sets! Most of the time they are full sizes for makeup, fragrance and skincare in the US. I do think there are more options available internationally but in the US we don’t always have access to all the launches. I have a look at the Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set which retails for $120. Online they also have a Le Lift Le Voyage for $185 and a Sublimage Le Voyage for $425. In addition since so many have asked I’ve included my Top 10 Chanel favorites at the end.

The Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set has two miniatures from the Hydra Beauty Skincare line and their classic eye makeup remover. Do note with the Hydra Beauty line everything has scent in it – something you might want to try before you buy in case you’re sensitive. I haven’t had any irritation issues using this line. Everything is available individually in full size form but the set has miniatures:

Hydra Beauty Micro Serum (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) is one of the prettiest lightweight serums I’ve tried, I used this years ago (when I still lived in San Diego), it has product encapsulated in micro droplets and are released upon application. It’s lighweight but helps your moisturizer to absorb better.
Hydra Beauty Creme (20 g/0.7 oz) comes in a super cute black mini compact. It has a seal inside to protect the product and prevent it from drying out and also has a mini spatula. This is so cute and has genius packaging. I’m keeping this and going to refill it when the creme is used up. I have not tried the cream before but did test it over the past week. It’s smooth and has a very lightweight feel.
Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover (30 ml/1 fl oz) is too cute for words. This has been one of my favorite eye makeup removers, it doesn’t work the best on waterproof formulas, but for regular ones it is a staple.

A closer look at the Micro Serum and Mini Eye Makeup Remover:

A closer look at the packaging of the Hydra Beauty Creme:

Ingredients from the box:

Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover: Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil), Centaurea Cyanus Flower Qater, PPF-26-buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methylparaben, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Propylene Glycol, Yriethanolamine, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, CI 42090 (blue 1)
Hydra Beauty Micro Serum: Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Pentylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Carbomer, PVP, Dipropylene Glycol, Amodimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate
Hydra Beauty Creme: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Octyldodecanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharide Isomerate, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Dimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Carbomer, Lauroyl Lysine, Propylene Glycol, PEG-12, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Tocopherol, Propylparaben, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ethylparaben, Sodium Benzoate

My top 10 has changed over the years. So many of my tried and true staples were reformulated. I also found that my skin developed sensitivity to many of their foundations which have a higher alcohol content in some formulas. There are still a few that I can use without issue. My top 10 Chanel favorites. Press samples have a * but many of the items I purchased myself. You can find these at a wide range of retailers, I buy my items either from Chanel.com (because it always comes beautifully boxed and they sometimes have exclusives or early launches) and Nordstrom (because they have the best customer service in store and online):

Les Eaux de Chanel in Biarritz * I love anything citrus and this is a beautiful mix of mandarin and lily, it’s more of a spring summer scent, but in Florida it’s warm almost the entire year so it’s perfect for me anytime, it’s also available in a Body Lotion and Shower Gel version which I have not yet tried
Powder Blush in Foschia Rosa is the prettiest semi bright warm pink blush, review and on the face here
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Multi-Colour Powder in Medium * is my favorite semi bronzer semi highlighter in one, review here
Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base is the best cream bronzer for me, I’ve gone through a few tubs of these
La Creme Main hand cream, review of the 3 options here
Le Vernis in Organdi * is the best everyday neutral pink, review here
Rouge Coco Gloss in 172 Tendresse is the best pink for me, swatches here
Rouge Coco Gloss in 722 Noce Moscata is the prettiest semi-shimmery neutral caramel, swatches here
Hydra Beauty Mist is one of my favorite face mists, it’s super expensive but I really love it
Le Volume Mascara Waterproof is a classic for me

One last look at the travel set:

I hope you found this roundup helpful! The sets are really cute and nice for travel. You can find the Hydra Beauty Le Voyage Set for a limited time at Chanel.com. My top 10 picks also available at Chanel and Nordstrom along with many other beauty retailers.

Le Voyage Set provided for review. Additional press samples featured have a * next to them.

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Diptyque

Diptyque Black Friday Baies Candle 2018 Edition

November 25, 2018

For Black Friday Diptyque launched a special limited-edition Black Candle in their classic Baies variation ($72 for 6.5 oz). It’s available online through 11/26 while supplies last and comes in a special black and white glass jar. I was so lucky to get an early preview to share in my Black Friday roundup and wanted to give you a closer look.

