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Pat McGrath Labs LuxeTrance, MatteTrance, Permagel Eye and Lip Pencil Review

November 2, 2017

I recently did a massive Pat McGrath Labs beauty haul from Sephora. A large number of you have asked me for a review on the MatteTrance Lipsticks ($38 each for 0.14 oz/ 4 g) and since I’ve never really been big on matte lips I did not plan on looking into these. I don’t think I’ve ever received so many review requests on a single product so once I saw that she launched a creamy formula called LuxeTrance Lipstick ($38 each for 0.14 oz/ 4 g) I ordered a handful online sight unseen. I also added some of the MatteLuxe Lipsticks, Permagel Ultra Lip Pencils ($25 each for 1.2 g/ 0.042 oz) and one shade of the Permagel Ultra Glide Eyeliner ($25 each for 1.2 g/ 0.042 oz) to my cart to try out. A couple days ago I finally saw the line in person at my local store and everything is just stunning! Since I just received my order recently this is more of a first impressions rather than a detailed review.

A look at the stunning display in store:

First can we talk about the box packaging? I know super pretty boxes and packaging can be a waste, but the presentation is just so pretty. Opening any of the lipsticks or pencils is like opening a present. I don’t know if the gold embossed icons on the front have any meaning but everything is so artistic and creative.

The Permagel Ultra Lip Pencils and Permagel Ultra Glide Eyeliners are super smooth and creamy. They glide onto the skin and are waterproof. They have about the same smoothness as the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On pencils (which last long but aren’t budge-proof on me). The Pat McGrath Labs pencils have VERY impressive lasting power. I swatched them on the hand and they would not come off easily. On the lips they stay put all day long. The liner on the eyes does not smudge all day. They have enough of an emollient smooth gel-like quality that you can apply and blend it out a little before it dries and sets. But once it sets it stays put. Pigment is ultra rich, there’s no tugging with application, it feels comfortable and performs well.

Colors I bought:

Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Buff is a medium neutral pink
Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Done Undone is a lighter pink nude with a hint of pearl
Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Bare Rose is a pretty soft rose with a slight sheen
Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in Suburbia is a deeper rose pink
Permagel Ultra Glide Eyeliner in Blitz Brown is a deep bronze with shimmer

At the store I also looked at Supernatural and Contour. Both were more brown without any pink tones, along the lines of MAC Lip Pencil in Stripdown. I didn’t buy any more as I had already hauled quite a few. I don’t typically wear brown lipliners with the exception of MAC Stripdown and Oak so I felt the pinks and neutrals were my best bet. I do think I’ll consider other shades of the Permagel Ultra Glide Eyeliner but for now I love the one I have. All the pencils come with a sharpener.

Comparison swatches below to NARS Man Ray Velvet Eye Pencil in Santiago, Marc Jacobs Matte Highliner in Earthquake, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude and Pillow Talk, MAC Lip Pencils in Boldly Bare, Whirl, Dervish, Spice and Soar.

Next are the lipsticks which are mind blowing good. It was pretty risky for me to order so many colors in a new-to-me formula sight unseen. The last time I did that with a brand I hadn’t tried before, it was total a fail. These Pat McGrath LuxeTrance and MatteTrance Lipsticks do not disappoint and they are easily among the best I’ve tried. I would say the matte formula tops all other matte formulas I’ve tried with the exception of the Louboutin Mattes. I’ve said that Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks (also swatched here) have been in my favorites list. That was before I tried Pat McGrath’s.

The lipsticks come in a sleek metal black and gold tube. Both formulas have the same packaging. They have a cute gold embossed/raised lip which I think could have been really tacky to be frank, but they managed to make it look sleek and luxe. There is a good weight to the tube so it feels solid. They are well designed in every way.

LuxeTrance of course is my formula of choice. It’s a creamy opaque lipstick with full coverage. All the shades are creams without shimmer. They’re one-swipe wonders and make the lips look full. They glide onto the lips, feel super smooth, have a comforting feel and have impressive lasting power. I would say you get similar coverage with the Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim Lipsticks. They are also just as opaque as the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche formula but more creamy with a bit more slip. The LuxeTrance isn’t super thick but it does have substance and when you wear it, it looks like you are definitely wearing lipstick. Colors I picked:

Donatella is a pale nude, it pulls pinkish on me
Sextrology is a light salmon pink
Realness is a perfect peachy nude
Valletta is a light peachy pink
She’s Heaven is a neutral brown-pink
Beautiful Creature is a stunning plum
Attitude is a neutral brown

For other nudes, I also saw La Beija in store. The online swatch made me think it might be too dark/brown so I did not order it. In real life it’s a lot lighter than the stock swatch. It’s a pretty light-medium peachy beige and I would have bought it but they were sold out.

