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Lips MAC

MAC Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick + Lip Gloss Review

August 1, 2018

MAC launched a limited-edition collection called Plenty of Pout. It has a selection of lipsticks and one lip gloss with plumping ingredients they say are meant to “take lips to their very fullest potential.” MAC describes these has having a full bee-stung look with sheer, creamy colour. These contain a ginger root complex that has a cooling sensation to make lips look volumized upon application. At the same time they have oils to moisturize and smooth. As one with naturally full lips I usually don’t look for pluming lip products (I don’t want them bigger!). Also many tingle lip products are so strong I can’t handle the sting. Still the colors in this launch looked perfect and nothing would stop me from trying them. There are 6 shades of the Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick and 1 shade for the Plenty of Pout Plumping Lip Gloss.

The Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick that come in a similar tube style to the Huggable Lipsticks (now discontinued), Liptensity Lipsticks and Tendertalk Balms. I personally love this style of lipstick because I feel they’re less prone to breakage, especially with the Florida heat outdoors sometimes can soften the base and make my lipsticks break. These are described as sheer and creamy, but to me they seem to have medium to full coverage. Texture is indeed smooth and creamy with a very slight tingle to me. It feels minty and cool. All the colors and glossy shine are just perfect to me. Since they are so creamy I do need to blot once otherwise it looks like I have too much product on. The colors can probably be duped but the best thing about these is that for me there is no tweaking or mixing required. Colors work for me straight out of the tube and they are moisturizing. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the strongest), I’d rate the tingle at a 7. Your mileage may vary depending on how sensitive your lips are.

Kiss and Cuddle is a creamy light peachy beige
Nicer Than Nice is the perfect baby pink
Smooth Going is a soft coral pinky peach
So Swell is a muted pink brown
Ample Chic is a perfect hot pink
Crazy Lush is a vibrant hot red

Some have a slight hint of shimmer in the tube but they apply like creams on my lips, shimmer isn’t really visible once I have them on.

Swatched on bare lips. For skintone reference I’m wearing the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff on the face. MAC Equivalent is NC35 or NC37 for the Studio Fix Fluid Foundation.

There is also a Plenty of Pout Plumping Lip Gloss which is a soft clear light pink. This gave my lips the same amount of pain the Buxom Full-On Lip Polishes and Glamglow Plumprageous Nudes. It comes with a sponge tip applicator which is easy to use however I could not wear this one more than 5 minutes before I HAD to remove it with a bi-phase makeup remover. Another semi-rant is that once you take the applicator out of the tube you see how little product there is! This is the same issue I had with the Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath I reviewed a few weeks ago. On the lips the MAC Plenty of Pout gloss is clear. I would not recommend – for me this was 10 out of 10 painful in terms of the sting, but if you can take the tingle and don’t mind how little product there is inside then there’s nothing wrong with going for it!

Both the lipsticks and lip gloss do plump the lips. Not in an overly done way but there is noticeable fullness with both. If you can handle a bit of tingle I think they are worth looking into – especially since the lipstick colors are perfect. If not I’d recommend you opt for the MAC Cremesheen Lipsticks for a similar creamy feel with a bit of shine or the MAC Liptensity Lipsticks if want similar coverage but with a semi matte finish.

You can find the MAC Plenty of Pout Plumping Lipstick and Lip Gloss collection out now. Everything is limited-edition. Available in stores and online at Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty, Dillard’s, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and MAC Cosmetics.

MAC Plenty of Pout collection provided courtesy of MAC for review.

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Nordstrom Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Iris Bronze Eye and Lip Set Review + Swatches

July 24, 2018

Tom Ford launched a new eyeshadow quad with two mini lipsticks in the Iris Bronze Eye and Lip Set ($87) for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It sold out the very first day of early access and I have been checking the site daily to see if it has been restocked. No luck yet but I am hopeful it will be. The set features Iris Bronze Eyeshadow Quad which is new and two miniature lipsticks in Casablanca and Spiced Honey. Since it has sold out I’ve tried to dupe both the eye and lip colors and have found some!

