Brand Archives - Page 62 of 110 - The Beauty Look Book

Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLUST 007 Skin Show

November 28, 2017

I ordered the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLUST 007 in Skin Show ($75) sight unseen which features new liquid lipsticks, a clear gloss and a micro glitter pigment. After falling in love with the Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipsticks I decided to try this set. There are two shade options and I went for the nude one. Quick takeaway is I still prefer her regular lipstick formula but for liquid lipsticks hers are pretty darn good. I feel like I’m pretty much the only one who is in general anti-liquid lipsticks because they just don’t work with my lips, often look dry and shriveled. I usually have to add gloss or balm to make them work.

The LiquiLUST 007 is part of her limited-edition Lip Labs Collection. This set comes in an iridescent sealed pouch stuffed with lavender colored sequins. It’s definitely eye catching and fun but I have no idea what I’m going to do with all these little bits of iridescent purple sequins. Andrew was worried the cat would jump into my flatlays because he likes shiny things and get glitter all over the place. In reality he should be more concerned that I’d get it everywhere – there’s something about glitter and sequins that makes me think it would be super fun to just throw toss up in the air everywhere in the house.

Inside the set you have:

Liquid Lipstick in Divine Nude which is a neutral nude pink
Liquid Lipstick in Possessed which is a medium rose
Liquid Lipstick in Slay-OMI which is a deep wine brown
Clear Vinyl Gloss (comes with a slanted applicator)
Gold 007 Cristalline Micro-Fine Pigment

Swatches:

Lip swatches:

Some comparison swatches next to her 1995 Matte Trance, Realness LuxeTrance, OMI MatteTrance, Beautiful Creature LuxeTrance:

Comparison swatches next to NARS Power Matte Pigment in American Woman, Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Slow Burn, Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquid in Chutney, Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips in Platinum Blonde and Dolly Bird (these two aren’t dupes or similar, just added them to show how deep the other shades are), Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Hot Cocoa.

Back labels, ingredients and info:

Overall thoughts on the set are positive. The Liquid Lipsticks have no detectable scent, full smooth coverage that is 100% streak-free and feels remarkably comfortable for a matte. They do have a matte finish and drydown but don’t dry out to the point they make my lips look shriveled. Divine Nude is almost identical to the MatteTrance Lipstick in 1995 (I prefer the lipstick version). Lasting power is really good – they stay put for hours without budging.

The gloss is also unscented and has a slightly tacky feel. On the lips it doesn’t feel too sticky – it actually feels really comfortable, almost hydrating on me. As I’m really not a fan of matte lips, I find if I apply the gloss first then apply the liquid lipstick on top, it’s almost like an opaque gloss like the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes.

The only color I felt was too dark was Slay-OMI but it’s really nice for a deep lip. I didn’t try the gold glitter except to swatch. It’s a yellow gold and as I don’t like to wear yellow or glitter I don’t see how I’ll get any use out of this (it’s being regifted to one of my friends).

Bottom line a solid win, but I still think her LuxeTrance and MatteTrance Lipsticks are better for me. At this time I don’t know if her Liquid Lipsticks are going to be launched individually or in more colors outside of her sets. There’s another LiquiLUST 007 Duo available with another new gloss formula but I’m probably not going to order it as it has Divine Nude and I now have it from the kit I bought.

You can find the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLUST 007 set available at Sephora and Pat McGrath Labs. While supplies last. Have you tried or seen these yet? What did you think?

21 Comments

Bronzer + Blush Chanel

Chanel Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Peche

November 27, 2017

There’s a new Cyber Monday launch from Chanel and I’m thrilled to give you a first look at the Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Peche ($48 for 3 g/0.1 oz, made in France, limited-edition, Chanel.com exclusive). This is a beautiful soft silky peach and pink blush with an embossed camellia flower design. According to the description it has a mix of blush shades in Espeigle and Malice intertwined. As a peach-obsessed makeup lover I think is just stunning.

The description online describes this as a Joues Contraste formula featuring baked powder technology. Long-time Chanel lovers know that there are different formulas across countries. This one appears to be softer than the non-US baked formula – it’s delicate and soft, just like the Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Rose from 2014 (pink version, scroll down lower for a comparison).

Shown below, Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Peche:

Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Peche mixed has a soft peachy pink tinge with a satiny sheen. It makes the skin glow in a natural way with sheer to medium coverage. It has the signature soft floral scent that Chanel powder blushes have but is non-irritating and isn’t overpowering to me. Lasting power is pretty good – it stayed on for several hours before it started to fade. Overall pigment is natural but you can layer it for a bit more color.