Baies is Diptyque’s best-selling candle with a mix of rose and blackcurrant leaves. It’s my favorite and I think it’s one of the most unique scents I’ve ever burned in candle form. The Black Friday Baies comes in the same size as the Standard Candles, 6.5 oz, approximately up to 60 hours of burn time. The wax is black like their Tinted Colored Glass Candles and 3-Wick Candle. It also comes with a 2018 stamp on the side which I think is super fun.

In case you’re new to the brand many of the scented candles come in multiple sizes and also other formats in case you cannot burn candles. I’ve purchased almost all the different forms over the years, my favorite is still the candle form.

Above from left to right. You can find these at a number of places, but I usually buy mine from Diptyque stores, Diptyque online and Nordstrom:

Three Wick Candle, 21 oz ($165) only comes in the Baies form right now, there’s actually a larger size Outdoor with Five Wicks that have 51.3 oz, the jar is a matte glass black and is a lot stronger than the standard or minis
Room Spray, 5 fl oz ($68) is a potent kind of room spray, it’s very strong and scent lingers for at least several hours and fills a decent size room with a few spritzes, it still won’t last quite as long as a candle but we’ve bought a few of these over the years and every scent we’ve tried is amazing
Tinted Glass, 10.2 oz ($95) comes with approximately 90 hours of burn time, their best sellers come in different colors of glass and matching wax which make it more fun and unique
Extra Mini 1.23 oz typically come in the 5-Piece, 10-Piece Holiday Sets or Advent Calendar. This year it’s also available in the Treat Cones in the Do Son and L’Ombre Dans L’Eau versions.
Standard Candles 6.5 oz ($65 and up) come with approximately 60 hours of burn time, most are clear glass with the white and black sticker label. Limited or special editions have different colors of exterior and are usually a little more expensive.
Mini Candles 2.4 oz ($35) have around 30 hours of burn time. They make nice gifts. After I burn and clean out the interior I fill them with Q-tips or long match sticks.
Scented Oval ($48) is the only format I’m really not that crazy about since the strength isn’t as potent as the room spray or candle.
The perfume version of Baies os the L’Ombre Dans L’Eau which has really good lasting power on me. It smells exactly like the candle. I’ve tried the Eau de Toilette version but they also have an Eau de Parfum as well. One shown is a travel size which was limited-edition. Current sizes are larger.

In addition they have a few diffuser variations which I have not tried yet. There are currently three different options for home diffusers and each one is very expensive. They’re beautifully designed but for now I’m sticking with the candles.

Some of you asked for more thoughts and a closer look at the Carousel. Each holiday there are usually two options. This year they have the Full Size Carousel ($60) which fits the standard candles. It sold out multiple times on the Diptyque website but just restocked so I ordered it on Black Friday. In addition they have the one that fits the minis available in a Baies + Tubereuse Carousel and Candle Set ($125). In my previous post I had photographed it without the ornaments attached. Below I have it with the ornaments attached and I also uploaded a quick video on my Instagram @beautylookbook. You can check it out in action in this post here.

Overall I think the Black Friday Candle is perfect for Diptyque lovers. I ordered a second one as a backup along with the full size carousel on Black Friday. Diptyque is an expensive luxury brand for sure and if you’re new to the line it can be a little overwhelming to pick one. I still recommend the mini sets if you can’t smell or try in person. They’re the perfect way to sample a wide range.

For the size options I hope the side by side photo helped. I’ve purchased a number of these over the years. The Three Wick was a newer launch last year and Andrew bought it for me as a birthday gift (by my request).

You can find the Diptyque Black Friday 2018 Baies online at Diptyque through 11/26 while supplies last. They are running a Cyber Weekend promo with a 35g mini Figuier candle, a mini Philosykos soap and a set of decorative ornaments with a purchase $100 or more using code CHEER until 11/27 or while supplies last. If you’re shopping be sure to check the Exclusive Offers Promo page in case they have a new one for Cyber Monday.

Black Friday candle gifted by Diptyque. All other items purchased by me.

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