Iris Bronze has the same smooth and creamy texture that all of the regular Eyeshadow Quads do. The colors are velvety, blend nicely and layer perfectly on the lids. This quad has a pale cream shimmer, a shimmering light tan champagne, soft warm bronze satin and a deep wine with a tiny hint of sparkle.

In search for dupes:

The colors are practically identical to his Private Shadow Singles in Hush, Body Double, Iris Bronze and Videotape. I own all of these except for Iris Bronze (but I have seen it in person). There are very slight differences that I can see when I look super close but on screen and from a distance the colors look like dupes. I’ve added Fire Sign and Warm Leatherette as I have those colors. In case you missed it you can see my Tom Ford Private Shadow swatches here. I also felt Iris Bronze had a similar vibe to the MAC x Patrick Starrr Glam AF Eyeshadow Quad from holiday, swatching side by side proves it’s kinda similar but still distinctly different.

In addition I’ve added Eyeshadow Quads in Cocoa Mirage and Honeymoon swatched for comparison. Similar undertone but colors and finishes are different.

The Lip Colors in Spiced Honey and Casablanca in this set are available in full-size individual form. The minis in the set are sample size so they’re a lot smaller than even the Lips and Boys. You will most likely get more than a few uses but they will be used up fairly fast. They’re a nice way to try the formula in case you’ve been holding out on splurging as the individuals are very pricey. Spiced Honey is a pale nude pink but on my lips it washes out my face and clashes with my olive skintone. It’s workable if I add a deeper liner like Edward Bess Natural or MAC Boldly Bare. For a nude I really prefer colors like Bad Lieutenant or Autoerotique (both swatched + reviewed here) or the Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Bradley (review here). Casablanca is a classic medium-deep rose that darkens on my lips. I prefer Indian Rose as it’s a tad bit softer and for me easier to wear for everyday (reviewed in last year’s set here).

The Tom Ford Lip Colors are full coverage creamy lipsticks. They have a semi-thick finish but aren’t heavy feeling. There is a slight soft vanilla scent but it’s subtle and fades after a few minutes. Lasting power of the lip color itself is very good.

Swatch comparisons: Nude Vanille, Spiced Honey, Sable Smoke, Pink Dusk, Bad Lieutenant, First Time, Autoerotique, Pussycat, Casablanca and Indian Rose

Overall I give the set a thumbs up even if the lip colors need a tiny bit of adjustment for me. Sometimes it’s nice to have minis and I don’t always mind mixing or layering lip colors. The eyeshadow quad is really beautiful – I prefer it to the singles for convenience, I would have preferred that Tom Ford launched new eyeshadow quads or at least a system similar to the MAC Pro Palettes where you can create your own palette with singles. I am hoping that Nordstrom will restock the Tom Ford set, my mind is still blown that it sold out the first day! Or at the very least I hope new quads will be launched in the fall. If you own the singles, I don’t think you need the quad but I am really happy to own it.

The Tom Ford Iris Bronze Eye and Lip set is exclusive to Nordstrom. You can still find the individual Private Shadows and Lip Colors at all Tom Ford counters. Available online at Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Beautylish and Tom Ford Beauty.

Were you able to purchase the set for early access? If so what did you think?

P.S. There are a few new lip products out including a Lip Lock Priming Balm and 20 shades of Lip Sculptors. I will be reviewing the balm and a few of the lip pencils soon! Also the Glamglow x Becca We Know Glow Duo finally launched online!!