Each shade swatched individually and then mixed together. It looks softer and smoother on the skin than it appears on the swatch below. It’s suddenly incredibly dry here now that fall/winter has arrived in Florida and my skin has definitely felt it.

Shown below, on the left it’s layered with a heavier hand. On the right it has just a couple soft sweeps. Also worn on the face:

Base and Foundation – Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Cushion in 30 + Saturday Skin All Aglow Sunscreen Perfection Cushion in Goldie 06, for those curious I fluctuate between Chanel 30 and 40 in Foundations and MAC NC35 in the Studio Fix Fluid
Powder – Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour in No 20 to set all over
Blush – Chanel Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Peche
Brows – Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Eyeshadows – Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Tisse Rivoli
Lips – Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur in Rose Violine No 2 + Rouge Coco Gloss in Subtil 744

A quick comparison to the 2014 Blush Camelia Rose, I can’t believe I still had a backup of this! Both have the same soft texture so if you tried the Rose version know that the Peche version has the same finish and soft satiny sheen.

Swatches, side by side – I have to emphasize that these blushes aren’t dry-looking on the skin, it’s just my arm that’s dry due to weather changes here. I’ve been applying lip balm like CRAZY for the last week. I’ve also started using coconut oil again on the body. Hoping it will help with the weather changes.

You can find the Chanel Jardin de Chanel Blush Camelia Peche starting today exclusively at Chanel.com. It is limited-edition. Do you love peachy blushes? If yes what are your favorites?

Many thanks to Chanel for sending this as an early preview for me to share.

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NARS Sephora

NARS Narsissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette Review

November 26, 2017

There’s a new palette launching from NARS called the NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette ($59 for 0.04 oz/1.5 g x 12) and it’s absolutely stunning. It’s going to launch exclusively online at Sephora for one day on November 27th and then also at other NARS counters after the 29th.

There are quite a few warm toned rose eyeshadow palettes out right now as it’s quite popular but I’ve never found one where I could wear all the shades. I’ve swatched Urban Decay Naked Heat, Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance and Tarte Tartette Toasted Eyehadow Palette on numerous occasions in store. I’ve been tempted as the pigment these days is amazing but they all have at least 3 shades I know I’d never use. At first glance I thought the same about the Wanted Eyeshadow Palette. I was thrilled to find they sent one as an early preview that I could review and I have to admit my heart sank a little when I opened it and saw 3 rosy reds. However I felt the same about the NARSissist Loaded Eyeshadow Palette and it completely surprised me so I kept an open mind with this. I’m glad I did because it’s truly beautiful.

This comes in a rectangular mirrored compact. The eyeshadow pans appear to be the same size as the NARSissist Loaded but the overall size of the compact seems slightly smaller. I love that the top has a non-mirror surface on the outer packaging because as lovely as they are they show all the fingerprints and it drives me nuts.

The colors are all excellent in pigment, texture and color payoff. Some NARS palettes in previous years have had some hit/miss shades. This one is all good, but there are a few glitzy shades so I know there’s a chance this might be a no-go for some of you. Some of the shades are made of a new formula with powder suspended in a liquid-binding system which I suspect are the super sparkly ones. In this palette:

Biarritz – perfect creamy neutral matte cream
Satisfaction – shimmering light pink with a soft gold shimmer
Delirium – metallic rose sparkle
Temptress – satin paprika red
Seven Heaven – matte neutral sand
Shadow Hill – matte warm brown, NARS describes this as matte saddle
Mendoza – sparkling pink copper
Wicked Game – satin cranberry with a soft sheen
Shooting Star – sparkling glitzy pink champagne
La La – shimmering warm bronze
Fallen Star – shimmering antique bronze with a khaki-sparkle sheen
Coconut Grove – matte deep brown

The mattes are smooth and almost silky feeling. The shimmers are my favorite texture and I would think this would be more universally appealing if it had all shimmers vs sparkles, but I actually really love the sparkly shades. The new formula is pretty glitzy – there is fall out when I apply on the lids with a looser fluffy brush so I found it best to pack on with a denser brush. The good thing is that it’s the kind that is really easy to clean up under the eyes. The worst thing about some glitters is that they stick so hard to the face it’s almost impossible to clean. Once these were on my lids they stayed put pretty well – but I did pack them on the lids with a slightly damp brush.