The MatteTrance Lipstick formula has a unique almost whipped like feel. They glide onto the lips and have a nice sheen even though they are clearly matte. They don’t make the lips look dried out or flat. They didn’t dry out my lips and lasted a decent amount of time. The texture of the lipstick in the tube looks almost like they took a sponge to make an imprint on the exterior. There is no texture when you apply though – it’s 100% smooth.

1995 is a stunning light neutral pink nude
Omi is the perfect rose pink

As far as I can tell there’s no detectable scent with these.

Bottom line pure love and lots to explore. There are a lot of bold shades in all the formulas. I did take a look at the Eyeshadow Palettes which are quite impressive in size and color selection. Each one had quite a few glitzy shades or at least 2 shades in each palette I didn’t think I’d use so for now I’ve passed. I do hope they launch more palettes or singles so you’d be able to pick and choose. For now I’m more than happy with my lip picks and eyeliner.

You can find Pat McGrath Labs exclusively at Sephora and Pat McGrath Labs.

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Becca Highlighters

New from Becca: Apres Ski Palettes, Lilac Geode, Smoky Quartz and Bronzed Amber

November 1, 2017

I have a roundup of some new holiday palette launches from Becca alongside three Shimmering Skin Perfectors that have been on my wishlist for ages. The items are all shimmering and glowy and in this day I do not think any of us need any more highlighters but new ones continue to pop up everywhere.

For holiday there are two new palettes with the Apres Ski Glow Face Palette ($54 for 15.5 g/0.54 oz, made in USA) and the Eye Lights Palette ($45 for 9.8 g/ 0.35 oz). I think the Glow Face Palette is a hit, but not must-have and the Eye Lights Palette is ok, but also not a must-have.

Up first is a look at the Apres Ski Glow Face Palette which has three highlighters in Rose Quartz (soft iridescent pink), Icicle (pale white aqua), and Opal (classic shimmery champagne). All three highlighters are smooth and soft with sheer to medium pigment for a soft glow. There are also two blushes in Blushed Copper (metallic copper shimmer) and Winter Berry (sheer matte pink). Both are also smooth in texture. Blushed Copper is super pigmented while Winter Berry is sheer. There is also one bronzer in Bronzed Bondi which I find on the sheerer than the individual full-sized one I reviewed here. The overall look and composition of the palette is stunning, however if you have been a Becca fan you probably already own several of the shades. There is the convenience factor but I feel like there are too many repeats of previously launched shades which makes this less unique. Still I think this one is quite stunning.

The Eye Lights Palette has seven shimmering colors for eye highlights. I have mixed feelings about the pigment and texture. The overall feel is sheerer than what you normally see from Becca. Sheer shimmers can be good especially if you are looking for something with a super soft effect rather than a glaring sharp frost. In the palette you have lighter colors that I feel aren’t the most unique and while the medium to deeper colors are beautiful I would have liked to see more pigment in the deeper shades.

These are the shades swatched with a heavy hand below:

In addition there are three Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighters that have been a bit hard for me to track down. I am normally a Sephora or Beautylish shopper for Becca and some colors are retailer exclusives so I could not find them there. Two of these in Lilac Geode and Bronzed Amber are both exclusive to Ulta ($38 each for 7 g and 8 g respectively). Smoky Quartz is exclusive to the Becca website ($38 for 8 g). These three are absolutely beautiful, true to the individual Shimmering Skin Perfector texture, pigment and smooth finish. I 100% love them.

Close ups:

Lilac Geode is a unique duo chrome lilac pink gold shimmer. The gold is very soft which I like, sometimes with duo chromes the gold can be too yellow or too sharp. This one is perfect. Bronzed Amber is a soft luminous bronze. The shimmer in this one is on the softer side on my skintone which makes it look like a blush/bronzer a bit more than highlighter. I adore this color on the skin to warm up the complexion in a natural way. Smoky Quartz is just as pretty as it is on the Becca website. It’s a unique pink mauve tan taupe shimmer that has smooth pigmented shimmer. On me it’s a highlighter color, if you are fair this will probably show up more pink/tan.

Swatch comparisons next to the full-size individual Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal, Champagne Pop, Rose Gold and the two shades from the Becca x Chrissy Teigen Palette (review here)

Overall, palettes can be good, but every once in a while I’m reminded why I pass on them and opt for the individual colors. I really just like picking the shades I like and know I’ll use. The quality and colors of the Becca Apres Ski Palettes are good and whether or not I’d recommend them is going to be based on your color preference and if you already own individual shades. The three individual Shimmering Skin Perfectors are pure love for me. I definitely think they’re worth tracking down.