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Hourglass Cosmetics

New Hourglass Launches: Ambient Lighting Blush Palette, Veil Additions + Caution Extreme Mascara

July 23, 2018

There have been quite a few new launches from Hourglass over the past months and I have a roundup review today. They have some complexion products for the face in their Veil Lineup, a new Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (Nordstrom exclusive), and a new mascara. Items reviewed today:

Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($65, Nordstrom Anniversary Beauty Exclusive)
Veil Translucent Setting Powder ($46)
Veil Powder Brush ($64, double ended)
Veil Retouching Fluid in Natural ($34)
Caution Extreme Lash Mascara ($29)

Up first is a look at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Ambient Lighting Blush Palette. This has one new shade Surreal Glow and two repeats in Luminous Flush and Mood Exposure. Surreal Glow is the new color which is a soft light peachy pink glow which was actually in the Hourglass Holiday 2016 Surreal Light Palette. Each powder is hand made so no two are identical and colors can be the slightest bit different depending on how much color you get in each swirl. The Surreal Glow in my Nordstrom Palette is slightly deeper than the one I have in the Surreal Light Palette. If you’re an Hourglass fan there’s a high chance you already own 2 of the blush colors. I wish they would launch palettes with all new shades, but I do like these for their convenience, especially for travel.

Swatches:

Swatch comparisons below to a few colors from two previous Hourglass palettes in Holiday 2017 Ambient Lighting Edit Volume 3 and Surreal Light Holiday 2016. I also found one close dupe with is the MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Nuanced (reviewed here). The difference being Nuanced is a lot more shimmery and frosty so it’s more dramatic and won’t quite give you the same effect. Color-wise it’s the closest one I have.

Next are the Veil Product additions including the Veil Translucent Setting Powder, Veil Powder Brush and Veil Retouching Fluid in Natural. Their Veil Mineral Primer has been a long-time best seller for them. It’s an oil-free version so best used with oil-free foundations. Earlier in the spring they launched a few additions.

The Veil Translucent Setting Powder is an excellent translucent setting powder that doesn’t add any white cast to the skin and sets the face in a very natural way. On me it keeps makeup staying set all day without any cakey look. Texture is ultra fine and it does have a very subtle blurring effect to smooth out pores. It’s talc-free, invisible on the skin and has no flash back. The Veil Powder Brush is a double-ended brush that is loose and fluffy. I really love the way it feels on the skin and it performs really well. I use the larger side for loose or pressed setting powders and the smaller one is perfect for their blushes. It’s not quite as matte as the Marc Jacobs Coconut Setting Powder. The Hourglass one also has a lighter weight feel compared to Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder. All three are excellent, I cannot pick a favorite but I’m really pleased with the way the new Veil Translucent Setting Powder has performed.

The Veil Retouching Fluid is the best thing I’ve tried to highlight and enhance complexion. It has just the right amount of pigment and sheerness to apply under eyes, between brows upwards and anywhere you want to brighten the skin. Most of us use concealer to highlight and brighten. A good blending technique with a damp beautyblender will do the trick to smooth everything out, but in my opinion I think most of the concealers are too opaque to apply on wide areas of the face. I still do it occasionally when my foundation doesn’t have enough coverage, but in the Florida heat layers on layers of makeup are prone to caking eventually. For this formula the color Natural is my best match. It cancels out redness but in a natural way. It doesn’t cake or crease. It’s easy to touch up mid-day on top of your makeup and blend.

I swatched all the colors in store, sorry for the poor lighting quality but I took this in the mall with my iPhone, but I hope this helps as a reference for the color range. I feel like the gaps in between each color are fairly decent. The pigment is sheer and quite forgiving so I think you can easily find a match.

Swatch comparisons to Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Concealers in 3C, 3N and 3W (all shades swatched here), NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Macadamia and Ginger, Urban Decay All Nighter Concealer in Med-Light Neutral and Medium Neutral

Look wearing:

Base: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer all over the face
Foundation: Bobbi Brown Skin Longwear Foundation in Warm Natural 4.5 (I’ve gone up a shade deeper since my review here)
Highlight/Under Eyes: Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid in Natural
Powder: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
Cheeks: Hourglass Surreal Glow + Luminous Flush mixed
Eyeshadow: Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Nude Dip
Mascara: Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash
Lips: Hourglass Confession Slip Lipstick in I Lust For (more colors reviewed here)