A closer look at the shades, swatches, a look and then a side-by-side to the Loaded Palette.

Close ups:

More swatches:

Quick beauty look wearing:

Foundation – Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid Foundation in Y345
Powder – Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Powder in Shade #2
Cheeks – Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Bronzer #2 and the pink shade from the NARS Veil Cheek Palette from the Man Ray Collection
Lips – Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Tendresse 172
Brows – Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette
Eyeshadow Shades Used – Biarritz all over the lid, Satisfaction under brow, Shadow Hill 1/2 way up eyes, Mendoza packed on top with Coconut Grove

Close up of the eye look. You can definitely intensify the color but I like to blend everything out:

A side by side of Wanted next to Loaded, since there are so many colors I couldn’t swatch them all on the same arm but you can see my review of the other palette here:

One last look, bottom line it’s love for me:

The NARS Wanted Eyeshadow Palette is limited-edition. You can find it at Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s and NARS Cosmetics.

Stay tuned for another early Cyber Monday review and the full Cyber Monday Beauty Shopping Sales Guide!

NARSissist Wanted sent courtesy of NARS for review.

23 Comments

Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Winter Collection 2017

November 20, 2017

This holiday Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Winter Collection 2017 brings us some new makeup in a palette, cheek color and lips. I have four items to review today. The pieces are more on the cool-toned side and have a very pretty mauvey undertone perfect to transition from fall to winter. There is a new Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette called Violet Argente, a new Sheer Cheek Duo called Lavender Lure and a new lip formula called Lip Slick in which I have two shades Hibiscus Kiss and Bitten Berry to swatch for you. There are a few other items in the collection not featured including the Radiant Moisture Souffle. I have last year’s version which I purchased and it’s lasted a long time. I don’t have this year’s to compare to see if it’s the same, but if it is, it’s a beautiful smooth moisturizer that is hydrating and radiant without looking greasy or too dewy. There are also two more shades of the Lip Slick in Spiked Cherry and Red Nectar but I haven’t had a chance to check those out yet.

Up first is the most stunning option the Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette in Violet Argente ($155). I received this one as a press sample but have purchased the other three in Warm and Cool Winter Soleil and the Solar Exposure Palette last year and love them. Violet Argente is the most interesting option with a soft pink mauve satin blush, soft pink highlighter, pale pink satiny shimmer shadow, warm rose with silver and gold shimmer, soft bronze and a bright but deep violet glittery shade. The combination isn’t neutral like the others but it makes for a beautiful look.

The pigment is smooth and soft with medium but buildable coverage. The texture makes it very easy to apply. I personally find I gravitate towards the colors in the Warm Palette but this one is really quite stunning. Lasting power is very good on these palettes and Violet Argente is no exception. There can be a tiny bit of fallout with the purple glitter shade when you apply but it won’t fall off the eyes after you have them on the lids.

The Violet Argente Palette vs Cool Palette swatched below:

Up next is the Sheer Cheek Duo in Lavender Lure. At first glance it looks identical like Bicoastal. They are actually very close but Lavender Lure is cooler and softer in undertone. I do think they are very similar but even if I didn’t receive a press sample I would have bought it anyways. It’s really pretty and I love these formulas because the blush is pigmented but very easy to blend so you don’t get clown-like cheeks. The highlighters are also pure love for me with the pretty finish and sheen. These look glowy without getting greasy or oily because they have a unique cream to almost powder like finish. The shimmer is fine and smooth so it’s not frosted. You can layer or mix the colors and they wear well over bronzer. I’ve swatched the Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal and Paradise Lust next to each other below as well.

Last there are the new Lip Slicks which are conditioning lip tints that come in a twist/click roller ball applicator. The formula is smooth, super hydrating with a pretty sheer tint. Hibiscus Kiss is a cool berry and Bitten Berry is a deeper berry. The finish is very sheer and glossy with a jelly like finish. The packaging was a bit awkward for me to apply but the formula feels so nice on the lips. Lasting power is just like any other balm – it’s not going to stay put long but this one doesn’t slide around, it stays put as long as you don’t have contact with food or drinks. I don’t mind reapplying because it feels so nice. I could not detect any scent.