You can find the Becca Apres Ski Palettes at all counters and retailers now. Online at Sephora, Beautylish, Ulta Beauty and Becca Cosmetics. Smoky Quartz is a Becca Cosmetics website exclusive. Bronzed Amber and Lilac Geode are available exclusively at Ulta.

Have you tried any of these yet? If yes what did you think? If not what are some of your Becca favorites?

Apres Ski Palettes sent courtesy of Becca for review. Others purchased by me.

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Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona Holiday Collection 2017

October 29, 2017

Natasha Denona’s holiday collection this year focuses on eye makeup with two Eyeshadow Palette 5 shades ($48 each, 5 x 0.08 oz/ 2.26g, made in Italy) and a new eyeshadow formula called Chroma Crystal Top Coat ($28 each, 6 g/0.2 fl oz, made in Italy). Her eyeshadows have been among the bolder options on the market with beautiful textures, shimmers and intense pigment and I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve tried from her line. In general the overall look and feel of her eye makeup is bolder than I normally gravitate towards but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed a lot of her palettes, in particular the Palette 28 in Green Brown (swatched here with two eye looks) and her Star Palette (reviewed here). Her All Over Glow Face Shimmers are some of the prettiest I’ve tried as well (all three swatched here). Even for the conservative makeup wearer there is a lot to explore and have fun with.

Up first are the two Eyeshadow Palette 5 options in Joya and Aeris. Both are just so so pretty. I rarely wear red or wine colored shades on my eyes unless it’s in a palette and there for blending or adding depth the the shadows. I’ve been incorporating a lot of warmer coppery shades into my beauty routine here and there. I still can’t pull off a lot of the reds or oranges but with some blending I’m always surprised how pretty the effect is if you layer shadows. For those not familiar with her shadows the names have numbers and letters in them. The letters indicate the finish. This season she has a new Cream Powder formula CP which is intense and a hybrid of her signature shadow with a new creamy like finish. They’re ultra pigmented, super smooth and are very easy to blend, layer and mix. Natasha Denona shadows are among the very few powder formulas I find adhere and glide onto bare unprimed lids with 100% perfection.

Joya has:

135 DC peach-gold is a sparking peach rose gold shimmer
136 CP fuchsia is a sheer matte creamy pink
137 CP gold is a sparking metallic cream powder gold
138 M red grape is a metallic red
139 CP star bronze is a pigmented metallic bronze shimmer

Aeris has the following shades below, if you mix the blue with a matte red you get a pretty brown shimmer:

140 CP nude is a pigmented nude champagne with silver sparkles
141 K red bronze is a shimmering red bronze with gold shimmers
142 CM burnt terracotta is a sheer matte terracotta
143 CP ice blue is a sparkling cool blue with tons of sparkle
144 CP peach bronze is a sheer peachy bronze glitter

Up next are my favorites which are the Chroma Crystal Top Coats. I’m not a fan of glitter in general because of the chunky texture and fall out. Plus as a conservative makeup wearer I find it can be over the top for many occasions. There have been a couple exceptions. I’ve been a die-hard fan of the Tom Ford Cream Powder Eye Duos and these Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coats have joined the beauty look book glitter approved club. They have a unique creamy finish that has an almost wet feel. I like using the fingers to apply. They’re super soft to the touch and even though there’s visible sparkle chunks there is no chunky feel, very minimal fall out and they’re super easy to apply. I like dabbing them on the lids. You can wear them alone or over other powder shadows. They have impressive lasting power and as the day progressed with these I didn’t experience glitter falling on my cheeks. I cannot pick a favorite as I think they’re all phenomenal, but I do really love Peach.

Colors are:

Nude is a shimmering champagne with cool-silvery sparkles
Bronze is a medium soft peachy bronze
Grey-Brown is a neutral cool grey brown sparkle
Peach is a soft peachy shimmer

Swatches sometimes don’t show the glitter well so I have two sets:

Swatches next to Tom Ford Cream + Powder Eye Duos Golden Peach and Young Adonis. If you simply can’t bring yourself to wear glitter or feel that it’s not suitable for your makeup style or work environment, I’d recommend you check out the Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Colors. I held out on these for a long time because in general I find Chantecaille to be overpriced for what you get, and I’ve been underwhelmed by most of her makeup items. These however are really really good. I’m obsessed with Copper.

A quick eye look with Nude and Bronze, it’s actually a lot more sparkly in real life but this was the best I could do to photograph it on the eyes:

Bottom line lots to love, especially for the upcoming holiday season. I am completely in love with the Chroma Crystal Top Coats and highly recommend you check them out or put them on your wishlist. They’re supposed to be multi-use so you can also add them on top of lipstick as well, I have not tried that, but for now I really love these on the eyes.