Last but not least is their new Caution Extreme Lash Mascara. I think it’s very good but it’s not my favorite as I cannot get it to consistently hold the curl. What it does do is give volume, intense color, and dramatic lashes. It stays on all day with zero smudging in my experience. It has lasted on multiple tests through Florida humidity, a swim in the ocean and an afternoon at the beach. It really looks amazing when it works! The holding the curl issue isn’t always working for me but so many mascaras don’t hold the curl for me. My solution is to sometimes layer different formulas for added volume and lasting power. A lot of you have messaged me saying you use this trick all the time! Right now my top two favorites are still the L’oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof and Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme. If I layer this new Hourglass mascara with the L’Oreal it works like a charm 100%.

Overall some nice additions and a few things to consider as beauty staples. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette is a Nordstrom exclusive, but all other items can also be found at Sephora, Beautylish, and Hourglass Cosmetics. If you’re looking for minis to try Sephora has a few options with a Mini Caution Extreme Lash Mascara and a Veil Prime and Set Mini Duo available. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Veil Translucent Setting Powder, Retouching Fluid, Veil Brush and Caution Mascara provided for review.

30 Comments

Sisley-Paris Skincare

Sisley Paris x Nordstrom All Eyes on Sisley Set

July 19, 2018

I’m continuing my reviews of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives with a look at one of the value sets from Sisley Paris. This year they have two starter/introductory sets for the Anniversary Sale including All Eyes on Sisley ($210) and Introduction to Sisley ($175). The line actually has quite a few starter sets for other products and today I have a look at the All Eyes on Sisley Set which includes two full-sized items of the Sisleya L’Intégral Anti-Age Eye & Lip Contour Cream (0.5 oz) and Eye Contour Mask (1.16 oz). Both are great to help reduce puffiness around the eye area – something my eyes are very prone to.

The Sisleya L’Intégral Anti-Age Eye & Lip Contour Cream is an anti-aging cream that helps firm and lift the eyelids and under the eyes it reduces puffiness. It comes with a small ridoki massage tool which works wonders to help prep and smooth the eye or lip area before you apply the cream. It has a metal plated roller with an amazing cooling and smoothing effect. You massage it in strokes around the eye moving away from the center of the eye. The gentle motions help support circulation and works really well to reduce swelling around the area.

For the cream, a small amount goes a long way. It’s hydrating and in the immediate term reduces the appearance of dryness and fine lines. Skin feels instantly refreshed without any greasy residue. It absorbs into the skin, has a hydrating feel, doesn’t cause breakouts under the eye and has no scent to it. Key ingredients include Persian acacia, yeast and soy protein complex, soy peptide extract, Atlas cedar extract and pomegranate fermented extract. I’ve tried it on both the lips and eyes, I prefer it on the eyes. Full size plus more details listed here.

Full ingredient list per Sisley: SORBITOL, MINERAL OIL, OLEYL ALCOHOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, CETYL PHOSPHATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) PROTEIN, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, TRIETHANOLAMINE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT, DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA (CARROT) ROOT EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, SESAMUM INDICUM (SESAME) SEED OIL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PANTHENOL, POLYACRYLAMIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, CARBOMER, C13-14 ISOPARAFFIN, CETEARETH-33, SODIUM METHYLPARABEN, SORBIC ACID, TETRASODIUM EDTA EG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, OCTOXYNOL-13, LAURETH-7, TRISTEARIN, METHYLPARABEN, ACETYLATED GLYCOL STEARATE, FRAGRANCE, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, BHT, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, (CONT. LINALOOL)

The Eye Contour Mask has been a favorite since I tried it from the Beauty Subscription Program (it’s exclusive to the Sisley website). This particular tube is my third one. It’s a mask you leave on for around 10 minutes then wipe off. It also hydrates and depuffs the eye area and soothes the skin. They recommend using 2-3 times a week and I use it around 2 times weekly. It’s one of my favorite things to do mask-wise. Ingredients include Arnica, Chestnut tree, Gingko Biloba, Vegetable Glycerin, Vitamins E and B5, Chlorella, Malachite, Linden, Alpha-Bisabolol, Rose Water. Full size plus more details listed here.