Below wearing:

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation in Y345
La Mer The Sheer Pressed Powder in Light
Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Lavender Lure (both shades)
Tom Ford Soleil Eye Cheek Palette in Violet Argente (eyeshadows, all 4)
Tom Ford Lip Slick in Hibiscus Kiss

Overall a small but well edited collection. The Soleil Eye and Cheek Palettes come at a steep price of $155 each and it hit the wallet hard last year when I bought three. They are indeed very spendy and I 100% love them and have no regrets. The Warm one has come on many trips with me and I love the colors in it. I wouldn’t recommend if you don’t love all the colors though. I do think whatever palette you buy you should love most of the colors no matter what the price.

With this Soleil Winter 2017 launch I love every single piece that I tried. I do think Lavender Lure is going to be too close to Bicoastal for many. That being said I do notice a cooler and softer finish on the cheeks so if you’re one who really prefers cool tones then Lavender Lure is going to be THE one for you.

You can find the Soleil Winter 2017 Collection pieces now. Available online at Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Nordstrom, Tom Ford and all other Tom Ford Beauty counters.

Have you checked out the new launches yet? What did you think?

Soleil Winter collection provided courtesy of Tom Ford for review.

28 Comments

Holiday Gift Guide MAC

MAC Snow Ball for Holiday 2017

November 16, 2017

I’m rounding up one of the prettiest holiday collections this year with the MAC Snow Ball Collection. Everything is limited-edition and some pieces are harder to find as there are a few retailer exclusives. By now some of the items have sold out online but you may want to check your local stores to see if you can find anything. The entire collection launched a few weeks ago but as this is a pretty hefty collection it’s taken me a while to swatch, test and review everything. I received a number of press samples but tracked down some items at my local Nordstrom and MAC store. There’s still a massive amount of sets and palettes not featured today so know if you’re into more bold shades, pinks, glitzy glitters etc. there are definitely some other options to pick from that you can still find easily. Featured today includes:

Snow Ball Lipsticks in Warm Ice, Holiday Crush, I’m Glistening and Elle Belle
Snow Ball Lip Bag in Nude
Snow Ball Mini Lip Gloss Kit in Nude
Face Powders in Happy Go Dazzling and Here Comes Joy
Snow Ball Face Bag in Peach with Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Show Gold + 140S mini
Snow Ball Eye Compact in Gold
Extra Dimension Eyeshadows in Frostwinked, Delicate Drift, It’s Snowing, Stylishly Merry and Starry Starry Night
Snow Ball Smoky Gold Eye Bag
Brush Set

MAC Snow Ball Lips

First are some lip picks. I love the MAC holiday lip sets because they often have minis and are color-themed. Being the nude lip lover that I am I knew I had to get the Snow Ball Nude Lip Bag because it has one of the prettiest nude lipsticks!

There are six individual Snow Ball Lipsticks in the collection. It seems they’re sold out everywhere except MAC online. I have four which I purchased including:

Warm Ice which is a metallic pale gold beige (similar to Gel)
Holiday Crush is a metallic soft pink rose
I’m Glistening is a metallic taupe grey mauve
Elle Belle is one of the prettiest deep red creams

The Nude Lip Bag is my absolute favorite even if it seems dupe-able:

Sending Love Cremesheen Lipstick is the one of the most perfect nude pink lipsticks I’ve ever seen
Doubletime Pro Longwear Lip Pencil is permanent, it’s a toffee pink brown
Iced Dream Lipglass is a sheer sparkly pink gloss

The Snow Ball Nude Mini Lip Gloss Kit has three mini glosses all exclusive to the set, I love all the colors and they wear very well:

Below Freezing is a Cremesheen Glass formula with clear base with loads of pale pink sparkles
Iced Over is a Metallic Vamplify formula in a metallic but very wearable beige shimmer
Winter Warmer is a Cremesheen Glass formula which is a warm pink brown with a tiny bit of sheen

MAC Snow Ball Highlighters

For the face there are lots of highlighter options. I don’t even want to admit how many MAC highlighters I own because it’s a ridiculous amount. I’m always surprised they manage to make new ones because it seems like all the colors have to have been done already. There are two individual Face Powders in an Opalescent Finish. They’re called Happy Go Dazzling which is a pale beige gold and Here Comes Joy which is a peachy shimmer. Both are noticeable on the skin but in comparison to other highlighters they have a slightly stiffer texture which makes them sheerer and less metallic. I love these because they don’t look garish on the skin but have a soft diffused look.