You can find the Natasha Denona Holiday 2017 Collection available now at Sephora and Beautylish. Do you have any Natasha Denona favorites?

Holiday collection provided courtesy of Natasha Denona.

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Haircare Holiday Gift Guide Shu Uemura

Shu Uemura x Super Mario Bros for Holiday

October 27, 2017

Sometimes there are beauty collections that are simply too cute to handle and the Shu Uemura x Super Mario Brothers Collection for holiday is one of them. Many years ago I used to use and buy a lot from Shu Uemura. It was hard to find in the US so I first discovered the items in Asia and UK during my college days. They eventually launched in a few stores like Sephora and Neiman Marcus. When I lived in California I’d sometimes make a long drive from San Diego to their boutique at South Coast Plaza. Unfortunately they decided to pull the brand from all retail stores and they kept it online only. I hope they will bring it back to more places someday! The holiday collection is super cute and speaks to the young at heart.

Color items and makeup come in limited-edition packaging:

Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte in M PK375 ($30) is the first matte lipstick I’ve tried from Shu Uemura and wow is the formula impressive. I’m not a fan of matte lips in general but this formula is smooth and manages to look velvety without that dried up look. Pigment is opaque and smooth, there’s no tugging and lasting power is really phenomenal. It stays put adhering well to the lips. It also leaves a slight stain on the lips so if as it fades or transfers the color pretty much stays put. PK375 is a pinkish berry color.
Rouge Unlimited Sheer Shine in Saved Peach ($30) is one of those sheer glossy peachy colors in the tube but on my lips it turns more pinkish. This has a soft glossy finish with a cushiony feel. Lasting power isn’t as good as the matte but it does feel nice and hydrating on the lips. It has quite a bit of slip and while it looks pretty I’m not the biggest fan of the formula.
Tint in Balm in Fire of Flower ($30) is a lush pigmented balm. The formula is so good with this one and even though the color is a lot brighter than what I normally wear, I think it’s worth checking out if you are in the market for a brighter red. Lasting power with this is also very good, especially for a balm. I definitely plan on checking out the other colors in the regular line.
Drawing Pencil in Matte Black ($24) is a classic rich opaque smooth black eyeliner. It has a soft matte finish and on my eyes it lasted all day without smudging (even in humidity).

The hair care line Shu Uemura Art of Hair is carried on it’s own website, separate from the makeup and skincare items. Each holiday season they usually repromote classics with the holiday packaging so in the event you don’t like the designs you can always buy them with the standard bottles.

Cleansing Oil Shampoo ($57) is a classic shampoo I’ve used up entirely multiple times. With my hair type it’s best as a clarifying one to two times a week kind of formula. I always combine it with the corresponding conditioner and the two together are really good for soft clean hair.
Cleansing Oil Conditioner ($58) is the coordinating conditioner for the Cleansing Oil Shampoo. I actually like this formula a lot better than the shampoo and use this one with other brands of shampoo. I’m one who washes my hair daily. Back in California I didn’t condition it every day because I didn’t need to. In Florida the water is different and while the weather is hot and makes me prone to sweat more, the water dries out my skin and hair (even with filters). I’ve found I need some kind of conditioner daily and this one is definitely a favorite because it’s light enough to add moisture but not so heavy and rich that it makes my scalp oily.
Essence Absolue ($69) is one of their best-sellers and for good reason. It’s a lightweight oil that can be used in a number of ways. I apply it to freshly washed and towel dried hair and it works as a detangler. I also use it pre-heat styling and as a finisher on the ends. It’s consistently in my top picks for hair oils because of the lightweight texture, beautiful scent and great shine it gives my hair without weighing it down. I absolutely love that it comes with a pump dispenser.
Master Wax ($39) is another classic from Shu Uemura but this was the first time I’ve ever used a wax. I had to do some research on how to use and apply it because I usually associate a hair wax with a men’s grooming kind of product. It has a nice lightweight scent but feels thick like a gooey pomade. Instructions say you can use on damp or dry hair – I tried both. A little goes a very long way. With my hair styling I usually do the same thing every day. I just like it down and free flowing unless I’m working out and then tie it up. I rarely use hair spray as it gives my hair that crunchy feel. This wax seems like it would be the perfect styling product if you style your hair and need it to stay in place or get that piecey look all day without stiffness. For the most part I’ve had longer hair, at least slightly past the shoulders. There have been times I cut my hair shorter and found it extremely difficult to maintain and style. Shorter hair means there’s less weight and I found my hair kinda flew around in ways I couldn’t manage. Had I known about hair wax back then I think it would have been a styling savior. For now since I’m very minimal with my hair styling I prefer the Essence Absolue or softer creams.