Full ingredient list per Sisley: GLYCERIN, WATER/EAU (WATER), HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ISODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, SODIUM ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ROSA CENTIFOLIA, FLOWER WATER, PANTHENOL, ALLANTOIN, BISABOLOL, TILIA CORDATA EXTRACT, MALACHITE EXTRACT, ARNICA MONTANA FLOWER EXTRACT, GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT, AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM (HORSE CHESNUT) SEED EXTRACT, ALGAE EXTRACT, ROSA DAMASCENE FLOWER OIL, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PEG-40, HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, PHOSPHOLIPIDS, POLYGLYCERYL-10 STEARATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, (cont. citronellol, geraniol.)

For the Nordstrom Sale this set is priced at $210 but the value of both products individually is $355 so it’s like they are adding the eye mask to the set for free. The prices are indeed very steep but I think it’s 100% worth the splurge. I used up and repurchased the Eye Contour Mask which I never want to be without. The eye cream is one I enjoy using and the roller feels really nice on the face. If you have more than a few things on your radar, make sure you check out the Gift With Purchase going on. It also has a step up option.

You can find the All Eyes on Sisley Set at Nordstrom. Today is the last day for Early Access (for cardholders) and the sale officially opens up to the public tomorrow! All the Beauty Exclusives are on their site now. A few of you asked if I had purchased any other skincare sets after my initial haul post. I fell in love with the Malin + Goetz Rum Body wash in our Miami hotel and was thrilled to find a Jumbo Rum Wash available for the sale so I picked it up. I also ordered the Glamglow The Clear Skin Set for my brother. And then not on sale but I repurchased the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Lotion because Andrew ran out and asked for a replacement. There is a nice GWP for La Mer so I added a powder to replace the one I used up to take advantage of the gift.

One last note is the Sisley team is hosting another giveaway for 1 US reader. I’ll be posting it on my Instagram page @beautylookbook later today so be sure to check it out for a chance to win this set.

Do you have any Sisley favorites? Or skincare favorites right now? Let me know in the comments! P.S. The Color Twist Set from last year is still available online and was just marked down.

Many thanks to Sisley for hosting the giveaway! Nordstrom set provided for review.

86 Comments

NARS Nordstrom

NARS Endless Summer Collection for Nordstrom

July 18, 2018

The NARS Endless Summer Collection is a new limited-edition launch exclusively at Nordstrom for their Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives this year. The focus is on sets with four options to choose from. NARS describes the collection as having a smoldering summer vibe. I feel the colors pull more neutral or fall-like but there are still some pretty options that are wearable regardless of season. I have all the colors swatched for you today along with some thoughts. I love seeing what options and deals are available during the sale, but sets can be touch and go if you don’t love all the colors. Also there are frequently repeats. I do think they are great for beauty newbies, especially since they often give you a price break on the sets. If you’ve been a long-time NARS lover or collector you might want to shop your stash or wait for fall. The four items from the NARS Endless Summer Collection include:

The Hot Escape Eye and Cheek Palette has four eyeshadows, one highlighting blush and one regular powder blush. The overall look and feel of the palette runs neutral-cool with sheer to medium finish. If you’re one who wants to wear a minimal eye makeup look with a neutral rose blush this is a great one.

Colors in the palette:

Aurora Eyeshadow is a matte soft cream
Yucatan Eyeshadow is a soft grey taupe satin
Endless Eyeshadow is a sparkling tan (LOVE this color)
Next Wave is a satiny cool grey
Sunstreak Highlighting Powder is a sheer ultra pale pink shimmer
Hot Pursuit is a dusty rose

While the colors are on the soft side you can definitely build if you use a dense or synthetic brush. Overall lasting power was pretty good. Everything stayed put from morning until late afternoon without budging. I do recommend using a creamy base for the eyeshadows. On dry lids the color will be ultra sheer.