There are also some sets called the Snow Ball Face Bag which are a MAC and Nordstrom exclusive. Nordstrom has two options, a Peach Face Bag with Show Gold Extra Dimension Skinfinish (duochrome pink peach with loads of sparkle) and the Gold Face Bag which has Whisper of Gilt (metallic gold). These come with a sequins bag and small 140S brush in a metallic handle.

I added a swatch of Whisper of Gilt that I have from older launches:

MAC Snow Ball Eye Makeup

There are a few palette options, I received a press sample of the Snow Ball Eye Compact in Gold. Palettes can be tricky especially if you don’t 100% love all the shades. This one performs well for a smoky eye look but two of the colors are very glittery with a lot of fallout unless you pat it on the lids.

For eye makeup all the single Extra Dimension Eye Shadows pretty much sold out the day they launched. I tracked them all down in stores and am not really sure why they sold out in record time. They are indeed super beautiful but very metallic. The texture is smooth and easy to apply. On the lids they are perfect party-wear shadows. Only Starry Starry Night, Delicate Drift and It’s Snowing are ones I feel like I could wear for regular everyday wear. The swatch photos don’t capture the metallic quality as well as I’d like but I hope they give you a good reference. Colors include:

Frostwinked metallic white glitter frost
Delicate Drift metallic soft pink glitter
Stylishly Merry duochrome bronze pink glitter
It’s Snowing shimmering silvery mauve
Starry Starry Night shimmering deep charcoal with silver flecks

There’s an eye bag set called the Snow Ball Smoky Gold Eye Bag with a duo of Extra Dimension Shadows of Just Gleaming (champagne pink) and Snowdusk (shimmering taupe) with a Technakohl Eyeliner in Photogravure and In Extreme Lash Mascara in Black.

Last but not least is one of the brush sets which is the Snow Ball Brush Set Mini. It has three short-handled rose gold brushes in a brushed metallic handle finish including 421SE, 535SE and 560SE. I feel like I know my MAC brushes well but don’t remember seeing any of these numbers before. They perform really well for MAC brush sets – I often find the quality of the brush sets aren’t as good as the full size/individual brushes but these are really good for powders.

One last look below. Overall lots to explore and love in this holiday collection. I really think there is something for everyone. If you’re looking for something under the $50 price point for gifts I think any of the lip bags are great. I love the Snow Ball Nude Lip Bag for $39.50 and the Mini Lipstick Kits or Gloss Kits are $29.50 each. I would personally pass on the eyeshadow palettes as I don’t 100% love all the shades. The individual eyeshadows are stunning but are on the glitzy side which makes them a bit challenging for everyday wear if you need a conservative look.

You can find the MAC Snow Ball Collection online and in stores at MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Ulta Beauty, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. Everything is limited-edition and I’d definitely recommend you browse all the retailers as each store has something exclusive.

Press samples and purchased items featured. Press samples include the Face Powders, Mini Lip Gloss Kit, Eyeshadow Palette, Mini Brushes and Eye Bag Set.

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Holiday Gift Guide L'Occitane

L’Occitane Holiday Advent Calendars

November 14, 2017

This post is brought to you by CJ Affiliate’s VIP Content Service. Thank you L’Occitane for sponsoring this post. While this was a sponsored opportunity from L’Occitane, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.

The holiday season is quickly approaching and I’m thrilled to share a peek at two cute gift options from L’Occitane. This year there are two fun and unique L’Occitane Holiday Advent Calendars perfect for any kind of beauty lover regardless of style and age. Their body products and skincare have been long-time staples for me and as one who has picky females in my life I can say that L’Occitane has been a safe go-to for gifts that are well received. Both sets are beautifully packaged and contain 24 miniatures for the Christmas holiday countdown. The Signature Advent Calendar is priced at $69 ($104 value) while the Luxury Advent Calendar is $124 ($174.50 value).

Signature Advent Calendar

First a look at the Signature Advent Calendar. This style has been launched in previous years but they usually have a variation in contents. I love keeping these for travel and also think it’s a great way to sample new things. Inside the Signature Advent Calendar 2017 set you get a mix of body lotions, perfumes, hair care, shower gels and more. I’m beyond obsessed with the shower oils and hand cream. Their shea butter line is my favorite for soothing dry itchy skin and it has an amazing gentle scent that relaxes me:

Almond Shower Oil 1.18 fl. oz.
Almond Delicious Hand Cream 0.33 oz.
Almond Delicious Soap 1.7 oz.
Shea Light Comforting Cream 0.17 oz.
Almond Milk Concentrate 0.67 oz.
Arlésienne Eau de Toilette 0.25 fl.oz.
Arlésienne Perfumed Soap 1.76 oz.
Aromachologie Shampoo 1.18 fl.oz
Aromachologie Conditioner 1.18 fl.oz.
Aromachologie Relaxing Shower Gel 1.18 fl.oz.
Cherry Blossom Shower Gel 1.18 fl. oz.
Cherry Blossom Shimmering Lotion 1.18 fl. oz.
Citrus Verbena Shower Gel 1 fl.oz.
Aromachologie Revitalizing Sugar Cube 1.4 oz.
Peony Flora Hand Cream 0.33 oz.
Shea Butter Shower Cream 1 fl.oz.
Shea Butter Body Lotion 1 oz.
Shea Butter Hand Cream 0.33 oz.
Shea Butter Foot Cream 0.33 oz.
Shea Butter Lip Balm 0.1 oz.
Shea Butter Milk Soap 0.88 oz.
Verbena Leaf Soap 0.8 oz.
Verbena Body Lotion 1 oz.
Verbena Hand Cream 0.33 oz

Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar

Next is the Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar which I’m super excited about! This has quite a few products I’ve been dying to try. It has some really great skincare items including the Immortelle Divine Youth Oil and Cream which I highly recommend. If I were to pick one to recommend out of the two, I’d say hands down splurge on the Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar, especially as a gift to yourself. It has a little bit of everything for the lips, face, body, hands, hair and fragrance.

Inside the Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar set:

Almond Delicious Hand Cream 10ml
Almond Supple Skin Oil 15ml
Almond Milk Concentrate 20ml
Almond Delicious Hand Cream 10ml
Arlésienne Eau de Toilette 7ml
Aromachologie Relaxing Shower Gel 35ml
Aromachologie Conditioner 35ml
Aromachologie Shampoo 35ml
Cherry Blossom Shimmering Body Lotion 35ml
Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 10ml
Divine Cream 4ml – love this!
Divine Youth Oil 4ml – also love, this is one of my favorite oils!
Néroli & Orchidée Eau de Toilette 7ml
Immortelle Precious Cream 8ml
Immortelle Essential Water 30ml
Immortelle Oil Make Up Remover 30ml
Shea Butter Lip Balm 12ml
Shea Butter Hand Cream 30ml
Shea Light Comforting Cream 8ml
Shea Butter Cleansing Oil 30ml
Shea Butter Shower Cream 30ml
Roses et Reines Hand & Nail Cream 10ml
Terre de Lumière Eau de Parfum 5ml
Verbena Eau de Toilette 10ml

That wraps up a look at the two L’Occitane Advent Calendars for this holiday. There are a number of other holiday gift sets and stocking stuffers available as well, options at multiple price points all beautifully packaged. How cute are these holiday baubles and festive crackers? Finding a universally appealing gift can be a challenge because everyone has different tastes, preferences and personalities, but I think for the ladies in my life L’Occitane wins for me year over year. The products are always well received and with these minis they’re bound to get used up!

You can find both of the L’Occitane Holiday Advent Calendars online at L’Occitane and at all stores.

62 Comments

Skincare Tatcha

Tatcha Holiday Gift Sets + A Few of My Favorite Things

November 13, 2017

Tatcha is having their holiday Friends and Family Sale online at Tatcha.com until November 16th! With code FF2017 you will receive 20% off your order. They have a few lovely holiday gift sets you can only find on their website. I have a few to review for you today along with a roundup of my favorites. I’ve found Tatcha skincare to be great for sensitive and normal to dry skin. They’ve recently added more items for normal to combination skin which I’ve really loved. A few years ago they launched their first makeup item the Kyoto Red Lipstick. They’ve also added Plum Blossom and Cherry Blossom all of which have sold out numerous times. I hope they will restock and bring them back to be added to their permanent lineup because they are really beautiful!

Up first is a look at some holiday launches. Their Holiday Gift Sets are always so beautifully packaged. Even their shipping boxes have a special touch with the packing and purple packing stickers on the outside. I’ve gifted Tatcha to a number of friends and the first thing they comment on is the beautiful packaging. Hearts are won even before they open the box!

