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Eye Makeup Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

August 30, 2024

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

Natasha Denona has done it again. Just when I think she’s created the most beautiful palette, she creates yet another stunning launch even better than the last. Although I do think each palette is beautifully unique and different in their own way.

Natasha’s latest is the I Need a Warm Eyeshadow Palette ($69) and it has the most beautiful mix of neutral and neutral-warm tones. It’s absolutely stunning and perfect in every way. On my medium tan skin this pulls more neutral-warm but if you are fair this will probably pull more warm. Available now at Sephora and Ulta Beauty.

This palette has a beautiful mix of mattes and shimmers. She has a new formula for her mattes she calls “slip cream matte” and you have to touch the shadows in real life to understand how they’re powders but still creamy at the same time. Shimmers have a good range with smooth shimmers and then some more sparkly metallics.

There’s enough variation in this palette for me to create a full eye look from a soft base, soft crease shades, deeper shades for a soft liner and then a multitude of shimmers for different toppers or layering looks.

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

Swatches below:

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette swatches

I couldn’t get a good detail shot of the eye look but she has some great videos on her Instagram feed that really capture the details and variations of the shades in action. Here’s a look I did wearing: Mellow, Vim, Flashover, Fervor and Push. Also wearing:

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette look Sabrina of The Beauty Lookbook

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette review and swatches

By popular request I did side by side swatches next to her I Need a Nude Palette (reviewed here) and her Golden Palette (also reviewed here). I think they’re all very different in beautiful ways. Each palette will look different on you depending on your skin tone and also undertone. Her I Need a Nude pulls more neutral-cool on me while her Golden pulls more like a neutral. This I Need a Warm is warmer, but more neutral-warm on my skin tone.

I Need a Warm versus I Need a Nude

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette swatches vs I Need a Nude Palette

I Need a Warm versus Golden

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette swatches vs Golden Palette

 

Natasha Denona I Need a Warm Palette

Bottom line 10/10. Textures and pigments are stunning, easy to blend, rich in pigment and long lasting. I think this is the best one she’s launched yet and I can’t wait to see her next creation.

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Available now at Sephora and Ulta Beauty.

Palette gifted for review.

Chantecaille

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection

August 23, 2024

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection - Lip Veil 2024

Chantecaille launched a few new items for Fall 2024 in their Cheetah Collection. There are three new Cheetah Lip Veils ($54 each) and a Cheetah Eye Trio ($78). Everything is limited-edition. Available now at Chantecaille, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bluemercury and all Chantecaille retailers.

Cheetah Lip Veil

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection - Lip Veil review 2024

There are three Lip Veils in this collection and they are absolute perfection. These are hydrating luminous lipsticks with a lightweight feel but intense moisture. The shades are polished neutrals that are easy to wear for any occasion.

  • Wild Sienna is a peachy brown beige
  • Desert Lily is a soft pink
  • Acacia is a perfect rosewood

I don’t own a lot of Chantecaille lip colors but I know they do repeat shades. I still have the Acacia from 2020 so I swatched it next this year’s Cheetah Acacia and the batches are very close but not identical. The 2020 Acacia is slightly more translucent (sheerer in finish) and has a bit more blue undertone.

Pigment is medium but buildable. Formula is ultra creamy and hydrating with a glossy finish but they don’t feel heavy on the lips. These come at a steep price but I think they are well worth checking out. For me the tones are perfect.

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection - Lip Veil swatches 2024

Also wearing:

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection - Lip Veil Wild Senna

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection - Lip Veil Desert Lily

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection - Lip Veil Acacia

Cheetah Eye Trio Swatches

Chantecaille Cheetah Collection Eye Trio vs Natasha Denona I Need a Nude similar tones

Chantecaille also launched an Eye Trio which has three beautiful neutrals. The palette arrived shattered but I was able to salvage enough product for swatches. The texture and pigment is exceptionally beautiful with both the mattes and shimmer, but the shades are easily dupeable. I found shades that are nearly identical from Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Palette and her Glam Palette also has similar tones (and I love her pigment and textures too). I feel like her My Mini Dream Palette is also similar.