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The Sunseeker Lip and Light Duo has miniatures of their Highlighting Powder in Fort de France and Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita. The powder is small like eyeshadow size and the lip pencil is nice for a trial size. Both are classics in the NARS line and I would actually recommend buying the full size versions – I think both colors are going to work on a wide range of skin tones. Fort de France is my favorite highlighting powder of the new shades launched (reviewed here). The Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is smooth and glides on with a very soft velvety finish. It’s a classic warm rose color.

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Then there are two Liquid Lip Sets, each with four colors. Each set has two Velvet Lip Glides which offer natural to medium coverage in a soft velvet finish gloss. Lasting power is medium – there will be color transfer if your lips touch something and you will have to reapply throughout the day. There are also two Powermatte Lip Pigments which are thin liquid lipsticks that dry to a full matte finish. These stay put all day once you apply, no budging at all! The Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1 has neutrals/nudes:

Velvet Lip Glide in Stripped is a pale beige cream, this is an existing shade
Velvet Lip Glide in Cozumel is a pink beige cream, this is a new limited-edition color (love this)
Powermatte Lip Pigment in Antigua is a neutral-cool beige rose, also new and limited-edition
Powermatte Lip Pigment in American Woman, this is an existing shade and to me one of the most perfect everyday neutrals

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The Undressed Liquid Lip Set 2 has rose/pinks:

Velvet Lip Glide in Bound which is the perfect neutral-cool rose with a hint of mauve
Velvet Lip Glide in Cartagena a bright orchid pink, new shade
Powermatte Lip Pigment in Save the Queen is the prettiest cool mauve color on my arm, but when it dries on my lips it turns very blue
Powermatte Lip Pigment in Haze is a deeper mauve rose

Quality and color-wise these sets are just as good as the individuals. Since there is a mix of existing colors within the sets you might want to pass if you already own some of them. Or if you have friends you can split the sets with that might be another option if you had your eye on certain colors anyways. To me the best colors are Bound and American Woman which you can buy individually. I do have a soft spot for neutrals and nudes, I really liked the Undressed Liquid Lip Set 1. Even though I already own 2 of the colors I still love the 2 new ones Cozumel and Antigua. I’ve set aside the duplicates for friends and swatched the colors I already had in my stash. That being said I do want to mention if you’re a nude lip lover you might also want to look into the NARSissist Wanted Velvet Lip Glide Set in Nude Scene which is an Ulta Exclusive. It has six miniature nudes.

Overall some nice options if you end up liking all the colors or have been wanting to try NARS products I think this is a great time to start. The prices are really good, especially for the lip sets considering each lip color full size is $26, so 4 of them individually would cost $104 and the sale set price is only $49.

You can find the Endless Summer Collection now at Nordstrom for their Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives. Everything is limited-edition. Did you pick up anything from the sale yet or are you shopping it this week? More swatches and reviews of my haul picks to follow soon!

NARS Endless Summer collection provided courtesy of NARS for review.

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Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom

Charlotte Tilbury Glowing Pretty Skin Palette + Pretty Pink Lipstick Set Review

July 14, 2018

Charlotte Tilbury has a few sets and palettes available for this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I hauled two of the items! I picked up the Glowing Pretty Skin Palette ($75) and the Pretty Pink Lipstick Set ($60). As a long-time Charlotte Tilbury fan I was thrilled to find some new color options for the sale and think both picks are worth checking out.

The Glowing Pretty Skin Palette is a mirrored compact with six powders. Each powder is 2.8 g/0.09 oz and the texture is very soft but pigment is visible and smooth. If you’re familiar with her Instant Look Palettes you know they tend to have sheer/natural color payoff. For many of you her first Natural Beauty was really nice in concept but didn’t have enough pigment or color to show up on your skin (it didn’t show up on me). The good news is that this Glowing Pretty Skin Palette is MUCH better and has everything I want in a face palette.