If you’re looking for a good sampler set with minis the Joyful Discovery Set ($115) has six of their travel-sized favorites. If you’re new to Tatcha I think the best thing is that they have travel sizes they sell separately that have exceptional packaging. This one has:

One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil 25 ml
Classic Rice Enzyme Powder 10 g
The Essence 25 ml
Radiant Deep Brightening Serum 10 ml
The Silk Cream 10 ml
Ageless Revitalizing Eye Cream 3 ml

Another cute set is the Kissed With Gold Set Duo ($32) which has their Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm and a beautiful Gold Leaf Travel Mirror. This would make for an adorable stocking stuffer for anyone that wants a special lip balm. It’s smooth and nourishing and the gold flecks make for a beautiful looking balm.

For lip color there are three offerings this holiday. Two sets including the Camellia Kisses Lip Balm Trio ($85) which has three full-size tinted lip balms and the Blossoming Joy Silk Lipstick Trio ($60) which has three miniature lipsticks of their Kyoto Red, Sunrise A Plum Blossom and Twilight A Cherry Blossom. Unfortunately the lipstick set has sold out but I’m hoping it will be restocked because this is the perfect mini lipstick set! I ordered these during their early access sale and am glad to have snagged them! The third item launches is the Kyoto Red Tinted Lip Oil ($30) which is a beautiful sheer moisturizing red. I rarely wear reds but sheer ones are perfect for neutral lip lovers like me. They look more natural but still have a lovely tint.

As a quick FYI in case you don’t want the balms as a set, you can find the Red Camellia, Gold Spun and Cherry Blossom available individually online.

Last but not least are my favorites from Tatcha. I test a lot of skincare and Tatcha is one that always manages to calm my skin down and helps immensely with dryness when it occurs. My two absolute favorites for normal combination skin are the items in the soft sea green packaging. I hope they expand the line!

My personal favorites:

The Water Cream is one of my favorite water burst moisturizers. It’s super lightweight and feels like water on the skin but does adhere well to give it moisture. I’m beyond obsessed with it – it’s worked extremely well in humid Florida weather. It hydrates without looking shiny or getting too moisturizing.
The Water Gel (sold out on Tatcha but available at Sephora) is practically the only face gel I like and use. It’s gone on many travels with me and has a bit more substance/thickness than the water cream but applies smoothly and works well under all my liquid foundations.
The Silk Cream is best suited for dry skin, I will use this at night sometimes because during the day it’s a bit too rich for hot humid climates. It works well to hydrate and smooth the skin.
The Essence is my favorite essence of the moment. I really didn’t think it was doing anything to my skin but once I used it regularly I noticed everything else that followed absorbed better into my face. Also I notice when I don’t use it my skin doesn’t feel as balanced.
Camellia Lip Balm (sold out on Tatcha but available at Sephora) is a classic lip balm that smooths, hydrates and plumps. The gold leaf adds a special touch to it!
Violet-C Radiance Mask is one of the softest most gentle brightening masks I’ve tried. It has ingredients that give the skin a brighter glowing look. I didn’t notice immediate visible results from a one-time use, but skin feels very soft after you rinse it off. Regular weekly use has improved brightness for me. If you need a stronger mask this may not be the one for you.
Classic Enzyme Rice Powder is a staple for soft gentle daily exfoliation. I use this in conjunction with my regular liquid cleansers from other brands because I like traditional cleansers better for clean skin. I use the Tatcha Rice Powders in place of a face scrub to exfoliate in the most gentle way possible.
Dewy Skin Mist is a must for travel as my skin gets dried out on airplanes. I do find it too dewy for mid-day touch ups here in Florida. I hope they consider launching a lighter weight spray mist for oily skin because that would be my dream come true!

Favorites not shown because I’m all out and plan on restocking:

Pore Perfecting Sunscreen is the best smoothing sunscreen for me that doubles as a primer that erases my pores.
Indigo Smoothing Black Sugar Body Gommage is one of my favorite soothing body scrubs.
Indigo Soothing Silk Hand Cream is indeed soothing and calming, the scent is soft and refreshing!
Japanese Beauty Papers are the best blotting papers I’ve tried, they absorb excess oil without leaving any white powder residue on the skin and at the same time they won’t disintegrate like some others.

Do you have any favorites from Tatcha? I know a lot of you are huge fans of the line – let me know what you’ve tried and what has worked for you! The 20% off sale runs online at Tatcha.com through November 16th with code FF2017.

Holiday gift sets gifted courtesy of Tatcha for review. All full-size items featured have also been press samples in past features but I’ve since repurchased all the items featured in this post on my own.

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