Overall a beautiful collection of neutrals to elevate your everyday look. I love the lip colors.

Available now at Chantecaille, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bluemercury and all Chantecaille retailers.

Cheetah collection gifted for review.

Fenty Beauty Lips

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix + Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

August 14, 2024

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix + Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

There are new lip launches from Fenty for summer with a new Gloss Bomb Stix ($25) and Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner ($20). Available now at Sephora, Ulta, Fenty). It’s all pure love for me.

Gloss Bomb Stix

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Review via The Beauty Lookbook

The Gloss Bomb Stix is a high shine high pigment gloss in stick form. They are on the softer side similar to the YSL Candy Glaze or Candy Glow, but not as soft as say the Makeup By Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serums or Hourglass Phantom Glossy Balms.

These Gloss Bomb Stix are scented just like the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. They are one swipe wonders. Texture feels a little thick almost like a gloss so they’re definitely not weightless. They almost have a creamy balm feel.

I picked up the neutrals and love all of them except the lightest shade. I’ve found that most pale nude pink beige shades look very pasty on my lips, while warmer beige nudes seem to work better.

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Review via The Beauty Lookbook

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix swatches via The Beauty Lookbook

Lip swatches below wearing:

Blaz’d Donut is a creamy pale pink beige

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Blaz’d Donut

Two’Lips Kiss is a perfect peachy nude beige

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Two’Lips Kiss

Fenty Glow is another perfect rose tan beige

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Fenty Glow

Is it Fu$$y is a mauve pink

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Is it Fu$$y

Sp’ice Cold is a perfect brown

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Sp’ice Cold

High’Biscus is a bright pink rose

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix High’Biscus

Riri is a mauve plum

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix Riri

I think this formula is the best lip launch of the year so far. We finally have a new glossy lip formula with amazing pigment and color payoff!

Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

Fenty Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

The Fenty Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liners do not disappoint. Formula is very long-wearing. Once they are on my lips they do not budge. I love that they glide on easily with minimal tugging. Pigment is full coverage and smooth. My most-worn lip pencils are from Huda or Charlotte Tilbury these days so I swatched what I thought might be similar. I think the pigment and finish is similar to the Huda Beauty ones with the Fenty being just a little bit more thicker in feel.

I didn’t lip swatch the liners here but you can see Satin Panty in action here for a pretty lip combo. Overall solid A+ for formula, color and pigment.

Fenty Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner swatches vs Huda and Charlotte Tilbury

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix + Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

You can find these now at Sephora, Ulta, Fenty.

Bronzer + Blush Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review + Swatches

August 6, 2024

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

Hourglass launched a new liquid blush in dropper format called the Unreal Liquid Blush ($36 each). They also added a new No 15 Blush Brush ($46) which is angled to go along with the new launch. The Hourglass team sent all the shades for review and I have swatches and a closer look today.

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

These Unreal Liquid Blushes are in a small bottle with a dropper at the top. To dispense there is a soft button at the base you press to dispense one drop. They recommend applying to the back of your hand and picking up product with the brush and applying in a stippling method.

Product is very pigmented but with some fluidity, so it is easy to blend and build. There are seven shades and I think the color range is very good. Tones are very flattering although most of them are on the warm side with 3 being peach/coral so if you prefer cooler tones these might be too warm.

  • Scene is a nude pink, this pulls very natural on my skin but still shows up
  • Whim is a bright pink, this one is my favorite
  • Vision is a warm rose
  • Moment is an orange
  • Future is a coral with a hint of pink
  • Imagine is a burnt orange
  • Craft is a berry

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review and Swatches

Formula is very easy to dispense without it overflowing. I also like how easy they are apply and blend. Another plus is these didn’t pull off my foundation or powder off when I blended it on top of my base. The Craft shade took a little more effort to blend smoothly since it has the most contrast with my skin tone. They remain dewy on the cheeks after blending but not as dewy as the Pat McGrath Divine Cream Blush.

The Unreal Liquid Blushes are described as being able to last up to 12 hours but this was not the case for me. While the color does stay on the cheeks for a while, after 3-4 hours or color faded on my cheeks and they looked more dewy than when I first applied it. I do think they will hold up better in cooler weather, but even in cooler weather I don’t see them holding up for a full 12 hours.