Beauty, skincare and makeup items are available online at Shu Uemura and Shu Uemura Canada. The team has offered Beauty Look Book readers a special offer for orders. With code BLBXSHU online you will receive 5 free deluxe samples and free shipping on orders $50+. Samples include: a mini laque supreme sample rd01, maxi:hydrability essence-in cream 13 ml, sakura-rose-petal-mask 13 ml, ultime8 sublime cleansing oil 15 ml and nutri:nectar sample 15 ml.

The hair care line can be found at their own site Shu Uemura Art of Hair.

That wraps up my look at some of the holiday pieces from the Shu Uemura x Super Mario Collection! Have you tried anything from Shu Uemura recently? What are your favorites? I’m still working on my skincare routine but I’ll say for now that their Sakura Rose Petal Mask is one of my latest obsessions for hydration and soothing.

Holiday collection items and promo code provided courtesy of the Shu Uemura team.

21 Comments

Chanel

10 Things I’m Loving From Chanel

October 26, 2017

Happy Thursday everyone! Today I have a roundup of some newer favorites from Chanel. I’ve been a fan of the line for many years. Recent makeup launches to be hit or miss for me but I’ve found some new launches that I’ve truly fallen in love with. A lot of you have asked for a review on the new Gabrielle Chanel Perfume and La Creme Main hand cream – I have those to feature along with some other newer-ish Chanel discoveries today. Up first are two of the newest launches along with a long-time favorite.

Gabrielle Chanel Eau de Parfum is Chanel’s latest for perfume. It’s a bright but warm feminine sweet floral. It has notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, tuberose. To me it’s a delicate and elegant kind of fragrance. Lasting power is quite good and I can detect it on my skin throughout the day by late afternoon. It has a bright feel to it that will lift the mood, but as perfume is so personal, I think this is one you’ll either really love or feel lukewarm about. I love this for fall and for daytime.
La Creme Main is one of the most uniquely packaged hand creams I’ve ever seen. It comes in a squeeze tube shaped like an oval. It has a removable cap that snaps onto the top. It’s described as a moisturizing, brightening and protective hand treatment formulated to absorb quickly. It has a light fresh clean almost linen-like scent and hydrating feel without any greasy residue. The drydown is very soft with a velvety feel.
Les Exclusifs de Chanel Fresh Body Cream is one of my favorite body creams. It comes in a large glass jar and while it’s pretty spendy it does last a very long time. It’s described as having a delicate floral musky whisper and I’d say that about sums it up. It’s a soft lightweight cream that adds a veil of moisture to the body without interfering with your perfume. For me it’s perfect to apply at night before bed because it gives me enough moisture without being sticky so I don’t feel like I’m sticking to the sheets or blankets. I’ve gone through one tub so far and this is my second one. It’s 100% worth the splurge but if you need something super hydrating you may want to opt for something like L’Occitane’s Shea Ultra Rich Body Creams or Kopari’s Coconut Melt instead.

Up next for the eyes:

Ombre Premiere in Ray is a limited-edition shade that is part of the Neon Wave collection, as far as I know it is an online-exclusive, it’s not quite as pale as the stock photo but it does have a pale pearly champagne sheen. To me it’s similar in undertone to Flesh which I already own and love, Ray is a little bit lighter and a lot more shimmery in color. I live for these kinds of champagne shimmer colors!
Les 4 Ombres in City Lights is a color from the fall collection (reviewed + beauty look worn here) and while it’s a pretty basic quad, I’ve found myself reaching for it frequently. A lot of you asked for a comparison to Poesie which has long been discontinued. I was able to dig up a backup and swatched them side by side. As you can see I don’t use the applicators these come with but try to keep them in the compacts just in case. I really prefer to use full-size brushes instead as they are easier to hold and use.

For holiday, there is a new Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Character which is a reddish plum wine color. I really love the Le Volume de Chanel mascara but some of the seasonal colors have been smudgy. This one performed true to the classic formula. It volumizes, holds the curl, doesn’t clump and this one didn’t smudge. The color once on the lashes is pretty dark but I really love playing with the tinted mascaras from Chanel so this was worth the splurge for me. Below is a swatch of the new Character plum wine colored mascara next to the classic Noir:

Last but not least, I’ve really been enjoying the new design of Chanel brushes. I did a review on these when they launched a few months ago. I’ve found they still have held up really well and perform perfectly. Four that I’ve been loving include:

Flat Eyeshadow Brush is a softer version of the original, it’s perfect for all over the lid application
Eye-Contouring Brush is great for getting a detailed powder liner application
Eyeshadow-Blending Brush is soft and perfectly tapered
Precision Powder Brush is super soft and plush which is perfect for soft bronzer or contouring

That wraps it up for my 10 things I’m loving right now! There’s actually eleven as I’ve fallen in love with the Sublimage Le Teint (I’m Shade 40) but I’m saving that for my luxury base roundup coming soon. You can find all of these at Chanel.com and at all Chanel counters. Ray, I believe is a limited-edition Chanel.com exclusive (correct me if you’ve spotted it at your local counter).