In this palette you get:

Airbrush Powder #2 – a neutral skin-tone matte powder that covers very well
Pretty Blush – a soft peachy flush satin
Illuminating Glow – champagne soft pink shimmer
Bronze and Contour – neutral-cool soft grey tan matte
Summer Blush – a peachy coral with a hint of sheen
Highlighting Glow – a soft yellow gold shimmer

Both blushes swatch almost identical on the arm. At first glance I felt it was almost a waste to have 2 of the same color in a palette. You will notice a difference on the face though. The bottom one is more shimmery and a tad more vibrant while the top one is more matte. The overall effect is soft but still noticeable on my medium tan skin. By comparison to the Becca Be a Light Palettes this Charlotte Tilbury one runs more neutral in undertone for the powders and the blushes have more color. Texture and finish of course are completely different.

Swatched next to the Filmstar Bronze and Glow and Filmstar Blush and Glow (reviewed here):

Quick side by side comparison for size reference to her Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow Palette and the Beauty Filters Compact Duo:

Next is the Pretty Pink Lipstick Set which has three full-sized products in a K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Blushing Dream, Matte Revolution Lipstick in Rose Kiss and Lip Cheat Lip Pencil in Pillow Talk. The lipsticks are new and exclusive shades but the lipliner is a repromote of one of her best selling colors. Texture and formula of everything is really good.

I’ve reviewed her lipsticks many times before but in case you missed the reviews or are new she has a few different formulas. The K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick is a full coverage, super creamy and very opaque lipstick formula. It can pull on the thick side but all you need to do is blot. They have a natural shine finish and stay put really well. Blushing Dream is a pretty soft pink. She also has a Matte Revolution formula which is one of the few matte lipsticks I love. They’re a luminous matte in the sense they have a matte finish but it doesn’t look or feel dry and they don’t make the lips look like shriveled raisins like some mattes do. I absolutely love them! Rose Kiss pulls very rosy on my lips and on the warm side.

Swatches:

Swatch comparisons to some of her other lipsticks below:

One beauty look wearing:

Foundation – MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC35 (swatched here) + Hollywood Flawless Filter in #4 to highlight and add glow to the face (all of them reviewed/swatched here)
Powder – Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder #2 all over
Brows – Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Eyeshadow – Urban Decay Palette in Naked2
Mascara – Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme
Cheeks – Glowing Pretty Skin Palette, all shades
Lips – K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Blushing Dream
Top – Madewell Boxy Sweater Tee (lighter weight alternatives here, here and here)

Overall thumbs up. I have medium-tan skin and the palette still shows up on my skin in a natural way. If you are lighter than me it will for sure show up and is neutral enough that it won’t pull orangey on your skin. If you are 1-2 shades darker I think it will still show up on your skin but it will definitely be a lot more neutral/flesh toned. I hope she makes more of these because I love the soft natural texture and finish.

For the lips nothing would have stopped me from buying the set, but I do think Blushing Dream is really close to The Duchess (reviewed here). Rose Kiss is warmer than I’m used to but I still think it’s a very wearable pretty romantic shade that has color without being too bold. I already own a few of the Pillow Talk Lip Liners, I would have preferred a new shade but the set is priced at a value price. I’m gifting the liner to a friend.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Glowing Pretty Skin Palette ($75) and the Pretty Pink Lipstick Set ($60) both exclusively at Nordstrom for the Anniversary Sale. Early Access for the sale is going on until the 20th and then it opens to the public.

There is also a set called The Gift of Glowing Skin Set ($75) and Supermodel Body XL Shimmer Shape, Hydrate & Glow ($75). Her body shimmer is one of the prettiest ones I’ve tried but since I rarely wear body shimmers I did not buy this one. Also be sure to check the Beauty Gift With Purchase page!

Have you checked out these sets yet? Are they on your radar?