Looks wearing each blush shade with a coordinating lip color. For skintone reference I’m wearing the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5.

Scene Unreal Liquid Blush + Tide Unlocked Satin Lipstick + Sense Phantom Glossy Balm

Hourglass Scene Unreal Liquid Blush + Tide Unlocked Satin Lipstick + Sense Phantom Glossy Balm

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Whim Unreal Liquid Blush + Reveal Phantom Glossy Balm

Hourglass Whim Unreal Liquid Blush + Reveal Phantom Glossy Balm

______

Vision Unreal Liquid Blush + Uncover Lip Liner + Wish Phantom Glossy Balm

Hourglass Vision Unreal Liquid Blush + Wish Phantom Glossy Balm

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Moment Unreal Liquid Blush + Lucid Phantom Glossy Balm

Hourglass Moment Unreal Liquid Blush + Lucid Phantom Glossy Balm

______

Future Unreal Liquid Blush + Dove Unlocked Satin Lipstick + Lucid Phantom Glossy Balm

Hourglass Future Unreal Liquid Blush + Dove Unlocked Satin Lipstick + Lucid Phantom Glossy Balm

______

Imagine Unreal Liquid Blush + Haze Phantom Glossy Balm

Hourglass Imagine Unreal Liquid Blush + Haze Phantom Glossy Balm

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Craft Unreal Liquid Blush + Impulse Phantom Glossy Balm

Hourglass Craft Unreal Liquid Blush + Impulse Phantom Glossy Balm

Overall I love the colors even if there is one too many peach/orange tones (just my opinion though). I like that the pigment level is easy to control. Lasting power could be improved but that would mean they would have to alter the formula and finish to something less dewy.

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush Review + Swatches

The brush is very well constructed and works beautifully for blending. I really love the Hourglass brushes, I own quite a few in my collection and use them all the time. I do think you can use any one in your collection though.

If you’ve been curious about these I hope you found this review helpful!

Available now at Sephora.

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Blushes sent for review consideration.

Chanel

Chanel Makeup Takeaways: The Nature Getaway

August 3, 2024

Chanel Makeup Takeaways: The Nature Getaway

Chanel launched two limited-edition makeup sets called the Chanel Makeup Takeaways. These sets have been put together by two different makeup artists Cécile Paravina and Valentina Li in collaboration with the Chanel Makeup Creation Studio. They’re fun and edgy each packaged in a collector’s box and both come with a pouch.

I picked up The Nature Getaway ($195) which features pink and coral tones. There is also another set called The City Break ($190). I have a look at the peachy set today.

The Nature Getaway includes:

  • Rouge Coco Flash in Bisous
  • Le Liner de Chanel in Heart Beat
  • Ombre Essentielle in Rose in Hand
  • Baume Essentiel in Morning Dew
  • Coral Pouch

Chanel Makeup Takeaways: The Nature Getaway

My favorite item in the set is the Rouge Coco Flash in Bisous. It’s a sheer but bright coral with a bit of pink to it. I love the color and finish. The pigment is pretty good for this formula which tends to be on the sheer side. I wish they made this one part of the permanent line. It’s fresh and bright but not too bright.

Chanel Rouge Coco Flash in Bisous

There are two eye products in the set. I am not one who wears colorful eye liners so I didn’t really expect to like the Le Liner de Chanel in Heart Beat. I did try it alone and immediately felt the need to add my usual brown/black shadow liner on top. I’ve added a swatch but am not wearing it in the photos below. It’s fun and different, just not something I can pull off. I would have LOVED this shade in a gloss format or nail color.

Chanel Le Liner de Chanel in Heart Beat

Ombre Essentielle in Rose in Hand is a peachy coral base with multi-colored sparkle glitter flecks. If you apply with a fluffy brush you’ll get a softer peach. I applied with a dense brush over a primer and the primers pick up a lot more pigment for a darker peachy orange finish. You can see the glitter once on the lids but it’s not glaring. I think this would also make a pretty blush shade.

Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Rose in Hand

Chanel Makeup Takeaways Nature Getaway Ombre Essentielle in Rose in Hand

There’s a new Baume Essentiel in the set called Morning Dew. It looks coral peachy pink in the tube but on my skin it’s nearly clear with a light pink sheen. Not a must-have in my opinion since it’s so sheer and has a similar effect to the other baume essentiel sticks, but still very pretty on the lips.

Chanel Baume Essentiel in Morning Dew

Chanel Makeup Takeaways: The Nature Getaway swatches

I’m also wearing the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation in BD41 and Le Vernis in Premiere Dame on the nails.

Chanel Makeup Takeaways: The Nature Getaway makeup look

Chanel Makeup Takeaways: The Nature Getaway

Overall pretty, fun and fresh. Available now at Chanel.com.

Chanel

Chanel Summer 2024 Collection

July 19, 2024

Chanel Summer 2024 Collection

Chanel Beauty added some new fun colorful items in their Summer 2024 Collection. I checked out everything at my local Chanel Beauty Boutique a couple weeks ago and had fun swatching everything. I picked up a few items and love every single thing.

The overall collection is very different from what we’ve seen lately from Chanel and I love it. They created some really beautiful multi-dimensional colors for the eyes and cheeks. I wish they had launched coordinating new lip colors but it looks like for this launch it’s newness for eyes, cheeks and nails.

Jardin Imaginaire Blush and Highlighter Duos

Chanel Jardin Imaginaire Blush and Highlighter Duos

The stars of this launch are the Blush and Highlighter Duos ($75 each). They’re stunning and are SO much prettier on the skin compared to what you see in the compacts. These are have the same texture as the duo from 2021. There is a soft satiny matte side and a silky highlighter.

Chanel Jardin Imaginaire Blush and Highlighter Duos Gold Peach and Light Berry swatches

Gold and Peach has a soft terracotta peach (which pulls sheer but is buildable) and a pretty pale yellow gold (super smooth in finish). The combination surprised me as I normally do not like yellow gold highlighters but this one is really pretty when layered with the peach. Below wearing Gold and Peach, also wearing Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation in BD41, Natasha Denona Bronze Eyeshadow Palette, Chanel Rouge Coco Baume in Flirty Coral.

Chanel Jardin Imaginaire Blush and Highlighter Duos Gold Peach

Light and Berry was another surprised. At first glance I thought they would 100% be shades I would never wear. The mauve fuschia blush swatches very bright with a dense brush but it’s sheer-medium in pigment and blends out much better on the face. The opal pink highlighter almost flashes lavender and adds the prettiest glow. I love this on the cheeks or the eyes. Below wearing Light and Berry on the cheeks, Stylo Ombre et Contour Celestial Pink, Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Eyeliner in Black, Baume Essentiel Scintillement on the Lips.

Chanel Jardin Imaginaire Blush and Highlighter Duos Light Berry

New Baume Essentiel Shades

Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Sticks Moonlight Kiss, Solar Glow and Scintillement

There are two new Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Sticks ($48) in the Summer 2024 collection and one new one that launched separately. Photos don’t do these justice so if you want to check them out in action I posted a video swatching all three here.

Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Sticks Moonlight Kiss, Solar Glow and Scintillement

Summer 2024 has Moonlight Kiss which is a soft champagne gold with a bit of peach and Solar Glow a bronzed copper shimmer. These perform true to the Chanel Baume Essentiel standards: glowy, balmy, lovely shine. I really can’t pull these off on the cheeks in Florida heat and humidity but I know lots of you are HUGE fans of the dewy glow. I do really like these in the cooler climates or on the lips.

Chanel added a new shade Scintillement which looks really similar to the Mermaid Glow from Spring 2024. I received tons of feedback from many of you that you heard Scintillement is really just Mermaid Glow renamed and in permanent form. In store the Sas swatched them side by side and I wish I captured a photo because I saw distinct differences in store but it could have been the lighting. I pulled both at home and I really cannot tell the difference when swatched. They have slight differences in the base but the sparkle and effect looks the same.

Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Scintillement vs Mermaid Glow

I think both are stunning. I am amazed that Chanel was able to create something sparkly without any texture or gritty feel. I kinda wish the sparkle was more visible on the skin, but I think it’s beautiful.

Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Sticks Moonlight Kiss, Solar Glow and Scintillement swatches

Wearing Solar Glow on the lips and cheeks below.

Chanel Baume Essentiel Solar Glow

Stylo Ombre Et Contour

Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour Celestial Pink swatches

There are lots of new fun shades of the Stylo Ombre Et Contour ($38). I own quite a few of these and love the darker ones for liner or matte ones for an all over lid shade. I never ended up using many of the lighter colors since they pull on the sheer side. I picked up Celestial Pink which is a glittery pink that flashes violet and pink. On my bare lids it matches my skin tone so closely it doesn’t show up, but when layered with any powder shadow it transforms into a brighter iridescent glow. 100% love. I do wish it was in powder form though as I really love the new Chanel powder shadow singles.

Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour Celestial Pink swatches

I also loved Attaya and Ecorce in store but decided to think about them for a while.

Summer Le Vernis

Chanel Le Vernis Songe D’Ete (opal pink shimmer) and Faun (pretty cream brown)

There are three new Le Vernis ($32) shades. All three are absolutely stunning. I picked up two in Songe D’Ete (opal pink shimmer) and Faun (pretty cream brown). I passed on the green Reveuse since I’m not really into greens, but the SA swatched it in store and the shimmer is breathtaking. Wearing the shades I hauled, both with 2 coats.

Overall very different from what we usually see from Chanel but I love what they created. The Summer 2024 collection is fresh, unique and fun. I’m 100% happy with all my splurges even though I won’t be using the baumes on the cheeks (they’re lovely on the lips).

Available now at Chanel.com.

Lips Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil

July 2, 2024

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil review via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath launched a new lip pencil called the Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil ($29 each). These are in a large pencil format that require sharpening. They’re available at Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Pat McGrath Labs.

I really love these. Colors for every single shade I tried is absolutely stunning. Formula is creamy and easy to apply with a matte finish. They glide onto the lips without any tugging and the coverage is smooth and opaque. Once they set on the lips they have impressive lasting power and these are among the few lip products that don’t transfer to my teeth at all. They’re not 100% transfer-proof but the transfer to a cup or napkin is minimal once it sets on the lips. I also like that they feel relatively weightless on the lips which is a huge plus especially in hot summer months.

I do wish they were in a twist up formula or came with a sharpener, but for a matte lip formula I really do like these. They can look a little dry if you have dry lips, but this can be fixed with a lip balm or primer. If you haven’t tried the MAC Prep + Prime Lip Primer I think you need to. It is the best lip primer that helps smooth the lip surface, adds a light veil of moisture and really helps lipsticks go on smoother without feathering.

Shades are all on point – I think I can see myself wearing every single color (except the red though, since I rarely wear reds). Some of the neutrals look similar swatched on the arm but on my lips there’s a clear difference in undertone. The darker shades will stain the lips but the lip primer is really good in preventing the staining.

  • Nude Venus is a light cool nude pink
  • Coralust is a neutral peachy pink
  • Divine Rose is a warm mauve rose
  • Naked Seduction is a warm dusty rose
  • Nude Oasis is a warm brown rose
  • Flesh3 is a mahogany rose brown
  • Garnet Glow is a deeper wine shade
  • Belle Amour is a cool-toned berry with some fuchsia vibes (this color looks like it’s only available at Pat McGrath online, I like the Lip Fetish Balm color version of Belle Amour a lot more)
  • OBSESSED! is an electric bold orange red

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil review via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil swatches via The Beauty Lookbook

I lip swatched most of the shades below, also wearing:

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Nude Venus via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Coralust via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Divine Rose via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Naked Seduction via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Nude Oasis via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Garnet Glow via The Beauty Lookbook

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil Obsessed! via The Beauty Lookbook

Overall love. I’m usually not a fan of matte lips but I like the colors and lasting power of these shades. I would say my top 3 are Coralust, Nude Seduction and Divine Rose.

Available at Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Pat McGrath Labs..

6 shades received in PR and 3 purchased by me