Do you have any Chanel favorites right now?

Press samples featured include Gabrielle, La Creme Main, Eye Contour Brush, Blending Eyeshadow Brush, and Precision Powder Brush. All other items purchased by me.

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Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Lip Color New Shades: Bad Lieutenant, Sugar Glider, Autoerotique, Spiced Honey, Open Kimono and Devore

October 24, 2017

There have been a lot of lip launches from Tom Ford Beauty this fall with the Boys and Girls and also 40 new shades of their Lip Color and Lip Color Matte. I ordered a few online sight unseen from Sephora and one turned out to be a lot lighter than the online stock photo. Since these are extremely pricey I waited until these arrived at Neiman Marcus and picked up some more shades. In total I bought six colors. There were a lot of neutrals, light nudes, light pinks and some deeper color options as well. I found the mattes to be very matte so I decided to stick with the regular lip color creams.

For the most part I’ve found the Tom Ford Cream Lip Colors formula to be fuller coverage than the average lipstick. With the new shades I tested I found a few slightly different finishes. Some were sheerer than I’ve normally experienced. If you’ve missed previous reviews on Tom Ford Lip Colors, they are among my favorites for formulas. They have smooth even coverage. They’re super luxurious and don’t dry out my lips like some formulas do from other brands. Lasting power is pretty average. They will stay put as long as you don’t have contact with snacks or drinks, but they don’t stay put all day long. I find I have to reapply within a few hours. They feel comfortable on the lips without being heavy. The creams have a very natural looking sheen to the finish which I adore. My haul picks:

Bad Lieutenant is a medium light neutral beige pink cream, this one has full coverage
Sugar Glider is a gorgeous light mauve, I’m beyond obsessed with this one! Finish with this one is semi-sheer, it’s not as opaque as some of the creams
Autoerotique is a medium peachy tan cream, this has medium coverage
Spiced Honey is a pale nude pink, this has full coverage, the contrast with my natural lip color made it look a tiny bit streaky but it smooths out nicely
Open Kimono is a shimmering light gold beige, this is the first Tom Ford shimmer lipstick I’ve tried that has some texture in the tube, the shimmer has some grit but on the lips there’s no gritty feel, this one is sheer but buildable
Devore is a sheer neutral brown with pink tones

In sunlight with flash:

In sunlight without flash:

Below wearing Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation in Buff and La Mer The Powder (loose) to set. All lip swatches done on bare lips. It’s been a while since I’ve swatched Pink Dusk and Sable Smoke. I find both to be classics and still the best two colors in the lineup so I added them in lip swatches below.

Additional swatch comparisons to Boys and Girls in Katherine (lip swatched here), NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara (lip swatch here) and Tom Ford Ultra Rich Lip Color in Revolve Around Me (lip swatch here):

For those curious about which colors are the 40 new shades, they are split into 9 color categories according to the Tom Ford look book I received in my e-mail:

Nude Creams: Naked Ambition, Spiced Honey, Erogenous, Bad Lieutenant, All Mine
Nude Mattes: Deceiver, Heavenly Creature
Beige Creams: Open Kimono, Satin Chic, Autoerotique, Devore, Magnetic Attraction
Beige Mattes: Universal Appeal, Wicked Ways
Pink Creams: Paper Doll, Pretty Persuasive
Mauve Creams: Sugar Glider, Night Mauve, Adora
Pop Creams: Playgirl, Foxfire, Stimulant, Electrique, Exotica
Coral Mattes: Age of Consent, The Perfect Kiss
Red Creams: Vermillion-Aire, Dressed to Kill, Jasmin Rouge, Original Sin
Red Mattes: Best Revenge, Night Porter
Burgandy Creams: Dangerous Beauty, Love Crime, Discretion
Noir Creams: Impassioned, Near Dark
Noir Mattes: In Deep, Fetishist

There was a lot to sort through at the counters and with all the new and existing colors mixed together I don’t know that I got a good look at all the new ones. I did have a list with me of what to check out so I think I covered most of the neutrals. The quality and lasting power are still on point for what I’ve experienced with Tom Ford lip colors. I would have probably passed on Spiced Honey (this is a bit pale on me) and Open Kimono (I prefer Guilty Pleasure), but luckily I can make both work with a good lip liner like MAC Boldly Bare, Whirl or Stripdown (swatched here).