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Chanel Eye Makeup

New Chanel Eye Makeup Review

July 10, 2018

Chanel has some new eyemakeup out right now as a mini-release. I ordered some things from Nordstrom and Chanel including some eyeshadows, a lash primer and new eyeshadow base. After testing I think there are some hits and misses. By now their Fall-Winter Collection has already launched online with the Le Mat de Chanel. What I hauled:

Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Shadow in High-Profile
Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow in Ultra Flesh
Stylo Ombre Et Contour Eyeshadow-Liner-Khol in Nude Eclat, Electric Brown and Rouge Noir
La Base Ombre Paupieres Longwear Eyeshadow Primer
La Base Mascara Nourishing Mascara Base

There were also two new Eyeshadow Quads which I passed on because I didn’t love all the colors in each palette and knew there was a good chance they would be neglected.

Up first are the two eyeshadows in the Ombre Premiere Powder High-Profile and Ombre Premiere Cream Ultra Flesh. I reviewed the Ombre Premiere formula nearly a year ago. The formulas are indeed long wearing, the creams are particularly good to last in hot humid weather. With this launch High-Profile is a soft satiny nude gold that looks like skin but just a tiny bit lighter. The shimmer is ultra soft, a lot softer than Flesh or Ray (both of which pull more pinkish). Ultra Flesh has a pink peach shimmer finish. I was worried it would be too pink but it actually is light enough in color that it works for my skintone to give a soft peachy wash. Color is shimmery as well but in a natural way. To me these are both hits although High-Profile matches my skin so closely it almost looks like nothing on my lids.

Next are the Eyeshadow-Liner-Khols which I think are both hits and misses. I expected these to be like their previously launched twist up shadow sticks. They’re still twist up but a lot skinnier than I expected. Also there’s no sharpener and as many of you have commented in the past, this kind of packaging isn’t ideal for long term use. Once you wear down the tip it’s going to be difficult to line with the same precision as you can with a pointy tip. It has a smooth creamy texture that glides on the eyes like a liner. The lighter shade Nude Eclat (shimmery champagne) is easier to blend over the lid, but the other two Electric Brown (soft shimmery brown) and Rouge Noir (deep reddish plum) are best used if smudged slightly along the lash line. You can apply more and blend but blend quickly as they set fast. The best thing is once they’ve set there’s no smudging. My solution for when the tip wears down is to use a detail brush and swipe it along the top then apply on the eyes with the brush. I appreciate the design intent to be an all-in-one kind of product but I think it’s not going work well as both a liner and shadow if you can’t sharpen the tip.

Next are two base products. The Longwear Eyeshadow Primer seems to be only available at Chanel.com right now. It’s a pink tinted cream but applies to a clear finish on the lids. It dries down to a smooth soft matte and is designed to improve wear of shadows. This is one product I could not tell if it worked to improve wear or not. My shadow stayed put the same. What it does do is smooth out the lid surface and makes it stay matte all day. For me I prefer cream shadows as a base or liner because of the emollient texture. Since this is matte it doesn’t really help shadow apply richly like other bases. But it did keep my lids matte all day so if you have oily lids this is worth a look. The La Base Mascara also launched. I am not 100% sure if this is a new formula or relaunch. It’s labeled on the bottom as Volume and Care which to those aspects it does both. It’ a white base you coat onto the lashes and it does indeed add volume but nourishes them as well. The only downside for me is that once applied it straightens my lashes immediately even if I curl them. For me almost all mascara bases have straightened my lashes.

Overall some nice additions. The most interesting things to me were the two bases but I think your mileage will truly vary depending on your lash type or eye primer preference. I have difficult straight lashes so most formulas are hard to work with for me. The eyeshadow base is something I’m going to continue to try – right now I’m not convinced it improves my shadow but at the same time I do like how it smooths the entire eye area without adding any color.

You can find the new Chanel Eye Makeup Collection out at all counter right now. I bought mine from Nordstrom and Chanel. Have you checked these out yet? What did you think?

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