My favorite colors are still Pink Dusk and Sable Smoke for everyday neutrals, but I’m really happy with my picks. As one who finds light mauves difficult to wear with my olive complexion, I’m 100% in love with Sugar Glider. For light pinks I was really tempted by Paper Doll but I wanted to limit myself to 6 max for now as holiday is coming up and there is still a lot to cover.

You can find the new shades of Tom Ford Lip Color and Lip Color Matte out now. Available online at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora and all other Tom Ford Beauty counters.

Did you try any of the new shades yet? What did you think?

58 Comments

NARS

NARS x Man Ray Collection for Holiday

October 20, 2017

NARS has seriously outdone themselves with their NARS x Man Ray holiday launch this year. This season they’ve launched a collection of individual colors, palettes and sets inspired by modern artist Man Ray. This is one of the first makeup launches that has me really excited about holiday – they’ve created a nice range of options so I think there is something for everyone. The collection launched exclusively at NARS online for the first part of October and now items are starting to trickle in at other counters. There’s quite a bit in this collection and I’m thrilled to be able to feature a lot of the items, but do note there are other sets and items available exclusive to certain retailers like Nordstrom and Sephora. You may have to do some shopping around to find the color sets you have your eyes on.

I’ve split my review into product category: eyes, cheeks and lips + one set. For the eyes this season we have shadows and pencils:

Duo Eyeshadow in Debauched ($36) is a richly pigmented duo of cool-toned plums. There is a smooth plum shimmer and a blackened purple with tiny violet glitter flecks. Both have good smooth pigment, the deeper shade is probably best applied in a patting motion or liner.
Duo Eyeshadow in Montparnasse ($36) has a smooth texture of shimmers with a soft warm pale gold champagne shimmer and maroon shimmer. Both swatch well with good pigment, but on my eyes the plum shade applies on the semi-sheer side once blended. To get more pigment you either have to pack it on over a cream shadow or with a dense brush.
Velvet Eyeliner in Nagoya ($24) is one of the most beautiful violet cream shades I’ve ever seen but it’s a color I don’t see myself wearing on the eyes. Application is a bit sheer but the color is so pretty!
Velvet Eyeliner in Santiago ($24) is a sheer shimmering auburn color, it makes for a good subtle liner for the lower lash line to add definition without looking harsh. However formula is sheer which I find a bit odd for a liner where I usually think you’d want more intense pigment.
Eyeshadow Palette Glass Tears (not shown)

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For the cheeks we have beautiful highlighters, blushes and a stunning palette:

Powder Blush in Fetishized ($30) is a bright warm reddish pink, but once applied it’s not quite as warm or red as it looks in the pan. It has a subtle sheen to it but the pigment overall is very intense. I could not pull this one off alone but it looks amazing as a layering or mixing color, especially if you soften with a highlighter or warm it up with bronzer.
Powder Blush in Intensely ($30) is a very smooth matte semi-sheer orange cream color. Texture is dreamy and soft with flawless application. I often find orange blushes surprising because they can actually be quite flattering and different than what you’d expect. On my skintone alone this one just looked like orange candy, almost like Tic-Tacs. Again this is a great one for layering to warm up colors or even mixed with a highlighter. That’s the beauty of a lot of NARS colors – you can layer and mix and the result is often really pretty.
Overexposed Glow Highlighter in Double Take ($42) is a stunning highlighter, it’s all kinds of gorgeous with the warm gold with slight peachy tones. It has a smooth almost creamy feel with intense shimmer that you can blend out or layer for that super shimmery highlight. Swatch comparisons below to the Banc de Sable shades and some from Dior.
The Veil Cheek Palette with Laguna, Lovesick, Surreal ($49) is another beautiful color and if I had to pick one thing from the entire collection it would be this palette. Laguna is the Sun Wash formula which is a stiffer almost hybrid kind of formula. The full size ended up being a bit muddy on me, but as most NARS fans know – the Laguna individually (regardless of formula) isn’t always the same as the ones you get in the palettes. The palette Laguna is still very stiff and sheer, but it’s not quite as muddy. Lovesick is like a dual-intensity blush formula and is a rich coral with a sheen. It’s almost identical to the powder blush Fetishized but the formula makes it more wearable. Surreal is a similar formula to the Banc de Sable palette and the Overexposed Double Take Highlighter. It’s intense with a pretty peachy tan shimmer.

Beauty breakdown:

Foundation is La Prairie Skin Caviar Concealer and Foundation in Satin Nude (review coming soon)
Concealer is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger
Powder is La Mer Pressed Powder in Light
Cheeks are NARS x Man Ray The Veil Cheek Palette, all three shades in Laguna, Lovesick and Surreal applied with a very light hand
Eyeshadow is Montparnasse Eyeshadow Duo
Lips is NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara
Brush shown is Wayne Goss #14 from The Face Set (reviewed here)
Nail polish is Diorific Ruby

Some highlighter swatch comparisons below. If you own Banc de Sable the new holiday highlighters have a very similar effect in terms of formula, texture and shimmer. Colors are close and similar but not identical. I’ve also included two of the Diorskin Nude Air Luminizers (all on my face here). The NARS vs Dior both have that intense shimmer but smooth almost creamy feel (yet they are still powders).

Update 10/21: I re-swatched the comparisons with a denser brush. The original comparisons above looked a little washed out due to the curve of my arm combined with blending using a larger brush. A more dense application shows that Surreal is closer in color to Embruns than it looks when it’s blended out more. Same order below just swatched with a MAC 239 brush.

This year the Becca x Chrissy Teigen palette has been my favorite face palette launch (review + beauty look here). It’s wearable, easy to layer and I love the color combinations. At first glance I thought the NARS might be exactly the same, but it’s deeper, warmer and a bit more intense. If I had to pick one it would be a tough call. Both are extremely versatile and you can increase or soften intensity depending on what brushes you use or how much you layer product.

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For the lips, the Man Ray collection has four glosses in a new formula called Photogloss Lip Lacquer then there are lots of sets with a mix of colors:

There’s a new formula called Photogloss Lip Lacquer ($26 each) which is super opaque and glossy without being thick or tacky-feeling. These have serious pigment and smooth finish. Lasting power is excellent for a gloss and there was no color bleeding along the sides.

Photogloss Lip Lacquer in Zambeze is a yellowed-beige cream
Photogloss Lip Lacquer in Off Limits is a bright sparkling fuchsia purple
Photogloss Lip Lacquer in Kiki is a blood-red semi-sheer, the sheerness made it a tiny bit streaky looking, it can be smoothed out if you apply over a liner or lipstick
Photogloss Lip Lacquer in Muse is a shimmering gold, the color and shimmer was a bit patchy looking once applied but there is no gritty texture and you can blend it out for a smoother finish

The Kiss Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Set ($49, Sephora exclusive) has four full-sized Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, I really love this set – they look better in person than in these photos. Pigment is smooth with a soft matte finish. They have a very airy feel to them and glide on the lips nicely. Lasting power is about average for a lipstick, they will fade after a few hours and transfer to cups if you drink, but I don’t mind reapplying. This set comes in a shiny gold zippered pouch:
- Endangered Red is a soft muted deep vampy red
- Spellbound is a pretty shimmering pale pink
- Toundra is a muted plum-brown with shimmer
- Wild Ways is a shimmering soft tan bronze

Audacious Lip Coffrett in Noire Et Blanche, not shown ($55, Sephora exclusive) with Lee, Dolores, Josephine and Charlotte Audacious Lipsticks
Audacious Lip Coffrett in Les Amoureux ($55, Nordstrom exclusive) with pretty neutrals that aren’t boring. I had forgotten how much I loved this formula of lipstick, Barbara was a staple for a long time for me. I need to use it more often. The lipsticks in these sets are miniature sized. The coffretts come in a round dome case.
- Ady light peachy orange cream
- Ardon medium rose
- Jane coral
- Barbara perfect nude pink beige

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Then there are a number of duos with minis called Love Triangle ($24 each). Different color combinations are available at different retailers. I have the Deep Throat + Barbara duo which is available at Sephora. These aren’t full-sized, they’re minis and I think they’re great options for stocking stuffers or something under the $25 mark.

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That wraps it up for my look at NARS x Man Ray for holiday. There’s a lot to pick from! My top picks include The Veil Cheek Palette trio, Double Take Highlighter, Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Set and the Audacious Lipstick Set. Quality and pigment is on point for everything except the two Velvet Eyeliners (a bit sheer) and the gold lip gloss (just a bit patchy-looking on application). The blushes are excellent quality but for me require layering to work, alone they don’t quite look right on my olive skintone but they are beautiful if you mix them.

All the items are limited-edition. You can find them available now although you’ll have to do some hunting to find all the pieces as some are exclusive to certain places. Online now at NARS, Nordstrom, and Sephora. They should arrive at other retailers very soon.

Have you tried anything from the collection yet? What did you think?

NARS x Man Ray items provided courtesy of NARS for review.

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